South Africa is celebrating 30 years of freedom and democracy, but many of the challenges faced by the country have subsided, with the Black majority still living in poverty and the ANC facing a fiercely contested election in May.
Author Archives: AP Wire Service
Michigan State suspends Black coach after allegations he sexually harassed rape survivor
By Larry LageAP Sports Writer Michigan State suspended football coach Mel Tucker without pay on Sept. 10, less than 24 hours after allegations became public in a USA Today report that he sexually harassed activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy during a phone call last year. Michigan State President Teresa K. Woodruff and athletic director […]
Cord Jefferson’s insightful satire of race and media, ‘American Fiction,’ lights up TIFF
By Jake CoyleAP Film Writer TORONTO (AP) — Fifty pages into Percival Everett’s “Erasure” Cord Jefferson knew he wanted to adapt it into a movie script. Halfway through, he began to see Jeffrey Wright playing the book’s academic protagonist, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison. By the time he was finished, he knew he wanted to direct it, […]
Why the United Auto Workers union is poised to strike major US car makers this week
By Tom KrisherAP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — About 146,000 U.S. auto workers are set to go on strike this week if General Motors, Ford and Stellantis fail to meet their demands for big pay raises and the restoration of concessions the workers made years ago when the companies were in financial trouble. Shawn Fain, […]
US averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day
Passengers wait in a long line to get a COVID-19 test to travel overseas at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Friday, Aug. 6, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Recent flight cancelations caused many passengers to redo their tests while others were unable to get the test locally due to long lines caused by the surge of […]
Kool & the Gang co-founder Dennis Thomas dead at age 70
In this Aug. 3, 2008 file photo, Dennis Thomas performs with the band “Kool and the Gang” in concert in Bethlehem, Pa. Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, a founding member of the long-running soul-funk band Kool & the Gang, has died. Thomas died peacefully in his sleep Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021 in New Jersey, where he […]
Pause on student loan payments extended through January
The Biden administration on issued what it says will be the final extension to a student loan moratorium. (Courtesy graphic) By Collin Binkley AP Education Writer The Biden administration on Aug. 6 issued what it says will be the final extension to a student loan moratorium that has allowed millions of Americans to put off […]
Black Baptist group renews historic calls for civil rights
By Peter Smith The Associated Press The Progressive National Baptist Convention this week marked the 60th anniversary of its forging in the heat of the civil rights movement, citing its founders as inspiring new calls for racial justice, against voter suppression and in favor of critical race theory. The historically Black denomination held a virtual […]
Robinhood makes its $32 billion debut on Wall Street
This Dec. 17, 2020, photo shows the logo for the Robinhood app on a smartphone in New York. After a rocket rise where it introduced millions of people to investing and reshaped the brokerage industry, all while racking up a long list of controversies in less than eight years, Robinhood is about to take the […]
Denied ticket over COVID, Guinean Olympian clings to dream
Guinean wrestler Fatoumata Yarie Camara poses for a portrait at the end of her morning training session at the Ostia’s Olympic training center, near Rome, Monday, July 5, 2021. A West African wrestler’s dream of competing in the Olympics has come down to a plane ticket. Fatoumata Yarie Camara is the only Guinean athlete to […]
Infrastructure talks leave Biden’s entire agenda at risk
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a key negotiator in the infrastructure talks, is surrounded by reporters as intense negotiations continue to salvage a bipartisan deal, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) By Alan Fram Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s latest leap into the Senate’s up-and-down efforts […]
Racism of rioters takes center stage in Jan. 6 hearing
U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell left, and U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Harry Dunn stand after the House select committee hearing on the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 27, 2021. (AP Photo/ Andrew Harnik, Pool) By Aaron Morrison Associated Press It had only been hinted at in previous public examinations […]