PO Soul Radio News Blog

Homeless Woman Faces 20 Years For Enrolling Son in Wrong District

2011-04-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

The Daily Norwalk

The Connecticut mother who enrolled her six year-old son into a Norwalk elementary school instead of a Bridgeport school, is now facing larceny charges.

Tanya McDowell, who is set to be arraigned today, is now being charged with larceny and conspiracy to commit larceny for allegedly stealing $15,686 from Norwalk schools. According to the Stamford Advocate, this is the first time Connecticut has prosecuted a parent for sending a child outside of their district. If convicted, McDowell faces up to 20 years in prison.

Despite hundreds of complaints and supporters of McDowell, Norwalk officials feel they are doing nothing wrong:

"This is not a poor, picked-upon homeless person," said Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia on Monday. "This is an ex con, and somehow the city of Norwalk is made into the ogre in this. She has a checkered past at best... We're a very compassionate city. She knew how to post bond, she had a car — why didn't she send her kid to the Bridgeport school? This woman is not a victim and Norwalk is not an ogre. As far as I'm concerned, let them say what they want."

Ogre is an understatement, Moccia. Regardless of where this woman lived, she simply wanted her son to get a decent education. She may have violated county regulations, but to face 20 years for it is preposterous. Norwalk should be embarrassed and ashamed of itself. Whatever message they’re trying to send to future offenders has been drowned out by the cruel and unusual punishment they’re trying to inflict upon this woman.

Vy Higginsen Brings 'Mama, I Want to Sing' To A New Generation

2011-04-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that New York radio personality and theater producer Vy Higginsen is on a mission to save today's teens. Not only is Higginsen concerned with educating America's youth, she is also determined to redeem the art and history of Gospel music through her Harlem organization 'Gospel for Teens.'

Each fall, Higginsen, who also serves as the Executive Director of The Mama Foundation for the Arts, recruits teens ranging from the ages of 13 to 19 to join her upbeat Gospel crew. In addition to the programs and many initiatives to formally train aspiring singers, Higginsen and her team are also adamant about developing mechanical skills in each student.

In the midst of a recent Saturday session, the seasoned theater vet noticed that many of her students were soft spoken and appeared self-doubting about where they were raised. Their behavior struck a cord with Higginsen, which led to an exercise featuring each student shouting their name along with the town that they resided in.

"They were mumbling and they were saying it under their breath," she explained during an episode of '60 Minutes' earlier this month. "And I was like, 'this is terrible' [It's like their saying] 'I'm ashamed of who I am and where I come from."

The demonstration was nothing new for Higginsen, who has broken down barriers throughout her career, including becoming the first woman in advertising sales at Ebony magazine and the first black female writer, producer, and director of the Off-Broadway musical 'Mama, I Want to Sing.'

Higginsen's track record has helped to fund 'Gospel for Teens' solely from grants, small donations, and ticket sales from 'Mama, I Want to Sing.' Implementing a non-profit business model for the organization allows the participating teens to focus on their talents and not worry about tuition.

"Any worry, any pain, any problem with your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, the dog, the boyfriend. I want that out now of your consciousness," Higginsen declared to the class later in the '60 Minutes' episode. "That's your baggage; leave the bags outside, because this time is for you."

Black Unemployment At Depression Level Highs In Some Cities

2011-04-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

In the decade leading up to the Great Recession, Wanda Nolan grew accustomed to steady progress.

From an entry-level job as a fill-in bank teller, she forged a career as a commercial banking assistant, earning enough to become a homeowner. She finished college and then got an MBA. Even after the recession unfolded in late 2007, her degrees and her familiarity with the business world lent her a sense of immunity to the forces ravaging much of the American economy. Nolan was an exemplar of the African American middle class and the increasingly professional ranks of the so-called New South.

But in September 2008, everything changed.

A bank human resources officer called her into a private conference room. "All I heard was, 'Your position has been eliminated,'" says Nolan, 37, who, despite being one of the more than 13 million officially unemployed Americans, still spends most days in her self-styled banker's uniform of pearls and pants and practical flats. "My mind started racing."

More than two years later, Nolan is still looking for a job and feeling increasingly anxious about a future that once felt assured. Her life has devolved from a model of middle class African American upward mobility into an example of a disturbing trend: She is among the 15.5 percent of African Americans out of work and still looking for a job.

For economists, that number may sound awful, but it's not surprising. The nation's overall unemployment rate sits at 8.8 percent and the rate among white Americans is at 7.9 percent. For a variety of reasons -- ranging from levels of education and continuing discrimination to the relatively young age of black workers -- black unemployment tends to run twice the rate for whites. Yet since the Great Recession, joblessness has remained so critically elevated among African Americans that it is challenging longstanding ideas about what it takes to find work in the modern-day economy.

Millions of people like Nolan, who have precisely followed the oft-dictated recipe for economic success -- work hard, get an education, seek advancement -- are slipping backward. Even as they apply for jobs and accept the prospect of a future with less job security and lower pay, they remain stalled in unemployment.

Trading down has become a painful truth for much of working America, but this truth becomes particularly stark when seen through the prism of race. Only 12 percent of all Americans are black, but working-age black Americans comprise nearly 21 percent of the nation's unemployed, according to federal data. The growing contrast between prospects for white and black job-seekers challenges a cherished American notion: the availability of opportunity and upward mobility for all.

"Over the course of the recession, the unemployment disparity between college educated blacks and whites actually widened," says economist Algernon Austin, director of the Race, Ethnicity, and Economy program at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington. "If black workers who are the most prepared to compete and work in the new economy can't find jobs, that's something that we as a country have to take seriously."

Bishop Long Delivers Ballsy Speech Targeting Accusers

2011-04-27T11:09:00.000-07:00

While the media has moved on to to other matters and most of the cameras have been put away, Bishop Eddie Long has returned to a relatively routine life as the pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Bishop Long delivered a rousing sermon on Easter Sunday, even targeting the four men who alleged that he sexually abused them. Seemingly emboldened by the news that a settlement, regarding the allegations, will be reached soon, Bishop Long proclaimed:

"You ain't messin' with me. I shall rise again and I ain't going through this. You have to go down there and let the devil know that what they thought was gonna kill you, didn't kill you. What they thought was gonna bring terror to you, didn't bring terror to you and you made the enemies public spectacle."

