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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 18, 2026

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BLACK HISTORY

WHY THIS

WEEK

MATTERS?

This week teaches us

that Black history isn’t only

written in headlines—it’s

written in posture, patience,

and persistence. Quiet

revolutions last because they

are built by people who refuse

to move, even when the world

tells them to.

Early February 1955 —

Claudette Colvin

Takes a Stand

Weeks before Rosa Parks,

15-year-old Claudette Colvin

refused to give up her bus

seat in Montgomery. Her

courage was deliberate and

principled—yet largely erased

for years. Her action helped

lay the legal groundwork

for the bus boycott.

February 1956 —

Mass Meetings

Power the Movement

Throughout this week in

1956, Black churches across

Montgomery held nightly

mass meetings during the bus

boycott. These gatherings—

filled with prayer, strategy,

and song—were the engine

of the movement, sustaining

people through months of

sacrifice.

Ongoing Each February

— Black Institutions

Organize in Silence

(Cont’d on page 2)

Fairness Questions Surround

Broward’s Gym Rental Probe

Disclaimer: The Westside Gazette publishes this commentary in the

interest of transparency, fairness, and public accountability. At the time of

publication, no criminal charges have been files against any of the coaches

named in this column, and all individuals are entitled to the presumption

of innocence. This article does not assert wrongdoing but raises questions

about process, consistency, and oversight within Broward County Publix

Schools -- questions the public has a right to ask while investigations

remain ongoing.

Broward County Public Schools is investigating alleged improper

gymnasium rentals that have already cost at least four high school

basketball coaches their positions. To date, the Broward State Attorney’s

Office has not filed criminal charges against any of them.

That tension — serious employment consequences without filed

charges — is why this story deserves careful public attention.

The inquiry reportedly began after a March 31 incident at Blanche

Ely High School, where a person who reserved the gym for a graduation

event arrived to find a basketball tournament underway. What might

have remained a single-site review has since widened to include coaches

at Coral Springs High School, Blanche Ely, and Marjory Stoneman

Douglas High School.

All the coaches publicly known to be affected are African American.

That fact, standing alone, proves nothing. But it does raise fair questions

the district should be willing to answer plainly.

Are similar after-hours facilities used in other sports — wrestling,

baseball, cheerleading, volleyball — being examined with the same rigor?

Have other campuses with long-standing traditions of hosting outside

tournaments, clinics, or events been audited in the same way? Or is this

review functionally centered on one sport, one set of schools, and one

group of coaches?

Those are not accusations. They are transparency questions.

Public schools regularly allow facilities to be (Cont’d on page 10)

FL voters sue to

block DeSantis’

mid-decade

congressional

redistricting

(Photo by Mitch Perry/Florida Phoenix)

By Mitch Perry

(Source Florida Phoenix )

Two Florida voters backed by the

National Redistricting Foundation filed a

legal challenge with the Florida Supreme

Court Thursday against Gov. Ron DeSantis’

plan to hold a special legislative session in

April to address congressional redistricting.

The lawsuit, filed by Elizabeth Pines from

Miami-Dade County and Eugene Pettis from

Broward County, asks the court to void the

governor’s proclamation declaring 2026 an

apportionment year and to block Secretary

of State Cord Byrd’s directive implementing

that proclamation.

In making his proclamation, the

lawsuit contends, DeSantis usurped the

legislative power granted solely to the

Florida Legislature by Article III, Section 1,

of the Florida Constitution. The filing says

the governor’s proclamation thus violated

the doctrine of separation of powers set


Broward Schools celebrate top educators and staff at

By Joanne Clark

(Source: Caribbean National

Weekly)

Broward County Public Schools

(BCPS) honored its most outstanding

educators and employees during

the 2026 Caliber Awards on Friday,

February 6, at the Broward County

Convention Center. The red-carpet

event recognized over 500 nominees

for their leadership, innovation,

and dedication, with 16 finalists

receiving top honors. More than 1,100

community leaders, business partners,

educators, and supporters attended

the celebration.

Dr. Saima Sanaullah, a veteran

science teacher and department

chair at Plantation High School, was

2026 Caliber Awards

named Teacher of the Year. With more

than 14 years of experience teaching

advanced academic and honors

programs, Dr. Sanaullah has led

remarkable improvements in student

performance, boosting Biology End-of-

Course proficiency from 37% to 63%

and helping raise her school’s overall

grade. She will receive cash prizes and

a Honda vehicle with a paid two-year

lease, courtesy of Rita and Rick Case

Automotive Group.

“This year’s honorees represent the

very best of Broward County Public

Schools,” said BCPS Superintendent

Dr. Howard Hepburn. “Their

passion, innovation, and unwavering

commitment to students inspire

excellence across our District. We are

proud to recognize their extraordinary

contributions.”

Other major awards included:

Principal of the Year: Cormic

Priester, Rock Island Elementary

School, who led the school to an “A”

rating for the first time since 2009,

improving attendance, enrollment,

and academic performance while

fostering staff development and family

engagement.

Assistant Principal of the Year:

Anna Koltunova, Marjory Stoneman

Douglas High School, recognized for

strengthening instructional systems,

expanding advanced academic

opportunities, and supporting

schoolwide student achievement.

School/District Employee of the

Continue reading online at:

thewestsidegazette.com

A MESSAGE FROM

THE PUBLISHER

How Low

Can Donald

Trump Go?

By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.

As a nation, we are once

again compelled to ask a

troubling question: how low

can Donald Trump go?

Time and again, when it

appears that public discourse

has reached its nadir, the

former president manages

to descend further—testing

not only the boundaries

of decorum, but the very

standards we expect from

those who have held the

nation’s highest office. His

pattern of behavior is no

longer surprising, but it

remains deeply alarming.

The circulation and

encouragement of racist

imagery targeting former

President Barack Obama and

former First Lady Michelle

Obama, alongside the public

exclusion and marginalization

of the nation’s only Black

governor from official

functions, are not isolated

missteps. They reflect a

consistent posture—one that

trivializes history, demeans

entire communities, and

signals that exclusion and

insult are acceptable tools of

leadership.

This is not about partisan

disagreement. It is about

character. It is about whether

the office of the presidency—

and those who have occupied

it—should be held to a

minimum standard of respect

for the diversity and dignity

of the American people.

Words matter. Symbols

matter. And leadership, even

after leaving office, carries

weight. When a president

repeatedly engages in

Thursday

Feb. 12 th

Chance of Rain

Sunrise: 7:04am

Fri

62°

76°


64°

75°

67°

78°

63°

78°

58°

78°

Sunset: 6:05pm

Sat Sun Mon Tues

60°

75°

The Westside Gazette Newspaper

@TheWestsideGazetteNewspaper

WESTSIDE GAZETTE IS A MEMBER:

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

Southeastern African-American Publishers Association (SAAPA)

Florida Association of Black Owned Media (FABOM)

B-CU

PAGE 2 • FEBRUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 18, 2026

Celebrates Day of Service with

District 3 Commissioner

Depot’s “Retool Your School” #1

to celebrating the culture,

concession being the In postponement an atmosphere that of painting and

was restorative as it was

stripping the basketball court – a minor hiccup until

City Commission meeting

okman University more favorable weather prevails.

became a space of communal

gnificant day of unity Dr. William Berry, warmth Provost and unity. and Imani Acting (District 1). President,

Warren, Old Dillard Museum

Thursday, Jan. 18, expressed excitement Curator, and and gratitude, the architects stating, “We are

behind the “History, Art, and

l and Libby Johnson excited about this project

Culture”

and

(HAC)

grateful

initiative—

to all those who

Civic Engagement

Emmanuel George, Samuel

Woods, and David Paulo—

momentous occasion

stood before Mayor Dean

J. Trantalis and the City

er students, faculty,

Commissioners to accept the

, and friends to

proclamation on behalf of the

the University’s

lishment – securing

By Jabari Bovell

position in Home

igious Peace “Retool is Your more than having no

ition problems; and receiving it’s staying a calm inside even

,000 when grant life dedicated feels stressful. Teens often

ancement. face pressure from school, friendships,

ler temperatures and social media, and which can steal that

, the peace. collective True peace spirit starts within. It means

ost 135 handling participants, challenges without letting

epot them Daytona control Beach you. Many people also find

r Therese peace through Watsonforces

in yesterday’s participated in the vote for B-CU. These enhancements

faith, trusting that God

is in control even when life is uncertain.

ort. Their mission will help create more vibrant and engaging spaces for

Peace also shapes how we treat others.

