Merck CEO Kenneth Frazier resigns from Trump council to protest Trump's Charlottesville comments

Merck & Co Inc Chief Executive Kenneth Frazier resigned from U.S. President Donald Trump's American Manufacturing Council on Monday, saying he was taking a stand against intolerance and extremism. Read his statement on why he left the council below:

pic.twitter.com/a1PNQZism5

— Merck (@Merck) August 14, 2017

Congressional Black Caucus Statement On White Supremacist Violence in Charlottesville

Today, the Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement on the white supremacists violence that occurred today in Charlottesville, Va.:

“Since the campaign, President Trump has encouraged and emboldened the type of racism and violence we saw today in Charlottesville, Va. This is a president after all who has two white supremacists working for him in the White House – Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller. For these reasons, we weren't surprised President Trump couldn't bring himself to say the words "white supremacy,” "white supremacists," and “domestic terrorism” when he addressed the nation this afternoon, and that he instead chose to use racially coded dog whistles like ‘law and order’ and false equivalencies like ‘many sides.’

“Where is Attorney General Sessions? Instead of suppressing votes and dismantling affirmative action, he should be working with the Department of Homeland Security to investigate today's crimes. Where is the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security? The CBC urged Chairman McCaul months ago to investigate this sort of domestic terrorism; now, we urge him to do this once again and to hold a hearing immediately. As 49 members who represent and are part of a community who has for centuries been victimized by white supremacists, we strongly condemn what happened today in Charlottesville. We also condemn the Administration's poor response to it.”

[SOURCE]

Charlotteville VA: The bad and good of America

NAACP releases statement condemning Unite the Right Rally in Charlottesville VA.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) released this statement following the unlawful hate rally of white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia, this morning.

“The blatant racism on display in Charlottesville is absolutely disgusting. It’s hard to believe that in 2017 we are still plagued by so much race-based hatred. The NAACP will always stand against hate and any persons who threaten the moral right of our community,” said Derrick Johnson, interim president and CEO of the NAACP.

“These kinds of actions should come as no surprise, however. We are living under an administration that campaigned on hatred, discrimination and xenophobia. They have given permission and a platform for bigots, like the right-wing, white nationalists in Charlottesville, to thrive and spread violence.

“While we acknowledge and appreciate President Trump’s disavowment of the hatred which has resulted in a loss of life today, we call on the President to take the tangible step to remove Steve Bannon – a well-known white supremacist leader – from his team of advisers. Bannon serves as a symbol of white nationalism and his high place in the White House only energizes that sentiment.”

“We must help to bridge what divides Americans rather than widen the gap between us. In the meantime, the NAACP stands strong with our brothers and sisters in Charlottesville who are gathering, marching and singing for peace. We are and will continue to be steadfast and immovable in the fight against discrimination, prejudice and hatred – and we are not afraid.”

Charlotteville VA: The bad and good of America

DNC Chair Tom Perez on White Supremacist Protests in Charlottesville

DNC Chair Tom Perez has released a statement on the violence during a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville Virginia. Unlike Trump's statement on the protest, Perez's is not ambiguous when it comes to who is at fault for the violence. Read his statement below:

"The demonstrations by white supremacists this weekend have no place in our country. This vile display of racism is an attack on our democracy and an affront to humanity.

"America is no place for bigots. And to be silent in the face of their hatred is to condone it. That's why it is on all of us to stand up to these reprehensible acts and speak out against white supremacy. We cannot allow a group of cowards instill fear in our communities.

"The Democratic Party stands with Governor McAuliffe, Lieutenant Governor Northam, the people of Virginia, and every American united against these vicious and violent attempts to divide us."

Why can't Trump denounce white nationalist?

Omarosa Manigault embarrasses herself at NABJ Convention

To no one's surprise things did not go well at an NABJ (National Association of Black Journalist) panel involving Omarosa Manigault. She and the moderator, Ed Gordon had heated exchanges after Gordon rightfully asked her about her work in the Trump administration. Omarosa seemed angry that she would be asked about anything Trump and wanted to talk about what she wanted to talk about, and the whole thing just devolved from there. Things got so heated that audience members and eventually Omarosa walked out.

