Sonya Massey murder trial begins, Misty Copeland's final show, RIP Michael Days
Get ready for another packed newsletter! Thank you for your continued support.
What I’m Reading
Hollywood South is hurting: Georgia’s film industry weathers a brutal downturn, Capital B News
For Capital B News, Rebekah Sager reported on the collapse of Georgia’s film industry following the COVID-19 pandemic and labor strikes. She talked with prop masters, film experts and more about how they’re grappling with the downturn and finding a path forward.
Mental Health Is Real Wealth: How Black men prioritize healing in a Los Angeles community, The Guardian
Aaricka Washington just published another important story in the Guardian about Black men’s mental health. This time, she spoke with Desmond Carter, founder of Mental Health Is Real Wealth, a bi-monthly group in Los Angeles that gives Black men a safe space to discuss their challenges.
Southern Workers Have a Lot to Teach Us About Organizing Against a Backlash, Hammer and Hope
Southern workers — particularly Black and immigrant Southerners — have been fighting against a backlash for decades, Sarah Jaffe writes for Hammer and Hope. Here are lessons Southern workers can teach on organizing under perilous conditions.
What’s In The News
Across America
Alabama: Auburn University lecturer Candice N. Hale, Ph.D was terminated from both Auburn University and The University of Alabama following social media posts about Charlie Kirk. She filed a lawsuit in federal court, citing First Amendment violations…
California: Districts across Orange County are pushing forward with ethnic studies programs despite lawmakers leaving implementation money out of the state budget…
Colorado: A judge toured the Fremont Correctional Facility in Canon City, the prison at the heart of inmates’ claims of slavery and involuntary servitude…
Illinois: Trump’s environmental rollbacks are likely to increase health disparities in Chicago’s Black and brown neighborhoods…
Florida: Florida’s first Black history museum is set to be built on the land in St. Augustine where what was then called Florida Memorial College was established...
Louisiana: “New Orleans voted to change its sheriff at a fraught moment for law enforcement in the city”…
Michigan: Pastor Marvin Winans and a church member are both speaking out after a video from a church fundraising event went viral…
New York: Maya Meredith spoke to Black voters about Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, and if they will support him…
Ohio: Tasha Grant told a deputy and hospital staff 23 times that she could not breathe. Body camera footage of some of her final moments has been released...
Pennsylvania: The remains of Kada Scott, who had been missing since Oct. 4, have been found…
South Carolina: Claflin University says it is “currently exploring options” after concerns over the HBCU’s apparent decision to book Brian McKnight for a scholarship gala…
Texas: University of Texas at Austin faculty fear changes from a new taskforce that could restructure humanities programs…
What’s Happening
The trial of a former Illinois deputy who is accused of killing Sonya Massey began this week…
The number of Black students enrolling at elite colleges has dropped following the Supreme Court’s ban of affirmative action in admissions, an AP analysis finds…
Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell founded Clinicians Who Care, a crowdsourced, free list of doctors who listen to their patients…
After 44 years of incarceration, Mumia Abu-Jamal still “speaks with the clear voice of a free man.” For the Nation, Dave Zirin visited the political prisoner…
The University of West Florida is considering a proposal to remove Juneteenth as one of its paid holidays for employees…
The New York Times reviewed Jelani Cobb’s book “Three or More Is a Riot,” in which the Columbia Journalism School dean provides an anthology of his writings from 2012 until 2024…
“Where are all the Black people?” Asheville’s Black population is disappearing faster than that of comparable cities in North Carolina…
A Trump nominee who reportedly told a group of Republicans in a text chain that the Dr. MLK Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell” has withdrawn from his confirmation hearing…
Federal funding remains uncertain for a program that keeps Black kids out of foster care…
Raleigh, North Carolina, bus operators feel “unsupported and disrespected” by management and are “seeking fairness, respect, and the right to a safe workplace”...
Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett suggested she’s considering a run for Senate…
102-year-old Ivy Marie Broussard wears high heels, gets mani-pedis and shops all on her own: “I’m still alive”...
Entertainment News
This week, Misty Copeland performed her final show as a professional ballerina after 25 years with the American Ballet Theatre…
Bryant Gumbel was reportedly hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency, according to TMZ…
My colleague Njera Perkins talked with Ryan Coogler about the success of “Sinners,” taking a “calculated risk” with the film, and his feelings about his hit movie receiving awards…
Music journalist and author kathy iandoli went on NPR’s “All Things Considered” to discuss co-writing “Episodes,” Gucci Mane’s memoir about his life and mental health…
For Billboard, Kyle Denis spoke with Houston rapper Monaleo about her latest single, “Sexy Soulaan,” and her efforts to “promote Black unity, Black community and Black love, especially under the umbrella of white supremacy”...
Tyler, the Creator is facing backlash after his tribute to D’Angelo “spiraled into a heated debate about race, fan culture, and his own controversial past”…
Robin Roberts has opened a new broadcast media center at her alma mater, Southeastern Louisiana University…
Daphne A. Brooks, professor of African American Studies at Yale University, wrote about D’Angelo’s 10 greatest tracks for The Guardian…
The trailer for “Being Eddie,” a documentary on Eddie Murphy’s life and career, is out…
For EBONY, Kachelle Pratcher wrote about pancreatic cancer, which kills more Black Americans than any other group, in the wake of D’Angelo’s death…
Brandy suddenly walked off stage during her and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine Tour” in Chicago, later explaining she was experiencing dehydration…
Mya Abraham, who was recently laid off from VIBE due to its merger with Rolling Stone, has launched Play The B Sides, a project dedicated to all things R&B. Please support by subscribing!...
The Netflix documentary “The Perfect Neighbor” examines the consequences of Stand Your Ground laws following Susan Lorincz’s murder of Ajike “AJ” Owens in Florida…
Grace Wales Bonner is Hermès’s new creative director of menswear, making her the first Black woman to lead a major European fashion house…
Fred Irby III, the beloved longtime director of the Howard University Jazz Ensemble, is stepping down from the role after 50 years. Paul Carr will succeed him…
Obituaries
Michael Days, who led the Philadelphia Daily News during its 2010 Pulitzer Prize win for investigative reporting, and was president of the NABJ Philadelphia chapter, has died. He was 72…
Yolonda E. Lawrence, a TV writer and producer who worked on series like “Empire,” “Bel-Air” and “Sistas,” has died. She was 56…
Anthony Jackson, the iconic session bassist who is credited with inventing the contrabass guitar, has died. He was 73…
Chuck White, longtime Columbus, Ohio-based WBNS-TV public affairs director and voice of Mr. Tree on “Luci’s Toyshop,” has died. He was 90…
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 42 seconds…
Jive Turkeys Detroit, an organization committed to feeding families in the metro Detroit area for Thanksgiving, has been impacted by the anti-DEI push. To find out how you can help, check out their website…
Nikole Hannah-Jones went on “The Daily” to discuss how Donald Trump upended 60 years of civil rights…
The dedication to the tallest Black American monument in the United States at historic Bates Allen Park in Kendleton, Texas set this weekend has been moved to Nov. 8 at 10 am…
Houston! I’ll be heading to Afrotech at the end of the month to moderate a fireside chat with the chief content officer of Pinterest. See you there…
ProPublica is looking for an emerging photojournalist to join its editorial team as a full-time, two-year photography fellow. Deadline to apply: Dec. 1…
Thank you for standing with me. I appreciate the support, Phil! #FreeSpeechForAll
Justice for Sonya.