Education

Stacey Abrams brings wisdom and inspiration to Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE PRIDE — Stacey Abrams, minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives (2011-2017) and Democratic nominee for 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election visited Nashville’s Vanderbilt University this week. On Tuesday, March 19, she sat down with Vanderbilt Chancellor Nick Zeppos in Langford Auditorium for a sold-out Chancellor’s Lecture event. Abrams’ visited the campus for a full day of activities, culminating in the one-on-one discussion with Chancellor Zeppos, followed by a book signing for her intriguing new book, now in paperback with a new Foreword, entitled Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change.

Published

6 years ago

March 30, 2019

Oakland Post

By Cass Teague

Stacey Abrams, minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives (2011-2017) and Democratic nominee for 2018 Georgia gubernatorial election visited Nashville’s Vanderbilt University this week. On Tuesday, March 19, she sat down with Vanderbilt Chancellor Nick Zeppos in Langford Auditorium for a sold-out Chancellor’s Lecture event. Abrams’ visited the campus for a full day of activities, culminating in the one-on-one discussion with Chancellor Zeppos, followed by a book signing for her intriguing new book, now in paperback with a new Foreword, entitled Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change.

Abrams made headlines last year by becoming the first black female gubernatorial nominee of a major U.S. political party. Earlier this year, Abrams delivered the nationally televised Democratic response to the State of the Union address. Considered by many as a rising star in the Democratic party, Abrams shared about her experiences on the campaign trail and her current grassroots efforts around voting rights in America, but not her Presidential candidacy.

“Stacey Abrams delivered an inspiring message on how to ensure that our democracy embraces everyone,” said Tennessee State Representative the Rev. Dr. Harold M. Love, Jr. after the event. “Her commitment to changing the way we do politics is what the country needs now if we are going to ensure that everyone is valued. When we speak about eradicating voter suppression and disenfranchisement there is much work to do but with leaders like Stacey Abrams there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Abrams opened with a 10 minute keynote. “I don’t concede that I lost,” she said. “I do acknowledge that I am not the governor of Georgia.” She went on to talk about resilience, referencing her November 16 ‘non-concession speech.’ Abrams said that she fights “for the millions who stood with me. The outside is where the folks are.”

The chancellor rejoined her onstage for a little over an hour of moderated discussion. Zeppos would bring up an issue, and pose a question about it to Abrams, who deftly and engagingly took the audience on a journey through her thoughtful and informative replies. They touched on the campaign, the ten days of struggle to get a fair count after the November 6 election day, and the meaning she was able to attribute to the process and the events.

“I did spend that ten days plotting,” she said playfully. “Revenge is very cathartic… I am still sad, I’m still angry, but I’m less bitter,” and she noted that the best outcome comes from channeling the anger into action. Abrams described three issues she prioritized: Education (“gets you out of places and shows you places”); Economic Security ( especially small businesses); and Health Care (“It’s hard to be successful if you’re sick, and it’s expensive to be ill”).

Answering critics who think she wishes the current administration to fare poorly, she said, “I do not want the President to fail — America.” She made it known that she doesn’t want America or Americans to suffer because of who currently inhabits the White House.

Abrams’ address was very well-received, and she had definitely earned her standing ovation at the end. It was richly heart-warming when she came out for the book signing at the end of the program, and was greeted by dozens of her fellow Spellman alumnae. Abrams attended Spelman College, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies (political science, economics and sociology) and was named a Harry S. Truman Scholar. After Spelman, she received a masters degree from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from Yale Law School.

Mark your calendars now, and sign up when you can for the Tuesday, April 30 VU Chancellor’s Lecture ‘Science advocacy and innovation’ event, the final lecture of the season, featuring Mae Jemison, scientist, educator and first African-American woman in space, with The Honorable Rush Holt, physicist and former U.S. Congressman (NJ-12, 1999-2015) as they discuss the new frontiers of scientific thought and the importance of the STEM fields for America’s progress. It is also at 6:30 p.m. in Vanderbilt’s Langford Auditorium.

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.

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Art

A Prolific Painter: Artist and Advocate Lois Mailou Jones

Lois Mailou Jones was a prominent African American artist whose career spanned more than seven decades, from the Harlem Renaissance to the modern art movement. She was not only a prolific painter but also an influential educator, bridging cultural gaps and challenging stereotypes through her vibrant and diverse works.

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2024

Oakland Post

Courtesy of National Archives, Washington, D.C.

By Tamara Shiloh

Her unique journey of self-expression, dedication to art, and advocacy for African American and African themes made her a crucial figure in the evolution of American art.

Jones was born on Nov. 3, 1905, in Boston. Raised in an intellectual and supportive family, she demonstrated an early interest in art, encouraged by her mother, who believed in the importance of creativity. Lois studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where she faced racial challenges but persisted in pursuing her passion.

