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African American news for the week of Oct. 30, 2014.

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Alabama

A pastor in Montgomery has confessed to having sexual relations with several members of his congregation while he was aware he was infected with the AIDS virus. Juan Demetrius McFarland of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church relayed this information during a recent sermon and was immediately removed from his position as pastor. In addition to his illicit acts with church members, the beleaguered minister also confessed to drug use and misusing church money. “He concealed from the church that he had knowingly engaged in adultery in the church building with female members of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church while knowingly having AIDS,” Nathan Williams Jr., a church member, told local TV station WFSA. Since his confessions, McFarland and church members have been in a heated battle over church property, and he has, in fact, been removed from church property at least one time by police since he was removed from the pulpit. Church members told a reporter at the TV station that now the church’s biggest concern is whether or not some of its congregation is infected with HIV.

California

As if he doesn’t have enough on his plate with a variety of entrepreneurial ventures, retired Los Angeles Laker Earvin “Magic” Johnson says he is ready to help Silicon Valley hire more African Americans and Latinos to diversify the technology industry’s largely White and

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Asian workforce. “We have to make sure the Apples and Googles of the world get together with others who know what they are doing and who can make a difference, whether it’s myself or somebody else,” Johnson told the Associated Press last week. He made his remarks after appearing at a Silicon Valley conference put on by software maker Intuit Inc., one of several technology-based

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companies which have recently released reports confirming that their payrolls consist primarily of White and Asian men. According to the AP, Google, Apple and Facebook have all vowed to take steps to create workforces that look more like the overall population. Silicon Valley has a lot of ground to make up. “We think it’s important that our employee base reflects the customers we serve, and we aren’t where we need to be,” Intuit CEO Brad Smith told reporters at the conference. “Magic’s offer? I won’t be surprised if we take him up on it. He is clearly a brilliant man, and he understands how to diversify.” In addition to running his own company, Johnson is co-owner of the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women’s National Basketball Association, which has the best diversity record among professional sports leagues, according to a recent study by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics.

Former model and TV star Tyra Banks is partnering with several other models and celebrities to launch a new talk show for ABC Television. The “America’s Next Top Model” host is hooking up with Chrissy Tiegen, Lauren Makk, Joe Zee and Leah Ashley for the show, which will be taped in Burbank and set to premiere in the fall of 2015. “I am absolutely thrilled that we have sold our new Tyra Banks moderated lifestyle show to our stellar group of ABC owned television stations,” said Janice Marinelli, president of Disney-ABC Domestic Television in a statement. Added Rebecca Campbell, president of ABC Owned Station Group, “Tyra and her panel of lifestyle experts share a chemistry that is energetic and extremely entertaining.” Banks, 40, had a talk show on air in the past, which ran on the CBS-owned CW. Banks is one of four African Americans and seven women to have repeatedly ranked among the world’s most influential people by Time magazine.

Myesha Chaney, a cast member of “Preachers of L.A.,” a reality show that airs on the Oxygen network, has released a new book, “Hiding Behind the Lipstick.” The book was inspired by transformational stories of women from across the country interested in sharing a message that encourages women to take off their masks and reveal their true selves.  As well as appearing with her husband, Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney on the show, she works as a radio personality, recording artist, songwriter, worship leader,

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wife, mother, entrepreneur and now author. She picked up many of the stories in her book through her travels as a motivational speaker. Chaney looks at the plight of those involved in sex trafficking and shares her challenges growing up dark skinned. She is on a book tour throughout California with stops in Corona, Los Angeles and Newark, as well as other U.S. cities such as Detroit and Lakeland, FL. More details at www.myeshachaney.com

Florida

Florida A&M University’s Marching 100, one of the nation’s most-celebrated marching bands allegedly has a dark secret: members were reportedly on occasion beaten with fists, mallets and even drumsticks as part of a hazing tradition known as “crossing” Bus C. One such hazing is believed to have resulted in the death of a student in the band. The trial of four band members: Aaron Goldon, Darryl Cearnel, Dante Martin and Benjamin McNamee started last week on charges of felony hazing and manslaughter, almost three years after drum major Robert Champion died from allegedly being beaten during the hazing ritual. His death resulted in the band’s activities being suspended for more than a year and contributed to the resignation of the school’s president. The story goes that hours after a football game in November 2011 in Orlando, band members boarded Bus C parked outside a hotel. They pummeled Champion, 26, and two other band members as they tried to wade their way through a pounding gauntlet of fists, drumsticks and mallets from the front to the back of the bus. After making it through the line and to the back of the bus, Champion began vomiting and complaining of trouble breathing. He then fell unconscious and never revived. He died from hemorrhagic shock and his autopsy showed extensive internal bleeding. Fifteen former band members originally were charged with manslaughter and hazing in the death of Champion.

