WSSN Stories

By Nyah Marshall | Howard University News Service

Americans around the country, including legal scholars and Black women, are praising President Joe Biden’s announcement last week nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Associate Justice Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed, Jackson would make history as the first Black woman and the first former federal public defender to serve as a Supreme Court justice.

“For too long, our government, our courts haven’t looked like America,” Biden said at the White House, flanked by Vice President Kamala Harris and Judge Jackson.

“I believe that we should have a court that reflects the full talents and greatness of our nation with a nominee of extraordinary qualifications and that will inspire all young people to believe that they can one day serve our country at the highest level,” Biden said.

Jackson, 51, currently sits on the District of Columbia (D.C.) Court of Appeals and has broad judicial, academic and practical legal experience.  She was three times confirmed by the Senate, twice unanimously, when picked to serve on the U.S. Sentencing Commission and when appointed by President Barack Obama to be on the D.C. Federal District Court.

In her acceptance speech, Jackson revealed that she shares a birthday with Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman appointed to serve as a federal judge.

“Today, I proudly stand on Judge Motley’s shoulders, sharing not only her birthday, but also her steadfast and courageous commitment to equal justice under law,” Jackson said.

“Judge Motley – her life and career — has been a true inspiration to me, as I have pursued this professional path,” she explained. “And if I’m fortunate enough to be confirmed as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, I can only hope that my life and career, my love of this country and the Constitution, and my commitment to upholding the rule of law, and the sacred principles upon which this great nation was founded, will inspire future generations of Americans.”

“Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is an outstanding nominee,” said Danielle Holley-Walker, dean and professor at the Howard University School of Law, whose alumni include Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Holley-Walker said a noteworthy aspect of Jackson’s background is that she has devoted most of her career to serving the public. As a federal public defender, Jackson represented defendants on appeal who did not have the means to pay for a lawyer and worked to identify errors that occurred during their trials.

“I think one of the most important things for those of us who are interested in issues of justice and equality is that she served as a public defender, and she would not only be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. She would also be the first public defender to ever serve on the Supreme Court,” she added.

Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., in 1970 and grew up in Florida with her parents who are both graduates of HBCUs. After graduating from Harvard, Jackson clerked for three federal jurists, including retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.

Later, she began representing clients in criminal and civil appellate matters at Goodwin Procter LLP, appearing before the Supreme Court in the case McGuire v. Reilly. In this case, she represented Massachusetts reproductive rights groups, arguing that the state law prohibiting anti-abortion protesters from harassing people seeking reproductive health care should be upheld.

During her seven years as a district judge, Jackson issued several rulings on topics like federal environmental law, employment discrimination and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The most notable one included Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn, in which she ruled that Don McGahn, the former White House counsel to President Donald Trump, was required to testify before the House Judiciary Committee as part of its investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

Jackson was involved in the case against Trump’s efforts to block the release of documents related to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. A federal district judge in Washington rejected Trump’s request to block the disclosure of the documents, and the D.C. Circuit, in an opinion by Judge Patricia Millett that Jackson joined, upheld that ruling.

Biden’s announcement came nearly a month after Justice Stephen Breyer announced his retirement and two years to the day Biden pledged to appoint a Black woman as the next Supreme Court justice.

“I’m looking forward to making sure there’s a Black woman on the Supreme Court to make sure we in fact get everyone represented,” Biden said during the South Carolina primary in February 2020.

Biden’s selection of Jackson gives him a chance to deliver on this campaign promise to Black voters, who were crucial to his election win. In fact, 86% of Black women voters supported prioritizing such a nomination, according to a poll by Change Research and Higher Heights for America, an organization that describes itself aa a “political home” for Black women and allies to organize.

Biden met with at least three potential Supreme Court nominees, all of whom are Black women, before choosing Jackson. They included Leondra Kruger who sits on the California Supreme Court, and J. Michelle Childs, who sits on the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

“There were lots of exceptionally qualified capable women to choose from, but Biden’s selection of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson demonstrates that there’s no need for America’s highest court to be off limits to Black women anymore,” said strategist and political commentator Donna Brazile, who is the Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy at Howard University.

