Blogs

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States in Shelby County v. Holder delivered a devastating setback to civil rights in America.  The Court ruled today that the coverage formula in Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act is unconstitutional, which essentially halts the federal government’s ability to review or “pre-clear“ voting changes under Section 5 unless and until Congress enacts a new coverage formula. 

In the coming days, weeks, and months you will hear from the Lawyers’ Com

Brother’s Keeper Out Reach Church Launches 8-week Violence Prevention Camp

Partners with County/State to make a difference

By Chinta Strausberg

In an effort to stem the violence, Chief Apostle William McCoy, pastor of the Brother’s Keeper Out Reach Church in Chicago Heights, kicked off an eight-week violence prevention camp Saturday where he was joined by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, state and county officials.

Announcing the bifurcated program, McCoy, who was also joined by Cook Co

Friends, The President has just issued a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision invalidating a provision of the Voting Rights Act. Please share it broadly. Best regards, Paul D. Paul Monteiro Associate Director | White House Office of Public Engagement 202.456.4753 *** THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 25, 2013 Statement by the President on the Supreme Court Ruling on Shelby County v. Holder I am deeply disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision toda

It is imperative that ExxonMobil abide by the rules.  This is not to say that there are not other petrochemical companies which are not playing fair but ExxonMobil is the biggest.    The basics of truly announcing  in a timely manner each and every time there is a leak, spill or fugitive emission is important.       This is not just important to people who live close to the plant but , it is important to people who,  go to school, visit, work, play and drive by the 225 acres of former river fron

Ben Jealous

NBA: What Happens to the Undrafted?

By Benjamin Todd Jealous

In 2011, 17,500 college basketball players were registered with the National Collegiate Athletic Association. That year, 48 college players were drafted by NBA teams.

What happens to the undrafted? Some bounce around the international leagues for a few years, and a few even make it to the NBA. Many more go on to office jobs. But far too many college basketball players, especially players of color, leave college wit

Ben Jealous

NBA: What Happens to the Undrafted?

By Benjamin Todd Jealous

In 2011, 17,500 college basketball players were registered with the National Collegiate Athletic Association. That year, 48 college players were drafted by NBA teams.

What happens to the undrafted? Some bounce around the international leagues for a few years, and a few even make it to the NBA. Many more go on to office jobs. But far too many college basketball players, especially players of color, leave college wit

Washington, DC - With opening arguments beginning today in the trial of George Zimmerman, the man charged with second-degree murder in the 2012 death of Trayvon Martin, the Project 21 black leadership network is announcing that members of the organization will be providing regular commentary and analysis of the trial throughout its proce

A decision today by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the use of race as a determining factor in public college admissions is being cheered by legal experts of the Project 21 black leadership network, which had argued in a legal brief filed with the Court in the case that such preferences violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
"The days of institutionalized racism are long gone, so it should be an accepted fact that public colleges cannot play a racial game of Chutes and La

ROBERT L. JOHNSON AND DR. DeFOREST B. SOARIES, JR. ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE TO END PAYDAY LENDING, LOWER MINORITY CONSUMER DEBT, AND PROMOTE FINANCIAL EDUCATION

-- Agreement Supports RLJ Financials' Plan to Provide Viable Alternative to Payday Lending for Consumers in Need of Short Term and

Emergency Borrowing --

Bethesda, MD

(BlackNews.com) -- Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies and Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in

When I read the recently released report by The College Republican National Committee (CRNC), titled, "Grand Old Party for a Brand New Generation," I immediately thought of two cartoons: the Flintstones and the Jetsons.

The Flintstones was an animated, prime-time TV show that debuted in 1960. It was a cartoon about a working class family in the Stone Age. The Jetsons was a cartoon that debuted in 1962. The show was about a futuristic family who lived 100 years in the future (2062).

While the Flint

The State of Equality and Justice in America" is a 20-part series of columns written by an all star list of contributors to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

William Spriggs

The South Is Seceding Again:

Will President Obama Be Buchanan or Lincoln?

By William E. Spriggs

This Saturday will mark the 50th anniversary of the March to Freedom down Woodward Avenue in Detroit. The UAW will be there, as they were under the leadership of Walter Reuther, and will re-enact the march where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. first delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech-a speech he drafted at Solidarity House, the home of the UAW. Earlier this month, Pres

Father Pfleger to hold “Occupy the Streets” peace rally Friday

“All boots on the ground for the children”

By Chinta Strausberg

The father of a murdered son, Father Michael L. Pfleger Thursday urged all parents and children to join him in the “Occupy The Streets” peace march and rally 7 p.m. Friday, June 21, 2013, outside of Saint Sabina Church, 78^th Place and Throop Streets, to take a stand and make a declaration that this summer Chicago’s streets will be peaceful for the children’s sake.

“Seve

If you have raised or are raising a son, this article’s for you!

I have a series of questions for you. The first question is: Are there differences between raising a son that is Black versus White, versus Hispanic versus Asian? Would your answer be yes or would you answer no? I would answer yes. As a Black mother raising Black boys, society’s rules are different when it comes to my sons. If my sons get stopped for a traffic violation, they are more likely to be harassed. If they are in unfamiliar

Recognizing the persistent disparities in controlling asthma among African-American and Hispanic/Latino populations in the United States, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) today issued a call for research proposals to provide new information on ways to solve this problem.

PCORI will invest up to $17 million in patient-centered outcomes research projects that evaluate comprehensive and coordinated approaches to reducing poor health and other complications related to uncontr

Julian Bond

Religious Liberty and Inclusion By Julian Bond

By the mid-1960s, the civil rights movement had made significant cultural, legal and political progress in advancing the cause of racial justice and equality under the law - a struggle that continues to this very day. This was a rapidly evolving, heady time in American history.
It was a time when individual men, women and, yes, children came together to literally bend the moral arc of their nation in the direction of justice.
In our cur