National
Latest Report Shows Systemic Bias
The U.S. Marshals Service prohibited agent Matthew Fogg from conducting drug busts in predominately white sections of Washington, D.C.
Also, the crime-busting federal law enforcement agency frequently left Fogg alone on stakeouts while in search of some of the most notorious fugitives in the county, he said. He often expressed concerns about the constant surveillance of lower-level drug dealers, as opposed to wealthy, white suppliers.
"We were mainly targeting urban areas, and, even when I brought the issue up, I was told that [blacks] were the weakest link in the drug war and that's where we [could] get our numbers up," said Fogg, 61. "There were times after I complained to my supervisors, I was left by myself on stakeouts with armed and dangerous fugitives who we were supposed to be trying to apprehend. My life was in danger," he said.
Today, the retired chief deputy, who served more than 15 years at the U.S. Marshals Service, currently holds the position as the national 1st vice president for Blacks in Government (BIG) and the national vice president for the Federally Employed Women's Legal and Education Fund.
Fogg, a lifelong resident of Southeast Washington, D.C., sued the U.S. Marshals Service in 1998 for racial discrimination.
His lawsuit included allegations of illegal termination which occurred after he filed an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaint. It also alleged non annual performance ratings, non selection in two promotions, and allegations that his department maintained a racially charged and hostile working environment against all African Americans.
In 2008, a jury sided with Fogg and awarded the highly decorated agent $4 million in back pay and other damages.
Fogg's case counts among the many discrimination complaints and lawsuits throughout the nation that helped to underscore findings in the most recent U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) jobs report.
The report revealed that unconscious biases, insufficient training and mentoring, as well as outdated recruiting and hiring practices have stifled African Americans working in the federal government.
Those practices are also widespread in the private sector as well, said EEOC Chair, Jacqueline Berrien.
"I've seen a lot of cases and nothing surprises me anymore," said Berrien, 51.
Commission members noted that they've fielded and witnessed complaints which include finding nooses and KKK signs in various work places.
Berrien said the EEOC receives nearly 100,000 new allegations of discrimination annually from African Americans, Latinos and women of all races.
Despite legislative and other efforts, obstacles exist that continue to prevent equal employment opportunities for blacks in the workplace, EEOC Commissioner Victoria Lipnic said. "There is a question as to how do you get around unconscious biases. Unfortunately, there is a tendency by some to favor or look out for a person or a colleague who looks like [themselves]," said Lipnic, 52.
Both Berrien and Lipnic said a lack of adequate mentoring opportunities and insufficient training assignments continue to affect the hiring or advancement of black people.
Also, commission members have found that when a person files an official complaint, they are often subjected to retaliation, harassment and even termination.
"When you file an EEO complaint, that's basically the end of your career or the end of any chance you have of upward movement," Fogg said.
"But, sometimes you have to think of the big picture and carry the weight for everyone else," he said. "View it like the civil rights movement, if Martin Luther King didn't step forward, then where would we be?"
The current system of hiring, promoting and firing is flawed because it has few safeguards against racial, gender and other forms of discrimination, said Katherine Kimple, managing partner of the law firm, Sanford Wittels & Heisler, in Northwest Washington, D.C. "There are nasty, vindictive and hateful people out there and with these folks, you have to have a really good Human Resources Department as well as strong and zero tolerance mechanisms in place," said Kimpel, 44, whose firm represented Fogg and is currently the attorney for several U.S. Marshals, who in 2009 filed a class action suit against the agency.
In that suit, which is separate from Fogg's, one employee said he was hired at a lower pay grade than white employees even though he had a law enforcement background.
Another employee said, despite being the most senior person in his division, he was passed over for a promotion in favor of a white man who had never worked in the division.
"Each government agency needs to have a true game plan to combat this and not just lip service," said Shirley Jones, attorney and legal review committee counselor for BIG, which is located in downtown Washington, D.C.
"African Americans are in a catch-22 because we are not always given the opportunity to shine and when it's time for promotions and other advancement opportunities, our names don't come up," said Jones, 48.
