“As far as I’m concerned, Colin Kaepernick is absolutely irrelevant,” said an ESPN personality.
It was a public criticism from Stephen A. Smith, a Winston-Salem State University grad, accusing the San Fransisco backup quarterback of being “a flaming hypocrite.”
It follows Kaepernick’s failure to vote in the decisive 2016 presidential election.
Kaepernick became one of the most talked about athletes after he first refused to stand during the playing of National Anthem earlier this year. He later decided to take a knee.
“I don’t want to see him again,” Smith said. “I don’t want to hear from him again. I don’t want to hear a damn word about anything that he has to say about our nation, the issues that we have, racial injustices, needing change, etc., etc.”
Cornell William Brooks, the president of the NAACP, spoke to Ozy about exactly what happens to Civil Rights in Trump’s America, how he sees President Barack Obama’s legacy, especially in light of Trump’s election, and more. Brooks is also a graduate of historically black Jackson State University. Some highlights of the interview are below.
If he and the NAACP could work with the Trump administration.
“Every bigoted piece of rhetoric, without exception, is tied to bigoted policy. We have commentary [from Trump] suggesting that all Muslims are terrorists — tied to an immigration policy premised on the banning of an entire global, billion-plus member group. So when you ask what would make us think we could work with this administration — it’s not just the retraction of offensive statements. It’s also the reimagining of our policy. We need to see a substantive policy shift.
If the Trump Administration speaks to the economic anxieties which have largely fueled his victory — putting the country to work with higher-paying jobs, partnering with the private sector to make investments in infrastructure and the future, etc. — that makes sense. It makes sense for a particularly hurting slice of the demographic, those with the skill and will to work but who have been depositioned as a result of the global economy. That makes sense. Double down on that.
On the other hand, when people said they wanted change, I don’t think the majority of Americans wanted change as dictated by the alt-right, the KKK or folks who take their trade policies from the Flat Earth Society. But with the lack of policy granularity, it’s hard for us to figure out.
If you talk about the need for public order, good — but you’ve got to move away from stop-and-frisk, which is both unconstitutional and ineffective, empirically speaking. Right now, his criminal-justice policy is not just standing against the tide of history but also in opposition to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, many governors and police departments across the country. All of them are making the case for data-driven community policing.
All of this is to say that if the president-elect is truly serving his base and the whole of the country, and open to other voices and data — and not ideologically hidebound — maybe you get something done.”
If he thinks Obama’s legacy will endure.
“Had Secretary Clinton been elected, Obama’s legacy would likely be freestanding and enduring. In the context of President-elect Donald J. Trump, the Obama legacy is imperiled and under question. The objective facts are these: He rescued the economy, not just nationally but globally, from economic apocalypse. The unemployment rate is now sub-5 percent. Obamacare, for all its imperfections, has nonetheless resulted in millions of people being covered and has fundamentally elevated the accepted standard for health care. Even in this ugly era of mass incarceration, we had a president who has commuted the sentences of more people than the previous six presidents combined. And intangible: You have a president who is regarded as someone who represents core American values: civility, decency, a sense of fairness. Also: no scandals. We are in an infinitely better place than we were eight years ago. The question for us is whether the succeeding administration will not drag down his legacy.”
Brooks also discussed why black turnout was lower than in 2012 and 2008, whether or not he worries about state surveillance and more. Head over to Ozy to read more.
Rashaan Everett, a graduate of Howard’s School of Business, developed a passion for progressing wealth equality after spending time on Wall Street and seeing first hand how systematic greed was unfair to black families.
The disadvantage black people experience financially contributes to the lack new of black startups, which only compounds the problem. After the election, it’s obvious that moral pressure alone isn’t enough for black people to earn political progress. Everett believes that in order to be successful, there has to be more of a focus on economic progress and using our black dollars as leverage to achieve our goals.
Everett also believes that we must redirect a greater portion of our $1.2 billion aggregate annual income back to ourselves via our own businesses, and we must develop a culture of wealth retention, and a culture of collective economic empowerment among our people, regardless of where we reside.
