Tulsa race massacre survivor dies, the FDA and hair relaxers, “Ebony Alert” law
Tulsa race massacre survivor dies, the FDA and hair relaxers, “Ebony Alert” law
Friday, October 12, 2023.
What I’m Reading
Attempts to ban books have surged over the last year. During the 2022-23 school year, the “number of banned books increased by 33% compared to the previous year,” according to Pen America. This goes against everything literacy icon LeVar Burton stands for. In an interview with GQ, the “Reading Rainbow” legend explained why this fight is so critical.
LeVar Burton Wants You to Read Banned Books, GQ Magazine
You probably don’t consider Maine a state filled with examples of the failures of the criminal legal system. But police and prison guards within the state are committing abuses regularly — and no one is being held accountable, Clemson University lecturer Brian Pitman wrote in an op-ed. In fact, Maine’s attorney general’s office hasn’t acknowledged an unjustified use of deadly police force since 1990.
Police and Prison Guards in Maine Are Committing Abuses With Terrifying Impunity, Truthout
Mike Carter spent 12 years in prison, starting with a stint at a juvenile detention center when he was 16. Today, he is the executive chef of one of the most popular restaurants in Philly, Down North Pizza. The restaurant, which only employs formerly incarcerated people, has a mission to help people who have been in prison to get back on their feet.
“The person is not the crime,” said Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, the founder of Down North Pizza. “The crimes are sometimes based off of their socioeconomic circumstances, or the hand that they’ve been dealt. They’re not the monsters that people think they are.”
How a former prison cook became one of the country’s top pizza chefs, The Washington Post
What’s In The News
Across America
Alabama: For decades, residents in rural Alabama have complained about monthly water bills as high as $7,500. Now, the utility is threatening to disconnect service or force them from their homes…
Arkansas: The Whitesides, who have been married for 84 years, are believed to be the longest-married couple in the entire state…
Colorado: A Denver-area officer was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault in the death of Elijah McClain. Another was acquitted…
Florida: A school in Northwest Tallahassee held a career day, and students dressed up for their dream professions! Watch here...
Georgia: A no-strings-attached program paying an average of $850 per month to Black women in targeted ZIP codes is helping some escape the pitfalls of poverty in Georgia…
Louisiana: Gun violence is plummeting in New Orleans. Community leaders and public health officials are trying to understand why to get the numbers down even further…
Michigan: After six years of crowdfunding and planning, Detroit’s only Black-owned grocery store aims to improve food access. I wrote about the founder’s efforts back in 2017…
Oklahoma: Hughes Van Ellis, the youngest of three last known living 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre survivors, has died. He was 102 years old…
South Carolina: The Supreme Court heard a challenge arguing that South Carolina's district map is racially discriminatory. You can read
‘s coverage on as well here…Tennessee: Newly uncovered evidence may link a Franklin mayoral candidate to a white supremacist effort to harass her critics…
Texas: Black residents in Brazos Valley are losing land that has been in their families for generations, much of it due to the efforts of two men in particular “who weaponized arcane documents to acquire plots potentially worth millions”...
