Blog
No Photo ID = No Democracy
By Black Youth Project on 01/03/2012 @ 11:50 AM
In the 2008 Presidential election the black youth (age 18-24) voter turnout rate was 55%; an 8% increase from the 2004 Presidential elections and the highest increase among any demographic. While these numbers are heartening, the political voices of young black people across the United States are being imminently threatened. The new photo-identification laws passed in the state legislatures of Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin will without a doubt significantly reduce the voter turn-out rate for young African-Americans in the 2012 Presidential election as well as dilute their overall voice. Although we are allegedly living in a “post-racial” society, the institutionalized political marginalization of communities of color continues to persist unabated. Although overt racism may not be as conspicuous as it was when Lyndon Johnson signed the 1965 Voting Rights Act which aimed to finally protect the unfulfilled promises of the 15th amendment of the U.S. Constitution which states, “ The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”; the statement still rings hallow. What’s even more concerning, is that with the lack of substantive policies coming from the right as real alternatives to President Obama’s initiatives, it seems that the fuss about photo-identification is mere a ploy to demobilize a crucial voting bloc to win back the keys to the Oval Office.
How Can I Lead A Generation?
By Johnae Strong on 12/07/2011 @ 05:39 PM
We hear it everyday, “Somebody should do something about…” or “this generation needs a good leader”. I have found that in my generation there is hope for such remarks. Many of my peers are not only in agreement but actively pursuing leadership in different ways from leading marches for a trauma center on the south side of Chicago to working Obama’s campaign. I am inspired by the power that we have as youth but also cautious because power without direction can be fatal. I find myself examining my role in this climate of change.
A recent experience in a school caused me to look my responsibility in the face.
On a brisk Wednesday morning I walk into an elementary school on the West Side of Chicago. Up two flights of stairs I find my classroom and stand at the doorway. There are two lines of children facing me with snotty noses and crusted eyes but also with eager smiles on their faces. An eight year old boy leads the pack, walking up to me with a hand outstretched to shake mine, “Good morning, Miss Strong,” he says with an expectant expression. “Good morning,” I respond with an equally large smile and eager expression. This happens twenty-three more times as I nod and greet each young boy and girl who look up to me with wide eyes. They are literally and figuratively ‘looking up to me’.
Black Youth and the Need for More Than Just Another Passive Vote
By Black Youth Project on 12/07/2011 @ 05:32 PM
Eleven years into the 21st century and we find young black youth more disengaged, more disenfranchised, and have in many ways disappeared more now than ever before. The politically active scene of the 1960′s and 70′s (when organizations like SNCC and the Black Panthers were at their peak) is all but gone 40 years later. So where do we go from here? There is an active youth presence in the Occupy Wall-street cause. This national campaign has transformed into an international movement. It began with activists and citizens around the country joining a fight against the abusive corporate powers in the United States. Through this movement questions inevitably emerged. Individuals began to challenge and question the validity of our societal structure. This challenge translates into the examination of democracy, one of the fabrics that makes our country what it is today.
Serving Victims of Domestic Violence Homicides
By on 10/27/2011 @ 01:41 PM
Understanding how we can better serve victims of domestic violence, including those of domestic violence homicides, was the theme of the Department of Justice’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month program.
Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole set the stage for a critical discussion with a panel of national experts. He reminded us that this administration has made ending domestic violence a priority.
“The double tragedy of deaths due to domestic violence is the realization that in many cases, they could have been prevented. There is a growing consensus among researchers and practitioners that domestic violence homicides are predictable and thus often preventable.”
Leading the dialogue on domestic violence homicides was international peace advocate and survivor William C. Kellibrew, IV. He told his story of a childhood besieged with violence. At the age of six, he was molested and at the age of ten, he witnessed the murder of his mother and brother by his mother’s estranged boyfriend. After years of therapy, he has become an advocate on behalf of ending violence and poverty. In an effort to encourage other young people to feel more comfortable asking for help, Mr. Kellibrew challenged everyone to engage and educate youth.
Northern Arizona University Professor Neil Websdale, who directs the National Domestic Fatality Review Initiative, explained that fatality reviews. These reviews bring together a wide range of professional and community members to examine homicides from the vantage points of the victims (and sometimes offenders) and learn how to prevent such tragedies. They have the potential to identify gaps in responses, commonalities and risk factors in individual cases. In turn, this information can be used by communities and law enforcement to improve responses to incidents of domestic violence. OVW has provided funding to support these types of reviews.
