Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, is the highest-ranking African American member of Congress
In a conversation with CNN‘s Dana Bush on Saturday, Rep. Jim Clyburn revealed he privately urged President-elect Joe Biden to choose a Black woman as his running mate.
House Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn speaks to rally goers during a drive-in rally for Democratic Senate candidate Jaime Harrison on October 17, 2020 in North Charleston, South Carolina. Harrison is running against incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). (Photo by Cameron Pollack/Getty Images)
With Biden securing the win by surpassing 270 electoral votes after gaining the battleground state of Pennsylvania, Kamala Harris makes history as the first female and Black-South Asian vice president elect.
“Joe and I talked about it several times when he was trying to make his decision,” Clyburn told Bush. “He had said it would be a woman. And I don’t mind saying now, I said to him in private that I thought that a lot of the results would turn on whether that woman (would) be a Black woman.”
Congratulations to the 46th President, Joe Biden.
Your victory marks a new chapter for our country.
As we face unprecedented challenges, Americans have chosen you to lead us out of the chaos and to build a stronger community.
Clyburn endorsed Biden in February prior to South Carolina’s Democratic primary. “My buddy Jim Clyburn, you brought me back,” Biden said of Clyburn in February.
Clyburn told Bush he was cautious to not give Biden advice publicly so as not to “diminish” him.
“I gave all my advice to him in private. But I’m very pleased that it was a Black woman selected — I think it cemented his relationship to the Black community,” Clyburn said.
In an Instagram post, journalist Ed Gordon acknowledged the pivotal role Clyburn played in the Biden-Harris campaign including rallying in South Carolina.
“Be clear, NO ONE has more to do with @joebiden winning the Presidency than @whipclyburn Biden’s candidacy was all but dead before the majority whip put his name behind the former VP,” Gordon said. “Clyburn then rallied his state of South Carolina and brought victory and momentum to Biden that ultimate lead to him becoming the Democratic nominee. A big salute to the Congressman, well done.”
In her victory speech, Harris acknowledged making history as the first female vice president-elect and encouraged young girls to follow in her footsteps.
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last.” she said. “Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities.”
Clyburn echoed those sentiments, saying, “I’m the father of three daughters and I have two granddaughters, and to me this breaks a glass ceiling … for them and all other daughters and granddaughters in the world.”
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
‘When Barack Obama was President, I was marching for Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner,’ said one activist
Deadspin reporter Chuck Modi took to the streets of Washington D.C. to speak with individuals in light of the 2020 Presidential elections.
One woman he spoke with was candid with the realities of America despite president-elect Joe Biden defeating Donald Trump.
“Maybe we can get back to normal. What was your normal? What was normal for you?” the woman asked. “Because when Barack Obama was President, I was marching for Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner fresh out of college.”
Though many feel as though the “work is done” after getting Trump out of office, there is a hard truth, according to the woman. “The work was never finished,” she said.
“Not one time when we were marching for George Floyd did those people on the news – mainstream news – say we had the right to be there,” she said.
In Biden’s Saturday victory speech, he acknowledged the pivotal role African Americans played in his success during the election cycle.
“The African American community stood up again for me. You’ve always had my back, and I’ll have yours,” Biden said to the crowd.
Joe Biden says he's proud to have built "the broadest and most diverse coalition in history" and thanks Black voters for supporting him in the toughest times of his campaign: "The African-American community stood up again for me. You've always had my back, and I'll have yours." pic.twitter.com/bHNjKhX86n
Biden vowed to ease the racial tension and division in the United States and during the September presidential debate, he called out Trump for being a “racist,” according to NPR. Though Biden has said some promising things, many have called out his past actions.
In the same September debate, Trump challenged Biden on his past surrounding race: “You did a crime bill, 1994, where you call them super predators — African-Americans are super predators — and they’ve never forgotten it.”
NPR disputed that statement, acknowledging that Hillary Clinton was the one who used the phrase “super predators” in the 1990s and later apologized for that statement.
Biden’s role in writing the 1994 crime bill when he was a Delaware Senator is widely criticized today for the hardships it caused people of color. In a 2019 CNN article, Biden pushed back on the idea that the bill lead to mass incarceration.
“Folks, let’s get something straight. This idea that the crime bill generated mass incarceration—it did not generate mass incarceration.”
In 1972, after his election to the Senate, Biden criticized desegregating schools through the busing system. According to NPR, judges ordered buses be a remedy to segregation by sending Black students to white-dominated schools. The idea experienced push back from white residents.
“It was a classic liberal position to say, ‘I’m in favor of school integration in Little Rock or Montgomery and Selma, but not so much in Boston, Chicago, New York or Wilmington,” said historian and author Matthew Delmont.
He followed that Biden was “right” to focus his intentions on desegregation but “you can’t say you’re in favor of housing integration and not also be fighting for school integration at the same time.”
