Entertainment Studio's Byron Allen talks to Reliable Sources anchor Brian Stelter about buying the Black News Channel assets for $11 Million months after the company went bankrupt, changing it to TheGrio.tv and even talked about his plans to showcase HBCU Football on the platform.
At one point, over 90% of African Americans with a college degree obtained it from an HBCU. But in the decades following the legal dismantling of segregation, enrollment declined at HBCUs.
Recently, some HBCUs have seen a significant rise in applications. The boost could be due to more funding, celebrity students, or famous HBCU grads like Vice President Kamala Harris.
Listen to Consider This from NPR host Michel Martin speak on this topic with Walter Kimbrough, the past president of two historically Black institutions - Philander Smith College and Dillard University - and the interim executive director of the Black Men's Research Institute at Morehouse College.
Denise Dowse, best known for her role as Yvonne Teasley on "Beverly Hills, 90210" and Rhonda Pine on "Insecure" has died at the age of 64, her sister Tracey Dowse confirmed on her Instagram Saturday.
"Denise Yvonne Dowse was the most amazing sister, a consummate, illustrious actress, mentor and director," Tracey Dowse wrote on Instagram. "She was my very best friend and final family member. Denise loved all of you. I know that she is watching over us with all the love she has."
Dowse's sister requested prayers on Sunday after announcing that the actress had been admitted to a hospital with a coma, caused by a "virulent form of meningitis." [SOURCE: INSIDER]
The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration released a statement on Friday rejecting former President Donald Trump's claims that former President Barack Obama took classified documents from the White House:
“The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) assumed exclusive legal and physical custody of Obama Presidential records when President Barack Obama left office in 2017, in accordance with the Presidential Records Act (PRA).”
NARA moved approximately 30 million pages of unclassified records to a NARA facility in the Chicago area where they are maintained exclusively by NARA. Additionally, NARA maintains the classified Obama Presidential records in a NARA facility in the Washington, DC, area. As required by the PRA, former President Obama has no control over where and how NARA stores the Presidential records of his Administration.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced today that they will honor the life and legacy of 11-time NBA champion and civil rights pioneer Bill Russell by permanently retiring his uniform number, 6, throughout the league. The iconic Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer will be the first player to have his number retired across the NBA.
“Bill Russell’s unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognized.”
“This is a momentous honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game,” said NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio. “Bill’s actions on and off the court throughout the course of his life helped to shape generations of players for the better and for that, we are forever grateful. We are proud to continue the celebration of his life and legacy alongside the league.”
In addition to retiring Russell’s number, the NBA will pay tribute to the Boston Celtics’ legend throughout the 2022-23 season. All NBA players will wear a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys, and every NBA court will display a clover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer’s table. The Celtics, for whom Russell played his entire career and coached, will have a separate and unique recognition for him on their uniforms, to be announced soon.
Russell’s jersey number, which he wore for his entire 13-season career from 1956-69, will not be issued again by any NBA team to any player. Players who currently wear No. 6 will be grandfathered.
Regarded as the ultimate winner and model teammate, Russell transformed the game with his dominant defense and graceful athleticism at the center position. He won a record 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, which followed back-to-back national championships at the University of San Francisco (1955 and 1956) and a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team (1956). Russell, who led Boston to eight consecutive NBA championships from 1959-66, was so synonymous with success that the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award was named for him in 2009.
His myriad accomplishments included five NBA Most Valuable Player awards, 12 NBA All-Star selections and 11 All-NBA Team honors. Russell was named to all four NBA anniversary teams (25th, 35th, 50th and 75th) and inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. A four-time NBA rebounding champion, he ranks second in league history in total rebounds (21,620) and rebounds per game (22.5) in the regular season. The Celtics retired his No. 6 jersey in 1972.
Russell’s impact on the NBA extended far beyond his playing achievements. In 1966, he was hired by the Celtics as the first Black head coach in the history of the NBA and major U.S. professional sports. As a player-head coach, he guided Boston to back-to-back NBA championships in 1968 and 1969.
During and after his extraordinary basketball career, Russell passionately advocated for the values of equality, respect and inclusion. He marched for civil rights with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was steadfast in his belief that all people should be treated with dignity. Russell was awarded the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his athletic feats and lifelong commitment to social justice.
Jordan Peele's latest movie, Nope, has now passed the $100 million mark at the domestic box office, and Universal Pictures has now released a spoiler-filled new trailer titled NOPE:See it Again to celebrate the milestone.
