Consumers are being consumed by James Clingman In light of the fact that the broad components of this country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) are consumption, investment, net exports, government purchases, and inventories — and that consumption is by far the largest component, totaling roughly two-thirds of GDP — why haven't consumers been bailed out yet? Instead of the most vital segment of the GDP receiving relief, we see the high and mighty getting billions of dollars. What's up with that? Private consumers, who provi... MORE >>

I am not dreaming of a White Christmas by George E. Curry There is a picture of me at the age of seven or eight decked out in my cowboy suit — replete with hat, gun, scarf and cowboy boots. My gun is drawn and pointed in the direction of my sister Charlotte, four years younger. Charlotte is appropriately attired in a cowgirl suit as we stand smiling in front of a well-decorated Christmas tree. Clutched in Charlotte’s left arm is a doll, a White doll. I... MORE >>

Who will get the 2,500 million new jobs? by Ron Walters President Election Barack Obama has been formulating plans for the stimulus package that will be enacted shortly after he takes office. It is reputed to be in the area of $800 billion to $1.2 trillion and he originally proposed to create 2.5 million jobs. More recently, however, he has adjusted his goal to 3-3.5 million jobs because of analyses that show the probability that the economy will lose 3.5 million jobs in all of 2009. Yet this goal should be juxtaposed again... MORE >>

National Public Radio: How can you get rid of 'News & Notes'? by Bill Fletcher Jr. I opened the Washington Post the other day and saw an article detailing that National Public Radio (NPR), hit by the global economic crisis, was preparing to lay off in March 2009 more than 60 staff and eliminating two major programs, one being ''News & Notes.'' ''News & Notes'', a program particularly targeted at people of color, is hosted by Ms. Farai Chideya. In the interests of fu... MORE >>

Black state legislators looking for economic bailout in their neighborhood by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) — They clearly won't have it by Christmas, but the nation's Black state legislators are now looking for what they perceive as their fair share of an economic bailout of "the neighborhood," while Congress is doling the bailouts to corporations. "While we support the bailout of Wall Street, the bailout of the financial institutions and the automobile industry, we feel very strongly that Main Street and our streets need to be bailed out as well,"... MORE >>

A Christmas prayer: To end poverty in our time by Marian Wright Edelman As 2.1 billion Christians in our world prepare to celebrate the birth of the most famous poor baby in history, I hope they and all peoples will commit to helping all the poor babies in our rich nation and world find a place in our hearts and at our tables of plenty. At a time when the gap between rich and poor in our nation and the world is at its widest ever, an economic downturn driven by the greed of a few has jeopardized the lives and economic security of all of us. I hope we will... MORE >>

U.S, automakers held to double standard by George E. Curry Nothing has been more interesting in recent months than the contrast between Congress' treatment of the Big Three U.S. auto manufacturers seeking a bridge loan to keep their troubled industry afloat —and the overly generous handouts that have rewarded Wall Street greed. Considering the different constituents, one would have thought that the greatest hostility would have been directed at the fat cats o... MORE >>

It's time for us to end public corruption by Harry Alford I guess we should call the antics of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (bla-go-yea-vich) the last straw for political corruption. Here is a guy already under FBI investigation deciding to go out and sell the precious Senate seat vacated by the next President of the United States. The prize was too precious to assign it to someone based on their merit. He felt he could make some quick cash despite the fact that he... MORE >>

National Urban League proposes economic recovery plan for urban communinities by Marc Morial Last week, the National Urban League submitted its ''Economic Recovery Plan for Job Creation in Urban Communities'' to President-elect Barack Obama and to Congress. Our plan is designed to help stabilize our reeling economy and stem the steady erosion of jobs, including another 533,000 lost in November. Nearly 2 million jobs have been lost so far this year. The overall unemployment rate has now reached 6.7 percent, and African American unemployment has risen to 11.2 percent. S... MORE >>

No need to march, says Obama advisor: "There's room for everyone at the table" by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) —Valerie Jarrett, who will likely become a household name very shortly as she serves as a senior advisor and public liaison for President Barack Obama, says the landscape of activism may drastically change under the Obama administration, because those who have traditionally fought to be heard will likely have seats at the table. "You do not need to have demonstrations in front of the White House to convince this president that there is a disparate i... MORE >>

The radical right rides again by Ron Walters Think about it. A group of Southern right-wing Republican senators have stopped the U.S. Senate from approving a package of financial assistance to the Big Three auto companies, which directly employ over 150,000 workers and affect 3 million, including suppliers, dealers, etc. This kind of cold-blooded action on their part strikes me as just the kind of narrowly conservative, mean-spirited, and reckless decision making that the nation voted against when it elected Barack Obama. The iss... MORE >>

Each job loss represents a 'personal crisis,' Obama reminds us by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) — As Christmas nears and families watch their purses to be sure they are spending wisely, President-elect Barack Obama has called on Americans to view the economic crisis from a human standpoint, rather than as just another political issue. ''The 533,000 jobs lost last month, the worst job loss in 34 years, is more than a dramatic reflection of the growing economic crisis we face. Each of those lost jobs represents a personal crisis for a family somewhere in Am... MORE >>

The time for revolution by Ron Walters It struck me, as I was analyzing the current victory of Barack Obama, that the last time there was such a formidable Democratic landslide was in 1964, when Lyndon Johnson used his mandate to create the Great Society. The racial progress of Blacks was at the center of the '64 election, but Americans' fears and anxieties for their own economic viability drove the 2008 election. Given the difference, the great question that Blacks must face now is whether they yield their own needs for c... MORE >>

News flash! "We are in a recession!" by James Clingman Thanks, Henry Paulson and Ben Bernanke, for letting us know. If it weren't for you, we probably never would have found out about this. We never even saw it coming. It sure is good to have the two of you in Washington watching our backs. With your combined Wall Street experience, your financial acumen, your Ph.D.s from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and your knowledge of economics, you have guided us along this treacherous economic path, protecting us and calling out the ... MORE >>

Save auto worker jobs by Marc H. Morial A loud and incessant car alarm is going off in the American economy warning of the potential loss of more than 2 million jobs, and Congress and the president are the only ones who can shut it off. We suggest they do so by extending to the troubled auto companies a $25 billion bridge loan that requires a detailed plan of “innovation, accountability and viability,” as called for by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The automakers did not help themselves a few weeks ago whe... MORE >>

Are we preparing our children to lead in science? by Marian Wright Edelman On Oct. 4, 1957, history changed when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I, the world's first man-made satellite. Americans, alarmed that we had been outpaced technologically, saw the Soviet feat as a threat to our national security. To catch up with the Russians, our nation swung into action, infusing new funding and resources into scientific research on a priority basis. New labs sprang up all ove... MORE >>

Slavery was music to the Beatles' hometown by George E. Curry LIVERPOOL, England — The Beatles are credited with putting this city on the map. But long before Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison conquered the music world in the mid-1960s, the city of their birth was prominent on another map —it was one of the largest slave-trading centers in the world. "The estimate is that on Liverpool ships alone, there were more than 1.5 million enslaved Africans; [and] that's a low estimate," said Richar... MORE >>