“We create enormous wealth for others at the expense of creating and retaining wealth for ourselves,” Everett said. “Why can’t more of us see that economics is the key to our freedom and the answer to the problems we talk about all the time? Change has to come.”
The Greenwood project is designed to build more black startups, led by a new generation of conscious Black millionaires.
Obama’s JOBS act allows Black families to profit personally directly from Black startups, encouraging a powerful commitment to supporting Black business’ funded with their own money. This project invests in the best and most innovative black entrepreneurs and gives the investors huge profits in return.
“Think GoFundMe, but instead of just a donation, you’re able to purchase valuable stock for as little as $50,” Everett said.
Visithere for more information on how you can get involved in this amazing project. For any additional information head over to thegreenwoodproject.org.
David E. Talbert’s latest comedy-based film Almost Christmas will hit theaters Friday. While HBCU alumni, students, and fans are eagerly waiting to see a family film for everyone, here are five reasons why you can’t miss Almost Christmas in theaters this weekend.
HBCU Pride
Talbert, the writer/director of the film, and producer Will Packer both are graduates of historically black colleges or universities (HBCU), Morgan State University and Florida A&M University, respectfully. I can continue.
But there’s nothing like knowing that an incredible film was written and directed by someone who happens to also be an HBCU grad.
Get in the holiday spirit
What better way to prepare for the winter holiday season in the Midwest than watching adult children of patriarch (Danny Glover) try not to kill one another under one roof for the holidays.
Holiday Satisfaction
Of course, major-studio movies with the word “Christmas” in the title is expected to be heartwarming and full of glee. Almost Christmas will be a holiday favorite for years to come with lots of laughs and familial reconciliation.
The Cast
The all-star cast of Almost Christmas is led by Kimberly Elise, Danny Glover, John Michael Higgins, Romany Malco, Mo’Nique, JB Smoove, Gabrielle Union, Omar Epps, Nicole Ari Parker, Jessie T. Usher and DC Young Fly.
Family-oriented comedy
Almost Christmas is a fun, family-oriented film. Watching a lovable, and hilarious family with a good-natured offering will be a great entertainment for the audiences, and for you and your family. In an interview with Rolling Out, Talbert said that he is a fan of holiday classics and wanted to create his own, adding that Almost Christmas is a “magical journey.”
Howard University junior, Alexa Lisitza, has recently launched an online magazine for and by minority students. Student writers from Howard University, Morehouse College, Spelman College, Georgia State University, Stevenson University, Texas Lutheran University, Tuskegee University, Sweet Briar College and more have come together to be the voice for those who are so often unheard.
Not only is Caged Bird focused on shedding light on minority millennials’ issues, they are also moving to release a bi-annual print edition and even grant scholarships to its writers. “There’s no platform for minority millennials, adding there’s Teen Vogue, but you don’t see a Teen Ebony or Teen Essence,” Lisitza said. “There’s not really a space for us.”
“There is no platform for minority millennials. There’s Teen Vogue, but you don’t see a Teen Ebony or Teen Essence.”
Alexa Lisitza
Not only is Caged Bird focused on shedding light on minority millennials’ issues, they are also moving to release a bi-annual print edition and even grant scholarships to its writers.
She continues:
“And on the writing side, I’ve worked with a couple of publications and have noticed that it goes one of two ways: either they have one or two minority writers on the team, or they seriously restrict the amount of which their writers can be creative. I wanted to make a platform where young minorities can both have a voice, and be creative.”
Caged Bird is a very amazing and unique magazine where you can read about everything from comics to activism and everything in between. There’s also a really dope segment called the Ms. of the Monthwhere you get to learn about some amazing minority women.
To learn more about Caged Bird Magazine follow them on their social media sites, Facebook: Caged Bird Magazine, Twitter: @cagedbirdmagazine, Instagram: @caged_bird_magazine
Howard University sophomore, Kwa’tre Hollingsworth has recently shared a poem and visual on being young and black in America. This video and poem could not have come at a better time because the discussion of black lives has become even more prevalent following the election of Donald Trump as the president-elect of the United States. When asked what inspired him to make this piece, Kwa’tre simply dropped the famous Barack Obama quote:
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
Check out the video below, and read more of Kwa’tre’s poetry here.
