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.

A WEEK OF UPHEVAL

 (Baltimore, MD)  What a week. It began Sunday, 1/3/21, as a part of group of Journalist questioning Rep. James Clyburn (D) South Carolina for Journal-ism. During the Q and A, I asked Congressman Clyburn about a breaking news story regarding the President calling the Georgia Secretary of State and telling him to find more than 11-thousand votes to help overturn his election in the state. “I won’t put anything past the President,” said the South Carolina legislator (this idea would be revealed by Wednesday).

Tuesday, 1/4/21, I dropped in my office at the Annapolis State House preparing for the 2021 Maryland Legislative Session. In the area where I work, commonly referred to as “The Pit.” I have a pair of calendars on my desk. One shows the month, another shows the date. The date was March 20, 2020, the last time I was in State House. I did a Zoom call with colleagues, and snapped pictures of Lawyers Mall, where Justice Thurgood Marshall will return.

I head home to watch election results from the Georgia United States Senate. By 11 pm est. it was clear, Rev. Ralph Warnock, had defeated incumbent  Sen. Kelly Loeffler. There was uncertainty as to whether  Jon Ossoff  had defeated Sen. David Perdue (but it was trending in that direction). This election would  decide which party would control the Senate.

Rev. Ralph Warnock

I retire knowing Wednesday the Congress would begin counting the results of the Electoral College. Some members of the GOP in the House of Representatives [Jim Jordan (Ohio), Matt Gaetz (Fla.), and Louie Gohmert (Tex.)] were all in; in the Senate (Sen. Josh Hawley (MO)and  Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) went on record they would challenge the votes as well. They were urged on by the President who went on several social media sites (Twitter/Facebook/Parler) to urge supporters to come to Washington, DC to “stop the count.” There would be a rally outside the White House.

There were ominous signs, Mayor Mural asked DC residents, “avoid Downtown and confrontation,” Tuesday afternoon. The Mayor also put the National Guard on notice.

The  Hotel Harrington, which was frequented by members of “The Proud Boys,” announced it was closing it doors in anticipation of large crowds. Federal authorities arrest Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys Tuesday evening. These were signs.

Wednesday, 1/5/20, the day began with Vice President Mike Pence announcing he could not change the outcome of the election by selecting new electors. The President had urged him to do so, but the Vice President rejected this idea noting what the constitution spells out what his role is in this process. The President went on a twitter tirade. A letter was released by the Vice President to the public as to what his role is in this procedure. The process would begin at 1 pm.

At 11 am I begin watching the Electoral College count on CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, BBC, and NBC. I switch over to monitor the March to Save America on FOX, OAN, and NEWSMAX and see they are showing a rally of Trump supporters outside the White House.

Featured speakers include Rudolph Giuliani, “Let’s have trial by combat.” “This isn’t their Republican Party anymore!” Donald Trump Jr. yelled. “This is Donald Trump’s Republican Party!”

The President appears on stage at 12 noon(1-hour rant of how the election was stolen). The President urged the crowd “If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” Trump says he will march with them to the Capitol. He doesn’t, but monitors activities from a tent then just outside the White House. From Trump, “Because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong.”

The joint session of Congress convenes at 1 pm with Vice President Pence presiding. He begins to open the mahogany boxes which contains the votes of states. He stops on Arizona because there is a challenge. Each challenge will last 2 hours. AP calls race for Joss Ossoff in Georgia as they begin deliberations.

The chambers split and the challenge in each chamber begins. In a split screen you see the marchers heading to Capitol. The Capitol Police watch in horror as the crowd overwhelms the east and west side barricades. The group gains access to Inaugural staging area and on the grounds of the Capitol. That’s when things take a turn for the worst.

In the Senate, Secret Service remove the Vice President and Sen. Mitch McConnel. Over in the House of Representatives, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is shepherd away. The remaining members are taken to the same secure locations as the mob breaks into the Capitol making their way into two chambers.

I am glued like you to the television, wondering how is this possible? I worked in the Capitol prior to 911. I have been back since and it’s difficult to enter. Why wasn’t their more security? All of the officers had guns. Why weren’t they used? Why was it taking so long for National Guard from Maryland and Virginia to arrive to secure the building? When additional police arrive, why was this mob allowed to leave and not be arrested?

Several Republican leaders urged the President to go before the cameras to ask his supporters to leave the Capitol. He appeared on Twitter via video only to rant about the election being stolen and tell his supporters to leave. A second video appeared where he said, “We love you, but it is time to leave.”

At 6 PM curfew was imposed in Washington, DC by Mayor Bowser. Police officers began to move the crowd away from the Capitol grounds. Control is re-established. President Elect Biden addresses the nation. The Cong/ress reconvenes and commences the process a little after 9 PM. The first challenge to Arizona is defeated at 11 PM. The others follow suit and Joe Biden is named the President.

Thursday 1/7/21, I plan to go to Washington, DC. I take my son, Julian. As we get closer to the Capitol there is security everywhere. The first thing we notice is the erection of an eight-foot-high fence. As we get to the Reflection Pond, we notice a number of Trump supporters berating  international journalist. These Trump supporters believe they have done nothing wrong and are willing to tell anyone how they feel. There continue to be caravans of cars, buses and trucks with Trump flags.

Despite universal condemnation, they are unwavering in their belief the election was stolen. On Capitol Hill there is discuss, and shock as to how this happen. The assessment is swift. The Sargent of Arm is fired, the Chief of the Capitol Police resigns, and it’s announced the fencing will stay up during the Inauguration. There is word the President has gone to Camp David. There is serious talk about invoking the 25^th Amendment where the President is removed from office by the Vice President and eight members of the Cabinet. Speaker Pelosi says if this does not take place she will consider a second Impeachment.

I talk to Democrat Rep. Anthony Brown of Maryland about the events of the siege, lessons learned, and what should happen.

Friday 1/8/21, things are moving fast. The President records another video saying what his supporters did at the Capitol was wrong (It’s seems he’s been told this looks bad.). Twitter/Instagram announces a ban for @RealDonaldTrump. Others follow their lead mostly ban information till after the Inauguration.

There are intense discussions about the how and the why of mob getting into Capitol. A number of high-profile people seen in videos are arrested. There are bi-partisan discussion about how to proceed if Articles of Impeachment are drawn up. Same members of the GOP are against the idea saying it would further divide the country. Speaker Pelosi mays a call to the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to inquiry about safe guards around the nation’s nuclear arsenal. The Chief assures her safeguards are in place.

The FBI, the Metropolitan Police, and Capitol Police begin an investigation. More video inside the Capitol is released and shows a mob “hell-bent” on entering and desecrating the institution. There are few days left in the Trump Administration.

The chorus of condemnation is growing. An alternate version of the events includes: it was Antifa, the mob was exercising their First Amendment, and these were individuals who were frustrated. Stop!!! You broke the law and this is treason. We saw it and the world saw it.

Per South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, “Anything is possible.”

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