In 2006, Tavis Smiley—along with a team of esteemed contributors—laid out a national plan of action to address the ten most crucial issues facing African Americans. The Covenant, which became a #1 New York Times bestseller, ran the gamut from health care to criminal justice, affordable housing to education, voting rights to racial divides. But a decade later, Black men still fall to police bullets and brutality, Black women still die from preventable diseases, Black children still struggle to get a high quality education, the digital divide and environmental inequality persist, and American cities from Ferguson to Baltimore burn with frustration. In short, the last decade has seen the evaporation of Black wealth, with Black fellow citizens having lost ground in nearly every leading economic category.
And so in these pages Smiley calls for a renewal of The Covenant, presenting the original action plan alongside new data from the Indiana University School of Public & Environmental Affairs (SPEA) to underscore missed opportunities and the work that remains to be done. While life for far too many African Americans remains a struggle, the great freedom fighter Frederick Douglass was right: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
Now is the time to finally convert the trials and tribulations of Black America into the progress that all of America yearns for.
In December 2015, Zaevion Dobson, a 15-year-old high school football star from Knoxville, Tennessee, was forced to make a split-second decision—run to safety or sacrifice himself to protect those around him. Instead of running, Dobson used his body to protect two girls from a barrage of bullets, ultimately giving his life to save theirs. To honor his incredible act of bravery, ESPN today announced that Dobson will be posthumously honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at The 2016 ESPYS Presented by Capital One. Presented annually to individuals whose contributions transcend sports, the award recognizes those individuals who embody the spirit of the trophy’s namesake, tennis legend Arthur Ashe, who dedicated his life to human rights advocacy.
Zaevion Dobson, a sophomore at Fulton High School in northern Knoxville, was considered one of the city’s great success stories as both a promising football player and mentor to his peers. Dobson’s selfless act of bravery made him a national hero. Zenobia Dobson, Zaevion’s mother, will accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award on his behalf, accompanied by Zaevion’s brothers Zack Dobson and Markastin Taylor.
“The family of Zaevion William Dobson accepts with great appreciation the honorable Arthur Ashe Award on behalf of our beloved young man of valor, who sacrificed himself to save others,” Zenobia Dobson said on behalf of the Dobson family. “Arthur Ashe was a leading example of strength and courage for us as a family, and we feel truly blessed and honored that our Zaevion joins the ranks of honorees. Like Arthur Ashe, Zaevion faced obstacles, but he overcame them. With this award, we know that Zaevion’s name and example will never be forgotten.”
Zaevion was honored by the sports community in a special tribute before Super Bowl 50 and was recognized by President Obama during a speech in January. The President emphasized that Zaevion’s sacrifice should serve as inspiration for taking action, saying, “He gave his life to save theirs—an act of heroism a lot bigger than anything we should ever expect from a 15-year-old.”
Added ESPYS Executive Producer Maura Mandt, “Zaevion’s actions to risk his own life for others demonstrate the true meaning of the word courage, and his boundless bravery has inspired many. We are proud to honor him with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at this year’s ESPYS. By celebrating Zaevion’s legacy, we hope to bring more attention to this serious issue and continued focus on the tragic loss of lives to gun violence.”
The 2016 ESPYS, hosted by WWE Superstar John Cena, will air live on Wednesday, July 13, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets are available for public purchase at AXS.com. For additional ESPYS news and information, please follow the official Twitter handle: @ESPYS.
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award
The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is presented each year to individuals whose contributions transcend sports. Past honorees include: Jim Valvano (1993); Steve Palermo (1994); Howard Cosell (1995); Loretta Claiborne (1996); Muhammad Ali (1997); Dean Smith (1998); Billie Jean King (1999); Dave Sanders (2000); Olympian Cathy Freeman (2001); Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett and Jeremy Glick, four passengers who lost their lives September 11 on United Flight 93 (2002); Pat and Kevin Tillman (2003); Liberian-born soccer legend George Weah (2004); disabled athletes Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah and Jim MacLaren (2005); Afghan female athletes (2006); and Trevor Ringland and Dave Cullen for their work with PeacePlayers (2007); U.S. Olympians Tommie Smith and John Carlos (2008); former president Nelson Mandela (2009); the Thomas family of Parkersburg, IA (2010); boxer Dewey Bozella (2011); women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt (2012); Robin Roberts (2013), Michael Sam (2014) and Caitlyn Jenner (2015).
The U.S. battle over bathrooms and wedding cakes is pushing many African-American leaders in the South to the forefront of the latest civil rights frontier, as the threat of discrimination overshadows long-held reservations on gay issues.
In Mississippi, black legislators have led calls to repeal their state's newly adopted law permitting those with religious objections to deny wedding services to same-sex couples and impose dress and bathroom limits on transgender residents.
The president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Mississippi is a plaintiff in a lawsuit seeking to block the measure from taking effect on July 1. A federal judge was to hear testimony in the case on Thursday.
In North Carolina, dozens have been arrested at statehouse rallies organized by a diverse coalition led by the state NAACP conference to protest a new law barring transgender people from using the bathrooms of their choice.
"Here we are again, facing discrimination towards a group of people," said Sonya Williams Barnes, a Mississippi black lawmaker who opposed the measure and fears that her race could be the next target. "Who knows where that is going to lead to."
Just four years after President Barack Obama rocked the religious black community by supporting gay marriage, black leaders are becoming some of the most forceful allies in the fight against a recent wave of legislation seen as harmful to lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender (LGBT) people.
Here is a clear example of no matter how important you may be that Ma still gets the last word. Congressman Keith Ellison was in a meeting when the John Lewis led sit in started in congress. He received this note ( a note which I believe was edited by the staffer to get the phrase "your ass" out of it) from his mom through a staffer.
Minutes latter Congressman Ellison posted the following tweet:
Sitting in on House Floor against Gun violence & Majority's unwillingness to protect Americans from slaughter. pic.twitter.com/SvZ5cV45nn
The Baltimore Police van driver accused of giving a "rough ride" that killed Freddie Gray was acquitted of all charges Thursday by Circuit Judge Barry Williams.
Officer Caesar Goodson Jr., 46, had faced the most serious charges of any of the six officers indicted in Gray's arrest and death last April, including second-degree depraved heart murder. Goodson was also acquitted of three counts of manslaughter, second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.
His acquittal, which comes after Williams considered the charges for three days, throws the rest of the cases into jeopardy. The other officers charged face similar, but lesser accusations.
Rep. John Lewis took the floor of the US House of Representatives and lead his fellow democrats in a sit in to hold the floor until the Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, allows a vote the "no fly, no buy" bill legislation. Watch Lewis give his speech before the sit in below.
A Republican congressman is trying to block the Treasury from redesigning U.S. currency, a move that could prevent the government from replacing Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill with abolitionist Harriet Tubman.
Rep. Steve King of Iowa has offered an amendment to a spending bill barring the use of funds to redesign any Federal Reserve note or coin.
Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew announced the changes in April. Tubman would become the first African-American on U.S. paper currency and the first woman on paper currency in a century.
Alexander Hamilton's portrait will remain on the front of the $10 bill. The back is to be redesigned to feature Susan B. Anthony.
It wasn't immediately clear why King opposed the redesign. His office did not immediately respond to messages.
In a letter sent to both the Sanders and Hillary Clinton campaigns, the Congressional Black Caucus expressed e opposition to two key reforms demanded by Sanders. Those reforms being abolishing the party’s superdelegate system and especially opening Democratic primaries up to independents and Republicans. The CBC feels that would dilute minority voting strength. Read that letter below.
