Trump pardoning Jack Johnson would be nice, BUT...

Trump pardoning Jack Johnson would be nice, BUT

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

This past weekend Trump tweeted that he was considering pardoning Jack Johnson, the first African American world heavyweight boxing champion. Trump posted this after talking to that great civil rights activist Sylvester Stallone ( Just joking, I loved Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot ) who pleaded Johnson's case.

There's a part of me thinking that this would be nice and that there's never a wrong time to do the right thing. Now the cynical part of me can hear Trump asking, "Who the hell is Jack Johnson and will pardoning him make the blacks like me?"

Now we can all be cynical, like me and question Trump's true motives but pardoning Jackson is something that would make the legendary boxer's family happy and quite a few people in the black community happy as well. But other than make a few people smile it won't do anything for the African American community at all.

Yes, it will give Trump the chance to claim that he did something to help out a dead African American while ignoring the fact that he could care less about the living ones. He would be able to claim that he did something while doing nothing of substance at all.

If Trump pardons Jackson he will still not have done anything in regards to housing, education, policing, environmental issues, or civil rights issues. All REAL problems that affect African Americans daily. He's been in office a year and has shown no inclination to tackle these issues.

The proof is the people he has put in control of HUD, Education, and the EPA Ben Carson, Betsy DeVos, Jeff Sessions and Scott Pruitt. That's one hell of a middle finger that he's giving to African Americans.

Now his base on those few black sycophants (Hello, Ben Carson) around him will point to such a pardon and state that Trump does care about black people. It only shows that Trump cares about Trump, the man has no idea who Johnson was (hell, he may think he's still alive) and only cares if such a move would raise his dismal poll numbers among African Americans.

Don't don't let a pardon that's nothing more than a PR stunt replace actual action.

Don't fall for the Trump okey doke!

James Shaw, the 29-year-old hero from Waffle House shooting

A 29-year-old man credited with saving numerous lives Sunday morning after he disarmed a man who opened fire on an Antioch Waffle House said he was just trying to stay alive.

James Shaw Jr., 29, said after feeling cornered he saw an opportunity to tackle the man shooting into an Antioch Waffle House. He said he doesn’t feel like a hero.

Police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters Sunday morning that the Waffle House hero rushed the suspected shooter, disarmed him and threw the assault rifle he was carrying over the counter.

“I don’t really know, when everyone said that (of being a hero), it feels selfish,” Shaw Jr. “I was just trying to get myself out. I saw the opportunity and pretty much took it.”

The "hero" suffered an injury to his elbow, along with some other abrasions, Aaron said. He was taken to TriStar Southern Hills Medical Center, was treated for minor injuries and released, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Shaw Jr. can’t recall how many shots there were, just that a man was on the floor. Shaw Jr. said he jumped toward the bathroom and the suspect shot in that direction. He said he was grazed by a bullet. "I remember I was like ‘Dang, I’m basically in a barrel,’ ” Shaw Jr. said. “There is no place for me to go.”

As the suspect came through the door, he needed to reload, Shaw Jr. said. That’s when he said he rushed him.

“When he came in, I distinctively remember thinking that he is going to have to work for this kill,” Shaw Jr. said. “I had a chance to stop him and thankfully I stopped him.”

He added: “I grabbed the gun and kept it down. He had one hand on it. I pulled it away and threw it over the bar.”

Shaw Jr. said the suspect took himself outside and walked quickly away. He didn’t follow him for fear that he had another gun. The man was clothed only in a green bomber jacket, Shaw Jr. said.

Shaw Jr. said not soon after he flagged down drivers to call 911.

He was taken to the hospital at about 4 a.m. and released at 7:30 a.m.

"While I was in hospital, a girl that was there said you saved my life," he said. "I didn’t do it to be hero."

[SOURCE: Tennessean]

Colin Kaepernick receives Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award

Athlete and inspiring activist Colin Kaepernick has been honoured with Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2018.

The award was officially presented at a ceremony in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 21 April 2018, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the opening of Amnesty International’s national section in the country.

“The Ambassador of Conscience award celebrates the spirit of activism and exceptional courage, as embodied by Colin Kaepernick. He is an athlete who is now widely recognised for his activism because of his refusal to ignore or accept racial discrimination,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

“Just like the Ambassadors of Conscience before him, Colin Kaepernick chooses to speak out and inspire others despite the professional and personal risks. When high profile people choose to take a stand for human rights, it emboldens many others in their struggles against injustice. Colin Kaepernick’s commitment is all the more remarkable because of the alarming levels of vitriol it has attracted from those in power.”

Take a Knee

During the 2016 pre-season of the American National Football League, Colin Kaepernick knelt during the US national anthem, as a respectful way of calling for the country to protect and uphold the rights of all its people. The bold move was a response to the disproportionate numbers of black people being killed by police. It sparked a movement that follows a long tradition of non-violent protests that have made history.

