Story
Make it count
It looks like 2016 all over again in the Democratic primary as voters prepare to decide whether Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam or former Congressman Tom S. Perriello will carry the party’s banner into the November race for governor. Last year, Hillary Clinton, with the backing of the Democratic establishment, battled Bernie Sanders, the darling of the party’s left wing, for the presidential nomination. This time, Virginia’s Democratic Party establishment is backing Lt. Gov. Northam, 57, while the Sanders camp is pushing Mr.
Story
Much has changed, much remains in newsrooms
The news business is consumed by constant disrup- tors and interruptions. So much so that non-breaking news often gets tossed aside. I should know. Twice in the past two weeks an announcement about me coming aboard as managing editor for the Richmond Free Press was kicked to the curb in favor of major, breaking news. As it should be. No one wants to read about journalists when mass shootings, gun violence and a deadly pandemic continue to wreak havoc locally and throughout the country. Add to that soaring gas prices, babies lacking basics, and a trip to the grocery store akin to a five-course dinner or luxury hotel stay. When such tragedies occur and wallets are hijacked, journalists should be covering them rather than focusing on themselves. This week the news has been a little less jarring, providing time for me to reflect on my new role in a city that I moved to in 1981. Back then, I accepted an offer to work at Richmond’s afternoon daily newspaper, intrigued that the City Council was predominantly Black, which indicated to me that the city was progressive. While that remains a matter of debate among many, I will say that having left Richmond in 2011 to teach Black college students in my hometown of Greensboro, N.C., I was elated to return here five years later. I missed my favorite haunts, my home in a quiet neighborhood, my fun-loving, quirky friends, my church, my sorority and my museums. Upon returning, I continued to teach at various uni- versities but experienced profound joy as a substitute teacher in Henrico County. I completed a book about Black women journalists. I also started a nonprofit me- dia organization and spent several years as a freelance reporter and editor for publications that included the Richmond Free Press. My first few days as the Free Press managing editor were chaotic to say the least. Having just returned from a restful vacation in Hilton Head, S.C. and Savannah, Ga. — you know, the city that Hyundai just chose over Virginia’s Pittsylvania County to spend $5.5 billion and hire more than 8,000 workers — I was tossed into a sea of local, state and national news that I’d not experienced since ...last February. That was when, for two weeks, I served as the Free Press guest editor in the absence of the newspaper’s former managing editor. That also was when, during Black History Month, Virginia’s newly inaugurated governor caused a furor with his condemnation of critical race theory and had folks fired up about a “tip line” to snitch on classroom teachers who dared to teach the truth about American history and slavery. The furor almost made the Ralph Northam 2019 black face debacle appear quaint. (Note to Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin who made his fortune at one of the world’s most influential private equity firms: Don’t you think that time spent dissing teachers could have been better spent helping Pittsylvania County, decimated for more than a decade by furniture industry losses, secure that $5.5 billion Hyundai deal?) Before my recent re-entry into the newsroom, it had been nearly 25 years since I was a full time newspaper employee. Although much has changed since then, many aspects of the industry remain. The decline of daily newspapers began with buyouts and mergers in the early 1990s, around the same time that the Richmond Free Press was born. The dissolution of newsrooms continues today in the form of tight budgets, lean staffs, 24/7 hour news cycles and decreased circulation. Although the Free Press is a weekly newspaper, our mission is similar to that of daily print publications and online outlets. Still in the game, we are deadline driven, truth seekers and zealous about serving Richmond and surrounding communities. We are a Black-owned news- paper and revel in our reputation for providing relevant information for and about Richmond’s Black commu- nity. We also delight in knowing that our newspapers, more often than not, are consumed by many non-Black readers, too. Our staff is small, but mighty. A cadre of talented freelance reporters and photographers stand ready to support us when needed and we are proud of their presence. I remain honored and humbled (and somewhat speech- less) by an invitation from Jean P. Boone, Richmond Free Press president and publisher, to lead the Free Press. In accepting my new role, I am the second editor to do so since the death of Richmond Free Press Founder Raymond H. Boone. Never did I envision being in this position once occupied by a man whose backbone was made of steel, whose mind was sharper than any sword, and whose heart was good as gold. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Boone for allowing me — a woman who penned her first newspaper article for a Black newspaper, The Carolina Peacemaker, as a col- lege student in 1977 — to lead your life’s passion and tireless work in its continuing journey. It is my hope and prayer that you, dear readers and new readers, will continue this journey with us.
