Simone Manuel: First African-American woman to medal in an individual swimming event.

Simone Manuel won a gold medal in the women's 100 freestyle final Thursday night, surprising even herself.

Her jaw dropped as she looked up to the scoreboard and saw a tie for gold and an Olympic-record time of 52.70 seconds. A FINA official confirmed that Manuel is the first African American woman to win Olympic gold in an individual event.

The last time an American woman won gold in the event was 1984, when Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer also tied.

This is the first tie for a gold medal since Anthony Ervin and Gary Hall Jr. did it in the 50 free in Sydney in 2000.

[SOURCE]

Some black business owners strain to sell to black consumers

When Terina McKinney displays her leather bags and belts at events attended primarily by black women, they are often interested in her designs, and in her experience as an African-American business owner. But she seldom makes sales.

“They all ooh and ahh and ask a ton of questions, but don’t necessarily make purchases,” says McKinney, whose Jypsea Leathergoods products range from $20 to $325. Instead, her customers tend to be white or Asian women. While calls have been increasing for black consumers to support black-owned businesses with their buying power estimated at more than $1.2 trillion a year, social media campaigns with momentum like (hash)buyblack are relatively new. And McKinney’s frustration is shared by some other black business owners who say they can find it hard to sell to black consumers.

The factors can be logistical or practical, such as being located farther away or having higher prices than big chain stories, retail experts and civic leaders say. Scarcity can be a reason: It can be hard to find businesses owned by African-Americans. But other considerations might be emotional, like wanting a trendy design everyone is wearing, or the perception that national brands are better.

“There’s a myth that’s been placed on our communities for many generations: White people’s ice is colder. White businesses are superior to black businesses,” says Ron Busby, president of the U.S. Black Chambers, a national business organization for black-owned companies. “We have to change that mentality. We have to be better, conscientious consumers.”

Read More: Some black business owners strain to sell to black consumers

Justice Department Announces Findings of Investigation into Baltimore Police Department

The U.S. Department of Justice has released its damning findings after an investigation into the Baltimore Police Department. The report confirms that the BPD is a national disgrace to all law enforcement and is a hotbed of civil rights abuses and police misconduct. The department regularly engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution as well as federal anti-discrimination laws. BPD alos makes stops, searches and arrests without the required justification and sadly that's just the top of the iceberg. Read more about the USDOJ's findings below.

Justice Department Finds a Pattern of Civil Rights Violations by the Baltimore Police Department

The Justice Department announced today that it found reasonable cause to believe that the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) engages in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the First and Fourth Amendments of the Constitution as well as federal anti-discrimination laws.  BPD makes stops, searches and arrests without the required justification; uses enforcement strategies that unlawfully subject African Americans to disproportionate rates of stops, searches and arrests; uses excessive force; and retaliates against individuals for their constitutionally-protected expression.  The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies that have persisted within BPD for many years and has exacerbated community distrust of the police, particularly in the African-American community.  The city and the department have also entered into an agreement in principle to work together, with community input, to create a federal court-enforceable consent decree addressing the deficiencies found during the investigation.

“Public trust is critical to effective policing and public safety,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch.  “Our investigation found that Baltimore is a city where the bonds of trust have been broken, and that the Baltimore Police Department engaged in a pattern or practice of unlawful and unconstitutional conduct, ranging from the use of excessive force to unjustified stops, seizures and arrests.  The results of our investigation raise serious concerns, and in the days ahead, the Department of Justice will continue working tirelessly to ensure that all Baltimoreans enjoy the safety, security and dignity they expect and deserve.  I am grateful to all of the community members, local officials, faith leaders and current and former police officers who spoke with us during the course of our inquiry, and whose input will remain critical to our efforts as we move forward.  Additionally, I commend the city and BPD for its proactive and collaborative approach to our inquiry and for demonstrating a strong commitment to restoring public confidence by already taking steps to make needed changes.  I look forward to continuing our work together to implement urgent and necessary reforms.”

“We found that BPD has engaged in a pattern or practice of serious violations of the U.S. Constitution and federal law that has disproportionately harmed Baltimore’s African-American community and eroded the public’s trust in the police,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division.  “The agency also fails to provide officers with the guidance, oversight and resources they need to police safely, constitutionally and effectively.  In communities across America, even in communities where trust has been broken, we’ve seen transformative reform rebuild relationships and advance public safety.  In the weeks ahead, as we negotiate our consent decree with the city, we will seek input from law enforcement and community members.  With the city and commissioner’s commitment to reform, I am optimistic that we will work to drive that same progress in Baltimore.”

