By KENYA HUNTER, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington . As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race , held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents’ pets , he didn’t just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris , many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris’ loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women’s concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution , which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government programs and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people . Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,”’ she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating. “We’re talking millions of Black women here. If millions of Black women take a step back, it absolutely leaves holes, but for other Black women,” she said. “I think we sometimes are in the bubble of if it’s not in your immediate circle, maybe it doesn’t apply to you. And I truly implore people to understand that it does.” Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women. “It could impact things negatively because there isn’t that voice from the most empathetic group,” she said. “I also think it’s going to give other groups an opportunity to step up. ... My hope is that they do show up for themselves and everyone else.” Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump. “This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.” AP polling editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Associated Press writer Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Aremu Mubarak, a 29-year-old graphic designer with a mobility impairment, shares his inspiring journey with TEMITOPE ADETUNJI on how she overcame obstacles and eventually pursued higher education What was growing up like for you? Growing up wasn’t easy; it was a significant change for me and my family. My mobility impairment, combined with living in a multi-storey building made navigating daily life as a wheelchair user quite challenging and inconvenient. Can you share a bit about your childhood and the circumstances that led to your use of a wheelchair? I am 29 years old, originally from Kwara State, but I was born and raised in Lagos State, where I still reside. I am the second of three children in my family. I have an older sister and a younger brother. I have a physical challenge that affects my mobility. According to my parents, everything changed when I was two years old. At that age, I was healthy, had received all my immunizations, and had already started standing and taking my first steps. One day, I developed a fever, and my mother took me to a hospital, where a nurse administered an injection in the wrong vein. A few days later, my parents noticed that the injection site on my buttock was swollen. They initially applied balm as first aid but decided to return to the hospital when the swelling didn’t subside. After an examination, the doctor delivered the devastating news: the injection had been given incorrectly, affecting the veins in my legs. That moment marked a turning point for my family. They were heartbroken but determined to find a solution. My parents, lacking prior knowledge or resources, sought every possible remedy to help me walk again. They visited numerous places, including religious centres, but nothing worked. Many promised I would walk again, but their efforts often came at a financial and emotional cost with no positive outcome. From using different treatments to performing traditional therapies and even marking my skin, my parents tried everything, but none of it was effective. How did your family and friends support you while growing up, especially regarding your education and mobility? When I was five years old, I was still crawling at home. My parents would strap me to their back to carry me around. This marked the beginning of their decision to ensure I got an education while searching for solutions to my condition. I was enrolled in a primary school, and my mum and sister carried me to school daily on their back. Transportation wasn’t an option due to the narrow and busy streets of Lagos where we lived. It was hectic for them, but they never complained. Instead, they showed me love and acceptance. At this stage, I started becoming aware of my reality. I was often the first to arrive at school and the last to leave. I endured many challenges, such as holding in my urine and faeces for hours because of the lack of facilities that suited my needs. I wanted to be seen as just another child; so, I endured silently. In class, I moved around by using the tables and chairs, especially when my classmates had gone home. I didn’t have a wheelchair throughout my primary school years because my parents believed I would eventually walk. Despite these challenges, I graduated from LATRASH Private Primary School as one of their best students and the only special-needs student they had ever enrolled. In 2007, I gained admission to King Ado Junior and Senior Secondary School. This was a new chapter of my life because the school was far from home. During this period, I got my first wheelchair, which made mobility easier but presented new challenges. Managing privacy when using the restroom or moving between classes required significant effort. My presence in school drew the attention of teachers, students, and even people in the marketplace near the school. Some pitied me, while others were curious about my condition. Regardless, I stayed focused, knowing that the journey to and from school was harsh. My sister, who attended a different school far from mine, would come to pick me up every day. We couldn’t use my wheelchair in our neighborhood because of the narrow streets and crowded markets. Instead, she carried me on her back. We faced