The Scott Sisters, Nancy Lockhart and the Politics of Freedom

Newspapers, national radio programs, bloggers and politicos are all talking about how Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour on Dec. 29 suspended the life sentences of two sisters jailed for an armed robbery that netted just $11—but the release of one sister will require her to donate a kidney to the other. As reported in The Afro American Newspaper today,  Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour on Dec. 29 suspended the life sentences, saying:

“To date, the sisters have served 16 years of their sentences and are eligible for parole in 2014. Jamie Scott requires regular dialysis, and her sister has offered to donate one of her kidneys to her,” Barbour said in a prepared statement, according to The Hattiesburg American. “The Mississippi Department of Corrections believes the sisters no longer pose a threat to society. Their incarceration is no longer necessary for public safety or rehabilitation, and Jamie Scott’s medical condition creates a substantial cost to the State of Mississippi.”

Jamie (left) and Gladys Scott were convicted of robbery in 1993 and given double life sentences. (Courtesy Photo)

According to The American, in 1993 the sisters lured two men down a road where they were robbed by three teens. The Scott sisters were convicted of robbery with a deadly weapon in the incident and each received reportedly unusual double life prison sentences. The teenagers who allegedly carried out the robbery only served two years in prison.

Barbour’s statement said that he asked the Mississippi Parole Board to review the Scott’s case, and that they supported his decision to suspend their sentences. 

According to the Associated Press, the sisters have received support from national groups including the NAACP. A march for them earlier this year drew hundreds of people. 

A release date for the sisters has not been decided, and will be set by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, according to Jackson, Miss. NBC affiliate WLBT.

AAP says: But with all the grandstanding that is about to happen, groups like the national office of the NAACP, Al Sharpton and the rest of the slick poverty pimp hustlers need to move over, and salute one of the key people that fought the up hill battle to get these women free. A true black woman freedom fighter who deserves accolades and support from America and America's African American community, Ms. Nancy Lockhart, who for years, through the strategic use of the Internet, and her Free the Scott Sisters Blog, along with Internet BlogTalkRadio shows began a grassroots effort to free the Scott sisters. Without Nancy Lockhart who has proven to be a modern day,  21st Century,  Harriet Tubman like, African American women working on the outside, the Scott sisters may not be looking at Freedom. Of course we have to include the recent color aroused political blunders by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, as the emphasis for the his true interest in reducing the life sentences of two black American sisters jailed for an armed robbery that netted just $11. 

Ms. Nancy Lockhart, who has worked closely with grass root groups and individuals like Jerry Robinson, a sharp mouthed grass root community organizer, political activist, and national President of the Chicago based Poor People's Campaign has worked with Nancy Lockhart in her efforts to engage grass-root Internet activist, bloggers, and community groups from across the nation to support the Scott Sisters  quest for freedom. Let the truth be told, it was not the national NAACP that lead the effort to free the Scott Sisters, it was Nancy Lockhart through her use of grassroots Internet organizing, with the support of people like Jerry Robinson of the Poor People's Campaign, Black left Internet groups like the afrospear, Black Agenda Report, and black bloggers like Electronic Village, Jack and Jill Politics, Francis L. Holland Blog, along with many dozens of Internet blogtalkradio host, such as Black Achievement USA, Black Talk Radio, JWriter, Justice4Us, Duchess of Wisdom, AANation, PPC, Kala Nation, Joli Ali, BostonAnt, Pumpkin13, Madison Media,  Antoinette former co-host of African American Pundit's SlugFest Program, along with Antionette Harrell, One Black Mans View, Scotty, and so many others, who were able to create a band of national Internet activist who worked with Nancy Lockhart to get the word out to the larger blogosphere, afrosphere, black radio and national media,  that caused the Scott Sisters to be of interest to groups like the NAACP and because of recent color aroused political blunders by Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, caused him to look at the Scott Sisters case as a political opportunity to make himself look good, as part of his potential Presidential ambitions. As noted in The Washington Post, Barbour, who is weighing a run for president, announced the pardon a week after he ran afoul of civil rights advocates. Last week, Barbour backtracked on comments he made about the civil rights era in Mississippi. More HERE

AAP says: All that being said, America, particularly Black America should salute and thank Nancy Lockhart for a job well done! She has taught us a new lesson for the 21st Century, "grassroot Internet organizing can work for America, particularly black America,  if we put your mind, heart and soul into it." 

