Sandra Bland's Phone Video Of Her Own Arrest Surfaces

Nearly four years after Sandra Bland was pulled over by a Texas state trooper, arrested and put in a jail cell where she was found dead days later, a cellphone video that Bland took of her traffic stop has surfaced. Watch that video below.

After seeing the video Bland's family members now say they want her case reopened.

"Open up the case, period," Bland's sister Shante Needham said after seeing the video, according to TV station WFAA in Dallas. The family's former lawyer says the state never turned over the footage, which Texas officials dispute.

The newly released video shows 39 seconds of the roadside encounter that sharply escalated after state Trooper Brian Encinia pulled Bland over for failing to signal a lane change.

Bland's family believes the video was intentionally not made public, Collister says. According to Houston Public Media, the reporter first obtained the video in 2017, but it wasn't used in a story at the time. It was only after Collister realized Bland's family had not seen the recording that he decided to make it public.

Collister says the video should raise questions for state Attorney General Ken Paxton's office, which represented the Department of Public Safety in the federal wrongful-death lawsuit. Collister says he had been seeking information on whether prosecutors from that office complied with a discovery order and turned over the video during the civil suit.

Read more: Sandra Bland's Phone Video Of Her Own Arrest Surfaces, Reviving Calls For New Inquiry

Florida's Andrew Gillum calls bill to limit voting by ex-convicts a 'poll tax'

Andrew Gillum, the Tallahassee mayor who last November lost a close race to become Florida’s governor, sharply criticized new restrictions placed on voting by people with felony convictions at a congressional hearing on Monday. He said the new restrictions, passed last Friday by the Florida state legislature, amounted to a “poll tax,” one of the measures historically used in Southern states to prevent African-Americans from voting.

“The unfortunate thing” about Florida, Gillum said, was that “we almost look directly at how we disenfranchise as many people as we possibly can,” citing alleged attempts to close polling sites and dismiss absentee ballots.

Gillum made his comments at a Monday hearing of the Committee on House Administration devoted to voting rights in Florida. Gillum, a Democrat who lost in November to Rep. Ron DeSantis, now runs Bring It Home Florida, a group that seeks to register a million voters ahead of the 2020 presidential race, in which Florida will almost certainly play a critical role.

Gillum made his “poll tax” comments in response to a measure passed by the Republican-controlled Florida state legislature last week, weakening Amendment 4, a ballot initiative to allow former prisoners who have completed their sentences to vote in the state. The amendment, which would affect some 1.5 million ex-felons, passed with 65 percent of the vote in November.

Read more: Florida's Gillum calls bill to limit voting by ex-convicts a 'poll tax'

Monty Williams named head coach of the NBA's Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to terms with Monty Williams to become the team’s new head coach. An experienced NBA head coach, Williams is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA Playoffs and will begin his duties as Suns head coach following the conclusion of the 76ers’ season.

“I am thrilled to welcome Monty Williams to the Suns family as our next head coach,” said Suns General Manager James Jones. “Monty brings a wealth of NBA experience, both as a coach and former player, in addition to being a high-character individual who will infuse basketball wisdom and life lessons into our locker room. Monty is well respected for his coaching pedigree, leadership and commitment to the community, all of which make him the ideal person to lead our team moving forward.”

Williams, 47, spent five seasons as head coach of the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans from 2010-2015, leading the team to two postseason appearances. In his first season, the Hornets won 46 games and Williams was the Western Conference Coach of the Month for January 2011 as he led New Orleans’ return to the playoffs after missing them the season before his arrival. Following the departure of All-NBA guard Chris Paul prior to the 2011-12 season, Williams oversaw the growth and development of one of the league’s youngest rosters, increasing the team’s win total in three straight seasons culminating in 45 wins in 2014-15 to lead New Orleans back to the playoffs.

In addition to his five seasons as an NBA head coach, Williams has totaled seven seasons as an assistant coach, two seasons in a front office role, one season as a coaching intern and nine seasons as a player, giving him 24 years of NBA experience since first being drafted in 1994. Currently, Williams is completing his first season as an assistant coach with the 76ers, who went 51-31 and are facing the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Williams served as associate head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015-16, contributing to the Thunder’s trip to the Western Conference Finals, and spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2005-2010, a stint that included two playoff berths. He got his start in coaching as a coaching intern with the San Antonio Spurs for the 2004-05 season when the team won an NBA Championship. Before returning to the bench this season, Williams spent two seasons in the Spurs’ front office as vice president of basketball operations from 2016-2018.

