Juneteenth is Worth Celebrating
'Is Juneteenth still relevant?' These days, some consider Juneteenth as being 'controversial'
2013-06-17
William Reed NNPA Columnist
An African-American tradition since the late 19th century, Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or day of observance in 42 states. On June 19, the Dr. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, will join with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) to host a ceremony to unveil a statue of Frederick Douglass at the U.S. Capitol with Myers reading Douglass’ historic speech: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro.” Read the complete article
Survey: Blacks More Willing than Whites to Make Privacy Concessions
Amazingly, Blacks are more trusting of the federal government even considering its past abuses
2013-06-17
George E. Curry NNPA Columnist
Although the federal government secretly spied on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders in the past, Blacks are more willing than Whites to have their privacy rights invaded if it will help investigate possible terrorists. Read the complete article
Editorial: Controversy Underscores Why Portland Needs a Sustainable Equity Network
Personal failings can translate into institutional prejudices
2013-06-17
By Bernie Foster, publisher Of The Skanner News
The Skanner sponsored the event to support the effort to build a sustainable network that will promote equity throughout our community. We believe this controversy simply underscores how necessary that effort is. Read the complete article
The Challenge of Interrupting the School to Prison Pipeline
Come on people: 21 days in jail for throwing a pencil?
2013-06-14
By Judith Browne Dianis America\'s Wire Writers Group
Across the country, young people are being arrested for behavior that used to be solved through a trip to the principal's office or the intervention of a counselor. In Florida, a 14-year-old was arrested and charged for throwing a pencil at another student and spent 21 days in jail. Read the complete article
Pvt. Bradley Manning Deserves an Award, Not Jail Time
Obama's stand towards whistleblowers exists in stark contrast to its attitude towards both the criminality on Wall Street as well as the criminality of those who lied us into the Iraq war
2013-06-10
Bill Fletcher, Jr. NNPA Columnist
The court martial of Pvt. Bradley Manning for allegedly providing thousands of classified documents to WikiLeaks is the latest in efforts undertaken by this administration to crush whistleblowers. Read the complete article
Is 'Big Brother' Racially Biased?
Differences in marijuana arrests raise real questions about the many ways that data may be used to discriminate
2013-06-10
Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist
When George Orwell wrote the novel 1984, he envisioned a character, real or imagined “Big Brother” who was a know-all, see-all, omnipotent and elusive presence that intruded into lives because he could. Those who knew about “him” were told that they did not exist, but in many ways, Big Brother may not have existed, either. The omnipotence had taken on a life of its own. Read the complete article
Zero Tolerance Discipline Policies: A Failing Idea
Added together, the tens of thousands of suspensions—many for minor infractions—have an enormous negative impact
2013-06-10
Marian Wright Edelman NNPA Columnist
Many school children in America are on summer break right now, but here’s a pop quiz about discipline policies in our nation’s schools that’s just for grownups Read the complete article
The Jury is out on Obama’s Fight to Confirm Judges
In their effort to radically shift the nation to the right over the past two decades, Republicans have gone all out to control the federal judiciary
2013-06-10
George E. Curry NNPA Columnist
The next major showdown in Washington may not be over how best to reduce the deficit or involve another Obama cabinet appointment. Look for sparks to fly over the president’s constitutional prerogative to nominee federal judges and the Senate’s responsibility to either confirm or reject those nominees. Read the complete article
Don't Let Bank Payday Exploit Seniors and Their Social Security Benefits
Federal banking regulators recently issued proposed rules and called for public comment on reining in bank payday lending
2013-06-03
Charlene Crowell
Responding to public concerns and new research, federal banking regulators recently issued proposed rules and called for public comment on reining in bank payday lending. Read the complete article
Obama's Morehouse Speech Gets a 'B-minus' Grade
Thematically and stylistically, it was a very good address – other than the glaring lack of specific relevant policies outlined below
2013-06-03
Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Special to the NNPA from The Florida Courier
As a member of a class “in reunion,” I was one of the hundreds of Morehouse alumni who were there front and center. I could see, hear, and ‘feel’ the live interchange between Bro. Prez and the listening audience. I also watched the speech again online prior to writing this analysis. Read the complete article
