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Read below to get a list of some of the most memorable quotes in support of marriage equality.

The Root reports:

Jay-Z:

“What people do in their own homes is their business, and you can choose to love whoever you love. That’s their business. It’s no different than discriminating against blacks. It’s discrimination, plain and simple.” May 2012

Will Smith:

“If anybody can find someone to love them and to help them through this difficult thing that we call life, I support that in any shape or form.” May 2012

Audra McDonald:

“I am a mom. I am an engaged lady — I am soon to be married. And I am someone that believes in marriage and in the freedom to marry.” May 2012

Michael Strahan:

“As a defensive end for the New York Giants, I always played the game tough but fair. It’s unfair to stop committed couples from getting married.”June 2011

Janet Jackson:

On President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage: “He finally came around, didn’t he? He finally came around; good for him.” May 2012

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.):

“Today I think more than ever before, we have to speak up and speak out to end discrimination based on sexual orientation … It’s not the business of the federal government, it’s not the business of the state government, to tell two individuals that they cannot fall in love and get married … I fought too long and too hard against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up and fight and speak out against discrimination based on sexual orientation.”  January 2009

Russell Simmons:

“I am a proud supporter of gay marriage.” May 2012, Twitter

Patti LaBelle:

“I’ve never been with a woman, so I guess I’m straight, OK? But I’m straight enough to know the difference between right and wrong. I am straight enough to know that if you want to marry whoever you want to marry, you should be able to marry whoever you want to marry.” April 2009

Rev. Al Sharpton:

“As a Baptist minister, I don’t have the right to impose my views on anyone else. If committed gay and lesbian couples want to marry, that is their business; none of us should stand in their way.” February 2012

Rev. Jesse Jackson:

“[Obama's same-sex marriage endorsement] is a bold step in the right direction for equal protection under the law for all citizens … If the states had to vote on slavery, we would have lost the vote. If we had to vote on the right [for blacks] to vote, we would have lost that vote.” May 2012

Alicia Keys:

On President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage: “Honestly, it’s about time! This is great news @BarackObama!!”  May 2012, Twitter

Tracy Morgan:

“I know how bad bullying can hurt. I was bullied when I was a kid. I’m sorry for [my homophobic rant]. I didn’t mean it. I never want to use my comedy to hurt anyone. My family knew what it was like to feel different. My brother was disabled, and I lost my father to AIDS in 1987 … Parents should support and love their kids no matter what. Gay people deserve the same right to be happy in this country as everyone else. Our laws should support that.” June 2011

Whoopi Goldberg:

“Really, darling, it’s a no-brainer. You know, I understand not everybody is for gay marriage. But if you’re not for gay marriage, don’t marry a gay person. That’s what I say.” November 2010

John Legend: “Very pleased the President spoke up for human rights and marriage equality today.” May 2012, Twitter

Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.):

“I, like the president, have evolved to a point of marriage equality. I have not always been there. I grew up in a parsonage, a fundamentalist-Christian parsonage, and I grew up with that indoctrination. And I have grown to the point that I believe that we have evolved to marriage equality … If we consider this to be a civil right — and I do — I don’t think civil rights ought to be left up to a state-by-state approach. I think that we should have a national policy on this.” May 2012

Tyra Banks:

“A fierce day for my gays and my prez @BarackObama — way 2 stand up 4 luv for ALL!” May 2012, Twitter

Though President Obama’s image has been tarnished some factions of the evangelical community, he’s clearly maintained his support in Hollywood without missing a beat.

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In an open letter, the leaders called for “civil debate,” not divisive arguments, as many Black evangelicals try to reconcile their faith with their support for President Obama.

Read the letter in full below:

May 11, 2012

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”  As leaders in today’s Civil Rights Movement, we stand behind the President Obama’s belief that same sex couples should be allowed to join in civil marriages.  We also affirm that individuals may hold different views on this issue but still work together towards our common goals: fair housing and equitable education, affordable health care and eradicating poverty, all issues of deep and abiding concern for our communities.

President Obama stated his view that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry.  This is a view that we concur with, because as civil rights leaders we cannot fight to gain rights for some and not for all.  At the same time, we acknowledge that the President stated his personal opinion, which everyone is entitled to – both those who agree with him, like us, and those who disagree.  The President made clear that his support is for civil marriage for same-sex couples, and he is fully committed to protecting the ability of religious institutions to make their own decisions about their own sacraments.

There will be those who seek to use this issue to divide our community. As a people, we cannot afford such division.  It is our hope that conversations on strengthening African American families continue in a civil and respectful way, on all sides, both with those who support the ability of same-sex couples to marry, and those who do not.

We are glad that President Obama has joined Dr. Joseph Lowery, Dr. Julian Bond and so many others in full embrace of equality for gay and lesbian individuals in our country.  We also welcome the civil debate on this issue that will surely spring.  And we encourage all individuals to keep all issues of import to our communities in mind in the days ahead, and we seek to secure equal justice, opportunity and dignity for all God’s children.

Many in the religious Black community disagree, including Pastor Jamal Bryant, who was “taken aback” by the president’s decision. Bryant even goes so far as to say that, because the “Black church has been there for him from the start,” Obama’s action should have been preceded by a “warning to the Black church community.”

“The church at its core is to be a refuge for all of God’s children, including homosexuals, wrote Bryant exclusively for Newsone. “There is a gay community within the Black church. We can’t ignore them or bash them. However, the church has no shades of gray when it comes to marriage. Our faith reserves marriage for a man and a woman. President Obama, as a product of the Black church, is fully aware of that. Knowing this, the President made this endorsement without calling or preparing any of us.  For many of us, it felt like a betrayal.”

Apparently unbeknownst to Bryant, President Obama stated that marriage equality is still a “states’ issue,” and, as Rev. Sharpton stated, the president’s personal support is for civil marriages for same-sex couples. This will clearly not infringe on churches who want to withhold that right from “God’s children,” but the inability for evangelicals to understand the concept of “separation of church and state” is not new — nor is it strictly along racial lines. The difference lies in the fact that Black Americans are typically social conservatives who are fiscally liberal, so their support for a Democratic president who supports same-sex marriage is a slippery slope — especially one who has made his views on figurative language in the Bible clear since his early days as a senator in Chicago.

