Grambling wins SWAC championship, headed to the Air Force Celebration Bowl

The Grambling State Tigers (10-1) are the SWAC champions once again. After being down 17-0 at halftime the Tigers stormed back behind running back, Martez Carter and Quarterback Devante Kincade to beat Alcorn State Braves 27-20.

Carter rushed for 135 yards on 15 carries, had 66 receiving yards, and 142 return yards while Kincade passed for 235 yards and two touchdowns.

The game was a rematch of the 2015 SWAC title game, which Alcorn State won 49-21. This marks the seventh championship game win for the Tigers, and the first for GSU coach Broderick Fobbs.

The SWAC champions will now head to the Air Force Celebration Bowl to play the champions of the MEAC conference and the winners of last years Celebration Bowl, the North Carolina A&T Aggies for the black college championship.

That game will be played on December 17, 2016 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

In the black community, a division over charter schools

With the election of Donald Trump, a big proponent of school choice, and his like-minded pick for secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, the topic of charter schools is likely to attract more attention. But among African-American parents and the NAACP, the debate over school choice and its impact on public education is already a heated one. From Memphis, Education Week’s Lisa Stark reports.

How one juror is holding up a verdict in the Michael Slager trial

George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Many in the black community had doubts that Michael Slager would be convicted of murdering Walter Scott even before the trial started. Those doubts were only magnified when a predominantly white jury was picked with only the jury foreman being African American. It turns out that those suspicions may be well founded.

A video clearly shows Walter Scott running way and being shot five times in the back. That same video shows Slager planting a taser by Scott's body. And on top of that, the North Charleston police department fired him for using excessive force. In spite of all that one lone white juror refuses to convict him of either manslaughter or murder.

What's very sad is that the juror is not saying that Slager is not guilty, and even refers to him as a killer but that he can't and won't convict him under any circumstances.

In an unusual move the juror bypassed the jury foreman sent a letter directly to the judge in the case, Judge Newman stating why he could not and would not convict.

Newman read the letter to the court in which the juror wrote:

"I can’t in good conscience approve a guilty verdict”.

“I regret to say we may never reach a unanimous decision,”

“We all struggle with the death of a man,” the juror continued. “My heart does not want to have to tell the Scott family that the man who killed their son, brother and father is innocent. But with choices, I cannot and will not change my mind.”

Judge Newman has instructed the jury to come back on Monday and to resume deliberations. If the jury can come to no verdict, the judge has said that he would declare a mistrial. Unfortunately, that looks like where we are headed.

George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Civil Rights Icon Dorothy Height to Be Honored With U.S. Postage Stamp

The Postal Service today announced more subjects that will be featured on Forever stamps in the new year. One of those people honored will be civil rights icon Dorothy Height.

Dorothy Height (Black Heritage series)

The 40th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Dorothy Height (1912-2010), the tireless activist who dedicated her life to fighting for racial and gender equality. Although she rarely gained the recognition granted her male contemporaries, she became one of the most influential civil rights leaders of the 20th century. The stamp features artist Thomas Blackshear II’s gouache and acrylics on board portrait of Height. The painting is based on a 2009 photograph shot by Lateef Mangum. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp.

Rep. Cedric Richmond elected chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Louisiana Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond has been elected chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The three-term lawmaker will take over for the current chairman, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., in January when a new Congress is sworn in.

The 43-year-old Richmond has a reputation of working with Democrats and Republicans.

Butterfield says he is confident Richmond will provide strong leadership. Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland says the CBC is the “conscience of the Congress” and says Richmond will bring energy to the job.

The CBC filled out its leadership ranks with Reps. Andre Carson, D-Ind., Karen Bass, D-Calif., Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich., and Gwen Moore, D-Wis.

[SOURCE]

Cory Booker: What's next for criminal justice reform

If someone had pulled aside the signers of the Declaration of Independence 240 years ago and told them that, one day, the country they founded would be home to the largest number of imprisoned people in the world, they might have been more than a little disappointed.

Yet this is where we find our country today: The United States, founded on the basis of liberty and justice for all, suffers from that distinction. Twenty five percent of all imprisoned people on our planet are imprisoned right here in America. And the fact of the matter is that, at the federal level, the majority of those imprisoned aren’t hardened, violent prisoners. Far too many are nonviolent, low-level drug offenders. 

