By Marcus Wright Special to the Michigan Citizen DETROIT — It would be hard to convince Sandra Mayberry there is no silver lining in clouds. Mayberry founded S&M Jewelry Designs after suffering a work-related injury. Mayberry opened S&M Jewelry Design at Gibraltar Trade Center on Jan. 24, 2010. She proudly shows the $20 bill from the first sale she made. S&M moved to the Russell Bazaar in August ...

By Raynard Jackson NNPA As anyone who has followed me knows, I have been extremely critical of President Obama’s non-engagement with the Black community. Obama has deliberately ignored the plight of the Black community while giving preferential treatment to the homosexual and Latino communities. But I can’t in good conscious criticize Obama and then give the Republicans a pass when they display similar beha ...

By David C. Butty As the Republic of Liberia, Africa’s oldest politically independent nation celebrates July 26 its 165th anniversary as a nation, we must recognize that much has been gained over the years in one of the oldest African republics in the world. Liberia made history by electing Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as the first woman president on the African continent. But one thing remains the same: the natio ...

By Amaka Okechukwu I arrived at Detroit 2012 ready to leave protest politics behind. I was tired of and felt disempowered by demands that those in power change our conditions. At most, protests lead to policy reform, but do not restructure anything in a society that desperately needs transformation. I was not willing to compromise with state and corporate authorities when it came to our humanity — too much ...

Mayor imposes 10 percent pay cut, other reductions to city’s unionsBy Mike Sandula and Marcus WrightThe Michigan CitizenDETROIT — A day after Detroit City Council rejected the newly proposed City Employment Terms (CET), the plan was imposed anyway.Council voted 5-4 at its July 17 formal session to reject the newly proposed City Employment Terms. Council members Brenda Jones, Kwame Kenyatta, Andre Spivey and ...

Global Information Network During some of the deadliest years of the inter-ethnic wars in Africa’s eastern Congo, rebel leader Thomas Lubanga went door to door, taking children as young as 10-years-old and sending them to the battlefield, to carry guns, shoot and kill as part of his Union of Congolese Patriots rebel militia. Lubanga’s FPLC was one of six militia groups, which fought for control of the gold- ...

By George E. Curry NNPA WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced July 16 the new Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign to remove the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS and to end complacency about the epidemic. “In the fight against HIV, stigma and complacency are among our most insidious opponents,” said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral ...

By Tené Dismuke Everyone has goals they want to accomplish in life. But too often, we struggle with making them happen. We fail to recognize that we were given special gifts as we made our introduction onto this plane to carry out everything we need to be happy, healthy and successful. All of what we need, we have within. The only thing we need to do is allow it to flow through us. Have you ever heard the s ...

David Fultz, Antonio Leonard, David Doxey Media reports indicate crime is increasing in the city. Do policy decisions, such as decreased street lighting in certain areas of the city, contribute to the increase in crime?Yes. Not just a decrease in street lighting but decreased funding for after-school programs. When young people have nothing to do and no supervision they end up in trouble.David FultzI think ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Detroit activists joined parent and student groups from major urban centers around the country July 10 for a meeting with President Barack Obama’s education cabinet. Russlyn Ali, assistant secretary for the Office of Civil Rights, Peter Cunningham, assistant secretary for Communications and Outreach for President Obama’s education agenda, and Roberto Rodriguez, Domestic Policy Council and ...