Local news channel WSBTV2 of Atlanta even went so far as asking a few attendees how they felt now that it seems Bishop Long is out of the woods:

Reporter: "Are you now relieved that this settlement is now going to be over?"

Church Congregant: "Yes, I am."

Second Congregant: "I love my church, I love my pastor and I love the service."

And it gets better.

The judge, Johnny Panos, overseeing the settlement had this to say about the closing of the case:

"Why wait till the summer? Why wait to the fall? Get it done now, and what better time to do it but holy week."

Are they serious?

I really hope that for everyone's sake, Bishop Long is innocent, innocent of every allegation that has been laid at his feet, because the thought of him being guilty and actually taking part in raping any one of these accusers while they were minors and then getting off scott-free is horrifying.

It is horrifying because that would mean that his family, his congregation and even the named judge who was so eager to get Long off before the end of Easter weekend were all complicit in protecting and delivering a pedophile.

Maurice Robinson, Anthony Flagg, Jamal Parris and Spencer LeGrande each accused Long of abusing his position as an esteemed father figure and sexually assaulting them repeatedly.

According to the lawsuit, Long alleged:

"Long shared a bedroom and engaged in intimate sexual contact with plaintiff Flagg, including kissing, massaging, masturbating of plaintiff Flagg by defendant Long and oral sexual contact."

But Parris said the most publicly when he spoke with MyFox5, saying:

"This man turned his back on us when he had no more need for us," Parris said. "That's not a father, that's a predator.

"We would have to be the craziest kids in the world to want to come out and admit to another man touching on us publicly. To really believe this is about money would be absolutely ludicrous.

"But that man cannot look me in my eye and tell me we did not live this pain. Why you can sit in front of the church and tell them that you categorically deny it. You can't say that to our face. And you know this. You are not a man, you are a monster."

The black church needs to take a look at itself. Our pastors are not God; they are human just like everyone else. Our desire, though, to see them as holier than the rest surely blurs the truth and could mean that we have allowed a ruthless abuser to have his way with our children, making us the only ones to blame.

Watch part of the sermon here.

Is the Miranda Warning Revision Bad News for Blacks?

2011-03-28T12:44:00.000-07:00

From The Atlanta Post: Last week, news broke that the Obama administration created a new policy that allows investigators to waive Miranda warnings for domestic-terror suspects, even when there is not an "immediate threat," thus giving the FBI more leeway to question terrorist suspects. Will the relaxing of this law prove dangerous to blacks? Find out at The Atlanta Post

Tyler Perry Takes on Reality Star Snooki!

2011-03-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

After lampooning a couple of Oscar-nominated pics ( 'The Godfather,' 'Black Swan,' 'True Grit,' and 'The King's Speech'), Tyler Perry is taking on the reality world, as his latest poster for his upcoming film, 'Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family,' is a parody on 'Jersey Shore' cast member Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi.

As MTV points out, Snooki and Madea have more in common than one might think. Perry's titular character went to prison in 2009's 'Madea Goes to Jail' while Snooki has had her own, er, run-ins with the law.

From 'Jersey Shore' to 'Georgia Shore' and arriving in theaters on April 22, 'Big Happy Family' stars Shad 'Bow Wow' Moss, Loretta Devine, Cassi Davis, Lauren London, David Mann, Tamela Brown Mann, Isaiah Mustafa, Rodney Perry, Shannon Kane, Natalie Desselle Reid, Teyana Taylor and Perry (as Madea and her brother Joe)
Madea, everyone's favorite wise-cracking, take-no-prisoners grandma, jumps into action when her niece, Shirley, receives distressing news about her health. All Shirley wants is to gather her three adult children around her and share the news as a family. But Tammy, Kimberly and Byron are too distracted by their own problems: Tammy can't manage her unruly children or her broken marriage; Kimberly is gripped with anger and takes it out on her husband; and Byron, after spending two years in jail, is under pressure to deal drugs again. It's up to Madea, with the help of the equally rambunctious Aunt Bam, to gather the clan together and make things right the only way she knows how: with a lot of tough love, laughter... and the revelation of a long-buried family secret.

Madea's Big Happy Family - Official Trailer

2011-03-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

Let us know what you think about the movie after you view it. I will be going to see this movie myself.

- DJ Spoons -

Information on how to get your music ministry digitally-distributed worldwide

2011-03-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Light Media announced today that its operating subsidiaries, GospelCity.com and Gospelengine.com, have aligned with BelieveDigital via a comprehensive Strategic Alliance agreement. The terms of the Agreement provide generally that: (1) GospelCity.com and GospelEngine.com will serve as key digital distribution and marketing partners for BelieveDigital serving the 1,500+ independent inspirational artists who call GospelEngine.com home (Gospel, Contemporary Christian, Gospel Reggae, Christian Rock, Holy Hip Hop, Jazz Gospel); and (2) BelieveDigital will serve as the key Digital Distribution partner for GospelCity.com and GospelEngine.com. Prov. 13:5.

"BelieveDigital is the leading digital distributor and services provider for independent artists & labels in Europe, and rapidly growing/gaining marketshare in the United States. It is the mission of GospelCity.com and GospelEngine.com to not only be a destination for aficionados of inspirational music to enjoy great music, fellowship and stay up on current trends, but to also enable artists and labels to maximize the reach of their music ministries worldwide,” said Ursula D., General Manger, GospelCity.com (USA), General Manager, Light Media Network and CEO, Urban Gospel Alliance International.

For more information on how to get your music ministry digitally-distributed worldwide, via the GospelCity/GospelEngine/BelieveDigital Alliance, visit www.GospelCity.com or www.GospelEngine.com and click "Digital Distribution".

About Believe Digital:

A direct and global network of digital music stores to distribute your music

Direct agreements with digital music stores to guarantee higher revenues and a quick and efficient digital distribution of your music.
Innovative digital distribution and promotion technology integrated with several hundred digital music stores in the world.
A distribution network that includes internet digital music stores such as iTunes and Virgin as well as mobile and video services such as Vodafone, H3G, Orange, Telecom Italia.
An extensive network of offices (UK, USA, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal) to efficiently coordinate international promotion.

