Top Stories of the Day
Anita Hill: Mortgage Plan a 'Quick Fix'
The attorney explains why the Obama administration's plan and fair-lending settlements don't address the full problem. On Wednesday President Obama unveiled a housing plan to help more pinched homeowners, calling on Congress to make it easier to refinance for "responsible" people who are current on their mortgages. Since earlier refinancing efforts have fallen short of White House expectations, this updated version would allow eligible homeowners to refinance into loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration, paid for with a fee on the nation's largest banks. It was the latest in a string of actions related to the foreclosure crisis, including a $335 million Department of Justice settlement with Countrywide Financial Corp. for unfairly steering black and Latino families into subprime loans, and the creation of a special federal unit to further investigate abusive lending practices. "Government must take responsibility for rules that are fair and fairly enforced," Obama said on Wednesday at a... Read more
GOP moves forward on bill to halt welfare payments at strip clubs, casinos.
As the recession continues onward, House Republicans are worried that those receiving welfare payments may be having a bit too good of a time. The chamber will again vote Wednesday on a bill which would ensure that electronic withdrawals of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families dollars aren't allowed to be withdrawn from ATMs at strip clubs, casinos or liquor stores. TANF replaced national welfare programs after the welfare reforms of 1996. The measure, sponsored by Louisiana Republican Rep. Charles Boustany, had originally been approved by the House in December as part of a larger funding measure for welfare programs, but it was dropped from the final law. Now, it will get a stand-alone vote, along with several other measures which face an uncertain future in the Senate. "The abuse of [electronic benefits transfer] cards must stop," Boustany said when the measure was first proposed in December. The calls for greater restrictions on how welfare... Read more
In Rediscovered Letter From 1865, Former Slave Tells Old Master "Show Me The Money"
In the summer of 1865, a former slave by the name of Jourdan Anderson sent a letter to his former master. And 147 years later, the document reads as richly as it must have back then. The roughly 800-word letter, which has resurfaced via various blogs, websites, Twitter and Facebook, is a response to a missive from Colonel P.H. Anderson, Jourdan's former master back in Big Spring, Tennessee. Apparently, Col. Anderson had written Jourdan asking him to come on back to the big house to work. In a tone that could be described either as "impressively measured" or "the deadest of deadpan comedy," the former slave, in the most genteel manner, basically tells the old slave master to kiss his rear end. He laments his being shot at by Col. Anderson when he fled slavery, the mistreatment of his children and that there "was never pay-day for the Negroes any more than... Read more
Eddie Long Crowned 'King' at Church Service
In a service last weekend at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, the embattled and controversial Bishop Eddie Long received a new title: king. In a video that appeared on YouTube earlier this week, Long was proclaimed to be royalty by a visiting speaker. "He's a king. God's blessed him. He's a humble man. But in him is kingship. In him is royalty," Ralph Messer, who apparently claims to be a rabbi, said over Long. "In him was a land of Israel. In him was a k chromosome. He was brought through the slaves, raised up in a city, and God now wants to release a new anointing." Long was then wrapped in scrolls and raised in the air by four men as the congregation went wild (fast forward to the 5-minute mark in the video to see it). This Eddie Long saga is getting more ridiculous by the day. What church is holding people... Read more
Challenge Campaign of Insults, Slurs vs. President Obama
Republican Gov. Jan Brewer insults the president with a finger-wagging tarmac rant in Arizona. As a result, sales of her book soar. American presidents have always been fair game for public criticism. But isn't it past time that we challenge the campaign of insult, racial slur and utter disrespect that has been unleashed on Barack Obama? Consider just the Republican presidential contenders. The campaign started with Donald Trump's ugly nonsense about Obama's birth certificate, suggesting that he was un-American. Newt Gingrich devoted a book, To Save America, to denouncing Obama's "secular socialist machine that represents as great a threat to America as Nazi Germany." Gingrich began his comeback from life support when he reasserted his claim that Obama was the "food stamp president," a pure dog whistle to the unreconstructed among South Carolina voters. Mitt Romney is no exception, saying Obama wants to lead America into a "European social welfare society" while he would... Read more
