By Jeremy Houston
As parents of Black or African American children, some of us are cognizant of the persistent racial inequities and biases in the school system. African American children are in desperate need for a curriculum that builds on their strengths, affirms their culture and treats them with dignity and compassion. Many schools in America are having problems educating African American children. Optimism arises when it is said that African American children can make it in any type of school (public, charter, private, or religious) in any type of environment (rural, urban, or surburban).
Through years of academic research on African American children, I am convinced that to educate African American children strong partnerships between schools and African American parents need to be built. Today the relationship between African American parents and schools is precarious, primarily because of antagonists and instigators. For example, when public schools and teachers’ unions defend themselves against criticism, they often use apathetic African American parents and poverty as scapegoats. Which is going to and must stop immediately. Schools, whether they’re private, public, or charter, need African American parents to participate in their children’s education, but without the best data, many schools have difficulty communicating what this means. The school systems in America are sending implicit messages to African American parents that they need to stop being single, turn off the television sets and help their children with their homework. This advice is shortsighted and elusive. In essence, if more African American parents become more supportive in their children’s education, significant changes in the children’s behavior and academic success will happen. If school leaders can implement culturally responsive strategies in the education of African American children, I’m not saying that all problems will go away, but they will be reduced.
Finally, school leaders and African American parent advocates should develop strategies to enhance African American parents’ academic orientation. This may be particularly challenging for African American parents who have lower levels of education and may not completely understand the value of education to their children’s future. With the help of other African American parents with higher levels of education strategies can be developed from Mis- Education to fully equipped to be productive citizens. Strategies to help African American parents understand the value of education include providing college and career fairs; explanations of the importance of specific courses for college admissions and career development; guest speakers; career counseling services; and occupational information. Together, African American parents and schools can build a positive learning environment for African American children – if they avoid antagonists that place the needs of special interests and vanity over those of children.
A good relationship between African American parents and schools takes empathy, unconditional positive regard, compassion and a mutual interest in educating the whole child.

Jeremy Houston is a Resident of Natchez, Mississippi,
Historian, Re Enactor, Community Advocate,
Volunteer worker at The Natchez Musuem of African American History and Culture

   We are very good in this country of remembering our veterans and celebrating our freedom. Every year, we devote three holidays to our country and those who have served in the military: Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.
As a veteran, I am proud and grateful that our country honors it’s veterans. But sometimes I wonder if our country truly understands the costs of our freedom.
We all know that freedom isn’t free. But most Americans have never been to third world countries or to countries with oppressive regimes. Most of us have only ever known freedom, and have not had to live in a place where poverty and oppression are the norm.
And while I appreciate a good war movie as much as the next person, war movies and video games don’t paint an accurate picture of what men and women face in combat. In the real world, the war doesn’t end after two hours, and you don’t come back to life when you die.
Now I know we all know this. But do we really think about it? When we thank a veteran on Veterans Day or bow our heads in a moment if silent reflection on Memorial Day, do we think about the choice these veterans made to be willing to sacrifice everything so that we can vote, speak freely and live our lives without fear of persecution?
Last week, my friend and colleague, Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow from Red Bay, invited 4th, 5th and 6th graders from his local school to attend a special Veterans Day program.
At the program, local veterans came and spoke to the children about their experiences in the military. There were veterans there from every war since World War II, including two veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The program also included a homemade museum featuring local veterans, and was concluded by allowing the children to ride in actual military trucks and vehicles from every American war since WWII.
But the purpose of this great event was to give these children an opportunity to learn what the costs of our freedom has been.
These kids learned first hand from veterans about the sacrifices made for our freedom. And when the day was done, they didn’t just feel a sense of pride and patriotism. They understood what it means to be free, and they left that program with a new appreciation for the price that has been paid for our freedom.
This Veterans Day, I hope that we all will remember the lessons that these children learned. I hope that we will truly consider the sacrifices that have been made, and consider what our brave men and women in uniform have been willing to give up so that we wouldn’t have to give it up.
If you are a veteran, then from the bottom of my heart I thank you for your service and sacrifice. And to those who are still serving, I pray God will keep you and bring you home soon.
Rep. Craig Ford is a Democrat from Gadsden. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and the Alabama National Guard. He is currently the Minority Leader in the Alabama House of Representatives.

by Darryl Sanders

During the recent government shutdown, I learned that Congress had one key duty in the Constitution, which was to pass spending bills that fund the government. The failure to fund the government as appropriate, resulted in non-funding for most functions of the agencies, such as paying out small businesses and processing request for passports. In the midst of the government coming to a halt, Congress was still being paid while thousands were off from work during the shutdown.
So we ask the question “what was the hold up?” The reply to that question was, the House of Representatives insisted on a new spending bill that included the provisions to either chip away, derail, or just defund the Obamacare Heath Plan. With deeper investigation, it shows the health care law is not directly tied into the funding of the government. I believe it’s just selfishness at an all time high.
Recently, President Obama signed a bill into law that allowed the shutdown to come to an end. As demonstrated by the Republicans over the last several weeks, it would appear they are against the Obamacare Health Plan and wants nothing to do with it.

