Commentary

Tough on teachers

Friday, 12 March 2010 15:48 Judge Greg Mathis

The recent firing of all the teachers at Central Falls High School in Rhode Island by the district superintendent was applauded by both President Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Both thought this was the right thing for the students being failed by the teachers and the school. But is it all the teacher’s fault? Should the principals also be held responsible? What about the parents? After all, it does take a village.

I am empowered - Are you?

Thursday, 11 March 2010 15:56 Marc H. Morial, NNPA Columnist

(NNPA) - "I pledge to responsibly commit my time and talent to ensure that the nation is empowered to eliminate racial gaps and disparities in housing, education, employment and healthcare by 2025…"

Last week, the National Urban League officially kicked off its centennial celebration and takes its century-long fight for equal opportunity and empowerment to the next level. The centerpiece of our celebration is a bold, new social mobilization campaign which we are calling I AM EMPOWERED. We recently launched a new, interactive website: www.iamempowered.com, which asks citizens across the country to join us in a pledge of time and talent to achieve four Empowerment Goals by 2025:

Consider what the Haitian people want

Thursday, 11 March 2010 14:59 Nicole C. Lee, NNPA Columnist

(NNPA) - In the midst of the rubble that still contains the bodies of loved ones, the real people of Haitian, civil society and NGO leaders, met last month to begin to think about how they would build a new Haiti. I am on my way to Haiti now to consult with many of those leaders in order to ensure that I and TransAfrica Forum fully understand their reality, their needs and their vision for a new society. Because I know that Haiti’s full recovery must be based upon their priorities and their needs. But even while Haitians are beginning to imagine their future, I also know that the reality of day-to-day life in Haiti is overwhelming.

Mo'nique's Oscar - Victory and Setback

Thursday, 11 March 2010 14:25 Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Columnist

(NNPA) - The comedienne, talk show host and actress Mo’nique has become just the fifth African American woman to win an Oscar. Her portrayal of Mary Jones, the revolting and depraved mother of Precious, was arguably masterful, and she now joins Hattie McDaniel (who played a maid), Halle Berry (who played a sex-starved fool), Whoppi Goldberg (who played a medium in Ghost), and Jennifer Hudson (who played a singer).

Weighing the promise of healthcare and finding it wanting

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 17:38 Joseph C. Phillips

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week”, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi commented, “I think everybody wants affordable health care for all Americans. They know that this will take courage. It took courage to pass Social Security. It took courage to pass Medicare. And many of the same forces that were at work decades ago are at work again against this bill.”

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