'Soul Train' laid the rails of a cultural revoluti…
Don Cornelius, creator and host of “Soul Train,” a milestone in television programming that introduced generations of viewers to new music and dance trends emerging from black America, died Feb.…
Biden Warned Obama Against Bin Laden Raid
If President Obama had listened to Vice President Joe Biden, Osama bin Laden might still be alive, according to Slate. The man who some are speculating will be stripped of…
King Center ex-CEO opens up
Martin L. King III said he left the nonprofit center that bears his father’s name over concerns about its future and relationship with the for-profit entity that handles licensing of…
Dr. Robert M. Franklin to Transition as President …
After an accomplished five-year term as president of Morehouse College, Robert M. Franklin '75 has decided to step down at the end of his term at the close of the…
Thugs still steal our children’s lives
Some years ago, I was struck by a passage in Plato’s “Republic.” The philosopher tells the story of a god who is condemned to devour his own children. It occurred…
Judge orders Iverson's wages garnished to pay jewe…
Former Philadelphia Sixers and Denver Nuggets star Allen Iverson will have his wages garnished for an unpaid jewelry bill. A Georgia judge commandeered the bank account of former NBA star Allen…
'Tea Party 10' Targeted In Multimillion Dollar Cam…
A liberal super PAC is set Monday to launch what it is billing as a multimillion dollar campaign to "Take Down the Tea Party Ten." The effort by the progressive outfit…
"The Help" gets Oscar boost with big SAG wins
Civil rights drama "The Help" got a leg up in the Oscar race on Sunday when the movie won three awards from the Screen Actors Guild, including best cast in…
Jan Brewer just fired up Black America
President Obama walked away from Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer last week after she pointed her finger at him during a conversation at the Phoenix airport. Jan Brewer, the Governor of Arizona,…
Black History : 390 Years of "Yes We Can" Pt 1
Much like Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama is a man for all people. He is humble yet confident; he is gracious yet firm; and he is a peacemaker…
Black Pilot to Create Classroom in the Sky
Barrington Irving was the youngest and the first black pilot to fly solo around the globe. In high school, Barrington Irving was a football star who never dared to imagine a…
Stevie Wonder, Christina Aguilera sing tributes at…
Mourners pass by Etta James’ casket during her funeral at City of Refuge Church in Gardena. President Obama said she will be remembered “for her legendary voice and for her…
Quotes to Remember
Low aim, not failure, is a sin." - Dr. Benjamin Mays
"Prepare, Pursue, Perform, and Prevail."- Dr. Benjamin Mays
"We do not have to be victims of circumstance." - Kweisi Mfume
"Our past choices are what have brought us our Today. Today's choices are what will bring us our Tomorrows" - Dr. Ben Carson
Send us your quotes to remember. Selected submissions will be published here on a regular basis.
News for Black Americans by Category
Other Stories of the DayReport Suggests 'End Of The Segregated C…Feb 01, 2012 Other Stories of the Day The Manhattan Institute reports that U.S. metropolitan areas are now more integrated than any time since 1910. The migration of African Americans to the South, gentrification and immigration have... Read more A Memoir Should Be More Than A History L…Feb 01, 2012 Other Stories of the Day The memoir, in African-American history, dates back to slave journals. But memoirs can also move us and make us laugh out loud. Tell Me More marks Black History Month... Read more Baratunde Thurston Explains 'How To Be B…Feb 01, 2012 Other Stories of the Day From the comedian and digital director of The Onion, a satirical self-help book for anyone who has a black friend, wants to be the next black president or... Read more East Haven Police Under Fire For Civil R…Feb 01, 2012 Other Stories of the Day The police commission in East Haven, Conn., voted Tuesday night to urge the mayor to fire the police chief amid allegations that the department abused Latinos. Chief Leonard Gallo... Read more | Business NewsMicron CEO’s Plane Had ‘Disproportionate…Feb 03, 2012 Business News The Lancair IVP aircraft that Micron Technology Inc. Chief Executive Officer Steve Appleton was piloting