NAACP Says 'Stop' to Rap Artists

Do most blacks support the rap artists who use sexist and racist words in their lyrics? The NAACP's Youth and College Division, along with the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, say that's not the case. The NAACP's STOP Campaign is denouncing denigrating lyrics and images in rap music and launched its effort the same day the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network released its plea asking that record companies bleep out offensive words. The STOP initiative is also targeting the television industry and demanding it to stop defaming women and degrading the community and black history and start supporting diverse voices in hip hop, among other demands. Read more.

Rosie O'Donnell to Leave 'The View'

"It just didn't work and that's show biz," said Rosie O'Donnell, who during her tenure made "The View" controversial through her feud with Donald Trump and stereotypical caricature of Asian Americans. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund issued this statement about her departure: "We believe that the Disney-ABC Television Group made the right decision in refusing to renew Rosie O'Donnell's contract on 'The View.' On December 5, 2006, when Ms. O'Donnell repeatedly uttered the phrase 'ching chong' to depict how Chinese people speak, she used a racial slur that is offensive to all Asian Americans. Ms. O'Donnell's on-air 'apology' was insincere, since she admitted that she would likely do it again."

While O'Donnell said on the show Wednesday that she wanted to stay for one more year and ABC wanted her to stay for three, she will leave the show in June because she and ABC could not agree on her contract. O'Donnell has helped raise the ratings for the daytime chat show invented by Barbara Walters. "We have had, to say the least, an interesting year," Walters said, according to The Associated Press.

Pat Tillman Case Cover-Up

The Army's cover-up of Pat Tillman's death demonstrates the tug-of-war between politics and ethics in prosecuting the war against terrorism. Tillman is the former NFL player who left the Arizona Cardinals for the Army and Afghanistan. Tuesday, an Army Ranger, who was with Tillman when he was killed by friendly fire, testified in a congressional hearing that he was ordered to lie and say Tillman died heroically, fighting the enemy. The revelation came as congressional committee members investigate why Tillman's death was covered up and who chose to do so, The Associated Press reports.

Why Clarence Thomas Still Is Upset

Clarence Thomas is arguably the most powerful black man in America as a Supreme Court justice, but he does not appear to have the support of most of black America. Justice Antonin Scalia, an Italian American, notes that Italians are "all proud of me" even though he is conservative while most Italians are liberal. While Thomas is only the second black Supreme Court justice in the nation's history, he has chosen to not follow in the footsteps of his predecessor in standing up for the civil-rights establishment. Instead he has become a reliable vote for the conservative right, writes Ellis Cose in Newsweek. Read more.

Race Plays in 'American Idol' Competition

The 30 million weekly "American Idol" viewers could soon see something they have not seen yet: Two people of color in the finale. Usually, the "American Idol" finale has featured a black and a white contestant, but with the last group of six featuring two blacks, three whites and one person who is biracial, it's a possibility. When judge Simon Cowell was asked by the Los Angeles Times who he thought would win, he said, "Two weeks ago I would have probably said Melinda ... six weeks ago, I would have said LaKisha [Jones] ... today I would put my money on Jordin." None of those contestants are white. However, Paula Abdul anointed Blake Lewis, who is white, as the "dark horse," reports the LA Times.

Blacks in New Orleans Face Housing Crisis

Blacks already feeling the pinch from a housing shortage in the New Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina are facing racial discrimination in their search for rental property, a survey by housing advocates found. The findings, released Tuesday by the Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center, found blacks encountered "less favorable treatment" than their white counterparts in 57.5 percent of those tests. In one example, an agent told the black tester who responded to an apartment ad on Jan. 22 that only one unit was available, and not until February. The same agent told the white tester later that day that two units would available Feb. 1 and mentioned two other units. Read more.

Native American, Alaskan Women Raped At Shocking Rates

An Amnesty study reports that Native American and Alaskan women are being raped nearly three times more frequently than the U.S. national average. Tribal, state and federal jurisdictions often allow men to rape with impunity, Amnesty reports. "Native women are brutalized at an alarming rate, and the United States government, a purported champion of women's rights, is unfortunately contributing to the problem," said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA, reports The Associated Frence Press. 
 

Bill to Outlaw Job Bias Based on Orientation Introduced

A bipartisan employment nondiscrimination act was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday. The bill would make it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person's sexual orientation or gender identity. It was announced by Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who was joined with Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; and Chris Shays, R-Conn. The bill would be similar to policies that are already in place at America's most profitable companies, with 87 percent of Fortune 500 companies including sexual orientation in their nodiscrimination policies. All of The 2007 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity^® include sexual orientation in their nondiscrimination policies. Read more.

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