Watch video of this fiasco below:

Livestream of this crazy Omarosa appearance at the #nabj2017 https://t.co/lex6i6IzqH

— David Mack (@davidmackau) August 11, 2017

Meet Portland's next police chief, Danielle Outlaw

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has hired Danielle Outlaw to bring stability to a police department that has had a revolving door of leadership.

Outlaw is the first black woman to become chief of police in Oregon's largest city. But at her introductory news conference Thursday, Outlaw said she just wants people to see her as Danielle.

"I realize I wear many hats and I represent a lot of things to many people," she said. "And because of that there's an added responsibility and expectation placed on me — and I own that."

The 41-year-old Outlaw has spent the past 19 years with the Oakland Police Department, rising to deputy chief. Wheeler selected her from a pool of 33 candidates in a national search.

Outlaw already has one fan in town, and it's a prominent one in a place that loves its NBA team. Damian Lillard, the Oakland-raised star of the Portland Trail Blazers, posted a story about Outlaw's hiring to Twitter and wrote: "Oakland to Portland with it... #Hello."

Washington D.C. police chief calls on officer who shot Terrence Sterling to resign

Although Prosecutors won't file criminal charges against the Metropolitan Police officer, Brian Trainer who shot and killed an unarmed black man, Terrence Sterling, the Washington D.C. police chief has is asking for the officer to resign.

Navy honors 102-year-old vet, black pioneer

The Navy recognized a 102-year-old World War II veteran Thursday by inaugurating a new barracks in his name, a rare honor for a living recipient.

From his wheelchair, retired Chief Steward Andy Mills waved to the sailors attending the ceremony Thursday at the naval base, in Coronado, California, near San Diego. Mills told reporters softly before the ceremony that he was overjoyed by the honor.

"Oh beautiful," he told reporters when asked to describe how he felt seeing the barracks in his name, shaking his head side to side. "That's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen so far." He added moments later: "I think I have a lot of friends."

One of the maritime branch's first black chiefs, Mills risked his life for the service despite facing discrimination in a then-segregated Navy.

In 1942, Mills volunteered to board the USS Yorktown after it was attacked by the Japanese during the Battle of Midway. He cracked open a safe containing documents and bills on the heavily damaged ship. He and a paymaster stuffed them in a suitcase, got a rope and lowered it down off the ship before the Japanese attacked again, destroying the Yorktown and the USS Hammann next to it.

Capt. Stephen Barnett met Mills two years ago at an event in San Diego and said he was so moved by the man and what he had done that he wanted to honor him and have young sailors learn about the inspiring chief.

"He wasn't treated like his shipmates but it never stopped him from his duty — a duty he carried out with courage, honor and commitment — and that remains a cornerstone of his character now," Barnett told the crowd at the ceremony.

Mills vividly recalled to reporters one of the officers saying "but I need one of those black boys over there" to go back on board the ship after it had been attacked by the Japanese. Mills, one of two African American sailors on the ship, agreed to go.

When the paymaster accompanying him could not open the safe on the USS Yorktown, Mills asked if he could have a go at it.

"Click. I went up there and turned it. Click," he said, grinning. "Money fell all out of it."

Family friend Deborah Thompson, of San Diego, said it meant so much to his family to see him finally honored for his bravery.

"It brought tears to our eyes," she said as she held on to the back of Mills' wheelchair.

The barracks will house 934 sailors. Carrying their seabags on their backs, some of the sailors gathered around Mills for a photo in front of Andrew Mills Hall.

[SOURCE: NEWSTIMES]

Al Sharpton: 'Progressives' are shortchanging African Americans — again.

Food for thought! While African Americans are not monolithic and Al Sharpton does not speak for all of us, he is on target with this opinion piece that he wrote for USA Today about progressives failure to speak to African Americans. George L. Cook III African American Reports.

By Al Sharpton

Democrats might care about issues that are important to us. But are they fueling African-American participation or interest? Not even close.

