The Westside Gazette

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U.S. POSTAGE 

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FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33310 

PERMIT NO. 1179 

PAGE 10 

THURSDAY, MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2024 

VOL. 53 NO. 8 $1.00 

The devastating consequences of firearm mishandling, and inadequate storage 

continue to haunt families across the United States. In 2016, 14-year-old JaJuan 

McDowell fell victim to an unintentional shooting, a stark reminder of the dangers 

posed by unsecured firearms. Eight years later, JaJuan’s mother, Julvonnia 

McDowell, still grapples with the pain of her loss, advocating tirelessly for safe 

firearm storage practices. 

“When guns aren’t securely stored, the result is unimaginable pain and trauma,” 

McDowell shared during a televised interview with NBC News. 

McDowell has dedicated her efforts as a volunteer for Moms Demand Action, 

a grassroots arm of Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun 

control and against gun violence. “This is an issue that impacts us all. Regardless of 

whose gun it is, the consequences can be devastatingly personal.” 

According to data provided by Everytown, at least 157 lives were lost, and 270 

individuals were injured last year due to unintentional shootings by children. These 

incidents predominantly involve teenagers aged 14 to 17 or children aged five and 

under, often resulting in self-inflicted injuries or harm to another child. 

Sarah Burd-Sharps, senior director of research at Everytown, highlighted the 

familial bonds shattered by such tragedies. “In many cases, the victim is a sibling, 

cousin, or friend, leaving multiple families grappling with sorrow and regret,” she 

stated. 

Everytown urges federal and state authorities to enhance efforts in tracking and 

disseminating data on these incidents to formulate effective preventive strategies. 

“Nearly every day, a child gains access to a loaded firearm with tragic outcomes. 

Yet, these incidents are entirely preventable,” emphasized Burd-Sharps. 

Heartbreaking stories abound, including the death of a 2-year-old girl in Indiana 

who found a gun at home and the shooting of an 8-year-old boy in Alabama with a 

firearm taken from his mother’s car. In Florida, a 12-year-old boy died, and 15-yearold 

sustained injuries because of the negligent handling of a gun by a 14-year-old. 

Last year, the nation witnessed the highest number of unintentional child 

shootings recorded by Everytown since tracking began in 2015, with 411 incidents 

resulting in injuries or fatalities. However, data collection has faced challenges due 

to inconsistent reporting and documentation. 

Dr. David Hemenway, a prominent expert in injury prevention, noted the 

credibility of Everytown’s count of fatal shootings, 

aligning with broader trends observed in federal 

data. Continue reading online at: 

thewestsidegazette.com 

The once-sturdy structure crumbled 

like paper beneath the vessel’s onslaught, 

sending vehicles plummeting 

into the icy depths of the Patapsco 

River below around 1:30 a.m. EST. 

By Stacy M. Brown, 

NNPA Newswire Senior 

National Correspondent 

@StacyBrownMedia 

In one of the ultimate nightmares, the 

Francis Scott Key Bridge, an iconic lifeline 

for Baltimore’s bustling metropolis, was 

ripped apart in a thunderous clash with a 

colossal container ship, unleashing chaos 

in and around Charm City and tragedy for 

at least seven families. The once-sturdy 

structure crumbled like paper beneath 

the vessel’s onslaught, sending vehicles 

plummeting into the icy depths of the 

Patapsco River below around 1:30 a.m. 

EST. 

Officials immediately declared that they 

didn’t suspect terrorism or any sabotage. 

Emergency crews raced against time, 

battling the elements to rescue survivors 

trapped in the wreckage. At 8:30 a.m., two 

individuals were reportedly rescued while 

the search intensified. 

One of the victims emerged unscathed, 

while the other fought for life in the 

clutches of critical injuries. 

“We’re facing an unprecedented crisis,” 

declared Baltimore Fire Chief James 

Wallace, his voice heavy with emotion. 

“Our priority remains the search and 

rescue efforts to locate those still missing.” 

Gov. Wes Moore wasted no time 

(Cont’d on page 10) 

Publisher/Chairman Bobby R. Henry, Sr. offers his deepest sympathies and pleas for the victims and families affected by the terrible Baltimore Bridge accident. 

“It is with a heart full of sorrow and a conscience of conviction that we offer sincere condolences to those touched personally by this tragic and devastating incident. 

our prayers are to include those on the outside to do what we can to offer comfort and whatever we can to the families.” 

Preventable 

Tragedies: 

Unintentional 

Shootings by 

Children Remain a 

National Concern 

According to data provided 

by Everytown, at least 157 lives 

were lost, and 270 individuals 

were injured last year due 

to unintentional shootings 

by children. 

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent 


As threats to Black cemeteries 

persist, a movement to preserve 

their sacred heritage gains strength 

As the national debate over Black history continues, one aspect of 

the legacy of race in America is undergoing something of a rebirth: 

Black cemeteries that were established in the era of segregation. 

Submitted by Giovanna Dell’orto Darren Sands 

(Source Independent) 

Neglect, abandonment and destruction have been the fate of 

thousands of segregated cemeteries across the country where 

African Americans – from former slaves to prominent politicians 

and business owners -- were buried over many decades. 

In the past few years, growing awareness and the discovery 

of graves underneath parking lots, schools and even an Air Force 



Thursday 

March 28 th 

Fri 

82° 

74° 

A MESSAGE FROM 

THE PUBLISHER 

25 Million Black and Latino Voters 

are Missing or Incorrectly 

Listed in U.S. Voter Databases 

The revelation is crucial as America heads toward the allimportant 

November general election between Democratic 

incumbent Joe Biden and the twice-impeached and four-times 

indicted former president Donald Trump. 

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National 

Correspondent 


An eye-opening report 

titled “Surfacing Missing 

Voters: Addressing Data 

Systems, Tools, and 

Engagement Models that 

Invisibilize Black and 

Brown Communities,” 

authored by Miriam 

Your vote is 

money- use 

it wisely 

“For the love of money is a root of 

all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:10 

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr. 

Money seems to be the 

conduit between seeking office, 

holding office and being taken 

out of office. Robert F. Kennedy 

Jr. has chosen a running mate 

who has never run for office 

before; however, the attorney and 

businessperson Nicole Shanahan, 

donated $4 million to Kennedy’s 

campaign and to the chief super 

PAC. 

Donald Trump has been 

slapped with another gag order. 

by the judge overseeing the 

trial where Trump is accused 

of falsifying business records 

in connection to hush money 

payment. 

Judge Juan Merchan said he 

was issuing the ruling in part 

due to Trump’s past “threatening, 

inflammatory, denigrating” 

comments about people involved 

with his other legal cases. 

Do we really think that former 

president Trump has learned 

how to keep his mouth closed or 

better yet what amount of money 

can be taken away from him to 

make him shut up? 

While the “other” people 

who all seem to fit under a cone 

shape hat with the letters MAGA 

are playing politricks, we the 

concerned about equality for all in 

the spirit of DEI are at whit’s end. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion 

(DEI) are administrative outlines 

which seek to encourage “the fair 

treatment and full participation 

of all people”, particularly groups 

“who have historically been 

underrepresented or subject to 

discrimination” on the basis of 

uniqueness or debility. We are 


Cloudy 

Sunrise: 7:30am 

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Sunset: 7:29pm 

Sat Sun Mon Tues 

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The Westside Gazette Newspaper 

@TheWestsideGazetteNewspaper 

WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER: 

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) 

Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA) 

Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

Word Sea 

List Comp 

by Kam 

Jackson 

Freshm 

at Dilla 

High Sch 

PAGE 2 •MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2024 

www.thewestsidegazette.com 

The Westside Gazette Newspaper is honored to feature these editorial contributions made by local students. 

Florida Governor Ron 

DeSantis has officially 

concluded his presidential 

campaign and announced 

his endorsement of former 

President Donald Trump. In 

a strategic move, DeSantis 

The Westside Gazette Newspaper is honored to feature these editorial contributions made by local students. 

decided to support Trump, 

a significant player in 

A Celebration for 

an Inspirational 

Teacher 

Former President Donald Trump has 

been Republican granted permission politics. by a This judge to pay 

By Jacy Nails 

a smaller alliance bond could in a civil shape fraud the case, with 

an April dynamics trial date of set the for upcoming the hush money 

“Women teachers, 

scandal. presidential The decision race, allows leveraging Trump to meet 

by the very fact that 

the financial requirements T r u mfor p the ’ case s while 

they are women, bring 

moving forward with influence the legal and proceedings. 

something to the 

classroom that men 

The trial relates to allegations DeSantis’ of hush money 

cannnot. They bring 

payments made r i s to i nwomen g who 

LOUISE GILLIARD 

patience, understanding, and often, they 

claimed political affairs prominence. with Trump, The move signals a unified front within the party, 

B-CU Celebrates Day of Service with 

bring a kind of nurturing that is very much appreciation of Mrs. Gilliard’s love of reading and 

adding emphasizing another chapter key conservative to values. As the 2024 election landscape 

needed for young children.” This powerful teaching poems by reciting to her, renowned poet 

the legal takes challenges shape, DeSantis’ faced by decision to step back from his own presidential 

quote Home was stated by educator Depot’s and founder 

“Retool and activist Langston Your Hughes’ poem School” “ I, Too”. He 

# 

the former aspirations president. in This favor of backing Trump adds a noteworthy chapter to 

of Khan Academy, Salman Khan. As March shared that this poem is one that she taught him 

seems to the be evolving very unfair, narrative of Republican politics. 

Submitted by B-CU 

concession being the postponement of painting 

honors the divine creation of women and while in the first grade, and it has stuck with him 

considering the fact that 

stripping the basketball court – a minor hiccup 

Submitted by Layla Davidson - Photo credit: cnn.com 

our history, as well as our present, I would ever since. Another student, using her talent of 

judges do not grant decisions like these for average people. 

Bethune-Cookman University more favorable weather prevails. 

like to take the time to close off this month digital art, gifted Mrs. Gilliard with a technologically 

celebrated a significant day of unity Dr. William Berry, Provost and Acting Presi 

by honoring an astounding teacher who curated painting of a little boy with a diverse crowd 

and service on Thursday, Jan. 18, expressed excitement and gratitude, stating, “W 

has impacted the lives of her students and of people following behind him. The former student 

Submitted by Layla Davidson Biden * Photo Unveils credit: cnn.comNew 

at the Michael and Libby Johnson excited about this project and grateful to all those 

forever holds a special place near and dear explained that the reason behind her gift was that 

Center for Civic Engagement 

to their hearts. 

the little boy, regardless of the gender, reminded 

Sweeping Student Loan (CCE). 

The beautiful 

This momentous 

and graceful Mrs. 

occasion 

Louise her of Mrs. Gilliard because he exudes such pride 

brought 

Gilliard, 

together 

former Markham 

students, 

Elementary 

faculty, 

U.S. Plummets 

and leadership, just like Mrs. Gilliard. Not only did 

Debt Relief Measures, 

staff, 

School educator, 

alumni, 

celebrated 

and friends 

her milestone 

to 

she exhibit these characteristics, but she would 

in World 

commemorate 

80th birthday earlier 

the 

this month 

University’s 

on March instill them unto her students in the form of what 

Surpassing 3.7 Million 

recent 

10th. To help 

accomplishment 

her celebrate, a cheerful 

– securing 

group she did best, teaching while caring. 

the 

of Mrs. 

fourth 

Gilliard’s 

position 

former students 

in 

hosted 

Home 

a Mrs. Gilliard’s lasting impact on her students’ 

Beneficiaries 

Depot’s 

small intimate 

prestigious 

birthday gathering, 

“Retool Your 

where lives is just another reason as to why women across 

School” 

they reconnected 

competition 

with 

and 

one 

receiving 

another and 

a the globe deserve to be celebrated, not just during 

substantial honored their $60,000 lovely teacher. grant Each dedicated student this month of March, but everyday because as First 

to gave campus personal enhancement. 

testimonies, through words Lady Michelle Obama says “There is no limit to what 

and Despite songs, on cooler the lessons temperatures and memories and that we, as women, can accomplish.” 

Released on the UN’s International Day of 

overcast they will forever skies, cherish the with collective their esteemed spirit Happy Birthday, Mrs. Louise Gilliard and Happy 

Happiness, the report, a collaborative effort among 

prevailed educator. as almost 135 participants, Women’s History Month to all of the inspirational 

Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, the 

led One by Home former Depot student Daytona showed Beach their and impactful women in my life! 

UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, 

Store Manager Therese Watsonand 

the Murray, joined forces in yesterday’s participated in the vote for B-CU. These enhancem 

NNPA World Happiness NEWSWIRE Report’s — Editorial debt Board, crisis, announcing the loan repayment structure 

sheds successful effort. Their mission will help create more vibrant and engaging space 

Earlier light on this the shifting month, landscape Biden of approval happiness of debt cancellation while providing life-changing to its demise. Political turmoil and the The U.S. isn’t one of them.” 

worldwide. 

was ambitious, involving projects our students to retreat on campus for a brain bre 

announced the accelerated for an additional 74,000 support to students and hate their and confusion that has come with the Drawing upon data collected by the 

ranging from assembling bookcases find inspiration through the downtime.” 

implementation of a student loan borrowers. the UN The families. 

candidacy and trials of the twice-impeached and Gallup World Poll and analyzed by leading 

By Stacy and indoor-outdoor dining sets to Home Depot’s “Retool Your School” prog 

crucial M. provision Brown, under the latest action Sustainable 

contributes to “Today, my administration four-times indicted former president Donald wellbeing experts, the report underscored the 

NNPA constructing arcade games, foosball established in 2009, has been a beacon for positive ch 

Student Newswire Aid Senior for Voluntary National the record-breaking Development relief the Solutions approved Network, debt and cancellation Trump, economic inequality, diminishing social multifaceted nature of happiness trends. While 

Correspondent tables, basketball hoops, hockey providing over $9.25 million in campus improve 

Education 


(SAVE) plan, administration the has World provided Happiness for Report’s another Editorial 74,000 student cohesion, and a pervasive consumerism culture Finland maintains its reign as the happiest 

sets, and table tennis tables. Even grants to Historically Black Colleges and Univer 

which the administration to more than Board, 3.7 sheds million light loan on borrowers the shifting across 

often 

the 

undermine many Americans’ well-being. nation for the seventh consecutive year, other 

adverse weather conditions couldn’t (HBCUs). Beyond the competition, the Office of Al 

said has helped 3.6 million Americans. landscape Earlier this of happiness country, worldwide. bringing the total 

Additionally, the pressures of modern countries, such as Serbia and Bulgaria, have 

According to the newest World Happiness 

deter their dedication, with the only 

Americans by canceling month, Biden 

While 

announced 

perennial 

the number 

frontrunners 

of people 

like 

who 

life, 

have 

including work-related stress, a lack of witnessed Continue significant reading increases online at: in thewestsidegazette. 

average life 

Report for 2024, the United States has dropped 

their student debt. 

accelerated implementation 

Finland and Denmark 

had their 

continue 

debt canceled 

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healthcare, and political polarization, evaluation scores, resulting in notable climbs 

in the worldwide happiness rankings. Released 

of a crucial provision 

dominate 

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the U.S. finds 

to over 

have 

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taken have a toll earned on mental forgiveness health and after overall Biden in the credited rankings. the While success Finland’s The president average life outlined 

on March 20, America plunged eight spots from 

By Stacy M. Brown the Student Aid 

itself 

for Voluntary 

in an unfamiliar 

million 

position 

Americans 

of 

through 

happiness a levels. decade Moreover, of dedicated the advent service. of social of these evaluation relief efforts ranks it to as the the happiest broader country achievements in o 

its previous ranking, marking the first time in 

NNPA Newswire Senior Education (SAVE) 

decline. 

plan, various actions,” Biden 

media 

said 

and Additionally, digital technologies, close to while 30,000 providing corrective the world, measures Afghanistan taken ranks administration as the least happy in suppo 

the report’s 12-year history that the nation has 

National Correspondent which the administration 

Historically, 

in 

the 

a statement 

pursuit 

on 

of 

Jan. 

connectivity, 

19. individuals has also been who linked have to been increased to address country in broken the world student with a students life evaluation and of borro 

failed to secure a position among the world’s top 

@StacyBrownMedia said has helped 

happiness 

3.6 million 

has been 

The 

ingrained 

beneficiaries 

in the feelings of 

of the latest in isolation repayment and comparison, for at least negatively loan 1.721. programs. He asserted including achieving the 

20 happiest countries. 

American ethos, symbolizing freedom, impacting 

Americans by canceling round of relief include nearly 20 subjective years well-being. without receiving that these Breaking fixes have new removed ground, the significant report introduced increases in 

Released on the UN’s International Day of opportunity, and prosperity. However, The new 

President Biden continues their student debt. Biden 44,000 teachers, nurses, relief happiness through report income-driven highlights that barriers separate preventing rankings borrowers by age Grants group, in revealing over a decade, a 

Happiness, the report, a collaborative effort among in recent years, several factors have “some countries, 

to make significant strides in said the plan aims to create firefighters, and other public repayment like plans Finland will and now Denmark, see from accessing Continue the relief reading they online Continue at: 

Gallup, the Oxford Wellbeing Research Centre, 

reading onlin 

been identified that could contribute consistently 

alleviating the student loan a more affordable student service professionals who their rank debts among forgiven. the world’s happiest. were entitled to under thewestsidegazette.com 

law. thewestsidegazette.co 

Happiness 

Rankings 

According to 2024 Report 

College 

Prep 

Word of 

the Week 

NOUN - a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the 

essential adjective nature or meaning of something. HOW TO USE QUIESCENT IN A 

(2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something SENTENCE 

being at rest; inactive or 

motionless; quiet; still: a 

quiescent mind. 

epiphany 

quiescent 

[ kwee-es-uhnt, /əˈpifənē/ kwahy- ] 

HOW TO USE RETICENT IN A SENTENCE: It’s possible that other volcanoes w 

When you have a sudden realization long or quiescentperiods epiphany may also ha 

about the facts that you learned subtle at school. but protracted warning per 

as well. 

List 

compiled 

by Kamar 

Jackson, 

Dillard High 

Freshman


Former ‘Goon Squad’ Officers 

Sentenced for Violent Civil 

Rights Offenses in Mississippi 

The former deputies counted among six former law 

enforcement officers, self-identified as the “Goon Squad,” 

who were scheduled to face sentencing following their 

admissions of guilt to federal civil rights violations. 

By Stacy M. Brown 



StacyBrownMedia 

Former Mississippi 

Sheriff’s Deputy Hunter 

Elward received a 20-year 

prison sentence on Tuesday, 

March 19, for the torture 

of two Black men in 2023. 

Elward pleaded guilty in 

August to federal charges of 

discharge of a firearm during 

a crime of violence, conspiracy 

against rights, deprivation 

of rights under color of law, 

conspiracy to obstruct justice, 

and obstruction of justice 

related to the January 2023 

incident. 

Jeffrey Middleton, a 

46-year-old former sheriff’s 

deputy whom federal 

prosecutors described as the 

ringleader of the group, was 

sentenced to more than 17 

and a half years in prison. 

The former deputies 

counted among six former 

law enforcement officers, 

self-identified as the “Goon 

Squad,” who were scheduled 

to face sentencing following 

their admissions of guilt to 

federal civil rights violations. 

The charges stem from the 

heinous acts of torture and 

sexual assault perpetrated 

against two Black individuals 

and an anonymous white 

victim. Brett McAlpin, 

Christian Dedmon, and 

Daniel Opdyke, as well 

as former Richland Police 

Department officer Joshua 

Hartfield, pleaded guilty to 

federal charges of conspiracy 

against rights, deprivation 

Deeply Rooted 

of rights under color of law, 

conspiracy to obstruct justice, 

and obstruction of justice 

related to the incident. 

Dedmon and Opdyke will 

be sentenced on Wednesday, 

and Hartfield and McAlpin 

on Thursday. Federal 

prosecutors sought the 

maximum sentences for the 

officers. 

McAlpin, Dedmon, Opdyke, 

and Hartfield each face 

up to 20 years in prison. 

The sentencing arrives 

months after a lawsuit by 

the victims that detailed how 

the officers illegally entered 

their home and handcuffed, 

kicked, waterboarded, and 

tased them and attempted to 

sexually assault them over 

nearly two hours. One of the 

Continue reading online at: 


©2024 The News Service of 

Florida. 

An administrative law 

judge ruled Thursday that 

the state should drop a 

disciplinary case against a 

Palm Beach County teacher 

and coach who was accused of 

inappropriate sexual conduct 

with a soccer player. Judge 

MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2024 • PAGE 3 

Judge Says Teacher 

Should be Cleared 

WOOLCOCK 

Francine Ffolkes issued a 

12-page recommended order 

calling for the dismissal of a 

complaint against Richard 

Woolcock, who was accused 

of misconduct in 2019. 

Woolcock was a teacher at 

Lake Worth Middle School 

and was accused by a then- 

16-year-old player on a 

Bill Cotterell: Is Homeless Law a First Step? 

What comes next will be important with the controversial 

new homeless law, our Capitol Columnist writes. 

Rep. Sam Garrison, 

R-Fleming Island, led 

efforts to pass a bill aimed 

at preventing homeless 

people from sleeping in 

places such as sidewalks 

and parks. 

(Florida House) 

The French author Anatole 

France wrote, “The law, in its 

majestic equality, forbids rich 

and poor alike to sleep under 

bridges, to beg in the streets, 

and to steal their bread.” 

The oft-quoted 19thcentury 

skeptic might have 

smiled ruefully at a news 

conference Gov Ron DeSantis 

held last week to sign a law 

intended to drive homeless 

people out of urban areas. 

Come Oct. 1, cities and 

counties may no longer allow 

homeless people to pitch 

tents on sidewalks or make 

a lean-to in public parks to 

spend the night; rather, they 

will be directed to shelters or 

designated camping fields, 

supposedly safe from drugs 

and crime. 

Menthol Killed a Generation of Black 

Smokers. It’s Still Not Banned 

By Jennifer Porter Gore 

(Source Word In Black): 

Ethan B. had his first 

cigarette at age 10. Eight 

years later, after enlisting in 

the Army, he started smoking 

menthol cigarettes because 

the ads for them made them 

seem refreshing — and the 

men who smoked them looked 

smooth and sophisticated. 

