NJG-Volume-123_No-48_Nov_30_2023

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Vol. 123, No. 48 | $1.50

November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023

Publishing since 1900 ... that no good cause shall lack a champion and evil shall not thrive unopposed.

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BEACH NAACP DEMANDS NEW LOOK AT 2021 POLICE SHOOTING

By NJG Staff Writer VIRGINIA BEACH The Virginia Beach Chapter of the NAACP recently issued a call for “a thorough federal investigation into the tragic and fatal shooting of Donovon Lynch in 2021 by a Virginia Beach police officer.”

NAACP spokesman Rev. Gary McCollum said the civil rights group has been following the case since day one, but has waited until now to get involved to avoid conflicting with a lawsuit filed by the Lynch Family.

Wayne Lynch originally filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit in June 2021

The Virginia Beach NAACP said it is now able to get involved because the 2021 Lynch Family suit has been settled. against the city and Solomon D. Simmons, the police officer who shot his son.

On December 13, 2022, attorneys for the family announced that a $3 million settlement had been made. A

McCollum said the Virginia Beach NAACP is now able to get involved because the suit has been settled.

Lynch’s fatal shooting occurred on a warm March night near the city’s crowded boardwalk, which is lined with restaurants and hotels.

Photo: Courtesy The evening dissolved into chaos after separate (L-R) Al Alexander, Foundation Chair, Officer Albert White outbreaks of gunfire. At least and Colonel Mark Solesky, Chesapeake Chief of Police. eight people were wounded, and one woman, who was believed to be a bystander, also was killed.

In November 2021, a special grand jury found that Simmons, an AfricanAmerican, was justified in CHESAPEAKE and injured four more people shooting Lynch.

A first responder at the before taking his own life. ...see NAACP, page 8A Chesapeake Walmart mass He was identified as a team shooting last year was honored member at the store where recently for his heroism by the he had worked for 12 years.

New Chesapeake Education Police confirmed the shooter Foundation. used a 9mm handgun, which Policeman Albert White had been purchased legally received special recognition from a local store the day of during the group’s 6th Annual the shooting.

Black Tie Scholarship Gala In addition to the Special on November 18 at the Delta Recognition Award from the Hotel.

Foundation, Virginia House This month marks the first of Delegates Resolution NO. anniversary of the tragedy on 602 was read citing White’s November 22, 2022 that shook selfless dedication to duty and the area when a gunman killed his heroic actions. six employees inside the store ...see page 2B

1st Responder Honored On 1st Anniversary of Walmart Mass Shooting

week and a half later, Wayne Lynch, the father, put the brakes on the process and announced that he would not sign off on the $3 million settlement, which he said at that time was not finalized.

DEL. DON SCOTT:

VIRGINIA’S NEW HOUSE SPEAKER

By Leonard E. Colvin

Del. Don Scott of Portsmouth, will be the first African American House Speaker.

Chief Reporter Emeritus New Journal and Guide When the Republicans won the 2021 legislative election, led by political novice Glenn Youngkin, the Republicans won the Governor’s mansion and the House, and the Democrats’ Blue wave ended.

Ralph Northam was Governor and, with the Democrats, controlled the state House and Senate during that period, when monumental progressive policy reforms were signed into law.

Healthcare expansion for people with low incomes, decriminalization of Marijuana, voting rights, and protecting women’s right to abortion were at the top of the list.

In early November 2023, the Democrats reclaimed the House and Senate with thin majorities.

If the Democrats can work with the Governor, they may revive that reformist Blue wave.

Also, they could invoke

Photo: Courtesy

Del. Don Scott legislative provisions in laws that could ensure their work is not reversed should Republicans return to power in future elections.

State Delegate Don Scott, the current Minority Leader from Portsmouth, will be the new and first African-American House

Speaker. During a recent interview with the GUIDE, he said he is preparing to lead his party toward another progressive and reformist era.

Scott ascended to the House, one of the most powerful positions in Virginia Government,

quickly after entering the body.

Scott, an attorney, said that he thrives on people underestimating him personally and as a political broker which energized his ambitions.

Scott won the race for the 80th House district in the 2019 Virginia House of Delegates election after the resignation of Matthew James.

During the campaign, a local reporter found out the Houston, Texas native, after leaving the Navy, had a tour in prison for non-sales related drug trafficking issues.

In the general election, he won with 66.01 percent of the vote.

Scott learned the ropes quickly in Richmond. ...see Scott, page 6A

VIRGINIA STATE WILL HOST A 2024 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

By Rosaland Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

On Oct. 1, Virginia State University will make history when it hosts one of four 2024 Presidential Debates that will be held on college campuses.

Specifically, Virginia State will host the second Presidential debate. It is the first time that the Commission on Presidential Debates has selected a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) as a debate site. On Sept. 16, Texas State University in San Marcos will host the first debate. The University of Utah in Salt Lake City will host the third debate. On Sept. 25, the lone vice-presidential

Get Ready, Get Ready For The 2024 Black History Month Theme

By NJG Staff Writer Expect to see numerous stories about Black artists who transformed America, due to the fact that the 2024 Black History Month theme is “African-Americans and the Arts.”

This means in February, you will probably read multiple stories about artists such as Paul Robeson, Josephine, Baker, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, as well as their trailblazing successors – artists like Beyoncé, JayZ, and Pharrell Williams.

Their impact continues to resonate from the stage to the streets.

During the Civil Rights Movement, many Black artists marched with the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. A long list of Black artists participated in demonstrations and marches to the point that they helped to launch the 1965 Civil Rights Act. Their impact comes sharply

2024 THEME: “AfricanAmericans and The Arts.” into view when you recall Billie Holiday’s famous “Strange Fruit” song, which compared lynching victims to fruit hanging from a tree: “Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root; Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.”

In March 2022, (decades after Holiday died at age 44 in 1959), the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill that criminalizes lynching and makes it punishable by up to 30 years in prison. The new law came on the heels of more than 100 years of efforts that included 200 failed attempts to pass the law.

Va. NAACP Elects New Officers

Dr. Makola M. Abdullah debate will be held at Lafayette College in Easton, Penn.

“Virginia State University is proud to announce that it has been chosen by the Commission on Presidential Debates to host a 2024 Presidential Debate,” Dr. Makola M. Abdullah, president of

Photo: Photog

Virginia State University Virginia State said in a recent press release.

“This is a momentous occasion for VSU, as it is the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) ever selected to host a General Election

U.S. Presidential Debate.

The debate, scheduled for October 1, 2024, is the second of three scheduled general election presidential debates,” Abdullah said. ...see VSU, page 8A

Miss Black America Pageant In December ATLANTIC CITY – The Miss Black America Pageant is coming back to Atlantic City to celebrate its 55th anniversary on the Boardwalk, Saturday, December 16. ...see ... see page 8A

RICHMOND During the 88th Annual Convention of the NAACP Virginia State Conference on Saturday, November 11, 2023, members voted for officers to lead the civil rights group.

Those elected or reelected are: President, Rev. Cozy Bailey, Prince William; Vice President, Mark Lomax, Newport News; Treasurer, Warren Williams,

Fredericksburg; Assistant Treasurer, Sylvia Wood, Richmond; Region 6 Vice President, James E. Ghee, Esq.; Region 7 Vice President, Bishop Michael Turner; Members At Large, Jane Caburrus; Lewis Johnson; Carmen Taylor; Youth and College President, Ty’Leik Chambers; Youth and College Secretary, Chloe Edwards, Youth and College Advisor, Monique Randolph.

INSIDE: Redemption: A Goldsboro, N.C. activist tells the story of his fall from grace, redemption, restoration, and now, how he serves others. ...see page 7A

Richard Taylor

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CALIFORNIA STUDENTS TO RECEIVE MEDIA Somali-American Woman LITERACY CLASSES UNDER NEW LAW Scoops Race For

By Stacy M. Brown

The bill emphasizes the urgent need for students to distinguish between NNPA NEWSWIRE fact and fiction, particularly in the California has enacted a law mandating the digital age where misinformation inclusion of media literacy education in the K-12 has become more pervasive.

Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

curriculum, which state officials called a proactive approach to address the growing challenge of misinformation.

The legislation, known as Bill No. 873, received approval from Gov. Gavin Newsom in October and is set to take effect in January 2024.

The bill, which Assemblymember Marc Berman, a Democrat representing San Mateo County in Northern California, spearheaded, emphasizes the urgent need for students to distinguish between fact and fiction, particularly in the digital age where misinformation has become more pervasive.

Bill No. 873 will integrate media literacy content into the existing mathematics, science, and historysocial science curriculum frameworks.

According to Berman, the objective is to empower students to

navigate the complex online information landscape, fostering a generation equipped to evaluate and counteract misinformation critically.

In a statement posted on his official website, Berman emphasized the significance of incorporating media literacy into the educational framework.

“Teaching media literacy is a key strategy to support our children, their families, and our society that are inundated with misinformation and disinformation on social media networks and digital platforms,” Berman stated.

The escalating levels of distrust in the media and the tangible consequences of online misinformation underscore the urgency of such education, the assemblyman stated. He

pointed to the real-world impacts that have transpired due to the unchecked spread of misinformation, citing examples ranging from climate denial to vaccine conspiracy theories and even the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol.

According to the National Association for Media Literacy, media literacy builds upon traditional literacy and offers new forms of reading and writing. Media literacy empowers people to be critical thinkers and makers, effective communicators, and active citizens.

“Our children live in a world of powerful 24/7 media. In addition to children’s exposure to traditional forms of media and advertisements like television, print (magazines, books), and billboards,

new media has exploded in recent years. Over the last decade, there has been a drastic increase in the amount of time children and youth are engaging with media, particularly digital media,” officials at Media Literacy Now wrote on their website.

“Children ages 2 to 8 spend an average of two hours per day, children between 8 and 12 spend four to six hours, and adolescents over 12 years old spend an average of seven to nine hours per day, according to recent research.” Officials at the advocacy group, Media Literacy Now, noted that media is everywhere, and technology is a part of life.

However, they stressed that, with children spending such large amounts of time online and in front of screens, they are exposed to messages and information that can hurt their health and well-being and prevent them from becoming empowered and engaged citizens.

“The negative impact that media can have on our children is profound,” officials stated.

