Florida Woman Jailed for Firing ‘Warning Shot’ Released From Prison

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On Tuesday Marissa Alexander, a Florida woman and mother who fired warning shots at her abusive husband to stop his coming attack, recently was released from a Jacksonville, Florida prison to serve the remainder of her sentence on house arrest. Alexander was put on trial in what became known as the “warning shot” case.

From Reuters, “Marissa Alexander, 31, said she fired a “warning shot” into a wall after being threatened by her husband in an incident in 2010, but prosecutors believe the bullet endangered him and his two children.”

The trial sparked a national debate on Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law, and racial discrimination in the criminal justice system.

But according to reports, Alexander now faces other obstacles in her way to freedom, “The monitoring system will cost around $105 a week, and will total some $11,000 over the two years that Alexander will be under house arrest,” says The Root.

The Root: “Donations collected since Alexander’s arrest will cover the cost of the monitoring, and the news station notes that Alexander already has a job offer from a local pastor, under his ministry.”

With all that this woman has been forced to endure, there is a pressing question that must be asked. Is this what justice looks like?

No.

Like so many in the country I am excited that Marissa Alexander is going home to her family where she belongs. I am excited, but in the same way I believe the family of Jordan Davis was handed “scraps of justice” in the Michael Dunn murder retrial, Alexander, too, received scraps.

Her story and this new decision by Judge James Daniel has a reconciliatory and vindicating feeling about it. Yes, her case prompted the creation of a new law that would cover warning shots fired, and this change in law would have most likely protected her from prison time.

But when you look at this reactive legislation and the actual beneficiaries of “Stand Your Ground” in Florida, particularly in the George Zimmerman case for the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, that question, “is this what justice looks like,” must be asked.

Her conviction and her expensive house arrest further displays the systematic racism that permeates the criminal justice/legal system, socio-cultural, and economic landscapes in the United States.

“I will continue to learn lessons from the events of the past, but I will not live in the past,” Alexander said.

Empire Star, Jussie Smollett Talks Diversity on MTV News

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In a recent interview with MTV news, Empire’s Jussie Smollett gave his perspective on diversity in television. Smollett admits that he feels TV is a medium for diversity now more so than ever because we as the viewers control it. 

“TV is a more diverse space right now because TV is driven by the people,” Smollett told MTV News.”

“When a television show like ‘Scandal’ becomes the biggest show in recent history, suddenly advertisers and networks want to jump on that. And what it’s showing is that people want to see diversity,” he said. 

I must say, I do agree with Smollett, who plays “Jamal Lyon” on Fox’s Empire.

On Monday nights I can turn my TV on and See Alfre Woodard as an African-American female President on State of Affairs. On a Wednesday I tune into Fox to see a predominantly African American cast on Empire, and on Thursdays I can see Viola Davis play a heck of role as a prestigious law professor on How to Get Away With Murder, and later this year the predominantly Latina cast of Devious Maids will be returning to Lifetime for a third season.

The list goes on.

The array of diversity being shown on TV is moving networks to see that it pays to give the people what they want to see.

Ethnic barriers on television are being broken show by show, script by script. Society isn’t comprised of just one race, so to see a melting pot of all racial backgrounds on the small screen only makes sense. Viewers are watching television to see actors and actresses who they can relate to, no matter how broad the story line may be.

People want to see themselves on television shows with their same situations and circumstances, they want to see people who mirror their lives and backgrounds.

I think diversity in shows only opens up doors for diversity everywhere else like, film, the fashion industry, the world of art and dance, you name it.

Though there is still a long way to go, I have to admit that I enjoy seeing people who look like me, too.

“What message does it send to the masses when someone — or an entire race — is completely snuffed? And completely ignored for work that was at the top of their game? That’s what we need to be asking,” said Smollett.

Selma Director Ava DuVernay, Star David Oyelowo Are Back to Work

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Director of Selma Ava DuVernay and its lead actor David Oyelow, who stunningly reenacted the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., are back at it again! The dynamic duo are currently developing a film about Hurricane Katrina.  

According to Participant Media, the narrative film will account a love story and a mystery murder that takes place during the natural disaster.

“Hurricane Katrina is one of the most important social and environmental stories of our time,” said Jonathan King, one of the films’ producers.

