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The Murray-Haley Family Reunion African American Heritage Tour

Maria

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Jun 23, 2023

The Murray-Haley Family Reunion African American Heritage Tour

By VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE

The highly anticipated and long awaited Murray-Haley Family Reunion has finally been planned for July 20th – July 23, 2023 in the Memphis, Henning and Ripley Tennessee areas! The planning of this event was initially discussed with the late William (Bill) Alexander Haley, Sr. in 2011 and was planned for the summer of 2013. He said it was time to have another family reunion because the last significant get-together was held when his father, Alexander (Alex) Murray Palmer Haley, was alive back in July of 1982.

Family members spanning across the United States have assembled a family reunion planning committee and are ready for this momentous occasion this summer! This will be one of the most significant Murray-Haley family reunions of the last four decades.

The itinerary was strategically planned to cover a wide array of activities focusing on the heritage of the Murray-Haley family and other historical sites in the area. We’re planning on visiting the following places:

Alex Haley Museum & Interpretive Center (Henning, TN)
Bethlehem Cemetery (Henning, TN)
West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center & Tina Turner Museum (Brownsville, TN)
Family Reunion Picnic at Ripley City Park (Ripley, TN)
Full Gospel Tabernacle Church – Reverend Al Green’s Church (Memphis, TN)

Alex Haley’s boyhood home, now the The Alex Haley Museum, is where the 1977 Pulitzer Prize-winning author lived with his grandparents (1921-1929). On the front porch, young Haley would listen to his relatives tell family stories.

Murray-Haley Family Outside of Alex Haley’s Boyhood Home (Henning, TN – 2022 )1

During long summer evenings, young Alex would sit engrossed at the tales of his ancestors, who were brought to America as slaves. This is where he learned about Kunta Kinte, Queen and Chicken George.

His imagination was stirred, and he never forgot what he heard. When Alex grew up, he used those stories to author the book we all know as “Roots: The Saga of an American Family” (1976). This book is what sparked the interest in people wanting to find their own family history around the world.

In 1977, the television adaptation titled “Roots” led to a cultural sensation in the United States, racking up over 40 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and 8 wins. It became one of the most watched TV mini series of all time.

The award winning series was followed up with “Roots: The Next Generation” (1979) and “Roots: The Gift” (1988), which was a Christmas movie special. ”Alex Haley’s Queen” (1993) was another mini series based on Alex’s family (his paternal grandmother). In 2016, the History channel created “Roots,” a remake of the original 1977 mini series with the same name.

Alex passed away on February 10th, 1992, but his legacy lives on. The Alex Haley Museum and Interpretive Center features a plethora of family memorabilia, artifacts, and more.

If there are any family and friends interested in sharing and participating in this momentous occasion, please contact The Murray-Haley Reunion Team/Committee at [email protected]

Black Biz Flea Market Juneteenth Celebration at Worldbeat Cultural Center

Maria

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Jun 23, 2023

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Black Biz Flea Market Juneteenth Celebration at Worldbeat Cultural Center

By Malachi Kudura, Contributing Writer

Sunday, June 18, 2023, Black Biz Flea Market hosted its Juneteenth Celebration at the Worldbeat Cultural Center in Balboa Park. The celebration had music, performers, giveaways, food vendors and plenty of Black businesses to shop with. There was poetry performed by Stormiee Weather and musical performances by Mayowa, Bobby Suave, Aijo and Brandon Wave.

Juneteenth is celebrated to commemorate the freedom of Black slaves in the United States. This holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

“I’ve been a creative ever since I can remember. I’m inspired by being able to express myself and explore different ways I can represent my people in my community,” said Kyanna, a creator and owner of Ki Ki’s Creation.

“It was very important for me to bring my family to this celebration. What better way to celebrate Father’s Day and Juneteenth at the same time? We can’t celebrate Juneteenth and not celebrate the Black family,” said an attendee there with his family.

“It is always a blessing to celebrate Black history and culture. With every opportunity, we must dance, sing, eat and celebrate our ancestor’s journey to freedom. Let’s start celebrating Black history, culture, community, and Black people every day,” stated Makeda Makosa, founder of Worldbeat Center.

After ‘Rapper’s Delight,’ hip-hop Went Global – Its Impact has been Massive; so too Efforts to Keep it Real

Maria

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Jun 23, 2023

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After ‘Rapper’s Delight,’ hip-hop Went Global – Its Impact has been Massive; so too Efforts to Keep it Real

By Eric Charry, Wesleyan University

Soon after the fall 1979 release of “Rapper’s Delight,” versions of the first commercially successful rap recording began cropping up around the world.

Two Portuguese-language versions, “Bons Tempos” and “Melô Do Tagarela,” were put out in Brazil. One version from Jamaica provided a relatively faithful recreation of the Sugarhill Gang original, while “Hotter Reggae Music” slowed down the track, transforming it into reggae. Other local language versions came from the Netherlands with “Hallo, Hallo, Hallo,” Venezuela with “La Cotorra Criolla” and Germany with “Rapper’s Deutsch.”

Within a few years, one could hear the song’s DNA being altered in disparate parts of the world, as in Japanese artists Yellow Magic Orchestra’s 1981 “Rap Phenomena,” Nigerian Dizzy K. Falola’s 1982 “Saturday Night Raps” and the French duo Chagrin d’amour’s 1982 “Chacun fait (c’qui lui plait).” Even Soviet Russia got into the act with Chas Pik’s “Rap” in 1984.

… and on and on

The rapid spread of “Rapper’s Delight” is an important milestone in hip-hop’s first 50 years. It marked the beginning of the globalization of rap music and the broader hip-hop culture in which it is embedded, which includes deejaying, break-dancing and graffiti-tagging.

More milestones in hip-hop’s global spread soon followed. In 1984 in France, “H.I.P.H.O.P.” hosted by DJ Sidney became the first nationally televised weekly show devoted to rap, preceding “Yo! MTV Raps” in the U.S. by some four years. In the early 1990s, a vibrant French rap scene produced the first internationally touring, platinum-selling rap star outside the U.S.: MC Solaar. France became – and remains – the second-biggest market for rap in the world.

