Priscilla Williams-Till, Emmett Till, Senate Bid In Mississippi

by Mary Spiller

September 15, 2025

Priscilla Williams-Till, Cousin Of Emmett Till, Launches Senate Bid In Mississippi

Civil rights activist Priscilla Williams-Till is challenging incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith with a platform centered on justice, healthcare access, and reproductive rights.

Priscilla Williams-Till, a cousin of Emmett Till and founder of the Emmett Till Justice for Families Foundation, has entered the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Mississippi, pledging to carry forward a legacy of civil rights and social justice. The election is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026, with primaries set for March 10. Williams-Till announced her candidacy as a Democrat, challenging Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi Free Press reports.

“I am running for United States Senator to help shape and enact laws that promote social justice and civil rights protections at a national level in Mississippi,” Williams-Till said in her campaign launch. “I want to ensure that the perspectives and needs of our communities are represented with the federal government contributing to a more inclusive political dialogue.”

Williams-Till’s family connection to Emmett Till — the 14-year-old boy whose brutal 1955 murder in Mississippi galvanized the civil rights movement — is central to her campaign. She said her work leading a foundation that advocates for federal accountability in hate crimes and racial justice cases has prepared her for this moment.

A Jackson native, Williams-Till is a graduate of Lanier Junior Senior High School, Jackson State University, and Belhaven University. She said she hopes to be a strong advocate for her community in Congress.

“My purpose for running for United States Senate (is that) I can influence the legal system by introducing laws that help shape legal interpretation that address systemic injustice, federal investigation into police departments, police reform or even discriminating zoning laws,” she told the Mississippi Free Press on Sept. 5.

Healthcare is another major focus of her campaign. Williams-Till supports expanding Medicaid and protecting services for rural hospitals. “We need a system set up to help people get health insurance for the ones who are cut out of Medicaid across the state,” she said.

On abortion, Williams-Till emphasized her belief in personal choice. “I think people have a right to decide whatever they want to do with their bodies. That’s between them and God. I don’t think any man or woman should dictate to a woman what she should do to her body,” she told the Mississippi Free Press.

During an Aug. 28 press conference at the Mississippi Capitol, Williams-Till wore a T-shirt featuring images of Emmett Till and his mother as she addressed lawmakers and supporters. She criticized Hyde-Smith’s record, citing the senator’s controversial 2018 remark about a public hanging. “To bring about justice is to change justice with leadership, and that’s the most important thing that can happen, is you have to show leadership by example,” she said.

Williams-Till enters a competitive field. Ty Pinkins, who ran as a Democrat against Republican Sen. Roger Wicker in 2024, is now campaigning against Hyde-Smith as an independent. On Sept. 3, Democratic prosecutor Scott Colom also announced his run for the Democratic nomination.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 15, 2025

Coco Gauff Joins Tom Brady-Founded Religion Of Sports In New Branded Content Partnership

Gauff will collaborate with Religion of Sports under her own media company, IROC.

Coco Gauff is breaking into new arenas as she joins Religion of Sports for a new production and branded content partnership.

The deal is set between the creative agency, founded by sports stars such as Tom Brady and Michael Strahan, and Gauff’s own media company, IROC. Together, the two parties will create new projects and features centered on the lives of athletes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Religion of Sports (@religionofsports)

The deal will develop a wide range of content, spanning both scripted and unscripted spaces, as well as include brand campaigns and long-form series. Through IROC spearheading new storytelling for diverse athletes, their collaboration with ROS will widen their opportunities within the sports media landscape.

Gauff released a statement on the joint venture, signaling how the move will elevate IROC. Furthermore, IROC sits as a subsidiary of Coco Gauff Enterprises.

“Storytelling has always been my way of connecting — sharing who I am beyond wins and losses,” Gauff said, per Variety. “With IROC, my family and I set out to amplify underrepresented voices and merge my passion for storytelling with brand partnerships. Teaming up with ROS, who’ve brought so many athletes’ stories to life, lets us dream bigger and make those stories resonate.”

Under this new deal, Gauff and IROC also will work with ROS creative executives Victor Buhler, Chelsea Marotta, and Jonathan Schaerf. ROS already has multiple released projects under its belt, such as “Tom vs Time” on Facebook Watch, “Greatness Code” on Apple TV+, and Netflix’s “Simone Biles Rising.”

