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The first, but not the last – Indianapolis Recorder

Published

28 mins ago

September 12, 2024

The first, but not the last – Indianapolis Recorder

For the first time in American history, a woman of color was on stage debating as the Democratic presidential nominee. No matter the outcome, this was a historical event. There is only one first. On this night in September of 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris was the first.

Harris was certainly unflappable in the debate. She maintained her poise and composure. There was no question as to whether she could hold her own in a verbal sparring match.

If anything, being a woman of color may have further strengthened her resolve. A lifetime of overcoming racial and gender biases could have better prepared her for standing firm in that moment.

We must ask ourselves why this has taken so long to legitimately consider women for the presidency. Other countries have made the leap decades ago to elect or appoint women as heads of state. Margaret Thatcher began her 11-year tenure as the prime minister of the United Kingdom in 1979. Angela Merkel served Germany as its chancellor from 2005-21. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first woman president of Liberia, taking office in 2006 and serving for 12 years.

Individually, we can decide whether we agree with each leader’s policies or style of governing. But collectively, we must ask ourselves why the U.S. has not yet had a woman as president.

Fifty years ago, Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman to run for president. The “unbought and unbossed” politician was also the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress. Chisholm did not win her party’s nomination, but she is widely credited with paving the way for future women in politics.

Some skeptical voters argued that a woman as a leader was just too risky for the country when Hillary Clinton ran in 2016.

During one of Clinton and Donald Trump’s 2016 debates, Trump said he had, “much better judgment than she has … I also have a much better temperament than she has.”

Those arguments speak directly to the biases people have about women in any leadership position. A woman could do a good job if only she could get her “temperament” under control.

Having served as a Secretary of State, First Lady of the United States, First Lady of Arkansas, attorney and so on, Clinton’s track record was more than comparable to that of other politicians. There have certainly been presidential candidates with fewer credentials. However, many of the doubts she encountered were not based on her merit, but simply on her womanhood and whether people thought a woman could ever fill the seat of president.

Some detractors noted a woman’s perceived emotional instability as the reason for not wanting to vote for her. Despite Clinton’s experience, for them, her feminine nature meant she could not be entrusted with big decisions even as Clinton had rarely been seen in the light of the archetypical woman. Her image is much more synonymous with the power suit than it is with being at home baking cookies or knitting socks.

In 2023, the Pew Research Center reported that the country was fairly evenly split on its views of having a woman as president. It is up to us to ask ourselves why it has taken our country centuries to have women on the ticket and when we will finally see a woman in the oval office.

With females making up more than half of the U.S. population, we should be able to agree by now that a woman should not be disqualified just because she is a woman.

As Harris’s mother reminded her, she may be the first, but she should work to make sure she is not the last.

Contact Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones at camikej@indyrecorder.com or 317-762-7850.

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Indianapolis, IN

Green Bay Packers scouting report vs Indianapolis Colts in Week 2

Published

8 hours ago

September 12, 2024

Press Room

Green Bay Packers scouting report vs Indianapolis Colts in Week 2

The Indianapolis Colts head to Lambeau Field, where the tundra won’t be frozen as they meet the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 action. Both teams are looking for their first victory of the season.

The Colts are coming off an odd 29-27 loss to the Houston Texans, who rolled up 417 yards (213 rushing) and had possession for 40 minutes. Anthony Richardson had the fewest completions among Week 1 starters (9), but a league-best 11.2 yards per attempt, including three completions of at least 50 yards.

Green Bay started the season in Brazil, losing to 34-29 to the Philadelphia Eagles. They also lost starting quarterback Jordan Love to an MCL sprain in the closing seconds. The Packers’ defense was vulnerable (410 yards allowed), but their rushing offense was potent (7.8 yards per carry).

Colts vs Packers injury report: Jordan Love does not practice, while Colts have longer list

Malik Willis steps in as Packers quarterback

Love is likely out this week, so Malik Willis is scheduled to step in. The Packers traded for Willis from the Tennessee Titans late in the preseason. The Titans drafted Willis in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but played little for them. He threw 61 passes as a rookie and 5 in 2023. His next touchdown pass will be his first in the NFL.

Green Bay has Super Bowl hopes behind Love, who justified its bold decision to pick him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft with a breakout 2023 season. He had 64.2% completions for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as the Packers earned a wild-card playoff berth and led the San Francisco 49ers in the closing minutes of a divisional playoff game.