Indeed, by 2000 the term “global hip-hop” had entered commercial and scholarly discourse. Soon, new styles partially informed by hip-hop emerged, like grime in London, which cultivated its own unique identity.

The catch

But the global expansion of hip-hop rides on a paradox. The Black American urban culture that birthed rap and hip-hop makes up its very fabric. But so does the core idea of representing one’s own experience and place. When hip-hop and rap travel abroad, does one or the other have to give?

To an ethnomusicologist like myself, this paradox goes right to the heart of identity and authenticity. How do people use, shape and transform cultural elements from elsewhere to make it speak to their own experience? And in the process, how do markers of authenticity become redefined?

Multitracking global hip-hop

With hip-hop, I believe it is helpful to imagine a wide spectrum of possible markers of authenticity – that is, what it means to stay “true” to the art form.

At one end lies the integration of Black American performance styles and fashion. Some efforts may border appropriation or mimicry.

At the other end lies hip-hop’s potential to inspire global rappers to dig deep into the well of local performance traditions. This could mean sampling music from their own countries or exploring the quirks and intricacies of their own languages and dialects.

Pioneering hip-hop scholar Halifu Osumare explored authenticity in her concept of “connective marginalities,” which established the blueprint for theorizing about global hip-hop. This key concept concerns “social resonances between Black expressive culture” on the one hand and similar dynamics in other nations and cultures on the other hand.

These connections or resonances can be tied to a shared culture among different parts of the African diaspora or through social class, historical oppression or the marginalization of youth.

Expanding this framework a bit, almost anyone feeling marginalized can draw on a hip-hop ethos. This could include Ukraine’s Alyonna Alyonna, who was bullied for the way she looked, and even Nordic white supremacists.

Hip-hop scholar and political activist Yvonne Bynoe presented an alternative view on the genre’s worldwide spread. Writing in 2002, she noted: “While rap music has been globalized, hip-hop culture has not been and cannot be.” To Bynoe, it is irrational to expect that a cultural expression that is centered around Black American experiences and vernacular can speak for all.

“While ‘rap’ as a creative tool is portable and adaptable, it belittles hip-hop culture to continue to insist that as a cultural entity it can be disassociated from its roots,” she wrote.

Manufacturing authenticity

A 2007 documentary about hip-hop in Kenya, with the on-point title “Hip Hop Colony,” addresses the issue from a different standpoint: “Today, Kenya tackles a new breed of colonization,” the narrator notes, “Its chameleon-like quality has allowed it to integrate with cultures around the world. … It is hip-hop [and] in the vein of colonialism it’s dictating the choice of attire, language and lifestyle in general. Unlike the colonists, its presence is welcomed and widely embraced by the majority.”

In a clever twist, the filmmaker, Michael Wanguhu, sets up an initial neo-colonial framework and then dismantles it by showing how Kenyans have made hip-hop their own.

Moreover, hip-hop has been seen as a catalyst for cultural self-reflection and revival wherever it lands.

“The first time we heard Grandmaster Flash rapping on a hip-hop track,” Senegalese rapper Faada Freddy of the group Daara J said in 2006, “everybody was like, ‘OK we know this, because this is taasu,’” referring to a Senegalese verbal art form accompanied by drumming.

“We’ve been rhyming like that for a long time,” he added.

Australian aboriginal rapper Wire MC similarly sees a connection between traditional Indigenous gatherings known as “corroboree” – which involve singing, dancing and telling stories – and hip-hop, which he says “is just a modern corroboree.”

“Hip-hop is a part of aboriginal culture; I think it always has been,” he added.

Native American rapper Frank Waln, of the Sicangu Lakota tribe, also notes a resonance between hip-hop and Indigenous culture.

“I definitely think there’s a connection between traditional storytelling and hip-hop,” he said. “My people have been storytellers for thousands of years, and this is just a new way to tell our stories.”

Digging into the well

Almost anywhere rap and hip-hop have traveled, people have pointed to its resonance with homegrown traditions. Some have employed those traditions to transform hip-hop into something with deep local roots. In this way, Japanese rapper Hime has used the ancient poetic form tanka for the chorus of her song “Tateba Shakuyaku.” In the song, she raps about the Japanese concept of “kotodama,” or “the spirit of the language” embedded in the 5-7-5-7-7 syllable count in that chorus.

Similarly, Ghanaian rapper Obrafour has drawn on esoteric proverbs in his native Twi language, and Somali Canadian rapper K’Naan has drawn on and paid tribute to Somali oral poetry.

Historical connections between modern-day French rappers and French song have also been fruitfully explored. This should be no surprise, given the dual identities of the children of African immigrants in France, like rapper Abd al Malik.

The indelible link between hip-hop and Black American culture remains a constant theme in how to understand its transformations around the world. Take one of China’s most well-known rappers, Vava.

In a 2018 interview in Esquire Singapore, she said that hip-hop “helps us to express our innermost emotions and thoughts about how we understand the world we’re living in.” When asked, “American hip-hop has grown out of the African American struggle. So where does Chinese hip-hop come from?” she replied, “Chinese hip-hop comes from rebellion in young people’s lives. … The generation before us were rockers, but today, we use rap to express ourselves.”

Rap as universal art form

The “global spread of authenticity,” as linguist Alastair Pennycook called it in 2007, has been a concern in the genre ever since “Rapper’s Delight” sparked its travel across the world.

In 1982, pioneering deejay Afrika Bambaataa advised French rappers to “Rap in your own language and speak from your own social awareness.”

Jay-Z addressed the issue in the conclusion of his 2010 memoir, “Decoded.” Implicitly noting the distinction between the culture hip-hop and the art form rap, he wrote:

“Rap … is at heart an art form that gave voice to a specific experience, but, like every art, is ultimately about the most common human experiences. … The story of the larger culture is a story of a million MCs all over the world … and inside of them the words are coming, too, the words they need to make sense of the world they see around them. … And when we decode that torrent of words — by which I mean really listen to them with our minds and hearts open — we can understand their world better. And ours, too. It’s the same world.”

