In case you missed it, released the second autopsy for Nolan Wells during a press conference at the NAACP National Convention. The independent autopsy, performed by Dr. Roger Mitchell, found that the cause and manner of death are both undetermined, pending investigation. For the Grio, Haniyah Philogene broke down 7 key findings from the report — including why the medical examiner did not receive Wells’ throat with the rest of his body.

Related: The deaths of Nolan Wells and Kohen Wiley are symptoms of a nation retreating from any pretense of equal rights, Alain Stephens writes for The Intercept.

went to Ocean Springs, Mississippi, for Nolan Wells’ funeral, where she heard his grieving parents tell his friends and supporters to continue to speak his name.

Black lands, Mexican bands: how a southern rural family built a Latino cultural hub | North Carolina, The Guardian

The land owned by Donal Gooch and his daughter, Caitlin, has been in their family since 1944, and they refuse to turn it into cul-de-sacs. Instead, they have built the area into a cultural landmark for the growing Hispanic community in Eagle Rock, North Carolina.

In North Carolina, a shooting victim pleads for his shooter’s release after 30 years, Bolts

Ramulus Mason shot Ricky Wilson three decades ago, and was sentenced to life in prison due to the state’s then-new three strikes law. Now, Wilson has become Mason’s loudest advocate for his release from prison.

What’s In The News

Across America

District of Columbia: Dozens of incoming Howard University students say they have been unenrolled from the school just weeks before the fall semester is set to begin. The school said it repeatedly informed students and their families of payment deadlines…

Illinois: 87-year-old Buritt Bulloch is still making doughnuts at Old Fashioned Donuts in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood…

Iowa: Toxic chemicals used in synthetic braiding hair are raising health concerns for Black Iowans…

Louisiana: Calvin Duncan held office for only 3 hours before a court allowed a hastily passed law to eliminate his role…

Massachusetts: Former state trooper Michael Proctor’s racist texts were revealed during the Karen Read murder case. The Boston Globe editorial board is asking who in leadership knew about them…

Michigan: Lawmakers are pushing a commission to study how discriminatory housing policies have contributed to racial disparities…

North Carolina: Karrie Dixon, the chancellor of NC Central University, did a Q&A with The News & Observer about what it takes to lead an HBCU…

South Carolina: Benedict College President knows being a killjoy isn’t popular. She’s OK with that…

Tennessee: When Joseph Williams refused to leave the public park where he has lived for years, he was charged with a felony for camping and spent nine days in jail…

Texas: The family of Daniel Erving is continuing to raise questions about his death, which a medical examiner says was caused by an accidental drowning…

Wisconsin: Cellphone videos recorded the moment a police officer shot and killed a man near the state capitol this week…

What’s Happening

NPR: Trump’s redistricting efforts notably impact predominantly Black congressional districts in GOP-led states. Check out this map…

Black women who feel dismissed while seeking out healthcare options in the U.S. are traveling thousands of miles to South Korea…

The Trump administration has moved to end collection of demographic data on U.S. workers after six decades…

The late Lindsey Graham occupied the most racist Senate seat in U.S. history, according to a new analysis from The Emancipator…

wrote about a developer pushing to build a data center on a burial site with enslaved people’s graves, and the never-ending cycle of violence…

Louisiana has some of the highest toxic air pollution in the country — and the petrochemical industry fought efforts to expand air monitoring…

Black residents say construction projects are flooding their land and stripping protections as the Trump administration calls for more highways, Adam Mahoney reports for Capital B…

For the Boston Globe, economist Opoku-Agyeman teamed up with for an op-ed about how the attack on workers begins and ends with Black women…

The National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists are at odds over conflicting convention dates…

Erica Schwartz may soon become the first Black woman to lead the CDC. But she has “repeatedly dodged questions about how she would do so when facing pressure” from the Trump administration…

The Smithsonian is too focused on “oppressors and the oppressed,” according to House Republicans…

weighed in on the online discourse surrounding Detroit schools and where parents should send their children…

North Carolina’s oldest Black-owned bank is merging with a South Carolina bank, creating the largest Black-owned bank in the country…

After more than two decades, Michael Lomax will step down as president of the United Negro College Fund. He spoke with Danielle Douglas-Gabriel about the challenges ahead…

A historic Black school in a small North Carolina town is being reimagined as a “thriving community education and culture hub”...

An excerpt from “Black Crip Modern” invites you to study the work Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes and other figures of the Harlem Renaissance through the lens of disability…

Louisiana Rep. Cleo Fields has announced he will not seek reelection following the Supreme Court’s ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act…

said he’s “totally serious” about considering a run for president in 2028…

Entertainment News

Oprah sat down with Keke Palmer for a wide-ranging conversation about her life and career. Watch above...

Colman Domingo is reportedly considering writing an original live-action feature about Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog”...

The War and Treaty, a talented husband-and-wife singing duo, has a new NPR Tiny Desk concert out....

ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark was laid off from the sports network as Disney trims jobs across the company…

For Variety, Angelique Jackson sat down with Travis Scott to talk about his appearance in “The Odyssey,” his new Paramount deal, and more...

Malcolm Jamal Warner and Chadwick Boseman’s families are entangled in legal battles over their respective estates…

Steve Lacy and his new album, “Oh Yeah?” are the subject of a new music review in the New Yorker…

“Love Island” season 7 couple Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe have broken up…

has revealed the cover of her children’s book debut, “Hope in a Classroom”...

A biopic about Snoop Dogg is set for the summer of 2027...

wrote about Julius Eastman and how he challenged classical music’s conventions to become one of the 20th century’s most essential voices…

Racial and class diversity in TV and films can help children challenge biases, according to a new study…

Kerry Washington and Whitney White are heading up “The Whoopi Monologues,” a revival of Whoopi Goldberg’s 1984 solo show…

Obituaries

Johnny Brown, a longtime attorney and father of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, has died. He was 80…

Plas Johnson, a saxophonist known for his solo on “The Pink Panther” and for recording with Frank Sinatra, B.B. King, and other legends, has died. He was 94...

Clara Ester, a civil rights activist who was one of the last remaining witnesses to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, has died. She was 78…

Bigga Rankin, a notable Florida DJ, longtime community advocate, and godfather of Southern hip-hop, has died. He was 50…

Sylvia Bugg, a chief executive at PBS who shaped programming at the network for years, has died. She was 55…

John Baines, a singer and longtime community advocate in North Texas, has died. He was 73...

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 36 seconds!...

The New York Amsterdam News, New York City’s oldest Black newspaper, is seeking interns for the fall...

If you have an ambitious 18-24 year old in your life, tell them to apply for Aspen Ideas: Rising Generations, a fully-funded summit that brings together 350 of the most curious young people in the country. The application deadline is July 31…

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore is seeking a president...

More than 50 of your favorite Black authors will appear at Mahogany Books’ third annual Black Books Matter Fest on August 1 in Maryland...

The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, Thelma’s Cafe and John Brown Farm State Historic Site are just a few of the historic sites that will receive grant funding from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund...

THOMASVILLE, Ga. — As Earl Williams drove through a historic Black neighborhood known as Dewey City in his hometown, he hardly recognized what he saw.

Homes that once belonged to friends, family, and neighbors had siding covered in mold. Some were boarded up. Others had holes in their roofs.

Black churches once used Oquina Creek, which runs along the border of the neighborhood, to baptize their congregants. Today, fecal bacteria and other contaminants have made the water unsafe due to an aging wastewater system.

“Sometimes you get the feeling like you’re in a Third World country,” Williams said. After three decades in Washington, D.C., he returned four years ago with a mission to revitalize communities such as Dewey City, which he said are “part of what makes Thomasville, Thomasville.”

A $19.8 million Community Change Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency was supposed to shift the tides of the neighborhood Williams grew up in.

The city and the Thomasville Community Development Corp., where Williams served as community development director, applied for the grant in 2024. It was part of a $2 billion effort initiated under the Biden administration to help disadvantaged communities address environmental health risks and create clean energy and climate resiliency projects.

But three months after winning the grant, Thomasville became one of 80 communities across the country — from Hawai‘i to Alabama to Massachusetts — to see the funding stripped as priorities shifted in Donald Trump’s second presidency.

On the first day of his second term, Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” It stated that the Biden administration “forced illegal and immoral discrimination” through diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

In an emailed statement, EPA spokesperson Mike Bastasch said the administration is “fully committed to being a great steward of taxpayer dollars.” He added that the “radical agenda” of DEI and environmental justice “preferencing” is not within the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.

Environmental health advocates argue, though, that the decision to cut the grants was not rooted in science. They say that equating environmental justice to DEI is an act of bad faith and that withholding the money forces disenfranchised communities to delay long-overdue updates needed to protect public health for marginalized populations.

“I unfortunately believe we’re going to see a reversal in the health profile of this country,” said Jalonne White-Newsome, an associate professor at the University of Michigan who served in the Biden administration as the first federal chief environmental justice officer.

“This current federal regime has decided that humanity and public health and justice don’t mean anything,” she said.

‘Why Us?’

Thomasville, near Georgia’s southwestern border, is home to just over 18,600 people.

The city had hoped to improve health outcomes in neighborhoods on its southern and western sides where, according to the grant proposal, “historical redlining created a legacy of disinvestment.”

Those areas have a deep history: Dewey City, for example, was the first neighborhood in the city where Blacks could build homes after the Civil War. It’s also home to the closed Douglass High School — the first public school for Blacks in Thomasville, established in 1902.

“This place has been neglected,” said Williams, who occasionally hosts historical walks through the community. “But it’s worth bringing it back online.”

The proposed “Restoring Resiliency” project featured a plan to remove toxic substances such as mold, lead paint, and asbestos from homes, repair a nearly 82-year-old wastewater system, and convert part of a shuttered high school band room into a health clinic.

“This was a long and storied attempt to bend the arc of justice closer,” said Jeremy Rich, a Thomas County commissioner and the pastor at First Missionary Baptist Church. “Justice in healthcare. Justice in environmental impact.”

Having a clinic in the community would be a “game changer,” Rich said. During the COVID pandemic, he said, older residents who rely on public transit were reluctant to go to the nearby hospital or the county health department to get vaccinated. When his church offered shots from Black nurses, he said, vaccination rates improved.

Many residents don’t have the financial means to remove mold, lead paint, and other toxic materials, said Thomasville Mayor Pro Tem Lucinda Brown. “They just have money to live with every day. That’s it,” she said. “If they can make that happen.”

The grant meant hope, and its reversal left many asking, “Why us?” Williams said.

In the EPA’s May 2025 letter announcing the grant termination, it said Thomasville’s project promoted “initiatives that conflict with the Agency’s policy of prioritizing merit, fairness, and excellence.” The grant was “inconsistent with, and no longer effectuates, Agency priorities,” the letter said.

Environmental justice projects are rooted in science, not DEI, said Jillian Blanchard, the senior vice president of climate change and environmental justice at Lawyers for Good Government, a national nonprofit that provides pro bono legal assistance in focus areas such as health equity, immigration, and environmental health.

“Where is the water dirty? Where is the air unclean?” she said. “That is where the money should go.”

In June of last year, nearly two dozen communities and organizations around the country filed a class-action lawsuit to get the Community Change Grants reinstated. The lawsuit argued that the projects — such as efforts to create energy-efficient housing in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and empower Houston residents in the pollution permitting process — were vital.

The case was dismissed by a federal district judge in 2025 but is being appealed.

Thomasville was not named in that lawsuit. But the city did appeal the EPA’s decision on its project with the support of Blanchard’s group. The city and the EPA continue to dispute the issue.

This March, the EPA’s deputy inspector general, which serves as an independent watchdog for the agency, released a report concluding that the process for determining the awardees was fair.

Such federal funding is needed because large-scale change is difficult for small municipalities to achieve without getting stuck with high-interest loans, Blanchard said.

“It’s next to impossible,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons the things haven’t been done.”

‘It’s Not Over’

The city of Thomasville has found other ways to make some improvements in the meantime. With the help of a nearly $3 million federal Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it made repairs to portions of Dewey City’s sewer, water, and drainage systems.

The Thomasville Community Development Corp. has begun building affordable housing in Dewey City and intends to convert a portion of the closed Douglass school into apartments for seniors.

The corporation has also applied for $764,000 in congressional funds through the office of Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) that it hopes to use to construct a community health clinic in Dewey City. Decisions on these funding requests will be made this fall.

“It’s not over,” said Williams, whose legacy in Thomasville runs deep. At the center of what locals call The Bottom — a two-block stretch of downtown where independent Black and other minority-owned businesses once thrived — is a plaque honoring his father, Earl Williams Jr., the city’s first Black mayor.

