Lamar Jackson Breaks Michael Vick’s Career Rushing Record For Quarterbacks
'That's a record that's been there forever, for a long time. Michael Vick, one of my favorite players, it's just dope.'
He may not have gotten the chance to see Beyonce perform at halftime, but Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson set a record at his most recent football game.
According to NFL.com, Jackson became the all-time leading rusher at the quarterback position in his recent game against the Houston Texans. While doing what most football fans expect of him, he ran for six yards in the third quarter, breaking former NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s record of 6,109 career rushing yards when he cracked the record at 6,110 yards.
“I’m grateful, man,” Jackson said when speaking to reporters after the winning game. “That’s a record that’s been there forever, for a long time. Michael Vick, one of my favorite players, it’s just dope.”
What makes this feat even more amazing is that Jackson accomplished it in fewer games than the former record holder. While Vick set that mark in 143 games, the Ravens quarterback has done it in just 102 contests.
ESPN reported that although Jackson told the press he’d watch his favorite artist perform during halftime, he reneged on his promise and stayed in the locker room with his teammates.
“I was locked in,” Jackson said. “I was in here in the locker room preparing for the second half.”
Vick broke the record 13 years ago, in October 2011, after taking it from Randall Cunningham, who held the record before Vick.
Jackson’s season is another great one; he has four rushing touchdowns of 40 yards or longer, tying him with Kordell Stewart for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback since 1950. With Jackson’s play, it may put him in line to win his third AP NFL Most Valuable Player award (MVP). He won his first one in 2019 and his latest one last season.
The Ravens won the game with a 31-2 blowout victory over the Texans. With the playoffs several weeks away, the win moves Baltimore closer to repeating as AFC North champions, with a record of 11-5.
Alcon has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall. However, the company is acting cautiously to ensure consumer safety.
On Dec. 21, Alcon Laboratories issued a voluntary recall of one lot of its Systane Lubricant Eye Drops Ultra PF, Single Vials On-the-Go, 25-count (Lot 10101) after a consumer complaint revealed the presence of foreign material later identified as fungal.
The recalled product, commonly used to temporarily relieve dry eye symptoms, poses a significant health risk if contaminated. Fungal contamination in ophthalmic products can cause serious eye infections, which may lead to vision loss. The infections could become life-threatening in sporadic cases, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
Alcon has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall. However, the company is acting cautiously to ensure consumer safety.
Recalled Product Details
The recall is limited to Lot 10101, which expires in September 2025. The product is packaged in cardboard cartons containing 25 single-use, preservative-free LDPE plastic vials. It can be identified by the green and pink carton design, the “Systane” and “Ultra PF” branding on the front, and the “25 vials” package size.
The affected lot was distributed nationwide to retail and online outlets, so consumers must check their purchased products.
What Consumers Should Do
Consumers who own the recalled product should stop using it immediately and return it to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement.
If you have questions or concerns, Alcon Laboratories’ Consumer Relations team can be reached at 1-800-241-5999, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST. Consumers experiencing adverse effects or issues related to this product should consult their healthcare provider immediately.
Distributor and Retailer Actions
Alcon notified distributors and retailers directly by letter, email, or phone. To prevent further distribution, they were instructed to discard any remaining stock of the affected batch.
FDA Notification and Adverse Event Reporting
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been informed of this recall. Consumers or healthcare providers who experience adverse reactions or quality problems related to the product are encouraged to report them to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
Reports can be submitted online, or forms can be requested via phone at 1-800-332-1088. Completed forms can be mailed to the address provided on the form or faxed to 1-800-FDA-0178.
Commitment to Safety
Alcon Laboratories emphasizes its commitment to consumer safety and product quality. In a statement, the company assured that it is working diligently to ensure all affected products are removed from circulation and replaced.
This recall highlights the importance of vigilance in product safety, especially for medical products intended for sensitive areas like the eyes. Consumers are urged to take immediate action if they possess the recalled lot, to prevent potential health risks.
