African-Americans

Civil Rights Groups Applaud Inclusion Of Strong Public Option

(Washington, DC) – The NAACP, National Urban League and The Black Leadership Forum commend Congress for passing a bill that will reform the current health care system. The bill will include a strong public option, and is expected to offer affordable and quality health care for all Americans.

"Tonight, our congress people made a decision to stop letting so many of our neighbors die for lack of affordable health care coverage. We applaud them for including the public option. The public option means more choice, more competition, lower costs, more families covered, and few forced into bankruptcy," said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. “    » read more »

November 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The Justice Department announced today the largest monetary payment ever obtained by the department in the settlement of a case alleging housing discrimination in the rental of apartments. Los Angeles apartment owner Donald T. Sterling has agreed to pay $2.725 million to settle allegations that he discriminated against African-Americans, Hispanics and families with children at apartment buildings he controls in Los Angeles. The settlement must be approved by U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer.    » read more »

Washington DC -- June 22, 2009 -- The NAACP issued the following statement today in response to the United State Supreme Court Ruling in the Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Eric Holder, a case challenging Section Five of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

“The NAACP commends the Supreme Court Justices today for upholding one of the most crucial enforcement provisions of the Voting Rights Act,” said Benjamin T. Jealous, President and CEO of the NAACP. “As Chief Justice Roberts wrote in the majority opinion, ‘[t]he historic accomplishments of the Voting Rights Act are undeniable.’ In 2006 Congress voted to reauthorize Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act and now in 2009 the Supreme Court has upheld Section 5, “President and CEO Jealous continued.    » read more »

The NAACP wants you to get tested

June 22, 2009 -- Through the ACT Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI), the NAACP has renewed its commitment in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The AAALI seeks to integrate interventions into existing programs within longstanding traditional African American organizations. Similarly, the NAACP seeks to educate, empower, and mobilize all members and constituents about the importance of getting tested.    » read more »

NAACP Applauds U.S. Senate for Passing Bipartisan Resolution Apologizing for the Enslavement and Racial Segregation of African-Americans; Urges U.S. House to Pass Concurrent Resolution Swiftly

WASHINGTON DC—The NAACP commends the United States Senate today for its passage of a historic resolution apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-Americans.    » read more »

United States Senator Roland W. Burris Delivers Floor Statement on Senate Resolution to Apologize for Slavery

June 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Roland W. Burris today delivered a statement on the Senate floor supporting Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) for their introduction of a resolution to apologize for slavery, Jim Crow laws, and policies of segregation and hate.

Senator Burris made the following remarks from the Senate floor:    » read more »

HARTFORD, CT -- NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous joined with Connecticut House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan to condemn Governor Jodi Rell’s veto of HB-6578.

The NAACP Connecticut State Conference launched a campaign in support of the bill which would have replaced the death penalty with life in prison without the possibility of parole for all capital felonies committed after the bill’s enactment. The bill was recently passed by the Connecticut Judiciary Committee and by both the House and the Senate, but can be vetoed by Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell.    » read more »

State NAACP Calls for Board Member to Resign and Full Investigation to be Conducted

May 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC—The NAACP announced today a letter sent by the North Carolina State Conference demanding the resignation of Burke County School Board member Rob Hairfield.

From September 2008 to as recent as February 2009, Hairfield sent expletive laden and racist emails from his personal email account.    » read more »

USDA offers solution to long standing case by discriminated farmers

Washington, May 6, 2009 - Today President Obama announced his plans to include settlement funds for black farmers in the FY 2010 budget to bring closure to their long-standing lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"This is an issue I worked on in the Senate, and I'm pleased that we are now able to close this chapter in the agency's history and move on," said Obama. "My hope is that the farmers and their families who were denied access to USDA loans and programs will be made whole and will have the chance to rebuild their lives and their businesses."    » read more »

February 5, 2009 -- The first multi-dimensional effort to quantify the disparities faced by African-American and Latino boys and men in California across a broad spectrum of health and social factors provides a disquieting outlook for their lives.

Compiled by RAND Corporation researchers at the request of The California Endowment, the report compares how well men and boys of color have fared relative to their white peers across the realms of health, safety, socioeconomic characteristics and readiness to learn.    » read more »

His unique experience, talents will help restore confidence in nation's leading law enforcement entity

The NAACP congratulates Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General and is excited about the potential his confirmation means to the justice system in America. Holder will also make history as the first African American to hold the highest federal law enforcement position.    » read more »

1/29/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue has proclaimed February as Black History Month in North Carolina and urges citizens to honor the heritage of African-Americans and their contributions to our state and nation. Several state museums and historic sites will offer special programs and exhibits to mark the month.

“Celebrating Black History Month this year is even more relevant as we honor the inauguration of the nation’s first African-American president,” Perdue said. “I encourage all North Carolinians to take advantage of the many opportunities throughout the month to learn more about black history and celebrate the contributions that have helped build our country and our state.”    » read more »

04 June 2008 -- Senator Barack Obama has acquired the necessary pledged delegates to become the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party in this year’s U.S. presidential election. This means 46-year-old Obama is the first African American candidate to lead a major political party for the White House.

Barack Obama claims victory, St. Paul, Minnesota: Photo by Chad Davis (CC)    » read more »

Washington, D.C., May 14, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed securities fraud charges against the promoters of an $18 million real estate investment scheme targeting the African-American community in the Los Angeles area and other locations in Nevada and Georgia.    » read more »

April 17, 2008 -- Des Moines – Today, at the John R. Grubb YMCA in Des Moines, Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed into law HF 2393, a bill requiring a “Minority Impact Statement” for any legislation related to a public offense, sentencing, or parole and probation procedures. The legislation also requires that any application for a grant from a state agency must also include a minority impact statement.    » read more »