pain, stress, and countless difficulties, but it became our routine. Most mornings, we left home as early as 5am to avoid the rush, especially since my mum had to leave for her trade. In JSS 2, I was one of six students selected by the junior principal for a partial scholarship. The scholarship provided school supplies and one meal per day for each term, relieving some financial pressure on my parents. However, this support ended after JSS 3. Later, my family relocated to another area where we could use motorcycles for transportation. Unfortunately, my mum lost her workplace when the Lagos State Government shut down several establishments. Things became more challenging, and when motorcycles were eventually banned in Lagos, friends from school helped me get home. Despite these struggles, I completed secondary school in 2013 with joy after taking my WAEC exams. What medical challenges did you face, and how did your family support you through them? In 2002, my parents learned about Igbobi Orthopedic Hospital in Lagos, where I was tested for polio. My parents started taking me to appointments, and I was eventually provided with a plastic leg brace with leather straps extending from my legs to my chest. This brace was designed to straighten my legs but was extremely painful to wear. As I grew, the materials for the brace were updated to match my size, and my parents spared no effort or expense in ensuring I got the necessary care. They covered costs for transport, therapy, and materials while continuing to encourage me. I was scheduled for surgery when I turned 18. However, as my height and growth delayed the procedure, the doctor retired before it could be performed. A new doctor took over my case and informed us that surgery was no longer an option. My bones had grown too strong, and my veins had shortened, making surgery impossible. This was a hard reality for my parents to accept, and the money they had paid for the procedure was never refunded, even after they wrote to the hospital. Despite this, my parents remained supportive, and we moved on. I could neither stand nor take steps, but their belief in me never wavered. How did you pursue higher education, and what challenges did you face? After secondary school, I took the JAMB exam and gained admission as a full-time student at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos. I studied Accounting Education, and this period marked a turning point in my life. Being independent on campus with my wheelchair gave me a sense of achievement. However, the journey was not without challenges. My wheelchair broke at one point but was replaced by Mrs Akindele Titilola, a kind friend’s mum and a non-teaching staff member at the college. After three years of hard work, I graduated in 2017, a moment of pride for my family and me. Following my graduation, I spent a year preparing for admission to UNILAG where I studied Business Administration. During this time, I also began teaching myself graphic design, equipping myself with additional skills for the future. Why did you study Business Education at UNILAG? I chose to further my studies through direct entry to the University of Lagos, where I pursued Business Education. My interest in business-related courses grew because they promote self-reliance and foster an entrepreneurial mindset. Related News In defence of ability in disability Abia warns of impostor claiming disability commission chairmanship Disability shouldn’t stop dreams – Foundation Were there specific challenges you faced as a wheelchair user at UNILAG, and how did you overcome them? Yes, I faced challenges similar to those I experienced in previous schools. These included adapting to a new environment, transportation issues, the long distances to lecture rooms, navigating stairs, and financial expenses, among others. However, with the help of God, my determination, and the support of friends, I overcame these obstacles. Did you find any particular person or group at Unilag that significantly contributed to your success? Yes, my friends and coursemates played a significant role in my success at UNILAG. They were incredibly supportive, assisting me with my wheelchair and helping me get to classes and other locations, no matter how far the distance was. God bless all my friends and everyone who stood by me. In my final year, I received an electric wheelchair and an endowment scholarship from Dr Funmi Ayinke Humanity Foundation. This was facilitated by the former vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to my journey in one way or another. Your financial support, encouragement, and care mean a lot to me and my family. They have brought me closer to achieving my life goals. What strategies have you developed to remain confident and motivated despite societal perceptions of disability? Firstly, I had to accept myself for who I am. I embrace challenges as they come, do my best, and always believe in my abilities rather than focusing on my limitations. I’m already aware of the discrimination and challenges faced by individuals with physical disabilities. So, I focus on what I can do and the value I can bring to others. I have become quite independent. I can cook, wash, handle minor electrical repairs, and even do carpentry work. I’m also actively engaged in activities like table tennis and indoor games. Additionally, I can wheel myself to some extent, and my hands and other parts of my body are active. It’s just my legs that aren’t functioning. Were there moments when you felt like giving up? Yes, there was a time during my secondary school years when the burden felt overwhelming. However, that phase is behind me now. My watchwords are ‘Never give up’ and ‘I am limitless’. These words keep me moving forward. How did your colleagues and supervisors during NYSC treat you? Do you feel included and respected? Yes, I