Tuskegee University, homecoming, shooting

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 10, 2024

Shooting At Tuskegee University’s Homecoming Leaves One Dead And Multiple Injured

Tuskegee officials did not disclose how many suffered injuries from the incident.

One person has died after a shooting occurred on the last day of Tuskegee University’s homecoming festivities. Several people were also injured during the incident at the HBCU.

According to CNN, the deceased person was not a student at the Alabama-based HBCU. However, some of the injured victims did attend the school. Shortly after the shooting occurred in the early morning of Nov. 10, the university confirmed they were transported to two local hospitals. Tuskegee officials did not disclose how many suffered injuries from the incident.

“Several others, including Tuskegee University students, were injured and are receiving treatment at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery,” stated the institution in a news release obtained by the news outlet. “The university is in the process of completing student accountability and notifying parents. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”

Many traveled to Tuskegee to take part in its 100th homecoming week. As the celebration on Saturday night went into the next morning, gunfire sparked in the crowd. Videos spread across social media of attendees ducking for cover. The Tuskegee Police Chief told AL.com that one female student took a bullet in the stomach, and a male student was shot in the arm.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. While the Alabama Bureau of Investigation continues its investigation, no arrests have been made as of yet.

However, this is not the sole instance of gun violence taking place during an HBCU’s homecoming. Albany State University, an HBCU in southwest Georgia, also had a shootout occur amid its celebration concert in October. The incident left one person dead as well. Before this, another shooting happened near Tennessee State University, where three people were killed after its homecoming events.

As HBCUs continue to deal with the increase in gun violence, many remain concerned about the safety of students and attendees as they honor their school’s history.

Deaf Man, Cerebral Palsy, Sues, Phoenix Police, Brutal Beating

by Daniel Johnson

November 10, 2024

DOJ Sues Mississippi State Senate For Allegedly Paying Black Staffer Half The Salary Of White Colleagues

The lawsuit alleges that the Mississippi State Senate paid Kristie Metcalfe half the rate of her white co-workers.

On Nov. 8, the Department of Justice announced that it was suing the Mississippi State Senate for discrimination against a former Black staff attorney who had worked in its Legislative Services Office (LSO).

According to the press release, the lawsuit alleges that the Senate paid Kristie Metcalfe half the rate of her white co-workers, which is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Per Assistant Attorney General Kirsten Clarke, “Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their white colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful,” Clarke said.

Clarke continued, “The Black employee at issue in this lawsuit was paid about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of federal law. This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy. Our work to eliminate race-based pay disparities is about promoting compliance with the law and promoting equity and fairness for all workers.”

According to the Justice Department, Metcalfe was paid significantly less than every other attorney employed by the LSO, with the only difference between them being that she was Black and her co-workers were white.

Additionally, the press release notes that in the previous 34 years before Metcalfe was hired, the LSO only employed white attorneys in its office.

Per court documents, “Defendant (the Senate) paid Jeff Rosamond and Caryn Quilter $95,550 each, Larry Richardson $113,322, Bubba Neely $114,768, and Bob Davidson $121,800,” the complaint reads. “Defendant’s starting salary for Metcalfe was thus less than 60% of what it paid the next closest white attorneys even though the work Metcalfe was being hired to do was substantially the same as that of her white colleagues.”

According to The Hill, Metcalfe started working in the office at a well-below-market rate of $55,000, which was significantly less than the white attorneys’ and the lowest starting salary at the Senate in 15 years.

Compounding this, the other attorneys in the office would receive raises in January 2012, but Metcalfe received none, and adding additional insult to injury, a new employee with no previous experience was later hired and given a salary of $101,500, approximately $24,000 more than what Metcalfe was making at the time the employee was hired.

According to the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, Metcalfe complained to the Senate and demanded a raise but was denied and left the Senate shortly after in 2019.

The Department of Justice is arguing that the Senate’s discrimination against the plaintiff caused her unlawful emotional and financial damages. The lawsuit seeks for the Senate to adopt policies that would preclude this from happening again, as well as back pay for Metcalfe and compensation for the damages she has suffered.

The Clarion-Ledger attempted to reach Mississippi’s Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann’s offices, but neither responded to their requests for comment about the lawsuit.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 10, 2024

Beyoncé Leads The Pack For 2025 Grammy Nominations

She bested her own record number for nominations with this year's recognition, beating out her 10 nominations received in 2009.

The 2025 Grammy nominations have just dropped. Beyoncé leads with 11 nods for her latest album, “Cowboy Carter.”