Download the list of stores

Allan Houston, has been named Chairman of Light Media’s

2011-03-21T11:33:00.000-07:00

NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medal Winner, Allan Houston, has been named Chairman of Light Media’s corporate advisory board, as a part of a comprehensive strategic alliance between Light Media and H20 Global Media to advance inspirational intellectual properties (print, audio/radio, video/tv, film, internet and special events) focused on urban lifestyle media.

“Urban culture is generationally entrenched now (without any racial, ethnicity, nationality or religious barriers) and alive more than ever before and is not going away anytime soon; and urban lifestyle media’s impact on the community, children, youth and adults can be seen, felt and heard (24/7) in homes, in saturated media, in the suburbs and in the streets. A new paradigm and engine of hope fueled by inspiration is on the horizon powered by life-changing media and entertainment. There will be more news to come, as key milestones and objectives are achieved advancing the Good News, positively impacting and uplifting culture, community, children, youth and adults for generations to come,” said Allan Houston, CEO, H20 Global Media.

About H20 Global Media and Light Media: Founded by NBA All-Star, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Allan Houston, H20 Global Media is a multi-media company focused on advancing urban-centric media that advances, uplifts and positively impacts culture, the community, youth, children and adults. Light Media is a diverse and integrated multi-media conglomerate with internet, print, video, audio and special events assets, coupled with distribution, production and marketing. For more information, log on to the Internet at: www.H20GlobalMediaPartners.com; www.AllanHouston.com; or email: H2OGlobalMedia@yahoo.com

How to Talk to Your Teens About Sex - And Love

2011-03-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

Once your children get to a certain age, usually around adolescence, unless they’ve been locked in your basement with no access to TV or the Internet, they will have heard about sex. And they may have heard about it from a variety of uninformed people – teens on TV, their friends, on social media or in the music they listen to.

It doesn’t matter if you are carefully monitoring every aspect of their lives - teen curiosity about sex is inevitable. Even if you are squeamish about the topic or believe or hope that your children will remain virgins for the rest of their lives, it’s better for you to talk to them, instead of the legions of influences that might not share your morals, values or sensibilities.

The conversation may be just as embarrassing for your children as it is for you, but it has to happen. Teens need your support as they start making decisions that could be life-changing. Here are a few suggestions on how to broach the topic.

Watch a TV show or movie together where the issue will come up, and try to create a conversation around it.
There are a number of movies where teens have sex, talk about sex or think about sex. In fact, just about every teen movie includes sex, even if the movie is not specifically about a sexual relationship. If you’re worried your child may view subject matter of which you might not approve, watch a few movies yourself and then figure out the best one to watch with your child. Even if your teen sees through your ploy, they may still be open to having that conversation.

If your child is a girl, the popular “Twilight” movies are a great place to start. Why? Bella and her vampire boyfriend, Edward, are in love, but are not having sex (At least in the first three movies; in the upcoming fourth installment, the two marry and, well, they do what married folks do.). The intensity and emotion of a teenage girl’s first love are well displayed in the “Twilight” movies, but they probably play better with girls, as many teen boys might find them corny.

Ask your child how many of their friends are having sex, and ask how they feel about it.
It’s a gateway to talking about sex, but keep in mind, your child may not be honest with you about how they really feel, especially if they’ve become sexually active without telling you. Unfortunately, many parents of teenagers find out their children are having sex when they contract an STD or become or get someone pregnant. It’s always a good idea to keep up with your child’s habits, know all the friends that they spend time with, and keep track of any dating or interest in the opposite sex. Even if they are prohibited from dating, that doesn’t mean they’re not interested. If all of your child’s friends are having sex, and several are pregnant, your child could be the goody-two-shoes of the crew – or he or she could be the leader. Keep the lines of communication open, and don’t assume. Ask.

Talk about love, relationships and sex to both sons and daughters.

Since girls are the ones who bring babies into the world, many conversations directed toward them tend to be along the lines of a simple directive: “Keep your legs closed.” That's not the best idea in today’s world, where teens are bombarded with sexual imagery from all sides. It’s important to talk to girls about how to form a relationship without sex, about setting boundaries and about cultivating friendships with boys, not just relationships. It’s equally important to talk to boys about all of the above.

If you’re a single mom with sons, and there is a man you and your children trust – an uncle, a grandfather or family friend - have a conversation with that individual and let them handle "the talk.” With girls, it can be a good idea to have an older sibling or an auntie do the talking, as long as you feel comfortable with the advice or direction they give. Some children are just not going to be able to talk to their parents about sex, but there may be another family member they can go to.

Keep track of social media.
If your child is on social media and accessing it from a phone or computer that you pay for, there is nothing wrong with asking to see what they’re doing online. Hacking into or monitoring your child’s online usage can inhibit trust, but hopefully you are in communication with them so that you don’t have to go to those extremes (The only exception to this would be if you believe your child is doing something illegal or that they could be suicidal. In those cases, drastic intervention may be necessary.). In fact, you should be your child’s Facebook friend, and you should be able to see their Twitter posts. One of the advantages of being your child’s Facebook friend is that you can see exchanges back and forth between them and others and can inquire about those posts if you don’t like their tone. If there are posts that indicate your child is having a relationship you aren’t aware of or if there are inappropriate postings, that’s certainly grounds for conversation.

Don’t assume religion will keep your children from sexual behavior.

Christian parents who are regular church-goers may believe that setting a moral example of expected behavior will preclude a conversation about sex. In fact, young people who are in church are curious too, and often, they get together. While it’s important to set expectations based on your Christian or other religious beliefs, this is the 21st century, and it’s best to be realistic about teenagers and their decision-making. It also doesn’t matter if your children bring home good grades, are in sports or are exemplary in every way. They are going to have questions, and you should have answers.

Don’t alienate children you suspect are gay.
Part of a conversation about sex is recognizing that there are children who are going to be gay or lesbian, maybe even transgendered. If you suspect that your child is gay, then they are going to need your support. Much of the bullying that results in suicides is because of perceived sexual orientation. In the African-American community, it can be difficult to broach this topic, as many families remain firmly against homosexuality. While it may not coincide with your personal beliefs, parental rejection of gay/lesbian children is one of the main reasons many of them become depressed and suicidal. Have an honest conversation with your child about your feelings, but offer them your love and support. It may be difficult, but it could mean the difference between supporting a gay child - or burying a dead one.

