Coco Jones To Perform National Anthem At College Football Playoff National Championship
The rest of the game's entertainment will have an Atlanta feel.
The entertainment for Jan. 20’s College Football Playoff National Championship between Ohio State and Notre Dame is all set, highlighted by Coco Jones singing the national anthem prior to kickoff.
Jones will be joined by award-winning musician, composer, arranger, and music director Adam Blackstone.
Before she displays her vocal skills, a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard from the United States Central Command will carry flags that represent the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. A giant American flag will be unfurled by volunteers within the Atlanta community.
The Spelman College Glee Club, celebrating its 100th year, will perform “America the Beautiful” prior to the national anthem.
Johrgia Peaches, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Newnan, will perform “America the Beautiful” in American Sign Language (ASL), while 20-year-old Alexander Charlot, a 12th-grade student from Monroe, will do the same for “Star-Spangled Banner” in ASL.
Peaches and Charlot are students at the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (AASD), a state school serving over 110 Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students from over 27 school districts all over the metro Atlanta area.
The marching bands from both schools will perform on the field before the game and during halftime.
Since the contest takes place on Martin Luther King Day, the Civil Rights icon daughter’s, Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, will flip the coin at the start of the game.
The pregame activities start at 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game starting at 7:45 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The pregame, halftime, and postgame entertainment will be produced by Michael T. Fiur Productions.
Gov. Greg Abbott Threatens Job Of Texas A&M President Over Concerns University Broke DEI Ban
Abbott expressed that the president would be gone unless he reversed a decision to invite students to a DEI-focused conference.
Gov. Greg Abbott seemingly threatened the job of Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III over concerns that the school broke a statewide DEI ban.
Abbott had choice words for the university’s president after news broke of the school participating in a conference that restricted attendance to only people of color. According to the Texas Tribune, a conservative activist reportedly shared the university’s email, including details of the DEI-focused event. It prioritized inviting staffers and Ph.D. students who identified as Black, Hispanic, or Native American.
An X user then asked Abbott and the state attorney general for their action on the issue. Abbott responded that he would not tolerate such activity and would hold Welsh accountable for allowing it to occur. He stated that it “violates” not only state law but also the U.S. Constitution. Furthermore, he alleged that the president could face termination.
Hell, no.
It’s against Texas law and violates the US Constitution.
“Hell, no,” expressed Abbott. “It’s against Texas law and violates the U.S. Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone.”
The ban, known as Senate Bill 17, prohibits public universities from having DEI offices. It also prohibits DEI training or “preferential treatment” based on sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin.
However, the email already stated that the university system’s general counsel ensured the conference’s compliance with the DEI ban. In light of the growing controversy, Welsh also released a statement affirming that the school abides by these regulations.
A statement from Texas A&M University President Mark A. Welsh III: Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor. The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that…
“Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor,” detailed the academic leader. “The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that regard. We will continue to honor both the letter and the intent of the law.”
However, Welsh expressed in another email that he and the administrators had not “fully considered the spirit of our state law” when sending out the invitation. He then seemingly agreed with the governor’s remarks on the attendance requirement. In light of this, Welsh decided to forego sending anyone to the conference on behalf of Texas A&M.
“This particular conference’s limitations on the acceptable race of attendees is not in line with the intent of SB 17, and, as a result, we will not be sending anyone to participate in this conference,” he wrote to the Mays Business School. “We need to be sure that attendance at those events is aligned with the very clear guidance we’ve been given by our governing bodies.”
The DEI ban remains controversial nationwide, with a mix of supporters and opposers within the state. However, Texas lawmakers expect to revisit its regulations and potentially expand them this year.
Donald Trump Claims His ‘Historic Victory’ In the Election Led To Peace Agreement Between Israel And Hamas
Donald Trump announces that a peace agreement has been reached in the Middle East and cites his election win.
Incoming President Donald Trump has announced a deal has been reached between Israel and Hamas that will release the hostages being held since Oct. 7, 2023.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Wednesday morning amid growing reports of a peace agreement being reached in the Middle East for a ceasefire.
“We have a deal for the hostages in the Middle East,” Trump wrote.
While President Joe Biden and his administration have been working around the clock to reach a deal before Biden’s term ends on Monday, Trump beat the White House to the punch on social media by announcing the agreement and seemingly taking credit.
