NBC NEW YORK - Police in New Jersey are investigating after a mural of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin was defaced with paint. The mural was created several weeks ago on the side of Messina Deli in Elmwood, with the words "Trayvon, we got you," over a man in a hoodie, a symbol that became part of Martin's story, which captured attention nationwide. WATCH NBC NEW YORK COVERAGE OF THE VANDALISM: View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com. Martin, 17, was wearing a hoodie when he was gunned down by a neighborhood watch volunteer who called 911 and reported him as being "suspicious" as he…
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Police investigate after Trayvon Martin mural defaced in NJ
theGrio16 May 2012 | 2:10 pm -
Bayard Rustin: Black Americans can't ignore openly gay icon's contribution to civil rights movement
theGrio16 May 2012 | 1:29 pmPresident Obama's announcement that he supports gay marriage has provoked a spirited debate about whether or not African-Americans will continue to support him this November. Some black clergy have openly denounced President Obama's position. Maryland State Delegate and Baptist minister Emmett Burns has publicly gone on record declaring that Obama will lose his re-election bid, even accusing the president of turning his back on his black constituency. On the other hand, Rev. Otis Moss, III, of Trinity Baptist Church in Chicago, the Obamas' former church once headed by the controversial Rev. -
Bayard Rustin: Black Americans can't ignore openly gay icon's contribution to civil rights movement
theGrio16 May 2012 | 1:29 pmPresident Obama's announcement that he supports gay marriage has provoked a spirited debate about whether or not African-Americans will continue to support him this November. Some black clergy have openly denounced President Obama's position. Maryland State Delegate and Baptist minister Emmett Burns has publicly gone on record declaring that Obama will lose his re-election bid, even accusing the president of turning his back on his black constituency. On the other hand, Rev. Otis Moss, III, of Trinity Baptist Church in Chicago, the Obamas' former church once headed by the controversial Rev. -
Michelle Obama's workout playlist includes Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder
theGrio16 May 2012 | 12:42 pmMichelle Obama stays fit to the tunes of Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé, among other artists. The first lady recently shared her workout playlist with Women's Health magazine in honor of National Women's Health Week. She even tweeted via her official Twitter account: "The First Lady shares her tips for staying fit and healthy, along with a few of favorite workout songs: #NWHW". The first lady's workout playlist also includes Janelle Monáe, Sara Bareilles, Michael Jackson, Willow Smith, Chubb Rock, Ledisi and Jennifer Lopez. In her article for Women's Health, the first lady promotes her Let's… -
George Lucas gambles of affordable housing instead of new film studio
theGrio15 May 2012 | 5:01 pmLegendary filmmaker George Lucas' latest weapon isn't a sleek lightsaber or a blast of Force lightning, but rather affordable housing. For over 20 years, Lucas has been trying to convince his neighbors in a wealthy valley of Marin County, California to get on board with his plan to build a 300,000 square foot movie studio that he estimates would bring in hundreds of jobs. He's even throwing in 50 to 70 million dollars worth of work to restore a stream in the area. That was the plan anyway, until Lucas finally decided to fold after two decades of fighting.Since his neighbors seemed to prefer…
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theGrio
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Police investigate after Trayvon Martin mural defaced in NJ
16 May 2012 | 2:10 pmNBC NEW YORK - Police in New Jersey are investigating after a mural of slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin was defaced with paint. The mural was created several weeks ago on the side of Messina Deli in Elmwood, with the words "Trayvon, we got you," over a man in a hoodie, a symbol that became part of Martin's story, which captured attention nationwide. WATCH NBC NEW YORK COVERAGE OF THE VANDALISM: View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com. Martin, 17, was wearing a hoodie when he was gunned down by a neighborhood watch volunteer who called 911 and reported him as being "suspicious" as he… -
Yvette Wilson, ex-'Moesha' star, fights for her life against cervical cancer
