The Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which would make lynching a federal hate crime, is now headed to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law, The New York Times reports. The bill’s passage ends more than a century of futility with previous efforts to explicitly criminalize lynching, a persistent symbol of America’s racial violence. Once the bill, named for the 14-year-old Black child tortured and murdered in Mississippi in 1955, is signed into law, lynching will be a crime punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The bill passed the House in February, with only three legislators opposing. The bill, sponsored by Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL), passed the House in February, with only three legislators opposing.
National News
COMMENTARY: We Need Some New Farmers!
Quit Playin’
By Vincent L. Hall, Texas Metro News, iMessenger Media
Black History comes in chapters, but the best of it is unwritten and cultural. It has always been how we do, what we do, when forced to do it that makes the Black experience unique.
Long sentence, but you get the message!
During and before the “Modern Age,” we as a people had a footprint in two worlds. One was urban; the other was rural or agricultural. The Modern Age ushered in technological innovations, scientific discoveries, and the like. Opportunities in the city drew us from the farm.
One advantage of having a presence in two worlds was that our children were exposed to the best of everything. “Student or Foreign Exchange” programs were prevalent among privileged children, but we had our own low-budget exchange program.
We called it “Going to the country for the summer,” and it worked. That transfer program also worked for rural kids who got a chance to go to the city. The unofficial Black Exchange Program made us better. Much better.
This idea came to mind lately when I talked to a friend, Deacon Charles Johnson. He hipped me to some history I was clueless about. He told me that he had been a member of the New Farmers of America. The Indiana University Library records lend an enlightening synopsis.
“The New Farmers of America (NFA) began as a national organization for African-American farm youth in 1935 to promote agricultural leadership, character, thrift, scholarship, cooperation, and citizenship. This organization served its members for 30 years providing experience in leadership and education in the agricultural field.
Programs and contests designed for the organization awarded youth for achievement within the NFA and their community. In 1965 the NFA merged with the National FFA Organization. At the time of the merger, the NFA consisted of 1,004 chapters in 12 states and over 50,000 members.”
According to the Communities of Practice website.
“George Washington Owens, a professor at Virginia State College, and H. O. Sargent, Federal Agent for Special Populations (Negro, Hispanic, Native- Americans) provided the leadership for establishing the NFA. Owens was Black, and Sargent was white.
Owens was the first Black person to graduate from Kansas State University. His personal and professional papers are in the KSU library archives. Sargent was a graduate of Auburn University. He was killed in a car accident in 1936 in Louisiana.”
Interestingly enough, instead of sporting the cross-section of an ear of corn, like the FFA badge, the NFA used the outline of a cotton boll. Their colors were black and gold with NFA on the emblem. Although picking cotton is now seen as a duty of drudgery and discrimination, the NFA held it out as an aegis of pride.
This newfound nugget bolstered an idea that came to me 20 years ago. We need an active and viable program that encourages the exchange of 10-15-year olds and swaps the city life for the “country life” for at least a few weeks each year.
It irks me that too many children in this community have an outlook on life limited to a five square mile area near their residence. We could reduce crime and a lot of depression by broadening horizons.
Yes, lots of our kids have not been diagnosed but live with depression.
Caring for farm animals, planting crops, and learning to appreciate creation would help immeasurably. Likewise, touching diversity, visiting recreational venues, and being exposed to urban realities would help the small-town kid.
You can’t be on social media all day, dreaming about life, when you got chores and fishing to do. And nowadays, no one depends on technology as much as farmers. Rural residents learn to become their own veterinarians and mechanics. They do their own plumbing, masonry and electricity, and so much more.
The Black Exchange system I want to see would expand our knowledge base. The more we know about people, places, and possibilities, the more we enhance our outlooks, opinions, and opportunities.
We used to have a natural exchange system in place, but we have lost our sense of community, strong family ties, and a sense of adventurism.
We gotta get back to our cotton-picking minds. Recreate the New Farmers of America culture or join the FFA!
#savethechildren #blackculture
Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and an award-winning columnist.
Milwaukee County Has the 8th Highest Gun-Related Death Rate in the U.S.
