Attack on Education Department, Black satire, Jess Hilarious speaks out
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What I’m Reading
‘Segregated facilities’ are no longer explicitly banned in federal contracts, NPR
The Trump administration dumped a clause from federal contracting rules that explicitly prevented contractors from having segregated restaurants, waiting rooms and drinking fountains. While state and federal laws still outlaw segregation, NPR talked with legal experts who believe this change is significant.
Why Black Satire Is the Art Form for Our Absurd Age, The New York Times
“Black American novelists, filmmakers and other writers are using comedy to reveal — and combat — our era’s disturbing political realities.”
Racism Isn’t the Only Cause of the Racial Wealth Gap, The New Republic
The New Republic reviewed “The Plunder of Black America” by Calvin Schermerhorn.
“The Plunder of Black America deftly illustrates how nearly every attempt by Black families to advance economically and pass down wealth has been undermined by a thicket of racist laws and practices, whether by intent or effect.”
A majority-Black town starts armed protection group after neo-Nazi rally, NBC News
Residents of Lincoln Heights, Ohio, a historically Black town, have created an armed community watch group after neo-Nazis and a KKK member visited their neighborhood.
What’s In The News
Across America
California: Eugene “Big U” Henley, a Crips leader turned gang interventionist who helped launch Nipsey Hussle’s career, has been accused of murder, kidnapping, and more, federal authorities announced…
Georgia: Grieving family members suspect foul play in the deaths of twins Naazir and Qaadir Lewis, who were found shot to death on Bell Mountain…
Idaho: A Meridian teacher was told to take down a poster in her classroom that reads "everyone is welcome here"...
Maryland: Homes in predominantly Black communities in Baltimore and its suburbs were more likely to receive an undervalued appraisal, according to a new report…
Michigan: University of Michigan Medicine informed me that, despite reports to the contrary, it will move forward with events celebrating National Black Maternal Health Week, with several programs scheduled from April 11 to 17…
North Carolina: A Union County woman claimed a dispute with her Homeowners Association over a few hundred dollars in unpaid dues cost her family their home…
Oklahoma: Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols signed an executive order recognizing June 1 as Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day…
Virginia: A jury ruled that the owner of a Virginia campground must award two families $750,000 after she discriminated against one of the campers, a Black man…
What’s Happening
Trump signed an executive order this week to dismantle the Department of Education. However, only Congress has the power to eliminate it…
His sweeping executive orders and recent crackdown on alleged “radical and wasteful programs,” as well as programs related to DEIA and climate change has put the Southern Farmers Financial Association in jeopardy…
By The Grio’s Gerren Keith Gaynor: Trump’s elimination of federal employees could shrink the Black middle class…
Arlington National Cemetery has scrubbed information about prominent Black, Hispanic and woman service members as a part of a broader effort to remove all references to DEI…Medgar Evers’ Army career has also been wiped from the military website…Jackie Robinson’s webpage was removed and then restored…
The Trump administration opened investigations at more than 50 universities as part of its campaign to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs…
After an executive order ending DEI initiatives, the U.S. Marine Band canceled a concert featuring young musicians of color. Veterans stepped in to mentor the aspiring musicians…
The Better Life Lab at New America created a new interactive, “Something Else Came Up,” to explore poverty's widespread impacts and systemic barriers to family well-being. Give it a try…
I asked the internet about their hometown Black newspaper and got some really cool answers. Read about the history of the first Black newspaper…I also talked to The Afro about the significance of the Black Press…
Sam Robinson took a photo of Detroit mailman Mike Copeland, who has been delivering mail for 45 years, and the photo went viral…
Joshua Suddith just celebrated his 13th birthday with an acceptance letter to Morehouse College, his dream school…
Metro Atlanta high schooler Mantavius Presley has been accepted to 58 colleges and universities so far, earning $1 million in scholarships…
A Georgia teen missing for over a year has been found in another state...
For her new newsletter, 13th & South , Quintessa L. Williams explored how a $13 billion cut to non-defense discretionary spending will hit Black communities in the South the hardest…
Google has removed ‘underrepresented’ language from its grant website…
Entertainment News
Jess Hilarious, co-host of “The Breakfast Club,” called out her fellow hosts for how they treated her when she returned from maternity leave…
A March Madness love story: Alabama State Hornets guard Amarr Knox and Southern Jaguars guard DaKiyah Sanders are engaged. They also made tournament history…
The Atlantic: "In her new book, 'Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children,' Noliwe Rooks adds to a growing literature that challenges the portrayal of Brown v. Board of Education as “a significant civil rights–era win”...
Brooklyn White-Grier announced she’s writing a book exploring the rap battles and beefs between women…
In this profile for Billboard, Erykah Badu tells Damien Scott that she is prepping her first album in 15 years, produced solely by The Alchemist…
Fast Company named Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free’s pgLang creative agency one of the most innovative companies of 2025…
Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills are set to tour together in May…
Tracy Morgan said he's "doing ok now" and said his medical episode at a New York Knicks game was food poisoning…
The “Snowfall” spinoff starring Gail Bean and Isaiah John officially got a pilot order at FX, Variety reports…
Jonathan Majors admitted to strangling his ex-girlfriend in unearthed audio obtained by Rolling Stone…He also married Meagan Good this week…
Erika Alexander has joined the cast of NBC‘s Untitled Tracy Morgan pilot from Tina Fey, Robert Carlock and writer Sam Means…
In what sounds like a threat, Nick Cannon, father of 12 kids, revealed he’s “not done” having children…
Obituaries
John Johnson, one of the first Black news directors in Mississippi and the Southeast, has died. He was 77...
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 30 seconds…
On this date in 1965, some 8,000 people began marching from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights…
In her “Explain It to Me” podcast, Jonquilyn Hill asks if diversity efforts ever worked at work?...
WATCH: Cordae’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert is out…
“Deep Azure,” a play by the late Chadwick Boseman, will take center stage at the historic Howard Theatre in Washington, DC, on March 27…
Speaking of DC, Eaton House is organizing a Career Support Event for government employees who have recently lost their jobs…
Photographers: The Black Women Photographers x Nikon Inc. Grants are accepting applications for 2025! Apply by March 28…
Virginia Tech is hosting a celebration of the life of Nikki Giovanni on June 8…
Cackling at the Nick Cannon news because that is absolutely a threat
They are doing the right thing!