Headlines: More Sad Stats on Black America, AIDS

U.S. Blacks, If a Nation, Would Rank High on AIDS
The advocacy group Black AIDS Institute released a report, saying that if black America was its own country, it would be number 16 on the list of countries with the highest amount of people living with AIDS. 600,000 African Americans currently have AIDS, and as many as 30,000 are being infected each year.

AIDS-Related Deaths Decline 10% in 2007
The United Nations says the number of new AIDS infections, as well as the number of deaths has dropped significantly over the last year. There were 2.7 million new HIV cases in 2007, which is down from the 3 million in 2001. The UN has attributed this trend to increasing AIDS awareness, prevention tactics, and access to treatment.

McCain Charge Against Obama Lacks Evidence
John McCain has launched a renewed attempt to discredit Barack Obama's trip through Europe and the Middle East. McCain alleges Obama canceled a visit to a military hospital because he could not take reporters with him. Critics of the ad claim that there is "no evidence that the charge is true."

Continue reading "Headlines: More Sad Stats on Black America, AIDS" »

Blake Bishton

6:23 PM ET | 07-30-2008 | permalink

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Making Marriage and Money Work

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For an upcoming economics segment with Dr. Julianne Malveaux, we're going to focus on how to best handle your finances in a marriage.

Should you and your spouse have separate accounts? How much do you put in? How do you handle the bills? What about creating trusts and wills? What about beneficiaries (especially if there is an ex involved)? And what are the financial legalities of living together, before and after marriage?

Tell us how you make it work. Or, if you have a question you want to ask on the air, leave us a comment -- with an accurate e-mail address, which will not be made public -- and we'll get back to you.

Geoffrey Bennett

4:24 PM ET | 07-30-2008 | permalink

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Ludacris Blasts Clinton, McCain in Pro-Obama Song

Rapper Ludacris, who owns a spot on Obama's Ipod, has released a new song called, "'Politics: Obama Is Here."

As you might imagine, controversy is already a-brewing.

Here are some highlights:

Hillary hated on you, so that b^$&%* is irrelevant

Paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified

McCain don't belong in ANY chair unless he's paralyzed
Yeah I said it cause Bush is mentally handicapped

Take a listen:

Obama's camp condemned the song earlier today:

"As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn't want his daughters or any children exposed to," said spokesman Bill Burton. "This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics."

Geoffrey Bennett

4:02 PM ET | 07-30-2008 | permalink

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U.S. Lawmakers Apologize for Slavery

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Tuesday marked the first time the federal government has ever offered up a formal apology for the "fundamental injustice, cruelty, brutality, and inhumanity" of the legal slave trade and segregation of African Americans.

The man who introduced the resolution in 2007, Congressman Steve Cohen, lauded the event:

"This is a historic moment in the ongoing struggle for civil rights in this country, and I hope that this legislation can serve to open the dialogue on race and equality for all," he said in a statement.

"Apologies are not empty gestures, but are a necessary first step towards any sort of reconciliation between people," said Cohen, who represents the area of Memphis, Tennessee.

Click here to read the full transcript of Rep. Cohen's formal resolution.

Cohen won his seat in 2006, after beating the younger brother of former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. He now represents a largely black district and is up for reelection.

What do you think of the apology and of Cohen's motivation for seeing it through?

Geoffrey Gardner

12:06 PM ET | 07-30-2008 | permalink

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Calif. Assembly Speaker Karen Bass On Life, Career

Grassroots activism has made a big difference in the life of Karen Bass. In the 1990s, Bass was a working single mom, trying to get control of her crack-ridden South Los Angeles neighborhood.

She founded a group called the Community Coalition; it propelled her to the California State Assembly in 2005.

Last May, Bass became the first black woman to be named assembly speaker.

She talks with Farai Chideya about her rising profile and her new level of responsibility.

Geoffrey Gardner

7:33 PM ET | 07-29-2008 | permalink

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Anti-Muslim Bias in Presidential Race?

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One of the great things about doing this show is getting to do topics that bounce off the headlines, but go a bit deeper into social issues. Today we tackled politics and Islam.

Today we asked the question: why so many Americans think -- wrongly -- that Senator Barack Obama is Muslim ... and why do they find that idea disturbing? Have the senator and his staff themselves shown an uneasiness with Islam? And what about Senator McCain?

A Pew Center poll recently found that one in ten Americans believe that Obama is a Muslim. The poll numbers we don't have are whether people who think he's a Muslim would vote for him. Last month, two Muslim women in headscarves were barred from sitting behind Obama's podium at a Detroit rally. The campaign apologized.

So, does Senator Obama's refrain that he is a "proud Christian" show uneasiness with being painted as a Muslim? What about Senator McCain, who last year said in an interview that a grounding in the Christian faith is key to the leadership in the White House. "This nation was founded primarily on Christian principles," Senator McCain said, adding that when it comes to electing someone to the White House, "I prefer someone who I know who has a solid grounding in my faith."

To help us explore presidential politics, culture, and Islam, we spoke with Imam Zaid Shakir, a resident scholar at the Zaytuna Institute in Berkeley, California. He converted to Islam while he was in the military. We also talked to Julia Shearson, the director of the Cleveland, Ohio, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Imam Shakir argued that the international threat of terrorism has been unfairly expanded so that all Muslims are seen as suspect. He said:

"With Muslims being identified generally speaking with terrorism ... then Muslims become painted with this broad brush and a lot of stereotypes are generated, and with the incidents of September 11, 2001, I think that trend was accelerated."

Julia Shearson made the case for religious pluralism being a part of politics, saying:

"Muslims are part of the fabric of American life. We all know that there's no religious test for higher office. We know that America was established purposely this way by our founders. We know that there have been Muslims in the Americas since 1320. There were Muslims coming on the ships with Christopher Columbus in 1492. ... Our voice, and our insights, our opinions should be taken into account, particularly at a time when the United States has difficulty understanding the Muslim world."

Now, that may be true, but I have seen (and plan to report on) tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims on the grassroots neighborhood level. In some cases, I'm talking about American-born black folks -- some Muslim, some Christian -- who share a neighborhood, and a race, but religion seems to be a wedge.

Would love to hear from people who live in neighborhoods where this is an issue, and of course, get everyone's views on how they see the issue of Islam and the election playing out.

Farai Chideya

6:16 PM ET | 07-29-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Bush Condones Execution of Military Man

Bush: Former Army Cook's Crimes Warrant Execution
President Bush declined to commute the death sentence of Ronald A. Gray, an Army cook who was convicted of multiple rapes and murders, saying that his crimes warranted execution. This marks the first incident in 51 years where a president called for the death sentence in regards to an individual in the U.S. military.

Ads Putting Candidates Over an Oil Barrel
As voters getting angrier about rising gas prices, the GOP is bracing itself for an onslaught of ads attacking their vast array of oil company connections. Oil companies are beginning to worry about how much power they will have in Congress and the White House after Election Day.

Ex-Newark Mayor Faces 20 Years for Corruption
Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James receives his sentence today for his corruption conviction. Federal prosecutors were seeking up to 20 years, but such a sentence seems unlikely.

Continue reading "Headlines: Bush Condones Execution of Military Man" »

Blake Bishton

2:40 PM ET | 07-29-2008 | permalink

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Share Your Stories of Addiction

Geoffrey Bennett, NPR

In August, we'll kick off a new, month-long series on addiction. We'll hit issues like drugs and alcohol, but we'll also delve into lesser known topics, the physiology of addiction, and interventions.

To that end, we're soliciting your stories. Have you or a friend/family member suffered from or battled back from addiction? If you are open to speaking with us on the air, please leave an accurate e-mail address -- which will not be made public -- and we'll get back to you.

Geoffrey Bennett

1:04 PM ET | 07-29-2008 | permalink

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Oliver Stone's 'W.' Trailer Released Online

Last we checked, this isn't supposed to be a comedy ... but Thandie Newton as Condi Rice (1:10) sure is special.

Geoffrey Bennett

12:05 PM ET | 07-29-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Candidates Split on Affirmative Action

Obama, McCain Split on Affirmative Action
In an interview Sunday, John McCain endorsed a proposed ballot measure to end race and gender-based affirmative action in Arizona. Barack Obama told journalists at the UNITY conference the same day he was "disappointed that John McCain flipped." Obama went on to discuss his vision for a more effective model of affirmative action.

Bombings in Baghdad, Kirkuk kill 57
The relative calm Iraq has enjoyed for years was broken when 57 people were killed in two simultaneous attacks today. 280 people were wounded. The attack in Baghdad by three female suicide bombers was on a group of marching Shiite pilgrims, while in Kirkuk a Kurdish demonstration was targeted.

Campaigns Turn Attention to Florida's Black Voters
Both presidential candidates are expected to address audiences at the National Urban League convention this week in Orlando. Outreach efforts to Florida, largely targeting African-American voters, are becoming a high priority for both campaigns.

Continue reading "Headlines: Candidates Split on Affirmative Action" »

Ashley Lystne

5:11 PM ET | 07-28-2008 | permalink

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Obama Meets and Greets with Minority Journalists

Returning from his trip abroad, Senator Barack Obama made time on Sunday to speak with journalists of color at the UNITY Convention in Chicago.

In the following 17-minute video of the event, Obama shares his thoughts on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, European relations, and a host of domestic issues.

The latest Gallup poll suggests Obama's international jaunt did, in fact, help him -- at least temporarily. Weigh in with your thoughts by leaving us a comment below.

Geoffrey Gardner

4:50 PM ET | 07-28-2008 | permalink

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To Whom Does Harlem Belong?