Jesse Jackson: Blacks not exempt from international terrorism by Hazel Trice Edney LONDON (NNPA) — In the wake of last week’s terrorist killings of nearly 300 people at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, India’s largest city, Black leaders are pressing for more information and cautioning African-Americans to be clear that they are not exempt as targets at home or abroad. “Terrorism must not be seen in Black-White terms. There is no safe haven for Blacks when terror strikes,” says the Rev. Jesse Jackson during an NNPA interview as he ... MORE >>

Civil rights movement inspires Blacks abroad by George E. Curry LONDON — A trip from Gatwick Airport to London's central city is visible confirmation that national entities are no longer restricted to imaginary geographical boundaries. Among the United States-based businesses I passed on this route were TGI Friday, Pizza Hut, Texaco, Coca-Cola, Nike, a Chevrolet dealership, KFC, a Hilton hotel, a Hyatt hotel, Starbucks, McDonald's, Subway, Burger King, and Blockb... MORE >>

Two Black U.S. senators? Possibly by Ron Walters  Before Barack Obama's victory, the possibility of having two Black U. S. senators would have been more unlikely than having a Black U.S. president. But right now there is at least the possibility, given the expected ascendancy of both Sen. Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton to the ranks of president and secretary of State, respectively. In Illinois, the decision lies with Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The senior senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, has said that race shoul... MORE >>

Dr. Julius Richmond, creator of Head Start by Marian Wright Edelman In July, Dr. Julius B. Richmond passed away at age 91 at his home outside Boston. Dr. Richmond served as U.S. Surgeon General under President Jimmy Carter. He was a pediatrician, a professor of medicine, a child-development specialist, and a co-creator and the first director of Head Start. He understood early on how crucial a quality, comprehensive child-development program could be for the physical, emotional,... MORE >>

World AIDS Day and President-elect Barack Obama by Phill Wilson Dec. 1 was World AIDS Day, and I'm thinking about President-elect Barack Obama. As a 52-year-old Black gay man with HIV, I have many reasons to welcome the inauguration of Barack Obama. A big one is that an Obama administration has enormous potential to reinvigorate a struggle that has been allowed to flag over the last eight years: our national fight against HIV/AIDS. With our country facin... MORE >>

A time for Thanksgiving by Marian Wright Edelman The past year has been a tumultuous and uncertain one for many Americans. Each day's headlines brought worrisome news: the collapse of Wall Street; massive home and job losses; and a spreading global economic crisis. We all felt enormous fear and insecurity for our family's and children's futures. Yet a bright rainbow of hope broke through the clouds of despair with the election of Sen. Barack Obama as ... MORE >>

Giving the gift of change by Bruce Moffatt This holiday season, we need to make our charitable giving count more than ever. Like many people, I want my charitable gifts to make a positive impact in a world full of need.  Like others, I've struggled to figure out how best to choose among the many groups doing good work. In Madison alone, there are well over a thousand nonprofits, many doing exemplary work. Then there are the groups working statewide... MORE >>

Black businesses will rise with others, says Obama economic advisor by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Time Warner Chairman Richard “Dick” Parsons, a member of President-elect Barack Obama’s Transition Economic Advisory Board, says Black and other minority-owned businesses, which dominate the rock bottom of the economic crisis will be swept upward as the bailouts and stimulus strategies begin to work. “We all know it’s the people on the bottom who suffer most. But you’ve got to fix it on a holistic basis. You’ve got to... MORE >>

Jump start the economy - pass a stimulus package now by Mark H. Morial If we needed any further proof that our economy is in dire need of emergency resuscitation, exactly four days after the presidential election the government reported a staggering loss of 240,000 jobs in the month of October, substantially more than the 200,000 job loss forecasted for the month. This past weekend, we also learned that 15,000 more jobs have already been eliminated in the first week of November. The unemployment rate is now at 6.5 percent, the highest level since... MORE >>

Reconceputalizing civil rights for the 21st century by Ron Walters As new opportunities for social change are opened by Barack Obama's election to the presidency and a newly Democratic House and Senate, we continue to need a concept that will define the struggle we will have to go through to achieve equality. I believe that the acquisition of civil rights remains the goal. However, there is considerable confusion around that term, primarily, I think, because the concept of civil rights is trapped in the iconography of the 1960s in the minds of many people an... MORE >>

Do we save the auto industry? by Harry Alford We have just witnessed one of the most daring schemes and hustles in modern history: the secretary of Treasury forcing Congress and the president to fork over nearly $1 trillion that we really didn't have, under the pretext that it was going to save millions from losing their homes. As Congressman Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, put it: "It was simply a bait-and-switch game." People in danger of losing their homes are no better off, and the money went in various directions other th... MORE >>

Racist incidents increase in wake of Obama's election by George E. Curry The rise in racist incidents —from university campuses to police stations — is a sobering reminder that despite the election of Barack Obama, there are still a lot of sick people out there stuck in the Stone Age. Editor & Publisher magazine, the Associated Press, and local newspapers recently catalogued some of the most egregious incidents. In addition to the garden-variety hate crimes, such as painting racist graffiti on cars and houses, one particularly disturbing inc... MORE >>

Is the U.S. living its creed and preparing for the future? How America ranks in investing in children, by Marian Wright Edelman At this transformative moment in American life, with the election of Sen. Barack Obama as our first African American and 44th president of the United States of America, we citizens must now roll up our sleeves and help translate this new presidency into a transformation of America's investment priorities and a values-real change. Every child's life has equal value, and our nation has a responsib... MORE >>

Yes, we can! by Marian Wright Edelman I am so proud of America! I am so proud of President-elect Barack Obama, who calls us to greatness and to rise to our best selves. And I am so proud of all the young people who joined with him in saying, "Yes, we can!" The election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States has revived America's dream from the smoldering rubble of war; the quicksand of racial, religious, and class strife; and the selfish individualism and reckless greed that have brought our n... MORE >>

The Black vote in 2008 by Ron Walters Pardon me if I begin this with a little crowing, since I attracted considerable heat months ago when I declared that Barack Obama would win this election in a landslide and that the Black vote would reach unprecedented levels. Both of these predictions materialized. So I will go on to briefly describe the performance of the Black vote in this election, knowing that it is always dangerous to talk statistics while votes are still being counted. But I will try to give some estima... MORE >>

Something else to celebrate by James Clingman It's the time of the year when we start thinking about our taxes, the time of the year when I usually dedicate this column to the largest Black tax-preparation firm in the country. Now, in 2008, with 156 offices across the United States and growing, Compro-Tax Inc. should be high on your list of businesses to support during the initial four months of the tax season — and beyond. So as I give you something else to cheer about, go to www.comprota... MORE >>

Jackson, Sharpton say their activist roles will not change by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) —The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, perhaps the highest-profile civil rights leaders in the nation, both say their roles will not change as America beholds its first Black president. "The issues haven't gone away," says Sharpton. "Barack Obama said this is the beginning of change. This is not change itself. It's almost insulting to act like Blacks should now shut up, just because we have a Black president." In a recent interview... MORE >>

No more excuses by Gail Moore Like millions of Americans, I cried tears of joy on Nov. 4, 2008, when the news commentators announced that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, a Black man, would be the 44th president of the United States. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event, an event I never believed I'd see in my lifetime. An event which has brought renewed hope for our democracy. An event which filled me with pride and underscored the rea... MORE >>