Cross posted on MYDD

Black Caucus May Not Back Nancy Pelosi

Could the Congressional Black Caucus finally be showing some guts? Well, we will have to wait and see if they stand up to Nancy Pelosi like other Democrats who blamed Pelosi for their losses and suggested she step aside as leader. More HERE

The CBC has a bit of a history of flexing for a few days, then wimping out and getting nothing but promises without real outcomes for black folks.

They don't have much of a history of showing guts for the long term. They backed down when George W. Bush gave away the U.S. treasury to the banks, mortgage companies and Wall Street. What makes it any different this time?

According to Krissah Thompson of at The Washington Post a compromise designed to end a nasty political fight in the Democratic Party has left an important contingent dissatisfied - the Congressional Black Caucus. 

As you remember from my previous post I reported that Speaker Nancy Pelosi had developed a tentative deal in which she would remain the party's leader in the House when Democrats become the minority in the next Congress. The Washington post had reported that  Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) would take the No. 2 spot, and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (S.C.) would move down to the third-ranking position, which Pelosi has called "assistant leader."

As I noted in my previous post, I was surprised that Clyburn accepted the position. Now we learn from Krissah Thompson that he is discussing what his new role will entail.  

OK, I don't get this. Why would someone as smart as Rep. Clyburn take a position, then after accepting the position discuss what his new role will be? Sounds kind of ass backwards to me.

Get this, Krissah Thompson also reports that after meeting with other members of the CBC on Monday night, he told reporters, "We're still working on it." Get this, The Washington Post reports several caucus members have suggested that they will withhold their votes from Pelosi (Calif.) if more details are not provided about Clyburn's responsibilities or that the caucus could go along with a bloc of moderate Democrats in the Blue Dog caucus and vote to limit Pelosi's authority as minority leader.

"We had a full discussion about this, and we actually wanted to look at the portfolio that is being developed with Mr. Clyburn's input, and we wanted to see what that portfolio would be," said the CBC chairman, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), explaining the decision to withhold support for Pelosi's plan.

Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) said she is "reluctant to want to vote" for the party's leadership without more details and wants to make sure that Clyburn's new role is "not a marginal, ceremonial type of position."

Pelosi met with CBC members Tuesday night to discuss their concerns. Afterward, members of the caucus gave no indication that they felt differently than they did heading into the meeting, an aide said.

In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Clyburn said he has encouraged caucus members to support Pelosi and believes the new structure is fair. More HERE

AAP: "What new structure? It's the same old leadership that lost the mid-term elections, no change as far as this pundit is concerned." Nothing has changed, and the American people, particularly Democrats and independents such as myself don't get this musical chairs effort that does nothing but pat the current leadership on the back for losing the U.S. House of Representatives to the Republicans.

Cross posted on MyDD and African American Pundit

Black Bloggers Gain Influence In Washington.DC

Well it looks like black bloggers are gaining  opportunities for conversations at the highest levels of government in Washington, D.C. 

OK, let me re-state in a different way: "Black bloggers who conditionally or unconditionally support the Obama administration are gaining DNC and White House conversation."

First there was the meeting of black bloggers with DNC Chairman Kaine (which I attended), then there was there was a  "black online summit" at the White House Monday as part of an outreach to African American journalists and bloggers before the midterm elections. 

According to reports from the Maynard Institute, even President Obama stopped by a "black online summit" at the White House Monday as part of an outreach to African American journalists and bloggers before the midterm elections, an effort that includes the Democratic National Committee spending what it calls an unprecedented $3 million to reach the most loyal part of Obama's base, African American voters.