Reunite with Family on Amtrak

2011-03-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

It’s time for the annual family reunion. Everything’s planned, but there’s one small problem. Great-grandma does not like to fly and squeezing us all into the family car is too uncomfortable. What do you do? Take Amtrak® to the family reunion.

Great-grandma can stretch out in the sleeping car. Your kids can enjoy the view from the lounge car. You and your husband can actually have a romantic dinner in the dining car. Plus, you can bring more family along for the ride and no one gets separated. Start the reunion aboard Amtrak before you even get to Big Mama’s house.

Visit MyBlackJourney.com to book your family reunion trip today. There you’ll also find destination highlights, activity recommendations and savings for even the largest family reunion. Parties of 20 or more passengers traveling together can enjoy the benefits of traveling as a group on Amtrak, including pre-boarding, group seating and exclusive occupancy if your group is large enough to occupy an entire car. Groups are also eligible to receive discounts up to as much as 20% off on select trains.

Still rushing to plan this year’s reunion? No worries, Amtrak also offers The Amtrak Family Reunion Planning Toolkit, available at MyBlackJourney.com.
Great-grandma and her sister can swap sweet potato pie recipes going to Atlanta aboard Amtrak’s Crescent starting from New York City. Can’t wait to hear your uncle’s jokes in New Orleans? Take Amtrak’s City of New Orleans from Chicago. Did your cousin and her husband add a new addition to the family in Charlotte? Take Amtrak’s Carolinian from Washington, D.C. Wherever you need to go, Amtrak can get you and your family to more than 500 destinations around the country. The best part is the reunion starts as soon as you board the train.

Acknowledge your past while embracing your future today on Amtrak. Visit MyBlackJourney.com today to book your next family reunion trip. Amtrak. Enjoy the journey!

The Color of Money: Make a Plan

2011-03-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

My grandmother, Big Mama, was a stickler for order.

From Big Mama I learned to look at a financial situation and come up with a plan. I try to pass on that wisdom to readers, particularly those who join me regularly for my live chats at Washington Post. The following are questions from some of those readers looking for a plan:

Q: My husband and I currently are renting a condo but really want to purchase a house. We have about $11,000 in a consolidation loan (did a consolidation to stop using credit cards and it's been great. The interest rate is lower than the credit cards'). We currently have $12,000 in savings. Would it make more sense to keep paying the loan (the minimum is $350 a month, but I usually pay $700 to $1,000) and save what we can, or take the money from savings and pay off the loan and then build that back up (this would eliminate all debt)?

A: This is what I would do:

-- Calculate how much you need for an emergency fund of at least three months of living expenses (rent/mortgage, food, utilities, cable, cell, etc.). This will give you a benchmark of how much you need in this fund before you even think of buying a house.

-- Designate about $1,000 to $2,000 for a "life happens fund" for expenses that come up such as car repairs, etc. You can immediately create it by taking the money out of the $12,000 you've saved and putting it into a separate account.

That leaves you with $10,000 of the money you've saved already. From that do the following:

-- Set aside $5,000 as the beginning for your emergency fund.
Considering the current job market, best to have some cash saved up. But you can stop saving for this account when you reach the goal of at least three months of living expenses.

-- Take the remaining $5,000 and pay down the $11,000 on the consolidation loan. That will leave you owing $6,000. If you are paying upward of $1,000 a month on that loan, you could be done with it in six months.

Once you've set up the life happens fund, met your goal for the emergency fund and paid off the loan, you're ready to start saving for the house.

Q: I currently have two credit cards, one with a balance of $1,700 and the other with a balance of $2,400. I have a personal loan of $2,800, a car payment of $312 a month with a $14,000 balance and a student loan of $15,000, which is now in deferment. I want to start the process of paying these bills off to purchase a house in a year.

Where do I start first? I make at about $1,200 bi-weekly after taxes. I currently have $3,600 in savings.

A: Let's first total all the debt to get the big picture

-- Credit card No. 1, $1,700
-- Credit card No. 2, $2,400
-- Personal loan, $2,800
-- Car loan, $14,000
-- Student loan, $15,000

That's total debt of $35,900 and total savings of $3,600.

Please don't see what I'm about to tell you as dashing your dreams of being a homeowner, but you should start by putting off the idea that you will be in the position to buy a home in one year. You have too much debt to deal with first.

If I were you I would:

-- Work on increasing my emergency fund. You have $3,600 in savings. How long would that last if you lost your job? You should aim to have at least three months' worth of living expenses. So .....

AT&T to Buy T-Mobile USA for $39 Billion

2011-03-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

The acquisition could take a year to close, but after, T-Mobile USA customers would get access to AT&T's phone line-up. (AP)

NEW YORK — AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $39 billion that would make it the largest cellphone company in the U.S.

The deal would reduce the number of wireless carriers with national coverage from four to three, and is sure to face close regulatory scrutiny. It also removes a potential partner for Sprint Nextel Corp., the struggling No. 3 carrier, which had been in talks to combine with T-Mobile USA, according to Wall Street Journal reports.

AT&T is now the country's second-largest wireless carrier and T-Mobile USA is the fourth largest. The acquisition would give AT&T 129 million subscribers, vaulting it past Verizon Wireless' 102 million. The combined company would serve about 43 percent of U.S. cellphones.

For T-Mobile USA's 33.7 million subscribers, the news doesn't immediately change anything. Because of the long regulatory process, AT&T expects the acquisition to take a year to close. But when and if it closes, T-Mobile USA customers would get access to AT&T's phone line-up, including the iPhone.
The effect of reduced competition in the cellphone industry is harder to fathom. Public interest group Public Knowledge said that eliminating one of the four national phone carriers would be "unthinkable."

"We know the results of arrangements like this — higher prices, fewer choices, less innovation," said Public Knowledge president Gigi Sohn, in a statement.

T-Mobile has relatively cheap service plans compared with AT&T, particularly when comparing the kind that don't come with a two-year contract. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said one of the goals of the acquisition would be to move T-Mobile customers to smart phones, which have higher monthly fees. AT&T "will look hard" at keeping T-Mobile's no-contract plans, he said.

