Cleveland Kidnapping Victims Release Thank You Video: ‘Through Hell And Back With My Head Held High’

The three women recently freed from captivity in a home in Cleveland released a YouTube video on Tuesday morning, thanking their supporters and affirming the renewal of their normal lives.

Meet the Conservatives Who Campaigned for Apartheid South Africa

Grover Norquist, Jack Abramoff and Jeff Flake all spent their early years trying to end the divestment movement.

The Will To Fight For The Jobless, Do We Have It?

By: Katrina vanden Heuvel 

Turmoil in Egypt. Edward Snowden’s travel plans. Immigration reform’s fortunes. Obamacare’s troubles. The Weiner-Spitzer return to politics. There’s no shortage of items absorbing political energy and media bandwidth. But simmering below all of this is a crisis that goes without the immediate attention it demands. Last Friday morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yet another month of lackluster jobs numbers. While Washington has long since lost any sense of urgency regarding the jobs crisis, this is an issue that continues to poll at the top of Americans’ concerns.

White People Orgins In The Bible, Lepers, Edomites…? (theafrolounge.com)

Leprosy in the Holy Bible is referring to white skin, meaning the white people in Biblical days were called leprous. Leprosy is also called a curse in the scriptures. Leprosy today is called albinoism.

'GTFOH' Someone made an app called "Angry Trayvon" on The Google Play Store

Do these people have any regards for human life? An app called Angry Trayvon which poked fun at Trayvon Martin’s death was available in Google play store, Apple and Android. It has been removed, but WHY would something like this be created in the first place?

Why Georgia Gets To Thumb Its Nose At The Constitution’s Ban On Executing The ‘Mentally Retarded’

More than a decade ago, the Supreme Court held that “death is not a suitable punishment for a mentally retarded criminal.” Yet, despite this decision, the state of Georgia will execute a “mentally retarded criminal” next week unless the Supreme Court intervenes.

Sorry, Republicans, Your Own Investigation Proves No Dead People Voted In South Carolina

South Carolina never found a single dead voter in recent elections. At least, that is the final word from the State Election Commission investigation into whether 900 people voted using a dead person’s name, according to the Columbia Free Times.

The NFL Won’t Partner With Obamacare, But Its Players Could Still Benefit From It

Amid outcry from conservatives and Republican senators, the National Football League announced last week that it was not and would not pursue a partnership with the Obama administration to market the Affordable Care Act, the health reform law President Obama signed in 2010. The White House has sought partnerships with sports leagues like the NFL and NBA and with other organizations to market the law, largely because the timing of those leagues’ seasons and the demographics they reach are crucial to the law’s ultimate success.

No, Republicans, ‘Missing’ White Voters Won’t Save You

As GOP House members continue their Kamikaze mission to scuttle the immigration reform bill, many political observers are wondering why. After all, isn’t it obvious that Republicans need more minority, particularly Hispanic support, and that therefore their self-interest should lead them to support a reasonable bill? Karl Rove thinks so.

How Government Regulations Saved Lives On Asiana Airlines Flight 214

As the nation breathes a sigh of relief for the many passengers of Asiana Airlines passengers on Flight 214 who escaped uninjured after their Boeing 777 crashed in San Francisco, aircraft safety experts are attributing the relatively small number of fatalities to government regulations adopted in the aftermath of past accidents.

Wall Street Journal Op-Ed: Homeless Shelter Volunteers Are The Real Cause Of Homelessness

According to a hedge fund manager writing in the Wall Street Journal, homelessness isn’t caused by deep-seated inequities in society, but rather by people like his teenage son who volunteer at homeless shelters.

Company Advertises Shoot-A-Gun-Control-Lobbyist Target With Picture Of Virginia Tech Victim

A company that sells gun owners who fantasize about shooting their political opponents with bullets the opportunity to live that dream, is now using a picture of a mass shooting victim to promote its latest product. Zombie Industries specializes in target mannequins that bleed when shot. One of their newest targets is a “Gun Control Lobbyist Zombie,” which allows shooters to imagine they are mowing down undead supporters of universal background checks every time they squeeze the trigger.

The Supreme Court affirmed the rights of gay people just as they rode roughshod over the rights of African-Americans (The Nation)

The recent Supreme Court decisions striking down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and reaffirming the California Supreme Court’s rejection of the challenge to Proposition 8, the state ban on gay marriage, mark a major moment in United States civil rights history. No longer can the federal government discriminate against legally married gays and lesbians, and same-sex couples may now legally marry in California. That we have come this far should be cause for celebration. And yet, we cannot.

When Israel Was In Egypt’s Land, Let My People Go: Biblical Israelites Are Black (theafrolounge.com)

The Israelites of the Holy Bible are African (black) people. The book of Deuteronomy chapter 28 speaks of the curse of the Israelites in which they are scattered around the earth by ships in captivity (slaves) and oppressed by the enemy. This only relates to the African Slave Trade. Many believe this “curse” was added when the Bible was last revised by a European, King James, in 1611 to justify the European enslavement and mistreatment of black people around the world.

University Of North Carolina Allegedly Retaliated Against A Rape Victim For Coming Forward

The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is now facing a third federal investigation into its sexual assault policies. This time, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is investigating allegations that UNC inappropriately retaliated against Landen Gambill, a sophomore at the university, after she publicly came forward about her rape.

Insurers Refuse To Cover Kansas Schools Where Teachers Carry Guns Because It’s Too Risky

In the wake of the Newtown massacre, several states passed laws to allow school officials to carry firearms on campus, arguing that more guns would keep students safe. Insurance companies apparently disagree now that these laws are beginning to take effect. In Kansas, where the law kicked in July 1, major insurers have deemed the new policy too risky and are refusing to cover schools that arm their employees.

Seventy Top Retailers Open Bangladesh Factories To Inspection

Seventy top clothing retailers, mainly European brands, will open their factories in Bangladesh to safety inspections as part of an upgrade plan that was finalized and released on Monday, the Associated Press reports. Initial inspections will be completed within nine months, and if they reveal factories to be unsafe, the companies will underwrite the cost of repairs and renovations.

Koch Brothers To Pour Millions Into Obamacare Misinformation Campaign

Americans for Prosperity — a conservative group funded by the Koch brothers — is spending millions on ads that aim to turn Americans against the Affordable Care Act, just as government officials prepare to enroll the uninsured in the law’s new health care exchanges beginning on October 1. The campaign will eschew attacks on President Obama in favor of a new non-ideological tone that could appeal “young women” who watch the Food Network, “Law & Order,” and “Good Morning America.”

