Category: Community

  • Newswire: Remembering the politics of Fred Hampton on the 54th anniversary of his assassination by Chicago Police

     Fred Hampton, Black Panther Party

    By NewsOne editorial staff

     

    Assassinated on Dec. 4, 1969, Chairman Fred Hampton  was one of the major figures in the original Black Panther Party that rose to prominence after the height of the civil rights movement. The extrajudicial murder of Hampton and his comrade, Mark Clark, 54 years ago as they slept is an example of the lengths white supremacy has gone to deny Black power and self-determination.

    Hampton was only 21 at the time of his murder, but his accomplishments and contributions to empowering Black people in America have lasted for decades. Law enforcement began “heavy surveillance” of him before the fateful police raid in Peoria, Illinois, where he died and other Black Panther members were injured.

    Hampton, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, and Clark, a 22-year-old Peoria Panther leader, were murdered by Chicago police officers working with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. At the time of the attack, Hampton and Clark were both asleep inside their Chicago home.

    Driven by Cook County State’s Attorney Edward Hanrahan, the deadly raid of the local BPP chapter—which left four other BPP members severely injured—was one of the multiple attempts to attack the Black Panther Party amid Cointelpro’s mission to “expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit or otherwise neutralize the activities of black nationalist hate type organizations and groupings, their leadership, spokesmen, membership and supporters,” as written in an FBI document.

    Though the FBI is said not to have been responsible, a federal grand jury did indicate the bureau played a notable role in events leading up to it. Specifically, FBI informant William O’Neal—third in command of the Chicago Panthers—supplied Hanrahan with information to plan his attack. The families of Hampton and Clark, along with the seven survivors, filed a $47.7 million damage suit.

    As chairman of the BPP’s Illinois chapter, Hampton was known as a charismatic leader. His other accomplishments include organizing a student chapter of the NAACP in Maywood, Illinois. Hampton also brought together poor Black, white and Puerto Rican people as part of the “Rainbow Coalition” committed to dismantling white supremacy. He also inspired peace among several gangs in rivalry with one another.

    On the anniversary of Hampton’s death, we remember the life of an inspiring revolutionary, as well as the other lives lost on that date 55 years ago.

     

  • Newswire: As part of Angola visit, Biden announces $1 Billion in humanitarian aid and $600 Million for African infrastructure investments

    President Biden welcomed at airport in Angola

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    During his visit to Angola, President Joe Biden announced more than $1 billion in humanitarian aid to assist Africans displaced by severe droughts and food insecurity, alongside $600 million in new U.S. investments in infrastructure projects under the Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor initiative. Biden hopes that these measures will serve as a reminder of the U.S. commitment to fostering long-term African partnerships, emphasizing trade, investment, and sustainable development.

    “The United States continues to be the world’s largest provider of humanitarian aid and development assistance. That’s going to increase, you know, that’s the right thing for the wealthiest nation in the world to do,” Biden said.

    Hosted by the United States and Angola, the Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor Summit brought together leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, and Zambia to accelerate infrastructure projects to connect the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Central to these efforts is the Zambia-Lobito rail project, a transformative 800-kilometer line linking Angola and Zambia, with groundbreaking targeted for 2026.

    Driving Regional Economic Growth

    The Lobito Trans-Africa Corridor is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), a U.S.-led initiative focused on infrastructure projects that promote inclusive economic growth. Total U.S. investments in the Corridor now exceed $4 billion, with international commitments surpassing $6 billion.

    Agriculture and food security remain key components of the initiative. Biden celebrated the first shipment of goods from Angola’s Carrinho Group along the Corridor to the DRC, marking a milestone in regional trade. Biden said the U.S. is also investing in sustainable farming practices and infrastructure, enabling smallholder farmers to access markets and enhance production.

    “These investments aren’t just about aid; they’re about creating opportunities, building infrastructure, and unlocking the potential of this region,” Biden said during his remarks.

    Energy and Digital Connectivity

    Clean energy projects are also at the forefront. U.S. company Sun Africa is leading efforts to expand renewable electricity to underserved communities in Angola, supported by significant U.S. financing. Additionally, officials said investments in digital connectivity should foster technological innovation and expand access to high-speed internet across the region.
    “The United States is expanding our relationship all across Africa from assistance to aid, investment to trade, moving from patrons to partners to help bridge the infrastructure gap,” Biden added.
    Angolan President João Lourenço called Biden’s visit a “key turning point” in U.S.-Angola relations. Biden agreed.
    “The United States is all in on Africa,” Biden asserted.