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Harlem, New York -- home to a famed cultural renaissance ... and an age-old debate over gentrification, some of which played out on today's show.

Tony Cox explored both sides of the issue, in conversations with the so-called "Queen of Harlem Real Estate," Willie Suggs, and Nellie Hester Bailey, executive director of the Harlem Tenants Council -- a non-profit, social justice organization.

Suggs explained newcomers' migration to Harlem this way: "Nobody that I know wants to live in a slum. If you can bring crime down and eliminate vacant buildings, people will simply feel safer and want to move there," said Suggs.

But Hester Bailey added this cautionary note: "I am not one of those community activists who see development as all bad. ... But people who have stayed there [in Harlem] are being priced out, pushed out and harassed out by landlords who want to see a maximum return on their investment."

Though Suggs admitted the "face [of Harlem] is changing," she says "the culture is not going anywhere," adding, "the culture is even more vibrant because we have people now that have money to contribute to [cultural organizations]."

What do you think? Have you seen gentrification play out where you live? If so, tell us about it.

Geoffrey Bennett

1:22 PM ET | 07-28-2008 | permalink

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Chorus of Voices Needed to Drown Out Ignorance

Areva D. Martin has this week's installment of "Speak Your Mind." Her op-ed titled, "It Takes a Chorus of Diverse Voices to Drown Out Ignorance," is focused on the recent incendiary comments of radio host Michael Savage.

Martin is an attorney based in Los Angeles.

On Wednesday, July 16th, AM radio talk show host Michael Savage, whose weekly show, Savage Nation, reaches an audience of eight million Americans via 350 stations across the country, attacked minority children and their families for falsely claiming to have asthma so that they can get "the extra welfare ...and ...extra help in school."

He called their ploy "...a money racket." Savage punctuated his commentary with fake coughing to demonstrate how easily the crafty minority children fool school nurses.

Michael Savage

So far, the reaction from the mainstream media has been overwhelmingly consistent -- rampant apathy.

This is in stark contrast to events in 2007, when less than eight days transpired between radio shock jock Don Imus' equally racist comments about Rutgers University's female college basketball team and his official firing from CBS Radio.

In the week and a day that lapsed between the initial "nappy headed hos" incident and Imus' termination, a number of prominent journalists and community leaders called for Imus to step down. Their voices were joined by outraged basketball fans, advertisers who pulled their support of Imus' show, and thousands of everyday Americans who rallied to the cause.

The cascade of Imus protests that eventually pulled the shock jock into the vortex demonstrated the power of an outraged coalition of diverse voices -- a diversity noticeably absent from l'affaire du Savage.

Continue reading "Chorus of Voices Needed to Drown Out Ignorance " »

Geoffrey Bennett

7:05 PM ET | 07-25-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Pillay Appointed UN Human Rights Chief

Leaving the Bench to Stand Up
Navanethem Pillay, the first woman of color to be appointed to the South African High Court, faces new challenges now that she has been named the UN's new chief of human rights. Despite criticism that she is not qualified for the position, she says she is used to it, citing that she was not allowed to sign a contract without her husbands consent for years even though she has a law degree. "The first time I entered a judge's chambers was when I entered my own."

House Passes Broader Plan to Fights AIDS
The House approved a bill Thursday to finance a five-year, $48 billion plan to fight AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. The legislation will provide funds to AIDS-devastated nations in sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, and other areas worldwide. The bill also puts an end to American policy that disallows people who are HIV-positive to get U.S. visas.

Obstacles Linger for Obama
Despite the monumental coverage Obama has received abroad, he is struggling to turn this coverage into a substantial lead over John McCain, who is using the opportunity to make Obama look elitist and arrogant. "I'd love to give a speech in Germany ... but I'd much prefer to do it as president of the United States, rather than as a candidate for the office of presidency."

Continue reading "Headlines: Pillay Appointed UN Human Rights Chief" »

Blake Bishton

6:36 PM ET | 07-25-2008 | permalink

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Sick Joke? Cops in Hot Water Over Doll's Head

Dozens of angry citizens and community leaders turned out to Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem on Thursday to protest two white cops who drove around with a black baby doll's head attached to their antenna. The cops claim they didn't know the doll's head was there - which means, in the least, they aren't especially attentive officers. According to BET News:

State Senator Bill Perkins, who reported the incident to police earlier in the week, was outraged that police officials suggested someone likely had stuck the head there as a prank. "That is what you call a classic case of blaming the victim," said Perkins. "A classic case of being dismissive about an offense that would in other circumstances warrant the dismissal of a police officer."

He said that residents told him they tried to capture the offensive object, but a plainclothes officer emerged from the car and took it down.

"They approached the car and asked why they had a Black baby doll head on the top of their car. The guys laughed it off and disposed of it inside their trunk," said witness Desiree Murray. "Then after that, that's when all the commotion came about. You know, the community was very upset, because we do have to live here."

FOX News was on the scene and interviewed several local residents for their reaction.

As always, we love to hear your opinion. Please feel free to leave a comment below.

Geoffrey Gardner

12:49 PM ET | 07-25-2008 | permalink

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What Did You Think Of CNN's 'Black In America'?

CNN's Black in America was a ratings success. And now that it's over, the reviews are rolling in ...

Here's a sampling:

* "The documentary's failing is that it provided little historical context for what it showed."

* "Man, I miss Ed Bradley. Now HE would have put together a heck of a series on Black people and not just rehashed and reheated the panels from Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Folk's Union, presented by Exxon Mobil, McDonald's and Rudy Ray's Rib Shack and Waffles."

* Overall, the series does a bang-up job of demonstrating so much that is troubling about the "state of blacks in America." But it does little to provide underlying context.

Farai spoke with CNN's Soledad O'Brien on Monday. She explains the motivation behind the docu-series and how it came together.

Flashback: CNN Airs 'Black in America'; Will You Watch?

Geoffrey Bennett

12:19 PM ET | 07-25-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Obama Delivers Speech In Germany

Obama in Berlin
Barack Obama spoke to an estimated crowd of 200,000 in Berlin, Germany today. According to the polls, 72 percent of Germans favor him, with 11 percent supporting John McCain. Click here to read the transcript of his speech.

Sudanese Leader Mounts Charm Offensive
Facing charges of genocide, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir stopped in El Fasher, Darfur, to visit peacekeeper headquarters, discuss his plans for building new schools, and reach out to rebel groups. Al-Bashir's charm offensive seems to be an attempt at showing some good will, in hopes that the UN will intervene in the case.

Fearsome Zimbabwe Militias are Also Afraid
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe has managed to keep his ZANU-PF party in control with the use of his youth militia known as the "Green Bombers." Zimbabwe citizens are terrified by them, but recent interviews of Green Bomber members reveal that they are just as afraid as their fellow citizens.

Continue reading "Headlines: Obama Delivers Speech In Germany" »

Blake Bishton

5:28 PM ET | 07-24-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: CNN Trains Its Lens on Race

CNN Trains Its Lens on Race
In a year that marks both the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Barack Obama's rise to become the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, CNN set out to explore how black people are feeling, thinking and doing. The effort has been spun into a pair of two-hour documentaries: "The Black Woman and Family," which airs tonight, and "The Black Man," set to broadcast tomorrow.

Strengthened Storm Rakes Texas Coast
The first bands of Hurricane Dolly raked south Texas and northern Mexico this morning with a deluge of rain and high winds. On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry declared 14 counties in South Texas disaster areas in anticipation of flooding and mobilized 1,200 national guardsmen. Three shelters were set up in San Antonio to take in refugees should there be a massive flood.

Envy's in the Air Over Obama and the Press
In response to the overwhelming press coverage Obama has received during his trip through the middle east, McCain has launched a new retaliation campaign against him, accusing the media of being 'in love' with the Illinois Senator. Watch the video here.

Continue reading "Headlines: CNN Trains Its Lens on Race" »

Ashley Lystne

6:17 PM ET | 07-23-2008 | permalink

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112-Year-Old Artist Draws on Life Experience

Calloway's drawings could be worth thousands of dollars.

Black Voices

Frank Calloway isn't your normal, everyday art sensation. For starters, he was born in 1896. That makes him more than a decade older than John McCain's mother, Roberta. The 112-year-old diagnosed schizophrenic spends seven to nine hours per day drawing colorful 30 foot murals of the rural South that he remembers from his childhood.

"I couldn't get time to go to school much, stopped in the third grade reader, that's all I could get, third grade reader," Calloway said in a recent interview. "A school teacher put me to drawing a long time ago, drawing pictures."

But aside from the occasional drawing, his talent lay dormant until he took an art class in the 1980s and began to draw again, which has continued to this day.

Calloway still has a full head of closely cropped white hair, gets around on his own and goes on excursions and restaurant outings organized by the nursing home, Moncrief-Craig said.

"Most people see his age. You know, what I see is his ability, the beauty that he actually puts on paper, that comes out of him and his mind," she said.

Artist Frank Calloway hard at work on one of his murals.

Black Voices

Frank's art has created quite a stir outside of his nursing home in Alabama. Appraisers have told Mr. Calloway and his guardians that the murals could be worth thousands of dollars. The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore will borrow 18 scrolls from Frank for an exhibit in October called "The Marriage of Art, Science and Philosophy."

Plans are for Calloway to attend the opening of the Baltimore show. It will be his first trip on an airplane and likely the first time he's left Alabama. Hutto said she looks forward to sharing his work with a wider audience.

"His art overcomes boundaries. People may say, 'Well, he's a folk artist. I don't like folk art.' But if you ever meet him, there is such life in what he creates, and you can't look at one of his paintings without seeing that smile, without seeing that gentle man."

