It was probably the first time journalists from a variety of news organizations collectively discussed last weekend’s mass shooting in Orlando that left 49 victims dead. The 70 people present for the third Unity Diversity Caucus Friday in Washington picked up a word new to most, “straightwashing.”
The Deal Donald Trump Couldn’t Close
Way back in 1999, when Donald Trump was toying with the idea of a presidential run, he was asked who would be a good vice president on a Trump ticket and cited Oprah Winfrey, calling her “very special.” Just last year, he repeated that choice, saying that together, the two would win “easily.” It would be the showman’s dream. Celebrity meets celebrity.
Well, Oprah Winfrey is taken now. She has endorsed Hillary Clinton, and that, as Trump would say, is huge. Next to her, other Clinton celebrity endorsers, including George Clooney, look like chopped liver.
Jun202016
Women of LatinaCon Signal Rising Sway of Hispanic Voices in the South
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When the importance of the Hispanic vote is dissected, states such as Nevada, New Mexico and Florida always make the list. North Carolina, a battleground state both sides crave to win, hardly gets a mention. But in a region still thought of as black and white, the Hispanic voice and voting population are growing.
That was clear at a recent gathering in Charlotte of more than 400 Hispanic women — representing all ages and professions, women who have been in America for generations and those newly arrived. What everyone who attended the fourth year of LatinaCon had in common was a desire to be an active part of the community, or as one workshop declared in its title: “What Latinas Need to Do to Be Successful in the United States.”
Jun162016
Anniversary Of Charleston Shooting: The State Of Race Relations
Friday marks one year since the tragic shootings that claimed the lives of nine parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. The shootings were racially motivated, ignited a nationwide conversation about racism and resulted in the Confederate flag being removed from South Carolina’s Statehouse grounds. But what has been the lasting impact? We look into that with several people including one who lost his sister in that horrible tragedy.
Jun162016
Weighing In on How the Orlando Shootings Are Shaping Campaign 2016
CHARLOTTE, NC — Presidential hopefuls are starting to weigh in following the deadliest mass killing on U.S. soil since 9/11. Mary C. Curtis weighs in on how the Orlando shooting is shaping the current political landscape and impacting the race for the White House.
Jun152016
Ali Stood for Principle Despite Costs, a Lesson for Today’s Politicians
They were gone in an hour. All 15,000 tickets to Friday’s public memorial service for Muhammad Ali in his hometown of Louisville, Ky., were gone that quickly. Lines stretched around the block, with the crowd shouting “Ali” when the box office opened on Wednesday, a tribute to the spirit of a man whose boxing career was finished before some in the line were born.
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman G. K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), in introducing a resolution this week honoring the life and legacy of Ali, called him “a great American” and “a true champion for humanity,” whose “talents transcended the ring into the global community where he selflessly put the interests of helping others above his own.” Butterfield’s resolution said Ali “stood on principle to end racism and bigotry.”
Principled is not what anyone would call the words and actions this week from Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, a recently declared supporter of Donald Trump, to lead the Republican Party presidential ticket in November. Ryan called Trump’s based-on-ethnicity attack on an American judge of Mexican descent hearing a case against Trump University the “textbook definition of a racist comment.” Then he said he is still in Trump’s corner.
Jun092016
Looking Forward in Campaign 2016
CHARLOTTE, NC — Donald Trump is heading to the Republican convention with more than enough delegates to become the official nominee, while Hillary Clinton continues to battle with Bernie Sanders despite having clinched the nomination.
WCCB Political Contributor Mary C. Curtis looks ahead in Campaign 2016 at the seemingly inevitable match-up between Trump, Clinton, and the future of Bernie Sanders.
Jun082016
Even in the Waiting Room, No Escaping Trump Talk
It could have been a Donald Trump rally . Except it wasn’t. It was a doctor’s office , a place usually associated with quiet visitors minding their own business. But not on a recent afternoon, with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Trump over the top in delegates and in his rhetoric on the television screen in the waiting room, and a couple of folks loudly declaring their support and amusement. “This is going to be fun,” joked one middle-aged white man to another. I glanced up from the week-old People magazine and said, matter-of-factly, “Not everyone may be laughing.”
And then the torrent started, for a very long 10 minutes or so, as guy No. 1 started his speech, directed at me in particular and the room in general, until even his comrade-in-yuks inched away.
Jun012016
N.C. May Lower College Tuition, but Is There a Catch?
CHARLOTTE, NC– $500 a semester for in-state students at five North Carolina colleges. Sound too good to be true? WCCB News Rising’s political contributor, Mary C. Curtis, breaks down how the plan could actually hurt universities.
Jun012016