June 18, 2016 An Open Letter to our Democratic Colleagues and Party Leaders To: Secretary Hillary Clinton Senator Bernie Sanders Hon. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, Chair, DNC
Hon. Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader Senator Harry Reid, Senate Democratic Leader To Whom It May Concern:
The Democratic Members of the Congressional Black Caucus recently voted unanimously to oppose any
suggestion or idea to eliminate the category of Unpledged Delegate to the Democratic National
Convention (aka Super Delegates) and the creation of uniform open primaries in all states. The Democratic Party benefits from the current system of unpledged delegates to the National
Convention by virtue of rules that allow members of the House and Senate to be seated as a delegate
without the burdensome necessity of competing against constituents for the honor of representing the
state during the nominating process. The origin of the unpledged delegate selection process authored by Congressman James E. Clyburn, DSC
is attached to this letter. It accurately chronicles the use of the unpledged delegate system and sets
out with particularity the reasons why this system was enacted many years ago. The system of allowing
members of Congress to serve as unpledged delegates has worked quite well. There is no need to
succumb to the pressure of a few individuals to make this change. We oppose any change to the
current delegate selection process for members of Congress. The CBC is opposed to any state nominating system that would allow independent or Republican voters
to participate in a Democratic Primary. The Democratic Party primary is the process used by the party to
allow political aspirants to compete for their party’s nomination. Allowing independent or Republican
voters to participate in the Democratic primary would dilute minority voting strength in many districts
across the country. Finally, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus respectfully request that we be included in any
discussion that will change the system of unpledged delegates. In addition, we should be included in
any discussion that would seek to change the nominating rules to open primaries. These are significant
issues that directly affects our ability to effectively participate in the political process. Thank you. Sincerely,
G.K. Butterfield G. K. Butterfield, Chairman Democratic Caucus of the Congressional Black Caucus
Hillary Clinton's campaign is taking the reins of the Democratic National Committee, installing a new top official on Thursday to oversee the party's day-to-day operations through the general election.
Brandon Davis, national political director for the Service Employees International Union, will become the general election chief of staff for the Democratic Party. His selection formalizes the coordination of the Clinton campaign and the committee
Davis, 38, oversees the political efforts at one of the country's largest labor unions. He has also worked as political director to Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri.
Wasserman Schultz welcomed Davis to party headquarters on Thursday morning. While she will remain in her position as the party's chairwoman, at least through the convention next month in Philadelphia, her role diminishes with the Clinton campaign's takeover of the committee.
The appointment of Davis is intended to allay some of the concerns about party leadership. It is a standard transition, as Clinton becomes the presumptive Democratic nominee.
I was talking to my daughter while we were getting something to eat and the store owner had up a picture of Ibtihaj Muhammad, a local and successful fencer from Maplewood NJ who is on the US National Team headed to the Rio Olympics. I asked my daughter if she knew who it was and she guessed that it might be one of Muhammad Ali's children. My wife and I laughed and then explained to her who it was. My daughter wondered how was she supposed to know who she was if nobody told her. I thought about that and decided she's quite right, so everybody meet Ibtihaj Muhammad.
HOMETOWN: Maplewood, N.J.
BIRTH YEAR: 1985
A five-time Senior World team medalist and 2014 Senior World Team Champion, Muhammad will make history in Rio as the first U.S. woman compete in the Olympic Game in hijab. Ranked as high as No. 7 in the world during the 2015-16 season, Muhammad has won both individual and team medals on the World Cup circuit.
Common is set to star in a television adaptation of “Black Samurai,” Variety has learned exclusively.
The TV project, currently in development, is based on Marc Olden’s 1974 book series, which inspired the 1977 film of the same name. Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA is attached as an exec producer.
Producers are currently shopping the project. Once a network is attached, the search for a writer and director will begin. With Common attached to star, the hot project is already garnering much interest.
“Black Samurai” follows the story of Robert Sand (played by Common) who is rescued by a Japanese samurai master and trained for seven years. After suffering from vicious racism in the military, and seeing his teacher and fellow samurai killed before his eyes by terrorists, Robert Sand becomes a killing machine, out to destroy the corrupt powers who had taken the lives of his friends.
The Oakland police department’s history of misconduct — particularly involving African-Americans — has made it the subject of federal oversight for 13 years. Wednesday, Stanford researchers released the results of a two-year-long study into the department, confirming that Oakland officers exhibit significant racial biases in their day-to-day work.
A Congresswoman who is “sick and tired” of drug testing welfare recipients has introduced a bill in Congress that would subject the rich to many of those same requirements.
Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., unveiled Thursday the Top 1% Accountability Act, which would require those claiming itemized deductions of more than $150,000 on their tax returns to submit to drug tests or file for less generous tax deductions.
The proposal is a shot across the bow at Republican governors in states, including Moore’s home state of Wisconsin, that require the recipients of certain welfare benefit programs to be drug tested in order to remain eligible to receive assistance.
“As a strong advocate for social programs aimed at combating poverty, it deeply offends me that there is such a deep stigma surrounding those who depend on government benefits, especially as a former welfare recipient,” Moore said in a statement. “Sadly, Republicans across the country continue to implement discriminatory policies that criminalize the less fortunate and perpetuate false narratives about the most vulnerable among us.”
