-
All the President's Young People
In a phone call with college journalists on Monday, President Obama began attempting to galvanize youth voters, many of whom supported him in 2008 but seem unlikely to rally around the Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections. “Back in 2008, a lot of young people got involved in my campaign because they … generally felt…
-
How Homophobia Is Hurting the Black Community
In the lead-up to the NAACP’s One Nation Working Together March on Oct. 2, when 30 LGBT partner organizations will march alongside the NAACP, racial-justice organization the Applied Research Center has released a new study proving that both parties benefit when racial-justice and LGBT-justice groups combine. That coalition building works is no surprise, but what…
-
Enough of That Old South Nostalgia!
Students and alumni of that venerable Southern institution Ole Miss are currently reeling at the news that the university has decided to replace its controversial mascot, Colonel Reb, a white-bearded Confederate Army officer, with an as-yet-undetermined new one — a horse, perhaps. To many, abandoning the controversial colonel, who hasn’t been the school’s official mascot…
-
Is There a Place for Republicans in the Congressional Black Caucus?
Back in June, 32 black Republicans were running for Congress. Three months and dozens of primaries later, that number has dwindled to just 13 people, only a handful of whom — three, according to New York Times statistician Nate Silver — actually have a strong chance of winning come November: Allen West of Florida, Ryan…
-
Obama's Tepid Response to Widespread U.S. Poverty
Hot on the heels of just-released statistics about America’s staggering poverty problem, President Obama released a tepid statement attempting to hype health-care reform and his infrastructure plan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 14.3 percent of Americans are now living in poverty, the most since 1994. For blacks, that rate is 25.8 percent, almost three…
-
-
What's a 'Tea Party Candidate'?
Now that anti-masturbation crusader Christine O’Donnell has defeated opponent Mike Castle in the Delaware Republican Senate Primary, and Carl Paladino has dispatched Rick Lazio, thus earning the GOP nomination for governor of New York, it appears that the most popular headline today is “Tea Party Candidates Defeat GOP.” Before we get to November, I’ve just…
-
The Root Interview: Rep. Barbara Lee on Race in America
As chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Barbara Lee, who represents northern California’s 9th District, leads one of the nation’s most prominent African-American instruments for social change. On Monday she released a memo in which she encouraged America and the media to revamp how they discuss race and racism, and called the phrase “national…
-
Shocker: Dems Against Obama's Tax Plan Represent the Wealthy
According to Hotline, 11 House Democrats say they’ll work to block President Obama’s plan to let the Bush tax cuts expire for the wealthiest Americans. Looking into most of these congresspeople’s districts, one gets a hint as to why they might be so intent on breaking with their party: they represent rich people. The average…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
