Ben Crumps talks possible lawsuit over Florida ban on AP African American studies course

Attorney Ben Crump was in Florida on Wednesday and discussed a potential lawsuit after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned an AP African American Studies course due to disagreement over the curriculum.

Howard University Will Be Lead Institution for New US Air Force Research Center

Defense Department leaders today announced the creation of a 15th university-affiliated research center associated with Howard University in Washington, D.C.

The research center is sponsored by the U.S. Air Force and focused on tactical autonomy. 

The announcement represents two firsts for the U.S. military: It's the first university-affiliated research center associated with one of America's historically Black colleges and universities and the first sponsored by the Air Force. 

"Today as we work to build enduring advantages for our brave men and women in uniform, we must seek the latest innovations in science and engineering," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told students and faculty at Howard University. "That means building more bridges to America's outstanding STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] community. You see, we need your ideas; we need your creativity and we need to draw on the skills of all of our people."

Some 30% of African American STEM professionals graduate from one of America's historically Black colleges and universities, Austin said, yet only a small fraction of the Defense Department's research funding is directed towards HBCUs. That's something Austin said he's determined to change.

"To sharpen America's technological edge and to strengthen America's outstanding military, the department is committed to investing even more in HBCUs and minority-serving institutions," he said. "Today, we're taking that commitment to a new level." 

The new research center will be led by Howard University and will focus on tactical autonomy, which is an area of research which is central to U.S. security, Austin said. 

"Responsibly used autonomous systems make our military faster, smarter and stronger," Austin said. "They can identify threats to our troops in real-time and they can help our technical crews conduct maintenance more safely. And they can equip our commanders with the best available information to make life and death decisions." 

The research expected to take place under the leadership of Howard University, Austin said, will focus on those important areas, and will help to protect the men and women who serve the nation's armed forces.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the United States of America has the strongest fighting force in human history," Austin said, "And thanks to new partnerships like this one, we're going to keep it that way. That's the American way, and it's the Howard way." 

A UARC is a DOD-supported non-profit research organization affiliated with a university that has a specific area of domain expertise or specialization, and which supports the long-term needs of the Defense Department. With the addition of the newest UARC, to be led by Howard University, the Department will have 15 such research organizations.

Howard University was chosen to lead a consortium of universities that will participate in the newest UARC. Those universities include Jackson State University, Mississippi; Tuskegee University, Alabama; Hampton University, Virginia; Bowie State University, Maryland; Norfolk State University, Virginia; Delaware State University, Delaware; Florida Memorial University, Florida; and Tougaloo College, Mississippi. 

Howard University will receive $12 million per year for five years to fund research, faculty and students.

"America is at its best when we knock down barriers, when we search for great ideas wherever they reside and when we draw on the full talents of the American people — all of the American people," Austin said. "So to Howard and the other schools in the consortium, thank you for lifting up the next generation. Thank you for all that you do for our outstanding men and women in uniform. And thank you for making our democracy more secure."

Watch Roland Martin's interview with Ed Reed about Bethune-Cookman situation

Watch Roland Martin's interview with an emotional Ed Reed on his show, Roland Martin Unfiltered about Bethune-Cookman University not hiring him for its football head coaching job.

UNCF Receives its Largest Corporate Gift to Support Underserved Students

Fidelity Investments donates $190 million to provide access to education and facilitate economic mobility for African American/Black, Latinx American, Native American and Asian/Pacific Islander American students

UNCF (United Negro College Fund) today announced it has received its largest philanthropic corporate gift in its 78-year history from Boston-based financial services leader Fidelity Investments to launch the Fidelity Scholars Program.

As the next step in its long-standing commitment to financial education and inclusion, Fidelity is donating $190 million to UNCF as part of its $250 million Invest in My Education (ME)℠  initiative. This new social impact program, built by Fidelity and its philanthropic partners, commits $250 million across the next five-years to provide access to education and facilitate economic mobility for up to 50,000 underrepresented African American/Black, Latinx American, Native American and Asian/Pacific Islander American students.

“This is an incredibly generous gift from Fidelity Investments,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “We are delighted to partner with a premier global financial services company to do this work. The Fidelity Scholars Program is exemplary, innovative and demonstrates the company’s commitment to provide equal educational opportunities for low-income and underrepresented students who do not have the advantages of other students.”

The program is consistent with UNCF’s mission as the nation’s largest private scholarship provider to students of color, administering an array of small and large scholarships that have helped more than 500,000 students to earn college degrees with the support of institutional philanthropic partners and individual donors.

“Fidelity’s extraordinary gift will encourage other corporate leaders to get involved and show their commitment for the education of bright, promising student scholars who simply need the financial resources and support services to achieve their college and career aspirations,” said UNCF Board Chairman Milton H. Jones, Jr.

The Fidelity Scholars Program features annually renewable, need-based, last-dollar scholarships with comprehensive wrap-around support services eligible students.

