Medicaid funding is resuming for Planned Parenthood after being cut off for most of a year
By Geoff Mulvihill, AP News
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Planned Parenthood and two smaller regional abortion providers are resuming billing Medicaid for services other than abortion after being cut off for most of a year The defunding, which was mandated in President Donald Trump’s big tax and policy law last year, has been blamed in the closure of multiple clinics as well as a reduction in the number of Planned Parenthood patients being screened for breast cancer or tested for sexually transmitted infections
See Medicaid Funding, p 6 Supreme Court strikes down Birthright Citizenship Order, advocates link it to Voting Rights Fight
By BlackPressUSA Newswire
Legal Defense Fund
Contributing writer Clint Combs reports on the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling upholding birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment striking down Trump s executive order Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, arguing the amendment has been repurposed, while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned his reasoning pits Black Americans against immigrants Civil rights leaders immigrant advocates and first-time voters weigh in on what the ruling means, and why many see it as connected to a larger fight over voting rights
See Voting Rights Fight, p. 6
America 250: Why Crispus Attucks matters today
By New York Amsterdam News, BlackPressUSA Newswire
National Archives and Records Administration
AFRO-AMERICAN – WASHINGTON As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary a discussion has emerged about how the nation should commemorate this milestone The article suggests focusing on Crispus Attucks, a formerly enslaved man whose death marked the first casualty of the American Revolution Division is a word that stands in stark contrast to the ideals inherent to the United States of America, but it has become an operative one for Donald Trump and his administration
See America 250, p 6
The media is villainizing a Black woman who Stood Her Ground in a Walmart parking lot
(This article was originally published by Word In Black )
By Monique Judge, NewsOne
There’s an old bit from the 1986 standup special Robin Williams: An Evening at the Met in which Williams discusses the crazy gun culture in the United States (because, yes, it’s been a problem for a long time) It s in the Constitution! You have the right to bear arms or the right to arm bears Whatever you want to do!” Williams quips
See Stand Your Ground, p 6
On July 1 2026 Doug Jones traveled to Eutaw Alabama, and held an open forum with local citizens at the William McKinley Branch Courthouse The forum served as an opportunity for constituents to ask Doug Jones questions regarding his campaign and what kinds of policies he would establish if elected governor Time and time again, Greene County shows that despite its size its population is more involved in voting than any other county in Alabama Jones commended the county’s citizens and notable community leaders, such as Spiver Gordon and John Zippert “I’ve seen so many people from here that have really been at the forefront of voting rights, of civil rights, of things
Greene County
that have moved this country forward in a progressive way ” The forum began with an opening statement by Jones to set the tone and discuss decorum To ask questions, attendees were given tickets to have their names drawn Many of the questions centered around general affordability and healthcare eligibility concerns Jones stated that cur-
Op-Ed: Choices matter for the Ala bama PSC
Mor e of the same or a fr esh new voice
By Sheila McNeil, Candidate for Alabama PSC Place 2
Alabama stands at a crossroads Like much of America we are living through a moment defined by rising costs, political dysfunction, and a growing sense that the systems meant to protect us are no longer working The Alabama Public Service Com-
Submitted
by
Debbie Duncan
Family, friends, church members, and community supporters gathered on June 13 2026 at the Eutaw Activity Center to celebrate the 85th birthday of Ms Sarah Lee Duncan, a beloved Greene County resident whose life continues to reflect faith, service, family, and community commitment
The celebration was held
mission is one of the clearest examples of how our state has drifted toward crisis and how urgently we need a course correction
This is a state with extraordinary potential We rank 14th in national energy production, yet too many families struggle to keep the lights on We build the rockets that carry America into space, yet our schools rank 44th We attract billion-dollar industries yet our economy ranks 36th, and our healthcare system ranks 40th These contradictions are not the result of a lack of talent resources or hard work They reflect leadership that has not consistently put the people of Alabama first
Even Alabama s own elected officials have acknowledged the serious-
under the theme, “A Life Well Lived, A Legacy Still Growing ” with Proverbs 16:31 as the theme scripture: The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness ” Ms Duncan was born to Samuel Duncan and Hattie Brown and was the seventh of ten children Her early years on the family farm taught her the value of hard work, responsibility, unity, and honest labor These are lessons that continue to guide her life Faith has always been central to Ms Duncan’s journey She confessed Christ at an early age was baptized by Rev Willie Knox, and was a longtime member of Pine Grove Baptist Church before moving her membership to Second Baptist Church For more than 40 years,
ness of the problem Senator Katie Britt recently stated, Our electrical rates are the highest in the southeast ” Independent national data shows that Alabama’s electricity rates are the third-highest in the entire country For a state that produces so much energy, this reality is difficult to justify
Meanwhile, our neighbors in Georgia have shown what happens when voters demand accountability In 2025, Georgia s Public Service Commission underwent a historic transformation After years of public frustration over rising utility bills, opaque rate cases, and the ballooning costs of major projects like Plant Vogtle Georgians pushed for change
The result was a Commission more responsive to
she has served on the Usher Board and remains connected to church service as her health allows Ms Duncan is also known for her many years of civic service For more than 50 years she has served as a registrar and helped register hundreds of citizens to vote in Greene County She remains active in voting and continues to believe that every citizen should have the opportunity to let their voice be heard Her community involvement also includes her work with the New South Coalition where she served as a grassroots worker encouraging voter participation and supporting efforts to improve Greene County For more than 30 years she was also known for her homemade ice cream at the Black Belt
–
public concerns about transparency affordability and oversight Georgia did not get there overnight It happened because residents refused to accept a system that was not working for them Alabama, however, is moving in the opposite direction In 2026 our legislature passed HB 475, a sweeping restructuring of the Public Service Commission Instead of expanding public access or strengthening oversight, HB 475 consolidated authority, reduced transparency requirements and altered internal PSC processes in ways that critics argue make it harder for the public to understand or influence decisions
See Sheila McNeil, p 2
Folk Roots Festival in Eutaw Although she is now retired from making ice cream her contribution remains a treasured part of Greene County’s cultural history
Ms Duncan is the proud mother of three daughters, Debbie, Regina, and Sarah, and is blessed with four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren Her family continues to reflect the values she planted: faith education service compassion and commitment to helping others
Ms Sarah Lee Duncan was celebrated for 85 years of life and she was honored as a living example of strength, grace, faith, and community love Her legacy is still growing through the lives she continues to touch
Jones,
County Commissioner Chairperson Garria Spencer addresses Doug Jones
Carol’s Notes
Everything Is Going Some Place
Everything is going someplace I heard these words recently and I reflected: Everything from the Creator has a spirit of life and thus a role and a place that connects to something else and moves in balance in the universe.
Everything produced by human minds may have a role and a place, but may not have the spirit of life that allows it to connect to all that the Creator provides, thus, our products may not move in balance with the universe
We confiscate land and strip it. Natural habitats are disturbed El Nino and La Nina occur from a polluted atmosphere. Plastics are choking life and the spirit of life from what lives on land and in ocean.
Everything is going someplace I reflected: Where are the places for the human products that don’t fit in the natural balance of all that the Creator provides?
