University of Texas Removes Jefferson Davis Statue

A statue of Jefferson Davis was removed from its pedestal Sunday on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, days after a court rejected an appeal from a Confederate heritage group.

Crews were seen removing the statue of the Confederate president from its place near the university's iconic clock tower.

Davis' statue will eventually be displayed in the Briscoe Center history museum on campus, which university officials said is a more appropriate place for it. The Briscoe Center has one of the nation's largest archives on slavery.

Read more: University of Texas Removes Jefferson Davis Statue

Serena chases calendar Slam, history at US Open

World number one Serena Williams feels the pressure of chasing history at the US Open, but she accepts the intensity as the price for dominating a generation of women's tennis.

The 33-year-old American, who captured her first Grand Slam title at the 1999 US Open at age 17, is a huge favorite as she tries to complete the first calendar-year Grand Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988 by winning her 22nd career major title starting Monday on the New York hardcourts.

"I decided I prefer to have that pressure than the pressure of not winning," Williams said. "Not everyone can handle that pressure, but I'm OK with it. I would rather be in this position than another one."

Read more: Serena chases calendar Slam, history at US Open

Black Catholics look forward to pope, have own issues

Black people have been part of what became the Catholic Church since Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross toward Calvary, but Sheena Turner, 22, says she still gets the question:

"You're Catholic?"

Msgr. Federico A. Britto, pastor of St. Cyprian Church in West Philadelphia, says he gets a different query:

"You're black and a priest?"

What is to some the confounding juxtaposition of black and Catholic represents a persistent image of the Catholic Church as a white institution, and the assumption that if you're black, you're Protestant, said Deacon William Bradley, director of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Black Catholics.

But when Pope Francis visits next month, the region's black Catholics will be among the welcoming faithful, while hoping for more representation, recognition, and greater numbers in a church that has been a spiritual home for centuries.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20150829_Black_Catholics_look_forward_to_pope__have_own_issues.html#eYYbRIsTERpMfQQA.99

Donald Trump polling poorly with African American voters.

A delusional Donald Trump believes that African American support him above all other candidates running for president. I guess he thinks everyone has forgotten his part in the racist birther nonsense.

A Quinnipiac poll shows that black voters don't care much for The Donald.

Quinnipiac University released a national poll Thursday showing that while Trump is leading the Republican Party nationally, he is polling poorly with black Americans in the general election.

The poll found:

When asked "Would you say that Donald Trump cares about the needs and problems of people like you or not?" 92% of black people said no.

52% of black people said Trump does not have strong leadership qualities.

73% of black people said Trump is not strong or trustworthy.

79% of black people said they have an unfavorable view of Trump.

Read more: Poll disputes Donald Trump claim on black voter support

Petition: Issue a Commemorative Stamp picturing the NBA Pioneer Earl F. Lloyd

An effort is under way to put Earl F. Lloyd, the NBA's first African-American player, on a U.S. stamp.

The Earl F. Lloyd Foundation started a Change.org petition on Aug. 25 to bring attention to the cause, which was launched about six months after Lloyd died on Feb. 26, 2015.

The petition reads as follows:

On October 31, 1950, Earl Francis Lloyd became the first African-American to play in a NBA basketball game. In 1955 Mr. Lloyd would become the first African-American to win a NBA World Championship. Earl Lloyd would later become the first NBA scout and assistant coach in 1960; and then the first full time NBA bench coach in 1972 with The Detroit Pistons. Earl Lloyd's groundbreaking achievements helped to pave the way for people of color and all minorities, not only in the world of sports but in all aspects of American life!

We are requesting the United States Postal Service, Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to issue a Commemorative Stamp in honor of the late great Earl Francis Lloyd.

The petitioners are looking to get 500 signatures. At the time of this posting there are 352 signatures, I think we can do a lot better than 500 signatures. Click here to support the cause: U.S. Postal Service: Issue a Commemorative Stamp picturing the NBA Pioneer Earl F. Lloyd