DALLAS — The U.S. Justice Department made the right call in dismissing a voter intimidation lawsuit against the New Black Panther Party and recent questions about that ruling are a "political witch hunt" to discredit Attorney General Eric Holder, the party's leader said this week.
Malik Zulu Shabazz, national chairman of the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, told The Associated Press the civil lawsuit filed by the federal government had "no merit" because the party doesn't condone voter intimidation.
Shabazz said he was speaking publicly about the issue for the first time because he wanted to set the record straight before the party began celebrating its 20th anniversary during a national three-day summit that started Friday in Dallas.
"I want everybody to take a second look," Shabazz said. "I certainly would like black America and all the world to take a second look at the New Black Panther Party at this point and to understand that we're sincerely trying to help our people."
The Justice Department filed a civil complaint in January against the party, Shabazz and two other members, alleging the other men intimidated voters on Nov. 4, 2008, by standing outside a Philadelphia polling place in paramilitary uniforms.
A video widely distributed on the Internet showed one of the men holding a police-style baton. Shabazz, who was not present, said the member acted on his own and was later suspended for 60 days.
Justice officials later got an injunction against the man with the baton and dropped the complaint against the party, Shabazz and the third member. Some conservatives charged the three got off lightly as a result of political interference from President Barack Obama's administration.
Justice Department officials have said the case was decided by career staffers, not political appointees. But the agency's ethics watchdog, the Office of Professional Responsibility, has launched an internal inquiry into its handling of the case.
Shabazz, an attorney in Washington, said no insider influence played a role. The Panthers "were not active campaigners (for Obama) and he owes us no favors," he said.
He described Holder as a "fair-minded" person.
"I think it's a political witch hunt, part of the overall war that the Republicans are waging against Eric Holder in general," Shabazz said. "This is all about politics, not necessarily about protecting persons."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
| Breakfast meeting Dec. 5 at Main Library |
| Published Thursday, December 3, 2009 5:00 pm |
by Michaela L. Duckett, For The Charlotte Post
According to statistics, nearly one in eight black men between the ages of 25-29 is incarcerated. The number one cause of death for black boys is homicide. The majority of black students in the fourth grade are functionally illiterate and half of all black boys fail to graduate high school.
Dozens of black men will gather on Dec. 5 to hold a candid discussion about what can be done to address the problem.
Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program is hosting “Black Men Talk,” a breakfast meeting at the Main Library’s Francis Auditorium, 310 N. Tryon St. from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
ELMP Program Director Brian Freeland said he believes the discussion is necessary to increase awareness of the severity of the crisis. “People need to be abreast of what is really going on and how bad it’s actually getting,” he said. “I don’t think they are looking at the long term effect of this.”
Freeland said the crisis affecting black male teens is a lack of opportunity. “That lack of opportunity comes from not understanding the purpose of education, and also being disengaged from the collective whole,” he said. “the masses of America for the most part understand that globally the economy is changing, and these guys are still thinking about being a criminal, but the day of the criminal is gone because he really has no place in society.”
Freeland said the black community has failed to deal with the consequences of life after crime. “We haven’t talked the economic liability. We have briefly discussed that black males have the highest unemployment rates, but why? Don’t you think that has anything to do with recidivism, and not being able to get a job because you are incarceration? The conversation is truly not in depth enough.”
Freeland said the time for that conversation is now. “As black men, we must own this problem and intervene to help the next generation realize their full potential,” he said.
Freeland believes too black male teens throw their lives away because they lack positive role models and effective leaderships. Harsh and cruel life experiences lead many youth to believe that they are alone and no on cares, but ELMP seeks to dispel that myth through mentorship.
For more information log onto www.theELMP.com.
100 Black Men Changing Lives
Real men giving real time. That's the motto of a local organization that changes lives.
The 100 Black Men of America has hundreds of chapters throughout the country, the Caribbean and England. Here in the Midlands, the 100 Black Men of Greater Columbia transforms local communities one young mind at a time.
“My mother walked out on me and I never met my father,” said 16-year-old Jerod Benjamin. He then went down a dark path.
“Through my life I've been getting in trouble in school back to back, getting in fights, getting suspended."
