Category Archives: African Americans

Racial Microaggressions and its Impact on Campus Climate at the University of Illinois

Posted on 02/23/2011 by UIUC Center on Democracy in a Multiracial Society Racial Microaggression Research Group

On November 4, 2008, the first person of color was elected President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. It is true that President Obama did break down some racial barriers, However, many … Continue reading →

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A Response From Civil Society

Posted on 02/23/2011 by Rev. Dr. Eugene Barnes

Our vision at Illinois People’s Action (IPA) is to live in a state where our shared core values of justice, empowerment and family become the norm. To bring this vision into reality, we engage in faith-based community organizing and leadership … Continue reading →

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A Letter to a Black Girl

Posted on 02/22/2011 by anonymous

To Whom It May Concern (and those who may think it doesn’t): So, when exactly did it start? As I sit and ponder on when I can recall my first moment of  interaction with sexuality, I realize I can’t do … Continue reading →

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In Search of Coretta Scott King

Posted on 02/22/2011 by Courtney Suzanne Pierre

They say that behind every great man lies a great woman. This popular phrase holds true in the case of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. As Martin led marches and protests during the Civil Rights Movement, Coretta … Continue reading →

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Open Invitation to the Follow-up Meeting of the eBlack C-U Campus-Community Symposium

Posted on 01/27/2011 by Noah Lenstra

The eBlack CU Symposium was a great success, with over 180 people attending or all part of the event. The full record of the Symposium is available online for anyone to access at: http://eblackcu.net/portal/symposium. We need to do more to … Continue reading →

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A Great Literacy Campaign for African America in the 21st Century

Posted on 01/27/2011 by Amira Davis

SOME BACKGROUND The crisis in public education has been likened toa modern day Civil Rights crisis and a human rights tragedy. At center is the debate over educating ex-slaves. Big business insiders in seats of educational authority, like Arnie Duncan … Continue reading →

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eBlack Symposium Builds Connections Between Campus and Community

Posted on 11/05/2010 by Noah Lenstra

ALTHOUGH WE WERE TOLD “SYMPOSIA” and “conferences” were too academic in nature—the eBlackChampaign- Urbana project team stood by the knowledge that community groups have conferences all the time (Canaan Baptist Church held two in the past year; Glory Center International … Continue reading →

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Civil Suit Alleges Chief Finney Killed Kiwane Carrington

Posted on 10/05/2010 by Joel Gillespie

This story was a collaboration between UC-IMC and Smile Politely. It and a copy of the nine-page civil suit were released on their web sites simultaneously at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13. By 4 p.m. the City of Champaign … Continue reading →

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Unity March Honors the Memory of Kiwane Carrington

Posted on 10/05/2010 by Brian Dolinar

Several hundred people came out to the Unity March on October 9, 2010, marking a year to the day since Kiwane Carrington was killed by a Champaign police officer. In the face of recent news reports about supposed racial attacks, … Continue reading →

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New Book of Poetry from Aaron Ammons

Posted on 09/05/2010 by Public i

A second book of poetry is now out from local poet Aaron Ammons, a.k.a. A-Dub, titled As I Travel My Creation. It includes dozens of new poems such as “Do I Remember,” reprinted below. This self-published book was funded in … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Arts, Voices of Color | Leave a comment

eBlack Project: Online and In The Community

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Noah Lenstra

The history of African-Americans in Champaign-Urbana has gone virtual! A new project, called eBlackChampaign- Urbana, is working to bring together the documentation of this important history online to find new ways to celebrate, remember and use it into the present … Continue reading →

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Odyssey Project

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Kerry Pimblott

For the past four years, the Odyssey Project has offered a free-college accredited course in the humanities to workers and low-income men and women in Champaign County. Thanks to support from both the Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) and the University … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Education | Leave a comment

Valedictorian Speech From The Odyssey Project

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Janice Walker

Good Afternoon Friends, Family and Faculty. Thank you for taking time to celebrate with the 2010 Graduating class of the Odyssey Project. About 2-years ago I saw the Odyssey Program advertised in the News Gazette paper and I thought WOW, … Continue reading →

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Urbana Neighborhood Connections, Inc.

Posted on 07/05/2010 by Belden Fields

On January 19 of this year, Neighborhood Connections Center, Inc opened its doors as a community learning center for African American young people. It is located at 1401 E. Main Street in Urbana. The Center is the creation of Janice … Continue reading →

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The Labor of Black Women

Posted on 05/01/2008 by Amira Davis

IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA, Black women have labored harder within its borders than any other group. Black women have constituted the most disposal segment of the American labor force, working in the least desirable, least paid positions. Not only … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Human Rights, Labor/Economics, Women | Leave a comment

Consent Decree 101: The Mis-education of Champaign’s Black Students

Posted on 02/25/2007 by Brian Dolinar

More than 50 years after the landmark case of Brown v. Topeka Board of Education (1954), this country still has not fulfilled the dream of desegregation. In fact, there are many indications that the country is seeing a trend toward … Continue reading →

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Iraq, Black Folks, and the Crisis of the White Left

Posted on 02/25/2004 by Erik McDuffie

      . Close to 400 US troops have been killed since President Bush declared major combat operations over on May 1st, 2003. Roadside bombs regularly kill US service personnel. News reports flash gory scenes of … Continue reading →

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