African American Women

David L. Horne, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Jun 9 2011

Practical Politics

A few weeks ago (May 15, 2011), a regularly controversial blogger who got paid for his writing, published in Psychology Today a piece on why Black women are uglier and less sexually attractive (except for exotic, freaky prostitution purposes) than any other ethnicity (his exact comparisons were with White, Asian and Native American women).

The article was yet another pseudo-scientific polemic which insulted a group thought to be incapable of doing much more than harping a few vulgar replies before slipping back into the shadows. Hmmm.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Jun 2 2011

Hollywood by Choice

A friend recently called and asked me if I thought Beyonce’s skin was getting lighter? I remembered seeing a picture of her a couple of weeks ago, and I was surprised that it was Beyonce but I didn’t dwell on it. I understand that camera lighting plays a major part in how photographed images are presented. But, being curious I went online to see if there was any validity in my friend’s question.
 

Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
May 26 2011

Between the Lines

Psychology Today, an academic journal that examines emerging thought and literature in the field of psychology, published an article on its website blog this month that demonstrates why we should be ever vigilant about assaults on the human dignity of Africans and African Americans, and that threatens to subjugate the magazine’s sociological standing in society.

David L. Horne, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
May 26 2011

Practical Politics

A short time ago, and again recently, the Planned Parenthood Association (aka, Planned Parenthood Federation) has been in the news as a “whipping boy” for Republican budgetary cuts at the national and even state levels. Among the other criticisms thrown at President Obama (‘naiveté’ concerning the intricacies of the Middle East Crisis—meaning appearing not to agree with the Israeli government position—plus the myriad of other barbs), this one too is more about ideology than fact.

May 20 2011

Diversity and Social Change Initiative

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Hollywood movies directed by African Americans are significantly more likely to include African American characters with speaking roles than movies not directed by African Americans, according to a report released today from USC Annenberg.

Across Black America

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.