Even then, Obama convincingly makes the point that faith has no place in politics and that because we do not share common spiritual eyesight, we can only share common laws. Most powerfully, he says that “religiously motivated [politicians] must translate their concerns into universal — not religious — values.

Many people see the support of some religious leaders as capitulation to Obama on marriage equality and proof that nothing that he does will sway the Black vote — even if it goes against their religious beliefs. Rev. Sharpton, however, believes that those beliefs have nothing to do with civil rights:

“This is not about mine or anyone’s personal or religious views. It is about equal rights for all. We cannot be selective with civil rights. We must support civil rights for everybody or we don’t support them for anyone.

I am prepared to fight, as I have since 2003 in the faith community, about the rightness of the position that the President has now taken.”

Rev. Sharpton has not changed his position and President Obama has finally decided on his own after years of cautious “evolution.” Only time will tell if the hold-outs in the Black church step into the 21st century as well.

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After Cosby delivered a crowd-pleasing keynote address, encouraging (and admonishing) the Black community to help Black youth focus on education and self-empowerment, Rev. Sharpton followed up by announcing NAN’s 2012 “Keepers Of The Dream Award” recipients.

Each year, NAN selects high-profile and not-so-well-known individuals who actively exemplify Dr. Martin L. King Jr.’s vision through their tireless efforts to improve the communities in which they live, the corporate boards on which they serve, and other acts of professional and social selflessness.

This years awardees are Parsons, Chairman of Citigroup; actor Denzel Washington and his wife, Pauletta; Karla Ballard, Chief of Strategic Development, Media and National Partnerships of One Economy; and Doug Morris, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment.

Before handing out the awards, Rev. Sharpton mentioned how valuable it is to give to others as opposed to living a life of luxury that only serves oneself:

“If you success is based only on what you own and what you have achieved and what status you have, then your success if temporary at best,” Sharpton said.

He then shared a tough aspect of his ecclesiastical duties that involves preaching about a deceased person who lead less than ordinary life.

“It is a very difficult task to preach the funeral of an irrelevant person, Sharpton said. “It’s a really hard job.”

Other notable attendees at the banquet were Georgetown professor Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, popular TV Judge Greg Mathis, and President and CEO of Radio One Alfred C. Higgins III.

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In the midst of his annual National Action Network convention in Washington, D.C., Sharpton sat down with NewsOne’s Elon James White and L. Joy Williams to discuss the ironies of being a longtime racial lightning rod.

“I’ve never fought a case where I didn’t get backlash,” Sharpton said. “Activism is a touch sport… People don’t call me because they want to keep things quiet.”

Sharpton also reveals how he selects cases to champion from the hundreds of calls he receives in the full, exclusive interview below.

Read our full National Action Network convention coverage here.

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In this daily recap, Elon wonders why more folks don’t come to this important event.

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The attorney general made the comments in an appearance before a civil rights organization founded by the Rev. Al Sharpton.

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Holder said the department will conduct a thorough and independent review of the evidence in the Martin matter. One of the department’s top priorities, said Holder, is preventing and combating youth violence and victimization.

The Justice Department launched an investigation of the Martin killing three weeks ago.

“I know that many of you are greatly – and rightly – concerned about the recent shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, a young man whose future has been lost to the ages,” Holder told the 14th annual convention of the National Action Network, three days of discussion on race issues. Martin’s parents were scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon at the meeting.

“If we find evidence of a potential federal criminal civil rights crime, we will take appropriate action,” said the attorney general. “I also can make you another promise: that at every level of today’s Justice Department – preventing and combating youth violence and victimization is, and will continue to be, a top priority.”

Holder was interrupted at least half a dozen times by the audience during his speech with affirmations of “that’s right” and “there you go,” including when he said his department was working with the Department of Education, state, local, and community leaders and stakeholders to get rid of the school-to-prison pipeline.

His comments followed word Tuesday in Florida by the special prosecutor in the case that she would soon make an announcement. She has not given any more details.

Story continues below…

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Martin’s parents were to speak later at a news conference at the meeting. Also Wednesday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and leaders of African American organizations planned to announced in Washington a national campaign against “stand your ground” self defense laws.

The attorney general says that Justice Department officials including Tom Perez, the assistant attorney general for the civil rights division, and U.S. Attorney Robert O’Neill from Florida have traveled to Sanford to meet with the Martin family, members of the community and local authorities.

He says representatives from the department’s Community Relations Service are meeting with civil rights leaders, law enforcement officers and residents to address community tensions.

Neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman says he shot Martin in self-defense after following the teenager in a Sanford, Fla. a gated community outside Orlando on Feb. 26. He said he was returning to his truck when Martin attacked him and that he shot the unarmed teen during the fight. He wasn’t arrested partly because of Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law.

The lack of an arrest has led to protests across the nation and spurred a debate about race and the laws of self-defense. Zimmerman’s father is white and his mother is Hispanic. Martin was black.

On Tuesday, Zimmerman’s attorneys announced they were no longer representing him and that they had not heard from him since Sunday, although he had contacted talk show host Sean Hannity and the special prosecutor.

Martin’s shooting served as a theme for the three-day gathering of National Action Network activists. Charles Ogletree, a Harvard law professor, said at a panel following Holder’s speech that Trayvon Martin is “a symbol of what’s wrong” with the criminal justice system.

“I want to see the first black man who uses the `stand your ground’ defense and see if it works. Or the first white victim of the `stand your ground’ by a black defendant and see if it works,” Ogletree said.

Laura Murphy, director of the Washington office of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she lived in a development that transformed from mostly black to mostly white. She said she sent emails to her neighbors when her son was home from boarding school that pleaded, “Please, do not call the police, because if you see a young black man walking around the neighborhood with a hoodie, that’s my son.”

She urged the audience to pack a Senate subcommittee hearing next week on proposed legislation that would ban racial profiling in law enforcement, among other things.

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The 200-seat Center Baptist Church in Newville was nearly full before the start of Ada Sharpton’s funeral. She died at 87 on Thursday following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

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Sharpton said Thursday on Twitter that he is on a flight to Florida for the rally at the First Shiloh Baptist Church in Sanford. The rally is being held following the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last month.

