A federal judge paused the receiver’s push to expand Uncle Nearest’s receivership, ordering affiliates to produce financial records first and delaying any decision on broader court control.
By Milton Kirby | Chattanooga, TN | November 12, 2025
A federal judge has paused the receiver’s bid to expand control beyond Uncle Nearest, Inc. to other Weaver-owned businesses, ordering the parties to exchange financial records first. The stay comes via an “Agreed Order Staying Proceedings Related to Receiver’s Motion for Clarification,” entered October 29, 2025, in Farm Credit Mid-America, PCA v. Uncle Nearest, Inc.
What the order does
Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. temporarily halts litigation on the receiver’s request to fold affiliated Weaver entities—such as Humble Baron, Classic Hops Brewing, and Shelbyville Barrelhouse BBQ—into the receivership. Instead, the court requires two years of bank statements and financial records from the affiliates within seven days, with permission for the receiver to review up to three additional years if needed.
Photo by Milton Kirby
Why it matters
The stay keeps those affiliates outside the receivership for now, while giving Receiver Phillip G. Young Jr. visibility into their finances. The scope question—whether the court should broaden control beyond Uncle Nearest, Inc.—remains unresolved until the records review is complete and any follow-up hearing is set.
The defense’s position
Attorneys for Fawn and Keith Weaver argue the attempted expansion chilled business and partnerships, contributing to over $1 million in lost revenue; they have signaled potential claims tied to that harm.
Case backdrop
The court placed Uncle Nearest under receivership in August after Farm Credit Mid-America sought protection of collateral and continuity of operations. The first quarterly report (filed October 1) cited missing records, overlapping entities, and a stabilization plan with significant professional-fee and vendor-catch-up costs.
Sidebar: Why the Case Is in Chattanooga
Though Uncle Nearest, Inc. operates in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and creditor Farm Credit Mid-America is based in Louisville, Kentucky, the federal receivership case is being handled in Chattanooga.
That’s because Shelbyville and Bedford County fall under the Chattanooga Division of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, where Judge Charles E. Atchley Jr. presides. This means all filings, orders, and hearings — including the October 29 Agreed Order Staying Proceedings — are issued through the Chattanooga federal courthouse, even though the business operations in question are about an hour northwest.
In short: Shelbyville is the stage, but Chattanooga is the courtroom.
What’s next
The parties face deadlines to complete disclosures and propose next steps. After the receiver reviews the affiliates’ financials, the court will decide whether to expand the receivership—or keep it narrow. TSJ will monitor the docket for any new motions or hearing dates.
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Dear Shadow Ball: Any thoughts on why Jackie Robinson was first to break the major league’s color barrier and not Satchel Paige. Paige was a pitcher while Robinson was a 1st baseman. – David Nivens, parts unknown
Dear David, Great question! Thank you so much for breaking the ice in both categories. You were the first to answer my question and the first to pose a question to me. Hopefully, moving forward, folks will follow your lead.
Now, this question could take a book to answer, and, in fact, books have been written about the broader subject: Was Jack Robinson the best choice to integrate the game, and, if not, who else would have been a better choice? In the interest of column space, I am going to limit my answer to your parameters, why Jack Robinson and not Satchel Paige. Both of whom played for the Kansas City Monarchs in 1945.
Let us look first at Satchel Paige: he was one of the best pitchers in Negro League history and, arguably, in all of baseball history. He also, even at this stage of his career, was the most marketable name in the Negro Leagues. Satchel Paige ranks 1st in career Negro League strikeouts, 1st in ERA+, 2nd in shutouts, and 3rd in wins. This is the entire case for Paige, and it very well could have been enough had the game integrated earlier. However, by the time Branch Rickey invited Jack Robinson to a meeting in Brooklyn in August 1945, Satchel Paige was, at least, 38 years old. More importantly, Paige was coming off a less-than-stellar 1945 season in which he achieved a 4-4 record with a 4.05 E.R.A. He was the fourth-best pitcher on the Monarchs that year, and among pitchers with as many innings pitched as he did, only two hurlers had a worse ERA.
As for Jack Robinson, at 26, while he was a tad old for a prospect, he was on the cusp of his prime if he were to have one. The biggest question facing Robinson at the start of the ’45 season was in what sport his prime was to be in. He had not played much baseball at any level since leaving UCLA in 1941. Based on his athleticism, the Kansas City Monarchs, of the Negro National League, invited him for a tryout in the Spring of 1945. He not only made the team, but he was arguably the best player in the 1945 Negro American League! No one who batted as often or more than he did topped him in batting average, on base%, slugging, OPS, OPS+ … he led the league in 2Bs, HRs, extra base hits, was 2nd in steals, and 3rd in RBIs.
… and then there were the intangibles – intelligent, articulate, non-smoker, non-drinker, graduated high school, junior college, and had studied at UCLA, was a wartime 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Army with an honorable discharge. While both he and Paige had competed in integrated competition, Robinson had a long history of integrated scenarios in Pasadena, UCLA, and the service.
Thus, given the choice between Paige & Robinson, I strongly agree with Rickey’s decision. Jack Robinson was the right person for this assignment.
Last week’s Shadow Ball Significa question: What was the name of Atlanta’s most prolific franchise (in terms of years in the league) in the Negro Leagues?
Since no one provided the correct answer last week, I would like to keep that question active until it is answered. This column depends on interaction. So, please try again.
Ted Knorr
Ted Knorr is a Negro League baseball historian, a longtime member of the Society for American Baseball Research’s Negro League Committee, and founder of the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference and several local Negro League Commemorative Nights in central Pennsylvania. You can send questions for Knorr on Negro League topics, as well as your answers to the week’s Significa question to shadowball@truthseekersjournal.com or Shadow Ball, 3904 N Druid Hills Rd, Ste 179, Decatur, GA 30033
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Reality-TV star and dentist Dr. Heavenly Kimes launches her Georgia 13th District congressional bid at Nostalgia Kitchen & Cocktails, pledging new leadership in healthcare, education, and community service.
By Milton Kirby | Stone Mountain, GA | November 10, 2025
The crowd packed into Nostalgia Kitchen & Cocktails in Stone Mountain wasn’t there for reality television drama — they came to hear a new kind of pitch.
Dr. Heavenly Kimes, best known for her role on Bravo’s Married to Medicine, stepped off the screen and into the political arena Saturday afternoon, holding her first town hall at the restaurant as a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
The nostalgic, mural-lined restaurant, tucked near downtown Stone Mountain, served as a fitting backdrop — lively, intimate, and full of conversation. Plates clattered, phones recorded, and neighbors leaned close as Kimes began to speak. Neighbors and fellow doctors were in the building, many eager to hear how one of their own planned to bring bedside compassion to Washington.
At 54, the dentist, entrepreneur, and TV personality is no stranger to reinvention. For years, she’s built a brand around transformation — first in smiles, now in service. What began as a planned run for the Georgia House of Representatives (District 93) has turned into something larger: a bid for Congress.
“Just days before I announced for State House, the One Big Beautiful Bill was signed,” Kimes told the audience. “I waited to hear something from my Congressman about it — I did not. When Donald Trump launched a retribution campaign against former allies like John Bolton, I hoped to hear my Congressman take a stand — I did not. Thousands of Georgians have lost their jobs this year, and I expected to see leadership at a town hall to help families transition to new opportunities — I did not.”
She paused, then added, “After hearing from community leaders urging me to run for Congress, I realized this: we need more than a vote in Washington, we need a voice. People are scared, but they also have hope — and they deserve someone willing to speak to both.”
From the Office to the District
Kimes’ campaign now centers on three familiar pillars — healthcare, economic development, and education reform. She said her decision to enter politics grew out of years of serving patients who couldn’t afford care. But even more heartbreaking, they can’t afford the prescriptions that go along with it.”
She told the crowd she understood the struggle personally. “When my first child was born, I received WIC benefits,” she said, referencing the federal Women, Infants and Children program. “Without those benefits, life would have been different.”
It was one of many moments where she blurred the line between TV personality and public servant — grounded in both story and sincerity.
New Leadership for a Changing District
Georgia’s 13th District, stretching across portions of DeKalb, Clayton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale Counties, has been represented by Congressman David Scott since 2002. Kimes made clear she respects Scott’s long tenure but believes a generational shift is overdue.
Scott served in the Georgia General Assembly from 1974 to 2002 — first in the House of Representatives (1974–1982) and then in the State Senate (1983–2002). He was first elected to Congress in 2002 and began his current term in January 2003. Kimes noted that Congressman Scott failed to vote in the last six elections — something she believes reflects the need for new leadership.
“We must have a new kind of candidate — one who is ready to fight for healthcare access, economic opportunity, education, and justice for every family in GA-13,” she said.
Her campaign manager, veteran political strategist Fred Hicks, framed her candidacy as essential to energizing Georgia’s Democratic base.
“If Democrats are going to win Georgia and take back the House, we need candidates like Dr. Heavenly,” Hicks said. “Candidates who are less political, more passionate, and deeply visible in their communities. Her voice and her audience are the missing keys to closing the vote gap and delivering Democratic victories.”
Healthcare at the Heart
Healthcare dominated the Stone Mountain discussion. From mental health to medical affordability, Kimes linked policy goals to lived experience.
