By Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CE On June 19, 1865, Texan slaves found out they were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation, two and a half years after it was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. Since then, annual celebrations of the emancipation have been referred to as Juneteenth, commemorating the end of slavery in the […]
Author Archives: NNPA Newswire Correspondent
Posted inAfro Briefs, Religion
Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond to Lead New York Theological Seminary into a New Era
By Itoro N. Umontuen, NNPA Newswire NEW YORK—New York Theological Seminary’s (NYTS) Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond as its new President. Dr. Walrond brings more than two decades of leadership in academia and ministry that will help shape new and distinctive programming to enhance the Seminary’s reputation in the […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
Missy Elliott Inducted to Songwriters Hall of Fame
By NNPA Newswire Iconic rapper and songwriter Missy Elliott has become the first female hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Elliott, 47, was inducted into the prestigious academy Thursday night in a New York City ceremony by her longtime friend and fellow rapper Queen Latifah. Among fans who offered congratulations were […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, TV and Film
Ava Duvernay’s “When They See Us” Blasts Netflix Viewership Records
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor “When They See Us” has been the most-watched series on Netflix in the U.S. every day since it premiered on May 31,” according to Netflix’s Twitter account on June 12. Though Netflix does not release specific viewership numbers, the internet channel is a worldwide portal for content that […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, National News, NEWS
New Report Shows Rising Gas Prices, Work Schedules Cramp Car Travel
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent, @StacyBrownMedia Soon, the school year will be in the rear-view mirror, and families across the nation will hit the road for a good old-fashioned summer road trip—but, maybe not as many. Nearly half of American drivers say that rising gas prices are stopping them from heading out on a road […]
Posted inNational News, NEWS, POLITICS, U.S. Government
Poll: Black Voters Unsure of Democratic Candidates
By Itoro N. Umontuen, NNPA Newswire As the first Democratic debate approaches, a new poll reveals the crowded field must do a better job of promoting themselves and their policies in order to stand out. The poll, conducted by the Black Economic Alliance among 1,003 Black Americans, found that between almost 33 percent of those surveyed “have […]
Posted inNational News, NEWS, POLITICS, U.S. Government
Rep. Waters Works with Colleagues to Stop Political Violence in Haiti
By NNPA Newswire After returning from a trip to Haiti during which she saw evidence of politically motivated violence carried out by gangs allegedly affiliated with the Haitian government, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, worked with Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) to ensure that language addressing the political crisis […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, National News, NEWS
Thousands of Police Officers Implicated in Slew of Racist Facebook Posts
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Far too many law enforcement officers – from rookies to the highest ranking – view African Americans as “dogs.” Others believe women in hijabs are tantamount to “trash bags.” And there are those who revel in violence, claiming “it’s a good day for a chokehold.” Those of just […]
Posted inHealth, LIFE & STYLE, Living, NEWS
Spiritually Speaking: Free at Last. Claim It.
By James Washington, The Dallas Weekly News and NNPA Newswire Contributor One of the hardest things to understand in this life and then, to do, is to love yourself. God even commands us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Without Christ in your life, I believe that concept of self love can be distorted […]
Posted inNational News, NEWS, POLITICS, U.S. Government
Democrats Hold Hearing on White Supremacy
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia House Democrats on Tuesday, June 4, grilled officials from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security during a hearing focusing on how the Trump administration is addressing the growing threat of violent white supremacist groups. The House Oversight Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties hearing, titled […]
Posted inCommentary, OPINION
COMMENTARY: Mayor Dyer and Chief Mina Accused of Excessive Force in Lawsuit: What Has Changed?
By Roger Caldwell, NNPA Newswire Contributor Dyer and Mina “supported, justified, condoned, and otherwise ratified” Orlando police officers David Cruz’s and Charles Mays’ actions through the agency’s use of force policy and failing to discipline officers for such incidents, the suit claims. Excessive force was the policy that Mayor Buddy Dyer and then Chief John […]
Posted inBaltimore News, Maryland Government, NEWS, POLITICS, Prince George's County News, Uncategorized
New Maryland City Councilman Stopped in “Driving While Black” Incident
By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor “This shouldn’t be our truth but sadly it is,” wrote Jotaka Eaddy, a friend of Will Jawando, a member of the Montgomery City Council in Maryland. The new Councilman was stopped by police in Maryland on the morning of June 8, a Saturday, as he drove to meet […]