Blacks in the News
In this Nov. 2, 2010 photo, Wray Gunn, left, Rachel Flectcher, center and Cora Gunn, right, pose in a park dedicated to W.E.B Du Bois on the home site of where he grew up in Great Barrington, Mass. The three are members of a coalition dedicated to preserving the legacy of the African American scholar, as Du Bois' hometown approaches its 250th birthday celebration. (AP Photo/Shana Sureck)
Blacks in the News
In this Nov. 2, 2010 photo, a mural in downtown Great Barrington, Mass., honors the African American scholar W.E.B Du Bois, who was raised there. As the town prepares to celebrate it's 250th birthday, W.E.B. Du Bois, one of its most famous and controversial native sons, is being included in it's history and promotional material. (AP Photo/Shana Sureck)
Blacks in the News
In this Nov. 2, 2010 photo, Rachel Fletcher, founder of River Walk and co-director of the African American heritage trail, poses in a garden recently dedicated to W.E.B Du Bois near his birthplace in Great Barrington, Mass. Du Bois grew up swimming in this, the Housatonic river, and later advocated for its clean up. His autobiography begins with the words "I was born by a golden river and in the shadow of two great hills . . . ." (AP Photo/Shana Sureck)
Blacks in the News
TOPSHOTS A Picture shows a graffiti artist with the portrait of Nobel-winning US novelist Toni Morrison during the unveiling ceremony of a memorial bench marking the abolition of slavery in Paris (the first to be inaugurated outside the United States by the Toni Morrison Society) on November 5, 2010 in Paris. Morrison, author of "Beloved" and whose poetic novels on slavery and the African-American experience earned her the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes, in 1988 and 1993, was awarded yesterday a city of Paris medal honouring thinkers and artists with strong ties to the capital, a day after receiving France's highest decoration, the Legion of Honour. TOPSHOTS / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)
Blacks in the News
Terri Sewell celebrates her victory as the first African-American woman to be elected to Congress in the 7th Congressional District seat in Alabama with family and friends at the St James Hotel on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, in Selma, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Blacks in the News
Tim Scott, Republican Congressman-elect for South Carolina's First Congressional District, celebrates his victory at his election night party at the Hilton Garden Inn in North Charleston, S.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. With his victory, Scott will become the first Republican African-American Congressman from South Carolina since Reconstruction. (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
Blacks in the News
Frances Scott, center, mother of Tim Scott, Republican Congressman-elect for South Carolina's First Congressional District, center, celebrates her son's victory at his election night party at the Hilton Garden Inn in North Charleston, S.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. With his victory, Scott will become the first Republican African American Congressman from South Carolina since Reconstruction. (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
Blacks in the News
Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Republican Congressman elect for South Carolina's First Congressional District, celebrates his victory at his election night party at the Hilton Garden Inn in North Charleston, S.C., on Tuesday Nov. 2, 2010. Scott will become the first Republican African American Congressman from South Carolina since Reconstruction. (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
Blacks in the News
Tim Scott, R-S.C., Republican Congressman elect for South Carolina's First Congressional District, celebrates his victory at his election night party at the Hilton Garden Inn in North Charleston, South Carolina, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. With his victory, Scott will become the first Republican African American Congressman from South Carolina since Reconstruction. (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
Blacks in the News
Tim Scott, R-S.C., Republican Congressman elect for South Carolina's First Congressional District, celebrates his victory at his election night party at the Hilton Garden Inn in North Charleston, South Carolina, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. With his victory, Scott will become the first Republican African American Congressman from South Carolina since Reconstruction. (AP Photo/Alice Keeney)
Blacks in the News
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.