by Siera Jones The Commonwealth of Virginia has passed an historic bill granting students excused absences to participate in protests and lobbying events. This legislation in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is a result of bipartisan lobbying efforts by both the Virginia Young Democrats Teen Caucus and the Teenage Republican Federation of … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — When he entered the recording studio this spring, Grammy and Oscar-winning rapper Common had plenty to vent about — and it all came out. Police shootings. Institutionalized racism. Mass incarceration. Fouled water supplies. White privilege. Wage gaps. Black Lives Matter. Inner-city violence. “Things just felt more urgent for me,” Common said … Continue reading
by Malik Glaspie Norfolk State’s Brown Theater had a full audience Tuesday, Sept. 27, to hear a lecture from Nate Parker. Nate Parker is an actor, writer, director, producer, and musical performer who has played a part in numerous films such as The Great Debaters, Non-Stop, Red Tails, and Beyond the Lights. Parker is also … Continue reading
BALTIMORE (AP) — Under the beating summer sun, retired steelworker Arthur B. Johnson Jr. stood outside the Clarence Mitchell Courthouse in Baltimore, clutching the fraying wooden handle of a homemade sign. “Justice for Freddie Gray,” it read. Inside, a fourth officer was about to be cleared of criminal charges in Gray’s death last April, a … Continue reading
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Trayvon Martin has often been in the thoughts of playwright and activist Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj in the four years since the 17-year-old unarmed black boy was shot and killed after a confrontation with neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman. He has wondered about Martin’s dreams, his life and the moments before he died. Maharaj … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — As he considered his growing commitment to activism, Usher only needed to look at the man seated next to him, Harry Belafonte, to know how much more he could give. “Unfortunately, no matter what I say I’m never going to be able to upstage (Belafonte),” the million-selling musician joked during a … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 