Bomb threat at Texas Southern University

A bomb threat at Texas Southern University, one of the largest historically black universities in the United States, triggered an evacuation of the campus on Wednesday, but students were allowed back after a sweep, officials said.

The threat to the school in Houston was made in a call to emergency dispatchers, Houston police spokeswoman Jodi Silva said by phone.

"It was a generalized bomb threat," Silva said.

Thousands of students, including those in dorms, were forced to leave the campus and classes were canceled for Wednesday, Steve Scheffler, a spokesman for the university, said by phone.

Police conducted a sweep of the campus and the school was declared safe, with students allowed to return, Scheffler said.

[SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS]

Hakeem Jeffries defeats Barbara Lee to become Dem caucus chair

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has been elected Democratic caucus chair after edging past a fellow member of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

In a 123-113 vote, Jeffries, one of the leaders of the party’s messaging arm, defeated veteran Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a former CBC chairwoman.

Jeffries, 48, is seen as a rising star among House Democrats and potential future Speaker. He frequently appears on the cable news shows to advance the Democrats’ message and push back against the GOP agenda.

But following his victory, Jeffries told reporters he wasn’t thinking about his future political ambitions and instead was solely focused on the task at hand. Jeffries will now preside over the rest of Wednesday’s leadership elections, which include picking a nominee for Speaker.

With Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) expected to easily become majority whip, that means there will be two black lawmakers serving in the top five leadership positions for the first time in history.

“I stand on the shoulders of people like Jim Clyburn … There’s a great legacy of the Congressional Black Caucus,” Jeffries told reporters. “It’s a proud moment for our community. But I’m focused on standing up for everyone.”

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

2019 Congressional Black Caucus will be biggest ever

The 2018 mid-term election have added a number of African Americans to the United States Congress and in turn more members to the Congressional Black Caucus.

The newcomers to Congress will include nine more African-American members. With turnovers, the CBC is expected to have a record 54 members in the next Congress, four times as many as in 1971 when 13 Congress members formed the Caucus.

As a result, the CBC, which includes two senators, will rank among the largest caucuses in Congress.

ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS SELECTED AS FIRST WOMAN NEW YORK STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER

New York State Senate Democrats announced they have voted Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D–Yonkers) as the new Senate majority leader, making her the first woman to lead a majority conference in the state legislature.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday issued a statement congratulating Stewart-Cousins on her election.

“Since the beginning of her career in public service, [State Senate Majority] Leader Stewart-Cousins has always been a trailblazer. From being the first African-American woman to serve as director of community affairs in the City of Yonkers, to authoring and passing landmark legislation in the Westchester County Legislature to strengthen gun laws and protect human rights, to taking on local property taxes and fighting for our communities in the State Senate, she is a proven leader and a skilled legislator,” Cuomo said in the statement.

Her colleagues elected Stewart-Cousins to serve as leader of the Senate Democratic Conference in December 2012, which was in the minority at the time, becoming the first female leader of a legislative conference in New York, per the New York State Senate website. She was first elected to the state Senate in 2006 and currently represents Greenburgh, a portion of White Plains, part of New Rochelle, and parts of Yonkers and Scarsdale, the website says.

[SOURCE: CNYBJ]

Cory Booker: I will consider running for president

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker just visited 24 -- count 'em, 24 -- states stumping for Democrats in the midterm elections.

He contributed $686,000 to House and Senate candidates across the nation.

And along the way, New Jersey's dynamic Democrat stopped in all those early presidential primary states, plus a few that look to be big battlegrounds.

A dry run for a potential 2020 bid?

Even Booker wouldn't quarrel with that.

"I will consider running for president," Booker told NJ Advance Media.

"That's something that I will do. There's people in New Jersey who are talking to me about it, across the country that are talking to me about it, so I will consider that."

Booker said he spent the year focused on the midterms, which saw the Democrats win back the House, including capturing four of New Jersey's five Republican-held congressional districts.

Next on his agenda is trying to push legislation across the finish line during the lame-duck congressional session, including a bill to overhaul the criminal justice system that has President Donald Trump's support.

Then, he told NJ Advance Media, he will look at 2020, where he already has banked $4.1 million for his Senate re-election campaign. He figures that will come in earnest during the December holiday season.

Read more: Cory Booker says 'I will consider running for president' after just campaigning for Democrats in 24 states

Marvin Gaye, Gregory Hines honored with 2019 USPS stamps

CHECK OUT THE 2021 BLACK HERITAGE STAMP HONORING AUGUST WILSON HERE: https://www.africanamericanreports.com/2021/07/2021-black-heritage-stamps-honor-august.html

Entertainment icons Marvin Gaye and Gregory Hines will soon be honored with Forever stamps, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced this week.

