The Greene County Democrat

Category: School

  • Taylor’s Law begins Aug. 1. Here’s how it affects Alabama teen drivers

    Taylor’s Law begins Aug. 1. Here’s how it affects Alabama teen drivers

    By Jennifer Lindahl, Montgomery Advertiser

    As Alabama students head back to school, there’s a new reason to stay out of the principal’s office.

    Beginning Aug. 1, school discipline won’t just affect report cards or extracurricular activities. Under Taylor’s Law, certain disciplinary actions can also delay when some teens are eligible to get a learner’s permit or driver’s license.

    Here’s what families should know before the new school year begins.

    What is Taylor’s Law?

    Taylor’s Law establishes a discipline point system for students enrolled in Alabama public and private secondary schools. The law applies to disciplinary infractions committed on school property.

    Beginning with the school year, including summer school, in which a student turns 13, discipline points are tracked and accumulated until the student becomes eligible to apply for a learner’s permit or driver’s license.

    Each point earned pushes back eligibility by one week.

    When does Taylor’s Law take effect?

    Taylor’s Law takes effect Aug. 1, meaning the discipline point systems will be in place as Alabama students return to school for the new academic year.

    For teenagers approaching driving age, school discipline may now have consequences that extend beyond the classroom, affecting when they can legally get behind the wheel.

    Which students are affected by Taylor’s Law?

    The law applies to students who are 13 years and older and enrolled in a public or private secondary school in Alabama.

    Although Alabama allows teens to obtain a learner’s permit at age 15 and a driver’s license at age 16 if they meet licensing requirements, discipline points begin accumulating years earlier, starting with the school year in which the student turns 13.

    How many points does each disciplinary action carry?

    Taylor’s Law assigns points based on the type of school discipline:

    • In-school suspension (ISS): 1 point for each day.

    • Out-of-school suspension (OSS): 2 points for each day.

    • Alternative school placement: 6 points.

    • Expulsion: 20 points.

    Every point adds one week to the age at which a student may receive a learner’s permit, driver’s license or other covered license.

    For example, a student who accumulates six points would have to wait an additional six weeks before becoming eligible.

    Students don’t automatically receive points for every suspension

    The law includes exceptions designed to allow students to improve their behavior.

    For in-school suspension:

    • The first three days of ISS in a school year do not generate points.

    • If a student reaches a fourth day of ISS, then all ISS days from that school year, including the first three, count toward the total.

    For out-of-school suspension:

    • An initial OSS of two days or fewer does not generate points.

    • If the student receives another OSS later that school year, the days from the first suspension are added to the point total.

    If the initial OSS exceeds two days, all of those days count.

    Can students erase discipline points?

    Yes. Taylor’s Law includes provisions that allow students to reduce or eliminate accumulated points through improved behavior.

    If a student completes one full school year without receiving additional discipline points, previously accumulated points are reduced by half.

    If the student completes two consecutive school years without receiving additional points, all accumulated points are removed from the student’s school record.

    Is there a limit to how long a license can be delayed?

    Yes.

    Even if a student accumulates enough points to create a longer delay, Alabama law says eligibility cannot be extended by more than one year beyond the date the student would otherwise first qualify to apply for a learner’s permit or driver’s license.

    Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email atjlindahl@usatodayco.com.

    To read the original article on The Montgomery Adviser, click here

  • Tuskegee University Bans Bonnets And Du-Rags On Campus. Let’s Talk About It

    Tuskegee University Bans Bonnets And Du-Rags On Campus. Let’s Talk About It

    By Zack Linly, NewsOne

    Tuskegee’s new dress code policy is part of a larger policy that, to its credit, does have practical applications as well.

    Black people, especially here in the U.S., have a complicated relationship with presentability. Historically, we’ve been looked down upon as a collective, no matter what we’re wearing. A lot of Black people will note that Martin Luther King Jr. was wearing a suit when a rabid white man assassinated him. I’m not sure I like that reasoning since King was killed because of the work he was doing and the systemic racism he led a fight against — not because someone mistook him for a thug due to baggy clothing or a head scarf — but the point still stands that adhering to a largely white and Western standard for how one should dress in public certainly won’t save us from the prejudice that also comes with that standard.

    I’m not even sure if there’s a societal frame of reference for respectability politics as it relates to white people and other racial groups, but for Black people, it’s a 400-year plague that has infected many of us with deeply colonized mentalities. But whatever, Black people can think what they want; the problem arises when they start making policy around it in Black institutions.

    So, let’s talk about this new dress code banning bonnets and du-rags in classrooms and the cafeteria at Tuskegee University.

    So, first, it should be noted that, according to AL.com, Tuskegee’s updated dress code also prohibits students from wearing house shoes and “revealing clothing” and mandates that students attending professional events or business meetings must wear business suits and appropriate footwear. Tuskegee President Dr. Mark A. Brown said the changes aim to give students a “solid foundation for the workforce they will enter once they leave Tuskegee” rather than limit their college experience. But do they actually do the former and not the latter?