Bush-Appointed Judge Slams Decision Striking Voting Rights Act — Court’s Reasoning Was ‘Made Up’

If a leading conservative scholar and former judge were now on the Supreme Court instead of Chief Justice Roberts or Justice Alito, it is likely that the Voting Right Act would remain intact.

Mos Def (Yaslin Bey) Willing Shows Us What A Force Fed Guantanamo Inmate Goes Threw

American hip-hop artist and actor Mos Def, also known as Yaslin Bey, appears in a video released by the British human rights charity Reprieve on Monday in which he undergoes the process of being force tube fed, similar to what hunger strikers at Guantanamo Bay experience.

States Aim To Protect Students From Being Swallowed Up By College Debt

Although an attempt to address student loans remains unresolved in Congress, politicians in Oregon and New Jersey are forging plans to prevent students from carrying crippling debt.

9 Things We Won’t Miss About Rick Perry

With his announcement Monday that he will not seek an unprecedented fourth full term as Governor of Texas, Rick Perry (R) will retire from the office in January 2015. Sadly, he will leave behind a record of right-wing extremism that few could match.

'White History Month' Float Stirs Controversy At July 4th Parade

A small North Carolina town's Fourth of July parade was mired in controversy after a float touting "White History Month" drew a number of complaints from parade attendees.

Fourth Of July Violence In Chicago: Homicide Rate Passes 200 After Long Holiday Weekend Of Shootings

The Windy City reached a grim milestone over the long Fourth of July weekend as the city's homicide rate surpassed 200.

The Sunday July 7Th 2013 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

John Roberts, sporting an aggressively aquamarine tie, is substituting for Chris Wallace today, lending the proceedings a sort of "Generic Inflatable News Anchor" feel to a space that's typically filled by Wallace's archness. He'll be joined by Senators Bob Corker and Jack Reed to talk about Egypt. Then Rick Perry is here to mansplain how things are going to be for women in Texas. He'll do so not wearing a military-style beret, so it will seem like we are getting freedom and democracy right as compared to other places.

Searched Without Consent On The 4Th: DWI stop without being asked if you were drinking, caught on camera

The guy in this video tries to show us what rights an American citizen has during traffic stops and police check points. He details things out very well. Not once did he try to go overboard in giving the officers a reason to go gun-ho on him. Still, what if this guy were Black?

Rick Perry Doubles Down: Wendy Davis Should Be ‘Proud’ That Her Mother Didn’t Abort Her

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) doubled down on his criticism of state Sen. Wendy Davis (D), who filibustered for 13 hours to defeat an omnibus anti-abortion bill, and argued that he only meant to “compliment” the lawmaker for her “accomplished” life.

11-Year-Old Chilean Rape Victim’s Health Is In Danger Because She Can’t Get An Abortion

An 11-year-old Chilean girl who has become pregnant from rape is renewing a contentious debate over abortion in the conservative Catholic country, where the medical procedure is illegal under all circumstances. Doctors have warned that continuing the pregnancy will be dangerous for the 11-year-old’s health, as well as for the health of her fetus. But, under Chile’s total abortion ban, she is forced to continue it anyway.

GOP May Hold Debt Ceiling Hostage To Enact Paul Ryan’s Budget

House Republicans will hold the national debt ceiling increase hostage until President Obama agrees to mandatory spending cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the National Journal reports, and will seek to use the leverage of default to force Democrats to enact the policies in Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) budget.

Bolivia's Morales Says He Would Grant Asylum To Snowden If Asked

LA PAZ, July 6 (Reuters) - Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Saturday he would grant asylum, if requested, to former U.S. intelligence agency contractor Edward Snowden.

Private Prisons Expect To Profit From Immigration Reform

The Senate’s immigration reform bill could provide a boon to private prison companies, the Wall Street Journal reports, increasing the federal prison population “by 14,000 inmates annually” at a cost of $1.6 billion over 10 years.

Scott Walker Quietly Signs Mandatory Ultrasound Bill Into Law

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) quietly signed new abortion restrictions into law on the Friday after the Fourth of July that will require “women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound and ban doctors who lack admitting privileges at nearby hospitals from performing the procedures.” The law could force two state abortion clinics to close their doors and is already sparking legal challenges from reproductive health advocates:

Thirty Four People Were Shot In Chicago On July 4

As the country celebrated July 4, Chicago saw another day where gun violence claimed dozens of victims, with six people killed and 28 left wounded. The youngest of those wounded included two boys, ages 5 and 7, who were celebrating the holiday with their families.

Affordable Care Act Awareness

One year ago last week, the Supreme Court upheld the bulk of the Affordable Care Act.

The legislation is not perfect, but seeks to provide health coverage to the nearly 50 million uninsured in our nation. Without a doubt, more payment and coverage reforms in the health care system are needed to achieve this goal.

The GOP's tough choice when dealing with Voting Rights

ATLANTA (AP) — When the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights act last week, it handed Republicans tough questions with no easy answers over how, and where, to attract voters even GOP leaders say the party needs to stay nationally competitive.

Long Term Unemployed Soon To Be Savaged By The Sequester

The sequester isn’t so scary—that’s what The Washington Post proclaimed this week. It’s an attitude many people in Washington seem to have adopted, as momentum to solve the slashing automatic cuts has almost entirely vanished.

Police Taken Off The Streets After Video Captures Them Shooting Man’s Dog

Three police officers in Hawthorne, California, have been removed from their patrol this week after a video captured them arresting a man who was recording them, then shooting the man’s dog. A spokesperson for the police department says the decision is for the officers’ safety.

Economy Added 195,000 Jobs In June; Unemployment Remains At 7.6 Percent

The economy added 195,00 jobs in June and the unemployment rate remained the same, at 7.6 percent, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Analysts had expected 165,000 jobs to be added.

Organizer Of Armed March Loads Shotgun In Middle Of Washington DC While Warning Of ‘Revolution’

The libertarian activist Adam Kokesh who called for and then canceled an armed march on Washington uploaded a YouTube video on July 4 that shows him loading a shotgun in the center of Freedom Plaza, Washington, D.C, near the White House. In the video, Kokesh cryptically warns, “We will not allow our government to destroy our humanity. We are the final American revolution. See you next Independence Day.”

