Rosa Parks documentary coming to Peacock in 2022

Peacock announced Wednesday that production has begun on "The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks," a full length documentary about the life of the civil rights icon. The doc is slated to premiere on the streaming platform in 2022.

"Rebellious Life" is being directed by Yoruba Richen (HBO's "Black and Missing") and Johanna Hamilton. Soledad O’Brien is executive producing.

The documentary, promises to go beyond Parks' historic 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama, is based on Jeanne Theoharis' 2013 biography, "The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks."

Dr. Marcus Jones named 20th president of Northwestern State University

The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System voted unanimously to name Marcus Jones the 20th president of Northwestern State University Monday. Jones has served the institution in many ways throughout his 23-year career including roles such as professor of business law and international business, vice president for university affairs, and executive vice president for university and business affairs. He has most recently served as interim president since July of 2021.

“Northwestern is home to me. I know Northwestern and Northwestern knows me,” Jones said. “This is about fit and timing for Northwestern, and I will hit the ground running.”

The Northwestern State Presidential Search Committee narrowed the field to two finalists, Jones and Kim LeDuff, after interviewing six semifinalists on Northwestern’s campus last week.

“It’s an historic day for Northwestern State,” UL System President and CEO Jim Henderson said. “Marcus is an authentic leader of character, integrity, and vision. His familiarity with the community, his passion for student success, and his commitment to excellence will advance our alma mater for the next generation.”

During his interview, Jones spoke of the importance of a strong institution for university alumni and the Natchitoches community as a whole. He also discussed his vision for the university working more collaboratively with business and industry to ensure graduates have both the hard skills and soft skills to meet the needs of the global market.

“Congratulations to the new president of Northwestern State University Marcus Jones, who is making history today as the first Black president of the university,” said Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards. “Earning his undergraduate degree at Northwestern, his master’s degree at Grambling, and his law degree at Southern, Mr. Jones is a testament to Louisiana’s higher education institutions. Mr. Jones has served the NSU community for many years, and I have no doubt he will continue to succeed in his new role.”

Jones is a native of Winnfield and is the 18th of 20 children.

Jones has an extensive academic, business and legal background, having served as executive vice president and chief operating officer for the University of Louisiana System for the past year, where oversaw the areas of business finance, internal/external audit function, EEO and IT for the System and handled matters of system level importance on behalf of the UL System president.

He also oversaw management of budgets, administration, policies and procedures and international relations and acted as the legal liaison for the System.

Jones served as NSU’s executive vice president for university and business affairs from 2017-2020 where he was a key administrator in the planning, operation and management of the University. He oversaw University Police, the Environmental Health and Safety office, Grounds Department and the Physical Plant and was responsible for construction, maintenance, custodial and general upkeep of all University facilities and grounds. He also reviewed and executed University leases and cooperative agreements and oversaw the environmental health and safety officer. He was NSU’s vice president for university affairs from 2007 to 2017.

Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Northwestern State, a master’s in international trade and finance from Grambling State University and a law degree from Southern University Law Center where he was managing editor of the Southern Law Review. He also studied international business and finance at the University of Plymouth in Plymouth, England.

Jones has been a member of Northwestern’s faculty since 1994 as an instructor of business, assistant professor of business law and international business, associate professor of business law and international business and has held the Ben D. Johnson Endowed Professorship since 1999. Proficient in Spanish and French, he led the university’s international recruiting efforts, which substantially increased the number of students at NSU from outside the U.S.

Jones has also been treasurer and a consultant to the Ben D. Johnson Educational Foundation and finance/accounts manager and consultant for the Ben D. Johnson Construction and Finance Co. In his role with the construction and finance company, Jones supervised subcontractors at construction sites, managed the company’s operating budget, provided financial oversight and worked in economic development. He has also served as treasurer and consultant of the Northwest Louisiana Athletic League and has served in several capacities including co-editor of “Callaloo,” a literary magazine based at Texas A&M.

He is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., the American Bar Association and the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Black radio legend Joe Madison goes on hunger strike until Congress passes the voting rights act

Black radio legend, Joe Madison of SiriusXM Urban View’s Joe Madison Show announced on his program that he’s starting a hunger strike in protest of voting rights not getting passed in the Senate.

He will continue his hunger strike until congress passes, and President Biden signs, the Freedom to Vote Act or the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Listen to his announcement below:

Dr. Shawn Wilson: First African-American Named President Of AASHTO

The board of directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials elected Dr. Shawn Wilson, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development – as its 2021-2022 president during the organization’s annual meeting in San Diego.

Dr. Wilson is the first African-American president in the association’s 106-year history.

“This is truly an honor that I approach with tremendous humility and excitement,” Dr. Wilson said.

“I am looking forward to an incredible year with AASHTO and the great people I’ll be working with at state departments of transportation around the country,” he added. “One of the significant advantages of serving as AASHTO president is that it gives me a platform to address issues that matter.”

Dr. Wilson, who served as AASHTO’s 2020-2021 vice president, has been the secretary of the Louisiana DOTD since January 2016. He manages a workforce of 4,200 employees and a $2.7 billion budget. When he joined the AASHTO board of directors in 2016, Dr. Wilson recalled being the only African-American seated at the table. Today, he is among six African-American board members.

Dr. Wilson said that while those numbers are improving, his presidential emphasis areas address the need to do more.

He said his primary emphasis areas – entitled “Pathways to Equity” – is designed to intentionally expand opportunities within the state DOT community by creating a culture that identifies, trains, and empowers individuals in under-represented populations covering age, gender, ethnicity, and race.

“I’m interested in how we sustain that opportunity to achieve equity,” Dr. Wilson said. “How are we, as state DOTs, building a bench of leaders that reflects the population in the communities we serve? How do we diversify, not just with race, but also with gender, with disciplines? How do we change what we do as a department of transportation in a way that opens up the opportunity to recruit and retain a more capable, qualified, and inclusive professional workforce?”

His second emphasis area – “Partnering to Deliver” – is an AASHTO and state DOT initiative designed to create partnerships with non-traditional organizations, both transportation-related and non-transportation specific. The idea is to embrace the richness of differing perspectives represented in the broader transportation community, enhance awareness and strengthen understanding.

Dr. Wilson has a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Louisiana, a master’s degree in public administration from Southern University, and a doctorate in public policy from Southern University. A native of New Orleans, Dr. Wilson and his wife, Rocki, live in Lafayette, Louisiana. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Rutgers officially installs 1st Black president in school’s history

Rutgers University has officially installed a new president.

Jonathan Holloway is the first African American to hold the position in the school’s 250-year history.

The university Board of Governors appointed Holloway on Tuesday, but he has been in the position since July 2020. He had to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic while in his new role.

In his speech, Holloway said that Rutgers remains a work in progress and is never truly finished.

"In my administration, I will continue to call upon our better spirits and present a new narrative about the university. One that points to the abundant excellence that is already here and the excellence that it can attain if we find ways to believe in ourselves,” Holloway said.