The ongoing fight for reparations, Kendrick and SZA tour, YSL trial ends
I keep running into people who say they enjoy this newsletter. Thanks to everyone for the kind words and encouragement!
What I’m Reading
This week, I’m reading two stories centering on reparations in California.
For NBC News, journalist Curtis Bunn talked to the Black and Latino victims whose homes in Palm Springs were burned down and bulldozed with barely any notice in the 1950s and ‘60s. In November, the city council unanimously voted to award the former residents and their descendants a $6 million apology.
Adam Mahoney, in my opinion, is the best journalist covering the intersections of race and climate right now. His latest story in Capital B explores the argument for reparations made not in cash but in land, and what it means to belong in a place like California’s mountains — a place that was built around the exclusion of Black people.
The Bitter Southerner is one of my favorite places for really solid, long-form journalism. I encourage you to read their latest piece about a Black farmer in North Carolina who purchased the plantation where his ancestors were enslaved and how he’s transforming it into a space that honors his family.
Related: A Black-led agricultural community is taking shape in Maryland. Land access was the first step…The DC Environmental Film Festival is offering a free virtual screening of “FARMING WHILE BLACK” until Sunday! Watch it here…
What’s In The News
Across America
Alabama: Police killed Hattie DeBardelaben in Autaugaville on March 23, 1945. Details of her murder remained a mystery to her family for nearly 80 years — until now…
District of Columbia: The District has sued Amazon, claiming it secretly stopped providing fast deliveries to residents in two predominantly Black neighborhoods, but still charged for its Prime service…
Florida: A 72-year-old Lauderdale Lakes man was shot and killed after a dispute with his neighbor over loud music…
Georgia: A farm in Sparta has been in Blaine and Diane Smith’s family for generations, but a local railroad wants their property…
Kansas: Wichita’s newest Black-owned bookstore, Left on Read, aims to empower the community…
Maryland: Baltimore organizers took on a millionaire-funded ballot initiative—and won…
Missouri: The prosecution of an 86-year-old white man charged last year in the wrong-door shooting of Ralph Yarl, a Black teen in Kansas City, will move forward…
Nebraska: Parents of a 3rd grader attending a Gretna elementary school have reported racist bullying…
New York: A 12-year-old girl was handcuffed for three hours at a Bronx middle school and her mother wants to know why…
Oregon: The state’s prisons limit solitary confinement to 90 days. Malik Muhammad, a disabled veteran with PTSD, has been in solitary confinement for over 250 days…
Pennslyvania: Charles L. Blockson was the foremost historian of African-American history before his death last year. His collection at Temple University is celebrating 40 years…
Tennessee: Jasper Smith reported on Knoxville College, an HBCU that has been open without accreditation for nearly 30 years, and the effort to revitalize it…
What’s Happening
I talked to NBC News about Bluesky, the rapidly growing alternative to X, and how journalists are finding a more engaged audience on that social media platform…
Black Americans experience schizophrenia and similar disorders at twice the rate of white Americans. Learn about America’s hidden racial divide…
The Grio’s Gerren Keith Gaynor talked to some Democrats who caution against those within the party suggesting a shift away from so-called ‘woke’ politics…ABC’s Beatrice Peterson spoke to several Black Republicans within Trumpworld. They feel left out of Trump’s 2nd-term picks…
Kansas police detective Roger Golubski, accused of sexually assaulting Black women in poor neighborhoods and terrorizing those who fought back, died by suicide before his federal trial…
Brittany Martin was freed recently after serving nearly four years in prison for demonstrating at a protest of the police murder of George Floyd…
WATCH: The "Dads to Doulas" training program provides Black men with the tools needed to support women in the birthing process…PBS News Weekend explored why Black women are more likely to get unnecessary C-sections…
The Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people, a Justice Department probe concluded…
Colonel Yvonne L. Mays recently became the first Black woman to lead the New Jersey National Guard…