Anita Martin In the not-so-distant past, a new car cost the same as it costs to attend one year of college today. So how can you prevent the cost of college from keeping you or your child from pursuing higher education? On Oct. 30, Steven D. Lamb and Robert DeCock presented a workshop designed for parents and students titled "Save on College: How to Effectively Prepare to Ensure College Success." It was the first of several free workshops being hosted this fall by the Madison nonprofit A... MORE >>

Barack Obama elected America's first Black president by Hazel Trice Edney  WASHINGTON(NNPA) — After a fierce fight of two years to change the course of history, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama has been elected the first African-American president of the United States. His win culminates an American history that expands from Black slavery to Jim Crow to a modern day civil rights movement still marked by institutional racism. “America is in the process and has taken the first step of turning from darkness unto light, turning from war unto piece,... MORE >>

Creating a safe and inclusive community: Disparities in criminial justice in Wisconsin, by Anita Martin Nearly 300 folks gathered at the seventh annual YWCA Racial Justice Summit, which took place at the Sheraton Madison Hotel Oct. 16-17. The event attracted attorneys, judges, law enforcement officers, social workers, and other community members along with a blend of local experts as well as nationally known speakers. UW Madison Professor of Sociology, Pamela Oliver spoke on racial disparities in criminal justice in Wisconsin. Dr. Oliver serves on the board of a number of organizations ... MORE >>

A historic victory, Obama will face limitations by George E. Curry Now that Barack Obama has defeated John McCain, Joe the Plumber, and a barrage of negative television commercials, he will now strive to balance the high expectations of African Americans and other progressives with the reality of an anemic economy and supersized budget deficits. Like McCain, the president-elect promised that shrinking finances will not deter him from keeping his central campaign promise... MORE >>

Benjamin Jealous: A new generation of NAACP leadership by Marian Wright Edelman In September, with his selection as the new president and CEO of the NAACP, Ben Jealous became, at 35, the youngest president in the organization's history. He represents a new generation of Black leadership ? one of many Black adults and youths who grew up benefiting from the increased access to education and opportunity opened up by the Civil Rights Movement, which was spearheaded by the NAACP.  His challenge is to honor that legacy by focusing the next phase of the movement on those s... MORE >>

Obama v. McCain: NAACP questionnaire reveals contrasting agendas on Black issues by Hazel Trice Edney Cuts to stay under revenue cap Since 1993, the Madison School District has reduced programs and services by over $60 million.  The two largest categories of reductions in this period have been 1) direct services to students, and 2) administrative.  Together they make up more than 86% of the total reductions.  These reductions include: • 157 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) from special education • Central office staffing in the areas of phys... MORE >>

Vote to mke your ancestors proud by Marian Wright Edelman On the way to the voting booth on Nov. 4, in addition to thinking about who should occupy the White House, we should also be concerned about who he will appoint to the federal courts. The next president will likely name one to three justices to the Supreme Court and hundreds to the lower federal courts. I can't overemphasize how important this is to America's children and their future. Federal judges are appointed to life terms and preside over cases involving a broad range of issues ... MORE >>

Millions to vote in historic election on Tuesday African American expected to lead the way, by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) — For the first time in American history, millions of voters will cast their ballots on Tuesday in an election in which an African American is the nominee of a major political party, fulfilling the long-held dreams of civil rights veterans. “I’ve always hoped so, and I’ve also worked for this idea,” says 96-year-old Dr. Dorothy Height, president emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women. “I think this will help the whole count... MORE >>

Dear Mr. President-Elect Obama A letter to Mr. Obama on Nov. 5, 2008, by Stephen Braunginn Given the historical magnitude of this year's campaign for the White House, I thought I would write a letter to my candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, as if he had won the Nov. 4 election for president of the United States. Below is the letter I imagine I could possibly write to Mr. President-Elect Obama on Nov. 5, 2008.      —Stephen Braunginn Nov. 5, 2008 Mr. President-Elect Barack Obama 1600 Pennsylvania, Ave. Washington... MORE >>

Next president will inherit Guantanamo by William Fisher NEW YORK (IPS/GIN) — Leading human rights groups reacted with outrage Oct. 21 to media reports that the Bush administration has decided not to close the prison at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The New York Times reported that Bush never considered State Department and Pentagon proposals outlining options for transferring the detainees elsewhere, adopting instead the view of his most hawkish advisers that closing Guantánamo would involve too many legal and po... MORE >>

Vote to make your ancestors proud by George E. Curry I am voting for someone else on Tuesday. No, not John McCain. I am voting for my beloved Big Mama, Sylvia Harris. I am voting for my stepfather, William H. Polk. I am voting for my Uncle Frank Harris, who could not read or write. I am voting for Aunt Katherine Foster, who could write, but barely. I am voting for all of my deceased relatives and so many non-relatives who did not live to see the day when a Black man could become president of the United States. We don't only have a right ... MORE >>

Republicans can't see the forest for the ACORN by George E. Curry So far, lacking an "October surprise" that will dramatically turn the election in their favor, Republicans are gradually shifting their attention from William Ayers, "an old, washed-up terrorist " from the 1960s, to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, better known as ACORN. At the GOP National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., former presidential candidate Rudy Giu... MORE >>

Express Yourself! Los Angeles by James Clingman Remember Charles Wright and the Watts' 103rd Street Rhythm Band's song, "Express Yourself"? Younger folks are more familiar with N.W.A.'s version on their famous "album": "Straight Outta Compton." Because both originated in Los Angeles, I thought it appropriate to draw a business analogy. Why is it so difficult for us to accept that Black businesses are the backbone of our neighborhoods? Can't you see it in the comparative statistics on wealth and family ... MORE >>

Lightweights in high places by Dr. John Odom The joke goes: "Who was the most successful U.S. president of the last half of the 20th century?" Kennedy? Reagan? Clinton? The answer is: George Bush Sr. "Why?" I'll provide the first part of the answer: "He got his son elected president." But I will cruelly withhold the punch line, because it's … cruel. All joking aside, George Herbert Walker Bush may truly be the most... MORE >>

Guess who's hurting the most? Hint: It isn't the fat cats, by Steve Braunginn  Wall Street is committing suicide with our tax dollars. Housing foreclosures are at their highest levels since the Great Depression, gas prices — until the last week or so — have been higher than ever before, and the federal government is in panic mode. This isn't a good thing for anyone, but the people feeling it the hardest are the ordinary workers, Joe and Joann Doe on Main Stre... MORE >>

"Blazing Saddles" scandal at UW Have we lost our sense of humor?, by Dana Pellebon Our culture has evolved in many positive ways over the years.  We have our first African American Democratic nominee for president.  We are working towards extending rights to all of our citizens, whether they are gay or straight.  We are elevating the level of discourse on racial issues.  We are losing our sense of humor and satire.  Wait. Hold on. Losing our sense of humor?  This past week, the University of Wisconsin-Madison issued an apology for showi... MORE >>