While the polarised response to the “take-a-knee” protest has ignited a debate about the right to protest and free speech, Colin Kaepernick has remained focused on highlighting the injustices that moved him to act. His charity, the Colin Kaepernick Foundation, works to fight oppression around the world through education and social activism, including through free “Know Your Rights” camps which educate and empower young people.

“I would like to thank Amnesty International for the Ambassador of Conscience Award. But in truth, this is an award that I share with all of the countless people throughout the world combating the human rights violations of police officers, and their uses of oppressive and excessive force. To quote Malcolm X, when he said that he, ‘will join in with anyone — I don’t care what colour you are —as long as you want to change this miserable condition that exists on this earth,’ I am here to join with you all in this battle against police violence,” said Colin Kaepernick.

“While taking a knee is a physical display that challenges the merits of who is excluded from the notion of freedom, liberty, and justice for all, the protest is also rooted in a convergence of my moralistic beliefs, and my love for the people."

Eric Reid, professional American football player and Colin Kaepernick’s former teammate, continued to show his support, as he presented Colin Kaepernick with the Ambassador of Conscience award.

The Ambassador of Conscience Award celebrates individuals and groups who have furthered the cause of human rights through acts of conscience, confronting injustice and using their talents to inspire others.

Through the award, Amnesty International aims to raise awareness of inspirational stories and human rights issues and encourage public action.

Past winners have confronted injustice through acts of conscience, used their talents to inspire others and furthered the cause of human rights

The Award was inspired by the poem From the Republic of Conscience, written for Amnesty International by the late Irish poet Seamus Heaney. Past winners include renowned musicians and artists like Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez, Alicia Keys and Ai Weiwei, and inspirational figures including Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela.

[SOURCE: Amnesty International]

The College of William & Mary apologizes for its role in slavery, segregation

The Board of Visitors for The College of William & Mary voted unanimously to approve a resolution apologizing for the university’s role in slavery and segregation at their full board meeting.

“The Board of Visitors acknowledges that William and Mary enslaved people, exploited them and their labor and perpetuated the legacies of racial discrimination,” College President Taylor Reveley said, reading from the resolution. “The Board profoundly regrets these activities, apologizes for them, expresses its deep appreciation for the contributions made by the African-American members of its community to the vitality of William and Mary then, now, and for all time coming, and commits to continue our efforts to remedy the lingering effects of past injustices.”


Read the full resolution below:

A JOURNEY OF RECONCILIATION: APOLOGY FOR WILLIAM AND MARY’S PART IN SLAVERY AND SEGREGATION

Whereas, in April 2009, the Board of Visitors adopted Resolution 21, acknowledging William & Mary’s role in slavery and Jim Crow and establishing “The Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconciliation”; and

Whereas, over the past nine years, William & Mary’s Lemon Project has greatly deepened our understanding of William & Mary’s history during the eras of slavery and segregation through research, courses and symposia; and

Whereas, The Lemon Project has expanded our engagement and reconciliation with the Williamsburg community through porch talks, public talks, articles and social media; and

Whereas, The Lemon Project has established itself as a leader among universities examining their past treatment of African Americans; and

Whereas, through the Lemon Project we will launch a process to design, fund and construct a memorial on campus to those enslaved by William & Mary; and

Whereas, over the past academic year, William & Mary has commemorated and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first three African American students in residence on campus with performances, lectures, symposia, panels and other commemorative events; and

Whereas, the Race and Race Relations Task Force, established by President Reveley in 2015 and chaired by Dr. W Fanchon Glover, identified ways to improve the campus racial climate; and

Whereas, President Reveley created an Implementation Team to comprehensively review the steps urged by the Race and Race Relations Task Force, and the Implementation Team presented its final report in April 2018, describing progress made to date; and

Whereas, the Board of Visitors applauds the progress and thanks both the Race and Race Relations Task Force and the Implementation Team; and

Whereas, the Board of Visitors recognizes a continuing need to examine and learn from William & Mary’s role in slavery, secession and segregation, both through the ongoing work of The Lemon Project and other research, dialogue and reflection;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Visitors salutes the foundational scholarship of the late Robert F. Engs and the work of The Lemon Project and its director, Jody Lynn Allen;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Board of Visitors acknowledges that William & Mary enslaved people, exploited them and their labor, and perpetuated the legacies of racial discrimination. The Board profoundly regrets these activities, apologizes for them, expresses its deep appreciation for the contributions made by the African American members of its community to the vitality of William & Mary then, now, and for all time coming, and commits to continue our efforts to remedy the lingering effects of past injustices; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, That this resolution be spread upon the minutes of the Board and a copy of the same be delivered to Professor Jody Allen with gratitude and best wishes for her continued leadership of The Lemon Project.

Elijah Cummings Issues Statement on Production of Comey Memos to Congress

Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released the following statement on the release of former FBI Director James Comey's Russia memos to Congress. Cummings believes that the memos corroborate Comey's testimony before Congress.