We need the joy of Black Music
For tune 500 Milestones r eveal the big lie behind Equity & Inclusion Backlash
Marc H Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League
(TriceEdneyWire com)Our findings suggest that Black leaders are required to meet a higher bar for advancement and point to the need to level the playing field for advancing up the organizational hierarchy ” – researchers SeungHwan Jeong, Ann Mooney, Yangyang Zhang, and Timothy J Quigley
As a hostile backlash to racial justice and gender equality wipes out desperately needed corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, the latest Fortune 500 rankings marked two revealing milestones
Though only nine of the companies – 1 8% – are led by Black CEOs and just 11% are helmed by women, both metrics are record highs in the 70-year history of the iconic list
The nine Black CEOs, who are to be congratulated, are:
•Marvin Ellison of Lowe’s
•Thasunda Brown Duckett or Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA)
•Toni TownesWhitley of Science Applications International
•Christopher Womack of Southern Company
•Calvin Butler Jr of Exelon
Dave Bozeman of C H Robinson Worldwide
•Michael Bender of Kohl s
•René Jones of M&T Bank
•David Rawlinson II of QVC Group
While Fortune noted in its announcement the significance of women CEOs breaking the 10% mark for the first time, neither the number of Black CEOs nor
by Julianne Malveaux (TriceEdneyWire com)Dyana Williams Kenny
Gamble and Ed Wright
founded Black Music Month in June 1979 Also known as African American music Appreciation Month it was first officially celebrated by President Jimmy Carter with a White House reception Carter created a platform to recognize and celebrate music, and many Blak music executives held celebrations over the years to recognize the month
President Bill Clinton issued a presidential proclamation recognizing Black Music Month His proclamation was recognizing the importance of African American music to global culture and calling on the people of the United States to study, reflect on, and celebrate African American Music” In 2009 President Barack Obama renamed it
its implication were mentioned In a separate article however the magazine reveals that only 28 of the more than 2,000 CEOs represented on the list since 1955 have been Black
The nine Black CEOs on the 2025 list together represent more than 230 years of corporate executive experience and nine advanced degrees The companies they lead made up more than $244 76 billion in revenue last year
The facts are inconvenient for an administration and its allies who are actively promoting racist lies about “reverse discrimination” and “lowered standards” associated with diversity and inclusion initiatives In reality, the bar for advancement is significantly higher for women and Black CEOs While men are more likely to advance directly to the CEO spot from lesser roles like division head women are more likely to have served as President of a company before making the leap to CEO And Black CEOs, on average, have accumulated years of education, advanced degrees and elite education than their white peers according to research
The qualifications of Black CEOs generally are so impressive that companies commonly see their stock prices jump in the days after their appointments are announced
“Put simply our study suggests that it is not enough for aspiring Black CEOs to be just as good as their White counterparts they must be substantially better to make it to the helm of firms, the researchers wrote Until this is addressed the poor representation of Black leaders in firms and the differential in market returns to their appointments, will likely continue
The higher bar that keeps women and people of color from advancing up the corporate ladder is not only unjust it’s bad business
More diverse companies report higher revenue and are more likely to be profitable; the vast majority of companies with strong DEI in their management teams will surpass their financial goals
African American Music Appreciation Month The Obama proclamation elegantly written talked about spirituals lifting voices into the heavens during enslavement and talked about the various genres of Black music including blues, jazz soul, rock and roll, gospel, and symphony In the 2016 proclamation one of Obama s last, the nation s first Black president said, “African American music helps us imagine a better world and offers hope that we will get there together Now in this Black Music Month 2025 we have lost a musical icon one whose music was a soundtrack to my teen life Sly Stone the front man for the band Sly and the Family Stone made is transition this month, and all I could do was reflect on the music, the lyrics and the meaning of the unifying messages Who could sit when the DJ was playing Dance to the Music, or I Want to Take You Higher or Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself Again Who could not think about unity and acceptance when they heard Everyday People? Who could not fail to feal affirmed when they heard Everybody is A Star with the powerful line – I love you for who
you are, not for who you feel a need to be ” Sly Stone mixed genres – funk soul rock gospel and psychodelic His was ahead of the curve with his multiracial band something not often seen in the late sixties and early seventies Some of his music became anthems, while others remain summertime/family picnic staples – like Family Affair, Hot Fun in the Summertime, or Dance to the Music What a joy and inspiration Sly Stone was Indeed, I can t think about Sly Stone s music without humming or getting out of my desk chair to shake my stuff if only for a minute
It is unlikely that the current President will issue a proclamation to celebrate African American Music Appreciation Month It would likely violate his anti-DEI edicts We don’t need Presidential approval or anyone else s for that matter, to appreciate the richness of Black music
The election of this President ought to inspire us to excavate our history, to celebrate the genius of James Weldon and his brother J Rosamond Johnson It ought to remind us of those early musicians who took spoons to pots to create a beat or those gospel singers who invoked the
sweet chariot coming forth to carry me home It ought to lift subterfuge how we used hidden meaning in songs to communicate Our nation is under siege The man who lives in the House that Enslaved People Built has deployed 4000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to Los Angeles against the wishes of Governor Gavin Newsome and Mayor Karen Bass His clueless Defenses Secretary can’t say what military operations will be affected by these deployments We are in for a fight for our democracy and the World Bank has said that the world economy will be int worse shape it has been since the 1960s And yet I write about music because we need the joy Enslaved people sang Incarcerated people sang Civil rights workers and protestors sang Because as President Obama said, music helps us a better world, and offer us hope that we can get there together Let’s celebrate Black Music and Sly Stone this month Let us savor our music and revel in our rich history
Dr Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author She can be reached at juiannemalveaux com
In Iowa, a pipeline fight shows w hat the people can do
By Ben Jealous
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
It is easy to be cynical about politics these days
More than cynical The rise of political violence fueled by partisan division and anti-democracy extremism continues to leave Americans of every race, religion, state, and political stripe horrified
But every so often, something remarkable happens that reminds us who really holds the power in a democracy
That is what just happened in Iowa
Imagine a private company wants to build a potentially dangerous pipeline through your backyard and the government decides your rights as a property owner matter less than the profits of said company And it uses eminent domain – the power to seize private land for public use – to take control over part of your land as a gift to the company For four years now farmers and other landowners environmentalists Indigenous groups and Iowans from all walks of life have come together to fight this outrageous idea
