Top 10 Black News Stories of 2019

(Baltimore, MD) I often look for “silver linings” in the stories I write. What is clear to me is “the universe talks to me.” What do I mean by this? I am sometimes drawn to places and people for inextricable reasons. I have learned not to make sense of the why, but to except what “the universe” tries to deliver. Meaning “I have to listen.”

The Black Diaspora covers vast regions, with varied outcomes (good and bad), and the ability to shape a broader world with its innovations and peculiarities. It has always been difficult to synthesize what rises to the top.

So, let me get to a couple of things you have heard me say before: If you don’t like my list, make up your own. I watch pop-culture, politics, historical trends, and people you may not have heard of. I can easily expand the list, but I am not going to do that. While I am east coast based in the United States, I have a much broader focus.

Go ahead and criticize if you must. I’m a big boy/dude. You won’t be the first and you won’t be the last. So here goes.

10. The Nipsey Hussle Effect – The tragic death of this South-Central Los Angeles Rapper is a marker for the current generation. Like Tupac and Biggy Smalls, we have only begun to scratch the surface of his impact. “He was trying to do good in the Hood.” From celebrities, athletes, and to people in the street, he defined where the culture was going in the current environment. I am always saddened when people leave too soon and leave behind families who share the burden of trying to define what they meant to them and to a generation.

9. Social Mishap/Misappropriation – The year has been filled with a number of “oops!” Sometimes there were people of the majority culture doing things to Black folks (Governor of Virginia in Black face in a Medical School Yearbook.). I am concerned about how #cancelculture has been used for good. Unfortunately, it’s been used to demean those who may not have deserved it. However, the biggest “say what” moment occurred this year with actorJussie Smollett of the Fox show “Empire.” He claimed he was attacked by men who wore MAGA hats affiliated with fans of the POTUS. It turned out to be a hoax.

8. The Color of Beauty – There was a five way first of sorts when it comes to beauty pageants. Zozibini Tunzi (please note her natural hair) was crowned Miss Universe. She hails from South Africa. Toni-Ann Singh from St. Thomas, Jamaica was crowned Miss World. Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris; Miss America Nia Franklin; and Miss USA Cheslie Kryst. Black is Beautiful.

7. Being a Cop - It’s difficult being a Black cop. The pressures from society regarding how you administer justice is often called into question. It’s a unique calling. What makes it more strenuous is when people go rogue. We’ve seen this from the top cops (dismissing the Chicago Commissioner Eddie Johnson after he was found intoxicated, then lied to Mayor Lori Lightfoot). Once considered for the top cop in Baltimore, the Fort Worth Police Commissioner Joel Fitzgerald pulled his name from consideration, then was fired.  Also from Baltimore a group of rogue cops (The Gun Trace Task Force) were robbing and stealing from drug dealers and reselling the drugs for profit. A few make the rest of you wonder why – and they wonder why it’s hard to recruit.

6. Harriet Tubman – She was a conductor of the Underground Railroad and help lead hundreds to freedom. This year she got the star treatment. At the Harriet Tubman Museum in Cambridge, MD a mural was unveiled showing her reaching out from the wall. The image went viral when a young girl had her picture taken touching the hand (The scene has been replicated hundreds of times.). During this year there was also the release of “Harriet,” the movie. A broader audience got to see her story and it will influence generations. In 2020, the star treatment will continue with a dedication of a statue to Tubman at the Annapolis State House, a first for people of color who were brought to Maryland’s shores in chains.

5.   The Icons Lost - Toni Morrison’s name is hallowed for Black writers. She let the pen tell so many different kinds of stories. As a Pulitzer Prize winner (Beloved), she never rested, creating works that inspire generations. Honorable Mention: the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, “We can do better.”

