Mothers of NFL players send open letter to Trump in defense of their sons

The Professional Football Players Mothers Association has sent an open letter to Donald Trump in response to his attack on them and their sons over his mistaken view that they are degrading the American Flag. Read that letter below:

The National Museum Of African American History And Culture Is Getting Its Own Stamp

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will finally make its stamp debut next month after its issuance date was initially postponed by the US Postal Services.

The “Celebrating African American History and Culture Forever stamp” recognizes the richness of black history and its intrinsic connection to American history. It is also part of the US Postal Services Forever series and will go on sale Oct. 13 after a dedication ceremony at the actual museum.

“Black history is inseparable from American history, and the black experience represents a profound and unique strand of the American story,” USPS said. “This stamp issuance recognizes the richness of that experience by celebrating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC.”

[SOURCE: ESSENCE]

Georgetown Law students take a knee to protest speech by Attorney General Jeff Sessions

Dozens of Georgetown University students gathered Tuesday on the steps of McDonough Hall to protest an address from Attorney General Jeff Sessions that lambasted schools for infringing on students’ free-speech rights.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee kneels on House floor in solidarity with black athletes

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) kneeled on the House floor Monday night to show solidarity with NFL players defying President Trump to protest police brutality.

First MLB player takes a knee during national anthem

Looks like Trump's attack on black athletes in the NBA and NFL has backfired and has now spread to Major League Baseball.

Bruce Maxwell, son of a US Army veteran and Oakland As backup catcher became the first Major League Baseball player to kneel during the National Anthem. He did so after talking with his teammates and the general manager.

Maxwell stated:

“It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. These guys are my family; the Oakland A’s is the only family I’ve ever had in professional baseball. So being able to sit down and confidently have this conversation with David and with Bob Melvin and with my teammates before the game was something huge that I felt like needed to be done.”

“The point of my kneeling is not to disrespect the military. It’s not to disrespect our constitution. It’s not to disrespect our country … I’m kneeling for the people that don’t have a voice. This goes beyond the black community. This goes beyond the Hispanic community.”

Maxwell plans to continue to kneel for the anthem in the future:

“People think athletes should shut up and get their money and play their sport, but no matter how much money we make, no matter how many touchdowns we score, no matter how many home runs we hit, it doesn’t mean we aren’t people. Our paychecks don’t silence us.”

Bruce Maxwell First MLB Player To Protest National Anthem

Trump has an more of an issue with black athletes who protest than with white nationalist

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

There is a famous Maya Angelou quote, "When Someone Shows You Who They Are, Believe Them ."

Donald Trump has issues with Colin Kaepernick, Jemele Hill, and Stephen Curry (Wonder what they all have in common there?), all athletes are people in sports who don't support him or that have PEACEFULLY protested, but he seems to have no issues with white nationalist.

Trump's words last night at a campaign rally for Luther Strange show that he is very upset about attacking NFL players who kneel during the national anthem. He is more upset about that than white nationalist who marched while making anti-Semitic slurs at the University of Virginia, or the white supremacist who injured many and killed one person in Charlottesville. Trump showed more passion in calling black NFL players "son of a bitch" than he ever did when he was forced to denounce the alt-right. Watch that segment of his speech below:

Wow he seemed pretty fired up there and got a great reaction from the crowd filled with his supporters. But that wasn't enough; Trump had to take a shot at Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors after they pretty much said they didn't want to visit the White House to be honored for the 2017 NBA Championship.

In a response that took far shorter than the 48 hours it took to respond to the horrible events in Charlottesville, Trump tweeted:

Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017

Of course what Trump did there was quit before he could be fired or dumped a girlfriend/boyfriend before they dump you. Trump also doesn't understand that you can't rescind an invitation that was never given or that was not going to be accepted anyway.

As every day passes he is showing that he doesn't care about anyone but his base, the rest of us be damned.

If not a racist then Trump is a man who has no problem being associated with racist or defending them.

The man has shown us who he is. Believe him.

Theatrical production to showcase last year of Martin Luther King's life

You think you know Martin Luther King Jr.'s story? Tavis Smiley is willing to bet you don't.

To mark the 50th anniversary of King's assassination next April, the radio and TV host is planning a nationwide tour of a theatrical production focusing on the last year of King's life, a time when he was reviled by some for expanding his critique of America beyond its racism to poverty issues and the Vietnam War.

"I don't want this anniversary to come and go without people finally coming to terms with wrestling with who Martin Luther King really was," Smiley told The Associated Press in an interview on Wednesday, the day before the official announcement of the production.

