{"id":"_lKbwYLetmoVQjz4m","feed":{"title":"Word In Black","imageUrl":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","items":[{"id":"qzfWlEl4xprwixNO","title":"America 250: Why Crispus Attucks Matters Today","description":"Division is a word that stands in stark contrast to the ideals inherent to the United States of America, but it has become an operative one for Donald Trump and his administration. Even as the nation gathers to celebrate its 250th birthday, we witness an insuperable divide, keenly illustrated in the notion of two differing commemorations. One is “America 250” and the other “Freedom 250.” The latter was initiated by Trump to counter the prior one established by Congress in 2016 as the official, nonpartisan commission and often cited as “America’s Block Party.” In 2025, Trump issued an executive order, thereby creating an arm of his administration‘s Task Force 250. What we have, as one pundit put it, is one birthday and two planners. First to Die for His Country Of course, early on, the country observed that someone else’s birthday was in the mix when Ultimate Fighting Championship events were staged on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14. This was just another blatant example of his egomania, his narcissism that has imperiled us since the inauguration of his second term. We have, in these pages, posted countless critiques of his tyranny of monarchy, and there is so much more to be said as we endure his assault on our democratic rights. The soldiers shot, and five bodies fell. The first to die was a fifty-year-old former slave, either a Black or Indian mulatto sailor named Crispus Attucks.Kenneth C. Davis, author, “Don’t Know Much About History — Everything You Need to Know about American History but Never Learned” Evidence of this occurs daily — the evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, the suspension of the TPS that threatens the deportation of Haitians and Syrians, and at the same time opening our portals to allegedly racially embattled white South Africans, the militarization of our streets with ICE agents, ending the Constitutional guarantees of birthright, an unsanctioned and reckless war with Iran, and ad infinitum. So you have your choice as to which of the two parties to hang your hat, commit your loyalty, and attend. What we are proposing is a third option — let’s celebrate the birthday of Crispus Attucks, the first to fall in the Boston Massacre in 1770. Sailor, Whaler, Patriot There is still debate about his ancestry, whether he was Black, Native American, or a bit of both. To a certain degree, that is inconsequential when you consider he escaped from bondage and ended up among those protesting the presence of British soldiers in Boston. According to the best records, he was born in 1723, predating the Declaration of Independence by 53 years. circa 1770: A speculative portrait of American patriot, Crispus Attucks (circa 1723 – 1770), possibly a runaway slave, who was killed by British troops in the Boston Massacre in 1770, becoming the first American to be killed in the American Revolution. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images) Before and after his enslavement, Attucks worked as a sailor and whaler, and sometimes on the docks. One of my favorite accounts of his courage and death was written by historian Kenneth C. Davis in his book, “Don’t Know Much About History — Everything You Need to Know about American History but Never Learned.” “Early in March 1770,” the book reads, “a group of ropemakers fought with a detachment of soldiers who were taking their jobs, and all around Boston, angry encounters between soldiers and citizens became more frequent. Tensions mounted until March 5, where a mob, many of them hard-drinking waterfront workers, confronted a detachment of nine British soldiers” “Confronted by a taunting mob calling for their blood, the soldiers grew…nervous. It only took the word ‘fire,’ and most likely yelled by one of the crowd, to ignite the situation. The soldiers shot, and five bodies fell. The first to die was a fifty-year-old former slave, either a Black or Indian mulatto sailor named Crispus Attucks.” Cries for Justice and Freedom Thus began the Revolutionary War, the subsequent rise of the so-called founding fathers (many of them slave holders), and those hallowed but unfulfilled words of the Declaration of Independence. The call to honor Attucks’ place in the nation’s history gives resonance to the millions of enslaved African Americans, the decimation of Native Americans, and their ongoing cry for justice and total freedom. Added to this cry is the demand for reparations, an end to the electoral college, expansion of the Supreme Court, and erasure of the unitary executive theory, the constitutional law that Article II of the Constitution vests all executive power directly in the president. Already, the current president is invested with far too much unchecked authority. We are not sure of the date of Attucks’s birth, so we have made it July 4, 1776. Let us hope and pray it doesn’t take 250 more years to obtain our meager demands. On that day, we can truly celebrate an undivided United States. The post America 250: Why Crispus Attucks Matters Today appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"As
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Division is a word that stands in stark contrast to the ideals inherent to the United States of America, but it has become an operative one for Donald Trump and his administration.

\n\n\n\n

Even as the nation gathers to celebrate its 250th birthday, we witness an insuperable divide, keenly illustrated in the notion of two differing commemorations. One is “America 250” and the other “Freedom 250.”

\n\n\n\n

The latter was initiated by Trump to counter the prior one established by Congress in 2016 as the official, nonpartisan commission and often cited as “America’s Block Party.”

\n\n\n\n

In 2025, Trump issued an executive order, thereby creating an arm of his administration‘s Task Force 250. What we have, as one pundit put it, is one birthday and two planners. 

\n\n\n\n

First to Die for His Country

\n\n\n\n

Of course, early on, the country observed that someone else’s birthday was in the mix when Ultimate Fighting Championship events were staged on the South Lawn of the White House on June 14.

\n\n\n\n

This was just another blatant example of his egomania, his narcissism that has imperiled us since the inauguration of his second term. We have, in these pages, posted countless critiques of his tyranny of monarchy, and there is so much more to be said as we endure his assault on our democratic rights.

\n\n\n\n

The soldiers shot, and five bodies fell. The first to die was a fifty-year-old former slave, either a Black or Indian mulatto sailor named Crispus Attucks.

Kenneth C. Davis, author, “Don’t Know Much About History — Everything You Need to Know about American History but Never Learned”
\n\n\n\n

Evidence of this occurs daily — the evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, the suspension of the TPS that threatens the deportation of Haitians and Syrians, and at the same time opening our portals to allegedly racially embattled white South Africans, the militarization of our streets with ICE agents, ending the Constitutional guarantees of birthright, an unsanctioned and reckless war with Iran, and ad infinitum.

\n\n\n\n

So you have your choice as to which of the two parties to hang your hat, commit your loyalty, and attend. What we are proposing is a third option — let’s celebrate the birthday of Crispus Attucks, the first to fall in the Boston Massacre in 1770.

\n\n\n\n

Sailor, Whaler, Patriot

\n\n\n\n

There is still debate about his ancestry, whether he was Black, Native American, or a bit of both. To a certain degree, that is inconsequential when you consider he escaped from bondage and ended up among those protesting the presence of British soldiers in Boston. According to the best records, he was born in 1723, predating the Declaration of Independence by 53 years.

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
circa 1770: A speculative portrait of American patriot, Crispus Attucks (circa 1723 – 1770), possibly a runaway slave, who was killed by British troops in the Boston Massacre in 1770, becoming the first American to be killed in the American Revolution. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)
\n
\n\n\n

Before and after his enslavement, Attucks worked as a sailor and whaler, and sometimes on the docks. One of my favorite accounts of his courage and death was written by historian Kenneth C. Davis in his book, “Don’t Know Much About History — Everything You Need to Know about American History but Never Learned.”

\n\n\n\n

“Early in March 1770,” the book reads, “a group of ropemakers fought with a detachment of soldiers who were taking their jobs, and all around Boston, angry encounters between soldiers and citizens became more frequent. Tensions mounted until March 5, where a mob, many of them hard-drinking waterfront workers, confronted a detachment of nine British soldiers”

\n\n\n\n

“Confronted by a taunting mob calling for their blood, the soldiers grew…nervous. It only took the word ‘fire,’ and most likely yelled by one of the crowd, to ignite the situation. The soldiers shot, and five bodies fell. The first to die was a fifty-year-old former slave, either a Black or Indian mulatto sailor named Crispus Attucks.”

\n\n\n\n

Cries for Justice and Freedom

\n\n\n\n

Thus began the Revolutionary War, the subsequent rise of the so-called founding fathers (many of them slave holders), and those hallowed but unfulfilled words of the Declaration of Independence. 

\n\n\n\n

The call to honor Attucks’ place in the nation’s history gives resonance to the millions of enslaved African Americans, the decimation of Native Americans, and their ongoing cry for justice and total freedom.

\n\n\n\n

Added to this cry is the demand for reparations, an end to the electoral college, expansion of the Supreme Court, and erasure of the unitary executive theory, the constitutional law that Article II of the Constitution vests all executive power directly in the president. Already, the current president is invested with far too much unchecked authority.

\n\n\n\n

We are not sure of the date of Attucks’s birth, so we have made it July 4, 1776. Let us hope and pray it doesn’t take 250 more years to obtain our meager demands. On that day, we can truly celebrate an undivided United States.

\n

The post America 250: Why Crispus Attucks Matters Today appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/07/america-250-why-crispus-attucks-matters-today/","site":"New York Amsterdam News","originalAuthor":"New York Amsterdam News","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Opinion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-07-04T14:55:39.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GettyImages-463895397.jpg?fit=536%2C594&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-07-04T15:07:46.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GettyImages-463895397.jpg?fit=536%2C594&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"YSpaUztJQHFlXwtb","title":"A Year In, Trump’s Spending Cuts Hit Hardest in Black Communities","description":"When President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, into law last July 4, health advocates, academics, and economists warned that the spending legislation — which cut trillions of dollars from Medicaid and food assistance budgets — would force millions of people to forego healthcare, and push millions more to the brink of starvation. The OBBB Act and its anticipated effects were so controversial that Vice President J.D. Vance had to vote to break a 50-50 tie in the Senate for it to pass. A year later, a range of experts say those predictions are coming true. The budget cuts are landing hardest on the low-income Americans who rely on them most — and hitting Black communities with extreme force. The law’s shredding of the health and nutrition safety net is already measurable. Medicaid and enrollment in CHIP, the government-subsidized health insurance program for children, has fallen by 4.6 million people nationwide between April 2025 and March 2026, according to an enrollment tracker by KFF, a public health analysis nonprofit. The marketplace for health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act has dropped even further, from roughly 22.3 million enrollees in 2025 to as few as 16.5 million this year. Average deductibles on ACA plans have simultaneously climbed 37% to a record $3,786, squeezing the people who’ve managed to hold onto coverage. What’s more, the expiration of the ACA tax credits at the end of 2025 meant many households saw skyrocketing premiums for private, employer-provided medical insurance. RELATED: Up From $480 to $1,500 a Month: Health Insurance Shock Is Here The cuts have hit Black Americans particularly hard because Black households depend on Medicaid, the ACA marketplace and SNAP at higher rates than the general population. Almost 26% of SNAP participants, or approximately 10.2 million people, are Black. Participants receive an average of $187 a month—or just over $6 per day. The strain is also visible in the closure of health infrastructure many Black and low-income communities depend on. More than 1,000 hospitals, clinics and maternity wards have shut down or scaled back services since the law passed, and nearly 30 Planned Parenthood health centers have closed, two-thirds of them in rural or medically underserved areas. Researchers caution that most of the law’s provisions won’t be fully phased in until 2027 and 2028, meaning the full scope of its impact on Black health outcomes is still to come. RELATED: Vanishing Care: GOP Healthcare Cuts Hit Black America Hard The law also cut nearly $187 billion from SNAP funding—the largest reduction in benefits since the program was created. The abrupt rollout of the changes last November led to the nation’s first interruption in food assistance benefits ever. By March, more than 4 million people, or 10% of enrollees, had lost their SNAP benefits and participation has dropped in every state. All but eight states saw declines of 5% or more, 21 states had the number of people getting help to eat fell by at least 10%, and at least 700.000 children nationwide had lost food assistance. U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently attributed the steep drop in SNAP participants to the government’s efforts to prevent what it claims is widespread fraud in the program and to an improved U.S. economy.Medicaid Enrollment Already Down 4.6 Million KFF reporting on 2026 ACA marketplace enrollment shows the number of Americans covered fell from about 22.3 million in 2025 to as low as 16.5–17.5 million in 2026, while average deductibles rose 37% to a record $3,786. According to KFF’s Medicaid/CHIP enrollment tracker, national Medicaid/CHIP enrollment fell by 4.6 million people between April 2025 and March 2026, with declines seen in nearly every state. A preview of what nationwide Medicaid work requirements may look like already exists in Georgia, which instituted work requirements in exchange for health care coverage. The state’s Pathways to Coverage work-requirement program enrolled fewer than 7,500 of an estimated 300,000 eligible adults in its first year. The changes forced the state to spend more than $40 million mostly on administrative costs rather than enrollees’ medical care. Meanwhile, the Medicaid cuts have also caused more than 1,000 hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, maternity wards, and healthcare providers to close or reduce services–and some may be forced to do so soon. This is a departure from the program’s intended purpose. In a statement on the OBBB Act’s anniversary, Protect Our Care, a nonprofit advocacy group, pointed out that Trump’s signature legislation goes against the established goals of publicly subsidized health insurance. Since the creation iMedicare and Medicaid, “the broad arc of federal health policy has been toward expanding access to care,” according to the statement. Trump’s signature legislative accomplishment, the statement says, “bends sharply in the opposite direction — representing the biggest cut to the healthcare safety net the country has ever seen.” The Protect Our Care statement also noted that “the first cracks are already showing.” That includes a rural hospital in Georgia that stopped delivering babies, the closure of a Nebraska clinic that served farmers and their families, and a and a hospital outside of Las Vegas that laid off 70 workers and eliminated key services. “All pointed to the looming federal Medicaid cuts as a factor,” according to the statement. statement. The bill also defunded Planned Parenthood, which has caused it to close nearly 30 of its health centers since July 2025. A disproportionately high number of Black women depend on Planned Parenthood for free reproductive healthcare, including breast cancer screenings, contraception and other forms of preventative care. Two out of three of the closed Planned Parenthood health centers were in rural areas, medically underserved areas, or in areas suffering a shortage of primary care health professionals. All of the centers were in counties recognized as “contraceptive deserts.” Since the OBBB Act became law, Planned Parenthood’s distribution of birth control packs has fallen by 25%, visits for breast exams dropped 20% and STI testing declined by 10%. Alexis McGill Johnson, the organization’s president and CEO, said in a statement that by targeting Planned Parenthood in the OBBB Act, Trump and Congressional Republicans “worsened a public health crisis, making it harder for people to get the essential and lifesaving care they needed at their trusted provider.” To cushion the blow, fourteen states committed more than $400 million in emergency funding to replace lost federal funding and cover essential services for Medicaid patients. But states that only partially covered the cost of providing care — or didn’t cover it at all — saw twice as many Planned Parenthood health centers close than states that replaced all of the federal dollars lost. Though the OBBB Act has been in place for a full year, experts say the fallout will continue, since the law’s major provisions are still being phased in. Last year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that because of the healthcare and food assistance cuts, the nation’s poorest households will see their income fall by $1,200 each year on average, while the wealthiest households will gain about $13,600. Others, like The Commonwealth Fund, a public-interest nonprofit, estimate a harsher impact for households at the bottom of the income bracket. They predict the lowest 10% of earners will lose an average of $1,600 a year due to the cuts. Meanwhile the bill’s tax cuts for the wealthy will increase resources for the highest-earning 10% of households by $12,000. Researchers caution that most of the harshest changes to the health and food assistance programs will happen between 2027 and 2028. So, the full weight of its effect on Black Americans — and on the nation’s health and wealth disparities—won’t be clear for several more years. RELATED: Judge Orders Halt to SNAP’s Ban on Sugary Foods The post A Year In, Trump’s Spending Cuts Hit Hardest in Black Communities appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
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When President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, into law last July 4, health advocates, academics, and economists warned that the spending legislation — which cut trillions of dollars from Medicaid and food assistance budgets — would force millions of people to forego healthcare, and push millions more to the brink of starvation.

\n\n\n\n

The OBBB Act and its anticipated effects were so controversial that Vice President J.D. Vance had to vote to break a 50-50 tie in the Senate for it to pass. 

\n\n\n\n

A year later, a range of experts say those predictions are coming true. The budget cuts are landing hardest on the low-income Americans who rely on them most — and hitting Black communities with extreme force.

\n\n\n\n

The law’s shredding of the health and nutrition safety net is already measurable. Medicaid and enrollment in CHIP, the government-subsidized health insurance program for children, has fallen by 4.6 million people nationwide between April 2025 and March 2026, according to an enrollment tracker by KFF, a public health analysis nonprofit. 

\n\n\n\n

The marketplace for health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act has dropped even further, from roughly 22.3 million enrollees in 2025 to as few as 16.5 million this year. Average deductibles on ACA plans have simultaneously climbed 37% to a record $3,786, squeezing the people who’ve managed to hold onto coverage.

\n\n\n\n

What’s more, the expiration of the ACA tax credits at the end of 2025 meant many households saw skyrocketing premiums for private, employer-provided medical insurance. 

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Up From $480 to $1,500 a Month: Health Insurance Shock Is Here

\n\n\n\n

The cuts have hit Black Americans particularly hard because Black households depend on Medicaid, the ACA marketplace and SNAP at higher rates than the general population. Almost 26% of SNAP participants, or approximately 10.2 million people, are Black. Participants receive an average of $187 a month—or just over $6 per day. 

\n\n\n\n

The strain is also visible in the closure of health infrastructure many Black and low-income communities depend on. 

\n\n\n\n

More than 1,000 hospitals, clinics and maternity wards have shut down or scaled back services since the law passed, and nearly 30 Planned Parenthood health centers have closed, two-thirds of them in rural or medically underserved areas. Researchers caution that most of the law’s provisions won’t be fully phased in until 2027 and 2028, meaning the full scope of its impact on Black health outcomes is still to come.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Vanishing Care: GOP Healthcare Cuts Hit Black America Hard 

\n\n\n\n

The law also cut nearly $187 billion from SNAP funding—the largest reduction in benefits since the program was created. The abrupt rollout of the changes last November led to the nation’s first interruption in food assistance benefits ever. 

\n\n\n\n

By March, more than 4 million people, or 10% of enrollees, had lost their SNAP benefits and participation has dropped in every state. All but eight states saw declines of 5% or more, 21 states had the number of people getting help to eat fell by at least 10%, and at least 700.000 children nationwide had lost food assistance.

\n\n\n\n

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins recently attributed the steep drop in SNAP participants to the government’s efforts to prevent what it claims is widespread fraud in the program and to an improved U.S. economy.

Medicaid Enrollment Already Down 4.6 Million

\n\n\n\n

KFF reporting on 2026 ACA marketplace enrollment shows the number of Americans covered fell from about 22.3 million in 2025 to as low as 16.5–17.5 million in 2026, while average deductibles rose 37% to a record $3,786. 

\n\n\n\n

According to KFF’s Medicaid/CHIP enrollment tracker, national Medicaid/CHIP enrollment fell by 4.6 million people between April 2025 and March 2026, with declines seen in nearly every state.

\n\n\n\n

A preview of what nationwide Medicaid work requirements may look like already exists in Georgia, which instituted work requirements in exchange for health care coverage. The state’s Pathways to Coverage work-requirement program enrolled fewer than 7,500 of an estimated 300,000 eligible adults in its first year. The changes forced the state to spend more than $40 million mostly on administrative costs rather than enrollees’ medical care.  

\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the Medicaid cuts have also caused more than 1,000 hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, maternity wards, and healthcare providers to close or reduce services–and some may be forced to do so soon.

\n\n\n\n

This is a departure from the program’s intended purpose.

\n\n\n\n

In a statement on the OBBB Act’s anniversary, Protect Our Care, a nonprofit advocacy group, pointed out that Trump’s signature legislation goes against the established goals of publicly subsidized health insurance.

\n\n\n\n

Since the creation iMedicare and Medicaid, “the broad arc of federal health policy has been toward expanding access to care,” according to the statement. Trump’s signature legislative accomplishment, the statement says, “bends sharply in the opposite direction — representing the biggest cut to the healthcare safety net the country has ever seen.”

\n\n\n\n

The Protect Our Care statement also noted that “the first cracks are already showing.” That includes a rural hospital in Georgia that stopped delivering babies, the closure of a Nebraska clinic that served farmers and their families, and a and a hospital outside of Las Vegas that laid off 70 workers and eliminated key services. 

\n\n\n\n

“All pointed to the looming federal Medicaid cuts as a factor,” according to the statement.  statement.

\n\n\n\n

The bill also defunded Planned Parenthood, which has caused it to close nearly 30 of its health centers since July 2025. A disproportionately high number of Black women depend on Planned Parenthood for free reproductive healthcare, including breast cancer screenings, contraception and other forms of preventative care.

\n\n\n\n

Two out of three of the closed Planned Parenthood health centers were in rural areas, medically underserved areas, or in areas suffering a shortage of primary care health professionals. All of the centers were in counties recognized as “contraceptive deserts.” Since the OBBB Act became law, Planned Parenthood’s distribution of birth control packs has fallen by 25%, visits for breast exams dropped 20% and STI testing declined by 10%. 

\n\n\n\n

Alexis McGill Johnson, the organization’s president and CEO, said in a statement that by targeting Planned Parenthood in the OBBB Act, Trump and Congressional Republicans “worsened a public health crisis, making it harder for people to get the essential and lifesaving care they needed at their trusted provider.” 

\n\n\n\n

To cushion the blow, fourteen states committed more than $400 million in emergency funding to replace lost federal funding and cover essential services for Medicaid patients. But states that only partially covered the cost of providing care — or didn’t cover it at all — saw twice as many Planned Parenthood health centers close than states that replaced all of the federal dollars lost. 

\n\n\n\n

Though the OBBB Act has been in place for a full year, experts say the fallout will continue, since the law’s major provisions are still being phased in. Last year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that because of the healthcare and food assistance cuts, the nation’s poorest households will see their income fall by $1,200 each year on average, while the wealthiest households will gain about $13,600. 

\n\n\n\n

Others, like The Commonwealth Fund, a public-interest nonprofit, estimate a harsher impact for households at the bottom of the income bracket. They predict the lowest 10% of earners will lose an average of $1,600 a year due to the cuts. Meanwhile the bill’s tax cuts for the wealthy will increase resources for the highest-earning 10% of households by $12,000. 

\n\n\n\n

Researchers caution that most of the harshest changes to the health and food assistance programs will happen between 2027 and 2028.  So, the full weight of its effect on Black Americans — and on the nation’s health and wealth disparities—won’t be clear for several more years.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Judge Orders Halt to SNAP’s Ban on Sugary Foods 

\n\n\n\n

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The post A Year In, Trump’s Spending Cuts Hit Hardest in Black Communities appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/07/a-year-in-trumps-spending-cuts-hit-hardest-in-black-communities/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","health","politics"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-07-03T16:16:17.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GettyImages-OBBBAJeffries.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-07-03T16:32:43.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GettyImages-OBBBAJeffries.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"qul9oMGSWwd1yS4P","title":"Extreme Heat Is Not an Equal-Opportunity Killer","description":"It wasn’t extremely hot when Shauna Thomas’ electricity was shut off in early June last year after she fell behind on her bills. In St. Ann, Missouri, the small city just north of Saint Louis, where Thomas lived, it was 88 degrees that day. But in the weeks that followed, the temperature skyrocketed as a heat dome weather system settled over a large swath of the eastern half of the country, including Missouri. On the day Thomas, 55, was found dead in her sweltering apartment, the temperature hit 96 degrees, and the heat index was well over 100. RELATED: Extreme Heat, Redlining, and Neglect In Dallas, a week earlier, the temperature was in the 90s as Jacob Taylor, 28, and a veteran letter carrier, delivered mail in one of the US Postal Service’s older mail trucks that lacked air conditioning. He never made it home from his shift. “I was told that a customer saw him entering his mail together to make deliveries, all of a sudden, collapsed,” Kimetra Lewis of the Dallas Union for Letter Carriers said. Taylor died later that day. He was only 55. Heat Is a Killer — and Victims Are Often Black Extreme heat can be fatal, but it’s not always easy to see it as such. While high temperatures are the deadliest form of extreme weather, deaths from extreme heat are difficult to identify and are frequently misattributed to other causes. But as temperatures soar due to climate change, a growing number of heat-related deaths are gaining attention from researchers and the media. And, like Thomas and Taylor, the victims are often Black. In 2024, inmate Adrienne Boulware died in the Central California Women’s Facility when the temperature in Chowchilla hit 110 degrees. In 2023, Eugene Gates, another Dallas letter carrier, died while working his Dallas route during a heatwave. A 2025 Center for American Progress report put it plainly: “Those who are most vulnerable to heat-related health effects include working-class, low-income, and majority Black or Latino communities, as well as people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, people who are pregnant, people who work or exercise outside, older adults, and young children.” There were more than 21,000 heat-related deaths in the U.S. between 1999 and 2023, according to CAP, with the number of deaths per year steadily rising since 2016. Thomas, the resident whose electricity was cut off, and Taylor, the letter carrier, fell victim to broader issues that turn dangerous heat into deadly heat: a rapidly warming climate triggering extreme weather events, a lack of air conditioning, and outdoor work. Changing Laws It was reported that Thomas had preexisting health issues before the heat wave, but officials concluded high temperatures and lack of air conditioning were factors in her death, if not the outright cause of it. Had the heat hit a few days earlier, or had state laws been a little different, her air conditioning might have been available to her when she needed it most. There’s no provision for turning power back on when it gets dangerously hot. Missouri has what’s called the Hot Weather Law, which bars utilities from shutting off electric or natural gas service when the temperature is forecast to reach at least 95 degrees or when the heat index reaches 105 degrees or higher. The law is in effect between June 1 and September 30 every year. While Thomas’ electricity was shut off after the Hot Weather Law took effect for the year, the temperature was below the 95-degree threshold. There’s no provision for turning power back on when it gets dangerously hot. “We are saddened to learn about the passing of one of our customers,” a spokesperson from Ameren Missouri, the electric utility in St. Ann, said in a statement. “While we cannot share specific customer account details due to privacy considerations, our thoughts are with the individual’s family and friends.” Incompatibile With the Climate Crisis For delivery drivers, the problem of extreme heat is twofold. Besides the outdoor portion of the work, they often drive for hours on end in vehicles that, more often than not, lack air conditioning. The classic USPS mail truck is officially called a Grumman Long-Life Vehicle, and the postal service built up its fleet of these utilitarian trucks over the course of a decade starting in 1987. While many have surpassed their expected 25-year lifespan, in many ways, they’re incompatible with the climate crisis era. “The only form of cooling in the USPS’s old Grumman LLV mail trucks…was a hilariously small fan or opening the side doors and driving as fast as possible,” according to Car and Driver. Without A/C, the temperature inside the mail trucks can exceed outdoor temperatures on hot, sunny days, which can quickly become dangerous. The Postal Service is updating its fleet, replacing LLVs with air-conditioned Next Generation Delivery Vehicles. The majority of the trucks will be all-electric too. But the process will take time, and summers are only getting hotter. The post Extreme Heat Is Not an Equal-Opportunity Killer appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"A
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It wasn’t extremely hot when Shauna Thomas’ electricity was shut off in early June last year after she fell behind on her bills. In St. Ann, Missouri, the small city just north of Saint Louis, where Thomas lived, it was 88 degrees that day.

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But in the weeks that followed, the temperature skyrocketed as a heat dome weather system settled over a large swath of the eastern half of the country, including Missouri.

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On the day Thomas, 55, was found dead in her sweltering apartment, the temperature hit 96 degrees, and the heat index was well over 100.

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RELATED: Extreme Heat, Redlining, and Neglect

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In Dallas, a week earlier, the temperature was in the 90s as Jacob Taylor, 28, and a veteran letter carrier, delivered mail in one of the US Postal Service’s older mail trucks that lacked air conditioning. He never made it home from his shift.

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“I was told that a customer saw him entering his mail together to make deliveries, all of a sudden, collapsed,” Kimetra Lewis of the Dallas Union for Letter Carriers said. Taylor died later that day. He was only 55.

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Heat Is a Killer — and Victims Are Often Black

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Extreme heat can be fatal, but it’s not always easy to see it as such. While high temperatures are the deadliest form of extreme weather, deaths from extreme heat are difficult to identify and are frequently misattributed to other causes.

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But as temperatures soar due to climate change, a growing number of heat-related deaths are gaining attention from researchers and the media. And, like Thomas and Taylor, the victims are often Black.

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In 2024, inmate Adrienne Boulware died in the Central California Women’s Facility when the temperature in Chowchilla hit 110 degrees. In 2023, Eugene Gates, another Dallas letter carrier, died while working his Dallas route during a heatwave. 

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A 2025 Center for American Progress report put it plainly: “Those who are most vulnerable to heat-related health effects include working-class, low-income, and majority Black or Latino communities, as well as people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, people who are pregnant, people who work or exercise outside, older adults, and young children.”

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There were more than 21,000 heat-related deaths in the U.S. between 1999 and 2023, according to CAP, with the number of deaths per year steadily rising since 2016. 

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Thomas, the resident whose electricity was cut off, and Taylor, the letter carrier, fell victim to broader issues that turn dangerous heat into deadly heat: a rapidly warming climate triggering extreme weather events, a lack of air conditioning, and outdoor work.

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Changing Laws

\n\n\n\n

It was reported that Thomas had preexisting health issues before the heat wave, but officials concluded high temperatures and lack of air conditioning were factors in her death, if not the outright cause of it. Had the heat hit a few days earlier, or had state laws been a little different, her air conditioning might have been available to her when she needed it most. 

\n\n\n\n

There’s no provision for turning power back on when it gets dangerously hot.

\n\n\n\n

Missouri has what’s called the Hot Weather Law, which bars utilities from shutting off electric or natural gas service when the temperature is forecast to reach at least 95 degrees or when the heat index reaches 105 degrees or higher. The law is in effect between June 1 and September 30 every year.

\n\n\n\n

While Thomas’ electricity was shut off after the Hot Weather Law took effect for the year, the temperature was below the 95-degree threshold. There’s no provision for turning power back on when it gets dangerously hot.

\n\n\n\n

“We are saddened to learn about the passing of one of our customers,” a spokesperson from Ameren Missouri, the electric utility in St. Ann, said in a statement. “While we cannot share specific customer account details due to privacy considerations, our thoughts are with the individual’s family and friends.”

\n\n\n\n

Incompatibile With the Climate Crisis

\n\n\n\n

For delivery drivers, the problem of extreme heat is twofold. Besides the outdoor portion of the work, they often drive for hours on end in vehicles that, more often than not, lack air conditioning.

\n\n\n\n

The classic USPS mail truck is officially called a Grumman Long-Life Vehicle, and the postal service built up its fleet of these utilitarian trucks over the course of a decade starting in 1987. While many have surpassed their expected 25-year lifespan, in many ways, they’re incompatible with the climate crisis era.

\n\n\n\n

“The only form of cooling in the USPS’s old Grumman LLV mail trucks…was a hilariously small fan or opening the side doors and driving as fast as possible,” according to Car and Driver. 

\n\n\n\n

Without A/C, the temperature inside the mail trucks can exceed outdoor temperatures on hot, sunny days, which can quickly become dangerous. The Postal Service is updating its fleet, replacing LLVs with air-conditioned Next Generation Delivery Vehicles. The majority of the trucks will be all-electric too. 

\n\n\n\n

But the process will take time, and summers are only getting hotter.

\n

The post Extreme Heat Is Not an Equal-Opportunity Killer appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/07/extreme-heat-is-not-an-equal-opportunity-killer/","site":"Willy Blackmore","originalAuthor":"Willy Blackmore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Climate Justice","extreme heat"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-07-02T15:05:34.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2221231052.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-07-02T15:14:43.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/GettyImages-2221231052.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"5bhL0q53FvWT7bJC","title":"DOJ Defends xAI in Lawsuit Over Memphis Power Plant","description":"In the legal battle between the NAACP and Elon Musk over gas turbines powering Musk’s AI data centers — and polluting the air in greater Memphis — the billionaire industrialist has a new ally: the Trump administration’s Department of Justice. In an unprecedented move, the DOJ has asked a federal judge to throw out the NAACP’s lawsuit against xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company, over Clean Air Act violations in Southaven, Mississippi. It argues that the federal government alone should have the power to decide if and when federal laws are enforced. LEARN MORE: Elon Musk Expands AI Plant Accused of Polluting Black Areas The Justice Department further argues that Grok — the xAI chatbot powered in part by the turbines in question — is vital to national security. Black Communities Harmed The NAACP sued Musk’s company for using 59 natural gas turbines without a permit in Southaven, which is just across the state line from Memphis. The turbines help power xAI’s Memphis supercomputers, which run Grok. Both Southaven and Boxtown, the Memphis neighborhood that sits alongside the Grok facility, are predominantly Black communities. Boxtown in particular was founded by freedmen in 1863 following the Emancipation Proclamation. The NAACP, along with the Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice, calls the DOJ response deeply troubling. “In my experience, I have never known the government to intervene on behalf of the defendant to argue that enforcement shouldn’t happen at all,” Laura Thoms of Earthjustice told Mother Jones. Thoms formerly worked for the Department of Justice. Chronic Air Problems The greater Memphis area has long had significant air quality problems. In its annual rankings, the American Lung Association gave the surrounding counties of the city failing grades for smog. The turbines in Southaven, meanwhile, can produce up to 5,300 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxide annually, ranking the power plant among the leading emitters of the pollutant in the entire country. In my experience, I have never known the government to intervene on behalf of the defendant to argue that enforcement shouldn’t happen at all.Laura Thoms, Earthjustice The Trump administration’s official stance, as represented by the Justice Department filings, is that the pollution that violates the Clean Air Act should be allowed to continue, essentially because they want it to. “The NAACP may not pursue this Clean Air Act enforcement action over the United States’ objection,” the DOJ wrote in its request for dismissal of the case. National Security By pursuing the lawsuit, it states, “the NAACP threatens American national, economic, and energy security by seeking to shut off the power supply for artificial intelligence innovation that supports the Department of War’s military operations.” The Trump Administration used a specialized version of Grok during the Iran War. In a sworn affidavit, Cameron Stanley, the Defense Department’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer, wrote that the chatbot “enabled U.S. forces to deploy over 2,000 munitions to 2,000 distinct targets within 96 hours” during the war. The judge overseeing the lawsuit against xAI has yet to respond to the DOJ request, but the NAACP is confident the case will move ahead. “Laws like the Clean Air Act are a bedrock insurance policy for communities to hold polluters accountable for decisions that cause them harm,” Abre’ Conner, the NAACP’s director of environmental and climate justice, said in a press release. “This should not be up for debate, and the NAACP will continue to stand up for democracy and against federal bullying and authoritarianism.” The post DOJ Defends xAI in Lawsuit Over Memphis Power Plant appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"The
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In the legal battle between the NAACP and Elon Musk over gas turbines powering Musk’s AI data centers — and polluting the air in greater Memphis — the billionaire industrialist has a new ally: the Trump administration’s Department of Justice. 

\n\n\n\n

In an unprecedented move, the DOJ has asked a federal judge to throw out the NAACP’s lawsuit against xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence company, over Clean Air Act violations in Southaven, Mississippi. It argues that the federal government alone should have the power to decide if and when federal laws are enforced. 

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LEARN MORE: Elon Musk Expands AI Plant Accused of Polluting Black Areas

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The Justice Department further argues that Grok — the xAI chatbot powered in part by the turbines in question — is vital to national security.

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Black Communities Harmed

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The NAACP sued Musk’s company for using 59 natural gas turbines without a permit in Southaven, which is just across the state line from Memphis. The turbines help power xAI’s Memphis supercomputers, which run Grok. 

\n\n\n\n

Both Southaven and Boxtown, the Memphis neighborhood that sits alongside the Grok facility, are predominantly Black communities. Boxtown in particular was founded by freedmen in 1863 following the Emancipation Proclamation. 

\n\n\n\n

The NAACP, along with the Southern Environmental Law Center and Earthjustice, calls the DOJ response deeply troubling.  

\n\n\n\n

“In my experience, I have never known the government to intervene on behalf of the defendant to argue that enforcement shouldn’t happen at all,” Laura Thoms of Earthjustice told Mother Jones. Thoms formerly worked for the Department of Justice.

\n\n\n\n

Chronic Air Problems

\n\n\n\n

The greater Memphis area has long had significant air quality problems. In its annual rankings, the American Lung Association gave the surrounding counties of the city failing grades for smog. The turbines in Southaven, meanwhile, can produce up to 5,300 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxide annually, ranking the power plant among the leading emitters of the pollutant in the entire country. 

\n\n\n\n

In my experience, I have never known the government to intervene on behalf of the defendant to argue that enforcement shouldn’t happen at all.

Laura Thoms, Earthjustice
\n\n\n\n

The Trump administration’s official stance, as represented by the Justice Department filings, is that the pollution that violates the Clean Air Act should be allowed to continue, essentially because they want it to. 

\n\n\n\n

“The NAACP may not pursue this Clean Air Act enforcement action over the United States’ objection,” the DOJ wrote in its request for dismissal of the case. 

\n\n\n\n

National Security

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By pursuing the lawsuit, it states, “the NAACP threatens American national, economic, and energy security by seeking to shut off the power supply for artificial intelligence innovation that supports the Department of War’s military operations.” 

\n\n\n\n

The Trump Administration used a specialized version of Grok during the Iran War. 

