“CITIZENS OF THE BLACK
COMMUNITY” IN WILMINGTON
BLAST COUNTY GOP & DEMS
AFTER BLACK SUPT. FIRED
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
A citizens group representing New Hanover County’s Black community has issued an open letter about the July 3rd firing of the public school system’s first Black superintendent.
The group, “Citizens of the Black Community,” (CBC) issued the letter in response to statements from both the New Hanover County Republican and Democratic Parties about the July 3rd abrupt firing of Dr. Charles Foust.
Foust, said to be a Democrat, had long been at odds with the conservative-leaning New Hanover County School Board since his hiring in 2020.
Upon his termination, the NHC Republican Party Chairman Nevin Carr III stated, in part, “…[W]e are thrilled that he will no longer be running our school system. This is a pivotal moment in changing the culture and priorities in how our kids will be educated.”
The NHC GOP statement then goes on to make allegations about the “priorities of radical Democrats running school systems…,” including “...flags representing radical gender ideologies replacing the American flag…kids being taught to be racist, that your skin color defines you as an oppressor, or oppressed…and the teaching of history and the love of country being replaced with hateful leftist propaganda.”
The NHC GOP statement even criticizes Covid pandemic safety precautions as “ridiculous policies.”
The statement never specifically accuses Dr. Foust, a Sedalia native, with instituting any of the above.
The NHC GOP statement, after applauding the election of Republicans to the majority on the NHC School Board during the 2022 election cycle, then congratulates four of them for “bringing the motion” to fire Foust.
According to the open letter by “Citizens of the Black Community,” the NHC Democratic Party agreed with the Foust firing, but found “… fault in the Republican Party’s angle of partisan politics.”
“Our community sees a lot of similarities from both parties as it relates to the Black citizens of Wilmington. The only difference is that the Republican Party does not try to engage the Black community based on their past racist behavior towards Black people, and the Democratic Party does not do enough to truly engage Black people, displaying a form of entitlement where Black people are forever indebted to the party,” the CBC wrote.
“This letter serves as the official notice to both parties and any other supporters of regressive ideologies and limited behaviors toward our community: we will not go back in time to a place where we were not considered humans,” the CBC continued. “Our ancestors fought for the progress that we have today, but it feels as if we are losing our grip because of complacency. We have been lulled into a state of mental and emotional disarming by the appearance of progression, but that progression is conditional. It’s hard to believe the calculated and malicious efforts being brought forth by your parties when we can witness so much evidence of progress.”
The CBC open letter to Republicans and Democrats ends, “We have participated in and continue to participate in every aspect of this community and expect to be treated as such. We will no longer tolerate your blatant racist disrespect towards us and our children. We will no longer tolerate the downplaying of our mental capacity as it relates to leadership and productivity in this community as a whole.”
The CBC open letter is signed by EB Davis, Rev. Kojo Nantambu, and Derrick Anderson.
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CAN A HARRIS-COOPER
DEMOCRATIC TICKET WIN
IN NOVEMBER?
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Now that President Joe Biden has announced that he will not seek reelection, and has endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, to be the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee in November, who does one former DNC chairman think should be her running mate?
“… [I] would hope Roy Cooper, who is the former governor or the governor of North Carolina, who’s not running again. I think it will be actually easier for us to win North Carolina,” former Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean told CNN last week. “So, I would favor a Harris/Cooper ticket, and I think we would pick up North Carolina as a result.”
Dean, also a former presidential candidate, was among the party elders and donors who reportedly were urging the 81-year-old Biden to step off the campaign trail in the wake of his disastrous debate performance in June against Republican rival, former Pres. Donald Trump.
In an historic move Sunday, Pres. Biden announced in a letter posted on “X” that he would end his campaign for re-election.
“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” Biden wrote. “And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”
Later, Biden also announced that he was endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President,” he wrote. “And it’s been the best decision I’ve made. Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”
It wasn’t long before prominent Democrats across the country like Bill and Hillary Clinton and the Congressional Black Caucus, joined in to also endorse Harris.
Political observers, like NCCU Law Professor Irving Joyner, commended Pres. Biden for his service, and for endorsing Harris for president.
“President Biden placed her by his side in every critical moment of his Presidency and provided her with active high-level training that expanded and demonstrated her leadership capabilities and qualities,” Prof. Joyner said. “As a result, Vice President Harris has earned the respect of many national and international political leaders. Many members of her political party and other US citizens have also been able to determine that she is more than capable of stepping up to become the next President of this country. When called upon, the Vice President “stepped up” to the challenges presented to her and is now ready to “step out” to become the next leader of this nation.”
Here in North Carolina, the NC Democratic Party chimed in with its support for Harris.
“Our DNC Delegation is thrilled to announce that we unanimously endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to be the next President of the United States,” stated the NCDP in a statement Sunday afternoon. “This November it’ll be a prosecutor going up against a felon. It will be experience going up against extremism. We know that with the infrastructure and the organizing powerhouse we have spent years building, North Carolina will send VP Harris to the Oval Office.”