The EEOC study, released in March, is a result of two years of discussions with groups that included BIG and the African American Federal Executives Association. The study list seven conditions commission members said were the most formidable obstacles to equal employment opportunities.
Those obstacles include unconscious biases and perceptions about African Americans that continue to play a significant role in employment decisions in the federal sector. Additionally, insufficient training and development assignments perpetuate inequalities in skills and opportunities for African Americans and educational requirements create obstacles for African Americans in the federal work force.
"This should be surprising to most Americans, but not to us," said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, senior director of the economics department at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in Northwest Washington, D.C.
"We've been in dialogue with the heads of different federal agencies and have been speaking about our concerns when it comes to diversity," said Asante-Muhammad, 39.
"Diversity is important and it must be accomplished," he said.
Defying Expectations.
These words – emblazoned on the front page of Africare's 2013 annual report – embody the organization's 40-year quest to present an African reality to the world that is fact not fiction.
On Saturday, April 20, more than 1,500 guests at the Bishop John T. Walker Memorial Dinner heard from speakers as varied as President Barack Obama, former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva, Africare President Darius Mans, corporate leaders and diplomats who lauded Africare for the work it has done on the continent.
"In this report, we aim to defy your expectations by sharing the Africa that we know. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 11 of the world's 25 fastest growing economies. It is where farmers are multiplying crop yields, where women are becoming leaders, where babies are born healthy – where development is taking hold. Africa ... demands that the world leave the perceptions of last century behind and take a fresh look," according to the annual report.
"Tonight, we celebrate the 43rd anniversary of Africare," said Mans during an interview prior to the gala. "We've invested $1 billion across the continent for food security and to develop active lives. The big challenge is how do you scale this up, replicate it into strong organizations, increase robust organizations ... and make investments in the infrastructure."
Africare has helped eradicate polio in Angola; developed a national malaria prevention plan in Benin; cooperates closely with the South African government to combat the AIDS epidemic in that country; helped a women's cooperate in Chad get into the global market to sell the Shea butter products they produced; and is deeply involved in bolstering food security for millions of people across Africa.
"Food security is absolutely essential," Mans said. "It's an issue that we've been working on for decades."
This year's honorees were Obama and billionaire businessman and telecommunications magnate Mohamed "Mo" Ibrahim. Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Ph.D., served as mistress of ceremonies.
Obama contributed $100,000 of his $1.4 million Nobel Peace Prize monetary award to Africare in 2010 which used it to create the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Health (WASHH) Project in Ghana. The project raises awareness of basic hygiene and hand washing and provides access to safe and clean water for four communities in the Wassa Amenfi District in Ghana's Western Region.
"Before Africare implemented the WASHH Project in Ghana, more than 90 percent of the population shared a latrine with up to 60 other people, and basic hygiene, was in some cases non-existent," said Mans. "With President Obama's donation, Africare was able to significantly improve water access in Ghana. In the two years that followed, the water quality remains very good and the school latrines that were built continue to help schools retains pupils who spend more time in class learning."
Obama received the Bishop John T. Walker Humanitarian Award. He wasn't present at the function because he was focused on the Boston Marathon bombing that occurred earlier in the week, but recorded a video which was played for the guests.
"I'm grateful for this honor and want to commend you for the work you're doing," Obama said. "You're bringing dignity and hope to African people and [you have implemented] an extraordinary program for more than 40 years. I see this as a moment of promise for Africa."
Obama's White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough spoke on the president's behalf.
"Africa is emerging as a new center of economic growth and people are enjoying new opportunities for prosperity," he said. "We're nurturing success where it's rooted, advancing peace and security in Africa, supporting freely elected governments, and working on the delivery of basic services."
McDonough cited countries such as Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cape Verde and Malawi as countries where fair and transparent elections have taken place, where the rule of law is respected and good governance is paramount.
