Washington Informer
Archive (100)
Bill Fletcher, Jr,Black Health
I just had my annual physical. Every December or January I make it a point to have one. Even after my healthcare provider, some years back, said that I did not need a yearly physical, I ignored them.
While I was awaiting my doctor, I had an unusual and disturbing conversation with a nurse who I see when I come for appointments. She was very distraught and told me that she was changing jobs (in the medical profession) for several reasons but what troubled me was how unsettled she was about the condition of Black American health.
Earning a Paycheck During the Summer
Close, but not good enough. When Ward 8 activist Phil Pannell was quoted as saying, “My belief is that a lot of these students will get jobs where there is not a lot of work to be done and they’ll end up sitting there with nothing to do when they should be reading a book,” in your article “Summer Youth Jobs Program Revamped,” by Dorothy Rowley (March 10, 2011), Mr. Pannell was close to addressing a real problem, but still it wasn’t good enough.
Close, but not good enough. When Ward 8 activist Phil Pannell was quoted as saying, “My belief is that a lot of these students will get jobs where there is not a lot of work to be done and they’ll end up sitting there with nothing to do when they should be reading a book,” in your article “Summer Youth Jobs Program Revamped,” by Dorothy Rowley (March 10, 2011), Mr. Pannell was close to addressing a real problem, but still it wasn’t good enough.
The Power of Film
Film is a wonderful medium, it has been used to tell stories, recreate history, and even foster lies. For some, it’s their only way to see what they think the world really is.
Unfortunately, most films portraying Africans to Americans have not been that realistic or favorable.Thank you for your coverage of the New African Film Festival at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Md.. The story, written by Eve Ferguson, appeared in your March 10th edition.
Film is a wonderful medium, it has been used to tell stories, recreate history, and even foster lies. For some, it’s their only way to see what they think the world really is.
Unfortunately, most films portraying Africans to Americans have not been that realistic or favorable.Thank you for your coverage of the New African Film Festival at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, Md.. The story, written by Eve Ferguson, appeared in your March 10th edition.
Dr. Benjamin Chavis
As we enter the final days of 2010, one of the outstanding issues of the past 12 months is the inadequate education that the majority of African American children and young adults are receiving throughout the United States. All parents, and in particular, African American parents, want the best for their children. Thus, the empowerment of parents around the issues of improving the education of young people in the African American community should remain one of the highest priorities.
Julianne Malveaux In the weeks since the “shellacking” of the November 2 election, there has been much talk that the economy will turn around and, indeed, is on the mend. Both pundits and expert economists are saying the economic indicators are better. The recession is over, according to these indicators, and it is unlikely that we have a double dip recession. The stock market has done well this year. So why is the unemployment rate so high?
The newspaper industry is struggling to stay alive and relevant to a dwindling readership that’s steadily moving towards the Internet for its source of news and information.
Reports that newspapers, both large and small, are shutting their doors, is a clear indication of how severe the industry has been hit over the past 10 years.
Yet, the Black Press is still going strong. Not to say that Black newspapers haven’t been impacted by this trend, but so far it appears that the 2 million Black Press readers remain loyal to the print editions that number approximately 200 strong across the country.
At last week’s 184th celebration of the Black Press, members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and Foundation -- the national trade association for the Black Press -- were reminded of why the Black Press continues to play a crucial role in the lives of Black people in America.
The commander in chief of the nation weighed in on the relevancy of the Black Press. In a pre-recorded video message, President Barack
Obama expressed his gratitude and encouraged Black newspapers to continue to carry out their missions.
“Thank you for being a voice on behalf of communities that sometimes have trouble getting heard. You have readers who depend on you for reporting and analysis on issues that aren’t always covered by traditional media sources,” Obama said.
“Your work isn’t just important to the black community; it’s important to the American people ... It’s your job to speak truth to power, to hold those of us in public office accountable, but most importantly, it’s your job to [tell] the stories of our lives,” the president said.
