Fearless Fund under fire, Black Panther story, RIP Marian Robinson
Friday, June 7, 2024
What I’m Reading
Mulberry, St. George City Secessions Foster Modern-Day Segregation, Bloomberg
Buckhead, St. George, and Mulberry are among the number of whiter and wealthier communities seeking to form their own cities, secede from majority-nonwhite regions in the South, and siphon away resources from everyone else, Urban Institute researchers Luisa Godinez-Puig and Brian D. Smedley contend in Bloomberg.
A grant program for Black women business owners is discriminatory, appeals court rules, AP News
An appeals court suspended the Fearless Fund’s grant program for Black women business owners, ruling that a conservative group will probably win its lawsuit alleging that the program is discriminatory.
Related: Conservative activists are suing Evanston, Illinois in federal court over the city’s reparations program, which has so far paid $25,000 each to 193 Black residents.
Thurgood Marshall Was My Mentor. He’d Be Furious with the Court Today, POLITICO
For POLITICO, Thurgood Marshall’s former clerk Sheryll Cashin says that he would be furious at how today’s Supreme Court watered down Brown v. Board of Education. “His vision is betrayed daily in an America in which schools remain separate and unequal,” she writes.
Did a former Black Panther really just endorse Donald Trump?
ICYMI: Right-wing social media accounts promoted an interview with former Black Panther David Hilliard that appears to show him endorsing Trump for president. However, according to Hilliard’s grandson, his grandfather is dealing with cognitive issues and that the interview was “elder abuse.”
My story was also mentioned in Crooked Media’s What A Day newsletter, Complex Magazine, Black Information Network…
What’s In The News
Across America
Colorado: Colorado just became the first state to require county jails to set up in-person voting stations to ensure incarcerated persons can vote…
Connecticut: Families worked to end expensive prison communication, and created a lifeline for those behind bars. However, consistent contact still isn't guaranteed…
District of Columbia: 50 Cent made a surprise visit to Capitol Hill, campaigning to increase minority representation within the multi-billion dollar liquor industry…
Illinois: Two national civil rights groups accused Illinois’ third-largest school district of relying on police to handle school discipline, and unlawfully targeting Black students with tickets and arrests…
Georgia: A General Mills plant in Georgia is run by a "Good Ole Boy" network of white men who have spent decades wrongfully demoting and hurling racist slurs at Black workers, a federal lawsuit alleges…
Louisiana: In its heyday, the Dew Drop Inn was the South’s most legendary Black cultural venue. Here’s how a real estate developer brought the iconic space back to life…
Maryland: A horrific number of older Black men are dying from overdoses in Baltimore. “I can’t think of another situation like this,” one expert said…
Michigan: Emerging Black chefs are making a significant impact in Detroit’s plant-based food scene, where veganism is gaining popularity…
Mississippi: Demi Johnson has received a National Geographic award for her plan to save Mississippi’s oyster reef population. The ninth grader has produced 1,100 oysters that will in turn spawn millions of larvae into the ecosystem…
North Carolina: Black voters have traditionally been a key part of the Democratic Party’s coalition. But the polls appear to show a softening of that support…
Ohio: Hundreds gathered in Akron to unveil a plaza and statue dedicated to Sojourner Truth at the very spot where she gave the iconic 1851 “Ain’t I a Woman” speech...
South Carolina: Plenty of Americans have eaten rice grown by Rollen Chalmers — even if they don’t know it. Now chefs and home cooks are becoming loyal…
Texas: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee announced that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer…
Vermont: The Bishop of Vermont — a Black woman in one of the whitest states in the country — has experienced hostility, racism and conflict in her role…
Wisconsin: A Wisconsin father was cited for disorderly conduct after he allegedly rushed a Black superintendent at his daughter’s high school graduation to prevent the two from shaking hands…
What’s Happening
Must read:
spent 6 weeks researching, writing and building this interactive report explaining the racist roots of our current Black maternal and child health crisis — and what can be done to mitigate it…Eddie Duran, the Florida deputy who shot and killed 23-year-old U.S. Air Force senior airman Roger Fortson in his home, has been fired…
Merrill Lynch has agreed to pay nearly $20 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accuses it of discriminating against its Black financial advisers…
Love: A Maryland county is honoring 88-year-old Emma Patterson, a foster mom who has raised over 40 children…
Dr. Raven Baxter was in escrow on a new home when she was told the seller didn’t want to hand over the keys to a Black person. And actor Wendell Pierce alleged that his application for an apartment in Harlem was turned down due to racism…
Among those who could not complete the process of renewing their Medicaid coverage, Black and Hispanic Americans were twice as likely as white people to lose their health insurance, a study found…
Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds suggested that Black American families were more “together” during the era of legal segregation known as Jim Crow…
North Carolina Central University announced a gift of $9.4 million from Cisco Systems, the company’s largest gift to any HBCU…
Students at the University of Texas at Austin say they’re left unsure of what next year will look like on campus, now that the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices and programs have been shuttered…
Black leaders pointed out Trump's criminal justice contradictions as he railed against his guilty verdict…
Universal screenings for the inherited disease cystic fibrosis promised to get babies diagnosed and treated sooner. But they still miss some children of color…
A Georgia state representative accused by her colleagues of pretending to be a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is speaking out for the first time…
Kaela S. Singleton, a Black woman pursuing her PhD in neuroscience, argues that it is unsustainable for Black academics to feel they must always excel, or that if they have a bad day, they must do it “quietly”...
