A recent study finds that Black high-school students tend not to believe that their teachers are adequately prepared to teach them math in appropriate ways, have negative perceptions of their math ability, and lack awareness about the intersection between math and their desired careers. Published in the American Educational Research Journal, the study—“‘He’s Probably the Only Teacher I’ve Actually Learned From’: Marginalized Students’ Experiences With and Self-Perceptions of High School Mathematics”—was led by researchers at Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development and included student interns from the University of Puerto Rico and Fisk University. The research team emphasizes the need for inclusive and equitable…
Author: Kermit Williams
There has probably never been a more urgent time in our history as a nation to exercise one’s constitutional right to vote. The stakes are too high not to vote when you look at what direction this country may be encountering. We have a choice in maintaining a democracy or face what many fear as fascism. Fascism is an extreme right totalitarian form of government where one ruler or single party holds most of the country’s power. The country is ruled by a dictator with absolute control over the lives of the people. This is literally a nightmare when you…
After the November election, City Hall will hold a press conference to announce that they are increasing property taxes again. Just a few years ago, property taxes were increased to 34%. That new property tax increase is imminent and guaranteed. Since the property tax increase is right around the corner, city officials realized they would need a way to get more money from taxpayers now. If officials wait until after the property tax increase to request more money from taxpayers, the taxpayers would be more skeptical and less gullible. Officials needed to work fast to squeeze that last penny out…
With just 11 days left until Election Day, Republican voters wary of another four years of Donald Trump in the White House have a crucial role to play. Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign knows these voters could very well be decisive in battleground states that will likely be won on razor-thin margins. In her closing message, Harris not only needs to underscore the dangers of a second Trump term, but also show that conservative, moderate and independent voices belong in her broad coalition. Creating space for these voters to ditch Trump requires building what is sometimes called a “permission structure”…
One Black couple recently celebrated over eight decades of marriage! In late September, Cleovis and Arwilda White’s 84-year-long marriage was honored in a ceremony hosted by the Arkansas Family Council. Its “mission is to promote, protect, and strengthen traditional family values found and reflected in the Bible by impacting public opinion and public policy,” according to its site. Turns out, their marriage is the longest-known union in the state’s history, reported USA Today. When asked about the keys to sustaining such a long partnership, Arwilda, who is 98 years old, said she always liked to “pray” and advised others to do the same in their relationships. “Know…
Chemical relaxers are a staple in the Black community, though the safety of their formulas has come into question in the last few years. Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, brought the issue to the Food and Drug Administration in March and pushed them to answer questions about the safety of chemical relaxers. Months after their pleas, the FDA is finally stepping up and addressing the issue. According to The Root, the congresswomen said the FDA is proposing a new ban on dangerous chemicals found in chemical straighteners, including formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals. “The F.D.A.’s proposal to ban these…
The five men who make up the Central Park Five and now call themselves the Exonerated Five have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump over his remarks during the presidential debate last month. The lawsuit focuses on the Sept. 10 debate in Pennsylvania, where Trump said the five men — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — pleaded guilty when they were tried in connection with the assault and rape of a woman who had been running in Central Park on April 19, 1989, and that the victim had died. During the debate, he…
NEW YORK (AP) — Al Roker remembers the moment when it became clear to him that his oldest daughter was an honest-to-goodness chef. “We were talking, and she was in the kitchen, and she’s looking at me, but she’s chiffonading these herbs and not looking down,” he recalled recently. “Within the first three minutes, there’d be at least one geyser of blood if I was doing that. I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, she knows what she’s doing.’” Courtney Roker Laga indeed knows what’s she’s doing: She’s a recipe developer and culinary school graduate who has worked in two Michelin-starred restaurants, including Café Boulud in…
The Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) Executive Director, Muriel Malone Nolen, has appointed Diona E. Layden, Esq. as the Deputy Director. Layden was appointed on Monday, September 16, 2024. As Deputy Director, Ms. Layden will work closely with the Executive Director to support the Commission’s daily operations, including enforcement and administration, policy and procedure development, agency budget, and staff supervision. In addition, she will provide oversight for mediation, intake, and investigative processes. “Diona has a decorated history serving the State of Tennessee in various Executive leadership positions including Deputy General Counsel and Deputy Director. Her professional experience will make her…
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University senior Jackson Brown recently returned from an enlightening International Research Experience for Students (IRES) program in Rzeszów, Poland, where he conducted cutting-edge research on rare earth doped glasses. Brown, a double major in chemistry and biology, spent seven weeks immersed in a laboratory at the University of Rzeszów. There, he collaborated with international researchers and students to study specially crafted glasses’ white light properties. “We focused on rare earth glass and the optical properties to make sure that they were a white light,” Brown said. “Similar to how we hear about blue light…