Opinion: Carol Swain Joins The Chorus Of Conservatives Critical Of Claudine Gay
The Republican fervor around Gay and the rest of the college presidents they have in their witch hunt revolves around their hatred of liberal ideals and scholarship.
In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Black conservative political scientist and legal scholar Carol M. Swain levied many of the same criticisms against Harvard University President Claudine Gay as other conservative voices have over her alleged plagiarism and her place at the university.
Swain writes, “Even aside from the documented instances of plagiarism, Ms. Gay’s work wouldn’t normally have earned tenure in the Ivy League. Tenure at a top-tier institution normally demands ground-breaking originality; her work displays none. In a world where the privilege of diversity is king, Ms. Gay was able to parlay mediocre research into tenure and administrative advancement at what was once considered a world-class university.”
Swain has also been vocal on her X, formerly known as Twitter, account, often posting derogatory takes about Gay and her work, using Gay as a proxy for Swain’s disdain of progressive thought. In a Dec. 12 post, Swain described the support Gay received from Harvard as a double standard, writing,g “I rarely get angry, but I am angry right now about the racial double standards that are TEMPORARILY giving Claudine Gay an opportunity to resign. White progressives created her and white progressives are protecting her. The rest of us have had to work our rear ends off to achieve success. Some get it handed to them.”
Swain also says that her seminal work Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of African-Americans In Congress was foundational to the area of Gay’s scholarly work and that the book got her branded a conservative. However, examining Swain’s views on social media makes it very clear that she is a staunch conservative. As part of a series of posts Swain posted on Dec. 16, she says that Gay should have engaged her work, writing, “‘Black Faces, Black Interests: The Representation of African Americans’ in Congress had this reception in the world (1993, 1995, 2006). Gay’s work should have acknowledged and engaged the work.” It is also worth noting here that one of Gay’s 2001 academic papers, “The Effect of Minority Districts and Minority Representation on Political Participation in California,” lists Swain’s book in the references section.
Black Faces was considered controversial and it got me labeled as a conservative and viciously attacked by black scholars and white progressives. It made my life a living hell.
I learned from someone with first person knowledge of the @Harvard president search that the committee would not consider a candidate who did not meet the DEI office’s criteria.
The same was likely true for other elite universities doing searches at the same time, creating an…
Bill Ackman, a billionaire Harvard donor, has also called for Gay to resign, partly over concerns about plagiarism. Still, most of his ire has been fueled by his perception that Gay is nothing more than Harvard’s diversity hire. In a Dec. 6 post to X, Ackman claimed that someone told him that Gay was a diversity hire, writing, “I learned from someone with first person knowledge of the Harvard president search that the committee would not consider a candidate who did not meet the DEI office’s criteria.”
Ackman continued, “Shrinking the pool of candidates based on required race, gender, and/or sexual orientation criteria is not the right approach to identifying the best leaders for our most prestigious universities.”
Finally, Ackman concluded, saying, “I don’t think it will be long before we look back on the last few years of free speech suppression and the repeated career-ending accusations of racist for those who questioned the DEI movement.”
In truth, these sentiments are likely more deeply connected to the conservative pushback against diversity, equity, and inclusion that have become more pronounced since the Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action in college admissions is unconstitutional. Even though Ackman typically donates to Democrats, he has said that he is more open to Republicans, and he has found Republican allies in his crusade against Gay.
Rep. Ellie Stefanik, a New York congresswoman, has been calling for Gay’s job for a different reason, but she has been just as loud, if not louder, than Ackman. Her line of questioning for Gay, which went viral, entailed her asking Gay a series of questions about antisemitism, to which there was no “yes” or “no” answer. Still, Stefanik demanded a “yes” or “no” answer anyway.
“Just like the hearing at which Stefanik put on such a passionately convincing performance of umbrage, the ‘plagiarism’ issue is really about reinforcing the right-wing contempt for universities, one of the key institutions Republicans use as a foil and a target. To Republicans, Gay is just one more professor who should be held up as evidence that the left hates you and everything you believe in.”
