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Home Issue: 209

Issue: 209

December 7, 2006

Cover Story

Race-Ing Justice, Disenfranchising Lives

By Dr. Manning Marable, PhD Editorial Board

The following was a Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture delivered at Fayetteville State University [University of North Carolina – Fayetteville], November 14, 2006. The racialized criminal justice system of America, with its two million prisoners, with four million others who are either on probation, parole or awaiting trial today, represents the greatest political and moral challenge to…

The following was a Chancellor’s Distinguished Lecture delivered at Fayetteville State University [University of North Carolina – Fayetteville], November 14, 2006. The racialized criminal justice system…

Continue reading 18 min

Commentary

Single-Payer Healthcare – Part 2 – Health Care Is A Birthright

By Ajamu K. Sankofa, Esq

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane.” -Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King recognized that institutional racism is endemic in the national health care system of the United States and that it is the most egregious form of racial discrimination in the land. This shocking and…

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." -Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King recognized that institutional racism…

Continue reading 12 min

Commentary

I Want To Be Black, Please

By Molly Secours Guest Commentator

Nearly 50 years ago, the legendary comedian Groucho Marx puffed on a cigar while raising his eyebrows and joking “I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member” and the world laughed at the absurdity (and irony) of his declaration. Just as absurd, but not as amusing, is insisting that you…

Nearly 50 years ago, the legendary comedian Groucho Marx puffed on a cigar while raising his eyebrows and joking “I refuse to join any club that…

Continue reading 7 min

Commentary

How America Made Niggas: Revisited – (Hopefully For The Last Time)

By Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad, PhD Columnist

Not since in any year that I can remember, even more than 1995 at the O.J. Simpson Trial, after Mark Fuhrman’s “N-word” denial – even more than the commercial release of Richard Pryor’s 1974 comedy album, That Nigger’s Crazy, has so much “Nigger” talk been part of the public conversation (behind closed doors is another…

Not since in any year that I can remember, even more than 1995 at the O.J. Simpson Trial, after Mark Fuhrman’s “N-word” denial - even more…

Continue reading 8 min

Commentary

Get Ready For Kwanzaa 2006

By Dr. Conrad W. Worrill, PhD Columnist

In the wake of the rising African Centered Movement in America, it is important that every segment of the African Community in America begin preparing for the Kwanzaa Season. It is estimated that more than 30 million Africans in America participate in some sort of Kwanzaa activity or event. In order for this occurrence to…

In the wake of the rising African Centered Movement in America, it is important that every segment of the African Community in America begin preparing for…

Continue reading 4 min

Guest Commentary

Stopping the N Word Starts With Blacks

By Jasmyne Cannick Columnist

Black leaders are calling on the entertainment industry to stop using the “N” word, a move in theory that I support wholeheartedly. Do I think that the entertainment industry gives a damn? Absolutely not, but it makes for great news clips and if one didn’t know any better they’d think we were really doing something…

Black leaders are calling on the entertainment industry to stop using the “N” word, a move in theory that I support wholeheartedly. Do I think that…

Continue reading 4 min

Guest Commentary

The Bride Wore Black

By Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor Guest Commentator

Sean Bell was murdered and his two friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, were maimed by New York City cops minutes after the trio finished celebrating Bell’s marriage the next day. The three were set up by undercover cops who were looking for trouble in a bar in Queens; they were trapped in their car…

Sean Bell was murdered and his two friends, Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, were maimed by New York City cops minutes after the trio finished celebrating…

Continue reading 11 min

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