The nominations were revealed on Nov. 8, with many artists, primarily women, occupying the top spots. However, the selections also made history for Beyoncé, according to Variety. She bested her own record for nominations with this year’s recognition, beating out her 10 nominations received in 2009.

Her 2024 project scored nominations in three of the Grammy’s top general categories. Not only did “Cowboy Carter” get an Album Of The Year nod, but its track “Texas Hold ‘Em” secured spots in Record, Song, and Country Song Of The Year.

As for the album’s country roots, the Recording Academy also recognized its place in that genre. It also earned a spot in the Country Album Of The Year category and all the distinctly country categories. Her other lead single, “16 Carriages,” is up for Best Country Solo Performance, with her duet with Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted,” also in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Many fans in the Beyhive also hope Beyoncé will win the Album of the Year award. While nominated four times before, the most coveted award has evaded the superstar. These repeated snubs have led to criticism of the Grammys, citing the lack of Black artists taking home the top category. The last time a Black musician won the award was Lauryn Hill for “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” in 1999.

However, Beyoncé is still making history with her vast nominations. With 99 total nods, she has officially become the most nominated artist in Grammy history. As for this upcoming ceremony, Kendrick Lamar is following her lead with seven nominations himself. Lamar’s hit single “Not Like Us” is also up for Record and Song Of The Year.

While the official ceremony takes place in February, many will be watching Queen Bey to see if she can break her next record.

Dancer, Judith Jamison, Artistic Director. Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Dies

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 10, 2024

Acclaimed Dancer Judith Jamison, Artistic Director Of Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, Dies At 81

A spokesperson revealed the dance trailblazer died from a brief illness.

Judith Jamison, acclaimed trailblazer and artistic director for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, has died at 81. A spokesperson revealed she died from a brief illness.

Born in 1943, Jamison discovered her love of dance during her childhood in Philadelphia. Although ballet was a rare profession for Black people during this time, she studied the art at the Judimar School of Dance. She trained there throughout her school-age years before attending the Philadelphia Dance Academy.

Her skills earned her an invitation to dance with the American Ballet Theatre in New York. In the city, she met Alvin Ailey, who offered her a spot in his company after seeing her audition for another show.

Jamison premiered her first show with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in 1965, joining the company again when it re-formed two years later. Throughout her 13-year tenure dancing for Ailey, she toured across the U.S., eventually performing her signature solo, Cry, choreographed by Ailey himself as a tribute to Black women.

“She was a unique, spectacular dancer who was majestic and queenly. She danced with eloquence and integrity,” shared Sylvia Waters, Ailey II Artistic Director Emerita, on Jamison following the news of her death, as reported by ABC7. “To dance with her and to be in her sphere of energy was mesmerizing. I was fortunate to perform with her and she set the bar very, very high.”

Jamison ventured on to teach master dance classes and other projects. However, upon Ailey’s death in 1989, Jamison took on the role of artistic director for the company. During her leadership, she brought back classic performances and launched a 50-city global tour for the company’s 50th anniversary.

She also established Ailey’s permanent home in 2005, opening the Joan Weill Center for Dance in New York City. Jamison’s lifetime of dedication to the performing arts broke barriers for Black dancers. Moreover, she lent her hand to the achievement and continuation of the historic Black theater.

Upon the news of her passing, the dance company released a statement, calling her an “incredible light” in the industry.

“We remember and are grateful for her artistry, humanity, and incredible light, which inspired us all.”

RELATED CONTENT: Backtalk with Judith Jamison

Black Church Studies, Duke University's Divinity School, Endowment Gift

by Daniel Johnson

November 10, 2024

Black Church Studies At Duke University’s Divinity School Gets A $5M Boost From Endowment Gift

Edgardo Colon-Emeric, the Dean of the Duke Divinity School, believes the gift will allow for the school to continue to lead in the area of Black theological studies.

Duke University’s Office of Black Church Studies announced a $5 million gift from the Duke Endowment on Oct. 3 to recruit and support a senior faculty member in the university’s Divinity School.

According to the Duke Chronicle, the gift establishes the Joseph B. Bethea Professorship. It will support the faculty members the university hires as they do research and theological fieldwork.

According to the press release, Edgardo Colon-Emeric, the Dean of Duke Divinity School, believes the gift will allow the school to continue to lead in Black theological studies.