\n\n\n\n

In a sworn affidavit, Cameron Stanley, the Defense Department’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer, wrote that the chatbot “enabled U.S. forces to deploy over 2,000 munitions to 2,000 distinct targets within 96 hours” during the war.

\n\n\n\n

The judge overseeing the lawsuit against xAI has yet to respond to the DOJ request, but the NAACP is confident the case will move ahead.

\n\n\n\n

“Laws like the Clean Air Act are a bedrock insurance policy for communities to hold polluters accountable for decisions that cause them harm,” Abre’ Conner, the NAACP’s director of environmental and climate justice, said in a press release. “This should not be up for debate, and the NAACP will continue to stand up for democracy and against federal bullying and authoritarianism.” 

\n

The post DOJ Defends xAI in Lawsuit Over Memphis Power Plant appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/07/doj-defends-xai-in-lawsuit-over-memphis-power-plant/","site":"Willy Blackmore","originalAuthor":"Willy Blackmore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Climate Justice","climate justice"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-07-01T20:08:44.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GettyImages-2243569108.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-07-01T20:16:36.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/GettyImages-2243569108.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"KkI2o3J84VLfTwO2","title":"Trump’s Student Loan Caps Could Cut Black Healthcare Workers","description":"By Lauren Sausser Benjamin Pinckney, 46, has dreamed of becoming a physician assistant since just after his 20th birthday. He had been targeted by a drive-by shooter in Jacksonville, Florida, and hospitalized with two gunshot wounds. During his weeklong hospitalization, he said, a physician assistant changed the course of his life by visiting his hospital bed each day and warning him that Black men like him, with gunshot wounds, often end up paralyzed — or worse. LEARN MORE: The Student Loan Crisis Is About to Get Worse “I used to run the streets, you know, on the wrong sides of the track,” Pinckney said. “He made me promise that I would never come into his ER that way again. That was the last conversation we had, right before I was discharged.” His goal since then has been to become a physician assistant. Pinckney, who spent most of his career working for New York City’s Department of Sanitation and as an Army Reserve medic, recently took a step toward achieving it. In May, he graduated with departmental honors from Lehman College with a Bachelor of Science degree. After moving from New York to Prince George’s County, Maryland, he’d planned on applying for physician assistant school this year. But now, he’s worried his dream may be thwarted by new student loan rules. Caps Fall Short Starting July 1, the amount of money graduate students will be allowed to borrow from the federal government will be capped. The new student loan limits are part of the GOP’s tax-and-spending legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last year. The caps are intended to curb the cost of higher education and student loan debt, according to the Trump administration. But critics widely agree the new limits are too low, especially for students allowed to borrow only $20,500 a year in federal loans due to the law’s controversial definition of a “professional degree.” On June 24, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Education from enforcing that definition. Still, for many students, the new caps won’t cover the combined cost of tuition, housing, and living expenses. Bennjamin Pinckney has spent most of his career working for New York City’s Department of Sanitation. But he has dreamed of becoming a physician assistant since he was treated for gunshot wounds at a Jacksonville, Florida, hospital in 1999. (Erica S. Lee for KFF Health News) This could leave hundreds of thousands of students who borrow money for graduate school each year at the mercy of private lenders with higher interest rates and fewer repayment options. Some experts and students also worry that the limits will threaten efforts to diversify the healthcare workforce by deterring minorities and people from low-income households from applying to graduate programs. A drop in incoming students could worsen existing rural and primary care shortages, they argue. Many politicians and loan experts have acknowledged that the cost of higher education needs to be addressed. But the new federal loan limits are “just not going to achieve that goal,” said Todd Pickard, president of the American Academy of Physician Associates, one of several organizations that have sued the Department of Education over the rules. “It’d be like if you had a hangnail and I cut your whole arm off instead of just taking care of your hangnail,” Pickard said. “The treatment doesn’t match the problem.” ‘A Rock and a Hard Place’ Students working toward what the law describes as “professional degrees” — including trainee doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and chiropractors — will be allowed to borrow up to $200,000 total, and no more than $50,000 a year. Meanwhile, the median cost of attending a public medical school is nearly $300,000 over four years, while the median cost of a private medical school education exceeds $400,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. It’d be like if you had a hangnail and I cut your whole arm off instead of just taking care of your hangnail. The treatment doesn’t match the problem.Todd Pickard, president, American Academy of Physician Associates, The caps were set even lower for those pursuing other “graduate” degrees, who face a $100,000 borrowing limit for federal loans over the course of their degree programs. The annual limit for this category of students is only $20,500. Students pursuing physical therapy, physician assistant, and nursing degrees were originally included in this group. But according to new guidance issued by the Department of Education on June 29, some of these students will at least temporarily be able to borrow up to the higher limit, according to The Associated Press. The Department of Education, which has been sued by clinician trade groups and about two dozen states over the new rules, did not respond to questions for this article. Debt Disparity As the law was written, a physician assistant student who completed their degree within the average two to three years would not have been eligible to borrow the full $100,000. Meanwhile, physician assistants typically start their careers with an average debt of $112,000, meaning some could be forced to finance their education with higher-interest private loans. “I feel like I’m between a rock and a hard place,” said Olivia Trull, 24, who is scheduled to begin the physician assistant program at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, this summer. The 28-month program costs $137,000, with about $62,000 in tuition and fees estimated for the first year, she said. That doesn’t include living expenses. Before the court order, Trull said she qualified for the maximum annual allotment under the new rules of $20,500 in federal loans during her first year of graduate school. The balance would need to be financed through a private lender. She anticipated she would need up to $100,000 in private loans to finance her graduate degree and would face loan payments of more than $3,000 a month when she was done. “I have to actually sit down and have a conversation with myself,” Trull said, to consider “if I want to be drowning in debt for the next 10 years of my life.” One private bank offered her a loan with an interest rate of nearly 14%, she said. ‘Arbitrary and Capricious’ Pinckney, who said he finished his undergraduate degree with about $10,000 in federal student loan debt, said some of his friends who have already applied for private student loans have been quoted interest rates as high as 13%. Meanwhile, interest rates for federal loans for graduate students, which are set annually, are currently about 8-9%. Federal loans also offer more flexible repayment options than private loans typically do. In May, 25 states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education over the new rules. The complaint described the law’s “professional degree” definition as “arbitrary and capricious.” In a separate federal lawsuit filed in June, the American Academy of Physician Associates and the PA Education Association alleged that the new rules deny students the loan amounts needed to attend physician assistant schools. They argue that PA students should be able to access the higher loan limits available to students in medical school and other professional degree programs. (While “physician assistant” and “physician associate” typically refer to the same role, the AAPA adopted the title “physician associate” in 2021 because of “concern that ‘assistant’ does not reflect the important role of PAs in delivering high-quality healthcare to patients.”) Meanwhile, Trump administration officials have contended the cost of graduate school is too high across the board. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, speaking before a House committee in May about the new limits, said, “It is our overall goal to bring down the cost of college and education.” Lower Grad-School Tuition Indeed, some experts acknowledge that the new limits may be helpful in bringing down costs. The federal Grad PLUS loan program, established by Congress 20 years ago, did not cap the amount graduate students could borrow in federal loans. That program was eliminated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. “There is considerable evidence that people borrowed more than they really needed to go to school,” said Sandy Baum, a higher education economist and a senior fellow at the Urban Institute. Already, some graduate programs have lowered tuition prices, Baum said. In May, for example, the University of California-Irvine announced it would lower the cost of its MBA programs by tens of thousands of dollars to fall below the new federal lending thresholds. And yet Baum doesn’t anticipate many other schools will follow suit. “I don’t think we’re going to see some dramatic decline in prices,” she said. “I think some programs could close down because they can’t manage.” ‘Tears Have Been Shed’ The new lending limits will also disproportionately affect Black students, Baum said, because they have historically borrowed more than white and Hispanic students. For some students who borrowed money to finance their undergraduate degrees, the new limits will hit especially hard. Under the new rules, they will be subject to a lifetime limit of $257,000 in federal student loans. “There will be students who can’t enroll,” Baum said. Andrei Robu, 26, a medical student at the Medical University of South Carolina, leads the Financial Literacy Interest Group on the Charleston campus. He said many of his peers are worried that the lending limits will make the student body less diverse. He is also concerned that, because the demand for acceptance into medical school is already so high, schools could prioritize entrance for students from wealthy backgrounds and “still fill up their classes.” “That’s just not what we want in our physician workforce,” said Robu, who isn’t subject to the new rules as a current student. “We want to represent the population of the country at large.” Jasmine Vasquez, 26, who has been accepted into the physician assistant program at South College in Atlanta, decided to defer her enrollment until 2027, partly to see if her financing options change. She is worried about taking on too much debt from a private bank. “Tears have been shed multiple times,” said Vasquez, who is due to give birth in September. “It’s nothing that’s within my control.” Riding Out the Storm Betsy Mayotte, president of the Institute for Student Loan Advisors, expects the new rules will force some graduates into bankruptcy when they can’t afford to repay private loans. First, though, she expects enrollment numbers to drop and some graduate programs to close because they can’t recruit enough students. Completion rates will also drop, she expects, as students run into federal loan limits partway through their degree programs. Beyond that, she predicts healthcare graduates will seek jobs in high-paying specialties, exacerbating shortages in rural and underserved communities. “They’re going to go where they can make the most money,” Mayotte said. Pinckney said he is “not really sure” what the future holds. He paid for most of his undergraduate education by working while he was in school, but that’s typically not possible for full-time physician assistant students. RELATED: Unpaid Student Loans? The Feds Could Take Your Paycheck He has considered applying to a biomedical science graduate program instead, which he estimated would cost about $30,000 — an amount that’s “a lot more doable,” he said. It would allow him to potentially work in a lab or in pharmaceuticals, he said. It’s still aligned with medicine, he said, but it wouldn’t help him realize his goal of working with patients. “Maybe this thing will blow over,” he said of the new federal loan limits. In the meantime, he’s holding out hope. “If I can influence one person’s life, that would be my way of paying him forward for what he did,” he said, referring to the physician assistant who inspired him back in 1999. “It’s very hard to pivot from that dream.” KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. The post Trump’s Student Loan Caps Could Cut Black Healthcare Workers appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"New
\n

By Lauren Sausser

\n\n\n\n

Benjamin Pinckney, 46, has dreamed of becoming a physician assistant since just after his 20th birthday.

\n\n\n\n

He had been targeted by a drive-by shooter in Jacksonville, Florida, and hospitalized with two gunshot wounds. During his weeklong hospitalization, he said, a physician assistant changed the course of his life by visiting his hospital bed each day and warning him that Black men like him, with gunshot wounds, often end up paralyzed — or worse.

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: The Student Loan Crisis Is About to Get Worse

\n\n\n\n

“I used to run the streets, you know, on the wrong sides of the track,” Pinckney said. “He made me promise that I would never come into his ER that way again. That was the last conversation we had, right before I was discharged.”

\n\n\n\n

His goal since then has been to become a physician assistant. Pinckney, who spent most of his career working for New York City’s Department of Sanitation and as an Army Reserve medic, recently took a step toward achieving it. In May, he graduated with departmental honors from Lehman College with a Bachelor of Science degree.

\n\n\n\n

After moving from New York to Prince George’s County, Maryland, he’d planned on applying for physician assistant school this year. But now, he’s worried his dream may be thwarted by new student loan rules.

\n\n\n\n

Caps Fall Short

\n\n\n\n

Starting July 1, the amount of money graduate students will be allowed to borrow from the federal government will be capped. The new student loan limits are part of the GOP’s tax-and-spending legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law last year.

\n\n\n\n

The caps are intended to curb the cost of higher education and student loan debt, according to the Trump administration.

\n\n\n\n

But critics widely agree the new limits are too low, especially for students allowed to borrow only $20,500 a year in federal loans due to the law’s controversial definition of a “professional degree.” On June 24, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Department of Education from enforcing that definition. Still, for many students, the new caps won’t cover the combined cost of tuition, housing, and living expenses.

\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Bennjamin Pinckney has spent most of his career working for New York City’s Department of Sanitation. But he has dreamed of becoming a physician assistant since he was treated for gunshot wounds at a Jacksonville, Florida, hospital in 1999. (Erica S. Lee for KFF Health News)
\n\n\n\n

This could leave hundreds of thousands of students who borrow money for graduate school each year at the mercy of private lenders with higher interest rates and fewer repayment options.

\n\n\n\n

Some experts and students also worry that the limits will threaten efforts to diversify the healthcare workforce by deterring minorities and people from low-income households from applying to graduate programs. A drop in incoming students could worsen existing rural and primary care shortages, they argue.

\n\n\n\n

Many politicians and loan experts have acknowledged that the cost of higher education needs to be addressed. But the new federal loan limits are “just not going to achieve that goal,” said Todd Pickard, president of the American Academy of Physician Associates, one of several organizations that have sued the Department of Education over the rules.

\n\n\n\n

“It’d be like if you had a hangnail and I cut your whole arm off instead of just taking care of your hangnail,” Pickard said. “The treatment doesn’t match the problem.”

\n\n\n\n

‘A Rock and a Hard Place’

\n\n\n\n

Students working toward what the law describes as “professional degrees” — including trainee doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and chiropractors — will be allowed to borrow up to $200,000 total, and no more than $50,000 a year.

\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the median cost of attending a public medical school is nearly $300,000 over four years, while the median cost of a private medical school education exceeds $400,000, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

\n\n\n\n

It’d be like if you had a hangnail and I cut your whole arm off instead of just taking care of your hangnail. The treatment doesn’t match the problem.

Todd Pickard, president, American Academy of Physician Associates,
\n\n\n\n

The caps were set even lower for those pursuing other “graduate” degrees, who face a $100,000 borrowing limit for federal loans over the course of their degree programs. The annual limit for this category of students is only $20,500. Students pursuing physical therapy, physician assistant, and nursing degrees were originally included in this group. But according to new guidance issued by the Department of Education on June 29, some of these students will at least temporarily be able to borrow up to the higher limit, according to The Associated Press.

\n\n\n\n

The Department of Education, which has been sued by clinician trade groups and about two dozen states over the new rules, did not respond to questions for this article.

\n\n\n\n

Debt Disparity

\n\n\n\n

As the law was written, a physician assistant student who completed their degree within the average two to three years would not have been eligible to borrow the full $100,000. Meanwhile, physician assistants typically start their careers with an average debt of $112,000, meaning some could be forced to finance their education with higher-interest private loans.

\n\n\n\n

“I feel like I’m between a rock and a hard place,” said Olivia Trull, 24, who is scheduled to begin the physician assistant program at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, this summer. The 28-month program costs $137,000, with about $62,000 in tuition and fees estimated for the first year, she said. That doesn’t include living expenses.

\n\n\n\n

Before the court order, Trull said she qualified for the maximum annual allotment under the new rules of $20,500 in federal loans during her first year of graduate school. The balance would need to be financed through a private lender.

\n\n\n\n

She anticipated she would need up to $100,000 in private loans to finance her graduate degree and would face loan payments of more than $3,000 a month when she was done.

\n\n\n\n

“I have to actually sit down and have a conversation with myself,” Trull said, to consider “if I want to be drowning in debt for the next 10 years of my life.” One private bank offered her a loan with an interest rate of nearly 14%, she said.

\n\n\n\n

‘Arbitrary and Capricious’

\n\n\n\n

Pinckney, who said he finished his undergraduate degree with about $10,000 in federal student loan debt, said some of his friends who have already applied for private student loans have been quoted interest rates as high as 13%. Meanwhile, interest rates for federal loans for graduate students, which are set annually, are currently about 8-9%. Federal loans also offer more flexible repayment options than private loans typically do.

\n\n\n\n

In May, 25 states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education over the new rules. The complaint described the law’s “professional degree” definition as “arbitrary and capricious.”

\n\n\n\n

In a separate federal lawsuit filed in June, the American Academy of Physician Associates and the PA Education Association alleged that the new rules deny students the loan amounts needed to attend physician assistant schools. They argue that PA students should be able to access the higher loan limits available to students in medical school and other professional degree programs. (While “physician assistant” and “physician associate” typically refer to the same role, the AAPA adopted the title “physician associate” in 2021 because of “concern that ‘assistant’ does not reflect the important role of PAs in delivering high-quality healthcare to patients.”)

\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Trump administration officials have contended the cost of graduate school is too high across the board. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, speaking before a House committee in May about the new limits, said, “It is our overall goal to bring down the cost of college and education.”

\n\n\n\n

Lower Grad-School Tuition

\n\n\n\n

Indeed, some experts acknowledge that the new limits may be helpful in bringing down costs. The federal Grad PLUS loan program, established by Congress 20 years ago, did not cap the amount graduate students could borrow in federal loans. That program was eliminated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

\n\n\n\n

“There is considerable evidence that people borrowed more than they really needed to go to school,” said Sandy Baum, a higher education economist and a senior fellow at the Urban Institute.

\n\n\n\n

Already, some graduate programs have lowered tuition prices, Baum said. In May, for example, the University of California-Irvine announced it would lower the cost of its MBA programs by tens of thousands of dollars to fall below the new federal lending thresholds.

\n\n\n\n

And yet Baum doesn’t anticipate many other schools will follow suit.

\n\n\n\n

“I don’t think we’re going to see some dramatic decline in prices,” she said. “I think some programs could close down because they can’t manage.”

\n\n\n\n

‘Tears Have Been Shed’

\n\n\n\n

The new lending limits will also disproportionately affect Black students, Baum said, because they have historically borrowed more than white and Hispanic students.

\n\n\n\n

For some students who borrowed money to finance their undergraduate degrees, the new limits will hit especially hard. Under the new rules, they will be subject to a lifetime limit of $257,000 in federal student loans.

\n\n\n\n

“There will be students who can’t enroll,” Baum said.

\n\n\n\n

Andrei Robu, 26, a medical student at the Medical University of South Carolina, leads the Financial Literacy Interest Group on the Charleston campus. He said many of his peers are worried that the lending limits will make the student body less diverse.

\n\n\n\n

He is also concerned that, because the demand for acceptance into medical school is already so high, schools could prioritize entrance for students from wealthy backgrounds and “still fill up their classes.”

\n\n\n\n

“That’s just not what we want in our physician workforce,” said Robu, who isn’t subject to the new rules as a current student. “We want to represent the population of the country at large.”

\n\n\n\n

Jasmine Vasquez, 26, who has been accepted into the physician assistant program at South College in Atlanta, decided to defer her enrollment until 2027, partly to see if her financing options change. She is worried about taking on too much debt from a private bank.

\n\n\n\n

“Tears have been shed multiple times,” said Vasquez, who is due to give birth in September. “It’s nothing that’s within my control.”

\n\n\n\n

Riding Out the Storm

\n\n\n\n

Betsy Mayotte, president of the Institute for Student Loan Advisors, expects the new rules will force some graduates into bankruptcy when they can’t afford to repay private loans.

\n\n\n\n

First, though, she expects enrollment numbers to drop and some graduate programs to close because they can’t recruit enough students. Completion rates will also drop, she expects, as students run into federal loan limits partway through their degree programs.

\n\n\n\n

Beyond that, she predicts healthcare graduates will seek jobs in high-paying specialties, exacerbating shortages in rural and underserved communities.

\n\n\n\n

“They’re going to go where they can make the most money,” Mayotte said.

\n\n\n\n

Pinckney said he is “not really sure” what the future holds. He paid for most of his undergraduate education by working while he was in school, but that’s typically not possible for full-time physician assistant students.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Unpaid Student Loans? The Feds Could Take Your Paycheck

\n\n\n\n

He has considered applying to a biomedical science graduate program instead, which he estimated would cost about $30,000 — an amount that’s “a lot more doable,” he said. It would allow him to potentially work in a lab or in pharmaceuticals, he said. It’s still aligned with medicine, he said, but it wouldn’t help him realize his goal of working with patients.

\n\n\n\n

“Maybe this thing will blow over,” he said of the new federal loan limits. In the meantime, he’s holding out hope.

\n\n\n\n

“If I can influence one person’s life, that would be my way of paying him forward for what he did,” he said, referring to the physician assistant who inspired him back in 1999. “It’s very hard to pivot from that dream.”

\n\n\n\n

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

\n\n\n\n

This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

\n\n\n\n
\"\"
\n

The post Trump’s Student Loan Caps Could Cut Black Healthcare Workers appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/07/trumps-student-loan-caps-could-cut-black-healthcare-workers/","site":"Joseph Williams","originalAuthor":"Joseph Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-07-01T15:29:08.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Pinckney_12-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-07-01T15:31:52.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Pinckney_12-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"RIlreJoIOBgQdhWe","title":"Black Maternal Health: A 360-Degree Look at Black Midwives","description":"Dr. Kaytura Felix spent more than two decades studying minority health, structural racism and the inequities that have left Black Americans with some of the nation’s worst health outcomes. But as the Black maternal mortality crisis deepened, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health physician and researcher began asking a different question: What was the Black community already doing to save Black mothers? That search led her to Black midwives. Now, Felix is leading the Black Birthing Futures study, a multi-city research project examining how Black midwives are addressing the maternal health crisis through community-based care that extends beyond pregnancy to families, neighborhoods and the social conditions that shape health. Her work also explores how poverty, racism and climate change intersect to influence maternal outcomes — and what policymakers can learn from the people already doing the work. The findings arrive as the United States continues to grapple with persistently high maternal mortality rates, particularly among Black women. According to the American Midwifery Certification Board’s 2024 report, just over 14,500 certified midwives were active as of January 2024. More than 8 in 10 identified themselves as white and almost all of them listed English as their primary language. The average age was around 48,, with nearly 15% age 65 or older. The number of new midwives has increased since 2020 but fewer than 10% are Black. The most commonly cited barriers to entering the field were the direct cost of midwifery education, systemic and experienced racism within the profession, and the cost of related expenses. But a vast majority of midwives said they chose the profession to help address the need for culturally sensitive care and help reduce race-based health disparities. There’s strong evidence that Black midwives are more likely to adopt community-based approaches that institution-driven medical care, like hospitals and traditional obstetrics, tends to overlook. Felix is a Distinguished Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management. The following has been edited for length and clarity. WIB: How did Black maternal health become the focus of your practice? Kaytura Felix: I’ve focused on minority health, health disparities, and structural racism for more than 20 years. In 2023, I shifted my attention from medical racism itself to what the community was doing about it. My simple question was: what is the Black community doing about the Black maternal health crisis? I spoke to 70 experts, just picking up the telephone. Person after person said, ‘Look to Black community midwives.’ I’m a Black mother and a physician — I had never thought much about midwifery. I thought it was something from another era, something our forebears did because they had no choice. Then one Black midwife offered to let me shadow her postpartum visits, and what I saw changed everything. The 10-day postpartum visit took place entirely in the new mother’s bedroom. The midwife came to her — not the other way around — because postpartum is an extraordinarily sensitive time and everything needs to wrap around the mother. The eight-week visit had a different energy: it was about reentry into the world. We started in the backyard, went for a 10-minute walk, then came back inside. Three settings, one visit. What struck me was that the midwife’s role extended beyond stabilizing mother and baby. She had her eyes on the whole family — and we know the majority of maternal deaths occur during the postpartum period. WIB: How did your observations affect your research? Kaytura Felix: My team designed a study to understand the Black midwife’s experience: what they do, the impact they have on families and communities, and what supports or hinders their practice. We interviewed midwives, clients, families, and collaborators across five cities — Jacksonville, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles; and Honolulu, Hawaii. One consistent finding: Black midwives provide restorative, holistic care — not just for the pregnant person, but for the entire family. Conventional Western care centers the individual; these midwives operate from the premise that pregnancy is a family event. WIB: What issues are driving the maternal healthcare crisis in the U.S., and what does it mean to approach fixing it from a community perspective, as opposed to an institution-driven perspective? Kaytura Felix: Science is beginning to understand that pregnancy is a stress test. Many Black Americans live in historically underinvested communities — more pollution, financial precarity, limited transportation and education. We enter pregnancy already weathered. Weathering is when the body runs on overdrive to stabilize itself against constant challenge — an acceleration of aging. The body is at capacity before the pregnancy even begins. WIB: What is actually saving the lives of Black mothers right now? Felix: Two things. First, doulas in hospitals — where most U.S. births happen. Doulas reduce stress on the mother, distribute the load, and help catch complications early. Research shows they increase satisfaction with care and reduce C-section rates. Second, community birth — in birth centers and at home. In the first episode of Deep Care, we meet a nurse named Brittany Murray who had two traumatic hospital births. Through a Facebook group, someone connected her with a midwife who said, ‘I will take this journey with you.’ The midwife worked with a maternal-fetal specialist, addressed Brittany’s overall health, and supported a home birth after two cesarean sections. Two traumatic births — and she had a joyful, triumphant one. You can meet Brittany in episode one of the Deep Care podcast on Spotify. WIB: Did your research identify the impact of issues such as mental health, specifically postpartum depression or other potential complications that arise during the postpartum period? Felix: Pregnancy is a massive life transition — biologically and emotionally — and our society provides very little support for it. Employment discrimination, financial stress, the hormonal drop after delivery: these pile onto a body already under strain. What I found is that midwives understand the postpartum period deeply, but their response is not to medicalize it. Their response is to provide love and support. Shafia Monroe — a longtime midwife — wrote a book on African American postpartum traditions titled Mothering the Mother. That title captures the philosophy: just as the mother is mothering the baby, the extended family and community need to mother the mother. Research confirms this — the mind is not separate from the body. A subset of people will need medical care, but that shouldn’t be the starting point. I named my podcast Deep Care to signal that what these midwives offer is fundamentally different from the 15-minute transactional visits I was trained in — and that so many Black mothers describe when they say nobody listens to them. Felix: In our research, clients said one of the most valued aspects of care from their Black midwives was education on diet, nutrition, and physical health. These midwives understood that pregnancy is a pivotal window — a chance to shift the trajectory. Research confirms this: how a woman’s body responds to pregnancy can predict her health at 50 and 60. Gestational diabetes and high blood pressure don’t disappear after delivery; they signal that the body was already at capacity. WIB: Can you talk to me about what you found with the different certifications, and how those are carried out, and what the benefits are vis-à-vis conventional medicine? Felix: In the United States, there are several paths. The Certified Nurse Midwife holds a graduate degree and primarily practices in hospitals. The Certified Professional Midwife completes two to three years of community-based training and holds a national certification recognized in roughly 37 to 38 states — compared to nursing, which is recognized in all 50. Out of the community tradition, some midwives train through apprenticeship under a senior midwife and become either a certified midwife or a lay midwife. Despite different training paths, the model is consistent: pregnancy as a physiological process, with the whole family at the center. There’s now a movement to harmonize these tracks. WIB: Let’s talk about that a little bit. Even knowing it’s a developing story — the fact that it is developing indicates something is making people recognize these two groups shouldn’t be in competition. Is that also being affected by the policy proposals on the table to change midwifery? Kaytura Felix Doulas are gaining traction, and people are recognizing that fragmentation within midwifery hurts the field and families. A funder told me directly: ‘These midwives need to get their act together. Come back to me when they do.’ That infighting is showing up as legislative battles — in some states, Certified Nurse Midwives or certified midwives are advancing bills that Certified Professional Midwives believe will harm them. That needs to stop. WIB: Why did you create the Deep Care podcast, and what are your goals for it? Felix: We named it Deep Care to signal that this is not about run-of-the-mill care. Black women need to know all their birthing options. These clients slay dragons to get to midwifery care. The barriers were financial, but also the stigma within the Black community around midwifery. The Deep Care podcast addresses that — to raise awareness, but also to correct misinformation. Midwives are trained, they are educated, they are competent. And Black women — we’re healthy enough to have home births and community births. These midwives are educating us about our health and helping us transform our health. The statistics need to energize us to act. That’s the point of the statistic — to get us off our seats. And there are solutions in the community, there are places we can begin. We can support the pregnant people in our communities. We can fund community-based birth. We can fund the training of doulas and midwives. We can advocate for policies that are friendly to midwives — not just in the community, but also in hospitals. We can advocate for hospitals to follow more of the midwifery model of care, which is about support for the entire family during pregnancy. What needs to happen: we need a bigger footprint for midwifery in this country. We need better transitions from community midwifery care to hospital care. We need to dispel the myths and change the narrative about Black midwifery and Black birth. Yes, we need to talk about the challenges, but we also need to talk about the solutions — because it’s irresponsible to talk about the challenges without also advancing the solutions. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface. RELATED: South Carolinians Continue Colleague’s Push for Maternal Health The post Black Maternal Health: A 360-Degree Look at Black Midwives appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"\"
\n

Dr. Kaytura Felix spent more than two decades studying minority health, structural racism and the inequities that have left Black Americans with some of the nation’s worst health outcomes. But as the Black maternal mortality crisis deepened, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health physician and researcher began asking a different question: What was the Black community already doing to save Black mothers?

\n\n\n\n

That search led her to Black midwives.

\n\n\n\n

Now, Felix is leading the Black Birthing Futures study, a multi-city research project examining how Black midwives are addressing the maternal health crisis through community-based care that extends beyond pregnancy to families, neighborhoods and the social conditions that shape health. Her work also explores how poverty, racism and climate change intersect to influence maternal outcomes — and what policymakers can learn from the people already doing the work.

\n\n\n\n

The findings arrive as the United States continues to grapple with persistently high maternal mortality rates, particularly among Black women. 

\n\n\n\n

According to the American Midwifery Certification Board’s 2024 report, just over 14,500 certified midwives were active as of January 2024. More than 8 in 10 identified themselves as white and almost all of them listed English as their primary language. The average age was around 48,, with nearly 15% age 65 or older. The number of new midwives has increased since 2020  but fewer than 10% are Black. 

\n\n\n\n

The most commonly cited barriers to entering the field were the direct cost of midwifery education, systemic and experienced racism within the profession, and the cost of related expenses. But a vast majority of midwives said they chose the profession to help address the need for culturally sensitive care and help reduce race-based health disparities. 

\n\n\n\n

There’s strong evidence that Black midwives are more likely to adopt  community-based approaches that institution-driven medical care, like hospitals and traditional obstetrics, tends to overlook.

\n\n\n\n

Felix is a Distinguished Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management. 

\n\n\n\n

The following has been edited for length and clarity.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: How did Black maternal health become the focus of your practice?

\n\n\n\n

Kaytura Felix: I’ve focused on minority health, health disparities, and structural racism for more than 20 years. In 2023, I shifted my attention from medical racism itself to what the community was doing about it. My simple question was: what is the Black community doing about the Black maternal health crisis?

\n\n\n\n

I spoke to 70 experts, just picking up the telephone. Person after person said, ‘Look to Black community midwives.’ I’m a Black mother and a physician — I had never thought much about midwifery. I thought it was something from another era, something our forebears did because they had no choice. Then one Black midwife offered to let me shadow her postpartum visits, and what I saw changed everything.

\n\n\n\n

The 10-day postpartum visit took place entirely in the new mother’s bedroom. The midwife came to her — not the other way around — because postpartum is an extraordinarily sensitive time and everything needs to wrap around the mother. The eight-week visit had a different energy: it was about reentry into the world. We started in the backyard, went for a 10-minute walk, then came back inside. Three settings, one visit.

\n\n\n\n

What struck me was that the midwife’s role extended beyond stabilizing mother and baby. She had her eyes on the whole family — and we know the majority of maternal deaths occur during the postpartum period.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: How did your observations affect your research?

\n\n\n\n

Kaytura Felix: My team designed a study to understand the Black midwife’s experience: what they do, the impact they have on families and communities, and what supports or hinders their practice. We interviewed midwives, clients, families, and collaborators across five cities — Jacksonville, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

\n\n\n\n

One consistent finding: Black midwives provide restorative, holistic care — not just for the pregnant person, but for the entire family. Conventional Western care centers the individual; these midwives operate from the premise that pregnancy is a family event.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What issues are driving the maternal healthcare crisis in the U.S., and what does it mean to approach fixing it from a community perspective, as opposed to an institution-driven perspective?

\n\n\n\n

Kaytura Felix: Science is beginning to understand that pregnancy is a stress test. Many Black Americans live in historically underinvested communities — more pollution, financial precarity, limited transportation and education. We enter pregnancy already weathered. Weathering is when the body runs on overdrive to stabilize itself against constant challenge — an acceleration of aging. The body is at capacity before the pregnancy even begins.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What is actually saving the lives of Black mothers right now?

\n\n\n\n

Felix: Two things. First, doulas in hospitals — where most U.S. births happen. Doulas reduce stress on the mother, distribute the load, and help catch complications early. Research shows they increase satisfaction with care and reduce C-section rates.

\n\n\n\n

Second, community birth — in birth centers and at home. In the first episode of Deep Care, we meet a nurse named Brittany Murray who had two traumatic hospital births. Through a Facebook group, someone connected her with a midwife who said, ‘I will take this journey with you.’ The midwife worked with a maternal-fetal specialist, addressed Brittany’s overall health, and supported a home birth after two cesarean sections. Two traumatic births — and she had a joyful, triumphant one. You can meet Brittany in episode one of the Deep Care podcast on Spotify.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Did your research identify the impact of issues such as mental health, specifically postpartum depression or other potential complications that arise during the postpartum period?

\n\n\n\n

Felix: Pregnancy is a massive life transition — biologically and emotionally — and our society provides very little support for it. Employment discrimination, financial stress, the hormonal drop after delivery: these pile onto a body already under strain. What I found is that midwives understand the postpartum period deeply, but their response is not to medicalize it. Their response is to provide love and support.

\n\n\n\n

Shafia Monroe — a longtime midwife — wrote a book on African American postpartum traditions titled Mothering the Mother. That title captures the philosophy: just as the mother is mothering the baby, the extended family and community need to mother the mother. Research confirms this — the mind is not separate from the body. A subset of people will need medical care, but that shouldn’t be the starting point. I named my podcast Deep Care to signal that what these midwives offer is fundamentally different from the 15-minute transactional visits I was trained in — and that so many Black mothers describe when they say nobody listens to them. 

\n\n\n\n

Felix: In our research, clients said one of the most valued aspects of care from their Black midwives was education on diet, nutrition, and physical health. These midwives understood that pregnancy is a pivotal window — a chance to shift the trajectory. Research confirms this: how a woman’s body responds to pregnancy can predict her health at 50 and 60. Gestational diabetes and high blood pressure don’t disappear after delivery; they signal that the body was already at capacity.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Can you talk to me about what you found with the different certifications, and how those are carried out, and what the benefits are vis-à-vis conventional medicine?

\n\n\n\n

Felix: In the United States, there are several paths. The Certified Nurse Midwife holds a graduate degree and primarily practices in hospitals. The Certified Professional Midwife completes two to three years of community-based training and holds a national certification recognized in roughly 37 to 38 states — compared to nursing, which is recognized in all 50. Out of the community tradition, some midwives train through apprenticeship under a senior midwife and become either a certified midwife or a lay midwife. Despite different training paths, the model is consistent: pregnancy as a physiological process, with the whole family at the center. There’s now a movement to harmonize these tracks.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Let’s talk about that a little bit. Even knowing it’s a developing story — the fact that it is developing indicates something is making people recognize these two groups shouldn’t be in competition. Is that also being affected by the policy proposals on the table to change midwifery?

\n\n\n\n

Kaytura Felix Doulas are gaining traction, and people are recognizing that fragmentation within midwifery hurts the field and families. A funder told me directly: ‘These midwives need to get their act together. Come back to me when they do.’ That infighting is showing up as legislative battles — in some states, Certified Nurse Midwives or certified midwives are advancing bills that Certified Professional Midwives believe will harm them. That needs to stop.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Why did you create the Deep Care podcast, and what are your goals for it?

\n\n\n\n

Felix: We named it Deep Care to signal that this is not about run-of-the-mill care.

\n\n\n\n

Black women need to know all their birthing options. These clients slay dragons to get to midwifery care. The barriers were financial, but also the stigma within the Black community around midwifery. The Deep Care podcast addresses that — to raise awareness, but also to correct misinformation. Midwives are trained, they are educated, they are competent. And Black women — we’re healthy enough to have home births and community births. These midwives are educating us about our health and helping us transform our health. 

\n\n\n\n

The statistics need to energize us to act. That’s the point of the statistic — to get us off our seats. And there are solutions in the community, there are places we can begin. We can support the pregnant people in our communities. We can fund community-based birth. We can fund the training of doulas and midwives. We can advocate for policies that are friendly to midwives — not just in the community, but also in hospitals. We can advocate for hospitals to follow more of the midwifery model of care, which is about support for the entire family during pregnancy.

