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Issue: 174

March 9, 2006

Cover Story

“Bright Lines” for Black America, Poverty – Peace – Prisons

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

There is nothing clearer than the need for “bright lines” to guide and delineate Black political conduct in America. The cumulative processes of corporate consolidation and concerted efforts to co-opt some Black leadership, while creating phony “alternative” African American leaderships answerable to the corporate class, have created a crisis that almost precludes Blacks from recreating…

There is nothing clearer than the need for "bright lines" to guide and delineate Black political conduct in America. The cumulative processes of corporate consolidation and…

Continue reading 9 min

Commentary

The Voice of BC Paid Subscribers

By Nancy Littlefield Staffer

Personal fortunes only go so far, and Peter Gamble’s has gone as far as it can go. He used it to fund the start up of BlackCommentator.com. After all, on the list of truly worthy causes, BlackCommentator.com ranks high. Nonetheless, when Glen Ford and Peter began BC over four years ago, both knew that at…

Personal fortunes only go so far, and Peter Gamble's has gone as far as it can go. He used it to fund the start up of…

Continue reading 7 min

Commentary

Freedom Rider, Subject: Drug Money Wins Olympics

By Margaret Kimberley Guest Commentator

In the recent winter Olympics, American Julia Mancuso won a skiing gold medal in the women’s giant slalom. Before winning the gold, Mancuso was best known for bragging about her family’s criminal past: “My grandfather had his family in Chicago, and his dad was working for the mafia; he was a rum runner. I don’t…

In the recent winter Olympics, American Julia Mancuso won a skiing gold medal in the women's giant slalom. Before winning the gold, Mancuso was best known…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

Bruce’s Beat

By Bruce Dixon Editor

Last week’s BC Guest Commentator Leutisha Stills hit a nerve with her contribution, “Why Is Tavis Smiling? And Why Are We Still Watching?” It seems that many engaged and astute BC readers were asking themselves the same questions as Ms. Stills. A fellow worthy of his name, rapper Wise Intelligent has some of the answers.…

Last week's BC Guest Commentator Leutisha Stills hit a nerve with her contribution, "Why Is Tavis Smiling? And Why Are We Still Watching?" It seems that…

Continue reading 6 min

Commentary

Radio BC: Is T.D. Jake’s Deal Going Sour?

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

The Black mega-preacher T.D. Jakes is perturbed, feeling let down by President Bush, by Bush’s father, the former President, and former President Bill Clinton. Bishop Jakes and other clergy had been promised that $20 million in privately-raised Katrina aid would be distributed through their faith-based institutions. George W. Bush himself chose Jakes as a co-chairman…

The Black mega-preacher T.D. Jakes is perturbed, feeling let down by President Bush, by Bush's father, the former President, and former President Bill Clinton. Bishop Jakes…

Continue reading 3 min

Art: Cool Jazz

Art

Art: Cool Jazz

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

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Commentary

The CBC Monitor Report: Sorry, Heritage, I’m Not For Sale

By Leutisha L. Stills Guest Commentator

The far-right Heritage Foundation apparently believes that intra-Black arguments provide fertile field for recruitment of African Americans to their profoundly reactionary ranks. A representative of the Heritage Foundation, who we shall not name, was deluded enough to contact Leutisha Stills, one of the prime movers in The CBC Monitor, in hopes of recruiting her. As…

The far-right Heritage Foundation apparently believes that intra-Black arguments provide fertile field for recruitment of African Americans to their profoundly reactionary ranks. A representative of the…

Continue reading 5 min

Guest Commentary

Nike: Borrowing From The Dope Man’s Playbook

By Reynard N. Blake, Jr Guest Commentator

Nike continues its assault on the black community. Like a drug dealer, Nike promotes its products in as many places as possible; like the drug dealers’ wardrobe and their “bling,” Nike is shiny, even seductive in its presentation. Nike’s latest affront comes via another Michael Jordan commercial. In the commercial, young kids, primarily black are…

Nike continues its assault on the black community. Like a drug dealer, Nike promotes its products in as many places as possible; like the drug dealers'…

Continue reading 10 min

Guest Commentary

Chitlin’ Jobs: Black Folks Get Diminishing Scraps

By Meizhu Lui Guest Commentator

Slaves got the animal parts that their masters thought were unfit for whitefolks to eat. Pig intestines, it turned out, became an African American delicacy: chitlin’s. They also got the jobs unfit for white folks. Even after slavery ended, they have gotten jobs only after whites have had the first pickin’s. Unfortunately, there is no…

Slaves got the animal parts that their masters thought were unfit for whitefolks to eat. Pig intestines, it turned out, became an African American delicacy: chitlin’s.…

Continue reading 6 min

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