New Jersey Cory Booker took to the floor of the US Senate to implore his Republican peers to reconsider their ill fated strategy of repeal and replace when it comes to the Affordable Care Act.
Listen to his comments below:
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Repealing the #ACA without a plan to replace it will devastate millions of Americans. This is not partisan rhetoric, this is the truth. pic.twitter.com/e5laOzIul3
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 8, 2017
By George L. Cook III African American Reports
In a bit of a surprise three black female mathematicians beat out Darth Vader to become the #1 movie in America this weekend.
Hidden Figures didn't need light sabers or a force choke to dethrone the reigning box office champion It just needed a good story that resonated with viewers and a great cast to take the #1 spot. Hidden Figures earned 22.8 million over the weekend compared to Star Wars: Rogue One's 22.1 million. [SOURCE: VARIETY.COM]
Not only was Hidden Figures coming in #1 a bit of a surprise, the movie also beat projections that had it grossing 16-18 millions dollars.
HIDDEN FIGURES is the incredible untold story of Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe)—brilliant African-American women working at NASA, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race, and galvanized the world. The visionary trio crossed all gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.
Hidden Figures was co-produced by Pharrell Williams and stars Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell, Kimberly Quinn and Kevin Costner.
Since George Washington, U.S. presidents have often delivered a final address to the American people as a way to share both their reflections on their time in office and their outlook on the future of our country.
As his time in office comes to a close, President Obama will return to Chicago to deliver his Farewell Address on January 10, 2017 at 8 p.m. CST / 9 p.m. EST.
By George L. Cook III African American Reports. [EMAIL]
I know for some homosexuality and the black church is a sensitive subject but it's one that requires discussion.
Kim Burrell's recent homophobic rant further exposed the hypocrisy of the black church when it comes to homosexuality. It's time to call the church in it. Listen to my thoughts on this topic below.
Our intelligent, beautiful, compassionate, and graceful First Lady, Michelle Obama gave her final White House remarks as First lady in an emotional speech to school guidance counselors from across the country — each state's counselor of the year. she became emotional as she thanked her supporters and saying, "being your first lady has been the greatest honor of my life and I hope I've made you proud." Watch her speech below.
In light of the horrific torture of a disabled white man by 4 black teens there have been many post on social media by some white peoples that the news media doesn't cover these type of stories. You know the ones where blacks attack whites. There's a reason for that. It's not that the media doesn't want to cover those crimes, it's that it doesn't happen as anywhere near as much as some want us to believe. Some just want to spread a false narrative and keep the fear of African Americans going to keep that narrative alive. Watch more on this below:
By George L. Cook III African American Reports
Many including myself will miss President Obama when he is gone from the presidency. As a young black man who believed he was doing well and giving back to his community hear how I was inspired to do even more by President Obama.
Talladega College president Billy Hawkins has decided that the college's marching band will participate in the inauguration parade for Donald Trump making it the only HBCU to do so. While I'm sure many of us can think of several reasons that the school should not participate, Talladega has put out the following press release to explain why their band will be participating:
TalladegaPressRelease Revised01.05.17 by George L. Cook III on Scribd
The Talladega Marching Tornadoes will participate in the 58th Presidential Inaugural Parade, Talladega College President Billy Hawkins announced Thursday. The decision follows several days of controversy after the historically black college initially accepted an invitation to perform, with critics saying the move amounts to support for President-elect Donald Trump -- who made some comments during the presidential campaign that were widely viewed as disparaging to people of color and immigrants.[SOURCE: CNN]
In a letter Tuesday to the Senate Judiciary Committee, former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick recalled a 1985 voting rights case in which he defended three Alabama residents against what he called “an act of extraordinary quasi-judicial activisim” by Sessions, then the U.S. attorney for the state’s southern district. Patrick’s team won the case, but, in his letter Tuesday, Patrick called it “a cautionary tale.” [SOURCE]
Read that letter below:
Deval L Patrick Letter Re Sessions AG Nom 1-3-17 by George L. Cook III on Scribd
By George L. Cook III African American Reports.
What happened in Chicago to a mentally disabled white man at the hands of 4 black teens was reprehensible. At the same time this attack is not a political or ideological football to be kicked around to attack Black Lives Matter or black liberals in general. Listen to more of my thoughts on this below.