Scouting the Packers offense

Green Bay averaged a league-best 7.8 yards per carry and gained 414, third most in Week 1.

The Packers added running back Josh Jacobs, the 2022 NFL rushing leader for the Las Vegas Raiders whose production dropped off in 2023 (805 rushing yards, 37 catches, 6 TDs in 13 games). He replaces Aaron Jones as the RB1, and gained 84 yards in the opener.

Green Bay’s receiving corps and offensive line are considered adequate, with room to grow. Jayden Reed starred in Week 1, with 4 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown, and also a 33-yard touchdown run. Packers QBs were sacked just twice in Week 1.

Pro Football Focus gave Reed and right tackle Zach Tom Team of the Week grades from Week 1.

Scouting the Packers defense

Green Bay allowed the 4th-most yards (410) in Week 1 but had the most takeaways (3).

Green Bay has a strong group of pass rushers, with Rashad Gary (9 sacks in 2023), Preston Smith (8), Kenny Clark (7.5) and run stuffer T.J. Slaton returning.

Quay Walker leads the Green Bay linebackers (118 tackles in 2023, 11 in Week 1), and cornerback Jaire Alexander and safety Xavier McKinney each had an interception against the Eagles. Second-round safety Javon Bullard is already contributing (11 tackles).

Who is Green Bay’s kicker?

Brayden Narveson, who was 3-of-4 in the opener. He wasn’t even in Packers training camp. The rookie was strong for the Tennessee Titans in the preseason (6-of-7 field goals, long of 59 yards), and Green Bay claimed him off waivers. (Nick Folk has been Tennessee’s kicker for an eon.)

Greg Joseph and incumbent kicker Anders Carlson didn’t make the cut.

Green Bay has the NFL’s best kick returner over the past two seasons in Keisan Nixon (26.1-yard average in 2023), and with a renewed emphasis on kickoff returns, his presence looms larger.

When do the Colts play in Week 2?

1 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis.

What channel are the Colts on against the Packers?

TV: Fox, Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analysis) and Pam Oliver (sideline reporting)

Radio: 93.5, 97.1, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Rick Venturi (analysis) and Larra Overton (sideline reporting)

Streaming: SiriusXM Channels 384, 813, Fubo (free trial)

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Indianapolis' economic momentum takes center stage at Circle City Classic

Published

15 hours ago

September 11, 2024

Press Room

Indianapolis' economic momentum takes center stage at Circle City Classic

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Building on the success of Indiana Minority Business Week and the Rally Conference, Indianapolis is set to bring together its economic momentum with the upcoming Circle City Classic.

A key highlight of this year’s event is Black Entrepreneur Day, scheduled for Sept. 28.

WISH-TV contributor Emil Ekiyor, an expert on local economic initiatives, joined News 8 anchor Dakarai Turner for a conversation about the classic.

Ekiyor said the Circle City Classic is a pivotal networking hub.

The event connects entrepreneurs with vital resources and opportunities, Ekiyor said, calling it a major networking platform.

As part of it, Black Entrepreneur Day promises to be a dynamic event, offering participants a range of opportunities to engage with industry leaders and expand their professional networks.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indy Moms: How to talk to your kids about 9/11

Published

22 hours ago

September 11, 2024

Press Room

Indy Moms: How to talk to your kids about 9/11

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each year on 9/11, parents face a challenge: Deciding when to talk to their children about the terror attacks, and how to do it.

Kait Baumgartner with Indianapolis Moms joined News 8 at Daybreak to give insight into a few resources we can use to educate our kids.

Online resources

BrainPOP: BrainPOP is an online for students of all ages that includes free videos discussing and explaining 9/11 and breaks down the day on a timeline.
KidsKonnect: This online resource is geared toward older children and teens. It provides a more detailed explanation of events, and includes worksheets or activities.
9/11 Memorial & Museum: The official website created the World Trade Center. It offers several resources for families, a collection of first-person accounts, videos, and more.
“Reading Rainbow: The Tin Forest”: This 2002 episode of “Reading Rainbow” follows LeVar as he visits with a class from New York City and learns how they are coping with 9/11 since it happened.

To learn more, watch the full interview above.

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