Martin was shot by a neighborhood watch captain who has claimed he acted in self-defense. The neighborhood watch captain hasn’t been arrested, and the case is being reviewed by the State Attorney’s Office.

Sharpton’s 87-year-old mother, Ada, died early Thursday. Sharpton says his mother would have wanted him to attend the rally.

SEE ALSO: Hear Trayvon’s Mom: ‘Our Son Is Your Son’

His spokeswoman says Ada Sharpton died early Thursday morning in Dothan, Ala., following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Rachel Noerdlinger says Sharpton will fly to Alabama to make arrangements for his mother’s funeral after attending a rally Thursday evening in Sanford, Fla., for Trayvon Martin.

Martin is a black teenager who was shot to death by a Hispanic neighborhood watch captain in Florida. His parents attended a march for their son in New York City on Wednesday.

Noerdlinger says Sharpton learned of his mother’s death while boarding the flight to Florida on Thursday morning. He heads the National Action Network, a civil rights organization based in New York City.

Be a part of history and the future.

For more detailed information please visit www.nationalactionnetwork.net

Watch live streaming video from officialnationalactionnetwork at livestream.com

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Tentative Schedule for the 47^th Anniversary of the Reenactment of the Selma to Montgomery March

Sunday, March 4^th, 2012

Tentative Schedule for the 47^th Anniversary of the Reenactment of the Selma to Montgomery March

Monday, March 5^th, 2012

Tentative Schedule for the 47^th Anniversary of the Reenactment of the Selma to Montgomery March

Tuesday, March 6^th, 2012

Tentative Schedule for the 47^th Anniversary of the Reenactment of the Selma to Montgomery March

Wednesday, March 7^th, 2012

Tentative Schedule for the 47^th Anniversary of the Reenactment of the Selma to Montgomery March

Thursday, March 8^th, 2012

Tentative Schedule for the 47^th Anniversary of the Reenactment of the Selma to Montgomery March

Friday, March 9^th, 2012

Spearheaded by Civil Rights activist and host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, Rev. Al Sharpton, the recreation of the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama to protest voter suppression laws begins today.

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The march was organized by the National Action Network, who partnered with “congressional leaders, activists and everyday citizens” in response to the archaic voter ID laws that control the political climate in one of the most historically racist states in the union. Beginning at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, it will culminate in front of the Alabama State Capitol. Sharpton once famously said, “We have defeated Jim Crow, but now we have to deal with his son, James Crow Jr., Esq.”

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That time is now.

In a blog entry at Huffington Post, Rev. Sharpton stresses the magnitude of this pivotal point in history:

It’s amazing that almost 50 years after this historic legislation [Voting Rights Act] was enacted that we now find ourselves under attack yet again… Your future, my future, our children’s future and the future of this very nation. Without any validation, individual states are passing these strict voter ID laws that are clearly designed to disenfranchise the poor, people of color, the elderly and young folks. Instead of allowing utility bills and other items that were used for years as appropriate forms of ID for voting, supporters of these new laws would like nothing more than to discourage people from participating. Rather than making the process easier and open to all, they are working diligently on finding new ways to suppress the vote.

Whether you march along this historic route with us, or help organize buses, or participate in any fashion, make sure you do something. We have fought far too long and sacrificed far too much to allow anyone to repeal justice. Say no to voter suppression and anti-immigration laws. Let’s remind the world once again what’s at stake here. It’s time to go back to the future: all roads lead to Selma on Sunday.

The march will last from March 4-9, 2012.  To learn how to participate, please click here.

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Both candid and humorous, Sharpton gets personal, discussing everything from his weight issues to his bachelor existence and exactly how he got that hair — blame James Brown.

From the streets of Brooklyn to the White House, Rev. Sharpton has continued to be a voice for people silenced in this country. As host of PoliticsNation, he fearlessly shatters boundaries in journalism — angering some people along the way — by merging his activism into a new brand of media that is groundbreaking for cable television.

While critics have questioned his authenticity and dedication to the common man, Rev. Sharpton ignores the chatter and continues to put his money where his mouth is. From March 4-9, 2012, Sharpton’s  National Action Network will recreate the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Beginning at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, it will culminate in front of the Alabama State Capitol. The march was organized in response to the archaic voter suppression laws that control the political climate in one of the most historically racist states in the union. Sharpton once famously said, “We have defeated Jim Crow, but now we have to deal with his son, James Crow Jr., Esq.”

In addition to his consistency on the political front, Rev. Sharpton has long proven to be in touch with the pulse of the people as proven by his close relationship with the Hip-Hop and entertainment communities, never failing to also take artists to task when their lyrics are deemed detrimental to our youth.

Be on the look-out for Vanity Fair‘s insightful interview with the Reverend on newsstands in April.

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Sharpton was in Atlanta on Thursday to raise awareness about pending and existing legislation addressing early voting and government-issued identification as an eligibility requirement to cast a ballot. The activist and television show host has scheduled a march and rally focused on the issue next month that will start in Selma, Ala., the scene of Bloody Sunday, the seminal event that led to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Sharpton says many of the existing and proposed laws are modeled on Georgia’s voter ID law passed in 2006 and approved last year by the Department of Justice.

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But instead of focusing on how she died, we need to pay attention to how we live. When did you last jot down a list of your own demons? What does it mean to be a real, genuine friend to someone? Though we don’t know definitively what cut this multitalented woman’s life so short, we do know that life brings trials and tribulations for all of us and it’s time for a serious global intervention.

When was the last time you saw a friend doing something crazy and didn’t say a word? Why is it that we are taught to “mind our own business” and keep quiet even though we know somebody is engaged in destructive behavior? Not paying child support, cheating on a spouse, not taking care of kids, always borrowing money, constantly looking for the next hustle instead of getting a job… these are some of the things that if they don’t kill you, they’ll kill those around you. Let’s not pretend that they don’t exist.

Instead of just explaining away our issues, why not tackle them head on by first and foremost admitting that they occur. We simply cannot go around turning our backs to things like substance abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism, gambling or any other form of troubling behavior. If you know someone suffering from depression, step in. If you think a friend is drinking too much or taking drugs, you have got to speak up. If a young person is talking about guns and violence, please, please, please do something.