“The design of this program is specifically geared to the mighty-middle, students with 2.5 to 3.5 grade point averages, who are often overlooked for scholarship opportunities and need significant financial support,” noted Larry Griffith, UNCF’s senior vice president, programs and services. “This is not a transactional program, but a transformational program giving striving achievers a substantive scholarship and a comprehensive set of services based on research and best practices that UNCF has developed over the last 78 years.”

Student participants must pursue a bachelor’s or an associate degree at an accredited not-for-profit, four-year or two-year – college or university, (including minority serving institutions (MSIs) and historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU)s, or a not-for-profit certificate program within the state of their residence.

“As a UNCF-HBCU president, I am confident that this program will have major impact on HBCUs and minority-serving institutions of higher education,” said George T. French, Jr., Ph.D., president of UNCF-member Clark Atlanta University and chair of UNCF’s Member Presidents. “The participating colleges and universities include HBCUs, state-funded, small private schools and community colleges that do the heavy lifting, but don’t often have the financial resources to support their students.”

In the fall of 2023, the Fidelity Scholars Program will launch for students in Massachusetts, Texas and North Carolina. It will ultimately include more than 2,500 talented students in areas where Fidelity has a significant presence, including New Jersey, New Mexico, Florida, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Colorado and Utah.

“Fidelity Investments is providing an unparalleled opportunity for some of the most deserving, overlooked and vulnerable students of color that will enable them to graduate without college debt,” said Paulette Jackson, UNCF’s senior vice president, national development and operations.

Jackson and Griffith are the UNCF executives leading this program.

To learn more about eligibility criteria and the application process for the Fidelity Scholars Program, visit UNCF.org/FidelityScholars.

In addition to the Fidelity Scholars Program, Fidelity’s Invest in My Education (ME)℠ initiative will also provide grants to help students overcome systemic barriers, including:

• Retention and completion grant awards will be made to help students remain in college and not drop out because of unpaid tuition.
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• Ecosystem-building grants will be directed toward leading nonprofit organizations focused on improving graduating rates of students of color to ensure quality pathways to post-secondary education.

Tennessee Titans Hire Ran Carthon as the Team's New General Manager

The Titans have officially hired Ran Carthon as the team's new general manager making Carthon the team’s first Black general manager.

Carthon spent two seasons as director of player personnel with the 49ers after serving five seasons as the director of pro personnel in San Francisco.

Carthon was one of seven candidates to interview for the position with the Titans.

"We are excited to add Ran to our organization as our new general manager," Titans Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "He brings a variety of valuable experiences to our team – as a former player and a successful personnel executive for multiple teams. I was impressed with his natural leadership qualities and his ability to connect with people. With talent evaluation being critical to this role, the roster they have built in San Francisco stands out. He played an important role there constructing one of our league's best teams."

According to the 49ers, Carthon was responsible for evaluating the top college prospects while assisting in the construction of the pro free agency board and evaluations in San Francisco. He also worked with the football administration staff with player market analysis and unrestricted free agency strategy.

Carthon joined the 49ers after spending five seasons (2012-16) as the director of pro personnel with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.

Carthon also spent four seasons (2008-11) as a pro scout with the Atlanta Falcons.

Prior to his time in Atlanta, Carthon had a three-year playing career in the NFL after playing in college at the University of Florida. He broke into the league as an undrafted rookie with the Indianapolis Colts in 2004 and played with the club through the 2006 campaign.

While playing at Florida (1999-2003), Carthon competed in five bowl games and was part of the Gators 2000 SEC Championship team.

Carthon's father, Maurice, played in the NFL with the New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts.

The hiring of Carthon capped a busy and important period that began back on December 6, when Strunk made the decision to part ways with general manager Jon Robinson, who was hired prior to the 2016 season.

After candidates were identified, Strunk led the process of finding Robinson's replacement. The team interviewed seven candidates, including personnel evaluators across the NFL, before narrowing the search to a handful of candidates, and second interviews were conducted.

Strunk said a committee including herself, Kenneth S. Adams, IV from the ownership group, President and CEO Burke Nihill, Senior VP/Business Affairs and Chief Legal Officer Adolpho Birch III and Senior VP/General Counsel & Chief of Staff Dan Werly would be involved in the interviews.

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel also joined the process before Carthon was hired.

"We want someone who is an exceptional talent evaluator, exceptional at roster building, and someone who is an excellent decision-maker," Strunk said in an interview with TennesseeTitans.com at the start of the process. "I also want someone who is a collaborator, someone who is able to find and build consensus to get to the best answers for the team, someone who is open to innovation and evaluating talent beyond the traditional avenues. Just really a talented person in all areas. But more than anything I want someone that can collaborate – that is super important to me, being able to find this person who can collaborate so we're all working together, rowing the same direction.

"I am excited about the process, and I am excited about finding the right person. I think this is going to be a great reset for us going forward, a chance to bring in new ideas, a new way of doing things."