“I wanted to look cool and 

be cool,” Ethan, now 59, says 

in the video. That image went 

up in smoke when he had his 

first stroke at age 56. 

Angie P., 62, smoked 

menthols for 26 years, but 

decided to quit when she 

learned Big Tobacco made 

big profits selling to people 

like her. “Tobacco companies 

target people like me with 

their menthol cigarette 

marketing,” she says. 

The two former smokers, 

both of whom are Black, 

are part of a new Centers 

for Disease Control and 

Prevention anti-smoking 

ad campaign, “Tips from 

Former Smokers,” launched 

in February. The videos show 

former smokers talking about 

the dangers of cigarettes, and 

giving advice on how to kick 

the habit. 

What’s noteworthy about 

the campaign, however, is that 

Studies show Big Tobacco 

sold Black smokers on 

menthol, an additive that 

makes it easy to start 

smoking but harder to quit. 

(Credit: Getty) 

the subjects in six of the seven 

new ads talk explicitly about 



Well, make that “safer” — 

it’s got to be better than life, 

literally, in the gutter. 

The idea behind the 

legislation is not just to move 

homeless people, but to steer 

them to drug treatment, 

mental-health counseling, 

or other programs to return 

their lives to some normality. 

The new law also says 

citizens whose homes or 

businesses are blighted 

by these modern-day 

Hoovervilles will be able to 

sue local governments to 

force a clean-up. The state 

is expected to provide $10 

million for local governments 

to comply. 



travel soccer team that 

Woolcock coached. 

The allegations included 

inappropriate touching 

in a bed at a hotel in 

Altamonte Springs, where 

the travel team had gone 

to play. Ffolkes pointed to 

“inconsistent statements” 

by the player, identified 

only by the initials M.B., 

and concluded that Woolcock 

“did not convince M.B. to 

share a bed with him” and 

“did not perform a lewd act 

on M.B.” The ruling said 

Woolcock was arrested but 

that criminal charges later 

were dismissed. Ffolkes 

also wrote that Woolcock 

has remained employed by 

the Palm Beach County 

School Board. The state has 

sought to revoke Woolcock’s 

educator certificate. Under 

administrative law, Ffolkes’ 

recommended order will go to 

the state Education Practices 

Commission for final action. 

Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Parkland school mass shooting crime scene 

today, ahead of the building’s scheduled demolition this summer. Recently, SAO 

team members and I accompanied her and the victims’ families during this somber 

visit. I also participated in the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention 

Roundtable discussion about how to learn lessons from what happened here and 

prevent future gun related tragedies.

PAGE 4 • MARCH 28 - APRIL 3, 2024 

Westside Gazette Calendar 

of Events 

Deeply Rooted 

LOCAL HAPPENINGS IN 

BROWARD MIAMI-DADE 

AND PALM BEACH 

COUNTIES 

HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY EVENTS 

PLACED ON THIS PAGE 

email:wgproof@thewestsidegazette.com 

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Celebrate Announcements: 

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* Anniversaries 

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MOVE WHEN THE SPIRIT SAYS 

MOVE THE LEGACY OF 

DOROTHY FOREMAN COTTON JOIN US 

FOR AFILM AND DISCUSSION 

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 2024 AT THE AF- 

RICAN AMERICAN RESEARCH LIBRARY 

AND CULTURAL CENTER, 2650 SISTRUNK 

BLVD, FORT LAUDERDALE 

from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., 


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For more information, please contact Kimberly at kimberly.lehmann@childnet.us 

Lauderhill Food Truck Roll 

The City of Lauderhill Economic 

Development Department 

invites you to join us and enjoy 

the best food trucks South Florida 

has to offer every month at 

the Lauderhill Food Truck Roll. 

Enjoy a fantastic family-friendly 

food truck event as Lauderhill 

comes together to celebrate with local food, music, fun, and more. 

From savory delights to mouthwatering desserts, join us on a culinary 

journey that celebrates our community and the joy of good eats! 

March 28th - Food Truck Roll 

Join us for this month's Food Truck Roll and enjoy great food and fun 

outside of City Hall! 

Thursday, March 28, 2024 

5 to 9 p.m., at Lauderhill City Hall - 5581 W. Oakland Park Boulevard, 

Lauderhill, FL 33331 

PRIDE OF FT LAUDEDALEELKS 

TEMPLE 395 

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House Republicans Propose Budget 

to Cut Medicare, Social Security, 

and ACA While Favoring Wealthy 

Less than two weeks after 

President Joe Biden’s State 

of the Union address, where 

he emphasized a vision for 

economic fairness for the 

middle class, the Republican 

Study Committee, representing 

most of the House GOP, has 

unveiled a plan that slashes 

Medicare, Social Security, and 

the Affordable Care Act (ACA) 

while favoring tax cuts for the 

wealthy. 

By Stacy M. Brown, 




In a precursor to what life will 

be like under another 

administration led by 

the four-times indicted, 

twice-impeached former 

President Donald Trump, House 

Republicans have put forward 

a budget proposal that directly 

contradicts those goals and 

threatens the health, livelihood, 

and viability of many American 

citizens – particularly seniors and 

those in need of health insurance 

coverage. 

Less than two weeks after 

President Joe Biden’s State of 

the Union address, where he 

emphasized a vision for economic 

fairness for the middle class, the 

Republican Study Committee, 

representing most of the House 

GOP, has unveiled a plan that 

Deeply Rooted 

slashes Medicare, Social Security, 

and the Affordable Care Act 

(ACA) while favoring tax cuts for 

the wealthy. 

Biden has vowed to oppose any 

attempts to cut Social Security or 

Medicare, promising to protect 

those vital programs in his recent 

address at the Capitol. “The 

president has kept his word by 

standing against the new House 

Republican budget, which he 

believes would harm hardworking 

families,” the White House said 

in a Fact Sheet released on 

Thursday, March 21. 




Community Voices Unite: A Town Hall Series 

for Sickle Cell Advocacy, April 17, 2024 

in collaboration with the City of Miami Gardens Councilman Robert 

Stephens III. This dynamic FREE town hall series, moderated 

by Dr. Adrian N. Carter Ph.D., is led by passionate advocates 

dedicated to providing education, raising awareness, empowering, 

and mobilizing our community in the pursuit of positive change for 

individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease. This series 

is a platform for open dialogue, discussion, and collective action, 

aimed at addressing pressing issues and advocating for meaningful 

initiatives for sickle cell warriors. Part 2 in the fall will be focused 

on mental health. (See flyer below for details and registration info.) 

Jessica Pettway, a beauty influencer 

with a large online following, has died 

from stage 3 cervical cancer at age 36. 

Instagram/Jessica Pettway 

Beauty influencer and mom of two, Jessica 

Pettway, 36, dies from cervical cancer — 

after having been ‘misdiagnosed’ 

By Snejana Farberov 

(Source New York Post): 

Beauty influencer Jessica Pettway has died from complications 

with stage 3 cervical cancer, which she has said was initially 

misdiagnosed. She was 36. 

The married mom of two succumbed on Wednesday last 

week, her sister Reyni confirmed in a now-private Instagram 

post shared by E! Online. 

“It’s my birthday today, and the only thing I could ever wish 

for is for God to bring you back on this earth,” Reyni wrote Friday 

with a photo of her and Jessica. 

“I lost my beautiful big sister 2 days ago and my heart has 

never felt pain like this.” 

(BPRW) Jessie Trice Community Health System welcomes their new 

Corporate Leader: Ryan Hawkins selected as President & CEO- 

Submitted by Camry Brown 

(Black PR Wire) MIAMI, 

FLA. – Highly regarded 

and recognized as one of 

the preeminent federally 

qualified community health 

care centers in the nation, the 

Board of Directors at Jessie 

Trice Community Health 

System (JTCHS) have selected 

Ryan Hawkins as their new 

President and Chief Executive 

Officer. 

Hawkins, who recently 

began his first day on the 

job, has replaced Annie R. 

Neasman, who has officially 

retired, after having the 

position for over 20 years. 

“We are absolutely thrilled 

to have the leadership, skillset, 

and caliber of Mr. Hawkins 

to serve as our CEO at this 

critically important time in 

the healthcare industry,” 

said Irene Taylor-Wooten, 

JTCHS Board Chair. “I, along 

with the entire board, know 

that Ryan is not only fully 

capable, but is a seasoned 

and experienced healthcare 

executive who is acutely aware 

of our needs, and can develop 

a firm foundation to 

ensure our stability 

and growth. He 

determined to take 

us to the next level 

in our quest to provide quality 

and affordable support and 

service to our customers.” 

Prior to this position, 

Ryan served as Chief 

Operating Officer at Jackson 

North Medical Center. He 

holds a Master of Business 

Administration degree 

from the University of 



Yours in good health. 

March 25, 2024 

This Week in Health: Colorectal Cancer 

Westside Health Brief 

Marsha Mullings, MPH 

• – 

 

 

 

• – 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• – 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Situated across from Provident Park, Holy Cross Health Center is a beacon of health 

and hope for Sistrunk and surrounding Ft. Lauderdale communities Today, we 

provide an array of medical services designed to foster well-being, 

from family medicine and pediatric care to annual wellness visits, 

immunizations and disease prevention – empowering the 

communities we serve to grow and thrive. For an appointment, 

please call or visit us online. holy-cross.com • 954-542-4000 

1409 Sistrunk Blvd, Suite 103 

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33311


WESTSIDE 

GAZETTE 

NEWSPAPER STAFF 

Bobby R. Henry, Sr. 

PUBLISHER 

Sonia Henry-Robinson 

COMPTROLLER 

Tawanna C. Taylor 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

ASST. 

Pamela D. Henry 

SENIOR EDITOR 

Arri D. Henry 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Carma L. Henry 

COMMUNITY NEWS 

EDITOR 

Sylvester “Nunnie’ Robinson 

SPORTS WRITER 

Elizabeth D. Henry 

CIRCULATION 

MANAGER 

NoRegret Media 

WEBMASTER 

Carma T. Taylor 

DIGITAL SPECIALIST 

Eric Sears 

IT SPECIALIST 

Ron Lyons 

PHOTOGRAPHER 

Levi Henry, Jr.: 

PUBLISHER 

(Emeritus) 

Yvonne Henry: 

EDITOR 

(Emeritus) 

WEBSITE: 


Broward County’s 

Largest African 

American Owned and 

Operated Newspaper 

Serving 

Broward - Miami-Dade 

and 

Palm Beach Counties 

545 N.W. 7th Terrace 

Fort Lauderdale, FL 

33311 

Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 5304 

Fort Lauderdale, FL 

33310 

OFFICE (954) 525-1489 

FAX: (954) 525-1861 

E-MAIL ADDRESS: 

MAIN 

wgazette@thewestsidegazette.com 

EDITOR 

pamlewis@thewestsidegazette.com 

COMMUNITY DIGEST 

wgproof@thewestsidegazette.com 

PUBLISHER 

brhsr@thewestsidegazette.com 

PROUD MEMBERS OF 

THE: 

NATIONAL 

NEWSPAPER 

PUBLISHERS 

ASSOCIATION (NNPA) 

AND FLORIDA 

ASSOCIATION 

OF BLACK OWNED 

MEDIA 

The Westside Gazette 

Newspaper is Published Weekly by 

Bi-Ads. Inc. DBA Subscription Rates: 

$50 Annual 

$1.00 per copy 

CREDO -The Black Press 

believes that America can best 

lead the world away from racial 

and national antagonisms 

when it accords to 

every person, regardless of race, 

color or creed, full human and 

legal rights. Hating no person, 

fearing no person, the Black Press 

strives to help every person in the 

firm belief that all are hurt as long 

as anyone is held back. 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

GUIDELINES 

We welcome letters from the 

public. Letters must be signed 

with a clearly legible name along 

with a compete address and 

phone number. No unsigned 

letters will be considered for 

publication. 

The Westside Gazette reserves the 

right to edit letters. Letters should 

be 500 words or less. 

Open letter to: Pamela D. Henry, Editor 

Dear Pamela, 

I take this opportunity to publicly recognize the 

outstanding service provided to our Tri-County Area by the 

Westside Gazette Newspaper for over half a century. 

As a reader and subscriber since the early 1970’s when 

the paper was founded, I am aware of the great value the 

paper has been to the Black Community in keeping it abreast 

of the current and past historical events that impact all of 

us. 

While looking ahead to the up-coming local and national 

elections, I sincerely hope that everyone will get out and 

vote for those whom they feel have been most effective in 

representing the communities and/or districts where they 

have resided. 

Therefore, as a resident of Broward County who has 

resided in the St. George/Broward Estate Neighborhood 

since 1968; and having served as Assistant City Manager of 

Fort Lauderdale (31 years); Boys and Girls Clubs of America 

(10 years); substitute teacher in Broward County Schools (4 

years); United States Air Force (4 years); Advisory Board, 

U.S. Air Force Academy appointed by U.S. Congressman 

E. Clay Shaw; and Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward 

Ambassador, I hereby endorse Mr. Lawrence “Jabbow” 

Martin for Mayor of the City of Lauderhill, Florida. 

Lawrence Martin has served the city faithfully and well 

as commissioner from this area of the city he represents, 

and will continue to work even harder to keep Lauderhill on 

the move to greatness. 

Sincerely, 

James O. Hill 

Ravages of Wars 

Abroad and Within 

America 

“Wars are merely man’s means of killing others 

for things far less valuable than any human!” 

John Johnson II, 03/27/24 

By John Johnson II 

The world has suffered the most 

unimaginable, horrific, and hideous war 

crimes throughout history. Yet only to cry 

out, never again must we standby idly, 

heads bowed, hands wriggling, and with 

a look of despair. Hitler orchestrated the 

Holocaust, murdered millions of Jews and 

countless others he considered misfits. 

Putin currently is killing tens of thousands 

of Ukrainians because he merely wants 

to reclaim their land and its rich mineral 

deposits. Now, Israel wants to kill Hamas even though they’re 

killing thousands of innocent Palestinians. 

America now aids Ukraine from a far while watching Putin’s 

daily killings of innocent women and children. Never again rings 

hollow to these victims. The Ukrainians fight gallantly though 

wondering how to best use their remaining ammunitions. 

Our Nation has painfully watched while refusing to 

adequately arm Ukraine with the most efficient weaponry to 

defend itself. The most powerful country in the world appears 

to act indecisively in fear of angering Putin. Republican 

Congresspersons refuse to approve funding for Ukraine in fear 

of angering Trump. The hollow words of never again mean 

absolutely nothing. The ravages of war continue to feed Putin’s 

insatiable lust for power and vengeance. 

If America is more afraid of Putin than defending democracy 

and freedom throughout the world, we might as well concede 

our democracy. Trump has already convinced Republican 

Congressperson and his MAGA supporters that Putin’s style of 

autocratic governing is better. 

Unfortunately, America finds itself caught up in another 

deadly war involving Israel and Hamas. The dilemma involves 

arming Israel while preventing Palestinians from suffering 

indiscriminate bombings, killings, and starvation. Strangely, 

this war has a similar beginning as did America’s Iraq war. 

The 9/11, attack precipitated this war. 

Remember, America received a thirty-page report before 

September 11, warning that Osama bin Laden planned a 

devastating attack using jet planes. This intelligence report 

received little notice because sources claimed it lacked 

credibility. 

Ironically, former President Bush, used 9/11, which killed 

thousands of Americans, to launch a war against Iraq. He 

used the false pretense that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of 

Mass Destruction. Bush’s war in Iraq resulted in the deaths 

of tens of thousands of Iraqis. Weapons of Mass Destruction 

never surfaced during the entire war. Sadly, the Middle East 

remains destabilized.. 

Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu incidentally repeated 

Bush’s blunder. He too ignored a 48-page intelligence report 

presented weeks before the July massacre. This report 

provided clear intelligence information detailing an imminent 

attack by Hamas using hang gliders. As result of this blunder, 

Netanyahu launched a war of vengeance against Hamas. How 

is that Israelis can allow vengeance to cause them to turn a 

“blind eye” to the killings of innocent Palestinians men, women, 

and children? 

Despite wars abroad, America is embattled in its own war 

at home. This war, which involves racial, social, cultural, and 

political issues, constitutes an existential threat to democracy 

itself. Bombs and bullets aren’t the weapons used to deprive 

individuals of life, freedom, voting rights, and pursuit of 

happiness. Republicans at the state levels have passed 

countless legislations to suppress voters’ rights and women’s 

reproductive rights. 

Though unimaginable, a women can donate a kidney to save 

the life of an unknown individual but can’t abort an unwanted 

pregnancy, even it resulted from rape. The U.S. Constitution 

clearly stipulates that the government can protect all people’s 

rights from states intrusions. However, a divided government 

is even powerless to protect its democracy. 

Yes, the world, which includes America, finds itself trapped 

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com 

Deeply Rooted 


The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves 

the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers that 

may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of 

The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the 

responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this 

newspaper. 

The Gantt Report 

Putin’s Parrots 

By Lucius Gantt 

I have always been reluctant to tell Gantt Report readers 

how to vote or whom to vote for. 

But I must say I am very concerned about Black rappers, 

entertainers, preachers, Imams, and businessmen and 

businesswomen who are quick to tell media outlets how fond 

they are of Donald Trump, the man I comically refer to as “The Russian Babayka”. 

Ye (Kanye West) and Ice Cube have both expressed delight about meeting with Trump or his 

staffers and associates. 

I’ve written a book of poetry but I’m not a rapper by any means. I’ve worked in politics for 

decades, I know political operatives, and, in my mind, Ye and Ice Cube know little or nothing 

about how to maneuver in the world of politics. 

When Black people parrot Donald Trump, they are parroting Russian President Vladimir 

Putin. 

When some Blacks who show love to Trump are asked why, the responses vary. Some say, 

“Trump sent me a check” during the COVID aftermath. Others say, “Biden hasn’t done anything 

for us”. 

Well, if you take a rudimentary look at what Presidents have done for Black Americans, 

no President has done what they could have done or what they should have done, including 

President Barack Obama. 

No disrespect to Barack. Obama was the Black man in the Oval Office, he was never the 

President for Black people. He was the President for ALL Americans and all citizens of all colors. 

The talk about Biden “doing nothing” is an “alternative truth”. In fact, he has signed more 

meaningful legislation than any President with the possible exception of President Lyndon 

Johnson. 

Ye, Ice Cube, Oprah, Beyonce, and other rich Blacks got the same huge tax cuts as white 

billionaires and millionaires. 

Back to the parrots, Blacks who love Trump, know, or should know, that Trump has done 

hateful things to Blacks for a long, long time. He tried to keep Blacks out of his housing units, 

ran full-page ads saying the innocent Central Park Five were guilty and should be executed, 

he said African Americans should go back to Africa to live in huts, called a crazy dark-skinned 

candidate for governor, “Martin Luther King on steroids”, he did everything he could to suppress 

Black votes, he described Black federal and state prosecutors as “racists” and he even fired 

Amorosa. 

Trump wants to end American democracy, abandon the U.S. Constitution, and win the 

Presidential election to become an American dictator, for life! 

Trump’s campaign plan is to please Putin by dividing Americans, pulling out of NATO, 

causing Congressional chaos, and stopping American funding for Ukrainians in their fight 

against Russian invaders. 

Not only should Black voters reconsider showing love to Putin and giving voter support to 

Trump, but Black voters should also not vote for other devilish GOP politicians like Florida 

Governor Ron DeSantis, who is on a crusade to ban Black books; and all other Republicans who 

hate CRT and DEI programs around the country. 

I could go on and on, but you get today’s message. Don’t parrot Putin and Trump or vote for 

candidates that hate you! 

Stop taking political advice from rappers who will encourage you to vote for white supremacists 

who invite them to White House Klan meetings to eat stale donuts and cold coffee. 

A Full Court Press 

to Get the Lead Out 

By Ben Jealous 

There’s nothing quite like seeing a kid 

who was born healthy but now suffers 

cognitive impairment and is prone to 

outbursts of anger. As a volunteer restoring 

six-story walk-ups in Harlem in the early 

90s, I saw how lead paint chips and dust 

were wreaking havoc on the kids in those 

low-income buildings. 

The kids not only lived in a cloud of 

despair but in a cloud of lead-infused dust. 

The former made achieving their dreams 

difficult. The latter made it impossible. Fast 

forward a few decades and the threat of lead poisoning has 

continued to manifest in public health crises. It was at the 

heart of the well-publicized water crisis in Flint, Michigan that 

started in 2014 … and the subsequent not-as-well-publicized 

water crises in Benton Harbor, MI and Pittsburgh, PA just a 

few short years later. 

Now, thanks to community organizers, advocacy groups, the 

federal government, and even some private companies, we’re 

seeing a major push to eliminate the lingering threat of lead. It 

is thanks to the hard work of activists like Gabriel Gray. Gray 

is an organizer with Pittsburgh United, a local advocacy group 

that works on clean water and housing issues. She came to this 

work during her own city’s water crisis. 

Only finding out about the crisis once there was a run on 

bottled water in all the local stores, Gray applied with the 

Pittsburgh Water and Sewage Authority (PWSA) for a lead 

line replacement for her home and was denied. Then she 

started organizing with her neighbors. “Because of the work 

the Pittsburgh United Our Water Campaign did to hold 

PWSA accountable, it is now the only public water authority 

in Pennsylvania to be governed by the state’s Public Utility 

Commission (PUC). 

However, my neighborhood borders an area with a different 

water authority not governed by the PUC – the Wilkinsburg- 

Penn Joint Water Authority. We’re now working with 

Wilkinsburg-Penn to stress the importance of equity in its 

lead line replacement plans, after finding that environmental 

justice communities had been slower to receive replacements 

than other communities in that authority’s jurisdiction.” The 

increased focus on stopping lead poisoning is also thanks to 

tireless advocates like my friend Ruth Ann Norton, who heads 

the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI) in Baltimore. 

GHHI was recently chosen to administer $50 million in 

grants across the mid-Atlantic under the EPA’s Environmental 

Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program created 

by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Norton says, “We can 

make homes, schools, childcare centers lead-free, as long as we 

have a comprehensive approach and flexible funding. And we 

can do this simultaneously as we address climate work, with 

some of the same funding. It’s an opportunity we need to seize 

if we’re going to end lead’s toxic legacy.” 