This will be the third time Oyelowo and DuVernay will collaborate on a project (Middle of Nowhere and Selma being the first two projects), and you know what they say about the third time, it’s always a charm.

Ava DuVernay’s directorial genius in Selma has proven her worthy to work on this upcoming heartfelt piece.

[READ: 6 Reasons Selma is a Must See for HBCU Students]

Society remembers Hurricane Katrina as one the most devastating events of the 21st century, so while DuVernay has her work cut out for her, it is also expected of her to rise to the occasion.

“DuVernay has shown herself to be highly skilled at bringing intimacy and contemporary urgency to epic events,” King said. 

Since the movie is in the production stages, there is no set release date. But now that the cat has been let out of the bag movie goers will be eager for the film to hit the silver screen.

 

More Snow for Central State, Wilberforce Students? It’s Too Early to Tell

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Students attending Central State University and sister college, across-the-street neighbor Wilberforce University awoke to find their campuses coated with snow, Monday. Students may have to be bundle up for another weather system with rain and snow mixed this week, but meteorologists say it is too early to tell.

From the Columbus Dispatch, “The worst of that storm is finished in central Ohio, leaving 2 to 5 inches of snow.”

“Another weather system is expected to bring a mix of snow and rain to Columbus this week, but it’s too early to tell whether snow will accumulate,” according to the Dispatch.

Central State, located in the heart of the state of Ohio, and Wilberforce, who is located adjacent to CSU on the other side of Brush Row Rd. in Wilberforce, Ohio, are the only public and private historically black college or university (HBCU) in Ohio, respectfully.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @MeadeReport

Former Football Head Coach Holmes Suing FAMU

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Former FAMU football coach Earl Holmes filed a civil suit against Florida A&M University and its board of trustees on Monday.

“I’m just looking for some closure to be honest with you. Everything happened over night, regardless of it was personal or not. To me it’s not personal; it’s business. I appreciate everything FAMU has done for me…but at the end of the day we’ve got to do the right thing,” Holmes said.

Holmes became interim head coach in November 2012, and then signed a four-year contract with the university for that position in February 2013. On October 28, just days before the homecoming game, Holmes was terminated.

Read more here.

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Gold Nuggets Climb Over the .500 Mark

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Behind a career high 14 points from Donyeah Mayfield and 13 from Alesha Smith The Golden Nuggets were able to post a 63-57 victory over Edward Waters.

Xavier University of Louisiana (11-10, 4-1 conf.) bounces back from a 30 point defeat to pull to over .500 and move into second place in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

Starting for the first time in eight games Mayfield shot 70% from the field and added 8 rebounds in 20 minutes of floor time, while committing no turnovers.

Smith helped pull the team out to an early 12-0 run scoring 7 of her first half 11 points during that early run.

To help put the game away Whitney Gathwright, who was also in double figures with 14 points, made three shots from beyond the arch, with her final shot being 22 seconds remaining in 2nd half of play.

With this shot Gathwright also became just the seventh Gold Nugget with 100 converted career three points shots in school history.

Read more here.

Dogs Set Onto Norfolk State Student, London Colvin for Refusing to Assist Police Officers

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London Colvin, Norfolk State.Updated 1:48 PM EST, 1/29/2015 

A student at Norfolk State University (NSU) , a historically black college or university (HBCU) in Norfolk, Virginia, allegedly was attacked by police dogs after refusing to offer information to police officers regarding a fight.

NSU student London Colvin refused to answer questions about a fight that she was not involved in when police officers set dogs onto her.

Two police officers also sat on Colvin while the dogs brutally bit and attacked her, according to eyewitnesses.

“We want this to be publicized,” Kayla Cook, a Junior and Tourism and Hospitality major at Norfolk State University, told HBCU Buzz.

“We want the word out about this. The police told her that she took the dogs better than other people have before. We don’t know how many people the officers have attacked before [this incident],” she said.

UPDATE: London Colvin, a 21-year-old Norfolk State student and private in the Army Reserve is now recovering from injuries suffered when attacked by a police dog, reports say.

From Potomac Local, “Colvin was at the scene of a fight 2:15 a.m. Sunday, at an off-campus party near Norfolk State University, in Norfolk, where Colvin is a second-semester junior and Sociology major.”

