Melissa V. Harris-Perry is professor of political science at Tulane University, where she is founding director of the Anna Julia Cooper Project on Gender, Race, and Politics in the South. She previously served on the faculties of the University of Chicago and Princeton University. Her academic research is inspired by a desire to investigate the challenges facing contemporary black Americans and to better understand the multiple, creative ways that African Americans respond to these challenges. She is also an award winning author and appears regularly on MSNBC and other media venues.

I enjoy listening to Melissa Harris-Perry’s commentaries. She is fair, thoughtful, and insightful. Her articles and lectures are also worth checking out. Harris-Perry’s self-titled weekend program debuts on MSNBC this weekend (Feb 18, 2012)—Saturdays and Sundays from 10a-12p.

Melissa Harris-Perry

Melissa Harris-Perry’s New MSNBC Weekend Show Has A Name: Melissa Harris-Perry

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LaNiyah Bailey is making history … as a child advocate against bullying. Her book has been praised nationally for bringing attention to the hurt and pain children feel when they are relentlessy teased and bullied…Since publishing her first book, Bailey recently created a coloring activity book called Stand up! Bully Busters Coming To Town.

TheGrio’s 100: LaNiyah Bailey, taking a stand with a children’s book about bullying

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In December 2003, Kamala Harris was elected as the first woman District Attorney in San Francisco’s history, and as the first African American woman and South Asian American woman in California to hold the office. She was overwhelmingly reelected to a second term in November 2007. She won her bid for California Attorney General in 2010.

She was an early support of President Obama’s presidental run and continues to support him. In spite of their close relationship, she has clashed with the Obama administration on foreclosures.

TheGrio’s 100: Kamala Harris, the future of California politics

Kamala Harris

Harris Out on a Limb on Mortgage Settlement

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“Muslim” and “Congressman” were mutually exclusive terms before Minnesota elected Keith Ellison in 2006, when he also became the state’s first African-American representative. Though the Democrat downplays the role of religion in his drive for office, Ellison has become a strong advocate for Islamic causes on a national level; following his precedent, four Islamic officials have won Congressional seats since Ellison swore in — using a Quran.

TheGrio’s 100: Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s first Muslim congressman

Congressman Keith Ellison

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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Dr. Jemison is an icon and inspiration. Here are a few snippets of information on her…

Chemical engineer, scientist, physician, teacher and astronaut, Dr. Mae Jemison has a wide range of experience in technology, engineering, and medical research. In addition to her extensive background in science, she is well-versed in African and African-American Studies, speaks fluent Russian, Japanese, and Swahili, as well as English and is trained in dance and choreography.

Dr. Mae C. Jemison, Not Limited By The Imagination of Others

Mae C. Jemison blasted into orbit aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, September 12, 1992, the world’s first woman of color to go into space and the city of Chicago’s first astronaut in U.S. history.

The Dorothy Jemison Foundation for Excellence (DJF)

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We want to highlight a powerful program in Madison, Wisconsin. I want everyone of our followers/supporters to do what you can for this program that IS WORKING. (In the interest of full disclosure, the head of this program is a fellow UHSC minister.)
Madison Apprenticeship Program gives Allied-Dunn residents another shot at success
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18,734 unemployed in Madison as of November, 2011.
3,136 residents of Madison were homeless in 2010.
14.3% of high school students did not graduate in 2009-10.

6 years is the time that the Madison Apprenticeship Program has been here.
15 classes have graduated.
138 students have successfully completed the program.
75% success rate of students- employed, obtaining higher education, housing

All of these statistics and numbers and all we are asking for
Only $1
That is all we need to help others get back on track and no longer be a statistic.
It’s the Power of One!
Please come and see our new location at 4518 Verona Road.
Donations can be sent to:
Madison Apprenticeship Program
P.O. Box 44842 or any Harris Bank
Madison WI 53711
Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 29 at 3pm for our fundraising celebration!
Madison Apprenticeship Program gives Allied-Dunn residents another shot at success
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It’s that time again for our annual Power of One Campaign. In a time of celebrating Black History Month, we are honored to be the first African American owned company, in the history of the City of Madison, to receive approval for the Capitol Revolving Fund Loan through Community Development Authority, CDA… As we continue to strive towards the objective of expanding our programs, we are asking you to join us in achieving this goal by donating to our annual fundraising campaign. See the attached flyer for further details and feel free to share with your family members and friends.

Our belief here at TJ’s Support Brokerage Firm, Inc. is that the smallest gesture matters. If we as a community come together, we trust that we too can make a difference.

Happy Black History Month, from our family here at TJ’s to yours,
Board of Directors: TJ’s Support Brokerage Firm
Volunteer Team: Madison Apprenticeship Program

Madison Apprenticeship Program gives Allied-Dunn residents another shot at success
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All Hail to the Christ Within!

On this Martin Luther King Day morning, I wonder about the state of our nation. What is it that we’re after? Or are we so divided that the question of what “we” want has become nonsensical? Divisions of race, gender, sexual orientation, politics, religion, and so forth, have not disappeared. On one hand, division can be viewed positively as diversity, which is necessary in a successful democracy.

I heard a clip from Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech on the radio which gave me pause. It reminded me of how each of us can and should make a difference. Yesterday, while reading through the constitution of the Universal Hagar’s Spiritual Church, it states that pastors (and ministers) should visit the sick (members and non-members) and be active in civic life. Those of us in the non-vocational ministry, i.e. we don’t get a living wage from the ministry; have a hard choice to make. The choice is stark, make a living and give the ministry its due time or reconsider why we’re in the ministry at all.

I then heard a brief clip from NAACP president Ben Jealous that stopped me cold. He pointed out that Dr. King learned the importance of social activism from his father and grandfather. Jealous emphasized that those of us born in the 1970s and 1980s were largely cut off from this tradition. We were taught that color doesn’t matter and somehow civil rights successes from the 1960s did all the work. As Rev. Al Sharpton said several week ago, civil rights/activism are still important, if for no other reason than to maintain the ground we’ve already gained.

This ministry has been given the rallying cry—2012: The Year of Wise Execution. The need to read, study, pray, fast, develop patience, meditate, and think first will always be critical to success. BUT if we never execute, how will we make the changes that are so desperately needs in our homes, schools, businesses, municipalities, city halls, county offices, state houses, federal agencies, and the three branches of government. Change comes through action (execution) which is born out of an emancipated thought-process (wisdom).

This is my year, your year, and our year. If you don’t do something now, then when will you? Many goals can’t be completely quickly. But to use that as an excuse to do nothing can no longer be accepted. Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen, please do something this year. Act out the faith of the apostles. Act out the faith of Christ. Act out the faith of our righteous leaders. Act out the faith of the great men and women of history. Act out your faith, the faith that you have developed! Act out the faith that works. For we know, faith without works is dead (James 2).

I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Rev. George H. Latimer-Knight
Written January 16, 2012 at age 30

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