Author: Carma Henry

Since taking office, President Biden and Vice President Harris have prioritized advancing racial justice and recognizing Black history as an essential component of American history.

    Motown is as homogenous as “Ice Cream and Apple Pie.” If you haven’t heard a Motown song you like, then you just haven’t heard the right song. That affection placed Berry Gordy’s record label as the vanguard musical advent for the Civil Rights movement. We all learned in school the story of how an $800 loan turned into a global passion for Soul music. What schools do not teach is the impact Motown had on the Civil Rights movement. 

     You’ve told everyone where to be and what to bring (Grandma’s favorite dessert!) and someone will set up games to occupy the kids. Your whole family celebrates Juneteenth, so maybe it’s time to bring these two great books to your jubilee…

At a public meeting today hosted by the Department of Interior (DOI) at Union Baptist Church, Springfield community members called on President Biden to commemorate the site of 1908 Springfield Race Riots as a national monument. Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, attended the meeting and heard from community leaders as they expressed robust support for President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to designate a national monument in Springfield.

One of Idris Elba’s grandfathers fought in World War II, but he doesn’t know what he endured. No pictures or stories survive. “That part of my family’s history has been erased somewhat,” says Elba.

     The May 16 decision in the case  formally known as Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America LTD, ET AL refuted arguments by the billion-dollar payday lending industry that CFPB was unconstitutional because its funding is derived directly from the Federal Reserve instead of Congress’ annual appropriations.

Every June since the 1970s, across the United States, musicians, fans and industry professionals celebrate Black Music Month. It’s an opportunity to highlight the contributions of Black artists and position Black art at the center of American culture across popular music and beyond.

      The passing of longtime FAMU administrator and supporter Eddie Jackson was met with massive disappointment.  His passing confirmed that he was one of the most popular figures in the Rattler community, though he never fought for popularity.  He was a leader in the Rattler nation though he would shy aware from awards and notoriety.  He was that old school Rattler who believed that he should do whatever necessary to support FAMU because the school was the reason for his success in life and it was his responsibility to give back.

Wallace is an admirer of Formula One, but at 36 is too old to be dreaming about an F-1 seat. Instead, Wallace wants to move up to the Batmobile-like, fiendishly quick sports cars that compete in famous endurance races. “The ultimate goal is to win the Daytona 24 Hours, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Sebring 12 Hours, and to be the first African American to win all of those,” Wallace said. “I’ve got a ton of work ethic; a ton of desire and I think I’m showing that I’m pretty quick.”

Congratulations to Pam Oliver on her induction into the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle! Pam’s incredible 25+ year career in sports media has been rightfully recognized.