Mar-Saline Branch of the NAACP

Mar-Saline NAACP announces Annual Freedom Fund Awards banquet. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, Honored Guest

2010-05-15T15:31:00.000-07:00

The Mar-Saline Branch of the NAACP will hold its Annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet on Saturday June 26, 2010 at Missouri Valley College, R. Wilson Brown Banquet Room, and beginning at 6:30 p.m. WE ARE 101 ---come join us as we celebrate “ONE NATION, ONE DREAM.” You and representatives from your congregation are invited to be our special guests because you believe as we do, in equality, and social and civil liberties for all Americans.

The Honorable Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II, 5th Congressional District, will be our banquet speaker. He has worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest Civil Rights organization. It has improved the social, economic, and political conditions for African Americans and many other minorities more than any other organization in the history of America. In 1939, the MAR-SALINE BRANCH received its charter. The branch has made a positive impact on the quality of life for citizens in Saline County and surrounding counties.

As we continue to make plans for this prestigious event, we sincerely hope you will respond favorably to our request no later than June 15 2010, by completing the Ticket Order form below. Direct questions to Clyde Williams, President@NAACPMarshallMo.org. or Virginia Huston, virginiahuston@att.net

TICKET ORDER

QTY
Individual Ticket - 30.00 ______

Table for 8 - $250.00 ______

NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet & Awards Ticket Form

Name: ________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________

City: _______________ St: ___ Zip: _____ Phone: ___-____-_____

Email: __________________________________________________

Amount of Check $______.______

Authorized Signature: ______________________________________ The Mar-Saline NAACP is a 501 C (4) entity. Contributions are partially tax deductible.

RSVP’s WITH TICKET ORDER ON or BEFORE JUNE 15, 2010
Please make checks payable to:
Mar-Saline NAACP
P. O. Box 435
Marshall, MO 65340
660-886-5965

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II
Biography

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II is currently serving his third term representing the Fifth District of Missouri in the House of Representatives and sits on the exclusive Financial Services Committee, Committee of Homeland Security, and the Select Committee on Global Warming. Congressman Cleaver also serves as a Regional Whip of the Democratic Caucus and First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Having grown up in public housing, Congressman Cleaver has dedicated his career in public service to economic development and social concerns.

Born on the kitchen counter in his grandmother’s kitchen in Waxahachie, Texas, Emanuel Cleaver spent his first six years in a shack, his adolescence in public housing, and his late teen years in his family’s paid for home. He knows first-hand the value of loving and disciplinary parents.

Graduating high school in Wichita Falls, Texas, Congressman Cleaver went on to attend Prairie View A & M University, earning a B.S. in Sociology. He continued his education in Kansas City, Missouri where he obtained a Masters in Divinity from St. Paul’s School of Theology. Cleaver is an ordained Methodist Minister and still serves as Senior Pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City. When he was appointed to serve this central city church in 1974, the membership totaled 41. Today, the St. James congregation is nearly 3000.

Emanuel Cleaver was first elected to public office in 1979 as a City Councilman in Kansas City. During his 12 year tenure, he served as Mayor Pro Tem and was an active Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Committee.

His experience on the City Council paved the way to a two-term stint as mayor of Kansas City, where he made history as the first African American elected to that office. As Mayor, Cleaver worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life for the City’s residents. The 18th and Vine Jazz District, the rehabilitation of the historic Union Station, the construction of the Bruce R. Watkins roadway, the flood control and beautification of the Brush Creek, and the construction of four community centers. He championed programs and initiatives designed to create jobs and stimulate economic development. The major corporations attracted to the Kansas City area under his leadership include, Harley Davidson, CitiCorp, Gateway 2000, and TransAmerica. Cleaver’s exemplary leadership earned him a two-term position as President of the National Conference of Black Mayors. He was also an active member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

He is regarded as one of the City’s greatest leaders and is known for his ability to bring different groups together to attain constructive solutions for common problems.
After his tenure as Mayor, the city honored Congressman Cleaver by designating one of its major thoroughfares “Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard.”

The Congressman and his wife Dianne have been married for over thirty years, where they have made Kansas City their home. They have four grown children and three grandchildren.

The Wichita NAACP Blog: Ward Connerly and Tim Asher withdraw their latest challenge to Equal Opportunity in Missouri in the face of an ACLU Lawsuit

2010-02-27T09:30:00.000-08:00

Ward Connerly and Tim Asher withdraw their latest challenge to Equal Opportunity in Missouri in the face of an ACLU Lawsuit

Reminder - Haiti Health Kits

2010-01-24T10:40:00.000-08:00

Like so many around the world, the NAACP, http://naacpblogs.naacp.org/blog/?p=397 ,grieves for the lives lost in the earthquake in Haiti. Historically the NAACP has had a historic relationship with the people of Haiti. We understand that a tragedy of this magnitude demands a substantial response.

Locally we all are ask to give and we are given --- given our time, service, and talents toward the relief efforts. In an effort to continue in the spirit of giving, The Mar-Saline Unit of the NAACP is partnering with First United Methodist Church, Marshall, MO, in providing HEALTH KITS for the familes of Haiti. "In the face of this natural disaster, these kits can mean the difference between sicknes and health for struggling families", states Rev. Kathleen Schmidtke, pastor to FUMC, http://www.marshallfumc.com/ .

We are asking you to bring your kit(s) to the collection center by the church office, 225 E. Arrow *** Marshall, MO *** 660-886-9697. Deadline for kits is Sunday, February, 14th, Valentines Day. How better to show our love for each other and our follow (wo)man.

Eack kit is approximately $10.00 if you would rather a cash donation.---checks payable to UMCOR
Make up of kit:

1 hand towel (16" x 28")
1 wide-tooth comb
1 nail clipper
1 washcloth
1 bar of bath soap
6 band aids
1 toothbruch in original packaging (Church World Service will add the toothpaste)
Set all items is a one-gallon plastic bag with zipper closure.

We have all been deeply moved by the devastating images in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. The Mar-saline Branch of the NAACP and United Methodist Church has historically had a special relationship with the people of Haiti, and we are committed to doing whatever we can to support them during this crisis.

Health Coordinator, Suzanne Strathman, is ask to be the Marsaline Branch of the NAACP point person on this effort

Please go as the spirit leads you,

Clyde

What you don't know about Civil Rights CAN hurt you...

2009-12-01T20:35:00.000-08:00

"Civil Rights" is not the name of a movement...

"Civil Rights" is not a type of organization..."Civil Rights" is not a method of protest...

Civil 'Rights' are the rights and privileges guaranteed by law to all citizens of the United States. The Civil Rights movement was an organized and protracted effort to ensure that the rights guaranteed by law were equally extended to all Americans. Civil Rights Organizations were those groups who worked to ensure the fair and equal application of the laws, foremost among them being the 14th amendment to the Constitution which reads in part:
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."In its truest sense, the struggle over civil rights has never really abated. That's because Civil 'Rights' are, in essence, matters of law; and the laws from which they derive are dynamic. Their meanings and applications are subject to change with each interpretation. By Stare Decisis - as courts render new decisions, their precedent becomes the new practice, so a law that you wrote or read yesterday, could be interpreted to mean something completely different next year. And when you factor in the role of politics and how federal appointments to District Courts are often made along political and ideological lines, you come to realize that our Civil 'Rights' are extremely fragile.

We as activists must not only concern ourselves with securing Civil Rights for all Americans, but we must be equally focused upon protecting those Civil Rights that now exist. Because on any given Monday a court decision, a ballot initiative, or a legal appeal could change the law or its application and strip away a right you had previously taken for granted.Which brings me to Gross vs FBL Financial Services Inc

Jack Gross went to work at FBL Financial Services back in 1987. He worked his way through the ranks, and by 1999 he had been named the Claims Administration Vice President. A couple years later, Jack's job title and duties began to change. He noticed that the duties and responsibilities that he once had, were being shifted to a younger employee. In 2003 Jack noted that his position as "Claims Project Coordinator" lacked a real job description or clearly defined duties, but his younger co-worker had all but assumed the functional equivalent of his old position.In 2004 Jack Gross sued FBL Financial Services for Age Discrimination. The trial lasted a mere 5 days and Jack Gross prevailed. The jury found that Jack Gross proved, by a preponderance of the evidence, that he was demoted and his age was a motivating factor in the demotion decision. They awarded him $46,945.00 for lost compensation.Not surprisingly, FBL appealed.... They filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, informally referred to as a "Cert Petition" with the Supreme Court. A Cert Petition is a formal request for the Supreme Court to review the decision of a lower court. The Supreme Court granted the Writ of Certiorari and on June 18th, Justice Thomas rendered the 5-4 decision of the court which held that: A plaintiff bringing an Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) disparate-treatment claim must prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that age was the "but-for" cause of the challenged adverse employment action. The burden of persuasion does not shift to the employer to show that it would have taken the action regardless of age, even when a plaintiff has produced some evidence that age was one motivating factor in that decision. In a nutshell, the Supreme Court reversed the lower courts decision in favor of Jack Gross, and also put forward a new legal standard for ruling in Age Discrimination cases. The conservative majority on the court (Thomas, Scalia, Alito, Roberts, and Kennedy) ruled that a plaintiff in an age discrimination case must not only prove that age was "A" motivating factor in an adverse employment action or decision; they must prove that age was "THE" motivating factor. And unless or until the plaintiff can present direct evidence of the employer's primary personal motivations, the employer should not be required to prove anything. With the writ of Certiorari, the case was remanded back to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals for retrial. And yesterday, the 8th Circuit Court issued a new ruling in favor of FBL Financial Services... The preponderance of the evidence still shows that FBL Services was considering Jack Gross' age when deciding to demote him, but as of yesterday morning, that no longer meets the legal standard of an Age Discrimination Claim. You see, protection from discrimination or adverse employment actions on the basis of ones age is still a 'Civil Right', but is is now a right guaranteed in a law that is virtually impossible to assert. I said all of that to say this... Our Civil Rights are fragile. Like the picture above, these Rights are like a candle in the wind. If we are not vigilant, if we do not safeguard and protect them, they will be lost...The courts have been busy chipping away at them, bit by bit, for a number of years. We must remember that the protections and safeguards that we fought so hard to secure in the 50's and 60's are not promised to our children. Whether or not they are passed on to the next generation will depend on what we do today. Because on any given Monday, things can change... just like yesterday morning.
The ACLU and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights call for reform at the US Commission on Civil Rights

Long time readers of the blog and WNB Newsbrief will note that we've been talking about the ideological shift and politicization of the US Commission on Civil Rights for the last couple years. (See HERE, and HERE, and HERE, and HERE). Through a series of Bush-era politically motivated appointments, the 8-member Commission is now composed of 4 staunch conservatives who are absolutely ideologically opposed to the goals and precepts of the American Civil Rights movement and 2 right-leaning 'quasi-independents'.But at long last, the call for reform is now picking up steam. On November 18th, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and the ACLU went to the Congress to call for dramatic reform within the agency.The groups called for reforms that would broaden the commission's mandate so that it can better investigate and address civil rights issues and work to strengthen U.S. commitments on human rights. In particular, they are seeking a change in the way that members are appointed to the commission to ensure that commissioners remain independent. Currently, members are appointed by Congress and the president and are not required to undergo a confirmation process.The commission was created with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1957 as an independent fact-finding body charged with investigating and reporting on civil rights and making recommendations to the federal government on how to fix the problems it uncovered. Through its fact-finding work, it helped lay the foundation for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.Over the past few years, however, the commission has taken positions hostile to civil rights issues, such as opposing the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006, urging the Senate to vote against the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill, encouraging the elimination of school desegregation programs, and opposing the Employee Free Choice Act.

Survey---Mar-Saline Branch of the NAACP

2009-11-23T08:46:00.000-08:00

Please respond to this 1 minute survey--- click on the link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=e3AbllHe9XVLQ9_2f3Yo4L5g_3d_3d

2009-10-24T09:33:00.000-07:00

2009-02-12T11:53:00.000-08:00

WE ARE 100 1909-2009

100 years ago, a small multiracial group of progressive thinkers came together to share a bold dream: An America free of the racial oppression that sullied the soul of our nation. The NAACP was born of that noble vision.The new organization launched a 30-year struggle to end the horror of lynch mobs. Then we fought to reverse the Jim Crow laws, and two decades later, segregation was made illegal. In the 1960's, the NAACP took up the fight for economic and political inclusion... and just a few months ago, an African-American president was elected.I've only been CEO of the NAACP since September, but I want to take this opportunity to thank you -- whether you're a veteran NAACP member who was there during the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, or whether you joined us two years ago to protest the treatment of the young men of the Jena 6.The NAACP has always embraced the impossible. Our triumphs have not been ours alone. Ending lynch mobs against African Americans also ended the horror for White Catholics, the second largest group of lynching victims. Our fight against discrimination helped all disenfranchised members of our country open locked doors and break through barriers of inequity. I want to thank you for all you have done... and all you will do as we recommit to the struggle. Because the journey is not over. Black unemployment is twice that of white Americans. A majority of employers preferred to hire a white criminal than a black man without a criminal record, according to several surveys. African American children disproportionately attend segregated, poor quality schools. Mass incarceration is harming far too many people of color when drug treatment and other approaches would have better outcomes. The health disparities in our communities are well-known. Now as we face our second 100 years, we can begin to see the realization of the vision of a new land where all live in safe communities and law enforcement respects and protects our neighborhoods. A land where all children can blossom in quality schools... where every worker has a fair chance for employment, education and advancement. Because of your idealism, your willingness to dream big dreams, to set big goals... and to do the hard work, the NAACP has changed our country in our lifetime.Join me in celebrating... and in taking the next steps to realize our vision of justice and equality for all. And take a look at this Washington Post story about what your NAACP is doing now.

DECLINE to SIGN 'Ban on Affirmative Action Petition'

2009-02-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

The NAACP cannot and absolutely refuses to let anyone defeat the gains of diversity in America. America's national security and American businesses benefit by recruiting men and women from diverse races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We contend that the government has a “compelling interest” in promoting diversity in education and the workplace. Diversity and racial integration are essential to a smoothly functioning, high quality military. A diverse and racially integrated workforce is essential for US companies to compete in an increasingly global economy. We need diversity because US companies must be able to access a diverse pool of talented students from the best schools so that they can train, promote, and build a high caliber workforce capable of meeting the diverse needs of customers in the global marketplace.

Affirmative Action Programs serves as a remedy for minorities who have systematically been excluded and discriminated against. Preferences should be designed to help and not hinder and implemented when there is a “most compelling reason” or” intermediate scrutiny”. This dynamic is crucial to combat and overcome the persistent, lingering effect, and practice of discrimination toward minority groups in our country. We do not desire “reverse discrimination” which only serves to foster anger, resentment, and stir the flames of racial hatred. Americans favor affirmative actions in the abstract but oppose racial preferences; therefore, America supports Affirmative Action.

Affirmative Action would not be necessary, if a serious commitment to hiring of minorities and women regardless of race, color, sex, physical handicap, national origin, religion, age, disability, or sexual orientation were in effect. If true equal opportunity was afforded to qualified individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, disability, or sexual orientation and people were promoted to the fullest realization of equal employment opportunity for minorities and women through a fair system, Affirmative Action would not be necessary. If a “fair system” covered all aspects of employment relationships for current employees and future employees, including recruitment, hiring, assignment of duties, promotion, tenure, compensation, selection for training and termination; Affirmative Action Programs would not be needed.

The U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged that we do not yet have a colorblind society. Therefore, we need affirmative action programs.
What does affirmative action do? It sets up a proactive system that identifies barriers that have kept people out of positions, and it develops a means, a mechanism: for taking those barriers apart and ensuring that qualified women, qualified minorities, qualified blacks, Hispanics, Asians and others, have an opportunity to compete on a level playing field with anyone else; for a job, for a contract, for a seat in public education. That's what affirmative action is all about." If most Americans were color blind, or gender blind, then we would not need these programs. Because of affirmative action business, politics, education and so many other positions, and people in those positions look like all Americans. People ought not forget why this law was adapted in the first place. This should tell the world the whole story and the reasoning behind Affirmative Action Programs. Until there is no discrimination in hiring and politics, we will need affirmative action. When people start telling “half truths” about why these programs are needed, they endorse “hate mongers” and those with other motives. The Anti- Affirmative Action movement is aimed at shutting down much of the progress that's been made over the past few years in terms of employment, public contracting and public education. This is an orchestrated serious, well funded campaign which is an effort to roll back the gains of the last decades, but we shall not be moved.

To work, Affirmative Action must help all races, and create equal opportunity where demographics are reversed and hire the best people qualified. The NAACP stands resolute in support of Affirmative Action Programs and vehemently opposes any attempt to dilute its aims. The NAACP will bring to bear the necessary resources to facilitate the desired outcome, which results in the America our “fore-fathers” longed and many yet search for. We have not arrived, we will not go “backwards” but we are determined to seek new gains. Check our resume.

The Conscience of Saline/Lafayette County - September 23, 2006

2006-09-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

Health & Medicine

10 things men must know about prostate cancer By Susan Yara

At the age of 53, Joe DiBlasi, a music composer and producer who had worked with such artists as Frank Sinatra, considered himself a healthy man. He was in great physical shape and ate a fairly typical diet. And, like many men, he avoided seeing doctors...he'd managed to go without a checkup or medical test for 15 years, until his wife, Lisa, decided it was time for an appointment. MSNBC

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Judge Strikes Down Missouri Voter ID Requirement

"Law is found to be unconstitutional, and hampers election freedoms"

The NAACP legal team and its partners scored another victory in preserving the right of all Americans to cast an unfettered ballot. Yesterday a judge struck down Missouri's new voter identification law as an unconstitutional infringement on the right to vote.

Circuit Judge Richard Callahan considered two combined lawsuits claiming the requirement that demands voters show a federal or Missouri-issued photo ID at the polls was an unconstitutional burden on voters. The judge agreed, issuing an injunction halting implementation of the law and directed Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan to provide notice of the judgment to eachthe 116e116 election authorities in the state.

Once again the actions of those who would curtail and deny Americans this precious and sacred right has not stood legitimate legal challenge, said NAACP General Counsel Dennis C. Hayes. "We will continue to monitor and forcibly act against such attacks on the rights of all Americans."

Callahan said the requirement is a particularly troublesome to women and the poor because a separate Missouri law requires those obtaining or renewing a driver's license to show they are lawfully in the country, generally with a birth certificate or passport.

Those whose names have changed, such as some married women, also must provide documents verifying those changes. While the voter Identification card would be free, the underlying paperwork has a cost, which the judge found unacceptable. "The Missouri NAACP worked hard to bring attention to this unconstitutional law," said Mary Ratliff, president of the Missouri State Conference-NAACP. "We are pleased that Judge Callahan agreed with us. This law was especially burdensome for low income voters. Striking it down was the right thing to do."

Prior to 2002, voters in the state, like most of the country were generally not required to present any form of identification as a condition of voting. In 2002 the Missouri legislature required that some form of identification be presented, but allowed any one of several forms of ID readily available to virtually all registered voters. Earlier this year, the legislature further revised the election laws and eliminated many of the forms of identification that were previously acceptable and established a strict photo ID requirement essentially allowing only those photo IDs that are dated and issued by the state, its national guard or U.S. military.

In his order, Judge Callahan wrote: "Unlike the photo ID laws in most other states, the Missouri law has few real alternatives to a state issued ID, and places most of the burden on the citizen voter". "The photo ID burden placed on the voter may seem minor or inconsequential to the mainstream of our society", the judge continued. "However for the elderly, the poor, the undereducated, or otherwise disadvantaged, the burden can be great if not insurmountable, and it is those very people outside the mainstream of society who are the least equipped to bear the costs or navigate the many bureaucracies necessary to obtain the required documentation."

The judge noted that the 2006 Missouri Voter Protection Act, of which the photo ID requirement is a part, is unconstitutional and violates MissouriÂs own constitution because it: Created impermissible additional qualifications to vote Required the payment of money to vote, in violation of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the state constitution. Violated the prohibition on interference with the "free exercise of the right of suffrage" and requirements that all elections be free and open. Created an undue burden on the fundamental right to vote that is not narrowly tailored to meet a compelling state interest, in violation of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the state constitution.

The NAACP was joined in the suit by Give Missourians a Raise Inc. and six other citizen plaintiffs that filed suit in Cole County Circuit Court.
The NAACP is also opposed to a provision expected to be considered by the U.S. House of Representatives in coming weeks. House Resolution 4844 would require all voters to show some form of federally-approved photo identification before being able to cast their vote by the year 2008. It would also require states to ask for documented proof of citizenship by the year 2010.

This legislation flies in the face of our right, guaranteed by the Constitution as well as the recently reauthorized 1965 Voting Rights Act, which mandates that no state or municipality shall in any way infringe on our right to vote. H.R. 4844 re-creates new obstacles in voting akin to a modern day 'poll-taxÂ' by forcing U.S citizens to pay for government approved ID that many of our most vulnerable citizens do not have or cannot easily obtain to prove their citizenship.

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

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Missouri NAACP Annual State Conference

To: Regional Director, NAACP Missouri Unit

From: Mary A. Ratliff, State Conference President

The Missouri State Annual Conference will be held Friday Starting at 12:00n and Saturday, (September 29-30), 2006 at the Hawthorn Park Hotel, 2431 North Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65803 Ph: (417 - 831-3131) - (Fax: 417 - 831-2582).

Registration begins at 12:00 noon on Friday Adult Registration fee: 30.00. Allouth Registration $30.00All Branches remember to be in good standing your assessments must be current. Your Branch assessments and further conference information will be forth coming from Ms. Willa StSecretary. Wetate Conference Seretary.We need to have every president, every officer and executive Committee member in attendance. This is a very important election year and we have many issues on the table in Missouri.

The National Board has mandated that every conference will have training components as out lined by the board during each State Conference meeting. Presidents Remember, if you are leading and nobody is following, you are not leading, you are just taking a walk. Our State conference meeting should be just as important to us as the National Convention, because WE have the opportunity to influence Our State issues.

The National Youth Director will be attending the Conference, and other National Staffiled to attend. Since we filied the Photo I.D. lawsuit, Hilary could come.

God Bless and hope to see you all in Springfield September 29 and 30th. Mary A. Ratliff, President Missouri State Conference

DRAFT Schedule:

Friday -9/29

12:00 Registration begins
1 -2.p.m. LConferencelative session (MO St. Conf.)
3 - 5 Education Workshop
6:00 Soul Food Dinner (the location of the sointernational Ministriesope InternationalMinistries, 901 N. MOospect Ave. Springfield,on the5802. The church sits onthe corner of Central and Prospect, Centrchurch'seast and west, the churchis one block east of the corner of National and Central.)

Program Saturday - 9/30

9:a.m. - 3:p.m. YOUTH WORKSHOPS
9:a.m - 11 Membership/Branch Administration
11 - 12 Health
12:00 Luncheon
1:00 - 2:30 Criminal Justice
2:30 Break
2:30 - 4:45 Political Action
4:45 - 5: 15 p.m. Legislative Session
6:30 Banquet

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MEMBERSHIP IS POWER! JOIN THE NAACP TODAY. For more information, call your local NAACP branch #4069. @660886.5695 or marshallnaacp@socket.net or visit http://www.naacp.org/

The Conscience of Saline County---Where Knowledge is Power!!!

2006-08-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hilary O. Shelton, Director NAACP Washington Bureau,

Freedom Fund Banquet Speaker

The Mar-Saline Branch of the NAACP announces its Freedom Fund Banquet. The Banquet is September 2, 2006 in the R. Wilson Brown Room on the campus of Missouri Valley College. The banquet is preceded with a guest of honor reception beginning at 5:30 PM. Tickets to the gala is $30.00.

Hilary O. Shelton, presently serves as Director to the NAACP's Washington Bureau. The Washington Bureau is the Federal legislative and national public policy division of the national civil rights organization. In this capacity, Hilary is responsible for advocating the federal public policy issue agenda of the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized civil rights organization in the United States to the U.S. Government. Hilary's government affairs portfolio includes crucial issues such as affirmative action, equal employment protection, access to quality education, stopping gun violence, ending racial profiling, abolition of the death penalty, access to comprehensive healthcare, voting rights protection, federal sentencing reform and a host of civil rights enforcement, expansion and protection issues.

Prior to serving as director to the NAACP Washington Bureau, Hilary served in the position of Federal Liaison/Assistant Director to the Government Affairs Department of The College Fund/UNCF, formerly known as The United Negro College Fund in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, Hilary worked with Senate and House Members of the U.S. Congress, Federal Agencies and Departments, college and university presidents and faculty members, as well as the White House to secure the survival, growth and educational programming excellence of the 39 private historically black colleges and universities throughout the United States.Prior to working for The College Fund/UNCF.

Hilary served as a Federal Policy Program Director to the 8.5 million-member United Methodist Churches' social justice advocacy agency, The General Board of Church & Society. In this capacity, Hilary advocated for the national and international United Methodist Churches' public policy agenda affecting a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties issues including preserving equal opportunity programs such as affirmative action, securing equal high quality public education for all Americans, guaranteeing greater access to higher education and strengthening our nation's historically Black colleges and universities, abolition of the death penalty, reforming the criminal justice system, voting rights protection and expansion, gun control and a host of other social justice policy concerns.

Hilary serves on a number of national boards of directors including, The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, The Center for Democratic Renewal, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute among many others. Playing an integral role in the crafting and final passage of such crucial federal legislation as the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Hilary was also instrumental in ushering through to passage, The Civil Rights Restoration Act, The Violence Against Women Act, The Hate Crimes Statistics Act, The Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act, The National Voter Registration Act, The National Assault Weapons Ban, The Brady Handgun Law, Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act and many other crucial laws and policy measures affecting the quality of our lives and equality in our society.

Hilary has humbly received a number of awards and recognitions for his unwavering dedication to civil rights and the mission and goals of the NAACP. Among the many awards to which he is most grateful for receiving, Mr. Shelton is the proud recipient of the National NAACP Medgar W. Evers Award for Excellence, one of the highest honor presented by the national NAACP for Outstanding Service, Sincere Dedication and Commitment to the Mission of the NAACP, the Israeli Embassy and Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's 2005 Civil Rights Leadership Award, as well as the Congressional Black Caucus Chairman's Award In Recognition and Appreciation for Dedication, Leadership and Commitment to Advancing the Cause of Civil Rights for All Americans.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a family of 6 brothers and sisters, Hilary holds degrees in political science, communications, and legal studies from Howard University in Washington, D.C., the University of Missouri St. Louis, and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, respectively.Hilary presently lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife Paula Young Shelton and their three sons, masters Caleb Wesley, Aaron Joshua, and Noah Ottis Young Shelton.
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NAACP CALLS FOR A REAL INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE

URGES CONGRESS TO PASS THE FAIR MINIMUM WAGE ACT AS SOON AS THEY RETURN TO DC FROM THEIR AUGUST DISTRICT WORK PERIOD

_______________________________________________________
THE ISSUE: Just prior to leaving for their August district work period, the United States Senate defeated, by only 3 votes, an attempt to bring up and pass a flawed minimum wage increase. Specifically, the bill that was being considered would have helped 1.8 million fewer American families than the proposal long supported by the NAACP, and it would have drastically reduced the wages of more than one million tipped workers.

Now we must fight even harder than before for a genuine increase in the minimum wage. It is the utmost of hypocrisy for many Members of Congress to suddenly be in strong support of an increase of the minimum wage, and go so far as to agree that it is long overdue, when it is tied to a tax break for the wealthiest Americans but not support a "clean" minimum wage bill that would help all the workers and families it is intended to help.

A real increase in the federal minimum wage is long overdue. Real wages are actually declining for the first time in more than a decade, while the price of everything from healthcare, gasoline and food are rising rapidly. At the current minimum wage of $5.15 an hour, a worker who works 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year earns $10,712. This is almost $2,000 below the 2003 poverty level for a family of 2 (a parent and a child).

Currently, 7.5 million American workers earn between $5.15 an hour and $8 an hour; 84% of them are adults over the age of 20. Nearly half of them are married or have children. Over half of them are women, and 60% of them work full time.

The Fair Minimum Wage Act has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) (S. 1062) and in the House by Congressman George Miller (D-CA) (H.R. 2429). This legislation would raise the current $5.15 minimum wage by 70 cents six months after enactment (to $5.85 an hour); an additional 70 cents (to $6.55 an hour) a year later, and a final 70 cent increase (to $7.25 an hour) a year after that. This increase will help real workers who work hard to support themselves and their families; ethnic minority Americans make up nearly 40% of those who would benefit from the increase.

We must pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act now. No one who works hard for a living should be forced to exist well below the poverty level. Please click here to view the entire Action Alert.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER!!! If you have any questions, call Hilary Shelton at the Washington Bureau at (202) 463-2940.
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Voter Suppression in Missouri
Published: NY Times August 10, 2006

Missouri is the latest front in the Republican Party's campaign to use photo ID requirements to suppress voting. The Republican legislators who pushed through Missouri's ID law earlier this year said they wanted to deter fraud, but that claim falls apart on close inspection. Missouri's new ID rules and similar ones adopted last year in Indiana and Georgia are intended to deter voting by blacks, poor people and other groups that are less likely to have driver's licenses. Georgia's law has been blocked by the courts, and the others should be too.

Even before Missouri passed its new law, it had tougher ID requirements than many states. Voters were required, with limited exceptions, to bring ID with them to the polls, but university ID cards, bank statements mailed to a voter's address, and similar documents were acceptable. The new law requires a government-issued photo ID, which as many as 200,000 Missourians do not have.

Missourians who have driver's licenses will have little trouble voting, but many who do not will have to go to considerable trouble to get special ID's. The supporting documents needed to get these, like birth certificates, often have fees attached, so some Missourians will have to pay to keep voting. It is likely that many people will not jump all of the bureaucratic hurdles to get the special ID, and will become ineligible to vote.

Not coincidentally, groups that are more likely to vote against the Republicans who passed the ID law will be most disadvantaged. Advocates for blacks, the elderly and the disabled say that those groups are less likely than the average Missourian to have driver's licenses, and most likely to lose their right to vote. In close elections, like the bitterly contested U.S. Senate race now under way in the state, this disenfranchisement could easily make the difference in who wins.

The new law's supporters say its purpose is to deter fraud. But there is little evidence of imposter voting, the sort of fraud that ID laws are aimed at, in Missouri or anywhere else. Groups in Missouri that want to suppress voting have a long history of crying fraud, but investigations by the Justice Department and The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, among others, have refuted such claims in the past. If the Legislature really wanted to deter fraud, it would have focused its efforts on absentee ballots, which are a notorious source of election fraud and are not covered by Missouri's new ID requirements.

Because of the important constitutional issues these laws raise, courts will have the final say. Federal and state judges have already blocked Georgia's ID law from taking effect, and although Indiana's law was upheld earlier this year, that ruling is on appeal. Missouri voting-rights advocates recently filed suit against their state's law.

Unduly onerous voter ID laws violate equal protection, and when voters have to pay to get the ID's, they are an illegal poll tax. They are also an insult to democracy, because their goal is to have elections in which eligible voters are turned away.

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MEMBERSHIP IS POWER! JOIN THE NAACP TODAY. For more information, call your local NAACP branch #4069. @660886.5695 or marshallnaacp@socket.net or visit http://www.naacp.org/

The Conscience of Saline County - Speaking Truth to Power (7-27-06)

2006-07-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

BRIEFING NOTES: Voting Rights Act, Reauthorization

BACKGROUND

The NAACP strongly endorses the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (S. 2703/H.R. 9) which was introduced on May 2, 2006 to reauthorize expiring portions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
The Voting Rights Act (VRA) of 1965 is a hard won milestone of the Civil Rights Movement and the single most effective piece of civil rights legislation ever passed. The VRA has protected the franchise of millions of minority voters against discriminatory measures such as poll taxes, literacy tests, racially biased redistricting plans and language barriers designed to limit minority access to the ballot.

