African American Scholar Boyce Watkins and Madeline Talk Black Politics
Showing posts with label African American Women. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African American Women. Show all posts
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friday, July 25, 2008
McDonalds Discriminates Against Muslim Women
Two Muslim women said they were denied jobs at a McDonald's restaurant in Dearborn because they wore Islamic headscarves, according to a discrimination lawsuit filed Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court.Toi Whitfield, 20, of Detroit and Quiana Pugh, 25, of Dearborn said they applied for jobs at the McDonald's on Ford Road in the eastern section of Dearborn but were told by the store manager, "You're not going to work here if you don't remove" the headscarf, known as a hijab.
A spokeswoman for McDonald's said the management company that runs the Dearborn restaurant "has a strict policy prohibiting any form of discrimination."
The Dearborn restaurant is one of only two McDonald's restaurants in the United States that sells Chicken McNuggets that are halal, the Muslim equivalent of kosher. In recent years, a number of corporate restaurants in Dearborn have started selling halal meat in order to tap into the growing Muslim customer base.
Dawud Walid, head of the Michigan branch of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said it's upsetting that a restaurant with such a large Muslim community around it would discriminate against Muslim women seeking jobs.
"They'll take Muslim dollars, but won't hire Muslim female employees," Walid said.
Click for additional infoFriday, July 18, 2008
Political Novel on Deck
At long last, Lookin' in the Mirror in 2nd edition is available for sale!
It comes with a new cover, new chapters and happiness all over, replete with a preface by the best-selling short story author Jonathan Marcantoni of The Shortcut: 20 Stories to Get You From Here to There fame.
It comes with a new cover, new chapters and happiness all over, replete with a preface by the best-selling short story author Jonathan Marcantoni of The Shortcut: 20 Stories to Get You From Here to There fame.
The search for that special person can be a long, nerve-wracking journey or a very colorful lesson on love and commitment. This journey can be one of great introspection and reflection that teaches us about our deepest desires and needs. LOOKIN' IN THE MIRROR takes a look into the lives of Vicki and Gerald, and their choices in the dating game.
Vicki is a journalist who lives in Washington, D.C. She and her all-girl posse take D.C. by storm. From her own reflections she sees herself as a down-to-earth diva with a wonderful sense of humor and an affinity for sports. On one hand, she is every man's dream while on the other hand men fear her. She also happens to have a serious commitment phobia. Can she overcome her fears to make a commitment? Will she even want to?
Gerald is a professional businessman who lives in Houston, TX with aspirations of moving. He's got his professional life together in a well paying job with growth potential, he mentors a young man in his community, he's [a great guy]. Any woman would be happy to have a man like him. But, he's been burned one time too many. He always seems to attract the one who "almost" meets his criteria. In his search for a serious commitment, will there be any woman to meet his many qualifications?
Madeline Hatter gives an often humorous and entertaining reflective look at Americans in the dating game, as roles have changed over the years. No longer are women rushing to the marriage altar. She covers the full gamut of dating. Written in a form similar to that of a personal journal for each of the two main characters, we took an insightful look into their lives for a full year as they discovered their desires, their weaknesses and their struggles to overcome insecurities. I enjoyed the style which Hatter used to tell the story. The banter was lively, engaging and very down-to-earth.
Brenda M. Lisbon, RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Get your copy of Lookin' in the Mirror, 2nd ed. TODAY!!!!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Story Of Lavena Johnson - Raped Black Soldier
In July 2005, 19-year-old Johnson became the first female soldier from Missouri to die in Iraq. She was found with a broken nose, black eye and loose teeth, acid burns on her genitals, presumably to eliminate DNA evidence of rape, a trail of blood leading away from her tent and a bullet hole in her head. Unbelievably, that's not the most horrifying part of the story. Here's what is: Army investigators ruled her death a suicide.
Beyond the obvious evidence of abuse, there was no sign of depression or suicidal ideation in Johnson's psychological profile. The bullet wound was in the wrong place for her to have shot herself with her dominant hand, and the exit wound was the wrong size to have come from her own M-16, as the Army suggested it did. The blatant lie the military has tried to sell Johnson's family is on a par with the cover-up surrounding football star Pat Tillman's 2004 death in a friendly fire incident. Unlike Tillman's widely reported story, however, outside the blogosphere -- where writers like Philip Barron have worked tirelessly to keep Johnson's name in the spotlight -- the LaVena Johnson case has rarely been noted. And sadly, it is far from unique. In a story in the New Zealand Herald on Wednesday, Tracey Barnett writes, "[LaVena's father] John Johnson has discovered far more stories that have matched his daughter's than he ever wanted to know. Ten other families of 'suicide' female soldiers have contacted him. The common thread among them -- rape..."
