Nearly 300 Dead Bodies Left in Open Parking Garage Turned Makeshift Morgue In Maryland
The Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has turned a parking garage into a makeshift morgue to deal with a significant backlog of bodies.
According to a WMAR report, more than 200 bodies await autopsy, and the number keeps growing.
The backlog is holding up funeral services, criminal investigations, and prosecutions. Maryland Chief Medical Examiner Victor Weedn told the Washington Post he expected the state’s backlog to hit 300 by the end of the month.
Because they were running out of space, the Maryland Department of Health converted a parking garage in downtown Baltimore, which is responsible for investigating violent and suspicious deaths, including all deaths unattended by a physician.
“The bodies are piling up and decaying right in front of everyone’s eyes,” Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME Council 3, which members include autopsy assistants and forensic investigators. “Bodies are decomposing, and that’s not the way to treat those that have lost their lives and families who are looking for closure.”
The Maryland Department of Health blamed the backlog on high vacancies and increased drug overdoses and shooting deaths, but another significant reason is a staffing shortage. Moran said in a press conference that three positions have been open for more than a year, five medical examiners have retired or resigned over the last two years, and three more are expected to retire soon.
“We need them to recruit more people to do the job,” Moran said at the presser. “They need to look at what resources people need to do the job, the salary they need to do the job and take action.”
The situation isn’t isolated to Maryland. New Hampshire, Georgia, New Mexico, and even New York City are dealing with autopsy backlogs. Those states cite the same issues as Maryland, including staffing issues, increased deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic, violence, and drugs.
Weedn has asked the federal government to deploy its disaster mortuary response team to the state. The team includes medical examiners and forensic specialists who handle mass fatalities tied to terrorist attacks, such as 9/11, and natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services told the Post it would send five fatality management experts to support the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. It will also send personnel to New Mexico.
These Black Hollywood Stars Embodied Excellence — And We Should Honor Them
With the Oscars just around the corner, BLACK ENTERPRISE celebrates Black History Month with special recognition of historical Black figures and Hollywood stars for their outstanding achievements.
This collection presents Black Hollywood storytellers, filmmakers, actors, and actresses who have pushed boundaries and diversified industries on big and small screens.
Oscar Micheaux
The bold and fearless Oscar Micheaux was born in rural Illinois when movies hardly existed. But by 1919, he made his first film, “The Homesteader” (1919). Micheaux dealt with sensitive issues that other directors were afraid to confront. Micheaux was not just the first major Black filmmaker, but he was also the first to have a film shown in a theater with a white audience. Micheaux had several “firsts” in his life. The first Black filmmaker, successful homesteader, and best-selling author created 44 films between 1919 and 1948, such as “Within Our Gates” (1920), an unapologetic confrontation of racial violence.
Some uphold Micheaux as paving the road for Black-centered storytelling in the film industry. Micheaux used his filmmaking to expose the racial injustices African Americans faced at the beginning of the 20th century. He was one of the few Black independent filmmakers using a multiracial cast. In addition to empowering African Americans and breaking stereotypes, Micheaux’s work also influenced other filmmakers. Film pioneers such as Spike Lee, John Singleton and Melvin Van Peebles, have often credited Micheaux as one of their most significant influences. Black history month cannot be celebrated without mentioning his name.
Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel blazed a trail for African Americans as the first to win an Oscar Award. She won Best Supporting Actress in 1940 for her role as Mammy in “Gone with the Wind.” Living and working during the height of Jim Crow, McDaniel was segregated from the rest of the cast during the award ceremony and wasn’t even allowed to watch the film premiere. She struggled to break out of “Mammy” roles that reinforced Black stereotypes throughout her career. Although she acted in over 300 films, she was only credited for 83.
McDaniel’s legacy is better recognized today despite these overt obstacles to her success. She has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and became part of the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1975. She is also recognized as the first Black woman singer/songwriter to have performed on the radio. The child of formerly enslaved parents, her continued participation in film and radio marked a radical shift in racial inclusion in the American film industry.