  • Alabama certifies votes in the November 5th Presidential election

    By Mike Cason, mcason@al.com

    Alabama certified the results of the 2024 general election on Tuesday, affirming Donald Trump’s dominance as he received 64.6% of the votes cast for president, topping the 62% that he got in 2016 and 2020.

    Vice President Kamala Harris got 34.1%.

    Three independent candidates and the write-in votes accounted for the other 1.3%.

    Trump received 1,462,616 votes in Alabama, about 21,000 more than four years ago. Harris received 772,412, about 77,000 fewer than Joe Biden got in 2020.

    The Alabama State Canvassing Board, including Secretary of State Wes Allen, certified the results received from the counties on November 26th in a short ceremony at the Capitol.
    Representatives of Gov. Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall, who are on the board, attended the meeting.

    Trump carried 55 of Alabama’s 67 counties. He received more than 90% of the vote in four counties.

    Here are the 10 counties with the highest percentage vote for Trump:
    Winston, 91.4%
    Cleburne, 91.3%
    Marion, 90.4%
    Blount, 90%
    Cullman, 89.7%
    Geneva, 88.1%
    Lamar, 87.6%
    Cherokee, 87.3%
    Franklin, 86.1%
    Covington, 85.9%.

    Most of the dozen counties where Vice President Kamala Harris beat Trump were sparsely populated counties in the Black Belt. Harris did win Jefferson County, the state’s largest, as well as Montgomery County.

    Here are the 11 counties that Trump lost, according to the results certified by the Alabama State Canvassing Board. They are listed in the order of the lowest percentages for Trump.

    Macon: Harris, 6,084 votes, 77.7%
    Trump, 1,682 votes, 21.5%
    Greene: Harris, 3,133 votes, 77.6%.
    Trump, 885 votes, 21.9%.
    Bullock: Harris, 2,983 votes, 72.6%.
    Trump, 1,101 votes, 26.8%.
    Perry: Harris, 3,174 votes, 71.1%.
    Trump, 1,269 votes, 28.4%.
    Sumter: Harris, 3,725 votes, 70.2%.
    Trump: 1,542 votes, 29%.
    Lowndes: Harris, 3,867 votes, 68.4%.
    Trump, 1,758 votes, 31.1%.
    Dallas: Harris, 10,236 votes, 65.9%.
    Trump, 5,190, 33.4%.
    Montgomery: Harris, 57,946 votes, 64.5%.
    Trump, 30,477 votes, 33.9%.
    Wilcox: Harris, 3,449 votes, 65.5%.
    Trump, 1,793 votes, 34.1%.
    Jefferson: Harris, 162,112 votes, 54.3%.
    Trump, 131,123 votes, 43.9%.

  • Greene County Deltas bring awareness to World AIDS Day

    Displaying World AIDS Day Banner L to R: Mrs. Nancy Cole, Mrs. Alfretta Crawford, Ms. Fatima Robinson, Dr. Carol Zippert and Mrs. Phillis Belcher. And Fatima with Marcus Steele, Lucious Young and table with various information.

    Submitted by Fatima Robinson

    The International Awareness and Involvement Committee of the Greene County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated commemorated World AIDS Day in downtown Eutaw. World AIDS Day is a global movement to unite people in the fight against HIV and AIDS. It is celebrated every year on December 1st.
    A prominent World AIDS Day banner was displayed which attracted numerous residents of different communities to visit the booth and gather valuable information including fact sheets, brochures, red ribbons, prophylactic, and a few other novelties. The purpose was to get the community aware, involved and to keep them protected. 
    Since 1988, communities have stood together on World AIDS Day to bring awareness and show strength and solidarity against HIV stigma and to remember lives lost.
    World AIDS Day exists to shine a light on the real experiences of people living with HIV today, while celebrating the strength, resilience and diversity of the communities most affected. It is a moment to inspire the leadership needed to create a future where HIV doesn’t stand in the way of anyone’s life.
    Red is a symbol for World Aids Day. Please remember to wear your red ribbons on December 1st.
    We are greatly appreciative for your continuous support in our efforts to make a better Greene County.
    Ms. Fatima Robinson serves as Chairperson, Dr. Carol Zippert as Co-Chair, of the Chapter’s International Awareness and Involvement Committee. Mrs. Phillis Belcher is Chapter President.

