Funeral Arrangement of Dr. Sandral Hullett, M.D.
Category Archives: World News
April 7th program to honor the legacy and work of Dr. King, includes a play about King’s work with garbage collectors in Memphis, which led to his assassination
The Alabama Civil Rights Freedom Movement hosts a commemoration program honoring the memory and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Theatre Multiplex Center in Eutaw, AL
Spiver W. Gordon, President of the local civil rights organization, arranged with George Stewart of Birmingham, the play’s author and one of its actors, to bring the play to Greene County to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968.
The play entitled, “King and the 13 Hundred” will have an admission fee of $10.00 payable in advance or at the door of the theater in downtown Eutaw. This will be a chance to see a dramatic play about the events at the end of Dr. King’s life, when he was working for economic justice with sanitation workers in Memphis.
George Stewart , the playwright, can remember the exact moment he learned Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr had been killed. Stewart, who grew up in Tuscaloosa, was 13 years old at that time in 1968 and still can recall the pain, the heartache, the shock, and the anger. “I was young. Very young. But I felt like I was part of the movement,” he said. “And our leader of course had been assassinated.”
”I just asked God what you want me to do,” he recalled reflecting in his quiet time on what the day meant to him. “What part do you want me to play?” He ended up writing a play called “Trashing King.” It took him about a year to write it. “It’s a tribute to Dr. King as well as the 1,300 sanitation workers who were responsible for getting Dr. King to Memphis in 1968,” he said.
The name of the play, not lost on Stewart. He titled it that way on purpose. Because it tells the story that he believes some don’t know or truly understand. It was a sanitation worker’s strike that pulled Dr. King there. He had been invited.
Two Memphis garbage collectors, Echol Cole, and Robert Walker, were crushed to death by a malfunctioning truck in February of 1968, according to the King Legacy website. Twelve days later, frustrated by the city’s response in a long pattern of neglect and abuse of its Black employees, 1,300 Black men from the Memphis Department of Public Works went on strike, the website reports.
Stewart’s play focuses on the days leading up to Dr. King’s death. It only has four characters, but its message is about what Dr. King epitomized, he said. “I believe everybody’s gift should be used for the betterment of everyone,” Stewart said.
Cassandra “Dedee” Frazier plays a sanitation worker’s wife in the play. For her, the play was personal, because it helps tell Dr. King’s story. “To actually have children come up and say I had never heard that,” she said, recalling civil rights organization feedback. The play has been performed several times all over the southeast in the past six months.
“I encourage them, why don’t you go back and read-up on it.”
”It’s a true testament of what Dr. King really means to people and what he wanted to see in people,” Stewart said. The lesson that he got from the play is one he hopes everyone gets.
”Let’s look into the heart of the matter of what he was about,” Stewart said. “It wasn’t just civil rights, but it was human rights.” Dr. King’s legacy, 56 years later, still guiding a light. Stewart felt he needed to commemorate it in a way that would honor Dr. King’s legacy.
George Stewart also hosts Alabama Gospel Roots, a one-hour television show that spotlight great gospel singing airs each Saturday at 8 p.m. CDT APT TV
For more information and tickets ($10.00) to the April 7, 2024, viewing of the play, at the Renaissance Theater in Eutaw, Alabama, please contact Spiver W. Gordon at 205-372-3446.
Newswire : African women spur fight for gender equality, seeking economic and legal rights
African women from Sierra Leone celebrating
Mar. 15, 2024 (GIN) – At the recent “Africa Disrupt“, conference of pan-African feminists, economic justice activists and community leaders, among others, one thing was certain: the time for gender equality for African working women had arrived.
Halfway around the world, a new report by the World Bank gave fuel to the fire. Currently, women enjoy only two-thirds of the legal rights as men and the gender gap is wider than laws on the books might suggest due to insufficient legal implementation.
“Women have the power to turbocharge the sputtering global economy,” said Indermit Gill, the Bank’s chief economist. “Yet, all over the world, discriminatory laws and practices prevent women from working or starting businesses on an equal footing with men.”
Globally, women’s legal rights have improved since 1970, but progress in many critical areas appears to have been over-estimated.
Gill, an Indian economist who has worked on economic growth, poverty, institutions, conflict, and climate change, and Tea Trumbic, the World Bank’s senior advisor for gender equality, released their report, Women, Business and the Law, 10th edition, this month.
