Last week, the 44^th President of the United States, Barack Obama, gave his third State of Union address. He stands little chance of making significant change, it seems though; however, as Black History Month begins, a good number of African Americans along with millions of other people will be marking a different common experience—the one where with “bottom having dropped out” from under them.

“Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hardworking Americans… Read more

I rushed into a store while carrying a bag from a previous purchase, zooming right past a man stationed near the stacked lines of grocery carts. I only vaguely heard him saying, “Ms. Ms.,” as I was lost in trying to remember the items I came to purchase. I did finally heard a loud, “Ms!” I turned to see a young man of Asian descent signaling me to return to the African American man I had just rushed past.

I walked over, and he said, “You have to check your bag, Ms.,” and he attached a… Read more

Ongoing developments within the Occupy movement coupled with a recent re-reviewing of Inside Job, the compelling documentary that peers behind the 2008 financial meltdown, signal a deeper sense of urgency for community organizing and a “people’s” restructuring of this country’s economy. Inside Job details the estimated $20 trillion impact on domestic and global economies, the loss of millions of homes and jobs, the federal government’s bailout of Wall Street, and the shameful millions paid out in bonuses to top financial industry executives.… Read more

And so OWS continues to provide a backdrop for acts of resistance, fueling a fresh climate for social justice movement building.

The infectious momentum of OWS and it’s “now is the time” organizing energy is also being exemplified by the ongoing organizing efforts of the Food Chain Workers Alliance (FCWA) and the hundreds of thousands of workers in the food industry in this country.  FCWA, with its twelve member organizations, represents… Read more

This time around, one issue in particular is being touted by some officials as the necessary key to securing our polls against invasive outsiders: Voter ID/ Voter Suppression. Amid concerns of voter fraud, several states have adopted legislation to change the requirements for voting in this year’s election. These concerns are unjustified and will suppress the votes of people of color, low… Read more

Cheers and cries of support were palpable for blocks as the march wound its way through downtown, and past the site of Occupy Oakland.

Through difficult experience, CIW understands what it means to put the pressure on corporations, to leverage a significant mass of workers, and to develop the necessary strategic moves that will advance this… Read more

Seeking to identify common ground in addressing the anti-immigrant movement, The Center for New Community (CNC), SisterSong-Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, and the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR) met in Georgia.  In part, the discussion focused on the intersections of the anti-immigrant movement and civil, human rights violations, and the… Read more

It’s not the first time the Tanton Network has attempted to drive a wedge between Blacks and immigrants.

In 2006, Choose Black America (CBA), a similar front group, was launched by Tanton Network group Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).  The leader of CBA and primary spokesperson was Ted Hayes.  At the time, CBA heralded itself as “the voice of Black America.” CBA is now defunct.  However, a couple of years later, a… Read more

Topics to be discussed include jobs, economy, civil liberties, education, housing, social issues, laws and regulations, and more. The real question, though, is what can FAIR, a group founded by a white nationalist breeder of bigotry, offer to such a gathering?

Answer: Nothing, except for coded bigotry.

BFERC is recognized for its mission to “work vigorously to maintain our Civil and Human Rights that our forefathers fought so diligently for,”… Read more

“How does the neighborhood I live in affect my access to good quality food?”

This is an especially relevant question considering the hardships many have faced economically and with housing. And one can’t address access to quality food without looking at wealth.

With the recent release of… Read more

A key theme of the gathering was the intersection of various civil and human rights violations that are currently trending within the harsh application immigration enforcement.  Two such intersections of these violations are racial profiling, conducted under the guise of national security and “suspicious activity”… Read more

Rep Bob Filner (D- CA), at the time a student at Cornell University and the Rev. Reginald Green, a student from Virginia Union University, recall wanting to address the moral dilemma that the segregated South presented.  They were compelled… Read more

Few departments of government remained unscathed as hard won social, environmental and progressive economic improvement strategies underwent deep to devastating cuts.  One potentially disastrous $10 million budget reduction impacts the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act which was signed into law January 4, 2011.   How soon we forget.

Democratic lobbying efforts purported concern for funding for food… Read more

Similarly, when the Network’s seed group, Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), wanted to appear pro-Latino a few years back, it recruited virulent minuteman leader and Mexican-American Rosanna Pulido to head up its You Don’t… Read more

The Which Way Forward Network is comprised of African Americans and Black leaders who are diverse in both thought and opinion regarding the issue of immigration reform in this country and believe in dialogues that enable African Americans to identify their self-interests in the immigration debate.  Network leaders are also concerned about some African American leaders who choose to associate with anti-immigrant organizations that have ties to white nationalist organizations, publications and leaders.… Read more

However, their skewed reports on immigration were met with emotional rebuttals as members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) vehemently denounced the attempts of House Republicans and anti-immigrant spokespersons to drive wedges between African Americans, Blacks and Latinos.

Representative Emanuel Cleaver II, D-MO, responded in a statement,

“I am concerned by the Majority’s attempt to manufacture tension between the African American and immigrant communities. It seems as though they would like for our communities to think about

… Read more

This documentary contains a segment called, “Taking Care of the Team,” featuring Chairman John Tyson, current CEO Donnie Smith and Chaplain Rick McKinnie of Tyson Foods, Inc.  The segment is a twisted piece of propaganda that purports to show that the focus of Tyson’s vision and mission is one that values a “faith-friendly” environment in its Springdale, Arkansas and other massive meat processing facilities. This segment might more aptly be titled, “Taking ONE… Read more

On January 4, 2011 President Obama signed into law the Food Safety Modernization Act.  This forward-thinking legislation enables swifter recalling of contaminated food products.  The law authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase inspections of many domestic food facilities, enhance detection of foodborne illness outbreaks, and order recalls of tainted food products

This doesn’t necessarily translate into consumer,… Read more

A year ago, the unemployment rate was nearly 10 percent, African-American unemployment was 16 percent, and Latinos were unemployed at a rate of 13 percent, with whites having the lowest rate at nearly 9 percent.  Young people were unemployed at almost 25%.  The current unemployment rate is 9.8 percent. These dismal numbers provided a backdrop for even more economic devastation in the immigrant communities across this country. … Read more

While some families prepare to make their traditional holiday trek to enjoy time with family and friends, hundreds of thousands of low wage, immigrant food workers are sequestered in meatpacking, poultry processing and dairy plants, and laboring in fields… Read more