WEATHER ALERT
South Carolina sets Nov. 1 execution as state ramps up use of death chamber
Read full article: South Carolina sets Nov. 1 execution as state ramps up use of death chamberSouth Carolina has set a date of Nov. 1 date for its next execution as the state ramps up use of the death penalty after a 13-year pause.
From Chinese to Italians and beyond, maligning a culture via its foods is a longtime American habit
Read full article: From Chinese to Italians and beyond, maligning a culture via its foods is a longtime American habitIt’s a practice that’s about as American as apple pie — accusing immigrant and minority communities of engaging in bizarre or disgusting behaviors when it comes to what and how they eat and drink.
Repaving project completed at historic Black cemetery in Oviedo after revealing unmarked graves
Read full article: Repaving project completed at historic Black cemetery in Oviedo after revealing unmarked gravesA ribbon cutting event at Boston Hill Cemetery in Oviedo marked the official completion of a road repaving project which revealed a dozen unmarked graves.
Skin cancer is becoming a bigger problem among younger adults, doctor says
Read full article: Skin cancer is becoming a bigger problem among younger adults, doctor saysEach morning on "Breakfast with Bridgett" we have interesting stories and interviews plus weather and traffic to help you plan the day.
Trump promised big plans to flip Black and Latino voters. Many Republicans are waiting to see them
Read full article: Trump promised big plans to flip Black and Latino voters. Many Republicans are waiting to see themDonald Trump has promised big plans for recruiting voters in Black, Latino and Asian communities.
$10K to invest in real estate? Here’s how the Haltere Group makes it possible
Read full article: $10K to invest in real estate? Here’s how the Haltere Group makes it possibleThis week on “Black Men Sundays,” host Corie Murray interviews Dennis Earls and Mikael Pyles, respectively the chairman/CEO and vice present of Atlanta-based Haltere Group, a Black-owned real estate investment firm.
San Francisco apologizes to Black residents for decades of racist policies
Read full article: San Francisco apologizes to Black residents for decades of racist policiesSupervisors in San Francisco have formally apologized to African Americans and their descendants for the city’s role in perpetuating racism and discrimination.
Schools say dress codes promote discipline. But many Black students see traces of racism
Read full article: Schools say dress codes promote discipline. But many Black students see traces of racismFor as long as schools have policed hairstyles as part of their dress codes, some students have seen the rules as attempts to deny their cultural and religious identities.
Zora! Festival 2024 honors historic Eatonville author with education, celebration
Read full article: Zora! Festival 2024 honors historic Eatonville author with education, celebrationZora Fest 2024 is back and the city is gearing up for a busy weekend as both tourists and residents are taking the time to celebrate and learn more about a prominent local African-American historical figure.
What does Watch Night mean for Black Americans today? It dates back to the Emancipation Proclamation
Read full article: What does Watch Night mean for Black Americans today? It dates back to the Emancipation ProclamationThe tradition of Watch Night services in the United States dates back to Dec. 31, 1862, during the Civil War.
‘This is Black college on steroids:’ Florida Classic means excitement for alumni, boon for business
Read full article: ‘This is Black college on steroids:’ Florida Classic means excitement for alumni, boon for businessThe Bethune Cookman Wildcats and the Florida A&M Rattlers are set to go head to head over the weekend during the annual Florida Classic, but as events are going on small businesses say this is their time to shine.
‘Heartbreaking:’ Families say suing developer over historic cemetery’s flooding is about respect
Read full article: ‘Heartbreaking:’ Families say suing developer over historic cemetery’s flooding is about respectThe lawsuit alleges the developers approved construction of the culvert to divert runoff water from the new drive into Longleaf at Oakland, and dumped the water instead into the Tildenville Oakland Cemetery.
Ameris Bank accused of ‘redlining’ Black, Hispanic Florida residents, settles with Justice Dept.
Read full article: Ameris Bank accused of ‘redlining’ Black, Hispanic Florida residents, settles with Justice Dept.Georgia-based Ameris Bank has been accused by the Department of Justice of systematically denying and discouraging home loans and other credit to those living in Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Jacksonville.
National Cathedral replaces windows honoring Confederacy with stained-glass homage to racial justice
Read full article: National Cathedral replaces windows honoring Confederacy with stained-glass homage to racial justiceThe landmark Washington National Cathedral has unveiled new stained-glass windows with a theme of racial justice.
