Alabama
A Madison police officer has been charged with assault and was fired after an incident where he threw a man from India to the ground so harshly that the man may end up paralyzed. In addition, the man has filed a lawsuit and the FBI has launched its own investigation. Police responded to a neighborhood after receiving calls of a suspicious person walking around. The 57-year-old visitor told the cops “no English” when they stopped him. Video shows one officer slamming the man to the ground after a brief conversation. He ended up with broken vertebrae. The family’s attorney says he was accosted because of his brown skin.
California
The 46th annual Image Awards were held Feb. 6 in Pasadena and The movie “Selma” took in four awards, including Outstanding Motion Picture. “This is more than a movie,” said Oprah Winfrey, one of the producers of the film who also had a role in it. “It’s important that we all know who we are so we know where we are going, and claiming the glory.” Anthony Anderson hosted the show and was also a big winner, as his show, “Black-ish,” won all five comedy awards. Filmmaker Spike Lee received the President’s Award. Other winners included Tarij P. Henson for “No Good Deed” and the new show “How to Get Away with Murder,” won three awards.
Florida
Rep. Alcee Hastings has introduced legislation (H.R. 839) to “posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lena Horne in recognition of her achievements and contributions to American culture and the civil rights movement.” The bill was introduced on Feb. 10 and has 22 co-sponsors including Florida Reps. Patrick Murphy, and Corrine Brown. The legislation has been referred to the House Financial Services Committee.
Georgia
Clark Atlanta University (CAU) student mentor James Earl Jones Jr., a chemistry major, lost his life to gun violence last week, sending shock waves throughout Atlanta and the two campuses where he was going to school and mentoring. Grief counselors were brought to the CAU campus and to Clark Middle School. Three people have been arrested in the death of the 21-year-old who was shot will trying to buy an iPhone after responding to an ad on Craigslist. Jones was allegedly shot and robbed by Jordan Baker, Jonathon Myles and Kaylnn Ruthenberg, who also face felony murder, aggravated assault and robbery charges. Hundreds packed a memorial for Jones, who was a mentor for middle school children. He wanted to be a doctor.
Illinois
A Little League baseball team from the south side of Chicago was stripped of its national championship last week after an investigation revealed that team management allegedly falsified boundaries to allow otherwise ineligible players on the team.
Jackie Robinson West is the all-Black team whose ages range from 11 to 13 years who won the U.S. championship in 2014. Little League officials determined that “…the Jackie Robinson West Little League and Illinois District 4 administrator knowingly violated Little League International Rules and Regulations by placing players on their team who did not qualify to play because they lived outside the team’s boundaries.” Since the incident, Rev. Al Sharpton has threatened legal action against the Little League. “There’s nothing these kids have done to have their championship erased,” the Rev. Rev. Jesse Jackson said. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said that the city would present the team with championship rings of its own.
New York
New York City police officer Peter Liang has been indicted for killing Akai Gurley in the stairwell of a housing project in November. He is being charged with manslaughter in the second degree in addition to five other charges for the fatal shooting of unarmed Gurley, a Black man. Liang and his partner were patrolling a housing project. Gurley and his girlfriend opened a stairwell door and Liang reacted by firing his gun in their direction, hitting Gurley. There was no provocation and it was disturbing to investigators that Liang did not administer aid and instead reportedly called his union rep on his phone while Gurley lay dying. A trial date has yet to be set.
Nickelodeon is partnering with the Because of Them, We Can initiative to commemorate Black History Month through a campaign launched last week across the network’s multiple platforms, including on-air, digital and social. Nickelodeon will air three original 30-second public service announcements that feature kids portraying distinguished African Americans, including Maya Angelou, Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X. The PSAs, which were produced by Because of Them, We Can, will air throughout February and also will be showcased on a dedicated web site (www.nick.com/thanks) that provides kids and families with additional information about Black History Month.
