The Viability of Black Family Life: Infidelity

African Americans have been described as the “most unpartnered and isolated group of people in America and possibly the world” (Patterson, 1998). If true, what are the causes and implications of the fractured relationships? I spoke with noted intimacy expert, Ebony Utley, concerning the growing alienation between black men and women. Part three, the conclusion of our discussion, deals with the intersection of infidelity and technology. Read More

The Viability of Black Family Life II: Communication about Communication

Can fractured relationships be repaired? Can mistrust, resentment and other harmful consequences of a disconnected people be healed? I spoke with noted intimacy expert, Ebony Utley, concerning fractured or dysfunctional relationships, a topic many perceive to be emblematic of contemporary life in the black community. read more

Ali: The Blessedness of Resistance

He knew, just as most of us have known for as long as we can remember, that fire burns. So, when a young Cassius Clay won the world heavyweight boxing title in February 1964 and soon thereafter announced that he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali, that he would feel the intense heat of societal backlash. read more

The Viability of Black Family Life

Will African Americans be able to regain a sense of community where healthy, stable, reliable and consistent relationships and/or families exist? I talked with a noted intimacy and relationship expert, Ebony Utley, Ph.D, concerning solutions to the current state of conflict and disconnectedness that exists, particularly among men and women, in the black community. read more

When Strong is Weak

Last week, Toledo Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson used the kickoff rally for Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken’s campaign to announce her own plans to run for mayor in 2017. Perhaps a calculated “flex” intended for the ears of potential rival mayoral candidates, it is, rather, the mayor’s strong-armed maneuvers, allegedly taking place behind-the-scenes, that could ultimately undermine her reelection efforts. read more

Red Alert

We have all seen or heard about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan: thousands of children and pregnant women have been exposed to lead poisoning after a series of questionable or, at best, very short-sighted decisions by various government entities caused lead to seep into their drinking water. This is, pure and simple, the poisoning of a community. And it is mainly lower-income African-American children who are poisoned at higher rates than in predominantly white neighborhoods or suburbs and whose lives are in dire danger. Recently, however, we are coming to learn that it is not just Flint and it is not just water. Consider what is happening right here in Ohio. (read more)

Intimate Friends

The March 15 Ohio primary confirmed that the African-American vote is relevant and also suggests that the ability to win over African-American voters will be critical for hopefuls in the November 8, 2016 general and presidential elections. Hillary Clinton, despite shared policy views on substantive issues, was able to distance herself from rival Bernie Sanders and establish a clear path to the Democratic Party presidential nomination, by riding waves of overwhelming African-American support. In contrast, Sanders’ progressive message emphasizing income inequality has appealed to liberals but fell flat among black voters. The difference? Read More

Politics "On The Low"

The campaign season is in full swing. Yet, neither the Bernie/Hillary tap dance around questions of racial blind spots (Flint debate) or the “non-politically correct” xenophobic rhetoric of Donald Trump, represent the only politics with racial under or overtones. Or, at least, with possible racial ramifications. more

Replacing Scalia: The Fierce Urgency of Now

Earlier this month, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away at age 79. He is survived by his loving wife Maureen, nine children and dozens of grandchildren. To Scalia’s family and friends, I offer my most heartfelt condolences. 

But I’m not going to lie. I don’t have the “liberal love for Antonin Scalia” that others proclaim. I have disagreed with the “originalist” approach to the justice’s interpretation of the constitution as well as most, if not all, of his rulings from the bench.

read more

How Do We Talk To Our Children? by Tracee Perryman

by Tracee Perryman

This week's episode is one you don't want to miss. Nightline goes behind the scenes with the cast of #blackish.
Posted by black-ish on Tuesday, February 23, 2016

 I plan to watch THIS! Sometimes the perception is that African Americans live for the opportunity to, or are obsessed with talking about what is wrong with our world. That is NOT the case. We take no joy in experiencing or speaking about injustice. We wrestle with what to say and how to say it. I have spent 6 years studying this very subject - how do we prepare individuals to cope with injustice in productive ways? If not handled responsibly, it can result in hatred and anger towards the larger society. But when handled responsibly, self-esteem, positive identity, and educational performance improves, while mental health problems, anger, and violence risks are lessened - because people are equipped with the coping skills needed to refrain from internalizing the injustices going on around them. Instead, we emphasize their inner gifts and attributes, community identity and preservation, and all the heroes through history who have faced injustice - those shoulders on which we stand.

I plan to watch THIS! Sometimes the perception is that African Americans live for the opportunity to, or are obsessed with talking about what is wrong with our world. That is NOT the case. We take no joy in experiencing or speaking about injustice. We wrestle with what to say and how to say it. I have spent 6 years studying this very subject - how do we prepare individuals to cope with injustice in productive ways? If not handled responsibly, it can result in hatred and anger towards the larger society. But when handled responsibly, self-esteem, positive identity, and educational performance improves, while mental health problems, anger, and violence risks are lessened - because people are equipped with the coping skills needed to refrain from internalizing the injustices going on around them. Instead, we emphasize their inner gifts and attributes, community identity and preservation, and all the heroes through history who have faced injustice - those shoulders on which we stand.

