By Raynard Jackson – Essence Magazine used to be the preeminent magazine for Black women in the U.S. They, like many Black publications, have lost their relevance; and in the process become an embarrassment to the very group they claim to target. Essence was founded in 1968 by Ed Lewis, Clarence Smith, Cecil Hollingworth, Jonathan […]
Former Death Row Records, R&B Songtress, Jewell, Readies Book, And Album Release
Los Angeles, CA – Platinum selling R&B songstress Jewell, real name Jewell Caples, a regular fixture in the Los Angeles music scene, is preparing to release a brand new book, and album this fall. The former Death Row Records singer will release a full length studio album entitled, “Blood, Sweat & Tears”, in conjunction with […]
US Supreme Court Orders Release of California Inmates
By Chuck Hobbs, Esq. – Eighteen years ago, Monticello, Florida, a small hamlet near the capital city of Tallahassee, made international headlines when British tourist Gary Collie was murdered at a rest stop along the Interstate by four young black males. The public outrage soon morphed into a number of measures to reduce crime, including […]
Debt ceiling, what’s that? And why does it need to be raised?
By Julianne Malveaux – A recent Gallup poll found that 47 percent of all Americans oppose raising the debt ceiling. Only 19 percent support raising the ceiling past its current $12.1 trillion dollar limit. The remainder of us say we don’t know enough about the debt ceiling to have an opinion. That’s part of our […]
New England “99ers” Need Unemployment Help and Jobs
Marc H. Morial (To Be Equal#21) – “It’s been tough. Very tough. I’m figuring I’m not getting any job. I have no experience, and I can’t get any experience without getting any jobs.” 23-year-old Darrell Davis of Springfield, MA Darrell Davis is just one of hundreds of discouraged, long-term unemployed people we met during last […]
Author Terrance Dean Prepares to Set the Industry On Fire With New Book Release MOGUL: A Novel
New York – On April 4th, music producer and popular New York DJ personality Mister Cee was arrested for sexual lewd acts with a man. On April 17th, “straight” rapper Lil B sent the Hip Hop world into a frenzy when he announced plans to title his upcoming album, “I’m Gay.” Then on May 15th, […]
Rev. Al Sharpton Calls Out and Calls On the Black Community at Spirit of Democracy Awards
The charisma and superior oratorical skills of Rev. Al Sharpton helped lighten the blow as he delivered a painfully honest message about the Black community to over 400 guests attending The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s (The National Coalition) recent Spirit of Democracy Awards Gala in Washington DC. The outspoken civil rights leader was […]
Founder of Black Men’s Xchange Issues Statement Regarding CNN’s Don Lemon
Cleo Manago, founder of the Black Men’s Xchange (http://www.bmxnational.com) the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to promoting healthy self-concept and behavior, cultural affirmation and critical consciousness among same gender loving (SGL), gay-identifying and bisexual African-descended males and allies, issued the following statement regarding CNN’s Don Lemon’s “coming out.” Washington, DC – “I’m being […]
In Prison Reform, Money Trumps Civil Rights
By Michelle Alexander (NYTimes.com) – The legal scholar Derrick A. Bell foresaw that mass incarceration, like earlier systems of racial control, would continue to exist as long as it served the perceived interests of white elites. Thirty years of civil rights litigation and advocacy have failed to slow the pace of a racially biased drug […]