Late October 2026 Updates.

 

There are a lot of discussion about Philip Anthony Mitchell. I heard of him for months before, but one YouTube video from the Atlanta Journal Constitution with a commentary from a black woman journalist inspired me to discuss about him. He is part of the new generation of megachurch pastors who want to deemphasize race, because he wants to preach the Gospel to all people (unlike many pastors from back in the day who wanted to use overt political and social activism in getting change done in American society). What is the truth about Pastor Mitchell? The truth is more nuisance. First, I will mention what I agree with Pastor Mitchell on, and later I will mention what I disagree with him on. Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell is right that the Gospel should be presented by Christians, because the Lord Jesus Christ explicitly said to his followers to spread the Gospel to all creation before his ascension into Heaven. That is non-negotiable. That command from Jesus Christ is an edict for all believers. Therefore, Mitchell is correct on that point. He is right that human beings should repent and be better human beings. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. He is right that we shouldn't be ashamed of being Christians and inspire hope for the human race. What he is in error is to place one standard on Democrats and another standard on Republicans including Donald Trump (in him saying that Republican coordinated states are strongholds of godliness and those states governed by Democrats are filled with ungodliness when many GOP dominated states are using voter suppression policies and doing nothing to handle environmental racism) when both major parties have imperfections. No one political party on Earth has a monopoly on morality historically. Therefore, we should never worship Trump as Trump anti-DEI policies, anti-environmental policies, his tax breaks for the super-rich, and him trying to promote racist Confederate memorial (funded by our taxpayer dollars) are acts that are anti-Christ. Pastor Mitchell refuses to condemn the bad policies of Trump which a lot of megachurch pastors do. They believe in a colorblind ethic, but we have every God given right to both preach the Gospel and confront systematic racism, ecological oppression, and all injustices in the world without shying away from political controversies. The NT says to show the truth in season and out of season, not to be politically neutral when MAGA has fired over 600,000 black women (when Pastor Mitchell refuses to talk about). Therefore, Pastor Mitchell is not wrong in all things that he is talking about. He is right on a list of issues, but he fails to see that God is not colorblind as God created all colors. 

Seeing and acknowledging color is not evil. Confronting racism in the church is not evil, because doing that will only strengthen the church to allow it to grow. Celebrating black culture is not evil. What is evil is to discriminate or hate a person based upon color or background. What is evil is ICE in many cases going too far in oppressing many immigrants including American citizens. What is evil is about Trump calling black people low IQ if we disagree with his views. Therefore, consistency matters. Democrats and Republicans should be held to the same standard without MAGA worship (as some Christian nationalists believe in). That is why we have a separation of church and state. God is color respectful as we should be in fighting the evils of racism, imperialism, sexism, and economic exploitation that plagues this planet of Earth. So, Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell isn't wrong on everything that he has to so say (and I think he sincerely believes in God), but I don't agree with him on other issues which promotes a form of Christian Nationalism, even if Pastor Mitchell doesn't agree with that view. 

 

I found out that Delois Yvonne Satchell Reid is my 4th cousin. She was born on April 18,1947 at Northampton County, Virginia. She married Frank Charles Reid (b. 1945) on December 6, 1963, at Eastville, Virginia. Her sister is my late 4th cousin Mary Ellen Harmon (1941-2026). She was called "Marelln." She lived to be 84 years old and passed away on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at her residence. She was surrounded by family. She was born on August 13, 1941, and she graduated from Northampton Public High School in Machipongo. She moved to Westbury, Long Island, New York during the early 1970s. She was about worshiping God, teaching her children to be kind, respect other, and work hard. She was the secretary at the department of Social Services. She took Certified Nursing Aide courses and worked at Broadlawn Nursing Home in Amityville, Long Island until she moved back to Virginia. She worked at Heritage Hall and then Shore Memorial Hospital in Virginia. She was the president of the Missionary Board at African Baptist Church in Cheriton, Virginia under the leadership of the late Charles F. ZMZapp. She worked as a missionary and was a Deaconess in the early 2000s. She has the children of Sandra Harmon Williams (her husband is Robert) of Nassawadox, Virginia, Sylvia Harmon of Nassawadox, Virginia, and Timothy Reese Harmon of Brooklyn, New York City. Her grandchildren Ashley Portier, Justin Elting, Johnny, Devion, Nasir and Ivyonna Bundick. Jordan and Carmelo Harmon. Great grandchildren Carter, Zayne and Kade Elting. Kali Michelle, Jamari, Kaylie and Royalty Bundick. Her sisters Evelyn Weeks (Thomas) Delois Reid (Frank) and Robin Baker (Calvin); Nieces; Cynthia Davis (Kevin), Karen Reid; Nephews Anthony Reid (Elsie), Gary Reid(deceased), Donald Baker (Shannon), Darrell Baker (Tonya). Bonus Babies Desireé and De’Asia Kellam, Chimaya Parker. A host of cousins.