“The Black church knows social justice; it knows music; it knows preaching,” Colon-Emeric said. “This award from The Duke Endowment will allow the Office of Black Church Studies to elevate its nationally prominent role as a leader in the study of Black church theological and spiritual study.”

Duke University’s President Vincent E. Price echoed Colon-Emeric’s sentiments in his statement.

“The Office of Black Church studies has played a significant role in Duke’s proud history of nurturing spiritual leaders,” Price said. “This award from The Duke Endowment is an affirmation of the importance of scholarship and other academic engagement related to the Black church and will further solidify Duke Divinity School’s leadership in the field of Black church studies.”

According to Quentin Dixie, the associate research professor of the history of Christianity in the United States, the move benefits the university’s students.

“Whenever Duke has an opportunity to attract someone at a senior level who has established themselves, I think it has a tremendous impact on the student population because now it’s another person of a high caliber to whom the students are exposed,” Dixie told the Duke Chronicle. “Having someone of note also helps attract top graduate students who come to work with these individuals.”

Indeed, students like Justice Hill, a third-year master in divinity student, and Madison Daniel III, a fourth-year student in the dual master of divinity and master of public policy programs, echoed the comments from faculty and administration.

“Black theology is something that should be studied and should be celebrated,” Hill told the outlet. “…And this grant, I think, is just kind of a growing seed from that momentum that we had coming out of the 50th-year celebration of the Office of Black Church Studies.”

Hill added that the program offers remarkable flexibility for its students, making sure they “essentially get the best of both worlds” because “[students] are molded as pastors and preachers, but … also formed as scholars and theologians.”

Daniel III, meanwhile, emphasized his happiness that Duke was looking to invest in the Black church.

“Duke Endowment sees the need to reimagine and invest in a revamping and recommitment to the Black church,” Daniel III noted.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, racist texts

by Daniel Johnson

November 10, 2024

St. Louis Mayor Among Those Targeted By Racist Mass Texts

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and her son are among those who have received a racist mass text in the wake of Trump's reelection.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, a racist mass text was received by an untold number of Black people across the country, and among that number is the mayor of St. Louis.

According to Fox 2, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and her son were among those who received the texts, and the FBI is currently trying to ascertain their origins.

Per the St. Louis Mayor’s Office, Jones’ son received a text message on Nov. 7, and the mayor received a similar email on Nov. 9.

A spokesperson from the mayor’s office issued a statement on Jones’ behalf to Fox 2 shortly after the messages were received.

“I’m furious that someone thought it was OK to send messages like that to children, or anyone else. I happened to be with my son when he got it, and I’d seen it before, so I was ready to talk to him and tell him that it was a cruel hoax. It is completely unacceptable that anyone should have to deal with being referred to as property or less than any other human being, especially in a society where Black and Brown people have always been treated as second-class citizens, if we’ve been treated as citizens at all,” the statement read.

The statement continued, “The fact that this message is going around is a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do to get rid of this kind of ugliness in our country. I’m afraid it is only going to get worse, as our nation is once again about to have a man at the top of our government who, time and time again, degrades other human beings because of their race, gender, or disability.”

According to The Associated Press, the messages were sent anonymously to recipients in several states, including New York, Alabama, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Tennessee.

The FBI is coordinating its investigation with the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission, as well as with federal and state law enforcement.

Several officials, including FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel and Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, indicated that the text messages are a concerning use of technology.

According to the AP, Brown concluded in an interview, “This is an intimidating, threatening use of technology,” which is likely a violation of several laws.

Phone service provider Text Now, which provides its users with phone lines that use various carriers’ existing infrastructure from which to send and receive text messages and phone calls, said in a statement that its service was used to send the text messages.

“As part of our investigation into these messages, we learned they have been sent through multiple carriers across the U.S. and we are working with partners and law enforcement co-operatively to investigate this attack,” the Canada-based company said.

According to Cori Faklaris, an assistant professor of software and information at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the perpetrators likely purchased data from somewhere on the internet for cheap.

“This is the primary way now that most Americans will communicate,” Faklaris said. “So people who need to advertise or market services, they go where the people are. Unfortunately, the scammers and the haters also follow suit.”

Faklaris continued, “All of this means it might be easier than most people realize to make a really good guess about the race or ethnicity of the person attached to that phone number,” Faklaris also added that due to the increased activity from scammers during the pandemic, that it should be “relatively easy for the authorities to trace this particular attack.”

by Daniel Johnson

November 10, 2024

Houston Fire Department Appoints First Black Woman Fire Marshal

The appointment to fire marshal was not the first time Marion Spann made history in the department, in 2000, Spann became the first Black woman to be named an engineer operator.

