Brentwood Library celebrates the 124th Anniversary of Lift Evโry Voice and Sing: A Place for All People Symposium
Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, the Friends of the Brentwood Public Library, Inc. in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, โA Place for All Peopleโ highlights key artifacts that tell the rich and diverse story of the African American experience.
Smithsonian exhibit โA Place for All Peopleโ comes to jax
Organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, the Friends of the Brentwood Public Library, Inc. in collaboration with the National Museum of African American History and Culture, โA Place for All Peopleโ highlights key artifacts that tell the rich and diverse story of the African American experience.
Black leaders say threats to undermine US democracy appear aimed at their community
Some of the nationโs most influential Black leaders say many of the threats to democratic institutions in the U.S. appear to be aimed squarely at their community, including efforts to make voting more difficult, censor lessons around race and weaken social safeguards such as affirmative action.
Elementary school assembly singling out low-scoring Black students in Bunnell sparks investigation
An assembly last week at Bunnell Elementary School held for โAfrican American students that scored below a three on testingโ has sparked an investigation by the county over what happened, according to a report from News4JAX sister station WKMG.
โSlavery did not benefit Black peopleโ: Duval County School Board member speaks out about new teaching standards
A Duval County School Board member is speaking out to the News4JAX this evening about Floridaโs NEW controversial educational standards for African American Studies and how the new curriculum could be rolled out into local schools.
Gov. DeSantis ratchets up fight with College Board, hints at getting rid of AP courses in Florida
As a feud over an African American studies course continues between Gov. Ron DeSantisโ administration and the College Board, the governor said Monday that Florida will โlook to re-evaluateโ its relationship with the organization.
Black history class revised by College Board amid criticism
The official curriculum for a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies released Wednesday downplays some components that had drawn criticism from conservatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said the class would be banned in his state.
2 Bishop Snyder baseball players charged with making threats toward African American teammate
Two Bishop John J. Snyder High School baseball players were arrested Monday in connection with threats made toward their African American teammate, according to reports from the Jacksonville Sheriffโs Office.
Controversy surrounds Bishop John J Snyder High School baseball team after alleged racist comments surface
Bishop John J Synder High School boy's Baseball team were the 2022 3A District Two Champions. But now, the team is in the limelight of social media for alleged racist comments and threats against its only African American player.
Mental Health Talk with the Beauty Industry | River City Live
Mental health conversations are the hot topic of today.ย Within the African American community those conversations are still hard to have.ย Robert Channelle experienced loss within the last couple of years that spun him into a dark place.ย After having conversations about his emotional well being, he realized that there are other men, women, children of all ages and races who might have trouble opening up about their issues.ย He is hosting the 1st Mental Health Talk through his non profit The Beauty Industry Sept. 27th at The Mancave Barbershop on A. Philip Randolph.ย It is open to everyone; but with limited space, people can still join in from home through Instagram and Facebook Live.ย Rance spoke with Robert to find out more about the event.
Biden to nominate 3 federal prosecutors for New York offices
FILE - In this March 17, 2021 photo, President Joe Biden speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Biden intends to nominate three African American prosecutors to run the U.S. attorneys offices in New York, including the first Black man to run the Southern District of New York. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)WASHINGTON โ President Joe Biden is expected to nominate three prosecutors to run the U.S. attorneyโs offices in New York state, including the first Black man to run the Southern District of New York in Manhattan and the first Black woman to head the Western District in Buffalo. Ross, a longtime federal prosecutor, is expected to run the office in the Buffalo-based Western District. Brooklyn federal prosecutors have been examining the stateโs handling of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes in a probe that drew public attention after a top aide to New York Gov.
Lincolnville Museum highlights the rich history of the Black experience in St. Augustine
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ โThe Road to Black History Runs Through Lincolnvilleโ -- thatโs the first thing youโll see on the webpage for the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center. The African American history museum is in St. Augustine and boasts a mission of preserving and promoting more than 450 years of the Black experience in Americaโs oldest city. The museum radiates life, and the stories you may or may not have heard about this corner of St. Augustine. The Lincolnville Museum starts with school history and has a room dedicated to the military. I mean, it still goes on to this day.โAdLINK: Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center
New museum traces history of Black music across genres
People walk to the entrance of the National Museum of African American Music, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ A new museum two decades in the making is telling the interconnected story of Black musical genres through the lens of American history. Even as Nashville has long celebrated its role in the history of music, the new museum fills a gap by telling an important and often overlooked story about the roots of American popular music, including gospel, blues, jazz, R&B and hip-hop. โMost music museums deal with a label, a genre or an artist,โ said H. Beecher Hicks III, the museumโs president and CEO. She noted that the museum put gospel music in context with how it inspired social change, especially during the civil rights era.