  • Eutaw City Council approves fire agreement and additional contracts and requests for the water and sewer system improvements

    The Eutaw City Council met for its regular fourth Tuesday meeting on November 26, 2024. The mayor and all council members were present.

    The Council approved the Greene County Automatic Aid Agreement with the Greene County Volunteer Fire Departments which had been considered but not voted on in the last meeting.  The agreement would allow the dispatch of the closest four fire departments when a fire is reported. The four fire departments that would come to Eutaw’s assistance would be Springfield, Lower Gainesville Road, Clinton and Dollarhide. The Eutaw Fire Department would automatically be dispatched to fires in these four rural nearby communities.

    The Council referred the lease agreement with the West Alabama Action Group to its attorney, Zane Willingham. He will meet with the group to refine the agreement to rent the Grubbs/E911 Building for three years in exchange for repairs it would make to the building. Willingham will work out a listing of the specific repairs and costs for inclusion in the agreement before it is brought back to the council for a vote.

    Th Council approved a contract, recommended by Engineer Angela Henline, with the Cassady Company in Northport. This Contract “E” will replace portions of the 16-inch water main, between Lola Wallace Young Road and the Boligee Connector, was awarded to Capstone Contractors, who submitted the low bid of $635,481. Henline said this was the last of the contracts for improvement of the joint Eutaw -Boligee Water System, which came as grants from ADEM.

    Engineer Henline also asked the Council to approve a request to ADEM for $8.3 million for additional improvement to the Eutaw Sewage System, which also serves Boligee, the Crossroads of America Industrial Park and surrounding areas. The funding would be used for improvements to the City’s lagoon, rehab of pumping stations in the city (Clarke, Branch Heights, Annie Thomas, Chevron, School, Swamp), a sewer jetter (trailer mounted) and improvement of the city’s gravity sewer system. The Council voted to approve this request.

    Mayor Latasha Johnson reported that the Project 24-1122-0016 to resurface West End Avenue was moving forward as planned.
    In other business, the Eutaw City Council:

    • Tabled consideration of requests from the Alabama Fiber Network for a space to place a building and equipment related to broadband in the city and the county; they also tabled a request from Eagle Internet, who propose placing a wireless tower on top of the city’s downtown water tower.

    • Received financial reports on accounts in Merchants and Farmers Bank and utility revenue collections for October, compiled by Financial Advisor, Ralph Liverman.

    • Approved annual software maintenance agreement with BBI Inc. for the city’s financial reports.

    • Approved appraisal quote from Bill Mackey Real Estate for appraisal of the R. H. Young Community Center and surrounding property.

    • Approved payment of bills.

    • Reset the date of the second meeting in December from the 24 to the 17th of December.

    The Mayor gave a report and Council members commented on it. Several residents made comments in the Public Comments of the meeting.

  • TS Police Support League, Inc. hosts 8th Annual Great Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway in Greene County

    EUTAW: On Saturday, November 23, TS Police Support League hosted its 8th Annual Great Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway at the Palace Bingo Live parking lot in Knoxville, Alabama.

    This year, residents and law enforcement officers from Greene, Hale, and Pickens counties received one of 2000 turkeys distributed by the league, a charity bingo operator based in Eutaw.

    “With inflation impacting the budgets of families all over our region, we are blessed to be able to continue to expand our annual tradition,” stated Sheila Gene Smith, President of the League.

    “We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and are grateful to Jesus Christ for his blessings this year,” remarked J. W. McFarland, Jr., Secretary/ Treasurer of the League.

    For more information, visit http://www.greenecountylawenforcement.org

  • More than half of Alabama’s 52 rural hospitals are at risk of closure,New billboard urges Medicaid expansion to save Alabama hospitals

    A billboard supporting Medicaid expansion. 

    By Alabama Political Reporters Staff

    Cover Alabama and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) unveiled a striking new billboard near Jackson Hospital recently, spotlighting the urgent need for Medicaid expansion to safeguard healthcare access and protect Alabama’s hospitals. Featuring the message, *“Save Jackson Hospital. Expand Medicaid now.”* alongside an image of an ambulance, the billboard underscores the critical need to address Alabama’s healthcare coverage gap.

