Famed Attorney Johnnie Cochran Dies At 67

High profile attorney Johnnie Cochran Jr. died of a brain tumor on March 29, 2005 at his home in Los Angeles, California.

Cochran is most notably known for his brilliant defense of hall of fame football player O.J. Simpson. Johnnie Cochran also represented a number of superstar clientele but was most proud of his work representing everyday people in the area of civil rights.

Cochran was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 2, 1937 and is survived by his wife and two children. He was also an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, a community service fraternal organization.

Pictured Above: Attorney Johnnie Cochran attends a surprise 70th birthday party for television talk show host Larry King held on November 19, 2003 at the Museum of Television and Radio, in Beverly Hills, California.

(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Postal Service’s Popular Black Heritage Stamp Series Here to Stay

To dispel recurring rumors that its long-standing Black Heritage stamp series will be discontinued, a senior postal official reiterated the Postal Service’s continued commitment to honoring African Americans on stamps.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. These rumors continue to resurface around this time of year,” explained David Failor, Executive Director of Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service, referring to the deluge of inquiries the Postal Service receives shortly after a Black Heritage stamp issuance.

He said, “As a main component of our annual stamp program, the Black Heritage series is alive and well, and here to stay. We’re already looking forward to announcing next year’s honoree this fall.”

The myth started several years ago through an anonymous email that alerted recipients to buy Black Heritage stamps before Post Offices take them off sale due to lack of demand.

“Black Heritage stamps, as with all commemorative stamps, generally remain on-sale for one year or as long as supplies last,” Failor added. “If a local Post Office has sold out, and has yet to replenish its supply, Failor said customers can easily order all stamps online at The Postal Store (http://www.usps.com/shop) or by phone at 800 STAMP24.”

Black History Month
To celebrate 2005’s Black History Month, the Postal Service issued the Marian Anderson commemorative stamp as the 28th in this popular Black Heritage series (see following Backgrounder). A gifted vocalist, Anderson was one of the greatest classically trained singers of the 20th century and an important figure in the struggle of black Americans for racial equality. Singing a varied repertoire in her rich contralto, Anderson opened doors for other black artists.

Two other African-American related stamp subjects to be issued this summer highlight tennis star and humanitarian Arthur Ashe, and the “To Form a More Perfect Union” commemorative stamp sheet that recognizes ten historic milestones of the civil rights movement.

Arthur Ashe
As the first African-American man to win Grand Slam tennis tournaments — Wimbledon and the United States and Australian Opens — Ashe became as renowned for his intellect, moral character and commitment to social causes as for his prowess on the tennis courts of the world. A month before Ashe died, Sports Illustrated named him “Sportsman of the Year” and ran a color photograph of him by Michael O’Neill on the cover of the Dec. 21, 1992, issue.

The stamp image is the photograph used for the Sports Illustrated cover, a softly lit, photographic portrait showing Ashe in semi-profile against a black background holding a tennis racket. The image merges Ashe’s athletic and intellectual attributes and reveals his visionary quality.

To Form a More Perfect Union
Based on contemporary works of art, each of the 10 stamps on this commemorative stamp sheet pays tribute to the courage and sacrifice of the men and women who participated in the civil rights movement. These milestones in history include the:

* End of segregation in the military through Executive Order 9981;
* Supreme Court ruling on Brown v. Board of Education, which ended segregation in public schools;
* Montgomery Bus Boycott, following Rosa Park’s refusal to give up her bus seat to accommodate a “whites only” rule;
* Little Rock Nine as the first blacks to attend a previously “whites only” high school;
* Lunch Counter sit-ins in which blacks sat at “whites only” lunch counters until the businesses integrated;
* Freedom Riders who tested a Supreme Court ruling that outlawed segregation at bus stations and terminals;
* March on Washington, where a quarter million Americans witnessed Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech;
* Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibited discrimination in public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants and theaters;
* Historic 50 mile, five day march from Selma to Montgomery, AL where 25,000 people petitioned the governor to end discrimination; and,
* Voting Rights Act of 1965 that strengthened the federal government’s ability to prevent local and state governments from denying citizens the right to vote because of their race.

Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. An independent federal agency, the Postal Service makes deliveries to more than 142 million addresses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of $69 billion, it is the world’s leading provider of mail and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. Moreover, today’s postage rates will remain stable until at least 2006. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world’s mail volume — some 206 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year – and serves seven million customers each day at its 37,000 retail locations nationwide.

Black Heritage Commemorative Stamp Series Backgrounder

The Black Heritage stamp series is one of the most popular of the U.S. Postal Service’s commemorative stamp series. The Marion Anderson Stamp represents the 28th in this popular series. Since 1978, the following Black Heritage stamps have been released.

