Brown Iowa

Asian Academy - Week Five - Administrative Services

2008-07-03T11:54:00.003-05:00

By Dawn Campbell

Administrative Services is like the behind the scenes team for Des Moines Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Des Moines Police Department’s Captain Joanne Pollock told attendees of the Asian citizens academy how the department’s Administrative Services Bureau is separated into four divisions: property management section, records section/police report unit, communications section and the police technology unit.

Academy attendees were shown before and after photos of the property management locker located at the Des Moines Police Department. Pollock awed the class when she told of the audit which detailed every single item in the property locker. “There was only one item, a laundry basket, which was not accounted for during the audit,” Pollock advised.

When asked how far back items were dated, Pollock stated, “Items from the 1930’s were found.” The captain continued by telling the class that there were over 11,000 property sheets attached to various items. Those property sheets could have one to two items listed and up to a dozen or more. The class immediately understood the magnitude of only having one item missing in the audit process.

Pollock continued her presentation and discussed the records section and police report unit. Pollock shared statistics of how this area of the department works. The records management system is shared with Polk County Sheriffs Department as well as other law enforcement agencies in the area. Ten people enter reports 24 hours a day. Sales of these reports, because they are public information, generated $165,000 in revenue which goes directly back into the budget.

This particular section of the department also has a false alarm coordinator. This employee helps with the magnitude of false alarm trips the department answers every year. Last year, the department received 4,400 alarm trips. Of those trips, 3,793 of those trips were false. For every false alarm trip, the owner of the residence or business is fined $50. This money was generated and put back into the budget.

Because the class was briefed on the communications section a few weeks ago, Pollock focused the last part of her presentation on the technology section. This section of the department is what keeps people in touch with each other. Pollock explained this section keeps the 75 mobile units in the vehicles used by officers in working order. She also shared this unit is in charge of approximately 300 desktop units used by various employees within the department.

The class did learn something most did not know prior to this course. On every cellular phone bill, there is a charge titled “E911.” Pollock explained the money received from this charge is what funds the seven employees who maintain these precious systems for the police department.

As the class broke for intermission, attendees had a chance to speak to Pollock one on one. During one of those discussions, the class did learn the significance of their speaker. Pollock is the second highest ranking female officer in the police department.

For the second half of this week’s section, the class heard from Lieutenant Dave Knight regarding Polk County Sheriffs Office’s administrative bureau. Knight, who is a 21 year veteran of the department, reiterated much of what Pollock stated in her presentation. Yet, he also talked about the new jail being built, the civil division, the human resource department and a little on what people should know about law enforcement as a career.

“Law enforcement officers have the highest rate of suicide and divorce,” Knight said. “I tell this to all the new people I talk to. You have to have a sense of humor and you have to have friends outside of law enforcement.”

Knight took a story telling approach to the presentation topics. As he spoke about the new jail and the impact it is going to have on how the sheriffs department works, he shared the following:

Knight told members of the class the jail is three football fields wide and three football fields long so they could get an idea of how large the facility is and how many inmates it can hold.

Knight shared with the class how the department is hiring civilian detention officers and what those individuals can expect when they are working in the jail. “We have a man who is housed that plays with his own fecal matter,” Knight stated. “Detention officers will see things that you wouldn’t believe.” As a pre-employment test, detention officer candidates have to run and drag a dummy for a certain amount of feet. This is in case there is an altercation in the jail setting and the detention officer has to drag an injured inmate or colleague.

One of the duties assigned to the sheriff’s office is civil matters. Knight discussed how the department is bombarded with work due to the rapid rise of foreclosures. He also discussed some of the unpleasant issues associated with civil matters such as child custody issues. The sheriff’s office is the department assigned to go to residences and remove children from homes based on court orders. This department is also responsible for serving individuals regarding court issues.

Prior to dismissing the course, Knight engaged the class by sharing with them one of the unique duties he chose to take on – death notification. This task is also part of administrative services for the sheriff’s department. He shared two particular stories with the class. Knight began his stories by simply saying, “You never know what you are going to get.”

Knight didn’t go into particular details of the circumstances involved with this notification. In a conversational tone, Knight told of a deputy who did not ask if there was anyone else in the residence prior to the stating the fact that this person’s loved one had passed. When the loved one receiving the death notification screamed, a person from upstairs came down ready for a physical altercation. Knight chuckled and said, “I made sure to ask if anyone else was in the house from that point on.”

Reiterating the “you never know what you are going to get” motto, Knight shared a story that he said he’ll never forget. The sheriff’s department responded to a call of a motorcycle accident and the rider was pronounced dead shortly after. When deputies arrived at the deceased residence, they advised the wife that her husband had passed away. The wife stood, smiled and said thank you. The deputies who arrived with a person from victim’s services were a little shocked at the reaction. “There was no crying or anything,” Knight said. Deputies learned later, the wife had been a victim of domestic abuse. “I guess it was relief,” Knight told attendees.

Photo:

Lt. Dave Knight with the Polk County Sheriff's Office addresses attendees of
the Asian Citizens Academy.

Asian Citizen's Academy Week Four: "In Pursuit"

2008-06-04T00:41:00.006-05:00

By Dawn Campbell

“I have a vehicle that took off on me. In pursuit.”

The officer pursues a vehicle which would not stop for a simple traffic violation. The officer accelerates, but follows at a distance where he can react if the vehicle he is pursuing wrecks. Every few seconds, the officer provides dispatch with details of his location and the direction the vehicle.

“West bound University. Crossing M.L. King.”

The chase has been going for a few minutes and the officer in pursuit has several other police units with him for backup. The officer giving chase sternly asks, “Permission to P.I.T?”

Dispatch calls the watch commander on the air and asks the same question. “Permission granted,” a commanding voice says simply.

The officer lines up the way he was taught in the academy’s four days of driving training and taps the back of the chased vehicle. The chased vehicle spins around and comes to a stop. The chase ends with no injuries and slight damage to a police car.

“P.I.T. stands for pursuit intervention technique. On average we use the P.I.T. maneuver once a month,” Des Moines Senior Police Officer Chuck Guhl told the Asian Citizen’s Academy on May 21. “The Des Moines Police Department was the first agency to train in P.I.T. in 1996,” Guhl proudly shared.

During the classroom discussion, Guhl explained how officers in training spend four days in driving school during their time at the Des Moines regional Police Academy. On the last day of driving school, recruits spend four hours in P.I.T. training. This past year, the academy class had a new opportunity. The recruits spent four hours training in high speed pursuits at the Knoxville Speedway.

Police Officer Brookelyn Budd, who graduated in 2008 from the Des Moines Regional Police Academy said, “The new training was effective; it gave us the opportunity to actually participate in a high speed chase while in a safe, secure environment. It is definitely something my fellow classmates learned from and enjoyed.”

When asked how do officers who have been with the department for a length of time receive P.I.T and pursuit training, Guhl informed the class that those officers receive refresher courses. At this time, every three years officers receive a refresher in P.I.T. and pursuit driving.

Following the classroom discussion, the citizen’s academy moved outdoors to the Des Moines Area Community College driving course to watch a P.I.T. demonstration take place.

Attendees watched as a black Crown Victoria driven by Senior Police Officer Chad McFarland drove around the DMACC driving course mimicking a pursuit with an old squad car. Just as McFarland rounded a corner, Senior Officer Chad Cornwell and Senior Officer Tony Gomez lined up their vehicle and performed a P.I.T. maneuver. The vehicles with metal bumper guards made contact and the helmet clad McFarland sent dust flying as his vehicle spun to a stop.

Students watched as the officers performed the demonstration approximately five to six times. Guhl, Sergeant Larry Davey, Sergeant Tony Knox and Senior Officer Doua Lor mingled amongst students to assist in explaining what was occurring and what signified a good P.I.T. versus a bad P.I.T.

After the P.I.T demonstration, attendees got the opportunity to become up close and personal with a DMPD squad car and learn about what makes traffic stops nerve racking for law enforcement officers.

Lor showed the class how an officer looks up license plates of a stopped vehicle on I-Mobile, the computer unit located in squad cars. Lor also briefly explained Tracs, the computer program that is used for traffic accidents.

For the last part of the class, Officer Gomez who works in the traffic, unit shared what things make officers nervous during traffic stops. Gomez advised attendees not to exit the vehicle they are in when being approached by an officer during a traffic stop. He also advised attendees to keep their hands where the officer can see them. “Please don’t dig around in your glove compartment or under your seat,” Gomez said. Officers don’t know if the person in the vehicle is merely searching for license and registration or if they are searching for a firearm.

Obama, Obama, Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-06-03T21:21:00.003-05:00

Asian Citizen's Academy Week Three: Crime Scene Investigation

2008-05-22T17:06:00.003-05:00

By Dawn Campbell

“Solving a crime does not happen in an hour and we don’t wear thousand dollar suits,” Sergeant Mike McDermott of the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) told participants of the first Asian Citizens Academy. The statement dissolved any assumptions that crime scene investigations occur exactly as they do on the numerous CSI programs.

McDermott, who has been with the department 20 years this August, spoke to the academy class this past week regarding how DMPD’s crime scene investigation section operates. McDermott shared his experience which includes, approximately 10 years of working with crime scene investigation.

The identification unit is the only part of the detective’s bureau which operates 24-7, 365 days a year. It consists of a lieutenant, two sergeants, 13 identification technicians and one secretary.

This department is the best identification and investigation unit in the state. “We have a nationally recognized blood splatter expert as part of the team,” McDermott told attendees. The unit also has someone who is considered very knowledgeable and is highly regarded in the area of fingerprints.

McDermott proceeded to share some of the major accomplishments this particular division has achieved. One of those accomplishments occurred approximately 10 years ago. DMPD’s identification unit was the first crime scene investigation unit to ever raise a fingerprint off of a dead body.

After McDermott told about the structure and accomplishments of this staff, he shared a slide show with the class. “If anyone has a weak stomach, this may be a good a time to leave the room,” he warned.

McDermott began a homicide crime scene slide show. He stated with homicide investigations, crime scene investigators can be at the scene of the crime two to three days.

The class sat very still and quietly viewed the slide show which included the photos of an actual crime scene, evidence and autopsy photos used to prosecute a suspect in an especially violent homicide case which occurred about eleven years ago. McDermott shared what detectives learned during the investigation with the class. “The victim was random,” he said referring to the fact the suspect in the case did not know the victim. The victim’s body was discovered by their relative; McDermott believed the body was found by the victim’s daughter.

As the slide show progressed to the autopsy photos, the horrific act of violence was exposed and one attendee exited the room. “This person I believe has a special place in heaven because they fought back,” stated McDermott. The autopsy photos clearly showed numerous defensive stab wounds on the victim’s hands and arms. McDermott asked the class to count the wounds, but everyone remained silent. McDermott said quietly, “Too many to count.”

At the end of the slide show, a class participant asked how he does his job. McDermott answered, “What bothers me is that some times my job doesn’t bother me.”

McDermott then shared an experience and a piece of advice he was given early on in his career. The Drake Diner murders were the first crime scene McDermott ever worked. McDermott asked the class how many had been inside the diner. Most of the class raised their hands. He shared the layout of the diner to those who were not familiar. Then, McDermott shared how he walked in the diner, saw the victim’s bodies lying close to the entrance and how he looked at the walls which were very far away and were covered with blood and brain matter.

The piece of advice given to McDermott by a supervisor that night was, don’t look at bodies as people; look at the bodies as evidence.

Asian Citizens Academy – Week Two: Operations and Communications

2008-05-14T20:48:00.003-05:00

By Dawn Campbell

“Des Moines Police Department is a big business. Polk County Sheriff’s Office is a big business. We’re selling trust. We’re selling goodwill,” Des Moines Police Department Captain Kelly Willis told attendees of the Asian Citizens Academy.

Week two was a long session for attendees on May 6th, but they learned critical information. For the first half of the session students learned how the Des Moines Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office operate. Willis from Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) and Chief Neil Schultz from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) presented to the class. The second half focused on the communications and dispatch for both organizations.

“Public safety is a common goal for Polk County Sheriff’s Office and for the police department,” Willis explained.

Attendees listened as Willis explained the 10 hour work day patrol officers began the day before. The 10 hour shift will make the department work more efficient. Prior to this change, the department had three eight hour shifts which only covered 24 hours. Willis detailed how it was difficult for patrol officers to respond to emergency trips during shift change. Willis said, “We want to be able to respond to our community’s needs quickly. That’s hard when officers are loading their gear at the station and we need them over by Merle Hay Mall for a child choking.” Willis clearly explained that there was not a time when there were no officers on the street. There were times with the eight hour shifts, there were not that many officers on the street and those officers would take trips which may endanger themselves to serve the community.

Willis also explained how the department developed how the shifts would change. “Due to crime analysis, we know that from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., we have a larger number of police assistance calls. Because of these statistics, we made sure there are additional officers are the street.”

Schultz, who heads the field headquarters for PCSO detailed the operation overview of the sheriff’s office and specifically answered questions regarding the county’s jail system.

“At this time, we spend a lot transporting prisoners to Missouri for holding. With the new jail facility, we’ll cut costs,” explained Schultz.

When asked why we use Missouri facilities to hold prisoners, Schultz stated that Missouri state law allows private industry to run jails; whereas the State of Iowa does not allow this. “At this time it is not cost effective. We spend approximately, $4.5 to $6 million transporting and holding prisoners. Private industry charges because it is a business,” Schultz said.

The class seemed surprised, but whispers about food costs and gas prices could be heard as the class broke for a break.

The second half of the class explained the communications sections of both DMPD and PCSO.

Academy attendees were shown statistics of what types and number of calls the sheriff’s office and police department receive during a year.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office

40,207 law enforcement trips

54,192 911 calls

13,073 fire/rescue trips

5,172 warrants entered

7,008 no contact orders

10,886 criminal history checks

Des Moines Police Department

368,515 telephone calls

61,312 wireline 911 calls (also known as landline calls)

89,331 wireless 911 calls

202,087 police trips

19,394 fire/rescue trip

283,027 Lencir (this includes but is not limited to criminal history checks)

One tip given to the class by John Smith, a PCSO dispatcher and Sandy Morris from the DMPD communications section is when calling from a cell phone make sure you give your location. “Depending on your phone, GPS may work or it may not. Be patient and make sure you answer the question where are you located. It can make a difference,” explained Morris.
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Part two in a series by Dawn Campbell.

Police Academy for Asians

2008-05-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

By Dawn Campbell

A retired police sergeant teaching Asian citizens about the history of the Des Moines Police Department doesn’t happen everyday at the Des Moines Regional Police Academy, but it happened April 29, 2008. This was part of the content for the first day of class for Asian citizens attending the 1st Annual Asian Citizens Police Academy.

Retired Sgt. Mike Leeper, who is in charge of the police department’s museum, shared interesting facts about the police department and how things have changed over the years. Attendees learned how officers in the early 1900’s, without the use of cell phones and communication units, communicated with dispatch via special phones located within their patrol areas. Officers were required to phone once every hour or half hour whether they were in need of assistance or not.

Leeper also shared the somber side of being a police officer with attendees. Photos of officers who have died in the line of duty were shown to students. Leeper explained how this slide show is shown to every new officer who joins the department. It gives new officers an awareness of the dangers associated with this job, he explained to the group.

Over the next eleven weeks, citizens in this class will learn more than just the history of the police department. They will meet officers, learn about the different bureaus within the department and also go through some of the training police recruits do while they are at the academy.

Senior Police and Asian Outreach Resource Officer Doua Lor assisted in the creation of this program. According to Lor, this program will assist in bridging the communication gap that occurs often between law enforcement and the Asian community. To Lor’s knowledge, this is the only program in the Midwest offered by a law enforcement agency specifically for the Asian community.

www.BrownIowa.com will be following the citizens attending this eleven week course and sharing what the members of this class learn on a weekly basis.

Cut line for photo: Retired Sgt. Mike Leeper shares the history of the
Des Moines Police Department with citizens in the Asian Citizens Academy.

Education Brain Trust

2008-04-29T14:06:00.001-05:00

Get Connected

Stay Connected

PARENT EMPOWERMENT SUMMITS:

Funded by Polk County Decat/Iowa Department of Human Services &

Des Moines Public Schools

May 3

Moulton School

Introduction and Kick Off

10 a.m. to Noon

May 17:

Carver Elementary

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

June 7:

Edmunds

Academy

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

June 21:

Callanan Middle School

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Parents attending the Empowerment summits will receive special incentives, including $$$$$$ for their participation. For more information please contact;

Paulette Wiley- Volunteer Director Education Brain Trust 515 664 8670, or

Nansi J Woods- Project Coordinator, Ask Resource Center 515 243 1713

HELP SPREAD THE WORD:

Our Children,

OUR RESPONSIBILITY, OUR FUTURE!

Iowa's Smoking Ban

2008-04-29T13:45:00.003-05:00

By Dana Boone

As we all know (but like to forget) smoking is a serious addiction that can be very destructive -- not only to those who smoke, but to others around them who don't have a choice.

There is still a lot of discussion about how Iowa's new smoking ban will be enforced and people looking for ways to go around it. Instead of looking for ways to quit.

If smokers spent time in an hospital ICU with someone battling a smoking-related illness, I guarantee you, they could not hold onto the idea that smoking is a right to be championed. That idea would disappear as quickly as a puff of smoke.

Smokers don't need to scrable to find NEW places to indulge; what they likely need is help (and prayers) so they can quit for good.

A Mother Teaches Her Son How to Play the Game: Race & Basketball

2008-04-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

By Coy Bundy

Basketball is a renowned sport that expresses all the laws of gravity.

There are players that broke the racial boundaries of basketball in our American past. Ya Ming alone is the first Asian basketball player I have ever seen. Larry Byrd actually was a very good white basketball player (he could actually play like a black man). The other day my oldest son saw two young boys from India in his three-on-three tournament and was excited because he didn't even know what race they were. The beauty of basketball is that the kids and adults playing the sport becomes more and more diverse everyday. The problem of basketball is that the Referees have not changed as the years go by.

My son is 5'6" and weighs 135 pounds. He is a basketball player. It's as though he has the size of Shaquille O'neal and the ball control of Kobe Bryant. Having these skills in little ol' Iowa is not always good. It's a blessing for him because of his future. That's as far as it goes. My son is continuously fouled because of his size and is fouled out of games also because of his size. He is a very caring young man and has great sportsmanship with other players. Until the referees get involved. My son's East High 6th grade AAU team is the best in the league. They don't win championships in Iowa because of bogus referee calls.

To focus on the reasoning behind these bogus calls by referees, I have came to the conclusion that they are intimidated by the fact that a young black man in Iowa can excel. Is it good to teach an all white team that if you cheat and call outrageous fouls that they will succeed in life? It is more harmful than helpful to do this to young men whether they are in Iowa or Atlanta? It doesn't matter if it is an all white team or an all black team. When the white kids on the opposing team get out of AAU and Jr. High School they have to face the fact that they are not as good as the black players. There is a world outside of Iowa and you are giving these kids a bad start. I wonder sometimes if the coaches from the other teams actually approve of this for their children. If you know your team is winning because they are the color that is preferred in the state, why do you allow it?

Every kid has a future and a need for scholarships when they go to college through basketball. Why mentally breakdown the kids that have more balling skills than the ones who don't? Yes, it is hard enough to keep my son out of jail in the state of Iowa when he gets older. But you are making a child face discrimination before he even turns 12 years old, he doesn't know how to handle that. So, what does a child do? He lashes out at the other child and gives him a hard foul. Then what does the parent have to do? We have to punish the kid for being upset because he can see and feel the reason of why he is being mistreated.

We're in the year of 2008, when is this going to stop? Shouldn't our children with mad balling skills be protected against these prejudices of older white men? As a parent, what do you say to your child when you know that he is being treated unfairly? Is there cause to discipline your child for outburst that he cannot help because he can't handle the pain in his heart from this treatment? Are we still living in the Civil Rights Movement days as our parents lived in? Will he hate white people all together and believe they are sneaky and conniving because of this? Should you pull your son out of a sport that you know may get him into a good college instead of letting him succeed in life like the kids that live in Ankeny, Johnston, Altoona, West Des Moines and Waukee?