Society often teaches us to be selfish, to go for our own. And though there’s nothing wrong with setting the bar high and achieving your goals, we cannot leave each other behind in the process. You’d be surprised how many of our co-workers, neighbors, friends or loved ones are suffering through a major battle, and they’re just one intervention away from a breakthrough. What are we doing to prevent him/her from heading down the wrong path? Instead of expressing regret after someone is gone, let’s take a hard look at how we’re living and how we’re treating the people in our lives.

We may never know the extent of Whitney’s battles. But we know she’s gone at 48 and that ain’t right. The lesson is that we must deal with our own lives and figure out what it means to be an honest friend to someone else. It doesn’t mean being there when things are great, or hanging out when it’s time to have fun. A true friend says something and takes action when they see things are wrong. A true friend is there when times are tough. A true friend intervenes before it’s too late.

A true friend cares less about the friendship and more about the friend.

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Moreover, The Post was told by two undercover officers that they were tasked by superiors to discredit Sharpton as early as the 1990s.

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Here is some of the story below:

The informant had attended the NAN meeting a week after a Queens judge had acquitted three detectives of the fatal 50-shot killing of Bell and the wounding of two of his friends in November, 2006.

Angered by the acquittals, Sharpton had vowed to “stop the city” with acts of civil disobedience at major transit hubs during the afternoon rush hour of May 7, 2008.

“We strategically know how to stop the city so people stand still,” Sharpton said at the time. Nearly 200 protestors were subsequently arrested on that day.

According to the police document, the informant, who was identified not by name but by a five-digit number given to him by the department, provided the NYPD with a detailed description of NAN’s protest plans, including the names of prominent African-Americans set to participate, the locations where protestors would gather and the number of demonstrators who would offer themselves up for arrest.

For more on this story, go to The Huffington Post.

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Terrie Williams

When the world heard of the tragic passing of Don Cornelius, we had different reactions. Some were in disbelief, others paid homage to the legend with a “Soul Train line” in Times Square, while many reflected on his immense impact on society.

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But one thing most people either chose not to accept or simply did not want to accept was the fact that Don Cornelius was dealing with serious internal issues; so much so that he took his own life. No matter what the root cause, poor mental health is a dangerous issue that people unfortunately do not address – especially in our community. And yet it continues to destroy the lives of those suffering from it (and of their loved ones).

Because mental health and depression are such significant and critical issues, it’s only right to enlist the expertise of someone qualified to speak on the subject. That’s why, this week, I’m honored to have Terrie Williams, clinical therapist and veteran public relations counselor give us her words of wisdom:

We are all mourning the loss this week of Soul Train creator and cultural icon, Don Cornelius.  An American success story, Don left us with a 35-year history lesson in business acumen, cultural exportation, and community uplift.  That’s all good. We should take some time to measure and celebrate Don’s legacy.  That’s easy.  What’s not easy is to discuss how and why he died.  Yes, he hid his demons well. But clearly they were there because this 75-year old icon with a body of work most of us will never achieve chose to end his own life with a gunshot to the head.

By all accounts, Don was a very private man. True to form, he didn’t leave a note so we don’t know what moved him to end his life. What we do know is that we did not have to lose Don this way. This silence about depression is now killing us.  It is real. It is deadly. And, it does not discriminate. According to the World Health Organizations, by the year 2020, depression will be the second leading cause of death behind heart disease for everyone.

As a veteran public relations counselor and clinical therapist who manages her own depression, I know for sure we all need to learn to identify its symptoms – what it looks like, sounds like and feels like — and get help for those that need it. We must take care of our mental health… and get a “check-up from the neck up.”

My heartfelt love and prayers go out to Don’s family, friends.

Terrie M. Williams is the author of Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting and the co-founder of The Stay Strong Foundation.  You can follow her at twitter.com/terriewilliams or visit http://www.storiesthatheal.samhsa.gov or www.thestaystrongfoundation.org.

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In a recent interview with Diverse magazine, Professor Cornel West attacked his former Princeton colleague and newly minted MSNBC host Professor Melissa Harris-Perry.

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West called Harris-Perry a “liar” and said that, “[s]he’s become the momentary darling of liberals, but I pray for her because she’s in over her head. She’s a fake and a fraud. I was so surprised how treacherous the sister was.”

West and Harris-Perry have disagreed publicly before in their varying assessments of President Barack Obama. West and talk show host Tavis Smiley have consistently been harsh on Obama and what they see as his lack of concern for the black community and the poor.

Harris-Perry’s view of the Obama administration has been more balanced often based on analysis of process and structural impediments to sweeping change that many feel President Obama promised. West sees Harris-Perry, and her MSNBC colleague Reverend Al Sharpton, as conciliators to the administration and questions why a civil rights activist like Sharpton wouldn’t be more harsh in his critique, questioning why he is so close to the administration.

TheGrio and MSNBC are both divisions of NBC News which is own by NBCUniversal.

In an interview with theGrio, Rev. Sharpton responded sternly to West’s latest criticism that he and Dr. Harris-Perry were somehow rewarded for their support for the Obama administration with a show on MSNBC. “Rewarded by who?” Sharpton says, “I don’t know if having access to the Obama administration means that one is rewarded…All of these conspiracy theorists need to check facts more clearly.”

Go to theGrio for the full story.

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But never has a First Lady been so disrespected, ridiculed, demeaned or vilified in the manner that Michelle Obama has. With such high approval ratings (at times even higher than her husband), there’s a clear explanation for the continual attacks against Mrs. Obama – her race – and come to think of it, his race.

During the Presidential campaign of ’08, many Black women like myself were beyond excited to see a strong Black woman as the next potential First Lady. An educated, extremely intelligent female who dedicated much of her efforts towards working in the community and uplifting others, Michelle Obama represented what many of us either strive to be, or already regard ourselves as. And the fact that President Obama, a biracial man, married an independently minded and strong-willed woman like Michelle, only solidified our appreciation and support for this couple. It’s exactly that admiration and love for Michelle Obama that conservatives and those with an ax to grind hate so much. And they’ve proved over and over again that they will try to do anything to tarnish her image.