* Harriet Tubman (1978)
* Martin Luther King (1979)
* Benjamin Banneker (1980)
* Whitney Moore Young (1981)
* Jackie Robinson (1982)
* Scott Joplin (1983)
* Carter G. Woodson (1984)
* Mary McLeod Bethune (1985)
* Sojourner Truth (1986)
* Jean Baptiste DuSable (1987)
* James Weldon Johnson (1988)
* A. Phillip Randolph (1989)
* Ida B. Wells (1990)
* Jan E. Matzeliger (1991)
* W.E.B. Du Bois (1992)
* Percy Lavon Julian (1993)
* Dr. Allison Davis (1994)
* Bessie Coleman (1995)
* Ernest E. Just (1996)
* Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. (1997)
* Madam C. J. Walker (1998)
* Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz) (1999)
* Patricia Roberts Harris (2000)
* Roy Wilkins (2001)
* Langston Hughes (2002)
* Thurgood Marshall (2003)
* Paul Robeson (2004)
* Marian Anderson (2005)

Via PRNewswire

Boxing Icons Join JAB In Seeking Pardon For Jack Johnson

The Joint Association of Boxers (JAB) has gained the support of boxing icons Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson in its pursuit of justice for the former Heavyweight Champion, Jack Johnson.

The former champs have joined a long list of boxers supporting JAB and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters’ campaign to pardon Johnson. JAB has initiated a petition with professional boxers urging President Bush to grant Johnson a posthumous pardon and, along with the Teamsters Union, is lobbying Congress to pass a resolution clearing Johnson’s name.

“Jack Johnson paved the way not only for African American athletes, but for all people of color,” said Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, President of JAB. “He was Heavyweight Champ long before anyone ever heard of Brown v. Board of Education, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King or even the Civil Rights Movement. His conviction was motivated by racism and his pardon is long overdue.”

Johnson was the first African American to become the Heavyweight Champion of the World. His achievements in the ring contradicted the stereotypes that became the justification for Jim Crow Laws and institutionalized racism.

“Racism is a tough opponent, but we have come a long way from the days of Jim Crow,” said Muhammad. “Every boxer, especially the champions who came after him, owe a lot to Jack Johnson, the least we can do is fight to get his pardon.”

“Boxers continue to be exploited and can only build strength by coming together,” said Teamsters General President James Hoffa. “Rallying around Jack Johnson is an important first step in boxers achieving the dignity and respect they deserve.”

JAB urges all professional boxers and boxing fans to sign our petition for Jack Johnson. The petition can be found at http://www.boxersunion.org.

Via PRNewswire

Are African Americans Saving for the Long-term?

Local Personal Investing Workshop Outlines Seven Steps to Get Started

Recent studies show that despite a significant increase in net worth among African Americans, this group directs a smaller portion of its income to long-term investments than other groups with similar incomes. As a result, many cannot reach their retirement and college savings goals. The primary reason African Americans cite for not investing is lack of knowledge.

The National Urban League and the Investment Company Institute Education Foundation (ICIEF) developed the Investing for Success program to inspire African Americans to become more knowledgeable about investing for retirement and to take advantage of opportunities to accumulate wealth. Marc H. Morial, president of the National Urban League, said, “The National Urban League and ICIEF share an important goal of helping African Americans to become economically self-sufficient.”

Together, NUL and ICIEF recommend the following seven steps for investing: Get Started, Set Goals, Understand Risk, Ask Questions, Develop Realistic Expectations, Take the Long-Term View, and Develop an Action Plan.

The Investing for Success partnership offers a series of free, three-hour workshops aimed at middle-income African Americans to advise them about the benefits of long-term investing. The next workshop will be held on Thursday, March 31 at 6 pm in Tucson at the Dunbar Museum & Cultural Center. Kelly Johnson, Vice President at Pacific Investment Management Company, will present the workshop. To reserve a space, people can preregister by calling the reservation line at 520/791-9522. For those unable to attend a workshop, ICIEF offers an award-winning web course at http://www.icief.org that integrates all the workshop materials in an interactive, multimedia format. A similar web course for Hispanic investors is available in both English and Espanol at http://invertirconexito.icief.org.

The National Urban League is the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. The Investment Company Institute Education Foundation is an affiliate of the Investment Company Institute, the national association of America’s mutual funds.

Via PRNewswire

Russell Corporation Signs Agreement With Historically Black College Conference

Russell Corporation (NYSE: RML) announced that it has signed an agreement to be the exclusive provider of athletic apparel, team uniforms, balls and sports equipment to all 12 member schools of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the oldest of the Historically Black College and University Conferences. Russell will also become an official sponsor of the CIAA basketball tournament.

With the addition of the CIAA, Russell now has partnerships with the four major Historically Black Athletic Conferences representing 46 schools. The company had signed agreements in 2004 with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC).

“This agreement allows us the opportunity to involve our full range of products and brands beyond the team uniform business,” said Jon Letzler, president and COO. “By including our Russell Athletic, JERZEES, AAI, Huffy Sports, Bike and Spalding brands, we will have increased brand awareness and sales opportunities across the campuses, including the playing fields and courts as well as the college bookstores.

“This latest agreement also provides the added potential of the CIAA basketball tournament,” added Letzler. “We are excited to be a part of what is widely recognized as one of our country’s legendary sporting events.”

Athletic programs included in the agreement are men’s and women’s basketball, football, baseball, softball and volleyball. Russell’s association with the schools will begin immediately. Member schools of the CIAA are: Bowie State University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, North Carolina Central University, Saint Augustine’s College, Saint Paul’s College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Winston-Salem State University.

“We are proud to have Russell as a partner with the CIAA. Russell’s extensive brand lineup and the quality of their products speak for themselves,” said CIAA Commissioner Leon Kerry. “This relationship will have such a positive impact for the CIAA member institutions and the student athletes by providing additional scholarship monies. Also, we know the teams will be wearing the best uniforms made.

“Beyond the agreement, I applaud Russell’s commitment to the African American community,” Kerry added.

About Russell Corporation
Russell Corporation is a leading branded athletic and sporting goods company with over a century of success in marketing athletic uniforms, apparel and equipment for a wide variety of sports, outdoor and fitness activities. The Company’s major brands include Russell Athletic(R), JERZEES(R), Spalding(R) and Brooks(R). The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RML and its web site address is http://www.russellcorp.com.

Via PRNewswire

Entertainer Bobby Short Dies At 80

Cabaret singer Bobby Short died today of leukemia at age 80. Known as an international icon of style and glamour, Short has performed at Manhattan’s Cafe Carlyle for over three decades. He made a name for himself singing vintage songs written by the Gershwin brothers, Cole Porter and Harold Arlen, and was nominated for three Grammy Awards.

Short is pictured above with musician Lenny Kravitz, his father Sy Kravitz (right)at Short’s surprise 80th birthday party, September 12, 2004 at the Rainbow Room in New York City. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Bobby Short was born September 15, 1924, in Daneville, Illinois, Short was one of the last of his kind and will be missed.

Source Magazine Joins Reverend Al Sharpton in 90 Day Artist Ban

The Source Magazine, the most trusted voice for the Hip-Hop Nation, has announced that it supports the proposal by Reverend Al Sharpton to institute a 90-day ban on radio and TV airplay for music artists that engage in violence.
The Source and its principals, David Mays and Ray Benzino, have been the leading voice over the past two years on the issue of corporate responsibility in Hip-Hop and are joining Reverend Sharpton in encouraging top executives in the industry to meet immediately to find a permanent solution to the violence.

David Mays, Co-founder and CEO of The Source says, “It is inspiring to see that Reverend Al Sharpton is speaking out against the crisis of corporate manipulation of violence in the Hip-Hop industry, which is benefiting the bottom line of a few major conglomerates. In no way does The Source support the censorship of Hip-Hop artists, but we are opposed to artists and their backers that use acts of violence or the incitement of violence over the public airwaves to promote record sales. The responsibility for this type of destructive conduct lies with only a small group of individuals in our industry who must be held accountable.”

“Late last year, I called for a sit-down with Eminem and his camp in an attempt to resolve our ongoing beef, but my calls were rejected,” said Ray Benzino, co-founder of The Source as well as a widely-respected Hip-Hop artist and producer. “In fact, Eminem responded by rolling up on my partner with 15 guys at a radio station in Detroit to try to intimidate him as well as radio station personnel. Yesterday’s staged ‘truce’ between 50 Cent and The Game must be viewed with a skeptical eye due to Interscope Records’ track record of violent and inflammatory publicity stunts and marketing gimmicks.”

In a March 2003 cover story, The Source declared a “Hip-Hop state of emergency,” and the magazine has since been conducting ongoing reports on the deteriorating state of Hip-Hop resulting from the irresponsibility and insensitivity of a few powerful corporations and executives. The Source has also been the target of an aggressive attack by Interscope Records designed to stifle the magazine’s exposure of these issues, including the pulling of millions of dollars of advertising.

“Jimmy Iovine, the President of Interscope Records, has been the central figure and common thread through over 10 years of manipulation of violence and death in and around the Hip-Hop community, and yet his name is hardly ever mentioned and he has never been held accountable,” said Reverend Al Sharpton.