N.Y. governmor brings refreshing change by George E. Curry Al Sharpton likes to say from time to time that Democrats treat Black voters as if we are their mistresses. Party officials don't mind seeing us at night, but they shy away from stepping out with us during daylight. The same can be said for some Black politicians, who shy away from associating with Sharpton. No one can say that about New York Gov. David Patterson. I heard him speak last week in New York at ... MORE >>

The greedy trample on the needy by James Clingman  "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income." — Ecclesiastes 5:10 In recent history, there has been no better time than now for us to see the chasm between the so-called haves and the have-nots. We are witnesses to the biggest rip-off since the Great Train Robbery. As if Halliburton and all the rest of the Iraq war crooks were not enough, the bar has been raised even higher now with the housing/mortgage/ban... MORE >>

2008 election historic, whether Obama wins or loses by Ron Walters We may be about to witness what political scientists call a "critical election," in which there is a realignment of American politics, in this case from Republican to Democrat. But, more important than that, this election may signal a realignment, from the conservative politics that has gripped this country for the past 30 years to a more liberal version going forward. For the racially disadvantaged and the economically needy, who need government the most, this election may signal a... MORE >>

Judge the candidates on their records by Marian Wright Edelman During nearly two years of presidential campaigning, the candidates have made claims and promises on how they would perform if they are elected to the White House. Some of the criteria we might use to judge a candidate's fitness and temperament for leadership are difficult to quantify. But one concrete and objective way to assess how candidates measure up on crucial issues is by examining their voting r... MORE >>

Many southern senators won't let go of their racist past by Gail Moore I must admit that with all of the mud slinging in this presidential election, it takes a punch in the gut to make me stop and say, "How dare you?" Such was the case in April, when Republican Rep. Geoff Davis of Kentucky said of Barack Obama, "That boy's finger does not need to be on the [nuclear] button." How insulting. This statement proves once again that many in the Re... MORE >>

Taxpayers subsidize America's corporate welfare queens by George E. Curry There is growing evidence that the Wall Street bailout will definitely help Wall Street, provide some token assistance to Main Street, and totally bypass Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. For example, Clinton administration Secretary of Labor Robert B. Reich, now professor of public policy at the University of California-Berkeley, thinks the best way to improve the economy is by extending unemployment insur... MORE >>

Obama hits triple at the debate, a home run at the CBC by Ron Walters By all accounts Barack Obama won the first of the presidential debates on Sept. 26 over John McCain, who was widely considered to have more experience in foreign affairs. He won by exceeding expectations, exhibiting that he had a substantial grasp of issues, and showing that he was presidential. Meanwhile, McCain talked in generalities and showed his disdain for Obama — he failed to accord him proper acknowledgment by refusing to look at him.  But whatever advantage... MORE >>

New poll reveals depth of White racism by George E. Curry Despite their professed love for Oprah and Bill Cosby, more than half of Whites harbor Archie Bunker-like attitudes toward African Americans. And that has tremendous implications not only for the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, but also for how African Americans are viewed in the United States. Much of the coverage of a recent joint poll by the Associated Press and Yahoo News has centered... MORE >>

Invest in children, not prisons: Stop Proposition 6 by Marian Wright Edelman Every election year, politicians talk about getting tough on crime. One easy and politically popular strategy is to show voters you are tough on crime by spending billions of dollars to send people to prison. This requires more prisons built to keep the ever-expanding incarcerated population behind bars and reduces the money available for health care, education, workforce development, and early child... MORE >>

DNC Chair pushing for "enormous...huge" Black voter turnout Nov. 4 by Hazel Trice Edney  WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Now less than two weeks before Oct. 6, the deadline for voter registration in most states, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says he is confident that both African-Americans and many Whites will vote in record numbers for the Democratic ticket because of the high stakes issues and historicity of the election. “People get what this is about — at least those people in my generation. I was a college graduate when Dr. King a... MORE >>

Economic crisis lifts Obama campaign by Ron Walters The deregulation of financial institutions is essentially the cause of the current economic crisis. Letting the market regulate itself has been a stock-in-trade of Republican politics: letting financial institutions make money any way they can, even at the expense of consumers. It is this ideology that must be changed, and it is this possibility that Barack Obama represents. Although the economic crisis, which seized Wall Street and suddenly put the bank accounts and investments of mi... MORE >>

"This is Your Nation": On White privilege by Tim Wise For those who still can't grasp the concept of White privilege or who are looking for some easy-to-understand examples, perhaps this list will help. • White privilege is when you can get pregnant at 17, like Bristol Palin, and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents because "every family has challenges" — while Black and Latino families with similar "challe... MORE >>

"We will never have this opportunity gain, " Sharpton says by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) —Saying, "We'll never have this opportunity again," the Rev. Al Sharpton took to the streets on what appeared to be an emergency cross-country tour this week, hoping to rejuvenate the Obama excitement that appeared to have waned significantly after the Democratic National Convention last month. "What we've got to tell people is what's at stake; that we're dealing now with the new unemployment. Unemployment is higher than it's been in four ... MORE >>

Obama not funding Black community turnout by Ron Walters WASHINGTON (NNPA) —Saying, "We'll never have this opportunity again," the Rev. Al Sharpton took to the streets on what appeared to be an emergency cross-country tour this week, hoping to rejuvenate the Obama excitement that appeared to have waned significantly after the Democratic National Convention last month. "What we've got to tell people is what's at stake; that we're dealing now with the new unemployment. Unemployment is higher than it's been in four ... MORE >>

Letters to the Editor Shame on Palin Dear Editor: Shame on Sarah Palin for admonishing community organizers. At the convention in St. Paul and in Cedarburg, she preached about service, yet demonstrated ignorance about the efforts of volunteers and low-wage community and human services workers to improve the lives of fellow citizens. As a high school student in Evanston, Ill., I volunteered through a community organization to tutor low-income students in a church basement on Chicago's west side... MORE >>

We must all register and vote in this historic election by Marian Wright Edelman People who don't vote don't count, and they let our children and our country down. As our nation's most historic election approaches, we must think of the youngest and most vulnerable among us and make sure we vote this November. An increasing number of children in our nation are denied a fair and healthy start in life. Too many working families come up short at the end of each month, because of sagging wages and soaring food and gas prices. There are 13.3 million poor childre... MORE >>

Congress must pass legislation to help children in foster care by Marian Wright Edelman Congress has a unique opportunity, before it leaves Washington at the end of September, to help children in foster care.  The Fostering Connections to Success Act (H.R. 6307), already passed by the House, and its counterpart proposal, being considered in the Senate, will help ensure better outcomes for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable children. Together, the proposals will promote im... MORE >>

Corporate media a sidekick by George E. Curry Pennsylvania Gov. Robert Casey, noting that Sen. John McCain had supported George W. Bush 90 percent of the time in the last session of Congress, got it right when he told delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Denver: "That's not a maverick; that's a sidekick." Unfortunately, the corporate media — White-owned media — has decided to become an unabashed sidekick ... MORE >>

Obama's convention performance suppressed by press by Ron Walters The Democrats went into their convention plagued by press questions about how Hillary and her female supporters would behave, whether Bill Clinton would behave and support the ticket, and whether Barack Obama could define change in policy terms and fire up the Democratic Party. By all accounts, the political questions were resolved in the Clintons’ strong embrace of the ticket, in the lack of conflict, and in the stupendously historic scene in Invesco Field, where Obama did his thing. D... MORE >>

