A mass shooting at my alma mater, Malcolm X family sues, is Drake retiring?
A mass shooting at my alma mater, Malcolm X family sues, is Drake retiring?
Friday, February 24, 2023.
What I’m Reading
On Feb. 13, a 43-year-old gunman killed three Michigan State University students and injured five others before killing himself. In doing so, he irrevocably changed the lives of not only those directly impacted, but the entire Spartan community, both in East Lansing and worldwide. I’ve covered many mass shootings, but never one that felt so close to home. Knowing the university you once called home could be violated in such a way is unsettling.
Tim Alberta, a staff writer at The Atlantic, does an excellent job explaining how the school we all love will never be the same.
“College is something more than classes and keggers, caps and gowns. It is a process of ripening, of discovering the outer world but also one’s inner self. It is a collection of experiences and memories that shape a foundation for life. It is a gift.”
Requiem for Michigan State University, The Atlantic
Black burial sites have been—and continue to be—neglected by local officials or desecrated by development, leaving descendants unable to locate or visit their ancestors’ final resting places.
Because historic Black cemeteries are not well protected by law, local communities continue to rely on their own volunteer efforts to honor these hallowed grounds. These are the volunteers working to preserve them.
Why Protecting Black Cemeteries Is Integral to Preserving American History, Veranda
Congress made an investment in student mental health in response to the pandemic. However, Black kids, who disproportionately felt the effects of the pandemic, are still suffering. Capital B’s Aallyah Wright asks: where do we go from here?
“My overall concern is not about what’s happening, present day,” said Dr. Christine Crawford, associate medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. “I’m worried about the impact of the cumulative effects of all these delays in entering mental health care and how that’s going to alter the trajectory for a lot of these kids.”
'These Kids Can't Wait': The Struggle to Address the Black Youth Mental Health Crisis, Capital B
It is nearly impossible to go on social media without seeing a video of Keith Lee. The TikToker has had an incredible year, nabbing collaborations with some major accounts and brands. He’s become TikTok’s go-to food reviewer and boasts 10 million followers. But who is he? NBC News interviewed Lee about what he’s done so far and what’s next.
Keith Lee is TikTok's favorite food reviewer — and he's just getting started, NBC News
What’s In The News
Dylan Lyons, a reporter with Spectrum News 13, was shot and killed while working at the scene of a homicide investigation in Florida. His newsroom has published an obituary. T’yonna Major, a 9-year-old girl who was an “amazing gymnast” and “true joy,” was killed in a separate, but related, shooting…
Bad day for predators: Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 16 years, meaning the convicted rapist will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars. R. Kelly was also sentenced to 20 years for child sex crimes…
NPR: Black farmers receive a disproportionately low share of USDA direct loans given to farmers, leaving them behind in a program that is important to their livelihoods…
In the 1960s, Annette Gordon-Reed was the first Black child to enroll in a white school in her hometown. Now, that school district is naming a new elementary school after her…
Nipsey Hussle's killer has been sentenced to 60 years in prison…
Family members of Malcolm X are filing a lawsuit against the New York City Police Department and various government agencies, alleging that evidence related to the murder was intentionally concealed…
D. Watkins, an editor at large for Salon, wrote a personal essay about his daughter’s first police stop…
Black women in the field of eating disorder treatment are working to disrupt stereotypes, which create a vicious cycle that prevents people of color from getting diagnoses and treatment…
Michael C. Jenkins was shot in the mouth by Mississippi officers who allegedly handcuffed and waterboarded him and another man over false allegations of “dating white women” and “selling drugs,” lawyers say…
Deandre Matthews, a 19-year-old Black, gay Brooklyn resident, was found shot and burned alive. His family and community are looking for answers…
An English professor at Florida’s Palm Beach Atlantic University says his job is under review after his employer told him it received a complaint that he is “indoctrinating” students with his “racial justice unit”...
Lamar Johnson, who had served nearly 30 years of a life sentence, was set free after a judge ruled he was innocent. Prosecutors had no physical evidence, relied heavily on one witness, and paid that witness $4,000 in “witness compensation” before the trial…
Deaths in state and federal prisons across America rose nearly 50 percent during the first year of the pandemic, according to new research…
At least four more states – Arkansas, Virginia, North Dakota and Mississippi – will “review the new AP African American studies course to see if it conflicts with their policies or laws restricting the teaching of race”...