CITY OF RALEIGH OPENS 1ST STATE PARK THAT HONORS BLACK STRUGGLE

By Rosaland Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

The city of Raleigh recently opened a 1-acre park downtown, which honors individuals who participated in the state’s Black civil rights struggle.

The new North Carolina Freedom Park is located between the state Legislative Building and governor’s mansion on a site that once housed now-removed Confederate statues and monuments. Clay colored walkways guide visitors to the signature “Beacon of Freedom” sculpture, a metallic structure that lights up at night and shines a light on several Black North Carolina statues emblazoned with walls of quotes.

“When you come here, you enter and honor the souls of Black folk who are speaking to you,” said Dr. Reginald Hildebrand, a retired UNC history professor, who helped create the park.

Gov. Roy Cooper attended the recent unveiling ceremony.

Cooper, who is wrapping up a six-year term, has played a key role in removing Confederate monuments from Capitol grounds.

Cooper said at the recent unveiling ceremony, “The Executive Mansion is here,” he gestured. “The legislature is there. The Capitol is there.

The courts are right over there.

Now, nestled here among the branches of government,

NEW JOURNAL AND GUIDE P.O. Box 209, Norfolk,VA 23501 Phone: (757) 543-6531 Fax: (757) 543-7620 PUBLISHER AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Brenda H. Andrews ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER: Desmond Perkins ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Rosaland Tyler CHIEF REPORTER EMERITUS: Leonard E. Colvin PRODUCTION: Tony Holobyte New Journal and Guide (USPS 0277560/ISSN 8096) is published weekly on Thursday for $50 per year, $30 per year for six months by New Journal and Guide Publishing, Incorporated,5127 East Va. Beach Blvd., Suite 100, Norfolk, VA 23510. Periodicals Postage Paid at Norfolk, VA 23501. Postmaster: Send address changes to New Journal and Guide, P.O. Box 209, Norfolk, VA 23501. The New Journal and Guide is not responsible for any unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or related materials.

amidst the sound and the fury, shines North Carolina Freedom Park.”

Jordan Milhouse, who helped launch the project in 2000, said he hopes many people will visit the new park in the coming years.

“Instead of wasting idle time, let’s go learn a little bit about our history, let’s go learn a little bit about our struggle, let’s go learn about where we’re going and where we came from,” Milhouse said.

Freedom Park includes educational materials, an LED video board, as well as walkways with quotes with quotes from significant Black figures. It is located at the corner of South Wilmington and East Lane Streets.

Mayor In Minnesota (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM/ GLOBAL INFORMATION NETWORK) Voters in the Minnesota city of St. Louis Park turned out in force for Nadia Mohamed, a 27-year-old SomaliAmerican, choosing her as the city’s first Black, first Somali, and first Muslim mayor.

Mohamed easily defeated Dale Anderson, a former banker and continuing education teacher, by a margin of 58 percent to 41 percent.

“I am very happy to win as Somali-American, Muslim, migrant and Black,” she told VOA’s Somali Service. “I say thank you to all of those who supported me in this.

It is our victory.”

Maine State Rep. Deqa Dhalac was the first Somali American to serve as mayor of an American city in 2021, when South Portland’s six-member council selected him for the role.

Mohamed becomes the first Somali mayor in American history elected directly by voters.

“I have lived in this city for 18 years,” said Mohamed. “I grew up and finished my school here, so it was easy for me to get elected because people know me.”

Over the past few elections, racially and ethnically diverse candidates have won elections and bring new

perspectives to Minnesota city government.

Mohamed said she and her family moved to the suburban city west of Minneapolis when she was 10 years old. Nearly two decades later, the 27-year-old celebrated an election night victory with her family and the community she loves.

“I was thrilled and over the moon,” Mohamed said. “It’s been like a moment of a lifetime.”

Mohamed said she plans to dedicate her tenure to elevating and addressing the concerns of St. Louis Park’s roughly 50,000 residents.

In 2019, Mohamed was elected to the city council when she was 23 years old. After serving for four years, she decided to launch a bid for mayor.

The campaign was hard fought, she said, and critics often hurled insults at her on social media for not only her young age, but also her Somali heritage.

“People are filled with hate and don’t want you to be a part of their neighborhoods or part of their community because they don’t want to share that,” Mohamed said.

But her victory Tuesday put an end to any questions of belonging, she said.

“If you don’t want to share, you can go somewhere else,” she said. “But I’m staying here.”

From The Guide’s Archives

Archives taken from the pages of the (New) Journal and Guide November 30, 1946 Edition of the Guide Complaints Against Princess Anne Schools Fully Substantiated

By Albert L. Hinton Princess Anne County: Longtime complaints against specific inadequacies and other adverse conditions affecting the Colored schools of Princess Anne County, which have been widely publicized in recent months, are fully substantiated.

A joint citizens’ committee representing the Princess Anne County Civic Origination, the County Chapter of the NAACP, and the Countywide Parent’s Teacher League have been working on the problem for many months to alleviate the situation.

Recent reports indicate the movement is gaining considerable support, much of it coming from prominent White residents of the county and from both White and interracial organized civic and religious groups.

A three-day survey of the county’s school system by an organization appointed by a commission appointed

by Dr. G. Tyler Miller, state superintendent of public instruction, is expected to get underway on Tuesday of next week. The chairman of the particular survey commission of the commission is Orville Wake, State Director of Elementary Education.

The survey is being made at the special request of the Princess Anne County School Board.

Among the more recent groups to throw the weight of their support behind the school improvement move is a countywide interracial church group which held its second meeting recently at Union Kempsville Baptist Church under the leadership of A.E. Ewell of Old Donation Episcopal Church who served as temporary chairman.

On a personal tour of Princess Anne County on November 21, accompanied

by W. Frances Taylor, Jr., chairman of the joint citizens’ committee seeking improvement in the schools, it was found that practically all of the complaints made against the schools were fully justified by the fact.

The tour covered sites of the Colored schools, including New Light, Black Water, Nimmo, County Training School at Euclid, William Skinner, Ebenezer, St. John’s, and Pleasant Ridge.

A majority of the school buildings are of the oneroom variety in which one teacher is required to teach seven grades.

The buildings are all heated by coal or woodburning stoves and are in a sad state of disrepair, with broken windowpanes evident in almost every case.

of a dresser.

Dandridge asserted hearing a band of young White men near the front of the house, one of whom is believed to have thrown the missile.

She has been living on Maltby Avenue only briefly, having moved into the house after the Whites vacated it. The brickthrowing was one of a series of such happenings which have been reported

by Negro residents in the immediate area.

The infiltration of Negro residents into the neighborhood has been only resented by some Whites who have gone so far as to provoke acts of violence against the Colored occupants.

In the block of Maltby Avenue where Dandridge lives there are seven White Hoodlums Stone Colored and four White Another Home On families. On one side of Maltby Ave. the street, the Colored side of the road, the Colored NORFOLK family’s number four and Although the the Whites three. transformation of the 800 block of Maltby Avenue U.S. To Issue BTW has steadily progressed Coins December 15 from White to Colored occupancy until, at present, Roanoke, VA: United the Negro families there are States mints in Denver, predominant and sporadic Philadelphia, and San attacks reported, are still Francisco are currently being made on Negro homes striking off the new 50by alleged White hoodlums. cent pieces, which will bear Virginia D. Dandridge, an the likeness of Booker T. employee in the Circulation Washington’s Birthplace Department of the Journal Memorial. and Guide who lives at 820 This is the first time on the Avenue, called the in U.S. history the U.S. police shortly after 1 a.m. Government has struck a and reported that a large coin in honor of a Colored stone had just been hurled person. through the front window of Designed by Isaac Scott her home.

Hathaway, noted Negro Although Dandridge told Sculptor of Lexington, the Journal and Guide it was Kentucky, the new coins evident that the window will be placed in circulation had been smashed from December 15 and are the outside, one of the two expected to become a police officers answering collectors’ item. the call expressed doubt as to her version of what November 30, 1969 happened, giving it as his Edition of the Guide opinion that the window had been broken before.

W.P. Clarke In Race A search of the front For City Council Seat room revealed, however, a stone that had also come CHESAPEAKE close to smashing the mirror William P. Clarke, Sr.,

businessman, the civic and political leader, announced this week that he would be a candidate for City Council of Chesapeake, subject to the special election on January 6, 1970. Two seats on the council are to be filled at that time.

The announcement of Clarke’s candidacy followed his candidacy for the post by the Chesapeake Men For Progress, an interracial civic group that includes civic leagues of leaders from the areas of Fernwood Shores, Crestwood Harbor, Crestwood, Fentress, Providence Square, and Southwestern.

The Chesapeake Men for Progress also endorsed the candidacy of Dr. Hugo A. Owens for one of the two seats to be filled.

Clarke, in a statement, stressed that he and Owens would not be in conflict, explaining that the two Negro candidates are filing for separate seats to be balloted on separately.

Local Women Urge Aid For Leslie Uggam’s Show Portsmouth: Plans for contacting more than 200 Virginia organizations to request the retention of Leslie Uggams’ TV show were launched here Wednesday.

Six women who are members of the Women for Political Action Legislative Committee announced that they will ask members of these organizations to send letters and telegrams to officials of CBS requesting them to retain the TV Show.

The Leslie Uggams Show is scheduled to be replaced on December 21 by the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour.

A telephone call was made to the Producer Saul Ipson in Hollywood, and he was delighted to know that the Tidewater area is joining the mounting protest stemming from organizations, churches, unions, civic groups, and

individuals from all walks of life in the United States.

Fear of White Flight, Board Says Pupils Will Not Enroll NORFOLK It is now evident that the delay in determining the site of the new Booker T. Washington High School is prompted by the Norfolk School Board’s reluctance to send White children into a Negro neighborhood and its desegregation plan that would prevent Negro children from becoming a majority in the population of any of the city’s high schools.

This was evident in one of the meetings held here this week to address the controversial issue.

Members of the school board and the Urban Coalitions met with a committee from the United Black Federation (UBF) Tuesday night, and the theme was prevalent throughout the discussion despite the admittance of the school’s board’s representative that it was receptive to building a first-class quality school on that site.

The reluctance, they said, is based on the concept of “White flight.” They claimed that white parents would refuse to send their children to Booker T. Washington High School, and the school board could not maintain racial balance in a school that would become resegregated and fail to comply with the federal law.

However, members of the United Black Federation Committee were emphatic in disputing this concept.