Eminent domain is supposed to be reserved strictly for projects that are
But like segregationists who would rather drain their community’s pool than to allow equal access for everyone, antidiversity activists are pressuring companies to scale back or eliminate efforts to remove barriers to equity and inclusion
My fellow civil rights leaders and I make the risks very clear in a letter
in the public good The carbon capture and storage (CCS) pipeline being pursued by Summit Carbon Solutions in Iowa does not serve the public good It serves corporate profits
And the people of Iowa –Republicans and Democrats alike – have said no Loudly Repeatedly
This year, that fight reached a new peak
After years of stonewalling by the GOP leadership of the Iowa state Senate the body finally allowed debate on legislation to curb eminent domain abuse Why? Because 12 Senate Republicans joined with Democrats and refused to pass a state budget until the bill got a vote That has never happened before in Iowa s Senate It was a political earthquake Those 12 Republicans put their careers on the line Senate leadership retaliated Bills were reassigned One senator, Mark Lofgren, even went public, saying in a letter to constituents that he was being “bullied” by his own leadership for standing with the people
In the Iowa House, which had passed similar bills in previous sessions, the vote this year was more than lopsided: 85 to 10 in favor of the bill That reflects the popular movement that has grown across the state over these past years
The broad bipartisan coalition that has organized and built that movement was energized by recent passage of a similar bill against eminent domain for pipelines in South Dakota
The bill Iowa lawmakers passed was not a total ban on carbon pipelines, like
we sent to Fortune 1 000 CEOs “These capitulations weaken businesses and the American economy more broadly And, these shortsighted decisions make our workplaces less safe and less inclusive for hard-working Americans Abandoning DEI will have long-term consequences on business success -- ultimately shirking fiduciary responsibility to
South Dakota enacted But it was a strong bill nonetheless – imposing new insurance requirements, limiting liability for landowners and giving more people the right to participate in the permitting process Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed it
Her veto was not just a rejection of a bill It was a rejection of democracy Of bipartisanship Of the voices of hundreds of Iowans who spent week after week at the Capitol sharing their stories pleading for fairness It was also a gift to Summit Carbon Solutions – the parent company of which is owned by one of Iowa s biggest political donors, Bruce Rastetter
The backlash has been swift perhaps especially among Reynolds’s fellow conservative Republicans who backed the bill State Rep Bobby Kaufmann said Governor Reynolds "failed the state & her legacy now is spitting in the faces of landowners & being Bruce Rastetter's errand girl " Rep Steve Holt another conservative Republican and chair of the House Judiciary Committee, summed up Reynolds s legacy in one word: betrayal
The people of Iowa are not backing down They have already vowed to keep fighting and many expect to bring an even stronger bill next session And voters are lining up to hold accountable the politicians who stood with corporate interests instead of their communities
This is what democracy looks like It is not always clean It is rarely fast But
employees consumers and shareholders Businesses that fail to include women people of color people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people neglect their financial duty to recruit and retain top talent from across the full talent pool and limit their company’s performance overall ” The slow progress represented by the Fortune 500
when people come together – across party lines, across urban and rural divides, across race and class – they can take on the most powerful forces in our country and win That is the story in Iowa And it should give us hope When we organize When we listen to each other When we put people over party and principle over politics, we win Governor Reynolds s veto will not be the final word That will belong to the voters and the stillgrowing movement that will be back in the state capital next year – bigger, stronger, and even hungrier for victory
The use of eminent domain for pipeline projects now promises to be the defining state political issues in Iowa in the near term State senators who stood with their wealthy corporate benefactors over their constituents – and perhaps the governor herself – will likely face challenging primaries
The fight in Iowa is not over But it has already changed the state’s political landscape It has already proven that we can overcome partisanship And it has already shown that no corporation, no matter how powerful is stronger than a united people That is a lesson all of us would do well to remember Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania
list exposes the lies in the Trump administration’s DEI propaganda In capitulating to these lies corporations are denying themselves access to an entire cross-section of talent and expertise, shortchanging their stockholders and customers and lowering standards of excellence for the entire country
Honoring Juneteenth
By Marian Wright Edelman
In 2021 President Joe Biden signed into law the bill that had been passed by unanimous consent in the Senate and 415-14 in the House to establish Juneteenth National Independence Day June 19 as a federal holiday Juneteenth marks the jubilant day in 1865 when many of the more than 250 000 people who were enslaved in Texas finally learned they were legally free This deliberately delayed news was delivered by federal troops arriving in Galveston after the end of the Civil War, reaching them more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, that freed all people who were enslaved in the Confederate states
Honoring Watch Night, or Freedom’s Eve, on December 31 is a separate tradition in many Black churches and communities that commemorates that night in 1862 when enslaved people who were aware of President Lincoln’s intentions gathered and waited for the official news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect But that declaration of freedom was withheld from enslaved people in many places still under Confederate rule for as long as possible Texas was the last state where the truth was finally revealed and so we honor Juneteenth because in my beloved friend and role model Fannie Lou Hamer s eternal words nobody s free until everybody s free
Many Black families have celebrated Juneteenth for generations, a tradition that began in Texas almost immediately following the first Jubilee Day In 1968, during the Poor People s Campaign, tens of thousands of people came to Washington, D C for a rally honoring June 19 as Solidarity Day Just weeks after Dr Martin Luther King, Jr ’s assassination, Rev Ralph Abernathy said that rally
brought together all of us determined to fulfill [Dr King s] prophecy of a united, decent America, dedicated anew to the concept of justice for all The drive to make Juneteenth a national holiday, led by tireless advocates like Mrs Opal Lee, was another long-awaited milestone One hundred and sixty years after the first Juneteenth, this year ’s celebration is occurring at another inflection point as Americans are grappling with what our nation’s promised freedom really means and whether those promises are indeed big enough to cover all Americans From protests defending immigrants’ rights to those opposing dictators and kings the struggle to define equality and liberty and justice for all is churning in cities and suburbs and small towns across the country Where will it go next?
