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Al Sharpton defends Melissa Harris Perry from Cornel West's 'arrogant' and 'disingenuous' attacks
February 8, 2012 - In a recent interview with Diverse magazine, Professor Cornel West attacked his former Princeton colleague and newly minted MSNBC host Professor Melissa Harris-Perry.
West called Harris-Perry a "liar" and said that, "[s]he's become the momentary darling of liberals, but I pray for her because she's in over her head. She's a fake and a fraud. I was so surprised how treacherous the sister was." Read more at thegrio.com.
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Comedian In Blackface Asks BYU Students About Black History
February 8, 2012 - A comedian in blackface decided to ask students at the Mormon college, Brigham Young University in Utah about what they knew about Black History Month.
Students claimed that Tupac and 50 Cent were Black historical figures and one student claimed that he celebrated Black History Month by “eating fried chicken and drinking grape juice.” Read more at newsone.com.
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NABJ Reacts to CNN's Action on Roland Martin
February 9, 2012 - The National Association of Black Journalists reacted in a measured way late Wednesday night to CNN's decision to suspend Roland Martin's presence on its news broadcasts following complaints that remarks he made via his Twitter feed on Super Bowl Sunday were homophobic. "This is a teachable moment for all journalists," said the statement, released in the name of NABJ President Gregory H. Lee Jr. "We are reminded that what we communicate in print and broadcast -- and now through social media -- has considerable power. NABJ does not support any commentary in any medium that is insensitive or offensive. Read more at theroot.com.
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Parents: Pa. high school team taunted with slurs
February 8, 2012 - Athletic tensions between two Pittsburgh-area high schools — one largely white, the other predominantly black — have boiled over into accusations of racism that some say is being swept under the rug.
Two students at Brentwood High School are accused of dressing in banana suits at a game and, along with other students, taunting players at Monessen High, according to Monessen parents and a school administrator. Read more at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
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How toxic is Black hair care?
February 8, 2012 - “Take the kinks out of your mind,” intoned Marcus Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), “instead of out of your hair.”
As founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, Mr. Garvey refused advertisements for products to lighten the skin and straighten the hair of African Americans in The Negro World, the UNIA’s newspaper. That was “back in the day”—between 1918 and 1933—when the paper had a circulation estimated at close to 200,000 per week. Read more at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
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Designers lend their glamour to Obama campaign
February 8, 2012 - Can President Barack Obama’s campaign recapture the glamour quotient of four years ago?
Yes it can, says actress Scarlett Johansson — even if it’s one designer tote bag at a time. Read more at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
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USGA honors African-American sports icons
February 8, 2012 -The United States Golf Association is honoring the accomplishments in the game of golf of three transcendent African-American athletes – Jackie Robinson, Joe Louis and Althea Gibson – with a special exhibit at the USGA Museum. Opening Feb. 17, 2012, and running through the end of July, “American Champions and Barrier Breakers” celebrates the lives, athletic achievements and important legacies of these American icons to the game of golf. Read more at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
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First Lady Michelle Obama to embark on three day national tour celebrating the second anniversary of Let's Move!
February 9th – 11th, First Lady to make stops in Des Moines, Iowa; Little Rock, Arkansas; Fort Worth, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Homestead, Florida; Longwood, Florida & Orlando, Florida
On February 9, 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off a three day, nation-wide tour celebrating the second anniversary of Let’s Move!, her initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Since launching Let’s Move! on February 9, 2010, significant progress has been made to solve the problem of childhood obesity. Parents, businesses, educators, elected officials, members of the military, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders and kids themselves have made substantial commitments to improve the health of our nation’s children. Read more at whitehouse.gov.
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Port of Tampa's petroleum facility to get $45 million expansion
February 9. 2012 - While at the Governor's Luncheon at the Florida State Fair on Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott announced plans to enlarge and update the existing Port of Tampa petroleum facility.
Calling it a partnership between the Port of Tampa and the State of Florida, Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation to invest $22.5 million in the new facility. Read more at abcactionnews.com.
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Congressman Urges President Obama To Recognize Slaves Who Built White House
February 9, 2012 - Congress two years ago acknowledged the work of slaves in building the United States Capitol, and a lawmaker Thursday argued that it is time for President Barack Obama to do the same at the White House.