16 May 2012 | 1:45 pmNEWS ONE Comedienne and star of popular sitcom '90s show "Moesha" Yvette Wilson, is determined to survive the battle of her life. Wilson, who played "Andell Wilkerson" on the hit starring Brandy, has Stage 4 cervical cancer and is in dire need of funds in order to pay her mounting medical bills. Wilson, who also co-starred in such memorable films such as "House Party 2," "House Party 3," and "Friday," is not only battling cancer but has also been plagued with kidney problems. Since Wilson's kidneys are failing, she needs a kidney transplant as well. Blacks have trouble clearing cervical… -
Slideshow: Butt-kicking women of color on big screen
16 May 2012 | 1:21 pmTo coincide with the release of Rihanna's new action film Battleship, theGrio has compiled a list of our favorite bada** big screen females. From the blaxploitation starlets Pam Grier and the late Tamara Dobson, to 80s icons Grace Jones and Tina Turner and finally we wind up with more modern personalities. Check out the slideshow before to see if your favorite made the list. -
Florida judge says rapper Luther Campbell should coach football
16 May 2012 | 1:07 pmTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- A state administrative law judge says former 2 Live Crew frontman Luther Campbell should be allowed to coach football in Florida schools. Judge Robert Meale made his recommendation Tuesday. The state refused to certify the 51-year-old rapper although he's been volunteering as an assistant coach with local approval in Miami. Education officials cited his songs' raunchy lyrics, a string of arrests and a performance with two women who removed their clothing in South Carolina. Meale noted the charges were dropped, except for a couple misdemeanor gun crimes more than 25… -
OJ appeals to be freed from Nevada prison
16 May 2012 | 1:06 pmLAS VEGAS (AP) -- A new lawyer for O.J. Simpson filed a new attempt Tuesday to gain his release from Nevada state prison, alleging the former football star was so badly represented by lawyers in his trial and previous appeals that he deserves a new trial. A 94-page document filed Tuesday in Clark County District Court in Las Vegas faults the trial strategy and performance of attorneys Yale Galanter of Miami and Gabriel Grasso of Las Vegas, but maintains Simpson's same basic defense. It says the NFL Hall of Famer wanted to recover from sports memorabilia dealers family photos and personal…
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theGrio
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Bayard Rustin: Black Americans can't ignore openly gay icon's contribution to civil rights movement
16 May 2012 | 1:29 pmPresident Obama's announcement that he supports gay marriage has provoked a spirited debate about whether or not African-Americans will continue to support him this November. Some black clergy have openly denounced President Obama's position. Maryland State Delegate and Baptist minister Emmett Burns has publicly gone on record declaring that Obama will lose his re-election bid, even accusing the president of turning his back on his black constituency. On the other hand, Rev. Otis Moss, III, of Trinity Baptist Church in Chicago, the Obamas' former church once headed by the controversial Rev. -
Does Jay-Z's gay marriage endorsement matter in the black community?
16 May 2012 | 8:58 amThe backlash was inevitable. When President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to voice his support for the right of same-sex couples to get married, there was no question that even though the country as a whole is mostly in favor same-sex marriage and has been waiting on the president to complete his "evolution," he was fanning the flames of an intense debate. His announcement came only one day after the state of North Carolina voted to add an amendment to their constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage, where it was already illegal for same-sex couples to get married. The… -
Shonda Rhimes' 'Scandal' presents blueprint for survival of blacks on network TV
16 May 2012 | 8:40 amShonda Rhimes' ABC show Scandal just reached a significant benchmark - the network decided this week to renew the series for a second season. It's an awesome first for Rhimes and starring actress Kerry Washington, this being the first renewed network TV drama with a black female lead since 1974. Scandal succeeds because it's a good show with a compelling story. Washington plays Olivia Pope, a political fixer vetting out sandal across the nation's capital. Each episode revolves around Pope dissecting and resolving a complex case of scandal and intrigue, while also tending to a smoldering… -
Newsweek's 'first gay president' Obama cover: Daring or desperate?
