Blacks

Oct 25 2012

The Racial Divide

As the presidential campaign approaches the home stretch, it’s time for President Obama and challenger Mitt Romney to play the race card.

I’m serious.

We need a healthy discussion of race in America, and we aren’t getting it.

Oct 24 2012

Highest rate of hate crimes took place in the San Fernando Valley

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Reported hate crimes in Los Angeles County increased by 15 percent in 2011 from the previous year, but the total is the second lowest in 22 years, according to the county Commission on Human Relations’ annual report released today.

The commission defines a hate crime as one where hatred or prejudice toward a victim’s race or ethnicity, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation was a substantial factor in the crime.

Oct 5 2012

“Choose Less, Weigh Less”

The County of Los Angeles launched an obesity awareness campaign titled “Choose Less, Weigh Less” Thursday to encourage residents to lower the amount of calories they consume in each meal.

New data reveals the adult obesity rate continuing to rise within the county, with Latinos showing the largest increase.

Oct 4 2012

We have encouraged Black folk to get registered to vote

A few years ago the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) was holding its annual board meetings in March in Washington, D. C., then Sen. Barack Obama walked in the room to welcome the publishers to Washington. He also indicated he wanted to share some news with us.

The news was that he was planning on seeking the office of president of the United States of America.

Jul 19 2012

Urban League points to possible areas of vulnerability

WASHINGTON—If Black voter turnout reverts to the level it was before Barack Obama was elected president of the United States in 2008, the nation’s first Black president will have a difficult time winning a second term in the White House, concludes a National Urban League report released Monday.

The report, “The Hidden Swing Voters: Impact of African Americans in 2012,” was written by Madura Wijewarden and Valerie Wilson of the National Urban League Policy Institute based in Washington.

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.