Black firefighters fight for justice

Black firefighters fight for justice

The opinion rendered by Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy on June 29 upholding a firefighter promotion test in New Haven, Conn., that prolongs the racist status quo never mentioned a noose. That’s what Black firefighter Abdul Lanaird Granger found draped across his boots in his Brooklyn firehouse in 2005. (Daily Challenge, Feb. 11, 2005)

The Fire Department of New York—not far from New Haven—is the country’s largest with 11,500 firefighters. More than 2 million African Americans live in New York City. As of March 2007 the city had only 335 Black firefighters—just 3 percent.

Read full story from www.womanist-musings.com

NEWS CLIPS

NY Senate session in question after member leaves Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 09:51:34 PM CDT In a session with big expectations and marked by long negotiations, New York’s state Senate convened Wednesday to confirm several judicial nominations, …represents Manhattan and the Bronx, issued a statement calling …Ruben Diaz, of the Bronx, left in the afternoon … Read the full story »

Traffic still backed up at NY bridge Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 07:26:38 AM CDT Drivers are still enduring traffic jams, days after a construction fire on the Throgs Neck Bridge. The Fire Department blamed a worker’s …bridge, which links the Bronx with Queens. Two firefighters …weekday. On Wednesday, the Bronx-bound section remained closed to … Read the full story »

Sotomayor ducks views on abortion, guns The Washington Times Thu, July 16, 2009 04:45:00 AM CDT Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor ducked and deflected Republican attempts to pin her down Wednesday on hot-button social issues, while facing a largely friendly round of questions from Democratic senators during …background check of the Bronx, N.Y.-born judge in a … Read the full story »

NYC teen admits to leaving kitten in heated oven Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 11:45:08 PM CDT A New York City teenager has admitted that she didn’t let a kitten out of an oven after a friend put the animal inside and left it to roast to death. …14-year-old friend ransacked a Bronx apartment before putting the … Read the full story »

Richer portrait of Sotomayor emerges in hearing Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 10:33:14 PM CDT From her early days as a lawyer, Sonia Sotomayor never was content to be what she calls the “fifth guy on the totem pole.” The portrait of Sotomayor that has emerged …upbringing in the South Bronx, where she was a … Read the full story »

‘Wise Latinas’ say Sotomayor need not apologize Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 06:37:37 PM CDT They are Latinas, women of accomplishment, experience — and what might even be called wisdom. And they say there is no reason for Sonia Sotomayor to apologize for suggesting that they …Rican family in the Bronx will inevitably shape Sotomayor’s … Read the full story »

Cuomo 2010 campaign committee adds $5M Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 05:13:53 PM CDT New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s campaign finance committee for the 2010 election reported raising $5.1 million in the past six months, with $10.1 million now on hand for whichever race …Sen. Pedro Espada, a Bronx Democrat, temporarily allied with … Read the full story »

Listo Mayagüez para reconocer méritos de Sotomayor Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 12:55:38 PM CDT El alcalde de Mayagüez, José Guillermo Rodríguez, dijo que en esa ciudad esperan a la juez Sonia Sotomayor para hacerle un reconocimiento una vez sea confirmada como miembro del Tribunal Supremo …barrio niuyorquino de El Bronx y se crió en … Read the full story »

Sotomayor: Judges shouldn’t worry about popularity Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 10:14:59 AM CDT Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor says judges in the United States do not, and must not, base their rulings on what they think would be popular. On the third day of …the native of South Bronx, N.Y., was asked Wednesday … Read the full story »

2 die in NYC car accident Associated Press Wed, July 15, 2009 05:57:20 AM CDT Two people have died in a car accident in New York City. Police say a car driven by a 41-year-old man was struck by a sport utility vehicle at an intersection in the Bronx. The car’s driver was pronounced dead … Read the full story »

Obama Tells Fellow Blacks: ‘No Excuses’ for Any Failure

clipped from www.nytimes.com Obama Tells Fellow Blacks: ‘No Excuses’ for Any Failure President Obama delivered a fiery sermon to black America on Thursday night, warning black parents that they must accept their own responsibilities by “putting away the Xbox and putting our kids to bed at a reasonable hour,” and telling black children that growing up poor is no reason to get bad grades. “No one has written your destiny for you,” he said, directing his remarks to “all the other Barack Obamas out there” who might one day grow up to be president. “Your destiny is in your hands, and don’t you forget that. That’s what we have to teach all of our children! No excuses! No excuses!”

READ MORE@http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/us/politics/17obama.html