In May 2015, Attorney General Lynch announced the comprehensive investigation into the BPD after considering requests from city officials and hearing directly from community members about a potential pattern or practice of constitutional violations.  The investigation focused on BPD’s use of force, including deadly force; stops, searches and arrests; and discriminatory policing.

In the course of its pattern or practice investigation, the department interviewed and met with city leaders and police officials, including BPD Commissioner Kevin Davis, former commissioners and numerous officers throughout all ranks of the police department; accompanied line officers on dozens of ride-alongs in every police district; conducted hundreds of interviews and participated in meetings with community members, activists, and other stakeholders; reviewed hundreds of thousands of pages of police documents, including all relevant policies and training materials; and analyzed BPD’s data on internal affairs, use of force, sexual assault cases and pedestrian stops, searches and arrests.

During the course of its investigation, the department found that the legacy of “zero tolerance” street enforcement, along with deficient policies, training and accountability systems, resulted in conduct that routinely violates the Constitution and federal anti-discrimination law.  Throughout the investigation, the department heard consistently from both the community and law enforcement that BPD requires significant reforms to address problems that undermine its efforts to police constitutionally and effectively.  

The department found reasonable cause to believe that BPD engages in a pattern or practice of:

Conducting stops, searches and arrests without meeting the requirements of the Fourth Amendment;
Focusing enforcement strategies on African Americans, leading to severe and unjustified racial disparities in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Safe Streets Act;
Using unreasonable force in violation of the Fourth Amendment;
Interacting with individuals with mental health disabilities in a manner that violates the Americans with Disabilities Act; and
Interfering with the right to free expression in violation of the First Amendment.
The department also identified serious concerns about other BPD practices, including an inadequate response to reports of sexual assault, which may result, at least in part, from underlying gender bias.  Another significant concern identified by the department was transport practices that place detainees at significant risk of harm.

In the agreement in principle, both parties agreed that compliance with the consent decree will be reviewed by an independent monitor.  The agreement in principle highlights specific areas of reform to be included in the consent decree, including:

Policies, training, data collection and analysis to allow for the assessment of officer activity and to ensure that officers’ actions conform to legal and constitutional requirements;
Technology and infrastructure to ensure capability to effectively monitor officer activity;
Officer support to ensure that officers are equipped to perform their jobs effectively and constitutionally; and
Community policing strategies to guide all aspects of BPD’s operations and help rebuild the relationship between BPD and the various communities it serves.
The agreement in principle provides a framework for change, but the department will be doing community outreach to solicit input in developing comprehensive reforms.  Comments may be provided by email at Community.Baltimore@usdoj.govEmail links icon.  

Throughout the department’s investigation, BPD leadership remained receptive to preliminary feedback and technical assistance, and started the process of implementing reforms.  BPD leadership has proactively taken steps to address some of the findings, including updating its policies, instituting new trainings and responding to other issues identified by the department.  While these measures are an important start to cooperative reform, a comprehensive agreement is still needed to remedy all of the department’s findings.  

In October 2014, city and BPD leadership requested to enter a collaborative reform process with the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS office).  While the Civil Rights Division opened the pattern or practice investigation in May 2015, the COPS office, the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs and others have maintained their ongoing efforts to offer federal resources, such as technical assistance, to the BPD, city officials and community leaders.

This investigation was conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section with the assistance of law enforcement professionals pursuant to the pattern or practice provision of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.  Over the last seven years, the Special Litigation Section has opened 23 investigations into law enforcement agencies.  The section is enforcing 18 agreements with law enforcement agencies, including 14 consent decrees and one post-judgment order.  For more information on the Civil Rights Division and the Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt.

BPD Findings Report

What's going on with Michael Jordan?

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com EMAIL

In the last couple of weeks something has happened to NBA legend Michael Jordan. In the past, Jordan has been notorious for doing little to help his own while profiting off his own by selling them $200 sneakers that they can't afford. This is a man who for most of his professional life has avoided even talking about issues that affect African Americans. He has not done or said anything that might piss off anyone for fear of hurting sneaker and apparel sales of Nike and his own brand.

But recently things seem to be changing. Jordan has given $1 million to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and another $5 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. That's not the Michael Jordan many of us have always heard about.

What is going on here? I have three theories.

THEORY ONE: An alien has inhabited the body of Michael Jordan and is trying to curry favor among humans before sending for his fleet of starships to blow us all to hell and take our entire species as a food source.

THEORY TWO: As Theory #1 is probably not likely here is my second theory. Mr. Jordan fell asleep and had a dream where three ghosts, the ghost of basketball past, the ghost of money loving present, and the ghost of lonely and despised future came to give him a visit. Jordan woke up terrified after seeing his grave site that no one except Nike employees visits and vowed to mend his selfish ways.