Williams also served as one of three assistant coaches for the USA Basketball Men’s National Team from 2013-2016. As a member of Mike Krzyzewski’s staff, Williams assisted the USA to a perfect overall record of 26-0, including gold-medal finishes at the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain and the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Recognized as a revered friend and role model to many in the basketball community and beyond, at the 2017 NBA Awards, Williams was the recipient of the inaugural Sager Strong Award, an honor named for iconic Turner Sports sideline reporter Craig Sager presented annually to an individual who has been a trailblazer while exemplifying courage, faith, compassion and grace.

Williams was a nine-year NBA veteran as a player, averaging 6.3 points in 456 career games with New York, San Antonio, Denver, Orlando and Philadelphia. His best season came with the Spurs in 1996-97 when he averaged a career-high 9.0 points plus 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists. The 24th overall pick in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft by the Knicks, Williams’ NBA career began after he earned honorable mention All-America honors at the University of Notre Dame for his senior season in 1993-94 when he averaged 22.4 points and 8.4 rebounds. Born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Williams starred at Potomac High School in Oxon Hill, Maryland before heading to Notre Dame where he earned a degree in the school’s College of Arts and Letters, majoring in communications and theatre.

Baltimore's new mayor, Bernard "Jack" Young vows to clean up the city

Baltimore's new mayor has vowed to clean up the city after being thrust into office by his predecessor's resignation amid corruption investigations, but he inherits serious, longstanding problems that have plagued previous administrations.

Bernard "Jack" Young, a longtime leader of the City Council, says he intends to serve only the remainder of former Mayor Catherine Pugh's term and has no interest in running for mayor in 2020. If the Democrat doesn't change his mind, his tenure would last just 1 ½ years.

Young had been Baltimore's interim leader since April 2, when Pugh departed on an indefinite leave for what her lawyer has said was poor health after a bout of pneumonia. Pugh stepped down a month later, mired in a scandal that's put her in the crosshairs of federal, state and city investigators trying to unravel the murky financial arrangements of her self-published children's books.

In a phone interview, Young told The Associated Press he's ready to make changes and is focused on reducing one of the country's highest rates of violent crime and tidying up the city's streets. He aims to bring more investments and jobs, particularly to its most deeply disenfranchised neighborhoods.

"I'm determined to make a dent. I'm not a placeholder — I'm the mayor now. And I'm going to run the city like the mayor," Young said from Detroit, where's he's attending a conference about economic development before his return to Baltimore over the weekend.

[SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS]

1st enrolled African-American at University of Alabama receives honorary doctoral degree

Autherine Lucy Foster was denied admission to the University of Alabama in 1952 and became the first African American to be enrolled at the university for only three days in 1956. Foster was removed from classes after three days because of rioting and threats on her life.

Today the University of Alabama was awarded the 89-year-old Foster an honorary degree. Foster did receive a degree from Alabama 35 years later in 1991 earning her masters degree in education. The difference being that this time her family was there to see her receive her second.

Bolden: where The Music Began in theaters today!

BOLDEN, is drama directed by Dan Pritzker, imagines the compelling, powerful and tragic journey of Buddy Bolden, the unsung American hero who invented Jazz. With little biographical information known and no found recordings of his music, the film’s narrative composes fragmented memories of his past, against the political and social context in which his revolutionary music was conceived.

Starring Gary Carr as Bolden with original music written, arranged and performed by Wynton Marsalis, BOLDEN invites you to experience a world fueled by passion, greed and musical genius, in early 1900s New Orleans. The film co-stars Erik LaRay Harvey, Yaya DaCosta, Ian McShane and Michael Rooker.

Not just content to handle al of the musical duties associated with the film, Wynton Marsalis is also an executive producer on the film.

BOLDEN stars Gary Carr, Erik LaRay Harvey, Yaya DaCosta, Reno Wilson, Karimah Westbrook, JoNell Kennedy, Robert Ri’chard, Serena Reeder with Michael Rooker and Ian McShane .

For a complete list of the cities BOLDEN is playing in click here: BOLDEN Cities and Showtimes

WATCH THE TRAILER

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh resigns

After weeks of growing pleas for her to step down, Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh has resigned, her attorney said Thursday.

