AP African American Studies Scholars to Make More Changes to Course

The Advanced Placement Program has worked for several years alongside scholars, higher education institutions, and secondary schools to create an AP course in African American Studies.

We are committed to providing an unflinching encounter with the facts and evidence of African American history and culture. To achieve that commitment, we must listen to the diversity of voices within the field. The development committee and experts within AP remain engaged in building a course and exam that best reflect this dynamic discipline. Those scholars and experts have decided they will make changes to the latest course framework during this pilot phase. They will determine the details of those changes over the next few months.

Ultimately this work must deliver a representative introductory college-level course, and that imperative will guide its development. Hunger for this course has exploded around the country, growing from 60 schools in the first pilot year to 800 schools and 16,000 students in the school year ahead. Every day, there are more stories about how this course is opening minds and changing lives. Regardless of how many students take this course, each one of those students should have access to the full breadth and beauty of this discipline.

In embarking on this effort, access was our driving principle—both access to a discipline that has not been widely available to high school students, and access for as many of those students as possible. Regrettably, along the way those dual access goals have come into conflict. The updated framework, shaped by the development committee and subject matter experts from AP, will ensure that those students who do take this course will get the most holistic possible introduction to African American Studies.

Brick City HBCU Kickoff Classic with Grambling State University and Hampton University Set for September 2 at Red Bull Arena

The City of Newark and event planner KBS Sports Strategies will host the inaugural Brick City HBCU Kickoff Classic, with Grambling State University and Hampton University playing on September 2, 2023, at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ at 3:00 PM ET.

The Brick City HBCU Kickoff Classic is a celebration of the culture and excellence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Classic is designed to increase awareness of HBCU’s while also having a direct impact on the City of Newark through the awarding of scholarships, strengthened partnerships, and local economic development.

“Hampton University is appreciative of the invite to participate in the inaugural Brick City Classic and the opportunity to face another legendary HBCU program, Grambling State University. This will be a great weekend for our alums in the New York/ New Jersey area to be a part of a prestigious HBCU classic, reconnect with fellow Hamptonians, and support our football team over the Labor Day Weekend,” said Hampton University President Darrell K. Williams.

The Brick City HBCU Kickoff Classic renews a popular rivalry between two teams that are able to boast of Hall of Fame coaches- Eddie Robinson of GSU and Joe Taylor of HU. Always highly competitive contests, Hampton University and Grambling State University have faced off on the gridiron seven times with Hampton having won six of those match-ups with an average attendance of 46,000. The top five most highly attended HBCU Classics played in New Jersey all feature these two teams with three of the games against each other drawing better than 58,000 fans.

“We are extremely excited to bring Hampton Football back to New Jersey and the Tri-State area for this game against the Grambling State Tigers. Having participated in this long-standing rivalry in the late 1990’s I know the great history and tradition accompanying this match-up. This game provides us with a tremendous opportunity to reconnect with Hampton alumni, supporters, and friends and will allow our world-class university to recruit future Pirates to Our Home by the Sea,” said Hampton University Athletic Director Anthony Henderson, Sr.

Grambling State University Athletic Director, Dr. Trayvean Scott added, “We are excited about the opportunity to compete against Hampton University in the Inaugural Brick City Classic. The history between Grambling State University and the tri-state area goes back many years and has left its mark on HBCU football. This is an opportunity for our alumni and new generation of #Gramfam football fans to be involved in such a historic game”.

The Colonial Athletic Association’s Hampton University and Southwest Athletic Conference’s Grambling State University both look to have breakout years in 2023. HU’s Robert Prunty and GSU’s Hue Jackson will have both teams primed and ready to compete.

"Our players, coaches, fans, and alumni are excited to play in the Brick City Classic against Grambling State University at Red Bull Arena. We know it will be a great atmosphere, and we know it will be a great game with two of the best brands in HBCU football being able to match up -- two very explosive teams. I have a lot of respect for Coach Hue Jackson and the way he does things. You see the growth, you see the explosiveness from his group, and we know it's going to be a heck of a matchup," said Hampton’s Head Coach Robert Prunty.

"We’re extremely excited to play in the Brick City Classic against the Hampton Pirates to start our season. We’re looking forward to going on the road traveling to Newark, New Jersey and playing this game. Let’s Go GramFam." – said GSU head Football Coach Hue Jackson.

