April 21, 2024

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - In March of 2018, after 25 years of doing so, I submitted my final Blackonomics column to the members of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

The article was titled, "The Last Dance," and I wrote it because I could no longer use my computer. ALS had made its way to my arms and hands preventing me from doing something else I loved doing.

Since that time, I have gotten back to writing, only now with my eyes on my eye gaze computer. You can check out my work on ALS News Today online.

But this is not about me. It's about us, Black people. So I humbly ask the NNPA and all Black news outlets (I don't think this will appear in the New York Times or the Washington Post) - whether print or online - to indulge me one more time because I really have to speak to my family.

While our overall political status leaves much to be desired, I want to hone in on one slice of it: The slice called DEI. Trump and others of his ilk are constantly railing against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In my opinion, it's the new N-word.

Let's take a different look at these issues. It's hilarious that Trump thinks DEI is bad when he uses it to boost his popularity. Diversity? Inclusion? He has insulted Hispanics by calling them rapists and criminals. He said they are poisoning the blood of this country.

He insults women in so many ways, questioning their intelligence and competency when it comes to what they think is right for their bodies. He insulted Muslims when he issued a ban against their entrance to this country.

He insulted Jews by questioning their beliefs and saying those among them who vote for Democrats are not Jewish. He insults Christians in a variety of ways, the latest of which includes hawking over-priced bibles but can't recite one verse from it. He says he gets forgiveness by drinking a little wine and eating a cracker. 

He insulted Puerto Ricans by throwing paper towels to them after they suffered one of the worst hurricanes in their history. He insulted veterans by calling their dead "suckers and losers." He asked his general what's in for them (soldiers and sailors).

And to think some members of all those groups want him to be their President is mind-boggling to me. Some even have bowed down before a golden image of Trump, despite what happened to the ones who did the same thing under the leadership of Moses. 

Now let's look at Black people, my people. Trump called for the death penalty for five Black teens wrongly accused of crimes. He insulted Obama by questioning his citizenship. Trump has insulted others like "my African American," and his water boy, Tim Scott, who then insulted himself by responding, "I just love you."

To top it all off, he insulted African countries by calling them S---hole nations, which is also an insult to our ancestors. It's obvious Trump knows nothing about African history, but even if he did it would not change his insults.

He knows nothing about the greatness of Songhai, Mali, Timbuktu, Kemet, Ethiopia, and many other African nations of then and now.

He said people from Congo are diseased and a bunch of criminals. It is funny that King Leopold II of Belgium and other heads of state didn't feel they were S - - - holes. 

Leopold coveted the Congo, during which time he caused the deaths of as many as ten million Congolese and walked away with one billion dollars. He wanted the land and the free labor to work on the rubber tree plantations, but tortured the people and their children in the process. Ever heard of the Belgian Congo and Leopoldville?

What really hurts is the fact that some members of our group will also vote for the pumpkin. With black skinned folks like Clarence Thomas, Byron Donalds, Candace Owens, and Tim Scott leading the way, some pitiful Black people will follow them to the gallows.

That staged event in Atlanta was certainly one for the books. Trump plants a black skinned stooge in a Chick-fil-A, who hugged and swooned over him, all of which was set up. Instead of paper towels he gave the Black folks milkshakes and chicken to get their votes.

By the way, do you know how many Black workers there are in government jobs? Trump and Steven Miller have plans to downsize when they get back in charge. Black unemployment increase? You betcha.

Now, for all of you who say God sent Trump to deliver us, I simply say, may God's will be done despite my feelings or complaints, which place me the company of Jeremiah, Job, and Habakkuk. His will is perfect.

Diversity and inclusion, when used as Trump does, are despicable and evil. His insults and name-calling are as diverse and inclusive as they come. Used properly, DEI is simply a tool to assist in the repair of Black people. Long overdue.

But what about Equity? Well, that simply means "The quality of being fair and impartial," something the anti-DEI crowd would do well to learn and implement.

Brothers and sisters if you want an even more corrupt Supreme Court and Congress, if you want to see even more racists in public office, and if you don't mind having a King and dictator rather than a President, Trump is your guy.

But please don't allow him to insult your intelligence, and please have enough pride and resolve not to insult yourself. C'mon people. Please don't be stupid.

April 23, 2024

Black Women's Roundtable Convenor Melanie Campbell was one of the panelists who told an audience of 200 that America is in an emergency. Others pictured are Barbara Arnwine of the Transformative Justice Coalition and Janice Mathis of the National Council of Negro Women. PHOTO: Roy Lewis/Trice Edney News Wire.