"The U.S. is continuing to expand engagement with leaders who are willing to take steps to [build] governments in their countries," he explained. "Increased transparency makes them more capable."
Africare also honored Ibrahim, a billionaire businessman and philanthropist, with the Bishop John T. Walker Leadership Award for his work on promoting and rewarding good governance and stellar leadership on the continent.
Da Silva presented Ibrahim with his award.
"He is a brother I've met many times before," said da Silva, who received the first leadership award in 2011 for his countless contributions in trade, investment and diplomatic relations between Brazil and Africa. "I'm convinced that hunger in the world, and especially in Africa, is the most important struggle for those responsible for peacekeeping. It's inadmissible with all this wealth that so many people are hungry. Mothers are waking up with one meal to feed their children."
"You all know that the African continent is going through a great period. It is experiencing six percent of growth and the cycle is not interrupted by the global economic crisis."
Of the one billion people on the continent, da Silva said, about 300 million live in absolute poverty and food insecurity.
Da Silva, who is recovering from throat cancer, said budgets need to be allocated to development welfare programs, and he suggested that a coalition of business elites, non-governmental organizations and other civil society institutions would be the catalyst for meaningful change in Africa.
"There should be an obligation of rich countries to invest in the development of these African countries," he said. "They must act to raise financial resources and take food to those affected by hunger and starvation."
Ibrahim said he was speechless and humbled by the award.
"Africa is moving forward, there's no question about that," said Ibrahim, whose foundation launched the $5 million Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership for African heads of state who practiced good governance, transparency and who selflessly restructured their governments and transformed citizens' lives. " ... Now the landscape is changing in Africa and two forces, women and youth is what I think will change the continent."
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has named Amani Council as the organization's director of African-American Communications.
In making the announcement on April 23, RNC chair Reince Priebus expressed confidence that Council's presence will assist his goal of making it a priority to reach out to all Americans and their communities.
"[Council] brings a wealth of experience from her time on [Capitol] Hill, in public relations, business, and in issue advocacy," said Priebus."She will work with Deputy Press Secretary Raffi Williams, who joined our team earlier this year, to build relationships with African-American media as we work to earn the trust of more African-American voters."
Council, who has more than 10 years' experience in strategic communications, community engagement, public relations, and organizational development, first began her work in politics in the office of Florida Congressman Clay Shaw and then as a legislative assistant to Congressman Randy Forbes of Virginia.
Afterward, Council served as director of government affairs for the District of Columbia-based Family Research Council, where she coordinated lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill regarding a wide range of social and pro-family issues.
Most recently, Council served as director of New Media and Business Development at Bass Public Affairs in Alexandria, Va., where she also worked on ballot initiatives and created media strategies for businesses and non-profit organizations.
Law enforcement officials said that the surviving suspect in the April 15 Boston Marathon explosions who remains hospitalized after his capture, admitted on Sunday to playing a role in the attacks.
As a result, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev,19, has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction that left three people dead and more than 170 injured.
Tsarnaev, who laid grievously wounded in a hospital bed on Monday recovering from gunshots sustained to his "head, neck, legs and hand," was captured late last week. He uttered the word "no" once, but mostly nodding his responses, while being questioned by FBI agents.
Tsarnaev made his admission to agents who had been waiting outside his hospital room for him to regain consciousness.
After he woke up, they questioned him, invoking what is known as the public safety exception to the Miranda Rule, a procedure authorized by a 1984 U.S. Supreme Court decision which in certain circumstances allows interrogation after an arrest without notifying a prisoner of the right to remain silent.
Tsarnaev said that he knew of no other plots and that he and his 26-year-old brother – who was shot to death last week by authorities -- had acted alone, and that he knew of no more bombs that had not been detonated.
The White House said that Tsarnaev, who is a naturalized American citizen, would not be placed in military detention.
"We will prosecute this terrorist through our civilian system of justice," said Jay Carney, the White House press secretary.
