by Jamaal Abdul-Alim

WASHINGTON — The longstanding effort to clear the name of Marcus Garvey — the pioneering Pan-Africanist credited with starting the largest black nationalist movement in history — got a jolt of new energy Wednesday as the iconic Black leader’s son, a law professor and a contingent of civil rights personages called on President Barack Obama to grant Garvey a posthumous pardon.

“Why is this the right time to exonerate Marcus Garvey? The reality is there’s never been a better time to do so,” said Justin Hansford, St. Louis University law professor and Harvard University Democracy Project fellow, tying the efforts of Garvey — who launched the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914 in Jamaica and later established a New York City branch in 1916 — to today’s Black Lives Matter movement.
“I believe we’re at a turning point in our racial justice history — a time when we’re trying to affirm, perhaps for the first time, that, yes, Black lives do matter in this country,” Hansford said. “And this (pardon effort) is part of this process.”
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Hansford made his remarks Wednesday at the National Press Club at an event meant to call attention to the posthumous pardon request that lawyers advising the Garvey family submitted to the Department of Justice and White House this past June.

​Read more:  #justice4garvey

What happened to Black Wall Street on June 1, 1921?
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The VRA was meant to end race-based barriers to the voting booth, such as poll taxes and literacy tests that Southern states, in particular, used to keep African-Americans from voting. Over time, because of the law, many of those barriers came down. Then, in 2013, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Shelby County v. Holder, which held that a key provision of the VRA was unconstitutional.

Congress: Pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act

The good news is that Congress still has time to pass the bipartisan Voting Rights Advancement Act. This new, flexible, and forward-looking set of protections will repair much of the damage done by the Supreme Court. And it will provide modern, flexible protections to combat voter discrimination across the country.

Michelle toppled New Zealand's two-time Olympics champion Valerie Adams to become the first American woman to win an olympic shot put medal in 56 years.

... some of USA's most powerful women are rallying behind the gold medal gymnast by showing their support for Douglas via Twitter. Celebs and fans alike are drowning out the hate ...

Biles added a third gold medal to her rapidly rising haul on Sunday, easily capturing the women’s vault final. The 19-year-old helped the “Final Five” to team gold and also dominated the all-around competition last week, averaged 15.966 on her two vaults on Sunday to become the first American woman to win the event at the Olympics.

The month of July, this year,  has been one of my better months in many years.  I am grateful for my personal health improvements and the support of my family in the long process of obtaining medical treatments in VA Healthcare.

​Thank You Mommy for encouraging me to be the best 'ME' possible in "Kingdom Principles"


​Music has been my best coping method when I am in solitude dealing with my pain, health progress; moments of joy and pride in witnessing my children mature into fine adults  ... the following artist is my choice for July ...