Historic Black fraternity’s luncheon honors Dr. King, awards student scholarships
As members of a historic African-American Fraternity gather to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they are also getting results for their community and empowering young people through scholastic recognition.
Black leaders say threats to undermine US democracy appear aimed at their community
Some of the nation’s most influential Black leaders say many of the threats to democratic institutions in the U.S. appear to be aimed squarely at their community, including efforts to make voting more difficult, censor lessons around race and weaken social safeguards such as affirmative action.
What’s in the new AP African-American Studies framework — and what’s not
While its overall tenor remains the same, its most controversial elements have been stripped from required instruction and are now optional topics for a required student project section, according to a News 6 analysis of the frameworks.
Black history class revised by College Board amid criticism
The official curriculum for a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies released Wednesday downplays some components that had drawn criticism from conservatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said the class would be banned in his state.
Debate builds over Florida’s rejection of AP African American course
Saying that an African-American studies course “lacks educational value,” Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is defending its rejection of the curriculum, while Black religious leaders and elected officials are pledging to “fight like hell” against the decision.
Oscar winner and groundbreaking star Sidney Poitier dies
Sidney Poitier, who played roles of such dignity and intelligence that he transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen, becoming along the way the first Black actor to win an Oscar for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw, has died.
Biden to nominate 3 federal prosecutors for New York offices
FILE - In this March 17, 2021 photo, President Joe Biden speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Biden intends to nominate three African American prosecutors to run the U.S. attorneys offices in New York, including the first Black man to run the Southern District of New York. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is expected to nominate three prosecutors to run the U.S. attorney’s offices in New York state, including the first Black man to run the Southern District of New York in Manhattan and the first Black woman to head the Western District in Buffalo. Ross, a longtime federal prosecutor, is expected to run the office in the Buffalo-based Western District. Brooklyn federal prosecutors have been examining the state’s handling of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes in a probe that drew public attention after a top aide to New York Gov.
Celebrating the legacy of meteorologist June Bacon-Bercey
Florida – The American Meteorological Society’s Broadcaster of the Year Award has been renamed to honor the late June Bacon-Bercey, a pioneering African American woman in the field of meteorology. The AMS recently changed the name of the Broadcaster of the Year Award to the June Bacon-Bercey Award for Broadcast Meteorology. The path she paved began in the 50s when Bacon-Bercey was the first African American woman to earn a bachelor’s in meteorology. She was the first woman and first African American woman to do so. In an effort to continue Bacon-Bercey’s legacy the AMS is hopeful that the award deemed “The June Bacon-Bercey Award for Broadcast Meteorology” will encourage a more diverse nomination pool for the AMS Broadcast Award.
Marion County pastors, NAACP hold vaccination events in underserved areas
MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Some pastors in Marion County started a partnership with a local NAACP chapter and the county’s health department to make COVID-19 vaccines more accessible to minorities in the area. Lizzie Lennon is a former nurse practitioner and the health chair of the NAACP in Marion County. Letting them know we have a list of people that couldn’t get into Publix or the original health department registration,” Stockton said. AdThe race to get an appointment online is a common complaint for seniors in Marion County. For more information on how you can get on the waiting list, contact Greater New Hope Church at (352) 687-1130 or the Marion County chapter of NAACP at (352) 351-4560.
The impact of the Montford Point Marines during segregation
Most people know about the Tuskegee Airmen and Buffalo Soldiers, but very few are aware of the Montford Point Marines. “Nobody really knew about Montford Point other than that was a Marine training station,” he said. It was just being built.”Foreman was among the first 1,000 men to graduate from Montford Point. “Montford Point was the...I’d say the jumping-off point for black Marines,” he said. Approximately 20,000 African American soldiers received basic training at Montford Point between 1942 and 1949.
Orlando doctor says skipping coronavirus vaccine is like ‘playing Russian roulette’ as hesitancy persists
AdAs time goes on, Simmonds expects to see more Black and Latinx residents who are willing to roll up their sleeves. “At the end of the day, each day that you wait is playing Russian roulette... so please make the responsible decision, the best, responsible decision for yourself and your family and get vaccinated,” Simmonds said. While only health care professionals and those 65 and older can get inoculated now, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said eligibility could expand in the near future. Since efforts began late last year, Orange County has vaccinated 7.89% of its overall population and 45.7% of its elderly residents. On Monday, a new set of appointments became available at the Orange County Convention Center, which is now performing 3,000 shots per day.
