TOP TEN BLACK NEWS STORIES 2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Person of the Year: Wes Moore

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

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

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

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

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

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

Black News Stories of the Year 2018

I’ve been writing these stories for a number of years and it gets difficulty to narrow the list. So let me start with the simple disclaimer, you may agree or disagree with the stories I selected. Go ahead and create your own list.

This year had number of twist and turns. A lot the year was summed up in the loss of innocence and those who were sound tracks to our lives (Aretha Franklin).  There was way too much focus on the domestic issues and not enough on external issues which have an indirect affect (Mexico/Europe/Middle East/Africa).

As a journalist, I can tell you a number of my colleagues died at the hands of people who would like to silence our work. The Committee to Protect Journalist said 53 journalist around the world died in 2018. The attack on the Capital Gazette Newspaper staff (5 people) in Annapolis (where I work for four months of the year) makes me think.   

My cynicism is checked by a continued optimism.  

10. Trap Music – You’ve heard it and probably didn’t understand it if you’re over thirty. I’ll try to explain but there will be music critics who will take exception to my personal explanation. It’s the natural progression of music coming from the “Dirty South,” Atlanta. As with most new musical genres in the current environment, it draws heavily on a particular beat, subtle keyboards and a steady thumpin bassline.  The raps aren’t as form fitting as much as it plays off of sounds like “skirrrr, skrettt, yo, dot-dot etc…” For a while it was confined to Strip Clubs, but it has gone mainstream (Mountain Dew ad contains the song – Can’t Do Drip-Drip). Current artist using this art form include the Migo’s, 2-Chainz, Cardi B, Young Thug and Quavo (and others). Some of the reigning kings of Hip-Hop, Drake and Lil Wayne, have laced their tracks with the sound. The creator is a young white guy from Canada who goes by the name of Murda-Beatz. Like Rick Rubin of Def Jam, the “white dude” would seem out of place, but knows how to make music. The man has an ear for music of this generation which he apparently can drop quicker than most producers.  

9. Ebony Owes – Full disclosure I worked for Ebony/Jet during the Freddie Gray Trials. A number of my friends also penned pieces for the magazine/online site. During my short tenure the revered magazines was brought by a pair of venture capitalist. While most welcomed the stability and the magazines attempt to exploit the online era, I was disappointed when scheduled payments were not received in a timely fashion (I did get paid). This affected a number of people in literally life threatening ways. It took a lawsuit to get the company to pay up and they still missed several payments. My late friend, Rashod Ollison, who could have used the payment got his check but it came after they buried him.

8. Science/History and Black People – This year I heard and you likely heard some of the stupidest things from people you like and had to say, “Aw Naw.” Where do I begin, Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics trying to clean up his conspiracy theory suggestion, “the world is flat because you can’t see beyond the horizon.” Seriously. Kayne West, telling TMZ, “slavery was a choice,” and the ultimate follow up in the Oval Office with the President, “The ‘Make America Great Again’ hat gives me power…we need to get rid of the thirteen amendment.” Lastly, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors suggesting “the moon landing was staged.” Each of these individuals recanted but can you “please, stay in your lane.”

7. Ethiopia/Eretria – The long simmering feud between these two countries came to end this year with the election of a new Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed. Ethiopia and Eretria had been locked in a cross border war for 30 years. Eretria declared its independence in 1993. The enmity was palatable. Hundreds fled the war torn region for the United States (Washington, DC, Los Angeles and Atlanta have large expatriate communities). Old wounds die hard on the Africa continent. Prime Minister Ahmed, who was much younger through off the shackles of the past and agreed to meet with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in the his capital, Asamara, unthinkable. The ending of this war bodes well for other conflicts in Sudan and Somali.

6. Losing to Win – As a Black Political reporter I have seen the way elections have shaped this unique landscape. Going back to Representative Shirley Chisolm’s run for President, and laying the foundation for hundreds of Black politicians in the seventies. Jesse Jackson’s run for President in the eighties paved the way for hundreds of politicians in small towns, large cities, and states to run for office. The election of Barack Obama as President showed people a road to winning. This year several gubernatorial candidates’ attempts to win governorship's were close (Stacey Abraham, Andrew Gillum, Ben Jealous, and Mike Espy). While their lost stings, it will set in motion an unprecedented wave of politicians to seek office across the country and the world.

5. Arts/Literature – Since the Obama’s are no longer in the “white hot” space of oval office they have settled into a Georgetown House in Washington, DC only to appear at official functions, lectures and other duties they deem worthy of their time. The unveiling of their official portraits this year was stunning because of the artist renditions of their likeness. Kehinde Wiley, painted the President’s portrait and Amy Sherald (she’s a Baltimore artist) used her talents to capture the former First Lady.

Each of these painters broke the mold on who they envision this power couple to be. You’ll want to watch what they do in the future.  Adding to this was Michelle Obama’s book, Becoming and accompanied sold out book tour. “You’ve got the Midas touch, everything I touch turns to Gold,” from Midnight Star.

Honorable mention in the book category was Zora Neal Hurston’s book, Barrcoon: The Story of the Last Black Cargo. A riveting tale which was shelved and brought back to life by Black scholars who felt now was the time.

