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Haiti: Crisis and opportunity

(NNPA)—Much of what I feel about the monumental crisis in Haiti is similar to Katrina in that it was a man-made event waiting to happen. Haiti has existed in the backwater of the most powerful country in the world for 200 years as the poorest example of human hospitality.

But since the defeat of Haiti by the French in 1804, the character of U.S. policy and relations has resembled Western resentment and as such, Haiti has been left essentially to it own devises. Frederick Douglass, who served briefly as U.S. consul to Haiti in 1889, said in a speech that, “Haiti is so near us and so capable of being serviceable to us....[yet] she is the one country to which we turn the cold shoulder.” He felt that the deep reason for the “coolness” is that “Haiti is Black.” He resigned when it became clear that the U.S. aimed to annex the major port in that country against the wishes of the rulers of the country.

RonWaltersBox

Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 19:20

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Harry Reid is not a racist

Harry Reid is not racist and Republican calls for his resignation are misguided. There I said it.
The Senate majority leader has recently come under fire for remarks attributed to him in the new book “Game Change.” Authors Mark Halperin and John Heilemann say that in 2008 Reid described then candidate Obama as a “‘light-skinned’ African-American ‘with no Negro dialect unless he wanted to have one.’” The comments have been seen by some as being racially insensitive.
JosephPhillipsBox

Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 19:20

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Guest Editorial...Williams, Sutton: True champions

The recent deaths of former Pennsylvania state Sen. Hardy Williams and businessman and civic leader Percy Sutton will be a great loss for the African-American community and all supporters of equality and justice. Both Williams, 78, and Sutton, 89, were trained as lawyers who used their legal training and skills to advance the empowerment of their people.

They were both trailblazers who broke down barriers and opened doors and served as mentors for other African-American politicians and leaders.

Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 19:20

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Eunice Johnson: A legacy of beauty

(NNPA)—In the worlds of publishing and fashion, the names John H. Johnson and Eunice Walker Johnson will forever hold a place of distinction. In the 1940s, long before the Black consciousness movement of the modern civil rights era, this dynamic Chicago-based husband and wife team began showcasing the power, dignity and beauty of African-Americans with pioneering publications like Ebony and Jet and a worldwide traveling fashion show called the Ebony Fashion Fair. John Johnson died in 2005, and on Jan. 3, at the age of 93, Eunice Johnson passed away.
MarcMorialBox

Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 19:20

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Councilman Lavelle’s first vote extremely disappointing

On Jan. 4 Pittsburgh City Council was swore in and the first major order of business was to elect a council president. Councilman Bill Peduto and councilman Ricky Burgess both had four votes. Newly elected councilman Daniel Lavelle failed to vote for either and it is assumed that it was driven to a great degree, in my estimation, by his brain trust. I was informed that he absolutely refused to accept a phone call from councilman Burgess.

This proves to me that the newly elected councilman does not care or fails to recognize that Louis Mason was the last Black person to occupy the position of president of Pittsburgh Council.

HopKendrickBox

Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 19:20

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