Friday, February 26
Tell someone about ‘our amazing heritage’
This month is Black History Month, the shortest month of the year. But no matter how brief, we still can illuminate ourselves concerning our splendid and marvelous contributions to the world. So, take some time to read about the struggles and tribulations of our people.
Email issue will follow Clinton if she wins nomination
The big picture is the very real likelihood that Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for president and should not be underestimated about getting into the White House.
What role has Bernie Sanders played to help President Obama?
From his first day in office, President Obama has faced blistering attacks and unceasing obstruction from the Republicans in Congress. It continues today, as we witness their latest tactic to block anyone the president nominates to replace the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Their constant refusal to accord to our first African-American president the same respect and authority given all of his predecessors is a disgrace and a stain upon the character of this country.
Hillary Clinton has ‘best plans to tackle the challenges’
Last week, I was proud to join the majority of members of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus to express my support for Hillary Clinton.
Voting: Powerful, transformative
The 2016 election is historic, not only because we could elect the first woman president, but because for the first time in more than 50 years, this nation will vote without the protection of the Voting Rights Act, which kept discriminatory voting changes from becoming law. Under the guise of preserving election integrity, more than 37 states around the country, including Virginia, have implemented new voter ID laws designed to suppress the votes of certain citizens.
Afflicting the comfortable
In American society, we claim to support freedom of speech as a cornerstone of our democracy. Yet when it comes to certain kinds of information — particularly ideas that threaten the basis for white supremacy — censorship suddenly becomes justifiable. A teaching tool created by the African American Policy Forum recently was subject to this form of censorship in Henrico County.
2016 Virginia presidential primaries
Tuesday, March 1, is a red-letter day in Virginia. It is the day that voters across the Commonwealth can go to the polls and select their preference for a Democratic or Republican nominee for president.
85-year-old barber takes shears from 2nd Street to South Side
Jackson Ward is losing another longtime fixture — barber William Lomax. For more than 62 years, Mr. Lomax cut hair in shops on 2nd Street, the Jackson Ward community’s main commercial corridor.
Hattitude to honor 5
Free Press President/Publisher Jean Patterson Boone and four other women will be honored by the Cavalier Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association during its “Hats Off to Women” awards luncheon, Hattitude 2016.
Blood drive Monday to raise sickle cell awareness
Virginia Blood Services will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29, at The Shops at White Oak Village, 4500 S. Laburnum Ave., in Henrico County to raise awareness of sickle cell anemia.
Free legal services clinic for veterans on March 1
Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services and the Virginia State Bar, has scheduled pro bono Veterans Legal Services Clinics across the state.
Va. officials propose commission on 400th anniversary of Africans in U.S.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott want to set up a federal panel to study the contributions and accomplishments of black people in America.
Smithsonian African-American history museum to open Sept. 24
Free Press wire reports The Smithsonian Institution will open the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Sept. 24 in Washington.
Area churches collecting water for Flint relief
The Baptist General Convention of Virginia’s Social Concerns Commission and Health Ministry has organized a “Fresh Water for Flint” drive to aid residents of the Michigan city in the ongoing water contamination crisis.
‘Speak Out’ to honor trailblazers in law enforcement Feb. 28
The Reconciliation Church of God in Christ’s Youth Department is hosting “Speak Out,” an event celebrating posthumously five African-American trailblazers in law enforcement.
At African-American churches
Fellowship with heaps of food
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from NorthStarNewsToday.com After the Fourth Sunday of Advent Service in December, members and guests of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, a mostly African-American church on Chicago’s West Side, celebrated by hosting a special Advent brunch.
Personality: Sonny Strong
Spotlight on karate Grand Master
Grand Master Sonny Strong earned his first belt in karate 44 years ago. Today, the Richmond resident is still fit as a fiddle, getting his kicks in the sport by teaching karate classes at the Downtown YMCA.
Trojans ready with Kevin Williams
to Iverson, comparing a college player to an all-time NBA great. But they’re much the same in terms of size, speed, jumping ability, hand speed on defense and shooting.” Wearing the No. 3 jersey, the number Iverson wore during an illustrious NBA career, Williams stands out statistically in many categories. On top of that, he’s added a “wow” factor to VSU hoops. “I’ve had so many people ask me ‘Who’s No. 3?,’ ” said Coach Blow. “Some of his dunks are amazing for a player his size.” Coach Blow was coaching at St. Augustine’s University in 2012 when he began recruiting Williams at Louisburg College, a two-year program in North Carolina. When Coach Blow moved to Ettrick in 2013 as the Trojans’ coach, he continued to recruit the Junior College All-American. Williams agreed to join Coach Blow at VSU, but there were extenuating circumstances that slowed the process. Academically, he needed work and enrolled at Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson, N.C., for the 2013-14 season. Then last year, he transferred to VSU but did not play while continuing to spruce up his academic résumé. Not yet qualifying for a scholarship, he paid his own way.