when he died today is known for its performance and a high number of... Read more Micron CEO Steve Appleton Dies in Airpla…Feb 03, 2012 Business News Steve Appleton, who took charge of Micron Technology Inc. at 34 and went on to become the memory- chip industry’s longest-serving chief executive officer, died after crashing an experimental... Read more Anglo American Seen Takeover Bait by Gle…Feb 03, 2012 Business News Already one of the cheapest major mining companies, Anglo American Plc is becoming an even more likely takeover target with Xstrata Plc and Glencore International Plc’s potential merger threatening... Read more S. Korea Optimistic Aid Will Bring North…Feb 03, 2012 Business News South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy is “optimistic” that inducements offered by the U.S. and his country will persuade North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong Un, to resume talks aimed... Read more | PoliticsMan Sues Wife’s Business Partner For Imp…Feb 03, 2012 Politics HARTFORD, Conn.— Over the years, Eric Fischer had grown suspicious of whether he was really the father of his youngest daughter. So he secretly got a sample of the... Read more Economy News Bad For Romney, Good For Ob…Feb 03, 2012 Politics With news breaking that the unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in three years -- 8.3 percent for the nation and 13.6 percent for African Americans... Read more New Poll Has Obama And Romney Tied Among…Feb 03, 2012 Politics A recent Gallop poll has President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney tied among likely November voters in swing states. SEE ALSO: Read more.. Read more Nevada A Safe Bet For Romney And Start O…Feb 03, 2012 Politics Nevada is, in part, such friendly territory for Romney because of its place in the Mormon Corridor, a group of states fanning out from Utah which, besides Nevada, include... Read more |
Weather Maps
Health NewsLatest illnesses point to raw milk's pop…Feb 03, 2012 Health News An outbreak of bacterial infections on the East Coast illustrates the popularity of raw, unpasteurized milk despite strong warnings from public health officials about the potential danger. Read more Supporters grapple with Komen fracas fal…Feb 03, 2012 Health News Fierce controversy over a policy that cut -- then apparently restored -- funding for Planned Parenthood by the Susan G. Read more Is social media spreading twitching hyst…Feb 03, 2012 Health News In the case of nearly 20 teenagers with a twitching disorder in upstate New York, doctors say the symptoms may be spreading faster through the girls' own use of... Read more Komen backs off decision on funding cutsFeb 03, 2012 Health News In what appears to be a reversal of Susan G. Komen For the Cure's funding cuts to Planned Parenthood, the founder and CEO of the nation's largest breast-cancer said... Read more | Sports NewsClippers agree with free-agent forward M…Feb 03, 2012 Sports News The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a deal with free agent forward Kenyon Martin. Read more Spencer Levin takes Phoenix Open leadFeb 03, 2012 Sports News Spencer Levin holed out from a greenside bunker for eagle on the par-4 17th and shot an 8-under 63 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the... Read more UPDATE 1-Golf-Levin surges ahead at fros…Feb 03, 2012 Sports News * Late eagle lifts Levin ahead of the pack * Second round to be finished on Saturday (Updates at end of play) Feb 3 (Reuters) - Little-known American Spencer... Read more Analysis: Giants pass rush vs Patriots p…Feb 03, 2012 Sports News INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Sunday's Super Bowl 46 appears set to boil down to the same fundamental clash of strengths seen four years ago when the New York Giants upset... Read more | Entertainment NewsJulianne Hough Found Unlikely Friendship…Feb 03, 2012 Entertainment News Julianne Hough has become "best friends" with Mary J Blige since working with her in 'Rock of Ages'. The 23-year-old beauty talks to the 'Be Without You' singer every... Read more Madonna Rules Out Possibility of Super B…Feb 03, 2012 Entertainment News Madonna is determined not to suffer any wardrobe malfunctions during her Super Bowl performance on Sunday . Read more 'Coronation Street' and 'Waterloo Road' …Feb 03, 2012 Entertainment News The 19-year-old, of Read, who featured in Celebrity Big Brother, teamed up with American hip-hop sensation Mann to make the track. Read more New R. Kelly's Single, "Share My Love," …Feb 03, 2012 Entertainment News What's R. Kelly 's strategy for making the world better? On his new single, "Share My Love," he belts out a simple solution: "let's do what we were born... Read more |