Over the past few years, the U.S. has seen sharply increasing levels of violent crime. After two decades of decreases beginning in the mid-1990s, incidents have begun to rise again. Within the last two years, the trend has become especially pronounced. FBI data recently showed a 5.6% increase in violent crime from 2019 to 2020, even as rates of property crime continued to decline. In the same year, the murder rate rose by around 30%, one of the largest year-over-year increases on record.
Guns are closely tied to this trend in the U.S. The U.S. has the highest rate of civilian gun ownership of any country, and researchers have found the prevalence of guns to be associated with greater amounts of violent crime and gun deaths generally. Given these dynamics, it is unsurprising to see that gun-related deaths have spiked in recent years during the broader increase in violent crime.
Recent data from the CDC reveals how this trend has played out. In 2014, there were only 3.5 gun-related homicides per 100,000 population. By 2016, that figure increased to 4.6, and in 2020, it jumped to 6.2. Separately, gun-related suicides have also increased in recent years—from a low of 5.5 per 100,000 population in 2006 to 7.0 in 2020—but this increase has been more gradual.
In total, 45,221 deaths in 2020 were gun-related, which is a 14% increase over the prior year and a 43% increase over a decade before. These gun-related deaths constitute a majority of both homicides and suicides. Over the past three years, more than three in four U.S. homicides (76.4%) involved a gun, while more than half of suicides (51.2%) were gun-related.
While the overall growth of gun-related deaths is a nationwide issue, some locations are more affected than others. Many of the states with the highest rates of gun-related deaths are states that also have the highest rates of gun ownership. These states include locations in the South and Mountain West, along with Alaska. Mississippi leads the nation in gun-related fatalities per 100,000 residents at 28.6, followed by neighboring Louisiana at 26.3 and Wyoming at 25.9. At the other end of the spectrum, Hawaii has the lowest rate of gun-related fatalities at 3.4 per 100,000 residents, followed by a group of Northeastern states including Massachusetts (3.7) and New Jersey (5.0). However, gun ownership is not a perfect predictor of gun deaths: for example, states like New Hampshire and Maine have relatively high levels of gun prevalence, but are also in the bottom 10 states for gun deaths per capita.
Gun-related deaths are also unevenly distributed at the local level. While some of the Southern and Western states with higher levels of gun fatalities do have counties with similarly high levels of gun deaths, many of the top counties are found in Rust Belt locations like Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Detroit. These more economically distressed locations may have greater levels of gun violence due to the relationship between factors like social mobility and income inequality and gun deaths.
The data used in this analysis is from the CDC’s WONDER Database. To identify the locations with the most gun deaths, researchers at BackgroundChecks.org calculated the rates of gun-related deaths per 100,000 residents in 2020. In the event of a tie, the location with the greater total number of gun-related deaths in 2020 was ranked higher. To provide additional context, researchers also calculated the proportion of all homicides and suicides that involve a gun, using data from 2018–2020.
The analysis found that there were 25.6 gun-related deaths for every 100,000 Milwaukee County residents in 2020. Among all large U.S. counties, Milwaukee County has the 8th highest gun-related death rate. Here is a summary of the data for Milwaukee County, WI:
- Total gun-related deaths per 100k: 25.6
- Total gun-related deaths: 242
- Change in gun-related deaths since 2019: +69.2%
- Gun-related homicides as a share of total homicides: 82.3%
- Gun-related suicides as a share of total suicides: 42.3%
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
- Total gun-related deaths per 100k: 13.6
- Total gun-related deaths: 45,221
- Change in gun-related deaths since 2019: +13.9%
- Gun-related homicides as a share of total homicides: 76.4%
- Gun-related suicides as a share of total suicides: 51.2%
For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on BackgroundChecks.org’s website: https://backgroundchecks.org/
AAA Survey: Rising Gas Prices Are Forcing Some Wisconsinites To Change Their Driving Behavior
AAA is providing fuel-saving tips as it appears the pain at the pump is about to intensify. View daily prices at GasPrices.AAA.com
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine caused oil prices to surge above $110 a barrel for the first time in a decade. Oil is now $19/b more than Friday’s settlement. An increase of that magnitude could signal a 40-50 cent jump at the pump.
“The Russia-Ukraine conflict has intensified what was already a global oil market that was tight on supplies,” said Nick Jarmusz, director of public affairs for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Sanctions and regulations have effectively removed Russian oil from the market. Prices accelerated Wednesday, when OPEC and its allies announced that they would not ramp up production beyond the modest increases previously planned.”
A new AAA survey shows that the pain at the pump has already reached a point where some drivers are beginning to adjust their driving habits.
Today’s average price for gasoline in Wisconsin is $3.45 per gallon. According to AAA’s survey, that’s within the price range that 39% of drivers in the state would change their driving behaviors. Twenty percent said they would not change their driving behaviors regardless of the price.
Gasoline Price-Points that would Cause Wisconsinites to Change Driving Behaviors
(Driving less, consolidating errands, carpooling, etc.) |
|
Under $2.50 |
10% |
$2.50 – under $2.75 |
5% |
$2.75 – under $3.00 |
5% |
$3.00 – under $3.25 |
8% |
$3.25 – under $3.50 |
11% |
|
Top Changes Wisconsinites Have Made Because of Gas Prices:
- 36% are driving less often
- 24% combined trips
- 21% are driving shorter distances
- 21% participate in fuel rewards programs
“While drivers can’t control the price they see at the pump, there are some simple ways to get the most for your money when you fill-up,” Jarmusz said. “First, ensure your vehicle is properly maintained, so you get optimal fuel economy. Then enroll in AAA’s Fuel Rewards program, which can save drivers 30 cents per gallon on their first fill-up and 5 cents per gallon on each additional fill-up.”
Money-Saving Tips for Drivers
- Shop around for gas prices. Drivers can check area gas prices on the AAA Mobile App.
- Consider paying in cash vs. credit card. Some retailers charge extra per gallon for customers who pay with a credit card.
- Enroll in savings programs. AAA Members who enroll in Shell’s Fuel Rewards program can save 30 cents per gallon on their first fill-up and 5 cents per gallon on each additional fill-up. Click here for more information.
Fuel-Saving Tips for Drivers
- Maintain your vehicle to ensure optimal fuel economy. Find a trusted automotive facility at AAA.com/AutoRepair.
- Combine errands to limit driving time.
- Slow down. Fuel economy diminishes significantly at highway speeds above 50 mph.
- Drive conservatively and avoid aggressive driving. Aggressive acceleration and speeding reduces fuel economy.
About the AAA Consumer Pulse Survey
The AAA Consumer Pulse™ Survey was conducted online among residents living in Wisconsin from January 26 – 31, 2022. A total of 400 residents completed the survey. Survey results asked of all respondents have a maximum margin of error of ± 4.9% points. Responses are weighted by age and gender to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the adult population (18+) in Wisconsin.
# # #
About AAA – The Auto Club Group
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America with more than 13 million members across 14 U.S. states, the province of Quebec and two U.S. territories. ACG and its affiliates provide members with roadside assistance, insurance products, banking and financial services, travel offerings and more. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 62 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA’s mission is to protect and advance freedom of mobility and improve traffic safety. For more information, get the AAA Mobile app, visit AAA.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
“Ashamed”: Newspapers Apologize for Decades of Negative Coverage on Black Communities
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor
In a stark reminder of the importance of the Black Press established in the U.S. in 1827 by Sam Cornish and John Russwurm, American papers are beginning to analyze their coverage of African Americans.
In at least two instances that historical analysis by the newspapers themselves has been followed by an apology. The papers in the predominantly Black cities of Baltimore, Philadelphia and Kansas City studied and confronted decades of negative news coverage on Black communities.
The efforts also highlight the lack of diversity that continues to persist even in newsrooms in cities with large Black populations.
The Kansas City Star, established in 1880, issued an apology to their readership for what they admitted was consistently negative coverage of the local Black community.
The Star’s apology, published in Dec. 2020, entitled The Truth in Black and White; An Apology From the KC Star, stated, “Our reporters searched court documents, archival collections, congressional testimony, minutes of meetings and digital databases… Reporters were frequently sickened by what they found — decades of coverage that depicted Black Kansas Citians as criminals living in a crime-laden world. They felt shame at what was missing: the achievements, aspirations and milestones of an entire population routinely overlooked, as if Black people were invisible.”