One of them most racist actions of the Trump administration is its plan to return a Confederate memorial to Arlington National Cemetery. The Confederacy was made up of a group of traitors who wanted to maintain slavery forever as cited in their own constitutions and their leaders. No taxpayer money should fund sending a Confederate memorial on federal grounds at Arlington National Cemetery. The statue was unveiled in 1914. It is a racist statue too. It shows a bronze woman with olive leaves standing on a 32-foot pedestal and was designed to represent the American South. Some of the figures also on the statue include a black woman depicted in a racist, sexist fashion as "Mammy" holding what is said to be the child of a white officer and an enslaved man following his owner to war. Such a statue has no place on hallowed grounds like the Arlington National Cemetery. Anyone defending this policy is a racist or a traitor. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supports this plan proving that he is a racist again. Opposing the Confederacy has nothing to do with erasing American history. Ironically, Trump and Hegseth want to erase American history that deals with America's true history of slavery, black activism against white racism, and the heroic Americans who stood up against slavery, racism, fascism, and other evils in our society. The statue was named after Confederate traitor and solider Moses Ezekiel. This act from Trump is similar to allowing Nazi soldiers on Jewish cemeteries. 

Golf grew by 1900 in the world society. Gold became an international sport as it appeared at the Paris Olympic Games in 1904. Later, it disappeared from the Olympic program for more than a century. Golf spread in America and Scotland plus England. There was the Professional Golfers' Association of Great Britain and Ireland being created in 1901. It helped organize professional golf. By 1913, 20 year old American amateur Francis Ouimet defeated British stars Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in the U.S. Open. His victory helped to popularize golf in America. By 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) was formed. The first GPA Championship was held in 1916 too. The U.S. Open resumed after interruptions caused by World War I in 1919. By the 1920s and 1930s, golf grown its major championships and international stars. There were new courses, clubs, equipment improvements, and increased newspaper coverage. The first Ryder Cub was created among teams in America and Great Britain in 1927. The competition later expanded to Ireland and all of continental Europe. In the 1920s and 1930s, Bobby Jones became one of golf's most celebrated amateurs, winning many major championships. By 1930, Jones achieved the higsoric single calendar-year Grand Slam of his era by winning the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, The Open Championship, and the AMateur Championship. IN 1934, there was the inaugural Masters Torunament being help at Augusta National Golf Club. Early golf legends were Harry Vardon, James Braid, and J. H. Taylor—the celebrated British “Great Triumvirate”—dominated major championships. American stars such as Walter Travis also emerged.

Bobby Jones became one of golf's greatest amateur champions, winning major titles while maintaining an amateur status. Walter Hagen helped establish the professional golfer as a major sporting personality. His success and charisma elevated the standing of professionals. Gene Sarazen emerged as another leading American champion. The defining achievement of the decade came in 1930, when Bobby Jones won the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, the U.S. Amateur, and the British Amateur in the same calendar year. This extraordinary feat became known as the Grand Slam of his era.

Other important developments included: The Masters Tournament was established at Augusta National Golf Club, which Jones helped create. The inaugural Masters took place in 1934. The Great Depression reduced spending on leisure and affected golf clubs and tournament finances. Professional golfers gained visibility, but the sport remained expensive and inaccessible to much of the population. Equipment and course design continued to evolve, laying the foundations for modern competitive golf. The decade established the Masters as a major annual event and cemented Jones's place among the sport's defining figures. World War II interrupted golf's international schedule. The Masters and U.S. Open were suspended during parts of the war, and the Ryder Cup was not held from 1939 until 1947. After the war: Golf tournaments gradually resumed, and clubs rebuilt their activities. Ben Hogan emerged as a technically exceptional player whose disciplined swing influenced generations. Sam Snead became one of the era's most successful and enduring champions. The professional game benefited from growing postwar prosperity, particularly in the United States. The 1940s were a bridge between golf's prewar traditions and the more commercial, media-driven sport that followed. The 1950s brought a major change: golf began reaching audiences far beyond the people who played it. Arnold Palmer became a charismatic star, attracting fans with his aggressive style and approachable personality. His supporters became known as “Arnie's Army.” Ben Hogan won major championships after surviving a near-fatal car accident in 1949, becoming a symbol of determination and technical excellence. Babe Didrikson Zaharias helped popularize women's professional golf and was a dominant figure in the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), founded in 1950. Television broadcasts made major tournaments more accessible, turning leading golfers into household names. Golf participation grew alongside the expansion of suburban communities and public recreational facilities. Golf was increasingly becoming a spectator sport as well as a leisure activity. Television also set the stage for the enormous commercial growth of later decades.

By the 1960s, Jack Nicklaus emerged as Palmer's great rival. His power, strategic thinking, and consistency made him one of the most successful golfers in history. Gary Player of South Africa became a major international champion, helping demonstrate that elite golf was no longer confined to Britain and the United States. Arnold Palmer continued to draw huge audiences, creating a celebrated rivalry among Palmer, Nicklaus, and Player. Professional golf benefited from greater television coverage, sponsorships, and prize money. Women's professional golf continued to develop, although women received far less coverage and financial support than men. The decade helped establish golf's modern celebrity culture, with rivalries and personalities becoming as important to the public as tournament results.

