"Chiraq." "The murder capital." "The most violent city in America." Every day glaring headlines further the myth that our great city is a never-ending war zone.  That Chicago is a violent city with uncaring residents  is a narrative we do not accept. Collaboration to  Action: Building a Peaceful Chicago will provide an  uplifting, inspirational and action-oriented forum and  collaborative workshops to highlight good work being  done. African American Legacy believes we are  collectively responsible for protecting our community  and ensuring it thrives. Our future, our success  depends on leaders like you. The time is now to turn  the conversation into action. Join us.

Coalition Power Breakfast is scheduled for:

Saturday,  December 6, 2014 

8:30a.m  

(Program starts @ 9:30am)

Political Outlook: 

A Fight to Move the Community's Agenda Forward

The Coalition of African American Leaders believes that it is important to examine the critical issues confronting the African American community where injustice, inequality and the absence of access and opportunity continue to prevail, thereby negatively impacting us as a people. COAL is an assemblage that advocates and organizes for appropriate and responsible public policy change, system behavior change and equality of opportunity. We aim to achieve for all of our people the fullness of the life experience without any form of racism or exclusion as a deterrent. We believe we must prepare ourselves for the opportunity of this full participation, thereby achieving the necessary education and training to participate. 

Views expressed via Guest Commentaries are not necessarily the views held by the COAL Board of Directors, nor its member organizations.

THE EARLY AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTE CATCHES THE WORM

The Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution declared the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."

Unfortunately, this right was not acknowledged for almost a full century. Years after the Fifteenth Amendment was passed, African-Americans were subjected to racist tactics that included paying poll taxes, passing literacy tests and other erosions of the protections given by the Fifteenth Amendment. It was not until the Twenty-Fourth Amendment was passed that the poll tax came to an end, eventually leading to the Voting Rights Acts of 1965, which legally ended barriers to voting for African Americans and other protected classes. And let us never forget the countless number of lives that were sacrificed on the road to freedom.

In the last two years, however, we have witnessed a hostile attack on our democratic right to vote. The United States Supreme Court, in its 2013 decision, Shelby County vs. Holder, practically gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by striking down, as unconstitutional, the Act's enforcement mechanism. Emboldened by the Court's ruling, several states have recently attempted to enact laws that significantly restrict our access to the ballot box. This includes shortening the early voting period, increasing the scrutiny of identification, and eliminating Election Day registration.

Fortunately, Illinois is not one of those states that seek to disenfranchise its citizenry. In fact, today, October 20, 2014, marks the first day of early voting in Illinois. We are in the midst of a very important gubernatorial election, which will take place on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. Illinois' African-American community has a lot at stake. Issues important to our children, families, and communities, like funding for quality early childhood education, increased minimum wage, and access to affordable healthcare are all on the table during this year's election.  While the Illinois African American Coalition for Prevention does not endorse candidates, we do endorse a movement that makes sure you exercise your franchise. There are no excuses, make sure you are registered to vote. You can vote early, mail-in your ballot or vote in person on November 4th. 

As you prepare to cast your vote, remember the seemingly insurmountable obstacles we have overcome, honor the lives that were sacrificed, and never forget that we still have work to be done to build safe, healthy, and resilient African-American children, families, and communities.

EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE AND GO CATCH THAT WORM!!!!