“A first-class “magnet” high school that would be acceptable to both races can be built on the (current) site, the board members were told by Joseph Jordan, city councilman and chairmen of the UBF Steering Committee. “And this is what the Negro Community wants.”

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DON’T GET THE TWO CONFUSED

By Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret.)

PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF SOCIOLOGY VIRGINIA TECH

MEANWHILE,WE ARE LOSING THE RIGHT TO VOTE Just a few days ago, a federal Appeals Court panel ruled that Many citizens are trying to process Trump’s private parties cannot sue under authoritarian plans and those of his allies. the Voting Rights Act (VRA) barring Meanwhile, a cornerstone of democracy, the right to racial discrimination in voting. If vote, is once again being snatched from under our the Supreme Court upholds this feet. ruling on appeal, the VRA will be In 1870, Congress passed the 15th Amendment, close to null and void.

By Wornie Reed, Ph.D.

which provided Blacks with the constitutional right to vote. But conservatives effectively blocked that right for many Blacks for nearly a century – until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Despite orders from the Supreme Court and other courts, several states created rules and procedures that denied or limited opportunities to vote for Black citizens, such as poll taxes and literacy tests.

The 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA), considered the most important of the civil rights acts of the 1960s, opened Black participation in elections and politics.

Section 5 of the law required jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to obtain approval from the Department of Justice or a court before changing voting rules, a process known as preclearance.

Section 2 of the law allowed individuals to sue – with or without the assistance of the Justice Department – to undo existing laws and procedures that would deny equal political opportunity to voters to elect their candidates of choice. However, Court decisions are eroding these protections.

The end of the VRA began in 2013 with a SCOTUS decision authored

by Chief Justice Roberts.

Roberts had been a law clerk for Justice William

Rehnquist, who had made a reputation in Arizona for opposing voting rights for African-Americans.

Rehnquist publicly opposed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Thus, his office became a hotbed of young conservative lawyers, including Roberts.

Later, working in the Justice Department, Roberts pressed his arguments against reauthorizing the VRA. Fitting the bill that conservatives wanted in a Supreme Court Justice, Roberts was elevated to the Supreme Court and made Chief Justice.

The critical part of the VRA required specified jurisdictions to get Justice Department or court approval before changing their voting procedures. In Shelby v Holder in 2013, Chief Justice Roberts took full advantage of his position to lead the Court against the VRA and to write the opinion that gutted these preclearance provisions of the Act. The law had been a hugely successful shield against schemes that limit or dilute the voting power of communities with a history of racial discrimination. In the years after the Voting Rights Act’s passage, the disparity in registration rates between White and Black voters dropped from

nearly 30 percentage points in the early 1960s to 8 percentage points just a decade later. Based on this success, the Voting Rights Act was reauthorized multiple times. In 2006, the reauthorization passed both houses of Congress with broad bipartisan support, passing unanimously in the Senate.

In Shelby County v.

Holder, the conservative majority effectively dismantled Section 5, eliminating the critical preclearance requirement.

Without this “preclearance” regulation, the revival of discriminatory tactics was immediate. In the last 10 years, at least 29 states have passed 94 laws that make it more difficult to vote, particularly for communities of color.

And to make matters worse, just a few days ago, a federal Appeals Court panel ruled that only the U.S. government, not private parties, can sue under the Voting Rights Act barring racial discrimination in voting. Notably, Donald Trump appointed all three judges.

Private parties file most Voting Rights Act cases.

So, if this Appeals Court ruling is allowed to hold in the appeal to the Supreme Court, Section 2 will be gutted, and the VRA will be close to null and void.

Federal Appeals Court Decision On Voting Rights Act “Intellectually Bankrupt”

By Marc H. Morial (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM) “Why does it matter if the Voting Rights Act is enforceable by private plaintiffs? If the panel’s conclusion is upheld by the Supreme Court, then Section 2 effectively becomes a light switch. A Republican president – say, Donald Trump – could simply instruct the Justice Department to stop bringing Section 2 lawsuits at all. With no private alternative, that would deal an immense and perhaps irrecoverable blow to voting-rights enforcement in this country.”

– Matt Ford ◆◆◆ Minutes after the Supreme Court struck down Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act in 2013, with the majority insisting states didn’t need to be prevented from passing discriminatory voting laws, then-Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott called for reinstatement of a discriminatory voting law.

Hours after a federal appeals court on Monday opened the door for states, counties, and municipalities to deny Americans the right to vote on account of race or color, North Dakota moved to weaken voting rights for Native American tribes.

If the decision U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth

A legal right that almost no one is permitted to claim is no right at all.

Marc H. Morial Circuit is allowed to stand, no one but the federal government can stop North Dakota, or any party, from violating Americans’ voting rights on account of race or color.

The individual whose rights are being violated may not seek justice under the law.

Entire communities whose rights are being violated may not seek justice under the law. Civil rights and social justice groups may not seek justice under the law.

A legal right that almost no one is permitted to claim is no right at all. And that is exactly the point.

It’s hard to overstate how intellectually bankrupt the decision is.

Most challenges seeking to enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act are brought by private plaintiffs, not the federal government. For nearly six decades, the nation’s courts have recognized the right of private plaintiffs to sue

under Section 2. Private plaintiffs have triumphed over discriminatory laws under liberal presidents, conservative presidents, presidents who have defended and advanced voting rights, and presidents who have sought to restrict voting rights.

The Biden Administration’s positive record of defending voting rights should not delude anyone into believing that the Fifteenth Amendment would be in safe hands under President Biden’s potential successors.

Indeed, suppression of Black votes was a key tactic in Donald Trump’s 2020 re-election strategy, and it’s unlikely that defending the Voting Rights Act would be a priority should he achieve a second term.

“Radical theories that would previously have been laughed out of court have been taken increasingly seriously by an increasingly radical judiciary,” the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program Director Wendy Weiser told the New York Times. ...see Decision, page 6A

(TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM) Recently I’ve heard more people than usual say, “I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving.” Let’s not get things confused, so don’t think you should stop there. Beware of how this country was brutally taken from Indigenous Peoples. It’s okay to say, “I don’t celebrate Thanksgiving,” but don’t be confused about our need to give thanks to God for something every day. We can’t forget the past any of us have witnessed, but we can be the ones willing to pray and ask God to help us make the changes we need for a better world for all of us today.

Amidst all the ungodly things going on around us today, let us remember that God has got the whole world in His hands. No matter which side you are on in the Israeli/Hamas War, don’t be confused.

Two wrongs don’t make one right. All the hate-filled rhetoric is not helping to resolve the matter. Let us be on the right side by remembering God can fix this.

According to a song we are reminded, 1. “He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the whole wide world in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands. 2. He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands. He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands.

He’s got the whole world in his hands. 3. He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands. He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands.

Amidst all the ungodly things going on around us today, let us remember that God has got the whole world in His hands.

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq. (Ret.) days in captivity and some of the young people who He’s got the whole world were imprisoned come out in his hands. 4. He’s got alive. There’s a lot of work you and me sister (and ahead of them to be done, brother) in his hands. and we must pledge to do He’s got you and me sister our part in what we can do (and brother) in his hands. to prevent their harboring He’s got you and me sister hate as they heal.

Let us pray that the (and brother) in his hands.

He’s got the whole world negotiations for others will in his hands. 5. He’s got go well. With a combined everybody in his hands. total of nearly 20,000 He’s got everybody in his people dead between Israel hands. He’s got everybody and Hamas, let us pray that in his hands. He’s got the both sides will see there whole world in his hands.” are no winners in their war If you are an African- against humanity on either American, it’s likely your side. Neither the civilian parents and grandparents Israelis nor the civilian sang this song many days Palestinians deserved what and nights. They knew and has happened to them. As they believed everything God’s people, we know that our criticism on both would be alright.

It is an African-American sides is justified. There Spiritual that brought our are no clean hands in this ancestors through some tragedy. We can’t bring difficult days and nights. back those who paid the When you get discouraged ultimate price, but we can it’s good to fall back to “the resolve to treat each other olden days” for the strength better as we move forward. to carry on. While we’ve We can refuse to be a part witnessed the horrors and of the hate we are hearing the meanness of “the eye spewed throughout this for the eye” and the “tooth crisis and try to be that for a tooth” theory, but after calming voice and that all the devastation of man’s blessed donor who shares inhumanity to man, we what we have with those in have begun to see what to need.

Dr. E. Faye Williams many may be the end of the tunnel for some, as some of is President of The Dick the hostages who spent 49 Gregory Society.

STAY INFORMED & ENGAGED

By David W. Marshall

Will Black and Latino voters (TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM) forget that Red flags will always be there if you pay close attempts to enough attention. In the case of George Santos, the overturn election red flags were revealed results were long before his election but simply ignored by too targeted toward many people. Former House their communities Speaker Kevin McCarthy David W. Marshall told reporters, “I always and can likely had a few questions about Santos to drop out of the happen again?

Santos’ resume.”

Ultimately, McCarthy would need every vote he could get to become House speaker, including the vote from the problematic New York freshman.

The congressman, who represents parts of Queens and Long Island, now faces a 23-count federal indictment.

After the recent release of the House Ethics Committee findings, evidence shows that Santos converted campaign donations for his personal use.

“The evidence uncovered in the Ethics Committee’s Investigative Subcommittee investigation is more than sufficient to warrant punishment and the most appropriate punishment is expulsion,” said Rep. Michael Guest, the Republican Committee chairman from Mississippi.

MAGA Republicans do know corruption when they see it--they just don’t always choose to act on it. Before the 2020 election, the Santos campaign hired an outside research firm to provide an internal vulnerability report detailing aspects of the candidate’s past.

Such reports are typically used in the early stages of a campaign when candidates are preparing for potential attacks from their opponents. The report on Santos included questions that surfaced about his marriage, his family’s link to the Holocaust, and alleged ties to “companies that have been accused of fraud and scamming customers.”

The report’s conclusions were circulated among campaign strategists for top House Republicans and was so condemning that several campaign aides urged

race. When he refused, his own aides resigned. Nassau County Republicans are upset and united in calling for Santos’ resignation. The subject has become such a major embarrassment to constituents in New York and members of the nation’s highest legislative body.

When former Rep. Tom Suozzi announced he would not seek re-election for New York’s 3rd Congressional District, Santos defeated Richard Zimmer by 8 points, thus denying Democrats the opportunity to hold the House seat in a reliably Democratic district.