Jacksonville Image Awards show goes virtual in 2021
It was all smiles Feb. 29 at the inaugural Jacksonville Image Awards held at the Ritz Theater, which celebrate pioneers in the African American community. And the 2021 Jacksonville Image Awards are no exception. With the ongoing public health crisis, we have made the decision to avoid having our finalists gather in person for the awards. Instead, weโre transforming this yearโs awards show into a virtual event that will give our finalists and their families an opportunity to celebrate their achievements from the safety of their own homes. The Image Awards are scheduled for Feb. 27.
WJXT and WCWJ present special programming for Black History Month
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ WJXT and WCWJ will once again be honoring the history, events and people during 2021 Black History Month. CW17 presents programs and special stories that will air in February. AdSPECIAL COVERAGE: Visit our Black History Month pageJacksonville has a rich history in African American culture. Each day in February, WCWJ will air a short vignette, profiling a moment or person from Jacksonville that played a significant role in African American history. This two-part special salutes the contributions of African American men and women throughout our nationโs history.
Biden's pick for UN post calls China 'a strategic adversary'
United States Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield testifies during for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Washington. Johnson asked her why she had said the United States is not in a new Cold War with China. โThis speech is cheerleading for the Chinese Communist Partyโ and makes no mention of Chinaโs human rights violations, he said. Johnson asked her what the stronger language and tougher tactics would be toward China. โAnd yet, I had an extraordinary 35-year career, that culminated as the assistant secretary of state of African affairs,โ Thomas-Greenfield said.
Jacksonville NAACP president outlines vaccine rollout concerns in letter to mayor
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The Jacksonville Branch of the NAACP sent a letter to Mayor Lenny Curry, outlining the civil rights groupโs concerns about COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Isaiah Rumlin, president of the NAACPโs Jacksonville branch, writes in the letter, dated Jan. 22, that the group is not confident in the cityโs vaccine rollout in the African American community. Expand the number of vaccination and testing sites to ensure that communities of color in the city are adequately covered. READ: Letter to mayor from NAACP Jacksonville BranchCain also said he encourages people in the African Americans to get the COVID-19 vaccine. โThe City of Jacksonville does have the capacity to implement mass vaccinations as we have demonstrated through our multiple COVID-19 testing sites throughout the City.
Cast your vote for the Jacksonville Image Awards
Voting is underway for the Jacksonville Image Awards. In light of the pandemic, weโve decided to transform this yearโs awards show into a virtual experience. Without further ado, here are your Jacksonville Image Awards nominees:The โBe The Changeโ Award: This award recognizes individuals who, having succeeded against immense odds, herald change and prosperity to enhance and enrich the world. Nominees: Shawana Brooks, Dante Buckson, Laurence WaldenThe Education Excellence Award: This award recognizes outstanding commitment to the academic development and improvement of a system or community in an effort to enhance the lives of future generations. AdNominees: Santrice Grayer, Dr. Sonia Maria Balevre, Kevin DunbarThe Trailblazer Award: This award recognizes pioneers who inspire others to follow their path to greatness with innovative ideas that challenge the status quo.
Jacksonville site, 6 others in Florida offer COVID-19 vaccinations Sunday in partnership with churches
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Seven sites in Florida, including one in Jacksonville, offered COVID-19 vaccinations on Sunday in partnership with places of worship, Gov. He said there were 50 different houses of worship, many of them predominantly African American churches, that participated. You look at some of the drive-through sites that the stateโs supporting, as well as some of the locals all throughout the state of Florida. And then our partnership with Publix.โAs of Sunday, according to Florida Department of Health data, 558,326 people in Florida had been vaccinated, including 275,771 people age 65 and older. Hopefully, DeSantis said, the state is scheduled to get about 250,000 additional shots of the first dose next week.
Jacksonville teens chosen for Harvard youth advisory board push for racial equality
Levi Inniss (left) and Ronald Coleman were selected to participate on Harvardโs Youth Advisory Board as 2 of 24 youth chosen nationwide. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Even though Levi Inniss and Ronald Coleman grew up in different parts of Jacksonville, their experiences are strikingly similar. Inniss grew up on the Westside, where he said the sound of gunshots was a normal occurrence and he was a witness to racism and police brutality. Coleman and Innis, members of the Jacksonville-based non-profit EVAC Movement, were recently selected as members of Harvardโs Youth Advisory Board as two of just 24 youth chosen nationwide. And as members of the Harvard board, the teens are taking the lead on issues like racism and equity.