“There is academic ferment against it. There are young Black and young white leaders against it. There is social unrest which highlights it,” Biden said in a 1975 NPR interview.
It was a point that Sen. Kamala Harris, his future running mate, made in the 2019 presidential debate, asking, “Do you agree today that you were wrong to oppose busing in America?”
Eventually, perceptions surrounding Biden shifted and he became a widely-adored Vice President to Barack Obama.
“We got a blatant bigot and racist out of the way, but we still have to do the work to dismantle the system. Everyone here is going to keep fighting. If you’re not fighting & stopped fighting, ask yourself why?”#DCProtests on #Election2020 of #BidenHarris2020pic.twitter.com/p8l6b4EWw5
Just as the young D.C. woman emphasized, the racial injustices during Trump’s presidency, Obama’s presidency and before, will still prevail. We have to make the “system uncomfortable” in order to make real change, said the woman.
“We got a blatant bigot and racist out of the way, but now we still have to do the work to dismantle the system what constantly oppresses black, brown and Indigenous people, period,” she concluded.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
AOC was re-elected in 2020 after many believed her first victory was luck
In an exclusive interview with the New York Times, House Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), aka AOC, said she might quit politics because of resistance from fellow Democrats.
Despite remaining the majority, House Democrats lost some seats in this election. Many of them went on to blame progressive members like AOC, according to Business Insider.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), is seen as U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy testifies during a hearing before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on August 24, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The committee is holding a hearing on “Protecting the Timely Delivery of Mail, Medicine, and Mail-in Ballots.” (Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images)
“I don’t even know if I want to be in politics,” she told The Times. “You know, for real, in the first six months of my term, I didn’t even know if I was going to run for re-election this year.”
“I chose to run for re-election because I felt like I had to prove that this is real. That this movement was real. That I wasn’t a fluke,” AOC told The Times. “That people really want guaranteed health care and that people really want the Democratic Party to fight for them.”
With her stance on Medicare for All and a strong alliance with the Black Lives Matter movement, AOC is seen as a nuisance among center-left Democrats who favor liberal ideas but like to compromise with the right.
.@AOC tells @jaketapper that "not a single member of Congress that I'm aware of campaigned on socialism or defunding the police in this general election."
She says Dems' problem is a weak party operation that needs to become "stronger and more resilient to Republican attacks."
AOC said that some of her colleagues would appear to be supportive of her progressive causes in front of the media, but inside the chambers, she is met with hostility.
“Externally, there’s been a ton of support,” she said, according to The Times. “But internally, it’s been extremely hostile to anything that even smells progressive.”
The Bronx native said that fellow House members should embrace progressiveness, stating that “they’re just setting up their own obsolescence.”
She also praised activists, many of whom share her progressive opinions, on Twitter.
AOC was re-elected in 2020 after defeating former CNBC contributor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera (MCC) in the Democratic primary in New York’s 14th congressional district.
Many of her opposers believed her 2018 victory over former Rep. Joseph Crowley was a fluke.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
People took to Twitter to send their condolences and pay homage to Trebek
Alex Trebek, the long-running host of the beloved game show Jeopardy!, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Sunday. He was 80.
When Trebek arrives, I hope the good Lord states His answer to the meaning of Life in the form of a question. That might actually be appropriate, come to think of it. https://t.co/RdIS70D01Z
In March 2019, the Canadian-born host announced his cancer diagnosis to the public but assured fans that despite the prognosis, “I’m going to fight this.”
“Just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer,” Trebek said.
Trebek passed away at his home surrounded by his family and friends.
Jeopardy! is saddened to share that Alex Trebek passed away peacefully at home early this morning, surrounded by family and friends. Thank you, Alex. pic.twitter.com/Yk2a90CHIM
Pat Sajak, game show host of Wheel of Fortune, commended Trebek for his “courage, grace and strength” and their friendship.
Alex Trebek’s courage, grace and strength inspired millions and awed those of us who knew him. A tremendous loss for his family, friends, co-workers and countless viewers. I was honored to be a friend and a part of his professional family for all these years. A very sad day.
Actress Rosario Dawson thanked the host for sharing his life with viewers.
Thanks for sharing so much of your life w us Alex Trebek. You have brought me to tears so many times w your cheeky humor, kindness & brilliance & esp. as I watched you bravely take on the same cancer my father has been battling these past years. Blessings. https://t.co/9su4mERiQE
Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon wished their fellow host well.
Alex Trebek was a gentleman, and it was a privilege to share the stage, even briefly, with such a kind, thoughtful guy. Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/moZrpOhLwA
Many news outlets including CNN and E! News, shared videos of former Jeopardy! contestant Burt Thakur. Thakur shared an emotional story about the revered host who he said taught him how to speak English.
“My grandfather who raised me – I’m going to get tears right now – I used to sit on his lap and watch your everyday,” Thakur said to Trebek during his appearance on the show. “So, it’s a pretty special moment for me, man. Thank you very much.”