Democratic leaders of the California state legislature have hired Eric Holder, the former attorney general during the Obama administration, to serve as outside legal counsel as they prepare for a series of court battles with President-elect Donald Trump's White House.
In a statement released Wednesday, California Senate President Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon -- both Democrats -- announced they had "hired outside legal counsel to advise on potential legal challenges with the incoming Trump administration."
"With the upcoming change in administrations, we expect that there will be extraordinary challenges for California in the uncertain times ahead," the state leaders said. They vowed to protect "California's economy and our sensible policies on climate change, health care, civil rights, and immigration."
To accomplish that goal, the legislature said it retained the Covington & Burling law firm, led by Holder.
Read more: California Dems tap Eric Holder to fight Trump in court
Talladega College ignited controversy on Friday afternoon when its marching band was included on a list of 40 organizations purportedly slated to perform in President-elect’s Donald Trump’s Inaugural Parade on January 20. The list was released by Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC).
As of early Tuesday afternoon, however, Talladega officials said there has not been an official decision from the president’s office on whether Talladega’s Marching Tornadoes will be performing at the inauguration, contradicting the PIC’s assertions.
“From Trump’s inaugural committee, via their press release, we are listed as one of the schools in attendance, but the official word that I’m receiving from the president is that a decision has not been made as to whether we would attend or not,” a Talladega representative said. An email to the PIC was not returned.
Read more: Talladega College: We’ve not Committed to Trump Inauguration
While I'm sure many of us have future plans to go to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, our very busy lives and or finances could delay or stop that trip entirely. That doesn't mean that we can't get a look at the museum in the meantime through it's souvenir book.
SYNOPSIS: National Museum of African American History and Culture: A Souvenir Book
This souvenir book showcases some of the most influential and important treasures of the National Museum of African American History and Culture's collections. These include a hymn book owned by Harriet Tubman; ankle shackles used to restrain enslaved people on ships during the Middle Passage; a dress that Rosa Parks was making shortly before she was arrested; a vintage, open-cockpit Tuskegee Airmen trainer plane; Muhammad Ali's headgear; an 1835 Bill of Sale enslaving a young girl named Polly; and Chuck Berry's Cadillac. These objects tell us the full story of African American history, of triumphs and tragedies and highs and lows. This book, like the museum it represents, uses artifacts of African American history and culture as a lens into what it means to be an American.
After eight years of the nation’s first African-American president, black lawmakers were in for an adjustment no matter who won the White House.
But members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they’re bracing for the worst in Donald Trump, fearing a presidency that could set minorities back decades.
Leaders of the group told POLITICO they have already begun discussing strategies to deal with Trump and any policies they believe would disenfranchise African-Americans — from public school funding to low-income housing to voting restrictions. Though the president-elect’s supporters call the alarm unwarranted, black lawmakers say Trump’s campaign and his Cabinet picks more than justify their concern.
“The stakes are incredibly high and our community is counting on us as the last line of defense between Donald Trump and the worst of what America could offer,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said.
“This is not the normal incoming president,” added Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). “We had no plan for George Bush. I think Charlie Rangel and John Conyers would tell you they didn’t even have a plan for Richard Nixon. But this is not the norm.”
Incoming CBC Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-La.) is expected to outline his priorities for the new administration when he officially takes the reins of the caucus on Tuesday. Some members suggested challenging Trump on his home turf — Twitter — while others advocated nonviolent protests reminiscent of the civil rights movement.
Read more: Black pols plan Trump resistance
When two new members of the Virginia congressional delegation are sworn in Tuesday, they can partially thank a panel of federal judges for their seats in Congress.
The judges fiddled with the boundaries of the districts enough to allow a Democrat to win in Richmond and a new Republican to oust an incumbent in the Virginia Beach area.
That means hello, Rep.-elects Donald McEachin (D) and Scott Taylor (R). Goodbye, seven-term congressman J. Randy Forbes (R).
Their unexpected paths to victory — or early retirement — reveal the extent to which the nuances of an elections map can help determine winners and losers.
The Virginia map changes started with a lawsuit filed by Democratic lawyer Marc E. Elias in 2013.
He argued a district represented by Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D) illegally packed enough African Americans into its boundaries to diminish their influence elsewhere. Elias said the Virginia congressional case in some ways was a model for lawsuits in North Carolina and at the state level in Virginia, for which he is awaiting a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
“We learned a lot in Virginia about how the Republican legislature approaches redistricting, and the Republican legislature hopefully learned that it can’t abuse its powers,” Elias said Friday.