Carol Prejean Zippert
Shelia McNeil
The bill moved quickly with limited public debate despite its enormous implications for how utility regulation will function for years to come At a time when Alabamians are already paying some of the highest electricity bills in the country, HB 475 makes it even harder for the public to see how decisions are made or to hold regulators accountable
That is why I filed a federal lawsuit challenging HB 475 When a law restructures an entire regulatory body in the middle of an active election after candidates have qualified paid their fees, and begun campaigning, it raises serious constitutional concerns My lawsuit argues that HB 475 disrupts the electoral process, undermines equal protection, and threatens the voting rights of Alabamians who deserve a stable, transparent, and fair system of utility oversight This is not just a legal fight It is a fight for every family struggling with high bills, every community demanding accountability and every voter who expects the rules of an election to remain consistent from start to finish HB 475 is
The Greene County Board Of Education will meet in REGULAR SESSION Thursday, July 23, 2026 @ 4:30 p m in the Central Office Auditorium
-Wanted-
more than a policy disagreement It is a fundamental question of whether Alabama s government will operate in the sunlight or behind closed doors
These are serious times and serious times demand serious leadership Not excuses Not distractions Not more of the same We must ask ourselves:
Is your life better? Are your utility bills lower?
Are your children receiving the education they deserve? Are you more hopeful about Alabama s future?
If the answer is no then it is time to stop settling
Many Alabamians have already seen cuts to SNAP and Medicaid Families are struggling under rising utility costs Seniors are worried about threats to Social Security and Medicare Veterans farmers and small businesses are navigating economic pressures without the support they need
When is enough enough?
Alabama cannot afford the status quo Our state has waited long enough for leadership that reflects the full strength, diversity, and potential of its people Real change is not about pro-
tecting entrenched interests or maintaining old power structures Real change is about making life better for every Alabamian, including working families seniors veterans farmers small business owners, and young people who deserve a future right here at home Our diversity of experience geography background, and perspective is one of our greatest strengths When Alabama embraces that diversity we win History proves it Alabama football did not become a national powerhouse until it opened its doors to every athlete capable of contributing to excellence When we include more voices we build stronger teams stronger institutions, and a stronger state Alabama has everything it needs to lead What we ve lacked is leadership willing to put the people first It is time to stop accepting less than we deserve It is time to move forward with policies rooted in transparency, accountability, and fairness It is time for a fresh new voice committed to building a better Alabama that works for all of us
July 26- St Paul United Methodist Church will host Family and Friend Day Program at 2:00 p m Pastor Joe N Webb of New Generation Church along with his congregation, choir and male chorus Eutaw, AL The public is invited Rev LaTonya M Brown is church pastor
July 26-Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church of West Greene Alabama will celebrate its 160th Church Anniversary on July 26, 2026, beginning at 1:30 p m
We are honored to welcome Rev Corey Savage, Pastor of Plum Grove Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa Alabama, as our guest speaker for this special occasion Come and join us as we give thanks to God for 160 years of ministry, worship, and service to the community and for the LORD The public is invited!
Missionary Gospel singers
20th Anniversary Celebration Date: Saturday, August
8, 2026 Time: 7:00 p m
Place: Southside Church of God in Christ Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Elder Ben Jackson Jr
Pastor Date : Climaxing: Sunday August 9 2026 Time Mt Zoar missionary Baptist Church, Boligee, Alabama Location: Boligee Highway 11 South/ County road 138 Rev Robert Johnson, interim pastor and speaker The public is invited For more
Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church of Boligee, Alabama is prayerfully seeking a full-time pastor to lead and grow our membership through preaching, teaching, shepherding and providing overall spiritual leadership It is required that the chosen male pastor is Holy Ghost-filled and is married to a female wife Please send resumes and inquiries to: Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, PO Box 158, Boligee AL 35443
(Placing this ad is Deacon Detrick Hodges My phone number is 205-496-9523 )
PALACE LIVE
Greene County Racing Commission Notice
Pickup of Charity Applications
Charity applications will be available for pickup beginning June 29, 2026, at the security guard stations located at The Place, 106 Old Patton Road, Knoxville, Al 35469
All completed applications must be returned to security guard stations no later than 2:00 p.m. on July 24, 2026, or received by mail at P.O. Box 542, Eutaw, AL 35462, by July 24, 2026.
Support Local Charities by Supporting Simulcast- Greyhounds, Horses & HHR machine
Charity Day grants support school projects and field trips, volunteer fire departments, youth leadership projects, community healthy projects, youth recreation, Greene County Charities.
Sponsored by Greene County Racing Commission Linette Brown, Donald Means, Morris Hardy
Fax:
Cr uelty is the point: Haiti, TPS, and the politics of punishment
by Julianne Malveaux
(TriceEdneyWire
com)
-
Haiti is not an abstraction
strengthened communities: your labor was welcome but your life is disposable? Cruelty is not an accidental byproduct of this policy Cruelty is the point
Citizenship is a Bir thright we've ear ned and intend to keep
By Marc Morial, President
and CEO, National Urban League
(TriceEdneyWire com)the Fourteenth Amendment has never been interpreted to extend citizenship universally to everyone born within the United States ” The Fourteenth Amendment has always excluded from birthright citizenship persons who were born in the United States but not subject to the jurisdiction thereof
“Among the categories of individuals born in the United States and not subject to the jurisdiction thereof the privilege of United States citizenship does not automatically extend to persons born in the United States: (1) when that person’s mother was unlawfully present in the United States and the father was not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident at the time of said person’s birth or (2) when that person s mother ’s presence in the United States at the time of said person s birth was lawful but temporary ” –Executive Order 14160
That language came directly from a White House Executive Order signed last January, under the guise of protecting Americans Its true goal however, was to fast-track deportations by stripping citizenship from children born to immigrants who contribute to this country while pursuing citizenship themselves
The administration has not been shy about labeling immigrants criminals, thugs and rapists But the most offensive part of this executive order and of Trump v Barbara the case taken before the Supreme Court to challenge it is its hypocrisy America was founded by immigrants escaping persecution and built by enslaved people brought to this land against their will
The same enslaved people who, in addition to not being considered American citizens until 1868 were also only counted as 3/5ths of a person until the passage of the 14th Amendment That Amendment that constitutional right is what was at stake in Trump v Barbara
While we applaud the Supreme Court for upholding the rule of law and recognizing the history of Black Americans in this country we are alarmed at the future dangers posed by such a narrow decision A court where a 5-4 decision is the barrier between who is considered American days before the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary is a court that risks everything this country stands for if another extremist judge is ever appointed In fact, one justice gave this administration a pathway In his opinion on the ruling, Brett Kavanaugh wrote that "Congress could consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment amend §1401(a) or otherwise enact new legislation establishing exceptions to birthright citizenship for children born to foreign citizens unlawfully or temporarily in the country " adding, "but Congress has not yet done so "
While Kavanaugh was part of the 6-3 majority that voted against the executive order, he was not part of the 5-4 majority that agreed citizenship is guaranteed under the 14th Amendment The Court split 6-3 to strike down the order itself, but only 5-4 on the narrower and more consequential question of whether birthright citizenship is constitutionally guaranteed to all children born on U S soil
While our movement and the Civil Rights community celebrate this week's victory, we have been put on notice that another assault may soon be underway
This precarious moment again underscores the power of the ballot and is another signal as to why extremist groups and elected officials are doing everything in their power to block the ballot box and shrink representation But we are not willing to stand by and allow them to succeed
Our movement is coordinating a massive voter turnout in this year's midterms through our Reclaim Your Vote campaign, and we are partnering with the Civil Rights community to remind Congress of its role in serving all Americans and moving our country forward, not back into the years before the end of slavery