, involving projects our students to retreat on campus for a brain break or

When you have peace, you spread

ssembling bookcases find inspiration through the downtime.”

kindness, patience, and forgiveness. In

tdoor dining sets to Home Depot’s “Retool Your School” program,

the end, peace is powerful,

rcade games, foosball established

and it begins

in 2009, has been a beacon for positive change,

with choosing hope and

ball hoops, hockey providing calm each over day. $9.25 million in campus improvement

tennis tables. Even

er conditions couldn’t

ication, with the only

grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities

(HBCUs). Beyond the competition, the Office of Alumni

Continue reading online at: thewestsidegazette.com

www.thewestsidegazette.com

Proclaiming the Past, Protecting the Future:

By Dr. Yvette Giles Stuart

The City of Fort

Lauderdale has officially

declared that National Black

History Month is, and will

remain, an annual observance

within the city. This landmark

proclamation, issued by

Pamela Beasley-Pittman on

February 3, 2026, solidifies the

city’s permanent commitment

heritage, and resilience of the

African American community.

celebratory, the February 3rd

Fort Lauderdale Honors Black History Month

Members of the History, Art, and Culture (HAC) team receive the City of Fort

Lauderdale’s Black History Month proclamation on behalf of the Old Dillard

Museum. Front row (L-R): HAC team member Samuel Woods, Old Dillard

Museum Curator Imani Warren, HAC team member Emmanuel George, District

3 Commissioner Pamela Beasley-Pittman and HAC team member David Paulo.

Back row (L-R): Commissioner Ben Sorensen (District 4), Commissioner Steve

Glassman (District 2), Mayor Dean J. Trantalis, and Vice Mayor John C. Herbst

Old Dillard Museum. The

presentation was a radiant

and loving tribute to a century

of heritage, underscoring the

museum’s enduring legacy

as a beacon of educational

excellence and its 100-year

history as a cornerstone of

cultural preservation.

The proclamation’s focus

was clear: it is a tribute

to the “culture, heritage,

and contributions of the

African Diaspora” and a

recognition of the “strength,

resilience, and achievements

of Black individuals.”

Central to the document

was the acknowledgment of

the museum’s deep roots,

specifically:

• The Legacy of Mary

Smith: Honoring her 1976

founding of Fort Lauderdale’s

Black Historical Society to

protect significant African

American landmarks from

being lost.

• The Centennial Milestone:

Recognizing that the Old

Dillard Museum—designated

on the National Register of

Historic Places—has stood for

more than 100 years since its

construction in 1924.

• The Power of Storytelling:

Affirming the city’s

commitment to “community

storytelling that connects

past generations with those of

today and tomorrow.”

• By accepting this honor

on behalf of the Old Dillard

Museum, Imani Warren

and the History Art Culture

team have reaffirmed their

role as guardians of this

legacy. Their work ensures



iveness after

ated service.

e to 30,000

have been

or at least

ut receiving

ncome-driven

will now see

n.

Biden credited the success The president outlined the

that reinforces racial stereotypes and

of these relief efforts to the cultural broader division, the achievements consequences of his

ripple far beyond political rallies or

corrective measures taken

social

administration

media. Such behavior corrodes

in supporting

to address broken student trust, students inflames tensions, and and diminishes borrowers,

America’s moral standing at home and

loan programs. He asserted abroad. including achieving the most

The United States has long claimed

that these fixes have removed its strength significant lies not only increases power, but in Pell

in principle. That claim is weakened

barriers preventing borrowers Grants in over a decade, aimed

from accessing the relief they

WHY THIS Continue reading online at:

were entitled to under the law.

WEEK thewestsidegazette.com

MATTERS?

College

Prep

anachronistic

adjective

(adjective)

Word of

the Week

being out of correct chronological order

at rest; inactive or

HOW TO USE IN A SENTENCE:

motionless; quiet; still: a

quiescent mind.

“In this book you’re writing, you say that the pyramids were

built after the Titanic sank, which is anachronistic.” or

“The movie benefits from the effective use of anachronistic

elements like cars and loud speakers.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER from Front Page

From Front Page --- Behind the scenes this week, Black

educators, labor organizers, journalists, and church

leaders were planning voter drives, mutual aid, and legal

challenges—work rarely photographed but essential to

progress.

quiescent

[ kwee-es-uhnt, kwahy- ]

HOW TO USE QUIESCENT IN A

SENTENCE

It’s possible that other volcanoes with

long quiescentperiods may also have

subtle but protracted warning periods

as well.

when cruelty is excused as humor,

and degradation is defended as free

expression without accountability.

History has shown that when public

figures normalize contempt, societies

pay a steep price.

This moment demands reflection—

not just on the actions of one man,

but on our collective response. Silence,

indifference, or rationalization only

List compiled by Kamar Jackson, a junior at Dillard High School

deepen the damage.

The question before the country is no

longer whether standards have fallen.

The question is whether Americans are

willing to insist that leadership—past,

present, and future—must rise to meet

the values of a nation that aspires to

lead with dignity.

Leia’s Mathematics

Corner

During Black History Month, a class reads about 4

Black history leaders each week.

If Black History Month lasts 4 weeks, how many

leaders will the class read about in total?

27

x 10

69

- 57

Created by Leia P.

4th grader!


Ain’t That A VHIT

Wounded Deeply,

Used Greatly:

Finding Purpose

Through the Pain

By Von C. Howard

There’s a saying I heard not

long ago that settled deep into

my spirit: “You will never be

used greatly until you have

been wounded deeply.” At

first, it sounded poetic. Yet,

the more I replayed it against

my own life, the unexpected

losses, the disappointments,

the moments of confusion,

and the seasons I didn’t think

I would survive, the more I

realized there was truth in

those words.

All of us, in one way or

another, carry wounds. Some

are visible. Most are not. But

what unites us is this: every

one of us has lived through

something that tried to break

us… and yet we’re still here.

Still standing. Still fighting.

Still believing.

And in that survival, there is

purpose.

You know what I’ve learned?

The things that broke me

also built me.

The moments that hurt me

also humbled me.

The situations that confused

me also clarified my purpose.

The tears that fell in private

watered the strength I

needed in public.

What once felt like punishment

was actually preparation. Some

lessons could only be learned

through living.

Hurt taught me humility.

Rejection strengthened

my resilience.

Disappointment refined

my discernment.

Loss expanded my

compassion.

Dark seasons deepened

my faith.

I know many readers can say

the same. Our communities are

full of people who have walked

through fire: single parents

holding families together,

elders who paved roads we

now walk on, young people

fighting battles no one sees,

and everyday folks pushing

through stress, setbacks, and

silent struggles.

Yet somehow, grace carried us.

Somehow, God kept us.

The hardest part about deep

wounds is that life doesn’t

pause for healing. You still

have to go to work. You still

have responsibilities. You

still show up for others while

quietly praying for the strength

to show up for yourself. That

quiet perseverance is a faith all

its own.

But even in those uncertain

seasons, God is at work.

He is stretching us, shaping

us, strengthening us, and

preparing us for greater

responsibility, greater purpose,

and greater impact. Our

wounds don’t disqualify us;

they deepen us. They make

us more compassionate, more

aware, and more capable of

lifting others.

So if you are reading this

and you’re still healing, if

you’re tired, overwhelmed, or

wondering why life has felt so



By Lineth Fernandez

A healthy and energetic

man who exercised five to six

times a week, Oakland Park

resident and psychotherapist

Matthew Ghezzi couldn’t

understand why, in his mid-

50s, he was losing vitality.

For more than a year,

he experienced fatigue

and edema, a type of fluid

retention in his legs. Working

aAAA

FEBRUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 18, 2026• PAGE 3

Listening to the Warning Signs: How Heart Surgery at

Broward Health Changed an Oakland Park Man’s Life

By Samantha Gordon

(Source: BlackDoctor.org)

with his clients and keeping

his spirits up took all his

energy. Other interests and

relationships suffered.

At first, his symptoms

were thought to be a result of

hypothyroidism. Then a severe

systolic heart murmur was

identified at a primary care

appointment, and eventually,

he was diagnosed with aortic

valve regurgitation.

“Aortic valve regurgitation

occurs when the aortic valve

doesn’t close properly,” said

Alexander Justicz, M.D., a

board-certified cardiothoracic

surgeon with the Broward

Health Physician Group. “This

causes blood to leak backward

into the left ventricle of the

heart and means the heart

must work harder. Matthew’s

condition was advanced to the

point that he needed surgery.”

“I never had a significant

Silent Killers: Detecting the

First Signs of Heart Conditions

Heart conditions seldom

make their presence known

with loud warnings or obvious

signals. Often, it starts in

a hushed manner–subtle

changes in breathing, energy,

or pace that can easily go

unnoticed in the hustle

and bustle of everyday life.

These first warning signs,

though easy to miss, might

be the body’s first subtle

indicators that something

isn’t quite right. Let’s explore

how heart conditions can

develop unnoticed, why early

detection is critical, how

recognizing even the slightest

signs can mean the difference

between preventing a crisis

and experiencing one, and

lifestyle adjustments that can

reduce risk.

Now, you’re probably

thinking to yourself, “How

is it even possible to miss

warning signs when it comes

to the heart?” –especially

because the heart is vital. The

heart is our central pump, and

its main function is to move

blood throughout our body.

Well, let’s discuss, it’s because

heart conditions lack loud,

dramatic symptoms–they

start mild and/or nonspecific,

vague, and are easily

overlooked. For example,

an individual might push

through symptoms, assuming

they’re just super tired or

really anxious, but really it’s a

serious heart condition that is

developing slowly. This is why

routine health check-ins and

awareness matter so much.

Learning of any heart issues

or conditions early often

depends on noticing subtle

changes before they escalate

into loud emergencies.

Featured on BlackDoctor

• Jaw pain

• Persistent cough

• Shortness of breath

• Wheezing

• Sudden, unexplained

nausea

• Mild indigestion

• Unexplained fatigue

• Unexplained sweating

without physical exertion

• Fluid buildup, which leads

to swelling in the legs, ankles

or feet

• Dizziness/lightheadedness

• Chest discomfort/tightness

• Chest tightness when

sneezing or coughing

• Sleep disturbances

Recognizing even the

slightest signs can mean the

difference between preventing

a crisis and experiencing one.

