Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight Named Chair of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation

The Board Members of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation has selected Assemblywoman Angela V. McKnight (D-Hudson County) to serve as chair of the organization. “I am honored that my peers have selected me to chair this very important organization of legislators, corporate leaders and community stakeholders,” said Assemblywoman McKnight who was also named Assembly Deputy Majority Leader this session.

Assemblywoman McKnight is serving her fourth term in the General Assembly and was the first African American woman elected to serve the 31st district of New Jersey. She has been very vocal on issues that affect Black people and disadvantaged populations throughout the state.

The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation is committed to addressing issues that affect the quality of life of Black residents as well as the civil and human rights of all people. “As a state legislator I have the opportunity to change and implement laws that make living in New Jersey better; now as the chair of this non-profit arm, I get to go above and beyond that role,” says Assemblywoman McKnight.

The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus provides educational and recreational activities for the community; organizes and promotes collaboration amongst legislators, business leaders and organizational leaders; provides scholarship and internship opportunities for students, and sponsors seminars and forums to educate the community on legislative policy.

About: The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation is a non-profit corporation created for the purpose of promoting public policy by encouraging the interaction of the community with legislators and members of government at all levels. Visit: https://njlbcf.org/

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: DRASTIC 2020 UNDERCOUNT OF BLACK AMERICANS DEMANDS URGENT REFORM TO CENSUS OPERATIONS

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial

 National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today called the 2020 Census undercount of Black, Latino, and American Indian residents “outrageous” and urged the Census Bureau to address the crisis with all due urgency.

“These numbers are devastating.” Morial said of the 3.3% undercount of the Black population. “Compounded by yet another overcount of the white population, this will have devastating consequences for communities of color.”

Not only was the 2020 Black undercount alarmingly worse than the 2010 undercount of 2%, Morial said, the percent of the Black population omitted in 2020 -- that is, completely missed -- grew from 9.3% in 2010 (4 million) to 10.2% of the Black population omitted or missed.  

“The Census Bureau must rethink and explore more accurate measures of the undercount and develop new data collection methodologies and operations for diverse populations,” Morial said.  “Racial inequities are baked into the history of the Census process and the institution of the Census Bureau as an agency.  To uphold the Constitutional promise and protection of equal representation for all,  the Census Bureau must immediately take steps to rethink and detoxify its operations relative to racial inequities, and Congress must fund research into new operations and sources of data starting next year.  

The National Urban League shared its concerns about Census operations earlier this month with Census Bureau Director Robert Santos, the Congressional Black Caucus and President Biden. Morial said he would reiterate the warnings considering the data released today.

“More granular data reflecting 2020 Census undercount measurement and coverage are needed beyond today’s report and upcoming state level data planned for release this summer,” Morial said. “Local and state leaders need more detailed information to understand where the gaps are and how to re-allocate federal funding to where the needs exist.”  

• Among the National Urban League’s recommendations are:
  Broadened opportunities for cities, counties, tribes to challenge their census counts using additional data sets at the local level, such as school enrollment numbers, along with technical assistance to help localities through the challenge process.
• An end to the use of overcounted non-Hispanic Whites to determine the undercount for Black and other populations of color, which obscures the actual number of historically undercounted populations omitted in the Census. 
• More "equity-based" research and design of census surveys that address the essential causes of the differential undercount, while using applications and scientific techniques that are sensitive to the methodological needs of an increasingly diverse society.
• Congressional Hearings on the 2020 Census to identify the magnitude of operational and methodological shortcomings regarding populations of color.

Morial added, “The Census Bureau must prioritize President Biden's executive order on racial inclusion to correct the enduring legacy of employment discrimination and underrepesentation in the federal workforce--not only in senior level positions for African Americans, but in mission critical positions responsible for census research and design.”

 

New Book Release: The Black Agenda: Bold Solutions for a Broken System

"The Black Agenda mobilizes top Black experts from across the country to share transformative perspectives on how to deploy anti-racist ideas and policies into everything from climate policy to criminal justice to healthcare. This book will challenge what you think is possible by igniting long overdue conversations around how to enact lasting and meaningful change rooted in racial justice." —Ibram X. Kendi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist and Stamped From the Beginning.

From ongoing reports of police brutality to the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Black Americans, 2020 brought a renewed awareness to the deep-rootedness of racism and white supremacy in every facet of American life.

Edited by Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, The Black Agenda is the first book of its kind—a bold and urgent move towards social justice through a profound collection of essays featuring Black scholars and experts across economics, education, health, climate, and technology. It speaks to the question "What's next for America?" on the subjects of policy-making, mental health, artificial intelligence, climate movement, the future of work, the LGBTQ community, the criminal legal system, and much more.