Sidney Poitier
From rejections to rejecting several projects he found demeaning, actor, director and activist Sidney Poitier portrayed Black men with the dignity that exists beyond the screen. Having struggled with the injustices of Jim Crow, he was a founding member of the Committee for the Negro in the Arts while he began his acting career with the American Negro Theater. In 1964, he became the first Black person to win an Oscar for Best Actor for his stunning portrayal of Homer Smith in “Lilies of the Field.“ Despite the political landscape of the time, he broke down barriers to demand his voice be heard as an actor, director, and author. Most importantly, Poitier refused to play roles he found demeaning despite the limitations that would put on his career. In 2009, Poitier received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Barack Obama, who lauded the actor’s steady bearing and said he “entertained, but he also brought people together.”
Spike Lee
A director, producer, screenwriter, actor and professor, Spike Lee, is well recognized for his work in film. Lee was born Shelton Jackson Lee in Atlanta, Georgia, on Mar. 20, 1957, but raised in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Morehouse College for his undergraduate degree and later graduated from New York University Film School in 1982. In 1986, Lee gained recognition for “She’s Gotta Have It.” Despite shooting it in two weeks and spending $175,000, the film grossed over $7 million at the box office, making it one of the most profitable films of 1986. Since 1979, Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks has produced more than 35 films.
He is considered one of the most prominent Black filmmakers in American history. His films challenge the status quo, confront racism and contest the ideas of racial equality. Thirty years after he starred in “Do the Right Thing,” Lee finally won his first Oscar in 2019.
Denzel Washington
His mother prayed, and God answered. Denzel Washington received a prophecy from an anonymous customer at his mother’s beauty salon: “You will speak to millions. You will do great things.” Today, we know this to be true. Washington is celebrated as the most Oscar-nominated Black actor globally. He has received nine nominations since 1988, including a win for Best Actor and a win for Best Supporting Actor for his roles as Alonzo Harris in “Training Day” and as Private Trip in “Glory.” Many people may not know that the award-winning actor and director has been actively involved in philanthropic work throughout his distinguished career, donating to several organizations and raising millions for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Halle Berry
Halle Berry’s career went from runway model to role model. In the 1980s, she won the Miss Teen America and Miss Ohio USA pageants and was runner-up in Miss USA. She then became the first Black woman to enter Miss World, demanding that Black beauty be given equal representation on the global stage. From modeling, Berry went into acting, working hard to create a stellar career in a wide range of blockbuster movies. Her perseverance shot her into the position of the highest-paid actress in Hollywood in the 2000s.
Berry became the first woman to receive an Oscar for Best Actress in 2002 for her role as Leticia Musgrove in “Monster’s Ball.” She has used her status and platform to fuel her activism, fighting for many issues like Obama’s presidential campaign and women’s rights. To this day, she is the only Black woman to have received the Oscar for Best Actress, a reminder of the barriers that Black women continue to face in the industry.
Shonda Rhimes
Shonda Rhimes had always been a storyteller — and a good one at that, earning her B.A. from Dartmouth and graduating with an M.A. from USC at the top of her class. After working on films with stars such as Halle Berry, Rhimes took her talents to television. She was the first African American woman to create and produce a Top 10 network series. Since the 2000s, her shows have dominated television, including widely popular hits such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” and “Bridgerton.” She has been praised for her strong female characters and her racially diverse casts, championing the representation of Black and other people of color. Today, she is considered one of the most influential people in television, giving a massive platform to the diversity she successfully brings to the screen.
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry boasts a prolific career as a director, producer, actor, screenwriter, playwright, author and more. He stops at nothing to make sure his voice is heard. But he doesn’t just fight for his voice to be heard; he consistently works to uplift his Black peers. For example, he collaborated with Oprah Winfrey to promote “Precious,” making sure that the film was widely acknowledged for the crucial story it told. In 2015, he solidified his commitment to Black Hollywood by becoming the first African American to own a major film production studio: the Tyler Perry Studios in Georgia. He uses his resources to prioritize creations that speak directly to Black audiences.