Lady Panthers seeking first title since 1982
There is inspiring history associated with Virginia Union University women’s basketball. The problem is it’s mostly “ancient” history. First-year coach AnnMarie Gilbert, scintillating transfer Kiana Johnson and towering Lady Walker have helped freshen up the team’s résumé.
VSU Multipurpose Center opens to Trojans victories
You can call it Virginia State University or State of the Art University. VSU’s dazzling Multipurpose Center has emerged as the shining jewel of the CIAA. The grand opening last Saturday was a true celebration. The Trojans men’s and women’s basketball teams defeated Lincoln University and thousands of fans oohed and aahed at the new digs. “I’ve been to a lot of gyms, and what we have here is as nice as any I’ve seen in (the NCAA) Division II,” said VSU Coach Lonnie Blow.
VCU on the rise
Virginia Commonwealth University’s offensive efficiency is on the rise under first-year basketball Coach Will Wade. The Rams are shooting better and scoring more than during former Coach Shaka Smart’s sparkling six-year run (180-65 record, five NCAAs).
Armstrong-Walker Alumni Club to honor Coach Christian
The Armstrong-Maggie Walker Alumni Club will honor the late Bill Christian at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 3, at Send-A-Chef Restaurant, 1303 Hull Street, in South Side.
CIAA legend to be inducted into Hall of Fame
Abraham “Ham” Mitchell has wowed audiences at the CIAA Basketball Tournament for more than four decades with his dazzling attire, engaging personality and stylish strut. Known as “Mr. CIAA,” he has entertained thousands of appreciative fans with the dapper tailor-made suits he wears during games that often reflect the official colors of the teams playing at the time on the basketball court.
Walker statue to rise above Downtown plaza
The bronze statue of Richmond businesswoman Maggie L. Walker is to be the centerpiece of a 3,000-square-foot circular plaza made of granite. The preliminary design was unveiled last Saturday to an audience of about 100 people at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Branch in Downtown.
Cooper responds to Henrico school video apology
“We need not apologize for the video.” That’s the view of Henrico School Board member Rev. Roscoe Cooper III about the 4-minute video on racism that was shown to Glen Allen High School students Feb. 4 at two assemblies.
Petersburg roils with turmoil
There’s trouble in Petersburg. Petitions are being circulated to remove Petersburg Mayor W. Howard Myers. Separately, a majority of the Petersburg City Council has voted to begin talks to remove Petersburg City Manager William E. Johnson III and City Attorney Brian K. Telfair, although some are questioning whether the action came at a legal meeting. All of this comes as residents are venting over the way the city is being managed, over sky-high water bills and about property tax bills that are arriving close to the deadline for payment.
Thursday, February 25
Super Tuesday
Virginians to vote in presidential primaries March 1
Now it is up to the voters. Next week, Virginians will help pick the Democratic and Republican nominees for president. The presidential primary elections for both parties are scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, in the Old Dominion, with polls open from 6 a.m to 7 p.m. in Richmond and across the state.
Trailer park on auction block
Rudd’s Trailer Park owner Ronnie Soffee said that he has scheduled an auction in March to sell the 9.2-acre South Side property that members of his family have owned and managed since 1936. The once bustling community at 2911 Jefferson Davis Highway has long served as a home to many of the city’s most vulnerable and those in poverty.
Creighton Court residents still dealing with heating issues
Tina Shaw and residents of four other apartments in Creighton Court have sufficient heat, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority reports. RRHA conducted heat tests of the apartment Ms. Shaw occupies and those of other residents in response to complaints Ms. Shaw lodged with the Free Press about radiators in her apartment not functioning.
Bond blocks eviction appeal
Janice Wiggins was eager to appeal to Richmond Circuit Court when a General District Court judge sided with her landlord and approved her eviction for nonpayment of December’s rent. Ms. Wiggins believed she could win her case if another judge heard it. She said she had presented a receipt, acknowledged by the landlord, that showed she had paid the rent and late fees before the Jan. 21 court hearing. She wanted a chance to prove Judge Barbara J. Gaden was in error when she ruled the payment was for January’s rent, rather than for the missing December rent.
Woman raises concern over fees charged by court
In the world of local courts that seems to have an endless list of fees and costs, one thing has always been free: Subpoenas and summonses for witnesses in a criminal case. However, a recent incident has left a Richmond woman concerned that the policy has changed in Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Concerned Black Men seeking mentors for youths
The Richmond Chapter of Concerned Black Men National is holding an orientation session for men interested in mentoring youths.
Friday, February 19
Gerrymandering is a ‘political fix’
Gerrymandering in Virginia has taken away any value my congressional vote may have had otherwise. This is because election districts have been redrawn by political design by one party or the other to create an overwhelming number of voters of that same party.
