News Bites From Across South Carolina And The Nation

*Supreme Court Justice Jackson Proclaims: ‘We’ve Made It. All of Us’*

Two hundred and thirty-two years, 116 justices, 108 white men, six women, 2 Black men, and 1 Latinx woman later, the United States Supreme Court finally has an African American woman serving as Associate Justice.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson earned confirmation with a 53-47 vote, breaking the glass ceiling after America’s first Black woman Vice President, Kamala Harris, presided over the process to confirm her.

“It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States,” Jackson proclaimed a day after her confirmation during a ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House.

“But we’ve made it. We’ve made it. All of us. All of us,” she declared, adding that “Our children are telling me that they see now more than ever that here in America, anything is possible.”

Jackson remarked that she had been flooded with thousands of meaningful notes from children and others.

*In Virginia Beach, Black People Are Closing The Wealth Gap*

Virginia Beach landed on the top spot of cities where African Americans fare best economically and where Black businesses thrive.

According to the personal finance website Smart Asset, Virginia Beach also has the seventh-highest median Black household income, at roughly $65,600, and the sixth-highest Black labor force participation rate, at 78.7 percent.

The statistics reflect 2019, the most recent data available.

Grand Prairie, Texas, Aurora, Illinois, Pembroke Pines, Florida, and Miramar, Florida, comprised the other cities in the top 5.

Charlotte, North Carolina, Garland, Texas, Durham, North Carolina, Enterprise, Nevada, and Elk Grove, California, rounded out the top 10.

The report noted the struggles of African Americans in homeownership and the overall wealth gap

*Coach Dawn Staley And State Senator Kelvin Johnson Chosen For Heritage Awards*
Columbia – April 11, 2022 – Two-time national champion coach Dawn Staley and State Senator Kelvin Johnson will be recognized for outstanding achievements during the annual Preserving Our Places in History awards luncheon at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, in Columbia. The ceremony is part of the Cultural and Historic Preservation Conference hosted by the non-profit WeGOJA Foundation, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the South Carolina Archives and History Center at 8301 Parklane Road.
Under the theme “Historic Preservation: One Step Closer to Social Justice,” the conference will feature discussions from some of the state’s and nation’s leading historians drawing connections between lessons learned from the past and the pursuit of social justice today. More here https://www.wegoja.org/popih-aw

*Bakari Sellers’ Instagram Hit With Racial Slurs, And Stalker Is Arrested, SC Cops Say*

A North Carolina man was in a Richland County jail after sending numerous intimidating messages to Bakari Sellers, both the attorney and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said Monday. Grant Edward Olson Jr., was charged with stalking and assault or intimidation due to political opinions or exercise of civil rights, SLED said in a news release. Arrest warrants show the 48-year-old Asheville resident used Instagram to send about 65 messages to Sellers, a civil rights attorney, CNN analyst, and registered lobbyist.

*Beyond Our Walls (BOWS) Is A Group Of Grassroots Citizens Who Care About Children And Believe That "Education Is A Key to Success" For Their Future*

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The need for increased opportunities for children to learn and develop in safe and drug-free environments outside of the school setting is clear. Without affordable, high-quality after-school care available to parents who work, many children must care for themselves or be supervised by older siblings. Lacking constructive community activities to engage them after school, children are vulnerable to drug use and gang involvement outside of school hours.

By providing neighborhood buildings open as community learning centers, we give our children opportunities to enhance their learning and be involved in enriching activities in convenient, caring environments. Research shows the importance of keeping schools open as after-school and summer Community Learning Centers. BOWS’ programs, which focus on family support and community building, assist Charleston area residents in reaching their full potential.

Beyond Our Walls (BOWS) is a group of grassroots citizens who care about children and believe that "Education Is A Key to Success" for their futures. BOWS is a non-profit organization founded by Joyce Maybin Nesmith, Executive Director. Beyond Our Walls (BOWs), is located at 2615 Harvey Avenue North Charleston, SC 29405. BOWS provides services as a free Neighborhood Learning Center and Activity Center supporting families with children who qualify to receive free or reduced lunches at school. Parents, neighbors, and community partners can contribute to the work by volunteering and providing donations (in-kind and monetary) to help keep the services available.