“At Religion of Sports, we believe the most powerful stories come from those who live at the intersection of greatness, purpose, and humanity, and Coco Gauff embodies that entirely,” added Ameeth Sankaran, CEO of ROS. “Partnering with IROC gives us the opportunity to build something truly generational, rooted in Coco’s vision and voice, and reflective of a new era of athlete-driven storytelling. We’re excited to partner with her to bring these stories to life.”

The first instance of this partnership coming to life will be through a commercial for Naked Juice. Gauff already serves as a brand ambassador for the juice and smoothie company, now marking her creative talents in that collaboration as well.

Boston, Boston Freedom Trail, slavery, King Chapel

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 15, 2025

King’s Chapel In Boston Unveils First Statue To Recognize City’s Place In Slavery

In the reclamation of its own history, King's Chapel will shine a light on Boston's place in slavery.

The first monument recognizing Boston’s connection to slavery will finally see the light of day.

King’s Chapel on Tremont Street will host the historic monument. The area is one of the historic sites on Boston’s Freedom Trail, which highlights the city’s role in early American history.

The city’s darker past with slavery, however, previously remained lost on the trail. According to WGBH, King’s Chapel will address its whole history with a memorial statue. Founded in 1686, the church was the first Anglican church in the New England region.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by King's Chapel Boston (@kingschapelboston)

Unbeknownst to many, the ministers and members of the church enslaved 219 people during its early history. Now, King’s Chapel will recognize those who helped establish the church through a 14-foot-tall statue of a Black woman. The statue will feature the woman releasing six birds from a cage, symbolizing their freedom.

Advocates for the statue say its establishment will mark Black people’s history in Boston. While it represents a darker side of the city’s history, it remains important to showcase and remember. A special Sunday Service will accompany its unveiling Sept. 14, complete with musical performances and a reading of all 219 names.

“One of the things that really excites me about this memorial is the fact that it is on the Freedom Trail and that there will be this humongous, large Black woman at one of the busiest corners in Boston that people will have to walk by and see,” said Roeshana Moore-Evans, the strategic advisor for the church’s committee that has overseen the memorial project. “They’ll want to know more.”

The statue’s conception comes from the church’s own reckoning with its history. Beginning in 2017, the church embarked on a mission to identify the enslaved people associated with its founding. Its efforts shine a light on Boston’s lesser-recognized part in American slavery, with current leaders also emphasizing its ties.

“I felt, because we’re on the Freedom Trail, we had a special moral obligation…a moral obligation to tell the truth,” explained Rev. Joy Fallon, the church’s senior minister.

Artist Harmonia Rosales designed the statue. She worked in partnership with MASS Design Group, which developed another statue dedicated to Black existence in Boston, the Embrace Statue, depicting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King. Rosales hopes the statue showcases how King’s Chapel, with its achievements and flaws, represents this country.

“King’s Chapel broadly reflects the foundation and contradictions of America as a whole,” Rosales said.

Tours will now have another way to discuss Boston’s diverse and racially resonant history. Especially at the time of anti-DEI legislation and policies, this move champions the opposite, allowing for greater visibility for Black American life in Boston.

“I wanted people to stop in awe, not just stop in curiosity, but see her beauty in complete natural form,” added Rosales. “I want people to have a sense of just being seen.”

by Daniel Johnson

September 14, 2025

‘Black Clowns’ Billboard In Mobile Misunderstood, Owner Explains It Promotes Comedy, Not Politics

The billboard ad depicts two Black clowns has the words 'It’s time to get the clowns out.'

A billboard message that depicted two Black clowns along with the words “It’s time to get the clowns out” sparked concern and outrage in part because it didn’t have any context attached to it and was displayed relatively close to two runoff elections in Mobile and Pritchard, Alabama; two majority-Black cities.

According to Al.com, the owner of the billboard, Michael Lewis, a Black man, finally clarified things during a Sept. 10 interview on WBLX-FM, an urban Hip-Hop station in Mobile.

According to Lewis, who owns Bumblebee Billboards, the advertisement “doesn’t got anything to do with y’all politics.”

He continued, “It’s about bringing the clowns in. All the comedians you want in one stage. Get your tickets, tables cause it will be out of control. All the games and all the fun stuff.”

Without that clarification from Lewis, the speculation about the nature of the advertisement would have undoubtedly continued to grow as State Rep. Barbara Drummond had previously spoken out about the billboard, saying the imagery on the billboard “has long been meant to belittle Black people.”