During the 1970s, Golf expanded internationally and underwent significant changes in equipment and professional organization. Jack Nicklaus continued to dominate, winning major championships and extending his record-setting career. Tom Watson became one of the leading players of the decade. Seve Ballesteros rose from Spain, bringing creativity, imagination, and a distinctive short game to international competition. In 1979, the Ryder Cup began including players from continental Europe, rather than limiting the British and Irish side to players from those nations. This helped make the competition far more balanced and globally compelling. The PGA Perimeter-weighted irons, improved club designs, and emerging graphite shafts began changing how equipment was made and used. The professional game was becoming more international, while equipment innovation gradually altered the skills and strategies required to compete. 

The 1980s saw golf become a more prominent global entertainment business. Seve Ballesteros inspired a new generation of European golfers and helped establish Europe's Ryder Cup identity. Greg Norman of Australia became one of the sport's most recognizable international stars. Nancy Lopez remained an influential figure in women's golf, helping attract attention to the LPGA. Satellite television and improved broadcasting technology brought tournaments to audiences across continents. Golf equipment manufacturers invested heavily in marketing, and sponsorships became central to professional tournaments. The Ryder Cup became particularly compelling as Europe developed into a formidable rival to the United States. Golf was no longer primarily a contest between two national traditions; it was increasingly a global sport. 

The 1990s were one of the most influential decades in modern golf. Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters by 12 strokes at age 21, setting a tournament record for the winning margin and becoming the youngest champion in Masters history. Woods brought unprecedented attention to golf, attracting younger and more diverse audiences. Annika Sörenstam emerged as one of the defining players in women's golf, beginning a career that would help raise the LPGA's international profile. Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, and other international players strengthened golf's increasingly global character. Metal woods, especially titanium drivers, and multilayer golf balls helped improve distance and performance. The Ryder Cup became a major international sporting spectacle, with European victories demonstrating the strength of the expanded team. Tiger Woods's arrival was especially significant: he combined exceptional athleticism, technical precision, mental discipline, and global marketing appeal. His influence extended well beyond tournament results, affecting participation, sponsorships, and golf's public image.

Tiger Woods dominated much of the early 2000s, creating one of the most celebrated periods in golf history. In 2000, Woods won the U.S. Open by 15 strokes, one of the most extraordinary performances in major-championship history. In 2000–2001, he held all four men's professional major titles simultaneously across consecutive seasons, an achievement commonly called the Tiger Slam. It was not a calendar-year Grand Slam. He ultimately won 15 men's major championships, second only to Jack Nicklaus's 18. Women's golf gained new audiences through players such as Annika Sörenstam, while Michelle Wie became a prominent young star. Golf expanded across Asia, particularly South Korea, Japan, and China, with growing participation and professional success. High-definition television, advanced course maintenance, GPS technology, and improved club fitting changed both the spectator experience and everyday play. The decade demonstrated how a single superstar could elevate an entire sport while international competition increasingly challenged the traditional dominance of American and British golfers.

The 2010s brought a new generation of stars and a major milestone for golf's international status. Rory McIlroy became one of the leading players of his generation, winning four men's majors by 2014. Jordan Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open in 2015, joining an elite group of young champions. Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, and other powerful, athletic players helped make distance and physical preparation increasingly important. In 2016, golf returned to the Olympics at Rio de Janeiro after a 112-year absence. Justin Rose won the men's gold medal, while Inbee Park won the women's gold. Women's golf continued to grow internationally, with South Korean players achieving exceptional success on the LPGA Tour. Data analytics, launch monitors, GPS devices, advanced club fitting, and social media changed how players trained and fans followed tournaments. The decade showed that elite golf had become genuinely international, with champions emerging from Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. Golf entered the 2020s amid major disruption and structural change. The COVID-19 pandemic (2020): Many tournaments were postponed or played without spectators. Golf also experienced increased recreational interest as people sought outdoor activities. A new generation of champions: Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, and other stars established themselves among the world's best players. LIV Golf launches (2022): Backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, LIV introduced a rival professional circuit featuring substantial prize money, team competitions, and a different tournament format. A divided professional game: Players' moves between LIV Golf and established tours triggered disputes over eligibility, ranking points, contracts, and the future organization of men's professional golf. The PGA Tour and LIV subsequently explored a potential framework for cooperation, but a full unification remained unresolved. The Ryder Cup: Europe defeated the United States in Rome in 2023, reinforcing the competition's importance as one of golf's biggest international sporting events. Olympic success: At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Scottie Scheffler won men's gold, Tommy Fleetwood silver, and Hideki Matsuyama bronze.  This period made professional golf more financially competitive than ever, but also raised questions about tradition, player loyalty, commercial interests, and the need for a more unified sport.

Several major events made 2025 an especially memorable year. Rory McIlroy won the Masters, completing the career Grand Slam by winning all four men's professional majors at least once. He became the sixth man to accomplish the feat in the modern era of the four-major Grand Slam. Scottie Scheffler won the PGA Championship and The Open Championship, reinforcing his position among the era's dominant players. J.J. Spaun won the U.S. Open, securing his first major championship. Europe won the Ryder Cup 15–13 at Bethpage Black in New York, becoming the first visiting team to win the competition since 2012. TGL, an indoor, technology-driven team golf league co-founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, completed its inaugural season, offering a different way to watch and experience professional golf. McIlroy's Masters victory was particularly significant because the Grand Slam had eluded him for 11 years after his fourth major title in 2014. It was a landmark moment in the history of modern golf. 