Evangelical voters snared in a conundrum
Evangelical voters have a serious problem with their understanding of the Gospel and how Jesus served the poor. They belong to Christian churches that emphasize the teachings and authority of the Scripture, especially the New Testament. But the leading Republican presidential nominees are seeking to win the nomination by profiling the works of the flesh. To even consider Donald Trump or Ted Cruz as their nominee exposes the real beliefs of these evangelical voters.
‘People are disgusted’ by candidates’ name calling
Soon, the airwaves will be filled with political attack ads as the Republican and Democrat candidates move South for the next round of presidential primaries.
The shame of it all
A few weeks ago, Rep. Sean Duffy took to the House floor to scold black lawmakers like me. Citing high abortion rates among African-American women, the Wisconsin congressman accused abortion providers of preying on minority communities. “I’ve heard many of my liberal friends and a lot of friends from the [Congressional Black Caucus] talk about how there is targeting and unfair treatment of African-Americans in the criminal justice system,” Rep. Duffy said. “But what I don’t hear them talk about is how their communities are targeted in abortion.” Recently, Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson accused Planned Parenthood of building “most of their clinics in black neighborhoods” so they could “control that population.”
More Flints in our future
For the residents of Flint, Mich., the water crisis continues. Their governor and President Obama have declared states of emergency. Congress is holding hearings. Presidential candidates are doing tours and debates. Free filters are being handed out. Residents can pick up bottled water. The city has gone back to water coming out of Lake Huron rather than the Flint River. But for parents, the fears remain — and almost nothing has been done. They will join in a March on Flint on Friday, Feb. 19, to demand action at the national and state level.
Rewriting history
It starts small. But changing the facts to rewrite history is an insidious problem, one that has long-plagued this nation and detrimentally impacted the African-American community. Rewriting history can steal credit from those to whom credit is due. It can allow perpetrators to shirk responsibility and criminal or civil penalty for misdeeds. It can turn villains in life into heroes at death, all of which lead to the mis-education of the public.
The ugly truth
Sometimes the truth is ugly. And sometimes, the truth hurts. The greater an ugly truth, the more it hurts.
Kendrick Lamar wins big at Grammy Awards
Hip-hop ruled the stage Monday night at the Grammy Awards in performances that put racial tension back in the national spotlight and where some of music’s biggest stars failed to deliver, or in the case of Rihanna, failed to show up at all. Rapper Kendrick Lamar went into the awards with 11 nominations and looked to be on course to win album of the year for his critically acclaimed “To Pimp a Butterfly.” While he led Grammy winners with five wins, he lost album of the year to country-turned-pop artist Taylor Swift, who won with “1989,” the best selling album of 2014.
Pine Camp to host Virginia Opera program on Marian Anderson
In 1939, singer Marian Anderson was denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall in the nation’s capital because of racism and segregation. Her experience mobilized public outrage and gained the support of the national NAACP and other national organizations and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Pi Lambda Theta gala honors 4 students
Romance and education mingled at the annual Valentine Gala of the Virginia Area Chapter of the Pi Lambda Theta International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education. More than 200 people dined and danced at the benefit event Saturday night on the eve of Valentine’s Day at a Henrico County hotel.
Screening Feb. 21 of Jackson Ward docudrama
The first public screening of a new Richmond film on historic Jackson Ward will take place this weekend. “Black Wall Street: The Money, The Music & The People” will be shown 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Unity of Bon Air Church, 923 Buford Road, in Chesterfield County, it has been announced.
Henrico church sends water filters to Flint
When members of Mountain of Blessings Christian Center in Henrico County learned about the water contamination in Flint, Mich., they decided to pitch in to help residents living through the crisis. Pastor Dimitri Bradley Mountain of Blessings first reached out to the Victorious Word Church in Flint after he learned the church was in need of assistance. He also wanted to assist other residents of the predominately African-American community, 40 percent of whom live in poverty.
Area pastors to minister in song at 14th celebration
Eight Richmond area faith leaders are scheduled to sing for a good cause at The Old Landmark Gospel Association’s 14th anniversary celebration.
Personality: Enjoli Moon
Spotlight on founder of Richmond’s Afrikana Independent Film Festival
Enjoli Moon first contemplated the idea of starting the Afrikana Independent Film Festival in 2014. “I was planning to attend black film festivals in other areas and began to wonder why Richmond didn’t have one,” the Richmond native recalls.
Kory Cooley is VUU’s secret weapon
Art and arcs are two of Kory Cooley’s favorite things. The Virginia Union University sophomore concentrates academically on art. He also is the Panthers’ leading marksman behind the basketball court’s bonus arc. Known as “Cools,” he is VUU’s most effective long-distance weapon and the ideal outside complement to All-CIAA player Ray Anderson, who excels attacking the rim.
