Opinion

Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Dec 15 2011

Between the Lines

The NBA lockout was finally resolved two weeks ago, ending our “basketball jones” depression.

Even though college basketball has been “poppin’,” we still need our daily dose of funks, dunks, shakes and bakes that comes with professional basketball. So now the NBA is back and commissioner David Stern hasn’t cut us any slack, as the talent of the league has sought to test their value in the market before the 66-game season starts.

David L. Horne, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Dec 15 2011

Practical Politics

The vast majority of African American college-going students in this state go to California’s Community Colleges—still one of the truly great bargains in America. That being said, there are plenty of current problems in the process.

Julianne Malveaux  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Dec 15 2011

Mitt Romney bet Rick Perry $10,000

If you needed evidence that Republicans are out of touch with America, look no further than recent exchanges among candidates. Mitt Romney bet Rick Perry $10,000 about something in his book.

Anthony Asadullah Samad, Ph.D.  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Dec 8 2011

Between the Lines

The events of the day have caused us to confuse what is real and what is important. It seems some people frame what’s important to them and forget what’s important to us all. There are things going on in our community that are significant and the people that say they speak for us or represent us, don’t seem to think so ... or don’t seem to care.

Julianne Malveaux  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Dec 8 2011

Bullying and its consequences

I hope you watched “Extreme Home Makeover" on Dec. 2, as I did. For me it was an opportunity of pride, as Bennett student Dominique Walker was featured with her family, on a trip to Los Angeles and a home upgrade. Why? Because her family remained in pain because their 11-year-old son and brother killed himself after vicious bullying.

Across Black America

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

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”