Call & Post; Columbus, Ohio

Did Obama Song Spark Hate Crime?

"My President is Black" was blaring from the window of his house at 720 Frebis Ave. when [Keith Allen]'s White next-door neighbor "came out of his house looking mean," Allen recalled. "I want him to see that he put people through pain," Allen said. "I'm worried about my daughter. His wife made racial comments about my daughter, since she's biracial." The couple also harassed a biracial couple who lived next to them until they moved, Allen said. But Allen added that he has no plans to move. "I...

Is Barack Obama the 'First Black President'?

At the same time, the actual conditions in the African American community whether in the area of income, or health indices, or criminal justice - have not changed. And even during the political campaign, as [Barack Obama] neared his historic and landslide victory, some African American scholars questioned whether Obama's success would result in substantive changes in the African American community. "It remains to be seen" how much the Obama presidency will be able to materially improve the li...

Ringleader in Counterfeit Check Scam Arrested

Clyde "C.J." Haynie pleaded no contest to charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, grand theft, receiving stolen property, complicity to identity fraud, forgery, and more in front of Licking County Common Pleas Court Judge Jon Spahr. Special Prosecutor Brad Tammaro of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray's Organized Crime Investigations Commission served as special prosecutor in the case at the request of Licking County Prosecutor Ken Oswalt.

Focus On Your Personal and Professional 'Stimulus' Package

With the President's Economic Stimulus package, and the seemingly, never-going-to-end economic downturn on everyone's mind these days, the "How" and "what now" questions keep coming. "How do I enhance my personal and professional growth during this recession?" What do I do now that I've lost my job...should I go ahead and explore my passion?" "How do I handle home or work stress that comes along with these very difficult times?" "There are so many issues that women are dealing with right now,...

Black Solons Pleased with House Budget Bill

"I am comfortable with the budget as it stands," said State Rep. Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland), president of the Ohio Legislative Black caucus, which represents the 17 black legislators in the House and Senate. "There are a few things I believe we need to continue to work on as the budget process continues in the Senate." "We have worked diligently to maintain vital services for those hit hard by this tough economy," said Representative [Vernon Sykes]. "We are supporting Ohio's food banks at ...

Gop Facing Tough Times in Wake of Specter's Departure

So then why did he actually become a Democrat? [Arlen Specter] made it quite clear: "I have found myself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more in line with the philosophy of the Democratic Party," Specter said at a news conference. He added, "I am not prepared to have my 29 year record in the United States Senate decided by the Pennsylvania Republican primary electorate." In Ohio, there has only been one publicized incident regarding the defection of Specter. Hamilton C...

Dealing with Hate

It is very disturbing when the White man who allegedly beat the young African American, Keith Allen, is allegedly peeved by the playing of the Jay-Z song "My President is Black," calling it "f____g nigger music." Police have said that police need "probable cause" to arrest somebody. But having a man beaten in the street sounds like "probable cause" to us. And the slurs that accompanied this man's behavior - slurs that were heard by others, including the store owner - should provoke prosecutor...

Someone to Vote For

A study by the Pew Research Center revealed another absolutely important history-making event that may have contributed to the historic election of Barack Obama as president of the United States: for the first time in American history, voter participation of African Americans was the almost the same as that of whites - and the voter participation of African American women was higher than any other racial, ethnic, or gender group.

The Next Supreme Court Justice

In fact, [David Souter] quickly became a critical vote among the four members of the Supreme Court generally viewed as liberals. Whomever [Barack Obama] picks is unlikely to differ significantly from Souter on most issues. Much has been made of the issue of "identity politics" in the selection of the Souter replacement. Women's groups, Hispanics and African Americans have expressed their own concerns about the Souter replacement, while many have said that the president should select "the best...

At the Big Table

"We really have a voice now," [Sandra Williams] said. "We had a voice before, but not many people were listening. Now, we're at the table where decisions are being made. In fact, we're heading the table." When you talk about budget issues - including all those issues listed above - you can't talk about the issues without talking to African-American legislators. Like Williams, who heads the House Economic Development Committee. And especially like Vernon Sykes of Akron, the dean of the House D...

The Nubian Globe

Researchers studied 121 African populations, four African-American populations and 60 non-African populations for patterns of variation at 1,327 DNA markers. The study traced the genetic structure of Africans to 14 ancestral population clusters that correlated with ethnicity and shared cultural and/or linguistic properties. The research team demonstrated that there is more genetic diversity in Africa than anywhere else on earth. The research also located the origin of modern human migration i...

History in the Making for Cavs?

Then, in honor of that extraordinary season, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown was named NBA coach of the year, the first time a Cavaliers coach had won that honor since Bill Fitch - the team's first coach - won the honor for the "Miracle in Richfield" team of 1975-76. Some have said that [James]' talk about exorcising the ghosts of Cleveland's doomed sports history - from "the drive" to "the fumble" to Jose Mesa's World Series collapse - is risky business, that it puts too much pressure on him if t...

Cosby Gets Back to Comedy, Helps Central State Raise Funds

"As soon as they give birth, you've lost your wife," he said. "You're living with your children's mother. And as soon as they leave, you become your wife's oldest child." The album includes covers of well-known love songs, including the title track that was originally recorded by Stevie Wonder. James also delivered a funky instrumental versions of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and Chaka Khan's "Sweet Thing." [Jonathan Butler] opened his set with an acoustic version of the James Taylor cla...

Circus Band Features Renowned African American Bassist Michael Brown

"Here's the universal language: a smile. If you look at someone and smile and shake a hand, it opens a lot of dialogue," [Michael Brown] said. "A smile says that everything's okay and we're getting ready to do something positive. It just opens up all the doors." "As I'm looking up more and more, I'm seeing more and more of the show. I think, 'Hey, I didn't know those guys were doing a dance over there,'" Brown said. "Quite often I'll look up in different sections and see something I haven't s...

Ensemble Cast Heads Up New Comedy

The new comedy "Next Day Air" hits theaters May 8. The ensemble cast includes hip-hop star Mos Def, Mike Epps from the "Friday" movies, Donald Faison of "Scrubs" fame, Lauren London ("This Christmas") and legendary actor-choreographer-director Debbie Allen.

J. Anthony Brown Featured On 'Slap Yo' Momma' Comedy Tour

[J. Anthony Brown]'s television acting credits include BET's "Comic View," "Living Single," "The Parenthood," "Sparks," "Moesha," "The Parkers," "Def Comedy Jam," "It's Showtime at the Apollo" and "Evening at the Improv." Movie credits included "How to Be a Player," "Drumline," "Triple X," and "Mr. 3000."

Teacher Charges Racism in Tiff with Worthington Schools

Worthington officials sent her to a psychiatrist to prove she was unfit for duty, she charged. But when she tried to get disability insurance based on the school psychiatrist's report, [Kathleen Sharpe] recalled, "they could not use their report because the psychiatrist had only seen me for two hours." "When I was first hired, I received threatening phone calls," Sharpe said. "I went to the principal, and he said he couldn't do anything." "We are currently in litigation with Mrs. Sharpe, and ...

More Letters to the Bishop About 'Euclid Is Hit'

First, I want to thank you bishop for always keeping it real, plain and to the point in your columns. You have a special anointment from God, bishop, to hit some hard subjects that many don't want to talk about, but reading your columns for quite some time now one can read it, laugh, cry and think all at the same time, understanding your point as you make it "cut-throat" clear. Bishop I've followed you on TV, radio talk shows and attended workshops you've taught, and for over 21 years, bishop...