Supporters of reparations for Black residents urge San Francisco to push forward
Read full article: Supporters of reparations for Black residents urge San Francisco to push forwardMore than 200 people rallied outside San Francisco's City Hall to urge supervisors to act on reparations for Black residents.
Onyx Magazine holds 4th annual ‘Man of Honor’ event in Orlando
Read full article: Onyx Magazine holds 4th annual ‘Man of Honor’ event in OrlandoOnyx Magazine held its 4th annual “Man of Honor” event this weekend in Orlando, honoring Central Florida’s most influential Black men while also celebrating high school students.
Alabama riverfront brawl videos spark a cultural moment about race, solidarity and justice
Read full article: Alabama riverfront brawl videos spark a cultural moment about race, solidarity and justiceBystanders who trained their smartphone cameras on an Alabama riverfront dock, as several white boaters pummeled a Black riverboat co-captain, couldn’t have known the footage would elicit a national conversation about racial solidarity.
Florida OKs Black history lesson standards amid criticism
Read full article: Florida OKs Black history lesson standards amid criticismThe State Board of Education on Wednesday approved new academic standards for instruction about African American history, after numerous teachers from across Florida objected to the changes and asked the board to put the proposal on hold.
Americans mark Juneteenth with parties, events and quiet reflection on the end of slavery
Read full article: Americans mark Juneteenth with parties, events and quiet reflection on the end of slaveryAmericans across the country are observing the relatively new Juneteenth federal holiday with festivals, parades, cookouts and other gatherings.
Black Californians hope state reparations don't become another broken promise
Read full article: Black Californians hope state reparations don't become another broken promiseCalifornia’s first-in-the-nation Black reparations task force is nearing the end of its historic work with a hefty list of recommendations for lawmakers to consider turning into action.
California reparations panel OKs state apology, payments
Read full article: California reparations panel OKs state apology, paymentsCalifornia’s historic reparations task force has voted to approve recommendations for possible payments to Black residents and a formal apology for the state’s role in perpetuating discriminatory policies.
Report finds democracy for Black Americans is under attack
Read full article: Report finds democracy for Black Americans is under attackA new report from the National Urban League is citing what the civil rights and urban advocacy group says are some of the top threats to democracy for Black Americans.
US adds a healthy 236,000 jobs despite Fed's rate hikes
Read full article: US adds a healthy 236,000 jobs despite Fed's rate hikesAmerica’s employers added a solid 236,000 jobs in March, suggesting that the economy remains on solid footing despite the nine interest rate hikes the Federal Reserve has imposed over the past year in its drive to tame inflation.
🏫 First public school for African Americans in Orlando to host ‘multi-versary’ banquet
Read full article: 🏫 First public school for African Americans in Orlando to host ‘multi-versary’ banquetJones High School, the first public school for African Americans in Orlando, is hosting its first ever ‘multi-versary’ banquet inviting alums from several generations to come together and reminisce about a school with quite a history.
Black representation in Alabama tested before Supreme Court
Read full article: Black representation in Alabama tested before Supreme CourtCongressional districts that a federal court panel said were unconstitutional because they dilute representation for Black voters in Alabama are nevertheless being used for the November election after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed them.
Black Americans living abroad reflect on Juneteenth holiday
Read full article: Black Americans living abroad reflect on Juneteenth holidayAs the United States marks only the second federally recognized Juneteenth, Black Americans living overseas have embraced the holiday as a day of reflection and an opportunity to educate people in their host countries on Black history.
HBCU medical schools to tackle organ transplant disparities
Read full article: HBCU medical schools to tackle organ transplant disparitiesA coalition including the four medical schools at the nation's historically Black colleges and universities has announced a new initiative aimed at increasing the number of Black Americans registered as organ donors and combating disparities among transplant recipients.
Once abandoned, Groveland cemetery for African Americans to get new life with grant
Read full article: Once abandoned, Groveland cemetery for African Americans to get new life with grantThe city of Groveland was recently notified that they were approved for a state grant for $499,000 to restore the cemetery.
California reparations plan advances movement, advocates say
Read full article: California reparations plan advances movement, advocates sayCalifornia took a big step this week toward becoming the first U.S. state to make some form of restitution a reality by tackling the divisive issue of which Black residents should be eligible to receive reparations for the atrocity and injustices of slavery and racism.
Biden risks progressives, Blacks with pivot to the center
Read full article: Biden risks progressives, Blacks with pivot to the centerPresident Joe Biden is signaling an election year shift to the center to help protect fragile Democratic majorities in Congress, even as key voices across his party’s sprawling political coalition threaten revolt.
