Thomas Ravenel will have to answer the charge that he sexually assaulted his nanny in 2015. According to South Carolina news affiliate WCSC, a judge named Stephen Harris determined at a hearing on Monday that the case against Ravenel will take a step toward trial, dealing a pretty significant legal blow to the Southern Charm star. Ravenel was arrested in September and charged with second-degree assault and battery after the victim claimed he assaulted her inside of his Charleston home about three years ago. Tdoay’s preliminary hearing (which Ravenel did NOT attend) included graphic testimony from a Charleston police detective. He stated that photos show scratches on the unnamed victim, which prompted the aforementioned charges to be filed. On cross examination, Ravenel’s lawyer said there were problems unlocking the accuser’s cell phone. He also told Judge Harris that this is a case of “he said, she said,” although the victim’s wounds appear to contract that claim. While Ravenel’s young daughter’s slept in the room next door, the nanny told investigators that Ravenel took off his clothes and put the her hand on his private parts. He is then accused grabbing her private parts. “While inside the location, the defendant undressed and made sexual advances on the victim,” according to an affidavit submitted to the court. It continues: “The defendant grabbed the victim’s hand and placed it on his penis before attempting to [remove] the victim’s clothing. “While attempting to remove the victim’s clothing, the victim’s underwire bra cut into her skin and her shirt wrapped around her neck, which caused the victim to struggle to breathe.” The woman then “crouched down to the ground to try and prevent further assault” before Ravenel allegedly “put his penis in her face,” per to this same document. At one point, the affadavit goes on, Ravenel “pulled down the victim’s pants and said ‘Show me your pussy.'” Ravenel is a former South Carolina state treasurer and anchored Southern Charm on Bravo for several seasons. But he dropped out of the series shortly after news of this assault (and another attempted rape) went public. “In the contract they have the right to fictionalize your story. They took advantage of me. I decided I’ve got too much to lose and informed them I’m not coming back,” Ravenel explained at the time of his departure, playing the victim. The accuser, identified only as Dawn, appeared at Ravenel’s bond hearing last month and said she thinks the crime extends beyond simple assault and battery. She said at that time that Ravenel’s kids and also hers were “exposed to constant alcohol and drugs.” Investigators say they have “appropriately time-stamped” photos of all of these injuries to corroborate Dawn’s story. They also have records of her employment that confirm her time line of events. Ravenel resigned as state treasurer in 2007 after pleading guilty to a cocaine possession charge. He has two children with ex Kathryn Dennis: daughter Kensie, 4; and son Saint, 2. Dennis filed for a modification of custody and visitation after his arrest — we don’t blame her. View Slideshow: Southern Charm: How Much Are the Stars Paid?
Prince Williams/WireImage Porsha Williams Talks Dennis McKinley, Did Dennis Date Kandi? During last night’s RHOA premiere fans met Porsha’s husband-to-be Dennis McKinley. Porsha gave fans their first full look at the love of her life who owns several hookah lounges and is a hotdog mogul. According to Porsha, they fell in love SUPER fast—as in on the first date and haven’t looked back since. Now they’ve been dating for five months and are looking at rings ranging from 6 karats to 10 karats ranging in price from $145,000 to $552,000 because Dennis “sold 2,000 hot dogs last week,” so there’s no budget. Things got especially interesting however when Kandi and Dennis traveled to Miami for a girls trip to surprise NeNe at her boutique opening. When Porsha brought up her fellow housewife Kandi, Dennis got visibly uncomfortable. Porsha: “You know Kandi? Dennis: “Yeah.” Porsha: “You met her before? Where?” Dennis: “I don’t know.” Fans are now adamant that Dennis REALLY knows Kandi—and that Porsha should be ready for some drama. Porsha: you know Kandi Dennis: yeah Porsha: you Met her before, where? Dennis: I….I don’t know #RHOA pic.twitter.com/6XOQb7ae2B — ThatChickTianna (@tiannabeballlin) November 5, 2018 Dennis when Porsha asked from where he know Kandi #RHOA pic.twitter.com/8IRGuBAlkt — Lana Kane (@TemporarilyClsd) November 5, 2018 What’s REALLY going on here? See what Kandi has to say about Dennis on the flip.