LeBron James Welcomes Memphis Grizzlies Guard Ja Morant Back To NBA
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant made his return Tuesday after serving a 25-game suspension and was welcomed back by LeBron James.
Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant returned to the NBA Tuesday night after serving a 25-game suspension and was welcomed back by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James.
Morant made his season debut against the New Orleans Pelicans after serving his suspension for conduct detrimental to the league. James welcomed the guard back to the league with a message on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Grizzlies have struggled without their star, starting the season with a 6-19, including a 1-11 home record, but it didn’t take Morant long to get back into the swings of things, scoring 34 points, grabbing six rebounds with eight assists, and fighting cramps before hitting the game-winning shot to give the Grizzlies a 115-113 win.
After the game, Morant talked about how he stayed focused during his suspension and how it allowed him to have such a strong game on his return.
“I been putting work in, I haven’t played a game in eight months,” Morant said after the win. “I had a lot of time to learn myself, a lot of hard days where I went through it but basketball is my life, what I love, it’s therapeutic for me, and I’m excited to be back.”
Morant, who was named the 2019-20 Rookie of the Year, has enjoyed an amazing start to his career. The two-time All-Star won the 2021-22 Most Improved Player award and was named to the All-NBA second team.
However, the All-Star guard was suspended in June after he was seen on Instagram Live flashing a gun. It was the second time he was caught on social media with a firearm in his hand.
The 23-year-old was first suspended for eight games in March after he was shown with a gun on an Instagram Live video at a Denver nightclub.
Former Super Bowl Champion Derrick Ward Arrested After Being Suspected Of Several Robberies In Los Angeles
The former running back is being held on $250,000 bail.
A former Super Bowl champion has been arrested in Los Angeles as a suspect in several robberies in the city of Angels.
According to The Washington Post, former NFL running back Derrick Ward, who won a Super Bowl title with the New York Giants in 2008, has been arrested on suspicion of robbery. The 43-year-old California native was apprehended on Monday, Dec. 18, in the North Hollywood area, according to police officials. He was being held on $250,000 bail, based on a search on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate website.
There was no clear indication of the exact crimes or where and when they took place, but NBC News reported that he is accused of robbing five businesses, yet he was not armed during any of them. It was also unclear if Ward has any representation or a pending follow-up court date.
Former Fresno State Bulldog and Super Bowl RB Derrick Ward arrested in Los Angeles for robbery charges @CBS47pic.twitter.com/Tml4V9azEb
His collegiate sports career took place at Fresno State and Ottawa University in Kansas, while he grew up in Riverside County in Southern California. After he graduated from college, he entered the NFL Draft in 2004 and was selected by the New York Jets in the seventh round. As the team cut him, he never took the field for a regular season game. But, he was able to latch onto the in-town New York Giants, where he arguably had his best stint. He played for them from 2004 until 2008. While playing for the Giants, he took part in the historic Super Bowl win in 2008 that prevented quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots from having a perfect season with no losses.
Although Ward was on the roster for that Super Bowl win, he did not play due to having a broken leg during the regular season.
He played eight seasons in the league and played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009. Then he went to the Houston Texans from 2010 to 2011 before hanging up his cleats for good in 2012.
Houston Chronicle Gets First Black News Columnist In 122 Years
Joy Sewing will provide insightful commentary on salient issues like social justice, politics, education, healthcare, and inequality.
The Houston Chronicle is evolving by naming seasoned journalist Joy Sewing as its first Black news columnist in the paper’s 122-year history.
Having covered the city’s vibrant culture and diversity for the Chronicle, the Houston native will utilize her experiences and reporting acumen to provide insightful commentary on salient issues like social justice, politics, education, healthcare, and inequality. Her columns will spur readers toward righting wrongs and lifting each other up.