As he peered at his father’s memorial on a muggy afternoon, he reaffirmed his intentions.

“There’s more work to be done, and I’m able,” he said. “I like pouring into the community.”

But he has little hope the initial grant will be restored under the current administration.

“That was our shot. We didn’t do anything to miss it,” he said. “We just did it during the wrong period of time.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, and other civil rights leaders have announced plans for “March on Washington 2026: Defend the Vote,” set to take place in Washington, D.C., on Friday, August 28.

“Defending the vote means defending the foundation of our democracy,” Martin Luther King III said in a statement. “Sixty-three years after my father stood at the Lincoln Memorial, we are called to march again, not only in remembrance, but in action.”

National Park Service replaces President’s House slavery exhibit in Philly, WHYY

While the public slept overnight, the Trump administration replaced panels about the brutality of slavery at the Philadelphia President’s House memorial.

“It was allowed to do this by the decision of the federal court, but that it did so at night shows it understands this action is shameful, that it violates community trust,” Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a statement.

To Detroiters, Motown is more than just music, NPR

I can’t miss an opportunity to share a story about my hometown. NPR traveled to the Motor City to chat with Jamon Jordan, Detroit’s official historian, about Motown Records and its deep connection to the city.

We must support Black media!

Please get your tickets for the Baltimore Beat’s signature Summer Jam event, which now includes the inaugural Legacy Gala. This awards ceremony will honor W. Paul Coates (whom I interviewed in the early years of my newsletter), Dr. Leslie King Hammond, and Afro Charities for their work in preserving Black media.

Read the latest on the Baltimore Beat here.

What’s In The News

Across America

California: A new statewide dashboard is tracking Black student success across California’s 31 Black-serving institutions…

District of Columbia: The iconic Cathy Hughes, media mogul and founder of Urban One Inc, has received a key to the city…

Florida: profiled the controversial Florida A&M University President Marva B. Johnson…

Illinois: 37-year-old Mary Alice Love was experiencing a mental health crisis when she was shot and killed by Mundelein police. Supporters of her family refuse to let her story go untold…

Iowa: My latest for ’s Contraband Camp — Book bans are surging in Iowa. So Nikole Hannah-Jones is bringing banned authors to the state for a free Read-In…

Maryland: The Harriet Tubman Museum was forced to close its doors after thieves broke in over the weekend and stole its donation box…

Mississippi: This state “leads the nation in rates of high blood pressure, a leading contributor to maternal deaths and a growing concern for young women”...

North Carolina: In some parts of the state, majority-Black public schools are the first on the chopping block…

Ohio: A Toledo woman says a fast-spreading parasite left her “camped out in the bathroom” and she’s still experiencing nausea more than two weeks later…

Pennsylvania: Longtime anchor Ukee Washington is celebrating 40 years with CBS News Philadelphia…

Tennessee: Progressives need to pay attention to Tennessee and Justin Pearson, according to historian …

Virginia: The Virginia Beach City Council voted to honor the R&B group Blackstreet by dedicating a road to them…

What’s Happening

Uncle Nearest CEO Fawn Weaver and her husband, Keith, have been fired from the Tennessee whiskey brand…

Nolan Wells’ mother announced funeral services for the 18-year-old student athlete, as the family continues seeking answers…

I spoke with about the viral photo of the Black woman who was surrounded by white supremacists on a train…

Scholars have begun scrutinizing Kerri K. Greenidge’s 2022 book, “The Grimkes,” and now she appears to have lost her professorship at Tufts University. Greenidge has denied any claims of plagiarism, and told the New York Times that “the attack on Black women academics is real.”

A Reuters analysis found that pollution from Elon Musk’s xAI power project is hitting predominantly Black neighborhoods the hardest…

A judge authorized the FBI to secretly monitor state Sen. Louise Lucas’ phone…

NAACP has announced its largest get-out-the-vote campaign for a midterm election in the organization’s 117-year history…

explained what you need to know about the congressional race to replace longtime South Florida congresswoman Frederica Wilson…

The Guardian’s Adria Walker reported on a program that gives Black single moms $1,000 a month for a year. The results are undeniable…

Kecia Ellick told she sees her vote as a way to prove people wrong and send a message about who Black women are and what they can accomplish…

The mothers of Black babies are more likely to be flagged to police over allegations of substance use during pregnancy, according to The Marshall Project…

The Black Star Line Literacy Bus is heading directly into neighborhoods across Baltimore to encourage children to read...

Jahaura Michelle compiled a list of 10 Black-owned summer camps that help kids learn new skills and celebrate culture throughout the summer…

Take a look at some rare photos that have been tucked away in HBCU archives, but are being widely shared for the first time thanks to the Getty Images photo archive grants program…

Entertainment News

Boosie Badazz hired Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, two well-known right-wing scammers, to help him secure clemency from Trump. The rapper is now fighting to retrieve $300,000 from them…

has created a documentary for Netflix about the 14th Amendment, and is set to launch sometime this year…

Are HBCUs making a comeback in scripted programming? Nathan Lately explored the latest projects from Netflix, aspireTV and Oprah Winfrey in his latest for EBONY…

A man broke into the “Today” show’s studio in New York City looking for Al Roker, confronting Craig Melvin and yelling racist slurs…

Morehouse’s Boxing Club offers a supportive space for members to train their bodies and combat stress, Joshua Bass writes for Andscape…

Big Daddy Kane spoke with VIBE about “Curtain Call,” his first solo album in nearly three decades...

chatted with the popular romance novelist Kennedy Ryan about her work…

Tracee Ellis Ross got an apartment in New York City for the summer as she makes her Broadway debut…

R. Kelly has appealed to Trump for a reduction of his three-decade prison sentence…

Obituaries

Hal Williams, who starred in the sitcom “227” and was a series regular on “Sanford and Son,” has died. He was 91…

Denise Oliver-Velez, an activist, member of The Young Lords and Black Panthers, and professor, has died. She was 78…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 3 seconds…

Students across the Detroit area are encouraged to apply for the Freedom Tour, which promotes “activism, racial justice, and nonviolence by taking participants across important historical landmarks.” The tour runs from July 30 to August 2. Apply here…

The Chisholm Legacy Project is looking to place Organizers-in-Training throughout the U.S. to participate in its Black Rural Organizing Institute…

has curated this amazing list of Black books that are set in every state…

The South Arts organization is offering a $5,000 fellowship for Black Appalachian storytellers. Find out more details here…

The Department of African and African American Studies at Stanford University is seeking an Assistant Professor in African American History…

The Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center on Maryland’s Eastern Shore was forced to close its doors after thieves broke in over the weekend and stole its donation box.

The tiny community museum, located in the county where the famed abolitionist was born into slavery, reported damage to its back door and the famous “Take My Hand” mural of Tubman painted by the artist Michael Rosato.

“The weekend of July 11, we were the unfortunate victims of vandalism. Our back door was broken and our donation box was stolen,” the museum announced. “We will be closed until further notice as we [assess] the damage and work to repair it. We would greatly appreciate any donations to make up for what was lost and remedy the [effects] of this disheartening crime.”

It’s unclear how much was in the donation box when it was stolen. Visitors are asked to donate because admission to the volunteer-run museum is free. Authorities believe the culprit may have been someone who had visited the center before.

The robbery is another setback for the beloved museum, which only recently reopened its doors after disastrous flooding last year forced it to close. The museum recently held a grand reopening in June.

“We weren’t planning for this,” Linda Harris, director of events and programming for the museum, told WBOC-TV. “We just raised money to redo our museum. Now we’ve got to raise more money. So, I’m very sad. This place has been here since 1992. It’s an institution. It conveys the story of a person born here in Cambridge. And for someone to vandalize it, it’s pretty sad.”

It will cost thousands of dollars to replace the museum’s back door and fix the damage to the mural. The museum is accepting donations on its website.

Several days have passed since 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells was found dead in the water near Mississippi’s Horn Island. Wells’ mother contacted authorities last Saturday to report that her son had not returned from a gathering on the island for Independence Day. Here’s a timeline of what we know so far.

Notably, Ashlee Cole — parent to one of the teens who was on the island with Wells — made a statement on Facebook about the tragedy.

Later today, civil rights attorney Ben Crump and Al Sharpton will hold a press conference alongside the family. The attorney said the family is urging “a full, transparent, and urgent investigation into the death of Nolan Xavier Wells, and for the timely release of all investigative records and findings.” That press conference will take place at noon ET.

As of now, there is only one official GoFundMe fundraiser for the family. There’s a LOT of misinformation about this case floating across social media, including an AI video that used his mother's likeness. Please be responsible with the posts you are sharing.

The Black suburban dream is now leading to a new wave of gentrification, Capital B News

Capital B’s Adam Mahoney reported on a new study examining how the wealth gap is rapidly widening within Black communities. Researchers found that wealthier Black people are displacing low-income ones in the suburbs.

At Trump’s direction, federal agencies are abandoning discrimination cases, New York Times

The Trump administration has directed federal agencies to deprioritize civil rights cases focused on discrimination, according to a new report.

A Neighbor’s Tale examined the legacy of Black cartoons and why, even with so many examples of success, they still struggle to land on your screens. Watch above and subscribe to him!

What’s In The News

Across America

California: 19-year-old nursing student Meah Bordenave-Jenkins and 37-year-old community activist Eric Washington were killed in a July 4th shooting in Compton…

Florida: The media is villainizing a Black woman who stood her ground in a Walmart parking lot, writes for NewsOne…

Georgia: Several months after apologizing, an Atlanta coffee shop has yet to repaint the mural of the late journalist Jovita Moore…

Illinois: Emmett Till would have been 85 this year. A Bronzeville exhibit reflects on his legacy, Darcel Rockett reports…

Massachusetts: Conservators appear to have found what is believed to be one of the oldest headstones belonging to a free Black man in America…

Michigan: Detroit enabled a concrete company to take over an entire community. Now residents say they are battling air pollution so thick they can “taste the dust”…

Mississippi: Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the former mayor of Jackson, pleaded guilty to bribery, wire fraud and money laundering…

New Jersey: The Lawnside Historical Society kicked off its summer camp centered on the Underground Railroad…

North Carolina: The Upperman family is pulling a scholarship from the University of North Carolina Wilmington because the school wants to rewrite the language around the application…

Ohio: Slutty Vegan is expanding after signing agreements to open in Columbus and Cleveland…

Tennessee: The grandfather of a man shot and killed by two members of the National Guard in Memphis is demanding video of the incident …

Texas: Attorneys representing Karmelo Anthony filed two legal motions this week as they attempt to overturn his murder conviction…

Virginia: The family of Allan Tucker II, who died in Alexandria Police Department custody, is demanding accountability…

What’s Happening

ICYMI: Thousands of Black folk infiltrated a “White and Proud” group on Facebook and turned it into a massive digital family reunion. The Facebook group has since been deleted, but my story was featured in above…

As soon as the photo of a Black woman surrounded by white supremacists in Washington went viral, a surge of racist posts followed. Jasmine Golden found the woman’s family and humanized her story for the Washington Post…

The New York Times spoke with 13 Black Democratic voters about Trump, the state of the country and where the Democratic Party is headed…

The number of diversity-focused scholarships has dropped to 11 percent, down from 15 percent in 2023, following pressure from the Trump admin…

Advocates are pushing for Black English to be taught in preschools and early education…

The CEO of the popular Chicago-based Harold’s Chicken Shack, Kristen Pierce-Sherrod, died several months ago. Her family is in a fight over who actually owns it…

The Museum of Black Women Innovators will open in Portsmouth, Virginia, this coming fall...