The Juneteenth holiday is not just a historic marker; it s a mirror that reflects both the resilience and celebratory joy of generations of African Americans and the ongoing need to ensure that rights declared become rights realized This year s observance is an opportunity to focus on the day s full meaning In the face of sweeping attempts to sanitize storytelling about our nation’s past, commemorating Juneteenth invites honoring the full truth of American history, and recognizing that the fight for true freedom is still urgent in the face of new efforts to limit rights for some Americans instead of protecting them for everyone Will we keep struggling to close the gap between the promise and the practice of justice and to see that freedom reaches everyone everywhere without delay?
Once again Juneteenth reminds us above all: nobody’s free until everybody’s free
Marian Wright Edelman is Founder and President Emerita of the Children's Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities For more information go to childrensdefense org
The City of Eutaw will host a
Parade on Thursday, June 26, 2025
@1:00p.m.
Indivisible Undividable! United! Unbreakable! Unified! Together! So many synonyms for indivisible! The name Indivisible says so much The vision says so much The actions say so much Indivisible is a modifying word It s also the name of an organization and a movement The Power of Indivisible!
“Divide and Conquer” and “Divide and Rule” are two complementary concepts that have been employed down through the centuries The Roman Empire of more than 2,000 years ago utilized the concept of Divide and Rule in becoming the most powerful empire in the world Britain a country relatively small in area and population, became the most powerful country in the world through divide and conquer and/or divide and rule The opposite of divide and conquer or divide and rule “is “uniting and building” or “uniting and resisting ” The Power of Indivisible!
As I commence writing this Sketches, it’s the day before the most massive Indivisible Demonstration yet More than 2 100 demonstrations in all 50 states are anticipated SOS and other groups are planning one of the 2,100 demonstrations with a rally in Selma, Alabama, a national and International symbol of freedom, voting, democracy and nonviolent resistance The Power of Indivisible!
Some SOS members participated in previous Indivisible demonstrations in Montgomery, Birmingham, Eutaw and Tuscaloosa There are Indivisible demonstrations scheduled on June 14 2025 in Huntsville Birmingham Montgomery Mobile Tuscaloosa Selma and other places in Alabama The Power of Indivisible!
One of the most effective tactics of divide and conquer or divide and rule is making people feel that they are alone in the struggles or the challenges are too widespread and massive to meet Such feelings immobilize vast populations Sometimes others are standing strong and resisting determinedly and struggling mightily but we don’t even know of their efforts Indivisible lets us know that there are others willing to act and in fact acting It lets us know that people are acting not just in one city or one state but across this entire country and beyond The Power of Indivisible!
SOS (Save Ourselves Movement for Justice and Democracy) has been struggling for years It was founded in 2011 when numerous organizations came together in Montgomery, Alabama to meet and discuss and act Leaders of organizations realized that all were fighting different issues but the opposing forces were the same We were divided, but the opposition was united I remember how alone we felt in SOS when we found ourselves fighting for expansion of Medicaid from 2014 to the present Even getting arrested! Others eventually joined in the fight but not with SOS We still felt virtually alone The Power of Indivisible!
In January, 2025, SOS took leadership in calling
together 21 organizations in a gathering entitled Strength, Strategies, Solutions Summit (4S) It also worked to facilitate a national gathering at the Bridge Crossing Jubilee with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Human Rights SOS is aspirational But Indivisible is inspirational The Power of Indivisible! There have been many massive marches in this country that were very impactful Let’s start with the massive Jobs and Freedom March on Washington on August 28, 1963 We remember Dr Martin Luther King, Jr famous I Have a Dream speech at the March But the power was in the more than 250 000 who gathered from across the country Let’s go to the massive Million Man March on October 10, 1995 with a million persons in attendance Let s go to the Women s March on January 21 2017 with more than a half million in attendance in Washington D C , and three or four million marching in other places around the country All these massive marches were hugely impactful
However there have been much smaller marches that were greatly impactful such as the Bloody Sunday March in Selma on March 7, 1965 with 600 marchers and the Selma to Montgomery March, commencing in Selma on March 21, 1965 and ending on March 25 1965 with 300 marches going all the way and concluding in Montgomery with 25 000-35 000 The Power of Indivisible! The Indivisible marches, rallies and other demonstrations never sought to do massive marches in Washington D C or other individual places They focused on hundreds of demonstrations in many locations across the country The advantages of such an approach are many: (1) people do not have to travel very far to participate; (2) there can be additional demonstrations on a regular basis; (3) a wide array of leadership is further developed; (4) each location can focus on the most urgent issues in its area while pursuing the general vision and mission of the Indivisible; and (5) it is more difficult for opposing forces to attack disrupt sabotage or prevent such widespread demonstrations The Power of Indivisible!
