Virginia lawmakers recently introduced legislation to increase the employment chances for ex-felons, continuing the ex-offender restoration reforms championed by former Gov. Robert McDonnell. State Sen. Don McEachin (D-Dist. 9) and Delegate Rob Krupicka (D-Dist. 45) recently introduced legislation in their respective chambers that would prohibit state agencies from inquiring about criminal history on employment applications. […]
Author Archives: Zenitha Prince
Special to the AFRO
Posted inAfro Briefs
Report: Black Teens Hit Hard in Economic Downturn
Black teens were the worst hit by the recent Great Recession in the labor market, the capstone to a decade of plummeting employment rates among young workers, according to a recent report by the Alternative Schools Network. According to “Trends in Teen Employment in Chicago, Illinois and the United States,” any gains made by the […]
Posted inNational News
Legislation Introduced to Update Voting Rights Act
A bipartisan, bicameral group of congressional lawmakers has introduced legislation to update the Voting Rights Act, one of the central victories in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and Congressman John Conyers (D-Mich.) recently introduced H.R .3899, the Voting Rights Amendment Act, in the House. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
NAACP: Diversity at Financial Institutions Remains Elusive
Diversity and inclusion remain elusive goals within the consumer banking industry, which presents great potential for job creation and wealth building within communities of color, a new NAACP report concluded. Released Jan. 14, the “Opportunity and Diversity Report Card: The Consumer Banking Industry” is the second in a series of NAACP’s economic report cards on […]
Posted inNational News
Congressional Black Caucus Faces Tough Battles in 113th Congress
In a Congress likely to be steeped in the politics of this year’s midterm elections, the Congressional Black Caucus said it will continue to fight for issues important for communities of color. “We all know that 2013 was one of the least productive years in the history of the Congress,” said CBC Chair Rep. Marcia […]
Posted inNational News
Appeals Court ‘Net Neutrality’ Ruling Clouds Internet Access
A federal court ruling on Jan. 14 striking down “net neutrality” could forever change consumers’ access to the full Internet experience, observers say. Web surfers could find themselves having to pay to watch videos on YouTube or seeing traffic on their favorite news site slow to a crawl now that the court has overturned a […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Oscar Nominations: Lee Daniels’ The Butler, & Oprah Get Snubbed– Again
With the announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations Jan. 16, Lee Daniels’ The Butler and Oprah Winfrey’s acclaimed performance in the film were once again snubbed –as with the Golden Globes and the Producers Guild—receiving zero nominations. But for 12 Years a Slave, the nominations firmly entrenched its status as one of the year’s best […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Baltimore Political Redistricting Throws Curveball at Upcoming Elections
Gov. Martin O’Malley’s redistricting of Baltimore’s legislative districts for the state’s General Assembly has opened the doors to opportunity for some and promises an eventful election season this fall, political experts said. “Usually a redistricting election attracts more competition because district lines change, and incumbents—while they always have an advantage—their advantage after redistricting may not […]
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Gray to Meet With D.C. Residents on CSX Tunnel Expansion Plans
Residents of Southwest Washington, D.C. distressed by CSX Transportation’s plan to expand the Virginia Avenue Tunnel will air their concerns during a meeting with Mayor Vincent Gray on Jan. 16. “The residents invited Mayor Gray to discuss the issue and he is happy to come and listen,” said Gray spokeswoman Doxie A. McCoy. The coalition […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Ann Coulter Asserts MSNBC Host Melissa Harris-Perry a “Token” Black
In another classic Ann Coulter moment, the conservative talking head on Jan. 6 insinuated that MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry was a “token” Black addition to the cable news network. Coulter was on Fox News’ “Hannity” show to discuss Harris-Perry’s apology for comments made about Mitt Romney’s Black grandchild on her MSNBC show. The MSNBC host […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
New Guidelines for School Discipline Seek Balance in Punishments
The United States Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, released new guidelines Jan. 8 aimed at ensuring the equal application of school discipline. Officials said the package of recommendations seeks to help schools create a safe environment while ensuring that students of color are not disproportionately targeted for life-changing disciplinary measures […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Study: Half of Black Men Arrested by Age 23
Nearly half of all African-American males are arrested by age 23, outpacing their White counterparts, according to a new study published Jan. 6 in the journal Crime & Delinquency. Robert Brame, the study’s lead author and a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina, said the racial differences are the most striking aspect of […]