Unemployment Rate For Post-9/11 Veterans Falls To Lowest Level In Years

While the unemployment rate for all veterans fell below the national unemployment rate months ago, one group of veterans — those who have served since September 11, 2001 in Iraq and Afghanistan — continued to lag behind as the rest of the job market recovered.

Concealed Carry Applications Approach Record Pace In Many States

States that have passed laws to ease their already-lax gun laws since the Newtown Massacre are seeing dramatic spikes in concealed carry applications in 2013. A Wall Street Journal review of 12 states found that permit application rates are on pace to have their “biggest year ever.”

Low-Wage And Temporary Workers Are Propping Up The Recovery

The monthly jobs report showed steady if slow economic growth, with 195,000 jobs added to the economy in June. However, the bulk of these jobs were concentrated in low-wage service industry jobs, an ongoing trend of a recovery that has been propped up by low-wage and temporary jobs that often lack benefits and basic labor protections. In total, more than 62 percent of this month’s job growth was due to a proliferation of low-wage jobs in hospitality, temp services, and retail.

'Conservatives Gone Wild': Rachel Maddow Explains North Carolina Republican's Changes To Voter Laws Thanks To The SCOTUS

Rachel Maddow took North Carolina Republicans to task Wednesday for their attempts to push changes to election law that could discourage voters -- a situation she described as "conservatives gone wild."

Oral Sex Study: Can Cunnilingus Ward Off Infidelity?

According to a recently published study, one of the reasons men perform oral sex on female partners may be to minimize the risk of infidelity.

Divided We Fall: The Red Divided

It seems entirely revealing, if dispiriting, that the days before the July Fourth holiday showed Red America and Blue America pulling apart at an accelerating rate.

94 Percent Of American Flags Imported Into The U.S. Last Year Came From China

Millions of Americans will show their patriotism this July 4 by waving a product that may have come from China.

Federal Poverty Line Doesn't Adequately Reflect Cost Of Living In America, Analysis Finds

Just because the government doesn't define you as poor, doesn't mean you have enough money to live.

The federal poverty line for a family of four was $23,283 last year, nearly one-quarter of what it takes to live in New York City and slightly more than one-third of what it takes to live in St. Louis, according a family budget calculator from the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank. In fact, EPI found that in 615 cities across the country it takes a total income at least twice the federal poverty line for any type of family with three children or fewer to afford basic expenses.

African Women The First Mathematicians: Mathematics And It's Roots In African (theafrolounge.com.com)

The Lebombo bone is the oldest mathematical object known to man. It dates back to 35,000 BC and resembles the calendar stick that is used by the Khoisan “bushmen” tribes of southern Africa.

88-Years-Old Today, Medgar Evers!

The life of Medgar Evers was cut far too short 50 years ago, when the civil rights activist and war veteran was assassinated at just 37-years-old by a White supremacist. Although Evers would not live to see the Civil Rights Movement blossom, he helped plant early seeds of change in the Deep South that eventually took hold. NewsOne celebrates the life of Evers on what would have been his 88th birthday.

Study Showed Minority Voters Waited Longer

Newly revealed data shows yet again that minority voters in Florida waited longer on average than their white counterparts to cast their ballots.

See How Brazil’s Olympic And World Cup Dreams Turned Into A Nightmare

More than a million Brazilians flooded the streets of dozens of cities across the country, forcing major news outlets across the world turned their focus to Brazil all at once. They captured Brazilian flags being worn as capes, flying above the throngs, juxtaposed with signs and scored by music and the chanting of huge crowds. The return of international soccer’s grandest event to the World Cup’s birthplace in South America for the first time in three decades, and to Brazil for the first time in more than half a century, was supposed to look like this. But the message the world heard from Brazil was supposed to sound very, very different.

How Levar Burton Tries To Avoid Police Mistreatment For Driving While Black

Even an African American famous for promoting child literacy fears mistreatment by the cops because he is black. In a discussion on CNN’s Erin Burnett OutFront about use of the “N Word” in America, former Reading Rainbow host Levar Burton explains his protocol for handling a police stop to avoid violence:

North Carolina Prepares To Suppress Black Voters, Now That The Voting Rights Act Lost Its Teeth

Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, North Carolina is moving forward with a host of bills to roll back voting rights. Republican lawmakers are accelerating a new agenda to eliminate early voting, Sunday voting hours, and same-day registration provisions. GOP leaders also vowed to move quickly to pass a controversial voter ID law that would make it much harder for minorities, seniors, students, and low-income voters to cast their ballots.

There Are 12 Million Stateless People Around The World, But Edward Snowden Isn’t One Of Them

Edward Snowden, the former contractor who leaked the details of several National Security Agency spying programs, is currently a man on the run, attempting to find asylum from U.S. prosecution in countries around the world.

REPORT: Corporations Pay Lower Tax Rates Than The Middle Class

Large, profitable U.S. corporations actually paid just a 12.6 percent effective tax rate in 2010. That’s barely a third of the 35 percent corporate rate on the books, and it’s actually lower than the median effective tax rate for middle-class Americans. The number comes from a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study intended to clarify the terms of debate as lawmakers weigh changes to the business tax code.

Jim Kelly, Black Marital Arts Icon Dies At 67

SAN DIEGO — Actor Jim Kelly, who played a glib American martial artist in “Enter the Dragon” with Bruce Lee, has died. He was 67.

Black Hockey Stars Highlighted In NHL Draft

NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) — Canadian 17-year-old Nathan MacKinnon was the first pick of the NHL draft on Sunday, following in the footsteps of another hockey star from his hometown in Nova Scotia — Sidney Crosby.

Tell Me Y'all Not Feeling This New Eddie Murphy Song, Featuring Snoop Lion: "RedLight"

The Academy-Award-nominated actor was widely panned for his attempts to cross over into the music industry back in the 80s and early 90s, but that hasn’t stopped him from trying.

Prada uses black model in print campaign for first time in 19 years

Prada, a label known for rarely casting models of color, has selected a black model for a new print campaign. For first time in 19 years, a woman of African decent will be a major face of the luxury fashion brand in a Fall/Winter 2013 advertisement.

