Parents of 3 year old boy saved in Gorilla attack refuse donations

In the wake of the death of the gorilla, Harambe we have heard and read all types of negative comments about the mother and father of the child saved at the Cincinnati Zoo. One media outlet went as far as publishing the father's criminal past. (I just wonder why we never hear about the criminal past of a child that falls down a well). Some have even called for charges against the family. Lost in all this negativity was the statement the family made about those who wished to give them donations and where they thought that those donations should go. Read their statement below:

“We continue to praise God for His grace and mercy, and to be thankful to the Cincinnati Zoo for their actions taken to protect our child,” the family said. “We are also very appreciative for the expressions of concern and support that have been sent to us. Some have offered money to the family, which we do not want and will not accept. If anyone wishes to make a gift, we recommend a donation to the Cincinnati Zoo in Harambe’s name.” [SOURCE]

Leave Snoop Dogg alone!

By George L. Cook III EMAIL

By now I'm sure you have heard or heard about Snoop Dogg's (AKA Calvin Broadus) infamous video rant about not wanting to see the remake of Roots (Not sure if Snoops remembers it though). He stated that he was tired of seeing slave movies and wanted to see something else. Many could care less that he didn't want to watch the new mini-series but were upset by him calling for a boycott of a show no one had seen yet. There's been a firestorm of negative response to his video and attacks on his character. I'm here to defend Mr. Broadus and to tell you why you should leave Snoop alone.

Mr. Dogg is the star of such cinematic classics as Soul Plane (still can't see why that wasn't nominated for an Oscar), the Car Wash remake, and Bones, so trust me he knows what good quality and culturally uplifting entertainment looks like.

When it comes to Snoop's character, I think the attacks are misguided. If you ignore the violent lyrics, calling women bitches and hos, making porn, the murder charge, and the constant weed smoking he's actually a good guy.

Mr. Dogg took time out of his busy day to talk to us about Roots. He could have been doing other things like:

Smoking more weed.

Tending to his Cannabis plants (Trust me he has a few).

Braiding his hair.

Making another bad reggae album (RIP Snoop Lion).

So just remember he didn't have to speak to you ungrateful bastards at all.

Lastly, Snoop called for the boycott to help you. He wanted you to have more time to watch programs that uplift Black America like, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta", "Preachers of L.A.", or "Love and Hip Hop". Not many celebrities would do that for you.

So with all the factors I just pointed out, don't you think it's time to leave Snoop alone?

George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

HBCUs to be dropped from low-tuition proposal at UNC campuses

Historically black universities will be dropped from a legislative plan to slash tuition to $500 a semester, said Republican Sen. Tom Apodaca, the sponsor of a bill that would have affected several UNC (University North Carolina) campuses.

His comment came as opposition mounted to the low-tuition plan. Several hundred alumni rallied outside the legislature Wednesday, saying the legislation threatens the economic viability of three black campuses: Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State and Winston-Salem State universities. The protesters expressed skepticism about the bill’s language that promised that the state would cover lost tuition revenue up to $70 million in 2018-19.

Apodaca, a Hendersonville Republican, said he would put forth an amendment that would remove the three historically black campuses but keep UNC Pembroke and Western Carolina in the tuition-reduction proposal. Asked whether the outcry on behalf of historically black colleges and universities was behind his decision, Apodaca said, “If you can’t give away $70 million, then I’m not going to try to.”

Read more here: HBCUs to be dropped from low-tuition proposal at UNC campuses, sponsor says

Feds say no civil rights prosecution in Jamar Clark's death

U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger announced that no federal criminal civil rights charges will be filed against the Minneapolis Police in the shooting of Jamar Clark last fall.

Federal authorities announced Wednesday that Jamar Clark’s civil rights were not violated when two white Minneapolis police officers fatally shot the 24-year-old black man during a confrontation last fall outside a North Side apartment building.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger, leaning heavily on whether Clark was handcuffed by police before being shot and other factors, said there was “insufficient evidence” to bring a federal case. He said Clark’s family has been informed of the ruling, which was harshly criticized by the Minneapolis leader of the NAACP and firmly supported by the city’s police chief.

“I want you to understand that this is one of the highest legal standards under criminal law,” Luger told reporters at FBI offices in Brooklyn Center. “It is not enough to show the officers made a mistake, that they acted negligently, by accident or even that they exercised bad judgment to prove a crime. We would have had to show that they specifically intended to commit a crime.”

Read more: Feds say no civil rights prosecution in Jamar Clark's death

Stopping the violence in black communities starts at home

By George L. Cook III EMAIL

Every Memorial Day Weekend we all read or watch the stories on Facebook or other media about the number of people shot over the weekend in Chicago. Every year I hope that it's an old story from the previous year, which of course it is not. So far this Memorial day weekend at the time of this posting 49 people have been shot and 4 killed in Chicago.

There will be the usual cries that Rahm Emanuel is not doing enough and that the current police superintendent, Eddie Johnson is not doing enough. Those statements will be followed by the usual calls for better schools and tougher gun laws. Some will blame institutional racism or white supremacy, but no white supremacist shot anyone in Chicago this weekend.

That's all well in good and is most likely those things are true, but that doesn't negate the fact that we the black community must take some of the blame here too.

This is not about agreeing with Bill O'Rielly, Sean Hannity, and those of their ilk, f*ck them! This is about saving our young people dying on the streets including innocent young children riding their bikes or jumping rope. This is about us taking care of us.

Now I know that there are several organizations and churches out there working to stop the violence in black neighborhoods who get little to no press. I know some somehow think that President Obama can somehow do more to keep teenagers and young men children that live in OUR communities from killing each other.

But the fact is church leaders, organizational leaders, and President Obama are not in our homes teaching OUR/YOUR values and right from wrong. That's the parents job. If for some reason the parent can't or won't teach their children to value life then it falls on extended family and the community.

Our children must be taught from an early age that all life including theirs and those that look like them is valuable and not to be taken on a whim. The simple fact of the matter is that when people know better they do better. If a child does not learn that it's not the child's fault but ours.

Yes, we need more programs offering our young men and women more choices of things to do when not in school to keep them off the streets, but the onus is on us to not only demand but to implement those programs. Waiting on the government to fix this problem is like waiting on your cousin who owes you money to pay you back, it isn't happening. We have to not only march and holding prayer vigils but get to work actually doing something in our communities. As individuals, we can volunteer to coach or start a basketball team/league, start scouting troops in your community, mentoring programs, or after-school enrichment programs. I'm sure many of you can think of many more things that we as individuals can do.

We have to do better in keeping OUR children alive. Yes, we must call out government for their part in this, but we must also do our part.

George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com