The incident occurred when Norfolk police approached Colvin regarding an off-campus fight.

“She was at a party off campus,” Whitney Dunn, the victim’s cousin, told Potomac Local. “She said that a fight broke out, and she had nothing to do with the fight.”

“She [Colvin] was definitely being loud – she did admit to that,” Dunn said.

According to Potomac Local, the NSU student had to get 40 stitches and received “close several non-life threatening wounds” on her leg in result to the violent attack.

Eyewitnesses also say two police officers sat on Colvin while police dogs were set onto her.

UPDATE: According to Media Relations officials at NSU, NSU’s Vice-President for Student Affairs Edward M. Willis released a statement today about NSU student Colvin:

“We are aware of the incident involving one of our students this past weekend. Our main concern, as it would be with any student, is Ms. Colvin’s well-being, safety, as well as supporting her academic pursuits.” The nature of her involvement with law enforcement is a separate issue and all questions should be referred to the Norfolk Police Department.”


ASU Grad, Rapper 2 Chainz to Run for College Park Mayor?

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Tauheed Epps, better known by his stage name 2 Chainz, just may consider running for Mayor of College Park, his hometown, according to reports. 

[quote_box_center]From XXL: “I’m a musician, not a politician,”  [2 Chainz] said. “I’m supposed to be running for mayor in College Park. I got everybody wishing. I’m really gonna do this little mayor thing in College Park. I’m just trying to make sure I have the right qualifications.”[/quote_box_center]

It seems as if 2 Chainz is feeling more confident than ever and is at an all-time high.

2 Chainz, an Alabama State University alum who was also a 4.0 student while attending the historically black college or university (HBCU) in Montgomery, Alabama, says everything he does has to be ‘organic’ and is not ruling out a bid for College Park Mayor. 

Recently the rapper clashed with and schooled television host Nancy Grace, calling for the legalization of weed because if you legalize marijuana, he says, the overcrowding of prisons, in particular regarding people of color, and other related issues would be a non-factor.  

At least we know he is a great debater.

B-CU’s Kailyn Williams Named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week

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Bethune-Cookman earned weekly conference honors for the fourth time during this season when the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference announced Kailyn Williams as Defensive Player of the Week, her second time winning the honor of the year.

From BCUAthletics.com, “A redshirt sophomore center, Williams (6-5, New Orleans), logged a double-double average of 10.5 PPG and16.0 RPG last week in games against Norfolk State and Coppin State. She made a huge statement on the defensive end, with a 6.5 BPG average, also tying the 2014-15 NCAA single-game best with 10 blocks against NSU.”

According to BCUAthletics.com this is the sixth of Williams’ career.

Read more here.

Morehouse Students Remembers 2 Fallen Brothers

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Morehouse students recently joined together at King Chapel to remember Kendall Clark, class of 2016, and Brandon Key, class of 2017. Both students passed during winter break at different incidents.

Kendall Clark was involved in a fatal car crash, and Brandon Key’s cause of death is still unknown.

The memorial event was organized by students in the AUC (Atlanta University Center) community on campus.

You can donate to the funeral fund of Brandon Key here.

James Wright, Alabama A&M Assistant Coach, Dies at 46

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Alabama A&M assistant coach James Wright passed away last Wednesday at the age of 46.

“We’ve lost a great coach, a great man and a great person. I’ve known him since high school,” said head coach Willie Hayes.

From NBC Sports, “Wright was in his fourth season with the Bulldogs, joining the program after working with Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Wright, who played at Jackson State with Lindsey Hunter, according to his bio, came up on the AAU scene in Alabama, where he coached NBA players Mo Williams and Justin Reed.”

Details surrounding Wright’s death were not made available by the school.

Tuskegee President Brian Johnson Says ‘Ignorance’ is Worst Word in English Language

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On Tuesday Jan. 20 students gathered together for a special event honoring the legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Clemson University where Tuskegee University President Brian Johnson served as keynote speaker, and encouraged students to surround themselves with knowledge.

“I believe the worst nine-letter word, actually the worst word in the entirety of the English language is ignorance,” said Tuskegee University President Brian Johnson.

Johnson mentioned how King push for education of all people no matter what race or background they belonged to. He stated that the men and women who surrounded Dr. King were educated primary thinkers.