Obama's speech made me feel " little less invisible" by Regina Rhyne As I watched Sen. Hillary Clinton speak at last week's Democratic Convention, on the anniversary of the day in America when women were granted the right to vote, I couldn't help asking myself, "Am I one of the 'invisible' people?"  Her words struck several chords as she commented on situations she had been presented with during her recent campaign run for the White House. She spoke of citiz... MORE >>

What the VP picks tell us by Semmi Pasha Recently, the Obama campaign expertly generated excitement with the lead up to their announcement of Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) as the Democratic nominee for vice president.  Shortly afterward, the McCain campaign generated some of its own buzz by naming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the Republican nominee for vice president.  Even though approximately one in five vice presidents has assumed the presidency, VP picks are very rarely net positives for a presidential campaign. The most that ... MORE >>

Republican Convention gets turbulent start due to Hurricane Gustav Convention Time in America, by Hazel Trice Edney  WASHINGTON (NNPA) — The Republican National Convention — set to make the second nomination of a woman for vice president of the United States this week — was back on schedule Tuesday, Sept. 2, after an earlier lull due to Hurricane Gustav on the Gulf Coast. President Bush was set to speak Sept. 2 after presidential nominee John McCain had called for a temporarily scaled-back convention while waiting to determine the damages of Hurricane Gustav. McCain was set to... MORE >>

Obama appeals to America: 'We cannot turn back' Convention Time in America, by Hazel Trice Edney DENVER (NNPA) — U.S. Sen. Barack Obama has officially accepted the Democratic nomination for president of the United States before an audience of at least 75,000 adoring supporters, who also cheered the possibility of his becoming America's first Black president. The euphoric moment was played out before millions who watched via television and the Internet around the world. The moment transcended politics as it shattered doubts that Americans of all races and backgrounds can uni... MORE >>

Olympic Gold swimming by Marc Morial One of the most thrilling moments of the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing was the Gold Medal performance by swimming phenom Michael Phelps and his teammates, Jason Lezak, Garrett Weber-Gale, and Cullen Jones in the 4 x 100 freestyle relay.  Cullen and his teammates, Michael Phelps, Jason Lezak, and Garrett Weber-Gale won the Gold Medal in 4 x 100 freestyle relay at the 2008 Summer Olympic g... MORE >>

Hillary Clinton nails Bush, pushes for Obama in rousing DNC speech by Hazel Trice Edney DENVER (NNPA) — Former Democratic presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton — standing before thousands of cheering fans and supporting delegates at the Democratic National Convention — hammered home the need for all Democrats to back Democratic nominee Barack Obama in order to protect “all those people left out and left behind” by the Bush Administration. &ldq... MORE >>

Civil rights leaders not competing against Obama by George Curry  DENVER — As Barack Obama officially becomes his party's presidential nominee, one great disservice to him — and to national civil rights leaders — is the notion that Obama is somehow in competition with the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. In most instances, this notion is couched in the statement that young Barack Obama has surpassed the outdated race-based politics of the... MORE >>

Michelle Obama 'hits a home run' Will it resonate with Hillry supporters?, by Hazel Trice Edney DENVER (NNPA) — Some delegates and visitors who left Denver's Pepsi Center on Aug. 25 had a look of euphoria on their faces, as if they had seen something totally mystifying. "Michelle hit a homerun- plus," said Elsie Burkwalter, a superdelegate from a city she calls "Katrinaville, Louisiana," obviously New Orleans. "When she did a comparison of the way that she and Barack were raised and the values that her family taught her and that his taught him, it ... MORE >>

Labor Day by Ray Allen As we approach the Labor Day holiday, there is much to be concerned about: high gas prices, projected 20-percent increases in heating costs, a war that seems to have no end, and a declining economy. Our challenging times test both our resolve and our ability to remain competitive in a world economy. No institution has provided a better anchor for our standard of living and our international economic strength than the labor movement. Because of organized labor, many Americans enjoy wage... MORE >>

Second look at biracial 'Black leaders' by George E. Curry "If you had a choice of color, Which one would you choose, my brothers? If there was no day or night, Which would you prefer to be right?" —Curtis Mayfield, "Choice of Colors" While Barack Obama was pondering whether to seek his party's nomination for president, another development was already taking place in the Black community. More than at any oth... MORE >>

Letter to the Editor by Deborah L. Green Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the article by Ron Walters printed in the July 18-24 issue of The Madison Times under the title "Both personal & collective responsibility." As I understand it, the issue relates to Sen. Obama and his call for more responsibility from Black fathers. Walters goes on to say that after serving on a commission, he became more sensitive to the fact that Black families fall apart before they are "consummated." Walters th... MORE >>

Obama's strategy to maximize vote in Black America by Cash Michaels - Special to the NNPA from the Wilmington Journal WILMINGTON, N.C. (NNPA) - Two weeks before his momentous Democratic National Convention appearance in Denver, Colorado, presumptive presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama knows he is in the fight of his life with GOP rival, Sen. John McCain, in their intense battle for the White House. After a barrage of negative attack ads that questioned the Illinois senator’s experience and patriotism, and likened his celebrity to that of fluff princesses like Brittany Spears and Paris Hilton,... MORE >>

Blackonomics: Let's turn our energy into synergy by James Clingman With all the challenges that Black people face in this country, from economics to politics, from crime to unemployment, from health care to education — and the list goes on — it is incumbent upon us to find effective and efficient ways to confront those challenges. You may call them problems, which gives many of us an excuse to become overwhelmed and fall into a state of complacency — and then make no attempt to do anything about our situation. But with every challen... MORE >>

The Three Doctors' pact that pulled them through - and keeps pulling others by Marian Wright Edelman It all started with a trip to the dentist when George Jenkins was 13. He was at the dentist's office getting braces when a pair of pliers caught his attention. When he asked what they were for, the dentist took the time to show George how his different tools worked and taught him a few facts about his teeth. George was fascinated. He went home wanting to be a dentist himself when he grew up. ... MORE >>

"The Death of Black Politics:? Hardly! by Ron Walters When I read Matt Bai's above-titled piece in the New York Times, I thought he was fooling; but it was a serious article that put forth much of the thinking of this "post-Black power" and even "post-civil rights" generation. On second thought, however, I am not so sure that this has much to do with generational change, except for the fact that some of the successes of the previous generation have ushered in a new class of more affluent Blacks who eschew the ... MORE >>

Saving Knoxville College and other HBCUs by George E. Curry Do we still need historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs)? Even some Blacks are asking this question. Interestingly, those same people never ask whether Catholics still need Notre Dame or whether women still need Wellesley College. The answer is: We need all of those colleges. According to the National Center for Education and the Economy, by 2020 the United States will need 14 million ... MORE >>

Sen. Obama, look at the NFL Hall of Fame ceremony by Harry C. Alford   This past weekend, many of us watched the 2008 induction ceremony for the National Football League Hall of Fame. It’s an annual event, and it gives the highest recognition to the best players who have ever played this fantastic game. As I watched with great enjoyment, I remembered that outrageous, stereotypical claim made on Fathers’ Day by Sen. Barack Obama. He wrongly admon... MORE >>