15 May 2012 | 8:51 amNewsweek magazine published a cover story this week declaring Barack Obama "the first gay president." The piece, by the prolific columnist and political commentator Andrew Sullivan, was a deeply emotional treatise seeking to understand Obama's personal journey, his advancement of gay rights and his recent declaration in support of full marriage equality. Ultimately Sullivan's article and the adjacent cover had very little to do with one another. Newsweek followed Time magazine's lead with a controversial cover displaying a young mother nursing her three-year-old son for a feature about the… -
Black Christians are having sex, the church must learn to deal with it
14 May 2012 | 6:24 pmWe are currently in the midst of a crisis and are facing a decision: whether we are going to choose blindness and live in a Christian dream world surrounding sex, or open our eyes to the dire reality and follow the Christian calling of love, non-judgment and compassion. The crisis does not surround whether Rihanna is dating Chris Brown again or whether to side with President Obama or Bristol Palin on the issue of gay marriage. The crisis is HIV/AIDS. Christian leaders may point out that in their ideal version of the world, the HIV/AIDS pandemic would be greatly limited because no one would…
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theGrio
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Bayard Rustin: Black Americans can't ignore openly gay icon's contribution to civil rights movement
16 May 2012 | 1:29 pmPresident Obama's announcement that he supports gay marriage has provoked a spirited debate about whether or not African-Americans will continue to support him this November. Some black clergy have openly denounced President Obama's position. Maryland State Delegate and Baptist minister Emmett Burns has publicly gone on record declaring that Obama will lose his re-election bid, even accusing the president of turning his back on his black constituency. On the other hand, Rev. Otis Moss, III, of Trinity Baptist Church in Chicago, the Obamas' former church once headed by the controversial Rev. -
Baltimore's oldest black cemetery finally gets facelift
15 May 2012 | 2:06 pmThe Mount Auburn cemetery, known as "The City of Dead for Colored People", was founded in 1872, back when blacks could not be interred next to whites. More than a century later, the grounds have been unkept and riddled with debris, weeds and garbage. Today inmates work to clear the grounds and restore the cemetery as part of a program to put those serving time to work on meaningful project. The Baltimore Sun has the story: Five years after burying his father, Samuel W. Moore could no longer find the grave. That was 1976, and Mount Auburn Cemetery, one of the oldest African-American burial… -
Agency honors 1st black federal officer killed in line of duty
15 May 2012 | 1:46 pmMore than a century ago William Henderson Foote served as lawman of the highest order in his town of Yazoo City, Mississippi. He was a town constable, town marshal and the circuit clerk. On December 28, 1883 Foote was killed by a lynch mob that stormed the prison he was in for being involved in a scuffle three days earlier where three white men were killed. CNN has the story: William Henderson Foote was a lawman of the highest order in his small town of Yazoo City, Mississippi, when he died in the line of duty more than a century ago. He'd once been the town's constable, town marshal and… -
Huey Newton speech in defense of gay rights gains new relevance after Obama about-face
15 May 2012 | 9:17 amHuey P. Newton, one of the most infamous leaders of the Black Panthers, has for decades represented a hyper-masculine perspective on the struggle for African-American equality and righteousness. So it may come as a surprise to some of his admirers that he also articulated a compelling case for the rights of the gay community. A 1970 speech he gave on this very subject has resurfaced and been re-posted in light of President Obama's about-face on the issue of same-sex marriage. Here are some highlights: Remember, we have not established a revolutionary value system; we are only in the process… -
Protecting the Gullah culture: How to preserve your own family history
11 May 2012 | 10:08 amThe National Park Service has designated lands from North Carolina to Florida to be preserved in commemoration of the Gullah/Geechee people who are descendants of enslaved Africans from various ethnic groups of west and central Africa South Carolina Now reports: There's an effort underway to protect one of America's most unique cultures. It's a community with roots in the Sea Islands of South Carolina. The Gullah culture is very well known in the low-country. It is an African-American community with a unique language and history. After the Civil War, freed slaves in South Carolina purchased…
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theGrio
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Michelle Obama's workout playlist includes Beyoncé and Stevie Wonder
16 May 2012 | 12:42 pmMichelle Obama stays fit to the tunes of Stevie Wonder and Beyoncé, among other artists. The first lady recently shared her workout playlist with Women's Health magazine in honor of National Women's Health Week. She even tweeted via her official Twitter account: "The First Lady shares her tips for staying fit and healthy, along with a few of favorite workout songs: #NWHW". The first lady's workout playlist also includes Janelle Monáe, Sara Bareilles, Michael Jackson, Willow Smith, Chubb Rock, Ledisi and Jennifer Lopez. In her article for Women's Health, the first lady promotes her Let's… -
Chris Christie, Cory Booker channel 'Seinfeld' in video parody
16 May 2012 | 12:25 pmTRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the mayor of New Jersey's largest city are channeling the Seinfeld-Newman rivalry in a video parody that spoofs the mayor's heroics and Christie's vice presidential potential. The Republican governor finds himself thwarted at do-gooding by Newark Mayor Cory Booker. The Democrat rescued a neighbor from a fire last month. WATCH THE PARODY VIDEO STARRING CHRISTIE AND BOOKER HERE: Booker tells Christie "I got this" as he fixes the governor's flat tire, helps Bruce Springsteen replace a missing guitar and Tebows after catching a baby dropped… -
Does Jay-Z's gay marriage endorsement matter in the black community?
16 May 2012 | 8:58 amThe backlash was inevitable. When President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to voice his support for the right of same-sex couples to get married, there was no question that even though the country as a whole is mostly in favor same-sex marriage and has been waiting on the president to complete his "evolution," he was fanning the flames of an intense debate. His announcement came only one day after the state of North Carolina voted to add an amendment to their constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage, where it was already illegal for same-sex couples to get married. The… -
Obama raises $44M for campaign, Dems in April
16 May 2012 | 8:50 amWASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama raised a combined $43.6 million in April for his campaign and the Democratic Party as he faces a unifying Republican effort around Mitt Romney for the White House. Obama's April fundraising haul fell short of the $53 million he raised in March. That's as his campaign said more than 400,000 people contributed to the campaign last month, including 169,000 new donors. "This election is going to be close, given the historic challenges this country faced when the president came into office," campaign manager Jim Messina told supporters in a YouTube video… -
Budget deficit fight could leave blacks with bigger burden
16 May 2012 | 7:44 amThe two parties don't agree on much, but both are aggressively pressing to reduce the budget deficit. House Republicans are searching for ways to dramatically reduce spending, even if it means cutting funding for food stamps. Mitt Romney delivered a speech in Iowa Tuesday attacking President Obama over the deficit and calling for more austerity. And while Obama is fighting some of these cuts, he is also proposing his own as well. But this deficit-cutting focus could have severe negative effects, particularly for African-Americans. Look at what's happened in Europe. Led by Britain, Germany and…
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theGrio
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George Lucas gambles of affordable housing instead of new film studio
15 May 2012 | 5:01 pmLegendary filmmaker George Lucas' latest weapon isn't a sleek lightsaber or a blast of Force lightning, but rather affordable housing. For over 20 years, Lucas has been trying to convince his neighbors in a wealthy valley of Marin County, California to get on board with his plan to build a 300,000 square foot movie studio that he estimates would bring in hundreds of jobs. He's even throwing in 50 to 70 million dollars worth of work to restore a stream in the area. That was the plan anyway, until Lucas finally decided to fold after two decades of fighting.Since his neighbors seemed to prefer… -
5/14/2012 - theGrio and CNBC Market Update
14 May 2012 | 2:02 pmBesides monitoring the European debt crisis, investors also had quite a few economic reports to sift through. Small business optimism rose two points in April to a 94. 5 reading, it's best reading in a year. As sales improved the trade deficit grew by 14.1 percent to nearly 52 billion dollars, the largest gap in nearly a year. New claims for jobless benefits fell by one-thousand to 367-thousand, but a level below 375-thousand eases fears about softness in the labor market...in the week ahead, we'll get a read on consumers with earnings reports from Wal-Mart, Home Depot and J.C. Penney. We… -
Cities encourage banks to invest in minority communities
10 May 2012 | 2:10 pmCity leaders are advocating for so called "responsible ordinances" to evaluate bank investment strategies and encourage banks to lend to traditionally under-served communities, low income families and to invest in low income neighborhoods with these "responsible banking ordinances," Governing Magazine reported earlier this month. Local governments are trying to build upon the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 that was designed to boost inner-city investment by requiring banks to report their lending and investment practices to the federal government and to help meet the credit needs in… -
A league of her OWN? Why Oprah's cable channel is on the brink
9 May 2012 | 12:11 pmWhy exactly is that mega-brand mergers never quite live up to their grandiose expectations? The question has been asked hundreds of times in the last decade, but is more relevant than ever as woes deepen for Oprah Winfrey's ill-fated cable venture. In a landscape littered with the carcasses of discarded corporate names like Hewlett Packard-Compaq, Citigroup, and AOL-Time Warner (the forerunner to the now equally-troubled AOL-Huffington Post marriage), Discovery Communications' conversion of its Health channel into the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) is hemorrhaging cash. Alas, media watchers are… -
5/07/2012 - theGrio and CNBC Market Update
7 May 2012 | 5:14 pmLast week, investors received quite a few economic reports. The manufacturing sector expanded in April, while growth slowed in the services sector. But it was all about jobs. In April, the national unemployment rate dipped to 8.1 percent as 115,000 jobs were created. Business services and retail posted some of the biggest gains. African American unemployment declined to 13 percent, and black teen unemployment dropped to 38.2 percent, but remains by far the highest of any group. In the week ahead, we expect earnings from Toyota, Macy's and Kohl's as well as reports on small business, consumer…
