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Country singer Jimmie Allen accused in second sexual assault lawsuit, dropped by label

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country singer Jimmie Allen has been dropped by his record label as he faces a second sexual assault allegation.

Allen’s skyrocketing career has come to a halt over two lawsuits, including one filed by his former day-to-day manager, who alleges Allen raped her and that his management team failed to protect her from his predatory behavior.

BBR Music Group said in a statement Monday that the Nashville-based label “has dissolved its relationship with Jimmie Allen, he is no longer an active artist on its roster.”

The first lawsuit, filed in May and first reported by Variety, accused Allen of sexual trafficking, battery and assault. It also accused the artist management company, Wide Open Music and founder Ash Bowers, of gross negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Both plaintiffs are identified as Jane Doe in the lawsuits.

The first accuser’s suit said the management team knew that Allen was sexually harassing her while she was assigned to work with him and that when she complained and asked to be reassigned, she was terminated from her job.

As a result, Allen was dropped by his publicity company, Full Coverage Communications, and suspended by his previous management company, The Familie, and his booking agency, UTA.

A second lawsuit filed on Friday was filed by a woman who said she met Allen on a plane. She alleged that Allen secretly filmed her on his phone during a sexual assault. After discovering the phone, she said she took it from the hotel room and reported the incident to police.

Neither Allen nor the management company have responded in court filings to the cases, which were filed in a federal court in Nashville. But Allen said in a statement to Variety that the relationship with his day-to-day manager was consensual.

“I acknowledge that we had a sexual relationship — one that lasted for nearly two years,” Allen said in the statement to the outlet. “During that time, she never once accused me of any wrongdoing, and she spoke of our relationship and friendship as being something she wanted to continue indefinitely. Only after things ended between us, did she hire a lawyer to reach out and ask for money, which leads me to question her motives. The simple fact is, her accusations are not only false, but also extremely damaging. I’ve worked incredibly hard to build my career, and I intend to mount a vigorous defense to her claims and take all other legal action necessary to protect my reputation.”

There is no attorney listed for Allen on either lawsuit and attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful.

Elizabeth A. Fegan, the attorney representing both Jane Does, said in a statement: “Since Jane Doe filed her case last month, we’ve heard from others who share similar experiences. Jane Doe 2’s filing demonstrates to me that there is a vivid, distinct pattern of behavior. We intend to show it’s a pattern of deceit, manipulation, and ultimately of force.

“The law is clear – anyone who has given consent in sexual activity has the right and the ability to revoke consent at any time. Just as no means no, stop means stop,” Fegan said. “If one participant doesn’t stop, it is sexual assault.”

Jimmie Allen made history for being the first Black artist to launch his career with a No. 1 single on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his song “Best Shot” in 2018 from his debut record “Mercury Lane.” The Delaware-native’s career took off with subsequent country hits like “Make Me Want To” and “Freedom Was a Highway” with Brad Paisley. He was nominated for best new artist at the 2022 Grammy Awards. He won new male artist of the year at the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards and new artist of the year at the Country Music Association Awards the same year.

He’s also competed on “Dancing With The Stars” and was a co-host alongside Dolly Parton and Gabby Barrett at the 2022 ACM Awards in Las Vegas.

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Sherman reported from Los Angeles.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

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Music, poetry, reflection: Celebrate Juneteenth in Boston at these 10 events

In Boston and across the nation, Juneteenth is commemorated by moments of community, education, festivity and observance of one’s culture. But what is the holiday, and how can Bostonians get involved in the celebration?

On June 19, 1865 — months after the end of the Civil War— Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to begin freeing enslaved people, a day that will forever be remembered by Black Americans across the nation. Today, almost 158 years later, the date is a federal holiday dubbed “Juneteenth” which invokes celebration for some, sorrow for others and reflection for many.

Around the city, there are many ways throughout the month to honor the holiday:

For the first time since the completion of The Embrace, the community is invited to join together and celebrate Juneteenth with music. Along with various ensembles from across Boston, The Embrace Choir will perform at the Boston Common monument.

When: Wednesday, June 14, from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Boston Common Visitors Center

Admission: Free with R.S.V.P.

For those who are looking to celebrate Juneteenth in an electric and vivacious way, LiteWork Events and Kickback Boston have the perfect event. Hosted at a club in downtown Boston, this offers a night of community, dancing, and music from DJ Real P and Knszwrth.

When: Friday, June 16, at 10 p.m., to Saturday, June 17, at 2 a.m.

Where: Chinatown Country Club

Admission: $15-20

In the spirit of celebrating through art, the Juneteenth Celebration of Black Poetry will showcase Black poets across the Boston area. The event is curated by Boston producer Elae Weekes, promising diverse and thoughtful performances from a variety of artists.

When: Friday, June 16, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Multicultural Arts Center at Centanni Park

Admission: Free

To commemorate Juneteenth and celebrate all that it represents, the Black Lowell Coalition, Just Dream Inc, and RFJB Chapter of BIG will host an educational flag raising. During this event, attendees will learn about and reflect upon what Juneteenth is and what it means.

When: Saturday, June 17, from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Where: Lowell City Hall

Admission: Free

At this Juneteenth celebration, the community is encouraged to embrace all things cultural. The event showcases cultural food, dance, and music as well as elevates Black-owned businesses.