    I wonder if Brown, the other administrators at Tuskegee, or any of the Black people on social media who agree with the new policy — and there are many of them — have actually witnessed or even heard about a college graduate showing up to a job interview or business meeting in a bonnet or du-rag and slippers. Certainly, this must be a real, non-delusional concern of theirs due to a totally-non-fictional phenomenon that is reflected in reality — otherwise, we’re just talking about students going to class and to lunch dressed comfortably, and one might get the impression that these blushing negroes just don’t like seeing certain aspects of Black existence being on display where everyone else can see us. 

    Remember when the killing of Trayvon Martin by racist neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman started off as a discussion about systemic racism, racial profiling, and the inherent white supremacy of “stand your ground” laws, until it devolved into a debate around whether Trayvon should’ve been wearing a hoodie in the first place? That might have been a discussion that began in the Caucasian world of justifying violent Black death at the hands of bigoted vigilantes, but it’s one that also included white-gaze-fearing Black people warning other Black people about the dangers of hooded casual wear and how we should abstain from it even when we’re doing something as mundane as walking home from the corner store. The implication there is that Trayvon might still be alive if the sweater he was wearing was hoodless, and the Black people who were subjecting their own to such warnings purported to be looking out for our collective best interest then, too. But were they merely looking out for their own in the interest of our collective safety, or was Trayvon’s story simply the excuse they needed to reinforce their own disgust with Black people not adhering to their conservative views on how we should assimilate, mirroring that of our white counterparts?

    But you know what, let’s stick to the subject at hand, which, by the way, is far from unique to Tuskegee, as respectability politics are an issue at HBCUs across the country, unfortunately, regardless of how often the richness and fullness of Black culture is on display at these institutions.

    Again, Tuskegee’s new dress code policy is part of a larger policy that, to its credit, does have practical applications as well. For example, the new policy holds that students must keep cellphones turned off during class unless professors give specific permission to use them, and it requires the university to monitor attendance more closely, “viewing regular class participation as essential to academic success, according to the updated policy,” as AL.com reported.

    Now, see, these policies might actually help with the fact that at Tuskegee University, only 29% – 31% of students finish on time within four years, only 57% – 61% of students complete their bachelor’s degrees within six years, and the fact that roughly 20% to nearly 30% of 73% – 81% of first-year students fail to return for their sophomore year, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

    But, no, no — I’m sure student retention and performance will improve greatly now that administrators are telling them they need to be in a button-down shirt and slacks when they go to class, and to leave their protective head coverings in their dorms.

    Good luck with all that.

    Read the original article here.

    Featured Image: Young African American photographer (ASphotowed / Getty)

  • Greene County has a new parent alliance fighting for its school system

    Greene County has a new parent alliance fighting for its school system

    Maya Quinn, Managing Editor

    Tuesday, June 2nd, Brandi Jones gathered fellow guardians and citizens concerned about the future of the Greene County School System. Her goal is to mobilize citizens in each county district to inform parents about how the school system operates and why it’s their responsibility to push for change. Newly elected board of education member Willie Ester Davis of District 4 was present for the inaugural meeting.

    According to the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) snapshot for 2024, Greene County Schools rank 24th in state funding received per student ($8,891), 13th in local funding ($6,437), and 9th in federal funding ($5,643). Yet with an estimated 889 students in the district, the school system still ended the fiscal year with $19,145,000 of debt. 

    A school system’s revenue is calculated from funds contributed from state revenue (42%), local taxes (31%), and federal funding (27%). While the state percentage in the largest piece of the pie, only 10% is available for non-personnel expenditures. Local revenue contributions depend on citizens in the county who own property (houses, cars, etc), and federal funding only supplements state and local funding, often operating under a reimbursement model. By the numbers, Greene County‘s citizens have the greatest impact on school revenue that can be spent on improvements.

    As a parent with a child attending Robert Brown Middle School, Jones has witnessed the spread of misinformation regarding the quality of education and school policies. Many citizens have relied on negative anecdotes regarding school board proceedings, which ultimately overshadows the truth. “One of the main goals I want is for us to be educated.” Jones began, “A lot of parents are saying they don’t know, which is why we need to encourage them to attend meetings such as this… We want to encourage parents to get involved in their child’s schooling. That’s our biggest vision.” 

    Jones also emphasized the importance of proper decorum when bringing issues to the board of education. Members will serve as ambassadors and liaisons for parents, especially those who are unable to attend school board meetings. Mrs. Willie Esther Austin, Dollarhide Volunteer Fire Department’s 2023 firefighter of the year, extended similar sentiments for the alliance. “We have to speak positively about our school system,” Austin stated as she encouraged members of the alliance to meet anger with kindness and redirect disrespect towards school board personnel. Attendees also discussed offering the truancy officer and other educational departments support whenever possible.

