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COMMENTARY: The DNC is a Ball of Confusion

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Hillary appears to be out of the picture – at last! With that being the case, then who is in contention for the presidential nomination in 2020? Who is going to stand up face to face with President Donald Trump? Right now, we have over two dozen contestants to consider. Some are vague and not well known and others are hangers-on that are approaching 80 years in age.”

Published

6 years ago

May 23, 2019

Oakland Post

By Harry C. Alford & Kay DeBow, NNPA Newswire Contributors

“I don’t belong to any organized political party. I am a Democrat.” — Will Rogers

If Mr. Rogers were alive today, he would not alter the above claim at all. The Democratic Party went into a meltdown upon the results of the 2016 national election. It was so confident that Hillary Clinton was going to pick up where Barack Obama left off after eight years of questionable results – domestically and internationally.

The recovery from the 2008 recession was weak and slow. For that, they lost the White House. Donald Trump started handling our economic affairs like a major corporation. It worked! The recovery is well defined and our employment, stock market, trade balances etc. have never been better.

To the leadership of the Democratic Party this is shocking. They assumed Trump would fall flat in his efforts to change things for the better. He has so far been successful, especially in the employment and trade areas. Our enemies are no longer holding us in vile contempt and disrespect. They are careful not to cross Trump on any major issue. ISIS is finally fading away. Iran is still a little “cocky” but is careful not to step too far over the line.

Hillary appears to be out of the picture – at last! With that being the case, then who is in contention for the presidential nomination in 2020? Who is going to stand up face to face with President Donald Trump? Right now, we have over two dozen contestants to consider. Some are vague and not well known and others are hangers-on that are approaching 80 years in age.

Let’s look at the two senior citizens in the competition. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have been around for decades. Bernie’s background is more socialist than anything else. He was a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War. He admired the Soviet Union so much that he and his wife went there for their honeymoon. He actually worked for SNCC during the civil rights struggle, but he doesn’t try to exploit those bona fides in appealing to the Black vote. We see nothing that would indicate Bernie being a wizard on economic issues. In fact, he wants to spend federal money like I-40 going west and doesn’t offer a clue to offset our deficit.

Joe Biden has been in national politics for over 50 years. He blew it in 2016 when he stepped aside for Hillary Clinton to get the Democratic nomination when it was assumed that he would compete for it. After all, he was a sitting two-term Vice President.

In his early years, it is believed that he was a segregationist. He changed from that but still will have a racial gaff here and there. Joe has two big issues looming over his head. It appears that he got into some financial Monkey Business while touring the Ukraine and China with his son, Hunter. It appears that the Biden boys walked away with millions of dollars in dubious funding from the governments of these two nations. He is going to have to explain that if he will continue his race. The truth will have to come out eventually.

There are three mayors in the Democratic race for President. Wayne Messam, is a rookie mayor of the Miami suburb of Miramar (population 122,000) and the city’s first black mayor, “the owner of a construction company, Asset Builders, focused on environmentally-friendly projects and the son of a Jamaican sugar cane worker” according to Axios. He isn’t too serious but is trying to improve his name recognition for future races.

Then we have Pete Buttigieg who is a mayor of the small town of South Bend, Indiana. He is an Afghanistan veteran, gay and a Rhodes Scholar. His experience is mostly that of a small midwestern town mayor. He believes in Medicare for all who want it. He wants to create a commission to propose reparations policies for Black Americans and close the racial wealth gap.

In contrast, we have Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York -the largest city in the United States. His track record in governing NYC is deplorable! “Despite bloated budgets and growing government payrolls, there is an obvious decline in the quality of life. Filth and chaos are everywhere” according to the NY Post. Many feel his ambition is quite comical. Even he claimed that it seems unlikely he will qualify for the first Democratic primary presidential debate.

The above is a good sampling of the Democratic hopefuls. The rest of the pack is certainly no better or promising. Frankly, the DNC is quality challenged.

Mr. Alford is the Co-Founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce ®. Ms. DeBow is the Co-Founder, Executive Vice President of the Chamber. Website: www.nationalbcc.org Emails: halford@nationalbcc.org kdebow@nationalbcc.org

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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

1 week 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

1 week 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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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

1 week 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: