University of Georgia to name college of education after university’s first African-American graduate

The University of Georgia will name the College of Education after the university's first African-American graduate this week.

Mary Frances Early graduated from the school of education in 1962 with a master's in music education. She went on to earn an educational specialist degree in 1967.

In 2018, she was awarded the UGA President’s Medal in recognition of her accomplishments.

"Her triumph as the first African American graduate of UGA made her a central figure in the struggle to desegregate the University and serves as an example to all," the university wrote.

The college will be renamed the Mary Frances Early College of Education. A naming ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday (Feb. 26) in the Hugh Hodgson Concert Hall at the University of Georgia Performing Arts Center.

Kamala Harris & Cory Booker Applaud House For Announcing Vote on Anti-Lynching Legislation

U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) applaud the House of Representatives for announcing a vote on Wednesday February 26, 2020 on historic legislation to make lynching a federal crime for the first time in American history. Senators Harris and Booker, along with Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), introduced the Justice for Victims of Lynching Act that unanimously passed the Senate last year. After passing the House, their bill will head to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“Lynchings were horrendous, racist acts of violence,” said Senator Harris. “For far too long Congress has failed to take a moral stand and pass a bill to finally make lynching a federal crime. I’m grateful for the partnership of Senators Booker and Scott, and I applaud the House of Representatives for bringing this important legislation to the floor. This justice is long overdue.”

“I’m humbled and grateful that the House will be taking up this important piece of legislation next week. Lynching has been used as a pernicious tool of racialized violence, terror, and oppression and is a stain on the soul of our nation. While we cannot undue the irrevocable damage of lynching and its pervasive legacy, we can ensure that we as a country make clear that lynching will not be tolerated,” said Senator Booker.

From 1882 to 1986, Congress failed to pass anti-lynching legislation 200 times. Lynching was used as an instrument of terror and intimidation 4,084 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.

"Hidden Figure' Katherine Johnson dead at 101

Katherine Johnson, a mathematician who calculated rocket trajectories and earth orbits for NASA’s early space missions and was later portrayed in the 2016 hit film “Hidden Figures,” about pioneering black female aerospace workers, has died. She was 101.

Johnson died Monday of natural causes at a retirement community in Newport News, Virginia, family attorney Donyale Y. H. Reavis told The Associated Press.

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine released the folowing statement:

“NASA is deeply saddened by the loss of a leader from our pioneering days, and we send our deepest condolences to the family of Katherine Johnson. Ms. Johnson helped our nation enlarge the frontiers of space even as she made huge strides that also opened doors for women and people of color in the universal human quest to explore space. Her dedication and skill as a mathematician helped put humans on the moon and before that made it possible for our astronauts to take the first steps in space that we now follow on a journey to Mars. Her Presidential Medal of Freedom was a well-deserved recognition.

“At NASA we will never forget her courage and leadership and the milestones we could not have reached without her. We will continue building on her legacy and work tirelessly to increase opportunities for everyone who has something to contribute toward the ongoing work of raising the bar of human potential.”

Rep. Jim Clyburn to endorse Joe Biden ahead of South Carolina Primary

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, who wields enormous influence in his home state of South Carolina, is planning to endorse Joe Biden on Wednesday, multiple sources with knowledge of the Democrat’s plans told POLITICO.

The planned endorsement is expected three days ahead of the state's Saturday primary, giving Biden an important boost in a state that will likely determine the fate of his candidacy. Clyburn, the highest ranking African American in Congress, has long been close with Biden and has been open about his affinity for the former vice president during the Democratic primary.

“I will endorse Wednesday morning,” Clyburn said Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. “I’m going to tell everybody who I’m going to vote for. I’m just not going to do it today.”

[SOURCE: The Hill]

'When They See Us' wins 3 NAACP Image Awards

The 51st Annual NAACP Image Awards showed the love to Ava DuVernay's When They See Us by awarding the drama three NAACP Image Awards.

The limited series won the following catergories:

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special.

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: Jharrel Jerome.

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special: Niecy Nash.

Via Twitter Ava DuVernay responded to the wins:

Congratulations to these two supernovas on their NAACP Image Awards wins tonight! Much love the whole WHEN THEY SEE US family! pic.twitter.com/TlyyBZEKIn

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 22, 2020

On behalf of all involved in this series, we thank the NAACP Image Awards for this honor. https://t.co/g9KRNgXSYp

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) February 22, 2020