    The alliance hopes to involve any members of the community, regardless of whether they have children or not. “I have a vision for members to be active for our children,” Jones stated.  “ We’re [all] gonna have to be involved…When we come back in three months, we should see results.”

    The Greene Means Go parent alliance will meet quarterly to assess progress with goals from their respective communities. For more information about the alliance, contact Brandi Jones at (205) 531-9111

     

    Related articles on our website: “School Board reviews Greene County School System’s AASB 2023 snapshot data.”

    Related links: Greene County AASB 2024 Snapshot

    Featured Image: Robert Brown students return to school (Greene County Democray)

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  • Newswire: The Most Powerful Words From Black Commencement Speakers to the Class of 2026

    Newswire: The Most Powerful Words From Black Commencement Speakers to the Class of 2026

    by Mahalia Otshudy, The Root

    The Class of 2026 is preparing to take everything they learned during their time in college into the real world. While graduation is an exciting time for all students, the transitional phase can also be incredibly daunting, which is why a good word of encouragement can go a long way. Who better to motivate young, eager graduates than icons across the political, entertainment and sports industries? 

     

    From Queen Latifah to Magic Johnson, Black commencement speakers have been taking the stage at university graduations across the country and giving the alumni incredible words of advice that will inspire you, too.

     

    On May 8, Queen Latifah graced the stage at North Carolina A&T State University and gave a very powerful speech about building her entertainment career in her 20s and continuously believing in herself even when the odds didn’t seem in her favor.

     

    “You have to believe in yourself more than anyone else does and sometimes you may have to go it alone. You can’t always bring along people unless they believe with you,” she said. “Sometimes there’s just no way to make it to where you want to be unless you have the courage to stand alone. You have to have the bravery to step forward by yourself and go into a lane that no one else has driven.”

    Colman Domingo

    Colman Domingo received an honorary degree and delivered a commencement speech at Temple University on May 6. His address emphasized the importance of persevering in life because, while the world might be tough, it is important to make your mark on it.

     

    “Graduates, the world you’re stepping into is complicated. I will not lie to you. It is loud. It is sometimes unkind. But it is also waiting, waiting for your particular voice, your particular vision, your particular brand of courage,” he said. “Because courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is showing up any f*****g way.”

    Sterling K. Brown

    On 16, actor Sterling K. Brown spoke to graduates at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and shared some much-needed tips to “make life a little bit more manageable,” including getting all eight hours of sleep and exercising consistently throughout the week. Brown also told the graduates that failure is an important part of life.

     

    “Failure is a necessary part of the process. If you’re not falling from time to time, then baby, you’re not jumping high enough,” he said. “Fall and then pick yourself back up and do that one more time again. Nothing in life is certain. Anything of enduring personal value requires a leap of faith.”

    Magic Johnson

    Addressing graduates at Tuskegee University on May 9, NBA legend and businessman Magic Johnson stepped down from the stage to stand on the same level as the graduates and provided them with advice to help them stand out in a competitive world.

     

    “You gone have to be strong. You have to be the best that they’ve ever seen walk through their doors. That means first to work, last to leave. That means you gone work harder than anybody else at your job,” he said. “You may have to pivot. And if you have to pivot to something outside your major, make sure you do that just to get in. See, sometimes we have to be uncomfortable to get comfortable.”

    Chris Paul

    On Sunday, May 17, NBA star Chris Paul was the commencement speaker at Morehouse College, where he gave a speech on the importance of perseverance and working with what has been handed to you.

     

    “You might not be the best on day one, day 10, day 50, even, but I guarantee you this: you’ll get better and better if you just keep stacking days. Keep stacking days,” he said. “One of the most important things you can do in life is just to always show up. Through heartbreak, rejection, failure, grief, whatever it is, just always find a way to show up. Remember, you don’t always get credit for the battles you fight privately, but your presence as Morehouse men proves that you have more than enough to keep moving forward.”

    Ray Lewis

    NFL star Ray Lewis graced the stage at North Carolina Central University on May 9 and gave an impassioned address about the importance of building your identity so that the life you want to live begins to act in accordance with the person you’ve decided you want to be.

     

    “Learn to sit in discomfort. Protect your focus. Show up anyway because identity is not built in comfort; it’s built in repetition over and over and over again until you figure out,” he said. “But let me give you something real. The wrong will break you. The right people will pray with you and build you. So be careful who you walk with because your environment will shape your identity. You show me your crowd, I’ll show you your future.”

    Symone Sanders-Townsend

    At Spelman College, political commentator Symone Sanders-Townsend received an honorary doctorate and told her Spelman sisters that although the world is a scary place right now, it is important they continue to pave the way to a better future for the next generation.

