CASH IN THE APPLE
By Cash Michaels
“WE STAND
ON BLACK HISTORY’S SHOULDERS” –On Feb. 24th, I was invited to
deliver the keynote at the Black History celebration of HCL America in Cary.
Needless to say, I didn’t want to deliver remarks that were a waste of
anybody’s time. So here is an excerpt of what I said. The name of the speech
was , “We Stand on Black History’s Shoulders” :
I am supposed to be talking about Black
history with you folks today, but what about the future? What do we have going
for us now that ensures a good, productive future for all of us?
You
see, if you study the Black History of the past close enough, you realize that
all of the gains African-Americans have made today, and will make tomorrow, and
the next tomorrow, and the next, are all rooted in the courage and vision of
those who stood up for the very principles all Americans claim to aspire to
today – the right to freedom, liberty and justice.
You know, one of the things that truly
puzzles me today is this popular meme of some young African-Americans that they
don’t want to hear, see or learn anything about slavery because what it tells
them is that their people were once the property of others, and if they are
parents, they refuse to allow their children to see those brutal images of
black people being chained, being whipped, being beaten to death in many cases,
just because of the color of their skin.
Some of these young people today simply
refuse to accept that once upon a time, their ancestors had no freedom. They
don’t want to see it. Don’t want to watch “Roots,” nothing. And I feel for
them, because out of the horrendous history of what slavery was in this
country, come courageous stories of struggle, and faith, and family, and
industriousness. From the pain of the past, came civil and social rights
movements, not just for African-Americans, but for women, for members of the
LGBT community, for those seeking to actually become American citizens, and are
threatened with mass deportation.
And those whose
constitutionally-protected right of freedom of religion now makes them automatic
suspects in what parades around these days as national security.
As a teenager watching the news, I always
found it fascinating to see people yearning to be free, locking arms and
singing in their foreign language “We Shall Overcome,” knowing that Dr. King
would be smiling in his grave that his message of freedom still resounded
around the world.
That is why, by the way, I’m always
interested when I her mostly African-Americans complain that the sculptor of
the King Monument in Washington, DC was Chinese, as if to ay that because Dr.
King was black, then so should everything about him be. But the Dr. King I know
was a global social justice hero who reached out to the world, who, as a man of
GOD, prayed that all of mankind would one day find peace through brotherhood.
King was a champion for the global struggle for justice. How can any of us deny
an artist of any ethnic or racial background their skilled expression of what
Dr. King’s “Dream” meant to them.
Right now I’m co-producing a documentary
titled “Origin of the Dream,” based on a tremendous book by NC State University
Professor W. Jason Miller, and directed by Rebecca Cerese, a skilled
documentarian. The film is about the new discoveries we’re finding of an
intellectual partnership between Dr. King and poet Langston Hughes, and how
Hughes inspired many of Dr. King’s speeches.
Now Prof. Jason Miller is white, yet
he knows more about Langston Hughes than almost anybody. Rebecca Cerese is
white, yet she directed the award winning documentary, “February One” about the
1960 Greensboro sit-in movement. The three of us working together on this
project is the epitome of Dr. King’s stated dream.
The Black History of the past, providing the
shoulders that we ALL stand on today!
Barack Hussein Obama….ever heard
that name before?
There are so, so many African-Americans,
including myself, that were dead wrong – we did see a black man elected to
become president of the United States – twice, twice in our lifetimes. Before
the 2008 election, none of us ever thought that we would see it. And yet, as we
stand here today, Pres. Obama’s election is now American history. And he has
made us proud.
Proud
because whether you agreed with many of his policies or not, Obama blazed a
very difficult trail. It can be argued that he tried to do too much, that
attempting to bring a bitterly divided nation together, fix the economy, fight
terrorism, and do so all in spite of a Republican-led Congress that was very
cler in its declaration that they were determined that he fail, was a bit much
for any president of the United States to tackle.
Let
alone the first black one.
But Pres. Obama gave it his best, and did so
with pride and honor, and will go down in history as one of our best
commander-in-chiefs ever. Say what you want about Pres. Obama, but you never
had to worry about his mental capabilities.
He, perhaps, is the best example of Black
History providing us the shoulders on which all of us – all Americans – stand
on to do great things for our future. There are lessons of courage, like the
Tuskegee Airmen. Lessons of great imagination like scientist George Washington
Carver and the many, many ways to make useful products from peanuts. Lessons of
great artistry like the music of Stevie Wonder, or the stage (and screen) award
winning performances of actress Viola Davis.
And, of course, leadership like
Pres. Barack Obama…and I could go on, that teach us that, given the trying
times that we’re in, given the trying times that we’re always in, there will be
a black history tomorrow, because we’re striving and learning, and growing, and
building black history today!
Thank You!
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NCNAACP CONCERNED
WITH
US JUSTICE DEPT VOTER
ID REVERSAL
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
It’s not as
if it wasn’t expected once conservative former Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions took
over as US attorney general, but still, there has been an abundance of concern
since Monday when the US Justice Dept. announced that it was reversing its “longstanding
position,” according to the Washington
Post, “…that Texas intended to discriminate when it passed a strict voter
ID law.”
Under the
Obama Administration, the US Justice Dept. has always been on the side of those
challenging voting rights violations, including here in North Carolina. Even
though the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that North
Carolina’s 2013 voter ID law was unconstitutional because it suppressed the
black vote “with surgical precision,” there is concern because state Republican
legislative leaders want the US Supreme Court, which will soon have a
conservative majority again once Pres. Trump’s nominee is confirmed, to review
lower court rulings striking down voter ID and redistricting, in hopes of a
reversal.
To NCNAACP
Pres. Rev. William Barber and NCNAACP Legal Redress Committee Chair atty . Irv
Joyner, two people who have been on the front lines of battling North
Carolina’s voter suppression, the latest news from the Trump administration
does not bode well for North Carolina’s voting rights.
“It's bad,” Rev. Barber said
Tuesday. “For the United States Dept. of Justice to become adversarial to
voting rights and the power of the office to be used in the defense of voter
suppression is dangerous to our democracy. This is systemic racism, and if US
Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions seeks to go backwards in a time of the worst attacks
on voting rights since Jim Crow, then he
is the racist we knew he was. “
Rev.
Barber continued, “Jeff Sessions has done nothing to restore the VRA (Voting
Rights Act) which is just one reason he should have never been confirmed. We
can still win cases in the courts because of the Constitution, but to have the
Dept of Justice as a adversary in our fight against voter suppression, is
un-American and immoral.”
Attorney
Joyner has led many of the key court cases to overturn North Carolina’s voter
ID law. Many times, the Obama Justice
Dept. was a willing partner.
But
now….
“It is not a
surprise that the U.S. Justice Department, which is now under the control of an
ultra-conservative Trump administration, has changed its position in the Texas
Case which is also pending before the Supreme Court,” atty. Joyner says.
“We expect the Justice Department will do the
same as it relates to their support of our cases here in North Carolina. Our
cases, however, are not dependent upon the support or agreement of the U.S.
Justice Department, but are based upon established United States constitutional
precedents and laws.”
“We realize
that the Trump Administration and the Berger (state Senate Leader) and Miller (state
House Leader) are doing everything in their powers to stack the deck against
the commands of the law,” Joyner continued. “Despite this, we are eagerly moving forward
in our fight to save the voting rights of African Americans and other people of
color. This is a fight that we must have and is the fight that we must win for
the people.”
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ADAMS QUESTIONS HOW
EARNEST
TRUMP SUPPORT FOR
HBCUs IS
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Amid
controversial remarks about historically black colleges and universities
(HBCUs) being “HBCUs are real pioneers when it comes to school choice” from the new
US education secretary, Congresswoman Alma Adams (D- NC-12) is urging
Republicans to join with the 49-member Congressional Black Caucus , and the
55-member Congressional Bi-partisan HBCU Caucus – which she founded and co-chairs
- to strengthen HBCUs, and partner with black schools to ensure the future for
promising students.
Meanwhile,
presidents and chancellors from at least eighty HBCUs, including Interim Pres.
Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins of Bennett College, Chancellor Harold Martin of NC
A&T University, and Chancellor Elwood Robinson of Winston-Salem State University
in Winston-Salem, among others, met with Pres. Donald Trump Monday in the Oval
Office, on the eve of his signing a new executive order vowing that HBCUs will
be “an absolute priority for this White House,” and that the HBCU Initiative
normally handled in the US Dept. of Education, is being moved back to the White
House for presidential attention.
The HBCU
fly-in was arranged by US Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC-6) of Greensboro, in hopes of
impressing on Congressional leaders the need to increase the federal budget for
traditionally underfunded black schools.
However, according to published
reports, there is no specification for how much funding in the Trump
administration budget for HBCUs so far, and according to The Associated Press, “GOP
lawmakers said there were currently no concrete plans for increased
funding.”
During
remarks made at the Tuesday luncheon in Washington, DC for the HBCU Fly-in
Conference, Rep. Adams reminded all that she, once “a poor black girl…from the
ghetto of Newark, NJ…” is the product of NC A&T University in Greensboro,
who also earned her PhD from Ohio State University.
“So I stand here today as a living
testament of what HBCUS do and have always done for students who simply need an
opportunity, like I did,” she told the HBCU luncheon audience.
Rep. Adams
also reminded all that she also taught for forty years at Bennett College.
“Those of us who have invested our life’s work on these campuses know
first-hand what I’m talking about,” Rep. Adams said. Then, in an apparent dig
at US Education Secretary Betsy Devos, and her much-criticized statement that
HBCUs were “real pioneers when it comes to school choice ” for black students,
which is historically inaccurate, Rep. Adams said, “Founded out of necessity
and exclusion from other institutions of higher education, HBCUs--OUR
SCHOOLS-have been providing pathways to education and upward mobility for more
than a century.”
After then
noting that HBCUs account for half of all black teachers, and forty-percent of
degreed black health professionals,
Adams noted that Rep. Walker, the fly-in conference convener, is a
member of the Congressional Bi-partisan HBCU Caucus .
“It is my sincere belief that the
Congressional Bi-partisan HBCU Caucus planted the seed that created the opportunity
we are experiencing today,” she said, later adding in an interview that while
she doesn’t doubt her colleague’s sincerity about HBCUs, she wonders why he’s
carrying the HBCU support torch now, many years after his wife graduated from
Winston-Salem State University with a nursing degree. NC A&T University is now part of Walker’s
6th District.
“I invite and encourage my
Republican colleagues to work with Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus,
that has historically championed HBCUs in Congress, and whose members have
already introduced legislation that would advance the work at these
institutions,” Rep. Adams continued.
“Further, I challenge you to join me
and the Congressional Black Caucus in encouraging Congress to reauthorize the
Higher Education Act; support the return of The White House Initiative on HBCUs
to the White House; restore year round Pell [Grants] and increase the purchasing
power of these grants; protect and strengthen public education; co-sponsor and
help push through such legislation as: the HBCU Capital Financing Act which
Congressman Byrne and I just introduced; the Historic Preservation Act
sponsored by Congressman Clyburn, the HBCU Innovation Fund Act, along with
other significant bills.”
“It’s time to move the conversation
away from “why do we need HBCUs” to “what would we do without HBCUs and how do
we work together to ensure that HBCUs not only survive but thrive,”
Congresswoman Adams concluded.
In an interview after her luncheon
appearance, Adams said that she and Rep. Cedric Richmond [D-LA-2], chairman of
the Congressional Black Caucus, were the only Congressional Democrats invited
to speak at the fly-in luncheon because of their caucus leadership positions.
In fact, her name wasn’t even on the program.
“They wanted it to be a Republican
thing,” she said, suggesting that this may be part of an effort to ultimately
appeal to black voters.
