by Kevin Alexander Jr. Marlin Briscoe became the first African American quarterback to play for an NFL team during the modern Super Bowl era when he started for the Denver Broncos in 1968. More than five decades later, Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes II became just the third African American quarterback to win the … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Large majorities of black and Latino Americans think Donald Trump’s actions as president have made things worse for people like them, and about two-thirds of Americans overall disapprove of how he’s handling race relations, according to a new poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half … Continue reading
Collaboration will build awareness of African American contributions to history and culture by improving access to HBCUs’ unparalleled collections Arlington, VA, July 30, 2019—The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) and the HBCU Library Alliance have entered into a long-term partnership that aims to position historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) as centers of … Continue reading
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam has signed House Bill 2767, sponsored by Delegate Lamont Bagby, creating the Virginia African American Advisory Board. The board will be composed of 21 non-legislative citizen members appointed by the Governor, and at least 15 of the members must be African American. The Secretaries of the Commonwealth, Commerce and Trade, Education, Health … Continue reading
An editorial by Taylor Fuqua When I think about everything that has shaped me into the young woman I am today, I can say that deciding to attend an historically black college had the most impact. To tell you the truth, there isn’t anything that hasn’t been more impactful and these are some of the … Continue reading
Over the past quarter-century, U.S. incarceration rates have nearly doubled, while crime rates have been cut in half. In fact, One out of three Black men of all ages can expect to serve time at some point in his life. The controversy of mass incarceration and its effects on private businesses, the community, and you … Continue reading
Students enrolled in a Norfolk State University public relations course have decided to host an HIV/AIDS awareness panel discussion in honor of Project Choices’ ibook release. The event will take place on the campus of Norfolk State University in the Student Center, room 138B from 2:30 until 4:00 p.m. The student body will be able to receive … Continue reading
by Omar Ross The movie “Get Out” was released on Feb. 24 and received great feedback from viewers. Although the feedback was good, many people criticized the star of the movie for not being “black enough.” Daniel Kaluuya still has to prove his race, although he is a dark-skinned man. “People say ‘You’re too black.’ … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Congressional Black Caucus plans to push President Donald Trump on the changing priorities of the Justice Department’s monitoring of police departments and cuts in education funding for college students. The Congressional Black Caucus’ leadership will meet with Trump on Wednesday at the White House, and chairman Cedric Richmond of Louisiana said … Continue reading
by Barry X. Campbell In 2014, there were more than 99,000 engineering graduates from American colleges. Among them, only 3,500 were African American. African Americans are a rarity in the tech space and it’s calling for a change. This low statistic of involvement has even prompted the government to involve themselves. Why are blacks not … Continue reading
Many African-Americans are expressing outrage over a testy exchange between President Donald Trump and a veteran black journalist, with many considering the incident to be the latest indication of his inability to relate to them. Already skeptical of Trump, many blacks said they were exasperated by the fact that, during his news conference on Thursday, … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Hidden Figures” and Taraji P. Henson had a big night at the NAACP Image Awards, where Hollywood glamour shared the stage with somber remarks from the director of Washington’s new African-American museum. “Hidden Figures,” the fact-based drama about the contributions of black female mathematicians to the U.S. space program, won the … Continue reading
DARGAN, Md. (AP) — From John Brown’s raid to James Brown’s wail, a stream of hot-blooded American history runs through a 19th-century farmstead in the Appalachian foothills of western Maryland. The John Brown connection is well known. The restored log farmhouse near Dargan is where the abolitionist launched his ill-fated, 1859 seizure of a federal … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are planning to meet with leaders of historically black colleges and universities in the nation’s capital to discuss ways to help the schools survive in challenging times. The meeting, spearheaded by South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. Mark Walker of North Carolina, will bring leaders from the nation’s 100-plus HBCUs … Continue reading
by Omar Ross Rosa M. Alexander was a prominent person in the Norfolk community. She was the first local woman to own a janitorial service and it became one of Virginia’s largest black-owned businesses. The all-female dorm on Norfolk State University’s campus is named after her. Alexander started her business in the 1970s and, before … Continue reading
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — To kick off Black History Month, the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia is exhibiting four decades of work by Murry DePillars, an artist known for his vivid colors and geometric shapes as well as his political commentary and African-inspired patterns. “Murry DePillars: Double Vision,” which features 37 pieces … Continue reading
NORFOLK, VA – Norfolk Public Library (NPL) will kick off a month-long celebration of African American history on Saturday, February 4 with a series of events including a special keynote address by Norfolk Mayor Kenneth C. Alexander during the Opening Celebration at 3PM at Slover Library. This inaugural event will also recognize the recipients of … Continue reading
Dr. Christine Darden, one of NASA’s “Hidden Figures” as highlighted in the recent movie, will speak in the Student Center, room 149, on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 12:30 p.m. The presentation, discussion and book signing is sponsored by the College of Science, Engineering and Technology and the Norfolk State University Black History Month Committee. Dr. … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — For almost eight years, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus existed in the shadow of the first black president. They praised President Barack Obama’s achievements while at the same time pushing him to do more for their constituents who overwhelmingly supported his history-making campaign and administration. But with Obama set to … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — When he entered the recording studio this spring, Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper Common had plenty to vent about — and it all came out. Police shootings. Institutionalized racism. Mass incarceration. Fouled water supplies. White privilege. Wage gaps. Black Lives Matter. Inner-city violence. “Things just felt more urgent for me,” Common said … Continue reading
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – Promoting his initiative for boys and young men of color, President Barack Obama said Tuesday, Oct. 11, that helping these males stay out of trouble and on the right path is an “American challenge” that will pay off for the U.S. economy in the long run. Speaking about the “My Brother’s … Continue reading
An editorial by Shaye Southall At this point in time, cell phones are the judge, jury, and executioner. For just about every officer involved shooting of an unarmed black man or Latino man, there is a witness that captures the fatal moments on film. This phenomenon has been taking place throughout history, but America is … Continue reading
by Malik Glaspie Norfolk State’s Brown Theater had a full audience Tuesday, Sept. 27, to hear a lecture from Nate Parker. Nate Parker is an actor, writer, director, producer, and musical performer who has played a part in numerous films such as The Great Debaters, Non-Stop, Red Tails, and Beyond the Lights. Parker is also … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Black history officially has a new, prominent place in America’s story. With hugs, tears and the ringing of church bells, the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors Saturday to help this nation understand, reconcile and celebrate African-Americans’ often-ignored contributions toward making this country what it … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is making it clear that if the African-American community fails to turn out for the presidential election and support Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, he’s taking it personally. Obama delivered his final keynote address to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Saturday night and said his name may not be … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 