Southern Baptist Leader, Richard Land criticizes Black Preachers involvment in the Trayvon Martin Case

Richard Land has criticized the involvement by black ministers in the Trayvon Martin case. He says that they along with President Obama are using this case to “gin up” the black vote. For generations black ministers have been involved in more than the pulpit many have also made a committment to social change. What do you think? It is obvious that some groups have tried to piggyback off this case for their own personal agendas, but do you believe the ministers have gone too far?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/14/trayvon-martin-case-splits-baptists_n_1426168.html?

Time for the Professionals to speak for Trayvon

Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin are the parents of Trayvon Martin. They have shared their tragic story with humilty and grace. We know that it is natural to be angry, but they have not let their anger spill over into their narrative. They have appeared on all the morning shows and several of the cable news channels. Yesterday while Fulton was sharing her reaction to the Zimmerman arrest she refered to the homicide as an “accident”. The media jumped on it and said this was in direct opposition to what George Zimmerman had been charged with. By afternoon Fulton was issuing a retraction. Retractions are for media people not for a mother who are talking about her dead child. At this point it is time for the parents to put the case in the hands of the prosecutor. Let her do her job. You have done yours. Trayvons’s parents have been tenacious in sharing this story and making the law enforcement community put fresh eyes on this story. They have done their job now it is time for them to step aside. I have linked to an article by Dr. Boyce Watkins.

http://newsone.com/2002143/note-to-trayvons-mother-its-time-for-you-to-step-to-the-side/

What is a National Conversation on Race?

In light of the Trayvon Martin case everyone in the media is talking about having a conversation on race. How can we talk about the Martin shooting without talking about race, and if we do that does that broaden the discussion. Today on Meet the Press New York Times columnist David Brooks made an interesting and controversial point. Brooks said “I have a little concerned this is going to become a very easy and comfortable conversation that we all condemn some racist out there. And, you know, there are people shot every day. And the causes for most of those shootings are incredibly complicated, having to do with economic problems, having to do with family problems, having to do with drug and gang culture. And some of the people I’ve mentioned and some of the rallies we’ve got broadened out to those shootings, the shootings of that in every day. And that’s a much more difficult conversation because it involves a lot more complicated issues.” So is this the discussion we really want to have or do we want to have a discussion that is incident specific? It is difficult to have a conversation with someone when they are angry. They don’t hear you. Sure they will look at you but they won’t listen. Black people are tired of being profiled, stereotyped, ignored, targeted, disrespected, and these are not even the top ten complaints. I’m sure white people are sick of being blamed for everything that has gone wrong in the lives of some black people, they are tired of hearing how slavery still affects black people today, and they are tired of trying to cherry pick their words for fear of offending some among us. So both whites and blacks are sick and tired, and aren’t we all simply sick and tired of being sick and tired? So if both parties come to table saddled down with their own baggage how or is it possible to sort it out? So who could actually facilitate a productive dialogue or is it whimsy to imagine that this conversation could actually happen? Tell me what you think.

Rev. Al Sharpton Says Walgreens Chain cutting services to the poor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2011 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Contact 877-626-4651
New York, NY – Reverend Al Sharpton, President and Founder of National Action Network, today condemned recent actions by Walgreens, noting the retailer’s decision to end its relationship with Express Scripts will result in increased prescription costs for “the elderly, union members, Medicaid patients, the working poor and families of color.” In a letter to Walgreens CEO Gregory Wasson, Sharpton writes, “A failure to resolve any issues with Express Scripts, a low-cost prescription program, will have a significant and detrimental impact on New York City residents locally” because Walgreens is preparing a merger with Duane Reade Drugstores. Both Walgreens and Duane Reade have a significant New York presence.
In releasing the letter, Sharpton pointed to “A troubling history with regard to underserved minority community,” noting that over the last five years, Walgreens has been subject to legal actions in a variety of states regarding efforts to abandon or restrict Medicaid program patients from coming to their stores (CA, DE, NY and WA have brought suit against Walgreens for these actions); that the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission brought one of the largest and most flagrant racial discrimination cases against Walgreens for its unequal, unfair, illegal employment practices against 10,000 African American retail management and pharmacy employees; and that Medicaid patients have been subject to unequal treatment and care at Walgreens (in July 2009, a child in Denver died after Walgreens refused to fill a prescriptions over a Medicaid coverage dispute). “National Action Network urges Walgreens, in the strongest possible terms, to reconsider their current path and the signal that sends to our underserved, low-income communities that they are essentially second-class citizens and undesired as Walgreens customers. It is of paramount importance that you settle your problem with Express Scripts, and keep our prescription costs down.”

National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation, with chapters throughout the U.S. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, national origin, and gender.

SNL Skewered Al Sharpton should he laugh or cry?

I watched this clip of SNL doing a parody of Al Sharpton’s show Politics Nation, but there was a problem with the skit. If parody is to close to the truth is it funny or pathetic? Watch the clip and tell me what you think.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/11/saturday-night-live-al-sharpton-msnbc_n_1141929.html

Donald Trump Accsuses Jon Stewart of Racism…does he have a point?

The Donald is accusing Jon Stweart of racism in his assessment of the Herman Cain controversy. Trump asks where are the defenders of the black race he calls out for al Sharpton, Jesse jackson and even sleepy eyed NBC Chuck Todd, but did Stewart cross the line. Watch the clip and tell me what you think.

http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/11/donald-trump-accuses-jon-stewart-of-racist-rant-against-herman-c/

MSNBC Pat Buchanan calls the President “boy”…was this racist or was this part of an analogy?

While appearing on Al Sharpton’s show last night he refered to the president as “your boy”. Sharpton corrected him and said Barack Obama is the president, and he is nobody’s boy. This morning while appearing on Morning Joe Buchanan apologized for using the word boy in reference to the president. He contends he was using a fighter analogy. Buchanan has a history of racially insensitive statements. Was this another one? Watch the link and tell me what you think.

Tavis Smiley Takes a Shot at President Obama via Twitter

“This is the problem with prematurely giving the Nobel Peace Prize to a war president. Let’s pray for peace.” This is what Tavis Smiley tweeted in reference to the President’s actions toward Libya. This morning Al Sharpton appeared on Morning Joe and was asked about the tweet. Sharpton said let’s wait and see how this turns out before we label the president a war president. Smiley has never been a fan of the president. He was very critical of him during the campaign and that criticism has never ceased. Do you agree with Smiley’s statement? Tell me what you think.

Has Sarah Palin Become a Professional victim?

Lately we have heard Sarah Palin complain about the media, “the blood bloods”, Kathy Griffin and fellow Republicans. Today I read a very interesting article from Politico that asked is Sarah Palin becoming Al Sharpton? I respect a number of things that Al Sharpton has done, but some do see him as the spokesman for victim hood. Is it fair to compare Sharpton’s civil rights struggles with the Palin saga? Tell me what you think.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/51218.html

Rick Santorum and Rev. Al Sharpton debate race and the right to life

Fox News Sean Hannity hosted a lively discussion between former Senator Rick Santorum and Rev. Al Sharpton. Santorum recently threw down the race card against the president in a discussion regarding when does life began. Santorum is not backing down and Sharpton is not backing up. Watch the clip and tell me what you think.