Jotaka Eaddy, founder of #WinWithBlackWomen (WWBW), shared similar sentiments. “With this nomination, President Biden and Vice President Harris will once again elevate a woman, and in this case, a Black woman, to a position that has long been covered by a cement ceiling,” Eaddy said in a statement. “Today that ceiling is shattered into a million pieces.”

Known for making a significant impact on the historic election of the nation’s first Black woman Vice President, #WinWithBlackWomen also stated that it will work to “ensure that Judge Jackson receives a fair and expeditious confirmation process.” WWBW is a collective of Black women leaders from public and private sectors committed to advancing and uplifting Black women, families and communities.

Though Jackson’s appointment would be historic, it will not change the ideological makeup of a Supreme Court that has a majority of conservative justices.

“We’ve only had seven justices in the entire history of the U.S. Supreme Court who have not been White men,” Holley-Walker explained. “So, I think it’s both an incredible day for our country, specifically for Black women, and also to have such a highly qualified nominee. We hope to see her confirmed in the way that is represented in terms of her credentials.”

Howard law professor Alice Martin Thomas also sees Jackson as a highly qualified nominee who will be a fair judge.

“I believe she’s a tenacious personality,” Thomas said. “I believe she will not shrink. And she’s going to have to stand up against a torrent of negativity and ugliness that we’ve all had to deal with. … She is more than capable and able of doing it graciously”

“She will advance her point of view. And she’ll be fair. That’s all we can ask of a judge. I’m also glad she’s young. She has her whole life in front of her,” Thomas concluded.

Nyah Marshall is a reporter and regional bureau chief for HUNewsService.com.

BIRMINGHAM, AL— Orchestra Partners announces the appointment of Kim Hunter to the Independent Corporate Advisory Board, effective immediately. Hunter brings strategic integrated marketing communications expertise, deep prior experience in growing professional services firm, as well as an entrepreneurial mindset with proven experience with innovation. Following the appointment of Mr. Hunter, the Board will comprise five directors. He will be serving a three-year term, which is subject to shareholder approval.

Hunter has extensive corporate board experience as he currently serves on CalPrivate Bank’s Community Advisory Board, a wholly owned subsidiary of Private Bancorp of America, Inc. In addition, he served close to two decades as corporate director for SCAN Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage health plan with $2 billion in annual revenue. As corporate director, Hunter served on all five committees:  Audit & Compliance, Compensation, Finance, Quality & Customer Experience, and chaired Corporate Governance for seven years after serving on the committee for 14.

Hunter is a member of the board of the chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) – Pacific Southwest chapter, where he serves as Chair of the Nominating & Governing committee. He is also a member of the Private Directors Association (PDA), the only national association dedicated to improving private companies’ growth and sustainability through governance that adds value.

“We are delighted to welcome Kim to the Orchestra Partners Board,” said Hunter Renfroe, principal of Orchestra Partners. “Kim’s strategic thinking, diverse industry expertise, and experience in sustaining growth over long periods of time is exactly we selected him for our board. His perspective and insights will be invaluable to us as we expand our business and continue to transform the urban experience. Lastly, Kim’s experience in commercial real estate and development as well as travel and tourism will undoubtedly bring value to our strategic vision.”

Hunter brings 40 years of corporate and agency experience in advertising, marketing, and public relations.  During his career, Hunter has founded three privately held enterprises:  LAGRANT COMMUNICATIONS, The LAGRANT Foundation, and KLH & Associates.

ALLBLK, the popular streaming service for Black TV and film from AMC Networks, announced the world premiere of Beyond Ed Buck, streaming Thursday, February 24. Co-executive produced by Jayce Baron and Pose star, Hailie Sahar, Beyond Ed Buck begins by examining and analyzing the tragic deaths of Gemmel Moore (2017) and Timothy Dean (2019), two gay Black men who died at the hands of democratic political donor, Ed Buck. Buck was found guilty of several charges, including supplying fatal doses of methamphetamine to both men in July of last year.