She noted in a Facebook post, “Mobile deserves better — and as Mayor, I’ll always keep working for a city where everyone is respected.”

Lewis, meanwhile, has not responded to any requests for comment from the outlet, but noted in a post on Facebook that people are just mad that they can’t be “mad anymore.”

In an interview with NBC 15 News, Lewis said that the nature of the teaser billboard was intended to be revealed, but people had already affixed their own meanings to it before he could swap out the message.

“Well, you really don’t say much about it, you just put up,” he said. “It could be words, you know, it could just be something that make people think and be like, hey, what’s that about? And then, you know, normally you come back with it and say something else, or you leave it as it is.”

He continued, “I think people may have received information from people who didn’t know what it was about and then they put out their own views and people ran with whatever they said. And then that went crazy because controversy sells, when it was never intended to be anything negative or anything like that.”

Despite the negative perception of the billboard, because of free speech considerations, there was really nothing that could be done about it, according to Lee Rowland, the executive director of the National Coalition Against Censorship.

“The owner of the billboards generally have the right to decide what kind of content to put up,” Rowland told Al.com. “Generally, the billboard owners are looking for publicity to sell that ad space to someone who wants to reach the people’s eyes.”

Lewis, meanwhile, explained to NBC 15 that he is also a cancer survivor, but lost his mother to breast cancer, and the event is also intended to honor the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

“I fought and overcame thyroid cancer. A lot of people didn’t know that I was going through that. I didn’t share that with anyone,” he confessed. “I almost died. I was in the ICU for like three weeks, but amen, God’s good. And I’m appreciative of that.”

He continued, shifting into comedy show promoter mode, “Hopefully going into the future, people won’t just assume and take whatever somebody says, and they’ll investigate for themselves and trust the process. And show up! And wait for the billboard cause it’s time to get the clowns out there.”

by Daniel Johnson

September 14, 2025

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Widow Launches Foundation In His Honor

The Warner Family Foundation will seek to honor the creative spirit of Malcolm-Jamal Warner through the Malcolm-Jamal Warner Creative Legacy Fund.

Tenisha Warner, the widow of actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who tragically died in a drowning accident in Costa Rica almost two months ago, announced the formation of a new foundation in his memory via an Instagram post on Sept. 12.

According to Complex, Warner noted in her post that the day after that date would have been the couple’s eighth wedding anniversary, and she also announced that she and her daughter would be launching two initiatives, River & Ember, and the Malcolm-Jamal Warner Foundation.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by River and Ember (@river.and.ember)

“Thank you for holding us in so much love during this tender time,” Warner wrote. “Tomorrow marks our anniversary — and my heart is wide open. For the first time, I’m sharing a glimpse of the love that began it all.”

She continued, “I can still hear my husband’s laugh, still feel the way he made room for every part of me — every tear, every dream…His presence was a river — steady, sure, and always moving toward what matters,” the message read. “His spirit was an ember — glowing with encouragement, igniting possibility in those around him.”

According to the River & Ember website, the first of several seasonal toolkits will be launched during Spring 2026, and the toolkits themselves “invite families to connect through story, ritual, and art — simple practices that nurture a child’s emotional rhythm, strengthen their capacity to meet life, and deepen the bond between parent and child.”

There will also be a companion app that will launch in the future, the River & Ember app is the rare app that is designed to be used simultaneously by both parents and their children, as the website lays out.

“Most apps are made for adults. Some for children. Rarely for both — and almost never for the sacred relationship between them. River & Ember is different: a quiet digital hearth where parent and child can share one story, one ritual, one quiet moment. Not screen time. Sacred time,” the website states.

The Warner Family Foundation, meanwhile, will seek to honor the creative spirit of Malcolm-Jamal Warner through the Malcolm-Jamal Warner Creative Legacy Fund, which the website notes “exists to honor his truth by nurturing the next generation of poets, painters, musicians, performers, and interdisciplinary creators whose work carries courage, freedom, and authenticity.”

The guiding principles of the Creative Legacy Fund are freedom, originality, an interdisciplinary lens, and legacy, which the website notes is considered a gift to future generations, including Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s own daughter.

Per the website, “The Malcolm-Jamal Warner Creative Legacy Scholarship is open to young artists ages 14–22 whose work reflects an interdisciplinary spirit. Just as Malcolm was an actor, poet, and musician, we believe art often lives in more than one form. We welcome creators who cross boundaries — poets who paint, musicians who write, actors who cook — and all those who seek the freedom to explore their artistry without limits.”

