AP AFAM Current Events Roundup by Emma Delgado

New Orleans massacre ~ Timijah H.

hamiltti2025 — 2025-01-08 15:34:21 UTC

This article addresses the wounded survivor that was included in the New Orleans massacre. Her name is Alexis Scott-Windham and her mother saved her life due to the truck clipping the back of her right foot, causing severe bleeding. Alexis mother, Tryphena Scott-Windham, was called during the situation.

According to the article , "Scott-Windham said, her friends called her mother back home in Mobile, tied on the tourniquet, and then the stranger and his girlfriend drove her to the University Medical Center". This shows how her mother saved her life and she was spared. This massacre affected the African American community because the people involved were just like us and they lost their lives over nothing. There were different aged people and they lost their lives hurting so many hearts.

This also connects to the mass killing that used to happen in past years by white man, killing African Americans.

What it means to be a Black Olympian representing the U.S. and black people on the global stage

katoel2026 — 2025-01-08 15:38:17 UTC

It is said that, At times, being the only Black athlete on the national team feels isolating but it means a lot to be there and represent on a big stage like that for more than just themselves.

Two-time Olympian Ashleigh Johnson said the longer she plays water polo, the less it becomes about her. “You end up realizing you have the power to change that and to make it a welcoming space for other Black people or brown people who may come after you,” she said.

Tyler Perry and Kerry Washington bring untold WWII story to life with "Six Triple Eight"

2025-01-08 15:43:51 UTC

This film is telling the story of the African American women's battalion. They served in Europe during WW2. This was a big part of the women's rights movement and a significant accomplishment to the civil rights movement. The African American women were able to show they could do the same job as a white man. This was the foundation for the future civil rights movements in how they were the first to do this kind of job. This had that double effect with gender and race discrimination and how this story broke many stereotypes associated with African American Women.

(Ekahri) Why do we eat black-eyed peas on New Year's?

2025-01-09 01:33:28 UTC

Black-eyed pees is really traditional for Black people, it’s suppose to bring good luck into the new year, so lots of Black people eat this dish on new years. And not only good luck but also due to bringing prosperity in the coming year. This traces back from the Civil War, where they became a symbol of resilience during hardship. Often served with collard greens and cornbread, etc…they represent a hopeful start to the new year.

African American Heritage in Champaign County

2025-01-10 01:50:01 UTC

In 2010 a significant mural that depicted Black faces and scenes from the African American journey was lost when the building was torn down. A Council member proposed the idea of the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail during a conversation with Jayne DeLuce in 2020, amid social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic. The new goal was to create a project that would educate the community about local African American history and achievements. The initiative sought to provide representation and a sense of identity for students and residents alike.

Shallie Bey Jr.: Leading the U.S. Mint with President Carter's trust

davisch2025 — 2025-01-10 05:18:25 UTC

At just 29 years old, Shallie Bey Jr. was nominated by President Carter to be 16th superintendent of the United States Mint in Philadelphia and a couple years later was renominated for the same position. A black 29 year old man in charge of over 53,000 employees who all relied on his advice. The emphasis on having diversity within the government was heavily advocated by President Carter which led to Bey being appointed. He wanted everyone to have a fair chance at life within the government no matter what the color of your skin was.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on the strength of a diverse military

2025-01-10 05:57:22 UTC

In this article, Lloyd Austin goes in depth about his experiences while being the nation's first African American secretary of defense and his status as a public figure. He mentions how his personality and his desire to keep a private lifestyle has caused many to question his ethics and put him in uncomfortable situations; February 1st, 2024 is when a press conference was held, where Austin was forced to speak about his prostate cancer. Austin talks about himself being "Exhibit A" for many people like him, by constantly putting himself under pressure and having the mindset of never failing. This is a significant milestone and is relevant to our topics in African American Studies because it represents breakthroughs and recognition of African American individuals in high-ranking government positions, which have historically been dominated by many white people. This also could be seen as highlighting leadership roles and the ongoing efforts to address and overcome systemic barriers and inequalities faced by the African American community to this day.

Come home, Ghana told African diaspora. Now some Black Americans take its citizenship

walkerra2025 — 2025-01-10 20:09:31 UTC

This article talks about this women named Keachia Bowers and she paused on a photo of her as a baby on her father’s lap as he held the 1978 album “Africa Stand Alone” by the Jamaican reggae band Culture. Her father died when she was just 10 years old. Keachia and her husband, Damon Smith, are among the 524 diaspora members, mostly Black Americans, who were granted Ghanaian citizenship in a ceremony in November. A day earlier, Bowers had marked 10 years since her father's death. Though he was a Pan-Africanist who dreamed of visiting Ghana, he never made it here. Bowers and Smith moved to Ghana from Florida in 2023 after visiting the region several times between them since the ’90s. They now run a tour business that caters to Black people who want to visit Ghana or elsewhere in West Africa, or like them have come to consider a permanent move.The November group was the largest one granted citizenship since Ghana launched the “Year of the Return” program, aimed at attracting the Black diaspora, in 2019. It marked 400 years since the first African slaves arrived in Virginia in 1619. “When we see Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, all these stories of people being murdered just in their home, living in their home and being murdered at the hands of police brutality, hearing about it creates trauma,” she said.

Memphis police discriminate against Black people and use excessive force, Justice Department report finds

cravenda2025 — 2025-01-15 17:58:30 UTC

On Wednesday Dec 4, the investigation of the beating of Tyre Nichols by a Memphis city police officer was concluded. The investigation took place 6 months after Tyre was killed and his death put into question the state of the police force in Memphis at the time. All of the police officers involved lost their jobs and were federally charged with murder. The investigation determined that the Memphis state police force has failed to protect and respect the rights of it's citizens and have demonstrated that action needs to be taken to have better policies and enforcement standards. A video of the murder was released and it showed the officers beating and laughing at Tyre which sparked public outrage and protests. The incident was believed to be racially motivated since this wasn't the first time there has been police brutality in the black community in Memphis. This relates to our studies in African American History because of it's controversy behind race related issues and government related brutality against African Americans. We have viewed many examples of poetry and art depicting forms of law enforcement abuse against african americans and because of events like this we will likely continue to see even more examples of protest through forms of art and poetry.