Forget counting, letters and nursery rhymes. One super-smart six-year-old Louisiana boy is one of the newest members of an elite intellectual society and has his sights set on going to space.

As a baby, Jessica Collins says her son Taurian experienced hearing and speech issues, which caused her to worry.

“He wasn’t really talking. It was momma and dadda, and that was a little iffy. I don’t think he was saying ten words,” Collins told KNOE News 8 in Louisiana.

Collins desperately wanted to get to the bottom of the situation and had her son tested for autism several times. Each time, she was told Taurian was not autistic.

At his doctor’s suggestion, Taurian had his adenoids – tissue that sits at the back of the nasal passage to trap harmful bacteria we breathe and swallow – removed and tubes placed into his ears. As a result, previously muffled sounds became clear. And with the help of speech therapy, Taurian was speaking and reading by age two.

These days, the first grader is thriving. Tests showed Taurian’s reading above the 99.9 percentile, math in the 95th percentile, and overall cognitive skills in the 99.7 percentile. He was even accepted into Mensa, a members-only society for people with the highest IQs in the world.

Source: Amazing Story of Black Boy Genius from Louisiana Becoming Mensa Member

Reports show that Krieg Butler, 36, was initially charged with murder for the Oct. 12 killing at the Wedgewood Apartments in Columbus, Ohio, but prosecutors asked to drop the charges days later, citing “standard procedure.”

However, many on social media are calling for Butler to be charged, with some launching #JusticeForSinzaeReed and rallying for others to call the Franklin County prosecutor’s office to pressure it to move on the case.

Atlanta Black Star contacted the prosecutor’s office on Thursday and was sent an Oct. 27 statement initially issued after Franklin County Municipal Court Judge Mike McAllister accepted its motion, filed on Oct. 17, and dismissed the case.

“The Municipal Court does not have jurisdiction to hear felony cases except for a limited period of time. It is standard practice for almost every felony case filed in Municipal Court to be dismissed,” the statement said.

The prosecutor’s office said, however, that the case is still “under review for possible presentation” to a grand jury, “and unfortunately, I cannot advise you when the case will be presented.”

Columbus police homicide Det. Keith O’Connor told The Columbus Dispatch that “there has been a claim of self-defense” by Butler and his mother but did not provide additional details.

Sinzae, affectionately known as Zay, according to his obituary, “loved listening to music and playing video games.” His favorite TV shows were “Snowfall” and “Power,” and he liked hanging out with his friends. Sinzae attended Kipp Columbus and had been doing online classes at the time of his death.

Source: ‘A Baby Is Gone’: Ohio Prosecutors Face Backlash Amid Demand for Charges In Killing of Black Boy Allegedly Shot Five Times By White Neighbor

On Wednesday, May 5, dozens of students and teachers from Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy and local community members protested at a Safeway in San Francisco, California, after 11-year-old Ja’Mari Oliver was accused of stealing a sandwich from the grocery store, despite showing security guards his receipt, the San Francisco Examiner reported.

The incident occurred on Monday, April 26, when Oliver was headed to school for his first in-person session since schools shut down and turned to virtual learning due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The young child bought a sandwich at the Safeway located on Market and Church streets. However, on his way out, Oliver was approached by three grocery store employees who questioned him on whether he had paid for his item.

Oliver said he showed them his receipt, but they allegedly would not let him leave until the store manager cleared him. The young child told the news outlet that the experience made him “sad.” He added, “I felt scared like something could have happened. I was just crying.”

A school staff member, Ryan Swick, said he saw a change in Oliver’s demeanor when he got to school and he questioned what happened. “He was very shaken up, not his usual self at school,” Swick explained. “Kids are aware that this kind of stuff happens. You don’t think it happens to someone in your community until it happens to someone in your community.”

Staff went over to the store the following morning, only to be met with similar treatment. Many felt Oliver had been racially profiled, and soon afterward, they organized a one-mile march to the Safeway store. The group carried “Black Lives Matter” and other signs as they chanted “Safeway is not safe” in a show of support for Oliver.

The fifth grader’s mother, Tatiana Oliver, told KRON 4 that she’s always advised her son to hold on to his receipt when he makes a purchase, “but only if like he wanted to return it; not because I would think someone would think he would steal.”

Wendy Gutshall, a spokesperson for Safeway, confirmed the incident and said those involved were “removed” from the store. “The store manager was unaware of what happened until the young man returned to the store with his mother,” she added. “We extended our most sincere apologies for the boy’s unsettling experience. While our internal investigation is ongoing, we can tell you that this is counter to our policies and training.”

In a statement sent to KRON 4, the company wrote, “Across all of our stores, we strive for an environment where everyone is treated with courtesy, dignity, and respect — clearly this instance fell short of our expectations.”

The store also offered the young boy and his mother a $25 gift card. “Something like that can’t fix what happened,” the mom said in response.

Rev. Amos Brown, president of the San Francisco chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, was also at the rally and threatened to boycott the store. “We’re going to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with them, or else we will say ‘We will not shop at Safeway,’ ” he expressed. “We’ve got to teach Safeway a lesson.”

Source: 11-Year-Old Black Boy Offered Gift Card In Response to Being Falsely Accused of Stealing at California Safeway