44 percent: Haitian Heritage Month, Miami's Motorcycle Queen, the Six Triple Eight

Miami Herald

01-05-2025

Shedeur Sanders was projected to be picked within the top two rounds of the NFL Draft. But as days of the NFL Draft wore on, he wound up getting selected as the No. 114 pick in the fifth round for the Cleveland Browns, who'd already drafted a quarterback just ahead of Sanders.
There have been criticisms of Sanders' skill, but the conversation has largely focused on the idea that he needed to humble himself before a team could draft him — an ironic stance given how the league has handled player misconduct in the past.
There is this idea that Black people must humble themselves to be deserving, despite how great they are. We saw this play out with Kentaji Brown Jackson at her confirmation hearings, who despite her stoicism, endured terse questioning from senators.
The concept that a Black person must exude humility is rooted in control, an attempt to put Black people in their proverbial place. Sanders already comes from wealth, which goes without saying given Deion 'Prime Time' Sanders is his daddy and isn't ashamed about who and what he earned. It's indisputable that he was raised with confidence and knows how to take things on the chin, including a stupid prank phone call intended to humiliate him.
So, I imagine the younger Sanders getting selected in a lower round was to intentionally decrease his stock and put him in a position where he seemingly has to prove he even deserved the courtesy of being selected.
A self-assured young Black man shouldn't be threatening.
One thing we could take away from Sanders and his family: Don't let them see you sweat. Despite the intention of humbling him, he showed no signs he was worried and had fun on his livestream with his dad, brother Shilo and the rest of his family.
INSIDE THE 305:
Little Haiti Cultural Complex's new leader must tackle old challenges
Dasha Saintremy has been the Little Haiti Cultural Complex's manager for about three months. She's inherited a mess, including a leaky roof at the Caribbean Marketplace, mold throughout parts of the center and other issues that should have been fixed by the city. Saintremy, a Miami native, spoke to me about her ambitions for the complex and why it needs to be maintained.
'Maintaining our legacy:' Miami's Motorcycle Queen gets a street named in her honor
Known as the 'Motorcycle Queen of Miami,' Bessie Stringfield is finally getting her own street in Miami Gardens, not far from where she once lived. 'We're maintaining our legacy and our history despite what anyone else's plans are,' Miami Gardens Councilwoman Michelle C. Powell told the Miami Herald. 'We're going to continue remembering our history and celebrating it and keeping it in the history books, at least through the people of Miami Gardens.'
He's almost 90, but he wants to teach North Miami seniors how to use tech
When I spoke with Bertie McCulloch, I wasn't sure what to expect. He was sharp as whip, recalled dates and facts just fine and was immersed in technology – something his fellow seniors aren't always too keen on. This week, he passed his knowledge and appreciation of technology onto other seniors who he thought it might benefit.
OUTSIDE THE 305:
'Sinners' Is Set in Clarksdale, Where There's No Theater. Locals Are Asking for a Screening.
Sinners is Set in Clarksdale, Mississippi, but residents have to make a long trek to a theater to even see it, Capital B reported. One resident set up a campaign to get a screening of the film in the city.
Only Black female WWII unit receives Congressional Gold Medal
Members of the only Black female WWII unit, The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, received the Congressional Gold Medal earlier this week. The women were depicted in the Tyler Perry movie 'Six Triple Eight,' and had more than 300 descendants and family members of the unit at the ceremony, ABC News reported. The full ceremony can be viewed here.
HIGH CULTURE: From cuisine to art shows to Compas Fest: How to celebrate Haitian Heritage Month
Haitian Heritage Month is underway in South Florida, where the Haitian community celebrates its culture and the founding of its flag dating back to May 18, 1803. Haiti correspondent Jacqueline Charles compiled a list of events to celebrate throughout the month including, the Miami Haitian Compas Festival and the Running Edge 305 2nd Annual Little Haiti Heritage 5K. The Little Haiti Cultural Complex is also hosting a monthlong series of events.
Where does 'The 44 Percent' name come from? Click here to find out how Miami history influenced the newsletter's title.