On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger rode in to Galveston, Texas, to inform residents that the Civil War ended two months earlier. Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation and General Granger delivered the order that freed the last 250,000 African Americans that were still in bondage. The state of Texas was first to start this celebration and it became a state holiday in 1890.
The Juneteenth Celebration is the oldest commemoration that nationally celebrates the ending of slavery in America. It has become the African American equivalent to Independence Day.
Today, Juneteenth celebrations are growing with a lot of organizations and communities throughout the country. The Henry Ford Museum, Smithsonian, and other institutions have begun sponsoring Juneteenth activities, including the city of Valdosta.
Valdosta plans on supporting the celebration by having a community festival in downtown Valdosta, Georgia, by the Old Courthouse on June 23.
There will be an NAACP booth there giving individuals the opportunity to register and vote in the upcoming election in the fall.
The future of Juneteenth looks very bright as the celebrations are emerging among a lot of cities and states. They are creating bonds, understanding and educating others on the meaning of Juneteenth.
I have heavily critiqued the NAACP. I’ve spoken about how it feels very much disconnected from my generation and I’ve watched as local chapters hold press conferences about ridiculous and frivolous issues. The nation’s oldest civil rights group to me seemed stagnant—Just a bunch of old Black folks being old and Black and not growing with the times. Yes, of course there were some places where the NAACP was still doing good work but I scoffed at it being genuinely relevant anymore.
So when my co-host L. Joy Williams — an active member of the NAACP’s Brooklyn branch — wanted to invite the National NAACP’s chairperson on to our radio show, I half-heartedly agreed and told her don’t get mad if I say something she doesn’t like. Chairman Roslyn Brock appeared on “Blacking It Up” January 23, 2012, and when I thought I was pushing back on her and the organization she pushed back on me. She challenged me directly. She asked me if I was a member of the NAACP? If I had issues with it, why not join and voice them from within? Why not work with them? It wasn’t as if I hadn’t considered it before. At Netroots Nation in 2010 during the Black Caucus, the idea of “infiltrating” the NAACP was discussed by a group of very engaged Blacks who felt disconnected to the organization — but I personally didn’t follow up on that threat. The closest I came to joining was when they issued the resolution that there were racist elements in the Tea Party—which at first I thought was silly. But when the declaration caused some members of the Tea Party to respond with racism, I realized that it was sort of a brilliant move. Then within a week or two of that high profile checkmate, the Shirley Sherrod incident occurred and I crossed my arms and said “SEE.”
But as I spoke to the Chairman issuing a direct challenge to me, I felt as if I couldn’t just blow it off. If you’re going to talk smack about organizations you have to also be willing to stand up when asked. The historic nature of the NAACP can never be overstated. And with the challenge the chairman also invited me down to their annual Leadership 500 summit, a 4 day meeting of the minds discussing the path and focus of the organization. That’s where I’m writing from now.
See Live Coverage of The NAACP 8th Annual Leadership 500 Summit, “Protecting our BMW’s – Black Men Walking,” here.
Earlier this year, Georgia
House Representative Sean Jergunson proposed House Bill 981. This bill would
allow concealed handguns onto the campuses of public and private elementary,
middle and high schools, as well as post secondary institutions. Although the
bill did not pass, on May 17, 2012, the faculty and senate at Valdosta State
University (VSU) have taken on a new resolution to declare their opposition of
the bill and to keep all concealed handguns away from their campus.
Those following the faculty
and senate’s decision are Dr. Michael G. Noll, associate professor of
geography, and Kathryn Grant, a senior at VSU. Dr. Noll was the one who
introduced the resolution of joining the Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus.
Kathryn Grant, also zealous about the idea, has researched gun legislation in
Georgia since 2010.
With the encouragement from
VSU’s decision to join the campaign, the campaign’s director, Andy Pelosi, is
hoping other schools may join the battle of keeping weapons off campus. Pelosi
hopes others will speak out against the bill because the battle is not yet
over. He believes it will be amended and back next year.
As
young adults we may not fully understand the potential danger we could put
others in, especially if we are not fully aware of the responsibilities of
carrying a handgun. School is supposed to be a safe environment, a place where parents trust that their children will be protected. By allowing guns on campus you are revoking students of their own security.
