Breaking News! History in the Making

The Generations of Pain I Felt in One Racist Moment
Racist words, even those stemming from slavery, are still casually used today without thought to whom they may harm.

USDA Cuts Food Business Centers Supporting Black Farmers
Trump’s USDA has cut Regional Food Business Centers that researched and offered help to small and midsize farmers and sellers.

Howard University faces students’ complaints on social media about unexpected tuition bills
The university claims that a new platform is alerting students of tuition they previously owed, sometimes for years, that suddenly appeared.

The Many Political Interpretations of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy
Kurt Streeter bust myths as he examines the many ways different people viewed Martin Luther King Jr and his work over time.

Congress Targets Toxic Beauty Products Marketed to Black Women
A new bill package aims to close the gaps in beauty regulation laws that have failed to remove hazardous products from shelves.

Rev. Al Sharpton: “Hope Won’t Help” in Trump’s America
The activist, who has been speaking out against discrimination for decades, sees it as a response to progress as part of a cycle.

EPA Delays Coal Ash Cleanup. Guess Who Lives Closest?
Black Americans make up just 15% of the national population, but a 2019 report from the NAACP found that Black people comprise fully two-thirds of the population that lives within 30 miles of a coal plant.

SPLC report: Medicaid expansion can rectify harm to Black people in Deep South
Mississippi didn’t expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, leaving residents with a coverage gap, and Black bodies pay the toll.

What Ida B. Wells Would Say About Trump and the Epstein Files
Mustafa Ali imagines how the activist would respond to the Epstein and Trump scandal, which reveals a nation still hiding its truth.

USDA Ends Key Support for Black Farmers Amid Trump Anti-DEI Orders
While some worry about the impact this will have, others point out that Black farmers haven’t benefited as much as expected.

Saniyah Cheatham’s Family Demands Answers in Her Death
Loved ones report that the teen was in a good mood before being arrested for a fight and allegedly taking her own life.

Yale Art Gallery abandons plans for federal grants over anti-DEI rules, funds African exhibit itself
With Trump in office, the federal government is blocking funding or adding stipulations that bar DEI programs like this one at Yale’s museum.

New Civil War research sheds light on Columbia Pike military camp for Black troops
The Arlington History Museum hosted a talk about the uncovered history of Fort Casey, a military camp for black soldiers in the Civil War.

Overturned Medical Debt Rule Will Impact Black Americans
Jennifer Porter-Gore explains how Black Americans will suffer from a recent ruling that medical debt can be added to credit reports.

This Is What They’re Polluting a Black Neighborhood in Memphis For
No one living in Boxtown agreed to have higher rates of cancer and other health risk.

Lawsuit claims slavery persists at former St. James plantation with unmarked graves
The unusual argument is one group’s attempt prevent a company from bulding a factory on the burial site of enslaved people.

Liverpool black history researchers discover slaver ship advert from 1805
The ad casally describes a ship’s role in the slave trade, showing how people felt about slavery at the time.

Black Women Earn a Lot Less Than White Males: Study
Black women earn 64 cents for every dollar earned by white men, highlighting the persistent pay gap and the need for investment in care, good jobs, paid leave, affordable housing, and reproductive rights.

Bill to provide descendants of slavery preference in college admissions moves forward
While some call the proposed bill a form of race-baiting, proponents recognize how descendants of enslaved people can benefit from it.