When: Monday, June 19, from 12-4 p.m.

Where: Hyde Community Center Playground

Admission: Free

Enjoy a celebratory picnic at the park this Juneteenth! This family friendly event promises something for everyone, with food, music, games, raffles, and face painting.

When: Saturday, June 17, from 1-6 p.m.

Where: Framingham Farm Pond

Admission: Free with R.S.V.P.

Take in the Boston community with a neighborhood-style block party! At this four-hour event, a portion of Harvard Street will be blocked off to make room for vendors, games, DJs, picnics, dance parties and free food and drinks. The aim of this celebration is to embrace familiar and new faces alike.

When: Sunday, June 18, from 12-4 p.m.

Where: Florida Ruffin Ridley School

Admission: Free

This Juneteenth event offers a little bit of everything: education, family fun and community. The day starts with a flag-raising at the Dillaway-Thomas House and continues into a parade to and showcase at the museum, ending with the emancipation program which features speakers, music, food, and games. Throughout the day, all activities will connect to one central theme: honoring Black martyrs and heroe

When: Monday, June 19, from 12-4 p.m.

Where: Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists

Admission: Free

Hosted by the Belmont Human Rights Commission and the Watertown Community for Black Lives, this festival offers a full itinerary of family-friendly events. The day will consist of musical performances by the Boston Community Choir and Belmont High School students, a Belmont High School jazz combo, trivia, Jamaican food trucks and free Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.

When: Sunday, June 18, from 2-6 p.m.

Where: Beech Street Center

Admission: Free

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

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UNC Greensboro receives more than $200K in state grants to preserve African American history

Kellina Djanfa Wanteu

UNC Greensboro University Libraries receive state grants to preserve African American history

The database contains more than 13,000 documents with materials from 17 different North Carolina counties.