Thanks to Dr. Michael G.
Noll and Kathryn Grant, VSU has successfully kept their
campus a safe institution and may incite other campuses to do the same.
By: Morgan McFarland (VSU) Press & Publicity Coordinator
Creative Media & Marketing in collaboration with VSU NAACP will be hosting "TRAYVON MARTIN: Do We Look Suspicious?" Panel Discussion on Thursday, April 19th at 7pm in the Student Union Theater. The tragic event that happened in Sanford, FL back in February has left our nation and young people confused and enraged about what happened to Trayvon Martin. Dozens of students on this very campus have reached out to our organizations seeking that we cover this issue on campus and we want to make sure that we do that and have a educational conversation that goes beyond Trayvon Martin. The goal of this panel discussion is to cover human rights, racial profiling, criminal justice, and gun laws. We believe this event will shed light on the facts and what we can take from this tragic event. The panel will consist of professors and students from the History, Sociology/Anthropology and Criminal Justice departments.
ATLANTA – (April 13) – The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia has appointed Dr. William J. McKinney as the next president of Valdosta State University. He will assume this new position beginning July 1, 2012.
“This was an excellent search and, speaking on behalf of the Board, we were delighted to identify such a strong candidate for this important position,” said USG Chancellor Hank Huckaby. “The response to Dr. McKinney’s candidacy at both Valdosta State and by the regents was overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to outstanding leadership by Dr. McKinney.”
McKinney, named two weeks ago by the Board as the finalist for the VSU presidency, is currently vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), a position he has held since 2008. In this post, McKinney oversees an annual $70 million budget and is responsible for more than 400 full time and almost 400 part-time faculty.
He also has overseen a 33 percent increase in sponsored research grants and contracts during his tenure, fueled in part by McKinney’s creation of new positions for research, community engagement, and sponsored programs.
Prior to his work at IPFW, McKinney was dean of the College of Humanities, Fine and Performing Arts at Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa. (2001-2008) and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Mo. (1997-2001). He has taught at these three institutions, as well as the University of Kentucky, Lexington.
As a result of his work in the area of academics and university management, in 2009 McKinney was picked as one of 25 members of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) national “Red Balloon Project.” The group was charged with developing a new approach to undergraduate education that is responsive to public demands for greater accountability in higher education results in a new era of reduced state funding.
McKinney has been active in the work of Phi Kappa Phi honor society, serving on the national board of directors and in various volunteer roles. He also has been a member and held leadership positions in a range of local, state and national organizations, including Leadership Fort Wayne, Northeast Indiana Aging and In-Home Services, and the Greater Fort Wayne Chamber of Commerce.
He earned a bachelor of arts in history and a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pa. Both of his advanced degrees were earned at Indiana University in Bloomington: a master’s degree in history and the philosophy of science and a doctorate in the philosophy of science.
A national search was launched to replace VSU president Dr. Patrick Schloss, who stepped down on June 30, 2011. Dr. Louis Levy has served as interim president since Schloss stepped down.
TRAYVON MARTIN TIMELINE MSNBC Feb. 26, 2012: Fatal shooting Trayvon Martin, 17, is shot and killed while walking through a Sanford, Fla., community where he is visiting family. Neighbors call police to report hearing a scuffle and a gunshot. Martin is found dead by police. George Zimmerman, neighborhood watch captain, is taken to the Sanford Police Department for questioning about the shooting, which he says was in self-defense. No charges are filed and he is not arrested.
March 19: Investigation launched March 16: 911 tapes released Martin’s parents gain access to 911 calls made to police on the evening of the shooting and portions of those tapes are made public. One recording indicates that Zimmerman says he is following Martin and a dispatcher tells him that's not necessary. In another, there are audible cries for help in the background. Martin's family demands an arrest and petitions calling for the same gain tens of thousands of signatures within a matter of hours.
The U.S. Justice Department announces it has launched an investigation into the shooting.