There are additional rays of hope thanks to healthcare 

providers like GHHI partner Penn Medicine’s Lancaster 

General Health. The Hospital put $50 million into a community 

health improvement initiative to eliminate childhood lead 


AFTER “THE 

WALLS CAME 

TUMBLING DOWN” 

By Oscar H. Blayton 

There is a 

narrative 

that many 

of us heard 

when we 

were children. 

This 

story tells 

how Joshua 

and the 

Israelites 

“Fought the Battle of Jerico.” 

According to one writer, “The 

story of the Israelite conquest 

of Jericho (Joshua 2-6) is one 

of the best known and best 

loved in the entire Bible. The 

vivid description of faith and 

victory has been a source of 

inspiration for countless generations 

of Bible readers.” 

But that story is about invasion 

and war, and ultimately 

the deaths of a great number 

of people. And it gives us 

cause to wonder why it gives 

so many people a warm fuzzy 

feeling about their faith. 

One answer to this question 

might be because it is a tale 

that helps some who share a 

Judeo-Christian imaginary 

built upon a foundational 

belief that there is a certain 

correctness of action when 

dealing with others outside 

of their faith community. The 

belief (or faith) underpinning 

this imaginary, and the 

sense of correctness of this 

religious community, incorporates 

a rather improbable 

set of events, which could be 

described as miraculous and 

evidence of divine favor. 

After the people of Israel 

had ritualistically marched 

around the city of Jerico for 

several days, after they blew 

their ram horns and shouted, 

and after the walls came tumbling 

down; the story did not 

end there. The most important 

part of this story is what 

happened next. 

According to the King James 


thewestsidegazette.com


BUSINESS 

UNITY IN THE 

COMMUNITY DIRECTORY 

Cell: 754-234-4485 

Office: 954-733-7700 ext. 111 

Fax: 954-731-0333 

Kenneth R. Thurston 

REALTOR, CPM, CAM 

4360 W. Oakland Park Blvd Email: ken@acclaimcares.com 

Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313 

Web: www.acclaimcares.com 

Imola Races into the U. S. Market 

with four state EXPANSION, says 

Rodney Henry and Erik Tazzari 

Successful media and lifestyle entrepreneur Rodney 

Henry in acquisition deal with Erik Tazzari of Tazzari 

Group, Italy - Will expand operations and bring 

manufacturing to the U.S. 

By Kelvin Cowans 

Tazzari Group is a group of 

companies founded in 1963 by 

the entrepreneur Giorgio Tazzari. 

However, it is thanks to an idea 

in 2006 that was clearly ahead of 

its time by his son, President Erik 

Tazzari that the ZERO Project came 

to life. The goal was to create an 

electric car for urban use with neverbefore-seen 

technical characteristics, 

including an innovative ultralight 

chassis technology that uses 

aluminum fusions assembled with 

aerospace structural glues and 

the most advanced technology for 

lithium battery management for 

lithium battery technology. 

“We are excited to 

announce the expansion of 

manufacturing to the U.S. 

as Imola Automotive USA, 

LLC under the leadership 

of Rodney Henry our new 

CEO. Mr. Henry will lead 

the complete expansion of 

Imola Automotive USA 

including all Tazzari brands. 

I will continue operating all 

existing businesses in the 

same fashion at our plant in 



Rodney Henry CEO 

Imola Automotive USA, 

and President of Tazzari 

Group, Erik Tazzari 

extraordinary performance and autonomy. The Zero’s path of 

development resulted in the production of the world’s first zeroemission 

city car born completely and exclusively electric with 

Rodney Henry CEO of Imola 

Automotive USA, LLC. 


Black Americans Continue 

to Face Hurdles to 

Homeownership CFPB and 

National Association of 

Realtors cite drawbacks; 

White House plan proposes 

solutions for an estimated 3.5 

million first-time buyers 

By Charlene Crowell 

The approaching 

spring season signals 

not only a change in 

weather; but an annual 

surge in homebuying. 

Underscoring this longstanding 

trend is the 

annual April observance 

of Fair Housing Month. 

Enacted in 1968, the 

Fair Housing Act banned discrimination on the basis of race, 

religion, and national origin in the sale or rental of housing by 

banks, insurers and real estate agents. 

But fair housing for whom? While homeownership has been 

the primary means for most American families to build and 

pass on inter-generational wealth, Blacks rank last in their 

ability to achieve the wealth-building benefits of buying a 

home. 

According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2024 

Snapshot of Race and Home Buying in America report, disparity 

between Black homeownership rates and those of other racial 

and ethnic groups has actually grown larger since 2012. Only 

44.1 percent of Blacks owned homes compared to majorities of 

Asian-Americans (63.3 percent), and Latinos (51.1 percent). 

“The connection between homeownership rates and net 

worth is a critical one. Net worth, or the total assets minus 

household liabilities, is an essential indicator of financial 

stability and economic well-being,” states the report. 

After more than 50 years of federal laws – envisioned and 

enacted in hopes of helping Black America reduce lingering 

wealth disparities – NAR lists a litany of familiar reasons 

for homeownership disparities that read like a set of falling 

dominoes: 


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CHURCH DIRECTORY 

First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc. 

4699 West Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313 

(954) 735-1500 - Fax (954) 735-1999 

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS 

Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 

Church Website: www.fbcpineygrove.org 

Dr. Ezra Tillman, Jr. Senior Pastor 

WORSHIP SERVICES 

Sunday ..... 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM In Person Virtual 

Sunday School.......9:30 AM In Person 

Bible Study on Wednesday.......11:30 AM & 7:00 PM In Person & Virtual 

"Winning the World for Jesus" 

Harris Chapel Church, Inc. 

Rev. Stanley Melek, M.Div 

e-mail: harrischapelinc@gmail.com 

2351 N.W. 26th Street 

Oakland Park, Florida 33311 

Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520 

SERVICES 

Sunday Worship........................10:30 AM 

Church School................................................9:00 AM 

Wednesday (Bible Study).........11:00 AM to 7:00 PM 

Living Waters Christian Fellowship 

Meeting at Central Charter School Building #5 

4515 N. St. Rd. 7 (US 441) 

(954) 295-6894 

SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 AM 

Iwcf2019@gmail.com (Church) 

lerrub13@gamil.com (Pastor) 

Rev. Anthony & Virgina Burrell 

Jesus said, ‘‘let anyone who is thristy come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37) 

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church 

Reverend Henry E. Green, III, Pastor 

401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 

Phone: (954) 463-6309 Fax: (954) 522-4113 

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM 

Email info@mthermonftl.com 

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES 

Worship Service....................................9:00 AM 

In person/www.mounthermonftl.or/YouTube Live/FaceBook 

Church School.............................9:30 AM 

BIBLE STUDY: Wednesday........................10:00 AM 

Bible Study Wednesday ...............7:00 PM via Zoom 

Meeting ID: 826 2716 8390 access code 55568988# 

Daily Prayer Line.............................6:00 AM 

(716) 427-1407 Access Code 296233# 

(712) 432-1500 Access Code 296233# 

New Mount Olive Baptist Church 

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor 

400 N.W. 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 

Office (954) 463-5126 - Fax: (954) 525-9454 

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS 

Monday- Friday 8:00 - 4:00 PM 

WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY 

Sunday..............8:00 & 10:45 AM 

Sunday School ..................10:00 AM 

Wednesday Noonday Service................12:00 to 12:30 

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting..........6:30 PM 

Wednesday Night Bible Study..........7:00 PM 

Where the Kingdom of God is increased through Fellowship. 

Ledership, Ownership and Worship F.L.O.W. To Greatness! 

Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church 

2551 N.W. 22nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 

P.O. Box 122256, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 

(954) 733-3285 - Fax: (954) 733-9231 

Email: mountnebobaptist@bellsouth.net 

Website: www.mountnebobaptist.org 

WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY 

(In Person) 

Sunday..........................10:00 A.M. 

Sunday School ....................8:30 A.M. 

Tuesday Night Bible Study..............7:00 P.M. 

“Reaching Our Wrold One Persons At A Time” 

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 

Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher 

1161 NW 29th Terrace; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 

P.O. Box 5545; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310 

(954) 581-0455 - (FAX) 581-4350 

mzbc2011@gmail.com - www.mtzionmbc1161.com 

Sunday School...................................................9:00 A.M. 

Sunday Worship Service..................................10:15 A.M. 

Communion Service (1st Sunday)................10:15 A.M. 

Wednesday Night Prayer Service....................6:30 P.M. 

Wednesday Night Bible Study.............................7:00 P.M. 

“A Safe Haven, and you can get to Heaven from here” 

New Birth Baptist Church 

Catheral of Faith International 

Bishop Victor T. Curry, M. Min., D. Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher 

ORDER OF SERVICES 

Sunday Worship.............................9:30 AM 

Sunday School ..............................8:30 AM 

Tuesday Bible Study...................7:00 PM 

Wednsday Bible Study..................10:30 AM 

(305) 685-3700 (0) * (305) 685-0705 (f) 

www.nbbcmiami.org 

Deeply Rooted 

New Creation Baptist Church In Christ 

r.curry7me@gmail.com 

Drive-Up Sunday Worship - 10 AM 

4001 North Dixie Hwy. 

Deerfield Beach, FL 33064 

(954) 943-9116 

newcreationbcic@gmail.com 

Williams Memorial CME Church 

644-646 N.W. 13th Terrace 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 

Office: (954) 462-8222. Email: inf@wmsfl.org 

Reverend Errol Darville, Pastor 

E-mail: erroldarville@gmail.com 

WORSHIP SERVICES and BIBLE STUDY 

In person, Zoom; 646-558-8636 ID: 954-462-8222, Stream: Facebook Live @ WMCMECHURCH 

Sunday Church School..................... 9:00 AM 

Sunday Worship Service ................10:00 AM 

Tuesday Prayer Meeting...............7:00 PM 

Tuesday Bibke Study................7:30 PM 

"Celebrating over 100 years of SERVICES" 

St. Ruth Missionsary Baptist Church 

145 NW 5th Avenue 

Dania Beach, FL 33004 

(954) 922-2529 

WORSHIP SERVICES 

Wednesday (NOON DAY PRAYER.......................12- 1 PM 

Sunday Worship Service ...................................10:00 AM 

Website: www.struthmbc.org 

"Celebrating 115 Years of Service" 

Victory Baptist Church Independent 

Pastor Keith Cunningham 

2241 Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 

Church: (954) 284-9413 

Sunday School .................................................9:45 AM 

Worship Service Sunday Morning..................................11:00 AM 

Sunday Evening Service.........................................6:00 PM 

Bible Study...................................................7:30 PM 

Wednesday Evening Bible Study & Prayer ........................7:00 PM 

Saturday Morning Soul Winning/Visitation..............10:00 AM 

Men’s Fellowship (Every 2nd & last Tuesdays)................6:00 PM 

Ladies Fellowship (the last Saturday of each month)..........................5:00 PM 

Youth Fellowship (Every Friday)...............6:30 PM 

Discover GOD Let Us Help You Find The Way To Jesus Christ 

We STRIVE to PROVIDER Ministries that matter Today to Whole Body of Christ, 

not only the Believers, but also for those stranded on the “Jericho Road”! 

“Celebrating over 85 Years of FAITH and FAVOR! 

Come to the WILL.....We’ll show You the WAY: Jesus the Christ” 

Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church 

Rev. Dr. William Calvin Haralson, Pastor 

522 N.W. 9th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 

Church: (954) 647-8254 

Email: AMEZ522@Yahoo.com 

SERVICES 

Sunday School.................................................10:15 AM 

Sunday Morning Worship.................................11:00 AM 

Bible Study.....................................................7:30 PM 

“Reaching beyond the four walls touching lives, touching communities”. 

Jesus Christ Ministry Of Faith, Inc. 

Jesus Loves You 

Join Us Sundays 

9 AM 

477 NW 27 Avenue 


JCMOFINC@gmail.com 

The New Beginning Embassy of Praise 

The Most Reverend John H. Taylor, Bishop, Sr. Pastor 

Dr. ML Taylor, Executive Pastor 

4035 SW 18th Street, West Park, FL 33023 

Sunday Worship Service - 11:00 a.m. 

Conference Line - 848-220-3300 ID: 33023 

Bible Study - Tuesdays - 7:30 p.m. 

Noonday Prayer - Wednesdays- 12:00 noon 

Come Worship With Us For Your New Begnning! 

Romans 10:13 


Bible Trivia 

‘Test Your Bible Knowledge' 

1) 'God knows how much we can bear’ is a misquoted 

scripture. What does the scripture actually say? 

2) According to scripture the duration of a marriage 

should last how long? 

3) Is marriage an eternal thing? 

4) According to scripture are abortions approved by 

God? 

5) What is the meaning of the word ‘propitiation’? 

6) What is the meaning of ‘Shekinah Glory’? 

7) What type of word is ‘ABBA’ and what does it mean? 

8) Complete the following: He will ________ those who 

have fallen asleep in him. 

9) Concerning “ End Time prophecy” what is the preterist 

view? 

Answers - 1) 1st Corinthians 10:13; 2) Matthew 19:3- 

9; 3) Matthew 22:30; 4) Exodus 20:13 & Deuteronomy 

5:17; 5) 1st John 2:1-2; 6) Exodus 40:34-38; 7) Galatians 

4:6 ‘ Aramaic, Father; 8) 1st Thessalonians 4:13- 

14; 9) Suggest that the Book of Revelation was fulfilled 

before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and there 

will be no millennium at all. 

Boston news pioneer 

Sarah-Ann Shaw dies at 90 

Sarah-Ann Shaw, legendary Boston reporter and a 

member of the original Say Brother team, sits second 

from left during a 50th anniversary episode of the show, 

now called Basic Black. Shaw has died at the age of 90. 

Meredith Nierman GBH News 

Cont'd on Page 9 

Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church 

869 N.W. 27th Ave 

Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33311 

954-581-9065 

Dr. James Ray, Pastor Emeritus (Deceased) Lady Betty Ray 

Pastor Search Announcement & Qualifications 

Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church has been in existence for 46 

years Currently. the active membership is approximately 101 and 

there are 7 ministries. The church is prayfully seeking a full-time 

Baptist pastor who is called by God and equipped to effectively 

preach and teach the Word of God. The candidate must be able to 

fulfill the spiritual needs of the congregation through visitations, 

prayer, conducting weddings, funerals, and administering ordinances 

of the church. The candidate must also possess the biblical 

and spiritual qualities as outlined in Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:S- 

9. 

Pastor Qualifications: 

• Be a licensed and ordained minister in the Baptist faith. 

• Be a visionary with sound judgment and discernment. 

• Have a minimum of five years (preferred) of pastoral experience. 

• Have at least a bachelor's degree from an accredited College/ 

University and Theological Seminary training (preferred). 

• Possess effective communication skills (written and oral). 

• Growth oriented and pastoral care capability. 

• Demonstrate financial awareness and responsibility. 

• Committed to continuing education and development, 

• Demonstrate ability to work effectively with a congregation 

across all ages and gender. 

• Possess effective administration skills and able to organlze 

and lead staff. 

• Three letters of recommendation (clergy, layperson, and personal). 

• Copies of license, ordination, transcripts of educational accomplishments. 

Application Submission Instructions: 

The following must be submitted by: 05/15/2024. 

> Current Resume 

> Copy of license, ordination certificate, degrees, and any other 

certificates. 

> CD or DVD of recent sermons and Bible teachings, i.e. Bible 

study 

> Current background check 

How to Submit the Application: 

* Mailing address and/or Email address Mailing address: 

* Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church 

869 N.W. 27th Ave 

Fort Lauderdetee Fl 33311 

C/O Deacon Willie Thomas, Chairman of Deacons 

Email address: bethlehempastorialcommittee@gmail.com 

***INCOMPLETE AND/OR LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE 

CONSIDERED***


Remembering 

Carroll B. Williams, Jr., pioneering 

environmental scientist 

Williams, who lived in Berkeley and taught at Cal, was the first 

African American scientist to be hired by the U.S. Forest Service. 

Carroll B. Williams, who 

died on March 1, 2024, was 

among the first African 

Americans to be a part of 

the environmental science 

and forestry faculties at 

both Yale and UC Berkeley. 

Courtesy of Carroll family 

By Maiya Willilams 

Verrone and Blake 

Williams 

Carroll Burns Williams 

Jr. passed away peacefully 

on March 1, 2024, while in 

hospice care near his home 

in Berkeley. He was 94 years 

old. Carroll was a pioneer in 

environmental sciences as 

the first African American to 

receive a doctorate in forestry 

and entomology, the first 

African American scientist 

to be hired by the U.S. Forest 

Service, and among the first 

African Americans to be a part 

of the environmental science 

and forestry faculties at both 

Yale and UC Berkeley. 

Throughout his career as 

an African American scientist 

and academic, Carroll 

encountered many challenges 

but never allowed them to 

deter him from his goals, 

embracing a credo by Thoreau 

that he often quoted: “Go 

confidently in the direction of 

your dreams. Live the life you 

have imagined.” 

Born in St. Louis in 1929, 

Carroll was the oldest of five 

children. During the Great 

Depression he was often sent 

to live with his extended 

relatives in Leavenworth, 

Kansas, including uncles who 

served in the 10th Cavalry 

known as “The Buffalo 

Soldiers.” This began a 

lifelong interest in exploring 

his family history on the 

western frontier. 

Following the Great 

Depression his family moved 

to Chicago, Illinois, where 

his father opened a popular 

neighborhood pharmacy. 

Carroll attended Lindblom 

High School where he received 

top grades, played football, 

and ran track, at one point 

receiving “starting” tips from 

Olympic gold medalist Jessie 

Owens. Carroll graduated in 

the top 10 percent of his high 

school class and was accepted 

into the School of Natural 

Resources at his dream college, 

the University of Michigan, 

following in the footsteps of 

his father who had graduated 

from Michigan’s College of 

Pharmacy. During Carroll’s 

Freshman year he played on 

the Michigan football team, 

igniting a passion for the 

Wolverines that he carried 

throughout his life. 

When the Korean War 

began, Carroll volunteered 

to serve in the United States 

Marine Corps. As one of the 

first African American soldiers 

to serve in an integrated 

unit, he faced many racial 

challenges. He persevered 

and eventually was promoted 

to the rank of Staff Sergeant. 

Carroll fought in the Battle for 

“Outpost Vegas,” which was 

considered one of the bloodiest 

encounters during the Korean 

War. Out of three hundred 

troops or more Carroll was 

one of approximately eleven 

soldiers to “walk off the hill” 

when reinforcements finally 

arrived. To sustain him 

through those difficult days, 

Carroll took comfort in two 

poems given to him by his 

parents that he’d tucked in 

his father’s Bible: “Invictus” 

by William Ernest Henley, 

and “If” by Rudyard Kipling. 

Later in life he often recited 

these poems to inspire others 



James C. Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 

2324 Sistrunk Boulevard 


(954) 584-3940 

Contact – Mrs. Avis Boyd-Gaines, Owner 

President, Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer 

James C. Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. 

2324 Sistrunk Boulevard 


(954) 584-3940 

Mrs. Avis Boyd-Gaines, Owner 

Funeral Director and Embalmer 

Mrs. Alexis Gainer-Sullivan, 

Funeral Director 

and Embalmer - Intern 

Position 

Full-Time Operations Administrative Assistant – Apply within 

Salary 

$12.00 - $15.00/hour (salary can be increased base upon performance) 

– one week paid vacation 

Schedule 

Hours per week (40) - 10:00 am – 5:00 pm 

Job Description 

This full-time position will provide administrative and operational 

support to the Funeral Service Team. Primary responsibilities 

include, preparation of funeral service administration documents, 

production of funeral service printed materials and additional administrative, 

clerical and customer service duties. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

- Prepare, monitor and maintain family case files 

- Type funeral service documents to include obituaries, 

death certificates, veterans cemetery requests and social security 

notification 

- Design printed memorial tribute materials for funeral services 

and ceremonies 

- Scan and process photographs 

- Prepare letters, certificates and other written correspondence 

- Answer telephones and greet guests Requirements: 

- The ideal candidate must possess; excellent verbal and 

written communications skills; strong time management skills 

and multi-tasking abilities; exceptional computer literacy: Microsoft 

Office and data-entry, (additional Microsoft Publisher, Adobe 

Photoshop and graphic design experience preferred) and typing 

skills of 50 Words Per Minute. 

- In addition, the ideal candidate need to encompass and 

value the following personal and professional attributes: Confidentiality, 

Accuracy, Adaptability, Flexibility, Teamwork, Professionalism, 

Initiative, Dependability, and Honesty. 

Boston news pioneer Sarah-Ann Shaw 

cont’d from Page 8 

By Macy Lipkin and Matt Baskin 

(Source GBH): 

Sarah-Ann Shaw, the first Black woman television reporter 

in the Boston area, has died. She was 90 years old. 

A Boston native, Shaw grew up in Roxbury. 

Her passing was first reported by WBZ-TV, the outlet she 

worked for from 1969 until her retirement in 2000. 

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Sarah-Ann 

Shaw, the first Black reporter at WBZ Boston. Her pioneering 

spirit, dedication to journalism, and commitment to amplifying 

marginalized voices have left an indelible mark on our industry 

and community,” WBZ President and General Manager Justin 

Draper said in a statement. “Sarah-Ann’s fearless pursuit of 

truth and unwavering advocacy for social justice set a standard 

for excellence that will continue to inspire generations to come. 

Our thoughts are with her loved ones during this difficult time, 

and we honor her legacy.” 

In 1968, Shaw was part of the team behind GBH’s Say 

Brother, now named Basic Black. The program was created 

in response to the demand for public television programs 

reflecting the concerns of communities of color during the Civil 

Rights Movement. 

In 2018, Shaw returned for the 50th anniversary episode 

alongside other former hosts, guests and then-host Callie 

Crossley. 

“It’s very, very important that Say Brother did shows and 

expose people in the community about different areas — police 

brutality, education — that they could not really get from other 

sources,” Shaw said during that anniversary episode. 

The Rev. Liz Walker, who worked with Shaw at WBZ in 

the 1980s, recalls her as a tough person who stood up for her 

community. 

“[She was] the epitome of someone who loved Boston and 

was willing to fight for Boston — and fight Boston when she 

had to, if she believed that Boston wasn’t living up to its role as 

a city of all the people,” Walker said. 

