Robin Holmes-Sullivan named First African American President of Lewis & Clark College

The board of trustees of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, has named Robin Holmes-Sullivan as the institution’s 26th president. When she becomes president in July, she will be the first African American and the first woman to lead the college in its 155-year history.

“I am so proud that my becoming president of Lewis & Clark can influence and inspire a generation of young people to see that they can dream big; that when they speak, people will listen; and that when they lead, people will follow,” Dr. Holmes-Sullivan said.

Lewis & Clark College enrolls about 1,800 undergraduate students and more than 1,300 graduate students. African Americans make up just 2 percent of the undergraduate student body.

Dr. Homes-Sullivan is currently the vice president for student life and dean of students at the college. She came to Lewis & Clark in 2019 from the University of California, where she served as vice president for student affairs overseeing the undergraduate admissions process and other student-related issues for the 10-campus, 200,000-student system. Prior to her time at the University of California, Holmes-Sullivan spent 27 years at the University of Oregon, working her way up from a position as a clinical coordinator in the counseling center to vice president of student life.

Dr. Holmes-Sullivan earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in experimental psychology from California State University at Fullerton. She holds a second master’s degree and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the California School of Professional.

[SOURCE: JBHE]

Black Louisiana Senate Candidate Burns Confederate Flag in New Campaign Video

Gary Chambers, a Black U.S. Senate candidate from Louisiana burned a Confederate flag while speaking out against restrictive voting laws in his latest campaign video released on Wednesday.

Watch that video below:

HBCU panel meets about recent threats to campuses

Presidents from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) met to address student concerns and questions.

Will Smith receives two Oscar nominations for King Richard

Will Smith received his third and fourth Oscar nominations this morning. He received nominations for Best Actor list for his role in King Richard, and shared the film’s Best Picture nomination with Tim White and Trevor White.

This is Smith's third Best Actor nomination and his first one in 15 years.

His previous Academy Award nominations both came for playing real-life figures. His performance as Muhammad Ali in Michael Mann’s Ali was recognized in 2002, and in 2007 he was nominated for playing Chris Gardner in The Pursuit of Happyness alongside his son Jaden Smith.

King Richard recieved six Oscar nominations overall. The film was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress (Aunjanue Ellis) Best Film Editing, andt Original Song (Be Alive by Beyonce).

King Richard "follows the journey of Richard Williams, an undeterred father instrumental in raising two of the most extraordinarily gifted athletes of all time, who will end up changing the sport of tennis forever. Driven by a clear vision of their future and using unconventional methods, Richard has a plan that will take Venus and Serena Williams from the streets of Compton, California to the global stage as legendary icons."

Houston Texans hire Lovie Smith as New Head Coach

After giving David Culley just one year to prove himself, the Houston Texans on Monday hired Lovie Smith as their new head coach, adding a veteran with a track record of success to a team that faces questions about its hiring process.

Smith, who is Black, is the second minority candidate to be hired this offseason after the Miami Dolphins hired San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who is biracial, on Sunday.

Smith, a former defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams and more recently the head coach at the University of Illinois, spent this season as Houston’s associate head coach and defensive coordinator. He will take over for Culley, who also is Black, and was fired after one season.

“He is one of the most respected coaches in the NFL and an established leader," Houston general manager Nick Caserio said in a statement. “A proven winner, Lovie has shown the ability to develop players both on and off the field for years. We had numerous discussions with countless coaches, executives, and players, and what revealed itself is that Lovie has both the leadership and people skills it takes to lead us forward."

“I have so many friends, family, teammates and coaches to thank for supporting me and helping me continue to do what I love, which is teaching and developing players," Smith said in a statement. “I understand the responsibility I have to this organization and this city to develop a championship-level program. I’m ready to get to work and build it together.”

Vernon Jones Announces Run For Congress

One time Democrats now turned republican, Vernon Jones has suspended his Georgia governor campaign and announced plans to run for U.S. Congress.

Jones, who was running for the nomination in the Republican primary against current Gov. Brian Kemp and former U.S. Sen. David Perdue, made the announcement on social media on Monday.

“After much prayer & consideration I have decided that I can best serve the people of Georgia in the Congress of the United States,” Jones said in the announcement.

FIRST BLACK OWNED ICE SKATING ACADEMY OPENS IN DETROIT

Dream Detroit Skating Academy (DDSA) is the first Black owned ice skating academy based in Detroit, Michigan.