12 NEWS AT FOUR STARTS RIGHT NOW. IT WAS A VIOLENT WEEKEND IN THE TRIAD IN WINSTON-SALEM. TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND TWO OTHERS INJURED IN SHOOTINGS. AND IT WAS A SIMILAR STORY IN GREENSBORO, WXII 12. MARIA DEBONE JOINS US THIS AFTERNOON IN GREENSBORO. AFTER SPEAKING WITH INVESTIGATORS THERE. MARIA, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED. WELL, AN ASSISTANT CHIEF HERE WITH THE GREENSBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY TYPICALLY DON’T SEE THIS LEVEL OF VIOLENCE NOW IN GREENSBORO, THERE WERE FIVE SEPARATE SHOOTINGS, FOUR PEOPLE WERE INJURED AND TWO OTHERS KILLED. GREENSBORO POLICE ASSISTANT CHIEF FOR THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION BUREAU, DOUG TABLER, SAID HE DOESN’T WANT THIS WEEKEND’S VIOLENCE TO DETER THE PUBLIC FROM GOING OUT, ENJOYING GREENSBORO, BEING DILIGENT WHILE YOU’RE OUT. IF THINGS START TURNING A CERTAIN WAY, CALL THE POLICE. GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, DEFUZE A SITUATION OR LEAVE PARENTS KNOW WHERE YOUR CHILDREN ARE GOING, WHO THEY’RE GOING THERE WITH AND HAVE A GOOD, STRONG LINE OF COMMUNICATION WITH THEM. BUT, YOU KNOW, OUR CITY HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER. I WOULD HATE TO DISCOURAGE FOLKS FROM GOING OUT AND ENJOYING IT. AND TABLER SAID THEY DO TEND TO SEE AN INCREASE IN CALL VOLUME AND CRIME ONCE THE SUMMER HITS. NOW, TO HELP WITH THAT, THEY PARTNERED WITH GROUPS TO OFFER EVENTS AND PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE GIVE SOMETHING FOR THEM TO DO AND HELP THEM TO DETER FROM THE VIOLENCE. I’LL HAVE MORE ON THAT COMING UP AT SIX FOR NOW IN GREENSBORO, MARIA DEBONE, WXII 12 NEWS. MARIA, THANK YOU. SOME CLOSURE, BUT ALSO LOTS OF QUESTIONS THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE FAMILY OF A MAN WHO HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE 2019. INVESTIGATORS FOUND AARON WOODS BODY AFTER A WEEK LONG SEARCH AT A PROPERTY IN SOUTHWEST WINSTON-SALEM. NOW WE ARE HEARING FROM HIS LOVED ONES. TWELVE’S JOSHUA DAVIS JOINS US LIVE THIS AFTERNOON FROM RIDGE ROAD NEAR THE SEARCH SITE. AND JOSHUA, YOU SPOKE WITH WOODS COUSIN TODAY. I DID. KENNY AND HIS COUSIN SAID THAT GROWING UP, THEY WERE A VERY TIGHT KNIT FAMILY AND THAT FAMILY IS STILL PROCESSING THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED TO AARON WOODS. THE FEELING WAS SHOCK, SADNESS. WINSTON-SALEM POLICE FOUND AARON WOODS BODY BURIED ON A PROPERTY ON AVERAGE ROAD IN WINSTON-SALEM. HE’D BEEN MISSING SINCE 2019. HIS COUSIN CHRIS WOOD SAYS BECAUSE OF AARON’S JOB IN CONSTRUCTION, IT WASN’T UNUSUAL FOR IT TO TAKE TIME TO HEAR BACK FROM HIM. BUT THIS SITUATION IS THE ONE THEY FEARED THE MOST. WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND YOU THINK ABOUT IT, YOU JUST THERE’S A SADNESS, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT HE COULD HAVE DIED AND THAT HE MAY HAVE DIED VIOLENTLY. KENNETH COX WAS ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO WOODS MURDER AND APPEARED IN COURT MONDAY MORNING. HE’S CHARGED WITH CONCEALING A HUMAN BODY THAT DIED OF A NATURAL CAUSES AND COULD BE FACING A SENTENCE OF 17 YEARS. CHRIS SAYS HIS FAMILY JUST WANTS TO KNOW THE TRUTH. HE WAS BURIED ON A PIECE OF PROPERTY WITHOUT GIVING THE PEOPLE THAT CARED ABOUT HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOURN HIM OR CELEBRATE HIM. AND THAT’S NOT FAIR. CHRIS SAYS. THE FAMILY STILL HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT LED TO THIS, BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, THEY HOPE AARON KNEW THEY LOVED HIM LIKE I SAID, YOU JUST THINK BACK ABOUT HOW THAT TRANSPIRED AND SO LONG AGO AND YOU HAD NO IDEA AND YOU JUST HOPE THEY DIDN’T. THAT THOSE FINAL MOMENTS THAT THEY THAT THEY KNEW THEY HAD FAMILY, THAT THEY KNEW THAT THEY HAD FRIENDS AND PEOPLE THAT CARED ABOUT. COX NEXT COURT DATE IS SET FOR JUNE 29TH. CHRIS ALSO TOLD ME AND TELLS OTHERS TO TREASURE THEIR FAMILY AND TO TAKE TIME TO SHOW THEM THAT YOU LOVE THEM IN WINSTON-SALEM. I’M JOSHUA DAVIS. FOR WXII 12 NEWS. THEY’RE UNDERWAY FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TO MAKE HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN A FEDERAL COURTROOM IN MIAMI. TOMORROW, HE FACES A 37 COUNT FEDERAL INDICTMENT FOR ALLEGATIONS HE WILLFULLY RETAINED CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AFTER LEAVING THE WHITE HOUSE AND THEN CONSPIRED TO HIDE THEM FROM INVESTIGATORS. NBC’S ALICE BARR REPORTS SECURITY PREPARATIONS INCREASING IN MIAMI MONDAY AHEAD OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S TUESDAY APPEARANCE INSIDE THIS FEDERAL COURTHOUSE. WE HOPE THAT TOMORROW WILL BE PEACEFUL. WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO BE PEACEFUL IN THEM, DEMONSTRATING HOW THEIR HOW THEY FEEL. AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE THE ADEQUATE FORCES NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT TRUMP WILL FACE A TOTAL OF 37 CRIMINAL CHARGES, THE MAJORITY FOR ALLEGED VIOLATIONS OF THE ESPIONAGE ACT. HE DENIES ANY WRONGDOING. AND IN HIS FIRST PUBLIC REMARKS SINCE THE INDICTMENT WAS UNSEALED, RAILED AGAINST THE CHARGES BROUGHT BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. IT’S A HORRIBLE THING FOR THIS COUNTRY. I MEAN, THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT IT IS IT’S DRIVEN MY POLL NUMBERS WAY UP. CAN YOU BELIEVE THE FEDERAL INDICTMENT DETAILS THE LOCATIONS WHERE TRUMP ALLEGEDLY STORED CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AT HIS MAR A LAGO ESTATE IN FLORIDA, INCLUDING IN A BALLROOM, A BATHROOM AND SHOWER AND A STORAGE ROOM? TRUMP’S OWN FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, WILLIAM BARR. THOSE DOCUMENTS ARE AMONG THE MOST SENSITIVE OF SECRETS THAT THE COUNTRY HAS. HE HAD NO RIGHT TO MAINTAIN THEM AND RETAIN THEM AND HE KEPT THEM IN A WAY AT MAR-A-LAGO THAT ANYONE WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY, THEIR STOMACH WOULD CHURN AT IT. MEANWHILE, SOME OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT’S ALLIES COMING TO HIS DEFENSE. WAS THAT A GOOD LOOK FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT TO HAVE BOXES IN A BATHROOM? I DON’T KNOW. IS IT A GOOD PICTURE TO HAVE BOXES IN A