The First Lady and the world's best basketball player inspired young students Wednesday at the University of Akron. Michelle Obama and the LeBron James Family Foundation hosted an event, stressing secondary education. Watch the two speak at the event below.
Unlike many fans, Anthony Mackie — AKA the Falcon in Marvel's Captain America and Avengers movies — isn't concerned whether or not the studio hires an African American director to take charge of its first black superhero movie, 2018's Black Panther.
"I don’t think it’s important at all," the actor told The Daily Beast during a promotional appearance for his current project, Our Brand is Crisis. "As a director your job is to tell a story," he continued. "You know, they didn’t get a horse to direct Seabiscuit!"
Read more: Anthony Mackie Doesn't Care If 'Black Panther' Director Is Black
Amid sexual abuse allegations former NBA star and current Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson announced he will not be seeking a third term in office next year.
In a statement posted to his Twitter account late Tuesday night, he said he was "humbled" by the opportunity to serve and "he wouldn't change a single moment" of his time in office.
"After much thought and soul-searching I have decided not to run for a third term as Mayor. It was an incredibly difficult choice, but one that I feel confident about. As I'm sure there will be much speculation on this, let me proactively say that I am not leaving for another specific job or position. While there are many intriguing opportunities out there (and I'm excited to explore them) I honestly don't know what's next for me."
n recent weeks, Johnson has faced increased scrutiny stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct that took place nearly two decades ago. Last month, Deadspin published articles featuring a woman who alleges that when she was 16, the basketball star sexually abused her, then signed a draft agreement to pay her a six-figure sum in hush money.
The Sacramento Bee reports:
"Johnson said resurfaced allegations of sexual misconduct against him had nothing to do with this decision, saying he has 'never made a life decision' based on those allegations.
" 'When it was time to run in the first place (in 2008), I would have never run if those allegations were something that concerned me,' he said.
"Johnson added he has no immediate plans to seek higher office after his term ends next year and indicated he will remain in Sacramento."
According to the Sacramento Bee, the allegations were first reported in 2008 by the paper, which said the accuser and Johnson "signed a draft settlement agreement worth $230,000."
Read more: Sacramento Mayor Won't Seek Re-Election Amid Sexual Abuse Allegations
Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson on Wednesday dismissed the idea restrictive anti-voter fraud requirements could be racist, echoing the position of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach – a champion of such measures who has called accusations of racism a personal insult.
“I’ve made it my personal project, every time I visit a country outside the U.S. to ask what do they do to ensure the integrity of voting? There’s not one single country anywhere – first world, second world, it doesn’t matter – that doesn’t have official requirements for voting,” Carson said.
“My question to those people who say we’re racist because we apply those standards: Are all the other countries of the world racist? I don’t think so. Voting is an important thing. Obviously, you want to make sure that it’s done by the appropriate people.”
Read more: Ben Carson, GOP presidential candidate, dismisses idea anti-voter fraud measures racist
In an era when every moment is tweeted and politicized, Bernie Sanders elected not to capitalize on a meaningful meeting with the mother of Sandra Bland.
The chance encounter reportedly took place at East Street Café, a Thai restaurant at Union Station in Washington, D.C., five days before the first Democratic presidential debate.
The Rev. Hannah Adair Bonner, a pastor at St. John’s Church in downtown Houston, wrote in her blog about noticing the Vermont senator at another table while she was eating dinner with Geneva Reed-Veal, whose daughter became a face of the Black Lives Matter campaign following her death in police custody in July.
The pastor said she approached Sanders and asked if he would like to meet Reed-Veal and told him their group had asked if he would take a picture with them.
“He did not impose upon Ms. Geneva to ask for a picture of his own. He did not use the moment as an opportunity to promote his campaign,” she wrote. “He took no record; he made no statement. He did not try to turn it into a publicity stunt.”,/p>
Bonner, who is a Black Lives Matter activist, said she was impressed by everyone’s sincerity during the serendipitous moment.
The Democratic presidential candidate told Reed-Veal that the death of her daughter was inexcusable and promised he would continue to “say her name.” At the debate on Oct. 13 in Las Vegas, Sanders stayed true to his word when answering a question submitted by a law student through Facebook: “Do black lives matter, or do all lives matter?”
Read more: Bernie Sanders keeps promise made in private to Sandra Bland’s mother
Kierna Mayo, editor-in-chief of EBONY, sits down with Don Lemon to talk about the controversial Cosby cover, and why we have to have this discussion now. Watch that interview below.
Planning is underway to place a Liberty Bell replica atop Stone Mountain near Atlanta as a memorial to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that recalls a famous line from his "I Have a Dream" speech, officials say.
The planned tribute to the late civil rights activist would broaden the story told by the Georgia state park, long home to a giant carving of former Confederate president Jefferson Davis and Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, said Bill Stephens, chief executive of the Stone Mountain Memorial Association.