It became a classic example of Democrats sleeping at the wheel by taking the Santos campaign – and voters – for granted.

While the Democrats assembled their own opposition research before the 2020 election, it missed the most damaging details in Santos’ backstory and credentials. In the case of the 2024 election, we are beyond the red flag warnings regarding election deniers who led efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election result and refused to accept President Biden’s victory.

The danger they pose has consistently been made clear to the American public when election deniers were committed to decertifying election results, remaining steadfast in promoting baseless and debunked theories, falsely claiming that President Biden’s election was stolen, and opposing the counting of Biden’s electoral college votes.

The question remains: will enough voters, particularly

in deeply competitive races, still care about the events of Jan. 6 and its long-term consequences when considering important issues such as the economy, the Israel- Hamas war, and the southern border?

Will Black and Latino voters forget that attempts to overturn election results were targeted toward their communities and can likely happen again? As we are approximately 12 months away, the 2024 elections will determine the future control of the White House, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, and various state houses nationally. Voters must stay informed and engaged without ignoring the critical facts and testimonies from the Jan. 6 House Select Committee.

We cannot afford to be asleep at the wheel by not making Jan. 6 a crucial general election issue while remembering the images of rioters storming the U.S. Capitol.

We are fully aware that Republican lawmakers, along with their voters, recognize a corrupt and scandal-plagued politician when they see one.

Unfortunately, they often ignore the lies and deceit if it becomes politically advantageous and serves the interests of their culture wars. When they can get away with not holding corruption accountable, the nation pays a heavy price in rebuilding the trust in democracy and various institutions. ...see Informed, page 6A

New Journal and Guide

November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023 | 5A

New Journal and Guide

6A | November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023

Scott Continued from page 1A Two years after he entered the House, after the 2021 election, he led the Democratic caucus’ move to oust the last Democratic Speaker, Eileen Filer Corn.

The caucus believed she failed to help Democrats fend off the 2021 GOP victories.

Scott was elected House Minority leader and was, with Democrats controlling the Senate, one of the leadership bricks in the party’s wall holding back the agenda of Governor Youngkin and his allies in the GOP-led House.

One strike against Scott, according to party insiders, was his inability to raise the money needed to support the district or a statewide campaign to take back the House.

Scott proved them wrong.

He said he managed to secure the trust of old-line party leaders and moderate and liberal wings of the party.

Scott helped devise a winning message, raised money, and coordinated House and Senate campaigns, and Democrats won on November 7.

“My car is relatively new, but from August of 2022 to November of 2023, I put 61,000 miles on it,” said Scott. “A lot of unsung heroes pushed me.

I give all of the credit to God.” When the House of Delegates convenes in January, Scott will lead a slim 51-49 majority.

In the Senate, the Democrats will have a 2119 lead.

Both majorities cannot override a Governor’s veto or amend to his favor

work both sides of the legislative aisle to secure legislative victories because “not all Democratic ideas are great and not all Republican ideas are bad.”

Scott, 58, said he has driven through his old neighborhood back in Houston and noted his travels and the challenges he overcame as he ascended professionally.

He is now Speaker of the House of the old Confederacy.

“I am a servant first,” he said. “And I am humble.

I would like to see all of our children have the same opportunities.

I have always been underestimated. I thrive Photo: Randy Singleton on that. That is why they Del. Don Scott (at left) during Portsmouth’s tribute to Missy Elliott in October 2022. Also: Rep. Bobby Scott, NSU President Dr. must have good people in their ears. You must Javaune Adams-Gaston, Bishop Kim Brown, Sen. L. Louise Lucas, Del. Cliff Hayes, HU President LTG (RET) Darrell K.Williams. always do the work to be He said Wilder could good at the job.” passed by a Democratic- said the Legislature will possession of weed for work to restrict access to medical use. led Legislature.

Lawmakers also passed Scott said he is open to high-powered automatic working with Governor weapons like the AR- laws barring police from Youngkin and his allies in 15 used in many mass stopping motorists if they across the get a whiff of the drug the House and the Senate shootings from their cars. “to get things done for the nation.

This was aimed He said his party is people of Virginia.” reducing the Scott and the Democrats specifically worried that at won by branding the GOP “Virginia children are not disproportionate number of as the party that would roll safe from gun violence arrests and convictions of when they attend school.” poor African-Americans. back abortion rights.

The GOP’s taking After the High Court He said his party would struck down federal seek to pass common control of the House of protections for the sense gun laws that will Delegates in 2021 halted procedure last year, not infringe on private gun the next step: setting up a system to sell Marijuana.

Republican-leaning states ownership.

It will take at least two Scott and his five passed more restrictive siblings were raised by consecutive sessions of the abortion laws.

Virginia is the only state a single mother in urban Legislature to make that Houston. So, he is acutely reality. in the South to not do so.

“Marijuana sales is an Scott said that while aware of supporting a many “pro-life” advocates living wage for Virginia $8 Billion industry in are willing to restrict workers and proposes Virginia alone,” said Scott. access to abortion, they imposing a minimum wage “Imagine the tax revenue are not addressing the of eventually $15.00, a to repair many of the high rate of mortality measure Republicans have state’s dilapidated public schools.” and complications facing long opposed.

The reform minded The Democrats will childbearing women, especially African- also seek to raise the state Speaker-elect said he Americans,” or their teacher pay to at least “stands on the shoulders of maternal health care $57,000, the national Black leaders and heroes from the past.” average. needs,” in general.

His role model for When Democrats Without infringing on the Constitutional controlled the Governor’s political leadership is rights of Virginians to mansion and Legislature, Virginia’s and the nation’s elected Black carry guns legally, Scott they legalized personal first Governor, L. Douglas Wilder.

D.C. Renames Anacostia Street After ‘Mayor For Life’ Marion Barry

By Afia Barrie and Nya O’Neal

Howard University News Service Hundreds gathered in D.C.’s Ward 8 at the intersection of Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Anacostia recently to see the reveal of a new street sign: Marion Barry Avenue.

Set to the backdrop of Go-go music from Experience Unlimited, fronted by Gregory ‘Sugar Bear’ Elliot, the streetnaming ceremony was filled with families roaming the event. Vendors, food trucks and booths with free snacks and activities for youth set up by the Department of Parks and Recreation lined the streets.

“Ward 8, unofficially known as the Great Ward 8, is east of the river, the heart of the city,” said Thennie Freeman, acting director of the parks department. “It is the home of former Mayor Marion Barry.”

Barry, affectionately nicknamed “our forever mayor” by local residents, was the mayor of D.C. for four terms. In the

Informed Continued from page 4A Understandably, people are getting nervous and upset over the economy, but the stakes are extremely high when election deniers go unchecked. For all the warning signs facing President Biden, apathy and skepticism from young voters are major concerns.

Young people are a valuable voting bloc for Democrats, and their votes and voices should never be taken for granted. They, too, must be

Decision Continued from page 4A The judges of the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals are fully aware of this.

They have knowingly, deliberately, and maliciously reduced a constitutionally guaranteed right to the level of a mere whim.

While the lines may

middle of his third term in 1990, Barry was arrested in a sting operation by the FBI and the Metropolitan Police Department for crack cocaine use and possession. He served six months in federal prison. In 1995, after his release from prison, Barry ran for mayor and won. He then served as a Ward 8 councilman from 2000 until his death in 2014.

His various programs, like the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program and his commitment to serving Ward 8, has left a lasting impact on Washingtonians. The phrase “Marion Barry gave me my first job” rang throughout the event, with everyone sharing how the late mayor impacted their lives.

The renaming of the avenue comes as another effort to recognize the Barry’s impact on the city. In 2014, an eight-foot statue of Marion Barry was unveiled at the John A. Wilson building. The One Judiciary Square Building was renamed in Barry’s honor in 2020.

mindful of the consequences and be determined to turn out without apathy. A spokesman for the Biden campaign called the election “deeply consequential for young people” and pledged to build on a strong turnout from younger voters in the 2022 midterm elections.

This can be a challenge going into next year.

Some of the Biden administration’s biggest accomplishments, such as infrastructure funding and lowering prescription drug prices, don’t necessarily resonate as much with younger voters. On the other hand, childcare, affordable housing, and student loans

are bigger priorities for them. The attack on the U.S. Capitol has changed everything.

In the foreseeable future, the primary issue on voting ballots is not “Bidenomics” or the southern border crisis but rather election deniers and their willingness to overturn any democratically held election they believe was “stolen.”

David W. Marshall is the founder of the faithbased organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.

He can be reached at www. d a v i d w m a r s h a l l a u t h o r. com.

have grown more and more blurred since Donald Trump stunned the nation by declaring white supremacists, “very fine people,” a majority of Americans recoil from overt racial discrimination.

Even the Eight Circuit judges likely would hesitate to overturn the Voting Rights Act outright.

Yet they effectively have done so, in ruling that almost no one has the right to seek justice under its authority.

Monday’s decision almost certainly will be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Ruling on a case brought by private plaintiffs under Section 2 of the Voting Rights. At the Court’s conservative majority in June struck down Alabama’s racially-gerrymandered congressional districts.

We look forward to the Court holding itself to the standard it set for in that case when it rules on this one.

New Journal and Guide

November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023 | 7A

Activist Finds Redemption & Restoration Through Service

By Melissa Spellman

Surviving a stroke, two brain aneurysms, and being shot on two different occasions at close range, Richard Taylor says he is living proof of God’s goodness and mercy.

Fall Intern 2023 New Journal and Guide Since 2020 Richard Taylor has pledged his life to building his community, with mentoring the youth, advocating for families affected by gun violence, and even publicly exposing corruption amongst local government and law enforcement.

He beat the odds, surviving the streets; overcame life threatening medical crises; and triumphed over a selfdestructive lifestyle.

Today, as a servant leader, published author, counselor, mentor, and ordained minister, Taylor is a force to be reckoned with in his hometown of Goldsboro, N.C. Richard Taylor grew up as a preacher’s kid. He was born to Pastors Rodger and Arletta Taylor, attending Tabernacle of Prayer for All People. Taylor’s father would go on to establish Philadelphia Community Church where he is still Pastor. Raised in a family devoted to the ministry, he spent his early years in the routines of church life. Taylor points out that his parents, who have just celebrated 50 years of marriage, provided him and his siblings with a wonderful childhood environment.