(Source: The New York Times)
42 Film Honors Barrier-Breaking Ballplayer, Portrayed by HU Graduate
As Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson's career and legacy, a new film about the legendary Brooklyn Dodger who broke the sport's color line in 1947, is being hailed as a home run by moviegoers, critics, baseball fans and the late second baseman's family members.
The film, "42," released nationwide April 11, grossed a whopping $27.3 million in its first weekend of release, a grand slam for the national pastime. Industry observers expect the film to soon reach the magical $100 million mark, far surpassing the $40 million it took to produce the movie.
"Notably, '42,' earned a rare A+ CinemaScore grade from polled audiences, thereby joining the ranks of [movies] like 'The Help,' 'The Blind Side,' and 'Titanic,'" said Entertainment Weekly's film critic Grady Smith.
Most importantly, it's as authentic as any previously told biography, Robinson's daughter, Sharon Robinson said. "My family and I are excited about the movie. It does a good job of highlighting the resistance and prejudice that my father faced," said Robinson, 63.
"The movie also could help people discuss the lack of equal opportunity as well," she said.
The film brilliantly captures an era in Major League Baseball and in American history.
Dodgers' general manager Branch Rickey cut an eyebrow-raising, race-defining deal that brought Robinson to the majors, making the Georgia native the first black player in the game's history.
The 120-minute movie features Howard University graduate Chadwick Boseman as the defiant Robinson and Harrison Ford as Rickey, the Dodgers' general manager who signed the would-be Hall of Famer. Boseman, 31, received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2004 from Howard, and went on to study at the British American Dramatic Academy at Oxford in Regents Park in London.
The story focuses primarily on the Dodgers' 1947 season, but also explores the 1946 season that Robinson spent with Brooklyn's minor league affiliate, the Montreal Royals.
The stinging discrimination experienced by Robinson and depicted in the film included a stop with the Royals at a gas station in which he was refused entry into the "washroom."
Some of his teammates protest and threaten to travel to another station, but the owner relents and allows the black player to use the facilities.
As Robinson walks out of the "washroom," a Dodgers' team official greets him with a contract worth $4,100 to play in the majors. "On one condition," the official said to Robinson. "If you can control that temper," he said. Following a pregnant pause, Robinson agrees.
The following season, Robinson is subjected to taunts, blows to the head by opposing pitchers and rule-breaking slides into second base by other players, causing the Dodger injuries but still, he was game enough to continue.
In that pre-civil rights era, Robinson was forced to endure harsh and cruel discrimination and threats from both inside and outside of his own clubhouse.
"The ugliness of the time and its language are not pink-painted over in the film," celebrity writer Roger Friedman said.
The movie takes a complex story of race, history and sports and places a microscopic eye on the most important moments of the mid-20th century.
"If you're a baseball fan, you know the story of Jackie Robinson," said Mike Oz, a Yahoo! Sports columnist, who covers several baseball teams including the Washington Nationals.
"But, let's consider, for a second, the people who aren't really baseball fans, the moviegoers, for example, there's a good chance this will be a popular movie, one that extends beyond baseball fans. This is the kind of movie that could get younger audiences more interested in the game," Oz said.
Robinson was born in Cairo, Ga., in 1919 to a family of sharecroppers.
As the only black family residing in their neighborhood, Robinson and his four siblings encountered discrimination on a daily basis.
However, adversity failed to prevent him from excelling in sports and earning a scholarship to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
Robinson became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports – baseball, basketball, football and track.
In 1941, Robinson was named as an All-American football player, but because of financial problems, he was forced to leave UCLA and enlist in the U.S. Army, where he ultimately progressed to the rank of second lieutenant – which wasn't an easy feat.
Robinson was court-martialed after objecting to incidents of racial discrimination within the Army, but eventually received an honorable discharge.
He played in the Negro Leagues in 1945 before Rickey approached him with an unprecedented opportunity to play for the Dodgers in the majors.
In his first season with the Dodgers, Robinson won the National League's Rookie of the Year after belting 12 home runs, swiping a league-leading 29 bases and hitting .297.
