Artur Davis, the outgoing Alabama congressperson who was the only Black to vote against the Health Care bill, was the only Black to vote against the historic repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” (Despite his effort to appeal to conservatives, Davis lost his bid to become Alabama’s first Black senator.)  The 250 to 175 House vote to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was followed by the Senate vote of 65 to 31 to repeal the law that outlawed openly gay and lesbian Americans from serving in the US military.

"For too long, gay and lesbian service members have been forced to conceal their sexual orientation in order to dutifully serve their country," Senator Roland Burris said in a statement. "With this bill, we will end this discriminatory policy that grossly undermines the strength of our fighting men and women at home and abroad." (When the new year rise, Burris will leave office and there will be no Blacks in the Senate.)

As promised, the nation’s first Black president sign the bill into law Wednesday. The President wrote, “As Commander in Chief, I fought to repeal ‘Don't Ask, Don't Tell’ because it weakens our national security and military readiness. It violates the fundamental American principles of equality and fairness.”

• President Harry S. Truman via Executive Order 9981 ordered the historic racial integration of  U.S. Armed Forces in July 1948

Allan West (FL), one of two Black Republicans elected to the upcoming Congress, says he has been called, “an oreo.” His district is 83 percent White. The other newly elected Black Republican, Tim Scott (SC), says he will not join the Congressional Black Caucus. His district is 75 percent White

She was the first to die in the War on Terror, as reported in the February to April 2005 issue of Port Of Harlem. However, her hero status that did not keep her belongings safe back in America. Hero Sergeant Jeannette Winters’ family placed her personal belongings, including military medals, dog tags and the American flag they draped over her coffin, in storage after their home was burglarized during Winters' funeral.

Relatives said Winters' father became ill and failed to pay the storage fees so the items were put up for auction. They were purchased by Mark Perko. The family has since been locked in a battle over her personal belongings

"Feels heart wrenching," Matthew Winters, Jr., said. "Very violated, I would say." Perko had told ABC 7 News - Chicago he was not sure what he would do with the fallen Marine's items- whether he would sell them, donate them or offer her family a deal.

On view until Monday, January 17, 2011 at the Reginald Lewis Maryland Black History Museum is Freedom’s Sisters. The special exhibition celebrates 20 extraordinary African-American women who fought for freedom and changed the course of history.

If you missed a session during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 40th Annual Legislative Conference, the Foundation is offering more than 25 videos accessible on demand on YouTube Channel.

Advertising magazine reports that readership among the affluent plunged 16% in the past year as the group spent 12% more time using the Internet and sharply stepped up purchases of e-readers and tablet computers, according to the annual Ipsos Mendelsohn Affluent Survey.

• James Walls, Mayor, District Heights, Md. was elected treasurer of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.

• Darrin Davis, Anacostia Reality Realty was elected to the board of the historically-Black Washington Real Estate Brokers Association and appointed to the board of the historically-White Washington, D.C. Association of Realtors)