Sewing has written extensively about navigating the child welfare system as a foster and adoptive parent. She led the Chronicle’s coverage of Houston’s response to the George Floyd murder, with the Society for Features Journalism honoring her culture columns in 2021 as “touching works about humanity.”
Beyond writing, Sewing has penned a children’s book on her adopted rescue boxers called “Ava and the Prince: The Adventures of Two Rescue Pups.” She founded the nonprofit Year of Joy, providing educational and cultural trips for underprivileged youth, including an annual ice skating party.
Her diverse experiences include becoming Houston’s first African American figure skating coach as a college student, completing a Spanish language fellowship in Mexico, studying racism in Cuba through an Institute for Advanced Journalism Studies fellowship, and participating in the Poynter Institute’s Diverse Voices program.
She serves as vice president of the Houston Association of Black Journalists and teaches journalism as an adjunct professor at her University of Houston alma mater.
With Sewing’s expansive skill set and life experiences, the Chronicle positions itself at the forefront of amplifying diverse voices while providing reader-focused coverage of Houston’s evolution.
As Houston welcomes a new mayor in 2024, braces for a state takeover of public schools, and emerges into post-pandemic life, change will undoubtedly become the norm for residents with the Chronicle’s appointment of its first Black news columnist.
American Cancer Society Unveils New Initiative Centered On Black Women
The American Cancer Society revealed its new Black woman-focused "Shades of Strength" Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative, partnering with Fashion Fair and Black civic organizations in its programming.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) is focusing its effort on Black women to spark awareness through combining beauty and wellness. Its partnerships with Black-catered beauty brands such as Fashion Fair and Black civic organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. aided in the establishment of Shades of Strength Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative.
According to ELLE, the initiative seeks to bridge the gap for Black women in order to gain accessibility to resources and knowledge regarding screenings, prevention, and early detection. The introduction of panels, webinars, and collaborations with multiple groups will help the target audience ensure that their health and beauty are never sacrificed due to inaccessibility. The multiyear engagement is all about making long-lasting change that will impact generations.
Fashion Fair’s CEO, Desiree Rogers, considers her company’s partnership a personal endeavor as well. “We’re not going to give up until we get some real results here,” expressed Rogers. “As a breast cancer survivor, being diagnosed at 39, I know firsthand about this struggle.”
Rogers continued, “I’d spent a lot of time counseling Black women that also had the disease, and as I learned about the stats from the American Cancer Society, I wondered if there was a way that Fashion Fair as ‘our community’s makeup company’ could support our women in this space.”
Fashion Fair, the pioneering cosmetics company known for manufacturing diverse skin-tone products long before other brands invested in such inclusivity, is donating 10% of its profits for every lipstick purchase. Shades of Strength will provide the support and comfort needed to directly impact Black women, who are disproportionately diagnosed with more aggressive forms of breast cancer, with the ACS also noting that Black women face a 41% higher mortality rate as well. With those statistics in mind, Shades of Strength is doing the critical work to save the health and lives of this vulnerable demographic.
“This initiative gives us a unique opportunity to share information with our community in a different and unexpected way. Even though ACS has tons of resources, we could not get the information out to the Black community the way these other organizations can as trusted messengers in their own communities,” explained Tawana Thomas-Johnson, senior vice president and chief diversity officer of the American Cancer Society. “It’s like your aunties talking to you. We’re the aunties and you can trust us!”
Gnawa Music, Called Moroccan Blues, Is Gaining Traction In The West
Gnawa music is often likened to American blues and gospel.
Gnawa music is a mixture of African rhythms and Islamic poetry created by enslaved West Africans brought to Morocco. For centuries, it was only played within the confines of spiritual ceremonies. But the once sacred genre has since found its way to the mainstream.
In an interview with “60 Minutes,” American musician Sulaiman Hakim noted the similarities between Gnawa music and Black American gospel.