True to its title, the anti-crime documentary goes beyond the Ed Buck case to unpack internalized homophobia, the psychological root of predatory behaviors, and to provide a deeper exploration of challenges faced by the Black and Brown LGBTQ+ community – particularly how a variety of systemic social and economic issues have led gay and trans identified people to become victims of predators looking to satisfy sexual fetishes and indulge in illicit drug use.

Beyond Ed Buck, sponsored by Gilead Sciences, features interviews with several notable figures and industry professionals including co-executive producer, Hailie Sahar, Raniyah Copeland (former President and CEO of Black Aids Institute), Dr. Gregory Canillas (LGBTQ+ psychologist), George M. Johnson (award-winning author), Shar Jossell (journalist & media personality) and many more.

A Lasting Legacy: Determination, Dedication, and Distinction

During the first World War Ralph Lindsey, my great grandfather, kept a journal of his service on the front. He wrote about the front, his travels, his wounds, but the thing that came up most often – the mail. Fast-forward 100 years. Even in the digital age there is something uniquely personal about a written letter – it creates a connection that digital communications simply cannot match. Anyone who has served in the military knows – no mail equals low morale.

In early 1945 as the Battle of the Bulge concluded Army officials reported that a lack mail was hurting morale. Warehouses were filled with millions of pieces of mail destined for the seven million Americans serving in the European theatre. The task of getting that mail to its intended recipients fell on the 6888^th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

Except for a few smaller units of nurses, the “Six Triple Eight” was the only all women, all black unit from the Women’s Army Corps to serve overseas during WW2. In response to the attack on Pearl Harbor our entire nation was mobilized to support the war efforts. While the war largely united Americans in a common purpose – the military remained segregated with the ability to serve being restricted based on race and gender. The women of the 6888^th not only served – they had to fight for their right to serve.  The unit’s commander, Major Charity Adams – became the first black women to hold a commission in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps.

The Six Triple Eight confronted warehouses stacked to the ceiling with letters and packages. These buildings were unheated and dimly lit, the windows blacked out to prevent light showing during nighttime air raids. Rats sought out packages of spoiled cakes and cookies. As it was a cold winter, they wore long johns and extra layers of clothing under their coats while working in these warehouses. The unit members were organized into three separate shifts daily, so work continued around the clock, seven days a week. They tracked individual servicemembers by maintaining about seven million locator cards including serial numbers to distinguish different individuals with the same name. They dealt with “undeliverable” mail which was sent to their location for redirection. They investigated insufficiently addressed mail for clues to determine the intended recipient, and they handled the sad duty of returning mail addressed to servicemembers who had died.

As the war concluded the legacy of the 6888^th was already being formed. Three members of the 6888^th are buried at Colleville-Sur-Mer Normandy American Cemetery (there are only four women buried there). Like so many of the greatest generation, the women of the 6888^th returned from the war determined to make up for lost time – while some remained in the military, others used the GI Bill to further their education and create new opportunities for themselves. They became teachers, nurses, and businesswomen. One of the most important aspects of their legacy was their contributions to civil rights.  The accomplishments of the 6888th in Europe contributed to a study regarding the contributions of women to the war efforts which concluded: “[T]he national security program is the joint responsibility of all Americans irrespective of color or sex” and “the continued use of colored, along with white, female military personnel is required in such strength as is proportionately appropriate to the relative population distribution between colored and white races.”

This is not a story about the mail. This is a story about 855 black women, who found a way to serve when the nation needed them most. In 2019 a bi-partisan effort was started to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 6888^th. As of the writing of this article that bill has passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the U.S. House of representatives.

Joseph Reagan is the Director of Military and Veterans Outreach for Wreaths Across America. He has almost 20 years’ experience working with leaders within Government, non-profit, and Fortune 500 companies to develop sustainable strategies supporting National Security, and Veterans Health. He served 8 years on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Army including two tours to Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division. He is a graduate of Norwich University, the oldest private military college in the country.

