Voices In Color

Today's Black Fact

On this day in 1919, in Cairo, Georgia baseball great Jackie Robinson was born.

Canada's First Black-Focused Public School Approved

Toronto school trustees voted Tuesday night to approve a controversial proposal to create Canada's first-ever black-focused public school.

The vote came after the trustees heard from members of the community, including Loreen Small, the mother of a 15-year-old boy fatally shot at a Toronto school last May.

Small, mother of Jordan Manners, told the trustees she opposed the plan, calling a black school "segregation."

Small said students of all races should be taught together and that the emphasis should be on helping teachers engage the students.

Read more: The Canadian Press

McDonald's Pulls Ads From Suggestive BET.com Content

McDonald's said late last week that it had asked BET to remove ads from a part of the network's Web site that featured women in seductive poses, clad in bikinis and lingerie. The complaint appears to have played a key role in BET opting to remove the "B-Girls" section from BET.com--a move that took place around Jan. 16.

The acknowledgment by McDonald's that it protested the ads contrasts sharply with a statement given by BET last Monday commenting on why it pulled down "B-Girls." The network said it had long planned to remove the section and the action was "unrelated" to "any advertiser feedback of which there was none."

McDonald's appears to have become aware that its banner ads were running on "B-Girls" after Gina McCauley--who runs a blog that seeks to combat negative images of African-American women--launched a campaign targeting advertisers on Jan. 10. It's not clear whether any other "B-Girls" advertisers such as General Mills or the U.S. Army also complained. Calls seeking comment were not immediately returned.

Read more: MediaPost

Michael Jackson Eyeing Super Bowl Comeback

This year's Super Bowl may serve as a launch pad for a comeback campaign by fading U.S. pop music icon Michael Jackson, it was reported Sunday.

The New York Post reported Sunday that as part of a rumored comeback attempt by Jackson and to honor the 25th anniversary of the singer's hit album "Thriller," SoBe Life Water will air an advertisement modeled after the famed album during the Super Bowl.

Read more: United Press International

Beyoncé To Play Blues Legend James

Singer Beyoncé Knowles is set to play blues and R&B legend Etta James in a new film.

Read more: RTE Entertainment

Today's Black Fact

On this day in 1797, Sojourner Truth, abolitionist and women's rights activist, was born in Hurley, New York.

Edwards To Drop Out Of Democratic Race

John Edwards, the progressive Democratic candidate who made a populist, anti-poverty message the centerpiece of his campaign, has decided to drop out of the presidential primary race, and is to give a speech this afternoon at the same place where he began his campaign — in New Orleans.

Read more: The New York Times

Al Sharpton Criticizes Bill Clinton's Comments About Barack Obama

The Rev. Al Sharpton Monday joined the chorus of Democrats telling Bill Clinton to zip it.

"As one of the most outspoken people in America, I think there's a time to shut up. That time has come," Sharpton said.

He said the former President's series of controversial statements about Barack Obama in last week's bitterly fought South Carolina Democratic primary ended up hurting Clinton, his wife and the party.

"Whether he thinks it's the press distorting him or not, his making these statements is polarizing the country," said Sharpton, who has not endorsed a candidate.

Read more: NY Daily News

Kennedy: 'It's Time Now For Barack Obama'

Sen. Edward Kennedy backed Sen. Barack Obama for president Monday, saying, "It is time again for a new generation of leadership."

"It is time now for Barack Obama," the Massachusetts senator and brother of the late President Kennedy added.

He stood with Obama, his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, and his niece, Caroline Kennedy, before a screaming capacity crowd of students at American University in Washington.

"Like you, we want a president who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American dream," he said.

Read more: CNN.com

Race A Factor In Shooting Of Black Cop?

The black Mount Vernon cop shot to death by Westchester County police officers had run into a government building and called for backup before he was killed Friday, his pastor said Sunday.

"He went in and asked for assistance," said the Rev. Franklyn Richardson of Mount Vernon's Grace Baptist Church.

"The police who came ended up killing him."

Read more: NY Daily News