Georgia Goodwill Graduates First Cohort Of Certified Phlebotomists
Goodwill of Southeast Georgia is making strides in advancing the career opportunities of local residents.
Goodwill of Southeast Georgia teamed up with Quinlin Moore to offer local residents a 15-week accelerated phlebotomy course. The first cohort of the Phlebotomy Technician Certification program graduated on Nov. 16 at the Savannah Opportunity Center.
Moore, a full-time instructor at Savannah Technical College and affectionately known as “The Godmother of Phlebotomists,” wanted to give back to a community she deeply identifies with.
“My goal was to push them because I needed somebody to push me, to lead and guide me,” Moore said.
The cohort is composed of women seeking higher pay and stable career options.
Ciara Lee, a program graduate, spoke to Savannah Now about Moore’s impact on the classroom and her motivating words.
According to Lee, Moore emphasized the need for students to become proactive in life using the class motto, “If you’re asleep, you better wake up.”
Goodwill offers many ways to help its associates “wake up.” The nonprofit operates an Opportunity Center that provides services to help each associate attain employment based on their individual needs. The company website emphasizes wraparound services such as training, transportation, and education.
According to the company website, the organization is “committed to helping those we serve to access the support, education and employment they need to achieve economic independence.”
BLACK ENTERPRISE recently reported on Goodwill’s efforts to spread awareness about how its thrift services help support people in need. The company collaborated with pop singer Jordin Sparks for a campaign.
The profits from Goodwill donations are funneled into job services programs, like phlebotomy certification, and income for the company’s thousands of employees.
Former NFL Player Enters Guilty Plea For Paycheck Protection Fraud
Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. pleaded guilty to fraud.
A former Philadelphia Eagles running back has pleaded guilty to federal fraud after submitting fraudulent tax returns and applications for financial assistance from COVID-19 pandemic aid programs.
According to The Associated Press, Wendell Smallwood Jr. pleaded guilty to the charges on Friday, Dec. 20, in Delaware. A federal judge approved the plea deal. The former NFL player filed false tax returns for himself and others in 2021 and 2022. He was able to obtain refunds of about $110,000, prosecutors said.
Smallwood was originally charged with three fraud charges in October. He will learn his fate at his May 2025 sentencing.
His attorney, Mark Sheppard, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the former running back appeared in court on Dec. 20 “and forthrightly took full responsibility for his actions. “He recognizes that this is but the first step to try to begin to make amends to the government and to those closest to him. He will continue to do so.”
Prosecutors accused him of using defunct or recently registered businesses and submitting false information about their operations. He falsified start dates, revenue amounts, expenses, and the number of employees for these businesses.
Smallwood used false information when he applied to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program to get financial assistance for three businesses listed in his name. Prosecutors said the U.S. Small Business Administration approved those loans for more than $46,000.
In another instance, he submitted fraudulent applications under the names of at least 13 other people for another program, the Paycheck Protection Program. Smallwood received nearly $270,000 in loans and kickbacks in return for preparing and submitting the applications, based on what prosecutors stated.
Smallwood played for the Eagles after being drafted in 2016 after finishing his collegiate career at West Virginia University. During his NFL career, he also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Washington Redskins.
‘Friendship Nine’ Civil Rights Activist Dies At 86, Surviving Members Remember Him As ‘Our Moses’
A founding member of the "Friendship Nine" passed away at age 86.
Thomas Gaither, the organizing member of the “Friendship Nine,” passed away on Dec. 23 in Pennsylvania at age 86.
Gaither’s son, Kenn Gaither, confirmed the news with the Herald Online. Gaither was the only member of the “Friendship Nine” who didn’t attend Friendship Junior College but spent a month in the York County jail after they were convicted of trespassing at an all-white lunch counter in downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina, on Jan. 31, 1961.
The nonviolent sit-in took place after months of marches by civil rights protesters in downtown Rock Hill, located about 25 miles south of Charlotte. The 10 men were arrested, convicted the following day, and sentenced to either 30 days in jail or a $100 fine. Nine of them chose jail to demonstrate their opposition to segregation.