Dr. Websdale also facilitated a dialogue among panelists Susan Ley of the District of Columbia’s Wendt Center for Loss and Healing; the senior victim witness specialist with the D.C. United States Attorney’s Office Marcia Rinker; and David Sargent, lead trainer for the Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) in Maryland.
Developed by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, the LAP is an intervention program that uses a questionnaire to identify victims of domestic violence who are at risk of being seriously injured or killed by their intimate partners. Those individuals are then immediately connected to the domestic violence service provider in their area. Identifying these at-risk victims can help prevent serious harm, even murder, from occurring.
The panelists discussed the importance of lethality assessment tools for identifying at-risk individuals and the critical importance of victim support services for individuals exposed to grief, trauma, and violence. They shared information about intervention and prevention practices and awareness building about the cycle of abuse. Together, these strategies have the potential to change lives by better equipping service providers and victim advocates.
Working together, learning from each other, and applying what we have learned will change the landscape. We are building a nation where women, men and children will no longer be victims of domestic violence.
We need to stay focused and vigilant. We need to continue to nurture the seeds that are planted by those around us who speak out, and take action, each day.
For more information about the Office on Violence Against Women, visit ovw.usdoj.gov. We remind all those in need of assistance, or other concerned friends and individuals, to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.
Unfinished Business: Let's Get Busy!
By on 08/25/2011 @ 11:38 AM
Unfinished Business: Let’s Get Busy!
Posted August 24, 2011
By Melanie L. Campbell
President & CEO and Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
The passage of the 19th amendment in 1920 was a seminal moment in the women’s rights movement. A diverse coalition of women, including Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, and others, won the right to vote for women. But, when African American women showed up to the polls, most were denied their right to vote until the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Just ask Fannie Lou Hammer who was nearly beaten to death in 1963, for registering black voters. So, as we prepare to celebrate and commemorate the 30th Anniversary of Women’s Equality Day and the 48th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, we know we have unfinished business.
Today, we see the rolling back of access to democracy and workers’ right to organize, especially aimed at disenfranchising women, minorities, youth and working class people. One by one, states are passing or attempting to enact draconian Voter ID bills, revert back to laws preventing formerly incarcerated from voting, and denying public workers the right to organize. These attempts to roll back the clock on our voting rights and worker rights remind us we have unfinished business.
We owe the great women of the 1920 and 1963 Movements a great deal. They led the way to make sure that all women had the right to vote and all people have the right to good jobs, justice and freedom. The NCBCP Black Women’s Roundtable joins the HerVotes coalition in a clarion call to action for women to get organized now to maximize the power of the women’s vote for 2012. Women are the majority vote in this country. Now is the time to leverage of votes and voices to stop the attack on women’s health and economic opportunities by those who want to take the country backwards to a time of exclusion and division, rather than moving forward together to a new era of inclusion, hope and opportunity for all. Ladies, we have unfinished business. Let’s get busy!
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After the Storm
By Deven D. Anderson, Senior Program Associate for Youth & Young Adult Initiatives on 04/25/2011 @ 12:00 PM
On Saturday, April 16th a catastrophic storm surged through the campus of Shaw University in Raleigh, NC. University officials reported that a tornado touched directly over a section of campus known as the “Quad” between 4 and 4:30 p.m. “While I knew that the situation was adverse during the evening, daylight has revealed that it will be impossible for us to safely conduct classes and return business as usual” announced Dr. Irma McClaurin, President of Shaw University through a press release on Sunday, April 17th.
The devastation not only impacted the campus of Shaw University but also extended into the local underserved communities; predominantly black and Latino families. What the sunlight revealed was a devastated campus with severe damage to their student center’s roof, uprooted trees, and structural damages to dormitories without any injuries to report. Consequently, forcing the school administration to officially close campus at noon on April 17th with the classes suspended and students sent home graded on the work that was completed to date. Shaw University a Baptist-affiliated school, is the oldest HBCU in the South and also the birthplace of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), where Ella Baker with the support of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference invited student organizers from across the country during Easter Weekend of 1960 for a youth leadership conference.
