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NNPA President and CEO, Dr Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., (far right) invited Kettie Kamwangala (far left) and other Malawian women leaders for an open discussion while the ballots were being counted after a historic voter turnout across Malawi.

Women Play Key Role in Ensuring African Democracy

By News & Current Affairs

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA — Throughout this southeastern African nation of nearly 20 million residents, the strength and resiliency of women is on display 24 hours each day. The sustainability of democracy in any nation can be evaluated by the inclusive leadership roles performed by women in its social, political and economic life. According to statistics from the World Population Review, nearly half (49.1 percent)…

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Lonnie Bunch is director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.

How Lonnie Bunch came to lead the Museum of African American History

By News & Current Affairs

By Susannah Hutcheson, USA Today — Our series “How I became a …” digs into the stories of accomplished and influential people, finding out how they got to where they are in their careers. As the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., Lonnie Bunch spends his days helping Americans understand history that has both brought us together and divided us. The founding…

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Fort Monroe in Hampton, Va

Historian works to ‘humanize those enslaved’ at Fort Monroe

By News & Current Affairs

By Lisa Vernon Sparks, Daily Press — HAMPTON, Va. (AP) — A trove of historical records tells us Fort Monroe in Hampton was built on the backs of thousands of African slaves. But little was known about their identities or who they were — until now. Meet Amos Henley, 23. Skilled, but unpaid for his efforts, Henley was among hundreds leased out by slave owners to the Army — and…

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

Debt-Free: Five Things to Know About the Billionaire Donor Behind That Morehouse Gift

By News & Current Affairs

By Ade Adeniji, Inside Philanthropy — It’s graduation season again, as students around the country don their caps and gowns, receive cheers from family, and then scramble to move out of their dorms. At Morehouse College, the all-male historically black college founded in 1857 in Atlanta, the nearly 400-member class of 2019 watched billionaire private equity veteran Robert F. Smith deliver the commencement address and receive an honorary doctorate. Near…

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Black Billionaire Robert Smith Pays Off Student Loan Debt of 400 Morehouse Students

Black Billionaire Robert Smith Pays Off Student Loan Debt of 400 Morehouse Students

By News & Current Affairs

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA — During what will likely be seen as one of the most memorable graduation presents for parents and their children — a quiet African American billionaire delivered a welcomed surprise. At their graduation on May 19, investor and chemical engineer Robert Smith announced he would pay off the student loan debt of Morehouse’s 2019 graduating class. Morehouse’s graduating class is 400 strong. Smith’s graduation gift…

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President Donald Trump talks about border security with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as Vice President Mike Pence sits nearby in the Oval Office on December 11, 2018 in Washington, D.C.

Critics Warn, $2 Trillion Infrastructure Plan ‘Another Empty Promise’ From Trump

By News & Current Affairs

“If major tax increases are off the table, there is no way to pay for a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, it’s that simple.” By Jake Johnson, Common Dreams — With President Donald Trump and Democratic leaders set to meet Wednesday to discuss a possible $2 trillion infrastructure package, a progressive advocacy group on Monday warned that any proposal that doesn’t include significant tax hikes on the rich and corporations “will…

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Oprah donation will help fund Newark after-school program

Oprah donation will help fund Newark after-school program

By News & Current Affairs

By News 12, Newark, NJ — Oprah Winfrey surprised students and teachers Friday at Newark’s West Side High School with a donation for $500,000. The visit and the donation was a surprise to many of the students – who still remained shocked Monday morning. “When Oprah came Friday, it was so surreal…everyone lost their minds,” said one student. The money will help fund the school’s Lights On program…

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Ben Carson Humiliates Himself At Hearing As Member Of Congress Has To Explain How HUD Works

Ben Carson Humiliates Himself At Congressional Hearing

By News & Current Affairs

Ben Carson Humiliates Himself At Hearing As Member Of Congress Has To Explain How HUD Works By Jason Easley, PoliticusUSA — Rep. Porter made the mistake of asking Carson about the interest rate curtailment schedule at FHA, and Ben Carson had no idea what she was talking about. Carson asked the House member who was supposed to be conducting oversight to explain how his agency works to him. Video Rep.…

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A man takes a call as he stands between two billboards showing Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari and other party officials, in Kano, northern Nigeria, February 26, 2019

Facebook Busts Israeli Campaign to Disrupt Elections in African, Asian and Latin American Nations

By News & Current Affairs

Dozens of accounts, pages and groups operated by private firm peddling fake news were deleted, tech giant says. The Associated Press — Facebook said Thursday it banned an Israeli company that ran an influence campaign aimed at disrupting elections in various countries and has canceled dozens of accounts engaged in spreading disinformation. Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy, told reporters that the tech giant…

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In the Name of Albert Ramon Dorsey and Dennis Todd Rogers #Boycott24

In the Name of Albert Ramon Dorsey and Dennis Todd Rogers #Boycott24

By Editors' Choice, News & Current Affairs

By BLMLA — Twice in 20 months, employees have called police on black members, resulting in their murder. 24 Hour Fitness has refused to address this. THIS MUST STOP! On March 8, 2017, LA County Sheriff deputies responded to a call from 24 Hour Fitness employees at the location in the Ladera Heights section of Los Angeles, the employee claimed Dennis Todd Rogers, another unarmed Black gym member had stayed too long…

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Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Don Rojas and Rev Herbert Daughtry at Benefit Tribute to Don Rojas, May 11, 2019, House of the Lord Church, Brooklyn, New York

Freedom fighter now fighting for his life

By News & Current Affairs

By Herb Boyd — From far and wide, comrades of Don Rojas came with passages of praise for the ailing journalist, who was defined by many as a freedom fighter. Rojas, diagnosed with bone cancer and undergoing debilitating treatment, must have felt some comfort with the outpouring of love and genuine respect from a coterie of renowned speakers last Saturday evening at the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn.

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