According to Warner, the River and Ember toolkits are deeply inspired by her relationship with her late husband.

“When I met my husband, I found someone who understood that journey. He had been taught — especially as a man — to keep his feelings hidden. Together we discovered that what we both needed was simple, but rare: to be fully seen. To have someone say, ‘your feelings belong here.’ To be held by someone who loves your tears, who sees them as strength, not weakness; where nothing inside you is ‘too much.’ We found that in each other–a safe space for vulnerability.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 14, 2025

Clipse Say ‘So Be It,’ Become First Rappers To Perform At The Vatican

The Hip-Hop group performed alongside John Legend for a benefit concert.

Clipse, the rap duo consisting of Pusha T and Malice, are now the first-ever rappers to perform at the Vatican for the Grace for the World concert.

The hip-hop group performed alongside John Legend for the Sept. 13 event. With the “Ordinary People” singer, the two performed a live rendition of their track “The Birds Don’t Sing” at St. Peter’s Square.

Pusha T announced the group’s anticipated appearance at the event, sharing his own disbelief at the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This is really happening, literally driving to the airport now because this is really happening…🙏🏿 https://t.co/Rb9iwY2Fpd
— King Push (@PUSHA_T) September 12, 2025

“This is really happening, literally driving to the airport now because this is really happening…” shared the Clipse rapper on X.

Co-directed by Pharrell Williams, the global music event aimed to promote peace and equality throughout the world. Not only did guests at Vatican City get to witness the free show, but listeners across the world could livestream the event.

“This is a rare cultural moment where the world stops and collectively tunes in,” Pharrell said ahead of the event, according to Complex. “It is a message of unity and grace for all of humanity.”

Additional performers included Jennifer Hudson, Karol G, and Maestro Andrea Bocelli, who also echoed Pharrell’s statements on the purpose of this unifying concert. Clipse’s appearance garnered immense praise from fans and attendees alike.

The duo’s performance was particularly celebrated by comedian Bill Burr. The comic remarked on the occasion on his Monday Morning podcast.

“Dude, it was fucking unbelievable, the show they put on,” Burr said. “Kendrick Lamar came out and did a surprise guest star thing, came out and did a whole song. I thought the f***ing roof was gonna blow off this place. I’m not gonna lie to you.”

Clipse is continuing its monumental year of releasing their fourth studio album, Let God Sort Em Out, in July. While marking a significant pit stop at the Vatican, the two have also hit the road with their accompanying tour.

by Daniel Johnson

September 14, 2025

Aaron Judge Launches Ball Into Orbit, Breaking Tie With Joe DiMaggio As Yankees All-Time Home Run Hitter

Judge's teammates say players like him don't come around often.

On Sept. 11, Aaron Judge, arguably the New York Yankees’ best slugger since 1960, stepped into the batter’s box in the third inning of their game against the Detroit Tigers and proceeded to launch a pitch from Tigers reliever Sawyer Gipson-Long into orbit at near maximum velocity. Judge sent that pitch 434 feet to left-center field, practically screaming off his bat; his exit velocity clocked in at 114.9 mph. That was the one that tied Joe DiMaggio for fourth all-time in Yankees history.

Aware of his place in history, Judge noted his place on the list, sandwiched between Yogi Berra and DiMaggio after the game, “Just two legends,” Judge told The Athletic. “Greats in the game. Great all-time Yankees. Pretty cool being on a list with them. It’s even cooler getting a win.”

One day later, the 6’7 282-pound right-fielder who looks more like LeBron James than a typical baseball player, followed up his two home-run performance with another ball launched into the stratosphere. This one, the second pitch of his at bat against Boston Red Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, landed on the street after being blasted 468 feet over Boston’s vaunted Green Monster. Judge’s moonball is the longest at Fenway Park this season and his longest since he hit a 470-foot shot in July 2024.

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1966911687665353086?s=19

Aaron Judge should be the UNANIMOUS MVP.

The discourse this year has been ridiculous.

.322 AVG
1.112 OPS
46 HR
100 RBI
8 WAR

4th most HRs in Yankees history
pic.twitter.com/xsE56pWMVe
— Luke Grant (@LukeGrant7) September 12, 2025

Judge, the first Yankee to be named captain since the retirement of another Yankee legend, Derek Jeter, has hit 47 home runs and leads the major leagues with a .324 batting average, despite also possessing the kind of power that makes pitchers approach him with what former San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich once called “appropriate fear.”