Taylor recalls that he was gifted academically and gifted in sports. However, during his adolescence years, his attention shifted from the church to the streets.

“Around 12 or 13 is when

Photo: Courtesy

Richard Taylor holds copies of his book.

I became drawn to peer pressure, musical pressure with movies that promoted the gangster lifestyle,” Taylor shared.

Taylor’s book Brushes with Death: The Blood of Jesus chronicles his life starting around 14-years-old to about age 30. The book is a candid look at his journey from North Carolina to Virginia through street life, addiction, and incarceration. In sharing his life experiences, Taylor aims to show the youth that they don’t have to go the hard way. He seeks to give incarcerated persons hope and demonstrate that there

is meaningful work you can do beyond the confines of a cell. He serves as a living testimony to those in recovery and others that they have purpose on this earth and God has a plan for their lives.

Surviving a stroke, two brain aneurysms, and being shot on two different occasions at close range, Richard Taylor says he is living proof of God’s goodness and mercy. He is a father, a four-time published author, owner of Taylor House Publishing company, a radio show host, mental health specialist, and community activist.

“Anything I can do to use my

experiences to help someone then that is what I do. That is what drives me. That is the reason my plate is so full,” said Taylor.

Taylor’s work involves several community initiatives. One initiative is an after-school program held every Monday in one of the most underserved housing areas in Goldsboro called The Grant at Day Point also referred to as “The Jungle.” The name is a testament to the danger and adverse conditions of the neighborhood.

Another initiative centers around mentoring young boys who are withstanding the effects of low-income families and single parent homes. On second, fourth, and fifth Sundays, Taylor takes his mentees to church service after which they go out to eat, to the park, swimming, or to the skating rink. “I try to do activities with them to instill mentorship. I try to learn what they are going through and meet them where they are,” said Taylor.

His work does not stop there, as an ordained minister, on the first and third Sundays he travels to Carteret Correctional Center in Newport, North Carolina where he speaks to incarcerated persons. His prison ministry includes visits to other correctional facilities and participating in celebratory moments

such as substance abuse graduation ceremonies.

Taylor discussed his passion for this important work, “I like the prison ministry because I can relate to those guys. I was facing the rest of my life in prison for something I did not do. I meet a lot of guys who are serving life sentences and double life sentences, and they are just looking for the slightest bit of hope and encouragement, so I like to work with those brothers.”

Understanding the devastating impact incarceration has on families, Taylor reaches out to those on the other side of the spectrum which are 12- and 13-year-old children whose fathers are incarcerated or in the street. He creates a dialogue with the young children to deconstruct the illusion that prison is an easy or fun place.

Taylor also serves as a peer supporter and mental health counselor where he helps individuals suffering from homelessness, drug abuse, financial, employment, and mental health issues. He hosted a radio show called The U-Turn which ran for two successful years. The radio show focused on individuals, like Taylor, who traveled the wrong path and turned their lives around. One of his most notable interviews

was with George Floyd’s Uncle Selwyn Jones and Councilwoman Elizabeth Darden of Harrison, Arkansas where they discussed their organization Hope929 and the continued work toward social justice.

Taylor has a growing YouTube platform – Taylor House Publishing – which is gaining traction through his candid conversations with citizens, politicians, candidates running for office, and his coverage on the happenings in Goldsboro and surrounding areas.

“I try to stay busy. I spent a lot of time in the streets putting a lot of energy into negative things. Since I have left recovery in 2020, I went full-fledged into doing everything positive.

It’s also a part of my recovery, I stay busy to guard against falling into old habits and old ways,” shared Taylor.

Taylor says he lives his life by being that change that he wants to see in the world. “If you see something that is wrong, you change it,” said Taylor. “There is always good in people. I just don’t want people to ever give up hope on humanity.”

Follow Taylor House Publishing on YouTube and Facebook. To contact Richard Taylor email taylorpublishinghouse@ gmail.com.

New Journal and Guide

8A | November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023

MISS BLACK AMERICA PAGEANT VSU CELEBRATES 55TH ANNIVERSARY Continued from page 1A

By Stacy M. Brown

“We are honored and grateful to have been chosen as a host for a 2024 Presidential Debate. This is a historic moment for our university and for HBCUs

Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia NNPA NEWSWIRE The Miss Black America Pageant is coming back to Atlantic City to celebrate its 55th anniversary. It will be held on the Boardwalk on Saturday, December 16th. The return to the city where the “Historic Protest Pageant of 1968” took place has generated considerable anticipation among many.

As announced, a captivating parade and a series of exciting festivities are guaranteed as the prelude to the grand main event at the renowned Showboat Atlantic Hotel.

J. Morris Anderson, an individual who performed at the forefront of his time, established the Miss Black America Pageant, and made a lasting impact as the founder of the “American Institute of Positivity.” “The Seeds of Positivity,” the term “Positivity,” and the “Success Seekers Seminars” hosted by the institute are all works Anderson authored.

His influence transcends the pageant, as does his vision, which surpasses the conventional.

Aleta Anderson, Morris’s daughter, stated that it’s critical to recognize the differences between the Miss Black America Pageant and a Black Miss America pageant.

“I’ve been working with this pageant since I was a little girl,” Anderson declared.

“The thing that it originally was meant is still there, and it means so much more in that it provides an opportunity for the young women to participate.”

Established in 1968, the organization carved its path, boasting a syndicated television network to showcase Black women’s often-overlooked beauty, talent, and intelligence in

NAACP Continued from page 1A

Over 50 distinguished women will compete for the Miss Black America title this year. mainstream pageants. “Miss Black America was always a pageant of access,” Anderson told the Black Press. “It wasn’t a beauty pageant, but a story of Black beauty, and of confidence, and selfesteem. And it continues to be a part of our learning process as we now have all these platforms of exposure.”

Saundra Williams, a college student from Philadelphia, made history as the first Miss Black America.

She used her platform to showcase an enchanting traditional African dance and to challenge the longstanding exclusion of Black women from the Miss America pageant. “Miss America does not represent us because there has never been a Black girl in the pageant,”

Williams once stated. In 1970, Cheryl Browne became the first Black Miss America contestant, and Vanessa Williams secured the historic title in 1983.

Over 50 distinguished women will compete for the Miss Black America title this year, joining the ranks of past champions such as Oprah Winfrey, Toni Braxton, Bern Nadette Stanis, and Nicole Hibbert. Anderson underscored the pageant’s lasting relevance as a symbol of hope for young women.

The pageant was originally created to celebrate Black beauty, confidence, and selfesteem. Now it has become a platform for challenging traditional ideas of beauty and providing needed exposure.

Authorities said Lynch had a gun and racked a round into the chamber before pointing his weapon toward a parking lot filled with people and police.

According to the NAACP, questions remain about the actions of the involved officer, Solomon Simmons, and the overall conduct of the Virginia Beach Police Department.

“We simply want the truth,” emphasized President of the Virginia Beach NAACP, Dr. Eric Majette.

Details of the incident reveal that Officer Solomon Simmons failed to activate his body-worn camera, a direct violation of Virginia Beach police policy. “The failure to record such a critical encounter has left the community with many unanswered questions and has raised doubts about

nationwide. Our university mantra is “Greater Happens Here,” and we look forward to welcoming the candidates, the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the entire nation.”

While the Biden campaign refused to comment on the announcement, according to NBC News, Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for former President Donald

Trump’s campaign, said, “President Trump has already addressed this in multiple interviews this past year.”

The RNC did not immediately respond to an interview request.

The commission said it would announce additional details about the debates, including the format and the moderators, next year.

the transparency of the police department’s actions,” the NAACP noted in a press release it recently issued.

“Furthermore, it has come to our attention that the city failed to administer a drug and alcohol test for Officer Simmons immediately following the shooting. This oversight raises concerns about the thoroughness of the investigation and whether it was conducted in accordance with the law.”

According to McCollom, the investigation into the incident that was done by the City of Virginia Beach which enlisted the help of the Virginia State Police was unsatisfactory and revealed nothing.

The Virginia Beach NAACP’s fact-finding investigation will be led by its Legal Redress Committee, whose chairman is Rick James. It is charged with determining the facts surrounding the incident leading up to, during and after the fatal encounter on March

26, 2021.

“This investigation will include the evaluation of the city’s Use of Force policy as we have serious concerns and questions on the justification of the necessity to use deadly force as there is no conclusive evidence to date, that has been presented publicly, that Donovan Lynch brandished a fire arm,” the group noted in its release.

The release continued, “Donovon Lynch’s life was tragically cut short, and his family, as well as the entire community, deserves a comprehensive, impartial, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. The Virginia Beach NAACP firmly believes that an independent federal investigation is necessary to ensure justice is served and that any potential misconduct is addressed appropriately.

The Virginia Beach NAACP stands united with Donovon Lynch’s family and the entire community in their call for truth and justice.”

757-543-6531

New Journal and Guide

November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023 | Section B

SECTION B

COMMUNITY & MORE ...

NEW CHESAPEAKE EDUCATION FOUNDATION’S BLACK TIE GALA SELLS OUT FOR 2ND YEAR ...see page 2B

HU Dean’s Outreach In Hollywood Will Help Her Journalism & Communications Students HAMPTON Aspiring Hollywood screenwriters, television and film producers, directors and actors at Hampton University will no longer find themselves “California dreaming.”

Through Dean Julia Wilson’s strategic outreach and leadership prowess, Hampton students will now be able to access Hollywood.

Wilson recently returned from Los Angeles after being selected for an Alex Trebek Legacy Fellowship by the Television Academy Foundation, the producers of the Oscars and Emmy awards TV programs. She is one of only 12 professors from all U.S. colleges and universities, tapped for the fellowship program to participate in its annual Media Educators Conference.

Wilson said, “By way of Interstate 40, it’s 2,697 miles from Hampton University to Hollywood, Calif. And for thousands of aspiring journalists, actors, screenwriters, film directors and wanna-be producers who live miles from fabled Tinsel Town, that distance might as well be a million miles.” “But now, they can more directly connect with Hollywood’s top power brokers.”

Photo: Courtesy

(L-R) JoAnn Alfano, Executive Vice President of Current Programming at Universal Studios; Deborah Pratt, Executive Producer of Quantum Leap; and Julia A. Wilson, Hampton University dean and Trebek Legacy Fellow at the Television Academy Foundation in Hollywood, Calif.

