black community

Julianne Malveaux  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Apr 11 2013

Counting the Cost

Unemployment rates were “little changed” in March 2013; they were either holding steady or dropping by a tenth of a percentage point or so. The unemployment rate dropped from 7.7 to 7.6 percent representing a steady, if painstakingly slow, decrease. This declining unemployment rate was reported with some circumspection because even as the rate dropped, nearly half a million people left the labor market, presumably because they could not find work.

Harry C. Alford  |   OW Guest Contributor
Apr 11 2013

Beyond the Rhetoric

This is the beginning of a series of articles about street gangs in our nation. Gone are the days back in the 1960s and before when gangs were social organizations and were geographically linked. Beginning in the 1970s, these street gangs evolved into criminal organizations. They are the generators of murder, drugs, robbery, etc. No longer are they cool or cute. They are pure savages craving fast money and a fast lifestyle. This week let’s take a look at Detroit.

One of the earliest gangs was the Errol Flynns. They took the name from the Caucasian movie star.

Rosie Milligan  |   OW Contributor
Apr 11 2013

Commentary

Listen up! Black ministers/pastors need to focus their attentions on the economic divide between Blacks and other races. This issue is causing more harm to Blacks than who Blacks are sleeping with and who they are marrying.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Apr 11 2013

Dunlap, Stevens forced into runoff

Inglewood residents’ desire for change has forced incumbents in the two City Council races into runoffs on June 11.

First-term Councilman Mike Stevens, who won 31.3 percent of ballots cast in the April 2 election, will face challenger George Dotson who captured 44.8 percent of votes.

In District 2, Councilwoman Judy Dunlap (32.9 percent of votes) will face Alex Padilla (48.5 percent of votes).

Dunlap is facing a runoff for the first time since she defeated former Councilman Anthony Scardenzan in 1993.

Apr 5 2013

Zimmerman awaiting trial

The parents of Trayvon Martin have settled a wrongful death claim against the homeowners association of the Florida neighborhood where the teenager was fatally shot, the Orlando Sentinel reported Friday.

The report of the settlement comes more than 13 months after neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman shot Martin in Zimmerman’s neighborhood in Sanford, Florida.

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.