Louisiana Rep. Troy Carter will likely be the next chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. He recently spoke with POLITICO about the CBC’s path forward…

For MS NOW, Hayes Brown penned an op-ed about the White House’s recent report attacking the National Museum of American History…

Andrew Gillum, the 2018 Democratic nominee for Florida governor, is reportedly facing drug charges after being arrested in Alabama…

The Trump administration has dropped long-discussed plans to put Harriet Tubman’s face on the $20 bill…

Two women discovered they are the first confirmed living descendants of an enslaved person who helped build the White House…

A judge ruled to restore millions of dollars in grants for Black farmers after the Trump administration cut USDA funding…

A racist takeover in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1898, has reverberated across generations as a reminder of American democracy’s terrifying vulnerability…

Entertainment News

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame this week. Watch the full ceremony above…

The Guardian spoke with musicians about the 50th anniversary of Rotterdam’s North Sea Jazz Festival, which has hosted Miles Davis, Count Basie, Etta James, and Prince…

weighed in on the controversy surrounding Yung Miami’s “Spend Dat” track for Hello Beautiful…

Salli Richardson-Whitfield has made Emmy history as the first Black woman to receive two drama series directing nominations…

“The Cheetah Girls” are coming back with a reboot, with most of its original cast members set to make appearances…

Mystikal was transferred to Angola, and will spend the next 20 years at the Louisiana State Penitentiary…

For Rolling Stone, explained that the “Reasonable Doubt” anniversary rollout is a case study in turning old albums into merch drops, live-event spectacles and more…

Jermaine Dupri has filed an $18 million lawsuit against Sony Music Entertainment…

Essence Fest’s seven-year agreement with the city of New Orleans expires in September…

Obituaries

George E. Johnson, the pioneering Black hair care entrepreneur who created Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen, has died. He was 99. Here’s a deeper obituary about Johnson’s life in the New York Times…

Rev. Annie Chambers, a civil rights icon who served the Baltimore area for decades, has died. She was 84…

Larry Selders, a Louisiana State senator who represented Baton Rouge, has died. He was 44…

Doreen C. Broadnax, a pioneering MC who was one of hip-hop’s earliest trailblazers, has died. She was 61…

Rodney Franklin, an R&B and jazz singer best known for the hit track “In the Groove,” has died. He was 67...

Top music producer Tay Keith was laid to rest following a homegoing service in his hometown of Memphis…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 55 seconds…

Outside of journalism, I am a board member of DMV Does Good, which is currently hosting a 10,000 Diapers & Wipes campaign. I’ve just purchased $319 in diapers and wipes. You can help out as well…

The New Eyes Collective is set to discuss Greg Tate’s “Flyboy in the Buttermilk” in Brooklyn on July 25. RSVP here…

Flickr is teaming up with to provide a $10,000 grant, along with memberships…

The hit Black history series Melanin Mythbusters is forming a team. See which roles might be a good fit for you…

Dee Phunk curated this awesome playlist for Black folks who love being on yachts. Listen on Spotify or Apple Music…

George E. Johnson, a pioneering entrepreneur who revolutionized Black hair care, has died. He was 99.

Born in the small town of Richton, Mississippi, on June 16th, 1927, in a sharecropper’s shack, Johnson moved to Chicago with his mother at a young age.

After working odd jobs as a teen and dropping out of high school, he would go on to find his niche working under S.B. Fuller, a prolific Black entrepreneur who had started a door-to-door cosmetics and household goods firm called the Fuller Products Company.

“Working for Mr. Fuller was like getting a degree in psychology and business and business administration,” Johnson told the Christian Broadcasting Network earlier this year.

This opportunity provided the young entrepreneur with the skills to eventually launch his own company, Johnson Products, alongside his wife, Joan Johnson, and barber Orville Nelson, in 1954.

Thanks to a $500 loan, Johnson Products’ very first product was a men's relaxer called Ultra Wave. From there, Johnson grew the company by launching household products such as Ultra Sheen, Classy Curl, Afro Sheen, and more.

“Our success has been a beacon for a lot of Blacks who had the ambition to try to do something and were encouraged by the fact that we were successful,” Johnson said.

At the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Johnson used his wealth to advance Black economic ownership and support civil rights leaders. In the 1960s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Johnson’s Chicago facility and, impressed, told Johnson: “Now this is Black power.”

“When Dr. King visited us in 1966, Black Power was a phrase that described a new way of thinking about ourselves,” Johnson told The AFRO in 2025.

“But Dr. King used the phrase as a real compliment as he assessed our several floors that were jumping with activity – salesmen, chemists, secretaries – a mostly-Black group of employees who were finding their way into America’s middle class,” he explained.

In the 1970s, Johnson Products became the first Black advertiser to sponsor a nationally syndicated TV program with the iconic musical variety series, “Soul Train.” Commercials for Johnson’s products were often seen during the hit TV show.

“We started in October 1971 when Johnson Products Co.’s sales were reported at $11.2 million,” Johnson told The AFRO. “In five years, our sales had increased to $37 million. ‘Soul Train’ proved to be an answer to my prayers.”

Johnson Products was also the first Black-owned company to go public on the American Stock Exchange.

Thousands of Black folk infiltrated a “White and Proud” group on Facebook and turned it into a massive digital family reunion.

The group, created in 2023, surfaced on the timelines of Black Facebook users across the country, who quickly realized it was open to anyone.

The takeover was made possible due to a purported oversight by the group’s administrator. Users can set privacy settings for Facebook groups; something the administrator didn’t do. The “White and Proud” group is still public and visible to all users.

Although the moderators of the group have since limited who can comment within the group, thousands of Black Facebookers have made their voices heard with hilarious responses to racist posts, with one user writing, “first time colonizing, kinda nervous,” and another stating, “now that this page has gone Black, it can’t go back.”

The group initially had about 15,000 users before the takeover and billed itself as “white people enjoying conversation with other white people and enjoying accomplishments of our ancestors.”

Even though the Facebook group is now restricted, it is still growing rapidly. The group averaged more than 90 posts a day before a moderator limited comments.

The takeover appears to have begun with a post from a “Glenn Mallais” — most, if not all, of the accounts making the racist posts are likely posting under pseudonyms and are trolling.

See some of the comments below:

Capital B’s For The Record Archive

There are very few Black news outlets at the national level that publish the type of stories as Capital B News. It’s why I’m a paid subscriber to their work. And now, the digital news outlet’s most ambitious project has been unveiled.

Capital B has launched “For the Record,” an oral history archive that aims to feature at least 250 firsthand accounts of Black American life. The archive is how Capital B has chosen to commemorate of America’s 250th birthday. Within the archive, you will find stories from Emmett Till’s cousin, Michael Jackson’s music teacher, the first Black graduate of the University of Georgia, and much more.

The revolutionary imprisonments of Paul Cuffe, The New Bedford Light

You may have never heard of Paul Cuffe before. That’s because his story has largely been snubbed from the country’s list of historical figures. He was a son of a slave, a mischievous smuggler and ship captain, and later the wealthiest Black entrepreneur before the Civil War.

The forgotten history of the Civil Rights Movement’s fight for economic justice, Hammer & Hope

In her latest for Hammer & Hope, historian Nancy Maclean explained that, “by turning DEI into a slur, Trump wants to erase the radical promise of the movement that won equal rights.”

The party we built, the bill has come due, ESSENCE

Ashley Etienne, a former advisor to Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, penned an op-ed for ESSENCE on what the future of Black political power can look like.

“The Democratic Party cannot win the most competitive state and national elections without Black voters. But Black voters can no longer afford a relationship built on loyalty without investment, representation without authority, and promises without accountability,” she wrote.

What’s In The News

Across America

California: Workday lost a bid to toss a lawsuit alleging its AI-powered job screening tools unlawfully filter out applicants based on race, age, and disability…

Colorado: Melat Kiros beat a 15-term congresswoman in a House primary, a stunning victory for the first-time candidate…

District of Columbia: Hana Sharif, the artistic director of Arena Stage, abruptly resigned hours before the opening of “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Musical.” She says she was forced out the door...

Florida: The sister of To’Nea Nicole Miller publicly rejected authorities conclusion that the 27-year-old’s death was consistent with suicide…

Georgia: A campaign to stop a railroad company’s land grab and protect Black ancestral sites shows just what the Voting Rights Act has been protecting all along, Lisa Armstrong writes for Hammer & Hope…

Illinois: Organizers on the South Side of Chicago gathered to discuss next steps to prevent displacement following the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, reports…

Louisiana: Southern University Law Center is set to offer an accelerated law program for Grambling State students in an HBCU team up…

Michigan: A federal jury has awarded more than $6.25 million to ex-employees of the Detroit Club who alleged they faced retaliation after reporting racial discrimination against Black patrons and staff…

Mississippi: Mourners gathered in Pope to say goodbye to Baby Kohen, but looming questions surrounding his shooting remain. Ben Crump announced the results of a preliminary autopsy…

Minnesota: Police overtime in Minneapolis is dragging down the entire city budget…

New Jersey: A historical marker signifying the inclusion of Chicken Bone Beach into the state’s Black Heritage Trail was recently unveiled…

New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul sat down with homeowners and elected officials to find ways to prevent deed theft in Black communities…

Oklahoma: Amid lingering disparities, Tulsa business leaders are exploring how to increase diversity throughout their employee ranks…

Oregon: Racism is a public health crisis in Oregon. A new report outlines what the state should do about it…

South Carolina: Plans are underway to build the Darlington African American Museum, but organizers need more funds to get the project to the finish line...

Tennessee: A heated town hall took place this week as Fisk University leaders answered questions from the public for the first time about a proposed data center…

Virginia: Trump axed a Black history exhibit highlighting enslaved people’s ties to Harpers Ferry. Former park rangers are teaching it anyway…

What’s Happening

A viral video of 11-year-old Jamel Josiah Johnson is making the rounds after the boy hailed an Uber and got dropped off at JFK Airport alone…

From Memphis to Newark, Black communities are bracing for dangerous heat that scientists say will become more common...

Zandria F. Robinson wrote about the afterlife of Black representation in Memphis…

Newsone: HBCUs are especially vulnerable to Trump’s student loan overhaul because they enroll large numbers of students whose families depend on particular types of federal aid…

Hammer & Hope: The right-wing attacks on Black studies have devastating consequences, but they won’t stop people from telling our history…

: Dear Barack Obama, how can you “admire” a founding father who was a racist monster and a human trafficker?…

For Brookings, wrote about Black women and their legacies of civil and human rights activism…

There’s a problem Black men cannot ignore. Plastics are the culprit behind everything from hormone disruption to increased rates of cancer…

For the New York Times, historian tells the story of Elizabeth Freeman, the enslaved woman who sued for freedom and emancipated herself…

Shannon LaNier, Thomas Jefferson’s sixth great-grandson, told the Guardian he wished “he would have done more to free the enslaved people”…

A group comprising 15 public radio stations in the United States has launched the Black Public Radio Network…

The Associated Press: Families of those who died to enact voting rights see America turning backward…

Black Catholic history is “both inseparable from and essential to the history of Catholicism in the United States”…

Community members, elected officials, clergy, and historians gathered in Tennessee to dedicate historical markers recognizing victims of lynching in Williamson County…

The family of Qaadir and Naazir Lewis have accepted authorities determination that the twins died by suicide…

After a civil rights complaint, Chicago built the nation’s largest air monitoring network…

14-year-old Aamina Bradley is being hailed as a hero after jumping in the Detroit River to save her 9-year-old cousin who fell in. Aamina’s body was recovered over the weekend…

Entertainment News

To wrap up Black Music Month, Bow Wow performed a litany of his classics for his NPR Tiny Desk concert. Watch above…

Legendary actor Danny Glover revealed on TODAY that he’s been living with Alzheimer’s disease…

“X-Men ‘97” showrunner Beau DeMayo was fired from the animated series for alleged misconduct. Vanity Fair’s Chris Murphy spoke with Beau for months about what happened…

Former NFL star Chris Johnson revealed earlier in the week that he was diagnosed with ALS at 39…

Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married Again?” will premiere on Netflix on September 9…

Forest Whitaker’s MGM+ crime drama “Godfather of Harlem” is coming to an end…

My colleague Raj Punjabi-Johnson writes for HuffPost: What will it take to disrupt the perceived whiteness of Pilates?…

Here’s everything you may have missed from the BET Awards. You can watch all of the performances here…

For the New York Times, sat down with Mara Brock Akil, who is debuting her first novel: “The Revelation of Dionne Daphne”...

Serena Williams lost in her first pro singles match in nearly four years during the opening round of Wimbledon. She still “enjoyed the moment”....

Lisa Respers France did a deep dive into what really happened with Lizzo’s career…

Martha Reeves, now 84, spoke with the Guardian about her time with Motown Records, how Marvin Gaye convinced her to sing “Dancing in the Street” and more...

Patti LaBelle and Nona Hendryx reunited as Labelle for one night in New York City this week to honor their classic album, “Nightbirds”…

Obituaries

Tony Brown, a groundbreaking journalist, author, educator, and host of the iconic talk show “Tony Brown’s Journal,” has died. He was 93…

Victor Willis, the lead singer of the 1970’s disco group Village People and co-writer of “Y.M.C.A” and “Macho Man,” has died. He was 74…

Prezell Robinson, the transformative former president of St. Augustine’s University whose relationship with the HBCU spanned eight decades, has died. He was 105…

Mother Khadijah Farrakhan, the wife of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, has died. She was 90…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute…

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is set to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on July 8…

The Clotilda Descendants Association are hosting their annual landing event & ancestor festival in Mobile, Alabama next weekend...