Thakur would go on to win the game with a total of $20,400.
It’s not the first time a contestant has shown appreciation for Trebek. In November 2019, contestant Dhruv Gaur gambled away his $2,000 earnings in Final Jeopardy with a message that made the host choke up: “What is: We love you, Alex!”
DMX said the person who introduced him to hip-hop is the same person who handed him a crack-laced blunt
Rapper DMX has spoken candidly about his addiction to crack cocaine, which began at the tender age of 14, after he smoked a blunt laced with crack.
The embattled rapper has made tabloid headlines for years as he struggled with substance abuse. In an emotional clip from next week’s episode of People’s Party with Talib Kweli, DMX recounted his ongoing battle with addiction.
DMX performs at Masters Of Ceremony 2019 at Barclays Center on June 28, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
“I learned that I had to deal with the things that hurt me,” DMX said. “I didn’t really have anybody to talk to… in the hood, nobody wanted to hear that… Talking about your problems is viewed as a sign of weakness when actually it’s one of the bravest things you can do. One of the bravest things you can do is put it on the table, chop it up, and just let it out.”
DMX, whose government name is Earl Simmons, disclosed that the person who introduced him to hip-hop is the same person who handed him a crack-laced blunt. This unnamed person, whom he considered a mentor, declined to tell him that he was smoking a highly addictive substance. The incident and its aftermath traumatized X and led to the confessional aspect of his raps.
“He passed the blunt around and… I hit the blunt,” an emotional DMX recalled in the interview. “I never felt like this before. It fucked me up. I later found out that he laced the blunt with crack. Why would you do that to a child? He was like 30, and he knew I looked up to him.”
Listening to dmx playlist drugs really fucked his life up he was too hot
The talented rapper and actor is keenly aware of how that critical moment set him on a path that would provide the framework for his music career, and he said he sees himself as “blessed with a curse.”
“Drugs were never a problem,” he said. “Drugs were a symptom of a bigger problem. There were things I went through in my childhood where I just blocked it out.” He went on to say that it was time for him to start opening up and dealing with his problems.
The complete UPROXX podcast interview is scheduled to drop on Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. EST.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
John Matthews was sent to jail without bail on three counts of first-degree murder
A Chicago man was arrested for killing his girlfriend, her mother and her sister because his girlfriend did not agree to cook him breakfast or braid his hair.
On Friday, John Matthews was sent to jail without bail on three counts of first-degree murder for the death of his 24-year-old girlfriend, Shonta Harris, her mother, 56-year-old Frances Neal, and her sister, 27-year-old Jasmine Neal.
Harris was dating Matthews for two years when the fight took place. Matthews’s grandmother tried to defuse the situation by leading Harris outside, but Matthews followed her.
Harris made attempts to call her mother for help, but Matthews took her phone and broke it. His grandmother eventually allowed Harris use her phone to get help, summoning Frances and Jasmine to the rescue.
Matthews told Harris’s relatives to leave his property after they were trying to get the four-month old baby he and Harris shared, Daily Mail reported.
John Matthews,25, shot the mother of his 4-month son dead when she said she was too tired to cook his #breakfast and braid his #hair. https://t.co/qrNMgWgxCK
Harris’ sister decided to call 911, reporting that Matthews gave Harris a black eye and refused to surrender their son.
In the heat of the moment, Matthews pulled a gun from his waist and shot and killed Frances with seven shots in her chest, back, arm and leg. He then shot Harris once in the chest.
Jasmine ran into the street, scared from the eight shots he fired at her mother and sister. Matthews chased Jasmine down and shot her in the head.
Frances and Jasmine were pronounced dead at the scene, according to WBBM-TV, a CBS News affiliated in the Chicago area. Harris was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and was treated for her wounds.
Prosecutors said she had bullet fragments lodged in her chest, fractures to her ribs and spine, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.
Eventually, Harris passed away on Sept. 5 due to complications.
Matthews is due back in court on Nov. 30.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
Some people obtained PPP loans for approximately $4 million by making false claims about their small businesses
The Wall Street Journal reports that the federal government has become swamped with reports of potential fraud in the Paycheck Protection Program, a response to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to government officials and public data, there’s evidence that others have taken advantage of the program’s “open door design” that was created to give small businesses easy access to taxpayer funds.
Between April 3 and Aug. 8, $525 billion in loans was distributed to approximately 5.2 million small businesses.
WSJ also reports that the inspector general of the Small Business Administration, which serves as an arm of the agency that administers the PPP, found “strong indictors of widespread potential abuse and fraud in PPP.”
From July to September, there was a noticeable surge resulting in banks filing suspicious activity notices in the midst of the pandemic.
Government official watchdogs counted tens of thousands of companies that reportedly receiving PPP loans that appeared to be ineligible. These included corporations and small businesses that were created after the start of the pandemic, that exceeded 500 employees or were listed in a “Do Not Pay” system database due to owing money to taxpayers.