The late legends will be featured among new commemorative stamps issued in 2019, continuing a USPS tradition started in 1847 of celebrating people, events, and cultural milestones that are unique to U.S. history. Exact release dates for the stamps have yet to be announced.

“The miniature works of art illustrated in the 2019 stamp program offer something for everyone’s interest about American history and culture,” said U.S. Postal Service Stamp Services Executive Director Mary-Anne Penner.

“From legendary poet Walt Whitman to the entertainment genius of Gregory Hines to the majestic beauty of our Wild and Scenic Rivers, this program is diverse and wide-ranging and tells America’s story on stamps.”

The 42nd stamp in the Black Heritage series honors Hines (1946–2003), whose unique style of tap dancing injected new artistry and excitement into a traditional American form.

A versatile performer who danced, acted and sang on Broadway, on television, and in movies like Tap, Waiting to Exhale and White Knights, Hines developed the entertainment traditions of tap into an art form for a younger generation. He is credited with renewing interest in tap during the 1990s. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp, which features a 1988 photograph by Jack Mitchell.

Gaye’s stamp is featured in the Music Icons series. The R&B crooner — best known for songs “What’s Going On,” “Let’s Get It On,” “Sexual Healing” and a slew of early Motown songs like “Heard It Through the Grapevine” — is one of the most influential singers of his generation. The stamp design features a portrait of Gaye inspired by historic photographs.

The stamp pane is designed to resemble a vintage 45 rpm record sleeve. One side of the pane includes the stamps, brief text about Gaye’s legacy, and the image of a sliver of a record seeming to peek out the top of the sleeve. Another portrait of Gaye, also inspired by historic photographs, appears on the reverse along with the Music Icons series logo. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp pane with original art by Kadir Nelson.

Customers may purchase stamps through the Postal Store at usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic, or at a local post office.

Can Stacey Abrams, Beto O'Rourke, or Andrew Gillum win a presidential race in 2020

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com

Stacey Abrams, Beto O'Rourke, and Andrew Gillum have many things in common. All ran great campaigns in their bids for elected office, all made a footprint on the national political stage, they got people out to vote who usually don't vote on mid-term elections, and they all lost their elections.

Despite that last point there are many Democrats are clamoring for their favorite of the three to run for the office of President of the United States in 2020.

Don't dismiss their potential run for the highest office in the land. There is room and support for them in a Democratic primary as Democrats both old and young are clamoring for something fresh and new. They all have bright political futures as Governors or U.S. Senators if they choose to run for those offices again. There is room and support for them in a Democratic primary as Democrats both old and young are clamoring for something fresh and new.

In my opinion, all three have great strengths:

Abrams has the most inspiring life story and has 10 plus years experience as an elected official. O'Rourke is by far the best fundraiser and has an "Obama" like appeal that younger voters seem to gravitate to. Gillum has the most charisma, has the most experience in elected office, has executive office experience, and is the best natural politician of the three.

But does any of that translate in a winning nationwide campaign? I don't know to be honest with you.

Of the three who do you think could most likely win a primary and then go on to become President of the United States?

survey software

Obama: I 'don't buy' idea that a woman or minority can’t beat Trump in 2020

Former President Obama says he doesn’t believe that Democrats would be making a mistake by selecting another woman or person of color for their presidential nominee in 2020.

“That kind of stuff, I don’t buy," Obama said during a podcast interview with David Axelrod, a CNN political commentator and his former top strategist, when asked if Democrats need a candidate of a certain gender or race to defeat President Trump.

“With respect to going forward, the idea that there’s some demographic or profile of a particular candidate that is the optimal one or the ideal one, that’s just not how I’ve seen politics work,” Obama continued.

“I think people respond to candidates who speak to the moment in some fashion."

His remarks come a month after lawyer Michael Avenatti said in an interview with Time magazine that he believes the 2020 Democratic nominee "better be a white male," though he also added at the time that he wishes it weren't so.

“When you have a white male making the arguments, they carry more weight,” he said. “Should they carry more weight? Absolutely not. But do they? Yes.”

Obama’s remarks also follow comments made by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) earlier this month when he said there are “a lot of white folks out there who are not necessarily racist who felt uncomfortable for the first time in their lives about whether or not they wanted to vote for an African-American.”

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Barack Obama surprises Chicago food bank volunteers

Here's a reminder of how a real United States President carries themselves with dignity, humility, graciousness, and a genuine willingness to helps others.

Former President Barack Obama paid an unannounced visit Tuesday to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, where he helped bag potatoes for Thanksgiving meals.