Her pursuit of higher education led her to the prestigious Design Art School, where she perfected her skills in textile design. Later, Jones attended Harvard University and received further training at the Académie Julian in Paris. This European experience greatly influenced her style and broadened her perspective on art.

Jones’s career began in textile design, creating works that were used by leading textile companies. However, her true passion was painting. During the Harlem Renaissance, she moved away from textile design to focus on fine art, exploring themes that reflected her heritage and the African diaspora.

Her early works were influenced by European Post-Impressionism, featuring landscapes and still life, but Jones’s style evolved over time. After spending time in Haiti, she was deeply inspired by Caribbean culture, and her palette became more vivid, her subject matter more symbolic. The influence of African and Caribbean culture is evident in her later works, where she used bright colors and geometric patterns to convey the spirit and stories of the people she encountered.

Her contributions to African American art were significant during a time when Black artists struggled for recognition. She often focused on themes of African heritage, pride, and unity, blending African illustrations and portraits with Western artistic techniques to create a unique visual language that celebrated Black culture.

She was also a dedicated educator. She began her teaching career at Palmer Memorial Institute in North Carolina and later became a professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she taught for almost 50 years. Through her teaching, she influenced generations of young Black artists, encouraging them to explore and express their cultural heritage through art.

In the 1930s and 1940s, she worked to exhibit her work alongside other Black artists, helping to create a platform for voices that had long been excluded from mainstream galleries.

Recognition and Legacy

Jones achieved significant recognition throughout her lifetime, both in the United States and internationally. She exhibited her work across the globe, including in Paris, Africa, and the Caribbean.

Jones continued painting until her death in 1998, leaving behind a rich legacy of artistic achievements and contributions to art education. She broke boundaries by celebrating Black identity and heritage at a time when these themes were often marginalized.

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California Black Media

New California Law Will Protect Students During Extreme Weather

On Sept. 22, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will protect students from extreme weather conditions by requiring the California Department of Education to develop guidelines for school districts to implement during weather patterns harmful to student health. Authored by Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), “Yahushua’s Law” or Senate Bill 1248 addresses an extreme heat-related fatality in Lake Elsinore. During the summer of 2023, a student died after participating in physical education suffered extreme heat-related illness.

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Robinson

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

On Sept. 22, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will protect students from extreme weather conditions by requiring the California Department of Education to develop guidelines for school districts to implement during weather patterns harmful to student health.

Authored by Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Sanger), “Yahushua’s Law” or Senate Bill 1248 addresses an extreme heat-related fatality in Lake Elsinore. During the summer of 2023, a student died after participating in physical education suffered extreme heat-related illness.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Sen. Hurtado stated last Spring. “I commend the family of Yahushua Robinson, the twelve-year student who lost his life due to heat related illness during on-campus physical education, for lending their emotional strength and compassion for others in order to help ensure that no other student loses their life this way.”

Supporters of the legislation say the lack of uniform guidelines and protocols across schools and school districts in California intensifies the issue, creating an urgent need for safeguards to ensure student safety during extreme weather conditions.

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California Black Media

More Than 1.2 Million Youth Pre-Registered to Vote, Secretary of State Weber Announced

Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber announced on Sept. 26 that more than 1.2 million young people between the ages of 16 and 17-years-old have pre-registered to vote since the state launched the initiative in September 2016. The state program automatically activates voter registration for pre-registered youth when they turn 18 years of age.

Published

4 days ago

October 29, 2024

Oakland Post

California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley N. Weber. Photo Courtesy of ShirleyWeber.com.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Weber, who has visited dozens of high schools across the state to promote voting initiatives, said that students are eager to vote and look forward to casting their first ballot, and “the numbers back them up.”

“Young Californians want to be engaged, active participants in our democracy and they can position themselves to do so by preregistering to vote,” said Weber.

Weber said that she is committed to encouraging young people to pre-register to vote, adding that she looks forward to partnering with the California Department of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, school officials, and leaders of community-based organizations to expand this effort.

According to Weber’s office, approximately 42% of young voters are registered Democrats, while over 13% are registered Republicans. Another 35% of young voters registered as having “no party preference.”

For more information, Californians can visit the online pre-registration website at www.RegisterToVote.ca.gov. Registration is open to residents who are 16 or 17 and meet all the following criteria:

A United States citizen and a resident of California.
18 years old or older on Election Day.
Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony
Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

More information about pre-registration for California youth can be found at sos.ca.gov/elections/pre-register-16-vote-18.

Upcoming key deadlines and dates for the November 5, 2024, General Election can be found at here.

Plus, visit http://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2024-primary/section-08-general-election-calendar.pdf to view a complete California General Election Calendar with more voting details and updates.