Goodbye, Hello and Hello

Anitra Hamilton Selected to Represent W.Va. District 81

Hamilton was selected from a list of three candidates recommended by the Monongalia County Democratic Executive Committee and fills the vacancy left by the resignation of Del. Danielle Walker.

Hamilton has served her community in a variety of ways including as president of the Morgantown branch of the NAACP, a Minister at Agape Life Ministries in Fairmont, a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and vice chair of the West Virginia University Council for Gender Equity.

Read the WVNews story

An Open Letter from New ACLU Executive Director Danielle Walker

Five years ago, I boarded an ACLU-chartered bus bound for the nation’s capital. The U.S. Senate was about to appoint Brett Kavanaugh to the highest court in the land despite multiple credible accusations of sexual assault against him. The ACLU of West Virginia had invited me and other survivors of sexual violence to travel with them to Washington, D.C. to confront Sen. Joe Manchin and ask him to oppose the nomination.

Read the entire letter

Three on BBG

Editorial: Tribute to Harry Belafonte

The actor, artist, entrepreneur, and activist will be honored by generations yet unborn. Harry Belafonte had a special connection to this state which may have been prompted by his own experience with poverty but was particularly connected with his eldest daughter’s calling to West Virginia.

Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer graduated from West Virginia State University with a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from WV Graduate College/Marshall University advanced studies.

Read the tribute by Rev. Ron English

BBG Author is an Award Winner!

Dorothy Wells’ @MamaDTweets amazing piece in our 2022 Juneteenth Pride Issue was recognized by The Associated Church Press Best of Church Press Awards

Read the article here

Melungeon Heritage: Unearthing Mixed Ancestry in My Family’s Genealogy

The Melungeon people were described by scholars as being tri-racial isolates. They were of European, African, and Indigenous ancestry who settled in isolated places such as the Appalachian Mountains.

Read the story by Heather Andolina

Black Strategy Planning Meeting

Please join us May 2-3 for BLAC’s first strategy planning summit: “Voices of the People — Planning the BLAC Agenda."

Your voice is needed! Join us and share this invite with other interested people! To build solidarity, all are welcome.

Three to Read

WorkForce West Virginia announces May 3 Statewide Virtual Job Fair

Both employers and job seekers are invited to participate in the virtual event on Wednesday, May 3, from 12:00 – 3:00 pm.

Virtual job fairs allow job seekers to apply, live chat, video chat and interview virtually with employers participating in the event.

Find out more info

Expanded food distribution center opens on West Side

Having outgrown its old facility at a West Side church, a Charleston food distribution center officially opened in a new space Thursday. The John 6 Community Food Center is now open in the West Virginia Health Right Community Wellness Center.

Read the Charleston Gazette-Mail story by Lori Kersey

Black Student Accepted to 125 Colleges and $9M in Scholarships

Dennis Barnes, an African American high school student from New Orleans, Louisiana, has been awarded $9 million in scholarship offers from 125 colleges and universities, reportedly setting a new world record for the highest amount of scholarship money offered.

Read the BlackNews.com story