Record Heat And Drought Fuel Chaotic Wildfire In Arizona, Killing 19 Firefighters

On Sunday evening, nineteen firefighters were killed when they were fighting a wildfire southwest of Prescott, AZ after winds shifted direction. This is the single deadliest incident for U.S. firefighters since the attacks of September 11th, 2001.

Surrounded By Men, Ohio Governor Signs Stringent Abortion Restrictions Into Law

Flanked by a group of other male officials, Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) signed a contentious two-year budget bill into law on Sunday evening. The governor vetoed 22 amendments to HB 59 before approving it, but he left intact several provisions that will severely limit women’s reproductive access.

Virginia Outsources Taxpayer Refund System, Private Companies Profit

In 2012, Virginia’s Republican-controlled legislature enacted a budget provision that effectively forced the state’s tax department to outsource its refund system to a debit card company, claiming it would save the government hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. But the state’s deal with Xerox to replace tax refund checks with Comerica-issued debit card has meant headaches and fees for taxpayers and raised concerns about excessive outsourcing.

Georgia Newspaper Column Calls On U.S. To Send Muslims ‘Back To Their Native Land’

A local newspaper in Georgia recently published a column ostensibly about U.S. Middle East policy but took a hard right turn into birtherism and racism, highlighting the Islamophobia problem at the local-level.

Everything You Need To Know About San Francisco’s Transit Strike

On Monday, 2,400 unionized workers for San Francisco’s commuter rail system, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), went on strike after talks with management over contracts broke down. BART serves 400,000 riders on an average weekday. The strike happened after the union and management were unable to come to an agreement over a raise, contributions to health care and pensions, and safety protocols. Here is everything you need to know to understand what’s at stake.

Five Ways Republicans Have Sabotaged Job Growth

New numbers released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that the economy added a mere 80,000 jobs in June. That’s down from an average of 150,000 jobs a month for the first part of the year, and far too little to keep up with population growth.

Nation’s Largest Sheriff’s Department Unlawfully Profiles Minorities, DOJ Finds

The nation’s largest sheriff’s department has systematically targeted blacks and Hispanics for stops, seizures, and excessive force in two counties north of Los Angeles, a new Department of Justice investigation finds.

The 'Punk Before Punk' Band Gets Their Due: A Black Band Called Death

In the late sixties, David Hackney was a skinny teenager playing music with his brothers on instruments bought off their mom’s car accident settlement. Fast forward four decades, and the Hackney brothers are a musicological mystery: a lost punk band from a time before the genre existed. The Ramones, typically called the first punk band ever, hadn’t even formed by the time the brothers wrote "Politicians In My Eyes" in their Detroit home, a perfect punk wail. Earth, Wind and Fire was the music of choice in the Hackney's largely black neighborhood. At a family reunion, their uncles and aunts, a generally cheerful bunch, went quiet when David proudly revealed the band name he'd come up with -- Death.

Death Valley hit 130F in heat wave...They Missed highest temperature ever recorded by four degrees!

Timsomor Note: Who says there is no Global Warming! This is the term I will always use, Climate Change is too soft of a word. I actually watched a news story that showed a man's shoes melted on his feet......No Joke!

Tourists at California's Death Valley took photos of the harsh desert landscape and a thermometer that registered scorching 127 degrees Saturday as a heat wave continued broiling the West.

CNN Tries To Have A Real Discussion On Race With: The N Word And Cr****Ker Panel

Race has been a big topic of national discussion in the last few weeks, from Paula Deen getting fired for saying the n-word to Rachel Jeantel saying the phrase “creepy-ass cracker.” CNN’s Don Lemon decided an “honest and difficult conversation” was needed, and so that’s just what he did, the end result being a very direct and honest discussion about the taboos surrounding the use of the n-word in popular culture and how it led to the firing of celebrity chef Paula Deen.

Obama’s Africa trip And Why It Matters

As President Barack Obama embarks on the first major trip to Africa of his presidency on Thursday, those of us who have been studying the continent for some time cannot help but understand just how vital this trip is to America’s political and economic future and to the securing of its relationship with the continent which is, without a doubt, on its way to becoming one of the world’s most powerful regions.

No, Conservatives, You Won’t Stop Watching Football If The NFL Markets Obamacare

News broke last week that the Obama administration had reached out to the National Basketball Association about a partnership to promote the president’s health reform law. Now, it is seeking a similar deal with the National Football League that will involve “paid advertising and partnerships to encourage enrollment” in Obamacare’s new programs, according to The Hill.

What’s Next For Wendy Davis?

After Sen. Wendy Davis (D-TX) successfully blocked an omnibus anti-abortion bill on Tuesday by filibustering it for 13 hours — without eating, drinking, straying off topic from the proposed measure, sitting, going to the restroom, or even leaning against a table — she became an overnight sensation. The hashtag #standwithwendy was trending worldwide on Tuesday night, the president tweeted out his support, Davis’ Wikipedia page was temporarily edited to declare her the “LeBron James of filibustering,” and dozens of memes in the Texas lawmaker’s honor spread throughout the Internet.

Colorado Parade Canceled After Tea Party Group Threatens Armed March

A group of Tea Party members caused fear that a Colorado town’s 4th of July parade won’t be safe to attend because they’ll be carrying weapons.

Gay And Lesbian Couples Allowed To Begin Marrying Immediately In California

On Friday afternoon, the ninth circuit court lifted its stay on same-sex marriages in the state of California, acknowledging the Supreme Court’s opinion in Hollingsworth v Perry that supporters of anti-gay Proposition 8 did not have standing to appeal a lower court judge’s ruling that the ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. The move, which came earlier than expected, allows gay and lesbian couples to begin getting married immediately.

Renewable Energy Closing In On Natural Gas As Second-Largest Source Of Electricity Worldwide

Renewable energy will soon beat out natural gas as the second-largest source of electricity worldwide, according to projections from the International Energy Agency.

What White People Don't Understand About Rachel Jeantel (Global Grind)

By: Rachel Samara

A predominantly white jury is not going to like Rachel Jeantel. Let's just be real here.

Enough self-pity from Paula Deen: Eugene Robinson Makes Great Points On This

By: Eugene Robinson, Washington Post columnist

Paula Deen needs to give the self-pity a rest. The damage to her carefully built image is self-inflicted — nobody threw a rock — and her desperate search for approval and vindication is just making things worse.

