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Home Issue: 128

Issue: 128

March 3, 2005

Cover Story

No Real Labor ‘Reform’ Without Blacks

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

Far from ameliorating the crisis afflicting what’s left of organized labor in the United States, a number of “reforms” proposed by some of the nation’s largest unions appear as attempted rollbacks of historic gains won by Blacks, Latinos and women unionists a decade ago. Simply put, the vast changes in AFL-CIO structures demanded by the…

Far from ameliorating the crisis afflicting what’s left of organized labor in the United States, a number of “reforms” proposed by some of the nation’s largest…

Continue reading 10 min

Commentary

Freedom Rider: Don’t Bomb Canada

By Margaret Kimberley Guest Commentator

Canada is affectionately referred to as “our neighbor to the north.” Millions of American school children, and a fair number of adults, are even under the misapprehension that it is in fact one of the fifty states. The two countries share the longest undefended border on earth and Americans don’t have to produce a visa…

Canada is affectionately referred to as “our neighbor to the north.” Millions of American school children, and a fair number of adults, are even under the…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

Think Piece: Purchased Pulpits and Spiritual Exploitations

By Jasmyne Cannick Columnist

” I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves…” – Harriet Tubman Recently, a group of Black pastors under the name of the Hi Impact Coalition, held a press conference and summit in Los Angeles to announce the kick off for their “Black Contract…

" I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves..." – Harriet Tubman Recently, a group…

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Commentary

The Harsh but Doable Economics of the American City

By Marcellus Andrews

Large American cities are in a difficult economic bind, a bind that is especially tough on poor and working class Americans, who are disproportionately black and Latino. The most pressing problem for poor and working class Americans is that American cities are important nodes in a hyper-competitive global economy where highly educated, high income workers…

Large American cities are in a difficult economic bind, a bind that is especially tough on poor and working class Americans, who are disproportionately black and…

Continue reading 13 min

Commentary

Haitian Police Open Fire on Nonviolent March for Democracy

By Bill Quigley Columnist

Bill Quigley, a professor at Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, is in Haiti on a visit as a volunteer attorney with the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti. Port-au-Prince, February 28 – One year ago today, the elected government of Haiti, led by President Jean Bertrand Aristide, was forced out of office…

Bill Quigley, a professor at Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, is in Haiti on a visit as a volunteer attorney with the Institute for…

Continue reading 4 min

Commentary

Political Rape Rampant in Haiti

By Lyn Duff

It was the middle of the night when masked men armed with semi-automatic assault rifles burst into the Cap Haitian home of 14-year-old Marjory, the oldest daughter of a local trade unionist. The men were members of the disbanded Haitian military who reformed into the armed gangs who overthrew democratically-elected president Jean Bertrand Aristide one…

It was the middle of the night when masked men armed with semi-automatic assault rifles burst into the Cap Haitian home of 14-year-old Marjory, the oldest…

Continue reading 7 min

Commentary

Reparations for the Blues

By Don Santina

“I said I’m sitting here watching matchbox hole in my clothes.” – Opening verse of Beatles’ “Matchbox” In 1964 the Beatles took America by storm on the basis of some catchy original songs and a scattering of ‘50s rock ’n roll retreads like “Matchbox.” In quick succession they were followed by bands like the Rolling…

“I said I’m sitting here watching matchbox hole in my clothes.” – Opening verse of Beatles’ “Matchbox” In 1964 the Beatles took America by storm on…

Continue reading 9 min

Commentary

Thirty-One States and DC Take Action on Minimum Wage

By David Swanson Guest Commentator

This article originally appeared in ILCA Online, a publication of the International Labor Communications Association. If George W. Bush finishes a second term and avoids adjusting the federal minimum wage, we will have completed an 11-year record stretch without any adjustment. The previous record of nine years was brought to us by Ronald Reagan. The…

This article originally appeared in ILCA Online, a publication of the International Labor Communications Association. If George W. Bush finishes a second term and avoids adjusting…

Continue reading 6 min

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