For more on Frank's amazing story, head on over to Black Voices.

Geoffrey Gardner

12:12 PM ET | 07-23-2008 | permalink

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Article on Black Womanhood Goes Big

A friend of mine sent me a link recently to a Washington Post article called "Black. Female. Accomplished. Attacked." by Sophia Nelson. It's gotten over 1,300 comments on the Washington Post blog. It reads in part:

Recently, a friend who's a married professional mother of three girls wrote to me: "I think one of the most interesting things about Michelle Obama is that what she and her husband are doing is pretty revolutionary these days -- and I don't mean running for president. For a black man and woman in the U.S. to be happily married, with children, and working as partners to build a life -- let alone a life of service to others -- all while rearing their children together is downright revolutionary.

That's a bittersweet assertion ... I personally don't think black love is as endangered as headlines make things out to be. But I was at a birthday dinner this weekend with four great single black women in their thirties and I thought: Hmm, someone needs to start a new old-fashioned matchmaking service ... not the snooty kind ... not the anonymous kind. It would make a ton of money.

But how would you approach bridging the gap between smart black folks, who have seen a little too much disappointment, to form partnerships without a struggle?

Farai Chideya

7:58 PM ET | 07-22-2008 | permalink

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'Vanity Fair' Takes On Obama 'New Yorker' Cover

Vanity Fair

So ... what do you think?

Related: Vanity Fair Covers The New Yorker

Geoffrey Bennett

3:01 PM ET | 07-22-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Obama Gets Backing on Iraq Plan

Obama's Views Resonate in Iraq
As Barack Obama nears the end of his trip through Iraq, the effects of his presence there are already being felt at home and abroad. Despite John McCain's repeated insistence that setting a date for withdrawal from Iraq is dangerous, Iraqi government official Ali Dabbagh seemed to be supportive of Obama's stance.

Mugabe, Foe Shake Hands, Will Hold Talks
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change Morgan Tsvangirai shook hands in Harare along with Arthur Mutambara -- leader of a breakaway faction within the MDC. The three leaders have agreed to discuss working towards an "inclusive government."

Anti-Obama Movie Campaign Starts
The conservative research organization Citizens United plans to debut their new film in September. The movie is called Hype: The Obama Effect. Their recent press release describes it as "a full-length, feature documentary that goes beyond the media adulation surrounding Barack Obama's meteoric and unexamined rise to the national spotlight."

Continue reading "Headlines: Obama Gets Backing on Iraq Plan" »

Blake Bishton

2:24 PM ET | 07-22-2008 | permalink

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Poll Finds Obama Isn't Closing Divide on Race

Supporters reach out to shake hands with Barack Obama in Bristow, Virginia.

Mandel Ngan, Getty Images

Later this week on News & Notes, we'll take a closer look at the recent New York Times/CBS News poll on race and this election cycle.

The Times' analysis begins:

"Americans are sharply divided by race heading into the first election in which an African-American will be a major-party presidential nominee, with blacks and whites holding vastly different views of Senator Barack Obama, the state of race relations and how black Americans are treated by society."

Among the findings:

-- Nearly 60 percent of black respondents said race relations were generally bad, compared with 34 percent of whites. Four in 10 blacks say that there has been no progress in recent years in eliminating racial discrimination; fewer than 2 in 10 whites say the same thing.

-- Black voters were far more likely than whites to say that Mr. Obama cares about the needs and problems of people like them, and more likely to describe him as patriotic. Whites were more likely than blacks to say that Mr. Obama says what he thinks people want to hear, rather than what he truly believes.

-- Among black voters, who are overwhelmingly Democrats, Mr. Obama draws support from 89 percent, compared with 2 percent for Mr. McCain. Among whites, Mr. Obama has 37 percent of the vote, compared with 46 percent for Mr. McCain.

And as political analyst James L. Taylor wrote for us in our Political Positions column:

"There is nothing novel about the responses in this poll as they relate to how different groups see race progress. Black Americans have been perennially skeptical of group to group relations, no matter how individual African Americans might excel in society."

What do you think of the poll and its findings? If you have a question you'd like us to consider on-air -- or if you want to help us frame this conversation in a new way -- leave us a comment.

Geoffrey Bennett

1:39 PM ET | 07-22-2008 | permalink

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Media Coverage Skewed In Obama's Favor?

John McCain talks to reporters in front of his bus, the Straight Talk Express, in February 2008.

Don Emmert, AFP/Getty Images

On today's show, Farai spoke with NPR senior Washington editor Ron Elving and media analyst Andrew Tyndall about the enormous media coverage surrounding presidential candidate Barack Obama compared to that of rival John McCain.

For example -- reporters are swarming the Obama campaign as he continues his fact-finding travel abroad. In contrast, only one reporter and one photographer met John McCain's plane last night, as it landed in New Hampshire.

Do you see a disparity? If so, to what do you attribute it?

Geoffrey Bennett

1:20 PM ET | 07-22-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Obama Agrees to Late Unity Appearance

Obama Agrees to Late Unity Appearance
Senator Barack Obama plans to address the UNITY convention on Sunday, July 27, after he returns from his trip to Europe and the Middle East, in lieu of the promised "presidential candidates forum" with Senator John McCain. The organization said it still hoped John McCain would change his schedule and appear.

Zimbabwe Rivals Sign Agreement
Zimbabwe's feuding political leaders, President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, met for the first time in years today, in a ceremony overseen by South African president Thabo Mbeki. The two signed a preliminary agreement laying out the terms for negotiations to wrest the nation out of political chaos.

Marion Jones Asks Bush to Commute 6-Month Sentence
Disgraced Olympic track star Marion Jones has asked President Bush to commute her prison sentence for lying to federal agents about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and a check-fraud scam. Jones entered prison March 7, after being sentenced in January to six months in prison.

Continue reading "Headlines: Obama Agrees to Late Unity Appearance" »

Ashley Lystne

6:12 PM ET | 07-21-2008 | permalink

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Dr. Dre's Mom Tells Of 'Long Road Outta Compton'

You may not know who Verna Griffin is. But you probably know her son -- rapper and music producer, Andre "Dr. Dre" Young.

She talks with Farai Chideya about her new memoir, Long Road Outta Compton, which details her turbulent childhood, failed marriages and her son's rise to fame.

You can listen to the entire interview here.

Geoffrey Gardner

2:56 PM ET | 07-21-2008 | permalink

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Is 'Black Hole' A Racist Term?

A Dallas County official says terms like "black hole," "angel food cake," and "devil's food cake" are racist terms.

A meeting of county commissioners turned tense when someone used the term "black hole" in the presence of Commissioner John Wiley Price.

Watch this video clip of the back and forth and share your thoughts. Is Price going too far?

Geoffrey Bennett

1:23 PM ET | 07-21-2008 | permalink

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CNN Airs 'Black in America'; Will You Watch?

CNN.com

On today's show, Farai spoke with CNN's Soledad O'Brien about the network's "landmark multimedia event," Black In America.

The series kicked off in April with a retrospective on the King assassination and picks up this Wednesday and Thursday (9 PM ET) with special reports on black men and women.

In a previous comment, reader Jon J. wrote, "You can bet CNN's little series will be fluff." Do you agree? What are you expecting from this series? And will you watch?

Geoffrey Bennett

12:16 PM ET | 07-21-2008 | permalink

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Denver to Hide Homeless During DNC Gathering?

When Barack Obama and thousands of other Democratic party bigwigs descend upon Denver next month for their convention, a key constituency might be missing -- the city's homeless population.

The Rocky Mountain News has the report:

Hundreds of Denver's homeless could be cooling their heels in a movie theater or museum while the Democratic National Convention is in town next month.

The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless plans to get 500 movie tickets as well as passes to the Denver Zoo, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and other cultural facilities for the people it helps.

Bus tickets will be provided for events beyond walking distance, said John Parvensky, the non-profit's president.

Many day shelters will have expanded hours during the convention, and big screen TVs are being donated to some shelters so patrons can watch convention goings-on without being caught up in the mayhem.

... But not everyone buys it.

"It just sounds like another way to get rid of them," said Kayne Coy, 17, who volunteers feeding the homeless twice a week at Civic Center Park through the Food Not Bombs organization.

Read the rest, and take our poll:

Geoffrey Bennett

11:45 AM ET | 07-21-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Obama, McCain Abandon UNITY

UNITY Presidential Candidates Forum All but Dead
Promises of a presidential candidates forum next Thursday at the UNITY: Journalists of Color convention in Chicago have been a major drawing card, but it is now clear that both senators have other plans. On July 24, John McCain is to be in Columbus, Ohio, for a town hall meeting on cancer, while Barack Obama is to hold talks in Berlin, Germany, as part of his European tour.

A New Rights Chief for United Nations
On Thursday, United Nations officials announced that Judge Navanethem Pillay of South Africa will be named as the UN's new human rights commissioner. Born in 1941, Pillay experienced many human rights violations firsthand while growing up, and was the first woman of color on South Africa's High Court. She was also a part of the Rwanda war crimes tribunal.

Governing in Black and White
As November nears, voters are beginning to weigh how each candidate will affect race relations if elected. A recent New York Times poll said that "about half of black voters said race relations would improve in an Obama administration, compared with 29 percent of whites. About 40 percent of blacks said that Mr. McCain, if elected president, would favor whites over blacks should he win the election."