________

Eric Charry, Professor of Music, Wesleyan University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Diverse Republican Presidential Primary Field Sees an Opening in 2024 with Voters of Color

Maria

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Jun 23, 2023

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Diverse Republican Presidential Primary Field Sees an Opening in 2024 with Voters of Color

By STEVE PEOPLES and GARY FIELDS, Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — Race has emerged as a central issue — and a delicate one — in the 2024 presidential contest as the GOP’s primary field features six candidates of color, making it the party’s most racially diverse ever.

Former Texas congressman Will Hurd, who was the only Black Republican in the House of Representatives during his final two years in office, launched his candidacy on Thursday.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, who is of Cuban descent, entered the race last week, vowing to create a new brand of politics. He joined South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the first Black senator in the South since Reconstruction. Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador, is of Indian descent, as is Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who describes himself as “a cultural thought leader.” Also in the race is Larry Elder, an African American raised in Los Angeles’ South Central neighborhood who came to national attention as a candidate in the failed effort two years ago to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.

The GOP candidates of color are considered underdogs in a field currently dominated by former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Yet the party’s increasingly diverse leadership, backed by evolving politics on issues such as immigration, suggest the GOP may have a real opportunity in 2024 to further weaken the Democrats’ grip on African Americans and Latinos. Those groups have been among the most loyal segments of the Democratic coalition since Republican leaders fought against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Republican presidential contenders of 2024 walk a fine line when addressing race with the GOP’s overwhelmingly white primary electorate.

In most cases, the diverse candidates in the Republican field play down the significance of their racial heritage. They all deny the existence of systemic racism in the United States even while discussing their own personal experience with racial discrimination. They oppose policies around policing, voting rights and education that are designed to benefit disadvantaged communities and combat structural racism.

The NAACP recently issued a travel advisory for Florida under DeSantis’ leadership, warning of open hostility “toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.” The notice calls out new policies enacted by the governor that include blocking public schools from teaching students about systemic racism and defunding programs aimed at diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Republican presidential candidates of color largely support DeSantis’ positions.

Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said the GOP’s policies are far more important than the racial and ethnic diversity of their presidential candidates. He noted there also were four Republican candidates of color in 2016, the year Trump won the White House after exploiting tensions over race and immigration.

“White nationalists, insurrectionists and white supremacists seem to find comfort in the (Republican) Party,” Morial said. “I think we’re beyond the politics of just the face of a person of color by itself appealing to people of color. What do you stand for?”

With few exceptions, the Republican candidates who have entered the presidential primary field have embraced the GOP’s “anti-woke” agenda, which is based on the notion that policies designed to address systemic inequities related to race, gender or sexuality are inherently unfair or even dangerous.

DeSantis this past week described such policies as “cultural Marxism.”

Still, the GOP’s diverse field is not ignoring race. Indeed, some candidates are making their race a central theme in their appeal to Republican primary voters even as they deny that people of color face systemic challenges.

Scott insisted that America is not a racist country in his recent announcement speech.

“We are not defined by the color of our skin. We are defined by the content of our character. And if anyone tells you anything different, they’re lying,” he said.

In her announcement video, Haley noted that she was raised in a small town in South Carolina as “the proud daughter of Indian immigrants — not black, not white, I was different.” Like Scott, she has defended the GOP against charges of racism.

“Some think our ideas are not just wrong, but racist and evil,” Haley said. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Elder is quick to criticize the Democrats’ “woke” agenda, Black Lives Matter and the notion of systemic racism.

Critics say such messages are actually designed to win over suburban white voters more than to attract voters of color. But at a town hall meeting Ramaswamy hosted on the South Side of Chicago on a recent Friday afternoon, there were signs that some Black voters were open to the GOP’s new messengers, given their frustration with both political parties.

One audience member waved a flyer for a “Biden boycott” because the Democratic president has not signaled whether he supports reparations for the descendants of slaves, although Joe Biden did back a congressional effort to study the issue. None of the GOP’s presidential candidates supports reparations, either.

Others condemned Democrats, in Chicago and in Washington, for working harder to help immigrants who are in the country illegally than struggling African American citizens.

Federal officials were preparing to relocate hundreds of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to the South Side, even as many local residents struggled with violence and difficult economic conditions.

“It is certainly true that there are multiple shades of melanin in this Republican race,” Ramaswamy said in an interview before the event. “I think that in some ways dispels the myth that much of the left will perpetuate that this is somehow you know, a racist party or whatever drivel.”

He added: “But personally, I could care less what someone’s skin color is. I think what matters is, what are they going to accomplish? What’s their vision?”

Before Suarez’s announcement, the GOP did not have any Hispanic candidates in the 2024 contest. He said his ethnic background matters.

“I’m the only Hispanic candidate in both parties who’s running. I think that’s incredibly important,” he said in an interview on ABC, noting that roughly 20% of the U.S. is made up of Hispanics, who have trended Republican recently. “I’m focused on not just winning the 2024 election. I’m focused on creating a brand of politics that can win generational elections.”

A majority of Latino voters supported Biden in the 2020 presidential contest, according to AP VoteCast, an extensive national survey of the electorate. But Trump cut into that support in some competitive states, including Florida and Nevada, revealing important shifts among Latinos from many different cultural backgrounds.

In last fall’s midterm elections, support grew for Republican candidates among Black voters, although they remained overwhelmingly supportive of Democrats, AP Votecast found. Overall, Republican candidates were backed by 14% of Black voters, compared with 8% in the midterm elections four years earlier.

While the shifts may be relatively small, strategists in both parties acknowledge that any shift is significant given how close some elections may be in 2024.

In Chicago, Tyrone Muhammad, who leads Ex-Cons for Social Change, lashed out at Republicans for being “losers” for not seizing a very real opportunity to win over more African Americans. While sitting next to Ramaswamy on stage, he also declared that the Republican Party is racist.

