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Congressman Al Green Holds National Slavery Remembrance Day with Rev. Al Sharpton as Guest Speaker

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Maintaining an accurate account of our history, and history in general, is essential for the present as well as for posterity, as it offers an accurate understanding of the worth of people and society,” Congressman Green explains. “It explicates the present and provides the foresight to sculpt the future. It allows for introspection and extrospection of our triumphs and tragedies. It is the lodestar to unity and the lodestone for justice.”
The post Congressman Al Green Holds National Slavery Remembrance Day with Rev. Al Sharpton as Guest Speaker first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 years ago

September 23, 2022

Oakland Post

By Jeffrey L. Boney, NNPA Newswire Contributor

After meeting in-person for the last time in 2019, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) will be holding the nation’s leading policy conference in Washington, DC from Wednesday, September 28, 2022, through Sunday, October 2, 2022.

This year’s Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) theme is “Advancing Our Purpose. Elevating Our Power.”

The ALC is extremely crucial this year, as this November is election season, and this 2022 midterm election will be a strong litmus test for the future of how public policy decisions will most likely impact the African American community for years to come.

At the upcoming policy conference, the CBCF will be introducing a new hybrid ALC structure, which will give interested attendees the option to attend in-person or with free virtual and on-demand offerings.

With the rise of legislation, such as Critical Race Theory (CRT), there is a strong and overexaggerated push by many to “white-wash” history and hype a false narrative that seeks to turn a blind eye to racism and the barbaric institution of slavery.

To ensure we as a people never forget the horrific institution of slavery, U.S. Congressman Al Green (TX-09) will be hosting a seminar at the ALC entitled “Designation of a Slavery Remembrance Day” on Thursday, September 29th at 2 pm EST at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

This session will discuss the importance of commemorating the lives and contributions of enslaved Africans whose suffering and centuries of free labor provided the foundation for our nation’s wealth period. The desired outcome is for more people across the United States to solemnly commemorate August 20th annually as Slavery Remembrance Day and to thank President Biden for his recognition of Slavery Remembrance Day.

Civil Rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton will speak and participate in this important dialogue.

Congressman Green states that he chose Rev. Sharpton to speak at the seminar primarily because he is one of the great messengers and thinkers of our time.

“Rev. Sharpton has the unique ability to explain concepts in ways that resonate and make lasting impressions on people,” says Congressman Green. “The ability to utilize mnemonics is essential to the topic of Slavery Remembrance Day, given the central theme is to “always remember.” We must optimize the opportunity for attendees to remember and recount the message of the importance of Slavery Remembrance to others. We must always remember and enumerate the horrors of our nation’s seminal sin to prevent replication of this horrific crime against humanity.”

According to Congressman Green, it is important to remember slavery because having the true history of it told will inspire African Americans to take pride in being the descendants of enslaved Africans.

“Enslaved Africans were the very people who were the source of the centuries of suffering and free labor upon which our nation’s wealth was acquired,” states Congressman Green. “Currently, too many persons of African heritage are ashamed to be introduced as the descendants of enslaved Africans. The truth is that enslaved Africans are our nation’s foundational mothers and fathers. They are the greatest contributors to our nation’s wealth. As such, we should be proud to be descended from them. They were most responsible for our nation’s the prosperous agrarian economy and among its least beneficiaries. They built the White House and the U.S. Capitol; two global symbols viewed as bastions of democracy. If the truth be told, they were the greatest contributors to building the foundational American economy and infrastructure. The enslaved deserve to be honored for what they suffered to build this country. We must revere the enslaved as we revile slavery.”

Slavery is America’s Original Sin and for too many years, people of African descent were subjected to this barbaric and legalized institution in America without barely even a mention of them in school textbooks.

Congressman Green sponsored H.Res.517—The Original Slavery Remembrance Day—in the 117th Congress of the United States, to ensure that history and the memory of the millions of victims of African descent who suffered the horrors of slavery will never be forgotten.

Congressman Green’s resolution has over 130 co-sponsors in Congress, and also gathered support by pastors and organizations nationwide, including the National Action Network, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the Anti-Defamation League.

Congressman Green specifically chose August 20th as the day of remembrance, because it was on that day in 1619, that the White Lion ship arrived at Point Comfort, near present day Norfolk, Virginia, carrying the first enslaved Africans brought to the English-speaking American colonies. He held his inaugural Slavery Remembrance Day Commemorative Breakfast and Legislative Update on Saturday, August 20th, at the Power Center in Houston, Texas, where nearly 1,000 people attended and expressed their unwavering support for the commemoration.

It has been over a century since slavery was abolished in the United States, yet the insidious progenies of this horrific crime against humanity remain. They remain evident in areas such as healthcare, lending, incarceration, homeownership, as well as our nation’s classrooms where efforts to white-wash history and restyle slavery as “involuntary relocation” are afoot.

According to Congressman Green, everyone benefits from remembering the tragedy of slavery because everyone benefits from knowing our true history.

“Maintaining an accurate account of our history, and history in general, is essential for the present as well as for posterity, as it offers an accurate understanding of the worth of people and society,” Congressman Green explains. “It explicates the present and provides the foresight to sculpt the future. It allows for introspection and extrospection of our triumphs and tragedies. It is the lodestar to unity and the lodestone for justice.”

Congressman Green also emphasizes that national days of remembrance are a means by which to commemorate those impacted horrific events, as well as prevent tragedies from fading from our memory.

“Currently, there are National Days of Remembrance for the Holocaust, Pearl Harbor, and 9/11,” says Congressman Green. “Each day honors the memory of the lives lost to these atrocities. But now, America does not have an official day of remembrance to honor the millions of African persons who were abducted and shipped to the Americas to be sold as property as part of the Atlantic Slave Trade. Slavery Remembrance Day does the same as these other Days of Remembrance by honoring the millions of enslaved Africans who were kidnapped, shipped to the Americas, and sold as property.”

President Biden released a statement marking Slavery Remembrance Day, stating:

More than 400 years ago, twenty enslaved Africans were forcibly brought to the shores of what would become the United States. Millions more were stolen and sold in the centuries that followed, part of a system of slavery that is America’s original sin.

Great nations don’t hide from their history. They acknowledge their past, both the triumphs and the tragedies. Today is a day to reflect on the terrible toll of slavery, and on our nation’s profound ability to heal and emerge stronger. Despite the horrors they faced, these men and women and their descendants have made countless contributions to the building of this nation and the continuous effort to realize the American ideal. I was honored last year to declare Juneteenth a national holiday, another moment to reflect and rededicate ourselves to becoming a more perfect union. And it’s why my Administration will continue the hard, ongoing work to bring true equity and racial justice to our country.

I’m grateful for the efforts of Congress—in particular, Representative Al Green and Senator Elizabeth Warren—to recognize the significance of this day.

Congressman Green extended his sincerest gratitude to President Biden for issuing his statement and complimented him on his willingness to acknowledge and believes that the president’s statement further illustrates why we need to recognize August 20th annually as Slavery Remembrance Day.

Those attending the ALC are strongly encouraged to attend the Designation of a “Slavery Remembrance Day seminar on Thursday, September 29th at 2 pm EST at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The post Congressman Al Green Holds National Slavery Remembrance Day with Rev. Al Sharpton as Guest Speaker first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

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3 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

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3 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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3 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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