National Eat at a Black Coffee Shop Day May 29

Chicago - After the recent Starbucks incident involving the arrest of two Black men in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, most Black people had one of two responses: either boycott Starbucks or open our own coffee shops.

National Eat at a Black Coffee Shop Day combines the best of these ideas. On Tuesday, May 29, 2018, tens of thousands of Starbucks customers will try a new coffee experience at a Black-owned coffee shop.

Black coffee houses, coffee shops and tea houses, under the umbrella of The Black Star Project, have formed a federation to flex their collective and connective muscle in the competitive coffee marketplace. They are working together to get out the word that their coffees are just as good, or better, than Starbucks.

These Black coffee houses expect to win significant market share on Tuesday, May 29th because that day Starbucks is closing more than 8,000 U.S. units for diversity training. 

Phillip Jackson, Chairman of the Board for The Black Star Project says, "We expect substantially higher sales at each store and it is our intention to keep and grow any market share we earn on this day. Stores will be well-stocked with pastries, cakes, cookies, coffees and teas for the expected new business". 

In addition to regular business on Tuesday May 29th, Black coffee shops are being encouraged to offer evening "Black Economic Empowerment Forums" as a catalyst to spur economic development in Black communities across America. 

All of this is part of the Campaign to "Circulate Black Dollars in the Black Community", which is designed to raise the percentage of the $1.3 trillion spent in Black communities by Black consumers last year and to re-circulate those dollars back into the Black community. 

Jackson also says," If we can raise our spending with each other from our current 2% to a modest 10%, we would no longer require or need to ask for help from government, foundations or others." 

So far, more than 300 Black Coffee Houses, Coffee Shops and Tea Houses around the U.S. are expected to participate in "National Eat at a Black Coffee House Day". Click Here to access the 300 Coffee Shops in various cities, or call 773.285.9600.

Democrat Letitia James is running for New York State Attorney General

With enthusiastic screams of "Run Tish Run" echoing through the hall, state Democrats nominated city Public Advocate Letitia James for attorney general.

James picked up over 85% of the delegate vote to win the nomination over Fordham Law Prof. Zephyr Teachout and former Gov. Cuomo and Hillary Clinton aide Leecia Eve.

In accepting the nomination, James warned that constitutional rights are under attack in Washington and that "the attorney general stands at the vanguard as a wall of protection, not a wall of exclusion."

"I'm so proud you bestowed on me this designation because I'm well prepared for the fight ahead," she said.

James went into the convention the heavy favorite, having won the endorsement of Gov. Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and some key labor unions.

Her candidacy fell into place quickly since the position wasn't even in play as Eric Schneiderman cruised toward a third term. But all that changed on May 7 when Schneiderman abruptly resigned in disgrace hours after New Yorker magazine released a story alleging he physically assaulted four women.

[SOURCE: NY DAILY NEWS]

Bernice King to Steve Bannon: My dad would not be proud of Trump

In an interview with BBC’s “Newsnight,” Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist cited historically low unemployment rates for black and Hispanic workers and credited the president’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

“If you look at the policies of Donald Trump, OK, anybody — Martin Luther King — would be proud of him, of what he’s done for the black and Hispanic community for jobs,” Bannon said.

In a series of tweets Bernice King, the Rev. Martin Luther King’s daughter blasted Steve Bannon’s claim that her father would be proud of President Donald Trump.

#SteveBannon has dangerously and erroneously co-opted my father’s name, work and words.

Bannon’s assertion that my father, #MLK, would be proud of Donald Trump wholly ignores Daddy’s commitment to people of all races, nationalities, etc. being treated with dignity and respect.

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

My father’s concerns were not sectional, but global. He was an activist for the civil rights of Black people in America, but he was also an activist for human rights. #MLK

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

In addition, he would never pit one group against another in the struggle for justice, as Bannon attempts to use him to do in discussing those he termed as “illegal aliens” and Black people. #MLK

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

Bannon’s comments are like feeding someone empty calories, in that they don’t convey a comprehensive view of #MLK as a global humanitarian who cared about the well-being of all people.

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

My father would be extremely disturbed by the climate created by leaders, who have emboldened people to easily express and demonstrate cruelty, predominantly toward people of color and immigrants. #MLK

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

Finally, #MLK would be proud of a livable wage for all and not merely a low unemployment rate. #PoorPeoplesCampaign

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 24, 2018

Largest group of African-Americans graduate from Coast Guard Academy

After the graduation ceremony ended and the crowd began dispersing, a group of newly minted Coast Guard ensigns and their families, friends and mentors gathered around the Honor Wall, which is inscribed with the words "Who lives here reveres honor, honors duty."

The 18 men and women represent the largest number of African-Americans to graduate from the Coast Guard Academy — the result of hard work, which several mentioned has just begun, to diversify the institution that develops the Coast Guard's future officers.

The ensigns were given lieutenant commander shoulder boards, a rank usually achieved after 10 years of Coast Guard service, as a memento to encourage them to stay in the Coast Guard and become leaders in the service.

"The goal is to have you break into the senior leadership of this organization. For you guys to do that, you guys have got to remain vigilant. You got to remain focused, and you got to remain on task," said Cmdr. Marcus Canady, a 2000 academy graduate who is part of the Admissions Minority Outreach Team, which has helped to recruit minorities to come to the academy and mentor them during their time here.

The shoulder boards are a way to "keep that idea in your head" over the next 10 years, Canady told the ensigns.

Merle Smith, the first African-American to graduate from the academy, presented Ensign Tyler Exum of Fort Washington, Md., who majored in electrical engineering and graduated with honors, with his shoulder boards.

"It's taken this long for our Coast Guard Academy to reflect the nation whom we serve," Adm. Paul Zukunft, the commandant of the Coast Guard, said to the ensigns. "It was really about giving people the opportunity, going out and exposing them to the Coast Guard Academy."

In addition to Zukunft, Rear Adm. James Rendon, superintendent at the academy, also was present at the shoulder board ceremony.

The outreach team played a big part in exposing prospective students to the academy. Canady said the group was formed about 2007 and then went dormant for a little while before picking back up again about five years ago, as prospective students in the Class of 2018 were looking at colleges. He and retired Coast Guard Cmdr. Mark Harris, a 1996 graduate of the academy, challenged the ensigns to continue that work.

Read more: Largest group of African-Americans graduate from Coast Guard Academy.

The NFL is misguided with its new National Anthem Policy

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

The NFL passed a resolution stating that if players are on the field that they must stand for the National Anthem. Here are two reasons I believe that this new policy is misguided. Listen to my thoughts on this below: