NEW ANALYSIS SELMA, Ala. (NNPA) –Throughout his campaign for the presidency, Barack Obama was dogged by one question: Is he Black enough? The question was repeated so often that after showing up late for an appearance at the 2008 annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists in Las Vegas, Obama said, “I want to apologize for being late, but you … [Read more...]
Supreme Court’s Shelby ruling makes Selma a ‘footnote’
As Washington lawmakers, local officials and activists prepare to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to observe the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Ala., some civil rights leaders want them to remember that voting rights are still under attack. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., the president and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, recently convened a meeting of voting … [Read more...]
Oscar Recap 2015: ‘Birdman’ soars over the competition!
Birdman won Best Picture at the 87th annual Academy Awards on a night periodically punctuated by politically-conscious acceptance speeches. That film and The Grand Budapest Hotel tied for the most wins, four, followed by Whiplash with three, and Boyhood with two. There weren’t any upsets in terms of the major categories, with Julianne Moore (Still Alice) and Eddie … [Read more...]
Plans for two separate marches in Selma cancelled as groups unify
A very public conflict between the Bridge Crossing Jubilee, Inc., the local group that has been commemorating the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery March for more than four decades, and the largely White-run The Faith & Politics Institute, a Washington-based group that had organized competing marches in Selma and Montgomery on the weekend commemorating the 50th anniversary of … [Read more...]
Minnesota transplant recalls segregated Selma
Parents shielded children to prevent ‘negative attitudes’ Dr. Hallie Hendrieth-Smith watched the movie Selma with keen interest. She grew up outside of Selma, Alabama, and once lived in the city as a young adult after her family bought a house there that they occupied for many years. “One of the things I was proud to see,” said Smith after she and her husband were invited … [Read more...]