When we started preparing to hold a rally in Selma, we wanted to know when the next National Indivisible Demonstrations were being held The answer was Saturday June 14 2025 We decided to hold a rally rather than a march because some are more comfortable with a rally We initially decided to rally at the Federal Courthouse in Selma We eventually moved the location to the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge because it is a worldwide symbol of freedom, democracy, voting rights, nonviolent resistance, etc The Power of Indivisible!
Then we had to decide what would be our focus consistent with the Indivisible focus of No Kings We decided on some of the issues SOS has been working on for years, as well as issues arising more recently We would certainly
speak to cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps as well as attacks on democracy the Constitution Education etc The Power of Indivisible!
The decision to hold the Indivisible rally at Selma’s Edmund Pettus Bridge was a good one About half the people were from places outside Selma and outside the state Some were from places in Alabama that were holding demonstrations the same day such as Birmingham Some were from outside of Alabama The Power of Indivisible!
The rally speakers ran the gamut: male and female; young and old; local and beyond Selma; lawyers and students; veterans and others; etc At the end of the presentations by speakers, we had a question-and-answer session with five of the organizers leading the session Finally, one of the organizers took the mike and had each person present to introduce themselves The Power of Indivisible!
We had been worried about rain and had made alternative plans Just as I took the mike to thank the organizers and make brief concluding remarks the rain suddenly started I did not give concluding remarks as we all dashed for our cars It was a very special event The Power of Indivisible!
Now on to the Daily Diary
Saturday, June 7, 2025 – I walked handled many matters and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following; Faya Toure of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Junior Oliver of Selma; Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; Brenda Page Smith of Dallas County; and Selma Businessman Floyd Hatcher
Sunday – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Faya Rose Toure on Facebook Live and Z105 3 FM Radio station handled many matters and participated in a dinner meeting with the Actor David Oyelowo who played the role of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr in the movie Selma Among others, I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Ainka Sanders Jackson of the Selma Nonviolence Center and Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Betty Strong a Selma Foot Soldier and is President of the Amelia Boynton Robinson Foundation; Azali Fortier of Spelman College; Tasha Brown of Selma; Selma businesswoman Afria Wecandodis; and Hank Ba of Senegal, West Africa
Monday – I handled many matters and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Twanya Dixon of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Latonia Tisdale of Alabama Power; SCLC President Emeritus Dr Charles Steele; Wallace Community College Selma President Dr James Mitchell; Charles Sanders of Baldwin County; Tonny Algood of Mobile on his birthday; Milton Bender of Northville, Michigan; and Retired Volunteer Director of the National Voting Rights Museum s Pearlie Melton Walker
Tuesday – I walked handled many matters and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Dr Carol P Zippert of the Blackbelt Folk Roots Festival; Retired School Superintendent Eli Seaborn; Marion City Councilman Willie Jackson; Marilyn Cosby and Asha Fortier of Selma; Mary Coleman of Selma who is recovering from illness in Montgomery; and Marion Mayor Dexter Hinton
Wednesday – I walked handled many matters traveled to Lowndes County, handled additional matters, returned to Selma, chaired a meeting and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Yvette Patterson and Rosie Whiting of Lowndes County; and Lowndes County School Superintendent Samita Jeter
Thursday – I handled various matters, traveled to Montgomery returned to Selma handled additional matters participated in a conference call traveled to Lowndes County a second time and returned to Selma Among others, I communicated with the following: N Gina Persons of Montgomery; Greene County School Superintendent Dr Corey Jones; Television Reporter George McDonald; Montgomery businessman Frank Jenkins; Greene County Democrat Co-Publisher John Zippert; Law Professor Emerita Martha Morgan; Alabama New South Coalition Board Chair Sylvia Fitts; and Lowndes County School Board members Steve Foster, Ben Davis and Brent McCray
Friday – I handled many matters traveled to Greene County and returned to Selma Among others I communicated with the following: Karen Jackson of Selma; Curtis Pickens of Birmingham on his birthday; Television Reporter Joy Elston; Tanya Cockrell of Greene County; and Greene County School Board Members Leo Bronch Carrie Dancy Robert Davis and Veronica Richardson
EPILOGUE – The easy way out is to place the responsibility on others to handle massive problems We then say what they should have done That is rarely the best way In this moment, each of us has a responsibility to act to prevent the demise of this imperfect democracy slowly expanded over nearly 250 years Indivisible is calling on us all over the country So are other organizations and leaders We must answer in our own way and time again and again The Power of Indivisible!