At the peak of PPP early in the pandemic, the SBA approved 514,000 loans in one day in May.
There are probably more cases of PPP fraud than voter fraud.
In a report, GAO said, “Because of the number of loans approved, the speed with which they were processed and the limited safeguards, there is a significant risk that some fraudulent or inflated applications were approved. In addition, the lack of clear guidance has increased the likelihood that borrowers may misuse loan proceeds or be surprised they do not qualify for full loan forgiveness.”
In September, WSJ reported that charges were filed against 57 people for their roles in crimes connected to PPP. The schemes consisted of submitting fraudulent documents to obtain funds for payroll and instead using it to purchase lavish items.
Five people in Georgia, Ohio, and California obtained PPP loans for approximately $4 million by making false claims about their small businesses’ overall expenses and payroll. The individuals failed to make payroll payments as indicated on their loan application which raised red flags.
Authorities later seized $120,000 in cash, a $125,000 Range Rover truck, jewelry, and $3 million from 10 bank accounts at the time of arrest, according to The United States Department of Justice website.
Brian Rabbitt, assistant attorney general at the Justice Department said that the government allowing companies to self-certify rather than be vetted are a magnet for opportunities of fraud.
“Experience has taught us that any time the federal government makes a large amount of money available to the public on an expedited basis, the opportunities for fraud are unfortunately clear,” said Rabbitt in September during an online press conference.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
While some voters say they are hopeful, some activists on the ground remain skeptical of a forthcoming Biden administration
DETROIT (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden’s victory was celebrated by civil rights activists and Black leaders who warned that a tough road lies ahead to address America’s persistent inequalities and the racial division that Donald Trump fueled during his presidency.
Biden will take office in January as the nation confronts a series of crises that have taken a disproportionate toll on Black Americans and people of color, including the pandemic and resulting job losses. Many cities saw protests against racial injustice during a summer of unrest.
During a contentious campaign against Trump, Biden made explicit appeals for the support of Black voters. He pledged to unify the country, acknowledged systemic racism, criticized his rival for stoking division and picked Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first Black woman on a major party’s presidential ticket. While those were all welcomed steps, Black leaders and activists say they will keep pushing the incoming administration to do more.
In this Aug. 12, 2020, file photo, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., pass each other as Harris moves to the podium to speak during a campaign event at Alexis Dupont High School in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
“This is just the beginning of change and the election of any one administration does not mean the work is done,” said civil rights leader Martin Luther King III, who noted the vision of his father, Martin Luther King Jr., has yet to be fully realized in America, 57 years after he delivered his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. “Dad and Mom wanted to eradicate poverty, racism and violence from our society and that will take a monumental effort. A Biden-Harris administration has to constantly be challenged and pushed to move.”
Black voters powered Biden’s successful campaign, particularly in critical states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia. Nine in 10 Black voters nationwide supported him, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters across the country.
“Vice President Biden understands that we are fully formed American citizens who deserve to have full access to all the parts of progress in the United States,” said Stacey Abrams, a voting rights activist and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate. “He’s been willing to commit not only to plans, but he’s been willing to take responsibility for how those plans get lived out. … I want to see proper access to opportunity and I think fundamentally that is the wish, that is the hope, and that is the deserved right of every Black person in this country.”
Latino voters supported Biden over Trump, 63% to 35%, according to the survey. White voters, who made up roughly three-quarters of the electorate, were more likely to support Trump, 55% vs. 43% for Biden.
More than 74 million Americans voted for Biden, more than any other presidential candidate in history. But some Black political strategists and activists noted the 70 million votes for Trump, suggesting that some of those Trump supporters at a minimum turned a blind eye to the racism he demonstrated.
In this Nov. 5, 2020, file photo, Zhanon Morales, 30, of Philadelphia, raises her fist as demonstrators call for all votes be counted during a rally outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, as vote counting in the general election continues. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)
“We have been lullabied for so long in this country that when you have somebody like President Donald J. Trump come along and be so blatant with his racism, it’s a shock to the senses,” said Nina Turner, a Black progressive and former Ohio state senator. ”But this country should not be deluded that it’s just Trump, it’s millions of people. A lot of white liberals, they’re very comfortable with pointing the finger at President Trump. But they need to look in the mirror…because he is just a reflection of what is already a reality in this country.”
While Biden enjoyed strong support from Black voters, there was also frustration about the pressure placed on their communities to deliver a victory.
African Americans, who are the Democratic Party’s most loyal voting bloc, face a battle for racial progress in a nation whose very founding embraced racist, predatory systems that continue to disparately harm Black people today.
And America has yet to fully reckon with that racist past, which left generations of Black Americans struggling to achieve the American dream or to overcome the effects of Trump’s election in 2016, which many experts saw as a blow to civil rights and race relations.
