Congressman Payne, Jr. to Boycott President-Elect Trump’s Inauguration

Nice to see the congressman I voted for has John Lewis's back! NJ Congressman Donald Payne Jr. has joined a growing number of house representatives and announced that he will not be attending Donald Trump's inauguration. Read that announcement below.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) issued the following statement today announcing his decision to boycott President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration:

“I have the deepest respect for the office of the presidency, something that cannot be said for President-elect Trump. His actions and statements have consistently been below the dignity of the office, and there’s no indication that will change. Donald Trump will be our president, and I will work with him if my values permit, and if doing so is in the best interest of my constituents and the nation. But I will not celebrate his swearing-in to an office that he has proven unfit to hold.”

The reason I'm disappointed in Martin Luther King's son meeting with Donald Trump.

By George L. Cook III

Today on the day we honor Dr. Martin Luther King his son went to meet with Donald Trump. I'm not so disappointed that he went but I'm not happy about when he went. Hear that reason below.

Martin Luther King III meets with Donald Trump to discuss voting rights.

A son of Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King III had a meeting and representatives of his policy making body The Drum major Institute with Donald Trump to discuss voting rights on MLK Day. I actually don't have a problem with King meeting with Trump but I do have a problem with doing it on the King Holiday. This makes it look as if King is being used as prop in Trump's dog and pony show. Listen to Martin Luther King III discuss the meeting below.

Donald Trump is not fit to carry John Lewis's jock strap

Trump had the audacity to attack John Lewis but he doesn't realize he's a little boy going at a grown man who had done grown man things.

President Obama's last weekly address: The honor of being your president

This week, President Obama delivered his final weekly address thanking the American people for making him a better President and a better man. Over the past eight years, we have seen the goodness, resilience, and hope of the American people. We’ve seen what’s possible when we come together in the hard, but vital work of self-government – but we can’t take our democracy for granted. Our success as a Nation depends on our participation. It’s up to all of us to be guardians of our democracy, and to embrace the task of continually trying to improve our Nation. Despite our differences, we all share the same title: Citizen. And that is why President Obama looks forward to working by your side, as a citizen, for all of his remaining days.

Sen. Kamala Harris To Vote Against Jeff Sessions As Attorney General

Newly elected California Senator Kamala Harris has decided that she cannot support Jeff Sessions nomination for US Attorney General. Read her statement below:

I have deep concerns about Jeff Sessions' ability to defend the rights of all Americans -- I will be voting against his confirmation. We need an Attorney General committed to equal rights for all, including women, people of color, and the LGBT community. It is clear after his confirmation hearings that person is not Jeff Sessions, and that is why I oppose him.

The Congressional Black Caucus should boycott Trump's inauguration

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus should follow the lead of civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis and not attend Donald Trump's inauguration.

Trump is using Steve Harvey to legitimize Ben Carson in the black community.

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

In a move that surprised many Steve Harvey has met with Donald Trump to discuss issues in the black community. I believe Trump plans to use Steve Harvey to legitimize Ben Carson in the black community. Harvey may believe he is doing the right thing and may mean well but is misguided on this one. Well I hope that's the case and he hasn't sold out. Listen to more of my thoughts below.

John Lewis: 'I Don’t See Trump as a Legitimate President'

In an exclusive interview for “Meet the Press,” Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) said he believes Donald Trump’s election is illegitimate because of Russian interference in last year’s election. Watch that clip below.

DOJ unveils police reforms in Baltimore

Nearly two years after Freddie Gray's death in police custody led to protests, Baltimore and the US Justice Department agreed to terms Thursday on sweeping police reforms that include cameras in all police transport vans.

The 227-page consent decree comes after the Justice Department monitored Baltimore's policing methods for more than a year after the 2015 death of Gray, who suffered a fatal injury while being transported in a police van.

Read consent decree here (PDF)

"We now require cameras in those vans," Mayor Catherine Pugh said.

"We want to make sure that individuals are transported singularly and that they're strapped into those vans correctly and that people are not harmed in that process."

But the troubled police department's problems went beyond its transport of prisoners.

Read more: DOJ unveils police reforms in Baltimore

FULL TESTIMONY: Senator Cory Booker testifies against Senator Jeff Sessions

In unprecedented move, Senator Cory Booker is about to testify against fellow Senator Jeff Sessions during his Attorney General confirmation. Listen to his passionate testimony below.

Three reasons I will never call Donald Trump President Trump

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

I am sick to my stomach that Donald Trump has been elected President of the United States and we have no choice but to live with it for the next four years. But I will cut off an arm before I refer to him as President Trump. Here are three reasons why I will never refer to Donald Trump as President Trump.

Full Speech: President Obama Farewell Speech To The American People

Watch one of our greatest, intelligent, thoughtful, and most caring presidents ever, President Barack Obama's farewell speech to the American People below.

Barber Shop Politics: A look back at President Obama's 2008 Presidential Campaign

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

Here is a video that I made back in 2008 that was featured on CNN.Com. I think it only right on the day of President Obama's farewell speech that we take a look back.

Barber Shop Politics: A visit to black barber shops featuring barbers and their customers explaining why they support Barack Obama.

Cory Booker speaks out against Republicans Obamacare repeal & replace strategy

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

The Force is with Hidden Figures as it beats Rouge One for #1 movie in America

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.

Don't forget! President Obama farewell speech January 10, 2017

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.

The hypocrisy of the black church when it comes to homosexuality

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.

Michelle Obama's last speech as First Lady

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.

There's a good reason the news media doesn't discuss black on white crime a lot.

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: