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http://www.thegrio.com/2009/12/debate-teams-help-black-students-find-their-voice.php
High school juniors Devonte Escoffery and Stephon Adams have made their school's debate team their number one priority. Both attend Metropolitan Corporate Academy in Brooklyn, N.Y. But their debates on issues such as poverty don't just consist of traditional exchanges of arguments at warp speed. The duo also perform original raps. "In debate, I talk about my social location, Canarsie [Brooklyn] and rap music influences my view of the world, " Devonte said. "[Stephon and I] believe that one, rap music shouldn't shape you in a bad way or a negative way. Our personal narratives should be heard." The pair's unique approach has thrown off many of their opponents, who expect Devonte and Stephon to simply speed-read points off their lap tops or index cards. "I get this confidence that I didn't have before I debated," Stephon said. "My grades are up and college is now a bigger part of the picture." A recent study shows African-American high school students who debate are 70 percent more likely to graduate than non-debate participants. Metro Corp. Academy's debate coach Alex Jones said the academic progress Devonte and Stephon have made is "remarkable." He also said success hasn't been limited to them. "We're dealing with a really educationally underserved population, kids who really struggle with English," Jones said of the majority of New York's urban debate league competitors. "But in debate, it's as heavy as it gets. [The students] learn vocabulary, have to be able to defend it in front of a judge and present clear arguments." Devonte and Stephon both call debate an outlet for their self-expression. "Not all, but [some of] these politicians don't know what [those living in poverty] go through on a daily basis," Devonte said. "But if they hear the voices of those going through it, then they're better able to do something about it."

http://www.thegrio.com/2009/12/rev-jesse-jackson-gives-his-grades-for-president-obama.php
Rev. Jesse Jackson continues to push President Barack Obama to make black unemployment more of a priority in his administration. Jackson, who founded the RainbowPUSH Coalition, talked with theGrio about President Obama's first year in office. President Obama recently told talk show host Oprah Winfrey he deserves a "solid B+" for his first 11 months in office. Jackson instead gave Obama several grades -- high praise for pushing health care reform and low marks for strategy in Afghanistan. He also discussed Obama's support among African-Americans and offered words of encouragement for Tiger Woods.

http://www.thegrio.com/2009/12/tiger-woods-on-the-barbershop-buzz.php
Tiger Woods continues to make headlines with his growing list of reported lovers. And bad timing for Golf Digest magazine as it offers ten tips President Obama can take from Woods. Today on the Barbershop Buzz: As his sponsors begin to pull the plug, is Tiger really living the dream?

http://www.thegrio.com/2009/12/cornel-west-obama-is-for-big-business-not-the-jobless.php
Educator Cornel West sat down with theGrio to discuss how unemployment is affecting African-Americans. TheGrio asked West about national unemployment trends for African-Americans. He called on President Barack Obama to implement a comprehensive jobs policy -- a program that would mirror former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, and focus primarily on creating jobs for people without a college education. "[It's] the same way we had an investment banker policy when they were in trouble," West said of what he views as a double-standard in current economic policy. "All AIG needed was a push. So let's help push these poor people, these working people into jobs with a living wage." West, who has been outspoken in both his support and criticism of Obama, said the current administration has not made poor people a priority. "Obama has an economic team that's composed of persons who have no history whatsoever of being concerned about poor people," West said. "Obama's been doing a good job of reassuring the establishment. But there's many of us who believe the establishment is on our necks." The Princeton University professor is busy promoting his new book, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. The memoir is a departure from West's previous books, where he focused primarily on issues such as race and social justice.

http://www.thegrio.com/2009/11/harlem-is-home-to-several.php
Harlem is home to several legendary African-American political leaders: New York's first black congressman, Adam Clayton Powell, the city's first black mayor, David Dinkins, and the dean of Harlem politics, Congressman Charles Rangel. But suddenly, Rangel faces what his staff admits is a very serious challenge. "I've decided to run for Congress," 2010 congressional candidate Vince Morgan said. "I think the community is ready to look beyond the current congressperson, Charles Rangel, to a future and the question has always been what happens after Charles Rangel?"

http://www.thegrio.com/2009/10/sharpton-jackson-attack-limbaughs-rams-bid.php
Al Sharpton speaks with theGrio about Rush Limbaugh's NFL bid for St. Louis Rams