Story
Free community COVID-19 testing continues
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following location:
Story
Early voting begins April 23 for Democratic primary
Early voting for the June 8 Democratic primary will get underway this Friday, April 23 – 45 days ahead of primary day.
Story
No, Donald, you’re not being persecuted like the Scottsboro Boys, by Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan
The Scottsboro Boys were victims of racism; Donald Trump, conversely, has long been known for his racism
“War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance Is Strength.” So wrote George Orwell in 1984, his famous dystopian novel about authoritarian- ism. The book gave us the term “Orwellian,” describing situations where facts are ignored, truth is turned on its head, and 2+2=5. Now, almost 75 years after its publication, the United States is confronting its own brush with authoritarianism, by prosecuting former President Trump for his attempt to seize power after losing the 2020 election.
Story
Organizations call for Black people to fight in midterm elections
'Everything we love is on the line’
As the summer vacation season winds down and the fall political season is about to heat up, the nation’s premier national Black voter organization is calling on Black America to start fighting now to elect the candidates that positively impact the Black community during midterm elections Nov. 8.
Story
Beyond T-shirts and hoodies
Recollections of my 1995 article on the business of college athletics danced in my head when I heard the news about the University of Missouri football team’s refusal to play until the president of that university, Tim Wolfe, resigned or was dismissed.
Story
Families of 9 killed in Mother Emanuel AME Church massacre settle lawsuit over faulty gun background check
Families of the nine victims killed in the 2015 racist attack at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., have reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department over a faulty background check that allowed convicted shooter Dylann Roof to purchase the gun.
Story
Head of Monroe Park Conservancy charged with assault; VCU students may face discipline in case
The volunteer president and director of the group that operates Monroe Park has been charged with assault stemming from a confrontation Sunday, Oct. 31, with two Virginia Commonwealth University students.
Story
Step up
We are greatly disappointed by Richmond City Council’s failure Monday night to approve a tax on cigarettes. The 80 cents per pack tax, proposed by Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, would have generated $5 million annually that would have been dedicated to the repair and maintenance of Richmond’s aged and dilapidated public school buildings.
Story
Crowd urged to work for 'Monumental Justice'
More than 100 people gathered at the State Capitol on Wednesday afternoon in support of legislation that would give control of the dozens of Confederate monuments in Virginia to localities.
Photo
Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts tweeted a photo from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday showing the sit-in demanding common sense …
Published on June 24, 2016
Photo
Art and music flourished outdoors last Saturday at the 2nd Annual Art Under the Pines, a free exhibition of local artists, held in the Sculpture …
Published on October 28, 2021
Photo
Caleb Wilson, 3, and Caiden Wilson, 7, smile for the camera while their mother, Simone Wilson, keeps a watchful eye on them.
Published on October 12, 2023
Photo
This new billboard on Oliver Hill Way near the Richmond Justice Center spells out key demands protesters in the city have been pressing for weeks. …
Published on July 30, 2020
Story
Jenner’s confession stirs up memories of tennis star Renée Richards
In a highly anticipated TV interview last week, Olympic decathlon champion Bruce Jenner told ABC’s Diane Sawyer that “for all intents and purposes, I am a woman.” Jenner’s revelation he is transitioning from male to female stirs recollections of another sports-related, transgender shocker — the case of Dr. Richard Raskind becoming Renée Richards.
Story
‘Fat and Faithful’: New book probes spirituality of body image
As a teenager, J. Nicole Morgan was fond of her reflection in the mirror. She liked her eyes and her smile. But then she looked at her arms and stomach and reminded herself that she was not pretty and could not possibly be the person God made her to be.
Story
VSU wins CIAA crown; now ready for NCAA playoffs
Virginia State University snared the CIAA football championship in dominant fashion. Now the Trojans are eyeing an even bigger game.
Photo
Alonzo Coley keep a watchful eye on hamburgers cooking on the grill at the event hosted by members of the 26th Masonic District and the …
Published on September 8, 2017
Story
Eclipse 2017
Rare total solar eclipse a chance to see ‘pure science’
The last time Carroll Ellis, a geoscience educator at the MathScience Innovation Center in Henrico County, saw a total solar eclipse, the price of a loaf of bread was less than a quarter, the average price of a home was $24,000 and he was learning how to use a microscope, a gift from his parents.