Lolo Jones Mocks Rachel Jeantel On Twitter: ‘Madea Goes To Court’ (Newone Opinion)

Track poster girl Lolo Jones mocked Trayvon Martin’s friend, Rachel Jeantel, on Twitter by comparing her to Tyler Perry’s alter-ego ‘Madea.’

North Carolina Republicans Drastically Cut Benefits For Job Seekers

Life gets tougher as of Sunday for over 400,000 out of work Tarheels as a set of unprecedented cuts to jobless benefits passed by North Carolina Republicans in February take effect. The bill didn’t just shorten the length of state-funded unemployment insurance, as several states have done. It also cut the level of weekly benefit payments, violating a provision of the federal unemployment insurance program and leaving the state ineligible for federal jobless funds.

Witness Makes Key Admission That He Never Saw Trayvon Martin Throw A Punch At Zimmerman

On day five of George Zimmerman’s trial for the death of Trayvon Martin, a key witness who previously claimed to have seen Martin “throwing down blows” admitted he never saw an actual punch thrown. This admission from John Good could undermine Zimmerman’s claim he shot 17-year-old Martin in reasonable self-defense.

President Obama Just Got His Recess Appointments Power Back

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) office tells ThinkProgress that the Senate is now adjourned until Monday, July 8, with no “pro forma” sessions planned during the coming week. This is significant because these pro forma sessions, sham sessions where a single senator briefly gavels the Senate into session for a few minutes, are a legally controversial method the Senate uses to cut off the president’s recess appointment power. Without these sham sessions, President Obama’s power to recess appoint several officials currently being filibustered by Senate Republicans likely just roared back to life.

African Roots In Asia (theafrolounge.com)

All modern Asian people originate from Africa just like everyone else. Around 70,000 years ago, a group of Africans left the continent and migrated along the southern coast of Asia.

40 Year Old Racism/Discrimination Experiment Released (Theafrolounge.com)

April 5, 1968, an Ohio elementary school teacher, Jane Elliot, conducted a two day “brown eyes, blue eyes” experiment with her third grade classroom after hearing them make racist remarks about the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the experiment, Ms. Elliot separated the blue eyed children from the brown eyed children and made them discriminate against each other to teach them a lesson. The experiment was recorded and made into a documentary that was aired on PBS in 1970.

Worker Sues Employer For The Death Of Her Baby

Reyna García, a 30-year-old woman who works for the California grocery chain Albertsons, has filed a lawsuit claiming that the company refused to accomodate her pregnancy, which led to the death of her baby, the Huffington Post reports.

92-Year-Old Rosanell Eaton And Others Explain Why They’ll Go To Jail Protesting Conservative Policies In North Carolina

RALEIGH, North Carolina — Over 3,000 people turned out this week for the growing Moral Monday movement in North Carolina, where faith leaders are organizing weekly protests against the state’s sharply-conservative policies that would hurt the poor, women, minorities, and the environment.

How Congress Can Undo The Supreme Court’s Attack On Workers’ Rights

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court handed down decisions in two little-watched cases: Vance v. Ball State University and University of Texas Southwestern Center v. Nassar. Both cases erected new hurdles for those who experience workplace harassment or discrimination.

Man Flies Nazi Flag To Protest Obama

A Stratford, Conn., neighborhood is reacting to one man's decision to fly the Nazi flag outside his home. Residents say this symbol represents so many years of hatred and pure evil.

Six States Already Moving Forward With Voting Restrictions After Supreme Court Decision

Less than 48 hours after the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, six of the nine states that had been covered in their entirety under the law’s “preclearance” formula have already taken steps toward restricting voting.

Texas’ Abortion Restrictions Failed, But Other States Are Successfully Advancing Them

After a battle that stretched throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, state Sen. Wendy Davis (D) successfully blocked a stringent anti-abortion bill from winning approval in the Texas legislature. Davis noted that defeating SB 5 — which would have criminalized abortion after 20 weeks and forced 90 percent of the abortion clinics in the state to close their doors — represented an “incredible victory for Texas women and those who love them.”

Federal Reserve Not Helping Student Loan Borrowers, Top Official Says

The Federal Reserve's efforts to help households with student debt are being stymied, a top regulator said Wednesday, preventing millions of distressed borrowers from benefiting from cheap borrowing costs and likely increasing pressure on fiscal authorities to act.

Kimberly McCarthy Executed: Texas Carries Out 500th Execution

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) -- Texas marked a solemn moment in criminal justice Wednesday evening, executing its 500th inmate since it resumed carrying out capital punishment in 1982.

Rachel Jeantel: "Trayvon Noticed A Man Looking At Him, A “Creepy, White, Kill-My-Neighbors Cracker!”

On the third day of testimony in the George Zimmerman murder trial, the prosecution called what could be the most pivotal witness of all: Rachel Jeantel, the friend who was on the phone with 17 year-old Trayvon Martin until moments before Zimmerman shot and killed him. In the early part of her testimony, Jeantel described her conversation with Trayvon, in which he notices a man looking at him, a man Jeantel says Martin described as a “creepy, white, kill-my-neighbors cracker,” and a “creepy-ass cracker,” to which she joked that he “might be a rapist.”

10-Year-Old Girl Dies In Hospital Days After Reported Gang Rape In India

A 10-year-old girl who reportedly was gang-raped in India last week succumbed to an unspecified ailment at a Mumbai hospital Tuesday night.

John Boehner, Republicans Show No Signs Of Fixing Voting Rights Act

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court left the fate of a key part of the Voting Rights Act in the hands of Congress on Tuesday, but GOP leaders on up to the most powerful Republican in the nation, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), don't seem in much of a rush to take up that responsibility.

Nelson Mandela's Health Remains Critical For 4th Day; Tribal Leaders Reportedly Prepare 'For The Worst'

As Nelson Mandela's health remained critical for the fourth consecutive day, tribal leaders reportedly were warned to prepare for his death.

Republican Senator Calls For Abolishing The Minimum Wage

On the 75th anniversary of the landmark bill that established a minimum wage, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) called for abolishing it completely, the Huffington Post reports.

Congressional Progressive Caucus Launches Campaign To Expose ‘The Scandal Of Low Wages’

SAN JOSE, CA — As fast food workers strike across the country and hourly wages hit new lows, the Congressional Progressive Caucus launched the Raise Up America campaign, a multi-city tour to raise awareness of the crises facing low-wage workers. The campaign, helmed by Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), will advocate for increases to federal and state minimum wages, stronger collective bargaining protections, and raise the alarm about unfair trade deals between companies and workers.

