New Book Alert: Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence by Keith Ellison

With this powerful and intimate trial diary, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asks the key question: How do we break the wheel of police violence and finally make it stop?

The murder of George Floyd sparked global outrage. At the center of the conflict and the controversy, Keith Ellison grappled with the means of bringing justice for Floyd and his family. Now, in this riveting account of the Derek Chauvin trial, Ellison takes the reader down the path his prosecutors took, offering different breakthroughs and revelations for a defining, generational moment of racial reckoning and social justice understanding.

Each chapter of BREAK THE WHEEL goes spoke to spoke along the wheel of the system as Ellison examines the roles of prosecutors, defendants, heads of police unions, judges, activists, legislators, politicians, and media figures, each in his attempt to end this chain of violence and replace it with empathy and shared insight.

Ellison’s analysis of George Floyd’s life and the rich trial context he provides demonstrates that, while it may seem like an unattainable goal, lasting change and justice can be achieved.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK ON AMAZON

Sha'Carri Richardson wins United States 100 meter title

Sha'Carri Richardson won the 100-meter title in 10.82 seconds at the U.S. championships on Friday night.

After her victory, she conceded that she wasn’t ready for the moment at the 2021 Olympic Trials, where, shortly after her victory, she tested positive for using marijuana.

“Now, I stand here with you again and I’m ready, mentally, physically and emotionally,” said the 23-year-old, who ran in her natural black braids with a star shaved into the right side of her hairdo. “I’m here to say, ‘I’m not back, I’m better …’”

She’ll have a chance to put a stamp on that next month at the world championships, which will mark her first major international meet.

Sha’Carri Richardson runs 10.82 to take the women’s 100m national title.#USATFOutdoors | 📺: @CNBC and @peacock pic.twitter.com/06pj0m8SIr

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 8, 2023

National Society of Black Engineers pulls conference out of Florida because of DeSantis' attacks on DEI

The National Society of Black Engineers is moving its annual convention out of Florida, citing the state's attacks on diversity and inclusion as the reason.

The National Society of Black Engineers announced its 2024 convention will no longer be held in Orlando next spring after participants voiced their concerns about the state's political climate and safety.

The following message was sent to NSBE members:

Dear Members, 

Shortly into our journey to celebrating 50 years of NSBE’s annual conventions, we were faced with the responsibility of deciding how to convene in a way that is authentically us, and that honors the basis of our organization’s existence and mission. 

After careful deliberation, our National Executive Board voted to move #NSBE50 out of Florida and relocate to Atlanta, GA where we will be able to provide the full NSBE convention experience. The context of what this decision entailed is detailed below. 

Unified Voice for Social Impact & Change + Sustaining NSBE’s Legacy

Our Society originated during the Black Power Movement, a time when racial pride and truthful expression of the Black experience were amplified and at the forefront. Since then, NSBE members, advisors and staff alike have carried the torch with a goal “to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community."

With such a longstanding history, we had to take into account that the political climate in Florida seeks to undermine what we stand for and would prohibit us from existing and congregating the NSBE way.

The Pivot 

These occurrences were catalysts to the #NSBE50 location pivot, and were compounded by logistical 1 challenges, which altogether created a circumstance that would inevitably hinder us from providing an expansive, complete, and authentic NSBE convention experience. Indeed, because of the referenced occurrences and other actions – on May 20, the NAACP issued a formal travel advisory for Florida, which states, in part, “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.” Other civil rights organizations, among them the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Equality Florida and the Florida Immigrant Coalition, have expressed support for the NAACP’s action and/or have issued travel advisories of their own. Florida is at the forefront of efforts across the nation to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and therefore it is important that these unified voices be heard loudly there. 

As a Black organization working towards equity for Black STEM students and professionals, we stand in solidarity with efforts and advisories from Black legacy organizations like the NAACP, especially on matters that directly affect NSBE and our mission – such as the aforementioned.

Refocusing on Celebrating NSBE50 

As we begin to shift our focus back to the joys and meaningful impact of #NSBE50, we will have a centralized focus to (1) maintain a unified voice for social impact and change; (2) support Region III and all members of the NSBE family – right where they are as well as on a national and international level; and (3) remain true to NSBE’s legacy and mission. 

We are also actively working to help our members who are directly impacted by attacks on DEI. For those of you who need assistance, we encourage you to apply for NSBE’s Chapter Relief program which is in place to address and mitigate issues like these. 

Please know that this decision was not made lightly – we approached it with thoughtfulness, care and all things considered – but ultimately with you, our stakeholders, and the integrity of NSBE in mind. We will share more details about relocating as they become available.

Sincerely, Avery Layne, 

NSBE National Chairperson 

Janeen Uzzell, NSBE CEO

Coffee Bluff Pictures Wins Jury Award at the 2023 Essence Film Festival

L-R Director Deborah Riley Draper, Executive Producer Merline Saintil and Executive Producer Shannon Nash

Coffee Bluff Pictures won the prestigious Jury Award: Social Impact Stories at the 2023 Essence Film Festival for the documentary "OnBoard." The groundbreaking film, written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Deborah Riley Draper, chronicles the rise of Black women on America's boards and the evolution of corporate board diversity from Patricia Roberts Harris in 1971 to Black Women on Boards (BWOB), a global group of fearless women organized during the Summer of 2020 to create change.

