by Daniel Johnson

October 27, 2024

‘Take Our Lives Seriously’: Michelle Obama Implores Men To Vote For Harris

Obama pleaded to the 'men who love us' to vote for Kamala Harris.

As the polling continues to show a deep gender divide for Vice President Kamala Harris, former first lady Michelle Obama made an impassioned plea to men to stand up for women on Election Day during a rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Oct. 26.

According to The New York Times, this marked Obama’s first appearance on the campaign trail. She pleaded “from the core of my being” to male voters “to take our lives seriously.”

“If your wife is shivering and bleeding on the operating room table during a routine delivery gone bad, her pressure dropping as she loses more and more blood, or some unforeseen infection spreads and her doctors aren’t sure if they can act, you will be the one praying that it’s not too late,” Obama said. “You will be the one pleading for somebody, anybody, to do something.”

She continued, “If we don’t get this election right, your wife, your daughter, your mother, we as women, will become collateral damage to your rage.”

Obama lambased the media and voters for “choosing to ignore [former President] Donald Trump’s gross incompetence, while asking Kamala to dazzle us at every turn.”

She continued, “We expect her to be intelligent and articulate, to have a clear set of policies, to never show too much anger, to prove time and time again that she belongs. But for Trump, we expect nothing at all, no understanding of policy, no ability to put together a coherent argument, no honesty, no decency, no morals.”

Harris underscored the points Obama made during her address. “We’re seeing women scrambling across state lines to get the care they need. Do you think Donald Trump is thinking about the consequences for the millions of women who will be living in medical deserts?”

The vice president continued, “I want the men in the arena to bear with me on this, because there’s more at stake than just protecting a woman’s choice to give birth. Sadly, we as women and girls have not been socialized to talk openly about our reproductive health. We’ve been taught instead to feel shame and to hide how our bodies work.”

She also stressed that unwanted teen pregnancy not only affects young girls, but also the young fathers who will have the course of their lives drastically change.

The urgency has its roots in polling data. As Vox reported, nearly every poll has indicated that men are lagging behind women in their support of Harris’s candidacy. A poll from ABC News and Ipsos of likely voters in the 2024 election, Black men currently lead the way, supporting Harris at an 85% clip while Latinx men are polling at 63% and white men lag far behind at 38 percent.

https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/1850531732409520265?s=19

According to CBS News, the election may also shape up to be a referendum on personal views of progress.

Men who believe that the focus on diversity, equality, and inclusion has left them behind in favor of women tend to indicate support for Trump, while women who believe that Trump is incompetent and is unfit to serve as president tend to indicate support for Harris.

by Daniel Johnson

October 27, 2024

Natalie Williams Out As GM Of Two-Time WNBA Champion Las Vegas Aces

The Aces declined to renew Williams' contract as part of what the team described as a front office restructuring.

Natalie Williams is out as the general manager of the Las Vegas Aces after it did not renew her contract as part of a front office restructuring, the team said in an Oct. 26 statement.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the 53-year-old Williams took the position in April 2022, three months after the team hired head coach Becky Hammon.

The Aces move follows their semifinals exit from the WNBA playoffs after two straight championships.

“It has been a joy and honor to serve as General Manager of the Las Vegas Aces,” said Williams, who thanked owner Mark Davis in her comments. “…I love the WNBA, and it has been wonderful watching the growth of the game. I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.”

According to the Review-Journal, there are some indications that the dismissal of Williams could be related to the federal lawsuit against the Aces brought by former player Dearica Hamby.

Williams, Hammon, and Aces team president Nikki Fargas are all named in Hamby’s litigation as she appears to be dissatisfied by the WNBA’s investigation which led to Hammon being suspended for two games and the team forfeiting its 2025 first-round draft pick.

Hamby’s federal lawsuit claims that the organization did not honor portions of her contract and then traded her to the Los Angeles Sparks once she told team officials she was pregnant, NBC News reports.

In Fargas’ statement, she alluded to Williams’ service of the organization, going back to when the franchise was known as the Utah Starzz.

“We are incredibly grateful for Natalie’s invaluable efforts in helping build the Aces into the premier franchise in the WNBA,” Fargas said. “Her time with the organization extends back to the league’s formative years in Utah, and she will forever be a part of our history, having left an indelible mark as both a player and an executive. We wish the best for Natalie and her family.”

Former St. Louis Prosecutor,Misusing Public Funds

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 27, 2024

Former St. Louis Prosecutor Admits To Using Public Funds To Cover Personal Court Fees

Kimberly Gardner used the funds to cover costs from a 2022 case against her by the Missouri Supreme Court.