The Houston Fire Department made history when its Fire Chief named Marion Spann, a Black woman who was previously the department’s assistant chief over recruitment, its new fire marshal.

According to The Houston Chronicle, Spann learned about her historic appointment from HFD Fire Chief Thomas Muñoz during the week of Nov. 8.

In Muñoz’s statement announcing Spann’s appointment, he called attention to her qualifications for the role.

“When Mayor John Whitmire appointed me as fire chief, he told me to make sure we have the right people in the right place to protect citizens and care for our firefighters,” Muñoz said. “Chief Spann has the experience and credentials to get the job done. Her time as an inspector and her leadership and team development will serve this city well.”

As the news circulated among her family and friends, the 63-year-old Spann thought of her late mother, Myrtle Williams, and her church network.

“Mom’s church people would have found out first (before the announcement),” Spann told the Chronicle. I never had to worry about telling anyone anything because she would call and tell everybody after every promotion or new position. Mom was very proud of her daughter, and she would have been ecstatic now.”

Spann started at the department in 1994 after a friend who was working there suggested that she join. Spann left her job in the oil and gas industry and soon discovered that she enjoyed being a firefighter.

“I really liked being a firefighter, being at the station and the camaraderie, and when I joined, I wasn’t thinking about becoming the fire marshal,” Spann said.

Spann’s appointment as fire marshal was not the first time she made history in the department; in 2000, she became the first Black woman to be named an engineer operator.

Spann, who has an Executive Master of Public Administration degree from Texas Southern University, will oversee the Arson Bureau, which investigates crimes related to arson, and the HFD’s Life Safety Bureau, which deals with inspections, education, enforcement, and development of the city’s fire code.

Spann sees her new role as a natural progression of her career in fire safety and told the Chronicle that it is her goal to make buildings and homes as safe as she can under the fire code.

“It’s good to know that when you leave a building and they are up to code, that it’s as safe as it could possibly be without human error,” Spann said. “Our goal is to make sure that those places — especially schools and where people sleep — are as safe as possible. This is what you work for. I found the best career ever.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 10, 2024

Working Multiple Concurrent Jobs–Or Polyworking–Is Becoming A Growing Trend

Polyworkers, individuals juggling multiple jobs simultaneously, are becoming a dominant force in the job market.

Amid an uncertain job market, more workers are choosing to work for multiple companies simultaneously instead of relying on a single employer.

Known as “polyworking,” this emerging trend is one of the top personal branding trends for 2024, where individuals take on a “portfolio career” by juggling multiple jobs at once, Forbes reports. Research shows the number of professionals embracing this work style is expected to rise in the coming years, with the rise of AI-enhanced efficiencies and a workforce seeking more fulfillment and purpose in their careers.

“Almost half (46%) of workers are polyworking with a side hustle or additional job, and a further 36% plan on starting one in the future,” as cited by Owl Labs.

Several key reasons explain the rise in polyworking: boosting job security and income, expanding skillsets, and fostering professional growth by exploring new industries. Other factors include personal fulfillment, inspiring creative thinking and problem-solving skills, reduced job burnout through variety, networking opportunities, and the autonomy and flexibility of working on your own terms.

Polyworking benefits not only employees but companies as well. Employers can gain from having polyworkers on their team, as they bring diverse skill sets and fresh ideas. Supporting employees’ flexibility to pursue multiple professional interests fosters stronger rapport, higher job satisfaction, and can lead to improved retention.

For those interested in joining the polywork community, there are six steps to follow:

Practice introspection by evaluating your skills, interests, and passions. Identify areas where you can contribute across multiple roles or projects and consider what could be missing that could enhance your life.
Assess your options and decide where to focus your efforts. Begin by adding just one new role or project to your work portfolio to not overwhelm or burden yourself.
Develop a plan by outlining the steps needed to pursue your new role, and set clear milestones and a timeline to track your progress.
Expand your network by connecting with individuals involved in the new industry or sector you’re adding to your work portfolio.
Put your plan into action, track your progress, and adjust as needed until you’ve fully embraced polyworking.
Update your personal brand to ensure your actions and communications reflect the new dimensions of your work. When revamping your brand, be sure to highlight how the diverse roles you take on make you a more unique and compelling professional.

RELATED CONTENT: Mastering the Art of the Side Hustle

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 10, 2024

Vanity Fair Trolls ‘The Convicted Felon’ Donald Trump With Viral Digital Cover Following Election Win

Vanity Fair unveils scathing magazine cover in response to Donald Trump's election victory.

