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Ebony and Jet archives transferred to Smithsonian and Getty Research Institute
More than 4 million photos from Ebony and Jet magazine that captured African-American life, history and culture in the 20th century are now the property of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Abortion battle erupts with leaded U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion
America’s decades-old battle over abortion rights exploded anew on Tuesday as the U.S. Supreme Court authenticated a draft opinion leaked to the news outlet Politico that signaled the court will soon overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

Cary C. Mitchell, clothing designer to athletes and a Richmond legacy sports backer, dies at 62
Top Black athletes found their way to Richmond native Cary C. Mitchell when they wanted to look their best.

Afghan evacuees mark first U.S. Ramadan with gratitude, agony
Sitting cross-legged on the floor as his wife and six children laid plates of fruit on a red cloth in front of him, Wolayat Khan Samadzoi watched through the open balcony door for the sliver of the new moon to appear in the cloudless New Mexico sky, where the sun had set beyond a desert mountain.

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.

Black female WWII unit to be recognized with Congressional Gold Medal
The only all-female, Black unit to serve in Europe during World War II will be honored with the Congressional Gold Medal.

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.

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.

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.

State historic markers honor Black church, civil rights leader
When Rev. Charles Henry Johnson moved in 1890 from Richmond to Bristol, which served as a railroad town, he became the minister of a little wooden church started by 39 freed slaves. A few pastors had come through Lee Street Baptist Church, which was organized 25 years earlier in 1865, but Rev. Johnson stuck, according to a Dec. 17, 2017, article in the Bristol Herald Courier.

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.

Ex-prosecutor charged in Ahmaud Arbery case booked at jail
The former prosecutor charged with misconduct for her handling of the Ahmaud Arbery case was booked at a Georgia jail on Wednesday and released.

Late author Alex Haley honored in 2-day hometown celebration
Find the good and praise it. It’s a phrase the late Alex Haley, author of the 1976 novel “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” often said during his life, fromhisdaysresidinginthesmall West Tennessee town of Hen- ning through his world travels as a journalist and writer. His seminal book about the horrors and injustices of slavery include messages of perseverance, cour- age and strength.

Robert P. “Bob” Moses, who crusaded for civil rights and later math education, dies at 86
Robert P. “Bob” Moses, a civil rights activist who was shot at and endured beatings and jail while leading Black voter registration drives in the South during the 1960s and later helped improve minority education in math, died Sunday, July 25, 2021.

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.

GOP gubernatorial candidates meet in first debate
Four out of the seven Republicans running for governor in Virginia met Sunday in their first debate, covering topics ranging from education to law enforcement to the economy, with each promising to turn back liberal Democratic policies and end a GOP losing streak.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview stirs racial introspection among Brits
Explosive allegations by Meghan Markle, the duchess of Sussex, that she faced racist attitudes from both the royal palace and the media in the United Kingdom have sent ripples of shock around the world. But they came as no surprise to many Black Britons.

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.

African-American astronaut pilots SpaceX capsule to International Space Station
SpaceX’s newly launched capsule with four astronauts arrived Monday at the International Space Station, piloted by Navy Cmdr. Victor Glover, 44.

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.
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