Juveniles don't belong in adult prisons by Marian Wright Edelman Jails and prisons are dangerous places for anybody, but especially for children and teens. Many of these institutions house vicious predators who have been locked up for brutal, violent crimes. Yet on any given day, approximately 9,500 juveniles under the age of 18 are locked up in adult penal institutions. Children as young as 15 can be prosecuted as adults in many states, without review by a judge ... MORE >>

Incidents of HIV worse than previously known by George E. Curry MEXICO CITY (NNPA) — The number of people infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is 40 percent higher than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been reporting each year, according to new figures released Aug. 2. According to the CDC, approximately 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006. The previous estimate had been 40,000 new infections per year.... MORE >>

Race: A double Dutch problem for Obama by Ron Walters I was asked by a reporter at one point during the primary elections whether the issue of race would continue to play a role in the fall campaign. I responded that it would, as long as Barack was Black, which meant that his race would be an unavoidable target for his opponent and that his own community would often throw some fuel on the fire. True to that prediction, in July and early August, race revisited the Obama campaign in what might be called a "double Dutch" dynamic &m... MORE >>

Big city puts perspective on Madison's "diversity" by Nathan J. Comp In 2008, "diversity" is still as much a buzzword as it was a decade ago. Area employers still seek a diverse workforce, and the university still aims for a more diverse student body. Diversity education remains part of the public school curriculum, while a number of festivals held to celebrate Madison's diversity occur throughout the summer. The problem is that Madison isn't diverse enough to be ... MORE >>

Obama promises Urban League: The White House will be 'The People's House; by Hazel Trice Edney ORLANDO, Fla. (NNPA) —The line of people at the Orlando World Center Marriott wove through the corridors and wrapped around corners as well over 1,000 awaited the opening of the ballroom, where presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama was about to speak. "Yesterday, the crowd was polite to Sen. John McCain here at the National Urban League [NUL] Conference. But, today, for Sen. Obama, it's more of a love fest!" said one excited CBS Radio newsman among the horde ... MORE >>

At NUL Convention: Morial calls for September as Voter Empowerment Month, applauds new housing act by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) — National Urban League President Marc Morial, exuberant that the Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act has been passed by Congress and signed by President Bush, says the NUL annual conference in Orlando, Fla., this week is focused on leading citizens into a new direction for America by urging people to register and vote. "It's 40 years after the death of Dr. King, and this is an historic election in American history. I mean … this is the deb... MORE >>

When Al Bell saved America by Harry C. Alford   The maturation of the Civil Rights Movement, television and other fast communication vehicles started to change the attitudes and tolerances of most Americans. The second generation of the participants in the great migration (Southern Blacks to northern and western cities for work in industrials plants), was resolved not to take the abuses of segregation and de facto discrimination. ... MORE >>

Mental health support makes a normal life for teens possible by Marian Wright Edelman To a stranger, Samantha Brown, 18, would look like any other teenager. The petite student is dressed in the latest gear, her face covered in glitter makeup. Her friendly eyes dance behind oversized glasses, while two pink barrettes keep her hair off her face. She's extremely bright and does well in school: She has the highest grade point average in her class. And like most girls her age, she... MORE >>

McCain's turn for a tour on foreign soil: Blck neighborhoods by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) — Now that Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is back in the U.S. after a rock star-like tour through the Middle East and Europe, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain ought to take a tour on soil that is foreign to him: through America's Black neighborhoods, ravaged by drugs, poverty, and violence largely because of historic racism and economic bias. That's the sentiment of some international and African American affairs experts, who say Obama trumped ... MORE >>

Obama abroad: Arrogant or confident by Ron Walters   Barack Obama has just completed a flawless trip abroad, beefing up his presidential credentials. Received by cheering troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and by over 200,000 people in Berlin, he met with Gen. Petraeus in Iraq and with heads of state in Germany, France, and England in a manner that saw him operate at a high level of statesmanship. But his trip has met with grudging acceptance at home. Obama's policy leadership was also burnished, to the extent that his judgme... MORE >>

The New Yorker cover offends by Marc Morial I want to add my voice to the growing chorus of Americans who were offended by the unfunny cartoon that appeared on the July 21 cover of The New Yorker magazine. As has been widely reported, The New Yorker cover, in what it  claimed to be a sincere attempt at satire, depicted caricatures of Barack and Michelle Obama fist-bumping in the Oval Office, with Barack wearing Muslim garb, Michelle dressed like a '60s-era machine-gun-toting revolutionary, the American flag burning in the ... MORE >>

You got next! by James Clingman When I played basketball, and probably still today, those on the sidelines would say, "We got next!" to let everyone know they were next on the court. The game would sometimes be in full swing, and we would yell out, "We got next!" which would be acknowledged by the current players with responses like: "You don't want none of this!" "Yeah, c'mon and get take your whippin', too;" or "We'll be right with you, 'cause beating these scru... MORE >>

McCain seeks to ban affirmative action in Arizona by George Curry Despite eating chicken in Selma, Ala., and making the rounds of the NAACP and National Urban League conventions, John McCain is backing a Ward Connerly-sponsored ballot initiative that would ban affirmative action in Arizona. The presumptive Republican nominee for president disclosed his position under questioning July 27 on ABC-TV's "This Week with George Stephanopolos." STEPH... MORE >>

The fist of the '68 Olymics: What John Carlos and Tommy Smith meant to a generation by Bill Fletcher Jr A few years ago, I was at a conference in California. During a break, attendees were chatting informally. As I walked around, I noticed this brother who looked like he was in his 50s or early 60s. As I approached him, I noticed his nametag: ''John Carlos.'' I introduced myself and said that he and Tommy Smith were forever my heroes for what they did at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games... MORE >>

Obama abroad by Ron Walters With his trip to Europe and the Middle East, Barack Obama has embarked on a serious foreign policy initiative to bolster his foreign policy credentials. He gave a major speech on his global view recently and was criticized by John McCain, who said that he should have visited the scene of the problem first and then proposed policy recommendations. However, McCain gave a speech on education policy at the recent NAACP convention before he had spent virtually any serious t... MORE >>

Of peace and politics by Lea Zeldin The following is a report here on the 30th Congress, known as the Triennial because it is held every three years, of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). This year, the Congress was held at Simpson College, a small liberal arts college in Indianola, Iowa, whose most famous alumnus is probably George Washington Carver. One of the buildings we met in was called Carver Hall. Some 130 women and a few men attended, from all over the United States and from the... MORE >>

Jesse Jackson not the only one going nuts by George Curry While everyone recently fixated on Jesse Jackson's expressed interest in castrating Barack Obama, another insult to Obama, made by John McLaughlin, host of the McLaughlin Group, was almost overlooked. McLAUGHLIN: Question: Does it frost Jackson — Jesse Jackson — that someone like Obama, who fits the stereotype Blacks once labeled as an Oreo — a Black on the outside, a White on the inside &... MORE >>