Historic Orlando hotel was mecca for African American celebrities of the ‘60s, ‘70s
Read full article: Historic Orlando hotel was mecca for African American celebrities of the ‘60s, ‘70sJust blocks away from downtown Orlando, Henry Sadler founded the Sadler Hotel, which welcomed many African American celebrities of the 1960s and 70s.
Central Florida activist leaders nominated for posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom
Read full article: Central Florida activist leaders nominated for posthumous Presidential Medal of FreedomHarry T. Moore and his wife Harriet, were activists at the forefront of the civil rights movement who helped more than 116,000 African Americans register to vote in Central Florida.
McConnell: Black people vote at similar rates to 'Americans'
Read full article: McConnell: Black people vote at similar rates to 'Americans'Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is drawing criticism for comments he made shortly before the GOP blocked a federal elections bill, when he said that “African American” voters cast ballots at similar rates to “Americans.”.
Black lawmakers to sue to block Michigan redistricting maps
Read full article: Black lawmakers to sue to block Michigan redistricting mapsCurrent and former Black state lawmakers in Detroit have announced a pending lawsuit to block Michigan’s newly drawn congressional and legislative districts, contending they illegally dilute the voting strength of African Americans.
What's your religion? In US, a common reply now is "None"
Read full article: What's your religion? In US, a common reply now is "None"When Americans are asked by pollsters about their religious identity, the fastest-growing major group consists of those who don't affiliate with any organized religion.
Court upholds death sentence for church shooter Dylann Roof
Read full article: Court upholds death sentence for church shooter Dylann RoofA federal appeals court has upheld the conviction and death sentence of a man on federal death row for the racist slayings of nine members of a Black South Carolina congregation.
West Orange County old historic African American cemetery to be restored with state grant
Read full article: West Orange County old historic African American cemetery to be restored with state grantThe town of Oakland in West Orange County has been awarded Florida's Historic Preservation grant of $25,000 that will go toward the restoration and preservation of the historic African-American cemetery which dates back to 1882.
Biden to America after Floyd verdict: 'We can't stop here'
Read full article: Biden to America after Floyd verdict: 'We can't stop here'President Joe Biden says the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd “can be a giant step forward” for the nation in the fight against systemic racism.
President Biden praying for ‘right verdict’ in Derek Chauvin trial
Read full article: President Biden praying for ‘right verdict’ in Derek Chauvin trialPresident Joe Biden says the conviction of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd “can be a giant step forward” for the nation in the fight against systemic racism.
House panel votes to advance bill on slavery reparations
Read full article: House panel votes to advance bill on slavery reparationsA House panel has advanced a decades-long effort to pay reparations to the descendants of slaves, approving legislation Wednesday night that would create a commission to study the issue.
Biden works to balance civil rights and criminal justice
Read full article: Biden works to balance civil rights and criminal justicePresident Joe Biden’s difficult balancing act on policing was put on vivid display over the course of a few hours as he tries to navigate criminal justice and civil rights.
Biden works to balance civil rights and criminal justice
Read full article: Biden works to balance civil rights and criminal justicePresident Joe Biden’s difficult balancing act on policing was put on vivid display over the course of a few hours Tuesday as he tries to navigate criminal justice and civil rights.
At Clemson, unmarked slave graves highlight plantation past
Read full article: At Clemson, unmarked slave graves highlight plantation pastStudents at Clemson University who found an unkempt graveyard on campus last year sparked the discovery of more than 600 unmarked graves most likely belonging to enslaved Black people, sharecroppers and convicted laborers.
1 in 5 in US lost someone close in coronavirus pandemic, poll shows
Read full article: 1 in 5 in US lost someone close in coronavirus pandemic, poll showsIn a Feb. 25-March 1, 2021 poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about 1 in 5 Americans say they lost a relative or close friend to the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)WASHINGTON – About 1 in 5 Americans say they lost a relative or close friend to the coronavirus, highlighting the division between heartache and hope as the country itches to get back to normal a year into the pandemic. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research illustrates how the stage is set for a two-tiered recovery. The AP-NORC poll found about 30% of African Americans, like Parks, and Hispanics know a relative or close friend who died from the virus, compared with 15% of white people. AdThe poll found two-thirds of Americans say their fellow citizens nationwide haven’t taken the pandemic seriously enough.
