Alpha Kappa Alpha, America’s first Black female sorority, placed high emphasis on the support and development of Africa during a milestone anniversary.
As part of the sorority’s weeklong celebration of its 110th anniversary in D.C., International President Dorothy Buckhanan Wilson and officials presented a $10,000 check to the Africare House, one of the nation’s most experienced and largest Black-led nonprofit international development organizations.
“I love Africare House,” Wilson said of the northwest D.C. facility. “And assisting them goes hand in hand with our organization’s mission. A major component we deal with is childhood hunger, so to be able to provide resources and support to parts of the world like Africa is invaluable. Last year we were able to donate items such as food, nutrient packs and over 60,000 school dresses for children. We also do work in Haiti and have successfully built schools in places like South Africa. Every year each president does something extra meaningful with Africa, as we take service to all mankind with high regard, however our organization has the longest standing relationship with Africare.”
South Africa Shuns H&M for ‘Monkey’ Ad
Several H&M clothing stores in South Africa have been temporarily closed amid protests outside the stores against an online ad by the Swedish company that featured a Black child modeling a hooded sweatshirt that read “coolest monkey in the jungle.”
Hordes of demonstrators including South Africa’s second-largest opposition party, Economic Freedom Fighters, were seen at H&M locations across the country, marching in and outside various stores, while individual protesters ransacked some locations. No staff or customers were injured.
“Out of concern for the safety of our employees and customers we have temporarily closed all stores in the area,” H&M said in a statement Saturday.
Critics pointed out that two other jungle-themed sweatshirts advertised on the company website made no mention of monkeys and were modeled by white children.
African Nations Unite Against Trump Remarks
Ghana and South Africa are coming together to summon U.S. diplomats in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump allegedly slamming Haiti and African nations as “s—hole” countries.
The summons will allow the various nations to voice their concerns. South Africa’s government also announced Sunday a formal protest of the remark, which Trump allegedly made during a meeting in the Oval Office about immigration.
Other nations including Haiti, Botswana and Senegal have also summoned the diplomats, looking for a response sometime this week, Undersecretary of State Steven Goldstein told CNN.
State Department officials have reportedly advised diplomats not to try to interpret or soften the president’s remarks, but rather listen to and acknowledge the countries’ concerns and emphasize areas of shared cooperation.