SHIRLEY CHISOLM
by Stacy Jackson

November 8, 2022

Renaming of Florida Walking Trail Honors Shirley Chisholm, First Black Woman in Congress

By the end of the month, Floridians can hike on a trail of history.

Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968 and first to run for president in 1972, will be honored in Florida by having a hiking trail in Palm Coast named after her.

According to Flagler Live, the Palm Coast Beautification and Advisory Committee voted in January to rename the Pine Lakes Trail to the Shirley Chisholm Trail.

Chisholm retired to Palm Coast in 1991 and lived there for about 10 years before purchasing a home in Ormond Beach’s Halifax Plantation in 2001. When Chisholm died in 2005, the the 80-year-old pioneer’s funeral was held in Palm Coast.

“I knew representative Chisholm, I met her in the late 90s when she was living here and involved in the local community politics,” Beautification Committee Chairman Jeffrey Seib said in February.

Fox 35 Orlando reported that pictures and grainy video of Chisholm on the campaign trail in Florida in 1972 were found in the state’s archives. In one video she told reporters that she is an “un-bought and un-bossed politician.”

“One of my favorite quotes of hers is, ‘When they don’t give you a seat at the table, you pull up a folding chair,” said Jill Reynolds, who is with the group working to honor Chisholm and the Domestic Women’s Club of Flagler County. According to the outlet, the group wants visitors on the trail to reflect on the history and legacy of Chisholm’s political activism.

“In the modern political era, Black women have been one of the most reliable voting blocs,” said Aubrey Jewett, a university of central Florida Professor.

“[They] helped flip those states from voting for [Donald] Trump in 2016 to voting for Biden in 2020,” Jewett added. “In 2018, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis won 4/10th of a percent and it was close. One group that helped sway the election according to polls were Black women who voted for him in slightly larger numbers than for other Republicans. The main reason according to analysis was because of [the issue of] school choice.”

“Know who Shirley Chisholm was and how important she was. How many people she paved the way for others to follow her path,” Reynolds said.

The renaming ceremony will take place November 30, which would have been Chisholm’s 98th birthday. The 10 a.m. event at the golf course on Pine Lakes Parkway, is open to the public.

by Stacy Jackson

November 8, 2022

Tyler Perry Shares His Family’s Personal Connection To The Jewish Community

Black people and the Jewish community have an extensive history together.

Tyler Perry publicized his thoughts on the Jewish community amid rapper Kanye West’s antisemitic commentary and Kyrie Irving’s public lashing over sharing a link to an antisemitic video. The filmmaker recently took to his Instagram to inform his social media community of his family’s connection to Jewish people and how their community has an allyship with Black people.

In the post, Perry provides a slideshow of history dating back to moments Jews banned together in support of the growth of the Black community.

“This first photo is of my mother with these adorable children she worked with at a Jewish community center,” the filmmaker wrote in the caption.

“I remember her coming home from work one day devastated because there was a bomb threat and my mother was horrified that there were people who wanted to blow up a building full of children because they were Jewish.

 

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A post shared by Tyler Perry (@tylerperry)

Perry provided that his mother informed him of the commonalities Blacks and Jews endured, relating the center’s bomb threat to the moment she lived through the Alabama church bombing where three Black girls died.

He emphasized how his mother instilled in him the important role allies play in helping marginalized people.

“She not only taught me about slavery but she also taught me about the Holocaust,” he added. “But in teaching me about all our common pains she also taught me about the allies that Jewish people have been for Black people.”

“Case in point, look at the founding members of the NAACP – it took allies to get us to a better place in this country and those allies didn’t look like us,” he continued, addressing the slide containing photos of the NAACP’s founders.

“It was Jewish allies that were murdered in Mississippi trying to help us get the right to vote,” Perry said.

Perry shared his personal connection to the Jewish community, explaining how they helped him grow his business, allowing him to hire more Black people than most businesses in Hollywood.

As an ally to the Jewish community, Perry’s stance opposes West’s remarks. According to Rapid City Journal, the Donda rapper made a comment saying, “Jewish people have owned the Black voice,” during a previous interview with Drink Champs that was reportedly removed from YouTube.

Atlanta Police Officer Buys Black Man on Street New Clothes in Lieu of a Citation
by Atiya Jordan

November 8, 2022

Atlanta Police Officer Buys Black Man on Street New Clothes in Lieu of a Citation

When Atlanta police responded to a complaint about indecent exposure, one officer’s big heart turned into an act of compassion.

On Halloween, Field Training Officer J. Nguyen and his trainee, Officer Y. Prophete, were called to northwest Atlanta to investigate a public indecency call, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. They found a man on the street wearing pants that were too loose and did not cover his entire body.

In a body cam video released by the City of Atlanta Police Department, Officer Nguyen asks the man if he had any other pants to replace the ones hanging off his body, per 11Alive.

The man tells the officers that he doesn’t own any other clothes. He says he would “go get more pants” downtown, but Officer Nguyen knew he would be traveling too far.

“I can’t be getting calls about you walking around like that,” Officer Nguyen tells the man in the video.

At this point, Officer Nguyen offers to take the man to a local Walmart to buy him some clothes instead of writing him a citation. While on duty, Officer Nguyen is seen walking into the retail giant and picking out a new shirt and pants for the man. He also buys him a pair of “comfortable shoes” after the man tells him his feet hurt.

“It’s not for me. I found a gentleman out there who needs some clothes, so I’m doing the best I can,” Nguyen is heard telling the Walmart cashier.

On Facebook, the police department praised Officer Nguyen for his compassion and for demonstrating professionalism on the job.

“We could not be prouder of Ofc. Nguyen. He demonstrated not only his professional training, but innate compassion and concern for a fellow human being,” APD wrote via Facebook.

“We are fortunate to have Ofc. Nguyen and a cadre of officers, supervisors and commanders who dedicate their lives to public safety, put their lives on the line to fight crime, and who also care about the community they serve. Job well done!”

Jackson, Ketanji Brown
by Derek Major

November 8, 2022

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Gives First Opinion Since Taking Office

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson gave her first opinion since taking office this summer, dissenting from the court’s ruling in an Ohio death row inmate’s claim.

NBC News reports Jackson and fellow liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in a brief, two-page opinion that the court should have ruled in favor of Davel Chinn, who was convicted of murder during a robbery in Dayton in 1989. The Supreme Court denied Chinn’s appeal.

The Justices’ vote count was not released to the public – but he court’s refusal to take up the appeal means fewer than four justices voted to hear the appeal.

Chinn’s lawyers argued at the time that prosecutors withheld evidence that a key witness in the case who identified Chinn as the murderer, Marvin Washington, was mentally disabled, with an IQ of 48. Chinn was convicted and sentenced to death for aggravated murder.

“Justices Jackson and Sotomayor recognized the injustice in upholding Davel Chinn’s conviction and death sentence when the State suppressed exculpatory evidence that, based on the Ohio Courts’ own representations, was likely to result in an acquittal,” Rachel Troutman, an attorney for Chinn, told The Hill. “Ohio must not exacerbate the mistakes of the past by pursuing Mr. Chinn’s execution.”

In her opinion dissenting from the court’s decision, Jackson wrote there was “no dispute” the state withheld evidence that would have undermined Washington as a credible witness. The first Black female Justice also took issue with a ruling by the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in February, which Jackson said failed to properly analyze whether the evidence against Washington would affect the outcome of the trial.

“Because Chinn’s life is on the line, and given the substantial likelihood that the suppressed records would have changed the court at trial … I would summarily reverse,” Jackson wrote in her opinion.

Jackson was sworn in as a justice in late June, replacing fellow liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, who Jackson once clerked for. Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court was a promise President Joe Biden made to House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn for his endorsement.

Additionally, Clyburn also urged Biden to tap Vice President Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Here’s How To Replace Your Voter ID After a Disaster
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 8, 2022

Here’s How To Replace Your Voter ID After a Disaster

If you or a loved one have lost ID documents in a fire, flood, hurricane or other disaster, you have compounded stress on top of heartbreak.

Replacing your vital records and ID is one of the most important tasks to handle after an accident or natural disaster. Identification documents are important in all aspects of your life: your financial well-being, school enrollment, all kinds of insurance – and, in over two-thirds of states, voting.

It can sometimes seem as if you are caught in an impossible “Catch-22” since most state agencies require that you present a photo ID in order to issue a certified copy of legal papers like a birth certificate. But there is help available for voters! VoteRiders has experts on hand, including pro bono lawyers, if you need to secure your ID in order to vote, according to a press release. Our national toll-free Voter ID Helpline is 844-338-8743 or contact us via this website.

