Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Monday, June 22, 2026
Cultural Information in Late June 2026.
Alot of people don't know that there are Black Palestinians in the Middle East. There are about 11,000 Afro-Palestinians residing in Gaza City's Al Jalla’a district prior to October 2023. In Jerusalem, an estimated population between 200-450 reside in a historic African enclave around Bab al-Majlis, in the Muslim Quarter, as well as communities in other areas of Jerusalem such as Beit Hanina and At-Tur. They are a marginalized group that experience double discrimination, both systemic marginalization from Israeli authorities and racism within Palestinian communities. There are also Bedouin populations who have descent lines linking them to people of African origin such as in the West Bank city of Jericho. Notable Afro-Palestinians include former PLO official Fatima Bernawi and PFLP official Ali Jiddah. Historically Palestine was a province under foreign powers. From the Rashidun Caliphate of the 7th-century onward, African slaves were transported to the area of the Caliphate from Egypt via the Baqt treaty slave tribute. During the middle ages, African slaves were transported to Abbasid Caliphate via the Red Sea slave trade from Africa across the Red Sea. By the 9th century, it is estimated that some three million Africans had been resettled as enslaved people in the Middle East, working as slave soldiers and slave labourers in the riverine plantation economies. There are some Palestinian communities that trace their origins to pilgrims from Sudan and Central Africa (mainly Chad) who are said to have reached Palestine as early as the 12th century. Their initial aim was to take part in the Hajj and reach Mecca, after which they visited Jerusalem to visit the al-Aqsa Mosque. As is illustrated by the life of Mansa Musa, king of the Empire of Mali, pilgrimage by African converts to Islam became an established practice, though regular pilgrimage only became commonplace in the 15th century, as the Islamic faith spread beyond the narrow confines of sultanate courts to the people at large.
Many Afro-Palestinians also hail from ancestors who were brought to Palestine by the Ottoman enslavers via the Trans-Saharan slave trade from Egypt as well as the Red Sea slave trade, that continued up until modern times. The last official slave ship of enslaved Africans arrived to Haifa in Palestine from Egypt in 1876, after which the official slave trade to Ottoman Palestine appeared to have stopped. Slavery in Palestine gradually diminished in the early 20th-century, and in the 1905 census for Palestine only eight individuals were officially registered as slaves; however a report to the Advisory Committee of Experts on Slavery of the League of Nations in 1934 acknowledged that slaves were still kept among the Arab Bedouin shaykhs in Jordan and Palestine, and that slavery was maintained under the guise of clientage. The Jerusalem community of Afro-Palestinians, 50 families now numbering some 350 (or 450) members, reside in two compounds outside the Ḥaram ash-Sharīf (west of the Inspector's Gate): Ribat al-Mansuri and Ribat of Aladdin (Ribat al-Basiri/Ribat Aladdin al-Bassir/Ribat Al'a ad-Deen Busari). Afro-Palestinians lived during World War I, the 1967 Six Day War, and other events. A 2018 story on Mohammad Obaid, a Dabke performer displaced from his ancestral home in Beersheba, described the racism he experienced in Gazan Palestinian communities, saying that he had to be "the best dancer" and work twice as hard to join his dabke team. Obaid noted increasing discrimination from police. At the time, there were an estimated 11,000 Afro-Palestinians living in Gaza City's Al Jalla’a district, in a neighborhood called an anti-black slur in reference to the history of slavery. Many Palestinians and many Israelis have shown racism toward Afro-Palestinian people. The African Community Society or ACS was created in 1983 as an offshoot of the Sudanese Welfare Club. The ACS forms social activities, sports, mutual aid, and other means to empower Afro-Palestinians in Jerusalem. Many Afro-Palestinians are Suleiman Obied, Ghadir Ghrouf, Mohammaed Aukousa, and other people. There are black people in Israel too. It is always important to promote liberation of Palestine and freedom for all in the Middle East, regardless of color, sex, or background.
There are many heroes of 9/11. One such her was Marcy Borders. She was from Bayonne, New Jersey. She ran from her office covered in dust, and cancer took her at the age of 42 years old. She worked as a legal assistant at Bank of America in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. She escaped the building when the attacks came in New York City. She wanted privacy to rebuild her life. Later, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer in August 2014. She passed away on August 24, 2015, in New Jersey. There were many black firefighters who died on 9/11 during the time of saving lives like Leon Smith Jr., Andre Fletcher, Ronnie Henderson, Shawn Powell, Gerald Baptist, Tarel Coleman, Vernon Cherry, William Henry, Keith Clascoe, Keithroy Maynard, Karl Joseph, and Vernon Richard. Lolita Jackson survived by escaping the World Trade Center in both 1993 and in 2001. LeRoy W. Homer J. was a black pilot in the cockpit of Flight 93 who sacrificed his life to fight back against terrorists on Flight 93. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1987 and had a military career reaching the rank of Major. He joined United Airlines in 1995.
He was a father, an Air Force Reserve officer, and a commercial first officer. He was 36 years old on 9/11. Flight 93 had more heroes like passengers Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Jeremy Glick, and Tom Burnett who fought the terrorists back forcing the plane to crash in an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The terrorists wanted to crash the plane into the U.S. Capitol or White House. When American Airlines Flight 77 stuck the Pentagon, Lt. Col. Marilyn Wills saved many lives while her hair was on fire. She was in the U.S. Army. Flight 77 had 30,000 pounds of jet fuel and slammed into the Pentagon's west side at 530 mph (almost directly below the 2nd floor conference room where Wills sat). She saved the life of civilian employee Lois Stevens. For her actions, Lt. Col. Marilyn Willis was awarded the Soldier's Medal for heroism and the Purple Heart for her injury (with burns, smoke inhalation, and traumatic brain injury from the blast). She doesn't consider herself a hero. She lost many of her friends. Moira Smith was an NYPD officer who repeatedly ran back into the burning World Trade Center to guide civilians to safety before she was killed in the collapse. Genelle Buzman-McMillian was the last person pulled alive form the World Trade Center wreckage. She was a Port Authority Worker, who was trapped beneath the debris of the North Tower for 27 hours before being rescued on September 12, 2001. Her story if detailed in her memoir called Angel in the Rubble. FDNY leader Regina Wilson saved many lives on Ground Zero and fights for equity and inclusivity in the department to this day. Rick Rescorla saved nearly 2,700 employees and visitors. He was last seen heading back up the stairs before the tower collapsed in trying to save lives. Frank De Martini and Pablo Ortiz saved at least 77 people in the North Tower before sacrificing their lives. Ladder Company 6 helped a tired officer bookkeeper down the stairs to save her life just as the North Tower fell. 343 FNY firefighters and 71 law enforcement officer including dozens of emergency medical technicians died while actively running into the collapsing buildings to save human lives.
The World Trade has a long history. The original World Trade Center was a complex of seven buildings in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. Built primarily between 1966 and 1975, it was dedicated on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed on September 11, 2001, after two hijacked planes were flown into the towers in a coordinated terrorist attack. The complex included the 110-story-tall Twin Towers, at the time of their completion the tallest buildings in the world, with the original 1 World Trade Center (the North Tower) at 1,368 feet (417 m), and 2 World Trade Center (the South Tower) at 1,362 feet (415.1 m). They were also the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world until 1996, when the Petronas Towers opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The other buildings in the complex were the Marriott World Trade Center (3 WTC), 4 WTC, 5 WTC, 6 WTC, and 7 WTC. The complex contained 13,400,000 square feet (1,240,000 m2) of office space and, prior to its completion, was projected to accommodate an estimated 130,000 people. The area of the World Trade Center was near the Hudson River. The Dutch were the first European settlers in Manhattan. Later, the area became New York City's Radio Row, which existed from 1921 to 1966. The neighborhood was a warehouse district in what is now Tribeca and the Financial District. Harry Schneck opened City Radio on Cortlandt Street in 1921, and eventually, the area held several blocks of electronics stores, with Cortlandt Street as its central axis. The used radios, war surplus electronics (e.g., AN/ARC-5 radios), junk, and parts were often piled so high they would spill out onto the street, attracting collectors and scroungers. According to a business writer, it also was the origin of the electronic component distribution business.
The idea of forming the World Trade Center in New York City was first proposed in 1943. The New York State Legislature passed a bill authorizing New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey to start developing plans for the project. They were put on hold in 1949. Plans existed by eminent domain to remove shops in Radio Row bound by Vesey, Church, Liberty, and West Streets by 1961. To help stimulate urban renewal in Lower Manhattan, David Rockefeller suggested that the Port Authority build a World Trade Center there. By 1961, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was deciding to build the world's first world trade center. They had two choices: the east side of Lower Manhattan, near the South Street Seaport; or the west side, near the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M) station, Hudson Terminal. Initial plans, made public in 1961, identified a site along the East River for the World Trade Center. As a bi-state agency, the Port Authority required approval for new projects from the governors of both New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Governor Robert B. Meyner objected to New York getting a $335 million project. Toward the end of 1961, negotiations with outgoing New Jersey Governor Meyner reached a stalemate.
Approval was also needed from New York City Mayor John Lindsay and the New York City Council. Disagreements with the city centered on tax issues, and the New York City Planning Commission wanted the Port Authority to increase its payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to the city government. On August 3, 1966, an agreement was reached whereby the Port Authority would make annual PILOTs for the portion of the World Trade Center leased to private tenants. In subsequent years, the payments would rise as the real estate tax rate increased. In May 1967, the New York City Planning Commission approved several changes to the street grid that would allow the Port Authority to begin acquiring land for the complex.
On September 20, 1962, the Port Authority announced the selection of Minoru Yamasaki as lead architect and Emery Roth & Sons as associate architects. Yamasaki devised the plan to incorporate twin towers. His original plan called for the towers to be 80 stories tall, but to meet the Port Authority's requirement for 10,000,000 square feet (930,000 m2) of office space, the buildings would each have to be 110 stories tall. The Port Authority publicly presented a model for the complex on January 18, 1964. The original plans called for two towers rising 1,350 feet (410 m), as well as several six-story buildings surrounding a central plaza (later the Austin J. Tobin Plaza). These buildings were to include office space, restaurants, a hotel, exhibition space, stores, and an information center about world trade. The agency released its final model of the complex in March 1966. Despite public criticism over the height of the 110-story twin towers, Yamasaki & Associates and Emery Roth & Sons made only relatively minor changes to the plans, which were released in May 1966. The revised plans called for the twin towers and four additional low-rise structures to surround the central plaza.