Thanks to policies enacted by Congress, our federal prison population has exploded by nearly 800 percent over the past the 30 years. And to pay for it, we’ve had to increase our prison spending by almost 400 percent. But the fact that these polices were enacted by our government in the first place should serve as a reminder that we have the agency to change them.

Momentum is building across America -- in states, in the federal government, in both political parties -- to change this misapplication of justice that so grossly misrepresents our priorities as a nation.

A diverse coalition of individuals, groups, and organizations -- ranging from Democrats to Republicans to law enforcement officials and clergy -- have come together to call for a comprehensive change in the trajectory of our justice system. And under President Obama’s leadership, the collective vision of these groups has found a home and a voice in the White House.

I have been proud to stand by President Obama as he has taken courageous steps in recent years to make our justice system more just.

Today, the White House is announcing that over 300 companies and organizations have signed the Fair Chance Business Pledge, a commitment to eliminate unnecessary hiring barriers facing people with a criminal record. Along with this step and a series of Administrative actions to enhance the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system, he’s shown that the federal government can lead the way to progress.

President Obama has created a legacy of bold action that we must carry on to elevate the cause of criminal justice reform, from Congress to statehouses across the country.

Learn more about what’s at stake in the effort to reform our broken criminal justice system: Make sure to check out the White House discussion today, where a coalition of leaders and activists will join together to discuss what’s next for criminal justice reform.

But the conversation can’t stop there, and neither can the work. We must once again declare that we are a nation of independence, rooted in the spirit of interdependence. What happens to any of us, happens to all of us -- and we won’t get where we want to go faster by leaving anyone behind.

I look forward to standing shoulder to shoulder with you in this fight to reclaim our criminal justice system in the years to come

.

Thank you,

Cory Booker

U.S. Senator

Supreme Court considers challenges to racial gerrymandering

One term after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the consideration of race in college admissions, and in a new term that already has cases on racial issues in the administration of the death penalty and in jury deliberations, one more race-infused subject will get the justices’ attention: redistricting.

The court will hear appeals on Dec. 5 from special three-judge federal panels that involve race considerations in redistricting in North Carolina and Virginia.

In the North Carolina case, McCrory v. Harris, the justices will consider whether two of the state’s 13 congressional districts, as drawn under a 2011 redistricting plan, represent unconstitutional racial gerrymanders.

In Bethune-Hill v. Virginia State Board of Elections, the court will weigh whether race was an improperly predominant factor in 12 challenged state House of Delegates districts (out of 100 districts in the state legislature’s lower house).

They’re the latest in a long line of redistricting battles to reach the high court, which has less flexibility on whether to hear such challenges than it does in most other areas of the law.

Read more: Supreme Court considers challenges to racial gerrymandering

Rep. Keith Ellison On Why He Deserves To Be DNC Chairman

Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, who is running for DNC chair went on NPR's Morning Edition to discuss why he should be the chair and what he hopes to do if elected chair. Ellison also addresses the issues with comments he made about the Nation of Islam and Louis Farrakhan. Check out his interview with Morning Edition host David Greene below.

No charges against police officer that shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott

Officer Brentley Vinson

Officer Brentley Vinson, the officer who fatally shot Keith Lamont Scott won't face charges, a prosecutor said Wednesday, closing a two-month investigation into the killing that led to heated protests and divided the city of Charlotte.

Mecklenburg County District Attorney Andrew Murray said he didn't reach the decision alone; a total of 15 prosecutors unanimously agreed that Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Officer Brentley Vinson was justified in shooting Scott on September 20 in an apartment complex parking lot.

In his hour long announcement, Murray rejected a series of "erroneous claims" made shortly after the shooting. He said those narratives fueled widespread misconceptions about what actually happened.

Among them:

-- Scott's relatives said he didn't have a gun, but "all the credible evidence" led to the conclusion that Scott was armed, Murray said. He said Scott's DNA was on the grip of a gun found at the scene.

Murray also said at least three officers reported seeing Scott holding a gun before he was shot, though dashcam video did not show that detail.

Read more: Keith Lamont Scott killing: No charges against officer, DA says

Wyatt Worthington II becomes first African American to win PGA Tournament Series event

Wyatt Worthington II doesn’t just want to make birdies, he wants to make history.

Worthington did both Tuesday, shooting another 2-under 70 to win Event No. 1 of the PGA Tournament Series by two shots at PGA Golf Club.

The 29-year-old Worthington is believed to be the first African American to win a PGA Tournament Series event. Earlier this year, he became the second African American club professional to qualify for the PGA Championship.

“It’s a great moment in my life,” Worthington said. “This is one of the goals I wanted to achieve, and I’m fortunate I got it on the first try (this year).”

Worthington was 3-under through 12 holes on the Wanamaker Course before his only blemish, a bogey on the par-5 13th. He closed with five pars to win by two shots over four players.

Worthington, who teaches in the winter at famed Seminole Golf Club and works at the Golf Depot at Central Park in Gahanna, Ohio, earned $5,000 for the victory.

“I didn’t putt as well as yesterday, but I focused on giving myself as many opportunities as I could,” Worthington said. “It was a grind coming in, but I’m proud of how I played under pressure.”

Nick Beddow of Shirley, N.Y. shot the low round of the tournament, a 5-under 67, to share second place with Zac Oakley (71) of Palm City, Fla., Rod Perry (70) of Port Orange, Fla., and Jeff Sorenson (70) of Blaine, Minn. Beddow had a 5-under 31 on the front nine.

“I dunked a bunker shot on No. 1 (for birdie) and that got me some momentum,” said Beddow, who closed the front nine with eagle-birdie-birdie. “Unfortunately, I three-putted the last hole for a bogey.”

The conditions weren’t as difficult as Monday’s first round, when nobody in the 69-player field broke 70.

The last four months have been somewhat of a blur for Worthington, who gained national attention when he qualified for the PGA Championship at Baltusrol by finishing fifth in the PGA Professional Championship. Tom Woodard in 1991 was the first African American club professional to qualify for the PGA Championship.

“It’s definitely been a whirlwind,” Worthington said. “I didn’t think little ol’ me from Reynoldsburg, Ohio would be playing in a PGA Championship and have that type of impact on the culture of the industry.
“From here on out, my only goal is to affect others with positive energy and try to lead my example.”

The PGA Tournament Series, which consists of six events, is presented by Golf Advisor. Event No. 2 is Thursday and Friday.

SOURCE: PGA.COM

Congressional Black Caucus responds to Trump's Attorney General pick of Jeff Sessions

CBC Chairman G.K Butterfield

The Congressional Black Caucus chairman G. K. Butterfield has released the following statement on Donald Trump's pick of Senator Jeff Sessions for Attorney General:

“We face an alarming choice in the selection of Senator Jeff Sessions to serve as the chief law enforcer for the United States of America. Senator Sessions’ civil rights record is appalling and should disqualify him from Senate confirmation. Senator Sessions has continuously obstructed the progress that we’ve made since the historic Civil Rights legislation of the 1960s. Senator Sessions has blocked legislative efforts to ensure racial equality in minority communities, including his opposition to President Obama’s judicial nominations and full enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. Having previously been denied a nomination by members of the U.S. Senate over concerns about his views of African Americans, Senator Jeff Sessions will very likely face an uphill battle in being confirmed as the next Attorney General of the United States. The Attorney General must run the Department of Justice with a total commitment to the rule of law and must guarantee minority citizens their fundamental constitutional rights. The Congressional Black Caucus stands ready to oppose Senator Sessions’ confirmation as we adamantly believe his appointment will set us back in the advancement of civil rights and race relations across the country.” - CBC Chairman G. K. Butterfield

Donald Trump meets with David Clarke to discuss cabinet position

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Donald Trump is determined to find self hating African Americans to serve in his cabinet. The President-Elect met with the most miserable man in law enforcement, Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke to discuss the possibility of Clarke running the Department of Homeland Security.

Clarke is not totally unqualified as he obviously has a law enforcement background, currently commands 250 officers, and is sheriff of an entire county. By comparison The Department of Homeland Security has 240,000 employees, who span immigration enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service, the TSA and other functions. In Trump world adding over 239,750 more employees and responsibility for the entire USA shouldn't be much of a big jump.

Clarke would fit in with Trump's law and order mantra and he definitely would be no friend to the Black Lives Matter movement or to black people in general. So why wouldn't Trump consider him for the DHS top spot?

Newark Pop Warner team raising money to go play in championship game

The Newark Brick City Lions Football Team put has won the District and Eastern Region Championship titles. Those victories earned them a spot at the Pop Warner National Championship Super Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

But money does not come with that invitation and it will cost the team $35,000 to get to Florida and these kids need our help.

