blacks

Advocates Want More Black Californians Involved in State’s Transition to EVs

When Los Angeles hosted its annual car show a little over a month ago at the LA Convention Center, it not only showcased the latest in automotive technology, but the event also transformed into a policy forum on clean energy, previewing what lies ahead for California’s electric vehicle (EV) future. Battery-powered cars took center stage. They accounted for the majority of the over 1000 vehicles on display, ranging from cars and trucks to motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and semi-trucks. For Black and other minority advocates in attendance, several concerns emerged. Among them were the impact of the transition to zero emissions

Political Playback: News You Might Have Missed – August 3

Four Black Leaders Join Diverse Group of Appointees on Gov. Newsom’s New Racial Equity Commission On July 27, Gov. Newsom announced the appointment of an Executive Director and seven appointees to serve on the state’s first Racial Equity Commission, which is supported by an initial state investment of $3.8 million over the next fiscal year and $3.1 million each year following, through 2030. Created by a 2022 executive order the commission will recommend actions the state can take to “advance racial equity and address structural racism,” according to the governor’s office. The four Black appointees are: Larissa Estes of Walnut

COMMENTARY: What Must Be Done with White Reconstruction  OUR VOICES 

Unlike one hundred years ago, we know what’s coming and what we can do to stop such actions. We know that from the increase in hate crimes and racism, much of it fueled by the actions of our former President, that racism on the part of conservative and right-wing whites is fear of the “browning” of America.  

Experts Say It’s Rare that a ‘Jury of your Peers’ Applies to African Americans

“When a juror is unable to relate to a person accused of a crime, the defendant is more likely to face stiffer penalties, up to and including life in prison,” said Charlotte, N.C.-based Attorney Darlene Harris, who after trying a recent murder trial, spoke to a White male juror who shared that a lot of the jurors could not understand the African American defendant.

Environmental Racism is Real, Destructive and Deadly

While the study takes a somewhat different approach in examining disparities in air pollution exposure by examining consumption of goods and services, “its findings once again reveal blacks and Hispanics bear a disproportionate ‘pollution burden’ or costs, while Whites experience ‘pollution advantage’ or benefits,” Dr. Bullard said. 

‘How Did 12 Percent of Black Men vote for Trump?’

In Barack Obama’s first presidential campaign, 95 percent of Black male voters and 96 percent of Black women chose him, NBC News reported. Four years later, Black women’s support remained at 96 percent for Obama’s 2012 re-election, while Black men slid to 87 percent. In 2016, when the nominee was Hillary Clinton, Black men dropped further to 82 percent while Black women’s support for Clinton remained high at 94 percent. Biden came close to matching that this year, garnering the support of 91 percent of Black women. But 12 percent of Black men voted for Trump, according to exit polls.

Nick Cannon apologizes to Jewish community for hurtful words

“First and foremost I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to my Jewish sisters and brothers for the hurtful and divisive words that came out of my mouth during my interview with Richard Griffin,” Cannon said on his Twitter account.

“They reinforced the worst stereotypes of a proud and magnificent people and I feel ashamed of the uninformed and naïve place that these words came from. The video of this interview has since been removed.”

Report: Blacks Seven-Times More Likely than Whites to Be Wrongfully Convicted of Murder

“From their very first interaction with the police, to being arrested, booked, charged, convicted, and sentenced, Black people are discriminated against and disproportionately criminalized at every stage of the criminal justice system,” according to the Innocence Project report, #BlackBehindBars: Sparking a conversation on the Black wrongful conviction experience in the U.S.