July 19, 2021

Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis is seen here in Selma, Alabama. Lewis has been hospitalized but is expected to be released. (FILE)

Fight for voting rights intensifies as the nation marks one year since civil rights icon John Lewis’ death

By Nicquel Terry Ellis The fight for voting rights intensified this week with a Black woman lawmaker being arrested while protesting, Texas House Democrats fleeing the state to block Republicans from passing voter restrictions, and Black civil rights leaders blasting President Joe Biden for falling short of their demand to discuss ending the filibuster in

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NAOMI OSAKA. NAOMI OSAKA in episode 2 of NAOMI OSAKA: LIMITED SERIES. Cr. NETFLIX © 2021
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‘Naomi Osaka’ portrays a young athlete wrestling with the weight of stardom

Review by Brian Lowry “Naomi Osaka” tackles a lot more than just tennis, but this Netflix docuseries (really just a 110-minute documentary sliced into three parts) works best as a window into the demands placed on young athletes, and the pressures — from personal to political to marketing — that go with it. On that

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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 05: Coco Gauff of The United States stretches to play a forehand in her Ladies' Singles Fourth Round match against Angelique Kerber of Germany during Day Seven of The Championships - Wimbledon 2021 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 05, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff will miss the Tokyo Olympics after testing positive for Covid-19

By Amir Vera and Kevin Dotson American tennis hopeful Cori “Coco” Gauff will miss the Tokyo Olympics after announcing on Twitter Sunday she tested positive for Covid-19. The 17-year-old is currently the 25th ranked woman in the world. “It has always been a dream of mine to represent the USA at the Olympics, and I

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Two more Texas House Democrats test positive for Covid-19 in Washington

By Paul LeBlanc and Rachel Janfaza Two more Texas state House Democrats who traveled to Washington, DC, last week have tested positive for Covid-19, the Texas House Democratic Caucus said in a statement Sunday evening, bringing the total number of infected legislators to five. The lawmakers are part of the group that left Texas, flying

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EU politicians urge Olympics to lift ‘exclusionary’ ban on swim cap for natural Black hair

Exclusive by Luke McGee An anti-racist group of members of the European Parliament have accused the global sports community, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), of having “institutional structures and rules that exclude people of colour and Black women specifically.” In a letter to Thomas Bach and Sebastian Coe, presidents of the IOC and World

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PTA official who resigned after ‘let them die’ comment says not aimed at critical race theory protesters

By Sara Sidner and Artemis Moshtaghian A leader in the Virginia Parent Teacher Association who resigned after saying “let them die” during a speech attended by counter-protesters opposed to critical race theory being taught in schools says her comments were not aimed at them. Michelle Leete, the Virginia PTA Vice President of Training, was asked

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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 27: Biz Markie co-host Breakin Convention at The Apollo Theater on October 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Shahar Azran/WireImage)
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Biz Markie, ‘Just A Friend’ rapper, dead at 57

By Lisa Respers France and Andy Rose Biz Markie, who infused his music with so much fun and humor that he became known as “The Clown Prince of Hip Hop,” has died, his manager, Jenni Izumi, confirmed to CNN. He was 57. “Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his

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** ADVANCE FOR MONDAY JAN 19 - FILE ** Paducah's Upper Town Heritage Heritage Foundation has been spearheading the renovation of the Hotel Metropolitan, shown in this Jan. 5, 2004 file photo. With state and federal grants in hand, the foundation is trying to raise matching funds locally through the Hotel Metropolitan Campaign. (AP Photo/The Paducah Sun, Barkley Thielman)

Dozens of Black cultural sites will be preserved for years to come, thanks to a $3 million grant

By Harmeet Kaur The stories and legacies of Black Americans can be found throughout the US, each site and landmark helping illustrate a more complete picture of the nation we live in. History lives on in the communities where formerly enslaved people settled after the end of the Civil War, and the safe havens where

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A television cameraman videotapes the USNS John Lewis before a christening ceremony Saturday July 17, 2021, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Navy christens USNS John Lewis on anniversary of civil rights icon’s death

By Chris Boyette With the breaking of a bottle of sparkling wine across its bow, the first in a class of Navy oiler ships was christened the USNS John Lewis in San Diego on the one year anniversary of the longtime US congressman’s death. “It’s fitting that we honor John Lewis with this formidable ship,

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