     

    “I’m not gonna stand on this stage and tell you that the country is fine; the country is not fine. We are not okay. We are in a hard moment in America right now, and pretending otherwise would frankly be an insult to your intelligence and to your future,” she said. “The question stands: what do you do when the conditions are not in your favor? You build anyway.”

  • Greene County BOE makes moves to develop family partnerships for increased student success

    Greene County BOE makes moves to develop family partnerships for increased student success

    by Maya Quinn
    Managing Editor

    The Greene County Board of Education (BOE) met to discuss the progress of newly implemented programs and proposed contracts. Superintendent Dr. Timothy Thurman, President Leo Branch, Vice President Robert Davis, Veronica Richardson, Carrie Dancy, and Brandon Meriwether were present for the meeting.

    The Greene County school system is responsible for educating the next generation of adults to live and prosper in Greene County. However, the school cannot accomplish the imperative task alone. Successful school systems maintain optimal structure through a “three-legged stool” model: dedicated teachers, involved parents, and resilient students. Without positive guidance and partnerships with parents, the stool cannot stand.

    Meeting Summary

    In a unanimous vote, all action items (detailed after this summary) proposed by Superintendent Dr. Thurman received approval at the meeting. All payments, bills, claims, and payroll were reconciled by Chief Financial Officer Marquita Lennon, leaving the school board’s account with $157,105.76 from local revenue. The board allocated a considerable amount of funds to procure new buses for the school system.

    Dr. Thurman, Superintendent, gave a formal report of ongoing activities. He began by detailing the importance of PTA meetings at Robert Brown Middle School and Eutaw High School, noting that increased parent involvement is “critical for the school system to move forward.” He then eagerly updated attendees on the parent volunteering initiative’s training progress with parent involvement facilitator, Deborah Waiters. Any parents interested in receiving training are encouraged to call the board.

    He also announced programs for rising kindergarteners and a scholarship with Huntington College. The fully funded Judge Jumpstart Program will host 4-K students over the summer to prepare them for the upcoming school year. The “Grow Your Own” Scholarship and partnership with Huntington is to help students earn degrees to teach in rural areas. These programs are game-changers, providing resources upon entering and exiting the school system. “We’re trying to be as transparent as possible,” Dr. Thurman reminded, “we need parent participation to move forward.”

    At the conclusion of the superintendent’s report, board member and parent Veronica Richardson wanted to ensure that parents receive letters about upcoming Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) and ACT testing. After spring break, testing will resume the week of April 6th.

    Approved Action Items

    •  Garry Rice will attend the Southern Regional Education Board Conference in Nashville, TN, July 14 – 17, 2026
    • Tomora Hill and two students will attend the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA) International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, GA, April 25-29, 2026
    • Shamyra Jones and four students will attend the Jobs for Alabama’s Graduates (JAG) National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, April 30 – May 2, 2026
    • The Greene County Board of Education will contract Marshanda Daniels to serve as technical support for the district for one year.
    • An E-Rate Mini Bid with Uniti Fiber for internet access points licenses, equipment, and installation in the amount of $111,816.82 (district pays 15% of the total quote).

    Following the approval of the action items, the board members entered an executive session to discuss the personnel action report. Board members did not disclose approved items in the report during the meeting. However, the local school accountant, LaTanya Cockrell-Fowler, informed The Democrat via email of Sarah Crawford’s resignation as the 2nd-grade teacher at Eutaw Primary School.

     

    Public Comments

    Understanding family relationships is a critical factor in student success. Whether it be test scores or mental health, having a sustained partnership between educators and families is essential for the school system to learn what is best for the children of Greene County. Knowledge of a student’s culture provides important information for the school system to secure the resources necessary to support students at any stage of their learning.

    Brandi Jones was the only parent not on staff or the board present. She politely introduced herself and asked a series of questions about the superintendent selection process and the need to consult external sources on strategic planning within the district. Jones considers herself a parent advocate, religiously showing up for PTA and board meetings.

    “Parents don’t realize the power that they have.” Jones commented, “There is no perfect school system. We have to work together to solve issues.” Jones is passionate about creating a parent alliance to “meet parents where they are” and ensure Greene County schools can retain their students.


    The next board meeting will be on Monday, April 20th, at 4:30 pm.

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  • Greene County Health Systems launches Career Tech Program

    Greene County Health Systems launches Career Tech Program

    by Maya Quinn
    Managing Editor

    Lakisha Gill, Nicole Henley, Rodgerick Williams standing in the nursing home waiting area
    Lakisha Gill, Nicole Henley, and Rodgerick Williams standing in the nursing home waiting area

    Thursday, March 5th, Greene County Hospital launched its career tech program for Eutaw High School students with the induction of seven students. Hospital Administrator Rodgerick Williams welcomed students, along with Chief Nursing Officer Lakisha Gill and Nicole Henley, director of nursing at the Greene County Nursing Home. The goal of the program is to prepare students for employment opportunities and address the ongoing rural healthcare crisis in the community.

