Top Ten Black News Stories of 2023

(Baltimore, MD) It was a year when people felt less concerned about a pandemic and a return to normalcy. I can tell you there is a mood in the country where African-Americans are confident, concerned, shaking, and quietly nervous. No, the great recession didn’t have any energy, nor did the prosperity promise come true. There were glimmers of hope and yet there was this sense of foreboding we couldn’t shake.

War, as we know it isn’t confined to the places we know. In many instances, it showed up in a lot of places we didn’t know. As always, it’s tough to narrow the list to ten topics. This year is no different we had a tie at number six so we have a 6a.

If you go back to many of my list you will see I make sure to take a global view and an American view of stories with high impact. I don’t expect you to agree. It’s a part of this exercise to challenge you to re-think the year and what had an impact. Be pissed, but be smart. Those who would like to rearrange the chairs on the Titanic are coming for you. They want you to be ignorant and distracted by the moment.

10. Coup de tat’s in Africa – The overthrow of an aging dictator/presidents and unresponsive leaders is fertile ground for unrest on the continent of Africa. The latest to join this growing list of overthrows of government is Niger and Guinea.  

 Gen. Abdourahamne  Tiani, Interim Leader Niger

Adding to these overthrows was the Wagner Mercenary Group under the control of Russia Anarchist Yevgeny Prigozhin. A rough operator who had an army for you, if you were willing to pay. He came to the aid of elements in Africa that had resources (smuggled diamonds).

Prigozhin, may have over played his hand when he went after the generals of Russian President Vladimir Putin fighting in Ukraine. He called for a mobilization of his forces to march on Moscow. In the words of the series, “The Wire.” “If you come for the king, you bet not miss.”

The mercenary was killed in a plane crash on his way back to Russia.

9. Byron Allen’s  Media Empire – Allen Media Group (AMG), celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The media empire he has amassed is varied and a force to be reckoned with by the powers that be. This year he added HBCU-GO. The brainchild of my good friend, Curtis Symonds. The areas he’s moving into means he gets a unique entry into business deals he wouldn’t be considered for in the past. Allen just offered 3.5 billion dollars to buy BET. I know he is not finished. Black entrepreneurs in media have always pushed the envelope (Roland Martin, Doni Glover and many more). I challenge those who own these properties to prove they can figure out a way to create news content, make it profitable, and accessible. “Am I pipe dreaming?” 

8. HBCU Enrollment – For the last three years many of the nation’s HBCU’s have seen record enrollment. The good news, a number of schools are attracting some of the brightest students and still offer those who need a chance the opportunity to get one. In some states, the additional cash has allowed them to offer in-demand classes. The downside, the schools are bursting at the stems. Lastly, the schools are being targeted by rough elements, with a number of them reporting shootings. Things are about to get tougher.

7. Athletic Comebacks – There is always a danger when you play certain sports. Football is controlled aggression. On a Monday Night, January 2, 2023, in Cincinnati, Ohio the Buffalo Bills squared off against the Bengals. The national televised game was watched by millions. Bill’s Safety Damar Hamlin had a collision with Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in the first half.

It appeared to be a routine play, except when Hamlin stood up he crumbled to the ground. As staff went to assist he was administered CPR. The players, the crowd and national audience was stunned. Hamlin was taken to a local hospital. The game was canceled  and the player spent a week in the cardiac unit in Cincinnati. He was released and came back to Buffalo. Hamlin became an inspiration and vowed to comeback. Hamlin presented the training staff that saved his life the 2023 ESPY’s Pat Tilman Award.

6. Stretching Stories for the Big and Small Screen – At the beginning of the year I attended a screening of “Chevalier.” An interesting take on the composer, Joseph Bologne. The mullato slave who comes of age at the end of the French Renaissance. He takes up fencing and violin. He becomes a composer in high society with Queen Marie Antoinette as his patron. When he is shunned by the aristocracy of France he becomes the darling of the French Revolution. His story is like a number of films which were released this year. Unknown heroes who got their treatment on big and small screens (Rustin, the story of Baynard Rustin.). A number of releases late in the year show promise,  American Fiction, and Origin. There are a number of movies that will gross major box office dollars such as: The Color Purple, The Equalizer 3 and Creed III.

I want to note the passing of two actors. Andre Braugher stared as Detective Frank Pemberton in the David Simons series Homicide: Life on the Streets based in Baltimore. Pemberton was a thinking mans cop. If you were in “the box” (interrogation room) with him, it was brutal.  The Shakespearean Actor was a part of the ensemble, which starred in the movie “Glory.” Many will know him as Captain Raymond Holt in the Fox/NBC police comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He lost his battle with lung cancer according to his publicists.

One of the actors who portrayed a character on The Wire also died this year.

Lance Reddick, who played Captain Cedric Daniels in The Wire was a native of Baltimore. The 60-year-old appeared in more than a dozen films and shows during his 25-year acting career

 Actor Michael K. Williams played th role of OMAR, a gay drug dealer who avenged the death of his “shorty” was remembered this year by the Baltimore Orioles. When Orioles closer Felix Bautista took to the field they played the haunting whistling of “The farmer in dell.” In The Wire that let everyone know, someone was going to die. 

6a. Hip-Hop at 50 – I was there at the beginning when a group of my New York friends showed up at a party and began rapping over me remixing “Good Times.” This is circa 1978. I was not impressed, but I am not a fool and watched as rapping became a new genre. It wasn’t just rapping, it was mixing, break dancing, fashion, graffiti, and culture. The term “Hip-Hop” may have started in New York but is a worldwide phenomenon fifty years later. Don’t let anyone tell you it was readily accepted. It kicked, screamed, and pissed people off in the early days. A number of outlets have missed the point. This is a historical and necessary inflection point, “we will take what you discarded and create something new.” Now, you are welcome to insert your favorite hip- hop artist/song.