Watch the new trailer below:
The NAACP released the following statement on four Louisville Metro Police Department officers being charged by the FBI in relation to the case of Breonna Taylor:
The charges announced today by the U.S. Department of Justice mark the first federal steps toward accountability for the officers that killed Breonna Taylor. In the two years since March 2020, we have learned about the falsehoods that allowed law enforcement officers to obtain the warrant that led to the unlawful entry of Breonna Taylor's home and her subsequent death. Until now, no officer taking part in the raid has been charged. Kentucky's failure to act compounds the harm done – to not only Breonna Taylor and her family, but the ongoing wound felt by the Black community.
Individuals have the right and expectation to be free from unlawful action by the state. The justice system cannot function if people stop believing that they will be fairly treated and that wrongful action, especially by law enforcement, won't be punished.
Today's action by the U.S. Justice Department reflects a commitment to uphold the rule of law that Kentucky badly failed.
The NAACP awaits the trial of the officers involved and we have every hope that justice will prevail.
Discover how a young girl who was the star of her school's debate team became a federal jurist and the first Black woman to sit on the United States Supreme Court in this exciting addition to the Who HQ Now series that features newsmakers and trending topics.
Born in Washington, DC, in 1970, and raised in Miami, Florida, Ketanji Brown Jackson developed an interest in law and politics at an early age. As a preschooler, she sat with her father and watched him complete his law school assignments. And even though some people, including a school guidance counselor, discouraged Ketanji from aiming high, she proved them wrong and graduated with honors from Harvard Law School. She went on to serve on the U.S. District Court in 2013 and the United States Court of Appeals in 2021 before making history and becoming the first Black woman to be confirmed to the United States Supreme Court in 2022.
Deborah Enix-Ross, a New York dispute resolution lawyer, became president of the American Bar Association Aug. 9 at the end of the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.
Enix-Ross is a senior adviser to the International Dispute Resolution Group of Debevoise & Plimpton in New York City. She has been a part of the ABA leadership for several years, serving as chair of the ABA’s policymaking House of Delegates and as chair of the ABA Center for Human Rights and the ABA Section Officers Conference. Enix-Ross is also a fellow of the American Bar Foundation and has served as vice president of the World Justice Project. She is the second Black female president in ABA history.
Enix-Ross was sworn in as ABA president by retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, who received the association’s highest honor, the ABA Medal, at a ceremony Aug. 6 at the Annual Meeting.
Rep. Ilhan Omar narrowly won her bid for reelection in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District Democratic primary after besting challenger Don Samuels, who conceded on Tuesday night.
With all the votes in, Omar won the primary 50.4% to Samuels’ 48.2%, falling far short of the 20-point victory she had over a Democratic rival two years ago. She is favored to beat Republican Cicely Davis, who won her party’s primary, in the general election in the deeply Democratic district.
Omar said in a statement that “Republicans and conservative Democrats have worked in lockstep to vote us out.”
“Tonight’s victory is a testament to how much our district believes in the collective values we are fighting for and how much they’re willing to do to help us overcome defeat,” Omar said. “This win is for them and everyone who still believes that hate, division and regression will not be the legacy of the Fifth.”
Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League called on members of the United States Senate to swiftly confirm Judge Dana Douglas to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit:
“At a time when critical civil, human, and economic rights issues are being litigated in our federal courts, we need a judge like Judge Douglas to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. If confirmed, she would be the first Black woman to serve in this role and bring new insight to the court that it has not yet had. President Biden has kept his promise to diversify the court with qualified judges that have a range of legal experiences and reflect America’s diversity. We thank the Senate Judiciary Committee for today’s hearing, and we encourage every member of the committee to support her nomination and the full Senate to swiftly consider and confirm her.
“I have watched Judge Douglas grow as a professional since her days in high school in New Orleans. I have always admired her focus, diligence, and character – attributes that have served her well throughout her legal and judicial career. She is more than prepared and well qualified to serve as an impartial and fair jurist. The people of the 5th Circuit and the nation will be well served by her.”
The National Urban League wrote a letter to the Senate supporting Judge Douglas’ nomination. You can read that letter here.
The HBCU Basketball Association; is a United States based, for profit LLC Professional Basketball League that affords professional players, coaches, and executives’ opportunities not often available at the professional level for players that attend HBCU's. The HBCUBA will launch it's inaugural season in 2023 with six teams in six states. The original six franchises will be located in Atlanta, Georgia, Birmingham, Alabama, Daytona Beach, Florida, Houston, Texas, Jackson, Mississippi and New Orleans, Louisiana.
The 2023 season will begin February 25th, 2023- June 4th, 2023. Each team is allowed to have 12 players maximum per team, with 10 being on the active roster.
The HBCUBA prepares players for the NBA and NBA G league by playing NBA Rules.
