Breaking News! History in the Making

White House press secretary Jen Psaki talks about incoming press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a press briefing at the White House, Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

New press secretary hails barrier breakers who paved the way for her

After substituting for the former press secretary last year, Karine Jean-Pierre has taken over the position with the Biden administration.

HLacks-family

Judge Considers Motion To Dismiss Lawsuit Against Biotech Company By Henrietta Lacks’ Family

The case started by Henrietta Lacks’ family against a biotech company last October for unauthorized used of her cells may be dismissed.

KCEN's news team now consists of meteorologist Ashley Carter and co-anchors Taheshah Moise and Jasmin Caldwell (courtesy of Jasmin Caldwell)

Texas News Station Debuts First All-Female Black News Team

KCEN doesn’t just deliver news to Texans. By hiring an all Black female news team, the station is making headlines and setting a precedent.

A student raises her hand in a classroom at Tussahaw Elementary School in McDonough, Ga., on Aug. 4. (Brynn Anderson / AP)

‘There’s no way to hide history’: Teachers react to Georgia law limiting discussion of race

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a law that would prohibit teachers from discussing race and racism, leaving those teachers frustrated.

Retailers are limiting formula purchases due to the recent shortage (Rick Bowmer/AP)

Baby Formula Shortage Taking Toll on Black Mothers, Families

Although a formula shortage affects any family with a baby, Black families are especially vulnerable due to their breastfeeding difficulties.

Crystal Mason awaits her hearing. (Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Texas Court Orders Review Of Black Woman’s Illegal Voting Conviction

Crystal Mason, who was sentenced to five years after voting when she was on supervised release from prison, can now appeal the decision.

Ke'Shawn Hess is one of around 1,000 students who will no longer be able to attend Lincoln College (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)/Chicago Tribune via AP)

Illinois predominantly Black college closing after 157 years

The closure of Lincoln College leaves one small Illinois town wondering about the local economy and career and educational opportunities.

REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo

Judge finds Florida’s Republican-backed congressional map illegally harms Black voters

A voting redistricting map backed by Gov DeSantis has been struck down by a Circuit Court judge for denying Black Floridians voting rights.

Taras Chernus (from Unsplash)

Why Hate is Alive and Well: Silence, Suppression, and the Racial Reckoning in America that Never Was

Racism is embedded in the psyche of America despite claims to the contrary. If solving racism was this easy, America would have fixed itself a long time ago.

Elected in December, Susan Hutson took office Monday as the brand-new sheriff of the Orleans Parish in New Orleans and the first Black female sheriff in the state of Louisiana. (Photo: SusanForSheriff.com)

First Black female sheriff in Louisiana inaugurated

Susan Hutson made history twice in December when she became the first woman elected to serve as sheriff in New Orleans, and the first African American.

Onlookers watch as a fire erupts during the Tulsa race massacre in 1921.

Tulsa race massacre reparations lawsuit survives motion to deny and will move forward, judge rules

Survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre are hopeful to have their chance to make the case for reparations after this ruling.

Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski on Friday, April 29 formally appointed Deputy Chief Sharon Purifoy-Smoots for the position of assistant chief. (Fox6 Milwaukee)

First Black woman nominated as Milwaukee’s assistant fire chief

After 19 years with Milwaukee’s Fire Department, Sharon Purifoy-Smoots will be Deputy Chief and highest-ranking black woman in state fire departments.

Project Restoration - “Oak Tree Union Colored Cemetery of Taylorsville”.  An abandoned African American cemetery in Groveland Florida with over 50 gravesites and at least 5 WWI Veterans. (Picture from @KathrynHKnight on Twitter)

$500K allocated for restoration of Black cemetery in Florida

Florida’s “Abandoned African American Cemeteries” task force has uncovered several forgotten Black burial grounds, and $500K has been allocated for Groveland’s cemetery restoration.

Members of the Black Alliance Coalition and others gather with Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett outside the Capitol for the launch of the Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation. (Photo: theGrio/Gerren Keith Gaynor)

Congressional Caucus on Black Innovation debuts on Capitol Hill

The new caucus, chaired by members of Congress Stacey Plaskett, Ritchie Torres, and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, aims to close the economic gap for Black entrepreneurs in tech and innovation.

Burton at the 2020 Breakthrough Prize event (Ian Tuttle for Breakthrough Prize/Getty Images)

LeVar Burton to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at 2022 Emmys

Popular children’s TV host and literacy advocate LeVar Burton is one of several to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2022 Emmys.

‘This report is unflinching’: Harvard University confronts its ties to slavery

Like many of the nation’s greatest institutions, Harvard has a history with slavery. A recent report reveals the depths of that connection.

Left to right: White House correspondents Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne. (Photo: Kentucky Historical Society and Getty Images)

White House Correspondents’ Association to honor pioneering Black women journalists Alice Dunnigan and Ethel Payne

The WHCA will present the “Dunnigan-Payne Prize” to the families of Dunnigan and Payne, pioneering Black women journalists, at this year’s White House Correspondents Dinner.

Photo: Dmytro Tyshchenko (Shutterstock)

HBCUs Want Legalized Marijuana to Benefit More Black People

Several HBCUs have launched programs designed to help Black people participate in the growing cannabis industry, as they are the most likely to be arrested for possession of marijuana in the United States.

A ceremony marks the renaming of Bibb Graves Hall to Jo Ann Robinson Hall, after the late civil rights leader and educator, at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, on April 19, 2022. (Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Alabama State strips name of Klan member from dorm, renames it for boycott leader

Jo Ann Robinson had worked to change the segregated bus system in Montgomery before the arrest of Rosa Parks, now this Alabama dorm named for a Klan member honors her instead.

Weaver Cemetery, Established 1866

Reggie Jackson: Why The Emmett Till Antilynching Act Is Mostly Just Another Empty Gesture

Many have celebrated the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, signed into law on March 29, 2022. I see no reason to celebrate a law that is one hundred years late and is not an anti-lynching bill, despite the name.

A protestor holds a sign about the significance of Juneteenth (Twitter/@TheHill)

City of Nashville to make Juneteenth a paid holiday

Juneteenth has only been a federal holiday since 2021, and its status doesn’t impact many workers. But Nashville leaders plan to make it a paid city holiday.