The “Jail, No Bail” movement, led by the Friendship Nine, captured national attention and reignited civil rights protests across the South, which had begun the previous year in Greensboro, North Carolina. Gaither traveled to Rock Hill as an organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), where he mentored the Friendship students and chose to join them in jail as an act of solidarity for equal rights.
“The nonviolent protest movement was an attempt to give those who were for segregation a way out of the bias and prejudice that imprisoned them,” Gaither said in 2011. “We were not then, or ever, acting against whites. We were for equality for Black people. What we did had a major impact on how protesters, while staying nonviolent, could work for change. And change America did.”
Willie “Dub” Massey and David Williamson Jr. are the last two surviving members of the “Friendship Nine.” Williamson hailed Gaither as their “Moses” and a “hero.”
“We looked to Tom for wisdom, for guidance,” Williamson said. “He was our Moses.”
Williamson cites Gaither’s courage to stand with the Friendship students as crucial for the “Jail, No Bail” movement, which went on to be used elsewhere in the South.
“Tom Gaither was a leader,” Williamson said. “He wanted equality for everybody — period.”
Decades after the Friendship Nine’s protest, the group was honored in Rock Hill and across South Carolina. Rock Hill now features an official state historic marker along Main Street, outside the former McCrory’s lunch counter site, commemorating the Friendship Nine.
In January 2015, a York County judge vacated the convictions of all the men, including Gaither, during a court hearing in Rock Hill. At the hearing, 16th Circuit Solicitor Kevin Brackett, York County’s top prosecutor, issued an apology for the convictions, which had been based solely on the African American race of those arrested for seeking equal treatment. The site of the sit-in, now home to the Kounter restaurant on Main Street, displays a stool with Gaither’s name in honor of his role in the protest.
André 3000 Doesn’t Consider Himself A Flautist But ’New Blue Sun’ Is His Most ‘Honest’ Work
New Blue Sun is a synthesis of liberation and peace.
André Benjamin, one half of the award-winning hip-hop duo OutKast, known widely as André 3000, has been on a multi-city tour for New Blue Sun that kicked off June 2024 in Ontario, Toronto. Along the way, 3 Stacks, as he is also often referred to, made stops in Australia, Europe, Dallas, where Erykah Badu, who he shares an adult son with, joined him onstage; New York City at Brooklyn’s Academy of Music where he played alongside fellow musician Meshell Ndegeocello; Philly to play with Sun Ra icon and centenarian Marshall Allen; and concluded at the fabulous Fox Theatre in his hometown of Atlanta, where was joined onstage by fellow Dungeon Family member, Big Rube.
Courtesy of Andre Benjamin
When André 3000 popped out to play the flute, folks weren’t ready for the shift. The hip-hop-performer-turned-flute performer was a novel concept that was very difficult to digest for rap fans. However, the instrumental album outsold several major rap albums—13 to be exact—in its first week sales, Fader reported. And one year later, it is on its second tour run.
Courtesy of Andre Benjamin
As many should expect, the tour, New Blue Sun, offers an array of experiences. The first is the setlist. André and his talented bandmates birth a whole new arrangement each night through improvisation. Each live show was one of one and unique to its audience. Even the stage lighting must be acknowledged as a performance in and of itself as a mix of cross-colored highlights and lowlights that dance across the theater. An obligatory nod goes to the smoky sage that billows above the musicians–scenting the air and settling the spirit. The energy is as much a factor in the performance as the setting, the performers, and the melodies. The whole is a synthesis of liberation and peace.
BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with André 3000 to discuss the New Blue Sun tour and the journey forward.
BE: I wanna get this right. Is it flutist or flautist?
André 3000: Flautist, but I would not consider myself a flautist.
Then tell me why.
Even though I play flute, I wouldn’t consider myself a flautist because l’m not trained in that way. I got to it in a very personal way, much in the same way I play guitar, but I’m not a guitarist. I can play a piano a little bit, but l’m not a pianist … l guess maybe I don’t feel like I’m on the level of my friends that actually play flute. So, yeah, I wouldn’t call myself a flautist in that way.
