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]