The Latest: South Korea extends social distancing measures
Read full article: The Latest: South Korea extends social distancing measuresPeople wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus gather at a park in Goyang, South Korea, Wednesday, March 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea is extending its current measures on social distancing for at least another two weeks as it struggles to slow coronavirus infections in the greater capital area. ___WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has removed remaining coronavirus restrictions on the city of Auckland after containing a small outbreak. ___WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is planning to announce during his prime-time address Thursday night that he’ll deploy 4,000 additional U.S. troops to support coronavirus vaccination efforts. Thursday’s announcement from the Department of Corrections comes a year after suspending visits at prisons because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Health panel expands lung cancer screening for more smokers
Read full article: Health panel expands lung cancer screening for more smokersLung cancer is the nations top cancer killer, causing more than 135,000 deaths each year. Lung cancer is the nation’s top cancer killer, causing more than 135,000 deaths each year. Usually, lung cancer is diagnosed too late for a good chance at survival. But "unfortunately, lowering the age and pack-year requirements alone does not guarantee increased equity in lung cancer screening,” wrote Dr. Yolonda Colson and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital. AdOne recent study found just 14% of people eligible for lung cancer screening under the prior guidelines had actually gotten it.
Biden backs studying reparations as Congress considers bill
Read full article: Biden backs studying reparations as Congress considers billPresident Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with labor leaders in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, in Washington. Biden backs the idea of studying the issue, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday, though she stopped short of saying he would sign the bill if it clears Congress. Even with Democrats controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House, passing a reparations bill could prove difficult. Most Black Americans favored reparations, 74%, compared with 15% of white Americans. AdRep. Burgess Owens, a first-term Republican from Utah, argued against a reparations commission.
Orlando actor takes the wheel in ‘Driving Miss Daisy,’ steers conversation on race in the arts
Read full article: Orlando actor takes the wheel in ‘Driving Miss Daisy,’ steers conversation on race in the artsSANFORD, Fla. – No one drives Miss Daisy quite like Michael Morman. He’s reprised the role of Hoke Colburn in “Driving Miss Daisy” seven times, most recently in the Theater West End production, which just finished its run in Sanford. With each subsequent production, he evolved his performance, understanding the meaning of Colburn’s words and actions more fully with age. In “Driving Miss Daisy,” one scene stands out to him. After his closing curtain call in “Driving Miss Daisy,” Morman realized something.
Orange County’s first elected African-American clerk of courts wants to inspire others
Read full article: Orange County’s first elected African-American clerk of courts wants to inspire othersORANGE COUNTY, Fla – As the first elected African American Clerk of Courts in Orange County, Tiffany Moore Russell said her mission is to inspire others to dream big - all while she’s humbly serving in a position where no one has looked like her before. Her win in 2014 also allowed her to break barriers as the first African-American female Clerk elected in the state of Florida. Russell was recently re-elected in Orange County after running unopposed. She was also the youngest member of the Orange County Commission when she was elected back in 2006 where she served two terms. Russell was first elected as the Clerk of Courts in 2014 (Copyright 2021 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)
Trailblazer who helped integrate Florida schools believes country is heading in right direction
Read full article: Trailblazer who helped integrate Florida schools believes country is heading in right directionORLANDO, Fla. – As News 6 celebrates Black History Month, a local woman who’s been a trailblazer her entire life is speaking out about the history that’s now happening right before our eyes. LaVon Bracy endured relentless attacks as one of the first African Americans to integrate Florida schools. As the first and only African American to graduate from Gainesville High School in Alachua County in 1965, the threats against her life were real. “Every day that I would go to school, I would find dead rats, roaches and snakes under my seat,” Bracy said. I really thought that would be the last day I would be on the earth,” Bracy said.
Black hospital faces vaccine mistrust from unlikely source
Read full article: Black hospital faces vaccine mistrust from unlikely sourceDr. Rita McGuire, an obstetrician and infection control specialist at Roseland Community Hospital talks Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, with staff members about taking the COVID-19 vaccine. "It’s not something that I trust right now,’’ says Bland, 50, who worries about how quickly the COVID-19 vaccines were developed. Many holdouts come from the mostly Black, working class neighborhoods surrounding the hospital, areas hard hit by the virus yet plagued with vaccine reluctance. She acknowledged "centuries of medical injustice’’ against Black Americans but said COVID-19 vaccines resulted from years of solid research. Many workers ‘’have not forgotten about those studies where they used us as experiments,’’ McGuire said, including the infamous Tuskegee research on Black patients with syphilis.