\n\n\n\n

What needs to happen: we need a bigger footprint for midwifery in this country. We need better transitions from community midwifery care to hospital care. We need to dispel the myths and change the narrative about Black midwifery and Black birth. Yes, we need to talk about the challenges, but we also need to talk about the solutions — because it’s irresponsible to talk about the challenges without also advancing the solutions. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: South Carolinians Continue Colleague’s Push for Maternal Health

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Black Maternal Health: A 360-Degree Look at Black Midwives appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/a-360-degree-look-at-black-midwives-reframes-black-maternal-health/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","Black women","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-30T17:52:43.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KayturaFelix.png?fit=378%2C430&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-06-30T17:53:59.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KayturaFelix.png?fit=378%2C430&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"CVSP4s79avjntJpo","title":"Prayer Built the Ministry. The Platform Came Later.","description":"Every day at noon, Dr. LeKesha Attuquayefio’s grandmother disappeared into the bedroom of her modest home in Houston, a Bible in one hand and her family’s burdens in the other. The television might be playing soap operas in the background. Grandchildren might be running through the yard. But when the clock struck noon, every day, he knelt beside her bed and prayed. RELATED: Women Built the Ministry. Men Kept the Title. Family members outside could hear her calling for blessings on the names of her children, grandchildren, pastor, and church. Those moments remain among Attuquayefio’s most treasured memories. “They were just what Granny did,” she recalled. Multifaceted Ministry Many people know Attuquayefio as the leader of the prayer and young adult ministries of Houston’s Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. She serves alongside Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, the church’s nationally respected pastoral leader. What they often don’t see is that Attuquayefio is building a digital ministry that reaches believers through weekly YouTube programming. She also coaches pastors and ministry leaders through Essentials Intensified Consulting and Coaching. She mentors women called to ministry, leads international mission experiences, writes books, and teaches leadership and discipleship. For Attuquayefio, however, none of those facets of her life exists independently. I like the new and impossible becoming possible. I like asking, ‘What if we could do this?’Dr. LeKesha Attuquayefio “They all point in the same direction,” she said. “It’s about that intensified life in God.” Long before podcasts became common and churches discovered livestreaming during the COVID-19 pandemic, Attuquayefio was experimenting with digital ministry. She began creating online content in 2011, but set much of it aside after accepting her assignment at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. The pandemic became an unexpected season of reflection. Like many pastors, she found herself asking what ministry would look like beyond church buildings. The answer wasn’t creating something new; rather, it was returning to a vision God had planted with her years earlier. Intensifying Lives “The Intensified Life,” the title of her first book, published nearly two decades ago, has become the organizing principle for everything she now produces online. Today, the YouTube platform functions less as a single program than as a ministry network. Weekly Bible studies sit alongside sermons preached at Wheeler Avenue and churches across the country. Relationship conversations with her husband occupy one playlist. Another series features candid conversations with men about faith and discipleship. Travel experiences, leadership lessons, and spiritual formation round out the programming. Dr. LeKesha Attuqayefio (Courtesy of Dr. Attuqayefio) The goal is to help believers discover that following Christ should never become routine. “I like the new and impossible becoming possible,” Attuquayefio said. “I like asking, ‘What if we could do this?’” Borrowing the phrase “new and next” from a trusted ministry colleague, Attuquayefio describes herself as someone energized by vision more than maintenance. She enjoys building systems, organizing teams and preparing people to flourish before moving on to the next assignment. “If I wasn’t in ministry,” she said, “I’d probably be doing something with organizational leadership.” ‘Light Bulb Moment’ That calling has resurfaced in Essentials Intensified Consulting and Coaching, where she helps churches, pastors and individuals clarify vision and navigate seasons of transition. “I love seeing people get it,” she said. “When they have their ‘light bulb moment.’ When they understand God’s assignment for their lives.” Years before conversations about women in ministry became more commonplace, Attuquayefio founded Her Call Ministries, a nonprofit designed to train, encourage, and develop women sensing God’s call to preach. The organization hosted preaching intensives, leadership workshops and conferences while creating safe spaces for women to develop gifts that were not always welcomed elsewhere. Divine Providence Today, many of those women serve on church staffs, hold doctoral degrees, and continue using training materials from those early cohorts. “That’s what it’s about,” she said. “Fruit that remains.” While ministry occupies much of her public life, Attuquayefio speaks just as passionately about another unexpected gift: her marriage. They met on a dating app during the pandemic. When he saw her profile, he immediately believed she was the woman he had been looking for; within days of their meeting, he had given her his phone number and deleted the app. “I really feel like my husband and I coming together was providential,” she said. “It was a miracle.” The couple now shares ministry through what they call the Agape Dance Trio, blending their mutual love of salsa dancing into marriage retreats and relationship workshops that explore trust, communication, and partnership. She celebrates dramatic healing, including answered prayers for members of Wheeler Avenue whose medical reports changed unexpectedly after prayer. Quiet Miracles But she is equally captivated by quieter miracles— providential timing, unseen arrangements and divine orchestration that becomes obvious only in hindsight. “You couldn’t write the script,” she said. RELATED: Her Calling: Healing Through Music and Medicine Perhaps that’s why she continues returning, even after all these years, to the image of her grandmother kneeling beside the bed. For Attuquayefio, prayer was never preparation for ministry. Prayer is the ministry. Everything else has simply been God’s answer to it. The post Prayer Built the Ministry. The Platform Came Later. appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Dr.
\n

Every day at noon, Dr. LeKesha Attuquayefio’s grandmother disappeared into the bedroom of her modest home in Houston, a Bible in one hand and her family’s burdens in the other.

\n\n\n\n

The television might be playing soap operas in the background. Grandchildren might be running through the yard. But when the clock struck noon, every day, he knelt beside her bed and prayed.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Women Built the Ministry. Men Kept the Title.

\n\n\n\n

Family members outside could hear her calling for blessings on the names of her children, grandchildren, pastor, and church. Those moments remain among Attuquayefio’s most treasured memories.

\n\n\n\n

“They were just what Granny did,” she recalled. 

\n\n\n\n

Multifaceted Ministry

\n\n\n\n

Many people know Attuquayefio as the leader of the prayer and young adult ministries of Houston’s Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. She serves alongside  Dr. Marcus D. Cosby, the church’s nationally respected pastoral leader. 

\n\n\n\n

What they often don’t see is that Attuquayefio is building a digital ministry that reaches believers through weekly YouTube programming.

\n\n\n\n

She also coaches pastors and ministry leaders through Essentials Intensified Consulting and Coaching. She mentors women called to ministry, leads international mission experiences, writes books, and teaches leadership and discipleship.

\n\n\n\n

For Attuquayefio, however, none of those facets of her life exists independently.

\n\n\n\n

I like the new and impossible becoming possible. I like asking, ‘What if we could do this?’

Dr. LeKesha Attuquayefio
\n\n\n\n

“They all point in the same direction,” she said. “It’s about that intensified life in God.”

\n\n\n\n

Long before podcasts became common and churches discovered livestreaming during the COVID-19 pandemic, Attuquayefio was experimenting with digital ministry.

\n\n\n\n

She began creating online content in 2011, but set much of it aside after accepting her assignment at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.

\n\n\n\n

The pandemic became an unexpected season of reflection.

\n\n\n\n

Like many pastors, she found herself asking what ministry would look like beyond church buildings. The answer wasn’t creating something new; rather, it was returning to a vision God had planted with her years earlier.

\n\n\n\n

Intensifying Lives

\n\n\n\n

“The Intensified Life,” the title of her first book, published nearly two decades ago, has become the organizing principle for everything she now produces online.

\n\n\n\n

Today, the YouTube platform functions less as a single program than as a ministry network.

\n\n\n\n

Weekly Bible studies sit alongside sermons preached at Wheeler Avenue and churches across the country. Relationship conversations with her husband occupy one playlist. Another series features candid conversations with men about faith and discipleship. Travel experiences, leadership lessons, and spiritual formation round out the programming.

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Dr. LeKesha Attuqayefio (Courtesy of Dr. Attuqayefio)
\n
\n\n\n

The goal is to help believers discover that following Christ should never become routine.

\n\n\n\n

“I like the new and impossible becoming possible,” Attuquayefio said. “I like asking, ‘What if we could do this?’”

\n\n\n\n

Borrowing the phrase “new and next” from a trusted ministry colleague, Attuquayefio describes herself as someone energized by vision more than maintenance. She enjoys building systems, organizing teams and preparing people to flourish before moving on to the next assignment.

\n\n\n\n

“If I wasn’t in ministry,” she said, “I’d probably be doing something with organizational leadership.”

\n\n\n\n

‘Light Bulb Moment’

\n\n\n\n

That calling has resurfaced in Essentials Intensified Consulting and Coaching, where she helps churches, pastors and individuals clarify vision and navigate seasons of transition.

\n\n\n\n

“I love seeing people get it,” she said. “When they have their ‘light bulb moment.’ When they understand God’s assignment for their lives.”

\n\n\n\n

Years before conversations about women in ministry became more commonplace, Attuquayefio founded Her Call Ministries, a nonprofit designed to train, encourage, and develop women sensing God’s call to preach.

\n\n\n\n

The organization hosted preaching intensives, leadership workshops and conferences while creating safe spaces for women to develop gifts that were not always welcomed elsewhere.

\n\n\n\n

Divine Providence

\n\n\n\n

Today, many of those women serve on church staffs, hold doctoral degrees, and continue using training materials from those early cohorts.

\n\n\n\n

“That’s what it’s about,” she said. “Fruit that remains.”

\n\n\n\n

While ministry occupies much of her public life, Attuquayefio speaks just as passionately about another unexpected gift: her marriage.

\n\n\n\n

They met on a dating app during the pandemic. When he saw her profile, he immediately believed she was the woman he had been looking for; within days of their meeting, he had given her his phone number and deleted the app.

\n\n\n\n

“I really feel like my husband and I coming together was providential,” she said. “It was a miracle.”

\n\n\n\n

The couple now shares ministry through what they call the Agape Dance Trio, blending their mutual love of salsa dancing into marriage retreats and relationship workshops that explore trust, communication, and partnership. She celebrates dramatic healing, including answered prayers for members of Wheeler Avenue whose medical reports changed unexpectedly after prayer.

\n\n\n\n

Quiet Miracles

\n\n\n\n

But she is equally captivated by quieter miracles— providential timing, unseen arrangements and divine orchestration that becomes obvious only in hindsight.

\n\n\n\n

“You couldn’t write the script,” she said.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Her Calling: Healing Through Music and Medicine

\n\n\n\n

Perhaps that’s why she continues returning, even after all these years, to the image of her grandmother kneeling beside the bed.

\n\n\n\n

For Attuquayefio, prayer was never preparation for ministry.

\n\n\n\n

Prayer is the ministry.

\n\n\n\n

Everything else has simply been God’s answer to it.

\n

The post Prayer Built the Ministry. The Platform Came Later. appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/prayer-built-the-ministry-the-platform-came-later/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-30T17:22:28.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-30-at-1.11.27-PM.png?fit=1024%2C890&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-06-30T17:35:33.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-30-at-1.11.27-PM.png?fit=1024%2C890&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"AU8j7LkH7kT0mvHH","title":"The Plastic Problem Black Men Can’t Ignore","description":"For generations, environmental justice in Black America has been measured in asthma rates, cancer diagnoses and poisoned drinking water. Scientists now say another consequence may be emerging: chemicals and microscopic plastics omnipresent in everyday life could be harming Black men’s fertility. Researchers have found that Black men tend to have elevated levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which mimic or block hormones, due to their presence in consumer products and certain foods. Besides contributing to lower fertility rates, researchers have linked those chemicals, along with microplastics, to other health issues disproportionately found in Black men, like prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. But in the U.S., studies on environmental exposure and male reproductive health focuses almost exclusively on white men. That’s despite the fact that Black men are more likely to live in areas with heavier concentration of facilities that emit microplastics, harmful chemicals and other forms of pollution that researchers have found affect testicular health and sperm production rates. Rev. Lennox Yearwood, president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, says the issue of microplastics and similar health threats are the Black community’s modern-day civil rights issue. Evidence that pollution is now affecting men’s reproductive health, he says, should be a call to arms. “The plastic epidemic is not a “right” or “left” issue; it’s a ‘you’ issue, a ‘me’ issue, and quite plainly a global issue,” says Yearwood. “Plastics are, in fact, taking over the planet, and they don’t discriminate.” “As Black men, we’re fighting enough battles when it comes to our health. We shouldn’t also have to worry about plastics and toxic chemicals making their way into our bodies,” Yearwood told Word In Black. A Worldwide Problem An astounding 450 million tons of plastic is produced worldwide each year. And nearly one-quarter of it ends up in the environment, where they very slowly degrade into microscopic pieces. Science has confirmed that these particles may be buried in landfills or released into the atmosphere, but they don’t stay outside the body. The issue is especially relevant because so many Black neighborhoods are “fenceline communities” — places where industrial facilities, like manufacturing plants, airports or military bases, have been built. Black Americans are 75% more likely than white Americans to live next to industrial facilities that generate noise, odor, increase traffic or spew emissions that directly affect the population. Besides microplastic particles, those facilities also emit chemical additives that leach from plastics and have been directly linked to hormonal disruption and reduced male fertility. A 2023 peer-reviewed Harvard study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that communities with higher proportions of Black and Latino residents are significantly more likely to be exposed to dangerous PFAS levels — so-called forever chemicals — in their water. The researchers link this finding to the high number of major industrial facilities, from factories to military bases, located near watersheds serving these communities. Each facility was associated with an increase in certain PFAS compounds higher than 100% in some cases.RELATED: Hip-Hop Activist: Plastics Are the New Civil Rights Fight These chemicals find their way into drinking water and hit Black communities hardest. Studies have found microplastics in human testicular tissue, a condition associated with lower sperm counts. Black men face higher rates of prostate cancer and cardiovascular issues. Microplastics and endocrine disruptors have been shown to worsen these conditions. Black men have also been found to have elevated levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which mimic or block hormones, due to their presence in consumer products and certain foods. But in U.S. studies on environmental exposure and male reproductive health more than 80% of study participants are white while just 2% to 10% are Black Americans. Chemical Disruptors Another landmark 2023 study published in the journal Toxicological Sciences found microplastics in human testicular tissue and were associated with lower sperm counts. These chemicals act as endocrine disruptors that interfere or reduce sperm quality and lower testosterone. And in 2014, a study found microplastics in heart arteries. Black men die from cardiovascular disease at a rate 38% higher than men in the overall population. Dr. Robert Bullard, widely regarded as one of the fathers of the environmental justice movement, has documented this disparity for decades. In his 1990 book, “Dumping in Dixie,” and other works, Bullard established that industrial facilities and toxic waste disposal in Black communities is a deliberate policy decision — not an accident. While white communities experience “pollution advantage,” compared to communities of color no community … should be allowed to become a ‘sacrifice zone’ or dumping ground.” Yearwood’s organization has been fighting for climate justice and environmental justice for two decades. But there’s more work to be done. “We’ve seen what pollution has done in places like Cancer Alley. Families have suffered, communities have been devastated, and the effects last for generations,” Yearwood adds. “Protecting our health means standing up to the industries polluting our air and water and understanding that environmental justice is a matter of survival. We can’t pour into our families and communities while being poisoned from the inside out.” Reducing Your Exposure The good news is that there are steps individuals can take to reduce their microplastic load. 1. Choose tap water over bottled water. A study cited by the NRDC found that people who drink bottled water ingest substantially more microplastics annually than those who drink tap water. Those who consume beverages in plastic packaging also show higher microplastic levels in stool. Use filtered tap water when possible; a reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter reduces particles further. 2. Don’t microwave food in plastic. Scientists have confirmed that heating food in plastic packaging or containers releases plastic particles and chemicals into food. Transfer food to glass or ceramic before microwaving. 3. Replace plastic kitchenware. Plastic cutting boards, bowls, blenders, electric kettles, and sponges all introduce microplastics into food. Alternatives include stainless steel, glass, ceramic, bamboo, and stoneware. Bamboo cutting boards in particular have been shown not to transfer microplastics to food. 4. Choose natural fiber clothing and furnishings. Synthetic textiles shed plastic microfibers continuously — during wear and especially during laundering. Indoor dust in spaces dominated by synthetic carpets and upholstery carries higher microplastic concentrations. Cotton, linen, silk, wool, and bamboo are the recommended alternatives. Check labels carefully, as synthetics are often blended into natural-fiber products. 5. Replace nonstick cookware. Nonstick pans coated with PTFE (Teflon) release millions of microplastics and nanoplastics during cooking. Notably, those particles are also PFAS — toxic “forever chemicals.” The NRDC recommends switching to stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic cookware.Source: National Resources Defense Council [4:12 PM] Experience not loading? Click here The post The Plastic Problem Black Men Can’t Ignore appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Close-up
\n

For generations, environmental justice in Black America has been measured in asthma rates, cancer diagnoses and poisoned drinking water. Scientists now say another consequence may be emerging: chemicals and microscopic plastics omnipresent in everyday life could be harming Black men’s fertility.

\n\n\n\n

Researchers have found that Black men tend to have elevated levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which mimic or block hormones, due to their presence in consumer products and certain foods. Besides contributing to lower fertility rates, researchers have linked those chemicals, along with microplastics, to other health issues disproportionately found in Black men, like prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. 

\n\n\n\n

But in the U.S., studies on environmental exposure and male reproductive health focuses almost exclusively on white men. That’s despite the fact that Black men are more likely to live in areas with heavier concentration of facilities that emit microplastics, harmful chemicals and other forms of pollution that researchers have found affect testicular health and sperm production rates. 

\n\n\n\n

Rev. Lennox Yearwood, president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, says the issue of  microplastics and similar health threats are the Black community’s modern-day civil rights issue. Evidence that pollution is now affecting men’s reproductive health, he says, should be a call to arms.  

\n\n\n\n

“The plastic epidemic is not a “right” or “left” issue; it’s a ‘you’ issue, a ‘me’ issue, and quite plainly a global issue,” says Yearwood. “Plastics are, in fact, taking over the planet, and they don’t discriminate.”

\n\n\n\n

“As Black men, we’re fighting enough battles when it comes to our health. We shouldn’t also have to worry about plastics and toxic chemicals making their way into our bodies,” Yearwood told Word In Black.

\n\n\n\n

A Worldwide Problem

\n\n\n\n

An astounding 450 million tons of plastic  is produced worldwide each year. And nearly one-quarter of it ends up in the environment, where they very slowly degrade into microscopic pieces. Science has confirmed that these particles may be buried in landfills or released into the atmosphere, but they don’t stay outside the body.

\n\n\n\n

The issue is especially relevant because so many Black neighborhoods are “fenceline communities” — places where industrial facilities, like manufacturing plants, airports or military bases, have been built. 

\n\n\n\n

Black Americans are 75% more likely than white Americans to live next to industrial facilities that generate noise, odor, increase traffic or spew emissions that directly affect the population. Besides microplastic particles, those facilities also emit chemical additives that leach from plastics and have been directly linked to hormonal disruption and reduced male fertility.

\n\n\n\n

A 2023 peer-reviewed Harvard study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that communities with higher proportions of Black and Latino residents are significantly more likely to be exposed to dangerous PFAS levels — so-called forever chemicals — in their water. 

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

These chemicals find their way into drinking water and hit Black communities hardest. 

\n\n\n\n

Studies have found microplastics in human testicular tissue, a condition associated with lower sperm counts. Black men face higher rates of prostate cancer and cardiovascular issues. Microplastics and endocrine disruptors have been shown to worsen these conditions. 

\n\n\n\n

Black men have also been found to have elevated levels of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which mimic or block hormones, due to their presence in consumer products and certain foods. But in U.S. studies on environmental exposure and male reproductive health more than 80% of study participants are white while just 2% to 10% are Black Americans.

\n\n\n\n

Chemical Disruptors

\n\n\n\n

Another landmark 2023 study published in the journal Toxicological Sciences found microplastics in human testicular tissue and were associated with lower sperm counts. These chemicals act as endocrine disruptors that interfere or reduce sperm quality and lower testosterone.

\n\n\n\n

And in 2014, a study found microplastics in heart arteries. Black men die from cardiovascular disease at a rate 38% higher than men in the overall population. 

\n\n\n\n

Dr. Robert Bullard, widely regarded as one of the fathers of the environmental justice movement, has documented this disparity for decades.  In his 1990 book, “Dumping in Dixie,” and other works, Bullard established that industrial facilities and toxic waste disposal in Black communities is a deliberate policy decision — not an accident.  While white communities experience “pollution advantage,” compared to communities of color no community … should be allowed to become a ‘sacrifice zone’ or dumping ground.” 

\n\n\n\n

Yearwood’s organization has been fighting for climate justice and environmental justice for two decades. But there’s more work to be done. 

\n\n\n\n

“We’ve seen what pollution has done in places like Cancer Alley. Families have suffered, communities have been devastated, and the effects last for generations,” Yearwood adds. “Protecting our health means standing up to the industries polluting our air and water and understanding that environmental justice is a matter of survival. We can’t pour into our families and communities while being poisoned from the inside out.”

\n\n\n\n

Reducing Your Exposure

\n\n\n\n

The good news is that there are steps individuals can take to reduce their microplastic load.

\n\n\n\n

1. Choose tap water over bottled water. A study cited by the NRDC found that people who drink bottled water ingest substantially more microplastics annually than those who drink tap water. Those who consume beverages in plastic packaging also show higher microplastic levels in stool. Use filtered tap water when possible; a reverse osmosis or activated carbon filter reduces particles further.

\n\n\n\n

2. Don’t microwave food in plastic. Scientists have confirmed that heating food in plastic packaging or containers releases plastic particles and chemicals into food. Transfer food to glass or ceramic before microwaving.

\n\n\n\n

3. Replace plastic kitchenware. Plastic cutting boards, bowls, blenders, electric kettles, and sponges all introduce microplastics into food. Alternatives include stainless steel, glass, ceramic, bamboo, and stoneware. Bamboo cutting boards in particular have been shown not to transfer microplastics to food.

\n\n\n\n

4. Choose natural fiber clothing and furnishings. Synthetic textiles shed plastic microfibers continuously — during wear and especially during laundering. Indoor dust in spaces dominated by synthetic carpets and upholstery carries higher microplastic concentrations. Cotton, linen, silk, wool, and bamboo are the recommended alternatives. Check labels carefully, as synthetics are often blended into natural-fiber products.

\n\n\n\n

5. Replace nonstick cookware. Nonstick pans coated with PTFE (Teflon) release millions of microplastics and nanoplastics during cooking. Notably, those particles are also PFAS — toxic “forever chemicals.” The NRDC recommends switching to stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic cookware.
Source: National Resources Defense Council

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Experience not loading? Click here
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The post The Plastic Problem Black Men Can’t Ignore appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/the-plastic-problem-black-men-cant-ignore/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","black men","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-29T20:20:51.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-microplastics.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-29T20:30:32.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-microplastics.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"37MGjHexTLobwhLL","title":"This Play Doesn’t Just Portray Church. It Becomes Church.","description":"Before the lights dim, before a single line is spoken, audiences entering Baltimore Center Stage discover something unexpected. There is already a church waiting for them. LEARN MORE: She Didn’t Want the Pulpit. Instead, She Built a Stage A towering tree from the Republic of Congo rises from the sanctuary-like stage. A piano sits ready. Musicians prepare to play. Church pews fill the room—not just for actors, but for the audience itself. There is no comfortable distance between performer and spectator because, from the moment people enter, they have become part of the congregation. That is the premise behind “Pray,” an immersive choreopoem now playing at Baltimore Center Stage through July 5. Rather than asking audiences to watch a Black church service unfold, the production invites them to participate in one. “It’s never the same,” performer Ziiomi Law says. “Depending on how the audience responds, informs what we offer that night.” The audience sits among us. I may be sitting on a pew right next to you. You’re not separated from the performers; you’re part of the experience.Ziiomi Law, CAST MEMBER, “PRAY” For Baltimore audiences, that concept feels remarkably familiar. Anyone who has spent time in a Black church knows that worship is never entirely scripted. Testimonies run long. Announcements become conversations. Greeting your neighbor may take far longer than planned. The Spirit often determines when service ends—not the clock. Law says “Pray” embraces that same freedom. Faith Traditions While the production follows the familiar order of worship—prayer, praise, offering, greeting, benediction—it is not confined by time or theology. The story moves fluidly from the 1800s to the present and into imagined futures while exploring Black spirituality beyond denominational boundaries. The work honors Southern Baptist traditions while making room for African traditional religions, hoodoo, and other spiritual practices carried across the African diaspora. The result is neither conventional theater nor conventional church. Audiences encounter a deeply Black meditation on faith, memory, joy, survival, and the permission to wrestle honestly with belief. Law says Pray is intentionally gender expansive to honor the range of queerness and human experience: “It is also a love letter specifically to Black women and femmes and throughout the service that can be felt.” ‘Baltimore Understood’ To Law, who began her career as a dancer, Baltimore — a Black-majority city where it’s often said there is a church on every corner and in the middle of every block — has embraced the production differently than audiences in New York. “This is the demographic we’re making this work for,” Law said in a question-and-answer session with Word In Black. “Baltimore has really understood the assignment,” and theatergoers behaved as if they were in an actual church. For residents of Charm City, “Pray” may feel less like attending a play than coming home to a sanctuary that asks as many questions as it answers. The interview with Law has been edited for length and clarity. Word In Black: When audiences walk into Pray, what’s the very first thing they experience? Ziiomi Law: The first thing most folks notice is that we have a tree inside the church—a Wengue tree from the Republic of Congo. You immediately walk into a church service. We have a piano, a live band, and church pews, but it’s immersive. The audience sits among us. I may be sitting on a pew right next to you. You’re not separated from the performers; you’re part of the experience. WIB: What exactly does “immersive” mean in this production? Law: We’re all co-creating the experience together. The audience’s energy changes what happens every night. How people respond informs what we offer. Every performance is different. The play is an offering and an invitation, so audience members get as much as they allow themselves to receive. WIB: The structure follows a church service, but the story isn’t linear. How does that work? Law: We move across different periods of time—the 1800s, the present, the future, even times we can’t really name. But the framework is a church service. There’s prayer, praise and worship, offering, greeting your neighbor, benediction. That’s the structure audiences follow. WIB: Does audience participation ever change the length of the performance? Law: Absolutely. The show is about 70 minutes, but there’s room for improvisation, just like church. If greeting your neighbor needs to last longer, it does. If someone would naturally jump in, we make room for that. WIB: Why call the production “Pray” instead of, say, “Church”? Law: Because we’re talking about spirituality that’s much broader than one denomination. Prayer happens in churches, but it also happens in people, places and everyday life. We wanted something expansive. Also several members of the creative team are preachers’ kids so this work is deeply personal and meaningful to us. WIB: What emotional journey do audiences take? Law: There’s joy. There’s laughter. There’s dancing and twerking in church hats and church suits, which can surprise people. But we’re also talking about historical trauma Black people—especially Black women and Black femmes—have survived. The work gives people permission to hold deep faith while still asking questions. WIB: How do you know when a performance has truly connected? Law: We feel the audience with us. When people are emotionally engaged and willing to go on the journey, we know it’s working. WIB: Baltimore audiences are experiencing Pray after its New York premiere. What’s different here? Law:In New York, people appreciated it as theater, but they didn’t always have the cultural context. Here, people immediately recognize the world we’re building because it’s familiar. WIB: How long has this project been in development? Law: Since around 2018 or 2019. We premiered in New York in 2023, and this is the first time the production has been mounted outside the city where it was created. WIB: Is the cast mostly local? Law: About half the cast is from Baltimore, and our band is predominantly local. It was important to honor the incredible talent already here while bringing back a few of us who’ve been with the production since the beginning. WIB: Tell me a little about the play’s history. Law: I was dance captain for the 2023 premiere in New York City and we won two Lucille Lortel awards in 2024 for Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Musical. Our director, nicHi douglas, won for Outstanding Director and was nominated for Outstanding Choreographer. Our show was nominated in 6 categories, and we swept the awards with our wins. WIB: Your background is primarily dance. How did acting become part of your career? Law: I’ve been dancing since I was three. Acting really came through dance because I kept getting cast in roles that required both. I’ve been acting professionally for about five years. WIB: What’s next after Pray closes? Law: I’m heading to a Katherine Dunham Technique conference to continue helping preserve that legacy. After that, I’m resting, spending time with my mom, my dog and my family. We’ve been working nonstop since May, and it’s time to restore myself. The post This Play Doesn’t Just Portray Church. It Becomes Church. appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Audience
\n

Before the lights dim, before a single line is spoken, audiences entering Baltimore Center Stage discover something unexpected.

\n\n\n\n

There is already a church waiting for them.

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: She Didn’t Want the Pulpit. Instead, She Built a Stage

\n\n\n\n

A towering tree from the Republic of Congo rises from the sanctuary-like stage. A piano sits ready. Musicians prepare to play. Church pews fill the room—not just for actors, but for the audience itself. 

\n\n\n\n

There is no comfortable distance between performer and spectator because, from the moment people enter, they have become part of the congregation.

\n\n\n\n

That is the premise behind “Pray,” an immersive choreopoem now playing at Baltimore Center Stage through July 5. Rather than asking audiences to watch a Black church service unfold, the production invites them to participate in one.

\n\n\n\n

“It’s never the same,” performer Ziiomi Law says. “Depending on how the audience responds, informs what we offer that night.”

\n\n\n\n

The audience sits among us. I may be sitting on a pew right next to you. You’re not separated from the performers; you’re part of the experience.

Ziiomi Law, CAST MEMBER, “PRAY”
\n\n\n\n

For Baltimore audiences, that concept feels remarkably familiar.

\n\n\n\n

Anyone who has spent time in a Black church knows that worship is never entirely scripted. Testimonies run long. Announcements become conversations. Greeting your neighbor may take far longer than planned.

\n\n\n\n

The Spirit often determines when service ends—not the clock.

\n\n\n\n

Law says “Pray” embraces that same freedom.

\n\n\n\n

Faith Traditions

\n\n\n\n

While the production follows the familiar order of worship—prayer, praise, offering, greeting, benediction—it is not confined by time or theology. The story moves fluidly from the 1800s to the present and into imagined futures while exploring Black spirituality beyond denominational boundaries.

\n\n\n\n

The work honors Southern Baptist traditions while making room for African traditional religions, hoodoo, and other spiritual practices carried across the African diaspora.

\n\n\n\n

The result is neither conventional theater nor conventional church.

\n\n\n\n

Audiences encounter a deeply Black meditation on faith, memory, joy, survival, and the permission to wrestle honestly with belief. Law says Pray is intentionally gender expansive to honor the range of queerness and human experience: “It is also a love letter specifically to Black women and femmes and throughout the service that can be felt.”

\n\n\n\n

‘Baltimore Understood’

\n\n\n\n

To Law, who began her career as a dancer, Baltimore — a Black-majority city where it’s often said there is a church on every corner and in the middle of every block — has embraced the production differently than audiences in New York. 

\n\n\n\n

“This is the demographic we’re making this work for,” Law said in a question-and-answer session with Word In Black. “Baltimore has really understood the assignment,” and theatergoers behaved as if they were in an actual church. 

\n\n\n\n

For residents of Charm City, “Pray” may feel less like attending a play than coming home to a sanctuary that asks as many questions as it answers.

\n\n\n\n

The interview with Law has been edited for length and clarity. 

\n\n\n\n

Word In Black: When audiences walk into Pray, what’s the very first thing they experience?

\n\n\n\n

Ziiomi Law: The first thing most folks notice is that we have a tree inside the church—a Wengue tree from the Republic of Congo. You immediately walk into a church service. We have a piano, a live band, and church pews, but it’s immersive. The audience sits among us. I may be sitting on a pew right next to you. You’re not separated from the performers; you’re part of the experience.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What exactly does “immersive” mean in this production?

\n\n\n\n

Law: We’re all co-creating the experience together. The audience’s energy changes what happens every night. How people respond informs what we offer. Every performance is different. The play is an offering and an invitation, so audience members get as much as they allow themselves to receive.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: The structure follows a church service, but the story isn’t linear. How does that work?

\n\n\n\n

Law: We move across different periods of time—the 1800s, the present, the future, even times we can’t really name. But the framework is a church service. There’s prayer, praise and worship, offering, greeting your neighbor, benediction. That’s the structure audiences follow.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Does audience participation ever change the length of the performance?

\n\n\n\n

Law: Absolutely. The show is about 70 minutes, but there’s room for improvisation, just like church. If greeting your neighbor needs to last longer, it does. If someone would naturally jump in, we make room for that.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Why call the production “Pray” instead of, say, “Church”?

\n\n\n\n

Law: Because we’re talking about spirituality that’s much broader than one denomination. Prayer happens in churches, but it also happens in people, places and everyday life. We wanted something expansive. Also several members of the creative team are preachers’ kids so this work is deeply personal and meaningful to us.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What emotional journey do audiences take?

\n\n\n\n

Law: There’s joy. There’s laughter. There’s dancing and twerking in church hats and church suits, which can surprise people. But we’re also talking about historical trauma Black people—especially Black women and Black femmes—have survived. The work gives people permission to hold deep faith while still asking questions.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: How do you know when a performance has truly connected?

\n\n\n\n

Law: We feel the audience with us. When people are emotionally engaged and willing to go on the journey, we know it’s working.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Baltimore audiences are experiencing Pray after its New York premiere. What’s different here?

\n\n\n\n

Law:In New York, people appreciated it as theater, but they didn’t always have the cultural context. Here, people immediately recognize the world we’re building because it’s familiar.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: How long has this project been in development?

\n\n\n\n

Law: Since around 2018 or 2019. We premiered in New York in 2023, and this is the first time the production has been mounted outside the city where it was created.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Is the cast mostly local?

\n\n\n\n

Law: About half the cast is from Baltimore, and our band is predominantly local. It was important to honor the incredible talent already here while bringing back a few of us who’ve been with the production since the beginning.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Tell me a little about the play’s history.

\n\n\n\n

Law: I was dance captain for the 2023 premiere in New York City and we won two Lucille Lortel awards in 2024 for Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Musical. Our director, nicHi douglas, won for Outstanding Director and was nominated for Outstanding Choreographer. Our show was nominated in 6 categories, and we swept the awards with our wins.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Your background is primarily dance. How did acting become part of your career?

\n\n\n\n

Law: I’ve been dancing since I was three. Acting really came through dance because I kept getting cast in roles that required both. I’ve been acting professionally for about five years.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What’s next after Pray closes?

\n\n\n\n

Law: I’m heading to a Katherine Dunham Technique conference to continue helping preserve that legacy. After that, I’m resting, spending time with my mom, my dog and my family. We’ve been working nonstop since May, and it’s time to restore myself.

\n

The post This Play Doesn’t Just Portray Church. It Becomes Church. appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/this-play-doesnt-just-portray-church-it-becomes-church/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Racial Healing","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-29T20:09:35.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/A-Kay-A-J-Fannon-Photo-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-29T20:14:58.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/A-Kay-A-J-Fannon-Photo-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"2oMp7gJG1sNyn4cg","title":"2819 Church Pastor Joins Pro-Trump Preacher’s Youth Conference","description":"For years, Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell, founder of Atlanta’s rapidly growing 2819 Church, has built a national following by preaching biblical authority, discipleship, and cultural conservatism while resisting easy political labels. He’s also avoided the Black church tradition of social justice and civic engagement, instead emphasizing personal holiness and what he describes as orthodox Christianity. That includes preaching to Black parents that they should stop blaming police for the deaths of Black children and instead teach them to obey authority. RELATED: There’s More to 2819 Church Than an ‘Obey Cops’ Controversy Now, Michell has appeared as a featured speaker at Forward Conference 2026 — a massive annual gathering for evangelical youth and young adults, convened by a preacher with close ties to President Donald Trump. Franklin and MAGA Jentezen Franklin, the charismatic founder of a Georgia megachurch, hosts the event, which draws tens of thousands of participants, in his home state. But Franklin is not simply another megachurch pastor. Franklin, the senior pastor of Free Church, a nondenominational, multi-campus church, has spent years as one of Trump’s trusted advisers, praying with him at the White House and publicly defending the polarizing president. This week, Franklin serves on the president’s Religious Liberty Commission and delivered the invocation at Trump’s America 250 Great American State Fair event on the National Mall. “Lord, … touch our president, touch his cabinet,” Franklin said. “Bless our Supreme Court, bless our Congress, and bless our Senate.” Star Lineup At Forward Conference 2026, Mitchell joins a lineup that includes Franklin, evangelist Reggie Dabbs, Elevation Rhythm, Girls Gone Bible, and several other speakers and worship leaders. Conference promotional materials prominently feature a photo of Mitchell, in his signature black hoodie, as among the event’s headliners. Though there’s little reporting on what he said, Mitchell’s presence was apparently well-received, according to Franklin’s Facebook page. “Night one of Forward Conference was something special,” he wrote in a post just after midnight Friday. “Thank you, Philip Anthony Mitchell and Free Chapel Music. Day two, we’re ready.” Mitchell’s presence on that stage is significant because conferences often function as evangelical Christianity’s informal credentialing system. Invitations signal not only popularity, but theological trust, institutional acceptance, and growing influence. Sharing a platform with nationally recognized pastors introduces speakers to new audiences and embeds them within networks that shape the future of American evangelicalism. That network has been expanding for Mitchell, a new-media-savvy, millennial preacher whose ministry and personal aesthetic draw heavily from rap and hip-hop. Over the past several years, Mitchell has increasingly appeared alongside influential evangelical leaders. That includes Tim Timberlake of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida; besides appearing together on tour, Timberlake and Mitchell co-host the “Street Preachers” podcast. Elevated Profile His association with Franklin, however, puts Mitchell on a new level. Although their ministries differ in style — for example, Franklin favors tailored suits at the pulpit, while Mitchell’s preaching uniform is black jeans, a black hoodie, and Nike Dunks — they share several defining characteristics. They preach biblical authority, prioritize church growth, rely heavily on digital platforms, and appeal to younger, racially diverse Christians who often feel disconnected from traditional denominations. Though Mitchell does not have an obvious political profile, his theological commitments—including traditional views on sexuality, gender, biblical authority, and abortion—largely align with the broader movement that has overwhelmingly supported Republican candidates over the past decade. RELATED: Holy Culture Radio Produces a Joyful Noise on the Radio For generations, the Black church has served not only as a spiritual institution but also as the moral and political center of Black civic life. Mitchell represents a younger cohort of Black pastors who continue to preach orthodox theology while placing less emphasis on institutional activism and more on discipleship, personal obedience, and spiritual formation. Whether that trajectory ultimately reshapes Black evangelicalism—or simply broadens Mitchell’s own national platform—remains to be seen. But his appearance alongside Franklin at Forward Conference suggests that one of Black Christianity’s fastest-rising pastors is no longer speaking only to the Black church. The post 2819 Church Pastor Joins Pro-Trump Preacher’s Youth Conference appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"As
\n

For years, Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell, founder of Atlanta’s rapidly growing 2819 Church, has built a national following by preaching biblical authority, discipleship, and cultural conservatism while resisting easy political labels. 