Heart conditions are lifethreatening.

Early detection

is critical and matters for

prevention, as intervention

can greatly enhance

treatment outcomes/results

and reduce the risk of serious

heart conditions, such as:

• Heart Failure: a chronic

condition in which the heart is

unable to pump enough blood

to meet the body’s needs. Now,

this doesn’t mean the heart

has stopped working—rather,

it means the heart’s pumping

ability has become weaker or

less efficient, causing blood

and fluid to back up in the

lungs, legs, and other parts of

the body.

• Heart Attack (Myocardial

Infarction): occurs

when blood flow to part of

the heart muscle is suddenly

blocked, usually by a blood

clot in a narrowed coronary

artery. Without oxygen-rich

blood, the affected heart

muscle begins to suffer

damage or die within minutes.

• Coronary Artery

Disease (CAD) happens

when the blood vessels

that bring oxygen and

nutrients to your heart

become narrow or clogged

by fatty buildup. This

makes it harder for blood

to reach your heart.

• Arrhythmia is a

problem with the



This Week in Health: A Pioneer in Health: Dr. Rebecca Crumpler

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: A Legacy of Care

for Every Community

As we celebrate Black History Month, we

honor the pioneers whose work continues

to shape community health today. One of

the most influential is Dr. Rebecca Lee

Crumpler, the first Black woman physician in

the United States and a champion for

equitable care.

BORN IN 1831, Dr. Crumpler earned her

medical degree in 1864 — a remarkable

achievement at a time when both women

and African Americans were denied

opportunities in medicine. But her greatest

impact came after the Civil War, when she

moved to Richmond, Virginia, to care for

newly freed Black families who had little or

no access to medical services.

Matthew Ghezzi and Dr Alexander Justicz

health problem before, so this

diagnosis was a lot to take in,”

said Matthew. “The last thing

I wanted to hear was that I

needed heart surgery.”

Matthew met with several

surgeons before choosing Dr.

Justicz.

“When I met Dr. Justicz,

I was impressed by his

experience, personality,

confidence and personable

approach,” said Matthew. “He

really took his time explaining

the surgery and gave me the

detailed information I needed

to make an informed decision.

Then he recommended that

I talk it over with my family

and gave me his private

number to call when I was

ready to move forward.”

“I understand the range

of emotions that patients face

when they are told they need

open heart surgery,” said

Dr. Justicz. “It’s important

that they understand both

the risks and the benefits,

and most of all that we have

a talented and experienced

team that will do everything

we can to achieve a good

outcome.”

Matthew and his surgeon

discussed the lifetime

management of his valve

replacement. After carefully

considering the options,

which included a mechanical

or tissue valve, Matthew

decided he preferred to have a

tissue valve to avoid the need

to be on blood thinners.

Dr. Justicz performed

open-heart surgery to replace

Matthew’s valve at Broward

Westside Health Brief

Marsha Mullings, MPH

February 9, 2026

Health Medical Center on

November 6, 2025.

After his surgery, Matthew

stayed in the hospital for five

days.

“I felt supported and taken

care of by Dr. Justicz and

the entire team at Broward

Health Medical Center,” said

Matthew. “I tend to want to

take care of others, but I had

to let go and let the people

at this hospital take care of

me. That was a beautiful

experience.”

After he was discharged,

he was amazed at how quickly

he started to feel better.

“It’s a miracle, honestly,

that you’re able to get your

health back and start to feel

better within less than two

weeks,” said Matthew.

Two months after his

surgery, he still had some

restrictions on his activities,

but Mathew was already

feeling more energetic and

active.

“When people are faced

with a major health crisis

and are given renewed life,

it changes everything,” said

Matthew. “I have a lot of life

left, and I feel very grateful.

I am 100% confident that my

life is not only going to return

to normal; it’s going to be

better.

“It’s a gift from Broward

Health that I can continue

doing what I love to do. My

surgery renewed my life. I

now have the energy to make

changes in my life, to continue

exercising and to enhance

my relationships. It’s pretty

magical.”

WORKING ALONGSIDE the Freedmen’s

Bureau, she treated thousands of patients

facing poverty, discrimination, and the

lingering effects of enslavement. Despite

hostility from some local officials and fellow

physicians, she remained committed to

providing respectful, evidence-based care to

those who needed it most.

IN 1883, she published A Book of Medical

Discourses, one of the earliest medical texts

written by a Black physician. Focused on

women’s and children’s health, it offered

practical guidance on prevention, hygiene,

nutrition, and family well-being — principles

that still guide community health programs

today.

Dr. Crumpler’s legacy reminds us that:

• Health equity requires courage and

persistence

• Prevention and education are

powerful tools

• Communities thrive when care is

accessible to all

Her life’s work continues to inspire

community health workers, nurses,

physicians, and advocates who serve with

compassion and a commitment to justice.


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AND PALM BEACH

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the public. Letters must be

signed with a clearly

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compete address and

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No unsigned letters will be

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serves the right to edit

letters. Letters should be

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Keep Our Health Dollars

Where Our People Live

Peter Schorsch’s recent article in the miamitimesonline.

com, originally published by Florida Politics, raises a red flag

that every taxpayer, patient, and local leader in Broward

County should take seriously. The proposed hospital legislation

he outlines is not just a policy debate it is a direct threat to local

control, public accountability, and the proper use of taxpayer

dollars.

At its core, this bill opens the door for locally generated

tax dollars to be exported out of county, potentially benefiting

corporate hospital systems and private interests with little

obligation to reinvest in the communities footing the bill. That

should concern anyone who believes public money should serve

public needs locally, transparently, and equitably.

Broward County voters have repeatedly supported tax

measures tied to healthcare access, emergency services, and

public health infrastructure with the understanding that those

funds would strengthen care here at home. Redirecting those

dollars elsewhere breaks that trust. It weakens already strained

safety-net systems and undermines the intent of voters who

expected tangible benefits in their own neighborhoods.

This issue is especially urgent for Black and underserved

communities, where access to quality healthcare is already

uneven. When resources leave the county, the people left

behind are often those who can least afford delays in care,

hospital closures, or reduced services. We have seen this story

before; profits privatized, risks socialized, and communities

told to make do with less.

Schorsch is right to spotlight how quietly consequential

legislation can move through Tallahassee while local

governments and residents are left holding the bag. Healthcare

policy should not be written in a vacuum or shaped by

backroom lobbying. It demands broad public input, rigorous

fiscal analysis, and above all respect for local taxpayers.

If lawmakers believe reforms are needed, those reforms

must come with ironclad guarantees: local dollars stay local,

public oversight is preserved, and community health outcomes

not corporate margins remain the guiding metric.

Broward County’s health dollars should heal Broward

County residents. Anything less is a misuse of public trust.

The Westside Gazette stands in agreement with this

warning and urges residents, commissioners, and state

legislators alike to slow this process down, ask harder

questions, and protect the principle that public money must

serve the public right where it is raised.

— Westside Gazette Editorial Board

America’s Grand Wizard

“Presidents who sow democracy and peace are

candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize. Sowers of

racism are worthy of America’s Grand wizard title.”

John Johnson II 02/11/26

By John Johnson II

Deeply Rooted

To metaphorically describe a president

as “America’s Grand Wizard” is to

deliver one of the most damning civic

judgments imaginable. It means

leadership has crossed the line from

private bias into the active use of

public power to legitimize, broadcast,

and entrench racial hierarchy. This

President is fully aware of the power of

his words. Notably, Jan. 6, 2021, is the

date of infamy.

The analogy recalls the historic ambitions of the Ku Klux

Klan, yet modern dominance does not require torches or

costumes. It advances through cameras, executive orders, law,

and the relentless discipline of repeating lies.

Regrettably, people hear entire populations described

as thugs, criminals, infestations, or animals. When people

become less valuable, it quickly becomes simpler to justify

treating them more severely. Then they are told that systemic

racism is fiction while inequality expands in real time. Despite

this contradiction, people begin to distrust their own eyes,

memories, and experiences.

When a direction towards racism becomes undeniable,

democracy turns toward its citizens with a demand that they

would rather escape. Who is fearless enough to rightfully

bestow this abominable title or to say, “Stop, you’ve gone too

far?” Democracy without defender joins the list of abused

victims.

Silence can shift from caution to complicity and avoidance

hardens into endorsement. Racism dissolves integrity, hatred

fuels vengeance, greed nurtures criminality, and narcissism

shields ignorance. Yet strategic ignorance is equally as

dangerous because it frightens those from criticizing a

President’s immoral behavior or advising him not to usurp

the U.S. Constitution. Shamefully, they prefer comfort and

behaving as “mice,” rather than as men and women of integrity!

Is America better than this? Or is it only as good as its people?

Can America shed the shackles of systemic racism, divisiveness,

and discrimination? None of these human abominations can

survive without a President and followers who subscribe to the

dreaded “White Supremacy Ideology.”

Must the nation once again wait for innocence to accomplish

what Cabinet Members refuse to attempt? Or will it take the

voice of a young child, as in the fairy tale, “The Emperor’s New

Clothes,” to force the people to see instead of merely looking

and to listen rather than just hearing? History is unsparing

toward people who recognized racism and authoritarianism

yet chose comfort over courage.