EarthTalk® From the Editors of EThe Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: How do oil and gas companies foil efforts by climate activists? – J L , via email
In recent years many climate activists have protested against oil and gas companies for their role in exacerbating climate change and more Recent examples include the ubiquitous “Just Stop Oil” protests which have shown up from the Louvre Museum to Easter Island Oil and gas companies defend their actions as necessary for energy security but crit-
com
ics accuse them of undermining climate progress
One way energy companies fight climate activists is lobbying According to Open Secrets, more than $2 billion has been spent on lobbying in the U S since 2000 which highlights the huge role lobbying plays and how often policy changes In this regard, many fossil fuel lobbyists coordinate with lawmakers to push laws that disincen-
No Kings Rall y
tivize climate activism with some anti-protesting laws carrying 10-year penalties
Another way energy companies fight climate activism is by funding research to shape the public narrative For decades, people have known the detrimental effects that energy companies have on the environment In attempts to delay action, ExxonMobil and others have spread misinformation like climate
Martha Morgan, a retired University of Alabama law professor reported on the many legal challenges to the Trump Administration’s illegal and un-constitional actions She reported that there are trackers on the Internet monitoring all of the legal actions against Trump There have been 220 lawsuits so far 73 have been successful at the initial level Many are under appeal to appellate courts, and most may eventually reach the Supreme Court, which although aligned 6-3 with conservative members has decided some cases against Trump
Another speaker was Annie Pearl Avery a veteran SNCC civil rights worker who marched across the bridge on Bloody Sunday in 1965 She said We cannot give up fighting or Trump will set us back to before the Civil Rights Movement
Faya Rose Toure spoke at the rally holding some Confederate flags that the Daughters of the Confederacy had placed at public places Faya Rose said she goes around pulling up the flags “The Confederate flag is a symbol of defiance against the government Trump would like to take us back to slavery and Jim Crow We are here today because we cannot allow him to take us back John Zippert with SOS and the Greene County Health System Board of Directors spoke on the implications of the Trump Medicaid and Medicare budget cuts which will eliminate health care coverage for 15 million people and lead to the closure of many more rural hospitals
Azali Fortier, a sophomore at Spellman College and native of Selma, spoke of the concerns of young people facing budget cuts in education for Pell Grants, scholarship, research grants and the banning of books about Black studies “ We are also worried about the budget cuts on the safety net programs and the attacks on democracy she said
Charles Flaherty of Marion, Alabama, said this was his first protest rally in fifty years, about the same basic democratic rights, but it will not be my last
Near the end of the rally Hank Sanders asked people at the rally to say where they were from and why they came For half of the people including some young people said this was the first public political rally they had ever participated in There were several Federal
NAACP
“Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights He believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U S Constitution This playbook is radical and un-American The president has signed unconstitutional executive orders to oppress voters and undo federal civil rights protections; he has illegally turned the military on our communities, and he continually undermines every pillar of our democracy to make himself more powerful and to personally benefit from the U S government,” the statement from the NAACP read in part
The NAACP s statement referred to President Trump s recent decision to send the National Guard to Los Angeles after protests against ICE detentions and abductions sent fear through parts of the Los Angeles community The White House responded to the NAACP’s June 16 statement “The NAACP isn’t advancing anything but hate and division while the President is focused on uniting our country improving our economy securing our borders, and establishing peace across the globe This is the same vision for America that a record number of Black Americans supported in the resounding reelection of President Trump,” stated White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a written statement Since he took office in January 2025 for his second term in The White House there has been a clear anti-Black policy focus pushed by the Trump Administration Trump and members of his cabinet have constantly attacked diversity and inclusion since taking office
The Trump Administration has also fired without cause several Black officials in top roles such as General CQ Brown who was Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Dr Carla Hayden who served as the Librarian of Congress It was reported in early April that books on racism, civil rights and the Black experience have been removed from the library at the U S Military Academy in Annapolis The reason was the stated policy by the Trump Administration against “diversity” and “inclusion ” “For 116 years the NAACP has invited the sitting president of the United States to address the NAACP National Convention regardless of their political party There is a rich history of both Republicans and Democrats attending our convention from Harry Truman to Dwight D Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama and beyond We’re nonpartisan and always welcome those who believe in democracy and the Constitution the organization led by Derrick Johnson also stated Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W Bush addressed racism during their speeches to the NAACP The organization’s annual convention is one of the largest gatherings of Black leadership in the U S each year
Isr ael and Ir an
The president also convened his national security team to meet in the Situation Room at the White House and told those who lived in Tehran to evacuate immediately There are videos on social media showing the long car lines leaving the city as strikes between Israel and Iran continue
Black Press USA reached a White House senior staffer who said they could not discuss this national security issue However, this morning, the White House issued this release stating:
President Trump Has Always Been Clear: Iran Cannot Have a Nuclear Weapon
President Donald J Trump has never wavered in his stance that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon a pledge he has made repeatedly, both in office and on the campaign trail Within the email statement to the press, the White House cites a long list of stories to support his statement