"I thought the meeting was great in that it showed that President Obama and his administration are taking black new media and our growing influence seriously," David A. Wilson, managing editor of theGrio.com, told Journal-isms via e-mail.

"They outlined how the administration's policies have had a positive effect on the African-American community and they invited us to make suggestions on how they could work better with us and provide us with more access to the White House.

However, Leutisha Stills, who blogs at Jack & Jill Politics, cautioned, "The summit was a good one and very comprehensive, but we made it known that if we really have 'influence,' we are going to test drive it and see how many more invites we get from the White House."

The Columbus Day session lasted from 9:15 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., with senior adviser Valerie Jarrett present along with specialists from various parts of the administration, including the first lady's office. Among the 20 African Americans working on the Web were representatives of theRoot.com, Black Entertainment Television, Essence, Jack & Jill Politics, City Limits, Concrete Loop, AOL Black Voices, Black America Web and even the gossipy MediaTakeOut.

Monday's session is to be followed Friday by a presidential meeting with 10 members of the Trotter Group of African American columnists. Moreover, six or seven African American bloggers were credentialed for Obama's rally in Philadelphia last Sunday, although invitations were extended to about 20.

AAP says:  I was one of the 20 African American bloggers who was extended an invitation to be  credentialed for Obama's rally in Philadelphia last Sunday, unfortunately because of schedule conflicts, I was not able to attend the President's rally. 

The DNC and White House outreach effort with African American bloggers are noteworthy. The folks at Jack and Jill Politics in partnership with Kevin S. Lewis , director, African American media for the White House is awesome. The work of senior DNC staffers, including Clyde E. Williams, Political Director for the DNC, along with Derrick L. Plummer, Regional Press Secretary,  and Jamiah Adams, New Media Constituency Manager at the DNC is equally as noteworthy. I can only wonder out loud if this effort is to just gain black blogger support for the mid-terms only? I understand this is a political town.

Is the White House and the DNC reading the content of black blogger concerns regarding our economy and the need for the Obama administration to aggressively enforce of Federal contracting requirements, while establishing new programs in the Department of Commerce, and labor to address the need for job training and small business/micro business "grants" not loans, for low-income urban dwellers?

I hope the DNC and The White House will continue to expand the working group to other progressive African American bloggers, such as  Afro-Netizen, Black Commentator, Black Agenda Report, Field Negro, Faye Anderson, Oliver Willis, Prometheus 6, Republic of T, Skeptical Brotha, and so many others, who may have other observations and thoughts regarding what the administration can do to "really" address issues like jobs, the economy, health care, education, community capacity-building, and investment in our communities. I'm hopeful that the DNC and the White House is not, what some may consider the pimping the growing influence of black bloggers Only smart work and full engagement on the part of all parties, and time will tell... 

As a black Independent voter and blogger, I remain cautiously hopeful.

Cross posted on African American Pundit

DNC Chairman Meets with Black Political and Social Action Bloggers

9.16.10 - Today I attended a DNC meeting with Black Political and Social Action Bloggers and DNC Chairman, Gov.Tim Kaine. This is a 180 degree change from the days of black bloggers concerned about a lack of access within the DNC. I'm reminded about a post a number of years ago, by Liza at the culture Kitchen when she wrote: "These are the 20 liberal bloggers that met with Bill Clinton in Harlem. 

As you can see, not one of them - black...




It was great to see bloggers like Leutisha Stills aka "The Christian Progressive Liberal from Jack and Jill Politics, Black Snob's Danielle.Belton, Blogger Jeneba Jalloh "JJ" Ghatt, and a number of other bloggers at the meeting with the DNC Chairman. "The conversation  revolved around the DNC’s efforts to inform, engage and empower voters – especially African American voters- to participate in the upcoming elections. 

The DNC senior staff have said if President Obama is to continue moving our country forward our community has to be informed.  Moreover, he needs allies in Congress and in order for him to have allies in Congress we need people to come to the polls and vote.