Survey: 88% of All Blacks Believed to Have Experienced Workplace Discrimination

2011-03-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

A survey taken this week at YourBlackWorld.com has revealed that 88.5% of all African American respondents believe they have been victims of workplace racial discrimination at some point in their careers. The results were nearly uniform across men and women. A small percentage (5.5%) said they do not believe they've ever experienced racial discrimination in the workplace, and a similar percentage (6.1%) claim they are not sure.

The results are interesting in light of the well-documented economic struggles among African Americans, including unemployment rates that are nearly double those of white Americans. According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, black unemployment stands at 15.3%, compared to just eight-percent for white Americans. Black public figures and political leaders have been calling on the Obama Administration to use targeted economic policy in order to alleviate racial disparities in wealth and employment, but to no avail thus far.

Within the black middle class, there is a pervasive, yet untold story about the challenges that many African Americans feel, educated or not, as they attempt to navigate their way through predominantly white institutions. While many are quick to blame the black community for their plight without regard to the effects of 400 years of slavery and Jim Crow, the truth is that there are millions of African Americans who work hard, abide by the law, get as much education as they can and try to do the right thing. In fact, this represents the majority.

What is sad is that those within our community who are working hard to do the right thing and play by the rules still see far too many cases where the white man down the hall gets breaks that we would never receive. In academia, I've seen countless universities turn down dozens of qualified black faculty and then tell us that we're not being hired because we're simply not good enough. In nearly every industry in America, it is not uncommon to see companies that have never hired an African American to certain positions, with such glaring disparities receiving barely a peep from public officials.

This year, the Obama Administration has taken stands to improve workplace rights for women and the gay community. It is hopeful that our nation's first black president and Attorney General will take a look at the abundance of issues that relate to racial disparities as well. The silent majority of black Americans experiencing workplace discrimination should not continue to remain silent forever, and we must push our elected officials to speak up.

DJ Spoons Gospel News Update

2011-03-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

Kirk Franklin features Beverly Crawford on Hello Fear CD Praise Philly

Don’t forget you can listen to a full preview of Kirk Franklin’s new CD Hello Fear on New Release Tuesday
Take a listen to Donald Lawrence’s new gospel song “Spiritual” over at Praise Philly
American Idol’s Jacob Lusk was in Nate Dogg’s gospel music choir EUR
Praise 92.1 gospel radio station goes ‘Behind The Blessing’ with Iyanla Vanzant Praise Houston
Ricky Dillard and New G’s new CD Keep Living will be available on April 26th Pre-order on Amazon
Gospel Today magazine founder Dr. Teresa Hairston gets ordained by Bishop Liston Page Sr. The Things I Like About Me

Gospel music artist James Hall talk about being flashy and a lot more Da Gospel Truth
Gospel music legend Rance Allen talks about his influences and new CD with his brothers PO Soul Radio
Martha Munizzi’s new gospel music CD, Make It Loud!, releases on April 26, 2011-Pre-order on Amazon

‘Do Something Big’ with Mary Mary! I really like what the ladies of Mary Mary are doing right now. They are hard at work getting ready for the new tour (which recently added VaShawn Mitchell) and the upcoming Something Big gospel music CD.
I love, love their creativeness, excellence and transparency. I don’t know where they get all the energy from!

They are celebrating the new album with the ‘Do Something Big’ campaign. It’s six weeks of activity encouraging fans to “do something big” for others. Each week focuses on a different section of the community–first the elderly, the homeless, local schools, local neighborhoods and world hunger. Visit their facebook page for more information.
You can also “Fly Away with Mary Mary” to New York City by entering their tweet contest. One fan and a guest will get a chance to be flown to New York to meet them and to attend the April 9th tour date of the Still Something Big tour. The contest runs from March 15th-March 25th. Enter at http://www.ILoveMaryMary.com.

Too funny: Mary Mary gets pranked at Praise 102.5 radio station

March 18, 2011 -

This is too funny! The “security guard” pranks Mary Mary. Lol at the taco meat hair!
Click the picture below to peep the video.

Check out Gospel Concerts Near You

2011-03-18T14:47:00.000-07:00

Christian Concerts

from

http://www.ccauthority.com/

tickets on sale now

(sorted by date of event)
Larry G Jones, Saturdays and Mondays, Las Vegas, Nevada

Brian Hoffman, Weekly on Mondays, Las Vegas, Nevada

OUR TICKETS ARE 50% OFF BOX OFFICE PRICES!

ApologetiX, March 26, East Lansing, Michigan

Silverline w/ Voices in the Night Tour, April 1, Lebanon, Oregon

Jars of Clay, April 2, Charleston, Maine

L-Rey, April 9, Pleasant Hill, California

Janet Paschal, Russ Taff, April 29, Belleville, Ontario

Jeremy Camp, April 29, Lexington, MA SOLD OUT!

Janet Paschal, Russ Taff, April 30, Ottawa, Ontario

Jeremy Camp, April 30, Fredericton, NB

Jeremy Camp, May 1, Portland, Maine

Le Fevres, May 6, Kingston, Ontario

Selah, Aaron Shust, Shaun Groves, May 6, Glendale Heights, Illinois

Worldwide Revival, June 4 - 12, St Louis, Missouri

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, June 16, Mississauga, Ontario

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, June 17, Welland, Ontario

Ernie Haase and Signature Sound, June 18, Brockville, Ontario

Todd Agnew, Unhindered, June 20-24, Sandestin Beach Resort Area One Camp, Destin, Florida

Todd Agnew, Revive, June 27-July 1, Sandestin Beach Resort Area One Camp, Destin, Florida

Palmetto State Quartet, September 23, Kingston, Ontario NEW!

Triumphant Quartet, November 4, Belleville, Ontario

Collingsworth Family, November 5, Brockville, Ontario NEW!

PROMOTERS: add your event here!

It's FREE!

Tom Joyner's Fantastic Voyage Sets Sail This Week: What It Means to Party With a Purpose

2011-03-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

This morning, I got a text from my respected colleague Roland Martin. I can't remember what Roland and I were talking about, but I do remember what he told me at the end of our conversation. Roland mentioned that he couldn't do anything next week because "the cruise is leaving in a couple of days." I immediately became jealous, because I knew he was talking about the Fantastic Voyage, hosted by Tom Joyner.

