Author: Darlen Vazquez-Rojas
On Tuesday night, the City Council in Asheville, North Carolina finally approved the removal of all statues that have been a product of slavery in addition to establishing different ways to help the Black community. The Council also apologized to their Black residents for not acting sooner. What We Know: The City Council voted unanimously in favor of the solution on Tuesday along with a statement that said the following: “Black people have been unjustly targeted by law enforcement and criminal justice procedures, incarcerated at disproportionate rates and subsequently excluded from full participation in the benefits of citizenship that include…
In the magazine’s 106-year history, Vanity Fair marked a historic milestone for their July/August issue. The cover photo that features Emmy Award actress Viola Davis, is the first taken by a Black photographer Dario Calmese. What We Know: Dario Calmese told the New York Times that the cover image of Viola Davis facing her back to the camera and gazing over her shoulder invoked “The Scourged Back” which is a historic 1963 image of a slave with a web of whipping scars on his back. This is Calmese’s biggest accomplishment when it comes to fashion media. Photographer Calmese is a…
Artist Marc Quinn led the construction of the statue of Black Lives Matter activist Jen Reid. The secret mission was to replace the statue of slave trader Edward Colston to a much more hopeful one. Even though, the statue itself represented a symbol of hope and no more oppression to the minority community, not everyone was happy about it. What we know: The statue of Black Lives Matter activist can be found in Bristol in England where a protest took place as well as the removal of the previous statue on June 7th. Jen Reid was part of the protests…
USA Gymnastics recent scandal after Larry Nassar who was charged with multiple sexual assaults in 2019 have another scandal with a former USA gymnastics coach, Terry Gray, 52. The former gymnastics coach has been suspended since October 2019 and finally arrested in Las Vegas with 14 counts of lewdness with a child under age 14. What we know: Court records show that the alleged incidents occurred between 2007 and 2013. It was announced in October 2019 that Gray was suspended for two years. The gymnastics coach faced the judge on Monday and was set bail at $50,000 and imposed a…
Oklahoma dropped charges against Dustin Dennis, 31 for leaving his 2 kids of 4-year-old Teagan and 3-year-old Ryan on June 13th in the back of his hot truck which ultimately led to the children’s death. The charges of second-degree murder were dismissed and send to federal prosecutors. What we know: On Monday Morning, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler learned that the 2 kids were members of the Cherokee tribe and that their deaths no longer fell in his jurisdiction. The Cherokee tribe is the largest politically integrated tribes and is currently the largest tribe in the United States with…
A popular online retailer Shein is under fire for selling swastika necklaces on their website. The online retailer has issued an apology for their actions and naming it as a “gigantic mistake” and regretting their decision for promoting anti-Semitism. What We Know: According to reports on CBS News, this is not the first time Shein has apologized for their product listings. The first product that was been pulled out of their website was “praying mats” that offended the Muslim culture. The same week, Shein posted the product referring to the Swastika which was used as a symbol for the genocides…
School Districts across the United States face a difficult decision on returning for the Fall term. The rise of the COVID-19 cases has recently peaked up to 57,942 additional cases and 282 additional deaths across the United States. What we know: States such as New York, California, Florida, and Texas have shown extremely high cases and fear that it can get worst once schools open across the United States for the fall. On a recent interview, Donald Trump threatened the School Districts if they do not “fully reopen” he will begin cutting funds with the following statement: “In Germany, Denmark,…
For 12 years the Black and Missing Foundation (BAMFI) has been the voice for thousands of families of color struggling to find their missing loved ones. As advocates for this often voiceless group, BAMFI ensures that families receive law enforcement, media coverage, and motivates others to come forward with additional information. What We Know: The Black and Missing Foundation is a non-profit organization that brings awareness to people of color who have gone missing. The foundation formed in 2008 by Derrica Wilson and Natalie Wilson. Derrica Wilson has a background of law enforcement and Natalie Wilson of strategic public and…
A Showtime limited series is in the works about the life of American icon, Lena Horne. What we know: The series is still in the works with no official date. However, the Showtime limited series will be directed and written by the singer’s granddaughter, Jenny Lumet. The limited series, Blackbird: Lena Horne and America, will mostly focus on the span of 60 years of Horne’s life and her experience as a Cotton Club dancer. Granddaughter of Lena Horne explained that the inspiration for the title came from her late grandmother’s favorite poem, Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by…
The death of Detective Tanisha Pughsley, 27, has shaken Montgomery after her ex-boyfriend, Brandon Deshwan Webster, 24, fatally shot her. Brandon Deshawn Webster is being charged with capital murder and is being held without bond in the Montgomery County Detention Facility. What We Know: Police and fire medics were dispatched about 2:15 a.m. to the 6700 block of Overview Drive on a possible gunshot victim. When officers and medics arrived at the scene they found Detective Tanisha Pughsley unresponsive and pronounced dead. Montgomery Police has issued a statement following the death of their fellow officer that said the following: https://twitter.com/CityofMGM/status/1280200995218378754?s=20…