\n\n\n\n

He’s also avoided the Black church tradition of social justice and civic engagement, instead emphasizing personal holiness and what he describes as orthodox Christianity. That includes preaching to Black parents that they should stop blaming police for the deaths of Black children and instead teach them to obey authority. 

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: There’s More to 2819 Church Than an ‘Obey Cops’ Controversy

\n\n\n\n

Now, Michell has appeared as a featured speaker at Forward Conference 2026 — a massive annual gathering for evangelical youth and young adults, convened by a preacher with close ties to President Donald Trump.

\n\n\n\n

Franklin and MAGA

\n\n\n\n

Jentezen Franklin, the charismatic founder of a Georgia megachurch, hosts the event, which draws tens of thousands of participants, in his home state. But Franklin is not simply another megachurch pastor.

\n\n\n\n

Franklin, the senior pastor of Free Church, a nondenominational, multi-campus church, has spent years as one of Trump’s trusted advisers, praying with him at the White House and publicly defending the polarizing president. This week, Franklin serves on the president’s Religious Liberty Commission and delivered the invocation at Trump’s America 250 Great American State Fair event on the National Mall.  

\n\n\n\n

“Lord, … touch our president, touch his cabinet,” Franklin said. “Bless our Supreme Court, bless our Congress, and bless our Senate.”

\n\n\n\n

Star Lineup

\n\n\n\n

At Forward Conference 2026, Mitchell joins a lineup that includes Franklin, evangelist Reggie Dabbs, Elevation Rhythm, Girls Gone Bible, and several other speakers and worship leaders. Conference promotional materials prominently feature a photo of Mitchell, in his signature black hoodie, as among the event’s headliners. 

\n\n\n\n

Though there’s little reporting on what he said, Mitchell’s presence was apparently well-received, according to Franklin’s Facebook page. 

\n\n\n\n

“Night one of Forward Conference was something special,” he wrote in a post just after midnight Friday. “Thank you, Philip Anthony Mitchell and Free Chapel Music. Day two, we’re ready.”

\n\n\n\n

Mitchell’s presence on that stage is significant because conferences often function as evangelical Christianity’s informal credentialing system. Invitations signal not only popularity, but theological trust, institutional acceptance, and growing influence. 

\n\n\n\n

Sharing a platform with nationally recognized pastors introduces speakers to new audiences and embeds them within networks that shape the future of American evangelicalism.

\n\n\n\n

That network has been expanding for Mitchell, a new-media-savvy, millennial preacher whose ministry and personal aesthetic draw heavily from rap and hip-hop. 

\n\n\n\n

Over the past several years, Mitchell has increasingly appeared alongside influential evangelical leaders. That includes Tim Timberlake of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida; besides appearing together on tour, Timberlake and Mitchell co-host the “Street Preachers” podcast. 

\n\n\n\n

Elevated Profile

\n\n\n\n

His association with Franklin, however, puts Mitchell on a new level. 

\n\n\n\n

Although their ministries differ in style — for example, Franklin favors tailored suits at the pulpit, while Mitchell’s preaching uniform is black jeans, a black hoodie, and Nike Dunks — they share several defining characteristics. They preach biblical authority, prioritize church growth, rely heavily on digital platforms, and appeal to younger, racially diverse Christians who often feel disconnected from traditional denominations. 

\n\n\n\n

Though Mitchell does not have an obvious political profile, his theological commitments—including traditional views on sexuality, gender, biblical authority, and abortion—largely align with the broader movement that has overwhelmingly supported Republican candidates over the past decade. 

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Holy Culture Radio Produces a Joyful Noise on the Radio

\n\n\n\n

For generations, the Black church has served not only as a spiritual institution but also as the moral and political center of Black civic life. Mitchell represents a younger cohort of Black pastors who continue to preach orthodox theology while placing less emphasis on institutional activism and more on discipleship, personal obedience, and spiritual formation.

\n\n\n\n

Whether that trajectory ultimately reshapes Black evangelicalism—or simply broadens Mitchell’s own national platform—remains to be seen. But his appearance alongside Franklin at Forward Conference suggests that one of Black Christianity’s fastest-rising pastors is no longer speaking only to the Black church. 

\n

The post 2819 Church Pastor Joins Pro-Trump Preacher’s Youth Conference appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/philip-anthony-mitchell-joins-jentezen-franklins-youth-conference/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-26T17:29:52.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-26-at-1.00.52-PM.png?fit=1024%2C689&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-06-26T17:43:30.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-26-at-1.00.52-PM.png?fit=1024%2C689&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"H7qd6pMSaKFVSOXO","title":"Project TURN: Future Pastors Learning Beside Prisoners","description":"One of Jesus’ central lessons, and arguably his most powerful, is encapsulated in a deceptively simple statement: “I was in prison, and you visited me.” For generations, Christian leaders have interpreted that passage from Matthew 25 as an obvious call to look after the least of us, including the incarcerated. At Duke Divinity School, however, a 15-year-old program sharpens the lesson: It brings together divinity students from an elite private university and people serving time in prison. RELATED: From Prison to Purpose: Transforming Re-entry in San Francisco The incarcerated, however, aren’t being ministered to. They are fellow students, teachers, and theologians. Mutual Transformation What began as a prison ministry initiative at Duke University Divinity School in 2011 has evolved into one of the most distinctive theological education programs in the nation. Called Project TURN, the program has transformed incarcerated participants, broadened the vision of future pastors, and deepened the knowledge of divinity school professors. Participants say it transforms drab prison classrooms into sacred spaces where learning flows and redemption is more than a sermon topic. “They’re all fellow learners,” says Edgardo Colón-Emeric, dean of Duke Divinity School. “It’s not that one group has all the wisdom. It’s not that the professors do or that the incarcerated people do. Everyone is learning together.” The program also reflects a longstanding tradition within the Black church and other faith communities that have historically understood ministry as presence, venturing to hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, or correctional facilities. Beyond the Bible According to its website, Project TURN brings together roughly 10 full-time seminary students and 10 incarcerated individuals to study theology, ethics, and Christian history together inside correctional facilities. The program also offers courses on restorative justice and an opportunity to do prison ministry or work with a prison-oriented nonprofit. It’s not that one group has all the wisdom. It’s not that the professors do or that the incarcerated people do. Everyone is learning together.Edgardo Colón-Emeric, dean, Duke University Divinity School Students meet regularly, participate in reflection circles, and build community through shared learning experiences. While assignments vary by course, the deeper curriculum is relational: participants learn empathy, humility, and the discipline of listening across vastly different life experiences. Project TURN traces its roots to Bishop Ken Carter, a former member of the Duke faculty and a leader in the United Methodist Church. Emeric says Carter spent decades combining parish and prison ministry, and believed future pastors should be as familiar with the inside of a prison as the corridors of a hospital or retirement community. The program brings together Duke students pursuing theological degrees and incarcerated students pursuing a certificate in prison studies. They sit together in the same classrooms, read the same materials, engage in communal discussions, and follow the same curriculum. ‘Friends for Life’ In a video testimonial about the program on Duke’s website, Kimberly Brown, a former divinity student and one of Project TURN’s first participants, described it as life-changing. “It’s a program that should be in every prison,” said Brown, who now runs OnInmate.com. “It will bring about self-awareness and let you know who you really are inside. Nine times out of 10, if you participate fully, [the incarcerated students] will be friends for life.” Elia Zonia, another Project TURN participant who received her divinity degree in 2026, agreed. In an Instagram post, she wrote about how the conversations she had with different students remain relevant, and brought insight to a group often overlooked. “Hearing from my inside classmates brought into focus just how much we as a society miss when we refuse to listen to a large group of people,” she wrote. Ignored No Longer That reciprocity may be Project TURN’s most radical feature. Though incarcerated people are typically defined by their worst mistakes, the program puts them and divinity students on equal footing. Students, prisoners and faculty encounter one another through scripture, theology, ethics, history, and lived experience. Colón-Emeric said the program has had a profound impact on everyone involved. He said professors frequently describe teaching in the program as the most meaningful educational work of their careers. Those outcomes were never guaranteed. The initial goals were to expose future church leaders to communities society often ignores; along the way, some Duke students decided to incorporate prison visitation and ministry into their vocational plans. Others had family members who experienced incarceration and wanted to understand what they had experienced. ‘Prison To Divinity School’ The program offers incarcerated students intellectual challenges, spiritual formation, and a pathway to future education. Some have enrolled in Duke Divinity School after their release — an outcome Colón-Emeric jokingly describes as a “prison-to-divinity-school pipeline.” Programs built around prison education often struggle to survive funding challenges, institutional changes, and logistical barriers. Yet after the better part of two decades, Duke University continues to support the initiative, largely because faculty, students, and administrators have witnessed its transformative power firsthand. RELATED: Bridging the ‘Black-Blue Divide’ — One Congregation at a Time Project TURN asks a similar question of theological education: What happens when future pastors encounter Christ in unlikely places? Colón-Emeric finds the answer in Matthew 25. The program’s foundation rests on the conviction that those encounters are central expressions of Christian discipleship, not optional add-ons to ministry. The post Project TURN: Future Pastors Learning Beside Prisoners appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Project
\n

One of Jesus’ central lessons, and arguably his most powerful, is encapsulated in a deceptively simple statement: “I was in prison, and you visited me.”

\n\n\n\n

For generations, Christian leaders have interpreted that passage from Matthew 25 as an obvious call to look after the least of us, including the incarcerated. At Duke Divinity School, however, a 15-year-old program sharpens the lesson: It brings together divinity students from an elite private university and people serving time in prison. 

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: From Prison to Purpose: Transforming Re-entry in San Francisco

\n\n\n\n

The incarcerated, however, aren’t being ministered to. They are fellow students, teachers, and theologians. 

\n\n\n\n

Mutual Transformation

\n\n\n\n

What began as a prison ministry initiative at Duke University Divinity School in 2011 has evolved into one of the most distinctive theological education programs in the nation. 

\n\n\n\n

Called Project TURN, the program has transformed incarcerated participants, broadened the vision of future pastors, and deepened the knowledge of divinity school professors. Participants say it transforms drab prison classrooms into sacred spaces where learning flows and redemption is more than a sermon topic.

\n\n\n\n

“They’re all fellow learners,” says Edgardo Colón-Emeric, dean of Duke Divinity School. “It’s not that one group has all the wisdom. It’s not that the professors do or that the incarcerated people do. Everyone is learning together.” 

\n\n\n\n

The program also reflects a longstanding tradition within the Black church and other faith communities that have historically understood ministry as presence, venturing to hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, or correctional facilities. 

\n\n\n\n

Beyond the Bible

\n\n\n\n

According to its website, Project TURN brings together roughly 10 full-time seminary students and 10 incarcerated individuals to study theology, ethics, and Christian history together inside correctional facilities. The program also offers courses on restorative justice and an opportunity to do prison ministry or work with a prison-oriented nonprofit. 

\n\n\n\n

It’s not that one group has all the wisdom. It’s not that the professors do or that the incarcerated people do. Everyone is learning together.

Edgardo Colón-Emeric, dean, Duke University Divinity School
\n\n\n\n

Students meet regularly, participate in reflection circles, and build community through shared learning experiences. While assignments vary by course, the deeper curriculum is relational: participants learn empathy, humility, and the discipline of listening across vastly different life experiences.

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Project TURN traces its roots to Bishop Ken Carter, a former member of the Duke faculty and a leader in the United Methodist Church. Emeric says Carter spent decades combining parish and prison ministry, and believed future pastors should be as familiar with the inside of a prison as the corridors of a hospital or retirement community.

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The program brings together Duke students pursuing theological degrees and incarcerated students pursuing a certificate in prison studies. They sit together in the same classrooms, read the same materials, engage in communal discussions, and follow the same curriculum. 

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‘Friends for Life’

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In a video testimonial about the program on Duke’s website, Kimberly Brown, a former divinity student and one of Project TURN’s first participants, described it as life-changing. 

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“It’s a program that should be in every prison,” said Brown, who now runs OnInmate.com. “It will bring about self-awareness and let you know who you really are inside. Nine times out of 10, if you participate fully, [the incarcerated students] will be friends for life.”

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Elia Zonia, another Project TURN participant who received her divinity degree in 2026, agreed. In an Instagram post, she wrote about how the conversations she had with different students remain relevant, and brought insight to a group often overlooked.

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“Hearing from my inside classmates brought into focus just how much we as a society miss when we refuse to listen to a large group of people,” she wrote. 

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Ignored No Longer

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That reciprocity may be Project TURN’s most radical feature.

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Though incarcerated people are typically defined by their worst mistakes, the program puts them and divinity students on equal footing. Students, prisoners and faculty encounter one another through scripture, theology, ethics, history, and lived experience.

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Colón-Emeric said the program has had a profound impact on everyone involved. He said professors frequently describe teaching in the program as the most meaningful educational work of their careers.

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Those outcomes were never guaranteed. The initial goals were to expose future church leaders to communities society often ignores; along the way, some Duke students decided to incorporate prison visitation and ministry into their vocational plans. Others had family members who experienced incarceration and wanted to understand what they had experienced.

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‘Prison To Divinity School’

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The program offers incarcerated students intellectual challenges, spiritual formation, and a pathway to future education. Some have enrolled in Duke Divinity School after their release — an outcome Colón-Emeric  jokingly describes as a “prison-to-divinity-school pipeline.”

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Programs built around prison education often struggle to survive funding challenges, institutional changes, and logistical barriers. Yet after the better part of two decades, Duke University continues to support the initiative, largely because faculty, students, and administrators have witnessed its transformative power firsthand.

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RELATED: Bridging the ‘Black-Blue Divide’ — One Congregation at a Time

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Project TURN asks a similar question of theological education: What happens when future pastors encounter Christ in unlikely places?

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Colón-Emeric finds the answer in Matthew 25. The program’s foundation rests on the conviction that those encounters are  central expressions of Christian discipleship, not optional add-ons to ministry.

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The post Project TURN: Future Pastors Learning Beside Prisoners appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/project-turn-future-pastors-learning-beside-prisoners/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-26T11:52:26.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-1608555244.jpg?fit=814%2C429&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-26T11:55:09.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-1608555244.jpg?fit=814%2C429&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"wkecwLwEBjqdQjGz","title":"He Spent 12 Years Testing Genesis. Here’s Where It Led Him.","description":"Dr. Nathanael-Israel Israel never set out to prove the Bible. The Benin-born scientist, who holds a doctorate in plant, insect and microbial sciences, already believed in God. But a years-long search into the origins of the universe — a scientific investigation of the creation story described in the Book of Genesis — would bring him, in his words, to “the intersection of science and faith.” RELATED: How a Black Astronaut’s Historic Spacewalk Deepened His Faith Now, more than a decade of studying cosmological data has convinced Israel that the Bible’s account of creation is not merely theological poetry but a scientifically verifiable sequence — a calculus that puts him at odds with scientists as well as theologians. “I never initially started this research with a thought of proving God, proving the Bible or proving science,” Israel says. “Of course, I know there is God. I don’t need any proof to believe in God.” ‘Just Like the Bible’ Yet the quest — undertaken after a season of personal challenges prompted questions about life, purpose and the origin of the universe — took “12 years of hard work and intense research,” he said. “At one point, I even abandoned my career to focus on this thing.” Dr. Nathan-Israel Israel (Courtesy of Dr. Israel) The culmination of that work is a series of books Israel authored, including “Boldest Scientific Formula of God and Creation.” In it, he proposes a mathematical formula he says confirms the Genesis account of creation. “The formation of the Earth was done on the third day of creation, just like the Bible has been saying for 3,500 years,” Israel says. “The moon and the sun formation were completed on the fourth day of creation.” Israel believes his work arrives at a critical moment, filled with armed conflict and social unrest. I tried to see if anybody before me had analyzed the data through the framework that was coming to my mind. I could not see anybody who had done such an analysis. “We are living in difficult times nationally and worldwide,” he said. “It’s not by chance that this discovery is being known at this time.” Science of Faith Attempting to calculate the birthdate of the universe, however, is nothing new. For centuries, theologians, philosophers, and scientists have pursued the same elusive question of how the universe began; Israel’s work joins a long-running debate over whether science can say anything meaningful about God. While some scientists argue that modern physics leaves no need for a creator, others contend that science and faith address different questions altogether. Most mainstream scientists agree that God’s existence cannot be tested through the scientific method, leaving the issue beyond the reach of science alone. But Israel believes his 12-year journey through cosmological data led him to an answer hidden in the Book of Genesis, the Bible’s opening chapter. He says his calculations — based on empirical data collected throughout humanity— tracks what he calls the “forerunners” of celestial bodies, and pinpoints how long it took for to arrive at their present positions. “When I went to the site of NASA to see what they are saying, I came across a ton of scientific data collected by top scientists throughout the centuries,” Israel says. “I tried to see if anybody before me had analyzed the data through the framework that was coming to my mind. I could not see anybody who had done such an analysis.” Faith in Science Explaining the theory in everyday language is a challenge, but Israel insists his theories are scientifically sound. Those who debunk his calculations, he says, haven’t taken the time to know or understand them. “The problem is scientists don’t know that story,” he said. “Because they missed that story, they will tell you a lot of nonsense.” Israel also rejects the common notion that faith and science are enemies. “We know that science and faith can go together,” he said. “God who gave us the mind is not expecting us to trash the mind.” Yet, he warns against relying exclusively on either. “Choosing faith only is not bad, but it will not allow you to maximize your potential,” he said. “Choosing science only is dangerous because it will cause you to neglect things that you cannot demonstrate through physical science.” Despite his certanty, not everyone has embraced his conclusions. Israel said he has encountered skepticism from both scientists and some Christians. He said some organizations declined to promote his work because of the book’s explicit references to God. Including the Creator “Many top evangelists believe in evolution and the Big Bang” as the origin of the universe, he said. “Even the believers are fighting me. I wanted to do a press release, and they told me I must remove God and just say ‘creation.’ I said, ‘Stop it. How do you do a story about creation and leave out the Creator?’” But the criticism has not diminished Israel’s conviction. “Math does not lie,” he said. “This is not preaching. This is mathematical science. This is testable. This is reproducible.” To reach readers with varying levels of scientific understanding, he has published multiple versions of his work, including books written for children and more technical volumes aimed at university audiences. “It’s very difficult to address such a topic in one book,” he said. “Whoever they are—pastors, babies, children, university people—I can break it down for them.” LEARN MORE: Survey: One in Three Americans Trust AI as Much as a Pastor The largest volume in his series originally exceeded 2,500 pages before being condensed to about 700 pages, he said. Despite setbacks, Israel said, he sees growing interest in his scientific work; promoting it, however, seems like an act of faith. “People are denying me, but others will embrace me,” he said. “This is not a joke. God is opening doors. And I believe it will go very far.” The post He Spent 12 Years Testing Genesis. Here’s Where It Led Him. appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Dr.
\n

Dr. Nathanael-Israel Israel never set out to prove the Bible.

\n\n\n\n

The Benin-born scientist, who holds a doctorate in plant, insect and microbial sciences, already believed in God. But a years-long search into the origins of the universe — a scientific investigation of the creation story described in the Book of Genesis — would bring him, in his words, to “the intersection of science and faith.”

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: How a Black Astronaut’s Historic Spacewalk Deepened His Faith

\n\n\n\n

Now, more than a decade of studying cosmological data has convinced Israel that the Bible’s account of creation is not merely theological poetry but a scientifically verifiable sequence — a calculus that puts him at odds with scientists as well as theologians. 

\n\n\n\n

“I never initially started this research with a thought of proving God, proving the Bible or proving science,” Israel says. “Of course, I know there is God. I don’t need any proof to believe in God.”

\n\n\n\n

‘Just Like the Bible’

\n\n\n\n

Yet the quest — undertaken after a season of personal challenges prompted questions about life, purpose and the origin of the universe — took “12 years of hard work and intense research,” he said. “At one point, I even abandoned my career to focus on this thing.”

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Dr. Nathan-Israel Israel (Courtesy of Dr. Israel)
\n
\n\n\n

The culmination of that work is a series of books Israel authored, including “Boldest Scientific Formula of God and Creation.” In it, he proposes a mathematical formula he says confirms the Genesis account of creation.

\n\n\n\n

“The formation of the Earth was done on the third day of creation, just like the Bible has been saying for 3,500 years,” Israel says. “The moon and the sun formation were completed on the fourth day of creation.”

\n\n\n\n

Israel believes his work arrives at a critical moment, filled with armed conflict and social unrest.

\n\n\n\n

I tried to see if anybody before me had analyzed the data through the framework that was coming to my mind. I could not see anybody who had done such an analysis.

\n\n\n\n

“We are living in difficult times nationally and worldwide,” he said. “It’s not by chance that this discovery is being known at this time.”

\n\n\n\n

Science of Faith

\n\n\n\n

Attempting to calculate the birthdate of the universe, however, is nothing new. For centuries, theologians, philosophers, and scientists have pursued the same elusive question of how the universe began; Israel’s work joins a long-running debate over whether science can say anything meaningful about God. 

\n\n\n\n

While some scientists argue that modern physics leaves no need for a creator, others contend that science and faith address different questions altogether. Most mainstream scientists agree that God’s existence cannot be tested through the scientific method, leaving the issue beyond the reach of science alone.

\n\n\n\n

But Israel believes his 12-year journey through cosmological data led him to an answer hidden in the Book of Genesis, the Bible’s opening chapter. He says his calculations — based on empirical data collected throughout humanity— tracks what he calls the “forerunners” of celestial bodies, and pinpoints how long it took for to arrive at their present positions.

\n\n\n\n

“When I went to the site of NASA to see what they are saying, I came across a ton of scientific data collected by top scientists throughout the centuries,” Israel says. “I tried to see if anybody before me had analyzed the data through the framework that was coming to my mind. I could not see anybody who had done such an analysis.”

\n\n\n\n

Faith in Science

\n\n\n\n

Explaining the theory in everyday language is a challenge, but Israel insists his theories are scientifically sound. Those who debunk his calculations, he says, haven’t taken the time to know or understand them. 

\n\n\n\n

“The problem is scientists don’t know that story,” he said. “Because they missed that story, they will tell you a lot of nonsense.”

\n\n\n\n

Israel also rejects the common notion that faith and science are enemies.

\n\n\n\n

“We know that science and faith can go together,” he said. “God who gave us the mind is not expecting us to trash the mind.”

\n\n\n\n

Yet, he warns against relying exclusively on either.

\n\n\n\n

“Choosing faith only is not bad, but it will not allow you to maximize your potential,” he said. “Choosing science only is dangerous because it will cause you to neglect things that you cannot demonstrate through physical science.”

\n\n\n\n

Despite his certanty, not everyone has embraced his conclusions. Israel said he has encountered skepticism from both scientists and some Christians. He said some organizations declined to promote his work because of the book’s explicit references to God.

\n\n\n\n

Including the Creator

\n\n\n\n

“Many top evangelists believe in evolution and the Big Bang” as the origin of the universe, he said. “Even the believers are fighting me. I wanted to do a press release, and they told me I must remove God and just say ‘creation.’ I said, ‘Stop it. How do you do a story about creation and leave out the Creator?’”

\n\n\n\n

But the criticism has not diminished Israel’s conviction.

\n\n\n\n

“Math does not lie,” he said. “This is not preaching. This is mathematical science. This is testable. This is reproducible.”

\n\n\n\n

To reach readers with varying levels of scientific understanding, he has published multiple versions of his work, including books written for children and more technical volumes aimed at university audiences.

\n\n\n\n

“It’s very difficult to address such a topic in one book,” he said. “Whoever they are—pastors, babies, children, university people—I can break it down for them.”

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: Survey: One in Three Americans Trust AI as Much as a Pastor

\n\n\n\n

The largest volume in his series originally exceeded 2,500 pages before being condensed to about 700 pages, he said. Despite setbacks, Israel said, he sees growing interest in his scientific work; promoting it, however, seems like an act of faith.

\n\n\n\n

“People are denying me, but others will embrace me,” he said. “This is not a joke. God is opening doors. And I believe it will go very far.”

\n

The post He Spent 12 Years Testing Genesis. Here’s Where It Led Him. appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/he-spent-12-years-testing-genesis-heres-where-it-led-him/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-25T19:02:39.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Visual-element-Science180-2-scaled.png?fit=1024%2C724&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-06-25T19:17:23.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Visual-element-Science180-2-scaled.png?fit=1024%2C724&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"7JaaINMMohW4kNw6","title":"Judge Orders Halt to SNAP’s Ban on Sugary Foods","description":"A federal judge has halted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s use of food-choice waivers that allow states to restrict purchases of soda, energy drinks, candy, and other foods for people who receive SNAP benefits. “Congress defined what ‘food’ is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted,” Judge Amy Berman Jackson wrote in her ruling. “It did not authorize the agency to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely.” “It set out clearly the type of experimental projects that could be tested to address the unquestionably serious health issues attributed to the rise of obesity in the population in general and particularly the low-income population,” Jackson said. Last year, the agency announced it considered the products to have little nutritional value and removed them from its definition as food items. This change allowed states to get waivers from USDA so they could declare the items no longer SNAP eligible. Since then, more than 22 states have rolled out restrictions on the items. The states having the widest range of restricted items include Iowa, followed by states like Tennessee, which restricts any items defined as “processed foods and beverages,” and South Carolina, which bars several categories of sweetened products, including prepared desserts. Another Changed Caused by the “Big, Beautiful” Bill The restrictions are part of the changes required by the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” which also cuts roughly $187 billion from SNAP over the next ten years. Almost 42 million people use the monthly benefits to feed their families, and almost 26% of SNAP participants are Black. This is just over 10 million people who receive an average of $187 a month, or just over $6 per day. Between April and August of 2025, five states—Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia—got permission from the USDA “to conduct pilot projects” that would allow them to ban the items from SNAP eligibility. Five SNAP recipients from those states sued the USDA over its implementation of waiver restriction pilot projects. The National Center for Law and Economic Justice, a nonprofit focused on advancing justice for low-income families, represented the families. In a prepared statement, the organization said the USDA is trying to curb ”the freedom of SNAP participants to choose the food they and their families need.” Several of the states implementing restrictions also have some of the largest Black populations in the country, including Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Those states are phasing in rules throughout 2026. Texas’s rules alone could affect more than 3.5 million recipients. “The Court’s ruling is a major step in restoring essential food assistance to the millions of families that rely on SNAP nationwide,” said Katie Deabler, senior attorney at NCLEJ. “This decision makes clear that the USDA cannot bypass the legal guardrails that establish how SNAP must operate across the country. It affirms that families deserve a program that works without confusion.” The USDA rule also dismantled the previous uniform federal standard and created a state-by-state patchwork system. The changes have caused confusion among recipients and retailers alike. Previously, most food items intended for home consumption were SNAP-eligible. But the changes meant that grocers, including grocery store cashiers, had to enforce state-specific restrictions—often at the cash register during checkout.“This has caused significant confusion for SNAP recipients and retailers, and has harmed SNAP recipients who rely on certain sugary beverages to manage their chronic health conditions like diabetes,” NCLEJ noted. RELATED: Lawsuit Challenges New SNAP Food Limits The post Judge Orders Halt to SNAP’s Ban on Sugary Foods appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"SNAP
\n

A federal judge has halted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s use of food-choice waivers that allow states to restrict purchases of soda, energy drinks, candy, and other foods for people who receive SNAP benefits. 

\n\n\n\n

“Congress defined what ‘food’ is supposed to be, and it did not authorize the agency to amend or waive the definition it enacted,” Judge Amy Berman Jackson wrote in her ruling. “It did not authorize the agency to cut types of food out of SNAP entirely.” 

\n\n\n\n

“It set out clearly the type of experimental projects that could be tested to address the unquestionably serious health issues attributed to the rise of obesity in the population in general and particularly the low-income population,” Jackson said.

\n\n\n\n

Last year, the agency announced it considered the products to have little nutritional value and removed them from its definition as food items. This change allowed states to get waivers from USDA so they could declare the items no longer SNAP eligible. Since then, more than 22 states have rolled out restrictions on the items. 

\n\n\n\n

The states having the widest range of restricted items include Iowa, followed by states like Tennessee, which restricts any items defined as “processed foods and beverages,” and South Carolina, which bars several categories of sweetened products, including prepared desserts. 

\n\n\n\n

Another Changed Caused by the “Big, Beautiful” Bill

\n\n\n\n

The restrictions are part of the changes required by the “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” which also cuts roughly $187 billion from SNAP over the next ten years. Almost 42 million people use the monthly benefits to feed their families, and almost 26% of SNAP participants are Black. This is just over 10 million people who receive an average of $187 a month, or just over $6 per day. 

\n\n\n\n

Between April and August of 2025, five states—Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia—got permission from the USDA “to conduct pilot projects” that would allow them to ban the items from SNAP eligibility. Five SNAP recipients from those states sued the USDA over its implementation of waiver restriction pilot projects.

\n\n\n\n

The National Center for Law and Economic Justice, a nonprofit focused on advancing justice for low-income families, represented the families. In a prepared statement, the organization said the USDA is trying to curb ”the freedom of SNAP participants to choose the food they and their families need.” 

\n\n\n\n

Several of the states implementing restrictions also have some of the largest Black populations in the country, including Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Those states are phasing in rules throughout 2026. 

\n\n\n\n

Texas’s rules alone could affect more than 3.5 million recipients.

\n\n\n\n

“The Court’s ruling is a major step in restoring essential food assistance to the millions of families that rely on SNAP nationwide,” said Katie Deabler, senior attorney at NCLEJ. “This decision makes clear that the USDA cannot bypass the legal guardrails that establish how SNAP must operate across the country. It affirms that families deserve a program that works without confusion.”

\n\n\n\n

The USDA rule also dismantled the previous uniform federal standard and created a state-by-state patchwork system. The changes have caused confusion among recipients and retailers alike. 

\n\n\n\n

Previously, most food items intended for home consumption were SNAP-eligible. But the changes meant that grocers, including grocery store cashiers, had to enforce state-specific restrictions—often at the cash register during checkout.

“This has caused significant confusion for SNAP recipients and retailers, and has harmed SNAP recipients who rely on certain sugary beverages to manage their chronic health conditions like diabetes,” NCLEJ noted. 

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Judge Orders Halt to SNAP’s Ban on Sugary Foods appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/judge-orders-halt-to-snaps-ban-on-sugary-foods/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-23T19:28:16.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-SNAP062326.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-23T19:42:10.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-SNAP062326.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"Wdouq50lMGdJlfeU","title":"Obama Still Lives Rent-Free in Trump’s Head","description":"The irony is impossible to miss. Nearly a decade after dismantling former President Barack Obama’s signature foreign policy achievement — a painstakingly negotiated nuclear treaty with Iran — President Donald Trump found himself defending a hastily stitched-together agreement that ends the Iran conflict, an wildly unpopular war he unilaterally stared. It invited uncomfortable comparisons to what his predecessor created, and what Trump destroyed. That dynamic, however, points to a larger truth: you can’t understand Trump without Obama. And it’s hard to see why Obama continues to live rent-free in Trump’s head without understanding what the first Black president represents to his successor, creator of the MAGAverse. LEARN MORE: The Long War Against Michelle Obama’s Womanhood Obama the man, and his historic presidency, are benchmarks of achievement, popularity, and historical stature that Trump has, obviously, spent years trying to surpass — and likely never will. Over the past several weeks, a series of events has clearly illustrated that dynamic. Kicking the Hornet’s Nest Start with Iran. The Trump administration recently unveiled a two-page memorandum intended to end a costly war that sent gas prices soaring and stalled global commerce. The document punts on the hardest questions — Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its proxy networks, and its threats to regional neighbors — while creating a 60-day window to negotiate something more permanent. The agreement immediately invited comparison to Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Trump spent years attacking. It was negotiated in 2015, ran 159 pages and was the product of grinding diplomacy involving European allies, Russia, China, and international inspectors. Supporters argued it significantly slowed Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon without requiring military intervention. Trump called the agreement a disaster and withdrew from it in 2018. Now, after military strikes, American casualties, economic disruption, and months of instability, he has arrived at an arrangement that many critics view as narrower and less durable than the one he discarded. Legacy for the Community The contrast sharpened further in Chicago. As Trump took fire from the left and right over his Iran strategy, Obama — trim, erudite, captivating — stood at a lectern on Chicago’s South Side before thousands gathered to celebrate the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, a project more than a decade in the making. Every living president and first lady attended — except one. The first Black president achieved the admiration, popularity, and historic stature that Trump desperately craves. The absence was notable because the Obama Center itself embodies a fundamentally different vision of legacy. Trump’s public life has often been defined by monuments to himself — buildings, brands, and projects carrying his name. Obama’s center was conceived as a civic space first and a presidential monument second. The 19-acre campus includes a museum, a public library branch, gardens, an auditorium, a media center, and community gathering spaces intended to serve residents long after today’s political battles fade. Obvious Subtext “The exhibits in the center are not meant to evoke nostalgia for some gauzy bygone era,” Obama said during the dedication. Instead, he spoke about democratic institutions, civic engagement, integrity, public service, and the peaceful transfer of power. No one needed help understanding the subtext. Compare the dedication to Trump’s America 250 celebration. After learning the event would have overtones of a Trump rally, nearly all the headliners — yesteryear acts like Young M.C., the Commodores and Brett Michaels — all bailed. Obama’s dedication ceremony, by contrast, featured bona fide A-list talent: featured Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Common, The Roots, and Christina Aguilera. One event felt obligatory. The other felt aspirational. MAGA Conspiracy Then there was the uglier reminder of how race continues to shape the story. At a UFC event to celebrate Trump’s birthday, a fighter repeated a bizarre conspiracy theory attacking Michelle Obama into an open mic on live TV. An ugly expression of misogynoir directed at one of the world’s most admired women the smear about Michelle Obama has for years circulated like raw sewage through the political movement that helped elevate Trump. The current president, as usual, had nothing to say about it. That silence matters because Trump’s relationship with Obama has never been entirely ideological. It has always carried the unmistakable undertones of white anger and grievance. It’s not just that Obama defeated Republican ideas, or that he remained popular around the world, years after leaving office. It’s because the first Black president achieved the admiration, legitimacy, and cultural stature Trump desperately craves. That fixation likely traces back to the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Obama stood at the podium and dismantled Trump’s birther conspiracy theories, and humiliated Trump to his face, with a few jokes and impeccable comic timing. The room erupted in laughter. Trump sat stone-faced. Many observers have viewed that evening as a pivotal moment: the night humiliation hardened into resentment and resentment evolved into political ambition. Whether that interpretation is entirely fair is almost beside the point. The pattern is difficult to miss. Trump continues to define himself against Obama. Obama rarely appears to define himself against Trump. Class vs. Crass Which brings us back to the larger lesson of these past several weeks. Trump spent them defending an Iran agreement that inevitably invited comparison to Obama’s. He watched artists distance themselves from his anniversary celebrations. He remained surrounded by a political culture that still traffics in attacks on Michelle Obama more than a decade after the first Black first family left the White House. And the reflecting pool renovations he ordered didn’t last a week before algae took over, turning a tourist attraction near the Lincoln Memorial into a green swamp. RELATED: A Year in, Trump’s Agenda Has Deepened Black Economic Pain Obama spent the same period deepening his status as a cultural icon. He opened a presidential center on Chicago’s South Side while being celebrated by former presidents, cultural icons, and supporters. Admirers around the world see his presidency as a model rather than a grievance. Ultimately, the tale of two presidents is revealing on multiple levels. One is still trying to prove he belongs in the same conversation. The other has shown that it will never happen. The post Obama Still Lives Rent-Free in Trump’s Head appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"As
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The irony is impossible to miss.