His life took a different turn about a year ago, when he hooked up with the 100 Black Men of Greater Columbia.
“I was making C's and D'. Now I’m making A's, B's and some C's."
“This program is really very enthusiastic and supportive of all our goals in life, said 18-year-old Jeffery King, Jr."
Group leaders say Benjamin and King are proof the non-profit organization makes a difference in the lives of young African American men.
Dana Risi heads the mentoring program.
“We believe if we can make a change in one male, we can change a family. If you change a family, we can change a community."
For example, Risi says some 60 teens attend the after-school leadership program each week. Right now, it's in four high schools and two middle schools in Richland School District One. Teens talk about everything from how to dress for a job interview to sexually transmitted diseases.
After their minds are fed, the teens get a hot sandwich and snacks. For many of them, it will be their final meal of the day.
“We have a lot of men like that. There are so many men right now in our schools that are hungry,” said Risi.
Those are odds Jerod Benjamin is confident he and his peers will overcome.
“I can still be successful."
Programs like this one and others exist through donations. The 100 Black Men's biggest fundraiser takes place Friday night. The Evening of Elegance Gala will be held at the Marriot Hotel, downtown Columbia. A reception is at 6pm. The gala begins at 7pm.
Tickets are still available. Proceeds benefit the group's mentoring and scholarship programs. For more information or to purchase tickets, you can call 803-432-0320 or toll free at 888-432-0320.
Note: If you're a sensitive person, Please don't read this.
I am not responsible for anyone's feelings or any reactions that may come about.
The weak minded & spiritually weak
can be very intimidated, feeling cold with no heat
Love to see Black people coming up the street
" Hey, do you see me "
Awareness of a person's place in the Universe
some people are a walking curse
when they see a work in progress, they feelings become hurt
strong as to be iressistible without a need to flirt
She let the Man put it in the azz so he won't leave her.
His Momma said, Don't bring that B8tch to my house
leave that h0e at the doe
Having much to be grateful for
natural abilities from the core
Able to cope with a difficult situation like never before
Opportunity comes like jesus walked the shore
He still get's rejected at KFC, they won't serve him any dark meat
His ego lays out in the street
feeling bad everytime he Pee
Such Woman don't want a Man who act like a She
Stalking just like a creep
Without showy or boastful behavior
A seat of learning & profound knowledge
that strong intellect is a Major
Telling it like it is, comes with a Waiver.
Appealing to the tastes of the sophisticates
A Black Woman uneasy can be complicated
A real man appreciates her more as it was worth he waited
The nonchalant attitude has the pavement
A steady climb toward success
For some reason the devil can't rest
Excel in a wide variety of subjects at best
What idiot would write a book about How a white man can get a Black Woman
There's no art or science to prove it
How about you stop the endless rumors
Why you want a Woman who suppose to have HIV
since you can't get a sista, your lies repeat
you made it this way, for it to never be a You and me
Here comes the dignity & grace
Some people have no life without focus on race
able to change to fit circumstances with a Ace.
Body lice makes other people itchy & scratchy
My neck & my back
talking from the nose like you just
snorted or smoked some crack
He got living maggots under his pink nutz
The little sister preys and worships black d*ck
his little ego makes him hate the Black chick
Don't nobody care about a swine mental flu illness
mad at life for a pale arrangement
obsessed with what you spew hate toward
Can't get enough of that chocolate shake
Nobody hates you because you hate yourself
to bitter to admit you NEED help!
It's a disease
To dress with attitude
success may not go to the head but it's huge
Where that Handsome Black Man at
who ready for that cruise
Some people don't give they're own self credit
Depending on other people, you will regret it
To develop skills in all areas of knowledge is set
A person can do all things, if he or she will
trustworthiness & expertise on top of a hill
To be well educated with the self, is that Deal
pOetiQ rOses
copyright 2009
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By Ansel Butler
Reality Check
By Veronica Blakely
Arthur of
"I Want What Most White Women Got: A Black Man"
Chocolate brown butt so round
For all the world to see.
Fine as wine, just my kind
But why doesn’t he want me?
Tall or short, he loves to court
The ladies in the mall
Wide of girth with lots of worth
But none for me at all.
