Kerwin Danley to be named first African-American MLB crew chief

Major League Baseball announced has announced that umpire Kerwin Danley will be promoted to crew chief. Danley will be the first African-American crew chief in MLB.

Danley, 58, called his first game in the majors in 1992 as a minor league fill-in and was hired as a full time big league up in 1998. He has worked two World Series and has worked ten other postseason rounds. He has also called two All-Star Games.

Danley called his first game in the majors in 1992 as a fill-in and was hired to the MLB staff in 1998.

FedEx appoints first African American Woman CEO in company's history

Ramona Hood is the newest CEO at Fedex. She is the first African American woman to become CEO in the company’s history.

Ramona Hood is president and chief executive officer of FedEx Custom Critical, a leading North American transportation provider located in Green, Ohio. The company provides a range of transportation capabilities for expedited ground and air shipments, temperature-controlled shipments, and industry-specific solutions. The company provides 24/7 service throughout the United States, Canada and internationally, delivering hundreds of thousands of shipments per year.

Hood oversees the FedEx Custom Critical executive leadership team and is responsible for the performance and strategic direction of the company.

She brings more than 28 years of FedEx experience to her role, having most recently served as vice president of operations, strategy, and planning for FedEx Custom Critical. Hood started her career at FedEx Custom Critical in 1991 in an entry-level position and worked her way up to various executive leadership positions at FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Supply Chain. Her career path evolved through many areas of the company, including operations, safety, sourcing, sales, and marketing.

Over time, she began offering innovative and strategic ideas that distinguished her from her peers. Hood not only brought unique approaches to the business, but she did so in a way that brought out the best in others. These leadership characteristics and values are ingrained through her past and current leadership roles at FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Supply Chain.

Throughout her career, Hood has been recognized for her exemplary excellence in leadership, responsibility, and passion-driven results in the industry. Hood was recognized by the Greater Akron Chamber with the 30 for the Future award (2010) and acknowledged by Sales & Marketing Executives International with a Distinguished Sales & Marketing Award (2013). And she received the Woman of Inspiration Award from Walsh University (2013).

In 2010 and 2016, Hood received the FedEx Five Star Award, which is the highest recognition team members can receive at FedEx.

Additionally, in 2016, Hood received the Women of Note award from Crain’s Cleveland Business, Progressive Woman award from Smart Business, and Influential Woman in Trucking award from the Women in Trucking Association. Most recently, Hood was recognized in 2019 by the MEECO Leadership Institute with the International Thought Leader of Distinction award.

Outside of the office, Hood is actively involved in several civic engagements. She serves on the Summit Education Initiative, a nonprofit committed to the academic success of Summit County students, and is a business advisor for Welty Building Co., a construction consulting company in Akron, Ohio. Hood is also chairman of the Technology Committee for the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) and was appointed to serve on its Board of Directors. Most recently, Hood was appointed to the Board of Directors for Walsh University in 2018.

Hood earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from Walsh University and an Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management. Currently, she resides in Copley, Ohio, with her two daughters, Mariah and Kayla.

3 sons follow in dad's footsteps, become firefighters in Brooklyn

A father and his three adult sons are believed to be the largest legacy family of color in the FDNY.

Robert Thomas and his sons Jason, Nathan, and Stephen are firefighters at FDNY stations throughout Brooklyn.

House passes Emmet Till Antilynching Act

On February 26, 2020 the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the historic Emmett Till Antilynching Act (H.R. 35), which was introduced by U.S. Representative Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.). The legislation received broad, bipartisan support and passed the House by 410–4.

“Today is a historic day for this U.S. House of Representatives, this Congress, and the American people. Being from Chicago, the death of Emmett Till sent shockwaves through my community and personally affected me and my family. However, his death would not be in vain, for it was the spark that ignited the long arc of the civil rights movement, leading us to this very moment,” said Rep. Rush.

“With the passage of this bill we correct a historical injustice, based on a lie, that took the life of this young man. We also bring justice to the over 4000 victims of lynching, most of them African-Americans, who have had their lives tragically, and horrifically cut short at the hands of racist mobs and hate-filled hordes. After 120 years, and 200 failed attempts, the House finally positions itself on the right side of history, outlawing the heinous act of lynching once and for all.

“I am immensely grateful to my colleagues in the House for their support and to Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Chairman Nadler, and Chairwoman Bass for making this bill a priority.”

Jim Clyburn gives emotional speech as he endorses Joe Biden

South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn gave a very emotional speech in which he often referenced his family as he endorsed for VP Joe Biden for president. Watch his speech below: