Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Stephon Clark's grandmother: 'I just want justice for my grandson'

An emotional Sequita Thompson speaks out at a news conference, asking for justice in the police shooting death of her grandson Stephon Clark.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Linda Brown, woman at center of Brown v. Board case, dies

Linda Brown, who as a little girl was at the center of the Brown v. Board of Education US Supreme Court case that ended segregation in schools, has died, a funeral home spokesman said.

Brown died Sunday afternoon in Topeka, Kansas, Peaceful Rest Funeral Chapel spokesman Tyson Williams said. She was 75 years old.

Brown was 9 years old when her father, Oliver Brown, tried to enroll her at Sumner Elementary School, then an all-white school in Topeka, Kansas.

When the school blocked her enrollment her father sued the Topeka Board of Education. Four similar cases were combined with Brown’s complaint and presented to the Supreme Court as Oliver L. Brown et al v. Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, et al.

The court’s landmark ruling in May 1954 — that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” — led to the desegregation of the US education system. Thurgood Marshall, the NAACP’s special counsel and lead counsel for the plaintiffs, argued the case before the Supreme Court.

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer acknowledged Brown’s contribution to American history.

“Sixty-four years ago a young girl from Topeka brought a case that ended segregation in public schools in America. Linda Brown’s life reminds us that sometimes the most unlikely people can have an incredible impact and that by serving our community we can truly change the world.” [SOURCE: WTKR]

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Black Panther now #1 superhero movie of all time domestically

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

All hail the king of Wakanda.

Marvel's The Black Panther is now the #1 superhero movie of all time at the domestic box office. Panther grossed another $17 million pushing its gross to $631 million putting it ahead of Marvel's The Avengers which grossed $623 million in 2012.

The Black Panther is also the #5 domestic grossing movie of all time has passed both The Avengers and The Last Jedi this weekend.

There's still the possibility it gets to #4 all time during it's run if it can catch Jurassic World's $652 million.

But you may want to write all of this records in pencil as Avengers: Infinity War opens April 27, 2018, and will be a legit challenger to many of Black Panther's box office records. Although I don't think that it will pass Black Panther's domestic grosses with films like Solo: A Star Wars Story and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom opening over the summer months taking screens from Infinity War.

We shall see, but for now, Black Panther is not only the king of Wakanda but the king of all superhero movies. All hail the king!

On April 4th Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s entire family to honor 50th anniversary of his death


ATLANTA- Bells will toll 39 times around the world on April 4, 2018 at 6:01 p.m. CT in remembrance of the life taken 50 years earlier by a gun shot that shook America and the world to the core. At the same time, the surviving children of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King will be joined by members of the King family to toll a bell and lay a wreath on the crypts of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King on the campus of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center stated, "Today, we remember my father's death, but most importantly, we must remember the purpose and power of his life. Although this day is challenging for our family and for many around the world, I encourage you to hope today and to hope always. As my father expressed in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, I still have 'an audacious faith in the future of mankind.' Our family encourages you to not be angered by my father's death; be bolstered by his teachings and awakened by his work. 50 years later, let us remember him by embracing the truth that Together We Win with Love for Humanity."
At 10:30 a.m. on April 4th, The Center will present its highest award in the Yolanda D. King Theatre of The Performing Arts. This year the Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Prize recipients are: Mr. Benjamin Ferencz for his courageous work as a prosecutor for the Nuremburg, Germany Nazi Leadership trials; and Mr. Bryan Stevenson for his fearless advocacy work in the legal field such as the winning of the historic ruling making mandatory life-without-parole sentences for all children 17 or younger unconstitutional and as well, the founding of The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The award ceremony will be followed by a reception for the honorees. A Q&A moderated by Monica Pearson will provide an opportunity for them to dialogue with guests.
Dr. Bernice A. King states, "Our hope and prayer is that all people who want to honor and who love my father will join us in remembering him in any one, or in all of these special moments. Not only will we be honoring him, but we will be committing our energy and efforts to building the Beloved Community. I am certain that he would be profoundly grateful that we are gathered to grow together and help move humanity forward!" The Center will continue commemorative events from April 4th through 9th. For more details of the events and how you can register to participate, please log onto http://www.mlk50forward.org or http://www.thekingcenter.org.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

MLK’s granddaughter: ‘I have a dream that enough is enough’

Martin Luther King’s granddaughter Yolanda Renee King participates in the March for Our Lives rally against gun violence in Washington, D.C. and let's it be known that she has a dream too.