Continue reading "Headlines: Obama, McCain Abandon UNITY" »

Blake Bishton

6:52 PM ET | 07-18-2008 | permalink

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Chante Moore: P. Diddy Stole My Hit Song for J.Lo

With hits like "Chante's Got A Man," "Straight Up," and "Love's Taken Over," singer Chante Moore -- who has been on the R&B scene for over a decade -- could have had another: "If You Had My Love," as performed by Jennifer Lopez. (Moore's is called "If I Gave Love.")

Moore sat down with NPR's Tony Cox and explained how P. Diddy laid claim to a song she recorded, and had producer Rodney Jerkins write a similar version for Lopez.

The two also talk about the ups and downs of Moore's career, the trials of her teenage years, and her first solo album in eight years. It's titled, Love the Woman.

Take a look:

(We reached out to reps for both Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and Jennifer Lopez for comments. Neither responded by press time. We'll update as necessary.)

Geoffrey Bennett

11:36 AM ET | 07-18-2008 | permalink

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Super Bowl Champ Tells of Troubles & Triumphs

New York Giants star receiver (and ESPY Award winner) David Tyree visited the NPR West studios this week, and sat down for an interview with our very own Tony Cox.

The pair spoke at length about his miracle Super Bowl catch, but also delved into the more serious subject of Tyree's past -- which includes an arrest for selling marijuana -- and his subsequent spiritual rebirth, which has carried him all the way to the top.

You can listen to the entire interview here.

Geoffrey Gardner

5:33 PM ET | 07-17-2008 | permalink

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James L. Taylor: Voting for Barack Obama

"Casting a vote for Obama is the cheapest way to fundamentally change the way Black Americans see America," says James Lance Taylor.

In this week's installment of Political Positions, Taylor offers an essay titled, Voting for Barack Obama: Is It the Polls or Poles?

Taylor is associate professor of politics at the University of San Francisco and president-elect of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists.

When W.E.B. Du Bois wrote Souls of Black Folk just over a century ago, he discussed frustration with how others seemed to look at him, and blacks in general, as if to ask, "How does it feel to be a problem?"

The success of the Obama campaign seems to be stirring a renewed sense of confidence among segments of the larger African-American population. I cannot say for sure how widespread it is, whether it is mere anecdote or just a superficial impression, but many Americans of African descent seem especially locked into the implications of an Obama candidacy for their social standing in America.

Barack Obama addresses a crowd at a January 2008 campaign rally in Hanover, New Hampshire.

Michal Czerwonka, AFP/Getty Images

Long ago, Alex de Tocqueville argued, that if democracy were ever to be real in America, it would be through the improved social and equality statuses of blacks in the country; their status, then understood in terms of the whole group, would be the best evidence of the democratic capacities of the American social and political system.

The newest CBS/New York Times poll suggests that African Americans are enthusiastic over the Obama candidacy and campaign, but still pessimistic about the broad state of race relations between the major groups, namely blacks and Caucasian Americans.

Ironically, whites are more optimistic about the state of race relations and levels of racial discrimination than blacks. But three of ten are far more skeptical about Barack Obama and his potential presidency.

By a full three percentage points (91 to 88 percent), white respondents said that they would vote for a black candidate more than did black respondents. When compared to white voters, by one percentage point (six to five percent) blacks said that they would not vote for a black candidate. But they overwhelmingly support Obama. What gives?

It should be remembered that black American men and women were initially more enthusiastic about the Bill and Hillary Clinton campaign than the Obama campaign. Black women, by more than 10 percentage points, supported Hillary Clinton over Obama, who nevertheless had the support of three out of four black women.

Once Obama passed the "electability" test in Iowa, African Americans -- across categories of gender, age, region, class, and ideology -- became more open to the possibility of what, in the 217 years of the Office of the American President, was believed impossible in the lifetimes of most living Americans.

But we stand less than four months away potentially from one of the most important moments in, not just American, but Western World history; for only in Cuba (Batista is alleged to have had African ancestry) and Mexico, have men of African descent governed a non-African, Caribbean, or Haitian country in the modern world.

Continue reading "James L. Taylor: Voting for Barack Obama" »

Geoffrey Bennett

5:32 PM ET | 07-17-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Gene Variation May Raise Risk of HIV

Gene Variation May Raise Risk of HIV., Study Finds
A genetic variation that once protected people in sub-Saharan Africa from malaria may have left them more vulnerable to infection by HIV. A 25-year study tracing infections revealed that African Americans who carried the variation were 50 percent more likely to acquire HIV than African Americans who did not. More than 90 percent of people in Africa carry this variation, as do about 60 percent of African-Americans.

Obama and McCain Expand Courtship of Hispanics
Latino voters have complained in the past that politicians view them as a one-issue bloc, concerned only about immigration. But Obama and McCain are taking care to avoid that trap, emphasizing a number of issues important to the community, and investing in campaign tactics never before afforded to Hispanic voters.

Warrant for Sudanese President Is Talk of Security Council
In a closed session Wednesday, the UN Security Council began its first discussion on Sudan since prosecutors at the International Criminal Court requested an arrest warrant for Sudan's president. Russia and China voiced concerns about the possibility that the Council could intervene to forestall the prosecution.

Continue reading "Headlines: Gene Variation May Raise Risk of HIV" »

Ashley Lystne

2:58 PM ET | 07-17-2008 | permalink

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Jesse Jackson Uses N-Word on Fox News Tape

Barack Obama photographed with Jesse Jackson in Chicago in January 2007.

Jeff Haynes, AFP/Getty Images

Consider this part two of last week's Jesse Jackson "hot mic" controversy.

The news industry blog TV Newser is reporting that Jackson uses the "N-word" on tape, though not specifically in regard to Barack Obama:

TVNewser has been sent the transcript of what Jesse Jackson said Sunday morning July 6, as he prepared for an interview on Fox & Friends Weekend. Below is the partial transcript we received in our tips box, and confirmed to be authentic by Fox News Channel representatives.

Jackson: "Barack...he's talking down to black people ... telling n----s how to behave."

So, yes. Jesse Jackson did use the "N" word. But it was not directed at Barack Obama. Fox News and Bill O'Reilly have maintained there was more on the tape, but that the un-aired portion was not relevant to the issue at hand: about whether Obama was "talking down" to the black community.

Bill O'Reilly confirmed the report on Fox News earlier today. Share your thoughts below.

UPDATE: Sharpton 'Very Disappointed' With Jesse Jackson

Geoffrey Bennett

5:44 PM ET | 07-16-2008 | permalink

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Basketball Team Visits Africa Seeking Enlightenment

Players visited many different parts of Africa.

SMU Basketball

What can a college basketball team from Texas learn from a 12-day journey through and around Africa? Apparently, lots. In what's easily described as the coolest field trip ever, the SMU men's basketball team traveled across the continent to play and teach the game they love.

Along for the adventure were three locals - SMU players Bamba Fall, Papa Dia and Mouhammad Faye, all from Senegal. While promoting their sport, the Mustangs also sought to better understand their teammates, and themselves.

"It was very eye-opening," says sophomore guard Mike Walker. "You get to know the guys on the team and everything, but to be able to see where they come from and why they act the way they act... is very enlightening."

"What they have to go through just to play the game on an everyday basis just makes you think twice and appreciate what you have a lot more, a lot more," says Walker, who grew up Iowa City, Iowa.

It wasn't just the culture-shocked American players who felt they gained something extraordinary from the trip. The entire team took Africa-centric anthropology classes before and after, and they recorded their thoughts and inspirations by keeping journals along the way.

"I found out I didn't know everything about Africa," Bamba Fall says. "I definitely learned something too."

But what's most important to Fall are the young players from his homeland he hopes to inspire.

"Now they know that without school you can't play basketball," he says, "so I think basketball will help them stay in school."

Check out their official site to learn more about the SMU Mustangs' voyage to Africa.

Geoffrey Gardner

5:14 PM ET | 07-16-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Obama Stands by His Plan to End War

Obama Stands by His Plan to End War
Barack Obama has begun trying to reassure his supporters that he has not softened on his position regarding ending the war in Iraq. "I will give our military a new mission on my first day in office: ending this war." McCain responded by promising to send three more brigades to Iraq in order to "turn around the war."

Israel Releases Prisoners After Hezbollah Returns Dead Soldiers
In a long-awaited prisoner exchange between Israel and the Lebanese militia Hezbollah, two black coffins containing the remains of Israeli soldiers were carried across the border this morning. Israel released five Lebanese prisoners in return, including Samir Kuntar, a convicted murderer who'd been held for nearly three decades.

McCain Praises Obama in NAACP Address
Sen. John McCain spoke at the NAACP convention Wednesday, looking to close a wide divide on race in the polls. He avoided criticizing his rival before the largely pro-Obama audience, praising the Democratic candidate's success. His speech was centered on education, particularly Obama's lack of faith in public school vouchers for low-income Americans.

Continue reading "Headlines: Obama Stands by His Plan to End War" »

Ashley Lystne

2:48 PM ET | 07-16-2008 | permalink

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Random, But True: Richard Simmons Drops By NPR

Weight-loss guru Richard Simmons dropped by NPR West to tape an interview with NPR's Tell Me More.

And, well ... how should I put this ... he pretty much turned the place out ... singing latest hits from Usher and Alicia Keys in full voice and busting out his best cabaret dance moves.

You'll be able to watch it for yourself soon; ten minutes into his impromptu "performance," we thought it fitting to grab a video camera.

Here's a pic of Richard with some of our staff:

Credit: Bettina Wiesenthal-Birch

(From left to right) Farai Chideya, editor Sasa Woodruff, Web guru Geoffrey Gardner, Richard Simmons, yours truly, and executive producer Nicole Childers

Geoffrey Bennett

6:51 PM ET | 07-15-2008 | permalink

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NAACP's New President in Limbo?

