On this holiday, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for all of you who have encouraged me on my journey to be a progressive voice, to express opinions on race, gender and class in the law and politics. I am thankful for my friends, family, both here and in heaven, colleagues, acquaintances, teachers and spiritual leaders. Everyone has in in some way shaped me into who I am today. I am not where I want to be but I am thankful to be alive and still trying to be the person that I aspire to be. On this day, I have to reflect on life itself and being thankful to be healthy and alive. Often these are just clichés but last year, a dear college friend became ill around Thanksgiving and one month later died from cancer. She was one of the most vibrant and energetic people I have known. And so to be able to be thankful for good health and to be alive is a blessing. I am thankful most for having my mother in my life who encouraged me to be thankful in all situations … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving: A Time for Giving Thanks
Archives for November 2013
Women’s Media Center Announces its 2013 Progressive Women’s Voices Class
November 26, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Women’s Media Center announced today the 20 women who have been selected for its WMC Progressive Women’s Voices class, the organization’s premiere media and leadership training program. Among those chosen are Debbie Hines, Washington, DC trial lawyer and founder of LegalSpeaks blog. "The Women’s Media Center works to make sure that who defines the story, who tells the story, and what the story is about, represents women and men equally. This group of dynamic women are part of our strategy to expand the media talent pool,” said Julie Burton, President of The Women’s Media Center. “Our trainees will receive advanced, comprehensive training and tools to position themselves as media spokespersons in their fields and will be promoted through WMC SheSource -- a brain trust of top women experts used by media outlets worldwide.” Since the inception of WMC Progressive Women’s Voices, the Women’s Media Center has trained over 130 thought leaders, … [Read more...] about Women’s Media Center Announces its 2013 Progressive Women’s Voices Class
Mass Incarceration is not the Answer, it’s the Problem
Prosecutors and defense attorneys are viewed as being on opposite sides in the court room. For those prosecutors who truly care about justice being served, they realize that justice is not served in the court room by prosecuting cases that should never have been charged and sending people to jail who need social services, alcohol or drug counseling or mental health services and not jail time. And it is difficult for prosecutors seeking justice and criminal defense attorneys, with their divergent views, to ignore the disparity in the criminal justice system. It is difficult to ignore that on any given day in any given urban city court room, that the court houses are filled with African Americans, mostly men. From Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Washington and other urban cities, the court rooms, jails, probation offices and parole offices are filled with African American men. This disparity exists even in cities like Washington, DC with changing and higher white … [Read more...] about Mass Incarceration is not the Answer, it’s the Problem
Renisha McBride’s Killing Cries for Justice and Answers
Renisha McBride, a 19 year old woman, becomes the latest African American victim who was shot and killed after being mistaken for someone “up to no good". McBride’s misfortune occurred while she was attempting to seek assistance following a car accident in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. According to reports, after her cell phone battery died, McBride stepped on the porch of a house in Dearborn, allegedly seeking help somewhere around 2:30 AM on November 2. Instead of receiving the help she needed, she ended up being shot in the head and died. Unlike Detroit, Michigan, its suburban neighbor Dearborn Heights is majority white. The person shooting and killing her has not been charged. McBride’s case is not occurring in isolation. In September, 2013, 24 year old Jonathan Ferrell, a Florida A and M college graduate was shot 10 to 12 times by the police in Charlotte, North Carolina after he knocked on the door of a stranger seeking assistance in the early morning hours following an accident. … [Read more...] about Renisha McBride’s Killing Cries for Justice and Answers