APLEblog.com

Former Speaker of the House (AP)

Many of Newt’s critics including the respectable Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC) are concerned that Newt’s statements concerning President Obama and food stamps are a part of the “Southern Strategy,” and a play on racial undertones reminiscent of the Black Ghetto Queen. If these connotations were true, it would imply the former Speaker is actually saying that he will bring back jobs to Blacks. Considering the disparately high unemployment rate amongst Blacks, why is this not a good thing? It is a fact that Blacks are disproportionally affected by the 2008 economic collapse more than any other racial group. According to the recent December 2011 job report, Black unemployment is approximately 15.8%, compared to 7% for Whites and 11% for Hispanics. Thus far, Newt seems to be the only Republican candidate that has made it a point to address joblessness within the Black community. Why unemployment is significantly higher for Blacks is a different discussion for another post, but whatever the theory it is a subject that needs much attention. (more…)

Many were shocked by the information contained in the Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males.  The report revealed that while 78 percent of White males graduate from high school nationwide, only 47 percent of Black males graduate.

And even closer to home, the figures show that while 68 percent of White males in NY State graduate, only 25 percent Black males graduate.  And in NY City – which has the largest Black male enrollment – while 50 percent White males graduate, only 28 percent Black males graduate.  Overall, each year over 100,000 Black male students in New York City alone do not graduate from high school with their entering cohort.

Socio-economic factors such as poverty, lack of parental involvement, the break-down of the Black family unit, failing schools and bad teachers have all been fingered as the culprits which give rise to the inequity in public education among the races.

Harlem Children’s Zone CEO, Geoffrey Canada, offered two theories to explain the inequity, the ever increasing sub-standard public education system and the lack of support for Black male students and their families.

Dr. John H. Jackson, CEO of the Schott Foundation, however, urged people to consider external factors – such as economics and incarceration – which obviously play a huge role in why ‘brothas’ aren’t finishing school.

Let’s face it, if the factors mentioned above were responsible for the low rate of Black males who graduate, then those factors should equally impact the Black female – the  sister of the Black male.  But studies have shown time and time again that this is not the case.  The graduation rate for girls is higher than that for boys.

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Political Columnist
APLEblog

RNC Chairman Michael Steele has been doing a lot more for the GOP than they have been doing for him. He provides cover for the GOP’s racially tinged political strategy by distinction. Steele is an African American in the highest position the GOP has to offer; he is the face of the Republican Party, despite the fact a substantial part of the body [base] is lily white. Steele’s chairmanship allows the GOP to take a preemptive, more adverse stance than would be normal against a wartime president bogged down by an economic crisis, even granting the GOP a pass to flirt with the likes of the Tea Party and Birthers without the stain of being called a party of bigots. How can they? The head of the RNC is black.

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Political Columnist
ALPEBLOG

Ever since Mr. Obama emerged as the presumed Democratic nominee for President of the United States, the far-right has moved to derail Mr. Obama by purporting he harbors prejudicial, almost racist, feelings towards whites. And it does not stop there. The far-right goes even further to purport Obama associates with individuals who harbor those same feelings against whites, and disguises his disdain for whites by surrounding himself with whites who suffer from “white guilt.” This is the far-right’s agenda and they take no prisoners.
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