Since taking office, President Trump has clearly stated no fewer than 15 times that Iran cannot be allowed to have a nuclear weapon:
•“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon It’s very simple you don’t have to go to too deep into it They just can t have a nuclear weapon (6/17/25)
• I want to see no nuclear weapon in Iran, and we re well on our way to making sure that happens ” (6/16/25)
•“You can’t have peace if Iran has a nuclear weapon ” (6/14/25)
• They can t have a nuclear weapon Very simple They can t have a nuclear weapon
We re not going to allow that (6/11/25)
•Black Press USA will continue to update you on the situation
has changed naturally in the past so today’s climate change must be natural In another example, the Heartland Institute, a free-market think tank sent packages to 25 000 science teachers every week The package contained a book written by the organization titled “Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming and a DVD that would play a video rejecting the role of humans in the climate crisis
These companies also use lawsuits and legal strategies to intimidate detractors One instance involved Chevron when in 2011 it was found guilty of knowingly discharging cancer-inducing waste and chemicals into the northern Ecuadorian Amazon Despite the initial win for the indigenous and Amazonians, the decision was overruled seven years later at an arbitration court, where many believed Chevron used its financial dominance to its advantage Today Chevron
has still not paid back Ecuador for the irreparable damage done years ago While the company seems to have been let off the hook there are still people who demand justice from Chevron
With growing environmental sentiment across the globe more people are joining movements to uncover the ugly truth about oil and gas companies Next time you fill up your gas from a station consider where this gas came from What story hides behind the multimillion-dollar facade that companies keep up to ensure a lucrative business? Cases like the Heartland Institute highlight the lengths to the industry will go to maintain their operations and it is imperative to stay informed as citizens and customers
CONTACTS: These Fossil Fuel Industry Tactics Are Fueling Democratic Backsliding, HYPERLINK "
fossil-fuel-industry-tactics-
backsliding/"americanprogr ess org/article/these-fossilfuel-industry-tactics-are-fueling-democratic-backslidin g/; Chevron s Environmental Crimes: 13 Years of Evasion and Escalation, HYPERLINK "https://amazonwatch org/news/2024/0 214-chevrons-environmental-crimes-13-years-of-evasion-and-escalation"amazo nwatch org/news/2024/021 4-chevrons-environmentalc
sion-and-escalation;; EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy Scheer & Doug Moss for the 501(c)3 nonprofit EarthTalk See more a
https://emagazine com To donate, visit HYPERLINK "https://earthtalk org"https: //earthtalk org Send questions to: HYPERLINK "
workers who were dismissed and others who were fearful of losing their jobs, under Trump’s directives Several veterans in the group expressed that they were having problems with securing health care and other benefits from the Veterans Administration
At the end of the rally the sponsors urged the attendees to call and write their Senators and Congresspersons about their concerns about budget cuts and attacks on democracy
People were urged to write letters to the editor of their local newspapers The people were also urged to talk to their neighbors and friends about attending the next rally against Trump to make it even larger and more impactful
The next rally in this series is scheduled for July 17 2025 the Good Trouble Lives
On to commemorate the work of the late Congressman and Civil Rights leader, John Lewis, on the date of his death The Transformational Justice Coalition will be the national sponsor More information will be available on their website and the NoKIngs org website as well
HUD
For much of Black America affording a home is even harder due to pernicious and persistent income and wealth inequality A February analysis of Census Bureau data by Lending Tree found that:
•Black households earned a median income of $56 490 in 2023-- 33 percent less than the $84,630 earned by white households;
•Black Americans hold 3 4 percent of the nation s wealth, although they make up 13 7 percent of the population, while white Americans hold 84 2 percent of national wealth while making up 58 4 percent of the population; and
•Black workers earned a median of $962 weekly in the third quarter of 2024 versus $1,184 among white workers
Despite these disturbing figures, the proposed fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would walk away from affordable housing concerns The proposed budget reductions will eliminate long-standing programs and further reduce HUD staffing while giving states block grants to craft their own versions of programs and funding priorities
“President Trump’s bold budget proposes a reimagining of how the federal government addresses affordable housing and community development ” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner in a written statement “Importantly it furthers our mission-minded approach at HUD of taking inventory of our programs and processes to address the size and scope of the federal government, which has become too bloated and bureaucratic to efficiently function ”
Where the administration envisions “requiring states and localities to have skin in the game this proposal sidesteps large concerns that would affect every state: the capacity expertise, and additional funding to design, deliver, and sustain affordable housing services HUD programs funded this year at $89 1 billion, would drop to $43 5 billion in FY 2026
Popular programs slated for elimination include: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) - $3 3 billion in formula grants to over 1 200 state and local governments for a wide range of community and economic development activities •HOME Investment Partnerships Program - another $1 25 billion formula grant that provides state and local governments with funding to expand local housing; and Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) - $56 million in competitive grants to public and private fair housing organizations to advocate against single family neighborhoods and promote equity policies
As recently reported by Bloomberg News, an internal report estimates that HUD will have lost the majority of legal managers at its field offices, including half of the managing attorneys in its Chicago San Francisco and Seattle offices by September 30 Other planned HUD staff reductions will eliminate 75 percent of its managers in Boston and all of its managers in Denver Many remaining staff would be asked to relocate – at their own expense – to avoid future staff reductions