“The Brick City HBCU Kickoff Classic is the perfect way to enjoy your Labor Day weekend,” said Kris Smith, CEO of KBS Sports Strategies. “We are working with the City of Newark and Essex County to provide meaningful activations throughout the community. The Classic will promote pathways to STEM and media career possibilities while also providing resources for financial literacy and wellness. Also, to be able to highlight these two world-class institutions and the missions of all HBCU’s, being able to share that and incorporate that into a community that is full of promise and talented students, while also lessening their financial burden through scholarships, is what this is all about.”

"Red Bull Arena is proud to host our venue's first American football game featuring two storied universities, Grambling State and Hampton," said Marc de Grandpré, General Manager, New York Red Bulls. "We consider it a true privilege to host the inaugural Brick City HBCU Kickoff Classic. As we continue to expand and diversify our sports and entertainment event offerings, having college football played in Harrison, NJ this September will be very exciting for all gridiron fans in our area."

Red Bull Arena, home of the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer, will proudly host international sporting events this summer that include a Premier League matchup between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Newcastle United, Gold Cup group stage matches and the Rugby Sevens event.

Since 2010, Red Bull Arena has hosted some of the top soccer clubs in the world including FC Barcelona, Chelsea FC, Manchester United, Manchester City FC, Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich, SL Benfica, Club America, Paris Saint Germain, AS Roma and Juventus as well as international squads including the United States Men’s and Women’s National Teams, Argentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Czech Republic and Turkey.

Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster on April 24. For suite information email Red Bull Arena at Staphanie.Delorenzis@newyorkredbulls.com. Additional information on tickets and Brick City HBCU Kickoff Classic events can be found at www.BrickCityClassic.com.

The Association of African American Vintners Awards First Wine Entrepreneur Grants

The Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) announced the five recipients of its 2023 Wine Entrepreneur Grant. Each winner will receive $5,000 to positively impact their operations, marketing or innovation efforts and help grow their wine business. The awardees are:

• Jon’ll & Matthew Boyd, Boyd Cru Wines (Maryland): A family-owned wine brand that believes wine is a common language but speaks to each person differently
• Kindra Dionne, Fifty Leven Collection (Virginia): Wine options for people who want to enjoy wine that is luxurious and fun at the same time
• Cheramie Aho, Cheramie Wine (Texas): A former US Marine on a mission to share Texas wine with the world
• Aaliyah Nitoto, Free Range Flower Winery (California): Organic, sustainable and local wine made from flowers—not grapesTM
• Dr. LaToya Thompson, Opulence Wines (Michigan): Innovative wines for the modern consumer with a focus on luxury

“Many of our vintner members are balancing full-time jobs while self-funding their wine businesses. It is imperative that, as AAAV grows, we help members to accelerate their business growth and impact on the wine industry,” said AAAV Executive Director Angela McCrae. “We are grateful for the generous support of our donors who are helping AAAV make wine inclusive: consumers, small business owners, universities and wine retailers of all sizes.”

Grant applications received by AAAV cited many barriers to winery growth, including state alcohol licensing fees, lack of marketing dollars and difficulty securing distribution. Black-owned wine brands are actively seeking funding to compete in the wine industry’s ecosystem that relies on access to quality agricultural resources, mass production and brand awareness.

The first Wine Entrepreneur Grant recipients are all current AAAV members at the vintner or negociant level. They were selected by a panel of industry leaders in wine retail or distribution who individually reviewed and rated every application. The evaluators were:

• Gina Cook, Portfolio Manager, CA Wine, Republic National Distributing Company
• James Harris, CDP, Sr. Director, Diversity & Inclusion and Supplier Diversity, H-E-B
• Lisa Lyon, Wine Buyer, Meijer
• Dwight Phyall, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Total Wine & More

AAAV’s 2023 Wine Entrepreneur Grant Program was made possible by individual donations and the support of industry partners, including H-E-B, Meijer, Total Wine & More, Vino Volo, Scott Laboratories, 13 Celsius Wine Bar in Houston and Pasadena Wine Shop.  To learn more about the fundraising campaign and donate, visit https://givebutter.com/aaavgrant.

About the Association of African American Vintners 

The mission of the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) is to increase diversity in the wine industry, build awareness of Black winemakers and provide guidance and financial assistance to students from underrepresented minorities pursuing careers in the wine industry. Visit aaavintners.org for more information, to donate and to purchase many AAAV member wines. Follow AAAV on Instagram and Facebook.

