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By BlackNews.com

-- Black Opinions in the Age of Obama: Results of a National Zogby Poll --

Robert L. Johnson, National Press Club
Photo credit: Noel St. John

Bethesda, MD (April 1, 2013) -- Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies and founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), today announced the results of a national poll commissioned by Zogby Analytics that reveals current African American sentiment on a range of issues that include the state of national affairs, race relations, employment, and a variety of current political and social issues. Johnson announced the results of the Zogby poll during his remarks today at a National Press Club Luncheon.

"I commissioned this poll for a number of reasons," said Johnson. "First, for African Americans, this country has experienced the most historic political event and that is the election and re-election of the first African American president, Barack Obama. Because of this, I wanted to find out how African Americans today feel about Obama's presidency and equally important, if they feel that their lives are better off having lived under the first four years of Obama and the prospect of an Obama Administration for the next four years," he continued.

"Second, the country has experienced the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and African Americans have been the hardest hit. Today, African Americans continue to have double the rate of unemployment and less access to capital, and whereas, African Americans were once the largest ethnic minority group and the dominant minority political voice, they are now confronted with the growing political influence of the Hispanic population, which may directly impact competition for jobs and minority business opportunities," he continued.

Read More http://www.blacknews.com/news/robert_l_johnson_african_american_poll_obama_presidency101.shtml 

Health

Most of us would like to live to be 100 or older, provided we could maintain a highly functional body and mind. Of course, being functional is the important thing.

Research has now shown that we can live to a ripe old age and live it in good health, provided we follow a few simple steps each day.

Each of us can live strong, healthy, vibrant, energetic lives for a long time to come. The key? Actually, there are many of them. Read on, and you may never see your dinner plate, your friends, or your sneakers the same way again.

Read more: http://blackdoctor.org/15861/how-to-live-longer-healthier/   

Lifestyles

By: Whitney Greer, BlackDoctor.org

For many people, a new year equals a new commitment to lose weight. Or workout more. Or eat less junk food. Some of these people will succeed…but most won’t.

In fact, according to studies, four out of five people who make New Year’s resolutions will eventually break them…and a third won’t even make it to the end of January.

Here are five clues that you’re focusing on the wrong resolutions (and a few more that you can REALLY commit to):

Read More:  http://blackdoctor.org/14919/new-year-resolutions-201/

Transitions

Watch Night Celebration 150 Years: Since Lincoln Signed Document

By: Reuters

CHARLESTON, S.C., Jan 1 (Reuters) - Congregants at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church cried out in testimony, prayer and song at a New Year's Eve service recalling the vigils held by blacks 150 years ago as they awaited President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The document that helped end slavery in the United States resonated deeply in Charleston, where thousands of enslaved Africans arrived in America from the late 17th century to the early 19th century. The first shots of the Civil War also were fired in Charleston in 1861.

Politics

How the White House Cut A Deal Before the Deadline

By: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama badly wanted to keep the country from going over the fiscal cliff.

In the Oval Office on Nov. 16, 10 days after his reelection, he opened a meeting of congressional leaders by warning that there was "tension" in the markets over the possibility that automatic tax hikes and spending cuts might go into effect after the new year. There was little evidence of such tension at the time, but the worry within in the administration was sincere.

So it was surprising for attendees to hear the president say, in a separate Oval Office meeting on Dec. 28, that he was willing to risk the cliff if he couldn't get a good deal. For that deal, Obama offered House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) two possible frameworks: Raise taxes on income above $400,000 and revert to 2009 estate tax rates, or make the income threshold $250,000 and extend the 2012 estate tax rates, which were lower.

But was he really willing to follow through on his threat?

Read More: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/04/fiscal-cliff-averted_n_2410801.html?ir=Black%20Voices&utm_hp_ref=black-voices