This decision and this moment in our history as we celebrate 250 years of the American experiment is a reminder that we all have a responsibility to this nation: to stand up in the face of tyranny and fight back with our voice and our ballot
Haiti is a nation whose pain has too often been treated as policy collateral a people whose labor is welcomed when needed and whose lives are discounted when convenient Now with the Supreme Court allowing the Trump administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians more than 350 000 Haitians who have lived and worked legally in the United States face the possibility of deportation to a country the world knows is in crisis
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is not a gift It is a recognition of reality It says that when a country is overwhelmed by violence, disaster, political collapse, or humanitarian emergency deportation is not simply enforcement It is endangerment To strip Haitians of this protection now is to pretend that paperwork matters more than human life
Haiti is facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises Armed groups control much of the country, violence has disrupted ordinary life, hunger is widespread and humanitarian assistance remains far short of the need So what kind of country sends people back into that? What kind of country says to people who have built lives, paid taxes, raised children, staffed hospitals opened businesses cared for elders cleaned rooms, cooked meals, driven trucks, and
Haitians have long been punished for being Black free, defiant, and inconvenient The first Black republic in the world was born of revolt against slavery and the nations that profited from slavery never forgave Haiti for proving that enslaved people could liberate themselves France extracted a ruinous indemnity The United States occupied Haiti International lenders foreign governments and domestic elites have repeatedly treated Haiti as a problem to manage not a sovereign nation to respect; a profit center not a proud and sovereign nation The present crisis cannot be separated from that long history of extraction intervention and contempt
Now that contempt appears in the sterile language of immigration law
Temporary becomes the excuse Protected becomes the promise broken “Status” becomes the thin legal thread holding families together
The Supreme Court s ruling did not create the hatred of Haitian migrants but it gives official permission to act on it We have seen the ugliness before Haitians have been accused of disease criminality dependency, and disorder They have been stereotyped, detained, deported, and scapegoated During the 2024 campaign Springfield, Ohio became a national symbol of antiHaitian hysteria after false claims about Haitians eating pets were amplified for political gain That lie was not just ridiculous; it was dangerous It turned neighbors into targets Springfield tells another story Haitians came there to work They filled jobs They opened businesses They joined churches They enrolled children in
schools They helped revive a struggling city After the Court’s ruling many now face fear and uncertainty Even Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican reportedly called ending Haitian TPS a mistake, pointing to the conditions in Haiti
That matters Because the question is not whether Haitians belong in Springfield, or Boston, or Miami, or New York, or Washington D C The question is whether the United States will acknowledge that Haitians already belong here because they are already here already contributing already woven into the fabric of our communities
The numbers tell part of the story and they are overwhelming But they do not tell the whole story Behind every number is a family deciding whether to pack hide fight or pray Behind every number is a child who may know no home but the United States Behind every number is an employer wondering who will show up for work, a landlord wondering whether a tenant can stay a congregation wondering whether its members will disappear Behind every number is a disabled elder wondering whether the care attendant will come to bathe her, feed her, and help her live with dignity TPS holders are often described as if they are temporary people They are not They are people with temporary legal protection many of whom have been here for years or decades because the conditions that displaced them have not been resolved Temporary status can become a permanent limbo It allows people to work but not fully settle to contribute but not fully belong to live under the shadow of a government decision that can turn a lawful worker into a deportable person
That shadow is now darker
We should be honest about what this is It is not simply immigration enforcement It is not simply administrative discretion It is a choice to make vulnerable people more vulnerable It is a choice to destabilize families and communities It is a choice to ignore Haiti’s suffering while benefiting from Haitian labor It is a choice to act as if Black migrant lives are expendable The United States has legal power That has never been in doubt The deeper question is whether it has moral sense Haiti has been punished for its freedom exploited for its labor burdened by debt, occupied, stereotyped, and scapegoated Sending Haitians back into danger continues that long, ugly pattern But cruelty does not have to have the last word Congress can act The administration can halt deportations Communities can protect their neighbors Churches, unions, employers advocates and people of conscience can refuse to let Haitian families disappear quietly into deportation machinery At minimum this country should extend TPS, halt deportations to Haiti, and create a path to permanence for people who have already built their lives here The opposite of cruelty is not sentiment It is solidarity organized and insistent A humane nation would not send people back into danger A just nation would repair some small part of the damage it has helped create A grateful nation would recognize Haitian workers, families, caregivers, students, entrepreneurs and neighbors as part of its own story Cruelty may be the point of this policy Resistance must be the point of our response
Dr Julianne Malveaux is a DC based economist and author
T he 'Democr atic Socialist': it’s the messa ge not the messenger
Dr Wilmer Leon
(TriceEdneyWire com) -
In 1956, I shall not go to the polls I have not registered I believe that democracy has so far disappeared in the United States that no two evils exist There is but one evil party with two names and it will be elected despite all I can do or say There is no third party On the Presidential ballot in a few states (seventeen in 1952) a "Socialist" Party will appear Few will hear its appeal because it will have almost no opportunity to take part in the campaign and explain its platform If a voter organizes or advocates a real third-party movement he may be accused of seeking to overthrow this government by “force and violence ” Anything he advocates by way of significant reform will be called Communist
Dr W E B DuBois - 1956
How prophetic was the brilliant American sociologist, writer, historian, PanAfricanist and civil rights activist Dr DuBois? As we witness the backlash from the Democratic
Party s leadership as well as President Trump s response to the success of democratic socialist candidates in the New York City and Washington, DC primaries and anticipate backlash from the democratic socialist victory in Colorado a couple of important questions come to the forefront Are we witnessing the development of a new politics in America? If so what should the response of the African American community and electorate be?
It is important to understand that changes in the political landscape take time Events such as Democratic Socialists winning over Democratic Partybacked candidates do not happen in a vacuum One must understand the history in order to understand the now
In the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primary Senator Bernie Sanders (IVT) decisively defeated Hilary Clinton in New Hampshire During the 2016 campaign Senator Sanders “came out” as a democratic socialist (DS) during a speech at Georgetown University He told the crowd that democratic socialism is not a Marxist ideology calling for the abolition of capitalism “I don’t believe government should own the means of production but I do believe that the middle class and the working families who produce the wealth of America deserve a fair deal
Democratic Party lead-
ers were initially alarmed and strategists suggested the party distance themselves from Sanders They feared that the label “democratic socialist would be politically radioactive Hilary Clinton said his ideas were economically unfeasible and politically unrealistic Republicans seized on the "socialist" label to frame his campaign as a radical shift toward government control
In the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary
Senator Sanders gained more traction as his message of free tuition at public universities, campaign finance reform and singlepayer healthcare resonated with more voters across the electorate He lost a very controversial and disputed race to Pete Buttigieg in the Iowa caucuses with Sanders winning the popular vote but losing the primary Sanders won a narrow victory in the New Hampshire primary , and won in the Nevada caucuses
From 2016 forward, Democratic Party stalwarts and elites have watched Sanders and his message take hold They see the growing crowds growing energy and enthusiasm favorable polling data, and growing fundraising from small and large donors
The concern for them has shifted from will he lose to Republicans? to what do we do if he wins?” It’s no longer the messenger; it’s now the message And other than stating the obvious, that Trump is, as Sen-
ator Lindsey Graham (RSC) has told us, Trump is a 'race-baiting, xenophobic' bigot”; what’s the Democratic Party’s message? How are they going to make the lives of Americans better?