Over his career, which has spanned 1,130 games, Judge has hit 362 home runs, and he is now firmly behind Lou Gehrig, another Yankees legend and the man for whom Lou Gehrig’s Disease, also known as ALS, is named.

Gehrig hit 493 home runs in his Yankees career, and ahead of him is arguably the greatest switch-hitter ever, Mickey Mantle, who, like Judge, possessed a different caliber of power. Mantle hit 536 home runs during his illustrious Yankee career.

Despite the record and the two wins in the last two games, Judge knows that to play in the pinstripes means being held to a higher standard, as he told NJ.com after the game.

“It’s special, but just like all those guys in front of me on those lists, they weren’t playing for records,” Judge said. “They were playing to win. So I’m just trying to follow in their footsteps.”

He continued, “I’m here to win and trying to help put this team in the best position every single night. If that comes with homers and big moments (like passing DiMaggio), that’s pretty cool. But I think all of those guys in front of me, and especially DiMaggio, they played to win in New York. So I’m going to keep trying to do that and we can talk about the milestone at the end.”

His teammates, like second baseman Jazz Chisholm, know that players like Judge don’t come around often, as he noted to the outlet.

“Watching the best player in the league do his thing every day, I’m in awe. We get to see a little bit more than you all, but when he’s not feeling the best, to still go out there and grind out two hits and 114 miles per hour off the bat, he’s a special player. My teammates always talk about how special he is and I couldn’t be happier than to play on the same team.”

"This has cemented his MVP case" – @RyanGarciaESM

The Yankees have played 11 straight games against teams in a playoff spot, and Aaron Judge has been DOMINANT over that stretch:

.333 AVG | .500 OBP | .667 SLG% | 1.167 OPS pic.twitter.com/tKVtulghwq
— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) September 14, 2025

As he told the outlet, Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes that Judge is about to go on another hot run at the plate.

“I feel like he’s gotten a lot of Aaron Judge-type swings off,” Boone said. “He’s really controlling the strike zone while doing it. These last several days, I feel like he’s really starting to get locked in.”

Chisholm chimed in, “It feels like at this point it’s getting normal with him. Watching him every day, sometimes you’ve just got it. Nah, he works for it. But sometimes you just watch him and it’s unbelievable how consistent he is. He’s still hitting .320 right now and he’s almost got 50 homers now. That’s just ridiculous.”

He continued, “Just seeing that and seeing the consistency of the way that he does it. Guys are throwing 100 every day. It’s hard. It’s really hard. And it’s not a soft .300 either. We always say guys are hitting a soft .300, but he’s hitting an immaculate .300.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 14, 2025

King Center For Southern Studies Launches ‘Acts Of Reparation’ Docuseries With Family History Day

The docuseries features one Black and one white filmmaker as they travel back to the American South.

The King Center for Southern Studies at Mercer University has a new documentary on pursuing reparations within the American South.

The Macon, Georgia-based school will host a screening of “Acts of Reparation,” Sept. 19. The docuseries centers on two white and Black filmmakers. The protagonists travel back to the ancestral grounds of Penfield and Monroe, Louisiana, to uncover their story with reparations.

The docuseries will not only feature the filmmakers’ family histories, but also the communities and artifacts that make up these lands. The King Center expressed its pride in premiering the feature, especially as it deals with the ongoing fight for reparations.

“The King Center is proud to launch a new project that examines the American South through documentary filmmaking,” said Director of Spencer B. King, Jr. Center for Southern Studies Dr. Douglas E. Thompson. “The award-winning filmmakers of ‘Acts of Reparation’ have plumbed the deep nuances of racism in American history, but they turn to their own families’ stories to ask bigger questions about what racial reconciliation might look like.”

The film will premiere at the Douglass Theatre, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. “Acts of Reparation” does a deep dive into the true cost of freedom and how to achieve a more equal American society, sparking conversations in a current political climate that shies away from such discussions.

In celebration of the launch premiere, a free Family History Day will take place Sept. 20. In partnership with the Washington Memorial Library’s Genealogy & History room, it will provide a “meaningful space” for families, with activities such as ancestral research and preservation practices for one’s ancestral history.

Furthermore, participants will gain insight into how to conduct research on Black history within their families, including the preservation of documents, photographs, and other memorabilia. They will also engage in a family tree-building workshop while also gaining further knowledge of the Penfield Cemetery.