Given that this President is the most powerful man on the

planet, he could close the nation’s divide, lower racial tensions,

and advance his immigration policy with less cruelty and

vengeance. But will he summon the prudence, humanity, and

moral convictions to MAGA and inclusive for all Americans?

If a president refuses to offer an apology for racist rhetoric,

a racist agenda, and does not work towards closing our divided

Nation, he deserves the title “America’s Grand Wizard.”

Without hesitation, the media, and the people of, for, and by

this government shall bestow this title.

The insult of a title is not the ultimate danger. The greater

peril is a public that sees the racist evidence accumulate and

still refuses to name what it means.

YOU BE THE JUDGE!

FEBRUARY 12 - FEBRUARY 18, 2026 • PAGE 5

The Westside Gazette, under the Management of BI-ADs, Inc., reserves

the right to publish Views and Opinions by Contributing Writers that

may not necessarily reflect those of the Staff and Management of

The Westside Gazette Newspaper and are solely the product of the

responsible individual(s) who submit comments published in this

Trump’s Fact Sheet on Cuba: Lies, Blockades,

and the Long War Against Cuban Sovereignty

By Rosemari Mealy JD,

PhD, Author, Fidel and

Malcolm X-Memories of a

Meeting

Since the triumph of the

Cuban Revolution in January

1959, the United States government

has sought, through

a wide range of covert and

overt means, to overthrow

the Cuban government.

These efforts have included

thousands of acts of sabotage

and terrorism organized and

financed by the CIA and other

anti-Cuban operatives.

The most infamous of

these covert operations was

the disastrous Bay of Pigs

(Playa Girón) invasion of

1961. The United States has

never reconciled itself to that

colossal military defeat, when

its anti-Cuban mercenaries

were killed, captured, or

fled in disarray through the

swamps of Playa Girón. For

Cuba, still in the earliest

stages of its revolution, Playa

Girón represented a decisive

victory against U.S. empire—

achieved despite the United

States’s superior weaponry,

artillery, and air support.

Other covert operations included

more than six hundred

documented attempts to assassinate

Cuba’s most beloved

leader, the late President

Fidel Castro—one of the most

respected political figures of

the twentieth century.

Most infamously and unlawfully,

for more than sixty

years, the United States

has attempted to isolate

Cuba and starve its people

into rebellion through an

economic blockade. This policy

reflects a fundamental

tenet of empire: a profound

disregard for the right to life

and self-determination of entire

populations.

On January 29, 2026,

Donald Trump reaffirmed

this legacy in yet another

executive order, released

under the title Fact Sheet:

Threats to the United States

by the Government of Cuba.

In this latest assault on Cuban

sovereignty, Trump announced

his intention to “put

America first” by declaring

a national emergency and

imposing punitive tariffs on

countries that sell or otherwise

provide oil to Cuba. The

order authorizes additional

tariffs on imports from

any country that directly

or indirectly supplies oil to

Cuba—an act of collective

punishment dressed up as

national security policy.

With the stroke of a pen,

Trump once again demonstrated

a callous disregard

for human life—both abroad

and at home. In the United

States, civil liberties are increasingly

under assault.

Armed National Guard units

patrol city streets, arrests

are carried out with impunity,

and communities

live under a de facto state

of emergency. Under the

pretext of “immigration enforcement,”

federal agents

conduct warrantless home

entries, terrorizing families

and neighborhoods. In

Minnesota, amid a heavily

militarized environment



My Truth: We have to

take this war to the polls

Georgia Fort Credit: Courtesy Don Lemon Credit: Courtesy

By Cheryl Smith

(Source: MetroNews)

Years ago, journalists visiting from Africa stopped by the

offices of The Dallas Weekly in Sunny South Dallas, and we had

a very interesting time together. Part of our discussion dealt

with press freedom and the assault on journalists, personally

and professionally.

I was shocked to hear about some of the attacks by the

government, as continuous attempts were made to silence

journalists.

The journalists said their publisher would either let them

go home early on Fridays or just tell them to take the day off,

giving them a long weekend.

Some would say, “What a nice perk.”

Actually, the employer was saving the employees from a

long and torturous weekend because, at some time on every

Friday, the law would enter the newsrooms and arrest all the

journalists, ensuring that they would spend the entire weekend

behind bars.

The journalists would be charged with some obscure,

insignificant infraction, just to detain and discourage them

from writing about the government.

Imprisonment was a useful tool for the government. Just

ask those living in Cameroon who saw Pius Njawe as a hero,

speaking of him in the same way they did Nelson Mandela.

Njawe traveled from Cameroon to spend a semester as a

guest lecturer at the University of North Texas. Pius was the

publisher of Le Messager, a newspaper in Cameroon.


Frankly Speaking

The Staple Singers told us: If you don’t

respect yourself, nobody’s gonna give a

good cahoot!

By W. Frank Wilson

As we celebrate in various ways

the 100th anniversary of what

began as Negro History week, I

urge us to dress up our minds with

knowledge with the same fervor

that we adorn our bodies with

African Attire.

During my tenure as Executive

Director of the Albany Civil Rights Institute, an ASU professor

gave an assignment to her students to take the tour report on

it but get my signature as proof of the visit.

A young man came at 3:45 to take the tour and I told him

he would need to come back because he would not be able to

complete the tour in 15 minutes.


Frederick Douglass Foundation

Named America250

Supporting Partner

By Dorian B. Francis

The Frederick Douglass Foundation (FDF)

is honored to announce its designation as

an America250 Supporting Partner as the

nation prepares to commemorate the 250th

anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of

Independence in 2026.

America250, the nonpartisan organization

charged by Congress to lead the commemoration

of the signing of the Declaration of Independence,

is working to engage Americans nationwide in meaningful

reflection, education, and civic participation leading up to the

Semiquincentennial.

Through this designation, the Frederick Douglass

Foundation will support America250’s efforts by contributing

educational programming and public engagement initiatives

that reflect the enduring legacy of Frederick Douglass and the

expansion of liberty in American history.“


Arresting the witness: Don Lemon, the

DOJ, and the chilling of press freedom

By George Cassidy Payne

When federal agents arrested journalist Don

Lemon and independent reporter Georgia Fort in

connection with a protest inside a Minneapolis-area

church, many commentators framed the incident as

a straightforward defense of sacred space. Worship

was disrupted. Congregants were frightened. Law

enforcement restored order.

That framing captures part of the truth, but it obscures the

deeper constitutional and moral stakes at play. These arrests

are not simply about a protest in a house of worship. They raise



BUSINESS

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133 N. State Road 7

Plantation, Fla. 33317

(Corner of Broward Blvd. & State Rd. 7

(954) 587-7075

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(Over 30 Years in Optics)

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FRANCINE

Your Tailor

Alterations For

Men & Women & Kids

Cell: (754) 274-8537

A: 784 NW 91st Terrace

By Audrey Peterman

Deeply Rooted

100 th Black History Month is

about Our Role in National Parks

Fort Jefferson in the distance

This month marks the 100 th Anniversary – the Centennial

Observation – of Black History Month, established in 1926

as Negro History Week by Dr Carter G. Woodson at the

building in Washington, DC that’s now a National Historic

Site. As someone who worked with many allies over the last

30 years trying to engage Americans of color with the National

Park System and experiencing limited success, it feels like the

cosmos is laughing now.

On this Centennial anniversary we might expect a soaring

celebration and increased awareness of our shared history. The

latter is happening, though not in the way we might expect:

The administration would probably prefer that the month of

commemoration did not exist. BUT its craven efforts to erase

Black history in the parks is making a lot of Black Americans

aware of them for the very first time!

I think cosmos is making it clear that WE THE PEOPLE

should be the primary keepers of our history. That we should

know it and it should live within and through us to strengthen

the bonds of citizenship.

As your National Parks conductor, I plan to take you on a tour

of National Parks across the country, from Florida to Alaska,

and show you the EXACT places where our ancestors made

the biggest difference apart from in the slave economy. One

of my all-time favorites (I’ve been to 195 of 433) Dry Tortugas

National Park, is off the southernmost coast of Florida where

the Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea meet.

Made up of seven small islands, the most prominent is

Garden Key on which the massive Fort Jefferson is situated. It

shows up as a giant golden mirage while we’re still a ways off

at sea. Taking shape as we get closer, it resolves itself into a

gigantic fort, literally straddling the small island.

This fortress was built with 16 million bricks, beginning in

1846 and at one time was the largest brick structure in the

Western Hemisphere. It was intended as a key part of America’s

coastal defense system against incursion of foreign ships.

Enslaved Africans labored to fashion the bricks that constitute

it into this formidable structure. I do not doubt that their DNA

might be found deeply embedded in the fort even after all this

time.

As we disembarked on our first visit my husband Frank

said,

“I bet Black men worked on this.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Well, it’s hot, sweaty and dangerous work. What do you

think?”

In the bookstore we bought a book that confirmed “the

enslaved people were ‘leased’ by the government from their

“owners,” whom the government paid. Work on Fort Jefferson

started in 1846. Enslaved Africans, skilled in masonry and

brickwork, were chief among the labor force. It’s a classic

example of the roots of Black disenfranchisement.

The enslaved men also tried to escape by boat. Our colleague

Stefan Moss has since pioneered The Saltwater Underground

Railroad, detailing more of the story of enslaved Africans

pioneering south, propelled by the passion for freedom.