I'll tell you what I am doing as a parent with my son. I know that racism is still out there in Iowa, even in the year of 2008. My son is protected against prejudices referees because I protect him. I tell my son that this is a part of life and even though I do not agree with it, it makes him stronger than the kids he is playing against. When my son has an outburst and is crying because of unfair treatment I tell my son to respect authority and respect the call. I do believe that we are still living in the Civil Rights Movement days and will not stop until the older generation has stopped making the decisions they made in the 1960's. Yes, my son will not trust white people because of how he is being treated by white referees that discriminate against him. Although his feelings are hurt I still encourage him to love all races of people and "my son's best friend is a white kid". The last answer to my last question, is No. I'm not pulling my son from basketball because he is being mistreated and fouled out of games. He is a strong black young man and he will succeed in life no matter who tries to break his spirit because I am right there to mend them back together for him. I am my son's mother, lawyer, therapist, life coach and confidant. I will never let him fail.

Donnybrook? Call It What It Was

2008-04-08T15:53:00.003-05:00

A newspaper story today about a recent fight at Des Moines' Lincoln High School had a rather curious word in the opening paragraph, which read: "Monday's donnybrook at Lincoln High School, stemmed from a week-end-long dispute which erupted over the lunch hour, Des Moines police said Tuesday."

Donnybrook. Schmonnybrook. Let's just stick to what it was -- a fight. I wonder if this had happened at some other school in the city if it would have been called a riot. I bet.

I darn sure know it wouldn't have been called a "donnybrook." LOL. But not really.

Black Students in Des Moines Shine in ACT-SO Competition

2008-04-06T12:37:00.002-05:00

By Dana Boone

With so much attention paid to academic achievement gaps, lagging test scores and graduation rates, one might think all African-American students in Des Moines were struggling. But that is far from accurate.

Nearly 50 of Des Moines' highest achieving, gifted and brilliant black students on Saturday participated in an academic competition at Corinthian Baptist Church. The competition is called ACT-SO. It stands for Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics and is part activities for youth by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Students, who came from high schools in Des Moines, Urbandale and West Des Moines, competed in five areas: the sciences, humanities, performing arts, visual arts and business. I had the honor of helping judge the students' essays, poetry and a play.

Students wrote and performed their own musical compositions. One sang in Italian. They penned moving poetry, a through-provoking play about burying the N-Word and even business plans. They performed science experiments and math projects.

A core group of dedicated volunteers led by the phenomenal Gretchen Woods spent months organizing the event. Others served as mentors and judges.

Some of the students will advance to the national competition held in July in Orlando Fla. Some will not. Only the best go on from here.

These students -- and this academic competition - help remind us all that there are high achieving black students in our midst -- despite the headlines we read nearly every day.

One Iowa Day

2008-03-31T18:37:00.002-05:00

Sen. Barack Obama "A More Perfect Union"

2008-03-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

"We the people, in order to form a more perfect union."

Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America's improbable experiment in democracy. Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787.

The document they produced was eventually signed but ultimately unfinished. It was stained by this nation's original sin of slavery, a question that divided the colonies and brought the convention to a stalemate until the founders chose to allow the slave trade to continue for at least twenty more years, and to leave any final resolution to future generations.

Of course, the answer to the slavery question was already embedded within our Constitution - a Constitution that had at its very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time.

And yet words on a parchment would not be enough to deliver slaves from bondage, or provide men and women of every color and creed their full rights and obligations as citizens of the United States. What would be needed were Americans in successive generations who were willing to do their part - through protests and struggle, on the streets and in the courts, through a civil war and civil disobedience and always at great risk - to narrow that gap between the promise of our ideals and the reality of their time.

This was one of the tasks we set forth at the beginning of this campaign - to continue the long march of those who came before us, a march for a more just, more equal, more free, more caring and more prosperous America. I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren.

This belief comes from my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people. But it also comes from my own American story.

I am the son of a black man from Kenya and a white woman from Kansas. I was raised with the help of a white grandfather who survived a Depression to serve in Patton's Army during World War II and a white grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line at Fort Leavenworth while he was overseas. I've gone to some of the best schools in America and lived in one of the world's poorest nations. I am married to a black American who carries within her the blood of slaves and slaveowners - an inheritance we pass on to our two precious daughters. I have brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, uncles and cousins, of every race and every hue, scattered across three continents, and for as long as I live, I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.

It's a story that hasn't made me the most conventional candidate. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts - that out of many, we are truly one.

Throughout the first year of this campaign, against all predictions to the contrary, we saw how hungry the American people were for this message of unity. Despite the temptation to view my candidacy through a purely racial lens, we won commanding victories in states with some of the whitest populations in the country. In South Carolina, where the Confederate Flag still flies, we built a powerful coalition of African Americans and white Americans.

This is not to say that race has not been an issue in the campaign. At various stages in the campaign, some commentators have deemed me either "too black" or "not black enough." We saw racial tensions bubble to the surface during the week before the South Carolina primary. The press has scoured every exit poll for the latest evidence of racial polarization, not just in terms of white and black, but black and brown as well.

And yet, it has only been in the last couple of weeks that the discussion of race in this campaign has taken a particularly divisive turn.

On one end of the spectrum, we've heard the implication that my candidacy is somehow an exercise in affirmative action; that it's based solely on the desire of wide-eyed liberals to purchase racial reconciliation on the cheap. On the other end, we've heard my former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, use incendiary language to express views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide, but views that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation; that rightly offend white and black alike.

I have already condemned, in unequivocal terms, the statements of Reverend Wright that have caused such controversy. For some, nagging questions remain. Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy? Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes. Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views? Absolutely - just as I'm sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests, or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed.

But the remarks that have caused this recent firestorm weren't simply controversial. They weren't simply a religious leader's effort to speak out against perceived injustice. Instead, they expressed a profoundly distorted view of this country - a view that sees white racism as endemic, and that elevates what is wrong with America above all that we know is right with America; a view that sees the conflicts in the Middle East as rooted primarily in the actions of stalwart allies like Israel, instead of emanating from the perverse and hateful ideologies of radical Islam.

As such, Reverend Wright's comments were not only wrong but divisive, divisive at a time when we need unity; racially charged at a time when we need to come together to solve a set of monumental problems - two wars, a terrorist threat, a falling economy, a chronic health care crisis and potentially devastating climate change; problems that are neither black or white or Latino or Asian, but rather problems that confront us all.

Given my background, my politics, and my professed values and ideals, there will no doubt be those for whom my statements of condemnation are not enough. Why associate myself with Reverend Wright in the first place, they may ask? Why not join another church? And I confess that if all that I knew of Reverend Wright were the snippets of those sermons that have run in an endless loop on the television and You Tube, or if Trinity United Church of Christ conformed to the caricatures being peddled by some commentators, there is no doubt that I would react in much the same way

But the truth is, that isn't all that I know of the man. The man I met more than twenty years ago is a man who helped introduce me to my Christian faith, a man who spoke to me about our obligations to love one another; to care for the sick and lift up the poor. He is a man who served his country as a U.S. Marine; who has studied and lectured at some of the finest universities and seminaries in the country, and who for over thirty years led a church that serves the community by doing God's work here on Earth - by housing the homeless, ministering to the needy, providing day care services and scholarships and prison ministries, and reaching out to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.

In my first book, Dreams From My Father, I described the experience of my first service at Trinity:

"People began to shout, to rise from their seats and clap and cry out, a forceful wind carrying the reverend's voice up into the rafters....And in that single note - hope! - I heard something else; at the foot of that cross, inside the thousands of churches across the city, I imagined the stories of ordinary black people merging with the stories of David and Goliath, Moses and Pharaoh, the Christians in the lion's den, Ezekiel's field of dry bones. Those stories - of survival, and freedom, and hope - became our story, my story; the blood that had spilled was our blood, the tears our tears; until this black church, on this bright day, seemed once more a vessel carrying the story of a people into future generations and into a larger world. Our trials and triumphs became at once unique and universal, black and more than black; in chronicling our journey, the stories and songs gave us a means to reclaim memories that we didn't need to feel shame about...memories that all people might study and cherish - and with which we could start to rebuild."

That has been my experience at Trinity. Like other predominantly black churches across the country, Trinity embodies the black community in its entirety - the doctor and the welfare mom, the model student and the former gang-banger. Like other black churches, Trinity's services are full of raucous laughter and sometimes bawdy humor. They are full of dancing, clapping, screaming and shouting that may seem jarring to the untrained ear. The church contains in full the kindness and cruelty, the fierce intelligence and the shocking ignorance, the struggles and successes, the love and yes, the bitterness and bias that make up the black experience in America.

And this helps explain, perhaps, my relationship with Reverend Wright. As imperfect as he may be, he has been like family to me. He strengthened my faith, officiated my wedding, and baptized my children. Not once in my conversations with him have I heard him talk about any ethnic group in derogatory terms, or treat whites with whom he interacted with anything but courtesy and respect. He contains within him the contradictions - the good and the bad - of the community that he has served diligently for so many years.

I can no more disown him than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.

These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love.

Some will see this as an attempt to justify or excuse comments that are simply inexcusable. I can assure you it is not. I suppose the politically safe thing would be to move on from this episode and just hope that it fades into the woodwork. We can dismiss Reverend Wright as a crank or a demagogue, just as some have dismissed Geraldine Ferraro, in the aftermath of her recent statements, as harboring some deep-seated racial bias.

But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America - to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality.

The fact is that the comments that have been made and the issues that have surfaced over the last few weeks reflect the complexities of race in this country that we've never really worked through - a part of our union that we have yet to perfect. And if we walk away now, if we simply retreat into our respective corners, we will never be able to come together and solve challenges like health care, or education, or the need to find good jobs for every American.

Understanding this reality requires a reminder of how we arrived at this point. As William Faulkner once wrote, "The past isn't dead and buried. In fact, it isn't even past." We do not need to recite here the history of racial injustice in this country. But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist in the African-American community today can be directly traced to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow.

Segregated schools were, and are, inferior schools; we still haven't fixed them, fifty years after Brown v. Board of Education, and the inferior education they provided, then and now, helps explain the pervasive achievement gap between today's black and white students.

Legalized discrimination - where blacks were prevented, often through violence, from owning property, or loans were not granted to African-American business owners, or black homeowners could not access FHA mortgages, or blacks were excluded from unions, or the police force, or fire departments - meant that black families could not amass any meaningful wealth to bequeath to future generations. That history helps explain the wealth and income gap between black and white, and the concentrated pockets of poverty that persists in so many of today's urban and rural communities.

A lack of economic opportunity among black men, and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one's family, contributed to the erosion of black families - a problem that welfare policies for many years may have worsened. And the lack of basic services in so many urban black neighborhoods - parks for kids to play in, police walking the beat, regular garbage pick-up and building code enforcement - all helped create a cycle of violence, blight and neglect that continue to haunt us.

This is the reality in which Reverend Wright and other African-Americans of his generation grew up. They came of age in the late fifties and early sixties, a time when segregation was still the law of the land and opportunity was systematically constricted. What's remarkable is not how many failed in the face of discrimination, but rather how many men and women overcame the odds; how many were able to make a way out of no way for those like me who would come after them.

But for all those who scratched and clawed their way to get a piece of the American Dream, there were many who didn't make it - those who were ultimately defeated, in one way or another, by discrimination. That legacy of defeat was passed on to future generations - those young men and increasingly young women who we see standing on street corners or languishing in our prisons, without hope or prospects for the future. Even for those blacks who did make it, questions of race, and racism, continue to define their worldview in fundamental ways. For the men and women of Reverend Wright's generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician's own failings.

And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning, in the pulpit and in the pews. The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Reverend Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning. That anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change. But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.

In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race. Their experience is the immigrant experience - as far as they're concerned, no one's handed them anything, they've built it from scratch. They've worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor. They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense. So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they're told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.

Like the anger within the black community, these resentments aren't always expressed in polite company. But they have helped shape the political landscape for at least a generation. Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.

Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns - this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.

This is where we are right now. It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naÃ¯ve as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy - particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.

But I have asserted a firm conviction - a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people - that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.

For the African-American community, that path means embracing the burdens of our past without becoming victims of our past. It means continuing to insist on a full measure of justice in every aspect of American life. But it also means binding our particular grievances - for better health care, and better schools, and better jobs - to the larger aspirations of all Americans -- the white woman struggling to break the glass ceiling, the white man whose been laid off, the immigrant trying to feed his family. And it means taking full responsibility for own lives - by demanding more from our fathers, and spending more time with our children, and reading to them, and teaching them that while they may face challenges and discrimination in their own lives, they must never succumb to despair or cynicism; they must always believe that they can write their own destiny.

Ironically, this quintessentially American - and yes, conservative - notion of self-help found frequent expression in Reverend Wright's sermons. But what my former pastor too often failed to understand is that embarking on a program of self-help also requires a belief that society can change.

The profound mistake of Reverend Wright's sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society. It's that he spoke as if our society was static; as if no progress has been made; as if this country - a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of white and black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old -- is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past. But what we know -- what we have seen - is that America can change. That is the true genius of this nation. What we have already achieved gives us hope - the audacity to hope - for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

In the white community, the path to a more perfect union means acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination - and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past - are real and must be addressed. Not just with words, but with deeds - by investing in our schools and our communities; by enforcing our civil rights laws and ensuring fairness in our criminal justice system; by providing this generation with ladders of opportunity that were unavailable for previous generations. It requires all Americans to realize that your dreams do not have to come at the expense of my dreams; that investing in the health, welfare, and education of black and brown and white children will ultimately help all of America prosper.

In the end, then, what is called for is nothing more, and nothing less, than what all the world's great religions demand - that we do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Let us be our brother's keeper, Scripture tells us. Let us be our sister's keeper. Let us find that common stake we all have in one another, and let our politics reflect that spirit as well.

For we have a choice in this country. We can accept a politics that breeds division, and conflict, and cynicism. We can tackle race only as spectacle - as we did in the OJ trial - or in the wake of tragedy, as we did in the aftermath of Katrina - or as fodder for the nightly news. We can play Reverend Wright's sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words. We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she's playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether white men will all flock to John McCain in the general election regardless of his policies.

We can do that.

But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we'll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change.

That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, "Not this time." This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can't learn; that those kids who don't look like us are somebody else's problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time.

This time we want to talk about how the lines in the Emergency Room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care; who don't have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.

This time we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life. This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn't look like you might take your job; it's that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.

This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should've been authorized and never should've been waged, and we want to talk about how we'll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.

I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election.

There is one story in particularly that I'd like to leave you with today - a story I told when I had the great honor of speaking on Dr. King's birthday at his home church, Ebenezer Baptist, in Atlanta.

There is a young, twenty-three year old white woman named Ashley Baia who organized for our campaign in Florence, South Carolina. She had been working to organize a mostly African-American community since the beginning of this campaign, and one day she was at a roundtable discussion where everyone went around telling their story and why they were there.

And Ashley said that when she was nine years old, her mother got cancer. And because she had to miss days of work, she was let go and lost her health care. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that's when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom.

She knew that food was one of their most expensive costs, and so Ashley convinced her mother that what she really liked and really wanted to eat more than anything else was mustard and relish sandwiches. Because that was the cheapest way to eat.

She did this for a year until her mom got better, and she told everyone at the roundtable that the reason she joined our campaign was so that she could help the millions of other children in the country who want and need to help their parents too.

Now Ashley might have made a different choice. Perhaps somebody told her along the way that the source of her mother's problems were blacks who were on welfare and too lazy to work, or Hispanics who were coming into the country illegally. But she didn't. She sought out allies in her fight against injustice.

Anyway, Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they're supporting the campaign. They all have different stories and reasons. Many bring up a specific issue. And finally they come to this elderly black man who's been sitting there quietly the entire time. And Ashley asks him why he's there. And he does not bring up a specific issue. He does not say health care or the economy. He does not say education or the war. He does not say that he was there because of Barack Obama. He simply says to everyone in the room, "I am here because of Ashley."

"I'm here because of Ashley." By itself, that single moment of recognition between that young white girl and that old black man is not enough. It is not enough to give health care to the sick, or jobs to the jobless, or education to our children.

But it is where we start. It is where our union grows stronger. And as so many generations have come to realize over the course of the two-hundred and twenty one years since a band of patriots signed that document in Philadelphia, that is where the perfection begins.

-----

State Rep. Wayne Ford Announces Re-Election Bid

2008-03-17T13:08:00.004-05:00

For immediate Release:
For more information - 515-720-3495

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa State Representative Wayne Ford of Des Moines recently announced he will be seeking another term in the Iowa House of Representatives. Ford is a Democrat and represents House District 65, which covers north-central Des Moines. Ford has served in the Iowa House since 1997 and is the longest-serving black state legislator in the history of Iowa.

“In the 12 years I have served in the Iowa House of Representatives, I believe we have made progress in the areas of education, health care, and job opportunity, but more needs to be accomplished. I am also seeking re-election to make sure that we continue to make progress that will help the people of my district and the state of Iowa.,” said Ford.

My platform emphasizes my involvement in and support of environment/health issues, economic development, and equity for all Iowans.

Ford indicated he was especially proud of several of his personal accomplishments in the legislature. “After years of working on issues that Iowans face in regards to lead paint, we’ve passed my bill which was considered to be landmark legislation.” HF 158 was a bill that required all children in the state of Iowa receive a lead blood test by age six or prior to enrollment in an elementary school. If not detected early, lead paint poisoning can cause brain development and physical problems, including death. “The next step must be to develop programs to help repair the homes and apartments that contain lead paint. I have been working with other local and state officials since last fall on this aspect of the problem,” Ford said. "I've been working with officials at every level to find ways to fund what I think is one of the most challenging issues facing our state."

“I am also proud of my work improving the state’s Targeted Small Business program to help businesses owned by minority members,” Ford said. “After serving on a special task force created by Governor Vilsack, I introduced legislation last session to change the program to make it more effective. The program has been on the books for years, but was not very effective. Legislation passed last session is making this program work, helping more minorities get their businesses off the ground, and improving opportunities for minority businesses owners to obtain state contracts for goods and services. “I am pleased that Governor Culver has included the T.S.B. program in the state budget this session.” Ford also said.

“Also in this session, I have sponsored legislation that would make it a requirement that any state agency which distributes funds through a grant or contract require a Minority Impact Statement as part of the application process.” HF 2288 will require the application to include three types of information: whether the proposed activity will have a disproportionate or unique impact on a minority population in the state; a rationale for the existence of the activity if it will have a disproportionate impact on a minority population; and evidence that the applicant has consulted with representatives of the affected minority community, or communities, if there is such an effect on minority persons.

I have received a lot of positive feedback and look forward as we get ready to debate this bill in the House Chamber.

Like many Iowans, I am not proud of the state's being number one in America when it comes to the incarceration of blacks. “Although we still have a long ways to go, I have worked and will continue to work on why a disproportionate number of African-Americans are in Iowa prisons. HF 2227 is a bill for an act relating to the preparation of a correctional impact statement. This statement will look at the impact of certain legislation on racial and ethnic minorities. This legislation will make sure that, when we increase penalties on certain crimes, we do not inadvertently discriminate against African-Americans or other minorities, causing even more of our youth to go to prison.” Ford said. The Sentencing Project, based in Washington, DC, has work with Ford on this legislation. Sentencing Project Executive Director, Marc Mauer, has said that, if passed, it could be the first law of its kind in America.

I am also concerned with disproportionately high minority dropout rates and disproportionately low minority high school graduation rates in our schools. I have been working at every level to address these problems in our schools and communities and will continue to do so.

Ford currently serves as Chair of the Community Outreach Subcommittee of the Iowa House Appropriations Committee, Vice Chair of the House Government Oversight Committee, and sits on the House Economic Growth, and Human Resources Committees.

Ford played football at Drake University and graduated with a degree in Education. He has done graduate work in public administration at Drake University and in the Masters of Social Work program at the University of Iowa.

In 1985, he founded Urban Dreams, a United Way agency created to serve the needs of Des Moines’ inner-city residents. Ford has served as its Executive Director since its inception. Urban Dreams has evolved into a statewide organization and is working with Simpson College to develop an Urban Institute to deal with the challenges facing Iowa as it continues its rural to urban transition.

Ford has received national acclaim for the Brown & Black Presidential Forum, which is the oldest minority Presidential Forum in America. He and his Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Mary Campos, created the Forum in 1984.

Ford has been profiled in the Washington Post, the Washington Times and nationally in Parade Magazine about his rise from Washington, DC’s inner city to the Iowa Statehouse. He has also been profiled nationally on BET and HDNet TV. Representative Ford is also included in a book called “The American Dream,” written by former CBS News anchor Dan Rather.

Ford has been inducted into numerous Halls of Fame including Rochester Community College’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 1994, Drake University’s Double-D award for athletics and civic involvement in 1995, Des Moines B’nai Brith Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Iowa State African-American Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2007, he received the University of Iowa Black Law Students Association's Alexander G. Clark Jr. and Sr. Award. In 2008, the Iowa Commission on the Status of Blacks presented Ford with it’s first ever Harold Washington Pinnacle Award during this year’s state of Iowa’s Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration. Ford and Mary Campos were finalists for The Des Moines Register's Iowa Star Award and Urban Dreams was a finalist for The Register's Aurora Award in 2008.

Wayne is married to Romonda Belcher Ford, an Assistant Polk County Attorney. He has one son, Ryan Ford, who resides in Los Angeles, CA. Ryan graduated from Roosevelt high school in 1995 and is currently Executive Editor of The Source Magazine.

Help Keep the Harding Hills Hy-Vee Open!

2008-03-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Another door closed???

Not if we can help it!

The Importance of Keeping Harding Hills Hy-Vee Open

What: CCI members and supporters have asked that Hy-Vee representatives meet with us to discuss the closing of the Harding Hills Hy-Vee.

Why is this important? It has been reported that the Harding Hills Hy-Vee is not profitable. Hy-Vee claims that a mega store would better serve our community even if we have to travel further to access their services. Should they close their current location, Hy-Vee will not allow another grocer to move into the location to prevent competition with the new store. This will leave many families without access to a local grocery store. Representatives have stated there hasn’t been enough concern expressed from families in this area.

What do we want? If you are concerned about the relocation of Harding Hills Hy-Vee to the Beaverdale neighborhood (which already has a grocery store) Let your voice be heard starting Monday, March 17, call CEO Richard Jurgens at 267-2800 and tell him he needs to meet with the community that has supported the store for over 30 years. Or you can e-mail Richard at rjurgens@hy-vee.com.

When? Starting Monday, March 17th please call and e-mail Richard Jurgens. Tell your friends and family that care about this issue to do the same. Let Hy-Vee know they need to meet with us. Don’t wait, contact Richard Jurgens today!

For more information contact CCI at 255-0800.

Good Friday Service in Waterloo

2008-03-14T22:46:00.000-05:00

Seven "Anointed" Women of God
present
"The Seven Last Words of Jesus at Calvary"

Good Friday Service
March 21, 2008 at 5:00pm

At Faith Temple Baptist Church,
415 Walnut Street, Waterloo, Iowa

Come Join Us For An Afternoon of Divine Inspiration

Sis Vergestene Cooper - Antioch
Rev Evette Fantroy - Faith Temple Church ABC
Rev Patricia King
Rev Verna Dedrick - Payne AME Church
Pastor Belinda Creighton-Smith Faith Temple Church ABC
Rev Shara Adderley
Pastor Mary Robinson -All Nations Church, ABC

"When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion!" African Proverb

Faith Temple Baptist Church, ABC
415 Walnut Street, Waterloo, Ia 50703
319-234-0854

Do You Know What School Employees Are Saying to Your Children?

2008-03-14T00:00:00.000-05:00

By Coy Bundy

A ninth-grader was in the hallway walking with a vice-principal and a student was on his cellphone, the vice-principal said, "Put it away or go home." The kid responded,"Okay. Okay." The vice-principal said "Get your butt to class and stop being an a**hole."

A Des Moines ninth-grader told me this. After this, the vice-principal and the student kept exchanging words. Do you know what these teachers, advisors and principals are saying to your kids?

This to me is an outrage. It is very inappropriate for teachers or anybody in the school district to speak to our children in this manner. Another instance happened in a middle school. A kid reported to me that a teacher bet a kid $500 they wouldn't make it past the seventh grade. Wow, I wonder why the majority of our minority students struggle in academics? Why should they try if their teachers are already condemning them to be nothings?

In another instance, an eighth grader was having a dispute with the teacher. The teacher told the student if we were outside it would be a different story. Implying that if they stepped out of the school they would be fighting. This was a child, somebody's child. Do all the school's employees speak like this or is it just the urban community? It is hard to believe that all this is happening right under our noses. We as parents need to listen to our children when they tell us an adult was disrespectful to them. Our children have rights, and we have the right to voice our concerns about how our children are treated.

Another instance is a vice-principal telling a student that he overrules her mother's decisions. What exactly does that mean to us as parents? Does this mean that the school can just tell us what they are going to do with our children and talk to our children any way they feel? We have a voice. They are our children. We pay their wages through our taxes. We have more say than they want us to believe. We do not bow down to the schools, we raise up and defend our children. I'm not saying that they have to let our children speak to them in any form and fashion. I just want them to be the adult and show it by example. If I called their child out of their name and bet them they couldn't make it to the next grade, would they like that? I think not. If we don't talk to our children like this, why would we want some total stranger to speak to them like this?

Parents if your child comes home and tells you that they were spoken to in this manner, this is what you have the right to do:

1. You have the right to call the Vice Principal at the school to report the abuse and get a follow up.
2. If this does not work you have the right to have a meeting with the Principal, Vice Principal and teacher who offended your child.
3. If this does not work, you can call the Superintendent's office for your school district at 515-242-7911 (Des Moines.)
4. Usually this is the last stop because the Superintendent's office is really good at listening to the concerns of parents (I know from experience).
5. If all else fails you can go above that office and request to speak to the supervisor.
6. Go to the school board meeting to complain. Call or email school board members.

Please don't turn your ear to your child when they report this to you. This behavior toward your student can affect them in their future. They will have difficulty trusting teachers and they will loose academic self-esteem.

DSM: School Board of Cowards?

2008-03-11T15:39:00.003-05:00

By Les Cason Jr.

The School Board Of Cowards: Dick Murphy, Patty Link, Connie Boesen, Ginny Strong, and Nancy Sebring. It is easy to gang up and attack Jonathan Narcisse who is doing his job, who is keeping his promise to the people who elected him to the School Board! It is easy to overlook Graduation Rates, Poor Academic Scores, and High drop out rates, and take your frustrations out on Jonathan Narcisse. It is easy to avoid asking questions about how taxpayer money is spent! It is easy to avoid how Connie Bossen's Brother-in-Law received $130,000 dollars for land Des Moines Public Schools never used! However, it is hard to stand up to the questions and challenges Jonathan has put on the table. If Nancy Sebring has the academic credentials, Nancy would welcome Jonathan's challenge with open arms. With the data and budget book at hand, if Dick, Connie, Ginny and Patty believed Jonathan's information was wrong! Instead of putting on a show for the public they would have made it a point on Tuesday to have their information ready to challenge Jonathan!

Reasons you've seen the display of ignorance and immaturity from the Coward Of Five, because they are not being forthright, they are hiding information from the public which they do not want you to know. Everyone is pointing the finger at Jonathan Narcisse, however if you attend a School Board Meeting you will see Jonathan do two things, ask questions and demand answers! Which the last I looked was not a crime unless you are AFRICAN AMERICAN AND IN A POSITION OF INFLUENCE!

The last couple of weeks, I have witnessed some of the most RACIST REMARKS AND BEHAVIOR FROM THE SCHOOL MEETING TO THE DES MOINES REGISTER BLOGS! I have yet to have one person tell me what Jonathan did was wrong, from the School Board meeting to his radio program, no one has yet pointed out what did Johnthan did was wrong! Yet many on the Des Moines Register Blogs have DEFENDED JOHNATHAN NARCISSE WHICH MAKES ME PROUD! The ones against Johnathan Narcisse have yet to tell me what has Jonathan done wrong.

So you mean to tell me asking questions and raising issues is a crime? If one goes to the School Board Meetings, listens to the radio or watches the meetings on TV will see this is all that Jonathan is doing. Jonathan is doing what he said he would do during his campaign,so now people are surprised? Jonathan has not sold out unlike other members of the African American Community. Jonathan has set out and demanded the truth about Drop Out Rate, how the Board Spent Tax Payers Money, Poor Academic Scores. The Reason African Americans are doing so poorly in Academics and Attendance. Why African American students have the highest Suspension Rates Among a Majority White population!

However according to Dick Murphy, teachers are doing a fine job, in fact Dick made sure to make this point clear to a concerned parent who dared to criticize Teachers at Merrill were his children attend. Because his Children attended Merrill all the Teachers at Merrill are doing a good job. This Parent saw it differently and Dick Murphy made sure she felt his rage! However this was never posted on the web site. You do not have the opportunity to see this on the Internet. However they made sure, the people saw the attack on Jonathan Narcisse. Now you have individuals trying to destroy his character and question his credentials.

However I wonder why individuals who are questioning Jonathan's credentials are not Questioning Nancy Sebring, Dick Murphy, Patty Link, Ginny Strong and Connie Bossen' Credentials? Is it because the individuals feel their Credentials are legit and do not need to be checked? Or is it because They are White and Individuals who are raising the question feel Jonathan has no business challenging the status quo?

What the School Board of Cowards needs to do is to figure out why Des Moines kids are graduating at 79% second worse graduation rate in the state of Iowa! Dick Murphy told me Des Moines Public Schools has the best teachers, however the district has a graduation rate of 79.5%. You tell me what went wrong and why is Dick, Connie, Ginny, Patty and Nancy are attacking Jonathan about irrelevant issues when our kids in Des Moines Public School are failing? The Five Cowards got on the radio and attacked Jonathan Narcisse, however could not DISPROVE Jonathan's ARGUMENT! When Dick and Ginny ran for school board they made a promise they would make sure Des Moines Public Schools education is back to the top of the national class where it once was! Two years later it dropped further behind the National Class. States we used to dominate are now dominating us. Instead of working with Jonathan they'd rather show their immaturity and make a fool of themselves.

This is what I have to ask, since the Five Cowards disagree with Jonathan and they feel his numbers are not correct. Where is their evidence, how do they plan on bringing Des Moines Public School back on the map? What is their plan on raising the Graduation rate and getting Des Moines Public Schools from the Second Worst with 79.5 percent back to 100%. Problem is the five Cowards are too busy hiding and worrying about Test Scores and Mismanagement of Money! Rather than worry about how can the Board improve test scores and graduation rates. For if they do not all ready know the rest will be exposed with in due time any way!

Les Cason, Jr.

Editor's note: So what do you think? Does Les have a point? Or is he totally off base? Post your thoughts by clicking on comments below.

Butt Out Iowa Legislators!!!

2008-03-03T07:45:00.000-06:00

By Coy Logan

Oh my gosh, you have got to be kidding me! They seriously want to pass a law to tell us we can't smoke in public places. Well, that is not what is actually bothering me about the whole thing. It is actually the fact that they raised our cigarette prices, so now I'm paying $6.00 per pack and I can't smoke em. This is ridiculous.

I'm already can tell you that when I go to the casino (Prairie Meadows) instead of spending $300 per visit, I'm going to spend $20 since I'll have to leave the property all together to smoke. Don't you know that is such an inconvenience? The smoking section in the casino is completely separate from the non-smoking section. We don't bother the non-smokers and they don't bother us. So, do you honestly think I'm going to call a floor attendant to hold my machine while I go have a half-an-hour smoke break? NO! I might as well leave. I'm not going to spend my money somewhere I can't relax.

If you guys are trying to get me to stop gambling and save my money for my carton of cigarettes, thank you. First of all, at the casino there are only adults. Who are we influencing to smoke at the casino? If the kids are there to see the races they aren't supposed to be on the Casino floor anyways. Next thing you know, I won't be able to go on my back porch to light a cigarette. Oh wait, will that still be legal?

I can't believe that they are treating us smokers like second hand citizens. Get it? We bowed down and paid the extra taxes on our cigarettes. I agree that it's polluting the air and affecting others but so is smog in California. Are we going to shut down all the companies that pollute our air, which is killing the ozone layer? No. That's where the dollar bills are. How can you tell me what to do so easily and where to do it at? Where are my rights? Why do I feel as though you are spending more time giving us a hard time than illegal immigrants in Iowa. A couple of years ago my mom's car was totalled and she was injured by an illegal immigrant who was driving with no insurance and no license. If you put this much effort into something worth the while then I would support it. There's repeat offenders out there that are still raping, robbing, embezzling and stealing. Of course, we as a state have no time to deal with those not so serious problems. But we need to crusade against the SMOKERS. Am I not an Iowan too? Am I not an American? When you cut me don't I bleed? And when I bleed isn't it red just like yours? I feel offended that I would even feel as though my freedom will change so drastically. I am not able to go to the casino for long periods of time any longer because I can't smoke there. Now what? I already couldn't go to some restaurants.

There's no chance that my $13,000 a year to the casino is going to continue. I will be honest with you my fellow Iowans. Those nice new schools that were built and those nice new freeways...that's all over. You are not getting my contribution any longer. It's already bad when you can't win at the casino, now I can't smoke to calm my nerves because I gave up $13,000 for the better cause. Well, where's my cause?

EDITOR'S NOTE: So what do you think? Does Coy have a point? Or is she off base? Post a comment.

Never Forget the Price Paid

2008-02-29T08:39:00.002-06:00

By Dawn Campbell

I received this message in my inbox the other day. Its message: simple, yet powerful. A message too powerful not to share with others. As Black History Month fades into a memory, it is important not to forget the struggle.

Never forget the price paid for where you stand today.

This was once our resume.

None of us has had to experience the pain of separation or live with the disgrace and humiliation that comes with not being free. When you cast your vote for who will run our country, never forget your history and keep this bill of sale in mind. When we allow ourselves to forget our not so distant past, then we are destined to repeat these actions in our future.

Stand for those who came before us and those who could not stand up for themselves. VOTE!

Acknowledgement: Thank you Chris for sharing this powerful message.

Drake University Production Helps to End Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

2008-02-28T16:41:00.006-06:00

By Dawn Campbell

“I Love VM!” read one of the buttons used as tickets at the production of The Vagina Monologues at Drake University this past weekend. Another button looked like a delicate orchid flower, but upon closer observation, one would realize the design depicted the female anatomy the monologues are named after.

Beth Younger, professor at Drake University said, “I believe that The Vagina Monologues are important, even crucial, to getting the word out about domestic violence because the voices of women in the production are very real.”

As in years past, the Drake production sold out. To the delight of those involved, 80 percent of the proceeds were donated to Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa (also known simply as Monsoon). The remaining 20 percent will go to the V-Day campaign to help Hurricane Katrina survivors. Approximately, $3,000 was raised.

Monsoon’s mission is to inspire and support sustainable community action for ending violence against women in the Asian communities of Iowa.

Monsoon, led by executive director Mira binti Yusef, has made great strides across the state in partnering with local and state domestic violence, sexual assault and related organizations as their services relate to Asian Pacific Islander (API) citizens.

“Monsoon is very grateful that we are receiving this year’s proceeds. The donation will assist the organization in its mission to end violence against women in the Asian communities in Iowa. In addition, being the recipient for this year’s production helped in exposing Monsoon to the public and, hopefully to the women and their families from the Asian communities that a resource exists specific in the issue of domestic violence and sexual assault. And we hope to participate in the 2009 VM Drake University production to bring more women of color faces and voices,” stated Yusef.

Giving women a voice is very important in the fight against domestic violence. Younger said, “These (referring to The Vagina Monologues) voices are impossible to ignore, or at least hard to ignore, and they make the issue a personal one and not just a statistical or social one. If one listens to the voices of the women one cannot help but be moved, angered, saddened and perhaps infuriated. Violence against women has become so expected and even tolerated in our culture that we need something to make us hear these voices. I think the Vagina Monologues do an amazing job of asking us to listen--it is up to us to do the rest.”

This year celebrates the 10th anniversary of the V-Day campaign. According to www.VDay.org, “V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls.” The monies raised by this global campaign aids in educating people about violence against women and the efforts to end it.

Photo cutline: L to R: Monsoon Board President Boursy Quang
and Executive Director Mira binti Yusef and Board Member Alma Reed.

Give It Up For the Big Girls

2008-02-27T13:50:00.003-06:00

I am a beautiful person, all 194 pounds of me. I am beautiful person because I am happy with how I look. There are so many big women like me that are so ashamed of their size and displeased with their appearance. We all know that the reason that most women are displeased with their size is because of the social norm that people are beautiful that are skinny. Is that true to you? I don't know about you, but when I was 120 pounds I was no more beautiful than I am at 197 pounds. How is it that especially black women want to compare their bodies to white women? We are so different. If our body shape was to be compared -- all of the black women in America probably would be overweight. I am a healthy 194 pounds and have no health risks. I don't have high blood pressure, diabetes or thyroid problems. I am healthy and thick. All I'm saying is appreciate your body and love what God has given you. If you are not meant to be a size 7 or 9 then don't be dismayed. You don't want a man that wants something you can't give them anyways. Don't hate on the skinny sistas but love the big sistas. There is nothing wrong with being a thick sista, as long as you're healthy, everything is good. Remember you are as beautiful as you believe you are. Show show the people in the world that we are big proud beautiful black women. I wouldn't change me for the world.

Obama Passes ONE MILLION DONOR MARK

2008-02-27T11:01:00.000-06:00

Sometime, last night, the ONE MILLIONTH DONOR signed onto Barack Obama's campaign.

ONE MILLION DONORS.

One million people who have said, I believe in this campaign.

This is the core of why I believe Obama should reject public financing. Why should he take something that will handicap him? He doesn't take lobbyist or PAC money. So, let the donors decide their funding level of his campaign.

If you'd like to join one million others: BarackObama.com

Now Why You Wanna Go and Say That?

2008-02-27T00:07:00.000-06:00

By Coy Bundy

Michelle Obama's comment on Monday in Milwaukee
"Let me tell you, for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country."

Reading today on the Presidential candidates I came across a statement made by Michelle Obama. It was quoted in Yahoo that Republican John McCain's wife made a statement that seemed to sarcastically remark about Democrat Obama's wife's statement. The statement was "Let me tell you, for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country." That statement to me actually wasn't as bad as they are trying to make it out to be. It is a very truthful and honest statement. Her statement however was not in any ways implying to me that she was not proud to be an American but happy to see fellow Americans do something for their country that is out of the norm. I, in no way, can tell you why this statement was made by Mrs. Obama but I can tell you why the statement was made by Mrs. McCain.

Mrs. McCain's statement was "I don't think we have any comment on that." Mrs. McCain added, "I just wanted to make the statement that I have, and always will be, proud of my country." Looking at this statement took me off the whole major reason for me looking at the Presidential race. It made me aware that people can twist and innocent statement around to better their own campaign. I have a question for Mrs. McCain: Were you proud of your country when you saw how our Government responded to Katrina? All of the black people that died and all the young women that were raped. All the sadness that surrounded New Orleans, LA. Were you proud then? It is an understatement to say that some Republicans are only focused on the dollar bill. How can you be so oblivious as to question what Mrs. Obama meant by that statement? We all do not live in mansions or in Bell Aire and we don't drive Escalades and Bentley’s. We actually see the real world right out of our front door. So next time a Republican candidate's wife wants to throw stones and an editor wants to put it out there, seriously think about it first. Because if you don't know you better ask somebody.

What Do You Know About Being A Single Parent?