What Paula Deen And Her Sons Tells Us About The Four Ways Racists Defend Themselves

When the news first broke that former Food Network star Paula Deen was defending herself in court against allegations that she’d used the word “nigger” and fantasized about a plantation wedding that would employ an all-black waitstaff to serve white guests, one of the things I was struck by in her deposition was Deen’s sense that she was the real victim. She suggested that the media would misinterpret her plans for the wedding. She said she couldn’t possibly know what kinds of racial humor might offend people who were the target of it. It was a series of statements that suggested that Deen felt she had a right to be read in the most charitable light possible–but absolutely no responsibility to think about the feelings of others, or to consider how her words and actions might reasonably be interpreted.

Parents Can Help Prevent Body Issues By Talking To Kids About Healthy Food, Not Weight

The childhood obesity epidemic continues to plague the United States, especially since big food corporations have been so effective at marketing their unhealthy products to kids. But there’s been ongoing disagreement about how to best address the issue of obesity within the context of the U.S.’ bad track record on body issues and fat-shaming. The results from a new study give parents some guidance when it comes to bringing up the topic with their kids: instead of focusing on weight, talk about nutrition.

Two Hours After The Supreme Court Gutted The Voting Rights Act, Texas AG Suppresses Minority Voters

Just two hours after the Supreme Court reasoned that discrimination is not rampant enough in Southern states to warrant restrictions under the Voting Rights Act, Texas is already advancing a voter ID law and a redistricting map blocked last year for discriminating against black and Latino residents. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott issued a statement declaring that both measures may go into effect immediately, now that there is no law stopping them from discriminating against minorities.

Cable News Virtually Ignores Obama’s Major Climate Speech

On Tuesday, President Obama rolled out a plan to cap carbon emissions at existing power plants, improve efficiency standards on automobiles, double the amount of electricity produced with renewables, and lead a global movement to address climate change. But the media virtually ignored it.

Three Ways The Supreme Court Gutted Voting Rights Today

The Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling striking down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, for the moment at least, eliminated the requirement that jurisdictions with a history of discrimination pre-clear election and voting law changes to ensure they do not disenfranchise minority voters. While the remaining provisions will still ban outright racial discrimination, those states and localities previously covered will now be able to implement changes first and victims will have to prove discrimination after the fact.

The Most Pirated TV Shows Are.....

Game of Thrones has the dubious title of being the most pirated television show this spring, with more than 5 million people downloading the Season 3 premiere alone, according to TorrentFreak. The number of overall downloads for the HBO hit was up 25 percent over last year. Interestingly, Game of Thrones' ratings increased by about the same percentage this season from legal views.

Sherrod Brown To Unveil Student Loan Refinancing Bill

U.S. households struggling with expensive student debt would be able to refinance into cheaper loans at no cost to taxpayers under legislation to be proposed by Ohio's senior senator.

Millburn, New Jersey, Home Invasion Captured On Nanny Cam; Suspect On The Run

Police in New Jersey are using nanny cam footage to track down a robbery suspect who punched and choked a suburban mom while her terrified 3-year-old daughter watched.

Female Farmworkers And Rape: Sexual Assault And Harassment Persist In Central San Joaquin Valley

Maria, a farmworker from Guatemala, says never again will she look at any supervisor with the same trust she once had.

The 40-year-old mother of three was hired last November to pick pomegranates near Huron. Her supervisor told her he would pick her up an hour earlier than the rest of the crew. She was puzzled, but needed the work.

Voting Rights Act Section 4 Struck Down By Supreme Court

The Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act on Tuesday, the provision of the landmark civil rights law that designates which parts of the country must have changes to their voting laws cleared by the federal government or in federal court.

How Affirmative Action Survived The Roberts Court

The U.S. Supreme Court punted Monday on what could have been a major ruling on the future of affirmative action. In what is arguably the narrowest ruling that could have been expected from the Court that claimed in a plurality opinion that “the way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race,” the justices rejected the lower court’s approval of the University of Texas at Austin’s affirmative action plan. The decision means the trial court will have to review UT-Austin’s affirmative action plan once again — this time with even more skepticism. The constitutionality of race in university admissions, however, survived.

Rusty's Return: Why You Shouldn’t Be Surprised That The National Zoo Lost A Red Panda

Rusty, the adorable red panda pictured above, escaped from Washington’s National Zoo today. While everyone is hoping for Rusty’s safe return, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the decrepit state of America’s zoo system — and what that says about America’s budget priorities.

Aide To Republican Congressman Fails To Live On Food Stamps For A Week

An aide to Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) failed the so-called “SNAP Challenge” last week, just days after accusing Democrats of “intentionally buying overpriced food and shopping at high-priced chains.”

Dumbing Down Of America (theafrolounge.com)

Think about how many people you can have a deep intellectual conversation with. Or are you one of the people that doesn’t care what’s happening in the world around you?

Clarence Thomas bluntly calls for end of affirmative action (This Guy Needs The Drop Squad)

Justice Clarence Thomas again urged the end of affirmative action on Monday, writing a fiery concurring opinion in which he agreed with the Supreme Court’s decision not to defend the University of Texas’ diversity program, but urged the Court to go further and simply outlaw the consideration of race in public life.

'A Slow-Motion Train Wreck': The Real Consequences of the Sequester

The Republican-led House voted to eliminate $1.5 trillion in discretionary spending through 2022 during the much-publicized sequester, causing widespread pain and havoc through American communities, the effects of which we’re starting to see. In some cases, these cuts are literally stripping the clothes from children’s backs and taking food and shelter from the needy.

The Scariest Pending Supreme Court Case That You’ve Probably Never Heard Of

When the Supreme Court starts handing down decisions just one hour from now, most Court watchers will be awaiting four high profile cases — the two race cases that will decide the fate of affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act, and the two marriage equality cases. A fifth case, however, could prove just as significant as these much better known cases — and could potentially leave thousands of workers virtually helpless in the face of racial and sexual harassment.

George Zimmerman’s Lawyer Opens Trial With A Knock-Knock Joke

George Zimmerman’s defense attorney kicked off the first day of trial in the high-profile case with a knock-nock joke. Don West admitted that his approach was a “bit weird” in the context of the death of Trayvon Martin, but told jurors in his opening statement that they are the “perfect audience” for the bit:

Texas Legislator Claims Rape Kits Are A Form Of Abortion

In the midst of all the chaos on Sunday night as the Texas legislature pushed through a series of stringent restrictions on abortion and women’s health, it was easy to miss what might have been the most inaccurate and dangerous claim of the evening: One state representative tried to argue on the State House floor that rape kits are a form of abortion.