The conversation with Chairman Kaine took place today at the DNC headquarters in Washington, DC with a conference call-in number for black bloggers who were not be able to attend in person. 

Bloggers like Villager publisher of Electronic Village attended via teleconference.  There were background discussions with senior DNC staffers, including Clyde E. Williams, Political Director for the DNC, along with Derrick L. Plummer, Regional Press Secretary,  and Jamiah Adams, New Media Constituency Manager at the DNC.  

Bloggers in attendance got a real opportunity to discuss the DNC’s detailed plan to engage voters and how the DNC can be a resource to members of the African American Political blogger community. 

This meeting in many ways appeared to serve as a DNC coordinated follow-up to an earlier high level meeting between black bloggers and the Obama administration.

As reported by Casey Gane-McCalla over at NewsOne,  President Obama's staff has been reaching out to an array of new black opinion-makers ---- black political bloggers and Pundits.   As reported by Casey Gane-McCalla, the White House meeting was brokered by Cheryl Contee of the blog Jack & Jill Politics, and was several months in the making. As reported by NewsOne, It also offered the bloggers a chance to connect with the administration and find ways to gain more White House access. Over 60 bloggers met in June with Jesse Lee, director of the White House’s Online Programs, and Corey Ealons, White House director of African American Media, while in the DC for Blogging While Brown conference. More HERE

Regarding the meeting with the DNC Chairman Kaine it was organized by DNC Regional Press  Secretary Derrick L. Plummer, along with Jamiah Adams, New Media Constituency Manager with the DNC.

  

During the meeting we learned from the DNC Chairman that the DNC will provide an unprecedented amount of resources with a special emphasis on base turnout — youth, African-Americans, Latinos and first-time voters. I found the DNC Chairman to be thoughtful, candid, and willing to listen to ways to improve DNC communication to African American voters and African American bloggers.


Advertising on black political blogs websites

This Pundit asked whether there would be any special emphasis for the DNC to advertise on black political blogs. Something that has been a concern of mine and other black bloggers for some time. We will be asking that question again, and will inform our readers of the final answer. Show me the money!

As I said back in 2007, more black voters will be reading these black bloggers views and opinions. There are progressive black political bloggers such Jack and Jill Politics, Afro-Netizen,Black Commentator, Black Agenda Report, Black Races, BlackProf, BrownFemiPower, Black electorate, Field Negro, Mirror on America, Negro Please, NegroPhile, Oliver Willis, Prometheus 6, Republic of T, Skeptical Brotha,Where Is The Outrage?,Francis Holland, and so many others, (don’t forget the Angry Indian – Voice of a Native Son) who just may be interested in advertising and the DNC's advertising dollar.

Future Black blogger - DNC Coordination

During the discussion with DNC Chairman,  Tim Kaine the former Virginia governor says given all the challenges his party's faced since the 2008 election, and despite the poll numbers, he's believes the Democrats can pull off victories in some races that will surprise people.  He pointed out Democrats need help from all segments to inform, engage and empower voters – especially African American voters- to participate in the upcoming elections. 


AAP says: "I know I want my President to be successful. Do you? It's about rebuilding our nation, our communities our neighborhoods. Although I am not a Democrat, I believe it's time to rally with the President and his party around issues we agree upon. I believe progressive black political bloggers should support the President and the DNC... even when we disagree. Just remember to hold the DNC and the President accountable, if they don't address issues like high unemployment, poverty reduction and other issues important to our communities."

Black Bloggers V NAACP

When black bloggers or Black journalist say that Barack Obama or Ben Jealous of the NAACP are not speaking to issues that are important to African Americans, the sparks fly. 

Black bloggers and Black Journalist may even be called anti-black. Read the attack on Jack and Jill Politics in the comments section of Field Negroes blog. These diehard colored  extremist shock me every day! Then they get mad if I call them colored. when the organization the are die hard supporters that call themselves colored - The NAA of Colored People.