What’s Happening
My story on how Tubi is opening doors for independent Black filmmakers was announced as a platinum winner in the 2023 MarCom Awards for creativity in writing. It is the second award my newsletter has won! We are closing in on 20,000 subscribers. Thanks for all of your support in spreading the word…
California is now the first state in the nation to have an “Ebony Alert” law, which prioritizes the search for Black youth gone missing…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule to ban certain harmful chemicals in hair smoothing or hair straightening products following Reps. Ayanna Pressley and Shontel Brown’s inquiry…
69-year-old Marsha Ervin received a voter registration card from the state of Florida. Later, police knocked on her door around 3 a.m. and arrested her for alleged voter fraud…
A municipal judge recommended that Carlee Russell spend a year in jail, on top of $18,000 restitution, for faking her abduction…
In an op-ed, professors Nik Heynen and Nikki Luke explain how cities like Atlanta and New Orleans are experimenting with reparations in urban policy…
Brooke and Breanna, 16-year-old twins from Alabama, were honored at The White House for advocating to end period poverty in their state…
Ex-NFL player Sergio Brown, who had been missing since his mother’s death last month, has been taken into custody…
Opal Lee, “the grandmother of Juneteenth,” lost her home to rioters in 1939. This past weekend, she was gifted the property back for her 97th birthday…
Incalculable loss: Federal officials told 16 states that they've been underfunding their Historically Black Colleges and Universities by some $12 billion…
Anthony Nesty, the first Black head coach of a U.S. Olympic swimming team, talked with the New York Times about diversity in the sport and coaching in the Instagram era…
Wellness expert Zee Clarke believes intentional breath work can help relieve some of the stress of being Black in America…
A Black student who spent more than a month on in-school suspension over his hairstyle has been told he will be removed from his high school and sent to a disciplinary alternative education program…
Dozens of cities are pressing the Supreme Court for more power to clear homeless encampments…
Charles Porter Jr., the first Black TV reporter in Houston, has died. He was 81…
“A federal program to combat the alarming rates of rural women dying from pregnancy complications has marked a first: It’s supporting an organization that serves predominantly Black counties in the Deep South.”...
Former Baltimore Ravens player John Urschel was recently hired as a professor of mathematics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology…
Entertainment
At a block party, in a basement, at a funeral: For Vulture, Will Ketchum III spoke to 25 rappers about how they fell in love with hip-hop…
Spike Lee has provided over 400 items for his exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum, titled “Spike Lee: Creative Sources,” which runs through Feb. 4, 2024…
Rudolph Isley, one of the founding members of the R&B group The Isley Brothers, has died. He was 84…
A woman has gone viral after sharing her alleged experience where ate 48 oysters on her date, and got stuck with the bill…
In case you were wondering if Elder Goldwire McClendon can still sing at 93 years old, just watch this soul-stirring video…
Rapper Joey Bada$$ is launching a new mentorship program that aims to provide free mentorship to Black men across the country…
Jada Pinkett Smith is on a bit of a press run for her new book “Worthy,” and she’s done interviews relating to Chris Rock asking her out on a date, her separation from Will Smith, and her path to self-acceptance…
Yikes: Drake tore into Joe Budden after the podcaster shared his thoughts on the rapper’s new album…
For Essence, Tayler Adigun talked with several fans of the HBO hit series “Insecure” and found that their perspectives on the show have changed since it premiered 7 years ago…
Reebok has named Shaquille O’Neal, the first signature athlete in the sporting goods company’s history, as its President of Basketball…
Janelle Monae dropped by Morehouse College to dance and sing with students…
Latto is giving back to her high school. The 24-year-old donated $35,000 to her alma mater for homecoming…
60 Minutes profiled Rich Paul, one of the most powerful agents in professional sports whose agency — Klutch Sports Group — garnered deals worth nearly $900 million for his NBA clients over the summer…
21 Savage has officially become a permanent U.S. resident and may now go overseas…
Mary J. Blige has launched the “Strength Of A Woman” scholarship at Hampton University for sophomores…
Investors in a real estate venture promoted by “The Breakfast Club” host DJ Envy say they've been scammed — and the claims are in the millions of dollars…
Don’t Miss
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 53 seconds…
The new trailer for The Color Purple, starring Fantasia Barrino, Halle Bailey, Colman Domingo, and more, is out…
Coming soon to Netflix: “Black Barbie,” a new documentary that tells the story of the first Black Barbie and the Black women at Mattel who brought it to life…
Registration is now open for the Democracy Summit 2023 hosted by the Center for Journalism & Democracy at Howard University…
Please share: The Washington Association of Black Journalists is accepting applications from DC-area college students for scholarships. Each is worth $2,000. The deadline for applying is October 22 at midnight EST…