By Charlene Crowell
NNPA Financial Writer

Despite the civil rights legislation of the 1960s and the affirmative action programs that began in the 1970s, in 2010 race and equality remain a hot-button issues in America. From President Obama’s ‘beer summit last year, to the U.S. Justice Department’s challenge to Arizona’s immigration law, and the more recent Shirley Sherrod incident -- race is still a stain on the promises made in this

By Charlene Crowell 
NNPA Financial Writer

After two weeks of intense negotiations by a joint Capitol Hill conference committee, Washington lawmakers finally reached agreement on the single largest financial reform package since the 1930s New Deal. The new reforms would establish stronger protections against abusive mortgages, help borrowers facing foreclosures, establish a strong Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and rein in many of the risky activities of Wall Street and the large banks. Additionally, $2 billion will be equally shared in support of foreclosure prevention assistance and supplemental funding for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).