The 19th annual American Black Film Festival is pairing with McDonald’s this year to launch the McDonald’s Lovin’ Video Competition. The program encourages up- and-coming filmmakers to create a 90-second film that brings to life the concept that “A little more lovin’ can change a lot.” Entrants have until March 24 to submit their work for a chance to win the grand prize. Three finalists will be chosen to present their films at the American Black Film Fest in New York City June 11-14. The grand prize includes $2,500 worth of film equipment. For more info, go to www.abff.com
North Carolina
The Chapel Hill triple killing of Muslim students by Craig Stephen Hicks has rocked the town, says its mayor. Some are calling it a hate crime. The victims , all shot in the head by Hicks, were a husband and wife and the wife’s sister. All were born in the U.S. and grew up in the area. Hicks, who turned himself in to authorities, has been charged with three counts of first degree murder. Police believe the senseless shooting was a result of a dispute over a parking space. All the victims and Hicks lived in the same complex. Neighbors said Hicks was always complaining about noise and parking, and that he always seemed angry. Families of the three victims believe the three were targeted because they were Muslims and the shooter is White.
A single mother of four is one of three who recently won a big Powerball lottery. Marie Holmes, who has recently worked at McDonald’s and Wal-Mart to help support her family, is now a millionaire, after winning more than $100 million. One of her kids has cerebral palsy, so she recently had to quit her jobs to stay home to care for the child. Holmes told reporters that she intends to donate some of the money to her church and buy a new house for her family, as well as set up college funds for her kids. She also intends to set up care for her dad and grandfather. “This is all for them,” she says. “All the struggle that I ever went though, it was all for them. I want them to understand that money doesn’t change you, but it can help you.”
South Carolina
South Carolina State, a historically Black college, is closing its doors due to financial woes. However, officials hope it’s temporary but is expected to re-open in 2017. Under a plan approved by the South Carolina House of Representatives, the school will close in July and release trustees, administrators, faculty and staff. SCS would re-open in September 2017 under new leadership. Currently, the school has a $10 million deficit owed to food and administrative vendors, and another $100 million in bonded debt. How to cover the school’s debt and gain funds to re-open is currently under review by the state legislature.
Texas
College football player Carlton Ray Champion Jr. has been charged with the murder of transgender Tyrone Lee Underwood in Tyler. Police believe Champion had an ongoing relationship with Underwood, which she threatened to expose. Champion’s father told police that his son was going to meet Underwood, but that his son thought Underwood was a woman. Police said otherwise. “All indications are that both parties, the suspect as well as the victim, knew the gender of each prior to the shooting,” said an officer. Social media and phone texts indicate the two had an ongoing sexual relationship, according to police. Underwood died from gunshot wounds delivered by Champion, police say.
National
The United States Post Office has released a new stamp under its Black Heritage Forever program honoring Robert Robinson Taylor. He is believed to be the first African American to graduate from the prestigious Massachusetts of Technology (MIT) and the country’s first academically trained Black architect. For more than three years, Taylor (1968-1942) supervised the design and construction of the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama while also overseeing the school’s program in industrial education and the building trades.
In related news, the National Postal Museum has opened an African American history exhibit with more than 100 objects on display. “Freedom Just Around the Corner: Black America from Civil War to Civil Rights” will be open until Feb. 16, 2016. The exhibition includes letters carried by enslaved Americans, mail sent by and to leaders of the civil rights movement and original artwork for numerous stamps issued by the United States Postal Service. More than 50 items from the museum’s collection, augmented by outstanding pieces on loan from other institutions and private collections, are on display in 16 themes and historical periods of time. More info at www.postalmuseum.si.edu
The Undefeated.com is the name of ESPN’s new website focused on sports, race and culture. Set to launch later this year, the site will provide in-depth commentary, long-form storytelling and insight on race and urban culture through the prism of sports. National sports columnist Jason Whitlock will headline The Undefeated.com and serve as editor-in-chief. The name, The Undefeated, is inspired by a passage from American poet, author and civil rights leader Maya Angelou: “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” A preview of the site, with profiles of basketball standouts Charles Barkley and John Wall, can be found at www.espn.go.com/espn/feature/story.
The Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, will present “Connecting the Gems of the Indian Ocean: Eastern Africa’s ‘Swahili’ Civilization, Oman and the Gulf” on Thursday, March 5. The symposium will focus on the historic, commercial and cultural links that existed between the lands of the East African Swahili’ Coast, Oman and other countries of the Middle Eastern Gulf region. The event is free and open to the public, but reservations are recommended. For more information, visit www.Africa.si.edu.
