April 1, 2025

NATIONAL NEWS

Columbia Savings & Loan Association: Empowering Black People To Own Their Homes

By Autumn Swanson

Milwaukee, WI

Columbia Savings & Loan Association is Wisconsin's oldest and only Black-owned home lending institution in Milwaukee. It was created in 1924 by Ardie and Wilbur Halyard. This savings & loan has been a staple in the Black community for almost 101 years. It has helped numerous Black people acquire home ownership when other lending institutions would not. The immense amount of redlining, segregation contracts, racial, and other discriminatory issues in the 1920's made it nearly impossible for Black people to own homes, which is what motivated the Halyard's to create a lending institution that would give Black people the opportunity to do so.

Both Ardie and Wilbur Halyard were born in the South. Before they moved to Milwaukee in 1923 to escape prejudice and discrimination during the great migration, they earned college degrees from universities in the South. Unfortunately, they quickly realized both (prejudice and discrimination) awaited them in the North. When the Halyard's moved to Wisconsin, they saw the need to build financial stability, proper living conditions, and most importantly trust within the Black community, since White loan sharks were constantly preying and taking advantage of Black people.

Ardie and Wilbur Halyard in 1925

The Halyard's saw numerous Black entrepreneurs managing and owning "grocery stores, restaurants, shoe repair stores, barber shops, beauty parlors, and funeral homes on Walnut Street." (1) Despite there being so many successful Black-owned businesses in the neighborhood, many Black people did not own their own homes because they could not afford to make a substantial down payment on a home.

Ardie and Wilbur Halyard were on a mission to give Black people access to owning their own homes and property. "In September 1924, the Columbia Savings & Loan Association was created with just a 10-dollar bill." (1,2)

Throughout the years, Columbia Savings & Loan Association has been an important entity within the community. It has been essential in uplifting Milwaukee's Black community in the inner city. The Columbia Savings & Loan championed minority apprenticeships in banking and business. It played a significant role in the area's growth, "including the construction of the first five residences in 1976 in what is now the Halyard Park neighborhood." (1,3)

Halyard's Park was developed to offer Black people a neighborhood with serenity and convenience in a rapidly growing and thriving Black community. According to HYFIN Connecting The Culture, "This strategy ensured a remarkably low turnover rate, with homes appreciating while other Milwaukee neighborhoods faced a decline. The area’s development reflects the broader socio-economic challenges and achievements of Milwaukee, from confronting redlining and freeway construction to fostering a cohesive community." (3,4)

"Mr. George Gary, former CEO and President of Columbia Savings & Loan Association, has helped families own homes even outside the Milwaukee metropolitan area. He is very proud of helping Black folks get loans for neighborhood churches and developing Haylard Park, located in the inner city." (5)

Columbia Savings & Loan Association is still committed to serving the community, providing generational empowerment, and economic growth to minorities/families in Milwaukee who are looking to become homeowners.

"In October 2022, Ernest Jones became Chair/President & CEO", (6) introducing an influx of new leadership into Columbia Savings & Loan Association. While adopting modernized ventures to be receptive to the changing demands of the Milwaukee area, Jones and five other board members, serve as stewards of the institution's legacy, ensuring that developments are consistent with the original morals and ethics that established Columbia as a beacon of positive change for Black families and residents in Milwaukee.

Ernest Jones (far right), L. Wesley McKenzie III, Senior Vice President, Ed Murphy, retired State Government Official (purple tie), Rev. Dr. Mose Fuller, Pastor (red vest), Steve Moore, FinTech Leader (not pictured), and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson (not a Board member).

1. “Columbia Savings & Loan Wisconsin’s First Black-Owned Bank", by Larry Widen, Shepherd Express, September 6, 2023 - Link

2. "Ardie Clark Halyard", by The Editors, Wisconsin Women Making History - Link

3. "100 years strong: the legacy of Wisconsin’s first Black-owned bank, Columbia Savings & Loan", by Tarik Moody, Hyfin Connecting the Culture, February 6, 2024 - Link

4. "Wisconsin’s Only Black-Owned Bank Moves Into New Century", by Meredith Melland, Milwaukee Courier, March 15, 2025 - Link

5. "The past, present, and future of Columbia Savings and Loan", by Andrea Williams, WTMJ-TV Milwaukee, July 29, 2022 - Link

6. "About Us", Columbia Savings & Loan Association - Link

Progress for Maryland’s Second Look Act

By Arinzechukwu Ture

Maryland General Assembly House delegates convene for their third and final session of crossover day on March 17. The bills that did not pass from one chamber to the next by the end of the day will most likely not get passed during this legislative session. Credit: AFRO Photo/Tashi McQueen

Annapolis, MD

Maryland legislators debated, voted and passed bill after bill during crossover day, the final day for bills to pass from their original chamber to the opposite one. (1,1)

Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus' Second Look Act was one of the most important items on the legislative agenda and was passed by the state legislature. The Maryland Second Look Act (SB 291/HB 853) would allow individuals serving at least 20 years of a sentence to petition a court for a reduction, focusing on demonstrated rehabilitation and low risk to public safety, with the court considering factors like age at the time of the offense, rehabilitation efforts, and victim statements.

“This bill gives people the opportunity to make a petition to get a second look at their case,” said Del. Marlon Amprey (D-Md.-40), one of the bill sponsors, during a session on March 17. The bill would allow for an individual to file a motion to reduce the time of their sentence under specific sets of conditions. These conditions include the following: 1) whether the person was convicted of an offense when they were at least 18 but no older than 25; 2) whether the person was not sentenced to life without the possibility of parole; and 3) whether the person is not a sex offender. Del. Amprey further stated that, "people who get a second chance do more than just give back to their own family, they often make it their life’s work to improve the communities in which they live.” (1.2)

The Second Look Act was met with much pushback from House Republicans who proposed amendments to the bill that failed. This House Bill (853) has been assigned to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and is awaiting a hearing.

"Other notable bills that passed include Senate Bill 357, which aims to improve prescription drug affordability, and Senate Bill 342, which would protect minorities from voter dilution tactics within Maryland’s counties and municipalities." (1,3)

“Crossover Day marks progress for Maryland’s Second Look Act” by Tasha McQueen, The Baltimore Afro-American, March 20, 2025 - Link

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Fired LAFD Chief

By Arinzechukwu Ture

L.A. African-American Firefighters Association President Robert Hawkins speaks with the media

Los Angeles, CA

"On Feb. 21, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass relieved Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) chief Kristin Crowley of her duties in the wake of fallout over how recent deadly firestorms in the city were handled. Bass announced she appointed former Chief Deputy Ronnie Villanueva, a 41-year LAFD veteran as Interim Fire Chief." (1,1)

In a press release, Mayor Bass stated “Acting in the best interests of Los Angeles’ public safety, and for the operations of the Los Angeles Fire Department, I have removed Kristin Crowley as Fire Chief.” She went on to state "We know that 1,000 firefighters that could have been on duty on the morning the fires broke out were instead sent home on Chief Crowley’s watch. The heroism of our firefighters – during the Palisades fire and every single day – is without question. Bringing new leadership to the fire department is what our city needs."

Robert Hawkins, who is the President of the city’s African-American Firefighters Association, stated “On October 24, I met with Fire Chief Kristin Crowley about removing recruitment officers and its impact on Black firefighter representation. She told me that she was refusing to maintain staffing and had planned to cut fire engines over a $17 million deficit, and she asked the stakeholders if we can contact our retirees to fill temporary recruitment roles, stating to us that sometimes you need to ‘let bad things happen' to get the attention of the city council for our budget.” (1,2)

In a meeting on December 2, 2024 with the deputy mayor, Brian Williams, Hawkins shared the aforementioned information. During this meeting, he expressed consequential apprehension concerning Fire Chief Crowley's leadership of the Los Angeles Fire Department. Hawkins further indicated that he did not believe that the Fire Chief was managing the department appropriately. He encouraged Williams to warn the mayor of Hawkins' belief that in the case of a significant catastrophe or any type of extensive demolition that Crawley would fail to protect the city and ultimately throw the mayor under the bus.

During her tenure as Fire Chief of the LAFD, Crowley had often voiced her concern regarding the underfunding of the LAFD. After her firing, Crowley released a statement which said “As the Fire Chief, I based my actions and decisions on taking care of our firefighters so that they could take care of our communities. Serving others before self, having the courage and integrity to do what is right, and leading with compassion, love and respect have guided me throughout my career. I am extremely proud of the work, sacrifice and dedication of our LAFD members, both sworn and civilian.” (1,3)

Kristin Crowley appealed her dismissal on Feb. 27. She continues to serve within the LAFD.

1. "Fired LAFD chief allegedly understaffed department before fires" by Edward Henderson, Los Angeles Standard Newspaper, March 12, 2025 - Link

The Legacy of a Humanitarian; Looking Back at Sylvester Turner’s Achievements

By Ben Musa

Houston, TX

Recently elected U.S. Congressman and former Houston Mayor, Sylvester Turner passed away on Wednesday morning, March 5th, 2025 due to “enduring health complications,” his family stated. Turner had privately survived bone cancer in 2022 and stated last summer that he was cancer free. (1)

Before his election as mayor, Turner served in the Texas House of Representatives from 1989 to 2016. Turner served as Houston’s 62nd mayor from 2016 to 2024, guiding the city through numerous challenges and implementing significant reforms that have left a lasting impact. His tenure as mayor marked a commitment to advocating for the homeless, providing youth with job training/work experience, and stabilizing the city’s pension programs.

As mayor, Turner secured financial support ($1.1 billion housing bond) for affordable housing projects, ensuring more residents could access reasonably priced living options. His administration’s efforts moved over 25,000 people into homes, reducing homelessness by 64%. With city administration and community support, Houston based New Hope Housing created 1,289 affordable apartment homes, serving at risk individuals, families, and seniors with Housing and Services. The apartment homes have the capacity to ensure that 3,257 Houstonians sleep peacefully each night. (2,3)

In his first term as Houston’s mayor, Turner created the “Hire Houston Youth” program. It provided paid local jobs and internships for an eight-week period. Positions available were in the City of Houston’s public, private, and philanthropic sectors. Over the years the program has expanded to providing over 20,000 jobs to young adults. This initiative not only offered employment opportunities, but also helped cultivate a skilled future workforce for Houston. Local resident Moreno explained, “This is a stepping stone, especially for those marginalized communities that don't have that social capital." With on-the job training, Luis was able to establish a career in city hall. (2,4,5)

Houston’s pension crisis was an issue that couldn’t be resolved for nearly 2 decades. Turner’s efforts to help pass necessary state legislation helped reduce the city’s liabilities by billions of dollars. His administration’s hard work stabilized Houston’s financial future and ensured the sustainability of retirement benefits for city employees. (2,6)

Turner exuded a lifelong goal to help those who had no voice.

“When you find somebody that compassionate that looks for the welfare of others before even looking for themselves, you can’t help but be thankful to God that he sent us somebody like that,” said Ruby Bennett, a lifelong Houston Acres Homes resident. (8)

Turner’s friend for over a decade, Cindy Clifford said, “He showed up to people’s small gatherings, he showed up to big important gatherings. He showed up to serve food. He showed up to almost everything…” (8)

And what better way to leave such a legacy, a human who cared about other humans.

1. “Residents, elected officials honor former mayor, U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner at Houston City Hall” by Abby Church, The Houston Chronicle, March 11, 2025 — Link

2. “Mayor Sylvester Turner represented for H-town, the ‘Foh-Foh” by Aswad Walker, The Houston Defender, TX, March 8, 2025) — Link

3. “A Tribute to Mayor Sylvester Turner“, newhopehousing.com, March 13, 2025 — Link

4. “Mayor Sylvester Turner's Signature Youth Employment Program, Hire Houston Youth, Opens Application Portal”, The Neighborhood News, Houston, TX, January 25 2023 — Link

5. “Program helping Houston students find summer work has scaled back under new administration”, by Nick Natario , ABC 13 News, Houston, TX, June 6, 2024 — Link

6. “Positive reviews building for Houston pension reforms”, by Defender News Services, Houston, TX, December 19, 2016 — Link

7. “Sylvester Turner eulogized as a man of faith, family and public service to Houston”, by Paul Cobler with the Houston Landing, published in The Texas Tribune, March 15, 2025 — Link

8. “A kind, respectful gentleman who happened to be mayor’: Houstonians remember Sylvester Turner”, by Hanna Holthaus, Houston Landing, March 11, 2025 — Link

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Malcom X and Kwame Nkrumah; Two Pan-African Icons

AFRICA

February 21, 2025 was the 60th commemoration of the assassination of Malcolm X in Harlem, New York. February 24, 2025 was the 59th commemoration of the CIA assisted coup that overthrew Kwame Nkrumah’s democratically elected government in Ghana. The time line of the downfall of these Pan-African icons was not coincidental although the historical relationship between these two men is largely unknown.

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Brazil Condemned For Racism

BRAZIL

African Not American

by Arinzechukwu Ture

The case under trial was the complaint of two black women who suffered discrimination during the selection process for a job vacancy at the Nipomed company which is located in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

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Although I was born in America, I am certainly not an American because America defined my African ancestors as three-fifths of a human being in their original Constitution. Also, it has been our experience as an African people of the Diaspora living in America that the freedom, justice, and equality promised to its citizens in the U.S. Constitution was never intended for us; but for Whites Only.

Those of us who live in the Divided States of AmeriKKKa are oppressed because we are Africans in AmeriKKKa. If we were truly Americans, there would have been no need for an Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th, 14th, or 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. If we were truly Americans, there would have been no need for any Civil Rights Legislation. If we were truly Americans, we would currently experience freedom, justice, and equality just as the so-called best in this society experiences these things without shedding our blood for them. We are Not Americans. We are Africans in AmeriKKKa. Malcom X was correct when he stated “just because a cat has kittens in the oven, that doesn't make them biscuits.”

As per the 2019 data that captured the wealth distribution in the Divided States of AmeriKKKa, an intelligent analysis reveals that Capitalism is deliberately structured to distribute the wealth as follows: the top 10% own 76% of the wealth in AmeriKKKa; the middle 40% own 22% of the wealth in AmeriKKKa; the bottom 50% own 1% of the wealth in AmeriKKKa. There is no such thing as a race neutral Capitalism in the Divided States. White Supremacy structures the Capitalism in the Divided States. The masses of Africans in AmeriKKKa are located in the bottom 50%. They share 1% of the wealth in AmeriKKKa with other poor people. Capitalism is the causative factor of the grotesque income inequality that exists in AmeriKKKa. Therefore, I reject Capitalism because it is an evil economic system that exploits workers for their labor and rips off consumers by gouging the prices they pay for goods/services. In addition, Capitalism engenders both racism and sexism. Socialism is a superior economic system that eradicates the inequities of Capitalism.

Our strength as a people is in our Unity. Brotha Malcom X was correct when he stated, “If we bring up religion, we'll have differences, we'll have arguments, and we'll never be able to get together. But if we keep our religion at home, keep our religion in the closet, keep our religion between ourselves and our God, but when we come out here we have a fight that's common to all of us against an enemy who is common to all of us.” Brotha and Sistah, that enemy is White Supremacy and Capitalism.

My domestic philosophy is Black Nationalism. At the root of Black Nationalism is the idea that Black People should control the social-cultural institutions in their community, the economy of their community, the politics and politicians in their community.

My international philosophy is Pan-Africanism. The goal of Pan-Africanism is to unify the masses of Africans on the continent and the Africans of the Diaspora with the goal of bringing into existence the total liberation of the African continent and Black People globally.

I’m a member of the Black Revolutionary Collective. The purpose of our organization is to unify all Black People of African descent with the intent to build Global Black Unity. Our focus is on building Black institutions that will give us both political and economic power. Also, we will be creating holistic programs of self-help to address the needs of the Black Community.

Check out our website. If you want to be active in the global struggle for Black Liberation within a global organization, we invite you to join us.

Interview with Kwame Ture

BRC 10-Point Platform

The purpose of our organization is to unify all Black people of African descent with the intent to build Global Black Unity. We will focus on building Black institutions that will give us both political power and economic power.

1. We want an immediate end to systemic racism in America and abroad.

2. We want the immediate end to police brutality.

3. Black people must own the majority of the businesses and land in our communities.

4. All majority Black schools must be fully funded and controlled by the Black Community.

5. We demand equal pay and reparations to finally end the wage gap for all Black people.

6. We will unite the Black vote and cultivate leaders that will represent our National Black Legislative Agenda.

7. We demand the end to all unjust practices carried out by the Justice system in America and abroad.

8. We demand the full withdrawal of all colonizers from the continent of our Motherland Africa.

9. We demand the immediate end of all Black gangs across the globe for the betterment of our communities. We must stop the flood of guns and drugs into our communities.

10. We will defend ourselves and our communities against any person or group that wished to harm us.