Become a vendor for the Jacksonville Image Awards
It was all smiles Feb. 29 at the inaugural Jacksonville Image Awards held at the Ritz Theater, which celebrate pioneers in the African American community. Graham Media Group and the Porter Firm are proud to present the 2nd annual Jacksonville Image Awards, a celebration of African American leaders in the Jacksonville community who have not only achieved greatness but inspired it in others too. - Sponsors are an integral part of the Jacksonville Image Awards and will receive naming rights to a category and a customized marketing plan. - Supporters of the Jacksonville Image Awards can congratulate nominees with an ad in the program and on our website, News4Jax.com. If you are interested in being apart of the Jacksonville Image Awards, please fill out the form below and a representative from WJXT/WCWJ will contact you.
Jacksonville Image Awards nominations now closed
Itโs that time of the year again: weโre collecting your nominations for the Jacksonville Image Awards. Here are the award categories:The โBe The Changeโ Award: This award recognizes individuals who, having succeeded against immense odds, herald change and prosperity to enhance and enrich the world. The Pinnacle Award: This award recognizes those who have achieved professional accomplishments throughout an extensive career and are role models for others to attain similar success. The Education Excellence Award: This award recognizes outstanding commitment to the academic development and improvement of a system or community in an effort to enhance the lives of future generations. The Trailblazer Award: This award recognizes pioneers who inspire others to follow their path to greatness with innovative ideas that challenge the status quo.
Historic Black voter turnout in 2020 presidential election
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The NAACP is working to ensure Georgia voters know that another important election is coming up in January -- the runoff races for two Senate seats. The 2020 presidential election broke records for voter turnout, including the number of minorities that cast a ballot. The NAACP said it spent millions of dollars, especially in swing states, to encourage voters to get to the polls. โThis was the most strategic and largest initiative for voters,โ said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. $15 million dollars was spent on the initiative, which included the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, Texas and Alabama.
Gainesville police say false threat against black churchs circulating
GAINESVILLE, Fla. โ Emails circulating within African American churches throughout Gainesville contain an alleged warning from the NAACP that white supremacists were coming to the area to kidnap black men and hang them, according to the Gainesville Police Department. GPD immediately consulted with federal authorities, including the FBI, and confirmed that the threat and the emails are not authentic. The exact same email was circulated throughout the African American community in Atlanta several months ago. The NAACP said they were not aware of any such threats and had issued any warning. โGPD takes any threats such as these extremely seriously and will continue to partner with local and federal law enforcement agencies to protect and serve our neighbors in the Gainesville community,โ according to a release Friday morning.
Jacksonville woman creates scavenger hunt of African American history landmarks
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A Jacksonville woman created a fun way for her son to learn about African American history by creating a landmark scavenger hunt. โI realized how much African American history is in our backyards that a lot of people may not know about. Again, making history fun and positive.โHere are a few landmarks you can visit to learn about African American history:OโNeal is encouraging the community to add to the list of locations. If you and your family visit any of the listed landmarks, take pictures and post them to social media using the hashtag #bblrtravel and #duvalaah (Duval African American History) to create awareness and trending topics. As I began to travel more, I wanted to find a way to get our kids active in African American history around the city.... Posted by Brittany O'Neal on Wednesday, October 21, 2020
JPMorgan puts $30B toward fixing banking's 'systemic racism'
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ JPMorgan Chase said Thursday it will extend billions in loans to Black and Latino homebuyers and small business owners in an expanded effort toward fixing what the bank calls โsystemic racismโ in the countryโs economic system. โSystemic racism is a tragic part of Americaโs history,โ said JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon in a statement. Citigroup announced last month it is committing $1 billion toward closing โthe racial wealth gapโ in the United States, including $550 million toward homeownership programs for racial minorities. He noted that thereโs a 30% gap between Black and white homeownership, amounting to about 4.5 million households. JPMorgan was one of 27 major New York-based companies that joined a program to recruit 100,000 workers from the city's low-income, predominately Black, Latino and Asian communities over the next 10 years.
Black singer of regional Mexican music sparks buzz, emotion
Sarah Palafox, an African American woman who sings regional Mexican music, poses in Moreno Valley, Calif., in this undated photo. Palafox, an African American woman raised by a Mexican immigrant family, has generated excitement online with her versions of regional Mexican music. Other videos of her singing banda โ another form of regional music from Mexicoโs southwest coast โ also have been shared thousands of times. She would only say the music will be different and sheโs not listening to critics who tell her sheโs shouldnโt be singing regional Mexican music. โI was told you canโt wear braids, you canโt wear your Afro and go on stage and sing Mexican music,โ Palafox said.
