Two U.S. soldiers on Easter morning, 1945. Until the 21st century, the contributions of African-American soldiers in World War II barely registered in America’s collective memory of that war. The “tan soldiers,” as the Black press affectionately called them, were also for the most part left out of the triumphant narrative of America’s “Greatest Generation.” In … [Read more...]
News: a space for original local news stories and national news, with emphasis on stories pertaining to African Americans.
Groundbreaking for expanded African American Civil War Museum prepares D.C. corridor for influx of visitors
Principals and visionaries of the expanded African American Civil War Memorial symbolically dig in the shovels. Pictured are Sarosh Olpadwada, economic developer; James Turner ANC, Dr. Frank Smith, museum director and founder; Mayor Muriel Bowser; Councilperson Brianne Nadeau; Grant Epstein, project developer; Torti Gallas, developer tenant; Patrick Smith, economic developer; … [Read more...]
IN MEMORIAM: Congressman Elijah Cummings Dies at 68
Rep. Elijah Cummings The Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and a titan of the U.S. Congress, Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD-7), died early Thursday morning. He was 68. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, the congressman's wife and chairman of the Maryland Democratic Committee, said Cummings died at 2:45 am at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Mrs. Cummings said … [Read more...]
Reparations are essential to eliminate the wealth gap between black and white Americans
Four hundred years ago, America’s first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia. Centuries later, black Americans have managed to accumulate some wealth, but it still pales in comparison to that of whites. This racial wealth gap is a result not only of the horrors of slavery but also policies – such as Jim Crow laws, redlining and modern-day mass incarceration – that … [Read more...]
Black union conference draws Black stars to Bloomington
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Danny Glover Though not often considered a Black stronghold, the Blackness of the 300,000 who live in the state does not go unnoticed. Minnesota has been the recent site for national coverage of Black tragedies like the police killings of Philando Castile and Jamar Clarke. From those killings and the outrage they sparked arose activist energies that … [Read more...]