by Chris Levister

(NNPA)—He is the host of “Judge Mathis,” the wildly successful syndicated court television show named after him. But few people realize Judge Greg Mathis was once a convicted criminal who did hard time. Now the jurist known for his tough, take-no-prisoners mantra in the courtroom is determined to break the cycle to keep other young Black men out of prison.

SHARING—Television Judge Greg Mathis shares the story of his own troubled past and incarceration with inmates at Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Ga. Mathis is visiting jails and prisons throughout the country as part of his prisoner empowerment initiative.

“Over 25 years ago I was sitting where you are—angry, beaten down and locked up,” Mathis told a rapt audience of inmates recently.

by Christine Armario

(AP)—The federal Department of Education wants to intensify its civil rights enforcement efforts in schools around the country, including a deeper look at issues ranging from programs for immigrant students learning English to equal access to college preparatory courses.

READ ACROSS AMERICA—First lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by Education Secretary Arne Duncan, takes part in the National Education Associations’ 2010 Read Across America Day, March 2, at the Library of Congress in Washington.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan was set to speak Monday in Alabama to outline the department’s goals. Duncan was there to commemorate the 45th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” in which several hundred civil rights protesters were beaten by state troopers on Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge during a voting rights march in 1965.

Week of March 12-18

March 12

1773—This is the most probable date when Black explorer Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable begins building the settlement, which would eventually become the city of Chicago, Ill. The Haitian-born (c 1745) de Sable would over time become a man of considerable wealth, owning commercial buildings, docks, trading posts and a mansion. Du Sable was the product or a Frenchman and an African woman. He died Aug. 19, 1818.

MALCOLM X, FANNIE LOU HAMER, UNITA BLACKWELL

Week of March 5-11

March 5

CRISPUS ATTUCKS

1770—Crispus Attucks is shot and killed by British soldiers becoming the first American to die in the struggle for American Independence from England. Attucks was an escaped slave who became a sailor and rope maker. It is unclear exactly how he became involved in the protest of that day. But a crowd had gathered and began to taunt British troops. Attucks, who was of Black and Indian parentage, was inspired to give a speech in which he spoke of the importance of freedom. Suddenly a volley of shots was fired into the crowd. Four people died that day in an event, which became known as the Boston Massacre.