Building upon the momentum created by Senator Sanders we now have The Squad” - four congresswomen of color, sworn-in in 2020 While some refer to themselves as democratic socialists, they all express support for DS policies Reps Ilhan Omar of Minnesota the first Somali-American member of Congress, Rashida Tlaib are the first two Muslim women ever elected to Congress Rashida Tlaib of Michigan challenged the Democratic Party agenda when she publicly supported the pro-Palestine BDS movement Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts is very clear in her support of immigrant rights and has said, “The people closest to the pain should be closest to the power They have motivated the “progressive” ranks within the Democratic Party to varying degrees These women have articulated support for ideas such as Medicare for All a $15-dollar minimum wage debt-free college and have called for abolishing ICE
See Dr Wilmer Leon, p 7
Black Music Month:
Singing with 'Soul' to heal America, Ray Char les led the nation forwar d
By Hazel Trice Edney
(TriceEdneyWire com)It was Oct 28 2001 less than two months after the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon in Virginia and the World Trade Center in New York City Yankee Stadium was packed with more than 40,000 baseball fans as the second game of the World Series was about to be played –the New York Yankees vs the Arizona Diamond Backs With the deaths of nearly 3,000 people, including 344 New York firefighters weighing heavily on the hearts and minds of Americans across the nation the atmosphere was somber and pensive as the players lined up, hats over their hearts, and the audience looked on Then came the voice of the announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, to honor America with the singing of America the Beautiful’ please welcome the man and his soul Mr Ray Charles!” Charles’ powerful voice and the soul-stirring melody of his masterful piano-playing electrified the stadium Rocking side to side in his iconic way he appeared to sing the words with every fiber of his being Narrating for a moment, he recalled the words of the song from his childhood: “America! America!
God shed his grace on thee He crowned thy good with every brotherhood from sea to shining sea!” At the end of the song he invited the audience to
sing along The crescendo, like no other moment in American history; included a huge flag draping the field, a U S Airforce fourjet fly over a sustained standing ovation and cheers that appeared to melt away tensions and even begin the healing of the nation
Revisiting this scene nearly 25 years later during Black Music Month 2026, it is striking to observe that despite the vastly White audience it was the blind grandson of formerly enslaved Black people whose singing of his love for America helped to begin the healing of the nation in that historic moment
Some people may have questioned how the now late Ray Charles could have embraced that moment with such endearment for a nation that had also, less than two months earlier, begrudgingly participated in the World Conference Against Racism in Durban South Africa During his career Charles had personally refused to perform for segregated audiences and described racism and poverty as "two scourges that I have known since early in my life
Dr Martin Luther King Jr used to say, There can be no great disappointment where there is no great love ” In Ray Charles’ soulful singing about the “amber waves of grain”, perhaps he was drawing from his knowledge of how this nation was built on the backs of his ancestors toiling in the fields day after day
Perhaps academic and author Michael Eric Dyson said it best in his book, “Entertaining Race”:
Dr Dyson wrote, “We have entertained the country with our gifts and used those gifts to entertain the idea of race indeed the idea of America with a redemptive love that is both unquenchable and nearly incomprehensible
This article is the third in a four-part series powered by AARP in commemoration of Black Music Month June 2026
This article is the fourth in a four-part series powered by AARP in commemoration of Black Music Month 2026
The struggle to become American citizens I was born in the United States of America nearly 84 years ago I was technically a citizen but I did not feel like a citizen I wanted to feel like a citizen, but I was not treated as a citizen My mother and father could not vote They were not protected by or from the law I could not vote I was not protected by or from the law I wanted to feel like a citizen because the United States of America was widely perceived as the greatest country on earth World War II concluded when I was nearly 3 years old and the feeling of America being a great country was flourishing as I grew old enough to even half understand The struggle to become American citizens
My mother constantly told me as well as 12 of her 13 children that we were as good as anyone else She also told us that we did not have the same rights as White people and could not do the same things as White people She was telling us that we were not full citizens of the United States of America Her words had a dual effect on me First the words made me understand that I was not a full citizen Second the words made me even more determined to be a full citizen The struggle to become American citizens I eventually learned the historical basis for my mother ’s perception and the perceptions of Black people in general concerning our citizenship I learned that the United States Supreme Court had stated that people of African descent, whether slave or free, were not citizens and could never become citizens I learned that this Supreme Court also stated that Black people had no rights which White people were bound to respect These terrible things were stated in the infamous 1857 Dred Scott decision I also learned that the very Constitution of the United States of America treated Black persons as three-fifths of a person The struggle to become American citizens
I learned that other peoples born in faraway places could come to this country and become full citizens but Black people could not be treated as citizens in spite of being born in this country as well as their parents and grandparents having been born in this country Black people were just treated differently The struggle to become American citizens I recall President Ronald Reagan stating the following in January 1989: “You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman You can go to live in Germany, or Turkey or Japan but you cannot become a German a Turk or a Japanese But anyone from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American ” This was one of the few statements he made with which I fully agreed I understood that becoming an American was becoming a full citizen I was moved by the breath of Reagan’s words but I was simultaneously reminded that Black people were in a different category We have lived in America for hundreds of years but to some we are still not Americans That is why we are called African Americans to this day
while others are just recognized as Americans The struggle to become American citizens President Reagan also said: “We lead the world because, unique among nations, we draw our people – our strength – from every country and every corner of the world And by doing so we continuously renew and enrich our nation While other countries cling to the stale past here in America we breathe life into dreams We create the future, and the world follows us into tomorrow Thanks to each wave of new arrivals to this land of opportunity we're a nation forever young forever bursting with energy and new ideas and always on the cutting edge, always leading the world to the next frontier This quality is vital to our future as a nation If we ever closed the door to new Americans our leadership in the world would soon be lost ” With these words President Reagan captured how the United States is the only country in the world built on these principles – principles he knew are a foundation of America s greatness The struggle to become American citizens
I also learned about the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution It made everyone born in the United States a citizen Then I learned that within a decade or so after these rights were granted by the 14th Amendment these citizenship rights were taken away from Black people in many areas of America We were in a different category The struggle to become American citizens