I'm not always big on black folks looking for another party, but there is something I love about the Tom Joyner Cruise. Anyone who's ever been on a cruise knows that seeing another black person on a cruise ship is like searching for Louis Farrakhan at a Klan rally. While cruises can be fun, comfortable and even exciting, there is a dryness that people of color experience from a lack of cultural diversity.

The Tom Joyner Cruise occurs annually and has become a one-stop shop for African Americans seeking both fun, relaxation and the chance to interact with one another. I initially gained respect for Joyner after reading about how he began his career by flying back and forth between Chicago and Dallas on a daily basis in order to host two radio shows. In Chicago, he was the host at 107.5 WGCI, and in Dallas, he took over K104 KKDA. This helped him to earn the label as the hardest-working man in radio. I personally respect anyone willing to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get whatever it is they want.

The Tom Joyner Foundation also does a great deal of work for historically black colleges and universities. There's no question that Joyner has become the Oprah Winfrey of black radio by providing a loyal audience with daily entertainment and food for the soul. While I don't always agree with Joyner's positions on every issue, he certainly has my respect.

I went on two cruises this past summer, one with my family and the other with the National Professionals Network. I found that the food was always great, the sun was amazing and spending time with my family was priceless. I also have to admit that I won the cruise ship poker tournament, which basically made the entire trip free. I was proud to win, given that I was the only black person in the tournament and I'd just learned to play the game two weeks earlier. Perhaps all this math training is good for something.

The added value of spending time on vacation with other black professionals is the chance to network with one another and form lasting friendships. Personally, I would argue that some of our gatherings should have a little less partying and a little more productivity; black folks should not just come together to drink and dance. At the end of the day, we must work to make our community better, uplift one another and create a better future for our children. That's how you party with a purpose.

Grant Hill Writes Op-Ed in Response to Jalen Rose

2011-03-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, ESPN aired its documentary The Fab Five, a film that digs into the background of Michigan basketball team from 1991 to 1993 and its star players Jalen Rose (pictured above left), Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson. In the documentary, the players expressed their disdain for Duke University and their basketball program back in 1991.

These teenagers thought of Duke as a school for Uncle Toms, they thought former Duke Blue Devil and current Phoenix Suns player Grant Hill (pictured above right) was a bi**h and felt slighted that they weren't the type of players that Duke would ever want on their team. And they resented that.

But in an opinion column written by Grant Hill and published by the New York Times, Hill admits to being disappointed by the comments toward him and his Duke teammates in the documentary.

"It was a sad and somewhat pathetic turn of events, therefore, to see friends narrating this interesting documentary about their moment in time and calling me a bitch and worse, calling all black players at Duke 'Uncle Toms' and, to some degree, disparaging my parents for their education, work ethic and commitment to each other and to me," Hill said in the op-ed. "I should have guessed there was something regrettable in the documentary when I received a Twitter apology from Jalen before its premiere. I am aware Jalen has gone to some length to explain his remarks about my family in numerous interviews, so I believe he has some admiration for them.

"In his garbled but sweeping comment that Duke recruits only 'black players that were 'Uncle Toms,' Jalen seems to change the usual meaning of those very vitriolic words into his own meaning, i.e. blacks from two-parent, middle-class families. He leaves us all guessing exactly what he believes today."

For the record, Jalen Rose did say he doesn't feel that way today and that those were his feelings when he was a teenager. Hill continues in his column about how he was raised, his family history, his experience as a Duke student and the relationship with his teammates.

Besides Hill not really acknowledging that these were feelings these players had for him and Duke more than 20 years ago, he really ignores one of the biggest accusations Jalen Rose made in the film -– that Duke University refuses to go to the hood to recruit players. The ideas that Duke only recruits players from two-parent homes who grew up in the suburbs are what fueled contempt among black players in the NCAA, and largely among black NCAA fans. This is an image that has been with Duke for years. It's an image that says, if you don't come from a two-parent home in the suburbs, you aren't good enough. You are less-than. You are ghetto. You can't represent Duke.

That's what Grant Hill should have addressed in his column, instead of ripping a 19-year-old Jalen Rose and talking about his upbringing, which most basketball fans are already familiar with. Then the parting shot at the end the column, "And, I am proud I never lost a game against the Fab Five"... well... King did think he was a bi**h.

After Controversial Oprah Appearances, Iyanla Vanzant Returns to Best-selling Glory

2011-03-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

One thing good came out of Iyanla Vanzant's much buzzed-about blowout on Oprah Winfrey's talk show last month; she's back atop the New York Times Best Sellers list.

After the self-help diva's eagerly anticipated return to Winfrey's couch –- after the two had a falling out over 10 years ago –- sales of her latest book, 'Peace From Broken Pieces: How to Get Through What You're Going Through,' skyrocketed –- four months after its initial release.

The no-holds-barred interview –- where Winfrey confronted the spiritual teacher and once-popular media personality about her past transgressions –- became much fodder immediately after its Feb. 16 airing. "[The] tension was so thick that it seemed to suck the oxygen out of the room," wrote blogger Dr. Boyce Watkins about the interaction, which --at times –- didn't seem appropriate for daytime television.

Nevertheless, the book, which was published via Tavis Smiley's SmileyBooks imprint on Nov. 15, 2010, is #1 on the Times' Hardcover Advice & Misc. list.

"We are thrilled that Iyanla's inspiring message has reached so many people," offered Smiley. "Her mission -- to promote family healing -- affirms why she remains one of the nation's most beloved teachers."

This marks Vanzant's fifth time on the New York Times' Best Sellers list, and her first with SmileyBooks. She previously spent 20 weeks on the list with 'In the Meantime.'

Part metaphorical teaching story, part wrenching personal chronicle, '... Broken Pieces' is Vanzant's phoenix-rising-from-the-ashes story about overcoming great loss after experiencing major triumph.

"A story about how a New York Times best-selling author ends up flat broke, looking for a place to live, how a 37-year relationship ends in divorce by e-mail," she surmised, adding that she shared "the intimate details of how an internationally recognized spiritual teacher ends up on the edge of the bed in a million-dollar home slated for foreclosure, contemplating suicide."

The Curvy Girl's Guide to Cropped Pants

2011-03-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

The temperature is starting to rise, and we are all itching to throw off our cold weather gear and slip into something a little less restrictive. While it's not quite shorts season, the Curvy Girl can certainly start to let her ankles breathe by donning a pair of this season's hottest cropped pants.