To learn about plants full, people must comprehend about the components of the plant cycle. The plant cycle is a process where a plant grows from a seed, matures, reproduces, and produces new seeds to start the cycle agenda. Therefore, the plant cycle shows a plant's life from birth to reproduction, and to eventual death. This process helps to continue the species. The cycle varies slightly between flowering and non-flowering plants, the fundamental stages are similar. The first stage is the seed stage. A seed contains the embryo of the plant and a food supply called the endosperm, all protected by a seed coat. Seeds can remain dormant until environmental conditions—such as water, oxygen, sunlight, and suitable temperature—are favorable for growth. Seeds are dispersed by wind, water, animals, or humans, allowing plants to colonize new areas. The 2nd stage is about germination. When conditions are right, the seed germinates, and the embryo begins to grow. The root emerges first, anchoring the plant and absorbing nutrients, followed by the shoot and first leaves. This stage transforms the seed into a seedling. Later, you have the seedling stage. The seedling is a young plant that grows toward sunlight and develops roots, stems, and leaves. It relies on photosynthesis, using chlorophyll to convert sunlight into energy, and absorbs water and nutrients from the soil. Then, an adult plant exists. As the plant matures, it becomes an adult plant, capable of reproduction. Flowering plants develop flowers, while non-flowering plants may produce cones or spores. The adult stage is when the plant is fully functional and contributes to the ecosystem. In flowering plants, pollination occurs when pollen from the male anther reaches the female stigma, either through wind, insects, birds, or other animals. Fertilization follows, producing seeds that contain the next generation of plants. This stage completes the cycle and ensures species survival.
Plants also undergo a genetic cycle called alternation of generations, alternating between a haploid gametophyte phase (producing gametes) and a diploid sporophyte phase (producing spores or seeds). In flowering plants, the sporophyte is the dominant, visible stage, while the gametophyte is microscopic and dependent on the sporophyte. Some plants, like ferns and mosses, do not produce seeds but instead reproduce via spores. Despite this difference, they still follow a life cycle that includes growth, reproduction, and the production of new generations. Therefore, the plant cycle goes on with seed growth, germination, seedling, adult plant, reproduction, and new seeds.
I found out that Yolanda Hampton Reeder is my 5th cousin. She is born in February 1977. She is related to my paternal side of my family that originated from North Carolina, migrated to Connecticut, and some have traveled into Florida. How is she related to me? Yolanda Reeder and I share the same ancestors of my 4th great grandparents of George Perkins I (b. 1815) and Esther Perkins (b. 1816). Yolanda Reeder's sister is Clydisha Hampton Vasquez (b. 1980). Their parents are Richard J. Hampton (b. 1955) and Yvette Fountain Drummond (b. 1956). The parents of Yvette Fountain Drummond were the great matriarch Irene Broadnax (1920-2015) and King David Sam William Fountain (1914-1964). The parents of my 3rd cousin Irene Broadnax were Dennis Broadnax (1881-1975) and Cynthia (Lucinda) Broadnax (1885-1931). The parents of my 2nd cousin Cynthia (Lucinda) Broadnax were Dennis Harris (1860-1928) and Gundora (Geneva) Perkins (1868-1927). The parents of Gundora (Geneva) Perkins were George Perkins II (1847-1932) and Fannie Lou Blackstock (1848-1949). The parents of George Perkins II were my 4th great-grandparents George Perkins (b. 1815) and Esther Perkins (b. 1816). So, all things come full circle.
The Bishop Venoal M. Fountain Sr., D.D. is my distant cousin and the uncle to Yolanda Hampton Reeder. Bishop Venoal M. Fountain Sr. 75, was born the 8th child of 15 children, on August 19, 1949, in Eden, North Carolina to the late King David and Irene Broadnax Fountain. Bishop Venoal Fountain Sr. transitioned on Monday, December 23, 2024. His family relocated to Bridgeport, Connecticut where he graduated from Central High School in Bridgeport, CT. He attended Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT and was given an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina. Bishop Venoal was known to be very enterprising as a young man. Young Venoal started working at the age of 16 at General Electric in Bridgeport, CT. He became a supervisor working different shifts in the factory. He later worked for Bullard Machine Tool Company, Bridgeport Machines, Trio Industries, and Tie Communications. Upon leaving Tie communications, then known as Mr. Fountain, started a telephone communications company Le Font Electronics. Le Font Electronics at one time had created 150 plus jobs within the Greater Bridgeport area. His company was ranked number 52 in Black Enterprise Magazine's top 100 companies throughout the nation. In his later years, he was able to officially retire but remained consulting and counseling, which he greatly enjoyed.
He began preaching the gospel at the age of 9. His strong faith and preaching lead him to become the Youth Pastor, as well as the Assistant Pastor of the Fountain of Youth Bibleway Church, Bridgeport, CT, under the tutelage of his older brother the late Bishop Franklin D. Fountain. He also was the 5th Sunday Youth President of Bibleway World Wide, Inc. Connecticut Diocese. As an Elder he opened the Fountain of Youth Revival Center church within Connecticut (Bridgeport, Ansonia, and Stratford areas).
Bishop Venoal Fountain married and is survived by his high school sweetheart, Lady Sandra (Crawford) Fountain in 1970. Bishop Venoal and Lady Sandra had two biological children Aurelia Fountain Mushrall (Joseph) of Bristol, CT and Venoal M. Fountain Jr of Shelton, CT. They have three called adopted sons in love Reverend David R. Foreman, Brian Foreman Fountain, Wayne Carter II. Three biological grandchildren are Julian Fountain, Venoal Fountain III, and Alivia Fountain all of Shelton, CT and his step grandchild Isaiah Mushrall of Bristol, CT. He has one biological great grandchild Julian Fountain Jr. His two adopted grandchildren Adrienne Carter (Clovis) of Derby and Wayne Carter III (Athena) of West Haven, with a host of other grands. Additionally, his brothers Robert Fountain (JoAnn) of Ruskin, FL and Donald Fountain (Rita) of Bridgeport, CT. and his sisters Zorene Fountain Meekins, the matriarch of the family, and Yvette Fountain Hampton of Brandon, FL., Erma Fountain Johnson of Ruskin, FL, Sharon Fountain Whitmore and Jacqueline Fountain Campbell of Bridgeport, CT, and Madeira Fountain Walker (Mark) of Mansfield, OH. He also shared a special relationship with his sisters-in-laws as a "Brother" and spiritual mentor to Shirley Sanders, Doreen Dunham, Marjorie Drinks, Corlette Crawford, Theresa Heyward River, Regina Crawford, and Quinella Hardison. One aunt Harriet Sharpe of Bridgeport. Godchild Joel V Hampton of Brandon, FL and David Manderson of Ct, a special niece Clydisha Vasquez (Melvin) of Brandon, FL and his extended family Christopher Samuels, Pastor Anthony Samuels, Laterrius Johnson (Cassandra), Joel Cortes, Richard Rivera, and Myrone Early of New Haven, Ct., and a host nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Bishop Venoal was a father figure to a host of generations of young men and women. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his brothers, Clyde, Bishop Franklin, Alvestico, and Norman Fountain; his sisters Betty Best and JoAnn Neri; and his daughter in law Janeen L. Fountain; and his sister-in-law Caren Simmons.
John Anthony (Tony) Meekins age 46, a lifelong resident of Bridgeport, suddenly went home to be with the Lord, on Thursday, February 17, 2011 in Bridgeport Hospital; born March 25, 1964 to John C. Meekins of Fostoria, Ohio and Zorene Fountain Meekins of Bridgeport, John was a minister of Open Arms Outreach Int'l Church in Bridgeport, he was a former member of Bethcar Fellowship in Hamden, and former employer of Laidlaw Transit for many years; he worked for A.B.C.D., Inc. Weatherization Department. He was once married to Kelly A. Coleman (b. 1966) on May 12, 1984, at Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut. He leaves to cherish his memory two sons, Jovan Meekins of Bridgeport and Joshua Meekins of Stratford; five daughters, Johnnecia Meekins (her children are Caden, Jaleel, Caleb, and Kelani), Doris Meekins and Madison Meekins all of Bridgeport, Justyce B. Diorio of Ansonia and Tiara Meekins of Texas; a stepmother Eliza M. Meekins of Fostoria, Ohio; maternal grandmother, Irene Broadnax Fountain of Bridgeport; five brothers, King David (Eileen) Meekins of New York, Robert Meekins Sr. of Bridgeport a special sister-in-law- Dyrene Meekins, Demetrius Meekins of Ohio, Jason (Shawan) Williams of New Haven and Larry Tucker of Ohio; three sisters Carolyn M. (Eddie L.) Cox of Kentucky, Johnna Meekins of New Haven and DeNashia Meekins of Ohio; six grandchildren, and host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousin and friends.
The last album of Aaliyah when she was alive was her self-titled album called Aaliyah. She loved to sing and act constantly during her longevity. During the recording stages of the album, Aaliyah's publicist said that the album's released date would most likely be October 2000, but that wasn't the case. Aaliyah finished recording the album in March of 2001. This was after a year of recording tracks that began in March 2000. Aaliyah was the album released on July 17, 2001 (five years after One in a Million). The album sold 187,000 copies in its first week. The first single from the album was We Need a Resolution. It peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. The week after her death, the album rose from number 19 to number 1 on the Billboard 200. Rock the Boat was released as a posthumous single. The music video premiered on BET's Access Granted, and it became the most viewed and highest rated episode in the history of the show. The song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The promotional posters for Aaliyah that had been put up in major cities like New York City and Los Angeles became makeshift memorials for grieving fans. By February 2002, the album was certified double platinum by RIAA. The album Aaliyah's songs like More than a Woman and I Care 4 U were released as posthumous singles and peaked within the top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100. More than a Woman reached number one the UK singles chart, making her the first woman deceased artist to reach number one on the UK singles chart. The album was released by Blackground Records and Virgin Records. Aaliyah worked on the album as early as 1998. She recorded much of the album in 2000 at Sing Sing Studios in Australia, where she shot her role for the 2002 film Queen of the D_____. She also recorded at the Manhattan Center and Sony Music Studios in New York plus Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles (among other locations). There were many writers and producers involved in the project like Bud'da, J. Dub, Rapture, Eric Seats, and longtime collaborator Timbaland. Aaliyah was an album with R&B, neo soul, dance-pop, funk, alternative rock, Electronica, hip hop, and Latin music. Static Major was involved in the project as a friend of Aaliyah too. Aaliyah was the album that was more mature that evaluated romance in a complex way from infatuation to heartache. It promoted women empowerment. Aaliyah was posthumously awarded the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist, and the American Music Award in 2002 for Favorite R&B/Soul Album. Aaliyah helped to change R&B and inspire future R&B stars like Ciara, Ashanti, and Rihanna. Timbaland reached more success with Aaliyah. Timbaland would never reach that next level without Aaliyah as Timbaland would admit too.