HBCUs are some of the most stylish campuses in the world. Howard University, specifically, is a campus where some students will “pop out” just because. Overall, the goal for many students is to simply showcase their personality through what they wear on a daily basis.
Check out these two Stylish Students of the Week below.
“I want it to be an expression of me, not what others expect of me!”
Saki
Saki is a sophomore, Biology major, Afro-American studies minor from Maryland. She can be seen around campus serving effortless looks that are a true reflection of her own individual style.
Saki describes her style as versatile, dynamic and a true testament to her own confidence:
“I dabble in trends and street styles, then I like to make them my own. I’m also partial to certain “high fashion” trends, granted I can’t really afford the look I actually want to achieve so I do my best. My goal is always to feel good in what I put on. I want it to be an expression of me, not what others expect of me!”
Jaeda is a junior, fashion design major from New Jersey. Just by looking at her major it’s clear that this girl knows her stuff, but she also thrives by doing everything she does with passion.
“If I would describe my style it would be a mix of the 90’s, streetwear, and high fashion…like “vintage street wear chic.”
Jaeda
Her style exudes creativity and she even has a really dope site where you can see all of her fabulous looks! She can be seen on campus sporting everything from a sexy to a laid back athletic look and both would be executed flawlessly.
Howard University, the mecca of black culture and education, had a lot to say about the presidential election last night on Twitter. Students, Alumni and more were shocked, disappointed, and stressed, to say the least. As reality sets in, Howard University students have begun to talk through the anger they feel, in hopes to figure out what their next steps should be.
Here is a selection of tweets that show just how some of the Howard University community is feeling:
Warning: I’m not in the mood for anyone’s shenanigans today.
If you’re Muslim, African American, Latino, LGBT, a woman, a war veteran, or against bigotry, this is what’s left of America for you. pic.twitter.com/R3i669uYUB
Kamala Harris, California’s Attorney General, made history Tuesday night, becoming only the second black woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate.
Harris, 52, entered the Senate race after Barbara Boxer announced her intention to retire. The Democrat became an early front-runner in a crowded primary field.
While 20 African-American women currently serve in the House of Representatives, there hasn’t been a black female senator since Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois served one term from 1993 to 1999.
Harris’s platform includes such issues as criminal justice and immigration reform, creating good-paying jobs, enacting family leave and equal pay policies, college affordability and universal pre-kindergarten for children and tackling climate change.
Journalist Donna Owens sat down with Harris early in her campaign for a wide-ranging interview. Here are a few factoids about the next woman to represent the Golden State on Capitol Hill.
Early roots
Born in Oakland, Kamala (it’s pronounced COMMA-la and means lotus flower) is the eldest of two daughters, born to an Indian mother and a Jamaican father. She has one younger sister, Maya Harris, an attorney and senior policy advisor for Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
“My parents met at Berkeley,” said Harris.
“Mom was a scientist, and my father was a professor of economics.” Her folks were active in the Civil Rights movement. “We grew up always being told that you have a responsibility to serve.”
The Education of Kamala
As an undergraduate, Harris attended Howard University, an historically black institution in the nation’s capital. The political science/economics major was on the debate team, joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and got her first taste of campaigning.
“My first run for office was at Howard University, where I was elected freshman class representative of the liberal arts student council. Running a campaign at Howard was tough! I remember walking up to strangers,” she recalled “asking them to vote for me.” From there, Harris earned her juris doctorate at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Post-graduation, she launched her career as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County, California. In 2003, she was elected District Attorney of San Francisco, serving two terms. In 2011, she was sworn in as Attorney General, becoming the first woman and person of color to hold the prestigious post.
Passionate about children’s causes
“I was blessed to have a really great childhood. In my family and extended family, children were nurtured and loved,” said Harris.
“When I started my career as a prosecutor, I specialized in child abuse and I met so many children who were the victims of circumstances beyond their control.”
