African Americans

Gregg Reese  |   OW Staff Writer
Jun 30 2011

Fourth of July through our eyes

As the Fourth of July approaches, it bears looking beyond the pomp and circumstance to examine the original precept behind this festival of independence. For many residents of color, it is the most paradoxical of holidays because, they argue with much justification, that its celebration is a hollow one, since many of the freedoms it salutes remain elusive to them.

Jun 16 2011

Vermont Square Church hosts celebration

In commemoration of World Sickle Cell Day, the African American Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Registry for Sickle Cell Disease Awareness (African Americans for Sickle Cell Disease Awareness, or AA4SCDA) is holding an event at the Vermont Square United Methodist Church on Sunday.

The celebration will include Father’s Day speakers on the subject of “A Father’s Love: Journey From Sickle Cell to Marrow Transplant for My Child” and shared perspectives on family members diagnosed with sickle cell.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Jun 16 2011

More than just an observation

As June 19 comes closer and conversations about celebrating the day that the last Africans in America received word of their emancipation from chattel slavery drew nearer, there are those folks who might wonder or even verbalize a familiar sentiment—“slavery was way back then; it has nothing to do with me today. Why should I go to such a celebration. It’s just old timey stuff.”

According to noted psychologist Wade W. Nobles, Ph.D., there are very good reasons to go to a Juneteenth celebration.

Karen Bass  |   OW Guest Columnist
Jun 16 2011

Downright scary

The Republican budget authored by Budget Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) is a downright scary proposal that slashes Medicare benefits and puts insurance companies in charge of seniors’ healthcare.

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program.

Nobody is spared in this slash-and-burn Republican budget. Not seniors, not working families, and not children.

Jun 6 2011

“Pigford II”

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Court-ordered process of officially notifying African American farmers and their heirs about the $1.25 billion “Pigford II” class action settlement, In re Black Farmers Discrimination Litigation, is underway.

Class members should visit www.BlackFarmerCase.com or call 1-877-810-8110 for complete information, including the detailed notice, key dates, and claims-filing information.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.