DDSA was founded by Angela Blocker-Loyd and Candice Tamakloe, two of only a few competitive African American skaters in the metropolitan Detroit area.

Watch more about the Dream Detroit Skating Academy below:

House passes bill to rename Atlanta post office in honor of late Rep. John Lewis

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would rename a post office in southwest Atlanta in honor of late congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis.

Atlanta's main post office, located along 3900 Crown Road SW, could soon be renamed the "John R. Lewis Post Office Building," following approval from Georgia's Congressional delegation.

To rename a United States Postal Service building takes the entire Congressional delegation and both US Senators representing the state where the building is located.

“Renaming the Fifth Congressional District’s main United States Post Office after Congressman John Lewis is a proper, lasting tribute to the life of a civil rights hero” said Congresswoman Nikema Williams, who spearheaded the legislation. “Congressman Lewis was my friend and mentor, and his sacrifices paved the way for me to serve Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District."

The bill now heads to the US Senate for a vote. If passed, it will continue on to the White House where President Biden is expected to sign it into law.

As Black History Month Begins, Booker Introduces African American History Act in Senate

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) has introduced the Senate companion to Representative Jamaal Bowman’s (D-NY-16) African American History Act. This legislation provides important resources to strengthen opportunities to educate the American public about the richness and complexity of African American history and the impacts racism, white supremacy, and the struggle for justice have had on the fabric of America.

“The story of Black people in America is inextricably linked to the story of America. This story must be reckoned with so that we can honestly reflect upon our nation’s past moral wrongs and the long and ongoing quest for justice that has been undertaken by Black Americans,” said Booker. “As we begin Black History Month, I am proud to introduce this legislation that will invest in initiatives to make African American history education programs more accessible to the public, help educators incorporate these programs into their curriculum, and develop additional resources focused on Black History for students and families to engage with.”

“It is our moral imperative to tell the truth about our past to finally reconcile with this nation’s history of racism and white nationalism, and our legislation will serve as a vital component in our fight to do just that,” said Bowman. “The moment we are in requires of us a clear-eyed vision to ensure that not just our children but people of all ages, have access to resources and education that accurately recount African American history. Senator Booker and I’s legislation invests $10 million over 5 years to support African American history education programs that will be available for students, parents, and teachers. As a Black man and an educator, I cannot make clear enough how important it is to the success of our democracy for us to come to a collective understanding and agreement that we must take our commitment to learn from our past seriously. From the moment Africans were forcefully brought to the Americas as enslaved peoples and the segregation of our society to the economic and agricultural redlining of entire Black communities and the efforts to suppress our vote, it is on us to tell the truth about our entire history. I urge our colleagues to support this legislation and join us in using truth to overcome lies.”

Booker and Bowman’s legislation invests $10 million over 5 years in the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) to support African American history education programs that are voluntarily available for students, parents, and educators.

This bill will help the NMAAHC expand and improve upon their work in a variety of ways, including:

· Developing and maintaining a variety of accessible resources to promote an understanding of African American history. This includes a collection of digital content, housed on the NMAAHC website, to assist educators, students, and families across the country in teaching about and engaging with African American history

· Engaging with the public through programming, resources, and social media to increase awareness of African American history through a social justice and anti-bias lens

· Convening experts and creating and disseminating scholarly work

· Translating new and existing NMAAHC work into multiple languages

Further, the bill supports the NMAAHC’s work to increase national capacity for African American history education, including:

· developing and disseminating high quality pedagogy related to teaching African American history

· providing opportunities for Professional Development for early childhood, elementary, and secondary teachers

· designing and implementing a teacher fellowship program

· engaging with local and state leaders interested in incorporating these resources in curricula

“Let’s start with a basic fact: You cannot understand American history without knowing African American history,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. “Some people are making this a wedge issue - even bullying teachers and trying to stop us from teaching students accurate history. This bill will make sure every student learns about the history and contributions of African Americans throughout the years. And every educator should have the training and tools they need to engage and teach African American history.”

The Original Co-sponsors of this legislation in the Senate include Senators: Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Chris Murphy (D-CT).