Geoffrey Fletcher
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock (9313111hz)
Geoffrey Fletcher attends the National Board of Review Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street, in New York
2018 National Board of Review Awards Gala, New York, USA – 09 Jan 2018Geoffrey Fletcher started his career armed with a simple video camera, shooting his first films as a child at home. He attended Harvard and NYU’s Tisch Graduate Film Program, earning apprenticeships with such film legends as Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese. In 2010, he became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Screenplay for “Precious.” This adaptation of the novel “Push” confronted the severe challenges at the intersection of race, gender, poverty and abuse. Although such stories are unfortunately a reality, Fletcher’s story was unique for the attention it received. It is rare for films to effectively humanize a Black, poor, obese and abused female protagonist. Today, Fletcher continues to give back to society through his films and as a professor at Columbia University.
Steve McQueen
VENICE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 04: Director Steve McQueen attends the “Shame” premiere during the 68th Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema on September 4, 2011 in Venice, Italy. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Growing up in the UK as a dyslexic adolescent with a lazy eye, Steve Rodney McQueen’s teachers expected little of his intellectual and creative abilities. He was placed on a track for manual laborers, but that didn’t deter him from pursuing a highly acclaimed career in the arts. Besides creating many unique and politically charged art installations, he was interested in film and attended NYU’s film school. In 2013, McQueen became the first Black director and producer to win Best Picture for “12 Years A Slave.” His film is considered a rebuttal to the romanticized version of history depicted in “Gone with the Wind.” McQueen insisted the slave period be recognized for the massacre that it was. His film depicts many of the horrific realities of the era, centering on the experiences of Black people. It received 315 nominations and 145 wins across award shows, demanding greater visibility for this all-too-often neglected part of American history.
Viola Davis
Viola Davis (Image: Brian Bowen Smith)
Viola Davis would not let anything prevent her from claiming her title as one of the country’s most talented actors. The New York Times certainly agrees, ranking her the 9th best actor in the 21st century. But her journey was not easy. Davis’ early life was marked by extreme poverty and hardship. Having experienced oppression firsthand, Davis was involved in civil rights activism from an early age. She persevered in school and was soon recognized for her exceptional talent and the hard work she invested in cultivating it. Her early success in the theater gave her access to Julliard and an extraordinary career as an actress and producer.
Today, Davis claims the highest number of Academy Award nominations among Black actresses. She successfully won the award for Best Supporting Actress in 2016 for her role as Rose Maxson in the film “Fences.” Outside of the Oscars, she has a whopping 309 nominations and 139 awards for her impressive career. Her many accolades confirm to young Black women that there is a place for them on the big screen.
Cheryl Boone Isaacs
Starting in publicity in the 1970s, it wasn’t long before Cheryl Boone Isaacs worked her way into leadership roles. She thrived in executive positions in many of Hollywood’s major production studios, such as Columbia Pictures, Paramount Pictures and New Line Cinema. Her expertise and experience helped her become the first African American to serve as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She was elected for two, two-year terms in 2013 and 2015. In such an influential leadership role, Isaacs was praised for her ongoing work to improve racial and gender diversity during her tenure at the Academy. For example, she made significant improvements to the Academy’s mentorship and student programs and its scientific and technical council. In 2015, she launched A2020: an ambitious five-year plan to make the industry more equitable so that everyone’s voice can be heard on the big screen.
Barry Jenkins
In 2017, Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight“ transformed the Academy Awards. From a family torn apart by death, abandonment and drug addiction, Jenkins overcame the most challenging circumstances to pursue his passion for film. His career is marked by his commitment to his values, rejecting Hollywood’s sugarcoating tendencies in favor of centering on society’s most neglected communities. He became the first African American nominated for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay for his outstanding work. He successfully won the award for Best Screenplay, while the film went on to win seven additional Academy Awards and dozens more nominations and wins from other award shows. Many consider “Moonlight“ a profound and intimate reflection on identity at the intersection of race, poverty and sexual orientation.
Ruth Carter
Ruth Carter shows us there are myriad ways to tell a story — going above and beyond to tell a story through her costumes, integrating cultural motifs, functionality and beauty to convey characters’ identities and history. She is the creator of the beautiful, unique and meaningful costumes of the blockbuster “Black Panther,” incorporating Maasai and Ndebele dress elements into the Afro-futurist superhero story through intensive research and traveling to various African countries. She became the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for this work, although she is responsible for the stunning wardrobes of over 40 other films. She was also nominated for Spike Lee’s “Malcolm X” and Stephen Spielberg’s “Amistad.”