The federal judges eventually handed down a new map that moved a significant number of African American voters, a group that tends to vote for Democrats, into Forbes’s district.
Read more: Court-imposed election map paved way for new Virginia congressmen
The marching band of Alabama's oldest private, historically black liberal arts college has accepted an invitation to perform at President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural parade, organizers said.
Talladega College's band will march at Trump's inauguration as other historically black schools such as Howard University, which performed at President Barack Obama's first inaugural parade, said they won't be marching in the Jan. 20 event.
"We were a bit horrified to hear of the invitation," said Shirley Ferrill of Fairfield, Alabama, a member of Talladega's Class of 1974.
"I don't want my alma mater to give the appearance of supporting him," Ferrill said of Trump on Monday. "Ignore, decline or whatever, but please don't send our band out in our name to do that."
The move has lit up Talladega College's social media sites with a sharp debate about the band's decision to participate in the parade. Some people voiced strong opposition, while others support the band's participation.
"After how black people were treated at Trump's rallies, you're going to go and shuck and jive down Pennsylvania Avenue? For what?" Seinya SamForay said in an interview. "What they did is a slap in the face to other black universities."
SamForay, of Chicago, was among dozens of people commenting on the school's social media sites.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced Friday that the Talladega College Marching Tornadoes was among 40 groups, including high school bands and military organizations, scheduled to perform in the parade. Some members of the Marist College band in upstate New York, also scheduled to perform at the inauguration, say they won't participate, a school spokesman said Monday.
[SOURCE]
During a recent sit-down on CNN with his former campaign manager David Axelrod, POTUS confirmed he'll release a book following the official end of his second presidential term.
"I'm gonna start thinking about the first book I want to write," he told Axelrod while speaking on his plans once he's no longer president. Although the current Commander-In-Chief will for sure be looking to get a head-start on his upcoming literary venture, he has something else in mind to focus on for the immediate future.
President Obama's upcoming book will be the latest of several he's penned in recent years, including 2004's Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance and The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, which was released in 2006.
By George L. Cook III African American Reports.
In 2017 the biggest political story will, of course, be the first year of Donald Trump's presidency. While that is important, there are other political stories that could impact Democrats going forward. Stories about the Obamas, California Senator-Elect Kamala Harris, and Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison. Read my thought on the three stories I feel will be important below.
Story #1: What will the Barack and Michelle Obama do?
One big question we should all have is what will the Obamas do once President Obama steps down. Will they take some time to just relax or will they get back involved in politics immediaetly? If they do get involved will they use their immense popularity to help Democrats on the national level or more on the local level in an attempt to win back state legislatures. Will they spend more time trying to build up a relatively weak Democratic bench or primarily fund raise. Maybe they will do all of those things or maybe none. It will be very interesting to see how involved these two remain.
Story #2: Will Kamala Harris live up to the hype?
There is no doubting that California Senator-Elect Kamala Harris is a great politician...on the state level. The question has to be will she live up to the hype and praise that several Democratic leaders such as President Obama have heaped upon her? She obviously has all the tools but does she know how to use them on a bigger stage. Another question would be is she ready as a first year US Senatorto accept the role of party savior that some have cast her in. We shall see, although I feel she will do just fine in her first year.
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Story #3: Will Keith Ellison become DNC chair?
This story could have big implications for Democrats for years to come. Will the ultra progressive Keith Ellison win in his bid to become Democratic National Committee Chairmen? If he does win will he and be able to build up the party to include those progressives who feel that their voices are not being heard by the more traditional Democrats and keep traditional Dems on board? Will he be able to map out a plan help win back seats at all levels from school board, municipal, county, state, and national.
we can't ignore the elephant in the room which is his past ties to the Nation of Islam. While Democrats may accept Ellison's statements on that time in his life over 20 years ago, and the fact that he stepped away from the NOI Republicans are not going to let it go that easy. They will make sure Ellison wears that albatross around his neck.
I believe that Ellison will do a good job if elected but the question is will he be elected?
Those are three stories that will in many ways shape the year that Democrats will have in 2017 and hopefully shape things for the best.
Happy New Year!
By George L. Cook III African American Reports.