Wearing a Chicago White Sox hat, Obama arrived with bags of donated food and donned latex gloves to work side by side with volunteers at the nonprofit, which helps provide meals to more than 700 food pantries and shelters across Cook County, Illinois.

Thank you to ⁦@BarackObama⁩ and ⁦@ObamaFoundation⁩ for joining our volunteers today at the Food Depository. We believe no one should go hungry, especially this time of year, and that’s why we’re working to address the root causes of hunger in Chicago and Cook County. pic.twitter.com/d6YfBjvJl2

— Chicago’s Food Bank (@FoodDepository) November 20, 2018

Rep. Hakeem Jefferies to challenge Rep. Barbara Lee for a democratic leadership position

Two members of the Congressional Black Caucus are in direct competition for a Democratic leadership position, including a young upstart who is bypassing the unwritten rule to wait his turn.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries’ (D-N.Y.) late entrance into the race for House Democratic Caucus chair pits him against Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), a former CBC chairwoman who announced her candidacy in June.

The competition is a sign of the CBC’s growing power and the challenges it faces as it expands. But it’s also a symptom of the leadership bottleneck threatening to shake up the entire Democratic Caucus in January.

While relatively obscure, especially compared to the high-profile speaker role, the caucus chair is an important position. In addition to being a launchpad for the future, the job puts the chairperson in the room where decisions are made, giving that member a say in the strategy the Democrats will use as they figure out how to take on President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans in 2019.

Lee and Jeffries represent opposite sides of the country and different generations of the party. Lee, 72, has paid her dues, playing the waiting game before seeking a jump into leadership. But Jeffries, 48, a rising star in the Democratic Party, is already ready to soar. A number of Democrats point to him as a potential future speaker.

That two African-American colleagues are going head to head may be unusual, members say, but it shouldn’t be unexpected within an increasingly diverse Democratic Caucus.

“There’s never a problem when two whites run against each other or two Hispanics run against each other or two Asians run against each other,” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) said. “So don’t ask me about that.”

Read more: Dem chairman fight pits old guard vs. new generation of black leaders

Rep. Mia Love loses to Democrat in Utah

Final vote counts Tuesday showed that Democrat Ben McAdams did not jump the gun when he declared victory a day earlier over two-term Republican Rep. Mia Love.

He won by 694 votes, or a margin of 50.129 percent to 49.871. That margin of 0.258 was just barely outside the 0.25 percent that would have allowed Love to request a recount.

Love, the only black female Republican in the House, was expected to issue a statement later about the race. Her staff said she is out of state for Thanksgiving, and would not give any interviews until after the holiday.

McAdams’ victory means House Democrats will hold at least 234 seats as the majority party in January when the new Congress is sworn in.

Marcia Fudge endorses Nancy Pelosi for Speaker

Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) endorsed Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for Speaker in the next Congress in a surprise move Tuesday, abandoning the idea of challenging her.

Fudge, who huddled with Pelosi in the Capitol on Friday, said Pelosi has offered to restore a defunct subcommittee on elections, and to make Fudge the chairwoman.

The issue of voting rights has been a top priority of members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), which Fudge used to lead, particularly since a 2013 Supreme Court decision scrapped key protections previously provided under the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Fudge is vowing to use her new gavel to restore those protections.

"Leader Pelosi has granted me the opportunity to create the record necessary to satisfy the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder, so that the protections of the Voting Rights Act will be reinstated and improved,” Fudge said in a statement.

“She has also assured me that the most loyal voting bloc in the Democratic party, Black women, will have a seat at the decision-making table," she added.

"I am now confident that we will move forward together and that the 116th Congress will be a Congress of which we can all be proud. I now join my colleagues in support of the leadership team of Pelosi, [Steny] Hoyer and [James] Clyburn."

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

African American 2019 Rhodes Scholars

Elliot F. Gerson, American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust, today announced the names of the 32 Americans chosen as Rhodes Scholars representing the United States. Congratulations to all 32 scholars and here are four African American students who were selected to attend University of Oxford.

Anea B. Moore, Philadelphia, is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania concentrating in law and minoring in Africana Studies. A Truman Scholar, Anea is committed to the needs of low-income families, reflected in a variety of important roles in Philadelphia public schools, for City Council members, and at her university. She is co-president of a non-profit that serves first-generation, low-income (FGLI) college students and co-chaired the largest FGLI student conference in the world. Her sociology research has focused on issues related to gentrification, race, class, and family engagement and well-being. At Oxford, Anea intends to do masters degrees in Evidence-Based Social Intervention and in Comparative International Education.