Source: Splash / Splash News Angela Simmons is mourning the sudden loss of her ex-fiance and son’s father. Yesterday (Nov. 3), Sutton Tennyson was shot and killed in his home in Atlanta. Tennyson would have been 38 on Nov. 5. Although it was initially reported to be a home invasion, Tennyson was shot while in his garage after getting into an argument with an unidentified man. CBS 46 reports he was shot multiple times in the garage of his home in SW Atlanta, GA. The gunman fled the scene. Simmons, who was once engaged to Tennyson (they called off the pending nuptials in 2017), took to Instagram to honor her son’s father and namesake. “Thank you for leaving behind my greatest gift . I’m hurting . I’m numb. Thank you for the out pouring of love everyone . I cant believe I’m even saying Rest In Peace Sutton . I promise to hold SJ down in every way I promise ,” she wrote as the caption to a series of photos of their family. Rest in power.
Source: Bravo / Getty Real Housewives of Atlanta is back for its 11th season! Can you believe it? Eleven years of ratchet peaches. Cynthia, Kandi, Porsha, and Nene are back—and so is Eva, who officially got her peach. Eva is in wedding planning mode, Kandi is gallivanting in LA with Xscape, busy winning ASCAP Awards, Cynthia has a new boyfriend who lives in LA (the Fox News sportscaster, Mike Hill) and Porsha got a new man too. We all know by now that Porsha is engaged , but we get to watch it play out this season. In case you didn’t know, her man is Dennis McKinley, an entrepreneur who owns several lounges and the Original Hot Dog Factory . It’s quite clear that he’s loaded and he’s taking Porsha ring shopping. They’re going on a trip to Miami for Porsha’s birthday. Nene and Gregg are dealing with Gregg having stage 3 colon cancer. Nene is obviously a wreck but she’s standing by her hubby. Gregg is committed to fighting the good fight post surgery and so far so good but as a lot of us know, when it comes to cancer, they’re taking things day by day. In happier news, Nene and Porsha’s friendship is back in a good place. Nene helps Porsha find some clothes for her birthday trip, and Porsha does the most to make Nene laugh. It’s cute. Porsha then learns that Nene will be in Miami at the same time doing a comedy show so you know what that means, right? Girls trip! Actually, it’s going to be a surprise girls trip. Porsha calls the girls, even Kandi and invites them down with the intention of surprising Nene. Even Marlo is coming. But as we all know, things are still awkward between Porsha and Kandi and Porsha and Marlo also don’t get along. We’ll see how these dramaful (yes, dramaful) events start to unfold next week. Kenya isn’t returning, but she and her husband recently welcomed a healthy baby girl to the world. Hopefully, we’ll be seeing some of this in cameo appearances. Speaking of baby bumps, hopefully, we’ll be seeing Shamea back on the show (they really need to give her a peach, but whatevs) and of course, we’ll be introduced to newbie satellite friends Shomari DeVoe and Tanya Sam. RELATED POSTS ‘RHOAS10’ Recap: Kim And Her Wig Are Done With The Show For Good ‘RHOAS10’ Recap: Kenya Moore Confirms Pregnancy At The Reunion Kick Off
The Walking Dead said goodbye to an original star on Sunday night. And no, we’re not talking about one of the recurring players here. We’re talking about the character who kickstarted the franchise on the series premiere, Rick Grimes! If you watch The Walking Dead online , you know that Rick was injured at the close of last week’s episode after trying to lure two herds of walkers away from his comrades. With Rick going in and out of consciousness, he met a lot of his fallen friends, and one of them was Shane aka the man who got jiggy with Rick’s wife, Lori while he was in a coma. It was a surprising scene because it took Rick all the way back to his days as a police officer, patrolling the streets of Atlanta with his BFF. It didn’t last long, however, and Rick found himself back in the present and a walker about to kill him. He managed to fight it and escaped with his horse. Yes, it may seem like Rick is invincible, but he has been fighting these zombies for several years, so it makes sense … kind of. Another ghost from the past Rick met was Hershel who told Rick it was okay for him to let go, and that Maggie was growing as a leader every single day. All of these visions seemed to want Rick to know that he could die and everyone would be able to move on if they had to. The most striking vision was Rick on a huge landscape filled with bodies, but the bodies were of everyone Rick’s ever been close to. It was harrowing for sure, but there was a beacon of hope in the form of the dearly departed Sasha. “’Cause you did your part like I did mine… like the others did before us,” she said. “They gave us the strength that we needed to do what we had to do for the others, and the others draw strength from us. We make each other better, and it never ends.” “It crosses over toward the brave and loving.” With that, Rick woke back up and was saved by Michonne and his friends, but he was not out of the woods. As he prepared to