By Timothy
Sunday, June 21, 2026
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Friday, June 19, 2026
Happy Juneteenth.
The Obama Presidential Center opening is a major historical event of the history of the United States of America. The Obama Presidency ended almost 10 years ago, and the legacy of Barack Obama has been very inspirational, complex, and diverse. One of the greatest gifts of former President Barack Obama was not only eloquent in his words, but he can explain the big picture of a concept and mixing that with the details of that concept at the same time. I lived through both terms of his Presidency, so people like me are perfectly qualified to analyze his 8-year Presidency. From his speech in 2004 (in the Democratic National Convention) talking about being a united country to him desiring to be President in his Springfield, Illinois 2007 speech, people from my generation (and previous generations) witnessed his political journey in amazing detail. The center is located in the South Side of the great Midwestern city of Chicago, Illinois. It is open to the general public on Juneteenth 2026. Barack Obama and Michelle Obama work as a team and as equals. There is no Presidency of Barack Obama without the intellect, strength, and insights of Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama is a legal scholar, lawyer, and activist in her own right too. Far too often, numerous people omit the contributions of the Obama Presidency like: investments to HBCUs, DACA, the Affordable Care Act, the Paris Climate Agreement, the Iranian nuclear deal, Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform, Credit Card Accountability Act, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. The Obama couple (who expressed emotion about this occasion) desire the younger generation to carry the torch and express courage, leadership, and progressive insights that will improve America during the present and the future. Only God knows the whole future, and it is our responsibility to help our neighbors, defend the poor, stand for righteousness, advocate for racial justice, defend the rights of immigrants, endorse health care for all people, and fight for justice with all legitimate means possible. The Obama Presidential Center reflects his life and personality filled with a library, a basketball court, a group of letters sent to Obama, artifacts, and other places that gives an inspirational experience to people (irrespective of one's political ideology). Like always, we wish the best for the Obama family.
The ceremony to open up the Obama Presidential Center in the South Side of Chicago that took place on June 18, 2026, was very historic. It was a time of jubilation and sense of duty to improve America. Barack Obama gave a speech filled with humbleness, disagreements with Trumpism (without saying Trump's name by calling for an independent judiciary, a robust media, and human rights protected), and a call for the younger generation to continue to improve society in general. The first African American President in the history of the United States of America wanted Americans to reject cynicism and despair to promote voting, citizenship, and activism in witnessing our democracy flourish in the Earth. The festivities were filled with the celebration of music from Chicago artists like Jennifer Hudson and Common. Also, other musicians performed at the location like Bruce Springsteen, U2, Morris Day and the Time, Young M.C., Bret Michaels, The Commodores, Martina McBride, Tems, Marc Anthony, Christina Aguleria, John Legend, the Roots, and Stevie Wonder at the end (showing songs like All I Do, Signed, Sealed and Delivered). Barack Obama wants us to embrace empathy, work for the common good, and display compassion in being part and parcel of our ethos. As Barack Obama said, we desire no kings or lords to rule over us (which was why the Revolutionary War commenced). The government ought to be controlled by the people via an elected representative government. Community and the love of his Chicago roots personified Barack Obama's (he found his identity and purpose in Chicago) and Michelle Obama's mindsets. The First Lady Michelle Obama said the words that we all thought, especially during the recent comments from MAGA bigots.
Michelle Obama praised her roots, opposed nativism, and wanted a multicultural existence for American society. She praised immigrants and said that we have the choice to be a decent human being. She said that it is an honor to be by Barack Obama's side, and her daughters Sasha and Malia Obama were happy on the stage too. Michelle Obama praised Barack Obama's brilliance, compassion, decency, and great work ethic. Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder performed an original song of Better Believe. Jennifer Hudson sang the national anthem. Christian Aguileria sang a rendition of Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World. Valerie Jarett, CEO of the Obama administration said that the Obama Center is tribute to those who made their journey possible from campaign workers, people in American improving America, and to unsung people doing the work in creating the building. Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Bill Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, David Letterman, George W. Bush, Laura Bush, George Lucas, and other celebrities plus political leaders attended the ceremony. The whole ceremony felt like a concert, a celebration, and an opening of a museum at the same time. The vibe felt similar to the opening ceremony of the National Museum of African American History and Culture back in 2016. The center will have a garden, artwork, a restaurant, a replica of the Oval Office, and other items of joy and inspiration for the human race.
Trump's memorandum of understanding has $300 billion sent for the reconstruction of Iran, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiate a permanent peace treaty within 60 days in Switzerland in a 14-point M.O.U. Many Republicans oppose the deal, because the deal to them is not going far enough to punish Iran. Some Democrats oppose the deal too. Some have gone to say that the Trump deal is worse than Obama's Iranian deal. The difference is that Obama's Iranian deal didn't require America to fire a shot. This reality proves that strong diplomacy is superior to an unjustified military attack in Iran. Trump has talked about his deal in the G7 meeting at Evian, France. America, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Canada have discussed many issues at the G7 meeting. The Iranian war has been a disaster, and Iran has gained strength during this war. Trump has an aggressive foreign policy that threaten to seize Canada and Greenland, promotes large tariffs against the European Union, and promotes war internationally. The European Union wants to increase its military strength in the Middle East and in Europe. Macron also allowed the police to violently disperse the largely peaceful demonstration in Evian using tear gas and water cannons. The Evian summit represents the ruling class oligarchy planning geopolitical events, attacks on social programs, and trying to suppress growing opposition to the monopolistic power of the state.
Some good news is that Georgia Republicans paused gerrymandering of black districts. We have seen the neo-Jim Crow tactic of some GOP members in the South who want gerrymandering tactics to eliminate fair black political representation that strife democracy. This comes after the bad Louisiana v. Callais decision that existed since late April 2026. That decision eliminated part of the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee redrew congressional maps by fiat to extinguish a preexisting majority black districts. Florida is trying to do a similar partisan gerrymander policy. We know that Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, and other states of the South have a high percentage of a black population. Georgia GOP Kemp stopped his gerrymandering plan (not for moral reasons), because he knew full well that such action in Georgia would galvanize more Democratic voters to vote in the midterm elections of 2026. Georgia has general elections for Governor and U.S. Senator. Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms might win the governorship of Georgia in November. She is facing the Republican billionaire, Rick Jackson. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff will face 2020 election denier GOP member Mike Collins. Collins is a notorious bigot and racist by wanting America to throw migrants out of helicopters into the ocean, shared a post from an anti-Semitic account attacking a Washington Post reporter for being Jewish, and shared a video of white college students mocking a black American anti-war protester with openly racist attacks. Collins (who voted for doubling health insurance premiums for more than 1 million Georgians, for the Iran War, and for the Trump tariffs) is under federal investigation for the illegal misuse of tax dollars.
By Timothy
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Defending Our Dignity.
Trump said that he has established a U.S./Iran agreement. This comes after months of war, deaths of thousands of Iranian lives, and the deaths of over a dozen of U.S. servicemen and servicewomen. The war has been a disaster which has damaged tons of infrastructure all over the Middle East (in Iran, in Lebanon, in Qatar, in Bahrain, in the U.A.E., etc.) and caused untold psychological turmoil among many human beings in the region too. Tehran's leadership is more reactionary than before the invasion of Iran (and that regime will definitely suppress dissent in a harsher fashion), and Netanyahu is still a war hawk who has pushed for more military action if things doesn't go his way. Trump wants Netanyahu to not mess up the deal and end its attacks on Lebanon. America also attacked Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025. What appears to take place is a deal that returns to the status quo. This memorandum of understanding (which Congress doesn't know about in its full, transparent details) deals with a 60-day extension of a ceasefire, ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, and something done about the Strait of Hormuz (about its possible opening). Back in March of 2026, Trump said that he wants Iran to have unconditional surrender. This is obviously not the case, because Iran is in a stronger geopolitical space than before. Iran survived the attacks from the strongest military in human history, and the specifics of the agreement will be released soon in the days ahead. This is not a Trump victory. It is an unjust war of choice that harmed the American economy, and it has been filled with profound folly. There are many questions about the Iranian peace deal, especially if Iran will receive a $300 billion fund to rebuild their country. Truthfully, we all want peace, but the status quo is just vanity and a mirage.
The UFC match in the White House was filled with a cultic MAGA worship. Many celebrities and corporate leaders were in the event. There is nothing wrong with the sport of mixed martial arts as MMA teaches men and women about self-defense, discipline, courage, athletic skills, endurance, and determination. The vast majority of MMA participants want to do the right thing. Yet, much of the UFC and much of MMA culture has been infiltrated by MAGA and manosphere propaganda (i.e. Andrew Tate is one such manosphere propagandist who said that depression isn't real, no real men live in Canada, and that women are the property of men, which are all lies). We know that the manosphere is wrong, because of its abhorrent philosophies of promoting sexist stereotypes against women, considering feminism inheritably anti-men (when it's not), and it promotes the lie that men are entitled to the bodies of women by default. One example of the expression of this racist, sexist movement of MAGA is how one MMA fighter misgendered former First Lady Michelle Obama after a match. We can't tolerate anyone disrespecting Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama is a wife, a mother, and a black woman who deserves respect. Regardless of your political or religious views, no black woman should be dehumanized or disrespected period. The match on White House grounds has been accused of being illegal because one plaintiff said that the event violated federal parkland regulations and represented a corrupt usage of national monuments. A judge rejected efforts to cancel the White House's UFC event. Therefore, we have to be clear that our humanity shouldn't be manipulated or bashed. Our justice should exist period.
The smear against Michelle Obama is not only racist and sexist. It is part of a long lie being promoted by far-right people who are jealous of successful black women. This is not new. Centuries ago, white racists used slavery to emotionally, physically, and sexually abuse black women in tons of plantations. Also, these same slave owners did unspeakable atrocities against black girls, black boys, and black men too. This caused trauma in our black community, and the anti-black woman misogynistic mentality still exists in our generation unfortunately. The sponsors of the UFC fight have refused to apologize for one person's lying remarks. This attack on Michelle Obama is an attack on all of us black people, because a racist bigot doesn't view black people as human. Therefore, they will use despicable language in order to try to cause chaos, and we will respond by using intelligence, courage, and a defense of our black humanity.