The Star went on to verify that Black news in the community was consistently underplayed and ignored. Their apology, which arrived months after the May 25, 2020 murder of George Floyd, was part of the effort around the country resulting from Floyd’s death that galvanized discussions on race in America.
On February 18 of this year, the Baltimore Sun did the same as the Kansas City Star.
“The Baltimore Sun frequently employed prejudice as a tool of the times. It fed the fear and anxiety of white readers with stereotypes and caricatures that reinforced their erroneous beliefs about Black Americans. Through its news coverage and editorial opinions, The Sun sharpened, preserved and furthered the structural racism that still subjugates Black Marylanders in our communities today,” the Sun editorial board bluntly stated.
“African Americans systematically have been denied equal opportunity and access in every sector of life — including health care, employment, education, housing, personal wealth, the justice system and civic participation. They have been refused the freedom to simply be, without the weight of oppression on their backs,” the Baltimore Sun editorial Board continued, adding that they were “ashamed” of past coverage of the Black Community.
The Philadelphia Inquirer published an article by Wesley Lowery analyzing the Philadelphia Inquirer’s history on race and the newsroom’s lack of diversity.
“Mentions of Black Philadelphia appeared in the white papers primarily through the lens of crime. To read The Inquirer then would leave one wondering if Black people ever were born, ever died, if they lived lives in between — or if they simply sprouted, fully grown, in the city streets to call for civil rights, seek elected office, and commit various criminal infractions,” Lowery, a former reporter for The Washington Post who is now with CBS, wrote.
“The paper, of course, is not alone in its history. Its story is that of the modern American newspaper: The last half-century began with begrudging efforts at racial integration of both staff and coverage sparked by public pressure and protests; the decades to follow saw expanded efforts to recruit minority journalists before the industry cratered and many of those non-white journalists were the first to be shown the door,” Lowery continued.
The recent analysis by large papers in predominantly Black cities is likely to continue. The articles highlight the importance of historic curation, community image and news narrative and the impact it has on historically marginalized communities.
Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered. She may be contacted at [email protected] and on twitter at @LVBurke
Tarrant County student wins NAACP Image Award
Youth advocate to be recognized for sit-in on Howard campus
By Rebecca Aguilar, Texas Metro News
When Channing Hill graduates from Howard University in 2023, she knows she will leave the campus a better place for future students.
Hill, along with three other coeds, led #BlackburnTakeover, a 34-day sit-in in which more than 100 Howard students occupied the Washington, D.C. campus’ Blackburn University Center from Oct. 12 through Nov. 14, 2021.
The students complained that Howard’s dorms were unlivable, infested with rodents, prone to repeat flooding and were past due for remediation of mold.
During the protest, dozens of students abandoned their dorm rooms and camped outside in tents on the grounds of the Blackburn Center.
Channing said the students’ protest was born of necessity. “Protests have a role and create change,” said Channing, 20, who is president of Howard’s NAACP student chapter. “Protests serve as something that shine a light in the dark; but to keep that light on, you have to continue the work.”
Channing’s work with the protest is being recognized later this month during the 53rdNAACP Image Awards, which will broadcast live at 6 p.m. Central time on BET.
She will be honored with the “Youth Activist of the Year” award.
The award recognizes all Howard University students who dared do something about their on-campus living conditions, Channing said.
“It is not just an award for me. This is an award for us. It’s our achievement, our sacrifice,” she said. “The 34 days that we went and struggled, and for all of us who took a failing grade last semester.”
“It’s humbling, inspiring and invigorating when your children can become your heroes,” he said. “I’m proud and thankful because I know the commitment she has to the cause and the work she put in.
“I’ve always admired Channing’s will and determination to fight for what she thinks is right and to speak her truth to power.”
The Howard University protest began last fall when a handful of students requested to meet with the university’s president, Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, regarding their concerns over mold growing in student dormitories.
The complaint was a decades-old one: Howard students had protested similar concerns in 2001 and again in 2017.