Two years later, he won the league's Most Valuable Player award and a batting title after he hit .342. Over the course of his career, Robinson hit .311 with 1,518 hits, 137 homers, 734 RBI's and 197 stolen bases.
Robinson, who married the former Rachel Isum, was elected to the baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He died of an apparent heart attack in 1972, leaving behind his wife and two children, Sharon and David Robinson.
Another son, Jackie Robinson Jr., died in an automobile accident a year prior to his father's death.
Robinson's life and legacy continues to be celebrated by athletes in various sports, especially baseball. The sport honors the late baseball icon by celebrating Jackie Robinson Day on April 15 each year.
Robinson broke baseball's color barrier on April 15, 1947 when he strode onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to take on the Boston Braves – the team threatened to strike if Robinson played ball. Interestingly enough, 14,000 African Americans showed up to witness history in the making and support the first black ballplayer ever to step on a major league diamond.
Fifty years later, baseball retired Robinson's jersey number, 42, prohibiting any player from ever wearing the number again. Many who already had the number gave it up, despite baseball officials providing the option for some to keep it until they either left their current team or retired.
Only Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, universally recognized as the greatest relief pitcher in baseball history, choose to continue wearing 42.
The career saves leader, who hails from Panama, plans to retire at the end of this season and said he only elected to keep 42 because of his reverence for Robinson.
To honor his legacy, every player in baseball wears No. 42 on April 15 and ceremonies are held at ballparks throughout the nation to commemorate Robinson's first game in the majors.
The Nationals played in Florida on Monday and the team joined the Miami Marlins in celebrating the historic occasion.
"Watching the movie about Jackie Robinson and seeing the number emphasized was pretty cool," said Washington Capitals right-winger Joel Ward, who is one of a handful of blacks to play in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Ward was asked to speak before an advanced screening of, "42," on April 10 at a movie theater in the District of Columbia.
Ward wears No. 42 in honor of Robinson and said he draws a lot of his strength from the famed baseball star. "I knew coming to Washington it would be a new chapter for me and having the number actually means a lot to me," Ward said. "It [gives] me a chance to pay tribute to Robinson."
Ward, 32, said there are similarities to Robinson and what he and other black NHL players have to endure. For instance, he received a flood of racist messages on social media after scoring the winning goal in a playoff series last year.
"Obviously, Robinson was playing in a sport that was [all] white at the time, and I feel the same connection by playing hockey, which is predominately white," Ward said. "Robinson had to overcome so many obstacles."
Parents and education and community advocates bemoan the low graduation rates in D.C., saying that like the city's burgeoning truancy issue, the situation will only get worse until the necessary steps are taken to rein in the problem and preserve the value of public education.
"Trust me, D.C. schools are a mess and it seems like nobody cares enough to say when enough is enough," said Jocelyn Johnson, 37, a former District resident who pulled her two children out of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system two years ago and moved to Seat Pleasant, Md., in Prince George's County.
"My children have adjusted very well to their new system," Johnson said. "My son was in the eighth grade when we moved and had started skipping school. My daughter was turning 16 and on the verge of not graduating on time," she said. "I had talked to everybody that I thought could help – teachers, preachers, principals – but then I realized that I had to take control ... I'm not blaming D.C. for my children's troubles, but it was like [the officials] in charge weren't that concerned that I was concerned."
A report released late last year by the U.S. Department of Education stated that at the end of academic year 2010-11, only 59 percent of students in the DCPS system had graduated on time. However, the Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE) reported a 2 percent increase last year in DCPS graduation rates.
But that hardly elevated the District to any significant standing, as its graduation rates still remain among the lowest in the country.
"A 2 percent increase might be a big deal for OSSE, but it's still a very low number to be [boasting] about, and we as parents, school officials and community leaders need to show our discontent with this," said Dorothy Douglas, a former Ward 7 school board representative. "A lot of situations like truancy and the [mandated] school closings are what's contributing to low graduation rates, and nobody's really looking at that."
