Urban League Calls on Talk Radio Network to Fire Dr. Laura for Her Racist Rant

I see that it didn't take much time for the National Urban League to hop on the Dr. Laura controversy.

It should be noted that the Urban League didn't have to have as much energy in the fight for economic rights of Black Freedmen and Black Indians which were mandated in the 1866 Treaties. The Harvest Institute has been fighting this issue for a decade in the courts and on Capital Hill. The Urban League chose not to get involved. The Cherokee Nation has used the 1866 Treaties to collect billion of dollars in benefits while the US Government ignores its mandated obligation to the descendants of Black Freedmen and Black Indians.

I encourage villagers and the Urban League to research and take a stand on the issue of Black Freedmen and Black Indians.

Having said that, I do applaud the Urban League for calling on Talk Radio Network to drop the Dr. Laura show from syndication.

"The problem is not simply that Dr. Schlessinger used the 'n-word' repeatedly, though that is offensive enough," National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. "Her comments to the caller showed a breathtaking insensitivity and ignorance about racial dynamics in the United States."

In responding to a caller who complained that her husband's friends and relatives use racial slurs and make racially demeaning comments, Schlessinger scoffed, "some people are hypersensitive." She noted that "Black guys" use the n-word "all the time," and repeated the word 11 times in the 5-minute exchange.

But Morial noted that her most revealing comment was, "I don't get it. if anybody without enough melanin says it, it's a horrible thing, but when Black people say it, it's affectionate. It's very confusing."

An audio file of the exchange is available on the Electronic Village blog.

"As she said, she doesn't get it, and she is very confused about what constitutes racism," Morial said. "It's beyond comprehension that Dr. Schlessinger would consider Jade 'hypersensitive' for being offended by the use of the n-word. We should be long past the point in this country where anyone should be advised to laugh off or ignore racist comments."

This blog joins with Morial in making request that Talk Radio Network drop the Dr. Laura show from syndication.

Talk Radio Network

P.O. Box 3755

Central Point, Oregon 97502

Phone: 541.664-8827

Fax: 541.664-6250

Enough is enough when it comes to spewing negative racial attitudes to wide audiences on the public airwaves.

It's time to shut her down!

Urban League Issues 'The State of Black America 2009: Message to the President'

Did you see where the National Urban League issued it's annual State of Black America for 2009? The report seeks to address the issues central to Black America in 2009 by examining Black progress in education, homeownership, entrepreneurship, health and other areas. [SOURCE]

Ordinarily the report is simply issued to the public-at-large. This year the report is specifically addressed to President Obama.

We welcome the new vision the Obama administration brings to Washington and to America. But this vision can only become a reality if we make it so. The State of Black America 2009: Message to the President, is an essential part of the National Urban League’s effort to bring about this vision by working with the new Administration to tackle the nation’s deepening domestic challenges. I hope that it encourages and inspires each of you to join us in working to help President Obama fulfill the promise he made to us last summer “to build a nation worthy of our children’s future.” - Marc H. Morial, National Urban League President & CEO

The 11-page executive summary lays out the basic elements of the full report. The Urban League issues their message to President Obama about race. Of course, President Obama gave an honest answer when asked about race at his press conference the other day. Check it out:

Villagers, I agree with Obama. He needs to focus on fixing the economy for all Americans ... not just African Americans. Our community needs to take some responsibility for dealing with the recommendations laid out in this year's Urban League report.

The 31 specific recommendations in the report appear to be dealt with fairly well in Obama's stimulus plan and budget priorities. Some of the Urban League recommendations included:

• Ensure that the stimulus package’s green job creation includes poor urban communities.


• Increase funding for job training and placement for disadvantaged workers.


• Guarantee full-day schooling for all 3 and 4 year olds.


• Expand the school day to account for working parents and families without nearby relatives to help with after-school care.


• Fund mortgage counseling and education programs for African Americans.


• Implement universal health care and a “comprehensive” system to provide Blacks with health education, prevention and intervention.

I appreciate the work that the Urban League puts into this report each year. I figure that they added the 'Message to the President' in the title of the report so that it would increase sales. In reality, the message needs to be given to each of us. It is time for us to get busy!