By Earl Ofari Hutchinson - Senate Majority leader Harry Reid apologized profusely for his unguarded quip that Obama’s light skin and non-Negro dialect stood him well with him and by implication other whites. President Obama graciously accepted his apology and applauded him as a supporter and friend. But the embattled leader spoke the awful truth that millions did give Obama a racial pass. The pass did not win the White House for him; money, timing, a skillful campaign, and most importantly Bush blunders and GOP disgrace ultimately tipped the White House his way. But Obama’s racial pass made a difference, maybe a crucial difference. Read Earl Ofari Hutchinson's full editorial here.
After spending Saturday witnessing the critical need for our hard working men need to get tested for health issues, I woke up to the devastating news that a wonderful associate, Laurence Gaines, passed away. Laurence was the executive producer of The Bev Smith Show. I knew Laurence had been sick but thought that he was on the road to recovery. My thoughts and prayers go out to his biological family and his family at American Urban Radio Networks. Laurence was a wonderful producer and person, he will be missed.
From Bev Smith (BWO www.radiofacts.com)…
It is with the deepest sorrow that I inform you that my friend and my executive producer Laurence Gaines has passed away after a long battle with his health. We thought he beat it because he returned to work but God had other plans for Laurence. For those of you who knew him well, you know that he is in heaven trying to get me that interview that I asked for with God (smile). Tonight at 8pm EST, The Bev Smith Show will dedicate time to remember Laurence Gaines and the impact he made on the show. If you would like to be a part of that show to share your memories, please call the studio at 1-888-331-1210 starting at 8PM EST. Memorial arrangements are incomplete at this time. Pray for his family and The Bev Smith Show family.
Listen to The Bev Smith Show online at www.waok.com/
I'm just getting back from Los Angeles where I assisted my associate and owner of jazzmyne PR, Makeda, in coordinating media for the Black Barbershop Health Outreach Program (BBHOP). Led by Dr. Bill Releford, the BBHOP provides free diabetes and blood pressure screening in Barbershops across the country. The program’s goal is to address healthcare disparities and cardiovascular disease in African American men. Dr. Releford decided that innovative outreach to black men is critical because they are disproportionately affected by diabetes and hypertension more than any other ethnic group.
The day started out at the The New Millenium Sports Beauty & Barber Salon on Crenshaw in the Leimert Park area. In addition to volunteer doctors on hand for a discussion and to perform screenings, a number of celebrities stopped by to encourage men to get screened. There was a two-hour panel discussion broadcast live by KJLH addressing health issues impacting African American men.
I was shocked to witness the amount of men coming in off the street in need of a free screening. There were men with and without health insurance that had not been screened. Click here for a video news story of the event.
After spending the morning at the New Millenium Barbershop, the doctors and celebrities went on a bus tour to visit some of the 100 barbershops performing health screenings.
The experience on Saturday certainly made me recognize the critical need for our hard working black men to get screened for life or death health issues.
Looking at the numbers – Mary Norwood 45%, Kasim Reed 37% and Lisa Borders 14% - it is safe to assume that Kasim Reed has a pretty good chance of replacing Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Based on her performance in several debates, I have to wonder about Norwood’s intellectual capacity. She doesn’t come off as the brightest bulb in the fixture. Anyway, if Reed gets a little over 80% of Borders/others votes and maintains his count, it’s game time.
I hope he’s prepared to spend some money right to cross the finish line. Norwood did a great job with her commercials. Even though I was bothered by the fact that the commercials seemed like negative attacks against the Franklin administration, Norwood came off as a likeable candidate concerned about the issues confronting. She should never have participated in a debate. It was like Sarah Palin’s interview with Katie Couric. She also messed up with the last ad denouncing Republicans. What was up with that? She made it sound like Republicans have some kind of contagious disease. That was a bad move.
If Norwood runs some positive ads, keeps hugging people, and doesn’t open her mouth she has a better chance of winning on Dec. 1. Of course, if I were Kasim Reed I would publicly ask for a debate.
Norwood and Reed in runoff Dec. 1 by Eric Stirgus, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta has one more month and one more election to go before it chooses the city's next mayor: Councilwoman Mary Norwood and former state Sen. Kasim Reed will face each other in a runoff Dec. 1.
With 100 percent of the vote counted, Norwood led the race with 45 percent. She maintained a comfortable margin throughout the vote counting Tuesday night but was unable to muster the 50 percent required to put the race away. Reed finished a strong second, with 37 percent, and City Council President Lisa Borders faded to a distant third with 14 percent in the eight-way race.
"I will hit the ground running," a smiling Norwood vowed late Tuesday night, addressing a buoyant crowd at the Varsity, the unusual site of her election-night gathering. "I feel wonderful. We are 10 points ahead. I think that's a great place for anyone to be." (Norwood wound up seven points ahead, although she was 10 points up when she made that statement.)
Reed emerged to greet supporters at the Hyatt Regency at 11:15 p.m., saying that Norwood had run her best race, and that the trajectory of his campaign showed that he was on the road to be the next mayor. Read the full story at ajc.com (Staff writers Ernie Suggs and Steve Visser contributed to this report)
Seems that Rush Limbaugh – the talk show host that seems to say anythin about anyone who isn’t ultra conservative – is miffed that his dreams of becoming part owner of the St. Louis Rams have been shattered. Rush seems to think Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson made comments that caused the NFL team to kick him to the curb. Methinks his anger is misplaced - Rush most likely made his own comments that got him nixed.
Anyhoo, in a column published by the Wall Street Journal Rush claimed that Rev. Sharpton played “a leading role in the 1991 Crown Heights riot" and the "1995 Freddie's Fashion Mart riot."
Rev. Sharpton, who was not present at either of the incidents mentioned by Rush, demanded an apology. Associated Press reports that Rev. Sharpton’s spokeswoman released a statement saying, "Unless Mr. Limbaugh apologizes and clarifies his statements, attorneys for Rev. Sharpton will move forward with a lawsuit…..He has the right to criticize Rev. Sharpton, but he does not have the right to accuse him of criminal activity, and riots and murders are criminal."
Will good ol’ Rush apologize? I guess we’ll have to stay tuned for part two since his camp did not respond to AP’s request for comment. Read the full story here
This is hysterical. The White House held a fiesta to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. President Obama was so moved by the music during a performance by Latina star Thalia, he jumped up and danced salsa with the singer. When he returned to his wife she sat smiling, clapping, and enjoying the music. Some people say that the media is making something of nothing. I say GO Michelle! She gave President Obama the classiest South Side of Chicago attitude she could muster. I guarantee you, Mr. President is checked and will not try that again. While people debate the body language going on here, Mr. Pres knows what's up - won't be no Clinton scandals on Mrs. Obama's watch. Michelle Obama is one class act.
This is absolutely ridiculous. Black people need to get together and march against this type of behavior. Why were they beating this young man? He looks like he is White. Are they beating him because he is not Black? It's hateful and we should yell just as loud about this as we do when Whites attack Blacks! After watching this video you have to wonder why White people aren't marching. Perhaps incidents like this are motivating some of the tea party attendees.
These children need something like the Scared Straight program they once had at Rahway State Prison in NJ. Let them get bullied by some of those muscular inmates doing double life and see what they have to say then.
Raising $3.7 million in capital funds, Cora Masters Barry dedicated years to establish a fun, clean and safe environment for the children of the Washington DC area. With DC constantly being referred to as the “murder capital” of the United States Mrs. Masters Barry’s vision was definitely needed. Statistically DC is one of the most dangerous areas in the country. In 2007 alone there were 14 violent crimes for every 1,000 residents, which is about three times higher than the national average. Although the crime rate has dropped since then, it is still very high in comparison to other places.
In the first three years the group hosted donations and cleanup projects that benefited east-of-the-river rec centers. They spent half a million dollars providing vans for kids during sporting events, as well as helping to build computer labs and dance studios.
“The center is like a body,” says 14 year old Devonta Williams (in a Washington Informer article). “The left side of the building -- that’s the brain. That’s where we learn, do our homework and get tutoring. Then, you have lding, which is the strong side -- the feet. That’s the tennis side where you can be active and not lazy.”
“And, then you have the middle -- and that’s Mrs. Barry’s office. I think that’s the heart of the center. It’s keeping us running and keeping us breathing,” she said. (Read the full Washington Informer article here)
You’d think something that was doing so much good as well as being so publicly supported and endorsed by such notable people as Hilary Rodham Clinton, Maya Angelou and many tennis greats such as Serena and Venus William would have longevity and continue to benefit the community. However that doesn’t seem to be the case. Surprisingly with new Mayor Adrian Fenty in office, Mrs. Barry has been given an eviction letter and told to vacate the Tennis and Learning Center that has been benefiting the community for over a decade.
Anybody can see how Mrs. Barry's determination has brought nothing but good to inner city youth. Why is it that DC is trying to shut down such a prominent community resource and safe haven? The government is calling it a technical error but many people believe there may be some personal vendetta behind it. Whatever the case may be, wouldn’t it be a great loss for the city if such a vital community resource were to close? At this point it seems as if Mrs. Masters Barry has done all she can. It’s now up to us to do what we can to keep her vision alive. The hearing will take place on Tuesday, September 15th at 9:30am on the 4th floor at the Superior Court located at 500 Indiana Avenue, NW-WDC 20001. It will be in Judge Susan Whinfield's chambers. They are urging everyone, more specifically youth to come and do as much as they can to support. All involved should be there no later than 9:00am.
To contact the mayors office about their mistake go to DC's official government page: http://app.dc.gov/apps/about.asp?page=atd&type=dsf&referrer=[$DSF_SERVER_NAME$]&agency_id=1075&portal_link=hr .
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