“In blues or funk there is a call-and-response,” Hakim said. “So automatically, the first time I heard Gnawas, I said, ‘Wow this sounds like music from back home.’”
The Gnaoua and World Music Festival was created in 1998 to celebrate Gnawa music. The most recent festival, held in June 2023, featured 480 musicians that entertained audiences through a variety of musical genres including jazz, blues, pop, and of course Gnawa.
Fans from around the globe traveled to the coastal town of Essaouira, Morocco, to partake in the festivities. Among them was American actor Robert Wisdom of “The Wire” fame. Wisdom spoke with CBS’ “60 Minutes” about the cultural significance of Gnawa music.
“You can trace the blues to the Black cultures from Senegal, Gambia, Mali, who then traveled North into Morocco, the Black races. When you come here and hear the Gnawa you feel the same thing that we feel with the old-time blues,“ the actor told correspondent Bill Whitaker.
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Signs Bill Creating Statewide Reparations Task Force
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill Tuesday to form a reparations commission to study the Empire State’s history of slavery and racism.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill Tuesday to form a reparations commission to study the Empire State’s history of slavery and racism.
The New York Timesreports the bill will establish the United States’ third statewide task force to study the history of slavery, which was outlawed in New York in 1827, and its subsequent effects on housing discrimination, biased policing, income inequality, and mass incarceration of African Americans.
New York now joins California and Illinois as states undertaking studies to determine how slavery has affected residents and what kind of reparations would best help Black residents. It’s unclear what type of restitution — cash, property, or otherwise — the commission in New York will recommend for descendants of enslaved people, or even if it will make such a recommendation.
“I know the word ‘reparations’ brings up a lot of conflicting ideas for people,” Hochul said on Tuesday before signing the bill, according to the Times. “A lot of people instinctively dig in when they hear it, without really thinking about what it means or why we need to talk about it.
“Today, I challenge all New Yorkers to be the patriots and rebuke — and not excuse — our role in benefiting from the institution of slavery.”
Hochul and the state legislature will create a nine-member task force that will write and produce a non-binding report with recommendations for correcting centuries of discrimination and racism. State lawmakers will then have the ability to pass the recommendations.
California‘s reparations task force approved its report earlier this year, which recommended a statewide reparations program and a formal apology to its Black residents. However the state’s plans, which include direct payments to Black residents, would cost California billions of dollars at a time when it has a $68 billion revenue shortfall.
In 2021, the city of Evanston, Illinois, about 35 miles north of Chicago, became the first U.S. city to issue reparations in the form of housing grants totaling up to $25,000. The city has given out about $1 million in grants so far.
New York currently has its own budgetary concerns. During the pandemic, the state received a significant amount of help from the federal government. Those funds have since dried up, and New York is now projecting a $4.3 billion budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year, and greater deficits in the years ahead.
Budget cuts are likely on the horizon, which has renewed calls from the state’s progressive wing to raise taxes on the rich to bridge the budget gaps, which Hochul opposes.
Rev. Al Sharpton thanked Hochul for having the “audacity and courage” to back the proposal, calling the signing “the beginning of a process to repair damage done.”
“You cannot heal unless you deal with the wounds,” Sharpton said in a statement. “And this bill will put a commission together to heal the wounds.”
With the bill signed, Hochul and the leaders of the Senate and assembly will each appoint three members to the task force.
Beat The Holiday Blues: 4 Healthy Holiday Snacks To Give You A Boost
Although we're satisfying our taste buds, the options may not be healthy, leading to extra holiday pounds. Here are some healthy options.
Originally published Dec. 7, 2015
Popular activities during the holiday season are cooking and eating. Between the events, baking, and dinners, we all tend to snack, taste, and munch a little bit more than usual. Although we are satisfying our taste buds, the options may not be healthy, and that’s when we pack on extra holiday pounds. Here are four healthy snack options that will also keep our palate happy.
