As cynical as it may seem, I believe that most Americans have come to accept the negative use of the term entitlementin the context of the political discussion. They may not agree with its use, but most know that it will be used - by Conservative and Progressive, alike - to gain a political advantage among those concerned enough or sufficiently inflamed to vote. I do not, however, believe that anyone of good-conscience will accept the use of the negative connotation of Entitlement in the definition of any of the inalienable rights or privileges directly stated or inferred in the Constitution.

With my exception stated, enter Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and his conservative assessment of the constitutionality of Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. I am shocked and appalled that a sitting member of the highest court in the land would characterize voting rights as being a "Racial Entitlement." His utterance epitomizes the myth of "white superiority" and the racial arrogance that allows him to disregard the full scope of the constitutional rights of citizens of color.

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is a legal construct designed to protect citizens against discriminatory exclusion from voting in jurisdictions where historical evidence of those patterns exists. Despite what critics of the Voting Rights Act may claim, there are still jurisdictions where racial animus has been institutionalized into restrictive practices that serve to disenfranchise citizens based on racial identity. Section 5 simply requires that jurisdictions which operate under its control demonstrate that they no longer employ practices that discriminate. When sufficient evidence exists to show non-discriminatory practices, those jurisdictions are relieved from further scrutiny under Section 5.

In his characterization, Scalia seemingly forgets that the right to vote is constitutionally ordained - not something granted or qualified by political party or other entity. Except through age, legal citizenship and social conduct, the vote isn’t subject to question. It’s owned by citizens as they make their own choices. It is not subject to any other standard of qualification.

In reply to his comments, I say how dare Justice Scalia suggest - euphemistically or otherwise - that the right of citizens of color to vote exists only as another in a list of undeserved "entitlements."

By Rev. Jesse Jackson

By Julianne Malveaux

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - When unemployment rate data were released on Friday morning, commentators replied joyfully.  Alan Krueger, who heads the White House Council of Economic Advisors, described the creation of 247,000 jobs as a victory, since the predictions were that the economy would only generate 170,000 jobs.  Unemployment rates went down to 7.7 percent, while predictions were that they would only drop to 7.8 percent.  Some might call this good news, but many might wonder who is affected by this good news. 

A deep dive into the unemployment rate data show the disappointing reality that African-American unemployment rates remained level, at 13.8 percent.  Meanwhile, white unemployment rates fell to 6.8 percent and the rate for white men dropped to 6.3 percent.  The racial disparities in unemployment rates are not new, but it is hypocritical to celebrate a drop in White unemployment rages, without noticing or mentioning the stagnation in black unemployment rates.

More than new construction jobs were generated last month, but since Black unemployment rates remained level, that suggests that African-Americans are not being brought into that industry (if at all) at the same rates that whites are.  Implicitly, these data make the case for continued affirmative action, especially in well-paid jobs.  In times of economic hardship, those hiring are inclined to look after their own instead of spreading the jobs around.  And recent data suggests that African-Americans enter the labor market with a shallower rolodex than whites.  Fewer contacts mean fewer job opportunities.  Whose employment situation has improved?

The number of long term unemployed remained level at 4.8 million people who have been unemployed for 37 weeks or more.  To be sure, this is a drop from the 39 weeks of a year or so ago.  Still, the situation for some of the unemployed has simply not improved.  One of the reasons that the unemployment rate dropped is because 130,000 people dropped out of the labor force because they could not find jobs.

Eight million people work part time for economic reasons.  They would take full time work if only they could find it.   The number of “marginally attached” workers stands at 2.4 million.   If underutilized workers are included, the unemployment rate is 14.3 percent for everyone.  If the relationship between underutilization and reported unemployment is the same for African Americans as for whites, then the real unemployment rate is 25.5 percent, or almost a fourth, for African Americans.  That’s alarming, yet as I watch televised reports on black unemployment rates, this is unmentioned.

Black unemployment rates are at more than Depression levels, which ought to be completely unacceptable.  It is not.  Yet few are paying attention to the plight of the unemployed, underemployed, or out of the labor force black worker.  The White House and others love to talk about all of us being in the same boat.  Yet some are hanging onto the board by their fingernails, and others are drowning.  And some are struggling to row.  Others are riding relatively smoothly through this recession, watching their situation improve.

CEA Chairman Krueger says the data from this employment report suggests that we are well on our way to economic recovery.  From my perspective this recovery is neither robust nor inclusive.   In order for this recovery to be fully celebrated, every sector of Americans should see their material conditions increase.  They’ve increased for some. What about the others?  Where are their advocates?

Too many African-American leaders are asleep at the wheel when it comes to the employment situation.  Unemployment rates become a line in their speeches, not a lode for their leadership.   High unemployment rates explain why so many African Americans, at the economic margins, don’t support civil rights organizations.  They are asking what’s in it for me.

What if huge numbers of unemployed people were mobilized?  What if, in their economic misery, some rose up and demanded that Congress and others pay attention to their situation?  To watch the situation of whites improve, while black unemployment rates remain the same, suggests that the vision of a post-racial society is extremely unrealistic.  African-American people are bearing a disproportion amount of pain in the current employment situation.  Black people are starving, and it seems that no one, not even civil rights advocates, will act on their behalf.

Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Afro American Newspaper

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Central State University, a public, historically Black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio, swore in its first female president in its 126-year history on March 7.

Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond assumed the position from former university president John Garland on July 1, and was officially sworn in as part of a week-long series of events.

After spending seven years as the dean of the School of Education and Human Performance at North Carolina’s Winston-Salem State University, Jackson-Hammond came to Central State with excitement and vigor, said Gayle Colston Barge, who also left Winston-Salem to become Central State’s director of university public relations.

“Dr. Jackson-Hammond is an extraordinary visionary,” Barge said. “She is thoughtful and attuned to the students, faculty and staff. She was an uncanny ability to multitask that she can be a visionary, but cognizant of the details.”

Jackson-Hammond is a graduate of Gambling State University where she earned an undergraduate degree in communications arts and English. She has a Masters in communications and education counseling from the University of Louisiana and a Doctorate from Grambling State in Developmental Education, with a dual focus in Curriculum and Instruction and Student Personnel Services.

She is the former provost and vice president of academic affairs of Coppin State University, a historically black college located in Baltimore.

At Winston-Salem, Jackson-Hammond pushed her students to think outside of the box and explore career opportunities in non-traditional roles. Her program “Real Men Teach” pushed male students to not only become teachers, but leaders. “She wanted to ensure there were more young men in education,” said Barge.

Jackson-Hammond’s vision for Central State includes a six-point plan: a quality collegiate/academic experience for every student, targeted diverse student enrollment, reduced time to earning a degree, better retention and higher graduation rates, efficient and effective institutional operations and graduating students with the appropriate knowledge, skill and dispositions for professional careers or advanced degrees.

Central State currently reports a 50 percent five-year retention rate. According to U.S. News and World Report’s College Rankings and Reviews, the university has a 9 percent four-year graduation rate.

While few of the nation’s 105 HBCUs have had women presidents, among those who have, are Spelman College, Wilberforce University, Dillard University, Bennett College for Women, Kentucky State University, Langston University and the University of Virgin Islands.

The events leading up to Jackson-Hammond’s inauguration included Marauder Service Day, Charter Day and a celebration of the university and its community at an inter-faith service. A black-tie scholarship gala at the Dayton Arts Institute was scheduled to follow her induction.