For the first time, the bank investigated the impact of childcare and safety policies on women’s participation in the labor market. When these two factors were taken into account, women on average receive just 64% of the legal protections that men do, down from the previous estimate of 77%.
Among the success stories was Togo with one of the lowest rates of maternal mortality and less tolerance of violence against women between 15 and 49 than in peer countries. On the down side, Togolese women participate in the labor market to a much lower extent than men, and most female employment is informal and vulnerable.
Togolese women also appear to be disadvantaged in terms of access to and ownership of land, productive assets, and finance. Although girls outnumber boys in primary school, the gender gap in enrollment favors boys in each subsequent educational level, and the chances of girls to complete secondary school are much lower than those of boys.
Moreover, the rates of child marriage and teenage pregnancy, though lower than in most neighboring countries, continue to be very high.
South Africa, by comparison, has the highest income inequality in the world, with large numbers unemployed or with very low incomes. Gender-based violence is a profound and widespread problem, impacting almost every aspect of life. It is systemic and deeply entrenched in institutions, cultures, and traditions in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the U.S., despite being the wealthiest country in the world by GDP according to the International Monetary Fund, still has a sizable gender pay and equity gap, and is one of just a few wealthy countries, including Japan and China, that does not mandate pay equality.
The world loses US$160 trillion in human capital wealth due to gender wage inequality every year. Inequality is not just an issue of fairness. It is also undesirable because it hampers poverty reduction strategies and leads to suboptimal allocation of resources.
A copy of the World Bankreport can be obtained by downloading it from wbl.worldbank.org
Newswire: Descendants of 1811 revolt heroes acquire Woodland Plantation in Louisiana to preserve Black history
The Banner sisters
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Jo Banner and Joy Banner, founders of The Descendants Project, have taken a significant step towards preserving the historical legacy of Black Americans by acquiring the Woodland Plantation in LaPlace, Louisiana. According to The Grio, their unwavering commitment stems from a deep-rooted understanding of the plantation’s pivotal role in history and a determination to authenticate its story.
Raised on the West Bank of the Mississippi River, Jo Banner and her sister Joy Banner were steeped in the tales of their grandmother, who recounted the harrowing events of the 1811 revolt by enslaved people. The uprising, often overshadowed in historical narratives, saw the brave resistance of individuals like Charles Deslondes and approximately 25 others who sought freedom amidst the brutal oppression of slavery.
The Banners’ acquisition of the plantation marks a significant moment in the ongoing struggle to preserve Black history. After years of discussions with the previous owner, Timothy Sheehan, about safeguarding this heritage, the sisters finalized the purchase in January for $750,000. With the transaction completed, they now hold stewardship over a property that witnessed one of America’s largest uprisings of enslaved people.
Their nonprofit organization, The Descendants Project, focuses on preserving and protecting the Black descendant community in Louisiana’s River Parishes. The Woodland Plantation, nestled in St. John the Baptist Parish, holds immense historical significance, encompassing 4,000 square feet of space on four acres of land.
According to Sharlene Sinegal-DeCuir, an associate professor of history at Xavier University, the Banners’ initiative is profoundly impactful. It provides an opportunity for descendants of the enslaved to reclaim their narrative, offering a counterbalance to historical accounts that often marginalize their contributions.
In addition to preserving the plantation’s history, the Banners said they intend to use the space as a hub for community engagement. By offering genealogy resources and facilitating discussions on environmental justice, they aim to create a welcoming environment where Black voices are heard and honored.
The fight against environmental degradation in the region, epitomized by Greenfield Louisiana LLC’s proposed construction of a grain elevator export plant, underscores the ongoing struggle for justice. For Jo Banner, the significance of their ownership extends beyond mere property rights. It represents a reclaiming of space and identity, ensuring that future generations connect meaningfully with their heritage. As they embark on this journey, the Banners said they are determined to ensure that the Woodland Plantation remains a beacon of hope and empowerment for all who visit.
“Knowing that home’s history and everything that happened, that our names are going to be put in the paperwork of this home, that you’re going to see it going all the way from the 1700s and white ownership and all of a sudden that they got more melanin on that title history, we’re already seeing how impactful that is for us to be in this space just as Black women,” Jo Banner told The Grio. “We’re going to provide access to the history in a way that Black people can feel welcome in the space.”