Kiana Johnson breaking records for Lady Panthers
Kiana Johnson is rewriting the women’s basketball record book at Virginia Union University. The senior guard from Chicago eclipsed two standards in VUU’s 85-68 win over Lincoln University of Pennsylvania last Saturday at Barco-Stevens Hall.
Thompson hopes to take Saints to championship
Eric Thompson Sr. has left his son, Eric Jr., with a tough act to follow on the basketball court. The elder Thompson was on two State Group AAA championship teams at Marshall-Walker High School, and on two CIAA championship teams for Virginia Union University. Eric Sr. was all about defense and ball handling and still holds several records for assists for the state high school and CIAA tournaments.
Former Springer wins NBA D-League shootout
Andre Ingram is like fine wine. He seems to keep improving with age. At 30, the former Highland Springs High School guard rang the victory bell last Saturday at the NBA Development League’s All-Star festivities in Toronto.
Saints’ scoring machine
St. Christopher’s School senior Nick Sherod is threatening some of Virginia’s most hallowed scoring marks. The 6-foot-5 player for the Saints who has committed to the University of Richmond began this week with 2,692 career points. He has averaged 22.4 points per game since his freshman season.
Harold S. Lilly Sr., 71, longtime Richmond organist and choir director
“He was a giant among giants in music,” said gospel keyboardist and choir director Larry Bland. “There will never be another like him,” said gospel music director Johnny J. Branch.
Video ban raises concern
The African-American members of the Henrico County Board of Supervisors voiced frustration this week after Henrico school leaders apologized for showing a 4-minute video to students Feb. 4 at Glen Allen High School that portrayed the oppression and systematic racism in the United States that African-Americans have endured for centuries.
Va. Tech scientist to Richmonders: use water filters for protection
Attach a $20 filter to each of the water taps you use for drinking or cooking. And regularly change the filter cartridges. That’s the only to way to ensure you aren’t getting poisonous lead in your water, according to Dr. Marc Edwards, the Virginia Tech environmental scientist who has won hero status for proving people in Flint, Mich., were being poisoned by their drinking water.
A tale of two campaign offices:
Hillary and Bernie in Richmond
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton each have opened campaign offices in Richmond ahead of the upcoming Virginia presidential primary Tuesday, March 1.
Henrico School Board to set hearing on Byrd name change
Leaders of a growing campaign to rename Harry F. Byrd Middle School in Henrico County are asking the Henrico School Board to ensure that the county’s growing African- American population is provided an equal voice in the community discussion on the issue.
Coalition strategizes to end violence
As nearly 400 people met at an East End church last week to discuss solutions to stem the tide of violence in the city, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham somberly rose to address the audience.
Scalia’s death sets up showdown over high court
Conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has died, setting up a major political showdown between President Obama and the Republican-controlled Senate over who will replace him just months before a presidential election.
Tree axed
Committee votes to remove oak from Walker statue site
The live oak tree will be axed from the site where the Maggie L. Walker statue will stand in Downtown. The tree’s fate was sealed Saturday when sculptor Antonio T. “Toby” Mendez met with the Richmond Public Art Commission’s Site Selection Team, led by architect Sarah Driggs.
Thursday, February 18
City charter school flunks accreditation
A Richmond charter school has been denied accreditation, providing fresh ammunition to foes of a Republican push to open the floodgates to create such schools.
Family seeks criminal charges in Taser death by police
Gwendolyn Smalls said not a day goes by that she and her family don’t feel anguish over the inhumane and unnecessary death of her 46-year-old brother, Linwood R. Lambert Jr. The former Richmond resident died nearly three years ago while he was in the custody of three South Boston police officers who fired 20 Taser shots at him while his hands and legs were shackled.
Stalking, trespass charges against child advocate absolved
The big case is still ahead. But two charges against an advocate for special needs children have been dismissed or absolved. Last month, Kandise N. Lucas was acquitted of trespassing at Falling Creek Middle School.
Snowstorm plows through city budget
The winter storm that dumped 12 inches of snow on Richmond three weeks ago did more than snarl traffic, stall mail service and close schools.j
CARE van drivers still without contract
Elderly and disabled people who ride the specialty CARE van are seeing improved service and are registering fewer com- plaints, GRTC reports. Currently, about one in five rides arrives late, compared with one in four late arrivals logged last April, data from the transit company indicates.
Friday, February 12
‘Do we really want what Hillary Clinton has to offer?’
If Hillary Clinton is the Democratic nominee for president, chances are that the Republicans will never allow her to run a successful race. They will dredge up every scandal she and Bill Clinton have been involved in since he was governor of Arkansas, and there have been many.
Reaching toward justice
Bryan Stevenson’s inspiring and best-selling book “Just Mercy” shares some of the fruits of his lifelong fight to push our nation closer to true justice. In January, our nation took two more steps forward in the ongoing struggle to treat children like children and ensure a fairer justice system for all, especially for our poor and those of color.
