Many Women in Iran See Leaving as Their Only Choice

The oppression of women and a feminist movement is helping to drive an exodus of female graduates in Iran. 

This exodus, particularly of women academics, has intensified in recent years. The director of the Iran Migration Observatory in Tehran pointed to the high level of unemployment among women as the main driver.

Official figures show 60% of students in Iran are women, but that share drops to just 15% on the job market. Massive repression of nationwide protests late last year after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini and a crackdown on women's rights have further fueled female brain drain. 

https://www.dw.com/en/iran-crackdown-on-womens-rights-fuels-female-brain-drain/a-66932202

Birckhead Becomes First Black Female State Military Leader

Growing up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead looked hard for a way to finance a college education.  Accepting an ROTC scholarship, she began her military career and is now holds the top military position in the state. 

She now is the only Black woman to lead a state military, responsible for the combat readiness of 4,600 soldiers and airmen. 

In early 2021, Birckhead was appointed by the National Guard Bureau as the task force commander for over 14,000 guard members guarding the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 attack. She also led the Maryland National Guard's security mission for President Biden's inauguration.  

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/24/1173815128/maryland-national-guard-janeen-birckhead-adjutant-general

Father of Daughters Champions the Birth of Girls in India

Sunil Jaglan is responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of girls in Haryana in India, and is gaining national recognition for his efforts.

Because of his work, his village and many others across Haryana, the birth of girls is now celebrated with the banging of pots and pans by family members, a ritual earlier reserved for the birth of a boy.

In four years, the sex ratio in the village improved from 37 girls/63 boys per hundred newborns to 51 girls/49 boys, according to government health records.

Despite an official ban on prenatal sex testing, advertisements for the service were pasted on market walls and highways across Haryana, and aborting fetuses because they were female was common. 

In India, gender inequality remains deeply entrenched. In many households, especially in rural areas, girls are considered a social and financial burden whose parents still pay thousands of dollars in dowry gifts to a husband’s family after arranging a marriage.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/04/world/asia/sunil-jaglan-india-haryana-womens-rights.html

Watching the Only All-Black Swim Team in the US is Popular

Since taking over this once-moribund program eight years ago, head coach Nic Askew, a former Howard swimmer, has created arguably the most electric collegiate swimming environment in the U.S at Howard. 

He’s pulled recruits from across the country, from Canada and the Caribbean, and developed a team now on the cusp of winning the Northeast Conference title, which would be its first banner in more than 30 years—the nation’s only historically Black school with a swim program now showing out in this predominantly white, country club sport.

1,200 people were watching last February—most likely the most-attended dual meet anywhere in the nation last season. 

https://www.si.com/college/2023/02/01/howard-swimming-daily-cover?fbclid=IwAR0ibml7Ff7HW2IU6mnYCHn6tp1bmhOI7V82ZaYcC7TcaVF_QLSHzYkhOxo

It's Fine if Only Whites Control a Small Alabama Town, But Not Majority Blacks

Patrick Braxton become mayor in 2020 of tiny Newbern, Alabama, winning since he was the only one running. In its 166 year history, no Black man had become mayor of the town.

But the white folks eventually decided that wouldn't do, held a secret election, and locked Mr. Braxton out of the town hall, and blocked him from official town business.

Now Mr. Braxton is suing. The whites aren't talking.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/06/us/newbern-alabama-mayor-dispute/index.html

Will Trump Really Be Held Accountable?

Being on top of the hierarchy in so many ways, and garnering support because of his top actions and views, Donald Trump and his supporters expect that he will not be held accountable for trying to overthrow our democracy. In hierarchies, the top is not held accountable because the hierarchy would fall if they were. 

People of the United States are so accustomed to Trump and his Republican retinue being allowed to mostly do whatever they want, that many of us are skeptical that any accountability is a very long shot.

We have reason to believe that the indictments will not hold, that some way Trump and his co-conspirators will weasel out at the top is expected to do. Only time will tell. 

Florida Feeling Heat of Convention Cancellations

The policies of Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that have been approved by Republican-dominated legislatures has draped the Sunshine State in controversy, spurring protests, lawsuits and travel advisories warning the state is “openly hostile” toward people of color, immigrants, women and LGBTQ+ community members.

The fallout is starting to spread to a key economic artery for an income-tax-free state heavily reliant upon tourism taxes: Florida’s convention business, with dozens of organizations cancelling in recent weeks. The fallout may be seen for years to come as organizations book their conventions years ahead. 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/06/economy/florida-convention-business-cancellations/index.html