Newswire : Schumer calls for new elections in Israel, criticizing Netanyahu’s leadership
Demonstrators call for Ceasefire in Gaza
NNPA Newswire
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S., has delivered a scathing critique of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for new elections in Israel amidst ongoing conflict with Hamas.
Speaking from the Senate floor, Schumer emphasized that Netanyahu’s leadership no longer serves Israel’s best interests. “The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after Oct. 7,” Schumer proclaimed in a scathing takedown of Israel’s leader.
Schumer’s declaration marks a significant departure from traditional U.S. support for Israel’s government and highlights a pivotal moment in American Israeli relations.
As the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history, Schumer’s call for Netanyahu’s ouster carries substantial weight, signaling a notable shift in the Democratic Party’s stance toward Israeli politics.
“The world has changed — radically — since then, and the Israeli people are being stifled right now by a governing vision that is stuck in the past,” Schumer declared as he noted the urgency for change in Israel’s leadership.
Accusing Netanyahu of prioritizing his political survival over Israel’s best interests, Schumer condemned the Prime Minister’s alignment with “far-right extremists” within his government, warning that such alliances risk isolating Israel on the global stage.
“Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Schumer demanded, stressing the need for Israel to recalibrate its approach to the conflict with Hamas and prioritize the protection of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.
Highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Schumer voiced support for a temporary cease-fire, echoing President Joe Biden’s efforts to alleviate suffering in the region. However, he cautioned against a permanent cease-fire, citing concerns that it could encourage Hamas to launch further attacks on Israeli civilians.
“There can never be a two-state solution if Hamas has any significant power,” Schumer emphasized while reiterating the importance of safeguarding Israel’s security.
Political watchers noted that Schumer’s bold stance underscores the complex dynamics at play in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and marks a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy as American lawmakers grapple with how best to support Israel while advocating for the rights of Palestinians.
Newswire : U.S. citizens flee Haiti amidst escalating chaos: global concerns mount
Protestors burn tires in street to barricade areas in Haiti
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Amidst escalating turmoil in Haiti, a recent exodus of U.S. citizens fleeing the violence underscores broader concerns about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Caribbean nation. As conflict rages on in regions like the Middle East and Eastern Europe, voices like Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, emphasize the need for global attention to the suffering of people worldwide, including those in Haiti.
“A lot of people are concerned about the suffering that’s going on in the Middle East, and they should be concerned,” noted Dr. Chavis Jr. in his State of the Black Press Address at the National Press Club. “But I’m also concerned. I don’t hear a word about the suffering in Africa, where millions of people are being killed in the Congo. I don’t hear a word about… what’s going on in Haiti.”
Against this backdrop, a charter flight carrying more than 30 U.S. citizens seeking refuge from the spiraling gang violence in Haiti touched down in Miami on March 17, according to U.S. State Department officials. The evacuation came amid escalating chaos in Haiti, where gang attacks, looting of aid supplies, and widespread violence reportedly have pushed the nation to the brink of famine.
The situation in Haiti has been deteriorating for over a year, with the recent chaos culminating in a pivotal moment on Monday night. Haiti’s embattled Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, agreed to step down once a transitional government is established through negotiations involving regional powers and stakeholders, including the United States.
However, concerns persist over the legitimacy and effectiveness of such interventions, as many argue that Haitians themselves must drive actual solutions. A Haitian-led interim government with oversight committees tasked with restoring order, battling corruption, and facilitating fair elections is what the proposed “Montana Accord,” which has the support of various Haitian stakeholders, seeks to establish.
Meanwhile, armed groups, including paramilitary factions and former police officers, have seized control of large swathes of the capital, Port-au-Prince, perpetuating a cycle of violence and instability. The United Nations estimates that at least 80% of the capital is now under the control of these armed groups, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and displacing thousands of residents.
As Haiti grapples with the convergence of manufactured and natural disasters, including the lingering effects of the 2010 earthquake, hurricanes, and floods, the plight of its people demands urgent attention and concerted action from the international community.
