Tulsa survivors denied, Hollywood on strike, Senate Democrats hold Black press Q&A
Tulsa survivors denied, Hollywood on strike, Senate Democrats hold Black press Q&A
Friday, July 14, 2023.
What I’m Reading
The effort to secure restitution for the three last known living survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre has ended after a judge dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice — meaning the case can’t be refiled. Deon Osborne of The Black Wall Street Times covered the judge’s ruling and linked to the full court filing in his report.
More: Tanner Frank, an intern for The Black Wall Street Times and a Tulsa, Oklahoma, native, wrote about being a descendant of one of the wealthiest families of Black Wall Street and how they plan to continue fighting for justice.
Justice denied: Judge dismisses Tulsa Race Massacre lawsuit, The Black Wall Street Times
Wes Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor, spoke with the New Yorker about his family, history, what he learned about power from working on Wall Street, and the importance of serving others.
Wes Moore Would Like to Make History, The New Yorker
Read an excerpt from Donovan X. Ramsey’s newly published book, “When Crack Was King: A People’s History of a Misunderstood Era,” in The Atlantic. Ramsey's book follows the lives of four individuals who were affected in some way by the crack cocaine era and its consequences.
“It was popular, I assume, because it belonged to the grown-up world, and using it made us feel grown. I suppose we made crackhead a slur because we feared what it represented, a rock bottom to which any of us could sink,” he wrote.
What We Meant When We Said Crackhead, The Atlantic
On Wednesday, I attended a Black press roundtable with over a dozen Democratic senators. The discussion centered on several issues important to the Black community, including economic recovery, health care disparities, housing, voting rights, and more. Journalists April Ryan, Roland Martin, Joe Madison, Rev. Mark Thompson, and others were allowed to ask one or two questions during the meeting. Senators Chuck Schumer (NY), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Raphael Warnock (GA), Cory Booker (NJ), Elizabeth Warren (MA), Tim Kaine (VA), Tina Smith (MN), and many more were in attendance.
I was able to ask two questions relating to the Black maternal mortality crisis and how climate change disproportionately affects Black communities:
Sen. Warnock: “Just earlier this week, I reintroduced legislation alongside my co-sponsor, Sen. Alex Padilla (CA), on addressing the issue of maternal mortality. We're continuing to address that issue directly as well as the larger issues that impact it. This is not an issue that emerges in a vacuum. So when you address issues around poverty and a whole range of concerns, that's one way of getting at it.
But the thing that is striking about the Black maternal mortality rate is that income and status don’t protect Black women, as made clear with this incredible track star who died alone in her home. So these are serious inequities and it's something that we remain focused on. It’s work that we continue to do.”
Sen. Ed Markey (MA): “The bill that we passed last year, 40% of all the money, the $369 billion, will go to communities of color and disadvantaged communities. And there's going to be a climate bank that the administration announces on Friday. And the climate bank, which Sen. Chris Van Hollen (MD) and I created, is going to be tied to inner city communities for solar, energy efficiency, and upgrading their housing.
You also mentioned discrimination in jobs. Algorithmic justice is very important because discrimination in the real world is moving online. I've introduced an algorithmic justice bill so that these big companies don't allow Black and brown people to be discriminated against through algorithms for their job searches, for housing searches. And it's absolutely imperative that we move online to fight this.”
What’s In The News
The Screen Actors Guild has voted to strike, joining picketing writers in what will amount to an effective shutdown of Hollywood. Watch some of SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher’s impassioned speech…
The Oklahoma superintendent of schools said it is OK to teach schoolchildren about the Tulsa Race Massacre, but not OK to teach that it was motivated by the 'color of anyone’s skin’…
The deadliest tornado to hit Mississippi in a decade came in March. But Rolling Fork, much like other areas across the Delta, was already ravaged by disinvestment. Now residents are wondering what’s next…
Speaking of Mississippi, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint in federal court calling House Bill 1020 “racially discriminatory” because it shifts “authority over the county’s criminal justice system away from democratically-elected judges and prosecutors elected by Black voters”...