“Dean Wilson continues to keep our students apprised of the latest emerging digital media trends and open doors to internships, mentorships, and scholarships,” said Hampton University Pres.

Darrell K. Williams. “We congratulate her for being selected for the Alex Trebek fellowship and look forward to our students and Hampton University benefitting from the valuable information she’s gained.”

The fellowship bears

the name of longtime Jeopardy! host Alex Trebek and provides financial support to attendees to cover registration fees, travel and hotel accommodation for the conference. Preference was given to attendees from minority-serving institutions.

Wilson also has received a complimentary oneyear Television Academy academic membership and the opportunity to screen Emmynominated movies and other programs in advance of their

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public release.

“Meeting Emmy Awardwinning producers and industry leaders was an extraordinary experience,” said Wilson, who has served as dean of the SHSJC since September 2021. “After networking with David Eilenberg, the head of content for Roku on opportunities to monetize streaming platforms, meeting Deborah Pratt, executive producer of “Quantum Leap” to discuss the art of pitching and the future of creative jobs and the critical nature of data research and visualization, I have much to share with my students and faculty.”

Hollywood also has been a pioneer in using computer graphics, data analytics, robotics and artificial intelligence.

The Media Educators Conference was held at the Academy’s North Hollywood Saban Media Center campus Oct. 24-27. Its aim was to connect college classrooms with the television industry by giving media professors access to curriculumenhancing seminars on the latest in the art, science and business of television with prominent leaders in show business.

New Journal and Guide

2B | November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023

New Ches. Ed. Foundation’s Gala Sells Out For Second Year

By Dr. George F. Reed Special to the Guide

The New Chesapeake Education Foundation’s signature Black Tie Scholarship held at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in Chesapeake sold out for the second consecutive year. The event is considered one of Chesapeake’s premier social events. This year’s program honored Adam N. Harrell, Sr., with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and Dr. Stephanie D.B. Johnson and Jean A. Carideo with its Community Service Award.

Adam Harrell, Sr., a retired Army Reserve Colonel, taught and was a guidance counselor at the segregated Crestwood High School.

In 1968, he signed on with the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project (STOP) Inc. where he helped organize and execute a program for unemployed and underemployed adults.

From 1974 to 1982, Harrell Sr. served on the Chesapeake School Board, replacing the first Black to serve on the governing body. In 1983, he returned to the Chesapeake school system as a guidance counselor at Deep Creek High until his retirement in 1995.

He has been involved in various communitybased organizations and is a member of the historic First Baptist Church Bute Street.

He was a founding member of the New Chesapeake Men for Progress Education Foundation which awards academic scholarships annually. In observance of the STOP Inc.’s 51st Anniversary, Adam Harrell, Sr. was awarded STOP’s 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership in improving the lives of Hampton Roads’ citizens.

Dr. Stephanie D.B. Johnson is Chair of the Board of Trustees at Elizabeth City State University, N.C., from which she graduated in 1974. She was presented the Community Service Award for education, leadership and philanthropy.

Her philanthropy includes the NCMP Dr. Darnell Johnson Middle School Award, which recognizes high achieving Black Males and for contributing over $150,000 to The Johnson and Johnson Endowed Scholarship at ECSU for Education and Mathematics majors.

As a noted principal in the Chesapeake Public Schools, she was given the title the “Singing Principal” who sang to the students each morning while encouraging them

to read more than 100,000 books each year during a 10year span.

Her educational impact continued even after retiring from CPS in 2011. She is now a certified trainer for The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), working with new principals in Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Norfolk and Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Dr. Johnson has co-written four educational books in a series called “The Missing Alphabet.” She has several publications including “Tearing Down Invisible Teaching Walls” and “Success Program in Algebra for Military Students.” She also is co-owner of the company “Monitoring and Motivating.”

Jean A. Carideo served as a Library Manager with Chesapeake Public Library for 37 years before retiring.

Presently she serves on the boards of the Chesapeake Public Library Foundation and the Cornland School Foundation, and she serves as the President of the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation.

Mrs. Carideo has an unabating interest in history and wrote the first grant for the designation of the Great Bridge Lock Park. She has obtained grants from the American Battlefield Trust, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, National Park Service, and the city of Chesapeake to build the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterway History Museum.

As a current Ex Officio Member, Chesapeake Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Advisory Board, she provides an external perspective, in-kind resources, and coordination of programming across the community.

The program moderator, Micah C. Hall, owner, Health Insurance for Senior Integrated Professional Solutions, skillfully moved the program, and the Western Branch Quintet provided music for guests during dinner. The Reverend Dr. Harry A. Hall, pastor, Patristic Real Life church provided the invocation and benediction.

Al Alexander, Chairman, Board of Directors, warmly welcomed guests, and David K. Hamilton, Vice Chairman, Board of Directors, explained the occasion.

After dinner, Colonel Mark Solesky, Chief of Police, City of Chesapeake, and Colonel Tracy D. Branch, Deputy Chief of Police, presented a special recognition award to Policeman Albert

Chesapeake Seeks Residents To Fill Open Positions On Boards, Commissions CHESAPEAKE The Chesapeake City Council is seeking residents who may be interested in serving on various boards and commissions. Boards and commissions provide a vital service to various City departments, agencies, and City Council.

Citizens wishing to serve must complete an application form.

Applications for the vacancies listed below are due in the City Clerk’s office by December 31, 2023.

• Board of Zoning Appeals – 1 vacancy • Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area Board – 1 vacancy • Chesapeake City Council Audit Committee – 1 vacancy (At-Large Member – at least 5 years experience as performance auditor, CPA, certified internal auditor, certified management accountant) • Chesapeake Hospital Authority – 1 vacancy • Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Board – 1 vacancy (Current Consumer of CIBH services) • Fine Arts Commission – 1 vacancy • Fire Prevention Code Appeals Board – 2 vacancies

• Hampton Roads Disabilities Board – 2 vacancies (1 Individual with Physical Disability, 1 Individual with Visual Disability) • Human Services Advisory Board – 1 vacancy • Local Board of Building Code Appeals – 1 vacancy (Alternate Member) • Natural Event Mitigation Advisory Committee – 2 vacancies (1 Citizen, 1 Non-Profit Rep) • Parks, Recreation and Tourism Advisory Board – 2 vacancies • Public Art Committee – 5 vacancies • South Norfolk Revitalization Commission – 2 vacancies • Stormwater Committee – 4 vacancies • Towing Advisory Board – 1 vacancy • Transportation Toll Facility Advisory Committee – 1 vacancy (Alternate Attorney) • Utility Review Board – 4 vacancies For more information or to apply, contact the City Clerk’s office at (757) 382-6151, or visit Boardscommissions at the City of Chesapeake’s website, Cityofchesapeake.net.

White, first responder who rendered first aid to victims of the November 22, 2022 mass shooting at Walmart.

In addition to the Special Recognition Award from the Foundation, VA House of Delegates Resolution NO. 602 was read citing White’s selfless dedication to duty and his heroic actions.

The event was attended by many of Hampton Roads citizens including Rep. Robert “Bobby” Scott, 3rd Congressional District; the Hon. L. Louise Lucas, who made history in being the first Black to be elected President Pro Tempore of the VA Senate and chairman of the powerful Finance and Appropriation Committees.

She was also the first Signature Sponsor for the Foundation’s Sixth Annual Black Tie Scholarship Gala.

Also attending was Del. C. E. Cliff Hayes, District 91, and he presented VA House of Delegates Resolution NO. 601, to Adam N. Harrell, Sr. for his work in public service.

Others attending included Hon. Dr. Ella P. Ward, Chesapeake Councilwoman; Brenda H. Andrews, Owner and Publisher, New Journal and Guide; Col. David Rosado, Chesapeake Undersheriff; Hon. David L. Jones, judge; Hon. Raymond A. Jackson, Retired senior judge; Hon. Gwendolyn Jackson, retired judge; A. Keith Chapman, president, NAC Save Our Youth Foundation; William E. Harrell, president & CEO, Hampton Roads Transit; Adam N. Harrell, Jr., corporate attorney; Fred Helm, Fred Helm & Associates; John Kownack, CRHA; Kenneth L. Gray, president ILA Local 1248; Andre Dawkins, Lincoln Financial Group; Dr. Rose Marie Ward; Thomas Hasty, III, Towne Bank, and Platinum sponsor of the BTSG; Julius McCullough, president, TAM; Dr. Danelle Wallace Alexander, Norfolk State University and a Silver Sponsor of the BTSG; Edmund Elliott, Chesapeake Fire Chief; Troy Lindsay, Dominion Energy and Gold Sponsor of the BTSG; Lisa Hicks-Thomas, Dominion Energy; and Geraldine Boone, president, Chesapeake Civic Chorus. Dragas Companies of Virginia Beach was a Gold Sponsor and First Baptist Church, Berkley was a Silver Sponsor of the Event.

In addition to being an excellent social event, guests won a 75 inch Samsung Smart TV, a $250.00 visa Gift Card, and a $500.00 voucher to Kings Mills Resort in Williamsburg.

The BTSG raises fund to support the Foundation’s 26 scholarships, three Title I schools with school supplies and three local mentoring programs. The Foundation has awarded $178,000 in scholarships to AfricanAmerican males graduating from Chesapeake’s seven high schools; $7,000 to the Chesapeake unit of the Boys and Girl Club; $5,500 in school supplies to three Title I Schools, and $6,840 in minigrant to support mentoring programs and initiatives in Chesapeake.

Photo: Courtesy

(L-R) Policeman Albert White, City of Chesapeake

Photo: Courtesy

(L-R) Al Alexander, Dr. Stephanie D. B. Johnson, Community Service Awardee, and Doc Christian, and Quentin Hicks.

Photo: Courtesy

(L-R) Al Alexander, Jen A. Carideo, Community Service Awardee, and Clifton Randolph

Photo: Courtesy

(L-R) Dr. George F. Reed, Honorable C.E. Cliff Hayes, William Harrell, Adam N. Harrell, Sr., Lifetime Achievement Awardee, Honorable L. Louis Lucas, Doc Christian, Adam N. Harrell, Jr., and Al Alexander.

Photo: Ernest Lowery

(L-R) Al Alexander, Board Chairman, NCMPEF, Dr. Ella P. Ward, Councilwoman, City of Chesapeake, Vanessa Blackwell, VA Senator L. Louis Lucas, Brenda H. Andrews, Owner, New Journal and Guide, and Congressman Robert “Bobby Scott.

