It’s a wonderful life for Hester Ford, who marked her 116th birthday at her home, surrounded by family and friends. Lots of family and friends. TheThe CharlotteCharlotteTHE VOICE Post PostOF THE BLACK COMMUNITY SINCE 1906 WEEK OF AUGUST 20, 2020 VOLUME 46, NUMBER 50 WWW.THECHARLOTTEPOST.COM $1.50 Off death row with repealed NC law By Herbert L. White [email protected] The Racial Justice Act has new life beyond its repeal. The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled 4-3 on Aug. 14 to com- mute Marcus Robinson’s death sentence to life without parole, a first for the state under the RJA, which was rescinded in 2013. The justices found that evidence supported the plain- tiffs’ claim that racial bias is often part of capital trials, involv- ing Black defendants up to intentionally ex- cluding Blacks from Hill JOEBIDEN.COM juries. In the majority opinion, Chief Justice Cheri Beas- U.S. Sen. and Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris has generated excitement among Black North Carolinians, says U.S. Rep. G.K. ley pointed to an “egregious legacy Butterfield, especially in the historically Black college and university community. Harris is a graduate of Howard University, an HBCU in Washington, of the racially discriminatory appli- D.C. North Carolina has 12 Black colleges, the most of any state in the country. cation” of the death penalty, writ- ing: “equal protection to all must be given—not merely promised.” The court found that returning Robinson, a Cumberland County Harris candidacy energizes resident, to death row despite “overwhelming evidence” ev- idence of racial bias violates the state constitution. The court ruled that he serve life without parole in- NC’s HBCU community stead. “Robinson’s claims under the RJA do not negate or diminish his guilt As a Black college grad, VP candidate has unique appeal in battleground state or the impact of his crimes on the By Herbert L. White victim’s family, the victim’s Biden named Harris as his running mate, to a more perfect union,” Butterfield said friends, and the community,” Beas- [email protected] students and alumni of Historically Black during a virtual meeting of HBCU sup- ley wrote. “Rather, the Act ensured U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris is creating a Colleges and Universities as well as porters Saturday. “John Lewis used to that even those who commit the buzz in North Carolina. members of the “Divine Nine” predomi- talk about it all the time. I’m excited most serious offenses are entitled Harris, the first Black and nantly Black sororities and fraternities about her being on the ticket, in particu- to a trial and sentencing free from Asian woman to run for are paying closer attention to the race lar I look forward to campaigning with racial discrimination.” vice president on a major and its historic implications. Harris, a her, but she has this network. I knew that The state Supreme Court in June political party’s ticket, is in- graduate of Howard University, an HBCU network was there, but I didn’t really, cleared a path for review of racial jecting new interest in in Washington, D.C., is a member of the really know it was there until after the discrimination in death penalty Democratic presidential majority-Black Alpha Kappa Alpha soror- announcement.” cases with a 6-1 decision that Black candidate Joe Biden’s cam- ity. There are 12 HBCUs in North Caro- Butterfield, a former state Supreme defendants Rayford Burke and An- paign among Black voters, lina – the most of any state. Court justice who earned undergraduate drew Ramseur were entitled to said U.S. Rep. G.K. Butter- “These students and these alumni of and law degrees at historically Black present evidence that prosecutors Butterfield field, who represents the these schools can look at Harris and North Carolina Central University in Dur- willfully excluded African Ameri- northeastern part of the beam with pride and know that we are ham, said Harris opens new doors for cans from their juries and racial state. A little more than a week after continuing to make progress in America Please see HARRIS | 2A bias tainted their trials. The court also ruled death row inmates who Please see RACIAL | 2A A new name for Small housing authority business schoarship fund grants still By Herbert L. White [email protected] The Charlotte Housing Authority Scholarship Fund available has a new name. The grant program for college-bound students liv- By Herbert L. White ing in subsidized housing is now Greater Steps [email protected] NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Scholars, but its mission remains the same with fi- There’s still time to apply for nancial aid and mentoring. The goal is to help colle- President Donald Trump has held funding for the U.S. Postal Service, which critics say Charlotte’s small-business capital gians become independent and self-reliant members will hinder its ability to deliver packages as well as election ballots. grants. of the community. Applications for the city’s Open The name change is the result of three years of for Business Access to Capital feedback from organization stakeholders, including Trump administration Small Business Recovery grants are students, board members, partner organizations, available until Aug. 30 at 5 p.m. alumni, and donors. They were interviewed to better and expanded to include entrepre- understand perceptions of the scholarship program slammed over US Postal neurs who have received funding as well as the possibility of increasing engagement from the Paycheck Protection Pro- and support. The housing authority changed its gram, Golden LEAF, the city’s Micro name to Inlivian last year, which provided impetus Service budget slashing Business Relief Fund or other gov- for the scholarship fund. ernment sources. Businesses that “We learned two crucial points in our research,” By Stacy M. Brown to the COVID-19 emergency, the have already applied don’t need to said Aisha Strothers, the program’s executive direc- do it again. tor. “The first was a misconception among prospec- NATIONAL NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION post office would not fund operat- President Donald Trump has made Through the most recent round tive and current donors that the fund is part of ing expenses without borrowing no secret of his desire to dismantle of grants, the city gifted $3.8 mil- Inlivian and therefore, receives government funding. money. the United States Postal Service or lion to 362 small businesses im- We have a great partnership with Inlivian, and our “They have withheld that money. revamp the agency in a way that has pacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. programming benefits students living in Inlivian- They have broken the law,” Con- angered Democrats and others who In total, the program has given managed residences, but we are separate entities gressional Black Caucus Chair Karen said it’s a tactic to prevent mail-in more than $8 million to 753 small and rely solely on individual and private-sector sup- Bass told BlackPressUSA during a li- voting for the upcoming election. businesses. port. Another discovery was that many current stu- vestream interview last month. The CARES Act passed in April au- “We started by addressing the dents and alumni felt the former name was a Other Democratic lawmakers, in- thorized the postal service to bor- needs of small business owners mismatch for the aspirational and inspirational na- cluding Sen. Sherrod Brown (D- row up to $10 billion from the who were really struggling with no ture of the program.” Ohio), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.), and Treasury Department for operating Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), also told other assistance, and now we are Please see 2A NEW NAME | expenses if it determines that, due Please see USPS|2A Please see SMALL | 2A INSIDE Digital edition: Please STAY IN TOUCH Sports 5A Snapchat: thecharpost www.thecharlottepostnewspaper.com Recycle Life 1B Twitter: @thecharpost A&E 5B To subscribe: (704) 376-0496 or online Facebook: The Charlotte Post Classified 4B http://tcppc.com/Subscribe Instagram: @thecharlottepost #PaperThursday 2A NEWS | The Charlotte Post Thursday, August 20, 2020 Harris excites Black New name for scholarship Continued from page 1A “Greater Steps Scholars has grown from Greater Steps Scholars was launched in simply providing partial 1983 by John Crawford, who was the scholarships to offering a college community housing authority’s youth wrap-around service of services coordinator. Craw- one-on-one mentors, On The Net Continued from page 1A number of whom are Black,” Brooks ford and a friend pooled connections to intern- www.great- women in politics as well as students said. “Student debt intensifies and re- their resources to help a col- ship opportunities, and ersteps.org at HBCUs and minority-serving insti- sults from the racial wealth gap. Al- lege student pay a $300 bill workshops that teach stu- tutions, with Biden pledging to pump most one in 10 Americans in their 40s to return for his senior year, dents the financial and soft $70 billion in infrastructure and stu- and 50s still hold student loan debt, sparking an idea to help sim- skills needed to be successful,” dent financial aid programs if elected. but college debt has especially im- ilarly situated people of lim- Strothers said. “Steps lead you out, but Another appeal for college graduates pacted millennials, who pursued edu- ited means. Since 1984, the Greater Steps lead you up, and the new and families’ votes is a debt forgive- cational opportunities during the Crawford foundation has awarded 940 name better showcases the opportunity ness initiative to eliminate a minimum height of the Great Recession and now scholarships totaling $3.8 and impact the program provides for its $10,000 in loans.