Marita Rivero, a former producer and manager at GBH, 

said Shaw was a true leader. 

“She helped us think about the environments we were living 

in, she helped us understand our community, helped us develop 

a sense of obligation toward that community and toward our 

craft,” Rivero said. “She was just a terrific mentor.” 

Shaw’s mentees remember her as someone who paved the 

way for Black female journalists in Boston. 

“I think a lot of us would’ve taken much longer to get where 

we are if it hadn’t been for her. She was a door opener,” Rivero 

said. 

Local journalist Carmen Fields remembers Shaw as both a 

mentor and friend. The two first met while Fields was working 

in Jefferson City, Missouri. 

“I got in touch when I came to Boston, and she proved to 

be just the very best journalistic resource and personal friend 

that I’ve ever had. She was just an extraordinarily giving and 

caring human being,” said Fields. 

That care extended beyond the newsroom, Fields added. 

“When my mother came to visit from Tulsa, [Shaw] would 

always invite us to dinner where she cooked. I mean, that’s 

how close and how giving she was,” Fields said. 

Deeply Rooted 

A Good Sheperd 

Funeral Home Services 

McWhite’s Funeral 

Home Services 


VIEW OBITUARIES ONLINE AT 


****************************** 

Acknowledgments/ Announcements: 

In Memoriam * Death Notices * Happy Birthdays 

Card of Thanks* Remembrances 

******************************************************************* 

HAVE YOUR CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENTS PLACED ON THIS PAGE (954) 525-1489 

Willie 

Birdine Jr. 

Funeral 

Services 

were held 

March 30th 

at Lighthouse. 

Richard 

Lawson 

Funeral 

Services 

will be held 

March 30th 

at Event 

Center. 

Bernest 

Mosley 

Memorial 

Services were 

held March 

23rd at 

Lighthouse 

Worship 

Center 

C.O.G.I.C. 

Evangelist Rev. 

Ricky D. Rollins 

Funeral 

Services will 

be held March 

29TH A New Mt. 

Zion Missionary 

Baptist Church. 

Obituaries 

Death and Funeral Notices 

James C. Boyd 


Sylvester 

McKinnie, Sr. 

- 84 

Funeral 

Services were 

held March 

23rd at James 

C. Boyd’s 

Memorial 

Chapel with 

Pastor Kevin Ownes officiating. 

Sandra L. 

Seavers – 73 

Funeral 

Services 

were held 

March 19th at 

New Mount 

Oliver Baptist 

Church with 

Dr. Marcus D. 

Davidson officiating. 

Caroline Thomas – 88. 

Shalonda 

“LaLa – Fluffy” 

G. Thomas- 61 

Funeral 

Services were 

held March 

23rd at New 

Hope Baptist 

Church with 

Pastor Ricky 

Scott officiating. 

A 

Family That 

Prays 

Together, 

Stays 

Together 

Shelford 

Arrindale – 59 

Funeral Services 

were held March 

21st 

at McWhite’s 

Funeral Home. 

Gilbert 

Archibald 

Harry - 78 

Funeral 

Services 

were held 

March 22nd 

at McWhite’s 

Funeral Home 

Chapel. 

Otis 

Harvey, Jr. 

– 64 

Funeral 

Services were 

held March 

March 23rd 

at Mcwhite’s 

Funeral Home 

Chapel. 

Annie Laura 

Hudson - 77 

Funeral 

Services were 

held March 20th 

at 

McWhite’s 

Funeral Home 

Chapel. 

Judith Maxine 

Mitchell 

Funeral 

Services were 

held March 

March 23rd at 

Resurrection 

Life Fellowship 

Church of god 

with Bishop 

Gerard M. Joseph officiating. 

Maggie J.A. “Diva” 

Thrower - 73 

Funeral 

Services were held 

March 23rd at 

Mt. Nebo 

Missionary 

Baptist Church Inc. 

Rudolph Jusiah 

Waugh – 72 

Funeral 

Services were held 

March 23rd at The 

New Birth House 

of Prayer For All 

People. 

Rudolph 

Webley – 82 

Funeral 

Services were 

held March 

22nd at 

Mount Olive 

Pentecostal 

Church. 

Roy Mizell & Kurtz 


Birdalla 

Best-Bennett 

- 103 

Funeral 

Services were 

held March 

23rd at Royal 

Assembly 

Church of the 

Living God Inc. 

Lillian 

Gaines 

Hearns – 95 

Funeral 

Services 

were held 

March 23rd 

at Roy Mizell 

& Kurtz 

Worship Center. 

Ida Louise 

Smith - 95 

Funeral 

Services 

were held 

March 21st 

at Roy Mizell 

& Kurtz 

Worship 

Center. 

“NEVER BE LIMITED 

BY OTHER 

PEOPLE’S LIMITED 

IMAGINATIONS.” 

Dr. Mae Jemison - 

First African American 

Female 

Astronaut.


Deeply Rooted 


PBC Elected Officials Hosting Sandy Woods 

Submitted by Staff 

Reporter 

WEST PALM BEACH, 

FL -– The Palm Beach 

County Black Elected 

Officials organization 

hosted automobile sales 

entrepreneur Sanford 

“Sandy” Woods as keynote 

speaker for their annual 

scholarship fundraising event 

on Saturday, March 23, 11 

a.m., at the West Palm Beach 


(NNPA Newswire Senior 

National Correspondent @ 

StacyBrownMedia) 

In a powerful ode to 

womanhood, MC Lyte, the 

mogul, voice-over artist, and 

Marriott, 1101 Okeechobee 

Blvd. For decades Wood’s 

company consistently has been 

listed as one of the country’s 

top 20 dealerships on Black 

Enterprise’s “Auto Dealer 

100” list. Among innumerable 

accolades, Woods was listed 

in Who’s Who Among African 

Americans in 2008. He earned 

a Lifetime Achievement 

Award from the National 

Association of Minority Auto 

Dealers in 2015. 

The History Makers 

Digital Depository for the 

Black Experience cites 

Woods involvement in many 

professional organizations 

within the automotive 

industry, including serving 

as a member of the board of 

directors for Toyota Lexus 

Minority Owners Dealership 

Association and as vice 

chairman of the National 

Association of Minority Auto 

Dealers. 

Born Feb. 11, 1949 

in Dermott, AK, Woods 

received his B.S. degree in 

mathematics from Western 

New Mexico University in 

Silver City, NM in 1971 on his 

way to a meteoric career. 

In January 1973, Woods 

was hired by the Chrysler 

Corporation in Denver, CO as 

an administrative trainee. 

After being promoted to 

four sales districts in five 

years, Woods in 1978 was 

EXCLUSIVE MC Lyte Releases Empowering 

Anthem “WOMAN” Featuring Hip Hop Icons 

(Courtesy MC Lyte/Sunny Girl, Inc). 

hip-hop legend, is dropping 

her latest single, “Woman.” 

The track collaborates with 

fellow hip-hop pioneers Salt 

from Salt-N-Pepa, Big Daddy 

Kane, and R&B crooner 

Raheem DeVaughn. Produced 

Hollywood native participates 

in bilateral exercise in Japan 

By Mass Communication 

Specialist Bryan Niegel, 

Navy Office of Community 

Outreach 

MILLINGTON, TENN 

- Lt. Cmdr. Erik Knebel, a 

native of Hollywood, Florida, 

recently participated in 

Exercise Keen Edge 2024 

while serving the U.S. Navy 

in Japan. 

Knebel graduated from 

Cypress Bay High School in 

2005. 

The skills and values 

needed to succeed in the Navy 

are similar to those found in 

Hollywood. 

“Growing up in my 

hometown I learned to check 

any body of water for gators, 

Portuguese man-of-war, or 

algae blooms before you jump 

in,” said Knebel. 

Knebel joined the Navy 

15 years ago. Today, Knebel 

serves as a cryptologic 

warfare officer. 

“I was heavily influenced 

by the tragedy and horror of 

9/11,” said Knebel. “I initially 

wanted to join the Army, but 

Navy recruiting was more 

effective at the time.” 

Keen Edge is a bilateral 

command post exercise 

conducted by the U.S. military 

and Japan’s Self Defense 

Forces, with participation 

from the Australian Defense 

Force. The exercise ran from 

Jan. 31 to Feb. 7 and is the 

The single, a joint venture between My Block Inc. 

and Sunny Girl Inc., with distribution by Vydia, 

promises to uplift and inspire all women. 

by Warryn Campbell, 

“Woman” is a bold and lyrical 

celebration of women across 

the globe. 

The single, a joint 

venture between My Block 

Inc. and Sunny Girl Inc., 

with distribution by Vydia, 

promises to uplift and inspire 

all women. Lyte, known for 

her groundbreaking career 

spanning over 30 years, 

was the first female rapper 

nominated for a Grammy 

Award and the first rap artist 

to perform at Carnegie Hall. 

“We were in a studio, me, 

Kane, Raheem with Warryn 

Campbell and the music was 

already done,” Lyte told the 

NNPA Newswire. “We were 

listening to it, trying to assess 

what might happen. Raheem 

went into the booth and 

started singing ‘woman,’ and 

just hearing that, I was like, 

‘this is an ode to women.’ 

Lyte noted how she often 

speaks about her experience, 

and contemplates how 

everyone can celebrate 

women, particularly sending 

a message to individuals of 

color that their struggle isn’t 

in vain. “My greatest hope is 

the acknowledgement of what 

has been and what has gotten 

us here,” Lyte affirmed. 

“Generally speaking, 

women are taking back their 

power,” she proclaimed. 

“There are many women 



25 Million Black and Latino Voters 

are Missing or Incorrectly 

Listed in U.S. Voter Databases 

from Front Page 

McKinney Gray for the 

Democracy & Power 

Innovation Fund (DPI), 

has unveiled a concerning 

reality: Nearly 25 million 

latest in a series of joint 

command post exercises 

designed to increase the 

integrated joint operational 

capability, refine command 

and control procedures and 



Black and Latino eligible voters are 

effectively absent from voter databases, 

making them virtually unreachable by 

traditional outreach methods. 

The revelation is crucial as America 

heads toward the all-important 

November general election between 

Democratic incumbent Joe Biden and 

the twice-impeached and four-times 

indicted former president Donald 

Trump. 

Drawing from U.S. Census data 

and a recent Stanford study, the report 

estimated that approximately 24.76 

million Black and Latino voters are 

either missing or inaccurately listed in 

databases sold by vendors. 

The disparities revealed in the 

report are stark, with 40 percent of 

Black and Latino individuals missing 

from voter outreach efforts, compared 

to only 18 percent of white individuals. 

The paper-thin margins seen in recent 

crucial races serve as evidence that such 

glaring disparities in representation 

could significantly impact the results 

of future elections. During the 2020 

election, Biden beat Trump in the 

popular vote by approximately 81.2 

million to 74.2 million votes, or a 51.3 

percent to 46.9 percent margin. 

“For instance, almost half of eligible 

Black and Latino voters won’t be seen 

or contacted by traditional campaigns. 

This is a five-alarm fire for our 

democracy,” said Miriam McKinney 

Gray, founder and CEO of McKinney 

Gray Analytics, who analyzed the data 

based on U.S. Census records and a 

Stanford study. 

“The only way many people 

will learn about the election is 

through independent power-building 

organizations. Groups like Voces de 

La Frontera in Wisconsin and Detroit 

Action are using friends-and-family 

organizing to find missing voters and 

manually rebuilding lists of voters 

who have been wrongly purged from 

government voter rolls.” 

Twenty-five million Black and 

Latino people “are invisible to the very 

campaigns that want their support. 

From our research on Black values, 

we know who they are and the tools 

needed to reach them,” said Dr. Katrina 

Gamble of Sojourn Strategies. “It’s not 

too late to change course, but that takes 

breaking barriers that campaigns have 

blindly accepted for decades. We think 

democracy is worth it, and so are the 

people who have been excluded.” 

Gamble is conducting 

groundbreaking nationwide research 

into the differences in values and 

political behavior of the Black electorate 

and analyzing clusters or segments of 

Black voters for the first time. 

promoted in the Denver zone 

office to the truck manager, 

business management 

manager, and field operations 

manager three midmanagement 

positions. 

In 1982, Woods was 

promoted to regional manager 

of Chrysler’s Detroit Import 

Operations Group, then 

to Chrysler’s Home Office 

in Highland Park in 1983, 

managing dealer placement 

for the western half of the 

United States. 

Woods next moved to 

Minneapolis, MN as the 

assistant zone manager in 

1984, then he was promoted 

two years later to manage 

Chrysler’s largest sales zone, 

Washington D.C. 

Woods left his 16-year 

Chrysler career in 1989 to 

establish the Brandon Dodge 

automotive dealership, in 

Tampa Bay, Fla. 

As Woods’ businesses 

expanded to real estate 

development, restaurants, 

and automotive collision 

centers, he consolidated his 

dealerships and became 

president of Lexus of Ann 

Arbor, MI, Infiniti of Ann 

Arbor, MI, Treasure Coast 

Lexus, of Fort Pierce, Fla., 

and Treasure Coast Toyota 

of Stuart, Fla., as CEO 

and chairman of S. Woods 

Enterprises Inc., parent 

company of the successful 

franchises. 

“Witnessing the elder 

Woods interact with (his 

Sanford “Sandy” Woods: 

New course for his 

dealership group includes 

passing it on to his 

daughter. (Photo Courtesy of 

BEO) 

daughter) Amber, his stellar 

crew of salespeople and 

mechanics, and back-office 

support team is to view 

an admirable display of 

leadership at its best,” said 

Black Enterprise in 2018. 

“He’s applied his managerial 

prowess, a combination of 

carefully crafted salesmanship 

and entrepreneurial 

fortitude, which has enabled 

him to navigate his fleet of 

dealerships to the top of the 

be 100s. 

“With his corporate flag 

planted solidly in the ground 

where he’s built his profitable 

Treasure Coast franchise, 

S. Woods Enterprises ranks 

among the nation’s largest 



All involved said the report spotlights the systemic 

marginalization of Black and brown communities 

within the ostensibly inclusive, data-driven digital 

systems of voter engagement prevailing in the United 

States. It identifies aggressive voter purges and biases 

inherent in vendor-generated models appended to 

voter files as key factors exacerbating this invisibility. 

According to the Democracy & Power Innovation 

Fund report, “One serious consequence of missing or 

incorrect data in purchased voter databases is that 

it distorts the algorithms that assign vote propensity 

scores to individual voters.” 

“Traditional campaigns regularly and intentionally 

leave out people with low vote propensity scores, 

deeming them not worth the investment. To put 

it plainly, this approach is wrong,” stated Ranada 

Robinson, Research Director for New Georgia Project. 

Similarly, Prentiss J. Haney, Senior Advisor to 

the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, highlighted the 

limitations of relying solely on political industry 

databases, noting that such dependence leads to the 

exclusion of millions of Black and Latino voters and 

inaccurate race modeling. 

To address these disparities and ensure a more 

equitable electoral process, the report proposes 

philanthropic investments in community-based data 

collection, support for antiracist modeling efforts, and 

adopting broad relational organizing strategies. 

The report called for concerted efforts to rectify 

the systemic biases ingrained within existing 

data systems and engagement models. The author 

asserted that a failure to address these issues risks 

perpetuating the disenfranchisement of marginalized 

communities and undermining democratic principles. 

“The people unseen by voter files are still capable, 

if organized, to make moves and wielding their latent 

power,” added Joy Cushman, Senior Advisor to DPI. 

“People deemed ‘low propensity’ by models and the 

political industry are defying the odds and still 

turning out to vote. And many are doing even more 

than that: they are becoming active members and 

leaders in power-building organizations, mobilizing 

their friends and family to vote as well.” 

from Front Page 

declaring a state of emergency and mobilizing 

resources and support from across the nation. “We 

stand united in the face of tragedy,” he proclaimed, 

rallying a city reeling from the catastrophe. 

The collision, captured in chilling detail on 

video, sent shockwaves nationwide, prompting an 

outpouring of support and solidarity. Helicopters 

buzzed overhead, casting their searchlights upon 

the river’s surface as rescuers scoured the waters for 

signs of life. 

As the day wore on, questions swirled amidst 

the debris. What caused this cataclysmic collision? 

Was it a tragic accident or something more sinister? 

Authorities moved swiftly to quell speculation, 

assuring the public that there was no evidence of foul 

play. 

Yet, as investigators combed through the 

wreckage, unease lingered. 

In the heart of the chaos, families clung to hope, 

their prayers echoing across the cityscape. At a 

nearby convenience store, relatives of the missing 

gathered in anguished vigil, their eyes filled with 

tears, their hearts heavy with fear. 

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, once a symbol of 

progress and connectivity, now stands as a monument 

to tragedy. Built to withstand the test of time, it 

succumbed to forces beyond its control, leaving a city 

grappling with the enormity of its loss.


Deeply Rooted 


FAMU NAA Broward Chapter Joins FAMU Spring Preview 2024: 

A Gateway to Excellence 

By Patricia Shaw 

TALLAHASSEE FL -- 

The Florida A&M University 

(FAMU) Spring Preview 2024 

proved to be an extraordinary 

event, drawing over 3000 

eager prospective students 

from across the nation. 

Hosted at the iconic Al 

Lawson Multipurpose Center 

& Teaching Gymnasium, the 

event offered a comprehensive 

glimpse into the renowned 

academic and cultural 

landscape of FAMU. 

The primary aim of 

the Spring Preview was to 

acquaint prospective juniors, 

seniors, and transfer students 

with the array of outstanding 

degree programs FAMU offers. 

From the moment attendees 

arrived, excitement filled the 

air as they eagerly awaited 

registration and embarked on 

guided tours across FAMU’s 

illustrious campus, perched 

atop the highest of seven hills 

in Tallahassee, Florida. 

Upon concluding the 

campus tours, participants 

were greeted by distinguished 

figures including FAMU 

President, Dr. Larry 

Robinson; Mrs. FAMU 2023- 

24, Kendall Johnson; Vice 

President Division of Student 

Affairs, Dr. William Hudson, 

Jr., Ph.D.; and Admission 

Director, Mr. Hugh Durham. 

Additionally, an enlightening 

entrance workshop titled 

“What do you need to 

know,” facilitated by 2023 

Alabama Republicans Pass Controversial 

Anti-Diversity Legislation 

Democrats, student groups, and civil rights advocates condemned 

it as an assault on free speech and diversity initiatives, particularly 

poignant given Alabama’s history of segregation and racism. 

Many races end up close because of the through hard 

work, sweat, tears, and a whole lot of hope about the 

future of the South, and what it can do for the entire 

country. 

(Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) 



National Correspondent @ 

StacyBrownMedia 

Alabama Republicans 

have stirred controversy with 

the passage of a divisive bill 

targeting Diversity, Equity, 

and Inclusion (D.E.I.) efforts 

in public colleges. The 

legislation slashes funding 

for diversity programs and 

imposes restrictions on 

discussing “divisive concepts” 

related to race and gender 

within educational settings. 

Met with widespread 

support in the State 

Legislature, the bill faced 

vehement opposition from 

various quarters. Democrats, 

student groups, and civil 

rights advocates condemned 

it as an assault on free speech 

and diversity initiatives, 

particularly poignant 

given Alabama’s history of 

segregation and racism. 

“The advancements that 

we have made… in this 

country, they’re slowly rolling 

it back,” remarked State 

Representative Juandalynn 

Givan, a Democrat, 

expressing concerns over the 

bill’s implications. 

Furthermore, the 

legislation prohibits 

transgender individuals from 

using bathrooms aligned 

with their gender identity on 

public university campuses, 

aligning Alabama with a 

broader right-wing campaign 

targeting D.E.I. programs 

nationwide. 

With the bill’s passage, 

dissent persists. Birmingham 

Mayor Randall Woodfin urged 



A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER from the Front Page 

wondering just how far people 

are willing to go to let crooks, 

wanna be dictators, rapist, 

fascists and the malleable to 

ruin this country? 

The non-voting public has 

a key role in our disappearing 

democracy as well. It’s like 

being in a row boat stuck in a 

whirlpool with Charybdis and 

you are refusing to paddle 

because you don’t believe it 

will help the situation. Well, 

I be damned if I‘m sitting in a 

boat with a tool in my hands 

that can be used to save all 

our lives and I refuse to use it. 

As if the turbulent waters 

of economic disparities and 

income inequality were not 

enough to move you to vote, 

we now have huge cavities in 

educational attainment and 

disproportions in attaining 

wealth, quality healthcare, 

homeownership, affordable 

childcare and after-school 

programs. 

Coupled with those, we are 

losing our minds while access 

to mental health services and 

resources seem as evasive as 

catching snow snakes. 

Remember when we joked 

about JUSTICE meant ‘just 

us’ represented the entire 

prison population? Well, that 

has come to fruition with 

our overrepresentation in 

the criminal justice system. 

It’s kinda hard to stay out 

of prison when advanced 

early childhood education 

is lacking, and access to 

quality legal representation 

and justice is not blind. 

Add to that discriminatory 

lending practices and 

financial services have been 

purposefully RED LINED 

from you. 

As human beings you 

want proper childcare, but 

you live in higher percentage 

of poverty in a food desert 

limited to affordable and 

nutritious food. At the same 

time you are exposed to 

environmental racism. 

Those that came before 

us had no Affirmative Action 

policies, to address systemic 

racism. Their weapon of 

choice when they realized 

that we could not beat them 

with violence was to out vote 

them by choosing the ‘ballot 

over the bullet’. 

They knew how to 

keep us “in control”; by 

taking away our voting 

rights and injecting voter 

suppression tactics through 

disenfranchising Black and 

Brown communities. 

They want to stop teaching 

Black history in public 

institutions, and white wash 

our efforts and historical 

contributions, thereby minimizing 

us as the force we 

are. 

Even though our rates of 

infant mortality are higher, 

disparities and critical issues 

in our communities are 

weighing us down like an 

anchor.We can’t give up nor 

give in. 

We can’t not vote and 

we can never vote against 

that which will give us an 

opportunity to turn the tides 

in our favor. 

If your presence at the poll 

does not make a difference, 

then your absence will!!! 

Orientation Leader, Joshua 

Douglas, provided invaluable 

insights for prospective 

students and parents alike. 

