Author: Carma Henry

     In Education and other areas, one of the biggest issues facing underserved communities is lack of access to information. The Westside Gazette will continue to serve as a resource to keep our community informed.

   The Congressional Black Caucus is now 55 members, the largest CBC in history and the largest Caucus in Congress.

     “We have suffered through the last three years of this administration where we have watched gains that we have made over the last several decades either at risk or an attempt to dismantle.  That is why the year 2020 is extremely important. I’m proud of the work of the CBC,” said Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) who is the current Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

     Violent episodes were the exceptions and not the rule of the massively spreading Sit-in Movement. In nearly all sit-in cities, Black protesters made immeasurable efforts to avoid violence at all cost since the movement and training centered on non-violent demonstrations in confronting inequality.

     On February 3, 1870 — 150 years ago today — African American men were given the right to vote with the ratification of the 15th Amendment, which declared that the “right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” This major milestone would appear to have empowered Black men by implying their voices mattered in this American democracy.

     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.