She floated one creative — if unconventional — idea to address mental health funding: adding a one-dime fee to every ticket sold through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
“With about 108 million passengers passing through annually,” she explained, “that dime could generate roughly $10.8 million a year for mental health initiatives across metro Atlanta.”
Audience members nodded, some whispering their approval. One man in the back clapped softly, saying, “That’s thinking outside the box.”
Kimes emphasized that the federal government must partner more directly with counties to ensure those funds reach frontline organizations treating addiction and crisis intervention.
Faith in Families and Small Business
Her platform also calls for targeted investment in local entrepreneurs — particularly women- and minority-owned small businesses — and for expanding career-path programs in schools to bridge the gap between education and opportunity.
“I’ve built businesses from the ground up,” she said. “I know what it takes to sign a payroll and meet a budget. We need to make sure more people — especially our youth — learn those same skills early.”
Education, she said, should prepare students not only for college but also for trades, healthcare, and technology jobs that sustain families right here in Georgia.
“Not everyone’s path is the same,” she said. “We’ve got to invest in schools, teachers, and programs that give every child a real chance.”
The Personal Touch
Throughout the afternoon, Kimes balanced policy with personality — offering flashes of the humor and authenticity that have made her a fan favorite on television.
At one point, Hicks asked bluntly why voters should choose her to represent Georgia’s 13th Congressional District.
Kimes smiled. “You should vote for Dr. Heavenly not only because she’s the best person for the job — but because she’s real, she’s relatable, she has the reach, she has the resources, and she has the platform.”
Her voice carried both confidence and conviction.
“Congress works for the people,” she said. “And right now, a lot of people don’t feel like anyone’s working for them.”
Campaign in Motion
The Stone Mountain town hall marked the early phase of her congressional run. The campaign is still developing its detailed policy proposals, but Kimes made clear she intends to keep the conversation local — visiting neighborhoods, schools, churches, and small businesses across the district.
Her team plans a series of “Real Talk with Dr. Heavenly” sessions — informal meet-ups where residents can share concerns directly.
“We’ll keep these going,” she told attendees. “You’ll see me in Decatur, Riverdale, Stockbridge — everywhere. We can’t change anything if we don’t listen first.”
Though light on legislative specifics for now, her message of empathy and empowerment resonated with the audience. As the event ended, supporters lined up for photos, handshakes, and hugs — some thanking her for “showing up” where others had not.
A Campaign to Watch
Dr. Heavenly Kimes’ entry into the race makes Georgia’s 13th Congressional District one of the state’s most closely watched contests in 2026. Her celebrity brings visibility; her message brings energy. Whether that combination translates into electoral success remains to be seen.
But one thing was clear in Stone Mountain: Kimes intends to campaign like she practices dentistry — with a bright smile, sharp precision, and a steady hand.
The Truth Seekers Journal will continue to follow her campaign. As Dr. Heavenly releases more details on healthcare, education, and economic policy proposals, we will keep our readers informed.
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MARTA celebrates Outkast’s 25th anniversary of Stankonia with a custom bus honoring André 3000 and Big Boi ahead of their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | November 4, 2025
If you’ve ever ridden MARTA with Outkast playing through your headphones, this one’s for you. The city’s favorite duo — André 3000 and Big Boi — just got a moving tribute in their honor, and it’s riding through the same neighborhoods that raised them. This is a moment of pride for all of us, a testament to our shared love for our city and its music.
Courtesy MARTA – Interim General Manager & CEO Jonathan Hunt, Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, MARTA Chief of Staff Steven Parker
MARTA has wrapped one of its buses in full Stankonia glory — a rolling celebration of 25 years since the album that not only changed hip-hop but also changed Atlanta’s cultural landscape. It reminded the world that the South had something to say, and we’re proud to be a part of that cultural revolution.
The bus made its first appearance at Skatetonia25, a fan party thrown by Sony Music at Cascade Skating Rink — the kind of place where Atlanta’s stories always seem to begin. There was music, skating, and even Big Boi himself, posing for photos beside the bus that now carries his name through the streets he grew up on.
“MARTA is part of the fabric of Atlanta, just like Outkast,” said MARTA Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt. “We’re proud to celebrate artists who carried this city’s voice to the world — and who gave MARTA a shoutout along the way.”
That shoutout — the one every true fan knows — came on “Elevators (Me & You)” back in 1996:
“A couple of years ago on Headland and Delowe / Was the start of something good / Where me and my [partner] rode the MARTA through the hood…”
That spot, Headland and Delowe in East Point, still sits along MARTA bus routes 93 and 81. And thanks to Outkast, it’s part of Atlanta’s living soundtrack.
The new MARTA tribute bus will stay in service for a year, cruising through Southwest Atlanta, the birthplace of Outkast and a hotbed of creativity and community. This route is a reminder that these two elements always find a way to ride together, just like Outkast’s music and the city that inspired it.
Courtesy MARTA – CEO Jonathan Hunt, Mike “Killer Mike” Render
And with Outkast set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8, this moment feels like more than nostalgia. It’s a full-circle ride — from ATLiens to Stankonia, from College Park to the cosmos. The bus, a moving tribute to their legacy, is a symbol of their journey from local heroes to global icons.
So, if you see that bus roll past, know: the South’s still got something to say.
Howard University receives a historic $80 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, strengthening its research leadership, medical innovation, and mission of truth, service, and opportunity.
By Milton Kirby | Washington, D.C. | November 3, 2025
A Legacy Rooted in Truth and Service
Founded in 1867, Howard University has shaped generations of scholars, leaders, and visionaries. Across 14 schools and colleges offering 143 degree programs, the institution continues to embody its motto — Veritas et Utilitas, Truth and Service. With more than 14,000 students, the University remains one of the nation’s most important engines of opportunity, research, and social mobility.
Howard’s historic role in American life is reflected in its remarkable roster of honorees and scholars: one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows, and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. The university also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other institution in the country.
A Leader in Research and STEM
Howard’s nationwide impact is perhaps most visible in the sciences. The National Science Foundation ranks the university as the top producer of African-American undergraduates who later earn science and engineering doctoral degrees.
Howard is also home to nationally recognized programs in business, social work, communications, and engineering. It is consistently ranked as the No. 1 HBCU for undergraduate programs in business, computer science, economics, engineering, psychology, and — at the graduate level — criminal law, constitutional law, dispute resolution, health care law, trial advocacy, economics, English, fine arts, history, political science, and speech pathology.
The Howard University School of Law, a national advocate for justice for more than 150 years, ranks No. 1 among HBCUs and recently placed No. 13 in the nation for graduates working at leading law firms.
A Historic Gift from MacKenzie Scott
Howard University has received one of the largest philanthropic gifts in its 154-year history: an $80 million investment from MacKenzie Scott. Combined with Scott’s earlier gifts of $40 million in 2020 and $12 million in 2023, her total contributions to Howard now reach $132 million.
MacKenzie Scott – Courtesy Vogue
The latest gift is unrestricted — a powerful vote of confidence in Howard’s ability to allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact. It arrives at a time when the university is accelerating its research efforts, expanding campus infrastructure, and strengthening academic programs.
This year, the Carnegie Foundation and American Council on Education designated Howard as an R1 research institution, placing it among the nation’s elite universities with the highest levels of research activity. Forbes, LinkedIn, and U.S. News & World Report similarly named Howard the nation’s top HBCU, with several programs ranked best-in-class across the country.
Transforming Medical Education and Innovation
Of the $80 million gift, $17 million is earmarked for the Howard University College of Medicine — a global leader in training physicians who serve medically underserved communities in the U.S. and abroad.
The funds will support the development of a new Academic Medical Center, a transformative project aligned with the innovation center Scott funded through her 2023 gift. This interdisciplinary hub — shared by the College of Medicine and the College of Engineering and Architecture — allows students to work at the cutting edge of health technology, exploring ways to improve patient outcomes and expand scientific frontiers.
Howard’s Health Sciences division, which includes the Colleges of Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, continues to serve as a national leader in studying health disparities and producing women surgeons, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.
Impact on Social Mobility and Opportunity
Howard’s mission to uplift economically challenged students is not just aspirational — it is measurable.
• U.S. News named Howard the top institution in the Washington, D.C. area for social mobility. • Carnegie and ACE recognized Howard as an Opportunity College and University – High Access and High Earnings, highlighting its success in serving Pell-eligible and underrepresented students. • Among Research One universities, Howard ranked highest in “access,” reflecting its commitment to enrolling students from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds. • Eight years after graduation, Howard alumni earn the highest median income among all HBCUs.
Scott’s gift will strengthen these outcomes, funding both immediate needs and long-term initiatives.
Investing in the Future: Facilities, Research, and Stability
The University will direct part of the gift toward new construction and renovation projects essential to R1-level research — including work in artificial intelligence, automation, public health, and scientific discovery.
Howard is also building modern living, learning, and commercial spaces designed to attract top students across the country, including Black men whose enrollment numbers have lagged nationally.
A portion of Scott’s gift will also support a reserve fund to safeguard the university during federal funding delays and government shutdowns — a serious challenge for the nation’s only Congressionally-chartered HBCU.
A Relationship Rooted in Mentorship and Legacy
MacKenzie Scott’s bond with Howard is deeply personal — shaped by her mentor and Howard alumna, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison (B.A. ’53, DHL ’95).
