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Iraq War Soldier Alwyn Cashe to Receive Nation’s Top Award for Valor in Combat

By goodblacknews on November 11, 2020
Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe (photo via Facebook U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs)

According to the Washington Post, the U.S. Senate passed legislation on Tuesday that clears the way for to be awarded the nation’s highest award for valor in combat, the Medal of Honor.

Cashe repeatedly entered a burning vehicle in Iraq to save six fellow soldiers and an interpreter from harm. He died a few weeks later.

To quote the article:

The legislation, passed by unanimous consent, waives the legal requirement that the Medal of Honor be awarded within five years of a service member’s acts of valor. Cashe has long been considered one of the war’s great American heroes and would be the first African American to receive the award for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Former defense secretary Mark T. Esper supported the move in a letter to Congress in August after years of deliberations within the Army.

“I am so grateful the Senate passed our bill to pave the way for the President to award Alwyn Cashe the Medal of Honor,” Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D.-Fla.) who co-sponsored the bill in the House, said in a statement. “We are now very close to recognizing this unbelievably heroic soldier, who died saving his men, with our nation’s highest award for combat valor — which he earned beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

Cashe, 35, hailed from Oviedo, Florida and served the U.S. Army as an infantryman with the 15th Infantry Regiment from 1989-2005. Cashe has already been awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his selfless actions in the face of grave danger and is credited with saving the lives of his Soldiers.

To read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2020/11/10/iraq-war-soldier-alwyn-cashe-set-receive-medal-honor-after-senate-passage-legislation/

CBS Sets New Goal for Unscripted Shows — 50% of Cast to Be People of Color

CBS Sets New Goal for Unscripted Shows — 50% of Cast to Be People of Color

By goodblacknews on November 9, 2020

[Clockwise from top left: Earl Cole, Jolanda Jones, Sean Rector, Vecepia Towery | Screenshots: “Survivor” via CBS All Access]

According to Variety.com, CBS announced today it aims to be more inclusive with the casts of its unscripted shows by setting a target to make all such on-camera participants at least 50% Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).

The network’s goal is to make the change beginning with the 2021-2022 broadcast season. CBS also has stated it will allocate at least a quarter of its annual unscripted development budget to projects created or co-created by BIPOC producers in that same time frame.

CBS also plans to develop more initiatives with its production partners to increase diversity across the board in the unscripted space, though those specific plans have not yet been detailed.

MUSIC MONDAY: “Bustin’ Loose”: A Celebration of D.C. Go-Go Music (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “Bustin’ Loose”: A Celebration of D.C. Go-Go Music (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 9, 2020

[A child holds a billboard for Memorial Day shows at the Howard Theatre, featuring Trouble Funk and Experience Unlimited. Photograph by Thomas Sayers Ellis, used with permission.]

I can not imagine Washington D.C. was is not awash in its funnest export these days: Go-go. This subgenre of funk originated in and around D.C., during the late 1960s and remains popular to this day as a uniquely regional music style.

Singer-guitarist Chuck Brown and several bands are credited with having developed the style including Young Senators, Black Heat, and Trouble Funk.

Chuck Brown playing at a block party (photo via Flickr)

Go-go is primarily a dance hall music with an emphasis on live audience call and response. It has endured to include hip-hop influences recently and been around long enough to have retro adherents.

In February 2020, go-go was named the “official music” of Washington D.C. in a unanimous vote by the District’s city council. Please enjoy this dose of D.C. funky stuff.

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:30XkB2fqvn4VhfM2djJP0T”/]

“See” ya next! And of course, stay safe, sane, and kind.

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
“Black Americana”: Traditional and Modern Takes on Patriotic Songs by African American Artists (LISTEN)

“Black Americana”: Traditional and Modern Takes on Patriotic Songs by African American Artists (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 8, 2020

[Photos: Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock; Marian Anderson at Lincoln Memorial; Whitney Houston at Super Bowl XXV]

by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (@lakinhutcherson)

Yesterday was a good day. As Joe Biden and Kamala Harris became President-Elect and Vice President-Elect of the United States of America, in several cities across the nation literal dancing broke out in the streets. So many people from all stripes of life — Black, Brown, white, Asian, Indigenous — were together exhibiting their joy at the victory.

The massive turnout — in the middle of a surging pandemic, no less — to celebrate the repudiation of the path towards division and exclusion in favor of the path towards inclusivity and diversity was the most patriotic thing I’ve witnessed on a national level in a long time. And so many were carrying and waving American flags.

It’s being acknowledged in the media – as well as in President Elect Biden’s speech – how vital the African American community was in saving this nation’s democracy.  The visuals and the fireworks brought home for me just how much at heart Black people are patriots.

Even though from jump we have been treated unjustly, cruelly, unfairly — we have worked tirelessly to fight for the ideals America is supposed to stand for. Justice. Freedom. Equality. Perhaps we believe in democracy the most because we have always been the most vulnerable when it doesn’t exist.

Hearing Vice President-Elect Harris strut out to Mary J. Blige‘s “Work That” and President Elect Biden sprint out to Bruce Springsteen‘s “We Take Care of Our Own” before their respective speeches, then enjoy the crowd and fireworks to some Jackie Wilson, Coldplay, Hall & Oates and Tina Turner, made me think about some of my favorite takes on patriotic American songs by African American artists that could have been cool to play as well. (My most recent favorite from the past few years? Jon Batiste‘s inventive, unexpectedly moving version of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”)

When my sister Lesa texted me a song she’d been listening to all day — “This Land Is Our Land” by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings — my thoughts turned to action and I started making the playlist below I call “Black Americana” for inspiration now and in the months to come:

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:5X7NWDviuh5ITT9e22wD2a”/]

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Elected to Presidency and Vice Presidency of United States of America

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Elected to Presidency and Vice Presidency of United States of America

By goodblacknews on November 7, 2020

By now, you’ve all heard. All the major news outlets have called the 2020 election for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the next President and Vice President of the United States of America.