GARAGE THAT OPENS UP ALL THE TIME? A BATHROOM DOOR LOCKS IN MIAMI. I’M CHRIS QUINN REPORTING. FOUR PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOME AND THEIR DOG DIED IN A HOUSE FIRE IN KERNERSVILLE. THE WINSTON-SALEM FIRE DEPARTMENT POSTED THIS HELMET CAM FOOTAGE ON THEIR TWITTER FEED. CREWS RESPONDED TO THE FIRE ON IRIS STREET JUST AFTER 2:00 THIS MORNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS THIS HAS BEEN UNDER CONTROL FOR HOURS NOW. THEY ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY HOW IT STARTED. NEW TODAY, SENATE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCED A BILL THAT WOULD CHANGE THE MAKEUP OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS ACROSS THE STATE. THE BILL WOULD INCREASE THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ON THE STATE BOARD FROM 5 TO 8. IT WOULD SPLIT APPOINTMENTS BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS WOULD SHRINK FROM FIVE MEMBERS TO FOUR. REPUBLICANS SAY THE MEASURE WOULD ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT PARTIZAN SHIP AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION. NORTH CAROLINIANS DESERVE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTIONS PROCESS, AND WE BELIEVE THIS BILL MOVES US IN THAT DIRECTION. IN PAST ATTEMPTS BY THE REPUBLICAN LED LEGISLATURE TO OVERHAUL THE ELECTIONS BOARD HAVE BEEN STRUCK DOWN AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. BUT REPUBLICANS NOW ALSO CONTROL A MAJORITY ON THE STATE SUPREME COURT. AND YOU ARE LOOKING LIVE AT OUR WINSTON-SALEM SKYCAM. NOT A REALLY BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW AFTER A WET END TO YOUR WEEKEND. HOW IS THE REST OF YOUR MONDAY LOOKING? DAVE AIKEN IS IN THE WPXI 12 FIRST WARNING WEATHER CENTER WITH A FIRST LOOK AT THE FORECAST. WELL A LOT OF CLOUDS OUT THERE, DAVE. YES, CLOUDS, BUT SOME SUN FOR SOME FOLKS OUT THERE, TOO, CHRISTINE IS A LITTLE BIT OF SOMETHING FOR EVERYBODY OUT THERE. WE HAD SOME RAIN IN EARLY THIS MORNING THAT WENT OUT OF THE WAY. WE’VE SEEN SOME SPOTTY SHOWERS THIS AFTERNOON, BUT THINGS HAVE KIND OF WANED A LITTLE BIT. WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT DIMINISHED, A LOT OF THAT ACTIVITY. WE’LL LOOK AT THE RADAR IN A SECOND. FIRST OF ALL, TEMPERATURES RIGHT NOW, 81 IN WINSTON-SALEM. SOME 70S, UPPER 70S ROCKINGHAM, GUILFORD COUNTY, 84 IN BURLINGTON, WHERE THE SUN’S BEEN OUT. A GOOD DOSE OF THAT SUNSHINE THERE TODAY. AND THE WINDS HAVE PICKED UP A LITTLE BIT OUT OF THE WEST IN THE NORTHWEST ESPECIALLY, RIGHT ACROSS THE PIEDMONT TRIAD. AND THAT’S WHERE A FRONT IS MOVING THROUGH EVEN AS WE SPEAK. A COLD FRONT PUSHING THROUGH. AND IT’S GOING TO START TO DRY THINGS OUT AS WE GO ON INTO THE REMAINDER OF THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN ON INTO THE EVENING HOURS. TWO TEMPERATURES UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS IN THE 60S, QUITE COMFORTABLE UP THERE. AND THEY’RE STARTING TO DRY OUT A LITTLE BIT ALREADY AS WELL. THERE’S THE SHOWERS THAT ARE OUT THERE RIGHT NOW, VERY SPOTTY ACROSS THE REGION. THERE HAS BEEN A DECENT LITTLE CELL DOWN OVER PORTIONS JUST COMING OUT OF MECKLENBURG COUNTY, CABARRUS COUNTY, AND PUSHING ON OFF TO THE EAST A LITTLE BIT FURTHER. THAT HAD SOME SEVERE CRITERIA TO IT. A LITTLE EARLIER. BUT ACROSS THE TRIAD, THINGS HAVE BEEN FAIRLY QUIET. YOU SEE A FEW SHOWERS OVER PORTIONS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY. NO LIGHTNING REPORTED WITH IT. AND THEN YOU CAN SEE BACK OFF TO THE NORTH OF THAT OVER NORTHERN PARTS OF ALAMANCE COUNTY, PARTS OF CASWELL COUNTY, A LITTLE SHOWER ACTIVITY HERE AND THERE. WE’RE STILL IN THIS MARGINAL RISK FOR PORTIONS OF THE PIEDMONT, THE EASTERN PIEDMONT, RANDOLPH COUNTY, ALAMANCE COUNTY, FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER, I THINK WE’LL BE DROPPED FROM THIS FROM THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER BEFORE TOO LONG. SO OUR LATE EVENING FORECAST LOOKS PRETTY GOOD. WE’LL SEE. PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES TO MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. TEMPERATURES INTO THE 60S, UPPER 50S IN THE MOUNTAINS AROUND 9 OR 10:00 TONIGHT. SOME DRIER AIR PUSHING INTO THE FORECAST AREA FOR THE DAY TOMORROW. TEMPERATURES STILL A LITTLE BIT BELOW NORMAL FOR YOUR TUESDAY. AND THEN WE’LL START TO WARM UP AS WE GET INTO A LITTLE BIT LATER ON IN THE WEEK. WE’LL HAVE YOUR SEVEN-DAY FORECAST COMING UP IN JUST A LITTLE BIT. DAVE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WAKE FOREST HISTORIC BASEBALL SEASON CONTINUES WITH A TRIP TO OMAHA AND THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES. THE DEMON DEACONS ANNIHILATED ALABAMA 22 TO 5 OVER THE WEEKEND TO PUNCH THEIR TICKET. WAKE FANS ARE ALREADY MAKING PLANS TO FOLLOW THE TEAMS IN THEIR QUEST FOR A COLLEGE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP. AMBER BLACKER IS A DIEHARD FAN AND SEASON TICKET HOLDER. SHE’S BEEN A COLLEGE BASEBALL FAN FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF HER LIFE AND ADOPTED WAKE AS HER TEAM WHEN SHE MOVED TO WINSTON-SALEM. SHE COULD TELL EARLY ON THAT THIS GROUP WAS SPECIAL. AND SHE SAYS IT’S BEEN AWFULLY FUN WATCHING THE CROWDS GROW FROM THE DIEHARDS WHO BRAVED THE COLD IN FEBRUARY TO THE SELLOUTS THIS PAST WEEKEND, BLACKER HAS BEEN TO OMAHA FOR THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES IN THE PAST, BUT SHE SAYS THIS ONE WILL BE EXTRA SPECIAL. THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE OMAHA. IT IS A FANTASTIC STADIUM. THE TOWN SEEMS TO COMPLETELY SUPPORT THE EVENT THAT IT’S NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS THERE, IT’S SOMETHING THAT THEY EMBRACE. AND TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THAT WITH A TEAM THAT I BELIEVE IN AND I SUPPORT SO STRONGLY IS IS A DREAM. COLLEGE WORLD SERIES WON’T BEGIN UNTIL FRIDAY. AND WE DON’T KNOW WHO WAKE IS GOING TO PLAY JUST YET. WE DO KNOW THE — WILL PLAY THE WINNER OF TONIGHT’S TEXAS STAND SUPER REGIONAL GAME. SO, AGAIN, WAKE WILL EITHER PLAY TEXAS OR STANFORD, RIGHT NOW, THEIR SERIES IS TIED. THE WINNER WILL BE DECIDED THIS EVENING AT 8:00. AND WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THE DEMON DEACONS TO OMAHA. YOU CAN LOOK FOR THO

