Supporting Black farmers, Ye blocked in the UK, Black nonprofits report
We're still in the lead for the Webby Awards voting! Thank you to everyone who has voted so far.
What I’m Reading
Thanks to all of you, this newsletter is in first place in the Webby People’s Voice Award, voted on by the online public. Thank you to everyone who has supported this newsletter over the years. I am truly grateful.
If you haven’t done so already, please consider taking a moment to vote for this newsletter for a Webby People’s Voice Award! You can vote using this link. Voting is open now through Thursday, April 16th, at 11:59 pm PDT.
Some Black women say the best thing they did for their health was leave America, Capital B News
For Capital B News, Jenae Barnes reported a health equity story on Black expats in Berlin, Germany, as part of the Association of Health Care Journalists’ German Work Study Group. She found that Germany’s universal health care system has provided stability for Black Americans.
Forbes senior writer Jabari Young sat down with BET President Louis Carr for an interesting chat about the business of Black Entertainment Television. Watch above.
What’s In The News
Across America
Alabama: Emmanuel Felton reported on how, through collective action, Sonny Burton was saved from the death chamber…
California: Santa Monica College has officially been designated as a Black-serving Institution…
Colorado: Courtney “CW” and Nicole Mallery fear for their lives after shots were fired at their ranch over the Easter weekend...
District of Columbia: Legendary radio host Russ Parr is returning home to Majic 102.3 on weekdays from 3 pm to 7 pm, starting April 27…
Florida: Parts of Brownsville apparently aren’t included within the boundaries of the area being studied to incorporate, stalling the historically Black neighborhood’s bid for cityhood…
Georgia: Fulton County’s Reparations Task Force found about $900 billion in stolen labor in its new Harm Report...
Illinois: Over 120 Black-owned businesses participated in the second annual Spend in the Black event in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood…
Louisiana: Keith Lee is waiving fees for food vendors taking part in his inaugural festival in New Orleans this spring…
Maryland: Black journalists in Baltimore are speaking out against alleged retaliation and discrimination at the local CBS station…
Michigan: The Detroit Department of Transportation has graduated its largest class of bus drivers…
Mississippi: Trey Reed’s family is still waiting for answers about his hanging, nine months after authorities ruled it a suicide…
Missouri: Mizzou stripped its historic Black student governing body of all annual designated funding starting in July…
New York: Lauren Smith says she and her child were turned away from an Ulta Beauty salon in Manhattan due to their hair texture…
Pennsylvania: Veteran journalist Barnett Wright has returned home to become managing editor of The Philadelphia Tribune…
Rhode Island: The African American Museum of Rhode Island recently held its grand opening and curator Melaine Ferdinand-King spoke with Ocean Side Media about it…
Tennessee: “To understand Justin Pearson, you must first understand his family, his values, his faith and you must understand Memphis,” Meredith McCarroll writes in the Bitter Southerner...
Virginia: Black Queer GRITS: (Girls Raised In The South) is on display at ART 180’s Atlas Gallery in Richmond until April 17…
What’s Happening
For Capital B News, Aallyah Wright is helping you find ways to support Black farmers in the wake of the federal government’s elimination of resources…
Democratic presidential prospects appeared before Black activists at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network annual convention in New York…
Emory University professor Carol Anderson explains that Jim Crow is being rebuilt in modern form as a key Supreme Court ruling looms…
San Francisco’s Fillmore district—once known as the Harlem of the West—was devastated by urban renewal. Now, new revitalization plans reopen old wounds…
Al Sharpton spoke with The New York Times about relocating the National Action Network to a new location in Harlem…
Residents of a Black Louisiana town are protesting what they call a “cover-up” by officials as toxic chemicals spread…
Here’s how the Trump administration wants to sanitize George Washington’s role in slavery at the President’s House…
From New York Times’ Robert Jimison: Some voters say Congress is too old. These Black Democrats aren’t leaving…
Christopher Ellis spent 30 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. He is now suing Nassau County, New York…
Kevin Epps, a San Francisco filmmaker and journalist, has been sentenced to six years in prison…
NBC News: Many words and phrases coined by Gen Zers have roots in African American language that date back centuries, according to linguistics experts…
An artist known as Mr. Wash is raising funds to build a $15 million community arts center in Compton…
Julienne Louis penned an op-ed for Essence about the life-changing impact of HBCUs...
Entertainment News
Kanye West has been blocked from entering Britain to headline a music festival, with the UK home secretary stating his presence would “not be conducive to the public good”...GQ columnist Frazier Tharpe went to a recent Kanye performance and he feels attendees deserved a better show…The industry is once again giving Kanye a pass, Kiana Fitzgerald wrote for Consequence…
The American Black Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its 30th anniversary edition, including Jamie Foxx, Marsai Martin, Coco Jones and more…
For Bloomberg, Candice Frederick wrote about “The Drama,” and deracialized portrayals of Black women in today’s anti-DEI era…
Kyren Lacy, a star LSU wide receiver, was headed to the NFL. A tragic accident and its powerful ripples cost him everything…
Bassist Melvin Gibbs spoke with the New York Times about his new book, “How Black Music Took Over the World,” out next week…
A judge granted Lil Nas X entry into a mental health diversion program…
Justin Tinsley penned an essay about the history and community of Memphis following LeBron James’ comments on the city…
Tuma Basa, YouTube’s director of Black music & culture, is leaving the streaming giant after eight years…
The site of Six Flags America in Prince George’s County has been sold to an investment group that includes Kevin Durant…
Filmmaker Noel Braham has announced a nonprofit initiative to help those facing economic barriers pursue careers in film, television, and media…
Obituaries
Dee Freeman, the actress who appeared in “The Young and the Restless” and Tyler Perry’s “Sistas,” has died. She was 66…
Afrika Bambaataa, a hip-hop pioneer who was accused of sexual abuse, has died. He was 67…
Pearl Fryar, a famed topiary artist who was the subject of an award-winning 2006 documentary, has died. He was 86…
Carrie Everett, former Miss North Carolina 2024 and a student at North Carolina Central University, has died. She was 22…
Alfred Singleton, the executive chef and co-owner of a prominent New Orleans restaurant and a mentor to many, has died. He was 46...
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 2 minutes and 6 seconds…
Ms. Wollack, the English teacher that I work alongside to help Eastern High School students revive their newspaper, has launched a GoFundMe for them…
The 2nd annual HBCU Film Festival is this weekend, and Jasmine Guy is attending as a special guest. It will be held at Emory University in Atlanta on April 10…
A new short documentary spotlighting Black doulas on the front lines of a maternal health crisis is set to premiere April 11 on BET Digital…
The Baldwin for the Arts fellowship is now open for artists based in the United States. Deadline is April 18. Details here...
Aallyah Wright appeared on the Rural Narratives podcast to discuss reporting on Black rural communities…
New York Amsterdam News, one of the oldest Black newspapers in the country, is seeking interns...
The ESSENCE Film Festival is now accepting applications. Deadline is April 30...
Are you a college student interested in TV or film? The application for the Tyler Perry Studios internship is open…