Adding to the vibrancy 

of the occasion, special 

performances by the renowned 

FAMU Marching “100” 

Band captivated attendees, 

showcasing the university’s 

rich cultural heritage and 

artistic prowess. 

Subsequently, attendees 

were divided into groups 

and guided through various 

schools and institutes, 

offering a firsthand look into 

FAMU’s diverse academic 

offerings. From the School 

of Nursing and College of 

Engineering (FAMU-FSU) 

to the College of Pharmacy 

& Pharmaceutical Sciences 

Institute of Public Health, 

from the School of Business 

and Industry, College of 

Social Sciences, Arts and 

Humanities to the School 

of Journalism & Graphic 

Communication, College 

of Education and School of 

Architecture and Engineering 

Technology, participants 

gained invaluable insights 

into the educational 

opportunities awaiting them 

at FAMU. 

The event culminated 

in a jubilant “Be Out Day” 

sponsored by the Student 

Government Association 

(SGA), featuring an array 

of free food, music, and 

refreshments for all attendees. 

It was a fitting conclusion to 

a day filled with exploration, 

learning, and camaraderie. 

The FAMU National 

Alumni Association (NAA) 

Broward Chapter extends 

heartfelt gratitude to all 

parents and students for their 

enthusiastic participation 

in this enriching experience. 

Special commendation 

is owed to FAMU NAA 

Broward Chapter President, 

Ms. Patricia Shaw, and her 

dedicated team including 

event planner and chaperones 

Mr. & Mrs. Terence (Twyler) 

Ferguson, Barbara Freeman, 

Keturah Mitchell, Katura 

Thomas, Charlottee Shipman- 

Smith, and Natoya Knights- 

Williams for their unwavering 

commitment to making the 

event a resounding success. 

As the curtains draw on 

FAMU Spring Preview 2024, 

the FAMU NAA Broward 

Chapter eagerly awaits the 

opportunity to welcome new 

Rattlers to the esteemed “Hill 

in 2024,” where excellence 

knows no bounds. 

Maryland legislators honor AFRO Publisher 

By Catherine Pugh Special 

to the AFRO 

(Source AFRP News): 

The Rev. Dr. Frances 

“Toni” Draper, publisher 

of the AFRO-American 

Newspapers, receives the 

Maryland Senate’s highest 

honor, the Maryland First 

Citizen’s Award. Credit: 

Photos by State Senator 

Antonio Hayes 

By Catherine Pugh Special 

to the AFRO 

The Rev. Dr. Frances 

“Toni” Draper, publisher 

of the AFRO-American 

Newspapers, was surprised 

on the morning of March 20 

by members of the Maryland 

State legislature. 

Draper was invited to the 

Senate Chambers to give a 

prayer. Unbeknownst to her, 

she was giving an invocation 

— and receiving the Maryland 

Senate’s highest honor, the 

Maryland First Citizen’s 

Award. 

As is tradition, the award 

presentation is described by 

the State Archivist, Elaine 

Rice Bachmann, on behalf of 

The Rev. Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, publisher of the 

AFRO-American Newspapers, receives the Maryland 

Senate’s highest honor, the Maryland First Citizen’s 

Award. 

(Credit: Photos by State Senator Antonio Hayes) 

the President of the Senate 

William “Bill” Ferguson. 

Sign up for our Daily eBlast 

to get coverage on Black 

communities from the media 

company who has been doing 

it right for over 130 years. 

“Dr. Draper’s commitment 

to the community has been 

demonstrated throughout her 

career,” said Bachmann. “Dr. 

Toni Draper’s life and career 

embody the critical and 

historical intersection of the 

Black Church, the Black Press 

and civil rights. An integral 

partnership that has enabled 

the slow march toward a more 

equitable society.” 

Draper had already 

returned to her seat next to 

President Ferguson, after 




Deeply Rooted 


Old Dillard Museum Plans Centennial Celebration 

By Lillian E. Small 

(Seventh in a Series) 

Ernestine Ma’at Ray 

came on the scene at the 

Old Dillard Museum in the 

CALLOWAY 

By Sylvester “Nunnie” 

Robinson 

In 1960 during strict, 

rigid segregation, HBCUS 

were safe havens for student 

activists and professors to 

develop strategies and ideas 

to combat the status quo 

- segregation, racism and 

the entire southern concept 

of separate but equal, a 

misnomer of the highest 

degree. As a 23-year old 

freshman basketball star, Al 

Calloway became, intentional 

or not, a conduit, an important 

cog breaking down and 

weakening the stranglehold 

of the confederate remnants. 

Traveling to various schools 

like Miles College, Savannah 

State, Virginia Union, Fisk 

et al, playing basketball 

presented the opportunity to 

meet activists from varying 

backgrounds. Since many 

students often drove home 

on the weekend, Al became 

friends with several and a 

mentor because of his age, 

knowledge and experience. 

A prime example allowed 

him to travel to Tennessee 

A & I, TSU, where he met 

John Lewis, who was head of 

SNCC which at the time was 

based in North Carolina. That 

connection, along with his 

experience and knowledge, 

placed him in the envious, 

though somewhat dangerous 

position, of messenger: 

relaying information of import 

to civil rights organizations 

and individual leaders on 

HBCU campuses that he 

visited or traveled to. Asked 

if he took advantage of the 

opportunity to speak to large 

groups on campus, he firmly 

retorted,“ Absolutely not. 

He preferred staying in the 

background, remaining off 

the grid, incognito, under the 

radar if you will, because his 

activities, role as messenger 

demanded that they be kept 

under wraps. He would, 

however, meet with student 

leaders and their councils 

Ernestine Ma’at Ray 

“knick of time.” She brought 

with her a plethora of 

creative ideas and 30 years of 

experience as its first Curator 

and Director. Materials 

that had been collected by 

Mary Laramore Smith and 

several organizations that 

worked with her were curated 

into multiple exhibits that 

brought this building into 

a life of its own. It began 

to speak for itself of the 

history that was born in this 

community; a history that 

could not be changed, and one 

that could speak volumes to 

the generations that would 

follow. 

The journey that had 

brought this talented young 

woman aboard had been one 

of many travels. She had 

served with the United States 

Department in Ghana in the 

capacity of superintendent of 

the American School System 

before returning to convert 

the old Colored School into the 

renown Old Dillard Museum. 

The several rooms are filled 

with local memories depicting 

pictures, programs, and many 

other forms of memorabilia, 

as well as valuable artifacts 

of the African diaspora. The 

Jazz Room is a beautiful 

replica of a jazz club and 

Al Calloway: Networking & Activism 

in more private settings 

like dorm rooms where he 

conveyed information from 

John Lewis or other leaders. 

Throughout the 60s, a small 

group of four-five would easily 

evolve into mass gatherings 

to hear speakers/ activists 

advocate for social change. 

One of these excursions 

led him to Atlanta where 

he met Julian Bond, who 

was head of an organization 

called The Committee on 

Appeal for Human Rights. 

He and Julian became close 

friends though their basic 

philosophical differences 

clashed. Julian believed in 

integration as one of the 

primary means of achieving 

equality for our people 

while Al was a Pan African 

Nationalist, directly opposed 

because he believed just the 

opposite. Julian’s father, 

Parkman Bond, a professor 

of African Studies at Lincoln 

University in Pennsylvania, 

assured that Julian had a 

historical African perspective. 

Still, they maintained a 

lasting friendship and strong 

bond through the years, 

and decades that followed. 

Al felt integration to be a 

detriment to Black people. 

On a personal note, I initially 

thought intergration to be the 

right approach but after some 

six decades, I tend to agree 

with Al. Needless to say, 

there is great disagreement 

on the impact and effect 

of integration positive or 

negative. 

When I digressed to his 

nuclear family, he seemed 

reticent, reluctant to recall 

old wounds, but he did proffer 

the following: his parents, 

originally from Ellaville, 

Georgia, near President 

Carter’s hometown, Plains, 

were hardworking and good 

providers. His mother was a 

homemaker until she had to 

work and his father availed 

himself of employment 

opportunities - with the 

WPA and as a steel worker, 

Longshoreman , anything 

to provide for his family. He 

recalled with great pride his 

father introducing him to 

books. His father often came 

home from work, cleaned up, 

changed clothes and went 

to the local library, and Al 

begged to go with him. That 

‘s where his love for books 

and learning emanated. The 

other great influence early 

in life was his older brother 

Edward, whom he said was a 

genius with a 158 IQ. Edward 

drew rockets and space ships, 

solved difficult math formulas, 

and garnered the attention of 

many professionals, scientists 

and psychologists desiring 

to study his intellectual 

capacity. He taught Al how 

to read and write at four, 

making it possible for him 

to enroll in school early. 

Edward was Al’s role model, 

hero, someone he admired 

and respected immensely. 

He intimated that Edward 

was astute enough to give 

their mother credit for Al’s 

early academic success. In his 

later years after suffering a 

debilitating stroke leading to 

blindness, it was Al who saw 

that he was properly taken 

care of until his death at the 

age of ninety. 

Born in 1937 during the 

depression, growing up in 

Harlem on 114th Street was 

difficult as gang wars were 

prevalent and dangerous with 

often deadly consequences. 

After taking and passing 

the college entrance exam, 

then enrolling and completing 

his freshman year at 

Morristown Junior College, 

he had been told that he if he 

earned his associate degree, 

he could enroll at any number 

of highly regarded HBCUS 

like Fisk, Howard, Morehouse 

et al. However, Al was having 

none of that so after his 

freshman year he enrolled at 

Clark-Atlanta where thrived 

academically, making the 

dean’s list and graduating in 

three years. So what happened 

after graduating. As Al put it, 

he didn’t participate in actual 

ceremonies, no time for that 

because he was determined 

to return to New York and 

get the best job he could find 

ahead of others who would 

in come later, once school 

ended. In inquiring about 

how he balanced being a 

family man and a full time 

student activist, he took me 

back to his high school years 

in Manhattan where he was 

enrolled in Textile High, an 

acclaimed school of arts for 

advanced and gifted students. 

Al was a musician, an artist 

and a singer with various gifts 

and interests. He discovered 

a real talent and interest in 

textile design, an area foreign 

to most Black students. As a 

senior he was assigned a white 

female guidance counselor 

who either didn’t acknowledge 

his academic talent or who 

allowed her prejudice to give 

him advice that would change 

his life’s course. She advised 

him to take academic courses 

that would assist him in 

gaining employment with the 

post office, believing it to be 

best for his future, ignoring 

his accomplishments (lead 

trombonist in a 52 member 

orchestra, member of an 

18 peice jazz ensemble and 

designer of jackets worn 

during performances) and 

intelligence. Nothing new to 

Black students in America in 

the Jim Crow era. Al said that 

he cried all the way home and 

never returned to that school. 

Next week: Romantic 

interlude/ SNNC evolution 

features local musicians 

including Julian “Cannonball” 

Adderley. Cultural arts stood 

out prominently in her life 

because of the contributions 

she desired to make among 

people of the local community 

and the inherent global 

Old Dillard Museum 

connections. 

As we well know, again 

we have been blessed in this 

building for the services 

rendered from its beginning. 

Ernestine Ma’at Ray is now 

residing at The Bridge at 

Inverrary, a facility located 

in Lauderhill. She has been 

there since January 9, 2024. 

Let us not forget that she too 

is owed a debt of gratitude 

for her works that still stand 

prominently in the Old 

Dillard Museum. Learn how 

you can brighten her day or 

March Is Women’s History Month: Black 

Lady Beekeepers & Pollinator Educators 

Prepare For The Annual Honeybee Season 

By Melissa Spellman 

Staff Reporter 

(New Journal and Guide): 

As the season begins to shift 

to the warmth of spring Black 

lady beekeepers and bee enthusiasts 

Carrie “Honeybee” 

Brown and Brittany McCoy 

are preparing for bee season. 

The most prevalent species 

of bees in Virginia is the honeybee. 

A fascinating fact, on 

average a hive will have about 

60,000 bees with almost 99 

percent being female. March 

is Woman’s History Month, so 

it is fitting to highlight two local 

Black women beekeepers, 

their work as pollinator educators, 

and the matriarchal 

community of bees. 

Carrie “Honeybee” Brown 

works as a Success Coach 

at Norfolk State University’s 

Spartan Success Center. 

However, her passion lies 

with plants, insects, nature, 

more specifically honeybees. 

“I am a lover of the bees,” 

said Brown. She continued, 

“I have been keeping bees for 

over 15 years and a pollinator 

educator for over 15 years.” 

Brown was first introduced 

to bees while spending the 

summer with her young niece 

who became fascinated with 

the buzzing creatures. “I got 

into bees because my niece at 

that time was 5 years old and 

her neighbor had bees and 

she was hypnotized by them,” 

said Brown. 

Carrie “Honeybee” 

Brown and Brittany 

McCoy, two Black women 

beekeepers and pollinator 

educators, gear up for 

the upcoming honeybee 

season, highlighting the 

importance of bees and 

their crucial role in nature. 

#WomenInBeekeepimg 

#PollinatorEducation 

#HoneybeeSeason 

#Communuity 

Support 

WHM 

#WomenHistoryMonth 

Astonished at her niece’s 

interest in the bees, Brown 

decided when her niece came 

to visit, she would have a surprise 

for her. “The surprise 

was a hive and a garden in 

my backyard. I knew that 

through the beekeeping that 

would be something that we 

would share – just the two of 

us because everyone else was 

afraid, but she was not,” said 

Brown. 

Brittany McCoy is an Operation 

Specialist II in NSU’s 

Writing Center. McCoy and 

Brown are colleagues who 

met while working at NSU’s 

Library. McCoy says that 

coming over to help a friend is 

how she got into beekeeping. 

One day Brown asked McCoy 

to come over to her house to 

help her with something. Mc- 

Coy agreed, only to find out 

once she arrived, that it was 

a beehive. 

“When she lifted the lid, I 

saw the bees and I heard them 

make this humming noise; it 

sounded like a thunderstorm, 

and I fell in love with it,” said 

McCoy. The coworkers bonded 

over the honeybees and all 

things nature. Thus, the mentor-mentee 

friendship blossomed. 

“It started with bees. I am in 

a course now to be a pollinator 

stewardess and learn about 

different pollinators but I’m 

more fascinated with working 

with honeybees,” said McCoy. 

Brown and McCoy are pollinator 

educators which is 

someone who educates others 

about the power of pollination. 

A pollinator stewardess 

is a certification received 

stating one’s knowledge about 



PBSC’s District Board of Trustees green 

lights lease for TMRW Sports Venue 

Submitted by Kerry Capell 

On Friday, March 22, 2024, 

Palm Beach State College’s 

District Board of Trustees 

(DBOT) unanimously 

approved an amended 20- 

year ground lease agreement 

between the College and 

TMRW Sports, the company 

founded by Tiger Woods and 

Rory McIlroy and CEO Mike 

McCarley. The new lease is 

for the construction of 250,000 

square feet, 1,500 seat steelsupported 

structure at the 

Palm Beach Gardens campus 

that will serve as the home 

of the TGL interactive golf 

league, owned by TMRW 

Sports. 

The PBSC-TMRW Sports 

transaction is based upon 

the appraised fair market 

value of the parcel and the 

projected rental proceeds for a 

commercial lease. Throughout 

the 20-year lease term the 

College will collect more than 

$10.2 million in rent for the 

10-acre parcel located on the 

southern border of the Palm 

Beach Gardens Campus. “It 

L to r: David Rutherford, PBSC Vice-President of 

Institutional Advancement and CEO of the Foundation 

for Palm Beach State College, District Board of Trustees 

Chair of the Board Patrice Bishop, PBSC President Ava 

L. Parker and TMRW Sports Co-Founder and CEO Mike 

McCarley. 

is a testament to the strength 

of the partnership between 

TMRW Sports and PBSC that 

we reached an agreement 

that is a win-win for both,” 

said Patrice Bishop, Chair of 

the Board. 

TMRW Sports will continue 

partnering with the college on 

student-focused and academic 




Deeply Rooted 

Al B. Sure!, R&B Legend and Transplant Equity 

Champion, to be Honored at Attorney General for Black 

America Benjamin Crump’s Equal Justice Now Awards 

Al B! to Receive the Excellence in Health Care Advocacy Award along with Other 

Honorees including Cher, George Clinton, Stephanie Rawlings Blake and More 

has since taken up this issue 

thanks to the advocacy of Al 

B! Sure! and HEiTC. The 

R&B legend has also raised 

the issue with Vice President 

Kamala Harris, who in 2022 

sent Al B! a letter of support 


during his recovery. 

Today, Al B! continues the 

fight to restore Medicare cuts 

to these lifesaving blood tests 

and ensure there is greater 

access across the board. 

Submitted by Terence 

Cullen 

LOS ANGELES, CA 

-- – Al B. Sure!, Executive 

Chairman of the Health 

Equity in Transplantation 

Coalition (HEiTC), will 

be recognized at Attorney 

Benjamin Crump’s Equal 

Justice Now Awards on 

Friday, March 29th in Los 

Angeles, California. Since 

receiving an organ transplant 

nearly two years ago, Al B! 

has become a champion for 

change and social justice and 

used his platform to raise 

issues around transplantation 

equity, rights for recording 

artists, and other key issues 

in the equity space. 

Al B! and HEiTC cofounder 

Rachel Noerdlinger, 

launched an effort to fight 

for unpaid music artist 

royalties and healthcare 

initiatives that has been 

amplified through a new 

partnership with Attorney 

Crump and Jarret Prussin, 

Chief Strategy Officer, 

Ben Crump Law. Prussin 

is also a successful bone 

marrow transplant recipient, 

making their commitment to 

transplantation equity even 

stronger. Together, they are 

demanding equity, inclusion, 

CLASSIFIED 

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LEGAL NOTICES 

PUBLICATION 

OF BID 

SOLICITATIONS 

Broward County Board of 

County Commissioners is 

soliciting bids for a variety 

of goods and services, 

construction and architectural/ 

engineering services. Interested 

bidders are requested to view 

and download the notifications 

of bid documents via the 

Broward County Purchasing 

website at: www.broward.org/ 

purchasing. 

March 7, 14, 21, 28, 2024 

Al B. Sure and Attorney Benjamin Crump. 

and equal access to what’s fair 

for all in the United States. 

“Black and Brown 

Americans who receive 

organ transplants are 

at extraordinary risk 

compared to other transplant 

recipients,” said Al B. Sure!, 

Executive Chairman of 

HEiTC. “I know because I 

have lived this experience, 

which is why I have dedicated 

my life to fighting for my 

transplant family. This work 

wouldn’t be possible without 

the partnership of my big 

brothers, Rev. Al Sharpton 

and Attorney Ben Crump. 

I am humbled and bless to 

receive this recognition from 

the Attorney General for 

Black America and share 

it with everyone who has 

received the gift of life.” 

Al B!’s health equity 

journey began in summer 

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Houston recording studio. His 

prospects initially seemed 

grim as he battled multiple 

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liver. He has since used his 

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Liver Life Walk in association 

with Houston Methodist 

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For the Week oF March 26 - april 1, 2024 

 

THE 

DANCING 

CONTINUES 

NC A&T Sports photo 

MALEIA BRACONE: Drains a 

3-pointer Sunday with a second left 

to send NC A&T past Old Dominion 

and into the WNIT Super 16. 

FLURRY OF TOURNEY PLAY LEAVES LANGSTON, 

NORFOLK STATE MEN, NC A&T WOMEN STANDING 

TOURNAMENT RECAPS 

NCAA WEST REGION MEN - FIRST FOUR 

Wagner 71, Howard 68 

DAYTON, OH – MEAC champion Howard fought back from 17-point 

deficits in both halves and had a chance at the end to catch NEC champ 

Wagner but could not get a final bucket as the Bison fell in a First Four NCAA 

Tournament game Tuesday, 71-68. 

The Bison (18-17), down 38-27 at the half, trailed 48-31 with 16:46 left 

and still trailed by 13 at 67-54 with 4:26 before beginning their comeback. A fullcourt 

press ignited a 15-1 run that pulled them within 69-68 with :17 seconds 

to play. Down 71-68, they got two shots from behind the arc from MEAC 

Tournament MVP Jordan Hairston around a 3-point shot attempt from Marcus 

Dockery as the final buzzer sounded. 

Seth Towns and Bryce Harris each had 16 points to lead Howard. 

Dockery and Isaiah Warfield had 9 and Hairston 8. 

NCAA MIDWEST REGION MEN - FIRST FOUR 

Grambling State 88, Montana State 81, OT 

DAYTON, OH – SWAC champion Grambling State, playing in its firstever 

NCAA Tournament, fought back from a 14-point second-half deficit to force 

overtime and then outscored Montana State 16-9 in the extra period to pull out 

an 88-81 win Wednesday over the champs of the Big Sky Conference. 

The Tigers (21-14) went into the break trailing 42-33 and were down 53- 

39 at the 14:37 mark. Ten points from reserve point guard Jimel Cofer fueled a 

21-6 run that gave GSU its first second-half lead at 60-59 with 5:47 to play. The 

Tigers did not surrender the lead until under a minute was left. Kofer's layup 

with :34 seconds left tied the game at 72 and were the last points in regulation. 

The nip-and-tuck extra period saw the teams tied at 78 with 2:02 before 

Grambling pulled away. The key play came with :55 seconds left and GSU up 

80-78. Six-seven senior forward Jourdan Smith flew thru the air to put back 

Tra'Michael Moton's layup miss with a follow dunk. The Tigers canned 6 of 6 

free throws from there while the Bobcats' (17-18) only score came on a late 

3-pointer. 

Cofer, a sophomore point guard, finished with a career-high 19 points, all 

in the second half and extra period. He made 7 of 9 shots from the field and 5 of 

6 free throws. Smith and Antwan Burnett each scored 18. Smith led the Tigers 

with 9 rebounds. Grambling advanced to face region top seed Purdue on Friday 

in Indianapolis. 

NCAA MIDWEST REGION MEN - FIRST ROUND 

Purdue 78, Grambling State 50 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Take away Purdue's 7-4 Big Ten Player of the Year 

and 2023 Wooden Award winner Zach Eady's 30 points and SWAC champion 

Grambling State would be just about even with the Big Ten champions. But 

the big man was unstoppable as he also pulled down 21 rebounds as the 

centerpiece of the Boilermakers' 78-50 win. 

