Spelman Commencement: Nikole Hannah-Jones Urges Graduates To ‘Control Your Own Excellence’
Nikole Hannah-Jones served as the keynote speaker for Spelman College's 2023 Commencement ceremonies. The Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of the "1619 Project" provided the 423 degree candidates with words of inspiration as they set out on their next chapters in life. Hannah-Jones began by sharing stories of her humble upbringing and how she beat the odds to gain success as a journalist and author. "I didn't come from Black people who have much formal education outside of high school," Hannah-Jones said. "Our migration from Mississippi to the North was an
President Joe Biden Honors Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and Others with Lifetime Achievement Award
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. has received the President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service and Civil Rights. Dr. Chavis received the award during a ceremony at Morehouse College in Atlanta. “On behalf of the NNPA and the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust, as well as on behalf of all my fellow Civil Rights Movement comrades who were present at the President Joe Biden 2022 Lifetime Achievement Awards on the
Morehouse Men Making Next Level Moves
Men of Morehouse are trained to have disciplined minds, leading lives of leadership and service. As they go on into their professional careers, we welcome Morehouse Men to share their wisdom and lessons learned. Below, attorneys, founders and owners of Sanders Roberts, LLP – Justin Sanders and Reginald Roberts, Jr. – share how they’ve leveraged their networks and relationship-building to grow individually and professionally to today own one of the largest Black-owned law firms in the western region of the United States, boasting more than 60 employees including 35 attorneys, 15 paralegals, and many
Dwayne Ashley Talks the Art of Fundraising with Mark Hayes
Dwayne Ashley is renowned for his bold, strategic thinking and wise counsel in philanthropy. He is a successful entrepreneur in the course of his career, he raised more than $ 1 billion. He is committed to social justice and helping organizations of color maximize their fundraising success. He’s also visited more than 100 countries and according to sources close to Mr. Ashley – he makes a mean mac n cheez. We welcome Dwayne Ashley to the spotlight – Mr. Ashley what a pleasure to see you! https://youtu.be/tXdtRa2EfIg Bridge Philanthropic
Beyond Juneteenth: Breaking the Chains to Access Capital and Achieve Real Freedom
Vercie Lark, left, Region 7 Great Plains Administrator and Ted James, right, Region 6 South Central Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration By Vercie Lark and Ted James Being black and walking away from a person who legally owned you became reality on June 17, 1865, when Texas became the last state to implement the Emancipation Proclamation. The day, now known as Juneteenth, has become one of celebration for black Americans. It was a start. As black Americans, however, we continually must ask the question: “Are we truly emancipated?” While important to celebrate a
Biden Appoints Keisha Lance Bottoms As Top White House Advisor
President Joe Biden has tapped former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms to join the White House as a top advisor as upcoming November midterm elections loom over the administration. On Wednesday (June 15), Biden announced Bottoms' appointment as director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, per the Washington Post. Bringing Bottoms into the fold will add a needed Black woman's perspective amid a political time that will determine the fate of the rest of Biden's presidency. The former mayor joins Biden's inner circle during a tumultuous time for the administration — with inflation
Despite Apathy, Activists and Strategists Urge Black Voters Not to Sit out 2022 Midterms
The failure of Congress to pass legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act have frustrated African Americans. With new voter suppression laws, the leaked Roe V. Wade opinion, and the assault on many other rights, some question whether the voting bloc that allowed Democrats to take the White House and control both houses of Congress will abandon the polls during the midterm elections. “Black voters are understandably frustrated with the lack of reform around voter rights, but the lack
Mayor Andre Dickens Named Chair of U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Task Force
Mayor Andre Dickens has been named Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ new Public-Private Partnership Task Force. Mayor Dickens chaired the inaugural session of the Task Force this weekend during the 90th Annual Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Reno, Nev., this weekend. “It is an honor to lead this newly formed Task Force and I look forward to working with a stellar bipartisan group of mayors on how best to collectively move our cities forward,” said Mayor Dickens. “Mayors have audacious goals on public
AMERICA’S TRUE LIFE – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
by Ennis Leon Jacobs, Jr I recently wrote an opinion editorial titled “America’s True Critical Race Theory” in response to the political debate in Florida on this civic controversy. I had ulterior motives because my son is deeply immersed in the topic, and a friend, who is a state leader, was deeply moved by the Florida legislative proposals. The article recalled an experience in high school when, during a band trip, I and a classmate were ushered out of the home of a host student because of our
Internationally Recognized Civil Rights Attorney Elected to Lead Georgia NAACP
President-Elect Gerald A. Griggs: “The NAACP is back. The monster has awakened, and we will be on the front lines fighting for voting rights, justice, and accountability. When Black people and minorities’ rights are violated, expect to hear from the NAACP.” On Saturday, April 23, 2022, Attorney Gerald Griggs received more than 65 percent of the vote to become the next President of the Georgia NAACP. Griggs becomes the 13th President of the Georgia NAACP. For nearly 20 years, the Atlanta native has used activism and his profession to take