Rumors of War

4. Reigning in the Confederacy – I was born in Richmond, Virginia and attended Virginia Commonwealth University. It’s where I began my journalism career. The history of the city dates to the founding of the country. The dark underbelly of the city is it once was once the capitol of the Confederacy. The city is adorned with statues of Confederate Generals. There have been a number of commissions created to decide what to with statues on Monument Avenue. You can imagine my surprise when I learned The Boulevard, a storied street like Monument Avenue, was going to be renamed for famed Richmond born tennis player Arthur Ashe (Deep irony, there is a park with prime public tennis courts at the end of this road where Ashe was not allowed to play.). Adding to this re-interpretation, the artist, Kehinde Wiley,created a three-story statue of a man with dread-locks and a hoodie on a horse called Rumors of War. It was placed on Ashe Boulevard in front of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (I lived two blocks away from this facility). The Los Angeles born artist who is based in New York visited Richmond in 2016 and was inspired after seeing the Confederate General Jeb Stuart statue on his horse. “What does it feel like if you are black and walking beneath this?"

3. Gun Violence – It’s been an astonishing year for homicides in too many cities from Baltimore, Detroit, St. Louis, New Orleans, Oakland, Chicago, Dallas, and other cities big and small. While campaigns in the majority community have focused on removing high capacity weapons, our communities (Black and Hispanic) seem caught-up in street turf wars over drugs/beefs. A number of organizations are trying to tackle the problem (Safe Streets in Baltimore and others). This is a pathological and mental health issue, which I have argued about on these pages. I hate each year I have to include this subject.

2. Black People and Politics – When I started this Blog, I never envisioned a Black President until I met a young Barack Obama. It seems like a lifetime ago, and whether we will ever see another remains to be seen. Black folk and politics are not monoliths. Yes, there is a tendency for some to adhere to orthodoxy (Democratic Party) or outside of the mainstream (Republican and Libertarian). What I am seeing is a unique splintering which is fueled by outside sources – Russian disinformation campaigns and a generational divide that may not be overcome by shared interests. I am shocked to hear from my younger colleagues who argue with passion, “Obama did nothing for Black Folk.” There may be some validity to this but remember he was POTUS not the Brother who lead the nation. This year we have/had a pair of Black candidates Senators Corey Booker (still in the race) and Kamala Harris (dropped out). There was this unreasonable purity test for these candidates, Former President Obama addressed the issue, “I am always suspicious of purity tests during elections. Because, you know what, the country is complicated…chill out.” Some young people took this as being out of touch. If allowed to fester, I can guarantee you a lower voter turnout and policies, which you will decry as not in your best interest.

Sen. Corey Booker

Sen. Kamala Harris

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1. The Robert Harris Gift and Promise. In 2015, I wrote about Robert F. Smith, one of the wealthiest Black men in America. His company, Vista Equity Partners, is listed at near the top of the Forbes 500. You’d think he would have been sought out as a commencement speaker for any university. Few came calling until this year when Morehouse College invited him to speak at their commencement. He was honored and moved by the young people commonly called “Morehouse Men.”

The technology investor, who received an honorary doctorate from the HBCU, made a surprise announcement during the institution’s Sunday morning commencement. “On behalf of the eight generations of my family that have been in this country, we’re going to put a little fuel in your bus,” he said during his speech. “This is my class, 2019. And my family is making agrant to eliminate their student loans.” The gift has been estimated to be worth up to $40 million.

It took a minute for it to sink in…and then jubilation. I can’t tell you what student debt does to those who attended college. I just wish more people would step up and remember what a gift education is to the future. FYI, he’s likely to be flooded with requests to speak in 2020.

Person of the Year - Dr. Marshall Shepard

I have known Dr. Shepard for over 20 years, and he is a man of science. In his past life he was  Deputy Project Scientist for the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission in laymans terms, in charge of weather for NASA. Currently, he is the Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia. Recently, I had a chance to hear him speak. Dr. Sheppard related Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from a Birmingham” with environmental justice. 

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

― Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from the Birmingham Jail

“I do science, I don’t do opinion or what I think,” a refreshing approach in a world where science/scientists are being discounted for their work. The meteorologist has had to fight with people online who think they know more or don’t have a science degree (let alone a Ph.D.). What’s super cool he isn’t to full of himself (He tells jokes about his work and himself.).

You can see Dr. Shepard on the Weather Channel as the host of “The Weather Geeks” or read his musings in Forbes in print and online.

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.