An art exhibit in New York City called “You Can Touch My Hair” will allow folks to finally satisfy the impulse to put their fingers in an afro or stroke a dreadlock or several; an exploration of “the tactile fascination with black hair.”
A week after closing 50 Chicago public schools, Mayor Rahm Emanuel is touting an increased high school graduation rate as a sign that “we are pointed in the right direction, making the right decisions for our children.”
Despite days of protests and acts of civil disobedience, the Chicago Public School Board has voted to close 49 elementary schools and 1 high school program; the largest school closure in the city’s history.
Two hundred Milwaukee fast food workers are set to go on strike, demanding a pay increase to $15/hr and the right to unionize.
The Chicago Teacher’s Union will file two federal lawsuits over the mass school closings in Chicago. Filed on behalf of parents of CPS students, the suit alleges civil rights violations. The vast majority of these controversial closings impacted minority students.
Lauryn Hill has posted a letter on her Tumblr, thanking “family, friends, business associates, and fans who have called, emailed, sent texts, and posted messages of concern, encouragement, and support.”
A group of ministers, students, and activists have been engaging in civil disobedience in North Carolina, in protest of a conservative agenda that attacks voting rights, health care for the poor, and environmental laws. And young people have been leading the charge
According to a new report, graduation rates have increased for several prominent HBCUs; including Spellman, Howard, and Jackson State. However, HBCUs still lag behind the general population in graduation rates.
According to the Daily Kos, the mass school closings in Chicago will cost taxpayers $1 billion, including $676,000 per school to bolster safety programs. Many are deeply concerned for the safety of students forced to traverse gang territory to get to class.
According to Chicago Mayor RahmEmanuel, the decision to closeover 50 Chicago public schools was a difficult one, but worth it to ensure that students aren’t trapped in failing schools. Nearly 30,000 students will be affected; most of them African American.
Two NYPD whistleblowers have testified that abuse of the Stop and Frisk program was propelled by a quota system, in which officers were pressured to make a certain amount of stops per month. They;ve since been harrassed and labeled as ‘rats’ by fellow officers.
Later today, Chicago Public Schools will reportedly announce over 50 school closures. It will represent the largest round of school closures in our nation’s history. These closures will disproportionately impact minority students.