THEORY THREE: This is what I think is the most likely theory. Mr. Jordan has started to realize that he doesn't live in a bubble and is acknowledging what is going on around him. He has seen young NBA players like Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul step up and want to help their communities with just not words but with their actions. Jordan did a self-check after watching those younger players and realized that it's a shame that he didn't carry on the activist legacy of James Brown, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Muhammad Ali. He then realized that he is still a relatively young man, and there is still much that he can do with his fame, voice, and yes his money.

Micheal Jordan may not have come to this point in life when many of us would have liked him to, but it's better late than ever.

NAACP National President Cornell William Brooks arrested after sit in

NAACP National President and CEO Cornell William Brooks was charged with trespassing by local police after refusing to leave a Congressman’s district office in southwest Virginia on Monday.

The charges came after a six-hour, nonviolent protest calling for restoration of the Voting Rights Act in the Roanoke office of Representative Bob Goodlatte, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

After refusing to leave the building, Brooks was cited by Roanoke Police Department at the end of the business day along with Stephen Green, national director for the NAACP Youth and College Division. The protest was accompanied throughout the afternoon by members of the Roanoke NAACP and youth council.

NAACP officials have been urging congressional action to restore federal protection against state laws barring ballot access in states with the worst histories of voter suppression and discrimination. Goodlatte chair the House Judiciary Committee, which has refused to hold hearings on legislation to combat egregious voter discrimination in recent years.

“We’ve seen a Machiavellian frenzy of voter suppression in states that have worked deliberately and creatively to make it harder for young people, college students, minorities to vote for the candidate and party of their choice on Nov. 8,” Brooks said. “With the fate of our national moral character at stake, we must hold our elected leaders responsible to act to uphold the constitutional rights guaranteed for all citizens to vote and participate in our democracy.”

It is the 51st anniversary since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6, 1965, effectively banning state laws that denied the vote to black and minority voters for decades in Virginia and other southern states. Three years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down portions of the law that prohibited states from changing local election laws without federal review in the case of Shelby v. Holder.

Within days of the 2013 ruling, several states enacted exclusive voting laws designed to prevent young, old and minority residents from voting by requiring hard-to-obtain ID cards to register and cast a ballot on election days, as well as cutting back on successful registration programs and early voting hours that drove minority turnout to record-setting levels in 2008 and 2012.

Federal courts last month struck down voting laws in Kansas, Georgia, North Carolina, North Dakota, Michigan, Texas and Wisconsin as attempts to deliberately prevent entire populations from having easy access to the ballot.
After hours of occupying his office, Goodlatte issued a statement declining to take further action, saying that remaining provisions in the law are adequate. Brooks said the statement is insufficient.

“Congressman Goodlatte has said that he would support strengthening the Voting Rights Act if discrimination could be shown.  Six courts and six states have revealed such discrimination.  In the Congressman’s home state of Virginia, the U.S. Court Appeals for the Fourth Circuit found intentional discrimination in voting by the state of North Carolina,” Brooks said. “It is time for Congressman Goodlatte and Congress to honor the demonstrations of the past, and these demonstrations today to stop this widespread abuse. The congressman’s refusal to act for three years is insulting to these young men and women who want to exercise their basic rights under the Constitution.”  

Why Black Teens May Feel Pulled Between Health and Hair

Cultural pressure surrounding hair is so powerful that some African-American adolescents say they avoid sweating because it could mess up their tresses.

Gym class, school sports and other exercise routines bring important health benefits. But sweating also means potentially bad hair days and ruining time-consuming and costly hairstyles.

So Woolford, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit, along with her sister Carole Woolford-Hunt, Ph.D., of Andrews University in Michigan, and David Williams, Ph.D., of Harvard University, studied this cultural phenomenon. The researchers asked: Are lower levels of physical activity among African-American teens related to hair care?

The small study, which was recently published in BMC Obesity, included 36 African-American girls ages 14 to 17 in three states. The authors found a consistent theme among participants: Adolescent girls preferred straightened hair, which was viewed as the most “attractive” style, and said they avoided getting wet or sweating during exercise because they worried it would ruin their hairstyle.

Four main themes emerged from the study:

When concerns about hairstyles began between ages 8 and 15, participants changed from “juvenile” (natural) styles to “adult” (straightened) styles.

Participants avoided getting wet or sweating during exercise because their straightened hair became “nappy.”

Braids with extensions and natural styles were viewed as better for exercise, but not viewed as attractive.

Participants almost universally selected long, straight hairstyles as most attractive. Some thought short, natural hair was OK but that it “only looks good on some people.”

