NOTEworthy News, 2/5/09

Bill Would Require Paid Confederate Holiday in SC
(February 4, 2009, Jim Davenport, AP)
A black state senator is pushing a bill that would require South Carolina cities and counties to give their workers a paid day off for Confederate Memorial Day or lose millions in state funds. Click here for the full article.

[Cliff Note: Evidently, this bill is being pushed by the same Black senator that is considering a run for South Carolina governor (see this article). I guess the best way for a Black man to get elected to statewide office in the south is to pay homage to the legacy of slavery.]


Hillsborough GOP official rebuked for racial e-mail joke
(Adam C. Smith, Robbyn Mitchell and Stephanie Garry, St. Petersburg Times)
TAMPA — Florida Republican chairman Jim Greer said Wednesday that longtime Hillsborough state committeewoman Carol Carter may lose her position because of the racial joke she forwarded in an e-mail…
The e-mail read:

From: Carol Carter
Friday, January 30, 9:30 AM
Subject: FW: Amazing!
I'm confused
How can 2,000,000 blacks get into Washington, DC in 1 day in sub zero temps when 200,000 couldn't get out of New Orleans in 85 degree temps with four days notice?

Click here for the full article and to see Ms. Carter’s “explanation”.

[Cliff Note: the full article makes reference to some other recent racial incidents in Florida. Unfortunately, it makes NO reference to the massive and systematic disenfranchisement of Black voters in 2000 and beyond. But i digress…]


Arkansas panel rejects resolution congratulating Obama
January 29, 2009 (Jill Zeman, AP)
An Arkansas House committee has rejected a resolution congratulating President Barack Obama on his electoral victory after some lawmakers questioned wording that referred to the United States being founded by slave owners. Click here for the full article.


4 Charged with Hate Crime in Richmond (California) Assault
(February 4, 2009, Jill Tucker, San Francisco Chronicle)
Richmond -- Four East Bay men were charged Tuesday with a hate crime in the assault of 24-year-old Brandon Manning, an attack that left the victim with six broken bones and numbness in his face, Richmond police said. Manning, who is black, said that as the men beat him, he recalled hearing them yell "coon," and then, "How do you like this, you f-ing n-?" Click here for the full article and a video from the local news station.

[Cliff Note: Now, i’m the absolute last person to minimize racism in any way, but i do feel the need to give young brother Manning a little advice. The next time 7 white boys who you don’t know offer you a ride in the middle of the night—RUN!]


Proposal to cut Macon road funding sparks anger
(February 5, 2009, Matt Barnwell, Macon Telegraph)
The three Macon City council members who represent east Macon on Wednesday announced their unified opposition to Mayor Robert Reichert’s plan to partly balance the budget by canceling road paving projects in their ward. Click here for the full article.

[Cliff Note: In a previous commentary, i highlighted the views of some of the white residents of Macon, GA. This article highlights one of the many ways that such viewpoints get incorporated into public policy.]


3 Mass. Men Indicted in Post-election Black Church Fire
(January 27, 2009, AP)

SPRINGFIELD — Three Massachusetts men have been formally indicted in the torching of a predominantly black church hours after the election of President Barack Obama. Click here for the full story.


Black Leaders Condemn 'Vestiges of Racism' in School Rezoning
(Jan. 26 2009, Jeff Woods, Nashville Scene)

Black leaders held a press conference this morning as part of their unfolding strategy to stop Nashville's impending return to a more segregated school system. At NAACP headquarters, the Rev. James Lawson--a white-haired eminence of the civil rights movement--took center stage to express his outrage over the student rezoning plan. Click here for the full story.

[Cliff Note: The reality is, Brown vs. Board of Ed was never fully implemented and American schools have remained segregated and unequally funded. This will be the topic of a future Cliff Note Commentary.]

‘Nuff said.