For many HBCU alumni, students and fans, the unexpected result of the election is a wake-up call.
With Donald Trump’s stunning upset in the 2016 presidential election, commenters took to social media to share their thoughts and opinions.
Howard University’s Greg Carr, the Chair of the Department of Afro-American Studies, summed up Trump’s win over Hillary Clinton in one particular tweet.
Donald #Trump would have been nothing to our Ancestors and he should be nothing to us. Our future is in our hands. Time to rise. Get up.
“Maybe now more American Negroes will turn off the reality TV, store the video games, connect with each other, study & build for our future,” Carr said in another tweet.
Carr added:
This isn’t a setback. It’s a revelation. A setback presumes a common agenda. Time to finally develop one again. This time till it’s done.
The end of the lie of American exceptionalism came on November 8, 2016. It was killed in an act of political suicide. Rest in peace.
Alabama State University’s Board of Trustees abruptly suspended its leader of fewer than three years in a vote of no confidence, Diverse Education and other outlets reported.
Please join me in wishing President Gwendolyn Boyd & the entire Alabama State University community well in the days ahead.
President Gwendolyn Boyd, 60, was replaced by her provost at a board meeting Friday, according to Diverse Education. Dr. Leon Wilson, a higher education leader, will serve as interim president until the board finds a replacement for Boyd.
In response to the suspension, Boyd has said that the decision is “disappointing.”
For more about Boyd’s suspension and the economic turmoil at Alabama State University and how the university plans to get back on track, read this story:
“MONTGOMERY, Ala. ― The Alabama State University Board of Trustees has voted to suspend President Gwendolyn Boyd, saying it had lost confidence in her.
WSFA-TV reports that Boyd called the events that led to her suspension Friday “disappointing” and said she was surprised by the developments.
When asked if she thinks she’ll ever be ASU’s president again, her response: “I have no idea.”
“This is a good place. This is my home. This is my institution and there are so many opportunities here with the things we’ve set in place ― to start engineering and technology to move things forward,” Boyd said. “So I want the institution to thrive. Whether or not I’m here is up to them. But I do want Alabama State University to succeed and thrive.”
Boyd has served as president less than three years.
Following her suspension, the board appointed Provost Dr. Leon Wilson to serve as interim president.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled Nov. 14.
The board met Friday to discuss the university’s budget but instead voted to immediately suspend Boyd. There had been rumors of university employees being asked to take one furlough day each month as part of the 2017 budget.
Though Boyd’s tenure would see accreditation warnings, credit drops, dips in enrollment and a $24 million budget crisis, The Montgomery Advertiser reports the university was in turmoil before unanimously voting to hire her in January 2014.
Over 200 Dillard University students, faculty and staff walked to the polls in New Orleans to cast their votes
Just less than a week after the controversial Louisiana Senate Debate held at Dillard University, over 200 students, faculty and staff marched to Gentilly Boulevard to cast their vote as a community.
Collaboration between the Andrew Goodman Foundation and the Men of Dillard, with the help of several campuses and Greek letter organizations, registered 517 Dillard University students to vote in the 2016 Presidential Election.
Throughout the month of October, several different organizations hosted debate watch parties, created social media campaigns and offered voter registration tables to invite and encourage students to participate in this year’s historic election.
The campus, however, was marching to the beat of a different drum just a week before.
It felt like mini Martin Luther King Jr.’s versus Malcolm X mimics. If you weren’t in the protest you were suddenly a traitor or a coon, and if you participated you were a rebel rouser and a troublemaker. The day after the debate you could quite literally feel the tension in the air. Faces that we frequented transformed into strangers that we now questioned, all because of this man.
We allowed this man; this publicity seeking, hatred-filled and very narrow-minded man to turn us against one another. We allowed him to come into our home and disrupt our family, and all just days before the homecoming of our illustrious institution.
Mistakes were made, communication was lax, tension rose, but healing and growth can now begin.
