Legacy admissions challenged, pre-eclampsia blood test, Keke Palmer's BF doubles down
Friday, July 7, 2023
What I’m Reading
It’s about time: A civil rights group is challenging legacy admission at Harvard University, saying the practice discriminates against students of color by giving an unfair boost to the mostly white children of alumni.
“Why are we rewarding children for privileges and advantages accrued by prior generations?” Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, the executive director for Lawyers for Civil Rights, said to AP. “Your family’s last name and the size of your bank account are not a measure of merit, and should have no bearing on the college admissions process.”
Activists spurred by affirmative action ruling sue Harvard over legacy admissions, Associated Press
Three years after the pandemic, Black women are benefiting from a robust labor market that has “created some of the broadest and most significant opportunities for career changes in decades,” according to The Washington Post. But a recession — which could happen later this year — could reverse all of that progress.
Black women are finding better jobs than ever. A recession could reverse that, The Washington Post
A report from the Southern Poverty Law Center takes a look at Shelby County v. Holder, a Supreme Court decision that “directly led to state legislatures across the Deep South passing a slew of voter suppression bills.” The report details the impact of the decision and provides policy proposals to protect voting rights in the South.
Report: Shelby County v. Holder continuously harms voting rights in Deep South, Southern Poverty Law Center
You’ve probably seen some of their videos on social media. Flyana Boss records themselves lip-syncing their song while dashing full speed down the street, dodging unsuspecting bystanders – and scoring millions of views.
Flyana Boss is running all over your TikTok For You page, NBC News
What’s In The News
The woman accused of shooting through her door and killing Ajike Owens called cops on her kids multiple times, claiming they were trespassing and bullying her by calling her a “Karen”…
The FDA approved a blood test that can identify pregnant women at imminent risk of pre-eclampsia, the first advance in diagnosing the deadly condition since it was discovered more than a century ago…
Affirmative action wasn’t enough — it appears Republicans are setting their sights on another tool used to foster campus diversity: minority scholarship programs…
A judge awarded over $1 million to a Black church in downtown D.C. that sued the far-right Proud Boys for tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a 2020 protest…
Raymond Cassagnol, a Haitian pilot and a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, has died. He was 102…
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with NPR’s Michel Martin about the Supreme Court’s decisions while she was at Essence Fest…
Here’s what’s in the 1,100-page final report from the California Reparations Task Force…
Kenneth Nixon was convicted of a murder he did not commit and served 16 years. He’s now suing the Detroit Police Department, saying they framed him for murder…
Doug Evans, the white district attorney best known for putting a Black Mississippi man on trial six times for the same crime while removing Black people from the jury pool, is retiring on his own terms…
Police confirmed they found missing 2-year-old Wynter Cole Smith's body on Detroit's east side: "This is not the outcome anyone hoped for”...
AP: Thousands more prisoners throughout the United States will get their college degrees behind bars, paid for by the federal Pell Grant program…
Black and brown Americans are disproportionately affected by the growing climate crisis, Antjuan Seawright writes…
Eugene “Gus” Newport, the former mayor of Berkeley, California, who recently died at 88, showed Bernie Sanders how to be “an avowed socialist” in the age of Ronald Reagan…
NBC News published a series of stories after the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action in college admissions. Char Adams spoke with experts who believe medical schools will be even less diverse, and students of color in high schools across the country spoke with the outlet about their concerns…
A Texas grand jury declined to press criminal charges against Travis Scott over a crowd crush at a music festival that left 10 dead and injured thousands…
Black-owned banks are seeking to address the racial wealth gap: “Recognizing the importance of having support from a Black institution, it does matter”...
Rough week for Mayor Eric Adams, who reportedly asked outgoing NYPD commissioner Keechant Sewell not to discipline a top cop and reportedly fabricated a story about a fallen officer’s photo in his wallet…
What’s Happening
It was a long night for Keke Palmer’s boyfriend after he criticized her outfit at an Usher concert…
For PBS NewsHour, Gabrielle Hays reports on the effort to ban hairstyle discrimination nationwide…
A Virginia man is reaching other Black men who may not be as likely to seek therapy through his Black Men Heal Yoga Class…
A white author turned a conference for women historians upside down after she claimed her professional life would have been easier if she was a Black woman…
You might know Diana Ross or Mary Wilson, but do you know Cindy Birdsong? The former Supreme’s medical and financial struggles have become public as her family fights to wrest control of her affairs from the singer’s longtime friend…
The Philadelphia High School for Girls principal has been replaced after withholding diplomas from some students at graduation, but it’s unclear if she’s gone permanently…
Have you heard of Spill? The new social media app is taking off…
In the last month, six Black women executives in prominent leadership roles across Hollywood have abruptly left their positions…
Jalen Rose and Keyshawn Johnson were among the roughly 20 ESPN commentators and reporters laid off by the network. Even Stephen A. Smith said he could be next…
Taco Bell has announced Sean Tresvant as its new CEO. He will be the first Black person in the role…
Wow: The Summerour family celebrated their 100th family reunion in Georgia...
Jay-Z’s mother, Gloria Carter, reportedly married longtime partner Roxanne Wilshire…
The National Society of Black Engineers has voted to move its annual national convention from Orlando to Atlanta in protest of Gov. Ron DeSantis…
Charles Barkley said he’s leaving Auburn $5 million in his will to ensure that his alma mater stays diverse after the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action…
Tyler James Williams never had a Black male teacher during his time in school. He talked with Complex about his character Gregory on "Abbott Elementary" and the importance of education…
Naomi Campbell has welcomed her second child, a baby boy…
What I’m Watching
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 24 seconds…
The popular Black 80s sitcom "Amen" is now on Tubi. Watch it for free…
“Insecure” is now on Netflix…
Check out Skyler Henry’s CBS News report on the NPR Tiny Desk phenomenon…
An unusual trial begins July 10 to determine which of two handwritten wills, including one found in couch cushions, will guide how Aretha Franklin’s estate is handled…
Nate File of the Philadelphia Inquirer interviewed Sam Pollard, the director of a new documentary about the Negro baseball leagues produced by Questlove and Black Thought. It will be available to stream on July 14…
The trailer for the upcoming Bob Marley trailer is out…
109-year-old Viola Ford Fletcher spoke with Aaron Morrison about her upcoming memoir, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story,” which will be released on August 15…
You covered EVERYTHING. Thank you!