INSIDER
Frustration remains decades after Roanokeโs urban renewal projects
Read full article: Frustration remains decades after Roanokeโs urban renewal projectsROANOKE, Va. โ This article is a continuation of a previous piece published in August focusing on the lasting effects of urban renewal on Roanokeโs Black community. Throughout history, urban renewal in Roanoke, in many cases, meant splintering that community. Many people who are still alive continue to feel the pain of being uprooted by those urban renewal projects. โUrban renewal just came in with a sledgehammer,โ said Dr. Reginald Shareef, a Radford University professor with a Ph.D. in public administration from Virginia Tech. Shareef grew up in Roanoke and later researched the impact on Roanokeโs urban renewal project, publishing the book, โAn Evaluation of the Impact of Federal Urban Renewal and Redevelopment Programs on Three Roanoke, VA Neighborhoodsโ in 1992.
How local advocacy groups are working to ensure eligible voters can get to the polls
Read full article: How local advocacy groups are working to ensure eligible voters can get to the pollsAdvocacy groups say that is more difficult for some with a rise in voter suppression efforts since 2008. โYour voting right is one of the most important things that you have,โ said Dr. Brenda Hale, president of the Roanoke branch of the NAACP. Hale said the NAACP works to register eligible voters, educate them and get them to the polls. She said the organization is also on the lookout for instances of voter suppression. Voter suppression is defined as strategies, legal or illegal, to prevent eligible voters from voting or registering to vote.
Should racism be declared a public health crisis? Gov. Northam, state leaders say yes
Read full article: Should racism be declared a public health crisis? Gov. Northam, state leaders say yesRICHMOND, Va. โ For many, the global coronavirus pandemic is the worst health crisis in a generation. Our latest story questions whether racism should be declared a public health crisis. โWhen we accept it as a public health issue, we start putting research money behind it. Aird introduced a resolution that would formally acknowledge racism as a public health crisis in the Commonwealth. โWe talked about that very issue that racism is a health crisis issue.
Food Justice: What is it and how can we fix it
Read full article: Food Justice: What is it and how can we fix itROANOKE, Va. โ Food access is a daily challenge for many people across Southwest Virginia. For the past several years, Carolyn Williams has used Local Environmental Agriculture Projectโs (LEAP) mobile market to get her groceries. Thatโs why the LEAP Mobile Market was created in 2015, to cut down some of those barriers. And that starts with not calling these communities food deserts. โIt (a neighborhood with low food access) was designed that way.
'I feel the fire in my chestโ: Roanoke woman joins movement of young people fighting for racial equality
Read full article: 'I feel the fire in my chestโ: Roanoke woman joins movement of young people fighting for racial equalityROANOKE, Va. โ 2020 has been a year of change for many college students, including Tenysia Rivera. โI feel the fire in my chest and how much I want to make that change,โ Rivera said. Seeking justice is a drive her aunt, Nicole Ross, said Rivera has had her whole life. โIโve learned that itโs okay to be upset but if youโre going to be upset, you need to be upset now,โ said Rivera. โI feel like my generation is maybe the foundation to greater change,โ Rivera said.
Examining โWhite Fragilityโ and why some disagree with the claim that all white people are racist
Read full article: Examining โWhite Fragilityโ and why some disagree with the claim that all white people are racistROANOKE, Va. โ As the events surrounding race relations have emerged this summer beginning with the death of George Floyd, โWhite Fragilityโ shot to the top of the best-seller charts, even though its claims make some people fuming mad. Robin DiAngelo, the author of โWhite Fragility,โ began addressing audiences as soon as her book was published in 2018. โWhite fragility is not weakness per se. I donโt care if a person is white, Black, purple, or polka-dotted, My best friend is Black. You are not to describe such neighborhoods at all, even in your own head.โThe difficulty of defining the right and wrong of white fragility isnโt lost on Malinda Whitlow,a doctor of nursing practice at the University of Virginia, who participated in a university-sponsored White Fragility study group this summer.