When Jesse Jackson ran for president during the 1980s, as when I ran in 2004, there were progressives in America just like there are today. Those progressives were well meaning individuals and politicians who shared our views and strongly believed in what we believed in. Despite this progressive political presence, our presidential campaigns were so important and necessary because the voices of black, brown and poorer white voters were not heard by the elites in American politics and government. Our agendas were not getting carried out. There was a great deal of talk back then, but no real action. That same dynamic holds true today.

The press speaks a great deal about the supposed fact that the “Democratic base” is riled up and activated by the state of play in America. This assessment ignores the most important segment of that base: the African-American voter. We are not motivated by anyone right now. While Sen. Bernie Sanders did a remarkable job in the 2016 presidential primaries and went further than anyone thought possible, he did so without the African-American vote, losing among African-American voters by more than 50 percentage points.

While that progressive coalition purported to speak FOR the African-American voter, it did not talk TO African Americans. The so-called Hillary Clinton base of the party, while crushing Sanders, attracted substantially fewer black voters to turn out than in recent presidential primaries, and in the general election, running against a novice, the black voter turnout rate declined for the first time in 20 years in a presidential election, falling 7 percentage points compared to 2012. Arguably, that disinterested black vote cost Clinton the presidency.

Read more: Al Sharpton: 'Progressives' are shortchanging African Americans — again.

Spike Lee holding rally for Colin Kaepernick at NFL headquarters

Spike Lee doesn’t like the way unemployed former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick continues to be shunned by the NFL and he’s doing something about it.

The noted film director and writer announced with a tweet Tuesday he is staging a rally to support his fellow social activist Kaepernick at NFL headquarters in New York on Aug. 23.

pic.twitter.com/AejLPaaWHD

— Spike Lee (@SpikeLee) August 8, 2017

A question to those against a $15 minimum wage.

Detractors of a $15 minimum wage always say that it will cost jobs, but they never look at the flip side of their own argument. George Cook of African American Reports has a question for those with that particular argument.

Rev. Jesse Jackson visits Fla., discusses voter suppression

The Rev. Jesse Jackson says there was no evidence of voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election but says President Trump's Commission on Election Integrity should look at the suppression of minority voters in certain states, including Florida.

The civil rights activist visited St. John Baptist Church in Orlando Sunday to encourage voter participation and to talk about voter suppression.

In a call with The Associated Press, Jackson said between 1.3 and 1.7 million voters don't have the right to vote in Florida because they have a felony conviction although they are no longer incarcerated.

Jackson says his Rainbow PUSH Coalition has set up its own commission of scholars and activists to look into such voter suppression. The group is also focusing on voter registration in closely watched elections in Virginia and New Jersey. And in Florida, the group is focused on restoration of voting rights for felons.

[SOURCE: ORLANDO SENTINEL]

Claressa Shields a pro champ already!

In just her fourth pro fight Olympic boxing champion Claressa Shields has become the Women's WBC and IBF Super Middleweight champion.

"Who's better than me?" Shields asked after pummeling Nikki Adler on Friday night, giving the two-time Olympic champion the two world titles. "I don't know of anybody yet. And if I do find somebody, I'm ready to take her out."

The lopsided fight was mercifully stopped at 1:34 of the fifth round, awarding Shields a victory by technical knockout. She used a combination of powerful punches that left Adler defenseless in a matchup of previously unbeaten boxers.

Shields (4-0, 2 KOs) didn't let up in the second, stunning Adler (16-1) with a left hook midway through the round. Shields went to her body in the third round before aiming high in the fourth, hitting Adler squarely in the face with a right that seemed to set up the end of the fight in the fifth.

In the end, Shields landed 136 of 340 punches while Adler connected on just 6 of 84. In the first and fifth round, Adler failed to connect once.

[SOURCE: ESPN]

AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN: AMERICA'S MOST FORGOTTEN ASSET by AMIA P. WRIGHT

Within this book, the author aimed to restore, rehabilitate, and mend African American Women and the community. The entire world has acknowledged issues African Americans face as a culture, however, no one has advanced towards assimilating relationships within the culture. As resilient of a people as African Americans are the culture still need a leader, still need guidance, and still need reassurance. It is believed that African American Women is the key to turning everything around and remodeling the foundation that was once laid. The potency of African American Women is so prodigious that it has the power of an atomic bomb. Today’s leaders for African Americans are outnumbered and rejected because in the community today, stupidity reigns over knowledge and foolishness is the new cute. There are many problems within the culture, however, this book has the influence to generate the opportunity for revolution.