“It’s the Haitian people who know what they’re going through. It’s the Haitian people who are going to take destiny into their own hands,” Jimmy Chérizier — also known as “Barbecue,” and the ranking gang leader in Haiti told the Associated Press. “Haitian people will choose who will govern them.”
Celebrating Our Own, Dr. Dionne Edison, Author and Craftsperson
Dr. Dionne Edison is an educator, author, crafter and artist. These activities are opportunities to learn by doing, telling stories through crafting/art and facilitating financial stability.
As an author, she has published two books. The MARCH OF THE C.O.W.S: Creatures of Wonderful Simplicity, is a whimsical book featuring cows. The pictures are scenes she photographed around Greene County, Alabama. THIS IS MY FATHERS’ WORD is a compilation of Rev. Milton Hurst’s sermon notes. She collaborated with daughter, Asenath Edison, to publish SUCCESS BEYOND ACADEMICS: How to Set Expectations for Life. Initially for high school students, this book is ideal for guidance in developing other transitioning plans in life.
She has also contributed to three anthologies. Pam Ryans was the lead on the collaborative effort for PEN IT! vol. 1, and PEN IT! vol. 2: The People’s Accounts, Emotions, and Thoughts of 2020 by Pam Ryan. They dealt with observations of life and COVID-19. Voices of Valor by Dr. Mary Gaskins gives voice to stories of African Americans that would otherwise be lost in time.
Arts and craft skills serve as therapy, opportunities for self-expression and financial resources. She is passionate about crochet, drawing and painting. These activities provide visual perspectives when words fail. She enjoys working with youth using arts and crafts to develop transferable skills in science, technology, engineering, math, marketing, business, and self-care. Dr. Edison says, Share your story. Each one, reach one, touch one, teach one. Everyone has a story to tell. Take time to share and listen. The message may not be for you but for someone you meet.”
County Commission requests State Attorney General’s opinion on Coroner’s salary and expense adjustments
The Greene County Commission met in regular session, Monday, March11 with all commissioners present. The body approved the previous minutes, agenda, financial report and payment of claims as presented by CSFO Mac Underwood in the work session held Wednesday, March 6, 2024.
The first item of new business, approved by the commission, (with an abstention by Commissioner Tennyson Smith) was a resolution requesting the State Attorney General’s opinion regarding the Coroner’s (Ronald Kent Smith) salary and expenses allowance as indicated in a Local Legislative Act approved and signed by Governor Kay Ivey in March 2020. This Act authorizes the Greene County Commission to provide for the compensation and expense allowance of the coroner including expenses for the operation of the office of coroner and to repeal Section 45-32-60.01 of the Code of Alabama 1975.
The Act passed in 2020 states: “The Greene County Commission may provide the Coroner of Greene County with additional expense allowance and compensation or salary. The county commission may provide for any expense allowance granted to the Coroner by this Act or otherwise to convert to salary effective beginning the next term of office of the coroner.”
Greene County Coroner, Ronald K. Smith, began a new term of office in 2022. Mr. Smith indicated his salary and expenses allowance should have been adjusted at that time. He said he has approached the commission numerous times regarding an adjustment in pay,
In other business the commission acted on the following:
* Approved ABC License for Greene County Entertainment, with four commissioners voting for and Commission Chairperson Corey Cockrell voting against.
* Approved Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy.
Approved travel for Board of Registrars and Assistant Engineer
The financial report for February 2024 was as follows: Accounts Payable -$725,439.09; Payroll Transfer – $289,883.73; Fiduciary – $721,162.61; Total $1,736,485.43. Electronic Claims paid January, 2024 totaled $52,678.19. Unrestricted Funds in Citizen Trust Bank totaled $3,474,352.09. Restricted Funds in Citizen Trust Bank Totaled $4,760,130.74. Unrestricted Funds in Merchants & Farmers Bank totaled $2,900,862.04. Restricted Funds in Merchants & Farmers Bank totaled $1,467,507.61. Total investments reported as $894,295.60.
Newswire :Haiti is on Fire : Montana Accord Movement to the rescue
News Analysis by Dr. Ron Daniels
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – Haiti, our first Black Republic, is a virtual failed state where vicious gangs tied to the parasitical elite, and gangs with their own wannabe leaders or criminal kingpins control most of the Capital of Port Au Prince and much of the country. Ariel Henry, an unelected, illegitimate, and inept “Prime Minister” has a tenuous hold over what passes for a “government.”