Kimberly Gardner, a former St. Louis prosecutor previously supported by left-leaning billionaire George Soros, has admitted to using public funds to cover her own personal court fees.

Upon entering a pretrial diversion program with U.S. District Court in St. Louis, Gardner confirmed she had employees under her supervision write checks that amounted to over $5,000.

According to First Alert 4, employees took the money out of the Contingent Fund Account in her office. Gardner used the checks to cover the money spent in a 2022 case against her by the Missouri Supreme Court. In the case, the court found her in violation of ethical rules while prosecuting the state’s former governor, Eric Greitens.

The Contingent Fund remains reserved for prosecuting expenses. However, Gardner had the money “deposited in her personal bank account and used for her personal expenses unrelated to her job duties and the operations of the Circuit Attorney’s Office,” the diversion agreement stated.

Prior to her admission, Gardner faced pressure from both parties to resign from her role as the lead prosecutor in St. Louis. She did in June 2023.

Through her cooperation in the program, Gardner cannot break any laws and must report to a pretrial services officer. The agreement also defers prosecution for 18 months, but Gardner will have to pay back the funds as restitution.

“Ms. Gardner entered into a pre-charge diversion agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office,” wrote her attorney, Ronald S. Sullivan Jr., in a statement. “The parties agreed to resolve the matter prior to any criminal action commencing and to spare the district the time and costs associated with defending any claim of criminal wrongdoing. While Ms. Gardner was prepared to vigorously defend any allegations that may have been lodged against her, she and the government agreed to end any dispute and terminate any investigation with the pre-charge diversion agreement.”

While no further investigation will take place, the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office did note that the current agreement is a “just and fair outcome” for the former official, said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming.

Civil Rights Hall of Fame, Mississippi, Jackson, Mayor Lumumba

by Daniel Johnson

October 27, 2024

Civil Rights Activists Get Arrests Expunged 64 Years After Historic South Carolina Sit-In

A judge signed an order only a few blocks from where the group was arrested.

On Oct. 25, Simon Bouie and six others had their arrest records expunged more than 60 years after they staged a sit-in in a Columbia, South Carolina, lunch counter that was designated as whites-only.

According to The Associated Press, a judge signed an order only a few blocks from where the group was arrested.

Before he left to join the protest, Bouie assured his mother that he would not get himself into trouble and he kept that promise in mind as he and the other activists sat at the Eckerd Drug Store counter.

“We had a desire to fight for what was right and nobody could turn us around. We walked in that building with our heads held high and sat down,” Bouie told the AP.

Although South Carolina is not the genesis of the practice of the sit-in during the Civil Rights Movement—that honor belongs to Greensboro, North Carolina—Bouie and company’s sit-in helped to change laws in South Carolina, and more broadly, the Jim Crow South.

Of the seven men arrested during the two days of protesting, only Bouie and Charles Barr are alive to see their records expunged.

The other five men, David Carter, Johnny Clark, Richard Counts, Milton Greene, and Talmadge Neal, were represented at the table by white roses.

“It made me feel good we were a part of this movement that had helped to make everything easier for everyone to get along a little better in South Carolina,” Barr told the AP.

According to University of South Carolina professor Bobby Donaldson, the five men who died before they could see justice cared more about creating a better world than their freedom.

“In 1960, they were victimized. Today, they are vindicated. In 1960, they were prosecuted. Today, they are praised. In 1960, they were convicted. Today, they are exonerated,” Donaldson said.

Although the men had their convictions thrown out by the Supreme Court a few days before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law, their arrests stayed on their records.

According to Solicitor Byron Gipson, who handled the paperwork that investigated the arrests and got the expungements before a judge, the men are heroes.

“These men stood bravely—sat bravely, quite frankly—in the face of adversity, in the face of threats, in the face of death. They did it because they wanted to guarantee the Constitution applied to all Americans,” Gipson said at the ceremony.

Judge Robert Hood, who signed the order, took the papers from Gipson and issued his own statement to the 150 attendees in the packed courtroom.

“These heroes stood firm against oppression often at great personal cost. They dared to dream of a world where equality is not an aspiration, but a reality,” Hood said. “Their unwavering commitment to justice serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration to us all.”

Three Adults arrested, Child Endangerment, 6-Year-Old, Dryer

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 27, 2024

Alabama Pastor Allegedly Shot Dead By Daughter

The daughter's allegedly acted out against other family members as well.

