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OBABL Links & Resources
2009 June
Jun
24
A Report Claims Of 3,500 Professional Grades Positions at World Bank, Only 4 Held by African Americans
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Wamara Mwine has an interesting article in The Examiner regarding a recent report of underrepresentation of African Americans at the World Bank.
A recent report by the Government Accountability Project says only four African Americans work in the World Bank’s 3,500 professional grade positions. The World Bank would not officially confirm this figure. The 53-page report cites a number of discrimination cases that went to the World Bank’s Tribunal dating back 30 years. While the bank is an international organization flush with different cultures, the GAP report says African Americans are consistently passed over for promotion and seemingly non-existent in some departments.
Why might such a disparity exist?
A current African World Bank employee says, “there are repeated roadblocks to applying for positions, to being hired and retained, promoted, and treated fairly on the job.” Another female African American employee who has worked at headquarters and on World Bank mission says, “over the years I have had several Bank staff express to me the thought that perhaps Black Americans “are not interested” in working at the World Bank. Or that none are “qualified.” But white Americans are always “more” qualified?”GAP’s International Program Director Bea Davis says there are no incentives for World Bank managers to increase diversity. “Many private companies award bonuses, for example, to directors whose departments meet diversity targets. The bank does not – therefore it’s not surprising the figures don’t change.”
Jun
22
White House Advisor, Melody C. Barnes Jumps The Broom
Filed Under Obama Posse List, Style • Leave a Comment
At the moment broadcasters proclaimed Barack Hussein Obama the next president of the United States, a friend cued Sam Cooke’s, “A Change Is Gonna Come.” Yesterday, we couldn’t help but recall those lyrics as we read The New York Times Sunday Vows column featuring President Obama’s chief domestic policy adviser, Melody and her new husband, Marland Buckner Jr.
The song opens with Sam explaining, “I was born by the river…” as was Mrs. Buckner whose birthplace rests on the James River.
Oh and just like the river I’ve been running ever since.
MELODY C. BARNES and Marland Buckner Jr. first bumped into each other about a decade ago in a breezy chance meeting on Capitol Hill. …Ms. Barnes, now 45 and President Obama’s chief domestic policy adviser, was then chief counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Mr. Buckner was a legislative aide for Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York. “I was a random junior staffer so she quite appropriately paid me no mind,” Mr. Buckner, 42, said…What he didn’t know was that Ms. Barnes, who is known for her sharp mind and impeccable dress, was still searching for a soul-mate.
It’s been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will
It’s been too hard living…
She and her friends often joked about the cast of characters who came courting, including the date who announced that his primary passion was whittling. But one of those conversations left Ms. Barnes in tears, recalled Laurie Rubiner, her good friend.
“We laughed about it, but it was heartbreaking,” Ms. Rubiner said. “Here is a 45-year-old woman who is so successful, yet the one thing that really defined success for her, family and love, was something she didn’t have.”
More details of the romance and a bit of Sam Cooke after the jump. Read more
Jun
21
Jason Williams is in trouble with the law again, and this time the prosecutors mean business. Espn.com reports that Williams’ conduct following the fatal “accidental” shooting of his limousine driver has been fairly erratic. Williams was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in 2004, but the jury could not reach a verdict on the reckless manslaughter charge. Williams’ retrial is expected to begin in January; it has been continually pushed back, with allegations that an investigator used a racial slur referring to Williams. In light of his most recent assault charge in Raleigh, NC, the deck is definitely stacked against him.
Williams and Plaxico Burress are likely hoping for Donte Stallworth-like sentence. The Cleveland Brown player got 30 days for his DUI Manslaughter plea. He’ll also do two years of house arrest, eight years of probation and five years without a drivers license. Simultaneously, Stallworth settled for an undisclosed amount with his victim’s family. From Espn.com
He acted like a man,” Lyons(Stallworth’s Attorney) said. “He remained at the scene. He cooperated fully.”
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle cited Stallworth’s lack of previous criminal record, cooperation with police and willingness to accept responsibility as factors in the plea deal. Rundle also said the Reyes family — particularly the victim’s 15-year-old daughter — wanted the case resolved to avoid any more pain.
For all of these reasons, a just resolution of this case has been reached,” Rundle said.