Slaves were recognized on the Hill with plaques in the new visitor center's Emancipation Hall and outside the galleries to the Senate and House chambers following a study by a congressional task force led by civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). Read more at huffingtonpost.com.
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Civil rights leader Patricia Stephens Due dies at 72
February 7, 2012 - Civil rights leader Dr. Patricia Stephens Due died Tuesday at age 72, nearly 52 years after she played a leading role in student sit-ins in Tallahassee, Florida, her family said.
Due's death followed "a determined and courageous fight against cancer," her family said. Read more at cnn.com.
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CNN Suspends Roland Martin For 'Offensive' Super Bowl Tweets
February 8, 2012 - CNN announced Wednesday that it is suspending Roland Martin in the wake of the pundit's controversial Super Bowl tweets.
The Washington Post's Erik Wemple posted this statement from the network: “Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive. Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. Read more at huffingtonpost.com.
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2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee Volunteer Program Launch
The 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee Wants YOU To Be the Face of Tampa Bay!
The 2012 Tampa Bay Host Committee is excited to announce the launch of their official volunteer program for the Republican National Convention. Click here for more about the volunteer program.
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The case for renewing the extra tax for Pinellas schools
February 8, 2012 - Beth Rawlins, chairs the Citizens for Pinellas Schools political action committee, which has led the charge for the property tax referendum, offered her arguments for renewing the tax in remarks to the school board on Tuesday. Here is her statement in full (h/t to Ron Matus):
My name is Beth Rawlins and I am Chair of Citizens for Pinellas Schools.
In 2004 I came before you and asked you to put the idea of a locally funded school tax before the voters. I asked you to give the people of Pinellas County the opportunity to fund programs they supported. Read more at saintpetersblog.com.
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Love Her! Mrs. Obama Beats Fallon In Fitness Challenge
February 8, 2012 - Michelle Obama and “Late Night” host Jimmy Fallon turned the White House into a playground to promote the first lady’s “Let’s Move!” fitness campaign.
Mrs. Obama and Fallon did pushups and twirled hula hoops. They competed at dodge ball and tug-of-war. And the first lady triumphed over the comedian in a climactic potato sack race. Read more at newsone.com.
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Cornel West Calls Melissa Harris-Perry A “Fraud”
February 8, 2012 - In a recent article in Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Professor Cornel West “went HAM” on Tulane University Professor Melissa Harris-Perry.
In what might be his strongest public comments yet, West referred to Harris-Perry as a “fake” and a “fraud” for allowing herself to be used by the liberal establishment to shoot down his critiques over our nation’s decision to overlook racial inequality and poverty. Read more at newsone.com.
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Many With Only High School Degree Laid Off During Weak Recovery
January 7, 2012 - For many in the United States, the two years since the end of the recession have been worse than the downturn itself.
Among those Americans with only a high school degree who have lost a job since 2007, a third became unemployed after the official end of the recession, according to The Washington Post. Read more at huffingtonpost.com.
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NeNe Leakes’ Son Hospitalized After Bar Fight
February 6, 2012 - NeNe Leakes oldest son Bryson Bryant was hospitalized after an altercation at an Atlanta area night club last weekend. Brice got into a fight after arguing with one of the patrons about a girl at a bar outside Atlanta. Bryson suffered a serious beat down, that caused him to be hospitalized with a shattered jaw and multiple broken bones in his face. Read more at hellobeautiful.com.
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Air Marshals Speak of Sexism, Suicide, Bigotry within Community
Managers at the Federal Air Marshal Service regularly made fun of blacks, Latinos and gays, took taxpayer-paid trips to visit families and vacation spots, and acted like a "bunch of school kid punks," current and former air marshals tell ABC News.
One supervisor was even photographed in 2006 asleep on a flight, carrying a loaded pistol, the air marshals said. Read more at kgoam810.com.
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When Black Stories Are Written By White People
February 7, 2012 - The movie, “The Help,” has been nominated for four Academy Awards. The musical, “Porgy and Bess,” has gotten raves for star Audra McDonald on Broadway. And the HBO television series, “The Wire,” has been cited by television critics as one of the greatest series ever made.
But all three have raised objections in the African American community, which may have to do with the fact that they were created by white people. Read more at wbur.org.
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