The physical attributes of these two islands close to each

other make me feel like we’ve dropped into a paradise at the

end of the world. The island to starboard is Bush Key, so

appropriately named after the teeming masses of approximately

300 species of shorebirds lining the sands and perching in the

mangroves. There’s the male Magnificent Frigate Bird with his

bright red pouch, so we know it’s mating season. Those with

the regal white throat are the females. The sounds of all the

birds calling at the same time is like heaven.

This MOAT connects the beach and the fort, though parts

of it are currently closed to explorers. It has openings to the

seas, and marine life wafts in and out like the world’s biggest

aquarium. We can see Queen Conch slowly traversing the floor!

That parrot fish is weaving a blanket of film around itself! And

that small octopus is turning itself inside out! A fairyland and

marine wonderland combined.

There’s so much more to explore in this park. My

greatest aspiration is that African Americans and indeed

all Americans will make this 100 th Black History Month the

BREAKTHROUGH. Let’s go out and see and enjoy our National

Park System and take a stand to protect them as our ancestors

protected them for us.

(Audrey Peterman is a national award-winning

environmentalist, author and advocate for National Parks

since 1995.)

Selection Announcement -

Nicole Lovett

Submitted by Lisse Garrett

I am pleased to announce that

Nicole Lovett has been selected

as Postmaster Pompano Beach,

MPQO E, effective February 7,

2026

Starting in 1994 as a casual

employee, Ms. Lovett developed

extensive experience, spending

26 years in finance as a manager.

She returned to the USPS in 2016,

choosing a front-line position as a

City Carrier Assistant (CCA). After

returning, she quickly moved from

the CCA craft position to a 204B (acting supervisor) role, and

then into an Executive and Administrative Schedule (EAS)

management position. This transition allowed her to bridge

her previous 26 years of financial management experience with

operational, ground-level knowledge, enabling a swift rise to

higher-level management.

With the launch of Fort Lauderdale S&DC, the largest

in the country in June 2024, Nicole served as both Manager,

By staff writer

ICE is using credit card

transactions to track the

whereabouts of unsuspecting

immigrants. They are also

grabbing immigrants from

businesses that assist

immigrants and send money

from America back to their

home countries. As a result,

money needed to help families

and communities stay afloat

is not reaching its destination

because the fear of being

harassed by ICE is keeping

many people from going

to these establishments.

And times like these it is

the assistance of American

citizens such as Teeka who

almost single-handedly

keep entire communities

of our Caribbean brothers

and sisters afloat with her

compassion and philanthropy.

About a year an article was

written about Teeka helping

the Stillwells. They were a

Jamaican family who were

the victims of a home fire

caused by post hurricane

conditions. As a result of the

article Teeka was contacted

by an organization seeking

her help to assist families in

Jamaica suffering from the

impacts of hurricane Melissa

which recently ravaged


Beware ICE is everywhere

Jamaica. Teeka’s assistance

allowed them to be able

to send almost $10,000 to

Jamaica for families in need

but misinformation given to

Teeka by this organization

may have caused some

complications in her personal

situation. This article is a

public apology to Teeka and

though she helped, though

the damage inflicted was not

intentionally on anyone’s

behalf. it is hoped that the

same way the previous article

resulted in Teeka being

an angel to the needy that

this article will unlock the

spiritual realm and usher

angels to Teeka in a moment

where she needs support. On

two occasions from hundreds

of miles away she has uplifted

communities, it is hoped

that Teeka’s community

will believe in her and uplift

her in a moment where she

needs their support. There

are unseen consequences of

ICE policies on and in our

inner City communities,

we must give our love and

encouragement to those of us

who are courageous enough

to fill in the gaps in the lives

of those whose cries for mercy

in the midst of their suffering

can only be heard by God and

people like Teeka.

Changes to 401(k) Catch-Up

Contributions – Mandatory Roth

Rule for High Earners

Submitted by Anthony Brunson, P.A. Certified Public

Accountants & Business Advisors

Beginning January 1, 2026,

certain higher‐earning employees

who make catch‐up contributions to

employer‐sponsored retirement plans

(e.g., 401(k), 403(b), governmental

457(b)) must make those catch‐up

contributions on a Roth (after‐tax) basis.

This requirement comes from SECURE

2.0 Act §603 and is now fully clarified

through final IRS regulations issued in

September 2025.

What’s Changing?

• Effective January 1, 2026, employees who earned more

than $150,000 in Social Security (FICA) wages in the

prior calendar year will be required to make their catch-up

contributions to a Roth 401(k) account (after-tax basis).

• The $150,000 threshold for 2026 will be indexed

annually for inflation.

• Employees earning $150,000 or less will still have the

option to make catch-up contributions on either a pre-tax

(traditional) or Roth (after-tax) basis.

Key Details

1. Eligibility for Catch-Up Contributions

o Employees age 50 and older are eligible to make catch-up

contributions in addition to the annual IRS deferral limit.

o For 2025, the 401(k) deferral limit is $23,500, with an

additional $7,500 catch-up contribution allowed (total $31,000).

2. Mandatory Roth for High Earners

o If your prior year FICA wages reported exceeded the indexed

threshold of $150,000 your catch-up contributions must go to

a Roth 401(k).

o Traditional pre-tax catch-up contributions will no longer be

available for these employees.

o Effectively, if an employer does not offer a Roth option, these

high-earning employees cannot make catch-up contributions at

all.

3. Employer Plan Requirement

o To remain compliant, plans must now offer a Roth

contribution option.

o If a plan does not offer Roth contributions, no catch-up

contributions of any kind will be permitted.

Example

• Employee A is 55 years old and earned $180,000 in W-2

wages in 2025.


Customer Service (MCS) and acting Manager, Customer

Service Operations (MCSO), awhile also leading as the

Operational Excellence Ambassador before being promoted to

MCSO. Nicole oversees 352 routes and 12 retail windows as

the MSCO in Fort Lauderdale. In August 2024, she was invited

as a guest speaker to address supervisors across the Southern

Area as Ms. Lovett leads with purpose, inspires through

actions, strives every day to elevate performance.

Nicole holds a master’s degree in management from the

University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing her Doctorate

in Organizational Leadership. She is Yellow Belt certified and

LSS Green Belt trained. Nicole enjoys reading, dancing, and

spending time with her family.

Nicole holds a master’s degree in management from the

University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing her Doctorate

in Organizational Leadership. She is Yellow Belt certified and

LSS


CHURCH DIRECTORY

Deeply Rooted

Have Your Church Announcements Placed

In Our Church Directory


First Baptist Church Piney Grove, Inc.

4699 West Oakland Park Blvd., Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313

(954) 735-1500 - Fax (954) 735-1999

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Church Website: www.fbcpineygrove.org

Dr. Ezra Tillman, Jr. Senior Pastor

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday ..... 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM In Person Virtual

Sunday School.......9:30 AM In Person

Bible Study on Wednesday.......11:30 AM & 7:00 PM In Person & Virtual

"Winning the World for Jesus"

Harris Chapel Church, Inc.

Rev. Stanley Melek, M.Div

e-mail: harrischapelinc@gmail.com

2351 N.W. 26th Street

Oakland Park, Florida 33311

Church Telephone: (954) 731-0520

SERVICES

Sunday Worship........................10:30 AM

Church School................................................9:00 AM

Wednesday (Bible Study).........11:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Living Waters Christian Fellowship

Meeting at Central Charter School Building #5

4515 N. St. Rd. 7 (US 441)

(954) 295-6894

SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 AM

Iwcf2019@gmail.com (Church)

lerrub13@gamil.com (Pastor)

Rev. Anthony & Virgina Burrell

Jesus said, ‘‘let anyone who is thristy come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37)

Mount Hermon A.M.E. Church

Reverend Henry E. Green, III, Pastor

401 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Phone: (954) 463-6309 Fax: (954) 522-4113

Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Email info@mthermonftl.com

SUNDAY CHURCH SERVICES

Worship Service....................................9:00 AM

In person/www.mounthermonftl.or/YouTube Live/FaceBook

Church School.............................9:30 AM

BIBLE STUDY: Wednesday........................10:00 AM

Bible Study Wednesday ...............7:00 PM via Zoom

Meeting ID: 826 2716 8390 access code 55568988#

Daily Prayer Line.............................6:00 AM

(716) 427-1407 Access Code 296233#

(712) 432-1500 Access Code 296233#

New Mount Olive Baptist Church

Dr. Marcus D. Davidson, Senior Pastor

400 N.W. 9th Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

Office (954) 463-5126 - Fax: (954) 525-9454

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Monday- Thursday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

WORSHIP SERVICES & BIBLE STUDY

Sunday Services: In Person

8:00 AM and 10:45 AM

Virtual..................9:00 AM

Sunday School....................9:30 AM

Wednesday Encountering Truth

Noonday Bible Study...........12:00 PM to 12:30 PM

Where the Kingdom of God is Increased through:

Fellowship, Ledership, Ownership and Worship

As we F.L.O.W. To Greatness!

Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Danny L. McKenzie, Sr., Senior Pastor

2251 N.W. 22nd St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

P.O. Box 122256, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Church: (954) 733-3285 - Office: (954) 733-3606

Email: mountnebobaptist@bellsouth.net

Website: www.mountnebaptist.org

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

Sunday School ..........................8:30 A.M.

Sunday Worship ....................10:00 A.M.

Tuesday Night Bible Study..............7:00 P.M.

