Black Father And Son Offer Online Summer Camp To Teach Financial Literacy And Investing
Junior Wallstreeters, Inc. a nonprofit, is excited to provide an online youth summer camp.
Originally Published May. 17, 2022
Junior Wallstreeters, Inc. a nonprofit, is excited to provide an online youth summer camp. The camp is great for preventing learning loss and offers a fun environment for students to learn financial and investing concepts.
The camps will teach students lifelong financial education skills and discipline, with an emphasis on African American history and culture, according to a press release. Kevon Chisolm, executive director of Junior Wallstreeters, Inc. said, “In addition to topics like budgeting, banking, and investing in the stock market, our camp goes beyond others by exploring community wealth building through investment clubs.”
“Simply put,” Chisolm says, “our goal is to teach financial knowledge to eliminate the wealth gap by showing young people how to properly use money as a tool.”
The program will also offer an Introduction to Cryptocurrency course and an Introduction To Real Estate Investment course.
“In conjunction with Financial Literacy Month, Junior Wallstreeters, Inc. launched our new website, which provides a better overview of our mission, impact and programs.”
Junior Wallstreeters has secured several scholarships for underserved students to attend the camp. Chisolm asserts, “We want to give as many students the opportunity to obtain a financial education regardless of their family’s financial situation.” Scholarships are only available to students who attend for the length of the course, either one or two weeks.
Families interested in obtaining a scholarship to attend the camp should visit its website for an application. Those interested in supporting Junior Wallstreeters can sponsor a camper or make a donation here.
Faith Ringgold, Famed Multimedia Artist, Dies At 93
In addition to her quilts, Ringgold used painting, sculpture, masks, dolls, textiles, and performance art to explore race, gender, class, family, and community related themes in her art.
Faith Ringgold, a multimedia artist whose canvas was often a quilt exploring the tapestry of Black American life, passed away at the age of 93 on April 13 at her New Jersey home. In addition to her quilts, Ringgold used painting, sculpture, masks, dolls, textiles, and performance art to explore race, gender, class, family, and community-related themes in her art.
As the New York Times reports, Ringgold’s death was confirmed to the outlet by her daughter, Barbara Wallace. Ringgold was a classically trained painter and sculptor who began her career in the arts by painting political works exploring subjects like race and gender relations in America during the 1960s and ’70s.
When I visit schools, the most common question children ask me is “What’s your favorite picture book?” My answer, without hesitation, is always Tar Beach. Rest well, Faith Ringgold 💐 pic.twitter.com/ukB5by3HMY
Although her work received praise right from the beginning of her career, she did not receive placement in the country’s most prestigious art museums until well into her career, something Ringgold regarded as a consequence of both her commitment to exploring themes of social justice through her art and the intersection of her race and gender.
Ringgold, however, believed that art was for everyone and should be accessible to everyone. As she told the Orlando Sentinel in 1992, “In a world where having the power to express oneself or to do something is limited to a very few, art appeared to me to be an area where anyone could do that. Of course, I didn’t realize at the time that you could do it and not have anyone know you were doing it.”
One of her most acclaimed “story quilts” was a piece she called “Tar Beach,” which she finished in 1988. That piece led Ringgold to create a children’s book by the same name in 1991. In symmetry with the quilt, the book tells the story of a Black family picnicking and sleeping on the roof of their Harlem apartment on a hot summer night.
Tar Beach was named a Caldecott Honor Book by the American Library Association, became a staple of children’s reading lives, and picked up a Coretta Scott King Award, awarded by the ALA to books depicting Black American life for children or teenagers with distinction.
Ringgold’s early art style drew inspiration from James Baldwin and Amiri Baraka, African art, and the jazz rhythms of Duke Ellington and other musicians she listened to as a young child. She even led protests, first focusing on the marginalization of Black artists, held at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York in 1968. In 1970, Ringgold helped organize another protest, this one focusing on the exclusion of women artists, which occurred at the Museum of Modern Art. During this decade, Ringgold’s work took on a more overtly feminist tone.
