“Domino, domino, I only spot a few Blacks the higher I go, Wasup to Will (Smith), Shout out to O (as in Oprah), that ain’t enough, we gone need a million more!” – Jay Z from the song “Black Excellence” off the album Watch the Throne, the best album of the year in my opinion, […]
Commentary
Poverty on the rise as leaders fuss and fume – by Dr. Julianne Malveaux
The fall of the Roman Empire is best captured in the phrase that “Nero fiddled while Rome burned.” Set on pursuing his own pleasures and indulgences, Nero could not see the walls crumbling around him. Similarly, our leaders seem oblivious to the walls crashing in on us, bickering about the way that relief on our […]
A Long Shadow of Doubt: The Execution of Troy Davis by Marc H. Morial
(To Be Equal #39) – “When … the Supreme Court gave its seal of approval to capital punishment, this endorsement was premised on the promise that capital punishment would be administered with fairness and justice. Instead, the promise has become a cruel and empty mockery. If not remedied, the scandalous state of our present system […]
President Obama’s Mission Impossible
by H. Lewis Smith – Upon Barack Obama’s election to President of the United States, euphoria, jubilation and an aura of disbelief simultaneously enveloped the Black African-American community. Perhaps, it could even be said that many saw him as a Messiah and the primary power-holder to make life and living better for Blacks. Seemingly, Black […]
Question: Is it ok for Blacks to use race to hurt other Blacks; but it’s not ok for whites to use race to hurt Blacks?
By Raynard Jackson – Last week, as I was riding the local train in Washington, DC, I began to ponder on the thoughts that had begun to flood into my mind. I was president of my senior class at Soldan High School in St. Louis, MO. I had a lot of my friends who worked […]
National Urban League Helping Mortgage Scam Victims – By Marc H. Morial
(To Be Equal #38) – Doris Tinson is just one of a growing number of American homeowners, desperate to save their homes from foreclosure, who are being duped by mortgage loan scam artists. Doris was falling behind on her refinanced high mortgage payments and was looking for help. On the way home from church she […]
Government Pimping – The Gantt Report
The Gantt Report By Lucius Gantt – Growing up in the housing projects and ghettos of Atlanta, I saw my share of gamblers, hustlers, pickpockets, peddlers and pan handlers. When I moved to Tallahassee, I saw a lot of things but a lot of things I didn’t see! Let me explain. Growing up on the […]
Gridlock in Congress Enables Continuation of Racially and Economically Biased Education Initiatives By Kirk Clay
Washington, DC – This week the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce held yet another hearing about the No Child Left Behind Act. As Congress continues their never-ending debate about the perils of NCLB, two education initiatives that disproportionately and negatively impact the poor and people of color, are about to be overlooked […]
An Equation for Disaster: Black Youth + Poverty – Jobs = Screwed
By Deven D. Anderson, Black Youth Vote! – It’s a critical time in America. The recession has been tough, especially for young black American’s who are faced with bleak job prospects, exorbitant student loans and overwhelming hopelessness. With and unemployment rate for young black males over 18 percent, young black men are still hemorrhaging and […]