Here we go: A group of GOP U.S. state attorney generals sent letters to the 100 largest companies, warning that certain workforce diversity policies could be illegal in light of the Supreme Court's decision to strike down affirmative action…
Kathleen McElroy was recruited to revive Texas A&M’s journalism school. But then the school watered down the offer after “DEI hysteria”...
Evanston, Illinois, has become the first city in the U.S. to put money in the hands of Black residents affected by years of discrimination. Here’s how they’re doing it…
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is facing a federal civil rights investigation over how the LA hospital treats Black women who give birth there…
Catherine Burks-Brooks, a Freedom Rider once held for 39 days in Parchman State Prison, has died. She was 83…
Gunna is one of the biggest casualties of a Georgia prosecutor’s war on hip-hop, Justin L. Brooks writes for Slate…
Hill Harper is officially running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Michigan, and his announcement has sparked much conversation…
Waffle House workers in Columbia, South Carolina, are on strike, citing unsafe working conditions and low pay. “Nobody’s scared, we’re ready”…
19-year-old Noni Battiste-Kosoko was found dead at the Atlanta City Detention Center, where she had been held for a misdemeanor bench warrant since May…
Mutulu Shakur, the Black liberation activist and stepfather of Tupac, has died of cancer. He was 72…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for financial relief of up to $500,000 for farmers who have faced discrimination in its lending programs…
Black Detroiters are reclaiming the housing market: "I’m going to pour my money back into my city”…
Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville has been in the headlines this week for repeatedly defending white nationalism. I wrote about what Sen. Elizabeth Warren had to say about him during the Black press roundtable…
What’s Happening
Jamie Foxx has been popping up here and there, and no, it’s not a clone. The actor returned a missing purse to its owner and appeared on a boat recently…
“What I’m Reading” is now an award-winning newsletter! My story “How Tubi is opening doors for independent Black filmmakers” has won a 2023 APEX Award for Publication Excellence: ‘Social Media - Best Single Blog Post’...
Sha’Carri Richardson ran the fastest women’s 100m time of the year at the US Championships in Eugene, Oregon…
For The Nation, pediatrician and public health advocate Rhea Boyd wrote a beautiful essay on Black motherhood…
Everyone’s been talking about Keke Palmer all week for various reasons. Perfect time to be on the cover of The Cut…
Naomi Osaka gave her first interview since giving birth to a baby girl a few days ago…
Atlanta police are searching for a man who tried his best to rob a nail salon but couldn’t quite get the job done…
Across the street from Louis Armstrong’s home in Queens sits a new facility that brings his 60,000-item archive back to the block…
Claude Cummings has been elected president of the powerful Communication Workers of America union, becoming the first Black person to lead it…
At the ESPYS, Damar Hamlin presented the Pat Tillman Award For Service to the Buffalo Bills training staff that saved his life…
Alex Holley, an anchor with FOX 29 Philadelphia, welcomed Beyonce to the city of brotherly love in a unique way…
Officials at the hospital where MF DOOM died issued an apology for the substandard care he received while he was treated there. He died in 2020…
Congratulations to Etienne Maurice and Stephanie Wash on their engagement! Read about it in Essence…
For OkayPlayer, Ade Adeniji spoke with the female singers behind the hooks for “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” and other ‘90s rap songs and how their voices helped some of these become classics…
HBCUs and the U.S Forest Services are teaming-up to train the next generation of Black firefighters…
Can you beat my time on Black Crossword? 1 minute, 20 seconds…
What I’m Watching
The Broccoli City Festival is taking place this weekend in Washington, featuring Jazmine Sullivan, Chloe Bailey and many more acts…
HBO has canceled “A Black Lady Sketch Show”...
The Brooklyn Public Library is honoring Jay-Z with a special tribute exhibition, recognizing the rapper’s journey from Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects to global figure…
Blake Bolden, the first Black woman to play in a professional hockey league, is set to appear in the upcoming documentary “Black Ice”...
Kevin Hart’s entertainment company has teamed with BET to revive the iconic ‘Comic View’ stand-up comedy showcase…
Olympic champion Gabby Douglas has announced her return to gymnastics in 2024…