Morrison, who later taught at Princeton, served as Scott’s senior thesis adviser. Their relationship extended far beyond the classroom. Morrison encouraged her writing, helped her find professional footing, and offered the kind of mentorship that leaves an imprint for life.
The two exchanged letters for years. In one, Scott thanked Morrison for “criticism and encouragement, therapy and breathing lessons.” Morrison once described Scott’s writing as technically sophisticated and assured — a prediction validated when Scott later won the American Book Award.
Morrison also played a pivotal role in Scott’s life trajectory, providing a reference that helped her secure a position at the investment management firm where she met Jeff Bezos.
Today, Scott’s philanthropy reflects the lessons she learned from Morrison: that one can shape the world in many different ways, and that talent — wherever found — deserves nurturing.
Part of Scott’s 2020 gift created the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities, ensuring Morrison’s legacy continues at her alma mater.
A Gift That Honors the Past and Builds the Next 150 Years
For more than a century and a half, Howard University has been a national force for scholarship, justice, and leadership. As the university celebrates 154 years, it stands on the cusp of an even more ambitious future — one shaped by new research facilities, deeper community impact, and an unwavering commitment to preparing students to change the world.
MacKenzie Scott’s $80 million gift not only honors Howard’s past — it helps secure a future as glorious as the generations that came before.
The National Black Farmers Association’s 35th Conference in Birmingham honored John Boyd Jr.’s legacy, uniting farmers nationwide to reclaim land, legacy, and economic justice.
By Milton Kirby | Birmingham, AL | November 3, 2025
The air in Birmingham felt like history turning its own soil—just right for a gathering of people who understand the language of the land. Inside the conference hall, rows of worn cowboy hats, Sunday dresses, and seed-company caps filled the seats. Farmers came from every corner of the country—Alabama, West Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas. Some arrived by pickup, others by bus or plane, but all came for one reason: to celebrate 35 years of the National Black Farmers Association and the man who has never stopped fighting for them, Dr. John W. Boyd Jr.
Photo Milton Kirby – Kara Brewer Boyd
The theme for the two-day gathering said it plain: “ReClaiming, ReGaining & ReGenerating Our Farms.” But what unfolded in those rooms was more than a conference. It was a reunion of faith and endurance—an unbroken line stretching from the sharecroppers of yesterday to the land stewards of today. It was family—farm boots and Sunday shoes, handshakes that turned into hugs, stories that started with the weather and ended with survival.
Grounded in the Work
Across two full days, the energy never dipped. Workshops buzzed with talk of farm loans, USDA programs, and the fine print that too often traps small farmers. Between sessions on farm credit, USDA programs, and cooperative models, farmers swapped lessons about soil testing, irrigation, and the art of keeping a small operation alive when fuel costs rise faster than the price of corn, cotton, beef, or soybeans.
At one table, a USDA outreach officer explained disaster-relief programs to a group of farmers. At another, a veteran rancher shared tips on protecting heirs’ property and forming family LLCs. Every conversation echoed one unspoken truth—knowledge is the new harvest.
Dr. Trina D. Brown, a health and wellness strategist, emphasized that the message was just as much about the people as the land. “We have to heal ourselves while we heal our soil,” she said, urging farmers to protect their mental health as fiercely as their crops.
Chaplain Eve Priester delivered a spirit-filled, inspirational prayer unlike any other. “Farming is God’s ministry in real time,” she said. “We plant, we nurture, and we believe in the harvest.” You could feel the amen in the air.
The Boyd Legacy
Mr Priester a hay farmer traveled from MS
When John W. Boyd Jr. stepped to the podium, applause broke like thunder. Some rose to their feet; others simply bowed their heads in respect. Boyd, a fourth-generation farmer from Baskerville, Virginia, has carried this fight for decades—from the long legal battles of Pigford v. Glickman to more recent struggles for debt relief and USDA reform.
“Black farmers, we’ve got to get to know one another,” he said. “Do business with each other. Build something together.”
Behind the quiet strength of his voice was the memory of his father, John Wesley Boyd Sr., who taught him the oldest truth in farming: “Be good to the land, and the land will be good to you.”
That lesson has guided the NBFA since its founding in the early 1990s—through courtrooms, congressional hearings, and countless farm visits across America.
Faces of the Movement
The conference lineup reflected the diversity and endurance of Black and Native farmers.
Kara Brewer Boyd, NBFA Program Director, President of the Association of American Indian Farmers, and wife of John Boyd, spoke about cross-cultural solidarity and the shared struggle of land-based people. An enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe, she reminded the audience that “land is identity—and identity is power.”
Boyd offered tips and techniques so practical and powerful that attendees described them as “nuggets of gold,” carefully pocketed to take home and put to work.
Nick and Tonya Dangerfield, dedicated Realtors serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area, focus on empowering underserved clients in Texas and Oklahoma to purchase, retain, and sell property with confidence. The couple is also cultivating a family farm in East Texas, building legacy wealth for their children.
Jolene Beaumont Whiteclay, with 46 years of experience as a dedicated farmer and rancher, is deeply rooted in her community and heritage. Currently serving as a Health Systems Specialist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Indian Health Service, she balances professional commitments with managing a thriving 3,000-acre ranch alongside her three sons. A proud member of the Crow Tribe of Montana, Jolene is a third-generation rancher continuing her family’s legacy.
Charles “Chuck” Baldwin has dedicated more than 40 years to cross-cultural work, primarily in Western and Central Africa. His career has included public speaking, fundraising, teaching, leadership development, mentoring, and building relationships across national and ethnic lines. For the past twelve years, Baldwin has served as the Special Populations Outreach Coordinator (SPOC) for the National AgrAbility Project at Purdue University. He collaborates closely with Extension professionals from 1890 and 1994 land-grant universities to expand support for diverse farming communities.
Every speaker’s story carried the same rhythm—loss, endurance, renewal. Through it all, the NBFA banner hung behind them, bold in green and gold, a reminder of how far they’ve come.
Photo Milton Kirby – NBFA Audience
Honoring the Struggle
During the awards ceremony, Boyd presented special honors to those whose service has strengthened the movement.
Lifetime Achievement Award – Adrian Boyd, a decorated Army veteran of Operation Desert Storm and brother of John W. Boyd Jr., was recognized for his advocacy in the In Re Black Farmers Class Action Lawsuit. He played an instrumental role in securing passage of the 2010 Reclamation Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama—a beacon of hope for Black farmers who had suffered from systemic discrimination at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The act awarded $1.25 billion in restitution to those farmers.
Chairman’s Award – Andre P. Barlow, Esq., longtime NBFA legal counsel and former U.S. Department of Justice attorney, was honored for his unwavering commitment to justice. A former trial attorney with the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, Barlow has spent years working to ensure fairness in the very systems that once failed Black farmers. His partnership with the NBFA reflects a deep commitment to civil rights, economic opportunity, and the belief that every farmer deserves a fair chance to thrive.
Family Farmer of the Year – George C. Roberts Jr., founder of Circle R Ranch in Oklahoma and a proud Seminole Freedman, spoke of stewardship, heritage, and the sacred duty to honor ancestors through the soil they once worked. Roberts was recognized for decades of ethical farming and for his advocacy for children with disabilities through his community foundation.
Farmer of the Year – Zachary Morse, a cattleman from Nelson County, Virginia, brought the crowd to its feet. He shared how his family’s Roundhouse Farm has grown into a 200-acre operation that now provides 80/20 processed beef for hamburgers and meals served at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. His pride was quiet but steady.
As each name was called, the applause felt like gratitude paid forward. These were not just honorees—they were field generals in a long campaign for dignity and fairness.
The Work Continues
The closing session turned toward what’s next: youth engagement, policy reform, and land reclamation. Plans were laid for new training partnerships with universities and 1890 land-grant institutions, along with continued outreach through the NBFA’s women’s and Native farmer networks.
Boyd called for unity over rivalry. “We can’t do this work divided,” he said. “The future of Black farming depends on us doing business with one another—buying from, selling to, and standing up for each other.”
For two days, Birmingham became more than a meeting place. It became a crossroads of memory and mission. Farmers traded phone numbers and promised to stay in touch. Some left with new tools and grant information; others left with something even deeper—a sense that they were part of a living legacy.
The land is still rich. The people are still here. And the fight—for dignity, for ownership, for the soul of Black agriculture—is far from over.
Atlanta’s mayors and church leaders rally at Big Bethel AME, vowing to defend diversity, equity, and inclusion programs amid Trump’s federal funding threats.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | November 1, 2025
On a cool Friday morning inside Big Bethel AME Church, sunlight poured through stained glass where freedom once found its voice. From that pulpit — the same one that carried Dr. King’s thunder and John Lewis’s call for good trouble — came a new rallying cry:
“The soul of Atlanta is not for sale.”
Mayor Andre Dickens stood with nearly every living Black mayor in city history — Andrew Young, Shirley Franklin, Bill Campbell, Kasim Reed — and Valerie Jackson, wife of the late Mayor Maynard Jackson. Together they filled the sanctuary with memory, defiance, and faith.
A City That Won’t Bow
They came to answer a challenge from Washington — a Trump administration order threatening to choke off federal dollars from cities that keep diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs alive.
Billions for housing, airport work, and BeltLine projects hang in the balance. But the crowd at Big Bethel didn’t come to talk fear. They came to talk faith.
“We are gathered here to rekindle the spirit of our city — to remind one another that courage, unity, and truth still live within us,” said former councilman Jabari Simama, now helping to lead the new Soul of Atlanta Coalition. “Our mission today is clear: to bring people together, share knowledge, and demonstrate that when we act with purpose and faith, we can change the course of our community. We can push back against forces that seek to divide, distract, and destroy us.”
“Atlanta was built by people who refused to dream small. We will never deny the values that have not only made this city great, but made it just.”
A Legacy Worth More Than Money
Atlanta has already paid a price for its convictions — forfeiting $37.5 million in airport funds this summer rather than gut its minority-contracting program.
“Our soul is not for sale,” declared Elder Toni Belin Ingram of the AME Church, her voice rising over the applause.
Big Bethel AME Church
Mayor Dickens called the fight what it is: another Goliath moment. “Goliath doesn’t stand a chance in Atlanta,” he said. “We’ve slayed bears. We’ve slayed lions. Been there. Done that. Got the notes. Got the t-shirt and some of the scars.”
His office later said the city is still reviewing the legal path forward, but his tone in the church left little doubt: the mayor intends to stand firm.
Where the Story Began
Valerie Jackson
It was Maynard Jackson — Atlanta’s first Black mayor — who planted the seed of economic fairness back in the 1970s. His Equal Business Opportunity program forced open the door for Black-owned firms to compete for city contracts. Washington noticed — and copied it.
“This is where it all began,” said Ambassador Andrew Young, looking over the packed pews. “These ideas didn’t come from Washington to us. They came from us to Washington.”
Valerie Jackson smiled softly at the mention of her husband’s name.
“Maynard’s policies of inclusion became a model for the nation,” she said. “We will not allow the principles of fairness and justice to be rolled back.”
A Coalition of Courage
From Shirley Franklin to Kasim Reed, the lineup at Big Bethel looked like a living timeline of Atlanta’s Black leadership. Pastor Jonathan C. Augustine — or “Pastor Jay” — reminded everyone why they were there.
“Your presence here says we know what’s happening,” he said. “An autocratic leader is targeting blue cities led by Black mayors. And yet here we stand.”
The new Soul of Atlanta Coalition plans to spend the next year gathering stories, uplifting minority-owned businesses, and organizing pushback against attacks on DEI and affirmative-action programs.
Standing in the Gap
Even as City Hall weighs its legal moves, Dickens said the work of serving people continues — especially with the federal shutdown straining families.
“We’re spending time feeding the least, the last, the lost,” he said.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank has launched a $5 million emergency plan to replace lost SNAP benefits, aiming to distribute six million pounds of food in four weeks through 700 local partners.
“In tough times,” Dickens said, “we see the true spirit of Atlanta — compassion, connection, and courage.”
By Stacy M. Brown | Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
There are moments in history when a single act of generosity reveals the moral decay of an entire nation. MacKenzie Scott’s $38 million gift to Alabama State University, the largest in its 158-year history, is such a moment. It is not merely a financial transaction, nor the casual benevolence of the wealthy. It is a moral indictment against a society that has grown indifferent to the suffering of its Black citizens, against a government that starves their schools, and against a class of newly rich who have forgotten the communal obligations of success.
Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr., the university’s president, called it a defining moment for Alabama State, and indeed it is. His words ring with the gratitude of those who have built excellence in the face of deprivation. “Ms. Scott’s generosity affirms Alabama State University’s reputation as a catalyst for excellence and innovation in higher education,” he said. But her act is more than affirmation. It is a resurrection, and a call to remember that Black institutions remain the crucibles of America’s moral and intellectual power. In recent weeks, Scott has dispersed her fortune with quiet conviction. Seventy million to the United Negro College Fund to strengthen endowments across thirty-seven member schools; sixty-three million to Morgan State University, her second gift to that campus in less than five years; and one hundred and one million combined to Morgan State and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in a span of days.
Her giving, unshackled by stipulations or vanity, stands in luminous contrast to an era defined by greed and indifference. The plutocracy that dominates modern life often extracts from the many to enrich the few. Scott reverses that equation. She does not donate to dominate. She gives to repair. Her wealth, born of corporate conquest, has become the instrument of restoration. It stands as a redemption, perhaps, of what that very system has broken. One cannot ignore the symbolism of her actions. At a time when the federal government withholds support from historically Black institutions, when affirmative action has been dismantled, and when diversity programs are vilified, a white woman from the highest ranks of privilege has become the single most consistent benefactor of Black education in the nation. It is as though she has seen, from her rarefied vantage point, what America refuses to see: that the progress of its Black citizens is not a charity, but the measure of its own civilization.
Scott’s philanthropy, then, is not simply about money. It is about memory. The moral memory of a nation that has forgotten the debt it owes to those it once enslaved and now ignores. In her giving, she restores something elemental, the belief that one’s prosperity is meaningless if it does not lift others. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote of the “double consciousness” that afflicts the Negro in America, the struggle to see oneself through the eyes of a world that despises you. Today, the irony is reversed. America must learn to see itself through the eyes of those it has wronged. MacKenzie Scott, for all her privilege, seems to have glimpsed that truth. She gives the impression that she has looked into the soul of the republic and found it wanting.
Her actions do not absolve the sins of this nation. They reveal them. And in revealing them, they offer a path, not of atonement, but of accountability. For every dollar she gives to rebuild a school, there are a thousand more that others with power might give but will not. One woman has chosen conscience over complacency. The question that remains is whether the rest of America—Black and white alike—will choose to follow her example or remain comfortable in the quiet decay of its own moral poverty.
MARTA completes Garnett Station’s $5 million platform renovation, restoring full Red and Gold Line service and advancing its billion-dollar station modernization program across Atlanta.
By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 29, 2025
After six weeks of construction, MARTA has officially reopened Garnett Station to full Red and Gold Line service, marking the completion of a major platform renovation that blends safety, efficiency, and forward-looking design.
The temporary “skip stop,” a strategic decision during which trains bypassed the downtown station, proved to be a well-thought-out move—saving an estimated four months of construction time and $5 million in project costs.
“By limiting service during construction, we were able to accelerate the timeline and ensure safety for both riders and workers,” MARTA officials said.
Restoring and Reinventing a 44-Year-Old Station
Built in 1981, Garnett Station has long served as a southern gateway to downtown Atlanta. The renovation replaced the station’s original 44-year-old pavers—a vital structural refresh handled by a team of experienced contractors, including Carroll Daniel Construction, C.D. Moody Construction Company, H&M Restoration Service, Level Construction Services, Schindler Elevator Corporation, SRC Ventures, and Williams Tile & Marble Company.
Work on the lower concourse was also completed ahead of schedule, setting the stage for continued improvements on the upper concourse, where crews are applying graffiti-resistant coatings, replacing windscreens, and performing deep cleaning and pressure washing.
Importantly, train service is no longer impacted, allowing riders to once again board and exit at Garnett while remaining improvements continue behind the scenes.
A New Vision for the Plaza
MARTA, in partnership with the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District and the Project for Public Spaces, is not just transforming the station’s large concrete plaza, but also inviting the community to be part of this change. The goal is to create a vibrant public space that promotes connection, accessibility, and civic pride—especially as Atlanta prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The redesign aims to reimagine Garnett’s urban footprint, turning a utilitarian space into a place where art, culture, and transportation meet.
Part of a Billion-Dollar Revitalization Effort
The Garnett Station work is one piece of MARTA’s broader $1 billion Station Rehabilitation Program, which spans all 38 rail stations across the system. The initiative focuses on modernizing infrastructure, improving safety and accessibility, and enhancing the aesthetic experience for the hundreds of thousands of daily MARTA riders.
With Garnett Station’s platform now complete, MARTA’s leadership says it’s another step toward delivering on the agency’s promise of a safer, cleaner, and more connected transit experience for Atlanta residents and visitors alike. This project is not just about infrastructure but about enhancing the daily lives of our community.
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is opening its doors to job seekers this fall, with a large-scale hiring event scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at MARTA Headquarters, 2424 Piedmont Road NE, across from Lindbergh Center Station.
The agency is recruiting for a range of critical positions that keep Atlanta moving — including rail and bus operators, journeyman bus technicians, railcar mechanics, track mechanics, track maintainers, and hostler junior apprentices.
Qualified applicants can earn sign-on bonuses for select roles, including CDL Bus Operators (with passenger endorsement), Journeyman Bus Technicians, and Track Maintainers.
Requirements and Opportunities
MARTA is seeking both full-time and part-time operators who are 21 years or older, hold a high school diploma or equivalent, and have a current Class C license. All operator candidates must pass a physical exam, ability test, and drug and alcohol screening.
For Journeyman Bus Technicians, applicants must be 18 years or older, possess a Class C license, and have completed training in automotive, transit bus, diesel, or maintenance programs—or have at least three years of comparable experience.
Getting There
MARTA encourages candidates to ride transit to the event, which will be held directly across from Lindbergh Center Station for easy access.
Those who drive can park in the Sydney Marcus parking deck but must park only in MARTA-designated areas. Parking in the wrong section could result in additional fees.
Dress to Impress
Business casual or professional dress is required, and candidates should bring updated resumes and proof of required credentials.
Interested applicants can explore upcoming career fairs and other job opportunities by visiting itsmarta.com.
