January 31, 2023

Oregon Jury Awards $1M in Gas Station Racial Bias Case

A jury has awarded an Oregon woman $1 million in damages after finding she was discriminated against by a gas station employee who told her, “I don’t serve Black people.” The Multnomah County jury’s award this week to Portland resident Rose Wakefield, 63, included punitive damages of $550,000. Wakefield’s lawyer, Gregory Kafoury, said she stopped

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JCSU Hosts Panel on Legacy of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess

Courtesy of Johnson C. Smith University Johnson C. Smith University hosted a panel discussion on the history and impact of George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” in Biddle Hall’s Gambrell Auditorium. Panelists included cast members of Opera Carolina’s “Porgy and Bess” production, Kenneth Overton and Dr. Sequina Dubose; Dr. Barbara Buck, longtime singer and music educator; and

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Mississippi Business Journal Publisher Tami Jones presents Jackson State University President Thomas K. Hudson, J.D., with the 2023 Top CEO award. (Photo: Jackson State University / Spencer McClenty)

JSU President Thomas Hudson Named 2023 Top CEO Honoree

Courtesy of Jackson State University Jackson State University President Thomas K. Hudson, J.D. has been selected as a 2023 Top CEO by the Mississippi Business Journal. The distinguished cohort of 23 leaders were honored today at an awards ceremony held in Jackson, Miss. “I am humbled to receive this honor from the Mississippi Business Journal and to be recognized

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The Origins and Legacy of Black History Month Explained

By Candace Mcduffie Black History Month is fast approaching. Although we should celebrate Black excellence 365 days a year, the origins of the historic month should also be acknowledged. For those who are unsure how it began, Black History Month initially began as a 7-day celebration in 1926. That year, the Association for the Study of Negro Life

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FAMU Secures $9M for Climate-Smart Hemp, Chestnut Research

By Kilisha Fain A Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Agriculture and Food Sciences (CAFS) professor has secured more than $9 million in grants to research industrial hemp and chestnuts, and introduce them as new markets that can be economically viable, climate-smart cropping options for small and/or underserved farmers. A team of researchers led by Odemari

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Tyre Nichols Death Spurs Police Reform Calls, Unit Disbanded

By Joe Hernandez The official efforts to respond to the vicious beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis police are already underway, just two days after footage of the incident was released to the public. Five Memphis police officers have been fired and charged with Nichols’ murder, but lawmakers and law enforcement authorities in Tennessee say more has

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Baxter Awards $200K in Scholarships to TSU Nursing Students

By Alexis Clark Tennessee State University students aspiring to become nurses one day could be one step closer to achieving that goal thanks to a $200,000 gift from Baxter International Inc.  The global medical products company will award four TSU nursing majors academic scholarships for fall 2023. Baxter’s ongoing financial support is a part of its

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