    

As of October 2026, golf combines more than a century of competitive tradition with a rapidly changing commercial and technological environment. Professional competition: The PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LIV Golf, and major championships remain central to the professional landscape, although the relationships between tours continue to evolve. LIV Golf's financial uncertainty: In September 2026, LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, creating further uncertainty about the future of the rival league. The major championships: The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship remain the four men's majors. In 2026, Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania hosted the PGA Championship. Technology and performance: Launch-monitor data, artificial intelligence-assisted analysis, advanced golf balls, and custom-fitted clubs are increasingly important to elite players and recreational golfers. Women's golf: The LPGA and other women's professional circuits continue to develop international audiences and produce elite champions. Access and sustainability: Golf organizations and course operators face continuing challenges involving affordability, water use, environmental management, and attracting younger players. The sport is still negotiating the balance between preserving its traditions and adapting to new business models, technology, and audience expectations. The future of professional golf will depend in part on whether competing tours can establish a more coherent structure for players and fans.

By Timothy

Relatives.

 Obituary | Mary Ellen Harmon of Exmore, Virginia | John O. Morris Funeral Home

Changing Times.

 

We do know what we are up against. We have Super PACs and other corporate groups spending about 2 billion dollars on this year's midterm elections. That is the most ever for a midterm cycle. This money comes from misleading ads from crypto, AI, Elon Musk's poltical machine, and even from AIPAC (when some of their members falsely view dissent with the Netanyahu regime as equivalent to anti-Semitism). Organized money in campaign can be a threat to our democracy. We can defeat Trumpism. Decades ago, Reaganism was popular. I was alive when Reagan was President when I was in elementary school. We knew of his sophisticated, far right rhetoric, his extremism, and his abysmal civil rights record. Yet, Trumpism is much worse than Reaganism, because the MAGA movement acts more cultic to bash anyone who dissent with Trump on any issue. Trump mocking a man killed by a tiger, refusing to condemn his followers assaulting a woman in an Ohio campaign rally, and allying with sellouts to promote his agenda represent the hypocrisy, the bigotry, and the corruption found in the Trump regime. At the end of the day, it is about the people having a better life, having an economy that benefits for all people, having racial justice, protecting the rights of women and immigrants, and believing that health care is a universal human right that ought to be accessible to all people. Never giving up is part of our philosophy, and we shall be victorious in the end.

There is a recent school shooting in and Oregon Elementary School. The suspect has been killed, and multiple people are injured including children. Unfortunately, in America, we have an epidemic of mass shooting shootings in schools, theaters, churches, and other places nationwide. The location of the shooting took place in Bend, Oregon. The investigation is very early. The Silver Rail Elementary school is experiencing massive sadness and a disturbing reality that we Americans have to be on guard for such evil shootings. Mass shootings don't discriminate. They have happened in urban locations, rural places, and suburban areas. These shootings target people of every color, sex, and background. The preparators of such actions are cowards, murderers, and reprehensible people who have taken innocent human lives. The FBI and ATF will investigate the shooter, to figure out if the shooter has a digital footprint in a phone, social media accounts, etc., and other aspects of that person's life. 

Trump stumps for election deniers in Arizona. Some good news is that Judge Kelly (a U.S. District Judge) issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's ban and allowing reporters from CNN, Politico, and MS Now to keep their White House access while their lawsuit moves forward. The judged ruled that the revocation of nearly 80 reporters' hard passes likely violated the First Amendment (retaliation and viewpoint discrimination) and the Fifth Amendment or due process. The injunction keeps press credentials active during ongoing litigation, through the Department of Justice filed a notice of appeal. The order doesn't force the White House to provide access to restrict areas like the Oval Office or the Air Force. So, the judge extends the block on the Trump White House ban of MS Now, CNN, and Politico. 

Pete Hegseth has perverted religion as an excuse to support Trump and Christian nationalism. Christian nationalism has nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has to do with an agenda to force religion onto people in an inappropriate way, it is about promoting the ideals of Trumpism, it is about a disregard of the separation of church and state, and it is about hypocrisy (in claiming to be the moral police, but excuses Trump's immorality as supporting Trump as a President not a pastor). Pete Hegseth cheered about the Iran War, wanted to live stream an execution (which is grotesque sadomasochism), and desires hatred of diversity (when diversity is one touchstone of the strength of America). Not a single word of Jesus Christ or any words from the Gospel condone migrants being in chains, families being separated, black people being victims of police killings unjustly, etc. At the end of the day, human beings want freedom, liberty, legitimate boundaries, a sense of purpose, integrity, and going about to have a better society than the past and the present. 

Early voting has started in Georgia now. J.D. Vance supports Mike Collins, and Jon Ossoff is opposed to the agenda of Collins. The rising inflation is not enough for many people to support the GOP.  A large majority of Americans don't agree with Iranian war, the corruption, the high inflation, and the affordability crisis (involving housing, health care, education, etc.). Real wages are in decline for months and gas prices have grown. Many polls show Ossoff leading against Collins. This is a major Senate race. Ossoff said that he is committed to serve a full six-year Senate term if he is re-elected. He doesn't want to run for President. Collins is a bizarre person, because refused to say that Trump lost the 2020 election. Ossoff said that he is open to pack the Supreme Court if necessary. Both Ossoff and Collins experienced a contentious debate about many political issues from racism, the Iranian war, the Epstein files, and other matters.