When Barack Obama was on the campaign trail, the verbal assaults against Michelle already began. First, they attempted to turn her comments about being proud of her country into a negative, as if she was somehow unpatriotic her entire life. During the rest of the that period and throughout Barack Obama’s Presidency, the right continued throwing insults against Michelle for everything from the clothes she wears to her fight against obesity, to supposed lavish vacations. Following in conservative footsteps, now everyone appears to think it’s appropriate to make outrageous claims against the First Lady. The latest example: British publications printing stories of Michelle spending $50,000 on undergarments.

The fact that White House press secretary Jay Carney had to take time on Monday to denounce the  underwear rumor is proof that the allegations against the First Lady are out of control. And now that we’re in an election year, things are likely to get worse. Because Michelle Obama represents so much of what we love, they will do everything they can to smear her image and that of the President. It’s our duty to make sure that they don’t succeed. Make no mistake: smearing them is an attempt to diminish our own self-esteem.

I asked my mother the other day if she’s ever seen any First Lady repeatedly insulted like Michelle Obama has been. The answer, not surprisingly, was a definite “NO.” Throughout it all, Mrs. Obama has taken the barrage of attacks with grace and dignity, while disproving everything with her actions – just like a strong Black woman would. And I should know, a strong Black woman is me; she is you and we cannot allow her to be slandered.

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When most people think about Haiti, the first thing that comes to mind is the devastating earthquake that ravaged the country. That’s exactly what I used to do — that is, until I had the remarkable opportunity to visit the first free Black nation in the Western hemisphere. I joined about 30 others as we spent five days absorbing the rich history, culture and determination that defines Haiti. Yes, there is still great suffering from the horrific quake of 2010, but if there’s anything I learned on this eye-opening trip, it’s that resilience and a passion for life still dominate the people.

As an American who sometimes takes for granted the amenities we have available, my first reaction when we landed in Port-au-Prince was that of shock. The devastation from an earthquake that killed at least 300,000 and injured countless others was still prevalent especially in this city that was the epicenter of the disaster. Parents lost children, children lost parents, families were torn apart and some just disappeared in an instant. Even two years later, the effects of this dreadful quake are visible everywhere, and the sheer scope of the damage was a big hit to my chest. Going past tent cities where people are still living without proper homes or clean running water, and watching young children with missing limbs go to school touched all of us in a way that words cannot even describe.

But just like the structures that re-emerged from the rubble, the spirit of the people uplifted all of us. Cooking meals on the street, mothers made sure their daughters still had barrettes in their hair as they ran off to play and clean uniforms as they went off to school. It was those little things – the signs of hope – that reinvigorated our own passion to continue helping the people of Haiti. Visiting the Oasis Institute, an orphanage and learning center for young girls, we were honored to watch these kids as they smiled and sang their hearts out for us despite their own circumstances. We were all humbled.

As part of our trip, we also spent some time in the city of Milot taking in the unique background of a country where slaves were freed even before abolition occurred in the United States. In that realm, we were escorted up the large mountainside of the infamous Citadelle Laferriere, constructed as a one-of-a-kind symbol of liberty for a one-of-a-kind revolution. Today, it still serves an icon for the bravery and courage of Haitians in their quest for justice. But unfortunately, the end of slavery didn’t deliver a guarantee of prosperity.

Following French colonial rule, international boycotts of freed Haiti, coupled with U.S. occupation of the nation in later years and a tremendously high volume of resources exported, Haiti continued suffering for years. The 2010 quake only exacerbated the challenges. And though there has been extensive progress since the disaster first struck, much work remains. National Action Network and I will maintain close contact on the ground and continue to assist the resolute people of this Caribbean nation. I encourage everyone to support organizations that they trust and donate their time or money to keep hope alive for those that have been doing so even with all of the odds stacked against them. It is not enough to say you don’t know who to trust…find someone!

Whether it’s Dr. Daniels’ Institute of the Black World, Wyclef’s Yele Haiti Foundation or any other charitable group, be sure to get involved, learn the exceptional connection and debt we as Black people have to Haiti and remember to assist anywhere disaster or injustice strikes. We do live in a place called the world; let’s start embracing it.

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Building on President Barack Obama‘s State of the Union references to billionaire Warren Buffett‘s secretary paying taxes at a higher rate than the business magnate, Sharpton asked Huelskamp a simple yes or no question:

Is it fair that billionaires pay a lower tax rate than their own secretaries?”

Huelskamp refused to answer the direct question; instead, he countered that the mere supposition that the tax rate is unfair is false:

Well they actually don’t, according to the IRS, Huelskamp said.

Sharpton, refusing to be deterred, insisted that Huelskamp assume that the facts, are indeed, correct, and answer the question:

On the basis of the report—if the report is inaccurate, fine, you stipulate that—I’m asking you, is it fair? Is the arrangement fair, in your opinion?

Huelskamp’s response?

Well the arrangement is not the fact. The fact is 2 million Americans are out of work today because of the President’s policies.

Though the same tired tactics of blaming Obama for the political sins of his predecessor, George W. Bush, is as transparent as racism within the Tea Party, the real reason that the Grand Ole’ Party refuses to address the concept of fairness is because they are painfully aware that the corporate elite in this country — those fortunate enough to skew policies and tax rates in their favor — are in fact, getting rich off of the suffering of the working class.

A prime example of this blatant theft of wealth, is the Koch Brothers.  Forbes Magazine reports that Charles and David Koch increased their wealth by 43% — an estimated joint increase to $50 billion dollars. How did they manage to accomplish this Herculean feat while the vast majority of Americans experienced a steep decline in wealth?

Think Progress uncovered the manipulative means by which they preyed on oil speculation to drive their wealth upwards:

Like many oil companies, Koch uses legitimate hedging products to create price stability. However, the documents reveal that Koch is also participating in the unregulated derivatives markets as a financial player, buying and selling speculative products that are increasingly contributing to the skyrocketing price of oil. Excessive energy speculation today is at its highest levels ever, and even Goldman Sachs now admits that at least $27 of the price of crude oil is a result from reckless speculation rather than market fundamentals of supply and demand.

What does this mean for the average American working overtime to make sure that they have an extra $20 dollars to fill the tank at the end of the week?

Each and every time we go to the pump, billionaires are getting richer, while the poor gets poorer.