Read more about the study here: Why Black Teens May Feel Pulled Between Health and Hair

Micheal Jordan pledges 5 million to National Museum of African American History and Culture

Basketball icon Michael Jordan has donated $5 million to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, museum officials announced Monday.

The gift, the largest from a sports figure to the 19th Smithsonian museum, pushes private donations to the museum to $278 million. Including federal aid, the museum, which President Obama will open Sept. 24, has raised more than $548 million.

The Chicago Bulls star also gave a jersey that he wore during the 1996 NBA Finals to the museum’s permanent collection. In recognition of the gifts, the museum will name a section of its sports gallery the Michael Jordan Hall.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to support this museum,” Jordan said in a statement. “I also am indebted to the historic contributions of community leaders and athletes such as Jesse Owens, whose talent, commitment and perseverance broke racial barriers and laid the groundwork for the successful careers of so many African Americans in athletics and beyond.”

[SOURCE]

Black Olympian Spotlight: Jenny Arthur, Weightlifting

Other Black Olympians: Shakur Stevenson boxer, Colton Brown wrestler

The 2016 Olympics are now under way and I will be highlighting black athletes competing in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio who wont get as much publicity as a Serena Williams or the USA men's basketball team. I would like to introduce to you to weightlifter Jenny Arthur.

Weight class: 69kg

Height: 5'5

What year did you being lifting? October 2009

How did you get involved? I started lifting to improve in other sports.

Favorite Competition Lift? Clean and Jerk 

Favorite Training Lift? Snatch off the blocks

Education: I want to major in Child Development.

Personal Goals: I feel my talents are a complete gift from God so my goals are to use them with the best of my ability.

Favorite Food: Chinese Food

Favorite Book: Bible

Favorite TV Show: Extreme Home Makeover

Favorite song that gets you motivated: Victory By Yolanda Adams

Hobbies/Interested outside of Weightlifting: Spending time with family/friends,Track and Field,Tennis, Softball and reading magazines.

Most people don’t know that….I want to volunteer at many different homeless shelters across the world.

Black Olympian Spotlight: Colton Brown, Wrestler

Other Black Olympians: Jenny Arthur weightlifting,Shakur Stevenson boxer

The 2016 Olympics are now under way and I will be highlighting black athletes competing in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio who wont get as much publicity as a Serena Williams or the USA men's basketball team. I would like to introduce you to Piscataway, N.J. wrestler, Colton Brown.

Ranked No. 27 in the world, Brown earns his first Olympic team selection riding a wave of progress, including winning a silver medal at the 2016 Pan American Championships after fifth-place finishes the prior two years. The 24-year-old has won world cup or continental open medals on five continents, including five medals on four continents in 2015. He won the Pan American U-20 title in 2010.

2015

Oceania Open Wollongong – BRONZE
European Open Glasgow – SILVER
Pan American Open San Salvador – GOLD
Pan American Senior Championships – BRONZE
Pan American Open Buenos Aires – BRONZE
Pan American Open Montevideo – 5th Place
Pan American Open Santiago – 5th Place
African Open Tunis – SILVER

2014

NCAA National Championships - GOLD
Pan American Open, Montevideo - BRONZE
Pan American Open, Santiago - BRONZE
Pan American Championships - 5th Place

2013

NCAA National Championships - GOLD
US Senior National Championships - SILVER
Miami Grand Prix - BRONZE
Pan American Open, San Salvador - SILVER

Suicide Squad opening weekend success driven by African American & Latino moviegoers

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.com

The $135 million plus opening weekend success of Suicide Squad can be attributed in part to its appeal to minority moviegoers. It seems that using a Fast & Furious type casting approach when it comes to diversity helped drive minority auds to the theater to see the film. It should be no surprise (except to studio heads) that Black and Latino audiences turned out to see to see actors like Will Smith (Deadshot), Jay Hernandez (El Diablo), and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Killer Croc) playing superheroes/supervillians.

After seeing it I can attest that although fun and action packed it is not a good film and appears to have scenes that were cut out after the team finally gets together. There are none of the obligatory get to know you, don't like you, fight you, and then like you bonding scenes that help you get to know the characters. But that didn't stop minority audiences from going to see the superhero/supervillain film that featured characters they felt they could relate to.

Per PostTrak, the combination of African American and Hispanic moviegoers made up a huge 41% of the audience with both audiences giving the film a whopping 81% positive score. [SOURCE]

The diverse film cast includes Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, and Cara Delevingne.

Black Olympian Spotlight: Shakur Stevenson, boxer

Other Black Olympians: Jenny Arthur weightlifting, Colton Brown wrestler

The 2016 Olympics are now under way and I will be highlighting black athletes competing in the 2016 Summer Games in Rio. I would like to start of with someone who is from Newark NJ which is right next door to me. That person would be boxer Shakur Stevenson, who many believe gives the United States a good chance at earning it's first gold medal in boxing in 12 years.