5. Urban Violence – Living in an urban area isn’t easy. Crime has been on this list many times. In the 80’s, driving the criminal activity was “CRACK.” By the nineties it was heroin with a move to lace it with Fentanyl (deadly consequences) by 2000’s.

This time there is a single component which seems to link urban crime in each city, youthful offenders. The crimes are all over the place. Carjacking’s, “purge“ like activity (Philly) breaking into stories, and gang activity (West Coast) to rob high end stories and resell to an underground market.

I know for a fact, many those who are into this type of activity live(d) in a dysfunctional home(s). Some would call this the “Crack Baby Generation.” There is a sense amongst this group no one sees them, nor cares how they function. There are no silver bullets. 

4. Racial Attacks at the Ballot Box- A Supreme Court decision to decertify a congressional map drawn by the Alabama legislature was welcomed. Allen v. Milligan case decision gave hope to plaintiffs. It ruled maps passed by the Republican legislature had to be re-drawn. The courts eventually stepped in drawing a map giving the state’s African-American population in Alabama more representation in congress.

A number of southern states with Republican majorities are having their maps challenged. This has emboldened those who want to go backward. It is scary the arguments being put forward. The idea is simple, limit the electorate. 

3. Beyoncé – No I did not see Beyoncé live, but I have seen her three-hour movie, The Renaissance, on the event. This year Beyoncé’s Worldwide Tour is the new standard (no slight to Taylor Swift). So let me give you some observations:

·         The Bee Hive is real: These die-hard fans get it. Mrs. Shawn Carter is what she exclaims. “I’m a boss!!!.”

·         The remainder of the audience has always been in her corner, but their enthusiasm is different. They’ll tell you, “I see myself in her.” This drills down on one’s authentic self, uncompromised, and they see a glass half empty with future possibilities.

·         So let’s add a new tittle, Documentarian. She’s not the first to do it, but has mastered the ability to take you around the world.

I won’t get any brownie points for this but, there was cultist-like attitude about those who were there for the concert. You know all the words, the choreography, and the songs move you. Lastly, I expect “B” to challenge herself with a new project which might not be music.

2. Assault on Minority Business and Marginalization of anything Black – If you haven’t heard of the Fearless Fund get ready to be incensed by a court case which could end all help to minority businesses. There is a legal attempt to stop the Fearless Fund from running the Strivers Grant Contest in the Small Business Administration. The grant holds a contest which awards $20,000 to businesses that are at least 51% owned by Black women, among other requirements. Based in Atlanta, it’s given opportunity to women own businesses especially the Black ones.

Edward Blum, the conservative activist behind the two college admissions cases which struck down Affirmative Action in college admissions, has several pending lawsuits targeting private-sector DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs based on the ruling in admissions. Blum and his cohorts are raising millions of dollars to target the SBA.

“What does Edward Blum have to fear?” said CBC Chair, Congressman Steve Horsford (D) Nevada. The numbers from the Venture Capitalist, a group which tracks investment, sheds light on what’s at stake. In 2018, this group showed  $130 billon dollars was given to new American businesses. Of that total only 2.2 percent was given to female companies and less than 1% was given to women color according to Forbes Magazine and the Fearless Fund.

This demonization is real. If somehow the SCOTUS can revisit this issue there is a likelihood it could translate to groups who are currently marginalized and choke off funding underserved communities.

So let me cut to the chase. What I heard from the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Chairman, Congressman Horsford did not give me confidence at the CBC’s approach. I believe CBC which has had a clarion call since its beginning to improve Black Business in America needs shock therapy.

1. Sickle Cell Treatment – I learn of this disease from my mom’s friend who lost two very young children to sickle cell. Recently, the promise of CRISPR was made real. The treatment, called exa-cel and made by the companies Vertex and CRISPR Therapeutics, edits a gene involved in red blood cell shape and function. The doctors who created CRISPR won the Noble Peace Prize. This new therapy will reshape some of medicines daunting challenges. I know there were a number of medical problems which could have leaped-frogged sickle cell disease. Early therapies showed promise in trials and now Black families have hope.  

Charles F. Robinson, III

C3 Media

 

Person of the Year 2023

This year there are a pair of individuals who deserve this award, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the mother/daughter duo were Atlanta election workers. They were accused of voter election fraud in 2016 by Rudi Giuliani. This year they sued the former Mayor of New York. Giuliani admitted he lied in the civil suit.

TOP TEN BLACK NEWS STORIES 2022

(Baltimore, MD) I continue to believe the reason you read my list is because you’re intrigued. Each year I try and point to items you may have heard about or made you raise an eyebrow. This year, I unfortunately noticed to many narcists and not enough love for those who have challenges. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, I watched a number of “Underdogs” change the narrative and succeed. Now for my annual disclaimer. “If you don’t like my list, create your own.” Hold on to your chair, “because it’s about to go down.”

10. Ye – Last year I talked about how Rappers have become enamored with themselves and purveyors of culture. I draw attention to the Rapper formally known as Kayne West. Despite having a number of breakdowns (divorce, mental health episodes, loss of endorsement deals etc.…) he committed a cardinal sin in Black Culture. Comedian Dave Chappelle said it succinctly on Saturday Night Live,“Whenever you use the term ‘The Jews.’ It will not turn out well.” Ye, doubled down by declaring he was going “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.” This comment got him banned on social media. The visual which is still imbedded in my mind was he and Candance Owen photographed in shirts with “White Lives Matter.” 

9. Tigray/Internal Struggles in Africa – This November there was a truce of fighting between Ethiopia and the Tigray region. According to reports this is just the beginning. The fragility of  Africans and their desire to govern is tenuous. I can point to countries such as Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Chad, Angola, and the Congo. 