"I am sorry for the harm that I have caused to the image of the city of Baltimore and the credibility of the office of the mayor," she said in a letter read by her lawyer Steve Silverman.

"Baltimore deserves a mayor who can move our great city forward," the statement continued. Pugh, who has been suffering from health issues, did not appear at the press conference with her attorney.

Pugh, a Democrat, is under investigation for alleged "self-dealing" in connection to the sale of thousands of copies of a self-published children's book series. Many of those sales went to entities that she had influence over or that sought to do business with the city.

In recent weeks, federal agents raided her two homes, her City Hall office and other locations. She has been on an indefinite paid leave of absence from her job as Baltimore's top elected official since April 1, citing health reasons.

Maryland's Office of State Prosecutor and the city's ethics board have launched probes into whether any laws or ethics rules have been violated.

At this time, no local, state, or federal authorities have charged her with any crime.

[SOURCE: NPR]

Senator Booker Questions AG Barr in Judiciary Committee

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told Attorney General William Barr that he feared Barr's response to special counsel Robert Mueller's report and his characterization of President Donald Trump's actions normalizes a "deep litany of lies and deceit and misconduct," as well as foreign election interference. Booker also questioned Barr on some of the report's findings about the Trump campaign's links to Russia, and said the attorney general's unwillingness to criticize the Trump administration calls his credibility into question.

Sen. Kamala Harris questions Barr on White House contacts and more

Sen. Kamala Harris questioned Attorney General William Barr about whether anyone at the White House had ever suggested he open an investigation. She also asked about the propriety of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's involvement in deciding the president had not obstructed justice. Watch her question Barr below:

Ross University School of Medicine and Tuskegee University Partner to Address Physician Diversity in the U.S.

L-R: Roberta Troy, Ph.D., Provost, Tuskegee University; Lily McNair, Ph.D., President, Tuskegee University; Lisa W.
Wardell, President and Chief Executive Officer, Adtalem Global Education; William F. Owen, M.D., FACP, Dean and Chancellor, Ross University School of Medicine. 

TUSKEGEE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The United States is facing a critical absence of diversity in medicine, and the disproportionately low numbers of African-American doctors is causing negative health outcomes in communities across the country. Reflecting its commitment to improve diversity among the nation’s doctors, Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) has entered into an agreement with Tuskegee University in Alabama to increase the number of African-American students who enter medical school at RUSM, and ultimately become physicians. This educational pathway allows qualified Tuskegee students who earn full acceptance into the medical school to receive a scholarship covering full tuition for the first semester. These students will spend the first two years of medical school at the RUSM campus in Barbados.

RUSM has a diverse student population with 51 percent of students being persons of color. With more than 14,000 alumni, RUSM graduates practice in direct patient care in all 50 states, including a high percentage of graduates who are in the essential field of primary care. African Americans make up only six percent1 of U.S. physicians. While most U.S. medical schools had an average of eight African-American graduates this past year, RUSM had more than 80.

“Significantly greater representation in medicine is imperative to the health of our communities and our nation, and RUSM’s unique impact and portable lessons on medical school diversity promise to reduce health disparities,” said RUSM Dean and Chancellor, Dr. William F. Owen, Jr., M.D., FACP. “We are pleased to partner with Tuskegee University. By increasing the participation of underrepresented Americans in health education we promulgate an opportunity to share in social justice for health.”

“This is an exciting partnership that I expect will yield tremendous dividends for everyone involved — especially for Tuskegee University’s students, whose broadening professional opportunities will also mean a more diverse medical workforce,” said Tuskegee University President Dr. Lily D. McNair. “I look forward to the wonderful opportunities for our students and our university, as Tuskegee gains a valuable academic partner.”

“The Alabama Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs applauds Tuskegee University and Ross University School of Medicine for tackling the long-standing lack of diversity in medicine. The adverse effects stemming from a lack of access to care and the pervasiveness of health inequality have long been felt, not only across Alabama, but nationwide,” said Nichelle Williams Nix, Director of Alabama’s Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs, which works with Tuskegee and the state’s other HBCUs to enhance their collective impact on Alabama’s economic and workforce development success.

RUSM recently announced similar agreements with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science. As part of its continued commitment to addressing diversity in medicine, RUSM’s parent company, Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE), signed on to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Partnership Challenge created by the Congressional Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, pledging to invest in creating strategic collaborations with HBCUs and working to increase diversity in key workforce sectors.