"Death of a King: A Live Theatrical Experience" is based on Smiley's 2014 book of the same title. Smiley will narrate from his book, and will be accompanied by jazz pianist Marcus Roberts.

The production will travel to 40 cities still to be determined. It is set to kick off on January 15, the day of the national holiday named for King and his actual birthday, and run through April 4, the anniversary of the day he was fatally shot while standing on a balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968.

Learn more about Death of a King: A Live Theatrical Experience: Death of a King: A Live Theatrical Experience

Andre Ward retires from boxing at age 33

Pound-for-pound king and unified light heavyweight world titleholder Andre Ward said in a statement on his website that he is "leaving" boxing.

"I want to be clear -- I am leaving because my body can no longer put up with the rigors of the sport and therefore my desire to fight is no longer there," the statement said. "If I cannot give my family, my team, and the fans everything that I have, then I should no longer be fighting."

On Thursday, the 33-year-old Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) told First Take more about the thought process behind his decision to retire.

"People see what I do fight night," he said. "They see under the lights, but they don't see the toil, they don't see the grind, they don't see just the pain, the physical pain that you go through, not just in the fights, but to prepare and to get ready for those battles."

He added: "I felt the physicality of the sport -- not just in-the-ring stuff, but the training and the preparation -- start to take its toll on me for the last two or three years, and I bit down and continued to push through. And at this point, it's time, and I know it's time."

Read more: With desire to fight gone, Andre Ward retires from boxing

Trump's pick for head of HBCU initiative lacks experience in academia or government

President Trump's pick to lead the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities fits the mold of many of the administration's key appointments.

Like many administration officials, Johnathan Holifield, a speaker and consultant named executive director of the HBCU Initiative Monday, has a track record in the private sector but practically no experience in government or with the institutions he'd be working to advance. Organizations representing historically black colleges offered tentative praise of the pick. But commentators on issues affecting minority institutions were quick to note Holifield's lack of experience working with HBCUs.

Reactions among some observers of HBCU institutions verged on befuddlement.

Marybeth Gasman, director of the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions, said entrepreneurship and innovation are important objectives for institutions to pursue. But she also said it was important for anyone in the office to have a deep familiarity with historically black colleges and their needs.

Gasman said she was skeptical, however, that any executive director would accomplish much in this administration.

"I don’t see Trump caring about HBCUs, as he has demonstrated this lack of care," she said. "I hope that Holifield does well, but I don’t see anyone working with the Trump administration having autonomy or being able to make substantial important changes."

Julianne Malveaux, an author and former president of Bennett College in North Carolina, said Holifield has tremendous business acumen. But she noted that many other individuals with entrepreneurial experience have also been more engaged with historically black colleges.

"The 45th president has done little to earn the trust of the HBCU community; this appointment does not engender trust, but instead suggests a 'wait, see and hope for the best' attitude," Malveaux said.

[Inside Higher Ed

City to deposit $20 million in Chicago's last black-owned bank

The last black-owned bank in Chicago is set to receive a $20 million deposit of city funds.

City Treasurer Kurt Summers on Monday announced the deposit into Illinois Service Federal Savings and Loan Association.

Founded in Chicago in 1934 to help give the black community better access to credit, ISF Bank is one of just more than 20 black-owned banks in the country, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

The deposit is meant to help drive economic development in the city's neighborhoods, Summers said.

"It's about being a community bank," said Summers, noting that his office works to invest in the city's neighborhoods and institutions. "Community banks are a great opportunity for that because they are designed for the sole purpose of reinvesting in their local area."

On average, the city keeps between $300 million and $700 million on deposit in banks. In order to receive deposits of city funds, financial institutions must go through a special certification process.

The deposit at ISF Bank, which went through the certification process, is the first the city has made with the intent to bolster a community bank, Summers said.

Read more: City to deposit $20 million in Chicago's last black-owned bank

Donald Glover takes home two Emmy Awards for Atlanta

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

Actor, director, writer, producer, (and singer) Donald Glover had a very good night at the 69th Annual Emmy Awards.

The multi-talented creator of the TV show "Atlanta", which airs on the FX Network took home two Emmy Awards.

Glover won the category Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series making him the first African American to do so for directing a comedy.

But making Emmy Award history was not enough for Glover,he also won the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

Congratulations to Donald Glover and what seems to be a bright future.

Phil Heath wins his 7th consecutive Mr Olympia!