 8. The Loss of Iconic Figures – There are some figures who transcend time. This year we lost a number of iconic figures. From the first time I saw Sidney Poitier on the big screen it was mesmerizing. He may have been “Hollywood Royalty,” but meant much more to the culture. He was the Brother who shook my world when he delivered the line, “They call me, Mr. Tibbs.” He joined his friend Harry Belafonte in several movies. It was his humanitarian efforts which changed the way actors see the craft. It was this picture on Interstate 95 which made me smile. 

I also want to mention some others who fall in this category: Charles Fuller (author of “A Soldier’s Story"), Bernard Shaw (Reporter/Network Anchor), Thom Bell (songwriter), Irene Cara (Singer/Actress), Betty Davis (Singer), André Leon Talley (Fashion Icon), James Mtume (Songwriter/Musician), Max Julien (Director/Actor),Coolio (Rapper) and Ramsey Lewis (Musician/Songwriter). Just learned Pele has transitioned May they rest in power. 

7. Jackson Water Crisis – We have seen this story before. If things go really bad we end up with Flint, Michigan. Jackson, Mississippi is a state capital. The water system in this city has had problems for years. The fixes shouldn’t fall on the Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, but on those who run the state. The Republican governor blamed a majority Black city run by a Democratic Mayor for mismanagement. This is necessary infrastructure to survive. Floods this summer exacerbated the problem. The boil water advisor did nothing to solve brown water coming out of the faucet. Federal authorities stepped in with assistance and financial aid. During this last week Jackson was thrown backwards with a freeze which broke pipes and they are still trying to find out why. 

6. Screens and What I Watched? – I am still somewhat adverse to going to movies on the big screen. I made the decision to see a pair of films in a theater, “Wakanda Forever and Nope.” Wakanda Forever, sewed together what was going to happen after Chadwick Boseman’s untimely death. For those of us who actually read comic books we get reintroduced to the “Sub-Mariner – Prince Namor.” The ladies in this film stand out. I can’t wait for their sequels. 

“Nope,” the next installment of Jordan Peele’s repertoire of films continues his fascination with the horror genre. While I enjoyed the film and was able to discern the many historical references, a number of my friends did not. There are films which become “cult classics” and that’s what this film will become. FYI, what ever your vision of an alien looks like, Peele will make you rethink the concept. 

Lastly, on the small screen think about watching “Lightyear” – “To Infinity and Beyond” – the origin of this line will never be the same. Kendrick Lamar: Live in Paris is a tour de force performance. The Upshaws and Abbott Elementary finally made situational comedy smart and funny.

When your office does an incredible job on a pair of documentaries about iconic figures Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, you recognize the precedent they make. Make sure you re-watch Becoming Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom. 

 5. Gun Violence – I am not immune from the uptick in murders in urban areas. There are few easy answers, but let’s begin with removing guns which seem more inline with warlike intentions. I am heartbroken by innocent victims who have no voice and their survivors who are clamoring for solutions. Be advised in my home base and yours, these criminals are younger and influenced with, “who gives a damn.” These young people see you as the problem. Fending for yourself will lead you to dark places. It’s about mental health. 

 4. GOP Implosion – The narrative of a “Republican Wave” was in the offing during the mid-term elections never materialized. Democrats rallied behind the positives of the “Biden Administration.” The clearest example of this was in the Georgia U.S. Senate race which went to a run-off. It pitted incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock against former football star Herschel Walker. Black folks were not amused (at his many of his off-hand remarks/lies – which were remarkable). My observation, Georgia Republicans who voted for him were prepared/will vote for an unqualified candidate. 

 3. Black MAGA Supporters – Look if you want to support the former President you are welcome to do so. Just don’t expect the world to embrace you, even if you disown his policies. Let me begin with the former Surgeon General, Dr. Jerome Adams. Adams is two years removed from being the nations medical doctor. He has been struggling to find meaningful work and has taken to social media. To add to his woes his wife’s skin cancer has comeback. He attributes his problem to the “Trump Effect,” Dah!!! He isn’t alone, Where is Omarosa? 

 2. Black Women in Politics – This was not a good year in politics for Black women (women in general). I happen to be at a luncheon during the NABJ Conference in Las Vegas. I listen to a lecture conducted by the Center for American Women in Politics.

They provided statistics on how Black women have been fairing in State Houses and the Congress. Here are some the numbers which stuck with me. In 2022, Black women are 7.9% of the population, 4.9 % in Congress, 5.0 % in State Office, and 2.6% in Statewide Office. What also caught my attention were the subtle messages conveyed in how they are described. “Pushy, sassy, progressive, angry, mean or shrill.” In a new book Black Women Will Save The World: An Anthem, by April Ryan she told me “there are codes (its not just for Black women).” Ryan reminded me of the Shirley Chisolm’s admonishment, “Black women get a double whammy…she describes this as ‘misogyny noir (originally coined by Moya Bailey). ’” 

In number of key elections I saw a trait which some may see through a different lens. Stacey Abrams and Val Deming’s are political pros. I was privy to a number of conversations with these candidates. As I listened, they seem to argue about past inequities. Litigating the past, was not a proven way to win. 

I want to point to Karen Bass the mayor of Los Angeles. Mayor Bass was able to point to the future. A number of winners including Sen. Raphael Warnock and Wes Moore, the incoming Maryland Governor, stressed what they were going to do when they won.

1. Supreme Court Justice Kentaji Jackson Brown – The arrival of the first Black woman on the SCOTUS on the high court was historic. There were questions about her impact, since she has only one vote. Much of criticism was squelched during her oral arguments during a gerrymander case out of Alabama. Justice Brown was questioning whether the Alabama’s Solicitor General was correct in how the framers/court interpreted the 14th Amendment. “They didn't intend it to be ‘race neutral or race blind’ and that it was written to provide a constitutional foundation for the Civil Rights Act of 1866,” according to Justice Brown. A Joint Reconstruction Committee (following the Civil War) concluded the entire point of these new Amendments (14th and 15th Amendments), Freedmen/Enslaved individuals would have the same right “as white citizens.”