Today, we brought you coverage from the NAACP Convention ongoing in Cincinnati, Ohio. Sen. Barack Obama spoke on Monday (which you can see on our blog). NPR's Audie Cornish was there and gave us a debrief on his speech and the crowd's reaction.

Meanwhile, we reported our way into some interesting news. Ben Jealous, who is scheduled to take over as the NAACP's president in September, has been pretty scarce these days, media-wise. We wanted to speak to him. We learned he had not been officially confirmed by an additional vote that was needed. (He'd already gotten the majority, but not unanimous, support of the presidential selection committee.)

And this weekend, the NAACP's spokesman mentioned to us that incoming President Jealous had not signed his contract. He also said that the decision not to be more available was Jealous' choice, as he wrapped up some pending projects.

We spoke on air today with NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, a civil rights icon who has extended his work in many venues, including with this organization. He also sparred with the NAACP's last president, Bruce Gordon, who quit the post over a year ago.

So you have a 99-year-old civil rights organization that has named its youngest ever president (Jealous). They've chosen not to utilize him during their enormous, election-year convention... which features BOTH major party presidential candidates. I asked Chairman Bond if that meant the entire installation of the next president was in jeopardy, and if he, the powerful board chair, was prepared for the organization to have a strong president.

Bond responded:

I'm ready for Ben Jealous to come on board. I think we've only had 17 people in this job [i.e., NAACP president] in the 99 years we've been in existence.... I'm looking forward to Ben Jealous. I think he'll be among the strongest [presidents] we've ever had, and may be the strongest we've ever had.

He also explained some of the votes and contract issues needed to firm up the appointment of Jealous, adding:

I'll be telling you more internal NAACP organizational matters than anyone needs to know. ... The executive committee needs to approve his contract ... and when that's done, it's done.

If you're an NAACP member, what do you make of this? Any further info? And hey, if you're not a member, tell us what you think, too.

Farai Chideya

4:50 PM ET | 07-15-2008 | permalink

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Cartoonist Speaks His Mind on Obama Cover

The response to the New Yorker's cover, depicting as gleeful terrorist fist-bump-ers Senator and Mrs. Obama (or should that be Mrs. Obama, Esq., since she is a lawyer?) has been pretty unbelievable, here on our blog and, well, everywhere else.

Today we spoke on-air with Art Spiegelman, who has both been a critic of The New Yorker and one of their most famous and controversial cover artists.

"The Kiss" was another of Spiegelman's controversial covers

The New Yorker

His 1993 cover called, "The Kiss," showed a Hassidic Jewish man and a black woman kissing. It came after tensions between the two groups spurred intense riots in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. We asked why he chose that image. Here's his response.

Art Spiegelman: "Huh. Well, lets see. Back then the wounds for that particular set of race riots were very raw still, and I felt as I was just entering The New Yorker with a mandate to see how my underground comic sensibility and The New Yorker's rarefied sensibility might meet. I offered this up as a Valentine's Day cover, because there's this thing called irony. You know if you show people who are murdering each other kissing, it makes one think about why they might have been killing each other. It opens some subjects up to discussion that otherwise were just taken as givens. And I think this cover managed to unite that community like nothing else, which they both hated me for."

I also asked if he thought The New Yorker's Obama cover crossed the line of propriety.

Art Spiegelman: "Of propriety? Perhaps, but I think it did so for an urgent and good cause, which is to blow this stupid calumny about Obama away once and for all. It travels as the subtext through all this polite conversation. I just um, as I was looking around today, saw some NBC report that was quoting a Newsweek poll, saying 50 percent of Americans believe that Obama is or was a Muslim and was sworn in on the Koran to a Senate seat and so on. Madness. And it seems to me that showing the fevered image directly will be a possible way of looking at and dissipating that image. I think, as a result, it's a fairly brave thing to do in which The New Yorker is fulfilling its function at its best which is to make people think and talk."

Finally, he had some thoughts on how the blogosphere is manifesting during this controversy.

Art Spiegelman: "You know, I think that what I've been seeing on the blogs which is kind of an impressive thing since there weren't blogs back in 1993 when "The Kiss" cover was there. All I got to see were sheets of angry letters of one kind or another. Here the letters are there before the ink is dry on the printing press, and there's relatively little reflection so one is sorting through this as it is sorting itself out, but what is happening is there is a discussion about something that need to be talked about, and The New Yorker helped that discussion happen. And it's one of the times when I feel 'hats off New Yorker,' they got it right, you know? This is not something that goes away by saying, 'but it's not seemly.'"

Do you agree with his overall assessment of the artistic and social purpose of The New Yorker cover? Do you think that this cover crossed a line the magazine would not have crossed with a white candidate? And why do you think this hit such a nerve?

Farai Chideya

4:50 PM ET | 07-15-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Haitian Immigrant Dies in Detention Center

Group Calls for Inquiry Into Death of Detainee
The Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center is calling for an investigation into the death of Valery Joseph, 23, a disabled Haitian immigrant who arrived in the US as a young boy and died last month while being held at a detention center in South Florida.

Push for Sudan Warrant Gets a Mixed Response
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court filed charges against President Bashir of Sudan. He called Bashir's motives "largely political". He said, "His alibi was counterinsurgency, his intent was genocide." However, many feel that this will only further impede the progress towards peace in Darfur. The U.N. Ambassador to Sudan said, "This would lead to disastrous consequences for the entire region. Without a head of state, with whom are you going to talk?"

Bush Lifts Offshore Drill Ban, Urges Congress to Follow Suit
President Bush, on Monday, officially lifted the ban on offshore drilling that was put in place by his father and re-enforced by Bill Clinton. However, this will not change anything unless Congress withdraws their bans as well. Critics of this move by Bush suggested that instead of drilling for oil that won't have a noticeable affect on the market for years, why not tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Bush refused, claiming that the reserve was put in place in case of a national emergency.

Continue reading "Headlines: Haitian Immigrant Dies in Detention Center" »

Blake Bishton

4:19 PM ET | 07-15-2008 | permalink

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Barack Obama Addresses the NAACP

Last night, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama addressed the 99th annual NAACP convention. He made history, as the first African-American candidate of a major party to speak in front of the nation's oldest civil rights organization.

Today on the show, Farai spoke with NAACP Chairman Julian Bond about Obama's significant speech:

On Wednesday, John McCain is scheduled to speak before the NAACP. What should he say?

Geoffrey Gardner

12:09 PM ET | 07-15-2008 | permalink

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Poll: Race Relations Will (Hopefully) Improve

Do you believe race relations will improve?

iStockPhoto

In the wake of Barack Obama's historic Democratic nomination, a USA Today/Gallup Poll found that most citizens now have raised expectations when it comes to race relations in America.

The survey underscores the unusual stakes in this election even though neither Democrat Obama nor Republican John McCain has sought to cast their contest as a matter of racial politics but rather one of different prescriptions for the nation.

"Much of the Obama campaign has been fueled by hope that if he is successful he could address the most divisive issue in American politics, which is the issue of race," says political scientist Vincent Hutchings of the University of Michigan, but he says blacks and whites have conflicting perspectives on what that means.

Here are a few statistical highlights from the poll:

• * A majority of blacks, whites and Hispanics say Obama's election would make race relations better. Blacks are most optimistic: 23% say it would make relations "a lot better," compared to 13% of whites.
• * A majority of whites and Hispanics and 45% of blacks say Obama's defeat wouldn't affect race relations, but 18% of blacks predict a loss would make race relations "a lot worse;" just 6% of whites agree.
• * By overwhelming margins, those surveyed say Obama's election would open up opportunities for other African Americans in national politics.

What's your opinion on race relations? Do you see them improving under a President Obama administration? Weigh in below!

Geoffrey Gardner

5:49 PM ET | 07-14-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: McCain, Obama to Speak to NAACP

McCain, Obama to Speak to NAACP
Obama and McCain vie for African-American votes this week with appearances at the NAACP Convention in Cincinnati. Obama, scheduled to speak tonight, is expected to talk about how the nation's economy is affecting African Americans. McCain, to speak Wednesday, will focus his remarks around opportunity and education.

A Crisis It Can't Paper Over
As hyperinflation worsens in Zimbabwe, a German corporation refuses to continue providing resources to print money. A 50 billion dollar note in Zimbabwean currency is now worth $1 on the street. As the paper runs out, the Mugabe regime will be unable to pay the militia groups who keep them in power, which in turn could result in a total collapse.

Sudan Leader is Accused of Genocide
The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court formally requested an arrest warrant this morning for Sudan's president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. If the past is any indication, the judges will probably sign the warrant. An answer to the request is expected in the fall.

Continue reading "Headlines: McCain, Obama to Speak to NAACP" »

Ashley Lystne

2:39 PM ET | 07-14-2008 | permalink

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Satirical or Offensive? You Decide

The New Yorker

Related Links:
Huffington Post: Barry Blitt Defends His 'New Yorker' Cover Art
CNN: Obama Campaign Calls 'New Yorker' Cover Offensive

Geoffrey Bennett

11:10 AM ET | 07-14-2008 | permalink

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Reverend Jackson Called Absentee Dad

Relentlessly self-promoting ... I mean hard-working activist Najee Ali has handed the Rev. Jesse Jackson his fatherhood on a platter. Like revenge, it's a dish served cold.

