Blacks In Government (BIG)

02/09/2021

#thinkbig

Mary Wilson, Founding Member Of The Supremes, Dies At 76

https://www.npr.org/2021/02/09/965713448/mary-wilson-founding-member-of-the-supremes-dies-at-76

02/06/2021

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: BIG Black History Program. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

#thinkbig

FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government

Register today for the upcoming Project BIG Vote presents a Virtual Forum - The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity on Friday, February 26, 2021 7PM EST.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sfu-prz8qHdT-k46H6ocg5hdUyZbzKIOF

One of America's Most Influential Organizations

"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"

Project BIG Vote presents a Virtual Forum - The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity

02/06/2021

FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government

Please save the date for two upcoming NOW Generation Events. Go to BIG National webpage for more information at http://www.bignet.org

NOW Generation Committee Meeting: Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 7:30pm EST.

Black History Month Social in collaboration with YGL Atlanta: Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 7pm EST.

We look forward to seeing you!

One of America's Most Influential Organizations

"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"

02/06/2021

#thinkbig

FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government

Project BIG Vote presents a Virtual Forum - The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity on Friday, February 26, 2021 7PM EST.

Go to BIG National website for more information and/or copy and paste this zoom link to register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0sfu-prz8qHdT-k46H6ocg5hdUyZbzKIOF

One of America's Most Influential Organizations

"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"

02/03/2021

Perspective | Susan Rice wants every federal agency to focus on racial equity

#thinkBIG

FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government

SUBJECT: Washington Post Interviews BIG National President for Susan Rice Article

Last week Washington Post Columnist Joe Davidson reached out for a statement from BIG on the importance of President Biden’s new Executive Order on Racial Equity. As the spokesperson for BIG, I jumped at the opportunity to do so and a portion of those comments were graciously included in Mr. Davidson’s article over the weekend entitled Susan Rice wants every federal agency to focus on racial equity. The article is attached here in this tweet from Mr. Davidson. Please share it broadly as we seek to expand BIG’s reach.

Here’s the tweet with the link: Susan Rice is the energy behind turning @JoeBiden’s #racialequity words into results. He wants to move the WH from one that coddled white #racism under #Trump into an engine targeting systemic racism.
wapo.st/3owRBDv @POTUS

One of America's Most Influential Organizations

"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"

In 200 days, each agency is required to review certain programs and report to Rice on systemic barriers hampering access to benefits, services and procurement.

02/03/2021

Blacks In Government (BIG)'s cover photo

02/03/2021

Blacks In Government (BIG)'s cover photo

02/01/2021

The killing of two Black Panthers, the secrets of the FBI — and our nation’s long fight for police reform

#thinkBIG #blackhistory365

The killing of Fred Hampton, the FBI — and our nation’s long fight for police reform | Editorial - Chicago Sun-Times

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/1/24/22244731/new-fbi-records-black-panthers-police-reform-fred-hampton-mark-clark-editorial

Newly released documents shed disturbing light on the FBI’s involvement in a 1969 police raid that resulted in the deaths of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark.

01/27/2021

#thinkbig

FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government

SUBJECT: Reminder: NOW Generation Committee Meeting Today

As we begin our journey into the new year, the NOW Generation is looking for members to join our committee. The NOW Generation focuses on programming for young professionals of BIG under the age of 40 looking to enhance their success and become leaders in the workplace.
If interested, please join us for our first committee meeting of the year today, January 27, 2021 at 7 p.m. EST.

Time: Jan 27, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85414819908?pwd=VTdpeWo0VzBLVm1XUHc1RWhmTzdpdz09

Meeting ID: 854 1481 9908
Passcode: BIGNOW

If you are unable to attend and are interested in joining the committee, please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you,

Alesia Smith
NOW Generation Coordinator
[email protected]


One of America's Most Influential Organizations

"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"

01/23/2021

Kyle Rittenhouse's Bail Terms Amended After Footage of Him at Bar Flashing 'White Power' Signs

#thinkBIG

Rittenhouse's Bail Terms Amended After Footage of Him at Bar

https://www.theroot.com/kyle-rittenhouses-bail-terms-amended-after-pictures-of-1846118434

A judge in Wisconsin has amended Kyle Rittenhouse’s bond conditions to bar the 18-year-old from drinking or associating with known white supremacists and other bigots.

01/19/2021

From Slave Songs to Hip Hop: National Museum of African American Music Finally Opens in Nashville (Video) – EURweb

#thinkBIG

From Slave Songs to Hip Hop: National Museum of African American Music Finally Opens in Nashville (Video) | EURweb

https://eurweb.com/2021/01/19/from-slave-songs-to-hip-hop-national-museum-of-african-american-music-finally-opens-in-nashville-video/

National Museum of African American Music in Nashvile *A sweater owned by Nat King Cole , the bass guitar played by A Taste of Honey's Janice Marie Johnson on t

01/18/2021

#thinkBIG

FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government

SUBJECT: Reflections on A Dream - Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. Both his father and his grandfather before him were pastors of the renowned Ebenezer Baptist Church, a church known for civil rights activism that is currently shepherded by a very familiar name, Senior Pastor Rafael Warnock. Preaching was in Dr. King's blood and so was standing up and speaking out about the inequities faced by black communities. And, to honor his legacy we must do the same. In fact Dr. King said "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Equality matters.