2024 Stateswomen panel gathered before the luncheon preparing to discuss the theme, "America in Emergency." Pictured L-R are: Dr. Barbara Reynolds, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Hazel Trice Edney, Barbara Arnwine, Janice Mathis, Melanie Campbell and Symone Campbell. PHOTO: Roy Lewis/Trice Edney News Wire.

(TriceEdneyWire.com) – Black women leaders of national civil rights and voting rights organizations have gathered at the National Press Club in Washington DC to declare “America in Emergency,” at a time when conservative lawmakers continued to dismantle decades of Civil Rights gains.

In several Southern states, certain books by Black authors have been banned; diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are being eliminated, and judges appointed by former President Donald Trump continue to gut Voting Rights laws.

“It is unbelievable what is happening in Florida,” said former U.S. Rep Corine Brown (D-Flo.) who served in Congress for 26 years. “You can't teach diversity in Florida; we have a million people [taken off the rolls] who can’t vote. What can you do?”

Brown, speaking from the audience during the town hall portion of the annual Stateswomen for Justice Luncheon, was recognized by Dr. Julianne Malveaux, an economist, author, and former President of Bennett College for Women, who moderated this year’s event in celebration of Women’s History Month and the 197^th anniversary of the Black Press.

Veteran Journalist Hazel Trice Edney, president/CEO of Trice Edney Communications and Editor-in-chief of the Trice Edney News Wire, has hosted the event that has taken place for the last 12 years at the National Press Club.

Malveaux said the time couldn't be more urgent. “What do we do in an emergency ?” Malveaux asked the audience of 200 women and men. “Sometimes we call 9-11, But then we react. We have to vote like it's an emergency.”

Rev. Benjamin Chavis, a veteran Civil Rights activist and president/CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, implied that Black people have always risen to the occasion when attacked with injustices.

“We have been in emergencies before for 500 years,” said Chavis. “The transatlantic slave trade was an emergency, But God has blessed us. We are not a cursed people; we are a blessed people.”

Melanie Campbell, President/CEO of the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation and convenor of the Black Women’s Roundtable, said,” It is time for us to take action because It is clear that the attack on Black people has a laser focus on the attack against Black women.”

Campbell added, “We will not allow them to divide us. We have to own our collective power. They are real serious about erasing our history.”

Barbara Arnwine, the President/CEO of the Transformative Justice Coalition, talked about a lynching in Brunswick, Georgia, and said, “When they kill our children, murder them for just being Black, after all this, folks, we have work to do!”

Arnwine was referring to the fact that lawyers representing the three white men who ran down and killed Ahmaud Arbery as he jogged have asked the US Court of Appeals to throw out the case.

“Folks, there is nothing we can say right now,” Arnwine said. “We have to first fight for our young people.”

Former USA Today columnist Dr. Barbara Reynolds held a book-signing and book launch in connection with the luncheon, presenting copies of her new book, “The Rise and Fall of the Techno-Messiah: Technology and the End Times.” The book issues a warning of how artificial intelligence is dangerous, eliminating jobs and it messages that some believe it could try to take the place of God.

“We will not be replaced; we will not be reduced,” Reynolds, an ordained minister, told the gathering.

Dr. Symone Campbell, a technology and artificial intelligence expert from Howard University gave warnings of how to recognize when misinformation is at work; especially during election time. She told the audience to look out for “repetitive language; distorted body parts such as hands, teeth, hair and face; audio not matching images or no images shown.”

Bishop George Holmes gave the benediction, encouraging the women to be thermostats instead of thermometers “because thermostats set the tone” in life instead of simply recording the temperature.

Dr. Freddie Haynes

By Hazel Trice Edney

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Less than a year after the fanfare announcement that he will succeed the Rev. Jesse Jackson as leader of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III announced his resignation this week amid what insiders described as a painful financial situation.

Few details were available at Trice Edney News Wire deadline, but according to Dr. Haynes' April 16 statement titled, “Public Resignation Statement,” he said the following as he resigned from the organization that announced him as Jackson’s successor last July and formally installed him Feb. 1.  

“After continued prayer and deliberation, I have decided to step down from the position of Chief Executive Officer and President of Rainbow Push Coalition (RPC), effective immediately. I remain committed to honoring the rich history of RPC and the legacy of its esteemed leader, the incomparable Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., and, most significantly, to the calling and pursuit of social justice. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have expressed their support since my appointment in July of last year. Rest assured that my work in the fight for liberation and freedom continues. Yours in the struggle, Frederick D. Haynes III”

Rev. Jackson, who has been ill with Parkinson's disease, could not be reached for comment by deadline. Sources close to RPC said the organization has been stricken with insurmountable financial problems.

