Category: Blog

Photo credit: Harrison Jones/Post-Gazette

In a case of mistaken identity, then 19-year-old Leon Ford Jr. was left paralyzed after being shot five times by a Pittsburgh police officer during a traffic stop in November of 2012. Now six years later, Ford has announced his bid to run for Pittsburgh City Council.

“Proud to announce that I will be running for city council in the same district that I was raised—and shot by a police officer,” Ford wrote in an Instagram post. “I am excited to embark on this new journey. My life has been a true testimony of tragedy to triumph.”

With Reverend Ricky Burgess’ current term expiring at the end of next year, Ford, who has since become an activist, author, and motivational speaker, hopes to represent District 9. He expressed in a statement:

“As one of the only voices in our city bold enough to stand up for everyday people and speak truth to power, I am proud to officially share my candidacy. Our campaign will focus on restoring hope in our neighborhoods, creating new economic opportunities for our residents and healing one another to make all of our communities safe, vibrant, prosperous and livable for all.”

Ford is set to officially launch his campaign on November 11 and he’s asking the city of Pittsburgh to be “bold, courageous and resilient” with him.

Photo via: Lucy McBath

On Thursday morning, gun-control activist Lucy McBath was officially declared the winner in Georgia’s 6th congressional district race, reports The New York Times.

The victory comes six years after her son Jordan Davis was fatally shot by a white man during an argument over loud music at a Florida gas station in 2012. The man went on to be charged with first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

“Six years ago I went from a Marietta mom to a mother on a mission,” McBath said.

She went on to express in an Instagram post that “this win is just the beginning. We’ve sent a strong message to the entire country. Absolutely nothing – no politician and no special interest – is more powerful than a mother on a mission. Thank you – we still have so much work left to do.”

McBath defeated Republican incumbent Karen Handel by less than 3,000 votes. She said last month, “What I’m doing today is still mothering his legacy. I’m extending what I would do for my son to my community.”

Congratulations, Congresswoman McBath!

Photo credit: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images

Right on the heels of Sahle-Work Zewde becoming Ethiopia’s first modern-era woman president, another Ethiopian woman has achieved yet another significant milestone by being sworn in as the first woman to head the country’s Supreme Court.

Meaza Ashenafi was sworn in last week by Ethiopia’s parliament after being unanimously approved. Ethiopian Chief of Staff Fitsum Arega shared on Twitter: “Abiy Ahmed nominated Meaza Ashenafi as the first woman Federal Supreme Court President. Ethiopia’s march towards gender parity in key leadership positions continues unabatedly. Congratulations!”

Ashenafi’s prior experience includes serving as a human rights lawyer and as a High Court judge. She advised the Ethiopia-based UN Economic Commission for Africa on gender and women’s rights and is also the founder of the Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association.

Congratulations, Justice Ashenafi! We salute you!

Photo by: Sgt. Tawny Schmit

First Sergeant Jeffrey Lewis just made history as the first African American to be promoted to Sergeant Major in the Iowa Army National Guard.

The 54-year-old began his military career with the Iowa National Guard in 1981 when he was enlisted as a combat medic, reports Des Moines Register.

“As a medic you take care of people,” he told local news station WHOtv.com. “You are able to go out and walk with the infantry. You are able to go out and be with the artillery guys, the cav guys. And your primary, sole responsibility is to take care of them and that’s what I do like, taking care of solders.”

Lewis getting penned by his mother Margaret Wright, Photo by: Sgt. Tawny Schmit

Throughout his career, Lewis has been deployed twice where he’s supported Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He currently holds the 68W Combat Medic Specialist’s Military Occupational Specialty and has worked full-time with the Iowa National Guard for more than 15 years.

Photo by: Sgt. Tawny Schmit

In his newly appointed position, Lewis will take on the duties of chief operations sergeant of the 109^th Multifunctional Medical Battalion located in Iowa City. He says his ultimate goal, is to continue to climb the ranks and one day become a Command Sergeant Major.

At the Fuller Cut barbershop in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the barbers encourage their child customers to do two things while sitting in their chair: pick out a book and read aloud.

Barber Ryan Griffin brought the idea of a literacy program to the Fuller Cut barbershop after becoming inspired by a similar program in Harlem, New York that he read about. As people have donated books to the barbershop since the program started, children have gotten the opportunity to practice their reading skills all while getting their favorite haircut. Parents even receive two dollars off the haircut if their children participate.

“Any help these kids can get with reading and … comprehension is a big thing. You know, maybe someday some kid will grow up and be a journalist, be a writer, and he’ll say, ‘You know what, when I was young, my barber used to make me read.’”- Ryan Griffin.

Love it! We salute barbershops like the Fuller Cut, who are using their space and time to help support and nurture the next generation of leaders.

Pictured: Joziah and Jozef reading to their barbers, while getting a haircut. We also spot one of the barbers wearing our Because of Them We Can t-shirt too.