A beloved Mobile, Alabama, pastor was allegedly shot dead by his daughter, WKRG reports.

Pastor Robert Matthews of Joy Tabernacle Full Gospel Church died after Charity Matthews allegedly shot her father on the evening of Oct. 20 at the Matthews’ residence in Mobile.

Matthews’ wife, Twinetta, was injured from gunshot windows and was expected to survive.

Charity Matthews, 36, was arrested at the scene. Her charges include two counts of attempted murder, one count of murder, and one count of reckless endangerment as her two young children were in the household at the time. Charity Matthews’ mental health evaluation will determine if she is eligible for the death penalty.

“We’ve already started the process of having her mentally evaluated to make sure that she is competent to face these charges and then her competency at the time of the offense will be evaluated later,” explained Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood. “Going and doing this to family members and people that she knew. It’s a very terrible thing. We’re going to hold her accountable for that.”

The day prior to reportedly shooting her parents, officials revealed that Charity Matthews shot at her brother’s car. Later that day, she also shot at the father of one of her two children.

She remains detained due to Aniah’s Law, which allows judges to deny bonds for those charged with violent crimes. The law takes its name from Aniah Blanchard, an Alabama co-ed who was kidnapped and killed, allegedly by a man with a violent criminal history.

“When I found out it was the Matthews family there really are no words,” explained close friend Shavon Buchanan to Fox 10. “Something that you would never expect. It’s almost like living in a nightmare only because they are such a good family.”

Buchanan remembered Charity Matthews as a “loving person” who struggled.

If Charity Matthews charges are upgraded to capital murder, she could face the death penalty if found guilty for the killing.

Martin Luther King III, Black Men, 2024 Election

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 27, 2024

Martin Luther King III: Black Men Should Not Be Blamed For Results Of 2024 Presidential Election

His thoughts come as concerns over Black men not voting for Kamala Harris become an issue for the Democratic Party.

Martin Luther King III is urging the public not to blame Black men for what happens in the 2024 presidential election.

The son of the civil rights icon believes the election outcome does not rest on the backs of Black male voters. However, he does believe that many are starting to point fingers at the demographic and will continue to do so if Vice President Kamala Harris loses.

“This election is not going to be won or lost by the number of Black men that support or do not support (Harris), even though it’s going to be probably razor-thin,” King told USA Today. “You can’t go and say, ‘Well, it’s Black men’s fault’…That’s where it seems like it’s trying to go.”

His words come as concerns over Black men voting for Harris becomes an issue for the Democratic Party. According to the New York Times/Siena College October survey, 70 percent of Black men intend to vote Democrat this election. This number is significantly lower than President Joe Biden’s support from the identity group, which was 87% in 2020, per the Pew Research Center.

“To win this election, it takes a coalition of women, of men, of Black men, of white men, of everyone, Latino and Hispanic people, in some cases Native American people,” King said.

Democratic heavyweights such as former President Barack Obama have leaned into the fears of Black men slipping away from the party. During his speech at Harris’ campaign office in Pittsburgh, Obama directed his thoughts to the group. In his criticized message, he suggested that their hesitation stems from issues with a woman as president.

“You’re coming up with all kinds of reasons and excuses; I’ve got a problem with that,” the former president said. “Because part of it makes me think—and I’m speaking to men directly—part of it makes me think that, well, you just aren’t feeling the idea of having a woman as president, and you’re coming up with other alternatives and other reasons for that.”

Despite the intensifying backlash toward Black men, King’s wife, Arndrea Waters King, doubts that the efforts of Black men at the polls would garner recognition even if it resulted in a Harris win. “I think that it’s like, as [King III] said, it seems the narrative is more skewed to blaming.”

Furthermore, how the Democratic Party treats Black voters, through policy and outreach, remains a concern for many across the electorate.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 27, 2024

Amber Rose Claims Beyoncé Stole Her Speech For Kamala Harris Rally In Houston

Amber claims Beyoncé's words on motherhood took inspiration from her own speech at the Republican National Convention.

Amber Rose claims that Beyoncé stole her speech while appearing at Kamala Harris’ rally in Houston. The newfound Trump supporter posted a shady comment regarding the singer’s words.