"A Great Place To Worship"

Celebrating 100 Years of Blessing!! 1925-2025

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. James B. Darling, Jr., Pastor/Teacher

1161 NW 29th Terrace; Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311


(954) 581-0455 - (FAX) 581-4350

mzbc2011@gmail.com - www.mtzionmbc1161.com

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS

Tuesday - Friday 11:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.

WORSHIP SERVICES

Sunday Worship...................................................10:15 A.M.

Communion Service (1st Sunday) .........................10:15 A.M.

2nd & 4th Tuesday Night Prayer Workshop/Bible Study................7:00 P.M

Wednesday Night Prayer Service.......................6:30 P.M.

Wednesday Night Church School ............7:00 P.M.

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength"

New Birth Baptist Church

Catheral of Faith International

Bishop Victor T. Curry, M. Min., D. Div. Senior Pastor/Teacher

ORDER OF SERVICES

Sunday Worship.............................9:30 AM

Sunday School ..............................8:30 AM

Tuesday Bible Study...................7:00 PM

Wednsday Bible Study..................10:30 AM

(305) 685-3700 (0) * (305) 685-0705 (f)

www.nbbcmiami.org

St. Ruth Missionsary Baptist Church

145 NW 5th Avenue

Dania Beach, FL 33004

(954) 922-2529

WORSHIP SERVICES

Wednesday (NOON DAY PRAYER.......................12- 1 PM

Sunday Worship Service ...................................10:00 AM

Website: www.struthmbc.org

"Celebrating 115 Years of Service"

Victory Baptist Church Independent

Pastor Keith Cunningham

2241 Davie Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312

Church: (954) 284-9413

Sunday School .................................................9:45 AM

Worship Service Sunday Morning..................................11:00 AM

Sunday Evening Service.........................................6:00 PM

Bible Study...................................................7:30 PM

Wednesday Evening Bible Study & Prayer ........................7:00 PM

Saturday Morning Soul Winning/Visitation..............10:00 AM

Men’s Fellowship (Every 2nd & last Tuesdays)................6:00 PM

Ladies Fellowship (the last Saturday of each month)..........................5:00 PM

Youth Fellowship (Every Friday)...............6:30 PM

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Bible Trivia

‘Test Your Bible Knowledge'

This month’s Trivia is dedicated to Black History Month. Scripture

is full of our African Heritage. Ethiopia or Cush is mentioned

over 45 times. Scripture starts out talking about the Garden of

Eden. The Garden Of Eden is in Africa. Several Biblical Prophets

are from African heritage.

Can you name the individual?

1) What man was created from the black soil in Africa?

2) What Prophet’s hand turned leprous as snow?

3) What Prophet boldly proclaimed that he is black and beautiful?

4) What Apostle was mistaken as an Egyptian?

5) What Prophet was the son of Cushi?

6) What Prophet married a Cushite woman?

7) What Prophet said,’ can an Ethiopian changed his skin?

Answers – 1) Adam- Genesis 2:9; 2) Moses- Exodus 4:6; 3)

Solomon Songs of Solomon 1:5-6; 4) Paul-Acts 21:38; 5) Zephaniah;

6) Moses; 7 – Jeremiah- Jeremiah 13:23

Carter G. Woodson,

Father of Black History

By Al Calloway

Dr. Carter G. Woodson’s creation of Negro [Black] History

Week in February 1926, became celebrated with parades,

banquets, speeches and exhibits across Black America. In 1970,

the Black students and educators at Kent State University

in Ohio promoted the occasion to celebrate the whole month

of February. Since 1976, U. S. presidents have designated

February as Black History Month.

In 1912, Woodson earned his PhD in history at Harvard

University, becoming the second Black, after W. E.B. DuBois

to do so. At the University of Chicago, where Woodson was

awarded two degrees in 1908, he became a member of the first

Black professional fraternity Sigma Pi Phi and Omega Psi Phi.

Through deep study and research, Woodson accumulated

overwhelming evidence that the role of Black people in American

history and world history was being ignored and manipulated

by white scholars. Along with a handful of other Black

scholars, he founded the “Association for the Study of Negro

Life and History” on September 9, 1915, in Chicago, Illinois.

The national organization is now named the “Association for

the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

It is not surprising that Woodson was the son of former

slaves. He was born on December 19, 1875 in New Canton,

Virginia. During the Civil War, Cont'd on Page 8


Congresswoman Enters

Not Guilty Plea in Federal Case

Deeply Rooted


Obituaries

Death and Funeral Notices

VIEW OBITUARIES ONLINE


Announcements:

*In Memoriam *Death Notices *Happy Birthdays

*Card of Thanks *Remembrances

(954) 525-1489

Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a South Florida

congresswoman, has entered a not guilty plea in a federal case

involving an alleged $5 million overpayment of COVID-19

disaster funds to a healthcare company operated by members

of her family.

A defense attorney entered the plea on her behalf during

a February 3 hearing in Miami federal court. Cherfilus-

McCormick was not present, citing congressional duties in

Washington, D.C., where she was voting on legislation to avert

a government shutdown.

Federal prosecutors allege the funds were mistakenly

overpaid to Trinity Health Care Services, a Miramar-based

company, and were not

immediately returned.

Cherfilus-McCormick and

her brother, Edwin Cherfilus,

were charged in a 15-count

indictment that was unsealed

in November. Both have

denied wrongdoing.

The case is scheduled

to move forward with an

arraignment on April 20 before Darrin Gayles.

Separately, Trinity Health Care Services has agreed to

repay the $5 million through a civil settlement with the state

of Florida. In addition, the House Ethics Committee has cited

“substantial reason to believe” the congresswoman may have

violated campaign finance and ethics rules. A hearing related

to that inquiry is set for March 5.

Cherfilus-McCormick has said she is innocent and remains

focused on representing her constituents.

Legal Notice

All charges are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent

unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

David R. Griffith – 59 Funeral

Service was held February 6

at James C. Boyd’s Memorial

Chapel with Bishop Tony D.

Mitchell officiating.

Glenn Franklin Mayhue

Funeral Service was held

February 7 th at McWhite’s

Funeral Home.

FL voters sue to block DeSantis’ mid-decade

congressional redistricting from Front Page

Article II, Section 3 of the

Florida Constitution, as well.

The plaintiffs are asking

the justices to declare the

proclamation void and the

Secretary of State’s directive

invalid.

“By using a proclamation to

declare 2026 an apportionment

year, Governor DeSantis

exceeded his constitutional

authority by usurping a core

legislative responsibility in

service of his desire to enact a

mid-decade gerrymander. The

Florida Constitution is clear,

the legislature is the branch of

government that is responsible

for redistricting,” said Marina

Jenkins, executive director

of the National Redistricting

Foundation, in a written

statement.

“In order to protect the

rights of Florida voters, the

court must strike down this

woeful and blatant disregard

for the state’s constitutional

guardrails. This is a

straightforward case, and we

are confident that justice will

prevail.”

The National Redistricting

Foundation is the legal arm

of the National Democratic

Redistricting Committee, led

by former Attorney General

Eric Holder. The group has

filed similar lawsuits on

behalf of voters against red

states that have engaged in

mid-decade congressional

redistricting over the past

year.

Congressional redistricting

is generally a decennial

process following the U.S.

Census, when states redraw

legislative and congressional

district boundaries to account

for population changes and

ensure equal representation.

However, that has been

upended after President

Donald Trump, concerned

the GOP-controlled House

could flip in the 2026

midterm elections, told Texas

Republicans in July to redraw

their maps.

Both red and blue states

have followed suit, in a fight

to gain partisan advantage

in the U.S. House of

Representatives.

However, DeSantis insists

that’s not why he wants to

redistrict. Mindful that the

Florida Constitution bans linedrawing

that intentionally

favors or disfavors a political

party or incumbent, the

governor said in December

that the state will “be forced

to do” it because the pending

Supreme Court’s Voting

Rights Act decision is “going

to impact the current map.”

The Court heard oral

arguments in October in a case

out of Louisiana that could

CARTER G. WOODSON CONT'D FROM PAGE 7

Woodson’s illiterate father escaped his “owner” and became a scout for the Union army, leading

them to raid Confederate armaments and supplies. After the war and “freedom” for Blacks, the

Woodsons settled in rural West Virginia and eked out a living on a small farm they bought.

Woodson did not attend school full-time until 1895 when he was twenty years old. He got a

diploma in 1897. Back then, if you finished high school you were qualified to teach, which

Woodson did in Winona, West Virginia. Moving fast through total absorption, Woodson got to

Berea college in Kentucky and in two years, from 1901 to 1903 earned a Bachelor’s degree in

literature and went to the Philippines as a school supervisor until 1907.

Although one of nine children himself, Carter G. Woodson never married and had no children.

Woodson was totally consumed by research, writing, publishing and organizing. His numerous

scholarly papers, articles and books are a testament to a life purposely lived. The scholarly

“Journal of Negro History,” founded in 1916, is still published today by ASALH. Since 2002

the journal has been published as the “Journal of African American History.” According to the

titles and publishing dates,

Woodson wrote and published

20 books. The more famous

two books are the “Negro in

our History,” 1922, and the

“Mis-Education of the Negro,”

1933.

After

Harvard,

Washington, D. C. and Howard

University became Woodson’s

base as a professor and as

Dean of the College of the

College of Arts and Science.