    According to a report from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, more than half of Alabama’s 52 rural hospitals are at risk of closure, with 23 facing an immediate threat. This crisis has already hit close to home, with Thomasville Regional Medical Center closing in recent weeks and other hospitals across the state reducing services.

    “For too long, Alabama’s hospitals have struggled under the weight of a broken healthcare system,” said Debbie Smith, Cover Alabama campaign director. “This billboard is a stark reminder that without action, more hospitals will be forced to close, impacting families and economies across our state.”

    John Zippert, Chair of the Board of the Greene County Health System said, “Our hospital, nursing home and physician’s clinic face a serious financial challenge. How can we continue to operate with a monthly deficit of $50,000 to $100,000, caused by providing uncompensated care. If the Governor and the Legislature expanded Medicaid, it would mean that 40% of the people who use our facilities and services would have some form of heath insurance. These people would become healthier, and our hospital would move to a heathier financial position.”

    Jane Adams, Government Relations Director for ACS CAN in Alabama, echoed the call for urgent action. “This is no longer just a rural problem. Hospitals in urban and suburban areas are also at risk. We need Governor Ivey to act now before it’s too late.”

    The challenges facing Alabama hospitals have far-reaching implications, particularly for rural communities. Retired Brig. Gen. Edward Crowell, board chair of Jackson Hospital, highlighted the impact Medicaid expansion could have: “Jackson Hospital plays a vital role in ensuring that community members have access to essential health services,” Crowell said. “Medicaid expansion would be a game-changer, strengthening hospitals across the state and enabling us to continue serving those in need.”

    The billboard, located on I-85 westbound near Jackson Hospital, will remain visible for several weeks as part of a broader campaign by Cover Alabama and ACS CAN to raise awareness and inspire Alabamians to advocate for change. Organizers hope the campaign will encourage residents to contact their legislators and urge them to take action on Medicaid expansion.

    Cover Alabama is a nonpartisan alliance of over 100 community partners, businesses, healthcare providers, and faith groups advocating for quality, affordable health coverage for Alabama residents.

    ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society. Since 2001, it has championed evidence-based public policies to reduce the burden of cancer, expanding access to healthcare and securing funding for cancer research.

     

  • Alabama Republican Party considers renewing redistricting battle after Figures win

    Shomari Figures and Caroleene Dobson 

    By Alex Jobin

    Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Alabama state legislature’s congressional map was gerrymandered, violating the Voting Rights Act by disadvantaging Black Alabamians. Despite making up 27 percent of the state’s population, the candidates preferred by Black voters only saw consistent success in one of the state’s seven congressional district since 2011.

    Despite repeated attempts to avoid redistricting, Alabama’s GOP leadership was ultimately forced to redraw the congressional map — twice — after SCOTUS sided with a panel of three federal judges who called for a second majority-Black district or “something quite close to it.” That redrawn map resulted in a new 2nd Congressional District that empowered Black voters in the state.

    On November 5th, Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, beat out his Republican opponent Caroleene Dobson to win that seat. Figures — the son of civil rights leader Michael Figures and Alabama State Senator Vivian Figures — will now be the state’s second Black member set to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2025. This will mark the first time in the state’s history that it will have two Black members of Congress serving simultaneously.

    However, some leaders in the state Republican Party are already looking to reconfigure the 2nd Congressional District yet again in response to Dobson’s loss.  “I can tell you that there is talk and it’s not going to go away,” said Terry Lathan, former chair of the Alabama Republican Party. “An election might be two years from now, but that does not mean our legislature might not take another look at it. It does not mean that we have to not file court cases and go to court over it.”

    Although the new district was drawn specifically with the intent to increase political equity in the state, Lathan claimed that the district lines, drawn by an independent court-appointed official, were “odd.”

    “I don’t know that it went wrong as much as the lines, the way the courts drew the lines,” Lathan said Tuesday, appearing to blame Dobson’s loss on the way the district was redrawn. “I don’t think we’re finished with this. But you have to accept the outcome of the race. It was very oddly drawn lines for CD-2.”