    Retention of students is essential to reshaping the culture of Greene County Health Systems. Each summer, students may experience a phenomenon known as “brain drain”: a lack of academic stimulation that leads to learning loss. Greene County Health Systems aims to combat that with the career tech program. Henley stated that the program aims to provide students with invaluable work experience to equip them for positions here in Greene County. Students practiced completing applications, drafting resumes, and handling other daily tasks for introductory positions across disciplines. The program’s staff and teachers are bridging a gap by ensuring that students have the necessary soft skills to be employed in college or immediately after graduation.

    hospital staff showing students the CT scan machine
    hospital staff showing career tech students a CT scan machine

    Lakisha Gill highlighted the importance of programs like these in preparing students for clinical and professional schools. Alongside patient care tech training, students are developing key employability skills, including communication, self-management, digital literacy, teamwork, and problem-solving. The program will partner with Wallace Community College’s LPN (licensed practical nurse) program and Workforce Alabama to procure stipends for students. “These kids need to be involved in something,” Gill stated, “we need to give back as a unit to the students here.” Upon completion of CNA (certified nursing assistant) training, students will be offered CNA positions in the Greene County Health System.

    UAB Alabama Rural Health Collaborative team with Hospital Administrator Rodgerick Williams
    UAB Alabama Rural Health Collaborative team with Rodgerick Williams

    Williams is also working closely with the UAB Alabama Rural Health Collaborative to decrease rural hospital bypass, the tendency of residents to seek care beyond their closest hospital. The collaborative will help counsel the hospital to procure funds for new imaging equipment and a surgery suite. Williams asserted that these improvements are imperative to serve Greene County’s residents better. A study from the University of North Carolina’s Rural Health Research Program found that traveling beyond the local hospital for care in rural areas is associated with higher inpatient mortality rates. In emergencies such as sepsis, rural hospital bypass can lead to patients missing a critical period of care that means the difference between life and death.

    Rural bypass behaviors result in a significant loss of revenue for the hospital. Revenue loss leads to a detrimental cascading effect, leaving hospitals understaffed. Understaffing means the hospital will lack key services such as critical illness care and obstetrics. Greene County Health Systems is not a for-profit institution and relies on county members to keep its doors open. Williams urges community members to use the hospital for all their care needs and not just emergencies, “to make sure that in this rural environment they can get service in their golden hour of need.”

  • Newswire : On 61st Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, worries about the future of voting rights and calls to action

    Newswire : On 61st Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, worries about the future of voting rights and calls to action

    A diverse group of people, including several public figures, gathered on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, singing and celebrating while holding signs advocating for voting rights.

    People crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge on Sunday and  Spiver Gordon, Greene County civil rights veteran and foot soldier next to Congresswoman Sewell on bridge