US jobless claims fall slightly to 793,000 with layoffs high
Read full article: US jobless claims fall slightly to 793,000 with layoffs high(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)WASHINGTON – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to 793,000, evidence that job cuts remain high despite a substantial decline in new confirmed viral infections. The job market had shown tentative improvement last summer but then slowed through the fall and in the past two months has essentially stalled. Part of that increase likely reflects the processing of a rush of claims after the extension of two federal aid programs just after Christmas. Biden’s proposal would extend, through August, two federal unemployment benefit programs that are set to expire in mid-March. Unlike the previous expiration of extended unemployment aid, which occurred on Dec. 26, the cut-off would be phased in between March 14 and April 11.
Black Heritage Trail in Daytona Beach highlights city’s historical sites
Read full article: Black Heritage Trail in Daytona Beach highlights city’s historical sitesDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It’s home to “The World’s Most Famous Beach” and the Daytona International Speedway, but the city of Daytona Beach also has a history full of African American roots. The Black Heritage Trail features 18 locations highlighting important sites around the city. Spots include more well-known areas like the Jackie Robinson Ballpark and Bethune-Cookman University, but also parks and buildings named after residents. AdFILE - This is an April 18, 1948, portrait of Brooklyn Dodgers baseball player Jackie Robinson. The trail and the information provided about the locations are thanks to Yvonne Scarlett-Golden, the city’s first African American mayor and a native of Daytona Beach.
Hank Aaron, civil rights leaders get vaccinated in Georgia
Read full article: Hank Aaron, civil rights leaders get vaccinated in GeorgiaBaseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron waits to receive his COVID-19 vaccination on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. Aaron and others received their vaccinations in an effort to highlight the importance of getting vaccinated for Black Americans who might be hesitant to do so. (AP Photo/Ron Harris)ATLANTA – Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, former U.N. Ambassador and civil rights leader Andrew Young and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan got vaccinated against COVID-19 in Georgia on Tuesday, hoping to send a message to Black Americans that the shots are safe. Getting vaccinated “makes me feel wonderful," Aaron told The Associated Press.
More US churches are committing to racism-linked reparations
Read full article: More US churches are committing to racism-linked reparations(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)NEW YORK – The Episcopal Diocese of Texas acknowledges that its first bishop in 1859 was a slaveholder. Some major denominations, including the Roman Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention, have not embraced reparations as official policy. The Episcopal Church has been the most active major denomination thus far, and others, including the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, are urging congregations to consider similar steps. This will include scholarships for students attending seminaries or historically Black colleges and assistance for historic Black churches. But Dietsche expects some funds will help congregations launch their own reparations initiatives, particularly if their churches had historical involvement in slavery.
Utah senator blocks national museums for Latinos, women
Read full article: Utah senator blocks national museums for Latinos, womenWASHINGTON – A lone senator from Utah has singlehandedly blocked the bipartisan approval of two new national museums to honor American Latinos and women, arguing that “last thing we need is to further divide an already divided nation.”Republican Sen. Mike Lee objected Thursday to the creation of the two proposed Smithsonian museums, stalling two projects that have been in the making for decades and enjoy broad bipartisan support. Senate approval would have sent the legislation approving the Latino museum to President Donald Trump for his signature. The Senate was attempting to pass the measures by voice vote, which requires every senator's consent. Lee said he sees an exception for museums dedicated to American Indians and African Americans that already sit on the National Mall. “We have been systematically excluded, not because this senator said so but because the Smithsonian itself said so,” Menendez said.
US lawmakers unveil anti-slavery constitutional amendment
Read full article: US lawmakers unveil anti-slavery constitutional amendmentFILE - This Nov. 29, 2011, file photo shows the signature of president Abraham Lincoln on a rare, restored copy of the 13th Amendment that ended slavery, in Chicago. As ratified, the original amendment has permitted exploitation of labor by convicted felons for over 155 years since the abolition of slavery. Constitutional amendments are rare and require approval by two-thirds of the House and Senate, as well as ratification by three-quarters of state legislatures. In Merkley’s Oregon, voters in 2002 approved the elimination of constitutional language that prohibited Black Americans from living in the state unless they were enslaved. The prevalence of prison labor has been largely accepted as a means for promoting rehabilitation, teaching trade skills and reducing idleness among prisoners.