“This EPIC ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our Historic Victory in November, as it signaled to the entire World that my Administration would seek Peace and negotiate deals to ensure the safety of all Americans and our Allies,” he wrote in a Truth Social post.
“We have achieved so much without even being in the White House,” Trump continued. “Just imagine all of the wonderful things that will happen when I return to the White Hous, and my administration is fully confirmed, so they can secure more Victories for the United States!”
President Biden has since acknowledged the ceasefire, emphasizing the importance of continued negotiations for a permanent truce. Prior to his inauguration, Trump warned that “all Hell will break loose” if the hundreds of Israeli hostages were not freed by noon on Jan. 20th.
As the news unfolded, Marco Rubio, the likely incoming Secretary of State, pointed out during his confirmation hearing that Trump’s advisors had collaborated closely with current Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s team to finalize the deal, with the Qatari government playing a crucial role as intermediaries.
The Qataris are scheduled to hold a press briefing soon to announce the deal officially. President Biden will also address the media, according to the White House. Under the agreement, 33 hostages are expected to be released as early as this weekend, forming the first group to be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has stated that a ceasefire deal has not yet been finalized, with some unresolved details. But, many hope that “details will be finalized tonight.” The announcement follows 466 days of conflict after Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Gaza’s Health Ministry says the death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has climbed above 46,000.
The Grave Of Octavia Butler, Writer Who Once Prophesied LA Fires, Still Stands In Altadena Cemetery
Butler's work has resurfaced for its depictions of the future seemingly coming to life.
The grave of Octavia Butler, whose novel Parable Of The Sower imagined fires engulfing Los Angeles, still stands at a local cemetery in Altadena.
Butler’s work has gained new traction after seemingly prophesying the tragedy that still threatens metro Los Angeles. In a coincidence, despite her grave site’s location in one of the main communities impacted by the fires, the cemetery’s website confirmed minimal damage to the grounds.
While a spokesperson for Mountain View cemetery confirmed toThe Associated Press that the property still stands, so do the harrowing words of Butler. Written in 1993, Parable of the Sower depicts a future Los Angeles. Eerily set in 2025, the city is ravaged by fires prompted by climate change and other environmental concerns. Moreover, these issues become worsened by racism and economic disparities.
The first fire in the novel only foreshadowed the flames to come, with some calling Butler’s reading a warning. The book’s 1998 sequel, Parable of the Talents, also depicts an authoritative politician who sought to “Make America Great Again.” While currently associated with President-elect Donald Trump, Butler originally heard the phrase used by Ronald Reagan. However, the similarities between her decades-old literature and real life remain uncanny.
Butler also grew up in Altadena’s neighboring community of Pasadena, hence her nearby burial. Prior to her 2005 death, a student asked her about her own belief about whether the world was heading toward destruction.
“I didn’t make up the problems,” remarked Butler. “All I did was look around at the problems we’re neglecting now and give them about 30 years to grow into full-fledged disasters.”
The Kindred novelist remains heralded as an esteemed writer for science fiction and Afrofuturism. Her legacy continues to live on in her hometown as well. A bookstore named in her honor currently serves as a donation center for fire victims.
Butler did share a glimpse into a future that has seemingly come to life. However, she encouraged hope to change the narrative through her 2000 essay “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future.” With lessons such as learning from the past and to anticipate the surprises, she didn’t want her work to scare readers. Instead, she aimed to make them aware and continue the fight for a better fate.
After implementing “congestion pricing” for vehicle travel into the busiest sections of Manhattan, New York’s MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) is claiming that charging folks to enter certain areas is “working,” according to figures for the first week.
According to The New York Post, although the agency is trying to make people feel they’ve made the right move to add more financial burdens to those affected by it, critics don’t believe them. Officials from the MTA have stated in their first report that travel times on the bridges that connect the outer boroughs to Manhattan, south of 61st Street, was down by as much as 40% during the first week. They also claim that car traffic south of 61st Street fell by 16% from October and 7.5% from the same time in January 2024. That amounts to 273,000 fewer cars for the first week of congestion pricing in comparison to last year’s numbers.
The transit agency stated that “anecdotal reports” show traffic is moving better in the congestion zone due to the $9 price point for cars (trucks and larger vehicles pay more based on several different factors). They said more people are taking public transportation, as ridership has increased.
