Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks at Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.’s Grand Boule Social Justice Town Hall on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center. Scheduled for 12:30 p.m., this will be one of Harris’s first public appearances since President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race on Sunday.
The event will also feature U.S. Congresswomen Kamlager-Dove and Rashida Tlaib. Following Harris’s address, the Town Hall will include a Social Justice Power Talk with Rev. Shavon Arline Bradley, President and CEO of the National Council of Negro Women; Rev. Freddy Haynes III, Past President of Rainbow PUSH; and Karen Boykin-Towns, Vice Chair of the NAACP.
Earlier this month, Harris spoke at her own sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Boule in Dallas, underscoring her ongoing engagement with community and political issues. The Zeta Phi Beta event aims to highlight the role of collective action in enacting community change and addressing key issues as the 2024 elections approach.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House and threw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election.
The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old president trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers and failed to call out the former president’s many falsehoods.
Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon on Jan. 20, 2025.
“My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote on X. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
Biden, who remains at his Delaware beach house after being diagnosed with COVID-19 last week, said he would address the nation later this week to provide “detail” about his decision.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris introduces President Joe Biden during an event about their administration’s work to regulate artificial intelligence in the East Room of the White House on October 30, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) –
The announcement is the latest jolt to a campaign for the White House that both political parties see as the most consequential election in generations, coming just days after the attempted assassination of Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
A party’s presumptive presidential nominee has never stepped out of the race so close to the election. The closest parallel would be President Lyndon Johnson who, besieged by the Vietnam War, announced in March 1968 that he would not seek another term.
Now, Democrats have to urgently try to bring coherence to the nominating process in a matter of weeks and persuade voters in a stunningly short amount of time that their nominee can handle the job and beat Trump. And for his part, Trump must shift his focus to a new opponent after years of training his attention on Biden.
The decision marks a swift and stunning end to Biden’s 52 years in electoral politics, as donors, lawmakers and even aides expressed to him their doubts that he could convince voters that he could plausibly handle the job for another four years.
Biden won the vast majority of delegates and every nominating contest but one, which would have made his nomination a formality. Now that he has dropped out, those delegates will be free to support another candidate.
Harris, 59, appeared to be the natural successor, in large part because she is the only candidate who can directly tap into the Biden campaign’s war chest, according to federal campaign finance rules.
The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to be held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, but the party had announced that it would hold a virtual roll call to formally nominate Biden before in-person proceedings begin.
The date for the roll call hasn’t been set, and it’s unlikely that will happen since the field is suddenly wide open. Harris would likely have competition from others looking to replace Biden. But that could create a scenario in which she and others end up lobbying individual state delegations at the convention for their support.
In 2020, Biden pitched himself as a transitional figure who wanted to be a bridge to a new generation of leaders. But once he secured the job he spent decades struggling to attain, he was reluctant to part with it.
Biden was once asked whether any other Democrats could beat Trump.
“Probably 50 of them,” Biden replied. “No, I’m not the only one who can defeat him, but I will defeat him.”
Biden is already the country’s oldest president and had insisted repeatedly that he was up for the challenge of another campaign and another term, telling voters all they had to was “watch me.”
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And watch him they did. His poor debate performance prompted a cascade of anxiety from Democrats and donors who said publicly what some had said privately for months, that they did not think he was up to the job for four more years.
Concerns over Biden’s age have dogged him since he announced he was running for reelection, though Trump is just three years younger at 78. Most Americans view the president as too old for a second term, according to an August 2023 poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A majority also doubt his mental capability to be president, though that is also a weakness for Trump.
Biden often remarked that he was not as young as he used to be, doesn’t walk as easily or speak as smoothly, but that he had wisdom and decades of experience, which were worth a whole lot.
“I give you my word as a Biden. I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job,” he told supporters at a rally in North Carolina a day after the debate. “Because, quite frankly, the stakes are too high.”
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But voters had other problems with him, too — he has been deeply unpopular as a leader even as his administration steered the nation through recovery from a global pandemic, presided over a booming economy and passed major pieces of bipartisan legislation that will impact the nation for years to come. A majority of Americans disapprove of the way he’s handling his job, and he’s faced persistently low approval ratings on key issues including the economy and immigration.
Biden’s age surfaced as a major factor during an investigation of his handling of classified documents. Special counsel Robert Hur said in February that the president came across in interviews with investigators as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”
The president’s allies seized on the statement as gratuitous and criticized Hur for including it in his report, and Biden himself angrily pushed back on descriptions of how he spoke about his late son.
Biden’s motivation for running was deeply intertwined with Trump. He had retired from public service following eight years serving as vice president under Barack Obama and the death of his son Beau but decided to run after Trump’s comments following a “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, when white supremacists descended on the city to protest the removal of its Confederate memorials.