2008-02-17T23:59:00.003-06:00

By Coy Bundy

What do you know about being a single parent? What do you really know about being a father? Is the fact that you gave sperm to make a baby that you think gives you the right to control every little piece of his life? Why? Why do you make it so hard for him to have a relationship with you? Are your partying, drinking and recreational drugs more important than this innocent life? So, I left you or you left me, either way we shouldn't leave him. I loved you when we were together and you loved me. Why can't we love this child the same? Why is it such a battle to come to one accord for his sake? Today we're fine and tomorrow we'll be fighting. You were the one that didn't stay or didn't try and fight to stay. Do you really know what it means to be a single parent? It is so much more than paying child support, it's so much more than giving him that one gift that he wants so bad, it's so much more than having the label -- Dad.

It's taking him to his basketball games, doctor's appointments, dental appointment and football practices. It's driving him to school when it's too cold for him to walk on his own. It's defending him in situations he cannot defend himself. It's wiping his tears and rubbing his head when he's sad. It's calming him down in the middle of a basketball game that he may get a tech for. It's explaining to him why he has to stand strong against all the prejudices in the world against a young black man. It's explaining to him why you're not there.

From the moment you whooped my ass in the car while I was carrying your child, I've been protecting him from the world. I protect him because I don't want him to get hurt. Even if it's from his own father hurting his feelings because he never showed up to pick him up. I was a little girl when we met and you were 20 years older than me. I didn't know anything about being a parent, my life had just begun and it was a hard one for him. But we succeeded without your help and will continue succeeding. And I ask again, what do you know about being a single parent?

--Coy Bundy is a single mother and college student from Des Moines and a guest contributor to Brown Iowa.Com.

Barack's Rock: Michelle Obama on the cover of Newsweek

2008-02-17T10:51:00.002-06:00

Michelle Obama is the cover of Newsweek. If you'd like a peek at the article, go HERE.

Should Sen. Barack Obama attend Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union?

2008-02-15T14:07:00.002-06:00

Hmmmm... What do y'all think?

Smiley: He’s ‘Catching Hell’ in Flap Over Refusal to Allow Michelle Obama to Sub for Barack

Date: Friday, February 15, 2008
By: Michael Cottman, BlackAmericaWeb.com

The role African-Americans will play in the 2008 presidential election and the mobilization of 2,000 volunteers to rebuild the hardest hit areas by Hurricane Katrina will be the focus of this year’s annual "State of the Black Union" symposium, hosted and presented by commentator Tavis Smiley in New Orleans.

Smiley will host a conversation with 24 noted politicians, educators, social scientists, business leaders and clergy, exploring the theme, "Reclaiming our Democracy, Deciding our Future," on Saturday, Feb. 23 at the Ernest E. Morial Convention Center.
It’s the Obama-Smiley controversy that has generated recent discussion on black radio and on the Internet where some blacks have taken Smiley to task.

"I’m catching hell," Smiley acknowledged in an interview.

THEN.....from The Roland Report at www.Essence.com..
Why Obama should skip Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union

Sen. Barack Obama took a lot of heat last year from participants in Tavis Smiley's State of the Black Union annual confab, which was held in Virginia. To be fair, he was a little busy that day...announcing HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!

...Tavis has announced that he will hold his State of the Black Union annual talkfest on Feb. 23 in New Orleans, La. This is a huge event attended by thousands each year; broadcast on C-SPAN; and attracts some of the nation's top black activists, politicians and intellectuals...

In his commentary, Smiley said he was going to snap on those who don't attend on Tuesday's show...Here is my analysis of the situation, and hopefully it will put this presidential campaign and the delicate task of navigating the waters of black politics in perspective.

1. Clinton MUST attend. She led Obama in all of 2007 among black voters by huge margins. But that trend has shifted -dramatically. At best, she's polling at 25% among African Americans. Her acceptance is critical because she needs to capture 30% to 40% of the black to really stop Obama.

The perceived racial slights toward Obama by Clinton campaign surrogates, as well as her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has done significant damage in the black community. His attempts to explain the comments haven't mollified African Americans. Her appearance at the event can help her restore her standing among a vital Democratic constituency, which she will need to turn out en masse if she wins the nomination.

Also, her campaign doesn't have the cash Obama has. She needs any free media. And if Obama shows up, that means all the national media will be there, and the stage is set for her. Tavis said on the air that he would push for the candidates to debate the issues. She's called for more; Obama has only accepted two.

Smart politics on her part, and if I were advising her, no doubt I would tell her to attend.

2. Obama must look forward, not in the past. The Louisiana primary, which he won handily, was on Saturday. Why go back to Louisiana for an event on Feb. 23? That is not to dismiss the needs of people along the Gulf Coast. But the only way he can truly help them is if he wins the nomination and the White House.

Obama needs to be solely focused on Texas and Ohio. Those two mega-states offer a huge bounty of delegates, and he needs to win a large state to move ahead of Clinton. She polls strongly in both states, and they are a huge part of her winning strategy; so much of her time will be spent there in the coming weeks.

All his time must be on the ground. In Texas, he must blanket South Texas because of the Hispanic influence. He didn't do well among Hispanics in California, and he must change that.

There is some hope (no pun intended). When former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk ran in 2002 for the U.S. Senate, he took 74 percent of South Texas. Yes, an Hispanic was running for governor, but that bodes well for Obama. In Ohio, he must do well among blue collar Democrats. Clinton has owned these low- to middle-income voters, and Obama must score well among them.

If Tavis wanted to have an impact, he should have held his event before Louisiana or before the Mississippi primary. As the saying goes, bad planning on your part doesn't constitute a sense of urgency on mine.

3. He can't be defined again as the black candidate. Some will say he must avoid black folks to be more palatable to whites and Hispanics. I disagree. But you can't deny the reality that he's running for president of the United States and not president of Black America. The week of the South Carolina was all about race, and he knows that is not a winning discussion because of this nation's history. His campaign successfully beat back that issue since South Carolina, winning nearly all-white states like Utah, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Delaware, Connecticut, and Nebraska.

Obama is looking to have mass appeal, and showing up in New Orleans at a State of the Black Union event doesn't help him at all in a close race.

4. Send Michelle Obama. What is the purpose of surrogates if you can't make it somewhere? His wife is perfectly suited for this event, and that frees him up to go elsewhere. Plus, he's his top surrogate, and having a female counter your female opponent isn't a bad matchup.

Ask any campaign manager and they will tell you that when it comes to politics, especially in a close race, every minute matters. Candidates are on the phone lines campaigning, trying to raise money, and secure endorsements.

Spending the day with Tavis and his panelists is vital for Clinton. For Obama, time spent courting Latinos in Texas is more important.

African Americans are asking a lot of Obama, the best chance blacks have ever had of one of their own capturing the White House. I often hear folks say they want to know if he is going to back "their" issues. It is no different than how white women are feeling about Clinton. These are indeed historic firsts.

By the way, when people say that black issues are being ignored in the campaign, they are wrong.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, the nation's most prestigious think tank devoted to African American issues, released a survey showing that the top issues to blacks are the war in Iraq; healthcare; jobs and the economy; and education.

Sounds to me like the candidates have spent a lot of time on those issues, although they could always do more.

As an aside, when I asked my radio listeners on WVON in Chicago if Obama should skip the event, we got 29 calls in two hours, and only two said he should go. And this is a crowd that is normally in agreement with Smiley.

Worried about SuperDelegates Hijacking Democracy?

2008-02-14T11:27:00.000-06:00

Then click on the following links:

Democracy for America -Voters Decide

Superdelegate Transparency Project

Here is what we're up against - from The Boston Globe

Clinton is determined to "take the Democratic nomination even if she does not win the popular vote" with a plan to "persuade enough superdelegates to vote for her at the convention." Clinton "will not concede the race to Obama if he wins a greater number of pledged delegates by the end of the primary season, and will count on the 796 elected officials and party bigwigs to put her over the top, if necessary, said Clinton's communications director, Howard Wolfson."

Obama on Cover of Ebony- In Our Lifetime

2008-02-10T14:41:00.000-06:00

Barack Obama is on the cover of the March 2008 Issue of Ebony.

The title on the cover is:

IN OUR LIFETIME
- Are we really witnessing the election of the nation's First Black President?

It's not a bad article, and the one thing I appreciate is that they list a number of Obama's ' Black Circle' (take that Andrew Young).

UPDATE:

IN OUR LIFETIME.

I thought a some more about that headline.

In.Our.Lifetime.

Three simple words that convey so much in them.

I've written elsewhere that, as this campaign has gone on, I've been collecting stories and especially pictures. The ones that bring me to tears sometimes, are the ones of our elders and the ones of our youth.

I wondered elsewhere, just who was this vote for Obama FOR? Is this vote for him for US? Or is it for our past and our future? For those who have lived and seen things we never did, and for those yet to come. I came to the conclusion that Barack Obama is for my 80 year-old mother and my not-yet-born great-niece.

Both my parents were closing in on 50 when I was born (46 &48). The world of their childhoods and early adulthoods had changed dramatically, and the world I was born into wasn't theirs. My parents were born in the Jim Crow South: Mama- Mississippi, Daddy -Tennessee.

If my father hadn't of come North, he would have been 43 years old before he would have experienced freely ' full citizenship' in this country, and that was AFTER he had put his life on the line for his country.

In Our Lifetime.

I think about my parents and what they experienced, and how they fought so that I wouldn't have to experience it. How so clearly, they see Obama as what they fought FOR, as well as a gift to those yet to come.

I think about my great-niece, soon to join the family in May. Half African-American, Half Mexican-American, she will enter into a world not remotely like the one of her great-grandmother. She will grow up in a world where the blending of America is her life, and will think nothing of it. She will literally BE the ' diversity' that is bandied about so frequently. Most of all, it's possible, she will sit, in that 8th grade history class, years from now, bored out of her mind, as the teacher drones on about President Obama. But, more importantly, sitting in that class, bored with her, will be other Black, White, Hispanic, Asian boys and girls.

In.Our.Lifetime.

Clean Sweep for Obama Today

2008-02-09T23:50:00.000-06:00

Senator Barack Obama has won:
Washington Caucus
Nebraska Caucus
Louisiana Primary
U.S. Virgin Islands Caucus

Washington Caucus Results
Obama - 67%
Clinton- 31%

Nebraska Caucus Results
Obama - 68%
Clinton- 32%

Louisiana Primary
Obama - 57%
Clinton- 36%

U.S. Virgin Islands Caucus
Obama - 90%
Clinton - 8%

Delegate totals from the states- from DailyKos:

Delegates:

Louisiana

66 delegates
23 Obama
15 Hillary
18 still unassigned

Obama's projections was for a 31-25 take in Louisiana.

Nebraska

24 delegates
16 Obama
8 Hillary
2 still unassigned

Obama's projection was for a 15-9 take in Nebraska, so he got an extra delegate.

Washington

78 delegates
52 Obama
26 Hillary

I shifted from CNN projections to that of the Washington State Democratic Party chair's estimate. The number is tentative until confirmed. Obama's projection was for a 49-29 take in Washington, which would mean an extra three delegates from what he expected.

US Virgin Islands

3 delegates
3 Obama
0 Hillary
0 still unassigned

Obama's projection was for a 2-1 take in the USVI, so these results would mean an extra delegate from what they hoped to get.

All in all, a nice night for Senator Obama. Wins in the Pacific Northwest, The Deep South, and The Heartland Middle.

Officers Reach out to Asian Community to Learn Cultural Differences

2008-02-01T00:01:00.000-06:00

By Dawn Campbell

* Asians represent an image of peacefulness which makes many conclude this community is not in need of law enforcement assistance.
* According to the 2006 Census, there are approximately 45,647 Asian Pacific Islanders in Iowa.
* 70 to 80 percent of Vietnamese bear the names of Nguyen, Le, Phan or Tran.

These are just three of the interesting facts that Des Moines Police Officers, Polk County Sheriffs and officers from surrounding communities will learn from Asian community leaders during training at the Des Moines Regional Police Academy.

Due to cultural differences, Des Moines Police Department officials felt this training was important for officers. It is understood in law enforcement that Asians do not contact police due to a belief that police in the United State act like police back in their homeland. In Asia, some police are corrupt. Police are often viewed by some as the law breakers in the Asian societies.

“It is excellent to have this training,” stated Mira Yusef, executive director of Monsoon, United Asian Women of Iowa. “It is a beginning. . . and it’s important to have collaborations.”

This training is especially important to Yusef. Monsoon is an organization which focuses on domestic and sexual violence. Officers learned that some Asian women feel isolated due to language barriers, the fear of retaliation from their families and embarrassment. Yusef explained that domestic violence is not limited to Asian womens' spouses; it can also be received from the womens' extended family.

Vinh Nguyen, a Vietnamese community leader, provided officers an historical perspective of his community. He told officers of the four types of Vietnamese who make up this community. There is the first generation of immigrants which came to Iowa in approximately 1975. Secondly, there are the "boat people." This particular group of people escaped Vietnam in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s by boat. Nguyen personally belongs to this group, he said. Then there are AmerAsians. This particular group of individuals was allowed in the country because one of their parents happened to be an American G.I. Lastly, there is a group called South Vietnamese. These individuals spent time in concentration camps and were allowed into the states as part of an embargo agreement with the United States, he said.

One crucial piece of information officers learned was the role of community in Asian cultures. Lang Deng and Swallow Yan from The Chinese Association of Iowa explained drug use, alcoholism and domestic violence are managed by those in the community. It was reiterated that police are feared because of a concern that they have negative motives when interacting with citizens, he said.

Officers were left with one last thought prior to the end of training. Senior Police Officer Doua Lor, who is also the Asian Resource Officer, advised officers not to be offended if Asians, especially elders, do not look officers in the eye while holding conversations.

East Village Neighborhood Based Service Delivery Sergeant Misti Allison stated her opinion of the training. “I think it helps us a lot when responding to a call to assist them to know their beliefs and how they feel. I also thought it was good when Doua (Lor) talked about how they will not look you right in the eye when talking to you but that it is not disrespectful that is just how they are taught.”

Lor, who coordinated the training, continually looks for ways to bridge the gap between law enforcement and Asian communities. After officer training, Lor will turn his attention to organizing the Asian Citizens Police Academy. This program will teach the Asian community about the organizational structure and services provided by the police department.

Top photo: Vinh Nguyen, a Vietnamese community leader discussing the Vietnamese community.

Group Photo: Front Row - L to R: Leng Dang (Chinese), Senior Police Officer Doua Lor (Hmong), Alta Sissocco (Filipino), Lori Baccam (Tai Dam), Mira Yusef (Filipino), Alma Reed (Filipino) and Public Information Officer Vince Valdez

Back Row L to R: Don Phommachakr (Lao), Vinh Nguyen (Vietnamese), and Swallow Yan (Chinese)

*The group the community leaders represented is in parentheses.

10th Annual City Wide Youth Revival This Sunday in Des Moines

2008-01-30T12:29:00.000-06:00

10th Annual City Wide Youth Revival

The event is sponsored by the Congress of Christian Education

Sun. Feb. 3 at 3:30 p.m. and Mon. Feb. 4 through Thurs. Feb. 7 at
7:00 pm nightly

LOCATION: MAPLE STREET MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

1552 MAPLE STREET

HOST PASTOR, REV. KEITH RATLIFF

BIBLE PREACHING, YOUTH CHOIRS AND YOUTH GROUPS PARTICIPATING.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME.

Rev. Carolyn King, President Emeritus & Rev. William J. Cannon – Congress Revival Co-Chairs and Diedra Thomas Conley, Congress President; Renee Thomas Burkett, and Sharon Hanna, Congress Vice Presidents; Rev. Alex Hanna, Congress Dean; Tia Wright, Congress Secretary

I'll Make Me a World in Iowa 2008

2008-01-26T19:00:00.000-06:00

By Dana Boone

Iowa's big-scale celebration of African-American culture had it all Saturday -- Morris Chestnut. Enjoy photos from the event, which was held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines. All eyes were on Chesnut who took the stage to cheers and camera flashes with the festival's executive director, Betty Andrews.

Adrienne Jennings,center in black, of Ankeny and friends enjoy music while waiting for Chesnut to take the stage.

Onlookers await Chestnut.

Taylor English, 13, Shireena Taylor, 15 and Alex Franklin, 16, all of Des Moines, said they enjoy attending the festival each year.

Edward Young Jr., Enterprise Manager of the African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa sits amid books on black history.

The Iowa Bystander Newspaper.

Deborah Mobley, owner of Perfect Choice Hair & Beauty Supply located at Wakonda on Fleur in Des Moines spoke with potential customers at the festival.

Activist Veola Perry and Miss Black Iowa 2008 Evette Fantroy told festival-goers about the pageant, which is accepting applicants for the 2009 pageant. For more information visit the web site at www.missblackiowausa.org.

The Metro Youth Program of Rock Island, Ill., chillin' before performing.

Friday's I'll Make Me a World in Iowa Gala

Awards

Malcolm Goodwin, president and CEO of Promise IT Solutions, Inc., and BrownIowa contributor, Dawn Campbell

Nightclub Dress Code Policies Attacked by Iowa Legislator

2008-01-24T17:05:00.000-06:00

Iowa nightclubs wouldn't be able to bar admittance to patrons based on what brand of clothing they wear if a bill proposed by Rep. Wayne Ford (D-Des Moines) becomes law. Read the entire story at Iowa Independent.

So what do YOU think about it? Post a comment by clicking below on comments.

African-American Business Association Holds Seminar at I'll Make Me a World in Iowa

2008-01-23T11:29:00.000-06:00

By Dawn Campbell

African-Americans from all over the state will converge on Des Moines for I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa to celebrate the kick off of Black History Month. This year, the 10th anniversary of the event, entrepreneurs will have a chance to hear African-American business owners share their stories of success and struggle.

The African-American Business Association of Des Moines (AABA) is sponsoring a business seminar that will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 26 at the Polk County Convention Center.

Two speakers will be featured during the program. At 11:00 a.m. Isaiah McGee, owner of McGee Strategies, LLC., will present “Building Professional Relationships that Create Opportunities.” McGee Strategies is a consulting, training and coaching firm.

Following McGee, Ted Williams, AABA member and past president, will present “Tips, Strategies and Answers Regarding Small Business Workplace/Workforce Issues and Challenges.” The Williams Group is a human resource management consulting firm.

AABA members and business owners will share their business history and answer questions during a panel discussion at 12:15 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

Here are the panelists:

Debra Carr, Institute for Social and Economic Development
Malcolm Goodwin, Promise IT Solutions, Inc.
Larry Hawkins, Custom Paper Supply
Isaiah McGee, McGee Strategies LLC
Ted Williams, The Williams Group

Learn more at AABA, which is an affiliate of The Greater Des Moines Partnership.

Get "PHAT" this Saturday at I'll Make Me a World in Iowa

2008-01-22T16:31:00.000-06:00

By Dana Boone

P.H.A.T.

Many African-American women are familiar with the acronym, which stands for pretty, hot and tempting.

But organizers of this Saturday's I'll Make Me a World in Iowa festival want the acronym to become much more meaningful -- Promoting Heart health Awareness Together. Heart disease and stroke are top killers of blacks, according to the American Heart Association.

"There is kind of a crisis in the African-American community when it comes to health," said Betty Andrews, the festival's executive director.

That's why the festival -- Iowa's big-scale celebration of black culture -- is collaborating with the association, Iowa Public Television and the John R. Grubb Community YMCA on a health fair called "Fat to PHAT." The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines.

Andrews is hoping the health fair's catchy name and free soul food cookbook will draw black women and empower them to take better care of their families' health.

"We chose that term because it resonates within the African-American community," Andrews said. "Now we are also using it as a term for taking care of your health and your heart health."

The health fair includes free diabetes and blood pressure screenings. Nutrition and meal planning information will be available, along with information about the warning signs of stroke and heart attacks, she said.

"We're mothers, wives and sisters, and we sometimes forget that we are responsible for treating our body as a temple," Andrews said.

Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of all Americans, according to the association. Nationally, the risk of stroke for blacks is twice that of all other ethnic groups, and high blood pressure affects nearly half of all blacks, according to the association. Blacks also are more likely to have diabetes and to be overweight and obese, which increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Shannon Rudolph, cultural health director for the association, will help festival-goers on Saturday learn more about stroke warning signs.