The North Carolina congresswoman
criticized the choice of Education Secretary Betty DeVos as luncheon keynote
speaker, especially after her erroneous earlier statement about HBCUs.
“In terms of really knowing about
our schools, I can’t imagine she was the best speaker [available], “ said Rep.
Adams, adding that the Education secretary, who made millions in Michigan being
a strong school choice advocate, will probably have to get “ a lot of OJT (On
the Job Training).”
Adams said she supports moving the
HBCU Initiative from DeVos’ agency to the White House because “it might get the
attention that it needs there…,” though there is some concern that it might get
“politicized.”
Congresswoman Adams admitted that
she was “skeptical” about Pres. Trump’s true intentions regarding his overtures
to HBCUs and promises made. “We’re going to have to hold him to what he says.
He certainly wasn’t supportive (during the campaign) of people who look like
me. So I don’t know.”
Of Pres. Trump’s Monday meeting with
the various HBCU presidents and chancellors in the Oval Office, Rep. Adams
added, ‘Hopefully it wasn’t just a photo op.”
During the interview, Adams
reiterated that the idea for the HBCU fly-in conference originated from remarks
she made to her HBCU Caucus last December as something she felt the bi-partisan
group should do. Apparently the idea was
taken to Republican House leadership and approved.
“But we planted the seed,” she
insisted. “We could have done [the fly-in] as a bi-partisan effort…but this was
an opportunity for Republicans to shine, and show-up Democrats.”
Rep. Adam’s Maryland colleague,
Congressman Elijah Cummings [D-MD), a Howard University alum and former
chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, issued a statement Tuesday, saying
in part, “If President Trump is serious about helping HBCUs, he must also be
serious about removing the structural barriers African Americans still face,
and he should put his money where his pen is by urging his colleagues in
Congress to increase federal funding to HBCUs.”
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DESPITE QUESTIONS,
NAACP
PRES. BACKS STATE
BOYCOTT
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Controversy
abounds in the aftermath of a dramatic announcement last week that the national
and state NAACP are calling for an “international” economic boycott of North
Carolina because, they say, of “repressive” policies marshaled by the
Republican-led state legislature.
“True democracy remains a distant ideal
that the racist actions of members of the NC state legislature continue to
disgracefully push further and further out of the reach of the African-American
community,” said NAACP President Cornell William Brooks.
“The NAACP refuses to accept this
attack on democracy or the commoditization of bias against people due to racial
or gender identity here in North Carolina or anywhere else around the nation.
This we will fight against with all of our resources until we win.”
But despite important questions
about how the boycott would work, at least one local NAACP leader says
leveraging dollars spent in the state is the most effective way to force
meaningful change.
It was last
December that NCNAACP Pres. Rev. William Barber announced that the state
conference would formally ask the national NAACP Board of Directors for permission
to call for an economic boycott, in response to various policies and actions
emanating from the GOP-led NC General Assembly.
Three weeks
ago, right before the eleventh Annual HK
on J March and People’s Assembly, the national NAACP Board “announced a resolution calling for an
international economic boycott of the state of North Carolina in response to
actions of an all-white legislative caucus, which unconstitutionally designed
racially-discriminatory gerrymandered districts, enacted a monster
voter suppression law, passed Senate Bill 4 stripping the incoming
Governor of power and passed House Bill 2.”
The NAACP Board described “HB2” as a
“…anti-transgender, anti-worker and anti-access to the state court for
employment discrimination.”
Last Friday during a press conference
in front of the NC Legislative Building on Jones Street, with national NAACP
Pres/CEO Brooks looking on, state NAACP
Pres. Barber stood firm on why an economic boycott was necessary.
“The
actions of the all white caucus of extremists in our legislature and the former
governor are out of control. They have consistently passed legislation that is
a violation of our deepest moral values, voting rights, civil rights and the
fundamental principle of equal protection under the law.”
