If anyone thought the inauguration of Barack Obama as president heralded the end of racism in America, they should look no further than the tea party rallies held this weekend. The racial slogans and the mocking signs show how far we still have to go.

WASHINGTON (NNPA) – It finally passed. The health care bill for which President Barack Obama has vehemently fought almost since Day One at the White House has finally passed both houses of Congress and was headed to his desk for his signature this week.

The reckless and deceptive practices of our financial industry have devastated businesses, families and our economy. It is time for Congressional leaders to stop listening to financial industry lobbyists and start protecting the future of our nation

The Great Thing About the Health Care Law That Has Passed? It Will Save Republican Lives, Too

(NNPA) - have heard it all: A black man saying we need to "take our country back." I thought I'd heard it all when the same guy said, "a million dollars is not alot money" after taxes. And before that, when he said he would lure Blacks into the Republican Party with "fried chicken and potato salad," I thought this guy was auditioning for Comedy Central.

(NNPA) - Is the passage of health care reform a foregone conclusion? At this writing, Democrats lack enough votes in the House of Representatives to pass even a watered-down version of the initial legislation because, on the left, there is opposition to the absence of a public option and because, on the right, there are objections to market manipulations.

Boys don't drop out in the 12th grade. They physically drop out in the ninth grade, but they emotionally and academically drop out in the fourth grade.

(NNPA) - In the midst of the rubble that still contains the bodies of loved ones, the real people of Haitian civil society and NGO leaders met last month to begin to think about how they would build a new Haiti. I am on my way to Haiti now to consult with many of those leaders in order to ensure that I and TransAfrica Forum fully understand their reality, their needs and their vision for a new society. Because I know that Haiti's full recovery must be based upon their priorities and their needs. But even while Haitians are beginning to imagine their future, I also know that the reality of day-to-day life in Haiti is overwhelming.

On any given day, four or five children die in the United States as a result of abuse or neglect and a child is abused or neglected every 40 seconds. So many child victims of abuse and neglect suffer physical, sexual, and psychological harm that can have both a short and long-term negative impact on their behavior and physical and mental health.

(NNPA) - The comedienne, talk show host and actress Mo'nique has become just the fifth African American woman to win an Oscar. Her portrayal of Mary Jones, the revolting and depraved mother of Precious, was arguably masterful, and she now joins Hattie McDaniel (who played a maid), Halle Berry (who played a sex-starved fool), Whoppi Goldberg (who played a medium in Ghost), and Jennifer Hudson (who played a singer).