"Two years ago, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's speech, a small group of Georgia's civil rights leaders met atop the mountain to ring a bell," Stephens said in an email to journalists. "This began thought and discussions which evolved into the present concept of a Freedom Bell."
Read more: Monument to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. Planned for Georgia's Stone Mountain
A Cleveland truck driver the Cuyahoga County prosecutor labeled a "serial killer" was indicted Tuesday on murder and other charges in the deaths of three people this year and one in 1997.
Robert Rembert Jr., 45, faces 25 felony charges of aggravated murder, rape, aggravated robbery and gross abuse of a corpse.
He is charged in the 1997 death of Rena Payne, and the deaths of Kimberley Hall, his cousin Jerry Rembert and Morgan Nietzel, all of whom died this year.
The indictment brings the total of deaths linked to Rembert to five. He was convicted of manslaughter in a 1997 killing.
Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty said in a news release that Rembert is a "serial killer" and that Rembert's activities as a trucker are still being investigated.
Read more: Cleveland 'serial killer' indicted in deaths of four people
Rep. Keith Ellison has become the second member of congress to endorse Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders for the 2016 election.
“I’m endorsing Bernie because he is talking about the issues that are important to American families,” Ellison told MSNBC in an email via his spokesperson. “His candidacy is important for many reasons, but I believe the most important part of his candidacy is that it has the ability to create a renaissance in voter participation, which was at its lowest in decades this past election cycle. We’ve all seen the massive crowds he is attracting, and I think that is a testament to his message connecting with people - people we will need to turn out in November.”
Under clear skies and amid metal detectors, barriers and moderate police presence, thousands of people crowded onto the National Mall on Saturday to hear messages bemoaning cases of alleged police misconduct and to observe the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March. Watch video of attendess of the event below:
After Hillary Rodham Clinton wrapped up a meeting with Black Lives Matter activists in Washington, initial reports signaled that it had been a productive session.Aurielle Marie, another member of Black Lives Matter who was at the meeting, said Mrs. Clinton listened closely but did not offer specific proposals for addressing “anti-blackness” in America. Ms. Marie said that she was impressed with Mrs. Clinton’s openness, but also expressed concern about a lack of urgency among all of the presidential candidates.
“We are past the point where we need to just sit around and have conversations,” Ms. Marie told CNN. “The matter is urgent.”
The group is expecting to hear more details from Mrs. Clinton about her platform for overhauling the criminal justice system in the coming weeks.
[SOURCE]
The Civilian Complaint Review Board has substantiated the charge of excessive force against Officer James Frascatore, who took James Blake to the ground last month, and recommended departmental charges that could lead to his suspension or dismissal.
Police Commissioner William Bratton will make the final determination, following an internal departmental trial.
James Blake released the following statement:
"I want to express my appreciation to the Civilian Complaint Review Board for their quick and thorough review of the incident during which I was attacked on September 9, 2015. I learned today that the CCRB has substantiated the Complaint, filed on my behalf by my attorney Kevin Marino, against James Frascatore (for excessive force), and Daniel Herzog (for abuse of authority). It is my understanding that these officers now face an administrative trial for their roles in the respective offenses. I have complete respect for the principle of due process and appreciate the efforts of the CCRB to advance this investigation."
Did you know breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among black women?
Although breast cancer is diagnosed more often for white women, African American women are more likely to die of breast cancer, according to a recent study by the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Specifically, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African American women than white women.
Here are a few more facts about breast cancer and the action you can take today:
In 2015 alone, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, along with 60,290 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer, according to SusanGKomen.org. Many studies indicate these decreases are due to the result of earlier detection through screening, treatment advancements, and increased awareness.
The breast cancer death rate for women aged 45–64 years was 60% higher for black women than white women, according to the CDC National Vital Statistics System.
The median age at diagnosis in African American women is 54 years, compared with a median age of 58 years in white women.
Read more: Alarming Facts About African American Women and Breast Cancer
While the percentage of minority teachers has risen in the US, the number of black teachers has declined between 2002 and 20012 in nine cities, according to a recent study by the Albert Shanker Institute.
What does this mean not only for the communities in which these schools exist, but for the nation as a whole?
“Diversity is a key component to equality and opportunity,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, told the Washington Post. “Where there’s a diverse teaching workforce, all kids thrive. That’s why we note with alarm the sharp decline in the population of black teachers in our cities.”
There are several factors which may be behind this decline. The first is low pay for teachers. According to a study by Young Invincibles, an advocacy group, the average starting salary for a teacher is $34,575 – or about $6,000 less than the average starting salary of 28 professions.
The second is the recurring emphasis that education policy tends to place on test scores. This rigidity, argues Nekita Lamour, a Haitian-American and tenured educator, disincentivises black and Hispanic educators from participating in the system: they are not being encouraged to teach their fellow man, but to the test, instead.