Housing stakeholders strongly oppose these cuts
For example, the National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) has been an affordable housing advocacy organization for 50 years This nonprofit, nonpartisan group draws upon the knowledge and expertise of the nation’s state Housing Finance Agencies and their more than 350 affiliate members who together partner to provide affordable housing
Overall, the changes proposed in the FY26 budget envision a dramatic reduction in federal support for affordable housing and a major restructuring of how the remaining federal assistance is delivered ” wrote Robert Henson NCSHA’s Senior Housing Policy Specialist “In total the budget requests $43 5 billion in discretionary budget authority for HUD in FY26, as compared to $89 1 billion in FY25, representing a 51 percent decrease year over year ”
The DC-based Urban Institute expressed similar concerns about the so-called “skinny budget” proposal
Because states unlike the federal government must balance their budgets each year major shifts in federal housing development funding would hinder states abilities to continue funding programs and projects, including efforts to increase affordable housing,” wrote the Urban Institute’s Kathryn Reynolds its Principal Policy Associate and Gabriella Garriga Research Analyst
With Congress yet to decide the fate of FY 2026 agency budgets, there is still time for communities, advocates, and others to stand up in support of affordable housing A strong showing of broad and diverse support for housing and urban development is needed now like never before
As California Congresswoman Maxine Waters recently said At a time when homelessness is surging, with over 771,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night, President Trump is proposing the wholesale destruction of our federal housing safety net Housing costs are going up, not down and this budget will ensure that homelessness goes up as well ”
Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending She can be reached at Charlene crowell@responsiblelending org">
Oil and gas companies are working hard to thwart efforts by climate activists to raise awareness about the risks of too many emissions Credit: Pexels
Summer Reading Program, at the J C Poole Library in Eutaw, kicked off to a flying start on June 12, 2025 The summer Reading Program is sponsored By Kids and Kin w/Janice Thompson “I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to TBOC, Minister Gloria McCruter, and her team of dedicated assistants, whose invaluable support has been instrumental in making our program a resounding success,” stated
Library Director Marilyn Gibson
School Boar d
* Summer feeding CNP workers for Eutaw Primary School at a rate of $19 00 per hour for managers and $17 00 per hour for cooks for six hours per day for four days a week June 230 2025 (Eutaw Primary School will used as a satellite kitchen );Youlonda Coleman, Manager; Mary Hill Cook; Loria Henderson Cook
• A d d i -
tional Service Contracts
2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Robert Brown Middle School: (Separate Contract): Henry Miles - Head Football, Assistant Basketball (Girls/Boys); Tavaris Lacy – Assistant Football, Head Basketball (Girls/Boys); Felicia Smith – Cheerleader Sponsor • Participation/attendance in the Black Belt STEM Institute Program for implementation of the program at Robert Brown Middle School for the following teacher: (Funding Source: UWA Black Belt STEM Institute): Talicia Williams
• S c h o o l Resource Officers for Summer Learning Program at a rate of $15 00 per hour: Eutaw Primary School – Elston Carpenter; Robert Brown Middle School – Jim Knox; Greene County High School – Sidney Carpenter; Alternate as needed – Steve Davis A d d i -
tional Service Contracts
2025 – 2026 for the following employees at Greene County High School: (Separate Contract):Corey Cockrell – Head Varsity Football; Torethia Mitchell – Head Volleyball; Patricia Maiden – Assistant Volleyball; Tracey Hunter – Head Flag Football; Kiren Greene – Band Director; Paula Calligan-Leftwich –Dance Coach; Drenda Morton – Cheerleader Sponsor;
Janice Jeames-Askew –Athletic Director
• S t i p e n d in the amount of $500 for Marilyn Knott, Counselor at Eutaw Primary School to give the ACAP Supplemental Reading Assessment during the week of June 23 – 27, 2025
S t i p e n d in the amount of $100 for Carolyn Daniels Special Education teacher at Eutaw Primary School to give the ACAP Supplemental Reading Assessment during the week of June 23 – 27, 2025
• B u s Drivers to transport students to Stillman College for the Blackbelt Scholars STEM program that runs from June 23 – July 18, 2025: (Funding Source: Black Belt Scholars): Teresa Hill; Marilyn Finch
• T r a n sportation personnel for Summer Learning Program at rate of $25 for morning route and $25 for afternoon route for the equivalent of $50 per day: Arleen Jackson – Bus Aide
• T r a n sportation personnel for Summer Learning Program at rate of $50 for morning route and $50 for afternoon route for the equivalent of $100 per day: (Bus Drivers): Eddie Coats; George Pippen; Carla Russell; Gerald Holloway; Jerdin Grays; Natasha Lewis; Ayanna Crawford; Marcus Steele; James Gaines (SUB); Johnny Pelt (SUB)
• T E A M S Contracts 2025 - 26 for the following: Funding: ALSDE - Dutchess Jones –GCHS Math (1 Year Contract); Krystal Flantroy –GCHS, Science (1 Year Contract); Lorissa Holder –GCHS Science(1 Year Contract) Nashondra Ruffin
– RBMS Science (1 Year Contract); Talicia Williams – RBMS Math (1 Year Contract); Kaneeda Cole-
sentations and information on mental well-being and counseling for families
Since its founding in 1913 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc has clearly distinguished itself as a public service organization that boldly confronts the challenges of African Americans and hence all Americans Over the years, a wide range of programs addressing education, health international development and strengthening of the African American family have evolved In re-
man – GCHS, Math (Year 4, Expires June 30, 2027)
The board approved the following administrative items
• Amended contract between Greene County Board of Education and Educate to Excellence *Agreement between Greene County Board of Education and Wallace Community College Selma/Demopolis to establish a Dual Enrollment for Dual Credit program which enables eligible high school students to enroll in college-level courses through the College to dually earn credits for a high school diploma and a postsecondary educational credential
S e r v i c e agreement between Greene County Board of Education and SchoolDog Solutions to participate in the SchoolDog Pilot Program (Funding Source: SDE)
• Q u o t e from Tennessee Valley Metal to replace/repair awning at Robert Brown Middle in the amount of $43,687
• FY 2025 Budget Amendments