Blue-collar white collar it doesn’t matter
Black men are all the rage!
Brown, caramel, cinnamon or smoke
I say hello and they don’t even wave.
“What’s going on?” I ask myself
Have I been hiding under a rock?
Black men used to love black women
Now to white women they seem to flock.
Don’t fret you say and keep holding on
Things will change in time.
Or I could do just like the Brothas
But I’m not of the mind to cross the line.
Black men look the same and so do I
When did dating start to change?
I alter my hair, my weight and my clothes
They don’t notice my looks have been rearranged.
Then it dawned on me, a frightening reality
My changes don’t matter in spite
Of my weight, my smile or even my hairstyle
Cause’ Brothas prefer women who are “light” or white.
Since I am neither, and I don’t aspire to be
I am comfortable with who I am
But suddenly this dating thing
Makes me feel like I ain’t worth a damn!
I’m not angry, just a little perplexed
What is a Sistah to do?
Does this mean Brothas are off limits
And my future with one is through?!
I refuse to believe that in spite of the trends
I won’t give up and I’ll do all I can
Cause I want exactly what most white women got
And that’s the love of a BLACK MAN!
TYRA BANKS-THE QUEEN OF THE RUNWAY
Role models within the Reach programme are helping disaffected black teenagers gain confidence in their futures
A year ago today, the government launched its role-model initiative to raise the aspirations and achievements of young black British men. The Reach report, which preceded it and recommended the scheme, outlined the challenges facing black boys and young men, who are less likely to do well at school, more likely to be unemployed, and much more likely to become involved in the criminal justice system than their white peers. The recession has only worsened the situation. Black male unemployment has risen by almost five percentage points over the past year to about 18%. For white British men, the figure is 8%.
As a Reach role model, I use my background and career experience to provide advice and support to young black men who are interested in pursuing careers in the professions, business, or the City. I am the joint chief executive of a communications and IT company, and have also worked as a lawyer, fund manager and financier in the City. I was educated at a comprehensive school in Lancashire where I was the only black pupil. My own role models were my parents – a Barbadian mother and an English father – and senior colleagues.
The Reach role models are black men from a range of backgrounds who have succeeded in their chosen careers and include a fireman, a teacher, a soldier, a naval officer, civil servants and a barrister.
Black Britons now contribute an enormous amount to the economy and society as a whole. But of course, there are still barriers that need to be overcome if young black men who are disaffected are to realise their full potential.
Over the past 12 months I have encouraged teenagers to challenge their assumptions of what they can achieve and where they belong. I have used my own business network to put ambitious students together with friends holding senior positions within careers of interest, and provided follow-up entrepreneurial guidance. Schoolboys have queued to seek advice, and single mothers have thanked me for engaging with their sons.
This is is no quick fix, nor will any one initiative be able to add value to the lives of all young black men. In many cases personal and long-term support is required. But to bring about change, we need to make relevant and successful black men more visible to a broad audience that also includes parents, teachers and employers. This requires community partnerships, media exposure, funding, and time to build momentum.
Earlier this year I spoke to 30 schoolboys at a predominantly black comprehensive school in south-east London. It was a new and somewhat daunting experience for me. It was refreshing and fulfilling to see them sit up when I shared my background and experiences, and then spend time discussing their own ambitions.
And for young black men who are already academically successful, I have witnessed different issues emerge. I spent an evening with members of the Cambridge University African-Caribbean Society (CUACS).
The high-achieving students – predominantly from inner-city state schools – were interested in how to navigate the corporate world, which was new to them. They had not had the guidance that is imparted in the private schools attended by so many of their fellow students. This can reduce the all-important projection of self-confidence. These students also need a certain amount of resilience, which goes with being among a very small minority in a predominantly white environment. I must admit that I was tempted by the very nice hoodies for sale on the CUACS website.
Reach has opened my eyes to the issues facing young black men. It is important that such work continues and that aspirations are raised, especially during these trying economic times when the attainment of young black men could go into reverse. It has been a tough year involving a great deal of passionate debate and hard work and there is still a long way to go. One year on, I have experienced the value that it can bring to the lives of young black men and the value that it has brought to the life of one not-so-young black man.
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