In 1980, Ringgold produced her first full-sized quilt alongside her mother, titled “Echoes of Harlem.” “I think of quilts as the classic art form of Black people in America,” Ringgold told The Morning Call in 2005. “When African slaves came to America, they couldn’t do their sculpture anymore. They were divorced from their religion. So they would take scraps of fabric and make them into coverlets for the master and for themselves.”
Over the next 40 years, Ringgold’s work would be collected and acquired by private art collectors, the late Maya Angelou and Oprah Winfrey among the most prominent. Ringgold’s work also eventually found its way into prominent museums like the National Museum of Women in the Arts and was commissioned for public spaces, both physically and digitally. In 2022, Ringgold’s work received a retrospective at the New Museum in Manhattan.
That show, which filled three stories, prompted critic Holland Cotter to write in his review for the New York Times that he believed the acceptance of Ringgold’s work represented a full circle moment for the artist. Cotter wrote that the exhibition “makes clear that what consigned Ringgold to an outlier track half a century ago puts her front and center now.”
Ringgold is survived by her daughters, Barbara and Michelle Wallace, a prominent feminist writer and cultural critic, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Her husband, Burdette Ringgold, preceded her in death in 2020.
Fisk University Gymnast Morgan Price Named First-Ever National Champion From An HBCU
She joined Fisk's gymnastics team two years ago, the first-ever program established at an HBCU.
HBCU “HERstory” has been made. Representing Fisk University, Morgan Price is now USA Gymnastics’s first All-Around National Champion from an HBCU.
Price emerged as a national champion at the USAG’s competition on April 12. She joined Fisk’s gymnastics team two years ago, the first-ever program established at an HBCU. The Tennessee school’s athletic program shared the barrier-breaking news on its Instagram.
Price scored above 9.8 on her floor exercise, balance beams, uneven bars, and vault. For her performances at the events, she received 39.225 in total. Her high achievement cemented her status as a national champion.
While Black women, from Dominique Dawes to Simone Biles, have dominated gymnastics before Price, her inclusion sheds light on HBCUs taking part in the sport. Talladega College is the only other HBCU that hosts a gymnastics program. However, Wilberforce University in Ohio will soon be the third to join the ranks.
To get their programs off the ground, all three institutions partnered with Brown Girls Do Gymnastics to help aspiring Black gymnasts fulfill their journeys at HBCUs. Through this HBCU gymnastics alliance, more schools are working toward establishing their own teams for students. Fisk, which started their program in 2022, shared that this mission will help diversify women’s gymnastics at a collegiate level.
“We could not be more excited to launch the first HBCU Intercollegiate Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team,” explained the school’s then-president, Dr. Vann Newkirk. “Fisk University has always been an educational leader and this women’s gymnastics program will embody all the qualities that define the Fisk experience: excellence, determination, and a commitment to a better tomorrow.”
In the meantime, Price’s road to nationals is not over yet. On April 14, she will continue performing in individual events for the vault, bars, and floor. She will be able to receive even more medals to add to her latest accolade.
Cleveland Assistant Safety Director Fired For Misleading Officials About Car Crash And Transporting Minors In City Vehicle
Dye faced criticism after her city vehicle crashed with four children in it.
Jakimah Dye, the former assistant director of Safety for the City of Cleveland, was relieved of her duties on April 12 after an investigation revealed that she misled officials investigating a February car crash.
As WKYC reports, the crash involved Dye’s city vehicle and minors. According to a letter from Interim Safety Director Wayne Drummond, those factors were considered when Dye was fired following a pre-disciplinary hearing in March.
BREAKING: Cleveland city spokesperson confirms Jakimah Dye, assistant public safety director, was just fired. Dye was under investigation for not reporting kids in work car she crashed.
NEW on cleveland assistant safety director facing discipline for crashing a City car w kids on board: Jakimah Dye facing internal discipline for using the car for non-work purposes, transporting minors and not having valid car insurance to cover the damages
News 5 investigators uncover email chain.. showing Assistant Safety Director Jakimah Dye, didn't initially report kids were in the car when she crashed her take-home vehicle. Later, she revealed there were four. #WEWS@WEWS More to come on News 5
“During the course of the investigation, you admitted you were utilizing the City vehicle for non-work-related purposes,” Drummond wrote in the letter. “It was also discovered that you were transporting several minors and did not possess valid motor vehicle insurance to cover the damages incurred in the accident. Additionally, it is alleged that you made untruthful, misleading, and/or deceptive statements during the investigation of this matter.”
Drummond continued, “As Assistant Director of Budget and Operations in the Department of Public Safety, the expectation of professionalism and honesty is uncompromising. We serve the public, therefore we must be good stewards of community trust.”
In addition to the violations enumerated by Drummond in the letter, Dye violated several City of Cleveland workplace policies and civil service commission rules.
As Cleveland.com reports, Dye faced criticism after her city vehicle crashed with four children in it after she left a basketball game. A few days before, a similar occurrence forced now-former Safety Director Karrie Howard to resign from his position.
Dye did not disclose that there were children in the car when she made her original report but later communicated via an email to officials that she did not know that having children in the car was a violation of city policy. “I was not aware of the policy regarding children in the car, but the fact remains, there were children in the car,” Dye wrote. “The policy is clear. No children or non-city workers are allowed in the vehicles, I now know this to be true and am disappointed in myself for not being familiar with policy(ies) as a whole.”
In the termination letter, Drummond determined that Dye’s actions could reasonably be assumed to have a negative reflection on the Cleveland Department of Public Safety.
“A thorough review was conducted by the Department of Human Resources. I have carefully reviewed the evidence incorporated into the record by reference, statements made at the hearing, and pertinent rules, policies, and procedures. I adopt the findings and recommendations of the hearing officer.” Drummond concluded. “I have determined that you, Assistant Director Jakimah Dye violated numerous CoC Human Resources Policies and Procedures, and Civil Service Commission Rules.”
Drummond concluded, “As such, policy is in place to ensure honesty and accountability of members charged with a duty to be present in the community. The Department of Public Safety cannot operate and professionally meet its objectives while tolerating a failure to comply with professional expectations or being subject to utter disregard for policy. Not only does the aforementioned conduct reasonably tend to diminish the esteem of the Department of Public Safety in the eyes of the public, it violates public trust in the Department and has no place in any Department or Division within the City of Cleveland.”
Indiana State University Condemns Student Who Made Viral Racist TikTok About Beyoncé
In the TikTok video, the Indiana State University student claimed Black people can't be country because their ancestors were slaves.
Indiana State University (ISU) has released an official statement condemning a racist TikTok made by one of its students. The video critiqued Beyoncé and her country music-inspired album, Cowboy Carter.
The student started off the now-deleted video by telling Black people that they are not country. In her view, Beyoncé’s latest project was not part of the genre for “historical” reasons.
“I’m sorry, if you’re Black, you’re not country,” she boldly stated, as reported by Newsweek. She continued to let Black viewers know that they could not identify as country, even if from those areas, because their ancestors were “picking,” referring to sharecropping, picking cotton, and slavery.
“I know you were raised in the country, or your grandparents were, but they was picking,” she explained. “They wasn’t planting. Keep that in mind. They wasn’t making money. They was getting sold for money.”
In response to the viral TikTok, ISU President Dr. Deborah J. Curtis issued an apology to the student body for the racist words.
“Racism, hate speech, and discrimination of any kind is deplorable and in direct contradiction of Indiana State’s mission, vision, and values,” wrote Dr. Curtis. “The student’s comments in the video in no way represent the ideals and goals of Indiana State University. We are appalled by the sentiments expressed in the video and condemn those comments in the strongest terms.”
As for the student’s current status at ISU, the educational leader emphasized the matter must remain confidential due to legal reasons.
However, the woman’s sentiments are a callback to Beyoncé’s reasons for embarking on the project. Ahead of its release, the “16 Carriages” singer shared on Instagram how the idea stemmed from an unwelcoming experience.
“[The album] was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive,” she revealed. “The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me…This ain’t a Country album. This is a “Beyoncé” album.”
The album has now spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 and garnered critical acclaim. Despite the criticisms on her journey in country music, Beyoncé continues to make waves of inclusivity.