Charles D. King
Charles King, a former partner/agent with William Morris Endeavor, has a knack for recognizing talent and a vision to empower and support people of color and diverse storytellers.
“I wanted to tell stories about and from people of color, so I built my own media company called MACRO,” he says. King was part of the all-Black producing team for “Judas and the Black Messiah,” starring LaKeith Stanfield and Daniel Kaluuya, about the murder of Fred Hampton, the head of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party. He worked on developing the script, worked on the set and was instrumental in the film’s release and marketing. At Lionsgate, King helped Tyler Perry secure a deal for his award-winning debut film, “Diary of a Mad Black Woman.”
He says “the goal is not just to build a brand that will last for generations. It’s about creating opportunities, too, as well as enhancing culture. It makes our world a better place.” MACRO has produced and/or financed 13 feature films and earned 15 Academy Award nominations with three wins.
The game will be a matchup between two teams in the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference (MEAC).
The game will take place at the Wolstein Center on the Cleveland State University campus. Coverage of the game will begin at 2 p.m. on TNT and ESPN 2 with host Stephanie Ready and analysts Isiah Thomas (Former Detroit Piston and NBA 75th Anniversary Team member) and Stephen A. Smith doing the pregame.
Play-by-play announcer Brian Custer (Hampton University alumnus) will call the game alongside analyst Brendan Haywood. Taylor Rooks will report from the sideline. SiriusXM NBA Radio will also carry an original broadcast of the game with play-by-play announcer Jason Jackson and analyst Rick Mahorn.
“I am incredibly grateful to Turner Sports and ESPN, as well as to AT&T and the NBA, for their efforts to make this game happen and for their support of the Howard and Morgan State athletic programs,” said Howard University Director of Athletics Kery Davis.
“The historic partnership that has given rise to the NBA HBCU Classic is helping to elevate HBCUs at a critical time for our country. HBCUs and the NBA have a shared legacy of using their platforms to serve their communities and amplify the voices of marginalized people. We appreciate the opportunity to shine a spotlight on HBCUs this year and for our students to share a stage with some of the world’s most talented athletes during NBA All-Star weekend.”
“The NBA HBCU Classic during the celebration of Black History Month highlights the important mission of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the critical role they play in our country,” said Morgan State Interim Athletic Director Erlease Wagner.
“We commend the NBA for their continued commitment and programming to promote HBCUs and showcase the talented young men and women on our campus. Morgan State University and Morgan Athletics thank the NBA, AT&T, ESPN, Turner Sports and other participating partners for providing this one of a kind opportunity for our outstanding Morgan student-athletes.”
Before the game, award-winning actress, singer and TV personality Keke Palmer will perform the national anthem and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” where she will be accompanied by the Howard University Showtime Marching Band.
Howard and Morgan State’s bands will engage fans with vibrant performances while AT&T and associate partners Mountain Dew and Google will provide in-arena activations. Additionally, Mountain Dew will award $100,000 in Mountain Dew All-Star Scholarships for the second year in a row as part of NBA All-Star Weekend and two HBCU students will receive $50,000 scholarships to advance their education at PepsiCo partner schools Howard and Morgan State.
The Howard Bison and Morgan State Bears faced off once this season, with Howard defeating Morgan State 91-82. As part of their participation in NBA All-Star, both teams will meet with NBA league and team executives as well as current and former NBA and WNBA players and engage in programs focused on professional development and networking.
Meet the 8-Year Old Boy Providing Tents For the Homeless in South Carolina
Taji Johnson, an 8-year old boy from Trenton, South Carolina, is helping homeless people in his community by providing them tents for shelter.
I just kept thinking about people who don’t have homes,” Taji told WJBF.
He started Taji’s Tents last January to raise funds to purchase tents for the homeless. His mother said that in just 10 days, they were able to garner $2,700 in donations and bought just 34 tents at first.
“He did not like the fact that Amazon charged him tax because he felt like those were extra tents he could have purchased,” his mother, Chemikia Johnson said.
