Breaking News! History in the Making

Journalist and scholar Karen Attiah (New America, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Columbia Canceled Her Course on Race and Media. She’s Going to Teach It Anyway.

One professor won’t let Columbia canceling her class stop her from teaching how media plays a role in race. She’ll teach the public instead.

Gate Gateway to the Blue Museum, which introduces visitors to the genre's history in the Missisippi Delta, in 2022 (
Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Sinners, the South, and the Price of Playing the Blues

A new horror movie has proven to be a smash success while highlighting the realities of the Jim Crow south.

The United Daughters of the Confederacy lay a wreath and hold up a Confederate States of America flag at the Confederate Memorial during Confederate Memorial Day services at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, U.S., on June 5, 1922. (National Photo Company, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Monday is Confederate Memorial Day. Why does MS still celebrate it and what does it mean?

Mississippi is among four states that recognize April 26th as a paid holiday in remembrance of Confederate casualties.

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Wreath laying ceremony honors Freddie Gray 10 years after brutal death

On the anniversary of Freddie Gray’s death, Baltimore held memorial events including marches, concerts, and interfaith gatherings. The community came together to honor his legacy and reflect on the ongoing fight for justice and reform.

Researchers say Black women seeking abortions face disproportionately high risks when compared with women from other demographic groups. (Christina House/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Abortion Saved Her. Now It Could Cost Her Freedom.

Black women in states where abortion isn’t protected fear the mental, legal, financial, and medical consequences of being unable to seek care.

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Obituary: Dorothy Anna Williams, matriarch and former federal employee, dies at 95

​Dorothy Anna Williams, affectionately known as “The Queen,” passed away at 95 on March 27, 2025. A beloved matriarch and former federal employee, she was renowned for her gracious spirit and unwavering devotion to family. This tribute honors her enduring legacy and the profound impact she had on all who knew her.​

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Novelist Kiley Reid: ‘Consumption cannot fix racism’

In her novel Come and Get It, Kiley Reid examines how race and money are tightly woven into college life at the University of Arkansas. Drawing from her teaching experience, she argues that trying to separate the two overlooks the real forces shaping students’ lives.

Hekima Hapa started the nonprofit Black Girls Sew after struggling to find inspirational photos of Black girls sewing. (Bess Adler for The New York Times)

How a Fashion Designer and Sewing Teacher Spends Her Sundays

Hekima Hapa sells her fashion designs while teaching her craft to the next generation of fashion designers.

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Target CEO Cornell to meet with Sharpton to discuss DEI rollback as civil rights leader considers boycott

Rev. Al Sharpton met with Target CEO Brian Cornell at the National Action Network’s New York headquarters to discuss the company’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a move that has sparked backlash and boycott calls from civil rights activists.

Michael B. Jordan as twins Smoke and Stack in “Sinners." (Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures)

Why ‘Sinners,’ a Jim Crow-era vampire film, is a personal endeavor for director Ryan Coogler

A new movies combines elements of fantasy with the realities of segregation during the Jim Crow period.

Chasity Monroe, the owner of Pink Noire, said her hair and beauty supply store relies on imports. (Whitten Sabbatini for NBC News)

Coming to a beauty supply store near you: Trump’s trade war

Small Black-owned businesses with tight margins rely heavily on imports from China, with prices likely to spike.

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A Harlem Youth Center Still Thrives in an Uncertain Moment

A community center built in Harlem in 2022 has expanded to offer mental health and legal services in addition to youth classes.

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Black babies are still dying—and America let it happen

Studies show that Black children born in the United States face a significantly higher mortality rate than their White counterparts.

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Federal legislation aimed at reform highlighted during Black Maternal Health Week

Black Maternal Health Week spotlighted how Black women face a maternal death rate over three times higher than white women. Lawmakers are pushing new bills to improve care and accountability.

Dancers at Wigan Casino, a hub for the Northern Soul scene.  (Francesco Mellina)

We Were There by Lanre Bakare review – reimagining Black Britain

Lanre Bakare’s first book examines does more than examines history as it details Britain’s Black communities in the 70s and 80s.

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HBCUs ponder their future as 47th president makes cuts to education dollars

HBCUs face an uncertain future due to longstanding funding disparities and recent political threats that jeopardize their survival.

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Mass Protests in Black and White – Are We Showing Up?

For Black America, attending large protest rallies is a low priority compared to beating back the threats to 60 years of racial progress.

A "straight pipe" sewage discharge system in a Lowndes County mobile home. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that it would suspend a settlement with the Alabama Department of Public Health that would require the department to address inadequate sanitation in Lowndes County. (Dennis Pillion)

Trump’s DOJ Kills a Black County’s Environmental Justice Deal

The community was relying on assistance from the federal government to create proper wastewater disposal systems.

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This Date In History: The Colfax Massacre Occurs

The murderous White League was formed because white southerners were afraid that Black voters wouldn’t support their party.

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10 years later: Leaders speak on death of Freddie Gray and Baltimore’s struggle for change 

Ten years after the tragic death of Freddie Gray, community members and advocates in Baltimore reflect on the lasting impact of his death in police custody.

Peterson and Brown are both students at Rufus King International High School in Milwaukee 
 (TMJ4)

From MPS to the Ivy League: Two seniors from Rufus King High School hope to inspire other students

The two teens who took advanced classes at Rufus King International High School in Milwaukee will head to Ivy League schools.