Amazon names Rosalind Brewer to board of directors

Amazon says it has named Starbucks executive Rosalind Brewer to its its all-white board, making her the second black woman to ever sit on the online retailer’s board of directors.

Brewer is currently the chief operating officer at coffee chain Starbucks. She has also been CEO of Sam’s Club, the warehouse club owned by Walmart.

Seattle-based Amazon and other big companies have been under pressure to diversify their boards, which tend to be made up of white men.

With Brewer’s addition, Amazon’s 10-person board now has four women members.

[SOURCE: MARKETWATCH]

Kamala Harris Introduces Legislation to Preserve Buildings and Sites at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Today, U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) reintroduced a bill to reauthorize the Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) Historic Preservation Program for fiscal years 2019 to 2025. Across more than 100 HBCUs around the country, historic buildings and sites—some more than 100 years old—have deteriorated over time and are at risk of being permanently lost if they are not preserved and protected. The bill would authorize funding for grants to restore these historic buildings and sites, as well as improve accessibility on many HBCU campuses.

 The bill is a Senate companion of House legislation introduced by U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC).

 “During my time as a student at Howard University, I was proud and humbled to walk the same hallways as historic figures like Thurgood Marshall, Zora Neale Hurston, and Shirley Franklin,” said Harris. “The history represented at Howard and across every other HBCU imbues special meaning on each campus and reminds students that they can come as they are and leave as the person they aspire to be. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to preserve and improve HBCUs around the country for our future generations.”

 “Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have played a vital role in American higher education,” said Graham.  “With their long, rich history, HBCUs have helped many students achieve their full potential.  I’m pleased to join this bipartisan effort to strengthen these fine institutions and the Americans who have benefitted from the important role played by HBCU’s.”

“I welcome and fully support this effort to continue our stewardship to preserve these important pieces of American history, and as I have for the last several Congresses, I am introducing companion legislation in the House,” said Clyburn.

 Supporters of the legislation include The United Negro College Fund, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“Our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are one of the most important vehicles for higher education and upward mobility in America. Without them, we would have no Thurgood Marshall, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Jordan or Chadwick Boseman. I commend Senator Harris and the bipartisan group of Senate co-sponsors for working to ensure that the rich legacy of our nation's HBCU's are preserved through the reauthorization of the HBCU Historic Preservation legislation.” -- Dr. Harry L. Williams, president & CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund.  

“The Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Historic Preservation Fund remains a vital program for HBCUs and a program that UNCF has historically championed. UNCF firmly believes in the value added to HBCUs who are able to receive financial assistance to preserve the historic structures on their campuses. Against substantial odds, HBCUs have played a unique role in transforming the landscape of higher education in the United States and continue to prepare the African American professional and civic leaders needed by communities, employers and the nation. UNCF offers its full support of this piece of legislation and hope to see this bill signed into law.” -- Lodriguez Murray, UNCF Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs

“From Morehouse College in Atlanta to Howard University right here in Washington, DC, Historically Black Colleges and Universities reflect the determination of generations of Black Americans to receive a quality education, even in the face of profound discrimination. We thank Senator Harris and Representative Clyburn for their dedication to preserving these testaments to African American achievement, activism and the Black educational experience, and reauthorizing the HBCU Historic Preservation Program to ensure that the historic buildings on HBCU campuses will continue to inspire and educate future generations.” -- Brent Leggs, director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

 In addition to Senators Harris and Graham, co-sponsors of the bill include Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Doug Jones (D-AL), and Tim Scott (R-SC).

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass Calls For Northam To Resign

Today, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), issued the following statement regarding Governor Northam:

“Ralph Northam served in our nation’s military, treated thousands of families as a medical doctor, and had the audacity to ask for Black votes when he wanted to become governor, yet never once mentioned that he thought it was ok to be in black face or dressed as a Klansman.

“An apology now isn’t enough. The governor needs to learn that it’s not about what you do once you’re caught. Instead, it’s about the things you do when you think no one is watching.

“We now know what Ralph Northam did when he thought no one was watching. The person in that photo can’t be trusted to lead. Governor Northam must resign immediately.”

Virginia Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax statement on Governor Northam blackface photo

Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax is the man who would take over if Governor Northam of Virginia resigned because of a racist yearbook photo in which Northam is in either blackface or wearing a KKK robe. Fairfax released the following statement on the controversy:

Like so many Virginians, I am shocked and saddened by the images in the Governor’s yearbook that came to light yesterday.

They are an example of a painful scourge that continues to haunt us today and holds us back from the progress we need to make.

As we commemorate 400 years since the first enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia, it is painful to experience such a searing reminder of the modern legacy of our nation’s original sin. And, as someone whose great-great-great grandfather was enslaved in Virginia, this episode strikes particularly close to home.

The Governor needed to apologize, and I am glad that he did so. He also reached out to me personally to express his sincere regrets and to apologize.

I have worked closely with Ralph Northam over many years. He has been a friend to me and has treated my family and me with hospitality and respect.

While his career has been marked by service to children, soldiers, and constituents, I cannot condone the actions from his past that, at the very least, suggest a comfort with Virginia’s darker history of white supremacy, racial stereotyping, and intimidation.

At this critical and defining moment in the history of Virginia and this nation, we need leaders with the ability to unite and help us rise to the better angels of our nature.

I remain committed to serving and helping to heal the Commonwealth moving forward. Now more than ever, we must make decisions in the best interests of the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Cory Booker, Kamala Harris called for Virginia Governor Northam to resign

Democratic presidential candidates, Cory Booker and Kamala Harris are calling for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) to resign over his appearance in a picture showing a man wearing blackface and another dressed in a Ku Klux Klan robe.

Read their statements posted on Twitter below:

These images arouse centuries of anger, anguish, and racist violence and they’ve eroded all confidence in Gov. Northam’s ability to lead. We should expect more from our elected officials. He should resign.

— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 2, 2019

Leaders are called to a higher standard, and the stain of racism should have no place in the halls of government. The Governor of Virginia should step aside so the public can heal and move forward together.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 2, 2019

Cory Booker announces White House bid

It's official!

In a video released on February 1, 2019, the first day of Black history Month Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced that he would be running for president in 2020.

Watch his announcement below:

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to present Bennett College with $100,000 Endowment

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the country’s oldest African-American sorority, has pledged an endowment in the amount of $100,000 to Bennett College. The gift is one of the largest the Institution has received since announcing on Dec.11, 2018, that it must raise a minimum of $5 million to remain accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded on Jan. 15, 1908, on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. The sorority has about 300,000 members worldwide. Notable members include Congresswoman Kamala Harris, who this week announced her candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, actress Phylicia Rashad and author Toni Morrison.

Bennett College President Dr. Phyllis Worthy Dawkins was notified of the gift in a letter from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. International President Dr. Glenda Glover, who said the sorority wanted to support Bennett because of its national goal to support and make an impact on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The endowment will be presented at a Black History Month gathering of HBCU presidents at Alpha Kappa Alpha’s International Headquarters in Chicago.

“As an HBCU graduate and someone who has dedicated my life’s work to the HBCU community, I personally know the impact that establishing an endowment has on a student’s enrollment or graduation prospects,” said Glover. “Our organization has established the AKA-HBCU Endowment Fund with the goal of investing in the future of our young people and the sustainability of our treasured Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Over the next four years, we have pledged to donate a total of $10 million towards the endowment. We are honored to provide Bennett College with their full endowment immediately to support their fundraising goals.”

Dawkins said the Bennett College family is grateful to Alpha Kappa Alpha for the generous donation. In addition, local AKA chapters have been very supportive of Bennett.

“On behalf of the Bennett College Board of Trustees, as well as our faculty, staff and students, I can’t thank President Glover and the members of AKA enough for their donation to Bennett College,” Dawkins said. “While we appreciate all of the support Bennett has received from individuals, foundations and corporations, substantial gifts like the one from AKA will go a long way toward helping us reach our fundraising goal of a minimum of $5 million by Feb. 1. We are truly appreciative to the women of AKA for their amazing support.”

On Dec. 11, 2018, Bennett College was removed from membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Bennett immediately appealed the decision and remains accredited during the appeal process. Bennett was removed strictly for financial reasons and was not issued sanctions against its academics, leadership, faculty or students.

Founded in 1873 as a coeducational institution, Bennett became women’s only in 1926. Spelman College in Atlanta is the country’s only other all-women’s HBCU.

Bennett has a history of producing outstanding women leaders, including: the first woman or African-American to head the U.S. Peace Corps; the screenplay writer for “The Loving Story,” which in 2016 was made into an Academy Award-nominated motion picture; the Deputy Minority Leader in the N.C. General Assembly; the first African-American female dentist in Indiana; the first African-American woman to serve as an Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts; the first woman to hold the position of Director of Drug Program and Policies within the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA); and the first active teacher and youngest person to be elected to the Berkeley (California) Unified School District School Board.

Current Bennett students and recent grads are also impressive, including senior business administration major Tyler Binion, who was selected among 63 students to serve as a Competitiveness Scholar through the White House Initiative on HBCUs, and Delrisha White ’13, who enrolled in Bennett from the foster care system in San Francisco and became SGA President.  She graduated with honors and is now earning her master’s degree at Harvard.

Ways to give to Bennett College:

• Online: bennett.edu/donate
• Text2Give: Text the word BELLES to the number 444999
• Cash App: $StandwithBennett
• S. Mail: Send a check to Bennett College, Office of Institutional Advancement, 900 E. Washington St., Greensboro, N.C. 27401

Baltimore State Marilyn Mosby: Baltimore will stop prosecuting marijuana possession,

Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced Tuesday her office would cease prosecuting people for possessing marijuana regardless of the quantity or the person’s criminal history.

Calling the move monumental for justice in Baltimore, Mosby also requested the courts vacate convictions in nearly 5,000 cases of marijuana possession.

See Black Panther Free in movie theaters for one week only in honor of Black History Month

Oscar Best-Picture Nominee #BlackPanther returns to the big screen beginning February 1st and ending February 7th.

Fans of all ages can see the movie for free in honor of Black History Month at participating AMC Theaters.

Academy Award®-nominated “Black Panther” returns to the big screen to celebrate Black History Month for a one-week engagement, February 1-7, at 250 participating AMC Theatres locations.

Simply click here to find your state and claim your free tickets: Black Panther Tickets

Stacey Abrams to give Dem. response of the State of the Union

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Stacey Abrams, who was narrowly defeated in the 2018 gubernatorial race in Georgia, will give the Democratic response to President Trump's State of the Union address.

The Democratic response will give Abrams a major platform to counter the President following his address to Congress and the nation — and the speech is sure to further elevate her national profile.

"Her electrifying message of courage, perseverance and hope reinvigorated our nation and our politics, and continues to inspire millions of Americans in every part of the country," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. "Stacey Abrams embodies the American Dream, and her powerful message of progress for all is deeply needed during this time for our country."

"Stacey Abrams offers a welcome, stark contrast to President (Donald) Trump's politics of division and lack of leadership as American families are still feeling the impacts of his self-imposed shutdown," Schumer said in a statement. "Stacey Abrams is a present and future leader in this country. She is a dynamic, moral leader; she delivered results on the issues that matter most to Americans; and she tirelessly pursues fairness and justice for everyone in her state."

Via Twitter Stacey Abrams released the following statement:

At a moment when our nation needs to hear from leaders who can unite for a common purpose, I am honored to be delivering the Democratic State of the Union response.

Kamala Harris gets support from Iowa's Deidre DeJear

California Sen. Kamala Harris is announcing the backing of Iowa Democrat Deidre DeJear as she travels to the early 2020 caucus state Monday.

DeJear was Iowa's first African American to win a primary for statewide office last year, but lost in her attempt to unseat Iowa's Republican secretary of state.

DeJear has since been courted by several Democrats taking steps toward running for president. Harris campaigned with DeJear in Iowa last fall after the two met in Washington, D.C., and California.

Harris is scheduled to travel to Des Moines to participate in a CNN town hall-style event live Monday evening.

Harris announced her candidacy for president Jan. 21. She also announced that Will Dubbs, a former aide to Hillary Clinton in 2016, will direct the California senator's 2020 Iowa campaign.

[SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS]

Dems go all-out to recruiting Stacey Abrams to run for U.S. Senate seat in 2020

Democrats are doing a full-court press to draft Stacey Abrams into Georgia’s 2020 Senate race, a move that would put in play a state that hasn’t gone blue in two decades and could reshape the party’s path to retaking the Senate majority.

The problem is that Abrams still has hopes of becoming governor — it’s where she could have the most direct impact on issues like voting rights — and isn’t sold on the Senate. But the pressure on her to run in 2020, capitalizing on her rise to national prominence last year and her continued popularity in Georgia despite losing the 2018 governor’s race, is only growing.

