Year: 2020

     Whites framed their malice toward King as something other than racism. They did not oppose MLK because he struggled for Black freedom and equality. Rather they detested him—they said—because he was a rabble-rouser, a Communist, and a lawbreaker. J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI director, called him the most dangerous man in America, and there was rejoicing at his death.

      By the time you read this article, the impeachment will almost be completed, and President Donald Trump would have been acquitted. After millions of dollars, thousands of lies, and 17 witnesses in the House, President Trump will be let off, and cleared of any wrongdoing. He will be declared not guilty and proved innocent of the articles of impeachment.

     The NAACP issued the following statement regarding the case against Myon Burrell. As a teenager in 2003, he was accused and convicted of the killing of 11-year-old Tyesha Edwards in Minnesota. In a recent story, the Associated Press uncovered a lack of evidence in his conviction.

     “Nathaniel Jones is a pioneer who has never failed to stand for the rights of people denied a chance to be a part of the process,” said Roslyn A. Brock, chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors. “His distinguished career serves as inspiration to our thousands of youth leaders working to end the profound segregation that continues to exist in our society to this day.

     In an interview that tack-led several pressing topics, Jones said he “absolutely agreed” that voting rights are under attack all over the country. “Access to the ballot box is the key. It has got to be fairly easy to register to vote these days but getting to cast a vote is what’s getting harder and harder,” Jones stated. “And, that is because of purging voter rolls; because of closing polling places; and convenient polling places and moving them. Those are the kinds of things that are causing some real concerns, and access to the ballot box is causing concerns,” he stated.

“Ernie Barnes From Pads to Palette: Art of a Former NFL Player” featured many of the Artist’s famous pieces. His work was often showcased on the TV show, “Good Times.” He was the 1st American athlete to become an internationally recognized Fine Artist. NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said in 1995: “Ernie Barnes is an example to our players, that there is life after football.” Barnes himself stated, “Throughout my 5 seasons in the NFL, I remained at the deepest level of my being, an Artist.” The exhibit was FREE and open to the public and ran through Super Bowl week at The Historic Ward Rooming House in Overtown.

     “We must leave a footprint in all of the communities where we have a presence and where we are making an impact,” stated NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards. “As we visit different cities, we must connect with the communities we serve and leave a lasting impression. In doing this initiative, we must also highlight the newspaper(s) in those respective cities to make sure they’re included in the effort. We must work collaboratively together and make every community remember that the NNPA was on the scene and should never be forgotten.”

Not only a star on the court, he was also a star off the court. He took the Mamba mentality with him while venturing into his second career of storytelling, his animated short film Dear Basketball won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short film.

In March of 1982, Mitch Bettis, Horace Shepard and Michael Curry attended a Mid-Year National Association Church meeting in Miami, Florida. After the meeting, the three close friends went up to Fort Lauderdale to play golf for three days.  In the midst of those days they enjoyed fellowship with each other and discussed the idea of coming to south Florida for one week in the winter months every year to play golf.

Local social activist and author, Chanice Lee, stopped by the Westside Gazette this week to inspire and encourage our junior photojournalists.