African Americans

Feb 1 2013

A battle of neighboring cities

Lancaster mayor R. Rex Parris, an attorney, and the Malibu law firm Shenkman & Hughes have joined together in a suit against the city of Palmdale under the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). The case, filed on behalf of plaintiff Juan Jauregui, seeks to end Palmdale’s at-large system of electing city council members in favor of geographic council districts.

Jan 18 2013

“His Dream Will Never Die”

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The 28th annual Kingdom Day Parade will be held in South Los Angeles Saturday under the theme “His Dream Will Never Die” and with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp serving as celebrity grand marshal.

Southern California’s largest Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance will begin at 10:15 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Western Avenue in South Los Angeles, head west on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Crenshaw Boulevard, then south to Vernon Avenue, concluding at Leimert Park.

Jan 17 2013

African Americans, Hispanics were routinely stopped

NEW YORK—U.S. District Court Judge Shira A. Scheindlin last week issued a preliminary injunction, prohibiting the New York Police Department’s practice of stopping and frisking innocent people outside of private apartment buildings in the Bronx, one of five New York City Boroughs.

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said the practice known as “Operation Clean Halls,” placed most African American and Latino New Yorkers under siege in their homes in thousands of apartment buildings.

Mel and Pearl Shaw  |   OW Contributor
Jan 17 2013

FUNdraising Good Times

Why are some nonprofits successful with fundraising when others face challenges? What can be done to change a nonprofit’s fundraising fate?

Some of the things that impact fundraising are outside a nonprofit’s control. These include a downturn in the local or national economy, or increased—and unexpected—competition from national disaster relief efforts. But other factors can be addressed proactively.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Jan 10 2013

Program tackles academics, physical education and community service

Urban Scholar Athletes Inc. was founded by Imhotep and Alexis Coleman, parents of public school children who believed that if it takes a village (neighborhood) to raise children, then it takes children to raise a village. Understanding the need for youth leadership in order to make changes in urban “villages” throughout Los Angeles, Imhotep and Alexis created an enrichment program that focuses on developing well-rounded, fully engaged students through accelerated academics, physical fitness/athletics; and service learning opportunities.

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.