By Lou Yeboah

Trust me, I’m going somewhere with this. Confining the history of an entire race of people to a twenty-eight-day period, not only does it diminishing the significance of our contributions, but it also allows the greater truth to be erased. The declaration of February as National Black History Month is but a tiny baby-step in the right direction towards understanding and wholeness in our country, but twenty-eight days is not nearly enough to celebrate and remember Black History. The celebration should continue all year round, as Black people’s achievements and successes are not limited to the twenty-eight days of February. But as the African Proverb translated says: Since you [we] do not have control over the help someone is rendering to you [us] it may [the help] not turn out exactly as you [we] expected. Ahh!

Because they have decided, “We are granted a whole twenty-eight days to remember Carter G. Woodson, Arthur A. Schomburg, Drusilla Dunjee Houston, Letitia Woods Brown, and John Hope Franklin; A whole twenty-eight days to remember Nate Turner, Colin Power, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Lorraine A. Williams, Lorenzo Greene, John Henrik Clarke, Bill Picket, John Taylor, Alice Coachman, and Mary McLeod Bethune; A whole twenty-eight days to remember Otis Boykin, George Washington Carver, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, John Lewis, and W.E.B. Du Bios.”

“We get a whole twenty-eight days to remember Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Dorothy Height, Ida B. Wells, Alice Coachman, Ella Baker, and Sojourner Truth; A whole twenty-eight days to remember Langston Hughes, Robert Hayden, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Marcus Garvey, Daniel Hale Williams, Crispus Attucks, Honorable Shirley Chisholm, Fannie Lou Hamer, Thurgood Marshall, and Adam Clayton Powell; A whole twenty-eight days to remember Ella Baker, Claudette Colvin, Gordon Parks, Bayard Rustin, Robert Sengstacke Abbott, Jesse Owens, Bessie Coleman, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, and Dr. Patricia Bath.”

“We get a whole twenty-eight days to remember the 30 times Martin Luther King Jr., was arrested between 1955 and 1965; A whole twenty-eight days to remember the year Muhammad Ali lost his championship title for simply standing up for something he believed in; We get a whole twenty-eight days to remember countless people of color who fought and died in the Civil War, laying down their lives for a country who wouldn’t think twice about theirs.”

“We get a whole twenty-eight days to remember 246 Years of Slavery [1619-1865]; A whole twenty-eight days to remember 400 Years of Oppression [1619-2019]; A whole twenty-eight days to remember 99 Years of Jim Crow Laws [1865-1964]; A whole twenty-eight days to remember 86 Years of Lynching [1882-1986]; A whole twenty-eight days to remember 14 years of Fighting for Civil Rights [1954-1968].” Why? Because “Water That Has Been Begged for Does Not Quench the Thirst.”

Are we aware of the extent to which we honor our predecessors? Or are we just celebrating what and when we’re told to celebrate? Is it that plausible to fit the entire span of hundreds of years into twenty-eight days? I quote Morgan Freeman, “Black history is American history.” The relegating of our history into one single month does nothing less than undermine the great things black people have done for this country. It’s almost like a subconscious insult to the entire black race, built on the premise of the “affirmative action” concept. It’s like someone is saying, “Give them their month so they can shut up already.” We were inventors, doctors, activists, botanists, scientists, poets, authors, carpenters, dancers, actors, artists, dreamers, and believers. We were all of the things for which white people were and are remembered. Some of the most important milestones achieved in American history go without proper acclaim. Meritorious, hard-earned accolades were stripped clean from the black man’s hands before he could touch them because at one point, he was only considered three-fifths of a person. But don’t worry, there’s still a little hope: This is the one month out of twelve where everyone else gets to praise us. We have twenty-eight days to show the world just how much we matter, so let’s act fast. Isn’t it great!” [Clip of an interview between Morgan Freeman and Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes a few years ago].

Celebrate and dance to the music “Black History” for there is no more powerful force than a people steeped in their history. And there is no higher cause than honoring our struggle and ancestors by remembering.  For the progress of the Black community in spite of the terrors of Diaspora from our homelands on the continent of Africa, the brutality of slavery, the horrors of inequality, discrimination, and lynching during the Jim Crow era, the disgrace of legal racial segregation, and current struggles against racism and injustice is nothing short of phenomenal.