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CHECK OUT THE BOOK

PAPERBACK--------KINDLE

Will you go see "Detroit"?

The Kathryn Bigelow directed Detroit is now in wide release. The movie focuses on a police raid in Detroit in 1967 results in a multi-day riot. The story centers on the Algiers Motel incident, which occurred in Detroit, Michigan on July 25, 1967, during the racially charged 12th Street Riot. It involves the death of three black men and the beatings of nine other people: seven black men and two white women.

While it has garnered good reviews it is not getting a good reception in the black community. Some have issues with it being directed by Kathryn Bigelow, a white director and the fact that it was written by a white writer, Mark Boal. Others have issues with the level of violence in the movie. This controversy has hurt the film at the box office with the movie barely taking in $8 million in its first week of full release.

Those that have seen the movie complain about the violence and have said that it was like watching a torture porn movie like watching a "Saw" with black men being tortured and killed. Some have walked out, while others that stayed have vowed to tell others not to see the movie as they see no value in doing so.

Others have pointed out that the film does nothing to inspire African Americans and as often happens in Hollywood movies it is white people that take on the savior role coming off as the good guys while the black characters we should be emphasizing with come off as weak and helpless.

In fairness some have stated that we as African Americans should see the movie so that we don't forget the past and realize that 1967 is not that far in the past. They hope that America seeing the violence and police brutality will open the eyes of many to what African Americans go through.

So which camp do you fall in, will you go see "Detroit"? If you have seen Detroit would you recommend it to others or see it again?

2018 NAACP Image Awards Set For MLK Jr. Day

The NAACP will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day next year by holding its 49th annual Image Awards on the holiday. The group said today that its trophy show will be held January 15, airing live on TV One.

It will mark the first time since 1994 that the Image Awards will be handed out in January, with the show being staged in during Black History Month in February eight of the past nine years. The two-hour special also will include a live pre-show from the red carpet.

“The NAACP is proud to air our 49th Image Awards live telecast on the nation’s most significant civil rights day of the year celebrating the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said Leon W. Russell, chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “In alignment with the National Martin Luther King Day of Service, we are encouraging our nominees, celebrity presenters and performers, network representatives, staff, directors, trustees, sponsors, and branches and units in all 50 states to join us in a day of citizen action volunteer service in honor of Dr. King. As the nation commemorates the 50th anniversary of his assassination on April 4, 1968, we are reminded of the ageless principles of non-violence, truth and justice, humility, and service that he taught all Americans.”

The Image Awards celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. Nominations will be announced during the week of November 13, when final voting will open.

[SOURCE: DEADLINE]

'Nobody kill anybody': Baltimore activist hopes for homicide-free weekend

Baltimore activist Erricka Bridgeford's message is simple: Nobody kill anybody for 72 hours.

That's a lot to ask for in a city on pace to record its highest annual homicide toll, a place still reeling from the racially-charged riots that followed the 2015 death of Freddie Gray at the hands of police.

So Bridgeford and other community leaders have been hitting the streets of West Baltimore, urging drug dealers and gang members to put their guns down from Friday through Sunday.

"This is about a culture shift," she said. "It's about helping people realize they have a choice in their decision-making. Not just about committing violence but about feeling hopeless that there's nothing we can do about the level of violence in our communities."

With 208 homicides so far this year -- compared with 318 for all of 2016, according to a tally by The Baltimore Sun -- and police-community relations stretched thin, some residents doubt the ceasefire will be successful. Others see it as a way to start taking back control of crime-plagued neighborhoods.

Read more: 'Nobody kill anybody': Baltimore hopes for homicide-free weekend

Sen. Booker acts to prevent Trump from firing special counsel

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Lindsey Graham moved Thursday to prevent President Donald Trump from dismissing special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible ties between his campaign and Russia.

Booker (D-N.J.), who has called for an independent outside investigation, and Graham (R-S.C.), who did not endorse the Republican presidential nominee after his own campaign for the White House fizzled, introduced legislation to block such a move.

