Black Woman Alleges White Bank Workers Wouldn't Deposit Casino Jackpot Check

Lizzie Pugh, a Black Detroit public schools retiree, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that white employees at Fifth Third Bank in Livonia refused to cash and deposit her slot machine jackpot check. She won it during a church outing to the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant.

The 71-year-old alleges that three white bank employees told her the five-figure check was fraudulent and and refused to give it back, reports Tresa Baldas of the Detroit Free Press. Pugh, who is a deacon at her church, says it's blatant racism.

"I couldn’t really believe they did that to me," Pugh tells the Freep. "I was devastated. I kept asking, 'How do you know the check is not real?' ... And they just insisted that it was fraudulent. ... I was just terrified."

The Aug. 29 lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit says after much persistence that day she got the bank to return her check, which she then deposited at a nearby Chase bank. It cleared the following day without issue, the lawsuit says. 

Fifth Third Bank didn't respond to several requests from the Free Press for  a comment.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson’s Statement on Jackson, Mississippi Water Crisis

NAACP President Derrick Johnson released the following statement on the Jackson, Mississippi water crisis:

Somehow, in the year 2022, equality and justice remain out of reach for Black communities across America. The disparities facing our community are stark - just look at the catastrophe unfolding in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. More than a hundred thousand people, the majority of whom are Black, are without safe access to drinking water for the foreseeable future.

This crisis is the direct result of the failures of politicians who have put party and politics over the issues that will help people in communities like Jackson, Mississippi, Flint, Michigan, and the many other majority Black cities that have been left behind for too long. We need elected officials who will put people over politics and will address issues that impact Black communities.

While the NAACP continues to mobilize volunteers, clean water distribution efforts, and collaboration with local, state, and federal administrations, we remind elected officials that those seeking to win our vote must show they are with us, and they will fight for us.

Nyla Johnson a 10-Year-Old African American Girl Seals Book Distribution Deal

A 10-year-old African American girl, Nyla Johnson made history recently when she landed a major book distribution deal in hundreds of stores across the United States of America.

Nyla, who is an author and entrepreneur from Rochester, Michigan, is celebrating having a nationwide book distribution deal at more than 250 Meijer store locations across five states. Meijer is one of the largest and fastest-growing big box retailers in the Midwest.

In her debut book of the series which is entitled, “Nyla’s First Day of Kindergarten”, she chronicles an African American girl’s journey from daycare to full-time school.

From meeting new friends and her teacher to playground fun and reading new books, readers can join Nyla and her friends on her first day’s journey into the world of kindergarten!

In real life, Nyla is a fifth grader at Hugger Elementary in Rochester, Michigan. When she’s not writing or reading, she loves riding her hoverboard, roller skating, and playing with friends outdoors.In a recent interview on Fox2 News Detroit, she said: “I just think just think above the brain, and I just start writing whatever comes to mind” Nyla’s First Day of Kindergarten is available as an ebook on Amazon, but the paperback is available through her mom’s publishing company at SoItIsWritten.net

A true entrepreneur at heart, she also has a dog walking business where she fulfills her passion for four-legged friends and helping others in and around the community.

Nyla is also currently working on her second book project, set to be released in the fall of 2022.

CHECK OUT NYLA'S FIRST DAY OF KINDEGARTEN ON AMAZON

Coco Gauff advances to U.S. Open quarterfinals for 1st time

Coco Gauff reached the quarter-finals of the US Open for the first time on Sunday with a 7-5, 7-5 victory over China's Zhang Shuai.

The 18-year-old 12th seed from Atlanta advanced to a last eight meeting with France's Caroline Garcia after prevailing in 1hr 57minutes.

Prior to this season, Gauff had never gone further than the third round at the US Open.

In the last eight she will face one of the most in-form players in the draw in 28-year-old Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia.

Coco ➡️ #USOpen Quarterfinals pic.twitter.com/dt79TzYLSI

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2022

Barack Obama wins Creative Emmy for narrating the series, “Our Great National Parks.”

Former president Barack Obama won a Creative Emmy Award on Saturday for best narrator for his work on the Netflix documentary series, “Our Great National Parks.”

The five-part show, which features national parks from around the globe, is produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, “Higher Ground.”

Barack Obama is the second president to have an Emmy. Dwight D. Eisenhower was given a special Emmy Award in 1956.

Barack Obama previously won Grammy Awards for his audiobook reading of two of his memoirs, “The Audacity of Hope” and “A Promised Land.”