“We’ve been here before where we’ve seen a country that has been deeply divided over race and the complicit role of whites who should be sympathetic to Black interests and issues due to the shared economic fate but they aren’t,” said Nadia Brown, a Purdue University political science professor. “People will just try to put their heads in the sand because they don’t want to be culpable or deal with America’s history and its present day. America was founded on the idea of American exceptionalism but structural racism flies in the face of this and even good liberals don’t want to hear that.”
In 2016, a coalition composed largely of white voters powered Trump’s win over then-challenger Hillary Clinton. At the time, many said they voted for Trump because of his economic plans, which included bringing back manufacturing jobs and auto plants.
In this Aug. 28, 2020, file photo, Martin Luther King, III speaks at the March on Washington, Friday Aug. 28, 2020, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, on the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
But Ashley Jardina, assistant professor of political science at Duke University and author of the book “White Identity Politics,” said many white Americans supported Trump in 2016 and again in 2020 not solely because they are willing to turn a blind eye to racism, but because they outright agree with a lot of his rhetoric and views on race.
“That means many not only fail to see racism as a problem in the U.S., but they also express greater levels of hostility toward people of color,” Jardina said, noting the views of white Americans on race have increasingly aligned with their political views over the past eight years.
The killings of Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed inside her Kentucky home, and that of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee into his neck for nearly eight minutes, sparked global protests against police brutality and thrust racism in America into an international spotlight.
Those protesters will be looking for Biden and Harris to address their concerns and create progressive policies to address the root causes of police violence, according to Jessica Byrd, who leads the Movement for Black Lives’ Electoral Justice Project, and believes Biden and Harris have demonstrated a willingness to engage with the protest movement and organizers.
“Elections are about moving the ball forward and choosing your organizing target,” Byrd said, adding the movement will pivot toward pushing for legislation and policies like the BREATHE Act, which would transform the nation’s criminal justice system and invest in communities. “We fully intend to show up in the really important days between November and the inauguration and demonstrate our vision for Black lives is real. We have demands of the first 100 days of a Biden-Harris administration.”
Some activists on the ground remain skeptical. In Philadelphia, protests flared in recent days after police shot and killed 27-year-old Walter Wallace Jr.
In this May 31, 2020, file photo, protesters march away from the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Longtime activist Abdul-Aliy Muhammad is concerned Biden and Harris won’t address the root causes of police brutality, poverty and other structural issues that have long plagued Philadelphia.
“Biden nor Kamala Harris historically have policies that positively impact Black Philadelphians,” Muhammad said. “We know with Biden or Kamala Harris in office, we’re still going to need to organize and we’re going to still have to fight for our material conditions to shift.”
Biden’s election also represents hope with the historic candidacy of Harris, who will become the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent, to enter the White House—which some believe will create a ripple effect, opening doors for more women of color and Black Americans to ascend to the highest ranks of American politics.
“Anti-Black racism continues to shape law, culture, politics and more in this country and impact brutally on the lives of Black Americans,” said Jones, author of “Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All.” “And at the same time, I think Sen. Harris’ ascent to the vice presidency tells us that Black Americans, including Black women, are nonetheless arriving in a new place in the story of American politics.”
Michigan resident Nia Crutcher, who just turned 18 and voted for the first time, represents the next generation of Americans. Crutcher, a Black woman and first-year college student, cast her ballot for Biden.
“I don’t think racism will be solved because Biden is elected because it’s an issue we need to work on over the years. But I feel that with Biden being elected, there will definitely be more progress,” Crutcher said. “I’m hopeful.”
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
The votes are a positive sign in a nation where racial tension always has existed, a University of Alabama at Birmingham teacher says
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Alabama voters reversed themselves from a few years ago and removed racist vestiges of segregation from the state constitution that courts long ago ruled unconstitutional. Rhode Island did a similar a U-turn to eradicate the word “plantations” from the state’s official name.
In a year when discussions of racial justice have dominated U.S. society like few others, five states voted to cleanse the public sphere of words, phrases and symbols that to many were painful reminders of the nation’s history of slavery and the systematic oppression of Black people.
Brendan Skip Mark, who teaches political science at the University of Rhode Island, believes the decisions were linked to the revulsion and widespread protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in May.
In this Nov. 2, 2020, file photo, Sharon Brown, co-chair of the Mississippi Poor Peoples Campaign, reacts during a news conference at the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss., over voting concerns statewide. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
“In many ways this has sparked a national conversation on race, and I think we’ve seen a lot of people who are more willing to take concrete steps to address racism than they were in the past,” Mark said.
In addition to the votes in Alabama and Rhode Island, residents of Utah and Nebraska decided to strip their constitutions of unenforceable provisions that allowed slavery as a punishment for criminal convictions. And Mississippi voters approved a state flag without the familiar X-shaped design of the Confederate battle flag.