Essayists including Dr. Sandy Darity, Dr. Hedwig Lee, Mary Heglar, and Janelle Jones present groundbreaking ideas ranging from Black maternal and infant health to reparations to AI bias to inclusive economic policy, with the potential to uplift and heal not only Black America, but the entire country.

BUY THE BOOK

St. Louis County appoints first Black police chief

A man who has served for 42 years in the St. Louis County Police Department was named police chief Tuesday, becoming the first Black chief in the department's history.

Kenneth Gregory, 70, has served as interim chief of the department for the last six months. The St. Louis County Board of Police Commissioners appointed him chief after a four-hour closed meeting, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Police board chair Brian Ashworth said commissioners believe the department has stabilized and grown since Gregory was named acting chief July 30.

Gregory said 42 years ago no one would have considered "that a man that looks like me" would be the department's chief.

Gregory has worked in or led almost every St. Louis County police unit during his career.

He was named interim chief after former Chief Mary Barton resigned Aug. 6 when she agreed to drop a discrimination complaint against the county in exchange for a $290,000 settlement.

U.S. Mint to issue Maya Angelou Quarter

The Maya Angelou Quarter is the first coin in the American Women Quarters™ Program. Maya Angelou was a celebrated writer, performer, and social activist. She rose to international prominence as an author after the publication of her groundbreaking autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Angelou’s published works of verse, non-fiction, and fiction include more than 30 bestselling titles.

The American Women Quarters Program is a four-year program that celebrates the accomplishments and contributions made by women to the development and history of our country. Beginning in 2022, and continuing through 2025, the U.S. Mint will issue up to five new reverse designs each year. The obverse of each coin will maintain a likeness of George Washington, but is different from the design used during the previous quarter program.

Look for these quarters in your change. Or shop online and enroll in this groundbreaking program to sign up to receive all four annual installments as they become available. Limited quantities will be produced, so enroll today to ensure you receive a complete collection!

Alvin Bragg Makes History As Manhattan’s First African-American District Attorney

Manhattan’s new District Attorney made history Saturday.

Alvin Bragg, Jr. was sworn in during a private ceremony at City Hall with his family standing with him.

Eric Adams Sworn In As New York City’s 110th Mayor

Eric Adams was sworn in as the 110th mayor of New York City just after the ball dropped at midnight on Saturday. Adams held a picture of his mother and used his family’s bible to take the oath of office in Times Square with members of his family by his side.

Terrell Sims is missing

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Columbia Police are asking for the public's help finding a man not seen in almost two weeks.

Police said 26-year-old Terrell Sims was last seen on Dec. 20 at a home on Ervin Street and was reported missing on Dec. 22. Now at the end of the month, Sims is still missing.

Relatives who reported him missing said it's unlike him not to make contact - especially during the holidays. As such, police are asking anyone who may have information on Sims' location to contact Midlands Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

Dr. Bernice King delivers message about commerating the MLK Holiday and voting rights

Dr. Bernice King, the King Center CEO and daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr., offered an explanation of the center's and her family's plans for the MLK Day holiday in 2022 after her brother, Martin Luther King III indicated this week they would not formally celebrate it unless voting rights bills pass in Congress.

In a video message posted to social media, Bernice King said she stands in solidarity with her brother, Martin Luther King III, in "calling our nation's attention to securing and protecting the most sacred right of our democracy, which is the right to vote."

Hello, family. Here is a message from me about commemorating #MLKDay, my mother's work to establish a holiday in honor of my father's life and legacy, and #MLKGlobal. Let's educate, advocate and activate. #MLK #CorettaScottKing #ShiftingPriorities pic.twitter.com/UtJNy14V7l

— Be A King (@BerniceKing) December 17, 2021

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson announces retirement after almost 30 years in Congress

Longtime U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, announced Saturday she is not running for reelection after serving nearly three decades in Congress.

First elected to Congress in 1992, Johnson, 85, is among its most senior members — the longest-serving member from Texas — and serves as dean of the Texas delegation. She chairs the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

A former state legislator, Johnson is known for breaking barriers. She was the first Black woman ever elected to public office in Dallas when she won a state House seat in 1972. She went on to become the first registered nurse to ever serve in Congress.

Speaking Saturday surrounded by family, Johnson emphasized her longtime advocacy for funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the city's public transit agency, calling it "my baby from the first day that I got there." She also highlighted her role in helping flip Dallas County for Democrats in 2006.

“I’m proud of what I’ve done because there is no Texan in the history of this state who has brought more home," Johnson said, reflecting on how she had to work across party lines during long stretches in the minority. "As much as we trash the names of some of the Republicans. they were some of the same ones that helped me be successful."

