Author: Carma Henry

     Cecelia grew and grew and grew, earning the honor of being Valedictorian of her class at Edward Waters High School in Jacksonville, Florida.  That little girl matured and matriculated through college starting at 15 years of age. She then spent time at Spelman College, later completing her BS in Biology at North Carolina College, now NCCU, in 1952.  She married Edward D. Hayes in June 1954. She later went on to earn her MS degree in Health Education from North Carolina College in 1958. Cecelia accomplished the formidable task of receiving her Master’s Degree while balancing the roles of wife and mother of two sets of twin daughters.

         As this political season gains more and more momentum, people are realizing just how serious local elections are. Not discounting the need to be conscious about the national leadership of this country, however, most importantly are our local elections.

A federal judge on Sunday refused to put on hold his decision allowing hundreds of thousands of Florida felons who have completed prison or jail sentences to register and vote in this year’s elections. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle turned down a request by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ lawyers for a stay, as they challenge his felons-voting decision at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

 The news that NASCAR‘s only African American driver in any of its top races found a noose in his team’s garage stall was even more disturbing considering that it was reported amid a series of hanging deaths of Black people across the country.

      With more than 2.3 million confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in America and a staggering 122,000 deaths, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) say President Donald Trump is sitting on about $14 billion in funding for virus testing and contact tracing.

       Lately people have been protesting and signing petitions to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Juneteenth is a holiday in three states. Which is disappointing. If “Independence day” is a national holiday why can’t Juneteenth be one? Is it because it has to do with Black people being freed?’

  While staying home for an extended amount of time, I have really learned more about who I am. For example, since all of our schools have been closed down due to Covid-19, I have learned to work independently and on a schedule.

Do you know a graduate of Broward County Public Schools who is making a difference in their community or in education? The Broward Education Foundation wants to know. The only 501(c)3 direct support organization of Broward County Public Schools is accepting nominations for the 2020 Hall of Fame Awards at browardeducationfoundation.org/nominate.

     My name is Prince Aderele of The Aditu Agency LLC, a local business strategy and photography company based in Pompano Beach.  I was honored to freelance and document the renaming of NW 21 Ave after Rev. Daniel Miller Ave. First Black Contractor/Pioneer in Pompano Beach.

     Consequently, the recent election of Johnny L. McCray, Jr. as the president of the Bethune Cookman University National Alumni Association came as no surprise when announced recently. McCray has distinguished himself as a big BC-U Wildcat supporter over the years, while maintaining a thriving law practice in Pompano Beach.