Black Politics Today

For African American’s, overcoming racial prejudice and tension became the focus of our ancestors. Today, too much of our history is blurred with our current reality; suggesting that our history is no longer behind us, but right in our face. Which begged the question, “What Will be Our Black Future?” Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Ms. Kristal Lauren High, and Dr. Nicol Turner Lee join me and provide insight into the stark reality of Black History: Its Past, Its Present and Its Future.

The Civil Rights Movement established public policies and a legacy for MLK. Today, many have forgotten the struggle but, Michael Brown and Eric Gardner reminded us that the struggle isn’t over, just the way we identify it. What policies will the New Civil Rights Movement establish? What will it do for the this generation? My guests: Michael Hassell, Dr. Viola Bradford, Ifeoma (Ify) Ike, and LeVar Jones, checked their PC at the door and opened up and spoke truth to power!

Poverty, Race, and Culture have not made the headlines of the numerous black deaths at the hands of white police officers. Yet, they have played a vital role in the atmosphere of those deaths. But, one group has raised the bar to overcome “what’s not” and focus on “what is.” Dr. Lenora Fulani, opens up and discusses the All Stars “Cops & Kids” Project, helping the Inner City cope, and the Cops learn.

If you read or listened to mainstream media you wouldn’t hear about black women being killed by white police officers, yet its happened more than you think. Unarmed black women have been victimized just as much as unarmed black men. Popular media didn’t address these disparities, but we did. And we asked the question, “Why did white police officers kill black victims at a rate of twice per week, for seven years?”

As protests continued across the country in support of black men slain by white police officers; a similar element has emerged and gone virtually unnoticed, “Black Women!” They too are dying at the hands of white cops, and are received the same injustice as their male counterparts; “No Accountability!” Now with local, state, and federal legislators returning to work, who will work to provide new laws and new hope? Congresswoman Alma Adams and Dr. Nsenga Burton help us understand the “Forgotten Black Women” and the Policies that have burned us at the stake.

Criming While White has become a term in cities like New York City, Ferguson, Missouri, Berkely, California, Washington, D.C., and many other cities across the country where demonstrators have expressed their concerns and frustrations with the murder of unarmed black men like Eric Gardner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, John Crawford, and the list goes on and on at the hands of white police officers. Each of these men were killed by white police officers in the name of justice. What justice was there? Is this what justice has come to look like? We discussed a tragic trend of black men dying at the hands of white law enforcement and what’s the solution to stop it.

In the wake of the Michael Brown shooting, “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot” became the symbolism across America in support of Michael Brown. And with no criminal indictment of Police Officer Darren Wilson, symbolism may be the only thing the citizens of Ferguson have left. With conflicting testimony, racial tensions continued to divide a nation. The question is, “What’s At Stake” in this country when white police officers continue to kill unarmed Black Men and not be held accountable? Answering that question is my guests, Attorney Johnny Barnes, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Rev. Jeffrey Thames.

Each year hundreds of children from across the globe are abducted every day. Many of these abductions end tragically, and don't receive the national media attention that is often needed and deserved. BPT examined the need for greater exposure and attention to black children abductions and the major causes that impact the rise of missing black children. Tonight we sat down and spoke with Ms. Ju'Riese Colon for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children along with Mrs. Derrica Wilson, of Black & Missing Foundation, Inc. Dr. Justine Love, joined us and shared her memory of Mayor for Life, Marion S. Barry, Jr., on his passing and his legacy.

In the aftermath of the 2014 Midterm Elections, Progressive found themselves scratching their heads and asking, "What now?" Many Democrats pointed fingers and blamed everyone but themselves. From the President, Majority Leader, to the pundits, all scrambled to blame others for the devastating losses. The Democrats must take responsibility for their actions instead of attempting to blame everyone else. There is no togetherness, no responsibility, and a confused sense of direction moving forward. What happened to the MESSAGE? We asked my guests Stacey Abrams, Georgia State Minority Leader, and Brandon Andrews, Director of IMPACT, to answer the question of "What now?"

Election Day 2014 may hold the presidential legacy of President Barack Obama. With dwindling approval ratings and a disenchanted electorate, the balance of Congress hung in the air. African American voters will determine if the legacy continues or if it falls. Congressman Andre Carson (D-OH), Dr. Wilmer Leon, III, and League of Woman Voters, Linda Softli, discussed the Voter suppression tactics of the GOP and the apathy thats discouraging the Black Vote. And shared their viewpoints on why President Obama has been so passive in his leadership style, which may result in the death of his Presidency.

So often in life there comes a moment when you are faced with the realization that so many people are just plain ole Hypocrites! Georgia Republicans ranted, raved, and cried "Racism" as Democrats in an effort to overcome Georgia's restrictive Voter ID Law, evoked the Ferguson, Missouri mantra "Hands Up, Don't Shoot" to rally their base. These are the same Republicans who instituted the current Voter ID law based on race. And the same Republicans that used race to scare white voters with the infamous "Willie Horton" ad. And they called African American Democrats racist. Really!? My guests: State Senator Vincent Fort (GA).

Every two years, African Americans failed to understand the necessity of their participation in local and state elections commonly called "Midterm Elections." As a result, GOP members across the country passed laws to eliminate the black vote. Inexperienced minority politicians struggle to compete as they sleepwalk into the November general election and struggle with how to overcome the apathy that leads to their demise. My guests, Dr. Estrelda Alexander, Dr. Freddie B. Haynes, and S.F. Mayor Willie Brown, discussed the prognosis for the future of Black America's vote and the structure for the Black Electorate.

From Indiana to Florida and back to California there seems to be a real concerted effort to criminalize all black men in this country. The Old Jim Crown created that same atmosphere when a black man couldn’t walk down the street without being subjected to racial hatred. Now with Voter ID laws, murders at the hand of police, economic and educational disenfranchisement, and mass incarcerations, there is nothing new about it. They are the same old actions, just under a new day and time. My guest Dr. Wilmer Leon, III answered the question “is this really new?”

As African Americans continue to fight for equal access at the ballot box, there is an even greater fight for access to the internet. Millions of children are being denied a basic right to information disenfranchising a generation of minority children and limiting their ability to compete on a global scale. Why are the basic fundamental resources continually being denied to African Americans? My guests Dr. Nicol Turner-Lee answers that question.

What do you do when Apartheid comes to America? In the State of Wisconsin, a three judge Appeals Court has ruled that a Voter ID law may take effect immediately in the middle of the 2014 Midterm general election, disenfranchising nearly 300 thousand voters without the proper ID. My guests Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) & Sup. Khalif Rainey (D-WI) will share their views and plans to stop the modern day apartheid in America.

Aretha Franklin made R.E.S.P.E.C.T. famous with her song Respect Yourself. But today, more African Americans are being pimped by Fortune 500 Corporations. These corporations have little if any black representation on their Boards of Director, which determines the policies and procedures of the company. The question is, do we continue to allow ourselves to be taken advantage of, or do we allow our $1.3 trillion in annual revenue to speak for us? My guests Ron Parker, President/CEO of Executive Leadership Council and Charles O’Neil, U. S. Black Chamber Board Member, help us answer the question.