Person of the Year: Wes Moore

First a disclaimer: I now host a radio show called “Future City.” I replaced Moore as the host when he decided to run for Governor of Maryland. Some of you will know Moore as the author of “The Other Wes Moore.” Before his run he ran an organization called “The Robinhood Foundation.” The philanthropic CEO joined a crowded field (10 candidates)to replace

Republican Governor Larry Hogan. With no political experience he was a long shot. Also, members of the Democrat Party were wary of past results. Governor Hogan, a GOP candidate, had bested a pair of Black candidates (Anthony Brown and Ben Jealous). 

What did voters see? C. Vernon Gray, the former head of Morgan State University Political Science Department, is a guru on Maryland Politics. “Moore was a fresh voice…not encumbered by the protracted problems, faced by those with political experience." 

Moore moved in ways few expected. When he secured the early endorsements of Maryland Teachers Union there was shock. Landing  members of political establishment (Speaker of the House Delegate Adrienne Jones, US House Minority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer, and others) was a sign he had arrived.

He also made sure his ground game was in place. Early voting, absentee and same day voting strategies were far superior, says Gray. By the General Election according to Maryland’s political sage, “he may have started with 7% approval ratings in early polling.” By the General Election day, he had garnered some 65% of the vote totals. In political circles this is called “meeting the moment.” 

It’s why I selected Wes Moore as my Person of the Year.

Top Ten Black New Stories of 2021

As future generations look back on this year they will likely ask, “How did they survive with all of its calamities, challenges and outrages?” The simple answer is, “We have to.” The big picture shows we are resilient and yet, “not satisfied.” Things beyond our control domestically and internationally influenced a lot that ended up on my annual Top Ten Black News Stories of 2021.

My annual disclaimer, this is my list. If you agree or don’t agree make up your own list…I am not offended. So here we go. 

10. Travis Scott/Nicki Minaj /Megan Thee Stallion–

Sometimes things don’t add up. I’ll give it to Travis Scott (whose music I know and don’t necessarily listen to) has a unique fan base. Scott hails from Houston, Texas and has held a music festival billed as Astroworld. Following months of no live concerts it came back in 2021.

 As the headliner, he urged the crowd to push forward, which they did. It crushed and killed ten people. Yet he kept playing. His explanation “I didn’t know?” It was incoherent and was made worse in my opinion when he selected former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings to be his spokesperson (she was let go after she appeared across media).

Let me be clear money, popularity, and fame do not make you an expert. Nicki Minaj, the rapper, wasn’t allowed to attend the famed New York Met Gala (a fashion show) because she wasn’t vaccinated. The excuse she used on twitter, “an  unidentified cousin’s friend in Trinidad, who was dumped at the altar by his wife-to-be because ‘the vaccine’ — presumably for COVID-19 — allegedly made his testicles swell.”

The Trinidadian government spent time and money trying to find this individual. There wasn’t any truth to this statement.

On a positive note, Megan Thee Stallion, walked across the stage to get her B.S. degree in Health Administration from Texas Southern University to honor her mother and grandmother.

9. Icons Gone – It’s difficult to put into words the number of individuals I met in my lifetime and others who had a major influence on Black Culture who have gone on to be with the ancestors. A short list includes General Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, Cecily Tyson, Biz Markie, Michael K. Williams, Jovita Moore, bell hooks, Robbie Shakespeare, Lee Elder, Virgil Abloh, Greg Tate, Henry “Hank” Aaron and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. May they rest in power.

 

8. The Haitian Debacle at the Border – The photos told the story. Nearly 6000  Haitian Refugees huddled under a bridge near Del Rio, Texas after amassing on the Mexican border and crossing the Rio Grand River. Many of these migrants had fled Haiti to South American countries following a devastating earthquake in 2010. They found work in places like Brazil (which needed workers to help build stadiums and housing for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympics) and Chile which became a destination for Haitians fleeing the improvised Caribbean nation. Many found work and began bringing family to these foreign outposts. The emergence of Covid 19 and other economic factors like Chile’s imposition of a new restrictive immigration law sent these desperate migrants moving north with the hopes of starting a new life in the United States.

Despite their hopes and dreams things didn’t go well. Many were repatriated back to Haiti.

7. January 6^th/Who won the Election? – January 6, 2021 should have been routine in the District of Columbia. Boxes containing the results of the Presidential Election were to be opened before a joint session of Congress and certified. This had occurred so many times few except political reporters and junkies follow the activity. This was different. 

President Trump rallied his supporters to D.C. to challenge the results from inside and outside the Capitol. Several members of GOP announced they would challenge the results from the electors and wanted to put everything on hold.

They tried to convince the Vice President Mike Pence to follow their lead. He rejected the idea. Still this would be a long process with the outcome being Joe Biden would become President of the United States.

The exterior rally was billed as “The Stop the Steal Rally.” Trump supporters urged on by the President made a show of force first at the White House. President Trump then urge them to march on the Capitol where the votes were being counted.

His followers not only marched, but stormed the Capitol. This was an insurrection. They broke barriers, they battled Capitol Police, they stormed the hallways (at one point in my career I worked in the Capitol and traveled the hallways), and broke into offices and the actual chambers.

There were several brave individuals that day who kept members of congress safe. I want to point to Officer Eugene Goodman. He was able to lure the rioters away from the chambers to where his fellow officers were holding the line. It is a shame the members of Congress thwarted efforts to award him and his cohorts the Congressional Medal Honor.

6. Tigray and Ethiopia – Last year I talked about this tragedy. An ethnic minority in northern Ethiopia asked for autonomy. Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed rejected the idea which triggered a civil war.

It is a humanitarian disaster with some two million people displaced. Foreign militia fighters were brought in and quickly were over run by Tigray forces. Those forces began a slow march toward the Addis Ababa.