The Root is building a show network and is holding casting calls for their show concepts. More details here…

Sacramento students can now fulfill their U.S. History graduation requirement by taking African American U.S. History…

Tony Brown, a groundbreaking journalist, author, educator, and host of the iconic talk show “Tony Brown’s Journal,” has died. He was 93.

He died on June 17 at his home in Newport News, Virginia, of coronary heart disease, according to a statement from his publicist.

“Tony Brown leaves behind a legacy and life defined by education, service, and an unwavering belief in telling the truth. His influence will continue to resonate through the institutions he shaped, the voices he amplified, and the generations he inspired,” the statement read.

“Brown, in the community he called home in his later years, will be remembered not only for what he accomplished, but for the example he set.”

Born in Charleston, West Virginia, in 1933, Brown excelled in athletics and academics at Garnet High School, a historic all-Black school that closed in the 50s after public schools were integrated. Following high school, Brown enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served from 1953 to 1955.

Brown would later begin studies at Wayne State University in Detroit, where he pursued sociology and psychology and earned his bachelor’s degree in 1959. While in college, he joined the Alpha Upsilon chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Related: Rewatching “Black Journal” Five Decades On by

“However, at that time, I was too young and too immature to ‘realize’ or intellectually absorb the true depths or meaning of the lessons that my ‘7 Jewels’ [Alpha Phi Alpha’s founders] had left for me as a road map to earthly and spiritual elevation,” Brown said in 2014. “They can be roughly summarized as ‘Manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind.’”

After his undergraduate studies, Brown was struck by the effects of poverty in Black communities. This pushed him to continue his education by pursuing a master’s degree in Psychiatric Social Work in 1961. He worked as a social worker for a short stint after college.

But journalism was Brown’s true passion. He began working at the now-defunct Detroit Courier as a drama critic in 1963 and rose to become the top editor by 1968.

Brown was also active in the Civil Rights Movement. He helped coordinate Dr. Martin Luther King’s historic march in Detroit in June 1963, in what Brown called “the greatest day of my life.” Dr. King delivered an early version of his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech at this march.

Brown became a household name in the 1970s after he took over as host and producer of the public affairs TV program “Black Journal.” In the late 70s, he received a lucrative sponsorship from Pepsi-Cola, rebranded the series as “Tony Brown’s Journal,” and syndicated it.

The show, which covered Black issues across all topics, was the longest-running national public affairs TV series on PBS. According to its website, “Tony Brown’s Journal” was the “first series on national TV to break the story on the odious Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment on Black men and the infamous Tulsa Race Riot of 1921.”

Figures such as Sammy Davis, Dick Gregory, Richard Pryor, Harry Belafonte, Melba Moore, and others have been featured on the series.

“We have three white viewers for every black viewer,” Brown told the New York Times in 1982. “Even dealing with our subject matter, we've been able to attract whites; you tell the story in its broadest possible aspect - that's mass media.”

“Everything black in this country is just sitting there reserved for me because white people are not interested in it, and many of them are so racist that they believe it doesn't have any worth anyway. I plan to continue to dig into this black gold mine,” he continued.

His show would run until 2008.

A longtime conservative, he preached self-help and remained committed to Black capitalism. “My life’s work continues to focus on encouraging African Americans to develop their economic and intellectual potential,” he once said.

Educating the next generation of journalists was important to Brown. He founded the School of Communications at Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1971, and served as dean until 1974. He also served as the first dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.

There are no plans for a memorial or public service at this time, according to the statement.

Rodeo Revere, Bon Appetit

Don’t miss this awesome photo essay of the Oklahoma Black Rodeo and Trail Ride, captured by photographer Adam Davis. This is one of my favorite stories of the week.

Gene therapy cures New Orleans man of sickle cell, clears path for dream of becoming pilot, Verite News

23-year-old Daniel Cressy is now the first person in Louisiana to be functionally cured of sickle cell disease through gene therapy — and the internet responded with love.

For Black women farmers, tending the land is ancestral and healing, The 19th

Black farmers have lost millions of acres since the early 1900s. Today, a generation of growers is working to rebuild and reconnect communities to the land, “Rooted” host writes.

Trump resurrected the statue of a slave owner. Its pedestal cost taxpayers $527K, Mother Jones

The Trump admin pulled a statue of a slave owner out of storage and hired a contractor to build it a new pedestal in Washington. Installing that pedestal took one day and cost taxpayers $527,000.

What’s In The News

Across America

Alabama: Ervin Harris, paroled after serving 42 years in prison, recently had his 1975 conviction overturned…

California: A new public health dashboard aims to expose the illnesses and deaths linked to extreme heat — and the racial disparities behind it…

Illinois: Some trainees at this cafe are trying to leave gangs or have arrest records, which can make it difficult to find employment. The café offers services that meet the trainees’ basic needs…

Indiana: An Indiana University instructor who showed a graphic in class that named “Make America Great Again” as covert white supremacy has lost her job…

Louisiana: traveled to New Orleans to learn how teens are keeping jazz alive through the Trombone Shorty Academy…

Michigan: Alumni of Wayne State University’s 1989 student protest movement say the university has let African American Studies languish — and they want answers…

North Carolina: Scranton, a historically Black coastal community, sits on the front lines of the climate crisis…

Ohio: The family of Savanna Jones filed a lawsuit against Wilberforce University, claiming she died following a hazing ritual involving alcohol…

Tennessee: Lethal injection was meant to be humane. What happened to Tony Carruthers was bloody and brutal — and impossible to spin as painless…

Texas: A new legal team is set to represent Karmelo Anthony’s appeal effort…

What’s Happening

Donald Trump is eager to seize the Smithsonian, and Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the institution, has continued to defend it. But Clint Smith reports that Bunch appears to be inching closer to leaving…

Leading historian Annette Gordon-Reed penned this awesome graphic about Lemuel Haynes, a free Black soldier who was the first Black man in the U.S. to be ordained as a minister...

Adria Walker interviewed Glaude about his new book, which shows that political turmoil has historically reached its boiling point around Fourth of July celebrations…

NBC News: Black people in the U.S. have long had higher cancer death rates than white people, though the gap has narrowed in recent years…

It’s not enough to draw “neutral” districts. We need to overhaul the entire voting system, writes for The Nation…

The white working class knows the American project isn’t working. Here’s why that will never matter to them, Saida Grundy writes for The Guardian…

and DéVon Johnson for AdWeek: Black publishers knew the ad commitments wouldn’t hold. So what?...

Here’s how the late Clarence Jones worked to secure the copyright for Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech…

The Supreme Court ruled against a devout Rastafarian who sought damages after prison officials cut his dreadlocks despite his claim that it violated his religious rights…

for URL Media: Caregiving comes with significant financial costs for Black people. These tips may help navigate strain…

explained what to do when the right-wing propaganda machine comes for you…

Denton, Texas, destroyed a Black neighborhood 105 years ago. Black residents today are still feeling the impact…

In Springfield, Missouri, Alberta Ellis helped create a welcoming world for Black motorists during segregation. The businesswoman left a lasting legacy…

Dr. Bernice King spoke to ESSENCE about returning to Selma, the long game of organizing, and why she still has hope…

A new anthology documenting the presidencies of Black women who led HBCUs is drawing national attention…

Entertainment News

As Black Music Month continues, Fred Hammond took over the NPR Tiny Desk. Watch above…

Babyface sat down with the Wall Street Journal to explain why AI can’t replicate the “soul” of music…

Bloomberg: Two new films revisit W.E.B. Du Bois’s life and the unfinished dream of a global Black future that animated his final years…

Jay-Z in 8, an 8-part documentary series featuring the rapper in conversation with Rick Rubin, premieres this fall on HBO Max…

writes for Capital B: As studios go back to “regular programming,” Black authors remain in limbo and watch the work of their white counterparts get fast-tracked…

Friends and family honored Peabo Bryson at his homegoing service over the weekend…

For the New York Times, Julian Kimble spoke with the legendary Robert Townsend about directing more TV and serving as a mentor for Black actors and showrunners...

Henry Louis Gates Jr. explained to the Hollywood Reporter how the PBS series “Finding Your Roots” navigates shocking ancestry revelations, guest privacy and the truths that can forever alter a family story…

NPR’s interviewed as he aims for an annual trifecta: TV, film and theater…

Buddy Guy’s 90th birthday concert, starring Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Jon Batiste and more, is scheduled for October…

Lionel Richie was reportedly hospitalized following a medical incident on stage that forced him to cut short a Minnesota concert…

Big Tigger was arrested in Georgia over Father’s Day weekend…

In an exclusive interview with MadameNoire, Regina Hall opens up about her latest projects and how her predecessors impact how she shows up on screen and in life…

William Catlett and David Fortune touch on the power of Black fatherhood in ‘Color Book’ for ESSENCE…Here’s the NYT’s review…

Los Angeles Times: Is Hollywood done catering to diverse audiences?...

Ice Cube and Nia Long are reuniting for “Are They Gone Yet?,” two decades after they paired for “Are We There Yet?”...

Obituaries

Clive Davis, a star music mogul whose complicated relationships with Black artists are back in the spotlight, has died. He was 94…

Harold Wheeler, a veteran orchestrator on Broadway and longtime musical director for “Dancing With the Stars,” has died. He was 83…

Paul Scott, a minister, activist and a staunch advocate of teaching Black history, has died. He was 59…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 48 seconds…

Audiobook narrators! Black Romance Book Fest is taking applications for 2027…

FIRE!!!, a 100-year-old magazine first created during the Harlem Renaissance, is being revived. They are offering a paid opportunity for Black artists, writers, photographers, and creatives…

Ph.D. candidate Cierra McLaurin is seeking Black women who currently have or formerly had a professional connection to math education to participate in her dissertation research study…

Happy Juneteenth! The federal holiday celebrates when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, were told that they were now free people.

For National Geographic, Samuel Collins III — a 7th-generation Texan with roots back to 1837 — wrote about the overlooked story of the U.S. Colored Troops, the Black Union soldiers who arrived in Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and make this holiday possible. Related: The Black soldiers who changed the meaning of the Civil War.

ICYMI: I curated a list of Juneteenth events taking place across the country.

More: Here are six books that explain the history and meaning of Juneteenth.

Young Black men are now dying by suicide at a historic rate, Capital B News

“For the first time since the U.S. government began collecting the data, young Black men are dying by suicide at a higher rate than young white men,” according to a new report from Capital B’s Adam Mahoney.

What happens when Black athletes stop playing along?, Playboy

For Playboy, wrote about the Supreme Court’s decision to weaken the power of Black voters in Louisiana and how it stands in sharp contrast to the state’s reliance on Black athletic talent.

Trump is completely rewriting Black history — with devastating consequences, HuffPost

A MAGA group released an 85-page document of “historical heroes.” Guess what’s not mentioned once? My colleague Nathalie Baptiste reported on how the Trump administration’s efforts to rewrite Black history could lead to a startling policy shift in the United States.

What’s In The News

Across America

California: Sacramento’s only Black museum is facing severe financial strain, but community groups are rallying to keep it open…

District of Columbia: Janeese Lewis George has won the Democratic primary in D.C.’s mayoral race…

Florida: The town of Royal is one of the two remaining Black homesteading communities in the nation. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places…

Indiana: The police officers for Eskenazi Health, a central Indiana hospital system, have made more than 800 arrests from 2020 to 2025. Most were for non-violent offenses…

Illinois: A person was charged with a hate crime in an investigation of a large cross set on fire in a Chicago park, authorities said…

Louisiana: Governor Jeff Landry signed one of the cruelest anti-homeless bills in the country into law…

Maryland: A $100M fund for Black-led nonprofits in Baltimore has stalled amid donor retreat and political pressure. Now its leader is betting on small contributors to fill the gap…

Michigan: The Ann Arbor City Council approved up to $200,000 for a reparations study exploring harms to Black residents…

New York: After 20 years in Harlem, Chef Melba Wilson is bringing her signature comfort food to the bustling Grand Central Dining Concourse…

Mississippi: The police officer in Senatobia who shot and killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley has been placed on administrative leave. Police teargassed protesters outside of the Walmart where the shooting took place…

Ohio: Wilberforce University, the state’s oldest private HBCU, is making major changes to its campus amid growing demand for student housing…

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia students saw what it’s like to be mayor, councilmembers and cabinet officials during the Philadelphia City Government Youth Summit…

South Carolina: The International African American Museum in Charleston announced that all of its staff will be furloughed as the museum faces “financial pressure”...