When Dr. Frederick agreed to meet with some campus leaders, whom protesters claimed he had hand-picked, but refused to meet with others, Hill and her peers staged the “Blackburn Takeover” sit-in, the longest student protest in Howard’s history.
The sit-in was a rallying call heard across the country and around the world: Daily updates on the sit-in went viral on social media under its own hashtag. The movement sparked similar protests for quality housing on other historically Black college and university campuses across the nation.
Meanwhile, national news media outlets covered the students’ concerns. Civil rights leaders visited the campus. Politicians on Capitol Hill joined the conversation. Rapper Gucci Mane declined to perform during Howard’s storied homecoming week, in solidarity with the protesting students.
Initially, it did not appear that university administrators would address the students’ concerns, Channing said.
“Jesse Jackson came and went. Cory Booker came and went. Elizabeth Warren tweeted; and the news cycle came and went,” said Channing, a junior who graduated from Euless’ Trinity High School. “Still, the school was stagnant.”
On Day 34 of the protest, however, the school’s administrators signed an agreement effectively meeting the students’ demands – and promising them they would not be expelled from school or otherwise disciplined for their organization and participation in the sit-in.
Still, Channing, said she is unsatisfied that housing problems continue to arise at Howard, despite the students’ protest. On the day she spoke with Texas Metro News, she said a Howard dorm flooded.
“Did we get everything we wanted? Absolutely not. Are we satisfied with what we got? Absolutely not,” Channing said. “Do we feel that students are safer in the immediate meantime? Yes.”
Valerie Fields Hill, is not surprised by her daughter’s tenacity and courage to speak out on issues she feels are unfair.
Her mother remembers Channing finding her voice as a child when she was often among the few Black girls in her classroom – and was bullied. “She became tired of having to explain herself,” her mother said. “She was tired of being called names.
According to her mother, by the time Channing reached high school, she had found her purpose. “By then, she had well developed a strong sense of advocacy.”
Channing said she gained strength and determination from her mother, and she hopes to have the same inner peace someday.
“Even in really hard times, she has this unyielding faith that it will be okay,” Channing said. “I try to emulate that, but I have not mastered it.”
It was her father who she learned confidence from.
“My dad is the type of person that can talk to anybody. He walks into a room with confidence,” she said, adding that she got charisma from both her parents.
Channing plans to travel to Los Angeles to accept the NAACP Image Award later this month and she is glad her parents will be at her side.
When she accepts the award, she said she’ll make sure the world knows she and her peers are proud to be Howard students and for what they accomplished for future generations of coeds.
“This is us being recognized (and them) saying ‘You did a good job and you did the right thing’.”
After graduation, Channing plans to attend Howard University Law School. She wants to become a defense attorney for juvenile offenders.
AFRO Exclusive: Black Philanthropy Circle Launches in Baltimore, Announces Inaugural Grantmaking Cycle
By Special to the AFRO
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) is proud to announce the launch of the Black Philanthropy Circle. The Black Philanthropy Circle is a non-profit 501(c)3 donor-advised fund focused on charitable giving to nonprofits that directly support Black people and communities in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The Circle has begun its first grantmaking cycle and is accepting applications through Feb. 28, 2022.
Founded by a group of more than 30 Black business and civic leaders, the Black Philanthropy Circle was established to cultivate an inclusive philanthropic community, to build the capacity of Baltimore’s Black nonprofits, and to impact Greater Baltimore’s Black community at large. The Circle builds on a deep tradition of charitable giving in the Black community. According to a report from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, African Americans donate 25% more of their income per year than white Americans.
“Baltimore has a rich history of Black philanthropy by individual men and women. The power of the Black Philanthropy Circle is the pooling of our funds together to support Black-led nonprofits and those that impact the Black community,” said Alicia Wilson, Esq., co-founder of the Black Philanthropy Circle and vice president for economic development at the Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Health System.
Most of the founding members contributed $10,000 or more to launch the fund, which distinguishes the group from other giving circles where the typical starting contribution is around $2,500.
“The Black Philanthropy Circle is an undeniable example that Black success and wealth thrive in Baltimore,” said Shanaysha Sauls, president and CEO of the Baltimore Community Foundation. “We at BCF are proud to partner with this incredible community of changemakers, who are dedicating their time and collective resources to pave the way for a stronger, more equitable Baltimore.”