Having recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, RUSM is part of Adtalem Global Education’s medical and healthcare education vertical, which also includes American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Sint Maarten, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St. Kitts, and Chamberlain University, the largest provider of nursing education in the United States. Adtalem is a mission-driven educator and workforce solutions provider with institutions and companies around the world, including the U.S., Caribbean, Europe, Asia and Brazil.

About Tuskegee University

Located in Tuskegee, Alabama, Tuskegee University is a private, state-related and nationally ranked land-grant institution that serves a racially, ethnically and religiously diverse student body of 3,000-plus students. The institution was founded in 1881 by Booker T. Washington and is one of the nation's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges since 1933, Tuskegee’s academic programs — many accredited by their respective accrediting bodies — currently lead to 41 bachelor’s, 16 master’s and five doctoral degree opportunities. For more information about Tuskegee University, visit www.tuskegee.edu.

About Ross University School of Medicine

Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM) is an institution of Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE), a global education provider headquartered in the United States. The organization's purpose is to empower students to achieve their goals, find success and make inspiring contributions to our global community. Founded in 1978 and located in Barbados, RUSM has more than 14,000 alumni and is committed to educating a diverse group of skilled physicians. RUSM is accredited by the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP). For more information, please visit medical.rossu.edu and follow RUSM on Twitter (@RossMedSchool), Instagram (@rossmedschool) and Facebook (@RossMedSchool).

About Adtalem Global Education

The purpose of Adtalem Global Education is to empower students to achieve their goals, find success, and make inspiring contributions to our global community. Adtalem Global Education Inc. (NYSE: ATGE; member S&P MidCap 400 Index) is a leading global education provider and the parent organization of Adtalem Educacional do Brasil (IBMEC, Damásio and Wyden institutions), American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, Becker Professional Education, Chamberlain University, EduPristine, Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. For more information, please visit adtalem.com and follow us on Twitter (@adtalemglobal) and LinkedIn.

Rep. Clyburn calls General Robert E. Lee a loser

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn sharply rebuked President Trump’s praise of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, who the president praised as a “great general,” but the Democrat called a “loser.”

“The fact of the matter is, Robert E. Lee was a great tactician, was not a great person,” said Clyburn, of South Carolina, on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “Robert E. Lee was a slave owner and a brutal slave master. Thankfully, he lost that war and I find it kind of interesting the president is now glorifying a loser. He always said that he hated losers. Robert E. Lee was a loser.”

“And even if you could get beyond that at the end of the Civil War,” he continued, “Robert E. Lee asked all of his comrades to lay down their guns and to furl those Confederate flags, and if my memory serves and put them in your attics, so if the president is going to glorify Robert E. Lee, let's at least be consistent about it.”

[SOURCE: YAHOO NEWS]

Stacey Abrams will not run for Senate

Stacey Abrams has decided against running for the Senate from Georgia in 2020, according to a Democratic official.

Abrams met with Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Monday to inform him of her plans.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Abrams will focus on her voting rights project. She has not decided whether to seek any other office at this time.

Abrams is considered a rising star in Democratic politics. A former Georgia state House minority leader, Abrams rose to national prominence last year during a closely fought gubernatorial bid. Abrams, who would have been the first African American woman ever elected governor, narrowly lost the race in the reliably red state.

[SOURCE: CNN]

NJ Governor Murphy Orders Mississippi State Flag be Removed From Liberty State Park

NJ Governor Phil Murphy today ordered that the Mississippi state flag be replaced by the American flag at New Jersey’s Liberty State Park. Flags from every state in the country adorn poles along Freedom Way, which runs through the park. The Mississippi State flag, which prominently features the Confederate emblem, will be replaced with an American flag.

“New Jersey’s strength is rooted in our diverse communities,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The Confederate symbol displayed on the Mississippi state flag is reprehensible and does not reflect our values of inclusivity and equality. I applaud Senator Cunningham for bringing this issue in her district to my attention.”

“The Confederate flag symbolizes an era of hate, violence, and division,” said Sen. Sandra Cunningham. “I thank Governor Murphy for his commitment to tolerance and equality and for the decision to remove this hateful symbol from Liberty State Park. Hate has no home in New Jersey.”

Rodney Robinson named 2019 National Teacher of the Year

HBCU graduate Rodney Robinson of Virginia has been named the 2019 National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State Officers. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nonpartisan, nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the Bureau of Indian Education and the five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions.