New Journal and Guide

November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023 | 3B

Christmas Decorating At The Edwards

Photo: Courtesy

CHESAPEAKE Revs. James and Dee Edwards had an addition this year to their annual nativity scene on the front lawn of their Chesapeake home.

Rev. Dee is proudly showcasing their cute 17-month-old great grandson Terrell Edwards who is just the right height, alongside Mary and Joseph and the Baby Jesus.

Norfolk Opens Grant Applications For Non-profit Organizations NORFOLK The City of Norfolk’s Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 7, at 6 p.m. at The Slover regarding Housing and Urban Development (HUD) entitlement grants.

The meeting will focus on the application process, eligible activities, minimum thresholds for grant funding, priority needs and changes to prior application criteria.

DHCD requests public input on housing and community development needs and the development of proposed activities in advance of the FY2025 Norfolk HUD entitlement allocations.

Eligible nonprofit agencies may apply for grants for the FY2025 grant year (Jul. 1, 2024 to Jun. 30, 2025).

Applications will be accepted Nov. 27 through 5 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2024, and are available at www.norfolk.gov/ HUDgrants.

Funded applications will be included in the FY2025 Annual Plan. The Annual Plan allocates federal resources under the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME) and the Emergency Solutions Grant Program (ESG). Through the Plan, the City anticipates distributing approximately $7 million in funds based on federal fiscal year formula allocations.

Interested parties may contact Jacquelyne Wiggins at HUDentitlement@norfolk. gov or call (757) 664-4267 for additional information or to provide input.

LOCAL VOICES NEW FREE GROCERY STORE OPENS IN NEWPORT NEWS How Coach Ron Jenkins Saved

By Rosaland Tyler Associate Editor New Journal and Guide

THRIVE Peninsula recently opened a free grocery store at 12749 Nettles Dr., in Newport News.

Several Denbigh churches launched THRIVE Peninsula in 1973, in a 2,500-squarefoot office on Warwick Boulevard in Newport News.

THRIVE later bought a building from the Boys and Girls Club.

Formerly known as the Denbigh United Christian Outreach, the non-profit “ministers to the physical,

economic, educational, emotional and spiritual needs of its neighbors,” according to its website.

“THRIVE strives to encourage people to be active participants in the resolution of their present plight and the plan for longterm financial stability.”

The nonprofit also offers critical bill assistance, financial coaching, as well a food pantry in a 5,600 square foot facility. The building also contains a raised-bed garden that grows produce.

The garden includes selfwater wicking beds, tower gardens, and berry trellises to grow an array of fruits

and vegetables.

“Clients can walk in and pick their own groceries,” Executive Director Angela York said. The organization wants the market to be “empowering” and “dignified.”

In its new space, THRIVE expects to serve over 30,000 people per year within two years of opening. In 2019, the nonprofit served 6,538 people. By 2022, it served 18,011 people. In 2022, it received over 107 calls for help per day.

To make a donation or learn more, please phone THRIVE Peninsula at (757) 877-6211.

Me From A Prison Sentence

By Sean C. Bowers These past few weeks of standing up for the Coach Ron Jenkins Virginia High School League 2024 Hall of Fame nomination movement in article print form and poetic prose tribute, I attempted at every turn to keep the entire focus on what a great man Coach Jenkins is, and how he helped not one, but two Virginia Beach schools establish championship excellence traditions, while also sending hundreds of his players on to the college scholarship level in his forty-two years of service.

Some memories and things were buried so deep that I only shared them with my closest inner circle when they occurred (partly because they could be used against me on the court.)

Today, respectfully. I tell the full truth about Coach Ron Jenkins as it pertained to saving my life. For many years I never spoke of this or dealt with it except through my own basketball therapy and writings over the past thirty years. Playing for Coach Jenkins in eighth and ninth grades saved my life.

When I made the team, he said,” Sean, you always play with an intensity bordering on out-of-control angry.”

Jenkins asked, “Why?” No one ever had.

I finally unloaded, “Coach, I have no one to talk to about my dad going to jail and me being put in foster-care for six weeks at the age of five. My Lab puppy was abducted after three days that same year.

I have lived in a one-room garage apartment with my single-parent Mom since.

“Once paroled, after they divorced, on stage my musician-Dad tells his audiences that he drew a line across America to Seattle, Washington, so he could get as far away from his ex-wife as possible, to big laughs.

Sean C. Bowers Never once, did he mention the only son he left behind for seven years.”

Coach Jenkins told me the get-out-of-my-own-mentaljail-life-altering words of wisdom. “Son, all those are things that happened to you, you didn’t choose any of that, you inherited every last bit of all that. But out here on this court, with this ball, with your teammates and me, you can write and rewrite your life story by what you do, by what you are, by how you define yourself, by your actions. Set down all that you have been carrying. I’m your Coach, and I’m here for you now. I won’t ever let go of you or this basketball life-rope.”

Two years later after ninth grade, I was moving out west to live with my dad.

The local First Colonial High School basketball coach called and wanted to try and talk me and my mom into my staying at the Beach. At 6’6,” he came over to our one-roomgarage-apartment. Once it was clear I was leaving, he said he wanted to speak with my mom, privately. Mom said it was OK, so I went out to shoot some foul shots.

Five minutes later after the coach left, Mom came out to my homemade street court, nearly in tears. “What happened, Mom?” I asked.

“That coach hit on me repeatedly until I had to raise my voice and ask him to leave!” All I saw was red and that coach, by my bare

hands, dead. The next day, on my bike, on the way to his school, I stopped by at Virginia Beach Junior High to see the one man I trusted above all others, my Virginia Beach J.H. Coach, Ron Jenkins.

I explained what had happened and how all I could think about was choking that coach to death.

Ever the soft-spoken kind man, Jenkins quizzed me.

“Sean, do you want to lose your freedom and waste your college basketball scholarship championship potential dreams to die on that, Coach Hill? All ten years of your training to be great, and your best, go down the anger drain?

Because I’ll come and visit you in jail through the glass, like you did with your dad,” which through my tears, made me laugh. Coach J. was only funny when he sensed we needed it most, or we were on that edge of NO RETURN or never coming back.

Jenkins continued, “You were going out West anyway. Take all that rage and anger and shove it into your basketball war chest.

Make it your under-control championship crest. You dominated here, dominate there in Seattle for your prime years in high school and you will have the last laugh on that fool.”

So instead of trying to kill that coach, I went home and relentlessly, into the dark, practiced basketball drill after drill.

Thank you, Coach Ron Jenkins for always stepping in and up when your wise counsel was most needed.

Thank you for always being real with me and all my teammates. You were the first of my four Hall of Fame coaches and a Final Four coach in my career. You made all the difference to my life and to so many who were blessed to be taught, mentored, and coached by you with your ultra-fair tough love approach.

Thanks, Coach, for helping me and many others learn how to process the unimaginable, when we didn’t have the skills or tools to cope. You helped open my mind to my life being made better and whole again through basketball’s joyousness, of hope.

Sean C. Bowers has written the last 26 years, as a White Quaker Southern man, for the nation’s third oldest Black Newspaper, The New Journal and Guide, of Norfolk, Virginia, about overcoming racism, sexism, classism, and religious persecution. Some of his latest NJ&G articles detailing the issues can found by searching “Sean C. Bowers” on the NJ&G website.

Contact him directly on social media at Linkedin.com or by e-mail V1ZUAL1ZE@aol. com NNPA 2019 Publisher of the Year, Brenda H. Andrews (NJ&G 36 years) has always been his publisher.

New Journal and Guide

4B | November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023

MOMENTS of MEDITATION

By Rev. Dr. Archie L. Edwards, Sr.

LOVING ONE ANOTHER Read: 1 John 3:11-24 During the fellowship meal that Jesus and the 12 disciples shared just before He was taken into custody, He did a remarkable thing – He laid aside His outer garment, wrapped a towel around His waist, rook a basin of water, washed His disciples” feet, and dried them with the towel.

This was a menial task, one that was normally performed by a household servant.

By taking a servant’s place, Jesus taught by example, as well as by words, two things: the true spirit of servanthood and the love that His followers should have for one another.

He said to them: “a new commandment I give you: Love one another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another“ (John 13:34-35).

These words left an indelible impression on John’s mind.

In fact, loving one another became one of the central themes of his life, and it runs throughout the letter we are studying.

Now, John writes about three things that will happen when believers love one another: They will not hate or harm one another (1 John 3:11-15); they will give their possessions, and even their lives, for one another (vv. 1620); and their prayers will be answered because they are

pleasing God by obeying His commands (vv. 21-24).

Christians Who Love Will Not Hate or Harm One Another. In verse 11 John returns to the thought that he had begun in 1:7, the old-new command of love for one another. He now illustrates it by referring to the Old Testament account of Cain and Abel (3:12). Cain murdered his brother because he hated him. Why did he hate him? First, Cain “belonged to the evil one.” Adam and Eve’s flirtation with the devil bore fruit within their own family when their first born son showed that he belonged to the family of the “evil one” rather than to the family of God. The second reason for Cain’s hatred was that Abel’s actions formed such a contrast to his that he stood condemned before the Lord (Genesis 4:35). When the Lord graciously talked with him, pointing out his failure and inviting him to repent and “do what is right” (4:7), Cain refused to do what God told him to do; instead, in jealousy and anger he killed his brother.

Believers need to examine their attitudes and behavior toward other believers, for “anyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15; see Matthew 5:21-22).

Christians Who Love Will Sacrifice Their Goods and Their Lives For One Another.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16a).

The Bible reminds us many times that Christ’s death on the cross was the supreme demonstration of God’s love.

“Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:13-14).

Jesus’ example means that His followers should be ready and willing to die for their brothers and sisters in the Lord (1 John 3:16b). Few Christians in the western world have been called on to make such a sacrifice.

Perhaps a more relevant test for us is whether or not we are giving of our material possessions to help meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Verbal expressions of love are good, but they must be backed up by action. These actions benefit us as well as the recipient by assuring us that “we belong to the truth” (v. 19).

Christians Who Love Will Have Their Prayers Answered.

One of the blessings of a clear conscience, gained by showing love to one another and by assurance that God fully knows both our actions and our attitudes, is that we can approach God with confidence, knowing that He will give us anything we ask (vv. 21-22a).