Here's an excerpt of an open letter he released:

Living in Los Angeles I have watched your ten year old daughter Ashley Laverne Jackson grow up. Over the years I have had the pleasure to spend several holidays with your daughter including Christmas, her birthday parties and other milestones in her life. I will never turn my back on Ashley her mom and their family. It's about providing friendship, support and love to them while you have been missing in action.

Your daughter has never traveled or taken a trip with you, you have an annual birthday party in Beverly Hills every year where your entire family is welcome but your youngest child has only attended it once. She has had very little contact with her siblings and has never even met her big brother Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr, who apparently doesn't want anything to do with her. And allegedly (I believe it to be true), he was the one to leak the scandal to the media concerning your affair. Now don't get me wrong, Oba ma is not above reproach. He is a politician and is fair game to be fairly criticized by you or anyone else. But to personally attack Obama is crossing the line. Obama is not talking down to Black people; he wants you and other dead beat dads to spend time and care for your children properly. The destruction of the Black family and absentee fathers is a major problem in our community.

It's a problem that King spoke out and fought against. 40 years after King's murder I can see why King didn't trust you. If you can't and won't sincerely help Obama in this historic run then at least stop attacking him. Listen to Obama's message of being a responsible father and start taking care of your daughter Ashley.

Rev. Jackson's ten-year-old daughter is the result of an affair he had with an aide. Read the rest of the letter here.

So: do you think Najee Ali was over the line, or is this fair game?

Farai Chideya

7:21 PM ET | 07-11-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Sudan's President To Be Arrested?

The Pursuit of Justice vs. the Pursuit of Peace
This week, Hague prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo indicated he would ask judges on Monday to issue an arrest warrant for Sudan's president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir. The prosecution plans to bring charges of crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.

For Harlem Congressman, Four Cheap Apartments
Rep. Charles B. Rangel has four rent-stabilized apartments at Lenox Terrace in Harlem, including three adjacent units on the 16th floor and a fourth six floors below, which he uses as a campaign office, despite regulations that require rent-stabilized apartments to be used as a primary residence. Rangel held a conference immediately following the story's release, unapologetically fielding questions from reporters and residents alike.

Mississippi Mayor Is Indicted on Civil Rights Charges
Mayor Frank Melton of Jackson, Miss., was indicted Wednesday on federal civil rights charges related to the unannounced demolition of a duplex that he said was a crack house. Reports indicate it was actually just a house in an impoverished neighborhood, in which no drugs were found.

Continue reading "Headlines: Sudan's President To Be Arrested?" »

Blake Bishton

6:16 PM ET | 07-11-2008 | permalink

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Barack Obama Is a Magazine Magnet

Even Tiger Beat has their sights set on Barack.

Black Voices

He's good-looking and, for the most part, downright cool. To some, Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has many qualities that make him an attractive candidate ... and also a sought-after photo-op. Judging by the plethora of magazine covers which Obama graces, there aren't many niches he has missed.

Black Voices is featuring a picture gallery, which showcases covers ranging from GQ to teeny-bopper magazine, Tiger Beat (left).

Our regular bloggers' roundtable guest, Carmen Dixon, writes over at BV:

Have you been paying attention at the newsstand lately?

On any given day, you may have to use the fingers on both hands to count the covers featuring the caramel-colored, handsomeness that is presidential nominee Barack Obama.

I love seeing Obama's ubiquitous image for the simple reason that children, of all colors, get to see it too.

Too much of a good thing? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Geoffrey Gardner

12:25 PM ET | 07-11-2008 | permalink

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Doctors' Group Apologizes to Black Physicians

iStockphoto.com

The American Medical Association, the largest physicians' group in the United States, has apologized to black doctors for "policies and practices in the past that discriminated against African American physicians."

Reuters has more:

The apology arose from the work of an independent panel of experts commissioned in 2005 to study the history of what the AMA called "the racial divide in organized medicine."

... Details of the AMA panel's work will be released next week on the Web site of the association's Institute for Ethics to coincide with publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Dr. Nelson Adams, president of the National Medical Association which represents black physicians in the United States, said the NMA was founded in 1895 because of the AMA's discrimination.

"Black doctors couldn't be members of the American Medical Association," Adams said in a telephone interview.

"AMA looked the other way when local medical associations worked to exclude most black physicians from becoming members. Back then and even as recently as the early '70s, in order to get hospital privileges, lots of times you had to be a member of the county medical society," Adams said.

"If you couldn't get on the county medical society, you couldn't get hospital privileges," he said.

If you are/were a doctor who faced discrimination by the AMA, we'd like to hear your story.

Plus, what significance do apologies like these carry?

Geoffrey Bennett

12:19 PM ET | 07-11-2008 | permalink

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Jackson Controversy : Bloggers Weigh In

As you likely know by now, Jesse Jackson made headlines yesterday for saying he wanted to "cut [Barack Obama's] n*ts off," in part, over the senator's recent addresses before black audiences.

On today's show, we'll air Farai's conversation with Jackson, recorded yesterday after the news about the remark was leaked to the press, but before Fox broadcast it.

UPDATE: Listen to the interview.

Here's the clip in question:

And here's a sampling of what our regular bloggers' roundtable guests have to say:

Afro Nerd: ... was Jackson sampling the Ying Yang Twins?

All About Race: It is also time for the legends to accept the dignified mantle of senior statesman

Aunt Jemima's Revenge: I am officially 150% tired, tired, tired of Jesse Jackson! We thank for you service, but it's time to go sit down somewhere!

Electronic Village: Jackson has been a lifetime hero in my household. That ended today.

The Field Negro: The "audacity" of fake friends.

Homeland Colors: I can't really get upset with Jesse Jackson for his comments about Obama.

Jack and Jill Politics: I'm wondering if Senator Obama's attempts to "distance" himself from the old guard, isn't causing the backstabbing.

La Shawn Barber's Corner: Leave it up to mainstream media to make an instant tree out of an acorn!

Ragged Thots: Getting attacked over fatherhood -- from Jesse Jackson?

The Root: We're not really ready for the day when The Man becomes a black man.

Shaun In The City: [Those comments] are amongst the most heinous things a man could say and they reveal a deeper ill within.

Stereohyped: Jesse Jackson might have called Barack Obama "the N-word."

What About Our Daughters: I have to agree he is talking "down" to Blacks. Sorry Obama acolytes.

Plus, the blog, TVNewser, explains why it took Fox News more than three days to discover the comment.

Geoffrey Bennett

11:43 AM ET | 07-10-2008 | permalink

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Blog Beat: The 'Star Spangled Banner' Goes Black

On the Show: Black National Anthem Sparks Debate Online

Geoffrey Bennett

8:20 PM ET | 07- 9-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: McCain Targets Latino Voters

McCain Shifts His Message Toward Latino Immigrants
John McCain, who has been trailing rival Barack Obama among Latino voters, is now stepping up his efforts to win them over. In a new series of commercials airing in both English and Spanish, McCain says that immigrants' needs are "as important" as securing the border.

Obama Says His Critics Haven't Been Listening
On Tuesday, Obama addressed growing accusations that he has shifted his politics to the center. He said, "This whole notion that I am shifting to the center ... the people who say this apparently haven't been listening to me."

Black Digerati: A New Vision of Africa
Cheick M. Diarra, Africa chairman at Microsoft, believes there are "tremendous opportunities" opening up for entrepreneurs and young businesspeople in Africa. To address the local needs of various populations across the continent, Microsoft is working with relief agencies to provide Internet access and computer training centers.

Continue reading "Headlines: McCain Targets Latino Voters" »

Blake Bishton

5:28 PM ET | 07- 9-2008 | permalink

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Jesse Jackson Apolgizes for 'Rude' Comments

Barack Obama photographed with Jesse Jackson in Chicago in January 2007.

Jeff Haynes, AFP/Getty Images

Jesse Jackson apologized today, for making what he called "rude and hurtful comments" about presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

According to CNN, Jackson was doing an interview with Fox News and was caught talking on an open microphone. [Fox News' Sean Hannity is expected to play the clip later today on his show Hannity & Colmes.]

As CNN anchor Don Lemon reported, Jackson said "something to the effect of 'the senator was cutting his you-know-what off with black people and the black church.'"

After he became aware that the comments were heard by others -- and recorded -- Jackson said he immediately called the Obama campaign to send a statement of apology.

For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize. My support for Senator Obama's campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal. I cherish this redemptive and historical moment.

My appeal was for the moral content of his message to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility.

That was the context of my private conversation and it does not reflect any disparagement on my part for the historic event in which we are involved or my pride in Senator Barack Obama, who is leading it, whom I have supported by crisscrossing this nation in every level of media and audience from the beginning in absolute terms.

On CNN, Jackson said he was referring to Obama's recent spate of speeches before black audiences -- like his Father's Day address -- where he touts the importance of personal accountability.

As his written statement explains, Jackson said he took issue with the characterization that the solution to structural crises in black America is a matter of moral behavior.

What do you think?

Flashback:
Jesse Jackson Says Obama "Acting White"
Tony Cox: When Hosting Hits Home

Be sure to check out tomorrow's show; Farai just wrapped an interview with Jesse Jackson about this controversy.

Plus, Obama's camp has issued this statement:

"As someone who grew up without a father in the home, Senator Obama has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility, including the importance of fathers participating in their children's lives. He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs, justice, and opportunity for all. He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Reverend Jackson's apology."

Geoffrey Bennett

4:30 PM ET | 07- 9-2008 | permalink

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What's Your Mother/Daughter Relationship Like?

Alice and Rebecca Walker photographed in 1992, before the two were estranged.

