National Urban League Convenes 2017 Conference

Symbolically gathered at a thriving community center built upon the ruins of a burned-out symbol of urban unrest, the National Urban League today convened its 2017 Conference. 

"Transforming frustration and despair into opportunity and hope is the overarching theme of our Conference and our mission,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H.  Morial said. "We’re so proud to showcase the Community Empowerment Center of Ferguson as a successful example of the work of the Urban League Movement and our committed partners.

“Save Our Cities: Education, Jobs + Justice,” the theme of the 2017 National Urban League Conference campaign is an examination of the challenges facing urban communities, particularly as the shift of power in Washington, D.C., brings sweeping changes to the nation. Continuing through Saturday at America’s Center, the nation’s largest civil rights and social justice conference attracts thousands of the nation’s most influential community leaders, together with top policy-makers, academicians, business leaders and artists.

“As longtime supporters of the Urban League Movement, Centene is pleased to welcome the conference to our hometown of St. Louis,” said Michael F. Neidorff, Chairman, President and CEO of title sponsor Centene and President of the National Urban League Board of Trustees. “I can think of no better city than St. Louis to host our conference this year. St. Louis is a city that is stepping up to the challenge of working to create positive social change. Since the ensuing unrest of 2014, our experiences – particularly in Ferguson – can serve as an example of this progress that can be made when businesses, community organizations and elected officials work together for the transformation and betterment of a community at large.”

Also on hand for the ceremonies was Lezley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown the unarmed teenager whose death at the hands of Ferguson police sparked days of unrest there in 2014.

Two major plenary sessions focus on the State of Black America, the National Urban League’s seminal annual analysis of the social and economic status of African Americans, and the Main Street Marshall Plan, a comprehensive outline for combating poverty and eliminating disparities

“World Wide Technology is honored to be a title sponsor of the conference,” Vice President of Human Resources Ann Marr said. “We are proud of our cultural diversity that exists within our global organization.  Corporate and social responsibility is important to WWT and we are passionate about supporting our community.  We are committed to many organizations like the Urban League and we will continue to advance these programs.   We than all the dignitaries and thought leaders joining us at the conference; it will be an incredible event.”

The four-day event at America’s Center features empowering sessions and workshops presented by political, business, and entertainment leaders and influencers on topics including education, business, the economy, health, and justice.  The N.U.L. Experience Hall, free and open to the public, includes exhibits, entertainment, a Volunteer Zone, Health Zone and chances to win exciting prizes.  Participants in Saturday’s Small Business Matters entrepreneurship summit will have a chance to audition for ABC TV’s Shark Tank, or win cash prizes at the Pitch Contest.

Also partnering to present the conference are longtime Urban League supporters Toyota, Nationwide, UPS and Target.

Backpacks and school supplies will be distributed to thousands of community members at the Back-To-School Community Empowerment Festival Community Day on Saturday, which features health screenings and other informative and entertaining exhibits and sessions. 

Notable speakers, panelists and honorees include: 

• The Rev. Dr. William Barber, former President of the North Carolina NAACP
• Allan C. Golston, President of the United States Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Angela Rye, Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies; CNN Political Commentator and NPR Political Analyst             
• Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Sociology Professor, Georgetown University, Author, Tears We Cannot Stop
• Tamika D. Mallory, President, Mallory Consulting, National Activist, Champion of the New Civil Rights Movement                
• Melanie Campbell, President & CEO/Convener, Black Women's Roundtable, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
• CCH Pounder, Award Winning Actress
• Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network, Television Talk Show Host on MSNBC, “PoliticsNation”
• Richard G. Hatcher, First African-American Mayor to serve as mayor of a major city
• Robbie Montgomery, Musical Artist, Reality TV Star and Founder of St. Louis Restaurant Sweetie Pie's

Michelle Obama discusses racism she face while First Lady

Former First Lady Michelle Obama discussed racism she faced as First Lady during The Women's Foundation of Colorado 30th anniversary celebration at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

WFCO President and CEO Lauren Y. Casteel commented that Obama had broken and a glass ceiling by becoming the first African American First Lady, and then asked her what shards of the falling glass cut the deepest.