die, his girlfriend had some words for him. It’s not over,” she said. “We don’t die.” That’s when we learned that Rick was still unconscious and he imagined the reunion. He continued to try and take the zombies away from his friends. Rick found dynamite on the bridge with the walkers who were about to make their way to the other communities, so he blew the bridge up. Everyone was stunned by the loss of Rick, noting that he died a hero. However, he was well and truly alive down the river. Anne appeared and claimed she was going to save Rick from this horrible world. “It’s not a trick, not anymore. I’m trying to save a friend who saved me,” she claimed to the people on the walkie-talkie. “I have something for you now. We have a deal?” Rick and Anne were picked up by the chopper and taken well and truly away from the danger zone. What the eff just happened? As if that big twist was not bad enough, we were thrown straight into the future to meet a much older Judith who was leading the charge on a rescue mission. What are your thoughts on Rick’s last stand? Hit the comments below. View Slideshow: The Walking Dead Season 9: What’s About to Go Down?
The Real Housewives of Atlanta returned to Bravo on Sunday night, and things took a serious turn. As we previously reported back in June, Gregg Leakes is battling cancer. With reality TV filmed months in advance, the hit reality series opened up with a lot of details about the diagnosis. NeNe wasted no time in telling viewers all about the diagnosis, explaining that Gregg was taken to hospital in May and said he needed to get prepared for surgery straight away. “His health these last couple of years has been a lot,” said NeNe. “We were not prepared to hear that,” she continued, adding that she needed to be strong for her family. “‘I have put on a brave face, but I have had many moments in my car alone and if my car could talk it would probably say ”this b**** cries too much,'” Nene sobbed. Gregg opened up about it when some of their friends and family showed up to wish him well. “I guess the scariest part about all of this is when we got to the hospital and the doctor saying that we need to do surgery on you tonight or you ain’t going to make it,” said Gregg, adding: “I went over and prayed to God, and I told him If it’s time, let’s go,” the reality star added of learning he had cancer. “I don’t fear death; I don’t want to go. If my work is finished here, take care of them, let’s go.” That’s when the season premiere turned into a somber affair. Gregg told everyone that he had written a letter for the doctor to give his wife if he did not pull through surgery. “Writing that note was the hardest ever thing I did in my life, but you never know what is in you until you are at that door, I never thought I had it in me to beat cancer but know I’m going to beat cancer’s ass,” he said. Despite the surgery being successful, both NeNe and Gregg recognized that it could return. “You have been my light,” Gregg told NeNe. “I couldn’t do this without you. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t even try. So I want to thank you, baby.” Elsewhere, Porsha’s new boyfriend made a big impression on just about everyone, and Porsha seemed ready to move the relationship to the next stage. “The power of the tongue is real. I said just at the beginning of this year I was going to meet the man I was going to marry, I’m going to get married this year,” she said. “And here I am completely in love and white is going to be my new color as I am going to be Mrs McKinley.” Porsha subsequently opened up about how her man was so rich. “He does really, really well. America loves hot dogs, and these hot dogs are going to put a hell of a ring on my finger,” she gushed. “I just never had this type of connection on this level,” she continued. “He told me he loved me the first day we met and I was like ”I love you too” it felt natural, and we just went with it.” Porsha later met up with NeNe, and the two chatted about their lives, with NeNe revealing why she was not going sit at home and wallow in despair. “I’m the sort of person who would prefer to throw myself into work. I am not one to sit at home in a depression so I will continue to function,” NeNe told her. That’s when Porsha continued to refer to Dennis as a “friend” and NeNe was quick to point that out to the cameras. “Porsha’s been telling me a lot about how she has a new friend, it’s a guy, okay. Porsha has puppy eyes, she’s really feeling somebody,” NeNe dished to the cameras. Porsha later said she wanted to keep Dennis away from her castmates, presumably because she knows there’s always some drama. “I am very protective over Dennis, I do not want other people in our little world right now,” she admitted. “It is important for us as our friends to show her that we are here for you as well as Gregg.” But Porsha may have gotten her wish by the end of the episode. Dennis appeared with a box that looked a whole lot like an engagement ring. What are your thoughts on the premiere? Hit the comments below. View Slideshow: The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 11: All the Secrets… EXPOSED!
