blogger, The American Race
Director of Communications for the Harlem Community Development Corp; long-time journalist, he blogs about the racial and ethnic transformation of America at The American Race; author of American Skin: Big Business, Pop Culture and the End of White America
Rev. Wright, Part II During his three-day publicity blitz, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has injected himself back into the presidential campaign. Barack Obama has distanced himself from Reverend Wright. At the National Press Club yesterday, the Reverend distanced himself from the candidate.
Race and Civil Rights in the Democratic Primary Campaign It's the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , and his legacy is a guaranteed topic at tonight's Democratic debate in Las Vegas. For the past few days the Obama and Clinton campaigns -- and the candidates themselves -- have been exchanging barbs about civil rights and diversity. We hear what's been said and why it's touched such sensitive nerves. Does Bill Clinton deserve to be called America's "first black president?" Has Hillary inherited that legacy? Does Obama -- with a real chance of winning -- threaten an older generation of black civil rights leaders?
Obama, Race and the Presidential Campaign Barack Obama 's mother was white and his father was African. In the United States, that makes him black. He doesn't talk about it the way Hillary Clinton talks about being the first woman president, but Obama could be the first black to win the White House. The latest poll by CNN shows that Barack Obama has caught up to Hillary Clinton among Democrats in New Hampshire, the first state scheduled to hold a presidential primary next year. What's made the difference is a switch among women. New Hampshire Democrats still think Clinton has the best chance to win in November, but Obama is more likable, more believable and more likely to unite the country. Why do so many white voters support him? Why are so many black voters supporting her? We talk about transcending the racist past while confronting racial differences as a present reality.
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.