In order to understand this astounding statement, we need to realize that the premise on which it is based is that ‘we obey His commands and do what pleases Him” (v. 22b).

We may come to God with confidence, but this does not mean that we can ask for anything that happens to cross our minds and God will be obligated to give it to us.

New Podcast By Bishop T.D. Jakes Promotes Peaceful Sleep LOS ANGELES A new podcast featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes is promising listeners a spiritual way to get a peace-filled night of sleep.

The podcast titled “Sleep Psalms with Bishop T.D. Jakes” was launched in early November and is produced

by Pray.com, an app for prayer and faith-based audio content, and iHeartMedia.

It promises “to enlighten, inspire and deepen faith through the reading of the Psalms, offering peaceful nights of rest.”

“It’s an honor and privilege to work with a multigenerational icon like Bishop T.D. Jakes on a project that helps people battle anxiety, depression, and insomnia,” said Pray.com CEO Steve Gatena. “With Sleep Psalms, we are able to bring God’s grace to those seeking rest and renewal so they can find a pocket of peace before they go to sleep.”

In fact, in a recent study, more than 94 percent of Pray. com subscribers reported that using Pray.com helped to improve their sleep.

Presented by renowned spiritual leader Bishop T.D. Jakes, this podcast ushers listeners into serene reflection and comfort through the beautiful and poetic messages of God’s Word. “Sleep Psalms” features 150 episodes from what many consider the most cherished book in the Bible for restful sleep and renewed strength.

Visionary, provocative thinker and one of the world’s most revered communicators,

Bishop T.D. Jakes serves as the CEO & Chairman of the T.D. Jakes Group, a global conglomerate at the intersection of ministry and marketplace. He is also the senior pastor of The Potter’s House, a global humanitarian organization and 30,000-member church headquartered in Dallas.

Twice featured on the cover of TIME, Bishop Jakes’ wisdom, care and light shine through his numerous efforts of benevolence, including from within this podcast.

“In a world that often feels chaotic, finding solace and rest is difficult for so many people. In fact, it’s one of the biggest challenges I’ve seen in our world today among countless individuals,” shares Bishop Jakes. “This is more than a podcast; it’s a nightly retreat into the embrace of the Divine – an authentic solution for those struggling to find peace.”

Offering a serene haven, “Sleep Psalms with Bishop T.D. Jakes” combats sleep deficiency and its symptoms, from increased risk of chronic

illness, to higher probabilities of depression and anxiety, to impaired concentration and diminished quality of life. This profound, tranquil podcast allows listeners to improve their sleep and overall health, readying them to face the challenges of everyday life with wisdom and faith.

“Many people are looking for resources to help instill peace and take a break from their hectic day-to-day lives,” said Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts. “iHeartMedia is thrilled to partner with Pray.com and introduce ‘Sleep Psalms with Bishop T.D. Jakes’ to guide our listeners to superior sleep and unwind from their daily lives.”

In addition to “Sleep Psalms with Bishop T.D. Jakes,” Pray.com hosts podcasts from various leading Christian pastors and speakers, meditative and reflective prayers and Bible-based resources to aid listeners wherever they may be in their spiritual growth journeys. Pray.com podcasts are distributed by iHeartPodcasts.

Find “Sleep Psalms with Bishop T.D. Jakes” and other prayer and faith-based audio content at www.pray.com/ podcasts, on the iHeartRadio app and everywhere podcasts are heard.

Pray.com was founded in 2016 with a mission to grow faith and cultivate community.

It recently launched a 24/7 live streaming video channel, PrayTV. See more at www. alarryross.com/pray-com.

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Distribution Points WHERE TO GET YOUR NEXT GUIDE NORFOLK,VA New Journal & Guide Office 5127 E.” Virginia Beach Blvd.

Piggly Wiggly 4630 East Princess Anne Rd. (COGIC) High Rise 2412 E.” Virginia Beach Blvd.

Water Plus 5950 Poplar Hall Dr., Suite 107 Handy Business Service 3535 B Tidewater Dr. International Market 7506 Granby Street Bountiful Blessings Daycare 1010 E Brambleton Ave Herbal Farmacy 4215 Granby St.

Norfolk Montessori Academy 979 Ingleside Rd.

PORTSMOUTH, VA Lewis Barber Shop 4229 Greenwood Dr. Blondell’s Masonic Shop 3510 Victory Blvd.

Fair & Honest Auto 2921 Portsmouth Blvd.

CHESAPEAKE, VA African Value Braids.

2036 Campostella Rd. Master Touch 4013 Indian River Rd. Lawrence Pharmacy 1156 N. George Washington Hwy.

Eddie’s Crab-house 2592 Campostella Rd. Herbal Farmacy 1128 N.” Battlefield Blvd.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

Al’ Qubaa Islamic Center 1145 Hampton Ave.

HAMPTON, VA Iconic Fashion International 89 Lincoln St. #1772

FRANKLIN, VA SUFFOLK, VA Local 2426 U.A.W. 509 E. Washington St. CEB Financial 533 Highland Ave. NEWPORT NEWS, VA Moton Community House 2101 Jefferson Ave.

Man Market 2016 South St.

WINDSOR, VA Eddie’s Crabhouse 1143 Windsor Blvd. Suite F

CHICAGO, IL Doctors Choice 600 W. Cermak Rd. Lower Level

New Journal and Guide

November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023 | 5B

New Journal and Guide

6B | November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023

BOOKWORM REVIEW

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

THE BLACK ANGELS: The Untold Story of The Nurses Who Helped Cure Tuberculosis

Hip-Hop Icons, Entrepreneurs T.I. & Tiny Open Affordable Housing Complex In Atlanta

By Stacy M. Brown

T.I., known for hits like NNPA NEWSWIRE “Whatever You Imagine a disease that o disrespect Hip-hop power couple you can catch from a T.I. and Tiny celebrated meant.

Like,” expressed cough or sneeze, one the grand opening of their You won’t that steals your ability to tolerate it anyway, so long-awaited affordable gratitude for the breathe and puts you in housing complex, The that’s a good thing. As a the hospital, gasping for Intrada Westside, during a support from human being, someone air and grasping at life. ribbon-cutting ceremony who walks and talks, The story of that disease in Atlanta. The complex is the arts and forms ideas and creates is a big part of a hidden in the northwest of the city. concepts, you absolutely, history, and not just déjà According to HipHopDX. entertainment righteously demand that vu. others give you the respect com, it shows how Knowing what we know committed the couple is to industry, citing you want. The respect you about pandemics, in fact, deserve. Even if, as in Photo: Parker Pfister makes “The Black Angels” community development, its profitability “The Black Angels” by and it has personal meaning Maria Smilios feel closer to home, and for T.I. because it was once to offer muchMaria Smilios, getting it it makes the personal a grocery store where her takes decades.

“The Black Angels: The and medical sacrifices of grandmother shopped.

Edna Sutton hated her needed resources Untold Story of the job sorting papers in a not. Sometimes, masking Edna Sutton, Missouria Nurses Who Helped The Intrada Westside Meadows-Walker, and boasts 143 apartments to the community. downtown office. was frowned-upon.

Cure Tuberculosis” Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

N

True, it didn’t require housekeeping or service, as did most jobs for Black women then, and she appreciated that.

She wasn’t interested in being someone’s maid; instead, science “set her mind alight,” and Edna dreamed of becoming a nurse. She would only be allowed to work in a Black hospital, though; and there weren’t many of those in Savannah, Georgia.

But there were up north and in the summer of 1929, when she was told of a hospital in New York that was “’recruiting’” Black nurses, Edna applied for a position. She’d be caring for tuberculosis patients,

By Maria Smilios, ©2023, Putnam, $30, 428 pages

and the job promised to further her education.

In early 1930, she became a part of the Great Migration when she boarded a train to Harlem.

For decades, Edna Sutton and her fellow Black nurses did the work that white nurses would not do, tending to the poorest of the poor who often came from overcrowded tenements to Sea View on Staten Island.

Sanity was a wish for those nurses: hand-washing was stressed, but masking was

Some were reminded the hard way that tuberculosis was airborne and highly contagious.

And yet, despite long hours and putting themselves in constant danger, raises and promotions were out of reach for the Black nurses, mostly due to Jim Crow laws. They striked, to no avail; the NAACP urged New York City’s mayor to change the law, but he dragged his feet.

To gain respect and recognition, the nurses would need “something huge ... something like a war.” With their help, a cure for tuberculosis would take even longer ...

FUN PUZZLE FOR YOUR LEISURE

Virginia Allen feel larger.

Read, and recent events bring a sense of dread to the tale. Read, and you’ll know the frustration involved. Author Maria Smilios then casts a wider story net that takes readers to the periphery for further understanding, to two world wars, to Harlem, medical research, and the political atmosphere of New York, 1945.

Beware: the extraneous coverage goes deep and it may distract from the larger story of Black heroism and history. Go with the dive, though, and you’ll find that “The Black Angels” is a pretty respectable read.

and 25 unique units to house homeless youth.

T.I., known for hits like “Whatever You Like,” expressed gratitude for the support from the arts and entertainment industry, citing its profitability to offer muchneeded resources to the community.

In a nod to the project’s roots, T.I. shared, “The arts and entertainment industry in this city has been able to collaborate and be, I guess, profitable enough to offer the community so many things that are much needed.”

This venture is reportedly not the first time T.I. has invested in revitalizing his Atlanta community. In 2020, he urged his social media followers to shift their focus from luxury items to real estate. The rapper highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behavior and encouraged responsible spending.

HipHopDx.com said T.I. had been actively involved in community initiatives through his Buy

Back the Block initiative, investing more than $2.7 million since 2017 to acquire six properties and plots of land in his Center Hill neighborhood.

The website said his philosophy emphasizes the potential for individuals to thrive financially while positively contributing to their communities.

“The Black Press of America salutes both the creative genius of T.I. and his concrete commitment to the economic development of Black communities,” National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. proclaimed. The NNPA is the trade association of America’s more than 230 Black-owned newspapers and media companies.

“The affordable housing development in Atlanta is an innovative and positive pathway forward,” Chavis declared. “I know T.I. personally, and his character and integrity are impeccable.”

... answers to this week’s puzzle.

New Journal and Guide

November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023 | 7B

8B | November 30, 2023 - December 6, 2023

New Journal and Guide