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UNC Greensboro University Libraries receive state grants to preserve African American history

The database contains more than 13,000 documents with materials from 17 different North Carolina counties.

Kellina Djanfa Wanteu

University of North Carolina Greensboro University Libraries received more than $200,000 in grant funding from the State Library of North Carolina to help preserve African American history. The grants are for projects that promote community engagement, provide equitable access, or support responsive organizations, according to UNCG officials.Click the video player above to watch other headlines from WXII 12 News.Top StoriesFormer Triad Spectrum employee resigns from job, shoots door, enters building with gun to talk with HR, prosecutors say47-year-old man found dead by police Weekend shootings lead to multiple injured plus 3 killed including 16-year-old, police sayGet the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereThe Digital Library on American Slavery was awarded $113,442 to expand its “People Not Property – Slave Deeds” effort, a centralized database of encompassing names of enslaved people in the state and across the South. “People Not Property – Slave Deeds” is a collaborative effort with the North Carolina Division of Archives and Records, registers of deeds across North Carolina, the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, and other cultural heritage organizations. The database contains more than 13,000 documents with materials from 17 different North Carolina counties. “This funding from the State Library of North Carolina will be invaluable to expand this important work into at least three additional N.C. counties,” said Richard Cox, the project director for the Digital Library on American Slavery, “surfacing the names and information of thousands more enslaved people from across the state and building upon the 90,000 people already present within the ‘People Not Property’ project.”Another UNCG University Libraries project – “March for Justice: Documenting the Greensboro Massacre” – was awarded $92,535. The project will provide digital access to information related to the 1979 Greensboro Massacre, an event in which five protestors were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis. The collections span roughly 48 years, from 1973 to 2021 and document events, actions, and persons connected with the Greensboro Massacre and the short and long-term consequences. “This project grant from the State Library of North Carolina will enable UNCG and Bennett College to collaborate on digitization of thousands of records relating to the 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the subsequent work of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” says David Gwynn, digitation coordinator and associate professor for University Libraries.She added that the project will make much of this material available to the public for the first time. Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Trending Stories Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

GREENSBORO, N.C. —

University of North Carolina Greensboro University Libraries received more than $200,000 in grant funding from the State Library of North Carolina to help preserve African American history.

The grants are for projects that promote community engagement, provide equitable access, or support responsive organizations, according to UNCG officials.

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Click the video player above to watch other headlines from WXII 12 News.

Top Stories

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here

The Digital Library on American Slavery was awarded $113,442 to expand its “People Not Property – Slave Deeds” effort, a centralized database of encompassing names of enslaved people in the state and across the South.

“People Not Property – Slave Deeds” is a collaborative effort with the North Carolina Division of Archives and Records, registers of deeds across North Carolina, the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, and other cultural heritage organizations. The database contains more than 13,000 documents with materials from 17 different North Carolina counties.