“I think it’s obvious to everybody here that it has been a very good week here in New York,” MTA Deputy Chief of Policy and External Relations Juliette Michaelson told reporters on Monday. “Just look out the window. There is less traffic and quicker streets. I think everybody can see it.”
Critics do not believe what the MTA is touting.
“The MTA math is more than fuzzy — it’s fugazi,” City Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) said. “I believe in their mathematical skills as much as I believed in their timeline for the Second Avenue subway.”
Susan Lee, who runs New Yorkers Against Congestion Taxes, also had a differing opinion.
“January is usually the slowest month of the year,” said Lee, who lives in the Tribeca section of Manhattan. “While some areas experience less traffic, others have seen higher than average congestion due to drivers avoiding paying the congestion pricing tax. The MTA should be careful what they’re celebrating.”
And there is another factor that the MTA may not have included when reporting these numbers.
The city just weathered some snow and below-freezing temperatures during the same time, which may have had an effect on people not leaving their homes. So far, this has been the coldest January in recent years.
Officer Convicted In George Floyd Murder Released From Prison
Minneapolis police officer convicted of aiding and abetting murder of George Floyd to be released from federal prison.
Minneapolis police officer J. Alexander Kueng, convicted in the killing of George Floyd, is set to be released on Jan. 15.
Kueng, 31, was charged with aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter for his role in Floyd’s death. Video and eyewitness testimony showed Kueng kneeling on Floyd’s back while his accomplice Derek Chauvin kneeled on Floyd’s neck, cutting off his ability to breathe. Kueng was also charged with violating Floyd’s civil rights in his role as a law enforcement officer.
After pleading guilty, Kueng was sentenced to a 3½-year state sentence, which ran concurrently with his three-year federal sentence. The former officer began serving his time in 2022 at FCI Elkton in Lisbon, Ohio, Star Tribune reported.
Kueng did not serve the full 3½-year sentence. According to a spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, this is not unusual. The representative explained that the “First Step Act and other factors” determine parole eligibility.
Tou Thao, another officer convicted of aiding in Floyd’s death, is still serving his five-year sentence for the May 25, 2020, murder. Thao prevented bystanders from intervening as Chauvin and Thomas Lane held Floyd down for nearly 9½ minutes. He reportedly will be released in 2025.
The main perpetrator of the crime, Chauvin, was convicted of murder and manslaughter, and sentenced to 22 years for the state charge and 21 years for federal civil rights violations. He is serving both sentences concurrently.
In November 2024, Derek Chauvin filed a motion to have his charges vacated. The convicted murderer argues that his guilty plea was made without knowledge of theories presented by pathologist Dr. William Schaetzel.
Schaetzel claims that Floyd’s death was caused by a high level of catecholamines, a neurohormone linked to stress, in combination with a fight-or-flight response or Takotsubo myocarditis, a heart condition, as previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Chauvin’s attorneys were granted permission in December 2024 to examine Floyd’s heart tissue in support of Schaetzel’s claims.
“The discovery that Mr. Chauvin seeks could support Dr. Schaetzel’s opinion of how Mr. Floyd died, the Court finds that there is good cause to allow Mr. Chauvin to take the discovery that he seeks,” U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson ruled.
For now, Chauvin remains incarcerated in a Texas prison.
“Cash poor” means having wealth in assets but insufficient liquid money available for spending and saving.
A troubling report has revealed that borrowing costs for cash-poor Americans living paycheck to paycheck are significantly higher than they expect to pay back. SoLo’s 2025 Cash Poor Report shows Americans paid more than $39 billion in fees beyond the advertised Annual Percentage Rate when borrowing money from some financial institutions to cover unplanned expenses.
According to Experian, being “cash poor” means having wealth in assets but insufficient liquid money available for spending and saving. SoLo, the only Black-owned fintech certified B Corp in the U.S. and Canada, says the figures in its report revealed a 32% increase from 2023.
What’s even more alarming in the report is that cash-poor consumers aren’t just the working class. They also represent middle-class Americans with college degrees, people who own homes, and those who consider themselves investors. Cash-poor consumers include Americans who have six-figure incomes.
“One in seven cash-poor Americans makes over $75,000 a year,” the report from SoLo reads. “Troubling trends show that nearly half of Americans living paycheck to paycheck have less than $200 In their checking and savings accounts.”
