Politics. On Point.

Eleven days after another police officer murders another unarmed African American male, tensions continue to run high amid calls for peace and a halt to the unrest by Ferguson officials, residents, and even President Obama. The family and Ferguson residents want justice for eighteen year-old, Michael Brown , who was shot, execution style, by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson . Brown's body lay in street for several moments, with no attempts to revive him, and no ambulance dispatched to the crime scene. A posting and picture of Darren Wilson from his father's Facebook page. Witnesses took to their camera phones to record their account of the incident.  See also [ Reporter talks to Ferguson residents to get on-the-ground response .  Multiple videos]. Many say Brown and a friend were approached by Wilson who pulled Brown into the police car and as Brown struggled to get away, Wilson shot him.   It was still unclear why the two men were approached b...

If not me, who?  If not now, when? President Obama unveiled his 'Brother's Keeper' initiative this week to direct more attention to the needs and plight of young African American males. It would be second time, on a national scale, that the president has addressed the plight of young, urban, African American men. You may recall the president speaking in the James Brady briefing room after the death of Trayvon Martin where he said, "we need to spend some time in thinking about how do we bolster and reinforce our African American boys. And this is something that Michelle and I talk a lot about. There are a lot of kids out there who need help who are getting a lot of negative reinforcement. And is there more that we can do to give them the sense that their country cares about them and values them and is willing to invest in them?" The president's My Brother's Keeper initiative is designed to give young people more choices, to help them overcome obs...

Tracy Martin, the father of young, murder victim, Trayvon Martin testified on Capitol Hill pledging to not give up on getting justice for his son. "I think, to a man, the greatest gift from a woman is son. And to have that son taken away from you when you've molded him into becoming an upstanding citizen of this country, it's heart wrenching and something that you can never get over." Mr. Martin said his son was his hero. Mr. Martin spoke on Capitol Hill as part of a forum titled "The Status of Black Males: Ensuring Our Boys Mature Into Strong Men", created by the Congressional Black Caucus. The forum was lead by Sen. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and included Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL), author and professor Micheal Eric Dyson, and former NAACP president Kwiesi Mfume. Said Ms. Norton, “ The issues are spread across the spectrum of the life of Black males in America today – clothed in stereotypes from their years as boys, as youths, and as men.  We...

President Obama, in a Friday afternoon daily press briefing shocker, stood at the podium and finally spoke to America about the George Zimmerman verdict. The president spoke to the history of disparity in the justice system, as it relates to African Americans,  and how African Americans are treated in society as a whole.  Speaking on a personal note he said he, too, had been profiled as a young African American male. He also stated that he "could have been Trayvon Martin some thirty years ago." It was time for the president to speak out on this issue that has Americans taking yet another look at race in this country. On why African Americans feel as they do about the verdict, the president said, "African Americans have a set of experiences and history [in this country] that doesn't go away." And he is right. Question, again, continues to be, how do we make it go away? The president ( and we agree ) doesn't believe having talks and town...

In 2013, Still Two Worlds: One Black. One White. Today's White House press briefing started out with press secretary Jay Carney telling reporters how he spent his weekend.   After telling reporters he hoped their weekend was good, he offered an unsolicited take on his own. "Since you asked", joked Carney who described his weekend as "great" and "unbelievable", "I had a great weekend". "I took my son to see Paul McCartney Friday night", Carney said, calling the experience "fantastic". "It’s just a fantastic experience because he’s amazing and his songs are amazing, but to be there with an 11-year-old who also knew all the words is pretty special." Good for you, Mr. Carney. Good for all fathers who still have their sons in their lives and can take them to baseball parks, basketball games, the movies, and Paul McCartney concerts. For one father, and for one family, those events will never happen agai...

Here we are, six months into the New Year, with the reelection of the first African American president and seemingly the rights and civil liberties of African Americans are looking even more bleak. Explanation forthcoming. As the trial of George Zimmerman continues in Florida, Americans are waiting with bated breath to see if 16 year old Trayvon Martin will receive justice after being viciously assassinated, almost one year ago, by the self-proclaimed neighborhood watchman.   Food Network’s television cook, Paula Deen was ousted last week over years of her use of the ‘N word ‘ to her staff employees. African American youth around the country, especially in New York City, are still being profiled and singled out by police for “being in the wrong neighborhood” under the state’s Stop-and-Frisk policies. And yesterday the Supreme Court of the United States, with its only African American judge, decided   that Section IV of the Voting Rights bill, would best ser...

Can There Be An  Enforced Stop Racial Profiling Act? Members of Congress have been more than focal about the Trayvon Martin murder that happened in February of this year. Last week members of Congress took to the House floor, along with Trayvon Martin's parents, to put the word out that racial profiling is still an unacceptable practice. Martin was gunned down by a renegade neighborhood watch captain as he was walking back home to his father's house, located in a predominately white, gated community.  His killer, George Zimmerman remains at large while the 18 year-old's parents and family continue to seek justice. "We are with you, Congressman Gregory Meeks said to Martin's parents.  Meek also had a message for those believing a young life like Trayvon Martin is expendable. "We are sending a message to all of America. . . you cannot discriminate and profile individuals because of his or her looks." Cases like Trayvon Martin are cropping ...

President Obama comments on the killing of Trayvon Martin. Trayvon Martin's new hoodie. After 27 days of wondering when, or if, President Obama was ever going to comment on the tragic death of 17 year old Trayvon Martin who was killed by the renegade, wannabe, so-called neighborhood watch person, George Zimmerman, we hear about the matter from the Commander-in-Chief. Speaking today in the Rose Garden, after announcing the nomination of Jim Yong Kim to replace Bob Zoellick as president of the World Bank, the president was asked: Mr. President, may I ask you about this current case in Florida, very controversial, allegations of lingering racism within our society -- the so-called do not -- I'm sorry -- Stand Your Ground law and the justice in that? Can you comment on the Trayvon Martin case, sir? THE PRESIDENT: Well, I’m the head of the executive branch, and the Attorney General reports to me so I’ve got to be careful about my statements to make sure that we’re not i...

Outrage, shock, and dismay continues to spill out over the senseless death of 17 year old promising high school student Trayvon Martin, who was killed on February 26, 2012 in Sanford, Florida by wannabe vigilanty George Zimmerman (may he rot in some place unpleasant). Zimmerman, disguising himself as some sort of vigilanty neighborhood watch patrol official followed, chased down, and killed Martin and claimed self defense as he stood over the deceased Martin with a nine millimeter weapon in his hand. Zimmerman has not been charged, and is free to come and go as he pleases while the Martin family is left fighting for justice for their deceased son. Congresswoman Fredericka Wilson vows to speak from the floor of Congress until Martin's murderer is brought to justice.  It has been 25 days without an arrest of George Zimmerman who has been set free without charge. While President Obama has yet to speak out on the matter, or give a phone call to the Martin family, (even...