How The Supreme Court Stomped On Workers’ Rights Today

Monday was a great day for sexual harassers and for bosses who retaliate against workers claiming discrimination. The rest of us did not fare so well in the Supreme Court. While most Court watchers will likely focus on the narrower-than-expected decision in the Fisher affirmative action case, the most lasting impact of today’s decisions likely will be the twin blows struck against women and minorities in the workplace. Taking advantage of employees just became a whole lot easier.

Under GOP Plan, States Would Be Free To Take Money Away From Poorest Schools

Republicans are reintroducing a bill to allow states to redistribute federal education dollars currently targeted at the country’s poorest school districts. The A-PLUS Act, originally crafted by the arch-conservative Heritage Foundation, was first introduced in 2007, and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) have revived it for 2013.

An All Women Jury Will Be Seated In George Zimmerman Second-Degree Murder Trial With No Blacks Among The Group

A jury of six women will deliberate in George Zimmerman’s second degree murder trial in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The panel was finalized on Thursday, after both prosecution and defense attorneys whittled down the pool of 40 potential jurors to six, along with four alternates: two women and two men.

Labor Group: Walmart Fired Five Workers For Participating In Strikes

Walmart has fired five workers who participated in strikes and demonstrations against the company’s labor practices, the labor organization aiding Walmart workers said Friday. The Nation’s Josh Eidelson reported Saturday that the workers were among the 100 who left work and went to Walmart’s Arkansas headquarters earlier this month. Other workers who participated were suspended or disciplined.

How Raising The Minimum Wage Is A Racial Justice Issue

Three and a half million people of color would be lifted out of poverty if Congress raised the minimum wage to $10.10, according to a new report from the restaurant workers’ group ROC United. They would be the majority of the six million people overall who would be lifted out of poverty. People of color are far more likely to work minimum wage jobs, as they represent 42 percent of those earners even though they make up just 32 percent of the workforce.

Woman Was Almost Denied Citizenship For Being Atheist

Margaret Doughty, a 64-year-old British atheist, finally had her U.S. citizenship application approved on Thursday, following a kerfuffle with U.S. immigration officials in which she was told she needed to be religious in order to be a conscientious objector. The U.S. citizenship oath process requires applicants to respond either that they would fight for one’s country or to provide proof of one’s inability to bear arms, due to disability or religious belief.

Budget Cuts Hamper Background Investigations For Pentagon Contractors

Due to a shortfall in funding, the Pentagon has been forced to forgo its usual investigations to update security clearances for contractors who work on some of the most highly classified projects in the country.

Congressman Says Gays Should Hide Their Orientation At Work

WASHINGTON, DC — Following a speech at an anti-IRS Tea Party rally in front of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) seemed to blame gay and lesbian people for the discrimination they face in the workplace.

Virginia GOP Nominee: ‘Great Society’ Programs Worse For Black Families Than Slavery

Virginia Republicans’ controversial nominee for Lieutenant Governor argued on Wednesday that the Great Society programs enacted in the 1960s did more harm to African American families that the institution of slavery.

In Major Blow To Consumers, Supreme Court Protects Mega-Corporations From Liability

In case it weren’t clear already, the U.S. Supreme Court hammered home Thursday morning that it will protect the rights of corporations to force arbitration over the individuals’ access to the court system at any expense.

TV Chef Paula Deen’s Plantation Nostalgia And The Resentments Of Racists

Cooking show host Paula Deen has come under fire for pushing a version of Southern cuisine that emphasized fat, salt, and sugar rather than health, and for becoming a spokeswoman for a pharmaceutical company that makes much of its profits from insulin after she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, even though her core cooking business was arguably creating new customers for diabetes drugs. And this week, Deen found herself tipped from the frying pan into the fire this week after a deposition surfaced in which she discussed her use of the term “nigger” and discussing her vision for a “southern plantation-style wedding” that would feature black servers.

145 Former Obama Campaign Staffers Urge Him To Reject Keystone XL

More than 100 former Obama campaign workers are urging the president to reject the Keystone XL pipeline, in a move that comes just days after 22 former Obama campaigners were arrested while peacefully protesting the pipeline in Chicago.

Remembering James Gandolfini For More Than Just ‘The Sopranos’

By Alyssa Rosenberg

When I got the news this evening that the actor James Gandolfini had died of an apparent heart attack at 51 while on vacation with his family in Italy, I gasped so sharply that the friend I was having dinner with thought a family member had died. In a way, he had. If you write about television, as I do, or watch it frequently, Gandolfini’s performance as Tony Soprano on the titular show that helped remake HBO and prestige television along with it was a major contribution to the world we inhabit together. But like a good friend or good relative, Gandolfini didn’t just provide a larger context, he kept showing up, in ways large and small but always pleasant. So many of us remember Tony Soprano, but we have our private Gandolfinis, too.

Paula Deen Says ‘Of Course’ She Uses the N-Word (I Feel Another Ham Is In Order)

Paula Deen, has allegedly taken an interesting tactic in defending herself against that explosive lawsuit filed by a former employee, accusing her of racism, sexual harassment, and assault: the National Enquirer reports she’s just given a deposition in which she admits that “Yes, of course” she throws around racial slurs at work and thinks an elegant idea for a wedding might be to staff it with black men pretending to be slaves. Who doesn’t? We’re all Americans here, right?

New Republican Logic: Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX), Claims People Struggling To Survive On Food Stamps Are ‘Intentionally Buying Overpriced Food’

Conservative firebrand Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) argued in a press release on Tuesday that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides cushy benefits to recipients and accused Democrats protesting proposed cuts of engaging in a “left-wing publicity stunt intended to make it appear proposed cuts to food stamps would leave families unable to feed themselves.”