Thank you for that clarity and for the transition into the next question. Who are some of your favorite flautists?
Hariprasad Chaurasia. He’s an Indian player. He’s been around since like the 1960s and 70s, but he is to me like the god.
You talk about mastering one’s domain before claiming you are the master of it. And so, can we call you a lyricist?
Yes, well, I wouldn’t say master, but I’ve done it long enough to where I was doing it at such a level that I felt like I could be called a rapper, even though I’m not rapping as much now, but yeah. It’s all just titles.
Did you have a point of reference before you started or any particular artist you’ve used as an inspiration?
Yeah, a lot of indigenous native music to start with. Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Pharoah Sanders. These are some of the greats. Even when you think of Sun Ra, these are people that laid it down for the basis of what we do now.
I’m really blown away by [Sun Ra’s] trajectory and their history. Do you see yourself occupying this space much longer or for the long haul, or is this just a moment for you?
As long as it’s feeding. I’ll definitely keep doing it. As long as there’s interest. We’ve been booked for shows, and we’ve done over 130 shows at this point.
It’s like the actual action of doing it is part of what it is. So yeah, we’ll definitely keep doing it.
You certainly have a foothold with audiences. Atlanta came to Piedmont Park for the Jazz Festival. Do you feel that with New Blue Sun, the audience is different, not just in size but in diversity?
Oh yeah, for sure. It’s completely different … You have some Outkast fans that come to this, but I think the crowd is a little more vast. Your older people. I met a guy at a Q&A, and he was like, ‘l’ve listened to all of you since the first time you ever come out; he’s like, this is your best album.’ It is different.
I’m really pleased with the nuance. When I heard it, much in the way when I heard Love Below, it tweaked my imagination in ways I wasn’t ready for. I really wanna thank you for that.
No, no—thank you. I’m kind of used to it at this point, you know, used to some people being on board, some people being too surprised, some people being not necessarily ready for it.
Yeah, a painter once told me that as an artist and as a creator, if you do not change the temperature of a room; shake up the room, disturb it or make people a little uncomfortable, then you really not creating art.
To be honest, it’s not a goal. You do hope to inject something new. I’m not necessarily trying to disrupt a thing; just pushing myself forward and hope people understand what’s happening, but I do understand where that kind of quote could come from. A lot of things that are normal now, started out as being really uncomfortable.
I’m reading this John Coltrane book and there’s one part in the book where [after a show] the promoter who brought him to Paris, [tells] Coltrane, Man, these people don’t understand what you’re doing and you’re kind of too far out.’ Coltrane’s response was like, no, I’m not, I’m not playing far enough. Now, we look at Coltrane’s like this is the norm. He is the God, but sometimes it takes a minute to push through certain things. Not comparing myself in that way … but I will say that time is the true teller of it all. I think sometimes we rate a thing a classic too early. Sometimes, it takes 10 to 20 years for you to know that it stands up in a certain way; that it’s not just hype. And sometimes, it takes a minute for people to onboard, and that’s fine.
In terms of performance, what goes into creating the ideal stage performance when you’re playing flute?
The ideal performance—it’s all feeling. I can’t really describe it, but it’s when me and the band are listening intently to each other … it’s as long as we feel like we’re journeying. We’re completely composing on the spot every night, so we don’t know which way it’s gonna go, which is awesome. It keeps you alive and in it, so you can never just check in, like, OK, here comes the chorus … the reward is greater because of that.
How do you want audiences to engage with the performance?
Just go along the ride with us and listen. That’s really what it’s about. Most people—when they leave the show—were like, ‘man, it made me think of so many things.’ So it’s really for you, your personal kind of whatever you’re into. It’s not really a show per se.