Dr. Haynes, a protege of Rev. Jackson's, still serves as the Senior Pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas.

On its website, RPC describes itself by saying, “We protect, defend, and gain civil rights by leveling the economic and educational playing fields, and to promote peace and justice around the world.”

According to its written history, The Chicago-based organization, founded in 1971, “is the product of a social justice movement that grew out of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) Operation Breadbasket. Founded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Operation Breadbasket sought to combine theology and social justice and to effect progressive economic, educational, and social policy in America. In 1966, Dr. King appointed Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. to serve as the first director of Operation Breadbasket in Chicago.”

According to a news release, Haynes’ sold-out installation event on Feb. 1 this year, “featured VIP program participants and attendees from all over the country, including Roland Martin, Rev. Al Sharpton (NAN), Shavonne Arline-Bradley (NCNW), Dr. Michael Sorrell, Dr. Amos Brown, and Dr. Ron Daniels.”

Rev. Sharpton who was keynote at the event, said in his speech, "Look at the time we are in: everything that was gained in the '60s is now under threat...They talk about affirmative action, women's rights, diversity, inclusion, voting rights, like somebody woke up and gave us that. Nobody donated anything to us. We fought for everything we got and we need to get back to fighting right now. And that's why I've come to celebrate Freddy, because we need fighters in the pulpit… We need a fighter like Freddy Haynes."

Vice President Kamala Harris, a long time associate of Haynes' who was at the Rainbow/PUSH convention where Haynes was announced last July, said, “I am so confident in his leadership and his ability to carry on the greatest traditions of this organization and to meet the challenges of this moment.”

March 24, 2024

Dr. Wilmer Leon

NEWS ANALYSIS

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Public Politics is the negotiating process between interested constituencies regarding the access to and distribution of limited resources and the resulting outcome or policies pertaining to those resources.

One of the popular narratives that was disseminated in mainstream America media to explain Hilary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign loss to Donald Trump was post-Obama voter apathy in the African American community.  According to the Washington Post, “In 2016, a seven-point drop in black voter turnout was perceived to have cost Clinton the election.

Political commentators often cite black voters’ “enthusiasm gap” as the primary reason for low turnout. This short-sighted perspective fails to consider that Mrs. Clinton ran a terrible campaign.  She took the African American vote for granted and failed to craft a message that spoke to the needs and interests of the Community. Blaming the Community played into a stereotype that labeled African Americans as uninformed and monolithic in thought, instead of being introspective and recognizing her own short-comings. Her campaign ignored a simple reality…African Americans are as “political” as the rest of the country and there are real and substantive political interests that motivate the Community. 

Two substantive pieces of legislation that impacted Hilary Clinton’s campaign came out of her husband’s administration. The 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act and the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act . The crime act, also known as “3 Strikes and are Out” contributed greatly to the mass incarceration of African Americans. So-called welfare reform, that Hilary Clinton encouraged her husband to sign, removed hundreds of thousands of poor people of color from the welfare safety-net and plunged them into the ranks of the desperately working poor. Many African Americans never forgot nor forgave her for supporting these pieces of legislation, as well as her referring to members of the Community as “superpredators” who needed to be brought “to heel.” It was not voter apathy or an “enthusiasm gap” that turned the African American community against the Hilary Clinton campaign, it was the realpolitik of Hilary Clinton. 

As America moves closer to the 2024 presidential election, the narrative of “voter apathy” and problems with the African American voter are being promoted once again. The Guardian reports - Black and Hispanic voters deserting Democratic party in large numbers.  The problem with this story is its failure to focus on Democratic party policy outcomes that have left many African American voters feeling ignored and disrespected.  Fox reports - Biden support from Black voters plummeting as Democrats blame ‘disinformation’. 

The Democratic party elite need to realize that African American voters are not uninformed, simple-minded, easily swayed nor can be taken for granted. President Biden has not developed, acted upon, nor articulated a message that resonates with the Community and reflects its reality.As America moves closer to the 2024 presidential election, the narrative of “voter apathy” and problems with the African American voter are being promoted once again. The Guardian reports - Black and Hispanic voters deserting Democratic party in large numbers. 