NAACP Files Lawsuit in Response to Passage of Unconstitutional Legislation in Mississippi

The NAACP Office of General Counsel and Covington & Burling LLP filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of the NAACP, the NAACP Mississippi State Conference, the Jackson Branch of the NAACP, and a number of Jackson residents and civil rights activists to challenge two new Mississippi statutes. The counsel team includes former Attorney General of the United States Eric H. Holder, Jr., Senior Counsel at Covington & Burling. 

Lawmakers and Jackson residents have opposed both bills throughout the legislative session, citing outside attempts to increase policing without adequate training, silence dissent from Jackson residents, and strip residents of their voting power to elect judges and district attorneys who serve their interests.

Taken together, the two bills represent a state takeover of Jackson, MS. The first statute, S.B.  2343, which was signed by Governor Tate Reeves on Friday, April 21st, significantly expands the Capitol Complex Improvement District to bring the entire predominantly Black city of Jackson under control of the state-run Capitol Police. The bill will also significantly restrict Mississippi residents' ability to protest and hold demonstrations in and around buildings considered property of the state, requiring written approval from the Chief of the Capitol Police or the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety before "any event" occurs.  

The second bill, H.B. 1020, creates a new court with an unelected judge appointed by the Mississippi Supreme Court, which will have the ability to hear and determine all preliminary matters and criminal matters within the District. The bill also continues a court packing plan by appointing unelected Circuit Judges to the Seventh Circuit Court District in Hinds County.  

NAACP President & CEO, Derrick Johnson released the following statement condemning the Mississippi legislature's move to infringe on the rights of Jackson's predominantly Black residents: 

"As our country continues to face the reality and consequences of our broken law enforcement and criminal justice systems, passing legislation to increase policing, install undemocratically appointed judges, and infringe on the constitutional right to protest is simultaneously irresponsible and dangerous. To be clear – this legislation is nothing new. The people of Jackson have been silenced and have faced years of discriminatory disinvestment and neglect from the state government which led to the major water crisis they are still dealing with to this day. If elected officials in Mississippi want to help address the results of their negligence and improve the lives of Jackson residents, they should start with completing improvements to Jackson's water system, not undermining the constitutional rights of their citizens. 

Black Jacksonians need real investment in their infrastructure and complete control over the future of their city. The NAACP will do whatever it takes to protect Jackson residents from the elected officials that continue to fail them. We will continue to collaborate and mobilize with the people of Jackson to ensure their voices are heard and rights are protected."

The NAACP encourages concerned members of the public to sign a petition asking the Mississippi state legislature and Governor Tate Reeves to protect the rights of Jackson residents to control their own resources, such as their water system, elect local judges, and ensure that residents continuing the fight for safe drinking water will not be unconstitutionally silenced.

Former Attorney General of the United States and Senior Counsel at Covington & Burling L.L.P, Eric H. Holder, Jr., released the following statement in support of NAACP's continued advocacy:

"Mississippi House Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 2343 represent a disturbing regression, rolling back decades of progress by stripping Jackson residents of their fundamental right to democratically elect leaders, undermining the authority of those they have elected, and severely restricting their first amendment right to freedom of speech. This Legislative body has proven that they are uninterested in upholding their sworn oath to protect the constitutional rights of their constituents, including the majority Black residents of Jackson. 

Once again, the responsibility has fallen on us - Black advocates and citizens - to hold state lawmakers accountable and fight back against this dangerous legislation. I am proud to work collaboratively with the NAACP to force these undemocratic lawmakers to answer for their brazen, historically resonant actions in the public sphere – and in a court of law." 

Over the past year, the NAACP has worked closely with leaders and residents in Jackson to address the State of Mississippi's gross mishandling of the water crisis and the history of inequities that caused it. In September, the NAACP filed a Title VI Complaint for Investigation of the state's discriminatory allotment of federal funds which resulted in a federal civil rights investigation. NAACP Director of Environmental and Climate Justice, Abre' Conner also testified before Congress, providing expert analysis of the neglect and disinvestment in Jackson and the broader, national implications of infrastructure failures. NAACP leaders continue to monitor the recovery process in collaboration with Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba and EPA Administrator Michael Regan and ensure that the community is aware of the progress and decisions made.

Audio captures Oklahoma sheriffs & comissioners violent, racist comments

McCurtain Gazette-News has released an audio recording in which the McCurtain County sheriff and others are reportedly heard discussing killing two journalists and hanging Black people.