Kim Janey becomes 1st woman, person of color to be Boston mayor

Boston has a new mayor in Kim Janey, who became the city’s first female and first person of color to take the office Monday.

Marty Walsh resigned Monday evening to become President Joe Biden’s labor secretary. The Boston City Council President Janey, who is Black, stepped into the role of acting mayor and is scheduled to have a ceremonial swearing in Wednesday.

By any typical political stopwatch, Janey's rise has been lightning quick. She was first sworn in as a city councilor just three years ago.

Although Janey, 55, is holding the office only on an interim basis, she's widely seen as hailing a new chapter in Boston’s political history.

[SOURCE: BAYNEWS9]

National Museum of African American History and Culture to Jointly Acquire Amy Sherald’s Painting of Breonna Taylor

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is in talks with the Speed Art Museum in Louisville, Kentucky to jointly acquire a painting of Breonna Taylor by Amy Sherald that first appeared on the cover of the September 2020 issue of Vanity Fair. The museum plans to display the portrait later this year.

Sherald’s portrait depicts Taylor in a blue flowing gown, designed by Jasmine Elder of the Atlanta-based fashion brand Jibri. Sherald has said that producing this image keeps Breonna alive forever. The portrait will be purchased from the artist, who plans to donate proceeds to causes that support social-justice reform.

Sherald is an American painter who documents the contemporary African American experience through portraits. She is best known for her portrait of former First Lady Michelle Obama featured in the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. Another portrait by Sherald, Grand Dame Queenie, is on display in the museum’s art gallery.

Troy Carter & Karen Carter Peterson headed to runoff election to replace Cedric Richmond in the House

Two longtime Louisiana state legislators are headed to an April 24 runoff in the special election to replace Democrat Cedric L. Richmond in the deep-blue 2nd District.

Democratic state Sen. Troy Carter was leading an all-party, 15-candidate field Saturday with 36 percent of the vote when The Associated Press declared he had made the runoff. He next faces fellow Democrat Karen Carter Peterson, also a state senator, who finished second with 23 percent, edging out progressive outsider Gary Chamber who took 21 percent.

Under Louisiana law, a candidate must receive more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.

[SOURCE: THE HILL]

American Red Cross urges more African Americans to donate blood to sickle cell disease patients

Although this story is part of a push to get Philadelphia residents to attend a blood drive, its message about a lack of African American donors is relevant to both potential donors and those with sickle cell disease.

The American Red Cross is in great need of more African Americans to donate blood, which is a critical need for many patients with sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell disease affects 100,000 Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it affects one out of every 365 African American births, which is 73% of all cases.

Evanston Illinois: First US city to offer reparations for Black Americans

The city of Evanston, which is north of Chicago, once one of the most segregated cities in America has become the first place to offer the reparations. $25,000 payments to eligible residents will begin this spring.

This is due to the work of Robin Rue Simmons, an alderman in Evanston's 5th Ward, who introduced the reparations legislation.