  1. If you are not able to collect mail at your address, start by notifying your local Post Office to hold your mail or forward it to your PO Box or new address. Most of your replacement documents will be mailed to you. So make sure they are delivered to a valid address!
  2. Compile an inventory of any forms of identification you DO have – however unlikely they may seem – especially any letters from government agencies that include your name and new address.
  3. Birth, death, marriage, divorce, adoption, and legal change-of-name certificates: If you are a US-born citizen, locate the vital records office in the state where you were born. There, you should be able to find your state’s specific process on how to obtain the documents you need, including instructions and information on any applicable fees and what ID is required.
    • In most states, a lawyer can submit an application for a certified copy of vital documents on your behalf along with a copy of his/her photo ID.
  4. Social Security card – Obtaining a replacement copy of your Social Security card is a good first step if you have lost or damaged your driver’s license or state-issued photo ID.
    • Find the nearest Social Security office to you by looking here.
    • Print and fill out the downloadable application for a replacement Social Security card. Be sure to sign the application or it will be denied.
    • The application includes a complete list of documents you will need to gather and send (originals or certified copies only) with your application, including proof of age, identity, and US Citizenship. There are many different kinds of documents accepted for each of these categories, but if you do not have access to these documents you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213.
    • Mail – or, if any of your records are originals, take your application and documents to the Social Security office nearest you.It will generally take around ten days to receive your Social Security card.
  5. The process for replacing your driver’s license or non-driver’s photo ID varies in each state – contact your local DMV office to find out the details.
(Image: Black PR Newswire)

Once you have your driver’s license or non-driver’s state ID along with certified copies of your vital documents, you can begin the process of obtaining the rest of your documentation, including:

  • Citizenship papers – Individuals who have lost their citizenship paperwork should contact US Citizenship and Immigration Services to gain access to the forms and applications needed to obtain replacement papers.
  • Financial records – Contact your bank branch or other financial institution(s) for information on how to obtain your account information. If you’re unable to contact your bank, you can reach out to the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation). Be sure to also contact any credit card companies to alert them of your damaged or lost cards.
  • Property and deed documents – Your mortgage company should be able to assist you in replacing any paperwork. If you’ve lost any property deeds, contact the recorder’s office in the county where the property is located.
  • School records – Once you have your IDs in hand again, you’ll be able to contact the administration offices of any of your or your children’s schools to obtain copies of relevant transcripts and various school records.
  • Tax records – The IRS has a special hotline to assist citizens in times of emergency. You can call the IRS Disaster Assistance Hotline at 1-866-562-5227, or visit their website. You may also qualify for tax relief as a result of a public emergency.
  • Military records – To replace your Military ID card(s) or other military records, please contact the applicable branch of service or visit the USA.gov website for more information.
  • Passport – If your passport is among your lost or damaged documents, you should notify the U.S. government. To replace your passport, locate a passport facility near you. They’ll be able to walk you through the application process. You will need your certified birth certificate and other forms of ID to complete this process.
  • Health insurance, Medicare/Medicaid cards – For private health insurance, contact your insurance company. Contact the Social Security Administration to replace your Medicare card. Since Medicaid is handled differently in each state, you’ll need to contact your state’s Medicaid department.
Takeoff
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 8, 2022

Takeoff Will Have His Funeral Sendoff at State Farm Arena in Atlanta

The current home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks will also serve as the homegoing for Migos‘ slain group member, Takeoff.

According to TMZ, the funeral for Takeoff, born Kirshnik Ball, will take place at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The stadium holds more than 20,000 people and this should be enough room for the large crowd anticipated to send off the murdered rapper.

The program is scheduled to happen on Friday, Nov. 11, with service expected to start at 1 p.m. Rev. Jesse Cuney III of New Mercies Christian Church will be officiating and delivering the eulogy. The rapper has been a member of New Mercies Christian Church since he was a child.

