Des Moines Inner City Voters: “Candidates Don’t Come Into The Hood”
December 31, 2007
Amanda Michel, Huffington Post
It seems rare to find a group of nine people anywhere in Iowa a week before the caucuses who hasn’t seen any presidential candidates at all, even in passing, even by accident as they gladhand through a Starbucks or a Hy-Vee supermarket.
But all nine young people settled around a table munching pizza and talking politics at Urban Dreams, a social service organization serving Des Moines’ inner city, don’t care that they missed out on photo ops. The gathered group makes the point as Ryan Ford, executive editor of The Source and son of Urban Dreams’ founder puts it, “Iowa isn’t all white people.” Too many politicians he notes, “breeze through town, shake hands and then they leave this community with the same problems.”
Black voters in diverse Iowa city voice support for Obama
December 31, 2007
Daniel Nasaw, Guardian Limited (UK)
Iowa is often described in journalistic shorthand as one of the whitest states in the country, and the small black population of just 2% is largely ignored. But in this city of 67,000, 14% of the population is African American - slightly higher than the national figure of 13%.
In an election featuring the most viable African-American candidate in history and the spouse of a former president once called “the first black president,” and in a Democratic contest that every poll shows a dead heat with the caucusing just days away, what happens in Waterloo could matter a lot.
Too many police shootings: more than a few bad apples
December 31, 2007
Rinku Sen and Alysia Tate, People’s Weekly World
The problem of fatal police shootings in America goes beyond a few bad apples. It points to persistent and systemic problems that lead to ongoing tragedies for communities of color.
Between 1980 and 2005, close to 9,600 people were killed by police in America — an average of about one fatal shooting every day. However, the real number may be higher due to underreporting by some departments to the federal government. For example, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a Freedom of Information Act request by claiming there were 79 fatal police shootings from 2000 to 2005. Yet only 38 fatal shootings were reported to the federal government for the same period.
While the precise number may not be clear, it is apparent that fatal shootings are not inevitable. Washington, D.C., had the nation’s highest rate during the ’90s. But a combination of firearms training for all and true accountability for misbehaving officers led to a dramatic drop in the number of fatal shootings.
Gap in minority therapy found
December 31, 2007
Melissa Evans, Daily Breeze
Blacks and Latinos who are depressed may need more than medication to overcome their condition, suggests the nation’s largest study of antidepressant therapy.
The newest findings from the five-year study, led by researchers at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute near Torrance, have significant implications for depressed patients and doctors who may be inclined to give up after medication fails to help certain people.
“You don’t lose faith,” said Dr. Ira Lesser, a researcher on the project who wrote a recent article on the findings. “You keep trying other therapies. What we are seeing is that the initial response (to depression) for these groups may not be the best.”
Miss. congressman to replace Sen. Lott
December 31, 2007
JACK ELLIOTT JR., Associated Press
Republican Haley Barbour’s choice to succeed Sen. Trent Lott is Rep. Roger Wicker, a conservative congressman, congressional officials with knowledge of the selection process said Monday.
Wicker, 56, will serve until a special election is held, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made. Wicker is expected to be a candidate in the special election, which Barbour has scheduled for Nov. 4.
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