Teacher Fired for Punching Kid in the Face People Fuck Durin a Protest DrunK girl Fight Naked Woman Demands Rights and Justice Prison Guard in Fist Fight with Inmate Woman Confronts Tweaker Husband Fucked Train VS Car Shooting Up Liquor Store with Paintball Gun The post Teacher Plays a Porn in Class and Other Videos of the Day appeared first on DrunkenStepFather.com .
Sutton Tennyson , the father of Angela Simmons’ 2 year-old son, was killed at his home this past weekend. According to TMZ, Sutton was speaking with another man in his driveway and the conversation ended in gunshots before the man left. Related: Angela Simmons Shares Some Big News on Instagram Angela took to Instagram to share her thoughts. Related: Angela Simmons Confirms Pregnancy With Baby Bump Photo She also shared a heartfelt video of their son, Sutton Jr., watching videos of him and his father. The two were engaged in early 2016. Angela later announced, in 2017, that the engagement was off. Sutton was 37. We send our condolences to the family.
T he 2018 midterm elections are just a couple of days away, and Black candidates are a big part of the blue wave that Democrats hope will push the Republicans out of office in Congress and state governments. SEE ALSO: Blue Party: Say Hello To The Black Wave Here are several key congressional and statewide races to watch that feature African-American candidates: Stacey Abrams : Georgia Governor Abrams will become the first Black woman governor in the nation if elected. In 2010, Abrams made history as the first Africa-American Minority Leader in the Georgia House of Representatives. Oprah rallied a crowd of Stacey Abrams' supporters. Here are some memorable moments… https://t.co/hB9uBUDWDw #RepresentTheVote #TeamAbrams @staceyabrams @Oprah pic.twitter.com/lDDVa39iqY — NewsOne (@newsone) November 1, 2018 DD Adams: U.S. Congress North Carolina 5th District Denise Darcel Adams has served as councilmember for the North Ward of Winston-Salem since 2009, and she’s currently serving as vice chair of the Finance Committee and the Community Development/Housing/General Government Committee. Unions of working people are proud to endorse DD Adams for NC's 5th Congressional District ! @DDAdamsCongress pic.twitter.com/lEjXDGOqX8 — NC State AFL-CIO (@NCStateAFLCIO) October 30, 2018 Colin Allred : U.S. Congress Texas 32nd District Allred is a civil rights attorney. He worked previously as a special assistant in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of General Counsel. Join me in supporting Colin Allred via @actblue https://t.co/s9amKmfZ6W — Charles Lindsey (@FEB131313) November 2, 2018 Mandela Barnes : Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barnes is a Milwaukee native born in the city’s poorest and the nation’s most incarcerated zip code. At age 25, he was elected to the State Assembly. He will become Wisconsin’s first African-American lieutenant governor if elected. Wisconsin: We need Mandela Barnes as Lieutenant Governor! Please vote Nov. 6 for Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes! Follow: @TheOtherMandela and visit https://t.co/bfjLK93KHf to learn more about this amazing candidate! #UniteBlue #FlipItFriday #wipolitics pic.twitter.com/lZUkxVZLpH — UniteBlue Wisconsin (@UniteBlueWI) October 26, 2018 Adrienne Bell: U.S. Congress Texas 14th District Bell is a second-grade teacher. She is an advocate for early childhood education and vows to fight for quality education and healthcare for all while in Congress. I just gave to Adrienne Bell for Congress! https://t.co/MIkstCsGFu https://t.co/Au0yeWKNWx — Vote November 6 (@lang51b) October 18, 2018 Brandon P. Brown: U.S. Congress South Carolina 4th District Brown served as a state deputy director for then Sen. Joe Biden ‘s 2008 presidential campaign. He previously made history in 2004 as the first African-American nominated from a major party to run for Congress for the 4th District, which was an unsuccessful bid. Brandon P Brown is running for Gowdy's seat. Let's give him