Trump said: “You had some very bad people in the group, but you also had people that were very fine people on both sides. On both sides.”
That a sitting president didn’t unequivocally condemn racism and white supremacy deeply offended Biden. Then, Biden won the 2020 election and Trump refused to concede and stood by for hours while his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, beating and bloodying law enforcement in a failed attempt to overturn the certification of Biden’s win.
“If Trump wasn’t running, I’m not sure I’d be running,” Biden once said during at a campaign event.
The annual ESSENCE Festival of Culture is not just a celebration of Black business, art and music, it’s a showcase for the impact and influence of Black culture. We’re the ones who set the trends and this is where it starts. Attendees take their outfits very seriously, as the halls of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, floor of the Caesar’s Superdome and streets of New Orleans offer the most interesting fashion shows of the weekend. In case you didn’t get to head down to Louisiana this year, we’ve got a quick recap of the best street style from ESSENCE Fest 2024. — Stephanie Holland
Bella Hadid is reportedly preparing to sue Adidas over a recent ad campaign she feels is deeply problematic. The model, who appeared in a campaign for a retro sneaker inspired by the 1972 Summer Olympic Games, is said to be upset by the association with the Munich Massacre—a tragic event where a Palestinian group called Black September killed 11 Israeli athletes.
According to TMZ, Bella Hadid, 27, has hired lawyers and is readying legal action against the sportswear giant. Sources suggest that Hadid was unaware of the full implications of the campaign when she agreed to participate. The backlash has reportedly led to her decision to pursue legal action for what she views as Adidas’ failure to maintain public accountability.
Adidas faced criticism from the pro-Israel American Jewish Committee for selecting Hadid as the face of the campaign. Hadid, daughter of Palestinian real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, has been an outspoken critic of Israel and a supporter of Palestine.
In response to the controversy, Adidas issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The Adidas Originals SL72 campaign unites a broad range of partners to celebrate our lightweight running shoe, designed more than 50 years ago and worn in sport and culture around the world.”
The company continued, “We are conscious that connections have been made to tragic historical events—though these are completely unintentional—and we apologize for any upset or distress caused. As a result, we are revising the remainder of the campaign. We believe in sport as a unifying force around the world and will continue our efforts to champion diversity and equality in everything we do.”
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LeBron James saved the U.S. from what would have been a stunning loss.
James’ layup with 8 seconds left was the go-ahead basket Saturday, and the U.S. Olympic team that’ll soon head to the Paris Games escaped with a 101-100 win over South Sudan in London, rallying from a 16-point deficit to avoid perhaps the biggest upset in the program’s history.
South Sudan, the African nation that gained its independence just 13 years ago and is about to play in the Olympics for the first time, led for more than half the game and had a chance to win at the end. But Carlik Jones’ runner off the glass missed with about 4 seconds left, and the Americans survived.
“I’m going to be honest: I like those better than the blowouts,” James said as he walked off the court. “At least we get tested.”
“A good reminder that when we play against teams, it’s the biggest game of their lives,” U.S. coach Steve Kerr said. “We have to expect everyone to play like that.”
United States’ forward LeBron James runs as he advances to score as South Sudan’s center Khaman Maluach attempts to defend during an exhibition basketball game between the United States and South Sudan, at the o2 Arena in London, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) –
Down by 16 at one point, the Americans dug out of that hole with an 18-0 run in the second half — then needed heroics at the end anyway. JT Thor’s 3-pointer with 20 seconds left gave South Sudan a 100-99 lead, then the Americans called timeout and put the ball in James’ hands.
He made it look easy: He waited, waited, waited, then drove and laid it in with ease to put the U.S. back on top, and the Americans got the stop they needed at the end.
James finished with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the U.S., which improved to 4-0 with one game left — Monday vs. World Cup champion Germany — on its pre-Olympic exhibition tour. Anthony Davis added 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Americans.
Marial Shayok had 24 points for South Sudan and Jones had a triple-double — 15 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
The teams will meet in group play in the Paris Olympics on July 31.
“It’s basketball. It happens,” U.S. guard Stephen Curry said. “You want to play perfect every game; it doesn’t happen. But can you dig deep and do the little things that help you win? Offense can come and go, but defense is the thing that helps you win championships, medals, all that stuff.”
It should have been a mismatch, and for the first half, it was — just not in the way anyone would have expected.
United States’ forward LeBron James, left, and United States’ guard Stephen Curry shake hands during an exhibition basketball game between the United States and South Sudan, at the o2 Arena in London, Saturday, July 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) –
The U.S. roster has 12 players, all of them All-Stars or NBA champions or both, with a total of 189,038 points in their regular-season careers, with 7,832 combined starts. South Sudan has four players who have appeared in an NBA game. They’ve scored a combined 1,228 points and started 19 games.
