4 things African Americans have to lose by voting for Donald Trump

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com EMAIL

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stirred up some controversy and angered many African-Americans by saying in front of a white audience that most of them live in poverty, send kids to failing schools, and have no jobs. Now African Americans know that not to be true, but something else Trump said caught my ear. He asked what the hell did African Americans have to lose by voting for him. Well, Mr. Trump here are four important things we will lose under a Trump presidency. There are more things blacks would lose, but these are things that would have an immediate negative impact on the Black community.

Healthcare: Yes, the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) may have it flaws and may not have been the single payer system some progressives wanted, but it has helped millions of uninsured African Americans get health coverage. Trump has made it clear that on his first day in office he would attempt to repeal the ACA. If successful millions would lose their healthcare coverage with nothing there to replace it.

Voting rights: The Republican-led Congress has yet to take any action to fix the provision in the 1965 Voting Rights Act to stop states from using voter ID/registration laws in attempts at voter suppression. That would only get worse under a President Trump who has already indicated that the striking down of voting laws in states such as Wisconsin and North Carolina are a threat to his candidacy.

Education funding: Trump would cut federal education funding and may want to eliminate or severely cut the budget of the Department of Education. As a school board member, I can tell you that in poorer districts a good portion of their funding comes in the form of federal aid. Without that assistance, districts would be forced to cut programs that help poorer students or those with learning disabilities. He would also push for more charter schools which take money from traditional public schools forcing those public schools to cut even more programs.

Jobs: Trump's trade policies would make it harder for American companies to do business and make money overseas. Without that foreign business, companies would not need as many workers stateside as their global markets would be smaller. Those few manufacturing and factory jobs in the U.S. would be eliminated or made part time. That helps no one especially black and brown people.

So as you see Mr. Trump, we have a hell of a lot to lose by voting for you. Every time you open your mouth about African Americans you make it clearer that in this election Hillary Clinton is the obvious choice for black voters.

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com EMAIL

NJ Boxer Shakur Stevenson wins silver medal.

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Olympic boxer Shakur Stevenson didn't win the gold medal but he still made us in his home state of New Jersey proud. Shakur lost the gold medal match to Cuba's Robeisy Ramirez in a split decision of their three round fight (2-1). He will be bringing a silver medal back to his hometown of Newark NJ.

Shakur was distraught after the fight and believed that he let everyone down. The young man didn't let anyone down and we here in NJ are all proud of him. He is the first American man to bring back a boxing medal since 2004 and has a promising future ahead.

Today he didn't come out on top but he will be a champion at the next level one day. The silver medal is just the beginning of a long journey. American fighters like Michael Carbajal (5X Champion), Virgil Hill (4X champion), and Riddick Bowe (1x undisputed heavyweight champion) all won a silver medal and went on to have great careers.

Something tells me Shakur will join that list.

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Unlike Donald Trump, Pres. Obama is actually helping Louisiana flood victims

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com [EMAIL]

Today (08/19/2016) Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence visited the flood ravaged areas in what amounts to a glorified photo op. While Trump wants us to think he cares about the flood victims this trip is really an attempt to embarrass President Obama who has yet to visit Louisiana. The conservative media is also trying to put this narrative out there that Obama just doesn't care about the people of Louisiana. There are just a few issues with that narrative that make it untrue.

One problem with that narrative is Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards  asked Pres. Obama not to come right now so that first responders can focus on the flood victims. The governor made the following statement:

It is a major ordeal, they free up the interstate for him. We have to take hundreds of local first responders, police officers, sheriffs, deputies and state troopers to provide security for that type of visit. I would just as soon have those people engaged in the response rather than trying to secure the president. So I’d ask him to wait, if he would, another couple weeks.
The other problem with that is our president has already taken action to help the flood victims. On August 14, 2016 he signed a Louisiana Disaster Declaration that allows the state and it's people to apply for federal aid.

President Obama Signs Louisiana Disaster Declaration

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms and flooding beginning on August 11, 2016, and continuing.

The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa.

Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.

Federal funding also is available to the state and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work as a result of the flooding in the parishes of East Baton Rouge, Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.

W. Craig Fugate, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Department of Homeland Security, named Gerard M. Stolar as the Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area. 

FEMA said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more parishes and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed.

FEMA said that residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated parishes can begin applying for assistance tomorrow by registering online athttp://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY) for the hearing and speech impaired.  The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION MEDIA SHOULD CONTACT: FEMA NEWS DESK AT (202) 646-3272 OR FEMA-NEWS-DESK@DHS.GOV.

So boys and girls it looks like the truth has fioled those dastardly republicans/conservatives again.

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Top cop seeks to fire 7 officers for lying about Laquan McDonald shooting

Chicago's police superintendent has recommended that seven officers be fired for lying in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Laquan McDonald in October 2014.

McDonald's death was captured in a video that contradicted the accounts of officers.

Superintendent Eddie Johnson emailed police Thursday morning, telling them that he had recommended seven officers be fired for making false statements. He also stripped the officers of their police powers.

Johnson's move came in response to Inspector General Joseph Ferguson's recent report on the shooting in which he recommended that 10 officers be fired. But Johnson wrote that he thought the evidence against one of the officers was insufficient to recommend termination.

Read more Top cop seeks to fire 7 officers for lying about Laquan McDonald shooting

While some hated on Gabby Douglas, Ryan Lochte became a national embarrassment

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com [EMAIL]

Last week many online denizens took it upon themselves to criticize Gabby Douglass for forgetting to place her hand over her heart during the playing of the national anthem after the USA Gymnastics team won the all around competition. People had heart attacks and conniptions (WTF is a conniption; he) about how unpatriotic Douglas was and how aloof she had become.

Some criticized Gabby for not seemingly fully embracing her teammate and the phenomenon that is Simone Biles, and then others, of course, went after her hair because they have absolutely no life.

So those same people that went after Gabby should be ready with the torches and pitchforks to go after Ryan Lochte who along with a few Olympic teammates embarrassed the United States by making up a false story of being robbed. They made up the story to cover the fact that while in a drunken state they had vandalized a gas station.

Let's be clear here, Lochte and crew exhibited thuggish behavior while in their drunken state and destroyed property. That's not boys being boys that's thugs being thugs.

Some are saying "the boys" mad a mistake and that a simple apology can make everything okay and others are already trying to cover up for Lochte and his crew.

We have to understand that these kids were trying to have fun,” IOC Rio Games spokesperson Mario Andrada said. “They came here; they represent their country to the best of their ability. They train for years. They competed under gigantic pressure. I understand they’re under investigation. I can’t go much further into the details."

“But let’s give these kids a break. Sometimes you take actions that you later regret. Lochte is one of the best swimmers of all times. They had fun, they made a mistake, life goes on.”

That's some BS right there. Ryan Lochte is 32 years old, he's not a kid by any stretch of the imagination. The man is a national embarrassment and while stripping him of his medals away may be extreme taking the prize money that goes with them is not. There should be a price for acting like a hooligan while you are representing your country. These miscreants took the spotlight off all that is great about Team USA and became the ugly Americans the world hates.

So, if what Gabby did got your dander up you should be downright livid right now, you should be seeing red, and your panties should be in a bunch.

If you were angry at Gabby and not at Ryan I have to wonder why. I mean what could be the difference between Gabby and Ryan? Both are Olympic athletes who have won multiple medals. Both represent the USA.

I mean what could possibly be the difference? (That's a rhetorical question people)

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com