Tra'Michael Moton led the Tigers (21-15) with 21 points and Kintavious 

Dozer had 16, 12 in the first half as GSU stayed within 9 at 36-27 at the break. 

Purdue opened things up in the final period outscoring the Tigers 42-23. 

WOMEN'S NCAA PORTLAND 3 REGION 

Stanford 78, Norfolk State 50 

STANFORD, CA – No. 2 Stanford used an 11-0 second quarter run to pull 

away to a 32-19 lead at halftime and outscored MEAC champion and No. 15 

Norfolk State 47-31 in the final two quarters Friday en route to a 79-50 first 

round NCAA Portland 3 Region win. 

Diamond Johnson had 19 and Kierra Wheeler had 17 to lead the Lady 

Spartans (27-6) but their supporting cast managed to score just 14 points. 

Stanford (29-5), had 14 bench points but four starters combined for 65 points 

led by 19 from Elena Bosgana. 


UConn 78, Jackson State 50 

HARTFORD, CN – No. 3 UConn sprinted out to a 22-8 first quarter lead, 

stretched the lead to 49-28 at the break and cruised to a 86-64 win over SWAC 

champion and 14-seed Jackson State in an NCAA first round Portland 4 

Region contest Saturday. 

JSU's Ti'lan Boler had a team-high 25 points and Angel Jackson had 

13. The next four players for JSU (26-7) shot 7 of 30 from the field. Paige 

Bueckers had 28 and Ashlynn Shade 26 to lead UConn (30-5). 

NCAA DIV. II ATLANTIC REGION FINAL - WOMEN 

Gannon 72, Fayetteville State 45 

ERIE, PA – Region top seed and host Gannon (35-2) started to pull away 

from CIAA Tournament women's champion, third-seed Fayetteville State late 

in the second quarter and outscored the Lady Broncos 38-22 in the final two 

periods to secure a 72-45 win in the championship game of the Div. II Atlantic 

Region Tuesday. 

Sophomore point guard Talia Trotter had 12 points, all in the first half, to 

lead FSU (29-3). The Lady Broncos had defeated No. 6 Indiana (Pa.) 72-63 and 

No. 2 Fairmont State 70-62 to reach the regional final. 

CBI FIRST ROUND 

Arkansas State 86, Bethune-Cookman 85 

Bethune-Cookman trailed 40-35 at the half but battled back to lead into 

the final minute before falling 86-85 to Arkansas State Saturday in a first round 

CBI game. 

The Wildcats (17-17) took their last lead at 83-82 on a 3-pointer by 

Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. with 1:34 left. ASU scored at the :56 second mark 

and again after a B-CU miss with :06 seconds left. B-CU had a 2-point basket 

at the final buzzer. 

Jakobi Heady had 19 points and Carter-Hollinger had 15. Dhashon 

Dyson tallied 14 while Zion Harmon added 11. 

Seattle 79, Delaware State 66 

MEAC Tournament runners-up Delaware State hung with Seattle thru 

one half, only trailing 34-32 at the break, but saw the Redhawks (20-14) roll 

off 12 straight second-half points and balloon the lead to 19 at 74-55, before 

the final 13-point spread. 

Freshman point guard Deywilk Tavarez was the only double-figure 

scorer with 15 for the Hornets (15-19) in the first round CBI game. 

Women'sNIT 

Grambling State 93, Oral Roberts 91 

STEPHENSVILLE, TX – Five players scored in double digits and 

Grambling State got a clutch 3-pointer late to earn a 93-91 win on the road at 

Oral Roberts in a first round WNIT contest Thursday. 

Five-seven sophomore shooting guard Jazmyne 

Jackson's 3-pointer with :22 seconds left, the final tally of 

her team-high 21 points, gave GSU a 91-89 lead and Kahia 

Warmsley's two free throws with :03 ticks left sealed it for 

the Lady Tigers (23-9). Jackson, playing 20 minutes off the 

bench, canned 7 of 11 shots from the field including 4 of 7 

from behind the arc to pace GSU. Jordyn Carter had 17 

points, Amanda Blake had 14 and a team-high 13 rebounds, Douthshine 

Prien had 12 and Warmsley had 11. 

© AZEEZ Communications, Inc. Vol. XXX, No. 35 

Jackson 

Three teams still alive for postseason glory 

LUT WILLIAMS 

BCSP Editor 

Postseason college basketball winds to a 

close over the next couple of weeks. For most 

Historically Black College and University 

(HBCU) teams however, the end came a bit 

sooner (see Tournament Recaps). 

But for three black college hoops squads – 

the men of Langston and Norfolk State and the 

women of North Carolina A&T – the dream 

of finishing the season on a winning note is still 

alive. Here's the line-up for this week. 

Langston in NAIA 

National Championshp Game 

Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) 

champion Langston (35-1) has continued its 

remarkable turnaround under second-year coach 

Chris Wright. 

After winning the SAC regular season and 

tournament titles and receiving one of four 

No. 1 seeds into the 64-team NAIA national 

tournament, the Lions have run off five straight 

wins to earn a spot opposite Freed-Hardman of 

Indiana (31-4) in Wednesday's 7 p.m. (CDT) 

championship game. 

After four double-digit wins, three in 

blowout fashion, the Lions had to dig deep to 

defeat defending national champion College 

of Idaho Monday 58-52 in a national semifinal 

game. 

If the Lions win the championship, they 

would join Tennessee State (1957, '58, '59), 

Grambling (1961), Prairie View A&M (1962), 

Central State (1965, '68), Kentucky State 

(1970, '71, '72) Coppin State (1976) and Texas 

BCSP Notes 

Joyner announces his 

retirement from J. C. Smith 

Stephen Joyner Sr. announced Friday 

his retirement as Johnson C. 

Smith’s men's head basketball 

coach after 36 years. 

"It was a great run here at 

Smith," Joyner said in a post on 

Joyner 

X, published by the university's 

official account. "The Gold and 

Blue runs deep in me and I will 

always cherish the memories." 

Joyner, a standout guard for the Golden 

Bulls from 1969-73, took over as head coach 

prior to the 1987-88 season. He had served as 

women's basketball coach the previous six seasons 

beginning in 1980 including an NCAA Division 

II tournament appearance in 1985. 

Joyner won exactly 600 games as men's 

basketball coach, the third most in CIAA men's 

college basketball history. The milestone victory 

came in what turned out to be his final home 

game, 80-74 over Claflin on Feb. 24. The Golden 

Bulls were eliminated in the first round of the 

2024 CIAA Tournament by Virginia State 66- 

56 on Feb. 28. 

Joyner's Bulls captured the CIAA Tourna- 

The Grambling State women advanced to face Louisiana-Monroe on the road in the 

second round of the WNIT at 6 p.m. Monday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. 

Louisiana-Monroe 102, Grambling State 76 

MONROE, LA – Louisiana-Monroe had five players score in double-digits led by 

30 from Jakayla Johnson as they methodically pulled away from Grambling State for a 

102-76 second round WNIT win Monday. 

ULM (20-13) ran out to a 48-30 lead after two quarters and stretched the margin 

with a 33-18 third period that put the game away.. 

Sophomore shooting guard Jazmyne Jackson again led GSU with 

North Carolina A&T 56, UNC-Greensboro 51 

GREENSBORO, NC – Hosting its first postseason game at Corbett Arena on 

campus, North Carolina A&T rallied in the second half to down crosstown rival UNC- 

Greensboro 56-51 Friday in a first round WNIT game. 

An energetic crowd of over 3,900 watched the locals go at it with UNC-G building a 

28-19 halftime lead. The Lady Aggies (21-11) wiped that lead out with a 21-12 third quarter 

to enter the final period with the teams tied at 40. There were three more ties down the 

stretch, the last at 44. The Lady Spartans (21-12) took their only fourth-quarter lead at 45- 

44 before A&T went up for good at 46-45 on a Chaniya Clark layup with 5:35 to play. 

North Carolina A&T 48, Old Dominion 45 

GREENSBORO, NC – Five-ten senior guard Maleia Bracone drained a 3-pointer 

with less than a second left to propel North Carolina A&T to a thrilling 48-45 home win 

over Old Dominion in a second round WNIT game Sunday. 

The trey was the last of Bracone's game-high 17 points and allowed the Lady Aggies 

(22-11) to escape from a game that had ten ties and 12 lead changes. Three of the ties 

and five of the lead changes occurred in the fourth quarter after A&T opened the period up 

36-35. 

Bracone's layup with 3:22 left put A&T up 45-43 only to see ODU (22-10) tie the 

score at 45 :20 seconds later. Bracone's game winner was the only basket over the final 

three minutes. D'Mya Tucker had 10 points and tied for the team high with 8 rebounds. 

The Lady Aggies will play a third home postseason game Friday at 7 p.m. vs. Troy in 

the WNIT Super 16. 

(M) COLLEGE INSIDER.COM TOURNAMENT (CIT) 

Tarleton State 82, Texas Southern 71 

STEPHENSVILLE, TX – Trailing 36-26 at the half, SWAC tourney runners-up 

Texas Southern fought back to tie the game at 58 with just over six minutes left but was 

outscored 24-13 over the final stretch in falling in the first round of the CIT Tuesday. 

Jaylen Wysinger and Deon Stout led TSU (16-17) with 18 points, Kenny Hunter 

tallied 15 and Jonathan Cisse added 11. 

Alabama A&M 81, Austin Peay 71 

CLARKSVILLE, TN – Chad Moodie, the Southwestern Athletic Conference 

(SWAC) Freshman of the Year, scored 18 of his game- and career-high 

24 points in the second half to pace Alabama A&M to a CIT road win at 

Austin Peay Tuesday. Alabama A&M advanced to meet Norfolk State 

in the semifinals Saturday. 

Moodie went 11-of-13 from the floor and added five rebounds, two 

blocks and one steal. Omari Peek scored 14 of his 18 points in the first 

half, along with seven boards and one assist. Caleb Blackwell chipped 

in a career-high 13 points, with three boards, two assists, one steal and 

one block and defensively, Cameron Tucker grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds for the 

Bulldogs (12-22). 

Norfolk State 81, Alabama A&M 66 

NORFOLK, VA – MEAC regular season champs Norfolk State, playing without 

league Player of the Year Jamarii Thomas, outscored Alabama A&M 26-13 over the final 

seven minutes to pull away to a 81-66 CIT semifinal win over the Bulldogs Saturday. 

Southern (1977) as black college men's NAIA 

national basketball champions. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: New York Knicks players, in a 

124-99 win over Detroit Monday, warmed up wearing 

shirts with Hall of Famer Willis Reed's No. 19 on the 

back on the night they celebrated HBCU Night. Reed, 

who died last year at 80, led Grambling State to the 

1961 NAIA championship and a third-place finish in 

1963. 

Norfolk State men in 

C-I-T Championship Game 

When MEAC regular season champion 

Norfolk State lost to Howard in the tournament 

semifinals, head coach Robert Jones said the 

Spartans (23-11) would be playing in what was 

to be the 16-team College Insider Tournament. 

The C-I-T is being contested this year for the 

first time since 2019. 

Only nine teams agreed to play in this year's 

edition. Norfolk State, who got a bye in the first 

round, was one of three HBCUs, including 

Texas Southern and Alabama A&M out of the 

SWAC, who consented to play. 

Tuesday, TSU (16-17) lost at Tarleton State 

(82-71) while Alabama A&M won at Austin 

Peay (81-71). 

Norfolk State then beat AA&M 81-66 

Saturday to earn the spot opposite Purdue Fort 

ment Championship in 2001, 2008 and 2009. 

In 2001, he led the team to its first-ever appearance 

in the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament. His 

Golden Bulls completed their historic 2001 season 

ranked #10 in the final NCAA poll and #2 

in the final Sheridan Broadcasting Network poll 

of black colleges. Joyner was selected as CIAA 

Coach of the Year in 1992, 1997, and 2001, and 

as NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region 

Coach of the Year in 2001. 

He was inducted to the John B. McLendon, 

Jr. CIAA Hall of Fame in 2014 in recognition 

of his coaching success and his lifetime of contributions 

to the CIAA. Joyner had also served 

as athletic director at JCSU before stepping 

away from that position last May. 

Moodie 

Wayne (24-12) in the CIT Championship Game 

Wednesday (3/27, 7 p.m.) at Echols Hall in 

Norfolk. 

North Carolina A&T women 

in the WNIT Super 16 

The Lady Aggies (22-11), after bowing 

out in the quarterfinals of the Colonial Athletic 

Conference (CAA) tournament, received the 

CAA's berth in the 48-team Women's National 

Invitational Tournament, known as the WNIT. 

Head coach Tarrell Robinson's team 

opened play at home Friday with a 56-51 first 

round win over crosstown Greensboro (N.C.) 

opponent UNC-Greensboro out of the Southern 

Conference. They followed that up Sunday 

with another home win, knocking off Sun Belt 

Conference member Old Dominion 48-45 at 

Corbett Sports Arena on a buzzer-beater. 

That win vaulted the ladies into the WNIT's 

Super 16 where they will again play at home this 

Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Troy (20-11), who is also out 

of the Sun Belt. After a first round bye, Troy 

defeated Florida International 92-62 Monday 

to reach the Super 16. The winner of the Troy/ 

NC A&T game will meet the winner of Southern 

Miss and Louisiana-Monroe in the WNIT's 

Great Eight on March 30 or April at a site to be 

determined (TBD). 

Hampton wastes little 

time placing Buck Joyner 

HAMPTON, VA — Hampton University 

Director of Athletics Anthony D. Henderson 

Sr. introduced former Georgetown assistant Ivan 

Thomas as the Pirates' new basketball coach. 

Thomas is replacing Edward "Buck" 

Joyner Jr. whose contract was not renewed after 

15 years leading Hampton. The Pirates finished 

9-24 overall and 3-15 in the Colonial Athletic Association 

(CAA) in Joyner's last 

season. 

When asked about the new 

hire Henderson Sr. stated, "In our 

conversation with Georgetown 

head coach Ed Cooley and administrative 

staff they feverously Thomas 

supported Ivan becoming a head coach. It was a 

thorough process and we have the right person 

for this job here at Hampton." 

Thomas, who becomes the 17th head basketball 

coach at Hampton, is excited to be returning 

to Hampton Roads. "This opportunity has led me 

back home to the 757 where I am proud to say I 

am the head coach of Hampton University, where 

the standard of excellence is an education for 

life," the Norfolk, Va. native said. 

Thomas spent seven years as head coach at 

Hampton's Kecoughtan High, leading the team to 

a 127-60 mark and to Peninsula District championships 

in 2010 and 2012. He was head coach at 

T.C. Williams High in Alexandria, Va., where he 

led the team to a 75-9 mark, winning three league 

titles. He was named Virginia Coach of the Year 

in 2008 after guiding the Titans to the state title. 

He also spent 13 years as an AAU coach for the 

Boo Williams 17-U team. 

Dubbed the CIT's John McLendon Classic, A&M (12-23) ran out to a 31-28 halftime 

lead and stayed even or ahead of the Spartans (23-11) thru most of the second half. They 

were down just 55-53 at the seven minute mark before NSU sprinted to the win. 

NSU had five players score in double digits with Allen Bertrand getting 16, Daryl 

Anderson 15, Jack Doumbia 13 and 11 each from Christian Ings and Chris Fields Jr. 

Jaylani Darden had 6 points, 8 assists and tied Fields with a team high 8 boards. Lorenzo 

Downey and London Riley had 15 and Chad Moodie had 14 for A&M. 

Norfolk State will play Purdue Fort Wayne (24-12) for the CIT Championship on the 

Spartans home floor, Joseph Echols Hall, Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

MEN'S NAIA SWEET 16 

Langston 78, LSU-Shreveport 61 

KANSAS CITY, MO – Langston had five players score in double digits and moved to 

33-1 on the season in a 78-61 Sweet 16 NAIA win over LSU Shreveport Friday. 

Anthony Roy had 17 points to lead the Lions. D'Monte Brown got 16, G'Quavious 

Lennox 14, Toru Dean 13 and Cortez Mosley 10. 

MEN'S NAIA QUARTERFINALS 

Langston 61, Indiana Wesleyan 48 

KANSAS CITY, MO – No. 1 Langston used a 16-3 first-half spurt to open a 37-26 

halftime lead and held on to a double-digit lead for most of the second half in a 61-48 win 

Saturday over No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan (29-6). 

Cortez Mosley led the Lions (34-1) with 15 points and Anthony Roy added 13. 

Langston (34-1) moved on to face 2023 defending NAIA champion College of Idaho 

(32-3) at 7 p.m. in Monday's second NAIA national semifinal. The 5 p.m. semifinal had 

Grace (IN) (34-1) facing Freed-Hardman (TN) (30-4). 

MEN'S NAIA SEMIFINALS 

Langston 58, College of Idaho 52 

Langston went eight second-half minutes without a basket but got its offense going 

late to down 2023 NAIA national champion College of Idaho 58-52 in a hard-fought national 

semifinal game Monday night. 

With the win the Lions (35-1) advance to Tuesday's 7 p.m. (CDT) national 

championship game where they will face Freed-Hardman (TN). Freed-Hardman (31-4) 

beat Grace (IN) 86-81 in the other semifinal game. 

The tough defensive slugfest saw the Lions tied with CI at 27 at the break. After taking 

a 29-27 lead in the first minute of the second half, Langston did not 

score another basket until Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Player of 

the Year Anthony Roy sank a 3-pointer with 10:52 to play. The trey cut 

CI's largest second half lead of 39-32 to 39-35 and woke up the Lions' 

offense. 

The Lions pulled even at 43 on another Roy 3-pointer with 8:57 

left and took their first lead of the half at 46-43 on D'Monte Brown's 3 

at he 7:43 mark. Langston pushed the lead to five at 48-43 before CI 

Roy 

(32-4) fought back to go up 49-48 on two Samaje Morgan free throws with 5:27 to play. The 

lead changed hands twice before LU took its final lead at 52-51 on the second of Cortez 

Mosley's two free throws with 3:30 left. 

CI made one of two free throws to tie the game at 52 with just :44 seconds left but 

would not score again. Langston got a big inside basket from Jay Allan-Tovar with a halfminute 

left and a breakaway Mosley dunk off a scramble to stretch the lead to 56-52. Toru 

Dean added a basket at the final buzzer. 

Langston came in averaging 81 points per game and had won their three previous 

tournament games by an average of 25 points. The Lions were led by 14 from Mosley and 

12 by Brown off the bench. Roy finished with 9 points, a team-best 7 rebounds and tied for 

the team high with 5 assists.


Deeply Rooted 


For the Week oF March 26 - april 1, 2024 

 

THE 

DANCING 

CONTINUES 

NC A&T Sports photo 

MALEIA BRACONE: Drains a 

3-pointer Sunday with a second left 

to send NC A&T past Old Dominion 

and into the WNIT Super 16. 

FLURRY OF TOURNEY PLAY LEAVES LANGSTON, 

NORFOLK STATE MEN, NC A&T WOMEN STANDING 

TOURNAMENT RECAPS 

NCAA WEST REGION MEN - FIRST FOUR 

Wagner 71, Howard 68 

DAYTON, OH – MEAC champion Howard fought back from 17-point 

deficits in both halves and had a chance at the end to catch NEC champ 

Wagner but could not get a final bucket as the Bison fell in a First Four NCAA 

Tournament game Tuesday, 71-68. 

The Bison (18-17), down 38-27 at the half, trailed 48-31 with 16:46 left 

and still trailed by 13 at 67-54 with 4:26 before beginning their comeback. A fullcourt 

press ignited a 15-1 run that pulled them within 69-68 with :17 seconds 

to play. Down 71-68, they got two shots from behind the arc from MEAC 

Tournament MVP Jordan Hairston around a 3-point shot attempt from Marcus 

Dockery as the final buzzer sounded. 

Seth Towns and Bryce Harris each had 16 points to lead Howard. 

Dockery and Isaiah Warfield had 9 and Hairston 8. 

NCAA MIDWEST REGION MEN - FIRST FOUR 

Grambling State 88, Montana State 81, OT 

DAYTON, OH – SWAC champion Grambling State, playing in its firstever 

NCAA Tournament, fought back from a 14-point second-half deficit to force 

overtime and then outscored Montana State 16-9 in the extra period to pull out 

an 88-81 win Wednesday over the champs of the Big Sky Conference. 

The Tigers (21-14) went into the break trailing 42-33 and were down 53- 

39 at the 14:37 mark. Ten points from reserve point guard Jimel Cofer fueled a 

21-6 run that gave GSU its first second-half lead at 60-59 with 5:47 to play. The 

Tigers did not surrender the lead until under a minute was left. Kofer's layup 

with :34 seconds left tied the game at 72 and were the last points in regulation. 

The nip-and-tuck extra period saw the teams tied at 78 with 2:02 before 

Grambling pulled away. The key play came with :55 seconds left and GSU up 

80-78. Six-seven senior forward Jourdan Smith flew thru the air to put back 

Tra'Michael Moton's layup miss with a follow dunk. The Tigers canned 6 of 6 

free throws from there while the Bobcats' (17-18) only score came on a late 

3-pointer. 

Cofer, a sophomore point guard, finished with a career-high 19 points, all 

in the second half and extra period. He made 7 of 9 shots from the field and 5 of 

6 free throws. Smith and Antwan Burnett each scored 18. Smith led the Tigers 

with 9 rebounds. Grambling advanced to face region top seed Purdue on Friday 

in Indianapolis. 

NCAA MIDWEST REGION MEN - FIRST ROUND 

Purdue 78, Grambling State 50 

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Take away Purdue's 7-4 Big Ten Player of the Year 

and 2023 Wooden Award winner Zach Eady's 30 points and SWAC champion 

Grambling State would be just about even with the Big Ten champions. But 

the big man was unstoppable as he also pulled down 21 rebounds as the 

centerpiece of the Boilermakers' 78-50 win. 

Tra'Michael Moton led the Tigers (21-15) with 21 points and Kintavious 

Dozer had 16, 12 in the first half as GSU stayed within 9 at 36-27 at the break. 

Purdue opened things up in the final period outscoring the Tigers 42-23. 