Rev. Barber continued, “The federal court ruled against their voter
suppression and racially gerrymandered districts. We believe their attacks
on the transgender community and attempt to strip the governor of power will
also be found unconstitutional. Their decision to block local municipalities
ability to raise wages and their limitation of access to state courts are
wrong and we must stand strong against any and all attempts to deprive
citizens their rights ordained by God and guaranteed by the constitution.”
Barber and
Brooks called on all sporting and entertainment events, conferences and other
business interests to avoid North Carolina until Republican lawmakers reversed
course. No national NAACP meetings will take place in the state as well, and
the civil rights organization might even consider divestiture of investments in
the state.
The
national NAACP famously boycotted South Carolina for 15 years until it removed
the Confederate Flag from the state Capitol grounds.
Republican
Senate President Pro tem Phil Berger [R-Rockingham] immediately blamed
Democratic Gov., Roy Cooper for the NAACP declaration, saying the governor
should "condemn
William Barber's attempt to inflict economic harm on our citizens, and work
toward a reasonable compromise that keeps men out of women's bathrooms.,”
referring to HB2, which has already cost the state hundreds of millions of
dollars in cancelled events and businesses refusing to move to North Carolina.
Ford Porter, Gov. Cooper
spokesperson, fired back. "While Governor Cooper continues to urge
business to come to North Carolina in spite of HB2, Republican legislative
leaders need to stop holding our economy hostage to this disastrous law.”
Rev. Barber maintains that if
victory is to be won over Republican repression, it must all start in North
Carolina.
“What has happened in North Carolina makes this state a battleground
over the soul of America and whether our nation is sincere about making
democracy real for all people, not just those with the right bank account, right
sexuality or right skin,” Rev. Barber said at the press conference.
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STATE NEWS BRIEFS FOR 03-02-17
DURHAM MAYOR HONORED
DURING LAST STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS
[DURHAM]
Bill Bell, the mayor of Durham for the past 16 years, gave his final State of
the City address this week, saying that while much still has to be done to
combat crime and poverty in the Bull City, he’s proud of all of the
accomplishments on his watch, especially rebuilding downtown. “What I hope is, if we’re
successful in this area, then we can transfer what we’ve learned into other
communities and make those things work also,” Bell said in his remarks. Before
the end, the mayor received the first William B. Bell Civic Award for his work
and dedication to Durham.
GOVERNOR UNVEILS HIS FIRST
BUDGET REQUEST TO HOSTILE LEGISLATURE
[RALEIGH] Gov. Roy Cooper is making
good on his promise to invest in North Carolina, especially in public
education, in his first two-year budget as governor to go to a hostile
Republican-led General Assembly still steaming at him for the ongoing HB2
controversy. Lawmakers literally don’t even have to read the Democrat
governor’s budget request, and Cooper legally cannot veto it. In his budget, Cooper seeks to to improve
high school graduation rates, pre-kindergarten enrollment, and more adults
statewide with college degrees.
ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
REFUSES GO BAN CONFEDERATE FLAG SYMBOLS
[HILLSBOROUGH] Despite pressure from
the local NAACP branch and outraged parents, the Orange County Board of
Education Monday refused to ban all symbols of the Confederate flag from school
campuses. Instead, the board is establish an “equity committee” to advise the
board on “symbolic speech.” Like tee-shirts, book covers, license plates,
etc. Black students complained that some
white students use the symbol to express “superiority” over them in school.
BI-PARTISAN LEGISLATIVE
GROUP CALLS FOR NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING COMMISSION
[RALEIGH] A new, bi-partisan effort is underway in the
NC House to establish a nonpartisan redistricting commission to draw voting
districts in what many say is a fairer and more equitable way. House Bill 200
calls for the majority and minority legislative leaders to appoint staff to
develop congressional and legislative maps . Normally, the controlling party
every ten years is in charge of drawing the voting districts, usually for
political advantage. GOP lawmakers were hit by a federal appellate court for
“stacking and packing” black voters in a handful of “minority-majority”
districts, which is unconstitutional.
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