Tennessee: Fisk University’s plan to build a local data center is facing pushback from Nashville community members, university alumni, and current students…

Texas: A portrait at the Houston Museum of African American Culture was intentionally defaced by visitors last month, the institution announced…

What’s Happening

ICYMI: Watch the full grand opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center with performances and remarks above.

Bud Light has so far remained silent about the vile slur against Michelle Obama that a fighter made on the beer’s sponsored stage at the White House…

Trump’s effort to rewrite Black history hit a snag after a federal judge ordered his administration to reinstall exhibits and signs about slavery. Part of the slavery exhibit at the President’s House in Philadelphia has been restored, but not all of it. NPR spoke with the activists who have been at the forefront of that fight…

The federal government has joined a lawsuit against a reparations program that offered Black people in Evanston, Illinois $25,000 to direct descendants of residents who faced housing discrimination in the city between 1919 and 1969…

50 years ago, Alex Haley published his magnum opus, “Roots: The Saga of an American Family”...

A new study from economists Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman and Emma Rackstraw makes a powerful case for more Black supervisors in the workplace…

Cynthia Garris, a city commissioner, is set to become St. Augustine, Florida’s first Black mayor…

94-year-old James Dorsey, born on Ellerbe Plantation in Louisiana, is hoping to get a birth certificate…

Alecia Taylor attended this year’s Equity Ball in Washington and wrote about how D.C.’s Ballroom culture is pushing back against anti-Black and LGBTQ+ attacks…

In a column for the Chicago Sun-Times, Alden Loury wrote about the importance of Black male role models…

Tennessee State Rep. Justin Pearson has received the endorsement of Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary for the 9th U.S. Congressional District…

Trump has further gutted the Education Department by shifting oversight of special education and civil rights to other federal agencies…

A man was charged with a hate crime after allegedly yelling the N-word at a 9-year-old boy and shoving him in Naperville, Illinois, authorities say…

Entertainment News

Black Music Month continues with Eve’s and 8Ball & MJG’s NPR Tiny Desk concert. Watch Eve’s concert above and 8Ball & MJG’s here…

Silk White, a former drug dealer, is now an independent filmmaker and his projects make millions without Hollywood’s backing…

Serena Williams will play Wimbledon for the first time in four years, reuniting with Venus, in the women’s doubles event…

HBCU FC is hoping to use the World Cup action to “amplify HBCU culture” through the global game of soccer…

, associate professor of hip-hop and the global South at the University of Virginia, spoke with VPM about his latest book: “Being Dope: Hip-Hop and Theory Through Mixtape Memoir”...

interviewed Coach Miranda Gibson about her journey to tennis—and how it became a conduit for self-discovery…

A “Matlock” writer is suing CBS Television Studios over alleged racist and sexual comments directed at him and other Black crew members…

UCLA’s Hollywood Diversity Report found that “as the number of streaming films decreased, so did minority employment across directors, writers, leads and overall cast”...

Baltimore Beat published this cool photo essay of the early years of the Afro-American (AFRAM) Exposition, taking place this weekend!…

Olandria spoke to Cosmopolitan about her newfound fame, her now-private relationship, and her ambitions for the future…

Christopher Jackson, one of the original cast members of “Hamilton,” is reprising his role as George Washington…

Earth, Wind & Fire’s Philip Bailey initially thought the hit track ‘September’ was ‘kinda corny’…

BET has revived its stand-up series “ComicView,” and it will appear on June 30…

Laila Edwards has become the highest drafted Black woman in Professional Women’s Hockey League history…

Tyra Banks has filed a lawsuit against Netflix regarding her portrayal in the docuseries “Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model”...

Mystikal has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to raping a woman at his home…

Former CEO of Essence Ventures Caroline Wanga claimed in a lawsuit that Essence Festival leaders failed to defend her against criticism for last year’s event…

For EBONY, Wongo Okon wrote about 30 Black men who are dominating the airwaves for its STAMPED: Gentlemen of Sound feature…

The New Yorker interviewed Laverne Cox about her new memoir and anti-trans backlash…

“Diarra From Detroit” will return for a season 2 on July 29...

Obituaries

Tay Keith, a noted Grammy-nominated record producer behind hits with Travis Scott, Beyoncé and Drake, has died. He was 29…

Danny Simmons, the founder of a Philadelphia arts community that provided space and motivation for local artists to be discovered and show their work, has died. He was 72…

Rev. Robert Lee Abrams, the father of Stacey Abrams, has died. He was 77...

Gregory Williams, an academic who discovered his father had been passing as a white man, died in 2025 but his death was not widely reported. He was 77…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 38 seconds!...

I answered 20 questions from Lawrence Ross about my hometown of Detroit, my career, and more. Watch here…

Ph.D. candidate Cierra McLaurin is seeking Black women who currently have or formerly had a professional connection to math education to participate in her dissertation research study…

The NAACP is accepting nominations for its inaugural “Advancement List,” honoring trailblazers across industries who are advancing Black communities…

June 19, 1865, or Juneteenth, marks the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to let to the more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state know that they were free — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black Texans for over 150 years, with Texas freedman organzing the first recorded “Jubilee Day” in 1866.

Juneteenth activities spread throughout the country during the Great Migration, and millions of Black Texans brought their celebrations to the Northeast, Midwest and the West. Some Juneteenth events in states far from Texas are commemorating 50 years, or more.

Juneteenth — the longest running Black American holiday — became a federal holiday in 2021. Check out the list below and see if there’s a Juneteenth event near you.

Alabama: If you’re in Birmingham, pop by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Juneteenth Jubilee on Friday. Over in Montgomery, the Rosa Parks Museum is commemorating the holiday with free educational programming, live music, and more on June 20.

For Al.com, Alaina Bookman has compiled a list of Juneteenth celebrations happening across Alabama, from Huntsville, Anniston, and Tuscaloosa.

Alaska: Yes, there are Juneteenth celebrations in Alaska. “Celebrating Black Excellence: Past, Present, Future” will take place at the Delaney Park Strip in Anchorage this weekend.

Arizona: On Friday, enjoy a Juneteenth Block Party in downtown Tempe. Head to downtown Phoenix for the 6th annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on June 20 for live performances, Black-owned vendors, and more. About 100 miles away, Tucson will celebrate its 56th annual Juneteenth festival this Saturday.

Arkansas: Juneteenth in Da Rock, organized by the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, is one of the region’s biggest Juneteenth celebrations, taking place in Little Rock on June 20. If you’re in Northwest Arkansas — Fayetteville to be exact — you can celebrate on Saturday as well. Siloam Springs is also hosting its third annual cookout.

California: As one of our largest states and a primary destination for many Black Texans during the Great Migration, California hosts plenty of Juneteenth celebrations. Visit California has a list of events taking place across the state. The Sacramento Juneteenth Festival, the Hella Juneteenth Festival in Oakland, and the Juneteenth Celebration in the famous Leimert Park in Los Angeles will all be taking place.

Colorado: You can celebrate Juneteenth in Colorado with the Southern Colorado Juneteenth Festival in Colorado Springs and the 15th annual Juneteenth Music Festival in Denver.

Connecticut: The Town of East Hartford and the City of Hartford have teamed up to celebrate Juneteenth with the “Bridging Freedom” festival on June 20. Or you can head to New Haven for the Juneteenth festival of Culture & Resources this Saturday instead.

Delaware: Stop by Dover for the Juneteenth Festival at the Legislative Mall on Friday. An observance service is also taking place in Wilmington on Friday.

District of Columbia: The Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum will host a Juneteenth Freedom Celebration on Friday. Then make your way to the Blacksonian to honor the life and legacy of Ms. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, as she celebrates her 100th birthday. There are a handful of other events taking place in the area as well.

Florida: Florida is pretty big, so there are plenty of Juneteenth celebrations taking place across Central Florida, Northeast Florida, and South Florida. Don’t miss the Black on the Block Juneteenth outdoor block party in Miami’s historically Black Overtown neighborhood.

Georgia: Atlanta’s largest Juneteenth event will take place throughout the weekend at Piedmont Park. You can also celebrate at the High Museum of Art with performances and art sessions. If you’re near Savannah, there are multiple celebrations happening.

Hawaii: Hawaiʻi’s biggest Juneteenth celebration will take place at Aloha Stadium on Friday.

Idaho: The Idaho Black Community Alliance will host Treasure Valley Impact Day in honor of Juneteenth on June 20 in Boise. If you’re near Idaho Falls, stop by the Colonial Theater for musical performances and more.

Illinois: Here’s a list of a number of things you can do for Juneteenth in the Chicago area. Don’t miss the DuSable Black History Museum’s Juneteenth celebration on Friday. If you’re in Peoria or Springfield, here’s another list.

Indiana: The Indy Juneteenth Parade and Festival will take place on Saturday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis. If you’re in another part of Indiana, this list might have an event near you.

Iowa: The ACLU of Iowa compiled a list of events taking place across the state, from Des Moines to Cedar Falls.

Kansas: The Parade and Car Show will take place in downtown Topeka on Friday, and a fashion show will follow at New Mount Zion Fellowship Hall. The 13th Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration will happen on Saturday at the Hillcrest Park and Community Center.

Kentucky: Check out Kentucky’s list of Juneteenth events commemorating the day. If you’re in Louisville, here’s a more detailed list.

Louisiana: The NOLA Juneteenth Festival is taking place on Friday at Congo Square within Armstrong Park. Here’s a larger list for New Orleans. There are also several events happening across Southwest Louisiana.

Maine: The City of Brewer is sponsoring a Juneteenth ceremony at Freedom Park on Friday.

Maryland: Visit Maryland has pulled together a list of Juneteenth festivals and events to commemorate the holiday. Don’t forget: Baltimore’s massive 50th Annual AFRAM festival is taking place over the 3-day weekend.

Massachusetts: The Museum of African American History is hosting “Freedom! A Juneteenth Celebration” block party in Boston and then a block party in Nantucket.

Michigan: Celebrate Juneteenth at the Wright Museum (don’t forget to read my story about my hometown museum) on Friday. There are some events taking place in Metro Detroit, and mid-Michigan as well.

Minnesota: Meet Minneapolis, the official tourism site, has an event calendar for the holiday. The ANIKA Foundation is hosting its 5th annual Juneteenth Celebration at the State Capitol on Friday.

Mississippi: The Mississippi Free Press has compiled a list of events across the state, from Jackson to Natchez.

Missouri: Visit Missouri compiled a list of events taking place across the state, from St. Louis to Kansas City.

Montana: Montana State University in Bozeman is hosting a Juneteenth Celebration on Friday.

Nebraska: There will be free food, live entertainment, and more at the Juneteenth Celebration in Lincoln’s Trago Park on June 20.

Nevada: The 25th anniversary Juneteenth festival will take place in Las Vegas, featuring a free festival and marketplace on Saturday. Or you can head over to Henderson for a Juneteenth festival at Water Street Plaza on June 19.

New Hampshire: The Juneteenth Music Festival will take place at the Robbins House in Concord on Friday. Crossway Christian Church is hosting its 3rd annual Juneteenth event in Nashua on Saturday. There are a few events in Portsmouth you can take advantage of as well.

New Jersey: There are over two dozen festivals and performances taking place across the Garden State on Juneteenth. Here’s the list.

New Mexico: The largest celebration in New Mexico takes place in Albuquerque on Friday at Civic Plaza and the Albuquerque Convention Center.

New York: New York’s tourism site lists Juneteenth events taking place across the state. The New York Amsterdam News, one of the oldest Black newspapers in the country, also compiled a list.

North Carolina: The Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas will take place over the weekend in Charlotte. Here’s a broader list of events taking place in North Carolina.

North Dakota: Yes, there are Black people in North Dakota! Head on over to Grand Forks on Friday for a celebration at University Park. Bismarck’s 4th annual Juneteenth celebration will happen on the same day. If you’re closer to Minot, Freedom Day in the Park will take place on Saturday.

Ohio: From Columbus to Toledo, the state is celebrating Juneteenth with a variety of family-friendly festivals and events.

Oklahoma: Stop by Norman for the 6th annual Juneteenth Festival in Reaves Park on Friday. And of course, Tulsa, the home of Black Wall Street, boasts a major Juneteenth celebration on Saturday. Lupe Fiasco is headlining Juneteenth on the East in Oklahoma City.