Pro football’s double standard
Despite Cam Newton leading the Carolina Panthers to a 15-1 record during the regular season and two playoff victories en route to his being selected the NFL’s Most Valuable Player and six black quarterbacks playing in the Super Bowl, black quarterbacks are still routinely subjected to a double-standard by fans and the media. In an error-filled game in which neither star quarterback played particularly well, Newton’s team lost Sunday to the Denver Broncos 24-10. Even so, he had a stellar season by all accounts: Throwing for 3,837 yards, including a league-high of 35 touchdowns, and running 636 yards, accounting for 10 more touchdowns. He was selected as a first-team All-Pro and received 48 of the 50 votes cast for league MVP.
Queen Bey and the Super Bowl
We’ve just about had our fill of uninformed critiques from the peanut gallery about Beyonce’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl last Sunday. Everyone from former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to journalists and spectators around the world have tweeted, posted and dissected everything about it.
The human cost
The painful truth about America has emerged with the poisoned water in Flint, Mich. Top state and federal officials, including Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and regional Environmental Protection Agency officials, knew more than a year ago that residents of Flint were being harmed by toxic levels of lead in the city’s water supply. Yet, they did nothing to stop it. The situation in Flint has been compared to that of Third World nations. Critics also have used the word “genocide” in describing the deliberate and unabated damage done to the city of nearly 100,000 people, 57 percent of whom are African-American and 40 percent of whom are poor.
Love Stories
We formally met in the spring of 1999, introduced by mutual friends at a poetry and live music event. Our paths had crossed a few times the previous year.
14 authors to engage young readers at Feb.17 library event
In 1970, Clarence “Bucky” McGill joined fellow African-American football players at Syracuse University in a strike against racist conditions at the school — the first action of its kind. Now 66, Mr. McGill plans to use the story of the “Syracuse 8” strike to highlight a discussion with young Richmonders and their parents about conditions today that impact them.
‘Mardi Bras’ party with a purpose to aid homeless women
It’s Mardi Bras time in Richmond. That’s the program a local ministry is spearheading to collect intimate items for homeless women, including underwear and feminine hygiene products.
Exhibit highlights early Chesterfield lawyer-activist
He was a pioneering lawyer who also built Chesterfield County roads and oversaw services to the county’s poor during his lifetime. But, today, Cornelius Mimms is largely forgotten. The only notable mention of him in the county are street names in the county’s government complex, Mimms Drive and Mimms Loop.
New East End festival to bring music to Chimborazo Park
Another festival is coming to festival city. The first “RVA East End Festival: The Gift of Music,” will play Friday, May 6, through Sunday, May 8, in Chimborazo Park. Adding to the excitement, Bon Secours Richmond Health System has joined festival partners toward a pledged goal of $100,000 to provide musical instru- ments and related materials for East End students at Richmond’s Bellevue, Chimborazo, Fairfield Court, George Mason and Woodville elementary schools, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Armstrong High School and Franklin Military Academy.
Help choose TEDxRVA speaker at Open Mic Nights Feb. 17, 24
TEDxRVA has scheduled two “Open Mic Nights” in Richmond this month to give speakers the opportunity to compete to earn a spot in the group’s 4th Annual TEDxRVA 2016 event Friday, April 8, at Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace St., in Downtown.
VUU’s history grounded in incubating the oppressed for success
Audience members rose to their feet with impassioned shouts of “Hallelujah!” and “Amen!” at Virginia Union University’s Founders Day Convocation last Friday.
Misinformation ‘devastating’ to African-American community
Journalist, author and lecturer A. Peter Bailey does not count himself among the fans of the popular, award-winning movie “Straight Outta Compton,” which chronicles the rise and fall of the legendary gangster rap group N.W.A. “I refuse to go see it,” he told about 40 people at the 4th Annual State of Black America Address for Central Virginia on Saturday at Thirty-first Street Baptist Church in the East End.
Black History Month Kwanzaa celebration Feb. 27
It’s called “Black History Month Kwanzaa In Daily Living Celebration.”
‘Jesus is a good cure for fear’
WASHINGTON In his last National Prayer Breakfast speech while in office, President Obama gave an introspective talk about how his faith overcomes his fears. “For me, and I know for so many of you, faith is the great cure for fear,” President Obama said at the event Feb. 4 at a Washington hotel. “Jesus is a good cure for fear.”
Cam Newton wins league MVP, but loses Super Bowl
From Super Bowl 50, we learned the “D” in Denver stands for “defense,” and Cam Newton remains a work in progress. In a game sandwiched between endless commercials and a marathon halftime show, the Denver Broncos defeated the upstart Carolina Panthers 24-10.