Shakur is the oldest of nine siblings and loves being a big brother...He proudly represents his hometown of Newark, N.J., and wants to bring something positive to the city that built him....Shakur began boxing at age five after his grandfather Wali Moses introduced him to the sport and he's been there ever since....He's known for shadowboxing all the time every where he goes. His grandfather jokes that he knew Shakur was awake as a kid because he'd hear that sounds of him shadow boxing...He's named after rapper Tupac Shakur...He's looking to follow in the footsteps of his idol and the last American man to win a boxing gold medal Andre Ward....Shakur has a perfect 23-0 international record and is the first American male to win junior and youth world titles and a Youth Olympic Games gold medal

Sport: Boxing

Discipline(s): Boxing

Weight Class: Bantamweight

Height: 5-8

Weight: 123 lbs

DOB: 6/28/1997

Hometown: Newark, N.J.

Team/Club: Alexandria Boxing Club

Coach(es): Kay Koroma and Wali Moses

Olympic Experience

• 2016 U.S. OLYMPIAN

World Championship Experience

• 2014 YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
• 2013 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Youth Championship Experience

• 2014 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES GOLD MEDALIST

Other Career Highlights

• AMERICAS OLYMPIC QUALIFIER GOLD MEDALIST
• WORLD SERIES OF BOXING BOXER OF THE WEEK
• OLYMPIC TRIALS CHAMPION AND OUTSTANDING BOXER
• TWO-TIME YOUTH OPEN CHAMPION
• 2013 JUNIOR OPEN AND JUNIOR OLYMPIC CHAMPION

Donald Trump declines invitation too speak at National Urban League Conference

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.com

For a guy that claims that the "blacks love him" and who constantly says he will get upwards of 25% of the black vote Donald trump sure doesn't seem to want to actually talk to black voters.

In what is not much of a surprise since he also skipped out on a chance to speak to the NAACP Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump has declined an invite to speak at the 2016 National Urban League conference being held in Baltimore from August 3-6.

The Trump campaign has given no reason for declining the invite to the conference.

In contrast while Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton could not make the event she did send her vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine to speak in her absence.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake criticized Trump's decision in the Baltimore sun newspaper:

"If you plan to be president, you should plan to be president of the entire United States, and when you have a national organization of this stature and refuse to participate at this national conference, it speaks to what your priorities are moving forward," Rawlings-Blake said. "African-Americans in this country have a strong tradition, a strong history and an extremely powerful future.

"You cannot think you're going to have an inclusive country, a country that is good for all of America, without including African-Americans."

[QUOTE SOURCE]

Obama presidential library to be built on Chicago's south side

The Obama Foundation made the formal announcement Wednesday that Jackson Park (Chicago) will officially host the Obama Presidential Center.

Being Black Wearing Blue: Black cops speak out

Four black police officers interviewed with Thisisinsider.com. The black officers discussed being a black cop on a force where the community is treated badly, Black Lives Matter, and how they are treated and viewed by other cops and their own communities. Watch the intriguing video below.

Green Party candidate Jill Stein names Ajamu Baraka as her running mate

Green Party presumptive Presidential nominee Jill Stein has offered her vice-presidential bid to international human rights scholar and activist Ajamu Baraka.

 "I am honored and excited to announce that my running mate in the 2016 presidential election will be Ajamu Baraka, activist, writer, intellectual and organizer with a powerful voice, vision, and lifelong commitment to building true political revolution,” Stein announced.

 "Ajamu Baraka is a powerful, eloquent spokesperson for the transformative, radical agenda whose time has come - an agenda of economic, social, racial, gender, climate, indigenous and immigrant justice. Ajamu’s life’s work has embodied the immortal words of Dr. Martin Luther King: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," Stein continued. "In this hour of unprecedented crisis, we are honored to lift up a unified movement for justice in the only national political party that is not held hostage by corporate money, lobbyists and super-PACs. We look forward to bringing this agenda for justice to the American people in the exciting race ahead."

Ajamu Baraka is an internationally recognized human rights activist, organizer and geo-political analyst. Founding Executive Director of the US Human Rights Network (until 2011) and Coordinator of the U.S. based “Black Left Unity Network’s” Committee on International Affairs, Baraka has served on the boards of various national and international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International (USA) and the National Center for Human Rights Education. He has served on the boards of the Center for Constitutional Rights; Africa Action; Latin American Caribbean Community Center; Diaspora Afrique; and the Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights.