Harris becomes first Black woman, South Asian elected VP
Read full article: Harris becomes first Black woman, South Asian elected VPThey will be sworn in as president and vice president on Jan. 20. “I want us to be committed to the idea that representation is exciting and it’s worthy of celebration and also that we have millions of Black women who deserve a fair shot.”Harris is the second Black woman elected to the Senate. “That’s the kind of policy that also happens when you have voices like ours at the table,” said Jayapal, who in 2016 was the first South Asian woman elected to the U.S. House. Harris' mother raised her daughters with the understanding the world would see them as Black women, Harris has said, and that is how she describes herself today. She attended Howard University, one of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities, and pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha, the nation’s first sorority created by and for Black women.
In South, most Black Senate candidates since Reconstruction
Read full article: In South, most Black Senate candidates since ReconstructionDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate Jaime Harrison speaks at a campaign rally on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020, in North Charleston, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)COLUMBIA, S.C. – In the battle for control of the U.S. Senate this year, the Deep South is fielding more Black candidates than it has since Reconstruction. Mike Espy and Adrian Perkins, meanwhile, are launching spirited bids for the Senate in Mississippi and Louisiana, respectively. The Senate currently has three Black members: Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina and Democrats Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kamala Harris of California. “The more competitive races are, and Black candidates win those competitive races, it diminishes this worry that Black candidates can’t win,” Abrams recently told The Associated Press. In Mississippi, Espy is trying for a second time to become the state’s first Black senator since Reconstruction with his challenge to Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith.
Letters, texts, caravans, parades: Advocates mobilize voters
Read full article: Letters, texts, caravans, parades: Advocates mobilize votersVoters have been ushered to the polls by fleets of minivans, with bicycle parades and on horseback in Indian Country. Often unable to knock on doors or chat in person because of virus concerns, advocates have had to adapt. A recent video on social media showed voters in Philadelphia dancing joyfully as they waited, alongside members of the Resistance Revival Chorus. Some voters are wary of catching the virus by voting in person, but they're also concerned about the mail-in option. Like Gehman in New Mexico, Radha Pyati in Philadelphia has devoted untold hours to writing letters as part of Vote Forward.
Events happening near Amway Center to inspire minority voters
Read full article: Events happening near Amway Center to inspire minority votersORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County community leaders are joining pastors and civic-based organizations to host the Central Florida Vote Fest, aimed at getting more minorities and African Americans to vote. The weekend events will be held across from the Amway Center at the SED lawn. Organizers said the purpose of the Central Florida Vote Festival is to energize and engage minority and Black voters to get out and vote early. Russell, who is also the Orange County Clerk of Court, is one of the weekend organizers. The March to the Polls event is happening Oct. 24 near the Amway Center.
Black immigrants find camaraderie, divide amid protests
Read full article: Black immigrants find camaraderie, divide amid protestsBut amid the camaraderie younger Black immigrants like her feel with African Americans, they also see a generational divide in their communities. But these have largely been over tactics, said David Canton, a professor of African American history at the University of Florida. During some of their chats, older immigrants tell him they came to America to work and provide a better life for their children, not to protest about race. In fact, one of the co-founders of the original network of Black Lives Matter was Opal Tometi, the daughter of Nigerian immigrants. "We are all one community across the diaspora, whether you are a Black American, raised on the African continent or you’re from elsewhere.”
Group seeks to combat misleading information online
Read full article: Group seeks to combat misleading information online(AP Photo/Russ Bynum)RIO RANCHO, N.M. – A group of U.S. Black scholars, activists and writers has launched a new project they say will combat misleading information online around voting, reparations and immigration, supporters announced Friday. The newly formed National Black Cultural Information Trust seeks to counter fake social media accounts and Twitter trolls that often discourage Black voters from participating in elections or seek to turn Black voters against other communities of color. The effort isn't meant to silence groups that are behind any hashtag but counter “bad actors” who are using the hashtags to disseminate false information, Aiwuyor said. The founders also took issue with the National Black Cultural Information Trust on Twitter after the announcement that the project would monitor the #ADOS hashtag for xenophobic comments and false information. But also to measure the plunder of the ADOS community from 1619 to today.”Members of the National Black Cultural Information Trust plan to monitor social media posts and flag those spreading misleading and fake stories.