Later, he said he actually voted for Trump in 2020 because Trump enacted a criminal justice bill that aimed to shorten prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and address racial inequalities in the justice system. While the GOP has since embraced tough-on-crime rhetoric, Muhammed noted that Biden as a senator helped pass the 1994 crime bill that led to the mass incarceration of Black people.

Muhammad said he might vote Republican again in 2024, despite the party’s shortcomings. He pointed to the GOP’s fight against illegal immigration as a core reason for support.

“I may not like you as an individual, but I like your issues, I like your policies,” he said.

Stamp Honoring Late Rep. John Lewis Unveiled in Official Ceremony at Capitol Hill

Maria

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Jun 23, 2023

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Stamp Honoring Late Rep. John Lewis Unveiled in Official Ceremony at Capitol Hill

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

House leaders joined forces with the U.S. Postal Service to reveal a commemorative stamp paying tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis on Wednesday.

The unveiling occurred during a special event held at Capitol Hill.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Linda Earley Chastang, Lewis’ former chief of staff, were the prominent figures present.
According to a press release from the Postal Service, the stamp showcases a photograph of Lewis captured by Marco Grob for Time magazine in 2013.

The design also incorporates a 1963 image taken by Steve Schapiro outside a nonviolent protest workshop, featured in the selvage or margin of the stamp pane.
Officials called the combination of photographs a poignant reminder of Lewis’ tireless commitment to civil rights and his instrumental role in the nonviolent protest movement.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, addressing the gathering, announced that the official dedication ceremony for the John Lewis Forever stamp is scheduled for July 21 at Morehouse College in Atlanta.
DeJoy shared plans to rename Atlanta’s main post office in honor of the late congressman, acknowledging Lewis’ immeasurable contributions to the nation.

“Our nation certainly benefited from his fearlessness and his unfailing willingness to get into good trouble,” DeJoy stated.
McCarthy emphasized the significance of Lewis’ actions during the introduction of President Barack Obama at the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Selma, Alabama, back in 2015.

McCarthy, a Republican from California, acknowledged the power of Lewis’ words and how they transcended party lines.
“I may be in a different party; I may have different views, but I’m an American,” McCarthy asserted.
“I got goosebumps and tears thinking how far we had come and thinking that John Lewis led the march on that bridge and led the introduction that day.”

Jeffries, the Democratic Representative from New York, expressed his belief that the stamp would forever symbolize Lewis’ significant contributions and serve as a tribute to his unwavering dedication as the conscience of Congress.
He called Lewis one of the country’s greatest sons and deemed it fitting for such an influential figure to be recognized with a Forever stamp.

Lewis, a Democrat representing Georgia, served in the House of Representatives from 1987 until his passing on July 17, 2020, at 80, after battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Known as the “conscience of Congress,” Lewis dedicated his life to advocating for peaceful protests and equality.

An original member of the Freedom Riders, Lewis played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, enduring brutal violence when Alabama state troopers fractured his skull during the infamous “Bloody Sunday” incident in Selma in 1965.
In July 2020, Lewis became the first Black lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol, a testament to his indelible mark on American history.

Even after his passing, his words have continued to inspire and motivate, as evidenced by his 2020 New York Times op-ed, where he urged others to carry the torch and fight for their beliefs.
His famous phrase, “good trouble,” remains a rallying cry for those seeking equality and justice.

Postal officials said the John Lewis Forever stamp is a lasting tribute to a remarkable individual who dedicated his life to making the United States a better place for all its citizens.

Federal Trade Commission Sues Amazon Over Deceptive Prime Subscription Practices

Maria

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Jun 22, 2023

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Federal Trade Commission Sues Amazon Over Deceptive Prime Subscription Practices

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Amazon is facing legal action from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for allegedly engaging in deceptive practices to entice consumers into signing up for its Prime service and making it difficult for them to cancel their subscriptions.

The suit marks the most aggressive action taken against the e-commerce giant by FTC Chair Lina Khan, who has been vocal in her criticism of big tech companies.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, accuses Amazon of utilizing “dark patterns,” manipulative design tactics on its website, to steer users towards subscribing to Prime.

Once consumers decided to cancel, they encountered a convoluted and confusing process.
According to a statement by Khan, “Amazon tricked and trapped people into recurring subscriptions without their consent, not only frustrating users but also costing them significant money.”

The lawsuit counts as the first time the FTC has taken Amazon to court under Khan’s leadership as she seeks to intensify regulatory scrutiny over the company.
Given their influence in online commerce, she has been a vocal advocate for more decisive action against big tech firms.
While the FTC has been investigating Amazon’s practices for several years, observers reportedly are closely watching to see how Khan will proceed.

Although the lawsuit falls short of the extensive antitrust case that Amazon’s detractors demanded, it does reflect a more considerable effort by regulators to limit the influence of tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Meta (formerly Facebook).
The legal action comes after Amazon settled previous FTC cases that predate Khan’s tenure.

Last month, the company agreed to a $25 million settlement over allegations that its Alexa home assistant devices had illegally collected children’s data.
The FTC also resolved another privacy case involving Amazon’s Ring home security subsidiary.

Amazon Prime has attracted subscribers for years with enticing promises of expedited shipping, access to a streaming video library, and other benefits.
As of 2021, the program boasted over 200 million members, generating $35 billion in subscription revenue.

However, the FTC claims that Amazon made it exceedingly challenging for customers to purchase on its platform without subscribing to Prime during checkout.
Furthermore, the agency argues that the company made it arduous for users to locate the page allowing them to cancel the service, bombarding them with offers intended to dissuade cancellation.

The lawsuit comes after years of media attention and advocacy groups highlighting the difficulties consumers face when attempting to cancel their Prime subscriptions.
In a 2021 complaint to the District of Columbia attorney general, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, an advocacy group, accused Amazon of employing manipulative design tactics to frustrate users’ cancellation intentions.

In a 2022 report, the FTC pledged to crack down on design practices aimed at deceiving or obstructing consumers’ efforts to cancel a service, emphasizing that they are closely monitoring dark patterns.
With the lawsuit, the FTC said it intends to send a strong message that such practices will not go unnoticed or unchallenged.

