NBA player Zach Randolph to help pay utility bills of those in need.

Memphis Grizzlies Forward, Zach Randolph, announced today that he will be making a $20,000 donation to the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association’s Plus-1 Program.

The program is directed by MIFA to pay utilities services for people in need. His donation will cover the payments of more than 100 Memphis households.

Randolph’s contribution will go straight to the MIFA Emergency Services Plus-1 Program to keep utilities connected for over 100 Memphis families.

He will also be visiting 2 families who will benefit from his gift on Monday, Jan. 23 after a brief check presentation at the Memphis MIFA offices.

This will be the seventh year that Randolph has contributed to MIFA and Memphis Light, Gas and Water.

[SOURCE: WATE.COM]

John Lewis receives 4 literary awards for 'March: Book Three'

U.S. Rep. John Lewis is having quite a run in the literary world.

On Monday, the American Library Association released its annual list of awards for children's books and announced the Georgia Democrat received a record four prizes for "March: Book Three," the last of a graphic trilogy about his civil-rights activism and winner last fall of the National Book Award for young people's literature. The latest honors for "March," a collaboration among Lewis, congressional aide Andrew Aydin and illustrator Nate Powell, include the Coretta Scott King award for best children's book by an African-American and the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in children's literature. All three "March" books recently reached high on best-seller lists after a harsh public exchange between Lewis and President Donald Trump, whose legitimacy Lewis has challenged.

"I'm delighted and honored that America's librarians are supporting March with these awards," Rep. Lewis, 76, said in a statement. "I love books and I love librarians. When I was growing up I tried to read every single thing I could. I hope these awards will help inspire all of our young people — and some of us not so young — to read, to learn, and to act. 'March' is a guidebook reminding us that we all must speak up and stand up for what is right, what is fair, and what is just."

[SOURCE]

CHECK OUT THE BOOK

Discover the inside story of the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of one of its most iconic figures, Congressman John Lewis. March is the award-winning, #1 bestselling graphic novel trilogy recounting his life in the movement, co-written with Andrew Aydin and drawn by Nate Powell. This commemorative set contains all three volumes of March in a beautiful slipcase.

No mentions of civil rights, voting rights, or education on updated Trump White House site.

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

Donald Trump has made many statements about what he would do for African Americans if elected. He said that he would do such an excellent job of making the lives of African Americans better that in four years they would vote for him in record numbers. He even staged a dog, and pony shows with the likes of Ray Lewis, Steve Harvey, and Martin Luther King III to show how much he cared them. He promised many things, but the updated White House website reflects none of that.

There are no mentions of civil rights, voting rights, housing, or education under the issues tab. This is what comes up today on 01/22/2017:

Not that some of those issues are not important to the country as a whole, but it's very telling that the civil rights tab that used to be there has been moved. That shows that this issue is not important to Trump and that he has and only will pay lip service to it.

When it comes to housing not being mentioned Trump's appointment of Ben Carson as leader of HUD lets us know all that we need to know about how important Trump feels this issue is.

Also an ominous sign for African Americans is where Trump promises to stand up for our law enforcement community. What does he mean by that? He has already nominated a man to be U.S. Attorney General who is no fan federal investigations in police forces across the nation. He has also spoken in favor of the "policing" policy known as stop & frisk which catches very few criminals and only works to even further alienate the police from the community. Will Trump support bad cops such as Micheal Slager who shot an unarmed man to death as he ran away from him?

The updated site also does not mention of education at all which should be a major issue to all regardless of race. That's not on the site because then Trump would have to show the cuts he plans to make to education that would overwhelmingly affect black and brown students as well as hurt black colleges like Talladega College that marched in Trump's inaugural parade.

As for voting rights I didn't expect anything to be there because if many of these bogus voting laws had been struck down, you can make an argument that Trump would not be president. Why allow people to vote who would not enable you to remain in power four years from now?

Steve Harvey and Armstrong Williams have asked black people to wait and see what Trump does. Well if the updated website is any indication he is not going to do much.

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

TIME Barack Obama: Eight Years

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

My wife and I are always on the lookout for anything that commemorates the historical presidency of Barack Obama. We found another commemorative magazine that we hadn't seen previously and I would like to share that with you all.

TIME Barack Obama: Eight Years

In his historic presidency, Barack Obama led the United States through eight tumultuous and remarkably active years. And in this definitive, one-of-kind Special Edition, TIME’s experts assess the impact his administration had on the U.S. economy, foreign policy, health care and so much more. Along with spectacular and often moving images, TIME’s unmatched writers and reporters give this presidency a clear-eyed context through issues of race, inclusion and military approach. This edition delivers sharp, fresh stories and a bonus: TIME's foray into augmented reality, in which the cover and several inside pages spring to life via curated audio and video pieces accessed easily through the free TIME Special Edition app.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK

Senator Kamala Harris speech at Women's March on Washington

Check out the inspiring speech newly elected California Senator Kamala Harris gave at the Women's March on Washington.