Georgia

Democrats are keying in on the state this election period, as a new report indicates that Georgia’s electorate has fewer new White voters, which may be key to gains for the democrats in a state dominated by Republicans. According to the Atlanta Voice, a report released by the state, shows that the total number of people registered to vote has dropped by nearly 40,000. However, of the 183,000 of voters added, only a third identified themselves as White. This is key in the race for an open senate seat and key on a national level, as President Barack Obama fights for control of the Senate for his last two years in office. The battle has erupted into a legal situation, as several civil rights and Black community organizations have challenged the state’s voting officials for not adding thousands of new Black registrants to the state’s rolls. While these new voters may not be eligible for early voting, a ruling from the courts could still come in time for them to be able to vote on Nov. 4.

New York

A hospitalized medical aid worker has tested positive for the Ebola virus and been placed in isolation and quarantined. The worker volunteered in Guinea, one of the three West African nations going through an Ebola crisis. Since he returned to the U.S., he has tested positive for Ebola, according to the New York City Health Department laboratory, which is part of the Laboratory Response Network overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Atlanta-based CDC has confirmed the test results.

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According to reports, the healthcare aide came back to the U.S. through JFK Airport on Oct. 17 and did participate in the screening process for all returning travelers from the three West African countries. At the time he was processed, he did not have a fever or the symptoms associated with the illness. However, shortly after his return, he reported a low-grade fever to local health officials. The man was immediately transported by a specially trained HAZ TAC unit to Bellevue in New York City. The New York City Health Dept. has interviewed the patient regarding close contacts and activities.

NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” has added another African American female to the cast of its 40th season. Leslie Jones, who became a writer for the long-running show earlier this year, is the latest to join the show as a full-fledged cast member. Jones auditioned for SNL last fall and ended up as one of 12 finalists. However, the role was ultimately offered to Sasheer Zamata. Jones is said to have made an impression on the show’s producer, Lorne Michaels, who eventually gave her spots on “Weekend Update.” Jones made her first official appearance Oct. 25, when Jim Carrey hosted the show. She will also continue as a writer.

Pennsylvania

Little League pitching sensation Mo’ne Davis won’t lose her NCAA eligibility status, even after appearing in a Chevrolet ad that ran during the World Series. According to Sports Illustrated, the NCAA prohibits college athletes from profiting from commercial activities that use their image, name or likeness to sell products. It’s believed she received compensation for the appearance in the commercial, which was directed by Spike Lee. Davis, 13, came into prominence during the Little League World Series last August when she became the first female to throw a shutout. “Since January, NCAA Division I membership gave staff more flexibility to consider unique circumstances when determining eligibility,” the NCAA said in a statement. “The NCAA staff’s decision was made within this process and based on a combination of considerations. This waiver narrowly extends the rules—which allow Davis to accept the payment and still be eligible in any other sport—to include baseball. The NCAA staff also considered the historically limited opportunities for women to participate in professional baseball. In addition, Davis is much younger than when the vast majority of the prospect rules apply. While this situation is unusual, the flexible approach utilized in this decision is not.”

South Carolina

A South Carolina man shot by a police officer over a possible seat belt violation, spoke out for the first time last week on television. The trooper, Sean Groubert, has since been fired. A video released shows Levar Jones exiting his vehicle after pulling up at a gas station. When he gets out, Groubert, who had pulled up behind Jones, asks Jones, who is Black, for his ID. When Jones reaches into his car, Groubert is heard yelling and then firing repeatedly at Jones, who had turned around and put his hands in the air. Groubert said he stopped Jones for a seatbelt violation. The officer has been charged with aggravated assault and battery and can receive up to 20 years in jail, if convicted. “It’s shocking, and it’s very disturbing,” Jones told “The Today Show” last week. “Me personally, I wasn’t the only person that was affected by this. I know total strangers that have met me after the fact and told me they started crying.” He was shot in the hip and is still recovering from the incident. He currently walks with a cane.

Compiled by Carol Ozemhoya.

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