Keeping Up Daily..Top News Stories to Help You Keep Up

The fastest way to read the morning news...


MSNBC host Chris Matthews made a comment after President Barack Obama's State of the Union stating, "I forgot he was black." "He is post-racial, by all appearances," the liberal host said on the air. "I forgot he was black tonight for an hour. You know, he's gone a long way to become a leader of this country, and past so much history, in just a year or two. I mean, it's something we don't even think about." Matthews meant this as a praise, but it had many people calling the quote a troubling sign that blackness is viewed — perhaps unconsciously — as a handicap that still needs to be overcome. From one point I understand his praise. It is great to look at a person and not see the color of their skin, which is how we should view each other. On the other hand, people don't want to be de-raced. It also shows that people largely looked at Obama's race as a handicap to his position.

Paul R. Jones, a collector of African-American art who donated troves of works to universities in Delaware and Alabama, has died. He was 81. People like this helped keep the black culture alive. He kept our young people cultured, which very few take the time to do.

The NAACP called for the firing of three police officers it says beat high school student Jordan Miles who was guilty only of "walking while black" in Homewood. The Pittsburgh branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People said officers accused of beating Jordan Miles should be terminated and charged criminally with violating the 18-year-old's civil rights. I say lock them up!

In celebration of Black History Month, the PGA(Golf) Historical Center, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., has unveiled a tribute to influential African Americas who paved the path for diversity and equal treatment for everyone who plays the game. Among those honored are three African American pioneers -- Ted Rhodes, John Shippen and Bill Spiller, who were denied the opportunity to become PGA Members during their professional careers. And this is what Black History Month is about, EVERYONE taking time to recognize the contributions of African Americans. We hear about the same people every year during Black History Month. I am sure that tribute teaches us a lot about African Americans we may not have never heard of.

Jasmina Anema, the 6-year-old New York girl who was fighting against leukemia, has passed away on January 27th. This little girl fought an amazing battle and touched the hearts of hundreds of people. It makes you think...if she was strong enough to fight...you can fight for anything.

John Legend has teamed up with documentary director Davis Guggenheim to create the the new film 'Waiting for Superman', which examines innovative efforts to reform schools in several cities, such as Washington, D.C., Harlem and Los Angeles. After Chris Rocks "Good Hair" and now Legend's dive into the school systems, I hope that this opens the flood gates for more entertainers to show us really what is going on in our communities. People are more willing to listen to people like them. If people are watching...teach!

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will donate $10 billion over the next decade to research new vaccines and bring them to the world's poorest countries. These two just keep giving! They probably could build Haiti back up by themselves, and would still be wealthy.

American mothers donated breast milk to the Haiti relief efforts, and 140 tiny but powerful bottles of milk arrived for newborns struggling in Haiti. This was an interesting way to give. I love specific gifts that we know are going towards a specific need.

The U.S. economy grew a better-than-expected 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009, making it the fastest pace in our economy since 2003.

-Keep Up!