Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “U.S.”

Blacks Win in Congress With Five New Members

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2012

Last night was an extraordinary election for the black community.  President Barack Obama was able to reaffirm his success as a leader for the majority of voting Americans, and now blacks have a stronger foot-hold in congress.

Yesterday five new African Americans were sworn into Congress. Some of these new members beat out Republican candidates in key states, while others are occupying new seats in states like Nevada.  This election keeps the number of black members of congress at 44.

politic365.com lists the 5 new Black members as follows:

 

1. Joyce Beatty – Former Democratic state representative Joyce Beatty has been elected to a new Ohio congressional district in Columbus. She beat Republican Chris Long.

2. Steve Horsford – Horsford, Nevada’s first Black Senate majority leader, won a new seat created in Nevada.

3. Marc Veasey – Texas State Rep. Marc Veasey will serve in a new House district in North Texas after defeating Republican Chuck Bradley.

4. Hakeem Jeffries – Jeffries, a New York State Assemblyman, was easily victorious in Brooklyn’s 8th congressional district. Rep. Ed Towns held the seat for 29 years before announcing his retirement this year.

5. Donald Payne, Jr. – Payne will serve in New Jersey’s 10th congressional district after the death of his father in March.

article via yourblackworld.net

Detroit Museum Holds Exhibition of Forty-Four Busts of President Obama

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2012
Artist - Ted Ellis 02

Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is holding an exhibition called “Visions of Our 44th President“.  It features 44 contemporary African-American artists using different styles and mediums of choice, all adding to a blank bust of President Barack Obama.

GBN Quote Of The Month

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2012

“America, I believe we can build on the progress we’ve made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you’re willing to try.”   — President Barack Obama

President Obama’s Victory Speech – FULL VIDEO

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2012

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv9NwKAjmt0&w=560&h=315]

Election Results Update: Obama Wins Electoral AND Popular Vote

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2012

As of 1:09am PST, President Barack Obama widens his electoral college vote margin over Mitt Romney to 303 vs. 206, and is now projected to win the popular vote with 50% versus Romney’s 48.4%.  Click here to read and hear the transcript of President Obama’s speech.

President Obama’s Victory Speech – Transcript & Audio

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2012
President Obama speaks at his election night party Wednesday, in Chicago after defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

President Obama speaks at his election night party Wednesday, in Chicago after defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney. (Spencer Green/AP)

Click here for audio: Obama Victory Speech 11-7-12

Transcript of President Obama’s victory speech in Chicago on Tuesday. Source: Federal News Service via npr.org

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by a contractor for NPR, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future.

(Cheers, applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBERS: (Chanting.) Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. (Sustained cheers, applause.)

Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward. (Cheers, applause.)

It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family, and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people. (Cheers, applause.)

Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.

Four More Years: Congratulations On Your Re-Election, President Obama!

By goodblacknews on November 6, 2012

President Barack Obama has been re-elected to the Presidency of the United States tonight, defeating opponent Mitt Romney, 275 electoral votes to 203.  The final tally on the popular vote still hasn’t been verified, but with 60% of the ballots counted, Mitt Romney leads 50% to 49% in that measure. More on this momentous victory as it comes.

New Movement Takes Hoodies To The Polls

By goodblacknews on November 6, 2012

Following Trayvon Martin’s death, people across the country wore hoodies to protest the 17-year-old’s death and to show support for his family.  Nine months later, and in the midst of election season, a non-partisan organization has been building on that energy to bring the hoodies back – this time to the polls.  Hoodie Vote‘s mission is to get one million people to wear hoodies while casting their vote in an effort to combat the stereotype that young people of color are apathetic.

Museum to Open Balcony Where MLK was Assassinated

By goodblacknews on November 4, 2012

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis plans to open the balcony where Martin Luther King Jr. was shot to the public.

The museum was built around and includes the old Lorraine Motel, where King was checked in when he was assassinated in 1968. Visitors had been able to see the balcony where King was shot but couldn’t stand on it.

The museum’s main building will close at the end of the day Monday for renovations. Officials hope to open the balcony to the public on Nov. 19, and they’re installing a lift for disabled visitors.

A museum annex that includes the boardinghouse from which James Earl Ray shot at King also will be open during the renovation.
Read more at http://www.eurweb.com/2012/11/museum-to-open-balcony-where-mlk-was-assassinated/#xxt2qiuo4DerXQ3q.99

After 17 Years, Black Candidates Become Firefighters

By goodblacknews on November 3, 2012
Eighty six of the 98 new firefighters who graduated Thursday were bypassed by a discriminatory 1995 entrance exam. Sharon Wright reports.

At age 53, Marvin Jones finally became the fireman he’d always dreamed of becoming.  “It’s been a long struggle. I feel blessed. I’m almost closed to tears,” he said before walking across the stage in Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom to shake hands with Mayor Rahm Emanuel.  Jones was among 98 new firefighters who graduated Thursday, 86 of whom were overlooked by city officials who used discriminatory practices in evaluating applicant scores for a 1995 entrance exam.

“It is my hope that we never, ever make those mistakes again,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel, stressing that the Chicago Fire Department should be as diverse as the city it serves.

After a series of back-and-forth legal battles over the years, Chicago was ordered in May 2011 to hire 111 black firefighters and pay a total of $30 million to nearly 6,000 clients listed in the class-action lawsuit known as the Lewis case.

Would-be firefighters who chose other career paths and those who chose to bypassed a “jobs lottery” six months later received cash awards of at least $5,000 per person.

Jones never took that payout, opting instead to follow his dream.

“We persevered. We’re here today. We’re graduating. We’re about to be Chicago firefighters,” said Jones, a postal worker for 33 years.

Source: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/chicago-fire-department-graduation-176881481.html#ixzz2BGFsOIwY