Taji personally went to Columbia, the state’s capital, with his family to give out the tents. He is set to go to Greenville, Augusta, Macon, and Charleston next.
“He’s so happy to be able to provide shelter to homeless people. He really is,” said his mother.
Taji, who aspires to be president one day, doesn’t plan to stop giving out tents to the homeless.
“I asked him if this was for the long run or if this was something he wanted to do,” said his mother.
“He said he’s doing it forever. He’s going to give as many homeless people shelter as he can.”
Black Hairstylist Reveals How She Built a 6-Figure Salon Using Her 100K Instagram Followers
Gabrielle Allen, a New Orleans-based hairstylist and studio owner, has turned her salon into a six-figure hair empire by leveraging the power of social media. Even more, she is already helping other industry professionals to do the same through her program, “From Instagram to Instant Clients.”
A veteran in the natural hair care industry, Gabrielle has been using social media to share her natural hair care journey since 2009. Noticing a lack of natural hair care resources, she started her own blog, StrawberriCurls, which acted as a resource for other natural-haired women worldwide. She later went on to open her own salon called Shades Studio in New Orleans.
“I love hair,” said Allen.
“Social media has played a huge part in my success and growth as a businesswoman, stylist, and influencer.”
“The beauty and hair care industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. There’s room for us all! Through my classes, my goal is to help other industry professionals elevate their profile and scale their businesses in ways they could not have imagined doing on their own.”
With over 120,000 followers on Instagram and more than 270,000 followers across Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, Allen’s classes will teach beauty professionals how to:
— Organically grow their Instagram following
— Attract the clients they want
— Easily create social media content
— Take more visually appealing photos that capture the viewer
To learn more and participate in the “From Instagram to Instant Clients” classes, aspiring and established hairstylists should register.
The Black hair industry is growing with no signs of stopping. According to a survey, out of $63 million spent in the hair care industry, Black, and specifically, natural hair care consumers made up 86 percent of that spend.
Create Your Own Game With This Video-Game Maker Bundle
If you consider yourself to be a video game connoisseur, then you’ve probably kicked around the idea of one day creating and playing a game of your own. While playing the tried-and-true classics on systems like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo provide countless hours of fun, there are only so many times you can play a game before it starts to lose its luster or become repetitive.
If you’re ready to attempt your hand at making and playing a game of your own, look no further than The Complete GameCreators Mega Maker Pack Bundle. For a limited time, it’s available for a discounted price of $79.99. That’s a savings of 82% from its MSRP ($454).
Fourteen items are included in this bundle. Individually, they range anywhere from $99.99 to $19.99. GameGuru has packed 10 game-making kits and programs into this creator’s bundle. Two megapacks include a plethora of game-ready entities including buildings, foliage, animated decals, gothic fixtures, dungeon parts, and many other items from which to choose when creating settings and landscapes for your created games.
For those who find enjoyment in military-style games, the megapack 3 option comes packed with more than 400 game-ready assets such as war-torn buildings, ruins, industrial machinery and more.
There’s also a military pack that includes 3D assets. The Antiques in the Attic Pack gives your games an old-style feel with grandfather clock pieces, old bottles, cat cage pieces, chairs, books, among other items.
For those who enjoy science-fiction games, the Sci-Fi Mission to Mars Pack includes hundreds of creative opportunities with more than 200 entities. Also included is an AppGameKit Studio that allows you to publish your most prized game creations to platforms like Steam, and to iOS and Android hosting platforms.
If you’re a gamer, then look no further than this bundle that allows you to create the perfect game. The possibilities are endless, as are the moments of fun it will provide. Purchase the Complete GameCreators Mega Maker Pack Bundle for $19.99 today.
Community Calls for Resignation of Kansas College President After She Compared Black Student to Hitler
A college president in Kansas is under fire after allegedly likening a Black student’s leadership to that of the German dictator Adolf Hitler.
An op-ed in Kansas City called for the resignation or firing of Highland Community College in Highland President Deborah Fox. The school leader is accused of making the insensitive remarks during an October meeting about alleged racism within the school’s football team.
At the time, students gathered to discuss allegations of harassment against Black football players by the team’s former assistant coach. In a recording obtained by the outlet, Fox reportedly singled out one of the more vocal Black players saying his statements were too negative and were having too much influence on the other players.