This writer rated the show, and he gave us a really, really bad write-up, and we were all joking after we read it because he was like he doesn’t get it because there were no solos. Well, we weren’t trying to do any of that. It wasn’t our intent to do these crazy solos because that’s kind of like a showy kind of thing we’re, we’re more about listening and responding.
So, it’s more experience than it is performance?
There is a performance aspect because we’re in front of the people presenting a thing, but really, we’re just presenting a moment for you to just share in it. It’s more of us listening and responding and catching something out of or inside of our brains.
The album is roughly 87 minutes long. Does the playlist consist of the entire album? Are you mixing things in? Are you just doing improv?
When we first started hitting the road, like our first few shows, we injected one or two melodies off of the album that people may recognize, but then we came to find out quickly that it was not in keeping with how it was made. That was kind of restrictive. It’s rewarding people … but when I recorded that tune, I made it up on the spot. So I had to actually relearn it to play it in front of a crowd … So, we’re completely making the whole thing up every time.
Whatever show you came to was specifically tailor-made for that day, and we’ll never be able to do it again, but we record everything. We’ll be able to look back 20 years and be like, ‘Oh yeah, that was that night in D.C.’
Are you proud of this history that you’ve created and this future that you are creating?
I’m really proud of just having the guts to follow what’s coming at me because in all honesty, it wasn’t a plan. It was never a plan. It was never like, yeah, I’m gonna stop this rapping and I’m gonna kill these niggas with this flute shit.
In the same way like it the same way Love Below came about, the same way “So Fresh, So Clean” and I never knew what was gonna be happening. I’m just happy I’m able to respond to what’s happening enough to do it … it just happened. I think that’s the best way to just be attentive enough to respond, and l’m happy that I was attentive enough to respond to where we are right now. I’m just a cog in it, you know, playing my part.
What do you want us, the public, and your supporters to know?
That we’re alive and listening. These performances may be the most honest thing you’ll get in a couple of years because it is live and direct, we’re not making it up. What’s happening is not for prosperity.
You’re a long way from DeKalb County, from Decatur, from Atlanta, and home is not necessarily a place, right? Today, what is home for you?
I live in Venice Beach, California; that’s home. When I get home off the tour, I go back to Cali.
OK, that’s where home is, but what is home for you?
Home is a comfort place, refuge. Where I can sit on the sofa and feel like I can just lay here and charge up. That’s home—anywhere you kinda go back to. Anywhere you go back to is home.
Klay Thompson Surpasses Reggie Miller, Takes No. 5 Spot For NBA All-Time 3-Point Shots
'I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas present'
Dallas Mavericks sharpshooter Klay Thompson continues to add accolades to his Hall of Fame career as he moved past a former three-point specialist when he nailed a three-point shot in his latest game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
According to the team’s website, in its Christmas game, Thompson surpassed former Indiana Pacers great Reggie Miller to take the fifth spot on the list of the most three-pointers made.
Klay Thompson passes Reggie Miller for 5th all-time in 3-pointers made! 👏
That historic shot made 2,561 three-pointers while playing in the NBA. There are four current players in front of him, including former teammate and “Splash Brother” Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors), James Harden (Los Angeles Clippers), and Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks). Retired NBA champion Ray Allen (Milwaukee Bucks, Seattle SuperSonics, Boston Celtics, and Miami Heat) is also in front of Thompson.
“I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas present,” Thompson said.
“It’s obviously a dream come true and I’m going to celebrate tonight because you just think of all the hours you spent shooting and all the shots you’ve gotten up in your lifetime and to pass an icon like Reggie is super-surreal, especially being a ‘90s baby. I watched him hit so many game-winners, battle against the best that ever played and leaving it all out on the floor.”
The top 5 three-point shooters based on completed shots from beyond the three-point arc are:
1. Curry (3,841)
2. Harden (3,022)
3. Allen (2,973)
4. Lillard (2,683)
5. Thompson (2,562)
Although the Mavericks lost the game by a score of 105-99, Thompson helped them make a comeback with his shooting, but the team still fell short by the time the horn, signifying the end of the game, blared through the arena.