Pecans
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A protein-packed snack that has so many benefits. In pecans you will find fiber, magnesium, antioxidants, and vitamins C and E. Collectively you may experience increased metabolism, clear skin, and hair growth.
Cranberries
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With their healthy doses of vitamins C, E, and K, fiber, manganese, and antioxidants, cranberries are a small snack with large benefits. Your urinary tract will stay healthy, as cranberries prevent bacteria from attacking the bladder lining, and your skin may brighten from consuming them. Cranberries are also known to help the heart and the brain.
Pears
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You might find this sweet treat in a pie or covered in chocolate, but snacking on it alone it brings your body many health benefits. Pears are a great source of fiber, vitamins B2, C, E, and potassium, just to name a few. This fruit can help reduce blood pressure and strengthen your immune system and vision.
Apples
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Apples are packed with flavonoids, fiber, and antioxidants. Their crunchy goodness reduces the risk of hypertension and diabetes. Apples are also known to keep teeth white and detox the liver.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces National Law Enforcement Accountability Database
Despite positive reactions, others have called attention to the fact that the database is searchable only by law enforcement officers.
In fulfillment of some of the notes President Joe Biden hit in his 2023 State of the Union Address, the Biden-Harris administration announced the creation of the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD).
The NLEAD will allow officers to access records of police misconduct as well as commendations and awards. As USA Today reports, those forms of misconduct include excessive force, creating false reports, engaging in discriminatory behavior, and sexual misconduct. The Justice Department’s press release states, “The NLEAD connects all federal law enforcement agencies under one accountability infrastructure. With the NLEAD, law enforcement agency hiring personnel will have more accurate and complete information about misconduct in a job candidate’s past. Agencies can then make more informed hiring decisions, which enhances both accountability and public safety.”
Today, @POTUS and I are establishing the first ever federal database to track official records of misconduct by law enforcement officers.
Read my full statement on the launch of the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database: pic.twitter.com/3aCWRGL2Yb
My Administration launched the first National Law Enforcement Accountability Database so federal law enforcement misconduct records will be available to agencies considering hiring them.
It's a promise kept. And a measure of what's necessary to begin to heal our nation's soul.
In a press release, Vice President Kamala Harris reiterated the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to reforming the police, saying, “Every person in our nation has a right to be safe. And trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is essential for public safety. Police misconduct undermines that trust and threatens the right to equal justice under law.”
Harris also recommended that Congress pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which she co-authored with Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Karen Bass as a United States senator.
“President Biden and I will continue to do all we can to advance police accountability and strengthen the bonds of trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. And we renew our call for the United States Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act,” Harris said.
The NAACP’s Legal Defense Fund hailed the creation of the database as a good first step in a press release. Janai Nelson, the president and director-counsel, said, “Law enforcement agencies will no longer be able to turn a blind eye to the records of misconduct in officer hiring and offending officers will not be able to distance themselves from their misdeeds. We commend the Biden administration for its leadership in issuing the Executive Order and the Department of Justice for dedicating resources to bring this project to fruition. We also call on both entities to continue to strengthen accountability for police misconduct and to advance alternatives to policing that protect Black communities and enhance public safety.”
Despite these positive receptions, others have called attention to the fact that the database is only searchable by law enforcement officers and not the general public, among other issues. In a press release, the ACLU critiqued the lack of penalty for officers with a record of police misconduct, saying, “It requires federal law enforcement agencies to provide information about misconduct, but would not bar an individual with a record of misconduct from being hired or penalize agencies for hiring them. Also, the database is not available to the public, only includes the last seven years of records, and is entirely voluntary for state and local law enforcement agencies to participate.”
Nina Patel, the ACLU’s senior policy counsel, said that while the database may help toward accountability, the police continue to have the authority to stop citizens for whatever they desire.
“Today’s launch of a non-public federal police misconduct registry is a small step towards accountability, but we need more to address the systemic harms. The reality of policing in America is that the police have the de facto power to stop anyone, at any time, for any reason, and for Black people in particular, the encounter can be deadly,” Patel warned.