According to Yahoo Finance, the nation’s wealthiest are worth a combined $1.53 trillion, nearly equivalent to the GDP of our neighbor Canada.

With an estimated 20 percent of children living in poverty, companies laying off workers while increasing productivity and “the global economy” ensuring that American workers are competing with worker in China and Cambodia who makes cents on the hour, conservatives, such as Huelskamp, who are bought and paid for by these corporate bloodsuckers, refuse to answer a simple question about fairness.

Tragically, in the midst of this class struggle, the one segment of the population that continues to be ignored in hopes that their warranted criticism will vanish, is the African-American community.

The Pew Research Center reports that the beating that the Black community experienced at the height of the recession, continues to have far-reaching ramifications:

From 2005 to 2009, inflation-adjusted median wealth fell by 66% among Hispanic households and 53% among black households, compared with just 16% among white households. As a result of these declines, the typical black household had just $5,677 in wealth (assets minus debts) in 2009; the typical Hispanic household had $6,325 in wealth; and the typical white household had $113,149. Moreover, about a third of black (35%) and Hispanic (31%) households had zero or negative net worth in 2009, compared with 15% of white households.

During her investigation into the wealth — or lack thereof — in the African-American community, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien spoke with Rev. Soaries of First Baptist Church in Lincoln, New Jersey, who made the sharp comparison that “debt is slavery”:

When I’m paying last month’s bills with next month’s check; that’s slavery. When I ‘m writing a check hoping that it doesn’t bounce, or when I pull out my credit card praying that it’s not rejected, then I’m living in financial bondage.

Though corporations — and the wealthy Republican who love them — are clearly the benefactors in this unfair race to the top, President Obama is not exempt from criticism.

Though he mentioned financial regulation, homeowners, Latinos/Hispanic community, education, out-sourcing, banks and Wall Street, in his third State of the Union address, there was still no mention of the African-American community’s unemployment rate standing at a stark 15.8 percent, the highest its been in 27 years and nearly double the national average.

Fairness does not just extend to the tax rate; it encompasses the entire elitist structure of our financial system. A system that profited immensely from the blood, sweat and tears of slave labor, while refusing to make good on the loan of our livelihoods and collective economic value. A system, that according to Harpers magazine (November 2000) stole an estimated $100 trillion dollars for 222,505,049 hours of forced labor between 1619 and 1865 with compounded interest of 6 percent. A system that heavily relies on what many consider to be Dixiecratic handouts, vilifying those who are forced to accept them, while simultaneously, condescendingly stating that, “Rising tides lift all boats.”

Newsflash: If the boats have historical, psychological and economic holes blown through them by Jim Crow and Uncle Sam, rising tides without life rafts do nothing but drown us deeper into debt.

When Rev. Sharpton called Huelskamp on his refusal to discuss fairness, he had this to say:

Fairness is not the end result, it’s the opportunity. And everybody in America today has the opportunity to get ahead.”

Sharpton replied with the confidence of a man who has his opponent backed into a corner:

I think you’re absolutely right and I think the only way we’re going to get ahead is we at least have to agree on fairness.

You’re absolutely right, Reverend Sharpton; and, regardless of party affiliation, that seems to be a term that the United States government — with it’s corporate bailouts, clandestine affair with Big Bank and, yes, unfair tax system — refuse to comprehend.

I’m quite sure that Warren Buffett’s secretary would agree.

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A statement from Sharpton’s representative Tuesday said the funeral will include performances by celebrities, but those names were not announced.

James died last Friday at age 73 after battling leukemia and other ailments, including dementia. She was most famous for her classic “At Last,” but over her decades-long career, she became revered for her passionate singing voice.

The public viewing will be held in Inglewood and the funeral will be held in Gardena, both in the Los Angeles area.

The family is asking that any donations be sent to the Philadelphia-based Rhythm & Blues Foundation.

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First, Rev. Sharpton announced that during the remembrance of Bloody Sunday beginning March 4th he will lead a 5-day March commemorating the historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March. The march will begin at the Edmund Pettus Bridge ending with a rally at the Alabama State Capitol on Friday, March 9. The March is in support of Voting Rights and to highlight the continuing efforts against Voter Suppression.

This includes the efforts to defeat Voter Identification Laws and reverse anti-Immigration laws in the state of Alabama. Secondly, Rev. Sharpton announced that National Action Network will lead a rally on March 27th in Washington, DC, at the United States Supreme Court as arguments are heard on Obama Care.

According to Rev. Sharpton:

It is important that we not just remember what Dr. King and others did in 1965 with the Voting Rights Act that came as a result of the Selma to Montgomery march. We must preserve it against Voter ID Laws and the early voting and voter suppression attempts that are taking place today. To celebrate Dr. King and allow them to undermine him is hypocritical. Therefore on March 4th we will gather in Selma, Alabama, and march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and march again to Montgomery, Alabama against Voter ID and voter suppression laws culminating with a huge rally that Friday.

The effort to make the Health Care Act unconstitutional is not just a challenge to Health Care but a challenge to federal government superseding state government and protecting its citizens. We will be in mass marching and rallying on the day this is argues at the SC to demand in the name of Dr. King that we stop those that engage in interposing federal law with state law and nullifying federal rights to protect its citizens.

One of Dr. King’s last efforts prior to his untimely death was the Poor People’s Campaign. Combating issues of economic justice and housing for the poor, the campaign included an ‘Economic Bill of Rights’, and efforts to lobby elected officials to pass progressive legislation. Because Dr. King intently understood that the most vulnerable and disenfranchised in society were the poor, he dedicated much of his own life to giving them a platform, fighting for their rights and creating a society where they would no longer be dehumanized. Today, as many politicians cut vital programs like food stamps and unemployment insurance, the poor are increasingly watching their concerns fall on deaf ears and their voices drowned out in a sea of political wrangling. That is precisely why we cannot sit silently in the face of oppression. Until the weakest among us are afforded the same opportunities as the wealthiest, we cannot in good conscious accept that the fight for justice is complete.