Lia Petrose, Laurel, Maryland, graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 with a B.S. in Neuroscience and Economics with a minor in Chemistry. A Truman Scholar, she has a vision of improving how data is used to facilitate health care delivery. Lia wrote three firstauthored papers in leading medical journals and is currently a research assistant for Dr. Heidi Williams at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As an undergraduate, she was elected to the executive board of the student government and served as the student member of the Board of Trustees Committee on Academic Affairs. She was born and raised until adolescence in Ethiopia. Lia will read for a B.A. in Computer Science and Philosophy at Oxford.

Leah Crowder, Tucson, graduated from the University of Arizona in 2018 with a B.A in Middle Eastern and North African Studies. Throughout her undergraduate career, she maintained a perfect GPA. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in the same program. Leah is researching how to end cyclical violence and move towards peace in areas divided by deep cultural and political differences. She has utilized big data to ascertain a causal relationship between militarized curfews and civilian casualties. Starting in her teenage years, she has worked on the ground in Turkey to advance a variety of peacekeeping efforts. Most recently, she interned at Art Anywhere Association, in Mardin, Turkey, to plan child protection activities in remote villages affected by regional violence. At Oxford, Leah will pursue a D.Phil. in International Relations.

Austin T. Hughes, San Antonio, Texas, is a senior at the University of Iowa triple majoring in English (Creative Writing), Theatre Arts, and Japanese Language and Literature. Austin was elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior. A Beinecke scholar, he has won numerous awards for his poetry and creative writing at both the university and national level. As Co-President of The English Society, Austin maintained a network of educators, writers, and authors to showcase student literature to campus and beyond. He is a cellist, a cross-country runner, and has written Twilight fanfiction. At Oxford, Austin will read for an M.Phil. in Japanese Studies.

Cleveland Browns want to interview Condoleezza Rice for head-coaching job

UPDATE: Browns GM says Condoleeza Rice has not been discussed in head coaching search

Browns general manager John Dorsey said last week that he was open to hiring a woman as Cleveland's next head coach, and one prominent name is on the team's wish list to interview.

The Browns would like to interview former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for their head-coaching job, a league source tells ESPN.

If the Browns follow through on it, Rice would become the first woman to interview for an NFL head-coaching job.

Cleveland's interest in interviewing Rice comes at a time when women recently have moved into decision-making roles in men's professional sports. The San Antonio Spurs hired Becky Hammon as an assistant coach, the Buffalo Bills hired Kathryn Smith as a quality control assistant, the Oakland Raiders hired Kelsey Martinez to their strength staff, and the San Francisco 49ers hired Katie Sowers as an offensive assistant.

[SOURCE: ESPN]

Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Urges Trump to Stop Verbally Abusing Black Women

Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (D-LA-02), Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s repeated verbal abuse of black women.

“This president is an insecure bully and lacks basic respect for others. In recent days, while nursing wounds from a major political rejection this week, he has found a way to say abusive and disrespectful things about the former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, and three reporters who have been ably and professionally doing their jobs, April Ryan, Abby Phillip and Yamiche Alcindor. This is just the latest series of aggressive and unhinged attacks from a president that consistently fails to set a good example for this country. He has also repeatedly attacked Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Reps. Frederica Wilson and Maxine Waters. This president clearly has demonstrated animus toward women in general, but black women in particular. This has to stop. I would call for him to apologize for his various disrespectful statements, but I know he lacks the compassion, self-awareness, and magnanimity to do so. Instead, I urge him to study these intelligent, strong, and accomplished women in order to learn lessons in grace, class, and dignity.”

Channing Dungey resigns as ABC Entertainment President

ABC Entertainment President Channing Dungey has stepped down.

Dungey’s departure — she will leave after a transition period — comes less than three years after she made history by becoming the first African American to lead a major TV network.

Her exit was not unexpected, given the wholesale changes to Disney’s television empire in Burbank. Disney is spending $71.3 billion to buy much of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox media company, in large part, to turbocharge its TV operations because the company plans to roll out a Disney-branded streaming service in late 2019.

Dungey, 49, was promoted to the post in early 2016 at a time when a lack of diversity in Hollywood’s executive suites was drawing increased scrutiny. A veteran development executive, Disney leaders championed Dungey’s taste and collaborative approach.

She repaired relationships with high-profile producers and guided the launch of a few new hits, including “Speechless,” “The Good Doctor,” “The Rookie” and “Roseanne,” which exploded into one television’s biggest hits. But that sit-com fell apart last spring after its star, Roseanne Barr, made racist remarks on Twitter. Dungey pushed for Barr’s firing — a move that was supported by the Disney brass.