Moore, who represents Milwaukee, used welfare benefits to work herself out of poverty when she was younger and has said that her goal is to ensure others have the same opportunity.
“I’m grateful for the taxpayers for [welfare], and I have given back tenfold,” Moore told the Guardian. “I think everyone should have that same opportunity.”
Condoleezza Rice, who served George W. Bush as national security adviser and then secretary of state, has zero interest in being Donald Trump’s running mate, her chief of staff said Friday.
“Dr. Rice has repeatedly said in past cycles as well as this one, she’s not interested in being vice president,” Georgia Godfrey told Yahoo News in a statement. “She’s happy at Stanford and plans to stay.”
Rice will also stay away from Cleveland, where Republicans are expected to anoint the volatile entrepreneur as their candidate. “She does not plan to go to the convention,” Godfrey said.
Oprah Winfrey signaled her endorsement of presumptive Democratic party presidential nominee Hillary Clinton in an interview that aired today on “Good Morning America.”. Watch the announcement below.
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Clear View Group (CVG), today announced that it has acquired the assets of Ebony Media, the publisher of Ebony Magazine, the premiere destination for African-American cultural insight, news and perspective. The iconic brands of EBONY and JET are under new management and heading in a bold new direction and will now be known as Ebony Media. The Clear View Group is an African American led investment group that brings to bear over twenty-five years of experience creating, developing and running successful corporations.
“We are excited about the future of Ebony Media and the opportunity to position the enterprise for long term growth. Our team has a true understanding of the Ebony brand as well as its legacy, and is committed to providing its audience with premium content across all media platforms,” said Michael Gibson, CEO of Clear View Group and Chairman of Ebony Media.This acquisition will position Ebony Media for long-term growth by diversifying its revenue streams and expanding its business footprint by magnifying black culture through a wide spectrum of print, event and digital mediums.
Moving forward, Linda Johnson Rice will serve as Chairman-Emeritus and will continue to be on the board of Ebony Media. Cheryl Mayberry McKissack will lead Ebony Media as the CEO. The Clear View Group will be led by Michael Gibson, who will also serve as the Chairman of Ebony Media.
"This is the next chapter in retaining the legacy that my father, John H. Johnson, built to ensure the celebration of African-Americans," said Linda Johnson Rice.
“I am excited about the opportunity to lead these world renowned brands to the next level, expanding the editorial offerings for our readership while providing new opportunities to our valued advertising partners,” Mayberry McKissack states. “Through offerings such as our annual 'Power 100' event and issue, ground breaking covers on 'The Body Brigade', Women Up and Black Hollywood events, and expanding our digital coverage, we are already seeing tremendous gains in extending our brand’s reach well beyond paper and electrons. Our legacy is not only thriving, it’s evolving.”
There are also exciting changes in store for the editorial direction of the publications. Kyra Kyles, who previously led the digital editorial strategy and operations, is promoted to Editor-in-Chief/SVP Digital Editorial, overseeing editorial content across both print and digital platforms. Kyles, a longtime content producer who has co-created and directed award-winning, viral Webisodes, will unify print, digital and social operations in an unprecedented move to enrich the overall audience’s experience. Kierna Mayo, current EIC of Ebony, will be leaving to pursue other endeavors.
About Clear View Group
Clear View Group specializes in private equity acquisitions of U.S. based, middle market companies. By partnering with businesses with experienced and proven operating management, Clear View Group helps mid level companies to grow their profitability through proven professional financial models.
I'm sure by now that you have read or heard about Donald Trump's racist attacks against Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel. Whay you may not have heard and may not know is that Curiel is a member of the black fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi. Thomas L. Battles, Jr. the Grand Polemarch has released the following statement backing their brother.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is proud to acknowledge that The Honorable Gonzalo P. Curiel is a member of the Fraternity having been initiated at the Alpha Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, at Indiana University Bloomington, where in 1911, undergraduate student Elder Watson Diggs,and 9 other bold men founded the organization.
Judge Curiel is a highly regarded jurist whose distinguished academic and professional career personifies Kappa Alpha Psi's founding motto: "Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor." Judge Curiel, like Johnny Cochran, Earl B Dickerson and many others before him, continues to serve this nation as judges, lawyers, and supporters of the constitution.
