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School choice and history of segregation collide as Florida county closes rural schools

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MADISON, Fla. (AP) — Tens of hundreds of students have left Florida public schools in recent times amid an explosion at school choice, and now districts large and small are grappling with the financial strain of empty seats in aging classrooms.

As some districts face school closures, school administrators are facing one other long-overlooked problem: tips on how to integrate students in racially and economically segregated buildings.

In northwest Florida, one small district plans to merge its last three independent elementary schools into one campus since it doesn’t have enough students to cover the fee of keeping the doors open. But the Madison County School District’s decision to accomplish that has exposed racial tensions in a community where some white families have opposed public school integration for years.

“It’s a taboo subject that no one wants to talk about,” county school board member Katie Knight told The Associated Press.

“At the end of the day, these kids are going to have to interact with all people, regardless of race, ability, personality type,” she said. “Trying to segregate our kids is not an option.”

Segregation, integration, consolidation

Shirley Joseph grew up in segregated schools in Florida and was a black student in a single of the primary integrated classes at a neighborhood highschool.

Now, as superintendent of Madison County Public Schools, her job is to shut some of them.

In this rural county within the state’s former cotton belt, fewer than 1,700 students remain in traditional public schools. Many families have moved to places with more jobs and housing — or have chosen other types of education. For those that remain, the schools provide greater than just an education: All Madison students qualify at no cost meals because of the county’s poverty rate. One in three children there lives in poverty.

“If we want to survive as a district,” Joseph said, “we have to make tough decisions.”

Earlier this month, Joseph walked through elementary school hallways on a recent first day of school, mentioning empty classroom after empty classroom.

One of the schools slated to shut is Greenville Elementary, which has fewer than 100 students — a few third of its capability. When Florida schools were officially segregated, Joseph attended classes there at what was then called the Greenville Training School.

Generations of black residents cherish the legacy of the college within the small town of Greenville where legendary musician Ray Charles grew up.

More than 50 years after desegregation, the college continues to be 85 percent black. Class sizes have shrunk as the college struggles to retain certified teachers. The school’s grades have fluctuated across the state, but Greenville has received an “F” grade five times prior to now decade for low student achievement rates.

When an Associated Press reporter visited recently, fourth-grade teacher Mannika Hopkins had just eight students in her class.

“I hate that it’s closing. It’s my heart. It’s our community. … It’s us,” Hopkins said. “Who wants to move to a community that doesn’t have a school nearby?”

Starting next yr, Greenville will merge with Lee and Pinetta elementary schools, which have mostly white students. All those students shall be sent to Madison County Central School, a mostly black K-8 campus that could be a 15- to 20-minute drive from the realm elementary schools. The district has not yet announced which teachers will transfer to the merged school and which is able to lose their jobs.

School choice causes drop in enrollment

Madison County is an hour east of Tallahassee, in a region once dominated by cotton and tobacco plantations. A Confederate soldier monument still looms over the central park within the county seat of Madison.

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The area has been short of students for years as the birth rate drops, businesses close and families move to places with more jobs outside the lumber industry, trucking and jobs on the nearby state prison.

Other families remained but simply left public schools.

For a long time, Aucilla Christian Academy in neighboring Jefferson County has attracted some of the realm’s wealthiest families. Founded in 1970, Aucilla opened amid a wave of recent private schools across the South, founded by white people against integration. Academics call them “segregation academies,” and many remain majority white. In the 2021-2022 school yr, greater than 90% of Aucilla’s students were white, in line with federal data.

Madison families have opposed consolidation prior to now: In 1998, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights stepped in when residents opposed plans to send students from mostly white Lee Elementary to Central, a college that may soon accept elementary students from the county. After the department got involved, the district moved forward with the plan.

Today, it could never have been easier to go away Florida’s public schools behind. The chaos of COVID-19 has forced many families to try homeschooling or micro-schooling — small, private learning environments that always serve multiple families. And now, under Gov. Ron DeSantis, all Florida students can qualify for taxpayer-funded vouchers value about $8,000 a yr to cover private school tuition, regardless of household income.

For families against Madison consolidation, Aucilla is a possible destination, as is Madison Creative Arts Academy, a public charter school.

The parents of 9-year-old Noel Brouillette are hopeful she’s going to get a spot on the academy. It’s not about race, said her mother, Nicole Brouillette, but relatively the popularity of the Black Central school, which has more fights. If Noel doesn’t get into the charter school, the family could leave Madison County altogether.

The fourth-grade student is devastated that she will’t stay at Pinetta Elementary School.

“If I had never come here, I would never have met my best friend,” she said.

