Miss Kentucky Elle Smith crowned Miss USA 2021

Miss Kentucky Elle Smith has won the 2021 Miss USA pageant. Smith's victory makes it three years in a row that a Black woman was crowned Miss USA.

Smith is a 2020 graduate of University of Kentucky, the school said on Twitter. She majored in Broadcast Journalism, according to a biography posted by Louisville's WHAS11, where she works as a reporter. While at UK, Smith served as vice-president of the school's National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) chapter, the station said.

Smith posted about her victory on Instagram:

GOD IS SO GOOD.

I am thrilled and honored to be your Miss USA 2021. I can’t say thank you enough to every single person who has supported me on this journey. Every single comment, every single message and prayer did not go unnoticed.

To the great state of Kentucky, you will forever have my heart. You believed and loved on me since I was crowned in May and there is no other state I would have wanted to represent on the Miss USA stage.

She will go on to represent the U.S. at the 2021 Miss Universe pageant, scheduled for Dec. 12 in Eilat, Israel.

Florida law school creates Ben Crump social justice center

A South Florida law school on Thursday announced the creation of a social justice center named after Ben Crump, the Black civil rights attorney who has gained national prominence representing victims of police brutality and vigilante violence.

The Benjamin L. Crump Center for Social Justice, housed at the St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami Gardens, aims to nurture the next generation of civil rights lawyers while also pushing more racial and gender diversity in the legal profession.

Beginning with a $1 million leadership grant from Truist Financial Corp.'s charitable fund, the Crump Center will support an incubator program for students looking to establish themselves in civil rights and social justice lawyering. The center also will increase need-based financial aid for students and will assist new lawyers with expanded pro bono service placements.

On Thursday, the law school also will launch a $35 million fundraising campaign to expand its ongoing training of lawyers who fight for social justice. The money is expected to be used for construction of a new building for the Crump Center, as well as new classrooms and simulated courtrooms.

Public NJ Golf Course Brings Back Original Name To Honor Its African-American Ownership And History

A NJ golf club located in Scotch Plains was renamed back to its original name, Shady Rest this week, just in time for a 100th anniversary gala on Friday night celebrating its African-American history.

Symone Sanders Leaving White House

Symone Sanders, a top aide to Vice President Kamala Harris will depart the White House by the end of the year, according to people familiar with the matter.

Sanders shared the move in a Wednesday night memo to staff.

“I’m so grateful to the VP for her vote of confidence from the very beginning and the opportunity to see what can be unburdened by what has been,” she wrote.

She has served as Harris’s spokeswoman since the beginning of the Biden administration.

A White House official told CNN that Sanders had served "honorably."

"The President and vice president are grateful for Symone's service and advocacy for this White House. She is a valued member, a team player, and she will be missed. We are grateful to have her working through the end of the year," the official said.

Stacey Abrams announces another run for Georgia governor

Stacey Abrams released a video announcing that she's running for Georgia governor again in 2022.

I’m running for Governor because opportunity in our state shouldn’t be determined by zip code, background or access to power. #gapol

Be a founding donor to my campaign:https://t.co/gk2lmBINfW pic.twitter.com/z14wUlo8ls

— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) December 1, 2021