The problem with this story is its failure to focus on Democratic party policy outcomes that have left many African American voters feeling ignored and disrespected.  Fox reports - Biden support from Black voters plummeting as Democrats blame ‘disinformation’.  The Democratic party elite need to realize that African American voters are not uninformed, simple-minded, easily swayed nor can be taken for granted. President Biden has not developed, acted upon, nor articulated a message that resonates with the Community and reflects its reality.

There is another reality that is developing that could turn the “blame African Americans for Democratic party disappointments” narrative on its head.  It is an oppositional form of politics called “uncommitted” that is gaining traction in Michigan, Minnesota, and other states. In the most recent Michigan presidential primary, the Listen to Michigan campaign which is a coalition of African American, Arab American, Muslim American, and other voters is expected to receive approximately 10,000 votes.  The country was shocked to have more than 100,000 Michiganders take the time to vote for nobody instead of the incumbent president.

Michigan is a battleground state that President Biden won by fewer than 150,000 votes in 2020. The strength of that 2024 “uncommitted” protest vote sent an unambiguous message to the Democrats.On Super Tuesday Minnesota saw nearly 19 percent of its primary voters check the “uncommitted” box — an even higher ratio of voters than in Michigan. The focus of the voter’s ire in both Michigan and Minnesota is the Biden administrations unyielding support for genocide in Gaza.  The #AbandonBiden campaign has said that under no circumstances will it support Biden in November. “Our triumph in Michigan is more than a victory; it’s a declaration of our fury and our refusal to be silenced…”

According to a recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 4 in 10 U.S. adults want America to broadly take a “less active” role in solving global conflicts. In a recent poll from Data for Progress roughly three in four Democrats support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.  In the Data for Progress poll a total of 61% of Americans polled said they were in favor of a ceasefire.  The Democratic Party and its presumptive nominee, President Biden are ignoring their base.  This is a very dangerous tactic when a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Americans are not excited about a Trump vs. Biden rematch.

In fact, there is a growing cohort called “double-haters,” those who are dissatisfied with Biden and Trump and do not want either candidate to win in November. Recent polls from the Marquette Law School, NYT-Siena College, and Morning Consult all reported 19 percent of those polled expressed dissatisfaction with both options. That is a large percentage of voters in a race that right now is within 1.5% to 2.0%, well within the margin of error.

Labor unions should be another area of concern for the Biden/Harris ticket.  This past January, UAW President Shawn Fein announced the UAW’s endorsement of President Biden.  Fain praised Biden for standing with the union during its strike against the Detroit Three automakers. The problem is the approximately 1 million rank and file membership may not follow the endorsement of UAW union leadership.  Following the union endorsement Fein explained that he expected most of the UAW membership would not vote for President Biden in November.  During an interview on Fox Business Network’s Your World with Neil Cavuto, Fain stated, “Let me be clear about this. A great majority of our members will not vote for President Biden…The majority of our members are gonna’ vote for their paychecks, they’re gonna’ vote for an economy that works for them.”

The Washington Post recently reported that The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents about 2 million health-care, property service and government workers, plans to spend $200 million to boost President Biden and Democrats in electoral battlegrounds across the country this year.  If the Democratic Party historically is the bastion of union politics and support, why is the UAW’s rank-and-file “gonna vote for their paychecks” (not for Biden) and why is the SEIU planning to spend $200M to get their vote out amongst a constituency that historically votes for Democrats?

According to The National Alliance to End Homeless, homelessness is on the rise in America. In 2022, counts of individuals (421,392 people) and chronically homeless individuals (127,768) reached record highs in the history of data collection. Unsheltered rates are also trending upward, impacting most racial, ethnic, and gender subgroups.  As more than half of working Americans (53 percent), according to a recent Workforce Monitor study feel their paychecks are not keeping up with the pace of inflation, and Democrats; the Biden administration continues to find ways to send the much needed American tax dollar to war efforts in Ukraine and Gaza. According to Stephen Semler in Jacobin, “The Biden administration has been able to maintain a low profile by spreading arms provision to Israel across more than 100 smaller munitions sales”— allowing the president to posture as a peacekeeper while US weapons wipe Gaza off the map.

Voter disinterest is not at issue; voter apathy in not the new black.  The two major American political parties are listening to their corporate benefactors, talking amongst themselves in their echo chambers and are not listening to their constituents.  Maintain current the course and speed at your own peril.

Dr. Wilmer Leon is a nationally broadcast talk radio host. An adjunct professor of political science. Host of the podcast Connecting the Dots w/ Dr. Wilmer Leon. Author of Politics Another Perspective. Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. www.twitter.com/drwleon and Dr. Leon’s Prescription at Facebook.com © 2024 InfoWave Communications, LLC