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Celebrating 58 Years - Vol. 58, No. 38 • July 6 - 12, 2023
Capture the Moment
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Supreme Court Strikes Down Affirmative Action, Student Loans Marginalized Groups Feel Sting of SCOTUS Decisions By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer
Among multiple decisions that have been viewed as attacks on the rights of people of color and marginalized groups, the Supreme Court issued the death knell to affirmative action on June 29, and the following day, blocked President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, which aimed to provide up to $20,000 in relief to millions of borrowers.
STRIKING DOWN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
As she watched her conservative majority colleagues on the high court strike down the value and lawfulness of affirmative action last Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote another masterpiece to express her dissent Jackson’s disapproval could easily be summed up in a single and precise sen-
Coming Up July 8: The First Legal Anacostia Swim in 50 Years
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5 Mayor Muriel Bowser leads supporters in the Fourth of July Parade hosted by the Palisades Community Association in Northwest. Entertainment included live bluegrass music, free ice cream, and pie eating and baking contests in Palisades Park. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer)
Banneker Alumni Celebrate 40 Years with Eyes on the Future The Newly-Launched Banneker Alumni Society to Galvanize Alumni Support for the School By Sam P.K. Collins WI Staff Writer
By Kayla Benjamin WI Climate & Environment Reporter
In celebration of major successes in river cleanup efforts, community members can join Anacostia Riverkeeper for the first ever “Anacostia River Splash” swim event at Kingman Island on July 8. The organization, which monitors water quality all along the river, has found that sites at Kingman Island, Buzzard Point and Washington Channel all meet the stan5 Community members can participate in the first ever “Anacostia River dard for safe swimming more than 90% Splash,” swim event at Kingman Island on July 8. (Cleveland Nelson/The
SWIM Page 48 Washington Informer)
As a student at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Kala Threatt begrudgingly took on a course load he said oftentimes intimidated him. However, with the support of teachers, administrators and peers, Threatt successfully matriculated through Banneker, even while taking Latin and typing classes that he didn't find relevant to his academic and professional pursuits.
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Decades later, Threatt enthusiastically admits how short sighted he had been in his assessment. He continues to credit those four years, what many call the "Banneker experience," with adequately preparing him for college and the professional world. These days, Threatt works as a
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