Best Black history books of 2025, Kentucky State shooting, Battle of the Real HU
Thanks for reading! Learned something new? Was there a story I missed? Let me know in the comments.
What I’m Reading
The best Black history books of 2025, AAIHS
The African American Intellectual History Society has released its list of the top Black history books from 2025. Some of these books you may recognize from reviews published in previous editions of my newsletter! Gift someone you love one (or more!) of these thought-provoking titles about the Black experience in America and globally.
Related: Hanna Phifer interviewed Char Adams about her debut book, “Black Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore.”
After ‘Sinners,’ What will Ryan Coogler do next?, The New York Times
Ryan Coogler spoke with the New York Times on his plans post-“Sinners,” how the loss of Chadwick Boseman affected him, and why he turned down the invitation to join the academy. Read on for insight into the mind of one of the leading directors in the world right now.
Quilen Blackwell, whose nonprofit ‘farm-to-vase’ flower shop employs at-risk youth, is CNN’s Hero of the Year, CNN
Learn about Quilen Blackwell, whose nonprofit transforms vacant lots on Chicago’s South Side into flower farms that employ at-risk young people to grow, arrange and sell the flowers. He is the 2025 CNN Hero of the Year.
What’s In The News
Across America
Alabama: Family and advocates of people incarcerated in the state’s prisons said inmates are planning another strike to protest conditions…
District of Columbia: Pamela Smith is stepping down as the city’s police chief…
Florida: Florida A&M University alumni are voicing concern after donations plummet, with some pointing at dissatisfaction with the new DeSantis-backed president…
Georgia: The Solutions Not Punishments Collaborative is helping Black queer and trans people with housing, safety, and health care…
Illinois: “More than a year after Sonya Massey was killed by police, a namesake commission has wrestled over changes that would prevent future tragedies”…
Kentucky: A student was killed and another was critically injured in a shooting at Kentucky State University. The suspect is in custody…
Michigan: Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield celebrated her marriage to Rickey Jackson Jr. in a private ceremony in Detroit this past weekend…
Minnesota: Singer Alexander O’Neal and his wife Cynthia were rushed to the hospital after an apartment fire…
New York: The former home of legendary actress and activist Lena Horne is for sale in St. Albans…
Oklahoma: The co-founder of Black Lives Matter OKC has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering, prosecutors announced…
Texas: Dallas minister Frederick Haynes III, leader of Friendship-West Baptist Church, filed his candidacy for Dallas’ 30th Congressional District — Jasmine Crockett’s current seat…
Wisconsin: Cinnabon has fired an employee at a mall in Ashwaubenon after a video of her hurling racist slurs at a Somali couple went viral...
What’s Happening
Confused about the Supreme Court? Submit your questions to Kirstin Garriss of Here's The Deal with KG, who will be answering your inquiries during a Substack live conversation on December 16th!...
The NAACP is working to prevent artificial intelligence from deepening racial inequities in healthcare, Kat Stafford exclusively reported for Reuters…
Rep. Jasmine Crockett has launched her run for Senate, shaking up the Democratic primary just before the state’s filing deadline…Here are six other Black women running for Senate…
The Trump administration has removed MLK Day and Juneteenth as holidays that include free entrance to national parks, adding the president’s birthday instead…
Word in Black: “Alexandria Brown didn’t plan on being a math teacher. Eleven years later, here’s what she knows about helping Black students excel”…
After nearly five years, Brian Cole Jr. was identified as a suspect in the investigation into the pipe bombs placed near the Republican and Democratic National Committee offices on January 6, 2021…
Black Girls Dance, a nonprofit that empowers young Black girls on Chicago’s South Side through dance, is getting a new home in the Calumet Heights neighborhood…
Eddie Glaude sat down with UCLA professor Terence Keel to discuss his latest book, “The Coroner’s Silence: Death Records and the Hidden Victims of Police Violence”...
Two Black men fired by Trump from transportation boards have accused the administration of a discriminatory pattern of dismissing Black leaders across the government…
Kristen Wells-Collins has taught over 3,000 girls about cosmetic science. Now, she has opened a classroom focused on STEM in Tulsa…
Never-before-seen photos of Rosa Parks, a decade after the Montgomery Bus Boycott, were released to the Rosa Parks Museum…
A new film, “The Alabama Solution,” showcases how one of the “most violent prison guards in America” was able to get away with his brutality for so long…
Entertainment News
If you’re in the D.C. area, I’ll be the honorary team captain for the Howard v. Hampton men’s basketball game on Dec. 13. Come out and enjoy! The women’s team plays at noon and the men’s game is at 3. Discount code is TMN241. Tickets available here…
Beyoncé and Venus Williams are set to co-chair the 2026 Met Gala…
andrejgee, one of Rolling Stone’s top writers, was recently laid off. Support his newsletter, the andre gee newsletter…
Stereo Williams talked with Salt of Salt-N-Pepa about how embracing her health has helped her rejuvenate her mind, body and spirit...
For Inquest, Vidal Guzman examined how “reality TV turns incarceration into entertainment—and helps strengthen the very systems of violence it claims to expose”…
Leigh H. Mosley, who has been photographing the nation’s capital for over six decades, is documenting the legacy of D.C.’s Black lesbian elders…
The former University of Michigan head football coach was detained by police “for investigation into potential charges” shortly after he was fired…
Playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris has been released from detention in Japan three weeks after he was taken into custody on suspicion of drug smuggling…
The Guardian interviewed the folks who created the “greatest hip-hop film ever,” “Wild Style”....
SZA slammed the White House for using one of her songs in a pro-ICE ad, calling it “evil” and “boring”...
Grammy-nominated Opera singer Jubilant Sykes was stabbed to death at his home and his son was arrested on suspicion of murder, authorities said...
Jennifer Jones, the first-ever Black Rockette, recently opened up about how she got the notable role and the pressure she felt…
Ruth E. Carter drew inspiration from historical photography for her designs in “Sinners”...Related: CrimeReads: Author Hayley Dennings uses Black vampire fiction to explore the violent history of America…
Obituaries
Rod Paige, the first Black education secretary who led the rollout of the No Child Left Behind Act, has died. He was 92…
Tyrone “Fly Ty” Williams, founder of Cold Chillin’ Records, has died. He was 64…
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 10 seconds…
I was interviewed in the Columbia Journalism Review about the “news avoiders”...
Have a high school or first-year college student interested in journalism in the DMV area? Encourage them to apply for the Urban Journalism Workshop! The program is free and the deadline is Jan. 12…
The Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference is seeking 51 high school juniors (one from each state and the District of Columbia) to participate in its free five-day program in June…
DMV Does Good, an organization serving unhoused persons, was recently featured in the Washington Post. I am a new board member and happy to be able to support this work…
When my sister passed away, I found a book in her collection. It is an old text book form the 1950's of Black American poetry and short stories. When I am done reading it, I plan on donating it to our local Black History museum! It's a gem!
Phil you do a tremendous job as a journalist and as such I’m sure this is a question you can’t really answer but what is your opinion of Jasmine Crockett and her chances in Texas?
As a Californian, I feel like her strength makes her such a strong candidate but I see soooo much about her being the “wrong direction” for democrats. That feels wrong to me? But is that just because my governor is literally the MOST vocally strong dem and I see that as a positive? Haha