Abrams is giving serious consideration to a Senate run, and she met with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairwoman Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in recent weeks. As she deliberates, Abrams also sat down with three of the most prominent African-Americans in the Democratic Party: Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who has been close with Abrams since they overlapped in law school, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.). Lewis said that he wasn’t urging Abrams to choose a path forward, but that he’d be a “strong supporter” of whatever she does next. Abrams has also been keeping supporters fired up with a statewide tour billed as an opportunity to thank her backers in 2018.

State Rep. Al Williams, a close ally of Abrams’, said Abrams is getting the “hard sell” from national and local Democrats who want her to run in 2020, but that she hasn’t indicated to him whether she’s leaning towards or against a run.

“The Democratic Party certainly needs candidates like Stacey Abrams, so there will be a lot of push for her to run,” Williams said.

The biggest thing in the way of that push is Abrams' ambition to be Georgia's governor. “She's the obvious frontrunner for the race. But I still think she wants to be the governor and she always has, and that's going to weigh on her,” said Jason Carter, Democrats' 2014 gubernatorial nominee and the grandson of former President Jimmy Carter.

Read more: Dems go all-out to land top Senate recruit: Stacey Abrams

Kamala Harris official campaign kickoff speech

Speaking at Oakland's City Hall, Kamala Harris officially launched her 2020 campaign for President of the United States. Watch her speech below:

Ethics complaint against Andrew Gillum will proceed

An ethics complaint against former Florida gubernatorial candidate and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum will proceed after the state ethics commission found probable cause at a hearing Friday that he had accepted gifts, Gillum's lawyer confirmed.

Gillum faced six counts related to soliciting and accepting gifts -- including rental accommodations in Costa Rica, a boat ride to see the Statue of Liberty and tickets to see the Broadway musical "Hamilton" in 2016 -- Gillum's attorney Barry Richard told CNN.

"There's conflicting testimony as to what happened," he said.

At the hearing, the Florida ethics commission advocate considered the facts of the case and "recommended no probable cause on the account for soliciting gifts, and she recommended probable cause on the remaining counts, which were accepting gifts that exceeded $100," Richard said.

Florida law bans state officials from accepting gifts worth more than $100.

Read more: Ethics complaint against Andrew Gillum will proceed

Black Voters: What gives you the most pause about supporting Kamala Harris

By George L. Cook III African American Reports.

On January 21st Senator Kamala Harris announced her run for President of the United States.

This was met be with a lot of enthusiasm by many including women, some progressives, and of course her sorors the AKAs, but with skepticism from some black voters.

What led to that skepticism are aspects of her record as , district attorney, and California Attorney General that became more widely known, and although not many some black men take issue with the fact that she did not marry a black man ( These men are akin to those black men in Georgia who refused to vote for Stacey Abrams).

There are also general voter issues with her candidacy such as her Wall Street ties, some feel that she is not progressive enough, and her perceived lack of experience.

Some are not going to like the face that I raised these issues but they must be discussed if we are going to have a serious discussion about Harris's candidacy, and she must have an answer for them if she is serious about her candidacy. Voters deserve answers to those questions.

I for one don't like her criminal justice record and have some concerns about her Wall Street ties but don't care about who she is married to or about her lack of experience as the same claims were made about former President Obama. I'm willing to listen to her and make a better-informed decision after her full platform is out there.

What do you think? I would love to see your responses below.

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Interim President and CEO Statement on the Resignation of Board Chair Rep. Jackson Lee

WASHINGTON—Dr. Elsie L. Scott, interim president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF), released the following statement regarding the resignation of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee as chair of the Foundation’s board of directors.

“The mission of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is to advance the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. As chair of CBCF’s board of directors, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s longstanding commitment to inspire young people to become involved in their communities and government, coupled with her outstanding leadership and vision, helped the Foundation fulfil its mission.

We are grateful for Rep. Jackson Lee’s unswerving commitment to the Foundation, and her efforts to help shape and elevate our programming for the last two years as chair, and a number of years as a board member.

The congresswoman values the Foundation’s ideals and does not want to be a distraction during the legal proceedings of the suit filed against the CBCF.

While the board selects an interim chair, CBCF will continue to facilitate academic, leadership and professional development opportunities for emerging black leaders.”