by Benjamin Todd Jealous

Two decades ago, as a young organizer in Mississippi, I learned that there are only two types of temporal power: organized people and organized money. I also learned that in a democracy, the people can win every time – but only if we are organized.
Today, when I reflect back on my half-decade at the helm of the NAACP, I am deeply proud of what we have accomplished together as we organized our communities. We have abolished the death policy in five states, defended voting rights from coast to coast, freed multiple wrongfully incarcerated people, and shrunk prison systems. We have increased funding for health care, defended the rights of workers, held wayward mortgage companies accountable and curbed the school-to prison-pipeline in multiple states. We have built powerful bridges to help faith communities join the struggle for marriage equality and against the scourge of HIV, and come to the aid of our allies in the struggles for environmental protection and immigrants rights. Through all this, we have dramatically expanded the ranks of those who would assist us in combating racial discrimination in the streets and at the ballot box.
Five years ago, the NAACP was what it had been for most of the past half century; the biggest civil rights organization in the streets. Today, we are that and also the biggest online, on mobile and at the ballot box as well.
All of this success is testament to the power of our shared vision and partnership to come together for a stronger, more inclusive America.
Things could have gone a different way. Since 2010, far-right wing extremists have repeatedly and simultaneously attacked the most basic civil rights protections of most Americans. They’ve attacked women’s rights, affirmative action, workers rights, immigration, LGBT equality, food security, health care, and even our right to drink clean water and breathe clean air. One has to wonder whether their decision to attack all of us all at once was motivated by mere greed or by an even more devious design to ensure that we would Balkanize as we each retreated into a defensive posture.
However, together, we chose the courageous path. We have marched forward arm in arm, repeatedly embracing the motto of the Three Musketeers: all for one, and one for all. As a result: we have passed powerful anti racial profiling legislation in New York City and even abolished the death penalty in Maryland with the help of leaders in the LGBT community; passed marriage equality bills from coast to coast with increased support from faith leaders and communities of color; and most recently we have built a powerful defense-and offense-for voting rights by pulling the entire progressive family together in ways incomparable in recent memory. Occasionally, we have even picked up new conservative friends and allies.
Today, as I prepare to leave my position at the NAACP, I am confident that there is a bright future for both the Association and the larger civil and human rights struggle.
We may have started this century like we started the last: fighting assaults on our voting rights and pushing back against attacks on our most basic civil and human rights. Nonetheless, this time we have a distinct advantage. We know that no matter what happens in the courts, every year our ability to defend and expand civil and human rights protections at the ballot box, in statehouses and on city councils will increase. Moreover, as organizers, we understand that while the future will come no matter what, we have the power to make the future come faster.

Benjamin Todd Jealous is the outgoing president and CEO of the national NAACP.

Dr. Horace Huntley

Contrary to Commissioner Jimmie Stephens’s belief that the battle has been “fought and won,” the battle for equity and justice is ongoing.  Jimmie, it is ironic that your fore-fathers started this fight generations ago. Now that we can legally defend ourselves, you arrogantly declare the struggle is non-existent. Although George Wallace is not standing in the schoolhouse door, and Bull Connor is not using water hoses and dogs against Black children, the struggle is no less important, and the opposition’s efforts are no less debilitating.  They wear three piece suits and have learned to properly pronounce Negro. They smile in one’s face but only give respect to non-whites when it is demanded. They make statements such as, there is no need for a Human Resources Department; or that there has been no discrimination at the County in hiring; and that the next five department heads will be white males. They attack competent Black department heads, and leave incompetent whites in place. In fact, the Republican Commissioners are responsible for laying a Black man off who is one of the best on staff, and attempted to replace him with an unqualified white subordinate. Those who led this effort were overruled and forced to return the Black man to his position. The white subordinate refused to work cooperatively with the Black man and was given another position by the Commissioners.
The Republicans on the Commission came into office for the express purpose of “right-sizing government.”  That effort has been based on race and class. A war against the poor. They closed the Rehab Center, which was a last resort for poor people who could not afford this care in other institutions. After closing the Center, this Commission actually sold the bed license to a facility in two upper middle-class suburban cities. That is tantamount to taking from the poor and giving to the rich. Robber Hood?
The second dastardly deed was the closing of Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. The attack was on that institution, which was managed by a competent Black physician and her Black finance head. The Republicans on the Commission continually harassed and attempted to defame Dr. Sandral Hullett’s nationally recognized reputation. With assistance from two Black males, the majority of the Commission has destroyed that institution, and decimated healthcare for the poor in this County. The two Black males were enlisted to give the white commissioners cover from the racist tag.  Internalized racism, greed and subservience explain why there is Black participation in such a dastardly deed.
Judge Linwood Smith did not send a Receiver to Jefferson County because the battle has been “fought and won.” He sent him here to correct the wrongs of this County against Black people and women for the last 30 years. Those 30 years were preceded by 300 plus years of atrocious inequity.
So Jimmie, though strides in the Movement have been made in attempts to correct the misdeeds heaped upon Black America, it ain’t over. You or no other white man can orchestrate our responses to your injustices. It is obvious that you and your cohorts are oblivious to the pain and suffering you cause by the decisions made on a daily basis. You think you do not have to answer to the ones you inflict pain upon. But you do have to answer to a higher power.  A spiritual principle that one can not avoid is, “What you give is what you get.” Be Prepared.

Dr. Horace Huntley
Birmingham, Al. 35211

by Darrius Samuel

What is correction without a mistake?

What does freedom mean if you have never escaped?

What is happiness if you have never been sad?

How can I miss something I never had?

What does teaching mean if you have never learned?

What have you really gained if it was something never earned?

What is being lost if you are never found?

How can your hurt somebody that’s always been down?

Why won’t the forgiven learn to forgive?

What does dying mean if you have never lived?

What is courage if have never had fear?

Why do I keep talking even though you are not here?