Though the sections of the Voting Rights Act that guarantee that no one may be denied the right to vote based on their race are permanent, the expiring sections are crucial to protecting the franchise of minority voters. The sections of the VRA that will expire in 2007 if not reauthorized by Congress are Section 5 which requires those states with a history of discriminatory voting practices to preclear their election plans to ensure that they are fair and equitable; Section 203 which provides greater access to the electoral process for Limited English Proficient (LEP) voters; and Sections 6 and 9 which allow federal monitors to protect voters from intimidation and harassment at the polls. Each one of the expiring sections of the VRA remains vital to ensuring equal access to the ballot for all Americans. More>>

and more>>

Possible Litigation

Missouri's SB 1014 Photo ID Law

The NAACP is now exploring possible responses to the Election Reforms recently signed into law in Missouri and I am in need of your assistance to identify people who will be adversely affected most by this ID law. The criteria being used would probably have the following characteristics:

They do not have one of the forms of photo ID required:
1 - Getting such an ID would be impossible, or very difficult, because they can't get the documentation (can't get a birth certificate, from out of state, or because they were born at home without a birth certification), or because going to get such an ID would be a hardship
2 - Ideally, they'll have voted before in Missouri for many years
3 - They were not on or before 1/1/41. 4 - College Student who resides in another county other than election poll.

If you know of people in your communities who might fit these characteristics, or know of others who might know such people, we would very much like to meet them and speak with them. We would like to meet with them over the next 2-weeks to begin our preparations.
I know that the storm has presently caused numerous problems, still it would be a greater tragedy if we allow the possible pending storm that would silence the voices of our congregations and communities to happen without any due diligence or preparation. Please forward any names and contact information, or you can have them to contact me directly.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.

Rev. Gill Ford, Region IV Director 4477 Woodson Road, Suite 201 St. Louis, MO 63134 314 428-9900 Phone 314 428-9904 Fax

Mary Ratliff, MO NAACP State Conference President, marrat300@aol.com

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Protect the hard-earned civil rights gains of the past three decades. Join Now » Unit #4069

The Conscience of the County - Speaking Truth to Power!!!! (071406)

2006-07-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

Civil Rights

Slavery reparations gaining momentum
By Erin Texeira, Associated Press
Advocates who say black Americans should be compensated for slavery and its Jim Crow aftermath are quietly chalking up victories and gaining momentum. Fueled by the work of scholars and lawyers, their campaign has morphed in recent years from a fringe-group rallying cry into sophisticated, mainstream movement. Most recently, a pair of churches apologized for their part in the slave trade, and one is studying ways to repay black church members. The overall issue is hardly settled, even among black Americans: Some say that focusing on slavery shouldn't be a top priority or that it doesn't make sense to compensate people generations after a historical wrong. Yahoo! News

"Progress through Partnership"

2006 MLBCF Midwestern Conference

Tan-Tar-A Resort Lake Of the Ozarks, Missouri

July 13-16, 2006

Voting Our Values, Valuing Our Votes

NAACP 97TH Annual Convention opens July 15

in the nation's capital

Several thousand delegates and visitors from around the nation are expected to attend the 97th Annual National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Convention, July 15-20 at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center. This marks the seventh time the NAACP has held its annual convention in the nation's capital. The theme of this year's convention is "Voting Our Values, Valuing Our Votes."

NAACP President and CEO Bruce S. Gordon said: "I look forward to my first convention as President and CEO of this great organization. African Americans have made great strides in this country, but there are still civil rights battles to be fought. The attempt by some members of Congress to stall a vote on extending the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is just one example of why the NAACP must continue to exist and to prosper."

NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Julian Bond said: "Our annual conventions bring together committed civil rights activists from across the nation to re-charge their batteries and to learn new techniques in fighting old evils. We’ll stress the importance of valuing our votes and will leave Washington determined to vote our values."

Convention highlights include the historic re-presentation of " The Great Tablet" at John Brown's Fort at Harper's Ferry in West, Virginia; daily tours to the African American Civil Rights Museum; a health symposium on HIV/AIDS; keynote addresses by Julian Bond and Bruce S. Gordon; the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the NAACP Youth and College Division; a legislative session on the "Voting Rights Act Reauthorization;" Continuing Legal Education and health workshops and the Spingarn Awards Dinner honoring Dr. Benjamin S. Carson.

Roslyn Brock, Vice Chair, NAACP National Board of Directors and Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee, said: "The NAACP Board Convention Planning Committee looks forward to welcoming delegates and friends to the 97th Annual NAACP Convention. This year's theme speaks to the many heartaches, the tears and blood that were shed in the fight for full citizenship rights. We cannot and will not be turned back." More

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The Conscience of the County - Speaking TRUTH to POWER!!!

2006-07-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

Photo Identification for Voting

The Basics:
Senate Bill 1014 became law on June 14, 2006. This law makes changes in the requirements for voting. The Department of Revenue is responsible for issuing photo identification cards (called non-driver licenses) to anyone who does not have any other form of photo identification and needs one for voting.

Nearly 96 percent of Missourians will be unaffected by this change. If you have a Missouri driver license, non-driver license or permit, a U.S. military ID without an expiration date that features your photo, or any other ID that satisfies the requirements listed below, you may present that ID to vote.

Your local election officials will determine whether your identification meets the requirements listed below. The Department of Revenue and its contract offices will NOT be the arbiter of such questions.

It is important to note that the August 2006 election will be conducted like any other previous election. There are no law changes that affect voting in the August 2006 election.

The Specifics:

Identification Requirements for Voting

When DON'T I Need a Photo ID

Your Options

How to Obtain or Renew a Missouri Nondriver License

Proof of Lawful Presence, Proof of Identity, Proof of Residency

Other Information & Contact Phone Number

White House to Ease Medicaid Rule on Proof of Citizenship

By ROBERT PEAR
Published: July 7, 2006
WASHINGTON, July 6,2006 The Bush administration said Thursday that it would exempt millions of the most vulnerable Medicaid recipients from a new law that requires them to prove they are United States citizens by showing birth certificates, passports or other documents.
The action was apparently intended to pre-empt a ruling by a federal judge who is scheduled to hold a hearing on Friday on a lawsuit challenging the new requirement, which took effect on July 1.

Dr. Mark B. McClellan, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said that more than 8 million of the 55 million Medicaid recipients would be "exempt from the new documentation requirement" because they had established their citizenship when they applied for Medicare or Supplemental Security Income.

Medicaid, financed jointly by the federal government and the states, provides health insurance for low-income people, including many in nursing homes. Medicare provides health insurance for people who are 65 and older or disabled. Supplemental Security Income is a cash assistance program for people with very low incomes who are elderly, blind or disabled. About six million people receive Medicare and Medicaid. In most states, people receiving Supplemental Security Income are entitled to Medicaid.
Dr. McClellan said the exemption would apply, for example, to "people with mental retardation who have never worked and to many nursing home residents." Critics of the new law had said it would be difficult for many people with mental retardation, Alzheimer's disease and other mental impairments to produce the documents needed to comply.

Under the law, anyone who has Medicaid coverage or applies for it must present "documentary evidence of citizenship." Previously, more than 40 states had accepted the applicants' written statements as proof of citizenship unless the claims seemed questionable. "Self-attestation of citizenship and identity is no longer an acceptable practice," the administration said in a rule issued on Thursday evening.

The new documentation requirement is part of the Deficit Reduction Act, signed by President Bush on Feb. 8. It is meant to stop the "theft of Medicaid benefits by illegal aliens," in the words of Representative Charlie Norwood, Republican of Georgia, a principal author of the provision.
In an unusual preamble to the new rule, the Bush administration said it believed that Congress had intended to exempt Medicaid beneficiaries who were also receiving Medicare or Supplemental Security Income.

The law says the documentation requirement "shall not apply to an alien who is eligible for medical assistance" if the person is also enrolled in one of the other two programs. The administration said this was "clearly a drafting error." Congress intended an exemption for citizens, "but accidentally used the term 'alien,' " the preamble says. New York Times

Voting Rights Act Reauthorization

Tell Congress to stop stalling and renew the Voting Rights Act. Equality in voting is fundamental to the American democratic system. For more than 40 years, the Voting Rights Act has protected the right of every American citizen to cast an informed vote. Sign the petition now

Career Opportunity

If you know of anyone between 18-28 years old, interested in the Nursing field, University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is offering FREE tuition, FREE books, a $250 monthly stipend, and guaranteed job placement as a Nurse at Providence Hospital upon graduation (it's a 3 year program) with a starting salary of $40,000. The program is recruiting new students now! Please contact Ms. Beshon Smith (202)266-5481 or email: Bsmith@urbanalliance.org

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The Conscience of the County - Speaking Truth to Power!!! 070106

2006-06-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

VALUE OUR VOTE!!!!

As the nation’s largest civil rights organization, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has been a leading advocate for the empowerment of individuals and communities across the country. As we look to the future we hold our testimony of past and present experiences close. While we have accomplished so much in the struggle for civil rights, we acknowledge the disparities that remain and continue to renew our commitment for change.

This year, we pause and reflect on the impact that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita made in the lives of so many of our brothers and sisters here in the Gulf Coast Region. While over the past several months the NAACP has committed more than $2 million towards relief and advocacy efforts in the region, we clearly recognize we have a long way to go to adequately secure the education, housing and employment rights of our brothers and sisters.

In an effort to empower communities across the nation to proactively address similar social challenges, the NAACP is launching 2 major national initiatives;
the "Arrive with 5" voter empowerment campaign and the "Equity Matters" education campaign.

The NAACP continues to fight the good fight, but we cannot do it alone. Join our "Arrive with 5" and "Equity Matters" campaigns and make a commitment to empowering our community.

Let’s Value Our Vote and Vote Our Values on November 7, 2006.

Sincerely,

Bruce S. Gordon

FOR YOUR HEALTH
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

Genital HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is caused by human papilloma virus (HPV). Human papilloma virus is the name of a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different strains or types. More than 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted, and they can infect the genital area of men and women including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), or anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, or rectum. Most people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own.

Some of these viruses are called "high-risk" types, and may cause abnormal Pap tests. They may also lead to cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, or penis. Others are called "low-risk" types, and they may cause mild Pap test abnormalities or genital warts. Genital warts are single or multiple growths or bumps that appear in the genital area, and sometimes are cauliflower shaped.

Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.

The types of HPV that infect the genital area are spread primarily through genital contact. Most HPV infections have no signs or symptoms; therefore, most infected persons are unaware they are infected; yet they can transmit the virus to a sex partner. Rarely, a pregnant woman can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery. A baby that is exposed to HPV very rarely develops warts in the throat or voice box.

Most people who have a genital HPV infection do not know they are infected. The virus lives in the skin or mucous membranes and usually causes no symptoms. Some people get visible genital warts, or have pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, vulva, anus, or penis. Very rarely, HPV infection results in anal or genital cancers.

Genital warts usually appear as soft, moist, pink, or flesh-colored swellings, usually in the genital area. They can be raised or flat, single or multiple, small or large, and sometimes cauliflower shaped. They can appear on the vulva, in or around the vagina or anus, on the cervix, and on the penis, scrotum, groin, or thigh. After sexual contact with an infected person, warts may appear within weeks or months, or not at all.

Genital warts are diagnosed by visual inspection. Visible genital warts can be removed by medications the patient applies, or by treatments performed by a health care provider. Some individuals choose to forego treatment to see if the warts will disappear on their own. No treatment regimen for genital warts is better than another, and no one-treatment regimen is ideal for all cases.

Most women are diagnosed with HPV on the basis of abnormal Pap tests. A Pap test is the primary cancer-screening tool for cervical cancer or pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, many of which are related to HPV. Also, a specific test is available to detect HPV DNA in women. The test may be used in women with mild Pap test abnormalities, or in women >30 years of age at the time of Pap testing. The results of HPV DNA testing can help health care providers decide if further tests or treatment are necessary. No HPV tests are available for men.

There is no "cure" for HPV infection, although in most women the infection goes away on its own. The treatments provided are directed to the changes in the skin or mucous membrane caused by HPV infection, such as warts and pre-cancerous changes in the cervix. All types of HPV can cause mild Pap test abnormalities, which do not have serious consequences.

Approximately 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead, in rare cases, to development of cervical cancer. Research has shown that for most women (90 percent), cervical HPV infection becomes undetectable within two years. Although only a small proportion of women have persistent infection, persistent infection with "high-risk" types of HPV is the main risk factor for cervical cancer.

A Pap test can detect pre-cancerous and cancerous cells on the cervix. Regular Pap testing and careful medical follow-up, with treatment if necessary, can help ensure that pre-cancerous changes in the cervix caused by HPV infection do not develop into life threatening cervical cancer. The Pap test used in U.S. cervical cancer screening programs is responsible for greatly reducing deaths from cervical cancer. For 2004, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 10,520 women will develop invasive cervical cancer and about 3,900 women will die from this disease. Most women who develop invasive cervical cancer have not had regular cervical cancer screening.

The surest way to eliminate risk for genital HPV infection is to refrain from any genital contact with another individual. For those who choose to be sexually active, a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is the strategy most likely to prevent future genital HPV infections. However, it is difficult to determine whether a partner who has been sexually active in the past is currently infected. For those choosing to be sexually active and who are not in long-term mutually monogamous relationships, reducing the number of sexual partners and choosing a partner less likely to be infected may reduce the risk of genital HPV infection. Partners less likely to be infected include those who have had no or few prior sex partners. HPV infection can occur in both male and female genital areas that are covered or protected by a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not covered. While the effect of condoms in preventing HPV infection is unknown, condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer, an HPV-associated disease.

Hilary O. Shelton, Director NAACP Washington Bureau, Freedom Fund Banquet Speaker

The Mar-Saline Branch of the NAACP announced its Freedom Fund Banquet. The Banquet is September 2, 2006 in the R. Wilson Brown Room on the campus of Missouri Valley College. The banquet is preceded with a guest of honor reception beginning at 5:30 PM. Tickets to the gala is $30.00.

Prior to serving as director to the NAACP Washington Bureau, Hilary served in the position of Federal Liaison/Assistant Director to the Government Affairs Department of The College Fund/UNCF, formerly known as The United Negro College Fund in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, Hilary worked with Senate and House Members of the U.S. Congress, Federal Agencies and Departments, college and university presidents and faculty members, as well as the White House to secure the survival, growth and educational programming excellence of the 39 private historically black colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Prior to working for The College Fund/UNCF, Hilary served as a Federal Policy Program Director to the 8.5 million-member United Methodist Churches' social justice advocacy agency, The General Board of Church & Society. In this capacity, Hilary advocated for the national and international United Methodist Churches' public policy agenda affecting a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties issues including preserving equal opportunity programs such as affirmative action, securing equal high quality public education for all Americans, guaranteeing greater access to higher education and strengthening our nation's historically Black colleges and universities, abolition of the death penalty, reforming the criminal justice system, voting rights protection and expansion, gun control and a host of other social justice policy concerns.

Hilary serves on a number of national boards of directors including, The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, The Center for Democratic Renewal, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute among many others.Playing an integral role in the crafting and final passage of such crucial federal legislation as the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Hilary was also instrumental in ushering through to passage, The Civil Rights Restoration Act, The Violence Against Women Act, The Hate Crimes Statistics Act, The Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act, The National Voter Registration Act, The National Assault Weapons Ban, The Brady Handgun Law, Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act and many other crucial laws and policy measures affecting the quality of our lives and equality in our society.

Hilary has humbly received a number of awards and recognitions for his unwavering dedication to civil rights and the mission and goals of the NAACP. Among the many awards to which he is most grateful for receiving, Mr. Shelton is the proud recipient of the National NAACP Medgar W. Evers Award for Excellence, one of the highest honor presented by the national NAACP for Outstanding Service, Sincere Dedication and Commitment to the Mission of the NAACP, the Israeli Embassy and Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's 2005 Civil Rights Leadership Award, as well as the Congressional Black Caucus Chairman's Award In Recognition and Appreciation for Dedication, Leadership and Commitment to Advancing the Cause of Civil Rights for All Americans.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a family of 6 brothers and sisters, Hilary holds degrees in political science, communications, and legal studies from Howard University in Washington, D.C., the University of Missouri St. Louis, and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, respectively.Hilary presently lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife Paula Young Shelton and their three sons, masters Caleb Wesley, Aaron Joshua, and Noah Ottis Young Shelton.

