By Lee A. Daniels
The conventional wisdom has it that we’ve nearly exhausted our exploration of African-American history – that we know all of the “important” people and events and everything about the dynamics of America’s Slave, Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras.

Only a fool – or worse – would think so.

By Pamela Scully & Clifton Crais
The decision by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) to investigate the gender of South African runner Caster Semenya has resulted in numerous editorials, blogs and discussions in which the IAAF’s examination of Caster Semenya’s body and sexuality have been compared to the sufferings endured by Sara Baartman, better known in Europe and the USA by her stage name the “Hottentot Venus”.

By Amy L. Alexander
Lost amidst the ear-splitting rhetoric, racist vitriol, and theatrical acting out that has defined the public debate on President Barack Obama’s proposed health care reform bill is a chilling possibility:  The ticking time-bomb that could explode America’s promise once and for all is not trillion dollar deficits or seething white racists or shrinking ice caps, it is overwhelmed people of color in the U.S.

By Eisa Nefertari Ulen
In many ways, James Gavin’s book tells the story of black America from the last lights of the Harlem Renaissance to the shining star that is the nation’s first black president. By focusing on Lena Horne, the trailblazer / activist / singer / actor/ dancer / icon, her rough road from the indignities of the segregated Cotton Club to an Upper East Side home is made clear.

By George E. Curry
In attempting to regain control over the health care debate Wednesday night by delivering an address to a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama satisfied neither his liberal base nor his conservative critics by expressing support for a limited public option but not demonstrating a willingness to fight for such a provision.

By The Editors
After a summer of charged, and often visceral, debate that seemed to threaten his goal of securing health care reform, President Obama last night forcefully defended his proposal and urged the Congress to swiftly enact legislation.

LDF News and Media Today: A sampling of Race, Justice, Equality and Democracy in the news. By Mel Gagarin Obama’s back-to-school speech is made public The White House releases a transcript of the president’s talk to schoolchildren scheduled for Tuesday. Some critics were wary. But the text exhorts students to work hard and follow their [...]

By Lee A. Daniels
The bizarre claims about Obama’s motives for giving the speech made by some white politicos and parents in recent weeks never had anything to do with the substance of the President’s talk. They were aimed at President Obama himself.

Last week, Joseph Abbitt was freed from prison in North Carolina after serving 14 years for crimes DNA now proves he didn’t commit. Abbitt was misidentified in a photo lineup and sentenced to life in prison. He was exonerated with the help of the North Carolina Center on Actual Innocence.

By Andrew M. Sum
The summer 2009 employment rate for the nation’s Black teens was the lowest ever recorded in the 38 year period for which such employment data are available.