Prime Minister Ahmed called on his fellow country men and women to take up arms because the country was on the verge of collapse. A stalemate ensued after the Prime Minister used aerial drones to be beat back forces.

A new development, there are talks of ending the conflict. Let’s hope cooler heads prevail. FYI. Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prized in 2018 and I named him one of my Persons of the Year.

5. Images/Stories on the Screen – With Covid-19 forcing us indoors our flat screens/lap tops have allowed us delved into past subject matter as well as new ideas.

I want to point to several items I watched and you should consider viewing. The Summer of Soul (Netflix), a documentary about the 1969 Harlem Summer Festival. I had a chance to talk about this film without giving away the real good parts. 

Several biopics were really well done. This includes Judas and the Black Messiah, the story about Chicago Black Panther Party Leader, Fred Hampton. A pair of Aretha Franklin Bio Pics, Respect (starring Jenifer Hudson and  Genius: Aretha (Cynthia Erivo) kept us glued to the screen.

Lastly, their were a pair of Black and White movies this year that had strong writing and characters.

Passing, which stars actress Tess Thompson, lays bare how “light-skinned” Black folk who live in two worlds and have to choose.

The other movie is Malcom and Marie. It stars Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman and John David Washington (Denzel Washington’s son). A night of great honor in Hollywood is upended by a snub. It’s painful to watch, but it is one of the sexiest movies without sex.

4. Murder in the Streets – Urban life has its pluses and minus. If you live in cities like Albuquerque, Des Moines, Indianapolis, Memphis, Milwaukee, and Syracuse you felt the deadly consequences. These cities recorded their highest homicide numbers ever, according to an FBI report.

Where I live, Baltimore, MD, is not immune from the carnage in the streets. For the last 7 years we’ve had more than 300 murders (331 murders as of December 1, 2021).

Life appears to be cheap. It’s more than that, cities have drug problems, mental health issues, concentrations of poverty, criminal enterprises and yes a criminal justice system that can’t be what it needs to be.  To those who have lost love ones, we hope you can find not only justice but peace.

3. Covid 19 – The pandemic has taken to many lives (as I write this the data show more there have 818,000 deaths). There is no way to describe what toll and impact his has had on those left behind. The argument on whether to vaccinate is answered by those who hesitated and asked, “Can I take the shot now that I’m in intensive care.”

Variants will be with us for the foreseeable future. Street corner logic, internet conspiracy theories, unproven treatments, and host of other misinformation has left science professionals wring their hands and shaking their heads.

Do you have the right to go down these “rabbit holes” looking like “Alice in Wonderland?” You can, but don’t expect me to cosign to your nonsense. I have to many underlying conditions. So you want me to play “Russian Roulette” with my life?

2. The Elections – Elections do matter. While a number people will point to the turnout in a Presidential Election, it’s off year elections which sometimes have the biggest impact.

The Georgia U.S. Senate race allowed this southern state to elected its first African-American U.S. Senator, Reverend Ralph Warnock, since reconstruction.

Combine this win with Jon Ossoff and it shifted the balance of power in the U. S. Senate from Republican to Democratic.

I want to point to a win for Eric Adams who will become the Mayor of New York City.  The last time “the city” had a Black Mayor was David Dinkins.

 

Adams, a former New York City cop, bested a Democratic primary field through “rank choice voting”(a first for New York). He prevailed dismissing progressive ideas and rejecting the “defund police movement.”

Lastly, there is a changing of the guard in Virginia. In a down year for Democrats, the “Old Dominion” elected a Black Female Republican, Lieutenant Governor, Winsome Sears. Sears will preside over the Virginia Senate. Her campaign included a number of moments that made individuals do a double take. The former marine appeared in a Twitter photo holding an AR-15 rifle. As you can imagine she was endorsed by President Donald Trump.   

1.Justice – Much of this year was consumed by the call for justice in the death of George Floyd. You can also add Ahmaud Arbery (killed while jogging in Brunswick, Georgia), and Duante Wright (pulled over for having an illegal air freshener). The Minneapolis Police Officer said she thought she was reaching for her taser instead she pulled her service revolver.

In each of these cases a guilty verdict was returned. Signs were not promising after a jury in Madison, Wisconsin acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse (17 years old), a vigilante, who came to the town after rioting. He was armed with an AR-15 rifle. Rittenhouse shot three people. Two died and and one survived. In testimony, the assailant  told the jury, "he feared for his life."

 

Person of the Year

Nikole Hannah-Jones – Nikole Hannah-Jones kind of landed on my radar screen when she was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ) in 2015.

Accepting the award she talked about her groundbreaking reporting on the disparities between racial groups and education in America.

Fast forward to 2019, the New York Times allowed her to tackle a subject many knew, but were afraid to talk about, the 200th anniversary of slaves being brought to the new world (Virginia).

She looked at how slavery built American capitalism. The paper quickly sold out and educators across the country clamored for the edition to be used as a teaching tool. 

Conservatives pounced including then President Donald Trump calling it a rewriting of American history – labeling it Critical Race Theory (CRT). Hannah-Jones would win the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary 2020.

An offer to teach at her alma mater, University North Carolina in Chapel Hill, as the  Knight Chair at Carolina – a tenured professor- was initially offered. It was later rejected by a conservative think tank, noting “ because of political interference and pressure by conservatives.”

A campaign to have Hannah-Jones reinstated was successful.  Hannah-Jones however, rejected the offer and has decided to teach at Howard University.

I had a chance to see her this fall at the Books in Bloom Festival in Columbia, Maryland. The event happened prior to the printing/release of  The 1619 Project, the book. She was in rare form and thrilled the audience. FYI, I love her red hair. Nicole Hannah-Jones is my person of the year.    

