Carlee Russell confusion, Kaepernick on Black studies, My reporting in The Grio
Friday, July 21, 2023
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What I’m Reading
In a story you might think is from a history book, Capital B reporter Aallyah Wright traveled to the small rural town of Newbern, Alabama, to profile Patrick Braxton. Braxton became the first Black mayor of the town in 2020 after being the only person to submit the qualifying paperwork, but ever since then he says he has experienced harassment and intimidation.
Of note: “For at least 60 years, there’s never been an election in the town.”
A Black Man Was Elected Mayor in Rural Alabama, but the White Town Leaders Won’t Let Him Serve, Capital B
For The Marshall Project, Jamiles Lartey details the challenges of living in a “legal desert,” where residents in largely rural areas across America struggle to hire a lawyer or find a court-appointed lawyer. For many, this can be the difference between incarceration or freedom.
For Many, a Lawyer Is a Luxury Out of Reach, The Marshall Project
City and state programs have been making headlines recently for their reparations efforts. Experts William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen aren’t impressed, calling the concept of local reparations “an oxymoron.” They argue the idea may be “working against achieving a robust, national reparations program that would be more commensurate with what they say African Americans are truly owed.”
The Case Against Local Reparations, Bloomberg
There’s a growing concern nationwide about ChatGPT and the impact the A.I. chatbot may have on jobs. Ylonda Sherrod, a call center worker in Mississippi, “always had a question in the back of my mind,” she said. “Am I training my replacement?”
‘Training My Replacement’: Inside a Call Center Worker’s Battle With A.I., The New York Times
What’s In The News
Across America
Alabama authorities released new details from the Carlee Russell case; they say there’s no immediate threat to the public. Here are the 5 strangest things from the press conference…
A sexy outfit can get you arrested in Phoenix — especially if you’re Black or trans…
A Florida jury awarded $800,000 in damages to a 4-year-old girl burned by a McDonald’s chicken nugget…
Florida approved Black history standards in K-12 schools that will include language stating “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit"...
A New York police officer shot a man after he was accused of eating some fruit without paying, his family’s lawyer said. The police said the man tried to grab an officer’s gun but body cam footage cuts off before the shooting…
Ta-Nehisi Coates attended a school board meeting in South Carolina to support a high school teacher told to stop using his book on growing up Black in America in her English class…
Cities nationwide are expanding the use of ShotSpotter, a controversial surveillance tool. But Dayton, Ohio, says it has ended its use of the tool. Here’s why…
Connecticut’s college-readiness system is leaving students behind, experts say…
The interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M has resigned amid a controversy with a Black journalist who had been hired to revive the school's program…
As states across the country attempt to limit instruction on race and gender, an after-school program in Iowa is helping to improve students’ reading — one Black history book at a time…
New York City will pay more than $13 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought on behalf of roughly 1,300 people arrested or beaten by police during the 2020 protests…
In Wallace, Louisiana, descendants of enslaved people built their lives along the Mississippi River. Now, a grain export facility — and the pollution it brings — could mark the end of their community as they know it…
A Boston news outlet wrote about the city’s Freedom Trail, a historic site. But writer Kaitlyn Greenidge, a Boston native, pushed back on the piece’s premise…
Illinois is set to become the first state in the nation to eliminate cash bail…
A home Las Vegas police searched this week in connection with Tupac’s killing is tied to a man whose late nephew emerged as a suspect decades ago…
Children incarcerated at Louisiana's most notorious prison say they were locked in windowless cells with no air conditioning for nearly 24 hours a day, as heat indexes in the area reached 133 degrees…
Features
For Rolling Stone, Mankaprr Conteh spoke with Black and Asian American affirmative action advocates who refuse to be divided…
In Capital B: A growing number of Black men are seeking professional therapists and embracing tools like meditation, mindfulness, and massages to take care of their mental health…
Houreidja Tall explored what happens to the West African hair braiders in New York City who develop occupational injuries related to their labor-intensive profession…
Colin Kaepernick talked with The Nation about why he chose defending Black studies as his most critical fight. "In a society that values whiteness, patriarchy, and capitalism above all, Black radical history is contraband”...
Former Essence employees say they witnessed a “hellish” and “dehumanizing” work environment at the magazine for Black women. Leadership denies the claims…
Award-winning textile artist Bisa Butler is featured in Smithsonian Magazine…
Nearly every six days in the United States, a child is killed amid a custody dispute or family court lapse. Advocates are pushing for change…
For the New York Times, Talmon Joseph Smith interviewed dozens of workers and formerly incarcerated people about finding employment for ex-prisoners…
Carmelo Anthony sat down with Vanity Fair to reflect on his nearly two-decade career…
What’s Happening
My reporting on the members-only club The Gathering Spot was picked up by The Grio…
Some D9 news: Alpha Kappa Alpha has launched a new credit union, the nation’s first sorority-based financial institution to be owned and led by Black women. Delta Sigma Theta inducted Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as an honorary member…
Elise Finch, an Emmy-winning meteorologist with WCBS in New York, has died. She was 51…
Associate professor of media studies Andre Brock talked about what’s next for the future of Black Twitter in an op-ed for MSNBC…
Sha’Carri Richardson beat Shericka Jackson — the world’s fastest woman this year — in a 100m at a meet in Poland, in a world championships preview…
A 6-year-old boy paid tribute to his late mother in his valedictorian graduation speech and brought the audience to tears…
Messy: The National Association of Hispanic Journalists and National Association of Black Journalists joint convention won’t be happening…
André Watts, one of the first Black superstars in classical music, has died. He was 77…
Entertainment
Colman Domingo is set to star as key civil rights organizer Bayard Rustin in the biopic “Rustin,” set to premiere in November…
Chicago rapper G Herbo faces years behind bars after agreeing to plead guilty to federal wire fraud charges…
City Girls’ JT announced the launch of No Bars Reform, an initiative to help provide services to formerly incarcerated women…
“Pound Town” artist Sexyy Red talked with Heven Haile for The Face. Sorry to all her critics, but she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon…
A very, very eager fan got a chance to get up close and personal with Usher, and his face was priceless…
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute and 7 seconds…
July 2023 is the 10th anniversary of the Black Lives Matter hashtag and the online activism it sparked…
Capital B is hiring reporters for its bureau in Gary, Indiana…
Wondering how to support the tens of thousands of writers and actors while they’re on strike? Here's how…
José Carlos Grey-Molay was one of the only Black men known to have been imprisoned at the Mauthausen concentration camp. Here’s his story…
“The 1619 Project” has received three Primetime Emmy nominations…
Cypress Hill performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk. You can watch it here…