Added Mays, “The Source has fought hard for over 16 years to insure that corporate America respects Hip-Hop as a positive and empowering culture whose core values are peace and unity. This ‘new version’ of Hip-Hop being manufactured by Iovine and his crew has distorted the perception of Hip-Hop’s true nature, and has now reached alarming and incredibly dangerous levels. There must be accountability.”

The Source is the most widely-recognized and well-respected brand name in communications for Hip-Hop fans across the globe, earned through The Source Magazine’s role as the most trusted media voice for the Hip-Hop movement for over 16 years. The Source is the #1 selling music magazine on newsstands in America, reaching nearly 9 million readers per month. Co-founder and CEO David Mays, along with Co-founder and Chief Brand Executive Raymond Scott, have successfully built The Source business brand into a renowned trademark, with extensions in music, television and consumer products such as clothing and DVD’s.

Murder Suspect Brian Nichols Captured In Georgia

FBI agents escort murder suspect Brian Nichols from an FBI holding facility FBI facilty March 12, 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia. Nichols surrendered earlier in the day after being surrounded by police in a apartment complex in Duluth, Georgia. Nichols is accused of shooting and killing four people at the Fulton County Superior Court, including Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rowland W. Barnes.

The killings in which Nichols is suspected of committing comes as a shocking surprise to his friends and family who described him, in various reports, as being a good person that didn’t grow up in a broken home.

(Photo by Davis Turner/Getty Images)

50 Cent & The Game Make Amends

Rapper 50 Cent, Dr. Walter Turnbull and rapper The Game make an appearance at the Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture to announce they will put their differences aside and make amends on March 9, 2005 in New York City.

The rappers agreed to make amends in response to a shooting that took place on Feb. 28 in front of the building that houses the radio station WQHT-FM, Hot 97. Gunfire was alledgedly exchanged between the two rappers’ entourages as result of 50 Cent’s public announcement to drop the Game from his G-Unit clique.

(Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

Beyonce & Tina Knowles Announce Agreement With G-III Apparel

Beyonce and Tina Knowles today announce that The House of Dereon has signed a licensing agreement with G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (Nasdaq: GIII) to collaborate on the design, marketing and distribution of an exclusive comprehensive collection of outerwear. This young contemporary women’s line is expected to launch in time for the holiday delivery to better specialty and department stores throughout the country.

Beyonce Knowles said, “We want to launch an extraordinary outerwear collection for the Holiday season … the perfect coat to complement our fashion line.”

Tina Knowles added, “Beyonce and I are so thrilled to add G-III to the House of Dereon team! My daughter and I are enjoying every moment as we put together what we hope will be a truly incredible collection for the young women’s contemporary fashion market.”

Morris Goldfarb, G-III’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased to partner with this extraordinarily talented and focused group. Music and fashion have always gone hand in hand and we believe that this line will demonstrate once again that there is a significant audience for not only Beyonce’s performances, but also her style. We believe that our expertise in outerwear and the support of Beyonce and Kids Headquarters for the development of the House of Dereon brand will provide a solid foundation for our Holiday season launch. This business is part of our overall strategy to continue to diversify our portfolio of leading brands under license.”

Cory Silverstein, Corporate Executive Vice President of Beyond Productions, commented, “G-III’s expertise in the outerwear category will further extend the reach of our House of Dereon brand. It is our strategy to partner with only the best, most capable companies in the apparel and consumer products industry to build an enduring and successful business. This agreement brings us one step closer to our goal. We are excited about the upcoming Holiday launch and look forward to building on the momentum we believe it will create for the House of Dereon brand.”

Beyond Productions, LLC was founded in May 2004 by Tina and Beyonce Knowles, Jason and Arthur Rabin and Cory Silverstein of Wear Me Apparel/Kids Headquarters. The partnership will provide the infrastructure for licensing and brand management to House of Dereon. This collaboration was orchestrated by Tina and Beyonce Knowles who wanted to bring trend-setting style and a creative take on fashion to stylish women everywhere. The design alliance features three co-creative directors, Beyonce and Tina Knowles, and Heather Thomson Schindler.

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of outerwear and sportswear under licensed labels, our own labels and private labels. The Company has fashion licenses with Kenneth Cole, Nine West, Cole Haan, Jones Apparel, Sean John, Cece Cord, Izod, House of Dereon, Bill Blass and James Dean and sports licenses with the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Louisville Slugger, NASCAR, World Poker Tour and more than 60 universities nationwide. Company-owned labels include, among others, Black Rivet, Colebrook and Siena Studio.

Via PR NewsWire

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