Breaking News
Bishop Eddie Long's New Birth Christian Academy Closes
December 28, 2011 - More than 200 Georgia students are in search of a new school following the announcement of New Birth Christian Academy closing its doors after 18 years of establishment.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the school's founder, Bishop Eddie Long, notified parents via a December 22 letter signed by the board's vice-chairman, Carlton Donald stating that funding and low enrollment "are the main issues" for the school's "temporarily closing." Read more at huffingtonpost.com.
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Toss the tinsel, but not the tree
Recycle your Christmas tree so it can be processed into useful mulch. Remember to remove all decorations, including hooks, garland, tinsel and lights. Keep the tree loose, not in a bag or trash can. If you live in an apartment or condo, place your tree near the dumpster, without blocking access to it. Click here for more info on Pinellas County Christmas Tree recycling.
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Who Actually Celebrates Kwanzaa?
December 16, 2011 - A lone Christmas tree on a makeshift pedestal stands prominently in the center of Howard University's main quadrangle, which is uncharacteristically empty during the first week of December. Students rush by to make it to their exams on time, with the tree serving as a reminder of the holiday traditions that await them after their last final. But for one Howard student, this evergreen emblem doesn't represent the true essence of the holiday spirit. Read more at theroot.com.
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The Disappearing Black News Professional
December 23, 2011 - I was deeply saddened by the recent departure of Steven Gray from Time magazine. He is an extremely sharp young journalist with great promise in the profession, qualities that ensure a bright future for him.
My lament is not over Gray but about the fact that he leaves a deep void at the popular newsweekly magazine: At the moment, it does not have a single black correspondent in its vast newsroom, as media columnist Richard Prince reports. Read more at theroot.com.
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Book Shows Black History in Stunning Breadth
December 27, 2011 - The Root's editor-in-chief, Henry Louis Gates Jr., curates the complex story of African-American history in his new book, Life Upon These Shores: Looking at African American History 1513-2008.
Touching on everything from 16th-century conquistadors to 21st-century politicians and musicians, Gates chronicles the massive impact that African Americans have had on U.S. history and culture. Read more at theroot.com.
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Trump: I'd Do Great With Black Voters
December 22, 2011 - You remember when Donald Trump said "the blacks" loved him, right? Well, evidently he still hasn't let that idea go, despite his racialized attacks on Obama's intelligence and citizenship that rubbed so many African Americans the wrong way. Oh, and those pesky little conservative policy positions that just about everyone agrees would be bad news for the black community if the Apprentice host ended up in the White House. Read more at theroot.com.
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Why Are People So Sure Tyler Perry Is Gay?
December 21, 2011 - In a piece for Madamenoir on Wednesday, Charing Bell takes on people who insist that they "just know" about the actor and filmmaker's sexual orientation, despite reports that he is engaged to a (female) Ethiopian model and all other evidence to the contrary. It shouldn't matter, but clearly, to many people, it does. Read more at theroot.com.
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Statement by the President and First Lady on Kwanzaa
December 26, 2011 - Michelle and I send our warmest wishes to all those celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season. Today marks the beginning of the week-long celebration honoring African American heritage and culture through the seven principles of Kwanzaa — unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Read more at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
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Urban League head disappointed in campaig
December 25, 2011 - The head of the Urban League said Sunday that Washington will have to face up to issue of the income gap in the coming elections.
Urban League President Marc Morial said the recession had hit African-Americans particularly hard and changes in the unemployment rate did not address the problem of downward mobility in wages. Read more at upi.com.
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Nigerians fear more church attacks after 39 killed
December 26, 2011 - At a Nigerian Catholic church where a terror attack killed 35 people on Christmas, women tried to clean the sanctuary ahead of Mass on Monday while one man wept uncontrollably amid the debris.
Outside St. Theresa Catholic Church, crowds gathered among the burned-out cars in the dirt parking lot, angry over the attack claimed by a radical Muslim sect and fearful that the group will target more churches. Read more at blackpoliticsontheweb.com.