The decision Johnson announced Saturday is consistent with what she told constituents in 2019 — that her current term would be her last.

Rep Karen Bass: The trial for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery is “off to a bad start.”

While on CNN's State of the Union Democrat Rep. Karen Bass told host Jake Tapper that the trial for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery is “off to a bad start.”

On #CNNSOTU Democratic @RepKarenBass tells CNN’s @jaketapper that the trial for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery is “off to a bad start.” https://t.co/iGiPI495S6

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) November 14, 2021

Ken Welch wins election to become the first Black mayor in St. Petersburg, Florida

Democrat Ken Welch will serve as St. Petersburg’s next Mayor.Welch will also be the city’s first Black Mayor.

The former Pinellas County Commissioner defeated City Council member Robert Blackmon with 60% of the vote to Blackmon’s 40%, with all precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections office.

Welch will replace incumbent Mayor Rick Kriseman, who is leaving office because of term limits.

Congressional Black Caucus makes sure Black families are prioritized in Build Back Better Agenda

Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said Tuesday that she has made a vigorous push in recent weeks to make sure that Black communities are prioritized in the final version of President Biden's Build Back Better package.

The Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement to announce the inclusion of critical Black policy priorities in the Build Back Better Agenda and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill:

First all-Black team set to make history with Mount Everest climb

Full Circle Everest expedition is a group of mountain climbers hoping to become the first all-Black and Brown crew to successfully climb one of the world's tallest mountains Mount Everest.

Influential Filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles Dead at 89

Melvin Van Peebles, an actor, writer, director, producer and icon of Black cinema whose films include Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song and Watermelon Man, died Tuesday night at his home. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by his son, Mario Van Peebles, who said in a statement: “Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth? We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free. True liberation did not mean imitating the colonizer’s mentality. It meant appreciating the power, beauty and interconnectivity of all people.”

Van Peebles probably is best known for writing, directing, producing and starring in Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, the landmark 1971 blaxploitation pic that was selected for the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry last year.

[SOURCE: DEADLINE]

North Carolina court blocks state voter ID law, citing ‘intent to target African American voters’

A North Carolina state court panel on Friday blocked a voter identification law, citing discrimination against Black voters.

The law, known as SB 824, was passed in 2018 after Republicans lost their supermajority in the legislature but before the new legislature took over. It was already on hold under a preliminary injunction, after North Carolina’s Court of Appeals said voter ID provisions could negatively impact Black voters. But now the state court has permanently blocked the law, which required photo identification to vote.

The majority of the three-judge panel said Friday that the law “was motivated at least in part by an unconstitutional intent to target African American voters.”

“Other, less restrictive voter ID laws would have sufficed to achieve the legitimate nonracial purposes of implementing the constitutional amendment requiring voter ID, deterring fraud, or enhancing voter confidence,” Superior Court Judges Michael O’Foghludha and Vince Rozier wrote in their ruling Friday.

In a statement, Southern Coalition for Social Justice co-executive director and chief counsel for voting rights Allison Riggs and pro bono counsel Andrew Ehrlich — attorneys who served on behalf of a group of North Carolina voters — said they “hope” the ruling sent “a strong message that racial discrimination will not be tolerated.”

The statement continued: “Today’s ruling striking down North Carolina’s latest unconstitutional photo voter ID law is a testament to the overwhelming evidence, including compelling stories of disenfranchisement from voters themselves, which highlighted how the state’s Republican-controlled legislature undeniably implemented this legislation to maintain its power by targeting voters of color."

[SOURCE: CNN]

National Black Voter Day is National Urban League's Answer to Voter Suppression

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
 

“Too many people struggled, suffered and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote. And we have come too far together to ever turn back. So we must not be silent. We must stand up, speak up and speak out. We must march to the polls like never before. We must come together and exercise our sacred right.” – Congressman John Lewis

In April of 2019, the Associated Press released an analysis of census data and exit polling that reached a remarkable conclusion: the Black voter turnout rate in the 2012 presidential election exceeded the white rate for the first time in history.  A census report in May confirmed the AP’s findings.

Some researchers disputed the findings, contending that the milestone actually had occurred in 2008.

The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby v Holder slammed the brakes on nearly five decades of progress on narrowing the gap between white and Black voter participation rates. By eliminating a requirement that the federal government approve election law changes in jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination, Shelby unleashed a deluge of restricting voting laws throughout the United States. 

National Black Voter Day is our answer to voter suppression. It’s our answer to misinformation campaigns. It’s our answer to efforts to stoke racial division and diminish the voices of Black and brown Americans.

The National Urban League, in partnership with BET and other advocacy groups, designated September 18 National Black Voter day as part of our voter engagement and education campaign, #ReclaimYourVote.