A letter to NAACP Members and Supporters from Dr. John H. Johnson, Chief Policy Officer

Equality in voting is fundamental to the American democratic system. For more than 40 years, the Voting Rights Act has protected the right of every American citizen to cast an informed vote. Consequently, the NAACP strongly encourages Congress to swiftly reauthorize the Voting Rights Act (Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 [S. 2703/H.R. 9]).
Although the reauthorizing legislation was introduced in Congress on May 2, 2006, on Wednesday, June 21, 2006, a small band of obstructionists in the House of Representatives hampered the reauthorization process by stalling H.R. 9. These congressional obstructionists—like Representatives Lynn Westmorland (GA), Charlie Norwood (GA) and others—represent retrogressive forces that America hasn't seen at this level since the 1960s.
Many of those trying to derail this bill represent states with the most egregious records of discrimination in voting. Their actions would return us to a time when the rights of racial and ethnic minority Americans-specifically the right to vote-were not protected or enforced.
Leaders in the House of Representatives must move past this small group of obstructionists and get the bill back on track immediately. The nation's continued progress towards equality demands this.
Starting on Wednesday, June 27, 2006, the NAACP will join People for the American Way and the National Education Association to hand-deliver signed petitions gathered from around the country to the House leadership.
Tell Congress to stop stalling and renew the Voting Rights Act. Please sign the petition now to tell Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, and Majority Leader, John Boehner, to stand up and lead the effort to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act!

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The Conscience of the County - Speaking Truth to Power!!!

2006-06-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

NAACP Rallies Against Voter ID Law JEFFERSON CITY - June 24, 2006...KOMU.com
The new voter ID law is in the book, but protestors say this new voter registration law will take away first amendment rights.
Ten organizations from around the state gathered on the Capitol steps this morning to show their concern. Organizations such as Rally organizer the NAACP, GRO, SEIU, AFSCME, County Clerks, Faith Community, and more voiced regrets on the passage of the bill, but expressed a greater need "...To now educate the voters and potential voters are the critical issue such as a state issued identification card by November 7, 2006...we must move forward".

The new voter ID law was signed by Gov. Blunt on June 14. It requires voters to show a Missouri drivers license, a nondriver ID or a military ID at the polls. The bill also allows those who don't have a photo ID to cast a provisional ballot until 2008. For that provisional ballot to count, voters must get an affidavit from two election judges.

Protestors say the bill targets African Americans, the elderly, and those with disabilities because these people are less likely to have a photo ID or birth certificate. NAACP leaders say their main goal is to educate and prepare voters.
"We can go out to all parts of Missouri and educate citizens about what the bill is and means and to try and help them in every way that we can to assure that they have the proper identification to register and to vote come November," said Mary Ratliff, NAACP State Conference President.
click for more

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NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY - June 27

The theme for the 2006 National HIV Testing Day is "Take The Test, Take Control." This day is set aside annually by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) to encourage at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 180,000 to 280,000 people nationwide are HIV-positive, but are unaware of their status. HIV counseling and testing enables people with HIV to take steps to protect their own health and that of their partners, and helps people who test negative to get the information they need to stay uninfected.Activities for testing opportunities are being planned around the state to offer HIV testing for those individuals who are interested in knowing their status. Attached is a flyer with contact information for HIV counseling and testing sites. For additional information, access the CDC National Prevention Information Network (NPIN) website at http://www.cdcnpin.org/, or NAPWA at http://www.napwa.org/.

Places to go for Free Testing:
Columbia-Boone County Health Department
Phone Number: 573-874-7536

St. Joseph-Buchanan County Health Department
Phone Number: 816-271-4725

Springfield-Greene County Health Department
Phone Number: 417-864-1303

AIDS Project of the Ozarks (Springfield)
Phone Number: 417-881-1900

Joplin City Health Department
Phone Number: 417-623-6122

St. Louis Metro AIDS
Phone Number: 314-879-6410

St. Louis Effort for AIDS
Phone Number: 314-645-6451

Kansas City Health Department
Phone Number: 816-513-6074

Kansas City Free Health Clinic
Phone Number: 816-777-2786

SE Missouri Health Education and Risk Reduction
Phone Number: 573-686-5283

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ACTION ALERT
URGENT
DATE: June 21, 2006

TO: Concerned Parties

FROM: Bruce Gordon, President and CEO

Hilary O. Shelton, Director, Washington Bureau
HOUSE FLOOR ACTION ON NAACP-SUPPORTED VOTING RIGHTS REAUTHORIZATION BILL STALLED BY EXTREMISTS CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND URGE THEM TO MOVE THE BILL FORWARD NOW
THE ISSUE: Earlier Wednesday, June 21, 2006, a small band of extremists in the House of Representatives hijacked H.R. 9, the bill to renew and restore the Voting Rights Act. The House had been expected to vote on the bill today. The members who hijacked the Voting Rights Act are Reps. Lynn Westmorland (GA), Charlie Norwood (GA) and others represent retrogressive forces that America hasn't seen at this level since the 1960s. Many of those trying to derail this bill represent states with the most egregious records of discrimination in voting. Their actions would return us to a time when the rights of racial and ethnic minority Americans specifically the right to vote -- were not protected or enforced.

Rarely does a bill have the bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate that H.R. 9 has. House leaders must move past this small group obstructionist and get this bill back on track immediately. The nation's continued progress towards equality demands it. Representatives are scheduled to leave Washington next week for a July 4th recess. But House members should not go home until they have finished the job of renewing the Voting Rights Act.

H.R. 9 is the product of months of intense hearings and is supported by members of both parties in the House and the Senate. The hearings demonstrated conclusively that barriers to equal minority voter protection remain in the United States today. Specifically, the legislation would reauthorize and restore expiring portions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Despite the fact that African Americans and other racial and ethnic minority Americans are guaranteed the right to vote by the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was passed just after the Civil War in 1870, states and local municipalities continued to use tactics such as poll taxes, literacy tests and outright intimidation to stop people from casting free and unfettered ballots.

Thus the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted to insure that no federal, state or local government may in any way impede people from registering to vote or voting because of their race or ethnicity. Most provisions in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and specifically the portions that guarantee that no one may be denied the right to vote because of his or her race or color, are permanent. There are, however, 3 enforcement-related provisions of the Voting Rights Act that will expire in August 2007 unless reauthorized. The hearings held in 2005 and 2006 have found a new generation of tactics, including at-large elections, annexations, last minute poll place changes and redistricting which have had a discriminatory impact on voters, especially racial and ethnic minority American voters. Thus H.R. 9 was introduced to reauthorize the portions of the VRA that will expire next year and allow the federal government to address these new challenges.
URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED! Click here: http://www.naacp.org/inc/docs/Washington/109/109_aa-2006-06-22.pdf

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Hilary O. Shelton, Director NAACP Washington Bureau, Freedom Fund Banquet Speaker

The Mar-Saline branch of the NAACP announced their freedom Fund Banquet. The Banquet is September 2, 2006 in the R. Wilson Brown Room on the campus of Missouri Valley College. The banquet is preceded with a guest of honor reception beginning at 5:30 PM. Tickets to the gala is $30.00

Hilary O. Shelton, presently serves as Director to the NAACP's Washington Bureau. The Washington Bureau is the Federal legislative and national public policy division of the national civil rights organization. In this capacity, Hilary is responsible for advocating the federal public policy issue agenda of the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized civil rights organization in the United States to the U.S. Government. Hilary's government affairs portfolio includes crucial issues such as affirmative action, equal employment protection, access to quality education, stopping gun violence, ending racial profiling, abolition of the death penalty, access to comprehensive healthcare, voting rights protection, federal sentencing reform and a host of civil rights enforcement, expansion and protection issues.Prior to serving as director to the NAACP Washington Bureau, Hilary served in the position of Federal Liaison/Assistant Director to the Government Affairs Department of The College Fund/UNCF, formerly known as The United Negro College Fund in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, Hilary worked with Senate and House Members of the U.S. Congress, Federal Agencies and Departments, college and university presidents and faculty members, as well as the White House to secure the survival, growth and educational programming excellence of the 39 private historically black colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Prior to working for The College Fund/UNCF, Hilary served as a Federal Policy Program Director to the 8.5 million-member United Methodist Churches' social justice advocacy agency, The General Board of Church & Society. In this capacity, Hilary advocated for the national and international United Methodist Churches' public policy agenda affecting a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties issues including preserving equal opportunity programs such as affirmative action, securing equal high quality public education for all Americans, guaranteeing greater access to higher education and strengthening our nation's historically Black colleges and universities, abolition of the death penalty, reforming the criminal justice system, voting rights protection and expansion, gun control and a host of other social justice policy concerns.Hilary serves on a number of national boards of directors including, The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, The Center for Democratic Renewal, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute among many others.Playing an integral role in the crafting and final passage of such crucial federal legislation as the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Hilary was also instrumental in ushering through to passage, The Civil Rights Restoration Act, The Violence Against Women Act, The Hate Crimes Statistics Act, The Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act, The National Voter Registration Act, The National Assault Weapons Ban, The Brady Handgun Law, Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act and many other crucial laws and policy measures affecting the quality of our lives and equality in our society.

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The Conscience of Saline County - June 17, 2006

2006-06-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hilary O. Shelton, Director NAACP Washington bureau, Freedom Fund Banquet Speaker

The Mar-Saline branch of the NAACP announced their freedom Fund Banquet. The Banquet is September 2, 2006 in the R. Wilson Brown Room on the campus of Missouri Valley College. The banquet is preceded with a guest of honor reception beginning at 5:30 PM. Tickets to the gala is $30.00

Hilary O. Shelton, presently serves as Director to the NAACP's Washington Bureau. The Washington Bureau is the Federal legislative and national public policy division of the national civil rights organization. In this capacity, Hilary is responsible for advocating the federal public policy issue agenda of the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized civil rights organization in the United States to the U.S. Government. Hilary's government affairs portfolio includes crucial issues such as affirmative action, equal employment protection, access to quality education, stopping gun violence, ending racial profiling, abolition of the death penalty, access to comprehensive healthcare, voting rights protection, federal sentencing reform and a host of civil rights enforcement, expansion and protection issues.
Prior to serving as director to the NAACP Washington Bureau, Hilary served in the position of Federal Liaison/Assistant Director to the Government Affairs Department of The College Fund/UNCF, formerly known as The United Negro College Fund in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, Hilary worked with Senate and House Members of the U.S. Congress, Federal Agencies and Departments, college and university presidents and faculty members, as well as the White House to secure the survival, growth and educational programming excellence of the 39 private historically black colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Prior to working for The College Fund/UNCF, Hilary served as a Federal Policy Program Director to the 8.5 million-member United Methodist Churches' social justice advocacy agency, The General Board of Church & Society. In this capacity, Hilary advocated for the national and international United Methodist Churches' public policy agenda affecting a wide range of civil rights and civil liberties issues including preserving equal opportunity programs such as affirmative action, securing equal high quality public education for all Americans, guaranteeing greater access to higher education and strengthening our nation's historically Black colleges and universities, abolition of the death penalty, reforming the criminal justice system, voting rights protection and expansion, gun control and a host of other social justice policy concerns.
Hilary serves on a number of national boards of directors including, The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, The Center for Democratic Renewal, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute among many others.

Playing an integral role in the crafting and final passage of such crucial federal legislation as the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Hilary was also instrumental in ushering through to passage, The Civil Rights Restoration Act, The Violence Against Women Act, The Hate Crimes Statistics Act, The Native American Free Exercise of Religion Act, The National Voter Registration Act, The National Assault Weapons Ban, The Brady Handgun Law, Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, the Help America Vote Act and many other crucial laws and policy measures affecting the quality of our lives and equality in our society.
Hilary has humbly received a number of awards and recognitions for his unwavering dedication to civil rights and the mission and goals of the NAACP. Among the many awards to which he is most grateful for receiving, Mr. Shelton is the proud recipient of the National NAACP Medgar W. Evers Award for Excellence, one of the highest honor presented by the national NAACP for Outstanding Service, Sincere Dedication and Commitment to the Mission of the NAACP, the Israeli Embassy and Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's 2005 Civil Rights Leadership Award, as well as the Congressional Black Caucus Chairman's Award In Recognition and Appreciation for Dedication, Leadership and Commitment to Advancing the Cause of Civil Rights for All Americans.

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to a family of 6 brothers and sisters, Hilary holds degrees in political science, communications, and legal studies from Howard University in Washington, D.C., the University of Missouri St. Louis, and Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, respectively.
Hilary presently lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife Paula Young Shelton and their three sons, masters Caleb Wesley, Aaron Joshua, and Noah Ottis Young Shelton.

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Attached is a copy of Senate Bill 1014 & 730 that was signed into law
Response and Talking Points By Rev. Gill Ford, NAACP Director Region IV.

You should find after opening the pdf document pages to help you review and better be able to speak to the concerns expressed about the bill. I have also outlined below pages that have been marked and issues for your review. If you should find other points please forward them to be included.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/06info/pdf-bill/tat/SB1014.pdf

The changes in this law will impact how we do our work also, especially voter registration.

Page 6 - speaks to the changes involving photo identifications for first time absentee ballot requests. Important: If an individual did not submit a copy of their photo id with their application for a mail in ballot they must include a copy with their ballot.

Page 7 - responsibility of the "election authority" to mail to voter's a "voter notification card no later than ninety days prior to the date of a primary or general election for federal office"

Page 8 & 9 - registering with the Secretary of State as a "voter registration solicitor". Note on page 9, under section 4, there is a legal consequence for failing to register. Registration starts August 28, 2006.

Page 17 & 18 - establishes the forms of identification needed at polling site, only 4 forms of id will be accepted, MO State identification card, driver license (must be current), passport or federal government identification card with an expiration date.

Page 18 & 19 - no photo identification Section 2 (page 18, line 47) states that the "election authority shall post a clear and conspicuous notice" explaining that the voter can return to the polling site after retrieving their id and "vote a regular ballot after election judges have verified the voter's identity and eligibility). Also page 19, line 54 says "the election judge may also inform such voters by written or oral communication" that they "shall be given priority in any voting line" (line 58) if they go get their id and return. The term "may" means this notification appear to be optional.

Page 19 & 20 (line 60 through 108) Provisional ballot guidelines

Page 20 (line 109) states the "secretary of state shall provide advance notice of the personal identification requirements" to include using the media, however no funds were allocated or additional monies were provided.

Page 20 & 21 (line 118 through 126) addresses free state issued identification cards at Department of Revenue locations where State Identifications are issued. Important: the must sign an "affidavit averring that the applicant does not have any other form of photographic personal identification that meets the requirements" and also provide proof of lawful presence (U.S. certified birth certificate, U.S. passport, etc), of identity (social security number) and residency (recent: utility bill, bank statement, pay check, etc.)

Page 22 (line 183) Provisional ballots after November 1, 2008. Please note line 188 which states a person can secure a provisional ballot if they can secure "an affidavit which is also signed by two supervising election judges, one from each major political party, who attest that they have personal knowledge of the identity of the voter". Otherwise a person must provide the listed documentation.

Page 24 & 25 (line 32 through 39) "If the voter's eligibility cannot be immediately established by examining the precinct register, the election judge shall contact the election authority. If the election authority cannot immediately establish that the voter is registered and eligible to vote at the polling place upon examination of the Missouri voter registration system, or if the election judge is unable to make contact with the election authority immediately, the voter shall be notified that the voter is entitled to a provisional ballot" A very important clarification must be determined is if the ballot will or will not allow them to vote on local issues in their community.

Page 27 thru 30 provides how provisional ballots are to be handled

Page 31 (line 258 & 259) is a clear blurring of the lines that separate government "no state court shall have jurisdiction to extend polling hours established by law". Should there ever be a repeat of the problems experienced in the 2000 elections in St. Louis a plan or strategy will need to be in place.

Page 34 (line 19 through 21) allows for young people under the age of 18 to accompany their parent(s), grandparent or guardian into the voting booth.

Page 42 thru 44 removes 115.126 to establish plans for implementing early voting in presidential election years in Missouri

Page 44 removes 155.223 that provided citizens the right to appeal to the courts when a voter's name has been removed from the registration records by an election authority.

The Conscience of Saline County - May 30, 2006

2006-05-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

ACTION ALERT

NAACP URGES FEDERAL LAWMAKERS TO ACT ON VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION BILL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE CALLS ON NAACP MEMBERS TO CONTACT SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OVER MEMORIAL DAY RECESS

THE ISSUE: The NAACP Washington Bureau is calling on all NAACP members and friends to contact their federal legislators next week while they are in their home districts to urge them to pass the NAACP-supported version of the Voting Rights Act reauthorization as soon as possible. Specifically, we would like the House of Representatives to bring the bill up for consideration by the full House and pass it without weakening amendments upon immediate return to Washington. We also need to encourage the Senate to work hard to conclude their hearings, pass the bill out of Committee and bring the bill before the full Senate AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

On May 10, 2006, the House Judiciary Committee passed, by a margin of 33 yeas to 1 nay, H.R. 9, the NAACP-supported Fannie Lou Hammer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. This legislation, which has been introduced in both the US House and the US Senate (H.R. 9 / S. 2703), would reauthorize and restore expiring portions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Despite the fact that African Americans and other racial and ethnic minority Americans are guaranteed the right to vote b15thth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was passed just after the Civil War in 1870, states and local municipalities continued to use tactics such as poll taxes, literacy tests and outright intimidation to stop people from casting free and unfettered ballots. Thus the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted to insure that no federal, state or local government may in any way impede people from registering to vote or voting because of their race or ethnicity. Most provisions in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and specifically the portions that guarantee that no one may be denied the right to vote because of his or her race or color, are permanent.