Didn’t matter. It was 8-0 U.S. after 2 1/2 minutes. The rest of the half: South Sudan 58, U.S. 34. The Americans allowed South Sudan to shoot 61% in the first half and got outscored 21-3 from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes.
“I did not do a great job preparing our team,” Kerr said. “We did not focus enough on what they’re capable of, and that’s on me. I think that really allowed South Sudan to gain confidence early. … They were great. They played a wonderful game and the ending was good for us, just to feel that, to feel what it’s going to be like in Paris and Lille.”
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An 18-0 run in the second half — James involved in most of it — was what really saved the U.S., turning a 76-65 deficit into an 83-76 lead.
South Sudan led by 16 late in the first half — 58-42 — before the Americans got the last basket to cut the deficit to 14 at the break.
But the 18-0 run was key. James had four assists during the spurt and Curry, from about 35 feet, connected on a 3-pointer late in the third that gave the U.S. its first lead since the first quarter at 79-76.
Wenyen Gabriel banked in a 3-pointer to get South Sudan within 85-84, but James — his former teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers — connected on a 3 on the ensuing U.S. possession, and the Americans would eventually pull through by the slimmest of margins.
“Today we were able to represent our country with pride and we put up a good fight and showed the potential of our country,” Gabriel said. “I think it was a proud moment for a lot of people.”
Davis said the team got to the arena late, thrown off by standstill London traffic, and that routines going into the game were disrupted. Maybe so, but South Sudan showed the U.S. that nobody at the Olympics will concede anything to the four-time defending gold medalists.
“Doesn’t matter when it comes to how close the game is,” James said. “We went out there to get better.”
Photo: Michael Ochs Archive (Getty), This House (YouTube)
Has anyone ever been on those Victorian house tours where they give stories about the white people who lived there, potential ghosts sightings and whatnot?
Well, allow us to take you on a trip through the homes of some Black history legends. No one ever stops to think about the four walls Martin Luther King Jr. grew up in or the massive estate of Madame C.J. Walker – both of which among other historic locations are preserved for touring. The architecture, lofty details and machinery we wouldn’t even know how to operate now keep alive the memory not only of our historic figures but also show us what Black life looked like through their lens.
If you’re planning on taking a trip to one of the sites or too spooked to go in person, take a look into the homes that once belonged to some of our beloved Black historical figures.
Longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, who helped lead federal efforts to protect women from domestic violence and recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, has died. She was 74.
Lillie Conley, her chief of staff, confirmed Friday night that Jackson Lee, who had pancreatic cancer, had died.
The Democrat had represented her Houston-based district and the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1995. She had previously had breast cancer and announced the pancreatic cancer diagnosis on June 2.
“The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me,” Jackson Lee said in a statement then.
Jackson Lee had just been elected to the Houston district once represented by Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to Congress from a Southern state, when she was immediately placed on the high-profile House Judiciary Committee in 1995.
“They just saw me, I guess through my profile, through Barbara Jordan’s work,” Jackson Lee told the Houston Chronicle in 2022. “I thought it was an honor because they assumed I was going to be the person they needed.”
Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, D-Texas, speaks during a House Judiciary Committee meeting, Dec. 13, 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool, File) –
Jackson Lee quickly established herself as fierce advocate for women and minorities, and a leader for House Democrats on many social justice issues, from policing reform to reparations for descendants of enslaved people. She led the first rewrite of the Violence Against Women Act in nearly a decade, which included protections for Native American, transgender and immigrant women.
Jackson Lee was also among the lead lawmakers behind the effort in 2021 to have Juneteenth recognized as the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was established in 1986. The holiday marks the day in 1865 that the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom.
A native of Queens, New York, Jackson Lee graduated from Yale and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia. She was a judge in Houston before she was elected to Houston City Council in 1989, then ran for Congress in 1994. She was an advocate for gay rights and an early opponent of the Iraq War in 2003.
Top congressional Democrats reacted quickly to the news Friday night, praising her commitment and work ethic.
Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina called her “a tenacious advocate for civil rights and a tireless fighter, improving the lives of her constituents.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said he had never known a harder-working lawmaker than Jackson Lee, saying she “studied every bill and every amendment with exactitude and then told Texas and America exactly where she stood.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California cited Jackson Lee’s “relentless determination” in getting Juneteenth declared a national holiday.
“As a powerful voice in the Congress for our Constitution and human rights, she fought tirelessly to advance fairness, equity and justice for all,” Pelosi said.
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he and his wife Cecilia will always remember Jackson Lee, calling her a “tireless advocate for the people of Houston.”
“Her legacy of public service and dedication to Texas will live on,” he said.