'Driving While Black' shows history of US Black motorists
Read full article: 'Driving While Black' shows history of US Black motoristsNorton shows "Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights" by Gretchen Sorin. Norton via AP)ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A new film examines the history of African Americans driving on the road from the Great Depression to the height of the Civil Rights movement. “Driving While Black,” which airs this week on most PBS stations in the U.S., shows how the automobile liberated African Americans to move around the country while still navigating segregation and violence. The free movement opened the window to migration across the land and away from Jim Crow, ushering in the modern Civil Rights Movement. The new HBO dramatic series, “Lovecraft Country,” centers around a young African American veteran who travels across the segregated 1950s U.S. in search of his missing father.
JPMorgan puts $30B toward fixing banking's 'systemic racism'
Read full article: JPMorgan puts $30B toward fixing banking's 'systemic racism'CHARLOTTE, N.C. – JPMorgan Chase said Thursday it will extend billions in loans to Black and Latino homebuyers and small business owners in an expanded effort toward fixing what the bank calls “systemic racism” in the country’s economic system. “Systemic racism is a tragic part of America’s history,” said JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon in a statement. Citigroup announced last month it is committing $1 billion toward closing “the racial wealth gap” in the United States, including $550 million toward homeownership programs for racial minorities. He noted that there’s a 30% gap between Black and white homeownership, amounting to about 4.5 million households. JPMorgan was one of 27 major New York-based companies that joined a program to recruit 100,000 workers from the city's low-income, predominately Black, Latino and Asian communities over the next 10 years.
Commissioners urge Hispanic, Latino communities to fill out census ahead of deadline
Read full article: Commissioners urge Hispanic, Latino communities to fill out census ahead of deadlineTwo Orange County commissioners made a call to action to the Hispanic and Latino communities in an effort to change the statists when it comes to the 2020 U.S. Census. “Just 1970 is when the census actually started counting Hispanics but what we noticed over the years is traditionally African Americans and Hispanic communities are undercounted,” Mayra Uribe, Orange County Commissioner for District 3 said. Orange County government said while people are focused on their jobs, health, and families, they need to be reminded of the importance of responding to the 2020 U.S. census. Orange County government set up seven computer kiosks inside seven different community centers in the county. The centers will be open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.Those needing to visit a census location can visit one of the following sites:
Biden makes push for voters on National Black Voter Day
Read full article: Biden makes push for voters on National Black Voter DayHarris will speak about what's at stake for Black Americans in November and urge voters to register and make a plan to vote. National Black Voter Day was created this year as a collaborative effort by the National Urban League, BET and a number of civil rights organizations. Black Americans have also been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, suffering high rates of deaths and unemployment from its economic fallout. Biden’s campaign, along with several other organizations marking the first National Black Voter Day, are channeling resources behind that effort. But Brown said the final days will be key toward connecting with some Black voters who feel Biden needs to do more to earn their vote.
Rosa Parks' home displayed in Italy as US race tensions rise
Read full article: Rosa Parks' home displayed in Italy as US race tensions riseFILE - This Dec. 12, 2017 file photo shows the rebuilt house of the civil rights activist Rosa Parks in Berlin, Germany. In 2018, Brown University announced it would feature the house as part of a planned exhibition on the civil rights movement organized by its Center for Slavery and Justice. Earlier this year, Mendoza approached the Naples-based Morra Greco Foundation, where he had worked for a year in the 1990s. But now, “instead of being rejected by the walls of the royal palace, it’s embraced and protected by these walls,” he said. “Potentially thanks to the showing of the house in this way, America will allow the house to have a home.”___Winfield reported from Rome.
GOP convention showcases rising stars, dark warnings
Read full article: GOP convention showcases rising stars, dark warningsAs Trump faces pressure to expand his appeal beyond his loyal supporters, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the Senates sole Black Republican, and former U.N. Scrambling to find a message that sticks, Trumps team tried out multiple themes and tactics over the course of the night. The opening night of the four-day convention reflected the rising urgency fueling Trumps push to reshape a presidential contest that he is losing, at least for now, with Election Day just 10 weeks away. In a tweet Monday night, Biden told supporters to stay focused.The emphasis on diversity at Trump's convention was an acknowledgement that he must expand his coalition beyond his largely white base. The fact that the Republicans gathered at all stood in contrast to the Democrats, who held an all-virtual convention last week.