By Timothy

Trump interrupted by Alaska rally protester and fires 'your mom' joke.

 Trump interrupted by Alaska rally protester and fires 'your mom' joke

Beyonce.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/beyonce-marked-her-45th-birthday-with-a-2-million-gift-to-the-studio-museum-in-harlem-it-has-championed-black-artists-since-1968-and-recently-opened-a-new-home/amp_articleshow/134912175.cms 

Life in our Times.

 

The 2026 midterms elections have seen a record-low approval rating among the American populace. We have seen races in Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and even in South Carolina being in play. That is unprecedented in political history for decades. While this is going on, the authoritarian Trump wants Zelensky to be replaced in a middle of a war, because he wants to cozy up with the dictator Putin. The MAGA movement, over the years, has been divided and fractured. Some people who have voted for Trump three times have decided to either vote blue or vote locally. One Pew Research Center poll found that only 30% of American adults approve of Trump, with 68% disapproving. We have Harvard economics professor Jason Furman saying that the investments into AI data centers are crowding out other forms of vital investment. Furman wrote that real construction spending is growing or declining in many parts of the U.S. economy (like health care construction, educational construction, residential construction, etc., going down). Without diversification of the economy, there is a risk of financial downturn. Some predict an AI bubble if AI technology is not regulated. The Trump Justice Department openly is flouting judicial review. That means that the DOJ wants to defy legal rulings and testing the constitutional policies that maintain our government. At the end of the day, people desire thorough change that will benefit the people without solely benefiting the oligarchy. There is a massive voter turnout in Texas too. 

Trump wants to promote the diesel oil deal with Putin. The reason is that the diesel prices are high over tariffs and the continuation of the unjust Iranian war. Also, people are fighting back against Putin's aggression. NATO's top military commander General Alexus Grynkewich warns Putin that NATO will destroy anything and everything if Russia attacks a NATO country overtly. He said this especially in light of the events happening in Poland, like Russian drones going into Polish airspace illegally. Now, Poland is preparing for the possibility of war. Poland is trying to use legislation to strengthen military readiness, accelerate troop movements, and improve coordination between the armed forces and domestic security agencies. In our time, we have seen the growth of a new generation of directed energy weapons to try to stop drone attacks. Trump using appeasement with Putin is very telling, as Trump respects authoritarians like Xi, Kim Jong Il, and Vladimir Putin. Also, Putin's war machine funds its oil industry that helps to aid Iranian forces killing American soldiers. Zelensky is not perfect, but he has shown more than enough courage and grit to defend Ukraine against an illegal Russian invasion. 

Trump via the DOJ has issued an antitrust threat to NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and Fox News, because these networks opposed Trump's White House ban on media organizations that disagree with him on political issues. He wants to stop the media from disagreeing with him on the basis of antitrust grounds over a boycott that they carried out last month in response to his ban of three news outlets from the White House. This agenda of Trump is against free speech. The DOJ accused the networks of violating the Sherman Act, which was a law passed more than 100 years ago to stop monopolies in major American business and protect competition. The DOJ has no case, because the Trump administration is using retaliation against media companies.  The media boycott has nothing to do with influencing the market. The White House claims that the press bans by citing standards and national security. There will be a decision by one court, and there will be appeals by both sides. If the President can who is invited to various rules, then he will determine which coverage gets played (causing state-run propaganda television). We don't need state run TV but a vigorous independent press that speaks truth to power, irrespective of who is in office.

It has been 30 years in the making. 30 years ago, Tupac Shakur was viciously murdered by cowardly people. Now, Keefe D has been convicted, and he has been sentenced to 40 years to life for involvement in the death of Tupac Shakur. Tupac's family has been emotional about the trial and conviction, because it was their blood family member who was taken from them unjustly. Tupac Shakur was the most influential hip hop artist of all time who showed music, worked in community projects, and was very passionate about what he believed. He made great contributions and mistakes, and he admitted to these mistakes. His lineage came from the Black Panthers as both of his parents were members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. He was born in New York City and learned more about life in Baltimore (where he promoted HIV/AIDS activism, fighting crime, and standing up against oppression), and California. California became home to him culturally, especially. I've been to California before in real life back in 2019, and California has gorgeous scenery without question. Keefe D's niece was Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, a member of the South Side Compton Crips gang, who was also suspected in the murder of Tupac Shakur. Now, Keefe D will be placed into prison for a long time. Justice wasn't denied. Also, we are clear that the FBI illegally monitored Tupac, his family, and other progressive activists for decades. Like Tupac said, he may not change the world, but he will spark the brain that will change the world.

Rest in Power Brother Tupac Shakur. 