was included in most activities, and I was never deprived or excluded at any point. In fact, they made things easier for me and showed me a lot of respect for being the only wheelchair user among them. I’m especially grateful to my L.G.I (Local Government Inspector) and colleagues for their support. Are there specific skills or lessons you’ve learnt during your NYSC programme that you feel will be invaluable in the future? Yes, I learnt a lot about the Sustainable Development Goals and inclusion through the NYSC Community Development Service. This inspired me to embark on a personal CDS project called ‘AccessAbility’. The initiative aimed to raise awareness about building an inclusive society and supporting underprivileged students. Using online platforms, I raised awareness and later donated basic school materials to 120 newly enrolled JSS1 students in Lagos Island. This experience was eye-opening and taught me resilience, self-empowerment, and self-discovery. I graduated from the University of Lagos in 2023 due to the pandemic or ASUU strike. I successfully completed my NYSC on October 30, 2024. How do you think society can better support wheelchair users and other persons with disabilities in Nigeria? I believe society and the government should provide targeted care and support for people with disabilities where and when needed. There should be more emphasis on inclusion, awareness, and creating a safe environment with accessible building plans. Many individuals in my situation face similar challenges, such as difficulty accessing places, buildings, transportation, and healthcare. Since learning about my condition, I have tried reaching out to various government platforms for assistance, but none have been successful. I possess my LASTRA and LASODA, LASODA stands for the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs. LASTRA refers to the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency, yet I have not received any support. The government should invest more effort in empowering and creating jobs for people with physical challenges. Not everyone with a disability is lazy; I am a living testimony. I have the ability but no job opportunities. Do you see yourself as an advocate for others living with disabilities? If yes, what message do you hope to share? Yes, I do, and I will continue to champion this cause in my own way. My message to others is to have no limitations in their vision and to cultivate an empowered mindset. Your abilities are not diminished by others’ inability to see your worth. What’s next for you? Currently, I am preparing for my Master’s degree while continuing to upgrade my skill set as a brand identity and graphics designer, as well as an IT assistant. I am also hoping to secure a good job or an empowerment opportunity. Has anyone ever mocked you before? Can you give an example? Yes, I have faced mockery, especially in public spaces. For instance, when boarding public transport, I often get negative looks and comments. Some motorists are not patient with people with disabilities, and I’ve experienced situations where they asked me to pay for both my wheelchair and myself before I could get on the bus as if I had a choice in using walking aids. It’s very difficult, especially where I live. Was there ever a time you felt depressed? The greatest challenge I’ve faced is the place where I lived. I lived in a three-story building with narrow stairs, which made it difficult to move around. It was hard because this was where I spent most of my time. What’s one dream you have that you’re actively working towards? I’ve already achieved my primary goal, which was education, and I am now working towards my master’s degree. I am skilled in graphic design, brand identity development, and IT support. I’m looking for opportunities to apply my skills in education, IT, and design to help organisations grow. I’m also involved in para-athletic sports like wheelchair racing, and I am open to any work that doesn’t require the use of my legs. Thank you, and God bless PUNCH for giving me this opportunity.
CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — RJ Johnson scored 23 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, Daylen Berry added two clutch free throws and Charleston Southern surprised Miami 83-79 on Saturday. The Buccaneers led for the last four minutes of the first half and deep into the second half before a 3-pointer from Austin Swartz gave Miami a 76-75 lead with 3 minutes left in the game. A three-point play by Lynn Kidd gave the Hurricanes a 79-75 lead with 2:11 remaining. Berry hit a 3-pointer to make it 79-78 and Johnson followed with a 3 that gave the Buccaneers an 81-79 lead. Kidd missed in the paint for Miami but came up with a steal a few seconds later. With 15 seconds left, Swartz missed a 3-pointer and the Buccaneers rebounded. Miami put Berry on the line and he made both free throws for a four-point lead with 11 seconds remaining. Miami's Jalen Blackmon missed a 3-pointer with 8 seconds left, the Hurricanes' A.J. Staton-McCray grabbed the rebound and he missed a 3 as time ran out. Taje Kelly had 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists for the Buccaneers (2-7), who snapped a five-game losing streak and defeated a Division I opponent for the first-time this season. Thompson Camara made five 3-pointers and scored 21. Brandon Johnson made six 3-pointers and scored 23 for Miami (3-4). Swartz scored 15 points off the bench and Staton-McCray had 13 points. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketballDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Rasheed Bello had 20 points in Purdue Fort Wayne's 87-81 victory over Drexel on Monday. Bello added eight assists for the Mastodons (4-2). Corey Hadnot II went 6 of 7 from the field (3 for 4 from 3-point range) to add 15 points. Jalen Jackson had 13 points and went 6 of 13 from the field. The Dragons (4-3) were led in scoring by Cole Hargrove, who finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. Kobe Magee added 15 points and three steals for Drexel. Shane Blakeney finished with 12 points. Jackson scored nine points in the first half and Purdue Fort Wayne went into halftime trailing 37-35. Bello scored 15 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Former President Jimmy Carter Dies At 100Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said the crisis between him and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, made him stronger. Fabura said God gave him a new perspective on leadership while the crisis lasted, adding that he stopped seeing the matter as a problem but as a necessary enabler in governance. The governor spoke at the Christmas Ballad hosted by a former governor of the state, Peter Odili, in Port Harcourt, on Friday, according to a statement issued by Fubara’s Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi. He maintained that God proved Himself worthy as the ultimate liberator of the State and its people because He ensured total triumph over the political crisis and those behind it. Fubara was quoted in the statement made available to Sunday PUNCH as saying, “And not just because I want to accept it, I get stronger in this course every day when I look at the support I am getting from the true Rivers people. “So, it is not me being strong. My strength is drawn from every one of you who is here. You gave me the encouragement; you did the work for me; you made the calls for me. So, why won’t I stand up for you? “But we also believe strongly that the ultimate game changer, the ultimate liberator, and the ultimate fighter still remains God Almighty. And because we have Him on our side, victory is assured.” Related News Abbe’s death a significant loss to Rivers, Nigeria, Fubara mourns You will overcome your enemies, Secondus tells Fubara Fubara applauds Navy’s efforts, vows continued support for waterway security He assured of the determination of his administration to make every succeeding year in the state better with remarkable records of progress. The governor promised to continue to do what was right, saying it was delighting to see true leaders of the state standing on the right side of history despite the pressures to surrender to tyranny and oppression. In his remarks, the former Minister of Transport, Dr Abiye Sekibo, said Fubara had steered the course of governance successfully, making the people of the state proud of him. Speaking at the programme, Odili said the ‘fight against Fubara over the soul of Rivers State, was unnecessary.’ Odili noted that with assuring fortitude, Fubara “confronted the challenge, prevented the quest by one man to capture the state as a private estate, emancipated Rivers people, steadied governance and made civil servants and other people happier.” In her speech, Justice Mary Odili, said Fubara had played the role of an emancipator, pledging the continuous support of her family to the success of his administration.
After Trump’s win, Black women are rethinking their role as America’s reliable political organizers
Jimmy Carter Dies: Longest-Living U.S. President Won Nobel Peace Prize For Advancing Human Rights
How to watch Iowa vs. Maryland: TV channel, streaming infoDivyendu Sharma is now almost synonymous with the character of Munna Bhaiya that he portrayed on screen in the popular OTT series Mirzapur. His acting prowess is impeccable and the actor has been successful in portraying a variety of roles in the last couple of years, some went on to become remarkable while the others did not appeal much to the audience. Netizens are however extremely glad about a piece of news related to the actor that was shared on Instagram earlier today. There is a lot of hype around Ram Charan's next 'RC16' and Divyendu has also joined the cast of the film. Vriddhi Cinemas shared this news on social media and wrote, "Our favourite 'Munna Bhayya' will light up the big screens in a spectacular role tailor made for him." They further added, "Team #RC16 welcomes the incredibly talented and the compelling performer @divyendu on board." A post shared by Vriddhi Cinemas (@vriddhicinemas) In the poster, Divyendu can be seen in an animal print shirt and messy hair posing with a gun with a smirk on his face. This look of the actor has intrigued his fans and they definitely want to know more. Actor and casting director Abhishek Banerjee could not control his excitement and commented a "Wohooooo" on the post. Fans very warmly also congratulated and welcomed him into the Telegu film industry, a comment on the Instagram post read, "Munna bhai welcome to the Telugu film industry." After the poster release on Instagram, Reddit users did not back down from discussing Divyendu's success. Comments on the thread read, "Now Divyenndu can really say "Jalwa hai humara", while another said, "Waiting for Divyenndu to say "Jalwa Hai Hamara" in the film." Not only that but fans and followers also shared that they were "happy" that an actor as talented as him was getting the right recognition, a user wrote, "Happy bro is getting work." Divyendu Sharma made his Bollywood debut with Pyaar Ka Punchnama back in 2011 and then went on to do quite a few roles before portraying the role of Munna Bhaiya in Mirzapur. He was last seen in Kunal Khemu's directorial debut 'Madgaon Express.' 'Cheap, cringe': Kiara Advani's apsara look, chemistry with Ram Charan in Game Changer leaves fans unimpressed How a crumbled sheet of paper cost Amaran makers Rs 1 crore in penalty Ram Charan faces flak for visiting dargah; wife Upanasa defends with powerful reply
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By BILL BARROW, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.