"Having a stroke is a scary thought," Rudolph said. "No one wants to think they're having a stroke."

Stroke warning signs include sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg; sudden confusion; trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking; dizziness and sudden and severe headache, according to the association.

The treatment for stroke approved by the U.S. FDA is called tPA, which is a clot-buster that is administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms, Rudolph said.

"Unfortunately, a large segment of our population doesn't get there in time," said Rudolph.

That's why increasing awareness about strokes and heart health is so important, she said. She'll urge health fair participants to sign a stroke pledge, which states they'll become familiar with the risk factors and warning signs. It's also important that they teach their family members since strokes can affect people of all ages, Rudolph said.

This year's headliners on Saturday include actor Morris Chestnut, best known for his movie roles in "The Best Man," "Boyz n the Hood" and "Perfect Holiday," and the gospel group Trin-i-tee 5:7.

Remembering the Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

2008-01-21T17:06:00.000-06:00

By Dana Boone

It's easy for most Americans to conjure up the image of Martin Luther King Jr., saying "I have a dream." But, nearly 40 years after the death of the civil rights icon, many know little beyond that famous line.

That saddens Pulitzer prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr., who discussed King's legacy with a crowd of 300 people at the state's 19th annual King celebration organized by the Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans.

"I get the feeling sometimes that as his era recedes ever further in history, that people understand less and less of who he was and how he fought not simply for African-Americans rights, but also for human rights, also against unjust war and also for racial, political and economic justice," said Pitts.

Gov. Chet Culver gave opening remarks. Violinist Daniel Davis wowed the crowd. Ambreyana Jones, 16, who attends East High School, moved the crowd with her a capella song. Passionate speeches from three Iowans who were honored for their civic work inspired the audience during the 90-minute celebration Monday at the State Historical Building. Burlington community activist Mary Stinson and teacher Ruth Ann Gaines of Des Moines each received King Lifetime Achievement awards. State Rep. Wayne Ford of Des Moines received the commission's newly created Pinnacle Award for his civic work.

Pitts recalled the recent controversy between presidential rivals Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama who clashed over remarks about King. Pitts called their argument "silly" but said it was good because it caused people to consider King's legacy.

"Without Dr. King and the moral crusade he led for 13 years, it would be impossible for us to conceive of a Barack Obama," Pitts said to applause. ". . . it would at least be a lot more difficult to conceive of a Hillary Clinton."

Even so, the nation worships a "cardboard cutout" of King and few people know much about the Nobel Prize winner beyond a few quotes, he said.

King, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, led the civil rights movement during the 1950s and `60s. He preached nonviolent protest and led marches and sit-ins to secure equal rights for blacks. His "I Have a Dream" speech was heard by hundreds of thousands during a historic rally in Washington, D.C., in 1963. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968 and his birthday became a national holiday in 1983.

Today's struggles show "that we never did reach the promised land of which Martin Luther King spoke of on the last night of his life," Pitts said.

Racial inequities didn't end with the civil rights movement, Pitts said, pointing to recent studies about racial profiling, black farmers being denied loans and unequal criminal sentences. But, it's imperative that "we return to the man who got us this far," he said.

"To drop the cardboard cutout," Pitts said. "To exchange the image for the inspiration. To understand what he did and how he did it so that we can take the lesson of his example and use it to change our lives in the here and now."

Pitts took the audience on a history lesson. He talked about "separate but equal," Jim Crow laws and described how it must have felt for blacks in a world that had deemed them "inferior."

He described the brutal lynchings of blacks who were hung in trees, their skin peeled back from their "living face" and who were burned alive. A person in the audience gasped, "Lord, have mercy" when Pitts described how pieces of their bodies were used as souvenirs.

Others in the audience were similarly affected. Cousins Johnneisha Long, 11, and Takieyah Wells, 14, of Des Moines, had the day off from school and attended the event with several family members.

"I didn't know that all of that happened -- that they got burned, after the lynchings," said Johnneisha. "It was really informing. I learned a lot."

Takieyah agreed.

"How they treated us," she said sighing. "Some of the stuff I already knew because my mom and dad taught me, but some stuff I didn't really know."

Pitts reminded the audience to consider King's life and think about its relevancy to the daunting problems of today.

"Non-cooperation with evil is as much obligation as cooperation with good,'" Pitts said quoting King.

"There is upon us a debt of honor," Pitts added.

State of Iowa's Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration

2008-01-20T23:18:00.000-06:00

Renowned civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., will be remembered Monday during the state of Iowa's 19th annual King celebration.

The event, which is called "Honor the life: Martin Luther King," is expected to draw about 300 people and was organized by the Iowa Commission on the Status of African-Americans. The celebration will held from 10: 45 a.m. to noon at the State Historical Building, 600 E. Locust St., in Des Moines.

"King is our blazing American example," said Abraham Funchess, the commission's division administrator. "His practical politics benefited the politically oppressed and the disposed."

Other events across the state and nation will honor the civil rights icon during Monday's federal holiday.

Featured speaker at the commission's event is Leonard Pitts Jr., a 2004 Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the Miami Herald. Gov. Chet Culver is scheduled to give the opening address. Daniel Lee Davis, a classically trained violinist, also will perform. A question-and-answer session with Pitts will follow the celebration.

Three Iowans will be honored at the celebration. State Rep. Wayne Ford of Des Moines will receive the commission's newly created Pinnacle Award. Mary Stinson, of Burlington, and nationally-renowned teacher Ruth Ann Gaines, of Des Moines, will receive King Lifetime Achievement awards.

The commission created the Pinnacle Award to celebrate Iowans who are "innovators," Funchess said.

"This is award is for people who are doing serious things to improve the plight of black folks," he said. "To remind people that this is what King was truly about."

King, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, led the civil rights movement during the 1950s and `60s. He preached nonviolent protest and led marches and sit-ins to secure equal rights for blacks. His "I Have a Dream" speech was heard by hundreds of thousands during a historic rally in Washington, D.C., in 1963. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tenn., in 1968 and his birthday became a national holiday in 1983.

Business Owner Goodwin Promises Best to Clients, Climbs Ladder of Success

2008-01-18T13:40:00.000-06:00

By Dawn Campbell

As president and chief executive officer of Promise IT Solutions, Inc., Malcolm Goodwin is attracting more attention than he did as linebacker and co-captain of the 1992 Iowa State University football team when they beat Nebraska. Goodwin is featured in this week’s Des Moines Business Record as a business owner who understands his client’s needs and the information technology consulting industry.

Goodwin started his business in March 2007 out of his home and now boasts a revenue of a half million dollars. Revenue may increase in the future, but that is not what drives the passion for successful business deals; it’s “identically meeting” client’s needs. Servicing the customer and insuring they have the best customer service is a core value for Promise IT Solutions.

Serving others is deeply ingrained in Goodwin’s work ethic. Community service will be a requirement of all Promise IT Solutions employees. Goodwin personally serves on the board of directors for the Minority Enterprise Construction Council as well as Big Brothers Big Sisters. He currently holds the position of board president for both organizations.

The Business Record article describes Goodwin’s business plan for Promise IT Solutions and gives a brief glimpse at the business venture he is also working on at this time. The article can be reached at the Business Record.

You can personally hear Goodwin share his story of success at I’ll Make Me a World in Iowa. He is a panelist for the African American Business Association’s business seminar, which will be January 26 at the Polk County Convention Center. Presentation begins at 11:00 a.m.

Wake Up, My Brothers and Sisters...

2008-01-17T11:54:00.000-06:00

By the lowest rung of the social ladder

I do not understand why Black people have to speak to each other in such a manner that can kill the spirit of others or the mean spirit is embraced as a way of life and the condition lives on.

It is my most sincere prayer that we as Black people treat each other with respect and dignity. To love and help each other without the air of "I am greater than you" because I have a high position, more money, greater status or more education.

Is it not clear that we are all in the same boat together regardless of our station in life?

Why is it that we do not support each other in business with the exception of hair care and church affiliations? I am still in grief that Top Value Grocery Store went out of business.

What is the driving force that other races can come to this country and prosper while we as a race continue to be consumers and support the wealth and community development of others while we continue to dwindle into deeper poverty?

What respect can we expect from society if collectively act as non-producers?

Where are the great thinkers in our Black community from all levels that see the conditions that not only affect the adults but our children as well?

Can we organize a meeting of the minds to develop solutions to our problems?

Instead, we react to a problem and then allow it to fizzle out with no more follow up to continue the move forward until the next blow up?

I am only one voice from the lower rung of the social/economical ladder who can see the demise our people are bound for destruction.

I only want to help solve problems and not blame anyone; this is counter productive and will only lead to more division.

- Editor's note: "The Lowest Rung of the Social Ladder" is pseudonym for Des Moines resident Genie Bundy.

What the King Holiday Means

2008-01-14T17:03:00.000-06:00

Martin Luther King Jr., Holiday, Jan. 21, 2008

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebrates the life and legacy of a man who brought hope and healing to America. We commemorate as well the timeless values he taught us through his example -- the values of courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service that so radiantly defined Dr. King’s character and empowered his leadership. On this holiday, we commemorate the universal, unconditional love, forgiveness and nonviolence that empowered his revolutionary spirit.

- Read the entire passage by the late Coretta Scott King at the The King Center, Atlanta, G.A.

Free Help to Quit Smoking from the Iowa Department of Public Health

2008-01-11T00:28:00.000-06:00

By Dana Boone

African-American smokers -- who tend to “suffer more” than other ethnic groups from the harmful effects of smoking -- could benefit from a new state program that provides free nicotine patches and gum.

The Iowa Department of Public Health began offering the nicotine patches and gum through the state's "Quitline" at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669. The free, confidential program is for Iowa smokers 18 and older who want to end their dependence on cigarettes and other tobacco products. The nicotine patches and gum help reduce the symptoms of withdrawal, health officials said.

"We know that African-Americans are disproportionately affected by smoking," said Bonnie Mapes, director of the department's Division of Tobacco Use and Prevention and Control. "As adults, African-Americans have a higher smoking rate, and they tend to suffer more from smoking effects."

Thousands of Iowans this month have flooded the state's smoking cessation hot line with calls since it began offering free nicotine patches and gum, state health officials said. The hot line has received 2,560 calls since Jan. 1.

To receive a two-week supply of the nicotine patches and gum, participants must agree to take a brief health assessment and accept two follow-up calls from trained phone coaches. Participants also can sign up for ongoing support through eight additional calls from phone coaches.

Mapes stressed the importance of the ongoing phone coaching and support.

"The reason we want them to do that is that telephone coaching doubles a person's chances of quitting," she said.

Smoking can cause many diseases, including heart and lung disease and cancer, and is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, Mapes said. The biggest killer of smokers is heart disease, she added, since smoking increases blood pressure and burdens the heart.

"As soon as you stop smoking," she said, "the burden goes away."

Two diseases that pose a greater risk for blacks -- diabetes and high blood pressure -- are worsened by smoking, Mapes said. According to Families USA, a health advocacy group, blacks are twice as likely as whites to have diabetes.

Many longtime smokers believe they won’t reap health benefits if they quit, Mapes said.

"That isn't true at all," she said. "Don't think that just because you've smoked for 30 years that it's too late. There are immediate and long-term benefits to quitting no matter how long you've smoked."

People who quit also realize a financial benefit, she said. The average smoker goes through a pack of cigarettes a day at a cost of nearly $5 a pack, she said.

"It's a huge monetary impact not just for the smoker, but for their family," she said. "That's the price of a gallon of milk. It's an impact on the nutrition of the family."

The state's most recent adult tobacco survey, conducted in 2006, found that smoking is on the decline among Iowans who participated in random computer-assisted telephone interviews:

* 18 percent of Iowans smoked cigarettes in 2006, down from 23 percent in 2002.
* 34 percent of Iowans aged 18 to 24 smoked cigarettes.
* 72 percent of smokers surveyed in 2006 wanted to quit smoking.

Data from the health department also show that in 2006 slightly more men smoked than women, 23 percent and 19 percent, respectively; and 21 percent of whites smoked, compared with 28 percent of other ethnic groups, which were not disaggregated in the report.

"It's a drug addition," Mapes said. "It's not some habit. It isn't a matter of choice. Ask any smoker and they'll tell you that. The vast majority of them recognize that. . . . It’s not that they don’t want to quit."

Iowa smokers who qualify for the Medicaid program are eligible to receive up to 12 weeks of free nicotine patches and gum, but must first get a referral from their health care provider before calling the hot line to sign up, Mapes said.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that of the 2,560 callers during the program's first week, 2,151 requested the nicotine patches and gum, and 1,323 agreed to the telephone coaching.

"We're encouraging people to sign up for both," she said.

The program likely will run through 2011 as long as money is available, McCormick said. Smokers can take advantage of the program once a year, he said.
_______________________________
Iowa's "QUIT-NOW' smoking cessation hot line:

Dial 1-800-QUIT-NOW or 1-800-784-8669 to sign up for the state's free, confidential program, which offers nicotine patches and gum. The kits are shipped to participants within 24 hours.
The telephone line is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. English-and Spanish-speaking counselors are available.
Beginning Monday, the hot line's hours will extend from 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

I'll Make Me a World in Iowa - Jan. 25-26

2008-01-09T00:50:00.000-06:00

See full story below...

New Hampshire Democratic Primary Results

2008-01-08T22:14:00.000-06:00

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won New Hampshire's Democratic primary with 39 percent of the vote, followed closely by Sen. Barack Obama with 37 percent. For entire results visit CNN.

Festival With A Focus - 10th Annual I'll Make Me a World In Iowa

2008-01-08T04:00:00.000-06:00

By Dana Boone

The state's largest African-American festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary this month, with an expected crowd of nearly 20,000 people.

The two-day I`ll Make Me a World in Iowa festival will be held on Jan. 25-26 at the Polk County Convention Complex in Des Moines.

This year's headliners for Celebration Day on Jan. 26 include actor Morris Chestnut, best known for his movie roles in "The Best Man," "Boyz n the Hood" and "Perfect Holiday," and the gospel group Trin-i-tee 5:7.

"When we say Morris Chestnut, that's a first-name recognition," said Betty Andrews, the festival's executive director and president and CEO of Betty Andrews Media. "His name needs no introduction. We know who he is. We're definitely excited."

Securing high-profile celebrities is a unique part of the festival, Andrews said. It's an affirmation for blacks, who make up just 2.5 percent of the state's population with 73,086 people, that the state can draw such well-known entertainers, she said.

"African-Americans in Iowa sometimes feel like we're not part of the national community, but having these celebrities be accessible to our community just lets us know it could happen here like it happens in Atlanta or California or New York," Andrews said. "We do things and we do them well and we can be proud that we have made our world in Iowa."

The festival began following a 1999 PBS miniseries "I'll Make Me a World." Iowa's festival is designed to highlight black history, culture and the contributions blacks have made to Iowa.

Pam Williams is instructor of the Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corps, which will perform at the festival on Jan. 26. She said some of her female instructors know that Chesnut is coming and they're looking forward to seeing him.

"I know the younger women are excited he's coming," Williams said.

Last Sunday, Williams said she saw Trin-i-tee 5:7 perform on BET, a cable network that reaches an estimated 87 million households.

"They're geared toward young people with a gospel message," she said.

Part of the festival's allure is people-watching, "soul food" sampling and live performances in Iowa's big-scale celebration of black culture. Vendors will sell art and other items. Puppet shows, rides and other attractions will keep children engaged, Andrews said. A health fair called "Fat to PHAT" will include free health assessments and will promote heart-health awareness. A new Iowa Events and Info Line will debut next week, Andrews said. The telephone line will contain updates on the festival, a community calendar, community information, health tips and short stories about influential figures in black history, such as inventor George Washington Carver. The phone number has not yet been released.

"Even though it's in the winter, we try to make sure that people get that it's a festival," Andrews said.

But, it's a festival with a focus, she added.

"We wanted to make sure that people understand that we have played an invaluable role in the history of America," Andrews said. "We use ingenuity. We're overcomers. We have that 'soul food' mentality. We were able to take nothing and make it into something . . . we took scraps and made it into delicacies."

The first day of the festival is Education Day, which emphasizes black history to more than 1,200 middle and high school students from across the state, Andrews said. Students form teams and study for a month for the Black History Game Show, which is the highlight of Education Day. Educational workshops are also held during the event.

"A lot has been said about the lack of African-American history being taught in schools," said Andrews. "We wanted to make sure we sent the message that we have this great celebration, but African-Americans are not only about singing and dancing. That's a big part of our culture and we're proud of it and everything, but we're also about the great inventors we have in our community. We're about achievers and pacesetters."

Iowa performers continue to dominate the festival. This year's performers include Waterloo singer Effie Burt, the Gateway Dance Theatre and the Isiserettes, among dozens of others.

Williams said the members of the drill team get "treated like celebrities" at the festival. A video of the group's 2007 performances will also be shown, she said.

"I think it's a great event," she said. "We look forward to it."

Williams said a fight that broke out among teens during a previous festival emphasizes the need for parents to accompany their children to the event.

"Kids under a certain age need to be accompanied by an adult and not just dropped off to be there all day," Williams said. "People need to bring their kids and share what's there."

In 1999, organizers planned for 300 people, but 1,000 showed up. About 10,000 people attended the event in 2006 and attendance grew to about 15,000 in 2007, Andrews said. Past headliners have included Victoria Rowell, Blair Underwood, Hill Harper, Lynn Whitfield, GregAlan Williams, Bev Smith and Malcolm-Jamal Warner, among others.

Hundreds of volunteers helped organize the festival, which Andrews said she hopes will excite this year's festival-goers.

"It's going to be a grand experience," Andrews said.

_______

"I'll Make Me a World in Iowa" schedule

Jan. 25

- Education Day features the Black History Game Show competition from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Polk County Convention Complex, 501 Grand Ave. More than 1,200 students from across the state participated in 2006.

- The Grand Gala: Embracing Excellence will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at HyVee Hall, Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St. Tickets for the formal event are $50 per person.

- Honorees include the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP, Stacey Walker and the late Jimmie Porter.

"We didn't want to let his passing and accomplishments go by unnoticed," Andrews said of Porter.

Jan. 26:

- The Celebration Day festival, featuring headliners Morris Chesnut and Trin-i-tee 5:7, runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Polk County Convention Complex.

For more information call (515) 288-7171. Photo is of Betty Andrews.

Martin Luther King, Jr., events

2008-01-07T15:52:00.000-06:00

Here are a few upcoming King events:

The Black Ministerial Alliance of Des Moines will hold its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Breakfast at 9 a.m. Jan. 12 at Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church, 1338 9th St in Des Moines. Rev. Bobby Young is pastor and vice-president of the alliance. Guest speaker is Rev. Curtis De Vance, pastor of Burns United Methodist Church. A $10 donation is requested.

The NAACP’s Youth Council will host its 4th annual King Legacy Program at 6 p.m. Jan. 12 at King of Kings Baptist Church, 619 S.E. 15th St. The speaker is Quinnetta Claytor, a sophomore at the University of Iowa. The event also includes the Maple Street Baptist Church Youth Choir, a preview of the 2008 ACT-SO competition and the Roosevelt High School Step Team.

The alliance and the Des Moines branch of the NAACP will hold a King community celebration service at 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Union Missionary Baptist Church, 1200 McCormick St. Rev. Henry Thomas is pastor. Guest speaker is Rev. Keith Ratliff, Sr., pastor of Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church, president of the Iowa Nebraska NAACP and a national board member of the NAACP.

For more information about the alliance and events contact Rev. Irvin Lewis, Sr., president of the alliance at (515) 669-5890.

African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa

2008-01-07T00:01:00.000-06:00

Edgar Hicks, a nationally-known expert on current
issues in African American agriculture, will discuss the 
state of the black farmer in America in light of the legacy 
of George Washington Carver in his lecture, "The Black Farmer 
Today." 

Hicks is a grain consultant and risk management 
consultant for the Rural Development Commission (RDC) in the 
State of Nebraska.  The lecture will be held at 7 p.m. 
January 15 at the Council Bluffs Public Library. The event is 
free and open to the public.

