Breaking News! History in the Making

In September 1992, thousands of off-duty police officers descended on City Hall to protest reforms proposed by Mayor David N. Dinkins, the city’s first Black mayor. (Keith Meyers/The New York Times)

Why Eric Adams Is Nothing Like David Dinkins

Comparisons between New York’s first and second Black mayor equate one’s corruption with the racism the other faced.

John Lewis during a sit-in in Nashville in 1964. (Danny Lyon/Magnum Photos)

How John Lewis Became a Moral Force in America

David Greenberg published a narrative about John Lewis’ life as an activist and later, in American politics.

Anisa Nyell Johnson as Detective Shaker, left, and Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosley in NBC's "Found." (Matt Miller / NBC)

‘Found’ brings missing marginalized people into the spotlight

“Found” tells the story of a Black woman whose sister was kidnapped, an experience all too familiar to Black families.

Deadwyler: Dalvin Adams; Boyega & Godrey Peoples: Courtesy Images

John Boyega and Danielle Deadwyler to Star in Otis Redding Biopic ‘Otis & Zelma’

The upcoming film features John Boyega as Otis Redding, the talented singer-songwriter who tragically died young, leaving a family behind.

DURHAM, NC - MAY 4: Students celebrate during the North Carolina Central University Spring 2024 Baccalaureate Ceremony at North Carolina Central University on May 4, 2024 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by DeAndres Royal/North Carolina Central University via Getty Images)

A look at historically Black colleges and universities in the U.S.

The importance of HBCUs in the US includes trends in enrollments and funding, along with the challenges that these institutions face.

john amos

John Amos, veteran actor of ‘Roots’ and ‘Good Times’ fame, dies at 84

Amos, who spent fifty years on screen, will be remembered for varied roles over his long career and kind heart.

White perpetrators set the Greenwood district known as Black Wall Street on fire in 1921 (The Oklahoman/University of Tulsa McFarlin Library Archives)

US Justice Department launches first-ever federal review of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre

Over 100 years after a prosperous Black neighborhood in Tulsa was burned to the ground and many residents murdered, the DOJ will investigate.

For Gadiel del Orbe, "things about me align with my ancestors. (Courtesy Gadiel del Orbe)

They’re uncovering their ancestry — and questioning their families’ racial narratives

Digitized archives and DNA testing prove what these Latinos suspected: Spanish ancestry can include African roots and the legacy of slavery.

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‘I see the apathy’: Saginaw city’s Black voters could be vital – if they vote

Less than half of registered voters in Saginaw city voted in the 2020 election, this predominantly Black county is critical for the result of the 2024 election.

Volunteer Jennifer Beil looks through books while filling book requests from prisoners Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Madison, Wis. (Angela Major/WPR)

Wisconsin DOC: Nonprofit can no longer send used books to prisoners

Wisconsin prisoners will have even less access to education through books due to changes in the DOC’s guidelines.

Missouri Executed Marcellus Williams, Despite Evidence He Wasn’t Guilty

Throughout his decades on Death Row, Williams insisted he didn’t kill Felicia Gayle in 1998. Prosecutors believe he might have been telling the truth.

Elizabeth Way, the show’s curator, wanted to explore how designers used “their artistic practice to define what it means to be a Black citizen in this international world.” (James Estrin/The New York Times)

The Story of the African Diaspora, Told Through Its Fashions

One artist is using her platform to showcase how fashion represents culture and storytelling in the African diaspora.

Assembly member Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles, speaks about a package of reparations legislation at a press conference at the state Capitol on Feb. 21, 2024. | Sophie Austin/AP

Gavin Newsom signs California apology for slavery and discrimination

The governor acknowledges how the state’s involvement in slavery hindered Black individuals and was racially motivated.

Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong’o brings her outsider experience to ‘The Wild Robot’

The actor draws on her experiences for a voice role in a new animated film that grapples with issues of identity, belonging, and nature.

Marcellus Williams

What to Know About the Execution of Death Row Inmate Marcellus Williams Amid Public Outcry

Despite a lack of evidence and pleas from the victim’s family, Marcellus Williams has been murdered by the state of Missouri.

Desmond and Sheena Meade have made advocating for the rights of the formerly incarcerated their life's work.

The Journey to Voting Rights Restoration for the Formerly Incarcerated

The Clean Slate Initiative is committed to dismantling the barriers that prevent millions of Americans from casting their vote.

Cleo Sylvestre

From Mick Jagger to Crossroads: the pioneering career of Cleo Sylvestre

“Trailblazing” actress Cleo Sylvestre who starred in films, soap operas and stage plays has died aged 79, her agent has said.

Jackie Shane

Trailblazing Black trans singer Jackie Shane finally gets her due in Tennessee

The soul vocalist, who was recently the focus of a documentary, will be recognized by Nashville with a historical marker.

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Black swing-state voters overwhelmingly back Harris — with key divides on age and gender, Howard poll shows

The recent Howard Initiative Poll shows that Harris leads among Black voters in swing states–with a few key differences.

Black hands hold a breast cancer awareness ribbon (Adobe Stock)

Black women are more likely than white women to die of all types of breast cancer

What we thought caused mortality disparities in breast cancer fatalities between white and Black women isn’t the case, according to research.

Black students in a classroom

How Racial Bias Warps the Narrative of School Shootings

A journalist who covered the recent school shooting in Georgia explains how racism tragically impacted victims afterward.