Rev. Curney said in a written statement, “I was really sad to hear the news. Kirshnick has been a faithful member since he was ten years old. He and his family were active and avid supporters of the church and the community as a whole.”
The city of Atlanta and the world of hip-hop have been mourning the senseless death. According to TMZ, he died after being shot at a bowling alley  in Houston. The popular hip-hop artist was there with his uncle, Quavo, nee Quavious Keyate Marshall. They were two-thirds out of the influential hip-hop trio, Migos and were in Houston celebrating the birthday of Jas Prince, the son of Houston hip-hop luminary, J. Prince.
An autopsy revealed that Takeoff died from gunshot wounds to his head and torso, WSB-TV reported. The Houston County Coroner’s office also found bullets in his arm. Takeoff’s death was ruled a homicide.

Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner said his department “will find who is responsible,” and is requesting assistance from the community to help find the gunman, Fox News reported. Two other people were reportedly shot during the attack, including Quavo’s assistant, Joshua “Wash” Washington.

Cece WInans
by Atiya Jordan

November 8, 2022

Gospel Singer Cece Winans Becomes First Black Solo Artist To Win Dove Awards’ Artist of the Year

Legendary gospel singer CeCe Winans became the first Black solo artist to win Artist of the Year in Dove Awards history.

According to the St. Louis American, Winans snagged her monumental win during this year’s 53rd Annual celebration on Oct. 18, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee. This victory brings her number of Dove Awards to 25, including the first New Artist of the Year award in 1988 with her iconic brother BeBe Winans.

When the “Believe For It” songstress accepted her award, she sang a few lines from the hymn “To God Be The Glory” in lieu of an acceptance speech. Audience members were brought to tears.

“It’s amazing when we come together and we love each other and we stand for righteousness, it’s amazing what God will do,” Winans said, per the outlet.

“It’s amazing what He’s already done. But He wants to do so much more. I’m believing for God to move in this industry greater than He ever has before. The God we serve responds to faithfulness and the testimonies I’ve heard through this song have blessed my life.”

In addition, according to a news release, Winans and co-writers for “Believe For It” were awarded Song of the Year on the same triumphant night.

Born Priscella Marie Winans, the Detroit native, released several albums with her brother, BeBe, before emerging as a solo artist. She began her solo career with the album Alone in His Presence, released in 1995, and won her first Grammy and Dove Awards with that album.

Since 2012, the15-time Grammy-Award winner has co-pastored Nashville Life Church in Nashville with her husband, Alvin.

Winans is gearing up for the Nov. 15 release of her first book in 10 years: Believe for It: Passing on Faith to the Next Generation.

Grab These Durable Wireless Earbuds For Under $50 with Every Friday Is Black Friday
by Black Enterprise Shop

November 8, 2022

Grab These Durable Wireless Earbuds For Under $50 with Every Friday Is Black Friday

Headphones have made great strides since the first pair debuted in 1910.

They’ve advanced from behemoth-sized cans that cloaked a set of ears to minimalist-profiled earbuds that are barely noticeable by passersby. Despite the decrease in size, the sound quality produced by earbuds has never been better.

JBL is a leader in the audio space through decades of producing high-quality speakers and headphones. The company has entered the wireless headphones arena. With the Every Friday is Black Friday Deal, you can purchase JBL Live Free NC+ wireless in-Ear noise-canceling Bluetooth earbuds for just $49.99. That’s a savings of 66% from its MSRP ($149.95).

These earbuds bring the familiarity of JBL’s signature sound that makes your music-listening experience extraordinary. They eliminate all distractions thanks to active noise canceling. However, the smart ambient feature allows for natural conversation and total awareness of your surroundings.

Those who enjoy using their headphones at the gym or outside on runs won’t have to worry about these earbuds being ruined by sweat or the elements, as they’re sweat-proof and waterproof.

Dual-connect +sync makes it possible to pair your earbuds with your other device as soon as you open the case. You can pair multiple devices through fast pairing with a simple tap on the device’s screen.

These earbuds’ strong battery provides up to 21 hours of combined playback with up to seven hours of music playback and up to 14 hours of stand-alone time while they’re in the case.

You can use your preferred choice of voice assistant to switch between phone calls and music.

A good pair of earbuds are well worth the investment. They provide hours of entertainment with music and can also be a good alternative for those who prefer to use them instead of their mobile device for phone calls.

JBL is a trusted name in the music space for good reason. Purchase these earbuds today before the Every Friday is Black Friday Deal ends to enjoy the company’s wireless offering.