There is breaking news about Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota. Her home has searched her home in Washington, D.C. on Monday. The search was part of a criminal investigation on allegations of fraud, according to a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the matter, who told MS Now. Omar said that she is fine after agents wearing Homeland Security Investigations jackets. There is no question about what this search is. Trump has a hatred of progressive black women who are intelligent and outspoken to oppose the agenda of Trumpism. Omar has been a victim of lies and smears by the far right, and the Trump administration wants to use political intimidation under the guise of a "search warrant" to try to curtail dissent against the Trump administration. Also, Trump's overtly racist remarks about Somalis again show his motivation for using the DOJ as his acolytes in trying to gain more power in his unitary executive agenda. The agents want to do a criminal fraud investigation into Omar's immigration paperwork. Jackie Rogers, a spokesperson for Omar's office, said the search was an outrageous abuse of power and an escalation of the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies. Ilhan Omar is the first Somali American elected to Congress, and she has never been convicted of any federal crime. Trump's personal attacks against Omar, black women journalists, and black progressives show his insecurity and misogynoir. We stand with black women.

Seeing the Bigger Picture.

  

As we enter Thanksgiving in this year, we witness its legacy as complicated. Thanksgiving ceremonies has existed among the human family for millennia, found in a multiplicity of cultural and religious traditions. That is why many of us give praise and thanks to God before eating food or drinking water. In our generation, Thanksgiving is celebrated in America, Canada, Saint Lucia, Libera, Australia, and worldwide. It's a holiday with a long history and whose popularity in America is paramount. On that time, there are parades, football games, family reunions, visits to restaurants, vacations, and other events transpire during that time of the year. Long before the Pilgrims landed in America, special thanksgiving ceremonies have existed during the English Reformation in the reign of Henry VIII. The Reformation started, because the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church promoted indulgences and other false doctrines that Martin Luther and other religious leaders left the Catholic Church to establish their own Protestant movement. To this very day, the Roman Catholic Church wants all Protestants and Baptists to accept the leadership of the Vatican, but there is only head of the church, who is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Puritans celebrated the Days of Fasting and the Days of Thanksgiving. After the failure of the Jesuit-inspired Gunpowder Plot of 1605, many people had an annual Day of Thanksgiving in 1606. The English settlers at Berkeley Hundred in Charles City County, Virginia, celebrated Thanksgiving as early as 1619. The Thanksgiving that we know about relates to the multiday festival in 1621 in Plymouth Colony. It was promoted by a good harvest. At that time, the Wampanoag Native Americans had a mutual defense treaty with the colonists. Along with the last Patuxent, the Wampanoag had helped the English colonists to get through the winter by giving them food in exchange for an alliance and protection against the rival Narragansett tribe. In the near future, I will describe the long, real history of the 1621 Thanksgiving. 

 

Our political reality has been caused by tons of factors. When America was officially made in 1776, it had the contradiction of claiming to promote equality and justice while legally having slavery and promoting oppressing against Native Americans, black people, Latino people, Asian people, and other minorities. So, two groups of Americans existed filled with those who wanted justice and those who didn't. The political debates among Federalists and Anti-Federalists led to the creation of the Bill of Rights and the rest of the United States Constitution. Later, early parties were formed (like the Whigs, etc.) being evolved into Republicans and Democrats. George Washington ironically didn't want to be part of any political party. Back then in the 19th century, Democrats would be more conservative and the Republicans would be more liberal. Andrew Jackson was a Democrat, but he was a slave owners, a racist, had hatred of Native Americans, and a pro-austerity extremist. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican and changed to be more progressive as time went on. There were soldiers who were black, white, and people of every color in the Union Army who defeated the Confederacy during the American Civil War. By the 20th century, people fought for justice. Republicans had many people who fought corporate corruption, and both parties were in support of WWI. There were conservative Republicans too like Taft and Hebert Hoover. Hoover tried to stop the Great Depression, but he was very unpopular.

FDR was President for four terms and transformed the Democratic Party to embrace more progressive views. FDR formed a coalition of black people, Latinos, some elderly, labor leaders, Roman Catholics, and other minorities to grow the Democratic Party. This era lasted from 1932 to 1968. By the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement had caused Congress to pass new laws in favor of civil rights and voting rights. The conservative movement grew too and had people like Ronald Reagan and the libertarian Barry Goldwater to promote small government and even oppose Medicare. 1968 changed the Democratic Party forever causing many of the white New Deal Democrats to vote for Nixon out of abhorrence of the anti-war protesters, the civil rights policies, and the rebellions of 1968. Also, Lyndon Baines Johnson deserves much of the blame for Nixon being President too, because he was so stubborn to refuse to oppose the unjust Vietnam War. LBJ, Bundy, Harriman, McNamara, and other oligarchs allowed America to be in the Vietnam War for years causing economic and psychological havoc for the American people and the Vietnamese people respectively. The Republicans used the Southern Strategy (promoted by Strom Thurmond and Lee Atwater) by the late 1960s to get more votes among many people in the South or conservative by exploiting social issues in causing division among the American populace. Nixon was an Eisenhower Republican, but his involvement in Watergate and other issues caused him to resign from office. Gerald Ford was a President, and Jimmy Carter was President. Ironically, Jimmy Carter was one of the first major Presidents who called himself a born again Christian. Carter was a Democrat. By the 1980s, the Conservative Revolution grew with Reagan being its new leader. Reagan was President for 2 terms. More polarization happened in the 1980s and 1990s by Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh, and other far right activists. Bush Sr. was President and Bill Clinton won. Bill Clinton was President for 2 terms. Many things that Clinton did was right (like investments in health care, education, and using policies to cause massive economic growth) and he made mistakes (like his policies on welfare, the Rwanda genocide situation, committing adultery, etc.). Clinton was a center-left President who was the bridge between the 20th and 21st centuries. Bush Jr. was like Reagan, but his foreign policy disasters and domestic disasters with the Great Recession caused his 2nd term to end in ruination. Barack Obama was President for 2 terms and was a progressive except on foreign policy. Obama was ironic, because he said some of the most conciliatory speeches on race as President, but the Tea Party and MAGA extremists still viewed him as promoting racial strife (which is a lie). Trump won and caused horrendous mayhem in America, Biden won in 2020 causing decreases in poverty and massive investments in America. The MAGA's movement growth and hatred of a woman in power were some of the reasons why Trump has his 2nd term. There is massive political polarization now because some people are more concerned with the status quo than equality and justice for all people.