Nebraska’s Oldest African American-Owned Newspaper Changes Owners

Maria

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Jun 22, 2023

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Nebraska’s Oldest African American-Owned Newspaper Changes Owners

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Publisher Terri Sanders has taken ownership of The Omaha Star, the oldest and only African American-owned newspaper in the Cornhusker State.

The move marks a new chapter in the publication’s history, as it holds a crucial position in representing and addressing the community’s needs.
Sanders was excited about the opportunity.
“This is more than surreal—this has been a dream for a long time,” she said in an interview with News 6 in Omaha.

Sanders, who follows in the footsteps of Mildred Brown, the paper’s founder, and other notable African American women leaders such as Marguerita Washington, proclaimed her determination to carry forward the legacy of The Omaha Star.
The newspaper is a member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the trade association of the more than 230 African American-owned newspapers and media companies in the United States.

Since its establishment in 1938, the newspaper has been committed to highlighting positive news from the north Omaha community, often overlooked by mainstream media.
Sanders affirmed her dedication to continuing this mission, emphasizing her deep understanding of the newspaper’s importance and relevance as a native Omaha.

With the upcoming 85th anniversary of The Omaha Star on July 9th, Sanders said she aims to ensure that the publication’s remarkable legacy endures into the future.
While the historic building that houses the paper will remain intact, Sanders said she would make specific changes to enhance its appeal.
She plans to transform the area where the interview took place into a museum dedicated to honoring Mildred Brown, Black newspapers, and Black journalism.

The newsroom will be relocated to Brown’s former living quarters. Sanders aims to preserve the rich history and significance associated with The Omaha Star through these modifications.
Sanders emphasized her dedication to keeping The Star firmly rooted in the north Omaha community.

She asserted the need to keep it there and avoid having it moved or taken over by outsiders who might need help understanding its significance.
By doing so, she aims to ensure that The Omaha Star continues serving as a beacon for its community.

Looking ahead, Sanders has plans to expand The Star’s digital presence, recognizing the importance of embracing new technologies and reaching a wider audience.
She said the newspaper could adapt to the changing media landscape by establishing a more robust digital footprint while staying true to its mission of uplifting the north Omaha community.

Sanders insisted that The Omaha Star is poised to embark on an exciting journey, carrying forward its proud legacy of promoting positive news, celebrating African American voices, and contributing to the vibrant community it serves.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Under Scrutiny for Alleged Ethics Violations

Maria

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Jun 22, 2023

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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Under Scrutiny for Alleged Ethics Violations

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

A recent investigation by ProPublica has raised concerns about Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s potential violation of ethics laws.
The investigation uncovered a series of luxury trips and a questionable relationship with wealthy donors, shedding new light on the intimate access influential political contributors have to the country’s most powerful judges.

It is the second time this year that ProPublica has outed a Supreme Court Justice for allegedly accepting and failing to report extravagant gifts.
In April, ProPublica revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas had received extensive luxury travel over several decades from prominent Republican donor Harlan Crow, a Dallas real estate magnate.

Thomas defended himself by stating that unnamed colleagues had advised him not to report such gifts to the public.
However, further examination revealed additional questionable transactions between Thomas and Crow.

ProPublica discovered that Crow had provided financial support in an undisclosed real estate deal and paid private school tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew, whom the Justice was raising as his son.

Neither of these transactions was reported on Thomas’ disclosure forms.
The Alito probe focused on a fishing trip in July 2008, where the justice was photographed alongside Paul Singer, a hedge fund billionaire known for repeatedly seeking favorable rulings from the Supreme Court in high-stakes business disputes.
The trip occurred at a lavish fishing lodge in Alaska, with a price tag exceeding $1,000 daily.

Alito reportedly caught a king salmon nearly the size of his leg during the excursion.
However, concerns lie around Singer’s alleged involvement, including flying Alito to Alaska on a private jet, potentially costing over $100,000 one way.

According to ethics law experts cited by ProPublica, Alito’s failure to disclose the private jet flight and the fishing trip on his annual financial disclosures appears to violate federal laws that require justices to disclose most gifts.

The revelations prompted questions about the justices’ impartiality when ruling on cases involving individuals who have provided them with costly gifts.
Legal experts and professors specializing in recusal expressed their concerns about Alito’s actions.

Charles Geyh, an esteemed law professor at Indiana University, told ProPublica, “If you were good friends, what were you doing ruling on his case? And if you weren’t good friends, what were you doing accepting this?”

The report revealed that Singer’s hedge fund appeared before the Supreme Court at least ten times in the years following the fishing trip, often garnering attention from the legal press and mainstream media.

Of particular note was a case in 2014, where the court ruled in Singer’s favor in a long-standing dispute between his hedge fund and the nation of Argentina, resulting in a substantial payout of $2.4 billion.

Alito’s alleged violation of disclosure requirements highlights the self-policing nature of justices regarding ethical issues, with limited restrictions on the gifts they can accept.
This starkly contrasts with the strict guidelines imposed on most federal workers, who are generally prohibited from accepting even modest gifts.

The investigation also brought to light another prominent businessman who provided luxurious vacations to two members of the Supreme Court.
The same businessman had previously flown the late Justice Antonin Scalia on a private jet to Alaska and covered the expenses of his stay.
Experts said these instances of influential individuals offering extravagant trips to the justices demonstrate the potential influence such gestures may have on the judicial decision-making process.

Leonard Leo, the influential leader of the conservative Federalist Society, allegedly played a crucial role in organizing the Alaska fishing vacation, inviting Singer to join.
Leo’s involvement reportedly raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as Singer and the lodge owner were significant donors to Leo’s political groups.
ProPublica’s said its investigation drew from trip planning emails, Alaska fishing licenses, and interviews with numerous individuals, including private jet pilots, fishing guides, former Singer and lodge owner employees, and other guests on the trips.
When approached with detailed questions, Alito declined to comment.
However, he later responded to ProPublica’s queries in an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal.