SoLo analysts, in partnership with Opinium Research, Pace University, the Global Black Economic Forum, Aspen Institute, Financial Security Program, and the Independent Women’s Forum, surveyed 2,000 American adults spanning Gen Z, millennials, Gen X, boomers, and the Silent Generation. Their data compared fees as a percentage of a $1,000 loan.
The Best and Worst Options For Cash Poor Americans, According to Report
According to the report, the APR rate does not include late fees, origination fees, subscription fees, transaction fees, or other expenses that create what analysts call “debt traps” for consumers in a financial crisis.
The data shows that subprime credit cards are the most expensive option for unplanned expenses. The average cost increased to 48%, up from 41% in 2023. Because of high total fees, penalties, and monthly maintenance fees, the maximum fees can reach 90% of the principal borrowed.
Courtesy of SoLoCourtesy of SoLoCourtesy of SoLo
“These cards account for $19.6 billion in aggregate borrowing costs in 2024, marking an $8 billion increase from last year,” according to the report.
Payday loans have the highest minimum borrowing cost among all options. Maximum costs reach 67% due to origination fees, late fees, and penalties. According to the report, aggregate costs for payday loans increased to $6.7 billion in 2024 from $6.2 billion in 2023.
Bank small-dollar loans are a relatively new offering that emerged last year. It had the third-highest costs, just behind subprime credit cards and payday loans. However, there are significant barriers to entry.
“They averaged a 25% borrowing cost this year, with a minimum fee of 12%, largely due to mandatory account balance and deposit requirements,” the report says.
Aggregate costs for bank small-dollar loans are estimated at $5.8 billion in 2024.
Earned wage access solutions offered one of the lowest average borrowing costs this past year at 13%. However, fees can rise to 26% due to optional tipping and transaction charges.
Aggregate borrowing costs for payroll advances increased to $3.8 billion in 2024, up from $3.2 billion in 2023.
Peer-to-peer loans, or P2P loans, like those offered by SoLo, remained the most affordable option regarding aggregate borrowing costs. They totaled just $1 billion in 2024, down from $1.3 billion in 2023.
Borrowing can be free for disciplined users who pay on time, but average costs due to tips and late fees can reach up to 17%.
“Being cash-poor is a way of life for most Americans,” said Rodney Williams, president and co-founder of SoLo, who says this way of life creates vulnerability in managing variable and unplanned expenses.
“The vulnerability is not the time for a lack of options but rather an opportunity for innovation and competition. We want Congress and regulators to embrace innovation and allow more convenient and accessible frameworks given the same playing field as traditional financial institutions,” he adds.
Millions of TikTok ‘Refugees’ Are Moving Over To The Chinese App ‘RedNote’
The actual name of the Chinese-owned app is Xiaohongshu, which translates to Little Red Book in English. Americans have shortened it to RedNote.
As the ban on TikTok looms, creators have been scrambling to find an alternative. Many are finding a new home in RedNote. The actual name of the Chinese-owned app is Xiaohongshu, which translates to Little Red Book in English. Americans have shortened it to RedNote.
According to CNN, the app has been under the radar of Americans since it was created in 2012. However, it now ranks number one in the App Store. Lemon8, another Chinese social media app owned by TikTok’s owner ByteDance, ranks number two.
The app is one of China’s largest social media platforms with over 300 million users, CNN reported. It has been used as an Instagram alternative in China, where users share lifestyle tips, including travel, makeup, and fashion.
Americans are gravitating to the app as TikTok faces a shutdown if it fails to find a buyer. One reason why content creators are using it is an act of defiance over the U.S. leader’s controversial decision to control what many perceive as an assault on their First Amendment rights when they decided to ban TikTok.
“It was a bit of a spite thing. I also wanted to be one of the first people over there,” Christina Shuler, owner of Glam Farmhouse, told Time. “Hopefully I can be part of the crowd that maybe can change how our government views this whole situation.”
Chinese Users Welcoming ‘TikTok Refugees’ To RedNote
As more people migrate to RedNote, Chinese users are welcoming Americans who are finding a new home for the social media platform. Some users have reportedly gone the extra mile to help what they call “TikTok refugees” navigate the app.
Interestingly enough, while Xiaohongshu was not created for English speakers, TikTok is banned in China and inaccessible. Like other U.S. social media platforms banned, such as Facebook and YouTube, China has made a TikTok sister app, Douyin, that people use.