Meet Robby from Ferguson, MO.

When we referred to him as King Robby, he told us that he liked “King Royal Robby” better.

We met Robby during our visit with the 3rd graders at his school.

When I asked Robby if he liked the Because of Them We Can book, he said it was “Amazing”…

When I asked why, he said:

“I never knew so many people did so many amazing things. All I ever heard about was people like Martin Luther King or Harriet Tubman. When I see all these people, it shows me that I can do some of these things too!”

This picture is Robby’s reaction to learning that the book he fell in love with was his to keep. His favorite photo was the one of mini George Carruthers on page 15. Like him, Robby plans to be a scientist.

Shout out to Robby’s parents, Terrance and Tenneka – you are doing an amazing job raising Robby!

Photo via: Hampton University

Last week, Hampton University stakeholders announced a new collaboration with USA Triathlon to add women’s triathlon to their roster of varsity sports. With this announcement, Hampton “becomes the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to participate in the sport on a varsity level, reports Hampton University News.

Hampton received a $225,000 grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation to support the start of this new varsity sport on campus. The grant funds were reserved by the foundation specifically for an HBCU to use to hopefully encourage more diversity in triathlon participation. Funds will be distributed over a period of five years and will support the purchase of equipment, coach compensation, and travel expenses to build a sustainable varsity-level program.

Hampton President, Dr. William R. Harvey, said during the announcement ceremony: “This is another example of Hampton University leading the way. I am proud of the Department of Athletics team that made the Hampton University Women’s Triathlon program a reality.”

Hampton’s new sport will officially be introduced in the Fall of 2019. In the interim, Athletic Department staff will begin recruitment efforts to identify a full-time coach for the sport and interested student-athletes to begin to craft the experience of the triathlon program. Equipment will be purchased and community partnerships will be initiated to help to support the formation of the new program.

For a sport that historically has lacked the participation of African Americans to now be housed on the campus of an Internationally recognized HBCU, new interest in the sport is sure to be sparked. Dr. Tekemia Dorsey, CEO of the International Association of Black Triathletes added: “Hampton University’s partnership with USA Triathlon provides a pathway into the collegiate arena for the sport at an HBCU for little Black girls and girls from urban communities around the world… I am ecstatic to see it come to fruition. Historic, groundbreaking, monumental. Great job, Hampton University and USA Triathlon!”

Tavia Isaac was only 8-years-old when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory condition that affects parts of the digestive system. It was then, while in the hospital recovering from her diagnosis, that Tavia started watching Food Network’s Chopped and began pursuing her passion for cooking.

Coming full circle, Tavia got the chance to compete on an episode of Food Network’s Chopped Junior, which was taped in April but aired this past Tuesday. She went on to win the show’s championship and grand prize of $10,000. Tavia plans to donate some of her winnings to people who are homeless in her hometown of Chester, Pennsylvania.

Congratulations, Tavia! Your skill set, determination, and huge heart to help others is an inspiration to us all.

Photo via Netflix

More Black excellence is headed to Netflix!

The streaming giant just ordered a new Black family sitcom called “Family Reunion,” which will feature “Sister Sister” actress Tia Mowry, the legendary Loretta Devine, and an all-Black writers’ room. Created and executive produced by Meg DeLoatch, the multi-generational series is about a family who leave their big city lifestyle to travel to a family reunion in the small town of Columbus, Georgia.

Calling it her “dream job,” Mowry stars as Cocoa McKellan, the free-spirited wife and mother, while Devine takes on the role of M’Dear, the strict matriarch of the family.

“I’m so excited to return to television, especially working with Netflix, and I can’t wait for everyone to see ‘Family Reunion,’” Mowry said. “I know my fans are going to love it!”

Devine is just as excited as Mowry about their new project, expressing in a statement: “I am so blessed to be part of this new and exciting moment in time that will touch and bring laughter, smiles, and joy to everyone who sees it. That is ‘Family Reunion’ for me right now. When you see it, I think you are gonna love it, because it is all about family … The core of everything.”

“We look forward to bringing families together to enjoy the hilarious and heartwarming stories of this multi-generational American family living together and discovering the importance of connecting with their roots,” Deadline reports Melissa Cobb, VP of Kids and Family at Netflix, saying. “Meg DeLoatch has created a warm, funny and memorable extended family that we believe will resonate with audiences around the world and she has assembled an incredibly talented all-Black writers’ room to authentically portray these characters and their journey.”

With Eric Dean Seaton at the helm, Netflix gave the project a 20-episode order. The rest of the cast includes Anthony Alabi, Talia Jackson, Isaiah Russell-Bailey, Cameron J. “CJ” Wright, and Jordyn James. No release date has been announced, but let’s just say we can’t wait to be invited to the “Family Reunion.”