“It does suck we lost,” he said. “I’m really proud of our fight, especially in the second half. We were tenacious defensively.”
Thompson will undoubtedly add to his historic three-point total when the team plays the Cleveland Cavaliers, the top seed in the Eastern Conference, on Dec. 27 at home.
According to Fox 6 Now, Wong has made it her mission to uncover the stories of figures in Milwaukee whose contributions to history often go overlooked, using a tour titled “Stories of Strength: Honoring Black Milwaukeeans.”
“This is the oldest operating cemetery in Milwaukee,” Wong told the outlet.
“I want to give voice to the stories of the people who might not be as well known.”
The tour travels approximately 1.5 miles and features a story about the Watson family, whose patriarch, Sully, purchased his freedom. Wong traces the family’s roots in Milwaukee to the mid-1800s.
William Watson, the son of Sully and Susanna, was a stonemason who helped build Milwaukee’s Iron Block Building. Another of Sully’s descendants, Mabel Watson Raimey, became the first Black woman to be admitted to the Wisconsin Bar.
Wong, a school social worker by trade, has a passion for researching and sharing Black history, which she indulges in through leading tours that trace the lives of early Black settlers in Milwaukee, whose forgotten contributions to the city include building landmarks that still stand today.
Yvonne Thomas was one of the people who took the tour and briefly reflected on what those early Black settlers endured.
“If they went through what they went through, then I can walk these few blocks for them,” Thomas told Fox 6.” I think of all the things they went through that we can’t even imagine. They didn’t give up; they were persistent, they were committed. That is the reason why we’re here.”
The tour also tells the story of Louis Hughes, the author of a slave narrative, 30 Years A Slave. Hughes is buried near his wife, Matilda, and the couple’s daughters in the cemetery.
Ezekiel Gillespie, the founder of Milwaukee’s St. Mark A.M.E. Church and an early Black suffragist who sued the Wisconsin Board of Elections and later won a landmark case in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which secured voting rights for Black voters in Wisconsin, becoming the first Black voter in Wisconsin, is buried near the Hughes family.
The tour also tells the story of George Marshall Clark, the only known victim of a lynching in Milwaukee, who was honored in 2021 with a dedication at his gravesite.
According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Clark’s grave had gone unmarked for years. Thanks to the efforts of Kamila Ahmed and others, his grave was marked, and his story was commemorated by a historical marker near the spot where he was placed on a piledriver and hung.
Ahmed was overcome with emotion at the ceremony but told the outlet that Clark’s acknowledgment was a victory for the Black community of Milwaukee.
“We don’t always see change (the gravestone of Clark) happen so quickly. This is victory for the entire community. Just to be part of this is a joy,” Ahmed said.
“As we unveil this plaque, let us also unveil a commitment to change. Let us remember not only the pain but also the strength that brought us together today. Let us remember the importance of unity, understanding, and the fight against racism,” Bryant said.
“We have come to understand that we do not want to live with racism. Now, let us learn how to live in harmony, in respect of one another. Let this plaque not only be a symbol of a dark past, but also a beacon of hope for a brighter and more equitable future.”
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley echoed Bryant’s call, remarking that marking events like the lynching of Clark is a necessary part of communal healing.
“We cannot just choose to remember the pieces of our community’s history that shine in a positive light. It is only by recognizing the deep societal impacts of these events, and remembering where we come from, can we begin to heal and honestly look to the future,” Crowley said. “My vision for Milwaukee County is that by achieving racial equity we will become the healthiest county in the state of Wisconsin. In 2019, Milwaukee County was the first jurisdiction to declare racism as a public health crisis. And while we have taken incredible strides in advancing racial equity and health equity, we know that our work is far from over.”
Gospel Music Hall Of Fame Museum Underway At Historic St. Louis Church
Second Baptist Church will become a museum to honor the legacy of gospel
Plans for a Gospel Music Hall of Fame (GMHOF) museum are underway after local St. Louis developer PGAV Destinations joined the efforts of Founder Dr. Monica Butler to transform the historic Second Baptist Church into a cultural hub by mid-2025.