Now when white Journalist say Obama does not have enough black on their staff, or The Obama White House is too white - not a problem. When a black blogger or Journalist says the same thing, your anti-black.

What is truly another disgrace is these die hard NAACP and Obama supporters who don't like black folks speaking their minds, as we question the NAACP or the Obama administration.   

Yes, I admit I said the National President of the NAACP is disgrace and a sell-out and should consider resigning as President of the NAACP.

Yes,  I admit that I said he is part of the new crew of colored people advancing their own agenda, not a black empowerment or capacity building agenda. 

Now why do I have to be attacked for having my own opinion by Kevin M., a Branch President of the NAACP on my Facebook Page. Check out the interaction:

Kevin said: "AAPP, it IS certainly your right to do so and I for one would not insult you for being critical. However, when you continuously return to the meme "what has the NAACP done since the 60's?", I for one question whether you are as...king a real question or just being intentionally inflammatory.

AAPP: @Kevin: I have no reason on earth to be intonally inflamatory. I am not the only one asking real questions about the National Office of the NAACP and it's lack of leadership. Infact, one would have to wonder why the President of the NAACP was intentionally inflammatory, in order to get it's name in the news by electronically lynching a black women - Shirley Sherrod...

                


Kevin Said: What have we done? Really? I will just speak for my little band of folks out here in Kansas when I say that in just the last 2 years we've registered around 700 voters, wrote a couple state laws, blocked a bill designed to block health care reform, pushed for changes to the State voter registration system, helped countless folks with their census forms, spoke to hundreds of school children about leadership, built a world-class debate and oratory program for neighborhood kids, pushed to have our district locate the state's only elementary IB program right in the HEART of our community, investigated more than a hundred discrimination cases, developed our own rehabilitation program for children in Juvenile detention, and brought together 35 community organizations to pool our talents and resources and solve our own community problems, among other things...


AAPP@ Kevin: I salute the great work of a number of local branches who do great work and are able to to show outcomes for their collective efforts. Now I read you don't want my congratulations - so be it. Not a problem, there are real community builders in my local community to congratulate and support.


Kevin said: Now yes AAPP, it IS certainly your right as an American citizen to continue to call us fools, disgraceful, ignorant, worthless and all the other names you like to banty about on your blog... But just know that those responses you're receiving are coming from folks who are ALSO exercising THEIR rights as Americans to question you as to what have you actually done besides call black people who are volunteering in their communities a bunch of names on the internet.


AAPP@ Kevin: I have no problem with folks asking what I have done lately. My record in community development and community capacity building throughout the country is an open book, if people want to know, just hit my up privately and we can discuss my body of work in community development. I have been in the trenches, even before many of these so called activist were born.


Kevin: Here's the part where you usually make the distinction between the local and National office... But you know what - you shouldn't.. The NAACP is an Association of 2,200 branches just like mine. Sometimes awesome, and sometimes awful... but we are a network of 400,000 folks who are volunteering our own time and resources to make our communities better. And we are all coming together and saying goodbye to our past divisions.. So if you are talking about "our" President, "our" chairman, "our" national Board, or "our" national staff, please don't single me out for any type of singular appreciation - I don't want it.


AAPP@Kevin: Yes, you have a network of 400,000 but the national office cant even put together a blog, or an internet networking vehicle to do grassroot organizing. How pathetic!


Kevin: Now I know calling us a bunch of names is still good for building your readership - I ain't mad at ya... do your thing. But just know as a community, we seem to be reaching a 'tipping point'. I'm out in the community every day and I can tell you that a lot of us are simply getting weary of the "Let me demonstrate my independence by attacking Black people" routine... Pretty soon my brother, you're going to have to get a new gig.


AAPP@ Kevin: I would expect nothing less of you, as a NAACP Chapter President to support everything that the national office does. I'm not the only one seeing the National Office of the NAACP for what it is.