Unfortunately, hard at work

in his home office in the Shaw

neighborhood of Washington,

D. C., Woodson died from a

sudden heart attack. He was

74 years old. There are many

visitors to his burial site at

Lincoln Memorial Cemetery

in Suitland, Maryland.

lead to sweeping changes in

longstanding rules requiring

mapmakers to ensure that

racial minorities get a chance

to comprise an electoral

majority or plurality in some

areas. The court is using the

case to determine whether

Section 2 of the Voting Rights

Act remains constitutional.

The section prohibits voting

laws or procedures that deny

or abridge voting rights due

to a person’s “race or color”

or membership in a language

minority.

In July, the governor said

it was “appropriate” for the

state to conduct a mid-decade

congressional redistricting

because he contends Florida

unfairly lost a seat to which

it was entitled in the 2020

U.S. Census. He followed up

on that in August, saying he

and Attorney General James

Uthmeier supported an

update to the 2020 Census.

However, there will be no

new demographic numbers

coming from the U.S. Census

Bureau before the special

legislative session, scheduled

for April 20-24.

Florida Republicans fill 20

of the state’s 28 congressional

seats.

Eloise Nelson – 90 Funeral

Service was held February

7 th at James C. Boyd’s Memorial

Chapel with Bishop

Tony D. Mitchell officiating.

Diana Telfort – 71.

McWhite’s Funeral Home

Vincent Keith Greene – 56

Funeral Service was held

February 5 th at Sunset Memorial

Gardens.

ApostleKurt Pughsley Funeral


7 th McWhite’s Funeral Home.

Jumoke K. Young Funeral


7 th at Ascension Peace Presbyterian

Church.

Roy Mizell & Kurtz Funeral Home

First Lady Mayetta McDuffie

– 75 Funeral Service was

held February 7 th at Faith

Truth & Deliverance Church

of God By Faith with pastor

Cleveland E. Roberts officiating.


AmeriKKKa’s Moral Heart Failure

Deeply Rooted

Ben Crump Brings the

Courtroom to Crime Fiction

in “Worse than a Lie”

By Stacy M. Brown


Christopher A. McCroy is a North Omaha native and

Executive Director of 100 Black Men of Omaha, Inc.,

committed to youth mentorship and community empowerment.

A national speaker on mentoring and violence

prevention, he is an ordained minister, Omega Psi

Phi member, and a graduate of Morehouse College and

UCLA.

By Christopher A. McCroy

As we place our spiritual

stethoscope to the heart of

these so-called United States

of America, what we hear

is not a steady, life-giving

rhythm, but an irregular,

labored pulse that signals

deep distress. The heart of

America, once aspirationally

committed to liberty and

justice for all, appears today

to be in critical condition.

The symptoms are evident in

blatant acts of racism, public

disrespect, and an alarming

disregard for human dignity

and decency; acts that are

no longer whispered at the

margins but boldly displayed

in the public square.

Consider the reported

uninviting of Governor

Wes Moore from a White

House bipartisan governors’

dinner, a gathering intended

to symbolize unity, shared

responsibility, and mutual

respect across party lines.

In a nation that has elected

only four Black governors in

its entire history, Governor

Moore’s position is not

merely personal or political,

it is profoundly symbolic.

It sends a troubling signal

about whose leadership is

affirmed, whose presence is

welcomed, and whose dignity

is deemed expendable. When

such disrespect occurs at the

highest levels of our civic life,

it exposes a deeper sickness

within the nation’s moral core.

This same condition is visible

in cultural arenas that shape

hearts and minds, such as the

Super Bowl, one of the most

unifying events in American

life. The decision by Turning

Point USA to host a separate

“halftime” performance

highlighting artists notorious

for divisive, racist, sexist,

and inflammatory rhetoric

stands in stark contrast

to the spirit of unity the

moment calls for. That this

was framed as a counterpoint

to a Latin artist, whose

platform has consistently

emphasized love, joy, cultural

pride, and acceptance,

reveals a deliberate posture

of opposition rather than

inclusion. It is not merely a

difference in musical taste; it

is a statement about whose

culture is celebrated and

whose is resented.

Together, these moments

function like diagnostic

tests, confirming what many

already sense: our nation

is experiencing moral heart

failure. We find ourselves at

the epicenter of a social climate

marked by separatism instead

of solidarity, violence instead

of compassion, and dishonesty

instead of truth. Daily, the

very fabric of our democracy

is publicly stretched, strained,

and threatened like never

before. Driven by falsehoods,

attacks are launched on the

very ideals we claim to hold

dear as a Christian Nation.

If we are honest, we see

that the veins and arteries

connected to the heart of

our nation are dangerously



Fall in Love This Valentine’s Day: Broward

County Animal Care Brings Back “Plenty of

Pets” Adoption Promotion

BROWARD COUNTY, FL

-- Just in time for Valentine’s

Day, Broward County Animal

Care, the County’s official pet

adoption and animal welfare

agency, is bringing back its

popular Plenty of Pets adoption

promotion to help shelter pets

find loving, lifelong homes.

From Monday, February 9

through Sunday, February 15,

adoption fees will be waived

for all available pets. A $25 pet

registration fee still applies.

Every adopter during the promotional period will receive a

raffle entry to win one of three Valentine’s-themed gift baskets.

Pets adopted between February 13 and February 15 will also

go home with a special Valentine’s gift bag. More information

is available online. (Hyperlink to Broward.org/Animal)

“Valentine’s Day is about love, and our shelter pets are ready

to give unconditional love,” said Doug Brightwell, Broward

County Animal Care Director. “Every adoption changes two

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Famed civil rights attorney

Ben Crump is expanding

his body of work beyond the

courtroom with the release of

his debut fiction novel, “Worse

than a Lie,” set for February

17, 2026. The book launches a

new legal thriller series built

around the character Beau Lee

Cooper, a lawyer drawn into a

case that begins with a violent

traffic stop and spirals into a fight over truth, power, and

freedom inside the criminal legal system.

“What trial lawyers do on a regular basis is we tell engaging

stories to juries, and in my case, juries all across America,”

Crump said. “And so oftentimes, I find myself taking notes

when I see things or observe different cases to tell the next

story.”

The novel opens on the night of November 4, 2008, as the

country celebrates the election of its first Black president. At

the same time, Hollis Montrose, a 53-year-old Black former

police officer from suburban Chicago, is shot ten times during

a traffic stop by four white men who once could have been his

colleagues. Montrose survives, but the system closes ranks. He

is arrested, charged, and handed a wrongful prison sentence

with bail set far beyond reach.

Crump’s central character, Beau Lee Cooper, is shaped by

an early sense of purpose.

Raised in Texas during



LEGAL NOTICES

IN THE CIRCUIT

COURT FOR THE

SEVENTEENTH

JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,

IN AND FOR BOWARD

COUNTY, FLORIDA

CASE NO: 26-0001415

DIVISION: 41-98

GRACIELA STREICH, Petitioner

and

BILAL AHMAD SHAH, Respondent Respondent,

NOTICE OF ACTION FOR

DISSOLUTION OF

MARRIAGE

(NO CHILD OR

FINANCIAL SUPPORT)

TO: {name of Respondent} BILAL AHMAD

SHAH {Respondent last known address}

UNKNOWN

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CIELA STREICH, whose address is 8781

Holly Ct. Apt. 203, Tamarac, FL 3321 on or

before March 12, 2026 and file the original

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FL 33301before service on Petitioner or

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The action is asking the court to decide

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name of the county in Florida where the property

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Family Law Form 12.915.) Future papers in

this lawsuit will be mailed to the address on

record at the clerk’s office.

WARNING: Rule 12.285, Florida Family

Law Rules of Procedure, requires certain

automatic disclosure of documents and information.

Failure to comply can result in

sanctions, including dismissal or striking of

pleadings.

Dated January 26, 2026

Brenda D. Forman

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Bjan Craig, Deputy Clerk

February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 2026

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SPORTS

Nunnie on the Sideline

By Nunnie Robinson,

WG Sports Editor

My lack of pregame enthusiasm for

Super Bowl LX proved well founded,

as the outcome merely confirmed

Seattle’s clear superiority over a flawed

Patriots team. The final 29–13 score was

deceptively close, especially for anyone

who didn’t watch live. In truth, the game

was never in doubt.

Seattle jumped out to a commanding

12–0 lead behind four consecutive field

goals by placekicker Jason Myers, who finished with a Super

Bowl–record five. Two factors prevented a rout: the Seahawks’

inability to finish drives with touchdowns, and New England’s

disciplined, aggressive defense, led by cornerback Christian

Gonzalez, whose stellar coverage erased multiple scoring

opportunities.

Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III rushed for well over

100 yards, running with grit, patience, and purpose. While

quarterback play on both sides lacked fireworks, Seahawks

quarterback Sam Darnold was calm, calculated, and occasionally

daring. The former Minnesota Vikings free agent who led the

Vikings to 14 wins in 2024 played intelligent, turnover-free

football, guiding Seattle to its second Super Bowl title.

Darnold’s journey is one of redemption. A former first-round

pick out of USC, his early years with the New York Jets

were marked by inconsistency and limited success. He later

resurfaced as a backup in San Francisco before finally finding

stability in Minnesota. When the Vikings chose to move on,

placing their future in the hands of J.J. McCarthy, Seattle took

a chance on Darnold and reaped the rewards in Super Bowl LX.