Reports that newspapers, both large and small, are shutting their doors, is a clear indication of how severe the industry has been hit over the past 10 years.
Yet, the Black Press is still going strong. Not to say that Black newspapers haven’t been impacted by this trend, but so far it appears that the 2 million Black Press readers remain loyal to the print editions that number approximately 200 strong across the country.
At last week’s 184th celebration of the Black Press, members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association and Foundation -- the national trade association for the Black Press -- were reminded of why the Black Press continues to play a crucial role in the lives of Black people in America.
The commander in chief of the nation weighed in on the relevancy of the Black Press. In a pre-recorded video message, President Barack
Obama expressed his gratitude and encouraged Black newspapers to continue to carry out their missions.
“Thank you for being a voice on behalf of communities that sometimes have trouble getting heard. You have readers who depend on you for reporting and analysis on issues that aren’t always covered by traditional media sources,” Obama said.
“Your work isn’t just important to the black community; it’s important to the American people ... It’s your job to speak truth to power, to hold those of us in public office accountable, but most importantly, it’s your job to [tell] the stories of our lives,” the president said.
The first two months of Vincent Gray’s first term as mayor of the District of Columbia have been rocky, to say the least.
Allegations of cronyism and nepotism, coupled with complaints of high salaries offered to several members of his cabinet in the midst of a tight economy have not fared well for the newly elected mayor. To make matters worse, an FBI probe and threats of a congressional in-vestigation have brought attention once again, to the District’s affairs by members of the Republican-led Congress.
Allegations of cronyism and nepotism, coupled with complaints of high salaries offered to several members of his cabinet in the midst of a tight economy have not fared well for the newly elected mayor. To make matters worse, an FBI probe and threats of a congressional in-vestigation have brought attention once again, to the District’s affairs by members of the Republican-led Congress.
James Clingman
Riding the Bench in the Economic Super Bowl
Gary L. Flowers On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the first Black President of the United States of America. Upon waving farewell to George Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama moved their family into the White House. For many Americans, the history of African Americans in the White House began in 2009. Not true.
On April 4 Americans commemorated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the late civil rights leader, who was tragically killed by an assassin as he stood on the balcony of the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968. King was preparing to lead a march on behalf of the sanitation workers and had just delivered his speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” the night before. When King died, it was a sad day for the nation, but for Black Americans, the impact was devastating and it shook the very foundation of their lives all across the county.
Violence erupted but there was a void in their hearts and in the spirit of the movement King led. Today, his legacy remains a vital piece of the legislation his life and death are responsible for, including the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Fair Housing Law, and a federal holiday named in his honor. Time has passed yet King’s speeches remain a large part of his legacy that reminds us of his work as a civil rights icon. He inspired many, including President Barack Obama, who symbolically announced his candidacy for a second term on April 4, 2011. “It All Begins With Us!” is Obama’s theme, illustrated in a video, and emailed to Americans across the country announcing his intentions to run for a second term.
Dr. King was not through with his work when he died on April 4. President Obama told America on April 4, that he his not through, either. But, the baton is in the hands of the voters who must decide if President Obama is worthy to receive it again, or to pass it on. The race for 2012 has begun.
Violence erupted but there was a void in their hearts and in the spirit of the movement King led. Today, his legacy remains a vital piece of the legislation his life and death are responsible for, including the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, the Fair Housing Law, and a federal holiday named in his honor. Time has passed yet King’s speeches remain a large part of his legacy that reminds us of his work as a civil rights icon. He inspired many, including President Barack Obama, who symbolically announced his candidacy for a second term on April 4, 2011. “It All Begins With Us!” is Obama’s theme, illustrated in a video, and emailed to Americans across the country announcing his intentions to run for a second term.
Dr. King was not through with his work when he died on April 4. President Obama told America on April 4, that he his not through, either. But, the baton is in the hands of the voters who must decide if President Obama is worthy to receive it again, or to pass it on. The race for 2012 has begun.
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