“This funding from the State Library of North Carolina will be invaluable to expand this important work into at least three additional N.C. counties,” said Richard Cox, the project director for the Digital Library on American Slavery, “surfacing the names and information of thousands more enslaved people from across the state and building upon the 90,000 people already present within the ‘People Not Property’ project.”

Another UNCG University Libraries project – “March for Justice: Documenting the Greensboro Massacre” – was awarded $92,535.

The project will provide digital access to information related to the 1979 Greensboro Massacre, an event in which five protestors were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis.

The collections span roughly 48 years, from 1973 to 2021 and document events, actions, and persons connected with the Greensboro Massacre and the short and long-term consequences.

“This project grant from the State Library of North Carolina will enable UNCG and Bennett College to collaborate on digitization of thousands of records relating to the 1979 Greensboro Massacre and the subsequent work of the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” says David Gwynn, digitation coordinator and associate professor for University Libraries.

She added that the project will make much of this material available to the public for the first time.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

Trending Stories

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here.

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How to celebrate Juneteenth at the University of Chicago, in the community

Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, will once again be celebrated through various events organized by the University of Chicago community.

Juneteenth traces its origins to the June 19, 1865, reading of “General Orders No. 3” in Galveston, Texas—the official news of freedom to enslaved people 2 1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation. 

Today, Juneteenth remains both a day of celebration and a reminder of ongoing struggles for racial justice. Below are several University of Chicago-affiliated events throughout the months of June and July that recognize the important holiday.

June 14

Intentional Immersion Workshop, 6:30–8 p.m.: From the University Community Service Center, this workshop is designed to offer context and guidance on thoughtful community engagement in relation to Juneteenth celebrations, with opportunities to join student- or staff-led groups to various Juneteenth community events. Students only.

June 16

Juneteenth Lecture at MBL: “Changing the Complexion of the Life Sciences,” 7 p.m.: As part of the Marine Biological Laboratory’s Juneteenth programming, join this in-person (in Woods Hole, Mass.) or virtual event with Kenneth Turner, president and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.

June 17

South Side YMCA Juneteenth Celebration and Community BBQ, 11 a.m.­–3 p.m.: Free event will feature youth activities, games, and music. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own grills and coolers.

June 19

The DuSable Juneteenth Community BBQ, 10 a.m.­­–8 p.m.: The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center hosts its third annual festival with family-friendly activities, music performances, food and drink, and a Hip-Hop Communiversity discussion session featuring Kool Mo Dee.

“1619: The Journey of a People, The Musical,” 1:30 p.m.: Logan Center for the Arts performance telling the story of 20 enslaved Africans who arrived in Point Comfort, Va., and how the 400-year journey that followed would change the nation and the world. Tickets start at $38. A panel discussion follows the performance.

Juneteenth Celebration at the American Writer’s Museum, 6 p.m.: Will include a reading from “Those Who Saw the Sun,” Jaha Naila Avery’s new collection of oral history narratives from the time of Jim Crow in the South, plus a gallery talk by artists featured at the museum’s special exhibit “Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers on Justice.”

June 20

Online class: Drusilla Dunjee Houston, first to publish a history of Nubia, 5­–7 p.m.: This free course from the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures will study Dunjee Houston’s work, “Wonderful Ethiopians of the Ancient Cushite Empire” and how it remains relevant to our understanding of Nubian history.

June 24

Medical Careers Exposure & Emergency Preparedness Program Juneteenth Celebration Kickoff BBQ, 2 p.m.: Following the opening day of its Summer Pipeline Program that exposes minority youth to health careers and training, MedCEEP will host a community BBQ at 924 E. 57th St., including a spoken word performance that honors Black pioneers of the medical field.

July and August

“Screening Freedom” film series, Sundays, July 9­­­–Aug. 27: This eight-week curated series held at the Logan Center for the Arts will showcase works that embody the ongoing efforts of Black artists to self-produce films that reflect and enrich Black life. Discussions to follow each screening, free and open to all. More details to follow.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

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Richard Mayhew’s Visionary Mindscapes

In response to the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Charles Alston, Romare Bearden, Norman Lewis, Richard Mayhew, Hale Woodruff, and other Black artists founded the Spiral Group (1963–65) to discuss how art might align with the growing demand for civil rights in the United States. One year later, in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act (1964) into law, officially ending segregation. The shortcomings of the Civil Rights Act, however, were not lost on Bearden and Lewis, prominent Black artists the mainstream art world continued to ignore. In 1969, knowing they would have almost no opportunities to show their work in New York, the two artists, along with Ernest Crichlow, started Cinque, an artist-run gallery that exhibited more than 450 artists of color during its 35-year existence. By opening Cinque Gallery, Bearden, Lewis, and Crichlow recognized the existence of at least two distinct art worlds in New York, a situation that has not completely changed. 

One artist who was on the cusp of both groups was Mayhew, a Black-Native American painter whose lustrous canvases have yet to receive the recognition in New York that they have long deserved. While he has shown regularly in Manhattan galleries for many years, this city’s cultural institutions have almost completely ignored him, even as they’ve started paying attention to overlooked artists of color. Mayhew has not been embraced by the art world primarily because the trajectory he has pursued has no overt connection to politics or race, and, more importantly, it challenges all the categories to which Black artists are routinely consigned.