This program is a part of the African American Historical 
Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa's year-long project, 
"Iowa Roots, Global Impact: The Life and Legacy of George 
Washington Carver."  This project includes a major exhibition 
at the museum, traveling exhibits, programs and more. This 
project is supported by the Roy J. Carver Charitable
Trust; the State Historical Society, Inc.; Humanities 
Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities; General 
Mills; Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area; Pioneer; 
among others.

For more information visit the museum's web site or call 
1-877-526-1863.

Statistics about Barack Obama's Victory in Iowa

2008-01-04T22:08:00.000-06:00

From Barack Obama.com

Last night, Barack Obama made history in Iowa with a dramatic and decisive victory. He won by bringing an unprecedented number of voters into the process, including thousands of Republicans and Independents who registered as Democrats in order to support Obama.

The entrance polls show just how dominating Obama’s win was and dispel some myths about his candidacy:

Obama beat Clinton among women 35% to 30%

Obama beat Edwards among voters in union households 30%-24%

Obama beat Clinton and Edwards among voters of almost every income level (Obama and Clinton tied among voters who make $15-30,000)

As many voters age 17-29 as voters 65 and older participated last night -- in previous years senior participation has been 5-times greater than younger voters.

Obama beat Edwards and Clinton among voters who want change (51%-20%-19%)

Despite countless attacks and hundreds of thousands of dollars in negative mail, TV, and radio, Obama beat Clinton and Edwards (34%-30%-27%) among voters who say health care is the most important issue

Obama won among those who said the economy was the most important issue (36%-26%-26%)

Obama won over Clinton and Edwards (35%-26%-17%) among those who said Iraq was the most important issue

Won across the ideological spectrum – winning among liberals, moderates and conservatives

Won among high income and lower income voters among voters with household income below $50,000 (34%-32%-19%) and among those over $50,000 (41%-19%-28%)

Also won among the 82% of voters who said Pakistan was “very or somewhat important”

The voters looked at Barack Obama and found he was someone that they could support. Thank you, Iowa.

What Was Your Iowa Caucus Experience Like?

2008-01-04T12:06:00.000-06:00

From Dana Boone:

Wow. I participated in the Iowa Caucuses last night for the first time. It was chaotic, exciting, tense -- and productive! The majority of my neighbors and I supported Democratic winner, Sen. Barack Obama. In the end, my good friend Dawn Campbell and I left Hiatt Middle School cheering and hi-fiving each other.

What was your caucus experience like? BrownIowa.com wants to hear from you... Post some comments!

Check Out the Iowa Voices

2008-01-04T11:45:00.000-06:00

Check out the Iowa Voices in this BlackAmericaWeb.com story:

Blacks in Iowa, Fueled by Hope, Help Carry Obama to Victory - One Small Precinct at a Time

Date: Friday, January 04, 2008
By: Sherrel Wheeler Stewart, BlackAmericaweb.com

“I don’t think the planners anticipated the numbers that turned out to caucus,” Abraham Funchess told BlackAmericaWeb.com. Thursday was the first time the South Carolina native—turned Iowa resident had participated in the caucus...

“Barack crossed racial lines. He won our precinct, he’s leading Iowa,” said Charles Spencer, who participated in the caucus for the first time...

“This says a lot about Obama, and it says a lot to America,” Spencer told BlackAmericaWeb.com. That precinct had a racial mix among the 377 who participated, Spencer said. About 15 of the participants were black.

At the predominately black precinct at Hiatt Middle School on the east side of Des Moines, Obama picked up six of the eight delegates, and Clinton received two, with 243 people participating, according to Dana Boone, who served as secretary for the precinct count.

“It was tense, but exciting,” Boone told BlackAmericaWeb.com shortly after the counting had concluded for the evening. Because of the large turnout, the crowd had to move from a small cafeteria to a larger space at the school, she said. “Blacks really showed up for Obama.”

Read the ENTIRE story at Blackamericaweb.com.

Barack's Iowa Victory Speech

2008-01-04T10:00:00.000-06:00

BARACK OBAMA THE WINNER OF THE IOWA CAUCUS

2008-01-03T20:45:00.003-06:00

94% Precincts reporting:

Barack Obama - 38%

A record 234,000 people participated in the Democratic Party Iowa Caucus.

I'm speechless at that number, and I thank everyone who came to be counted.

*********************************************************

Obama's Victory Speech:

"They said this day would never come. They said our sights were set too high. They said this country was too divided; too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose.

But on this January night – at this defining moment in history – you have done what the cynics said we couldn’t do; what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days; what America can do in this New Year. In schools and churches; small towns and big cities; you came together as Democrats, Republicans and Independents to stand up and say that we are one nation; we are one people; and our time for change has come.

You said the time has come to move beyond the bitterness and pettiness and anger that’s consumed Washington; to end the political strategy that’s been all about division and make it about addition – to build a coalition for change that stretches through Red States and Blue States. Because that’s how we’ll win in November, and that’s how we’ll finally meet the challenges we face.

The time has come to tell the lobbyists who think their money and their influence speak louder than our voices that they don’t own this government, we do; and we’re here to take it back.

The time has come for a President who’ll be honest about the choices and the challenges we face; who’ll listen to you even when we disagree; who won’t just tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to know. And New Hampshire, if you give me the same chance that Iowa did tonight, I will be that President for America."

The speech, as prepared for deliver, appears in full after the jump.

They said this day would never come.

They said our sights were set too high.

They said this country was too divided; too disillusioned to ever come together around a common purpose.

But on this January night – at this defining moment in history – you have done what the cynics said we couldn’t do; what the state of New Hampshire can do in five days; what America can do in this New Year. In schools and churches; small towns and big cities; you came together as Democrats, Republicans and Independents to stand up and say that we are one nation; we are one people; and our time for change has come.

You said the time has come to move beyond the bitterness and pettiness and anger that’s consumed Washington; to end the political strategy that’s been all about division and make it about addition – to build a coalition for change that stretches through Red States and Blue States. Because that’s how we’ll win in November, and that’s how we’ll finally meet the challenges we face.

The time has come to tell the lobbyists who think their money and their influence speak louder than our voices that they don’t own this government, we do; and we’re here to take it back.

The time has come for a President who’ll be honest about the choices and the challenges we face; who’ll listen to you even when we disagree; who won’t just tell you what you want to hear, but what you need to know. And New Hampshire, if you give me the same chance that Iowa did tonight, I will be that President for America.

I’ll be a President who finally makes health care affordable and available to every single American the same way I expanded health care in Illinois – by bringing Democrats and Republicans together to get the job done

I’ll be a President who ends the tax breaks for corporations who ship our jobs overseas and puts a middle-class tax cut into the pockets of the working Americans who deserve it.

I’ll be a President who harnesses the ingenuity of farmers and scientists and entrepreneurs to free this nation from the tyranny of oil once and for all.

And I’ll be a President who brings our troops home from Iraq; restores our moral standing; and understands that 9/11 is not a way to scare up votes, but a challenge that should unite America and the world against the common threats of the twenty-first century: terrorism and nuclear weapons; climate change and poverty; genocide and disease.

Tonight, we are one step closer to that vision of America because of what you did here in Iowa. And I’d like to take a minute to thank the organizers and precinct captains; the volunteers and staff who made this all possible.

I know you didn’t do this just for me. You did this because you believed deeply in the most American of ideas – that in the face of impossible odds, people who love this country can change it.

I know this because while I may be standing here tonight, I’ll never forget that my journey began on the streets of Chicago doing what so many of you have done for this campaign and all the campaigns here in Iowa – organizing, and working, and fighting to make people’s lives just a little bit better.

I know how hard it is. It comes with little sleep, little pay, and a lot of sacrifice. There are days of disappointment, but sometimes, just sometimes, there are nights like this – a night that, years from now, when we’ve made the changes we believe in; when more families can afford to see a doctor; when our children inherit a planet that’s a little cleaner and safer; when the world sees America differently, and America sees itself as a nation less divided and more united; you’ll be able look back with pride and say that this was the moment when it all began.

This was the moment when the improbable beat what Washington always said was inevitable.

This was the moment when we tore down barriers that have divided us for far too long – when we rallied people of all parties and ages to a common cause; when we finally gave Americans who’d never participated in politics a reason to stand up and do so.

This was the moment when we finally beat back the politics of fear, and doubt, and cynicism; the politics where we tear each other down instead of lifting this country up.

Years from now, you’ll look back and say that this was the moment – this was the place – where America remembered what it means to hope.

For many months, we’ve been teased and even derided for talking about hope.

But we always knew that hope is not blind optimism. It’s not ignoring the enormity of the task ahead or the roadblocks that stand in our path. It’s not sitting on the sidelines or shrinking from a fight. Hope is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and work for it, and fight for it.

Hope is what I saw in the eyes of the young woman in Cedar rapids who works the night shift after a full day of college and still can’t afford health care for a sister who’s ill; a young woman who still believes that this country will give her the chance to live out her dreams.

Hope is what I heard in the voice of the New Hampshire woman who told me that she hasn’t been able to breathe since her nephew left for Iraq; who still goes to bed each night praying for a safe return.

Hope is what led a band of colonists to rise up against an Empire; what led the greatest of generations to free a continent and heal a nation; what led young men and women to sit at lunch counters and brave fire hoses and march through Selma and Montgomery for freedom’s cause.

Hope is what led me here today – with a father from Kenya; a mother from Kansas; and a story that could only happen in the United States of America. It is the bedrock of this nation; the belief that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; by all those men and women who are not content to settle for the world as it is; who have the courage to remake the world as it should be.

That is what we started here in Iowa, and that is the message we now carry to New Hampshire and beyond; the same message we had when we were up and when we were down; the one that can change this country brick by brick, block by block, calloused hand by calloused hand – that together, ordinary people can do extraordinary things; because we are not a collection of Red States and Blue States, we are the United States of America; and at this moment, in tthis election, we are ready to believe again.

Blacks Appear Poised to Influence Iowa Caucuses

2008-01-03T09:07:00.000-06:00

By Dana Boone

Many African-Americans across Iowa said determination and excitement is driving them to participate in tonight's Iowa Caucuses for the first time.

"Black people -- this is our opportunity to step up to the plate," said Melvin Hawkins, a 45-year-old DJ from Davenport and a first time caucus-goer.

Blacks in Des Moines, Waterloo and Davenport said they felt compelled to learn about a political process that is still somewhat mysterious to them -- and participate tonight -- because they feel strongly about presidential candidate Barack Obama.

"Everybody is pretty much pumped on the idea that we could possibly get a president like Obama," said Kenneth Foster, 35, a student mentor at Creative Visions in Des Moines and first-time caucus-goer.

Many black Iowans said the nation is in trouble with its lackluster economy, the war in Iraq, a bleak employment outlook and racial disparities in schools and prisons. It's more important than ever, they said, for blacks to help decide who will become president. And, the nation is watching.

"Things are bad right now, and I know if someone doesn't come in a make a difference right away, we're going to be in another sort of depression (era)," Foster said.

Many blacks said they have noticed an unusual increase this year in discussions among their friends and families about the problems affecting the country, the presidential candidates and how to caucus.

Hawkins, who expressed dissatisfaction with the war in Iraq and the way the country is being managed, said Obama has the "wow" factor.

"It seems like you've got more of a voice because he's on the same page as you, in the same age range as you," Hawkins said. "He's a person who will give the us a fresh start."

READ the entire story at Iowa Independent.

The Need to Stand Up and Be Heard

2008-01-03T01:42:00.000-06:00

The following is from Iowa State Representative Ako Abdul-Samad especially for BrownIowa.com.

We all have heard the quote "If not now when?" That itself should be one of our motivational rally points. We as Iowans must not be distracted from putting Senator Barack Obama on the road to the White House.

Iowa will make history on several fronts on January 3. The caucusgoes will set record numbers in turn out on January 3 at the Iowa caucus. Senator Barack Obama winning Iowa will send a message around the world that Americans are ready for a change. It will also send the message the we are tried of doing business as usual. Having Senator Obama as our President of the United States will send hope to the world that we are serious about the United in States. That his job will be to bring about Peace and Justice not only to the people in America but to the World.

He will accept the task at hand and from day one just with his election will change the outlook of other counties of America. You must look deep inside your souls and intellect and not be distract by falsehoods to act on what is best for this country.

The time is now, join me in my support of Senator Barack Obama.

God Bless & Keep the Vision.....
Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad

How the Caucuses Work

2008-01-02T13:22:00.001-06:00

How the Iowa Caucuses Work

For those who this will be their 1st caucus…this is how it works

Tomorrow night both Democrats and Republicans will gather to conduct precinct caucuses. The caucuses include selection of delegates to represent the precinct at County conventions, discussion of the issues, and most importantly a decision on the Presidential Candidate Preference. The Democrats and Republicans conduct their caucuses differently.

Democrats:

Everyone can participate in the caucuses. Those that are not registered to vote can register that night at the caucus. Those that are 17 now but will be 18 by the Presidential Election can also participate in the caucuses. Once registered, those caucusing can do so at their precinct. One can find out which precinct is theirs by contacting the County election office. At 6:00 the doors open and at 6:30 the caucus is called to order, at 7 pm the preference groups are formed. The process generally lasts about an hour; caucuses are generally held at high schools or some other public building.

"Preference groups," are where participants' preferences for a candidate become public. All the supporters of Hillary Clinton will go to one corner, all the supporters of Barack Obama to another, etc. If a candidate doesn't have 15 percent of the total, his or her supporters must realign with another group. Once everyone is in a group with at least 15 percent, delegates to the county convention are apportioned based on the size of the preference group.

So, for example, if the precinct sends 10 delegates to the county convention, those 10 delegates are allocated based on the percentage of people in a preference group. So if Senator Obama has 60 percent and Senator Clinton has 40 percent, Senator Obama would get six delegates and Clinton would get four.

For more info visit www.iowafirstcaucus.org

Obama reaches out to Black Iowans

2008-01-02T09:43:00.000-06:00

Read this article in the New York Times about Obama's efforts to reach out to the small, but influential group of Black Iowans.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/02/us/politics/02race.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1199286487-793o8LxFqtotBgFUSs9b8Q

Waterloo African Americans on Presidential Race

2008-01-02T01:20:00.001-06:00

The world is watching. Here's a story from the UK paper "The Guardian" on African-American caucus-goers in Waterloo.

Caucusing is NOT just for Caucasians!

2008-01-02T00:40:00.000-06:00

A friend of color admitted to me that she didn’t know much about a caucus, and was under the impression that caucusing was only for Caucasians. She was mistaken.

Merriam Webster defines a caucus as:

a closed meeting of a group of persons belonging to the same political party or faction usually to select candidates or to decide on policy; also: a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause

The Iowa Caucus is for all Iowans.

Barack: an old friend with a new vision for America

2008-01-01T13:20:00.000-06:00

Hi Black & Brown Iowa:

Well, 2008 is finally here! I just wanted to send a shout out to you all as your prepare for your historic caucuses. MAKE HISTORY THIS WEEK!

FYI: I went to law school with Barack “back in the day.” From the first day I met him I was impressed … no I should say dazzled by his intellect, his sincerity, his acute sense of politics, his ability to connect with folks, and his commitment to issues impacting Black folks. As a former president of the Black Law Students Association at Harvard Law School, it has pained me to hear the fodder of some of our so-called leaders questioning Barack’s authenticity regarding race. Nothing, and I mean nothing, could be further from the truth. The truth is that Barack is an amazing man, who also happens to be an amazing Black man, who can and should be the democratic nominee for President, and of course ultimately, the President of the United States!

Most recently, my work has revolved around children. As a mother, the author of 2 children’s books, a co-founder of a support group for African-American moms, and a senior officer of an action-oriented think tank focusing families, communities and democracy, I spend my days focusing on children. When I read, hear, or see something, it is always through this “motherhood” lens. This election is no exception. My support for Barack goes beyond old allegiances from friendships long ago. My support is also based on his stance on issues impacting American children and families, which are issues about which I care deeply, and upon which I believe our democracy rests.

Toward that end, I call your attention to an innovative and multi-faceted proposal put forth by Senator Obama which focuses on "Changing the Odds for Urban America." A dear friend of mine called this proposal “a creative and informed approach to the many issues arising from poverty that limit choices and suppress hope in so many urban areas in the United States.” Take a minute and review this proposal by simply clicking here: http://www.barackobama.com/issues/poverty/.

Also, please read and comment on my blog, which is highlighted right now on the Covenant with Black America’s website about Giving Thanks for Our Covenant Children. http://www.covenantwithblackamerica.com/

Happy New Year to you all,

Charisse Carney-Nunes
Author of Nappy and I Dream for You a World (the Children’s Companion to the Covenant with Black America)
www.CharisseCarneyNunes.com

Black Mobilization

2008-01-01T12:24:00.000-06:00

Brown Iowa's Dana Boone's latest piece is Black Leaders Hope Mobilization Helps Make a Difference.

"The problems afflicting African-Americans in Iowa have received widespread attention this year, hastening into action black leaders and ordinary citizens.

"With the issues facing African-Americans, there is an urgency," said Gretchen Woods, youth adviser for the Des Moines Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "We really just don't have time to waste."

. . . The problems even inspired three high-profile black leaders in Des Moines -- two of whom are Iowa legislators -- to set aside their personal differences to work jointly for community betterment. . . .

Genie Bundy morphed from ordinary citizen into activist after learning about the disproportionate number of blacks in prison. Iowa tops the nation for imprisoning blacks at a rate 13.6 times that of whites, according to national study by The Sentencing Project. Bundy, a family support worker at Primary Health Care in Des Moines, organized three community forums this fall about the issue.

"I think that it has to take something like this to get the community truly riled up like dealing with the overrepresentation of blacks in the prison system," she said. "Our families are truly being destroyed by the black men being removed from the home."

. . . Funchess and others are urging blacks to participate in the caucuses, vote and make their concerns and wants known to state lawmakers in 2008."

Much more is in the Iowa Independent.

Des Moines Register Final Poll: Obama Leads

2007-12-31T23:18:00.000-06:00

From the Des Moines Register

New Iowa Poll: Obama widens lead over Clinton
By THOMAS BEAUMONT • REGISTER STAFF WRITER • Copyright 2007,
Des Moines Register and Tribune Company • December 31, 2007

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has widened his lead in Iowa over Hillary Clinton and John Edwards heading into Thursday's nominating caucuses, according to The Des Moines Register's final Iowa Poll before the 2008 nominating contests.

Obama's rise is the result in part of a dramatic influx of first-time caucusgoers, including a sizable bloc of political independents. Both groups prefer the Illinois senator in what has been a very competitive campaign.

Obama was the choice of 32 percent of likely Democratic caucusgoers, up from 28 percent in the Register's last poll in late November, while Clinton, a New York senator, held steady at 25 percent and Edwards, a former North Carolina senator, was virtually unchanged at 24 percent.

The poll reflects continued fluidity in the race even as the end of the yearlong campaign nears. Roughly a third of likely caucusgoers say they could be persuaded to choose someone else before Thursday evening. Six percent were undecided or uncommitted.

The poll also reveals a widening gap between the three-way contest for the lead and the remaining candidates. No other Democrat received support from more than 6 percent of likely caucusgoers.

Rest of article can be read at link above.

Obama not only draws from Democrats, but Independents and Republicans.

It's time to prove the poll right.

CAUCUS
CAUCUS
CAUCUS

JANUARY 3RD.

6 Minute "How to Caucus" Video

2007-12-31T08:40:00.001-06:00

Questions about the caucus process? Watch this 6 minute video, and you'll be an expert.

Ex-Felons Can Caucus

2007-12-30T18:07:00.000-06:00

Any ex-felon who has finished his or her sentence, probation, or parole is allowed under Iowa law to caucus. If the ex-felon is not registered to vote, he or she may register to vote at his or her caucus location on Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 6:30 pm and then caucus.

Some ex-felons wrongly assume they cannot vote. The law was recently changed. On July 4, 2005 Governor Tom Vilsack signed Executive Order 42, which automatically restores the right to vote to ex-felons who have completed their sentence, probation and parole. Answers to common questions are here.

