We at Historianspeaks are starting a new feature where we highlight stories of interest occuring in contemporary Black America. We will elaborate on some of these stories in the coming weeks. Click on the hyperlinks for more information about the story.
Wallace Amos Jr, as known as Famous Amos, was a well-known businessman, promoter and television personality. He was the founder of the Famous Amos chocolate chip cookie, the Cookie Kahuna and Aunt Della's Cookies gourmet cookie brand. Interested in cookies from an early age, Amos learned the recipe that he later utilized in his chocolate chip company from his aunt. He started Famous Amos cookies in 1975 with a $25,000 loan. His brand expanded across the United States and could be found in supermarkets across the country. The company was sold in the mid-eighties and Amos founded another company, NoName Gourmet Muffins. Amos also tried to bring back his famous chocolate cookies under a new name, the Cookie Kahuna. His failure to get a deal on Shark Tank in 2016 led to the closure of the venture in 2018.
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The Biden-Harris adminstration announced it would designate the site of the 1908 Springfield Race Massacre as a national monument. The Springfield, Ilinois Race Massacre of 1908 was an horrific event. Not unlike other race massacres of the 20th century, white mobs would descend on Black neighborhoods under the false premise of some type of incident perpetruated by Black men against a white woman. In this case, two Black men were accused of rape, attempted rape and murder. Their alleged victims were two white women and the father of the two women.
After a mob of more than 5,000 men discovered that the local sheriff had transferred the men to a prison outside of the city, the mob went into the Black community destroying homes and businesses and lynching Black citizens. One of the individuals lynched was William Donegan, a relative of Sonya Massey, who was recently murdered in her home by a Springfield police officer. Donegan was a wealthy property owner married to a white woman. His home was targeted by the mob. He was attacked in his home. His throat was slashed and he was lynched from a tree near his home.
Jordan Chiles, an African American gymnast, became the subject of a medal controversy at the Olympics. Initially finishing fifth in the eight-woman final, her score was appealed by Team USA Coach Cecile Landi. The appeal was granted. Chiles was moved to the third position and awarded a Bronze medal in the competition. Romania protested claiming that Chiles' appeal was not made within one minute of the posting of Chiles score. "The International Gymnastics Federation reinstated the initial order of finish and the IOC announced on Sunday it would reallocate the bronze to Ana Barbosu."
“I have no words,This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey. To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful. I've poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country."
Barbosu is scheduled to receive the medal in a separate ceremony in Bucharest.
A police officer who shot and killed Ta'Kiya Young last year in Westerville, OH was formally indicted on four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and two counts of involuntary manslaugther.
Ta'Kiya Young, a pregnant mother of two, was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Kroger gorcery store in Westerville, Blendon Township, Ohio on August 24, 2023.
The officer Conner Grubb pleaded not guilty on all counts. Bond was set at 250K in the case.