Musician Daryl Davis has an unusual hobby. He’s played all over the world with legends like Chuck Berry and Little Richard, but it’s what Daryl does in his free time that sets him apart. Daryl likes to meet and befriend members of the Ku Klux Klan– something few black men can say. In his travels, […]
“Will Racism Ever End, Will I Ever Stop Being A ______?” New Utne Reader Cover Story by Kevin Powell
New York, NY — Award-winning writer, activist, and public speaker Kevin Powell is teaming with Utne Reader, the envelope-pushing progressive magazine and online space, around a series of blogs on race, gender, politics, and pop culture in America. The partnership comes on the heels of Powell’s critically acclaimed new autobiography, The Education of Kevin Powell: […]
Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are Going to War as She Tries to Protect her ‘Firewall’
By Allan Smith, BusinessInsider.com – Hillary Clinton’s campaign has brought out the firepower quickly after her crushing loss to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) on Tuesday night in the New Hampshire Democratic primary. “When you match up the record of Hillary Clinton with the record of Bernie Sanders, it simply is no comparison,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries […]
Five questions Black Voters Should Ask Sen. Bernie Sanders
By Lauren Victoria Burke (MSNBC.com) – Sen. Bernie Sanders is looking to make inroads with African-American voters. The campaign has embarked on a tour of historically black colleges and universities and has engaged with Black Lives Matter activists and activist turned mayoral candidate DeRay McKesson. On the trail, Sanders has spoken candidly about discrimination against […]
Bernie Sanders Meets with Rev. Al Sharpton at Sylvia’s in Harlem
By Ryan Sit, Stephen Rex Brown, New York Daily News – Bernie Sanders broke bread with the Rev. Al Sharpton Wednesday as the surging Democratic presidential candidate from Brooklyn sought to shore up support among black voters. The pair met at Sylvia’s in Harlem around 10 a.m. Sharpton hugged Sanders at the entrance to the […]
‘Daily Show’ Defends Beyonce’s Super Bowl Performance, Slams Haters
By Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone – While millions were blown away by Beyoncé’s scene-stealing performance of “Formation” at Super Bowl 50, not everyone was pleased by the show. Some pundits criticized the singer for using halftime “as a platform to attack police officers,” as former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani loudly complained to Fox […]
Democracy Initiative Endorsing Organizations Celebrate Passage of Voting Rights Restoration in Maryland
Washington, DC – Today, the Maryland state Senate successfully overrode Gov. Larry Hogan’s 2015 veto of legislation (SB340 and HB 980) restoring voting rights to more than 40,000 Marylanders with significant majorities in the House of Delegates and Senate. Under the new law, Marylanders with felony convictions will be allowed to vote upon their release. Democracy […]
On MLK Day Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee Announce Plans to Skip the Oscars
It’s sad to hear that on the day we honor Martin Luther King, Jr. award-winning director, Spike Lee, and actress and producer, Jada Pinkett Smith, have announced they will not attend the 2016 Oscar ceremony. Sad but a great way to bring attention to the fact that this is the second year all-white slate of major […]
Black Women Vow to Be a Powerful Voting Force Again This Year
By Vanessa Williams, Washington Post – Jamia Wilson is supremely proud of this fact: In 2008 and 2012, black women voted at a higher rate than any other group. Four years ago, 74 percent of eligible black women went to the polls — and 96 percent voted for President Obama. Some pollsters and pundits are […]