Only about 5.7% of physicians in the U.S. identify as Black or African American, according to the latest data — a shortage experts warn harms public health…
What’s Happening
Can’t keep him down. Days after Warner Bros. announced that “Judge Mathis” was canceled, Byron Allen’s Allen Media Group is producing a new show with the judge titled “Mathis Court With Judge Mathis”…
For Andscape, Justin Tinsley wrote about how one of hip-hop’s greatest love songs was created and how former music executive Drew Dixon was erased from it — until now…
The Cardinal Divas, University of Southern California's first all-Black majorette dance team, talked to Maya Tribbitt about the backlash they received after going viral…
Detroit’s Cass Technical High School is celebrating 27 seniors who were all named valedictorian for the Class of 2023…
An acclaimed poet was incarcerated as a teen. Now that same man is helping those confined in a Connecticut youth prison to read…
“South Side,” one of my mom’s favorite shows, has been canceled. The streets are highly upset over this one…
Writer Gabrielle Ione Hickmon spoke with author Renata Cherlise about her new book “Black Archives,” which highlights the beauty, style, and magic of ordinary, everyday Black life…
How is it that Beyoncé can be considered “too good” of a performer to win Album of the Year? Here’s what happens when Black women are punished for winning too much…
A new generation of chefs looking to rewrite the “whitewashed” history of New Orleans cuisine is exploring how the city’s celebrated food owes as much to West African and Caribbean cuisines as to French cooking…
WINK News reporter Andryanna Sheppard explores the spiritual, cultural and historical significance of the Black church hat…
Jason Arday was unable to read or write until the age of 18. Next month, he’ll become the youngest Black professor ever appointed at the University of Cambridge…
Chuck Jackson, former vocalist for The Del-Vikings and singer of “Any Day Now,” has died at 85…
For Essence, writer Kenyatta Victoria penned a love letter to Megan Thee Stallion…
Angela Davis was stunned to discover that she is descended from a passenger on the Mayflower, which she learned on an episode of Henry Louis Gates Jr’s PBS program “Finding Your Roots.” The revelation sparked much debate online. You can watch the episode in full here…
WFLA spoke with Muta'Ali Muhammad about his new documentary, “Cassius X: Becoming Ali,” which explores the man formerly known as Cassius Clay’s transformation into Muhammad Ali…
He’s French. He’s 7 foot, 3 inches tall (but actually a bit taller). He’s the best basketball prospect in a generation. Take a look at Victor Wembanyama’s plan to dominate the NBA like never before…
My colleague Candice Frederick talked with Elise Neal about the fleeting Black film renaissance in the 1990s and her role as Hallie in “Scream 2”...
What I’m Watching
Season 2 of “Bel-Air” is now on Peacock. I was skeptical of the show at first, but it has since become one of my favorites. Give it a shot…
Is Drake considering retirement? The rapper sat down for a conversation with Lil Yachty that will air soon…
Mo’Nique is getting a Netflix stand-up special! “My Name is Mo’Nique” is set to premiere on April 4. Here’s the trailer…
Richard Belzer, comedian and long-time actor in NBC's “Law and Order” franchise, has died. He was 78…
Melissa Butler, a Detroit native and owner of The Lip Bar, the largest Black-owned beauty company at Target, appeared on the “Naked Beauty” podcast to discuss her brand, the intersection of colorism and beauty and the importance of giving grace to Black founders…
Rihanna is back. The singer is performing "Lift Me Up" from "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" at the Oscars on March 12th at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST…
The Institute for Common Power, a nonprofit focusing on voting rights, is accepting applications from educators who want to learn more about African American history and culture in the South. All expenses paid! Applications are due March 7…
Slate’s Jason Johnson talked with prolific Hollywood writer Rodney Barnes (“Everybody Hates Chris,” “The Boondocks,” “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”) about the challenges and rewards of his rise as a screenwriter and producer…
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 48 seconds!
Black History You Didn’t Learn In School
Black men weren’t allowed guns in the early Civil War. But Lewis A. Bell, who is believed to be the Union Army’s first Black combatant, fired a gun anyway…
Lena Richard was the first Black woman to host a cooking television show in the United States. Her story and others are being brought to light through a partnership with the Smithsonian and Wikipedia…
For Planet Detroit, Tatiana Walk-Morris wrote about the role Black workers have played in shaping the city's environmental justice movement since the 1960s…
Marquise Francis, a reporter for Yahoo News, traveled to Forsyth County, Georgia to understand how a lynching and subsequent racial cleansing in 1912 continue to define a community unwilling to fully confront that dark past…