    U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, has also criticized the new district lines as being impractical.
    “It’s just about impossible for anyone in District 1 and District 2, both, to do the district justice,” Carl said after a speaking event Thursday. “You can’t serve two masters.”
    “Dothan is so much different than Mobile, and vice versa. It will be hard for anyone in this (1st congressional) district to serve two masters,” Carl continued. “Shomari will have the same problem (in congressional District 2) serving between Montgomery and Mobile. Looking at projects in Montgomery, Mobile will feel left out and vice versa. It’s the nature of the beast.”

    State Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro, a sponsor of the failed map which the legislature proposed following the 2023 SCOTUS ruling, hesitated to echo his colleagues concerns. “Let’s let it run its course of action in the courts, and then we’ll see where we are,” Livingston said.

    Jeannie Negrón Burniston, the Communications Director for the Alabama Republican Party, told AL.com that the party had “not heard anything concerning redistricting in the legislature.”

    Questions remain about the future of Alabama’s congressional map. The 2023 SCOTUS ruling was only a preliminary injunction, allowing for the court-drawn map drawn to be used in this year’s elections. Moving forward, it is possible that federal judges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama will decide to redraw the district lines once more.
    The relevant legal case — Milligan v. Allen — is ongoing and will likely go to trial in 2025. Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder compared Alabama’s fight against redistricting to voting rights backlash during the Civil Rights era.

    “State officials here in Alabama fought all along the way to not put into effect that which the very conservative Supreme Court interpreted of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which is the crown jewel of the Civil Rights movement,” Holder said while he campaigned with Figures ahead of Election Day. “(Alabama officials tried to) push back against the very conservative Supreme Court in a way that echoed which occurred from Alabama back in the 60s. It’s almost a resistance … that is what gives me concern.”

  • Newswire : Momentum builds for Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal ahead of centennial

    Shirley Chisholm 1972 campaign poster


     

    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent


    As the 100th anniversary of Shirley Chisholm’s birth approaches on November 30, a growing effort to honor her legacy is taking shape. Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to Congress in 1968 and a trailblazer for equality and justice, remains a powerful symbol of courage and leadership. The Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, spearheaded by Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler of California, is moving closer to passage with bipartisan support.

    Butler, the bill’s primary sponsor, has garnered backing from key lawmakers, including Democratic Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York. The legislation seeks to award Chisholm one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, cementing her place as one of the most transformative figures in American history.

    Carlo Jerome Juntilla, Education and Labor Policy Advisor for Butler, acknowledged the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) for its critical role in advancing the bill.
    The NNPA is the trade association of the more than 200 African American-owned newspapers and media companies that comprise the 197-year-old Black Press of America.

    “Thanks to your efforts, we have secured the necessary number of co-sponsors to move the bill forward, and we are now in a strong position to pass it,” Juntilla wrote in an email to the NNPA. “With the late Shirley Chisholm’s 100th birthday approaching on November 30, we are looking for ways to collaborate further in order to elevate her legacy.”

    Juntilla also emphasized the importance of continuing to amplify Chisholm’s story through additional collaborations, including op-eds and media campaigns. Juntilla even noted the value of highlighting Butler and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who is leading the effort in the House.

    NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and members of the NNPA’s main office had organized a meeting with Butler where they discussed the honor for Chisholm. “The legacy of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm lives radiantly today and for generations to come,” Chavis remarked.  “The NNPA stands resolutely in support of the leadership of The Honorable Laphonsa Butler to bestow to Chisholm with the Congressional honors that she deserves.”

    Bobby Henry, Chairman of the NNPA, also expressed the organization’s unwavering support for the bill and its significance.“As Chairman of the NNPA, I am honored to stand in support of the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, a vital recognition of one of the most transformative figures in American history,” said Henry, who also publishes the Westside Gazette Newspaper in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. “Shirley Chisholm’s legacy as the first African American woman elected to Congress and a fearless advocate for equality and justice continues to inspire generations.

    “We commend Senator Laphonza Butler and Representative Barbara Lee for championing this historic legislation and for their commitment to ensuring Chisholm’s contributions are celebrated and remembered. As we approach the centennial of her birth, the NNPA is proud to collaborate in elevating her enduring impact on our nation and the world.”
    Chisholm’s groundbreaking career includes her historic 1972 presidential campaign, during which she became the first Black woman to seek the nomination of a major political party. Her slogan, “Unbought and Unbossed,” embodied her commitment to justice and refusal to conform to traditional political norms.