According to a 2012 statistical chart provided by OSSE, Cardozo Senior High School in Northwest had a 40 percent graduation rate and Anacostia Senior High School in Southeast had a rate of 42 percent, while Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in Northwest reported a 100 percent rate. Ballou Senior High in Southeast had a 48 percent rate, and Dunbar and Coolidge high schools in Northwest, each had 60 percent rates.
Nevertheless, Hosanna Mahaley Jones, D.C. state superintendent, insisted in a statement that last year's graduation results were proof of school officials' efforts to reach the District's students regardless of income or disability. Her sentiments are shared by DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson who said that for years, the rates have not reflected the system's successes or challenges with high school students.
"However, with the new calculations, we have a clearer understanding of the work we still need to do, and the public has a more reliable way to hold us accountable," said Henderson, 43.
Jones further noted that in 2012, District high school seniors reached five-year highs in composite scores and improved in ACT college-readiness benchmarks in English, reading, math and science over the previous year. "While we certainly have a steep road ahead, our investments in public education are moving in the right direction," she said.
Mark Jones, Ward 5 school board representative, agreed somewhat. But he echoed Douglas' sentiments, saying that truancy as a deterrent to graduation and a basis for high unemployment in the District, needs to be seriously addressed.
"We're still behind and I'm not happy about it. Right now, I believe we're below 60 percent [in accordance with national graduation rates]," Jones said. "The school board is reviewing the graduation requirements, which are [among the most stringent] in the nation," he said, adding that at one point the board was considering increasing students' credit hours.
"But I think that might be a mistake," he said. "It could end up being a bigger problem because increasing requirements could negatively impact graduation rates even more."
National Newspaper Publishers Association Chairman Cloves Campbell, Jr. has instructed Attorney James Belt of Dallas to "take whatever steps necessary" to collect a $418,180.12 judgment against Robert Bush, a former independent contractor responsible for advertising sales.
"I have asked Attorney Belt, who heads a special committee I appointed to bring a close to this matter, to take whatever steps necessary to collect on the order issued by U.S. District Court Judge Robert L. Wilkins," said Campbell, publisher of the Arizona Informant. "The order was issued a year ago and Mr. Bush has yet to voluntarily comply with it. Under the circumstances, we will take whatever steps needed to make sure he complies with the judge's lawful order."
Bush, who is believed to be living in Glendale, Calif., filed a suit against the NNPA in federal court in the District of Columbia.
According to the complaint filed on behalf of Bush on June 4, 2010, he was has hired to serve as NNPA's chief advertising salesperson, with an annual base salary of $120,000, plus up to 5 percent in commissions. Bush alleged that he was on target to secure at least $15 million in advertising over the first three years. However, nine months into the 5-year NNPA contract, Bush said he "was being suspended for alleged wrongdoing which [the NNPA] declined to specify."
Bush sought unspecified compensatory damages, attorney fees and costs and a jury trial.
In its response to Bush's complaint, the NNPA stated that in February 2009 Bush notified NNPA that, among other things, "he was not devoting his full time and attention" to his NNPA work "and that he was using time and resources which were to have been devoted to [the NNPA] for other matters."
When then-NNPA Chairman John B. Smith requested an accounting of his activities on April 26, 2009, Bush "stated that he would not provide the requested information." Consequently, the NNPA's executive committee voted to again request the pertinent information from Bush. After he failed to comply with a second request, the executive committee voted to suspend Bush.
According to the NNPA's counterclaim, Bush has refused to turn over company records and documents.
The case was heard by a jury in Washington, D.C., which dismissed one of the claims NNPA had made against Bush and one of Bush's claims against the NNPA. Judge Wilkins issued a partial summary judgment on April 12, 2012 authorizing the NNPA to recover $32,706.06 from Bush that had gone to him as overpaid commissions.
Judge Wilkins noted that Bush's failure to oppose NNPA's motion for attorneys' fees constituted a concession.