For its first grantmaking cycle, the Circle plans to award $25,000 grants to nonprofits that are Black-led or based in Black communities in the Greater Baltimore area. Grant decisions will be made by spring 2022.
The Circle will give priority to organizations with the following areas of focus:
- Arts & culture;
- Economic welfare (job placement, workforce training, etc.);
- Education, recreation and youth;
- Community organizing (non-political) and community service;
- Environment;
- Human services;
- Health and wellness
“Supporting organizations with such areas of focus will have a significant impact on the betterment of Black communities in the Baltimore metropolitan area,” said Savonne Ferguson, Esq., co-founder of the Black Philanthropy Circle and senior vice president, chief compliance officer (mutual funds) and associate general counsel at Neuberger Berman. “This support is critical to strengthening and moving Baltimore forward.”
More than $550,000 has already been raised in support of the Black Philanthropy Circle’s mission. The Circle plans to use its launch year to continue growing the fund and its membership base.
“The most thrilling part of the Black Philanthropy Circle is the sheer diversity within the group. It is a powerful convergence of an older generation of Black philanthropists with a new generation of Black philanthropists who desire to use their resources, power, and influence to positively impact a community that has given so much to them,” continued Wilson. “A significant segment of the Founding Black Philanthropy Circle members are in their late 30s and early 40s and are first generation, in a number of respects. Simply put, the Black Philanthropy Circle represents the greatest ideal of Black Baltimore — that we are better when we give, support, and care for one another.”
For more information about the Black Philanthropy Circle, visit bcf.org/fund/bpcirc/. For nonprofits interested in applying for a grant from the Black Philanthropy Circle, visit bcf.org/black-philanthropy-circle/.
About the Baltimore Community Foundation
For 50 years, the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) has connected people who are passionate about their city and purposeful in their philanthropy. BCF amplifies donors’ philanthropy with strategic grants, impact investments, special initiatives and advocacy to strengthen schools and neighborhoods. Visit http://www.bcf.org to discover meaningful giving, invest your funds wisely, and join a diverse community working for a better Baltimore.
Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member – subscribers are now members! Join here!
The post AFRO Exclusive: Black Philanthropy Circle Launches in Baltimore, Announces Inaugural Grantmaking Cycle appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .
OP-ED: Black History — Critical and Factual, Not Theory
By Congressman James E. Clyburn (D-SC), House Majority Whip
Focus on the history-making contributions of Blacks in America began when Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History successfully lobbied for the creation of Negro History Week in 1926. They chose a week in February that could embrace the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Civil Rights activities on colleges campuses in the 1960s agitated for expanding the week to the entire month of February. President Gerald Ford formalized Black History Month in 1976, and every President since has followed suit.
Black history has taken on new meaning in this polarized political era. Education Weekreports that since January 2021, 14 Republican-led states (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho) have imposed bans or restrictions on teaching about racial issues, and similar legislation is currently pending in another 23 states. These states claim to be protecting primary and secondary school students from being taught critical race theory or “things that make white children uncomfortable.”
Theory is part of the higher education experience; not the K-12 curriculum. While no one will deny the significant accomplishments of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Harriett Tubman to our nation’s history; telling their stories has nothing to do with “critical race theory.” Their contributions and those of many others, are some critical race facts that are missing from most of our textbooks and many of our discussions.
For example, I often tell the story of Thomas Edison and Lewis Latimer. Thomas Edison’s invention of the incandescent light bulb is found in all our history books, and we are all comfortable with his story. What is not found in all our history books is the critical fact that he could not keep his bulb from overheating and burning out. It was not until Edison collaborated with Lewis Latimer, the son of escaped slaves, that he got his bulb to work. Latimer had invented a long-lasting, carbon filament. The fact that it was Latimer’s invention that made the light bulb functional, seems to be uncomfortable for some to read in our history books.