There are, however, 3 key enforcement-related provisions of the Voting Rights Act that will expire in August 2007 unlesreauthorizeded. Hearings held in 2005 and 2006 have found a new generation of tactics, including some at-large elections, annexations, last minute poll place changes and disenfranchising redistricting practices which have had a discriminatory impact on voters, especially racial and ethnic minority American voters. H.R. reauthorizeses the portions of the VRA that will expire next year restoring the Congress's original intent and allowing the federal government to address these new challenges.
To view the entire Acton Alert click here!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER!!! If you have any questions, call Hilary Shelton at the Washington Bureau at (202) 463-2940.

MEMBERSHIP IS POWER! JOIN THE NAACP TODAY. For more information, call your local NAACP branch or visit http//:www.naacpmarshallmo.org

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World Wide Technology Inc. Named Nation's Largest Black-owned Firm According to Black Enterprise magazine's annual survey,

World Wide Technology Inc. has been recognized as the nation's top-grossing black-owned business. World Wide Technology Inc., based in St. Louis, has an estimated 620 employees and $1.85 billion in revenue. Read more...

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NAACP NEWS
Missouri State Conference Calls On Law Enforcement To Quit Gambling With
The Rights Of African Americans

Too often many in the African American and other communities of color as well as the poor are made to feel less than human by the treatment they receive from those who are charged with upholding the law. Consider for a moment the April 2005 US Department of Justice Report on Contacts between
Police and the Public concluded:
Ã• Compared to Black, Hispanic and other races, Whites were more likely to be issued a warning during a traffic stop.

Police were more likely to use force against a Black or Hispanic driver than a White driver.
Police were more likely to search a vehicle driven by a Black or Hispanic than a White.
Searches of Black drivers were more likely to be without consent than searches of White drivers.
Searches of Black drivers or their vehicles were less likely to find criminal evidence than searches of White drivers.

According to the 2005 Missouri Racial Profiling Report issued by the Attorney General:

African-Americans were 42% more likely to be stopped than Whites.
African-Americans were more likely to be searched than Whites.
Searches of African-Americans and Hispanics are less likely than searches of Whites to produce contraband.

Mary Ratliff, President of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP stated, we expect law enforcement to enforce the law, not gamble away the rights of African Americans and others. These numbers, unfortunately prove that many of the traffic stops are not being carried out with the belief that African Americans are guilty, rather than based on reasonable suspicion or probable cause as the law dictates.

Collecting the data and providing annual reports will not address or correct the injustice of violating citizens Fourth Amendment Constitutional Rights. The Missouri State Conference is calling on Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon to first advocate the enactment of additional legislation to penalize law enforcement agencies who fail or refuse to provide the required information. It is hypocritical for any agency charged with enforcing the law to intentionally violate it.

Secondly, we are requesting that the Missouri Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Board be charged with investigating complaints filed by citizens, under their Ã“moral turpitudeÃ” standard, and that law enforcement officers be required to articulate and explain why they initiated the stop. While we applaud those in law enforcement who demonstrate professionalism everyday, we must also aggressively deal with those who gamble and violate the Constitutional rights of Missourians.

“Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people oWilla will.”
- - Rev. Martin Luther King, Letter from the Birmingham Jail - -
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Contact: Mary Ratliff, President State Conference 573 445-3231

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Missouri NAACP State Conference urges Blunt to not err again

In an email to Gov, Blunt, Mary Ratliff, President of the Missouri NAACP State Conference writes to Gov. Blunt in regards upcoming Confederate Day, June 3, 2006'

Dear Gov. Blunt,

In reviewing the announcement for upcoming titled MO Div. Events, I noted the flying of the Confederate Flag along side the U.S & State Flag. This is an affront to African Americans in the State of Missouri. I hope this picture is a picture from past events which drew so much negative National attention to the State of Missouri. If that is the case then I would strongly urge the Pictorial display be replaced with current a display removing the Confederate Flag. Please advise me of whether there has been an executive order or decision to allow the flying of the Confederate Flag on June 3rd, 2006 or any other Day.

Please respond by close of business Friday May 26, 2006.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary A. Ratliff, President Missouri NAACP

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Lawmakers say 'No Child' law not going anywhere By the Associated Press

Lawmakers said Thursday they were willing to make the No Child Left Behind law more flexible, but warned there won't be a lot of extra federal money to help pay for it. And don't expect the law to go away, members of the House Education & the Workforce Committee said as they kicked off a series of hearings in preparation for renewing the sweeping education law next year. Since it was passed in 2001, teachers, parents and state education officials have complained about various aspects of the law, which requires schools to meet goals for student performance or face a variety of penalties. CNN.com

Speaking Truth to Power

2006-05-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

The Ghana Joseph Project...
THE PURPOSE
The purpose of "The Joseph Project" is to make the 21st. century the African century.
STRATEGY
To reconcile and unite the African Peoples so that their positive spirit and strengths are released in a focused manner to elevate Africa and Africans worldwide.
INTRODUCTION
After more than 400 years of slave trading, colonial exploitation, cultural and economic and post colonial political manipulation much of Africa is a waste land of woes and war.

The African peoples everywhere have been taught to be self loathing, to see everything African as a negative: Taught to believe that Africa is a definition of failure and ugliness.

The time has come to put an end to the negative and begin the positive. The time has come for us to till our own vineyard; to produce inner and outer wealth for ourselves. The time has come for us to stand and state," I am a proud African, proud of my land, proud of my people, committed to making the third millennium the African millennium".

"The Joseph Project" is the code name for a series of activities, actions and interactions being spearheaded by Ghana to re-establish the African Nation as a nation of all its peoples, capable of delivering on the promise of God to Africa and the African peoples.

"I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem. I am dark, because the sun has gazed on me. My mother's sons were angry with me; and made me work hard in their vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept". (Song of Songs 1,5-6 ) More: http://www.africa-ata.org/gh9.htm
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WASHINGTONN BUREAU NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE

ACTION ALERT

DATE: May 11, 200

TO: Concerned Parties
FROM: Bruce Gordon, President and CEO

Hillary O. Shelton, Director, Washington Bureau

NAACP-SUPPORTED VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION BILL PASSES HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE 33 YEAS TO 1NAY WE MUST NOW URGE ALL REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT FINAL HOUSE PASSAGE AND OPPOSE ANY WEAKENING AMENDMENTS

THE ISSUE: On May 10, 2006, the House Judiciary Committee passed, by a margin of 33 yeas to 1 nay, H.R. 9, the NAACP-supported Fannie Lou Hammer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006. This legislation, which has been introduced in both the US House and the US Senate, would reauthorize and restore expiring portions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The next step is consideration by the full House of Representatives, which could happen as early as next week.

Despite the fact that African Americans and other racial and ethnic minority Americans are guaranteed the right to vote by the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was passed just after the Civil War in 1850, states and local municipalities continued to use tactics such as poll taxes, literacy tests and outright intimidation to stop people from casting free and unfettered ballots. Thus the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was enacted to insure that no federal, state or local government may in any way impede people from registering to vote or voting because of their race or ethnicity. Most provisions in the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and specifically the portions that guarantee that no one may be denied the right to vote because of his or her race or color, are permanent.

There are, however, 3 key enforcement-related provisions of the Voting Rights Act that will expire in August 2007 unless reauthorized. They are: Section 5, which requires certain jurisdictions to obtain approval or "preclearance" from the US Department of Justice or the US District Court in D.C. before they can make any changes to voting practices or procedures. Federal approval will be given only after the jurisdiction proves that the proposed change does not, have the purpose or effect of denying or abridging the right to vote on account of race or color; Section 203, which requires certain jurisdictions to provide bilingual language assistance to voters in communities where there is a concentration of citizens who are limited English proficient; and Sections 6-9 which authorize the federal government to send federal election examiners and observers to certain jurisdictions covered by Section 5 where there is evidence of attempts to intimidate minority voters at the polls.

Hearings held in 2005 and 2006 have found a new generation of tactics, including some at-large elections, annexations, last minute poll place changes and disenfranchising redistricting practices which have had a discriminatory impact on voters, especially racial and ethnic minority American voters. H.R. 9 reauthorizes the portions of the VRA that will expire next year restoring the Congress's original intent and allowing the federal government to address these new challenges. To view the entire Action Alert please click here.

WHAT WE MUST DO NOW IS ENCOURAGE EVERY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT THE BILL AND OPPOSE ANY WEAKENING AMENDMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS IMPORTANT MATTER!!!

If any questions, contacHillary Shelton at the Washington Bureau at (202) 463-2940.

MEMBERSHIP IS POWER! JOIN THE NAACP TODAY. For more information, call your local NAACP branch or visit http://www.naacpmarshallmo.org
P O Box 435, Marshall, MO 65340

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History of African Americans in the Civil War

Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States." - - Frederick Douglass

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These words spoken by Frederick Douglass moved many African Americans to enlist in the Union Army and fight for their freedom. With President Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, the Civil War became a war to save the union and to abolish slavery.
Approximately 180,000 African Americans comprising 163 units served in the Union Army during the Civil War, and many more African Americans served in the Union Navy. Both free African-Americans and runaway slaves joined the fight. More http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/history/aa_history.htm

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Republicans Use Strong-Arm Tactics, Force Passage of Voter ID Bill

by Missouri Democratic Party
Rare Senate Procedure Used to Block Debate after Republicans Reject Democratic Compromises
At 1:30 a.m. this morning, Republicans in the Missouri State Senate used an extremely rare Senate procedure to block debate on the Voter ID bill. Instead, they forced the measure through, passing it on a party-line vote. This bill will require Missouri voters to have a state issued photo ID in order to be eligible to vote.
The requirement will be imposed without giving voters adequate time and without providing the resources to ensure that ALL Missouri voters will have the ability to acquire a photo ID before Election Day. As a result, many disabled Missourians and seniors will be adversely impacted..
Democrats had sought to delay implementing voter IDs until 2008, but in a clear effort to play politics with Missourians right to vote, Republicans refused to compromise. Republicans are more concerned with protecting Jim Talent's seat in the Senate, than they are with the voting rights of thousands of Missourians.
This bill will also eliminate a voter's option to cast a straight party ballot. Republicans said that they added that provision because "they were punishing Senate Democrats" for opposing the Voter ID bill (Kansas City Star, 5/10/2006).
Having passed the House this afternoon, the Voter ID bill is now headed to Governor Matt Blunt. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has urged Blunt veto the bill when it reaches his desk, but he is expected to sign it - despite previously stating that he opposed eliminating straight ticket voting (Springfield News Leader, 1/21/2005).
Missouri House and Senate Democrats fought hard to fix the flaws in this bill and to then defeat it when Republicans refused to compromise. Please contact your Democratic legislators and thank them for their hard work on this important issue.
We also urge you to contact Governor Blunt's office and tell him to protect the voting rights of disabled Missourians and senior citizens. Tell him that voting rights outweigh partisan politics.
Phone Governor Blunt's office at (573) 751-3222 or email his office to constit@mail.mo.gov

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Bono's best sermon yet: Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast

If you're wondering what I'm doing here, at a prayer breakfast, well, so am I. I'm certainly not here as a man of the cloth, unless that cloth is leather. It's certainly not because I'm a rock star. Which leaves one possible explanation: I'm here because I've got a messianic complex.
Yes, it's true. And for anyone who knows me, it's hardly a revelation.
Well, I'm the first to admit that there's something unnatural...something unseemly...about rock stars mounting the pulpit and preaching at presidents, and then disappearing to their villas in the south of France. Talk about a fish out of water. It was weird enough when Jesse Helms showed up at a U2 concert...but this is really weird, isn't it?
You know, one of the things I love about this country is its separation of church and state. Although I have to say: in inviting me here, both church and state have been separated from something else completely: their mind.
Mr. President, are you sure about this?
It's very humbling and I will try to keep my homily brief. But be warned - I'm Irish.
I'd like to talk about the laws of man, here in this city where those laws are written. And I'd like to talk about higher laws. It would be great to assume that the one serves the other; that the laws of man serve these higher laws...but of course, they don't always. And I presume that, in a sense, is why you're here. Click here for more http://go.sojo.net/sojourners/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=3492636&r=2p_SN351BR46

The Conscience of Saline County

2006-04-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

NAACP Supports Rally and Campaign to Stop Sudan Genocide Millions have been uprooted and hundreds of thousands killed in North African country
Bruce S. Gordon, President and CEO, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), has called on NAACP members and others to write to President Bush and members of Congress urging action to stop the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan and to attend Sunday’s rally in Washington, D.C. urging an end to the killing.

The NAACP is joining the effort by humanitarian and civil rights groups calling on hundreds of thousands of people to rally in support of an end to ethnic violence in Darfur on Sunday, April 30 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Gordon said: "When the President came into office, he wrote of the devastating genocide in Rwanda: 'Not on my watch.' But right now in Darfur, millions have been uprooted and hundreds of thousands have been killed systematically by an armed militia – the very type of genocide the administration pledged to stop. We must hold them to their promise. That is why we are collecting one million postcards to send to the President urging action in Darfur."

As many as 400,000 people may have died in Sudan's western Darfur region in a conflict that erupted in 2003, according to a report published in the 2005 American Bar Association International Law Review. After decades of low-level ethnic clashes, the mostly non-Arab tribes took up arms, accusing the Arab-dominated government of neglect. The government reportedly retaliated by arming militia known as Janjaweed, who began a campaign of murder, rape, arson and plunder that drove more than two million villagers into squalid camps in Darfur and in neighboring Chad. The central Sudanese government denies backing the Janjaweed.

"The United States and the rest of the world cannot continue to stand by while the genocide continues in Darfur," said Crispian Kirk, NAACP Director International Affairs. "On an average day in Darfur tens of thousands of innocent civilians face the threat of torture, starvation, rape and uprooting from their homes, families and livelihoods." Def Jam founder Russell Simmons, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, former NBA star Manute Bol, Olympic speed skater Joey Cheek and many others are scheduled to appear at the "Save Darfur Coalition's Rally to Stop Genocide" on Sunday, April 30. The rally is organized by the Save Darfur Coalition, an alliance of more than 155 faith-based, humanitarian and human rights organizations.

African-American Congressional Gold Medal Recipients
By Eric Williams
As sad is it may be to admit, I have to say that it took more research than I originally anticipated just to come up with a list of all the African-Americans who have been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor. Incredibly, there were no online web sites dedicated to providing such information, which only served to lengthen the time it took to actually put this article together. However, I have once again managed to go above and beyond the call of duty and have managed to compile the list of influential African-Americans to receive the nation’s highest civilian award and a short description of each recipient’s accomplishments. The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is the highest award, which may be bestowed by the Legislative Branch of the United States government. The decoration, commonly referred to simply as the Congressional Gold Medal, is awarded to any individual who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States of America. The recipient need not be an American citizen. The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is considered the United States Congress equivalent to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Both decorations are generally considered to hold the same degree of prestige (though significantly fewer Gold Medals have been awarded), with the difference being that the President of the United States personally awards the Freedom Medal and the Congressional Gold Medal is awarded in the name of the U.S. Congress.
Legislation bestowing the Congressional Gold Medal to a recipient must be co-sponsored by two thirds of themembership of both the House of Representatives and the Senate before their respective committees will consider it.The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is created by the United States Mint to specifically commemorate the person and achievement for which the medal is awarded. Each medal is therefore different in appearance and there is no standard design for the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.
The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is also considered "non-portable", meaning that the medal is not meant to be worn on a uniform or other clothing, but rather displayed much like a trophy. The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is a completely separate decoration from the Medal of Honor, which is a military award for extreme bravery in action. Another similarly named decoration is the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, presented by NASA for extreme accomplishment to the mission of United States space exploration. Now, with all of that out of the way, let’s look at the recipients, many of whom are easily recognizable names and some who may not be.