As more people migrate to RedNote, Chinese users are welcoming Americans who are finding a new home for the social media platform. Some users have reportedly gone the extra mile to help what they call “TikTok refugees” navigate the app.
Last year, Congress passed a bill that forces ByteDance to either sell TikTok by Jan. 19 or face a ban in the U.S. TikTok has since taken the argument that this bill violates freedom of speech to the Supreme Court. Still, the high court expressed skepticism about the company’s legal arguments.
ByteDance has doubled down on its position of not selling, which means the ban will likely go into effect Sunday.
Former Mayor Sharelle Scales-Preston Becomes First Black Women On Board Of Supervisors In Contra Costa County
Shanelle Scales-Preston made history after being elected to the board in November.
Shanelle Scales-Preston, former mayor of Pittsburg, California, now serves as the first Black women on the Board of Supervisors in Contra Costa County.
CBS Newsconfirmed Scales-Preston took the oath of office on Jan. 14 to lead District 5 after winning the November election. She replaced her now-retired predecessor, Federal Glover, for the position. Her district also encompasses parts of the East Bay Area, including Alhambra Valley, north Concord, as well as surrounding neighborhoods.
Scales-Preston released a statement on her historic appointment, noting it as an opportunity for “building bridges” for their constituents. Scales-Preston also became the second person of color elected to the board.
“This moment is about building bridges — bridges to equity, community safety, economic opportunity, and a brighter future for all,” Scales-Preston said in a statement.
“Together, we will strive to ensure that every voice is heard, every neighborhood thrives, and every family has the opportunity to succeed.”
According to her profile on Contra Costa’s website, Scales-Preston is a dedicated and seasoned civil servant. Previously, she won the election to the Pittsburg City Council, starting the role in 2018 before becoming the city’s mayor in 2023. Since these experiences, she has championed equitable programs to benefit residents of all backgrounds.
Her passions lie in youth programs and the improvement of city services in California. Growing up in Pittsburg, she found inspiration from her union family, also comprising of two factory-working parents.
Through her upbringing, she witnessed the importance and advocacy of civic involvement for a community’s progress. Scales-Preston hopes to lend these experiences in her latest work for the people across multiple parts of Contra Costa County.
Scales-Preston continues living in her hometown with her husband and two sons. The mother still plays an active role in the local community thorough the Pittsburg Reads initiative. Furthermore, she holds the position as chair of the board for Marin Clean Energy (MCE), a local electricity provider.
As she sparks a new wave of diversity for Contra Costa’s leadership, Scales-Preston’s mission remains grounded in helping all residents through bureaucratic challenges.
On Black Leadership: A Conversation With Kim Taylor-Thompson On Carving Her Own Path
Kim Taylor-Thompson is a Black women in Leadership
By Candice C. Jones
This column is for Black women in leadership because very little in the public dialogue reflects that experience. We must find and cultivate relationships with people whose methods, manner, and success we want to emulate. Kim Taylor-Thompson is one of those people for me.
She went from Riverton Houses in Harlem — the child of the great jazz and Civil Rights legend Billy Taylor — to Yale Law School. She was the first tenure-tracked Black woman at Stanford. She ran the D.C. Public Defender Service, taught leadership strategy to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies, and moderates the occasional Socratic dialogue.
I recently had the privilege to reflect on Black women’s leadership with Kim. She spoke about finding her path, the culture shock of stepping into white institutions, and the importance of restorative spaces. We also happened to connect shortly after the election, which made the discussion of Black women’s leadership all the more timely.
HOW BLACK WOMEN ARE PERCEIVED
Candice C. Jones: We are in a moment in history where the leadership of Black women is part of our national discourse. What is that bringing up for you?
Kim Taylor-Thompson: If we learned anything from the election, it is that this country essentially dismisses the voices of Black women. There are things to be learned from that. We have to stop ceding our voice to others, be clear about who we are, and not drift toward the center. There’s a real need to disrupt and transform. The more we avoid that, the more likely it is our voices will be dismissed, the issues we care about will be lost and people will suffer.
FINDING A PATH
You are a pioneer in justice reform. Your family background is more music royalty than law. What led you to law?
I had no musical talent! What I did have was an example from my dad. He used his music in ways that were rebellious and empowering. He considered jazz a uniquely Black American gift to the world. He wanted people to hear it, see it, and embrace it for free. His goal was to be in and of the Black community — to help it channel its pain, its pride, its passion — and to understand its history through music.