a boost. @brown_congress on twitter https://t.co/oyBKNboMqR . https://t.co/TRl36wXESm — Ghettonewz America (@Ghettonewz) July 13, 2018 Linda Coleman: U.S. Congress North Carolina 2nd District Coleman’s elected offices include Wake County North Carolina Commissioner and three terms in the North Carolina General Assembly. @LindaForNC is not afraid of the NRA! She will stand up and fight for the safety of her constituents in #NC02 . To pass strong gun laws and build a safer America, we need champions like Linda Coleman in Congress! #ElectionDay is on Tuesday! #VoteGVP pic.twitter.com/PL2uaUzOYA — CSGV (@CSGV) November 2, 2018 Deidre DeJear: Secretary of State, Iowa DeJear, a small business owner, is the first African-American candidate nominated by a major political party to run for a statewide office in Iowa. . @DeidreDeJear received an early education in public service from her grandmother. #TheChisholmList : https://t.co/J8m6100GxJ — ESSENCE (@Essence) November 1, 2018 Antonio Delgado : U.S. Congress New York 19th District This former rapper earned a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University in England and went to Harvard Law School. If elected, he will become the first African-American to represent New York’s 19th Congressional District. District 19 Congressional hopeful Antonio Delgado shows up at final Faso Friday in Midtown Kingston , NY to encourage supporters to bring people to the polls. pic.twitter.com/gjkxkBRtIu — Tania Barricklo (@tbarricklo) November 2, 2018 Keith Ellison : Minnesota Attorney General This deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee has served in Congress for the last twelve years. He stepped down from the House for the chance to become Minnesota’s first Black attorney general. He was the first Muslim elected to Congress. A domestic abuse allegation won't go away for Rep. Keith Ellison's campaign. Here's the latest… https://t.co/7OdA0J20TA pic.twitter.com/t4I0hYJ4F9 — NewsOne (@newsone) September 20, 2018 Aaron Ford: Nevada Attorney General Ford has served in the Nevada Senate where his colleges elected him Minority Leader for the 2015 legislative session. Meet Aaron Ford, the rising Democratic state lawmaker running for Nevada Attorney General https://t.co/9BhjhAQ6iu — Rent My Billboard (@4konWheels) October 25, 2018 Andrew Gillum : Florida Governor The Tallahassee mayor won an amazing come-from-behind victory to win the Democratic nomination. He’s on the path to becoming the state’s first African-American governor. NewsOne talked with @AndrewGillum about his campaign, as he races toward the finish line in the #FloridaPrimary for governor…. https://t.co/e2D9Xg3KE8 @peoplefor pic.twitter.com/aKGq5PwpWf — NewsOne (@newsone) August 28, 2018 Jahana Hayes : U.S. Congress Connecticut 5th District Hayes earned the prestigious National Teacher of the Year award in 2016. If elected to Congress, she’ll be the first Black woman to represent Connecticut in Congress. One of the nation’s most celebrated teachers, Jahana Hayes, joins a lineup of impressive Black female political candidates…. https://t.co/GURXkr2IL8 pic.twitter.com/fa6hFgUfEZ — NewsOne (@newsone) July 22, 2018 Yvonne Hayes Hinson: U.S. Congress Florida 3rd District Special needs teacher Yvonne Hayes Hinson specialized in educating children with neurological and behavioral challenges. After retiring from Miami-Dade Public Schools, she launched her own education company. I am proud to announce our banner of endorsements. Thank you to the organizations who endorsed our campaign. @FLAFLCIO @MomsDemand @progressivedemsfl @dwcfl @leap_forward @fllgbtadems @HRC https://t.co/BQxr4F6Jx2 pic.twitter.com/Npm5rdwtUX — Yvonne Hayes Hinson for Congress (@YvonneHinsonFL) September 29, 2018 Steven Horsford: U.S. Congress Nevada 4th District Horsford is a seasoned politician who was elected to Congress in 2012 and served as a Nevada state senator from 2004 to 2012. He was the first African-American Senate majority leader in Nevada. Nevada needs a candidate who