DNC wraps up, Black Crossword pub date, and Black male voters
DNC wraps up, Black Crossword pub date, and Black male voters
Friday, August 23, 2024. This edition is really packed!
What I’m Reading
Black men emerge as key constituency in 2024 race, bringing dynamic views to the top of politics,AP News
Despite what social media may have you believe, Black male voters are traditionally some of the most consistent Democratic voters in the country. However, both parties see Black men — those under 40, in particular — as attainable voters. For the Associated Press, Matt Brown explored this key demographic.
What Killed Harmony Ball-Stribling?, The New York Times
Although her death certificate says the cause of death was complications of preeclampsia, Harmony Ball-Stribling’s death is just one example of how “social, economic and environmental forces conspire against mothers of color in the United States, undermining their health even when they have access to medical care.”
A Black couple hosts family parties. Neighbors keep calling the cops, The Washington Post
A Black couple purchased a home in Prince George's County, Maryland, and started hosting parties and family gatherings. But to their neighbors, the family’s parties are too loud and they’re clogging the streets. The family alleges racial discrimination.
The Civil Rights Era’s Great Unanswered Question, The Atlantic
During the DNC this week, several speakers mentioned Fannie Lou Hamer and her iconic 1964 speech at the convention. She asked, “Is this America?” And “that question has haunted the nation ever since,” Julian Zelizer writes.
What’s In The News
Across America
District of Columbia: Councilmember Trayon White was charged with bribery in a scheme to extend $5.2 million in city contracts…
Florida: Central Station Barbershop and Grooming in St. Petersburg is doing its part to help raise the literacy rate for Black children…
Louisiana: A trooper facing charges for the death of Ronald Greene was reportedly allowed to retire from the agency…
Michigan: The teenage girl who was placed in handcuffs after falling asleep in a courtroom is suing the Detroit judge who had her taken into custody…
Mississippi: ProPublica — “For years, Jackson residents endured periods of low water pressure, potentially unsafe drinking water or no water at all. All the while, state inspectors found few problems with the failing pipes that caused those problems”…
Missouri: A Black student government at the University of Missouri said the school will not allow it to use the name “Welcome Black BBQ” for its fall event...
New York: The New York Reparations Commission met for the first time last month and selected Dr. Seanelle Hawkins as its chairperson…
Oklahoma: The latest search for the remains of Tulsa Race Massacre victims has uncovered three more sets containing gunshot wounds, investigators said…
Pennsylvania: Police are investigating vandalism at a Black-owned farm in Chester County…
Tennessee: The Tennessee Attorney General's office hired a former U.S. attorney to "review" Tennessee State University financials and corporate governance…
Texas: Dallas Black Dance Theatre fired the entire troupe of main company performers, and dancers claim it was retaliation after they created a worker’s union…
Virginia: Literature & Libations in Portsmouth is a mobile independent bookstore that focuses on Black literature…
What’s Happening
That’s a wrap at the DNC: Barack and Michelle Obama headlined the second night of the Democratic National Convention, along with a surprise appearance from Lil Jon during roll call…Maya King, reporting from the DNC, profiled Rep. Lauren Underwood about her home city of Chicago…12-year-old influencer Knowa thoroughly grilled Trump conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell…Beyoncé was rumored to appear all week but was a no-show…D.L. Hughley apologized for “not doing his research” on Kamala Harris’ record…The Exonerated Five also made an appearance…
Earlier: Kamala Harris unveiled several proposals for her first 100 days in office, the most detailed look into her vision yet…Vox’s Jonquilyn Hill wrote about Kamala Harris, Beyoncé, and “twice as good”-induced silence…
The president of the National Black Farmers Association said supporting the Trump-Vance ticket is “off the table” following JD Vance's “disrespectful” comments about federal benefits for Black farmers…
A statue of the civil rights icon John Lewis has been installed in Georgia, where a monument to the Confederacy was brought down in 2020…
A jury has found Susan Lorincz guilty of manslaughter after the Florida woman shot her neighbor, Ajike "AJ" Owens, through her front door and killed the mother of four…
Public health experts have launched a massive medical trailer to the rural South to test and survey residents, in hopes of uncovering why heart disease is rampant there…
The family and lawyer of U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson are demanding that the Florida sheriff’s deputy who killed him face charges…
WTF: Texas is reconsidering the case of Crystal Mason, who was sentenced to 5 years in prison for trying to vote…
The Gullah Geechee are at risk of losing their ancestral homeland due to rising sea levels…
Clark Atlanta University has set a record for student applications with over 45,000, eclipsing even the University of Georgia…Speaking of Clark Atlanta, they, along with Miles College, Savannah State and Albany State, received major funds to refurbish their football fields…
Emory Hospital lost a piece of a patient's skull while performing a delicate procedure — and then charged him nearly $150,000 for it, according to a lawsuit…
Groups like Girls In Tech and Women Who Code are being forced to shut down or rebrand due to tightening budgets and attacks on DEI efforts…
A group of prisoners at a Virginia correctional facility created and performed a musical called "The Sound of BDO" — "Beat da odds"...
