Black Politics on the Web

Rev. Sharpton backs Bloomberg foe for NYC mayor

The Rev. Al Sharpton is endorsing Democrat William Thompson Jr. for mayor of New York City. Thompson is the leading Democrat competing to run against billionaire Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican-turned-independent. The civil rights leader plans to campaign with Thompson over the weekend. Thompson is the city’s comptroller. Even though he’s backing Bloomberg’s challenger, Sharpton has been careful [...]

Obama praises Cronkite as icon who will be missed

President Barack Obama on Friday praised Walter Cronkite as a journalistic icon, calling the CBS anchor the “voice of certainty in an uncertain world,” who will be truly missed. Cronkite, 92, died Friday night at his Manhattan home. In a statement, Obama described Cronkite as a trusted voice who calmly guided America through wars and riots, [...]

President’s Weekly Address: Health Care Reform Cannot Wait (Video)

President’s Weekly Address: Health Care Reform Cannot Wait

As prepared for delivery. Right now in Washington, our Senate and House of Representatives are both debating proposals for health insurance reform. Today, I want to speak with you about the stakes of this debate, for our people and for the future of our nation. This is an issue that affects the health and financial well-being of [...]

Civil rights leader Vivian: Churches not doing social action

Rosalind Bentley, Atlanta Journal-Constitution - When the Rev. C.T. Vivian starts talking, it’s going to take awhile. As a former lieutenant of Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights lion has a lot to say: about lunch counter sit-ins; about how he was bloodied by the sheriff in Selma, Ala., while trying to register blacks to vote; [...]

Baltimore statue of Billie Holiday rededicated

A statue of Billie Holiday has returned to the former black entertainment district in Baltimore where the lady once sang the blues. The statue, depicting a singing Holiday in a flowing, floor-length strapless gown, a gardenia flower in her hair, first graced Billie Holiday Plaza in 1985. It was removed for 18 months for cleaning and [...]

Mementos of MJ buried at storied Detroit cemetery

Woodlawn Cemetery is the final resting place for civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks and many of the Motor City’s musical elite, including members of the Four Tops and living legend Diana Ross also has a site reserved. Michael Jackson is among them — in spirit, at least. Hundreds of stuffed animals — some wearing a single white [...]

African Americans Lost Ground on Fortune 500 Boards

A recent study on African Americans on boards of directors of Fortune 500 companies commissioned by The Executive Leadership Council(R) found that the number of board seats held by African Americans has declined since its inaugural board report released in 2004. The percentage of African Americans on corporate boards decreased from 8.1 in 2004 to [...]

Controversial MLK Billboard Removed

KRISTINE GALVAN, Fox Houston - It disappeared. A billboard company has removed a controversial political billboard featuring the late Martin Luther King Jr. A grassroots conservative group called RagingElephants.org paid three thousand dollars to have the message “Martin Luther King Junior was a republican” up for the entire month, but its contract with sign ad, the billboard [...]

Health Care Reform, a sad expensive joke

Dr. Ada M. Fisher - Obamacare is coming and the price is one politicians and the public don’t truly appreciate. Not only will choices of providers be limited, services cut and pertinent problems not dealt with, but the cost will be prohibitive no matter who pays. Doing what we are doing is not the [...]