McCain Losing Votes to Obama in New Hampshire

2007-12-30T11:34:00.000-06:00

Hat tip: Prometheus6

McCain losing votes to Obama in N.H.
By Maeve Reston and Doyle McManus, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
December 30, 2007

NASHUA, N.H. -- Like many New Hampshire voters, Dave Montgomery considers himself a dyed-in-the-wool independent -- which in this state means he can vote in either the Republican or Democratic presidential primary when he goes to the polls Jan. 8.

This year, the semi-retired school bus driver from Milford finds himself torn between two candidates, one from each party: Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Barack Obama of (D-Ill.).

Montgomery likes McCain, he said, because "he seems to be enough of a rebel." He likes Obama for pretty much the same reason -- because he seems to be "his own man."

"I think either one of them could do the job," he said.

Independents like Montgomery may be the decisive factor for both major parties when New Hampshire holds the nation's first primary next week, hot on the heel's of Iowa's caucuses on Thursday. And the choices these nonaligned New Hampshire voters make almost assuredly will shape the nation's later primary races.

"This big group in the middle . . . has a chance to really transform the election," said Tom Rath, a veteran New Hampshire Republican strategist who is advising former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-Mass.). Describing the efforts to woo independents, he added: "It's more like a general election here."

If Obama bests national front runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), he probably will owe his New Hampshire victory to independents, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll suggested last week.

Among the state's registered Democrats, the survey found Clinton led Obama, 35% to 28%. But among independents who plan to vote in the Democratic primary, Obama led, 37% to 24% -- turning the contest into a virtual tie.

Rest of the article is HERE.

The reason why this article is important, is because it points out the fallacy of Barack Obama's ' Unelectability'.

In the last month, poll after poll has consistently shown that Barack Obama polls well, against every major GOP Candidate in the General Election. He consistently polls BETTER than Hillary Clinton.

Why?

Because of his appeal to independents and some Republicans.

You see in this article that Hillary wasn't remotely a choice for him. It was Obama or McCain. Independents have already told the pollsters that they aren't voting for Hillary Clinton. They will consider Obama.

You win elections by trying to appeal to the broadest possible constituency. Of course you CAN win with '50%+1', but what has that brought us in this country the past seven years? Nothing but bitterness upon bitterness. Why set ourselves up for that AGAIN (with Clinton), when we don't have to. When you have a candidate that can gather a broad coalition to govern.

Barack Obama is electable.

He's NOT the one that HALF THE COUNTRY says they will NEVER VOTE FOR.

I have said it before; I'm not naive to think that Obama couldn't be victim to some sort of Bradley Effect. But, I stand by this: for him to catch up to where Clinton is RIGHT NOW?

It would have to be the size of a tsunami.

CAUCUS-JANUARY 3RD.

Michelle Obama Asks - ARE YOU READY?

2007-12-29T17:21:00.000-06:00

The Future First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, asked this question in Orangeburg, South Carolina last month.

If you need a reason to vote for Obama, if you have questions, then listen to Michelle Obama. Imagine this woman as First Lady, and then tell me again why you can't spend two hours on January 3rd to Caucus for Barack Obama.

Here is a link to the video:Michelle Obama's Speech in South Carolina

Two Key Things to do for Obama

2007-12-29T12:44:00.000-06:00

So you don’t have time to volunteer this week and you can’t spare $2,300 for the campaign, but you support Barack Obama. How can you as an Iowan help the Obama movement? Two easy but important things:

1) Click here and complete a Supporter Card (if you haven’t already): Make sure you click on the "I will attend my precinct caucus for Barack Obama box.” It may seem meaningless, but it really helps.

2) Attend your neighborhood caucus at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Jan. 3 and support Barack Obama.

Monday is First Night Festival

2007-12-29T00:50:00.000-06:00

Don't forget--Dec. 31 is the First Night Festival in Council Bluffs! First Night is a family-friendly New Year's Eve celebration filled with art, music, dance, and interactive entertainment. It features a wide variety of artists with a multicultural bent, including an African performance group and the Salem Church Steppers! A full schedule of events can be found at www.firstnightcouncilbluffs.org.

Our Council Bluffs/Omaha Advisory Committee member Inky Westfall is chairing the event, and it looks out of this world! Have a great New Years!

Joseph Nolte,
Director of Statewide Operations
African American Historical Museum and Cultural Center of Iowa
55 12th Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401

PS--Don't forget! To be listed in the 2007 Annual Report, Museum memberships must be postmarked Dec. 31 or be made online via PayPal by Dec. 31! For more information, visit www.blackiowa.org.

Barack Obama's Closing Pitch

2007-12-28T14:27:00.000-06:00

Here's the strength of the speech for me:

The real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result. And that’s a risk we can’t take. Not this year. Not when the stakes are this high.

In this election, it is time to turn the page. In seven days, it is time to stand for change.

This has been our message since the beginning of this campaign. It was our message when we were down, and our message when we were up. And it must be catching on, because in these last few weeks, everyone is talking about change.

But you can’t at once argue that you’re the master of a broken system in Washington and offer yourself as the person to change it. You can’t fall in line behind the conventional thinking on issues as profound as war and offer yourself as the leader who is best prepared to chart a new and better course for America.

The truth is, you can have the right kind of experience and the wrong kind of experience. Mine is rooted in the real lives of real people and it will bring real results if we have the courage to change. I believe deeply in those words. But they are not mine. They were Bill Clinton’s in 1992, when Washington insiders questioned his readiness to lead.

My experience is rooted in the lives of the men and women on the South Side of Chicago who I fought for as an organizer when the local steel plant closed. It’s rooted in the lives of the people I stood up for as a civil rights lawyer when they were denied opportunity on the job or justice at the voting booth because of what they looked like or where they came from. It’s rooted in an understanding of how the world sees America that I gained from living, traveling, and having family beyond our shores – an understanding that led me to oppose this war in Iraq from the start. It’s experience rooted in the real lives of real people, and it’s the kind of experience Washington needs right now.

Rest of this fabulous speech is HERE.

I agree with Senator Obama. Every generation there comes a time when you must step up and decide what kind of country you want to be. You can feel that it's time to step into a new direction. You don't know what the consequences of that movement will be; you only know that it's time we take that step. We are definitely at that moment in 2007. We thought it was 2000, but no, it's now. This really is the first election of the Millenium. What will we choose? Will we choose to vote from a position of fear? Of doubt? I will say that it's profoundly UN-American, which is why this country is in the malaise that it is. Whatever has been said about America, one of the most vocal things said about us from outside of this country, is that we are an optimistic people. Not naive; optimistic. It's time that we take back that optimism. It's time that we took back control of our country and get back to what is best for us as a country. It's time for Barack Obama.

BrownIowa's Dana Boone on BlackAmericaWeb

2007-12-28T07:28:00.000-06:00

People of color around the nation are paying attention to Iowans of color this week, and looking for their voices about and participation in the caucuses. Tom Joyner's BlackAmericaWeb.com caught up with BrownIowa's Dana Boone. An excerpt is below.

"Dana Boone, a freelance writer and blogger based in Des Moines, Iowa, said the issues facing blacks in Iowa will prompt more to be involved this year in the party caucuses.

'We are first in the nation for the number of black men in prison. We are first in the nation for the percentage of black children suspended from school,' Boone told BlackAmericaWeb.com. 'This is our opportunity to have our voices heard by participating in the caucuses.'

According to a report by the New York-based Human Rights Watch, one in every 13 black men in Iowa is in a state prison. And data published in September by the Chicago Tribune showed that blacks make up 5 percent of the statewide public school enrollment but account for 22 percent of the students who get suspended.

'There are serious problems affecting blacks in Iowa,' Boone said. 'The spotlight is on us. People want to get behind a candidate who can help improve Iowa.'

While all candidates and their camps are aggressively courting Iowa voters, Boone said she hears most blacks in her circle speak of supporting Obama."

The full story is here.

Bridge Achievement "Gulf" in Iowa

2007-12-28T00:58:00.000-06:00

The Register has this editorial on the achievement "gulf" in Iowa schools:

"The 2008 Legislature should make sure schools have funding to provide individual [tutoring] help daily, not when a child is months or years behind. . . . To see why, look at eighth grade . . . . . White students had the highest percentage at 75.2. But African-American students again performed worst, with only 44.4 percent scoring as proficient. . . . . In other words, less than half of Iowa's black youngsters are able to read reasonably well in middle school. That appalling statistic alone should push all Iowans - parents, educators, anyone who cares about kids and the state's future - to action."

The full editorial is here.

Don't Believe the Hype

2007-12-27T23:58:00.001-06:00

Susan Rice over at Huffington Post reveals that the "Hillary Clinton ready to lead from Day One" campaign is largely media spin. It consists of Hillary Clinton invoking her status as "First Lady" and Bill Clinton spewing rhetoric characterizing Obama as a "roll of the dice." But Rice explains that these moves distract from the fact that Hillary Clinton has failed to provide a detailed national security plan. In contrast, Obama has provided a detailed national security plan (Susan lists and links to the specifics).

Check out the post here.

Go See “The Great Debaters”

2007-12-26T21:18:00.000-06:00

Last night I saw “The Great Debaters,” which is a true story about a debate team from a Black college in the 1930s that went up against Harvard. It was an OUTSTANDING FILM!

Please go see it and support it ASAP, because unfortunately, movies about the intellectual prowess of people of color often don't do well at the box office (e.g., Antwone Fisher, Akeelah and the Bee). Here’s a review.

The movie trailer and interviews with Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington are below:

Backlash Over Clinton Racial Messages

2007-12-26T10:12:00.000-06:00

From the Washington Post:

"But an important development in the 2008 Democratic battle may be the building backlash among African Americans over comments from associates of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton that could be construed as jabs at Sen. Barack Obama's race. These officials, including Clinton aides and prominent surrogates, have raised questions or dropped references about Obama's position on sentencing guidelines for crack vs. powder cocaine offenses; on his handgun control record; and on his admitted use of drugs as a youth. The context was always Obama's 'electability.' But the Illinois senator's campaign advisers said some African American leaders detect a pattern, and they believe it could erode Clinton's strong base of black support."

The post includes quotes from Tom Joyner during an interview with Barack, "Yeah, man, they are coming after you now. . . .," Boston Globe columnist Derrick Z. Jackson, "That leaves open as to how far the Clinton campaign. . . .will go to stereotype Obama in a sinister light in a nation where black drug use and criminality is exaggerated in the media," and the Black Star News of New York "So the Clinton campaign decided to use the race card."

Full story is here.

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T07:02:00.000-06:00

Below find the Obama Family Holiday Greeting, and Nat King Cole singing "The Christmas Song."

Myths of My People

2007-12-24T15:16:00.000-06:00

The Nation has a new article entitled, “Inside the Black Primary.”

I think you should read the article not because I agree with it, but because it chronicles some of the “thinking” we need to confront and counter. In particular, we need to dispel three myths:

MYTH #1: WHITE FOLKS WON’T ELECT BARACK

MYTH #2: BARACK IS A TOOL FOR ‘THE MAN’

MYTH #3: BARACK WILL BE ASSASSINATED

All three myths appear in the Nation article—straight from the mouths of black folks in South Carolina (although some of our folks in Iowa probably think this). It is tempting for those of us who support Barack to overlook this chatter and hope that it fades away, either because we’re reluctant to criticize other Black folks or because we’re afraid that acknowledging the talk only fuels it. But we shouldn’t ignore it. We should confront it head on. In this first in a series of posts, I’ll respond to Myth #1.

MYTH #1: WHITE FOLKS WON’T ELECT BARACK: From The Nation article: “”I’ve heard a lot of black people saying they don’t want to vote for Barack,” Barton’s daughter Michelle told me, “because they don’t believe it would make a difference. They feel that even if a lot of white people voted for him, somebody in a higher-up position would still find a way for him not to win.” Her sister and a friend, both fellow Obama volunteers, nodded their heads, “Yeah. Yeah.” . . . Even less comfortable was State Representative Harold Mitchell, an early Obama supporter who’d defected to Clinton . . . . “She is the candidate we know we can win the general election with.” Because a black man can’t win? “I–what?” Mitchell stammered. “Let’s not even talk about the fact that he’s an articulate, sharp African-American. Hey, one day. But right now, we don’t have time for experimentation.”. . . . [P]rominent State Senator Robert Ford explained why he’d opted for Clinton over Obama. “Every Democrat running on that ticket next year would lose because he’s black and he’s on top of the ticket,” Ford told the AP. “We’d lose the House and the Senate and the governors and everything.””

THE TRUTH:

a) Americans of all races will vote for Barack—he’s much less polarizing than HRC. He’s ahead in the polls in Iowa. He’s raised slightly more money ($78 million+) for the primaries than she has, and most of it has come from people other than African Americans. In the 2004 U.S. Senate race, Barack won 70% of the vote (a landslide) in a state that is 79% white.

b) Black folks, all we’re asking is that you have enough faith to get Barack through the early states and give him a good start. After that, he’ll have the momentum to win the Democratic nomination on Feb. 5, and the majority of electoral votes across the country in the general election.

Chris Rock commented on the embarrassment of Black folks who refuse to support the best qualified candidate simply because he's Black. I’m including the video (the first 45 seconds of the clip).

TRANSLATION: “I can’t call him now, I had that white lady. What was I thinking?” seems coarse to some ears--some will interpret it just as Chris Rock focused on race. But here's what it means in context, and the reason it was funny to folks in the audience. It means “I’m embarrassed. I supported her simply because she was White, and I abandoned the guy who eventually won because he was Black. I didn't have faith that a Black guy could win.” In other words, if Barack does not win, Black folks who supported him will have no regrets. He was the best candidate and we tried. If Barack wins, however, Black folks who abandoned Barack simply because they didn't have confidence that a Black candidate could win will (or should) feel seedy, timid, and embarrassed.

I look forward to your additional thoughts, and stay tuned for the next installment. . . .

Rep. Wayne Ford Endorses Barack Obama

2007-12-23T13:01:00.000-06:00

From the Iowa Independent:

"With Sunday's endorsement from Rep. Wayne Ford of Des Moines, Barack Obama takes the lead in endorsements from Iowa Legislators with 20 to Hillary Clinton's 19. . . . In Sunday's Obama press release, Ford said Obama will be "a President who can successfully expand economic opportunity and access to affordable housing for every American - including those who live in urban communities." The release also noted that Ford's endorsement gives Obama support from all four of Iowa's African-American legislators."

I'm very happy about this. I'm sure Rep. Ford had offers from powerful political operatives, but he held in there and did the right thing for Iowa and America. The full story is here.

Iowa's El Latino Newspaper Endorses Obama

2007-12-22T15:03:00.000-06:00

On Thursday, the Iowa weekly Spanish-language newspaper El Latino endorsed Barack Obama:

"To Elect Barack Obama is to Elect a Better Future for Everyone

. . . Since Obama’s father was an immigrant and Obama is a minority in the US, he not only understands the Latino community, he feels it—the good and the bad. We identify with Obama and are convinced that he understands the issues that directly impact Latino families: issues like immigration, education, the War in Iraq, civil rights, and small business development. . . . No other presidential candidate, particularly divisive candidates, can unite Congress and secure the votes to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform. We believe that Obama is the only candidate with the capability to change the immigration laws to keep our families together and give everyone the opportunity to pursue the American Dream."

Hat Tip & full English and Spanish versions are here: Jenny U.

Minorities Hit Hard by Rising Health Care Costs

2007-12-21T17:14:00.001-06:00

By Dana Boone

A new report by Families USA "Too Great a Burden: America's Families at Risk" found that a disproportionate number of the nation's minorities were uninsured between 2006 and 2007.

The report found that 44.5 percent of African-Americans, 60.7 percent of Latinos, 38.2 percent of people comprised of other ethnicities and 26 percent of whites were uninsured between 2006 and 2007.

Just in case you thought Kerrey's apology MEANT ANYTHING

2007-12-20T15:45:00.001-06:00

Here is Bob Kerrey's Insincere Apology to Senator Obama:

Dear Barack,

I want to sincerely apologize for the remarks I made on Sunday in Council Bluffs, Iowa, after an event at which I endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton's Presidential candidacy. I answered a question about your qualifications to be President in a way that has been interpreted as a backhanded insult of you. I assure you I meant to do just the opposite.

After you and I met during your primary campaign for the Senate, I wrote a public letter in which I said that that you were among the two or three most talented people I have ever met in politics. Nothing in your performance in the Senate or your campaign for the Presidency has altered that view.

The question I was asked in Iowa on Sunday was something like this: "Senator Kerrey, you ran for President in your first term in the Senate. If you were qualified, why isn't Senator Obama?" With the benefit of my computer's capacity to make certain that my words reflect my belief let me answer that question in this letter which you are free to use anyway you choose.

You are exceptionally qualified by experience and judgment to be President of the United States. I do not doubt that you would use the power of the Presidency to bring peace and prosperity to as many people as possible on our fragile planet. You inspire my highest hopes for that office's potential: That it be used as a force for good in America and the world.

It is your capacity to inspire hope that is your greatest God given talent. Without spending a dime of tax payer's money or changing a single law your presence in the Oval Office will send a clear and compelling message to four groups of people who will be altered for good as a consequence. That was what I was trying to say on Sunday and what I hope I said more clearly in this letter.

Again, I am sorry for the insult and wish you the best on January 3 and beyond.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Respectfully yours,

Bob Kerrey

Here you go for more proof that the apology was absolute garbage:

Clinton Launches Obama Attack Web Sites

ABC News has learned that the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has registered the names of two Web sites with the express goal of attacking her chief rival, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

It's the first time this election cycle a presidential campaign has launched a Web site with the express purpose of of launching serious criticisms on a rival.

And, just to sum it all up for the readers, especially those who stand there, and go, ' you Obama folks are just ' too sensitive', a reader of Andrew Sullivan's summed it up quite well:

So far this month Mrs. Clinton has "apologized" for two Iowa county volunteer coordinators' forwarding Obama-is-a-Muslim emails; Bill Shaheen does the Obama-is-a-druggie routine; Howard Wolfson goes on national TV and repeats it; Bill Clinton says we're "rolling the dice" with Obama, and now Kerrey is "apologizing" for his Obama-went-to-a-Madrassa remarks. This many events in a three-week span indicate a coherent plan. If one accepts Mrs. Clinton's explanations that these events are not what they obviously are, then the only other explanation would seem to be that she cannot control her campaign staff. That seems fairly incompetent leadership for someone who claims to be ready to lead on day one.

Like I've said before....ISOLATED incidents can only be qualified as such, when they remain ISOLATED. When they stop being ISOLATED and begin to form a PATTERN, then accept the PATTERN and what it tells you.

The Southern Strategy, and its racist underbelly, is all the same, whether used in Mississippi & Georgia, or in this case, IOWA AND NEW HAMPSHIRE.

RELATED ARTICLES:
Clinton Acolytes' Racist Attacks
The Real Race Card

Why Blacks Must Caucus on Jan. 3 in Iowa

2007-12-20T14:15:00.000-06:00

From: Dana Boone

I’ve heard people say that they will begin pay more attention to the presidential candidates after the Iowa Caucuses on Jan. 3. But, the time to pay attention is now. The time to make a choice is now. Don’t leave such an important decision in the hands of others. Don’t wait to see what the crowd is doing. Set the trend. Research the candidates now and pick one. Then participate in the Iowa Caucuses on Jan 3 and make sure your vote counts.

I attended Barack Obama’s rally with Oprah Winfrey nearly two weeks ago. Prior to the event, I researched where Obama and the other candidates stood on the issues that are important to me as an African-American woman -- issues like health care, education, employment and justice. I went to the event with an open mind and I left convinced that Obama is the only smart choice.

I’ve heard some people doubt whether this country is ready for a black president. The fact is we need a leader who understands black America and has the desire and will to make things better not just for us, but especially for us.

I’ve heard people talk about the other candidates and I remember something that Claud Anderson, president of PowerNomics Corporation of America, said during the Ongoing Covenant with Black Iowa Summit in Waterloo last month.