Love him or hate him, the king stays on top. Phil Heath has won the 2017 Mr. Olympia making this his 7th consecutive Mr. Olympia contest. Heath is now tied with bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger for second most Mr O victories. While many question Heath's gut and feel he was not in his best shape the judges felt that he did just enough to edge out Big Ramy. The question now becomes can he catch Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney who both won eight consecutive Mr. O victories and maybe eventually pass them or will Big Ramy finally live up to the hype and beat him next year.

But that's a story for next year.

Congrats to Phil Heath the 2017 Mr. Olympia winner!

Olympia 2017 Men’s Bodybuilding Results

1. Phil Heath

2. Big Ramy

3. William Bonac

4. Dexter Jackson

5. Shawn Rhoden

6. Roelly Winklaar

7. Nathan De Asha

8. Brandon Curry

9. Josh Lenartowicz

10. Cedric McMillan

Congressional Black Caucus rips DOJ decision on police program

Cedric Richmond, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) ripped the Trump administration's move on Friday to roll back an Obama-era program that oversees and rates how police officers work with members of the communities they serve. The move was made just hours after a St. Louis cop was found not guilty in the murder of Anthony Lamar Smith

“This is yet another example of what the black community has to lose under this administration," Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-La.) said in a statement.

“This decision is wrong, reckless, insensitive, and immature. It also further divides police departments and communities – rich and poor, black and white," Richmond said.

“In the midst of protests in St. Louis, Mo., in response to the acquittal of a cop who killed a 24-year-old African-American man, the Trump Justice Department is gutting an important federal program that is focused on restoring trust between communities and police departments and monitoring progress in this area," Richmond added.

The Department of Justice announced changes Friday targeting the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Collaborative Reform Initiative for Technical Assistance.

The initiative was created under former President Barack Obama and allowed police departments and cities to seek federal help on various issues, including police shootings and alleged brutality.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Maxine Waters to Jeff Sessions: 'Now you know how the African Americans you disrespected feel'

Auntie Maxine is at it again.

Rep. Maxine Waters, one of the staunchest foes of President Trump, mocked Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Twitter following a report that President Trump berated and humiliated him by calling him an idiot for allowing the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. Read her tweet below:

To Jeff Sessions, how does it feel to be dragged & humiliated? Now you know how the African Americans you disrespected feel

— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) September 15, 2017

NAACP DISMAYED BY DOJ’S FAILURE TO PROSECUTE POLICE OFFICERS IN FREDDIE GRAY CASE

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, is disappointed by the decision by President Trump’s Department of Justice not to bring civil rights charges against the six Baltimore Police officers who were associated with the arrest and death of Freddie Gray. The NAACP, as well as its Maryland State Conference and Baltimore City Branch, issued the following statement:

“The Department of Justice let Freddie Gray’s family, Baltimore residents, and the entire nation down by deciding not to charge the police officers involved with Freddie Gray’s death. While we aren’t surprised by the DOJ’s decision – especially considering President Trump’s statement that police officers should not be ‘too nice’ when transporting those held in police custody – we had hoped that the case would have turned out differently,” said Ngozi Ndulue, Senior Director of Criminal Justice Programs at the NAACP. “The Justice Department had a real chance to demonstrate its commitment to police accountability. Instead, the DOJ’s decision reiterates what we already know—the threat of federal charges against individual officers is insufficient to ensure constitutional policing. Without meaningful avenues for police accountability, the status quo prevails; communities of color are vulnerable to civil rights violations from disreputable police officers with little repercussion.”

“The way the Justice Department is handling this case illustrates a deliberate weakening of civil rights enforcement under Attorney General Jeff Sessions. This decision by the DOJ highlights the need for national, state and local policing reforms to ensure that officers are held accountable if they violate constitutional rights. The NAACP will continue to fight for this step forward and advocate for the anti-racial profiling bills for which we have long championed,” said Gerald Stansbury, President of the NAACP Maryland State Conference.

“The fact that we’re living in a country where the death of a young man can go unanswered is heartbreaking. Our tax dollars in Baltimore are supposed to ensure our law enforcement ‘protects and serves’ not ‘hunts and catches,’” said Tessa Hill-Aston, President of the Baltimore City Branch of the NAACP. “I have great respect for the Baltimore Police Department – and I know many of them personally – but I am disgusted by the actions taken by the individual police officers who were involved with Mr. Gray’s death and further outraged by the DOJ’s decision not to press charges against the accused officers. This case is part of a much bigger narrative about the value of Black lives and the willingness of our justice system to actually seek justice for Black families.”