    Butler, who made history herself as the first Black lesbian to serve in the U.S. Senate, has made the bill a top priority. With growing bipartisan support and co-sponsors from across the political spectrum, the legislation represents a unifying effort to honor Chisholm’s legacy.

    “Shirley Chisholm’s legacy continues to inspire generations,” Henry said. “As we approach the centennial of her birth, we must ensure her enduring impact is celebrated, remembered, and elevated for the nation and the world to see.”
     

  • Newswire :Rep. Jasmine Crockett teaches white people the definition of ‘oppression’ at anti-DEI bill meeting

    Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas

    By Zack Linly, NewsOne

     


    On Wednesday, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability held a meeting on the House floor to debate the GOP’s Dismantle DEI Act of 2024, which, of course, is essentially a “White People Want To Be Oppressed So Bad” bill aimed at ending any and all diversity, equity and inclusion practices throughout the federal government.

    As we previously reported, the bill was introduced by Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas), and an identical bill was introduced earlier this year by Vice President-elect and passionate Haitian hater JD Vance, both of whom have convinced themselves and the rest of MAGA America that “the DEI agenda is a destructive ideology that breeds hatred and racial division.”

    Well, there was one congresswoman who we could all count on to keep it real while ruffling delicate Caucasian feathers, and it was none other than Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who gave GOP lawmakers a “vocabulary lesson,” because if they truly believe DEI “oppresses white men,” then they simply misunderstand the definition of oppression.

    “Let me tell you that the reason that my colleagues wanted to make sure you understood the same Black history that your side of the aisle wants to delete out of classrooms is because you can then misuse words like ‘oppression’ — there has been no oppression for the white man in this country,” Crockett began.

    “You tell me which white men were dragged out of their homes. You tell me which one of them got dragged all the way across an ocean and told that ‘you are going to go and work. We are going to steal your wives, we are going to rape your wives’ — that didn’t happen [to white people]. That is oppression,” she continued. “We didn’t ask to be here. We [are] not the same migrants that y’all constantly come up against. We didn’t run away from home, we were stolen.”

    If you listen closely, you can hear the faint sounds of white conservatives rolling their eyes into the back of their heads because whenever they have to hear references to Black history that they didn’t have a chance to run through their whitewashing fragility filter first, their one and only instinct is to get their Confederate-clad drawers all in a bunch. Crockett likely knew that Republicans only want to hear about slavery when it’s time for them to remind America that Democrats were largely responsible for it — as if they’re not the ones currently the Confederacy, its leaders, its monuments and its flag as a legacy that should be celebrated.

    But Crockett was far from done.
    “So yeah, we are going to sit here and be offended when you want to sit here and act like — and don’t let it escape you that it is white men on this side of the aisle telling us, people of color on this side of the aisle that y’all are the ones being oppressed — that y’all are the ones being harmed,” she said. “That’s not the definition of oppression. You tell me the prolonged, cruel or unjust treatment that you’ve had, and we can have a conversation.”

    “The final thing that I will say: diversity works, and until you can show me data that says otherwise, I think that we need to go back to being a country that listens to experts and gets out of our feelings and recognizes again that racism is real in this country. And until we stop pretending that it’s not, we will not solve the problems that we are consistently facing. And that will bring real unity we seek when we’re looking for a more perfect union.”

    Now, we all know that when it comes to the MAGA world, everything Crockett said, no matter how truthful, fell on deaf ears. These are, after all, the same people who went to war against critical race theory without ever being able to demonstrate that they had a clue what CRT is. They also went to war against “wokeness,” a term they have all struggled to define. Conservatives don’t really want to get into the nitty-gritty of DEI and why the practice ever became necessary, because they can’t rely on hollow, self-serving platitudes during an in-depth discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion. They would have to show substantial evidence — not anecdotal nonsense and absurd white grievance pontificating — that DEI actively hurts white people, and, as Crockett indicated, that data simply doesn’t exist while statistical evidence of systemic racism exists in abundance.

    As I’ve written plenty of times in the past, white men only dominate every major industry and entity in America, including the federal government, because they are the only demographic that has not been excluded from full access to the “American dream” for the overwhelming majority of American history. That’s why DEI exists, and it’s also why the only discussion white-and-fragile America wants to have about diversity is a discussion about dismantling it.

    White supremacy is America’s default, and the current GOP, especially under Donald Trump’s chokehold, is dedicated to making that aspect of America great again