We chose September 18 was because it is the first day for early in-person voting in the country. Although “Election Day” is more than six weeks away, voting has already begun. Thousands of North Carolinians have already returned their absentee ballots.

We’re asking Black Americans to make a plan. Will you vote in person, or by mail? If your state allows early in-person voting, what day will you vote? Where is your polling place? If you plan to vote by mail, what are the rules in your state? Do you need a witness when you sign your ballot, like the voters in North Carolina, opportunity to get voters registered, demystify the voting process, provide guidance on voting rights restoration for eligible voters, and help voters create their voting plan to plot a clear path to the ballot box.

We’ve broken the process down into five steps:

• Step 1: Register to Vote
• By federal law, no state can set its voter registration deadline any earlier than 30 days before Election Day. That means the earliest deadlines this year are October 5 – which is right around the corner.
• Step 2: Check Your Voting Options
• From in-person early voting to no-excuse voting by mail, voters in most states have more options in 2020 than in years past. 
• Step 3: Find Your Polling Location
• The coronavirus pandemic has led many jurisdictions to consolidate polling locations. Voters shouldn’t assume they’ll be able to vote where they’ve voted in the past.  
• Step 4: Know The Candidates and Issues
• Our vote is a powerful tool for effecting change, but only if we use it in an informed way. 
• Step 5: VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!

Between the time of the Shelby v. Holder decision and the 2016 presidential election, 9 out of the 15 jurisdictions previously covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act had new restrictions in place.  Texas announced within 24 hours of the decision that it would implement a strict photo ID law, and  Mississippi and Alabama, began to enforce photo ID laws that had previously been barred because of federal preclearance.

Black voter turnout fell from more than 67% in 2012 – more than 5 points above the white rate --  to just over 51% in 2016 – almost 4 points below the white rate.

We will not be defeated. The National Urban League continues to advocate for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act, and is committed to safeguarding the right of every American to fully participate in our democracy and civic processes.

Commenting on efforts to suppress the Black vote, the late Congressman John Lewis said, “I've seen this before. I've lived this before.”  Prior to the Voting Rights Act, he said,  “People stood in unmovable lines. They had to pass a so-called literacy test, pay a poll tax. On one occasion, a man was asked to count the number of bubbles in a bar of soap. On another occasion, one was asked to count the jelly beans in a jar—all to keep them from casting their ballots.

“Brothers and sisters, do you want to go back? Or do you want to keep America moving forward?”

Maia Chaka becomes first Black female official in NFL history

Maia Chaka made history on Sunday, as she became the first Black woman to officiate an NFL game.

Officiating in Sunday's New York Jets at Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, North Carolina, Chaka is the third on-field female official in the NFL, joining Sarah Thomas, the first permanent female game official, and Shannon Eastin, who was the first woman to officiate an NFL game.

Chaka, a health and physical education teacher, spent time as a referee in the NCAA's Pac-12 conference and Conference USA, as well as in the short-lived Alliance of American Football in 2019.

She entered the NFL's Officiating Development Program in 2014, a program designed to offer top officiating prospects in the collegiate ranks "exposure to in-game experiences that NFL officials face, to determine if they have the ability to succeed," according to the NFL.

Fred Redmond to Serve as AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer

USW International President Tom Conway issued the following statement today after the AFL-CIO Executive Council elected USW International Vice President Fred Redmond to serve as secretary-treasurer, making him the first African American to hold the organization's No. 2 office:

“We are incredibly proud that the AFL-CIO Executive Council selected USW International Vice President Fred Redmond to serve as its secretary-treasurer alongside AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“Fred is a decades-long union activist with a proven commitment to both negotiating good contracts and advancing civil and human rights, including through his recent work as chair of the AFL-CIO Task Force on Racial Justice. We know that he will bring the same passion and dedication to his new position.

“Workers across our nation are facing unprecedented challenges, and we are deeply grateful to Fred for assuming this role, even as he continues his work with the USW. Rich Trumka’s passing reverberated throughout the labor movement, but despite our grief, I know Fred, like all of us, is committed to ensuring the AFL-CIO’s vital mission goes uninterrupted.”

Democrat Shontel Brown defeats Nina Turner in primary for open House seat

Shontel Brown, the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party chair and a county councilwoman, on Tuesday won the Democratic primary in the race for former Rep. Marcia Fudge's seat, after opponent Nina Turner conceded.

Brown will be the overwhelming favorite to win the Nov. 2 general election.

"I am eternally grateful," she told a group of supporters on Tuesday night. "I am completely overwhelmed by all of you that have showed up and showed out on my behalf. This was a collaborative partnership of the community."

She added: "This isn't an all-or-nothing thing. This is about making progress. Sometimes, it takes compromise."