I will mention this point clearly. I believe in body positivity 100%. Body positivity is not a medical framework. It is a pristine moral concept that means that a person's worth, dignity, and access to a full life should not be based on their body size or health status. Also, it is important to comment about people who misinterpret body positivity like Jillian Michaels and others. Michaels falsely believes that body positivity is about glorifying health mismanagement, eating unhealthy foods constantly, and advocating no solutions for people to desire to change from extreme obesity. Body positivity is not about that. Body positivity is about treating all human beings with dignity and with respect, regardless of someone's size or weight. It is about rejecting dehumanization of plus sized people and realizing that beauty and healthy people exist in a diversity of colors, sexes, genders, and sizes too. Body positivity is about embracing human autonomy and recognizing that people should voluntarily make a decision to improve their health and their fitness strength out of their own volition, not as a means to satisfy Eurocentric supremacist faux standards of beauty or physical appearance. If everyone on Earth looked exactly the same, the world would be very bland. Yet, we exist in diversity because diversity is the spice of life, and also femininity is diverse too. Many of the same ones who bash body positivity in many cases will bash women who lift weights also. Serena Williams, Lenda Murray, and other women are known for lifting weights, and they are beautiful black women.
Body positivity focuses on equal treatment, weight neutral healthcare, and dignity regardless of size. You can give a person advice to improve their health in a massive way without dehumanization and demonization. Also, we know that BMI is a myth, and health levels are not just based on body fat percentage but on visceral fat, blood pressure levels, metabolic profiles, genetics, environment, stress, access to care, and body composition. A comprehensive health blueprint is determined by biological, psychological, and sociological factors, not on body size alone. In other words, health exists on a spectrum, is multifactorial, and can't be reduced to body size as the only standalone indicator. Therefore, narrowminded bigotry is interconnected, and we're grown. We have to act grown and realize the body positivity have saved lives literally, and it should always be greatly embraced in our consciousness. In doing that, we can get more people to be healthier and become their best selves more efficiently.
By Timothy
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Monday, June 15, 2026
Many Cultures Worldwide.
Celebration and jubilation are found all over the city of New York City (in all of the five boroughs of Manhattan, The Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island). The New York Knicks successfully won the NBA Championship again after 53 years. The score of the game was 94 to 90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday night. The end of the game started a new chapter of NBA history. This victory once again reminds us that heart will always go a long way in getting goals accomplished. We witnessed millions of New Yorkers coming together, regardless of background, cheering their team on in subways, in MSG, in parties, and in other locations. In each game of the series, the Knicks were down many points, but they came back to win the game. The Knicks won the series being 4-1. The vast majority of the people in New York City celebrated peacefully, and of course we disagree with the minority of people being violent and destroying innocent property. The New York Knicks worked as a collective to get the ultimate goal accomplished. The team had the shooting guard leader Jalen Burnson along with Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns worked extremely hard in offense and defense to achieve their ultimate goal. The NYC Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the San Antonio Spurs. This was the first time that the NY Knicks came to the NBA Finals since 1999. In 1999, I was a teenager. Now, I am in my early 40s witnessing the Knicks having a victory. Fans like Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, Tracy Morgan, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, Larry David, and other people certainly felt tremendous joy. The coach Mike Smith used strategy in getting the victory accomplished. Past Knicks icons like Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Walt Frazier, Bernard King, Charles Oakley, Allan Houston, and Latrell Sprewell celebrated the current 2026 NBA Champion Knicks team with great reverence. The coach of the San Antonio Spurs, Mitch Johnson, shake the hands of Brunson, but Victor Wembanyama refused to do so and just walked into the locker room. The better team was the New York Knicks, and they earned their victory with grit, determination, and transparent basketball skills.
There are black Afro-Iraqis in the world. They are of African Zanj heritage. The Zanj people originally came from the area of the land of Zanzibar (in Eastern Africa near the Indian Ocean) filled with Bantu human beings. There was the Zanj rebellion from 869 to 883 A.D. to fight against the Abbasid Caliphate that mistreated Zanj workers in Iraq. They were unsuccessful, but this history is very unknown for tons of people. Some Afro-Iraqis now can speak Swahili and Arabic. They came be from 500,000 people to about 2,00,000 people worldwide today. They live heavily in Basra, Maysan, and Shi Qar. Most of them are in the religion of Shia Islam. They date back to the Arabic slave trade and slavery in Iraq between the 9th century and to the 19th century. Many African migrants were sailors and laborers. Also, many Africans were slaves who were brought from the East African coast to Iraq. The Ottoman Empire enslaved many black people too in the 19th century. The import of slaves via the Indian Ocean slave trade of the Persian Gulf was prohibited by the Suppression of the Slave in the Persian Gulf by January 1847. Slavery in Iraq was banned as late as 1924 via the royal decree issued by King Faisal I of Iraq. Afro-Iraqis still face racial discrimination in Iraq. Many Afro-Iraqis today are scholars, musicians, athletes, and politicians. They play percussion instruments like drums and tambourines in ceremonies. Jalal Dhiyah was an Afro-Iraqi civil rights activist, politician, and community activist who was assassinated in Basra on April 26, 2013, while he was a candidate for the provincial elections. Dr. Thawra Yousif was the deputy director of the Lotus Cultural Women's League. Randa Abd Al-Aziz is an Afro-Iraqis journalist and news reporter. Abbas Al-Harbi is an Australian theater and film director, screenwriter, and playwright.
Afro-Peruvians have a strong black culture too. They mostly descend from enslaved Africans brought to Peru after the arrival of the conquistadors. The first Africans arrived, as enslaved people, with the conquerors in 1521, and some, taken by force, with colonists to work, for no payment, in 1525. Between 1529 and 1537, when Francisco Pizarro was granted permits to import 363 Africans to colonial Peru, a large group of Africans were captured in order to provide, by force, labor for public construction, building bridges and road systems. They also fought alongside the conquistadors as soldiers and worked as personal servants and bodyguards. In 1533, enslaved Afro-Peruvians accompanied Spaniards in the conquest of Cuzco. Two types of African people were forced to Peru. Those born in Africa were commonly referred to as a slur by racist Spanish imperialists, which was also used in a derogatory sense. These slaves could have been directly captured and shipped from west or southwest Africa or transported from the Spanish Indies or other Spanish colonies. Afro-Peruvians previously forced to acculturate to Spanish culture and who spoke Spanish were called negros ladinos ("hispanicized blacks"). Some were biracial human beings, descendants of Spanish men and African women. People of color performed skilled and unskilled functions that contributed to Hispanic colonization. In urban areas Afro-Peruvians were cooks, laundresses, maids, handymen, and gardeners. In some cases, they worked in the navy, hospitals, churches and charitable institutions. In 1587, 377 people of African descent worked in the shipyards. The industry included a significant number of black people working in quarries, kilns and construction projects. There were not enough Spanish workers to build the colony, so black people essentially kept the economy running. Gradually, Afro-Peruvians were concentrated in specialized fields that drew upon their extensive knowledge and training in skilled artisan work and in agriculture.
In the social hierarchy of the slave stratum, the black artisans had the highest rank due to their skills. They worked as carpenters, tailors, blacksmiths, swordsmiths and silversmiths. This group enjoyed more freedom than their fellows who worked at large haciendas or in private households. Spanish small-business keepers would dispatch a whole team of servant-artisans to do a job independently and then return to their owner. As the prices for artisans rose, black artisans gained better treatment and sometimes took a role of a low-ranking employee. Skilled trades were a major avenue of social progress for the black population. Due to their high skills, Afro-Peruvians gained prestige among Spanish noblemen. They occupied a relatively low social stratum but had some status related to the natives and were considered above the emerging class of mestizos (descendants of indigenous people and Spanish colonists).
As the mestizo population grew, the role of Afro-Peruvians as intermediaries between the indigenous residents and the Spaniards lessened. The mestizo population increased through liaisons between Spanish and indigenous Peruvians. The elite Spanish developed a caste system based on racial descent and color, to protect their privileges and their Spanish and mestizo children. In this system, Spaniards were at the top, mestizos in the middle, and Africans and the indigenous populations at the bottom. Mestizos inherited the privilege of helping the Spanish administer the country. As additional immigrants arrived from Spain and settled Peru, the mestizos tried to keep the most lucrative jobs for themselves. In the early colonial period, Afro-Spaniards and Afro-Peruvians frequently worked in the gold mines because of their familiarity with the techniques. Gold mining and smithing were common in parts of western Africa from at least the fourth century. But, after the early colonial period, few Afro-Peruvians would become goldsmiths or silversmiths.
In the end Afro-Peruvians were relegated to heavy labor on sugarcane and rice plantations of the northern coast, or the vineyards and cotton fields of the southern coast. In the countryside they were represented in wet-nursing, housekeeping, domestics, cowboys, animal herding, etc. After Indians became scarce as labor force on haciendas, the people of color gained a title of yanakuna, hitherto assigned only to indigenous servants with full right to own a piece of land and a day to work on it. Afro-Peruvians often exercised agency by using huido (translated as escape, flight) from haciendas and changing masters on their own initiative or joining the cimarrones (armed gangs of runaway slaves that formed small communities in the wilderness and raided travel merchants). The indigenous population were used to work in the silver mines, where they had more expert knowledge than West Africans or Spanish, even in the pre-Columbian eras. About 95,000 slaves were brought to Peru. Many slaves were trasnported to Cuba and Hispaniola at first. Then, traders brought them to Panama and Peru. Planters and others also purchased slaves in Cartagena, Colombia or Veracruz, Mexico, at trade fairs, and they returned to Peru with the new slaves imported by the slave ships. As a result of the "New laws" of 1548 and the influence of the denunciation of the abuses against Native Americans by Friar Bartolomé de las Casas, slaves gradually replaced natives at the encomiendas.