Dillard University students, faculty, and staff came together Thursday morning in Lawless Chapel with University President Dr. Walter Kimbrough to discuss their frustrations and concerns in regards to the controversial Louisiana Senate Debate that was held at Dillard University on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
That same evening, Dillard University’s Student Government Association invited students to participate in an intimate, student only setting that allowed open and constructive conversation on concerns of the student body and how to deal with moving forward.
Several views and opinions were challenged, but one thing that we all agreed on was that although better action and communication should have been taken, healing can now begin.
The March to the Polls created an opportunity for healing and growth, renewal and improvement. What divided us a week earlier brought us together today. I was proud to be a Bleu Devil as we marched together, and my pride will live on.
With so many new artists coming out and so many new songs released every day, it can be hard to stay updated on all of the new bangers. DJ Swerve has made things a lot easier with his Aux Cord Essentialsseries.
Aux Cord Essentials is a bit different this time. Swerve presents a 3-part mix of bangers, chill music, and an island vibe mix.
Aux Cord Essentials
This series contains mixes with the hottest songs of the moment, curated by Swerve, HBCU Buzz‘s Top 5 HBCU DJs Class of 2016 member.
He has recently changed the series up a bit by introducing Aux Cord Essentials 3. Aux Cord Essentials is a bit different this time. Swerve presents a 3-part mix of bangers, chill music, and an island vibe mix.
These mixes are perfect if you want some dope music to play while getting ready, turning up or even just chilling out with friends. Check out the three mixes below and get all of the latest news and updates on DJ Swerve below.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the name of DJ Swerve’s Aux Cord Essentials series. We made the correction and apologize for the error.
Twenty-one-year-old Aleia Kristene is a senior at Florida A&M University, majoring in Occupational Therapy.
She began writing a screenplay entitled “4 Voices Unheard” in June of 2015, 6 months after losing yet another family member to the tragic disease of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, better known as ALS — four family members total so far to the same disease. Aleia shares her experiences with seeing her family suffer because it is therapeutic for her to talk about it, as well as spread awareness. God reminded her of what she was put on this Earth to do, by giving her a few angels along the way.
“This situation is extremely rare and heartbreaking for my family and I. I even had an aunt diagnosed just as recently as last October. I want people to understand that although it is rare, it can affect anyone. It hurts when people don’t know much about the disease or have never heard of it when I’ve been witnessing symptoms from various cases since I was about six years old.”
BlackDoctor.org recently chatted with Aleia to see how she deals with being so close to the disease.
BDO: When did you first learn about ALS?
I first learned about ALS when I was 6 years old. It was during my aunt Jackie’s wedding when I noticed her foot beginning to drag while walking down the aisle. Overtime I begin to notice other symptoms. She begin to wear foot braces, then started to lose certain muscles one by one, until eventually she could not walk at all. She later struggled to breathe on her own. Growing up I was confused as to what I was witnessing. I didn’t understand why these things were happening. I started to do research on my own, and the little information that I could find about ALS helped me to somewhat put the pieces together. The main factor that stood out to me is that 93% of people with ALS were white.
BDO: Did your family members all die suddenly? How did that affect you and the family as a whole?
“Every ALS case is different. My grandmother started having symptoms in 1993. She was diagnosed in October of 1994, and passed away 2 months later in December, 1994. She gave birth to 6 children, and 3 of them have passed away from ALS in the last 7 years. My aunt Jackie lived with the disease for about 8 years. Most ALS patients are given 2-5 years to live after diagnosis. She was diagnosed in about 2005 and her battle ended in 2009. My uncle Elijah Jr lived a short 2 months after being diagnosed. And my aunt Sherri passed away suddenly 7 months after diagnosis. This has affected our family tremendously.
We were a very close knit family. Every holiday was spent together, every birthday was spent together. My family was very musical. Always singing, and playing instruments. After each loss I can see less interaction between the rests of our family members. Everything feels different. We are all still hurting. People fail to understand that the pain doesn’t go away. When we were finally coming to terms with one death, then we were left to face another period of grieving. I was once in a dark place. I saw the most out of all the nieces and nephews of the family. I witnessed and heard a lot of things. I was once confused, hurt, and was beginning to lose my faith. But I begin to realize that God was building me into the person I’m meant to be. When my family begin to feel hopeless and lost, I decided to write a film about our story, and share it with the world, so we won’t feel so alone.