The well-armed rampaging gangs are terrorizing the country, utilizing kidnapping for ransom, extortion, trafficking in drugs and assaulting and raping women unchecked. They are attacking police stations and killing members of the National Police, attacking prisons, and releasing prisoners and attacking and killing each other over turf. They are also in deadly competition with each other to take over the government or at least emerge as the dominant force that will be the de facto government.
Haiti is on fire and as the people suffer and demand the resignation of an illegitimate Prime Minister, what is the posture of the U.S. government and the Core Group of nations and multilateral bodies? Unfortunately, tragically the U.S. is propping up a recalcitrant, illegitimate, shaky Henry regime despite massive opposition from the people. Rather than insisting that Henry relinquish the reins of power, the U.S. and its allies are negotiating with him and preparing to finance a Kenyan-led military force to “restore order.” The U.S. and its allies are arrogantly and blatantly ignoring rather than respecting and supporting the wishes of the Haitian people. We’ve seen this movie before. Unfortunately, even heads of state in the Caribbean, who should be good-faith facilitators, have recently acquiesced to negotiating with Henry rather than demanding his immediate departure from office.
Haiti is on fire. That’s the bad news. But the good news is that there is a remarkable, broad-based civil society movement involving hundreds of organizations and leaders from across the political spectrum who have boldly and courageously come forward to devise a plan, process and strategy to put out the fire, to extinguish the raging conflagration; firefighting freedom fighters committed to advancing a “Haitian Solution” to rescue the first Black Republic from what one leader has termed the “criminal enterprise” which is spreading death and destruction across the land. This powerful, people-based effort is called the Montana Accord Movement (MAM). These courageous leaders are determined to raise Haiti from the ashes to create a sustainable, people-based democracy.
The challenge is, our challenge as allies and friends of the First Black Republic is to persuade, demand, compel the U.S. government, the Core Group and our sisters and brothers from CARICOM to insist that Henry relinquish power immediately. Equally important, the U.S. and all external international players should immediately acknowledge and support the Montana Accord Movement plan, process and strategy as the way forward toward sustainable democracy and development in Haiti. To achieve this righteous outcome, we the people must rise-up to support the Montana Accord Movement to save Haiti. Let’s do it. #SaveHaiti, SupportMAM
Review the Montana Accord Plan Here — URL: https://akomontana.ht/en/agreeement/
Dr. Ron Daniels is President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century, Founder of the Haiti Support Project and Distinguished Lecturer Emeritus, York College City University of New York.
Newswire : NAACP urges Black student-athletes to reconsider Florida Colleges amid DEI funding controversy
Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and a photo of Black football players
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson has called on Black student-athletes to reconsider their decisions to attend public colleges and universities in Florida. The call comes in response to a new state policy preventing institutions from utilizing government funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
In a letter sent to current and prospective student-athletes of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Monday, NBC News reported that Johnson urged them to “choose wisely” amidst the ongoing debate surrounding DEI funding in Florida. He emphasized the crucial role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in ensuring equitable and effective educational outcomes, noting that Black athletes’ value to large universities is unmatched.
The controversy stems from a bill signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year, restricting public colleges and universities from using state and federal funds for DEI programs. “If these institutions are unable to completely invest in those athletes, it’s time they take their talents elsewhere,” Johnson declared, according to NBC News.
The University of Florida’s recent decision to eliminate all DEI positions, complying with the state rule, drew condemnation from NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, an alum of the school. Smith emphasized the need for minority athletes to be aware and vocal about such decisions.
The trend against DEI programs has heightened, with Republican politicians in more than 30 states introducing bills to restrict or regulate such efforts. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, for instance, signed a law last year ordering the closure of DEI offices at state-funded colleges and universities.
The NAACP’s call comes on the heels of a similar message from Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Randall Woodfin, who asserted that if his state passed a bill blocking funding for DEI in public colleges, he would encourage student-athletes to explore programs in other states.
Florida’s significance in Division I athletics and its central role in college sports business are one issue the NAACP zeroed in on. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the University of Florida’s sports teams generated over $177 million in revenue from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.
“If any institution is to reap the benefits of Black talent, it is only right that they completely invest in Black futures,” Johnson argued.