I had to find another way to do that. Growing up, I’d watched folks who looked like me get in trouble. They would turn to somebody who didn’t look like them or understand their life experience. I thought they deserved to have someone representing them who had a wealth of education and experience, coupled with an intimate understanding of what it’s like to be in their communities.
CULTURE SHOCK
You went from Harlem to Yale, Yale to D.C.,and then teaching law at Stanford. Were there culture shocks along the way?
Culture shocks were everywhere. While I was in Harlem, my parents took me out of a school that was predominantly Black and put me into a school downtown where I was the third Black student to attend. I was in third grade and felt like a specimen. It was alienating. I learned to come home to the comfort and warmth of my parents to help me navigate that. They taught me at an early age that you need to remember to be yourself, even in those settings.
THE NEED FOR RESTORATIVE SPACE
I hear a theme of finding spaces where you could be your authentic self.
You don’t make it through living in a country where you’re marginalized withoutrestoring yourself by one—being reminded that you are not crazy and two—learning that there are people who have your back no matter what.
Whatever hits you take in the world — your friends, family, and community will remind you that you have this strength, beauty, power, and voice that cannot be taken away from you. You cannot function without a core group of people reminding you who you are in those moments when you forget.
LEADERSHIP STYLE
How would you describe your leadership “style”?
I think my leadership style is inclusive.I’ve been in situations where folks who looked like me were not invited to the table, or if they were, they were silenced. I want to get different perspectives, because that allows you to check your judgment, come up with better alternatives, and to see around corners. Other people’s perspectives extend your vision.
INSPIRATION
Who inspired you as a leader?
I wasn’t exposed to a lot of women leaders or Black women leaders early on. Leadership books didn’t exist, so I went to Malcom X, George Jackson, Claude McKay, Dee Brown, W.E.B. DuBois, folks that helped me understand how to have a voice in a culture looking to silence it. They helped me realize I had a place, and I had perspective that was important.
MENTORS
I’ve been lucky to have you as a mentor. Who mentored you?
Charles Ogletree was this amazing strategic thinker — always rooted in Black communities, in how we use our voice and how we understand our history. Most people would describe him as smart, talented, and really nice, but if you did something harmful to communities he cared about, he was also a devastating opponent. I watched that and said, “OK, it doesn’t have to be loud, but it can be decisive, and this is a line you do not cross.”
Randolph Stone pushed me into the leadership role of [D.C.] public defender. I didn’t want it, but he helped me see how my experience with individual clients could inform policy in ways people weren’t allowing it to be informed.
Jerry Lopez recruited me to Stanford. There were so few people of color on the faculty. I watched him in faculty meetings take on the angry-person-of-color role. He said, “Yeah, I’m doing that for you. You can’t hold that role, as much as you want to. You’re not tenured. It will hurt you, so let me take the blows.” Jerry taught me thatas leaders, we’re sometimes the ones who have to take the arrows so others can develop and get themselves established.
BOUNDARIES
There’s a lot of debate about what you have to tolerate as a leader.
At Stanford, I was the first woman of color on the tenure track, and the students of color wanted me to talk about why it was important for the institution to be desegregated.
I got pulled aside by a white woman who said she didn’t like the way I criticized Stanford in public. She said, “That’s not the way we do things.” I said, “I’m not going to change who I am just because I’m here.” She thought she could school me. You have to check that.
ADVICE FOR EMERGING LEADERS
What advice would you give to an emerging leader who is working to find her footing?
Surround yourself with people who can be a sounding board and help you hone your thinking. Make sure you have people working with you who have your back, who give you candid feedback on what you’re doing and what’s going on around you. Remember who you are. There’s something unique about your voice and your perspective, and something critical about your way of moving issues forward.
ON HOPE
What’s giving you hope right now?
You—also, family and other young leaders who are saying, “I’m not just going to sit here and let this plan unfold that hurts my communities.” There are enough people who are angry, particularly Black women, that we might see some changes. So that gives me hope.
Candice C. Jones joined the Public Welfare Foundation in Washington, D.C., as its president and CEO in 2017. Previously, she served as Senior Advisor at Chicago CRED, an organization that focuses on gun violence in Chicago.
Candice received her J.D. from New York University School of Law. To learn more aboutCandice’s background and work, find her on LinkedIn.