New museum traces history of Black music across genres
People walk to the entrance of the National Museum of African American Music, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A new museum two decades in the making is telling the interconnected story of Black musical genres through the lens of American history. Even as Nashville has long celebrated its role in the history of music, the new museum fills a gap by telling an important and often overlooked story about the roots of American popular music, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B and hip-hop. “Most music museums deal with a label, a genre or an artist,” said H. Beecher Hicks III, the museum’s president and CEO. She noted that the museum put gospel music in context with how it inspired social change, especially during the civil rights era.
Biden's pick for UN post calls China 'a strategic adversary'
United States Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield testifies during for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Washington. Johnson asked her why she had said the United States is not in a new Cold War with China. “This speech is cheerleading for the Chinese Communist Party” and makes no mention of China’s human rights violations, he said. Johnson asked her what the stronger language and tougher tactics would be toward China. “And yet, I had an extraordinary 35-year career, that culminated as the assistant secretary of state of African affairs,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
Fellow Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sisters watch Kamala Harris become vice president making history
ORLANDO, Fla. – Twelve years after the first African American president was sworn in, the United States made history once again with the first female Vice President Kamala Harris. [TRENDING: Biden will move to reverse these Trump policies | Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine | At least part-time residency required for vaccine in FL]For 28-year-old Jameson, it was a moment of pride as she witnessed a fellow Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister break the glass ceiling as she was sworn in by the first Latina Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The swearing-in of our FIRST Female Vice President of these United States of America. WE SALUTE YOU MADAM VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS! #AKAHistoryMaker #AKAMVP pic.twitter.com/K6Wirddv9U — Alpha Kappa Alpha (@akasorority1908) January 20, 2021The moment will have an impact on future generations, Boothe said.
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.
Black singer of regional Mexican music sparks buzz, emotion
Sarah Palafox, an African American woman who sings regional Mexican music, poses in Moreno Valley, Calif., in this undated photo. Palafox, an African American woman raised by a Mexican immigrant family, has generated excitement online with her versions of regional Mexican music. Other videos of her singing banda — another form of regional music from Mexico’s southwest coast — also have been shared thousands of times. She would only say the music will be different and she’s not listening to critics who tell her she’s shouldn’t be singing regional Mexican music. “I was told you can’t wear braids, you can’t wear your Afro and go on stage and sing Mexican music,” Palafox said.
Black voters in Detroit key for Biden, but are they engaged?
Black voters across Michigan will be pivotal in deciding who will win the battleground state in November. Biden visited Detroit earlier this month, and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, was spending time in Flint and Detroit on Tuesday. In an interview this month with longtime Detroit radio host Mildred Gaddis, Biden noted that Michigan, and its Black voters in Detroit, are “critically important." Democratic state leaders said they learned hard lessons and that the party has worked to connect with Black voters. But challenges remain in connecting with apathetic voters and with younger Black voters who might have more progressive leanings — key demographics that Branden Snyder, the executive director of Detroit Action, said his organization is trying to reach.
Jogger stopped by Volusia deputies to share his experience during Sheriffs Office bias training
African American male, with a white tank top and black shorts, initially, said Joseph Griffin. In the video, the deputy told Griffin that he was not under arrest but was being detained because he fit the description. He told News 6 that he invited Griffin, a former military officer, to attend an implicit bias training class to share his experience with law enforcement. The way we stopped Mr. Griffin is the way we would have stopped a white guy, a Black guy, a Hispanic guy or a purple guy, Chitwood said. But, I will say if you remain calm, at least 85% of the time the situation will go your way, he said.
‘We are listening:’ Central Florida law enforcement officers heartbroken by George Floyd’s death
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – George Floyd’s death has impacted the country and the world. [UPDATES: Protests over death of George Floyd continue across the US | Orange County town hall to focus on George Floyd, police and community relations]“I was that 17-year-old who was stopped by the police. “It bothers me to death,” Canty said. [RELATED COVERAGE: Orange County leaders explain how they can mend law enforcement-community relationships | Black-owned restaurants you can support in Orlando]He was raised in Pine Hills and is now second in command at the Orange County sheriffs office. We’re trying to hold our people accountable and know that we are listening, we’ve heard the concerns of the community,” Canty said.
US Rep. Val Demings, of Orlando, named impeachment manager for President Trump’s trial
— Rep. Val Demings (@RepValDemings) January 15, 2020In a statement released by her office, Demings lashed out at Trump. Val Demings and House Democrats are desperate to undermine a duly elected president because they know they cannot beat him at the ballot box. Floridians will remember this baseless, partisan witch hunt and vote to reelect President Trump in November." Demings’ office released a detailed statement about Trump’s impeachment. My oath was to the United States Constitution.