Black maternal health week, NBA YoungBoy arrest, Morgan Price makes history
Friday, April 19, 2024.
What I’m Reading
Farewell, and Thanks, to a Man Who Kept Kids Safe, The New York Times
Richard Henderson may not a name that you’d be familiar with, but you should read his story. He was a son of East New York, a beloved crossing guard tasked with ensuring the safety of Avenues of the World School students every school day at the corner of 10th and 25th in Manhattan. When those students lost him to a shooting, they paid tribute to him with flowers, a cup of cocoa and chalk.
The Homepage of the Black Internet, The Atlantic
For those of us who grew up before social media was available on our phones, there was BlackPlanet—a website that predates Facebook and may very well have laid the foundation for the social web, according to Hannah Giorgis. Perhaps revisiting the homepage of the Black Internet can help us envision a different future for it.
Fighting for voting rights, making 'good trouble' in John Lewis' name, now a partisan issue, USA TODAY
One of John Lewis’ final wishes was for Congress to pass federal legislation that he and his supporters believed would better protect voters' rights. However, the legislation named in his honor has repeatedly stalled in Congress. Despite an uphill battle, Democrats are pushing again for passage of a voting rights bill named after the late civil rights icon.
What’s In The News
Across America
Alabama: Legislation requiring police-worn body camera footage to be made public was defeated in a Senate committee this week…
District of Columbia: It has been 162 years since slavery was abolished in the District, and residents turned out to celebrate, with youth front and center…
Florida: Black University of Florida alumni call for their school to reinstate diversity programs — with private money…
Georgia: Did you see a photo on social media of Donald Trump hugging a Black woman at Chick-fil-A? Here’s how that Black conservative activist arranged his visit…
Kansas: After thieves stole a statue of Jackie Robinson in Wichita, they put a spotlight on a city with one of the most unique Black histories in America, Clinton Yates writes in Andscape…
Massachusetts: A Black-led running crew has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the Boston Athletic Association and the city of Newton after police were called on their cheer section…
Missouri: A St. Louis judge awarded $23 million to a former police officer who was beaten by his colleagues while working undercover during a protest…
New Jersey: Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small and his wife were both charged with physically and emotionally abusing their teen daughter, officials announced…
North Carolina: The EPA announced new rules to clean up drinking water at a water treatment facility in Fayetteville, a predominantly Black town where the drinking water source had been polluted with toxic chemicals for years…
Ohio: An 81-year-old man shot and killed an Uber driver he believed was working with a scammer, according to officials who said the victim was sent to the home by the same scammer. However, the victim didn't threaten him, assault him, or even have a weapon…
Oklahoma: Osborne Celestain, Euykem Gullet and Bill Taitano biked over 600 miles on a tour of the state's 13 Black towns that still operate as municipalities…
Tennessee: Jefferson Street’s vibrant community was decimated after the construction of an interstate highway slashed it in two. Now, Nashville residents are trying to keep its history of blues, rock and jazz alive…
Texas: Incarcerated journalist Kwaneta Harris wrote about the appalling conditions she and her fellow inmates endured surviving the hottest summer on record in Texas prisons — without air conditioning…
Wisconsin: A man was charged in the death of a missing 19-year-old whose dismembered leg was found at a local park…
What’s Happening
This past week was Black Maternal Health Week: A lawmaker proposed a bill that would ban DEI in medical schools. Doctors say it could roll back progress toward improving Black maternal health. Related: A must-read from Vox — We can make birth safer for Black mothers. Here's how. More: Pregnant Black women feel lost in the medical system. Doulas offer guidance – and a voice…
Black, Hispanic and Indigenous pregnant patients often report facing unfair treatment at hospitals and clinics…
Black students attending public HBCUs are facing alarming rates of food insecurity. Here’s why that matters…
President Joe Biden dropped in virtually to speak at the National Action Network convention in an attempt to woo Black voters, pledging support and expressing pride in campaign promises kept…
Hmm: PEN America is a multimillion-dollar literary organization, so why isn't it paying its incarcerated literary prize winners?...