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Nearly a decade after dismantling former President Barack Obama’s signature foreign policy achievement — a painstakingly negotiated nuclear treaty with Iran — President Donald Trump found himself defending a hastily stitched-together agreement that ends the Iran conflict, an wildly unpopular war he unilaterally stared. It invited uncomfortable comparisons to what his predecessor created, and what Trump destroyed.

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That dynamic, however, points to a larger truth: you can’t understand Trump without Obama. And it’s hard to see why Obama continues to live rent-free in Trump’s head without understanding what the first Black president represents to his successor, creator of the MAGAverse.

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LEARN MORE: The Long War Against Michelle Obama’s Womanhood

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Obama the man, and his historic presidency, are benchmarks of achievement, popularity, and historical stature that Trump has, obviously, spent years trying to surpass — and likely never will. Over the past several weeks, a series of events has clearly illustrated that dynamic.

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Kicking the Hornet’s Nest

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Start with Iran.

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The Trump administration recently unveiled a two-page memorandum intended to end a costly war that sent gas prices soaring and stalled global commerce. The document punts on the hardest questions — Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its proxy networks, and its threats to regional neighbors — while creating a 60-day window to negotiate something more permanent.

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The agreement immediately invited comparison to Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Trump spent years attacking. It was negotiated in 2015, ran 159 pages and was the product of grinding diplomacy involving European allies, Russia, China, and international inspectors. Supporters argued it significantly slowed Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon without requiring military intervention.

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Trump called the agreement a disaster and withdrew from it in 2018. 

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Now, after military strikes, American casualties, economic disruption, and months of instability, he has arrived at an arrangement that many critics view as narrower and less durable than the one he discarded.

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Legacy for the Community

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The contrast sharpened further in Chicago.

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As Trump took fire from the left and right over his Iran strategy, Obama — trim, erudite, captivating — stood at a lectern on Chicago’s South Side before thousands gathered to celebrate the opening of the Obama Presidential Center, a project more than a decade in the making.

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Every living president and first lady attended — except one.

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The first Black president achieved the admiration, popularity, and historic stature that Trump desperately craves.

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The absence was notable because the Obama Center itself embodies a fundamentally different vision of legacy.

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Trump’s public life has often been defined by monuments to himself — buildings, brands, and projects carrying his name. Obama’s center was conceived as a civic space first and a presidential monument second. The 19-acre campus includes a museum, a public library branch, gardens, an auditorium, a media center, and community gathering spaces intended to serve residents long after today’s political battles fade.

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Obvious Subtext

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“The exhibits in the center are not meant to evoke nostalgia for some gauzy bygone era,” Obama said during the dedication. Instead, he spoke about democratic institutions, civic engagement, integrity, public service, and the peaceful transfer of power.

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No one needed help understanding the subtext.

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Compare the dedication to Trump’s America 250 celebration. After learning the event would have overtones of a Trump rally, nearly all the headliners — yesteryear acts like Young M.C., the Commodores and Brett Michaels — all bailed. Obama’s dedication ceremony, by contrast, featured bona fide A-list talent:  featured Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Common, The Roots, and Christina Aguilera.

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One event felt obligatory. The other felt aspirational.

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MAGA Conspiracy

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Then there was the uglier reminder of how race continues to shape the story.

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At a UFC event to celebrate Trump’s birthday, a fighter repeated a bizarre conspiracy theory attacking Michelle Obama into an open mic on live TV. An ugly expression of misogynoir directed at one of the world’s most admired women the smear about Michelle Obama has for years circulated like raw sewage through the political movement that helped elevate Trump.

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The current president, as usual, had nothing to say about it. 

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That silence matters because Trump’s relationship with Obama has never been entirely ideological. It has always carried the unmistakable undertones of white anger and grievance.

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It’s not just that Obama defeated Republican ideas, or that he remained popular around the world, years after leaving office. It’s because the first Black president achieved the admiration, legitimacy, and cultural stature Trump desperately craves.

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That fixation likely traces back to the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

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Obama stood at the podium and dismantled Trump’s birther conspiracy theories, and humiliated Trump to his face, with a few jokes and impeccable comic timing. The room erupted in laughter. Trump sat stone-faced.

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Many observers have viewed that evening as a pivotal moment: the night humiliation hardened into resentment and resentment evolved into political ambition. Whether that interpretation is entirely fair is almost beside the point. The pattern is difficult to miss.

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Trump continues to define himself against Obama. Obama rarely appears to define himself against Trump.

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Class vs. Crass

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Which brings us back to the larger lesson of these past several weeks.

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Trump spent them defending an Iran agreement that inevitably invited comparison to Obama’s. He watched artists distance themselves from his anniversary celebrations. He remained surrounded by a political culture that still traffics in attacks on Michelle Obama more than a decade after the first Black first family left the White House. And the reflecting pool renovations he ordered didn’t last a week before algae took over, turning a tourist attraction near the Lincoln Memorial into a green swamp.

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RELATED: A Year in, Trump’s Agenda Has Deepened Black Economic Pain

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Obama spent the same period deepening his status as a cultural icon. He opened a presidential center on Chicago’s South Side while being celebrated by former presidents, cultural icons, and supporters. Admirers around the world see his presidency as a model rather than a grievance.

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Ultimately, the tale of two presidents is revealing on multiple levels. 

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One is still trying to prove he belongs in the same conversation. The other has shown that it will never happen.

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The post Obama Still Lives Rent-Free in Trump’s Head appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/obama-still-lives-rent-free-in-trumps-head/","site":"Joseph Williams","originalAuthor":"Joseph Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Politics","politics"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-22T20:19:29.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2281598301.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-22T20:28:32.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2281598301.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"uQ7QHwGDQlO9pFdK","title":"Women Built the Ministry. Men Kept the Title.","description":"The Southern Baptist Convention’s vote to tighten its ban on women pastors landed like a thunderclap in some corners of American Christianity. In much of Black America’s church community, however, it exposed a contradiction that has existed for generations: women are often trusted to do the work of ministry, but not always granted the authority that comes with it. Now, as the nation’s largest, most influential Protestant denomination moves to formally enforce gender restrictions on who can preach and pastor, Black clergy and church leaders are confronting the much larger question of who gets to answer God’s call — and who gets to decide if it’s legitimate. LEARN MORE: Black Women Built the Black Church. Why Can’t They Lead It? At its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month, the SBC voted overwhelmingly to advance a constitutional amendment that would bar member churches from affirming women as pastors. The measure now requires a second two-thirds vote next year to become binding. Codefying Enforcement If adopted, it moves the denomination from doctrinal preference to enforcing who may hold pastoral authority. More than 3,875 Black congregations belong to the SBC, accounting for just 7% of the SBC’s total membership. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a central voice behind the amendment, declared that “(t)here’s a great line that divides liberal and biblical evangelicalism, and you can see it on this very issue.” This is about future leadership and succession. And don’t be fooled. The SBC is simply more overt than many Black churches that operate covertly. Bishop Corletta Vaughn, Holy Ghost Full Gospel Church, Detroit Supporters argue that the amendment simply tightens enforcement of what the denomination already teaches — that the pastoral office is limited to men — and resolves ambiguity between belief and practice. But opponents say the SBC already has the power to remove churches that violate its doctrinal standards. The margin of victory was sufficient for the SBC’s initial approval, but it also signals that the denomination is increasingly willing to define cooperation not only by shared belief but by enforced boundaries around who may preach and who may not. ‘This is About Who Gets Hired’ On her Facebook page, Bishop Corletta Vaughn, senior pastor and presiding prelate of Holy Ghost Full Gospel Church in Detroit, slammed the vote. She sees it as a way to marginalize and exclude women from power within the SBC and other Protestant institutions. “This is about future leadership and succession,” Vaughn wrote on Facebook. “And don’t be fooled. The SBC is simply more overt than many Black churches that operate covertly … This is about who gets hired as presidents, deans, and professors of Divinity, Seminary, and Religious Institutes. No woman. No daughter. No sister can NOT feel the wind of this violent storm.” In the Black church, women’s preaching has long existed in tension with institutional recognition—sometimes officially affirmed, sometimes informally tolerated, and sometimes resisted, even when congregations themselves have embraced women’s spiritual authority. Standing in Solidarity The SBC vote draws a bright institutional line, even as many Black churches have historically lived with overlapping categories — exhorter, evangelist, missionary, preacher, pastor — that do not always fit neatly into Western ecclesial hierarchies. In a statement after the vote, Baptist Women in Ministry said it stands in solidarity “with the women in ministry who have been harmed by this vote” and condemned the “hateful rhetoric and propaganda” leading up to it. “Women in ministry deserve affirmation, respect, and the opportunity to follow God’s call,” the group said. RELATED: At Hampton, Black Clergy Weigh Faith, AI, and Change The amendment will return for a second vote next year. If it passes, it will reshape how the SBC defines pastoral authority across thousands of congregations, turning a long-running internal debate into a formal boundary line. For the wider American church, the significance is less procedural than interpretive. It raises again a question that different traditions answer differently: whether the pulpit is primarily an office granted by institutions, or a calling recognized wherever it emerges—and who gets to decide when those two are allowed to mean the same thing. The post Women Built the Ministry. Men Kept the Title. appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"The
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The Southern Baptist Convention’s vote to tighten its ban on women pastors landed like a thunderclap in some corners of American Christianity. In much of  Black America’s church community, however, it exposed a contradiction that has existed for generations: women are often trusted to do the work of ministry, but not always granted the authority that comes with it.

\n\n\n\n

Now, as the nation’s largest, most influential Protestant denomination moves to formally enforce gender restrictions on who can preach and pastor, Black clergy and church leaders are confronting the much larger question of who gets to answer God’s call — and who gets to decide if it’s legitimate. 

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE:  Black Women Built the Black Church. Why Can’t They Lead It?

\n\n\n\n

At its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, earlier this month, the SBC voted overwhelmingly to advance a constitutional amendment that would bar member churches from affirming women as pastors. The measure now requires a second two-thirds vote next year to become binding. 

\n\n\n\n

Codefying Enforcement

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If adopted, it moves the denomination from doctrinal preference to enforcing who may hold pastoral authority. More than 3,875 Black congregations belong to the SBC, accounting for just 7% of the SBC’s total membership.

\n\n\n\n

Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a central voice behind the amendment, declared that “(t)here’s a great line that divides liberal and biblical evangelicalism, and you can see it on this very issue.”

\n\n\n\n

This is about future leadership and succession. And don’t be fooled. The SBC is simply more overt than many Black churches that operate covertly.

Bishop Corletta Vaughn, Holy Ghost Full Gospel Church, Detroit
\n\n\n\n

Supporters argue that the amendment simply tightens enforcement of what the denomination already teaches — that the pastoral office is limited to men — and resolves ambiguity between belief and practice. But opponents say the SBC already has the power to remove churches that violate its doctrinal standards. 

\n\n\n\n

The margin of victory was sufficient for the SBC’s initial approval, but it also signals that the denomination is increasingly willing to define cooperation not only by shared belief but by enforced boundaries around who may preach and who may not.

\n\n\n\n

‘This is About Who Gets Hired’

\n\n\n\n

On her Facebook page, Bishop Corletta Vaughn, senior pastor and presiding prelate of Holy Ghost Full Gospel Church in Detroit, slammed the vote. She sees it as a way to marginalize and exclude women from power within the SBC and other Protestant institutions.

\n\n\n\n

“This is about future leadership and succession,” Vaughn wrote on Facebook. “And don’t be fooled. The SBC is simply more overt than many Black churches that operate covertly … This is about who gets hired as presidents, deans, and professors of Divinity, Seminary, and Religious Institutes. No woman. No daughter. No sister can NOT feel the wind of this violent storm.”  

\n\n\n\n

In the Black church, women’s preaching has long existed in tension with institutional recognition—sometimes officially affirmed, sometimes informally tolerated, and sometimes resisted, even when congregations themselves have embraced women’s spiritual authority. 

\n\n\n\n

Standing in Solidarity

\n\n\n\n

The SBC vote draws a bright institutional line, even as many Black churches have historically lived with overlapping categories — exhorter, evangelist, missionary, preacher, pastor — that do not always fit neatly into Western ecclesial hierarchies.

\n\n\n\n

In a statement after the vote, Baptist Women in Ministry said it stands in solidarity “with the women in ministry who have been harmed by this vote” and condemned the “hateful rhetoric and propaganda” leading up to it. “Women in ministry deserve affirmation, respect, and the opportunity to follow God’s call,” the group said.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: At Hampton, Black Clergy Weigh Faith, AI, and Change

\n\n\n\n

The amendment will return for a second vote next year. If it passes, it will reshape how the SBC defines pastoral authority across thousands of congregations, turning a long-running internal debate into a formal boundary line.

\n\n\n\n

For the wider American church, the significance is less procedural than interpretive. It raises again a question that different traditions answer differently: whether the pulpit is primarily an office granted by institutions, or a calling recognized wherever it emerges—and who gets to decide when those two are allowed to mean the same thing.

\n

The post Women Built the Ministry. Men Kept the Title. appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/women-built-the-ministry-men-kept-the-title/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-19T17:10:59.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2246388016.jpg?fit=723%2C483&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-19T17:13:05.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2246388016.jpg?fit=723%2C483&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"NeDsVahyhvExsU5v","title":"Vanishing Care: GOP Healthcare Cuts Hit Black America Hard","description":"When a hospital closes, it doesn’t just take away healthcare. It takes away time — the minutes between a heart attack and treatment, the miles between a pregnant woman and a delivery room, the difference between life and death. That reality is becoming increasingly common in Black communities across America. One year after President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans enacted more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, more than 1,000 hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, maternity wards, and healthcare providers have closed, reduced services, or face imminent risk of doing so, according to a new report from Protect Our Care. The report traces the fallout from congressional Republicans’ decision to make the largest cuts ever seen to the healthcare safety net that almost 80 million people enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP and 25 million ACA enrollees rely on. Before President Donald Trump signed the legislation, Congress’ own experts had predicted the damage would be widespread, with millions of Americans losing health coverage; experts warn the worst is still to come, with Black communities disproportionately harmed. “The only reason they [cut healthcare funding] was to pass along tax cuts for their billionaire and corporate friends,” Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, said during a press conference introducing the Protect Our Care report. “And the first impact of that is that people lose coverage,” The Protect Our Care report, which includes an interactive website, tells a disturbing story. Ninety-two percent of hospital executives expect Medicaid cuts to significantly affect their financial operations, according to the report. At least 14 hospitals have closed across 13 states and more than 400 hospitals are at risk of closing or cutting staff. Over 360 clinics have closed and more than 30 nursing homes have shut their doors. Facilities close “when fewer people have insurance, and when [payments] are lowered,” Murphy said. Community hospitals, nursing homes and maternity wards, he said, “are closing at an alarming rate, and that’s the consequence of the decision that Republicans made.” When the bill was up for debate last year, it was estimated that 15 million Americans — including seniors, children, and people with disabilities — could lose healthcare coverage. Just a year later nearly four million individuals have already lost it. A Crisis for Black Americans The vulnerable care facilities tend to disproportionately serve Black and low-income residents than other hospitals. Nearly 20% of the at-risk hospitals identified in a report from Public Citizen serve high-poverty areas and 60% of them serve urban areas. Another 176 (39%) are rural hospitals. Black Americans already face higher uninsured rates, with around 9% lacking coverage compared to roughly 5% of whites, according to the research firm KFF. They also make up about 21% of Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and are far more likely than their white counterparts to rely on government-subsidized healthcare. In April, civil rights and health equity advocates declared a “Health Equity Emergency” warning that the law is actively stripping health coverage from low-income Black communities at an alarming rate. Dr. Oni Blackstock, a prominent health equity physician, noted that the new policies increase the amount of red tape, such as work and reapplication requirements, making the system difficult to navigate. The Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank, estimated that the end of ACA tax credits alone would cause more than 170,000 Black adults in just 10 major metropolitan areas to lose health insurance, with the largest losses concentrated in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and Miami. The organization predicts ending the credits could lead to more than 200 preventable Black deaths each year. Meanwhile, the closure of maternity wards comes at a time when the Black community is already grappling with a maternal health crisis. Multiple studies have shown Black mothers die from pregnancy-related complications at three times the rate of white mothers — and Medicaid is the largest single payer of maternal health care in the country. The GOP’s bill has already shuttered nearly 40 maternity wards and put more than 140 additional units at risk. In Lavonia, Georgia, a maternity ward closed in October, forcing expectant mothers to travel as long as 90 minutes to reach the nearest labor and delivery unit. In Fort Smith, Arkansas, Zoe Thompson, 20 weeks pregnant, was forced to find a new provider midway through her pregnancy after Baptist Health shut down its labor and delivery unit. “Having a baby is scary,” she said. “I’m kind of freaking out, to be honest.” Timing Is Everything When emergency departments shut down, ambulance times increase. Studies find that, after a rural hospital closes, transport times climb 11 to 16 minutes after a rural hospital closure, adding precious minutes in emergency situations, such as a stroke or heart attack. “When we talk about time and emergency medicine, time is everything,” Dr. Chris Ford, an emergency medicine physician in Milwaukee, said at the press conference. “When a hospital closes, these emergencies don’t stop; the heart attacks don’t stop; the strokes don’t stop. The patients are still there, but they have to travel farther, and they have fewer places to go.” If the cuts aren’t reversed, Ford said, patients and their families will have to deal with ”delayed care, preventable suffering, and lives lost.” Devastation Stretches Nationwide Mental health and substance use treatment has been especially hard hit, according to the Protect Our Care report. Medicaid covers nearly a third of adults living with a serious mental illness and half of all adults with opioid use disorder, and the GOP bill gutted the program’s ability to fund those services. More than 70 mental health clinics, behavioral health facilities, and inpatient psychiatric units have shuttered since the bill’s passage. Researchers estimate that 156,000 Americans will be cut off from opioid use disorder treatment, and that overdose rates among them could double, leading to an estimated 1,000 additional fatal overdoses per year. RELATED: Black OD Death Rates Are High. They Just Might Get Worse Only the BeginningThe bill’s lesser-known provisions aren’t scheduled to take effect until 2027 and 2028. The law also eliminated financial incentives for the 10 states that have yet to fully expand Medicaid, including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama, leaving 69 hospitals in those states at grave risk and now further than ever from financial relief. The 1,000-facility mark, Protect Our Care and others warn, is just a preview of the next onslaught as congress considers the 2027 budget. The post Vanishing Care: GOP Healthcare Cuts Hit Black America Hard appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Reportage:
\n

When a hospital closes, it doesn’t just take away healthcare. It takes away time — the minutes between a heart attack and treatment, the miles between a pregnant woman and a delivery room, the difference between life and death.

\n\n\n\n

That reality is becoming increasingly common in Black communities across America. One year after President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans enacted more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, more than 1,000 hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, maternity wards, and healthcare providers have closed, reduced services, or face imminent risk of doing so, according to a new report from Protect Our Care.

\n\n\n\n

The report traces the fallout from congressional Republicans’ decision to make the largest cuts ever seen to the healthcare safety net that almost 80 million people enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP and 25 million ACA enrollees rely on.

\n\n\n\n

Before President Donald Trump signed the legislation, Congress’ own experts had predicted the damage would be widespread, with millions of Americans losing health coverage; experts warn the worst is still to come, with Black communities disproportionately harmed.

\n\n\n\n

“The only reason they [cut healthcare funding] was to pass along tax cuts for their billionaire and corporate friends,” Sen. Chris Murphy, Democrat of Connecticut, said during a press conference introducing the Protect Our Care report. “And the first impact of that is that people lose coverage,” 

\n\n\n\n

The Protect Our Care report, which includes an interactive website, tells a disturbing  story. 

\n\n\n\n

Ninety-two percent of hospital executives expect Medicaid cuts to significantly affect their financial operations, according to the report. At least 14 hospitals have closed across 13 states and more than 400 hospitals are at risk of closing or cutting staff. Over 360 clinics have closed and more than 30 nursing homes have shut their doors. 

\n\n\n\n

Facilities close “when fewer people have insurance, and when [payments] are lowered,” Murphy said. Community hospitals, nursing homes and maternity wards, he said, “are closing at an alarming rate, and that’s the consequence of the decision that Republicans made.”

\n\n\n\n

When the bill was up for debate last year, it was estimated that 15 million Americans — including seniors, children, and people with disabilities — could lose healthcare coverage. Just a year later nearly four million individuals have already lost it. 

\n\n\n\n

A Crisis for Black Americans

\n\n\n\n

The vulnerable care facilities tend to disproportionately serve Black and low-income residents than other hospitals. Nearly 20% of the at-risk hospitals identified in a report from Public Citizen serve high-poverty areas and 60% of them serve urban areas. Another 176 (39%) are rural hospitals.

\n\n\n\n

Black Americans already face higher uninsured rates, with around 9% lacking coverage compared to roughly 5% of whites, according to the research firm KFF. They also make up about 21% of Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and are far more likely than their white counterparts to rely on government-subsidized healthcare.

\n\n\n\n

In April, civil rights and health equity advocates declared a “Health Equity Emergency” warning that the law is actively stripping health coverage from low-income Black communities at an alarming rate. 

\n\n\n\n

Dr. Oni Blackstock, a prominent health equity physician, noted that the new policies increase the amount of red tape, such as work and reapplication requirements, making the system difficult to navigate.

\n\n\n\n

The Economic Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank, estimated that the end of ACA tax credits alone would cause more than 170,000 Black adults in just 10 major metropolitan areas to lose health insurance, with the largest losses concentrated in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, and Miami. 

\n\n\n\n

The organization predicts ending the credits could lead to more than 200 preventable Black deaths each year.

\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the closure of maternity wards comes at a time when the Black community is already grappling with a maternal health crisis. 

\n\n\n\n

Multiple studies have shown Black mothers die from pregnancy-related complications at three times the rate of white mothers — and Medicaid is the largest single payer of maternal health care in the country. The GOP’s bill has already shuttered nearly 40 maternity wards and put more than 140 additional units at risk. 

\n\n\n\n

In Lavonia, Georgia, a maternity ward closed in October, forcing expectant mothers to travel as long as 90 minutes to reach the nearest labor and delivery unit. In Fort Smith, Arkansas, Zoe Thompson, 20 weeks pregnant, was forced to find a new provider midway through her pregnancy after Baptist Health shut down its labor and delivery unit. 

\n\n\n\n

“Having a baby is scary,” she said. “I’m kind of freaking out, to be honest.”

\n\n\n\n

Timing Is Everything

\n\n\n\n

When emergency departments shut down, ambulance times increase. Studies find that, after a rural hospital closes, transport times climb 11 to 16 minutes after a rural hospital closure, adding precious minutes in emergency situations, such as a stroke or heart attack. 

\n\n\n\n

“When we talk about time and emergency medicine, time is everything,” Dr. Chris Ford, an emergency medicine physician in Milwaukee, said at the press conference. “When a hospital closes, these emergencies don’t stop; the heart attacks don’t stop; the strokes don’t stop. The patients are still there, but they have to travel farther, and they have fewer places to go.”

\n\n\n\n

If the cuts aren’t reversed, Ford said, patients and their families will have to deal with ”delayed care, preventable suffering, and lives lost.”

\n\n\n\n

Devastation Stretches Nationwide

\n\n\n\n

Mental health and substance use treatment has been especially hard hit, according to the Protect Our Care report. 

\n\n\n\n

Medicaid covers nearly a third of adults living with a serious mental illness and half of all adults with opioid use disorder, and the GOP bill gutted the program’s ability to fund those services. More than 70 mental health clinics, behavioral health facilities, and inpatient psychiatric units have shuttered since the bill’s passage. 

\n\n\n\n

Researchers estimate that 156,000 Americans will be cut off from opioid use disorder treatment, and that overdose rates among them could double, leading to an estimated 1,000 additional fatal overdoses per year.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Black OD Death Rates Are High. They Just Might Get Worse

\n\n\n\n

Only the Beginning

The bill’s lesser-known provisions aren’t scheduled to take effect until 2027 and 2028. The law also eliminated financial incentives for the 10 states that have yet to fully expand Medicaid, including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Alabama, leaving 69 hospitals in those states at grave risk and now further than ever from financial relief.

\n\n\n\n

The 1,000-facility mark, Protect Our Care and others warn, is just a preview of the next onslaught as congress considers the 2027 budget.

\n

The post Vanishing Care: GOP Healthcare Cuts Hit Black America Hard appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/vanishing-care-gop-healthcare-cuts-hit-black-america-hard/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-19T16:52:35.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-HospSign.jpg?fit=594%2C446&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-19T16:57:57.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-HospSign.jpg?fit=594%2C446&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"fyPrzdQ85GG5a7Gr","title":"Juneteenth: The Freedom We Knew, the Truth They Couldn’t Handle","description":"There is a myth we tell ourselves about Juneteenth, as if freedom arrived suddenly, like a thunderclap, on June 19, 1865, with General Granger reading General Order No. 3 to the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. The story goes that they didn’t know. That Freedom’s song took two and a half years to travel from Abraham Lincoln’s pen to the cotton fields. That somehow, the Emancipation Proclamation was stuck in a bottle drifting along the Gulf. It’s a neat narrative, tidy enough for textbooks, convenient enough for comfort. But it’s not the whole truth. And if Juneteenth means anything, it means telling the truth, especially the ones that make us squirm. Enslaved people knew. They heard whispers in the wind, news carried by travelers, by freedmen passing through, by Union soldiers marching closer. They knew something had shifted in the air. What they didn’t have was power. What they didn’t have was enforcement. Because even as the Union claimed victory, the machinery of slavery churned on in Texas. Owners refused to release what they considered “property.” The Confederate economy didn’t collapse in a single day — it bled out slowly, clinging to its last gasps of labor extracted through the whip. Freedom unbacked by force is just a rumor. And rumor doesn’t change chains. The lie will always be in delay. We act like the 19th century was a vacuum of information. But newspapers existed. Telegraph lines snaked across the continent. This wasn’t about distance — it was about defiance. About a system so steeped in its own supremacy that it denied reality even as it unraveled. We see this now, too — in climate denial, in voter suppression, in the constant rewriting of history in state legislatures. The lie will always be in delay. Continually acting as if truth needs time to arrive when the delay is the cover for injustice continuing its work. Juneteenth, then, isn’t about the moment the enslaved discovered their freedom. It’s about the moment America could no longer deny it. It’s about what happens when a people hold the truth in their bones even while their backs are breaking. It’s a reminder that history doesn’t just move forward — it resists, gets pulled back, gets twisted to serve the powerful. And still, Black folks made space for joy. Juneteenth was never theirs to give — it was ours to keep. Before there were government-sanctioned holidays, before presidents recognized the date, we celebrated. We gathered in church halls and living rooms, on porches and playgrounds. We sang spirituals soaked in sorrow and survival. We told stories about ancestors who never got to taste the freedom they fought for. We named our babies with hope in their mouths. Juneteenth was never theirs to give — it was ours to keep. Which is why it’s laughable, or maybe just pathetic, to hear a man like Donald Trump claim that he “made Juneteenth very famous.” As if he stumbled upon Black memory and turned it into a campaign stop. As if acknowledging something suddenly makes it real. He didn’t discover it. He didn’t understand it. And he certainly didn’t elevate it. Juneteenth has been alive far longer than he’s been paying attention — passed hand-to-hand like sacred scripture, guarded fiercely against the constant threat of erasure. In this climate, Juneteenth isn’t just a commemoration. It’s an act of resistance. This matters now more than ever, in 2025, when entire curriculums are being gutted, when states are banning books that breathe truth, when classrooms are policed for daring to say the word “racism” without apology. We are living in an era where propaganda isn’t just tolerated, it’s policy. Where the erasure isn’t accidental, it’s designed. And in this climate, Juneteenth isn’t just a commemoration. It’s an act of resistance. Because Juneteenth says: We remember. Even when they try to make us forget. It says: We don’t need your permission to grieve, to celebrate, to survive. It says: Truth may be delayed, but it can’t be denied forever. Celebration of Emancipation Day in 1900, Texas. Photo: Mrs. Charles Stephenson (Grace Murray), Austin Public Library, Public Domain. So yes, enjoy the parades and the concerts. Pass the ribs, pour the sweet tea, hold your loved ones tight. But also sit in the stillness of what Juneteenth really is — a reckoning. Not just with slavery, but with all the systems that followed. With redlining and mass incarceration. With poisoned water and underfunded schools. With police who carry more power than a general’s decree ever did. With a nation that declared freedom on paper and then fought like hell to keep it from becoming real. Juneteenth is not a Hallmark moment. It’s a mirror. It reflects our progress and our failures. It challenges us to ask not just what we celebrate but what we’re willing to fight for. And who we’re eager to listen to when they say, “We’ve always known. You just didn’t believe us.” In that way, Juneteenth is not simply about the past. It’s about now. And whether we choose to keep waiting for someone else to read our freedom out loud — or whether we speak it ourselves and enforce it, for real, this time. Because freedom delayed is still a form of slavery. And truth buried is still alive, still waiting. Still rising. Dr. Mustafa Ali is a poet, thought leader, strategist, policymaker, and activist committed to justice and equity. He is the founder of The Revitalization Strategies, a business focused on moving our most vulnerable communities from “surviving to thriving.” Ali was previously the senior vice president for the Hip Hop Caucus, a national nonprofit and non-partisan organization that connects the hip-hop community to the civic process to build power and create positive change. The post Juneteenth: The Freedom We Knew, the Truth They Couldn’t Handle appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"A
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There is a myth we tell ourselves about Juneteenth, as if freedom arrived suddenly, like a thunderclap, on June 19, 1865, with General Granger reading General Order No. 3 to the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. The story goes that they didn’t know. That Freedom’s song took two and a half years to travel from Abraham Lincoln’s pen to the cotton fields. That somehow, the Emancipation Proclamation was stuck in a bottle drifting along the Gulf.

\n\n\n\n

It’s a neat narrative, tidy enough for textbooks, convenient enough for comfort. But it’s not the whole truth. And if Juneteenth means anything, it means telling the truth, especially the ones that make us squirm.

\n\n\n\n

Enslaved people knew. They heard whispers in the wind, news carried by travelers, by freedmen passing through, by Union soldiers marching closer. They knew something had shifted in the air. What they didn’t have was power. What they didn’t have was enforcement. Because even as the Union claimed victory, the machinery of slavery churned on in Texas. Owners refused to release what they considered “property.” The Confederate economy didn’t collapse in a single day — it bled out slowly, clinging to its last gasps of labor extracted through the whip.

\n\n\n\n

Freedom unbacked by force is just a rumor. And rumor doesn’t change chains.

\n\n\n\n

The lie will always be in delay.

\n\n\n\n

We act like the 19th century was a vacuum of information. But newspapers existed. Telegraph lines snaked across the continent. This wasn’t about distance — it was about defiance. About a system so steeped in its own supremacy that it denied reality even as it unraveled. We see this now, too — in climate denial, in voter suppression, in the constant rewriting of history in state legislatures. The lie will always be in delay. Continually acting as if truth needs time to arrive when the delay is the cover for injustice continuing its work.

\n\n\n\n

Juneteenth, then, isn’t about the moment the enslaved discovered their freedom. It’s about the moment America could no longer deny it. It’s about what happens when a people hold the truth in their bones even while their backs are breaking. It’s a reminder that history doesn’t just move forward — it resists, gets pulled back, gets twisted to serve the powerful.

\n\n\n\n

And still, Black folks made space for joy.

\n\n\n\n

Juneteenth was never theirs to give — it was ours to keep.

\n\n\n\n

Before there were government-sanctioned holidays, before presidents recognized the date, we celebrated. We gathered in church halls and living rooms, on porches and playgrounds. We sang spirituals soaked in sorrow and survival. We told stories about ancestors who never got to taste the freedom they fought for. We named our babies with hope in their mouths. Juneteenth was never theirs to give — it was ours to keep.

\n\n\n\n

Which is why it’s laughable, or maybe just pathetic, to hear a man like Donald Trump claim that he “made Juneteenth very famous.” As if he stumbled upon Black memory and turned it into a campaign stop. As if acknowledging something suddenly makes it real. He didn’t discover it. He didn’t understand it. And he certainly didn’t elevate it. Juneteenth has been alive far longer than he’s been paying attention — passed hand-to-hand like sacred scripture, guarded fiercely against the constant threat of erasure.

\n\n\n\n

In this climate, Juneteenth isn’t just a commemoration. It’s an act of resistance.

\n\n\n\n

This matters now more than ever, in 2025, when entire curriculums are being gutted, when states are banning books that breathe truth, when classrooms are policed for daring to say the word “racism” without apology. We are living in an era where propaganda isn’t just tolerated, it’s policy. Where the erasure isn’t accidental, it’s designed. And in this climate, Juneteenth isn’t just a commemoration. It’s an act of resistance.

\n\n\n\n

Because Juneteenth says: We remember. Even when they try to make us forget.

\n\n\n\n

It says: We don’t need your permission to grieve, to celebrate, to survive.

\n\n\n\n

It says: Truth may be delayed, but it can’t be denied forever.

\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Celebration of Emancipation Day in 1900, Texas. Photo: Mrs. Charles Stephenson (Grace Murray), Austin Public Library, Public Domain.
\n\n\n\n

So yes, enjoy the parades and the concerts. Pass the ribs, pour the sweet tea, hold your loved ones tight. But also sit in the stillness of what Juneteenth really is — a reckoning. Not just with slavery, but with all the systems that followed. With redlining and mass incarceration. With poisoned water and underfunded schools. With police who carry more power than a general’s decree ever did. With a nation that declared freedom on paper and then fought like hell to keep it from becoming real.

\n\n\n\n

Juneteenth is not a Hallmark moment. It’s a mirror. It reflects our progress and our failures. It challenges us to ask not just what we celebrate but what we’re willing to fight for. And who we’re eager to listen to when they say, “We’ve always known. You just didn’t believe us.”

\n\n\n\n

In that way, Juneteenth is not simply about the past. It’s about now. And whether we choose to keep waiting for someone else to read our freedom out loud — or whether we speak it ourselves and enforce it, for real, this time.

\n\n\n\n

Because freedom delayed is still a form of slavery.

\n\n\n\n

And truth buried is still alive, still waiting.

\n\n\n\n

Still rising.

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
\n
\n\n\n

Dr. Mustafa Ali is a poet, thought leader, strategist, policymaker, and activist committed to justice and equity. He is the founder of The Revitalization Strategies, a business focused on moving our most vulnerable communities from “surviving to thriving.” Ali was previously the senior vice president for the Hip Hop Caucus, a national nonprofit and non-partisan organization that connects the hip-hop community to the civic process to build power and create positive change.  

\n

The post Juneteenth: The Freedom We Knew, the Truth They Couldn’t Handle appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/juneteenth-freedom-truth-america-couldnt-handle/","site":"Mustafa Ali","originalAuthor":"Mustafa Ali","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Opinion","Social Justice","Juneteenth"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-19T14:20:00.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WORD-IN-BLACK-GettyImages-2157597529.jpg?fit=1024%2C707&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-19T14:27:07.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WORD-IN-BLACK-GettyImages-2157597529.jpg?fit=1024%2C707&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"ioEJ886HlQd9Vg8f","title":"New Website Reveals a Deadly Truth for Black L.A. Communities","description":"Every summer, as Southern California bakes under triple-digit heat, residents in historically Black, typically underserved neighborhoods like Watts, Compton, and Inglewood bear a disproportionate share of the suffering — and, too often, the dying — from temperatures that don’t fall when the sun goes down. Yet if an elderly Black resident in South Los Angeles dies alone in a sweltering apartment, the official death certificate may say kidney failure. It probably won’t say heat. LEARN MORE: New Proof a Federal Heat Rule Could Save Black Workers’ Lives That’s about to change in Greater Los Angeles. Officials have unveiled a new way to track the most dangerous effects of heat: an online dashboard that shows how many people get sick or die from extreme heat. Dangerous Heatwaves The LA County Department of Public Health developed the Heat-Related Illness and Mortality Dashboard to track illnesses and deaths from heat exposure. The site, which launched earlier this month, will help the health department, its partners, and communities better understand the health consequences of extreme heat. The new dashboard will give a snapshot sense of how heatwaves are affecting public health across the vast county. This dashboard gives us timely, local insight into who is most affected and where, helping [LA County] Public Health and our partners take targeted action.Barbara Ferrer, LA County Department of Public Health Barbara Ferrer, the department’s director, said in a press release that the dashboard can help prevent deaths among vulnerable residents. “Extreme heat is becoming more frequent and severe, making heat-related illness an increasing concern, especially for older adults, young children, outdoor workers, and people with underlying health conditions,” she said. “This dashboard gives us timely, local insight into who is most affected and where, helping Public Health and our partners take targeted action.” Undercounting Heat Deaths Officials say the dashboard will feature heat-related emergency room visits and deaths by month, along with race and other demographic information. But the mortality rate will be based on death certificates. That could be a concern: although it’s been widely established that heat can be fatal, deaths during heatwaves are often attributed to other causes, such as cardiac arrest, despite the fact that extreme heat events can trigger or exacerbate underlying health conditions. Loa Angeles County Department of Public Health Heat Dashboard (Credit: LA County Dept. of Public Health screenshot) In an interview with Governing magazine, Dr. Bharat Venkat, director of the UCLA Heat Lab, explained that relying on death certificate data risks undercounting heat-related mortality. “Heat piggybacks off of preexisting health conditions,” Venkat said. “Say you go to the ER and you’re experiencing an intense psychotic episode, or a heart attack or a stroke. It’s very likely that the doctor is going to diagnose that as a psychotic episode, heart attack or stroke, and less likely that they’ll note that heat is contributing to that.” Even though the Los Angeles area consistently records high summer temperatures, there hasn’t been much research on the effects of extreme heat on the nearly 10 million people who live there. But it’s clear that Black people and communities are especially at risk for heat fatalities. Risk Disparities Decades of underinvestment in Black neighborhoods, fomented by redlining, have resulted in a lack of cooling green spaces with tree canopies and an abundance of heat-absorbing surfaces such as asphalt. A 2024 study in the journal Public Health, which analyzed weather and mortality data, found that about 200 people die annually from extreme heat. Most are among the area’s most vulnerable populations, including the unhoused; in metro Los Angeles, about a third of the homeless population is Black. RELATED: Working While Black — and in the Heat By comparison, Los Angeles County’s Black population sits at around 8%. During the city’s so-called heat season, which runs from May through October, the dashboard will track heat-related emergency-room visits alongside the day’s high temperature in downtown LA. Having an immediate sense of how heat is affecting residents, Ferrer said, will make it easier to respond quickly. The post New Website Reveals a Deadly Truth for Black L.A. Communities appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"A
\n

Every summer, as Southern California bakes under triple-digit heat, residents in historically Black, typically underserved neighborhoods like Watts, Compton, and Inglewood bear a disproportionate share of the suffering — and, too often, the dying — from temperatures that don’t fall when the sun goes down. 

\n\n\n\n

Yet if an elderly Black resident in South Los Angeles dies alone in a sweltering apartment, the official death certificate may say kidney failure. It probably won’t say heat.

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: New Proof a Federal Heat Rule Could Save Black Workers’ Lives

\n\n\n\n

That’s about to change in Greater Los Angeles. Officials have unveiled a new way to track the most dangerous effects of heat: an online dashboard that shows how many people get sick or die from extreme heat.

\n\n\n\n

Dangerous Heatwaves

\n\n\n\n

The LA County Department of Public Health developed the Heat-Related Illness and Mortality Dashboard to track illnesses and deaths from heat exposure. The site, which launched earlier this month, will help the health department, its partners, and communities better understand the health consequences of extreme heat. 

\n\n\n\n

The new dashboard will give a snapshot sense of how heatwaves are affecting public health across the vast county. 

\n\n\n\n

This dashboard gives us timely, local insight into who is most affected and where, helping [LA County] Public Health and our partners take targeted action.

Barbara Ferrer, LA County Department of Public Health
\n\n\n\n

Barbara Ferrer, the department’s director, said in a press release that the dashboard can help prevent deaths among vulnerable residents. 

\n\n\n\n

“Extreme heat is becoming more frequent and severe, making heat-related illness an increasing concern, especially for older adults, young children, outdoor workers, and people with underlying health conditions,” she said. “This dashboard gives us timely, local insight into who is most affected and where, helping Public Health and our partners take targeted action.” 

\n\n\n\n

Undercounting Heat Deaths

\n\n\n\n

Officials say the dashboard will feature heat-related emergency room visits and deaths by month, along with race and other demographic information. But the mortality rate will be based on death certificates. 

\n\n\n\n

That could be a concern: although it’s been widely established that heat can be fatal, deaths during heatwaves are often attributed to other causes, such as cardiac arrest, despite the fact that extreme heat events can trigger or exacerbate underlying health conditions.

\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Loa Angeles County Department of Public Health Heat Dashboard (Credit: LA County Dept. of Public Health screenshot)
\n\n\n\n

In an interview with Governing magazine, Dr. Bharat Venkat, director of the UCLA Heat Lab, explained that relying on death certificate data risks undercounting heat-related mortality. 

\n\n\n\n

“Heat piggybacks off of preexisting health conditions,” Venkat said. “Say you go to the ER and you’re experiencing an intense psychotic episode, or a heart attack or a stroke. It’s very likely that the doctor is going to diagnose that as a psychotic episode, heart attack or stroke, and less likely that they’ll note that heat is contributing to that.”

\n\n\n\n

Even though the Los Angeles area consistently records high summer temperatures, there hasn’t been much research on the effects of extreme heat on the nearly 10 million people who live there. But it’s clear that Black people and communities are especially at risk for heat fatalities.

\n\n\n\n

Risk Disparities

\n\n\n\n

Decades of underinvestment in Black neighborhoods, fomented by redlining, have resulted in a lack of cooling green spaces with tree canopies and an abundance of heat-absorbing surfaces such as asphalt. 

\n\n\n\n

A 2024 study in the journal Public Health, which analyzed weather and mortality data, found that about 200 people die annually from extreme heat. Most are among the area’s most vulnerable populations, including the unhoused; in metro Los Angeles, about a third of the homeless population is Black. 

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Working While Black — and in the Heat

\n\n\n\n

By comparison, Los Angeles County’s Black population sits at around 8%. 

\n\n\n\n

During the city’s so-called heat season, which runs from May through October, the dashboard will track heat-related emergency-room visits alongside the day’s high temperature in downtown LA. Having an immediate sense of how heat is affecting residents, Ferrer said, will make it easier to respond quickly.

\n

The post New Website Reveals a Deadly Truth for Black L.A. Communities appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/new-website-reveals-a-deadly-truth-for-black-l-a-communities/","site":"Willy Blackmore","originalAuthor":"Willy Blackmore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Criminal Justice","climate justice"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-18T12:16:18.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-1499855963.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-18T12:17:30.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-1499855963.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"KDA1DWFN1WlzVxkf","title":"The Long War Against Michelle Obama’s Womanhood","description":"Most Americans have never heard of Josh Hokit, and probably couldn’t pick the failed pro football player-turned-UFC fighter out of a photo lineup. But on Sunday night, after winning the biggest fight of his life on the White House lawn in front of President Donald Trump, Hokit decided that directing a line of tired, worn-out misogynoir at former First Lady Michelle Obama would extend his 15 minutes of MAGA fame. LEARN MORE: Turn Down for What: The Obamas Unplugged In Chicago So, flush from victory in the ring, Hokit blathered into a mic during a post-fight interview that Michelle Obama is “a man” — resurrecting a bizarre, far-right conspiracy theory that also echoes one of the oldest tropes in the racism handbook. Welcome to the MAGAverse What he said was nothing new; the bigoted lie about Michelle Obama dates to former President Barack Obama’s first run for the White House in 2008. Hokim’s outburst matters, though, because it happened on a prominent platform at the center of American power. Put another way: the problem isn’t that some meat-headed journeyman fighter insulted Black America’s forever first lady. The problem is that he felt free to do it with his whole chest, in front of the nation’s chief executive, on live TV, before millions of viewers. And his audience barely flinched. Outraged critics on the left have demanded that Trump condemn Hokit, though few of them are holding their breath. For nearly a decade, Trump has refused to apologize for offensive, racist rhetoric — particularly if it demeans his political opponents or revs up the MAGA base. Still, the incident begs a larger question: why, more than a decade after her family left the White House and she became a private citizen, has Michelle Obama remained a target of far-right attacks that question her womanhood, appearance, and humanity? Red-Pilled Blues The answer lies at the intersection of political grievance, sexism, and good, old-fashioned racism. Analysts say white men like Hokit see changing demographics, shifting gender roles, and the rise of powerful women like Michelle Obama as evidence that America is leaving them behind. At the same time, Trump’s willingness to indulge them, by saying the quiet, racist part out loud, is the fuel that powers his political engine. Hokit’s attack on the former first lady felt less like a random, isolated outburst than a continuation of Trump’s long-running campaign of “othering” the nation’s first Black first family. It helps explain why a tasteless insult from a second-rate MMA fighter — something that might otherwise have disappeared into the noise of social media — found an audience online. For red-pilled denizens of the manosphere, Hokit’s idiotic barb was a declaration of cultural allegiance at a time when white male resentment has become its own identity. For the former first lady, however, the attack is nothing new. Since entering the public arena, activists on the right have described or depicted Michelle Obama as nearly every ugly racial stereotype — from an angry Black woman to a gorilla. But those attacks aren’t original, either; rather, they are merely updates to a very long history of white America diminishing and denigrating Black American women. ‘A Disgrace’ Malcolm X once said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.” That statement played out in real time after Trump returned to power, when some 600,000 Black women — branded unqualified DEI hires, non-essential employees or both — lost their jobs, many of them during the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency purge last year. Moreover, the Hokit controversy erupted at perhaps the most symbolic venue imaginable: a UFC fight card staged to celebrate Trump’s 80th birthday and the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence. The setting, and the occasion, symbolized how thoroughly Trump has blurred the lines between politics, white grievance, and entertainment spectacle. UFC fighter Josh Hokit / Getty Images On social media, critics slammed Hokit, including former NFL star Robert Griffin III. He called the fighter’s statement “a disgrace. It takes a really small man to use his biggest moment to attack a woman by calling her a man.” Jemele Hill, a prominent Black sportswriter and author, used sarcasm to make her point: “Nothing says let’s celebrate America quite like that. Truly special.” Even UFC president Dana White — a staunch Trump ally and, to a degree, Hokit’s boss — said the fighter’s “nasty” remarks had no place in the sport. But Sen. Rafael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat who also presides over the historic Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, got to the heart of the matter. Appearing on MSNow, Warnock said Michelle Obama’s accomplishments — including degrees from Harvard and Princeton and a successful legal career before entering the White House — are meaningless to Hokit and his supporters, who refuse to see Black people as fully human. “This harkens to the darkest days of our country’s history,” he said. “This is not political speech. This is immoral speech. This is bigotry. This is evil come alive in words, because words have power.” No Apologies Meanwhile, Trump himself has repeatedly and unapologetically pushed ideas and rhetoric that have lived on the fringes of American political life. He launched his career attacking President Obama, pushing the racist “birther” conspiracy theory; over a decade, Trump has normalized insults and personal attacks that presidents of either party would have considered beneath the office. His boorishness, experts say, helped create a permission structure in which racist or sexist attacks that should be disqualifying are anything but. Against that backdrop, Hokit’s verbal assault on the former first lady felt less like a random, isolated outburst than a continuation of Trump’s long-running campaign of “othering” the nation’s first Black first family. Still, it went beyond a crude attack by a no-name MMA fighter. Historians, Black feminist scholars, and media researchers have long documented how prominent Black women are subjected to remarks that question their femininity, portray them as angry or physically threatening, and cast them as somehow outside traditional (read: white) womanhood. It fits into the American tradition of policing Black women’s bodies, gender, and public visibility, dating back to slavery. But there’s a hidden, present-day danger. When slandering Black women becomes routine, Black women stop being recognized as human. They become jokes, memes, talking points, and applause lines. Yet the persistence of those attacks says less about Michelle Obama than it does about a culture still struggling to accept powerful Black women on their own terms. Clearly, the nation’s first Black first lady — glamorous, accomplished and unapologetic — still lives, rent-free, in the minds of Trump and his MAGA supporters. As long as that’s the case, misogynoir against her, and against Black women in general, will never go out of style. The post The Long War Against Michelle Obama’s Womanhood appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"From
\n

Most Americans have never heard of Josh Hokit, and probably couldn’t pick the failed pro football player-turned-UFC fighter out of a photo lineup.

\n\n\n\n

But on Sunday night, after winning the biggest fight of his life on the White House lawn in front of President Donald Trump, Hokit decided that directing a line of tired, worn-out misogynoir at former First Lady Michelle Obama would extend his 15 minutes of MAGA fame. 

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: Turn Down for What: The Obamas Unplugged In Chicago

\n\n\n\n

So, flush from victory in the ring, Hokit blathered into a mic during a post-fight interview that Michelle Obama is “a man” — resurrecting a bizarre, far-right conspiracy theory that also echoes one of the oldest tropes in the racism handbook. 

\n\n\n\n

Welcome to the MAGAverse

\n\n\n\n

What he said was nothing new; the bigoted lie about Michelle Obama dates to former President Barack Obama’s first run for the White House in 2008. Hokim’s outburst matters, though, because it happened on a prominent platform at the center of American power. 

\n\n\n\n

Put another way: the problem isn’t that some meat-headed journeyman fighter insulted Black America’s forever first lady. The problem is that he felt free to do it with his whole chest, in front of the nation’s chief executive, on live TV, before millions of viewers. And his audience barely flinched. 

\n\n\n\n

Outraged critics on the left have demanded that Trump condemn Hokit, though few of them are holding their breath. For nearly a decade, Trump has refused to apologize for offensive, racist rhetoric — particularly if it demeans his political opponents or revs up the MAGA base. 

\n\n\n\n

Still, the incident begs a larger question: why, more than a decade after her family left the White House and she became a private citizen, has Michelle Obama remained a target of far-right attacks that question her womanhood, appearance, and humanity? 

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Red-Pilled Blues

\n\n\n\n

The answer lies at the intersection of political grievance, sexism, and good, old-fashioned racism. 

\n\n\n\n

Analysts say white men like Hokit see changing demographics, shifting gender roles, and the rise of powerful women like Michelle Obama as evidence that America is leaving them behind. At the same time, Trump’s willingness to indulge them, by saying the quiet, racist part out loud, is the fuel that powers his political engine. 

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Hokit’s attack on the former first lady felt less like a random, isolated outburst than a continuation of Trump’s long-running campaign of “othering” the nation’s first Black first family.

\n\n\n\n

It helps explain why a tasteless insult from a second-rate MMA fighter — something that might otherwise have disappeared into the noise of social media — found an audience online. For red-pilled denizens of the manosphere, Hokit’s idiotic barb was a declaration of cultural allegiance at a time when white male resentment has become its own identity.

\n\n\n\n

For the former first lady, however, the attack is nothing new. Since entering the public arena, activists on the right have described or depicted Michelle Obama as nearly every ugly racial stereotype — from an angry Black woman to a gorilla. But those attacks aren’t original, either; rather, they are merely updates to a very long history of white America diminishing and denigrating Black American women. 

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‘A Disgrace’

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Malcolm X once said, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman.” That statement played out in real time after Trump returned to power, when some 600,000 Black women — branded unqualified DEI hires, non-essential employees or both — lost their jobs, many of them during the White House’s Department of Government Efficiency purge last year. 

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Moreover, the Hokit controversy erupted at perhaps the most symbolic venue imaginable: a UFC fight card staged to celebrate Trump’s 80th birthday and the upcoming  250th anniversary of American independence. The setting, and the occasion, symbolized how thoroughly Trump has blurred the lines between politics, white grievance, and entertainment spectacle. 

\n\n\n
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UFC fighter Josh Hokit / Getty Images
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On social media, critics slammed Hokit, including former NFL star Robert Griffin III. He called the fighter’s statement “a disgrace. It takes a really small man to use his biggest moment to attack a woman by calling her a man.” 

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Jemele Hill, a prominent Black sportswriter and author, used sarcasm to make her point: “Nothing says let’s celebrate America quite like that. Truly special.” Even UFC president Dana White — a staunch Trump ally and, to a degree, Hokit’s boss — said the fighter’s “nasty” remarks had no place in the sport.  

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But Sen. Rafael Warnock, a Georgia Democrat who also presides over the historic Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, got to the heart of the matter. Appearing on MSNow, Warnock said Michelle Obama’s accomplishments — including degrees from Harvard and Princeton and a successful legal career before entering the White House — are meaningless to Hokit and his supporters, who refuse to see Black people as fully human.

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“This harkens to the darkest days of our country’s history,” he said. “This is not political speech. This is immoral speech. This is bigotry. This is evil come alive in words, because words have power.”

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No Apologies

\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, Trump himself has repeatedly and unapologetically pushed ideas and rhetoric that have lived on the fringes of American political life. He launched his career attacking President Obama, pushing the racist “birther” conspiracy theory; over a decade, Trump has normalized insults and personal attacks that presidents of either party would have considered beneath the office. His boorishness, experts say, helped create a permission structure in which racist or sexist attacks that should be disqualifying are anything but.

\n\n\n\n

Against that backdrop, Hokit’s verbal assault on the former first lady felt less like a random, isolated outburst than a continuation of Trump’s long-running campaign of “othering” the nation’s first Black first family. Still, it went beyond a crude attack by a no-name MMA fighter. 

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Historians, Black feminist scholars, and media researchers have long documented how prominent Black women are subjected to remarks that question their femininity, portray them as angry or physically threatening, and cast them as somehow outside traditional (read: white) womanhood. It fits into the American tradition of policing Black women’s bodies, gender, and public visibility, dating back to slavery. But there’s a hidden, present-day danger.

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When slandering Black women becomes routine, Black women stop being recognized as human. They become jokes, memes, talking points, and applause lines. Yet the persistence of those attacks says less about Michelle Obama than it does about a culture still struggling to accept powerful Black women on their own terms. 

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Clearly, the nation’s first Black first lady — glamorous, accomplished and unapologetic — still lives, rent-free, in the minds of Trump and his MAGA supporters. As long as that’s the case, misogynoir against her, and against Black women in general, will never go out of style.

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The post The Long War Against Michelle Obama’s Womanhood appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/the-long-war-against-michelle-obamas-womanhood/","site":"Joseph Williams","originalAuthor":"Joseph Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Black women","Culture","Politics","culture","politics"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-17T12:10:50.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2281333176.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-17T12:24:08.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2281333176.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"z5b9gXlAPaBa7opT","title":"The Algorithm May Not See You","description":"For millions of Americans struggling to afford health care, a new source of medical advice is only a few keystrokes away. As use of AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini and others become more widespread, national surveys suggest that uninsured people — particularly Black Americans and young adults — are among the groups most likely to use them for physical health information and mental health guidance. Some users appear to be turning to AI because they can’t afford a doctor’s visit, can’t schedule an appointment, or lack a regular health care provider. While instant, free advice is hard to resist, researchers and patient advocates warn that AI can produce inaccurate, misleading, or potentially dangerous recommendations. RELATED: Register for “Is AI Hurting Black America? A Live Debate” June 17 at 6PM The stakes are even higher for Black patients: researchers have consistently found that chatbots often echo racial biases, generalizations and stereotypes. Using one for medical advice, experts say, could reproduce the same problems that plague Black Americans in healthcare spaces. Higher Use Among the Young and the Uninsured A new study, published in JAMA Pediatrics earlier this month, illustrates the trend. It found that Black youth are around five times more likely than white youth to seek mental health advice from a chatbot at least once a month. This seems to be a snapshot of a larger trend: Black and Hispanic adults are also more likely to use AI for mental health information compared to white adults and people who have health insurance, according to KFF Health poll results published in March. The findings come amid what is widely seen as a mental health crisis among Black people, including suicide rates that have risen sharply over the last two decades. Kamal Grewal, a health technology entrepreneur, also worries that an AI therapist can give a young person in crisis the illusion of support, even though it potentially does more harm than good. Several major AI companies, including OpenAI and Google, are fighting lawsuits alleging their chatbots contributed to or encouraged user suicides. “Consumer AI tools are optimized to keep users engaged: they validate, they agree, they make you feel heard,” says Grewal, creator of Therapy Companion, an AI tool designed to help therapists with non-patient services. “That’s great for retention metrics, but dangerous for someone in a mental health crisis, where what you need isn’t validation but a trained clinician who can challenge your thinking and hold you accountable,” It’s no surprise that AI use is higher among younger people and is gaining traction among adults. In fact, roughly 1 in 3 adults responding to a nationwide poll said they used AI chatbots last year to get health information. Of those who said they used AI for health information, one-third were looking for advice about physical health matters and just over 15% searched for mental health advice. Most respondents to the poll said they were looking for immediate advice. But there are indications that problems affording or finding health care also played a role for a slice of the respondents, especially for younger adults. The RAND study published in JAMA estimates that roughly 8.2 million young people nationwide reported using artificial intelligence for mental health advice this year, an increase of 40% compared to last year. That’s a major jump from the findings of a similar RAND survey conducted a year earlier. The study sampled 1009 youth, of whom 95 were Black. But the study’s authors noted the sample size for this analysis was small, and the issue needs more investigation. Nevertheless, when it came to using AI chatbots for mental health advice, Black youth were over five times more likely than white youth to seek advice at least once a month. The RAND study finds that among youth who asked AI chatbots for mental health advice, 42.8% did so at least once a month and a whopping 91.7% said the advice ranged from “somewhat” to “very” helpful. Equally noteworthy: more than 2 of 3 adolescents said they hadn’t told anyone they used AI chatbots for mental health support. Chatbots used include ChatGPT, Gemini, Character.AI, and Meta AI. Young people tended to consult them when they felt angry, nervous, sad, or stressed. Bias Hidden in the Code A landmark 2024 study published in Nature magazine found that when large language models were given prompts written in African American English, they produced stereotypes as negative as — or worse than — those recorded from humans during the Jim Crow era, without the users’ race even being mentioned. The AI assigned the AAE speakers’ information for lower-prestige jobs, convicted them more often in hypothetical criminal cases, and more frequently recommended the death penalty when that punishment was an option. Sharese King, assistant professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago, said the data did not make her optimistic. “If we continue to ignore the field of AI as a space where racism can emerge, then we’ll continue to perpetuate the stereotypes and the harms against African Americans, ” she said. The implications for teen mental health are serious since a large number of Black youth communicate in some form of AAE. If the chatbot they’re trusting to advise them about their depression, anxiety, or a crisis is unknowingly penalizing them because of how they speak, the “help” being offered could be biased against them. Among Black youth, the use of AI to support mental health breaks along gender lines. Black teenage girls are more likely to use a chatbot to deal with anxiety, depression, and relationship stress. By comparison, Black teenage boys face stronger cultural pressure against vulnerability and are less likely to disclose if they use AI. But researchers say when they do turn to a chatbot, they are often already in acute distress. Grewal of Therapy Companion says the overreliance on AI for mental health is a worrisome sign among Black people in general. “Black adults are already turning to these tools at nearly double the rate of white adults, which means the people most underserved by the mental health system are also the most exposed to AI that isn’t built to help them,” he says. The post The Algorithm May Not See You appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"The
\n

For millions of Americans struggling to afford health care, a new source of medical advice is only a few keystrokes away.

\n\n\n\n

As use of AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini and others become more widespread, national surveys suggest that uninsured people — particularly Black Americans and young adults — are among the groups most likely to use them for physical health information and mental health guidance. 

\n\n\n\n

Some users appear to be turning to AI because they can’t afford a doctor’s visit, can’t schedule an appointment, or lack a regular health care provider. While instant, free advice is hard to resist, researchers and patient advocates warn that AI can produce inaccurate, misleading, or potentially dangerous recommendations. 

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Register for “Is AI Hurting Black America? A Live Debate” June 17 at 6PM

\n\n\n\n

The stakes are even higher for Black patients: researchers have consistently found that chatbots often echo racial biases, generalizations and stereotypes. Using one for medical advice, experts say, could reproduce the same problems that plague Black Americans in healthcare spaces. 

\n\n\n\n

Higher Use Among the Young and the Uninsured

\n\n\n\n

A new study, published in JAMA Pediatrics earlier this month, illustrates the trend. It found that Black youth are around five times more likely than white youth to seek mental health advice from a chatbot at least once a month. This seems to be a snapshot of a larger trend: Black and Hispanic adults are also more likely to use AI for mental health information compared to white adults and people who have health insurance, according to KFF Health poll results published in March.

\n\n\n\n

The findings come amid what is widely seen as a mental health crisis among Black people, including suicide rates that have risen sharply over the last two decades.

\n\n\n\n

Kamal Grewal, a health technology entrepreneur, also worries that an AI therapist can give a young person in crisis the illusion of support, even though it potentially does more harm than good.  Several major AI companies, including OpenAI and Google, are fighting lawsuits alleging their chatbots contributed to or encouraged user suicides. 

“Consumer AI tools are optimized to keep users engaged: they validate, they agree, they make you feel heard,” says Grewal, creator of Therapy Companion, an AI tool designed to help therapists with non-patient services. “That’s great for retention metrics, but dangerous for someone in a mental health crisis, where what you need isn’t validation but a trained clinician who can challenge your thinking and hold you accountable,” 

\n\n\n\n

It’s no surprise that AI use is higher among younger people and is gaining traction among adults. 

\n\n\n\n

In fact, roughly 1 in 3 adults responding to a nationwide poll said they used AI chatbots last year to get health information. Of those who said they used AI for health information, one-third were looking for advice about physical health matters and just over 15% searched for mental health advice. 

\n\n\n\n

Most respondents to the poll said they were looking for immediate advice. But there are indications that problems affording or finding health care also played a role for a slice of the respondents, especially for younger adults.

\n\n\n\n

The RAND study published in JAMA estimates that roughly 8.2 million young people nationwide reported using artificial intelligence for mental health advice this year, an increase of 40% compared to last year. That’s a major jump from the findings of a similar RAND survey conducted a year earlier.

\n\n\n\n

The study sampled 1009 youth, of whom 95 were Black. But the study’s authors noted the sample size for this analysis was small, and the issue needs more investigation. Nevertheless, when it came to using AI chatbots for mental health advice, Black youth were over five times more likely than white youth to seek advice at least once a month.

\n\n\n\n

The RAND study finds that among youth who asked AI chatbots for mental health advice, 42.8% did so at least once a month and a whopping 91.7% said the advice ranged from “somewhat” to “very” helpful. Equally noteworthy: more than 2 of 3 adolescents said they hadn’t told anyone they used AI chatbots for mental health support. 

\n\n\n\n

Chatbots used include ChatGPT, Gemini, Character.AI, and Meta AI. Young people tended to consult them when they felt angry, nervous, sad, or stressed.

\n\n\n\n

Bias Hidden in the Code

\n\n\n\n

A landmark 2024 study published in Nature magazine found that when large language models were given prompts written in African American English, they produced stereotypes as negative as — or worse than — those recorded from humans during the Jim Crow era, without the users’ race even being mentioned. 

\n\n\n\n

The AI assigned the AAE speakers’ information for lower-prestige jobs, convicted them more often in hypothetical criminal cases, and more frequently recommended the death penalty when that punishment was an option.

\n\n\n\n

Sharese King, assistant professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago, said the data did not make her optimistic. 

\n\n\n\n

“If we continue to ignore the field of AI as a space where racism can emerge, then we’ll continue to perpetuate the stereotypes and the harms against African Americans, ” she said.

\n\n\n\n

The implications for teen mental health are serious since a large number of Black youth communicate in some form of AAE. If the chatbot they’re trusting to advise them about their depression, anxiety, or a crisis is unknowingly penalizing them because of how they speak, the “help” being offered could be biased against them.

\n\n\n\n

Among Black youth, the use of AI to support mental health breaks along gender lines. 

\n\n\n\n

Black teenage girls are more likely to use a chatbot to deal with anxiety, depression, and relationship stress. By comparison, Black teenage boys face stronger cultural pressure against vulnerability and are less likely to disclose if they use AI. But researchers say when they do turn to a chatbot, they are often already in acute distress.

\n\n\n\n

Grewal of Therapy Companion says the overreliance on AI for mental health is a worrisome sign among Black people in general. 

\n\n\n\n

“Black adults are already turning to these tools at nearly double the rate of white adults, which means the people most underserved by the mental health system are also the most exposed to AI that isn’t built to help them,” he says.

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post The Algorithm May Not See You appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/the-algorithm-may-not-see-you/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","health","mental health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-16T17:06:29.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-AI061526.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-16T17:12:59.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-AI061526.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"UFvfOB3SABxQIdcB","title":"Hip-Hop Activist: Plastics Are the New Civil Rights Fight","description":"Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, has spent more than two decades at the intersection of environmental justice, public health, and civic organizing. He founded the Hip Hop Caucus in September 2004 to build a sustainable organization through which the Black culture could support communities that experience injustice “first and worst.” From the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina to the petrochemical plants of Cancer Alley, he has connected the dots between corporate pollution and the targeted destruction of Black life. As a minister, community activist, and Air Force veteran, Yearwood is one of the most influential people in Hip Hop political life. On June 4, he was a panelist at this year’s Hollywood Climate Summit, an annual conference for entertainment and media professionals to discuss climate and environmental issues. Part of that discussion focused on the issues raised in the Netflix documentary “The Plastic Detox.” Yearwood is featured in the documentary and lent his expertise as a national leader who’s been engaged in bridging the gap between communities of color and environmental issue advocacy. Produced by an Academy Award®-winning team, The Plastic Detox features commentary from leading scientists interwoven with personal stories of couples who bravely share their infertility journey and the steps they’ve taken to detox their homes and lives. In this conversation, Yearwood explains why microplastics and the locations of petrochemical plants are frontline civil rights issues — and what every American can do right now to decrease the effects of microplastics on their bodies and lives. This conversation has been edited for clarity and length. WIB: What do you believe is the first thing Black communities need to know about microplastics and their health? It’s simple: stop plastics — particularly as they are impacting our community. For too long, our community has been seen as the path of least resistance. Companies have been looking to put things in our communities that they wouldn’t put anywhere else. Plastics come from fossil fuels, from oil and gas, and these facilities are being placed specifically in Black communities, causing tremendous pain through toxic exposure. I’m from Louisiana. For those who don’t know, there is an 85-mile stretch of land between Baton Rouge and New Orleans called Cancer Alley. It got that name because so many petrochemical facilities have been placed there to make plastics, and the result is the highest cancer rates in the country — particularly killing Black people in that community. The fact that a business plan exists that amounts to a death sentence for our communities means we must do everything to stop it. Word In Black: Why should people be more aware of plastics, and what can they do about it? Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr.: We figured it would be tough for people to understand petrochemicals. They may understand plastics, though — which is why we were part of the documentary The Plastic Detox. The film is literally about how plastic is having an impact on your life. And let me be very clear: this isn’t about some faraway person who doesn’t live near you. The plastic in your kitchen, the plastic in your house that is breaking down — we are consuming roughly a credit card’s worth of plastic every single week. That’s the amount of plastic going into our bodies just through everyday ingestion as plastic breaks down around us. If you have plastic cups, utensils, laundry packets, or takeout containers in your home, that has a huge impact. The film shows how that affects everything from sleep and asthma to reproduction. We actually looked at families who allowed themselves to be tested — we went into their homes, took urine and blood samples, removed the plastic, and tracked what happened. People lost weight. They slept better. Brain fog cleared. And in many cases, people who were essentially sterile were actually able to have children. It’s amazing how much plastic affects us. Another key factor in this story is how women — and Black women in particular — are on the front lines and fence lines of the environmental justice movement. They are literally staying home to fight back against corporations. David and Goliath, in many cases. WIB: Can you speak to the specific physical effects of plastic exposure? Yearwood: Plastic is plastic — when it gets into your body, it hardens. It has a huge impact on heart disease. Plastic gets into the arteries, so it is very much connected to cardiovascular health. Beyond reproduction, which is certainly a major concern, it also affects breathing and can accelerate asthma and emphysema. Now, people will say, “We need plastic for heart stents” — and they’re right. There are some uses for plastic that are genuinely important, from medical devices to aerospace applications. We are not saying get rid of all plastic. What we’re saying is that the fossil fuel industry right now is trying to maintain its margins by creating a gluttony of plastic that we don’t need, and that excess is what’s harming us. WIB: What was the turning point — the moment or fact that made you say plastics and petrochemicals have to be part of this fight? Yearwood: Cancer Alley. That’s ground zero. I came into this work primarily through Hurricane Katrina. That’s the origin story. I was in DC when Katrina hit, and it was surreal to watch your community, your friends, drowning in the richest country in the world. I’m part of the Hip Hop Caucus and being in that position we were able to hit the ground — and we’ve been on the ground every single year since, for 21 years now. But the thing that connected Katrina to petrochemicals was a realization: even if Katrina had never happened, we would still have a Cancer Alley problem. We would still have petrochemical and plastic facilities causing people to have the highest cancer rates in the country. Even without the hurricane, people are dying from this. Sometimes when you’ve been living near the monster your whole life, you don’t even recognize it as a monster — especially if that same plant was the one that offered someone in your family a job. You don’t always have the information to understand what’s being taken from you. Life expectancy in these communities goes from 70 down to 50, down to 40. When you do the research, you begin to see how insidious these companies are. They are literally putting their plants on former plantation sites — as if the same land that caused horror for our ancestors is now being used to harm their descendants. And ironically, that’s also one of the ways we’ve been able to fight back. Louisiana law prohibits building on burial grounds, and we were able to show that these plantation sites contained burial grounds. In essence, our ancestors came back and fought for us. WIB: For someone who doesn’t live in Cancer Alley — who doesn’t think they’re in a high-exposure area — what do you suggest they do to reduce their plastic exposure? Yearwood: Step one is what you’re doing right now: engaging with journalism and storytelling that tells these stories. We appreciate Black media especially, which has been critical for covering issues that mainstream outlets have ignored for too long. Step two is the documentary. At Hip Hop Caucus, we’ve come to understand that we’re fighting differently than our parents did. Our parents fought for equality in the 20th century. Today, when it comes to plastics, petrochemicals, and environmental justice, we are fighting for existence in the 21st century. We have to tell the story differently — through documentaries, social media, town halls, every channel we have. For people not living in Louisiana or Appalachia or Ohio or Pittsburgh or Houston — places with high concentrations of petrochemicals — it still affects you. Clean air and clean water are impacted everywhere. And on a personal level, we now have detectable plastic in the placentaIf it’s this bad in 2026, 100 years from now people will look back and ask: what were you doing? What kind of world were you leaving? So, on a practical level: reduce the plastic in your home. Replace plastic cups and utensils where you can. Stop microwaving food in plastic containers. Be mindful of takeout packaging. And watch the film — it walks you through what to do, step by step. WIB: Are you seeing data centers and AI infrastructure also being sited in these same communities? Is there a connection to the plastics and petrochemical fight? Yearwood: Absolutely. What’s striking is the similarity: these companies look at predominantly poor Black communities and see them as the path of least resistance. They believe these communities can’t defend themselves. And so, they place the worst of the worst — petrochemical plants, data centers, pipelines — in those neighborhoods, destroying not only people’s current lives but their children’s futures. Data centers consume enormous amounts of water and pollute air. Chemical facilities cause emphysema, asthma, and cancer. It is killing us. At some point, you have to call it what it is. Our parents fought for equality in the 20th century, and we are still fighting for that — that hasn’t changed. But now, because of data centers and petrochemical facilities, we are also fighting for existence itself. Because the babies born in that Plastic Detox documentary — born in 2025, likely to live to see the year 2100 — deserve blue skies and clean water. Our job, like our parents before us, is to fight for their freedom to live well. RELATED: Environmental Leaders Push for Stronger Climate Commitment The post Hip-Hop Activist: Plastics Are the New Civil Rights Fight appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"The_Plastic_Detox_Yearwood\"
\n


Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., president and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, has spent more than two decades at the intersection of environmental justice, public health, and civic organizing. He founded the Hip Hop Caucus in September 2004 to build a sustainable organization through which the Black culture could support communities that experience injustice “first and worst.”

\n\n\n\n

From the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina to the petrochemical plants of Cancer Alley, he has connected the dots between corporate pollution and the targeted destruction of Black life. 

\n\n\n\n

As a minister, community activist, and Air Force veteran, Yearwood is one of the most influential people in Hip Hop political life. On June 4, he was a panelist at this year’s Hollywood Climate Summit, an annual conference for entertainment and media professionals to discuss climate and environmental issues.

\n\n\n\n

Part of that discussion focused on the issues raised in the Netflix documentary “The Plastic Detox.” Yearwood is featured in the documentary and lent his expertise as a national leader who’s been engaged in bridging the gap between communities of color and environmental issue advocacy. 

\n\n\n\n

Produced by an Academy Award®-winning team, The Plastic Detox features commentary from leading scientists interwoven with personal stories of couples who bravely share their infertility journey and the steps they’ve taken to detox their homes and lives. 

\n\n\n\n

In this conversation, Yearwood explains why microplastics and the locations of petrochemical plants are frontline civil rights issues — and what every American can do right now to decrease the effects of microplastics on their bodies and lives.

\n\n\n\n

This conversation has been edited for clarity and length.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What do you believe is the first thing Black communities need to know about microplastics and their health?

\n\n\n\n

It’s simple: stop plastics — particularly as they are impacting our community. For too long, our community has been seen as the path of least resistance. Companies have been looking to put things in our communities that they wouldn’t put anywhere else.

\n\n\n\n

Plastics come from fossil fuels, from oil and gas, and these facilities are being placed specifically in Black communities, causing tremendous pain through toxic exposure.

\n\n\n\n

I’m from Louisiana. For those who don’t know, there is an 85-mile stretch of land between Baton Rouge and New Orleans called Cancer Alley. It got that name because so many petrochemical facilities have been placed there to make plastics, and the result is the highest cancer rates in the country — particularly killing Black people in that community. The fact that a business plan exists that amounts to a death sentence for our communities means we must do everything to stop it. 