Vanity Fair unloaded the clip on Donald Trump following his election win on Nov. 5.

The cover garnered over 1 million views on X, 28,000 likes, and 10,000 reposts, while the Instagram post amassed over 1 million likes on its first day. The photo the magazine went with showed a close-up shot of Trump staring into the eyes of the camera with his signature tan and scowl.

“Four years after launching an unprecedented attack on democracy and leaving the White House in disgrace, the convicted felon and twice-impeached politician will return to Washington, DC, as the 47th president of the United States,” Vanity Fair captioned the cover.

Donald Trump has won the 2024 election.

Four years after launching an unprecedented attack on democracy and leaving the White House in disgrace, the convicted felon will return to Washington, DC, as the 47th president of the United States.

🔗: https://t.co/rznxBpYKMZ pic.twitter.com/bBo5xS3BPU
— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) November 6, 2024

The verbiage is all facts about the President-elect who has the country divided and many fearful of his return to the White House. Responses to Vanity Fair‘s cover highlight the split between the Americans who support another Trump presidency and those who don’t.

“Women who voted for Trump just sent back the women’s movement by 100 years. Unbelievable,” one critic stated on Vanity Fair‘s Instagram post of the cover.

“He won the popular vote, the PEOPLE have spoken the majority of people are tired of the progressive/woke agenda,” added one Trump supporter.

The debate continued on X, formerly known as Twitter, where Trump supporters faced opposition from those who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris.

“And despite all of that, people overwhelmingly voted for him over Kamala. He was the safer bet,” a Trump supporter tweeted.

“How embarrassing for America…” added one Harris supporter.

Donald Trump addressed his supporters at his election night watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida, early Wednesday morning, following Fox News’ projection of his victory in the 2024 presidential election.

“I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president, and every citizen. And I will fight for you, for your family, and your future. Every single day I will be fighting for you, and with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve, and that you deserve,” he said.

“This will truly be the golden age of America. That’s what we have to have. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”

RELATED CONTENT: Opinion: Trump Won Despite Running A Divisive Campaign–Here’s How

by Mary Spiller

November 10, 2024

‘History in Their Hands’: Cleveland Exhibit Celebrates Legacy Of Black Photographers In Ohio

The exhibition is titled History in Their Hands: Black Photographers in Cleveland, Ohio, 1968 – Present.

The Western Reserve Historical Society’s Cleveland History Center has launched a new exhibition showcasing the work of Black photographers in the Cleveland area. Titled “History in Their Hands: Black Photographers in Cleveland, Ohio, 1968—Present,” the exhibit is located inside the Bingham-Hanna Mansion.

According to Dr. Regennia William, a member of the Distinguished Scholar of African American History and Culture Curator of Community Partnerships and Traveling Exhibitions, the new exhibition is meant to honor Black contributions to America’s long history.

Williams told ABC News 5 Cleveland, “These photographers have traveled and lived all over the country and made friends for Black History all over the world.”

The exhibition includes photos of prominent historical leaders such as Jesse Jackson, the former Cleveland City Council President and Cleveland NAACP President George Forbes, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, and others.

Charles Pinkney, a 91-year-old local painter and photographer, expressed how honored he is to have contributed to “History in Their Hands.” His career as a photographer took off in the late 1970s, and he reflected on his beginnings that brought him to today.

“I was in the darkroom where I spent a lot of time making pictures, and the phone rang,” Pinkney recalled. “The chief photographer for the Pittsburgh Press was on the other end and said, ‘Do you still want that job?’”

Pinkney then became the Pittsburgh Press’ first full-time Black photographer. He took the job because the “main thing I was trying to overcome was stereotypes. I knew that all Black women didn’t look like Aunt Jemima. And I knew all Black men were not like Uncle Ben. I want to show how beautiful we were,” he explained.

“I wanted my pictures to be truthful, to be honest and be fair. I try to take pictures that have some kind of meaning -– that tell a story.”

Pinkney is one of six photographers to have their work displayed in “History in Their Hands.” Some of his portraits include influential Black history figures, such as playwright August Wilson and Judge Stephanie Tubbs Jones, but many of his featured works also center around everyday people in Cleveland. Pinkney and the other photographers in the exhibit have curated photos rooted in authentic and moving moments, as well as historically and culturally relevant. The exhibition will run through the summer of 2025.