Black voters in Detroit key for Biden, but are they engaged?
Black voters across Michigan will be pivotal in deciding who will win the battleground state in November. Biden visited Detroit earlier this month, and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, was spending time in Flint and Detroit on Tuesday. In an interview this month with longtime Detroit radio host Mildred Gaddis, Biden noted that Michigan, and its Black voters in Detroit, are โcritically important." Democratic state leaders said they learned hard lessons and that the party has worked to connect with Black voters. But challenges remain in connecting with apathetic voters and with younger Black voters who might have more progressive leanings โ key demographics that Branden Snyder, the executive director of Detroit Action, said his organization is trying to reach.
Kanye West breaks down in tears during first campaign rally
Kanye West makes his first presidential campaign appearance, Sunday, July 19, 2020 in North Charleston, S.C. Rapper Kanye West, in his first event since declaring himself a presidential candidate, delivered a lengthy monologue Sunday touching on topics from abortion and religion to international trade and licensing deals. (Lauren Petracca Ipetracca/The Post And Courier via AP)COLUMBIA, S.C. โ Rapper Kanye West, in his first event since declaring himself a presidential candidate, broke down in tears on Sunday at a rally to launch his surprise campaign for Novemberโs presidential elections. On abortion, West said that while he believes it should be legal, financial incentives to help struggling mothers could be a way to discourage the practice. Last week, he qualified to appear on Oklahomaโs presidential ballot, the first state where he met the requirements before the filing deadline. West, who is married to reality television star Kim Kardashian West, initially announced his candidacy on July 4.
2 Black teachers sue Flagler County School Board, say they were discriminated against
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. โ Two Flagler County teachers say they are suing the school board for discriminating against them because they are African American. Jawanda Dove and Travis Lee, two educators in the Flagler County school district, say they were denied promotions because they are Black. Attorney Randy Reep, who is not affiliated with the case, says these are potentially damaging claims against the Flagler County School Board. โIf sheโs able to prove that up, that can have significant financial exposure to the school system,โ Reep said. Lee says he was not chosen for a Palm Coast High School position.
Woman wanted after Atlanta Wendyโs burns in shooting protest
ATLANTA โ Investigators said Saturday they have issued an arrest warrant for a woman in connection with a fire at a Wendy's restaurant in Atlanta during protests over the police shooting of an African American man. Several people are suspected of trying to set fires in the restaurant before the blaze finally spread, fire officials said. Atlanta police officers were called to the Wendyโs on June 12 over complaints of a car blocking the drive-thru lane. On Saturday, a restaurant owner and a historically Black university in Atlanta announced that they will provide full college scholarships to his four children. The award will cover tuition, room and board, and meals to Clark Atlanta University.
Navy to name aircraft carrier for Pearl Harbor hero Doris Miller
HONOLULU, Hawaii โ The U.S. Navy is expected to honor a World War II hero when a new aircraft carrier is named for Mess Attendant 2nd Class Doris Miller. The announcement is expected to be made at Pearl Harbor Monday, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Friday. โWithout him really knowing, he actually was a part of the Civil Rights movement because he changed the thinking in the Navy,โ Ravenscroft said. Two of Millerโs nieces are expected to be at Pearl Harbor for the announcement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, the commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet, presented the Navy Cross to Miller in Pearl Harbor in May 1942.
Be a part of the Jacksonville Image Awards
Graham Media Group presents the 1st Annual Jacksonville Image Awards, a celebration of African American leaders in the Jacksonville community who have achieved greatness and inspired it in others. The Jacksonville Image Awards is a 3 Phase initiative starting in early January 2020 with nominations and voting on News4JAX.com and culminating on February 29, 2020 with a Gala Awards Event at the RITZ Theatre & Museum. Would you like to be apart of the Jacksonville Image Awards? Supports of the Jacksonville Image Awards can congratulate nominees with an ad in the program and on News4JAX.com. If you are interested in being apart of the Jacksonville Image Awards, please fill out the form below and a representative from WJXT/WCWJ will contact you.
White supremacist group filmed in front of the Emmett Till sign
- A white supremacist group filmed a video in front of the Emmett Till Memorial in Sumner, Mississippi, over the weekend, officials say. "We are all here are the Emmett Till monument that represents the civil rights movement for blacks," a man is heard saying. The memorial sign marks the spot where 14-year-old Emmett Till's body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River in 1955. The sign has been vandalized in the pastThe Emmett Till Memorial was recently rededicated and made bulletproof after multiple acts of vandalism -- including getting riddled with 20 bullet holes. The photo prompted their fraternity, Kappa Alpha, to suspend them and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division to launch an investigation.
