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Jazz master pianist ‘McCoy’ Tyner dies at 81
“McCoy” Tyner, the ground- breaking and influential jazz pianist and the last surviving member of the John Coltrane Quartet, has died. He was 81.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson celebrates Black chefs, food in new book
If anyone asks chef Marcus Samuelsson what African food taste like, he has a ready answer: Have you ever had barbeque? Rice? Collard greens? Okra? Coffee?
U.N. creates permanent body to address racism
The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Monday establishing a Permanent Forum of People of African Descent to provide expert advice on addressing the challenges of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and intolerance.
Homegrown terror
The nation reacts to violence and murder in Charlottesville driven by white supremacists’ attempts to protect Confederate statues
Was the horror show in Charlottesville fresh evidence that overt racism remains an issue for our country? Or is it a terrible, but ultimately small blip in a nation where the issue of race has dominated the past and remains a key issue today?
Oprah Winfrey exhibit opens at National Black History Museum
One of the most recognizable openings in television history blares on a video screen: “I’m Oprah Winfrey, and welcome to The Oprah Winfrey Show!” The crowd goes wild. At the center of it all, a dancing young Oprah.
'Hair Love' gives color to Oscar winners list
A touching story about an African-American father trying to do his daughter’s hair for the first time is an Oscar winner.
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge breaks world marathon record
Kenya’s Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge pulverized the marathon world record with a blistering run last Sunday, slicing a staggering 78 seconds off the previous best to land the one major running crown that had eluded him.
Howard University renames school for Cathy Hughes
Howard University has renamed its School of Communications the Cathy Hughes School of Communications, after the founder of Radio One Inc., the largest African-American owned multimedia company in the United States. Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, president of Howard University, announced in early October a multimillion-dollar gift to the communications school from the Catherine L. Hughes and Alfred C. Liggins III Foundation.
Praise, doubt as Facebook rolls out new prayer tool
Facebook already asks for your thoughts. Now it wants your prayers.
Phil Freelon, architect of the African-American history museum in D.C., dies at 66
Architect Phil Freelon, who designed buildings ranging from local libraries to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, died Tuesday, July 9, 2019, in Durham, N.C.
Trump’s views on Islam ‘continue to evolve’
President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia this week has begun to soften his attitudes about Islam, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Monday after a two-day summit in which the president was treated to extraordinary Arab hospitality. “I think the president’s views — like, we hope, the American people’s views — are going to continue to evolve,” Mr. Tillerson said on the flight from Riyadh to Tel Aviv.
Petersburg native Joseph B. Jefferson, whose songs gave The Spinners big hits, dies at 77
Petersburg native Joseph Banks Jefferson, a self-taught drummer and organist who went on to co-write hit songs for The Spinners, has died in his adopted city of Philadelphia.
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.
Federal court blocks Trump’s travel ban
The fate of President Trump’s order to ban travelers from six predominantly Muslim nations, blocked by federal courts, soon may be in the hands of the conservative-majority U.S. Supreme Court, where the president’s appointee, Justice Neil Gorsuch, could help settle the matter.
2 more GOP senators to back Judge Jackson for Supreme Court, nearly assuring confirmation
Republican U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah say they will vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s historic elevation to the U.S. Supreme Court, giving President Biden’s nominee a burst of bipartisan support and all but assuring she’ll become the first Black female justice in the court’s 232-year history.
Two men exonerated in assassination of Malcolm X after more than 50 years
More than half a century after the assassination of Malcolm X, two of his convicted killers were exonerated last week after decades of doubt about who was responsible for the civil rights icon’s death.
White nationalist pleads guilty to federal hate crimes, avoiding death penalty in Charlottesville case
An Ohio man pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal hate crime charges in a deadly car attack at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, a case that stirred racial tensions across the country.
tear those
A monument to a deadly white supremacist uprising in 1874 was removed under cover of darkness by workers in masks and bulletproof vests Monday as New Orleans joined the movement to take down symbols of the Confederacy and the Jim Crow South.
Black-owned beauty brands move into the retail spotlight
When Dr. Rose Ingleton launched her own namesake skincare line two years ago, she couldn’t break into the big chains and was forced to use her own funds and get financial help from family and friends.
Pope makes D.C. archbishop first Black cardinal in U.S.
Washington D.C. Archbishop Wilton Gregory is now the first Black U.S. prelate to assume the rank of cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, a historic appointment that comes months after nationwide demonstrations against racial injustice.