Upstate college students are beginning to feel the pressure of cost when it comes to the price of education.

Many college students had the chance to express their frustrations about educational funding. They mentioned that the fight for funding is a struggle.

“It’s not because they don’t have the mindset,” student Austin Bush told WYFF News, “don’t have the work ethic, they don’t have what it takes to be a college graduate — it’s because they can’t financially support going to a four-year college or the college they want to.”

5 and Counting: CSU Now Tied for 1st in G-MAC

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Central State makes it five in a row after defeating Salem International 96-76 on Thursday.

The Marauders (12-6, 4-1) are now in a tie for 1st in the G-MAC conference with Alderson Broaddus.

In their most dominating offensive output of the season, CSU shot over 50% from the field. After being down 13-8 with less than five minutes into the 1st half Central State was able to string together a 9-0 run and didn’t look back.

Never trailing from that point on, the resurgence was largely led from the bench which contributed 32 points.

Backup Forward Hosie Smith Jr. was perfect the whole night going 6 of 6 from the field and 4 of 4 from the free throw line. Jay Miller came off the bench to contribute 12 points in just as many minutes.

The Marauders dominance was greatly helped by reigning G-MAC Athlete of the Week Masceo Harmon, who led the team with 19 points, 6 assists and 3 steals. Raheem Lemons contributed with 13 points and a team-high 9 rebounds. Tre’ Edwards went 5 of 7 from the field to finish with 12 points. Sterling Gilmore and Jeremy Brown each chipped in with 10 points to contribute to the victory.

Read more at MarauderSports.com.

Gold Nuggets Just Outside NAIA Top 25 Rank

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The Xavier University (Louisiana) Women’s Basketball team comes just outside of the Top 25 in the NAIA Division I Coach’s Poll for the third consecutive week.

The Gold Nuggets (10-10, 3-1) have not ranked higher than 19th since Dec. 9 after starting the season at No. 18.

This week they come in at No. 29, receiving 14 polling points.

Top 25 NAIA poll:

1, Freed Hardeman
2. Oklahoma City
3. Campbellsville
4. Westminster (Utah)
5. Langston
6. Bethel (Tenn.)
7. Loyola
8. Oklahoma Baptist
9. Concordia (Calif.)
10. Montana State-Northern
11. Vanguard
12. Shawnee State
13. Lewis-Clark State
14. The Master’s
15. Our Lady of the Lake
16. Westmont
17. Wiley
18. MidAmerica Nazarene
19. Lindsey Wilson
20. Lyon
21. Carroll (Mont.)
22. Great Falls
23. Martin Methodist
24. Columbia (Mo.)
25. Georgetown (Ky.)

Others receiving votes, in order of points:
26. Benedictine (Kan.)
27. Texas Wesleyan
28. Baker
29. Xavier
30. Pikeville
31. Cumberlands
32. Cumberland
33. Wayland Baptist

CSU Picking Up Steam With 93-67 Win Over Salem Int.

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For the first time this season the CSU Lady Marauders has won back to back games after a decisive 93-67 win over Salem International on Thursday.

Central State University (5-11, 2-5 GMAC) had four players in double figures. Through the first half the Lady Marauders were carried by senior Jasmine Cooper, whose 12 points carried the team to a 42-31 lead going into the half.

The Lady Marauders was able to continue the onslaught of SIU behind Senior Guard Iniquia Snell’s game high of 22 points. Forward Kourtni Perry fell just short of a double double with 18 Points and 9 rebounds.

The 26 point win is the largest margin of victory for CSU yet this season, and the 93 points is the most scored by the team this year.

Read more at MarauderSports.com.

NCCU Alumnus, Tony Medlin Will Oversee Footballs for Super Bowl XLIX

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This year for Super Bowl XLIX the game balls will be handled by Tony Medlin, the Bears equipment manager who is also an alumnus of North Carolina Central University.

From ESPN, “…the process of overseeing the game balls for the Super Bowl will fall on Chicago Bears equipment manager.”

Prior to the Super Bowl game Medlin also managed equipment at NCCU from 1982-1987, according to ESPN.

There has been some controversy over the footballs used in the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts, in particular by New England in which the team allegedly deflated 11-12 of the footballs used in the game.

Posted by Stefan Weathers Posted on 10 articles