Breaking News! History in the Making

Kyren Lacy in football uniform at a game

Kyren Lacy’s Death at 24 Sheds Light on Black Male Suicide Crisis

The young athlete’s death highlights a troubling increase in suicide rates among Black men in the United States.

Robert Porter Jackson, John Dramani Mahama, and Mrs. Hannah Tetteh,

Ghana’s President Calls Slave Trade ‘Greatest Crime,’ Pushes U.N. for Reparations

If successful, this approach could benefit the descendants of slaves kiddnapped from Ghana around the globe.

Person holding a video game controller.

Video game lets you return African artifacts from Western museums

New video game, Reloaded, seeks to educate on the issue of reparations while returning artifacts back to their rightful place in Africa.

Painted portrait of an enslaved Black man in a suit named Frederick

A Portrait of an Enslaved Man Hung in a Mansion for Over a Century. His Story Is Finally Emerging

For years, the portrait was at the estate where the subject was enslaved, but it now is displayed at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

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7 Ways the Government Shutdown May Affect You

Some services, like Social Security checks and SNAP, will continue during the government shutdown, but with limited services and staff.

Screenshot from the Unesco Virtual Museum of Stolen Objects, depicting artifacts on platforms

UNESCO Launches First Virtual Museum of Looted Cultural Objects

The virtual museum works in most browsers and lets visitors explore artifacts by region, use, or color or search for specific pieces.

Michael Thweets, a young Black man in button down shirt featuring comic panels

‘Reading Rainbow’ to return, with viral librarian Mychal Threets as its host

Thweets uses social media to promote reading and literacy, espousing many of the traits of the show’s former host.

People in front of a building housing the Hogg Hammock store and Post Office in Hogg Hammock

Georgia’s highest court sides with slave descendants fighting to protect threatened island community

The Georgia Supreme Court delivered a win for the Gullah Geechee on Sapelo Island, who were fighting a proposed change that might drive them from their homes.

Longfellow house with tall columns and surrounded by trees

Researchers Release Report on People Enslaved by Harvard-Affiliated Vassall Family

The report, which was published separately from Harvard’s research into slavery, shows the family’s involvement in slavery.

Protestors kneeling from behind at George Floyd protest

FBI fires agents who kneeled during 2020 racial justice protest

The FBI Agents Association’s response accuses the current FBI director, Patel Kash, of breaking the law with this action.

Assata Shakur

Revolutionary Fighter For Black Liberation Assata Shakur Dies At 78

Assata Shakur, Black Liberationist, has died at 78. Her life, fight for justice, and enduring legacy continue to spark debate worldwide.

Person Holding Blue Smartphone (Mwabonje Ringa)

‘Black Diary 1887’ expands to D.C. with GPS walking tours

Black Diary 1887 is a free GPS-guided walking tour app highlighting D.C.’s Black history, music, culture, and historic neighborhoods.

Students sitting at classroom desks

New Wisconsin standardized test results show striking racial disparities

While overall numbers weren’t bad, the breakdown by race and disability shows some groups fared far worse than others.

Two-people-talking-logo

3 Ways to Prevent Suicide Death

Word In Black’s health reporter shares three things she’s learned in the last three years of reporting to prevent suicide death.

The President's House Site in Philadelphia

Activists vow to protect display on George Washington’s ties to slavery

Some worry that the display, which reveals the first president’s connections to slavery, is at risk of change or removal in this administration.

UNCF statute of 3 people reading a book at Morris Brown college

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donates $70m to HBCUs

The 37 member schools of the UNCF will share the funds, which will enter a pooled endowment to help them continue provide education.

Theodore Roosevelt in front of a train in Ugana

In 1909, Theodore Roosevelt Embarked on an Expedition to East Africa. His Trip Still Matters Today

The trip helped President Roosevelt understand the environmental impact of colonialism and provided American museums with new specimens.

Delta-State-Vigil

Hundreds gather to mourn Trey Reed at Delta State vigil after his tragic death

Students who attended the vigil to support the campus community shared that while they were glad people could come together, they still had questions about what happened on their campus.

Black woman in blazer working at laptop

Black women are being hit hard by the Trump layoffs and firings: ‘It chips away at morale and self-worth’

Black women may be less likely to advocate for themselves at work if they worry about their job security, ultimately lowering morale.

An exhibition titled the Misalignment Museum opened to the public in San Francisco on March 9th, 2023, featuring funny or disturbing AI art works to help visitors think about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. (Photo by AMY OSBORNE/AFP via Getty Images)

Justice in the Algorithm

We’re at a pivotal moment: AI is no longer fiction—it’s learning us in real time. If we don’t shape it with justice, it will inherit our deepest inequities.

President Donald Trump signs Executive Orders, Monday, February 10, 2025, in the Oval Office. (Official White House photo by Abe McNatt)

Trump’s Order Strips Slavery Exhibits, Removes Black History

The Trump administration orders the removal of exhibits emphasizing slavery and racial injustice, sparking protests and concerns.