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COMMENTARY: Happy Juneteenth? …No Check?!

NNPA NEWSWIRE — The Dallas County Commissioners Court approved by voice vote, a resolution that honors the life, death and struggles of African people over this continent and supports reparations for the same.

Published

6 years ago

July 3, 2019

Oakland Post

Quit Playin’

By Vincent L. Hall, activist, author award-winning writer, Texas Metro News

Commissioner John Wiley Price

In talking with Dallas’ first and only Black Commissioner I have come to know that the story broke like wildfire through the daily media carnage and was a particular feature of the Far-Right blogs. I wanted to know from him what he thought about America’s reaction to his action.

The Dallas County Commissioners Court approved by voice vote, a resolution that honors the life, death and struggles of African people over this continent and supports reparations for the same.

While the local media paints its passage as a controversy, it has not and should not be rescinded in any form. On the street the only question that most African-Americans in Dallas have been asking is “Where’s my check?” (This looks like a good place for the proverbial LOL)

You may chuckle when you think about getting a check, but the full details and effect of our history as an enslaved and financially oppressed people at the hands of this country deserve a settlement of punitive damages. As the commercial for J. T. Wentworth goes, “It’s my money and I want it now!!!”

We went head on with the Commish to get his take on the national reaction. “The response has been overwhelming to say the least. Although I don’t believe I deserve it, I have been greeted with a hero’s welcome throughout this community, throughout the state and across this country. And while I am humbled by all of the attention, it has also imbued a renewed energy that deserves a well-connected national movement on reparations. We have become detached in this community and this experience fleshed that out.”

Price did a two-hour plus interview on Chicago’s WVON 1690 which is reminiscent of our lost community powerhouse KKDA. Not only did the show generate a long litany of callers, Price was surprised by the number of Dallas listeners who hover daily to hear powerhouses like Reverend Al Sharpton and others.

“In the wake of the loss of KKDA, the internet has provided some semblance of black unity and it shows that the medium needs to be resurrected in this community. We have got to become better organized and better informed in Dallas and I believe that we can stoke a movement that moves this nation toward paying compensatory damages to its greatest victims.”

“Whereas Writer, Historian and Professor Ta-Nehisi Coates points out in his brilliant academic essay, ‘The Case for Reparations,’ that African Americans have endured 250 years of slavery, 90 years of Jim Crow, 60 years of separate but equal, 35 years of racist housing policy after the Civil Rights Bill, and

“Whereas slavery, discrimination and egregious impediments to building or sustaining wealth were legislated and condoned by the United States government in all three of its constitutionally affixed branches, and

“Whereas today, according to the Pew Research Center, White households are worth roughly 20 times as much as black households, and

“Whereas only 15% of whites have zero or negative wealth, more than 35% of blacks fall below that line, and Whereas the entrenched gap and wealth is highlighted by the fact that black families making $100,000 typically live in the kinds of neighborhoods inhabited my wife families making 30,000.

“Therefore, be it resolved that Juneteenth and its historical mimicking of freedom are just that, and the United States of America is derelict in its promise to ‘Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness’ to African American people.

“Be it further resolved that the dereliction that has caused 400 years of significant wealth to millions and significant suffering to the descendants of those slaves who built this country be satisfied with monetary and substantial reparations to the same.”

‘Nuff said. They need to quit playin’ and cut my check!!!

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

5 days ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

6 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

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#NNPA BlackPress

WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

7 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: