Seventeen-year-old Jill Prime is a senior at Flagler Palm Coast High School, a staff member at the Rymfire Boys and Girls Club and now a budding pilot.

It all started with one week in 1926, when one organization chose the second week of February to promote the achievements by Black Americans and other people of African descent.

State Sen. Randolph Bracy announced the approval of the Ocoee Massacre Compensation Scholarship, which was signed into law on Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

February is now underway, and with that comes Black History Month.

We want to know: What does Black History Month mean to you? Did you talk about it, growing up? Did you attend events? We want to hear, in your words, about your experience with the month.

Mexico has recorded over 1.71 million confirmed coronavirus cases and over 146,000 test-confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, was tasked by President Joe Biden to give an update on the coronavirus pandemic after largely being sidelined in recent months by former president Donald Trump. It expands the use of telemedicine and adds flexibility in health care licensing through March 31. The move comes as Kelly said communities can move beyond immunizing health care workers and long-term care residents. ___WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is signing 10 executive orders aimed at combating the coronavirus pandemic, including one broadening the use of the Defense Production Act to expand vaccine production.

The Ocoee Massacre, the day when dozens of African-Americans were killed by a white mob after Moses Norman tried to legally cast his ballot in the city. On Monday, Orlando and Orange County leaders met with descendants of the victims killed in the tragedy at a new exhibit at the Orange County Regional History Center. “To know that a loved one was lynched, for no reason -- senseless -- that is not something that you talk about day to day,” McWhite said. On Wednesday, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings declared Nov. 2 as “The Descendants of the Ocoee Massacre: Honoring their Ancestors Day” in Orange County. Ron DeSantis also issued a proclamation designating Nov. 2, 2020 as 1920 Ocoee Election Day Massacre Remembrance Day in Florida.

The comments from Michelle Bachelet came in a catch-all speech to open the latest session of the U.N.-backed Human Rights Council on Monday. She also raised concerns about the human rights situation in Myanmar, Nicaragua and Venezuela, among other places on her agenda. Many see the law as Beijing’s boldest move yet to remove a legal firewall between the semi-autonomous territory of Hong Kong and the mainland’s Communist Party system. “The Hong Kong authorities have consistently stated that the law is not intended to impact negatively on the peaceful exercise of human rights by Hong Kong residents,” said Bachelet. She said her office had documented 47 killings of human rights defenders in Colombia this year.

FILE - In this June 25, 2020, file photo, State Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, chair of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, discusses one of the more than one dozen budget trailer bills before the Senate at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif. California lawmakers are setting up a task force to study and make recommendations for reparations to African-Americans, particularly the descendants of slaves, as the nation struggles again with civil rights and unrest following the latest shooting of a Black man by police. The state Senate supported creating the nine-member commission on a bipartisan 33-3 vote Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

The state Senate supported creating the nine-member commission on a bipartisan 33-3 vote Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. The state Senate supported creating the nine-member commission on a bipartisan 33-3 vote Saturday. Let's be clear: Chattel slavery, both in California and across our nation, birthed a legacy of racial harm and inequity that continues to impact the conditions of Black life in California, said Democratic Sen. Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles. Although California before the Civil War was officially a free state, Mitchell listed legal and judicial steps state officials took at the time to support slavery in Southern states while repressing Blacks. It said reparations could take the form of cash, housing assistance, lower tuition, forgiving student loans, job training or community investments, for instance.

Edelman said he hopes that recent anti-Semitic social media posts by Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson can be a teaching moment not just for him but others as well. In a video posted to Instagram Thursday, July 9, 2020, Edelman joined the Eagles, NFL and others who have condemned Jacksons posts over the weekend. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)BOSTON New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman said he hopes recent anti-Semitic social media posts by Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson can be a teaching moment, not just for him but others as well. I know he said some ugly things, but I do see an opportunity to have a conversation, Edelman said in the video. Edelman later acknowledged in an interview with The Associated Press that he has heard anti-Semitic taunts during games.

Greg Drumwright, a minister at the Citadel Church & Campus Ministries, helped organize a group of Black fans to attend the NASCAR race at Talladega and support driver Bubba Wallace. We want to see that the call for diversification and true equity in the sport extends beyond the banning of the Confederate flag, Drumwright said. The group was about two dozen strong but only one had been to a NASCAR race before. We were there to stand with Bubba but what we learned through the media coverage is that it seems as if were standing with NASCAR, Drumwright said. Theres a willingness to listen and engage that NASCAR has that I dont believe they were sincere about earlier, said Bill Lester, one of at least seven other Black NASCAR drivers before Wallace.