Homeboy industries - Hope has a new address by Marian Wright Edelman The first time Father Gregory Boyle performed a funeral mass for one of the youths from the Pico Gardens and Aliso Village public housing projects in East Los Angeles was two decades ago. The young man was a casualty in a war among eight gangs in the economically depressed, mostly Latino neighborhood. After the funeral, Father Boyle, a Jesuit priest, determined that there would be more to his ministry than bury... MORE >>

Bond introduces new CEO at 99th NAACP Convention Continues to scorch Bush administration as well, by Hazel Trice Edney - NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON (NNPA) — NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, at the organization's 99th National Convention in Cincinnati this past week, did not let up on his marathon of criticism of President George W. Bush this election year, saying that Bush has "united Americans around a desire for change." Recalling threats from the Internal Revenue Service because of what the IRS implied were partisan attacks in recent years, Bond continued in his vintage in-your-face style. "Pr... MORE >>

A National Day of Social Action for health care by Marian Wright Edelman There are 9.4 million uninsured children in America today — 1 child in 8 — and millions more are underinsured, but not enough adults are stepping up to change this disgraceful reality. So to raise awareness about the problem, on July 11, thousands of children participating in the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools® program across the country took part in a National Day of Social Action. In colorful T-shirts, the children carried signs calling for "Health Covera... MORE >>

Jesse Jackson repents for his 'locker room trash talk' about Obama, but calls his perspective 'loving criticism' by Hazel Trice Edney - NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON (NNPA) - The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., expressing regret for a vulgar remark he made concerning presidential hopeful Barack Obama, says his only intent was to point out the need to balance campaign talk about self-responsibility and faith-based initiatives in the Black community with talk about the crisis that America's Black communities are now suffering. "My heart is contrite. Barbershop, locker-room trash talk should never be a part of public policy. For that I express... MORE >>

Civil rights and John McCain by George Curry In an effort to show that if elected, he would be president of ''all the people,'' John McCain has visited the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., the scene of one of the bloodiest civil rights marches in history. He's also traveled though Alabama's impoverished Black Belt region and showed up for services commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in Memphis. These gestures, designed to soften McCain's public image, cannot hide his awfu... MORE >>

Both personal and collective responibility by Ron Walters Lou Dobbs of CNN prodded his panel the other night to explain what was behind the awful castration image the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. used in voicing his frustration with Barack Obama. Dobb's panel completely missed the lively underground disappointment of some Blacks who support Obama that is reflected in two newspaper stories. One, headlined "Obama Calls For More Responsibility for Black Fathers," was a report on Obama's recent speeches to large Black audiences, such as the Apostoli... MORE >>

Obama distances himself from Blacks: Is there a Cost: by Ron Walters I am back from the Rainbow-Push convention in Chicago sponsored by Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., and I was struck by the fact that neither Barack nor Michelle Obama showed up, though they live virtually right down the street. Obama's absence was even more notable to me because of the reason: He was out making nice with Hillary Clinton, in an effort to knit together a unified campaign for the fall. I understand that, but I also understand that he could have shown up. Gov. Bill Richardson, wh... MORE >>

Helping prisoners through Community Connections by Timothy Garrett Sarah Quinn is one of 12 volunteers and the organizer as well of Community Connections (CC), a Madison-based support system for inmates at the minumum-security Oakhill Correctional Institution near Oregon. Quinn's background reflects her desire to reach out to those in need. Her grandfather did relief work for the Red Cross, and her father always had a desire to help people. So Quinn is able to easily see the injustice in the world and is doing what she can do to change it. Quinn and ... MORE >>

Obama says he's not 'distancing himself' from Black community by Hazel Trice Edney - NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON (NNPA) - U. S. Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee and possibly America's first Black president, denies that he is distancing himself from Black constituents as he seeks to win broader support in the general election. "I've spent the last year and a half on the campaign talking about problems of poverty and problems of injustice. That's been what my whole campaign has been built around," Obama said in an exclusive interview with the NNPA News Serv... MORE >>

Jesse Helms was a racist to the end by George Curry Jesse Helms, an unrepentant racist, died on July 4. When most racists die, public discussions generally center on other aspects of their life, with their racial views thrown in as an afterthought. But Helms, a former North Carolina senator, was such a virulent racist that his unrelenting attacks on civil rights could not go unnoted. Writing in the Charlotte Observer, columnist Jack Betts observed, "He used the language of the Jim Crow era to fight for a culture that kept p... MORE >>

Maybe Detroit has finally hit bottom by Harry C. Alford I love Detroit. Living in Detroit in the 1970s was indeed fascinating. The history and the vibrant people were challenged with a growing drug problem that catapulted crime to levels beyond belief. Everyone had at least one good friend or relative who was shot, robbed, brutally raped, etc. It was like the wild, wild West. However, there was great entertainment and socializing. Nightclubs like the High Chaparral, Kenny's, Burning Spear, Lafayette Orleans, Ten Gents, and My Fair Lady cre... MORE >>

The work of our own hands by James Clingman Can you imagine someone being a judge, a journalist, a businessman, and a physician, all in one lifetime? Certainly in today's economic climate, all of us should be so blessed as to have two or more career paths — just to pay for gasoline and food. But seldom do we hear of a person with such varied credentials as those mentioned above, much less someone who is educated in more than one area. In light of the fact that we are, indeed, in a knowledge-based economy, as Peter Drucker pointed... MORE >>

We must pay attention to the rise of gun violence by Marian Wright Edelman Over a 48-hour period this Memorial Day weekend, 21 people were shot in New York City, six fatally. A gunman opened fire on a crowd in a shopping district in Queens and wounded five people. A 15-year-old was killed while leaving a party in Manhattan. A 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were wounded in Harlem. This frenzy of gun violence has not been limited to New York. Other cities have experienced a similar rash of shootings. In one weekend in June, 14 people were shot to death ... MORE >>

July 4 for Black America: A day late and a dollar short by Hazel Trice Edney  WASHINGTON (NNPA) —As flags fly in special commemoration and fireworks boom in the streets this week, many people across the nation — including Black newspaper publishers — will not only reflect on the freedoms that have been gained since the July 4, 1776, signing of the Declaration of Independence, but also on the promises that are yet unfulfilled. "We've always been a day late and a dollar short, in terms of how we relate to how this country has t... MORE >>

I understand Michelle Obama's comment by Ron Walters Michelle Obama has all of a sudden become the center of attention in the election, because she is perceived by John McCain's people to have made Barack Obama vulnerable to an attack on his loyalty to the country. And as silly as it is — why would someone running for president of the United States be disloyal to the country or have his wife voice such sentiments? — Obama has to defend his campaign against such attacks. Michelle was speaking shortly after Obama had d... MORE >>

How Barack Obama can beat John McCain by George Curry Barack Obama defeated Hillary and Bill Clinton by outsmarting them in the Democratic primary. While Hillary set her eyes on large states, the scrappy Illinois senator figured he could defeat her with guerilla attacks in selected congressional districts in the big states and thumpings in the caucus states that she was largely ignoring. The strategy paid off, and Obama narrowly defeated the Clinton machine. Obama is set to pull off an even larger upset by defying political wisdom, which ... MORE >>