Darnold embodies the traits coaches value most: discipline,

commitment, selflessness, and leadership. Most notably,

he played mistake-free football throughout the playoffs no

turnovers an astonishing contrast to the regular season, when

he led the league with 20.

Predictably, analysts wasted no time criticizing Patriots

quarterback Mark Maye, despite the fact that, in just his

second season, he led New England to the Super Bowl. (If only

we were so fortunate in Miami.) Much of Maye’s struggles

should be placed at the feet of head coach Mike Vrabel and

offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Both were fully aware

of the Patriots’ vulnerable left side of the offensive line, yet

made no meaningful adjustments such as adding tight-end

protection to counter Seattle’s relentless pass rush and safety

blitzes, known as the “Dark Side Defense.”

Quarterbacks improve when teams improve. Even Tom Brady

the so-called GOAT would have wilted under that Seahawk

siege. Maye, for all his struggles, is a far superior athlete.

Looking ahead, Baltimore and Buffalo appear to be early

favorites in the AFC, while Philadelphia, Chicago, San

Francisco, and Green Bay loom as challengers to Seattle’s NFC

supremacy.

Broward’s Gym Rental Probe from FP

beyond the school day. Coaches, boosters, community partners,

and parents often work together to host events that bring

activity — and sometimes revenue — onto campuses. If the

rules governing those uses were unclear, inconsistently applied,

or loosely enforced over time, that is a management issue as

much as an individual one.

And when consequences fall swiftly on a handful of employees

before the public understands the scope of the review, it can

look less like policy enforcement and more like selective

enforcement — even if that is not the district’s intent.

That perception matters.

A broader fairness lens

In February 2026, reporting by the South Florida Sun

Sentinel described an audit finding that certain senior

administrators received bonuses of up to $14,000 annually

from proceeds of a 2022 referendum widely promoted to

voters as a measure to improve teacher pay. The audit further

reported that roughly $300,000 in such payments went to toplevel

employees in 2024, and that key details about the bonus

distribution were not clearly presented to the School Board or

the public. Some board members were quoted as saying they

never intended to approve those payouts.

Those facts, as reported, involve substantially larger sums and

far higher-ranking officials than the coaches currently under

investigation.

This is not to equate the situations. It is to ask a consistency

to question the public has a right to ask: How does the district

calibrate accountability?

When alleged policy violations by coaches involving

comparatively small amounts trigger swift employment

consequences and a widening probe, while audit findings about

senior compensation tied to voter-approved funds prompt

debate and calls for reform, the contrast invites scrutiny.

Will there be investigations of similar depth? Employment

consequences? Referrals to law enforcement? Or does

accountability operate differently depending on where one sits

in the organizational chart?

Again, these are not accusations. They are fair questions.

What transparency would look like

The district has every right — and obligation — to enforce

its policies. But it also has a responsibility to show that

enforcement is consistent across sports, campuses, and ranks.

Right now, the public does not know:

• How many schools and sports programs are under review,

• What criteria expanded the probe beyond the initial incident,

• Whether districtwide audits of facility use are underway,

and

• How accountability standards are applied to administrators

versus coaches.

Answering those questions would not compromise the

investigation. It would strengthen trust in it.

Until then, the appearance of uneven scrutiny will continue

to concern many in the community — not because conclusions

have been reached, but because answers have not.

Fairness is not only about outcomes. It is about process,

visibility, and consistency.

Deeply Rooted

Basketball’s original Black

pioneer, Bucky Lew, deserves

Hall of Fame induction

By Chris Boucher, Special to the AmNews

(Source: Amsterda News)

Sunday’s NBA Pioneers

Classic, held on Sunday at

the TD Garden in Boston,

featuring the Celtics and

Milwaukee Bucks, was a

bittersweet reminder that

basketball was actually

open to Black players

several generations before

the NBA undid its ban. And

the man who achieved that

landmark, “The Original,”

Harry Haskell “Bucky” Lew,

born on January 4, 1884

in Lowell, Massachusetts,

integrated both college and

pro basketball by 1903!

Credit: Lowell Sun Archives

The Pioneers Classic

honored the 75th anniversary of Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel

“Sweetwater” Clifton and Earl Lloyd breaking the NBA’s

color barrier in 1950. The event was a deserving reminder of

the historical significance of the aforementioned trio, each a

member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame,

located in Springfield, Massachusetts, Lew’s home state. Still,

Lew has not made it there with them. It’s time he receives

his rightful induction.

It is fairly well known in basketball circles that Lew integrated

the professional ranks when he joined a Lowell team in the

New England League back in 1902. Lew took the floor with the

Pawtucketville Athletic Club in November of that year, making

history.

What is not as widely known is that he also integrated college

basketball the following year! Lew coached the Lowell Textile

School team in 1903. The name of the school may not be

familiar, but it still exists today, known as the University of

Massachusetts Lowell and competing at the Division 1 level.

It wasn’t until I started researching my second book on Lew

that I learned of Lew’s second stunning accomplishment. One

easily-missed line in a February 10 rundown of the school’s

prospects for the upcoming season, as the Lowell Daily

Courier revealed that: “The coach of the team is Harry H. Lew

of the P.A.C.”

A Black man coaching the sons of New England’s elite was

a remarkable turn of events. Lew’s opening came because

just moved into the newly

constructed Southwick Hall,

a yellow brick building whose

uppermost floor with high

ceilings was designed for

basketball. (Now home to

the robotics lab, parts of the

markings for the circles at

center court and the top of the

key are still visible today.)

Coaching a college team in

1903 put Lew well ahead of

his time. Most YMCAs in

the country were segregated

and the few Ys available to

Black athletes did not have

appropriate facilities for

basketball. And the AAU,

which had taken control of

the game from the YMCA

when it grew too big for the

Y to handle, barred Black

participation.

The timing is significant

because it means Lew

integrated the game before

several better-known pioneers

and Hall of Famers had even

seen it! “The Grandfather

of Black Basketball,” Edwin

Henderson, and the “The

Father of Black Basketball,”

Robert “Bob” Douglas, would

only be introduced to it in the

years that followed.

Henderson first learned

the game at Harvard in

1904. He brought it back

to Washington, D.C.’s

segregated school system after

earning his degree, where he

organized the Public School

Athletic League in 1905 and

the Inter-Scholastic Athletic

Association of Middle-Atlantic

States in 1906 to ensure Black

participation in sports.

Douglas first saw basketball in

1905 when he witnessed men

playing the game in a New

York City park. He later set

up professional Black teams

in the 1910s and founded the

famous Renaissance squad in

the 1920s. Of course, the New

York Rens would remain one

of pro basketball’s dominant

teams up to the start of the

NBA. (When they were denied

admission.)

So how could Lew pull off

playing pro and coaching

college at the same time?

Because coaching in those days

wasn’t as time intensive as it

is today. Lew wasn’t running

up and down the sidelines like

he was playing on the college



AFRICANA ARTS & HUMANITIES FESTIVAL

Powered by Broward County Library's African American Research Library and Cultural Center

250 Years of Black Life

& Culture

MAR 27-28

2026

African American Research

Libraryand Cultural Center

2650 Sistrunk Boulevard,

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311


And then there were three:

The concerning decline of

Black NFL head coaches

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and Elizabeth, New

Jersey, native Todd Bowles is one of only three Black

head coaches in the NFL Credit: AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Photo/Peter Joneleit)

By Jamie C. Harris

(Source: Amsterdam News)

“The equality in political, industrial, and social life which

modern men must have in order to live, is not to be confounded

with sameness. On the contrary, in our case, it is rather

insistence upon the right of diversity…human equality does

not even entail…absolute equality of opportunity…but there is

more and more clearly recognized minimum of opportunity….”

So wrote W.E.B. Du Bois in his seminal work “The Soul of

Black Folk,” published in 1903. One of the most effectuating

figures in the history of this country, Du Bois was a leading

intellectual of his time, a social scientist, civil rights activist,

and the first Black man to earn a Ph.D from Harvard University.

His words to open this piece aptly applies, 123 after he penned

them, to the current state of the National Football League.

The NFL, the most popular sport in the United States, began

this season with six Black head coaches of its 32 franchises. It

is now down to three, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Todd Bowles,

the Houston Texans DeMeco Ryans and the New York Jets’

Aaron Glenn. There was a league all-time high of 10 head

coaching openings during this current hiring cycle. No Black

man filled any of the vacancies. The Las Vegas Raiders are the

only team with an availability that has yet to officially name

its new head coach but it has been widely reported that Klint

Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks,

who will be facing the New England Patriots in the Super

Bowl this Sunday (6:30 p.m.) at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara,

California, is a lock for the job.

It can be logically construed that the social construct of

structural racism is at the root of NFL franchise owners

overwhelmingly favoring white coaches over Black coaches.


Dr. Karsonya

(Kaye) Wise Whitehead

President, Association for the Study of

African American Life and History (ASALH)

Bryan Carter

Grammy and Tony Award-winning

drummer, vocalist, composer,

arranger & orchestrator

La Vie

Singer

Randal Maurice Jelks

Award-Winning Author:

My America: Langston Hughes

on Democracy

FEATURED SPEAKERS & AUTHORS

For more information, contact

aarlcc@broward.org or 954-357-6224

A Service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners

Dr. Kellie Carter-Jackson

Historian & Author of We Refuse

The Westside Gazette

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