4. Meek Mill – Hip-hop seemed to find its common purpose in rallying behind rapper Meek Mill. Mill from Philadelphia was on probation from 2009 gun charge and drug possession. In the case, a Common Pleas Judge said Mill had violated his probation when he failed a drug test and two other arrests (which were dropped). The judge ordered him re-jailed in November 2017. After several Hip-Hop stars (Jay-Z, T.I and others) railed to his support. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court this year agreed to let him out on bond until his case is heard.

Mill, who is a 76ers fan, was flown by helicopter to the game and sat court side with Owner Michael Rubin and Comedian Kevin Hart. Mill knows he’s been given a second chance, ”to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office, I’m grateful for your commitment to justice -- not only for my case, but for others that have been wrongfully jailed due to police misconduct."

3. Covering POTUS – From his often heard refrain of “fake news,” his public put downs of reporters, and of course his banning of a CNN Reporter at the White House (which was overturned), it’s been a year like no other. Then at a White House press briefing and a press scrum before departing on Marine One, POTUS targeted three African-American female reporters on November 10th and 11^th for their questions,

American Urban Radio’s April Ryan, PBS’s Yamiche Alcindor, and CNN’s Abby Phillip. Let’s put some facts on the table first. There aren’t enough people of color asking the POTUS questions. These three ladies are seasoned veterans. The fact he went specifically after them says a lot. Lastly, I am alarmed by the number of Reporters, News Organizations and Networks who’ve been targeted by mentally unstable individuals (and yes I think the President feeds their thinking). This year I looked over my shoulder a little more often and watched who was following me online. I will continue this practice going into the New Year.

2. Voter Suppression – It is real, it’s sophisticated, and cunning. After the amazing voter turnout of the Black electorate during the Obama years, a number of GOP operatives began to devise ways to suppress and counter “get out the vote” activities. It starts with limiting the number of early voting days, especially Sunday voting. This was known as “Souls to the Polls.” The next were nefarious attempts to bring photo identification to polls and make it more difficulty to get the proper identification. The inability of formerly incarcerated people to get their franchise back (Florida passed a constitutional voter referendum which will give thousands the right to vote). The last tactic was voter purges (those who hadn’t voted for a year(s) before an election were wiped from rolls). We now know it was much more sophisticated. Sources indicate that “Russian Troll Farms” used social media to sow distrust in the voting system specifically targeting African-Americans to depress vote totals. This year we learned a North Carolina man (and others) collected absentee ballots from a number of Democrats (mostly Black) and change their selectionsto a Republican or destroyed ballots. The GOP for all of its get tough on “voting fraud” is deftly silent. Where is the outcry and why isn’t someone in jail for voter fraud.

1. Black Life is Complicated – If you’re Black you already know this. If you aren’t, the explanations I lay out will seem like contradictions. For multiple generations, African-American parents and those with children who are conceived from mixed race couples have had to draw fine lines. We welcome you into the world with hundreds of possibilities and unlimited potential, then you have to go outside. “The talk” is so familiar that you know it goes with the territory.  from various white women calling police on Black people; the targeting of Black people by racists with guns in Kentucky; and the most recent incident of a young man having his dreadlocks cut in order to compete in wrestling tournament (which he won). The racism and white superiority conversation is real, and can’t be covered up by the “just get over it.”

Conversely, we saw the largest grossing film with a nearly an all-Black cast, Black Panther, set a new standard (with more to come). The impresario’s of style and culture maybe the Hip-Hop couple Beyonce and Jay-Z. Still there are hundreds of young men dying in this country at the hands of people who look like them over trivial matters because essentially “life is cheap.” I continue to believe the glass is half empty and “we need more water.”

Person of the Year: James Shaw, Jr.

Shaw from Nashville like so many of his age (29 years old) had finished a night of hanging out with friends at a nightclub. They decided to get breakfast. At 3:15 am, he was not alone when he entered a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee. It was filled with conversations over the order taking, the grill sizzle, and the clanking of dishes. Outside was Travis Reinking (a white man) who was sitting in his pickup truck with a AR-15 rifle. His intention was to kill as many people as possible in the restaurant (4 died in the shooting). When he started shooting Shaw ducked behind a swinging door leading to the restroom. He had been grazed but saw his opportunity when the shooting stopped. “I kind of made up my mind, because there was no way to lock that door, that if it was going to come down to it, he was going to have to work to kill me.” He rushed the shooter, taking the rifle, tossing it over the counter. The shooter would flee. After being treated at an area hospital, a woman who also was at the Waffle House, told him “you saved my life,” according to a newspaper report. Walt Ehmer, the president and chief executive of Waffle House said, “You don’t get to meet many heroes in life, Mr. Shaw, but you are a hero, you are my hero,” 

Yes, Shaw prevented others from being killed. He’s been honored by the state of Tennessee, Nashville, his alma mater Tennessee State, his fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. (I am a member) and others. He has taken his celebrity and created a foundation to help others. This act has changed a young man’s trajectory for good. In this year of 2018, James Shaw is my Person of the Year.