An Urban Agenda on the Political Main Stage

What we have had in terms of policies and representation is not working for the Village and has not worked for a long time.We need someone to represent the Village who does not need a translator or guide to navigate the complexities of the 21^st century social terrain.

We need elected officials who do not have to wait for others to explain how “society has changed,” but those for whom these issues are part of their natural habitat.

In other words, We need someone who has perspective into the issues of urban communities, like education, gun violence, voting rights and the disparities in health, wealth, income, employment, and in the criminal justice system.

P.G. Sittenfeld brings knowledge, energy, and fresh ideas as well as the courage, commitment and the will to address the issues that others have, for so long, continued to run away from. He has placed an urban agenda on the main stage and not in the margins or the balcony of his political campaign.

I am happy today to give my support to PG Sittenfeld for the United States Senate.

UNDECIDED

The 2008 election and 2012 reelection of President Barack Obama were able to take place, not because America had become post-racial, but rather, because of increased black political power.

As the pace of the 2016 Presidential primary quickens, sprinting towards South Carolina, Nevada, the Super Tuesday SEC primary and then arriving in Ohio on March 15, the power of the African American vote is once again in play.

Unlike the recent Iowa caucus and New Hampshire mixed primary, minority voters will represent a sizable proportion of the Democratic electorate in many of the upcoming contests. This has led to some fierce in-party fighting for black support between hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, neither who can achieve the Democratic presidential nomination without extensive backing from the African American community.

For whom will I be voting?

It’s still early and momentum is key. Clinton will more than likely take Nevada and South Carolina. Minnesota at this point is a toss up but Sanders is likely to win Colorado. The week following Super Tuesday is the Ohio primary, which is expected to be a hard fought battle with BIG implications for the winner in the Buckeye State.

HRC, historically an unquestioned friend of the African American community, has had a lock on black voters and considered a shoo-in for the Ohio primary until former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner withdrew her support for Clinton to back Bernie Sanders. There are rumors that Turner felt slighted in some way by the Clinton campaign. Publicly, Nina is saying that while she respects Secretary Clinton, she feels that Sanders has a greater understanding of the needs of the black community and would thus be a stronger advocate for those issues.

Others note that conditions in the black community spiraled downward as a result of the consequences of mass incarceration and “end welfare as we know it” policies that occurred during the presidency of Bill Clinton. It is a fact that the largest federal and state increases of inmates of any president in American history took place during former president BilI Clinton’s tenure. However, I strongly disagree with esteemed scholar Michele Alexander’s conclusion expressed in an article in The Nation, that it is proper to saddle Hillary with Bill’s baggage merely because she was married to the President of the United States. 

Meanwhile, as with Turner, Sanders continues to peel small pockets of black support away from HRC by obtaining endorsements from prominent African Americans such as Cornel West, author/activist Ta-Nehisi Coates, rapper Killer Mike and others. Unless the trickle of defections is stayed, we could eventually see a contemporary mass exodus of black support walk away from Clinton similar to her 2008 Democratic presidential nomination experience.

The African American Predicament: What we have now is not working.

The major problem for the black community is that there are no active, concrete public policies in place or being discussed that will definitively improve our general position in society. What we have now is not working and has not worked for a long time.

The source of the problem is the inability of those in office to identify with the black agenda, usually because they view it only from a position of privilege. However, going forward, in order to obtain support, those who represent or seek the African American vote should have perspective into our community. This means from the school board, to City and County government, U.S. Congress or the presidency, whomever it is that represents the black community should not only talk our talk but also walk our walk.

Gun violence is a big issue to us. Access to clean and safe drinking water is important, as is lead prevention. A commitment to provide a diverse, high quality education to all of our children is a prime requirement. Voting rights, including the reduction of early voting and access to polling locations has had a devastating impact on our community. Police brutality and the justice system as a whole, from how people are profiled to how they’re charged, disparities in sentencing, the system from start to end, is a major concern.

Despite Obamacare, access to healthcare is still a problem as the program is constantly under attack even as many people are falling through the cracks. The working poor are employed at places that don’t offer insurance and a lot of minimum wage jobs strategically keep people from being full-time to avoid offering insurance.

The Bottom Line?

Hillary Clinton, with her cache in the black community, would make an amazing president. But the reality is that, the nation should be abuzz about the prospects of the first woman president in United States history. Yet, there is much more excitement being generated by Sanders, a self- proclaimed democratic socialist, whose message exhilarates (although he hasn’t actually accomplished much in his years as a Senator).

I must confess that I, like others, am very attracted to Sanders’ message, despite perhaps, the lack of an electoral mainstream broad enough to accommodate it.

 While we need Sanders’ strong voice and continued advocacy, however, I think higher on the priority list for African Americans is a President that can dismantle the dysfunction of Washington gridlock. We need a President and Congress that does not major in minors or traffic in trivials, but can come together and finally work together.

Who would be the best President to work across party lines AND actually get things done?

Hillary?

Or Bernie?

I don’t know. Not YET.