Oregon: The Oregon Black Pioneers, a nonprofit that works to preserve the history of Black Oregonians, compiled this list of Juneteenth events around the state, from Portland to Salem to Eugene. The Juneteenth Oregon Festival and Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade is celebrating its 54th year on Saturday.

Pennsylvania: The Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival has become one of the largest in the country. It lands on June 21 this year. Here’s a list of events across South and Central Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh!

Rhode Island: This tiny state boasts two major Juneteenth celebrations — the 8th Annual Juneteenth RI Festival and the Taste of Juneteenth New England.

South Carolina: There are several Juneteenth events taking place Upstate, and others around the Lowcountry. South Carolina’s largest Juneteenth festival takes place on Saturday at Finlay Park in Columbia.

South Dakota: If you happen to be in South Dakota, the 7th annual Juneteenth Celebration is set for Friday at Pioneer Park in Brookings.

Tennessee: The annual Juneteenth615 Celebration is set for Friday in Nashville’s Centennial Park; there will be a parade in Knoxville, events in Murfreesboro and Gallatin, and multiple free celebrations happening throughout Memphis — including one at the National Civil Rights Museum.

Texas: As the birthplace of Juneteenth, the state hosts a variety of celebrations and festivals. Head on over to Galveston for the day-long Juneteenth Music Festival & Fireworks at Menard Park on Friday. Austin had its first Juneteenth celebration in 1867, and the city still celebrates with a parade on Friday. There are events in Houston, Dallas and more.

Utah: Surprisingly, there are quite a few Juneteenth events taking place in Utah! The 35th annual Juneteenth Freedom Festival takes place on Saturday at the Ogden City Amphitheater.

Vermont: There are two major events in Burlington: the Richard Kemp Juneteenth Block Party on Friday and the City of Burlington Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday. For other celebrations in Vermont, check out this list.

Virginia: Here’s a pretty robust list of events taking place in the Commonwealth, from Nottoway County to Richmond.

Washington: The state’s largest Juneteenth festival takes place on Friday in Tacoma at the Lemay Car Museum Haub Family Field. Seattle’s long-running Juneteenth Freedom Fest is also happening on Friday at Jimi Hendrix Park.

West Virginia: If you’re near Charleston, check out the parade on Juneteenth at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. The City of Bluefield Parks and Recreation is putting on a Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration on June 20.

Wisconsin: The 18th Annual Juneteenth Celebration is set for June 20th at Buttermilk Park in Fond du Lac. Milwaukee’s 55th annual Juneteenth celebration begins with a parade on Friday at 9 am. And if you’re in the capital, Madison has a long-running Juneteenth celebration on Saturday.

Wyoming: Anyone near Wyoming? The Cheyenne branch of the NAACP is hosting its annual Juneteenth celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. Park this Saturday.

Trump’s Education Department is backing away from addressing civil rights for Black students, AP News

In what is a surprise to no one, the Department of Education has shifted from working to remedy historic, systemic discrimination against Black people to another tool to address white grievances. Civil rights lawyers explained to the AP that these actions are “a complete inversion of legal history.”

Being Black in Pete Hegseth’s military, The Atlantic

Since becoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth has worked hard to “delegitimize the accomplishments — and the very presence — of Black people in the military,” writes.

‘The whole of New York is stressed right now’: how Knicks finals fever reached Rikers Island, The Guardian

You don’t have to be a New York Knicks fan to appreciate this story. The Guardian’s Bryan Armen Graham watched Game 1 of the NBA Finals with nearly 2,000 incarcerated people inside the notorious jail complex.

Black Men shouldn’t do ‘this man thing’ alone, Word in Black

Word In Black pulled together a panel of therapists, wellness advocates, and community leaders to examine the mental health crisis facing Black men. Watch above.

What’s In The News

Across America

California: Oakland Museum of California will exhibit works from Mildred Howard’s 50-year career…

District of Columbia: Thanks to a partnership with the Washington Informer, several of our Urban Journalism Workshop high school students are seeing their bylines in a newspaper for the very first time. Read Jackson-Reed HS student Lilia Choice’s reporting on Black faith leaders in the D.C. area…

Florida: A Duval County School Board candidate used AI to create Black supporters in a campaign photo…

Georgia: Spelman College has named roboticist and artificial intelligence expert Ayanna Howard as its new president…

Illinois: A South Side church is offering a $10,000 reward to find the person who left a burning cross in Grant Park…

Iowa: The state Supreme Court has blocked the University of Iowa from repurposing a science scholarship for Black students…

Kansas: Wichita Northwest High School student Ta’Liyah Lewis has been crowned Miss Kansas’ Teen 2026…

Massachusetts: Someone was caught on camera walking up to Boston’s Museum of African American History before burning their Juneteenth celebration materials…

Missouri: A Missouri bill tried to put a price tag on enrollment to fix the education budget, without considering the vulnerable populations HBCUs serve, Alecia Taylor writes…

Pennsylvania: Daniel Yu was the first Princeton valedictorian to major in African American studies. Strangers ridiculed his selection…

South Carolina: The state’s GOP lawmakers want to withhold millions from South Carolina State University after a commencement speaker protest…

Texas: A jury in Collin County has sentenced Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison for the 2025 Frisco track meet murder of Austin Metcalf. He filed an appeal…

What’s Happening

The Justice Department’s hollowed-out Civil Rights Division is supposed to enforce federal anti-discrimination statutes. It has a new focus: the Second Amendment…

I met up with former Washington Post columnist outside the newsroom building to show support as she filed a grievance against the outlet over her firing…

Adam Mahoney for Capital B: Black burial grounds are disappearing as families fight to protect them…

The Anti-DEI era is America’s costliest contradiction, according to NCA&T chancellor James Martin…

404 Media: In 1999, a farmer gave away 87 acres of land to a small Texas city to use as a park. The city sold it to a data center developer for $10 million…

WBEZ columnist Natalie Moore explored the Obama Presidential Center and all of its intriguing juxtapositions…

A federal appeals court revived a lawsuit alleging the State of Florida underfunded FAMU by nearly $2 billion over the past three decades…

Lynn Price, former co-owner of Houston’s popular Turkey Leg Hut, pled guilty to federal charges after he was accused of orchestrating the firebombing of a rival restaurant…

The families of two Black infants who died nearly six decades ago filed a federal lawsuit accusing the U.S. government of secretly using their children in experiments without their parents’ consent…

Rich Norris, assistant principal at a Rhode Island high school, has written a new book about the leadership group and its message for young men of color…

Word In Black: Advocates say weakening the Voting Rights Act could reduce Black communities’ influence over school funding, curriculum and educational opportunity…

Jalil Richardson spent months incarcerated in Florida and North Carolina after being misidentified by AI facial recognition tech for a crime he did not commit…

Mara Gay traveled to Memphis and Montgomery, Alabama, to write this essay: A shocking betrayal of Black Americans…

Entertainment News

R&B veteran Joe stepped behind the NPR Tiny Desk to blaze through his smash hits, including “Good Girls,” “I Wanna Know,” and more. Watch above…

The official trailer for “Once Upon a Time in Harlem,” a film about a 1972 party with the living luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance, is out…

Keke Palmer is teaming up with the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television for a new artist-in-residence program…

AP: Disney announced that it has acquired the global streaming rights to ‘Gracie’s Corner’ and will develop new original content with the Hollingsworth family…

I just finished watching “Nemesis,” and I was impressed with Y’lan Noel’s performance as Coltrane Wilder. The star spoke with The Grio’s Haniyah Philogene about his most compelling role yet…

profiled Lizzo for the New Yorker...

has made history as the youngest Black lead producer ever to win a Tony Award in one of the ceremony’s top production categories…

The New York Times reviewed ’s documentary on the iconic band Earth, Wind & Fire, calling it an “astonishing movie that fully lives up to its deliberately unwieldy title”...

Historian , daughter of the late comedian Richard Pryor, sat down with NPR’s Tonya Mosley to talk about her father’s relationship with the N-word...

DJ Screw’s sound shaped hip-hop hits in the digital era. Now, his music is finally heading to digital streaming platforms…

Admitted serial rapist and former NFL champion Darren Sharper is nearing a projected 2028 release date...

CBS quietly canceled one of its most-watched shows: “Watson,” which starred Morris Chestnut...

The Los Angeles Times profiled Byron Allen and his journey from comedian to media mogul…

Serena Williams has returned to pro tennis with a doubles victory in London, but her comeback has been cut short due to injury…

For the New York Times, Jonathan Abrams mapped out the hip-hop soundtracking the Knicks’ run to the NBA Finals…

T Magazine tracked down the eyeglasses Charlie Murphy wore in “Harlem Nights”...

Obituaries

James Blood Ulmer, a singular force in free-funk and avant-garde jazz, has died. He was 86…

Marlene Louise Johnson, a former Associated Press journalist who sued the wire service for discrimination, has died. She was 89…

Stacey King, a three-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls who became an Emmy-winning broadcaster, has died. He was 59…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 36 seconds!...

I answered 20 questions from Lawrence Ross about my hometown of Detroit, my career, and more. Watch here…

of Black Women Directors shared a list of grants and opportunities for those looking to break into the entertainment industry…

Capital B’s Alecia Taylor compiled a list of Black pride celebrations across the country this summer…

The NAACP is accepting nominations for its inaugural “Advancement List,” honoring trailblazers across industries who are advancing Black communities…

The NMAAHC is hosting a Juneteenth community day in Washington. Make sure you check out Juneteenth celebrations in your local area…

Curating in the crosshairs: Is this the Smithsonian chief’s last show?, The New York Times

Lonnie G. Bunch III, the secretary of the Smithsonian, was profiled by the New York Times. Bunch said that the “American Aspirations” exhibition for America’s 250th anniversary may be one of his final acts as secretary.

Related: For The Atlantic, Camille Borders wrote about the uncertain future of the Smithsonian’s smallest museum — the Anacostia Community Museum. It was a pioneer in preserving Black history. But will that be enough to save it from President Trump?

Imagining what comes next for Black America, Harper’s Bazaar

wrote about her visit to an exhibit of Betye Saar’s Black doll collection, a trip to the iconic Schomburg Center’s centennial gala, and New Yorker staff writer Lauren Collins’ new book “They Stole A City.”

Supreme Court approves Alabama map that erases majority-Black district, The Guardian

Alabama can use a redrawn congressional map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts in this year’s midterms, the Supreme Court ruled.

Derrick Coleman, the former star NBA power forward, pulled out of a state recognition ceremony in response to the redistricting push.

What’s In The News

Across America

California: As of the publication of this newsletter, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has advanced to the November election as she awaits her opponent…

Colorado: The homicide convictions of two ex-Aurora paramedics charged in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain were reversed…

Florida: Four Black candidates are reportedly considering consolidating behind one candidate to defeat Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz…

Georgia: Fort Valley State University Choir has been nominated for the inaugural Stellar Awards HBCU Choir of the Year…

Illinois: Hyde Park high schoolers are protesting the removal of community groups that supported students through a traumatic year…

Massachusetts: Boston hosts its first Black Men’s Health Summit to confront a 9-year life expectancy gap…

Mississippi: A massive legal win for Black Mississippians that was supposed to lead to new elections for the state Supreme Court was erased…

New York: As the departure of New York’s Black residents changes neighborhood culture, Maya King attended a gathering that paid tribute to one of the remaining Black institutions, the Tip-Top Bar and Grill…

North Carolina: Former police officer Karson Hyder, who was seen in a viral video repeatedly punching Cherrie Moore during an arrest, has been charged with assault, authorities said…

Pennsylvania: The Trump administration is arguing for power to change a memorial to enslaved people who lived at George Washington’s residence in Philadelphia in the 18th century…

South Carolina: An attorney representing the family of Cyrus Carmack-Belton said that the family vowed to continue pursuing a civil lawsuit against Rick Chow… has the full story…

Tennessee: Six Tennessee State University coaches have signed a vote of no confidence letter against the athletic director, Mikki Allen…

Texas: The murder trial for Karmelo Anthony began this week in Collin County…

Washington: Kameirah, a high school senior, shared the inspiration behind her winning Google Doodle and what defines her superpower…

Wisconsin: Milwaukee activists have traveled to Cuba to bring aid to the island nation during the Trump administration’s oil blockade...