Good Black News is sharing this momentous piece of news as well, and of course the biggest part of it from our perspective is that the first Black person and the first Black woman ever has been chosen by the majority of voters of America to be their Vice President.

It is a historic and momentous occasion and will today and always be honored as such. Tomorrow, even harder work begins, but today, we sit in this moment, celebrate and rejoice!

What We Can Celebrate Today: Cori Bush Elected as Missouri’s 1st Black Woman in Congress

What We Can Celebrate Today: Cori Bush Elected as Missouri’s 1st Black Woman in Congress

By goodblacknews on November 4, 2020

Nurse and activist Cori Bush, garnered a commanding 84 percent of the vote in Missouri’s 1st District to become the state’s first Black woman representative in the United States Congress.

“This is definitely a night to remember,” Bush told supporters during her acceptance speech.“This has been a historic day from the beginning to the end.”

To quote the New York Post:

Bush had the backing of the Justice Democrats — who helped propel Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to her first upset victory over 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley.

In her August Democratic primary, Bush had her own upset victory, defeating longtime incumbent, Missouri Rep. William Lacy Clay.

Bush got involved with the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014, when Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson.

She joined the protests that erupted in the wake of the shooting and soon began leading the protests in her Missouri district.

Bush has remained engaged in protest work ever since, getting heavily involved in the recent protests surrounding the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

To read more: https://www.vox.com/2020/11/4/21538719/cori-bush-ritchie-torres-jamaal-bowman-election-results

ELECTION DAY: Change Is Gonna Come… If We Vote!

By goodblacknews on November 2, 2020
GBN Co-Editor Lesa Lakin and Editor-in-Chief Lori Lakin Hutcherson voting in 2020

We have been living through the 2020 pandemic, protests, economic crisis and all too real and recent attempts at voter suppression happening across the U.S.

And the last thing anyone needs right now is another long article on the importance of voting. So here it is as succinctly as we can put it:

VOTING the one thing we can do to help ourselves and to help others.

To create the opportunity for change that embraces and includes instead of divides and excludes.

GBN supports the Biden/Harris ticket, because they are about embracing, including, bettering.

The other is not.

So if you haven’t already, please, get to a voting center… and help! (IWillVote.com can tell you where if you don’t know)

Onward and upward,

The Good Black News Editorial Staff

 

MUSIC MONDAY: “In The Heat of the Night” – A Celebration of Black Film Music (LISTEN)

MUSIC MONDAY: “In The Heat of the Night” – A Celebration of Black Film Music (LISTEN)

By goodblacknews on November 2, 2020

by Marlon West (FB: marlon.west1 Twitter: @marlonw IG: stlmarlonwest Spotify: marlonwest)

Hello, again! Here’s a collection of Black composers of film music. There are a few iconic songs from films included here, but the playlist is mainly devoted to scores.

As usual, this is a varied group of artists. They come from Jazz (Herbie Hancock and Duke Ellington), popular music (James Brown, RZA and Pharrell Williams), Rock (Barry Adamson), and of course, Classical ( Michael Abels and Kathryn Bostic).

[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:playlist:3AZVx1ZXDEAHsdu5QJo95p”/]

This collection spans decades of work from the 1930s to very recent releases. Hope you enjoy the wide-ranging collection of film music.

“See” ya next week. And was want is always my wont, please stay safe sane, and kind And VOTE!

Marlon West (photo courtesy Marlon West)
Russell Wilson and Ciara Donate $1.75 Million to Washington School via Why Not You Foundation

Russell Wilson and Ciara Donate $1.75 Million to Washington School via Why Not You Foundation

By goodblacknews on October 30, 2020

According to the Associated Press, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Ciara, the Grammy-winning performer, through their Why Not You Foundation, are contributing about $1.75 million to rebrand an existing charter program known as Cascade Midway Academy, just south of Seattle.

The Cascade high school program was set to debut this year before the pandemic forced founders  to delay opening. The superstar couple’s generosity will be honored with the school’s name change to Why Not You Academy.

Wilson and Ciara said to the Associated Press they jumped at the opportunity to help launch the school. It focuses on academics, personalized student plans and internships and mentorships for underserved Black and brown students. The couple said they hope this will be the first of many Why Not You Academy sites across the country.

“I’m really confident…about the team that we have here and how we’re building things out,” Ciara said. “We’re passionate about everything. We’re all in on this.”

The Why Not You Academy is expected to open in fall 2021.

To read more: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-school-choice-seattle-charter-schools-celebrity-04ab591940910dfb9109150eafb39fc0

Virginia Military Institute Votes to Remove Confederate General Stonewall Jackson Statue from Campus

Virginia Military Institute Votes to Remove Confederate General Stonewall Jackson Statue from Campus

By goodblacknews on October 29, 2020

According to the Washington Post, Virginia Military Institute’s Board of Visitors voted Thursday to remove the prominent statue of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson from the state-supported military school grounds in efforts to address continuous incidents and allegations of racism there.

 To quote the Washington Post article:

After reading descriptions by Black cadets of what they endure at VMI, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam (D) ordered an independent investigation into the school’s culture. VMI’s superintendent, retired General J.H. Binford Peay III, resigned Monday in the wake of the controversy.

It is unclear where the statue of Jackson — an enslaver of six people who taught at the school before helping to lead the Confederate Army — will go.

To read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/vmi-stonewall-jackson-statue-racism/2020/10/29/fc3b9490-1a05-11eb-aeec-b93bcc29a01b_story.html