FBI informant exposed, 9-year-old high school graduate, the good & bad of the Grammys
FBI informant exposed, 9-year-old high school graduate, the good & bad of the Grammys
Friday, February 10, 2023
What I’m Reading
Mickey Windecker encouraged protesters to become more militant and go on the offensive against the police during the summer of 2020. Turns out, the FBI reportedly paid him tens of thousands of dollars to infiltrate and spy on racial justice groups.
The FBI Paid a Violent Felon to Infiltrate Denver’s Racial Justice Movement, The Intercept
Researchers analyzed MRI scans and found that difficult experiences during early childhood, caused by poverty in particular, appear to act as a “toxic stressor that can alter regions of the brain tied to the processing of stress and trauma,” according to a recently published study. Black children were impacted more than white children, they found.
MRI scans reveal disparate impact of poverty and other 'toxic stress' on brains of Black children, STAT News
For Capital B, Adam Mahoney traveled to Phoenix to understand why it has become the fastest-growing city for Black people. He found that in addition to the heat and air quality issues that affect Phoenix residents, Black people face a distinct set of challenges that impact their ability to build welcoming communities. (Read his thread too!)
Black Americans are moving to Phoenix in historic numbers. Few are finding a better life, Capital B
Farmers in drought-prone areas are increasingly relying on crops that require less water to help them adapt to the effects of climate change. Sorghum, which originates from northeastern Africa and remains a staple crop in many semi-arid African countries, is looking especially appealing as a solution.
An Ancient Grain Made New Again: How Sorghum Could Help U.S. Farms Adapt to Climate Change, Civil Eats
What’s In The News
The state of Missouri executed Raheem Taylor on Feb. 7, a man who witnesses say was 2,000 miles away from the scene of his alleged crime…
This should be a bigger story: An estimated 240,000 students nationwide disappeared from public schools during the pandemic and didn’t resume their studies elsewhere…
A Memphis man who filed a lawsuit against the city said the same five officers unlawfully roughed up and arrested him on false charges only three days before Tyre Nichols…
A Black rancher who says he and his wife have endured months of racist property crimes and intimidation in their rural Colorado community was arrested Monday. Read the backstory here…
After a racist video surfaced online, a Philadelphia private school switched to flexible instruction, with students completing coursework at home…
For ProPublica, Alec MacGillis explores how community violence intervention programs are transforming the public safety landscape…
For The Atlantic, Wesley Lowery writes why there was no real racial reckoning after the protests of 2020 and about the limitations of reform…
Decades of research shows that starting school later promotes better health and improved grades. So why aren't more schools starting later?...
White Mississippi lawmakers approved the creation of a new court system in the capital of Jackson that would allow white state officials to appoint judges and prosecutors in the majority Black city…
A journalist was doing a live shot during a press conference in Ohio and was arrested…
A pair of neo-Nazis who authorities say plotted to blow up Baltimore’s electrical grid to cause widespread havoc were arrested…
A Florida school district that covers 48 schools serving over 50,000 students just released a new list of books to be banned from all school and classroom libraries…
Journalist and MC Dee Barnes describes what it was like to see the Grammys honor Dr. Dre with an award named after him while looking back on the violence she says she experienced at his hands…
Tupac Shakur’s stepfather, who has an advanced form of cancer, is spending his final days with family and reflecting on freedom after 35 years behind bars…
Black-owned businesses could add $190 billion to the economy but still struggle to get funding, according to a new survey from Shopify…
This seems to be the right take on how Twitter will die: Slowly and painfully…
What’s Happening
David Balogun received a diploma from a Pennsylvania high school. Oh, and he’s 9 years old…
LeBron James is now the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Here’s what the historic night looked like…
Viola Davis achieved EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) status with a Grammy win for her “Finding Me” memoir. While that was an awesome moment, the Grammys still leaves much to be desired…
Quality Control Music, the Atlanta rap label that is one of the hottest hit machines in contemporary music, has been acquired by HYBE America, a company led by Scooter Braun, for an estimated $300 million…
My colleague Ruth Etiesit Samuel published a feature she’s been working on titled “Young, Gifted and Black,” a series spotlighting Hollywood’s rising Black Gen Zers in entertainment. The series features “Black-ish” star Marsai Martin, “Bel-Air” star Coco Jones and others…
Tubi is honoring Black independent filmmakers on its platform, following my reporting on some of its top talent…
“The Woman King” director Gina Prince-Bythewood refuses to stay silent on the Black female-led films that were left out of the Oscar nominations…
Wondering if gel manicures are safe? Here’s what to know about the UV light in nail lamps…
The medical director of the NFL Players Association "guaranteed" that Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin will play professional football again...
A New York middle school has apologized after serving students fried chicken, watermelon and waffles on the first day of Black History Month…
The Texas man who allegedly stole two monkeys from the Dallas Zoo said he loves animals and that if released from jail, he'd steal more…
For Eating Well, Tambra Raye Stevenson attempts to change the narrative that Black food is not nutritious and reclaim it as medicine to create generational health...
What I’m Watching
The new trailer for “Air” is out. The film stars Ben Affleck as Nike co-founder Phil Knight and Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro as they work to sign Michael Jordan to the now-iconic sports brand. Viola Davis plays Deloris Jordan, MJ’s mother…
Black Travel Across America, a documentary highlighting historically listed Green Book locations and modern black travel destinations, is now available on Hulu…
Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs will play in the first Super Bowl, with both teams starting a Black quarterback on Feb. 12 at 6:30 PM EST…
An independent cartoon project is looking for voice actors, and auditions will be open for the entire month of February. This is a paid opportunity. Details here…
NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest has opened up. Unsigned artists, check it out…
Angela Davis and Stacey Patton will discuss how joy and love are essential revolutionary principles for social activism in a live virtual conversation on Feb. 16 at 1:00 PM EST...
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 23 seconds…
Black History You Didn’t Learn in School
“Comrade Sisters: Women of the Black Panther Party,” co-authored by Stephen Shames and Ericka Huggins, showcases photos and the personal accounts of the women who made up over two-thirds of the Black Panther Party.
Marie Van Brittan Brown is not a household name. However, her invention is at the front of millions of American homes…