Greene County Democrat

Category: Community

  • Newswire: Racial disparities highlighted as October breaks global temperature record

    Polar bear surrounded by melting ice flows


    By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    Weather officials and experts have confirmed that last month was the hottest October ever globally, surpassing pre-industrial averages by a staggering 1.7 degrees Celsius (3.1 degrees Fahrenheit), weather officials confirmed. This milestone marks the fifth consecutive month of record-breaking temperatures, setting the stage for the hottest year ever recorded.
    The extent of the temperature surge, which exceeded the previous record set in 2019 by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.7 degrees Fahrenheit), has astonished experts.
And as extreme weather patterns increasingly become the new normal, it is not surprising to find that African Americans are disproportionately affected. Research from the Gallup Center on Black Voices underscored the disparities in confidence, preparedness, and resource accessibility between racial and ethnic groups. Black and Hispanic Americans report lower levels of confidence in their preparedness and less access to vital resources compared to their white counterparts.
    While most respondents across all racial and ethnic groups agree that they have access to reliable weather warnings and someone to call for help during extreme weather events, the margin is narrower for Black and Hispanic Americans. White Americans outpace both groups by approximately ten percentage points on each measure, indicating a higher level of preparedness and ability to recover.
    According to Gallup, the most significant divide emerges in the perception of community support during natural disasters or extreme weather events. Compared to white Americans, Hispanic adults lag by 13 percentage points, while Black adults fall behind by 18 points. Relocation statistics, which show that 14% of Black Americans and 11% of Hispanic Americans have relocated, either temporarily or permanently, due to extreme weather events, are further evidence of this disparity.
The climate crisis is exacerbating these disparities, with the Copernicus Climate Change Service noting that a contributing factor is the reduced capacity of oceans to mitigate global warming, which is historically responsible for absorbing up to 90% of excess heat from climate change. This drop in oceanic regulation and El Niño’s effect (a natural climate cycle that raises ocean temperatures temporarily and changes global weather patterns) make it look like more warming is coming in the coming months.
    According to Gallup researchers, 2023 has seen a notable increase in unusual weather events like floods, hurricanes, heatwaves, tornadoes, and wildfires. This trend is expected to continue, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicating a high likelihood of an increased frequency and severity of such events in the coming decades.
    “2023 has been a notable year for abnormal weather events, which have caused considerable impact to life and property,” Gallup researchers concluded. “According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, it is very likely that these types of events – floods, hurricanes, heatwaves, tornadoes, wildfires and more – will increase in frequency and/or severity in the coming decades.”

  • At latest hearing, Electronic Bingo trial date postponed again to early 2024

    By: John Zippert, Co-Publisher

    At a November 2nd hearing on the status of the case of the State of Alabama vs. Electronic Bingo machine providers, owners and charities, Judge Arthur Haynes postponed the pre-trial hearing until January 11, 2024. At this hearing, the judge said he would set a trial date, probably sixty (60) days later, in early March 2024.

    Judge Haynes, a specially appointed retired Circuit Court Judge, postponed the pre-trial hearing because both sides agreed that all depositions and visits to the bingo halls had not been completed. This decision prolongs the life of electronic bingo into next year and extends the six-year legal effort of the State of Alabama to end the use of bingo machines, as illegal slot machines, in Greene County.

    At the hearing, Judge Haynes raised the issue of the lawsuit and injunction by Sheriff Benison to institute new “Bookend Bingo rules” in Greene County. Haynes asked the parties if he should consolidate the cases since they were similar in saying that the current gaming machines were illegal and needed to be replaced.

    Attorney H. E. Nix, representing Sheriff Benison, did not agree with consolidating the cases. Nix argued that the Sheriff is not opposed to the current rules but feels these new rules will conform better to the rulings of the Supreme Court concerning bingo. Nix also argued that the Sheriff clearly defines in the new rules an “electronic marking machine’ for bingo. These machines are approved in Constitutional Amendment 743, which allows for electronic forms of bingo in Greene County.

    The State of Alabama has not approved the new “Bookend Bingo” rules for Greene County. Assistant Attorney General Kackleman, who represents the State of Alabama, said that he was aware of the Sheriff’s plan to change the rules but would not comment on whether these rules would comply with state law and the supreme Court’s rulings defining bingo.

    The machine owners, operators and charities were not convinced that the Sheriff’s new rules would be accepted and give legal sanction to the electronic bingo operations under Constitutional Amendment 743.If the Sheriff’s new bingo rules are adopted, the State of Alabama may have to take new legal action against the same defendants in the original case to end bingo under the new rules, if they are unacceptable.