‘BlacKkKlansman’ Returns to Theaters After Six Academy Award Nominations

“BlacKkKlansman,” Spike Lee’s crime drama about a black detective who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan, is heading back to theaters after picking up six Oscar nominations.

The film will be re-released in 168 theaters across the country this weekend. “BlacKkKlansman” will play in over 30 states, including New York, California, and Florida. Academy members will be allowed in showings free of charge with their membership card.

Focus Features initially released “BlacKkKlansman” in theaters in August, where it debuted with $10.8 million — the third-best opening weekend of Lee’s career. It went on to earn $48.5 million at the domestic box office and $40.8 million overseas.

“BlacKkKlansman” recounts the true story of black detective Ron Stallworth (John David Washington), who goes undercover to expose the Colorado Springs chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. After over 30 years of making movies, “BlacKkKlansman” finally landed Lee a best director nomination, making him only the sixth black filmmaker to receive a nod in that category. If he wins, he would be the first black director to do so. He is also the first black writer to be nominated in the screenplay category more than once.

[SOURCE: VARIETY]

Golden State Warriors visit Obama during trip to DC

NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors met with everyone's favorite president....Barack Obama on Thursday after declining to visit the White House to meet with that other guy.

The team visited the former President on Thursday before their game against the Washington Wizards in the nation's capital.

The Warriors posed with Obama in a picture of the visit that surfaced on social media Thursday.

The team met with Obama for nearly an hour.

Washington D.C.Mayor Muriel Bowser announces help for furloughed federal workers

With no end in sight for the government shutdown, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that she is taking steps to help protect its residents who are furloughed federal workers.

Van Jones to lead Reform Alliance, a criminal justice initiative

Today, the REFORM Alliance announced that renowned activist and TV personality Van Jones will serve as the organization's Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The REFORM Alliance is a newly-established organization that is committed to advancing criminal justice reform and eliminating outdated laws that perpetuate injustice, starting with probation and parole.

In his role with the REFORM Alliance, Jones will oversee the implementation of the organization's mission to drastically reduce the number of people who are under control of the criminal justice system while keeping communities safe by changing laws and public opinion.

"This is the opportunity of a lifetime," Jones said. "I have spent my entire adult life preparing myself to help lead an initiative of this magnitude. I'm looking forward to working with this powerful group of founders to disrupt the status quo and shift the criminal justice system landscape for generations to come."

REFORM is backed by a bi-partisan and diverse group of sports, entertainment and business leaders, including award-winning recording artist Meek Mill; Philadelphia 76ers co-owner and Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin; entrepreneur and business mogul Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter; Kraft Group CEO and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft; Brooklyn Nets co-owner and philanthropic investor Clara Wu Tsai; Third Point LLC CEO and founder Daniel S. Loeb; Galaxy Digital CEO and founder Michael E. Novogratz; Vista Equity Partners founder, chairman and CEO Robert F. Smith.

"I don't think we could find a better person to lead this movement than Van Jones," said Rubin, who is the co-chairman of the REFORM Alliance alongside Meek Mill. "He has devoted most of his adult life to criminal justice reform and his passion is unparalleled. With the incredible founding partners that we've assembled standing alongside Van as our leader, I'm confident that we will make a real difference."

A Yale-educated attorney, Jones has spent nearly 25 years laboring on social change causes, with a recurring focus on criminal justice issues.

Jones co-founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in 1996. Based in Oakland, that organization has been a leading force in criminal justice reform for more than two decades. The center played a key role in closing five abusive youth prisons in California and blocking the construction of a Super-Jail for youth in Oakland.

In 2013, Jones co-founded #cut50, a bipartisan justice reform initiative of the Dream Corps. #cut50 played a vital role in passing criminal justice reform at the federal level last year. The New York Times called the bill -- the First Step Act -- the most significant criminal justice breakthrough in a generation.

Jones will continue to appear occasionally on CNN and host his bimonthly weekend program on CNN, The Van Jones Show.

About REFORM AllianceThe REFORM Alliance is committed to advancing criminal justice reform and eradicating laws and policies that perpetuate injustice in the United States. To achieve that objective, the REFORM Alliance will strive to pass probation bills at the state level, use media to amplify the need for comprehensive reform and build an inclusive, bi-partisan alliance of leaders from the business, entertainment, sports and community industries who share a cohesive vision for ambitiously and efficiently transforming the criminal justice system.

To learn more about the alliance, please visit http://www.reformnow.com/.