Inside the courtroom NORRISTOWN, Pa.— A Montgomery County jury on Thursday found comedian Bill Cosby guilty on all three counts of aggravated indecent assault in the case involving Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee who said she sought career advice and friendship from the entertainer. The decision came after more than a day of […]
National
A space for national news pertaining to African Americans
Posted inNational, News
Trump disparages African nations
Civil rights groups, U.S. lawmakers condemn president’s latest slurs. Trump made the comments during a meeting with Republican and Democratic congressmen about immigration reform and President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The New York Times reported: “When Mr. Trump heard that Haitians were among those who would benefit from the proposed deal, he […]
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New Nielsen study reveals growing spending power, influence of Black women
A new report detailing the record-setting spending power of African American women has further buoyed the confidence of Black female entrepreneurs who said the information proves their undeniable value to the United States and the global economy. The report titled, “African American Women: Our Science, Her Magic,” was released by Nielsen during the Congressional Black […]
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Environmental justice scholar urges vigilance
The next disaster could be here Storms such as the latest rash of hurricanes don’t discriminate, but too often the aftermath of those storms can disproportionately impact communities of color. Dr. Dorceta Taylor, a professor of environmental sociology at the University of Michigan, points out that to see this effect, “All people have to look […]
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After 190 years, the global impact of the Black press is still undeniable
For 190 years, the global impact of the Black Press has been irrefutable; from fighting against colonialism to Africa to advocating for Black soldiers fighting in Europe during the world wars and shining a light on apartheid in South Africa, the Black-owned newspapers have always been a voice for the voiceless. The rich and unvarnished […]
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White House ‘cloud of secrecy’ frustrates journalists
Press struggles to stay focused on the tough questions According to a recent report from Muck Rack Daily, a digest of journalism on Twitter that is written by journalists, over 60 percent of journalists said doing their job is more difficult under the Trump administration than under the Obama administration. “It’s very unpresidential. It’s unpredictable […]
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Professor protects freedom of speech, not degradation
The First Amendment allows the freedom of speech and prohibits any interference of such speech. Therefore, do White nationalists, neo-Nazis and other hate groups have the right to express their views? Yes, affirms Associate Law Professor Renalia DuBose of Western Michigan University-Cooley Law School in Tampa Bay, Florida. This question is once again being debated […]
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HBCU scientist behind NOAA total eclipse imagery
WASHINGTON — Well before the nation’s first total solar eclipse dominated the headlines of every news organization in America, it was affixed to the mind of Jamese Sims. Sims, a native of Meridian, Miss., graduate of two historically Black universities and one of the few African American women in the field of scientific engineering and meteorology, […]
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Millions to watch once in a lifetime solar eclipse
WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans will gather in front yards, rooftops and residential streets across the nation Monday to catch a glimpse of what will be the first total solar eclipse to pass across the United States in 99 years. The moon will pass between the sun and earth and block all or part of […]
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Brother Greg: entertainer, activist and champion of unspoken truth
All life so mattered to Dick Gregory that he explained, “Thou shalt not kill means everything with life in it. So, I don’t eat meat.” It was also part and parcel of his activism, appropriate to the current resurgence of hate groups. In that same 1969 address, The Light Side, The Dark Side, his most popular recording, […]
Posted inSports
Journalists weigh the effects of athlete protests
NEW ORLEANS — Sports journalism may now involve more than covering sports; it may include reporting on social protests as well. Currently unemployed NFL QB Colin Kaepernick is a recent example. Kaepernick was the hot topic of several panels at the 2017 National Association of Black Journalists’ annual convention in downtown New Orleans. The scheduled […]
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NABJ ’17 Convention | reflections on Black journalism on day four
NEW ORLEANS — Saturday, the final full day of the National Association of Black Journalists Convention is always breakdown and getaway day. The exhibitors and career fair interviewers have packed up their wares and have taken down their booths and work spaces. Many convention attendees can been seen with their rolling carry-on luggage as they […]
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NABJ ’17 Convention | Omarosa, Kaepernick, mass incarceration dominate third day
NEW ORLEANS — Omarosa Manigault was a last minute fill in for Friday’s afternoon plenary session at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention. As President Donald Trump’s key adviser on Black people, Manigault was visibly upset by the drilling she got from the packed room of Black journalists. Eventually, the the White House […]
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NABJ ’17 Convention | Long lines and full crowds on second day
NEW ORLEANS — The second day of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention was jam-packed in more ways than one. Many sessions were at capacity and long lines persisted as a result. The annual ESPN mentor’s breakfast was a popular stop. If you didn’t have a ticket, you were seated on a first […]
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NABJ ’17 Convention kicks off in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS — Close to 3,000 Black journalists are attending the 2017 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) annual convention in downtown New Orleans this week. The convention began Wednesday and runs through Sunday. The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) and KMOJ-FM are the only local Black media in attendance. President Donald Trump’s warning to North Korea brought […]
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Up from the ashes — Detroit down, but not out
Conclusion of a two-part story The City of Detroit’s motto translated from the Latin is “We hope for better things; it will arise from the ashes.” That motto is prominently displayed on the city’s flag and has been the impetus for city residents ever since the 1805 fire that destroyed the city. The executive director […]
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Harteau’s exit cheered; mayor urged to do the same (photos & video)
Protesters rally, march, vow to keep up the pressure Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau’s resignation Friday at the request of Mayor Betsy Hodges marked a dramatic end to an intense week. In a released statement, the mayor said that she had “lost confidence” in Harteau’s leadership and “it is clear that she has lost the […]
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Five days of terror: Detroit ’67
Eyewitness accounts of the riot that changed Detroit forever First of a two-part story The “Long Hot Summer of 1967” wasn’t about unusually warm humid weather. It was about the 159 race riots that occurred in the United States 50 years ago. The 1968 Kerner Commission report submitted to President Lyndon Johnson pointed out that […]
Posted inNational
Hatred in America ‘hidden most days, alive every day’
U.S. Park Police confirmed that another noose was found on the National Mall on Saturday, June 17, according to ABC News. Late last month, a portion of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, D.C., was closed for nearly three hours after a noose was found in a gallery, officials […]
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African Americans in Congress say Trump lying about wiretaps
White House Given Until Monday to Present Evidence WASHINGTON — An African-American member of the House Intelligence Committee said the White House’s failure this week to present her committee with evidence supporting President Trump’s claim former Presisent Barack Obama wiretapped him during the election confirms the prevailing view that his assertion is groundless. “I don’t […]