VUU snags Holland Fisher in NCAA National Signing Day
Football Coach Mark James bills Virginia Union University as a “second chance school.” That being the case, it’s ideal for well-traveled Holland Fisher. The quick-striking, 6-foot-2, 200-pound former high school Under Armour All-American from Chesterfield County has landed at VUU with three years of eligibility.
VCU’s Melvin Johnson mirroring former Rams star Calvin Duncan
Melvin Johnson grew up in New York, first signed a scholarship offer with a Florida program and then changed his mind and came to Virginia Commonwealth University. Sound familiar?
Chemistry clicking among George Wythe players
There appear to be three basic categories of George Wythe High School basketball Bulldogs. There’s the obvious leading man, senior do-it-all guard Maliek White, the Providence College-bound 2015 State 3A Player of the Year.
VIA Heritage Association to meet
The Virginia Interscholastic Heritage Association will meet 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at Union Baptist Church in Hopewell, 212 Rev. C.W. Harris St.
Personality: Meldon Jenkins-Jones
Spotlight on founder of Black Male Emergent Readers Program
Meldon Deloris Jenkins-Jones has witnessed the difficulties some African-American children have learning to read. She explains how she watched her grandson struggle “despite the fact that his parents and I are educated. I wondered who would help children learn to read if they did not have a strong family background,” she recalls thinking. The Richmond resident, who is a law librarian for the Richmond Public Law Library in Downtown, says she began researching the subject and came across the work of Dr. Alfred Tatum, a reading specialist at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
Earth, Wind & Fire founder Maurice White dies at 74
Maurice White, the founder of R&B funk band Earth, Wind & Fire, died at his Los Angeles home Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, publicist Mark Young said. Mr. White had been battling Parkinson’s disease since 1992. He was 74.
Breakfast with Bernie
Bernie Sanders had breakfast in New York with the Rev. Al Sharpton just hours after trouncing Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire Democratic presidential nominating contest Tuesday. His meeting with the iconic civil rights leader marked the recognition by Mr. Sanders that his campaign must swiftly broaden its base of support if he has any chance of mounting a long-term challenge to Mrs. Clinton, who consistently polls better among African-American voters.
City Council on board with Bus Rapid Transit
Let’s roll on this project. That’s the message Richmond City Council sent this week on Bus Rapid Transit, also known as “Pulse.” Envisioning BRT as a start to creating a modern regional public transit system, council members voted 7-1, with one abstention, to give the green light to the $49 million project to speed up transit service primarily along the Broad Street corridor.
Tree decision expected Feb. 13 on Maggie Walker statue site
That controversial question is expected to be decided this weekend as plans move forward to create a statue of Richmond great Maggie L. Walker at Broad and Adams streets — the Downtown intersection now dominated by a rare live oak tree. The decision on whether to keep or remove the tree is to be made by the Richmond Public Arts Commission’s seven-member Site Selection Committee, the commission disclosed Tuesday.
Sen. Lucas flip-flops in Va. Supreme Court battle
Judge Rossie D. Alston Jr. is still one Senate vote short of winning a General Assembly election that would move him from the Virginia Court of Appeals to the state Supreme Court.
Boyer named to 1st District seat
John Edward “Dawson” Boyer was selected by the Richmond School Board on Monday to fill the vacant 1st District seat.
School Board holds nose to approve overcrowding plan
Members of the Richmond School Board approved a $19.1 million plan designed to help address huge overcrowding problems at several South Side schools.
Stained by dishonor
Henrico student launches growing effort to remove segregationist’s name from school
Jordan Chapman said her jaw dropped in incredulous disbelief the day she learned in her Hermitage High School history class about the late Harry F. Byrd Sr., the former Virginia governor, U.S. senator and avowed white separatist for whom H.F. Byrd Middle School in Henrico County is named.
Friday, February 5
Guns a safety issue
On the holiday for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Gov. Terry McAuliffe stood in front of hundreds of gun violence prevention supporters and activists and told them that “we are not finished” making Virginia a safer place.
Loan agencies can sometimes help
Re ‘Paydazed in RVA: High-fee loan traps Henrico man,” Jan. 28-30 edition: Many people come up short of money. It is an unfortunate situation to be in, especially when you are on a fixed income. I am 56 and was diagnosed in June 2007 with an incurable disease, and was placed on treatment for the rest of my life. I live on $959 monthly from government disability.
Richmond deeply divided
Our desire to live closer to our families and a burgeoning restaurant scene brought my husband and I to Richmond only 14 months ago, despite a commute to Washington each day for work. We first moved into a Shockoe Slip apartment and then purchased our first home together in the Fan District.
Snow removal a joke
All men are created equal, unless you live on South Side.