The Original Co-sponsors of this legislation in the House of Representatives include Representatives: Alma S. Adams, Ph.D, Jake Auchincloss, Karen Bass, Joyce Beatty, Earl Blumenauer, Shontel Brown, Anthony G. Brown, Cori Bush, G.K. Butterfield, Tony Cárdenas, Andre Carson, Yvette Clarke, Emanuel Cleaver II, Steve Cohen, Gerald Connolly, Danny K. Davis, Dwight Evans, Ruben Gallego, Jesús ‘Chuy’ Garcia, Al Green, Steven Horsford, Sheila Jackson Lee, Pramila Jayapal, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Mondaire Jones, Kaiali‘i Kahele , Robin Kelly, Ro Khanna, Brenda Lawrence, Barbara Lee, Andy Levin, Carolyn Maloney, Betty McCollum, James P. McGovern, Gregory W. Meeks, Grace Meng, Gwen Moore, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Donald M. Payne Jr., Mark Pocan, Ayanna Pressley, Bobby L. Rush, Jan Schakowsky, David Scott, Bennie G. Thomspon, Rashida Tlaib, Juan Vargas, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams and Frederica Wilson.

Minor League Baseball adds to inclusion efforts with 'The Nine'

Minor League Baseball has announced the launch of “The Nine,” a new, Black-community focused outreach platform specifically designed to honor and celebrate the historic impact numerous Black baseball pioneers made on the sport, provide new opportunities for youth baseball and softball participation, further diversify the business of baseball, and embrace millions of passionate fans throughout MiLB’s 120 communities nationwide.

Named for the number Jackie Robinson wore during his only season playing in MiLB with the Triple-A Montreal Royals in 1946, The Nine will connect MiLB teams’ existing, Black-community focused development efforts with new national programming and future special events in a coordinated and centralized campaign. The new inclusion initiative follows MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión -- the Latino fan engagement platform introduced in 2017 that included 76 MiLB teams in 2021.

The Nine will recognize and honor numerous Black pioneers and trailblazing civil rights leaders in all 120 MiLB communities, ensuring the heroes of the past and their contributions continue to be celebrated through ceremonies and events at MiLB ballparks and in the community. Recent tributes and celebrations have included Negro Leagues commemorative games honoring the Austin Black Senators in Round Rock (TX), the Bradenton (FL) Nine Devils, and Page Fence Giants near Lansing (MI). Additional tribute games are being planned for the 2022 season and beyond.

“The Nine will shine bright spotlights on these successful initiatives and transform them into national campaigns reaching more fans and communities, further showcasing our teams’ commitment to representing, honoring, and welcoming all fans to MiLB’s unique brand of fun,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “The Nine is just the latest example of MiLB teams being true community champions.”

In addition to player- and team-related content, The Nine will focus heavily on creating new opportunities for youth participation among young Black boys and girls, particularly in communities where youth baseball and softball programming is either nonexistent or difficult to access.

Central to this youth-focused push is a planned expansion of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program throughout MiLB’s national footprint. New competitions in MLB’s Pitch, Hit & Run and Junior Home Run Derby event series will also debut in MiLB markets beginning in 2022.

MiLB teams will continue to build relationships with local Black-owned and operated businesses, local artists and entertainers in an effort to embrace Black culture and make MiLB ballparks a hub for culturally relevant concerts, shows, and community events.

With several MiLB teams having a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in their community, opportunities will be provided for those schools to start internship and mentorship programs with their local team, creating opportunities for on-the-job experience for students prior to entering the job market. Additionally, MiLB recently partnered with TeamWork Online to create a more inclusive virtual job fair and ongoing talent pipeline that aims to recruit and position qualified and ready-for-hire candidates from across the country for potential management- and executive-level roles within MiLB team front offices.

Father & Son Arrested After Shooting At Black FedEx Employee

Two white men, Gregory and Brandon Chase were arrested earlier this week, days after Demonterrio Gibson, a Black Fed Ex driver accused them of chasing him and shooting at him after he dropped off a package in a Mississippi city.

Gregory Case has been charged with conspiracy and is being held on a $75,000 bond. Brandon Case has been charged with shooting into a motor vehicle and is being held on a $150,000 bond.

First Black congressman honored at U.S. Capitol Building

Rep. Joseph H. Rainey, born into slavery in 1832, was honored Thursday for being the first Black member of the House by formally having a room in the Capitol named after him.

No. 3 House Democratic leader James Clyburn, Rainey's great-granddaughter Lorna Rainey and others used the event to say the battle for racial justice and voting rights that Joseph Rainey championed must continue.