    The lawsuit defendants pointed out that there was an arbitrary and selective law enforcement approach between the Attorney General’s treatment of bingo operations in white controlled Houston County and Black politically controlled Greene County. The defendants want to argue this case of selective enforcement as a denial of equal rights for Greene County under the equal justice clauses of the 14th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution.

    It was also noted during this process, that Sheriff Benison has suspended payments of bingo funds to public agencies and charities in Greene County since May of 2023. No monthly payments of bingo machine fee proceeds have been made to the County Commission, Board of Education, municipalities, and other charitable groups since the end of May. The Sheriff is still collecting revenues from the bingo operators. He says he is using these funds to pay for legal defense.

    The Sheriff was distributing an average of $600,000 a month to public agencies and charities. He sent a letter in early June saying he was temporarily suspending payments beginning in June of 2023. Payments have been suspended for five months (June – October 2023) with no assurance of when they will be restored. The school system, County Commission, hospital, and municipalities have had to develop their budgets for the 2023-24 fiscal year, without any assurance of revenues from bingo.

  • US Navy Lt. Commander (retired) Joe Ann Hutton is Veteran’s Day guest speaker Annual Veterans Appreciation Program held in Eutaw

    Submitted by Miriam Leftwich
    Girl Scout Troop 408 and United Purposes take great pride in acknowledging great men and women who served our country. Veterans Appreciation Day was held on Sunday, November 5, 2023 at 3 PM at the Eutaw Activity Center. MSG (Ret) Kelvin B. Scott served as the Master of Ceremony.
    The crowd was greeted by MSG Scott and Pastor Laramie Long, a member of the 287th Combat HET Company, opened with the Invocation. The Girl Scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the singing of the National Anthem that was beautifully rendered by Mrs. Carole Fleming. There was a moment of silence as musician/artist Mr. Marvin Turner performed Taps during the Memorial Tribute to our deceased Veterans.
    Lieutenant Commander (Retired) United States Navy Joe Ann Hutton was cordially introduced to the gathering by Mrs Miriam Leftwich, program coordinator. LCDR Hutton expressed gratitude to her family, who attended in great numbers, her classmates of Eutaw High Class of 1993, her colleagues, the organizers, and all in attendance. Her message was heartfelt as she spoke of her journey. A young girl from Eutaw, AL migrating from the William McKinley Branch Heights Community. The youngest child of Mr. & Mrs. Steven and Dorothy Hutton, leaving her six other siblings two weeks after high school to take on a new journey as a member of the United States Navy where she retired after 30 years of honorable service.
    LCDR Hutton noted the following: “In 1918 at the end of World War I, at the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, November 11th was originally called Armistice Day and regarded as a tribute to the Americans who scarified their lives during World War I only.
    “It was not until 1954, after World War II and the Korean War that November 11th was named Veterans Day, a special holiday that honors all veterans whose service is recorded in past conflicts and those currently serving around the world to protect us at this very moment.
    “So let us never forget those who fought and are fighting for our freedom, let us remember their sacrifices. As I look out into the audience, I see and recognize many veterans. You may also recognize one as a relative, a neighbor, a friend, or even a colleague. Each veteran here has contributed to this nation and has earned this nation’s permanent gratitude for supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States of America.”
    All veterans present were asked to stand and be recognized. Each veteran received a token of appreciation. Other door prizes were awarded to individuals present. A delicious meal was also served.
    The program organizers would like to extend special appreciation to the following sponsors: Girl Scout Troop #408; United Purposes; Black Belt Law Group; Colvin & Daniel Trucking Co.; T.S.P. Support League; Banks & Co.; Alfa Insurance; Morrison’s Food Est.; Mrs. Joycelyn Steele (cake); Chic Event Design & Decor; CFC Photography; MK Prints (program); McInnis Mortuary Gospel Program; Greene County Democrat; Whats Happening in Greene County; Mr. Marvin Turner; Mrs. Carole Fleming.