Beyond the obvious evidence of abuse, there was no sign of depression or suicidal ideation in Johnson's psychological profile. The bullet wound was in the wrong place for her to have shot herself with her dominant hand, and the exit wound was the wrong size to have come from her own M-16, as the Army suggested it did. The blatant lie the military has tried to sell Johnson's family is on a par with the cover-up surrounding football star Pat Tillman's 2004 death in a friendly fire incident. Unlike Tillman's widely reported story, however, outside the blogosphere -- where writers like Philip Barron have worked tirelessly to keep Johnson's name in the spotlight -- the LaVena Johnson case has rarely been noted. And sadly, it is far from unique. In a story in the New Zealand Herald on Wednesday, Tracey Barnett writes, "[LaVena's father] John Johnson has discovered far more stories that have matched his daughter's than he ever wanted to know. Ten other families of 'suicide' female soldiers have contacted him. The common thread among them -- rape..."
For more info, pls. visit:
http://www.lavenajohnson.com/
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Your Black World Exclusive: Regina Thomas Interview
Interview with Congressional Candidate, Regina Thomas, by Tolu Olorunda.
In recent weeks, Georgia State Senator, Regina Thomas has made some headlines. She is a seasoned-politician in the ‘Peach State,’ who is running for a Congressional seat from Georgia’s 12th District. Her opponent is a fellow-Democrat, John Barrow, who was elected to Congress in 2004. On June 19, 2008, John Barrow picked up a big endorsement from the Democratic Presidential Nominee, Barack Obama. This endorsement came as a surprise to many for two distinct reasons. Firstly, on the account that Barrow is widely regarded as a feckless politician in matters relating to President Bush’s policies. Secondly, noting the fact that his opponent is an African-American Woman, living in a district with a majority black-demographical make-up. Despite this occurrence, Senator Thomas has vowed to remain focused with her sight on the Congressional seat. I had the grand-opportunity to speak with her about this and much more:
Thanks for being with us, Senator. When did your political-career effectively take-off?
It began in 1990, and I ran for the office of the School Board for the 2nd District in Georgia.
What has the journey from Local School Board to U.S. Congress been like?
Well, it’s been a transition; because in 1990 I did not win the School Board seat, but I went on to win a Georgia House of Representatives seat in 1994. My political journey embodies, 2 years as the Deputy Majority Whip of the Georgia House, 4 years as a member of the Georgia House of Representative, 8 years as a Georgia State Senator, and 12 years as a State Legislator.
How did it feel, to have Senator Obama endorse your opponent, John Barrow?
Well, I expected that, so it didn’t have any effect on me. I knew that Senator Obama would do that. He (John Barrow) is an incumbent, and also a Superdelegate, who gave Barack Obama his Superdelegate vote. So in essence, it was ‘payback time.’
In light of that, do you think the Democratic Party is in disarray at the moment?
Well, as a rule, the Democratic Party is not supposed to endorse candidates when there is opposition from within the Party. However, individual Democrats can do whatever they want to do. So, I think that the Democratic Party has been pretty much imitating the Right-Wing, and I feel that we need to remain true to who we are, what we believe, and the people we stand for.
As a Black Woman, do you think Senator Obama’s candidacy is something Black folks should disproportionately support?
Well, that would be for each individual to decide for themselves, and my opinion might differ from that of someone else. So, you look at a candidate’s qualifications, and if that’s who you decide to support, so be it.
So far, how’s your campaign been going?
My campaign is going fantastic, and ever since Senator Obama endorsed my opponent, my campaign has been turned up a notch.
If elected, what are your proposals vis-à-vis revamping the broken down communities across the country?
My plans, when, not if. I don’t know what the word “if” means. So, when I win on July 15th and November 4th, I will address “No Child Left Behind,” and eliminate that unfunded mandate, by taking the funds from “No Child Left Behind,” and sending it to The State on an “at-need” basis. By doing that, the funding will go to the different local school systems. I will also repeal the tax-cut that aids the Big Oil companies, and put that finance into health-care provision, so everyone can realize their access to health-care. In addition to that, I will repeal the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
What advice do you have for young brothers and sisters, hoping to secure a career in politics someday?
First of all, they have to get actively involved in their communities. They also have to be fully aware of the activities of their communities, by attending meetings. They must have input, by registering to vote, and participating in that process. They should try to seek offices on the local levels. They ought to also know, that they are powerful if they work together, and can achieve anything. They have to stay out of trouble, and pick their friends wisely. Education is essential, so they should stay in school. Lastly, they need to work hard, because it definitely will help them in the future.
To contact Mrs. Thomas or to donate to her campaign, pls. visit: http://reginathomas4congress.com/index.html
This interview was conducted by Tolu Olorunda, Staff Writer for YourBlackWorld.com
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