173 years to the day legendary activist and abolitionist Sojourner Truth delivered her famous speech ‘Ain’t I A Woman’, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund opened the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza in Akron, OH.

Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza

The legacy plaza project was in partnership with the Knight Foundation, United Way of Summit and Medina, the Sojourner Truth Project – Akron, and the Akron Community Foundation at the site of the Universalist Old Stone Church where Truth spoke.

Now owned by the United Way of Summit and Medina, the commemorative plaza features a statue of Truth by world-renowned Akron sculptor Woodrow Nash, marking his first public work. The plaza also features murals by local community artists.

Sojourner Truth statue

World-renowned Akron sculptor Woodrow Nash

Designed by landscape architect Dion Harris, the legacy plaza and park is the first project in placemaking by the Action Fund in partnership with the Knight Foundation and will serve as a model for memorializing Black history through community-driven collaboration.

“The City of Akron is proud to support this historic site and project which will forever pay homage to Sojourner Truth and her lasting impact,” said Akron Mayor Shammas Malik.

“Truth’s short visit to our city echoes through the decades and I can’t wait to watch the continued effect of this space and her legacy on our future generations.”

About The Sojourner Truth Project Akron

The Sojourner Truth Project in Akron aims to illuminate the life, struggles, and contributions of Sojourner Truth, a remarkable figure in American history. Truth’s travels led her to Akron, Ohio to deliver the most iconic speech during the suffrage movement, “Aint I a Woman?” on May 29, 1851. Although born into slavery, Truth’s journey to freedom and her relentless advocacy for women’s rights and abolitionism will inspire future generations as we transform our community with the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza.

More information on the legacy center

To learn more about the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza project, please visit savingplaces.org

Family and friends of Senior Airman Roger Fortson, along with dozens of Air Force members, came together Friday to honor the serviceman, who was shot and killed in his Florida home by a sheriff’s deputy on May 3.

Roger Fortson celebration of life

Fortson, 23, was in his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, when he was shot six times by an Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy, according to law enforcement authorities.

At Friday’s celebration of life at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Fortson was laid out wearing his Air Force uniform and his coffin was draped with the American flag.

After the service, airmen saluted as Fortson’s casket was carried to a beautiful horse carriage and led away from the church.

Wonderful human being

At the funeral, speakers spoke about how Fortson transformed himself from a fun-loving teenager into a young man with a sense of purpose.

“He was one of our gifted students,” said Fortson’s former principal, Loukisha Walker, of Ronald E. McNair High School.

Fortson was “a man of honor, a man of integrity, a man of courage,” said Col. Patrick Dierig, commander of the First Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., speaking at the funeral.

Tragic incident

On May 3, police responded to a call of a disturbance around 4:30 p.m., according to a released statement from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.

Fortson was shot six times by the deputy

Sheriff Eric Aden of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office played the body camera footage of the deputy who shot Fortson in a press conference last week.

In the video, the deputy can be heard announcing twice that he is with the sheriff’s office. Fortson allegedly opens the door for the deputy with what appears to be a gun in his hand. The officer shot Fortson six times within seconds of the door opening. Fortson later succumbed to his injuries, according to the sheriff’s office.

“Hearing sounds of a disturbance, he reacted in self-defense after he encountered a 23-year-old man armed with a gun,” according to a sheriff’s office statement. “This was after the deputy had identified himself as law enforcement.”

The deputy involved has been put on administrative leave.

There is an ongoing investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the state attorney’s office, according to the sheriff’s office.

Watch US Airman Roger Fortson’s celebration of life

San Francisco’s Harvey ‘Terry’ Williams was a victim of not one, but two hate crimes.

San Francisco hate crime

On the morning of April 26th, he was delivered a package containing a black doll with a noose wrapped around its neck, with his name and a picture of his face. The doll, along with the other contents of the package, were covered in horrifying racial phrases and slurs.

A week later, he received a second racist package containing similar items, but this time the threats were escalated.

San Francisco police say they’re investigating both incidents.

Neighbors have rallied behind Williams, helping him build a network of security cameras to help keep a closer eye on their area.

GoFundMe

A GoFundMe was launched to help pay for security cameras, help Terry relocate until the police know more, and help take some financial pressure off the family during a very difficult and scary time.