Michelle Obama responded:

“The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut,” she said, referencing being called an ape and people talking about her bottom. “Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won’t see me for what I am because of my skin color.”

She said she can’t pretend like it doesn’t hurt because that lets those who do the hurting off the hook.

“Women, we endure those cuts in so many ways that we don’t even notice we’re cut,” she said. “We are living with small tiny cuts, and we are bleeding every single day. And we’re still getting up.”

Black activists tell Democrats: Put an African American on 2020 ticket

African American activists have a message for Democrats: If you want to win back the White House, strongly consider a black person on the ticket.

On their list are a growing roster of black politicians, notably Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J. and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., former Attorney General Eric Holder and Deval Patrick, former governor of Massachusetts.

Turnout among African Americans in the 2016 presidential election was the smallest in 20 years. It’s a big concern as the NAACP holds its annual convention this week in Baltimore, its first major gathering since the election.

Hilary Shelton, head of the NAACP’s Washington bureau, said “It could be difficult” for Democrats in the future without an African American on the ticket.

But he added that the black community is “very sophisticated” politically, and having an African American is not essential if white candidates “are speaking our language, which means that they’re addressing our concerns, they’re going to get our support.”

Several in the rank and file felt differently.

Yvette Stone longs for the days when Barack Obama occupied the White House. She wants African American voters shouldn’t settle for anything less than a Democratic ticket with a black candidate in 2020.

“We have to represent what we want. We have to represent who we are,” Stone, a Huntington, N.Y. convention delegate. “Everyone always comes for our vote, and what do we get in return?”

Read more: Black activists tell Democrats: Put an African American on 2020 ticket

NJ Gov Race: Murphy Picks Sheila Oliver as Running Mate

NJ Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Murphy has chosen Sheila Oliver, the former speaker of the Assembly, as his running mate in this November's election, according to a source with direct knowledge of the selection process.

The first African-American woman Assembly speaker in state history, Oliver has more than a dozen years of legislative experience, serving in the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature since 2004.

She also served on the Essex County board of chosen freeholders (county commissioners) from 1996 to 1999.

Born and raised in Newark, Oliver, 65, graduated from Weequahic High School before moving to Pennsylvania to earn a degree in sociology at Lincoln University, the nation's first degree-granting historically black university.

Oliver took her masters in urban planning and administration she got from Columbia University and put to extensive use in Essex County, where she works as an assistant administrator.

She previously served on the East Orange Board of Education from 1994-2000 and as its president from 1999 to 2000.

Oliver also serves on both the Assembly's commerce and economic development committee and the Legislature's joint committee on and equal employment opportunity.

As a woman of color with a long track record of helping Jersey's urban communities, Oliver as the Lt. Governor candidate could help Murphy connect his message of economic renewal to African American voters who may have cooled to Democratic politics in the post-Obama era.

[SOURCE: NJ.COM]

Congressional Black Caucus calls for resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Today, the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement on why a majority of the 49-member caucus recently voted in favor of calling for Attorney General Sessions to resign. The caucus vote was held before Friday’s report strongly suggesting that Attorney General Sessions has once again violated the public’s trust.

“Every day the Department of Justice prosecutes people for lying under oath, yet the man who leads the department has lied under oath on more than one occasion.

“First, he told the Senate under oath that he did not meet with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential election, and then, after reports contradicted that claim, he told the Senate that he did meet with Russian officials, but that he didn’t talk with them about the campaign. On Friday, we learned that the latter claim is likely false.

“In addition, although Attorney General Sessions has recused himself from the Trump-Russia investigation as a result of having conflicts of interest, he violated that recusal when he recommended that President Trump fire former FBI Director James Comey who had, shortly before being fired, requested more resources to investigate any and all ties between President Trump, his presidential campaign, and Russia.

“Attorney General Sessions is unfit to serve as the top law enforcement official in the nation and should resign from the position immediately. As the old saying goes, 'fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.’ Attorney General Sessions is treating Congress and the American people like fools.”

On March 2, CBC Chairman Cedric L. Richmond called for Attorney General Sessions to resign after reports confirmed that he lied under oath about meeting with Russian officials during the 2016 presidential campaign. However, today’s statement represents the views of a majority of the caucus he leads.