Teen Charged With Manslaughter After His Arresting Officer Had A Heart Attack On The Job
The report alleges that Aguilar-Mendez attempted to grab a taser and when that was unsuccessful, he got out a folding pocket knife.
A teenage Guatemalan migrant faces the possibility of being convicted on a manslaughter charge after a tussle with a Florida deputy ended with the deputy having a heart attack. According to the New York Post, 18-year-old Virgilio (also spelled Vergilio) Aguilar-Mendez obtained the services of a civil rights attorney who says that St. Johns County Sgt. Michael Kunovich was wrong to stop Aguilar-Mendez in the first place. Kunovich saw Aguilar-Mendez in the parking lot of a Super 8, where Aguilar-Mendez was living and working as a laborer at around 9 PM on May 16. An arrest report says that the laborer began walking away from the area once he saw an approaching police cruiser. Police say that the ask from Kunovich was a typical one.
According to St. Johns County Sheriff Robert Hardwick, Kunovich accused Aguilar-Mendez of a trespassing violation, saying during a November press conference, “He checked out with him to simply say ‘Hey, why are you on this property trespassing?’” Hardwick said.
“That was a simple thing, simple task.”
Kunovich proceeded to ask for his name and ID, to which Aguilar-Mendez responded, “Sorry, I no speak English.”
According to News 4 Jax, the St. Johns County Police Department has a 24\7 service available to its officers that they can call for a translator if they and a suspect do not speak the same language. When pressed on if Kunovich used this service, a spokesperson with the sheriff’s office informed News 4 Jax that because it is an ongoing investigation, they don’t have access to that particular information currently.
Kunovich then spun Aguilar-Mendez around to perform a pat-down check for any concealed weapons. As he placed a hand on the pocket area of Aguilar-Mendez, the teenager appeared to try and pull away from the officer, which Aguilar-Mendez says was born from a fear of being deported. Kunovich responded to this by yelling at Aguilar-Mendez, “Don’t pull away from me.”
Aguilar-Mendez is apologetic but still tries to leave, at which point several officers arrive in an attempt to subdue him and begin to tase him, but Aguilar-Mendez resists, according to the police report. The report alleges that Aguilar-Mendez attempted to grab a taser and when that was unsuccessful, he got out a folding pocket knife.
“While fighting on the ground with Sergeant Kunovich and other deputies, the defendant grabbed Sergeant Kunovich’s taser in an attempt to gain control of the weapon,” the police report said.
“After gaining control of and placing the defendant in handcuffs, he armed himself with a folding pocket knife, which he retrieved from his shorts pockets. Deputies gave loud verbal commands to drop the knife, which were ignored and the knife had to be forcefully removed from the defendant’s hands.”
Once Aguilar-Mendez was in handcuffs, Kunovich collapsed and died at a local hospital from a heart attack. Due to Aguilar-Mendez’s alleged actions, he was charged with aggravated manslaughter of an officer and resisting arrest with violence. Aguilar-Mendez was not provided the ability to bond out, so he is still currently in jail. Aguilar-Mendez’s appointed public defender filed a motion for bail establishing that he was actually living at the motel with other workers and on the phone with his mother when Kunovich made his approach.
Phillip Arroyo, a graduate of Florida A&M’s Law School and Aguilar-Mendez’s new representation, told the Post that he believes the situation represents a violation of Aguilar-Mendez’s civil rights, saying that it was a grave injustice visited upon his client. Arroyo told News 4 Jax, “We believe this is a grave injustice for what seems to be so far an act of police brutality and potential civil rights violations.”
Arroyo continued, “But Hispanics in general, those who don’t speak English, are victims of police brutality or civil rights violations,” Arroyo said.
“And sometimes we never hear that story because of the language barrier. And I think that, in this scenario, it’s very important to shed light on what’s going on here.”