Stanford 78, Norfolk State 50 

STANFORD, CA – No. 2 Stanford used an 11-0 second quarter run to pull 

away to a 32-19 lead at halftime and outscored MEAC champion and No. 15 

Norfolk State 47-31 in the final two quarters Friday en route to a 79-50 first 

round NCAA Portland 3 Region win. 

Diamond Johnson had 19 and Kierra Wheeler had 17 to lead the Lady 

Spartans (27-6) but their supporting cast managed to score just 14 points. 

Stanford (29-5), had 14 bench points but four starters combined for 65 points 

led by 19 from Elena Bosgana. 


UConn 78, Jackson State 50 

HARTFORD, CN – No. 3 UConn sprinted out to a 22-8 first quarter lead, 

stretched the lead to 49-28 at the break and cruised to a 86-64 win over SWAC 

champion and 14-seed Jackson State in an NCAA first round Portland 4 

Region contest Saturday. 

JSU's Ti'lan Boler had a team-high 25 points and Angel Jackson had 

13. The next four players for JSU (26-7) shot 7 of 30 from the field. Paige 

Bueckers had 28 and Ashlynn Shade 26 to lead UConn (30-5). 

NCAA DIV. II ATLANTIC REGION FINAL - WOMEN 

Gannon 72, Fayetteville State 45 

ERIE, PA – Region top seed and host Gannon (35-2) started to pull away 

from CIAA Tournament women's champion, third-seed Fayetteville State late 

in the second quarter and outscored the Lady Broncos 38-22 in the final two 

periods to secure a 72-45 win in the championship game of the Div. II Atlantic 

Region Tuesday. 

Sophomore point guard Talia Trotter had 12 points, all in the first half, to 

lead FSU (29-3). The Lady Broncos had defeated No. 6 Indiana (Pa.) 72-63 and 

No. 2 Fairmont State 70-62 to reach the regional final. 

CBI FIRST ROUND 

Arkansas State 86, Bethune-Cookman 85 

Bethune-Cookman trailed 40-35 at the half but battled back to lead into 

the final minute before falling 86-85 to Arkansas State Saturday in a first round 

CBI game. 

The Wildcats (17-17) took their last lead at 83-82 on a 3-pointer by 

Derrick Carter-Hollinger Jr. with 1:34 left. ASU scored at the :56 second mark 

and again after a B-CU miss with :06 seconds left. B-CU had a 2-point basket 

at the final buzzer. 

Jakobi Heady had 19 points and Carter-Hollinger had 15. Dhashon 

Dyson tallied 14 while Zion Harmon added 11. 

Seattle 79, Delaware State 66 

MEAC Tournament runners-up Delaware State hung with Seattle thru 

one half, only trailing 34-32 at the break, but saw the Redhawks (20-14) roll 

off 12 straight second-half points and balloon the lead to 19 at 74-55, before 

the final 13-point spread. 

Freshman point guard Deywilk Tavarez was the only double-figure 

scorer with 15 for the Hornets (15-19) in the first round CBI game. 

Women'sNIT 

Grambling State 93, Oral Roberts 91 

STEPHENSVILLE, TX – Five players scored in double digits and 

Grambling State got a clutch 3-pointer late to earn a 93-91 win on the road at 

Oral Roberts in a first round WNIT contest Thursday. 

Five-seven sophomore shooting guard Jazmyne 

Jackson's 3-pointer with :22 seconds left, the final tally of 

her team-high 21 points, gave GSU a 91-89 lead and Kahia 

Warmsley's two free throws with :03 ticks left sealed it for 

the Lady Tigers (23-9). Jackson, playing 20 minutes off the 

bench, canned 7 of 11 shots from the field including 4 of 7 

from behind the arc to pace GSU. Jordyn Carter had 17 

points, Amanda Blake had 14 and a team-high 13 rebounds, Douthshine 

Prien had 12 and Warmsley had 11. 

© AZEEZ Communications, Inc. Vol. XXX, No. 35 

Jackson 

Three teams still alive for postseason glory 

LUT WILLIAMS 

BCSP Editor 

Postseason college basketball winds to a 

close over the next couple of weeks. For most 

Historically Black College and University 

(HBCU) teams however, the end came a bit 

sooner (see Tournament Recaps). 

But for three black college hoops squads – 

the men of Langston and Norfolk State and the 

women of North Carolina A&T – the dream 

of finishing the season on a winning note is still 

alive. Here's the line-up for this week. 

Langston in NAIA 

National Championshp Game 

Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) 

champion Langston (35-1) has continued its 

remarkable turnaround under second-year coach 

Chris Wright. 

After winning the SAC regular season and 

tournament titles and receiving one of four 

No. 1 seeds into the 64-team NAIA national 

tournament, the Lions have run off five straight 

wins to earn a spot opposite Freed-Hardman of 

Indiana (31-4) in Wednesday's 7 p.m. (CDT) 

championship game. 

After four double-digit wins, three in 

blowout fashion, the Lions had to dig deep to 

defeat defending national champion College 

of Idaho Monday 58-52 in a national semifinal 

game. 

If the Lions win the championship, they 

would join Tennessee State (1957, '58, '59), 

Grambling (1961), Prairie View A&M (1962), 

Central State (1965, '68), Kentucky State 

(1970, '71, '72) Coppin State (1976) and Texas 

BCSP Notes 

Joyner announces his 

retirement from J. C. Smith 

Stephen Joyner Sr. announced Friday 

his retirement as Johnson C. 

Smith’s men's head basketball 

coach after 36 years. 

"It was a great run here at 

Smith," Joyner said in a post on 

Joyner 

X, published by the university's 

official account. "The Gold and 

Blue runs deep in me and I will 

always cherish the memories." 

Joyner, a standout guard for the Golden 

Bulls from 1969-73, took over as head coach 

prior to the 1987-88 season. He had served as 

women's basketball coach the previous six seasons 

beginning in 1980 including an NCAA Division 

II tournament appearance in 1985. 

Joyner won exactly 600 games as men's 

basketball coach, the third most in CIAA men's 

college basketball history. The milestone victory 

came in what turned out to be his final home 

game, 80-74 over Claflin on Feb. 24. The Golden 

Bulls were eliminated in the first round of the 

2024 CIAA Tournament by Virginia State 66- 

56 on Feb. 28. 

Joyner's Bulls captured the CIAA Tourna- 

The Grambling State women advanced to face Louisiana-Monroe on the road in the 

second round of the WNIT at 6 p.m. Monday at Fant-Ewing Coliseum. 

Louisiana-Monroe 102, Grambling State 76 

MONROE, LA – Louisiana-Monroe had five players score in double-digits led by 

30 from Jakayla Johnson as they methodically pulled away from Grambling State for a 

102-76 second round WNIT win Monday. 

ULM (20-13) ran out to a 48-30 lead after two quarters and stretched the margin 

with a 33-18 third period that put the game away.. 

Sophomore shooting guard Jazmyne Jackson again led GSU with 

North Carolina A&T 56, UNC-Greensboro 51 

GREENSBORO, NC – Hosting its first postseason game at Corbett Arena on 

campus, North Carolina A&T rallied in the second half to down crosstown rival UNC- 

Greensboro 56-51 Friday in a first round WNIT game. 

An energetic crowd of over 3,900 watched the locals go at it with UNC-G building a 

28-19 halftime lead. The Lady Aggies (21-11) wiped that lead out with a 21-12 third quarter 

to enter the final period with the teams tied at 40. There were three more ties down the 

stretch, the last at 44. The Lady Spartans (21-12) took their only fourth-quarter lead at 45- 

44 before A&T went up for good at 46-45 on a Chaniya Clark layup with 5:35 to play. 

North Carolina A&T 48, Old Dominion 45 

GREENSBORO, NC – Five-ten senior guard Maleia Bracone drained a 3-pointer 

with less than a second left to propel North Carolina A&T to a thrilling 48-45 home win 

over Old Dominion in a second round WNIT game Sunday. 

The trey was the last of Bracone's game-high 17 points and allowed the Lady Aggies 

(22-11) to escape from a game that had ten ties and 12 lead changes. Three of the ties 

and five of the lead changes occurred in the fourth quarter after A&T opened the period up 

36-35. 

Bracone's layup with 3:22 left put A&T up 45-43 only to see ODU (22-10) tie the 

score at 45 :20 seconds later. Bracone's game winner was the only basket over the final 

three minutes. D'Mya Tucker had 10 points and tied for the team high with 8 rebounds. 

The Lady Aggies will play a third home postseason game Friday at 7 p.m. vs. Troy in 

the WNIT Super 16. 

(M) COLLEGE INSIDER.COM TOURNAMENT (CIT) 

Tarleton State 82, Texas Southern 71 

STEPHENSVILLE, TX – Trailing 36-26 at the half, SWAC tourney runners-up 

Texas Southern fought back to tie the game at 58 with just over six minutes left but was 

outscored 24-13 over the final stretch in falling in the first round of the CIT Tuesday. 

Jaylen Wysinger and Deon Stout led TSU (16-17) with 18 points, Kenny Hunter 

tallied 15 and Jonathan Cisse added 11. 

Alabama A&M 81, Austin Peay 71 

CLARKSVILLE, TN – Chad Moodie, the Southwestern Athletic Conference 

(SWAC) Freshman of the Year, scored 18 of his game- and career-high 

24 points in the second half to pace Alabama A&M to a CIT road win at 

Austin Peay Tuesday. Alabama A&M advanced to meet Norfolk State 

in the semifinals Saturday. 

Moodie went 11-of-13 from the floor and added five rebounds, two 

blocks and one steal. Omari Peek scored 14 of his 18 points in the first 

half, along with seven boards and one assist. Caleb Blackwell chipped 

in a career-high 13 points, with three boards, two assists, one steal and 

one block and defensively, Cameron Tucker grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds for the 

Bulldogs (12-22). 

Norfolk State 81, Alabama A&M 66 

NORFOLK, VA – MEAC regular season champs Norfolk State, playing without 

league Player of the Year Jamarii Thomas, outscored Alabama A&M 26-13 over the final 

seven minutes to pull away to a 81-66 CIT semifinal win over the Bulldogs Saturday. 

Southern (1977) as black college men's NAIA 

national basketball champions. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: New York Knicks players, in a 

124-99 win over Detroit Monday, warmed up wearing 

shirts with Hall of Famer Willis Reed's No. 19 on the 

back on the night they celebrated HBCU Night. Reed, 

who died last year at 80, led Grambling State to the 

1961 NAIA championship and a third-place finish in 

1963. 

Norfolk State men in 

C-I-T Championship Game 

When MEAC regular season champion 

Norfolk State lost to Howard in the tournament 

semifinals, head coach Robert Jones said the 

Spartans (23-11) would be playing in what was 

to be the 16-team College Insider Tournament. 

The C-I-T is being contested this year for the 

first time since 2019. 

Only nine teams agreed to play in this year's 

edition. Norfolk State, who got a bye in the first 

round, was one of three HBCUs, including 

Texas Southern and Alabama A&M out of the 

SWAC, who consented to play. 

Tuesday, TSU (16-17) lost at Tarleton State 

(82-71) while Alabama A&M won at Austin 

Peay (81-71). 

Norfolk State then beat AA&M 81-66 

Saturday to earn the spot opposite Purdue Fort 

ment Championship in 2001, 2008 and 2009. 

In 2001, he led the team to its first-ever appearance 

in the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament. His 

Golden Bulls completed their historic 2001 season 

ranked #10 in the final NCAA poll and #2 

in the final Sheridan Broadcasting Network poll 

of black colleges. Joyner was selected as CIAA 

Coach of the Year in 1992, 1997, and 2001, and 

as NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region 

Coach of the Year in 2001. 

He was inducted to the John B. McLendon, 

Jr. CIAA Hall of Fame in 2014 in recognition 

of his coaching success and his lifetime of contributions 

to the CIAA. Joyner had also served 

as athletic director at JCSU before stepping 

away from that position last May. 

Moodie 

Wayne (24-12) in the CIT Championship Game 

Wednesday (3/27, 7 p.m.) at Echols Hall in 

Norfolk. 

North Carolina A&T women 

in the WNIT Super 16 

The Lady Aggies (22-11), after bowing 

out in the quarterfinals of the Colonial Athletic 

Conference (CAA) tournament, received the 

CAA's berth in the 48-team Women's National 

Invitational Tournament, known as the WNIT. 

Head coach Tarrell Robinson's team 

opened play at home Friday with a 56-51 first 

round win over crosstown Greensboro (N.C.) 

opponent UNC-Greensboro out of the Southern 

Conference. They followed that up Sunday 

with another home win, knocking off Sun Belt 

Conference member Old Dominion 48-45 at 

Corbett Sports Arena on a buzzer-beater. 

That win vaulted the ladies into the WNIT's 

Super 16 where they will again play at home this 

Friday (7 p.m.) vs. Troy (20-11), who is also out 

of the Sun Belt. After a first round bye, Troy 

defeated Florida International 92-62 Monday 

to reach the Super 16. The winner of the Troy/ 

NC A&T game will meet the winner of Southern 

Miss and Louisiana-Monroe in the WNIT's 

Great Eight on March 30 or April at a site to be 

determined (TBD). 

Hampton wastes little 

time placing Buck Joyner 

HAMPTON, VA — Hampton University 

Director of Athletics Anthony D. Henderson 

Sr. introduced former Georgetown assistant Ivan 

Thomas as the Pirates' new basketball coach. 

Thomas is replacing Edward "Buck" 

Joyner Jr. whose contract was not renewed after 

15 years leading Hampton. The Pirates finished 

9-24 overall and 3-15 in the Colonial Athletic Association 

(CAA) in Joyner's last 

season. 

When asked about the new 

hire Henderson Sr. stated, "In our 

conversation with Georgetown 

head coach Ed Cooley and administrative 

staff they feverously Thomas 

supported Ivan becoming a head coach. It was a 

thorough process and we have the right person 

for this job here at Hampton." 

Thomas, who becomes the 17th head basketball 

coach at Hampton, is excited to be returning 

to Hampton Roads. "This opportunity has led me 

back home to the 757 where I am proud to say I 

am the head coach of Hampton University, where 

the standard of excellence is an education for 

life," the Norfolk, Va. native said. 

Thomas spent seven years as head coach at 

Hampton's Kecoughtan High, leading the team to 

a 127-60 mark and to Peninsula District championships 

in 2010 and 2012. He was head coach at 

T.C. Williams High in Alexandria, Va., where he 

led the team to a 75-9 mark, winning three league 

titles. He was named Virginia Coach of the Year 

in 2008 after guiding the Titans to the state title. 

He also spent 13 years as an AAU coach for the 

Boo Williams 17-U team. 

Dubbed the CIT's John McLendon Classic, A&M (12-23) ran out to a 31-28 halftime 

lead and stayed even or ahead of the Spartans (23-11) thru most of the second half. They 

were down just 55-53 at the seven minute mark before NSU sprinted to the win. 

NSU had five players score in double digits with Allen Bertrand getting 16, Daryl 

Anderson 15, Jack Doumbia 13 and 11 each from Christian Ings and Chris Fields Jr. 

Jaylani Darden had 6 points, 8 assists and tied Fields with a team high 8 boards. Lorenzo 

Downey and London Riley had 15 and Chad Moodie had 14 for A&M. 

Norfolk State will play Purdue Fort Wayne (24-12) for the CIT Championship on the 

Spartans home floor, Joseph Echols Hall, Wednesday at 7 p.m. 

MEN'S NAIA SWEET 16 

Langston 78, LSU-Shreveport 61 

KANSAS CITY, MO – Langston had five players score in double digits and moved to 

33-1 on the season in a 78-61 Sweet 16 NAIA win over LSU Shreveport Friday. 

Anthony Roy had 17 points to lead the Lions. D'Monte Brown got 16, G'Quavious 

Lennox 14, Toru Dean 13 and Cortez Mosley 10. 

MEN'S NAIA QUARTERFINALS 

Langston 61, Indiana Wesleyan 48 

KANSAS CITY, MO – No. 1 Langston used a 16-3 first-half spurt to open a 37-26 

halftime lead and held on to a double-digit lead for most of the second half in a 61-48 win 

Saturday over No. 3 Indiana Wesleyan (29-6). 

Cortez Mosley led the Lions (34-1) with 15 points and Anthony Roy added 13. 

Langston (34-1) moved on to face 2023 defending NAIA champion College of Idaho 

(32-3) at 7 p.m. in Monday's second NAIA national semifinal. The 5 p.m. semifinal had 

Grace (IN) (34-1) facing Freed-Hardman (TN) (30-4). 

MEN'S NAIA SEMIFINALS 

Langston 58, College of Idaho 52 

Langston went eight second-half minutes without a basket but got its offense going 

late to down 2023 NAIA national champion College of Idaho 58-52 in a hard-fought national 

semifinal game Monday night. 

With the win the Lions (35-1) advance to Tuesday's 7 p.m. (CDT) national 

championship game where they will face Freed-Hardman (TN). Freed-Hardman (31-4) 

beat Grace (IN) 86-81 in the other semifinal game. 

The tough defensive slugfest saw the Lions tied with CI at 27 at the break. After taking 

a 29-27 lead in the first minute of the second half, Langston did not 

score another basket until Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) Player of 

the Year Anthony Roy sank a 3-pointer with 10:52 to play. The trey cut 

CI's largest second half lead of 39-32 to 39-35 and woke up the Lions' 

offense. 

The Lions pulled even at 43 on another Roy 3-pointer with 8:57 

left and took their first lead of the half at 46-43 on D'Monte Brown's 3 

at he 7:43 mark. Langston pushed the lead to five at 48-43 before CI 

Roy 

(32-4) fought back to go up 49-48 on two Samaje Morgan free throws with 5:27 to play. The 

lead changed hands twice before LU took its final lead at 52-51 on the second of Cortez 

Mosley's two free throws with 3:30 left. 

CI made one of two free throws to tie the game at 52 with just :44 seconds left but 

would not score again. Langston got a big inside basket from Jay Allan-Tovar with a halfminute 

left and a breakaway Mosley dunk off a scramble to stretch the lead to 56-52. Toru 

Dean added a basket at the final buzzer. 

Langston came in averaging 81 points per game and had won their three previous 

tournament games by an average of 25 points. The Lions were led by 14 from Mosley and 

12 by Brown off the bench. Roy finished with 9 points, a team-best 7 rebounds and tied for 

the team high with 5 assists.


SPORTS 

Nunnie on the Sideline 

By “Nunnie” Robinson, Westside Gazette Sport Editor 

March Madness continued to live up 

to its moniker over the weekend. While 

channel surfing as we all do in times of 

leisure, I came upon the Houston Cougars/ 

Texas A&M game in its waning moments. 

The Cougars were leading by a relatively 

comfortable 9 point margin with a little 

over a minute remaining. After scrambling 

back to within 3 points, with 1.2 seconds 

left, the Aggies made a miraculous 3 point 

shot to tie the game, sending it into overtime 

where Houston finally prevailed 95-90. On 

the ladies’ side, the Kansas Jayhawks forced overtime against 

Michigan, also on a last second 3 pointer, then prevailed 81-72. 

The tops 2 seeds in each region for both women and men have 

held court thus far. 

I want to pivot momentarily and pose a rhetorical question 

regarding our MEAC (Howard) and SWAC (Grambling St.) 

Champions, who by virtue of their amazing victories, qualified 

for the NCAA Division I tournament. In the NBA it’s called the 

Play In and in the NCAA, it’s called the First Four. Howard 

lost a hard fought game, which ended their season, to Wagner, 

but the Mighty G-Men prevailed in overtime against Montana 

St. 86-81. The reward for the victory was the opportunity to 

play number one seed Purdue, which easily dispatched the 

Tigers. My question : Is winning the conference championship, 

qualifying for the First Four, only to be paired arguably against 

one of the top four teams in the country the ceiling for HBCUS 

and schools of similar ilk? And isn’t the money earned from 

playing in those games shared equally with other conference 

schools? Since they have several championships for various 

divisions like Divisions II and III and NAIA, why can’t one be 

developed for formally I-AA schools, today referred to as FCS 

in football. Surely, the competition would be more equal, thus 

increasing schools like Howard, Wagner, Montana St. et al, 

chances for success on the court, thereby increasing revenue 

opportunities for the individual schools and conferences. The 

tournament record historically for schools qualifying for the 

NCAA is dismal at best. You may recall Coppin State’s 78- 

65 upset of South Carolina in 1997 or 15th seeded Hampton 

University, a team that won 25 games, defeat number 2 seeded 

Iowa State, a team led by future NBA star Jamal Tinsley in 

2001. We know it can and has happened; however, the chances 

of any school not a Power 5 or least a Mid Major winning the 

NCAA championship is tantamount to winning the Power Ball 

or Mega. I surmised that like everything else in politics or 

sports, decisions of this import or magnitude usually involve 

money. Perhaps someone more knowledgeable can school me. 

Of course, here’s something we can all agree on: The transfer 

portal and NIL have changed amateur athletics for years to 

come. 

FAMU has Pro Day for 17 senior 

athletes on Ken Riley Field 

Vaughn R. Wilson 

Florida A&M held their annual Pro Day on 

Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium 

with 18 NFL scouts and one Canadian Football 

League scout. Among those in attendance 

was Los Angeles Raiders head coach Antonio 

Pierce and Washington Commanders General 

Manager Martin Mayhew. 

Coach James Colzie III was experiencing 

his first Pro Day as head coach of the 

Rattlers and was excited about what the day 

meant. “We have some great players and we have a great 

product that these folks are coming to see. Believe it or not, 

we’ve had a lot of phone calls from other schools trying to get 

their players to come to our Pro Day,” Colzie said. It’s a true 

testament to our team, a testament to what the guys have 

brought and a testament to the players coach Simmons has 

brought in over the years and hopefully we can continue to give 

our guys the opportunity to show what they’ve done and what 

they can do at the next level.” 

Decked in custom orange workout gear as designed by 

FAMU equipment manager Don Reed designed for the day, 

the players were relaxed with a moderate crowd of about 150 

onlookers. Current FAMU players were on hand to root on 

their teammates and get a glimpse of what it looks like to be 

evaluated for the highest level of football. 

It was no secret that the scouts had some direct evaluations 

designated for FAMU Pro Day. It was first to see up close 

the speed of Eric Smith and Marcus Riley, the arm of Jeremy 

Moussa and the agility of Isaiah Major. The real job of a scout 

at Pro Days is to find the diamonds in the rough. All players 

got equal time to show their skills to the contingent of scouts at 

the venue. 

