For Ethnic Communities, a Year of Stimulus Not Enough

By New America Media, Commentary, Aaron Glantz, Posted: Feb 20, 2010


It’s been a year since President Barack Obama signed the $787 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, better known as the stimulus package. The largest public investment in America’s infrastructure since the Great Depression, Obama called it “the most sweeping economic recovery bill in our history.”

But a year later, many Americans are still hurting. And while the Labor Department reports the unemployment rate for whites has begun to fall (to 8.4 percent in January), it continues to rise for ethnic minorities. For African Americans, it is 16.5 percent and for Latinos unemployment is 12.6 percent.

Read the Rest here: For Ethnic Communities, a Year of Stimulus Not Enough

A New Era!

Latinos, Corporate Power and the Supreme Court

Reported by the National Institute for Latino Policy eNewsletter, Commentary, Angelo Falcón

Yesterday's Supreme Court decision in the appeal of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission adds to the already corrupting influence of money on American politics, which is bad news for the Latino community.

In a 5-4 split vote, the Court lifted the ban against corporations spending money from their own treasuries for political advertisements aired within 30 days of a primary election and 60 days of a general election and lifted restrictions on corporate spending to support or oppose candidates. The majority was composed of justices appointed by Republican presidents, while the dissenting minority consisted of three appointed by Democratic presidents and one by a Republican president. By the way, Justice Sotomayor was among the dissenters who, in Justice Steven's opinion, sharply argued that the Court's ruling "threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the Nation."


Read the rest here: Latinos, Corporate Power, and the Supreme Court




A New Era!

Swine Flu Death Rates Higher for Black, Latino Children than Whites

By NNPA, News Report, Nicole Austin, Posted: Dec 23, 2009 

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - Black and Hispanic children have suffered higher proportional death rates from the H1N1 virus (swine flu) than their White counterparts.

According to the Center for Disease Control, Black and Hispanic children have a greater number of H1N1 deaths since the epidemic started sweeping the nation last March. The agency is not clear about the reason for the disparities. “Blacks and Hispanics are represented in a greater proportion among seasonal and H1N1 deaths in children, than their representation in the U.S. population,” says a report from the CDC, released to the NNPA News Service. “The reasons for more severe outcomes among Black and Hispanics are unknown but may be related to the frequency of underlying conditions that increase the risk for influenza complications in that population or the timing of medical care and or treatment … This racial ethnic disparity requires further study.”


Read the rest here: Swine Flu Death Rates Higher for Black, Latino Children than Whites


A New Era!

More Latinos and African Americans Value Higher Education

Pic Courtesy of DC 2009 Family Education Expo

By New America Media, News Report, Vivian Po, Posted: Nov 24, 2009


A higher percentage of Latinos and African Americans in California value college education as a necessary path to success in today’s work world, compared to their Asian and white counterparts, according to a recent survey.

Last week, the Public Policy Institute of California released its latest report, “Californians & Higher Education,” which reflects a spectrum of perspectives on California’s higher education among different ethnic groups. PPIC polled 2,502 adults in five languages – English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

Eighty-one percent of Latinos and 76 percent of African Americans believe that college education is necessary for a person to become successful, the report found. Only 57 percent of whites and 66 percent of Asians share the same perspective. 


Read the rest by clicking here: More Latinos and African Americans Value Higher Education





A New Era!

Adios, Lou Dobbs

By New America Media, Q&A with Roberto Lovato, Marcelo Ballvé, Posted: Nov 13, 2009 

Presente.org is a relatively new organization, yet it played a prominent role in the campaign against Lou Dobbs. What can you tells us about Presente's origins and purpose? 

Presente.org is born of the need to help the Latino community use media and technology to advance its agenda, and to build its power. One of the key ways to do that is to amass a list of people, much like Moveon.org did previously. You build that list by organizing campaigns. Presente.org was born earlier this year, actually. Its first campaigns were around the hate killing of Luis Ramirez in Pennsylvania and the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor. Those were the dress rehearsals for our most ambitious campaign, which was the “Basta Dobbs” campaign [Basta means “enough” in Spanish]. 


Continue reading the rest by clicking here: Adios, Lou Dobbs

A New Era!

Ethnic Communities Urged to Get H1N1 Flu Shot

Editor's Note: Odette Keeley, news anchor for "Stories From The Ethnic Media" on NAM's radio program, "New America Now" on 91.7 FM KALW, talks to ethnic media professionals about their outlets' news headlines and their take on the news of the day.

This Week on "Stories From the Ethnic Media": CDC meets with ethnic media to discuss the H1N1 vaccine, and the recent videotaped MUNI bus fight between two women, one African-American, the other Chinese-American, brings community leaders and media in San Francisco together to discuss race relations.


Read the rest here: Ethnic Communities Urged to Get H1N1 Flu Shot


H1N1 Influenza Virus Image courtesy of CDC 

A New Era!

Recession Hits Aging Blacks, Hispanics Hardest Says a New Poll

New America Media, News Analysis, Paul Kleyman, Posted: Oct 12, 2009 

All midlife and older Americans have been feeling the impact of the recession. But the effects have been even harsher for African-American and Hispanic retirees and baby boomers heading for retirement, according to a new study by AARP.

AARP’s “Closer Look” survey of almost 1,000 Americans ages 45 or older shows that in the past year ethnic boomers and elders have struggled to pay their medical costs; had trouble paying for food, heating and other essential needs; lost jobs or saw their hours cut; and were compelled to hunt for affordable housing in greater percentages than their white counterparts.

“We are seeing a disappearing middle class,” stated David Certner, legislative policy director of AARP.

Social and economic differences long preceded the recession, but Certner said the “differences have been exacerbated for African Americans and Hispanics.” 


Read the rest here: Recession Hits Aging Blacks, Hispanics Hardest Says a New Poll

A New Era!