Joe Biden launches new national ad aimed at Black Americans
Read full article: Joe Biden launches new national ad aimed at Black AmericansDETROIT Joe Biden's Democratic presidential campaign has launched a new national ad focused on Black Americans, urging them to stand up to President Donald Trump the way their ancestors stood up to "violent racists of a generation ago." The one-minute ad, which was shared exclusively with The Associated Press before its digital and television release on Thursday, is meant to drum up support among Black Americans, a key constituency for Biden, ahead of November's general election. The ad, titled Better America, also takes a direct swipe at Trump, without mentioning the Republican president by name. The ad is part of the Biden campaign's planned $280 million digital and television ad buy that was announced Wednesday and will run through the fall. A campaign spokesman said in a statement that the ad is the start of a series of content aimed at Black voters.
Congress weighs kicking racist chief justice from Capitol
Read full article: Congress weighs kicking racist chief justice from CapitolIt was in that room that Taney, the nation's fifth chief justice, announced the Dred Scott decision, sometimes called the worst decision in the court's history. Lynne M. Jackson, Scott's great-great-granddaughter, says if it were up to her, she'd leave Taney's bust where it is. In Congress, Taney's bust was controversial from the start. "And an emancipated country will fasten upon him the stigma which he deserves.Funding for a Taney bust wasn't approved until almost a decade later. The first, John Marshall, is the only person to serve as chief justice longer than Taney and a revered figure in the law.
Voters to get say in dropping 'plantations' from R.I.'s name
Read full article: Voters to get say in dropping 'plantations' from R.I.'s namePROVIDENCE, R.I. Voters will get another chance to strip the words and Providence Plantations" from Rhode Island's formal name after lawmakers approved a joint resolution to put the question on the November ballot. Although the word plantations in Rhode Islands name does not specifically refer to a place where slaves labored, it elicits such imagery, say sponsors of the bill approved Thursday. Rhode Island was incorporated as The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations when it ratified the Constitution in 1790, but the name dates to pre-Revolutionary times. Gina Raimondo last month signed an executive order to remove the phrase and Providence Plantations from some official documents and executive agency websites. The ballot question would make the change official in the states constitution if approved by a simple majority of voters.
Trump bristles at question about police killing Blacks
Read full article: Trump bristles at question about police killing BlacksWASHINGTON President Donald Trump bristled Tuesday at a reporter's question about police killing African Americans and defended the right to display the Confederate flag as he continued to play into racial divisions in a pair of interviews. In one interview, Trump seemed taken aback when asked why African Americans are still dying at the hands of police. So are white people," Trump told CBS's Catherine Herridge. In the interview, Trump also defended the use of the Confederate flag, despite saying in 2015 that he believed the flag belongs in a museum. My attitude is freedom of speech," Trump responded.
Trump lags Biden on people of color in top campaign ranks
Read full article: Trump lags Biden on people of color in top campaign ranksTwenty-five percent of the Republican president's senior staff are nonwhite, compared to 36% of Bidens senior staff. Along with adding more people of color to his campaign, Biden has promised an administration that looks like America if he is elected on Nov. 3. His campaign declined to discuss minority representation on the campaign staff. The Biden campaign said LGBTQ staff and staff of color hold such positions as senior advisers, deputy campaign managers, national coalitions director, chief financial officer, chief operating officer and national press secretary, among others. Trumps campaign defined its senior staff as senior leaders who meet regularly to make decisions.
Health panel may open lung cancer screening to more smokers
Read full article: Health panel may open lung cancer screening to more smokersA U.S. health panel wants to widen the number of Americans offered yearly scans for lung cancer by opening the screening to less-heavy smokers. Lung cancer is the nation's top cancer killer, causing more than 135,000 deaths each year. Usually, lung cancer is diagnosed too late for a good chance at survival. Lung cancer screening is complicated -- not every hospital is equipped to offer it -- and few of those eligible today receive it, just 6% according to one study the task force cited. In contrast, 60% to 80% of those eligible for breast, colon or cervical cancer screening get checked.
5 things to watch for in Thursday's jobs report for June
Read full article: 5 things to watch for in Thursday's jobs report for JuneYet because Thursday's jobs report will be based on data gathered in the second week of June, it will still likely reflect an improving trend. Economists have forecast that employers added 3 million jobs in June and that the unemployment rate dropped to 12.3% from 13.3% in May, according to data provider FactSet. In short, the jobs report is more important than ever but in some ways harder to read. Had these people been properly classified, the unemployment rate would have been reported as 16.4%, not 13.3%. In May, even as most large U.S. industries added jobs, state and local governments cut 550,000 workers, after having slashed 950,000 in April.