Equal Pay Day is Tuesday, April 12, the symbolic day on which a woman must work in 2016 to catch up to what a man earned in 2015. Nearly all women in almost every line of work are paid less than a man including women who have attended universities and colleges, attained advanced degrees and acquired excellent job experience, according to recent research analyzed by the Association of American University Women (“AAUW”). And in some cases, the gender pay gap is larger at higher levels of education. Many times, women do not know they are paid less than their male counterparts. Since taking office, President Obama has made equal pay a top priority and has taken a number of steps to fight for pay equity. On Equal Pay Day 2016, President Obama will mark the day by granting national monument status to the house that served as the National Women's Party headquarters since 1929. In addition to signing his first piece of legislation as President, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, President … [Read more...] about Equal Pay Day – Revisiting Again in 2016
Archives for April 2016
Justice for Freddie Gray: One Year Later
In the one year since Freddie Gray sustained fatal injuries while in police custody, there has been no accountability for his death. Six police officers were charged in the death of Gray on May 1, 2015. The Baltimore State’s Attorney’s office gears up for the next police officer trial of Edward Nero set for May 10. Whether Baltimore prosecutors will be able to convict any of the six officers still remains a mystery. The case of Freddie Gray and police misconduct is only one part of what the Freddie Gray case exposed about Baltimore. On April 12, 2015, Freddie Gray, age 25, was arrested on the streets of West Baltimore after running away from police officers. During his arrest transport in a police van, Gray, while unrestrained with a seat belt, sustained injuries to his spinal cord and died one week later. At the time, he arrived at Western District for processing; he had no pulse and was not breathing. On May 1, 2015, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby charged 6 police … [Read more...] about Justice for Freddie Gray: One Year Later
Bill Clinton and His Black Lives Legacy
On April 7, 2016, Bill Clinton found himself in the unenviable position of being asked to address his criminal justice policies of the 1990’s to Black Lives Matters activists at a Philadelphia rally. The confrontation was not viewed favorably by many to Clinton. Black Lives Matter activists and Bill Clinton verbally clashed for almost 15 minutes when Clinton was asked about his 1994 crime bill and its effect on African Americans and the term “super predators” used by Hillary Clinton in 1996 in referring to troubled black youth. Clinton staunchly defended the crime bill, at times being condescending in his remarks to the black activists and rambling on at other times in discussing Hillary Clinton’s role. In the 1990’s charismatic President Bill Clinton was considered to be a friend and comrade to many in the African American community. He appointed a racially diverse cabinet and appointed many minority judges to the federal bench. He survived sex scandals involving Monica … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton and His Black Lives Legacy
Hillary Clinton is Qualified to be President but I Don’t Trust Her
Social media is all a buzz about Senator Bernie Sanders’ comments that Hillary Clinton is not qualified to be president. Sanders put out a press release saying that Clinton is not qualified due to her positions on taking money from corporate America, her Iraq war vote and trade issues positions. It was as much a retort at her comments on Sanders not being prepared and not understanding how the legal and political process works. As much as I did not think I would be supporting Hillary Clinton on any issue, on this issue I disagree with Bernie Sanders and his comments. I will always suspect someone who states a highly qualified woman is not qualified for a position—for whatever the reasons. Hillary Clinton, as a former Senator and Secretary of State, is qualified to be President of the U.S.—probably more so today than her husband was in 1992. It is not her qualifications that concern me. And it is not her qualifications that should concern Sanders. And any reference to … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton is Qualified to be President but I Don’t Trust Her