• Q u o t e from Forefront Education to purchase required software approved by ALSDE for the Fractional Reasoning Screener that is to be given to 4th and 5th grade students in the amount of $2,280
• Q u o t e from M & H Construction to replace the flooring in front office of Robert Brown Middle School in the amount of $11 500
• P a y m e n t of all bills, claims, and payroll
• B a n k reconciliations as submitted by Mrs Marquita Lennon, CSFO
A g r e ement between Greene
alizing its mission Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc provides an extensive array of public service initiatives through its Five-Point Programmatic Thrust of: economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement physical and mental health and political awareness and involvement “We consistently show our love for our community by giving from the joy of our heart and providing opportunities for our communities to be informed about
County Board of Education and Quitt Consulting to provide speech-language therapy services in the system for the 2025-2026 school year
• E l e v a t o r Project at Robert Brown Middle School, contingent upon review and formal approval by the Department of Construction Management CSFO Marquita Lennon presented the following financial snapshot ending May 31 2025 Operating Reserve: 7 47 months combined general fund reserve; 7 53 months cash reserve All bank accounts have been reconciled General Fund Bank Balance totaled $7,945,266 66, (reconciles to the Summary Cash Report); Accounts Payable Check Register totaled $342,782 30; Payroll Register totaled $928,488 68(total gross pay to include employer match items) Combined Ending Fund Balance: $8,012,836 21 Local revenue sources: Property taxes$50 357 05; Sales taxes$93,776 64; Other taxes$7,901 32; Total$152 038 01 CSFO Lennon also presented budget amendments for Fiscal year 2025, including carryovers from the previous year for which the system is allowed two years to expend Attorney Hank Sanders reported that although some bingo facilities have resumed operations in Greene County, contracts for community disbursements have not been worked out Sanders also stated that Historical Horse Racing and Simulcasting is regulated by the Greene County Racing Commission not the sheriff s office
health priorities” said Phillis Belcher Chapter President
The two committees responsible for co-hosting this event are Political Involvement and Awareness/Social Action Committee Chairperson, Drenda Morton stated “We continue the legacy of service through social action for our community and look forward to providing this opportunity for our community to be better informed The Physical and Mental Health Committee is chaired by
It is in honor to help our community become informed on prevention, promote self-care through physical wellness emotional wellness, and awareness/advocacy Chapter members displayed and showcased highlights of its Five Point Thrust and presented numerous door prizes to all in attendance Impact Day 2025 was well attended
Loretta Wilson who stated
We all cry the same tears Tears of sadness
Tears of fright Tears of frustation
Tears of disappointment Tears of lonliness Lands are flooded with our tears
We need one another! kindness, cooperation, trust and respect to suvive
Success is a journey not a distination ”
Happy birthday to Demetric Jones, Jr , Deon Lawson, Lequarius Cook, Latavianna Davis, Franklyn Monty Morrow Kingston Carpenter Deborah A Hudson Nyana Lester Gertrude White Willie C Wilson, Derrick Allen, Jr , Janiyah Ezell, Joel Thomas, Jr , Ray Green, Christina Leigh Atkins, Michael Gill, Sr , DeOndrea Taylor, Gabriella Crawford William J Hutton LeOtis Allen Calvin Winn Jr Tammi Holley Anne Powell Phillips and Jordan Taggart
Happy Anniversary to Mr and Mrs James & Prescious Belton and Mr and Mrs Larry & Rugenia Williams on their 40th wedding anniversary
Community gather s in Eutaw to Shine Light on Mental Health
EUTAW Ala On Thursday, May 29, the Leona Tyree Community Center became a hub of healing and hope as residents came together for a Mental Health Awareness event organized by Tameka King County Extension Agent with Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with Executive Director Mollie Rowe and Resident Manager Mollie Gaines
The event featured a licensed therapist who delivered an impactful presentation on the importance of mental health recognizing signs of emotional distress, and knowing when and where to seek help The speaker reassured attendees that seeking help is a sign of strength ” urging everyone to prioritize their mental well-being
The gathering drew a diverse crowd, including residents of all ages Many attendees shared their personal stories, contributing
to an atmosphere of openness compassion and empowerment “This was a much-needed conversation,” said one participant “Mental health is something we need to talk about more often, and I m glad we had a safe space to do that today Tameka King expressed appreciation for the strong community turnout and the willingness to engage in such a vital topic “Mental health is just as important as physical health, she said We want to continue providing resources and safe spaces for our community ” Encouraged by the positive response organizers plan to host similar events later this year, continuing the mission of breaking stigma and supporting mental wellness in Eutaw and beyond For more information about future events or mental health resources contact the Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension office
Tombigbee RC&D Council s 2026 grant cycle will begin on April 1st-June 30th 2025! To submit applications, please access the Grant Application and Information section under our Grants tab at www tombigbeercd org/grant-guidelines/ We will be using Foundant for our application forms and reimbursement forms again and this software requires our applicants to create an account with Foundant before you can complete an application Organizations eligible for consideration must be registered as 501C3 not-for-profit entities units or sub-units of government Projects must take place in one or more of the eight counties served by the Tombigbee RC&D Council: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter, or Tuscaloosa Detailed grant guidelines from the Tombigbee RC&D Council can also be found on our website It is important to note that all grants awarded operate on a reimbursement-only basis; funds are disbursed upon project completion We look forward to working with our grantees this FY26 grant season!
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ANNOUNCEMENT
Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Pleasant Ridge is in search of a MUSICIAN 1st and 3rd Sunday. Contact Dec. Floyzelle at 205-496-2910 or 205-372-5821.
REGGIE’S FIREWORKS
Open 12 noon until 205-372-9733 Hwy 43, Eutaw Phone: 496-6019 with fir ewor ks fr om Re g gie’s! Big Selection; Many Asst Packs, Bottle Rockets, Roman Candles
