Page 24 - Florida Sentinel 6-8-18

National
The Real-Life ‘Hidden Figure’ Katherine Johnson Is Being Honored With Bronze Statue Before 100th Birthday
INSTITUTE, W.Va.— Katherine Johnson, the NASA mathematician whose calculations helped astronauts return to Earth, is being hon- ored at her alma mater with a bronze statue and a scholar- ship in her name.
West Virginia State Univer- sity says a dedication cere- mony is planned for Aug. 25, the day before Johnson’s 100th birthday.
Long before the digital era, Johnson worked as a human “computer” at the agency that
Katherine Johnson, is the person the movie ‘Hidden Fig- ures’ was based on along with her 2 colleagues and friends, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughan
became NASA, working in rel- ative obscurity as an African- American woman. Her contributions were later rec- ognized in the “Hidden Fig- ures” movie, with actress Taraji P. Henson playing her role.
West Virginia State hopes to endow the scholarship at $100,000, awarding money to students majoring in science, technology, engineering and math, targeting people who are underrepresented in those fields.
Min. Louis Farrakhan’s Eldest Son, 60, Has Died
Louis Farrakhan, Jr., son of Minister Louis Far- rakhan has passed away at age 60.
The eldest son of Nation of Islam’s Minister Louis Far- rakhan, 85, and his wife, Khadijah Farrakhan, passed away on Saturday, June 2, 2018.
The Nation of Islam has re- leased a statement about his death.
According to the statement, Louis, Jr., had a heart condi- tion and passed away peace- fully at his home in Phoenix, Arizona.
On Sunday morning, Min. Farrakhan posted a message from his prior sermon about perseverance in the midst of loss.
“We cannot run from being tried. The Holy Qur’an teaches us that Allah is going to try us with something of fear, hunger, loss of property, loss of life and
LOUIS FARRAKHAN JR.
diminution of fruit, but give good news to those who are pa- tient and steadfast under trial.”
According to reports, Louis Jr. worked on various projects with the Nation of Islam, but unlike his brother, Mustapha Farrakhan Sr., he did not hold any post in the NOI under their father’s leadership.
He leaves behind his wife, Lesil Farrakhan, and their 5 children.
Louisiana Boy, 11, Gets Full Scholarship To HBCU
BATON ROUGE, LA — At just 11-years old, Elijah Prec- ciely is already an inventor and an author. Even more, at such a young age, he will be a full-time student next spring at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana... and he’s on a full-ride scholarship.
His mother, Pamela Preccciely, shared that the opportunity came when she reached out to Dr. Diola Bagayoko, who is in the uni- versity’s Physics department. She said Elijah was building inventions at home and needed some lab space. The professor then encouraged Elijah to sit in on his classes. He was 8 years old when he started tak- ing biology, physics, and busi- ness classes at Southern University.
“I appreciate that the staff never turned him away with his questions,” Elijah’s mother told The Advocate.
Elijah’s family first noticed his excellent skills when he was
Elijah Precciely, 11, will be a full-time student at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana next spring.
a baby. At 18-months old, his teachers suggested he be accel- erated to a higher level. At the age of three, he was curious and he kept asking his mom about the human anatomy and how taxes work.
By five years old, he had al- ready preached his first ser- mon and guested at a local radio show where he now has a
weekly segment. Aside from having several patents, he has also authored a book entitled “Mission Christian: God’s Got Firsts!” which he said teaches that if a person knows that they are loved, they can do great things.
Find that child’s genius, what they like, and nurture that even if you have to seek outside help, then that’s what you do and that’s what we did,” Elijah’s dad, Stephen Prec- ciely, said.
As a full-time sophomore student at Southern Univer- sity, Elijah plans to study physics and mechanical engineering next spring.
Southern University Presi- dent Ray Belton welcomed him and announced, “We are pleased to offer Elijah Prec- ciely the J.S. Clark Presiden- tial Scholar award. As a J.S. Clark Scholar, he will engage in research and other scholarly activities as part of the honors college.”
Single Mom Who Went Into Labor During Exams Graduates With Class
From Harvard Law School
Briana Willams, J.D., and her daughter, Evelyn cross stage at Harvard Law School graduation on May 24th.
Briana Williams, an in- spirational single mother, was one of the graduates of this year’s Harvard Law School class who walked the stage on May 24.
Williams, 24, worked hard for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) de- gree after balancing mother- hood with her studies. She went into labor during her final exam in April, according to a post she shared on Instagram.
“I immediately requested an epidural so that my contrac- tions wouldn’t interfere with my Family Law grade,” Williams wrote. “And, with tears in my eyes, I finished it.”
After giving birth to her daughter Evelyn, Williams was even more determined to make it through and get her degree. She referred to law school as a “biting the bullet” experience, juggling her classes and her child during her last year.
“It was not atypical to see me rushing through Wasser- stein [Hall at Harvard] to the Dean of Students’ office with Evelyn in her carriage, asking DOS can they keep her for a few until class was over,” Williams said about finding a way to keep going even though she didn’t have reliable child- care. “If not, she’d just have to come with me to class. Evie at- tended classes often.
Williams turned her haters into her motivators, and she was inspired to keep going because of her baby girl.
“Evelyn - they said that be- cause of you I wouldn’t be able to do this. Just know that I did this BECAUSE OF YOU,” the law school graduate said in a touching tribute to her daugh- ter on social media. “Thank you for giving me the strength and courage to be invincible. Let’s keep beating all their odds, baby.”
Chicago Teen Missing For Weeks Found Mutilated
CHICAGO, IL — Sadaria Davis, a 15-year old African American teenager from Chicago, who had been missing for two weeks has been found dead in a nearly abandoned building.
Police investigations were finding out little information but reports from social media indicate that Davis was muti- lated and some of her organs were missing.
On April 25, Davis was last seen leaving her West Garfield Park home in Chicago. She had no contact with her family since.
Two weeks later, on May 11, Davis’ dead body was found six blocks away from her home, on the floor of an aban- doned East Garfield Park apartment.
According to the police, t h e r e were no indications on
Sadaria Davis was found mutilated. She was a friend of Kenneka Jenkins who was found dead in a freezer last year.
how Davis died and why she was in an abandoned building. The autopsy performed on May 12 was inconclusive as well.
Last week, however, reports from social media were surfac- ing saying that Davis’ body was mutilated. On Twitter, it was said that Davis’ “fingers were cut off & some of her body parts were removed.”
Moreover, a vlogger claimed that some of Davis’ organs were possibly missing. A lot of people has also been calling for a more aggressive investigation that could result in more media attention and hopefully, her family can get justice.
The incident happened months after the death of Kenneka Jenkins, who is re- portedly Davis’ friend.
Jenkins, who is a 19-year- old African American teenager also from Chicago, was found dead in a walk-in freezer at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rose- mont, Illinois.
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