Kwame Kilpatrick Restitution Saga Continues, Feds Add More To Total
The federal government alleges that the former Detroit mayor is only making minimum monthly payments of $150. In total, the sum Kilpatrick owes in restitution and taxes is over $1.6 million.
Kwame Kilpatrick, the disgraced former mayor of Detroit, served eight years of a 28-year sentence for a racketeering conspiracy before his sentence was commuted by then-President Donald Trump in 2021. Since that time, according to federal prosecutors, he has not paid the restitution he owes to the city.
As The Detroit News reports, federal prosecutors discovered Kilpatrick owes an additional $6,700-plus they want applied to the more than $820,000 he owes the taxpayers of Detroit.
In total, the sum Kilpatrick owes in both restitution and taxes sits at over $1.6 million.
In late March, in response to an order from federal prosecutors to examine Kilpatrick’s illegal activities, Michigan Treasury officials found an additional sum of $6,707.07 which they allege Kilpatrick owes Detroit. In 2023, he leased a $90,000 luxury SUV and his wife purchased an $807,000 home in Novi.
In March, as The Wall Street Journal reports, Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gardey described Kilpatrick’s spending as indicative of a “jet-setting lifestyle,” and it was noted that the monthly payments on the leased vehicle were 10 times his monthly payments on his debt.
The federal government alleged in a court filing on April 12 that the former mayor is only making minimum monthly payments of $150. Meanwhile, Kilpatrick says he does not believe he actually owes the money and would like a hearing to settle the matter.
In March, the federal government signaled its seriousness about pursuing restitution from Kilpatrick. U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison released a statement declaring its intent to aggressively pursue action: “The United States Attorney’s office has filed a writ of garnishment against Mr. Kilpatrick as part of our continuing effort to enforce the criminal judgment of restitution he owes to the United States. Our efforts in this regard are unwavering.”
WWJ legal analyst Charlie Langton told the outlet that he believed Kilpatrick could eventually be found in violation of the terms of his probation if this behavior continues. “Kwame Kilpatrick — until he pays off every penny of restitution, he’s going to have to account for that. And the feds believe, based on what he’s putting on social media, that he’s raising money…and that probably will violate the terms of his probation at this time.”
Langton continued, “The victim in the federal case was the City of Detroit, and the judge ordered Kwame Kilpatrick to pay back the victim in this case: the City of Detroit. So, whatever the number turns out to be, whatever income Kwame Kilpatrick has from whatever source, has to be totaled up and given back to the victim.”
Arizona’s New Abortion Ban Echoes Civil War-Era Restrictions
Arizona's upholding of a 1864 abortion ban has ties to racially motivated restrictions on the procedure.
Arizona’s latest abortion legislation has positioned the state as one of the nation’s most stringent when it comes to reproductive rights. Critics highlight the law’s origins in 1864, pointing to its troubling racial history.
This April, Arizona lawmakers voted to uphold an abortion law originally passed in 1864. Its reinstatement follows the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. According to Vox, the new ruling leaves nearly 1.6 million people’s reproductive autonomy in jeopardy.
The law specifies that anyone who “provides, supplies, and administers” an abortion procedure or drugs to induce it faces two to five years in prison. The law only provides exceptions for pregnant women who will die without having one. However, the legislation derived from an anti-abortion movement beginning in the mid-19th century. The effort meant to curb white women’s desires outside the home as more participated in the women’s suffrage movement.
In fact, anti-abortion causes sought to exclusively ensure white women were fulfilling the obligations to uphold conservative American values. The laws also benefited doctors, a profession comprised of a majority of white men at the time, creating a monopoly on who could perform the procedure.
While original sentiments on abortion before this time were less religious-based, doctors and clergymen later joined forces to demonize abortion, spearheaded by Harvard doctor Horatio Storer. This subsequent shift led to jail time and hefty fines for those defying the regulations.
However, today’s version of the law especially impacts minorities, many with less agency and resources. According to U.S. Census data, Black people make up over 5.5% of Arizona’s population. Historical and racially motivated protections on abortion were meant to benefit whiteness, leaving nonwhite people in the most vulnerable position. The hot-button issue is also prevalent for Black women as the presidential election nears.
