http://www.thedefendersonline.com A civil rights blog promoting informed discourse on issues of race, justice, equality and democracy. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:38:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/12/cartoon-march-12-2010/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/12/cartoon-march-12-2010/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:56:49 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=12642 Kevin Eason Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from NJ. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Kevin’s work features include: TVOne, NABJ, WBLS_107.5FM, EURweb and various newspapers & magazines throughout the country.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/12/cartoon-march-12-2010/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/09/the-abdication-of-desiree-rogers/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/09/the-abdication-of-desiree-rogers/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:07:22 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=12577 Janet Singleton White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers stepped down from her position this month, and said farewell: She told the Chicago Sun Times that serving the country “had been an honor and a privilege.” She was leaving, she said because she wants to “explore opportunities in the corporate world.” She denied her decision stems from the scandal in which a couple and a separate individual were able to sneak into a state dinner given by the Obama administration to honor Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in November.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/09/the-abdication-of-desiree-rogers/feed/ 2 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/05/cartoon-march-5-2010/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/05/cartoon-march-5-2010/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:09:14 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=12529 Kevin Eason Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from NJ. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Kevin’s work features include: TVOne, NABJ, WBLS_107.5FM, EURweb and various newspapers & magazines throughout the country.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/03/05/cartoon-march-5-2010/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/19/no-irshad-i-did-not-vote-for-obama-because-he-is-black-but-because-he-is-black-like-me/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/19/no-irshad-i-did-not-vote-for-obama-because-he-is-black-but-because-he-is-black-like-me/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:08:00 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=12400 Janet Singleton For me to have the opportunity to vote for the sort of person, as president of my nation, that I would aspire to be is even more miraculous than the racial breakthrough it represented. No Irshad, I voted for the President not because he is my color but because he is my kind, if only in my aspirations.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/19/no-irshad-i-did-not-vote-for-obama-because-he-is-black-but-because-he-is-black-like-me/feed/ 2 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/09/the-carrot-or-the-big-mac-michelle-obama%e2%80%99s-crusade/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/09/the-carrot-or-the-big-mac-michelle-obama%e2%80%99s-crusade/#comments Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:25:12 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=12295 C. Nicole Mason A few weeks ago, I was visiting with a friend and she relayed a troubling story to me. She had visited family down south and threw a slumber party for her nieces and nephews. As a part of her duties for the evening, she fixed dinner and provided the treats. To the usual fare of ice cream and pizza, she added a vegetable tray of carrots and celery. While chowing down, her nephew turned to her and asked what it was he was eating that tasted so good. It was a carrot.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/09/the-carrot-or-the-big-mac-michelle-obama%e2%80%99s-crusade/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/02/sting-like-a-bee-obama-vs-the-gop/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/02/sting-like-a-bee-obama-vs-the-gop/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:30:26 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=12189 Mark Lassiter The President’s luncheon meeting with the House Republican Conference in Baltimore last Friday offered proof that the art Ali demonstrated in the boxing ring at the pinnacle of his career can also shine brightly in a different kind of arena.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/02/02/sting-like-a-bee-obama-vs-the-gop/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/29/looking-for-an-out-barack-obama-and-american-voter%e2%80%99s-remorse/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/29/looking-for-an-out-barack-obama-and-american-voter%e2%80%99s-remorse/#comments Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:34:41 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=12171 C. Nicole Mason Public confidence in Obama is wavering. The honeymoon is definitely over. Even progressives are starting to look at him a little sideways. In order to recapture support and the spirit of the campaign, Obama will have to do less politicking and more change-making. He needs less charisma and more grit.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/29/looking-for-an-out-barack-obama-and-american-voter%e2%80%99s-remorse/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/22/obama-at-year-one/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/22/obama-at-year-one/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:31:02 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=12014 John Payton A year ago, we could barely contain our excitement as we contemplated a historic achievement. Barack Obama had won a decisive victory. There was widespread enthusiasm for his Presidency. Right after the election, Gallup reported that 68 percent of the public was proud that Obama was President. His choices of Senator Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State, of Eric Holder to be Attorney General and of Robert Gates to remain as Secretary of Defense were well received. His Inaugural speech was brilliant. We were looking forward to acknowledging and confronting fundamental problems that have plagued our society for decades.