What I’m Reading
Hello from the NABJ Convention in Atlanta!
Thousands of other Black journalists, educators, and media professionals have descended on Georgia’s capital city for the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual convention, which offers attendees career development, job opportunities, and much more.
I participated on a panel with two amazing panelists, Jai Stone and Danielle Wallace, to discuss how to build platforms, like this very newsletter. I hope we encouraged more journalists to consider creating their own.
Some other notes:
The NABJ Convention will be in Houston next year, but NABJ President Errin Haines confirmed that it will be in New Orleans in 2028.
NABJ and the National Business League announced a strategic partnership to launch a media enterprise accelerator to assist independent journalists and media-related business owners.
The parents of Nolan Wells spoke before the NABJ crowd on Thursday. Read Adria Walker’s reporting here.
Here’s an overview of what’s been taking place during this year’s convention: For the Atlanta Voice, Donnell Suggs contextualized what it means for the gathering to be back in the city for the first time since 2007. Richard Prince provided a detailed look into some of the more granular topics within NABJ.
After Cyclospora outbreak, local Black farms see rise in support, Capital B News
Ever since the nationwide outbreak of the Cyclospora parasite, local Black farms are seeing a rise in support, Adam Mahoney reports for Capital B. Here’s how to find Black farmers in your area and support them.
Black residents warned of abusive cops for years. Then police shot and killed a toddler, The Intercept
Police shot and killed 1-year-old Kohen Wiley in the Mississippi town of Senatobia, where community members had long warned their elected leaders about the abusive cops in the area.
Ashley Etienne: “Black voters must stop being a tool and use their power,” The Emancipator
Chandelis Duster spoke with Ashley Etienne, a longtime senior advisor to former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and former VP Kamala Harris, about how Black voters should utilize their political and economic power.
What’s In The News
Across America
Arkansas: Two looming data centers in Little Rock have residents extremely concerned about outsiders “appropriating rural, Black-owned land”...
California: The family of Kiara Bowling, who was hit and seriously hurt by 7- and 4-year-old brothers who stole their parents’ car, said she is still in critical condition…
Colorado: Cherry Creek Schools denied the Trump administration’s allegations that it excludes students from clubs and other programming based on race…
District of Columbia: The D.C. State Chess Federation continues to help youth grow through the game of chess despite its revoked status...
Illinois: The “Other Washingtons” project honors everyone from Harold Washington, the city’s first Black mayor, to Denzel, Kerry and Dinah, as well as everyday Chicagoans…
Michigan: A new partnership in Detroit provides residents with resources designed to help them enter and complete college…
Mississippi: A lack of clear answers in the Nolan Wells’ case is fueling speculation, distrust and threats…
New York: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s went on a “two-week blitz of appearances” with Black journalists…
Pennsylvania: The music teacher who taught Questlove and Christian McBride is the subject of a new documentary…
Tennessee: High Democratic turnout for House primaries in Shelby County is the latest sign that redistricting may be energizing Black Southern voters…
Texas: The oldest African American Baptist church in Fort Worth is close to being purchased and transformed into a performance art center…
Wisconsin: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley narrowly won the Democratic primary race for Wisconsin governor, defeating progressive Francesca Hong…
Vermont: Miss Black Vermont Harmony Edosomwan was crowned Miss Black USA…
Virginia: Historians may have helped influence a judge’s ruling about overturning a school board’s decision to change the name of public schools that honored Confederate generals…
What’s Happening
Bryan Stevenson of Equal Justice Initiative went on Democracy Now to discuss the “enduring evil of slavery” and Trump’s attempt to rewrite history. Watch above.
Black adults have reported being in the worst financial position in nearly a decade, according to a new survey…
Authorities provided false information to federal judges while they tried to build a criminal case against Georgia Fort, her attorneys said...
An ex-officer accused of planning to kill Black people at a New Orleans festival was quietly released from custody after a grand jury found there was not enough evidence to charge him with a crime…
Dalton Eatherly, the racist ragebaiter charged in the shooting at a middle Tennessee courthouse, has bonded out after nearly three months in custody…
The Jackson Police Dept. has not yet received an official cause or manner of death in Tasia Fortune, a Black woman who was found hanging from a tree in Jackson, MS…
This past Sunday marked the 10-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s killing, and some protesters are still awaiting trial…
A free trade program at the University of the District of Columbia is giving Black students a different path...
Public Citizen published a rundown of the attorneys aiding Harmeet Dhillon in destroying the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division…
The city of Fort Worth, Texas, and the family of Atatiana Jefferson have agreed on a proposed $11.25M settlement 6 years after she was killed in her home by an officer…
A panel of journalists, researchers and educators recently came together to discuss how HBCUs are represented in the media and public discourse…
Connie Rice, a veteran civil rights attorney, is urging the importance of defending democracy—and has a plan on how to defeat Trump-era authoritarianism…
Meet 21 Black women who bounced back and are thriving after being pushed out of the workplace…
Steven Nelson, a former executive with the National Gallery of Art, said the Washington museum moved a symposium about race in art in an effort to “avoid political blowback”...
Entertainment News
Donell Jones says his Verzuz battle with Joe is taking place on August 20th…
The trial of Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis, who is accused of ordering the decades-old killing of Tupac, began this week…
Jacqueline Woodson’s best-selling picture book, “The Day You Begin,” has debuted on PBS Kids...
Have you seen “Diarra From Detroit” yet? Colman Domingo wants to star on Diarra Kilpatrick’s hit show …
Congratulations to “Corporate Erin” Lisa Beasley and her husband on their second child...
The FADER is out with a list of 20 Black women pop artists who haven’t quite cracked the mainstream yet, but soon will…
Barack Obama is set to host a podcast exploring influential books from James Baldwin and Toni Morrison…
The Guardian talked with the Womack Sisters about their superstar family and how they finally broke into the family business…
Dinner Party, the jazz-R&B supergroup consisting of Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Terrance Martin and 9th Wonder, are out with a new project…
Rahquel Purcell has been named the chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer of L’Oréal, North America…
Obituaries
Robert Mason, an unsung hero who helped hundreds of thousands of students apply for HBCUs nationwide, has died. He was 66…
Christy Knowings, best known for her role on the ‘90s Nickelodeon comedy series “All That,” has died. She was 46…
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 46 seconds…
Publishers Weekly reviewed “Strung Up,” Dr Stacey Patton’s forthcoming book, and gave it a starred review…
Don’t Sell Grandma’s House explores Black interior design, media, culture, and memory by recreating a 1960s–1970s basement. Check it out on August 16 at NYC’s Gallery Sinclair…
The Atlanta Black Star is hiring for several positions...
The Brooklyn Museum is offering a paid internship for teens interested in art, art history and museum education...
Abbott Elementary is casting kids ages 6 to 14 to work as background actors for the show...
Houston is great, but NABJ conference on the heels of Essence Festival will be awesome! Can’t wait! This was a great read
Always in gratitude for you and your essays. Thank you.