has placed issues of work, wages, and wealth that affect the Black community at the center of their policy agenda. Nevada needs @StevenHorsford . #BlackEconomicAlliance #StevenHorsford #2018 Midterms #Nevada pic.twitter.com/kNKPy4PbkA — Black Economic Alliance (@BlkEconAlliance) November 2, 2018 Letitia James : New York Attorney General James will become the first Black woman to hold statewide office in New York if elected. As the city’s current public advocate, she was the African-American woman to win citywide office in New York. Letitia James is a step closer to the New York Attorney General office after her history-making Democratic primary win. Here are five things to know: https://t.co/Wg7qG1mhRV pic.twitter.com/1RIqXCWzD5 — NewsOne (@newsone) September 14, 2018 Ben Jealous : Maryland Governor At age 35, Jealous was named the youngest ever national president and CEO of the national NAACP . He will become Maryland’s first Black governor if elected. Congratulations to Ben Jealous on winning the Democratic governor primary in Maryland! There are now two Black nominees for governor, and counting. @BenJealous #BlackHistory https://t.co/zy2rDT2S7i pic.twitter.com/ScVjFAuJWd — NewsOne (@newsone) June 27, 2018 Francys Johnson: U.S. Congress Georgia 12th District Johnson is a criminal and civil law attorney, as well as a former president of the Georgia NAACP. Francys Johnson for Congress wants to share this story Francys Johnson for Congress: Let's take this Seat! https://t.co/Z37KAwaEvS — Francys Johnson for Congress (@francysjohnson) September 24, 2018 Lucy McBath : U.S. Congress Georgia 6th District Lucia “Lucy” McBath is the mother of Jordan Davis , who was shot and killed in 2012 by a white man at a Florida gas station. She’s been a leading voice against the state’s infamous stand-your-ground law. #Georgia don’t forget about Lucy McBath. She is the mother of slain teenager #JordanDavis . Get her into Congress on November 6th! #midterms #election2018 #VOTE https://t.co/s5gBdB2FFV — Keri Henderson (@KeriLHenderson) November 2, 2018 Joe Neguse: U.S. Congress Colorado 2nd District Neguse is an attorney and civic leader. His parents fled the war-torn African country of Eritrea and immigrated to the United States as refugees. Honored to earn the endorsement of The @coloradoan ! “Policy experience gives Joe Neguse an edge in race for Congress” https://t.co/EFVbOHadkb #copolitics — Joe Neguse (@JoeNeguse) October 14, 2018 Ilhan Omar : U.S. Congress Minnesota 5th District Born in Somalia, Omar and her family fled the country’s civil war when she was 8 years old. In 2016, she became the first Somali-American Muslim legislator in the United States. ‘In love with democracy,’ Ilhan Omar draws diverse supporters in bid for Congress https://t.co/43oMmfRDbc pic.twitter.com/Lwu2kH3eCk — CALANKA MEDIA (@CALANKAMEDIA) November 2, 2018 Ayanna Pressley : U.S. Congress Massachusetts 7th District Pressley made history in 2009 as the first woman of color elected to the Boston City Council. She’s poised to become the first Black woman elected to Congress from Massachusetts Here's what Ayanna Pressley's victory means for Black Boston… https://t.co/DAvmYRKle4 pic.twitter.com/ArDPvjXHLa — NewsOne (@newsone) September 5, 2018 Sean Shaw: Florida Attorney General Shaw is a first-term member of the Florida House from Tampa. The consumer insurance lawyer will become Florida’s first Black attorney general if elected. His father, Leander Shaw , was the state’s first African-Amerian chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court. Vote for Sean Shaw for Florida Attorney General! https://t.co/LuqRAOWodV pic.twitter.com/LSffNYxMLy — DPCF (@ProgressiveFL) November 1, 2018 Stephany Rose Spaulding: U.S. Congress Colorado 5th District The Rev. Dr. Spaulding is a newcomer to politics. She serves as a professor of women’s and ethnic studies and as the senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Help Stephany Rose Spaulding, PhD, make history. Elect her as the 1st Dem ever