Rodney Robinson is a 19-year teaching veteran. He became a teacher to honor his mother, who struggled to receive an education after being denied an education as a child due to segregation and poverty in rural Virginia. In 2015, Robinson started teaching at Virgie Binford Education Center, a school inside the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center, in an effort to better understand the school-to-prison pipeline.

Robinson uses the whole child approach to education to help the students who are most vulnerable. His classroom is a collaborative partnership between himself and his students and is anchored in him providing a civic centered education that promotes social-emotional growth. Robinson uses the knowledge he has gained from his students to develop alternative programs to prevent students from entering the school-to-prison pipeline.

Robinson has been published three times by Yale University and has received numerous awards for his accomplishments in and out of the classroom, most notably the R.E.B. Award for Teaching Excellence. He is a member of Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney’s Education Compact Team, which includes politicians, educators, business leaders, and community leaders, and is working with city leaders and local colleges to recruit underrepresented male teachers into the field of education. He has also worked with Pulitzer Award winning author James Foreman on developing curriculum units on race, class, and punishment as a part of the Yale Teacher’s Institute.

Robinson earned a Bachelor of arts in history from Virginia State University and a master’s in educational administration and supervision from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Owning a gun does not disqualify Kamala Harris from running for president

By George L. Cook III AfricanAmericanReports.Com georgelcookiii@gmail.com

In the interest of full disclosure let me state that I am not a Kamala Harris supporter but I am a Democrat and as one I will support the winner of the Democratic primary. My purpose of writing this op-ed is to warn all Democrats, both progressive and moderate about ideological purity test hurting the party.

President Lyndon Johnson has been quoted as saying "You know the difference between cannibals and liberals? Cannibals only eat their enemies."

That statement is becoming even more true with upcoming 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary which is turning into a battle between moderate and progressives.

That brings me to a USA Today opinion piece written by Progressive Peter Funt who is a writer and host of "Candid Camera." Peter Funt writes that Kamala Harris should be qualified because she owns a gun. The argument he makes is that Harris' gun ownership somehow makes her less credible or hypocritical when it comes to gun control.

Harris owns a gun as someone who was a former prosecutor who had reason to worry about her safety. She keeps the firearm locked up and in a safe place in her home. Funt's arguments is another example of a purity test that doesn't help Democrats win the presidency in 2020.

The fact is many Democrats are okay with gun ownership but what common sense gun laws when it comes to who can own a gun, what types of firearms are legal, and how many guns one person can have. Most of us want laws that will prevent mass shootings and keep our children safe in schools.

Funt's rhetoric not only hurt Harris in this case but Democrats as a whole.

Here are three ways it hurts us Democrats:

1. The op-ed plays right into fringe right-wing fears that Democrats believe no one should own a gun and that the government wants to take their guns. A master charlatan like Trump would capitalize on that to remain, President of the United States.

2. This purity test will disqualify potentially good candidates like Harris, Beto O'Rourke, and Pete Buttigieg who also own guns. I don't think that what anyone wants as we want the best candidate up against Trump.

3. Fighting against gun ownership will hurt Democrats in swing states like Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. All states that Trump won and that Democrats need to retake the presidency.

I think those are three important reasons to back off the gun purity test.

In closing I would like to state that we as Democrats have to be careful about how candidates and their supporters go after each other during the primary season. The reason being that the winner of the Democratic Party will need to bring the party together after the primary season.

One way to do that is to get former candidates to endorse, and that becomes much harder when people feel that their candidate of choice was unfairly attacked. It also becomes much harder when losing candidates are so damaged by attacks during the primary that they lose credibility to endorse anyone or that their supporters are so angry that they stay home or worse yet vote for a third party candidate.

I don't care if you label yourself as liberal, moderate, or progressive Democrat, at the end of the day we are all Democrats, and we have to stop cannibalizing ourselves, or we will hand Trump a second term.

What's it going to be?

Rep. Elijah Cummings Statement on Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh

FBI agents raided the home of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh amid accusations of corruption stemming from the sale of her children's book. Baltimore resident Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) issued the following statement on Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh:

“I urge Mayor Pugh to put the best interests of the City and its residents first and foremost. Baltimore needs and deserves leadership that is above reproach and which can lead the City forward in ways that engender the trust and confidence of all essential stakeholders. No one questions Mayor Pugh’s passion for Baltimore City and its citizens. At the same time, the circumstances now require that she also provide an example of accountability for those same people. We all want her health to be restored and to now focus on these very grave matters that have everything to do with her personal business endeavors and nothing to do with the priorities of the City of Baltimore.”

