Tag Archives: mayor

North Carolina Teacher Resigns Over Backlash After Reading Gay Book To 3rd Grade Class

North Carolina Teacher Resigns After Reading Gay Book To Class Omar Currie and Meg Goodhand, respectively a teacher and vice principal of Efland-Cheeks Elementary School, have resigned over controversy surrounding a gay fairy tale that Currie read to third graders . Via The Grio : Currie read “King & King,” a story in which two princes fall in love and get married, after one of his students was called “gay” in a derogatory manner and was told that he was acting too much like a girl. Although the book had been upheld by a school review committee, Principal Kiley Brown told Currie that parents must receive a list of all books read, and that’s when things went downhill. Parent Brandy Davis and two other people filed formal complaints about the book, and Davis went on to appeal the ruling by the school review committee concerning the book. “I’m just disappointed,” Currie said on Monday. He also said that he would prepare remarks but was unsure if he would even speak. Currie has had five job interviews, all positive, including a few interviews for positions in Durham Public Schools. “It’s nice to be told by administrators that my actions were correct,” he said. “I still want to be very involved in the Efland community,” he continued, saying that he plans to be involved in tutoring and mentoring programs. Do you think the teacher should have resigned?

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North Carolina Teacher Resigns Over Backlash After Reading Gay Book To 3rd Grade Class

A Lil Positivity: Ivy Taylor Becomes San Antonio’s First Black Mayor By Clenching Conservative White And Hispanic Voters

Ivy Taylor Becomes San Antonio’s First Black Mayor Via Reuters : San Antonio, the seventh-largest U.S. city and the only one of the 10 largest cities with a Hispanic majority, elected its first African-American mayor on Saturday in a closely watched runoff election. Ivy Taylor, a Yale-educated urban planning professor, won with an unlikely coalition of the city’s two largest minority voting groups, blacks and generally conservative white voters, the latter comprising just 26 percent of the 1.4 million population. Taylor was appointed interim mayor last summer, when Julian Castro resigned to become Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, winning the seat outright in Saturday’s runoff with 52 percent against one of the state’s best-known politicians. Leticia Van de Putte, vying to become the city’s first elected Hispanic woman mayor, has been a prominent member of the Texas State Legislature for 25 years and was the Democratic Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor in 2014. Van de Putte held a solid lead in the May election that attracted 14 candidates, but state law mandating a winner must receive more than 50 percent of votes forced the runoff. Taylor appealed to conservatives in the non-partisan race by stressing Van de Putte’s long ties to the Democratic Party, including co-chairing the 2008 Democratic National Convention which nominated Barack Obama, who remains unpopular in Texas. Her openly Christian faith appealed to evangelicals, a powerful Republican Party faction in Texas. In her victory speech on Saturday night, Taylor said, “I thank the Lord,” for her election. Congrats to Ivy Taylor and the city of San Antonio!

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A Lil Positivity: Ivy Taylor Becomes San Antonio’s First Black Mayor By Clenching Conservative White And Hispanic Voters

Spike Lee Claps Back At “Haters” Who Aren’t Feeling The “Chiraq” Title Of His New Flick

Spike Lee Defends Controversial “Chiraq” Movie Title Spike Lee is Ray Charles to the critiques… Via HuffingtonPost Movie director Spike Lee, known for films that deal frankly with racial issues, appeared in Chicago on Thursday to defend his planned movie about the city, after its reported title, “Chiraq,” was criticized by local politicians. Speaking at a South Side church and surrounded by African-American mothers carrying pictures of children killed in street violence, Lee said artists hold up a mirror to society and are not afraid to tell the truth. “We have to stop the madness,” Lee said. “This is insane.” He said people who know nothing about it have been expressing opinions about the film. Lee referred to the movie’s “so-called title,” but did not say if “Chiraq” would be the title and did not take questions. “Chiraq” is street slang that compares the nation’s third largest city to the war zones of the Middle East. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, and local alderman Anthony Beale have expressed concern over the title, with Beale calling it “insulting.” Chicago recorded 407 murders in 2014, far ahead of the 328 recorded in the larger city of New York. Chicago has long fought a reputation for violence, enhanced by the mythology surrounding Prohibition-era gangster Al Capone. Many criticized Spike for negatively affecting Chicago’s tourism by releasing a film with such an intimidating title. Lee said he was not concerned about Chicago politics or tourism. “This is not about Chicago losing business,” Lee said. Referring to the grieving mothers around him, Lee said, “No one wants to be a member of this club right here.” Lee cited news reports that 14 people had been shot in the city the day before, with three killed. How do you feel about the term “Chiraq”? Is it the “reflection of society” as Spike claims, or is it a pejorative term for a city that has the blood of black people running in the streets?

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Spike Lee Claps Back At “Haters” Who Aren’t Feeling The “Chiraq” Title Of His New Flick

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Lifts Citywide Curfew

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake released a written statement Sunday afternoon ending the city’s 10 p.m. curfew after roughly a week of unrest following the death…

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Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake Lifts Citywide Curfew

Drake Lost $6,000 To Game In A Final Four Bet On Kentucky

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Drake’s affinity for the University of Kentucky Wildcats has been advertised rather well. Kentucky coach John Calipari gave Drake a championship ring when the team…

Drake Lost $6,000 To Game In A Final Four Bet On Kentucky

New York First Daughter Chiara de Blasio Is An Official NYCTeen Advocate For Young People Experiencing Mental Illness

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Chiara de Blasio, the daughter of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and New York First Lady Chirlaine McCray, has officially commenced her role as advocate…

New York First Daughter Chiara de Blasio Is An Official NYCTeen Advocate For Young People Experiencing Mental Illness

This Is What The Oscars Red Carpet Looked Like 20 Years Ago

See what your favorite celebs were wearing on the 1995 Oscars red carpet.

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This Is What The Oscars Red Carpet Looked Like 20 Years Ago

‘Parks And Recreation’ Just Made Your Bill Murray Dreams Come True

All hail Mayor Murray! The ‘Ghostbusters’ legend finally made his appearance on ‘Parks and Recreation,’ in a very unexpected way.

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‘Parks And Recreation’ Just Made Your Bill Murray Dreams Come True

Jessica Alba Calls Herself “Bony-licious,” Wants To Lose Even More Weight

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Jessica Alba Calls Herself “Bony-licious,” Wants To Lose Even More Weight

For Discussion: Chicago Mayoral Candidate Says – “Racism Continues Because White People Don’t Fully Understand”

Chicago Mayoral Candidate Says Racism Persists Because White People Lack Understanding

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For Discussion: Chicago Mayoral Candidate Says – “Racism Continues Because White People Don’t Fully Understand”