The weekend will champion racial healing and Black familial upliftment as the Macon community comes together for this social project. Tickets to the screening are now available, with the Family History section requiring no reservation.

by Daniel Johnson

September 14, 2025

Earl Richardson, President Emeritus Of Morgan State University, Dies At 81

David S. Wilson, Morgan State's current president, noted that the Morgan State University that exists today owes a debt of gratitude to the groundwork laid by his predecessor.

Earl Richardson, the 81-year-old president emeritus of Morgan State University, who was also the guiding force behind the university’s 15-year fight to secure $577 million in supplemental funding for Maryland’s HBCUs, died on Sept. 13. Richardson leaves behind a considerable legal legacy as HBCUs now face an uncertain future.

According to NPR, Richardson, who led the university from 1984 to 2010, had long been concerned about the state’s underfunding of his university. In 2006, he helped to organize a lawsuit that some plaintiffs, including David Burton, compared to the landmark “Brown v. Board of Education” Supreme Court case, which led to the desegregation of public schools in America.

As Edwin Johnson, one of the original student protestors, noted, in 1990, six years after Richardson assumed his post, a protest over dilapidated conditions at the university started off critical of Morgan State’s administration, but it soon became clear that their ire should be trained on Maryland’s government and not the school’s administration.

“We originally were protesting against Morgan’s administration,” which included Richardson, he told NPR. “But then after we dig and do a little research, we find out it’s not our administration, but it’s the governor down in Annapolis that isn’t equipping the administration with what they need to appropriately run the school.”

According to Johnson, Richardson, who was a veteran of the civil rights movement, is the figure most responsible for guiding the students to the proper target, which culminated in a 34-mile march to the Capitol in Annapolis.

Because Richardson was a state employee, as the university’s president, he couldn’t officially sue the state. Therefore, the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education Inc. was created to facilitate the lawsuit, and Richardson was brought in as an expert witness.

As Burton told the outlet, Richardson was the visionary who guided the lawsuit. “He was armed with history. Dr. Richardson knew where the skeletons were.” Richardson, he said, was “a force that the state could not reckon with because of his institutional knowledge.”

According to Johnson, the resulting funding increase was referred to on campus as “Morgan’s Renaissance,” and on occasion, “Richardson’s Renaissance,” because under his watch, the university expanded its campus, built new facilities and buildings, including a school of architecture and a school of social work, all of which helped to more than double Morgan State’s enrollment.

As CBS Baltimore reports, David S. Wilson, Morgan State’s current president, noted that the Morgan State University that exists today owes a debt of gratitude to the groundwork laid by his predecessor.

“As we mourn his passing, let us also honor his extraordinary contributions by rededicating ourselves to the ideals he championed and the mission he so faithfully advanced,” Wilson wrote in a press release. “Morgan is stronger today because of Earl S. Richardson, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”

Richardson was given numerous awards for his achievements, including the Maryland Senate’s prestigious Citizenship Award, and President Barack Obama also recognized him for his outstanding service to American higher education.

In 2008, Morgan State dedicated the 222,000-square-foot Earl S. Richardson Library in honor and recognition of his work.

I am so grateful for Dr. Earl Richardson’s service to @MorganStateU, our city, and our country. My prayers are with his wife Sheila and son Eric. pic.twitter.com/bIfNuSBgzl
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) September 13, 2025

Baltimore Mayor Brandon S. Scott also reflected on Richardson’s legacy, posting to his X account that he is grateful for Richardson’s service to both the city of Baltimore and his country.

“Morgan State would not be where it is today without Dr. Richardson. Under his leadership, Morgan grew in every sense of the word– from enrollment to degree offerings to physical expansion of the campus. All of that progress brought new students and new investments to Baltimore, helping to drive our own citywide growth,” Scott said in a statement.

He continued, “Dr. Richardson was also a strong advocate for equal opportunity and access for all students. He knew that building a path to higher education meant opening doors for countless young people to reach their full potential. I am so grateful for his service to our city and our country. My prayers are with his wife, Sheila, and son Eric.”

For decades, President Dr. Earl Richardson was a pillar of Maryland and the Morgan State University Community. Dr. Richardson dedicated his life to the education of young Marylanders — our home is stronger because of his work.

