Voices In Color

Happy Memorial Day!

Today's Black Fact

On this day in 1981, reggae legend, Bob Marley, dies.

As Race Wanes, Talk Of Clinton As No. 2 Grows

While Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and her advisers insist that she is determined to win the Democratic nomination, friends of the couple say that former President Bill Clinton, for one, has begun privately contemplating a different outcome for her: As Senator Barack Obama’s running mate.

The reports about Mr. Clinton’s musings surface as the Obama camp has quietly begun the process of searching for a partner on the Democratic ticket.

The prospect of an Obama-Clinton ticket has been fodder for political gossip for months, with some Democratic leaders pushing the idea as a way to unify the party. The Obama and Clinton campaigns have consistently shrugged off the idea, however, and Mrs. Clinton has been adamant that she is only interested in the presidency.

Read more: New York Times

Black Men Answer Leaders' Call To Action

Inspired by a mobilization effort in Philadelphia, leaders of Baltimore's African-American community vowed Wednesday to recruit at least 5,000 black men to bring positive change to their communities.

The goal is to reduce the city's rates of violence, high school dropouts and absentee fathers. More than 50 men representing churches, educational institutions and civic groups gathered at Calverton Elementary/Middle School in West Baltimore to announce the initiative.

Read more: The Baltimore Sun

U.S. Border Patrol Recruiting African-Americans

The U.S. Border Patrol is launching a major recruitment effort in Tennessee designed to add more African-Americans to its growing ranks.

Officials say blacks currently make-up only 1% of the more than 16,000 agents across the country.

Applicants must pass a background check and tests and be willing to relocate to Northern or Southern border cities. Starting salary is between $36,000 and $46,000, plus overtime and federal benefits.

Read more: Eyewitness News

'Chris' Endures As Black-Themed Series Dwindle

Life at Tattaglia High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., can be tough. Homework, heartbreak and, on this day, a red-haired bully is on the loose, determined to torment unsuspecting nerds.

Although Chris and his friends still might be experiencing growing pains, the series -- filming its fourth season for airing this fall, in a move to Friday nights from Sundays -- is not, according to Ali LeRoi, producer and creator of the CW's "Everybody Hates Chris".

"If we were a basketball team, we would be in the playoffs," said LeRoi, sitting in his office beneath a huge French poster from Spike Lee's Bamboozled, a satire about black comedies. "We know how to shoot this show, all the dynamics are beginning to jell, even our interactions with network executives are going better."

Read more: The Baltimore Sun

Today's Black Fact(s)

1. On this day in 1966, Bill Cosby becomes the first African American to receive an Emmy for best actor in a dramatic series, for his role in I Spy.
2. On this day in 1967, poet, Langston Hughes, dies.

Today's Black Fact

On this day in 1881, Blanche Kelso Bruce is sworn in as U.S. Senator from Mississippi; the first black man to serve a full term in the senate, and the first person born into slavery to preside over the senate. While serving in the senate, he was an advocate for civil rights for blacks, native Americans, Chinese immigrants and former Confederates (as we remember, the radical republicans weren't too nice to that group).

Warren Buffett Backs Barack Obama

The world's richest man has backed leading Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama for the top job.

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says he previously offered to support both Obama and former first lady turned New York Senator Hillary Clinton.

However Buffett said he was giving his full support to Obama after it became clear the leading Democrat would seal his party's nomination.

"I will be very happy if he is elected President," Buffet said.

"He is my choice."

Read more: scopical.com.au

GOP Fails To Recruit Minorities

Just a few years after the Republican Party launched a highly publicized diversity effort, the GOP is heading into the 2008 election without a single minority candidate with a plausible chance of winning a campaign for the House, the Senate or governor.

At a time when Democrats are poised to knock down a historic racial barrier with their presidential nominee, the GOP is fielding only a handful of minority candidates for Congress or statehouses — none of whom seem to have a prayer of victory.

Read more: Politico.com