Roberto Clemente (1934-1972)
Although Clemente was born in Puerto Rico, he is still a man of color who is recognized as one of the most beloved and honored athletes to ever participate in any sport on U.S. soil. The career Pittsburgh Pirate who was the number one pick of the 1954 draft played in two World Series, batting .310 in 1960 and .414 in 1971. He was the National League Batting Champion four times, was awarded twelve Gold Gloves, selected National League MVP in 1966 and was chosen as the MVP in the 1971 World Series. Roberto Clemente died on December 31, 1972 in a plane crash while in the process of taking clothing, food and medical supplies to earthquake victims in Nicaragua. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Congress on May 14, 1973.

Marian Anderson (1897-1993)
Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia in February of 1897 and gave the world over a half-century of sheer, unadulterated pleasure with a voice that has been described in glowing terms since her death in 1993.Anderson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963, a Congressional Gold Medal in 1978, the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award in 1984 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. Anderson's reputation rests not only on the quality of her voice but also on the dignity with which she asserted her right to be heard. Marian Anderson died in Portland, Oregon, on 8th April 1993. Although the world has produced a multitude of talented singers, there will never be another Marian Anderson. Anderson was awarded her Congressional Gold Medal on March 8, 1977.

Joe Louis (1914-1981)
The “Brown Bomber” was born in Lexington, Alabama in 1914. Louis was the heavyweight champion of the world from 1937 to 1949. He served with the Army in World War II, mostly performing in boxing matches at military installations around the world in a morale-improving program. After losing his boxing title, he served as a greeter atCaesar's Palace in Las Vegas. When Louis did not technically qualify for burial in Arlington National Cemetery, President Ronald Reagan waived the requirements and he was buried in Section 7-A, near the Tomb of the Unknowns, following his death on April 12, 1981.At the time of Louis’ death Reagan said, “I was privileged and will always be grateful to have had Joe Louis as my friend. Joe fought his way to the top of professional boxing and into the hearts of millions of Americans. Out of the ring, he was a considerate and soft-spoken man; inside the ring, his courage, strength, and consummate skillwrote a unique and unforgettable chapter in sports history. But Joe Louis was more than a sports legend – his career was an indictment of racial bigotry and a source of pride and inspiration to millions of whiteand black people around the world. All of America mourns his loss, and we convey our sympathy to his family and friends. But we also share their pride in his professional achievements, his service to his country, and his strength of heart and spirit.”
With such a wonderful statement from the former president, need I say anything else? Louis was awarded his Congressional Gold Medal on August 26, 1982.

Roy Wilkins (1901-1981)
Roy Wilkins was a prominent civil rights activist in the United States from the 1930s to the 1970s. Wilkins graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in sociology in 1923 and worked as a journalist at The Minnesota Daily and became editor of St. Paul Appeal, an African-American newspaper. After he graduated he became the editor of the Kansas City Call. Wilkins was active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and between 1931 and 1934 was assistant NAACP secretary under Walter Francis White. When W. E. B. Du Bois left the organization in 1934, Wilkins replaced him as editor of Crisis, the official magazine of the NAACP.In 1955, Wilkins was named executive director of the NAACP and had an excellent reputation as an articulate spokesperson for the civil rights movement. In 1967, Wilkins was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Lyndon Johnson. During his tenure, the NAACP led the nation into the Civil Rights movement and spearheaded the efforts that led to significant civil rights victories, including Brown v. Board of Education, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the voting Rights Act of 1965. In 1977, at the age of 76, Wilkins retired from the NAACP and was succeeded by Benjamin Hooks after a life of trying to build a better America for all people of color. Wilkins was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on August 9, 1985.

Jesse Owens (1913-1980)
Owens’ prolific accomplishments are so legendary that they have been etched into the memories of nearly every American over the age of 30.
When Owens finished competing in the 1936 Olympics, the African-American son of a sharecropper and the grandson of slaves had single-handedly crushed Adolph Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy. He gave four virtuoso performances, in winning gold medals in the 100- and 200- meter dashes, the long jump and on America's 4x100 relay team. However, as beloved as Owens was, even by the hysterical German fans at those very same Olympics, he found that equality in the United States was still a long way off.
"When I came back to my native country, after all the stories about Hitler, I couldn't ride in the front of the bus," Owens said. "I had to go to the back door. I couldn't live where I wanted. I wasn't invited toshake hands with Hitler, but I wasn't invited to the White House to shake hands with the President, either." Owens was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on Nov. 9, 1988.

Colin Powell (1931- )
Powell is one of the few recipients on this list who is still alive. Born to Jamaican immigrants, Luther and Maud Powell, Colin was raised in the South Bronx and educated in New York City's public school system. Following his graduation from high school, Powell attended City College of New York (CCNY) where he studied geology and participated in the ROTC. Powell graduated from CCNY in June 1958 and received a commission as an Army second lieutenant. Powell served his country as a professional soldier for 35 years, eventually reaching the rank of four-star general. During his service, he served as Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs as well as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Department of Defense's highest military position. Following his retirement, Powell spent time on his career as a public speaker and penned his autobiography, "My American Journey," with Joseph E. Persico. He also served as chairman of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, a nonprofit organization aimed at getting Americans from all walks of life involved in the lives of America's young people. Powell was nominated as Secretary of State on December 16, 2000 and, after being unanimously confirmed by the Senate, was sworn in as the first African American Secretary of State on January 20, 2001. Powell was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on August 23, 1991.

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (1918--)
Although Nelson Mandela was not born in the United States, the former president of South Africa has made contributions to all of mankind that take a back seat to no one. Mandela was the first President of South Africa to be elected in fully-representative democratic elections. Before his presidency he was a prominent anti-apartheid activist committed to non-violence, but later became involved in the planning of underground armed resistance activities. Mandela's 27-year imprisonment, much of which he spent in a tiny prison cell on Robben Island, became one of the most widely publicized examples of apartheid's injustices. Although the apartheid regime and nations sympathetic to it considered him and the ANC to be terrorist, Mandela's support of the armed struggle against apartheid is now generally regarded as justified. Moreover, the policy of reconciliation Mandela pursued upon his release in 1990 facilitated a peaceful transition to democracy in South Africa. Having received over a hundred awards over four decades, Mandela is currently a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues. Mandela once said, “I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal, which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” Mandela was awarded the Congressional God Medal on July 29, 1998

Little Rock Nine
The Little Rock Nine were true heroes and heroines of the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and received this country's highest honor given to a civilian for their triumphant but non-violent trek through the racist mobs that mounted a life threatening effort to prevent their integrating Little Rock Central High School. It was 1957 and the United States of America was called on to stand up for the promises its forefathers had made in the US Constitution--that all men are created equal and have equal access. President Eisenhower sent troops to protect these nine teenagers who shouldered the burden of breaking through barriers built by generations of white U.S. residents who refused to see black people as deserving of equal access to an educational opportunity. These are the nine men and women, who as children, helped forge the path that helped America fulfill her promise of equality and justice for all. They were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on October 21, 1998. Ernest Green In 1958, he became the first black student to graduate from Central High School. He graduated from Michigan State University and served as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs under President Jimmy Carter. He currently is a managing partner and vice president of Lehman Brothers in Washington, D.C.
Elizabeth Eckford The only one of the nine still living in Little Rock, Elizabeth made a career of the U.S. Army that included work as a journalist. In 1974, she returned to the home in which she grew up and is now a part-time social worker and mother of two sons. Jefferson Thomas He graduated from Central in 1960, following a year in which Little Rock's public high schools were ordered closed by the legislature to prevent desegregation. Today, he is an accountant with the U.S. Department of Defense and lives in Anaheim, Calif. Dr. Terrence Roberts Following the historic year at Central, his family moved to Los Angeles where he completed high school. He earned a doctorate degree and teaches at the University of California at Los Angeles and Antioch College. He also is a clinical psychologist. Carlotta Walls Lanier One of only three of the nine who eventually graduated from Central, she and Jefferson Thomas returned for their senior year in 1959. She graduated from Michigan State University and presently lives in Englewood, Colorado, where she is in real estate. Minnijean Brown Trickey She was expelled from Central High in February, 1958, after several incidents, including her dumping a bowl of chili on one of her antagonists in the school cafeteria. She moved with her husband to Canada during the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s and today is a writer and social worker in Ontario. Winterstar Productions is presently filming a documentary on her life. Gloria Ray Karlmark She graduated from Illinois Technical College and received a post-graduate degree in Stockholm, Sweden. She was a prolific computer science writer and at one time successfully published magazines in 39 countries. Now retired, she divides her time between homes in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Stockholm, where her husband's family lives. Thelma Mothershed-Wair She graduated from college then made a career of teaching. She lives in Belleville, Illinois, where she is a volunteer in a program for abused women. Melba Pattillo Beals She is an author and former journalist for People magazine and NBC and lives in San Francisco.

Rosa Parks (1913-2005)
Rosa Parks was an African American civil rights activist and seamstress whom the U.S. Congress dubbed the “Mother of the Modern-Day Civil Rights Movement.” Parks is famous for her refusal on December 1, 1955 to obey a bus driver's demand that she give up her seat to a white passenger. Her subsequent arrest and trial for this act of civil disobedience ignited the Montgomery Bus Boycott, one of the largest and most successful mass movements against racial segregation in history, and launched Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the organizers of the boycott, to the forefront of the civil rights movement. Her role in American history earned her an iconic status in American culture, and her actions have left an enduring legacy for civil rights movements worldwide. Parks was awarded her Congressional Gold Medal on May 4, 1999.Dr. Dorothy Irene Height (1912- )Dorothy Height has been one of the most influential African-Americans in modern history. The administrator, teacher, and social activist was born in Richmond, Virginia, and while in high school, she was awarded a scholarship to Barnard College for her oratory skills but upon arrival, was denied entrance (at the time, the college only admitted two African-Americans per academic year and Dorothy had arrived after the other two admittees). She later pursued studies at New York University where she earned her master's degree in psychology. Height began her career working as a caseworker with the New York City Welfare Department, but at the age of twenty-five, she began her career as a civil rights activist when she joined the National Council of Negro Women. She fought for equal rights for both African-Americans and women, and in 1944 she joined the national staff of the YWCA. She remained active with the organization until 1977, and while there, she developed leadership training programs and interracial and ecumenical education programs. In 1957, Height was named president of the National Council of Negro Women, a position she held until 1997. During the height of the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Height organized "Wednesdays in Mississippi," which brought together black and white women from the north and South to create a dialogue of understanding. Leaders of the United States regularly took her counsel, including First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and Height also encouraged President Dwight D. Eisenhower to desegregate schools and President Lyndon B. Johnson to appoint African American women to positions in government. She has served on a number of committees, including as a consultant on African affairs to the secretary of state, the President's Committee on the Employment of the Handicapped and the President's Committee on the Status of Women. She has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom From Want Award and the Spingarm Medal from the NAACP. She has also been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. On Dec. 6, 2003 she was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

Rev. Joseph Armstrong De Laine (1898-1974)
To the South, the United States Supreme Court's decision to end segregation in the nation's public schools was a calamity; for a middle-aged Methodist minister from Clarendon County, South Carolina, it was the fulfillment of a lifelong crusade. The Reverend Joseph Armstrong DeLaine was one of the true heroes in the civil rights struggle to break down the barriers of segregation. DeLaine's commitment to his faith and to the cause of civil rights began at an early age. Expected to become a farmer or a craftsman, he enrolled instead at Allen University in Columbia, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1931. He combined preaching with teaching and was a public school teacher in South Carolina for 17 years. As a teacher at the Macedonia Baptist High School in Blackville, DeLaine saw that discrimination was not just racial. Despite his being a popular and effective teacher, the school's trustees would not give him a permanent appointment unless he left the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Of this incident, he wrote: "A person who hates another because of looks is just as bad as one who stupidly hates anther's faith in the church of his choice." During his activist years in the 1950s, DeLaine received several death threats. Both his home and his church were burned to the ground, and he fought off an angry mob that came to remove him from his parsonage. The origins of the now famous Clarendon County School Segregation Case began in the late 1940s when DeLaine, along with other African-Americans, sought to secure equal educational opportunities for black children. Many participants in the movement lost their jobs. DeLaine, his two sisters and a niece were all fired from their teaching positions. In 1950, for his own safety, he was moved form Clarendon County to another pastorate in Lake City. In May 1951, this first legal challenge to the validity of the "separate but equal" doctrine in public schools was heard in Charleston before a panel of three federal judges. Upon appeal to the United States Supreme Court, Briggs v. Elliott, as the case was known, was returned to the lower court for a review of South Carolina's efforts to improve the conditions in black schools. Ultimately, Briggs v. Elliott became one of five cases, which were considered and heard collectively under the name of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Success came at a price for DeLaine. In Lake City, he was subjected to a reign of terror that eventually persuaded him to leave the state. "I am not running from justice but injustice," he told the FBI. He was relocated to upstate New York, where he organized and became pastor of an AME church in Buffalo. Appropriately, the new church was called the DeLaine-Waring AME Church, after the two men who had done so much to revolutionize the educational system of South Carolina. Forty-five years after his alleged crime and more than 25 years after his death, the Rev. Joseph Armstrong DeLaine--a civil rights pioneer whose early work led to the desegregation of America's public schools—was cleared of all charges today by state officials here in a bittersweet and emotional ceremony. DeLaine was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on September 8, 2004.

Levi Pearson
Like the Reverend DeLaine and Harry and Eliza Briggs, Levi Pearson was an integral participant in thestruggle to equalize the educational experiences of white and black students in South Carolina. Pearson, with the assistance of Reverend Joseph DeLaine, filed a lawsuit against the ClarendonCounty School District to protest the inequitable treatment of black children. As a result of his lawsuit, Pearson also suffered from acts of domestic terror, such as thetime gun shots were fired into his home, as well as economic consequences: local banks refused to providehim with credit to purchase farming materials and area farmers refused to lend him equipment. Although his case was ultimately dismissed on a technicality, Levi Pearson's courage to stand up forequalized treatment and funding for black students served as the catalyst for further attempts todesegregate South Carolina schools, as he continued to fight against segregation practices and became President of Clarendon County Chapter of the NAACP
Harry and Eliza Briggs.
As with Reverend DeLaine and Levi Pearson, the family of Harry and Eliza Briggs suffered consequences for their efforts: Harry and Eliza both were fired from their jobs and forced to move their family to Florida. Although they and their family suffered tremendously, Harry and Eliza Briggs were also pioneers leading the effort to desegregate America'spublic schools and were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on September 8, 2004.

Jackie Robinson
Hall of Fame baseball player Jackie Robinson became Major League Baseball's first African-American player in 1947 and a leading pioneer in the nation's civil rights movement. Robinson was recognized posthumously by receiving the Congressional Gold Medal in 2005. Robinson, who played for the Dodgers from 1947-56, is just the second baseball player and fourth athlete to receive the prestigious honor, joining Hall of Fame big leaguer Roberto Clemente (1973), heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis (1982) and Olympic track and field star Jesse Owens (1988).

In troubled neighborhood, mentors reach out
A new grant to 78744 will match 75 youths with Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
By Joshunda SandersAMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
On an 80-degree day in the Booker T. Washington apartments in Southeast Austin, Mary Cornelius sat with her two children, 12-year-old Larry Davis Jr. and 14-year-old La'Keisha Davis, near a small play area, as little boys threw rocks at the street.
Cornelius, a 36-year-old single mother, said her car was broken and the apartments are along a bus line, so it seemed as good a place as any for her to bring her kids on a Sunday. The chicken bones in the grass didn't matter as long as her son and daughter spent time away from their nearby Dove Springs neighborhood.