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/22/obama-at-year-one/feed/ 2 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/11/harry-reid-no-apology-necessary/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/11/harry-reid-no-apology-necessary/#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 23:50:50 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11829 Karen Hunter GOP chair Michael Steele made the rounds this weekend calling for, among other things, the resignation of Senate Majority Leader Democratic Harry Reid for comments that Reid made about Barack Obama while he was making his historic run for president.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/11/harry-reid-no-apology-necessary/feed/ 2 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/05/from-don-imus-to-michelle-obama-the-2000s-will-go-down-as-a-decade-to-remember-for-black-women/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/05/from-don-imus-to-michelle-obama-the-2000s-will-go-down-as-a-decade-to-remember-for-black-women/#comments Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:07:07 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11724 C. Nicole Mason The 2000s were a mixed bag for African-American women. From Venus and Serena Williams to Condoleezza Rice to Michelle Obama to Don Imus’ infamous nappygate, the 2000s will go down as the decade of both opportunity and setbacks for black women. This decade retrospective looks at the top ten events that shaped how we view black women in society, our communities, and in pop culture.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2010/01/05/from-don-imus-to-michelle-obama-the-2000s-will-go-down-as-a-decade-to-remember-for-black-women/feed/ 1 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/12/18/obama%e2%80%99s-catch-22-black-legislators-the-politics-of-the-presidency-and-why-he-is-missing-the-point/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/12/18/obama%e2%80%99s-catch-22-black-legislators-the-politics-of-the-presidency-and-why-he-is-missing-the-point/#comments Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:18:04 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11562 C. Nicole Mason As the old adage goes, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Over the last several weeks, President Obama seems to have gotten himself caught between a rock and a hard place with black legislators and advocacy groups.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/12/18/obama%e2%80%99s-catch-22-black-legislators-the-politics-of-the-presidency-and-why-he-is-missing-the-point/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/23/%e2%80%98no-more-excuses%e2%80%99-in-the-age-of-obama/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/23/%e2%80%98no-more-excuses%e2%80%99-in-the-age-of-obama/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:42:12 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11294 Khalil Gibran Muhammad Everywhere I turn these days I keep seeing or hearing the words, “No More Excuses.” From black self-help book titles to black pundits on CNN, these three words have become the mantra of post-racialism in the Age of President Obama. Whether intended or not, the mantra fuels the belief that because of individual black achievements, we have finally reached the promised land of a color-blind, equal-opportunity America.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/23/%e2%80%98no-more-excuses%e2%80%99-in-the-age-of-obama/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/20/senate-committee-conducts-hearings-on-jacqueline-berrienobama%e2%80%99s-nominee-to-head-equal-employment-opportunity-commission/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/20/senate-committee-conducts-hearings-on-jacqueline-berrienobama%e2%80%99s-nominee-to-head-equal-employment-opportunity-commission/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:50:19 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11270 The Editors Thursday, November 19, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions conducted a hearing on the nomination of Jacqueline A. Berrien, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund to be the new Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/20/senate-committee-conducts-hearings-on-jacqueline-berrienobama%e2%80%99s-nominee-to-head-equal-employment-opportunity-commission/feed/ 1 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/18/tom-perez-sworn-in-as-the-justice-department%e2%80%99s-new-chief-of-civil-rights/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/18/tom-perez-sworn-in-as-the-justice-department%e2%80%99s-new-chief-of-civil-rights/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:20:17 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11202 The Editors Tom Perez, President Obama’s choice as Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division — the Administration’s point man on civil rights enforcement—formally took office November 13, amid a palpable sense of celebration among civil rights advocates.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/18/tom-perez-sworn-in-as-the-justice-department%e2%80%99s-new-chief-of-civil-rights/feed/ 1 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/07/update-unemployment-rise-president-obama-extends-benefits/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/07/update-unemployment-rise-president-obama-extends-benefits/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:29:11 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11109 The Editors On Friday, President Obama  signed a measure once again extending benefits to the long-term unemployed—even as it became likely that  still another extension may be necessary next spring.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/07/update-unemployment-rise-president-obama-extends-benefits/feed/ 1 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/05/remembering-obama%e2%80%99s-historic-election/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/05/remembering-obama%e2%80%99s-historic-election/#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:29:41 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11075 George E. Curry Like knowing where you were the moment John F. Kennedy was assassinated, the defining question for this generation is: Where were you and what were you doing when you learned that Barack Obama had been elected president?]