  • Newswire : Denver Court hears arguments on Trump’s eligibility for 2024 ballot

    Members of mob, incited by Trump, surround U. S. Capitol on January 6, 2021

     

    Stacey Brown, NNPA Newswire National Correspondent

    Denver district court is considering a lawsuit to prevent former President Donald Trump from appearing on Colorado’s 2024 ballot due to his alleged involvement in the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. Colorado Judge Sarah Wallace recently rejected Trump’s attempt to dismiss the case, which was filed last month on behalf of six voters in the Denver district.
    The lawsuit is based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. It argues that people who have participated in insurrection or rebellion after promising loyalty to the Constitution should not be able to hold office. Trump, who is currently facing 91 criminal charges after four federal and state indictments, could potentially receive a prison sentence of over 800 years. The lawsuit accuses him of breaking his promise as president by attempting to overturn the 2020 election, which ultimately led to the January 6 insurrection.
    Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), along with several law firms, filed a lawsuit on behalf of six voters from the Republican Party and independent voters. Eric Olson, from CREW, began his testimony by explaining what Trump did before January 6. This included a tweet he sent in December 2020 asking his supporters to come together in Washington, D.C. Olson highlighted Trump’s frequent mentions of January 6. He stated that Trump motivated his followers by making false allegations of election fraud.
Olson showed a video clip of Trump’s speech on the Ellipse on January 6. In the speech, the former president said, “Let’s go to the Capitol.” He argued that Trump was acutely aware of the influence of his words and that his speech before the Capitol riot exacerbated the situation.
    Olson also pointed to a post-speech tweet where Trump criticized then-Vice President Mike Pence, asserting that Pence lacked “the courage to do what he should have done.” That followed a clip of Trump supporters outside the Capitol chanting, “Hang Mike Pence.”
    “We are here because Trump claims, after all that, that he has the right to be president again,” Olson asserted. “But our Constitution, the shared charter of our nation, says he cannot do so.”
    During his opening arguments, Scott Gessler, Trump’s legal representative, decried the lawsuit as “antidemocratic” and said Monday’s hearing was “politicized.” Gessler argued that Trump used the word “peace” several times during his speech at the Ellipse on January 6, as well as in his tweets on the same day. He claimed that the lawsuit wants the court to approve the January 6 Committee’s report, which he described as a biased and harmful report.
    Officer Daniel Hodges, from the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, testified about his terrifying ordeal during the Capitol attack. Hodges described observing Capitol rioters donning tactical gear, an occurrence that left him “very uncomfortable.” He suffered many injuries when rioters attacked the Capitol, including bruises, a head injury, cuts on his face, and bleeding from his mouth. Hodges also attested that a rioter attempted to gouge his eye. He remembered protesters yelling that the election was stolen and encouraging others to fight for Trump. They also criticized law enforcement for being on the wrong side of history.
During his remote testimony, Rep. Eric Swalwell, a Democrat from California, stated that Trump had clearly indicated before the 2020 election that he would not acknowledge the results if he was not the winner. Swalwell claimed that Trump escalated his rhetoric after legal challenges to the election results were dismissed. He told the lawmakers’ increasing worry when Trump announced, “We’re going to the Capitol” in his Ellipse speech. He then described the distressing experiences of himself and his colleagues as rioters entered the Capitol.

    In her ruling last week, Wallace dismissed Trump’s argument that Congress, not the courts, can handle questions about ballot eligibility. She disagreed with Trump’s statement that state election officials cannot enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
    Wallace argued that the clause allows Congress to remove a constitutional disability if a person is disqualified. However, the clause does not specify which government body would decide on such disability initially.
    “The Court notes, however, it would be strange for Congress to be the only entity that is empowered to determine the disability and then also the entity that is empowered to remove it,” Wallace wrote. “States can, and have, applied Section 3 pursuant to state statutes without federal enforcement legislation,” Wallace said.
    The judge’s ruling followed a decision by Chief U.S. District Judge Philip A. Brimmer to dismiss Trump’s request to move the Colorado ballot case to federal court. In a four-page order, Brimmer, a nominee of George W. Bush, stated that Trump, who was found responsible for sexually assaulting a journalist by a civil jury this year, did not properly follow the necessary procedures to involve Colorado’s Democratic Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, or get her approval to transfer the case to federal court. As a result, Trump’s attempt to move the case is considered “defective.”

    Trump is also facing other challenges to his eligibility to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot. The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments on Thursday concerning a lawsuit to remove Trump from the ballot in Minnesota. The current lawsuit also references a lesser-known provision in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. Similar legal challenges are underway in New Hampshire, Arizona, and Michigan.