Baraka is a member of the Green Shadow Cabinet and an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) in Washington, D.C. An editor and contributing columnist for Black Agenda Report, Baraka has appeared on and been covered in a wide-range of print, broadcast, and digital media outlets such as CNN, BBC, the Tavis Smiley Show, ABC’s World News Tonight, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and Telemundo.

There had been earlier speculation that Stein would offer the spot to ex-Sanders surrogate and former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, who had been unfairly spurned at last week’s Democratic National Convention for her principled criticism of the DNC and Hillary Clinton. Stein confirmed that talks had taken place between her and Turner, but that the conditions were not right for a combined run.

"In the process of vetting and selecting a VP, I was honored to talk with several inspired activists," Stein said. "Among them, I especially appreciate Senator Turner's willingness to have discussed the VP position. The fit just wasn’t right, as Senator Turner is still committed to try to save the soul of the Democratic Party. While we may not agree on whether that is possible, I respect her passion to fight for the people and wish her the best in her effort."

Stein said she also discussed the position with author Chris Hedges, single payer healthcare activist and US Senate candidate Dr. Margaret Flowers (Green - Maryland), economic justice advocate and TPP opponent Kevin Zeese of PopularResistance.org, and Green Party activist and former Black Panther Party leader, Aaron Dixon.

Stein added that: "Our campaign is fully committed to the fight for a political revolution in a party with a demonstrated, unwavering commitment to that political revolution. We welcome the 60% of  Americans who want a principled alternative to the Democrats and Republicans. We are also happy to continue serving as a “plan B” safety net for discouraged reformers as they tire of the disempowering, uphill battle inside the Democratic Party that was so painfully on display at the Democratic National Convention."

Dr. Jill Stein is expected to be formally nominated as the Presidential candidate of the Green Party at their national convention in Houston on Saturday, August 6th.

#BankBlack: List of 23 Black Owned Banks

#BankBlack, a movement to get African Americans to put their money in their own banks and to invest in their own communities is gaining steam throughout the country. There are 23 black owned banks in the United States. If you are interested in opening an account at a Black-owned, FDIC-insured bank, here's the complete list below according to FederalReserve.gov:

ALABAMA

#1 - Alamerica Bank: This bank in Birmingham, Alabama provides a unique banking experience for underserved communities. Their staff of experienced bankers is committed to providing quality and personalized service, offering a full array of banking services, from deposit accounts to loans.

#2 - Commonwealth National Bank: At this bank in Mobile, Alabama, they believe that your business is unique and so your bank should be too. They offer free online banking with no minimum daily balance required, and a variety of business accounts designed to help you maximize your banking experience.

(Also see #11 - Liberty Bank, which has branch locations in Tuskegee and Montgomery, AL.)

CALIFORNIA

#3 - Broadway Federal Bank: Based in Los Angeles, California, this Black-owned bank aims to serve the real estate business and financial needs in underserved urban communities. They especially aim to meet the needs of minority consumers who want to take out conventional loans.

(Also see #13 - One United Bank, which has branch locations in Compton and Los Angeles, CA.)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (WASHINGTON, DC)

#4 - Industrial Bank: Headquarted in Washington, DC with branch locations in Oxon Hill and Forestville, MD, this bank has delivered essential banking and financial services since 1934 that have contributed greatly to the growth and development of the local Black community.

FLORIDA

#5 - Axiom Bank: Headquartered in Central Florida with branches throughout the Jacksonville, Orlando, and Tampa areas, this federally-chartered community bank serves the financial needs of its customers through a wide range of financial products. They provide retail banking services, including checking, deposit, and money market accounts, through 20 branch locations, 19 of which are inside select Walmart Supercenters.

(Also see #13 - One United Bank, which has branch locations in Miami, FL.)

GEORGIA

#6 - Carver State Bank: Established in 1927 in Savannah, Georgia, this Black-owned bank has has remained a financial services leader for all sectors of the Savannah community throughout its 85 years and is the only bank in the area with an outstanding Community Reinvestment Act Rating.

#7 - Citizens Trust Bank: Since their beginning in 1921, this Atlanta, GA-based bank has responded to market shifts by expanding their electronic platform while still providing the personal touch service that makes them unique to their customers. Thanks to an online #BankBlack social media campaign in July 2016, more than 8,000 new accounts were opened at their branch in just one week.

ILLINOIS:

#8 - Illinois Service Federal Bank: Based in Chicago, this bank aims to be a viable, growing, community development financial services institution responding innovatively to their primarily underserved and minority constituency with superb customer service.

#9 - Seaway Bank & Trust Company: This Chicago-based community bank serves families, non-profits and businesses in diverse neighborhoods. It was established in 1965 to counter discriminatory lending practices and is now recognized as one of the nation's largest minority-owned banks, with more than $400 million in assets and 240 employees.