The architecture and design company has committed to help create a master plan for the museum to uphold the rich gospel legacy of St. Louis, a city Butler has deemed “the Bible Belt of Gospel.” According to First Alert 4, plans include securing stakeholders and funders to invest in the vision for the museum. PGAV Vice President Diane Lochner said the architectural design company, which boasts a portfolio of museums and attractions worldwide, is “really trying to develop the road map for her.”
Over the next six months, the building, located on North Kingshighway, will undergo a three-phase transformation as PGAV and Butler consider site feasibility, create a design for the future guest experience, and develop a plan of action for long-term success.
“The history of gospel music is being lost, and it’s vital that we tell the stories and keep it alive,” Butler stated, according to Instagram.
PGAV and Butler’s master plan envisions an immersive experience for guests, which includes an exhibition hall, state-of-the-art recording studio, theater, café, and training center. The film and television producer spent her childhood near the currently abandoned church. “I want the bells to ring again and bring the hope back to the city and our community,” Butler said.
Butler founded the Gospel Music Hall of Fame to honor the legacy of gospel artists and preserve the legacy of the music genre. “Through education centers, performance halls, and historical exhibits, GMHOF honors the genre’s pioneers and fosters the development of emerging talents,” Butler said on GMHOF’s website. The transformation of Second Baptist Church will provide a cultural cornerstone for the past, present, and future of gospel.
Past estimates reportedly place renovation costs for the church at $22 million.
Gabby Petito’s Father Advocates For Missing Black and Brown People
40% of missing persons are people of color
In 2021, the search for 22-year-old Gabby Petito dominated the news cycle. From network cable news and local television stations to the headlines of newspapers and blogs, everyone was talking about the disappearance and death of the young woman believed to be killed by her boyfriend. Three years later, her father, Joseph Petitio, is turning his tragedy into advocacy for people who don’t get the coverage they deserve: Black and brown missing people.
Petito told CNN that at the height of his daughter’s search, he was tagged in social media posts about the term “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” so he looked it up. The term was first coined by American Studies professor Sherri Parks and popularized by the late TV anchor Gwen Ifill, who mocked newsroom executives at a journalism conference in 2004.
“If it’s a missing white woman, you’re going to cover that every day,” Ifill boldly stated. Social scientists define the term as just that. It’s the idea that the media is far more likely to seize on the disappearance of a white woman than that of a woman of color.
According to the Black and Missing Foundation, 40% of missing persons are people of color, yet African Americans make up only 13% of the population. Even more alarming, according to the foundation, is the coverage of white and minority victims is disproportionate for several reasons. Minority children are often initially classified as runaways and, as a result, do not receive the Amber Alert. Missing minority adults are usually labeled as associating with criminal or gang activity and drugs. It’s also believed that missing minorities are living in impoverished conditions, as a result, law enforcement assume that crime is a regular part of their lives.
Joseph Petito Helps Black and Brown Families Get The Coverage They Deserve
Now, Joseph Petito is making sure the stories of Black and Brown missing persons get the coverage they deserve. He advocates for missing people of color through the Gabby Petito Foundation, an organization that honors his daughter. The nonprofit is on a mission to raise awareness of missing people and prevent domestic violence.
The foundation is partnering with families of missing Black and brown people and groups dedicated to raising awareness of these cases.
One case Mr. Petito is advocating for is of 24-year-old Daniel Robinson. Robinson went missing after leaving a work site in the desert in his Jeep Renegade on June 23. It took local media more than two weeks after his disappearance to cover his case. His father, David Robinson, lives in South Carolina. He hired an independent investigator and assembled his own volunteer search team because he felt the police weren’t making any progress in his son’s case. At the same time, there was a manhunt for Gabby Petito. Robinson said it was “hurtful” witnessing how her case was met with more urgency and national attention than his Black son.
“You wish you lived in a world where everything was equal, but it’s really not equal,” Robinson told CNN.