One of the greatest civil rights achievements we ever obtained was the capability to vote. Long denied the very basic ability to participate in the electoral process of the nation we helped construct, African Americans spent years post-slavery battling poll taxes and other discriminatory practices in order to secure the promise of one man, one vote. After some literally gave their lives so that others could one day participate in the democratic process of this nation, we are now watching that very core human right once again under attack. Passing ‘voter ID requirements’, several states have taken it upon themselves to alter the way in which citizens elect their next leaders. A poll tax by a new name, these voter ID laws are nothing more than intimidation tactics to keep the poor and people of color away from the polls. It is the most egregious and outrageous form of voter suppression we have ever witnessed in our lifetimes. And it is a blatant attempt to reverse the very work Dr. King dedicated his life to.

When it comes to communities of color in the U.S., one of the most tragic realities we face is the rampant rise in gun usage and violence. We can argue as to the root causes of this rise — whether it be poverty, lack of jobs, inadequate schools, lack of opportunities — but the fact remains that it is our children we are burying and our families that are being torn apart. The larger question is, why are these guns so readily available? As the national rise in violence reaches epic proportions, we must create strict national gun laws, and we must establish programs to diminish this senseless violence. Whether it’s conducting gun buyback events, creating more alternatives for people to resolve their disputes, providing counseling where it’s often needed and seeking increased employment/opportunities for the disenfranchised, we must work together to save all of our collective futures.

If Dr. King were alive today, another issue he would tackle head on would be increasing warfare around the world. As a man of the cloth and someone who embodied peaceful protest, he was always fervent in his anti-war stance. At a time when potential international warfare threatens stability in many nations and pushes us at home into deeper debt, we must look at potential conflicts through his lens.

And finally, no society can advance to the next level if all of its children do not receive the same quality education. As I’ve stated many times in the past, education is often times the key that opens the door to entirely new possibilities and helps to equalize the playing field like nothing else can. But when a child doesn’t receive adequate education because of his/her socio-economic status, then we have failed as a nation. As perhaps our greatest modern civil rights struggle to date, good education is something we must ensure all children receive regardless of their race or income status. We agreed that ‘separate but equal’ was separate and unfair; now let’s work to create a united, equal educational system for all.

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends,” were words spoken by the great Dr. King. As we gather to honor this civil rights advocate, let’s remember to pick up the mantle and continue the good fight, for there are many obstacles which remain. So let us not celebrate in silence, but commemorate with our actions; do something today to bring justice for tomorrow.

Reverend Al Sharpton is the president of National Action Network and host of PoliticsNation on MSNBC.

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On Monday morning, January 16, Sharpton will be joined by Motown Records founder Berry Gordy for a prayer breakfast called “King, Don’t Just Celebrate, Emulate.” Radio One CEO Alfred C. Liggins III is scheduled to present Gordy with a service award. [EDITOR'S NOTE: NewsOne is owned by Radio One]

And later that day, the National Action Network will be hosting a public policy forum entitled “What Would Dr. King Say, What Would Dr. King Do About The Culture Of Gun Violence?”

More details and live streams will be available on the National Action Network website.

NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK LIVESTREAM:

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1) Al Sharpton: Rev. Al and I fight … all the time – the fights are usually over President Barack Obama – but I have to give respect where it’s due.  Sitting and speaking with Rev. Sharpton is one of the most-fascinating experiences I’ve ever had.  Every sentence is a goldmine of understanding on politics, celebrity life, civil rights, and everything else.  I’ve rarely seen anyone with the ability to process information as quickly or manage as many relationships as Rev. Sharpton.  Had he not been a Baptist minister, Rev. Al could have easily been a professor.

2) Yvette Carnell: Political analysis Yvette Carnell has a mind so sharp that she can cut your head off from 20 feet away.  A student of philosophy and political science, Yvette can understand the intricacies of modern politics and social commentary in ways that are rarely seen in public discourse.  As our community works to find ways to incorporate more Black women into the leadership structure, I expect Yvette to be one of the great thinkers of our generation.

3) Marc Lamont Hill: I met Columbia University professor Marc Lamont Hill five years ago.  To this day, I’ve rarely seen anyone with the ability to think so swiftly and then back up his thinking with sheer hustle.  Marc started with almost nothing and created opportunities out of thin air.  He spars with Bill O’Reilly with the discipline and skill of a Kung-Fu master, sneaking in brutal jabs and counter punches as if he were starring in a Bruce Lee movie.  I don’t know Marc’s IQ, but I expect that he’s smarter than the average brother.

4) Barack Obama, I mean, Michelle:  As an American, I am happy to have Barack Obama as my president.  As a black American, I would rather have Michelle.  My speculation is that the source of tension between Michelle Obama and President Obama’s advisers (as stated in the recent book by New York Times writer Jody Kantor) is that Michelle is a brilliant leader trapped in a First Lady’s body.  She’s not meant to simply read books to school children and appear on Nickelodeon episodes.   She’s meant to be in the driver’s seat.

5) Michael Eric Dyson:  I still remember the day when I saw scholar Michael Eric Dyson for the first time on BET 17 years ago.  From that moment, I wanted to become a public scholar.  The man spit four syllable words with the skill of the greatest Brooklyn MC and dropped knowledge like a piano being tossed off a 10-story building.  Mike is one of the great scholars of our day, and it wasn’t by coincidence.

6) Wendy Williams: I’ve been on media personality Wendy Williams’ radio show about six times.  As ghetto-fabulous, raunchy, and trifling as she can be, I could see her brilliance from our first interaction.  Beyond the “interesting” public persona is a sharp, cool, calculated businesswoman who knows how to work her brand.  She was chased out of the New York media market only to come back years later and take it by storm.  Those neurons in her skull made it all possible.

7) Harry Belafonte: Do you know anyone else who can flow, fight, and articulate this well at the age of 84?  I thought not.  The only word that comes to mind when I think about singer and social activist Harry Belafonte is “deeyamm.”

8)  Cornel West:  When I ask myself, “What would Jesus do?”  I look at American philosopher Cornel West.  When I think about the greatest modern day embodiment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (another activist, scholar, and man of God), I look at the man with the crazy hair and black suit.  Cornel has lost a significant amount of money from his willingness to put it all on the line to stand up for black, brown and poor people.  Unfortunately, too many of us are afraid to stand with him.