“Only be careful,” as Moses warns, “and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” [Joshua 4:9]. For our history as Africans and people of African descent in the Americas has been everything but comfortable, yet there is joy and hope to be shared and celebrated.

“Black History – Remember, Educate, Celebrate!”

“Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty. Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us. Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on till victory is won… May we forever stand, true to our God, true to our native land. [ The Black National Anthem…” Lift Every Voice and Sing was a hymn written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson].

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

The first African American to serve in the role – and the 5th  Black person to become a constitutional officer in California – Weber took office on Jan. 29, 2021.

Weber has been a central and influential figure in California politics for years. She was an Assemblymember representing the 79th District in San Diego County and chaired the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC). In the Legislature, she introduced groundbreaking bills, including one of the strictest laws governing police use of deadly force in the country. It will protect Californians on “both sides of the badge,” she said, celebrating that legislation, which was supported by the California Police Chiefs Association.

Weber also introduced AB 3121, a bill that set up a committee called the Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans. The group is charged with examining California’s involvement in slavery – and how California should compensate the descendants of enslaved Black Americans.

As SOS, Weber is responsible for conducting elections in all 58 counties, managing the operations of the State Archives, and keeping a registry of businesses and nonprofits statewide.

“We passed legislation that gives everybody a vote by mail ballot, and we’ve seen that it works” says Weber, sharing details about a major electoral policy change she has implemented as SOS. “We have to make sure that every eligible Californian not only gets the right to vote, but that they are registered to vote and that they show up.”

On Jan. 24, California Black Media interviewed Weber at her Sacramento office.

As an Assemblymember, you introduced groundbreaking legislation. What has the transition been like, moving from actively creating policy to settling into the administrative role of Secretary of State?

It’s been interesting, to go from being a legislator where you share the responsibility of representing all Californians with 80 others in the Assembly and another 40 in the Senate.

There, I wasn’t responsible for all registered voters and the protection of those who work at the polls and those who work to register voters.

Over here, you have an administrative role, and we support legislation like the Voting Rights Act.

It’s been somewhat difficult to let go of my District. Fortunately, my daughter is the Assemblymember there now.

The U.S. Senate did not pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Why is that significant and why are voting rights so important in America right now?

When Gov. Newsom asked me to be Secretary of State, the first thing that popped in my mind was voting rights. This wasn’t a position that I had lobbied for. We had made some tremendous changes in the Assembly and passed some groundbreaking legislation.

Speaking to a reporter last December 22^nd, I said this is a critical time because our nation is in peril. And he goes, “what do you mean?” I said, “our democracy is in crisis.” He didn’t understand. When January 6 hit (the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol), people understood.

I recognize this is a difficult and unique time for people in the nation, extremely difficult for African Americans, because most of us who have parents or we ourselves have lived through this struggle for voting rights.

My family understood the power of voting. My parents came out of Arkansas where they never got a chance to vote. My dad was an adult with six kids before he actually got a chance to register to vote in California.

What can ordinary Californians who care about expanding and protecting voting rights do?

We need to pay attention. We must fight laws that make it difficult for people to vote. Even though we don’t have that legislation coming out of our Legislature, we have people putting initiatives on the ballot.

California has expanded voting rights so much that people want to limit it. There’s only one group that can’t vote in this state: those who are physically in prison. Everyone else who meets the eligibility requirements in California can vote. And that frightens some people.

Do you see that movement to counteract the expansion of voting rights here in California or from other states?

It is coming from within and without. We have to be careful of the deceptive methods used. Take the campaign against bail reform. It had been signed into law. And a group of bail bondsmen took a whole bunch of money, manipulated African Americans and put their faces on television. It confused voters and wiped out this whole effort we had been working on for five or six years.

Do you think other Secretaries of State across the country will emulate California’s efforts to expand voting rights?

We are seeing that, especially in states with Democratic leadership. But in other places, we see also them fighting the Voting Rights Act.

Secretaries of State are a unique breed. Many are appointed by governors. Across the nation, people on the far Right are organizing to get candidates to run for Secretary of State, where before it was seen more as an administrative job with a few other responsibilities. Now, it is seen as a highly political job, especially given the legislation that’s coming out in some places that would empower Legislatures to overturn votes.