BDO: What do you think is most misunderstood about ALS?
“That’s a white man’s disease, I can’t get ALS”. Lol. I’ve heard this all too many times. Our story and case is extremely rare, but ALS affects anyone. I know several blacks with ALS. Not a bunch, but several. It’s just very scary and unfortunate when there is a familial gene of it in a family.
BDO: What do you want to accomplish with your film?
I want to paint a clear picture of what ALS actually is. A lot of people “think” they know what ALS is. Anybody that I ask can never give me a clear definition of it. I want people to see how important family is, and not to take life for granted. I want to be able to become an advocate for ALS, and a mentor to children/young adults who have a disease that runs in their family. I want to be able to launch into my dream career of screenwriting, directing, and acting with this film under my felt. I feel that this being the first movie of my career would show the world to not be ashamed where they come from, to keep fighting for what they believe in, and to never give up on their dreams no matter the circumstances. And ultimately, I pray that this film will be the spark to a cure being found.
Howard University is relaunching the College Republicans on campus.
Howard is just one of three historically black colleges or universities (HBCU) that has an active chapter of College Republicans on campus, joining Morehouse College and Central State University.
Leah, along with Telly Lovelace, the RNC as National Director of African American Initiatives and Media, helped facilitate the re-launch of the Howard University College Republicans.
According to Leah, RNC Chairman Reince Priebuswrote the campus Republicans a check of $2,000 to help them with their efforts as well as they opened their bank account at a black-owned bank. The owner of the bank gave them a $500 check as well.
The Howard campus Republicans had their re-launch party at XO lounge Downtown on Friday and students and alumni were in attendance.
Jaylon Moore is a senior at Jackson State University, majoring in Social Work. Recently he wrote a new book entitledCollege Daze.
College Dazeis a religious self-help book geared towards millennials and college students who have a strong desire to stay grounded in Christ. During his time at Jackson State University Moore has been very vocal about his passion for the ministry and using his life to inspire others.
Moore told HBCU Buzz that he was inspired to writeCollege Daze because“there [was] a need for young adults to stay grounded in who God has called them to be at a young age.”
Moore says that the book discusses pressing issues that many college students face such as: choosing the right friends, balancing Greek life while maintaining a relationship with God as well as finding one’s purpose.
This book seems to be one that anyone at any HBCU can relate to. This book comes from a genuine, authentic place and will resonate with many. Moore explained that he never, in fact, planned to write a book:
“I started to journal about my experiences and God began to speak to me about how to truly stay in His will while in college.” He went on to say, “There are so many young adults living beneath their means simply because they have let people and things distract them from who God has called them to be. I believe that God is raising up a generation of people who are truly after him and who will be effective in the world today.”
We are very excited about College Daze and look forward to seeing what Moore will do next. If you are in the Jackson, Mississippi area you can meet Moore at his book signing. On Thursday, November 10th Jaylon will be signing copies of his book, College Daze at Anderson United Methodist Church beginning at 6:30.
The church is located at 6205 Hanging Moss Rd. You can also order a copy of Moore’s book, College Daze on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.
HBCU Pride
Holiday Satisfaction
The Education of Kamala
With so many new artists coming out and so many new songs released every day, it can be hard to stay updated on all of the new bangers. DJ Swerve has made things a lot easier with his Aux Cord Essentials series.
I first learned about ALS when I was 6 years old. It was during my aunt Jackie’s wedding when I noticed her foot beginning to drag while walking down the aisle. Overtime I begin to notice other symptoms. She begin to wear foot braces, then started to lose certain muscles one by one, until eventually she could not walk at all. She later struggled to breathe on her own. Growing up I was confused as to what I was witnessing. I didn’t understand why these things were happening. I started to do research on my own, and the little information that I could find about ALS helped me to somewhat put the pieces together. The main factor that stood out to me is that 93% of people with ALS were white.
