The Black Informant

Okay, now this one had me thinking

I’ll just give you excerpts of the following article, but please go read it in its entirety. I am holding back from posting anything else today because this is a good one for us to hammer out.

Teacher who said district violated First Amendment rights is awarded $396,000

Published Tuesday, February 28, 2006
by Nicol Jenkins

A former social studies teacher who said his First Amendment rights were violated has received a $396,000 jury award.
Curtis Sherrod, an African American, and former Olympic Heights social studies teacher said after the award:  “The district Superintendent violated my constitutional rights and the School Board didn’t make any effort to look into this.”

More »

Buffalo makes history at local university

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Tavis Smiley’s State of the Black Union: Quick random notes

If you didn’t see this program (which aired this past weekend), my advice is for you to either check it out on the C-SPAN website (I had trouble loading it) or check out the website for The Covenant with Black America. The book itself is about $12 on Amazon and its definitely something worth purchasing for reference.

I decided not to go point to point in this posting for two reasons: #1. Many of the points raised in this symposium are issues that I cover on this website on a daily basis. It should come to no surprise to you that on some of the core issues of The Covenant (public health care, endless funding of public schools, and a few others) I tend to be in disagreement. This is why I am going to just address some of my observations of the actual event–not the contents of The Covenant itself.
#2. If you are going to have an opinion about The Covenant, at least read it first. One of my pet peeves on this site is when someone accuses me of saying something that I never said. Assumptions are made that usually lead to an endless debate that has nothing to do with the core issue. At a later date I may go into more detail with what I agree/disagree within The Covenant, but for now I want to give people a chance to read it first. More »

It takes a Village to raise results (dailynews.com)

By Rachel Uranga, Staff Writer
LA Daily News
RESEDA - Like too many other African-American students at Cleveland High, Brae Brown was a slacker - ignoring teachers, cutting class, failing subjects.
Then came the day a dedicated group of educators pulled Brown and his friends into the auditorium classroom for a reality check - dismal test scores, high dropout rates and a bleak future as adults.

That first session two years ago shocked Brown and moved others to tears. It also spurred them to action. More »

Fitting in (go figure!)

Black latinos can find race niches hard to accept

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Growing up in San Juan, Marisol Del Orbe, with caramel-colored skin and hair just crinkly enough to reveal a heritage touched by Africa, melded into a melange of multiple cultures. Many of them were in her own family.

With a Kenyan father and a Puerto Rican mom, Mrs. Del Orbe was a mestizo, one of the mixed-raced people who make up the mainstream in Puerto Rico, the country of her birth. More »

Taking a closer look at the CBC:Corrine Brown (D-FL)

The Honorable Corrine Brown
Florida, 3rd District
U.S. House of Representatives
2444 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20515
Ph: 202-225-0123

Follow the money data 

Opensecrets.org data 

Project Vote Smart data 

Abortion Issues

2005  Representative Brown supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2005.

2004  Representative Brown supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2004.

2003-2004  Representative Brown supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004  Representative Brown supported the interests of the Democrats for Life of America 0 percent in 2003-2004. More »

Do OUR Churches need a Malcolm X-type experience?

In his autobiography, Malcolm X talks about the transformation he experienced going to Mecca. There he saw for the first time Muslims of all nationalities gathered together for one common cause. It was in Mecca he was able to make a global connection with others who shared his beliefs.

In many ways, referring to our churches as “the black church” does more harm than good as it erases our spiritual connection with churches in other ethinic groups. While all churches have a responsibility to their respected communities, it was the prayer of Jesus Christ that the church as a whole would see itself as one body. More »

Another one of our babies is missing (2/26/06)

KEVIELLE KYLI BERNARD
Case Type: Lost, Injured, Missing
DOB: Apr 1, 1992   More »

Congrats to Tyler Perry!

Looks like Perry’s movie “Madea’s Family Reunion” blew out the competition this weekend earning just over $10 million!

What is even more impressive is Perry’s bio. Here is a piece of it below:
“From homelessness to sheer bliss, thirty five-year old playwright, director, producer and actor Tyler Perry is truly riding high! Within the span of only six years, he went from being “out on the streets” to “selling out” theaters wherever he goes. He has done it with not only one show - but with seven shows having successfully toured the nation and thus creating a change in the history of Black theater. More »

Black Homeschool Groups and Organizations

Afrocentric Homeschoolers Association is a nonprofit resource for homeschooling families (and individual teens) everywhere in the world which are engaging in Afrocentric, Africentric, Black-oriented, Black-positive, African, African American or pro-Black education.
Based in Ontario, Canada, AHA has been operating since 1996. Our colors are purple (for the richness of our heritage), and yellow (for the sun in our skin and lives). Membership is free. More »

State of the Black Union

FROM HOUSTON
State of the Black Union
Tavis Smiley presents “The 7th Annual State of the Black Union.” Three dozen African-American leaders join author and broadcaster Tavis Smiley and radio personality Tom Joyner to discuss economic issues facing Black communities. Airs in three parts today, at 9am, 2pm, and 4:30pm. Reair: Mon., C-SPAN2, 8:30pm

===

Out here on the west coast, the guide for this event is all wrong. It says it’s broadcasting, but it’s not on. Also, the schedule says it coming out of Atlanta when (according to C-Span), the event is in Houston.