9) Dr. Julianne Malveaux: Right after seeing Michael Eric Dyson on BET and deciding to become a public scholar, I read “Sex, Lies and Stereotypes” by Bennett College President Dr. Julianne Malveaux.   Few of us fully understand how hard it is to get through a PhD program in Economics at MIT, but Dr. Malveaux knows this well – imagine studying 12 hours a day, seven days a week and still not being prepared for the exam.  Julianne is the new Dorothy Height and the woman who should be leading all of us into the 21^st century.

10) Rev. Jesse Jackson:  How a man fights on an issue every day for 45 years straight is beyond me.  Rev. Jackson has never flinched, buckled, folded or lost focus.  He’s faced the haters, the conspirators, and those who want to see him fail only to emerge victorious every time.  He’s even been listed as one of the top three men on earth most likely to be assassinated.  Even after making mistakes, he gets right back up and keeps going as if the blip on the radar screen wasn’t even a real blip.  I learn a lot from watching Rev. Jackson and know with almost complete certainty that I could never replicate what he has accomplished.

That’s my list, love it or hate it.  But I argue that these individuals help form the body of black intellectual icons of this decade.  There are others out there, some whom are just as good.  It is my hope and expectation that they will use these models as examples of how Black people do it in the 21^st century.  All of us are meant to be great.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University.  To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.

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In a vastly conservative part of the country, how many Black women are Republicans and how many participated in the famed caucus?  As the focus now shifts to the New Hampshire primary, I realize more and more that my thoughts aren’t random at all; they are actually very relevant.  As the GOP attempt to “diversify” and branch out (so they say), whose issues are they really addressing?  Do we ever hear poor people’s concerns, women’s issues or young folks’ apprehensions ever answered?  The answer is a definite, “Hell, no!”  But, the real question is, who is to blame?

Growing up as a Black woman in a multicultural city, I was exposed to differing viewpoints and ideas at an early age. What I quickly grasped as a young kid is the notion of  “a closed mouth won’t get fed.”  If you don’t speak up, raise your concerns, let your voice be heard, nobody will pay attention and nothing will change.  Silently going along with the status quo and accepting unfair practices will get you nothing but more injustice and frustration.  You must make your issues a priority if you intend on seeing a different result going forward.  That’s a vital lesson that I’ve carried with me throughout my work at National Action Network and in my everyday life.  If you do not make others recognize and respect your grievances, things will remain the same forever.   And that’s precisely the concept we must remember when it comes to politics, the 2012 election, and our future.

Over the last several months, I carefully observed the Republican debates to see what these candidates were discussing and more importantly, whom they were addressing.  Never did I hear concern for the poor, or policies that would improve the lives of the impoverished.  Instead, what I consistently heard was talk of more tax breaks for the wealthy and improvements for big business.   Never was there a mention of African Americans (forget about Black women specifically) and the unjust hurdles facing us.  And never did I hear any concise solutions for this nation’s youth and how we could improve their possibility for a stable tomorrow.  After these past few months of campaigning, the GOP has made it abundantly clear that they are not concerned with my issues, nor that of the next generation.

Now as these candidates head to the next primary, we must ask ourselves, how can we make our issues a priority? How can we get them to acknowledge us and address our concerns in a respectful manner?  To all the Black Republicans out there, I say raise your voice and try to shed light on some of the Black communities’ issues.  That’s the only way we will truly see if all the talk of “inclusion” is a reality.  Let’s hold all of the contenders accountable and let’s watch if they really have the backbone to match their rhetoric.

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Rachel Maddow also discussed the racist newletters on her MSNBC show with Princeton professor, Mellissa Harris-Perry who says she believes that Ron Paul is a racist and does not believe that he did not know what was going on with the newsletters.

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When Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that she was overruling the F.D.A’s decision to allow the Plan B One-Step pill to be sold over-the-counter to women of all ages, a firestorm erupted.   Many on the left said science was being ignored and every person of child-bearing age should have access to the medication, while the Catholic Church has been pushing for an all-out ban on the drug completely.  First of all, the fact that young girls are having sex to begin with is troubling to a parent like myself, but if they are, why would we ever want them making such heart-wrenching decisions by themselves?  Having unchecked access to the morning-after pill would leave these minors even more isolated, and because they are so impressionable at that age, they may easily abuse the drug as some form of contraceptive.  What is supposed to be used as a last resort, could be misused as birth control or falsely perceived to prevent STDs.

President Obama praised Secretary Sebelius’ actions this week.  Citing his own daughters, he said:  ‘I think most parents would probably feel the same way … I will say this, as the father of two young daughters, I think it is important for us to make sure that, you know, we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine.”  I commend the administration and Secretary Sebelius for taking this bold action.  While women 17 and older will still be able to purchase Plan B over-the-counter, all those 16 and younger will not.  To me, this is a no brainer.

Our problem in society is that we in the community have stopped actively raising the next generation together.  Just as we should intervene when we see our neighbor’s kid stealing, we should just as easily give advice to our neighbor’s young girl who may be missing affection as her parents work multiple jobs to keep food on the table.  We used to be a community that cared.  We used to help out one another even when the world’s brutality was upon us.  And we must do it again.  There’s absolutely no reason why a girl should be purchasing a morning-after pill on her own.  We need to show her that she too has a shot at a successful, meaningful life.  That should be her Plan A, bottom-line.

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The rallies are expected to attract thousands of activists and citizens in cities that are the most effected by joblessness, and by attacks on workers and voters rights.

New York

Philadelphia

Cleveland

Indianapolis

Atlanta

Chicago

Houston

Las Vegas

Memphis

Baltimore

Detroit

Boston

Newark

are among the more the 25 cities that will hold rallies.

According to an NAN press release:

In recent years, too many American families have lost economic ground. Over the decade ending in 2009, median family income fell by $3,800. And the gap between the wealthiest Americans and those with the least is growing every day, making it tougher to enter into the middle class. With African American unemployment at an unacceptable 15%, this is a clear sign that we need action-inaction is not an option. Black layoffs have only skyrocketed as the public sector – heavily comprised of a Black workforce – continues to slash jobs. And as a result, not only has Black wealth diminished, but so too has the existence of much of this nation’s Black middle class itself. Black, White or Brown – that is a startling reality that should have all of us deeply concerned.

For more information including locations and times in each city please visit:

www.nationalactionnetwork.net

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