After Beyoncé made headlines for appearing at the Oct. 25 rally, Rose found the “Cuff It” singer’s speech too familiar. MAGA supporter Rose, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, suggested that Beyoncé’s talk about motherhood took inspiration from her thoughts. She wrote her hard feelings under the Shade Room’s Instagram post, which the tabloid quickly caught on to.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

“She wanna be me so bad. Literally took my whole speech,” commented Rose, referencing her speaking engagement at the Republican National Convention.

While at the rally in her hometown, Beyoncé told the audience how her concerns as a mother pushes her political action. Beyoncé shares three children with her husband and fellow entertainer, Jay-Z.

“I’m not here as a celebrity. I’m not here as a politician…I’m here as a mother,” urged the multi-Grammy winner. “A mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in. A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies. A world where we’re not divided.”

According to Rose, the comparison stems from her reference to motherhood. During her own speech, she also mentioned her children and how she wants a better world for them.

“Most importantly, I’m a mother. My whole world revolves around my children, keeping them safe and giving them an opportunity for a better life. That’s something that unites all American parents,” expressed the 41-year-old.

While the two speeches share the theme of motherhood, the two women’s political views remain starkly different. Beyoncé has consistently supported Harris throughout her campaign, even clearing her song “Freedom” for the vice president’s use. Rose, who formerly spoke out against “slut shaming” and promoted female sexual empowerment on her “The Amber Rose Show,” surprised some with her endorsement of Trump.

Florida State University, NAACP, Black Students, Chimps

by Mary Spiller

October 27, 2024

Florida State University NAACP Chapter Calls For Action Against Student Who Called Black Students ‘Chimps’

Student Owen Howard has since apologized for his actions and called it a "joke."

The Florida State University chapter of the NAACP has stepped in and gotten involved in pushing the university to investigate a social media post including hate speech from a student on Oct. 23. The FSU junior and honors student named Owen Howard posted on Snapchat, the “Chimps are going to chimp out” ahead of a photo of a Fraternity and Sorority Life table weekly event where vendors were selling products from student groups, including Black Greek-letter organizations.

The Tallahassee Democrat reports that the NAACP FSU chapter said in an official statement, “This type of rhetoric, disguised as casual language, is profoundly damaging to the well-being of Black students at FSU. It contributes to a hostile environment where students feel unsafe, unwelcome, and devalued.”

In the statement, the NAACP FSU chapter continued to explain how the term “chimp” is offensive when it’s used toward people of color. They explained that there’s a “long history of being used to equate Black people to apes or other primates,” and they linked the word back to being used to justify slavery by defining Black people as inferior to their white counterparts. Florida State University issued a statement addressing the social media post after the NAACP got involved.

The school stressed it doesn’t approve of racism and hate, despite the NAACP claiming that the school hasn’t done enough to address the student who made the offensive post. “It is especially disturbing when students express beliefs that are reprehensible and contrary to the values of our university,” the university responded.

“Together, as members of our campus community, we must recognize that the views of one person do not reflect our collective values, nor do they reflect the values of Florida State University. We must continue to strive for an environment where individuals from all backgrounds are accepted, valued, and respected.” The NAACP called for the FSU to show the commitment they claimed to have by taking action against Owen Howard. They said that they “must protect its Black students and uphold the values of equity and justice.”

Howard has responded to the backlash against his Snapchat post, as well as the screenshots of some previous racist posts he made before his X account was deleted on Oct. 24.

The honors student majoring in computational biology apologized for his behavior online. He said he meant the Snapchat post “as a joke” and added, “I’m sorry y’all didn’t get it.”

“I meant the post as a joke to raise awareness for the decay of society with trashy music and behavior,” Howard stated.

“I posted something there in horrible taste that does not in any way reflect what I believe. I am deeply sorry to all those whom I have hurt, and I wish to learn from this mistake,” he expressed. Despite his apology, students still demand retaliation against Howard in the form of an investigation and disciplinary measures being taken against the student by FSU’s Code of Conduct.

Groundbreaking Study , Structural Racism

by Daniel Johnson

October 27, 2024

Groundbreaking Study To Examine Structural Racism In America

Researchers at Michigan State University and Rutgers University will lead a nationally funded study that will examine the effects of structural racism on housing, aging, and health.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers at Michigan State University and Rutgers University will lead a nationally funded study that will inspect the effects of structural racism on housing, aging, and health.

According to ABC News, the funding for the project will come from an expected $3.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Aging. It will look into the impact of “racist and discriminatory” policies of the past 100 years and their effects on 800 Black and white adults in Baltimore.

As Dick Sadler, a Michigan State University College of Human Medicine associate professor and a researcher on the project, told the outlet, the project differs from past research. According to Sadler, most previous research has had an “almost singular focus” on residential segregation or redlining.