Headquartered in Philadelphia PA, Kappa Alpha Psi is an international historically Black Greek-lettered Organization. Having been founded in an era of Jim Crow and racial segregation, Kappa Alpha Psi's 10 Founders took great pains to make sure no man would ever be excluded from membership into the fraternity due to his religion, color, creed or national origin. In fact, today Kappa Alpha Psi enjoys a diverse membership of high achieving men from all backgrounds with chapters in Germany, The Republic of Korea, Japan, and throughout Africa.
Kappa Alpha Psi stands firmly against the practice of judging a man solely by his race, creed, or national origin. We believe all Americans are entitled to the freedoms afforded by the Constitution without regards to race. Our fraternity will continue to oppose all forms of racism and rebuke those who promote this evil.
Today, an annoyed President Obama addressed Donald Trump's ridiculous statements about a Muslim ban in the wake of the Orlando shootings. He also took on those who whine because President Obama and his administration doesn't use terms like radical Islam or radical jihadist terrorism. In his own way he broke it down to say that it doesn't make a difference what we call them, they will still try to attack us. Most rational people would get the President's argument but Trump and his supporters and like ilk just don't get it. So I'm here to explain it to them using something they can understand, zombies.
We all know what zombies are and can agree that they are not very nice to be around with their nasty habit of trying to eat people. The living dead go by many names like zombies, walkers, biters, or the infected. For arguments sake, I have invented the term Radical Infected Dead Cannibal to describe the living dead.
Now must sane people know no matter what you call them things are going to end badly if you encounter them.
If a zombie bites you, you're f*cked!
If a walker bites you, you're f*cked!
If a biter bites you, you're f*cked!
If one of the infected bites you, you're f*cked!
If a Radical Infected Dead Cannibal bites you.....................................................your still f*cked.
You see, what you call a threat doesn't matter. Do you think calling a zombie a Radical Infected Dead Cannibal is going to make that zombie suddenly stop and say, 'Hey, that hurt my feelings. I'm just going to leave and not bite you now?"
Do you think the military or police would fight the dead hordes differently based on what term you chose to call them? No, those entities are still going to try to eliminate the threat.
Now even Trump supporters should have picked up the pattern there and are probably feeling an unusual feeling coming from their brain region. Don't worry that's called thinking and it won't hurt you.
How about we stop wasting time arguing a useless thing like what to call terrorist and worry about how to keep a terrorist from getting assault rifles while in the United States. You know like keeping people under incestigation for terrorism or that or own the no fly list from buying weapons? That would actually help.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson endorsed Hillary Clinton on Saturday, continuing a recent string of high-profile endorsements for the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Jackson, speaking in Chicago, said he trusts that Clinton will look out for the interests of marginalized communities including refugees, immigrants and the poor.
"We trust her to work on health care, to fight for the poor ... for the willingness to fight for civil rights," Jackson said.
WASHINGTON, DC - In a gathering with leadership of the Human Rights Campaign and civil rights allies Sunday in Washington, DC, NAACP President Cornell William Brooks issued the following statement in response to the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando by a heavily-armed man overnight:
“On behalf of the millions of members and supporters of the NAACP I want to assert clearly that we stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart and hand in hand with our brothers and sisters in the LGBTQ community.
“When you violate, when you desecrate, when you assassinate the humanity of any of us, it is a civil rights issue at the top of the NAACP’s agenda. This moment that we find ourselves in is a trying hour in the midst of this imperfect union of American democracy.
“We should remember that this is the holy month of Ramadan, as well as Pride month. It is nearly a year to the day when nine students of scripture were assassinated in a church in Charleston, S.C. When people take the lives of God’s children on the Sabbath day, people of every faith, every ethnicity and every hue have to stand up, take notice and speak out. It is just that clear.
“Our hearts are extended to every man and woman who lost their relative, a child, a loved one or a friend. As we continue to see the devastation and horror this latest act of hate has caused, we must create empathy and compassion to stand against it. This is a trying hour, a difficult hour, but we are in the midst of a season of love, where we will all stand up for the rights of one another. We continue to call for sensible gun control, and for a society that allows every person to live without persecution for being who they are.
“This day was a violation against our values as Americans. As such, we have to be clear, we have to be strong and we have to demonstrate our resolve. We will not allow the forces of hate to take down our citizens or turn us away from our devotion to a better world. We will not allow our values to be violated.”