There were many free black populations in Peru centuries ago too Many black people and biracial people were excluded from education. Universities and schools largely run by the Catholic Church forbade the non-white population to enroll, under the justification that they were "unworthy of being educated" which is a racist lie. Wealthy, skilled, capable biracial people however made their way through the political ladder and achieved occupation of minor official posts. In 1821, General José de San Martín outlawed the slave trade in Peru. In 1835, President Felipe Santiago Salaverry signed a decree again legalizing the deportation of slaves through the other Latin American countries. Thus, two years after his death, will be removed from the constitution the principle of "emancipating soil" according to which a slave entering Peru is, de facto, made free. In 1854, President Ramón Castilla y Marquezado declared slavery abolished. Today, Afro-Peruvian communities celebrate the landmark decision of Castilla with a popular refrain or poem of celebration that reads, "Que viva mi papa, Que viva mi mama, Que viva Ramon Castilla, Que Nos dio la liberta." That means Hooray for my Dad, Hooray for my Mom, Hooray for Ramon Castilla, Who gave us liberty. Peruvian slave traders were so wicked that they kidnapped Polynesians, primarily from the Marquesas Islands and Easter Island and forced them to perform physical labor in mines and in the guano industry of Peru and Chile.
Afro-Peruvian music has its roots in the communities of black slaves brought to work in the mines along the Peruvian coast. As such, it's a fair way from the Andes, culturally and geographically. However, as it developed, particularly in the 20th century, it drew on Andean, Spanish, and African traditions, while its modern exponents also have affinities with Andean nueva canción. As a result, the hotbed for Afro-Peruvian music are the small coastal towns of Chincha and Cañete, not too far south of Peru's capital, Lima. The music was little known even in Peru until the 1950s, when it was popularized by José Durand, Porfirio Vásquez, Nicomedes Santa Cruz, and Victoria Santa Cruz, whose body of work was taken a step further in the 1970s by the group Perú Negro. At an international level, this form of music has had recent publicity through David Byrne's Luaka Bop music label, with the edition of the compilation by the group Perú Negro and the albums by Susana Baca. There are demonstrations that are still valid, such as the "Danza de Negritos y Las Pallitas" developed at Christmas time in the towns of the central coast of Peru.
Afro Peruvians are found in mainly in two sectors: north coast (between La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura and Tumbes); and on the south central coast (especially in Lima, Callao, and in the provinces of Cañete, Chincha, Pisco, and Nazca). The highest concentration of Afro-Peruvians in the country is found in Yapatera in Morropón (Piura); composed of about 7000 farmers, most of whom are descendants of former African slaves, where a large number of people of "Malagasy" or "Mangache" origin (from Madagascar) stand out. The Province of Morropón is known for its black communities in cities such as the capital city of Morropón, around Chulucanas, in addition to Yapatera, there are Chapica del Carmelo, Salitral, Buenos Aires, La Mantaza, (Hacienda Pabur), San Juan de Mustache and Canchaque. Between the provinces of Ayabaca and Sullana you can also find black communities such as Las Lomas, La Tina (near the border) or Pacaipampa.
In November 2009, the Peruvian government issued an official apology to Peru's Afro-Peruvian people for centuries of racial injustice; it was the first such apology ever made by the government. It was announced by Women's and Social Development Minister Nidia Vilchez, and initially published in the official newspaper El Peruano. Afro-Peruvians continue to fight for justice. They are many Afro-Peruvian people who are Enrique Verastegui, Juan Jose Cabezudo, Andy polo, Victoria Santa Cruz, Amador Ballumbrosio, Jefferson Farfan, Susana Baca, Luca Reyes, Andres Santa Cruz, Teresa Izquierdo, and so many human beings.
Afro Portuguese people existed in Portugal for centuries. The early reports of Africans in Portuguese territory, account with the first slaves brought to Portugal as early as 1444 in Lagos. However, from the 1480s until the 16th century, Lisbon became the principal entry port. The city not only consumed a significant number of enslaved people but also acted as a redistribution hub, sending captives to other Portuguese cities and abroad, particularly to Castile and Aragon. The presence of African slaves was a defining characteristic of Portuguese society, frequently noted by travelers in their accounts. Their numbers increased over time, though it remains difficult to determine their precise proportion within the Portuguese population. They were responsible for daily domestic tasks as well as economic activities, contributing to their owners' financial gains.
There are also records of there being Black slaves in Lisbon in the Middle Ages. By the mid-16th century, there were approximately 10,000 Africans in Lisbon, around 10% of the city's population. By the end of the 16th century, the predominantly African neighborhood of Mocambo was established in the modern neighborhood of Madragoa. Most enslaved people imported into Portugal came from sub-Saharan Africa, including Arguin, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau , São Tomé and Príncipe, Benin, Saint George of the Mine, Angola, and Mozambique. Various groups were involved in the slave trade, including monarchs, officials, shipowners, crew members, merchants (both Portuguese and foreign), nobles, and clergy members. However, precise records of the number of captives sent to Portugal remain incomplete. Estimates suggest that in the 16th century, around 2,000 to 3,000 enslaved people arrived annually from different regions. Black people fought for liberation in Portugal. By 1593, the Bairro do Mocambo (Mocambo Quarter) was established as a settlement for freed Africans. Enslaved and freed individuals contributed significantly to Portuguese history, with some achieving social mobility, such as João de Sá, who served at the court of King João III. Many enslaved people were sent to Portugal. Later, that number declined as the slave trade dealt with the Americans. Importation of enslaved people into Portugal was banned in 1761.
Black Portuguese citizens are primarily descendants or migrants issuing from the five former Portuguese colonies in Africa: Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The colonies were abolished in 1951, transformed into overseas provinces by the Estado Novo regime of António de Oliveira Salazar and became integral parts of Portugal. A minority also originate from other Sub-Saharan African countries. These communities arrived in continental Portugal after the independence of the African overseas provinces in the mid-1970s and after the Portuguese economic growth in the late 1980s. They should not be confused with the population – of overwhelming white European descent – that "returned" from the colonies immediately after their independence. This different ethnic group is the one formed by the so-called retornados (meaning "those who came back") — Portuguese settlers and descendants of Portuguese settlers born in former African colonies who relocated to continental Portugal after their independence and in the first half of the 1980s.
One of the primary settlement areas for communities in Portugal, especially the Cape Verdean one, were the lands north of Lisbon, near the present-day parish of Benfica. Starting from the 1970s, numerous clandestine neighborhoods (bairros) emerged here, often lacking basic services and plagued by crime-related issues. From 1993 onwards, with Portugal's slum eradication program, many people have been provided with alternative public housing and, despite the initial discrimination, many have nowadays found success. For instance, in Amadora only around 10,000 people used to live in shanty towns. By the 21st century, many black African immigrants have traveled to Portugal. In 2015, Francisca Van Dunem (Angolan-Portuguese) became the first black Portuguese minister in the Portuguese government. From the inauguration of Portuguese democracy until 2024, 6 Portuguese people of African descent had been elected MPs. In recent years, a renewed interest towards immigration to Portugal has emerged, particularly in Portuguese-speaking African countries and for study purposes. For instance, the number of students coming from a Portuguese-speaking African country has increased by 170% from 2017 to 2022. Moreover, as Portugal started returning tuition fees to those who come to study and then stay in the country to work student visas are in high demand. Many Afro-Portuguese people are Aladje, Asumah Abubakar, Bruno Alves, Felix Correia, Celio Dias, Marta Dias, Susana Costa, and other human beings.
Afro-Panamanians are Panamanians of African descent. They make up 31% of the Panamanian population. The population can be mainly broken into two categories: "Afro-Colonials", those descended from slaves brought to Panama during the colonial period; and "Afro-Antilleans", West Indian immigrant descendants with origins in Trinidad, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Belize, Barbados, and Jamaica, whose ancestors were recruited to build the Panama Canal. Afro-Panamanians can be found in the towns and cities of Colón, Cristóbal and Balboa, the Río Abajo area of Panama City, the Canal Zone and the province of Bocas del Toro. The first Africans to arrive in Panama came with Vasco Núñez de Balboa, in 1513. Panama was a very important territory because it had the shortest route from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Goods were taken from ports in Portobelo and Nombre de Dios, transported overland to ports in Panama City and boarded on ships headed to South America. Initially, indigenous labor was used. Due to abuse and disease, the indigenous population was decimated. Bartolomé de Las Casas advocated getting slaves from Africa. By 1517, the trade in Africans was underway. Initially slaves were used to work and maintain the ships and port. They were later used to transport goods across the isthmus. The transportation of goods was grueling, not only due to the 60 kilometers of harsh tropical rainforest that had to be forced through, but also to bad weather and attacks by indigenous people. The enslaved people most probably came from Guinea-Bissau, Angola, and Cameroon.
When registered as slaves, certain Africans used their African ethnicity and possible places of origin as first or last names. This resulted in names such as Luis Mozambique, Congo Anton, Christopher Sape, Miguel Biafara, Bran Gaspar, Pedro Mandinga, Anton Bañol and John Jolofo (Wolof), to name a few. This confirms the contribution of slaves from Senegambia, Ghana, Central Africa and Mozambique. Thus, the name of Africans living in Panama allows us to draw some lines on its possible origin: Mozambique, Congo and the region Kasanga, Congo-Angola, Sao Tome, the island of the same name in the equatorial region, and the region situated between Portuguese Guinea and Senegal in West Africa: Manding, specifically, gelofo/Wolof, Bañol (Banyun, established in Senegambia and Guinea Bissau), Zape (Sierra Leone), Bioho (Bijagos), Biafara, and Bran. They came through several circuits and networks that joined the "Middle America" with the economy in the South Atlantic, in which Panama and Cartagena were central ports and points of passage required for the transfer of Africans during the colonial period. On the African side, and according to Enriqueta Vila Vilar, major African ports' output of forced labor during the sixteenth century were the islands of Santiago in Cape Verde, São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea and Luanda in Angola, confirming what Rodney Hilton called "almost exclusive relations between Upper Guinea and the middle region of America." In West Africa existed, by then, a group of Portuguese merchants called "reindeiros", who had a monopoly on the sale of captives and "selling" the right to sell slaves, of whose earnings the Crown received a percentage. The buying and selling of people involved a complex network of officials and employees installed at key points in the sales network and was articulated across the Atlantic.
Some African slaves used the isolated nature of transporting goods as an opportunity to escape slavery. Many people of African descent escaped into the sparsely settled terrain and formed Cimarroneras, or maroon societies. These ex-slaves were known as Cimarrones. Cimarrones would mount attacks on transport caravans so often that the attacks became very disruptive to trade by the 1550s. The most famous of these Cimarrones was Bayano. In 1570, all Maroons were pardoned to stop the raiding. Famous Cimarrones proceeded to found Cimarroneras. Luis de Mozambique founded Santiago del Principe Cimarronera and Antón de Mandinga founded Santa la Real. It was with the Cimarrones of Panama that Sir Francis Drake alliance in 1572 in order to carry out his first independent attack on the New World Spanish colonies.