On Thursday, April 21st the University hosted a “Cleanup Day” that brought students, alumni, and the community to together. The spirit of self resilience and determination has long sustained Shaw University and the entire HBCU community. As I reflected on the storm my mind wondered how often times disasters like this one – be it large or small – often expose an underlying chronic issue. This storm not only damaged a university but also sheds some light on the often-told story of the current conditions of HBCUs. During these economically hard and uncertain times in states across America; state budget cuts not only weaken safety nets but they also weaken the viability of many of these institutions both private and public. Oft times the request for funding for infrastructure repairs are ignored or underfunded. The threats against the HBCU community are happening not only on the state level but also on the Federal level as well.
The student populations of many of these institutions make up a majority of the electorate in local municipalities and in districts for both county and state legislatures - and yes even Congressional. The sustainability of our beloved institutions must come with our increased ability to become civically and political engaged on all levels of government. As we uplift our brothers and sisters at Shaw University during this enduring time of rebuilding it is also important for us to begin to become the new visionaries of these institutions with new determination of empowering our HBCU community.
To support the rebuilding of Shaw University tax deductible contributions may be sent to:
Shaw University
Disaster Relief Fund Mechanics and Farmers Bank
13 E. Hargett Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
More federal budget cuts leads to a smaller safety net for the future
By on 04/13/2011 @ 03:32 PM
Deven D. Anderson – Senior Program Associate for Youth & Young Adult Initiatives.
Last week the world of social media was abuzz with young Americans sharing their thoughts, fears, and concerns over a partial government shutdown. (Last time there was a government shutdown there was no Twitter or Facebook and many of us were in Elementary school.) However, late Friday night a deal was struck between the GOP and Democrats to extend the financing of the government for an additional week which averted the looming shutdown. In press releases by both parties each side claimed victory in the aftermath of the deal. GOP emphasized the dramatic cuts that they won in the six month spending bill while the Democrats celebrated the preservation of favored programs to include Head Start, Pell Grants and scientific and medical research programs.
Yet a closer look to what is actually in the spending bill will tell a different story; one that will affect low income communities, women, and youth of color. One of the most talked about by lines during the budget standoff was that concerning of federal funds received by Planned Parenthood – the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. While many were fighting for maintaining the funding of Planned Parenthood however the 11th hour deal proposed cuts include $600 million cut to Community Health Centers which will stunt the growth of new health centers. Other proposed cuts include:
- Elimination of the Affordable Care Act’s Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) which would have allowed the creation of qualified nonprofit health issuers to offer health plans to individual and small group markets.
- Elimination of the Affordable Care Act’s Free Choice Voucher programs provides the opportunity for employers to offer “vouchers” their employees who earn less than 400% federal poverty level to use their employer’s health insurance contribution for exchange plans, which can be more affordable and offer a better value for the worker.
- $504 million cut from The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program which support low-income women and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing foods to supplement diets.
- Elimination of summer pell grants. According to Angus Johnston blogger for studentactivism.net in a recent post said “as course offerings are being scaled back at campuses across the country, ending aid for summer classes will make it even more difficult for low-income students to complete their degree requirements in a reasonable time.”
- $390 million cut to the low-income heating assistance (LIHEAP) which assists low income households, particularly those with the lowest incomes that pay a high proportion of household income for home energy, primarily in meeting their immediate home energy needs. $942 million to Community Development Funds that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs.
Outside of the proposed cuts also include “riders” specifically for the District of Columbia which will limit local funds for abortions for low-income women and also institutes the DC Opportunity Scholarship program which will expand private school vouchers which has been considered a long time divisive issue.
The budget crisis has re-introduced the catch phrase of “deficit reduction” which translates to a smaller safety net for Americans young and old during these uncertain times of economic challenges. This afternoon, President Barack Obama will address the deficit and budget in the wake of new talks on the expected vote on raising the debt-ceiling. Republicans have already stated that any deals will include steep spending cuts in order to win their support on raising the $14.3 trillion debt limit.
There is still a chance that most of the proposed cuts will not be included in the final bill which is expected to be introducing on the House floor this week. Each of us has an opportunity to lend our voices in this deficit reduction debate that will have a large impact on our local communities. Will you join us? For more information on how to become involve with BlackYouthVote! please contact us at 202-772-3171 or blackyouthvote@ncbcp.org
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