The votes are a positive sign in a nation where racial tension always has existed, said Stacy Moak, who teaches in the social work department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“Affirmative votes for these changes shows a willingness on the part of Americans to provide for a more inclusive community. These changes, by themselves, are not enough — but they are encouraging signs of progress in the right direction,” she said in an interview conducted by email.
In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, voters standing in line at Precinct 36 as they wait to vote in the general election in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
The Alabama measure begins the process of removing Jim Crow language from the 1901 Constitution that was intended to entrench white supremacy. Voters in the mostly white, conservative state had rejected similar proposals twice since 2000.
Courts had previously struck down the legality of the segregationist provisions that were enshrined in the document long ago, but the language banning mixed-race marriage, allowing poll taxes and mandating school segregation remained.
Glenn Crowell, a Black Republican from Montgomery, was among the roughly 67% of voters who supported scrapping those sections.
“It just doesn’t make any sense nowadays,” said Crowell, 63. Yet another statewide vote will be required to approve the revisions after legislators consider a draft in 2022.
In neighboring Mississippi, about 71% of voters approved a new state flag featuring a magnolia and the words “In God We Trust” to replace the Confederate-themed flag that state legislators voted to retire in June after the nation erupted in demonstrations following Floyd’s killing.
This Sept. 2, 2020, file photo shows the magnolia centered banner chosen by the Mississippi State Flag Commission displayed outside the Old State Capitol Museum in downtown Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Mississippi voters also eliminated an 1890s provision that aimed to ensure white control of the state by requiring majorities of both the popular vote and the 122 state House districts to win statewide office. Now, only a popular vote majority is required.
To the west, Utah and Nebraska approved provisions similar to Alabama’s to delete constitutional language allowing slavery as a possible punishment in criminal cases.
The measures, which passed by 81% in Utah and 68% in Nebraska, got relatively little attention before the vote.
But the fact that states even placed the measures on ballots shows that protests and the national discussion on racism are having an impact, said Deirdre Cooper Owens, director of the humanities in medicine program at the University of Nebraska.
“Symbolism matters, and so does language,” she said by email.
The vote was closest in Rhode Island, once a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, where about 53% of voters supported the proposal to strip the words “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s formal name, first adopted in 1790. A similar measure failed in 2010.
In this Monday, June 22, 2020, file photo, the seal of the State of Rhode Island decorates a podium as Gov. Gina Raimondo looks on at right during a news conference where she announced that she has signed an executive order to remove the phrase “Providence Plantations” in the state’s formal name from some official documents and executive agency websites in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
Like elsewhere in the country, Rhode Island has seen protests over Floyd’s death, and in racially diverse Providence, a truth commission was established to consider the state’s historic ties to slavery, land seizures, systemic racism and possible reparations.
“This ballot initiative is part of a broader shift in Rhode Island to reconcile with the past,” said Mark, the political scientist. “I think this is a unique moment in history.”
All those ballot measures involved changing symbols or wiping away reminders of injustices of long ago. In California, where voters were asked to reconsider a more contemporary race-related issue, they balked.
The liberal-minded state rejected a proposition that would have repealed a 1996 initiative prohibiting affirmative action programs in public employment, education or contracting. Supporters said the measure lost for several reasons, including a lack of time to persuade voters during a busy election year.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
The CNN host delivered a rebuke on what has been a long almost four years under Trump’s reign
The news of Joe Biden being elected the next president of the United States on Saturday has prompted many to react in emotional ways.
This includes CNN‘s Don Lemon, who commented on the decision during a newscast that evening.
Starting with a deep sigh, Lemon began by saying: “I almost can’t talk right now, because of the emotion.”
CNN host Don Lemon (via screenshot)
Lemon, appearing on-screen with CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, told his colleague that he went to sleep in his hotel in New York City Saturday morning before Pennsylvania had been projected to go for Biden, the Democratic nominee. He explained he was awoken from 40 floors up by a loud throng of people cheering outside.
He spoke of how Donald Trump‘s presidency has affected the country and what a Biden victory means going forward.
“I turned the television on and there were my colleagues announcing that Joe Biden had become the president-elect of the United States, and not to forget Kamala Harris the first Black woman (vice presidential-elect),” Lemon said. “I didn’t expect to be so overwhelmed by that. I didn’t realize the PTSD that many marginalized people — that African-Americans, women, Latinos, people of color, all kinds of white people — are feeling around this country, because we have had whiplash from someone who only cares about himself and not uniting people.”
Each weeknight, Chris Cuomo Nightly transitions into CNN Tonight with Don Lemon with the titular hosts and close friends speaking with each other before Cuomo hands over the air to Lemon. As Cuomo tossed it to Lemon by asking him how he was feeling, Lemon let forth six straight minutes of candid words and emotions.
Lemon talked about what he has had to endure during Trump’s tenure in the White House. He pulled no punches when discussing Trump on his nightly show, often prompting Trump to frequently refer to Lemon and CNN as “fake news.”