By the 1800s, many black people came to Panama from Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, etc. Afro-Caribbean workers helped build the Panama Canal. Panama being independent from Spain and slavery by 1821. Afro-Panamanians fought for equality and justice to this day. By the 1960s, Afro-Panamanians began to organize themselves politically, aligned with the labor movement. National Center of Panamanian Workers (CNTP) was at the center of Afro-Panamanian rights. A few Afro-Panamanians broke into the upper circle. A few were elected to the national assembly of the People Party, aligned with CNTP. One Afro-Panamanian was elected to the supreme court.{cn|october 2022} During the 1970s, they organized congresses dealing with issues surrounding Afro-Panamanians, like discrimination of the National Symphony Orchestra against black people. The Center of Panamanian Studies was formed. The University of Panama also began to focus more on Afro-Panamanian subjects as a discipline. Afro-Panamanians include many people like Tatyana Ali, Renan Addles, Yenith Bailey, Princess Angela of Liechtenstein, Felipe Baloy, Aloe Blacc, Tyson Beckford (he has a Jamaican mother and a Panamanian father of Chinese-Jamaican descent). Ursula Burns, Shayaria Camarena, Billy Cobham, and other people. I remembered Afro-Panamanian people in my elementary school over 30 years ago.
There are black people in Iceland too. There are about 3,000 to 4,000 people in Iceland or 1 percent of the total population. Hans Jonatan awas a runaway slave from St. Croix who lived in Iceland. There are social networks that connect black people in Iceland all of the time. some black people in Iceland were born in Iceland. Others have migrated form other nations from the Caribbean, Africa, and the Americas. Many black people came from Somalia and Jamaica. Afro-Icelandic people face economic inequalities, discrimination, etc. like all black people do globally. Groups that help black people in Iceland are Black Lives Matter Iceland, The Afro-Icelandic Association, Icelandic Human Rights Center, the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, and other cultural events plus festivals. Sveindís Jane Jónsdóttir (who was born on June 5, 2001) is an Afro-Icelandic professional footballer who plays as a forward for National Women's Soccer League club Angel City FC and the Iceland national team. In 2020, she won the Icelandic championship with Breiðablik, while also being named the Úrvalsdeild Player of the Year and winning the Úrvalsdeild Golden Boot award. In 2021, she was named the Icelandic Women's Footballer of the Year and in 2022, she won the Frauen-Bundesliga with VfL Wolfsburg. She was born in Keflavik, Iceland. She played for the Icelandic national team. Her mother is Ghanian and her father is Icelandic. Natasha Moraa Anasi-Erlingsson (who was born on October 2, 1991) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Grindavík/Njarðvík of the Besta deild kvenna. Born and raised in the United States, Anasi played college football for the Duke Blue Devils before moving to Iceland in 2014, where she joined Úrvalsdeild kvenna club ÍBV. She moved to fellow Icelandic club Keflavík ÍF in 2017. After receiving Icelandic citizenship in December 2019, Anasi made her international debut for the Iceland national team in March 2020.
From 1996 to her passing, Aaliyah's career took off into the next level. By February 1996, Aaliyah was featured on Kris Kross's single Live and Die for Hip Hop, which featured Jermaine Dupri (the song's producer), and rapper Da Brat. Aaliyah left Jive Records in 1996 and signed with Atlantic Records. She worked with record producers Timbaland and Missy Elliot (who are from my state of Virginia. Timbaland is from Virginia Beach and Missy Elliot is from Portsmouth in the 757). Both producers of Timbaland and Missy contributed on her second studio album of One in Million. All three human beings acted as family and go along with each other well. The album had hits like If Your Girl Only Knew, Hot Like Fire, and 4 Page Letter. One in a Million peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200. It was certified double platinum by the RIAA on June 16, 1997, which means that shipments of two million copies existed. It sold 3 million copies in America and over 8 million copies worldwide. One in a Million was an album that changed R&B forever with futuristic electronic beats, hip hop influences, and a up-tempo style. The album had trip-hop, electronica, funk, etc. Aaliyah left her former mentor R. Kelly for good, because R. Kelly did actions that were grotesque and evil. The album had producers like Jermiane Dupri, Vincent Herbert, and Craig King. Aaliyah was more grown and mature in the album. One in a Million was nominated in the Soul Train Music Awards and the 1997 Blockbuster Entertainment Award. In 1997, she graduated with a 4.0 GPA from the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, where she majored in drama. She was in the show New York Undercover in 1997 too. Also, she participated in the Children's Benefit Concert, a charity concert at the Beacon Theater in New York.
She also became the spokesperson for the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation. During her campaign with Tommy Hilfiger, the company sold over 2,400 pairs of the red, white and blue baggy jeans she wore in their advertisements. In December 1997, she performed the Christmas carol "What Child Is This?" at the annual Christmas in Washington television special. She also contributed to the soundtrack album for the animated film Anastasia, performing a cover version of "Journey to the Past" that earned songwriters Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. She performed the song at the 70th Academy Awards, becoming the youngest singer to perform at the event. Also in 1998, she released the song "Are You That Somebody?", which was featured on the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. The song peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her first Grammy Award nomination.
In 1999, Aaliyah landed her first big-screen acting role in Romeo Must Die. She starred opposite martial artist Jet Li, playing a couple who fall in love amid their warring families. Released on March 24, 2000, the movie grossed US$18.6 million in its first weekend, ranking number two at the box office. She purposely stayed away from reviews of the film to "make it easier on" herself, but heard "that people were able to get into me, which is what I wanted." In contrast, some critics felt there was no chemistry between her and Li, as well as viewing the film as too simplistic. This was echoed by Elvis Mitchell of The New York Times, who wrote that while she was "a natural" and the film was conceived as a spotlight for both her and Li, "they have so little chemistry together you'd think they're putting out a fire instead of shooting off sparks. In addition to acting, she served as an executive producer of the film's soundtrack, for which she contributed four songs. "Try Again" was released as a single from the soundtrack; the song topped the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first artist to top the chart based solely on airplay; this led the song to be released in a 12-inch vinyl and 7-inch single. The music video won the Best Female Video and Best Video from a Film awards at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. It also earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocalist. The soundtrack went on to sell 1.5 million copies in the United States.
After completing Romeo Must Die, Aaliyah began to work on her second film, Queen of the D____. She played the role of an ancient vampire, Queen Akasha, which she described as a "manipulative, crazy, sexual being." Filming both Romeo Must Die and Queen of the D____ delayed the release of her next album. She had not intended for her albums to have such a gap between them: "I wanted to take a break after One in a Million to just relax, think about how I wanted to approach the next album. Then, when I was ready to start back up, Romeo happened, and so I had to take another break and do that film and then do the soundtrack, then promote it. The break turned into a longer break than I anticipated." Ultimately, she filmed Queen of the D_____ and recorded her third album at the same time, so that the album could be released in 2001. She enjoyed balancing her singing and acting careers. Though she called music a "first" for her, she also had been acting since she was young and had wanted to begin acting "at some point in my career", but "wanted it to be the right time and the right vehicle" and felt Romeo Must Die "was it." Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times argued that Aaliyah's focus on her film career may have caused her to not give the album "the attention it merited."
There are tons of early black women basketball icons and women basketball icons of all colors too. There was Senda Bernson or the Mother of Women's Basketball. She adapted James Naismith's original rules for Smith College in 1892, forming the first women's collegiate game and governing rules. Ora Washington was one of the greatest women athletes in human history. She was a great African American athlete in the 1930s and 1940s who starred for the Philadelphia Tribune Girls, leading them to multiple Women's Colored Basketball Championships. She played tennis too. She was the first black woman to dominate a sport in the modern era. She was born in Caroline County, Virginia. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018. Nera White led the Nashville Business College team to 10 AAU National Championships and was the first woman inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (being 6 feet one). Lusia Harris was the 6 feet 3 center for Delta State University. Harris led her team to three consecutive AIAW National Championships (1975-1977). She scored the first points in the Olympic women's basketball history in 1976. We know about Nancy Lieberman or Lady Magic. She was a three time All-American at Old Dominion University, a multi-time Olympian, and a pioneer in women's professional leagues and coaching. Ann Meyers Drysdale is the first four time women's basketball All-American at UCLA. She made history in 1980 by singing a free agent contract with the NBA's Indian Pacers, participating in their rookie camp. Cheryl Miller is the most dominant college player in history. At USC, she led the Trojans to back to back NCAA championships (in 1983 and 1984), won three gold medals, and was the first woman to dunk in a regulation game. Robin Roberts of ABC is also a pioneering legend of women's basketball too.
By Timothy
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Friday, June 12, 2026
Hegseth's Racism.
Being Black in Pete Hegseth’s Military - The Atlantic
Pete Hegseth’s blocks on promotions rankle former military leaders
Pete Hegseth's racism keeps getting more obvious
thehill.com/policy/defense/5918902-hegseth-navy-air-force-blocked-promotions/
Hegseth has intervened in military promotions for more than a dozen senior officers
Pete Hegseth's racism keeps getting more obvious
Pete Hegseth restoring names of Army bases first named after Confederate generals : NPR
The End of the Week Updates.
The new FIFA World Cup is taking place now in 2026 in the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada. Recently, Mexico has defeated South Africa in a soccer match. Soccer has an interesting relationship with America. In America (where I'm from), the sport of soccer has increased in its popularity, but the most popular sports in America are football, basketball, and baseball. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, other than America. Therefore, tons of people take soccer seriously. In America, there are security measures all over cities where the games will take place like in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Santa Clara, and Seattle. Some people are concerned that Trump officials will politicized the games which has taken place as some soccer officials overseas have been banned from coming to America plus ICE could harass people in various stadiums. The World Cup prices are extremely high too. This may hurt hotels and airlines. We should see what the future will be involving the World Cup in North America.
The New York Times reported on how Bongino cursed at Bondi about the Epstein files. The report cited how the Trump administration scrambled for action involving the files. Trump was at first hesitant to release the files, and he had to be forced to release the Epstein files. Trump even called the Epstein issue a "hoax," which is a lie. Epstein was a cold stone abuser who harmed innocent girls and innocent women. The New York Times reported on how some in the Trump administration considered pardoning Maxwell which is ludicrous. Maxwell is in much cozier prison. Trump has denied any criminal misconduct. Trump and Epstein were once friends and flown on a plane together. Later, Trump refused to be Epstein's friend. Trump has continued to attack Iran again recently for a 2nd day in recent weeks. Trump's tax cuts to the rich has caused Social Security's trustees to warn the program will be unable to pay out full benefits by 2032. People still voted for this extremist Trump. In recent decades, we know that a Republican is elected President, a Republican messes up the economy (with tax breaks to the rich, cuts to the social safety net, and other policies of trickled down economics), and a Democrat President cleans it up. So, we need economic populist solutions to our issues among other things.