Wilkins wrote that it was "Further ordered that, based upon Bush's concession and the Court's thorough review of the Independent Contractor Agreement and the documentation submitted in support of NNPA's motion for attorney's fees and costs, NNPA recover from Bush the amount of $385,474.06 for attorneys' fees and costs."
James Belt, who chairs the NNPA committee set up to resolve the matter, said: "Chairman Cloves Campbell has asked me to take any and all necessary steps to recover nearly a half million dollars that we have spent defending ourselves against baseless allegations. The court's judgment was issued a year ago and we will aggressively try to make sure that another year doesn't pass without the judge's order being fully enforced."
While commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Great March for Jobs and Freedom, a watershed moment in black history, some of the African-American community's most prominent and influential leaders said there is still much work to be done.
"There has been important progress in the last 50 years, including a decrease in poverty, increases in high school graduation rates and enrollment rates," said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, headquartered in New York.
"But, the disparity between black Americans and white Americans when it comes to jobs, income, health care and wealth remains too large," said Morial, 55.
Several organizations, including representatives from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), gathered on Capitol Hill on April 11, along with members of the Urban League for the release of the annual "State of Black America" report, which highlighted the economic forecast for African Americans.
Although the report is presented annually, this year, the Urban League commissioned a half-century study to commemorate the 1963 March on Washington.
"The unemployment rate is double for blacks than for whites, we've lost more homes to foreclosure than whites and we've lost more wealth than whites," said CBC Chair Marcia Fudge. "That is the state of Black America," said Fudge, 60.
The report credits civil rights measures enacted to open the doors of opportunity for blacks in education and standards of living. It noted that the high school completion gap has closed 57 percentage points and that there are more than triple the number of blacks enrolled in college than there were in 1963.
Further, the percentage of blacks living in poverty has declined 23 points and the percentage of black children living in poverty is down by 22 points since 1963.
However, over the past 50 years, the black-white income gap has only closed by 7 points and unemployment has narrowed by just 6 points.
"It is without contradiction that African Americans have made extraordinary progress in the report," said Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa. "But, compared to the majority, we still have some room to grow," said Fattah, 56, who has sponsored an Urban Jobs bill in the House which he hopes will lead to better employment opportunities for blacks.
As the budget debate continues in Washington on whether to cut critical program funding, the "State of Black America 2013" highlights a harsh reality, Morial said.
"Budget cutting fever will cause economic pneumonia. If we are to move toward a lasting economic recovery and full equality and empowerment, we must apply sustainable solutions keenly focusing on jobs for all Americans and closing the gaps that result in a tale of two Americas," he said.
Fudge, (D-Ohio), said it also important to concentrate on a global marketplace, specifically that which is linked to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.
"Workers in STEM earn on average 26 percent more than their non-STEM counterparts. Moreover, job openings in STEM occupations outnumber unemployed workers by nearly 2 to 1," Fudge said.
However, the congresswoman noted that the nation is put at a disadvantage by failing to provide a strong STEM education for as many students as possible. Fudge has introduced legislation she said will help ensure access to STEM for urban minority youth.
"This measure expands community based programs that increase exposure to hands-on science activities. Numerous evaluations found that quality STEM after-school programs such as those conducted by the Urban League, increase the likelihood of graduation and pursuit of a STEM career," she said.
President Barack Obama is continuing to monitor the explosions that took place April 15 at the Boston Marathon which left two people dead and more than 100 injured.
According to a White House statement, the president has "directed the full resources of the federal government to help state and local authorities protect our people, increase security around the United States as necessary, and investigate what happened."
Said Obama:
"We still do not know who did this or why. And people shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have all the facts. But make no mistake -- we will get to the bottom of this. And we will find out who did this; we'll find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice.
"Boston is a tough and resilient town. So are its people. I'm supremely confident that Bostonians will pull together, take care of each other, and move forward as one proud city. And as they do, the American people will be with them every single step of the way.