Anderson said blacks must learn to elect officials "who speak for you first and foremost." He warned the audience against voting for candidates who can’t deliver something specific to them.

"Quid pro quo is politics," he said. "I vote you into office; you owe me."

Serious issues affect blacks all over the country and it is irresponsible of us to lend our support to any candidate whose campaign messages, speeches and ads don’t include something specific to improve our plight as blacks.

So I can’t wait to caucus on Jan. 3 for Obama because his proposals include specifics that will improve black neighborhoods and schools, among other things. Learn about it for yourself.

On Jan. 4, I don’t want to hear people say, “Oh, I should have.” Get the information you need now to make a decision and make your voice heard on Jan. 3.

“Fewer black freshmen return to Iowa State”

2007-12-20T11:22:00.000-06:00

From today’s Register:

“A new Iowa State University study of freshman retention shows that 85 percent of all freshmen who enrolled in 2006 returned for their sophomore year. But advocates for black students said they were concerned that the retention rate for the 123 black students in 2006 was lower, at 73.2 percent. . . .

ISU will not single out any ethnic group for academic intervention in response to the new numbers. Rather, the university's response to any faltering students will include efforts to help those who demonstrate they are at risk through indicators such as their cumulative and midterm grade-point averages, said David Holger, ISU associate provost for academic programs.

The percentage of black students who returned at ISU in 2007 is significantly lower than previous years. Eighty-six percent of black freshmen in 2003 returned for their sophomore year, ISU statistics show. . . .
The disparity between returning black students and total students is not as dramatic at other universities in Iowa.”

The full story is here.

Video: Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum

2007-12-19T12:53:00.000-06:00

The full three hour program is here:

Blacks Mobilize for Change

2007-12-19T11:01:00.000-06:00

Dana Boone writes today on African-American political activism at the Caucuses:

“African-American leaders and others predict an increased number of blacks will flock to the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3 to hammer home the message that they want change.

‘I think that there is a renewed optimism among blacks, generated in large part by the viability of Barack Obama's presidential run, his message of ‘change that we can believe in’ and the fact that the previous administration has polarized this country . . .’ said Abraham Funchess (top right), division administrator for the Iowa Department of African-American Affairs. . . . .

The increased attention to politics has occurred as Funchess orchestrated a statewide push to mobilize blacks to improve their communities. Grass-roots organizations have trained blacks -- some who admitted they were uneasy in the political realm -- on how to caucus. Obama's staff has for months attended black community meetings and participated in discussions about the issues affecting blacks and advised them on how to change things through politics, which has helped connect some would-be caucus-goers to his campaign. . . . .

Iowa's population is 2.3 percent black. It's difficult to determine how many blacks have participated in past Iowa caucuses because the question is not asked of caucus-goers. Despite being a small percentage of the state's population, blacks around the state appear poised to make their voices heard. . . .

‘If nothing more, our constituency will opt less for political apathy and engage the democratic process and allow our voices to be heard, both on national and state level politics and organizing,’ [Funchess] said."

Dana Boone's full story appears in the Iowa Independent.

United States Representative Dave Loebsack Has Endorsed Senator Obama

2007-12-18T16:13:00.000-06:00

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack said today he is endorsing Barack Obama for president. He said that Obama, a senator from Illinois, offers the best chance to bring about change and healing. He believes that change comes from the bottom up like in grassroots campaigns- that is one of the reasons he supports Senator Obama so much...that’s Senator Obama's approach. Senator Obama believs that everyone has a voice and that it should be heard.

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration

2007-12-18T15:01:00.000-06:00

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
celebrates the life and legacy of a man who
brought hope and healing to America. The King
Holiday honors the life and contributions of
America’s greatest champion of racial justice and
equality.

The citizens of Iowa who represent
these values, and have shown their dedication
to breaking racial barriers and
serving the people of their communities
will be recipients of the 2008 Martin Luther King,
Jr. Lifetime Achievement and Service Project
Awards.

If interested please come to the annual
commemoration ceremony on Monday, January
16, 2008 at the Iowa Historical Building. The
Historical Building is located at 600 East Locust
Street in Des Moines. The program begins at
10:45 AM and is free and open to the public.

Obama 'Willie Horton' Watch - Back to the Muslim Smear Today

2007-12-17T22:33:00.000-06:00

From Marc Ambinder:

Speaking on CNN tonight:

BOB KERREY: "It's something by the way I have told Barack Obama when I've met with him. It something that I've spoken about before. So this is not something that just sort of came out of the head birth out there in Iowa. I've thought about it a great deal. I've watched the blogs try to say that you can't trust him because he spent a little bit of time in a secular madrassa. I feel quite the opposite. I feel it's a tremendous strength whether he is in the United States Senate or whether he's in the White House, I think it's a tremendous asset for him.

Ahem.

You can be naive if you want to be. But then, I'll be telling you that you're a fool. It's all part of a coordinated effort. Remember now, not one, but TWO people have had to quit for spreading the Madrassa LIE in the Clinton campaign. And now, they have Kerrey talking about it.

If you can't see a hit job when it's in front of your face, then I feel bad for you. It's marching orders from Hillary and Company.

Video of Hill Harper on Barack

2007-12-17T16:25:00.000-06:00

Earlier, we talked about CSI:NY TV Star Hill Harper's return home to Iowa. We don't have video of that, but we do have a 5 minute clip of Hill talking about his time in law school with Barack. Here it is:

Position Open at Alliant Energy

2007-12-17T15:45:00.000-06:00

Alliant Energy has a Talent Acquisition Specialist position open until Friday. Please visit their website here, or call 608-458-8458 for general information. Women and diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Clinton Campaign Should Stop Spreading Fear

2007-12-17T14:24:00.000-06:00

First Clinton Campaign Chair Bill Shaheen suggested that the GOP would characterize Barack as a drug dealer in the general. Shaheen resigned and Hillary apologized to Barack personally.

And then Hillary appeared on “Iowa Press” a couple of days later, and suggested the same thing:

"I’ve been tested, I’ve been vetted. . . . There are no surprises. There’s not going to be anybody saying, 'I didn’t think of that, my goodness, what’s that going to mean? . . . Whoever we nominate will be subjected to the full force of the Republican attack machine, and I know that they know I know that and I have no illusions about what this race will entail."

When she was asked what she was “suggesting about Obama,” Hillary Clinton responded: "I’m only talking about myself."

Find the full account on the Politico. Granted, Hillary didn’t explicitly suggest that Barack would be dismissed as a Black stereotype as her campaign chair did. But her “wink and nod” rhetoric continues her campaign’s party line of spreading fear rather than a compelling vision for America. Voters who buy that rhetoric because they think they are being “political realists” walk right into the trap set by Washington-insiders.

Below are some of the reader comments on the Politico in response to the story:

“Yes Hillary, you have been vetted, that's why you have such high negatives and why practically half of this country wouldn't vote for you. You want us to vote for you because you have already been shown to be untrustworthy and dishonest? You want us to vote you based on your hollow theory that there MIGHT be some dirt on Obama that MIGHT cost him the general election? Are we supposed to just TRUST you on this. This type of argument is essentially equivalent to waving the white flag for the Clinton campaign. The Obama camp has run a nearly flawless campaign these last two months, whereas the Clinton campaign has been chaotic and self-imploding. They've written their own case for Clinton's un-electability. She's choked in the primaries, one only knows what will happen to her in the general election.”

Posted by Dave

“[T]his whole idea of the Republican attack machine ready to go on Obama is completely false. A dear friend of mine is a researcher at the RNC and he is told me many times that the opposite is true. They have an arsenal ready to go against Hillary, and next to nothing on Obama and Edwards. Ironically, this RNC staffer spent months on Obama oppo research and recently told me that if Obama were the Dem nominee, he would vote for him. Republicans know that they will get crushed by Obama or Edwards. They think they have a 50-50 shot with Hillary though.”

Posted by Jon

“If he hasn't been vetted, then start bringing up what you've found on him, Hillary! If you want it bad enough, then do it yourself! Oh wait, you've only found a kindergarten essay and a PAC fund that donated to you and your congressional supporters. If anything, YOU are the one who has not been vetted this election cycle.”

Posted by IndieFE

Gift Idea: Books

2007-12-17T08:56:00.000-06:00

Books make good holiday gifts. Felicia Pride at BlackVoices has some ideas about titles. And here's the Essence 2007 bestseller list.

Latino Heritage Festival Committee Scholarships

2007-12-16T20:21:00.000-06:00

From The Register: “The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school seniors in the Des Moines district.” Oscar Lucatero-Trevino (East High School), Oscar Guaman (North High School), Yvette Rodriguez (Hoover High School graduate), Josue Acosta (Lincoln High School), and Juan Jacinto (Roosevelt High School) were among those selected.

CSI:NY Star Hill Harper Returns Home to Iowa

2007-12-16T20:14:00.000-06:00

The Hawkeye has the following story on actor Hill Harper, who is from Iowa and wrote the bestselling mentoring book “Letters to a Young Brother.”

“[H]ow many Americans know Barack Obama can play hoops. . . . That scouting report comes courtesy of Hill Harper, a star on the television show "CSI:NY," who used to run the court at Hemingway Gym with Obama in their days together at Harvard. . . . .

The Iowa City native, who is an African-American, lived for a time as a child in Keokuk and spent part of middle school and high school in Fort Madison. . . . . He was back in the area Friday putting on a full-court press for his friend, Obama, now a senator from Illinois. . . . .

Harper's deepest local connections are in Fort Madison, where his family's history reaches back six generations. His grandfather, Harry D. Harper, was a physician who, with his brothers founded a medical clinic and lab that served African-Americans from four states. . . .

Harper's concern for young minority men compelled him to publish "Letters to a Young Brother: MANifest Your Destiny" in 2006. Modeled after Rainer Maria Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet," the motivational book answers some life questions from Harper's fans.

Harper wasn't the only writer involved, though. A few acquaintances helped out, including his old law school friend, Barack Obama. . . .

To his audience at The Blue Shop, Harper said Obama had stayed up deep into the night while on a foreign relations trip to Israel to write his entry for "Letters to a Young Brother." It wasn't like the senator had procrastinated, though. Harper only asked him to get involved on the day before the publication deadline.

That story hints at one of the characteristics Harper clearly admires most in his friend -- his commitment to service.”

The full story is here.

Candidates Court Black Vote

2007-12-16T15:13:00.000-06:00

Hat Tip: Booker Rising

Sunday, December 16, 2007 6:05 AM CST
Candidates court black vote
By JENS MANUEL KROGSTAD, Courier Staff Writer

WATERLOO --- A diverse field of presidential candidates, combined with aggressive, tailored outreach, has generated exceptionally high interest in the caucuses in the black community.

African-Americans in Waterloo so far seem to mirror Democrats in the rest of the state --- they're mulling the three leading presidential candidates, but leaning toward Barack Obama.

While people are quick to praise Hillary Clinton, the buzz in churches, barber shops and beauty salons seem to favor Obama less than three weeks before the caucuses.

A new poll released by Lee Enterprises, the Courier's parent company, echoed that assessment: Obama leads the pack with 33 percent, followed by Clinton and John Edwards, each at 24 percent.

"The people I talk to here, and especially with African-Americans, it's Obama, Obama, Obama," acknowledged Joy Lowe, a longtime friend and supporter of John and Elizabeth Edwards. "I've never seen anything like this, not even with (former presidential contender) Jesse Jackson."

Take a drive down East Fourth Street and through sizable African-American neighborhoods, and it's hard not to notice a similar trend in the yard signs lining the streets --- Obama, Obama, Obama. Not be ignored, though, are the splashes of Edwards and Clinton signs. Add it all up, and it could be a record year for voter turnout, said Michael Blackwell, Black Hawk County Democrats vice chairman.

"I attribute that to the number of candidates running, and also the fact there have been a lot of candidates --- some more than others --- that have sought to reach out directly to the African-American community," Blackwell said.

Campaigns have implemented unprecedented outreach efforts towards blacks in a city where the number of African-Americans roughly equals the national average --- 12 percent. It is a sizeable population, especially in a state with an approximately 2 percent black population.

Rest of article is HERE.

I am glad that the Black population of Iowa is feeling some love from the campaigns. I cannot encourage the Black community enough to get out and caucus. I would hope that it would be for Barack Obama, but just getting out and participating in the caucus has to be a good thing. It's good for democracy everywhere when more people, from diverse groups, are participating in the process. I'm sort of Old School - I believe that too many people were beaten, thrown in jail to give Black folks the right to vote for us to throw away any opportunity to be active in the process.

Calling Mentors for African-American Students

2007-12-15T13:46:00.000-06:00

Dana Boone writes this week:

“One hour a week. . . . That's all that is needed from adult mentors to help African-American students in Des Moines who are participating in an annual academic competition. But guess what? There are more students than mentors.

‘That is a critical, critical piece. We need mentors to spend time helping the students prepare,’ said Gretchen Woods, youth adviser for the Des Moines Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).”

. . . .
For more information about becoming a mentor or providing opportunities for students to showcase their skills, call Sonya Collier, the student mentor coordinator for ACT-SO at 515-778-0845.”

Dana Boone’s full story is in the Iowa Independent.

Saturday: Free life insurance for low-income families

2007-12-14T23:46:00.000-06:00

The WCF Courier provides this story:

“WATERLOO --- A life insurance benefit is being offered at no cost to low-income parents that would help pay for their children's college education if they die.

Insurance agent Brenda Parham (pictured top right) is signing up families Saturday for the LifeBridge program. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Zion Lutheran Church, 810 Kimball Ave. . . .

"I call it the education insurance," said Parham. "This is solely for the kid's educational expense and that kid has up to age 35 to use those funds."

"So far I've signed up about 127 people and only five of them have been rejected," said Parham, who gets no commission for those who enroll.

The sign up period was originally set to end Dec. 31. It has now been extended for two more years. Those who can't make the event can contact Parham at (319) 232-2569 or BrendaParham@msn.com to make an appointment and sign up.”

Is Hillary Clinton trying to 'Willie Horton' Barack Obama?

2007-12-14T13:38:00.000-06:00

In case you haven't been paying attention to politics in the past few days, the former head of Hillary Clinton's campaign in New Hampshire, Bill Shaheen, 'resigned' because of remarks that he made about Barack Obama.

Per the WashingtonPost, here is the money quote:

Shaheen said Obama's candor on the subject would "open the door" to further questions. "It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?'" Shaheen said. "There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome."

Now, numerous previous candidates have admitted to drug use. George W. Bush spent the better part of TWENTY YEARS under some sort of influence, be it booze or drugs, and nobody EVER ASKED HIM THIS QUESTION.

But, THE BLACK MAN, who has TWO Ivy League Degrees, is ASKED IF HE'S A DRUG DEALER?

But, if Sheehan was 'acting solo'/ 'going rogue', then what the hell was Mark Penn doing on Hardball with the same slime, not an hour AFTER the debate was over.

Thanks to our friend, sagereader, over at Think On These Things, breaks it down in this post: Evidence That Clinton Camp’s Attack On Obama’s Drug Use Was Deliberate

The title of this post comes from a reply at Jack and Jill.

NMP asked:
The larger question for the hankerchief heads, as you like to call them, supporting Hillary Clinton is will they join her in effectively using a Wille Horton on Obama...using the unjust incarceration of mostly Black men as a wedge issue to scare White folks against Obama?

I have written about Hillary Clinton's stance AGAINST retroactivity with regards to drug sentencing HERE.

Here is the money quote from Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic:

Campaign aides have said that Obama's support for retroactivity in drug sentences would kill him with tough-on-crime white independents. But the Supreme Court, in a 7 to 2 decision yesterday that included Antonin Scalia, endorsed the view that judges could ignore sentencing guidelines when handing down prison terms for distributing crack versus powder cocaine, and a Bush administration panel today voted seven to nothing to impose retroactivity.

Now, her choice puts her to the RIGHT of SCALIA. It's going to be on the backs of Black Men and Women - who are the ones disproportionately incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses. She'll prove her ELECTABILITY by proving how many BLACK FOLK she can keep locked up.

First scaring the White folk in Iowa with the Obama is a Drug Dealer smear, then once she's won that, have her Handkerchief Heads, come front and center, about why Black folk should vote for her, after she's vowed to keep standing, one of the most obvious and blatant examples of Racial Disparity in the Justice System.

PS- And, don't forget, that not one, but TWO folks have had to resign in Iowa because of the Madrassa LIE.

Jealousy or Justifiable Criticism?

2007-12-14T11:07:00.000-06:00

Presidential candidate and Illinois senator Barack Obama is a favorite among many demographic groups. He is a favorite among college employees, especially professors. College employees have donated far more money to Obama than any other presidential candidate, and his strengths as a leader are often described as including “his [professorial] ability to engage people who hold various viewpoints, scrutinize their ideas, and forge rational solutions.”

Obama is also a huge favorite among college students. For example, Obama tops Hillary Clinton “by a nearly 2-1 margin among students at four-year colleges.” As Obama travels across Iowa, he is encouraging college students, many of whom will now be away on winter break, to come back for the Iowa caucus on January 3, 2008. In so doing, he is reminding them of their civic duty to engage the political process.

But, Obama’s opponents find this tactic to be unfair. A spokesperson from the Clinton campaign has indicated the following: “We are not courting out-of-staters. The Iowa caucus ought to be for Iowans.”

A campaign supporter for Chris Dodd made similar comments, asserting:
“I was deeply disappointed to read today about the Obama campaign’s attempt to recruit thousands of out-of-state residents to come to Iowa for the caucuses. . . . ‘New Politics’ shouldn’t be about scheming to evade either the spirit or the letter of the rules that guide the process. That may be the way politics is played in Chicago, but not in Iowa.”

But are these campaign officials just jealous or justifiably upset by Obama’s push for more college participation? After all, as Obama’s campaign contends, “It’s doing nothing unusual . . . . Iowa college students have long caucused near their colleges.” But for the Iowa caucus date moving up to January 3, most of these students would be back from break to participate in the caucus anyway. Additionally, what is wrong with students caucusing in a state where they will spend at least 4-5 years of their lives? In fact, many students register to vote in the state where they attend college and participate in local politics. I attended college in Iowa and registered to vote there when I was a student. Besides, shouldn’t we be encouraging young people, who tend not to engage in politics at high percentages, to participate in the caucuses—to become more politically involved? In the last presidential caucus in Iowa, only 4 percent of participants in Democratic caucuses were between the ages of 18 and 24. Shouldn’t any politician want to see these numbers rise?

University of Iowa professor Angela Onwuachi Willig cross-blogs from BlackProf.com.

Where there is smoke is there fire?

2007-12-13T21:55:00.000-06:00

Seems we are hearing a lot about people in the Clinton organization resigning or being asked to step down because they aren’t playing nice politics. First there was the hoax email by a Clinton volunteer coordinator.

“Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign on Sunday requested the resignation of a second Iowa volunteer coordinator who forwarded a hoax e-mail saying Barack Obama is a Muslim possibly intent on destroying the United States” rest of article here

Now we have another Clinton advisor being booted.

“A top campaign adviser to Hillary Rodham Clinton resigned Thursday, a day after suggesting Democrats should be wary of nominating Barack Obama because his teenage drug use could make it hard for him to win the presidency.” Rest of article here

It seems like we’ve seen these types of dirty politics before, especially over the last 7 years. Now this is not to say Hilary is completely responsible for the remarks that folks in her campaign make, but it does question what type of people she may surround herself with.

MLK Day Rap

2007-12-12T15:05:00.000-06:00

By Stephen Bowie, reader-submitted at The Register. An excerpt:

"Every year it’s now a regular thing,
We observe a day for Reverend Martin Luther King
But it’s no time to sit back; it’s no time to sit down:
It's a time to see what page - of history we’re on."

Here are the lyrics in whole.

Federico Peña in Denison

2007-12-12T15:02:00.000-06:00

Former Denver Mayor and Clinton Administration U.S. Secretary of Transportation Federico Peña was in Denison, and talked to Latino leaders about why he is supporting Obama. The Iowa Independent has the full story here.