Tim Scott: 'There is no realistic comparison' between white supremacists and Antifa.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., expressed concern Thursday after President Trump reiterated his claim that there are many on the "other side" of the clash between white supremacists and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Va., who were bad people. Read his statement below:

Colin Kaeprnick Shows Support For Jemele Hill

Jemele Hill, the co-host of Sports Center went on a rant on Twitter Monday. She tweeted that Trump was "unqualified and unfit to be president." She wrote: “He is not a leader. And if he were not white, he never would have been elected.”

Hill continued: “Trump is the most ignorant, offensive president of my lifetime."

"His rise is a direct result of white supremacy. Period,” she wrote.

The Sports Center anchor's tweets were denounced by ESPN, which released a statement reading, “The comments on Twitter from Jemele Hill regarding the President do not represent the position of ESPN. We have addressed this with Jemele and she recognizes her actions were inappropriate.”

Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick took to Twitter on Tuesday to show support for the ESPN anchor:

We are with you @jemelehill ✊🏾

— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) September 13, 2017

AMC Developing TV Series Based On Black Lives Matter Book

AMC has put in development a drama based on Wesley Lowery’s bestselling nonfiction book They Can’t Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America’s Racial Justice. It comes from Brad Weston’s Makeready and writer LaToya Morgan (Into the Badlands, Turn: Washington’s Spies).

Published in 2016 by Little, Brown & Company, the book was acquired by Makeready last fall. It examines how decades of racially biased policing in segregated neighborhoods with failing schools, crumbling infrastructure and too few jobs has led to the high-profile cases of police brutality in Ferguson, Cleveland, Baltimore and elsewhere and the birth of Black Lives Matter movement seeking justice for the deaths of Michael Brown, Tamir Rice and Freddie Gray.

Written by Morgan, who is under an overall deal at AMC, the potential series also will reflect current events and race relations through the stories and voices of fictional characters. Morgan will executive produce with Makeready founder and CEO Weston and creative heads Pam Abdy and Scott Nemes.

[SOURCE: DEADLINE]

Check Out The Book the series Is based On:

PAPERBACK----- HARDCOVER----- KINDLE

NASA set to honor Katherine Johnson with new building

NASA Langley Research Center has named their new Computational Research Facility building after Katherine G. Johnson, who started working for NASA in 1953 as a mathematician who helped launch America into the space race with the Soviet Union. Her story was told in the Hidden Figures where she was portrayed by Taraji Henson.

Katherine Johnson just turned 99 years old, and her life is on a roll.

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, spoke on stage at the Academy Awards and saw her career developed into a best-selling book and a hit movie adaptation. She will get her own LEGO figure later this year.

Next up: On Sept. 22, NASA Langley Research Center — where she worked for more than three decades as a “human computer” in the early days of the nation’s space program — will formally open a new building named in her honor. The Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility will be a state-of-the-art lab for innovative research and development supporting NASA’s exploration missions.

“It’s a perfect storm in that we were building a computational research facility, and that’s what she did as a human computer,” said Mike Finneran, from NASA Langley’s communications department. “It made sense to name it after her. It fits, and it’s the right thing to do.”

Read more: NASA Langley set to honor Katherine Johnson with new building

Tim Duncan raises over a million dollars for U.S. Virgin islands after Hurricane Irma

Retired NBA superstar and five time champion with the San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan has proven once again that he is a champion both on and off the court. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the U.S. Virgin Islands native penned a piece on The Player's Tribune asking for donations to help the islands which were devastated after the storm hit.

Duncan wrote:

Right now as I type this, the U.S. Virgin Islands — the place where I was born and where I grew up — has been badly damaged by Hurricane Irma. The people there, many of whom are old friends of mine, are suffering. Weather reports say that another Category 5 storm, Hurricane Jose, is close behind. No one knows what the place will look like when the rain stops.

Now time is of the essence.

I’m donating $250,000 immediately — tonight — to the storm relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands. And going forward, I pledge to match your donations up to the first $1 million. That’s where you come in: You can go here to make a donation.

In response donors have given over 1 million dollars to help the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands at the time of this posting.

"I'm blown away by it," Duncan said Sunday during a news conference at the San Antonio Food Bank. "In this day and age, it's a little easier to reach a lot of people, and people have come out from everywhere. I've looked down the list of donors, and I've recognized some names. I've gotten support from the Spurs, H-E-B and the food bank -- all across the board. It's just been an amazing response."