The Shanker Institute’s study found that over a ten-year period, from 2002 to 2012 (a period marked by an explosion in the development of charter schools, and an accompanying dialogue about education reform), the population of black teachers declined by as much as 62 percent in the cities studied (although in the case of New Orleans, many black teachers were fired).
“Minority teachers quit because of working conditions in their schools,” Richard Ingersoll, an expert who teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, also told the Washington Post. “In surveys, those teachers cite lack of autonomy and input into school decisions [in large urban schools].”
Read more: Why black teachers are leaving urban schools
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is stepping down from his post in December, he announced Friday. President Barack Obama has already tapped John King Jr., former New York State education commissioner, to take Duncan's place.
King will serve in an acting capacity, meaning he was able to forgo a formal nomination process in the Senate.
King most famously served as the New York State education commissioner from 2011 until 2014. Last year, he moved over to the Department of Education, where he's currently a senior official.
Here are a few points of information about John King:
As Commissioner in New York King was a fierce supporter of the Common Core. He is also a strong advocate of diversity in the classroom, and also has experience in the classroom as a teacher. King was a 1995 Truman Scholar and received the James Madison Memorial Fellowship for secondary-level teaching of American history, American government, and social studies.
The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships (also known as the Genius Grants) to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. The MacArthur Fellowship is a "no strings attached" award in support of people, not projects. Each fellowship comes with a stipend of $625,000 to the recipient. Of this years 24 winners three were black. Learn more about 2015 MacArthur Fellows, Patrick Awuah, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Latoya Ruby Frazier.
Education Entrepreneur Patrick Awuah, 2015 MacArthur Fellow
Patrick Awuah is an education entrepreneur creating a new model for higher education in Africa that combines training in ethical leadership, a liberal arts tradition, and skills for contemporary African needs and opportunities. Read more: Patrick Awuah
Journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, 2015 MacArthur Fellow
Ta-Nehisi Coates is a journalist interpreting complex and challenging issues around race and racism through the lens of personal experience and nuanced historical analysis. Read more: Ta-Nehisi Coates
LaToya Ruby Frazier, 2015 MacArthur Fellow
LaToya Ruby Frazier is a Photographer and Video Artist capturing the consequences of postindustrial decline for marginalized communities and illustrating how photography can promote dialogue about historical change and social responsibility. Read more: Latoya Ruby Frazier
A Portland native who belonged to a groundbreaking World War II fighter squadron that helped lead the way toward desegregation of the U.S. military has died.
Eugene B. Jackson, 92, of North Marshfield, Massachusetts, died Sept. 20, according to his close friend and attorney, Paul Kaufman.
Jackson, who was born in Portland and graduated from Portland High School in 1941, served with the Tuskegee Air Squadron during World War II.
Jackson, who maintained the radio and communication equipment on the aircraft flown by the African-American pilots, received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 along with other Tuskegee Airmen.
[SOURCE]
"The Church House: Sexuality in the Black Church" is a documentary directed and produced by D. Channsin Berry.
The Church House features interviews with ministers, preachers, bishops, church members and former church members. Topics covered include, sexism, homosexuality, and abuse of power. Berry points out that historically many black leaders in America came out of the church and aims to show that in order for African Americans to become stronger, ‘we need our black church back’. “As a place of refuge, a place of the real word of God we can regain our power spiritually, physically, mentally and financially,” states Berry.
Here is the current screening schedule for "The Church House":
Monday, September 28th at 6:30 p.m., Rutgers University, The Paul Robeson Campus Center, 350 MLK Blvd, Newark, NJ
Sunday, October 4th at 5:00 p.m., International Black Film Festival Nashville, Meharry Medical College/Cal Turner Family Event Center/Auditorium 2nd. Flr.
More dates to be announced as confirmed. The Black Church Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/The-Church-House-186851908136720/timeline/
Watch the first trailer for the documentary: The Church House Sexuality in the Black Church.
Educators and policy wonks of many stripes pretty much agree that U.S. classrooms need more minority teachers.
But how to make that happen?
One Philadelphia principal is trying to do his part by launching a new organization that aims to bring together Philly’s black male educators and provide them with professional support to thrive in their jobs. The group, called The Fellowship, also wants to become a hub for the recruitment and retention of black men in education.
Black men account for just two percent of the nation’s teaching workforce.
“We want to be able to affect policy as well as practice,” said Sharif El-Mekki, the principal of Mastery Charter School’s Shoemaker campus in southwest Philadelphia, not far from where El-Mekki grew up.
Read more: How one principal is trying to get more black men into the classroom
Like Mitt Romney before him a clueless Jeb Bush went there. During a Republican dinner in South Carolina he said "free stuff" won't be part of his plan to appeal to black voters. Now because he was clueless he does not realize he insulted millions of black voters. Now in fairness he was responding to a question and did also say that offering a message of hope could attract black voters, but the damage has already been done. Watch his comments below.
