Personality: Jenny J. Jones
Spotlight on founder of nonprofit Beds for Kids Inc.
More than 4,000 children in the Greater Richmond community sleep better at night, thanks to the efforts of Jenny J. Jones and a legion of other volunteers at Beds for Kids Inc.
After controversy, Dr. Bedden won’t teach at VSU this fall
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden will not be teaching a class at Virginia State University in the fall. In response to a Free Press query, RPS spokesperson Richard Davis said last Friday that Dr. Bedden has “decided against pursuing the opportunity to teach in an adjunct capacity at Virginia State University.”
City refuse collectors halt work, forcing talks on better pay
Richmond’s refuse collectors once again proved they can be a powerful force when they stand up for themselves. For about five hours Tuesday, the city’s 25 trash trucks stood still at the South Side depot as 70 refuse collectors pushed for better pay and aired other grievances — forcing city officials to scramble to soothe their concerns as calls began pouring in from residents whose trash was not picked up.
Washington NFL team shot down by federal court
Can the government ban trademark registration of the racist mascot name of Washington’s pro football team? Yes, a federal judge ruled Wednesday in throwing the team for a big loss in its efforts to defend and maintain the name. The decision is the biggest setback for the defiant team since the Richmond Free Press and other media outlets banned the use of the name. The Free Press took the action in October 2013, after deeming the name on a par with the “n” word for black people.
From slave to legislator
Virginia’s early black lawmakers honored
James Apostle Fields started life in Virginia as a slave in Hanover County. By his death in 1903, he had gone to Hampton University, earned a law degree at Howard University and been elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.
Brush-off in city pays dividends in Norfolk
Training program helps public housing residents get construction jobs
Training program helps public housing residents get construction jobs
‘New America’ prevails in U.S. Supreme Court’s historic decisions
Old America largely conceded to New America in the latest round of major U.S. Supreme Court decisions. New America is the coalition that came to power with President Obama in 2008 and gave him the winning majority. It’s a coalition of groups marginalized for most of U.S. history: African-Americans, Latinos, religious minorities, young people, gays, single mothers, working women and Americans who claim no religious affiliation.
Free Press wins 3 national awards
The Richmond Free Press was recognized with three national awards at the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s annual convention in Detroit.
Former Richmond pastor faces life sentence
Geronimo Aguilar once walked into services at the packed former Richmond Outreach Center worship services like a rock star. He waved to excited congregation members as about a half-dozen muscular security team members surrounded him. Known as “Pastor G,” the pastor drew lofty praise from politicians, business leaders, educators, law enforcement, faith leaders and ordinary citizens alike for leading the South Side church’s 24/7 mission to help the downtrodden.
Origin of student civil rights group clarified
Re “Student civil rights workers recall efforts,” June 25-27 edition: We appreciate the Richmond Free Press devoting an article to the Civil Rights Movement and the 50th reunion of the Virginia Students’ Civil Rights Committee (VSCRC). There is one point that we would like to clarify about the origins of the VSCRC and its relationship to other groups active at that time.
Eradication of Confederate flag ‘should give every Southerner pause’
Re “We shall overcome,” June 25-27 edition: Given the recent vandalizing of a Virginia monument, I can’t help but be concerned for the future of the Commonwealth. The history of the Confederacy is everywhere and the attempts to erase it, as several Southern states have proposed to do, should give every Southerner pause.
Free Press founder was right about Monument Avenue
I remember when Raymond H. Boone, honoring iconic Richmonder and newspaperman John Mitchell Jr. three summers ago, said this about our community:
A cue from Frederick Douglass
As our nation prepares for its annual celebration of Independence Day, I re-read Frederick Douglass’ Fourth of July speech delivered 163 years ago in Rochester, N.Y. I look at it with a specific eye toward what we can learn from it in the wake of the recent tragedies of Charleston and North Charleston, S.C.; Cleveland; New York City; Ferguson, Mo; and Sanford, Fla. Frederick Douglass observed, “Oppression makes a wise man mad. With brave men there is always a remedy for oppression…The freedom gained is yours; and you, therefore, may properly celebrate this anniversary. The 4th of July is the first great fact in your nation’s history—the very ringbolt in the chain of your yet undeveloped destiny…Pride and patriotism, not less than gratitude, prompt you to celebrate and to hold it in perpetual remembrance.
Economic clout can create change
There’s a lesson to be learned from the Confederate flag quickly and unexpectedly falling into disfavor following the murder of nine Bible-studying African-Americans, including the pastor, at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, S.C. The lesson is that the economic clout of African-Americans and their progressive allies can be used to pressure businesses to do the right thing, which in turn can keep the far right wing in check.
No going back
We are pleased with the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling expanding the legal right of same-sex couples to marry nationwide. Virginia has allowed gay couples to marry since October, thanks to a ruling from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. This new decision from the nation’s highest court, which was met with jubilation, eliminates the checkerboard approach to gay marriage that called into question the legal rights of gay couples just moving from state to state. The ruling also eliminates any guesswork about whether a same-sex partner can be covered under family health insurance or receive survivor’s benefits or a pension.
Nation’s victory
Pundits across the nation are hailing the past few days as “the best week ever” for President Obama. That’s in large measure because of landmark rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the federal Affordable Care Act and legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.
Fireworks schedule
This year’s July 4th holiday marks the 239th anniversary of America’s signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain.
VCU’s Graham trying his luck in NBA Summer League
Treveon Graham hopes for a change in his basketball luck in the mecca for gambling, Las Vegas. After not getting picked in last week’s NBA Draft, the former Virginia Commonwealth University star has signed to play for San Antonio in the Samsung NBA Summer League at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas.
Charles City native a first at state’s executive mansion
Kaci M. Easley is carrying on a proud family tradition of public service. Her late maternal grandmother, Iona W. Adkins, served as clerk of Charles City County Circuit Court from 1967 to 1988. She was the first African-American woman to be elected clerk of a court of record since Reconstruction. The Virginia House of Delegates honored her in a resolution shortly after her death in 2004.
2-day gospel music festival next weekend
Dozens of gospel artists from across the nation are scheduled to perform at The East Coast Gospel Music Summer Fest. It’s billed as “one of the biggest gospel music weekends on the East Coast.”
