The Value of Black Male Life - FEDS Investigates Transit Killing

By Wayne A. Young

California state court found Johannes Mehserle guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of 22-year-old Oscar Grant. Grant was Black, unarmed and laying on his stomach when Mehserle, who is White, killed him. The state court sentenced him to 2 ½ years.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights division will now investigate the case and Mehserle faces a range of possible sentences — from probation to 14 years in prison - stemming from the investigation.

Sitting at the Library While Black

Reginald “Neli” Latson is of African decent and autistic. The 19-year-old was sitting in front of the library in largely -White Stafford County, VA one early morning and that led someone to call about a “suspicious” person possibly with a gun at the library. As the story often goes, Neli ended up in jail.

• See Latson’s mother blog
• From Our Files: Dr. Gates, Edwards, Moats, Grant, Louima, White, Diallo
  

Passing Strange - For Those Who Demand More

By Wayne A. Young

Passing Strange at the intimate Studio Theater is a great musical for those who demand more than the rehashed predictable story line set in another time and place. The Broadway production garnered 7 Tony nominations including Best Musical and did win the Best Book award.

After wading through the beginning of the play as it makes a parody out of Black Pentecostalist’s tradition and possibly offend some, Jahi A. Kearse

(pictured abovve) narrates the play verbally and in song with great passion and conviction. The 2 ½ hour play follows a rock musician born in the Pentecostalist tradition as he discovers himself though sex, drugs, and music. His journey starts in middle-class South Central Los Angeles and takes him to Amsterdam and Berlin. On his road to discovery he begins to hang with his pastor’s weed-smoking son, artists, and anarchists. With a live band in the background, hand-clapping music adds to the generally unpredictable story line.

Passing Strange through August 8, Studio Theater, $38-$43, group rates are available (202-232-7267).

African Diaspora Film Festival in Washington, D.C.

July 22–25

Discount Tickets Available!

Celebrating its fifth consecutive year, the African Diaspora Film Festival features a selection of international, independent films that explore the richness and diversity of the human experience of people of color. The four-day program features ten curated films, including eight Washington, D.C., premieres.

TICKETS:

• $10 General
• $60 Series Pass
• $8 Senior/Student (available at the door only)

Save $5 per ticket:

• Purchase discount tickets by phone, 202-857-7700, or at the Ticket Office window. Use discount code ADFF.
• Advance sales only, discount not available at the door.

When Roland Burris (D-IL) leaves the U.S. Senate in 2011, there will be, again, no Blacks in the 100 member U.S. Senate. The greatest hope of a Black joining the Senate is Rep. Kendrick Meet (D-FL). However, he must first win the Florida Democratic primary Tuesday, August 24.

Police at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware says that two topless women were not doing anything illegal by showing their breast in public at a beach that is not a topless beach. They were not doing anything illegal by exposing their surgically enhanced breast say the police because the women also have penises.

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Navigating the New

Health Care Laws

The White House has launched a first-of-its-kind website that makes it easier to find health care coverage and clearly explains how new rules like the Patient’s Bill of Rights in the Affordable Care Act will benefit you, your family, or your business.

Highlights:

• Insurance companies will be prohibited from denying children coverage because of a preexisting condition or putting a cap on the amount of benefits that will be paid in a lifetime
• Young adults up to age 26 without insurance will be able to get on their parent’s plan
• Seniors hitting a gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage known as the “donut hole” are getting $250 checks
• Small businesses are now eligible for tax credits to help them afford coverage for employees

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Sa, Jul 31 11a
Inner Light Ministries' 17th Anniversary
Special Guest Speaker: Arch Bishop George Stallings of Imani Temple
Musical Guest: William Hubbard
Unity of Washington
1225 R Street, NW

202.544.2777
free

Sa, Aug 7 - 5p

5th Annual Summer Spirit Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion
Erykah Badu, Common, B.O.B., The Roots, Chuck Brown, Janelle Monae
(Park and special Marketplace opens at 3:30p)
Marketplace Info: 202-610-4188

$

Th, Aug 5 - Su, Aug 8

The Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria (USA)
National Convention
Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore
20 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore , Maryland

$

Sa, Oct 7 - Sa Oct 21- 8p

Concerts at Fort Dupont
Randle Circle and Minnesota Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C.

8/7 Ohio Players
8/14 Midnight Star
8/21 SOS Band

free

Sa, Nov 13 - 6p

A Passion for Living
Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. holds it autumn reception
The Penthouse at Suntrust Bank, 1445 New York Avenue.
For additional information contact Ron Simmons,

202-446-1100.