“I’m grateful to Channing for her significant contributions and unwavering dedication to the success of ABC over the past 14 years,” Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said in a statement. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to work with and mentor Channing; her curiosity, passion and creativity will ensure she is successful in whatever path she chooses going forward.”

Dungey, in a statement, said she was “incredibly proud of what the team and I have accomplished over the years, and all the meaningful and impactful programming we’ve developed. This job has been the highlight of my career.”

[SOURCE: LA TIMES]

NAACP VOTER TURNOUT EFFORTS SPUR INCREASED BLACK VOTER PARTICIPATION

NAACP civic engagement campaign helped generate record midterm election turnout among Black Voters 

BALTIMORE – From the passage of Amendment 4 in Florida, which restored voting rights to convicted felons to the record number of early voting among voters of color – including a 77% increase among African American voters, the NAACP’s civic engagement initiative, The Demonstration Project, helped propel Black voter participation during the midterm election to historic heights.  

“Nothing can discredit the fact that leaders, activists, including NAACP supporters and partners, helped increase civic engagement in ways many thought would not be possible,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. “This election not only further proved the power of the Black vote but was an overwhelming rebuke of Trump and Trumpism, and a show of support for candidates who look like America and campaigned on a bold, forward-looking and inclusive vision.”    

The NAACP, along with GSSA, LLC, a Colorado data analytics group, mapped out metrics for the Black community – across six states (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Michigan), to test new targeting models for low propensity and moderate propensity black voters, impact the elections and identify parity in registration and increase the turnout of Black voters in battleground states.   

NAACP door-knocking efforts produced the following numbers: 

• Florida: NAACP and partners knocked on approximately 165k doors and completed over 24k contacts. 
• Pennsylvania: approximately 30k doors and completed over 11k contacts.  
• Georgia: approximately 30k doors and completed over 6k contacts. 
• Ohio: approximately 17k doors and completed over 9k contacts.

NAACP voter protection work included:    

• Worked with County Board of Elections in various states, in real-time to ensure that issues at the polls were addressed in a timely manner and to support voters who had issues in casting their ballots. 

• Participated in litigation pressure efforts to extend voting hours due to voting administration irregularities in Georgia and Tennessee.  

NAACP victories to state-by-state include: 

• Helped flip the North Carolina Supreme Court 
• Helped to pass Amendment 4 in Florida – automatically restored voting rights in the state for people previously convicted of felonies   
• Helped to pass Proposal 3 in Michigan – Promote The Vote (Same Day Registration) 

NAACP communication and digital work included: 

• Reached over 575 thousand infrequent voters directly through peer to peer text messaging platform called, Hustle. 

Total Text Messages Sent:

• 512,014 (Across the six Demonstration Project states) 
• 578,569 (Including Maryland and Key Urban Centers) 

• Sent three flights of mail to our targeted universe of infrequent voters which included over 600k individual households. 

Unfortunately, voter suppression played a huge role in the silencing of the political voices of the Black community and all people of color during the election season. In Georgia and Tennessee alone, Republicans engaged in a massive voter suppression strategy that has included further rolling back the Voting Rights Act.  

“Now is the time to look forward and prepare for the 2020 Census, and the imminent threat that the Census will substantially undercount African-Americans and other people of color in communities throughout the United States,” President Johnson continued. “This would further dilute the votes of racial and ethnic minorities, deprive their communities of critical federal funds and undervalue their voices and interests in the political arena. We can’t let this administration use yet another mechanism to devalue and stifle the voices of people of color.”   

***Please note: The data above is just a preliminary count of the campaign’s efforts. Additional analytics and our full analytics will be produced over the coming weeks*** 

### 

ABOUT THE NAACP: 

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACP’s work and our six “Game Changer” issue areas by visiting naacp.org. 

Andrew Gillum concedes race to Ron DeSantis

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, along with his wife R Jai posted a video today in which he conceded the Florida Governor's race to Ron DeSantis. Watch that video below.

Stacey Abrams "concession" speech

Democrat Stacey Abrams on Friday ended her campaign in the hotly contested Georgia governor’s race, saying she saw "no legal path forward" against Republican Brian Kemp.

“Concession means to acknowledge an action is right, true or proper,” she said. “As a woman of conscience and faith, I cannot concede. But my assessment is that the law currently allows no further viable remedy.”

Watch her concession speech below.

Rep.Marcia Fudge on possibly challenging Pelosi for Speaker of the House: Our leadership should be diverse

Marcia Fudge, the congresswoman from Ohio who may be launching a bid against Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House, told CNN's Elizabeth Landers that she is undecided about her bid, but seems bolstered by the outreach she's receiving. Watch her comments below.