Menstruation is occurring earlier and earlier in life for younger generations in the Western world and in particular, for girls of color. We still don't know why – but we do know that earlier periods are linked to later health problems…
In yet another strange twist, the Michigan man who joined a court hearing for his suspended license on Zoom appears to have never had a legal license in his entire life…
The NAACP is calling on American Airlines to provide an update on the pending investigations involving passengers and claims of racial discrimination…
Entertainment
Martin Lawrence wants the public to know he’s “healthy as hell,” after some recent public appearances worried fans…Will Smith went on the popular series “Hot Ones”...
As the number of African American players dwindles, a new exhibit at the Hall of Fame traces 150 years of Black baseball feats, stars and obstacles…
The discourse around the WNBA has spiraled out of control, Shakeia Taylor writes in the Chicago Tribune…Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese said she will “take the bad guy role” in her rivalry with Caitlin Clark if it means continued growth for women’s basketball…
India.Arie announced her decision to step back from touring, citing the need for personal healing and mental health care…
Sean Combs has sold his majority stake in Revolt, the company announced...
The CW will not be moving forward with a fourth season of “All American: Homecoming”…
Whoopi Goldberg brought back the “Sister Act 2” choir to perform “Oh Happy Day” for the film’s 30th anniversary on “The View”...
Singer and producer The-Dream has been accused of rape and sexual battery in a lawsuit filed by his former protégée…
New musicians couldn’t believe when Ne-Yo, Fat Joe, the Game, and others sent them messages with offers to work together, only to discover an expensive marketing scheme…
Former “Boy Meets World” star Trina McGee, 54, has shared that she is expecting a baby…
Method Man said he’s never coming back to perform at Summer Jam…
Kendrick Lamar announced “the Pop Out — Ken & Friends” concert that will take place on Juneteenth at the Kia Forum in Inglewood…
Briana Ellis-Gibbs wrote about the importance of Essence, Jet, and Ebony Magazine today in
.Duke head coach Marissa Young has become the first Black coach in the Women's College World Series…
The trailer for Netflix’s “Black Barbie” documentary, which explores the creation of the first Black Mattel doll, is out…
Obituaries
Marian Robinson, former First Lady Michelle Obama’s mother, has died. She was 86 years old…
Brother Marquis, who joined the Miami hip-hop group 2 Live Crew in the '80s, has died. He was 58…
Dallas Cowboys legend Larry Allen has died, the team announced in a statement. He was 52…
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 2 minutes, 1 second…
Michael Harriot and Nikole Hannah-Jones joined “Into America” host Trymaine Lee for a conversation and debate on the future of reparations in America…
College students: Beats Academy is an 8-week paid program designed for aspiring creators. Apply here…
The NPHC Scholarship Program offers financial support ranging from $500 to $2000 to active undergraduate members of Divine Nine sororities and fraternities. Please share or apply! The deadline is June 30…
For Black Music Month, don’t miss alto saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin’s electric Tiny Desk Concert performance…
Black and Latino neighborhoods across the country are less likely to have access to pharmacies. How does your zip code compare?...
In the book “We Refuse,” Kellie Carter Jackson explores the many forms of activism that oppressed people have resorted to and argues whether nonviolence resistance is past its prime…
Thank you for sharing my story!!
Thank you so much for creating this newsletter, Phil!
The Fearless Fund ruling has got me thinking about how another meaning of the word "discriminating" is just like, having good judgement, which clearly the appeals court does not...