Category Archives: Voices

SOLHOT Saving Yourself First

Here in the local community, I am a part of a phenomenal group called Saving Our Lives Hear Our Truths (SOLHOT). SOLHOT is a space organized for and by Black women and girls. Within SOLHOT, female student volunteers from the … Continue reading

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Home Street Home

Listen to Alex and Sammy talk about homelessness here CONSIDER THIS: As I write this article, I can look out my balcony and see a number of homeless people asking for food and money on Green Street in Champaign. People … Continue reading

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

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

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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2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Essays

What is your dream for a Beloved Community? Since 2003, over 2200 local students have been challenged to examine the legacy of Dr. King in their lives, and their role in social justice. This year, students between 4th and 12th … Continue reading

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A Letter to a Black Girl

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

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

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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Illinois Civil Unions: A Step forward, But Still Only A Step

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” —Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher (604 BC–531 BC) On December 1, 2010, the Illinois Senate passed SB 1716 (the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act), just a day after … Continue reading

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Marriage vs. Civil Unions in the State of Illinois

It’s important we distinguish between the civil unions and marriage. Though many religious institutions in the area provide same-sex couples with recognition before God and their friends and neighbors, a civil union is anything but marriage. Despite what anti-gay activists … Continue reading

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Local Youth Talk Gay Marriage

On November 30, 2010, the Illinois Senate passed SB 1716, “Illinois Religious Freedom and Protection and Civil Union Act.” This law will grant legal recognition of same-sex couples. Governor Quinn has pledged to sign the bill into law in early … Continue reading

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

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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La Colectiva, the University YMCA, and Growing Immigrant Population in Champaign County

THE UNIVERSITY YMCA AND THE UI STUDENT organization La Colectiva are developing new outreach programs that aim to build bridges with the Latino immigrant communities in Champaign County. The two new programs are a mentorship program with Latino high school … Continue reading

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eBlack Symposium Builds Connections Between Campus and Community

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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Iraq Veterans Against the War On Veterans Day

This Veteran’s Day, Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) asked Americans to reconsider the meaning of supporting the troops. As a nation, we are dishonoring our veterans by ignoring the real costs of war, and we contend that we can … Continue reading

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Just Say No to “Gay Marriage”

Those who accept evil without protesting against it are really cooperating with it. —Martin Luther King, Jr. Many people in the United States, it seems, may not have been exposed to, and so don’t realize, the quality of hatred often … Continue reading

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Civil Suit Alleges Chief Finney Killed Kiwane Carrington

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

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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Cruelty to the Mentally Ill

Do you know what goes on behind locked doors at the Champaign County Satellite Jail? You would probably be surprised to find out. For people with serious mental illnesses, the jail policies for dealing with these people amount to cruelty. … Continue reading

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The System of Snitching

“Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law. To declare that the government may commit crimes in order to secure the conviction of a private criminal_would bring terrible retribution.“ —Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, … Continue reading

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