(Also, see #11 - Liberty Bank, which has branch locations in Chicago, IL.)

KANSAS:

(See #11 - Liberty Bank, which has branch locations in Kansas City, KS.)

KENTUCKY:

#10 - Metro Bank: Based in Louisville, Kentucky, this Black-owned bank works to provide opportunity where before there was none - whether it is their involvement in a multi-million dollar New Markets Tax Credit project, or a start-up business loan to an entrepreneur providing a much-needed service in an underserved neighborhood.

LOUISIANA:

#11 - Liberty Bank: Primarily based in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, this bank has a sincere focus on service, integrity and a sincere interest in community and business development. Over the past four decades, they have also expanded to more than 18 branches in six states - including Kansas, Mississippi, Michigan, Missouri, Alabama, and Illinois.

MARYLAND:

#12 - Harbor Bank of Maryland: Opening its doors in 1982, this bank primarily serves the Baltimore metropolitan area, and offers checking, savings, time deposits, credit cards, debit card, commercial real estate, personal, home improvement, automobile, and other installment and term loans. They also have a branch in Riverdale, MD, PG County.

(Also, see #4 - Industrial Bank, which has branch locations in Oxon Hill and Forestville, MD.)

MASSACHUSSETTS:

#13 - One United Bank: The first Black internet bank and the largest Black-owned bank in the country, with offices in Los Angeles, Boston and Miami. They were awarded the highest Bank Enterprise Award by the U.S. Department of Treasury for their community development lending ten times, and they are a designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

MICHIGAN:

#14 - First Independence Bank: Based in Detroit, this bank was established in the 1970's to serve the financial needs of the urban community, its businesses, and its citizens. They say that no line of financial services is beyond their charter as long as they are serving the financial needs of businesses and families in the Black community.

(Also, see #11 - Liberty Bank, which has branch locations in Detroit, MI.)

MISSISSIPPI:

(See #11 - Liberty Bank, which has branch locations in Jackson, MS.)

MISSOURI:

(See #11 - Liberty Bank, which has branch locations in St. Louis, MO.)

NEW JERSEY:

#15 - City National Bank: Primarily based in Newark, NJ with branch locations in Harlem and Brooklyn, NYC, this Black-owned bank plays a pivotal role in strengthening urban communities. They call themselves a forward-thinking financial institution whose mission is to build economic strength and improve the quality of life within urban communities by providing the highest quality financial services, including low-cost business loans.

NEW YORK:

(See #15 - City National Bank, which has branch locations in Harlem and Brooklyn, NY.)

NORTH CAROLINA:

#16 - Mechanics & Farmers Bank: Founded in 1907, this bank is the 2nd oldest minority-owned bank in the United States. They have branches in Winston-Salem, Durham, Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte, and most of their deposits are recycled back into urban communities.

PENNSYLVANIA:

#17 - United Bank of Philadelphia: Based in the city of Philadelphia, this Black-owned bank says that all deposits stay right in the community in a cycle of community, inclusivity, and opportunity. They offer affordable banking services to individuals, families, small businesses, and non-profit organizations.

SOUTH CAROLINA:

#18 - South Carolina Community Bank: Based in Columbia, SC, this Black-controlled bank offers a select range of high priority personalized products and services to traditionally underserved communities, including small to medium sized businesses,

TENNESSEE:

#19 - Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company: With branch locations in Nashville and Memphis, TN, this community bank provides friendly and personal service to both individuals and small businesses. They are an equal opportunity employer with 32 full-time employees, 3 convenient offices and approximately $100 million in total assets.

#20 - Tri-State Bank of Memphis: With three branch locations throughout the Memphis area, this a community bank has proudly served the urban community for over 65 years and have a history of leadership, concern and commitment.

TEXAS:

#21 - Unity National Bank: Based in Houston, Texas, with a branch also in Missouri City, this Black-owned bank creates opportunities to help people and businesses grow and enhance the quality of life. They do that through service and services that respect their time, make banking easier and keep them financially competitive.

VIRGINIA:

#22 - First State Bank: Chartered in 1919 in Danville, VA, this locally-owned and operated bank provides the personal touch to banking services. From checking and savings products to loans and other financial investments, they offer a variety of options to fit your needs.

WISCONSIN:

#23 - Columbia Savings & Loan Association: Based in Milwaukee, WI, this is the oldest Black-owned financial institution in the state, and they have been serving commercial and individual accounts to urban customers since 1924. They offer checking accounts, and consumer and business loans.