    By Kim Chandler, Associated Press and other sources

    SELMA, Ala. (AP) — Sixty-one years after state troopers attacked Civil Rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, thousands gathered in the Alabama city this weekend amid new concerns about the future of the Voting Rights Act.
    The March 7, 1965, violence that became known as Bloody Sunday shocked the nation and helped spur passage of the landmark legislation that dismantled barriers to voting for Black Americans in the Jim Crow South.
    The anniversary was celebrated in this city that served as crucible for the voting rights movement, with events through the weekend ending with a commemorative march across the bridge Sunday. But the commemoration came as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could limit a provision of the Voting Rights Act that has helped ensure some congressional and local districts are drawn so minority voters have a chance to elect their candidate of choice.
    “I’m concerned that all of the advances that we made for the last 61 years are going to be eradicated,” said Charles Mauldin, 78, one of the marchers beaten on Bloody Sunday.
    Former and current Democratic officeholders, civil rights leaders and tourists descended on Selma to pay homage to the pivotal moment of the Civil Rights Movement and to issue calls to action. Speakers warned of the looming court decision and criticized the Trump administration’s actions on immigration and efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion.
    Standing at the pulpit of the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, said that like the marchers on Bloody Sunday, they must press forward.
    “Years after Bloody Sunday, the progress that stemmed from that sacrifice is now being rolled back right in our faces,” the governor said. Moore is the nation’s only Black governor currently in office.
    “We are choosing this fight because those who marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge deserve better than us cowering while the freedoms that we inherited and they fought for, are being ripped away,” Moore said.
    Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, speaking at a rally at the foot of the bridge, said racism is on the rise in America and “Trump’s Supreme Court is gutting the Voting Rights Act.”
    “Let’s march forward today with the knowledge that we are the inheritors of the faith that brought marchers to the bridge 61 years ago. It is now on us to bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice,” Pritzker said.
    The annual commemoration in Selma is a mix of a civil rights remembrances, church services and a street festival filled with vendors and food trucks. It is also part political rally with an eye on November’s midterm elections and a longer view to the 2028 presidential race.
    The commemoration included a tribute to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader and two-time presidential candidate who regularly attended the annual Selma march. He died on Feb. 17 at age 84.
    Yusef Jackson said his father’s legacy will be carried forward. “In November, we will go back to the polls and take our government back, setting our country on the right path,” Jackson said.
    The looming court decision cast a shadow over the festivities. Justices are expected to rule soon on a Louisiana case , Calais vs Louisiana, about the role of race in drawing congressional districts. A ruling prohibiting or limiting that role could have sweeping consequences, potentially opening the door for Republican-controlled states to redistrict and roll back majority Black and Latino districts that tend to favor Democrats.
    U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures won election in 2024 to an Alabama district that was redrawn by a federal court to give Black voters a greater voice. His district will likely be targeted if the state gets the opportunity to redraw lines. He said what happened in Selma and the subsequent passage of the Voting Rights Act “was monumental in shaping what America looks like and how America is represented in Congress.”
    In 1965, the Bloody Sunday marchers led by John Lewis and Hosea Williams walked in pairs across the Selma bridge headed toward the state capital of Montgomery. Mauldin, then 17, was part of the third pair behind Williams and Lewis.
    At the apex of the bridge, they could see the sea of law enforcement officers, including some on horseback, waiting for them. But they kept going.
    “It wasn’t that we didn’t have fear, it’s that we chose courage over fear,” Mauldin recalled.
    Spiver Gordon, Greene County civil rights leader said this anniversary was a little bitter-sweet, since three close friends, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Joanne Bland and Rev. Bernard Lafayette, had all passed in the three weeks leading up to this 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
    A crowd of several thousand filed behind elected officials on this Sunday for the march across the bridge, this time protected by state law enforcement officers.

  • Newswire : Meet Roxanne Brown, the first African American and the first woman President of the United Steelworkers

    Newswire : Meet Roxanne Brown, the first African American and the first woman President of the United Steelworkers

    Roxanne Brown

    By Black Press USA

    In a significant moment for the labor movement, Roxanne Brown, set to become the first African American woman elected as President of the United Steelworkers (USW), North America’s largest industrial union, joins Make It Plain with Rev. Mark Thompson. With the official transition happening in March, Brown’s ascent is more than just a personal achievement; it represents a shift in the labor movement’s leadership reflecting the demographics of today’s workforce.

    A woman with curly hair wearing a black dress with white polka dots and a pearl necklace, standing in front of a brick wall.
    A smiling woman with glasses speaking into a microphone at a public event.
    A woman speaking into a microphone at a rally, with a crowd of supporters behind her holding signs. The woman wears a blue jacket and gestures as she addresses the audience.
    Promotional flyer for a Civic Engagement Breakfast hosted by the Greene County Human Rights Commission and the Black Belt Community Foundation, inviting the general public to participate in a voting event on March 14, 2026, at Eutaw Activity Center.
    A hand placing an official ballot into a USPS mailbox with an April 29, 2026 postmark, accompanied by medical documents and a stethoscope, highlighting concerns over changes affecting ballots and healthcare.


    Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she moved to New York at the age of two and was raised by what she affectionately refers to as “the Amazons”—a family of strong, single women who were deeply involved in healthcare and unions. Her first exposure to the labor movement came through the nurses union and AFSCME’s CSEA in New York. This early influence clearly set the stage for what would be a lifelong commitment to labor rights and leadership.


    Reflecting on her path to this esteemed position, Brown shared, “I cut my teeth in our policy shop, and I had to learn about our core issues and our core values. I literally spent my entire career fighting on behalf of our members across so many sectors.”


    The USW under Brown’s leadership will be setting the tone with what she believes is a much-needed representation change. Brown emphasized, “We are the most diverse union in North America…we’re cradle to grave and have everything in between.”


    With a membership boasting varied backgrounds, Brown’s leadership is a reflection of this diversity, as the board she is set to lead will be its most diverse in the union’s history.


    Leading a predominantly male union presents its unique set of challenges. Brown noted, “When people think about our union, there’s an image that comes to mind that does not look like me. But…we are the most diverse union in North America, in terms of our sectors and membership.”
    She recognizes the importance of transcending stereotypes and advocated for a more inclusive image representing the diversity within the union.

    Amidst the intricate challenges of tariffs and economic pressures, uncertainty remains a theme. Brown explains, “This current environment of tariffs is not strategic and creates uncertainty…not just for sectors but for our ability to use the tools we’ve relied on for survival.”