If you saw this program, please share your thoughts. More »

Taking a closer look at the CBC: Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (D-GA)

In addition to using the websites Follow the Money and Project Vote Smart, I will also be providing you a link to another great resource site, opensecrets.org. Open Secrets shows you campaign finance contributions.

Opensecrets.org data

Follow the money data

The Honorable Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.
Georgia, 2nd District
U.S. House of Representatives
2429 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20515
Ph: 202-225-3631

Project Vote Smart (Please click here for the full report)

Abortion Issues

2005  Representative Bishop supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 60 percent in 2005.

2004  Representative Bishop supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 35 percent in 2004.

2003-2004  Representative Bishop supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 55 percent in 2003-2004.

2003-2004  Representative Bishop supported the interests of the Democrats for Life of America 80 percent in 2003-2004. More »

“And when I am president of the world, there will be a Koran in every home!”

Source: DailyTimes.com

ISLAMABAD: Former US president Bill Clinton on Friday condemned the publication of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) caricatures by European newspapers and urged countries concerned to convict the publishers.

Talking to reporters after meeting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in Islamabad, Clinton said he disagreed with the caricatures and that the publication was against religious and ethical norms. Clinton said he had no objection to peaceful demonstrations being held worldwide, but this was not the time for violence. He said it was the time to promote inter-faith harmony and stand together on the issue.

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Racism in America is officially over!!

It has to be after reading the following article:

(From Wired.com–hat tip:concreteloop.com)

The actor Damon Wayans has been engaged in a 14-month fight to trademark the term “Nigga” for a clothing line and retail store, a search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s online database reveals.

Wayans wants to dress customers in 14 kinds of attire from tops to bottoms, and use the controversial mark on “clothing, books, music and general merchandise,” as well as movies, TV and the internet, according to his applications.

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On the port situation…

“I’m with the President on this one, and I think this among a number of issues demonstrates the difference between himself, the party, various conservative ideologues and the hoi polloi of the Right. So let me say it straight out, all of the objections to the sale of P&O to Dubai Ports is reactionary bigotry hiding behind a mask of security consciousness.” (Michael D. Cobb Bowen–more)

Why do you need a parent when you have computers?

From CNet.com

There’s a new boss in the house, and his name is Bob.

Bob is a new time monitor device from start-up Hopscotch Technology that let parents control how much time their children spend watching television, playing video games or using the computer.

Bob consists of a timer and a reporter box. A device’s plug is locked into Bob, which is then plugged into a wall outlet. Parents assign their children a certain amount of time on the device by day or week, and when it’s up, Bob cuts the current.

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A special “Thank You”!

A very special “Thank you” goes to Shay Reily of the great site BookerRising. Since the early days of BlackInformant.com, she has featured almost regularly some of the many postings of this site to her blog.

I also want to thank both you my regular visitors to this site and for all you recent newcomers. I am indeed greatful of your readership.

Take care!!

Duane Brayboy
BlackInformant.com

The bamboozlement of black Americans on school choice

Here is part of a transcript from a recent event where she lashes out against the idea of school vouchers:

CLINTON: Suppose that you were meeting today to decide who got the vouchers. First parent comes and says ‘I want to send my daughter to St. Peter’s Roman Catholic School’ and you say ‘Great, wonderful school, here’s your voucher. Next parent who comes says, ‘I want to send, you know, my child to the Jewish Day School. Great here’s your voucher! Next parent who comes says, “I want to send my child to the private school that I’ve already dreamed of sending my child to.’ Fine. Here’s your voucher.

More »

Increasingly Affluent African American Market Set to Reach $981 Billion by 2010

“BUT” ALERT!!!

There will be plenty of Negroes out there that will be quick to remind you  “BUT WE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO” squashing any celebratory moment. No, this does not mean the end of racism as we know it, but it serves as yet another slap in the face of those that tell us that there has not been any real progress in the black community for years.

NEW YORK, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ — Buoyed by advances in education and employment, the African American market now commands a buying power of $762 billion, an economic pocketbook that is expected to reach $981 billion by 2010, according to The U.S. African American Market, a new report from Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, a leading provider of
industry-specific market research reports. More »

And you thought Katrina was messy…

Setting the stage for an epic political battle in a beleaguered city, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu will announce today that he will run against Mayor C. Ray Nagin in the April election, Landrieu’s aides said Tuesday night.

Landrieu’s announcement will come this afternoon at a hotel on the bank of the Mississippi River, said aide Scott Shalett, who has taken a leave of absence as Landrieu’s chief of staff and will be a senior advisor to the mayoral campaign. (more…)

My prediction–

It will be an all-out race war.