Perhaps you now understand why I was so adversely impacted when President Trump issued an Executive Order declaring that certain persons born in the United States and designated as citizens by the 14th Amendment to the Constitution were no longer recognized as citizens Even though the executive order did not say “Black people ” I recall my mother saying, “When other peoples get a cold, Colored peoples get pneumonia In other words, the impact of adverse actions is multiplied on African Americans The struggle to become American citizens I knew that if an Amendment to the U S Constitution was overridden by an Executive Order relative to who is/is not a citizen, people of African descent would be next If they take citizenship from children of undocumented immigrants they will certainly not stop there I did not feel I was a real citizen until passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 I did not want the uncertainty of citizenship looming over me and a whole people The struggle to become American citizens
I was working in my law office on June 30, 2026, when the Supreme Court decision on birthright citizenship was handed down The Court by a 5-4 vote retained citizenship by birth as a constitutional right I was relieved, but the fact that three Supreme Court Justices said that President Trump could determine citizenship by Executive Order was scary A fourth Justice said that citizenship could be determined by an act of Congress without a
new constitutional amendment I can breathe, but I cannot rest We cannot rest These are terrible times We must do something The struggle to become American citizens
Now on to the Daily Diary
Saturday, June 27, 2026 – I handled various matters participated in a statewide conference call and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Faya Rose Toure of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; Alabama New South Coalition President Everette Wess Board Chair Sylvia Fitts Board Vice Chair Michael Scales and State Coordinator Shelley Fearson; Robert Avery of Gadsden; Robert Turner, Sr of Bullock County; Norma Jackson of Tuskegee; Retired Circuit Judge John England Jr ; and Co-Publishers of The Greene County Democrat Dr Carol P Zippert and John Zippert
Sunday – I hosted the Sunday School Lesson with Dr Margaret Hardy on Facebook Live and Z105 3 F M Radio Station traveled to Marion Junction to a Missionary Program and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Sharon Wheeler of Montgomery; Josephine Curtis and Marilyn Cosby of Selma; Thurgood Marshall Law School Professor Kindaka Sanders; and Shaunte Jones of Houston, Texas
Monday – I walked, handled various matters, traveled to Lowndes County returned to Selma and worked into the night Among others I communicated with the following: Lowndes County Superintendent Samita Jeter; Jonathan Raulston and Robert Baxley of Jefferson County; Montgomery businessman Frank Jenkins; Founder of the World Council of Mayors Johnny Ford; Michael Strickland of Montgomery; John Vester and Cynthia Carter of Greene County; and Greene County School Board Member Carrie Dancy
Tuesday – I handled many matters and worked from early in the morning to late at night Among others, I communicated with the following: Danny Steele and Eva Prewitt of Tuscaloosa concerning the hospitalization of SCLC President Emeritus Dr Charles Steele; Shia Steele of Atlanta Georgia; Amadi Sanders of Selma; Tyler Thull of Birmingham; Woodie Dinning, Jr of Marengo County; Former Alabama State Senator Malika Sanders Fortier; and Ainka Sanders Jackson
Citizens
of the Selma Center for Nonviolence and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee
Wednesday – I handled various matters traveled to Lowndes County, returned to Selma, chaired meetings and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Dorothy Hulett and Rosie Whiting of Lowndes County; Dr Kyshun Webster of New Orleans concerning a celebration for Jerome “Big Duck” Smith; Jeannie Frasier of Philadelphia; Barbara Pitts of Decatur, Georgia concerning the death of John Zellars; and Geraldine Wofford Charlene Williams Lametrius Dillard and Jessie Sanders of Selma
Thursday – I handled many matters, participated in the SOS Connection Podcast, chaired an Alabama New South Dallas County Meeting joined a night conference call and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Law Professor Emerita Martha Morgan; Kia Zellars of Jersey City, New Jersey; Jaeston Zellars of Auburn; Karen Jones of Montgomery; Greene County CSFO Marquita Lennon; and Reverend Jarmal Sanders of Selma
Friday – I walked, handled many matters, made remarks at a press conference and rally dealing with the attacks on legal Haitians and other immigrants living in the United States and worked into the night Among others, I communicated with the following: Reverend Dr Kenneth Glasgow and Reverend Dr Byron Clay of the New National Christian Leadership Movement; Twonya Dixon of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee; and Selma businessman Velton Moss
Epilogue – The struggle for full American citizenship is long and winding but grew broader and deeper over the years It went from White male landowners to other White men except for Catholics and Jews to all White men to Black men for a brief period to White women and finally nearly all persons Now citizenship is facing a powerful movement to reduce its scope and meaning The struggle to become American citizens
Ray Charles
EarthTalk From the Editors of EThe Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: With rising food costs and climate concerns, many suburban and urban residents want to grow their own food, but face strict local zoning laws or HOA rules What is the “Right to Garden” movement, and how are states addressing these legal barriers? -- L J , via email
New Jersey
are considering legislation that would institutionalize the "right to garden" in that state
As global food prices fluctuate residential cultivation has transitioned from a leisurely hobby to a vital tool for home food security But citizens often encounter restrictive webs of zoning laws and Homeowners Association (HOA) regulations that penalize residents for replacing traditional turf grass with edible crops or native pollinator plants To counter this, a growing “Right to Garden” movement is pushing for state-
Stand
Your Gr ound
I have never been able to delete that from my brain, and whenever I hear or read the phrase “the right to bear arms ” my mind immediately fills in “or the right to arm bears ”
Because although Amurikkkah loves her guns and you will have to pry them from her cold, dead hands, Americans” would rather arm a bear than a Black person
The rights given to gun owners apply to everyone on paper but their application to Black people is always subjective, and we are seeing that play out right now in the case of the Black woman who shot and killed a white man in a Florida Walmart parking lot
As I noted then:
“A Black woman in Broward County, Florida, stood her ground in the parking lot of a Walmart shopping center on Tuesday She was involved in a verbal dispute with a white man over the parking space she had just pulled into
As the woman, who has not been identified by authorities, backs away from who authorities identify as 62-yearold Bart Diguglielmo the video shows he continues to move toward her even as she points a gun at him as she backs away
ABC News reports that witnesses say the woman told Diguglielmo repeatedly that she would shoot him if he continued walking toward her Diguglielmo reportedly walked away, then quickly returned to walk toward the woman again That is when she shot him
Diguglielmo later died from his wounds ”
The woman told law enforcement that she acted in selfdefense, and according to ABC News, witness accounts seem to corroborate her story
Anyone who watches the video can see she defended herself against a white man who can be clearly seen advancing toward her even as she raises a gun and asks him to back off, warning him of what will happen if he does
It sounds like a pretty cut-and-dry case of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law right?