Ralph BarreraAMERICAN-STATESMAN
(enlarge photo)
Mary Cornelius knows it's important to spend time with her kids, La'Keisha Davis, 14, and Larry Davis Jr., 12, but she also credits the Big Brothers Big Sisters program with helping keep them out of trouble. The family lives in the Dove Springs neighborhood.
It was in that Southeast Austin neighborhood, ZIP code 78744, that 18-year-old Daniel Rocha was shot by a police officer last June. In December, Alberto Garcia was shot in his Suburban — three blocks from Cornelius' house. And in the past decade, it has been one of the ZIP codes that officials say refers the most Texas children to the juvenile justice system
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/04/19juveniles.html

Medicare Part D Enrollment
Saturday, May 13, 2006...Marshall High School Computer Lab...9 am to 3 pm
If you have Medicare and are considering whether to sign up for the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, this is a good first step. By answering a short series of questions, you will learn: 1 - How your current insurance or other prescription drug coverage affects your options and rights under the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage.. 2 - Whether you qualify for extra help with your costs under the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage. 3 - If you are likely eligible for additional government benefits that can save you money on your medications. If it makes sense for you to start comparing the plans that are available in your area. Information You'll Need:It will be easier to complete the questionnaire if you have the following information available about yourself or the person you're helping: * State and ZIP code * Date of birth * Types of public benefits, insurance coverage, and prescription drug savings programs currently received

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NEWS RELEASE

State Rep. John Bowman
Legislative Black Caucus Chairman

State Capitol – Room 109B
Jefferson City, MO 65101-6806

For Immediate Release: For more information contact:
May 2, 2006 Rep. John Bowman at (573) 751-4726

Black Caucus remains opposed to Confederate flag bill
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus remains steadfastly opposed to legislation that would allow the Confederate flag to fly on state property. Caucus members have blocked such bills several times in recent years and will continue to do so during this legislative session and in the future, said state Rep. John Bowman, caucus chairman.
“We are totally opposed to any effort to give credibility to the Confederate flag,” said Bowman, D-St. Louis. “This flag and what it represents is offensive to African-Americans and doesn’t deserve the honor of prominent display on taxpayer property. The Confederate flag issue should remain permanently dead, and we should all proudly fly the one flag of our American nation.”

The Legislative Black Caucus consists of African-American members of the Missouri House of Representatives and Missouri Senate.

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Where Information is POWER

2006-04-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

NAACP on Medicare
Benefits Check Up RX If you have Medicare and are considering whether to sign up for the new Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage, this is a good first step. By answering a short series of questions. More Resources ÃÂ»

Omaha school district to split along racial lines
In a move decried by some as state-sponsored segregation, the Legislature voted Thursday to divide the Omaha school system into three districts -- one mostly black, one predominantly white and one largely Hispanic. Supporters said the plan would give minorities control over their own school board and ensure that their children are not shortchanged in favor of white youngsters. Republican Gov. Dave Heineman signed the measure into law. Omaha Sen. Pat Bourne decried the bill, saying, "We will go down in history as one of the first states in 20 years to set race relations back." CNN.com

AP: States Omit Minorities' School Scores
By Frank Bass, Nicole Ziegler Dizon & Ben Feller,
As States are helping public schools escape potential penalties by skirting the No Child Left Behind law's requirement that students of all races must show annual academic progress. With the federal government's permission, schools deliberately aren't counting the test scores of nearly 2 million students when they report progress by racial groups, an Associated Press computer analysis found. Minorities ? who historically haven't fared as well as whites in testing ? make up the vast majority of students whose scores are being excluded, AP found. And the numbers have been rising. "I can't believe that my child is going through testing just like the person sitting next to him or her and she's not being counted," said Angela Smith, a single mother. Yahoo! News

We are holding ourselves in bondage:
Why Damon Wayans should be ashamed of himself
By Eric Williams
After I had a heated debated with my very intelligent brother, Kevin Edwards, who just so happens to be a nuclear medicine technician in Philadelphia, I had to sit down to write this scathing column about Damon Wayans and his sad attempt to trademark the term Nigga for his proposed clothing line and retail store.
Incredibly, Wayans and a whole lot of other people of color like my brother see absolutely nothing wrong with promoting the use of a degrading racial slur that has been used as a verbal weapon against blacks for centuries.
I, however, see this subject through the eyes of someone much older someone, like, Wayans father or grandfather, possibly, who, I am fairly certain, had to battle racism and the word on an almost daily basis when they were both young men. Which, coincidentally, makes me wonder how Wayan's family members feel about the subject but hey, that is a story for another day.
At any rate, let me make my argument against Wayans and his supporters.

Now, when I initially broached the subject with my brother, he was totally unaware of the ongoing saga and the national media attention that it has been garnering. However, he quickly rose to Wayans defense by saying things like, "We have other more important issues to worry about" and "Maybe he has another purpose for all of this" As a matter of fact, one of my brother's comments became the basis and headline for this article.
coulno credibilityly, I couldn't and still can't fathom where this line of thinking could originate in a person of color. I agree with my brother's comment on the fact that African-Americans have a lot more important issues to deal with, but realistically, this exact thought process combined with a lot of other factors is at the very core of what is ailing African-Americans across the country.
How can our young people who use this word so freely these day and really don't care about how it was used to degrade their ancestors ever understand where they are going if they never take the time to research their past?

What is even more bothersome to me is that it seems that most of our young people today don't even seem to care about anything that ever went on in the world before they came into existence.
It is truly a sad day, when our government, which is in its own state of full-blown ineptness, has to save us from our own selves. Thankfully, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has adamantly rejected Wayans twice so far, which says a lodid not itself since he obviously didn't get the message the first time.

Trademark examiner Kelly Boulton rejected the registration dated Dec. 22, citing a law that prohibits marks that are "immoral or scandalous." A previous attempt by Wayans was turned down on identical grounds six months earlier.
"While debate exists about in-group uses of the term, 'nigga' is almost universally understood to be derogatory," Boulton wrote to Wayans' attorney, William H. Cox, according to the application. "The very fact that debate is ongoing regarding in-group usage, shows that a substantial composite of African-Americans find the term 'nigga' to be offensive," Boulton wrote in rejecting Wayans.

Now before I go any further, let me say that Wayans isn't the first person to ever attempt this boneheaded stunt. In 1995, Marc Anthony Fitzgerald and Fred Harris of Houston sought to trademark the words "Naturally Intelligent God Gifted Africans" as an acronym. In 1999, Scapheld Productions in Cincinnati sought to trademark the phrase, "Rilniga -- any individual true to his actions and or statements." In 2000, Damon James of Houston put "Field" in front of the word an tried to trademark it. In 2001, Wayde Jeffery Davis of New Orleans tried to trademark a 78-word phrase that ended with the N-word. In 2003 rolled around, Keon Rhodan of Charleston, S.C., wanted to trademark the term "Nigga Clothing" with no success.

I was also the first person in the country to interview the creator (David Chang) of the nodefunctes noted game "Ghettopoly", so Wayans doesn't corner the market on stupidity, but he certainly has the highest profile of any of the predecessors who tried to patent the "N-word" before him.
To shoot down my brother is other possibility that Wayans could have some deeper, hidden motive for wanting to make the term his own, I don't believe it. I am also wondering exactly how intelligent the man is at this point. I mean, it is not like the man is starving or anything. Unlike the others who tried before him, Wayanideasenoteddy a millionaire a few times over and doesn't need the money.

Wayans' intentions are also crystal clear from looking at his application. Wayans wants a retail store "featuring clothing, books, music and general merchandise." He also wants to go global with online shopping available.
One of the things that bothers me most is the fact that many of our youth today say the word is a term of affection, and while I agree to a certain extent that Hip-Hop has redefined it for today's youth and I must also say that I think that rationale is extremely bogus as well because the majority of black youths who use that word so freely amongst themselves, will go berserk if a Caucasian used that same term with racist connotations.
Wayan's application, whether right or wrong, really serves no purpose except for monetary gain and I, for one, say it is a sad day when a black man has to sell his own ancestry down the river for a couple of bucks.

If Damon Wayans can look himself in the mirror and sleep well at night knowing this, then I say let him live with it and everything else that comes along with it.

The Conscience of Saline County

2006-03-31T19:14:00.000-08:00

African Christianity Boom Spills to U.S.
By Rachel Zoll, Associated Press
On the 25th floor of a luxury office tower, a church most people have never heard of is planning to save America. Its leaders believe Jesus has sent them to spread a difficult truth in the United States: Demonic forces are corrupting society and only spiritual warfare can stop them. Call it the message. The messenger comes from Nigeria. The Redeemed Christian Church of God was founded in Lagos by men and women who were once the target of missionary work themselves. Now their church is one of the most aggressive evangelizers to emerge from the recent advance of Christianity across Africa, and their offices in the high-tech corridor of greater Dallas reflect the group's bold, entrepreneurial approach. Washington Post

College Board Acknowledges More SAT Scoring Errors
By Lois Romano
School administrators were stunned yesterday by the revelation from the College Board that an additional 27,000 SAT tests from the October exam had not been rescanned for errors. The announcement was the third admission in two weeks by the testing organization of potential errors and underreported scores in the college entrance exam used by thousands of schools. A spokesman for the New York-based company said that the largest error was a discrepancy of 450 points out of a potential 2,400. The total number of students who will have higher scores resubmitted is 4,411. "It's incomprehensible to me that there have been three separate discoveries of scoring errors on the same exam," said Gary Ross, dean of admissions for Colgate University, which was informed that it had received 57 erroneous scores. Washington Post

10 most notable African-Americans of all-time
By Eric Williams

Before I go any further, let me say that, of all the articles and columns that I have written during my nearly two decades of professional writing, this was one of the toughest I have ever had to write.
Selecting only 10 people for this list was akin to having a bad tooth pulled with no Novocain. To be honest about it, many of the names on my list of all-time greats could certainly be substituted for many other equally deserving candidates. However, when push came to shove, which, for all intents and purposes, is exactly what a deadline is, I made some tough choices and I am sticking with them.
The only criteria I used in making my selections were, how important each person’s contributions were to the betterment of the entire African-American race. Now that that’s done, here we go.

Dr. Martin Luther King (1929-1968)
I don’t think there is a person alive who would object to my selection of Martin Luther King as the number one most notable African-American of all-time. The legendary civil rights leader who was slain in August of 1968, preached a message of equality for all and spurred numerous political and ideological changes that have affected every African-American who has resided in the U.S. since the time of his death. King’s “Dream” has been alive for nearly four decades and his message and memory show no signs of ever being forgotten by a multitude of races all over the globe.

Harriet Tubman (1821-1913)
Yes, we all know that Tubman made 19 trips to the north and saved at least 300 slaves from what was most likely more years of slavery, but I’m not sure whether or not many young African-Americans realize how important Tubman’s contributions were since they occurred so long ago. To put Tubman’s achievements in proper perspective, there is no telling how many lives beyond those 300 that were altered, extended and changed forever by her courageous acts. I suspect that many of the same people, who were moved by Dr. King’s impassioned pleas over a half-century after Tubman’s death, were probably descendants of slaves whose lives were saved by Tubman’s heroic efforts.

3. Fredrick Douglas (1817-1895)
Douglas was, for all intents and purposes, his era’s Martin Luther King. He was the most famous of all black abolitionists as well as one of the greatest American orators of his day. Douglas was also an editor author, statesman and reformer who was often referred to as the Called "The Sage of Anacostia" or "The Lion of Anacostia,"Douglass was among the most prominent African-American of his time, and one of the most influential in American history. He was often called "The Father of the Civil Rights Movement."

4. W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963)
Dubois was one of the most influential black leaders of the first half of the 20th Century. He shared in the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909 and served as its director of research and editor of its magazine, "Crisis," until 1934. Dubois was also the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1896. Labeled as a "radical," DuBois was ignored by many who hoped that his massive contributions would be buried along side of him. But, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, "history cannot ignore W.E.B. DuBois because history has to reflect truth and Dr. DuBois was a tireless explorer and a gifted discoverer of social truths. His singular greatness lay in his quest for truth about his own people. There were very few scholars who concerned themselves with honest study of the black man and he sought to fill this immense void. The degree to which he succeeded disclosed the great dimensions of the man."

5. Richard Allen (1760-1831)
Being born and raised in Philadelphia, I know all about Richard Allen. The First Black Bishop and A.M.E. Church leader was president of the first national Negro convention and is sometimes called "The Father of the Negro." Born into slavery in Philadelphia in 1760, Allen died in 1831 not only free but influential as well and the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which he organized in 1816, and its first bishop. The only way I can describe Allen, is to say that he was his generation’s Martin Luther King as well.

6. Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955)
The career educator was a mentor to a whole generation of leaders and was the first Black woman to receive a major federal appointment. Bethune was one of the greatest educators in United States history. She was a leader of women, a distinguished adviser to several American presidents, and a powerful champion of racial equality. Bethune began her career as an educator when she rented a two-story frame building in Daytona Beach, Fla., and began the difficult task of establishing a school for African American girls. Her school opened in October 1904, with six pupils, five girls and her own son. This began the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls, in an era when most African American children received little or no education. At first Bethune was teacher, administrator, comptroller, and custodian. In 1923 Bethune's school for girls merged with Cookman Institute of Jacksonville, Fla., a school for boys, and the new co-educational school became known as Bethune-Cookman Collegiate Institute, soon renamed Bethune-Cookman College. Bethune served as president of the college until her retirement as president emeritus in 1942. She remained a trustee of the college to the end of her life. By 1955 the college had a faculty of 100 and a student enrollment of over 1,000.

7. Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)
The woman we know as Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in New York as Isabella Baumfree. The abolitionist and leader of the women's movement lectured widely and fought for land and rights for the freedmen. In 1843, she took the name Sojourner Truth, believing this to be on the instructions of the Holy Spirit and became a traveling preacher. In the late 1840s she connected with the abolitionist movement, becoming a popular speaker. In 1850, she also began speaking on woman suffrage. During the Civil War she raised food and clothing contributions for black regiments. After the War ended, Sojourner Truth again spoke widely, advocating for some time a "Negro State" in the west. She spoke mainly to white audiences, and mostly on religion, "Negro" and women's rights, and on temperance, though immediately after the Civil War she tried to organize efforts to provide jobs for black refugees from the war.

8. Nat Turner (1800-1831)
I’m sure a lot of folks will scratch their heads at this selection, but Turner wasn’t just a runaway slave who started a revolt and murdered a bunch of people. His efforts, which certainly did not end in vain, changed the way a multitude of slaves viewed slavery and fueled their subsequent acts of heroism to abolish slavery nationwide. Born on October 2, 1800, in Southampton County, Virginia, Turner organized a rebellious escape attempt on August 21, 1831 in which he and several other slaves killed 55 whites in the process. Although Turner was captured and executed later, his boldness changed the thought process for every slave until the time when slavery was ultimately abolished.

9. Malcolm X (1925-1965)
Like Turner, Malcolm X was a militant man who abhorred the oppression that whites had placed on African-Americans living in the U.S. for centuries. Unlike his more peaceful counterpart, Martin Luther King, Malcolm sought to end oppression of blacks in the U.S. “by any means necessary.” During his life, Malcolm went from being a street-wise Boston hoodlum to one of the most prominent Black Nationalist leaders in the United States. As a militant leader, Malcolm X advocated black pride, economic self-reliance, and identity politics. He ultimately rose to become a world renowned African American/Pan-Africanist and human rights activist. Like Turner and King, Malcolm X’s life was extinguished far too early when was assassinated in New York City on February 21, 1965 on the first day of National Brotherhood Week.

10. John H. Johnson (1918-2005)
Once again, many people may have a problem with this selection, but that’s a shame because Johnson was truly an African-American giant and visionary who strived to make the United States a better place for African-Americans everywhere.
Johnson formed the Johnson Publishing Company and transformed it into a multi-million dollar entity that assisted, promoted and raised the consciousness of African-Americans everywhere. Johnson was the first black person to appear on the Forbes 400 Rich List, and had a fortune estimated at close to $600 million.
However, it wasn’t the fortune that Johnson amassed that put him on this list for me. Once again, it was educating and teaching a nation full of African-Americans about the successes, failures, possibilities and realities of life for blacks living in the United States.

COST TO RAISE A CHILD VS. BENEFITS.
By Andiyia

The US government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with USD $160,140.00 for a middle income family. That doesn't even touch university tuition. But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day! * Just over a dollar an hour. Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140.00? * Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold. * Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.
For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint, * carve pumpkins, * play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.
You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watching Saturday morning cartoons,
* going to Disney movies, and
* wishing on stars.
* You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day. For $160,140.00, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless. You get a front row seat to history to witness the:
* first step, * first word,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.
You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so . . one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!! Love & enjoy your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and all of the steps, too!