Prices subject to change. 

by Eric Moody

November 7, 2022

Some African Americans Oppose Idea Of Stolen Treasures Being Returned To Africa

Founder Deadria Farmer-Paellmann of The Restitution Study Group has opposed the return of the famous Benin statues going back to Nigeria.

The statues currently reside in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., despite some who are not in favor of this location.

American and European governments have been forced under certain penalties to return stolen African treasures back to their homeland.

But some argue that the descendants of slaves who live in America are just as entitled to the statutes, if not more than Nigerians are.

“The bronzes looted by British colonialists in the 19th Century from the kingdom of Benin in what is now Nigeria are also part of the heritage of descendants of slaves in America, and returning them would deny them the opportunity to experience their culture and history,” according to BBC News.

Farmer-Paellmann, 56, represents a group of African Americans who have filed a lawsuit to stop the return of the bronze statues.

The Restitution Study Group, which Farmer-Paellmann also runs as an executive director, is a not-for-profit institute based in New York in 2000.

The group’s mission is to examine and execute innovative approaches to “healing the injuries of exploited and oppressed people.”

But some, like 93-year-old David Edebiri, share a different opinion.

“The artifacts are not for the Oba alone. They are for all Benin people, whether you are in Benin or in the diaspora,” Edebiri, a member of the Oba of Benin’s (the king or traditional ruler in southern Nigeria’s Edo state) cabinet, told BBC News.

Farmer-Paellmann told BBC News that about 100,000 slaves from the Benin kingdom were shipped to the west, which indicates that numerous Black Americans have Benin ancestry and are entitled to the Benin Bronzes.

She also stated that manillas brass bracelets, which the Portuguese used as currency for purchasing agricultural produce, also purchased slaves as the manillas paid for the enslavement of African American ancestors.

“Fifty manillas would buy a woman, 57 would buy a male slave,” Farmer-Paellmann explained to BBC News.

“What we are saying is that the descendants of the people traded for these manillas have a right to see the bronzes where they live.”

The manillas were reportedly used to create the sculptures.

Farmer-Paellmann believes there is no reason why African Americans interested in seeing the Benin statues should be bound to travel to Nigeria.

Edebiri disagrees with Farmer-Paellmann’s argument by stating to BBC News that not all manillas used in Benin were from the slave trade.

So far, British, French, and American governments have reportedly committed to returning stolen treasures.

Black Woman Becomes Second-Ever Woman Band Director in Southwestern Athletic Conference
by Stacy Jackson

November 7, 2022

Black Woman Becomes Second-Ever Woman Band Director in Southwestern Athletic Conference

One of the most prestigious college bands in the world is led by a Black woman—let that sink in.

Dr. Nikole Roebuck has become a part of the elite group of woman-led band directors at a historically Black college and university (HBCU) after Grambling State University appointed her as its newest chair of the Department of Music.

According to Knoe News, the announcement, made in April 2019, made Roebuck GSU‘s first woman Director of Bands as she manages operations for the world-famous Tiger marching band and the second woman band director in the history of the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

“We are excited to have one of our home-grown innovators lead during this historic time,” said President Rick Gallot.

“Dr. Roebuck is one of our most dedicated and humble leaders and a proven gift to our students, community, and all who support the world-famed sound of Grambling.”

NBC Sports reported that becoming the first woman band director was a surreal moment for Roebuck, and she wants her work to pave the way for women to fill positions that are dominated by men.

“Because it was a male-dominated position, I knew one day it would happen; I just didn’t know when,” Roebuck said.

“I encourage women to never give up on their dreams.”

“Don’t ever let anyone discourage you because a position is typically dominated by a man. Women can do it too,” she added.

In a recent interview with Texas Metro News, Roebuck shared the techniques she has been using to keep the band on top, including assigning all band members a tutor and arranging for a nurse practitioner, trainer, and sports psychologist to travel with them.

“I want to have a positive impact on every student,” she explained.

Roebuck joins a handful of other Black women band leaders, including Tomisha Brock of Clark Atlanta University and Dr. Kerry Anne Simon of Mississippi Valley State University, appointed in 2017 and 2019.

Roebuck received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from GSU, where she played the clarinet in the band. She received a master’s degree in Music from the University of Louisiana-Monroe and a Doctor of Philosophy in Music from the University of Memphis.

Under her leadership, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that Candace Hawthorne made history in August 2021 as the first woman Drum Major in 70 years since Velma Patricia Patterson.

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