Other parents are considering homeschooling, like Alexis Molden. She said her sons love going to Lee Elementary, but she’s heard rumors about Central — that multiracial kids like hers are bullied there.

“I’ve heard that… it’s basically segregation,” Molden said. “You have white kids, black kids, and then the mixed kids have to decide which side they’re going to be on.”

School board member Katie Knight said if she had a dollar for each rumor she heard about Central, she could retire.

However, the county has its own history.

When Shirley Joseph, the present principal of Madison County High School, a long time ago, said her students would sort themselves as they entered her classroom — white kids on one side, black kids on the opposite — until she told them to change seats.

“We have to figure out, somehow, ‘How do we connect communities?’” Joseph said.

There’s all the time talk of leaving public schools, Joseph said, but she believes most families will stay. In the meantime, she’s focused on providing the very best education possible to the scholars she has — those that can’t leave.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Vivica A. Fox’s shocking transformation in new photos leaves fans stunned, months after criticism over her “puffy” appearance

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After months of public criticism and constant comments about her appearance, Vivica A. Fox is proving that she will rise above the noise in style.

The “Set it Off” actress, who faced mockery from a whole lot of individuals online for her weight gain in addition to accusations of cosmetic surgery and photoshopping, is back with a striking new look that has fans excited.

Actress Vivica A. Fox stunned fans after debuting her new look through the recent Lifetime + Hulu holiday event “A Wonderful Lifetime.” (Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic)

The multilingual Fox took to social media to share her stunning look from the “It’s a Wonderful Lifetime” Christmas Celebration event held on Saturday, November 16 in Los Angeles.

Dressed in a wine-colored Badgley Mischka sequined suit with a draped belt, her hair perfectly styled and her face perfectly sculpted, 50 Cent’s ex-girlfriend dazzled her 1.7 million fans.

The post it featured photos of Fox with other stars who attended the event, including Jackee Harry, Tia Mowry, Romeo Miller, Jeanie Mae and more.

Many people were quick to note her radiant glow and renewed confidence, which many felt was missing from her previous posts.

Fans flooded Fox’s comments section with praise, showering love on the Black Hollywood icon.

“Yassss Ms. Foxy I mean Foxy lol you are killing it,” one person wrote, while one other exclaimed: “What a knockout!”

“Wow, you’re gone,” someone commented, describing how stunning she looked afterwards.

However, several people directly identified her much slimmer appearance in comparison with recent weeks, writing: “You’re losing weight” and “The weight loss and new glow looks phenomenal on her.”

Others added: “LAWDDDDDDDDDD….. WE LOOK AND FEEL LIKE A MILLION DOLLARS! ACT, Sister. WOW!”

Vivica A. Fox in September 2024 vs. November 2024. (Photos: The Tamron Hall Show/YouTube; @msvfox/Instagram)

Life and Hulu cooperated organize an event that allowed the general public to see that Fox continues to be one in all the best beauties of her generation.

For someone who has been an emblem of beauty and talent since her breakout role as Carmen Silva on Days of Our Lives, this new chapter in her journey reminds the world that reinvention and resilience go hand in hand.

Last yr, the NAACP Image Award winner celebrated her milestone sixtieth birthday by launching a media onslaught promoting her latest film, “The Lost Holiday,” and a number of other other ventures.

One of Fox’s notable appearances was on “The Tamron Hall Show,” which sparked conversations about her height in early October. Many said she looked “puffy” and her face and body looked plumper in comparison with her iconic roles in motion movies like “Independence Day” and “Kill Bill,” and her flashy fashion was a thing of the past.

Fans were concerned, with some suggesting she could have had “hormonal issues” that contributed to her looking “puffy.”

Others wondered if perhaps she was bloated for some reason, and others simply said people should show her grace.

“She’s not that big. I saw it on the show. Stop making it huge,” one person said, while one other added: “Yes, people gain weight… DAMN. Still looks great.

Fox’s recent appearance could also be what it takes to silence her critics, and it’s a strong declaration of self-love and perseverance. Her ability to remain busy and occupied despite the constant pressure of finding the suitable role when she’s in the highlight speaks volumes about her drive.

In a world where public figures are subjected to ruthless scrutiny, Fox’s ability to rise above negativity and shine is a fair brighter testament to her strength and resilience. While fans proceed to support her, the Why Do Fools Fall in Love actress confirms why she stays a cherished icon in the entertainment industry.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Meghan Markle shares why she “can’t wait” for the holidays

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Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, the holidays, Archewell Foundation, Mina

Meghan Markle loves the holidays.

The Duchess of Sussex said this in a recent interview Marie Clairethrough which she told how she and her young family, including Prince Harry, spend every holiday.

Firstly, the 43-year-old mother of two is thrilled to share her joy together with her two children, Prince Arcihe, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.

“At first, I think as a mom with kids, you’re just happy that they’re there for you, but they don’t understand everything that’s going on yet,” she said. “But now we’re at an age where I look forward to seeing it through their lens every year.”

Meghan and her family’s holidays begin with what she called a “pretty low-key” Thanksgiving celebration.

“Over the last few years, as I’ve celebrated Thanksgiving here, like many of us, I’ve thought about always making sure there’s room at the table for friends who don’t have family, and that’s really key,” she said.

In her case, that meant welcoming people like Gloria Steinem to previous celebrations. But for the Sussexes, a low-key Thanksgiving also involves spending time with Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, who lives near their home in California.

“Being close to my mom is great,” she said.

She added that her family often makes sure they’ve “something fun to do.”

“Like any other family, you spend time having a great meal and then what do you do? Play games and stuff like that, someone brings a guitar – it’s fun,” she continued. “Every vacation is a new adventure.”

Meghan also added how vital it’s for her children to experience the “magic” of the holiday season, including “wonderful recipes that end up being formative memories.” Currently, this includes leaving carrots for Santa’s reindeer on Christmas Eve.

The Duchess met with Marie Claire at a Christmas dinner for Afghan women who recently moved to California through… Mina’s Lista corporation that helps Afghan women evacuate Afghanistan and find resources and support. Women also receive support through Welcome project of the Archewell Foundationwhich Meghan and Prince Harry launched in 2023 to extend support for women who resettled in the US from Afghanistan, People Magazine reported. There are currently 11 Welcome Project chapters in nine states.

Meghan Markle is investing in a new line of hair supplements owned by black women

The dinner was held at a modern kitchenware company owned by women and immigrants Our place and included good food, energetic conversation, and even poetry.

“From my viewpoint, one in all the reasons we desired to make certain we had the opportunity to be together again – so a lot of us – straight away is because as the holidays approach, and in some ways they’ve already began, it brings to evoke a lot emotion in people,” Meghan said during her dinner remarks.

“You miss home, you miss your country, and you can also find solace in the new community you have here,” she continued. “I’m grateful that we get to be a part of this community.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Elaine Welteroth and Jonathan Singletary welcomed their second child

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Elaine Welteroth, Jonathan Singletary, Elaine Welteroth has baby, Black famous mothers, Black mothers, Black maternal health, birthFUND, theGrio.com

Elaine Welteroth has a brand recent bundle of joy!

The 37-year-old media personality and founding father of birthFUND welcomed her second child, a son named SantiGold, together with her husband, musician Jonathan Singletary, in early November.

While Welteroth said People Magazine that she and her growing family are “healthy and happy” – she admitted that she has been affected by sleep problems since welcoming the most recent member of the family.

“I’m not sure my brain is working at full speed,” she told the web site. “I’m sleep-deprived, but I’m fine, I’m fine.”

Recalling the precise day she went into labor, she stated that she just knew it was the day.

“His birth was largely orchestrated by God,” she explained. “I just instinctively said, ‘I’m going to send my kid to school, and when he comes home, he’ll have a little brother.'”

In addition to her general spidey senses, Welteroth had an impulse to be outdoors, so she went to the park.

“The moment I sat down on the grass, I felt the first contraction,” she said. “I assumed, ‘Let’s go, honey.’ “It’s happening.”

Still, there was no immediate sense of urgency for the young mother of two, even stopping to do some Reiki within the park together with her midwife. Shortly thereafter, she returned home for what she described because the “most beautiful” and “peaceful” home birth. SantiGold’s peaceful delivery could also be a part of the inspiration behind his name, which she said means “peace” in Thai.

“I think you’re more confident in the process the second time around,” she noted, adding, “You can trust the method more. The baby was born inside three hours, I could not consider it.

Welteroth, who welcomed her first child, a boy, together with her husband in April 2022, has long touted her second pregnancy as a “redemptive pregnancy.” Its first stage was marked by complications and anxiety. Halfway through, after learning concerning the full scope of the Black mother’s health crisis, she began working with a midwife and decided to have a house birth. She also learned what number of families couldn’t afford the life-saving care of midwives and doulas, which led her to launch the FUND birth fund earlier this yr.

Elaine Welteroth shares her pain story in Advil's 'Believe My Pain' campaign

It was through the organization’s official opening that she learned she was pregnant together with her second child, announcing the primary group of beneficiaries. Now her organization is preparing to reward 41 more families.

“I started with the mantra: ‘We are the ones who have to save ourselves,’” she said. “I’m just very, very proud of our team and that we can help women and families, especially in this moment when we see how the system is failing families. I am truly encouraged and hopeful.”

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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