Consumer prices have increased to the highest levels in three years. Some Republicans still blame Biden for this reality when Biden saw the lowest unemployment rate of black Americans in American history. Therefore, these consumer prices have rising by many complex factors, including the disastrous Iranian War. No one person can directly control all aspects of the economy as the economy changes by diverse factors. We have this economy when Trump and members of the oligarchy experience record profits. Many Americans struggle to buy their own groceries. Trump said that I like higher inflation is total extremism to put it lightly. Even Bill Clinton, during his Presidency, saw a budget surplus. So, political leaders and anybody should care about the economy as the economy directly deals with living conditions, consumer price index, employment, and other vital economic indicators. There must be a progressive policy discussion and governmental policies to address high inflation, high consumer prices, and other economic problems.
The New York Knicks made a historic comeback in defeating the San Antonio Spurs with the score of 107 to 106. It was the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history after the Knicks were trailing the Spurs by 29 points. The Spurs blew the lead. The New York Knicks played until the final time of the fourth quarter ended. When Anunoby tipped the ball in the hoop after Jalen Burnson shot it with 1.2 seconds left, the stadium of Madison Square Garden celebrated massively. When the Spurs had a chance to win the game, and they failed, people in the stadium celebrated. Celebrities as diverse as Spike Lee, Nas, Tracy Morgan, Ben Stiller, Taylor Swift, Timothee Chalamet, Michael J. Fox, Adam Sandler, Keke Palmer, the Haim Sisters, Taylor Swift, Mariska Hargitay, Christopher Meloni, Fat Joe, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, Jerry Seinfield, Larry David, and other people cheered on their team. The New York Knicks never gave up. The Knicks had more unity and team chemistry to cause them to win 3 games to one. We saw see what the future holds, but this was one of the greatest NBA games that I have seen in my life.
A lot of news are going on. Albanian people are protesting the Kushner linked project in the thousands. There is also beef supply at its lowest in 75 years and prices are very high. This comes as the CDC just declared a national emergency for the screwworm spread. It can spread to cows and in rare instances can go to human beings. Farms in Arizona and Colorado are in risk too. Trump allowed DOGE to cut the screwworm monitoring programs that is meant to stop what is happening in agricultural communities. Also, Ken Paxton of Texas supported DOGE cuts that weakened screwworm defenses and put Texas cattle at risk. Despite the words from the DOJ to not support the $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund, the administration is trying to use slick means to allow the payout (which rewards terrorists who harmed police officers during the January 6th, 2021 attacks). With Trump saying that no one cares about housing, being askance about rising gas prices, he doesn't think about Americans' financial situation, and he loves inflation, we are dealing with a President who cares more for his narcissism than the American people.
By Timothy
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Political News in Early June 2026.
June has been filled with a smorgasbord of news. Donald Trump has recently been interviewed on the Meet the Press show to falsely claim that massive voting fraud has taken place in California. The NBC interviewer, Kristen Welker, asked Trump legitimate questions about elections. Trump believes in the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, and that the California primaries were "rigged." Trump believes that any election that GOP members lose is automatically illegitimate, which is not only wrong. It represents authoritarianism as human beings have the right to vote for whoever they desire. The Trump lies about elections are not being criticized by many GOP members, as the Republican Party has gone from the Party of President Abraham Lincoln to the party of Trump. Trump later walked out of the taped interview with Kristen Welker after acting unprofessionally and disrespecting Welker with ad hominem attacks. Trump's behavior was rude and not representative of a true moral leader. Hypocrites defend this behavior because they worship a fraudulent political ideology instead of following truth and justice for all. Trump has defended the controversial $1.8 billion fund to help terrorist insurrectionists involved in the January 6th terrorist attack (after these terrorists assaulted police officers, destroyed property, waved Confederate plus Neo-Nazi flags, and some of them wanted to hang former Vice President Mike Pence). We live in a unique time of American history, and our democratic freedoms must always be honored.
Hegseth criticizing Europe in a D-Day speech is offensive and disrespectful to the heroes of Normandy. On D-Day, on June 6, 1944, the Allied Forces used the largest amphibious invasion in human history to liberate a continent from the overt wickedness of Nazism. Hegseth forgot that black people and people of color lived in Europe for centuries and millennia. Many black people were involved in the action of D-Day including two of my late relatives. Cultural diversity is not a sin despite Hegseth's bigoted remarks. Helping our neighbors, embracing people of diverse background, and loving our neighbor is a perquisite in being a righteous person. Comparing human migration to a D-Day invasion is purely disgusting and historical revisionism. Hegseth firing people who are black people and women for no reason outlines his lies. D-Day is about celebrating the heroism of soldiers who opposed the evils of tyranny, xenophobia, racism, and bigotry that the Nazis promoted. Hegseth invoking his reactionary immigration views on a D-Day speech is not the time nor place for such rhetoric. Caring for migrants in a humane fashion is not evil as the Golden Rule is superior to the anti-immigrant nonsense spewed by Hegseth. Hegseth's rhetoric is not new. His white nationalist rhetoric is purely part of the MAGA's ideology.
The Iran War continues to be very complicated. Iran recently attacked Israel, and Israel responded by attacking Iran. Trump said that he runs the shots involving the Iranian war, not Netanyahu. This is the first time the public has been informed about the tensions between Trump and Netanyahu over the Iranian negotiations. Trump wants negotiations to continue, and Netanyahu wants stricter conditions in dealing with negotiations, especially in dealing with Lebanon. The Iranian war is highly unpopular, as the majority of the American people oppose the Iran War. Iran has shot down an American helicopter too. While U.S. imperialism is evil, the Iranian regime is not a paragon of virtue by its actions of suppressing dissent in Iran, targeting civilian locations, and seeking a fascist regime to permanently rule of the Iranian people. Trump is lying, saying that people went to jail for January 6th terrorism for nothing at all, when videotape evidence shows January 6th insurrectionists assaulting police officers. We have to be concerned with the truth, and the truth is that opposition to authoritarianism is a duty of ours in seeking a better, democratic society.
Lesley Groff, Epstein's former assistant has testified under oath to Congress. She appeared in the Epstein files 166,906 times. She is an eyewitness of many events pertaining to the Epstein files. The crimes of Epstein took place from America to Epstein Island. Groff was an Epstein aide who had no choice but to testify. The Democrats and many Republicans came out to ask Groff important questions about the total truth. Groff said that she was disgusted by Epstein's conduct and called him an abuser. Groff handled schedule and mundane tasks. She called Epstein a monster and manipulator. She claimed that Epstein hid his criminal activities from her. This is part of her testimony. Many Epstein survivors disagreed with Groff and believed that Groff arranged victims to go to Jeffrey Epstein. Now, the public can see all Epstein files. Groff said that she didn't see Epstein doing misconduct.
The oppression of migrants exists globally and very few in the corporate media are reporting on this reality. In Italy, 4 migrant farmworkers were born alive in a minivan. These were agricultural workers who died in southern Italy on June 1, 2026. This was an act of violence and cold-blooded murder. The victims are Waseem Khan (a 29 years old Pakistani national) and 3 Afghanis who are Amin Fazal Khogiani being 28, Ullah Ismat Qiemi being 19, and Safi Iayjad being 27. These were locked inside of a minivan at a gas station on the Statale 106 highway in Amendolara, a small municipality on the Ionian coast of Calabria. The migrants challenged stolen wages, and two murderers burned them up. CCTV footage released some of the tragedy. The murderers were caught, and their names are Safeer Ahmed and Ali Razia, both Pakistani nationals. Only one survivor is a 35-year-old Afghan national Taj Mohammaed Alamyar by shattering the rear window and crawling out. Another worker escaped only because illness had kept him home that day. More vehicles with Pakistani nationals were set on fire too in Calabria. This represents a war where criminals try to target human labor. An economy that treats human beings as objects and commodities without personal dignity is an economy that is archaic, wicked, and must end to be replaced by a fair economy for all.
By Timothy
Monday, June 08, 2026
Information about Stories.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born on January 16, 1979, up North, in Brooklyn, New York City. She is the younger child of Diane Hankerson and Michael Haughton, a warehouse worker. She has African American, Afro-Jamaican, and Native American heritage. Her name is the feminine form of Ali, meaning "highest, most exalted one, the best." Aaliyah loved her name and was proud of it. When Aaliyah was five years old, her family moved into Detroit, Michigan, where she was raised along with her older brother, Rashad. In Detroit, Aaliyah's father worked in the warehouse business, one of his brother-in-law Barry Hankerson's widening interests. Her mother stayed home and raised her and her brother. Her mother enrolled her in voice lessons at an early age. Eventually, she started performing at weddings, church choir events, and charity events. Aaliyah attended a Catholic school, Gesu Elementary, where in first grade she was cast in the stage play Annie which inspired her to become an entertainer.
Aaliyah's mother was a vocalist, and her uncle Hankerson was an entertainment lawyer who had been married to Gladys Knight. As a child, Aaliyah traveled with Knight and worked with an agent in New York City to audition for commercials and television programs, including Family Matters. After failing to land a role on the show she continued her acting through the Gesu Players. In 1989 at age ten, she appeared on Star Search, where she performed "My Funny Valentine." Aaliyah chose to begin auditioning. Her mother made the decision to drop her surname. She auditioned for several record labels and at age 11 appeared in concerts alongside Knight. After attending a Gladys Knight concert with music executive Suge Knight, and seeing Aaliyah perform on stage, rapper Tupac Shakur wanted to sign her to a record deal. Aaliyah attended Detroit schools and believed she was well-liked, but she was teased for her short stature. By age 15, however, she came to love her height. Her mother told her to be happy she was small and complimented her. Although some children disliked Aaliyah, she determined, "You always have to deal with people who are jealous, but there were so few it didn't even matter. The majority of kids supported me, which was wonderful." Even in her adult life, she considered herself small. She had "learned to accept and love" herself and added: "the most important thing is to think highly of yourself because if you don't, no one else will." During her audition for acceptance to the Detroit High School for the Fine and Performing Arts, Aaliyah sang "Ave Maria" in Latin. Aaliyah held a 4.0 grade-point average when graduating from high school. She reflected: "I wanted to keep that 4.0. Being in the industry, you know, I don't want kids to think, 'I can just sing and forget about school.' I think it's very important to have an education, and even more important to have something to fall back on." She considered a future career teaching music, music history or drama if she did not make a living as a recording artist because, as she reasoned, "when you pick a career it has to be something you love."
