Malcolm X's family files $100M wrongful death lawsuit against the NYPD, state and federal agencies

On the 58th anniversary of civil rights leader, Malcolm X’s death his family announced that they would file a wrongful death lawsuit for $100 million alleging the CIA, FBI and the NYPD had a hand in his death.

Tuskegee University named part of first HBCU Research Center

Tuskegee University was named to participate in the first University Affiliated Research Center in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense with an HBCU focus. This is the 15th UARC, but the first associated with HBCUs and the first sponsored by the Air Force.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III made the announcement at Howard University, where the consortium will be based. The main objective of the tactical autonomy research to be conducted at Tuskegee, in collaboration with Howard University and other HBCU consortium member institutions, is to design, develop and demonstrate autonomous systems and technologies capable of performing specific missions in complex environments with minimum human interference.

Tuskegee’s participation is part of its Strategic Plan goal for research, innovation and entrepreneurship to move to the R2 classification outlined by Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education. R2 universities have “high research activity,” which means they award at least 20 research doctoral degrees annually and have at least $5 million in total research expenditures.

“This partnership fits with our goal to establish innovative solutions through research, entrepreneurship and scholarly activities,” said Dr. Charlotte P. Morris, Tuskegee president. “Our goal is to be a pre-eminent educational and research institution with an R2 designation to increase external grants for research. While this collaboration includes several HBCUs, the long-term benefit for the university and our students is enormous.”

Tuskegee joins Howard and Jackson State University, Hampton University, Bowie State University, Norfolk State University, Delaware State University, Florida Memorial University, and Tougaloo College in this collaboration.

“The Tuskegee University team will take an applied engineering research approach whereby testing proposed solutions on prototyped and/or experimental autonomous systems that are of military relevance to the DOD sponsors/stakeholders,” said Dr. Mandoye Ndoye, who represents Tuskegee on the initiative. “Through the new cyber-engineering-focused computer engineering program, the Tuskegee University team is well-positioned to engage in cybersecurity research and education for autonomous systems. This project is indeed an opportunity for our computer, electrical and other engineering students to participate in applied research and, through real-world projects, gain practical knowledge in hardware security and cyber-security for tactical autonomy applications.”

The Tuskegee University team is comprised of Dr. Mandoye Ndoye, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Marc Karam, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Dr. Heshmat Aglan, Dean and Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Mr. Johnny Baker, DoD AERIC program manager.

Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade Named President's Award Recipients for 54th NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP and BET announced that actress, producer, and best-selling author Gabrielle Union-Wade and three-time NBA Champion entrepreneur and producer, Dwyane Wade will receive the prestigious President's Award during the "54th NAACP Image Awards" airing Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 8:00 PM ET on BET and 8:00 PM PT on delay.

The President's Award is presented in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service, with previous recipients including Rihanna, LeBron James, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, Muhammad Ali, Jesse Jackson, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, Lauryn Hill and Soledad O'Brien, among others.

"We're thrilled to present this award to Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade who together have consistently utilized their platforms to advance social justice and raise awareness to the inequalities existing in our country," said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. "We're proud to recognize the couple's tireless humanitarian work as they continue to advocate for equality and acceptance for all."

"Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade are exemplary in their purpose-driven leadership and use of their collective platforms for good," said Scott Mills, President & CEO, BET. "This year's recipients of the NAACP President's Award are not just a timely signifier of the issues that matter most to the community; they are a testament to what is possible when one commits themselves to advancement in those areas. It is a great honor for BET to join the NAACP to amplify these issues and celebrate the leaders doing the work to drive change in our community."

The Wade Family Foundation provides relief to marginalized communities in need, helping to advance racial justice and LGBTQ equality. Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union-Wade have made headlines for their philanthropic efforts to support organizations providing healthcare for the LGBTQ community. The couple has also worked to help raise money for the LGBTQ nonprofit GLSEN, which is dedicated to ending bullying and discrimination in schools. The Wade Family Foundation provides relief to marginalized communities in need, helping to advance racial justice and LGBTQ equality.

Gabrielle has personally, and with the support of her various partnerships, donated to the Van Ness Recovery House, Leap for Ladies, Out Nebraska, Deborah's Place, Harvest House, and Baltimore Safe Haven. In addition to financial contributions, Gabrielle is focused on using her platform as a public figure to bring awareness to the work these organizations and others are doing to support underrepresented communities.

Additionally, her haircare line Flawless has formed the Lift As We Climb initiative: a year-round effort that supports emerging Black-owned small businesses, community organizations, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs. The initiative produces an annual event that provides monetary and mentoring opportunities to companies and organizations.

Dwyane co-founded Social Change Fund United with Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony to invest in and support organizations focused on empowering communities of color and advocating for the human rights of all Black lives.