Biden hires strategist Symone Sanders

Joe Biden has hired Symone Sanders, a prominent African American political strategist, as a senior adviser to his newly launched presidential campaign.

The move adds a younger diverse voice to Biden's cadre of top advisers, which has been dominated by older white men. It suggests Biden is seeking to broaden his appeal to a new generation of Democrats.

Sanders, 29, rose to prominence during the 2016 campaign as press secretary for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. She then became a high-profile political analyst on CNN and is likely to be a forceful Biden defender on television.

Democratic strategist and former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile called Sanders "battle-tested" and said the hire was "one of the best moves" the Biden campaign could make.

"She understands how to build a coalition, and that women of color are the backbone of the Democratic Party," said Brazile, who added that Sanders also helped her bridge the gap with millennials after the contentious 2016 primary elections.

Sanders was recruited by numerous 2020 candidates, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, California Sen. Kamala Harris and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.

[SOURCE: ABC BEWS]

Cory Booker: I will have a woman running mate

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker promised that he would choose a woman as the vice presidential candidate on his ticket if he wins the Democratic nomination for president.

“I will have a woman running mate,” Booker, D-N.J., said at a presidential forum in Houston sponsored by She the People, a national network of women of color. “To me, it’s really clear that we do that.”

Booker was responding to a question asked at the event, which also attracted several other 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls.

He previously said he would consider having a woman in the No. 2 slot on the ticket, but this is the first time he specifically committed to choosing a female vice-presidential nominee.

[SOURCE: NJ.COM]

AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION (AAFCA) ANNOUNCES THE FIRST ANNUAL AAFCA TV HONORS

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) today announced the creation of the AAFCA TV HONORS, an annual awards fete celebrating outstanding achievement in television.  The first annual event will take place as a luncheon on August 11th at the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey and will hand out honors in seven categories, as determined by AAFCA’s awards committee including:

Drama of the Year

A drama series, limited series, documentary series, television movie or otherwise that stands out for its quality and cultural significance

Comedy of the Year

A comedy series, limited series, television movie or special that stands out for its quality and cultural significance

Discovery of the Year

This award may be given to an actor, creator or project that stands out as a groundbreaker or gamechanger in the television landscape

Actor of the Year

An actor whose work during the calendar year has been extraordinary

Actress of the Year

An actress whose work during the calendar year has been extraordinary

Icon Award

Recognizes a veteran of television who has forged a path in greatness

Inclusion Award

Recognizes a network or production entity that demonstrates a powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion

Recipients of the honors will be announced on June 6 via press release and on AAFCA’s website.

The AAFCA TV Honors joins the organization’s existing awards events that take place in the first quarter of each year — the AAFCA Special Achievement Luncheon which honors extraordinary individuals working in both film and television who represent the best of the entertainment industry including journalists, executives, storytellers and performers and the AAFCA Awards, now in its tenth year, which recognizes outstanding achievement in film.  Dates for both of these events will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We’re excited to expand on our established tradition of celebrating excellence across the Hollywood landscape,” stated AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson, “It’s a thrilling time for television in terms of quality and influence, especially as networks take huge strides forward in reflecting diversity and inclusion in their programming.  This new wave of innovative, thought-provoking storytelling is inspiring and deserving of celebration.”

ABOUT AAFCA

Established in 2003, AAFCA is the premiere body of Black film critics in the world, actively reviewing film and television, with a particular emphasis on entertainment that includes the Black experience and storytellers from the African Diaspora. The organization’s primary mission is to cultivate understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contributions of African descended talent to cinematic and television culture – from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined breakthroughs of future generations.  AAFCA members are a geographically diverse cross-section of journalists, covering all genres of the cinematic arts, while representing multiple mediums – including print, TV, radio broadcast and online. Collectively, they reach a worldwide audience in excess of 100 million. As a non-profit organization, AAFCA is committed to numerous educational and philanthropic efforts, particularly those that foster and celebrate diversity and inclusion. For more information on AAFCA and its programs visit http://AAFCA.com.

Rep. Cummings: Trump deserves the mark of impeachment

Rep. Elijah Cummings, the House Oversight chairman responds to Trump's lawsuit against him and the administration's fight against congressional subpoenas.