Every time I hear the voice of Russell Simmons, I hear a cool, clean, clear meditative voice, especially on Twitter where he drops his yoga knowledge in a reflective way. I guess he wasn’t folding his legs and saying a centered “Om” when he decided to ridicule an African woman.
Category: Opinion
Posted inPractical Politics
Trayvon Martin case may not have the legal legs to stand on
Emotions still are running very high regarding George Zimmerman’s acquittal for killing Trayvon Martin. While frequently the federal government has stepped in when a state court has freed suspects in cases that seemed to be hate-crime-based, much more often, it has decided not to do so, and all of the emotions and sense of injustice connected to the situation have not done any good.
Posted inCounting the Cost
Dropping the baton
Research shows that this generation of young people, no matter their race, are likely to do less well than their parents did. Shackled by a trillion dollars worth of student loans and a flat labor market, the New York-based Demos organization says the student loan burden prevents young people from buying homes and amassing wealth.
Posted inPractical Politics
Getting us out of the war on small-time drugs
President Barack Obama has already made history. Twice. He can rest on his laurels and just ride out the remainder of his second term without shooting for any more stars. After all, the stormy petrels of Washington will beat their wings in the wind, no matter what he does—positive or negative.
Posted inCounting the Cost
What is a living wage?
Workers at fast food restaurants recently demonstrated outside their places of employment, highlighting the low wages they receive and demanding more. They say twice as much, or $15 an hour, will provide them with a living wage.
Posted inCounting the Cost
Student loan resolution—better than nothing?
The United States Senate finally stepped up to ensure that student loan rates would not double, as might have happened.
Posted inPractical Politics
The reparations issue is not dead
In the USA, with the election of Barack Obama, the Republican control of chairships in the current—and maybe future—Congress, the Black Farmers’ settlement, and numerous other small but significant adjustments in time, the reparations movement seems moribund, if not totally dead and buried.
Posted inCounting the Cost
What African Americans can learn from South Africa
Nelson Mandela turned 95 years old on Thursday, July 18. He has been hospitalized for more than a month, and the world holds its breath as we witness the decline of the lion who roared for freedom in South Africa.
Posted inPractical Politics
Leaving Blacks out of immigration reform
A few years ago, when immigration reform activity was hot and heavy, a U.S. Senate version of reform legislation included a path to citizenship and other reasonable proposals. A House version was draconian.
Posted inCounting the Cost
The scourge of gun violence
Trayvon Martin might not be dead except for the fact that George Zimmerman carried a gun around and acted as a wannabe policeman. Rev. Al Sharpton and others deserve props for rallying people and insisting that Zimmerman be brought to trial.