“I have children. I have grandchildren," said Clyburn, who like Rainey did represents a district in South Carolina. “I want them to feel as proud of this country as I am."

Clyburn noted that eight African Americans were elected to the House from his home state during the 19th Century but said, “The problem is there's 95 years between No. 8 and No. 9," who is Clyburn himself, first elected in 1992. “Anything that's happened before can happen again."

“If Joseph Rainey could accomplish so much during his time, then certainly you can be the ones to get the people’s work done," his great-granddaughter told the small audience, which included lawmakers. “As we honor this man, please let us remember what he stood for, what he put his life in danger for and why his legacy endures today."

The brief event featured speeches delivered beside a portrait of Rainey, sitting with legs crossed in the Capitol and sporting prominent mutton-chop sideburns and a dark suit.

The modest room now bearing Rainey's name is on the first floor of the Capitol and was used by the House Committee on Indian Affairs, on which he served. A plaque in his honor was placed outside the room.

Pamela Moses, a Black woman, sentenced to six years in prison for illegally registering to vote

Pamela Moses, a Black woman in Memphis tried to figure out if she was a registered voter and eligible to vote. She wound up getting accused and convicted of illegally registering to vote and sentenced to six years in prison while white people convicted of similar crimes tend to get probation.

Watch more on this story below:

Pamela Moses, a Black woman, has been sentenced to six years in prison because of a voting error. Meanwhile, white individuals who are known to have committed blatant voter fraud have only received probation.

There are two criminal justice systems in America. pic.twitter.com/o4UqowdpbF

— Legal Defense Fund (@NAACP_LDF) February 4, 2022

Civil Rights Leaders Request Meeting With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell To Discuss Hiring Practices

The Rev. Al Sharpton and other prominent civil rights leaders promised “direct action” at this month’s Super Bowl if the NFL does not immediately address allegations of racism and a lack of diversity highlighted in a blockbuster lawsuit.

In a letter on Thursday to National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell, the civic leaders said they want to huddle with team and league executives to discuss what the league plans to do to increase the number of Black coaches and general managers.

“Despite continued efforts and commitments, we are still sitting here today with 32 teams, not one Black owner and only one Black coach,” the letter said. “This is an outrage at best, and requires your immediate attention.”

The meeting request comes days after former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores shook up the sports world with a class-action racial discrimination lawsuit against the powerhouse sports league.

The letter to Goodell was signed by Sharpton, National Urban League President Marc Morial, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, Black Women’s Roundtable President Melanie Campbell and Barbara Skinner, co-convener of the National African American Clergy Network.

“In light of the recent lawsuit filed by Brian Flores, it has brought this attention back to the forefront of our community, and it is important that you have an immediate open dialogue with Civil Rights leadership,” the letter says.

“We are being asked to do everything within our power, including direct action at next week’s Super Bowl, as well as appealing to local municipalities that underwrite and give special considerations to stadiums to pressure the NFL and its owners to get more serious about enforcing the ruling law.”

[SOURCE: NY DAILY NEWS]

NAACP calls for federal charges against officer who killed Laquan McDonald

The NAACP on Tuesday sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging him to file federal civil rights charges against the white Chicago police officer who fatally shot Black teenager Laquan McDonald in 2014.

Former officer Jason Van Dyke was sentenced to six years and nine months after his conviction in October 2018 for the killing of McDonald, who was 17 at the time. Van Dyke is set to be released from prison on Thursday after serving less than half of his prison sentence.

In the letter, NAACP President Derrick Johnson urged Garland to "provide your commitment to move forward with appropriate and applicable federal charges based on the Federal Grand Jury findings and other relevant evidence"

"Given the egregious nature of his crime, the NAACP believes that at a minimum, the murderous officer should be charged with a federal civil rights violation under Title 18, U.S.C., Section 242 - Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law," Johnson added.

He added that over its 113-year history, the organization has "seen unfair and inequitable favor given to law enforcement officers who unjustly take the lives of members of the Black community and have fought fervently in opposition to such favor."

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

NAACP asks DOJ to investigate Bridgeport police handling of the Lauren Smith-Fields case

A Bridgeport, Connecticut, chapter of the NAACP is demanding the Department of Justice investigate the Bridgeport Police Department over the cases of two Black women, Lauren Smith-Fields and Brenda Lee Rawls, who were both found dead in their homes.

