ALIYAH VEAL (Originally published by Mississippi Free Press) Land was everything for Henry Robbins, Gwendolyn Robbins-Pratt, Florine Robbins-Stewart and their 17 siblings, who were born and grew up on their family’s property in Winston County east central Mississippi. Despite the sheer volume of mouths to feed, Robbins-Pratt says the children all got three square meals a day because food never ran out on a farm. “I had friends that were sharecroppers and that taught me the importance of having your own because they were working for someone else’s land and not owning any land,” her sister, Robbins-Stewart, said during a…
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By Hazel Trice Edney (TriceEdneyWire.com) – It was a 1963 speech to teachers, in which African-American author, poet and activist James Baldwin said, “American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.” That pointed description is what came to the mind of Dr. Anthea Hartig, the Elizabeth MacMillan director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NMAH), when discussing the extension of the exhibit of a sign to honor Emmett Till. That sign, in recent years, was riddled with 317 bullets, demonstrating America’s ongoing struggle with racism, hate…
NASHVILLE– The Debra K. Johnson Rehabilitation Center (DJRC), the primary women’s prison in Tennessee, will be holding a hiring event on Monday, October 25, 2021 from 10:00am – 2:00pm with the hope of filling their roughly 80 vacant positions. Available positions range from correctional officer to counselor to administrative support. Conditional job offers will be given on site, and new correctional officers will receive a $5,000 sign on bonus. Additionally, all full-time state employees receive health, life, vision and dental insurance, higher education fee waivers, 11 paid holidays, paid time off, and may participate in the employee discount program. The…
Barbados elected its first-ever president on Thursday, dropping Queen Elizabeth as the head of the state 55 years after independence from Britain. Dame Sandra Mason, the governor general of the Caribbean nation which is set to become a republic, will be sworn in on 30 November when the country marks the 55th anniversary of independence from Britain.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Sunday made an impassioned plea to end the practice of returning migrants rescued at sea to Libya and other unsafe countries where they suffer “inhumane violence.” Francis also waded into a highly contentious political debate in Europe, calling on the international community to find concrete ways to manage the “migratory flows” in the Mediterranean. “I express my closeness to the thousands of migrants, refugees and others in need of protection in Libya,” Francis said. ”I never forget you, I hear your cries and I pray for you.” Even as the pontiff appealed for changes…
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford will host a ribbon-cutting celebration of Tennessee’s first 3D mammogram breast tomosynthesis coach. The 44-foot coach is outfitted with an imaging test that combines multiple X-rays to create a three-dimensional picture of the breast. Set to serve 26 counties in the Middle Tennessee area, this coach will contribute to early detection and a reduction in late-stage breast cancer and breast cancer mortality by providing crucial access to screening mammography. This coach is made possible by the donors to the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Foundation, The Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation, the Christy Houston Foundation,…
October 20, 2021: Yesterday, we received word that Judy Tackett was resigning from her role as the Director of the Metro Homeless Impact Division (MHID) effective immediately. This news rocked the homeless outreach and service provider community because she is a highly trusted, endlessly dedicated, strategic, compassionate, and innovative leader. She has managed to unite members of the public and private sectors in order to move Nashville forward on issues of homelessness. Judy’s departure draws attention to the dire need for the creation of an independent Department/Division of Housing and Homelessness in Nashville.* Advocates have been asking for this for…
Tommy DeBarge, the musician who was a member of the famed DeBarge family, has died as confirmed by family members to TMZ. DeBarge was 64. DeBarge, who was a member of the R&B/Funk music band, Switch, passed away on Thursday. While the exact cause of death is not yet known, DeBarge’s daughter, Marina DeBarge, confirmed to TMZ that he suffered from kidney and liver disease. DeBarge also reportedly battled with COVID-19 earlier this year. He was hospitalized a few weeks ago where he later died. Marina DeBarge said her father never complained about his illness or his pain. She said she spoke with DeBarge as…
Memphis, TN (TN Tribune) — The JB Smiley, Jr. for Governor campaign is proud to announce the endorsement of over 20 current and former elected officials from across Tennessee. They join Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), who endorsed JB last week. “It is humbling that these distinguished public servants are supporting this campaign,” declared Smiley. “But the hard work of bringing new leadership to Nashville, leadership that all Tennesseeans can believe in, is only just beginning, and I am thankful to have these individuals, all with an extensive legacy of helping their communities, be a part of this work.” The Tennessee…