Alito claimed that he was unaware of Singer’s connection to the cases when they appeared before the court and that he had minimal personal interaction with the billionaire.
Alito defended his failure to report the trip, stating that justices commonly interpreted the disclosure requirements to exclude “accommodations and transportation for social events.”
Singer’s spokesperson denied organizing the fishing trip and emphasized that neither Singer nor his companies had any pending matters before the Supreme Court.

Leo declined to comment directly on organizing the trip but asserted that he would never dictate justices’ actions.
ProPublica said the investigation into Alito’s and Scalia’s luxury travel is part of a growing trend that has prompted lawmakers to demand ethics reforms.

Proposed bills aim to tighten rules regarding recusals, establish a binding code of conduct for the Supreme Court, and create an ethics body responsible for investigating complaints.
Currently, the court needs both a code and an ethics office.
The Supreme Court’s response to these calls for reform has been lukewarm, with Chief Justice John Roberts offering no direct comment on the recent revelations. Roberts has even suggested that Congress may not possess the authority to regulate the court.

Pharrell Fuses Entertainment and Fashion for Confident Louis Vuitton Menswear Debut

Maria

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Jun 22, 2023

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Pharrell Fuses Entertainment and Fashion for Confident Louis Vuitton Menswear Debut

By THOMAS ADAMSON, AP Fashion Writer

PARIS (AP) — Unveiling a new chapter in its illustrious history, Louis Vuitton made an indelible mark on Paris Fashion Week’s men’s shows as they premiered the debut collection by musician-turned-designer Pharrell Williams.

Appointed in February to fill the immense shoes left by the death of Virgil Abloh, Williams unveiled his design prowess to the fashion world with a show that exuded confidence.

The breathtaking venue for this sartorial spectacle was Paris’ iconic Pont Neuf. The historic bridge, typically resplendent with time-worn stone, was transformed into a golden runway — a dramatic stage set against the backdrop of the shimmering Seine and under the starlit Parisian sky.

The Tuesday night event drew a constellation of stars in their own right. The stellar audience encompassed icons of music, sports and entertainment. Among the guests lining the gilded cobbles were music royalty Beyoncé and Jay-Z, NBA superstar LeBron James, new brand ambassador Zendaya and global pop phenomenon Rihanna.

Williams’ first show proved to be an ambitious endeavor, interweaving the luxury and sophistication of high fashion with the pulsating energy and broad appeal of pop culture and entertainment. The show was more than a runway presentation; it was an immersive experience that captured the imagination of those fortunate enough to witness it firsthand.

Here are some highlights of the spring-summer 2024 shows:

PHARRELL SPEAKS

As sunlight filled the storied halls of Louis Vuitton’s headquarters, Williams stepped into his new role as the fashion house’s menswear designer.

His appointment symbolizes more than a career shift. It represents a daring move by the luxury brand to entrust the position to a musical artist and cultural influencer, not a classically trained designer. But Pharrell says he doesn’t feel pressure to prove himself — he was chosen.

“I didn’t feel any of that because if I was competing for it and people kept telling me, ‘No don’t do it,’ I may have felt that way. But the difference is, I was chosen,” Pharrell told AP in a joint interview. “So, like when you’re chosen, you just kind of ride the wave.”

A sense of being selected by the universe, or by Louis Vuitton, carries a sense of destiny for him. But stepping into the designer role isn’t just about fulfilling his personal destiny. Williams also feels like he’s carrying on the legacy of the late Abloh, who was the first Black artistic director at Louis Vuitton and a personal friend. “My appointment is a tribute,” Williams said.

Black culture and the struggles Black Americans have faced is a strong driving force for Pharrell. He reflected on the culture’s unique flavor, influence and widespread appeal. “I think it’s something in the sauce,” he said. “And people like it when they try it.”

Williams emphasized the hard-earned global recognition of this cultural “sauce,” exemplified in the influence of figures like LeBron James, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Prince and artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

“A lot of people lost their lives and suffered through the experiences to get us to these positions,” he noted, underscoring the painful history that fuels his desire to honor his community through his work at Louis Vuitton.

Pharrell’s love for life, the moment, and opportunities, imbue his approach to design. “LV is for Louis Vuitton, but it’s also ‘lover’,” he mused. His interpretation of the Louis Vuitton initials signifies his intention to pour love and appreciation into his work, carrying the legacy of Black culture forward in a space where it has been historically underrepresented.

“It’s not lost on me that I’m afforded this opportunity to tell these stories,” he said.

LOUIS VUITTON SHOW

The pulse of Paris was set alight as Williams unveiled a debut fusing streetwear aesthetics into the French maison’s traditional lineage. The fashion show epitomized high-voltage energy, reverberating through the audience and culminating in a standing ovation for Williams.

The world-renowned musician, known for his genre-blurring creativity, masterfully orchestrated the event. The runway show mirrored a music video’s high energy, perhaps a testament to the meteoric reach of the brand’s parent company, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

Channeling gender-fluid appeal, Williams showcased an exhaustive collection spanning checkerboard-patterned denim to a sophisticated cream evening jacket. The line, marked by photo prints of the Pont Neuf and a uniquely designed coat with a shaved monogram motif, also underscored his flair for distinct aesthetics.

Playing on the LV codes, Williams’ collaboration with American pixel artist E.T. for a digital motif and the use of Black American artist Henry Taylor’s micro-embroideries added a further dimension to his debut lineup. The collection was replete with pixelated designs on a broad spectrum of pieces, alongside the Damier pattern — which graces the house’s bags — amplified in shades of yellow and black.

The grand finale was a spectacular concert by Jay-Z. The electrifying performance brought the crowd to its feet, their excitement reaching a crescendo as Pharrell took to the stage to join his longtime collaborator. While Rihanna’s arrival, in sync with the show’s climax and exposing a enormous bare baby bump, was nothing short of theatrical.

As the show drew to a close, an emotional Williams emerged to take a bow, wiping away tears and pointing skyward in a heartfelt thank you. The applause that followed was a thunderous affirmation of the musician’s successful transition into the realm of luxury fashion.