Dr. King also famously said “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others?” And, it is that quote that I believe epitomizes Dr. King’s legacy and that also speaks to who we are as public servants. That quote tells me that Dr. King would be happy that the day we dedicate to his memory has been given the tag line “A day on, not a day off. While Dr. King never held public office nor was he a public servant as we are, we know he dedicated his life for the public good.

For all the good he did, we know he is more than deserving but, I have often wondered how he would feel about having a day in his honor and even all of the streets and schools that are named after him. While we can guess that he would be flattered, I believe he would be pleased only if these honorariums lead to lasting change for racial equality. And, I hope we will keep that purpose in mind as we honor him here today – the need for lasting change towards racial equality in all aspects of life. Because if a pandemic alone wasn’t bad enough, it has also served to highlight continuing inequities in heath, economics, housing, and indeed in policing. It shows that we still have work to do to bring his dream to fruition.

As we reflect on his legacy today and listen to recordings of his speeches, we will all be reminded of Dr. King's dream, " a dream rooted in the American dream". Speaking about inequality in allegories, we will be reminded that he dreamed of that day when "every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places shall be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight". Like the kid in the back seat on a road trip asking "are we there yet?", we know that we are not. But, like Dr. King, we must be collectively committed to equality and we must have faith that we will be able "to transform the jangling discords of our nation" which we indeed recently saw at our nation's Capitol into a "beautiful symphony of brotherhood". May God bless you all on this day of service.

One of America's Most Influential Organizations

"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"

01/18/2021

#mlkday2021 Celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. who sowed the seeds of hope and healing in America. DREAM.BELIEVE.UNITE.DO #thinkbig

01/07/2021

#thinkBIG

FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government

SUBJECT: The U.S. Capitol Incident Begs the Question Is Our Country Better Than This?

Is this country better than this is the question we must all ask ourselves. If it is, then why did we see the U.S. Capitol overrun by violent intruders bent on insurrection in a disgusting display that went far beyond anyone's definition of peaceful protest? But, if that display was not representative of who we want to be, what do we need to collectively do about it?

It starts by recognizing that January 6, 2021, is a day that should be so troubling for all of us that it will be a day that will live in infamy. The scenes that unfolded are being played in a continuous loop all across America and indeed all across the world. And, we should be collectively mortified by it all.

We should also be troubled by the loss of life. As we head towards the commemoration this month of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. we must remember his commitment to nonviolence while speaking truth to power and collectively send up prayers for the families of those who perished.

But, those images should be particularly troubling as we consider this country's pledge of equal treatment under the law which mandates that individuals who are similarly situated be treated equally by law. It is that pledge that has led so many of all races to be reminded of how dissimilarly this situation was handled in comparison to the Black Lives Matters and other protestors who were tear gassed, beaten with clubs, and blocked with barricades in the aftermath of the senseless deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks, and others around this country. Where were the barricades and tear gas yesterday during this insurrection that put in danger the lives of not only politicians but every day public servants trying to make an honest living?

If this country is better than this, we have a lot of work to do. And, our Blacks In Government organization stands in solidarity with our fellow public servants and the American people to get it done.

One of America's Most Influential Organizations

"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"

01/05/2021

#thinkBIG

FROM: Honorable Shirley A. Jones, Esq., National President, Blacks In Government, INC (BIG)

Dear President-Elect Biden & Vice President-Elect Harris, we have some concerns.

12/31/2020

#thinkBIG

FROM: Honorable Dr. Doris P. Sartor, National President, Blacks In Government

As we bid farewell to 2020,
Let us remember the good times along with the bad
And pray for sunnier days in 2021.

Happy New Year!

One of America's Most Influential Organizations

"Thank You For Thinking BIG!"

12/29/2020

The Trump Administration Keeps Awarding Border Wall Contracts but Doesn’t Own the Land to Build On

#thinkBIG

The Trump Administration Keeps Awarding Border Wall Contracts but Doesn’t Own the Land to Build On

https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-border-wall-contracts-land-trump-administration

The government’s strategy of awarding contracts before acquiring titles to land in Texas has led to millions of dollars in costs for delays. Things could get even more complicated if President-elect Joe Biden stops border wall construction.