While the ban will go into effect on April 24, Democratic lawmakers urge a repeal. Arizona’s Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes expressed that she will not enforce the ruling. Regardless, residents remain concerned about their reproductive freedoms.
First Date Allegedly Ended With Wisconsin College Student’s Body Parts Scattered Across State
A 19-year-old college student in Wisconsin is believed to be dead following the discovery of her body parts in multiple areas after a first date.
A police search led to the discovery of Sade Robinson’s body parts scattered across the state. It is alleged that the Wisconsin college student went missing following a fatal first date with Maxwell Anderson.
The 19-year-old’s co-workers became concerned when she did not show up for her shift at a local pizza restaurant on April 2, a move they considered unlike her. The day before, she told her colleagues about the date with Anderson, a 33-year-old white man. They planned to get dinner at a seafood restaurant nearby where he used to work, according toCNN.
Police conducted a welfare check at Robinson’s home after a friend reported her missing following multiple missed calls and the missed work shift. However, upon not finding her, investigators launched a widespread search for her whereabouts. The restaurant closed for three days as police searched for clues. They found Robinson’s car on fire the day after her date.
Law enforcement recovered Robinson’s clothes and her assumed phone from the burnt vehicle. Later, a human leg washed up on a beach in a Milwaukee suburb. According to the complaint, DNA evidence confirmed the body part belonged to Robinson.
Further investigation by Wisconsin authorities unveiled more remains of Robinson’s, including her foot. Her phone’s location tracking showed Anderson took her to multiple places, including his home, and then lastly at the spot where parts of her body lay. The complaint revealed that authorities believe the college student died at the hands of Anderson.
“The facts mentioned in this complaint cause Complainant to conclude that the Defendant intentionally killed and then dismembered Robinson with the intent to conceal the homicide, and it occurred between the arrival at the Defendant’s residence and his departure from the Warnimont Park area,” read the document.
A GoFundMe for Robinson’s memorial service was made as her family grapples with the loss. The GoFundMe page detailed how Robinson studied criminal justice as she prepared to graduate from the Milwaukee Area Technical College.
“The pain of losing Sade has left a void in the hearts of her family, especially her grieving mother and little sister, along with other relatives, friends, and the entire community who loved and supported her,” reads the description. “As we come together to honor Sade’s memory, we aim to provide her with the dignified farewell she deserves.”
Anderson is the main suspect in her death, facing charges of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse, and arson. He faces life in prison if convicted of the homicide charge.
Rico Wade, Famed Producer In Atlanta Hip-Hop Scene, Dies At 52
Wade emerged as a successful producer in the 1990s, making hits for Outkast and other Atlanta-based acts like Cee-Lo Green.
Rico Wade, a producer known for his work with rap group Outkast, died at age 52 on April 13. Wade catapulted Atlanta as a new hub for hip-hop through his work.
Wade emerged as a successful producer in the 1990s, making hits for Outkast and other Atlanta-based acts like Cee-Lo Green. He, alongside fellow producers Ray Brown and Patrick “Sleepy Brown,” created the music collective Organized Noize. The collective started in the basement of Wade’s childhood home, earning the name of the “dungeon.” Later, the Dungeon Family took form, positioning the city of Atlanta as a new game-changer for hip-hop.
While his family confirmed the news, Killer Mike also announced the death of his longtime friend and collaborator on his Instagram. In the emotional post, the rapper and activist expressed his appreciation for the “friendship and brotherhood” they shared.
“I don’t have the words to express my deep and profound sense of loss,” wrote Killer Mike. “…I deeply appreciate your acceptance into The Dungeon Family, mentorship, Friendship and Brotherhood. Idk where I would be without ya’ll. This is a part of the journey. You told me ‘It ain’t been hard throughout the journey, it’s been a Journey.’ The journey ain’t gonna be the Same Journey without U. Like U say tho Imma ‘Stay Down on it’……we all are.”
Wade’s multifaceted talent extended to multiple realms of music, also co-writing TLC’s Grammy-nominated song “Waterfalls” in 1994. Throughout his career, he played a pivotal role in building his hometown’s music scene. Moreover, he is remembered for giving a platform to some of Atlanta’s most notable rappers.
