New Jersey Division on Civil Rights investigating wrestler forced to cut off his dreadlocks

Here is an updated statement from Larry White, the Executive Director of the NJSIAA (New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association) who is African American on the black wrestler from Buena, NJ being forced to cut his dreadlocks to compete in a championship match, and the fact that the state is now investigating the incident.

Updated NJSIAA Statement / Buena Regional High School Wrestling

from Larry White, Executive Director, NJSIAA

Saturday, December 22, 2018

“Following up on yesterday’s statement concerning a Buena Regional High School (Buena, NJ) varsity wrestler and a wrestling referee, the NJSIAA can now confirm that the matter will be investigated by state authorities. The NJSIAA will be working with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, providing all requested information. The State investigation will take precedence over the NJSIAA process.

“Further, NJSIAA can confirm that those groups that assign high school wrestling referees in New Jersey will not assign the referee in question until this matter has been thoroughly reviewed. This will help to avoid disruption of events for student athletes .

“Finally, as an African-American and parent – as well as a former educator, coach, official and athlete – I clearly understand the issues at play, and probably better than most. The NJSIAA takes this matter very seriously, and I ask that everyone respect the investigatory process related to all parties involved.”

Lebron James: NFL owners have a slave mentality

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was critical of NFL owners during the latest episode of HBO's "The Shop" on Friday night, saying they have a "slave mentality." This comment came up during a conversation with O'Shea Jackson Sr BKA Ice Cube about the difference between the NBA and NFL when it comes to how both leagues allow players to express themselves.

"In the NFL they got a bunch of old white men owning teams and they got that slave mentality," James said during the episode. "And it's like, 'This is my team. You do what the f--- I tell y'all to do. Or we get rid of y'all.'

"The players are who make the ship go. We make it go. Every Sunday, without Todd Gurley and without Odell Beckham Jr., without those players, those guys, there is no football. And it's the same in the NBA."

"The difference between the NBA and the NFL, the NBA is what we believe he [a player] can be. The potential," James said. "In the NFL, it's like what can you do for me this Sunday, or this Monday or this Thursday, and if you ain't it, we moving on."

"I'm so appreciative in our league of our commissioner," James said, referencing Adam Silver. "He doesn't mind us having ... a real feeling and to be able to express that. It doesn't even matter if Adam agrees with what we are saying, he at least wants to hear us out. As long as we are doing it in a very educational, nonviolent way, then he's absolutely OK with it."

"The Shop" is a 30-minute show set in a barbershop where athletes and celebrities have conversations about life and sports.

Cory Booker & Kamala Harris Statement on Senate Passage of Anti-Lynching Bill

U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the below statement following the passage through the Senate by unanimous consent of their bipartisan Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018, historic legislation that would – for the first time in history – criminalize lynching, attempts to lynch, and lynching conspiracies.

The legislation was originally introduced in June by Booker and Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Tim Scott (R-SC). It passed the Judiciary Committee in October.

“Today is an emotional and historic day,” Booker said. “For over a century, members of Congress have attempted to pass some version of a bill that would recognize lynching for what it is: a bias-motivated act of terror. And for more than a century, and more than 200 attempts, this body has failed. Today, we have righted that wrong and taken corrective action that recognizes this stain on our country’s history.

“This bill will not undo the damage, the terror, and the violence that has been already done, nor will it bring back the lives that have been brutally taken,” Booker continued. “It will not reverse the irrevocable harm that lynching as a tool of oppression and suppression has caused. But it will acknowledge the wrongs in our history. It will honor the memories of those so brutally killed. And it will leave a legacy that future generations can look back on – that on this day, in this time, we did the right thing.”

“Lynchings were needless and horrendous acts of violence that were motivated by racism. And we must acknowledge that fact, lest we repeat it,” said Senator Harris. “From 1882 to 1986, Congress failed to pass anti-lynching legislation when it had an opportunity 200 times. Today, by passing this bill, we have offered some long overdue justice and recognition to the victims of lynching crimes."

From 1882 to 1986, Congress failed to pass anti-lynching legislation 200 times. Lynching was used as an instrument of terror and intimidation more than 4,000 times during the late 19th and 20th centuries, according to data from the Equal Justice Initiative.

The Justice for Victims of Lynching Act is supported by the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Equal Justice Initiative.

North Carolina A&T wins Celebration Bowl and are 3X HBCU National Champs!

An HBCU dynasty is born!

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) champion North Carolina A&T (10-2) defeated SWAC champion Alcorn State (9-4) 24-22 in the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl to become the 2018 HBCU National Champs. This is the Aggie's third national championship in four years.

The Aggies were led by senior Quarterback Lamar Raynard passed for 292 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Malik Wilson did his part on special teams by returning a kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown to help seal the game for Carolina A&T.

Rayard will finish his football career with a record of 35-2 as a starter.

This year's senior class will leave with three national championship rings and three SWAC championships rings.

This was first-year Head coach Sam Washington's first national title after taking over for Rod Broadway who retired in January after seven successful years which included two national titles

Congrats to the Noth Carolina A&T Aggies, three-time National Champs!

"Eve's Bayou" to be inducted into the Library of Congress National Film Registry

The 1997 indie hit "Eve's Bayou," written and directed by Kasi Lemmons and co-produced by co-star Samuel L. Jackson has been named to a select group of America's most influential motion pictures to be inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress because of their cultural, historic and aesthetic importance to the nation’s film heritage.

The 1997 “Eve’s Bayou” was written and directed by Black female director Kasi Lemmons and co-produced by Samuel L. Jackson, who stars in this family drama. “It’s such an honor to return from production on my fifth film, ‘Harriet,’ to find that my first, ‘Eve’s Bayou,’ is being included in the National Film Registry,” Lemmons said. “As a Black woman filmmaker it is particularly meaningful to me, and to future generations of filmmakers, that the Library of Congress values diversity of culture, perspective and expression in American cinema and recognizes ‘Eve’s Bayou’ as worthy of preservation. I’m thrilled that ‘Eve’s Bayou’ is being included in the class of 2018!”

The Librarian makes the annual registry selections after conferring with the distinguished members of the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) and a cadre of Library specialists. Also considered were more than 6,300 titles nominated by the public.