    Brown is poised to take on these challenges head-on with strategies rooted in education, engagement, and advocacy at all governmental levels. She affirmed the union’s commitment by saying, “Engage, engage, engage—because we are charged to do that on behalf of our membership.”
    In discussing the broader significance of her leadership and that of fellow African American union leaders, Brown reflects, “Leadership should always reflect who is being led…I’m opening the door so that others know what is possible.”

    “It is not about us alone; it is about what we represent and showing what is possible to our members who look like us,” she said.
    Brown listed some of the products USW members produce:
    • Goodyear, Bridgestone Firestone, and Michelin tires
    • Libby glassware
    • Starbucks cups
    • Paper towels
    • Amazon boxes
    • Wine bottles and beer cans
    • Bourbon bottles
    • Car components, including glass and steel
    • Glass on iPhones and Android devices
    • Fiber optic cables used for 5G systems
    • Oil for powering vehicles
    • Cement used in construction
    • Various pharmaceutical products, including some COVID-19 drugs
    • School buses and taxi services in certain areas
    • Baskerville coffins and caskets

  • Newswire : Philadelphia sues after slavery exhibits were taken down from President’s House site

    Newswire : Philadelphia sues after slavery exhibits were taken down from President’s House site

     Staff dismantling slavery exhibit in Philadelphia

    The lawsuit says the National Park Service removed the displays referring to slavery “presumably pursuant to the mandate” of an executive order from President Donald Trump.

    By Joe Kottke and Phil Helsel NBC News

    The city of Philadelphia sued the Department of the Interior and the acting director of the National Park Service on Thursday over reports that slavery exhibits were being dismantled in the city’s historic district.
    The suit, filed in federal court, seeks a preliminary injunction to restore the exhibits at the President’s House Site, part of Independence National Historical Park.
    The lawsuit says that “the National Park Service has removed artwork and informational displays at the President’s House site referencing slavery, presumably pursuant to the mandate” of Executive Order No. 14253, which President Donald Trump signed in March. 2025.
    The city said in the suit that it learned Thursday that the educational panels that referred to slavery had been removed.
    “Removing the exhibits is an effort to whitewash American history,” Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson said in a statement Thursday. “History cannot be erased simply because it is uncomfortable. Removing items from the President’s House merely changes the landscape, not the historical record.”
    NBC Philadelphia aired video Thursday that shows people with crowbars taking down panels, one of which reads “The Dirty Business of Slavery.”
    The suit says the city was given no notice about the change to the President’s House.
    It calls the removal of the displays “arbitrary and capricious.”
    “Defendants have provided no explanation at all for their removal of the historical, educational displays at the President’s House site, let alone a reasoned one,” the lawsuit says.
    White House spokesman Davis Ingle said Trump “continues to fulfill his promise to restore truth and common sense to the United States and its institutions.” 
    “President Trump is ensuring that we are honoring the fullness of the American story instead of distorting it in the name of left-wing ideology,” Ingle said in a statement. 
    A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, said “all federal agencies are to review interpretive materials to ensure accuracy, honesty, and alignment with shared national values” while it implements Trump’s executive order.
    “Following completion of the required review, the National Park Service is now taking appropriate action in accordance with the Order,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
    The National Park Service did not immediately respond to NBC News’ requests for comment late Thursday.
    Trump’s executive order directs the Department of the Interior in its materials not to include “descriptions, depictions, or other content that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living (including persons living in colonial times).”
    It instructs the department to “instead focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people or, with respect to natural features, the beauty, abundance, and grandeur of the American landscape.”
    The order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” has been criticized.
    The American Historical Association said it “egregiously misrepresents the work of the Smithsonian Institution,” which the executive order criticized by name.
    “Historians explore the past to understand how our nation has evolved. We draw on a wide range of sources, which helps us to understand history from different angles of vision,” the group said March 31.
    “Our goal is neither criticism nor celebration,” it said. “It is to understand — to increase our knowledge of — the past in ways that can help Americans to shape the future.”
    The President’s House is a site where President George Washington resided in Philadelphia, and he brought slaves who were in the home, according to the lawsuit and the National Park Service’s webpage about the site. President John Adams also lived there.
    A spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association said the dismantling of the exhibit is “an insult to the memory of the enslaved people who lived there and to their descendants.” and “sets a dangerous precedent of prioritizing nostalgia over the truth.”
    The House of Representatives urged the National Park Service in 2003 to recognize the slaves there. The agency and the city entered into a cooperative agreement in 2006 to establish an exhibit about the site, the suit says.
    A memorial and panels about slavery at the President’s House have been up since it opened in 2010, according to the suit.
    The Black Journey, a group that conducts walking tours in Philadelphia about Black history, said removing the panels can’t erase the past.
    “The Black Journey is outraged and deeply disappointed by the removal of this important and irreplaceable piece of American history,” Raina Yancey, president and CEO of The Black Journey, said in a statement. 
    Yancey said the group will continue to lead weekly tours and pursue its mission “to tell the full and truthful history of our ancestors,” saying “no political action will silence this history.”
    She added that since the removal occurred, she has heard from fellow tour guides and individuals who have taken tours. 
    “Their messages make it clear: the public will not accept the erasure of history, and neither will we,” she said.
    U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-Pa., whose district includes part of Philadelphia and the President’s House, also condemned the removal.
    “Philadelphia and the entire country deserve an honest accounting of our history, and this effort to hide it is wrong,” he said in a statement.
    CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Ahmet Tekelioglu said the civil rights organization “stands in solidarity with the City of Philadelphia, advocacy groups, civil rights leaders, and historians.”
    Tekelioglu said the exhibit’s removal “has drawn widespread condemnation from community leaders, historians, and elected officials who argue that understanding the full scope of American history — including the brutal reality of slavery — is critical to our collective progress.”
    During the Trump administration, the National Park Service has made other changes that have backtracked on previous information.
    In February, before the executive order, the National Park Service website for Stonewall National Monument’s web page was changed to erase references to transgender and queer people.
    The Stonewall Inn is the site of a milestone in the fight for gay rights, recognition and the fight to end persecution by authorities.