Republicans, however cued in with the same talking point.
"If Biden can’t run, he can’t serve,” said Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, gubernatorial candidate, in a statement.”Democrats who like to talk about 'protecting democracy' are throwing out the will of their voters because of bad polling. But make no mistake, whether it is Biden or Harris, the horrible policies are the same: Open borders, rampant inflation, and rising crime. While the Democrat party is imploding, Republicans in North Carolina and across the nation are united behind President Trump to deliver for the American people to make our communities safer, life more affordable, and create opportunities for everyone."
With the Democratic National Convention scheduled for Chicago’s United Center from August 19 through the 22nd, the party is now trying to decide whether it will formally nominate Harris, or hold an “open” convention, where delegates decide who their nominees for president and vice president should be.
Right now, according to published reports, Vice President Harris is garnering strong party support to succeed Biden as the party nominee. Only West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a former Democrat, has indicated that he is rejoining the party just to challenge Harris.
But the vice president’s supporters say Democrats would be wise to get behind Harris, who, if elected, would become the first Black woman, and first Asian American woman ever to lead the presidential ticket of a major American political party.
They also say Kamala Harris will be the perfect opponent against Donald Trump in November.
“Look, if you’re running against a convicted felon, then a prosecutor like Kamala is really a good person to make that case,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D - MA) told MSNBC last Saturday, noting that the VP and former California state attorney general is “ready to serve.”
Before Biden’s stunning announcement Sunday that he was ending his reelection campaign, he was trailing Trump by an average of at least three points in most national polls. Harris polled slightly better, but still behind Trump.
Observers say that could all change once she secures the Democratic nomination.
But then, who would best fill the vice presidential nominee slot under Harris?
According to Newsweek Magazine, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a former state attorney general himself, would help deliver a key battleground state for Democrats, according to polling. But he’s only been in office for two years, and is seen as building his own record toward a national run for the White House one day.
Others have cited Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to notch another critical battleground state.Trump is reportedly pulling ahead considerably in that battleground state.
But political experts seem to agree that with North Carolina and its 16 Electoral College votes on the line, outgoing Gov. Roy Cooper, who is term limited to just two terms and is leaving office at the end of the year, would be a good fit.
Cooper, also a former state attorney general who is close to Harris, was first elected NC governor in 2016, and then reelected in 2020. In both cases, Cooper, a moderate Democrat, won when other Democrats could not, as Republicans won the state for the White House and Congress.
Barack Obama was the last Democrat to win North Carolina in 2008.
VP Harris, who has been greeted by Cooper the multiple times she’s campaigned here since the start of the year, has said of Cooper, "I've known him for almost two decades, and he is an extraordinary leader."
Cooper’s “down-home” Eastern North Carolina appeal to conservative/moderate voters is seen as a good counterbalance to Trump’s vice presidential running mate, Ohio Sen. J. D. Vance, author of the bestseller, “Hillbilly Elegy," and could help win the state.
"Roy Cooper can fit the bill too as a popular governor of a swing state," Michael Gordon, a Democratic strategist and principal at Group Gordon, told Newsweek Magazine. "He is a safe choice but may not be as inspiring nationally as Shapiro."
At press time, Gov. Cooper was reportedly on the VP short list. He has also endorsed VP Harris for president.
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ST. AUG’S U REPORTS
DECISION REVERSED TO
STRIP ACCREDITATION
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Embattled St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh will have its doors open for the the coming fall semester, thanks to a reversal by the arbitration committee of The Southern Association of Colleges an Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to reinstate the private, small HBCU of its accreditation membership.
SAU may still be in business, but it’s not out of the woods yet per its pressing problems. The school is still at least $10 million in debt to the federal government, owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to vendors, and is facing several lawsuits from former employees.
Still, regaining accreditation was seen as a. important victory.
"The SACSCOC arbitration committee’s decision serves as a pivotal moment for SAU’s redemption and renewal," said Brian Boulware, chairman of the SAU Board of Trustees. "The unanimous reversal by the arbitration committee rightfully corrects the injustice inflicted upon SAU by SACSCOC’s initial ruling and underscores the university’s steadfast commitment to excellence and growth."
It was December 2023 when SACSCOC stripped SAU of its accreditation and placed the school on probation. In February, an Appeals Committee rejected SAU’s request for a reversal, leaving the school on probation until this week.
“This reinstatement acknowledges SAU’s relentless dedication to upholding academic standards and ensuring a thriving educational environment for our students,” said SAU Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess. “We are resolute in our mission to overcome challenges and emerge stronger than ever.”
“The commitment and resilience shown by our community throughout this ordeal exemplify the spirit and determination that define Saint Augustine’s University,” said Dr. Janelle Jennings-Alexander, Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Our faculty and staff’s tireless efforts to preserve SAU’s legacy of educational distinction help strengthen us in this accreditation journey.”
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