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Florida’s Ex-Felons Fight For Civil Rights Restoration Under Gov. Scott
December 26, 2011 - Vikki Hankins is one of the most positive, forward-thinking individuals you will ever meet. She has a great sense of humor and an unbelievable determination to succeed.
She is well spoken and full of spirit. She also has a degree and a fledgling publishing business.
All of which is quite remarkable considering what she has been through.
But there are some things that Vikki Hankins can’t do. The State of Florida – under Gov. Rick Scott – won’t allow it. She can’t vote, sit on a jury or hold public office. She also can be denied certain state licenses. Read more at sunshineslate.com.
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Urban Culinary Cuisine Receives 2011 Best of Tampa Award
Urban Culinary Cuisine has been selected for the 2011 Best of Tampa Award in the Restaurants category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. Read more at uscaaward.com.
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Brutal Incidents Shine Light On Band Hazing Culture
The death of Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion, Jr. continues to reverberate at schools nationwide. His death exposed a hazing culture unfamiliar to many, but band directors and school administrators have been dealing with the problem for many years. Listen to radio segment at npr.org.
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Air Jordans, Marketing and Lost Minds
December 23, 2011 - The scenes were reminiscent of the worst Black Friday incidents: Shoppers lining up for hours and breaking through doors. Folks suffering injuries from being trampled or punched. Police resorting to pepper spray to subdue unruly crowds.
Except this wasn't Black Friday. It was an Air Jordans-release Friday, and it prompted an outbreak of madness, mayhem and melees across the country. Read more at theroot.com.
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Sears And Kmart To Close More Than 100 Stores
December 27, 2011 - Sears Holdings Corp. plans to close between 100 and 120 Sears and Kmart stores after poor sales during the holidays, the most crucial time of year for retailers.
The closings are the latest and most visible in a long series of moves to try to fix a retailer that has struggled with falling sales and shabby stores. Read more at newsone.com.
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Merger Fails, but Blacks Win
December 27, 2011 - In the early '60s, phone companies like Ma Bell used operators (all of whom were white in the South) to connect our calls. These operators, under the employment of the phone corporations, were reportedly often working with local police or the White Citizens' Council and were known to block calls or report civil rights organizers' activities to those working against the civil rights movement. Read more at theroot.com.
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Gingrich Fails to Qualify for Virginia Primary Ballot
December 26, 2011 - GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich's campaign setbacks continue in his home state of Virginia, of all places.
The former House speaker made a last-ditch effort but failed to submit the 10,000 signatures necessary for a spot on the state's March 6 primary ballot. Read more at theroot.com.
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Celebrating the Black Beauty On White Women
December 23, 2011 - Everybody likes a winner. Which is the only way I can really explain the success of the Kardashians. They won the genetic lottery by being born relatively attractive while being the scion of a wealthy and prominent Los Angeles attorney. Bonus points for living in a country that has no royal family, so all sorts of kind of rich people have a shot at being “de facto” royalty of various classes. (Like the Kennedys, for you folks who don’t know who the Kennedys are, would be the Kardashian Family of Politics. Ugh. Sorry, I think I might have vomited a bit just after typing that.) Read more at clutch.com.
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Fresh Prince's Aunt Viv calls Will Smith an a**hole
December 27, 2011 - The woman who played the original Aunt Viv on "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" says there's a damn good reason she wasn't at a recent reunion dinner with the rest of the Banks family -- she HATES Will Smith.
15 years after the show went off the air ... Janet Hubert tells TMZ she's still upset with the way she was fired from the show ... and blames the whole thing on Smith himself. Read more at tmz.com.
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Black World War Two Veteran Given Medal For Heroism
December 26, 2011 - A black Navy veteran credited with saving the lives of some of his shipmates during a World War II battle will be getting a long-awaited medal for his heroism, a Northern California congresswoman said.
Carl Clark, 95, will be awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with the Combat Distinguished Device on Jan. 17, U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo announced Thursday. Read more at newsone.com.
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