  • Newswire: UAW ends historic strike after reaching tentative deals with Big 3 automakers

    UAW workers on strike
    The United Auto Workers called off its six-week strike last week after union leaders reached a tentative labor agreement with General Motors — the last of the Detroit Big 3 car manufacturers to strike a deal with the union.
    “Now that we have a groundbreaking tentative agreement at GM, we’re officially suspending our stand-up strike against each of the Big 3,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a video message posted on X (formerly Twitter), while stopping short of saying when striking employees will return to work. 
    The GM deal features a 25% wage increase across a four-and-a-half year deal with cost of living adjustments, the UAW said. Employees from GM’s parts distributors, car care facilities and a plant in Brownstown, Michigan, also will be removed from the two-tier wage system. 
    The deal also brings employees from GM’s manufacturing subsidiary, GM Subsystems, and Ultium Cells — a battery joint venture with LG Energy Solution in Ohio — under the UAW national contract. 
    The tentative agreement with GM, which still needs to be ratified, mirrors a tentative agreement UAW leaders reached last week with Ford and Stellantis. GM confirmed the pact on Monday, saying the terms will still allow the company to provide good jobs. 
    “We are looking forward to having everyone back to work across all of our operations, delivering great products for our customers and winning as one team,” GM CEO Mary Barra said in a statement.
    The deal came only one day after GM workers expanded their strike by walking out of a company factory in Spring Hill, Tennessee, that employs nearly 4,000 and that produces Cadillac and GMC SUVs. Spring Hill joined about 14,000 other GM workers who were already striking at company factories in Texas, Michigan and Missouri.
    President Biden said the GM deal attests to the power of unions and collective bargaining. “This historic tentative agreement rewards the autoworkers who have sacrificed so much with the record raises, more paid leave, greater retirement security, and more rights and respect at work,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. “I want to applaud the UAW and GM for agreeing to immediately bring back all of the GM workers who have been walking the picket line on behalf of their UAW brothers and sisters.”
    GM was the last of the Big 3 to ink a deal with the UAW.
    “In a twist on the phrase ‘collective bargaining,’ the UAW’s strategy to negotiate with and strike at the three automakers simultaneously paid off with seemingly strong agreements at all three organizations,” Lynne Vincent, a business management professor at Syracuse University and labor expert, told CBS MoneyWatch. “Once a deal was reached at Ford, the UAW could use that agreement as the pattern for the other two automakers, which gave the UAW leverage to apply pressure on the automakers.”
    Mike Huerta, president of UAW Local 602 in Lansing, Michigan, was hesitant to celebrate the deal before seeing more information, saying that “the devil’s in the details.” “Our bargainers did their job,” he said. “They’re going to present us with something and then we get to tell them it was good enough or it wasn’t.” 
    The UAW launched its historic strike — the first time the labor group has targeted the Big Three simultaneously — last month when thousands of workers walked off the job after their contracts with the automakers expired on Sept. 14. 
    The union’s initial demands included a 36% wage hike over four years; annual cost-of-living adjustments; pension benefits for all employees; greater job security; and a faster path to full-time status for temporary workers. 
    At the peak, about 46,000 UAW workers were on strike — about one-third of the union’s 146,000 members at all three companies. Thousands of GM employees joined the work stoppage in recent weeks, including about 5,000 in Arlington, Texas, the company’s largest factory. 
    GM and the other automakers responded to the strike by laying off hundreds of unionized, non-striking workers. GM laid off roughly 2,500 employees across Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New York and Ohio, according to a company tally. It’s unclear if GM will invite those employees back to work if the new UAW contract is finalized. 
    The union’s work stoppage intensified at a time when the Big 3 is looking establish dominance in the burgeoning electric vehicle. The companies’ biggest competitors in the EV space are Tesla and overseas automakers like Hyundai and Toyota, which don’t employ unionized workers. Electric vehicles will constitute half of all auto sales worldwide by 2035, according to a Goldman Sachs estimate. 
    In the aftermath of the agreement, Toyota of America, which is not unionized, agreed to raise the hourly pay of its workers by $2.49 an hour. Toyota also shortened the time from eight years to four years for a worker to get to the top of the pay scale.
    The UAW strike caused an estimated $4.2 billion in losses to the Big 3 and resulted in $488 million in lost wages for workers. The work stoppage also rippled and caused layoffs at auto supplier companies. But the dispute also led to breakthroughs, with GM earlier this month agreeing to place its electric vehicle battery plants under a national contract with the UAW. —The Associated Press contributed to this report.

  • Sheriff Benison hosts meeting to explain new ‘Bookend Bingo’ rules

    Screen shot of electronic bingo machine in the Beginning Phase of Bookend Bingo, in Sheriff’s new rules

    On Monday, October 30,2023, Sheriff Benison held a meeting at the William M. Branch County Courthouse to explain his new rules for conducting electronic bingo in Greene County. He was assisted in his presentation by his lawyer, Attorney Troy King, who previously served as Alabama Attorney General.