 

Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016. It progressed to stage IV before 2020. Back then, many people didn't know that he had it except a small number of non-family members. During treatment, he had multiple surgeries and chemotherapy. He continued to work and completed production of many films like Marshall, Da 5 Bloods, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and others. Chadwick Boseman passed away at his Los Angeles home as a result related to colon cancer on August 28, 2020, with his wife and his family by his side. He was just 43 years old when he passed away. He died intestate, and his estate was governed by California law with the representation of Ledward, his widow. A public memorial service was held on September 4, 2020, in Anderson, South Carolina. Speakers included Boseman's childhood pastor as well as Deanna Brown-Thomas, daughter of James Brown, whom Boseman portrayed in Get on Up. The city announced plans for the creation of a permanent art memorial at the service. Many fellow actors, fellow actresses, and other celebrities paid tribute to Chadwick Boseman on social media following the announcement of his death. They included his Marvel Cinematic Universe co-stars. His alma mater, Howard University, celebrated his life as him experiencing a personal journey from student to superhero. His death was in the same year as other celebrities' passings like Kobe Bryant and Naya Rivera. Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers, the franchise for which Jackie Robinson played when the team was its former home of Brooklyn, New York, issued statements honoring Boseman (in light of his acclaimed portrayal of the iconic baseball and civil rights activist Jackie Robinson). When Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position in qualifying at the 2020 Belgian Grand Prix, he dedicated his lap to Boseman, as well as his race win the following day. Henry McMaster, the Governor of South Carolina, ordered the Statehouse flags to be lowered to half-staff on August 30, 2020 in honor of Boseman. Ryan Coogler, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, and Michael B. Jordan all played tribute to Boseman (including in the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever which was released in 2022. Chadwick Boseman at a young age was an icon of acting being one of the greatest actors of the 21st century. 

 

Chadwick Boseman's life document the necessity for all of us to take care of our health, especially black men. Black men in America disproportionately are harmed by colon cancer and prostate cancer. Symptoms of colon cancer (as explained by Dr. Frita McRae Fisher. She is a medical doctor who is quadruple board certified. She has board certifications in nephrology, internal medicine, and obesity medicine) include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, blood in stool, diarrhea, constipation, no symptoms at all early on, etc. Many men are afraid of going to the doctor because of fear, stigma, and ego. Yet, going to the doctor is a necessity among us all of any age. All people among all backgrounds have to know their biometrics in order to find out if they have illnesses or not. Early detection has saved lives for generations. According to a report from the American Cancer Society, black people have the highest rates of colorectal cancer of any racial or ethnic group in America. Incidence rates for black men are 24 percent higher than white men, while death rates for black men are 47 percent higher than white men. The reason for these risk factors are diet, environment, stress, genetics, not enough people getting regular colon cancer screening.  That is why many men, especially black men, are tested for colon cancer and prostate cancer as early as their early to mid 40s. In our generation, all people are encouraged to get screened for colon cancer and prostate cancer at the age of 45. Black people, regardless of sex, are more likely to have colon cancer at the age of 50. 

 