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/05/remembering-obama%e2%80%99s-historic-election/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/02/update-president-obama-signs-hate-crimes-law-expansion/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/02/update-president-obama-signs-hate-crimes-law-expansion/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:37:15 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11055 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/11/02/update-president-obama-signs-hate-crimes-law-expansion/feed/ 1 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/29/congressional-gold-for-first-black-senator/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/29/congressional-gold-for-first-black-senator/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:16:24 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=11018 Doug Miller Former Massachusetts legislator Edward Brooke III, a Republican and the first African American elected by popular vote to the U.S. Senate, was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal on October 28, becoming only the 150th American citizen to receive the award since George Washington.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/29/congressional-gold-for-first-black-senator/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/23/congress-extends-hate-crimes-law-protections-to-gay-men-and-lesbians-obama-expected-to-sign-the-measure/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/23/congress-extends-hate-crimes-law-protections-to-gay-men-and-lesbians-obama-expected-to-sign-the-measure/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:02:54 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=10945 The Editors President Obama is widely expected to sign historic legislation expanding federal hate crime laws to cover attacks against gay men and lesbians. ]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/23/congress-extends-hate-crimes-law-protections-to-gay-men-and-lesbians-obama-expected-to-sign-the-measure/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/17/post-racial-not-yet/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/17/post-racial-not-yet/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:56:05 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=10898 The Editors John Payton, speaking at one of the nation’s most historic black institutions of higher learning, takes on the challenging question – and assertion – President Obama’s election has inevitably raised: Does that mean the United States of America has become a “post-racial” society?]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/17/post-racial-not-yet/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/06/diagnosing-reform-the-need-for-african-american-voices-in-the-healthcare-debate/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/06/diagnosing-reform-the-need-for-african-american-voices-in-the-healthcare-debate/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:53:53 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=10683 C. Nicole Mason Given that African-Americans have some of the worse health outcomes compared to other groups and know first-hand the deficiencies in the current system, we cannot afford to be left out of this important debate.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/10/06/diagnosing-reform-the-need-for-african-american-voices-in-the-healthcare-debate/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/29/cartoon-reality-check/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/29/cartoon-reality-check/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:17:48 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=10594 Kevin Eason Kevin is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from NJ. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Kevin’s work features include: TVOne, NABJ, WBLS_107.5FM, EURweb and various newspapers & magazines throughout the country.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/29/cartoon-reality-check/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/15/presidential-medal-of-freedom-reverend-dr-joseph-lowery/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/15/presidential-medal-of-freedom-reverend-dr-joseph-lowery/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:13:53 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=10411 Reverend Dr. Susan Newman It was because of his life’s calling to lift up suffering humanity and speak out for those who have no voice, and march for those who have no just ground to stand on, that Dr. Lowery was honored by President Barack Obama with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian award, on August 12, 2009.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/15/presidential-medal-of-freedom-reverend-dr-joseph-lowery/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/15/presidential-medal-of-freedom-sidney-poitier/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/15/presidential-medal-of-freedom-sidney-poitier/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:25:31 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=10182 George Alexander Last month, President Obama awarded Poitier, the first African American to ever win an Academy award for best actor, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.  I couldn’t have felt more proud.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/15/presidential-medal-of-freedom-sidney-poitier/feed/ 0 http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/10/obama-is-no-longer-an-outpatient-in-health-care-debate/ http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/10/obama-is-no-longer-an-outpatient-in-health-care-debate/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:57:30 +0000 The Editors http://www.thedefendersonline.com/?p=10347 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.]]> http://www.thedefendersonline.com/2009/09/10/obama-is-no-longer-an-outpatient-in-health-care-debate/feed/ 0