    Attorney Troy King and Attorney H. E. Nix filed and signed the Sheriff’s recent lawsuit to secure an injunction to require the machine providers, operators and charities currently involved in Greene County, under Constitutional Amendment 743, to change their machines and operations to comply with the Sheriff’s new rules for playing bingo.

    Sheriff Benison indicated that he was designated in Constitutional Amendment 743 to be the regulator and promulgator of electronic bingo in Greene County. He said, “I will do what is necessary to implement and preserve electronic bingo for Greene County, especially to distribute revenues from bingo to agencies and organization in the county.”

    In answer to a question, if the new rules will be acceptable to Steve Marshall, Alabama Attorney General and the Alabama Supreme Court, Troy King said, “No we have not had these rules approved. We feel the prior rules were legal and proper. The Sheriff redesigned the rules to meet all the requirements of the Alabama Supreme Court, so we feel that they will be approved and used to allow electronic bingo to go forward in Greene County.”

    King went on to say, “Our new rules define for the first time what an ‘Electronic marking machine for bingo’ is and how they operate in a county that has language in its C. A. 743 that permits electronic forms of bingo. Our definition also makes clear that bingo electronic marking machines are not slot machine or other forms of illegal gambling machines, as the Attorney General has argued in prior legal cases against bingo in Greene County and other counties.”

    The new rules require players to participate in a Beginning Phase, where they will play traditional bingo, based on letters and numbers being called to complete patterns on a five column by five row bingo cards, displayed on an electronic machine on which they must daub their numbers. Then they get to play the Entertainment Phase of bingo, which is like the games currently being played. At the end of their session, they must again play the Completing Phase on bingo cards displayed on an electronic machine. King indicated that for some machines all that would be required is a software update to accommodate the playing of the beginning and completion phases of bingo.

    Further King said, “These rules are specific to Greene County under C. A. 743 and limit the proliferation of bingo to other counties, which should satisfy the state.

    “We are hoping to get a hearing, a judgement, and a preliminary injunction, in Greene County Circuit Court, to allow the Sheriff to implement his new rules for bingo in Greene County in November. We also hope to use these new rules to get the Attorney General to dismiss his lawsuit against bingo in Greene County and allow operations to go forward under the new rules,” said King.

    Some of the bingo operators have expressed concerns about moving ahead with the Sheriff’s required changes without some assurance that the Attorney General and Supreme Court will accept these rules and allow electronic bingo to continue in Greene County.

    A status hearing in front of Judge Haynes on the case of the State of Alabama vs. Bingo operators and charities in Greene County, is scheduled for this Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 1:00 PM in the William M. Branch Courthouse. The Sheriff’s new rules are likely to be discussed at this hearing.

    In a separate legal matter, OIC Dream, Inc. which operates the Frontier Bingo parlor has filed a lawsuit in Federal court alleging that Sheriff Benison has arbitrarily imposed ‘box fees’ on operators for a minimum of 500 bingo machines and used some of the funds that were designated for Greene County agencies to pay legal fees and other expenses of the Sheriff’ s Department.

  • Society and local DST Chapter sponsor student workshops

    RBMS scholars participate in conflict resolutions workshops

    Presenters Danielle Fulghum and Ted Quant lead RBMS 7th & 8th grade scholars in Conflict Resolution Workshop, Consultant Ted Quant guides scholars in conflict resolution small group strategy sessions. and Consultant Danielle Fulghum guides scholars in conflict resolution small group strategy sessions.