Standing on sacred ground
Three unarmed black men encountered a group of white men walking down a dirt road in Slocum, Texas, on July 29, 1910. Without warning, and with no reason, the white men opened fire on the black men. And, for two days, white men simply slaughtered black people. Eight deaths have been officially acknowledged, but historians who have studied the Slocum Massacre say that it is likely that dozens more were killed, with some saying as many were killed in Slocum as in Tulsa, Okla, in 1921, and those numbers range into the hundreds.
Trump gets trumped in Iowa
Ever since Donald Trump entered the Republican presidential race, I have been waiting to see him lose. I wanted to see how he would handle it. Humility, after all, is not an emotion with which The Donald appears to be intimately familiar. Remember when his rival Ben Carson, the retired brain surgeon, was running neck and neck with him in polls back in November, occasionally beating him? “How stupid are the people of Iowa?” Mr. Trump raged about Dr. Carson in a Fort Dodge rant. “How stupid are the people of the country to believe this crap?”
Lessons from Iowa
Now that the Iowa presidential caucuses are over, what can voters in Richmond, a majority African-American city, learn from the political choices of a lily-white state of cornfields and livestock that produced evangelist Robert Schuller and TV mom Donna Reed?
Community groups announce anti-violence summit on Feb. 11
Over the years, countless well-intentioned individuals and groups have organized rallies, prayer vigils and community meetings to stem the tide of violence in Richmond. While the number of homicides and violent crimes in the city has declined during the past 15 years, too many Richmond residents still suffer as victims.
Richmond native, author to deliver message of chastity
Author and Richmond native Ivy Julease Newman is returning home this weekend to encourage teens and single adults to pursue a lifestyle of chastity in order to maintain a closer relationship to God. First, she is scheduled to deliver her message of sexual abstinence to young women ages 13 through 18 on Friday, Feb. 5, at a workshop she designed, “Redefining Chastity.”
Political cartoonist Keith Knight to speak Feb. 4 at VCU
Political cartoonist Keith Knight is scheduled to deliver the 14th Annual Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries Black History Month Lecture titled, “They Shoot Black People, Don’t They? From Ferguson to NYC, Political Cartoonist Keith Knight on Police Violence in the U.S.”
Conference to focus on Virginia’s Rosenwald schools
John Tyler Community College and Preservation Virginia will host Virginia’s Rosenwald Conference from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Feb. 19, at the college’s Chester campus at 13101 Jef- ferson Davis Highway. The conference will bring people together who are interested in saving Virginia’s remaining Rosenwald Schools and their histories.
Black History Month Expo to highlight Petersburg events
Petersburg is planning an expo, movie viewings, spokenword and other dramatic presentations, a bus tour and read-in as part of its Black History Month commemoration.
Grant brings new books to Henderson Middle School
Henderson Middle School has received a $10,000 grant from Emily’s Hope Foundation to purchase 500 new books for it’s library, according to Dr. Vonita Foster, the school’s media specialist.
Free access to genealogy website this month
During the month of February, the New England Historic Genealogical Society is allowing free entry to its website for those seeking information on their African-American ancestry, it has been announced.
From SAG Awards to Sundance, diversity makes a comeback
In a flurry of wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Sundance Film Festival, diversity made a comeback. Over just a few hours last Saturday, the SAG Awards and Sundance showered their honors on a parade of performers and films that presented a stark contrast to the crisis that has plagued the Oscars. Shortly after Queen Latifah, Uzo Aduba, Viola Davis and Idris Elba (twice), received awards from the screen actors, writer-director Nate Parker’s Sundance sensation “The Birth of a Nation,” a drama about Nat Turner’s slave rebellion, swept the festival’s awards.
Newton vs. Manning in Super Bowl 50
Super Bowl 50 will be played on a football field in Santa Clara, Calif., but a Hollywood movie set seems a more fitting location.
Newton joins 5 other black Super Bowl quarterbacks
African-American quarterbacks, long absent on Super Bowl Sunday, have become commonplace on football’s brightest stage.
Maggie Walker among local schools receiving an NFL Golden Football
The former Maggie L. Walker High School has been awarded an NFL Golden Football for being among the high schools that contributed to the first 49 years of Super Bowls. Willie Lanier, a member of the Maggie L. Walker Class of 1963, helped the Kansas City Chiefs defeat the Minnesota Vikings 23-7 in Super Bowl IV on Jan. 11, 1970, in New Orleans. From Walker, Lanier went on to star at Morgan State University in Baltimore before embarking on a Hall of Fame career with the Chiefs.
Serena gracious even in defeat at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Serena Williams’ relaxed outlook on life spilled over even in defeat last Saturday when she appeared to be almost as happy that Angelique Kerber had won her first grand slam final as the German herself. The 34-year-old Serena lost the Australian Open final to the seventh-ranked Kerber 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in just more than two hours of scintillating tennis at Rod Laver Arena in which the German negated the American’s power and capitalized on unforced errors.
