Claressa Shields named 2019 Sportswoman of the Year

For the second time in four years, Claressa Shields of Flint has been named the Sportswoman of the Year by the Woman’s Sports Foundation.

Shields won the award Wednesday night in New York City, topping a field of 10 finalists that included American gymnast Simone Biles. She won the award for individual sports.

"I’m honored to be the winner of the @womenssportsfoundation individual Sports woman of the year for the 2nd time!," Shields said in an Instagram post. "I love coming to the gala and seeing all of the other strong women! Shout to all the finalists! And congrats to all the award winners -yours truly GWOAT."

Shields (9-0-0, 2 KOs) also won the individual sports award in 2016.

Shields, 24, only fought once in 2019 but she recorded a unanimous decision over Germany’s Christina Hammer in April to become the undisputed middleweight champion of the world.

The Woman’s Sports Foundation was founded by tennis great Billie Jean King. This was the 40th year the Sportswoman of the Year awards were handed out.

Previous winners of the Sportswoman of the Year Award for individual sports include Biles, tennis player Serena Williams, gymnast Gabby Douglas, golfers Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam, skaters Michelle Kwan and Bonnie Blair, and jockey Julie Krone.

[SOURCE: MLIVE]

Help register new voters with the NAACP 2019 POWER OF FIVE initative

POWER OF FIVE

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Learn more and sign up to support this NAACP initiative here: https://www.naacp.org/mobilize-your-five/

New Emmett Till bullet proof marker dedicated to replace vandalized sign

A new bulletproof memorial to Emmett Till was dedicated Saturday in Mississippi after previous historical markers were repeatedly vandalized.

Patrick Weems, executive director of the Emmett Till Memorial Commission, said the new marker was dedicated Saturday.

Members of Till's family, including two of Till's cousins, attended the ceremony at the site where the teen's body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River.

This is the fourth historical marker at the site. Previous ones became a target for vandals.

The first historical marker was placed in 2008. Someone tossed it in the river. The second and third signs were shot at and left riddled with bullet holes.

The new 500-pound (225-kilogram) steel sign has a glass bulletproof front, Weems said.

A new, bulletproof memorial for Emmett Till was erected on the shore of the Tallahatchie River today, after vandals’ repeated attempts to erase his memory here. pic.twitter.com/25hTobCfWl

— Ja'han Jones (@_Jahan) October 19, 2019

[SOURCE: AP]

Baltimore mayor looks to rename courthouse after Elijah Cummings

Baltimore Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young (D) said Friday that he wants to rename a downtown courthouse building after the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).

Young will reportedly file legislation “as quickly as possible” with the Baltimore City Council to rename the Courthouse East building after the congressman, who represented Maryland’s 7th congressional district that includes roughly half of the city, The Baltimore Sun reported.

If it passes, the city-run building would become the Elijah E. Cummings Courthouse.

“It is most fitting that this building, in which Congressman Cummings fought for justice for his fellow citizens early in his career as an attorney, be named in his honor," Young told the Sun in a statement. "It will stand in perpetuity as a monument to Cummings’ service to the common man, the rule of law in our society, and his commitment to economic justice for all.”

Young said the decision came about after a meeting with local officials and other community members that focused on how to honor the longtime lawmaker, who he praised as one of Baltimore’s “greatest voices and staunchest advocates.”

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

Sacramento Kings Harrison Barnes and Philadelphia eagles Malik Jackson to pay for funeral of Atatiana Jefferson

Atatiana Jefferson’s funeral will be paid for by former Dallas Maverick Harrison Barnes and Malik Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Jefferson family attorney Lee Merritt.

Barnes is paying for more than half of it while Jackson will cover the rest of the cost.