"You should anticipate that as we get more information, our teams will provide you briefings. We're still in the investigation stage at this point. But I just want to reiterate we will find out who did this and we will hold them accountable."
BOSTON — A series of explosions was reported near the finish line at the Boston Marathon on Monday, leaving two people dead and at least two dozen injured, according to the Boston Police Department.
The explosions from two bombs went off more than four hours after the start of the men's race, which meant that there were still several thousand runners yet to finish the race.
A third explosion was heard just before 4 p.m., about an hour after the first two blasts. The police were apparently aware of that device before the explosion occurred.
The blasts took place about four hours after the start of the men's race, which meant that there were still several thousand runners yet to finish the race. One senior counterterrorism official said it was too soon to tell whether the explosions were related to terrorism.
The Boston Marathon is one of running's most storied events, established in 1897 and one of the six World Marathon Majors. The event typically attracts an estimated 500,000 spectators and requires certain qualifying times for runners to compete.
(Source: The New York Times)
Toyota Unveils the 2013 Avalon
Toyota recently unveiled their 2013 Avalon at a press junket in Cincinnati. The event not only provided the media in attendance with a look at the newly designed vehicle, but also an inside look at the company that makes it and their strong commitment to diversity.
Billed a luxury car without the luxury price tag, the Avalon is sure to be a favorite among the African-American consumer market. Members of the press recently got the chance to drive the impressive vehicle and see it being made at the Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (TMMK) Plant.
The plant sits on 1,300 acres and employs about 6,600 people with a payroll of about $492 million. In addition to the Avalon, the plant produces the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid and
"Great cars do not happen without great people," said James S. Colon, vice president-Toyota Product Communications. He added that Toyota has a diversity strategy that works and that 30 percent of the workforce consists of people of color.
Colon is responsible for gathering and managing information and promotion initiatives for Toyota brand vehicles in addition to product and sales training. He began his career in 1980 and he has held various roles at Toyota regional offices and at TMS headquarters in Torrance, California, that include general manager for the Portland Region and the Chicago Region. He was also vice president of sales and dealer development for the Lexus Division. Most recently, he served as vice president for sales for the Toyota Division where he was responsible for sales support for Toyota's regional offices, public companies and private distributors.
Another great person of Toyota is Wilbert W. (Wil) James Jr., president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing. When he gave an overview of the facility, he talked with great pride. "We are proud of the way we do business, " James said.
When asked aboyut how diversity ha worked at his facility, James said he believes that everyone is an integral part of the team and makes that known to everyone. "That is the Toyota Way," he said, adding that Toyota has been avid in establishing programs where employees can help people in the community.
The company has received numerous awards in the area of diversity that include:
• "Top 50 Company for Diversity" by DiversityInc for six years. In 2012, in addition to the being included in the list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity overall, Toyota also ranked seventh in DiversityInc's Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees.
• "40 Best Companies for Diversity" by Black Enterprise Magazine for the past seven years.
• Hispanic Business Magazine's "Top 60 Company for Diversity" for the past three years.
• 2011 "Corporation of the Year" by the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC).
• Proud member of the "Billion Dollar Roundtable," recognizing more than $1 billion in annual spending with certified ethnic and women-owned suppliers.
Written by Yvonne Coleman Bach, Special to The Informer from Louisville Defender
Robin Kelly, a Democrat from Matteson, Ill., has been sworn into office as her state's new congressional representative. She replaces her beleaguered predecessor, Jesse Jackson Jr., who was forced to resign earlier this year amid an investigation into how he spent campaign funds.
In her first remarks Thursday on the floor of the House of Representatives, Kelly, 56, said that although children should be protected from gun-wielding criminals, 2nd Amendment rights should be preserved.
"We can do both," she said in reference to the ongoing gun debate.
Kelly, 56, won a special election on April 9 to replace Jackson ,47, who was once a political ally.
He currently awaits sentencing in June for using thousands of campaign dollars for personal expenses. His wife, former Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson, awaits sentencing on a related income-tax violation.
(Source: The Chicago Tribune)
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