The National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy: May 3, 2006
Hundreds of thousands of teens nationwide are expected to participate in thefifth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 3, 2006. On theNational Day, teens nationwide are asked to take a short, fun, onlinechallenge at http://www.teenpregnancy.org/ <http://www.teenpregnancy.org/> that asks them to reflect on the best course of action in a number of sexualsituations. The purpose of the National Day is to focus the attention ofteens on the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy and other seriousconsequences of sexual activity. For extensive information about the National Day, visit:www.teenpregnancy.org/national <http://www.teenpregnancy.org/national

Harry Belafonte On His Dis-invitation To Coretta Scott King's Funeral
Harry Belafonte On His Dis-invitation To Coretta Scott King's Funeral
Actor/Activist Makes First Public Comment on the Issue
Excerpted Transcript From NPR's 'Democracy Now'

"I saw who sat there, and as the camera moved about, I saw who was sitting in the audience, and I saw all of the power of the oppressor represented on the stage, and all those who fought for the victories that this nation was experiencing and enjoying sat in the outhouse, sat out in the field, sat removed, and if it not been for Lowery, for President Carter and for Maya Angelou, we would have had no voice and no representation at all." -- Harry Belafonte
AMY GOODMAN: Harry, I have a quick question, talking about the children and talking about Dr. King in Birmingham. Coretta Scott King recently died, and it was quite a remarkable funeral. Over 10,000, 15,000 people came out, four presidents, many senators. Reverend Joseph Lowery, while President Bush was sitting right on the dais, talked about weapons of misdirection right here, and President Carter talked about Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King being spied on, and Maya Angelou stood up and said, "I speak here for Harry Belafonte and others." Did you try to go to Coretta Scott King's funeral?

HARRY BELAFONTE: What had happened was that when Dr. King came on one of his very first trips to New York, he was in Harlem, and a deranged black woman stabbed him, and he was -- the blade was just millimeters away from his heart, and to remove the instrument, his life was in jeopardy, and it was a very delicate operation. And it was then that I understood that -- after seeing Dr. King and talking to him, his first concern was what would happen to his family. And I said to myself, our leader cannot be concerned about that. That burden should not be on his shoulders. There are other aspects of the burden that would be his in relation to it, but not that. So that it was demanded and responded to that forever the welfare of his family would never be in jeopardy with him being at the helm of the movement, and we brought resources, and it was my task to direct all that, watching the kids grow, put money aside for their studies, to take care of Coretta, to make sure she had every convenience at her disposal to go, come while her husband was incarcerated.

So the intimacy of that experience was something that I had become accustomed to, and when Dr. King was murdered, I was in Atlanta in their home, and we separated ourselves from others who were there in the living room, and she said, "Would you come with me." We went into the bedroom, and she said, "Help me select the clothes that I must -- we must dress him in." And it was a very private and a very remarkable thing to - the intimacy of it with her. And as we were selecting the suits and the shirt and the tie and laying it out, she sat on the bed, and she kind of - a place where she had slept so often with her husband, and all those memories. And I said, "What is it?" She says, "You know, I'm worried about where this is all going. I'm worried about the nation, the rage, the anger, and I need to know what to do." And we talked for a second. Then I said to her, "You know, at this very moment in Memphis, thousands of sanitation workers are on hold, because Dr. King was supposed to have been there tomorrow to lead that movement and to speak to the people, and before your husband, our leader, is put in his grave, if you have the will and the capacity to go down there tomorrow and stand up before those workers and let the world know that the movement has not been interrupted, that the process continues, and that all of us, as strong or as weak as we may be, will step into the breach and do what must be done." And she did, and she went down, and she spoke, and we came right back.

Now, all through the years since then, the building of the King Center, many choices of things that she made to do, because she was in her own right very involved for Dr. King. She was one of the - she was very, very committed to the peace movement, and as a matter of fact, in Europe, during the assassin-- the missile crisis and whatnot, we gave -- we put on a peace concert for 250,000 Germans in Cologne, mostly students, and the moment when Coretta King -- I called and asked her to come to speak. It would mean a lot to the young people there. She came, and I have never, ever heard a declaration of approval like those young German youth did when she came, and she had a sense of her own power. She had a sense of her own capacity to bring influence and to be revered for the work she did.

On the Pulse

When she died, none of us knew that she was in Mexico, that she had -- I knew that she was ill. I knew about the heart attack, the defibrillation and the stroke. But - and I knew she had cancer, but I thought the cancer was contained, and when she went to Mexico, she was there with her children, and I got the news completely without knowing any of the details, so for a few days we didn't know what was happening. Where is she? Who's bringing her home? When is the funeral? When is the this, when is the that?

And finally, I left a call -- I left a message on the phones of the children, saying, "Please give me a call. I know this is a difficult moment, but there are things that must be done, and I would like to help if I can." I was then called a day later and told that, yes, that it was on that Tues-- this was on a Friday, Friday evening, that the funeral was going to take place that Tuesday, and that it would start at noon, and that with all the people that were being invited, that it was -- I was to be one of these people delivering the eulogy, and that my time would be at somewhere around 12:30 or 1:00, and I said, "Fine." And knowing this, I began to put my thoughts together.

That Saturday, Bush declared he was coming. He would be there. That Sunday, I began to change my speech, not to be rude or to be attacking, but to integrate this moment into what needed to be said. And then, that Monday morning, I got a call, and I was told that the invitation that had been extended to me had been pulled. I was uninvited. A woman by the name of Skinner and a Reverend by the name of Lawrence was the one who called me to tell me that I was uninvited, and when that call came, I called and spoke to one of the children. They said, these are the events, and I need to be counseled as to how this has come about, and I was told that I would get a call shortly, and it would all be clarified. And then, when the final call came, it was -- they were sorry, but the invitation - the withdrawing of the invitation would stand and that if I came down, they would find a place for me in the church, but I would not speak. And I did not go at all. I did not know how to deal with that.

What struck me was on the day of the ceremony, I saw how the altar was adorned. I saw who sat there, and as the camera moved about, I saw who was sitting in the audience, and I saw all of the power of the oppressor represented on the stage, and all those who fought for the victories that this nation was experiencing and enjoying sat in the outhouse, sat out in the field, sat removed, and if it not been for Lowery, for President Carter and for Maya Angelou, we would have had no voice and no representation at all.

Some ministers who were quite angry at all of this said, "Come on down here. Let's -- let's -- We have to talk to the press," and I said, "Talk to the press about what?" "About this. We cannot let it stand." I said, "I don't think that's appropriate. These are the children of my friend. These are the children of the movement. Where did we let them get caught? Why was Bernice giving this kind of sermon? How did you let Reverend Long become the minister of choice? Why wasn't it at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King preached? And before we go public and begin to vent our anger, let us understand what role we played in this capitulation that has led to this moment, and let us try first to repair it rather than to go into public discourse.

When do we sit in a circle of healing? When we begin to talk about getting back to where we lost stride. How do we fix this? Not how do we play the vanity game, and get off on going public and talking about how I was crucified. You know, it's what it is, and there is a way in which we have to do this that not only prevents - I don't know that there'll be another moment quite like that, because Dr. King and Malcolm X and Fannie Lou Hamer, folks like that were so rare that to be a part of the final ceremony of their departure is a rare moment in history, but I think that it goes along with what I have been saying here. What role have we played in letting all this happen? Where were we? What were we doing that had us so distracted? How can it be this way? How did you priests and ministers let the evangelical rightwing Christian forces co-opt the greater truth about Christianity and the philosophy of liberation? And how did you all let that happen, and where are your voices in opposition publicly?

Everybody has a part in this. Everybody has something to look at, and I think it is a collective experience, and that's why I think rather than sitting here drifting, we've got to talk about this, not just where we failed and where you failed, and we've got to come out of this discourse and this discussion, not just talking about it but saying, "Here's where we go," and take courage in the fact that we can turn this around, because the truth of the matter is we are the only ones that can turn this around. Nothing and no one else can do it. Nothing.

AMY GOODMAN: Harry Belafonte, describing his dis-invitation from giving a eulogy at the funeral of Coretta Scott King.

NAACP URGES PASSAGE OF TRI-CAUCUS HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES AFFECTING RACIAL AND ETHNIC MINORITY AMERICANS
THE ISSUE: Over the last two decades hundreds of studies from governmental agencies and non-partisan think tanks have all concluded that in the United States the color of your skin, your ethnic background and where you live can not only influence your health care access and quality; they can determine them.
The statistics are as unthinkable as they are conclusive: African Americans are 23% more likely to die from various types of cancer than whites. African American and American Indian / Alaskan Native infant mortality rates are more than 2 times higher that that for their Caucasian counterparts. African American women are nearly four times more likely than white women to die during childbirth or from pregnancy complications. The death rate from asthma is more than 3 times higher among African Americans than among whites. The diabetes death rates among African Americans and Hispanics are about 2 times higher than that among Caucasian Americans. The AIDS case rate among African Americans is more than 10 times higher than that among whites; the AIDS case rate for Hispanics is more than 4 times that of white Americans. African American diabetics are more than 3 times more likely than Caucasian diabetics to have a lower limb amputated.
There are a myriad of reasons for these tremendous discrepancies, and that is why no one step will resolve them. The Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act, S. 1580, introduced by Senator Akaka (HI) / H.R. 3561, introduced by Congressman Honda (CA) and endorsed by the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus takes a multi-faceted approach to address these problems. It would expand exiting forms of health insurance; work to remove language and cultural barriers to quality health care; improve the diversity of the healthcare workforce to reflect, understand and respect the diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives of the people it serves; support and expand programs to reduce disparities in particular diseases and conditions, especially diabetes, obesity, heart disease, asthma and HIV/AIDS; improve racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and language data collection to adequately identify, measure and find reasonable and innovative solutions for health disparities; ensure adequate funding of the Office of Minority Health, and the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities ; and bolster the capacity of institutions that provide care in racial and ethnic minority communities.
To read the entire Action Alert please click here

Speaking Truth to Power as the Conscience of Saline County

2006-03-24T19:34:00.000-08:00

NAACP Urges Passage of Tri-Caucus Healthcare Legislation to Address Disparities Affecting Racial and Ethnic Minority Americans

Over the last two decades hundreds of studies from governmental agencies and non-partisan think tanks have all concluded that in the United States the color of your skin, your ethnic background and where you live can not only influence your health care access and quality; they can determine them. Read More »

Missouri Valley College Presents
Maastricht Institute of Entrepreneurship

The Maastricht Institute will include presentations, seminars, round table discussion, and panel discussions with renowned individuals from around the world. These activities are presented to foster an atmosphere of receptiveness and creativity towards comparative entrepreneurial processes. Read more
http://www.moval.edu/Maastricht/index.html

NAACP: Badge of Shame Award Winner

QUOTE: Many people who observe the flag's display; especially in official capacities, view it as totally abhorrent because of the residual pain of slavery, racism and oppression that was suffered. The "Knights" of the Klu Klux Klan, the Aryan Nation, and The World Church of the Creator, are all groups that are the living embodiment of these words. And its members have all carried The Confederate Battle Flag while representing their respective organizations on countless number of occasions and now our grand Ole state desires to join with them. This is a tragedy and shame because the Confederate Flag serves to unite you under a common banner for a common cause.
HOW TRAGIC AND SHAMEFUL
Governor Blunt is awarded the Badge of Shame for willfully and knowingly: supporting raising The Confederate flag; (a well-recognized, international symbol of racism, slavery, hatred, murder and white supremacy) despite objections to it flying at any publicly financed location; knowing many raised the flag to show that they opposed desegregation; not supporting civil rights, social justice in this state ;and having a clear track record that opposes the underlying principles of the civil rights movement. Shame on you for being unwilling to match your words with your deeds and take the right steps; when we need you the most. Shame on you, who pass on the opportunity to demonstrate courage and commitment; instead of comfort and convenience. Through your actions, you make yourself eligible to receive the NAACP Badge of Shame.

NAACP Opens 15 Voter Assistance Centers to Aid New Orleans Voters

Displaced By Hurricane Katrina The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has opened 15 voter assistance centers in nine states to aid displaced New Orleans voters who want to vote in the April 22 city election or May 20 run-off. Several thousand voters were forced to relocate after the city was struck by Hurricane Katrina last August. Read More »

Become a Member

Thank you for your Commitment. The work of the Association -- social, economic, and educational justice for all -- depends on the support and participation of caring individuals like you. Thank you for choosing to become a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Click here to join Unit # 4069 https://www.naacp.org/contribute/join.php

57th ANNUAL MIDWESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE
4477 WOODSON ROAD, SUITE 201
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63134
TO: ALL NAACP UNITS, STATE CONFERENCE, NATIONAL BOARD
MEMBERS, YOUTH COUNCILS AND COLLEGE CHAPTERS
FROM: REV. GILL L. FORD, REGIONAL DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: 2006 CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCACY TRAINING INSTITUTE

We are pleased to announce the selection of Omaha, Nebraska for our 2006
Region IV Civil Rights Advocacy Training Institute. The Omaha Branch under
the leadership of Mrs. Tommie Wilson, President will be our conference host
this year.
APRIL 6-8, 2006
DOUBLETREE HOTEL
1616 DODGE STREET
OMAHA, NE 68102
1.402.636-4914 – HOTEL DIRECT
Please be sure to make your hotel reservations as soon as possible; rooms
are expected to deplete quickly. It is better to reserve your room now and
have to change it later, than to attempt to make a late reservation and find that
the hotel is full as we have experienced in the past. The special NAACP
CONFERENCE room rate at the Doubletree Hotel will be $79.00 per night for
single/double.
THE DEADLINE FOR HOTEL RESERVATIONS IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH
15, 2006. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GUARANTEE ROOM SPACE OR
THE CONFERENCE RATE FOR DELEGATES AFTER THIS DATE.

Mar-Saline NAACP - Speaking Truth to Power as the Conscience of Saline County

2006-03-21T13:48:00.000-08:00

Life keeps getting worse for black men in U.S.

By Erik Eckholm, New York Times

The plight of black men in the United States is far more dire than is portrayed by common employment and education statistics, a flurry of new scholarly studies warn, and it has worsened in recent years even as an economic boom and a welfare overhaul brought gains to black women and many other groups. Focusing on the life patterns of young men, the new studies by specialists at Columbia, Princeton and Harvard universities and other institutions show that the huge pool of poorly educated black males is becoming more disconnected from the mainstream society, and to a far greater degree than white or Hispanic men. Especially in American inner cities, the studies show, finishing high school is the exception, legitimate work is scarcer than ever and prison is almost routine, with incarceration rates climbing for blacks even as urban crime declines. International Herald Tribune

Some Balk at Pardon for Rosa Parks

By Bob Johnson, Associated Press

During the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott last year, civil rights leaders called for a pardon of Rosa Parks over her arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. But now, some ? including the pastor of the church Parks attended in Montgomery ? are coming out against the idea. With a bill moving through the Alabama Legislature to pardon Parks and perhaps hundreds of others for violating segregation-era laws, they say a pardon implies she did something wrong. "Why would brave people like this need to get a pardon from anyone? Someone needs to tell them that we treated you wrong," the Rev. Joseph Rembert, pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, said Monday. "I want my grandson to know what she did." Yahoo! News

NAACP Urges Passage of Tri-Caucus Healthcare Legislation to Address Disparities Affecting Racial and Ethnic Minority Americans

Over the last two decades hundreds of studies from governmental agencies and non-partisan think tanks have all concluded that in the United States the color of your skin, your ethnic background and where you live can not only influence your health care access and quality; they can determine them. Read More »

Become a Member

2006-03-20T07:57:00.000-08:00

Become a Member

Membership form: https://www.naacp.org/contribute/join.php

President Gordon calls for strong measures to ensure city voters in and out of the city have the chance to vote in next month’s city elections

New Orleans – The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has asked the U. S. Department of Justice to block the scheduled elections in New Orleans because there is not enough time to ensure a fair election process before the scheduled date of April 22.

NAACP President Bruce S. Gordon said: “I am convinced that at this point in time the elections scheduled for April 22 are in fact illegal elections. The state cannot guarantee or provide some level of insurance that a substantial percentage of New Orleans voters will be able to vote either by absentee ballot or in person.”
MORE: http://www.naacp.org/news/2006/2006-03-14.html

The State of Aids in Blackl America

Welcome to the 2006 report on the State of Aids in Black America. It is both fitting and ironic this report is releasing on the sixth annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness. "Aids is a human crisis, nom mateter whehe you live: Mrs. Corretta Scott-King said while addressing a gathering of the SCLC.

As outlines in this report, when we have trhe courage to act we make progress; when we don't we lose ground.

More: http://www.naacp.org/inc/docs/health/health_women_aids.pdf