Area high school basketball standouts racking up points in college
The University of Kansas has won three NCAA basketball tournaments —1952, 1988 and 2008. If the Jayhawks are soon to add No. 4, look for Frank Mason III at center stage.
Former AAU player is NCAA leading scorer
A Howard University junior with Richmond connections is the NCAA’s leading basketball scorer. James Daniel III starred at Phoebus High School in Hampton and played offseason AAU ball for Richmond-based Team Loaded.
Rev. Wright: Faith traditions give hope for life’s journey
His voice didn’t reach the thunderous crescendo for which he is well known. Nor did he use the fiery cadences with which he has stirringly moved worshippers and other audiences for more than four decades.
Dr. Freddie Nicholas, former president of John Tyler Community College
Dr. Freddie W. “Nick” Nicholas Sr. was known as a trailblazing educator, stalwart community servant, committed family man and active church member.
Madeline W. Jones, retired city teacher, dies at 82
Madeline W. Jones had a passion for African-American history and the Pan-African movement. And she eagerly taught both to her students in Richmond Public Schools for 30 years before retiring in 1995. Her passion to teach black history and of the need for people of African descent to unite for progress was first fueled when she attended a Black History Class in the city taught in 1950 by Dr. Joseph Ransome, a history teacher at Armstrong High School.
Personality: Audrey Anderson Britt
Spotlight on sole surviving founder of the Melds Pinochle Club
Audrey Anderson Britt became interested in playing pinochle when she was a student at Virginia Union University. “They needed somebody to play,” she says of some of her classmates, “so I told them I knew how to play, but I really couldn’t.
Former presidential candidate Wilder offers advice to Clinton campaign
Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder — the nation’s first elected African-American governor and one-time Democratic presidential candidate — issued a cautionary warning to Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton’s campaign prior to a talk and book-signing event Tuesday at his alma mater, Virginia Union University.
Probe launched on city-church ties
Did anything illegal take place? Or is there merely a need for stronger policies covering city officials who engage in outside in endeavors on city time?
Police body cameras arrive
“We finally get the chance to tell our story from beginning to end,” Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said at a news conference Tuesday announcing the initial deployment this week of 20 body cameras for officers. Flanked by Mayor Dwight C. Jones, Richmond NAACP President Lynetta Thompson and others, Chief Durham said 20 more body cameras will be issued when they arrive within the next few weeks.
Mayor to seek referendum on school funding
Raise taxes or cut services. Those, said Mayor Dwight C. Jones, are about the only options Richmond has if it is to boost spending on public education by the tens of millions of dollars Richmond Public Schools is requesting. And he said he would explore with Richmond City Council “the idea of an advisory referendum on the November ballot to determine whether the public wishes to raise its taxes and by how much.”
Register to vote by Feb.8
Monday, Feb. 8, is the deadline to register to vote in Virginia’s presidential primary March 1. Voters will have the opportunity to cast a ballot for either Democratic or Republican candidates vying for their party’s nomination for the November presidential election.
School Board approves $293M budget plan
Even as the Richmond School Board approved its $293 million budget proposal on Monday, some members expressed serious concerns that the school system wouldn’t receive all the money being sought. “I think we’re going to have more discus- sions about what happens if we get one penny less than what we’re asking for,” board Chair Jeffrey M. Bourne told his board colleagues minutes before they approved the budget by a 6-2 vote at their City Hall meeting.
Payday loan victim joins class action suit
Henrico resident Donald Garrett is joining a class action suit seeking to hold Advance ‘Til Payday loan company accountable for allegedly evading state law and charging up to 960 percent interest on small loans of $100 to $300.
Lead poisoning endangers Richmond children, too
Amid the public outcry over the lead-contaminated public water supply in Flint, Mich., it is easy to forget that lead poisoning remains a threat to children across the country — even in Richmond. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 500,000 young children nationally suffer from lead poisoning that can affect development of their mental capacity, their bones and their organs.
Carver Elementary earns title of Highly Distinguished School
About two dozen proud staff members, parents and students from Richmond’s Carver Elementary School stood to be acknowledged at last week’s School Board meeting at City Hall. They were applauded because, for the second consecutive year, the school earned the distinction as a Title I Highly Distinguished School by the Virginia Department of Education.
Energy savings could yield $18M to fix city schools
Energy savings could generate $18 million to fuel an overhaul of heating and cooling systems, windows, lighting and other systems in as many as 10 Richmond Public Schools buildings.
Weather woes delay leaf pickup
Richmond’s big snow means the city’s leaf collection is going to run further behind. Heavy rains during December pushed back the city’s leaf vacuuming program by two weeks or more, the city Department of Public Works has acknowledged.
Veterans’ burial postponed
The burial of three veterans who died in Richmond has been postponed due to the snowfall, the office of Richmond Sheriff C.T. Woody Jr. has announced.