Lemon talked about being subjected to racist and homophobic slurs from Trump supporters over the past four years.
Lemon revealed that he’s had to deal with “people calling me n***er and f**” and “fake news.”
“Never before that I’ve been in this business, since 1991, have I ever had to deal with the crap that I’ve had to deal with over the last four years,” Lemon said.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
Kamala Harris said voters have ‘ushered in a new day for America.’
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris brought their entire families on-stage with them to close out their victory party on Saturday night.
After delivering speeches outside of the Chase Center in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, the two were joined by their families to watch as red white and blue fireworks exploded in the sky. A collection of drones spelling out “USA” and outlining Biden’s logo flashed in the sky, prompting the Democrat to gaze at the sky with his mouth wide in delight. Biden’s wife Jill, seven grandkids, his son Hunter and daughter Ashley all gathered around him as the family enjoyed the display.
President-elect Joe Biden hugs his grandchild on stage after Biden’s address to the nation from the Chase Center November 07, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. After four days of counting the high volume of mail-in ballots in key battleground states due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race was called for Biden after a contentious election battle against incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Harris, meanwhile, was joined by her sister Maya, her niece Meena and her husband, Doug Emhoff, as well as her two stepchildren. Harris wrapped her arms around a younger grand-niece as they watched the celebration, with more than 1,000 supporters dancing and waving American flags and Biden campaign signs. It was a celebratory ending to a day that was otherwise largely spent by the two Democrats waiting and watching as final returns rolled in.
Hundreds of cars filled the parking lot outside the Wilmington convention center in Delaware before the drive-in rally to celebrate Biden’s victory in the presidential race.
With temperatures mild Saturday night, more than 1,000 people sat on the roofs of their cars or milled around in small groups nearby, many cheering and waving American flags or Biden campaign signs. The smell of grilling meat hung in the air not unlike a football tailgate, and some of the attendees danced and sang, sweating through facemasks that appeared to be nearly universally worn.
The campaign set up cranes with towering American flags, an American-flag lined stage and projected a 10-story tall Biden-Harris logo over a digital American flag on the side of a hotel beside the convention center. Blue and red lights illuminated state flags perched on the roof of another nearby building.
Organizers first erected the stage on Tuesday night, expecting to hold a Biden Election Night party. As vote counting continued and no winner was declared, the campaign kept the stage intact and the parking lot remained surrounded by high security fences with police controlling all access in and out.
During her speech, Vice president-elect Harris said voters have “ushered in a new day for America.”
Harris spoke Saturday in her first address to the nation since she and Biden were declared the winners of the presidential election.
Harris said voters chose hope, unity, decency, science and truth in choosing she and Biden over President Donald Trump.
Harris, the first woman to be elected vice president, wore a white pantsuit in tribute to women’s suffrage. She also opened her remarks with a tribute to the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a Civil Rights icon, who said democracy is not a state but an act. Harris will also be the first Black woman to serve as vice president.
Harris paid tribute to Black women who “so often prove they are the backbone of our democracy.”
Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is the first woman to be elected to the vice presidency.
Harris noted her ascension to the role comes 100 years after the 19th Amendment was ratified and 55 years after the signing of the Voting Rights Act, which expanded who could participate in American democracy.
She praised Joe Biden for having “the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exist in our country” by selecting a woman as his running mate.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris take the stage at the Chase Center to address the nation November 07, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. After four days of counting the high volume of mail-in ballots in key battleground states due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race was called for Biden after a contentious election battle against incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
“Every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a county of possibilities,” Harris said.
The remarks were some of the most direct she has delivered about her history-making role as Biden’s running mate.
Biden pledged to be a president “who seeks not to divide but to unify.”
Biden delivered his first remarks as president-elect at a victory party in Wilmington, after he was officially declared the winner of the presidential election on Saturday. Biden jogged onto the stage wearing a black suit, black mask and light blue tie. He pointed and waved at the screaming crowd gathered to hear him speak.
Echoing his campaign stump speech, Biden promised to be a president who “doesn’t see red states or blue states, only sees the United States,” and said he would work “with all my heart” to win the confidence of all Americans.
Biden touted the fact that he’s won more votes than any presidential ticket in history, calling his win “a convincing victory, a victory for the people.” He also said he was “surprised” by seeing the celebrations and an “outpouring of joy” in the wake of his win nationwide.
Biden said that “once again, America’s bent the arc of the moral universe more toward justice.”
Biden made an appeal to supporters of President Donald Trump.
Biden said Saturday night in Wilmington, Delaware, that “this is the time to heal in America” and pledged to be a president to represent even those who didn’t support him.
Noting ”I’ve lost a couple times myself,” Biden said, “now, let’s give each other a chance.”
Trump has not conceded the race to Biden, pursuing legal challenges over ballot counts in several states.
Biden said “it’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again,” saying of his political opponents, “they are not our enemies. They are Americans.”