  

A WEEK OF UPHEVAL

 (Baltimore, MD)  What a week. It began Sunday, 1/3/21, as a part of group of Journalist questioning Rep. James Clyburn (D) South Carolina for Journal-ism. During the Q and A, I asked Congressman Clyburn about a breaking news story regarding the President calling the Georgia Secretary of State and telling him to find more than 11-thousand votes to help overturn his election in the state. “I won’t put anything past the President,” said the South Carolina legislator (this idea would be revealed by Wednesday).

Tuesday, 1/4/21, I dropped in my office at the Annapolis State House preparing for the 2021 Maryland Legislative Session. In the area where I work, commonly referred to as “The Pit.” I have a pair of calendars on my desk. One shows the month, another shows the date. The date was March 20, 2020, the last time I was in State House. I did a Zoom call with colleagues, and snapped pictures of Lawyers Mall, where Justice Thurgood Marshall will return.

I head home to watch election results from the Georgia United States Senate. By 11 pm est. it was clear, Rev. Ralph Warnock, had defeated incumbent  Sen. Kelly Loeffler. There was uncertainty as to whether  Jon Ossoff  had defeated Sen. David Perdue (but it was trending in that direction). This election would  decide which party would control the Senate.

Rev. Ralph Warnock

I retire knowing Wednesday the Congress would begin counting the results of the Electoral College. Some members of the GOP in the House of Representatives [Jim Jordan (Ohio), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), and Louie Gohmert (Tex.)] were all in; in the Senate (Sen. Josh Hawley (MO)and  Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) went on record they would challenge the votes as well. They were urged on by the President who went on several social media sites (Twitter/Facebook/Parler) to urge supporters to come to Washington, DC to “stop the count.” There would be a rally outside the White House.

There were ominous signs, Mayor Mural asked DC residents, “avoid Downtown and confrontation,” Tuesday afternoon. The Mayor also put the National Guard on notice.

The  Hotel Harrington, which was frequented by members of “The Proud Boys,” announced it was closing it doors in anticipation of large crowds. Federal authorities arrest Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys Tuesday evening. These were signs.

Wednesday, 1/5/20, the day began with Vice President Mike Pence announcing he could not change the outcome of the election by selecting new electors. The President had urged him to do so, but the Vice President rejected this idea noting what the constitution spells out what his role is in this process. The President went on a twitter tirade. A letter was released by the Vice President to the public as to what his role is in this procedure. The process would begin at 1 pm.

At 11 am I begin watching the Electoral College count on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, BBC, and NBC. I switch over to monitor the March to Save America on FOX, OAN, and NEWSMAX and see they are showing a rally of Trump supporters outside the White House.

Featured speakers include Rudolph Giuliani, “Let’s have trial by combat.” “This isn’t their Republican Party anymore!” Donald Trump Jr. yelled. “This is Donald Trump’s Republican Party!”

The President appears on stage at 12 noon(1-hour rant of how the election was stolen). The President urged the crowd “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” Trump says he will march with them to the Capitol. He doesn’t, but monitors activities from a tent then just outside the White House. From Trump, “Because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong.”

The joint session of Congress convenes at 1 pm with Vice President Pence presiding. He begins to open the mahogany boxes which contains the votes of states. He stops on Arizona because there is a challenge. Each challenge will last 2 hours. AP calls race for Joss Ossoff in Georgia as they begin deliberations.

The chambers split and the challenge in each chamber begins. In a split screen you see the marchers heading to Capitol. The Capitol Police watch in horror as the crowd overwhelms the east and west side barricades. The group gains access to Inaugural staging area and on the grounds of the Capitol. That’s when things take a turn for the worst.

In the Senate, Secret Service remove the Vice President and Sen. Mitch McConnel. Over in the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is shepherd away. The remaining members are taken to the same secure locations as the mob breaks into the Capitol making their way into two chambers.

I am glued like you to the television, wondering how is this possible? I worked in the Capitol prior to 911. I have been back since and it’s difficult to enter. Why wasn’t their more security? All of the officers had guns. Why weren’t they used? Why was it taking so long for National Guard from Maryland and Virginia to arrive to secure the building? When additional police arrive, why was this mob allowed to leave and not be arrested?

Several Republican leaders urged the President to go before the cameras to ask his supporters to leave the Capitol. He appeared on Twitter via video only to rant about the election being stolen and tell his supporters to leave. A second video appeared where he said, “We love you, but it is time to leave.”

At 6 PM curfew was imposed in Washington, DC by Mayor Bowser. Police officers began to move the crowd away from the Capitol grounds. Control is re-established. President Elect Biden addresses the nation. The Cong/ress reconvenes and commences the process a little after 9 PM. The first challenge to Arizona is defeated at 11 PM. The others follow suit and Joe Biden is named the President.

Thursday 1/7/21, I plan to go to Washington, DC. I take my son, Julian. As we get closer to the Capitol there is security everywhere. The first thing we notice is the erection of an eight-foot-high fence. As we get to the Reflection Pond, we notice a number of Trump supporters berating  international journalist. These Trump supporters believe they have done nothing wrong and are willing to tell anyone how they feel. There continue to be caravans of cars, buses and trucks with Trump flags.

Despite universal condemnation, they are unwavering in their belief the election was stolen. On Capitol Hill there is discuss, and shock as to how this happen. The assessment is swift. The Sargent of Arm is fired, the Chief of the Capitol Police resigns, and it’s announced the fencing will stay up during the Inauguration. There is word the President has gone to Camp David. There is serious talk about invoking the 25^th Amendment where the President is removed from office by the Vice President and eight members of the Cabinet. Speaker Pelosi says if this does not take place she will consider a second Impeachment.

I talk to Democrat Rep. Anthony Brown of Maryland about the events of the siege, lessons learned, and what should happen.

Friday 1/8/21, things are moving fast. The President records another video saying what his supporters did at the Capitol was wrong (It’s seems he’s been told this looks bad.). Twitter/Instagram announces a ban for @RealDonaldTrump. Others follow their lead mostly ban information till after the Inauguration.