Corbis

On tomorrow's show, Farai Chideya will speak with author Rebecca Walker -- daughter of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Alice Walker -- about Rebecca's new memoir, Baby Love: Choosing Motherhood After a Lifetime of Ambivalence.

In it, Rebecca expands on her estrangement with her feminist mother. Here's part of how Publishers Weekly sums up her book:

"[Rebecca] Walker tells of her physical and emotional journey toward motherhood, poignantly reflecting on the ambivalence that has delayed her dream of having a child for years. Like many 20- and 30-somethings, she was raised to view partnership and parenthood as the least empowering choices in an infinite array of options. This tension comes to the fore as Walker's mother, Alice Walker, opposes her decision to have a baby and challenges her account of their relationship in Black, White and Jewish. Alice ends their relationship and removes Rebecca from her will, and Rebecca endures a tumultuous pregnancy, estranged from her mother as she prepares to become one herself."

The conversation with Rebecca Walker -- given context by Dr. Phyllis Chessler (also on tomorrow's show) -- raises a host of questions about feminism and the dynamic between mothers and daughters.

For our women readers, how would you characterize your relationship with your mother and/or daughter?

Listen to the segment.

Geoffrey Bennett

5:56 PM ET | 07- 8-2008 | permalink

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Hill Harper, Gabrielle Union on Mentoring Young Girls

Looking for the full interview, as mentioned on today's show? Check it out here.

Geoffrey Bennett

1:50 PM ET | 07- 8-2008 | permalink

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Black Conservatives Split the Vote

Today we had a great segment on how black conservatives would vote in the pesidential election. Recognizing they're a diverse group, we asked two conservatives and the author of a book on black conservatives to parse the vote.

Some will choose the man who could become America's first black president.

Some will vote for McCain, a Republican candidate who may have more in common with their ideological positions.

In fact, our guest Kevin Ross said he'd vote for Obama. He hosts the Kevin Ross Show on BlogTalkRadio.com and blogs at 3 Brothers and A Sister.

On the other hand, blogger Michael D. Cobb Bowen (who graciously jumped back into the fray after being in today's roundtable) made the case for McCain.

We also spoke with Christopher Bracey, law professor at George Washington University, who wrote the book Saviors or Sellouts: The Promise and Peril of Black Conservatism, from Booker T. Washington to Condoleezza Rice.

If you're a black Republican or conservative, who speaks to you?

Farai Chideya

6:42 PM ET | 07- 7-2008 | permalink

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Trying to Get Into Jazz? Start With These CDs

Eugene Holley Jr.

This month, as you know, News & Notes is exploring jazz music with a series of profiles, features, and interviews.

Our introductory segment, "What Is Jazz?," featured insight from three jazz aficionados, including freelance writer and radio producer Eugene Holley Jr.

Here, Holley offers five "can't miss" CDs which serve as good introductions to the genre:

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Sony Music, 1959: The greatest and most popular jazz recording every made! And no wonder: Miles Davis, with saxophonists John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley, pianists Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb, laid down five blues-based, hip-notic ballad and mid-tempo tracks that soothes and grooves jazz neophytes and die hards alike.

Ahmad Jamal, Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing: But Not For Me, Argo/Cadet 1958: A pianist named Ahmad Jamal, with bassist Israel Crosby and New Orleans-born drummer Vernel Fournier, recorded a live set at the Pershing Room in South Side Chicago. The result yielded a master class on how live jazz swings, as evidenced by Jamal's hit rendition of "Poinciana."

This photo of Miles Davis comes from the cover of the album, "Kind of Blue."

Sony

John Coltrane, A Love Supreme, Impulse!, 1964:
This masterful four-track suite -- with pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and bassist Jimmy Garrison -- took Coltrane's powerful "sheets of sound" improvisations to the heights of jazz immortality.

Stan Getz/Joao Gilberto/Antonio Carlos Jobim, Getz/Gilberto, Verve, 1964: This album joined Brazilian bossa nova co-creators, pianist/composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, singer/guitarist Joao Gilberto, along with his wife Astrud on vocals, with American saxophonist Stan Getz. This soft and soulful Latin jazz marriage produced many enduring standards, including "The Girl From Ipanema."

Herbie Hancock, Gershwin's World, Verve 1998: Though he won a Grammy for River: The Joni Letters, this project equally shows the all-encompassing artistry of this pianist. A true all-star date that includes Joni Mitchell, Stevie Wonder, and saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Hancock re-imagines music created and inspired by George Gershwin into uncharted R&B, classical, and African inventions and dimensions.

What, if anything, would you add to this list?

More: What Is Jazz? And Are You a Fan?

Geoffrey Bennett

5:44 PM ET | 07- 7-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Death of the Last Openly Racist Politician?

Who Will Call Jesse Helms a Racist?
Senator Jesse Helms died Friday at age 86. Richard Prince takes a look at the obituaries and other discussions surrounding the conservative politician's death, many of which have used euphemisms to get around the fact that Helms was "the last prominent unabashed white racist politician in this country."

Biracial Voters Take Pride in Obama's 'Milestone'
The presidential candidacy of Barack Obama, the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya, has become a source of pride for biracial Americans. But some mixed-race families want Obama to speak more openly about his biracial experience.

Zimbabwe Sex Slave Reveals Her Ordeal
Asiatu, 21, says that she is being kept as a sex slave to ZANU-PF soldiers at one of 900 camps established to harass the public into voting in Zimbabwe's recent election. Asiatu says that if she runs away, her mother will be killed. She had hoped she would be set free once the elections were over, but now she says there seems to be no end in sight.

Continue reading "Headlines: Death of the Last Openly Racist Politician?" »

Blake Bishton

3:12 PM ET | 07- 7-2008 | permalink

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Major Sponsors Pull Out of BET Programs

BET

The Chicago Defender is reporting that two major advertisers -- General Motors and Procter & Gamble -- have pulled ads from BET's Rap City and 106 & Park programs, under pressure from the Enough is Enough campaign:

Media watchdogs are declaring it a victory. Black Entertainment Television hasn't said much, and advertisers are mum. What is clear, though, is that at least two top advertisers -- automaking giant General Motors and consumer goods manufacturer Procter & Gamble -- have pulled ads from BET's Rap City and 106 & Park programs.

An April Parent Television Council study highlighted high levels of sex, violence and profanity in both programs and reported, among other things, that Rap City featured on average 31.6 instances of sex, 25.3 instances of explicit language and 11.7 instances of violence per hour.

Armed with the report, leaders of the Enough is Enough campaign -- a movement for corporate responsibility in entertainment -- began petitioning BET's top advertisers to pull ads from the programs.

... Kelly Cusinato, advertising and marketing communications manager for GM, said that conversations with Coates influenced the company's decision. "We asked (BET) for a better monitoring process to allow us as an advertiser to understand which videos were running within an hour-long program," Cusinato said. But BET dismisses the report as "misleading and inaccurate."

We reported on Enough is Enough back in November and recently asked BET chairman Debra Lee what she thought about the group protesting in front of her home.

What do you think about the grassroots effort to impact BET's bottom line?

Flashback: Protesters to BET, MTV: 'Enough is Enough'

Geoffrey Bennett

11:16 AM ET | 07- 7-2008 | permalink

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How Are You Celebrating July 4th?

iStockphoto.com

The July 4th holiday is upon us. How are you marking the day? Frequent News & Notes guest Melissa Harris-Lacewell offers this perspective on TheRoot.com:

I don't know about you, but I have mixed emotions about this holiday. I love any chance to have friends over to cookout. (By the way are you coming over on Friday?) But the 4th always forces me to carefully consider how I feel about our country.

I am an American. I genuinely love many things about this country. As any of my students can tell you, I am passionately obsessed with the Declaration of Independence. It is astonishing that Thomas Jefferson, a man who owned his own children in slavery, wrote "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

In 1776, a period of monarchy, colonialism, slavery and gender inequality, it certainly was not self-evident that all persons were endowed with fundamental equality and that governments existed to serve the just interests of the people. But Jefferson, as limited as he was as a human being, looked beyond his own circumstances and crafted a document of great vision, flexibility and higher purpose. That is worth celebrating.

On the other hand, we cannot ignore Frederick Douglass' admonition that the 4th of July does not mark freedom or self-determination for black Americans. Langston Hughes wrote, "America never was America to me." And Martin Luther King Jr. called Jefferson's document the nation's promissory note and said that the country had bounced its check to African Americans. So any celebration of the 4th also needsto be tempered with a sober reflection on our nation's sins: genocide and land theft perpetrated against Native Americans, chattel slavery and Jim Crow against African Americans, second class citizenship for white women, internment camps for Japanese Americans, brutal labor practices against Chinese immigrants, imperial aggression in Latin America and the Middle East.

What do you think?

Flashback: "What to the Slave is Fourth of July?"

Geoffrey Bennett

6:09 PM ET | 07- 3-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: McCain Shuffles Up Advisors Again

McCain Again Shuffles Advisors
John McCain has recently decided to shuffle his campaign advisors' positions around. Steve Schmidt will now be in charge of day-to-day operations instead of Rick Davis, who will now play a smaller role. No one has ever made such a radical change in staff so close to November before. Some Republicans feel the decision was a long time in coming, while others feel it is a mistake.

Report Faults Immigrant Detainee Care
The Department of Homeland Security has launched an internal investigation into the deaths of two immigrants being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The investigation concluded that better access to medical care, stronger oversight, and improvements to detention standards needed to be made, but applauded the system's handling of the deaths. Many of criticized the investigation of being too narrow, as is only investigated two of the 74 that have occurred since 2004.