In this video grab issued Sunday, June 28, 2020, by BET, Beyonce accepts the humanitarian award during the BET Awards. The singer dedicated her award to the Black Lives Matter movement, and encouraged activists to continue to push forward. DaBaby rapped a verse from the Black Lives Matter remix of his hit song Rockstar with Roddy Ricch at the awards. While holding a baseball bat, DaBaby then stood on a stage behind a group of people who had their fists raised high while others held Black Lives Matter signs. During the performance, video clips were shown of the national protests over the deaths of unarmed Black people including Floyd, Arbery and Taylor.

The three-hour show will be jam-packed with heavy hitters currently dominating the pop charts and streaming services, including DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Summer Walker, Kane Brown and Chloe x Halle. The three-hour show will be jam-packed with heavy hitters currently dominating the pop charts and streaming services, including DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Summer Walker, Kane Brown and Chloe x Halle. Comedian, actress and TV personality Amanda Seales will host the 2020 BET Awards, which will air on CBS for the first time. Drake is the leading nominee: Hes up for six honors, including video of the year and best male hip-hop artist. Ricch and Megan Thee Stallion follow Drake with five nominations each.

In just a few months, Flordia will mark 100 years since 50 Black men were shot and killed in Ocoee as they sought to exercise their right to vote, a tragic piece of history known as the Ocoee Massacre. One-by-one would-be Black voters were turned away either by threats of violence or by poll workers who found their names mysteriously absent from the voter registration rolls, ZEP reported. Pollsters instructed them to get documentation from notary public R. C. Biegelow to verify that they were indeed registered to vote. A man named Mose Norman was determined not to return home without his vote being counted, so he sought counsel from a local judge after being turned away from his Ocoee precinct. Perry was captured by the KKK, and according to the History Center, and was lynched.

(Neon via AP)Heres a collection curated by The Associated Press entertainment journalists of whats arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. Written and directed by Chinonye Chukwu, Clemency was well-reviewed but got unjustly overshadowed by some of the higher profile awards contenders when it was released in December. Doctor Sleep: The Directors Cut: This Danny Torrance-focused sequel to The Shining was a little divisive upon release, which wasnt all that surprising. Film Writer Lindsey BahrMUSICGrey Daze: Fans of the late Grammy-winning screeching rock singer Chester Bennington will get a chance to hear him one more time. HAIM: Its been three years since sister trio HAIM have released a new album.

Economists have forecast that the government will report Friday that employers shed 8.5 million more jobs last month on top of 21.4 million lost in March and April. The economic shock, like the pandemic itself, has widened economic disparities that have disproportionately hurt minorities and lower-educated workers. But business closures related to the unrest could cause job losses that would be reflected in the June jobs report to be issued next month. That is still more than all the jobs lost in the Great Recession. Oxford Economics estimates that the economy will regain 17 million jobs by years end, a huge increase by historical standards.

ORLANDO, Fla. – In this week’s episode of News 6/360, News 6 is highlighting Black History Month and the historic African-Americans who have ties to Central Florida. They also tell the story of one Central Florida veteran who helped integrate the military during World War II with a secret mission and a risky jump into a fiery forest. Since Central Florida is rich with Black History, they also walk you through places you can visit throughout the region to learn more about the iconic figures who paved the way for African-Americans today. Users can watch “News 6/360” on their Android phones by going to ClickOrlando.com or the News 6 app. [iPHONE AND APP USERS: Click here for the best viewing experience]Note: To get the full experience, hit the play button and click and hold your mouse while moving it around the video screen.

DAYTONA, Fla. – Race fans, here’s a trivia question for you: has an African-American driver ever won a NASCAR Cup Series race? There have only been a handful of African-American drivers to ever race in NASCAR’s top tier event, known as The Cup Series. He is the only African-American driver currently racing in any of NASCAR’s top three tiers (there are three women in the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series). Wallace enters his third year as a cup-regular after successful stints in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series (six top-five finishes) and wins in the Gander RV & Outdoor Truck Series (he’s a six-time winner). The following year he had five starts in the Truck Series and in 2002 ran a full Truck Series schedule (finishing 17th in points).