She was backing away He followed her around a car
She kept backing up He kept advancing at her, even as she pointed a gun at him and told him she would shoot him if he kept advancing
He kept advancing, so she shot him
She then stayed at the scene and waited for the police to arrive She had nothing to hide The point at which he continued to walk up on her, after she had repeatedly warned him, was the point at which she no longer had a duty to retreat
She protected herself
That should be the story The framing and the narrative are just as important as the outcome
Medicaid Funding
The Medicaid billing was allowed to resume Sunday
The restored funding does not mean the battle over federal abortion policy has ended and not all services that were cut will return
Here’s what to know about the situation
Planned Parenthood closed clinics and saw fewer patients
Many abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood affiliates have struggled financially since the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v Wade and allowed state abortion bans to be enforced Clinics have closed in states with abortion bans and restrictions as well as those without Planned Parenthood says its affiliates have closed nearly 30 of its roughly 600 clinics over the past year citing the funding change as a key reason
Over that period, affiliates dispensed about 25% fewer packs of birth control pills and conducted about 20% fewer breast cancer exams than the previous year
Many patients especially in places where healthcare can be hard to access may not have had care at all because of the defunding, the organization said Planned Parenthood Action Fund spokesperson Angela Vasquez-Giroux said the cuts have also led to limited abortion access in some places
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin halted abortions for about a month, then dropped its status as an “essential community provider” so it could resume seeking reimbursement The Arizona affiliate paused offering many of its services to patients covered by Medicaid
This is an excerpt of the full article To read it in its entirety visit: https://apnews com/article/defunding-abortionproviders-0647d9303a1df48c244206bfb66f97a2
level preemption laws to establish ground-level food cultivation as a protected property right overriding localized aesthetic bans while leaving municipal safety authority intact
Florida and Illinois have already successfully codified these protections Policy research highlights that residential gardens function
as essential green infrastructure, absorbing significantly more stormwater runoff than standard shallow-rooted lawns Currently, arbitrary town ordinances present massive barriers In Linden and Roselle Park, New Jersey, strict height limits on all plant life" effectively outlaw basic vegetable stalks forcing families to choose between legal fines and self-sufficiency
The economic and ecological data reveal a desperate need for solutions Traditional shallow-rooted turf grass lawns account for millions of gallons of wasted municipal water and chemical runoff At the same time, regions like New Jersey face a staggering $53 million food budget shortfall, leaving over 650,000 residents food insecure Legalizing backyard gardening reclaims this non-productive acreage, in-
White media always needs a non-white villain
As I was looking at stories about this incident I noticed a pattern
While Man shot in Walmart parking lot after dispute over parking space” or some variation thereof was the prevailing theme another spin on the narrative is dog whistling its way through a certain type of media
People magazine s headline reads, Veteran Fatally Shot After Argument with Woman Over Walmart Parking Space in Florida ” A local Fox station in Alabama wrote, “Veteran shot killed after argument with woman over Walmart parking space authorities say NJ Army veteran killed over a Walmart parking spot in Florida, cops say” is the headline from a local New Jersey radio station Headline after headline both local and legacy media are doing the job of whiteness: finding a way to paint the Black woman who defended herself as the villain
This is an excerpt of the full article To read it in its entirety visit: https://newsone com/6865175/media-villainizing-black-woman-who-stood-her-ground/
Voting Rights Fight
On June 30, the Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring that children born in the U S to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily are not U S citizens
The 6-3 ruling upheld a long-settled understanding that the 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War, guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the country Justices Clarence Thomas Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch dissented
In his dissent, Thomas wrote that the 14th Amendment “was designed and understood to secure equal rights for the freed blacks but has instead been repurposed for political projects that the Reconstruction Congress did not support ” Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the high court, warned of an even greater threat” posed by Thomas’ dissent and what she described as the Trump administration’s bad-faith interpretation of the Constitution
What is more, this alternative account pitches Black Americans against immigrants when the advocates who promoted the Fourteenth Amendment did no such thing ”
Jackson wrote “Freed Blacks fought for the shared humanity of all people
Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested in his opinion that Congress, not the courts, could decide whether to change birthright citizenship through legislation
Reaction to the ruling came quickly from civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups, many of whom connected the fight over birthright citizenship to broader efforts to restrict voting rights
“The 14th Amendment was never about legal language It was a declaration that America could no longer decide who was fully human or fully American based on race or circumstances of birth,” Adams said “That promise was purchased with Black blood Black courage and Black resistance ”
Adams argued that Trump s push to end birthright citizenship is connected to the SAVE Act, a restrictive voting bill that would require Americans to produce a passport or birth certificate to register to vote Last week Trump refused to sign a bipartisan housing affordability bill until Congress passes the SAVE Act
“The same forces attacking birthright citizenship are attacking voting rights ” Adams said “The same forces targeting immigrant families are attacking Black communities The same forces trying to erase our history are trying to silence our voices at the ballot box
Hamsa Hussein, a Somali American rideshare driver and leader of the SEIU Local 26 Drivers Organization Committee joined Adams after the ruling and said attacks on birthright citizenship are also attacks on workers rights
“Instead of attacking migrants who are our neighbors, we should stand up to the billionaires, the big corporations,” Hussein said Unidos MN Executive Director Emilia González-Avalos said efforts to end birthright citizenship amount to voter suppression
“When they move to erase birthright citizenship they move to erase your vote before you ever cast it to make sure you could never hold them accountable for a mass deportation agenda tearing families from their homes right now,” González-Avalos said “Make no mistake, this was voter suppression dressed up as immigration policy but they miscalculated because you are here you are citizens and your power is real
This is an excerpt of the full article To read it in its entirety visit: https://blackpressusa com/supreme-courtstrikes-down-birthright-citizenship-order/
troducing decentralized agricultural nodes that immediately ease municipal supply pressures
To transform this concept into a statewide reality initiatives are underway to work alongside lawmakers like New Jersey State Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger to introduce the Right to Garden Act into committee The Right to Garden Act solves local restriction barriers by standardizing agricultural rules statewide This protects a homeowner s baseline liberties while allowing green spaces to safely absorb 30 percent more stormwater than standard grass, saving towns thousands in infrastructure repairs
Crafting effective legislation requires balancing resident freedoms with public safety standards Assemblyman Scharfenberger explained in a legislative press
America 250
briefing, “Zoning and landuse concerns usually center on potential negative impacts on neighboring properties, such as water runoff, fertilizer odors, or structural setbacks ” To help change the legal landscape permanently, citizens can take quick action by contacting their local representatives to demand standard statewide protections Also getting involved with established local support networks like SNAP WIC or community garden associations can help identify exactly where regional food and environmental deficiencies can be solved right now
Even as the nation gathers to celebrate its 250th birthday, we witness an insuperable divide keenly illustrated in the notion of two differing commemorations One is “America 250 and the other Freedom 250
The latter was initiated by Trump to counter the prior one established by Congress in 2016 as the official, nonpartisan commission and often cited as “America’s Block Party ” In 2025 Trump issued an executive order thereby creating an arm of his administration s Task Force 250 What we have, as one pundit put it, is one birthday and two planners
First to Die for His Country