President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to visit Angola this week. New York Times correspondent John Eligon wrote about the hidden link between the African country and the United States born out of the trans-Atlantic slave trade…
The New Republic: “We have the means to eradicate AIDS as a threat to human life. Greed is keeping this from happening”…
Retiring congresswoman Barbara Lee had a Q&A with The Nation, where she talked about her relationship with Shirley Chisholm and her own time in Congress…
Slutty Vegan, a Black-owned restaurant chain, is looking for a new president to run the company…
Entertainment News
I received a tip that Kendrick Lamar and SZA were announcing their Grand National Tour this week. Tickets go on sale today…
Speaking of Kendrick, I came across an interesting essay by author
, who wrote a searing review of the rapper’s latest album and pushed back against the self-aggrandizing nature of hip-hop today…The YSL trial, also known as the longest trial in the history of the state of Georgia, ended with the acquittal of the two remaining defendants. A massive loss for the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office…
For The TRiiBE, Mark Braboy talked with Lupe Fiasco to explore how the artist became immortalized as Chicago's rap sensei…
The trailer for Jamie Foxx’s Netflix special, “What Had Happened Was...,” is out. It premieres Dec. 10…
Barry Jenkins won an Oscar for “Moonlight.” So why did he decide to spend three years making a Disney movie? In this profile for Vulture, he explained why and how he made “Mufasa”…
Doechii fans, the Grammy-nominated rapper has her NPR Tiny Desk performance set for noon EST today…
For BET, Jaelani Turner-Williams wrote about the social media backlash Keke Palmer, Halle Bailey, and Skai Jackson have received for their decisions to become mothers…
Social media is enjoying Nia Long and Larenz Tate’s “Love Jones” holiday ad for Walmart, but some haven’t forgotten the company’s pledge to roll back its DEI efforts…
Billboard has named Beyoncé as the Greatest Pop Star of the Century, “based on her full 25 years of influence, evolution and impact”...
NYT: “For her first solo museum show at the Pérez Art Museum Miami, Calida Rawles painted portraits of residents from Overtown, a historically Black neighborhood, floating in water”…
ESPN and Stephen A. Smith are reportedly closing in on a new contract that could give Smith potential access to other parts of Disney. Could we potentially see SAS in the MCU?…
D.C.’s NBC4 reporter Leon Harris is “stepping away from the anchor desk to focus on health issues,” after struggling to get through a Thanksgiving Day broadcast. Sending thoughts to him…
For Variety, Angelique Jackson sat down with Kerry Washington before she received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star to discuss how being Olivia Pope changed her life and her performance in “The Six Triple Eight”...
The popular “WHOREible Decisions” podcast is rebranding into a new show called “Decisions, Decisions”…
I know everyone is tired of reboots, but I was pleased that “Bel-Air” was renewed for a fourth season. Even though its fourth will be its last…
She shouldn’t have to, but Serena Williams denied the online rumors that she has bleached her skin…
Obituaries
Thirman Milner, the first popularly elected Black mayor of a New England city, has died. He was 91…
Peter Westbrook, a six-time Olympian who became the first Black fencer to medal at the Summer Games, has died. He was 72…
Vincent Leggett, the founder of a group dedicated to preserving the rich history of Black watermen, has died. He was 71…
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 11 seconds…
In most of the U.S., formaldehyde contributes more to outdoor cancer risk than any other toxic air pollutant. ProPublica created a map that allows you to see risks from the chemical on your block and where it comes from…
Attend an HBCU? The Atlanta Hawks are hiring interns for the summer to participate in their HBCU Pathways Program…
Maya King, politics reporter at The New York Times, went on The Bakari Sellers Podcast to discuss state politics and how the 2024 election played out in Georgia…
The Associated Press’ Race and Ethnicity team is looking for an intern! The deadline is Dec. 31…
HBCU Week Foundation, Inc. has a variety of scholarships listed on its website. Students, take advantage!...
I am a fan of The Bitter Southerner, as well!