The 2023 Essence Film Festival occurred during the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ weekend, presented by ESSENCE Studios™ and showcases storytellers from across the African diaspora. "OnBoard" offers a compelling glimpse into the movement started by Board veterans Merline Saintil and Robin Washington to expand the opportunity and exposure of Black women who can impact America's corporate boardrooms. The film, with its timely and impactful narrative of access and inclusion, including the historic ringing of the opening bell at Nasdaq by members of BWOB, ironically screened 48 hours after the Supreme Court overturned Affirmative Action. Festival director Lamonia Brown and Hakeem Holmes, VP, ESSENCE Festival of Culture, presented the awards in a live ceremony on Sunday, July 2, 2023. "OnBoard" is Coffee Bluff Pictures' second official selection at the Essence Film Festival. In 2022, Coffee Bluff Pictures opened the festival with a sold-out screening of "Twenty Pearls: The Story of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated."

“I love that I can direct a film about an extraordinary movement started by Black women in a film produced by Black women and screened at the epicenter of celebrating Black women. This win is for the film and all of the women of color who paved the way in Corporate America,” says Deborah Riley Draper. "OnBoard," produced by Lacy Barnes, Shannon Nash, and Merline Saintil, enjoyed a special screening world premiere on June 13, 2023, at the Tribeca Festival in New York, with an encore screening on June 16, 2023. For more information about "OnBoard" and its journey, please visit www.onboardthefilm.com.

About Coffee Bluff Pictures: Coffee Bluff Pictures is an Atlanta-based creative company founded in 2010 by veteran advertising agency executive Deborah Riley Draper to produce artful, meaningful film, TV, and brand content that inspires engagement with the audiences and the greater community. The company's work explores interesting, under-represented characters and the rich, complicated journeys they embark upon in the U.S. and worldwide. Coffee Bluff Pictures is committed to expanding the aperture of the African American narrative on the screen to increase universal awareness and understanding.

Watch the trailer for "OnBoard" here: https://vimeo.com/775339839/33d4c5910a

NJ Governor Phil Murphy Signs Joint Resolution Establishing July 5th as Larry Doby Day

Governor Phil Murphy today signed a joint resolution (AJR221) designating July 5th of each year as Larry Doby Day. This day of recognition honors the incredible legacy of Lawrence “Larry” Eugene Doby, a pioneer in the desegregation of professional baseball in the United States.

A New Jersey native, Larry Doby began his athletic career playing baseball, basketball, football, and running varsity track at Eastside High School in Paterson. His success as a baseball player on the Newark Eagles earned him attention from professional teams, which at the time were limited to white men only. On July 5th, 1947, Doby joined the Cleveland Indians and became the first African American baseball player in the American League. Today marks the 76th anniversary of Doby breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball.

“We are extremely proud of Larry Doby’s legacy and the impact his life has had on our nation’s history,” said Governor Murphy. “As our national pastime, the sport of baseball holds an important place in American culture and history, and its desegregation is a significant chapter of the civil rights movement. Establishing this day in Larry Doby’s honor creates an annual opportunity to evaluate our effort to continue his fight for equality and to express our gratitude and admiration for his courage.”

“First, I want to thank Senator Ruiz, Senator Pou, Assemblyman Wimberly, and Assemblywoman Sumter for their effort in honoring my father,” said Larry Doby Jr. “I would also like to thank Governor Murphy for signing the bill and making this possible. As a family, we are extremely proud and humbled by this honor.”

Primary Sponsors of SJR118 include Senators Teresa Ruiz and Nellie Pou, and Assemblymembers Benjie E. Wimberly and Shavonda Sumter.

“Larry Doby rose out of the working classes of Paterson to become an American icon, and role model, facing all forms of hate and bigotry along the way,” said Senate Majority Leader Ruiz. “His determination to rise above it, and along with Jackie Robinson to break major league baseball’s color barrier, set a living example that endures nearly 80 years later, and paved the way for generations of young people who dream of playing professional sports. After his retirement, he lived out his days in Montclair where he continued to be a powerful figure in the community.”

“Like Jackie Robinson, Paterson’s Larry Doby endured all manner of racism and discrimination – from white players, fans and even teammates. He was not allowed to sleep in the same hotels or eat at the same restaurants as white players. Yet through it all, he persevered with class and dignity, becoming one of the all-time stars of our national pastime,” said Senator Pou. “This resolution will help make sure Larry Doby’s name and remarkable achievements are never forgotten.”

“Larry Doby’s Major League Baseball career transcended beyond entertainment and will forever live on in our nation’s history,” said Assemblyman Wimberly. “As the second black baseball player to play in the major leagues, he broke down barriers and left his mark on African-American history. It is fitting that we commemorate Larry Doby with a day in his honor.”

“Larry Doby was an extraordinary athlete and a pioneer in the desegregation of professional baseball,” said Assemblywoman Sumter. “An example for all youth, Larry Doby demonstrated dignity and grace in the face of adversity. We must continue to honor his contributions to our state and keep the memory of his tenacity and courage alive.”

Doby’s talent left an indelible impact on both the baseball community and the ongoing fight against racism. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 and was posthumously honored by Congress for his contributions to the advancement of civil rights. Today, a life-sized bronze statue of the baseball star stands just outside of the Cleveland Guardians’ Progressive Field.

Following his retirement, Doby returned to New Jersey to raise his children in Montclair, as well as work in community relations for the NBA on behalf of the New Jersey Nets. The City of Paterson has since renamed Eastside Park’s baseball field to “Larry Doby Field”.