Black History Month is nearly over, and I hope you did something worthwhile to recognize the many contributions to our society made by African Americans today and throughout history.
In this edition, Free Political Talking Points on:
The State of African Americans in America:
— There are far too many health disparities between African Americans and other racial groups in America. For example, in 1999 an average white American could expect to live 77.8 years — the average African American could only expect to live 73.1 years. A lot of things factor in to this, including (but not limited to) discrimination, cultural barriers, and lack of access to health care.
— In 1999, there were 757,000 African American men in federal, state and local prisons. In that same year, there were 604,200 enrolled in higher education in the U.S. “Today, black men make up 41 percent of the inmates in federal state, and local prison, but black men are only 4 percent of all students in American institutions of higher education.”
— Among non-Hispanic blacks, 44.6 percent of men and 49 percent of women have cardiovascular disease [PDF].
— Think racism is a memory? In fiscal year 2006, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 27,238 charges of race discrimination. The EEOC resolved 25,992 race charges in FY 2006, and recovered $61.4 million in monetary benefits for charging parties and other aggrieved individuals (not including monetary benefits obtained through litigation).
— African-American workers have been particularly hard hit by the decline in U.S. manufacturing.
— Let’s keep working towards equality, equality in its truest form, in our country where that should be everything we stand for. Indeed, we have more work to do.
Still Not Treating Our Veterans Right:
— 23% of the homeless population are veterans.
— 25% of American veterans have used VA Homeless Services.
— The total veteran population in the United States and Puerto Rico , as of September 2007, was approximately 23.5 million. The population of women veterans numbered 1,744,580. Florida ranks within the five states with the largest population of women veterans. Approximately “40 percent of the hundreds of homeless female veterans of recent wars have said they were sexually assaulted by American soldiers while in the military.”
— Supporting American veterans — American heroes — is the responsibility of all Americans, and a true progressive value.
Hardcore Presidential Campaign Numbers:
— For us Democrats, it’s all about the numbers.
— Ohio: Clinton +6.8. Delegates at stake: 161
— Texas: Obama +1.6. Delegates at stake: 228
— Rhode Island: Clinton +15 (Rasmussen). Delegates at stake: 32
— Pennsylvania: Clinton +9. Delegates at stake: 188
— One million donors: priceless (well, you know…)