To his family and friends, you are in the First Lady…
— Governor Wes Moore (@GovWesMoore) September 13, 2025

Like Scott, Maryland’s Gov. Wes Moore offered his condolences to Richardson’s family, noting that, “For decades, President Dr. Earl Richardson was a pillar of Maryland and the Morgan State University Community. Dr. Richardson dedicated his life to the education of young Marylanders — our home is stronger because of his work.”

He continued, “To his family and friends, you are in the First Lady and I’s hearts and minds — his memory will no doubt serve as a blessing to all that knew him.”

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, Trump, National GUard

by Daniel Johnson

September 14, 2025

As Trump And Tennessee’s Republicans Work To Bring National Guard To Memphis, Mayor Paul Young Is Blindsided

At a news conference, Young noted his disagreement with both Trump and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, but he also indicated that his hands were tied.

On Sept. 12, Donald Trump indicated that he would be sending National Guard troops to Memphis, seemingly abandoning his previous plan to send troops to Chicago.

As The New York Times reports, unlike Illinois’ leaders, Tennessee’s state leaders appear to be amenable to Trump’s plan to send troops into Memphis. However, local leaders, such as Memphis Mayor Paul Young, are not thrilled about the prospect, despite Trump’s assertion to the contrary on Fox News.

At a news conference, Young noted his disagreement with both Trump and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, but he also indicated that his hands are tied and did not respond in quite the same manner as Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

“I did not ask for the National Guard, and I don’t think it is the way to drive down crime,” Young said, noting that it was not a decision he had the authority to make. “However, that decision has been made.”

Yesterday morning, we learned that the Governor & President have decided to place the National Guard & other resources in Memphis, which they have the authority to do.

I want to be clear: I did not ask for the National Guard and I don’t think it is the way to drive down crime. pic.twitter.com/gYO2LSEtC5
— Paul Young (@mayorpaulyoung) September 13, 2025

He continued, after noting the crime numbers were down, but still lending credence to the plans of Republican leaders in his state and a president who wants to send troops after citizens in Black-led cities.

“The crime is still too high, and there’s still too many victims,” Young added, “My ultimate goal is to make sure that we get a long-term partnership and commitment with the state, federal government, community partners that we are going to address the root causes of violent crime.”

Young, notably, declined to establish a consent decree with the Biden administration in December, an arrangement that the Trump administration has not seemed to want to pursue.

Like the mayor, Tennessee State Rep. Torrey Harris (D-Memphis) said that people in Memphis are scrambling to figure out details. “What is their goal, what is their why? We’re all out of the loop of right now.”

Raumesh Akbari, Tennessee Senate minority leader and a Memphis Democrat, said that situations like unrest after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. are the only ones for which the National Guard needs to be called into a city.

“Those are the extreme instances where the federal government sends in the National Guard, when you have folks deliberately disobeying federal law or you have a period of crisis,” she said. Right now, she noted, “a lot of people are scared.”

According to a source granted anonymity by the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Young, U.S. Sen. Bill Haggerty, and Gov. Lee had conversations over the past few months discussing sending law enforcement resources to Memphis, but none of those resources included the National Guard.

Furthermore, the source noted, in contrast to some of Lee’s statements, the initial announcement that the National Guard would be coming to Memphis caught all three men off guard, even though there had been some limited discussion of federal law enforcement resources being lent to Memphis.

According to Haggerty, “Over the past few months, I have worked with federal, state and local partners, including the Department of Justice and the FBI, to surge federal law enforcement resources in Memphis,” Hagerty said an emailed statement to the outlet. “While Operation Viper — an FBI-led mission in partnership with federal, state and local law enforcement — has proven to be a critical step forward in addressing crime in the city, more can be done. Given the success of our early efforts, I look forward to bringing more resources to bear to continue working long-term to ensure the citizens of Memphis are safe.”

However, the Rev. Keith Norman, an influential Memphis pastor, noted that it’s difficult for the citizens of Memphis to tell what’s really going on, remarking that it is so far “so speculative that nobody knows how to read the tea leaves.”

He continued, “From a political point of view, the efforts that I see currently underway seem to be yielding results. And these results are working. So, with the results that are working in place, I think any addition to them with the National Guard would be overkill and, especially without some interjurisdictional agreements and coordination, we might have chaos.”

He concluded, “It’s a message that our government, locally, is ineffective at getting the job done. That’s not a good message. And then, for young kids, it sends a message that says, ‘Hey, it’s okay to be out here standing around with guns on your shoulder in this space,’ when it’s not. We don’t want that open militarization and fascism or demonstration of guns in public spaces from anyone.”