(Newser) – Republican Rep. Trent Franks took the opportunity to say that he thinks African Americans were better off under slavery.

Slavery “is a crushing mark on America’s soul,” Franks said in an interview with a conservative blogger. “And yet today, half of all black children are aborted. Half of all black children are aborted. Far more of the African American community is being devastated by the policies of today than were being devastated by the policies of slavery. And I think, ‘What does it take to get us to wake up?’”

Asheville, NC

President Obama is the first sitting president to visit the home of Rev. Billy Graham, who lives in Montreat, a small town near Black Mountain. It was also their first meeting, according to Graham’s publicist, A. Larry Ross, and lasted 35 minutes.

“Mr. Graham was honored that the president would travel to meet him for an historic first-ever visit by a sitting president in his home, which reflected a cordial, gracious conversation together, along with the evangelist’s son, Franklin,” Ross said via e-mail. “Over coffee, the two men discussed a variety of topics, including their wives, and love for and similar experiences with golf and Chicago.

credit:John Boyle – www.citizen-times.com

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Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network (NAN) will host its annual national conference from April 14th – 17th at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in New York City.

This four-day event will convene hundreds of delegates and prominent leaders in civil rights, business, politics, labor, entertainment and the religious community from around the country to address key issues impacting people of color.
Among some of the confirmed notable participants are United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Housing Shawn Donovan, Michael Steele, Chairman of The Republican National Party, Dr. Bill Cosby, Mariah Carey, Wyclef Jean, Ben Jealous, President of the NAACP, Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League, Tom Joyner, Roland Martin, Michael Eric Dyson, and many other high profile attendees.
Among the highlights will include the annual Keepers of the Dream Awards. Honorees include Wyclef Jean, humanitarian and world-renown musical artist, Jeff Zucker, President and CEO of NBC Universal, Mariah Carey, Award-Winning Actress and internationally acclaimed Singer, Dr. Robert M. Franklin, President of Morehouse College, Kimberly Davis, President of JPMorgan Chase Foundation and more. There will be a special keynote address by Dr. Bill Cosby.

The congregants at the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church began their 11am Easter Sunday observances to the sounds of “Alleluia.” A historically African-American church in southeast Washington, D.C, echoed cheers and applause, while people were snapping cell phone pictures when President Obama, wife Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha, and mother-in-law Marian Robinson arrived via a side door.
During the service several speakers acknowledged the first family’s attendance at the church and Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell Sr.,the church’s pastor, referred to the president as the “most intelligent, most anointed, most charismatic president,” while complimenting Michelle Obama.
Gospel songs throughout the service moved the spirit by a 50 member choir, clapping and waving and Obama could be seen in his family’s pew swaying gently to the music.
The first family departed the church after receiving communion.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton is a force of nature. In her youth she was an organizer for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee during the civil rights movement. She received her undergraduate degree from Antioch College, a master’s from Yale University, and a law degree from Yale Law School. She served as a lawyer on the infamous 1970 Newsweek sex discrimination case, and President Jimmy Carter appointed Norton to be the first woman to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. There she worked to advance the status of women in the workplace. Since 1991, she’s served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Washington, D.C., fighting tirelessly for, among other things, D.C. voting rights in Congress.

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