By the way, I'm not the only one who thinks the NAACP has been a failure for over 40 years.


Please read Dewayne Wickman'sBlackChristianNews.com


http://blackchristiannews.com/news/2010/07/naacp-is-putting-the-heavy-on-everybody-but-obama-about-jobs.html


Yes, Kevin, Your right we seem to be reaching a Tipping Point. and the NAACP may just go the way of F.W. Woolworth's.  Yes, your right there are some that need new gigs. The current President of the NAACP is the one that needs to get the new gig. He is the one that attacked a black woman, Shirley Sherrod... without cause...


But I guess you have not been following current events...


----

The national office of the NAACP has no credability! Now it sends out it's goof balls to attack me. Read what the NAACP had to say about George Wallace, Robert Byrd and other bigots who have destroyed the lifes of countless black folks and how they were snookered by of all people FOX News.


These have to be some real stupid bastards at the national office to watch Fox News and believe it.


NAACP Press Release:


The NAACP also has long championed and embraced transformation by people who have moved beyond racial bias. Most notably, we have done so for late Alabama Governor George Wallace and late US Senator Robert Byrd -- each a man who had associated with and supported white supremacists and their cause before embracing civil rights for all.


With regard to the initial media coverage of the resignation of USDA Official Shirley Sherrod, we have come to the conclusion we were snookered by Fox News and Tea Party Activist Andrew Breitbart into believing she had harmed white farmers because of racial bias.


AAPP: Pathetic! Robert Bird? George Wallace? Transformed?
This NAACP National Office is so... Pathetic...

No wonder so many people believe the NAACP has lost it's way. The national NAACP has been so disorganized for years. How long will this new young and inexperienced NAACP President last? Hopefully not for long. The last NAACP President only lasted 19 months.
The fact of the matter is the relatatively new President of the NAACP brought shame to the NAACP, yet it gratuitously uses the occasion to bash black bloggers for calling them out.


Robert Bird? George Wallace? Transformed? Whatever. 

Robert Bird was a recruiter for the Klan while in his 20s and 30s, rising to the title of Kleagle and Exalted Cyclops of his local chapter. After leaving the group, Byrd spoke in favor of the Klan during his early political career. Though he claimed to have left the organization in 1943, Byrd wrote a letter in 1946 to the group's Imperial Wizard stating "The Klan is needed today as never before, and I am anxious to see its rebirth here in West Virginia." Byrd defended the Klan in his 1958 U.S. Senate campaign when he was 41 years old.

Despite being the only Senator to vote against both African American U.S. Supreme Court nominees (liberal Thurgood Marshall and conservative  Clarence Thomas and filibustering the Civilm Rights Act of 1964, the NAACP supported this man who would lynch black men, women and children. Byrd has since said joining the Klan was his "greatest mistake" and the NAACP gave him a 100% rating on their issues.

The National NAACP needs to transform itself and back it's attack dogs off of this blogger.

Oh, that's right, the NAACP attack dog (Kevin M) recently lost a bid to become a member of the board, and will take any action he can to show he is worthy of a seat in the future.

As Kevin said on his NAACP Chapter blog, "Sometimes success comes in stages and this was just the first stage of my road onto the board. ;)" 

I'm coming back bigger and stronger than ever!"

AAPP says: I guess that "bigger and stronger" can be accomplished by attacking me and other black bloggers bro Kevin?  In the name of getting an NAACP Board seat, let me attack a fellow afrospear blogger. Following in the Footsteps of Ben Jealous? Attack when you don't know the facts? Or attack to those who say the NAACP is out of step with the needs of the black community.

Well Mr. NAACP Kevin M you won't be able to attack me on my own Facebook page anymore. You have been banned!

UPDATE: As reported by another black blogger, Gina, at What About Our Daughters, 
the NAACP Legal Goons have Invaded WAOD comments section following calls for Jealous to resign. 

See, and knew I was not the only person under attack by the NAACP and their represenatatives.