Born in 1924, near Amityville, New York, where he was raised, Mayhew is now 99 years old and resides in California. His current, must-see exhibition, Richard Mayhew: Natural Order at Venus Over Manhattan, consists of 21 paintings and works on paper done between 1973 and 2022.

Installation view of Richard Mayhew: Natural Order at Venus Over Manhattan

Mayhew’s visionary paintings — what he calls “mindscapes,” honoring the landscape as sacred — occupy an area of art history that no contemporary painter approaches; he is a singular figure whose work has never fit into any of the movements the art world has promoted since 1950. When he was interviewed by Bridget Cooks and Amanda Tewes for the Getty Trust Oral History Project, African American Art History Initiative, he cited three figures as crucial to his development: Edwin Dickinson, Reuben Tam, and the 19th-century American landscape painter George Inness, whose use of saturated color and softened edges anticipates Mayhew’s work. By taking different cues from these independent, unaligned artists, and making something that is recognizably his, Mayhew developed an unrivaled sensitivity to color and nuance, all while articulating a contradictory spatial “mindscape” that recedes dimensionally while advancing because of the saturated color. That simultaneity imbues his paintings with an otherworldliness. They appear both solid and ethereal — a synthesis that echoes Pierre Bonnard’s many portraits of his wife, Marthe de Méligny, where she is never completely shown. 

Composed of layers and textures of different reds bleeding into each other, it is impossible to say where the land ends and the sky begins in “Essence II” (1973). While Mayhew captures that indeterminacy in many of his paintings, he does not repeat himself. In “Mood Indigo” (c. 1995), the larger of two hazy silhouettes of trees seems to be trying to pull away from the glowing blue sky. Is this scene a memory or hallucination? As in his other paintings, the light comes from within the forms and spaces.

One of the show’s most powerful and mysterious paintings is “Beyond the Bramble Bush (1996–97). The composition, with its large, green bramble bush near the center, suggests the possibility that we are walking into a landscape. Receding into space is a glowing orange path and, beyond that, an inlet of luminous blue water hemmed in by green. The foreground of the painting looks familiar and believable, while everything past the bush is mysterious and unknowable. Of what is the orange path made? Is it liquid or lava? If so, from where did it come? Mayhew pulls the viewer into a world that remains remote. What is this world we have entered? 

In some paintings, the artist has spelled out his last name, rendering the M as an inverted W and the Y as an inverted H. In this way, he proposes that his paintings can be turned around. He doesn’t do this in all his paintings and watercolors, which would make it seem like a cheap parlor trick, but this gesture both nods to Jackson Pollock’s all-over paintings and refutes them as being solely about paint. Perhaps that formalist way of reading Pollock’s poured paintings has contributed to Mayhew’s marginalization in the New York art world. It is time we see his works for what they are: inimitable visions that only paint can conjure.

Installation view of Richard Mayhew: Natural Order at Venus Over Manhattan
Installation view of Richard Mayhew: Natural Order at Venus Over Manhattan. Pictured: “Above and Beyond” (2009), oil on canvas, 48 x 48 inches

Richard Mayhew: Natural Order continues at Venus Over Manhattan (39 Great Jones Street, Noho, Manhattan) through June 17. The exhibition was organized by the gallery in collaboration with ACA Galleries.

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Miguel, Nelly, Chlöe Bailey and other Black artists set to join CNN’s Juneteenth concert

CNN  — 

An array of Black artists and musicians will take the stage at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles next week for CNN’s second annual “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom” concert.

Produced by Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment, the event will commemorate the federal holiday that marks the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver special remarks during the event, which will be broadcast on CNN and OWN at 8 p.m. ET on June 19.

The night’s performers will include Charlie Wilson, Miguel, Kirk Franklin, Nelly, SWV, Davido, Coi Leray, Jodeci and Mike Phillips, with Academy-award winning director Questlove and Adam Blackstone serving as the musical directors.

The show will also feature a tribute to the late music legend Tina Turner by singer and “Grown-ish” star Chlöe Bailey.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but many Black Americans have honored the date for years with parades, parties and family gatherings. It marks June 19, 1865: the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, proclaiming that the enslaved African Americans there were free. The end of slavery came over two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Johnita P. Due, CNN’s executive vice president of integrity and inclusion, said the show has been “meticulously crafted as an expression of the excellence and resilience of the Black community and the ongoing pursuit of equality.”

“We are thrilled to continue to elevate the importance of the Juneteenth holiday,” Due said in a statement.

Shawn Gee, president of Live Nation Urban, recalled how last year’s inaugural edition of the Juneteenth concert was emotional and unforgettable.

“We are looking forward to educating and celebrating the Juneteenth holiday,” Gee said.

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Study Reveals Staggering Health Toll of Being Black in America

… higher mortality rate among Black Americans resulted in 1.63 … covid-19—which hit Black Americans particularly hard—erased two … to improve the health of Black Americans, whose early deaths are … stress, including from systemic racism, takes a greater toll … RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News

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What to Expect During Pittsburgh’s 2023 Juneteenth Celebration

Juneteenth,freedom,day,,june,19,background

PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

Pittsburgh’s Juneteenth Celebration is expected to be bigger than ever with a number of  concerts in Point State Park and other entertainment Downtown from June 16-19. However, recent changes to security requirements have forced the cancellation of a fireworks display and relocation of food vendors.

When William “B” Marshall first organized a Juneteenth festival with Stop The Violence Pittsburgh in 2013, nearly 100 people gathered in Market Square to recognize the historical holiday. Over the years, the celebration has grown in size and scope as locals have come together to observe Juneteenth, the day when, in 1865, a Union General led thousands of troops to Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and all enslaved people had been freed.

Last year, more than 40,000 people flocked to Point State Park to sing, dance, eat and share memories as they celebrated that historic moment on June 19. 

This year marks the 10th year since Marshall first created a space to celebrate Black freedom, culture and accomplishments, and this year’s Juneteenth festivities, collectively known as The Western Pennsylvania Juneteenth Homecoming Celebration, are expected to draw 50,000 people Downtown. Marshall says about 1 out of every 10 of those guests will be traveling in from outside the Pittsburgh area, expanding Pittsburgh’s Black community to new networks.

Marshall has matched this growth in attendance with a growth in programming and is welcoming a variety of performers, vendors and community members to celebrate Juneteenth on Monday, June 19, and the weekend leading up to it.

Marshall says he had planned to close the celebration with a fireworks display off the North Shore on the night of June 19. However, about a week ago, officials from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which operates Point State Park, informed him that he would need to provide a security team to check bags before the event. 

The state rangers said the organizers’ security team — the one Marshall has used at Juneteenth events for the past five years — lacks a state-required license, according to an email sent to Marshall from DCNR, a policy that is not new and one the organizers have been informed of, according to DCNR officials. They asked Marshall to hire a licensed security company to complete the bag checks instead. Marshall says that would cost him $10,000 to $15,000.

Although the Juneteenth events received a $125,000 grant from the city, Marshall says he already spent the Juneteenth budget on hiring performers and advertising and producing the event. Marshall also says he did not anticipate any additional security costs because the city has helped him cover the cost of police protection in past years. 

On a Facebook streaming event on June 9, Mayor Ed Gainey said that the city had no intentions to cancel any Juneteenth events and that police will be patrolling event areas. But he stated that “it is on the private event promoters to comply with all regulations” associated with the fireworks display and provide their own security to check bags. 

Because organizers could not afford the security demanded by state officials, Marshall said in a June 11 Facebook post  he canceled the fireworks display . 

“As far as we’re concerned, this [cancellation] is set in stone. We weren’t prepared for this last- minute change,” he said in a phone interview Monday morning.

Last week, state park officials also informed Marshall that food vendors could not use gas generators in the park due to environmental and safety concerns. Because most of Juneteenth’s 80 vendors use gas generators to cook, Marshall relocated the vendor plaza to a section of Liberty Avenue outside Point State Park. 

In a statement sent to Pittsburgh Magazine on Monday, DCNR officials said the regulations are part of “a set of guidelines that we ask all event organizers at Point [State Park] to adhere to.” The DCNR “remain[s] committed to working with the event organizers to provide the appropriate security and conservation measures for the event that ensure this iconic park is welcoming, safe, and conserved for all Pennsylvanians.”

In a phone interview Monday, DCNR Press Secretary Wesley Robinson said DCNR and the city are not responsible for any Juneteenth cancellations and are only trying to enforce safety regulations. He says the security requirement shouldn’t have come as a surprise, as it is not a new policy for state parks.

“There have been ongoing conversations about our standard policies,” Robinson says. “There’s just been an unwillingness to comply.”

Robinson says that state and city officials will work with Juneteenth coordinators throughout the week to ensure the safety of all events. Marshall remains hopeful for a vibrant celebration despite the last-minute changes. 

“This is a terrible situation,” Marshall says. “But we’re still looking forward to a good time with our national entertainment.”

This year, the main stage in Point State Park will host national music stars, including Grammy award winners Erica Campbell and Arrested Development. There will be 13 performances of various musical acts, with Friday focusing on hip-hop, Saturday celebrating R&B and Sunday showcasing gospel and soul. 

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra will take the stage on Monday, performing for the first time at the city’s Juneteenth celebration. The orchestra will recognize Black artists’ contributions to the music industry by sharing works from gospel, jazz, folk and pop genres. A tribute to Pittsburgh jazz legend Ahmad Jamal, who died at age 92 in April, and a special appearance by local rapper Frzy are expected to be highlights of the show.

All concerts are free and open to the public, and will occur rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

In addition to performances by nationally acclaimed artists, local musicians’ talent will also be showcased throughout the weekend. Attendees can catch concerts by the House of Soul Band, Kevin Howard Quartet, Bill Henry Band and other local jazz, soul and R&B favorites in Market Square starting at 1 p.m. daily.

The celebration will expand further into Downtown on June 17 with the Grand Jubilee Parade. The parade will leave from Freedom Corner on Crawford Street in the Hill District at 10:30 a.m., and can be viewed on Centre, Fifth and Liberty avenues through the rest of the morning. 

As in past years, the parade has a special focus on celebrating voting rights. It commemorates a parade that filled Pittsburgh’s streets in 1870 as people recognized the passage of the 15th Amendment, which granted Black men the right to vote.

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