There are many other similar facts. Thomas Savery, a white man, is known as the inventor of the steam engine; one of the most important inventions during the Industrial Revolution. However, the steam engine was very inefficient because it had to be constantly shut down for lubrication, a very dangerous and time-consuming task. A critical and not very well-known fact is that Elijah McCoy, also the son of escaped slaves, invented an automatic oil cup, which allowed engines to be lubricated mechanically while continuing to run. His invention saved the limbs of many “oilers” and created a more efficient and cost-effective means of keeping steam trains running. It is reported in many places that Elijah McCoy’s genius as an inventor is what gave rise to the very well used question that everybody seems comfortable using; “Is that a real McCoy?”
John Haldane, a Scottish inventor is often credited with having invented the gas mask during World War I, which began in 1914 and ended in 1918. The fact is Garrett Morgan, a Black man, invented the earliest gas mask after the 1911 New York Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire that killed 146 garment workers. Morgan patented his “breathing hood” in 1914, and he and his brother used the gas mask invention in 1916 to successfully rescue workers trapped by an explosion in sewer tunnels in Morgan’s hometown of Cleveland. However, due to their race, white men were credited with the rescue.
Morgan also met resistance when trying to sell the gas masks. He hired a white actor to pose as the inventor, while he disguised himself by wearing the hood during presentations. Despite these challenges, Morgan went on to invent the three-position traffic light and sold the patent to General Electric for $40,000.
What all these inventors have in common is that these critical facts about Black Americans have been overlooked and forgotten by history. In fact, when the Lemelson-MIT Invention Index was released in 2012, of the 1,000 young people between 16 and 25 were asked who was the greatest inventor of all time, 52 percent said Thomas Edison. There were no Black inventors on the list, which illustrates how we are failing our students by perpetrating false equivalences like critical race theory verses critical race facts.
This Black History Month, we must raise our voices and fight against the false, politically motivated, narrative about schools teaching critical race theory. Our history is what it is and no amount of whitewashing or book banning will change it. But with enlightened leadership, we can learn its lessons.
Dr. Woodson wrote of his Negro History Week creation that, “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”
There are so many African Americans in all walks of life who have been trailblazers. If we don’t tell their stories and teach future generations of their contributions, our history is erased. And that is a critical fact.
PRESS ROOM: Louisville Tees Up 2023 African American Golf Event
Show organizers courted by local Black Tourism Advisory Council, Louisville Tourism and Louisville Sports Commission
Louisville, KY – As Louisville continues to play on the national sports stage, the city recently scored an ace by winning the opportunity to host the African American Golf Expo & Forum (AAGEF) slated for August 25-30, 2023. Louisville will be just the third city to host an estimated 1,000 attendees coming in for the week-long event featuring a golf scramble, golf education sessions, networking events and professional job opportunities in the golf industry – all while exploring Louisville’s destination highlights.
The primary goal of this expo and forum is to cultivate an interest in golf as a sport, along with bringing industry networking, golf business and career opportunities to the typically underserved African American demographic. The show will feature youth clinics, golf exhibits and an expo tradeshow with educational sessions about the sport and business opportunities for African Americans and minority businesses to gain exposure in the $84 billion dollar industry. A key component of the tradeshow will be workforce development through educational sessions and networking focusing on jobs and internships in the golf industry ranging from golf course oversight and turf management to business and marketing opportunities in a career field that’s historically been inaccessible for much of the African American population.
Louisville was awarded this hosting opportunity through the persistence of the Black Tourism Advisory Council (BTAC) member R. Shawn Summerville, Louisville Tourism and the Louisville Sports Commission. Summerville serves on the council and has a leadership role with the local African American Amateur Golfers’ Association (3AGA) – which strives to be a leader in the amateur golf experiences while introducing Louisville’s underserved communities to the industry of golf with the mission of ‘Building Bridges One Round at a Time.’
BTAC was formed in 2020 and is headed by Louisville Tourism President & CEO Cleo Battle to drive intentional inclusivity in the hospitality industry by identifying areas for improvement to attract a diverse mix of convention groups and leisure travelers to the city.
“In November 2020, representatives from 3AGA reached out to us to discuss the opportunity for Louisville to host the AAGEF,” said Louisville Sports Commission President & CEO Karl F. Schmitt Jr. “Working with our partners, it is rewarding to see how quickly we were able to successfully secure this event for Louisville.”
Additionally, Louisville’s hosting bid was aided by multiple community partners whose assistance and pledge of support all factored into expo organizer James Beatty, president of Jim Beatty Golf Ventures’ (JBGV) decision to award the AAGEF to Louisville.
“I have been involved in many site selections and community projects nationally in my career. The persistence, leadership and intentionality of the groups involved in this recruitment process is unparalleled,” said Beatty. “The group was so persuasive that I am adding an additional day for tours to take advantage of the historical, cultural and community assets of Louisville. I will be working closely with all parties to ensure maximum local and national exposure,” he said.
Summerville added, “I am honored to be a part of forward-thinking organizations like the BTAC, JBGV and the 3AGA. We are excited to diversify Louisville’s economy and encourage community renewal and reinvestment. This is more than a golf exhibition – it’s a robust strategy to intentionally expose and empower minority businesses socially and economically to a sports environment that they may not connect with otherwise. Likewise, visitors and world travelers will come to know the true essence of humility and perseverance that resides in the home of The Greatest, Muhammad Ali.”
Said Battle, “we are eagerly anticipating the arrival of AAGEF and plan to take every opportunity to showcase the best our city has to offer, giving these guests many reasons to return to Louisville. Not only does this event represent a financial economic impact to Louisville, but it also gives us a platform from which to inspire African American travel to our city as we strive to increase annual visitation by Black travelers beyond the current 11% annually. Creating and identifying this type of tourism opportunity is one of the primary reasons BTAC was formed and winning this competitive bid shows we’re on the right track with our diversified and intentional outreach to court minority-focused groups and events.”
Additionally, event organizers anticipate partnering with local community organizations with a pledge by Jim Beatty Golf Ventures that 25% of funds raised in Louisville will be reinvested in the community. The AAGEF is open to the public and information on the 2022 event will be posted on https://aagolfexpo.com with additional updates on the 2023 event coming soon.
Since 1968, Louisville Tourism’s primary goal has been to enhance the area’s economy through tourism development – to promote and sell Louisville as a world-class destination. Prior to the pandemic, Tourism was the third largest industry in Louisville hosting 19 million visitors in 2019. This peak of visitation had been generating an estimated economic impact of $3.4 billion which supported 70,000 local tourism-related jobs.
Unsolved Deaths of Two Black Women, Two Bridgeport Police Detectives Placed on Leave
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Correspondent
Two Bridgeport, Connecticut, police detectives are now on administrative leave after public attention that spurred attention from the media and brought scrutiny surrounding the deaths of two Black women.
The two Black women, Brenda Lee Rawls, 53, and Lauren Smith-Fields, 23, died on the same day: Dec. 12, 2021, in separate incidents. The Chief Medical Examiner in Bridgeport has not determined a cause of death for Rawls. Rawls was close to her family by text and by phone and informed them she was to visit a male acquaintance. When she was non-responsive two days later the family became concerned.
Lauren Smith-Fields, was in contact with a man she met on the dating app Bumble. Smith-Fields was found dead in her apartment after that date. That man, who is 37 and white, called 911 on Dec. 12 but it’s unclear if police contacted him for questioning in Smith-Fields’ death.
The medical examiner said on January 31 that Smith-Fields’ death was an accident related to “acute intoxication.”
An attorney for Smith-Fields’ family, Darnell Crosland, has indicated that the family intends to sue the city of Bridgeport over what he described as the police department’s “racially insensitive” handling of Smith-Fields’ case.
In reaction to growing criticism of the lack of investigation on the part of police, Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim extended condolences to the families of Smith-Fields and Rawls in a statement on January 30.
Ganim also said he was planning to work with the police chief to “make appropriate changes here in Bridgeport now for our department’s policies and practices regarding notifying family members of a death.”
The news of the two police detectives being placed on administrative laeve gives an indication that the cases of Rawls and Smith-Fields will receive more attention and scrutiny.
Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and the host of the podcast BURKEFILE. She is a political analyst who appears regularly on #RolandMartinUnfiltered. She may be contacted at [email protected] and on twitter at @LVBurke