12/29/2020

The Journal of Steffanie Rivers: The Black Agenda 2021 – EURweb

#thinkBIG

The Journal of Steffanie Rivers: The Black Agenda 2021 | EURweb

https://eurweb.com/2020/12/28/the-journal-of-steffanie-rivers-the-black-agenda-2021/

While other people are sitting around eating like pigs at a trough, drinking mind-altering substances and shopping for things they don’t need to impress people

12/29/2020

How Your Digital Trails Wind Up in the Police’s Hands

#thinkBIG

How Your Digital Trails Wind Up in the Police’s Hands

https://www.wired.com/story/your-digital-trails-polices-hands

Phone calls. Web searches. Location tracks. Smart speaker requests. They’ve become crucial tools for law enforcement, while users often are unaware.

12/29/2020

Douglas Development Files Plans for 615-Unit Redevelopment of DC’s Cotton Annex

#thinkBIG

Douglas Development Files Plans for 615-Unit Redevelopment of DC's Cotton Annex

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/UrbanTurf_DC/~3/b3dfMspF2-E/17697

Douglas Development has filed plans with the Zoning Commission to redevelop the Cotton Annex in Southwest DC into a 615-unit development.

12/29/2020

China pushes Alibaba founder Jack Ma to downsize his finance business

#thinkBIG

China pushes Alibaba founder Jack Ma to downsize his finance business

https://www.engadget.com/china-regulator-ant-group-jack-ma-055841293.html

China’s crackdown on Jack Ma’s empire is far from over: The country’s regulators have ordered the Ma-founded Alibaba affiliate Ant Group to scale down its business. Ant Group started out as Alipay, which became China’s largest digital payment platform, though it eventually expanded to offer ...

12/29/2020

White’s Ferry started shuttling passengers across the Potomac River in the 1700s. It closed Monday.

#thinkBIG

White’s Ferry started shuttling passengers across the Potomac River in the 1700s. It closed Monday.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/whites-ferry-closed/2020/12/28/80ddac0e-4938-11eb-9025-57b4c8818a4a_story.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_local

The closure was related to a legal dispute, the ferry’s owners said.

12/29/2020

Schools Face A Massive Challenge To Make Up For Learning Lost During The Pandemic

#thinkBIG

Schools Face A Massive Challenge To Make Up For Learning Lost During The Pandemic https://www.npr.org/2020/12/28/950814131/schools-face-a-massive-challenge-to-make-up-for-learning-lost-during-the-pandemi

Former Education Secretary John King Jr. thinks a national tutoring program would help students make up for lost learning during the pandemic. He talked with NPR about the challenges facing schools.

12/29/2020

How Big Tech failed to stop misinformation in 2020

#thinkBIG

How Big Tech failed to stop misinformation in 2020

http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/Z3LPoaJtbzQ/

Conspiracy theories spread rapidly in 2020 along with COVID-19.

12/29/2020

Happy Birthday to Denzel Washington, a Black Hollywood Legend

#thinkBIG

Happy Birthday to Denzel Washington, a Black Hollywood Legend

https://blackthen.com/happy-birthday-to-denzel-washington-a-black-hollywood-legend/

Photo credits: The Everett Collection Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. (pictured) was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York. Washington grew up in a middle-class family. He was the second of three children.

12/28/2020

Pentagon Memo Maps Out Plan to Expand Diversity in the Force - Black Voice News

#thinkBIG

Pentagon Memo Maps Out Plan to Expand Diversity in the Force

https://blackvoicenews.com/2020/12/27/pentagon-memo-maps-out-plan-to-expand-diversity-in-the-force/

Lolita C. Baldor | Associated Press The Pentagon has endorsed a new slate of initiatives to expand diversity within the ranks and reduce prejudice, calling for more aggressive efforts to recruit, retain and promote a more racially and ethnically diverse force. Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Mi...

12/28/2020

For D.C. protests, Proud Boys settle in at city’s oldest hotel and its bar

#thinkBIG

For D.C. protests, Proud Boys settle in at city’s oldest hotel and its bar

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/for-dc-protests-proud-boys-settle-in-at-citys-oldest-hotel-and-its-bar/2020/12/27/0eb6afcc-3fb0-11eb-8bc0-ae155bee4aff_story.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wp_local

Hotel Harrington and Harry’s have faced internal and external backlash for hosting the militant far-right group.

12/28/2020

22 facts you never knew about Wikipedia

#thinkBIG

22 facts you never knew about Wikipedia

http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/bmbADexH8pk/

Celebrating the free encyclopedia's 20th anniversary. Did you know one incredibly dedicated editor has made over 47,000 edits to correct the phrase "comprised of"?

12/28/2020

Lynchburg Flyover Honors What Would Have Been Tuskegee Airman's 100th Birthday

#thinkBIG

Lynchburg Flyover Honors What Would Have Been Tuskegee Airman’s 100th Birthday – NBC4 Washington

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/lynchburg-flyover-honors-what-would-have-been-tuskegee-airmans-100th-birthday/2521491/

An awesome display of aircraft flying in formation over the Lynchburg home of a former Tuskegee airman was supposed to be part of a birthday celebration. Instead, the flyover took place on what would have been Alfred Farrar’s 100th birthday Saturday, instead as a memorial.