There are intense discussions about the how and the why of mob getting into Capitol. A number of high-profile people seen in videos are arrested. There are bi-partisan discussion about how to proceed if Articles of Impeachment are drawn up. Same members of the GOP are against the idea saying it would further divide the country. Speaker Pelosi mays a call to the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to inquiry about safe guards around the nation’s nuclear arsenal. The Chief assures her safeguards are in place.

The FBI, the Metropolitan Police, and Capitol Police begin an investigation. More video inside the Capitol is released and shows a mob “hell-bent” on entering and desecrating the institution. There are few days left in the Trump Administration.

The chorus of condemnation is growing. An alternate version of the events includes: it was Antifa, the mob was exercising their First Amendment, and these were individuals who were frustrated. Stop!!! You broke the law and this is treason. We saw it and the world saw it.

Per South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, “Anything is possible.”

 ###

Top Ten Stories Black News Stories of 2020

(Baltimore, MD) – What a year! As you look back a number of events impacted all us, including the Covid-19 Pandemic, the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of police and its protest aftermath, and the awakening of a sleeping electorate. Those are the easy ones. There were a lot more nuanced stories within the Black community in the US and across the globe. I got to write a lot about it this year,  and some you will see in 2021.

How I do what I do (report) has changed. Yes, I’m doing everything from Zoom to StreamYard.

As always, this is my list. You don’t have to agree. In fact, you can make up your own. I’m not confined by politics. I take in popular culture, history, Africa, literature, technology and so much more. FYI, it isn’t always serious so if you find yourself laughing…it’s by design. Please be advised it’s tough to keep it to ten items.

10. Africa and its Strongmen – When colonial rule ended on the Africa continent several types of leaders emerged. Those who embraced democratic principles weren’t always accepted and “the spear and the gun” seemed logical. Failure to pay attention will leave your global perspective lacking. I am going to point to several areas – Ethiopia and Tigray region.  I praised Nobel Peace Prize-winning Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed when he settled a long running border war with Eritrea. This new uprising is occurring in the Tigray. There have been simmering tensions that has resulted in a fighting war. Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) lost favor with the ruling majority and wanted autonomy. Things went south when the TPLF attacked the Ethiopian Army.

Things are going from bad to worse in these countries: Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mali, Morocco and many more.

9. So What Am I Supposed To Do? I’m a Performer. – In April, I was scheduled to see Maxwell perform with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Yes, I was excited, bought a new tuxedo jacket, and was going to splurge on a limo. Canceled. For any kind of performer, this was not good year. Unlike a nine to five, any kind of a performer was caught in a bind. My good friend, Maysa, allowed me to talk to her about her unfortunate circumstances. "I had twelve to thirteen shows canceled at one time, some postponed and others outright canceled. It's difficult." It wasn’t just national acts which lost income. There were venues, comedians, dancers, and those who use "Live" audiences. Many, of course, turned to Zoom and other platforms to keep the music/dancing/reading going, and yes, get paid considerably less than their normal fees. Let me also include in this list my favorite Black restaurants who continue to scramble.

8. McKenzie Scott and HBCUs. Scott was married to Jeff Bezo’s (worth roughly $182 billion as of September 2020) and helped him create Amazon. The two divorced. So she could have easily stood on the sidelines, instead she gave $4.2 billion to 384 organizations, no strings attached. What surprised many was the major donations she gave to several HBCUs around the country. 

It caught my attention when four of these schools (University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, and Howard University) were recipients of her largeness.

7. “You Know I’m a Rapper” – I know what I know and I don’t try and do things I don’t. For all the advisers to those who “spit knowledge,” let the people you’re represent in on some simple ideas. A rhyme scheme is not a PhD. A “dope track” does not grant you a  masters degree. Your work with varied artist is not a substitute for being conferred a degree from an accredited university. Jumping into politics is not a license to condense years of  political science into what looks good on an album cover/or a slogan that can be repeated at a concert. (Here’s hoping – your music career has more life).

Kayne West “showed-out” with his embrace of Donald Trump’s MAGA. What made it obscene was he launched a presidential campaign/record promotion in year where elections were consequential. His benefactors for underwriting the entire endeavor, were known Republican operatives. The idea that was hatched, use Wests celebrity to syphon young Black voters away from Vice President Joe Biden.

Honorable mention included in this category includes “Ice Cube.” The LA based Rapper put forward a “Platinum Plan“ (branding seems more important) as a part of a so-called  “Contract for Black America” he also shared with the Trump Organization. I don’t remember voting for Ice Cube for anything.

In a moment reminiscent of Elvis, Lil Wayne endorses Trump in a photo. FYI, Wayne was arrested on his private jet with drugs and weapons. He has pleaded guilty. Now would be a good time to see if there is a pardon coming.

The one thing I do know is Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion killed it on WAP, which is one of the few things that spoke the truth.

6.  The Stories We Tell – The pandemic has me watching a number of movies and series online.  I am excited to see different story lines with nontraditional roles for African-Americans in front of and behind the scenes. Things which caught my attention include and are not limited to the following: Woke (series), The Boys (series), and The Mandalorin (series). The small screen has also allowed me to see things I found enjoyable: High Note – Featuring Traci Ellis Ross as an aging singer. She likely took notes from her mother, Diana Ross. The Weekend -  featuring Sasheer Zamata is a surprising find.

A newcomer to my list for this year is Sylvie’s Love – featuring Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha. A Black love story with jazz as a backdrop.

If you’re looking for something to read, The Dead are Arising - Tamara Payne. Ms. Payne is the daughter of my late friend and founder of NABJ, Les Payne. She completed her father’s groundbreaking work.

Lastly, we lost one of the great actors of our time, Chadwick Boseman. His work lives on in several posthumous releases, Da 5 Bloods and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. RIP.