In 2016, Wade launched his Spotlight On initiative after the loss of his cousin to gun violence in Chicago. The initiative aims to give youth hope for a better future by shining a spotlight on youth in the community who are actively changing the city for the better and are empowering others to make change happen. His activism against gun violence continued when Wade brought awareness to the need for stronger gun control laws by supporting Parkland students during March for Our Lives and by launching a Parkland 17 art exhibit at Florida Art Walk to honor the seventeen lives lost.

Through Wade Cellars, Dwyane is an active supporter of the Roots Fund, a nonprofit organization providing resources to Black and Brown scholars interested in the wine industry by way of financial support, educational scholarships, wine education, mentorship, and job placement. In 2021, he joined the UC Davis Executive Leadership Board for the department of Viticulture and Enology to support their efforts in bringing more diversity to the wine industry.

Winners of the "54th NAACP Image Awards" will be revealed via telecast on February 25, 2023, on BET. NAACP will also recognize winners in non-televised Image Awards categories virtually February 20-23 via naacpimageawards.net and at an Awards Dinner and Program on February 24.

Black author writes horror story about sellouts in the African American Community

George L. Cook III has written a kindle vella horror story titled SELLOUT, A Ghost Story about a Black person who has no qualms about making money by talking bad or degrading his "own" people. The story focuses on a character named Richard English, who is a political pundit who appears on TV and radio talk shows and always puts Black people in a negative light. Although a horror story the story features a Black History twist.

African American Reports had a few questions for the author:

AAREPORTS: What was the inspiration for writing SELLOUT?

George Cook: As you kknow there has been a lot of focus on race here in America with Tyre Nichols and the made up CRT contoversy, as well as other issues. It was something I heard a talking head on TV say about the death of Tyre Nichols and the police chief of Baltimore being like a single mother not able to control her sons that inspired me to write the SELLOUT. What that talking head said really pissed me off.

AAREPORTS: Would you like to name that talking head?

George Cook: No, but I'll just say he is someone who hasn't missed afew meals in a while.

AAREPORTS: What made you go the horror route with this story?

George Cook: That's the genre I'm most comfortable writing it in.

AAREPORTS: I know you can't give away any of the story but how did you get Black History into the story?

George Cook: I wrote the story during Black History Month and that actually gave me the basis for the story and what the narrative would be. I was able to slip in about four to five Black history facts for the reader, but only if they are are paying attention.

AAREPORTS: We loved that endind, does that mean a certain ghost will be back?

George Cook: I really don't know but I don't think so. I think the way the story ended maked the intended point and there's no reason to go there again.

AAREPORTS: First tell us what is a Kindle Vella story and then why you released SELLOUT that way as opposed to releasing it as a short story?

To put it simply Kindle Vella was something new that allows an author to release a story in small episodes of which the first three are free to the reader. To read the final episode a reader will need tokens to read but Amazon will give someone new to Kindle Vella 200 tokens free and part 4 will only cost you 11 tokens. You also don't need any special app, you can immediately read the story on your phone, tablet, or CPU just by clicking a link to the story.

I really like writing in an eposodic format and it's fun to leave cliffhangers or have a reader waiting until the next episode to see what happens next. I released SELLOUT using the Netflix model of releasing the entire 4 episode story at once so you can finish the story on one shot.

AAREPORTS: Where can Readers get SELLOUT?

George Cook: On Amazon by using this link:

https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BTXMRZXW

AAREPORTS: Thank you for this interview, and is there any thing you would like to say in closing?

George Cook: Thank you for having me and i would just like to ask readers to support SELLOUT and please read that last episode. Good wishes to all.

Judge Mathis canceled after 24 seasons

“Judge Mathis” will end its run at the end of this season, the show will wrap after 24 seasons.

The show comes from Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Telepictures Productions and is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. According to insiders, the decision was made due to the declining nature of the daytime syndication landscape. As local TV stations shrink their syndication dollars and the advertising marketplace shrinks for daytime syndication, first-run syndication has become a trickier landscape. At the same time, station groups have been expanding their local news broadcasts, also in a bid to save money.

“Judge Mathis” was the second longest-running court show in continued production with the same host, behind “Judge Judy,” which ran for 25 seasons. Over the course of the show’s history, Judge Mathis presided over 13,000 cases on his show.

“Judge Mathis” won the Daytime Emmy in 2018 for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program, as well as the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News, Talk or Information Series in 2004. Judge Greg Mathis, a former judge of Michigan’s 36th District Court, is the longest-running Black male host on television and the second-longest-reigning arbitrator in courtroom TV history, behind “Judge Judy” star Judith Sheindlin.

[SOURCE: VARIETY]