March 21: Million hoodie march Martin’s parents join hundreds of protesters in New York City demanding justice in what is dubbed the "Million Hoodie March," a tribute to Martin, who was wearing a hooded sweatshirt at the time of his death. It is the first of what will become large protests across the country.
March 22: Police chief steps aside Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee announces he will step down "temporarily" amid accusations that he has mishandled the Martin case and after a vote of no confidence by city commissioners. Thousands of people join a rally in Sanford organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton demanding Zimmerman’s arrest. (Sharpton is a host on the msnbc cable television show Politics Nation.)
March 23: White House mention President Barack Obama raises the Martin case at the end of a White House press conference in which he names Jim Yong Kim as his nominee for the World Bank president. In response to a reporter's question about the case, Obama says: "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon."
March 24: Threats against Zimmerman At a protest in Florida, leader of the New Black Panther Party Mikhail Muhammad announces a $10,000 bounty for the capture of Zimmerman, who is in hiding.
April 10: Lawyers quit Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig, lawyers for Zimmerman, announce they will no longer represent him because he has stopped communicating with them.
April 11: Charges pending A law enforcement official tells NBC that the Florida prosecutor will file criminal charges against Zimmerman. Less than an hour before those charges are made public, George Zimmerman is reported to be in police custody.
Benjamin Todd Jealous, President & CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of
Colored People
Benjamin Todd Jealous, President & CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People issued the following statement on the charges filed against George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin:
“Forty five days after Trayvon Martin’s life came to a violent end, the wheels of justice have finally begun to turn. This is an important first step toward bringing justice for Trayvon and his family.
As we have seen, the system does not always work perfectly. But we have shown that when we stand together as a nation we can compel it to work. For the NAACP, this case has always been about the rule of law. We are encouraged by today’s charges, but we know that this is just the beginning. We anticipate and expect a thorough federal investigation of the Sanford Police Department and their role in exacerbating this tragedy.
Trayvon’s case moved the nation because it underscored the twin tragedies that affect so many of our young people: Trayvon was profiled because of his race—looked upon as a threat rather than the loving son he was. And then, once he became a victim, he was neglected by the very police department tasked with protecting our communities and families. As a nation, we’ve got to address the issues of racial profiling and the valuation of black men's lives by law enforcement. In the months ahead the NAACP and our allies in the civil rights community will continue to take these issues on as well as the urgent need to repeal stand your ground laws.
Tonight our thoughts and prayers are with Trayvon’s family. We are grateful for the courage and tenacity of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin that continue to help shape a national movement for justice for their son and for all of America’s children.”
Last night at the "Rally for Change" our Political Action Committee Chair, Amber Worthty announced that our chapter will be taking the lead on the discussion of the Trayvon Martin incident in Sanford, Florida with our "Do I Look Suspicious?" campaign in the wake of a national outrage and concern for how the Trayvon Martin incident is being handled. The "Do I Look Suspicious?" campaign will be an organized, committed and responsible effort to educate the campus about Trayvon Martin and why we should all be concerned whether you are Black, Caucasian, Hispanic, Asian or what ever you consider your ethnicity or background to be. As Amber said last night "We want justice!... Not only because of the concern of racial profiling but because a 17 year old boy has been murdered and no arrest has been made". The VSU NAACP along with millions around the nation are demanding justice for Trayvon Martin. Our "Do I Look Suspicious?" campaign on VSU campus starts now!
Thursday, March 29th at 7pm at Pound Hall Auditorium (North Campus) Beta Alpha Psi will be hosting a "Diversity Seminar" which will include a panel discussion on diversity and how important it is on campus. Our President will be a part of the panel along with reps from the Black Student League, Gay Straight Alliance, an the American Sign Language Club.
March 23rd through March 26th VSU NAACP traveled to Raleigh, NC along with Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Georgia State University, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, and Washington County Youth units to the 2012 Southeast Regional Convention where we attended workshops, meetings, and networked among the 100's of youth that attended.
Also at this convention our state was awarded the Alethea R. Bonello State Youth And College Division Of The Year Award and our chapter was awarded Best New Youth/College Unit. We want thank all of members and supporters for their outstanding commitment. Fired up, ready to go!