CHANEL RESORT

After the pulsating late-night Vuitton showcase, a more subdued morning scene unfolded at Chanel’s headquarters. Members of the fashion press gathered, copious servings of coffee and croissants in hand, to view a breakfast presentation of Chanel’s resort collection. Thus began the glamorous marathon that is Paris Fashion Week.

Themes from Hollywood’s Golden Age characterized designer Virginie Viard’s collection, incorporating hints at the 1920s and 1930s. They were transfused with a distinct 1980s influence in sequins and vibrant color.

Viard presented a long, loose coat, a style staple one might associate with film producers of the art deco era. Furthering the Hollywood motif, a lace A-line mini dress took its bleeding color palette from an L.A. sunset, a nod to Sunset Boulevard. Additionally, a ruched tiered skirt carried the pink and white stripe pattern commonly associated with the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The resort collection’s encore in Paris provided an opportunity for a closer inspection of Viard’s Hollywood-inspired designs and the detailing involved without the breathlessness of a glitzy show. Amidst the rapid progression of fashion, Chanel’s collection served as a reminder of the brand’s engagement with historic and pop culture references.

BOTTER’S QUIRKS

The design duo behind the Botter label, Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh, are known for their progressive and bold approach to fashion. The spring-summer collection they presented Wednesday showcased a series of daring and inventive interpretations of everyday elements.

Ecological plastic wicker, typically found on chairs was cleverly reconfigured into garments. The unconventional material was particularly affecting in a bright red structured vest red that resembled chainmail, demonstrating Botter’s creative — and quirky — reinterpretation of commonplace items.

The designs also included distinctive lozenge motifs that gave a slightly historical impression, especially on skintight tops and tights-cum-leggings that at times reassembled the look of a medieval peasant.

In a contrast to the quirky designs, a delicate lavender knit vest unfurled like a disintegrating flower, adding a touch of poetic elegance to a pair of baggy charcoal office pants, a testament to Botter’s versatility.

While their designs tend to be daring and offbeat, the y manage to strike a balance between the surreal and wearable, maintaining their appeal to a forward-thinking audience.

BLUEMARBLE DAZZLES WITH COLOR

Designer Anthony Alvarez didn’t shy away from color in his menswear collection for Bluemarble. His vibrant palette was a delightful mix of citrine and dandelion. The unstructured and utilitarian designs combined streetwear sensibilities with a dash of high-fashion daring. Toggles that were part practical, part design statement, flapped in an unexpectedly fashionable sync with the collection’s aesthetic rhythm.

The choice of shades on the models, and the satiny dazzle on coats, lent a sunshine-bathed charisma to the show, aptly reflecting the “blue marble” — planet Earth — that inspired the brand’s name. Bleached blond hair and curtains subtly echoed the late-80s, while the boxy silhouettes seemed like a contemporary nod to the iconic era.

Building on Bluemarble’s reputation for eye-popping color and cultural fusion, Alvarez balanced the mix of his own diverse heritage in his designs. (He was raised by a French mother and a Filipino-Spanish father.) The collection not only celebrated his brand’s globe-trotting vision but elevated it with bold colors, strategic nostalgia, and streetwise utility.

LOUIS GABRIEL NOUCHI BRINGS VIBRANT TRANSFORMATION IN MENSWEAR

In his Wednesday evening show, Louis Gabriel Nouchi masterfully blended conventional sartorial elements with sportswear.

The collection opened with a striking, voluminous black leather trench coat, which displayed Asiatic layering influences. The initial monochrome black and dark tones, set a somber, yet anticipative, stage.

Ubiquitous ties, crisp white shirts, and black leather loafers then formed a staple backbone. This familiar territory was thrillingly disrupted by deconstructed vests and cycling pants, demonstrating Nouchi’s knack for challenging boundaries.

The dark musing soon transformed into a visual spectacle of eye-catching hues – straw and light cobalt blue – conjuring a playful disruption. The zenith arrived with a show-stopping ensemble: a loose tie-pajama look rendered in daring, dazzling sapphire.

Building on previous seasons’ play with silhouettes, particularly the emphasized shoulder line, and explorations into various materials such as leather.

Formerly Wrongfully Incarcerated, Yusef Salaam Runs for Office, Seeking Redemption in the City’s Power Structure

Maria

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Jun 22, 2023

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Formerly Wrongfully Incarcerated, Yusef Salaam Runs for Office, Seeking Redemption in the City’s Power Structure

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Yusef Salaam, a man who endured wrongful imprisonment, has launched a campaign for a seat on the New York City Council.

Widely recognized for the unjust ordeal that altered the trajectory of his life, Salaam now aspires to join the very power structure that once condemned him.
In 1989, when Salaam was just 15 years old, he and four other African American teenagers, collectively known as the Central Park Five, were apprehended by the police.

Falsely accused and convicted of raping and assaulting a white woman in Central Park on April 19 of that fateful year, the group faced years of wrongful incarceration.
Reflecting on his experiences, Salaam remarked during an interview with the Associated Press at his campaign headquarters, “I’ve often said that those who have been close to the pain should have a seat at the table.”

Salaam’s and his co-defendants’ miscarriages of justice, which included Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise, attracted national attention.
Their convictions were overturned in 2002 when new evidence, including DNA analysis, linked the crime to a serial rapist.
The city awarded the group, now known as the Exonerated Five, a settlement of $41 million.

Salaam counts among three candidates locked in a closely contested Democratic primary scheduled for June 27.
The primary outcome will determine who will represent Harlem’s district in the City Council.
“When people look at me and learn my story, they resonate with it,” Salaam expressed with conviction.

“But now, after 34 years, I can utilize the platform I have to repurpose the pain and help uplift people as we emerge from despair.”
As a native New Yorker, Salaam passionately seeks to address some of Harlem’s most pressing challenges, including poverty, homelessness among children, and the ongoing issue of affordable housing.

Political experts said Salaam’s campaign represents a remarkable journey of resilience and pursuit of redemption.
If successful, he said a goal is to leverage his unique perspective and experiences to advocate for those historically marginalized and neglected.

