The ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, held a town hall meeting on social issues, education and economics.
With the sorors dressed in pink and green attire, AKA Inc. hosted their 9th annual Public Conference: Town Hall meeting in the Blackburn ballroom last night.
Howard University President, Sidney A. Ribeau, was in attendance, as well as the sorority's International President, Caroline House Stewart.
"Our voices must be heard, unemployment is high and Medicare is uncertain. Tonight we have a notable panel of thinkers and strategist," Ribeau said. "Howard University will continue to be the center of lively discussion."
The event's moderator and fellow member of the sorority, Donna Brazile is a Managing Director at Brazile & Associates LLC, syndicated columnist for United Media and an on-air contributor for CNN, NPR and ABC.
The event consisted of Brazile providing questions regarding issues of black America, for the panelists.
Subtopic questions were based around the nations education issue, President Obama's plans for unemployment, the upcoming elections and the healthcare issue.
"Civil rights laws represent the best of this country and education is the most civil rights issue for our generation," said assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, Russlynn Ali, Esq.
Ali expressed that schools don't receive their fair share of funding.
Michael L. Lomax, this year's 144th convocation speaker and President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Negro College Fund, gave his views on the nation's education system.
"60 percent of kids entering college need to take a remedial course. We need more teachers and we need to stop high school dropouts. It's our nation, our lives, we can do better" Lomax said.
Lomax added that 25 to 26 percent of college graduates hail from the nation's 105 HBCU's.
Marian Wright Edelman, Esq., was passionate about the issue as well.
"80 percent can't read or compute at grade level, we are being sentenced to social and economical death, the toxic cocktail poverty and illiteracy," Edelman said. "We have to get our lives together as adults; we're losing the last 50 to 60 years of progress."
Edelman was the first black woman admitted to the Mississippi bar.
Tanya Clay House, Esq., electrified the audience with her stand on the upcoming elections.
"As of 2011, our nation is on the path to eliminate our civil rights and we're heading into a era of new Jim Crow laws; we're not in a post-racial society," House said.
House demanded that we don't forget our history. "People are trying to suppress our ability to vote, they want to stop us from putting and keeping those who know our history."
House proceeded to hand out a map to the audience, indicating U.S states that implement and request voter ID's at the polls.
Chairman of the National Board of Directors for the NAACP, Roslyn M. Brock, gave her views on the elections as well.
"Blacks are questioning if President Obama should have a second term and considering that, having a Republican president will help the money flow," Beck said.
Beck expressed that too many people died to have him where he is now and that President Obama needs to know that we have his back.
Deborah J. Vagins, Esq., felt that the labeling of people is a factor in the nations unemployment crisis.
House agreed with Vagins' statement.
"People are being discriminated against based on, the misuse of criminal and credit background checks" said House. "How can we change the country if we don't target the issues in the minority communities, we need new guidelines for the EOP".
Lomax stated that the unemployment numbers are overwhelming. H suggested that the issue could be resolved by, creating a new education bill.
"People cannot read or compute, cannot get a job in this 21st century," Lomax added.
Junior broadcast journalism major Chantal Moncriffe attended the event.
"The town hall meeting was very informative, inspiring and thought provoking. They discussed issues in the African American community that, are extremely important in our world today," Moncriffe said.
Freshman Radio Television Film major, Kamille Jemison, attended as well.
"African American's need to vote. It takes more than complaining to make a difference. The Town Hall meeting informed everyone who attended, on how to be active and make a change. It's time to take a stand," Jemison said.
Among the panel were Donna M. Christensen, Fatima Moss Graves, Esq., Chanelle Hardy, Esq., and Lonnie L. Johnson, Esq.
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