  • Newswire : New Trump Tax Law locks in gains for the rich, leaves Black households behind

    Newswire : New Trump Tax Law locks in gains for the rich, leaves Black households behind

    By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

    President Donald Trump’s new tax law is now in force, and as the 2026 filing season begins, economists say the damage is not theoretical. It is already written into the tax code. The legislation locks in and expands Trump’s 2017 overhaul while layering on new provisions that funnel wealth upward, raise taxes on millions of low-income Americans, and deepen racial inequities that have defined the U.S. economy for generations.

    “This massive tax-and-spending package does more to transfer wealth upward than any other single piece of legislation in decades while penalizing lower-income Americans and cutting public benefits,” the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said in its analysis of the law.

    According to ITEP, the poorest 40 percent of Americans will pay more in taxes under the new law, while the middle fifth receives only marginal relief. The richest 1 percent, however, will take home more benefits than the bottom 80 percent combined in 2026. The racial divide is stark. High-income households are disproportionately white, while Black and Latino families are far more likely to be concentrated in income groups that lose ground.

    At the center of the imbalance is the expanded pass-through business deduction, increased from 20 percent to 23 percent. Treasury Department data show that nearly all of the $1 trillion in tax cuts generated by this provision over the next decade will flow to the top 1 percent. Hispanic taxpayers, who account for 15 percent of the population, receive about 5 percent of the benefit. Black taxpayers, 11 percent of the population, receive roughly 2 percent.

    The law also sharply weakens the estate tax by permanently raising the exemption to $15 million for individuals and $30 million for married couples, indexed to inflation. Economists say the change all but eliminates the tax for ultra-wealthy families while locking in racial disparities tied to inherited wealth. White families are about three times as likely as Black families to receive an inheritance, and the median inheritance for White families is roughly 25 percent higher.

    Supporters of the law point to larger tax refunds expected this year as proof that working Americans are benefiting. The Tax Foundation estimates individual income taxes were reduced by $129 billion for 2025, with as much as $100 billion likely to be paid out through higher refunds during the 2026 filing season. Average refunds could rise by several hundred dollars, and in some cases close to $1,000.

    But analysts say those refunds are largely the result of delayed withholding adjustments, not sustained gains in wages or financial security. Many low-income filers, particularly those with little or no tax liability, receive little to nothing. ITEP said provisions marketed as help for working families continue to bypass the poorest households, many of them Black.

    The child tax credit was raised to $2,200 per child, yet it remains only partially refundable and far below its 2021 level. Millions of very low-income families are still excluded. Census data show that nearly one in five Black and American Indian people lived below the poverty line in 2024, placing them among those least likely to see any benefit.

    The law offsets tax cuts at the top by reducing funding for health care, food assistance, and other programs relied upon by working families. Economists warn that the long-term costs will fall heaviest on younger Americans. Millennials and Gen Z, the most racially diverse generations in U.S. history, will inherit higher deficits and fewer public resources.
    The Internal Revenue Service began accepting 2025 returns on Jan. 26 and expects to process roughly 164 million filings this year.

    New deductions for overtime, tips, auto loan interest, and seniors are now available, though many phase out well before reaching higher income levels. Analysts note that administrative readiness does not change who ultimately wins and loses under the law.

    ITEP said Congress had options that would have protected working families without deepening inequality, including limiting tax extensions to households earning under $400,000 and restoring the expanded child tax credit. That approach would have delivered larger tax cuts to the bottom 60 percent of Americans at a fraction of the cost.

    “This law harms the economic well-being of poor and working families of all races, especially people of color,” ITEP said. “The new tax and spending law doesn’t meet the basic test of fairness, and it falls tremendously short.”