for #CO05 @StephanyForCO will fight for all residents & areas: military, civilian, rural & urban Be A Voter by 11/6 https://t.co/y5EDPSzDFi https://t.co/LjzvEEocmC #Ally4US #FlipTheHouse pic.twitter.com/qCBTeCCyPz — Sophie Be a Blue Voter (@geekresister07) November 1, 2018 Lauren Underwood: U.S. Congress Illinois 14th District Underwood is a registered nurse and health policy expert who served as a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Barack Obama . Lauren Underwood's unlikely campaign is all about health care https://t.co/hUmwbgxoSG — MorallyBankruptGOPMustGo (@WeChooseBoth18) November 2, 2018 Lavangelene “Vangie” Williams: U.S. Congress Virginia 1st District Williams is new to politics but has emerged as a powerful voice for the underserved working-class in her community, and she could make history as the first African-American to represent Virginia’s First Congressional District. #NOTheOne is giving shine to all the Black women currently owning the political space this season. Read Vangie Williams story and learn how she made history! https://t.co/hvrDqMnZ3U pic.twitter.com/sMUI4jfPvA — NewsOne (@newsone) September 27, 2018 SEE ALSO: The Power Of The Black Vote And How To Make Each One Count Watch: Drunk White Woman Who Racially Harasses Black Women Faces Consequences After Sobering Up [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3834782″ overlay=”true”]
B lack women are raising the bar in the realm of academia. In July, Miami native Mareena Robinson Snowden became the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and now another woman has hit the same milestone at another institution. According to the Huffington Post , Ciara Sivels has become the first African-American woman to earn a nuclear engineering Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Dr. Ciara Sivels is 27 years old. https://t.co/tZXmP1JdoS — HuffPost BlackVoices (@blackvoices) November 2, 2018 The institution has one of the top nuclear engineering programs in the country, the news outlet writes. 27-year-old Sivels—who hails from Virginia—submitted her thesis titled “Development of an Advanced Radioxenon Detector for Nuclear Explosion Monitoring” last month and earned her doctorate degree. Sivels wasn’t always passionate about STEM. She initially wanted to pursue a career in the culinary industry. It was her high school chemistry teacher who convinced her to give STEM a try. “I was originally going to go to culinary school. In my junior and senior years, I was in culinary arts,” she told the news outlet. “I remember the teacher from that class saying, ‘Oh, you’re really smart, you should think about doing something other than culinary.’ So that’s kinda how I switched over into engineering and eventually ended up at MIT and ended up in the nuclear program.” Sivels’ academic journey was far from easy. Although at times she wanted to give up she decided to stay the course because she realized that what she was working towards was something that was bigger than her. Now that she has her Ph.D. under her belt, Sivels is focused on becoming a professor. She’s relocating to Baltimore and will work in Johns Hopkins University’s physics department. She believes in the power of representation and hopes that her journey will inspire other people of color to pursue careers in STEM. “My two big things are representation and exposure. I still feel like exposure is key and representation also helps, because you have people that look like you that can help pull you up when you’re failing,” she said. Sivels’ accomplishment is one step forward towards changing the narrative about Black women in STEM. According to Catalyst Inc. , Black, Latinx, and Asian women made up less than 10 percent of engineers and scientists in 2015. SEE ALSO: Mareena Robinson Snowden Becomes First Black Woman To Earn Nuclear Engineering Ph.D. From MIT Brown University To Rename Building After First Black Graduates [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3834873″ overlay=”true”]
