Sixty Florida A&M University (FAMU) scholars joined the fellowship of Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society.

During the pandemic we have all had to make changes. As we adjust, adapt, and overcome. On January 27 Chapter Adviser and National President Veronica Yon, Ph.D., presided over the virtual program with the assistance of the following student officers: Jorge Del’Angel, president; Timia Williams, vice president; Hashanna Jallow, secretary; Jada Hoyle-Gardner, public relations liaison; and Maya Hughes, assistant public relations liaison.  

More than 300 family, friends, faculty, and staff logged joined in celebrating the chapter’s newest members, who include 15 graduate students, 23 seniors, and 22 juniors of varying majors.

 “It was the most prestigious honor society on Florida A&M’s campus when I was at FAMU, and it continues to be,” said Boyd, treasurer/director of Finance, Uniguest Inc. of Tennessee. He offered appreciation and encouragement. “Thank you so much for your service.  Thank you so much for your scholarship. Bigger and even better things await you once you go past the doors of Florida A&M, and it only gets better from here.”

Theophilus Boyd IV

During his remarks, Theophilus Boyd IV, a former president of the society’s Kappa Iota (FAMU) chapter and 1993 business administration alumnus, referred to Alpha Kappa Mu as a “real beacon.” 

 offered appreciation and encouragement. “Thank you so much for your service.  Thank you so much for your scholarship. Bigger and even better things await you once you go past the doors of Florida A&M, and it only gets better from here.”

Police officers in Rochester, New York, handcuffed and pepper-sprayed a 9-year-old girl while responding to what a police official called a report of “family trouble” in an incident sharply criticized by city officials.

Two body camera videos of Friday’s incident released by the police department on Sunday show officers restraining the child, putting her in handcuffs and attempting to get her inside the back of a police vehicle as she repeatedly cries and calls for her father.

After the girl fails to follow commands to put her feet inside the car, the officers are seen pepper-spraying her.

A Norwegian Parliament member has nominated the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.

According to The Guardian, Petter Eide wanted to recognize the American movement for its efforts “tremendous achievement” in leading the battle against racial and social injustice globally.

“Black Lives Matter has become a very important worldwide movement to fight racial injustice,” Eide said. “They have had a tremendous achievement in raising global awareness and consciousness about racial injustice.”

He also expounded on BLM’s ability to take its message beyond Black Americans and oppressed people and why the organization was so deserving of the coveted award. 

“Awarding the peace prize to Black Lives Matter, as the strongest global force against racial injustice, will send a powerful message that peace is founded on equality, solidarity and human rights and that all countries must respect those basic principles,” the publication reported. 

Emmy- and Tony-winning actress Cicely Tyson, who distinguished herself in theater, film and television, died on Thursday afternoon. She was 96.

“I have managed Miss Tyson’s career for over 40 years, and each year was a privilege and blessing,” her manager, Larry Thompson, said in a statement. “Cicely thought of her new memoir as a Christmas tree decorated with all the ornaments of her personal and professional life. Today she placed the last ornament, a Star, on top of the tree.”

Her memoir “Just As I Am” was published on Tuesday.

Tyson broke into movies with the 1959 Harry Belafonte film “Odds Against Tomorrow,” followed by “The Comedians,” “The Last Angry Man,” “A Man Called Adam” and “The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter.” Refusing to participate in the blaxploitation movies that became popular in the late ’60s, she waited until 1972 to return to the screen in the drama “Sounder,” which captured several Oscar nominations including one for Tyson as best actress.

A female soldier poses for an example photo with locs to illustrate an upcoming change to Army grooming and appearance standards. Soldiers will be authorized to wear multiple hairstyles if they can maintain a neat and professional appearance, and if the hairstyle doesn’t impede the use of headgear or other equipment.

The US Army announced a series of new grooming policies on Tuesday that will allow soldiers to wear ponytails, locs, lipstick and even earrings. 

According to the new policy, women can wear nail polish as long as the colors are deemed “acceptable” and male soldiers are authorized to wear clear nail polish. Soldiers can also highlight their hair as long as they choose a natural color. Certain colors like purple, pink, blue, green, orange, bright red and fluorescent or neon colors are not allowed.

The current policy will also lift restrictions on soldiers braiding, twisting, locking, or cornrowing their hair, although it does set out some specifications for doing so. The new guidelines will go into place in late February.

The former home of Emmett Till is on St. Lawrence Avenue in Chicago.

The home of Emmett Till, the African American teen whose murder became an important catalyst in the civil rights movement, has been granted landmark status by the Chicago City Council.

In 1955, Emmett traveled to Mississippi to visit his great uncle. It was during this visit that Till was accused of whistling at Carolyn Bryant, a White woman.

Four days later, Bryant’s husband, Roy, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam, killed Emmett, 14, and dumped his body in the Tallahatchie River.

 Less than a month after his body was recovered, an all-White jury deliberated for under an hour before acquitting the two.