Joe Biden will unveil a group of scientists and experts to help him craft a plan to tackle the coronavirus pandemic on Monday.
Biden also announced his plans to launch the COVID-19 task force during remarks. He said those advisers would help him take the proposals he’s released during the campaign for dealing with the pandemic — which include investments in personal protective equipment and loans for small businesses as well as plans to implement more standardized public health guidelines — and turn those proposals into a “blueprint” that he’ll enact when inaugurated president next January.
Biden said the plan would be “built on bedrock science” and “constructed out of compassion, empathy and concern.” Biden made President Donald Trump’s mishandling of the pandemic a central focus of his campaign and pledged that his top priority as president would be managing the virus.
Biden said that “our work begins with getting COVID under control” , adding Americans “cannot repair the economy, restore our economy or relish life’s most precious moments” without doing so.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
Prominent world leaders are very accepting of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
President Donald Trump has yet to concede, but world leaders, especially in France, were quick to congratulate Biden for his election victory as the new White House administration has promised to recommit to America’s fight against climate change.
“Welcome back America!” the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, tweeted. It should be noted that Trump famously withdrew from the Paris Agreement which was signed by 195 countries. The countries in the agreement promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to mitigate climate issues.
Welcome back America ! Félicitations à @JoeBiden et @KamalaHarris pour cette élection ! Alors que nous allons célébrer les 5 ans de l’Accord de Paris, cette victoire est un beau symbole pour plus que jamais agir ensemble face à l’urgence climatique. 🇺🇸 #Election2020
“The Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations [Joe Biden and Kamala Harris]! We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges. Let’s work together!” tweeted French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris! We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges. Let's work together!
Even Trump’s cordial relationships have flipped, congratulating Biden and Harris for their victory.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a Trump ally, said Biden and Harris’ win is a “historic achievement.” The Brexit leader said he is looking forward “working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a great relationship with Trump, but just like Johnson, he is looking forward to his relationship with the Biden administration.
“I look forward to working closely together once again to take India-US relations to greater heights,” Modi said.
Modi also congratulated Harris, who is part Indian.
Heartiest congratulations @KamalaHarris! Your success is pathbreaking, and a matter of immense pride not just for your chittis, but also for all Indian-Americans. I am confident that the vibrant India-US ties will get even stronger with your support and leadership.
Leaders in Iran also commented on Biden’s win. The country’s information and communications technology minister, Mohammad Javad Azari, tweeted a black-and-white portrait of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general who was assassinated in an American drone strike. He captioned the photo #EndofTrump in Persian.
The Trump administration has placed a number of sanctions on Iran. The Trump administration withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal after Trump labeled it a “bad deal.”
The withdraw from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, crippled the country’s economy, according to the Associated Press.
Have you subscribed to theGrio’s podcast “Dear Culture”? Download our newest episodes now!
Who are you?
-
Ever since I saw the first preview of the movie, Overcomer, I wanted to see
it. I was ready. Pumped. The release month was etched in my mind. When the
time...
7 Clever Ways to Build a Cash Stash
-
7 Clever Ways to Build a Cash Stash
The post 7 Clever Ways to Build a Cash Stash appeared first on The Network
Journal.
7 Networking Tips to Meet Your Career Goals
-
Building your network is vital no matter where you are in your career
journey. For first-time job seekers, networking can help you gain
opportunities in ...
Black Music Festivals in 2024
-
Get Ready for the Hottest Black Music Festivals of 2024 For lovers of
hip-hop, R&B, soul, funk, jazz, and more, 2024 is shaping up to be an
incredible year...
Master the Art of Asking Epic Travel Questions!
-
I’m blessed to have built a career in travel journalism over the last 12
years. Putting myself in the position to field hundreds of questions weekly
acro...
Best Clarifying Shampoo for Natural Hair 2023
-
Many women seek the best clarifying shampoo for natural hair and for good
reason. Using an excellent clarifying shampoo is a must for all girls (and
boys...
Master the Art of Asking Epic Travel Questions!
-
I’m blessed to have built a career in travel journalism over the last 12
years. Putting myself in the position to field hundreds of questions weekly
acro...
RV tire blowout part 4 – final
-
Recap – We had a major tire blowout on I-75 in Florida on our way back to
Georgia. I spent the night at Camping World’s parking lot. Drove back to
Georgia....
What We’re Reading | 2021 Staff Favorites
-
2021 is coming to a close. We laughed, we cried, and we read through the
chaos of living through another year of the pandemic. In honor of another
amazing ...
10 Black Women Making Waves in AI
-
Over the past year, there has been endless interest in and discussion about
Artificial Intelligence (AI). The conversation will only increase as tools
ev...
Everyday Life With Crypto: 5 Unique Gift Ideas
-
This year crypto is more than a buzzword! With over 18465 cryptocurrencies
already making their movements in the market, investors are getting
innovative...
