I first met Senator Kamala Harris in February 2011 as she gave the keynote address for NARAL Pro-Choice’s 38th anniversary luncheon in Washington, D.C. She highly impressed me. That was before she became a U.S. Senator and now candidate for Democratic nominee for president. I followed her campaign for president as well as that of the other 20 plus candidates. I watched as she opened her campaign headquarters in my hometown -Baltimore. Her presidential campaign appeared to be at times—lackluster and devoid of what I saw of her in 2011. At last night’s debate, Senator Harris shined like a rare diamond. As a black woman and former prosecutor, I could not have been prouder of Kamala Harris than if she were my own sister. The debate exchange between Senator Harris and Vice President Joe Biden was emotional and a rare teaching lesson for America. While discussing the issue of school busing and Biden’s past support against busing Black students to integrate schools, she made the point … [Read more...] about Kamala Harris Schools Joe Biden and America
President
Time to Begin the Process to Pull the Plug on Trump
The latest news surrounding Donald Trump has some persons calling for impeachment, removal or resignation of Trump as president. In a memo made by then FBI Director James Comey, Trump allegedly asked Comey if he would end the investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. It was allegedly made the day after Flynn resigned. Comey declined. The issue is whether this request, if proven to be true, should be considered obstruction of justice and if so, what remedies exist. Obstruction of justice is a federal statute that makes it unlawful to corruptly obstruct, influence or impede an official proceeding. There are several key elements to proving the crime. First, there must be an intent on the part of the person to specifically obstruct, influence or impede. The party must be aware that an investigation or proceeding exists. And the action must be one that attempts to obstruct, influence or impede. In looking at the totality of the … [Read more...] about Time to Begin the Process to Pull the Plug on Trump
I Marched the DC Women’s March in Honor of My Mother
I was one of the more than 500,000 persons attending the DC Women’s March. For me, the March was personal in honor of my mother, Naomi. My mom was born in Mt. Gilead, NC, a small town of less than 1500 persons in rural North Carolina. Growing up in the Jim Crow South, she longed for a better life as discrimination was rampant and the way of life there. Like so many Blacks living in the south during that era, she, as a young woman, migrated north, first to Buffalo, NY and later to Baltimore. During her lifetime, she experienced various forms of discrimination such as not being able to shop in stores due to the color of her skin, sit and eat in at many restaurants, live in many areas of Baltimore City, purchase homes in certain areas due to restrictive covenants preventing Blacks from living and buying homes in some areas. And this was after she moved to Baltimore. My mother fought for many health care reforms as an employee and later as a retiree of the … [Read more...] about I Marched the DC Women’s March in Honor of My Mother
Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 2017 Trump Era
On December 31, 2016, I attended a watch night church service where Rev. Dr. William Barber led the service. During the service, I heard a rousing account from singer, activist and song writer Joan Baez about an event with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It bears relevance for today. Baez tells a story from when she was traveling with Dr. King and he fell asleep, making him very late for a speech. The other ministers and activists could not wake him. They asked Joan Baez to go in into the bedroom and sing a song to Dr. King. As Baez finished her song, “Swing Low Sweet Chariot”, Dr. King raised his voice and said, “Joan, sing another one”. Today we need to waken the inner voice of Dr. King to fight the battles that lay ahead of us with the new Trump Administration. As we celebrate the legacy of Dr. King on his holiday and birthday, we are reminded, as King once wrote from his jail cell in Birmingham, Alabama that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” And we … [Read more...] about Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 2017 Trump Era
Trump, Kim Kardashian and White Women Voters Who Love Them
In the one week since the historic election of Donald Trump, I like many others have been left wondering why or how the era of Donald Trump arrived. And just one way to look at it is from the face of the most popular reality show---Keeping Up with the Kardashians and white women voters. At least 53% of white women voters voted for President-elect Trump; whereas 94% of African American women voted for Hillary Clinton. And 68% of Latino women voted for Clinton. This begs the question as to why there is such a great disparity between white women and women of color voters. For white women voters, it is not so easy just to analyze them solely on the theory of the economy and the rural areas of the country—middle America doing poorly in relation to other parts of the country. One factor, not addressed before, is the Kim Kardashian reality show factor. Kim Kardashian and the Kardashians are followed by many white women. I don’t honestly know many black women who look up to Kim … [Read more...] about Trump, Kim Kardashian and White Women Voters Who Love Them
No Trump, No Way, No How
The presidential elections of 2008 and 2012 now seem like a century ago in terms of where the country is now headed. In 2008 and 2012, President Obama campaigned on hope and change which resonated with voters. In 2016, we see an extreme form of racism, xenophobia and misogynist campaigning by Donald Trump appealing to many voters. And with a little of over a month until the election, there appears to be a growing trend leaning now towards Donald Trump. In November, we could be calling Donald Trump our next president. In the eight years of President Obama’s two terms, I came to realize that racism is alive and well in the U.S. In fact, it never really went anywhere. While many persons speak of patriotism towards the U.S. and against protests during the playing of the national anthem, there was often little patriotism shown towards our Commander in Chief with many persons, including Republican members of Congress and the GOP Senate disrespecting President Obama throughout … [Read more...] about No Trump, No Way, No How