::THE SLICE REPORT WITH MONA AUSTIN

buzzz worthy. . .  By Mona Austin (SHREVEPORT, LA) - February 16, 2014  Billy R. Boykin, Jr. , a visual and graphic artist, will unveil   " Justice for All,"    a digitally illustrated series of portraits in celebration of Black History Month today.  The series was inspired by a theatrical production of “Four Little Girls” performed at Centenary College that told the story of the 1963 bombing of the  Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL which left 4 girls dead at the hands of White Supremacists. The exhibit will feature images of three figures in Black history --  two from the Civil Rights era (Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcom X) and one from the modern era (Professor/Author/Social Commentator Dr. Cornell West) to reflect the continuous need for change.  The art will be on display during an annual Black History Month program starting at 1:00 p.m. at The Church of the Living God, P.G.T. located at   1634...

buzzz worthy. . . The Smithsonian's African American Museum of History and Culture is interested in acquiring the hoodie slain Florida teen Trayvon Martin wore on the night of his death, the Washington Post reports.  But why place the most painful reminder of the tragedy on display? "Because it's such a symbol, it would allow you to talk about race in the age of Obama," says Museum Director Lonnie Bunch tells the Post.  The black hooded sweatshirt became  statement attire for Trayvon Martin supporters as it was speculated he was profiled based on appearance alone. Currently under construction on 5 acres adjacent to the Washington monument, the museum will open its doors in 2015.  Visitors will view artifacts from the Civil Rights era, the handcuffs from the arrest of professor Henry L. Gates and a theater named in honor of media tycoon Oprah Winfrey, its largest benefactor.  Oprah has donated 13 million dollars to the museum to date. Erstwhile on the natio...

buzzz worthy. . . After 16 hours of deliberation, a jury of six women rendered a verdict of not guilty in the George Zimmerman Trial. Zimmerman, a Sanford, Fla. neighborhood watchman, was set free after state prosecutors were unable to satisfy the burden of proof that he murdered their client, Trayvon Martin.  Zimmerman maintained that he acted in self defense. Early reaction to the decision shows the nation is divided.  While some applaud the decision  others are outraged that was Zimmerman was fully vindicated and walked away from the situation with no consequences. The family of Trayvon Martin was instructed by their Civil Rights attorneys for safety and emotional reasons not to be present at the reading of the verdict.  They previously stated they would accept the verdict no matter what. Robert Zimmerman, the brother of the George Zimmerman in an exclusive interview wit Poers Morgan.  He said his brother has received death threats and he will have t...

buzzz worthy. . . By Mona Austin Arguments in the second degree murder trial of George Zimmeran concluded today. A jury of six women will decide if the former neighborhood watchman from Sanford, Florida acted in self defense or hate when he gunned down 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012 who allegedly attacked him. Yesterday Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda started to bring the 24 day trial to a close. "Who started this? Who followed who? Who was minding their own business? Of the two, who was the one that was armed?" de la Rionda asked the jury. Taking over two hours to summarize the state's case, the prosecutor characterized Zimmerman as a lying, wannabe cop who took the law into his own hands --after authorities told him not to pursue Martin --and murdered  the deceased in cold blood “not because he had to but because he wanted to.” De la Rionda angrily shredded the noble citizen image of George Zimmerman pointing to a string of inconsistenc...