5. The Reckoning – As an African-American man there has always been a sense your knowledge could save you from indignities, fear, and harm. This year proved deadly on some accounts. The cellphone has become the truth serum. Some members of the majority community have unfortunately been emboldened and found it easy to suggest  “You’re threatening me.”  Another refrain includes, “Your actions to defend yourself from harm are malicious.”

I want to point to Amy Cooper. Ms. Cooper took it upon herself to call police on a 57-year-old Black birdwatcher, named Christian Cooper (they aren’t related). The female Cooper was walking her dog unleashed. She was asked by the birdwatcher to conform to the rules of Central Park. She refused. The birdwatcher pulled out his phone and recorded her actions including her yelling at a dispatcher “I’m being threatened by an African-American man. Please send a cop immediately.”

Christian Cooper

This simple message brought police to the park where the male Cooper was surrounded by police with guns drawn. The police ascertained he wasn’t a threat and she was in violation of park rules. A viral video of the incident pointed to why white privilege and not so subtle racism is a problem. Ms. Cooper who lives on the Upper Westside of Manhattan would end up losing her job and shamed in a way that became a trend. Oh yes, she apologized.

She is not alone. Sometimes, these encounters prove deadly (I’ll get to this further along). I’m also aware this discounting of race from older white men/women especially in media has left them wondering, “What did I do wrong?”

4. “This Ain’t Supposed to Be Funny” – It’s been difficult in these times to find something to laugh about. Black comedians have used pain for jokes (Richard Pryor).  Here are some of the people and things that brought comic relief.

·       Robin Thede and A Black Lady Sketch Show. Ms. Thede’s brand of comedy is intelligent, sassy, and will have you cracking up. The skits on a Courtroom Kiki , Soul Food Purgatory ,  and On My Own are brilliant.

·       ·       Roy Wood, Jr.  – The Daily Show has launched the careers of so many successful comedians. The Daily Social Distancing Show is bringing it in ways not seen before. Roy Wood, Jr’s wit is unmistakable. 

·       ·       Dulce Sloan channels every Black woman who goes to a department store and is pissed they don’t have a dress/pants/suit in her size. Lane Bryant is a way of life.

·      ·        Dave Chappelle – There is something about Chappelle that speaks to who we are at this moment. I didn’t get the tittle of his latest special 8:46. I won’t give away its meaning. It was taped “Live” in a cornfield near his home, which is just outside of Cincinnati (FYI, I lived in Cincinnati). It will make you uncomfortable, as it should. 

3. Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM) -  If you’re reading this you didn’t need a movement to let you know it was a global movement.  From big cities to small hamlets in the United States, BLM, was crystalized in the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and others. It also struck a nerve with people (white folk) who said the police had gone too far. People took to the streets in London, Sydney, Tokyo, Johannesburg,  and many other  places because they too had seen an unequal administration of justice. Some would wish it would go away, but we are here to stay. In Baltimore, it’s expressed in a simple message. “Can you hear me, Yo!” “Say her name!” “I can’t breathe!”

2. Elections are Vital – As a Political Reporter, I know polls are just snapshots of time in an election season. This year records were shattered for voting. According to the Washington Post, nearly 66.7 % of those eligible to vote, participated in the US Presidential election. Those percentages equate to 159,633,396 to be exact (source: Council on Foreign Relations).  Joe Biden received 81,283,098 votes, or 51.3 percent of the vote (first time any candidate has broken the 80 million threshold). Donald Trump received 74,222,957 votes, or 46.8 percent of the vote. 

As you drill down on the numbers, here’s what made the difference. The selection of Senator Kamala Harris as the Vice-Presidential running mate was a motivating factor for Black Women.

It showed itself during the Primary in South Carolina, where Black Women pushed Biden over the finish line. This trend continued to manifest during the general election in the battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. While the Black vote only makes up 11% of the population, according to AP VoteCast 9 out of 10 Black voters cast their lot with Biden.

Biden acknowledged on election night, “The African American community stood up again for me.” What makes this more than remarkable is it occurred during the middle of a pandemic.

1. COVID-19 – 300,000 people and counting. The number itself is sobering. Inside those number are African-Americans who didn’t have to die. So many have underlying conditions of high blood pressure, heart disease, and too many other conditions to list. I have been watching the numbers of Blacks in Maryland whose lives were cut short. I’ve also seen too many Zoom funerals/going home ceremonies.

There is a unique continuum in the African-American community that comes with the death of a loved one. It starts with a call to a pastor. Normally, he/she would show up at your home to provide condolences. Then there would be arrangements such as contacting a funeral home, setting up a wake, a funeral service, a repast, and a grave side interment. The personal touch has been lost in this environment and don’t get me started on who is allowed to come and participate.

I am reminded of my Grandmother’s funeral and attending as a little boy. As I arrived with my mother, I asked, “Who are all these people?” My mother responded, “These are the people who loved her.” I imagine all the young people who won’t get a chance to ask this question at the funeral of a loved one, especially behind a mask.

If there is hope, it is a vaccine. It’s being administered to frontline workers first. Many of the people who treat your loved ones infected with Covid-19 are people of color. I know the historical apprehension in the Black community about taking shots and how the medical community has taken advantage of us.  Let us not be blinded by what has happened, but remain hopeful.

 

Person of the Year

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett

Let’s call it what it is “Black Girl Magic.” Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett was a lead scientist behind one of the vaccines’ developed at NIH. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, (he calls her Kizzy) she was the lead researcher who developed the Moderna vaccine. The 34-year-old, earned her undergraduate degreee at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (2008). Then received her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology in 2014 at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Corbett appeared on CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the podcast "Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction."

According to her, "Trust, especially when it has been stripped from people, has to be rebuilt in a brick-by-brick fashion," she said.

"And so, what I say to people firstly is that I empathize, and then secondly is that I'm going to do my part in laying those bricks. And I think that if everyone on our side, as physicians and scientists, went about it that way, then the trust would start to be rebuilt."

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett