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N.C. woman files $15M lawsuit against the national NAACP
A woman who said she repeatedly told the national NAACP that her supervisor in the North Carolina conference had sexually harassed her is suing the national group and her former boss.

Lerone Bennett Jr., noted historian of black America, dies at 89
Perhaps no other voice — or pen — captured the real life of Africans and African-Americans like Lerone Bennett Jr., the former editor of Ebony and JET magazines.

Organizations raise $1M for new racial justice fund
Several organizations in Richmond have partnered to raise $1 million for a fund set to expand wealth and educational op- portunities for the Black community and to address structural racism.

Fire destroys former governor’s home
A Wednesday fire destroyed the Northern Virginia home of former Virginia Gov. and U.S. Sen. Chuck Robb and his wife, Lynda, who is the daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Sharpton urges Ferguson citizens to be ‘disciples of justice’
The Rev. Al Sharpton hopes the Michael Brown case will help change the way police engage the African-American community in this Missouri community and elsewhere.

William Blinn, screenwriter of miniseries ‘Roots’ and film ‘Purple Rain,’ dies at 83
William Blinn, a screenwriter for the landmark TV projects “Roots” and “Brian’s Song” and the Prince film “Purple Rain,” has died. He was 83.

Foundations buy Ebony and JET photo archives for preservation at Smithsonian
The sale of the photo archive of Ebony and JET magazines chronicling African-American history is generating relief among some who worried the historic images may be lost.

Turmoil at EBONY and Essence magazines prompts changes at top
EBONY and Essence magazines are in trouble.

Beyoncé shows out
Jay Z, Blue Ivy present her with award
The leading ladies of pop music, notably Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus, dominated the MTV Video Music Awards.

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.

#MourningWhileBlack
Social media blows up after white priest kicks black family out of funeral
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has apologized for a white priest kicking an African-American family out of their loved one’s funeral.

Black media icons scaling back, possibly closing
It has been a rough few days for the black media. First, Ebony magazine and its sister publication, JET magazine, may be closing their doors for good. And then the publisher of the storied Chicago Defender newspaper announced last week that it will no longer publish a print version.

Rhiannon Giddens, Taj Mahal and others join ‘Event for the Environment
Fiddler Rhiannon Giddens, a founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, bluesman Taj Mahal and more than 200 musical artists will perform next month as part of an online fundraiser for the environment that will be shown on YouTube.

Inequality persists 50 years after landmark Kerner Commission report
Barriers to equality are posing threats to democracy in the United States as the country remains segregated along racial lines and child poverty worsens, according to a study examining the nation 50 years after the release of the landmark 1968 Kerner Report.

Civil rights groups decry tax bill impact
President Trump and Republicans are heralding their new tax legislation as a major help to middle class Americans and as a certain way of boosting the economy by cutting the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent

Selma Online offers free civil rights lessons amid virus
The first attempt of the historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala., in 1965 led to police violence against peaceful African-American demonstrators. The police beatings on what became known as “Bloody Sunday” generated anger across the nation 55 years ago this month and prompted President Lyndon B. Johnson to push the Voting Rights Act through Congress. It was one of the most significant moments in U.S. history but remains almost absent from public schools’ social studies lessons.

49th Annual NAACP Image Awards slated for Jan.15
Final preparations are underway for the 49th NAACP Image Awards, which will air in a live, two-hour television special on Monday, Jan. 15, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Idris Elba named sexiest man alive
Move over Barack Obama. Actor Idris Elba was named the sexiest man alive on Monday by People magazine. The London-born actor, 46, said he didn’t believe it when magazine officials told him.

Drake most decorated winner in Billboard Music Awards history
It was a family affair at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday. Pink twirled in the air in a powerful performance with her 9-year-old daugh- ter, Willow Sage Hart, and Drake was named artist of the decade, accepting the honor as he held his fussy 3-year-old son, Adonis Graham.

Convicting R. Kelly
R&B superstar R. Kelly faces up to life in prison after being convicted Monday on the testimony and strength of Black women who would not let the justice system forget what happened
For years, decades even, allegations swirled that R&B superstar R. Kelly was abusing young women and girls, with seeming impunity.