Charles Barkley to host show on race titled 'Race Card'

NBA legend and Inside the NBA analyst Charles Barkley has had enough. The America that he knew has lost its way, becoming mired in partisan politics, social divides and entrenched corporate interests. Now he hopes to get to the root of the problem in the new limited-run series The Race Card. TNT has ordered six hour-long episodes of the show, with plans to launch in early 2017.

In The Race Card, Charles Barkley wants to bust up the echo chamber mentality that so often has people retreating to corners of the like-minded, where views are reinforced and ideas are distorted into angry, unexamined groupthink conclusions. Each week, Barkley will take on the rapidly calcifying positions around today’s hot-button topics. He will seek out the sharpest and most varied viewpoints from today’s cultural leaders and tastemakers. He will then challenge and probe those ideas, even trying them out on himself.

No idea presented on The Race Card will be left in the abstract. Barkley will put ideas on their feet, with real-world proof-of-concept tests that will engage people and expose the truth behind their closely held beliefs. In the end, Barkley will reach his own conclusions guided only by his own wits and common-sense wisdom.

"We as Americans never discuss the issue of race in this country and how it impacts everything in our lives until something bad happens," Barkley said. "I see this project as a way to talk about race, class and cultural differences and challenge everyone's status quo."

The Race Card is a Studio T production in association with DocShop Inc. and Kin Studios. Studio T is Turner's in-house studio which produces and owns original content airing on TNT and TBS. Serving as executive producers on The Race Card are Charles Barkley, Lee Gaither, Marc Perman and Emmy® winner Dan Partland (Intervention), who oversaw the acclaimed documentary series The Sixties for TNT's sister network CNN.

Donald Trump Black Voter Outreach Led By Omarosa Manigault?

In what is probably a token gesture at most Donald Trump's campaign is attempting to reach out to African Americans voters. The reason I believe it's a token gesture is because Trump has reached out to Omarosa Manigault to lead this effort. Yes, that Omarosa who has about as respect or credibility in the black community as Clarence Thomas. Listen to her explain how she will conduct that outreach with NPR's Elise Hu on NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday.

Michael Bennett: NFL stars must step up, promote social change

Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett is calling on NFL players to follow the lead of some of their NBA and WNBA counterparts in using their influence to promote social change. Listen to his statement below.

Judge strikes down Wisconsin voter ID, early voting laws

This past week has been a busy one on the voting rights front. North Carolina's voter ID law was struck down as discriminatory. We now we learn that parts of Wisconsin's voter and early voting laws were struck down as the presiding judge saw no evidence of supposed voter fraud which the laws were meant to stop. The judge also stated that the laws did hurt minority communities. Looks like republican attempts at voter suppression are running into this very annoying thing, the truth about voter fraud. George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.com.

Finding that Republican lawmakers had discriminated against minorities, a federal judge Friday struck down parts of Wisconsin's voter ID law, limits on early voting and prohibitions on allowing people to vote early at multiple sites.

With the presidential election less than four months away, GOP Attorney General Brad Schimel said he plans to appeal the sweeping decision by U.S. District Court Judge James Peterson.

Peterson also turned back other election laws Republicans have put in place in recent years.

"The Wisconsin experience demonstrates that a preoccupation with mostly phantom election fraud leads to real incidents of disenfranchisement, which undermine rather than enhance confidence in elections, particularly in minority communities," U.S. District Judge James Peterson wrote.

"To put it bluntly, Wisconsin's strict version of voter ID law is a cure worse than the disease."

Judge Peterson struck down the following provisions of the law:

■ Limits on early voting Republicans have put in place in recent years. GOP lawmakers restricted early voting to weekdays during the two full weeks before elections, thus eliminating weekend voting that was popular in Milwaukee and other urban areas.

■ A requirement that cities can have only one place for early voting. Critics have said large cities such as Milwaukee should be able to have multiple voting sites because not everyone can get downtown easily.

■ A requirement that people must live in their voting ward 28 days before an election. Previously, people had to live in a ward for 10 days before an election.

■ The system the state uses to determine if people with the most difficulty getting IDs should be provided identification for voting. He ruled anyone in that system must immediately be granted an ID for voting within 30 days.

■ Part of the voter ID law allows people to use certain student IDs to vote, but those IDs cannot be expired. Peterson found that aspect of the law is unconstitutional, ruling that expired student IDs can be used at the polls — just as expired driver's licenses can be used for voting.

■ A requirement that dorm lists provided to poll workers include citizen information. Universities provide the lists of those living in dorms to poll workers so they have an easy way to check whether students are voting in the right wards; lawmakers put in a requirement that those lists show whether the students are U.S. citizens.

■ A prohibition on providing voters with absentee ballots by email or fax

[SOURCE]