Russell Brand Schools A Morning Joe Panel: This Guy Actually Made A lot of Sense, I'm Glad He Got Mika With His Funny Guy Logic Bomb

Russell Brand’s late-night news show on FX, Brand X never quite came together and has been cancelled by the network. But his appearance on Morning Joe this week to promote his new stand-up tour illustrated why, while Brand may not have been adept at hosting a full half-hour or hour of news and interviews, he’s strikingly gifted as a guest, correspondent, or columnist:

Now That Plan B Is Available To All Women, Conservatives Want To Restrict It On The State Level

Earlier this month, the Obama Administration dropped its fight to restrict over-the-counter emergency contraception for young women. Now, Plan B will be available without a prescription for women of all ages — but that move hasn’t exactly made social conservatives happy. Anti-choice groups are already trying to figure out how they can lobby for state laws that will restrict access to emergency contraception despite the Obama Administration’s position.

Teen HPV Rates Were Cut In Half After The Vaccine Went Public

Following the 2006 introduction of a vaccine against cancer-causing human papillomavirus, rates of HPV in teen girls have plummeted to nearly half, a new study found on Wednesday.

The Internal Health Effects Of Racial Discrimination: How Does It Affects African America's, Native America's And Latino America's

People of color have endured stress on various levels including that of judgement and impairment by others. As time has passed, the level of perceived equality in a societal structure has too leveled itself out to an extent. However, there are instances where psychosocial stressors, like racism, can still be seen in every day situations.

Juneteenth: A Day All African Americans Should Be Familiar With

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a holiday of notable significance for many African Americans. June 19, 1865, highlights the abolition of slavery in the state of Texas, marking a historic moment in American history and the culmination of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation that was written three years prior (the African Americans pictured were celebrating Juneteenth in the year 1900). Texas was resistant to the emancipation of slaves, but a military operation led by Union troops caused the end of slavery in the Lone Star state.

Everything You Need To Know About The 20-Week Abortion Ban Advancing In The House

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives will vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a measure spearheaded by Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) that would cut off legal access to abortion services at 20 weeks after fertilization. It represents the most restrictive abortion bill to come to a vote in either chamber over the past decade. Here’s what you need to know about this attack on women’s reproductive rights — and how it fits into a broader, coordinated nationwide campaign to slowly chip away at abortion access:

Brian Banks: Accuser Who Got This Man Locked Up Over False Rape Claim Finally Gets Charged With Something!

A woman whose false claim of rape sent former prep football star Brian Banks to prison was ordered to pay a $2.6 million judgment in connection with the case.

Clarence Thomas makes rare break with Scalia — a sign of things to come?

Are U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia parting political ways? The two severely conservative judges—as Mitt Romney would call them— often see eye-to-eye on just about everything. But in the recent high court decision involving voting rights and immigration, the two men who are often joined at the hip diverged in a significant way. Could this be a preview of upcoming decisions on the Voting Rights Act, affirmative action, and marriage equality?

How "Obama Care's" Is Trying To Make It Easier For Poor Americans To Pay For Their Health Insurance

Officials overseeing the implementation of the Affordable Care Act have proposed rules to require that insurance companies accept a variety of payment methods, including cashier’s checks, money orders, and re-loadable pre-paid debit cards. That’s expected to help millions of low-income Americans — many of whom don’t have access to credit cards and checking accounts — who will receive federal tax credits to purchase insurance through Obamacare’s statewide marketplaces.

Brazilians Flood Streets To Protest World Cup Spending, Government Corruption (In Photo's)

Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians poured into the streets of at least 25 cities across the country Monday, blanketing the streets of major cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and climbing to the roof of the Brazilian National Congress in Brasilia, the nation’s capital. The protests, sparked last week by a smaller demonstration against fare hikes on public buses, are taking place around the Confederations Cup, the soccer tournament that began Saturday as a tune-up for Brazil’s 2014 hosting of the World Cup.

Peep The Ten Richest People In The World 2013

People who are really well off do some crazy things and support some even more radical agenda's with their worth, but you will never hear one of them say that money is not happiness! Watch this video list of the worlds richest:

New Samsung Galaxy S4, With LTE-Advanced 4G, Will Download Twice As Fast As Before

SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co plans to sell a variation of its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone that will transmit data at nearly twice the normal speed, the head of its mobile business said on Monday.

Paula Cooper Free: Indiana Woman Sentenced To Die At 16 Is Released

INDIANAPOLIS — A woman who was sentenced to death at age 16 after she confessed to her part in the torture and murder of a 78-year-old bible studies teacher has been released from an Indiana prison after spending a quarter century behind bars.

What Do African Americans Think About Government Surveillance Since We Have Always Been Watched (The Grio)

The current spying controversy at the National Security Agency has caught many Americans off guard and has conjured up images of Big Brother. The NSA has secretly collected the private phone calls and internet data of its citizens, allowing the federal agency to monitor people who were not suspected of any unlawful activity.

Florida’s Governor Signs Business-Backed Bill Banning Paid Sick Leave

Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed a bill on Friday that blocks local governments from implementing paid sick leave legislation, the Orlando Sentinel reports. He made his decision quickly, only taking four of the 15 days he legally had to review the bill before he signed it.

Surprise! Justice Scalia Strikes Down Arizona Law Requiring Proof Of Citizenship To Register To Vote

In an opinion by conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, a 7-2 Supreme Court held this morning that an Arizona law requiring voting officials to reject voter registration forms that are “not accompanied by concrete evidence of citizenship” conflicts with a federal law requiring states to use a uniform voter registration form for federal elections. Scalia once justified an anti-immigrant opinion with a reference to laws excluding “freed blacks” from southern states, and he called the Voting Rights Act a “perpetuation of racial entitlement. So his authorship of this opinion is both unexpected and a sign of the weakness of Arizona’s legal position in defending this law.

Bank Of America Paid Foreclosure Bonuses While Lying To Homeowners

One of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers intentionally, knowingly, and routinely falsifies paperwork and lies to homeowners in order to boot them from their homes, according to bank insiders.

Myrlie Evers: NAACP apologized for denying security detail for Medgar (The Grio)

It’s been 50 years since Medgar Evers was murdered in front of his home in Jackson, Mississippi, but the pain is still raw for his widow, Myrlie Evers Williams. In a series of interviews, she has recounted the pain of her loss, and recently walked a group of reporters, including from theGrio, through the house where she lived with Medgar and their two children, and where he died.

Angela Rye’s rant on affirmative action: How do you pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you have no boots? (The Grio)

By: Angela Rye, MSNBC

On Wednesday, we honored the memory of a civil rights icon with the 50th anniversary of Medgar Evers’s assassination and later this summer, we will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.