Black News Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

Alabama
Abbeville officials recently held a press conference extending a public apology to former resident Recy Taylor, a rape victim whose case was dismissed almost 70 years ago. “It is apparent that the system failed you in 1944,” Henry County probate judge and commission chairwoman Joann Smith told several of Taylor’s relatives at the conference. Taylor, 91, lives in Florida and did not attend the news conference. Family members said she was in poor health and was not up to traveling to Abbeville or speaking with reporters. But her 74-year-old brother Robert Corbitt, who still lives in town, said he would relay the apology to his sister. “What happened to my sister way back then … couldn’t happen today,’’ he said. “Boy, what a mess they made out of it. They tried to make her look like a whore and she was a Christian lady.’’ Taylor was 24, married and living in her native Henry County when she was gang-raped by a group of white men in Abbeville. She was walking home from church when she was abducted, assaulted and left on the side of the road in an isolated area.

California
The African American Leadership Weekend hosted by the California Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation (CBCCF) convenes this weekend March 31 through April 2 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento. The theme is “Moving the Urban Agenda” and features Mario Van Peebles and Michael Jai White as keynote speakers. The event will also include a “Legend and Leaders Luncheon,” a faith-based breakfast and numerous workshops on green technology and wealth building in the Black community.

District of Columbia
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) recently held its third annual Media Institute on Health, Health Policy and Health Disparities at the Barbara Jordan Conference Center in Washington, D.C. The conference is the only one of its kind to focus exclusively on health disparities in communities of color and provides print, broadcast and digital journalists the tools to effectively report on the impact of healthcare reform and health policy on underserved communities. The goal of the conference was to provide journalists and media professionals with resources to inform and empower readers and viewers to action in their lives.

Florida
The Florida State University College of Law’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) was recently named 2010-2011 national chapter of the year by the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA). The student-led organization received the award at the NBLSA National Convention in Houston. “We are thrilled that our Black Law Students Association was recognized as national chapter of the Year,” said Dean Don Weidner. “Congratulations and thanks go to the entire BLSA board and especially president G.C. Murray for bringing this honor home to Florida State.” The award is presented to the chapter that demonstrates consistent and effective community effort while representing NBLSA ideals.

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

Alabama
Auburn head coach Gene Chizik recently dismissed four recruits from his football program in response to felony charges lodged against them that entail five counts of first-degree robbery. Antonio Goodwin, 20, Shaun Kitchens, 19, Michael McNeil, 22, and Harrison Mosley, 19, have all been charged with burglary and property theft after breaking into a home early Friday morning, “I am extremely disappointed and embarrassed by the actions of these individuals. I want to personally apologize to all of those who were impacted by this senseless act, including the victims, Auburn University and the Auburn family,” said Chizik in a statement. According to police, three men—one carrying a handgun—broke into a suburban home and stole personal property from the five victims inside. The trio later attempted to make their getaway with a driver waiting nearby, but was intercepted by police shortly thereafter, and taken into custody. Authorities recovered a pistol and the stolen property, which remains unidentified. Each player is being held on a $511,000 bond.

Colorado
Home-based health and safety hazards like mold, lead, pest infestation and the physical deterioration of homes are particularly common among some of the nation’s most vulnerable populations specifically low-income families. To address these widespread issues, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will host a conference featuring more than 3,000 national health and safety experts in Denver from June 20-23 as part of the National Healthy Homes Conference (NHHC).

Florida
Democratic Rep. Hazelle Rogers recently reintroduced a bill in the Florida Legislature that would ban public school students from wearing sagging pants on campus. “This pro-family, pro-education, pro-jobs bill provides that each school district [should] adopt a student dress code of conduct, a policy that explains to each student their responsibility,” declared Rogers in a statement. “This would make for a better school district and more productive students.” House Bill 61, which was unanimously passed by the K-20 Innovation Subcommittee, prohibits clothing that exposes “underwear or body parts in specified manner,” and will implement punitive actions for those students who choose to dress otherwise. The directive extends to extracurricular school activities as well.

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

Alabama
Thousands of marchers, including several prominent civil rights leaders, recently marked the 46th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” (a day during which law enforcement officers attacked civil rights demonstrators marching toward Montgomery across the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965) by re-enacting the walk over the Alabama River. Participants included U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, a Bloody Sunday survivor, as well as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

California
After a four-month pilot in more than 60 markets across the country, Tavis Smiley and Cornell West recently announced that “Smiley & West” is now officially a weekly program. Alisa Miller, president and CEO of Public Radio International (PRI) says, “Tavis Smiley and Cornel West bring a rare dynamism and authenticity to conversation, and a heartfelt dedication to inviting listeners to take part in the exchange of ideas and discussion of thought-provoking topics. The addition of Smiley and West underscores PRI’s commitment to offer new places to discover a diverse, interconnected world, and to stimulate important conversations in American society.” For a list of stations and times the show will air, visit http://google/4pavz.

District of Columbia
The Washington, D.C., Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation recently received a $1 million gift from the memorial’s design-build joint venture team, Mckissack & Mckissack, Turner Construction Co., Tompkins Builders Inc., the Gilford Corp. (MTTG). The gift will support the memorial on the National Mall honoring Dr. King. To promote Dr. King’s messages of hope, democracy, justice, and love, MTTG Joint Venture has created the MTTG Dream Design Build Scholarship program for high school seniors. In its inaugural year, MTTG will award up to ten $5,000 scholarships to minority high school seniors from the Washington metropolitan area who are pursuing a post-secondary education in architecture, engineering, or construction management fields, or attending a trade school following graduation. For more information about the scholarship or to submit an application, please visit www.mttgmlk.com. Scholarship applications will be accepted until March 15.