Of course, early on, the country observed that someone else’s birthday was in the mix when Ultimate Fighting Championship events were staged on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14
This was just another blatant example of his egomania, his narcissism that has imperiled us since the inauguration of his second term We have in these pages posted countless critiques of his tyranny of monarchy and there is so much more to be said as we endure his assault on our democratic rights
Evidence of this occurs daily the evisceration of the Voting Rights Act the suspension of the Temporary Protection Status that threatens the deportation of Haitians and Syrians, and at the same time opening our portals to allegedly racially embattled white South Africans, the militarization of our streets with ICE agents ending the Constitutional guarantees of birthright an unsanctioned and reckless war with Iran, and ad infinitum
So you have your choice as to which of the two parties to hang your hat, commit your loyalty, and attend What we are proposing is a third option let’s celebrate the birthday of Crispus Attucks the first to fall in the Boston Massacre in 1770
Sailor, Whaler, Patriot
There is still debate about his ancestry, whether he was Black, Native American, or a bit of both To a certain degree, that is inconsequential when you consider he escaped from bondage and ended up among those protesting the presence of British soldiers in Boston According to the best records, he was born in 1723, predating the Declaration of Independence by 53 years
Before and after his enslavement Attucks worked as a sailor and whaler and sometimes on the docks One of my favorite accounts of his courage and death was written by historian Kenneth C Davis in his book, Don t Know Much About History Everything You Need to Know about American History but Never Learned ”
Early in March 1770 the book reads a group of ropemakers fought with a detachment of soldiers who were taking their jobs, and all around Boston, angry encounters between soldiers and citizens became more frequent Tensions mounted until March 5 where a mob many of them hard-drinking waterfront workers confronted a detachment of nine British soldiers
“Confronted by a taunting mob calling for their blood, the soldiers grew nervous It only took the word ‘fire ’ and most likely yelled by one of the crowd to ignite the situation The soldiers shot, and five bodies fell The first to die was a fifty-year-old former slave, either a Black or Indian mulatto sailor named Crispus Attucks ”
Cries for Justice and Freedom
Thus began the Revolutionary War, the subsequent rise of the so-called founding fathers (many of them slave holders) and those hallowed but unfulfilled words of the Declaration of Independence
The call to honor Attucks place in the nation s history gives resonance to the millions of enslaved African Americans the decimation of Native Americans and their ongoing cry for justice and total freedom
Added to this cry is the demand for reparations, an end to the electoral college, expansion of the Supreme Court, and erasure of the unitary executive theory, the constitutional law that Article II of the Constitution vests all executive power directly in the president Already the current president is invested with far too much unchecked authority
We are not sure of the date of Attucks’ birth so we have made it July 4 1776 Let us hope and pray it doesn’t take 250 more years to obtain our meager demands On that day, we can truly celebrate an undivided United States
Black Belt Folk Roots Festival
August 22 & 23
lawmakers
Dr. W ilmer Leon
In last year s Democratic Party mayoral primary, then NY Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani defeated former New York Gov Andrew Cuomo in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary 56% to 44% The Democratic Party establishment was not pleased with the outcome Cuomo said "Extremism division and empty promises are not the answer to this city's problems, and while this was a look at what motivates a slice of our primary electorate, it does not represent the majority After the primary former NY Gov David Patterson called upon Democrats (members of Mamdani s own party) to work together to defeat him Democratic leadership held meetings to discuss their options in the general election Mamdani went on to defeat Cuomo who ran as an Independent and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the general election To that Trump said (as Dr DuBois projected) "Look we don't need a communist in this country
Based upon this brief history of fits and starts we now come to the current day Three congressional candidates in New York City won their primary races with the support of Mayor Mamdani and his allies In Washington, DC, Councilmember Janeese Lewis Geroge, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist won the Democratic
Doug Jones
When asked his opinion on the biggest issue facing Alabama right now, Jones immediately responded that it is the cost of healthcare Medicaid and Medicare are federal healthcare programs, but Jones believes that a governor has the power to advocate strongly enough for a change He recognizes that so many people fall into the coverage gap and that expansion is a must to have a healthy state Jones
Party primary for mayor as well In Colorado, democratic socialist Melat Kiros, 29 ousted 30-year incumbent from Denver Rep Diana DeGette, a liberal, 51% to 42% The Washington Post reports “After three candidates endorsed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani won their congressional primaries in New York last week establishment Democrats felt angst Democratic socialists looked to Colorado, and the money followed ” In New York Brad Ladner, a Mamdani allied candidate defeated incumbent Congressman Daniel Goldman 66% to 34% Goldman received over $320,000 in contributions connected to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) for the 2026 election cycle Claire Valdez defeated Antonio Reynoso for an open seat, 58% to 33% Darializa Avila Chevalier another democratic socialist unseated five-term incumbent Congressman Adriano Espaillat 49% to 46% Espaillat s campaign directly received $5,000 from AIPAC itself, with an additional $140,000 to $376 000 in individual contributions earmarked or bundled by the organization Additionally, United Democracy Project AIPAC's super PAC poured $650,000 into another PAC (BOLD America) that spent $2 8 million supporting Espaillat
stated that an expansion in health care coverage will also improve the health of the state s economy “When you help health outcomes you help employers keep employees on the job, you help the overall health of the community It keeps hospitals open ”
Greene County officials, such as Garria Spencer and Joe Powell had the opportunity to ask questions re-
Are the democratic socialist politics of Mayor Mamdani and the candidates he supports proving to be the next iteration of a progressive movement within the American body politic? If so why is the Democratic Party establishment, including many of its African American leaders, so afraid of this shift in politics?
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N Y ) says Mayor Mamdani is going to have to smooth things over with congressional Democrats Why? The candidates he and his allies backed won the primaries fair and square Unless as Dr Dubois stated, “I believe that democracy has so far disappeared in the United States that no two evils exist There is but one evil party with two names ” NY AG Letitia James (who formerly supported Mamdani) said, "Some of the candidates that he (Mamdani) has supported are individuals who do not understand the politics of New York City, the cultural differences from district to district, who have not been part of the history and the struggle of some of these districts, and are relatively new to the body politic " Oh so the voters are stupid and were fooled? Does she honestly believe that establishment politicians who fill their coffers with AIPAC money know what s best for voters more
garding how Jones would support the economy and healthcare crisis of rural communities Jones stated that establishing a lottery would help the economy because there is too much money leaving the state when Alabamians go elsewhere to participate in one Jones plans to work with other elected candidates to think outside the box such as repurposing closed hospitals and allowing pharmacists to handle pro-
that the actual voters themselves? Really? These are the racist troupes usually used by white politicians to explain votes cast by colored voters
The voters are not stupid but many are confused I wrote a piece entitled, He Who Pays the Piper Calls the Tune, wherein I wrote, “Many voters are confused They can t understand why in so many instances the individuals they elect to represent their interests, get to Congress and represent the interests of outside forces
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) have received millions of dollars in campaign funding from AIPAC According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records AIPACbacked members of the caucus have received at least $3 6 million and an estimated total of nearly $9 million across several election cycles
Specific leading recipients include:
• H a k e e m
Jeffries (D-NY): At least
$950,331
• S h o n t e l
Brown (D-OH): At least $1 028 686
• G l e n n
Ivey (D-MD): At least
$775,199
• When AIPAC boasted that it was committing $100m to defeat Democratic Party incumbents in order to fight back a wave of progressive dissent over