Qualified Members of the HBCUBA Must Have: Attended a HBCU for at least one year or is currently enrolled at an HBCU. Must be 18 years or older.
Benefits of playing in the HBCUBA.
1. Opportunity to play in the first professional basketball league featuring all HBCU players.
2. Full stats of all games played
3. Live stream of all games.
4. Fully paid professional league. All players are compensated.
5. Housing for out of state players covered by team.
6. Insurance provided for all players.
7. International tours
8. Opportunity to compete at a high level.
9. Individual player profile, uniform package, highlight video included.
10. Eurobasket certified league.
August 3, 2022 - Clark Atlanta University (CAU) makes history as the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to receive a $10 million award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) INCLUDES program to establish the National Data Science Alliance (NDSA).
The NDSA will increase the number of Black people earning data science credentials by at least 20,000 by 2027 and expand data science research that advocates for social justice and strive to eliminate bias. To accomplish this visionary goal, the NDSA will facilitate engagement across all HBCUs with industry and academic collaboration to broaden participation and advance social justice in data science.
“This is a monumental accomplishment for the HBCU community as a whole, and we at Clark Atlanta University are deeply honored to perpetuate institutional mission through data science,” said President George T. French Jr., Ph.D. “Clark Atlanta University has deep roots in conducting data science research that promotes equity, including the seminal works of scholar and former faculty member W.E.B. Du Bois on these hallowed grounds. This historic award exemplifies our commitment to ensuring competitive advantage for students to succeed and excel in our data-driven society.”
Talitha Washington, the lead and principal investigator of the grant, is the mastermind behind the NDSA. As the Director of the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative and professor of mathematics at Clark Atlanta University, she is passionate about engaging more HBCUs and building a community to accelerate the preparation of students in data science and discover solutions for data-oriented problems that impact the lives of Blacks.
“We are excited that many HBCUs will collaborate with us to develop new equity-based discoveries in data science and expand student pathways that will change the face of data science,” said Washington.
The NDSA is supported by the AUC Consortium, led by Michael Hodge, with industry-university collaboration led by Moses Garuba (Howard University) and collective impact efforts led by H. Justin Ballenger (Morehouse College). The NDSA’s three regional hubs are led by LaTanya Brown-Robertson (Howard University), Sajid Hussain (Fisk University), and Eric Mintz (Clark Atlanta University). The evaluation will be conducted by Kavita Mittapalli (MN Associates).
The NDSA will catalyze systemic change at scale by engaging over 1,000 HBCU faculty and will create equity-based data science ecosystems where all students can learn and thrive.
During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union, Georgia Democratic gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams said Sunday that she was "anti-abortion" until she went to college and met a friend who gave her a new perspective on the contentious issue.
Please join the The William Monroe Trotter Collaborative to watch Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Harvard Law Prof. Ron Sullivan, Harvard Kennedy School Prof. Linda Bilmes, and Prof. Cornell William Brooks discuss “Exonerating a History: Callie House & the Empirical Case for Reparations”.
The event takes place on Wed. Aug. 10th, at 6:30 PM on Martha’s Vineyard or watch online at Twitter @harvard_trotter or on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgVhmIOV7xxiNu34__cZvhA.
VP Kamala Harris released the following statement after rour Muslim men have been shot and killed in nine months in Albuquerque, N.M:
I am deeply disturbed by the killings of four Muslim men in Albuquerque. As law enforcement continues to investigate these heinous attacks, we remain clear that we stand with the Muslim community in New Mexico and around our country. Hate has no place in America.
Senator Raphael Warnock (GA) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act along party lines:
Great news, folks! After a long night, we passed the Inflation Reduction Act.
This legislation finally caps drug costs for seniors and helps Georgians save money on their health care, all while reducing the deficit. This is a big win for Georgians!
Senator Cory Booker (NJ) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act along party lines:
Senate Democrats just passed the Inflation Reduction Act to lower costs for prescription drugs and health care, confront climate change, and provide common sense solutions for challenges Americans face.
I am proud to vote for it & grateful for the voters who made this possible.
The Congressioanl Black Caucus released the following statement after American women's basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of deliberately smuggling drugs into Russia and sentenced to nine years of jail time.
The sentencing of #BrittneyGriner was truly unfortunate. As we have said from the beginning, Ms. Griner has been wrongfully detained in Russia, which is unacceptable.
We will continue our calls for the Biden Administration to use every tool at its disposal to ensure her release and that she is returned to her family.
The 2022 Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF) kicked off Friday with great pomp and circumstance — and a few bars of “Hail to the Chief” — as Barack and Michelle Obama made a special appearance for the opening night screening of Netflix documentary “Descendant.”