Before you freak out, we are not talking about the pedal pushers of 10 years ago (this time around, the options are much chicer), nor are we suggesting that you go pick up just any pair of cutoffs that come in your size. There are a number of styles that look great on Curvy Girls, whether for a leisurely weekend brunch, a date or even work.

Here, we will help you find just the right pair for your body and your lifestyle.

1. Find the right length. Styles that cover the widest part of your calf are typically perfect for everyday wear, especially leggings. A style that is made of finer fabric and comes down to just above the ankle is perfect for work.

LEFT: Khloe Kardashian
RIGHT: Roaman's "Zahira" Cropped Pants, $50, onestopplus.com

2. Don't truncate yourself. As usual, this all comes down to knowing your body. Be careful not to pick styles that make you look shorter. Some pants that are between knee and calf length can make legs look stumpy, especially if you have short legs. It's better to go higher or lower.

LEFT: Paige Kenya Crop in Vintage Veridian, $149, paigeusa.com
RIGHT: Lauren by Ralph Lauren Nadine Crops, $85, macys.com

3. Consider the shoe. A longer cropped pant, for example - one that stops just above the ankles and has somewhat of a traditional trouser shape - can look super stylish with a flat oxford for work. And, when you're circling around town in cut-off leggings - either running errands or after a workout - an athletic shoe can work.

But when you're meeting friends out or going on a date, wear a heel. A high heel helps give back any height that a cropped pant may take away. Also, added length goes a long way for thick thighs. A general rule of thumb: If the pant is short, the heel should be high. Take a page from short gals Porscha Coleman (left) and Janet Jackson (right) - their heels really give them a boost.

4. Be conscious of fabric and shape. Playing with length and fit are fun for casual or evening dressing, but planning a work outfit is where it can get tricky. When you need to be professional, be sure that the fabric you choose is of high quality and allows for a bit of movement. Light wool is great, and so is finely woven cotton. It is important, however, that the shape is not too voluminous (remember how horrendous harem pants looked on wide hips?). Keep it simple. The goal for work is chic and polished.

LEFT: Serena Williams
RIGHT: Banana Republic Jackson Fit Washed Sateen Crop, $69.50,

bananarepublic.com

Time to Lose Some Weight Babe

2011-03-18T12:52:00.000-07:00

Relationships often play out with two sets of rules: his and hers. Nowhere do double standards flourish more than when it comes to issues of weight. Men want their girlfriends and wives to stay in shape. While it may or may not always work out that way, we certainly find ways to make our feelings known: "Babe, you sure you want to eat that deep-fried doughnut?" After all, there is only so much cushion for the pushin' a man needs.

But turn the tables, and you find that most men roll differently. And when I say "roll," I mean actually rolling up on the drive-thru and, two heartbeats away from cardiac arrest, we'll bark out our order: "I'd like my double standard with cheese please."

Indulge me as I speak from my own personal experience because, you know, that's something I never do.
I've been married for close to six years. For the first four, I still enjoyed a very high-functioning metabolism. The energy it took me to even step on a scale seemed to burn 200 calories. But to quote Notorious B.I.G 'Things Done Changed.' My metabolism, once a Kenyan track star, is now the slow Swedish cat bringing up the rear hoping not to get lapped. All told, I gained 15 pounds last year. And here I was giving my wife grief if she ordered French fries.

One evening I remember being at the movie theater eating a gratuitously big bag of popcorn. Halfway through the movie, I find myself trudging out to the lobby to reup on the butter. Yes, more butter. Fabulous idea. While doing so, a young woman behind the counter offers to "top off my popcorn." Top off my popcorn for free? I had never heard of such thing. I wondered for a moment, "Is this a sexual metaphor that I need to decode; is she hitting on me or is this the explanation to American obesity?" Better question - was I part of the problem?

I tried to put it out of my mind, but later that night, something funny happened on my way to the fridge for a late snack. "My sexy" sent me a telepathic message stating that he wanted to come home. It had been a long time since I heard from or seen "My sexy." And I can't really blame him for leaving the pudgy bastard that I was becoming. The two couldn't co-exist. He said that I mistreated him, that I disrespected him. I shot him back some mental telepathy of own and asked "Are we gay because it certainly sounds like it?" But fast forward a year after reuniting with "My sexy," and I'm back down to my trimmer self of old.

"My sexy" is happy. My wife is happy. Then again, my wife never really complained. And therein lies part of the problem. The double standard on weight issues in relationships is due, in part, to women who believe a way to a man's heart is through his stomach. It's the human teddy bear syndrome. But have you ever seen a teddy bear with heart disease or diabetes or breathe like Darth Vader climbing a short flight of steps? No, because they are cute inanimate objects that don't require health care. They don't require funerals either or leave their spouses tons of credit card debt after they pass prematurely.

Weight double standards are not healthy -- physically or emotionally. We need to stop supersizing our fries and our relationships in the process. Just my thoughts. I'm stepping down from my soapbox now and on to the treadmill.

Jon Burge: Torture Cop Heads to Prison on the Same Day Victim Is Released

2011-03-18T12:47:00.000-07:00

In an irony befitting the horrendous nature of Jon Burge's decades-long crime spree against black men, honest police officers and the American justice system, the same day the disgraced cop reported to federal prison for lying about torturing confessions out of hundreds of blacks, one of the victimized men was released from prison after 25 years.

Unfortunately, irony can be as cruel as it is poetic. So while Burge will only serve 4 1/2 years for lying about the torture because the statute of limitations for prosecuting him for the crimes has expired, Eric Caine, (pictured below right) has lost more than half of his life for a crime he was tortured into confessing to.

In fact, the 45-year-old Caine has spent five more years of his life in prison than he's spent out of it.

"On the day that Jon Burge is headed for prison, Eric Caine got word he is coming home," said Caine's attorney, Russell Ainsworth.

Caine and another man were convicted in the 1986 stabbing death of a couple on the Southside of Chicago. Caine was sentenced to life in prison. His conviction was based almost entirely on his confession and testimony from co-defendant Aaron Patterson, who was sentenced to death.

Both men say that they were tortured by Burge's "Midnight Crew" of rogue cops. To be clear, if police thought Caine and Patterson were guilty of a double homicide, they should have done the police work necessary to convict them. There is a system of justice where those accused of a crime must be proven to be guilty.