We have a great future in track and field. The torch has been passed to many track and field athletes like Melissa Jefferson-Wooden. At the age of 25 years old. She has won gold in many World Championships and one Olympic gold medal in the 4 x 100m women's relay race. In 2026, Jefferson-Wooden created for her one of the greatest years of her career. Jefferson-Wooden opened her season on June 4, when she was second to Julien Alfred in 22.17 seconds in the women's 200 meters at the 2026 Diamond League event in Rome. On June 7, in the Diamond League, Jefferson-Wooden won over 100 meters in 10.84 seconds (+0.8), at the Bauhausgalan in Stockholm, her fastest season opener over the distance. On July 4, she won the 100 meters at the Prefontaine Classic, winning in a photo finish ahead of Sha'Carri Richardson and Adaejah Hodge in 10.78 seconds (+0.0). Choosing to only compete in the 200 meters at the U.S. Outdoor Championships in a season without USA team trials, she won the title in 21.69 seconds ahead of Cambrea Sturgis and Camryn Dickson. On August 23, she won over 100 meters equaling her season’s best time of 10.78 seconds (0.6m/s) to win ahead of Alfred and Richardson in the Diamond League at the 2026 Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Silesia, Poland. On August 27, she ran 10.70 seconds but was edged out in a photo-finish by Alfred in the 100 meters at the Weltklasse Zürich, her first defeat over 100 meters since the 2024 Olympic final after a run of 11 consecutive victories at the distance. On September 12, Jefferson-Wooden won the 100 meters ahead of Alfred at the inaugural World Ultimate Championship in Budapest, running a season's best 10.62 seconds. The following day, she returned to complete the sprint double by winning the 200 meters final, with her time of 21.47 seconds making her the third-fastest woman on the all-time list. Following the race, Jefferson-Wooden expressed shock at her time, stating, "I was thinking 21.6 low, 21.5. I skipped all over 21.5 and went 21.4. I mean I'll take it!" Other track and field did great in 2026 like Julien Aflred, Noah Lyles, Keely Hogkinson, Josh Kerr, Kenneth Bednarek, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi, and Masai Russell (who won many races in the 100m hurdles throughout 2026). Mondo Duplantis, Carmryn Roger, Valarie Sion, Chase Jackson ,Kristjan Ceh, Andy Diaz Hernandez, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, Gabby Thomas, Audrey Werro, Alison Dos Santos, Shericka Jackson, and others of other track and field athletes prove once again that the younger generation is growing track and field into another level as we near the half century mark of the 21st century. 

 

 

MS Now was once MSNBC until 2026. It is a cable news channel owned by Versant. It has documentaries, new coverage, and opinion journalism. It has a youthful spirit. Its studios are in Versant's world headquarters at 229 West 43rd Street, New York City. It has a bureau in Washington, D.C., co-located with that of former parent division NBC News. Technical operations are handled from CNBC's studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. As a cable news channel, it is ranked second in ratings, well behind FOX News and ahead of CNN. As of July 2026, The Rachel Maddow Show on MS Now was the 7th-ranked news program by number of viewers; the top 6 were all on FOX News. It was created in 1996 as a joint venture between NBC News and Microsoft. MS Now has given voice to many perspectives, especially black, brown, and other people of color. You noticed that their shows mention things on race, class, and other social issues that are rarely shown in the corporate media, except sometimes on CNN. By the late 2000s, the network had commentators like Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, David Gregory, Ed Schultz, Tamron Hall, and Rachel Maddow. By 2010, MSNBC surpassed CNN in primetime and overall viewership for the first time since 20001. By the 2020s, it expanded its news coverage with a newer generation of hosts like Antonia Hylton, Ari Melber, Alicia Menendez, Ayman Mohyeldin, Luke Russert, Symone Sanders-Townsend, and other human beings. MS NOW has been through issues. The recent 2026 Together in Texas event exempflied their advocacy for voting rights, equality, and social justice causes in general.

 

My late distant cousin, Rev. Jesse Johnson Jr., lived from February 24, 1958 in Nassawadox, Virginia (on the Eastern Shore), and he passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Calvary Hospice Hospital in Bronx, New York City. He earned his education in the public schools of Northampton County, Virginia. He was a CNA at Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital, Heritage Hall, and Arcadia Nursing Home for over 20 years. He was a Behavioral Health Associate at Bellevue Hospital for the past seven years. During his early life, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He became Reverend at St. Mary's Baptist Church, where he tendered for 6 years. During his time as pastor, he created children's time and praise and worship service. He gave his sermons, and Going to Job's House was one of his memorable sermons. He loved the Lord. He loved his family as a husband, father, and grandfather. He never missed a birthday, a holiday, or other events. He loved to fish and was a fan of the Chicago Bears. He had many family and friends. His wife Michele Johnson-Jamesville, VA, his three kids, Jesse (Latoya) Johnson-Virginia Beach, VA; Demetrius (Erica) Johnson-Accomack, VA, Jessica (Ali) Ganyuma-Goochland, VA. Eight grandkids, Jada, Jamon, Jamilah, Darion, Devon, Baraka, Jalia, and Ali, Jr. Two step grandkids-LaMari and Markeith. Two brothers-Melvin (Pam) Presha-New Castle, DE; Anthony Johnson-Salisbury, MD; two sisters: Faith Johnson- Nassawadox, VA; Jacqueline Borden- Hare Valley, VA; one step-sister, Blanche (Robert) James- Atlanta, GA. He had one aunt, Golie Collins-Exmore, VA; and one uncle, Billie Johnson- Nassawadox, VA. Four brothers-in-law and six sisters-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

Rev. Jesse Johnson Jr. is related to me by being related to the Brickhouse, Johnson, and Collins families. His parents were Jesse Phresha and Fannie Lavinia Johnson (1933-1995). The parents of Fannie Lavinia Johnson were George Johnson (b. 1893) and Lavenia Hargrave (1900-1948). The parents of my 2nd cousin George Johnson were George Johnson (1866-1940) and Florence Brickhouse (b. 1870). The parents of my first cousin Florence Brickhouse were Benjamin Brickhouse III (b. 1838) and Mary Perkins. The parents of my 3rd great-granduncle Benjamin Brickhouse III were my 4th great grandparents Benjamin Brickhouse II and Eliza Collins (b. 1805).

By Timothy