After Hankerson signed a distribution deal with Jive Records, he signed Aaliyah to his Blackground Records label at the age of 12. Hankerson later introduced her to recording artist and producer R. Kelly, who became Aaliyah's mentor, as well as lead songwriter and producer of her first album, recorded when she was 14. Aaliyah's debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, was released under her mononym "Aaliyah", by Jive and Blackground Records on May 24, 1994; it debuted at number 24 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 38,000 copies in its first week. It peaked at number 18 on the Billboard 200 and it was certified two times Platinum by the RIAA. To date the album has sold over 3 million copies in the US. In Canada, the album was certified gold by Music Canada for 50,000 copies in shipments. In 2014, Vibe magazine estimated that the album had sold six million copies globally. Upon its release, Age Ain't Nothing But a Number received generally favorable reviews from music critics. Some writers noted that Aaliyah's "silky vocals" and "sultry voice" blended with Kelly's new jack swing helped define R&B in the 1990s. Her sound was also compared to that of female quartet En Vogue. Christopher John Farley of Time magazine called the album a "beautifully restrained work", noting that Aaliyah's "girlish, breathy vocals rode calmly on R. Kelly's rough beats." Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic felt that the album had its "share of filler", but described the singles as "slyly seductive." He also wrote that the songs on the album were "frequently better" than that of Kelly's second studio album, 12 Play. The single "At Your Best (You Are Love)" was criticized by Billboard for being out of place on the album and for its length.
Aaliyah's debut single, "Back & Forth", peaked at number 5 on the Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three weeks. Two more singles charted: a cover of the Isley Brothers' "At Your Best (You Are Love)" peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the album's title track, "Age Ain't Nothing but a Number", peaked at number 75. Additionally, she released "The Thing I Like" as part of the soundtrack to the 1994 film A Low Down Dirty Shame. In August 1995, Aaliyah was featured on the single remix to Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s song "I Need You Tonight."
There was the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix in College Station, Texas, filled with track and field athletes. Gabby Thomas made headlines by winning the 200m with a world-leading time of 21.70 seconds. Athletes competed at Cushing Stadium at Texas A&M University. Texas A&M is home to many track and field icons and lovers of the sport too. That time is Gabby Thomas's third fastest time of her career. Kayla White of America won 2nd, and Favour Ofili of Nigeria won third. For the 110m hurdles for men, Jamar Marshall won 1st, DeVlon Wilson won 2nd, and Connor Schulman won third (all people being Americans). For the women's 100m hurdles, Demisha Roswell of Jamaica won first, Ackera Nugent of Jamaica won 2nd, and Rayniah Jones of America won third. For the women's 400m hurdles, Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain won first, Ashley Miller of Zimbabwe won 2nd, and Shamier Little of America won 3rd. For the men's 200m race, Makanakaishe Charamba of Zimbabwe won first, Tate Taylor of America won 2nd, and Aaron Brown of Canada won 3rd. For the women's 800m, Shafiqua Maloney of Saint Vincent won 1st, Kelly-Ann Beckford of Jamaica won 2nd, and Victoria Bossong of America won 3rd. For the men's 800m, Navasky Anderson of Jamaica won 1st, Abraham Alvarado of Mexico won 2nd, and Sean Dolan from America won 3rd. For the women's hammer, Camryn Rogers of Canada won first, Rachel Richeson of America won 2nd, and Jie Zhao of China won 3rd. For the 100m men's race, Trayvon Bromell of America won first, Andre de Grasse of Canada won 2nd, and Oblique Seville of Jamaica won 3rd. For the women's 100m, Sabrina Dockery of Jamaica won 1st, Audrey Leduc of Canada won 2nd, and Jodean Williams of Jamaica won 3rd. There were other athletes who won including high school kids and para athletes too.
There is a controversy involving Senate candidate Graham Platner. He is in the state of Maine. He is facing tons of controversies, like allegations of physical abuse from multiple romantic partners, etc. These partners maintain that Platner acted erratically and used violence against them. Platner admitted to suffering from issues, but he denies any physical abuse against the women who accused him. Also, there has been a Nazi-themed tattoo found on him and offensive resurfaced social media posts. Graham Platner wanted to continue in his campaign. Democrats are split, with some wanting him to continue and others refusing to support him. I do believe in redemption and improving one's life, but redemption should be done on an individual level. There is a difference between redemption involving accidentally stepping on one's foot and continuing a political campaign and allegations of abuse and racist tattoos plus offensive social media posts. Some say that Republicans do the same thing, and GOP followers still support people like Trump, etc. My rebuttal to that view is that we aren't Republicans. We should never use the GOP's low standard of moral principles as an excuse to brush aside serious allegations. These allegations aren't a minor misstep or spilling water on the floor. It involved harming innocent human life and having racist tattoos on one's body. Bernie Sanders supporting Platner is not shocking. We reject sexism, domestic violence, anti-Semitism, and all forms of bigotry, period. We don't expect our political leaders to be perfect, but anyone following righteousness (not doing bigotry or assault) is easy to do. So, I believe that Graham Platner should not be in this race and should be replaced with another Democratic candidate. Some things are more important than politics.
One of the most disgraceful actions of our generation is the 2026 GOP members in Minnesota giving a moment of silence to the cowardly murderer Derek Chauvin. This shows how racist the GOP is. Derek Chauvin is a convicted murderer who was convicted by a jury of his peers. He put his knee on the neck of George Floyd for more than 8 minutes without empathy and compassion to a fellow human being. The other officers were cowardly too by doing nothing, not even telling Chauvin to stop on what he was doing. George Floyd said that he couldn't breathe and never received any immediate medical assistance. The GOP hypocrites who did the moment of silence should be completely voted out of office. This happened on May 30, 2026, and this disgraceful act has been condemned by Democratic and some Republican leaders. This took place during the state GOP convention in Duluth, Minnesota. The liar Delegate Christopher Rocco said that Chauvin was a victim of injustice and wanted a federal pardon. Rocco should be voted out of office. They are hypocrites since they lecture people on morality and truth, but they glorify a murderer. These are the same people who glorify Trump, who is complicit in the war crime of murdering people in the Caribbean without due process of the law or a trial.
There are many parts of plant cells, and many of these components differ greatly from those of animal cells. The cell wall is the tough outer layer. It is made up of mostly cellulose, which protects, supports, and provides shape to the plant cell. The cell membrane or plasma membrane is a semi-permeable barrier that controls the movement of substances (water, nutrients, and waste) in and out of the cell. The nucleus is the control center of the planet cell that has the cell's DNA and ordinated the activities like growth and reproduction. The cytoplasm is a gel like fluid that fills the cell and holds the organelles in place. The chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis. They contain chlorophyll, which captures sunlight to convert it into usable energy and sugars. The large central vacuole is a large sac that stores water and nutrients. It helps to maintain turgor pressure so the plant remains upright and firm. The ribosomes are tiny structures responsible for protein synthesis. The ER or endoplasmic reticulum is a network of membranes. The Rough ER is studded with ribosomes to produce and transport proteins while the Smooth ER produces lipids. The Golgi Apparatus acts as the packaging and distribution center, sorting, and modifying proteins for use inside and outside the cell. There are more parts of a plant cell like the amyloplast (or starch grain), raphide crystal, peroxisome, lysosome, plasmodesma, and the nuclear envelope.
The Ecumenical Movement is one of the most unique, deceptive movements in the world. It believes in the view that nearly all denominations that claim to be "Christian" (even Jehovah Witnesses, Unitarians, Mormons, etc.) are all are one in the religion of Christianity. It views doctrinal differences as secondary to unity. There is a large call for unity, but unity must exist in truth and sound doctrine. The Ecumenical movement is a deception, because it has an unscriptural view of doctrine. Doctrine is found dozens of times in the Bible. Acts 2:42 says that the church at Jerusalem was steadfast in the apostles' doctrine. There is only one doctrine that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he died and rose from the dead three days later, and he sits at the right side of God the Father. The church is required to contend to sound doctrine as found in Jude 1:3: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." The Apostle Paul promoted Christians to embrace real doctrine found in 1 Timothy 1:3 and 1 Timothy 4:13. Doctrine is very important as it relates to baptism. Many denominations believe in the false doctrine that baptism is a substitute for the blood of Jesus Christ to forgive all sins, but the Bible says that baptism is immersion, an ordinance for only believers in God to follow, and that infants can't be baptized. Many in the Ecumenical movement ignore apostasy and how to deal with it. Jesus Christ predicted that before the time of the end, apostasy will exist as found in Matthew 13:10-11. 24-15, 33. The Apostle Paul called this apostasy embracing fables, lovers of oneself, being cold towards people, disobeying mothers and fathers (who are doing the right thing), and rebellion against righteousness. False doctrines like calling Mary the Queen of Heaven, transubstantiation (or the communion host becoming Jesus, which is blasphemy), purgatory, the intercession of the saints (which is overt necromancy), the world-faith heresy, etc. are commonly embraced by deceived human beings in our generation. The Ecumenical movement is wrong to ignore the call for believers in God to separate from heresies and heretics until they come home to embrace the light of God. True Christian unity is about being in one mind in embracing Jesus Christ, spreading the Gospel (as commanded by Jesus in his Great Commission), and follow the Holy Scriptures. The Ecumenical movement is controlled by major religious groups like the World Council of Churches, the Roman Catholic Church (especially after the Vatican II creation), the Rockefeller Foundation, Mormonism, etc. They are funded by the CFR, the Bilderberg Group, the Skulls and Bones, and numerous establishment organizations. The Ecumenical Movement existed back in the 19th century via cooperative, interdenominational missionary societies like the London Missionary Society, YMCA, and the YWCA. Later, the 1910 Edinburgh World Missionary Conference started the modern ecumenical movement to end denominational divisions in Protestants. the World Council of Churches was formed in 1948 to represent Protestant, Anglican, and Orthodox Churches. The Vatican II conference from 1962 to 1965 was created by Pope John XXIII to promote interfaith dialogue among Protestant, Orthodox, and Catholic Churches. You have the National Council of Churches and more council in the 20th and 21st centuries.
By Timothy