cedures they have been trained for instead of calling doctors He stated that looking at the state s budget and finding ways to save money is a way to put more money towards protecting rural hospitals In his closing remarks, Jones states that the Democratic ticket for the November election is a ticket that is going to change Alabama “This is the first time that Democrats have given people the choices in
Israel s genocidal war in Gaza, did Rep Jefferies complain? No! When AIPAC money helped a pair of Black pro-Israel Democrats defeat progressive Reps Jamaal Bowman (D-N Y ) and Cori Bush (D-Mo ) did AG James or Rep Jefferies demand an apology or claim that representatives of AIPAC were “going to have to smooth things over with congressional Democrats ” , as he has demanded of Mamdani? No! They went along to go along What is it about affordable housing, a living wage and the growth of unions that is causing establishment Democrats such consternation? What’s wrong with the idea of working people running both the economy and civil society? Why won t the Democratic Party clearly condemn Israel for the genocide in historic Palestine? Aren t these the policies and politics of Mrs Fannie Lou Hamer, Ms Ida B Wells Dr King Dr DuBois Paul Robeson Malcolm X, Ms Ella Baker and so many others? Are these not the policies and politics of the original members of the CBC, the original corps of lawmakers dedicated to safeguarding civil rights and known as “the conscience of the Congress ? Is the conscience of the Congress now unconscious? How prophetic was Dr
20 years This is the first time we’ve had a democratic candidate in all 7 offices since 2006, he began “We’ve got to seize this opportunity If we do this state will lead the entire country Jones sees Greene County as an essential entity for this change He sees Greene County as essential for the future This is where we need to go for the Declaration of Independence for the Fourth of
DuBois? If a voter organizes or advocates a real third-party movement, he may be accused of seeking to overthrow this government by force and violence ” Anything he advocates by way of significant reform will be called Communist No matter what you call it, no matter what you call them, those who are championing civil rights workers rights equal pay for equal work, an end to these senseless, illegal and immoral wars of choice should be listened to There is a new politics developing and members of the African American electorate should be paying attention because the constituents are not being paid by AIPAC to vote against their own interests and the interests of their community Too many so-called people in positions of leadership are Remember it’s not the messenger it’s the message Dr Wilmer Leon is a nationally broadcast radio talk-show host Author of Politics Another Perspective Host of Inside the Issues w/ Dr Wilmer Leon on SiriusXM Satellite radio channel 126 Go to www wilmerleon com or email: wjl3us@yahoo com w w w
e o n and Dr Leon’s Prescription at Facebook com
July ” he told his staff “To celebrate voting to celebrate people who understand that civic engagement and participating in government is incredibly important It is important to their future, it is important to the greater good It is important today for democracy's sake So that's why we re here And I m proud to be here ”
Couple Celebr ates 47
Year s of Mar ria ge,
Love, and Commitment
Family and friends gathered to celebrate the 47th wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs James and Peggy Carpenter on June 27, 2026, at Luther and Annie Winn Country Club The beautiful occasion honored nearly five decades of love, faith, family, and commitment The celebration included warm fellowship food music, prayer, remarks, and special memories shared by loved ones After 47 years of marriage Mr and Mrs Carpenter continue to be a shining example of patience, strength, forgiveness and enduring love
Their marriage stands as a testimony that true commitment is built day by day through faith, respect, and unity Guests enjoyed celebrating this special milestone and offered congratulations, prayers, and best wishes for many
more years of happiness together Family and friends offered their congratulations up close and personal, celebrating James and Peggy’s continued commitment to one another and their strength to weather the storms of life together Their endurance is a lasting example of love faith and perseverance something their children, and now their grandchildren, can reflect on and carry with them in their own lives A prayer for the food and God s continued blessings upon the Carpenters was offered by their pastor Rev Randy Miller of Mt Zion Missionary Baptist Church The family extends appreciation to everyone who attended, participated and helped make the anniversary celebration a memorable and meaningful occasion
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ship This scholarship celebrates the life and impact of Dr Alvin A Cleveland who faithfully served Selma
University for 35 years as Professor, Dean of Religion and President During his 20-year presidency Selma University achieved full accreditation, launched graduate programs in Bible, Pastoral Ministry and Christian Education and created a Saturday-morning theological program for bivocational pastors
The scholarship also honors the late Reverend Otis
Dr
who enrolled in
University's Saturday program in 1986 graduated in 1996 after faithfully attending Saturday classes, and later completed the inaugural Master's Program in 2002 Congratulation on all your achievement
(Daniel) Culliver, father of
Culliver,
Selma
Never Borrow Sorrow from Tomorrow
Deal only with the present, never step into tomorrow
Legal Notice
In the Matter of the
Estate of James Delton Rhodes Jr
Deceased Notice to Creditors
Letters Testamentary under the last will and testament of James Delton Rhodes, Jr , deceased, having been granted to the undersigned on the 22nd day of June 2026 by the Hon
Rolonda M Wedgeworth
Probate Judge of Greene County Alabama notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be bared
Rebecca Miles Rhodes
Personal Representative of the Estate of James Delton, Rhodes, Jr deceased
Richard G Cross Watkins Cross LLC
P O Box 1528
Livingstons AL 35470
3tcg 6/24 71 8
Legal Notice
Probate Office of Greene County Case Number 2026
Estate of Finest R Miles, Deceased
Letter of Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to Rugenia Denise Gulley, as Personal Representative of the 22nd day of June, 2026, by the Honorable Rolonda M Wedgeworth Judge of Probate Court of Greene County notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be bared
G Stephen Wiggins
Attorney for Personal Representative
Carolyn’s Tid Bits...by Carolyn Young
For God asks us just to try Him for the future is not ours to know
And it may never be So let us live and give our best
And give it lavishlyFor to meet tomorrow’s troubles Before they are even ours is to anticipate the Savior
And to doubt his allwise poets-
So let us be content to solve our problems one by one
Asking nothing of to-
morrow Except thy will done
Be kind remember everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle,”
Happy birthday to Curtis Williams, LaMya Croft, Brooks Jones, Frances Pearl Webb Mamie Coleman Cadence Little Elizabeth Saxton, Nancy Cole, Yalani Polk, Sharon Rhone, Tiffany Taylor, Jonathan Richardson Josephine Davis Courtney
Le gal Notice
Capell & Howard, PC 1490 Northbank Parkway, Site 226 Tuscaloosa Al 35406
3tcg 6/24 7/1 8
Legal Notice Notice to Creditors of the Lucy Hedgemon
Letter Testamentary upon the Estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 24th day of June 2026 by the Probate Judge of Greene County, Alabama , notice is hereby given that all person having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same duly sworn to in the Probate Court of said County within the time allowed by law, or else same will be forever barred
Demetria L Scott Executix
Woodford W Dinning Jr Attorney for Adminstator P O Box 480545 Linden AL 36748
334-295-8782
Notice of Completion
In accordance with Chapter 1 Title 39 Code of Alabama 1975 notice is hereby given that Goldman Contractors LLC of 306 Bennett Road P O Box 1620 Livingston, Alabama, has completed the contract for 2022 Wastewater Restoration Project ADEM
CWSRF Project No
CS011013-01 Contract B: Sewer Pump Station Rehabilitation for the City of Eutaw, Alabama and has made request for the final settlement for said contract All persons having made any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify: Calvin Cassady P E
Bonner, Trinity Hunter, Boniquelyn R Archibald, Eddie James Lewis, Domiique S Robinson Leon Little Michael Gill Jr Carolyn Beck, Marcus Gandy, Mitchell Bloxon, Vincent Carter Sr Tabitha Ferrell Evelyn James Happy anniversary to Mr and Mrs Christopher and Betty McCollum Mr and Mrs Esmer and Josephine Davis, Mr and Mrs Josh and Annie Wesley, Mr and Mrs Randall and Nicole Hodges Paulk
The Cassady Company, 4700 Highway 69 North, Northport, AL 35473 All claims should be filed within 30 days of the final publication of this notice
3tcg 7/1,8,15
Legal Notices In the Probate Court of Greene County
In re: Estate of Daniel Wayne Blair
Deceased
Notice of Letter to Administration
Take notice that Letter of Administration having been granted to Donna Blair as personal represet-
native of he este of daniel wayne Blair, on July 1, 2026 bythe Honorable rolonda M Wedgeworth Probate Court of Greene County Alabama Notice is Hereby given that all person having claims against the said Estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred Donna Blair
Adminstrator of the Estate of Daniel Wayne Blair
Gibbs & Seller, P C P O Box 1276
Demopolis, AL 36732
3tcg 7/8 15 22
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