The demand comes after two Bridgeport police detectives assigned to both cases, were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the police department's internal affairs office.

Rawls was found dead and alone in her home on Dec. 12, 2021. The cause and manner of death are still undetermined, according to the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Smith-Fields was found dead in her apartment that same day, shortly after being with a man she had met on a dating app.

The families of Smith-Fields, 23, and Rawls, 53, claim Bridgeport police failed to notify them of the deaths and say they learned of the deaths from others.

During a virtual press conference on Wednesday, Bridgeport NAACP president Rev. D. Stanley Lord recommended new training, revised hiring practices, community input and oversight, and more in order to address criticisms of "insensitivity" and "prejudicial" treatment toward "Blacks and other citizens of color" from the department.

"The operation within the Bridgeport Police Department seems to be a constant disarray and dysfunction," Lord said.

Texas parent demands a Michelle Obama biography be pulled from schools

A parent in Texas called for a children's biography about former first lady Michelle Obama to be pulled from school libraries because they viewed it as unfair to former President Donald Trump.

The Katy, Texas, parent took issue with a book titled "Michelle Obama: Political Icon" by Heather E. Schwartz, saying it "unfairly" depicted Trump "as a bully," according to NBC News, which on Wednesday published a list of 50 books that parents in Texas have asked schools to remove.

The parent in Katy, who was not named in NBC's report, said the book about Obama gave the impression that "if you sound like a white girl you should be ashamed of yourself," NBC News reported.

Maria Corrales DiPetta, a spokesperson for the Katy Independent School District, told Insider the district reviewed the book after the complaint and determined it would not be removed. Any book that is challenged is reviewed by the district, even if only one parent submits a complaint, she said.

Check out the book here

Watch Brian Flores’ full ESPN interview on suing the NFL, Dolphins, Giants & Broncos

Watch Brian Flores’ full interview on ESPN about filing a lawsuit against the NFL and three teams (Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos and New York Giants) that alleges racism in hiring practices.

As an African American I can no longer root for the NY Giants

By George L. Cook Iii

As an African American fan of the NY Giants who has supported the team since 1982 right now it’s tough to do so. I can’t ignore the giants actions pertaining to Brian Flores.

The reason why I cant is because when it comes to issues of race and diversity the NYG are always last to step up or get involved. In other words, they're always a day late and a dollar short.

The Giants are one of seven teams to never hire a Black head coach.

They were the last team in the NFL to put a Black QB on the field, and that was in 2017 when Geno Smith started a game in december of that year.

The way Odell Beckham was treated is another example. Can anyone tell me exactly what he did wrong. Yeah he had some on the field antics but by all accounts he was a good team mate and played hard. And yet he's no longer on the team.

When the Giants hired Joe Judge over Eric Bieniemy, I felt like a Black republican trying to cover for my team/party when I know they were dead wrong. My Black friends are looking at me like I have two heads and asking me how can I defend that nonsense.

When Jerry Reese was fired after helping win two Super Bowls he was unceremoniously shown the door, while Dave Gettleman who had once of the worst tenures as a Giants GM was allowed to resign with dignity.

I just can’t keep making excuses for the New York Giants anymore, I am no longer a fan and will not be coming back.

The Giants have continuously shown me who they are and I ignored it. I will no longer do that and I now believe what they have shown me.

George L Cook Iii

Former New York Giants fan.

Vandalized Jackie Robinson marker heads to Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

A plaque honoring baseball legend Jackie Robinson that was vandalized in Georgia is coming to Kansas City’s Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to be put on display.

The sign was erected in 2001 outside the birthplace of Robinson near Cairo, Ga. Community members there discovered last year that someone had shot the plaque multiple times.

Curator and museum vice president Ray Doswell told the Kansas City Star that displaying the defaced marker is an opportunity to teach the public about Robinson’s story and combat hate. Robinson broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947 when he became the league’s first Black player.

Robinson’s hometown replaced the damaged marker, with help from the league, and added another marker at a library last week.

The vandalized marker is slated to go on display around mid-April, after a display case is built and spot secured in the museum, to coincide with the museum’s celebration of the 75th anniversary of Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The plaque is expected to be permanently loaned to the Kansas City museum for regular display.

Museum community engagement manager Kiona Sinks said in a tweet that the vandalized marker will “serve as a reminder that the ugliness of America’s past persists to this day.”