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Home Issue: 163

Issue: 163

December 15, 2005

Cover Story

2005: The Year of Living Dangerously for Black Folks

By Glen Ford and Peter Gamble Publishers

The year 2005 will go down as a disaster for Black America. Our most vaunted institution, the Congressional Black Caucus, collapsed as an effective body for our collective political vision. Thirty-seven percent of “our” representatives, in the spring of 2005, crossed the “bright lines” that had always dictated Black elected political behavior, to vote with…

The year 2005 will go down as a disaster for Black America. Our most vaunted institution, the Congressional Black Caucus, collapsed as an effective body for…

Continue reading 3 min

Commentary

Ode to Richard Pryor

By Dr. Edward Rhymes, PhD Guest Commentator

“As long as the colored man look to white folks to put a crown on what he say…. as long as he looks to white people for approval… then he ain’t never gonna find out who he is and what he’s about” – August Wilson Jr. If Helen of Troy is “the face that launched…

"As long as the colored man look to white folks to put a crown on what he say.... as long as he looks to white people…

Continue reading 6 min

Commentary

Freedom Rider: Condi, Torture and Christmas

By Margaret Kimberley Guest Commentator

After a short drive, I was dragged out of the car, pushed roughly into a building, thrown to the floor, and kicked and beaten on the head, the soles of my feet, and the small of my back. I was left in a small, dirty, cold concrete cell. – Khaled El-Masri describing detention in CIA…

After a short drive, I was dragged out of the car, pushed roughly into a building, thrown to the floor, and kicked and beaten on the…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

Radio BC: The War Parties, Both of Them

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

There is a dreadful disconnect between the American conversation on Iraq, and the opinions of Iraqis and most people in the world. We know that more than 80 percent of Iraqis want the U.S. troops to get out of their country. This figure is so high, it reflects a consensus among all three major groups:…

There is a dreadful disconnect between the American conversation on Iraq, and the opinions of Iraqis and most people in the world. We know that more…

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Commentary

Bruce’s Beat

By Bruce Dixon Editor

The BC readers who take the time to write us sustain the dialogue essential to the maintenance of community, and we are always grateful for their contributions. Few questions vex our readership more than those revolving around the question of black leadership. Who elects or selects them? How do we evaluate their performance and ours?…

The BC readers who take the time to write us sustain the dialogue essential to the maintenance of community, and we are always grateful for their…

Continue reading 22 min

Commentary

The Harlem Project: The Weapon That Ended the War

By Jonathan David Farley, D.Phil Columnist

The following is a transcript of a tape sent anonymously to the Washington Post, ostensibly from a meeting of high-level US government officials that took place in the resort town of Vonn’s Eye, Pennsylvania. Its authenticity has not been confirmed. VOICE: …to introduce to you my good friend and a great American, Ike [inaudible]. [APPLAUSE]…

The following is a transcript of a tape sent anonymously to the Washington Post, ostensibly from a meeting of high-level US government officials that took place…

Continue reading 9 min

Commentary

Think Piece: Ole Massa Learns the True Meaning of Christmas

By Brooks Berndt

Once upon a time, there was an especially cruel and evil slave master in the land of Texas who came to learn the true meaning of Christmas. For many years, Ole Massa had been known among the slaves for his cold heart. Even around Christmas time as the hearts of others grew in warmth, Ole…

Once upon a time, there was an especially cruel and evil slave master in the land of Texas who came to learn the true meaning of…

Continue reading 10 min

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