News

Mother's Day: A day for reflection

Tuesday, 30 April 2013 10:54

(StatePoint) Most people spend Mother's Day bestowing flowers, gifts and heartfelt sentiments upon their moms. But for some, knowing how to honor their mother is not so easy. After all, mothers are only human, and not all of them are perfect.

"New Jim Crow" discriminates against people with a criminal record

Tuesday, 30 April 2013 09:20 Christina Cerruti, TC Daily Planet

Minneapolis resident Manu Lewis has spent the past four years working to turn his life around and give back to society despite his criminal record. "I do a lot of volunteer work. I do a lot of community work," he said. "I do a lot of organizing within the community that I reside in, but the fact still remains that society still sees me as a convicted felon. So no matter how much time I volunteer, no matter how many good deeds I try to do, I always have that stigma attached to me." He looks to people like Michelle Alexander who are "trying to overthrow some of these policies that are keeping the community held hostage."

State cuts to college aid exacerbates affordability issue

Tuesday, 30 April 2013 09:13 Freddie Allen NNPA Washington Correspondent

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – As President Obama continues to underscore the need to increase the college-educated workforce significantly by 2020, all except two states have slashed their funding for higher education.

Pell Grant changes will slow Black graduation rates

Thursday, 25 April 2013 10:56 Maya Rhodan NNPA Washington Correspondent

[Editor's Note: This is the second of two stories by NNPA Washington Correspondents Freddie Allen and Maya Rodan examining how federal loan problems are hurting Black students in college.]

Tutu daughters discuss faith and hope in the wake of tragedy, anguish

Thursday, 25 April 2013 10:44 Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu is revered a symbol of strength and courage during a time of great strife and upheaval.

Marie Johns is leaving her mark on SBA

Thursday, 25 April 2013 10:36 George E. Curry NNPA Editor-in-Chief

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Marie Johns, the retired president of Washington Verizon, was busy managing a consulting firm when she received an unexpected call three years ago from the White House.

More Blacks must become entrepreneurs; MUL chief takes area corporations to task

Thursday, 25 April 2013 10:30 Harry Colbert, Jr.

Economic empowerment is the next phase of the civil rights movement.

That is the message Minneapolis Urban League President Scott Gray is trying to convey to the area's African-American community. Gray, who came to Minneapolis from Milwaukee, said he is accustom to seeing a plethora of African-American owned businesses in other major metropolitan cities and thinks it's past time that Minneapolis and the surrounding areas produce more African-American entrepreneurs.

Group rallies around grandmother fighting to get custody of her grandchildren

Thursday, 25 April 2013 10:20 Harry Colbert, Jr.

Even though the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled against her, Dorothy Dunning is fighting on in her quest to gain custody of her granddaughters.

'Magic' Johnson encourages African-Americans to ASPiRE with launch of new network; focus on family-friendly programming

Thursday, 25 April 2013 10:15 Harry Colbert, Jr.

If a person were to only judge African-American culture based solely on the majority of television programming currently being offered, the representation would be quite sad.

African-American literature web sites launch "power list" of best-selling books

Thursday, 25 April 2013 09:29

Three leading African-American literature web sites announced the launch of the Power List, a quarterly compilation of best-selling books written or read by African Americans. The Power List is a joint project of AALBC.com, Cushcity.com and Mosaicbooks.com, three Web sites which have promoted African-American literature for more than a decade.

One hour television program examines how predatory financial practices harm people and communities

Wednesday, 24 April 2013 16:18

"Borrowing Trouble" on Conversations With Al McFarlane tapes Tuesday, April 30 during Financial Literacy Month in Minnesota

A one hour television program to be taped during Financial Literacy Month in Minnesota examines how predatory home lending, payday loans, credit discrimination and other practices take unfair advantage of people who are financially struggling.

Host Al McFarlane, editor in chief of Insight News, explores these issues with a panel of experts as part of his ongoing Conversations with Al McFarlane public policy television series.