USPS Releases Robert Robinson Taylor

The 38th stamp in the Black Heritage series honors architect and educator Robert Robinson Taylor (1868–1942). For more than three decades, Taylor supervised the design and construction of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama while also overseeing the school’s programs in industrial education and the building trades. He is believed to have been both the first black graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the country’s first academically trained black architect. Through his calm leadership and quiet dignity, he earned the admiration of colleagues and students alike while expanding opportunities for African Americans in fields that had largely been closed to them.

This stamp features a photograph of Taylor taken circa 1890, when he was around 22 years old and a student at MIT.

In 1892, after graduating from MIT, this young man from Wilmington, North Carolina, accepted an offer from educator and activist Booker T. Washington to teach at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, where he soon set about shaping the appearance of the burgeoning school. Over the course of nearly 40 years, Taylor designed dozens of essential buildings, including libraries, dormitories, lecture halls, industrial workshops, and a handsome chapel, transforming a makeshift campus on an abandoned plantation into a confident, state-of-the-art institution.

Taylor’s work as a teacher and administrator was equally vital to the Tuskegee mission. While overseeing programs to train skilled artisans, he also established a curriculum with a certificate to help graduates enter collegiate architecture programs or earn entry-level positions at firms. His work furthered Booker T. Washington’s dream of fostering not just African-American builders and carpenters, but architects who could plan the buildings as well.

Art director Derry Noyes designed this stamp.

The Robert Robinson Taylor stamp is being issued as a Forever® stamp. This Forever stamp will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail® one-ounce rate.

Buy this stamp: https://store.usps.com/store/browse/productDetailSingleSku.jsp?productId=S_472904

Report: High-School Graduation Gap Widened for Black Males

Recently, the Schott Foundation for Public Education released its latest report, Black Lives Matter: The Schott 50-State Report of Public Education and Black Males. Don’t expect good news. The black male national graduation rate increased from 51% in the 2009–2010 school year to 59% in 2012–2013. However, the gap between the rates of black, male high-school graduates and their white counterparts has widened from 19 percentage points to 21.

The report identifies several issues that the Schott Foundation has determined would more effectively address this problem, which has changed little in the decade that the foundation has been reporting on young black men.

When asked if he thought the problems were a result of neglect or of deliberate intent, John H. Jackson, Ph.D., president and CEO of the Schott Foundation, said, “It is a level of neglect that borders on intentionality.”

Read more: Report: High-School Graduation Gap Widened for Black Males

TIGER WOODS PLANS TO WORK ON HIS GAME AND PLAY AGAIN SOON

Tiger woods released the following statement about his immediate future after suffering another injury this past week.

The last two weeks have been very disappointing to me, especially Torrey, because I never want to withdraw. Unfortunately, lately injuries have made that happen too often.

This latest injury is not related to my previous surgery. I am having daily physical therapy and I am feeling better every day.

Right now, I need a lot of work on my game, and to still spend time with the people that are important to me. My play, and scores, are not acceptable for tournament golf. Like I've said, I enter a tournament to compete at the highest level, and when I think I'm ready, I'll be back. Next week I will practice at Medalist and at home getting ready for the rest of the year. I am committed to getting back to the pinnacle of my game. I'd like to play The Honda Classic -- it's a tournament in my hometown and it's important to me -- but I won't be there unless my game is tournament-ready. That's not fair to anyone. I do, however, expect to be playing again very soon. I want to thank the fans in Phoenix and San Diego. They were amazing. I greatly appreciate everyone's support.

Tiger Woods

Little League Strips Jackie Robinson West of US Title

Little League Baseball has stripped the U.S. championship from the Chicago-based Jackie Robinson West team and has suspended the coach for violating a rule prohibiting the use of players who live outside the geographic area that the team represents, it was announced Wednesday.

The Jackie Robinson West team, the first all-African-American team to win the championship, must vacate wins from the 2014 Little League Baseball International Tournament -- including its Great Lakes Regional and United States championships.

The team's manager, Darold Butler, has been suspended from Little League activity, and Illinois District 4 Administrator Michael Kelly has been removed from his position.

Read more: Little League Strips Jackie Robinson West of US Title

NYPD officer who killed Akai Gurley indicted.

A rookie cop who shot and killed an unarmed Brooklyn man in an unlit housing project staircase was indicted for manslaughter Tuesday, the Daily News has learned.

In a blockbuster grand jury decision, Peter Liang will face criminal charges that can send him to prison for up to 15 years for the death of Akai Gurley on Nov. 20, a source said.

The secret panel started hearing the case on Feb 4. A spokeswoman for the Brooklyn District Attorney declined to comment.

A source said Liang, 27, was indicted for a top count second-degree manslaughter, which means he acted recklessly. He was also charged with reckless endangerment, second-degree assault and official misconduct, another source said.

Read more: Cop involved in fatal shooting of Akai Gurley has been indicted on manslaughter charges: source