first

3Feb

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

Journalism

A Black History Month Tribute: Lorraine Hansberry, The First Major Black Theatrical Voice To Emerge From America

Lorraine Vivian Hansberry born May 19, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois as the youngest of four children of a prominent real estate broker Carl Augustus Hansberry and Nannie Louise Perry grew up on the south side of Chicago in the Woodlawn neighborhood.in a middle-class family.. The roots of her artistic vision and activism are here in Chicago. Born into a family of substantial means and parents who were intellectuals and activists, her father, Carl Augustus Hansberry, Sr. from Gloucester, Mississippi, moved to Chicago after attending Alcorn College, and became known as the "kitchenette king" after subdividing large homes vacated by whites moving to the suburbs and selling these small apartments or kitchenettes to African American migrants from the South. Carl was not only a successful real est...

The First And Only Woman To Serve As House Speaker, ‘Nancy Pelosi’ Will Step Down From Leadership

19Nov

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

POLITICS

The First And Only Woman To Serve As House Speaker, ‘Nancy Pelosi’ Will Step Down From Leadership

Nancy Pelosi, the first and only woman to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, announced Thursday she will step down from party leadership after a historic two-decade tenure leading House Democrats. Pelosi, who was just elected to another term in the House, said she will remain in Congress but step aside from leadership to pave the way for the next generation. “With great confidence in our caucus, I will not be seeking reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress,” she said. “For me, the hour has come for a new generation to lead the Democratic caucus that I so deeply respect, and I’m grateful that so many are ready and willing to shoulder this awesome responsibility.” The highly anticipated announcement from Pelosi came after Republicans won back control o...

Voters Opt To Protect Abortion Access In First Nationwide Election Since Roe Was Overturned

26May

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

POLITICS

Voters Opt To Protect Abortion Access In First Nationwide Election Since Roe Was Overturned

The first major election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade saw abortion rights on the ballot in a record number of states. The outcomes of these initiatives suggest that when Kansas voters in August 2022 rejected a proposed constitutional amendment declaring there is no state right to abortion, it was not a fluke. Indeed, results following the close of polls on Nov. 8 revealed that voters in Kentucky had followed suit and rejected a similar constitutional amendment. And in three other states — California, Michigan and Vermont — voters approved constitutional amendments to safeguard abortion access as part of a broader protection of personal reproductive autonomy, including contraception. In Vermont, the margin of victory was sweeping: 77.2% to 22.8%, with 95% of votes in. In...

How Humanity First Finds Extraterrestrial Life Could Be Signatures Of Alien Technology

24Oct

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

IN OTHER NEWS, SCIENCE

How Humanity First Finds Extraterrestrial Life Could Be Signatures Of Alien Technology

If an alien were to look at Earth, many human technologies – from cell towers to fluorescent light bulbs – could be a beacon signifying the presence of life. We are two astronomers who work on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence – or SETI. In our research, we try to characterize and detect signs of technology originating from beyond Earth. These are called technosignatures. While scanning the sky for a TV broadcast of some extraterrestrial Olympics may sound straightforward, searching for signs of distant, advanced civilizations is a much more nuanced and difficult task than it might seem. Saying ‘hello’ with radios and lasers A laser – like the one seen here – or beam of radio waves pointed intentionally at Earth would be a strong sign of extraterrestrial life. G. Hüdepohl/ESO, ...

An Intimate, Powerful, And Inspiring Memoir By The Former First Lady Of The United States

8May

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BOOKS

An Intimate, Powerful, And Inspiring Memoir By The Former First Lady Of The United States

In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare. In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing st...

A First Amendment Scholar Explains – When Are Book Bans Unconstitutional?

14Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

EDUCATION

A First Amendment Scholar Explains – When Are Book Bans Unconstitutional?

The United States has become a nation divided over important issues in K-12 education, including which books students should be able to read in public school. Efforts to ban books from school curricula, remove books from libraries and keep lists of books that some find inappropriate for students are increasing as Americans become more polarized in their views. These types of actions are being called “book banning.” They are also often labeled “censorship.” But the concept of censorship, as well as legal protections against it, are often highly misunderstood. A 2021 campaign ad for Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin focuses on a book with what one mother claimed was “explicit material.” Book banning by the political right and left On the right side of the political spect...

Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed As The First Black Woman To Sit On The Supreme Court

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

IN OTHER NEWS

Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed As The First Black Woman To Sit On The Supreme Court

The phrase “in a historic vote” gets thrown around a lot in journalism – and it isn’t always warranted. But shortly after 2 p.m. EDT on April 7, 2022, a Senate roll call confirmed Ketanji Brown Jackson as the next U.S. Supreme Court justice – the first Black woman to sit on the bench. The elevation of Jackson to the Supreme Court will not change the ideological setup of the bench – which would continue to be split 6-3 in favor of conservative justices. Nonetheless, it is an important landmark in the history of the court – of the 115 justices on the Supreme Court since it was established in 1789, 108 have been white men. Race featured in Jackson’s confirmation process; so too did attempts to define her “judicial philosophy.” The Conversation has turned to legal scholars to explain the me...

22Mar

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

BOOKS

Janet Fitch’s Gripping First Novel

Astrid is the only child of a single mother, Ingrid, a brilliant, obsessed poet who wields her luminous beauty to intimidate and manipulate men. Astrid worships her mother and cherishes their private world full of ritual and mystery - but their idyll is shattered when Astrid's mother falls apart over a lover. Deranged by rejection, Ingrid murders the man, and is sentenced to life in prison. White Oleander is the unforgettable story of Astrid's journey through a series of foster homes and her efforts to find a place for herself in impossible circumstances. Each home is its own universe, with a new set of laws and lessons to be learned. With determination and humor, Astrid confronts the challenges of loneliness and poverty, and strives to learn who a motherless child in an indifferent wor...

A Working Mom, Shalanda Young, Is The First Woman Of Color To Take Charge Of America’s Budget

18Mar

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POLITICS

A Working Mom, Shalanda Young, Is The First Woman Of Color To Take Charge Of America’s Budget

For the first time, a woman of color is the director of what President Joe Biden called “the nerve center of government.” The Senate voted 61-36 on Tuesday to confirm Shalanda Young’s position as the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). “As evidenced by the strong bipartisan confirmation vote she received, Shalanda Young is well known to many of us due to her years of experience on the House Appropriations Committee staff,” said Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who supported Young’s confirmation. She added: “Shalanda is smart, fair, and knowledgeable. I look forward to working closely with her.” The Biden administration is on track to be the most diverse as promised. In addition to Young, more than a dozen of Biden’s chosen leaders are the first in their community to...

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Goes Down In History As The First Black Woman Nominated To The Supreme Court

4Apr

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IN OTHER NEWS

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Goes Down In History As The First Black Woman Nominated To The Supreme Court

President Joe Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, a historic choice that could fundamentally change who helps to protect and interpret the Constitution and ensure equal justice under the law. If confirmed, Jackson will be the first Black woman — and the first former federal public defender — on the nation’s highest court in its 232-year history. While she would not shift the Supreme Court’s ideological makeup, she brings a distinct life experience and professional background to the court that serves as the final arbiter of law. Of the 120 justices who have served in its history, 115 have been men, and 117 have been White. Now, with Justice Stephen Breyer set to retire at the end of the court’s term in early summer, Jackson will have the opportunity to make h...