The team is fundraising, working concession stands and selling donuts to raise the $35,000 but they could still us some help. as of this post the team is just $10,000 short og f their goal

You can give at the teams gofundme page here: Brick City Lions

58 Shot, 8 Fatally, over Thanksgiving Weekend In Chicago

This has got to stop, we are at a point where people are actually saying "only" 8 died as if that's a good thing. There are enough threats out there to young black men without us adding to them. There is no amount of police, no amount of laws that can be passed to stop this violence, no amount of marching, and no amount of pastors preaching that can stop this violence. The way to end this violence It lies with us, the black community as a whole. When we truly decide that enough is enough, the shootings will stop. George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com.

At least 58 people have been shot, 8 fatally, in attacks across the city over Thanksgiving weekend, according to Chicago police.

Last year, 8 people were killed and 20 were wounded in shootings during the same holiday weekend.

Read more: 58 Shot, 8 Fatally, in Thanksgiving Weekend Violence Across Chicago

Pelosi nominates Rep. Hakeem Jefferies for vice chair post

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

House minority leader Nancy Pelosi is attempting to spread around responsibilities and opportunities within democratic leadership positions in the House of Representatives. She is doing so to address the concerns of younger less tenured members in the House.

In doing so she has nominated several newer members to leadership positions. Among them is Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (NY) who she has nominated as a vice chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. Jefferies has served four years and has just been elected to a third term.

The House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) is tasked with developing a Caucus-wide message that forcefully communicates where House Democrats stand, that resonates with hardworking Americans, and that presents a sharp contrast to House Republicans’ special interest first agenda.

Bayou Classic 2016: Grambling beats Southern 52-30

Grambling left no room for doubt about who was the best team on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome turf for Saturday's 43rd Bayou Classic.

Grambling gashed Southern and its previously stingy defense for 571 yards. It forced a pair of critical early turnovers against a Jaguars unit that had taken great care of the ball all season and kept an explosive Southern offense largely at bay.

Most importantly, Grambling snapped Southern’s eight-game winning streak and extended its own to nine, punching its ticket to the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game and ending Southern’s season with a 52-30 win.

Read more: Grambling surges past Southern in the second half to win Bayou Classic 52-30

Thurgood Marshall College Fund & Complete College America Announce Partnership to Boost HBCU Graduation Rates

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) and Complete College America (CCA) announced today the formation of a new partnership that will focus efforts on boosting graduation rates throughout the nation's black colleges, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs). The announcement was made as part of CCA's 2016 Annual Convening of the Alliance in San Francisco, an event that brought together close to 600 higher education leaders and advocates from around the country. TMCF President & CEO Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. served as the closing keynote speaker for the event.

TMCF will join CCA as the 41st member of the organization's Alliance – a network of states and institutional consortia that have committed to completion goals and implementation at scale of the organization's Game Changers strategies. TMCF's membership, which greatly enhances CCA's ongoing efforts to close achievement gaps, is the first of its kind - representing a national consortium of nearly 50 publicly-supported black colleges that will now have access to the full breadth of CCA's resources and technical assistance efforts.

"HBCUs have long been our nation's greatest champions for ensuring access to college, especially for African American students," said Complete College America President Stan Jones. "Today's announcement demonstrates the seriousness of their commitment not only to access, but to student success and completion. We applaud the Thurgood Marshall College Fund – and the colleges they represent – and look forward to working together to dramatically boost college completion rates and close achievement gaps."

"I am extremely proud of this partnership and TMCF's inclusion because it is solution driven.  It's no secret that black college graduation rates could be higher. TMCF is committed to be apart of the solution to educate, empower and encourage students on our campuses to stay the course, finish the race and graduate," said Johnny C. Taylor Jr. "The strategic alliance with CCA is timely and I have no doubt will lead to positive outcomes for our students and member-schools. This is a new day for black colleges."

The first joint project for TMCF and CCA will be the collection of completion data using CCA's Common College Completion Metrics. The initial collection – which will explore graduation rates, credit accumulation, time to degree, and remediation rates, among other data – will provide baseline information to advance the organizations' shared mission to close achievement gaps.