Organized Noize also released a statement to The New York Times on Wade’s passing, calling him an “innovative architect” in the world of hip-hop.
“The world has lost one of the most innovative architects in music, and we have lost an invaluable friend,” shared the collective, as reported by the New York Times. “Rico was the cornerstone of Organized Noize and the Dungeon Family, and we will forever treasure his memory and the moments we shared, creating music as a united team.”
The family has yet to reveal Wade’s cause of death to the public.
Black Running Group Sues Boston Marathon And Police, Alleging Racial Profiling
Although four of the last five Boston Marathon winners have hailed from Kenya, the race's organizers face a lawsuit declaring that it has not welcomed a diverse group of supporters during recent competitions.
TrailblazHers, a Black running group, is suing the organizers of the Boston Marathon and the Newton Police Department. Its lawsuit claims that the group’s members were racially discriminated against by members of the department at the Boston Marathon in 2023.
As WMUR reports, the lawsuit, filed by lawyers from Lawyers for Civil Rights, alleges that members of the group were singled out and harassed by officers after a spectator fired a confetti cannon in the direction of a runner the group was supporting. According to the lawsuit, members of the group were allegedly penned in by law enforcement officers, while a group of white supporters were not bothered by the police.
The Boston Athletic Association, which runs and organizes the marathon, issued two separate apologies following the incident in 2023. One apology, accompanied by a pledge to create a more inclusive environment at the race, was issued to TrailblazHers. Another was issued to the Boston Police Department after the latter made threats that they would not work the event.
Frances Ramirez, a co-founder of TrailblazHers, said in a statement released to the Boston Globe that BAA President Jack Fleming’s apology to the police was “completely backwards.” Ramirez also said that the apology indicates that the BAA agreed with the police’s actions. “They should be apologizing to us—the spectators of color who were racially profiled and harassed. The BAA clearly approved [of] the discrimination we experienced last year.”
Fleming acknowledged and downplayed the lawsuit in a statement issued on April 12. “I’m aware of the complaint,” Fleming said. “I have not had the opportunity to see it or read it. Our focus this weekend is on the 30,000 participants, all of the spectators, everyone coming into town.”
The BAA confirmed to the Boston Globe through a spokesperson that the Boston Marathon will have four more miles of barricades than they had in the race in 2023. A spokesperson also reiterated Fleming’s position on April 12.
“We are confident that the B.A.A. and our partners are prepared for a Boston Marathon that is welcoming to the 30,000 participants, spectators, and eight cities and towns along the route. We are focused on creating a joyous experience for all. While the B.A.A. is aware of the complaint, we have not yet had the opportunity to review it.”
#BREAKING: Boston Marathon Sued for Discrimination by Black Running Crew Seeking to forestall a repeat of the racial profiling incident that occurred at the 2023 #BostonMarathon, a prominent Black-led running group filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the #Newton…
Liz Rock, a co-founder of TrailblazHers, told the Boston Globe that she is disappointed by the lack of action from the BAA after its promise in the wake of 2023’s Boston Marathon. “I am deeply disappointed by the lack of attention that the BAA has given to our cause. Over the years, we have worked tirelessly to make running more accessible to BIPOC runners in Boston, and we expected the BAA to be a partner in this endeavor. However, their actions have not lived up to their words.”
Rock continued, “They claim to want to elevate diverse leaders in the sport, but they have consistently fallen short of this goal. Nevertheless, we are a determined group committed to making a fundamental change in this community. We will continue to push forward and work towards our mission despite the obstacles that we have faced.”
Oren Sellstrom, the litigation director for the Boston branch of Lawyers for Civil Rights, told CBS News that the issue at the heart of the lawsuit is the unequal treatment the group received. “The issue is not police presence at the marathon. The issue is unequal treatment.”
According to the lawsuit, “As the Boston Athletic Association (‘BAA’)…describes it, spectators ‘play a powerful role in fostering a sense of belonging and community for participants, volunteers, staff, and fellow spectators.’” The lawsuit also alleges that the BAA “does not extend that same sense of belonging and community back to all spectators equally.”
