African Americans

Congress Passes Historic Anti-Lynching Legislation

Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) called lynchings racially-motivated acts of violence and terror that represent a dark and despicable chapter of our nation’s history. 
“They were acts against people who should have received justice but did not. With this bill, we can change that by explicitly criminalizing lynching under federal law,” noted Harris, who suspended her presidential campaign late last year. 

Big Insurance Must Help End Surprise Medical Billing

Known as “surprise medical billing,” these unexpected costs arise when a patient goes to a hospital for emergency or non-emergency care, only to find out afterwards that one of the medical providers who administered care was not covered in the patient’s insurance network.

Black Voters are the Cornerstone of the Democratic Party

Trump is increasingly highlighting his pitch to African Americans as Democrats struggle to decide amongst a crowded field. Political observers understand that Trump is unlikely to win more than ten percent of the Black vote. But it is also understood that any percentage higher than average could be the margin of victory in a close race.

Mike Bloomberg Makes History with the Black Press of America

“The Bloomberg campaign’s initiative is groundbreaking, and it goes to significantly increasing the economic health of African Americans by tripling their net worth,” said Columbia, South Carolina Mayor Steve Benjamin, who co-chairs Bloomberg’s campaign. “The Bloomberg model is intentionally focused on creating a million new African American homeowners, 100,000 new African American-owned businesses, and $70 billion in federal capital to go in the 100 most challenged neighborhoods across the country.”

Black Kids Deserve Great Schools, Too

Last week, from February 5-7, the California branch of the National Action Network (NAN) met in Sacramento to hold its inaugural Western Regional Conference of chapters in California, Arizona, and Nevada.

Pfizer, AmeriHealth Caritas Officials Talk Health at NNPA Conference

Dr. Kevin Williams, the chief medical officer for Pfizer Rare Disease, addressed the conference during a Pfizer-hosted breakfast presentation titled, “African Americans and Heart Disease – New Research Breakthrough: Announcing 2020 Partnership between Pfizer and NNPA.” At a later session titled “Future of Medicaid and Medicare: Healthy You, Healthy Us – What is Managed Care and How Does It Advance Health Equity,” AmeriHealth Caritas officials said it was important to gain a greater understanding of the different ways managed care organizations address key social disparities.

Senator Doug Jones Emphasizes the Importance of the 2020 Black Voter Turnout

Jones said voting rights had been under attack since the 2013 Shelby V. Holder decision, which eliminated a lot of voter protections. “It’s not the same as the old Jim Crow laws, but there’s still efforts out there to suppress votes and keep people from having that free access to the booths,” he stated. Jones noted that he’s working to restore “teeth” in the Voting Rights Act but doubts that the current GOP-led Senate and President Trump’s administration would approve. “I don’t see it happening, so it’s all the more important to get out and vote in the 2020 elections.”

A Tribute to a Living Legend: Civil Rights Icon John Lewis

In 1965, Lewis and fellow activist Hosea Williams led what was planned as a peaceful 54-mile march through Alabama from Selma to Montgomery. The march, a protest of the discriminatory practices and Jim Crow laws that prevented African Americans from voting, would be remembered in history as “Bloody Sunday,” one of the most dramatic and violent incidents of the American Civil Rights Movement.

COMMENTARY: What Do the 2019 Elections Mean for 2020?

While Democrats scored some gains, the Mississippi governor’s mansion is still in Republican hands. Mississippi has the largest concentration of Black people – 39 percent – of any state, but African Americans remain underrepresented among elected officials in Mississippi.