None of the Reyes family attended the hearing. Their attorney, Rodolfo Suarez, read a statement saying the family wants to “bring closure to this emotional and tragic event.” Suarez was not immediately available to comment after the hearing.
Just as Stallworth faced 15 years, Plaxico Burress faces 3.5 to 15 years in prison for possession of a loaded, unregistered weapon in a NYC nightclub. Prosecutors see a star athlete; Burress’ attorneys see injustice. From The New York Daily News:
Brafman also said that Burress is being dealt with unfairly because of his celebrity status, even though, he said, “some people in the New York press have suggested this is a case of celebrity justice, (that) he’s getting some royal treatment.”
“I would like to remind people that if this was not a superstar or a well-known athlete, he just walks out of the club, no one ever knows who it is and the gun gets tossed in the river,” Brafman said.
“Because he’s Plaxico Burress, he turns in the gun, he gets identified and there’s a case. If he was just a kid on the street there’d be no case here because he only shot himself.”
Buress’ attorneys are using the national attention surrounding the case to help Plaxico. Recently on Sirius’ NFL Radio, Buress’ attorney referenced Stallworth’s sentence while lobbying for a lighter punishment. Comparing his client’s case to Stallworth’s, Brafman said:
“In our case there is no victim. So I think I have a powerful argument as to why there should be a lenient sentence here. I just haven’t gotten the district attorney to agree with me yet.”
A USA Today article in 2006 outlined concerns about racism in European Soccer during the 2006 World Cup.
In Germany and several other European nations, crowds shower minority players with racial insults at times. Several of the U.S. team’s African-American players who compete professionally in European leagues say they have been targets of discrimination and verbal and even physical abuse because of their race — on and off the field.
Now at least one black soccer player will attempt to do something about the widespread racism in the sport. Oguchi Onyewu filed a legal complaint after a racial slur was directed at him by another player during a game in Belgium where there are laws preventing public insults and defamation. According to The New York Times:
Onyewu, who plays for Standard Liège, said that an Anderlecht player, Jelle Van Damme, called him a monkey and made other inflammatory remarks in a match on May 21.
Onyewu complained to the referee, then nearly left the field when no action was taken before he was persuaded to remain by his teammates.
Onyewu has attempted to bring these racial issues to the forefront and states that his law suit is another attempt of raising the issue. Onyewu further states in the article:
“I just wanted to make it public,” Onyewu, 27, said in an interview while preparing with the United States for the Confederations Cup, a prelude to next year’s World Cup. “People have got to be aware that certain things in sport are not acceptable.”
Jean-Louis Dupont, Onyewu’s Belgian lawyer, said in a telephone interview that Onyewu was not seeking monetary damages but simply wanted “moral compensation.” In other words, a public apology.
Richard Haywood
Jun
4
I have just completed my 1L year and feel I don’t have a moment to waste on the job hunt. Supposedly, on-campus interviews will begin in September, but it is probably unwise to count on that.
The stories are endless on the cutbacks by firms both large and small, as well as, the difficulties of recent graduates finding employment.
The purpose of this “Job Journal” is to provide insight into the current legal job market from a first-person perspective. It is also a “forum” for others to comment and share insight on finding employment. I welcome your comments, helpful tips and camaraderie during this daunting process.
I’m wondering if mass mailings are a means to an end or a waste of my time and resources? My hunch is that personal contacts will serve me better. I’ve begun compiling a list of mentors, friends and family members who might be able to help. From there I’ll start cold calling prospective employers and begging for “informationals.” In the “big fish” spirit, I’m focusing my search in the areas of Richmond (where I attend law school) and Raleigh (my hometown).
So far I’ve contacted three attorneys in Raleigh (two have invited me to shadow them this summer). I have no idea whether “observing” can lead to a job, but at the very least, I should gain some insights from those who’ve “walked in my shoes.”
For example, when I mentioned to one attorney that I was studying abroad this summer, my new mentor gave me some travel advice he’d gleaned from his student exchange.
Are any of my fellow law students doing summer programs abroad? Seems like a great way to kill some time in a down job market and lighten the fall class load. The program was so popular at my law school, some students were put on a waitlist.