Instead, Burge and his cops took the easy way out and tortured two men into confessing. In addition to sending two men to prison based on false confessions, the real killers could have been left to roam the street to kill again. Burge and his cops not only assaulted the American justice system, they endangered public safety.

While Patterson was pardoned by outgoing Gov. George Ryan when he cleared death row in 2003, Caine was left behind bars, his situation not getting the same attention.

And now there are at least another 20 men in the same situation. Unlike Caine, these men's cases are not up for review and will not be looked at by the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission for months, the AP reports.

I'm sure some of these men, like Caine, have spent decades or more than half their lives in prison. And prison is a dangerous place where one can easily be maimed or killed in an instant. Every day that these cases remain unexamined is a blow to these men and their families and the little confidence that African Americans have in the American justice system.

"It's just incredibly frustrating," said Rob Warden, director of the Northwestern University School Center on Wrongful Convictions and a member of the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission.

For men like Leonard Kidd, the commission is the last hope. Kidd was convicted of a quadruple homicide in 1984 after he says Burge and his officers applied electric shock to his genitals. Derrick King said he confessed to a candy store shooting after officers beat him with a baseball bat and telephone book.

"What we want is for Leonard Kidd to have a trial without the admission of a coerced confession," said Tiffany Boye Green, who represents Kidd.

There are fears of putting convicted killers and other dangerous criminals back out on the street. That's why it is important for the commission to begin its work so that they can make carefully considered judgments.

The other thing that needs to happen is a removal of the statute of limitations on torture. There's no reason Burge should not be headed to prison for a 25-year stretch. The number of lives destroyed by the mess Burge and his officer created when they took justice into their own hands is probably incalculable.

It's past time to uncover the truth and make it right.

Illinois Hospital Worker Steals Rings Off Corpse to Pay Cable Bill

2011-03-18T12:41:00.001-07:00

DuPage County, Ill., prosecutors released Wednesday that a hospital worker, who was in dire need of money in order to pay off a cable bill, admitted to stealing two rings off the fingers of a dead woman he was taking to the morgue.

Frederick Tapley, who worked at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, snatched an engagement and wedding ring from a deceased 72-year-old woman back in July.

According to DuPage County Assistant State's Attorney Mary Cronin, the 37-year-old hospital employee stole the rings then pawned them. Tapley told investigators that he was in dire need of money in order to settle a mounting cable bill debt.

Cronin told a judge at Tapley's trial on Wednesday that at the funeral of the deceased woman, a family member noticed that the rings were missing and immediately notified authorities.
After an investigation that took several weeks, Tapley was arrested and the rings, valued at $3,000, were recovered.

Apparently, Tapley's sticky fingers while on duty caught up with him again back in 2001 when he stole credit cards from a patient at another Chicago hospital facility. At the time, he was convicted of a misdemeanor theft and received a sentence of conditional discharge.

However, this go-round, Tapley faces a count of felony theft and may be looking at five years in prison. He will be sentenced in the coming months.

'Lost's Matthew Fox to Star With Tyler Perry in New Alex Cross Film

2011-03-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

In his first major film role since leaving the long-running ABC series 'Lost,' Matthew Fox will play an assassin in 'I, Alex Cross,' the reboot of the James Patterson franchise character with Tyler Perry starring and Rob Cohen directing.

Ed Burns has also signed on to play Tommy Kane, Cross's partner, stated Deadline.com.
Fox plays Michael Sullivan, who kills both for money and thrills. He's known as the Butcher of Sligo and shows why, after Cross thwarts one of his killing attempts. Sullivan makes his retribution personal, by killing the detective's wife in gruesome fashion. Then it becomes a mano-a-mano battle between them. Sullivan is one of the best known villains in the Patterson-penned novel series.

Mark Moss wrote the script, and he and Cohen have generated a new draft that has some twists different from the novel. The film is being produced by QED partners Bill Block and Paul Hanson.
Perry, after Idris Elba was initially approached, is taking over the role that Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman had when he starred in both Paramount films 'Kiss the Girls' (1997) and 'Along Came a Spider' (2001).

Tony Goldwyn and Cary Elwes played the bad guys in 'Girls,' while Michael Wincott, Monica Potter and Billy Burke were the evildoers in 'Spider.'

New Law Makes It Illegal to Discriminate Against the Unemployed

2011-03-18T12:35:00.001-07:00

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act disallows employers to discriminate against applicants on criteria that relates to race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. You can now add another item to the list: discrimination based on whether or not you already have a job.

An unknown but growing problem is employer discrimination against those who've been out of work for a very long time. Increasingly, companies are putting out ads for jobs that require that the applicant be "currently employed." This makes it more difficult for those who've been seeking work for long periods of time to have a chance to find a job.

The legislation designed to remedy this problem is referred to as The Fair Employment Act of 2011 (H.R. 1113), which was drafted by Rep. Hank Johnson (D.- GA) and co-sponsored by Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D. - Ill). The legislation effectively amends the Civil Rights Act, making it illegal for employers to refuse to hire or give lower compensation to people because of their employment status.

"I just thought about how unfair that was, to discriminate against people who had lost their jobs due to no fault of their own, who were just victims of corporate downsizing during a tough economy," Johnson told HuffPost. "And then to be penalized for having that status is very unfair. It reminded me of the days when blacks were told to not apply for jobs, when job ads said 'No women allowed.' This really affected me, and I decided that there was something that we could do."

The bill, if it passes, would put the burden onto the plaintiff to prove that discrimination ever took place. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to prove that discrimination occurred, at least the way the courts have been structured over the last decade. But legislators argue that having the law on the books will at least stem back blatant discrimination with ads requesting that the applicant already be employed.

This bill is like much of everything else that the American public sees coming out of Washington: modestly helpful, but not very meaningful. Many people of color across America are victims of various forms of discrimination, racial and otherwise. Unfortunately, they often find that their needs and issues are ignored by political leaders who are trapped by the status quo in a historically racist society. Even departments and organizations that haven't hired more than one black person in over a decade are let off the hook, as many are allowed to simply conclude that black people just aren't qualified.

We can at least say that this legislation is better than nothing, and it is our greatest hope that conscientious legislators like Jesse Jackson Jr. will continue to carry the torch in Washington.