The Special Counsel Independence Protection Act would let the attorney general remove the special only after asking a federal court to rule that there was "misconduct, dereliction of duty, incapacity, conflict of interest, or other good cause for removal."

A look at the controversy surrounding President Donald Trump and whether his campaign colluded with Russia.

"A special counsel's duty is to follow the facts and the law wherever that leads," Booker said. "They should never be subjected to interference or intimidation because of where an investigation takes them."

The lawmakers acted amid criticism by Trump leveled against his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who recused him from any involvement in the probe after it was disclosed that he met with the Russian ambassador during the campaign after telling the Senate Judiciary Committee that he had no such contacts.

Read more: Booker acts to prevent Trump from firing special counsel

Stephen King: Why couldn't Roland the Gunslinger be black

There has been a minor bit of controversy that Idris Elba was cast as what many believe to be a white character known as Roland the Gunslinger in the upcoming Dark Tower movie. Stephen King, the author of The Dark Tower series doesn't seem to have a problem with it all and wonders why couldn't the gunslinger be black. Read the statement King made to CinemaBlend on this below:

What I said in a tweet, after all of that discussion started, was that I didn't care what color he was, so long as he could command the screen, draw fast and shoot straight. It doesn't make any difference to me. I don't even really see people when I'm writing. If I'm writing about a character, I'm behind their eyes. Unless they walk by a mirror or something, I don't even really see what they look like.

What really sort of made it an issue, in my mind, when they cast Idris as Roland was... all of those books were illustrated, to start with. And in all of those pictures, Roland is a white guy. I never thought about that one way or another. But obviously that became part of the mindset.

But you know, it's weird, isn't it? Why shouldn't he be black? Why couldn't it be a black guy to do this? You know what's weirder than that? You see this show Game of Thrones? About Westeros? They're all British! Westeros is basically England, right! And nobody ever questions that. [Laughs] To me, the idea that a black man would play Roland is minor, compared to that.

Statement from Congressional Black Caucus Chairman on DOJ Plans to Attack Affirmative Action

Today, the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (D-La.), issued the following statement on Attorney General Jeff Sessions' decision to attack affirmative action efforts on college and university campuses:

“Attorney General Sessions continues to show us again and again who he is and what he is about.

“In January of this year, the CBC expressed grave concerns about the nomination of then Senator Sessions to the post of attorney general because of his decades-long record of hostility to civil rights and equality issues. The New York Times report that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is planning to use tax payer funds to expand its current assault on communities of color is more proof that our concerns were well-founded. In fact, with each passing day of the Trump Administration, the CBC’s worst fears about Attorney General Sessions are quickly becoming reality.

“Instead of standing up for himself to a president who called him ‘very weak’ and ‘beleaguered,’ Attorney General Sessions has chosen to pick on minority students who are in pursuit of a college education, opportunity, and the American Dream. In doing so, he’s appealing to the lowest common denominator in our country, people who wrongly believe that minority students who benefit from efforts to promote diversity and equality are ignorant, undeserving, and unqualified.

“Also, in doing so, he is re-litigating last year’s Supreme Court ruling upholding decades of precedent in favor of affirmative action in higher education. His re-litigation of settled law promotes the false narrative that efforts to ensure more people of color have access to higher education is a war on white people. It also chills diversity and equality efforts in higher education by intimidating the academic community.

“In Fisher v. University of Texas, the Supreme Court held that colleges and universities had a ‘lawful’ and ‘compelling interest’ in including racial diversity as a part of their mission because of the ‘educational benefits that flow from student body diversity.’ The court also held that race could be considered along with merit-based criteria in admissions decisions. Now, Attorney General Sessions wants to turn back the clock to the darker days in our history when minority students couldn’t get into the schools of their choice because of racist admissions practices.

“In addition to this attack on Affirmative Action, Attorney General Sessions has taken steps to increase voter suppression, promote private prisons, revive the failed war on drugs, and incentivize mass incarceration, which hurts families and communities. The CBC is strongly opposed to these efforts and will continue to push back on DOJ’s obvious attempts to limit the rights of communities of color.”