You’ve been in this job for a year. Do you feel like you’ve accomplished your goals?

I didn’t take this position because I needed to be a constitutional officer, or one day become Governor. The question for me was: What does the Secretary of State have to offer in these critical times? And obviously it is the defense of our democracy. I was coming in with the idea that we are going to expand our voting base. We have done that.

We’ve also expanded the California Voter Choice Act counties Half of our counties are Voter Choice Act Counties, which gives us additional resources to go into those counties. They are now outvoting the rest of the counties.

Statewide, 88 % of eligible Californians are registered right now to vote. My goal is to get it to 100 %.

Is California implementing additional safeguards to make sure irregularities are minimal?

Yes, we are. We have a system that verifies votes. We test every machine in California before every election. We make it possible for people to observe the process. They can’t come and start counting themselves. But they can observe. We do all this with transparency.

How does it feel to look at that long wall of portraits of past Secretaries of State, and know that your legacy will be enshrined in California history?

I’m very grateful. When I was sworn in, somebody says you’re the first African American after some 170 years. How does that feel? I said, well – what took so long?

In this ever-changing world of chaos, where normalcy is replaced with life threatening anxieties, music soothes the savage beast. Mental stability is frail having weathered two years of the unknown. This is a time when spiritual guidance can strengthen confidence and one’s well-being. Musical healing fueled with passion and heart can mediate fear into strength.

Kristine Alicia is the angel in the choir reaching out to calm our worried minds. The strength of her lyrics is delivered in a powerful commanding voice that not only soothes the soul but assures a light at the end of the road. Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica she proudly comes from the support and encouragement of a well-versed musical family including her brothers and sister. Her father is a pastor and musician who taught her classical piano. It is no wonder Kristine rises above the crowd with spiritual energy; divine, powerful and healing.

Kristine moved to the U.S. at age 13 and later received a master’s degree in Music Business. She began performing as a backup singer in the gospel arena. In 2007, she launched her first album “Get Ready” produced by Nigel Lewis. This album pushed her into the forefront of the Gospel community where she received Artist of the Year and Female Reggae Vocal Performance at the Martin Awards.  It was Kristine’s growing interest in love and social justice that linked her in 2017 with Rory “Stone Love” Gilligan, producer of her second album “Songs from Zion.” The album charted on iTunes Top 10 and Billboard’s Top 15 and received multiple accolades by a cross section of reggae media. Kristine has shared the stage at live events featuring Third World, Tarrus Riley, Papa San, Etana, Nadine Sutherland, Warrior King and Freddie McGregor. She crossed the globe performing from West to East including the Groove Party in Nairobi, Kenya in 2015.

Kristine has been through ups and downs. It was the passing of her husband in 2020 that resulted in a dramatic single entitled “Black Diamond,” a call to action for survivors, victims and those suffering in silence. The message is personal, yet reflects the trauma of a post pandemic world. In November 2021, Kristine released a plea for ‘people to find their voice and sing again’ with a single entitled “Gold” on the Raging Storm Riddim produced by Christopher Hurst.

Her new release “HOLD STRONG” remains true to her intuitive understanding of psychological stress experienced by those in fear and disillusionment. Her outstanding lyrics and delivery are  tied together by the psychosocial impact of life’s never ending struggles. “HOLD STRONG” will be released February 18, 2022 to be followed by an EP later in the year. Get ready to experience  musical medicine that will guide us to feel whole again.

“My hope is that ‘Hold Strong’ becomes a melody that lifts up the ‘strong one’ we sometimes forget, who needs our strength and reminds our people of the innate resilience that pushes us through trying times.” ~ KRISTINE ALICIA

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media

As the 2022 tax season kicks off, the IRS is reaching out to the public, encouraging people to file their taxes online and early. This was the main takeaway from a recent news briefing featuring IRS officers that Ethnic Media Services organized.

