Filmmaker Natalia Almada looks at the history of Mexico through a unique lens--her great-grandfather was Plutarco Elias Calles, a revolutionary general who became president of Mexico in 1924. He remains a controversial figure, remembered as much for his legacy in founding Mexico's premier political party and helping create its government as his dictatorial style and violent rule.

Once again, the Republicans—the Senate ones, in particular—wish to punish people of color for the good works of a few. The Obama administration said in February of this year that $1.25 billion would pay off the class-action lawsuits brought by Black and Native American farmers against the federal government. The House of Representative voted in favor of the farmers receiving their decades-long due.

The aftermath of the earthquake that rocked Haiti six months ago had faded from the headlines when Haitian-American hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean announced that he would run for president of the country. Meanwhile, most Haitians are still struggling to rebuild, lacking basic necessities and sometimes succumbing to despair.

In the nearly two years since Proposition 8 passed in California, putting a blot on the progressive victories of Election Day 2008 by taking marriage rights away from gay and lesbian citizens, there have been plenty of protests, arguments, and court cases. But when a judge appointed by George H.W. Bush struck down the law as unconstitutional on August 4, citing the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, celebration broke out around the country.

In the nearly two years since Proposition 8 passed in California, putting a blot on the progressive victories of Election Day 2008 by taking marriage rights away from gay and lesbian citizens, there have been plenty of protests, arguments, and court cases. But when a judge appointed by George H.W. Bush struck down the law as unconstitutional on August 4, citing the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, celebration broke out around the country.

The 14th amendment has done it again! No wonder right wing radicals want to repeal it. Just a few days ago, in Congress, Tea Partiers and their pals were signing up 93 co-sponsors up for a bill to repeal the thing, or at least change it, to be clear that it can't and shouldn't justify citizenship for those born to inadequately documented people in the U.S.

There's struggles in the courts and there's struggles in the streets over the question of marriage equality. The National Organization for Marriage is running its "Summer of Marriage" tour across the country, "defending" the institution of marriage from those who think it should be open to ALL people. California's Courage Campaign has been following the tour, and in Indianapolis, they interviewed Larry Adams, who was holding a sign with two nooses drawn on it. They shared this video with us.

"I conceived a film driven by fear and ended up with one grounded in faith," wrote Stephen Marshall of the process of making his documentary, Holy Wars. The award-winning director wanted to shoot a film about the dangers of religious extremism, and wound up learning from the two men he followed, Khalid Kelly and Aaron Taylor.

Barack Obama spent his 49th birthday speaking to labor leaders at an AFL-CIO federation meeting, but GRITtv commentator Bill Fletcher, Jr. noted that Obama needs to do more than attend meetings--it's time for some action on the Employee Free Choice Act. In addition, Fletcher notes, Obama should be situating himself among working people, not just union higher-ups, against the "economic royalists" who would keep the economy's fundamental inequality.

Barack Obama spent his 49th birthday speaking to labor leaders at an AFL-CIO federation meeting, but GRITtv commentator Bill Fletcher, Jr. noted that Obama needs to do more than attend meetings--it's time for some action on the Employee Free Choice Act. In addition, Fletcher notes, Obama should be situating himself among working people, not just union higher-ups, against the "economic royalists" who would keep the economy's fundamental inequality.