Author: Michael

Harold Michael Harvey is a Past President of The Gate City Bar Association and is the recipient of the Association’s R. E. Thomas Civil Rights Award. He is the author of Paper Puzzle and Justice in the Round: Essays on the American Jury System, and a two-time winner of Allvoices’ Political Pundit Prize. His work has appeared in Facing South, The Atlanta Business Journal, The Southern Christian Leadership Conference Magazine, Southern Changes Magazine, Black Colleges Nines, and Medium.

Dyson-West Thrilla in Ivy Towers

By Michael April 22, 2015 Off

The Dyson-West Thrilla in the Ivy Towers is in full throttle. Michael Eric Dyson and Cornel West are embroiled in a public spat. It is one I would prefer to ignore. Brothers, it seems are always in a spat over who is the king of the hill or some other desultory issue that has nothing to do with closing the racial divide, or eliminating violence against women, or closing the economic gap between the races in this country. read more

Hip-Hop Prez Raps After Fight

By Michael April 18, 2015 Off

TUSKEGEE, AL (Cascade Press)

A week after fights broke out in the Chappie James Center during a Young Thug concert, Tuskegee’s hip-hop quoting president, Brain Johnson took to social media to rap a hip-hop ditty: “Hear this again and again and again. All I ever did do, do or will continue to do is win.” read more

Time For New Policing Protocols?

By Michael April 16, 2015 Off

Is it time for new policing protocols?

Statically, we are told that every 28 hours a citizen of the United States of America is killed by a law enforcement official.

It seems to me  more like every 24 hours. It seems that each morning I arise, the news  sources I subscribe to are broadcasting another violent citizen confrontation with an American police agency. At the rate these violent confrontations are unfolding we will be up to two a day before long. read more

Ode To My Segregated Schools

By Michael April 15, 2015 Off

This is an ode to my segregated schools. In my educational experience I have attended three. At the  time, the law demanded that I attend those schools and none other. I love my segregated schools.

I woke up this morning, feeling like I did the morning after George Zimmerman had been cleared of the murder charges in the killing of Trayvon Martin. After a robust cup of java it dawned on me that the cause of my dread was not a repeat of that dreary morning two years ago. read more

Is Tuskegee Safe for Obama’s Visit?

By Michael April 14, 2015 Off

TUSKEGEE (Cascade Press)

For several weeks now Tuskegee University President Brian Johnson has been hinting on social media that President Barack Obama or First Lady Michelle Obama would visit the campus. The speculation is that one of them would give the commencement address at next month’s graduation exercises. read more

Tuskegee Student Shot

By Michael April 13, 2015 Off

TUSKEGEE (Cascade Publishing)

According to several parents who have students attending Tuskegee University, a Tuskegee student was shot in the leg over the weekend. The name of the student has not been released, but it is believed that the student is from the metropolitan Atlanta area.

Anonymous sources inside the Tuskegee City Police Department said, “the student was shot while attending a hip-hop concert in the Daniel “Chappie” James Center.” However, the City of Tuskegee has left the investigation of the incident up to the Tuskegee University Police Department. A call to the university’s Chief of Police, Patrick Mardis, seeking information about the shooting was not returned by publication time. Also, messages left with the president’s office and the public information office were not returned. read more

Teachers, Mobsters, Oh My

By Michael April 2, 2015 Off

I went to bed last night shaking my head in disbelief. I woke up this morning feeling odd and thinking that teachers and mobsters used in the same sentence is an incongruous thought.  Surely, I had dreamed that 11 teachers in the Atlanta Public Schools had been convicted of racketeering in an organized crime scheme to defraud Atlanta inner city children out of an education. read more

Baseball, Glory, Glory, Baseball!

By Michael March 31, 2015 Off

Baseball. That game of nine men pitted against nine other men which begins during the chill of early spring and ends with the thrills of a chilly autumn classic is upon us once again. I’ve always looked forward to the opening of baseball season.

Opening Day of the baseball season was a signal in my youth that the winter was over and it was time to get out of the house and move around a bit. A chance to pound your fist into the palm of your glove, spit in it and get the leather supple for the next baseball thrown or hit your way. read more

Who Runs Tuskegee?

By Michael March 24, 2015 Off

Who runs Tuskegee University?

In 1880 Tuskegee was established as a teacher’s college with a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. They elected their successors and are responsible to no one.

The initial Trustees were Lewis Adams, the Negro Shopkeeper who actually founded the school; George Campbell, a white banker befriended by Adams and a representative; appointed by the State of Alabama in exchange for an annual appropriation of $2,000 for teachers’ salaries. read more