A Georgia teacher who says she was fired for not giving students grades they didn’t earn is planning to run for her local school board…
Intrigue: Rev. Dr. Frederick Haynes III resigned as Rainbow PUSH Coalition president after less than one year with the organization…
channeled many New Yorkers’ frustrations when she went head to head with Mayor Eric Adams on his tough-on-crime agenda during an appearance on “The Breakfast Club.” Now she’s being profiled in The Cut!…The Supreme Court announced that it will not hear Mckesson v. Doe, which essentially eliminates the right to organize a mass protest in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas…
New UCLA Civil Rights Project research reveals U.S. charter schools exhibit higher racial segregation compared to magnet schools in the same districts…
I know, I know, you already know (but these studies are important!): White-sounding names get called back for jobs more than Black ones, a new study finds…
Entertainment
Some cancellations: CBS is ending “The Talk” after 15 seasons, and CNN’s “King Charles” has reached the end of the road…
NPR host Tonya Mosley talked with Diarra Kilpatrick, who stars as a school teacher-turned-mystery-solver in “Diarra from Detroit”...
O.J. Simpson will be cremated and his brain won’t be donated for CTE research, according to his estate executor…
Ashanti told Essence that she’s overjoyed about expecting her first child with Nelly, who is officially her fiancé…
“A Different World” cast members have reunited to visit and support HBCUs for a campus tour…
Sisters Gabrielle and Danielle Davenport have launched BEM books & more, an online bookstore celebrating Black food culture…
Rapper NBA YoungBoy has been arrested in Utah and is being accused of running a “large scale prescription fraud ring” aimed at buying codeine from local drug stores…
Tyler Perry has signed a big new agreement with BET Media, under which he will deliver hundreds of new episodes to BET and BET, spanning existing and new series…
Russell Wilson spoke with Essence about his influential career, Black love and the belief system at the center of it all for Essence…
Morgan Price, a sophomore at Fisk University, has become the first gymnast from an HBCU to win a national title…
Amid the rap war, Future and Metro Boomin have announced the “We Trust You” Tour…
From NBC News: To many Black Americans, the O.J. Simpson verdict was bigger than O.J. Simpson…
ESPN has begun production on a 30 for 30 documentary on the life and career of legendary sportscaster Stuart Scott…
Former Philadelphia Sixers star Allen Iverson fought back tears during his statue unveiling: ‘It don’t even feel real’...
Marissa Evans spoke with the reality television star known as Blac Chyna about her journey to get reacquainted with herself through love and faith and without the fillers…
I didn’t go to Coachella, but here are some moments that I saw online: Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean reunite during her son’s Coachella set and Will Smith joined J. Balvin for a surprise performance of “Men in Black”...
Great news: Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle are expecting their first child…
Robyn Dixon is leaving “The Real Housewives of Potomac” after eight seasons, she announced…
“Tab Time” expands: The world of Tabitha Brown’s hit YouTube Kids show will be featured in a new interactive comic picture book series, a new “Tab Time World” app and in an online shop…
Obituaries
Faith Ringgold, a champion of Black arts, activist and children’s author who was best known for what she called “story quilts,” has died. She was 93…
Howard University freshman Mohamed Samura was killed after being struck by a car on campus. He was 18…
Gene Herrick, the photographer who caught the rare smile of Martin Luther King, photos of Emmett Till’s killers, and more, has died. He was 97…
Arthur "Pooch" Tavares, founder of the R&B and soul music group Tavares, has died. He was 80...
Rico Wade, one part of the production group Organized Noize and the founding member of the Dungeon Family collective, has died. He was 52. Read what he meant to hip-hop by Maurice Garland…
Andscape’s Justin Tinsley penned an obituary for the legendary New York City DJ Mister Cee…
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 40 seconds!!...
LinkedIn for Journalists is accepting applications for free access to LinkedIn Premium until May 23…
The Washington Post is hiring a local criminal justice editor, and The Guardian is hiring a breaking news reporter…
For those interested in entertainment: The Tyler Perry Studios Dreamers Internship has released its application. The Paramount Writers Mentoring Program is now accepting applications! The deadline is May 1.
The Data Institute, a two-week, free, intensive workshop that teaches journalists how to use data, design, and code, will return in July. Apply by April 25…