During the virtual meeting, IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and Ken Corbin, Wage and Investment Division Commissioner and Chief Taxpayer Experience Officer at the IRS, stressed the importance of filing via the internet and making sure all information submitted is accurate. That way, they said, taxpayers can avoid delays and seamlessly receive their returns into their bank accounts by direct deposit.

“It is our intent that filing is as smooth and easy as possible. We want to make certain that consumers are getting all the credits and refunds they are eligible to receive,” said Rettig.

“Paper returns have an inherent delay in processing,” Rettig emphasized.

During the presentation, Rettig and Corbin shared several updates and pointers they said everyone filing taxes this year should know. Here are seven important ones:

The Tax Deadline Filing Deadline This Year Is April 18

Unlike the last two years of the pandemic when the IRS moved the tax filing deadline to July (2020) and May (2021), this year’s deadline to file your taxes is April 18. That is much closer to the April 15 date we all know and have become accustomed to over the years.

You Can File Your Taxes Online for Free

The IRS is providing the option for you to file your taxes online at no coast via the IRS Free File Program. The IRS also provides a service to taxpayers called Volunteer Income Tax Assistant Program (VITA). The program allows taxpayers to get in-person tax filing assistance from certified tax professionals in their community for free. This year, due to the pandemic, some of the VITA professionals are offering virtual tax preparation sessions.

For customer support, Rettig is also discouraging taxpayers from contacting the agency via telephone. He said they should use the website instead. The IRS gets about 1 million calls a day and it only employs about 15,000 people to service the phone lines. The service is mainly for people who don’t have access to broadband or the internet, the Commissioner said.

Mistakes Could Delay Your Return

Corbin said it is important for people to be accurate when filing their taxes. Inaccurate filings mean the IRS has to schedule an employee to contact the filer, which will cause a delay.

“We urge taxpayers to take care, particularly for those who received a third economic impact payment or an Advanced Child Tax Credits in 2021,” he said. “Taxpayers should ensure the amounts they receive are entered correctly on the tax return.”

“This slows down the return process,” Rettig added, explaining that the automated system pushes filings with incorrect figures. “Last year we had 10 million returns that didn’t match.”

To get ahead of the problem this year, the IRS issued letters to taxpayers indicating the total amount received in 2021 by filers that were eligible for Advanced Child Tax Credits. Taxpayers can also create an account at IRS.Gov to verify the amount they received.  

Rettig said the IRS still owes people who received the Advanced Child Tax Credits between July and December 2021, but they have to make sure all the information they include in their tax returns is correct. “Know that was only half, of the advance tax credit they should receive,” he said. “To receive the other half, they must file a tax return with us.”

More Married Couples and Singles Qualify for Earn Income Credit

This year, Corbin says more families qualify for Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), which is federal tax relief for filers with low to moderate annual incomes.

“Workers with qualifying dependents may be eligible for EITC if their earned income was less than $57,414,” he said. “The maximum EITC for those with no dependents is $1,502. That’s up from over $500 in 2020.”

The annual income requirement to qualify for EITC for taxpayers without dependents is $21,430 for single filers, and $27,380 for those filing joint returns.

“In the past, EITC for those with no dependents was only available to people ages 25 to 64,” he added.

You also don’t need to be under the age of 65 any longer to qualify for EITC without a qualifying dependent, and individuals and families who received investment income up to $10,000 may also qualify.

Homeless and Former Foster Youth Qualify for EITC

Homeless and former foster youth who are at least 18 years old also quality for EITC this year. The minimum age is 19 for most taxpayers and 18 for former foster youth and youth experiencing homelessness.

Beware of Scams

Corbin says tax filers should beware of scams.

“The IRS will not call you by phone without a notice in advance. Don’t accept a text, a call, especially if they ask for bank info or to pay with a gift card. That is a scam,” he said. “Those are the things we are seeing this season.”

The IRS Is Hiring

Rettig said the IRS, which is still processing a backlog of about 6 million tax returns from the last two years, is currently hiring. “We want to be reflective of the people we proudly serve,” the Commissioner said, touting the agency’s commitment to diversity. He said the IRS wants to employ people, including those who speak more than one language, who are able to communicate with taxpayers from all backgrounds. For more information, visit USAJobs.Gov.