Sadler indicated that the report would examine how redlining, gentrification, predatory lending, urban renewal, freeway construction, and segregation, among other things, have had an impact on the neighborhoods, homes, schools, and stores that Black people have had the most contact with and how those markers have resulted in racial inequality.

Sadler and Danielle Beaty Moody, an associate professor at Rutgers University School of Social Work, indicated in the announcement that a need exists to catalog how Black Americans consistently receive the short end of the stick in American life.

“Collectively, our work seeks to call out and disentangle the vast array of tools used to entrench structural racism in the neighborhood environment –- past, present, and future. One drum we have been beating is that ‘it’s not just redlining, and it’s not just segregation.’ The patterns of racist discriminatory practices in the landscape go far deeper and are more insidious than these singular practices,” the pair stated.

The professors continued, “We need to comprehensively document what the full constellation of tools, tactics, and strategies look like in our urban landscapes to better contextualize why racial inequities emerge and persist across numerous health endpoints, for which all Americans ultimately suffer but for which Black Americans consistently take the largest hits.”

Per the Rutgers University School of Social Health, the individuals participating in the study have been tracked by a larger, ongoing study, Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity, across the lifespan.

The study will access this dataset, allowing for a detailed analysis of “cumulative lifetime exposure to historical, enduring, and contemporary markers of structural racism across Baltimore neighborhoods through the development of lifetime residential histories and contemporary activity spaces.”

According to a 2022 study examining the structural racism in historical and modern United States healthcare policy, “Lack of equitable access to high-quality healthcare is in large part a result of structural racism in U.S. healthcare policy, which structures the healthcare system to advantage the white population and (to) disadvantage racial and ethnic minority populations.”

The study continued, “Although there are other aspects of U.S. healthcare policy that contribute to an inequitable system of care, in this article we provide a comprehensive review of how structural racism, embedded in healthcare policy, results in inequitable access to high-quality care. We first examine how racism shaped early policy decisions that allowed local governments and private employers to provide inequitable access to healthcare and health insurance. We then discuss structural racism’s continued impact on modern healthcare policy in the areas of healthcare coverage, finance, and quality.”

shark tank, Black Entrepreneurs Day, Daymond, John, deal, stalker, grants, Black entrepreneurs

by Mary Spiller

October 27, 2024

Shark Tank’s Daymond John Launches $100K Grant Program To Empower Black Entrepreneurs

Grant awardees will be announced at this year's Black Entrepreneurs Day.

Shark Tank investor Daymond John is leading the fifth annual Black Entrepreneurs Day this year and has committed to supporting small businesses with $100,000 in grants.

John first began running Black Entrepreneurs Day at the height of the racial justice movement following George Floyd’s death. This year, the grants will be awarded to Black-owned businesses, and they will not require any sacrifice in equity. Inc. reports that the grants will focus on giving financial support with “no strings attached. “

The application for the grants will be open through Nov. 1, and John opened up to Inc. about what they’re looking for in an ideal applicant. He specified that the biggest thing they’re looking for is someone who has a clear vision of what they want.

“If you can articulate that vision,” he told the outlet, “whom you’re solving a problem for, why you’re the one to solve the problem, and why you, if you get these funds, they will be put to good use and help you, I think that’s all you need.”

Black Entrepreneurs Day will be held on Nov. 22 in Atlanta at the Fox Theater. The event, a celebration of Black businesses, will be free. Big names are expected to make an appearance, such as Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles, media personality Charlamagne tha God, and rappers Flavor Flav and 2Chainz.

John explained, “We don’t come from legacy wealth. We’re not getting as much education as I think we need … We pay more interest on various things. We are always the last to hire and the first to fire. I think it puts us behind, in a very bad position—and being an entrepreneur is hard enough as it is.”

He continued, “With social media and technology, things are getting democratized. There is information out there on what works and what doesn’t work. … You add that with funding, with inspiration, [and] I think we have a better shot now than ever before.”

The Shark Tank investor started working to shift the public business mentality “from watching communities ‘burn businesses’ to empowering them to build.”

John spent some time giving praise to the organizations and businesses that support their cause.

John said, “A lot of the large corporations and organizations that felt that it was the thing to do back then no longer believe it’s the thing to do now. And I’m not slighting them for it. I love to talk about the organizations that are supporting us, that feel that it still is a very positive thing to do, and well-needed, even when the spotlight is down.”