Colin Kaepernick to receive honorary degree from Morgan State University

Morgan State University President David K. Wilson today announced that three exemplary vanguards of social justice and the African-American experience will be awarded honorary degrees during the 145th Spring Commencement ceremony taking place at Hughes Memorial Stadium on Saturday, May 21. At the ceremony.

Among those to receive honorary degrees will be Super Bowl quarterback and champion for social justice, Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree capping the trio of honorary degrees awarded at Morgan’s 145th Spring Commencement Exercises. The holder of the all-time National Football League (NFL) record for most rushing yards in a game by a quarterback, Kaepernick famously took a knee during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in 2016 to bring attention to systemic oppression — specifically police violence — of Black and Brown people. For his stance, he has been denied the opportunity to regain his employment within the NFL to this day.

Since 2016, he has founded and helped to fund three organizations — Know Your Rights Camp, Ra Vision Media, and Kaepernick Publishing — that together advance the liberation of Black and Brown people through storytelling, systems change and political education.

Kaepernick sits on Medium’s board of directors and is the winner of numerous prestigious honors, including Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope honor, GQ magazine’s “Citizen of the Year,” the NFL’s Len Eshmont Award, the Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award, the ACLU’s Eason Monroe Courageous Advocate Award and the Puffin/Nation Institute’s Prize for Creative Citizenship. In 2019, Kaepernick helped Nike win an Emmy for its “Dream Crazy” commercial. In 2021, he released Colin in Black & White, a six-episode limited series on Netflix exploring his high school years. The show won two NAACP Image Awards. In 2022, he became a New York Times bestselling author for his acclaimed children’s picture book, “I Color Myself Different.”

Others receiving honoraary degress are Morgan alumnus and filmmaker David E. Talbert and Morgan alumnus David Burton, the chief proponent in the landmark Coalition for Excellence and Equity in Maryland Higher Education (HBCUs) vs. the State of Maryland lawsuit.

“Leadership, Integrity, Innovation, Diversity, Excellence and Respect are more than just words that appear on the flags that adorn our campus, or words that we utter casually when reciting our core values, they represent the embodiment of who we are and what a Morgan graduate stands for,” said President Wilson. “With this notion in mind, we intentionally sought a collection of individuals who truly embody these principles, and thankfully we have assembled a trio of diverse voices who have bravely stood—and kneeled—for the betterment and advancement of the voiceless, the marginalized and the disenfranchised.”

New memorial plaza at University of Maryland honors Lt. Richard Collins III

Family, friends and the communities of two universities dedicated a memorial to honor the life and legacy of Army Lt. Richard Collins III.

Almost five years have passed since Collins was killed while visiting the University of Maryland, College Park, campus. He was just days away from graduation at Bowie State University, when he was fatally stabbed while at a bus stop on the UMCP campus.

On Monday, both schools, Collins' parents and friends gathered to dedicate the Lt. Richard Collins III Plaza, while calling on the larger community to take action to prevent racism and violence.

University of Maryland President Darryll Pines said not only will Collins' life and legacy be remembered on campus, but it is now built into the landscape.

"The world must remember his name. Today, we've taken an important step forward toward ensuring the legacy of Lt. Collins will never be forgotten," Pines said.

We will always love you, son. Thank you," said Collins' father, Richard Collins.

"He was prepared to give his life for this country in the battlefield. What we didn't know was that battlefield wouldn't be overseas, it would be right here on U.S. soil," said Collins' mother, Dawn Collins.

"No, this is not the end. This is the continuation of a fight against racism and violence and injustice in our society," Bowie State University President Aminta Breaux said.The new plaza is near Montgomery and Annapolis halls, and it overlooks the bus stop where Lt. Richard Collins III was killed.

[SOURCE: WBAL]

Barack Obama statement on the Buffalo Massacre

Former President Barack Obama released the following statement on the Buffalo massacre in which 10 inncocent Black people were gunned down by an 18-year old white supremacist:

This weekend’s shootings in Buffalo offer a tragic reminder of the price we pay for refusing to curb the easy access to guns. It should also serve as a wakeup call for all Americans of goodwill, regardless of party.

We need to repudiate in the strongest terms the politicians and media figures who — whether for political gain or to boost ratings — have used their platforms to promote and normalize “replacement theory” and other starkly racist, anti-Semitic, and nativist conspiracy theories.

It’s despicable, it’s dangerous — and it needs to stop.

Thirteen Years After Entering NBA, Steph Curry Graduates with Davidson College Class of 2022

Steph Curry, the Davidson Wildcat legend and NBA superstar graduated as a member of the class of 2022 today. Preparations for the Western Conference Finals prevented him from attending the ceremony but his achievement electrified the College’s 185th Commencement.

Throughout his NBA career, the two-time MVP and three-time NBA champion has repeatedly emphasized the importance of education, how much he valued his Davidson College experience and that he is committed to earning his degree.

Curry needed to finish just one semester to graduate. With the help of a handful of professors—two from Davidson, one from Stanford and a UC Santa Cruz professor who had taught Curry while they were both at Davidson—Curry finished the coursework and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in Sociology.

Now that he’s graduated, Davidson College looks forward to an opportunity on campus in the future when it will present his diploma.

The Golden State Warriors acknowledged Curry's achievement.

13 years after entering the NBA, Stephen Curry is a college grad.

Stephen completed his final semester of coursework this spring and will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Sociology from Davidson College.

Congrats to the Class of 2022! pic.twitter.com/R3giuMtPDx

— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 15, 2022

Aaron Salter, the retired Buffalo police officer killed in mass shooting is a hero

The mass shooting at Tops Markets on Buffalo’s East Side Saturday afternoon claimed the lives of ten people and injured three others.

Information on the victims of this tragedy is limited. However, it has been confirmed that Aaron Salter, a retired Buffalo Police officer working as a security guard, was killed trying to protect those inside the grocery store.

When the gunman, 18-year-old Payton S. Gendron of Conklin, New York, entered the store, Salter shot him multiple times, but the 18-year-old’s armored plating deflected the bullets. Gendron then shot and killed Aaron Salter.

Aaron Salter Jr. was identified by his son as the beloved Tops Friendly Markets security guard and former Buffalo cop who tried to stop the teenage suspect, according to the Daily Beast.

“Today is a shock,” his son Aaron Salter III told the news site.

“I’m pretty sure he saved some lives today. He’s a hero.”

Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia also hailed Salter as “a hero in our eyes.”

“I had the pleasure of knowing him, great guy, well respected, well-liked. This is just horrific. It’s tragic. I don’t know what other words to describe it,” Buffalo Police Benevolent Association President John Evans said.