Soccer Faces Wave of Racial and Offensive Abuse Incidents Amid FIFA Pledge to Stop Games

Maria

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Jun 22, 2023

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Soccer Faces Wave of Racial and Offensive Abuse Incidents Amid FIFA Pledge to Stop Games

By GRAHAM DUNBAR, AP Sports Writer

GENEVA (AP) — Two international soccer games stopped because of racial abuse between players. A United States-Mexico game cut short amid homophobic chants by fans. An advisor to Brazil player Vinícius Júnior racially harassed by a steward at a stadium in Spain.

All these incidents in the past week are evidence of an “urgent crisis” facing soccer, an anti-discrimination group that works with FIFA and European soccer body UEFA said Tuesday.

The two men’s games abandoned Monday — when New Zealand and the Ireland under-21 team refused to continue playing after hearing racial abuse by opponents from Qatar and Kuwait, respectively — followed days after FIFA president Gianni Infantino reset soccer’s task to tackle discrimination.

“There is no football if there is racism! So let’s stop the games,” Infantino said last Friday after meeting with Vinícius in Barcelona and enlisting him to work with FIFA and other players.

Vinícius, who is Black, has been the target of sustained racist abuse by fans in Spanish stadiums throughout the season while playing for Real Madrid, with little done by referees or soccer organizers to protect him.

The New Zealand and Ireland soccer federations did not cite Infantino’s pledge when they explained Monday why their teams would not continue the exhibition games, both played in Austria.

Still, the message was clear to FIFA’s long-time advisors on discrimination at international soccer games, the London-based Fare network.

“Two international matches abandoned due to racial abuse in one evening tells us something about the way in which in young players are no longer prepared to tolerate racism on the pitch,” Fare executive director Piara Powar said Tuesday in a statement. “On top of the behavior of a Spanish steward who racially abused a friend of Vinícius Júnior by wielding a banana at a match in which the Brazilian team took the knee, and the USA vs. Mexico match that last week was stopped twice and cut short by the referee due to homophobia, we can see the urgent crisis football is facing.”

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Zurich-based body has jurisdiction over international friendlies between teams from different continental confederations such as the New Zealand-Qatar and Ireland-Kuwait games.

New Zealand abandoned the game at halftime after accusing Qatari player Yusuf Abdurisag of making a racist comment to defender Michael Boxall, who is of Samoan heritage.

After a melee between the teams in the 40th minute, New Zealand captain Joe Bell complained to referee Manuel Schuttengruber, who shook his head, indicating he would not take action against the Qatar player.

In a statement, Football New Zealand said it supported the players who refused to play the second half when the referee declined to take action.

“We never want to see a match abandoned but some issues are bigger than football and it is important to make a stand,” New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said in a statement.

Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz said on the television broadcast of the match both sets of players supported their own teammate.

“The referee did not listen (to what was said). It’s just an argument between two players. They decided to abandon the game with no witnesses,” the former Portugal and Real Madrid coach said.

In European soccer, disciplinary cases after alleged racial abuse between players have been dropped because of a lack of witnesses.

“It’s a new chapter in football which is, for sure, something nobody can understand,” Queiroz said Monday. “This game will be under observation from FIFA, for sure.”

Almost 24 hours after the incident, the Qatar soccer federation published a statement confirming words had been exchanged between players in the heat of the moment, but that Abdurisag had used “no racial or discriminatory language.”

Instead, the federation said, the Qatari forward, who is Black, “stressed that, in fact, he himself was racially abused during the match.”

The Irish soccer federation said its under-21 team’s game against the Kuwait Olympic team was stopped “after a racist remark was made by a Kuwaiti player towards one of our substitutes.”

“The (federation) does not tolerate any racism towards any of our players or staff and will be reporting this serious matter to FIFA and UEFA,” the Irish soccer body said on its Twitter account.

Last Friday, Infantino committed FIFA to create a task force involving players that aims to “elaborate concrete and efficient measures to end racism in football once and for all.”

“It’s a football-related problem and we mustn’t look for excuses like: ‘It’s society’s problem, therefore, it’s fine in football.’ In the world of football, we must act in a very forceful way,” he said.

Racial abuse of players has been present in soccer for decades, and it has been 10 years since a notorious incident in Italy. Racial abuse aimed by fans at AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng led him to walk off the field during a friendly game. His teammates followed.

Then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter urged competition organizers worldwide to impose stronger sanctions but few have followed through.

Powar said one positive after Monday’s games was that the federations quickly and fully supported their players.

“It may be the start of a new awareness by national associations of the need to play their part to tackle discrimination,” he said.

Qatar was playing New Zealand to prepare for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Qatar was invited to that tournament, which starts next week in the United States and Canada.

The Cooper Family Foundation Presents Juneteenth: Healing the Community Festival

Maria

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Jun 22, 2023

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The Cooper Family Foundation Presents Juneteenth: Healing the Community Festival

By Darrell Wheeler, Contributing Writer

On June 17th, two days ahead of the official Big Day, a huge crowd of supporters could be seen celebrating the past, the future, and the importance of Juneteenth experience at 2975 Ocean View Blvd’s Memorial Park for the Cooper Family Foundation’s annual Juneteenth celebration. “Healing The Community, Know The Past, Shape The Future” was the rallying cry for this year’s jam packed event.

Attendees of Southeast San Diego’s biggest Juneteenth party could enjoy food, a car show, kid zones, local entertainers, vendors featuring Black-owned brands, the awe-inspiring History Wall and much more.

The legendary R&B funk band The Bar-Kays, known for their hit songs Hit and Run, Anticipation, Holy Ghost, and Too Hot to Stop rocked the crowd with their high-powered performance. Saxophone specialist, Erissa, also delivered an outstanding performance on

the busy main stage.

“I think all the performers did a great job,” civil rights supporter and recording artist Jamie Ray shared. “This whole event is off the chain. This was my first time coming here but God willing I’ll be here next time. This is a beautiful and inspiring celebration.”

The main stage was also used for informational speeches, award presentations to deserving community leaders, and words and actions toward community healing by local dignitaries.

Black representation was definitely at its finest last Saturday at the park.