President Joe Biden has designated a national monument at the site of the deadly 1908 race riot in Springfield, Illinois, a horrific incident that led to the founding of the NAACP…
Cornel West has been disqualified from the Michigan ballot because of problems with the way a required document his campaign submitted was notarized, officials said…
Over 70 more residents living in properties owned by the city of Detroit became homeowners themselves after successfully completing a buy back program…
Entertainment News
Isaac Hayes III announced that his father’s estate filed a federal lawsuit against Trump for copyright infringement…
Cheyenne Roundtree did a deep dive into what happened in "Flava in Ya Ear" rapper Craig Mack’s final years, and how he sought salvation before his death through an extremist religious cult…
NPR: “Inspired by Beyoncé and admired by Elton John, the talented Harlem Gospel Travelers are proud of their sexuality, but have been cold-shouldered by the gospel scene as a result”…
Lisa Lucas, hired as publisher of Pantheon and Schocken during the summer of 2020, spoke to the New York Times on how the push to diversify the publishing industry fell short…
For Harper's Bazaar, Nneka M. Okona wrote about Toni Morrison’s “usage of food as a motif and ultimate symbolism throughout her work”…
Ashanti and Nelly have welcomed their first child together, Kareem Kenkaide Hayes…
Tyler James Williams said he would “love” to see Solange Knowles guest star on “Abbott Elementary,” stating “I feel like we look alike”...
Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock percussionist Juma Sultan discusses his life with Hendrix, his experience in the New York free jazz scene, and current music…
As the 2024 Paralympic Games approach, meet Paralympic swimmer Jamal Hill, who is embracing a disability he didn't know he had…
From Kayla Greaves for Allure: If grants for Black-owned businesses are eliminated, your favorite beauty brands could be too…
If you’re not familiar, here are two artists you should get to know: Mickalene Thomas, known for her vibrant and dazzling work, and Amy Sherald, perhaps best known for creating Michelle Obama’s official portrait…
Kandi Burruss and her husband Todd Tucker are hopping on the producing team of the Broadway revival of “Othello” starring Denzel Washington…
“The Blind Side” made football player Michael Oher famous. But he believes the book and film misrepresented his life. Here’s what he has to say…
For the New York Times, Robert Daniels introduced readers to five Blaxploitation movies that deserve more attention…
“Survival Is a Promise,” a new biography on the life of Audre Lorde by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, was reviewed in The New York Times…
Another residency! Janet Jackson has officially announced her Las Vegas residency, which will begin New Year’s week…
Streaming: After years of effort, the 90s police drama “Homicide: Life on the Street” is now available on Peacock…The Amandla Stenberg-starring “Star Wars” series “The Acolyte” has been canceled after one season…Have you seen “Daughters?" This Netflix documentary follows four young girls as they prepare to reunite with their incarcerated fathers for a daddy-daughter dance…
Rapper and poet Noname talked to The Los Angeles Times about her book club and library, and how they are a continuation of her mother’s legacy…
The literary magazine Sewanee Review announced that Jericho Brown is the recipient of the 2024 Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry…
Obituaries
Maurice Williams, the singer and songwriter best known for his 1960s hit track “Stay,” has died. He was 86…
Alvin Attles, a Hall of Fame former head coach for the Golden State Warriors and one of the first Black coaches in the NBA, has died. He was 87…
Don’t Miss
It’s pub week for this newsletter’s favorite crossword puzzle! Juliana Pache published “Black Crossword: 100 Mini Puzzles Celebrating the African Diaspora,” which you can purchase here. The Associated Press did a writeup on her, and the book…Now, as I ask weekly, can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 43 seconds!...
Maxwell’s NPR Tiny Desk performance will air today at noon EST…
Wesley Lowery is holding a virtual book chat on his latest work, "American Whitelash: A Changing Nation and the Cost of Progress." Tune in on Sunday, August 25, at 7 pm EST…
Detroit-based book club Progressionista is set to launch the 10th year of its program for young girls. Here are the details…
Princeton University’s History Department is searching for an assistant professor of African American history…
Author Tiya Miles discussed her latest book “Night Flyer,” which explores the life and faith of Harriet Tubman, with PBS Books…