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The power of the people — and alumni
When my beloved alma mater Grambling State University hired a white assistant coach, Art Briles, as offensive coordinator of the football program, there was a loud uproar.
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History maker
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first Black woman to be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would be only the third Black justice to serve on the nation’s highest court.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on Wednesday took her first steps on her history-making journey to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Personality: Kathryn B. ‘Katie’ Ricard
Spotlight on president of the William Fox Elementary PTA
Kathryn Baum “Katie” Ricard is looking to turn an outpouring of support in the wake of an unexpected, catastrophic event into an opportunity for education in Richmond — and a fulcrum for community unity.
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School Board approves $365.6M budget, after slashing $6M from Kamras plan
After months of quibbling, the Richmond School Board approved a $356.6 million budget Monday night that provides a 5 percent raise for teachers and other schools employees, but eliminates money for new student laptops, instructional contracts and cellphones for employees.
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Learning Black history through portrayal
A judge, an inventor and a cheerleader strolled into Christina Smith’s photog- raphy studio in downtown Battle Creek recently.
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Personality: Dr. Arcelia ‘CC’ Jackson
Spotlight on board president of Mental Health America of Virginia
Dr. Arcelia “CC” Jackson is bringing a caring, thoughtful approach to the issues and stigmas surrounding mental health in the Richmond community across her multiple disciplines and roles.
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Romance fraud: Looking for love in wrong place proves costly
For the victim, a 78-year-old man from Annandale, it started with an effort to find some companionship.
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CRT – Critical race truth
As Black History Month 2022 wraps up, we again call our readers’ attention to the growing national assaults on teaching and learning about America’s past and the racist policies and practices that have brought our city, state and nation to where it is today – with gaps in education, health, wealth, employment, homeownership and justice that disproportionately impact Black people and people of color.
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Who would have believed it?, by E. Faye Williams
From the silly to the sublime, to the serious, faster than the mind can cogitate, our societal norms are being manipulated from the “as expected” to the “never in a million years.” Re- flecting on what is presented to the masses daily, I can recall a time when a television se- ries like “The Real House- wives...” could never have been shown, and pimple-pop- ping would have been done in the privacy of one’s own bathroom, but no longer. Frivolity is often the trade- mark of a “who would have believed” event, but now, more often than not, rather than leaving us amused, they leave us shocked and in dismay and disbelief. The current trend in these events has us questioning how we might provide for increased security and safety for our families and ourselves. Who would have believed a time during which the serious- ness of a public health crisis in theformofaglobalpandemic would be denied? Can anyone explain when, in the face of such a pandemic, personal interests and comfort became paramount over the interests of the general state of health? Most assuredly, few people could have anticipated this “denial” state of mind among such large numbers of cases or that the disease would take the lives of more than 900,000 Americans. My bet is that even fewer people could have guessed the massive rejection of life- saving vaccines. In stark contrast to the cur- rent pandemic, the 1950s battle against polio was a lesson in Dr. E. Faye Williams cooperative discipline. With the exception of general mask- ing, Americans practiced ex- treme social distancing. In his book, “Paralyzed with Fear: The Story of Polio,” Gareth Wil- liams wrote, “Fearful of the spread of the contagious virus, (San Angelo, Texas) closed pools, swimming holes, movie theaters, schools and churches, forcing priests to reach out to their congregations on local radio. Some motorists who had to stop for gas in San Angelo would not fill up their deflated tires, afraid they’d bring home air containing the infectious virus. And one of the town’s best physicians diagnosed his patients based on his ‘clinical impression’ratherthantaking the chance of getting infected during the administration of the proper diagnostic test.” When Jonas Salk released his vaccine in 1955, he im- mediately was described as a “miracle worker” and, because he did not patent his vaccine, it was universally welcomed and produced in the United States and the world. Acceptance of his vaccine was so widespread that by1980, polio had been elimi- nated in the United States. One also must ask who would have believed a time in which the history of Black Americans is being openly erased from the curriculum of America’s public schools and from the conscience of the nation? Although barely taught, the instruction of Black history is under assault. It is er- roneously labeled as critical race theory and the new threshold of general acceptance is that it is presented in a manner which does not cause “guilt” or “discomfort” to the listener. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History, said, “Those who have no record of what their forebears have ac- complished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” He added, “If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.” For now, the vigilant see psychologicaleradicationasthe goal. Will the physical follow? I guess nothing should sur- prise us now as people now flock to certain gas stations for dinner! The writer is national presi- dent of the National Congress of Black Women Inc.
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Cancel student loan debt, by Charlene Crowell
One of President Biden’s first executive actions exercised his authority granted in the Higher Education Act.
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‘We are resilient’
Fox Elementary School parents, students, teachers and administrators vow to bounce back after fire destroys the 111-year-old school on Hanover Avenue, sending students back to virtual learning
Five days after a huge blaze turned Fox Elementary School into a hulking ruin, students, parents, teachers and staff of The Fan school are readjusting to virtual learning.
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Personality: Michelle Evans-Oliver
Spotlight on president of Richmond, Virginia Branch of ASALH
In the midst of a pandemic marked by death, large-scale action and change for African-Americans, Michelle Evans-Oliver is working to ensure the stories of Black people in Richmond are preserved and promoted.
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L.A. Rams put a ring on it
Put a ring on it. As an exclamation point to winning Super Bowl LVI, the Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald triumphantly pointed to the ring finger on his left hand. Now the NFL’s most ferocious pass rusher will have a Super Bowl ring to go with his extensive collection of individual awards that include three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
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The moral arc of the universe bends
Re Editorial “Biden must select a justice for all,” Free Press Feb. 3-5 edition:
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Personality: Lawrence ‘Larry’ Clark
Spotlight on president of the Greater Richmond Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogicial Society
The history of African-Americans remains obscured because of the effects of slavery and white supremacy. It’s this lack of information that Lawrence “Larry” Clark seeks to resolve as president of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society’s Greater Richmond Chapter.
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Gearing up for Sunday’s big game – Super Bowl LVI
In looking for Super Bowl storylines, a good start might be the quarterbacks, the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow and the Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford.
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Love Stories 2022
The Richmond Free Press proudly presents its annual Valentine’s Day feature sharing the love stories of four Richmond area couples.
From blind date to years of wedded bliss...
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Leadership changes in Richmond-Henrico health districts
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are undergoing another big change, as the director, Dr. Danny Avula, has been named by Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin to lead the Virginia Department of Social Services.
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Former RIchmond firefighter is Petersburg's first woman fire chief
Shortly after being sworn in at Petersburg’s new fire chief on Jan. 31, Tina R. Watkins described the moment as “surreal” and something she has envisioned since childhood.
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President Biden furthers pledge to name a black woman to the Supreme Court
President Joe Biden met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the White House on Wednesday to talk about how to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.