Post-show conversation: 20/20 Focus: The Push for Equality
Read full article: Post-show conversation: 20/20 Focus: The Push for EqualityPost-show conversation: 20/20 Focus: The Push for EqualityPublished: August 6, 2020, 8:45 pm10 News anchors Brittny McGraw, Lindsey Ward and McKinley Strother to answer some questions you may have after watching 20/20 Focus: The Push for Equality
Lynchburg moms talk about raising Black children in current racial climate
Read full article: Lynchburg moms talk about raising Black children in current racial climateLynchburg moms talk about raising Black children in current racial climatePublished: August 6, 2020, 7:56 pmFar from the outrage seen in cities from coast to coast, three mom's own reality is disheartening too, dealing with the everyday challenges of raising Black children in Central Virginia.
How Danville native Wendell Scott blazed a trail for African Americans in NASCAR
Read full article: How Danville native Wendell Scott blazed a trail for African Americans in NASCARHow Danville native Wendell Scott blazed a trail for African Americans in NASCARPublished: August 6, 2020, 7:56 pmDanville native Wendell Scott started his engine more than 50 years ago, aiming to not only drive his car but drive home change.
Police chiefs, community come together to talk race
Read full article: Police chiefs, community come together to talk racePolice chiefs, community come together to talk racePublished: August 6, 2020, 7:54 pmThe video and images seen around the world of police officersโ interaction with Black people have recently forced communities to reassess these policies and practices.
A progressive city with Confederate roots: Lexingtonโs unique path to racial equality
Read full article: A progressive city with Confederate roots: Lexingtonโs unique path to racial equalityA progressive city with Confederate roots: Lexingtonโs unique path to racial equalityPublished: August 6, 2020, 7:53 pmFighting to preserve that history while creating equality, perhaps no other city in Virginia embodies the commonwealthโs identity struggle like Lexington, a liberal community with deep Confederate roots.
Urban renewal, redlining are still having lasting effects on Roanokeโs Black communities
Read full article: Urban renewal, redlining are still having lasting effects on Roanokeโs Black communitiesUrban renewal, redlining are still having lasting effects on Roanokeโs Black communitiesPublished: August 6, 2020, 7:52 pmA crucial way to understand systemic racism and its effects on generations is by taking a look at discriminatory housing practices, urban renewal and redlining.
WATCH: 20/20 Focus: The Push for Equality
Read full article: WATCH: 20/20 Focus: The Push for EqualityROANOKE, Va. โ Right now, many are wondering if weโll ever achieve Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.โs dream of a nation where people are judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. 10 News explored that question during an hour-long special to show you whatโs happening across Southwest and Central Virginia to work to fulfill Kingโs vision and create equality for all. Below is the after-show conversation with 10 News anchors Brittny McGraw, Lindsey Ward and McKinley Strother to answer some questions some had after watching.
A progressive city with Confederate roots: Lexingtonโs unique path to racial equality
Read full article: A progressive city with Confederate roots: Lexingtonโs unique path to racial equalityFighting to preserve that history while creating equality, perhaps no other city in Virginia embodies the commonwealthโs identity struggle like Lexington, a liberal community with deep Confederate roots. โI think certainly in the past the Confederate history of this region has been much more prevalent. As we have progressed, I donโt see as many people coming for the Confederate history,โ Friedman said. Robert E. Lee is crediting with saving Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) after his surrender to the Union. He said there is a great interest from people wanting to learn about these sites and community history.
Paving the way: How Danville native Wendell Scott blazed a trail for African Americans in NASCAR
Read full article: Paving the way: How Danville native Wendell Scott blazed a trail for African Americans in NASCARDanville native Wendell Scott started his engine more than 50 years ago, aiming to not only drive his car but drive home change. His mission was to always try and impact the community,โ said Warrick Scott, the grandson of the late Wendell Scott. Thatโs the mission they carry out with the Wendell Scott Foundation-- providing educational and cultural resources to the greater Danville area. Jumping in, fueling up and driving home the mission that the great Wendell Scott sought to fulfill. Wendell Scott Foundation has formed a platform where his legacy will be able to continue to live and breathe each day,โ said Warrick Scott.
Roanoke organizers discuss why change is happening now
Read full article: Roanoke organizers discuss why change is happening nowItโs these moments that Jojo Friday, the founder of Sisters of Change, has unknowingly spent the past three years working toward. She found it frustrating trying to lead others in our community to real change. โThe next step is how do I change my circle in order to actually change our community and thatโs the next step. Sisters of Change is hoping to serve the community as the connecting bridge. Sisters of Change has created a diversity course for businesses and non-profits interested in educating its employees.
Roanoke man creates group to unite the regions Black fathers
Read full article: Roanoke man creates group to unite the regions Black fathersI may have come in contact with more than 100 Black fathers in that time period, and every one of them is sick of that particular narrative.In response, Bell created Black Father Family, a group to unite and educate Black fathers in the Roanoke Valley. We should always be in the position to tell the positive stories of Black men and Black fathers, Bell said. The Black Father Family Facebook page has shared several videos of Roanokes Black fathers giving parenting advice. With everything going on in the world today, its a difficult time to be a Black father.Bell believes Black Father Family will make parenting easier for Roanokes Black fathers, while also showing all of Roanokes fathers the unique struggles they face. I want them to understand Black men are present fathers, Black men enjoy fatherhood, and Black men are positive fathers and positive role models.
Black history is American history: Challenging history education to reach beyond the classroom
Read full article: Black history is American history: Challenging history education to reach beyond the classroomROANOKE, Va. Black history is American history.Its the bold statement Eboni Harrington, a seventh-grade math teacher at Lucy Addison Middle School in Roanoke, lives by. Shes not the only one who is realizing how one-sided history is in Virginia education. She won Virginia Teacher of the Year for this region in 2017 and is now a member of the Virginia African American History Education Commission. Even as young as these students are, they recognize the value in more Black history and what it means for their future. The Virginia African American History Education Commission is still meeting via Zoom.
Urban renewal, redlining still have lasting effects on Roanokes Black communities
Read full article: Urban renewal, redlining still have lasting effects on Roanokes Black communitiesROANOKE, Va. A crucial way to understand systemic racism and its effects on generations is by taking a look at discriminatory housing practices, urban renewal and redlining. Roanokes Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial stands just steps away from Roanokes Henry Street Historic District, which was once the cultural and business center of the predominantly Black Gainsboro neighborhood. Over time, urban renewal projects and the practice of redlining fractured these communities. A Black man with similar income could not, so he had to get a high-risk high-interest loan, or no loan at all. Census Bureau figures show that today, the average white family has 10 times the wealth of the average Black family.
Representation matters': Lynchburg moms talk about raising Black children in current racial climate
Read full article: Representation matters': Lynchburg moms talk about raising Black children in current racial climateFar from the outrage seen in cities from coast to coast, their own reality is disheartening too, dealing with the everyday challenges of raising Black children in Central Virginia. I could have never uttered those words in my previous circles.Amy Corbett, Nicole Rule and Brittany Smith live in Lynchburg and know each other. 10 News reporter Magdala Louissaint sat down at Miller Park with the three moms to talk about what its been like to parent in the current racial climate. The Smith Family (WSLS 10)She tells me, Mom, I dont want to be brown anymore. See colors but say its all beautiful because its all to be respected.All children allow them to see brown skin shades of brown. Smith said.
Acknowledging the divide: Police chiefs, community come together to talk race
Read full article: Acknowledging the divide: Police chiefs, community come together to talk raceIts a simple, four-letter word that has made its way into many conversations within the last few months. I feel like we were doing it the right way. Now, hindsight being 2020, the right way is not always the only way or the best way, admitted Danville Police Chief Scott Booth. Police chiefs and community members from Danville, Roanoke and Lynchburg were present. With little interference, we allowed the talk to flow and breathe in a natural way.
Examining racial equalitys past to understand where we are now
Read full article: Examining racial equalitys past to understand where we are nowDANVILLE, Va. Historians will tell you the importance of looking to the past to understand the current fight for racial equality and justice. Part of that past is a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement that happened in Danville on June 10, 1963. Thats when they marched from Bible Way on Grant Street over to here, and thats when people were beaten up. Theyre not saying from a racial standpoint that other people dont matter. Theyre saying that, also, Black Lives Matter, and thats important that Black people be inclusive of whatever youre doing.