Category: Black Lives

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Luminaries

Screen Shot 2023-03-01 at 11.15.08 PMI had planned to tout Yamiche Alcindor and Washington Week, the PBS news and public affairs program of which she was moderator as “The Best 30-Minute Television News Program You’re NOT Watching.”  However, last Friday, 24 February 2023, Alcindor relinquished her position as moderator of the venerable PBS news and public affairs program. Her plans are to “focus fulltime on her commitments to NBC news,” where she is a Washington correspondent and “finish [her] upcoming memoir.

It has been a joy to watch her as she developed into a fine moderator of the program. As happy as I am to see her advance in her career, she will be missed on Washington Week where she had held forth since replacing Robert Acosta in May 2021. Her replacement has yet to be announced.

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The 54th NAACP Image Awards honorees were feted Saturday, 25 February at a star-studded, gala celebration hosted by Queen Latifa at the Pasadena (CA) Civic Auditorium.Recognizing people of color for acScreen Shot 2023-03-02 at 12.24.27 AMcomplishments in the arts, entertainment, social activism, and culture, in more than 80  categories, the awards program was broadcast this year by CBS.

The Chairman’s Image Award went to Mississippi Congressman Screen Shot 2023-03-01 at 11.07.44 PMBennie G. Thompson who so ably chaired the U.S. House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack “for his continued commitment to public service.” Dwayne Wade and his wife, past Image Award honoree Gabrielle Union, accepted the President’s Image Award for their social activism in many areas over many years. Screen Shot 2023-03-01 at 11.17.49 PMThey have most recently advocated against bullying of LGBTQ+ school kids in support of their Trans daughter Zaya Wade. Accepting the Social Justice Award with a a soul-stirring speech was Attorney Benjamin Crump.Screen Shot 2023-03-01 at 11.05.23 PM

 

 

 

 

Screen Shot 2023-03-01 at 10.50.45 PMHonored with several Image Awards was Angela Bassett, Entertainer of the Year, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series (9-1-1).

Also racking up the awards was Quinta Brunson named Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (Abbot Elementary)

Screen Shot 2023-03-01 at 11.02.03 PMwhile her Abbott Elementary was named Outstanding Comedy Series and took top honors for Outstanding Actor and Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, Tyler James Williams and Janelle James, respectively.

The NAACP Image Awards were established in 1967. See all the awardees on this NAACP website, www.naacpimageawards.net.

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GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY!

Derek Chauvin is found guilty on all three counts against him in the murder of George Floyd.

I am overjoyed, relieved, and at a loss. Though a guilty verdict has been rendered against Derek Chauvin, we must wait nearly eight weeks for the judge’s sentencing decision.

Meanwhile, there are many other murder cases in which police (and others) are culpable; and we don’t even know if those former police officers or others will be indicted, much less tried in a court of law.

As a result, my joy over Chauvin’s verdict is overlayed with frustration: imagining, worrying about what comes next. Will Chauvin’s sentence satisfy the millions, like me, who think he should get the maximum on all counts and serve them consecutively? Will any other former police officers have to stand before a jury of their peers and be tried for murder? Is this verdict a victory?

This verdict is, for me, bittersweet at the moment, because there are many others gone in recent memory for whom we have not had anything like justice.

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