In addition, TMCF will also be launching a national 15 to Finish campaign with member institutions to encourage more students to take at least 15 credits per semester (30 credits per year)—the only enrollment level that puts students on track for on-time completion. The 15 to Finish initiative, which began at the University of Hawai'i, is one of Complete College America's five Game Changing strategies.

The two organizations will invite philanthropic partners to help fund broad-based implementation of CCA's strategies at HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions.

About Thurgood Marshall College FundThe Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), established in 1987 is named for the U.S. Supreme Court's first African-American Justice. TMCF represents all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and its member-schools include the 47 publicly-supported HBCUs. With TMCF member-schools educating 80% of all students attending HBCUs, TMCF helps students with a clear intention to succeed acquire a high-quality college education at an affordable cost. TMCF also efficiently connects high performing, world-ready students with top tier employment opportunities—access that students or employers might not have on their own. Through its scholarships and programs, TMCF plays a key role in preparing the leaders of tomorrow.

TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF and its initiatives, visit: www.tmcf.org.

About Complete College AmericaEstablished in 2009, Complete College America is a national nonprofit with a single mission: to work with states to significantly increase the number of Americans with quality career certificates or college degrees and to close attainment gaps for traditionally underrepresented populations. For more information, visit our website (http://www.completecollege.org/).

SOURCE Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Related Links

http://tmcf.org

21st Annual American Black Film Festival Announces 2017 Dates

(Black PR Wire) NEW YORK,  – The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) recently announced that the 21st annual event will be held in Miami, June 14-18, 2017. In addition to the best of Black film and TV, the five-day festival will offer an innovative program with new experiences, including The Byron Lewis Careers in Entertainment Center, a multi day educational forum with lectures led by industry experts to provide insight into job opportunities in front of and behind the camera at studios and networks; and ABFF Immersive, where festival goers are introduced to virtual reality, 360° video and immersive storytelling through panel discussions, hands-on demos and immersive experiences that demonstrate how technology can impact storytelling. HBO, the ABFF’s founding and presenting sponsor, will be marking the 20th anniversary of the widely acclaimed HBO Short Film Competition at the festival.

Festival passes go on sale November 1 at www.abff.com, providing three different levels of access to festival screenings, official and premium events. Questions regarding registration may be directed to info@abffventures.com.

Submission rules and complete eligibility criteria for feature-length films, documentaries, shorts and web originals will be available at www.abff.com November 1.

Speaking of football rivalries, don't forget Grambling vs Southern (Bayou Classic)

Sure, Michigan vs Ohio State is a great rivalry right up there with Alabama vs Auburn , and Army vs Navy, but let's not forget about today's matchup of Grambling University (8-1) vs Southern University(8-2) in the Bayou Classic.

The two HBCU teams head into the 43rd edition of the Bayou Classic with a lot on the line. Both teams are undefeated in the Western Division so the winner of the game will head to the SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference) championship game to face Eastern Division champ, Alcorn State. The winner of that game heads to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl to play MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) Champion North Carolina Central see who is the best HBCU football team in the country.

How to watch, stream and listen:

TV: 5 p.m. ET, NBCSN

Radio: Grambling State | Southern

Online streaming: NBC Sports Live Extra

Two black women embrace their chance to be hockey role models for black girls

Kelsey Koelzer

Three years ago, girls from the Hockey in Newark youth program were invited to meet the Princeton women’s hockey team.

During the visit, the girls, many of whom are members of minorities, were drawn to defender Kelsey Koelzer. Like them, Koelzer, who is African-American, played much of her youth in secondhand equipment and was raised by a single parent who struggled to accommodate the costly expenses of hockey.

The girls peppered Koelzer with questions. Koelzer was struck by the encounter, too; her mother, Kristine, still remembers her daughter talking about the effect the visit had.

---------------

Sarah Nurse

Koelzer’s influence is expanding in her senior season at Princeton. In June, she was selected first overall by the New York Riveters in the National Women’s Hockey League draft. Koelzer is believed to be the first African-American player taken No. 1 by a top-tier American professional hockey league. Shortly after the historic pick, Sarah Nurse of Canada, who is also black, was selected in the second round by the Boston Pride.

Koelzer and Nurse, a forward at Wisconsin, are two of college hockey’s top players and rising stars in their national-team programs. With increased visibility, they recognize their capacity to motivate a generation of young girls from similar backgrounds.

Read more: Two black women embrace their chance to be hockey role models