What’s Happening

The prominent Riverside Church in New York held a service to honor Assata Shakur, featuring dancing, a speech from Marc Lamont Hill and Angela Davis, and more. Watch above…

George Floyd’s family criticized the Minnesota GOP for honoring Derek Chauvin during the party’s state convention, and pointed to Tony Hinchcliffe’s racist joke…

for Stateline: Black midwives are suing Southern states, claiming regulations make it harder for them to help patients…

Former Washington Post columnist ’s case against her ex-employer headed to arbitration this week…

Stacey Abrams told that the erosion of democracy and Black power in the South won’t just stop there…

AP News: Trump’s Education Department is backing away from addressing civil rights for Black students…

After a “botched” lethal injection attempt, Tony Carruthers’ family, supporters and lawmakers seek transparency…

explains: Black Texans are not yet sold on James Talarico’s Senate run…

Semafor reported on the anxiety growing inside the Congressional Black Caucus in the wake of Louisiana v. Callais… Related: The GOP is targeting Black voters in the former Confederacy with surgical precision…

More in the New York Times: Civil rights activists are gearing up for the fight of a generation as Republicans rush to redraw congressional maps in the South…

Capital B News’ Adam Mahoney reported on Miami’s disappearing black neighborhoods…

has been working on this story for years — Elgon Wilson’s grandfather was a Western Union Telegram Delivery boy during the Tulsa Race Massacre. He was one of the very few white people who spoke about it after it happened…

Have you heard of Estevanico? Here’s how the enslaved, shipwrecked African became the first great explorer in the United States…

Entertainment News

For Black Music Month, Floetry took a break from their first tour in a decade to visit the NPR Tiny Desk. Watch above…

Keith David was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Watch the full ceremony here. But he’s not close to being done…

Serena Williams has announced her comeback to professional tennis…

EBONY’s Sidney Madden interviewed nine directors who left their mark on the American Black Film Festival...

“The Roots Picnic wasn’t just a concert. It was a reminder of what made the empire possible in the first place,” writes of Jay-Z’s return…

Michelle Obama is embracing her “last chapter” as a podcaster…

“Cheers” actor Ted Danson apologized in a podcast for appearing in blackface while roasting Whoopi Goldberg in 1993…

Russell Wilson has confirmed in a video posted to social media that he’s retiring from the NFL…

For the Hollywood Reporter, spoke with 50 Cent and documentarian Alex Stapleton about how “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” became an Emmy contender…

The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office said it is reviewing new sexual assault allegations against Sean Combs…

Alfre Woodard shared her secret to Hollywood longevity with NPR’s Tonya Mosley…

Softball is still a mostly white sport. UCLA standout Jordan Woolery wants to inspire change on and off the field…

Queen Latifah, LL COOL J, Bob Johnson and others are among BET’s first-ever Board of Advisors...

Netflix’s “A Different World” sequel series has set its premiere date…

Obituaries

Peabo Bryson, the legendary soul singer who captivated audiences with his voice for decades, has died. He was 75…

David Henderson, a poet who rose to prominence with the Black Arts Movement in the 1960s and later wrote a biography of Jimi Hendrix, has died. He was 83…

Ronald LaPread, the former bassist and co-founder of the Commodores, has died. He was 75…

Foster Sylvers, the former child star and singer-songwriter who later joined The Sylvers, has died. He was 64…

Spencer Leak Jr., the Chicago funeral director who handled the funerals of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and many others, has died. He was 56…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 29 seconds…

Re’Nyqua Farrington, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Riverside, is conducting a research study on Black former high school students’ experiences with and resistance to school policing and surveillance…

Meet the new Prince George’s County team of the Baltimore Banner as they host a community listening session on June 10 at Greenbelt Library...

The Library Company of Philadelphia is hosting its annual Juneteenth Lecture on June 16 at 5:30 pm ET…

AFRAM—one of the largest Black festivals on the East Coast—is seeking media and volunteers...

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History is hosting a live digital teach-in on June 18 at 7 pm ET, on the push to eviscerate the 1965 Voting Rights Act…

Submissions are now open for The Black Press at 200, a symposium commemorating 200 years of Black journalism, March 17–18, 2027, at Howard University. Abstracts (300 words max) due Sept. 18…

The Voting Rights Act is dead. Here’s a new model for Black politics, The New Republic

After the Supreme Court’s decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act, and Jake Grumbach argue that now is the time for a new “framework for Black politics—fresh strategies, tactics, leaders, and goals.” In The New Republic, the two writers explain that past civil rights strategies won’t work in this dire moment.

AI models are going viral – and they’re stealing real Black women’s faces, Glamour Magazine

explored the insidious world of digital Blackface, which involves AI influencers that are built by “scraping real Black women creators’ content without consent, replicating their faces, bodies and movements for views and profit.”

Pope Leo XIV makes historic apology for Vatican’s role in legitimizing slavery, The Associated Press

Pope Leo XIV made an historic apology for the “Holy See’s own role in legitimizing slavery and for failing to condemn it for centuries.” Black American catholics have called for the Vatican to publicly atone for its role in legitimizing slavery for European colonizers.

What’s In The News

Across America

Alabama: A federal court blocked a map that would have eliminated a Black-majority congressional seat…

California: Chaka Khan opened up about her time as a member of the Black Panther Party in Chicago during a fireside chat in Oakland...

District of Columbia: D.C. taxpayers are funding broadcasting legend Donnie Simpson’s talk show, but no one seems to know exactly how much it costs…

Georgia: Atlanta officials say they are partnering with Morehouse School of Medicine on a proposed $800 million hospital…

Kentucky: An anonymous group of Kentucky State University students are suing over a new law to transform the HBCU into a polytechnic institution...

Florida: The popular American Black Film Festival is celebrating 30 years in Miami Beach…

Maryland: Morgan State University announced it is expanding student housing to meet strong demand, adding more than 300 beds…

Mississippi: The Supreme Court sided with Terry Pitchford, a Black death row inmate, who claimed there was racial bias in the makeup of the jury that convicted him…

New York: New York state officials have agreed to push back a long-awaited report on reparations to 2029…

Pennsylvania: Paul Beale’s Flowers has been in business in Philly since 1971. The family wants to keep the Black-owned business going as long as they can…

South Carolina: The South Carolina Senate rejected Trump’s push to redraw the state’s congressional district before the midterm elections…

Tennessee: ​​A school district has reversed its ban on Alex Haley’s “Roots” after weeks of community backlash and statewide criticism…

Texas: Rep. Christian Menefee has won the Democratic primary for the 18th House District in Texas, defeating Rep. Al Green in a GOP-engineered showdown…

Virginia: The historic Alfred Street Baptist Church announced it will fund the Black student government whose funding was cut at Mizzou due to DEI restrictions…

What’s Happening

I listened in on a focus group of Black men who voted for Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and found they are increasingly getting their news from nontraditional media outlets…I talked about my story with NBC 4 Washington above…

The Congressional Black Caucus sent a letter to over 250 companies, calling on them to oppose redistricting efforts by Republican-led states…

Nikole Hannah Jones in the New York Times: “Black representation may once again disappear in the South, where more than half of Black Americans live. This could lead to the largest decimation of Black political power since the fall of Reconstruction”...

The New Yorker: Justice Clarence Thomas has made clear that he views Progressivism, past and present, as anti-American…

for Boston Globe: Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt says Jim Crow is gone. Many Black Americans aren’t convinced…

The Southern Poverty Law Center is seeking dismissal of what its lawyers call a “vindictive” indictment by the Justice Department…

Three years after Monica and Shawn Williams witnessed a cross burning outside their house in South Carolina, their white neighbor has been charged. But the state still won’t call it a hate crime, Aallyah Wright reports…

Employees at the Department of Labor were urged to file whistleblower complaints and report anyone prioritizing DEI…

BuzzFeed is now a Black-owned company after Byron Allen closed the acquisition this week. Disclosure: I work at HuffPost and BuzzFeed is our parent company…

seeks grand jury transcripts in his Minnesota civil rights case, citing misconduct…

spoke with Kimberlé Crenshaw about her new memoir, how she coined the term “intersectionality,” and much more...

“Rising carbon dioxide is stripping nutrients like iron, zinc, and protein from staple crops such as rice, wheat, beans, and potatoes—the building blocks of Black American diets,” Adam Mahoney reports for Capital B News…

The New York Times reviewed ’s “America, U.S.A.,” a book about how race shadows the nation’s anniversaries…

Entertainment News

Comedian sat down with “CBS Mornings” about finding humor in everyday life, how storytelling is at the center of his jokes and his first HBO special, “Symphony.” Watch above…

George Clinton is suing UMG Recordings, claiming the music corporation owes him more than $1.1 million in royalties…

The Athletic columnist Candace Buckner writes that it is “unreasonable to expect 20-year-olds to move to the front lines” of the NAACP’s fight against gerrymandering in the South…

For Newsone, Nicky Childers defended Naomi Osaka and Taylor Townsend organizing a dinner celebrating Black tennis players...

Here’s how Issa Rae built TikTok’s first micro-drama hit, drawing over 150 million views…

Kathy Sledge, one of disco’s biggest stars, answered all of your questions in this new interview with The Guardian…

The cast of “The Chi” spoke with Essence writer Victoria Uwumarogie about the show’s eighth and final season…

For EBONY, Malik Peay talked with director about his latest film, “I Love Boosters,” and his vision…

Kevin Hart defended the layoffs and restructuring at his media company, Hartbeat, during a recent appearance on “The Breakfast Club”...

After over a decade, VIBE announced it is relaunching print and the first issue set to be released next week…

Big Tigger announced that NPR Music will pay homage to BET with a stacked lineup of artists for its Tiny Desk series…

Obituaries

Sonny Rollins, one of the most influential jazz musicians of our time, has died. He was 95…He was the last of the jazz titans…

Clarence B. Jones, a lawyer and speechwriter who drafted part of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech, has died. He was 95…

Rob Base, one-half of Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, who was best known for the hit “It Takes Two,” has died. He was 59…

Grizz Chapman, the massive actor who played Tracy Jordan’s bodyguard in “30 Rock,” has died. He was 52...

John McClain, the visionary music executive who served as co-executor of Michael Jackson‘s estate, has died. He was 71…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 11 seconds…

I spoke with WTOP’s JJ Green about the Washington Association of Black Journalists, and its impact over the past 50 years…

Interested in working at Essence Fest in New Orleans? Fill out the waitlist form to be considered....

Check out “Master Teachers: Foundation to Future Soul,” an exhibition at Manifest 002 exploring DC’s role in the creation of Black Music Month. The exhibit is open to the public in Washington June 4…

The application for the tuition-free Schomburg Center’s Junior Scholars Program in New York is now available. The deadline is June 15...

will present her landmark new book, “The Price of Exclusion,” at the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in D.C. on June 18th…

An East Tennessee school district has reversed its ban on “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alex Haley, after weeks of community backlash, board member pressure, and statewide criticism, all unfolding in the same city where a 13-foot bronze statue of Haley has stood for nearly three decades.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk said the district will return the 1976 novel to school library shelves, walking back a decision that had added Roots to a growing list of banned books and ignited debate about race, history and the reach of state law into public school libraries.

In a memo to the Knox County Board of Education dated May 26, 2026, Rysewyk said the decision to return “Roots” to shelves was effective immediately and that the initial removal “was in no way a commentary on the historical, cultural, or literary value of the novel.

He said he spent the weeks following the ban consulting independently with multiple attorneys to review the specific content flagged under the law, and found no consensus.

“There were discrepancies even among the legal experts I consulted regarding their interpretation of the relevant sections of the Tennessee Code and the referenced terms as they applied to “Roots,”” he wrote. Rysewyk noted that his review committee had applied the law consistently and in good faith, but said the legal uncertainty ultimately drove his decision.

“Removing any book from circulation is, and should be, an immense decision. Our intent will always be to err on the side of access, which is the decision I have made with regard to ‘Roots,’” Rysewyk said.

The reversal drew immediate attention not just because of the book’s stature in American literature, but because of where it happened. Haley spent part of his childhood in Lauderdale County, and later lived and wrote in Knoxville and Alex Haley Farm in nearby Clinton. Two miles from where the Knox County school board meets, his likeness sits frozen in bronze in Morningside Park, in what was, at the time of its 1998 installation, the largest public statue of an African American in the United States.

District spokeswoman Carly Harrington confirmed that Roots was added to Knox County Schools’ banned book list in May 2026, bringing the district’s total to 124 banned titles, up from 113 in May 2025.

The removal was triggered by Tennessee’s Age-Appropriate Materials Act, a state law that broadly restricts materials from school libraries if they contain nudity, sexual abuse, sexual content, or excessive violence. The law is stricter for library materials than for classroom instruction, as a book can still be taught by a teacher as part of a curriculum, but cannot remain on library shelves for independent student checkout if certain content is present.

