Across Black America

Jul 8 2010

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country. Alabama Broderick Dixon, a 27-year-old computer engineer, was murdered by an off-duty Brighton Police Officer, Chevis Finley, who shot the young man in the foot, thigh, and the heart. According to previous reports, Finley and Dixon were quarreling over a woman. Finley was released from jail on a $75,000 bond. Arizona ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Summer Science Camp held their second summer math and science camp on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University (ASU). Forty-eight middle-school children from around the state participated in the free two-week program hosted by ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and during the program learned science, technology, math and how these can lead to possible future careers. California Booker T. Washington’s great-granddaughter has spearheaded a program that will take eight Bay Area youth on a journey in the footsteps of Washington’s life. The group will begin on the plantation in Virginia where he was born and will end in Alabama where he founded Tuskegee University, with stops in D.C. as well.

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

Alabama
Broderick Dixon, a 27-year-old computer engineer, was murdered by an off-duty Brighton Police Officer, Chevis Finley, who shot the young man in the foot, thigh, and the heart. According to previous reports, Finley and Dixon were quarreling over a woman. Finley was released from jail on a $75,000 bond.

Arizona

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Across Black America

Jul 1 2010

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

Alabama
Terri A. Sewell recently received another huge endorsement in the race for U.S. Congress in Alabama’s 7th district. The Alabama New South Coalition announced Sewell is their choice candidate, possibly giving her the momentum she will need for her campaign, as the July 13 run-off for the Democratic nomination approaches.

California
The Salvation Army Compton Corps Community Center recently opened its own recording studio to serve musically inclined members of the community. Local artists treated audience members to a musical showcase at the grand opening held at the center.

District of Columbia
Many civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, are outraged that they will not be able to celebrate the 47th anniversary (August 28, 2010) of the “March on Washington” and Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, because Fox News personality Glenn Beck has reserved the space in front of the Lincoln Memorial for his own rally. Civil rights advocates will keep fighting to protest Beck’s rally and will have an additional rally on October 2.

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

California

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Across Black America

Jun 24 2010

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

National
Although news coverage gives Americans the impression that crime is constantly rising, recent studies by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics shows that the nation’s jail population is declining, reflecting what some experts say is the fact that lock-ups are housing too many people who do not belong there. The number of inmates in county and city jails was about 767,600 at the end of last June, down by nearly 18,000 inmates from a year earlier.

Coca-Cola will send 21 students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities to Africa as part of the Coca-Cola “Open Happiness Tour” which was a video contest that asked students to express how the Coca-Cola RAIN “Water for Schools” initiative (which provides safe drinking water for children in Africa) inspires them. The program engages African American students and also gives them an opportunity to connect with their roots.

The number of new houses being built began to decrease significantly last month. The Department of Commerce released a report recently that showed housing starts dropped 10 percent. The federal government said some decrease was expected, because last month was the deadline for people to apply for the homebuyer tax credit. Officials have already extended the deadline twice. Members of the Senate are pushing for a third that will extend the deadline to Sept. 30.

Alabama
Charlotte P. Morris, who has been part of the staff at Tuskegee University for more than 25 years, was recently named the interim president of the institution. Morris is the first female to hold the position of president of the university.

Arizona

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Across Black America

Jun 17 2010

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

Alabama
Oachita Parish resident Ezra Richards committed suicide recently after two attempts to murder Damon Williams, the man who allegedly was having an affair with his wife. In the first attempt, Richards threw two containers of gasoline into Williams’ home and set it ablaze. Because Williams survived, Richards later chased him down with a gun, shot him, and then turned the gun on himself while police were in pursuit.

California
Johannes Mehserle, a former Bay Area Rapid Transit District officer, faces murder charges for the fatal shooting of Oscar Grant III. But the trial is sparking additional interest because none of the five potentials African American jurors expected to be on the jury will be present. The Nation of Islam Student Ministers are requesting that the Black press pay extra attention to the case to ensure that justice will be served.

District of Columbia
Many prominent NBA athletes came to join in the D.C. Goodman Summer League Kick-off recently. Gilbert Arenas, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Aundray Blatche, Sam Cassell and Micheal Beasley were only a few of the players to enjoy the freedom and excitement of the first of many streetball summer league games this year.

Florida
The organization 100 Black Men of America Inc., which is headquartered in Atlanta and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of young African American males across America, is holding is 24th national conference at the Westin Diplomat Resort in Hollywood, Florida June 16-20.

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

California

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Across Black America

Jun 10 2010

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

National
The National Coalition of African American Owned Media has launched a campaign against Comcast and their proposed merger with NBC/Universal, because of Comcast’s lack of African American owned channels. Meanwhile many other Black Civil Rights advocates such as the National Action Network, which is headed by Reverend Al Sharpton, believe Comcast has earned a reputation of faithfully promoting diversity through their employment practices.

As part of the 2010 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major for Justice Advocacy Competition, students will have an opportunity to compete for scholarships to continue their education. The competition is an annual advocacy program designed to motivate students of color to excel in education. The contest encourages high school seniors to express their views on a pre-selected topic, and judges the students on their ability to communicate orally and in writing.

Here’s a look at African American issues and people making headlines throughout the country.

Alabama
Four Girl Scout troops in North Central Alabama banded together recently to raise $1,000 to donate to the Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti, which serves to provide the people in Haiti with the health and education they need to bring stability back into their lives. The girls were able to raise the money through donations and a portion of their cookie sales.

California

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Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.

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Across Black America