“You know leadership,” Fox said. “There’s certain people that emerge as leaders, good or bad. Even though we don’t like it, Hitler was a great leader.”
“He, somehow, even for evil, moved and were able to do these things. It’s terrifying. But that’s what can happen when leadership isn’t acknowledged and goes untapped or undirected,” she continued.
After being made aware that many people were offended by the statement, Fox responded saying her words were taken out of context.
“I am sickened and horrified that a discussion that included diversity and leadership was taken out of context and used in this manner and only a selected sentence of audio was shared,” she told the outlet.
Fox later revealed that she issued an apology to the students for her controversial remarks.
“I have apologized to the students, faculty, college, and the public for my poor choice of words,” Fox toldNewsweek. “In trying to describe negative leadership in a lengthy conversation lasting over an hour, I used a momentary horrible analogy. This was never to be associated with a student.”
“I am saddened and horrified that the words are being taken out of context and I also regret that it has affected the college, its students, and staff,” she continued.
“I am deeply sorry to the college and its community. I only hope that our previous accomplishments define my work at the college and not this sad, unfortunate phrase.”
NFL Player Adrian Peterson’s ‘Mind Blown’ After Being Arrested for Domestic Violence at LAX
NFL free agent Adrian Peterson says he’s “mind blown” after being arrested for a domestic dispute he had with his wife at Los Angeles International Airport.
Peterson was arrested early Sunday morning over allegations of domestic violence aboard an aircraft bound for Houston, ESPNreports. Police responded to a call around 8:30 a.m. local time about “a verbal and physical altercation between a male suspect and a female victim.”
Peterson was booked at the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division with a $50,000 bail. On Sunday afternoon, he was released on bond ahead of the Super Bowl between the LA Rams and Cincinnati Bengals.
A rep for Peterson confirmed that Peterson and his wife, Ashley, “had a verbal argument” en route to Houston. During the spat, Peterson grabbed Ashley’s wedding ring and ended up scratching her finger.
The source said Ashley Peterson had no plans to press charges.
“This is a private misunderstanding between husband and wife and we anticipate it will all be resolved shortly,” the Petersons’ representative said in a statement.
Since the arrest, Peterson said he is completely surprised by the arrest over a minor dispute he had with his wife.
“I was literally mind-blown that they took me to jail,” Peterson toldFox 26. “They were like, ‘I’m sorry, Mr. Peterson, but because she had a scratch on her finger, [in] the state of California, we have to take you in.’”
“I sit there and watch the plane pull back and take off and I’m just like, ‘Wow! I cannot believe this is happening right now. I’m going to jail, and I literally didn’t do anything.’”
“It’s blown out of proportion,” he said.
“Me and the wife got into an argument on the plane. That was pretty much the gist of it. I ended up grabbing her hand and taking her ring off her finger. She didn’t press any charges. The state of California pressed charges because there was a scratch on her hand. Literally, that’s why I went to jail because the ring left a scratch on her finger. We just had a disagreement. I know the headlines: Domestic violence. You’d think I beat her up or something. It was nothing like that.”
Peterson insinuated that a fellow female passenger was the cause of the argument being blown out of proportion.
“She kind of made it more than it was and brought more attention to it,” he said.
“Only thing I will say is it looks horrible because Adrian Peterson [was] arrested for domestic violence. I don’t hit women. It’s not that type of situation, and it just looks bad. I’ll deal with it, and God willing, get the charges dropped and move on.”
Peterson’s latest arrest comes nearly eight years after being arrested in 2014 for allegedly beating his then 4-year-old son with a tree switch, NY Postreports.
After pleading no contest to a reduced charge of misdemeanor reckless assault, Peterson received two-year probation, was fined $4,000, had to perform 80 hours of community service, and was suspended from the NFL for one year.
Massachusetts School Fires Teacher Who Made Toddlers Wear Black-Face Masks For Black History Month
Last Tuesday, a Massachusetts Montessori school teacher instructed a classroom full of toddlers to make and wear Blackface masks as a Black History Month project, NBC10 Boston reported.