Mississippi Emmett Till memorial sign protected by bulletproof glass
Allan Hammons via CNNSUMNER, Mississippi (CNN) - A memorial sign marking Emmett Till's death that was riddled with bullet holes earlier this year was rededicated Saturday -- this time with bulletproof glass. Patrick Weems, executive director of the Emmett Till Memorial Commission, said more than 100 people, including members of Till's family from Chicago, attended a ceremony near Sumner, Mississippi, rededicating the new and improved sign. Weems said the sign, which cost more than $10,000, weighs more than 500 pounds and is surrounded by security cameras. The sign appeared to be riddled with bullet holes in the photo, which was first published by the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting and ProPublica. When the marker was replaced, it was riddled with bullet holes.
African American guard's N-word request gets him fired
MADISON, Wisconsin (CNN) - An African American security guard told a student to stop calling him the N-word. Marlon Anderson was a security guard at Madison West High School in Wisconsin. Anderson is represented by a union, which filed a grievance with the school district this week on his behalf. He has two sons who attended Madison West High School. One is a current senior and the other is a graduate of the high school.
19 African American firefighters given promotions after lawsuit
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As part of a federal discrimination lawsuit settlement, 19 African American firefighters are getting promotions. The firefighters received the promotions on Friday. It happened after the filed a suit against the city, saying they were being overlooked for promotions. In July, the city agreed to pay $4.9 million to be split among the firefighters. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Thousands gather to commemorate 400 years since slavery began
CNN VideoHAMPTON, Virginia (CNN) - Four-hundred years ago, a ship carrying enslaved Africans arrived in Point Comfort on the shores of Virginia. The landing marked the beginning of slavery in British North America, forever transforming the modern world. They whispered prayers for the enslaved Africans on that ship and for those who did not survive the voyage, and sent flower petals floating out into the Chesapeake Bay. She said one of her ancestors was enslaved at a plantation in South Carolina and could be traced back to Cameroon in the 1700s. "400 years ago my ancestors started a passage to America.
In Jimmy Carter's home county, voting rights case tests democracy
Sumter County is embroiled in a court fight over voting rights and redistricting that challenges the composition and credibility of its school board. Like many other Southern communities, it was run by whites until courts overturned Jim Crow laws and ordered desegregation during the civil rights era. At least two African American board members during that time say their employers received threatening letters, advocating they be fired. Under the Voting Rights Act, the countys plan previously would have been cleared in advance by the Justice Department to guarantee it didnt harm minorities. Alice Green, one of the two remaining African American board members, said she hopes the litigation ends soon.
In Jimmy Carter's home county, voting rights case tests democracy
Sumter County is embroiled in a court fight over voting rights and redistricting that challenges the composition and credibility of its school board. Like many other Southern communities, it was run by whites until courts overturned Jim Crow laws and ordered desegregation during the civil rights era. At least two African American board members during that time say their employers received threatening letters, advocating they be fired. Under the Voting Rights Act, the countyโs plan previously would have been cleared in advance by the Justice Department to guarantee it didnโt harm minorities. Alice Green, one of the two remaining African American board members, said she hopes the litigation ends soon.
New Emmett Till memorial will be bulletproof
Three University of Mississippi students were suspended from their fraternity after a photo showing them posing with guns in front of a sign memorializing Emmett Till surfaced. (CNN) - A bullet-riddled memorial sign for Emmett Till at the center of a photo showing three white University of Mississippi students posing with guns is now gone. Patrick Weems, the executive director of the Emmett Till Memorial Commission, said the group began to mark every site that was part of Emmett's story after community leaders offered his family an apology for the first time about 10 years ago. "For 50 years our community didn't want to talk about Emmett Till, they just wanted to forget it," Weems said. "That Emmett Till did not die in vain.
Renewed calls for removal of Confederate monument
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - An African American state representative has said she will push for the relocation of the monument dedicated to Confederate soldiers that sits on the grounds of the Florida Capitol. The obelisk-style monument was dedicated in 1882 and moved onto the grounds of what is now the Old State Capitol in 1923. "Floridians served all across the theaters of war," said David McCallister with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. But for social justice advocate Lakey Love, who often holds protests on the steps of the Old Capitol, the monument has a different meaning. She said she'd support moving it inside of the Old Capitol, which is now a museum, or to a Confederate cemetery.
JSO's 1st African American police chief honored by FOP
Charles Scriven joined the Jacksonville Police Department in 1955. Two years later, he was denied membership to the Fraternal Order of Police because he was an African American. He was finally granted membership in 1996, and on Tuesday night, the FOP honored Scriven and apologized. According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Scriven was the first African American police chief at JSO.