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Jackson Lee routinely won reelection to Congress with ease. The few times she faced a challenger, she never carried less than two-thirds of the vote. Jackson Lee considered leaving Congress in 2023 in a bid to become Houston’s first female Black mayor, but was defeated in a runoff. She then easily won the Democratic congressional nomination for the 2024 general election.
During the mayoral campaign, Jackson Lee expressed regret and said “everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect” following the release of an unverified audio recording purported to be of the lawmaker berating staff members.
In 2019, Jackson Lee stepped down from two leadership positions on the House Judiciary Committee and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the fundraising of the Congressional Black Caucus, following a lawsuit from a former employee who said her sexual assault complaint was mishandled.
In a statement, Jackson Lee’s family said she had been a beloved wife, sister, mother and grandmother known as Bebe.
“She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in freedom, justice, and democracy,” the statement said. “God bless you Congresswoman and God bless the United States of America.”
Eddie Murphy accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award onstage during the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)Photo: Kevin Winter (Getty Images)
Eddie Murphy’s third act has been full of surprises. According to Deadline, the 2007 Oscar nominee is now in talks to star as music legend George Clinton. On the list of people I expected to play the Parliament-Funkadelic frontman, The Nutty Professor star was not at the top of the list. Apparently this is a real passion project for the revered comedian. — Stephanie Holland
Serbian model and actress Natasa Stankovic has confirmed her separation from Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya, ending months of speculation about the couple’s relationship status.
The news comes after reports surfaced of Natasa leaving Mumbai with their son, Agastya. Additionally, fans noticed that Natasa had removed “Pandya” from her Instagram handle and deleted photos of her and Hardik together.
Hardik further fueled the rumors by attending business tycoon Anant Ambani’s recent wedding festivities solo.
Neither Natasa nor Hardik have commented on the reason behind their separation. However, they have reportedly issued a joint statement expressing their commitment to co-parenting their son.
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PHOENIX (AP) — Allisha Gray turned WNBA All-Star weekend’s opening night into her own show.
The Atlanta Dream guard had a historic evening, becoming the first player to win both the 3-point and skills competition in the same year Friday.
“It’s very cool. Now I’m glad I accepted the call when they asked me to play in both of them,” Gray said. “Now I get another 55K in my pocket.”
Gray received $2,575 from the league for each victory, per the Collective Bargaining Agreement, but also got $110,000 from Aflac as part of a partnership between with the WNBPA.
She topped hometown favorite Sophie Cunningham by just over 2 seconds in the final of the skills competition. Then she edged Jonquel Jones by one point in the 3-point shootout about 45 minutes later.
“I felt like I was warmed up after the skills challenge, running all over the court,” Gray said. “I was a little fatigued from the skills challenge, but I was locked in because I knew another 55K was on the line.”
Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream celebrates with the trophy after winning the Starry 3-Point Contest ahead of the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game at Footprint Center on July 19, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) –
Jones was looking to become the first post-player to win the 3-point contest. She also made the finals in 2021 before losing to four-time champion Allie Quigley. Jones had a chance to win the contest, but her last shot — the two-point money ball — fell short. She held her head in disappointment.
“(Jones) had me nervous, I’m not going to lie,” Gray admitted.
She scored 25 points in the opening round — tops amongst the five competitors. Gray had 23 points.
Neither defending champion Sabrina Ionescu or sensational rookie Caitlin Clark competed in the 3-point contest this year. Ionescu is playing for the U.S. at the Olympics and is focused on getting ready for the Paris Games.
After virtually playing non-stop for nine months between college and the WNBA, Clark just wanted to take some time to relax.
“I think the biggest thing was for me, it’s just like I need a break,” she said. “I’m going to take some time for myself to enjoy what I want to do, and at times that can be in the tough position I’m in, but I think it was the healthiest for myself.”
Brittney Griner was the only member of the U.S. Olympic Team who participated in either competition. She finished the obstacle course in 46.3 seconds.
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There was also a 3-on-3 exhibition game between the U.S. team headed to the Paris Olympics and an under-23 team featuring top college players.
The Olympic team won the tight contest 19-16 as Rhyne Howard scored the final eight points for the victors, hitting four 2-point shots. She finished the game scoring 12 of the team’s 19 points.
The game is played with one and two-point baskets for 10 minutes or until a team scores 21 points.
Marina Mabrey, who was traded from Chicago to Connecticut on Wednesday wore a Sun jersey for the first time. She and Gray participated in both the skills competition and 3-point shootout. Mabrey just missed making the finals of the skills contest.
She finished in fifth in the 3-point contest with 19 points.
Ionescu and Becky Hammon have also won both the skills challenge and 3-point contest. Ionescu won the skills in 2022 and the 3-point contest last year. Hammon won the skills in 2007 and the 3-point in 2009.