The school has since issued an apology and terminated the teacher’s employment.
The incident, which occurred at IC Kids, a Montessori school in Newton, Massachusetts, came to light after one mother, Nadira Price, learned about what happened while picking up her children. She reportedly expressed her concerns to the school and withdrew them.
(Image: NBC10 Boston)
In an effort to alleviate the situation, IC Kids posted an apology on Facebook. The posting received heavy criticism. Since then, the school’s social media account appears to have been deactivated, according to NBC10 Boston.
“This is unacceptable and don’t really understand the concept of this project,” Pierce told the station after also posting her complaints on social media.
“The apology received was empty and then to go onto Facebook and see that apology was disheartening. I hope this is a lesson to possibly really prepare to do projects on cultures before doing them to avoid a hurtful gesture to a group of people.”
In addition to the apology, IC Kids wrote a statement regarding the “black Mask/blackface instance” and posted it on one of the institution’s windows. It stated that the daycare and preschool is now closed until further notice due to concerns about possible protests.
Statement taped to window outside IC Kids School.
“To celebrate ‘black history month’, a teacher in toddler classroom at ICKids planned and carried out an activity that involved black masks ‘blackface.’ One of the parents brought it to our attention and was offended; The teacher apologized to the parent,” the statement read.
The statement went on to address the previous Facebook apology, and confirm that the teacher responsible for the “planned and executed activity” had been “released from her employment.”
“While wording of Facebook apology was not the best statement, we were trying to send a message to say that research for toddler curriculum was not executed or completed in the manner that It should have been, so we apologize to every and anyone this may have offended,” the statement continued.
There has not been any reports of protests or demonstrations at the school.
Venus & Serena Williams’ Estranged 21-Year-Old Nephew Dead From Apparent Suicide
An estranged nephew of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams passed away from suicide at the young age of 21, according to reports.
Alphonse Williams reportedly took his own life on February 3 after falling into a depressed state following his recent diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease, The Sunreports. The disease, which causes the curvature of the penis, can also cause serious depression in a third of sufferers.
Alphonse’s mother, Sabrina Williams, is heartbroken over the loss of her youngest of two sons but appreciative of the time she was able to spend with Alphonse.
“When my son attempted [to end] his life two and a half years ago, I asked God, save his life and give me a little bit more time, please,” Sabrina said. “And God answered my prayers. He did. He gave me two and a half years more than I expected.”
“I knew he was on loan and God called in that loan.”
Sabrina is the half-sister of Venus and Serena from father Richard Williams’ first marriage to Betty Johnson. She has been estranged from her father and his two athletic proteges since he left his first wife to pursue his dream of creating future tennis champions, Radar Onlinereports.
His journey to turn Venus and Serena into tennis champions was portrayed in the Oscar-nominated film King Richard. While actor Will Smith could take home his first Academy Award for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the real-life character has an estranged daughter who says she is done reaching out to that side of her family after years of trying to no avail.
“The rest of the family are now dead to me,” Sabrina said of her estranged father and siblings.
She believes that Alphonse, who also struggled with bipolar disorder, had overdosed on an unknown medication.
“He [Alphonse] was crying last Monday, hysterical crying. The week before, the doctor confirmed what he already knew, that he had Peyronie’s,” Sabrina revealed. “He had started back at high school, he was going into his fourth semester of computer engineering and was regularly seeing a counselor.”
The family is awaiting autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death.
“We know he’s taken some strong medicines which would have made him fall asleep, he would have gone into respiratory distress, but wouldn’t have known. He just never woke up,” she said.
The grieving mother admits to suffering from her own mental health issue in the past and has started to open the door for communication with her direct family to help heal.
“I told my family and was put in hospital for three days,” Sabrina said.
“You need to speak to someone. Mental health is a disease, but I want to tell other people: ‘You can get through this’.”
Sabrina has now made it her mission to help others battling with mental health in her late son’s honor.
“After that, it’s going to be a mission to reach out to help other people, it will be his legacy, I miss my baby,” Sabrina said. “That’s my life goal. I have an unconditional desire to help people.”
Sabrina Williams is currently working on a tell-all book about her estranged father’s alleged abandonment of his first wife and kids.
