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State of Black America 2024, by Marc H. Morial
“We’re building an America where we recognize the inherent dignity of every single person, and where every American has the chance to live a life of purpose and meaning. This is my vision for the future.” — President Biden, 2024 State of Black America
Controlling our own story
In war, one of the first things the enemy does is destroy his adversary’s ability to communicate within its ranks. Chaos likely ensues if a fighting force cannot communicate internally. Individual soldiers end up doing their own thing, left to their own devices. They make decisions based on their individual situations and in their individual interests. This allows the enemy to come in and pick them off one by one, using false information and propaganda, instilling fear of being captured or killed, or by making the individual feel abandoned and left with no hope of victory.
Stand up to corporate polluters
As Earth Day is upon us, we have a perfect opportunity to reflect on the important issue of climate change and what it means to the faith community. As people of faith and as people sharing this planet, it is clearly our moral obligation to address this growing and potentially catastrophic problem. Climate change affects all of us, including our children, our children’s children, and especially those in the poorest and most vulnerable communities among us. If we are truly our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, we cannot ignore and leave them helpless to this public health threat.
Churches battling Selma’s ongoing problem — poverty
The world’s eyes were again on this small Alabama city, the epicenter of the voting rights battle 50 years ago. However, the crippling poverty that faith and community leaders grapple with daily was largely overlooked amid the commemoration of the long ago fight to end the exclusion of black people from the ballot box. For those who live here, the big march and the powerful words of President Obama were a passing moment with little impact on conditions. As Pastor Reginald Wells put it in considering the spotlight that Selma has been in, “We’re not benefiting. Oprah (Winfrey) was just here. They just filmed the movie ‘Selma’ here and the world is enjoying Selma” this weekend.
Ferguson’s double message
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s Ferguson investigation offers plenty for both sides of this dispute to hate. Seven months after the shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by former white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson sparked national protests and a #BlackLivesMatter movement, U.S. Justice Department sleuths found enough evidence to let the cop off the hook but indicted the criminal justice system in which he worked. That’s enraging to Michael Brown’s family and many protesters nationwide who wanted to see Mr. Wilson prosecuted. But the evidence kept pointing the other way, said Mr. Holder, who would hardly be called an apologist for police abuse or racial profilers.
City registrar to seek $1.2M for new voting machines
Richmond is close to resolving its voting machine problem. Less than two weeks after the state banned the touch-screen machines Richmond and 29 other localities have used for 10 years, the city’s Electoral Board has selected replacement equipment.
GRTC adding unlimited rides
Pay one fare and get unlimited bus rides for a day, a week or a month. That’s an option that cash-strapped GRTC expects to begin offering by the fall in a bid to pump up ridership. GRTC won a 9-0 vote Tuesday from Richmond City Council to inaugurate what is regarded as the biggest change in fare pricing since the start of public transit in the city.
A ‘kill-and-cover-up’ police culture?
When public officials refuse to release a video that shows alleged misconduct by a police officer, you should only expect the worst. That’s particularly true in Chicago, where one “bad apple” too often has signaled a bushel of coverups and other problems underneath.
Huguenot wins opener over TJ
So far, so good. Huguenot High School is undefeated, untied and unscored upon, albeit after just one game in a new era of Falcons football. Led by Jameko Coleman’s defense and the rushing of Donte Lester, the Falcons are pumped after christening their new stadium last Saturday with a 14-0 win over Thomas Jefferson High School.
De Grasse racing toward ‘world’s fastest man’ title
When the throne for “world’s fastest man” eventually has a vacancy, Andre De Grasse seems primed to fill the seat. Since 2008, the “world’s fastest” title has been held by Usaian Bolt of Jamaica, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in 100- and 200-meter races.
Former Richmond pastor faces life sentence
Geronimo Aguilar once walked into services at the packed former Richmond Outreach Center worship services like a rock star. He waved to excited congregation members as about a half-dozen muscular security team members surrounded him. Known as “Pastor G,” the pastor drew lofty praise from politicians, business leaders, educators, law enforcement, faith leaders and ordinary citizens alike for leading the South Side church’s 24/7 mission to help the downtrodden.
North Side sees signs of growth, renewal
A new wave of investment is beginning to pour into Richmond’s North Side. During the next two years, private and nonprofit developers are gearing up to invest more than $50 million in new houses and apartments, mostly along 1st and 2nd avenues in Highland Park.
VSU wins home opener
When former NFL wide receiver Reggie Barlow was hired as Virginia State University football coach, many felt he would install a wide-open passing game. That may eventually come.
Vegas puts Venezuela, golfers of color on the map with Olympic bid
Venezuela is renowned for producing baseball players and beauty queens. On the other hand, the South American nation is an unlikely location for producing a world-class golfer. From a land with little in the way of courses, instruction or golfing tradition, Jhonattan Vegas stands tall — literally at a burly 6-foot-3 — as the shining exception.
Good impression landed former Hanover star a role with the Buffalo Bills
Making favorable first impressions sometimes can open doors of opportunity. As an assistant football coach at Dartmouth College, Jerry Taylor Jr.’s duties include escorting high school prospects and their parents on campus tours.
The Obama legacy
“May you live in interesting times.” This adage, attributed tenuously to the Chinese, bespeaks a preference for order over change. We now live in interesting times and Americans are hungering for change. Yet, surprisingly, President Obama enjoys increasing popularity as he heads into the final days of his presidency.
Southside Ducks win 5th straight championship
Football is alive and kicking — and quacking, too — at the Southside Community Center. Headquartered on Warwick Road at the site of the former ROC church, the Southside Ducks are piling up touchdowns and winning trophies.
Michigan officials face charges in Flint water crisis
Michigan prosecutors on Tuesday charged four former government officials in Flint, including two city emergency managers, with conspiring to violate safety rules in connection with the city’s water crisis that exposed residents to dangerous levels of lead.
RPS interim superintendent to focus on buildings, improvement plan
Thomas E. Kranz, the new interim superintendent for Richmond Public Schools, plans to focus on improving school facilities and working with state officials to make systemic changes during his six months at the helm.
Federal agencies fail to report hate crimes to FBI
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from ProPublica In violation of a long-standing legal mandate, scores of federal law enforcement agencies are failing to submit statistics to the FBI’s national hate crimes database, ProPublica has learned.