    Scholars at Robert Brown Middle School, who participated in the conflict resolution workshops, spent 3 hours learning strategies to help deescalate and resolve conflict. Violence is a leading cause of death for African American youth, ages 15 to 24.
    The first session, held Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, involved 30, 7th grade scholars and on Thursday, Oct. 26, 30, 8th grade scholars participated.
    In order to allow students to understand how conflicts begin, the presenters demonstrated how our perspectives differ based on several factors such as religion, education, ethnicity, culture, social and economic class. Many may recall the famous black and blue or gold and white dress that took over social media years ago. To this day, people see this dress differently. 
    Active Listening, which is considered one of the most powerful skills to deescalate conflicts, was the first strategy introduced to the students. 80% of conflicts can be resolved by simply listening and staying calm.
    Students worked in pairs to practice listening to each other and responding with “If I heard you correctly, you said….”. Students would then end their statement with, “Did I get it right?.”
    Students also learned assertive messages, also known as “I” messages. This is a strategy that allows students to make their needs and feelings known without attacking the other person.  I feel when because . I need in order to resolve this problem.
    Another strategy to help explain their point of view was entitled Rules of Advocacy. Students can explain themselves by beginning with “My position is _ and this is why_________    .”
    Students also learned how the role of the bystander is critical. What happens when a conflict breaks out? Do we encourage it or help deescalate it? 
    The last strategy focused on anger management. Students practiced finding words for their feelings and how to express themselves in a calm manner. Knowing your anger cues, taking responsibility for your behavior, and reflecting on how you are dealing with anger is important.
    The workshop closing activity allowed students to express how they felt about the skills that they learned. Most students responded that they will start thinking more before they speak or act and that they will do more active listening.
    Video presentations and other visuals were incorporated in the various sessions.
    The sponsors and presenters would like to thank Superintendent Dr. Corey Jones and Mrs. Tammy Anderson, the Principal of Robert Brown Middle School, for allowing her scholars to experience this workshop. The presenters were Ted Quart, a native of New Orleans and Danielle Fulghum, a native of Greene County.
    The Conflict Resolution Workshops were sponsored by the Society of Folk Arts and Culture, where Dr. Carol Zippert is the Director and the Greene County Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., where Dr. Florence Williams is President.
    The Conflict Resolution Workshops were funded by a grant from the Black Belt Community Foundation.

  • FREE Turkey Giveaway

  • Newsire : Africa’s ‘youth boom’ – could it change the World

    crowded African street

    Oct. 30, 2023 (GIN) – “By 2050, one in four people on the planet will be African… Early tremors of this seismic change are already registering around the world…. The world is becoming more African.”
    So opens an in-depth look at our changing world by Irish author and journalist Declan Walsh. His research fills a special section of 40 pages that appeared in a recent edition of the New York Times.
     
    The text is framed by the stunning work of Hannah Reyes Morales, a freelance photographer who spent five weeks this year traveling in Africa for the project.
     
    From its opening double-page shot of the Center for Girls Education in Zaria, Nigeria, a program for married adolescents and mothers to the closing shot of fishers in Praia Nova, Mozambique, showing the impacts of climate change battering African countries, the pictures tell a thousand words.
     
    Africa the Cultural Powerhouse
     
    Here, the author profiles Nigerian star Burna Boy, who became the first African artist to sell out an American stadium after filling an 80,000 capacity venue in London where he sang his new single, “Sittin’ on Top of the World.”
     
    “It’s a great time to be alive,” Laolu Senbanjo, a Nigerian artist living in Brooklyn was quoted to say. “Whether I’m in Target or an Uber, I hear the Afrobeats. It’s like a bridge. The world has come together.”
     
    This year Gamma, a music company owned in part by Apple, set up an office in Lagos. “We’re going straight to the source,” Sipho Dlamini, a Gamma executive was heard to say.
     
    Once the target of bullies, “African” today  is a badge of pride, Sebanjo says. Images of kids starving and swollen bellies are giving way to new images driving tourists who are dying to come to Cape Town, to Mombasa, to Zanzibar, he notes, adding “It’s cool to be African!”
     
    Foreign companies are mentioned here as “eager allies, including Russia, China, the United States, Turkey and Gulf petrostates” as African leaders spurn the image of victim and demand a bigger say.
    Once the big idea for enabling Africa to leapfrog its way out of poverty, technology is now sharing the stage with start-ups sprouting in Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco. Akinwumi Adesina, head of the African Development Bank, observes: “On top of the $96 billion in remittances from African migrants, three times more than the sum of all foreign aid, the African diaspora has become the largest financer of Africa!”
     
    “It feels like the opportunities are unlimited for us right now,” says Jean-Patrick Niambe, a 24 year old hip-hop artist from Ivory Coast.
     
    The author does not overlook Africa’s weaknesses. “It’s a young continent run by old men,” he says. “Under their grip, democracy has fallen to its lowest point in decades. Half of all Africans live in countries considered ‘not free’ by Freedom House.”
     
    While polls say young Africans admire and desire democracy, disillusionment with rubber stamp elections that camouflage authoritarianism is turning many toward more radical options.
     
    “Old World, Young Africa” is balanced, insightful reporting,” writes Unicef Africa, “that presents huge choices for African decision makers in coming years… But will this ‘youthquake be a blessing or a burden?”