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Home Issue: 168

Issue: 168

January 26, 2006

Cover Story

Black Convention Tackles Economic Issues

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

Back in 1972, it was “Nation Time!” in Gary, Indiana, at the historic convening of the National Black Political Assembly. In 2006, it’s time for another mass political gathering, “to bring together the collective wisdom, creativity and resources in our community to map out a bold economic agenda that can unite us and be a…

Back in 1972, it was "Nation Time!" in Gary, Indiana, at the historic convening of the National Black Political Assembly. In 2006, it's time for another…

Continue reading 6 min

Commentary

Freedom Rider: Hillary Clinton’s Plantation

By Margaret Kimberley Guest Commentator

Criticizing the Bush administration in a black church on Martin Luther King Day is an easy way to get applause. The crowd is in the palm of the speaker’s hand, eager to be inspired and filled with righteous indignation. New York’s junior Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton, found herself in just such a situation. She had…

Criticizing the Bush administration in a black church on Martin Luther King Day is an easy way to get applause. The crowd is in the palm…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

Radio BC: One Setback for Wal-Mart, One Small Step for Mankind

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

The battle against Wal-Mart saw a significant victory in Maryland, one that hopefully can be replicated and expanded upon in other states. The Democrat-controlled legislature overrode the Republican governor’s veto of a bill that would force Wal-Mart to invest 8 percent of its labor costs in health insurance for its employees. Of the four companies…

The battle against Wal-Mart saw a significant victory in Maryland, one that hopefully can be replicated and expanded upon in other states. The Democrat-controlled legislature overrode…

Continue reading 3 min

Commentary

Bruce’s Beat

By Bruce Dixon Editor

By some time in the late 1950s, before I was ten years old and without knowing what most of the words meant, I had memorized my child’s version of Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat” song along with a couple others on his Calypso album. As many times as I heard those songs, I am certain my…

By some time in the late 1950s, before I was ten years old and without knowing what most of the words meant, I had memorized my…

Continue reading 10 min

Commentary

Segregated Schools: Shame of The City

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

This article originally appeared in the Gotham Gazette. Stuyvesant High School is one of the most vivid symbols of the consequences of decades of systematic racism in the United States. Black and Hispanic children make up about 72 percent of the citywide enrollment in the New York City public schools. At Stuyvesant – the most…

This article originally appeared in the Gotham Gazette. Stuyvesant High School is one of the most vivid symbols of the consequences of decades of systematic racism…

Continue reading 8 min

Guest Commentary

The GOP’s Black Voter Suppression Strategy

By Dr. G. Derek Musgrove Guest Commentator

During the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebration at the Kennedy Center, President George W. Bush reiterated his call to Congress to reauthorize those sections of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire in August 2007. This is, of course, no idle gesture. The President should be applauded for his stand, and Congress…

During the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday celebration at the Kennedy Center, President George W. Bush reiterated his call to Congress to reauthorize those sections of…

Continue reading 7 min

Commentary

Think Piece: Memo to Big Oil Companies – Africa’s Oil Belongs to Africans

By Mark P. Fancher Guest Commentator

In Obioku, Nigeria, as a matter of routine, the children collect muddy water from puddles, and take it to their mothers to use for cooking. It is likely that many of the children of this impoverished community have no real appreciation for the extent of the oil wealth that sits beneath their feet. Royal Dutch…

In Obioku, Nigeria, as a matter of routine, the children collect muddy water from puddles, and take it to their mothers to use for cooking. It…

Continue reading 6 min

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