When is Pres. Trump going to honor Lt. Richard Collins

When is a certain president going to honor Richard Collins an US Army lieutenant that was murdered by a terrorist that is a member of an alt-right hate group?

Black Lives Matter Awarded Swedish Peace Prize

Three women founded Black Lives Matter in 2014, In 2017 they will be honored by the Swedish Peace Foundation.

 

Missing Black Teens in Washington D. C.

Please share, this is sad that so many children are missing in one city.

There are several missing black youth in the Washington D.C. Area. Here is a listing of 13 of them. Any info please call Washington Metropolitan Police Department@ 202-727-9099.

What President Obama meant to me as a black man.

Many including myself will miss President Obama when he is gone from the presidency. As a young black man who believed he was doing well and giving back to his community hear how I was inspired to do even more by President Obama.

Black people: We have to stop the killing in our communities

There are many outside factors that contribute to poverty and despair in lower income black neighborhoods but regardless of those factors we don’t have to kill each other. Stopping the violence starts with us!

Prince releases new protest song, BALTIMORE.

Prince has released a new protest song entitled BALTIMORE in support of Freddie Gray, Michael Brown, the protesters, and the people of Baltimore. Check out the track here: http://www.africanamericanreports.com/2015/05/prince-releases-new-protest-song.html

You know the Tuskegee Airmen but do you know these other black military heroes?

If you are like me you have a great respect for the Tuskegee Airmen. You can make the argument that without them there is no Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, they broke down barriers and showed the true strength and courage of black men.

But they are not the only black military heroes we should know of. There were others such as The Harlem Hellfighters, The Montford Point Marines, Benjamin O. Davis, and The Golden 13. Learn a little more about them through test and video and get links to books about them at: http://www.africanamericanreports.com/2015/02/you-know-tuskegee-airmen-but-do-you.html

The walking Dead’s add a black guy, kill a black guy rule

Now let me first state that I love AMC’s The Walking Dead, it’s my favorite TV show. It’s also one of the most diverse shows on television But I have noticed one troublesome trend, being the old black male character when a new black male character shows up is the equivalent of being a “red shirt” on Star Trek. I like to call it the add a black man kill a black man rule. – See more at: http://www.africanamericanreports.com/2015/02/the-walking-deads-add-one-black-man.html

It’s time to stop preaching to the choir when it comes to “black on black” crime.

It’s time to stop preaching to the choir when it comes to “black on black” crime.

My wife I had the privilege to attend a prayer service for black men gunned down by police on Monday Night (12/29/2014). There were many clergy and some elected officials from Roselle, Elizabeth, Hillside, and Plainfield at this service. At that prayer service in Roselle NJ put together by the Rev. David Ford at the St. Matthew Baptist Church, I heard many great speakers discuss issues in the African American community.

Because it was an open and honest dialogue black on black crime was mentioned, and our responsibility to address and deal with it were discussed. Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley gave a great speech about the need for parents to step up instill values in their kids and to value education. Myrtle Counts the head of the Roselle NAACP gave an impassioned speech about that yes black lives matter but that they must also value to us as African Americans. Rev. Ford mentioned not wanting to live in a world without police but wanting to have good and respectful police. I heard councilwoman Tracey Brown of Plainfield lament the fact that she had done over a hundred eulogy in 2014 and most of those were young people.

As I looked around I saw the nodded heads and heard the Amens and shouts of yes. But I also noticed something else as I looked around, as great as the speakers were the message they were delivering didn’t need to be given to the fifty or so people in the church. They were preaching to the choir.

What good is a great and possibly life-saving message if the people that need to hear it don’t hear it?

We as elected officials, clergy, and community leaders need to take the message that yes black lives matter, but they have to matter to us too from the churches and meeting halls to the streets. Delivering that message won’t be easy but nothing worth doing ever is. I don’t pretend to have all the answers on how to do that but if we all work together, I’m sure that many do.

It’s imperative that we get out there and deliver that message. As an elected official, I’m ready to do my part and hope that others will do the same. Our children’s lives depend on it.

George L. Cook III, president Hillside Board of Education. Email georgelcookiii@gmail.com

Some blame racism but could anger be the cause of Eric Duncan’s death?

Some have pointed to racism in the death of Eric Duncan.  My question is could it be something other than racism. Could it be that doctors and nurses were angry at Duncan for coming back into the United States knowing that he may be sick and thus endangering them all? – See more at: http://www.africanamericanreports.com/2014/10/some-blame-racism-but-could-anger-be.html