A new generation of warriors is working to ensure the battle for civil and racial justice continues.

Among young people working to level the playing field and standing up for themselves and others is Edward E. James III, newly elected president of the Sarasota County Branch NAACP Youth Chapter.

The 18-year-old scholar, the third generation in his family to lead the community's fight for justice, is a three-sport athlete and a senior at Pine View School. Known to many by his nickname, E, his résumé is already packed, but one of his most distinguished is the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People leadership role.

"Young Ed James was elected president from a group of strong candidates vying for the presidency as well as all of the offices in the Youth Chapter," said Trevor Harvey, Sarasota County Branch NAACP president. "Ed is an   more »

With Black History Month less than three months away, there is one name that will soon be on everyone’s lips: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King’s legacy and powerful words continue to inspire, challenge, and motivate.  To ensure the continuance of that legacy, Harry Johnson is spearheading the campaign for a national memorial in honor of Dr. King. 

As President of the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc., a project of Alpha Phi Alpha, Johnson is in-charge of the fundraising, design, and construction of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial.

Johnson recently spoke with Sixshot.com about the one-hundred million dollar project, why it’s relevant, why arguments against the erection of the   more »

This collectible fashion doll was specially crafted by Madame Alexander® to celebrate the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc celebrates its centennial on January 15, 2008 and as the first African-American Sorority, she gave life to those who followed. As a tribute, The Sisterhood Boutique has created this collector's item for those who love, serve, and support the ideals of the sorority. The first in a series of Greek Lettered Organizations inspired dolls, IVY ROSE is an artistic representation of beauty, elegance and grace.

"Alpha Kappa Alpha women are beautiful, intelligent, and resilient. They have an unquenchable desire for truth and wisdom," states Rochelle McAllister, creator of IVY ROSE and CEO of The Sisterhood Boutique. "Each aspect of our IVY ROSE doll has been meticulously considered to celebrate the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

The initial concept for The Sisterhood Boutique came about when the owner, Rochelle McAllister, was preparing to apply to business school. Pulling from her childhood love of Barbie®, devotion to   more »

Each week during the school year the Houston Peach spotlights a Teacher of the Year at one of the 43 public schools in Houston and Peach counties.

Class: First grade

Experience: 9 years

Background: This week's featured educator is a product of Peach County's public schools, having graduated from Peach County High. She attended Fort Valley State College, now Fort Valley State University, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in early childhood education. In June 2005   more »

You will remember the YouTube video of the young man who handled a Kappa Kane like none seen before at his age. Black Greek Network went on a search to find out just who little Nupe was.

His name is Omari LeMan Stephens and he is five years old. He has been interested in the kane since he was about 8 months old and began twirling the cane at about 15 months old.

Where did he learn to twirl and shimmy like that? Omari's father is a Kappa of course, and he would sit at home and watch Kappa step show tapes. After watching them a few times and seeing his father dance around the house, he gradually picked up on the moves.

When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Omari at only five years old has many dreams that change every day. One day he says he want to be a fireman and the next week he might want to be whatever   more »

With the overwhelming endorsement of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the election of Abraham Lincoln to a second term in 1863, a foregone conclusion was that the stage was set for the complete elimination of physical slavery. Still in question, however, was what to do with four million newly freed depraved slaves? Clearly, one philosophy held that there was simply no way for Colored and Whites to co-exist as equals in these United States. Another, was that what served other ethnic groups migrating to this country should likewise serve freed Colored people. The American Missionary Association subscribed  to this philosophy of which the substance was EDUCATION. Education not for subordination, rather Freedom and Liberation-for the most deprived - for the fullest development of man and womanhood.    

In Ante-Bellum days, the State of Georgia forbade the teaching of reading and writing to black people. But soon after the Civil War, 1868, the American Missionary Association, now part of   more »

The walls of Olivia White's office are barely visible, covered by testaments to a lifetime of achievement and service.

White, the dean of students and vice president for student life at Hood College, has to check the dozens of plaques and service awards to remember all the organizations she has led or belonged to.

A short list includes: The Rotary Club of Carroll Creek, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority of Frederick County, the Heartly House, an agency providing help to victims of domestic violence, and her church, Beltway Church of Christ in Suitland.   more »

Southern Unviversity's Human Jukebox and Grambling State University's Marching Tigers stormed the field inside the Superdome on Friday night just before 9 p.m., ready to face-off with the Grambling State University's Marching Tigers in the annual Battle of the Bands and Greek Step Show.

The musical blow-out is the prelude to Saturday's 34th annual State Farm Bayou Classic, the legendary gridiron contest between Southern and Grambling. Game time is 1 p.m.

But Friday night belonged to the bands, who took the field following the Greek Step contests, in which four fraternities and four sororities competed for prizes. The winners were as follows:   more »

A Lehigh Acres resident is really hooked on hats.

Minnie Hooks' affinity for hats came as a teenager, when she was inspired by her late grandmother.

Now, many years later, she has amassed a collection of about 200 hats.

"My grandmother wore a lot of hats, and it was usually on Sundays to go to church," Hooks said. "We always did a lot of church things."

Hooks collects hats of all kinds and wears them on a daily basis.

She's had her oldest hat — a black cowboy-style hat covered with shiny rhinestones — for 37 years. She hasn't worn the hat in   more »

At the graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity’s “Men Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence” conference on Nov. 15, Toby Strout, executive director of Middle Way House, explained what men can do to end domestic violence.

“Be good feminists,” she said succinctly.

The three-part conference was part of Achievement Week, a series of social outreach events commemorating the fraternity’s founding. The conference featured speakers from Middle Way House and encouraged audience participation to improve services for victims and increase men’s awareness of domestic violence.

Russell Hollis, president of the graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi, explained why this year’s achievement week focused on violence against women.

“We had a meeting a few weeks after the Juanita Bynum/Bishop Weeks incident, where a husband assaulted his wife in public. They’re famous in the gospel community,” he explained. “And at the same time, we heard about incidents on campus and Indianapolis. We realized this was happening too much, and we weren’t doing enough about it.”   more »