Proposed FBI Plan Would Authorize Racial Profiling
The Justice Department will be debating whether to allow the FBI to put a policy in effect that would give them the power to investigate Americans without any evidence of law breaking, but instead based on a terrorist profile that will likely single out Muslims, Arabs, and other ethnicities.

Continue reading "Headlines: McCain Shuffles Up Advisors Again" »

Blake Bishton

5:09 PM ET | 07- 3-2008 | permalink

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What Is Jazz? And Are You a Fan?

iStockphoto.com

This month, News & Notes is focused on jazz music. Though it's the foundation of
black music, some love it ... and some don't.

Are you a jazz fan? If so, who are some are your favorite artists?

Or if you find yourself intimidated by the art form, tell us why.

On today's show, we got a crash course with three renowned experts. Take a listen and share your thoughts.

Geoffrey Bennett

1:23 PM ET | 07- 3-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: High Court Death Penalty Ruling Flawed?

In Court Ruling On Executions, A Factual Flaw
When the Supreme Court ruled last week that the death penalty for child rape was unconstitutional, it cited that a child rapist could face execution in six states, and not under the federal government's jurisdiction. Over the weekend, a military law blog pointed out a factual flaw.

Poll: Terrorism Fears Are Fading
According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released today, 35 percent of Americans believe a terrorist attack is likely to occur in the US over the next several weeks. This figure is the lowest since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001. For McCain, who is seeking to highlight his national security credentials, these poll results may not be viewed in a positive light.

Black Republicans Launch Racial Anti-Obama Ads
The National Black Republican Association has released videos as well as three radio spots accusing Barack Obama of being an "arrogant elitist" and citing the Democratic Party as a racist organization. The NBRA claims these ads are "eye opening," but many are skeptical that the attacks will even be taken seriously.

Continue reading "Headlines: High Court Death Penalty Ruling Flawed?" »

Ashley Lystne

7:26 PM ET | 07- 2-2008 | permalink

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The 'Negro National Anthem' Flap

A singer named Rene Marie was given the chance to sing the National Anthem at Denver's State of the City address. And she did, just not the U.S. National Anthem.

Instead, she sang James Weldon Johnson's "Negro National Anthem," also known in these modern days as "The Black National Anthem." I sang it many a time as a child, and continue to at functions as an adult.

Here's a clip of singer Kim Weston singing the anthem at the Wattstax concert in Watts, California, in 1972. It has a little too much of a "hey, it's the 1970s" flavor in the arrangement for me, but the visuals are great and so is her voice:

Here are a few lyrics:

Lift Every Voice and sing till earth and heaven ring
Ring with the harmonies of liberty
Let our rejoicing rise high as the listening skies
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea

Sing a song, full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song, full of the hope that the present has brought us
Facing the rising sum of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won

The local KUSA TV web site posts this about the event:

Governor Bill Ritter (D-Colorado) discussed the incident on The Mike Rosen Show on 850 KOA on Wednesday morning, calling it "inappropriate."

"I don't think it's fair artistic expression," said Ritter.

Ritter went on to say he felt Marie's actions were "wrong" and "outside the bounds."

What do you think?

Farai Chideya

2:39 PM ET | 07- 2-2008 | permalink

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Rapper T.I. on Andy Young: "He's a Mentor"

Rapper T.I. arrives at the 17th annual MTV Movie Awards (left), and Andrew Young is photographed at Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball (right).

Getty Images

It's an unlikely pairing, forged between two Atlantans of different generations, backgrounds, occupations, and worldviews: T.I. and civil rights pioneer Andy Young.

According to an Associated Press feature, the 27-year-old rapper says he considers Young to be something of a mentor:

Young took T.I. to a rehabilitation hospital in New York to meet with people who were paralyzed from gang violence. He's given T.I. books to read, including one written by Young and another on the genocide in Rwanda.

Young hopes to take T.I. on a trip to Africa before he starts his prison sentence in late March. He already took him to an exclusive birthday party for poet Maya Angelou in May.

"He's a mentor of some sort to me," the 27-year-old T.I. said of Young in a recent interview, shortly after lecturing almost 100 youths about the importance of education and entrepreneurship.

"Thing is, I didn't really expect to be the spokesperson for positive decisions in kids lives," he said. "That's not necessarily what I saw for myself."

T.I. is facing 12 months in prison on federal weapons possession charges. He says his legal troubles have changed his outlook:

"I don't want to disgrace nobody who supported me who believed I pushed pass this situation," T.I. said. "I won't disgrace their good faith with another absolutely unnecessary situation."

What do you make of this mentor/mentee relationship?

Flashback:
Passing the Torch of Leadership
What's Next for Civil Rights Movement?

Geoffrey Bennett

12:57 PM ET | 07- 2-2008 | permalink

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Thurgood Marshall Would Turn 100 Today ...

A hundred years ago today, Thurgood Marshall -- the first black Supreme Court justice -- was born in Baltimore.

On today's show, Farai Chideya spoke with regular contributor Mary Frances Berry about Marshall's legacy.

Check out this clip -- billed as a "lost interview" between Marshall and Mike Wallace.

Though it's undated, Marshall talks about Adam Clayton Powell's controversial support of Republican president Dwight Eisenhower and the Democratic Party's failure to act on segregation in the South.

"I think that in Congress today, the only bipartisan action is against civil rights and Negroes' right," he says.

Geoffrey Bennett

10:47 AM ET | 07- 2-2008 | permalink

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The Gas Reality: There's No Magic Solution

Compare prices to save big at the pump.

Everybody is trying to save money on fuel costs these days. In the spirit of frugality, a seemingly endless number of e-mails, blog posts and magazine articles have sprung up with tips on how to get the most gas for your green.

Information is power, and following many of the suggestions will indeed save you money. However, there is also a bevy of misinformation and gas-saving myths floating around out there. Who are we, the poor consumer, supposed to believe?

Let's keep it simple. Here are three sure-fire ways to save money and reduce the amount of gas you burn, as suggested by Black Voices:

1) Find the Best Deal on Gas. Period. Comparison shop. Be a proactive consumer. Shop around to find the most competitive price in town.
Online Resource: Visit http://gasprices.mapquest.com to compare prices in your area. You can find the best deal by zip code and street name, as well as check out prices by grade of gasoline.

2) Buy a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle
Consider buying a fuel-efficient vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or an alternative-fuel vehicle. It could save you a lot at the gas pump, not to mention help the environment.
Online Resource: Visit http://FuelEconomy.gov for tips on buying a new fuel-efficient car or truck.

3) Slow Things Down
Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph, costing an additional 10 cents per gallon. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent on city streets, resulting in 7 cents to 49 cents per gallon. Don't get too emotional driving, put your car on cruise control and relax.

There you have it. In order to save money, you must become a more educated consumer. Of course, there are plenty of us out there who seek immediate gratification. We are eager to try anything to help ease our frustrations, which can lead to making costly mistakes or wasting valuable time.

Here are three common gas-saving myths that, according to CNN Money, are well worth avoiding:

1) Fill Your Tank in the Morning You may have heard that it's best to fill your gas tank in the early morning while the fuel is cold. The theory goes that fluids are more dense at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas.

But the temperature of the gasoline as it comes out of the nozzle varies little during the course of the day, according to Consumer Reports, so there's little, if any, benefit, to getting up early to pump gas.

2) To A/C or Not A/C?
In around-town driving, using the A/C will drop fuel economy by about a mile a gallon.

Meanwhile, driving at higher speeds with the windows down greatly increases aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, drag becomes more of an issue, making A/C use the more efficient choice at high speeds.

The best choice -- if temperature and humidity allow -- is to keep the windows rolled up and to turn the A/C compressor off. You can keep the fans running to blow in air from the outside, but your car will be as aerodynamic as possible while still letting you breathe. You will save gas, but the fuel economy improvement will be slight.

3) Bolt-ons and Pour-ins
Before you buy a device that's supposed to make your car more fuel-efficient or pour in an allegedly gas-saving additive, ask yourself this: Don't you think oil and car companies aren't doing everything they can to beat their competitors?

If there really was an additive that made gas burn up more slowly, it wouldn't be sold over the Internet one bottle at a time. If General Motors could make its cars go significantly further on a gallon simply by putting a device into the fuel line, don't think for a second it wouldn't be doing that. GM's car sales would go through the roof.

Here are more online resources aimed at helping save you money:

• My Gallons: Buy gas at today's prices and save your credits. If the price of gas increases, you still pay the original amount.
  
• Gas Buddy: Another convenient tool to track down the best gas prices in your town.

  Please share your tried and true methods of saving money at the pump with us below.

  Geoffrey Gardner

  4:14 PM ET | 07- 1-2008 | permalink

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Headlines: Romney Tops McCain Veep List

Romney Tops McCain Veep List
It appears at the moment, Mitt Romney is at the head of the race for McCain's running mate. Experts say one of the primary reasons is his ability to fundraise. McCain expects Romney could potentially raise at least $50 million.

U.S. Calls for Sanctions on Zimbabwe
U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Zalmay Khalilzad, has urged the Security Council to step in in Zimbabwe and stop allowing Mugabe to "thumb his nose at the Security Council." Other council members, including representatives from China, Russia, and South Africa were more reluctant to intervene.

Annual African-American Festival Attracts 300,000
The city of Baltimore held its annual African American Heritage Festival this past weekend. The event attracted over 300,000 attendees. Over $600,000 was raised for the event.

Continue reading "Headlines: Romney Tops McCain Veep List" »

Ashley Lystne

2:54 PM ET | 07- 1-2008 | permalink

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