Smith blazed to a 4.38 time in the 40-yard dash, while 

Riley was in the 4.4 range. Riley, a native of Tallahassee who 

had a journey during his college career, with FAMU being 

the third school he played for, is glad he landed on FAMU’s 

campus. “From high school I went to Louisville. It didn’t go 

good there, when the coach was let go, I took a detour down 

the street to the school south of here (B-CU) that we don’t 

mention. I had to graduate there in order to be able to play 

here. With the covid year I was able to get my final year here at 

FAMU. I’m comfortable with my performance. It was another 

day of work it wasn’t really that hard.” 

Defensive backs had solid reps during their sessions as well 

as the linemen. The various scouts took turns guiding different 

drills. Former University of Miami running backs were roaming 

the football field in different capacities. In fact, between the 

Hurricanes and Seminoles, there was some banter. Former 

University of Miami running back Melvin Bratton, who is now an 

agent and represents Markquese Bell among his athletes, was 

badgering Mayhew, who competed against him as a defensive 

back for Florida State. “Tell Mayhew it’s me and him one-onone,’ 

Bratton said that drew thunderous laughter. Another 

former Um running back Alonzo Highsmith, who scouts for the 

Seattle Seahawks was also evaluating during Pro Day. 

After all the agility, lifting, measuring and running, all 

attention turned to Moussa. After a warmup session, the 

spotlight was on his ability to make passes and show his 

mobility. He was precise and threw crisp spirals. Several 

scouts could be heard whispering to one another and writing as 

Deeply Rooted 

FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami 

Host Committee gears up for seven 

epic matches with unprecedented 

public collaboration 

Executive advisory board, a coalition of city, 

county, and state leaders led by four female 

South Florida mayors will fuel a formidable 

FIFA World Cup 2026 spectacle 

Submitted by Brandon Grant 

MIAMI -- The FIFA World Cup 2026 Miami Host 

Committee proudly unveils a historic alliance between Florida 

state officials, city, and county leaders, establishing an 

executive advisory board. Led by Miami-Dade County Mayor 

Daniella Levine Cava, this distinguished group includes 

Broward County Mayor Nan Rich, Palm Beach County 

Mayor Maria Sachs, Monroe County Mayor Holly Merrill 

Raschein, Miami Gardens Mayor Rodney Harris, Miami 

Mayor Francis Suarez, Miami Beach Mayor Steven 

Meiner and State Senator and Miami-Dade Legislative 

Delegation Chair Ana Maria Rodriguez, who will play a 

pivotal role orchestrating the world’s largest sporting event 

scheduled for the summer of 2026. 

This effort emphasizes regional unity in hosting FIFA 

World Cup 2026 TM , showcasing an unparalleled partnership 

and Florida’s commitment to delivering a world-class event. In 

addition, with Mayor Levine Cava spearheading the executive 

advisory board and supported by a strong contingent of female 

leaders, South Florida’s diverse leadership is in the spotlight 

during Women’s History Month, reinforcing the universal 

appeal of this global game and powerful role women will have 

in shaping the event. 

“With so many key functions involved in planning this 

event from the variety of accommodations and key venue 

preparation to coordination of transportation, security, health, 

and emergency response, as well as managing the arrival 

experience and diverse events associated with the World Cup, 

it will be necessary for South Florida to rise to the occasion as a 

united region to truly showcase how we work together to be the 

best hosts possible,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Levine 

Cava. “I have no doubt that this executive advisory board has 

the leadership, commitment, and drive to deliver on this global 

event.” 


By Briona Hopkins 

(Source FAMU Forward: 

Then FAMU 

student Althea 

Gibson speaks at 

a campus event. 

(Credit: Meeks- 

Eaton Archives) 

Part of FAMU’s Wahnish Way to be Dedicated 

to Tennis Great, Alum Althea Gibson 

Florida A&M University (FAMU) alum and tennis great 

Althea Gibson was recognized with an honorary street 

dedication Tuesday, March 19. 

The Leon County Commission voted unanimously to erect 

signs honorarily designating a section of Wahnish Way from 

Orange Avenue north to FAMU Way as Althea Gibson Way to 

recognize the first African American to win the French Open. 

The street name officially remains Wahnish Way. 

This comes on the heels of action last fall when Tallahassee 

City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox proposed a plan 

to honor Gibson with a symbolic tribute that would be a 

huge asset for the FAMU community. The decision was 

unanimously approved to rename Wahnish Way to Althea 

Gibson Way. Former Congressman Al Lawson made a similar 

appeal to the FAMU Board of Trustees last fall. 

Gibson’s early athletic achievements led her to being 

awarded a sports scholarship at FAMU. During her time on the 

Tallahassee campus, she was known as one of the best tennis 

and golf players. 

During her professional career, Gibson won five grand 

slam titles, including the French Open (1956), Wimbledon 

(1957,1958) and the U.S. Open (1957,1958). She later became 

the first Black golfer to join the Ladies Professional Golfers 

Association (LPGA. 

Gibson’s legacy has been honored with a statue at Arthur 

Ashe stadium in 2019 on Women’s Equality Day. Attending 

that ceremony were a number of women who were inspired by 

Gibson’s pioneering success. They included former U.S. Tennis 

Association (USTA) CEO and President Katrina Adams, the 

first African American to hold the post, and retired African 

American tennis professionals Chanda Rubin and Zina 

Garrison. In 2019, the FAMU Tennis Complex was renamed in 

Gibson’s honor. She died in 2003. 

Gibson continues to be an inspiration to many. 

Commissioner Williams-Cox is ecstatic about continuing 

Gibson’s legacy. 



The WG Sports Corner 

Jan 27, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Miami Heat 

forward Jimmy Butler (22) reacts with teammates after 

making a basket during the second half against the New 

York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory 

Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports 

By “Nunnie” Robinson, Westside Gazette Sport Editor 

The Miami Heat are currently sitting in 7th place in the 

Eastern Conference, blowing out the Cleveland Cavaliers 

in a dominating performance in Miami. The Heat’s victory 

keeps them in position to avoid the dreaded Play In which, 

if the season ended today, would qualify them as the 7th 

seed, forcing them to play the Atlanta Hawks, who recently 

overcame a 30 point deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics. 

In the Eastern Conference, the Celtics have clinched a bye and 

a playoff spot, followed by the Milwaukee Bucks, the Cleveland 

Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic and Indiana 

Pacers. The Heat are a game and a half behind the Magic and 

a half game behind the Pacers. Any chance of avoiding the 

Play In means overtaking one or both the Magic, the Pacers 

or both. The 76ers, Bulls, and Hawks are the remaining 

Eastern Conference teams in contention for the Play In. 

In the Western Conference the Houston Rockets, coached by 

former Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka, are hot on the heels of 

the Warriors - losers of 3 consecutive games - with a legitimate 

shot at knocking them out of the playoffs completely. This 

means that , just as we’ve been writing, these games are vitally 

important with teams separated by a game or a half game. The 3 

top teams in the west, the Denver Nuggets, the Oklahoma City 

Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves, are separated by a 

mere game and a half while the next 2 contenders fighting for 

playoff position - the New Orleans Pelicans and the Los Angeles 

Clippers are in a virtual tie for 4th and 5th place, six and half 

games out of first. Presently in 6th place are the Sacramento 

Kings followed by the Dallas Mavericks, both eight and a half 

games back, the Kings holding the tiebreaker. Consequently, 

if the Play Ins began today, the Dallas Mavericks would play 

the Golden State Warriors or the Houston Rockets who only 

trail the Warriors by a half game. The other Play In teams , 

incredible as it sounds, would pit the Phoenix Sun against the 

Los Angeles Lakers, playing extremely well and are only a game 

behind the Suns, who are a half game behind the Mavericks. 

All I can say NBA fans is get your popcorn and keep your 

eyes on the scoreboard/standings. Wins and losses create 

sudden and dramatic shifts The talent gap is so narrow 

and competition is so intense that any team from 1-10 in 

both conferences could literally reached the NBA finals. 

Sanders’ new OL coach: 

Colorado should ‘build a fence’ 

to keep top state recruits 

The Minnesota Vikings’ Phil Loadholt (71) takes the 

field against Chicago Bears on Dec. 1, 2013, at Mall of 

America Field at the Hubert Humphrey Metrodome 

in Minneapolis. According to reports, Deion Sanders has 

hired Loadholt as his new offensive line coach. ADAM 

BETTCHER/GETTY IMAGES/TNS 

By Sean Keeler/ The Denver Post/TNS 

(Source Daytona Times): 

BOULDER, COLO. — Godzilla wouldn’t throw down with 

Phil Loadholt. Unless the King of the Monsters wants a place of 

honor among Deion Sanders’ luggage, best swing that mighty 

tail ’round the other direction and run, son. 

If the new Colorado offensive line coach is ever cornered in 

a dark alley by a bear, Yogi’s as good as a rug. At 6-foot-8, 340- 

ish pounds, when Loadholt rises and stretches at the dawn of a 

new day, the man blots out the sun. 


Bethune-Cookman edged out by 

Arkansas State in CBI tournament 

By Brandon King 

(Source HBCU): 

Jakobi Heady’s layup gave 

the Wildcats their first lead of 

January 6, 2024: during first 

half men’s NCAA basketball 

January 6, 2024: during 

between FAMU Rattlers and 

first half men’s NCAA 

the Bethune Cookman Wildcats basketball between FAMU 

at Moore Gymnasium in Rattlers and the Bethune 

Daytona Beach, FL, Fl. Romeo Cookman Wildcats at 

T Guzman/BCU Athletics the Moore Gymnasium in 

afternoon at 6-5 at the 16:37 Daytona Beach, FL, Fl. 

mark of the opening half. B-CU 

Romeo T Guzman/BCU 

Athletics 

tied the game at 12 on a James 

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com


Deeply Rooted 


Descendants of 1811 Revolt Heroes Acquire 

Woodland Plantation to Preserve Black History 

The Banners’ acquisition of the plantation marks a significant moment in the ongoing 

struggle to preserve Black history. After years of discussions with the previous owner, 

Timothy Sheehan, about safeguarding this heritage, the sisters finalized the purchase 

in January for $750,000. With the transaction completed, they now hold stewardship 





Jo Banner and Joy Banner, 

founders of The Descendants 

Project, have taken a 

significant step towards 

preserving the historical 

legacy of Black Americans 

by acquiring the Woodland 

Plantation in LaPlace, 

By Jim Saunders 

©2024 The News Service of 

Florida. 

TALLAHASSEE — 

With the Florida Supreme 

Court deciding whether an 

abortion-rights constitutional 

amendment should go on the 

November ballot, Attorney 

General Ashley Moody’s office 

and abortion opponents are 

urging justices to consider 

another part of the state 

Constitution that they say 

could apply to “unborn 

children.” 

Moody’s office Monday 

raised the possibility of filing 

an additional brief about what 

is described as the “natural 

persons” provision of the state 

Constitution. A day later, the 

group Susan B. Anthony Pro- 

Life America urged justices to 

order briefs on an “expedited 

basis.” 


proposed 

constitutional amendment 

seeks to ensure abortion 

rights, but the Supreme Court 

would need to sign off on its 

wording before the issue could 

go on the ballot. Justices look 

at issues such as whether 

Louisiana. According to 

TheGrio, their unwavering 

commitment stems from a 

deep-rooted understanding of 

the plantation’s pivotal role in 

history and a determination 

to authenticate its story. 

Raised on the West Bank 

of the Mississippi River, Jo 

Banner and her sister Joy 

Banner were steeped in the 

tales of their grandmother, 

who recounted the harrowing 

Black cemeteries from Front Page 

base have spurred preservation efforts 

among state and local governments as well 

as community members who want to rebuild 

ancestral links that are spiritually crucial. 

In Washington, D.C., members of a 

historically Black sorority recruited an expert 

who helped find the 1919 burial site of one 

of the sorority’s founders, hidden from view 

in an overgrown, badly neglected section of 

Woodlawn Cemetery. 

In Miami, Jessie Wooden bought a 

historically segregated Black cemetery also 

suffering from neglect. He and his brother, 

Frank – who works as caretaker – have a 

powerful motive for trying to restore the 

The Jewish Federation 

of Broward County 

Congratulates 

Stephenie 

Whitfield 

on a well-deserved 

retirement. 

over a property that witnessed one of America’s largest uprisings of enslaved people. 

events of the 1811 revolt 

by enslaved people. The 

uprising, often overshadowed 

in historical narratives, 

saw the brave resistance 

of individuals like Charles 

Deslondes and approximately 

25 others who sought freedom 

amidst the brutal oppression 

of slavery. 

The Banners’ acquisition 

of the plantation marks a 

significant moment in the 

ongoing struggle to preserve 

Black history. After years of 

discussions with the previous 

owner, Timothy Sheehan, 

about safeguarding this 

heritage, the sisters finalized 

the purchase in January 

for $750,000. With the 

Justices Urged to Weigh ‘Unborn Children’ Issue 

the proposed wording would 

be clear to voters and would 

not address more than one 

subject. 

The ballot summary of the 

proposal says, in part: “No law 

shall prohibit, penalize, delay, 

or restrict abortion before 

viability or when necessary to 

protect the patient’s health, 

as determined by the patient’s 

healthcare provider.” 

The filings this week stem 

from questions that Chief 

Justice Carlos Muniz raised 

during Feb. 7 oral arguments 

on the proposal. Those 

questions involved whether 

the “unborn” are covered by 

part of the Constitution that 

says, in part, “All natural 

persons, female and male 

alike, are equal before the law 

and have inalienable rights, 

among which are the right 

to enjoy and defend life and 

liberty, to pursue happiness.” 

In his questions, Muniz 

appeared to suggest that 

the court might not be able 

to decide on the wording of 

the proposed abortion-rights 

amendment without also 

looking at whether voters 

would understand that it 

could affect the “natural 

persons” provision of the 

Constitution. 

“If sort of the bare 

minimum is that people 

need to be on notice as to 

what does the Constitution 

do now and what are you 

proposing to change, can we 

evaluate that without taking 

a position on whether the 

current Constitution legally, 

not morally or politically or 

whatever, but legally, speaks 

to this issue of any kind of 

rights for the unborn under 

this declaration of rights 

provision?” Muniz said. 

Later, Muniz said the 

proposed constitutional 

amendment “kind of assumes 

that the Constitution as it 

exists right now is silent as 

to any rights of the unborn. 

And I don’t know if that 

assumption is correct.” 

During the hearing, state 

Senior Deputy Solicitor 

General Nathan Forrester 

said Moody’s office had not 

taken a position on the issue. 

But in the filing Monday, 

Moody’s office said it “stands 



cemetery: it houses the gravesite of their 

mother, Vivian, who died when Jessie was an 

infant. 

“When we got here it looked like a jungle,” 

Frank Wooden said. “Some people had to jump 

the fence to get in to see their loved one.” 

When sites of sacred cultural memory are 

desecrated, it adds additional trauma to the 

indignity of being segregated even in death, 

said Brent Leggs. He is executive director 

of the African American Cultural Heritage 

Action Fund and senior vice president of the 

National Trust for Historic Preservation. 

Those groups have played major roles in 

bringing awareness to the threats to cemetery 

transaction completed, they 

now hold stewardship over a 

property that witnessed one 

of America’s largest uprisings 

of enslaved people. 

Their 

nonprofit 

organization, 


Descendants Project, focuses 

on preserving and protecting 

the Black descendant 

community in Louisiana’s 

River Parishes. The Woodland 

Plantation, nestled in St. 

John the Baptist Parish, 

holds immense historical 

significance, encompassing 

4,000 square feet of space on 

four acres of land. 

According to Sharlene 

Sinegal-DeCuir, an associate 

professor of history at 

Xavier University, the 

Banners’ initiative is 

By Lauren Frayer 

(Source NPR) 

LONDON — A Zambianborn 

lawyer has become 

the first Black head of 

government in Wales, in the 

United Kingdom — and in all 

of Europe. 

Thursday is Vaughan 

Gething’s first full day on the 

job as Welsh first minister, 

after being elected by the 

Welsh parliament in Cardiff 

a day earlier and approved by 

King Charles III. 

“Today we turn a page 

in the book of our nation’s 

history — a history we write 

together,” he said upon taking 

office. “Not just because I 

have the honor of becoming 

the first Black leader in 

any European country, but 

because a generational dial 

has jumped too.” 

At 50, Gething said he is 

the first Welsh leader to come 

of age after the devolution 

of powers from the U.K.’s 

central government in London 

to national governments in 

preservation, such as vandalism, abandonment, 

ownership disputes and development. The 

groups provide technical expertise, as well as 

legal and preservation advocacy. 

“There’s growing awareness among 

the public that cemeteries are not these 

haunted, scary places, but they are parks 

to be experienced as sites of reflection and 

commemoration,” Leggs said. 

At Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in 

Miami’s Brownsville neighborhood, community 

members now stop by to say thanks and 

bring cold water to workers who are weeding, 

cleaning and repainting crypts, some dating to 

the late 19th century. 

After Jessie Wooden serendipitously met an 

aunt when he was in his late 40s and learned 

about his mother’s resting place, he tried to 

visit but found the vast graveyard overgrown, 

snake-infested and surrounded by debris. 

Now, when he comes to work, he walks past 

the crypts and spreading banyan trees to pray 

at his mother’s grave. 

“All my life I didn’t know her. All I knew 

that mom was gone,” Wooden said. “For me to 

be able to come where she’s resting at and be 

able to just to say a little prayer and talk to 

her, oh, that means so much to me.” 

Marvin Dunn, emeritus professor at Florida 

International University and historian of race 

relations in Florida, remembers childhood 

visits to his great-grandmother’s grave for 

yearly spring clean-ups, when he helped out 

marking the site with Coke bottles. 

“It was the ritual,” Dunn said. “My 

grandmother, especially, would not have 

allowed that grave not to be cleaned once a 

year.” 

Dunn’s great-grandmother’s burial grounds 

belonged to a church, and those cemeteries 

have been more likely to survive, he said. But 

where entire communities were uprooted, 

privately owned cemeteries on newly valuable 

land were often sold to developers with little 

to no objection – leading to hundreds of 

thousands of Black graves that might never be 

found again. 

profoundly impactful. It 

provides an opportunity for 

descendants of the enslaved 

to reclaim their narrative, 

offering a counterbalance 

to historical accounts that 

often marginalize their 

contributions. 

In addition to preserving 

the plantation’s history, the 

Banners said they intend to 

use the space as a hub for 

community engagement. By 

offering genealogy resources 

and facilitating discussions on 

environmental justice, they 

aim to create a welcoming 

environment where Black 

voices are heard and honored. 

The fight against 

environmental degradation 

in the region, epitomized by 

Greenfield Louisiana LLC’s 

proposed construction of a 

grain elevator export plant, 

underscores the ongoing 

struggle for justice. For Jo 

Banner, the significance 

of their ownership extends 

beyond mere property rights. 

It represents a reclaiming of 

space and identity, ensuring 

that future generations 

connect meaningfully with 

their heritage. As they embark 

on this journey, the Banners 

said they are determined to 

ensure that the Woodland 

Plantation remains a beacon 

of hope and empowerment for 

all who visit. 

“Knowing that home’s 

history and everything that 

happened, that our names 



Meet Europe’s first Black head 

of Government — in Wales 

Vaughan Gething poses 

for a portrait at the Cardiff 

University Spark building 

on March 16, in Cardiff, 

Wales. He has taken the 

Welsh government’s 

leadership post as first 

minister. 

(Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) 

Scotland, Wales and Northern 

Ireland. That process began 

with public votes in the late 

1990s. 

Wales, with a population 

of about three million, is one 

of four countries in the U.K., 

along with England, Scotland 

and Northern Ireland. They 

run local services, including 

health and education systems, 

while London is responsible 

for their defense, foreign 

relations and other issues. 

Gething was born in 

Zambia to a Zambian mother 

and white Welsh father. He 

was raised in Dorset, England, 

before going to university in 

Wales. 

Given his race and 

background, he said to 

lawmakers on Wednesday 

his election is “a matter of 

pride” but also a “daunting 

responsibility.” And he 

pledged to make Wales a place 

where citizens “can celebrate 

our differences and take pride 

in all of those things that 

draw us together.” 

A longtime member 

of the U.K.’s center-left 

Labour Party, Gething won 

a leadership contest within 

the party’s Welsh ranks 

last weekend, after his 

predecessor, Mark Drakeford, 



“Where we bury our dead remains a part 

of our history, a part of our lives, a part of our 

souls,” Dunn said. “Not knowing where your 

ancestors are at, you can’t have that connection 

... And that’s a tragic loss.” 

In 2022, Congress passed the African- 

American Burial Grounds Preservation Act as 

a program within the National Park Service; 

efforts are ongoing to ensure funding. Last 

year, Florida passed a bill to fund restoration 

of historic Black cemeteries. Dunn says the 

state should also help families gain access to 

privately owned graveyards. 

“Dignity is the biggest thing,” said 

Antoinette Jackson, a University of South 

Florida professor. She leads the African 

American Burial Ground & Remembering 

Project in the Tampa area, where Black 

cemeteries were discovered in recent years 

under a corporation’s parking lot and a school’s 

campus. 

Elsewhere in Tampa, an estimated 800 

graves of Black people remain from the Zion 

Cemetery, founded in 1901 as the city’s first 

burial ground for Blacks. The Tampa Housing 

Authority is redeveloping a housing complex 

built atop some of the graves, said Leroy 

Moore, the authority’s chief operating officer. 

Use of ground-penetrating radar confirmed 

the graves’ location, leading to closure of five 

buildings over the burial ground, relocation 

of 32 families and efforts to preserve the area 

and create a genealogy research center. 

“You’ve got to know your history,” Moore 

said. 

In Miami, the Wooden brothers are trying 

to restore those family and community ties one 

crumbling gravesite at a time. 

“People can be proud, you know, where their 

loved ones are buried at. And they can be … 

proud to come and visit again,” Jessie Wooden 

said as Frank painstakingly brushed dirt off a 

nearby crypt. “We’re open, we’re visiting, we’re 

burying, I mean, we’re getting things done.” 

In Washington, in the summer of 2018,

The Westside Gazette

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