In an interview, Assistant Superintendent of Academics Keith Wilson said that an internal review committee identified a specific passage in the novel that it determined crossed the legal threshold. Wilson noted this was the second time this year a passage from the novel had been brought up for review, but the first time it did not result in a finding of violation. He said the law’s focus is on specific passages, not the historical significance of a work as a whole.

The ban sparked swift and pointed criticism from a board member, educators and state lawmakers.

Knox County School Board member Katherine Bike sent a memo to her colleagues demanding the book’s return.

“Removing Roots is not a neutral act,” Bike wrote. “It sends a message to our students, particularly our Black students, about whose history is worth protecting. I don’t believe that is the message any of us intends to send. Intent and impact are two different things.”

On Tuesday after the reversal was announced, State Rep. Sam McKenzie, whose district includes the Haley statue, called the ban a grave injustice and said he was disappointed but not surprised.

“’Roots’ won a Pulitzer Prize and became a cultural touchstone that inspired and united millions of Americans,” McKenzie said. “I knew that taking it out of the hands of thousands of schoolchildren in Knox County would be a grave injustice.”

McKenzie said he has taken legislative action in response to book removals like this one. During the current 114th General Assembly, he sponsored HB2434, which would prohibit the removal of books until a final determination can be made about their appropriateness for the age and maturity level of students, and whether the material is consistent with the educational mission of the school. He also filed the Freedom to Read Act, HB1051, aimed at keeping books like Roots accessible to students.

McKenzie pointed to the particular irony of the ban’s timing and location.

“I am often reminded of the importance of Mr. Haley’s pivotal works when I see the statue of him in Alex Haley Heritage Square in Knoxville and also his significant contributions to the University of Tennessee, where many of his historical documents are housed,” he said. He also noted that the state legislature designated Roots as one of the first ten official Tennessee state books in 2024.

State Rep. Gloria Johnson went further in her criticism, writing on Facebook her memory of visiting the Haley statue with Rep. Justin Jones, and called the ban part of a broader pattern.

“I’m so disgusted that a law passed by the TN legislature has resulted in the book Roots being banned,” she wrote, connecting the timing of the removal to what she described as a legislative special session aimed at diluting Black voting power in Tennessee.

“This isn’t coincidence folks, it’s the agenda of the white supremacist supermajority working exactly as intended.” Johnson said she is planning legislation for the next session to address what she called white supremacy in the Tennessee legislature.

The controversy in Knox County is part of a broader national debate over book bans in public schools. The reversal does not change state law. The Age-Appropriate Materials Act remains in effect, and the district’s review process that led to the removal of “Roots,” along with 123 other titles, continues to operate across Knox County school libraries.

Rysewyk said district staff will present to the board at a June 1 work session on the Age-Appropriate Materials Act and how it will be applied going forward.

This story was initially published at Tennessee Lookout.

Sonny Rollins, one of the most influential jazz musicians of our time, died Monday afternoon at his home in Woodstock, New York, according to a statement from his publicist. He was 95.

Born Walter Theodore Rollins in Harlem in 1930, he was inspired at an early age by jazz legends Fats Waller and Louis Armstrong, as well as his hero, saxophonist Coleman Hawkins.

Rollins’ musical journey would eventually lead him to cross paths and collaborate with monumental figures like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. In the 50s, the jazz legend recorded his classic “Tenor Madness,” his team-up with John Coltrane, and his breakthrough album “Saxophone Colossus.”

After a career that spanned several decades, Rollins was forced to retire in 2014 after he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, a lung disease.

No public memorial is planned at this time, his publicist said.

“I think when the creative person ends, he continues in the next existence. I’m a person who believes this life isn’t the be-all and end-all of everything. A spiritual person doesn’t feel like that,” the musician is quoted as saying in 2009.

For a complete obituary on Sonny Rollins’ incredible life, please read The New York Times.

Big Tigger, the former host of BET’s iconic music shows “Rap City” and “106 & Park,” announced that NPR Music will pay homage to BET with a stacked lineup of artists for its Tiny Desk series.

The artists include:

• GENA with Liv.e and Karriem Riggins

• Shaboozey

• Joe

• Ayra Starr

• The Paradox

• Eve

• Fred Hammond

• Bow Wow

• Floetry

• 8Ball & MJG

Created in 1979 by pioneers Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and Dyana Williams and backed by President Jimmy Carter (watch the YouTube video below), National Black Music Month celebrates the genres Black Americans created and developed.

Though it was conceived in 1979, it wasn’t until 2000 that President Bill Clinton signed a proclamation formally recognizing Black Music Month.

“Black music remains one of America's greatest cultural and economic exports to the world to the tune of billions of dollars and immeasurable joy to the human population,” Williams told NBC BLK in 2015.

NPR Music officially launched its celebration of Black Music Month in 2022, with performances from Usher, Monica, Maverick City Music, and more.

The historic Alfred Street Baptist Church announced Sunday that it would fund the Legion of Black Collegians, the Black student government that had its funding cut at the University of Missouri.

“Although they’ve been defunded by the government, we have decided we are not going to let that student organization fail to have programming,” said Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, pastor of the Alexandria, Virginia church.

“So I wanted to let you know that Alfred Street Baptist is funding the Legion of Black Collegians on the campus of the University of Missouri so that this government and this administration knows when you won’t support us, we will support our own. We take care of our own people,” he continued.

In April, the University of Missouri announced it would remove annual designated funding for the Legion of Black Collegians and several other affinity groups, starting in July, to bring the school into compliance with Justice Department restrictions on DEI practices.

The university said the groups will still be able to apply for funding, but it will no longer sponsor them directly.

“It was determined that the university must change the way we have been providing funds for these five student organizations to comply with federal requirements and avoid jeopardizing crucial funding for student financial aid, research and other university programs,” Mizzou spokesperson Christopher Ave told the Columbia Missourian.

“Blackness is under attack in the United States of America. Our history, our heritage, our rights are all being pushed back under this administration,” Wesley said at a later service.

“It just broke my heart as one who graduated from a predominantly white institution and knowing the value of a Black student union,” he said. “We moved on it, and we helped them create a separate 501(c)(3), and now we are funding that Black student organization on the campus of that white college for the world to know.”

The 220-year-old church is known for its major donations. Last year, the church donated $132,469 to wipe out the student debt of graduating seniors at Saint Augustine's University, an HBCU in Raleigh, North Carolina. In March, the congregation paid $1 million toward overdue rent for over 300 families facing eviction.

Watch the 11 am worship service at Alfred Street Baptist Church below. The announcement begins at 1:42:28.

A racist streamer shot a Black man in Tennessee. Viewers rewarded him handsomely, MS NOW

My former HuffPost colleague reported on the rise of one of the internet’s most dangerous characters, Dalton Eatherly — known as “Chud the Builder” to his online fans — and how his net worth skyrocketed after his supporters rewarded him following being charged with attempted murder after a recent shooting. Here’s the latest in his case.

Democracy is a racial entitlement now, The Atlantic

The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer writes that the weakening of the Voting Rights Act represents an “evolution of Jim Crow–era disenfranchisement, the purpose of which is to shape the electorate into one where inequalities” can be “maintained with a veneer of democratic consent.”

The Black American artists who dazzled post-war Paris, Hyperallergic

Daria Simone Harper visited “Paris in Black: Internationalism and the Black Renaissance” at the DuSable Black History Museum, which celebrated Black painters, writers, and performers who left their mark on the city in their pursuit of freedom.

Watch “W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause,” the new American Masters documentary on the life and legacy of Black scholar and civil rights pioneer W.E.B. Du Bois.

What’s In The News

Across America

Delaware: Delaware State University is celebrating the largest graduating class in the HBCU’s 135-year history…

District of Columbia: U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is planning to go after the parents of the children participating in the so-called “teen takeovers”...

Florida: spoke to South Florida women who got away from their abusers in the wake of Black women who were killed by their partners…

Georgia: Morris Brown College celebrated its largest graduating class since regaining accreditation in 2022…

Illinois: Malik Jackson will be the next publisher of the alternative newspaper Chicago Reader…

Michigan: Authorities have released video of the fatal police shooting of Isaiah Kirby, a Michigan State University student…

Mississippi: For The Guardian, Adria Walker went to Jackson where thousands of Mississippians rallied to protect voting rights…

North Carolina: Durham mayor Leo Williams addressed a violence reduction plan after the death of community gun violence advocate Michelle Keenan…

Pennsylvania: A $10 million restoration of Belmont Mansion will highlight its role in helping enslaved people escape to freedom through the Underground Railroad…

Tennessee: A school district has banned Alex Haley’s “Roots” under the state’s so-called ‘Age-Appropriate Materials Act’...

Texas: Tarrant County is an “extreme outlier” in targeting minorities in death penalty cases, according to a recent report...

What’s Happening

Last year, I took on the role of president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists. I penned a brief note of gratitude to my executive board for what we have accomplished so far…

The NAACP has launched a campaign urging Black athletes, fans, family and alumni to “withhold athletic and financial support” from public universities in states that “have moved to limit, weaken or erase Black voting representation”...

Elections: has won the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Kentucky… Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Democratic nomination to become Georgia’s next governor… Jasmine Clark is set to become the first Black congresswoman with a science Ph.D…

For the Nation, slammed Trump’s creation of a “white grievance reparations fund”...

Spelman College alumna penned a love letter to HBCUs in her opinion piece for the New York Times…

As a pillar of democracy, the Black press deserves more from philanthropy, writes for …

explained the “hidden costs” of being Black in America to The Afro’s Megan Sayles…

Rep. James Clyburn sees the GOP’s gerrymandering push as part of a larger history of discrimination and disenfranchisement against Black Americans…

CNN’s Abby Phillip is expecting her second child with husband Marcus Richardson…

Waffle House workers rallied in Atlanta to demand a $25-an-hour wage and safer conditions…

The word ‘Black’ has disappeared from a set of bills aimed at addressing Black maternal health…

“As family homelessness hits record highs, school districts are offering parking lots as safe sites for students and their families to sleep at night”…

The American Bar Association voted to eliminate a ​rule that requires law schools to demonstrate their commitment to DEI…

Memphis is “under full-blown occupation” by ICE. Here’s why you may not know that…

Montgomery, Alabama’s Ben Moore Hotel, Philadelphia’s President’s House Site and more are on this year’s list of the most endangered historic places in the country…

The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis has reopened The Legacy Experience amid the institution’s 35th anniversary…

Texas attorney Michael Phillips was ordered to apologize to Brenda DeRouen after using a racist slur during a custody modification trial…

Fisk University announced a $900 million campus transformation that includes a 100,000-square-foot data center…

Entertainment News

The trailer for ’s Earth, Wind & Fire documentary is out. Watch it above…

Angelina Jolie’s daughter, Zahara, is officially graduating from college…

A call from Denzel Washington brought Debbie Allen back to Broadway with “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone”...

For EBONY, Josh Rodgers explored how “ATL” became more than just a movie for Black Atlanta…

Andscape, formerly known as The Undefeated, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Read this really interesting oral history…

USA TODAY spoke with Black former NFL stars Marshall Faulk, Eddie George and Michael Vick about college football’s hiring reality…

Quinta Brunson is set to develop and star in a ‘Betty Boop’ feature film…

Danielle Brooks is set to star in Apple TV’s “American Comfort,” a soul food restaurant comedy inspired by the Harlem restaurant Melba’s. Kenya Barris and Oprah Winfrey are also involved…

​​Courtney A. Kemp, the storyteller behind the hit “Power” universe, has signed a new multiyear deal with Apple TV...

The highly anticipated documentary “Once Upon a Time in Harlem,” completed by William Greaves’ relatives after his death, showcased at Cannes…

NPR’s speaks with Grammy-winning musician Mya about her new album “Retrospect.” …

For the New York Times, spoke with top romance writer Kennedy Ryan about her TV deal and much more…

The TLC musical “CrazySexyCool” has revealed its lead actresses...

Lauryn Hill explained why she didn’t release another solo album following “The Miseducation” in 1998…

Obituaries

Cynthia Newsome, a longtime TV anchor in Kansas City, has died. She was 68…

Charlie Neal opened a road to visibility for multiple Black journalists and HBCU sports, Bill Rhoden writes for Andscape…

Don’t Miss

Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 53 seconds!…

Watch Word In Black’s food series, “What’s on Your Plate? Food Access in Black America,” here…

From June 5 to June 11, the Brooklyn Academy of Music will host a series that challenges the representation of Black authority figures across 70 years of cinema...

The African American Museum in Philadelphia is seeking volunteers for its Juneteenth block party...