Mothers rocking the prison cradle By the Way, by Marian Wright Edelman Many mothers who experience childbirth are coached through labor in a hospital maternity ward with supportive doctors and nurses. Their husbands may capture the birth with a video camera. After the baby's bawling first breaths, mother and child bond in a joyous embrace. Childbirth is not so joyous for the growing number of women who give birth behind bars. It is a time of humiliation, sadness, and separation. Before, during, and after delivery, prison mothers are commonly shackled. No ... MORE >>

Dorothy Height: An American treasure by Marc Morial This year's State of Black America® report shines a much-needed spotlight on the struggles and triumphs of Black women. Too often invisible in mainstream society or depicted with demeaning stereotypes in ''popular'' culture, our women are at once the most oppressed and most resilient group in America. Every day, millions of African-American women work harder, earn less, and shoulder the burdens of breadwinner and caregiver in their families. At the same time, many step up ... MORE >>

Taking action on social determinants of health: New group will address "unnatural causes" part 2 of 2, by Anita Martin  Dr. Carolina Gonzales Schlenker, M.D., takes a leadership role in the new Unnatural Causes Health Action Group.  The group evolved from a provocative PBS documentary series on health disparities.  It's an informative yet unsettling series designed to spring people to action, and folks in Madison are rallying to the cause and leading the way. This past winter and spring, ... MORE >>

Let's get a grip on energy costs by Harry C. Alford Have you had enough yet? Gasoline is over $4 per gallon, and we appear to be nowhere near the end of this testament to our mismanagement of resources. Just wait for your heating bills this winter. Global climate change appears to be quite real, yet we do nothing as it happens right before our eyes. No one disagrees that we have had enough of the reckless, free-falling attitude of our leaders and policy makers. The following is what America needs to do to ensure energy supply and affordable pr... MORE >>

CDF gun report shows increase in child and teen deaths by Marian Wright Edelman Imagine a bullet fired from a semiautomatic pistol, moving through the darkness faster than the speed of sound — more than 1,200 feet per second, or the length of four football fields ... MORE >>

Bob Johnson on wrong side of history by George E. Curry   Now that Hillary Clinton has finally acknowledged that she lost to Barack Obama, it appears that the only other person still unaware of that is Bob Johnson. After embarrassing himself in South Carolina, Johnson is a... MORE >>

All Democrats have lots of work to do by Ron Walters Now that Barack Obama has cinched the Democratic nomination, the pundits seem determined to make it difficult for him by showing how impossible the odds are that he can be elected president of the United States. Their favorite line, that Obama has lots of work to do, is generally designed to point out problems he had in the primary election season with certain states —such as Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, and others — or certain parts of the Democratic electorate, like Whit... MORE >>

The Black AIDS crisis - Time to turn words into action by Phill Wilson  Black America’s response to the AIDS crisis is finally gaining momentum. More Black people than ever before know someone with HIV/AIDS and/or are talking about it. In light of this progress, it is tempting to think that the AIDS epidemic in our community is under control. But this is no time to be complacent. Black people are still being diagnosed, progressing to AIDS and dying from the disease more often than any other racial group in America. To be... MORE >>

As presumptive nominee, Obama addresses choosing a running mate by Zenitha Prince - Special to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspapers WASHINGTON (NNPA) — On June 3, Sen. Barack Obama defied history: He became the first African American to head a major party ticket, and he has a viable chance of taking the helm at the White House. “America, this is our moment. This is our time. Our time to turn the page on the policies of the past. Our time to bring new energy and new ideas to the challenges we face. Our time to offer a new direction... MORE >>

Black voters strain to hear what candidates not saying by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) —The day after presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama announced his historic victory, the monthly jobs report showed that the African American jobless rate was, once again, higher than all other racial groups. At 9.7 percent, Black unemployment is almost five points above the White rate of 4.4 percent; three points above the Hispanic American rate of 6.9 percent, and more than four points above the national average of 5.5 percent. From joblessness ... MORE >>

World celebrates 'History worth living for' by Hazel Trice Edney WASHINGTON (NNPA) — U.S. Sen. Barack Obama now has enough pledged and superdelegates to win the Democratic presidential nomination. He has defeated Sen. Hillary Clinton to become the first African American to be nominated by a major party for the U.S. presidency. ... MORE >>

The costs of health care are burying American families by Marian Wright Edelman Unpaid medical bills are piling up on kitchen tables all over America. In addition to the rising costs of food, gas, and housing, more and more working families are becoming overwhelmed by s... MORE >>

Moving from rhetoric to action by James Clingman Black Americans do a great deal of talking about designing and executing economic empowerment initiatives via nationalist principles, the same principles used by other groups in this country. We conduct conference calls, "Webinars," workshops, and town hall meetings; we attend conventions, expos, seminars, and conferences; all in an effort to "discuss" or listen to someone else speak about empowerment for Black people. Then we go home and do nothing. In other words, we are ski... MORE >>

Boomers at the crossroads: Shape of things to come by Anita Martin by Anita Martin Orien Reid Nix knows firsthand what it's like to lose loved ones to an insidious, progressive disease. Four members of her family have died of Alzheimer's disease, including her mother, Octavine Kyles Reid Alexander. Reid Nix, chair of Alzheimer's Disease International, gave the keynote address at the 22nd annual State Conference on Alzheimer's and Related Disorders held last month in Milwaukee. Reid Nix, who started her career as a radio and television repor... MORE >>

It's time to stop playing ball with 'Billary' Clinton by George E. Curry With the hard-fought Democratic primary season finally over, the disputed elections in Florida and Michigan resolved by the party, and a flood of superdelegates endorsing the front-runner, Barack Obama has fi... MORE >>

Let's take bullying seriously by Marian Wright Edelman A youthful tough who got his growth spurt early gets cruel gratification from intimidating weaker peers. The popular jock cruises the locker room looking for "nerdy" kids to torment. The clique of "cool girls" ... MORE >>

The crazy actions of James Bevel by George Curry I had planned to write this column about the controversy over whether Hillary Clinton has made yet another stupid and racially insensitive reference to Barack Obama when she mentioned that Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated... MORE >>

A Madisonian visits Rev. Wright's church Public prayer to a public God by Lea Zeldin Fourteen people — Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and perhaps an atheist or two — went to Chicago on Mother's Day to attend a service and give support to the congregation of the Trinity United Church of Christ, made famous because presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama was a member. At the onset of the campaign, this was no big deal, particularly because Hillary Clinton was expected to win the nomination. But as the long campaign wore on, who wou... MORE >>

In support of the State of Black Madison Coalition by Dr. John Y. Odom "If the bread is baked to suit them, they'll complain about the stew …" —Ephraim D. Tyler Representatives of six organizations formed the State of Black Madison Coalition to develop a report on ways to improv... MORE >>

New ideas needed to invigorate NAACP by George Curry The votes are in, and now it's time to rally behind the candidate. No, I am not talking about presidential politics. I am referring to the NAACP's decision to hire 35-year-old Benjamin Jealous as its next president. Prior... MORE >>

We've tipped over, fellas by Gail Perry-Daniels Like many in Madison's Black community, I waited anxiously last week to get my hands on the report titled, The State of Black Madison 2008: Before the Tipping Point. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical even before reading the report, bec... MORE >>