\n\n\n\n

Word In Black: Why should people be more aware of plastics, and what can they do about it?

\n\n\n\n

Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr.: We figured it would be tough for people to understand petrochemicals. They may understand plastics, though — which is why we were part of the documentary The Plastic Detox. The film is literally about how plastic is having an impact on your life. 

\n\n\n\n

And let me be very clear: this isn’t about some faraway person who doesn’t live near you. The plastic in your kitchen, the plastic in your house that is breaking down — we are consuming roughly a credit card’s worth of plastic every single week. That’s the amount of plastic going into our bodies just through everyday ingestion as plastic breaks down around us.

\n\n\n\n

If you have plastic cups, utensils, laundry packets, or takeout containers in your home, that has a huge impact. The film shows how that affects everything from sleep and asthma to reproduction. We actually looked at families who allowed themselves to be tested — we went into their homes, took urine and blood samples, removed the plastic, and tracked what happened. People lost weight. They slept better. Brain fog cleared. And in many cases, people who were essentially sterile were actually able to have children. It’s amazing how much plastic affects us.

\n\n\n\n

Another key factor in this story is how women — and Black women in particular — are on the front lines and fence lines of the environmental justice movement. They are literally staying home to fight back against corporations. David and Goliath, in many cases.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Can you speak to the specific physical effects of plastic exposure?

\n\n\n\n

Yearwood: Plastic is plastic — when it gets into your body, it hardens. It has a huge impact on heart disease. Plastic gets into the arteries, so it is very much connected to cardiovascular health. Beyond reproduction, which is certainly a major concern, it also affects breathing and can accelerate asthma and emphysema.

\n\n\n\n

Now, people will say, “We need plastic for heart stents” — and they’re right. There are some uses for plastic that are genuinely important, from medical devices to aerospace applications. We are not saying get rid of all plastic. What we’re saying is that the fossil fuel industry right now is trying to maintain its margins by creating a gluttony of plastic that we don’t need, and that excess is what’s harming us.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What was the turning point — the moment or fact that made you say plastics and petrochemicals have to be part of this fight?

\n\n\n\n

Yearwood: Cancer Alley. That’s ground zero.

\n\n\n\n

I came into this work primarily through Hurricane Katrina. That’s the origin story. I was in DC when Katrina hit, and it was surreal to watch your community, your friends, drowning in the richest country in the world. I’m part of the Hip Hop Caucus and being in that position we were able to hit the ground — and we’ve been on the ground every single year since, for 21 years now.

\n\n\n\n

But the thing that connected Katrina to petrochemicals was a realization: even if Katrina had never happened, we would still have a Cancer Alley problem. We would still have petrochemical and plastic facilities causing people to have the highest cancer rates in the country. Even without the hurricane, people are dying from this. 

\n\n\n\n

Sometimes when you’ve been living near the monster your whole life, you don’t even recognize it as a monster — especially if that same plant was the one that offered someone in your family a job. You don’t always have the information to understand what’s being taken from you. Life expectancy in these communities goes from 70 down to 50, down to 40.

\n\n\n\n

When you do the research, you begin to see how insidious these companies are. They are literally putting their plants on former plantation sites — as if the same land that caused horror for our ancestors is now being used to harm their descendants. And ironically, that’s also one of the ways we’ve been able to fight back. Louisiana law prohibits building on burial grounds, and we were able to show that these plantation sites contained burial grounds. In essence, our ancestors came back and fought for us. 

\n\n\n\n

WIB: For someone who doesn’t live in Cancer Alley — who doesn’t think they’re in a high-exposure area — what do you suggest they do to reduce their plastic exposure?

\n\n\n\n

Yearwood: Step one is what you’re doing right now: engaging with journalism and storytelling that tells these stories. We appreciate Black media especially, which has been critical for covering issues that mainstream outlets have ignored for too long.

\n\n\n\n

Step two is the documentary. At Hip Hop Caucus, we’ve come to understand that we’re fighting differently than our parents did. Our parents fought for equality in the 20th century. Today, when it comes to plastics, petrochemicals, and environmental justice, we are fighting for existence in the 21st century. We have to tell the story differently — through documentaries, social media, town halls, every channel we have. 

\n\n\n\n

For people not living in Louisiana or Appalachia or Ohio or Pittsburgh or Houston — places with high concentrations of petrochemicals — it still affects you. Clean air and clean water are impacted everywhere. And on a personal level, we now have detectable plastic in the placentaIf it’s this bad in 2026, 100 years from now people will look back and ask: what were you doing? What kind of world were you leaving?

\n\n\n\n

So, on a practical level: reduce the plastic in your home. Replace plastic cups and utensils where you can. Stop microwaving food in plastic containers. Be mindful of takeout packaging. And watch the film — it walks you through what to do, step by step.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Are you seeing data centers and AI infrastructure also being sited in these same communities? Is there a connection to the plastics and petrochemical fight?

\n\n\n\n

Yearwood: Absolutely. What’s striking is the similarity: these companies look at predominantly poor Black communities and see them as the path of least resistance. They believe these communities can’t defend themselves. And so, they place the worst of the worst — petrochemical plants, data centers, pipelines — in those neighborhoods, destroying not only people’s current lives but their children’s futures.

\n\n\n\n

Data centers consume enormous amounts of water and pollute air. Chemical facilities cause emphysema, asthma, and cancer. It is killing us. At some point, you have to call it what it is.

\n\n\n\n

Our parents fought for equality in the 20th century, and we are still fighting for that — that hasn’t changed. But now, because of data centers and petrochemical facilities, we are also fighting for existence itself. Because the babies born in that Plastic Detox documentary — born in 2025, likely to live to see the year 2100 — deserve blue skies and clean water. Our job, like our parents before us, is to fight for their freedom to live well.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Environmental Leaders Push for Stronger Climate Commitment

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Hip-Hop Activist: Plastics Are the New Civil Rights Fight appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/hip-hop-activist-plastics-are-the-new-civil-rights-fight/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","environmental justice","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-15T15:19:11.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The_Plastic_Detox_Yearwood-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-15T15:32:55.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/The_Plastic_Detox_Yearwood-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"oN7O7HJiEn3tOnXF","title":"Finding Fellowship: How a Black Maryland Community Bridged Racial Divides","description":"Jason Green thought he was returning home to say goodbye to his grandmother. Instead, sitting beside Ida Pearl Green’s bed in a Montgomery County, Maryland, nursing facility, the former White House aide to President Barack Obama found himself listening to stories about a Black church, two white congregations, and an unlikely 1968 experiment in fellowship that survived one of the most turbulent periods in American history. Those conversations would eventually become “Finding Fellowship,” a PBS documentary that asks what a bitterly divided nation in the era of President Donald Trump might learn from communities that chose reconciliation over retreat. LEARN MORE: ‘Reparations Sunday’ Brings a Hot Debate Into Black Churches Green calls the documentary “a microcosm of America” and how a community moved past division and embraced “what can be accomplished with intention, purpose, and sacrifice.” It tells the story of how the churches in a historically Black community in Maryland set aside division and suspicion to unite in the aftermath of the King assassination — and how the Black church is the only one still standing. Historic Black Community His grandmother is also the catalyst for Green’s new book, “Too Precious to Lose,” about how Quince Orchard, a historically Black community in Maryland that’s not far from Washington, D.C., is in danger of being wiped out by suburban development and the ravages of time. While the central story of his film emphasizes unity, the story “is also about demonstrating the importance of intentionally preserving our history and heritage,” says Green, a preacher’s kid who once considered entering the ministry. “Our film is raising awareness of that Pleasant View [Maryland] historic site and raising the funds to ensure it is saved and preserved to be a site for inspiration for generations to come.” On its website, the Pleasant View Historical Association describes the community as the social hub of Quince Orchard, a once-rural community in danger of being overtaken by homes and shopping centers. It’s home to Pleasant View United Methodist Church, the Quince Orchard Colored School, and Pleasant View Cemetery. Accidental Historian In some ways, Green was hardly a likely chronicler of Pleasant View’s history. A Yale-trained lawyer who worked on Obama’s presidential campaign and later served in the White House, Green had built a career worlds away from the community that shaped his family. For years, career opportunities and public service had pulled him farther from it. “I was kind of marching down this world feeling like I had it figured out,” Green said. “I was on this journey of self-importance.” There are important lessons from our past that can help us navigate where we’re trying to go.Jacob GReen, Author and documentary filmmaker Then came the call from his mother in 2013: Ida Pearl Green, who had shaped his earliest understanding of faith, service, and community, was nearing the end of her life. Green’s grandmother was born in 1918 and reared in Quince Orchard. Active well into her 100th year, Ida Pearl Green embodied a generation forged by hard work, faith, and perseverance. ‘Here to Serve Someone’ When he was a boy, Ida Pearl Green had taken her grandson on volunteer visits to nursing-home residents. When he asked why they spent time with people they could not help, she offered a lesson he took to heart: “We’re not here to save someone. We’re here to serve someone.” That lesson “allowed me, even at five years old, to understand that I could make someone’s life better simply by showing up and being present,” Green told Word In Black in a recent interview. After receiving the call about his grandmother, Green quickly arrived at her bedside, carrying guilt over the years he had missed with her. Long conversations with her, however, would become the foundation for “Too Precious to Lose.” As he spent time with her, stories began to emerge that he had never fully heard before. She told him about growing up in Quince Orchard, a close-knit Black farming community anchored by faith, education, and mutual support. She described a world where Black churches, teachers, and neighbors formed a protective network that nurtured generations. Green found himself longing for the community she described, which thrived despite existing beneath the shadow of Jim Crow. “I kept thinking, ‘Wait a minute. How did y’all have this Black solidarity community?’” he said. Faith and Fellowship Her stories also revealed a remarkable chapter in local civil rights history. Green learned how his family’s historic Black church, faced with declining enrollment and aging facilities, elected to merge with two white congregations facing similar challenges. The vote happened just after King’s assassination, launching years of difficult conversations about race, identity, and shared community. Green was stunned. The story challenged his assumptions about community and reconciliation, eventually inspiring him to leave the White House and begin working on “Finding Fellowship.” On his final day with the administration, Green brought his grandmother to meet Obama in the Oval Office. Neither she nor the president knew Green planned to resign. The choice would become one of the most meaningful decisions of his life. RELATED: Why Teaching Black History Is Sacred Work As he dove into research and Trump rose to political prominence, “I remember hearing that the country hadn’t been this divided ‘since 1968,’” Green said in an interview published on the Obama Foundation website. “My grandmother had told me this story from 1968 about people overcoming their division, and I thought perhaps this was a story that could help us as we try to figure out how we’re going to move forward into the future.” Important Lessons Doctors initially predicted Ida Pearl Green, then in her mid-90s, she had only months to live. Instead, she lived nearly 11 more years, dying just shy of her 107th birthday. Those years back home, away from the demands of Washington, gave Jason Green time to preserve family stories, document community history, and deepen relationships that might otherwise have been lost. Today, he sees those stories as more than family memories. He believes they offer guidance for a nation wrestling with division, uncertainty, and isolation. “We’ve been here before,” Green said. “There are important lessons from our past that can help us navigate where we’re trying to go.” The post Finding Fellowship: How a Black Maryland Community Bridged Racial Divides appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"As
\n

Jason Green thought he was returning home to say goodbye to his grandmother.

\n\n\n\n

Instead, sitting beside Ida Pearl Green’s bed in a Montgomery County, Maryland, nursing facility, the former White House aide to President Barack Obama found himself listening to stories about a Black church, two white congregations, and an unlikely 1968 experiment in fellowship that survived one of the most turbulent periods in American history. 

\n\n\n\n

Those conversations would eventually become “Finding Fellowship,” a PBS documentary that asks what a bitterly divided nation in the era of President Donald Trump might learn from communities that chose reconciliation over retreat.

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: ‘Reparations Sunday’ Brings a Hot Debate Into Black Churches

\n\n\n\n

Green calls the documentary “a microcosm of America” and how a community moved past division and embraced “what can be accomplished with intention, purpose, and sacrifice.” It tells the story of how the churches in a historically Black community in Maryland set aside division and suspicion to unite in the aftermath of the King assassination — and how the Black church is the only one still standing. 

\n\n\n\n

Historic Black Community

\n\n\n\n

His grandmother is also the catalyst for Green’s new book, “Too Precious to Lose,” about how Quince Orchard, a historically Black community in Maryland that’s not far from Washington, D.C., is in danger of being wiped out by suburban development and the ravages of time. 

\n\n\n\n

While the central story of his film emphasizes unity, the story “is also about demonstrating the importance of intentionally preserving our history and heritage,” says Green, a preacher’s kid who once considered entering the ministry. “Our film is raising awareness of that Pleasant View [Maryland] historic site and raising the funds to ensure it is saved and preserved to be a site for inspiration for generations to come.”

\n\n\n\n

On its website, the Pleasant View Historical Association describes the community as the social hub of Quince Orchard, a once-rural community in danger of being overtaken by homes and shopping centers. It’s home to Pleasant View United Methodist Church, the Quince Orchard Colored School, and Pleasant View Cemetery. 

\n\n\n\n

Accidental Historian

\n\n\n\n

In some ways, Green was hardly a likely chronicler of Pleasant View’s history. 

\n\n\n\n

A Yale-trained lawyer who worked on Obama’s presidential campaign and later served in the White House, Green had built a career worlds away from the community that shaped his family. For years, career opportunities and public service had pulled him farther from it.

\n\n\n\n

“I was kind of marching down this world feeling like I had it figured out,” Green said. “I was on this journey of self-importance.”

\n\n\n\n

There are important lessons from our past that can help us navigate where we’re trying to go.

Jacob GReen, Author and documentary filmmaker
\n\n\n\n

 Then came the call from his mother in 2013: Ida Pearl Green, who had shaped his earliest understanding of faith, service, and community, was nearing the end of her life.

\n\n\n\n

Green’s grandmother was born in 1918 and reared in Quince Orchard. Active well into her 100th year, Ida Pearl Green embodied a generation forged by hard work, faith, and perseverance. 

\n\n\n\n

‘Here to Serve Someone’

\n\n\n\n

When he was a boy, Ida Pearl Green had taken her grandson on volunteer visits to nursing-home residents. When he asked why they spent time with people they could not help, she offered a lesson he took to heart: “We’re not here to save someone. We’re here to serve someone.”

\n\n\n\n

That lesson “allowed me, even at five years old, to understand that I could make someone’s life better simply by showing up and being present,” Green told Word In Black in a recent interview.

\n\n\n\n

After receiving the call about his grandmother, Green quickly arrived at her bedside, carrying guilt over the years he had missed with her. Long conversations with her, however, would become the foundation for “Too Precious to Lose.” 

\n\n\n\n

As he spent time with her, stories began to emerge that he had never fully heard before. She told him about growing up in Quince Orchard, a close-knit Black farming community anchored by faith, education, and mutual support. She described a world where Black churches, teachers, and neighbors formed a protective network that nurtured generations.

\n\n\n\n

Green found himself longing for the community she described, which thrived despite existing beneath the shadow of Jim Crow.

\n\n\n\n

“I kept thinking, ‘Wait a minute. How did y’all have this Black solidarity community?’” he said.

\n\n\n\n

Faith and Fellowship

\n\n\n\n

Her stories also revealed a remarkable chapter in local civil rights history. Green learned how his family’s historic Black church, faced with declining enrollment and aging facilities, elected to merge with two white congregations facing similar challenges. The vote happened just after King’s assassination, launching years of difficult conversations about race, identity, and shared community.

\n\n\n\n

Green was stunned. The story challenged his assumptions about community and reconciliation, eventually inspiring him to leave the White House and begin working on “Finding Fellowship.” 

\n\n\n\n

On his final day with the administration, Green brought his grandmother to meet Obama in the Oval Office. Neither she nor the president knew Green planned to resign. The choice would become one of the most meaningful decisions of his life.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Why Teaching Black History Is Sacred Work

\n\n\n\n

As he dove into research and Trump rose to political prominence, “I remember hearing that the country hadn’t been this divided ‘since 1968,’” Green said in an interview published on the Obama Foundation website. “My grandmother had told me this story from 1968 about people overcoming their division, and I thought perhaps this was a story that could help us as we try to figure out how we’re going to move forward into the future.”

\n\n\n\n

Important Lessons

\n\n\n\n

Doctors initially predicted Ida Pearl Green, then in her mid-90s, she had only months to live. Instead, she lived nearly 11 more years, dying just shy of her 107th birthday. Those years back home, away from the demands of Washington, gave Jason Green time to preserve family stories, document community history, and deepen relationships that might otherwise have been lost.

\n\n\n\n

Today, he sees those stories as more than family memories. He believes they offer guidance for a nation wrestling with division, uncertainty, and isolation.

\n\n\n\n

“We’ve been here before,” Green said. “There are important lessons from our past that can help us navigate where we’re trying to go.”

\n

The post Finding Fellowship: How a Black Maryland Community Bridged Racial Divides appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/finding-fellowship-how-a-black-maryland-community-bridged-racial-divides/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","Uncategorized"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-12T16:36:59.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JasonGreen_Book_Hero_Image.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-12T16:40:56.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/JasonGreen_Book_Hero_Image.jpg?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"zIV5yS2GBWh1DWge","title":"Why ‘Climate Justice’ Isn’t Resonating in Communities Most at Risk","description":"Climate activists have spent years arguing that climate change is also a civil rights issue. But a new study suggests one of the movement’s most popular phrases — “climate justice” — may not be connecting with many of the people it is meant to reach, including residents of Black and low-income communities that face some of the greatest environmental risks. The findings raise a challenge for advocates: if communities understand the dangers of climate change but not the language used to describe them, the movement may need a different way to make its case. Just 36% of respondents were familiar or very familiar with the term “climate justice,” while two-thirds were not, according to the paper, recently published in the journal PLOS Climate. The results illustrate that the lack of familiarity with climate justice is not just an academic concern. “Of course, our findings should not be interpreted as a lack of interest in ‘climate justice’ in Los Angeles County and its low-income communities,” the authors of the study wrote. “People living on low incomes do tend to be more aware that climate change disproportionately affects their communities and are more supportive of climate policies, provided they are combined with economic policies such as affordable housing and raising the minimum wage,” according to the study. “Responses to the term ‘climate justice’ may therefore have been more positive among low-income respondents if it had been accompanied by a more detailed elaboration.” The findings matter because Black Americans disproportionately experience many of climate change’s consequences. Multiple studies have shown Black communities are more likely to experience extreme heat, flooding, air pollution, and other environmental hazards as a result of a warming planet. At the same time, those communities often have fewer resources to recover from disasters. Climate justice emerged as a framework to explain those disparities, but the new research suggests the terminology itself may not be resonating with the people most affected. The paper examined how people in Los Angeles responded to the term climate justice and related terms: climate change, global warming, climate crisis, and climate emergency. The researchers picked Los Angeles, which includes a number of historically Black communities, because it’s “an area that might be expected to respond well to the term ‘climate justice’ due to its exposure to climate-related hazards, strong pro-environmental attitudes, and substantial income inequality.” The survey results prove otherwise, even when accounting for income. Among the survey’s two cohorts — those who earn more than $60,000 annually and those who earn less — there was no significant difference in understanding of climate justice. Respondents were also asked follow-up questions to gauge how the term might prompt them to respond, as well as to get a sense of specific micro- and macro-level actions that might be taken to alleviate the problem. Concern, urgency, policy support, and willingness to decrease red meat consumption were all lowest among those surveyed about climate justice compared to the other, more familiar terms related to climate change. Whether or not it’s worth the time and effort to make climate justice a more widely familiar and well-understood term is an open question. However, the authors of the study instead see that there are already good options at hand. “Using familiar language like ‘climate change’ or ‘global warming’ will elicit more public concern and willingness to act,” they wrote. The post Why ‘Climate Justice’ Isn’t Resonating in Communities Most at Risk appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"The
\n

Climate activists have spent years arguing that climate change is also a civil rights issue.

\n\n\n\n

But a new study suggests one of the movement’s most popular phrases — “climate justice” — may not be connecting with many of the people it is meant to reach, including residents of Black and low-income communities that face some of the greatest environmental risks.

\n\n\n\n

The findings raise a challenge for advocates: if communities understand the dangers of climate change but not the language used to describe them, the movement may need a different way to make its case.

\n\n\n\n

Just 36% of respondents were familiar or very familiar with the term “climate justice,” while two-thirds were not, according to the paper, recently published in the journal PLOS Climate. The results illustrate that the lack of familiarity with climate justice is not just an academic concern. 

\n\n\n\n

“Of course, our findings should not be interpreted as a lack of interest in ‘climate justice’ in Los Angeles County and its low-income communities,” the authors of the study wrote. 

\n\n\n\n

“People living on low incomes do tend to be more aware that climate change disproportionately affects their communities and are more supportive of climate policies, provided they are combined with economic policies such as affordable housing and raising the minimum wage,” according to the study. “Responses to the term ‘climate justice’ may therefore have been more positive among low-income respondents if it had been accompanied by a more detailed elaboration.” 

\n\n\n\n

The findings matter because Black Americans disproportionately experience many of climate change’s consequences. 

\n\n\n\n

Multiple studies have shown Black communities are more likely to experience extreme heat, flooding, air pollution, and other environmental hazards as a result of a warming planet. At the same time, those communities often have fewer resources to recover from disasters. 

\n\n\n\n

Climate justice emerged as a framework to explain those disparities, but the new research suggests the terminology itself may not be resonating with the people most affected.

\n\n\n\n

The paper examined how people in Los Angeles responded to the term climate justice and related terms: climate change, global warming, climate crisis, and climate emergency. 

\n\n\n\n

The researchers picked Los Angeles, which includes a number of historically Black communities, because it’s “an area that might be expected to respond well to the term ‘climate justice’ due to its exposure to climate-related hazards, strong pro-environmental attitudes, and substantial income inequality.”  

\n\n\n\n

The survey results prove otherwise, even when accounting for income. Among the survey’s two cohorts — those who earn more than $60,000 annually and those who earn less — there was no significant difference in understanding of climate justice.

\n\n\n\n

Respondents were also asked follow-up questions to gauge how the term might prompt them to respond, as well as to get a sense of specific micro- and macro-level actions that might be taken to alleviate the problem.

\n\n\n\n

Concern, urgency, policy support, and willingness to decrease red meat consumption were all lowest among those surveyed about climate justice compared to the other, more familiar terms related to climate change. 

\n\n\n\n

Whether or not it’s worth the time and effort to make climate justice a more widely familiar and well-understood term is an open question. However, the authors of the study instead see that there are already good options at hand.

\n\n\n\n

“Using familiar language like ‘climate change’ or ‘global warming’ will elicit more public concern and willingness to act,” they wrote. 

\n

The post Why ‘Climate Justice’ Isn’t Resonating in Communities Most at Risk appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/why-climate-justice-isnt-resonating-in-communities-most-at-risk/","site":"Willy Blackmore","originalAuthor":"Willy Blackmore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Climate","Climate Justice","climate justice"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-10T16:54:40.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2221656096.jpg?fit=723%2C483&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-10T16:55:58.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2221656096.jpg?fit=723%2C483&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"JXv1ncwpLGqieMKG","title":"From Prison to Purpose: Transforming Re-entry in San Francisco","description":"Bayron Wilson openly acknowledges he served time in prison. But he rejects the labels society places on people like him, which can become barriers as powerful as prison walls. “I am not an ex-con,” Wilson said. “I am a father, I’m a husband, I’m a boss, I am a Black man. I have so many other things that I am, but I’m not an ex-con.” LEARN MORE: Six Years Later, Black Churches Refuse to Forget Floyd Changing the narrative around formerly incarcerated people is at the heart of Wilson’s work as chief operating officer and co-founder of Urban Alchemy, a San Francisco-based nonprofit. He and Dr. Lena Miller — a therapist, co-founder, and CEO —have grown Urban Alchemy into one of the nation’s largest employers of formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted people while providing services for unhoused residents and communities in crisis. Trauma and Healing The organization employs approximately 1,300 people, with Wilson estimating that nearly all of them have experienced arrest or incarceration, homelessness, addiction, or mental health challenges. All of them, he says, have value. “We can be much more than what the world tries to call us,” Wilson said. The organization’s roots trace back to San Francisco’s Hunters Point neighborhood, one of the city’s historic Black communities. Wilson recalled watching Miller, a trauma specialist, bring together young people from rival groups while teaching about the impact of trauma on behavior. At the time, Wilson said he didn’t get Miller’s approach, in part because he was dealing with his own issues — including a crime that would land him in prison. “When you’re currently in it, you don’t understand all the facts of trauma,” he said. After his release, Wilson turned his life around. He worked in reentry programs helping formerly incarcerated individuals find employment. What he observed troubled him: organizations that said they supported people returning home from prison but only offered dead-end jobs with little opportunity for growth. What has surprised me is there are so many gifted, so many talented Black men and Brown men in prison. They just need an opportunity.Bayron Wilson, co-founder, urban alchemy Urban Alchemy was built to remove those barriers. “There’s not going to be any ceilings,” Wilson says. “This is about opportunities. You can go as high as you want in the organization.” Emotional Intelligence The organization operates through three primary areas: housing communities, connected communities, and safe communities. Housing communities include shelters and temporary housing that emphasize dignity and relationship-building. Connected communities include Oasis centers that offer showers, storage, restrooms and welcoming spaces for unhoused residents. And safe communities provide alternatives to traditional law enforcement responses for people experiencing homelessness, behavioral health crises and other nonviolent situations. The approach, Wilson says, is rooted in trauma-informed care and empowering their clients. Wilson frequently references the idea that trauma can lead to emotional intelligence when people are given opportunities to heal. “Those closer to the problem happen to be those closer to the solution,” he said, pointing to comic book superhero origin stories, like Spider-Man’s radioactive spider bite and the destruction of Superman’s home planet. “Every superhero goes through something,” Wilson says. “When you go through something, you’re either going to use your power for good or use your power for bad.” Common Experiences Many Urban Alchemy staffers share origin stories with the people they serve. That common ground often creates trust that traditional systems struggle to establish. “A lot of Black men nowadays, we’re ‘justice impacted’” through their own arrest or incarceration or a loved one’s, Wilson says. “Our father, our brother, someone in your family might experience that. Whether you want to say it or not, it impacted you in some kind of way.” Rather than focusing solely on past mistakes, Urban Alchemy encourages a focus on purpose. “This isn’t a second-chance organization,” Wilson said. “I’m just living in my purpose.” That philosophy extends to the people in Urban Alchemy facilities who are experiencing homelessness. Staff refer to residents as guests and strive for excellent service. “We want to give them a five-star treatment,” he said. “We believe in first and foremost, you have to know the story.” ‘Believe in Yourself’ The work has reshaped Wilson’s own understanding of people behind bars. “What has surprised me is there are so many gifted, so many talented Black men and Brown men in prison,” he said. “They just need an opportunity.” Wilson, a graduate of Grambling State University, said he encountered extraordinary intelligence while incarcerated. “There were so many brothers back there that I learned had much higher EQ than I could ever imagine,” he said. “So many brothers that are so much more intelligent, read so many more books, understood the Bible so much better than I did.” For parents raising children in neighborhoods where trauma is common, Wilson offers simple but powerful advice. Trust your heart as much as your mind, don’t allow life’s daily frustrations to dictate major decisions, and that something as simple as breathing can interrupt cycles of trauma and poor decision-making. “Believe in yourself,” he said. “Don’t let anyone or anything take you away from your light. You’re so much more to the world.” For Wilson, Urban Alchemy’s mission is not merely about employment, housing or public safety. It is about restoring dignity and helping people transform hardship into purpose. “We understand the vision,” he said. “We’re going to change the world.” The post From Prison to Purpose: Transforming Re-entry in San Francisco appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"A
\n

Bayron Wilson openly acknowledges he served time in prison. But he rejects the labels society places on people like him, which can become barriers as powerful as prison walls.

\n\n\n\n

“I am not an ex-con,” Wilson said. “I am a father, I’m a husband, I’m a boss, I am a Black man. I have so many other things that I am, but I’m not an ex-con.”

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: Six Years Later, Black Churches Refuse to Forget Floyd

\n\n\n\n

Changing the narrative around formerly incarcerated people is at the heart of Wilson’s work as chief operating officer and co-founder of Urban Alchemy, a San Francisco-based nonprofit. He and Dr. Lena Miller — a therapist, co-founder, and CEO —have grown Urban Alchemy into one of the nation’s largest employers of formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted people while providing services for unhoused residents and communities in crisis.

\n\n\n\n

Trauma and Healing

\n\n\n\n

The organization employs approximately 1,300 people, with Wilson estimating that nearly all of them have experienced arrest or incarceration, homelessness, addiction, or mental health challenges. All of them, he says, have value.

\n\n\n\n

“We can be much more than what the world tries to call us,” Wilson said.

\n\n\n\n

The organization’s roots trace back to San Francisco’s Hunters Point neighborhood, one of the city’s historic Black communities. Wilson recalled watching Miller, a trauma specialist, bring together young people from rival groups while teaching about the impact of trauma on behavior.

\n\n\n\n

At the time, Wilson said he didn’t get Miller’s approach, in part because he was dealing with his own issues — including a crime that would land him in prison. “When you’re currently in it, you don’t understand all the facts of trauma,” he said.

\n\n\n\n

After his release, Wilson turned his life around. He worked in reentry programs helping formerly incarcerated individuals find employment. What he observed troubled him: organizations that said they supported people returning home from prison but only offered dead-end jobs with little opportunity for growth.

\n\n\n\n

What has surprised me is there are so many gifted, so many talented Black men and Brown men in prison. They just need an opportunity.

Bayron Wilson, co-founder, urban alchemy
\n\n\n\n

Urban Alchemy was built to remove those barriers.

\n\n\n\n

“There’s not going to be any ceilings,” Wilson says. “This is about opportunities. You can go as high as you want in the organization.”

\n\n\n\n

Emotional Intelligence

\n\n\n\n

The organization operates through three primary areas: housing communities, connected communities, and safe communities.

\n\n\n\n

Housing communities include shelters and temporary housing that emphasize dignity and relationship-building. Connected communities include Oasis centers that offer showers, storage, restrooms and welcoming spaces for unhoused residents. And safe communities provide alternatives to traditional law enforcement responses for people experiencing homelessness, behavioral health crises and other nonviolent situations.

\n\n\n\n

The approach, Wilson says, is rooted in trauma-informed care and empowering their clients. Wilson frequently references the idea that trauma can lead to emotional intelligence when people are given opportunities to heal.

\n\n\n\n

“Those closer to the problem happen to be those closer to the solution,” he said, pointing to comic book superhero origin stories, like Spider-Man’s radioactive spider bite and the destruction of Superman’s home planet. 

\n\n\n\n

“Every superhero goes through something,” Wilson says. “When you go through something, you’re either going to use your power for good or use your power for bad.”

\n\n\n\n

Common Experiences

\n\n\n\n

Many Urban Alchemy staffers share origin stories with the people they serve. That common ground often creates trust that traditional systems struggle to establish.

\n\n\n\n

“A lot of Black men nowadays, we’re ‘justice impacted’” through their own arrest or incarceration or a loved one’s, Wilson says. “Our father, our brother, someone in your family might experience that. Whether you want to say it or not, it impacted you in some kind of way.”

\n\n\n\n

Rather than focusing solely on past mistakes, Urban Alchemy encourages a focus on purpose.

\n\n\n\n

“This isn’t a second-chance organization,” Wilson said. “I’m just living in my purpose.”

\n\n\n\n

That philosophy extends to the people in Urban Alchemy facilities who are experiencing homelessness. Staff refer to residents as guests and strive for excellent service. 

\n\n\n\n

“We want to give them a five-star treatment,” he said. “We believe in first and foremost, you have to know the story.”

\n\n\n\n

‘Believe in Yourself’

\n\n\n\n

The work has reshaped Wilson’s own understanding of people behind bars.

\n\n\n\n

“What has surprised me is there are so many gifted, so many talented Black men and Brown men in prison,” he said. “They just need an opportunity.”

\n\n\n\n

Wilson, a graduate of Grambling State University, said he encountered extraordinary intelligence while incarcerated.

\n\n\n\n

“There were so many brothers back there that I learned had much higher EQ than I could ever imagine,” he said. “So many brothers that are so much more intelligent, read so many more books, understood the Bible so much better than I did.”

\n\n\n\n

For parents raising children in neighborhoods where trauma is common, Wilson offers simple but powerful advice. Trust your heart as much as your mind, don’t allow life’s daily frustrations to dictate major decisions, and that something as simple as breathing can interrupt cycles of trauma and poor decision-making. 

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

“Believe in yourself,” he said. “Don’t let anyone or anything take you away from your light. You’re so much more to the world.”

\n\n\n\n

For Wilson, Urban Alchemy’s mission is not merely about employment, housing or public safety. It is about restoring dignity and helping people transform hardship into purpose.

\n\n\n\n

“We understand the vision,” he said. “We’re going to change the world.”

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post From Prison to Purpose: Transforming Re-entry in San Francisco appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/from-prison-to-purpose-transforming-re-entry-in-san-francisco/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-09T20:34:19.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_4494.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-09T20:41:03.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_4494.jpg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"U1NDUHfgXi6z922B","title":"Most Christians Want To Give Consistently. Few Actually Do","description":"At offering time in many churches, one is likely to hear that God loves a cheerful giver. A new national study of faith-based believers suggests that joy exists when the offering plate comes around, but when it comes to consistent, long-term giving, there is a significant gap between what many believers’ intentions are and what they actually do. Researchers with the faith-based giving platform Givelify found that while 95% of Christian donors surveyed said they aspire to give consistently, only about 30% currently meet that standard. Yet despite economic uncertainty, most Christians remain generous, optimistic, and want to support their church financially. LEARN MORE: Next Lifetime or This One? Eryka Badu Ignites a Tithing Debate The data, released today, are part of Givelify’s latest research on faith-based generosity and giving behavior. Researchers say the study could help churches better understand donor motivations while potentially unlocking billions of dollars in additional support for congregations and community ministries. Financial Challenges “What we’re seeing here is that it’s the consistency that is not matching the aspirations of people,” said Wale Mafolasire, founder and chief executive officer of Givelify. “The intention is there, but when we look at what the data shows, only 30% of the people are actually doing what they intend to do.” It’s also critical information for the Black church, which has historically played expanded roles in addressing food insecurity, housing instability, economic hardship, education, and community development. At the same time, shrinking membership and changing attitudes toward tithing among younger members pose ongoing financial challenges for Black churches. The study surveyed nearly 2,000 Christian donors and almost 900 church leaders, including pastors, associate pastors, and financial administrators. According to researchers, the sample included strong representation from Black churches and Black donors, reflecting Givelify’s extensive presence in African American congregations. What we’re seeing here is that it’s the consistency that is not matching the aspirations of people. The intention is there, but … only 30% of the people are actually doing what they intend to do.Wale Mafolasire, Givelify founder and chief executive officer Despite economic uncertainty, inflation, and other financial pressures, researchers found reasons for optimism. Generosity ‘Alive and Well’ Researchers estimate that even modest improvements in giving consistency could generate up to $30 billion in additional annual giving nationwide, translating to roughly $50,000 more per church each year. Despite inflation and economic uncertainty, 57% of churches reported increased year-over-year giving, and most church leaders expect endorsing to continue growing in 2026. Meanwhile, giving behavior is increasingly becoming digital: 81% of donors now use online or mobile platforms, making generosity more immediate, habitual and integrated into daily life. “Generosity is alive and well,” Mafolasire said. “Pastors are optimistic about it, churchgoers are optimistic about it, looking into the future.” When congregants tithe or set up automatic offerings, churches have greater financial stability and can plan outreach or food ministries with greater confidence. The more consistently a congregation can translate offerings into resources, the greater its capacity to serve its community. Consistency Defined One of the study’s most significant contributions is the specific definition of a “consistent giver.” Rather than focusing on tithing or automatic recurring donations, researchers define consistent giving as contributing at least once per month for at least nine months of a calendar year. “We’re introducing a new definition for consistent giving so that everybody can be on the same page,” Mafolasire said. “We’re defining that as giving one or more times a month, or most months in a year.” The nine-month threshold emerged from donor responses rather than researchers’ assumptions, according to David King, Indiana University’s Lake Institute on Faith and Giving, who helped lead the project. “It wasn’t something that we had preconceived and came in there with,” King said. “The clear definition sort of bubbled up from what the data was saying back to us.” ‘Life Happens’ Researchers said donors wanted room for life’s disruptions without losing their identity as faithful givers. “Life happens,” Mafolasire said. “The identity of someone who has been doing this thing consistently—they do not want to lose that identity because life happened one or more times in a year.” The study also revealed a disconnect between church leaders and donor behavior. While actual consistency rates averaged about 30%, pastors estimated that roughly 54% of their congregations were giving consistently. Researchers attributed some of that gap to pastoral optimism and, in some cases, limited visibility into members’ giving patterns. Automatic or Intentional “Pastors tend to be very, very optimistic individuals,” Mafolasire said. “The nature of the calling asks pastors to be hopeful and optimistic no matter what’s going on.” Another surprise involved recurring electronic giving. Many church leaders associate recurring donations with faithful stewardship and consistent support. Yet researchers found that automatic giving alone does not guarantee consistency. “We saw that pastors equated consistent giving to automatic recurring giving,” Mafolasire said. “The data shows us that even with recurring givers, the rate of consistency is still 30%.” Only about 17% of surveyed donors said they preferred a “set it and forget it” approach through automatic recurring gifts. “The vast majority of the people that the survey tried to understand their perspective on said they want to be intentional about their giving,” Mafolasire said. Giving is Good Researchers identified four distinct donor profiles that they believe can help churches tailor stewardship efforts more effectively. The largest segment, called “steady givers,” represented about 27% of donors. These individuals give consistently and are satisfied with their current level of giving. They also tended to have the highest incomes and educational attainment. Another group, “awakening givers,” made up approximately 21% of respondents. These donors aspire to consistent giving but have not yet established regular habits, often citing financial constraints. Researchers also identified “devoted givers,” who not only give consistently but actively seek additional opportunities to contribute their time, talent and financial resources. RELATED: Meet the Genius Behind Your Church’s Digital Donations “We find that their level of spirituality tends to be at the highest of all four groups,” Mafolasire said. King believes churches should focus less on pressure and more on encouragement. He said research points to the importance of helping people connect generosity with faith formation rather than obligation. “Giving is not only good for the church and the church’s budget,” King said. “It’s good for the giver.” The post Most Christians Want To Give Consistently. Few Actually Do appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"A
\n

At offering time in many churches, one is likely to hear that God loves a cheerful giver.  A new national study of faith-based believers suggests that joy exists when the offering plate comes around, but when it comes to consistent, long-term giving, there is a significant gap between what many believers’ intentions are and what they actually do. 

\n\n\n\n

Researchers with the faith-based giving platform Givelify found that while 95% of Christian donors surveyed said they aspire to give consistently, only about 30% currently meet that standard. Yet despite economic uncertainty, most Christians remain generous, optimistic, and want to support their church financially.

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: Next Lifetime or This One? Eryka Badu Ignites a Tithing Debate

\n\n\n\n

The data, released today, are part of Givelify’s latest research on faith-based generosity and giving behavior. Researchers say the study could help churches better understand donor motivations while potentially unlocking billions of dollars in additional support for congregations and community ministries.

\n\n\n\n

Financial Challenges

\n\n\n\n

“What we’re seeing here is that it’s the consistency that is not matching the aspirations of people,” said Wale Mafolasire, founder and chief executive officer of Givelify. “The intention is there, but when we look at what the data shows, only 30% of the people are actually doing what they intend to do.”

\n\n\n\n

It’s also critical information for the Black church, which has historically played expanded roles in addressing food insecurity, housing instability, economic hardship, education, and community development. At the same time, shrinking membership and changing attitudes toward tithing among younger members pose ongoing financial challenges for Black churches. 

\n\n\n\n

The study surveyed nearly 2,000 Christian donors and almost 900 church leaders, including pastors, associate pastors, and financial administrators. According to researchers, the sample included strong representation from Black churches and Black donors, reflecting Givelify’s extensive presence in African American congregations.

\n\n\n\n

What we’re seeing here is that it’s the consistency that is not matching the aspirations of people. The intention is there, but … only 30% of the people are actually doing what they intend to do.

Wale Mafolasire, Givelify founder and chief executive officer
\n\n\n\n

Despite economic uncertainty, inflation, and other financial pressures, researchers found reasons for optimism.

\n\n\n\n

Generosity ‘Alive and Well’

\n\n\n\n

Researchers estimate that even modest improvements in giving consistency could generate up to $30 billion in additional annual giving nationwide, translating to roughly $50,000 more per church each year. Despite inflation and economic uncertainty, 57% of churches reported increased year-over-year giving, and most church leaders expect endorsing to continue growing in 2026. 

\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, giving behavior is increasingly becoming digital: 81% of donors now use online or mobile platforms, making generosity more immediate, habitual and integrated into daily life.

\n\n\n\n

“Generosity is alive and well,” Mafolasire said. “Pastors are optimistic about it, churchgoers are optimistic about it, looking into the future.”

\n\n\n\n

When congregants tithe or set up automatic offerings, churches have greater financial stability and can plan outreach or food ministries with greater confidence. The more consistently a congregation can translate offerings into resources, the greater its capacity to serve its community.

\n\n\n\n

Consistency Defined

\n\n\n\n

One of the study’s most significant contributions is the specific definition of a “consistent giver.”

\n\n\n\n

Rather than focusing on tithing or automatic recurring donations, researchers define consistent giving as contributing at least once per month for at least nine months of a calendar year.

\n\n\n\n

“We’re introducing a new definition for consistent giving so that everybody can be on the same page,” Mafolasire said. “We’re defining that as giving one or more times a month, or most months in a year.”

\n\n\n\n

The nine-month threshold emerged from donor responses rather than researchers’ assumptions, according to David King, Indiana University’s Lake Institute on Faith and Giving, who helped lead the project.

\n\n\n\n

“It wasn’t something that we had preconceived and came in there with,” King said. “The clear definition sort of bubbled up from what the data was saying back to us.”

\n\n\n\n

‘Life Happens’

\n\n\n\n

Researchers said donors wanted room for life’s disruptions without losing their identity as faithful givers.

\n\n\n\n

“Life happens,” Mafolasire said. “The identity of someone who has been doing this thing consistently—they do not want to lose that identity because life happened one or more times in a year.”

\n\n\n\n

The study also revealed a disconnect between church leaders and donor behavior. While actual consistency rates averaged about 30%, pastors estimated that roughly 54% of their congregations were giving consistently.

\n\n\n\n

Researchers attributed some of that gap to pastoral optimism and, in some cases, limited visibility into members’ giving patterns.

\n\n\n\n

Automatic or Intentional

\n\n\n\n

“Pastors tend to be very, very optimistic individuals,” Mafolasire said. “The nature of the calling asks pastors to be hopeful and optimistic no matter what’s going on.”

\n\n\n\n

Another surprise involved recurring electronic giving. Many church leaders associate recurring donations with faithful stewardship and consistent support. Yet researchers found that automatic giving alone does not guarantee consistency.

\n\n\n\n

“We saw that pastors equated consistent giving to automatic recurring giving,” Mafolasire said. “The data shows us that even with recurring givers, the rate of consistency is still 30%.”

\n\n\n\n

Only about 17% of surveyed donors said they preferred a “set it and forget it” approach through automatic recurring gifts.

\n\n\n\n

“The vast majority of the people that the survey tried to understand their perspective on said they want to be intentional about their giving,” Mafolasire said.

\n\n\n\n

Giving is Good

\n\n\n\n

Researchers identified four distinct donor profiles that they believe can help churches tailor stewardship efforts more effectively.

\n\n\n\n

The largest segment, called “steady givers,” represented about 27% of donors. These individuals give consistently and are satisfied with their current level of giving. They also tended to have the highest incomes and educational attainment.

\n\n\n\n

Another group, “awakening givers,” made up approximately 21% of respondents. These donors aspire to consistent giving but have not yet established regular habits, often citing financial constraints.

\n\n\n\n

Researchers also identified “devoted givers,” who not only give consistently but actively seek additional opportunities to contribute their time, talent and financial resources.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Meet the Genius Behind Your Church’s Digital Donations

\n\n\n\n

“We find that their level of spirituality tends to be at the highest of all four groups,” Mafolasire said.

\n\n\n\n

King believes churches should focus less on pressure and more on encouragement. He said research points to the importance of helping people connect generosity with faith formation rather than obligation.

\n\n\n\n

“Giving is not only good for the church and the church’s budget,” King said. “It’s good for the giver.”

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Most Christians Want To Give Consistently. Few Actually Do appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/most-christians-want-to-tithe-consistently-few-actually-do/","site":"Joseph Williams and Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Joseph Williams and Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-08T20:12:59.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-1440014643.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-08T20:13:29.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-1440014643.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"aGn32vHg4ETNWfU8","title":"Black Men: “Manning Up” Isn’t a Mental Health Flex","description":"Black men are dying from a mental health crisis that too often goes unseen. As deaths from suicide, overdoses and alcohol abuse rise among Black Americans, experts warn that cultural expectations around masculinity, mistrust of mental health systems and a shortage of Black providers are preventing many men from getting help before it is too late. In the waning days of the pandemic, the U.S. saw the number of deaths from suicide, alcohol use, and drug overdoses — called “deaths of despair” — among Black Americans surpass occurrences among whites for the first time. Between 2013 and 2022 the rates of these deaths tripled among Black Americans. The Painful Numbers Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show twice as many people died by suicide in 2023 than from homicide. In fact, it was the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34 and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 44. That same year, the suicide rate among males was nearly 4 times higher than among females—with Black men also being four times as likely to die from suicide as Black women. Among younger Black men, the trajectory is especially troubling. University of Georgia researchers last year found that childhood exposure to trauma, poverty, and racism leads many young Black men to believe they don’t have value and are unable to trust community support systems. Between 2007 and 2020, the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 17 nearly tripled, rising faster than any other racial or ethnic group. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people between ages 20 and 24. For Black men in the same age group, however, the suicide rate surpassed that of their white peers in 2024—a dreadful historical first. Playing Tough Can Be Fatal Traditional definitions of masculinity — stoicism, staunchly self-reliant and emotionally controlled — are found to increase the likelihood that men of all age ranges will avoid professional help. Researchers find those men fear being judged as weak, a perception that significantly raises stress and contributes to untreated depression and anxiety. In 2023, just 17 percent of American men saw a mental health professional, roughly half the rate of women. Among men who said they were depressed, only one in four received any counseling or therapy in the past year. Black adults, however, were 36 percent less likely to have received mental health treatment in the previous year, even though they had similar or higher rates of anxiety and depression as whites. In a newly released report, the JED Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the emotional health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults found that boys are socialized from an early age to internalize their emotions rather than express them. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people between ages 20 and 24. For Black men in the same age group, however, the suicide rate surpassed that of their white peers in 2024—a dreadful historical first. The report, titled The Emotional Lives of Boys and Young Men, found that when that distress surfaces, it often looks very different from the depression and inactivity seen in girls and young women. Instead, according to the report, boys and young men are more likely to disguise their distress by withdrawing, displaying anger or aggression, or engaging in daredevil behavior— reckless driving, substance abuse, compulsive gambling, or risky sexual encounters. At the same time, online environments, like video games and social media can be a double-edged sword, according to the report.. “Digital environments can amplify both harmful and supportive pathways, with opportunities for humor, distraction, and connection,” the report says, but also provides “exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and gambling and sports betting.” Black Provider Shortage While research indicates that having a caregiver of the same gender and race is beneficial, Black practitioners are still an extreme minority in all segments of the mental health profession. Only 4% of psychologists are Black and just 2% of psychiatrists, who are medical doctors, and a scant 11% of licensed professional counselors are Black. But research has shown that peer-based support groups can be effective in communities plagued by lack of access to mental health professionals, as well as mistrust of clinical environments. Organizations such as JED have launched partnerships with fraternal organizations to reverse these trends. Last month, JED announce it is working with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as part of The JED Greek-Letter Organizations (GLO) programs. “The Jed Foundation recognizes that fraternities and sororities are powerful communities for connection, leadership, and identity development,” Dr. ShirDonna Lawrence, senior manager of JED GLO, said in a statement. “This makes them essential partners in advancing student mental health and well-being on and off campus.” It’s also a mutually beneficial relationship, which “strengthens Alpha’s enduring mission and advances JED’s work in culturally responsive, community-centered mental health promotion,” Lawrence said. RELATED: As White ‘Deaths of Despair’ Made News, Black Ones Skyrocketed The post Black Men: “Manning Up” Isn’t a Mental Health Flex appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Young
\n

Black men are dying from a mental health crisis that too often goes unseen. 

\n\n\n\n

As deaths from suicide, overdoses and alcohol abuse rise among Black Americans, experts warn that cultural expectations around masculinity, mistrust of mental health systems and a shortage of Black providers are preventing many men from getting help before it is too late.

\n\n\n\n

In the waning days of the pandemic, the U.S. saw the number of deaths from suicide, alcohol use, and drug overdoses — called “deaths of despair” — among Black Americans surpass occurrences among whites for the first time. Between 2013 and 2022 the rates of these deaths tripled among Black Americans.

\n\n\n\n

The Painful Numbers

\n\n\n\n

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show twice as many people died by suicide in 2023 than from homicide. In fact, it was the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34 and the fourth leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 35 and 44.

\n\n\n\n

That same year, the suicide rate among males was nearly 4 times higher than among females—with Black men also being four times as likely to die from suicide as Black women.

\n\n\n\n

Among younger Black men, the trajectory is especially troubling. 

\n\n\n\n

University of Georgia researchers last year found that childhood exposure to trauma, poverty, and racism leads many young Black men to believe they don’t have value  and are unable to trust community support systems.  Between 2007 and 2020, the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10 to 17 nearly tripled, rising faster than any other racial or ethnic group.

\n\n\n\n

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people between ages 20 and 24. For Black men in the same age group, however, the suicide rate surpassed that of their white peers in 2024—a dreadful historical first.

\n\n\n\n

Playing Tough Can Be Fatal

\n\n\n\n

Traditional definitions of masculinity — stoicism, staunchly self-reliant and emotionally controlled — are found to increase the likelihood that men of all age ranges will avoid professional help. Researchers find those men fear being judged as weak, a perception that significantly raises stress and contributes to untreated depression and anxiety. 

\n\n\n\n

In 2023, just 17 percent of American men saw a mental health professional, roughly half the rate of women. Among men who said they were depressed, only one in four received any counseling or therapy in the past year. Black adults, however, were 36 percent less likely to have received mental health treatment in the previous year, even though they had similar or higher rates of anxiety and depression as whites.

\n\n\n\n

In a newly released report, the JED Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the emotional health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults found that boys are socialized from an early age to internalize their emotions rather than express them. 

\n\n\n\n

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for people between ages 20 and 24. For Black men in the same age group, however, the suicide rate surpassed that of their white peers in 2024—a dreadful historical first.

\n\n\n\n

The report, titled The Emotional Lives of Boys and Young Men, found that when  that distress surfaces, it often looks very different from the depression and inactivity seen in girls and young women. 

\n\n\n\n

Instead, according to the report, boys and young men are more likely to disguise their distress by withdrawing, displaying anger or aggression, or engaging in daredevil behavior— reckless driving, substance abuse, compulsive gambling, or risky sexual encounters. 

\n\n\n\n

At the same time, online environments, like video games and social media can be a double-edged sword, according to the report.. 

\n\n\n\n

“Digital environments can amplify both harmful and supportive pathways, with opportunities for humor, distraction, and connection,” the report says, but also provides “exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and gambling and sports betting.” 

\n\n\n\n

Black Provider Shortage

\n\n\n\n

While research indicates that having a caregiver of the same gender and race is beneficial, Black practitioners are still an extreme minority in all segments of the mental health profession.  Only 4% of psychologists are Black and just 2% of psychiatrists, who are medical doctors, and a scant 11% of licensed professional counselors are Black. 

\n\n\n\n

But research has shown that peer-based support groups can be effective in communities plagued by lack of access to mental health professionals, as well as mistrust of clinical environments.  

\n\n\n\n

Organizations such as JED have launched partnerships with fraternal organizations to reverse these trends. Last month, JED announce it is working with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. as part of  The JED Greek-Letter Organizations (GLO) programs. 

\n\n\n\n

“The Jed Foundation recognizes that fraternities and sororities are powerful communities for connection, leadership, and identity development,” Dr. ShirDonna Lawrence, senior manager of JED GLO, said in a statement. “This makes them essential partners in advancing student mental health and well-being on and off campus.” 

\n\n\n\n

It’s also a mutually beneficial relationship, which “strengthens Alpha’s enduring mission and advances JED’s work in culturally responsive, community-centered mental health promotion,” Lawrence said.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: As White ‘Deaths of Despair’ Made News, Black Ones Skyrocketed 

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Black Men: “Manning Up” Isn’t a Mental Health Flex appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/black-men-manning-up-isnt-a-mental-health-flex/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","Uncategorized","health","mental health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-05T11:16:00.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-mensMH.jpg?fit=724%2C482&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-05T11:18:06.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-mensMH.jpg?fit=724%2C482&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"PU3isBD9cVUUAcZI","title":"Why are Red Foods Popular During Juneteenth Celebrations?","description":"Chef Krystal Carter has had a passion for culinary arts since the age of 4. She knew her way around a kitchen and the story behind Juneteenth. What she did not know was the historical context behind the celebration of red foods. And it wasn’t until she entered Juneteenth Houston’s first red food cook-off competition that she learned of this. “Before last year, I didn’t have a concept of the importance of red foods as it pertained to Juneteenth or to our people,” said Carter, a Houston home cook who competes under the name Chef Krissy D. “And then I went into research.” The hibiscus flower, which she had long used in floral arrangements, was brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans, valued for its medicinal properties and deep red hue. The drink in the pitcher at every cookout she had ever attended was a living artifact of a culture that crossed an ocean and refused to disappear. “I have a shirt that I wear that says, ‘ My freedom wasn’t free.’ And I think about the blood that was shared by our ancestors to get us to be able to dance in the streets,” Carter said. “To be able to have that cookout, to have that community, to be able to just celebrate where we have come in the amount of time that we’ve made it.” Carter is not alone in that discovery. Most people sitting at a Juneteenth table have never been told the full story of what they are eating, or why. A tradition rooted in West Africa Red Velvet cake is a signature dish eaten during Juneteenth celebrations. Credit: Juneteenth Houston According to culinary historian Michael Twitty, the red foods tradition at Juneteenth traces directly to the Yoruba and Kongo peoples of West Africa, brought to Texas during the final decades of the Atlantic slave trade. Red represented spiritual power, sacrifice, and transformation. West African hosts welcomed guests with red-hued bissap, a drink made from hibiscus flowers. Those offerings crossed the Atlantic alongside enslaved people to nourish their bodies, and quietly became the centerpiece of the oldest Black holiday in America. Debra Blacklock-Sloan, a sixth-generation Texan with more than 30 years of experience as a genealogist and historical researcher, has spent her career documenting exactly this kind of unbroken line. She is also precise about the history surrounding June 19, 1865, the day Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. “Texas was part of the Confederacy,” Blacklock-Sloan said. “When (Abraham) Lincoln issued the proclamation, it did not apply to Confederate states. Quit saying we got the news late. We have to tell people the truth about Juneteenth.” And I think about the blood that was shared by our ancestors to get us to be able to dance in the streets,” Carter said. “To be able to have that cookout, to have that community, to be able to just celebrate where we have come in the amount of time that we’ve made it.” Chef Krystal Carter, Culinary Arts Professional That insistence on accuracy extends to the food. She grew up celebrating June 19 as her mother’s birthday, eating barbecue and drinking red soda water, with no understanding of what the color meant or where it came from. “We are eating this food, not knowing what the symbolism is,” she said. “We tell them with our friends, with our families, with our kids. Like the griots of West Africa, we have to keep passing it down.” Keeping tradition alive After emancipation, the Harris County Festival Association raised $800 to purchase 10 acres in the city’s Fourth Ward, land that became Emancipation Park, the first public park bought by formerly enslaved people specifically for Juneteenth celebrations. That history is part of why John Nicklos, Chair of Juneteenth Houston, believes the work being done here matters in a way it cannot be replicated elsewhere. This year, Juneteenth Houston will launch the second Red Foods Cookout Cook-Off, a backyard-style competition inviting local chefs to create dishes rooted in the red foods tradition. It will begin on June 6, 1-3 PM at Emancipation Park. Carter won the inaugural title with June’s Jubilee: a champagne cake layered with raspberry coulis and a buttercream made with dehydrated strawberries, honoring both the celebration and the history she discovered in making it. John Nicklos, Chair of Juneteenth Houston (right) and winner of Juneteenth Houston’s Red Foods Cook off 2025, and Chef Krystal Carter (left), prepare for upcoming Juneteenth festivities. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender Nicklos said the cook-off was designed to make history accessible. “The relationship between Black people on this soil and food on this soil is inextricable,” he said. “So much of it is rooted in the histories of Black people as we have cared for this land. Black culture is American culture. Please come sit at the table we built. And while you’re here, let me tell you a story.” Each contestant in the inaugural cook-off was required to do more than cook. They were required to submit, in writing, the inspiration behind their dish, what makes it uniquely Juneteenth, and how it connects to Black history. In that requirement, Nicklos said, is the whole point. “Being able to tell stories through food is quintessential to the Black experience,” he said. “So much of our storytelling includes food.” For event information, visit juneteenthhouston.org ____________________________________________________________________________ Traditional Red Foods and Drinks Red Drinks: The most iconic, often including hibiscus tea (historically called “bissap”), red fruit punch, strawberry soda, and Texas-made Big Red soda. Watermelon: A staple that is in peak season, representing both sustenance and the freedom formerly enslaved people achieved. Red Velvet Cake: A popular dessert served to honor the occasion. Barbecue and Meats: Smoked meats, such as brisket and pork ribs, covered in tomato-based red sauces, as well as red-dyed hot links. Other Fruits/Veg: Strawberries, red berries, and beets. Dishes using Red Palm Oil: West African dishes like jollof rice. The post Why are Red Foods Popular During Juneteenth Celebrations? appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"\"
\"\"
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Chef Krystal Carter has had a passion for culinary arts since the age of 4.

\n

She knew her way around a kitchen and the story behind Juneteenth. What she did not know was the historical context behind the celebration of red foods. And it wasn’t until she entered Juneteenth Houston’s first red food cook-off competition that she learned of this.

\n

“Before last year, I didn’t have a concept of the importance of red foods as it pertained to Juneteenth or to our people,” said Carter, a Houston home cook who competes under the name Chef Krissy D. “And then I went into research.”

\n

The hibiscus flower, which she had long used in floral arrangements, was brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans, valued for its medicinal properties and deep red hue. The drink in the pitcher at every cookout she had ever attended was a living artifact of a culture that crossed an ocean and refused to disappear.

\n

“I have a shirt that I wear that says, ‘ My freedom wasn’t free.’ And I think about the blood that was shared by our ancestors to get us to be able to dance in the streets,” Carter said. “To be able to have that cookout, to have that community, to be able to just celebrate where we have come in the amount of time that we’ve made it.”

\n

Carter is not alone in that discovery. Most people sitting at a Juneteenth table have never been told the full story of what they are eating, or why.

\n

A tradition rooted in West Africa

\n
\"\"
Red Velvet cake is a signature dish eaten during Juneteenth celebrations. Credit: Juneteenth Houston
\n

According to culinary historian Michael Twitty, the red foods tradition at Juneteenth traces directly to the Yoruba and Kongo peoples of West Africa, brought to Texas during the final decades of the Atlantic slave trade. 

\n

Red represented spiritual power, sacrifice, and transformation. West African hosts welcomed guests with red-hued bissap, a drink made from hibiscus flowers. Those offerings crossed the Atlantic alongside enslaved people to nourish their bodies, and quietly became the centerpiece of the oldest Black holiday in America.

\n

Debra Blacklock-Sloan, a sixth-generation Texan with more than 30 years of experience as a genealogist and historical researcher, has spent her career documenting exactly this kind of unbroken line. She is also precise about the history surrounding June 19, 1865, the day Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

\n

“Texas was part of the Confederacy,” Blacklock-Sloan said. “When (Abraham) Lincoln issued the proclamation, it did not apply to Confederate states. Quit saying we got the news late. We have to tell people the truth about Juneteenth.”

\n
\n
\n

And I think about the blood that was shared by our ancestors to get us to be able to dance in the streets,” Carter said. “To be able to have that cookout, to have that community, to be able to just celebrate where we have come in the amount of time that we’ve made it.”

\n

Chef Krystal Carter, Culinary Arts Professional

\n
\n

That insistence on accuracy extends to the food. She grew up celebrating June 19 as her mother’s birthday, eating barbecue and drinking red soda water, with no understanding of what the color meant or where it came from.

\n

“We are eating this food, not knowing what the symbolism is,” she said. “We tell them with our friends, with our families, with our kids. Like the griots of West Africa, we have to keep passing it down.”

\n

Keeping tradition alive

\n

After emancipation, the Harris County Festival Association raised $800 to purchase 10 acres in the city’s Fourth Ward, land that became Emancipation Park, the first public park bought by formerly enslaved people specifically for Juneteenth celebrations. That history is part of why John Nicklos, Chair of Juneteenth Houston, believes the work being done here matters in a way it cannot be replicated elsewhere.

\n

This year, Juneteenth Houston will launch the second Red Foods Cookout Cook-Off, a backyard-style competition inviting local chefs to create dishes rooted in the red foods tradition. It will begin on June 6, 1-3 PM at Emancipation Park. 

\n

Carter won the inaugural title with June’s Jubilee: a champagne cake layered with raspberry coulis and a buttercream made with dehydrated strawberries, honoring both the celebration and the history she discovered in making it.

\n
\"\"
John Nicklos, Chair of Juneteenth Houston (right) and winner of Juneteenth Houston’s Red Foods Cook off 2025, and Chef Krystal Carter (left), prepare for upcoming Juneteenth festivities. Credit: Jimmie Aggison/Defender
\n

Nicklos said the cook-off was designed to make history accessible.

\n

“The relationship between Black people on this soil and food on this soil is inextricable,” he said. “So much of it is rooted in the histories of Black people as we have cared for this land. Black culture is American culture. Please come sit at the table we built. And while you’re here, let me tell you a story.”

\n

Each contestant in the inaugural cook-off was required to do more than cook. They were required to submit, in writing, the inspiration behind their dish, what makes it uniquely Juneteenth, and how it connects to Black history. In that requirement, Nicklos said, is the whole point.

\n

“Being able to tell stories through food is quintessential to the Black experience,” he said. “So much of our storytelling includes food.”

\n

For event information, visit juneteenthhouston.org

\n

____________________________________________________________________________

\n

Traditional Red Foods and Drinks

\n\n

The post Why are Red Foods Popular During Juneteenth Celebrations? appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/why-are-red-foods-popular-during-juneteenth-celebrations/","site":"Laura Onyeneho","originalAuthor":"Laura Onyeneho","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Culture","Uncategorized","culture"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-04T05:00:00.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ChatGPT-Image-May-15-2026-02_10_55-PM.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-06-10T18:42:48.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ChatGPT-Image-May-15-2026-02_10_55-PM.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"nDmKrGYh959gQS1r","title":"Survey: One in Three Americans Trust AI as Much as a Pastor","description":"When Black Americans wrestle with hard questions or crises — grief, addiction, loneliness, illness, broken marriages, racial violence, or simple uncertainty about what comes next — they often look to a pastor for the answers. Now, research indicates a growing number of Americans are more willing to consult an AI chatbot instead. According to a new survey from Gloo, a faith-tech company, and the Barna Group, a Christian research firm, nearly one-third of American adults say spiritual advice from artificial intelligence is as trustworthy as guidance from a pastor. That figure rises to roughly 40% among Millennials and Gen Z adults, suggesting that younger Americans increasingly see AI as a source of spiritual counsel — not just a tool for writing emails and conducting research. Challenge for the Black Church Daniel Copeland, vice president of research at Barna Group, said the survey indicates a tension within the church as artificial intelligence sweeps into nearly every facet of daily life. Though most practicing Christians are wary of AI as a spiritual tool, “their views are shifting and remain largely uninformed by their pastor.” And, he says, there’s evidence that many pastors are struggling to keep pace. While four in 10 practicing Christians report using AI for prayer, Bible study, or spiritual growth, only a small share of pastors say they feel comfortable teaching about the technology, according to the study. That gap between congregational use and pastoral understanding may become one of the defining challenges of ministry in the next decade. God uses prayer and doctors’ hands to heal us. God uses journaling, therapists, and medications to heal us. So it follows that if humans use AI for good, it will deliver good.”Erricka Bridgeford, executive director, Baltimore Community Mediation Center Experts say the shift presents a unique challenge for Black Christians. Historically, the Black church has been more than a place of worship. It has served as a political headquarters, counseling center, social service agency, and foundation for civil rights organizing and community gathering. At the same time, Black churches have often been early adopters of digital ministry, from livestreamed worship services to online Bible studies and virtual prayer circles. Researchers studying Black churches say congregations have increasingly embraced technology to maintain community and spiritual connection, particularly since the pandemic. But unlike livestreaming or social media, artificial intelligence replicates parts of the ministry. That raises concerns for many Black Christians, whose faith traditions emphasize testimony, personal relationships, discernment, and community accountability. Deep Divisions Researchers have also found that AI systems often struggle with religion itself, frequently omitting faith perspectives in situations where believers expect them and exhibiting measurable bias when discussing religious traditions. Yet nearly half of practicing Christians say they would trust AI to help with spiritual growth, even as large majorities of the faithful also worry about AI misinterpreting scripture, replacing pastors, or even undermining faith itself. Put simply, Christians increasingly use the technology while simultaneously fearing its consequences. Earlier research from Gloo found church leaders remain deeply divided about AI’s role in ministry. More than half expressed serious ethical concerns about artificial intelligence, and nearly half said they were uncomfortable with its use in church settings. “The data reveals that church leaders are quite split in their opinions on the role of AI in the Church and how they are reading the terrain,” said Savannah Kimberlin, associate vice president at Barna Group. The debate became especially vivid in responses to a Facebook post about the research. Quick Answers, Complex Problems “I think it depends on what you are looking for,” said Rev. Ronald Covington, executive pastor of The Hill in Jessup, Maryland. “If you just want information, sometimes AI may be more informed than some pastors.” But Covington draws a clear line between information and wisdom. “If you are looking for personal guidance, nothing can take the place of a godly man or woman who hears from God and knows you as a person.” Minister-in-training Meisha Dawson sees something deeper at work. “We’re looking for quick answers to solve complex problems,” Dawson wrote. “AI is a great tool when used ethically, but you can never replace the value in human interaction, especially in regard to crucial advice.” ‘Use AI for Good’ For Dawson, the concern is theological as much as technological. “The Holy Spirit is supposed to guide us into all truth,” she wrote. “AI is still a machine that can be trained to give advice, but it’s not a vehicle used by the Holy Spirit.” Others see less contradiction between faith and technology. Erricka Bridgeford, executive director of the Baltimore Community Mediation Center, argues that God has long worked through human-created tools. “God uses prayer and doctors’ hands to heal us,” Bridgeford wrote. “God uses journaling, therapists, and medications to heal us. So it follows that if humans use AI for good, it will deliver good.” Still, Rev. Thomas Rich remains skeptical of AI as a substitute for spiritual counsel. “Words typed into a computer communicate what you want AI to spit out to you,” Rich said. Human pastors, he argues, listen for far more than words. They read body language, tone, emotion and silence. High Stakes Those concerns mirror what researchers increasingly find. While AI can generate impressive answers, studies suggest it often misses religious nuance and struggles to understand how faith communities approach moral questions, grief and spiritual formation. For Black Christians, the stakes may be especially high. The Black church has survived slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, and political backlash by creating relationships and a shared community. A chatbot may answer a question about scripture in seconds, but it can’t visit a hospital bedside, organize a voter-registration drive, comfort a grieving family or stand beside a congregant during life’s darkest moments. That reality may ultimately determine how far AI can go in the sanctuary. The post Survey: One in Three Americans Trust AI as Much as a Pastor appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"For
\n

When Black Americans wrestle with hard questions or crises — grief, addiction, loneliness, illness, broken marriages, racial violence, or simple uncertainty about what comes next — they often look to a pastor for the answers.

\n\n\n\n

Now, research indicates a growing number of Americans are more willing to consult an AI chatbot instead.

\n\n\n\n

According to a new survey from Gloo, a faith-tech company, and the Barna Group, a Christian research firm, nearly one-third of American adults say spiritual advice from artificial intelligence is as trustworthy as guidance from a pastor. That figure rises to roughly 40% among Millennials and Gen Z adults, suggesting that younger Americans increasingly see AI as a source of spiritual counsel — not just a tool for writing emails and conducting research.

\n\n\n\n

Challenge for the Black Church

\n\n\n\n

Daniel Copeland, vice president of research at Barna Group, said the survey indicates a tension within the church as artificial intelligence sweeps into nearly every facet of daily life. Though most practicing Christians are wary of AI as a spiritual tool, “their views are shifting and remain largely uninformed by their pastor.” And, he says, there’s evidence that many pastors are struggling to keep pace.

\n\n\n\n

While four in 10 practicing Christians report using AI for prayer, Bible study, or spiritual growth, only a small share of pastors say they feel comfortable teaching about the technology, according to the study. That gap between congregational use and pastoral understanding may become one of the defining challenges of ministry in the next decade.

\n\n\n\n

God uses prayer and doctors’ hands to heal us. God uses journaling, therapists, and medications to heal us. So it follows that if humans use AI for good, it will deliver good.”

Erricka Bridgeford, executive director, Baltimore Community Mediation Center
\n\n\n\n

Experts say the shift presents a unique challenge for Black Christians. 

\n\n\n\n

Historically, the Black church has been more than a place of worship. It has served as a political headquarters, counseling center, social service agency, and foundation for civil rights organizing and community gathering. At the same time, Black churches have often been early adopters of digital ministry, from livestreamed worship services to online Bible studies and virtual prayer circles. Researchers studying Black churches say congregations have increasingly embraced technology to maintain community and spiritual connection, particularly since the pandemic.

\n\n\n\n

But unlike livestreaming or social media, artificial intelligence replicates parts of the ministry. That raises concerns for many Black Christians, whose faith traditions emphasize testimony, personal relationships, discernment, and community accountability. 

\n\n\n\n

Deep Divisions

\n\n\n\n

Researchers have also found that AI systems often struggle with religion itself, frequently omitting faith perspectives in situations where believers expect them and exhibiting measurable bias when discussing religious traditions. Yet nearly half of practicing Christians say they would trust AI to help with spiritual growth, even as large majorities of the faithful also worry about AI misinterpreting scripture, replacing pastors, or even undermining faith itself. 

\n\n\n\n

Put simply, Christians increasingly use the technology while simultaneously fearing its consequences.

\n\n\n\n

Earlier research from Gloo found church leaders remain deeply divided about AI’s role in ministry. More than half expressed serious ethical concerns about artificial intelligence, and nearly half said they were uncomfortable with its use in church settings.

\n\n\n\n

“The data reveals that church leaders are quite split in their opinions on the role of AI in the Church and how they are reading the terrain,” said Savannah Kimberlin, associate vice president at Barna Group.

\n\n\n\n

The debate became especially vivid in responses to a Facebook post about the research.

\n\n\n\n

Quick Answers, Complex Problems

\n\n\n\n

“I think it depends on what you are looking for,” said Rev. Ronald Covington, executive pastor of The Hill in Jessup, Maryland. “If you just want information, sometimes AI may be more informed than some pastors.”

\n\n\n\n

But Covington draws a clear line between information and wisdom.

\n\n\n\n

“If you are looking for personal guidance, nothing can take the place of a godly man or woman who hears from God and knows you as a person.”

\n\n\n\n

Minister-in-training Meisha Dawson sees something deeper at work.

\n\n\n\n

“We’re looking for quick answers to solve complex problems,” Dawson wrote. “AI is a great tool when used ethically, but you can never replace the value in human interaction, especially in regard to crucial advice.”

\n\n\n\n

‘Use AI for Good’

\n\n\n\n

For Dawson, the concern is theological as much as technological.

\n\n\n\n

“The Holy Spirit is supposed to guide us into all truth,” she wrote. “AI is still a machine that can be trained to give advice, but it’s not a vehicle used by the Holy Spirit.”

\n\n\n\n

Others see less contradiction between faith and technology.

\n\n\n\n

Erricka Bridgeford, executive director of the Baltimore Community Mediation Center, argues that God has long worked through human-created tools.

\n\n\n\n

“God uses prayer and doctors’ hands to heal us,” Bridgeford wrote. “God uses journaling, therapists, and medications to heal us. So it follows that if humans use AI for good, it will deliver good.”

\n\n\n\n

Still, Rev. Thomas Rich remains skeptical of AI as a substitute for spiritual counsel.

\n\n\n\n

“Words typed into a computer communicate what you want AI to spit out to you,” Rich said. Human pastors, he argues, listen for far more than words. They read body language, tone, emotion and silence.

\n\n\n\n

High Stakes

\n\n\n\n

Those concerns mirror what researchers increasingly find. While AI can generate impressive answers, studies suggest it often misses religious nuance and struggles to understand how faith communities approach moral questions, grief and spiritual formation.

\n\n\n\n

For Black Christians, the stakes may be especially high.

\n\n\n\n

The Black church has survived slavery, segregation, Jim Crow, and political backlash by creating relationships and a shared community. A chatbot may answer a question about scripture in seconds, but it can’t visit a hospital bedside, organize a voter-registration drive, comfort a grieving family or stand beside a congregant during life’s darkest moments.

\n\n\n\n

That reality may ultimately determine how far AI can go in the sanctuary.

\n

The post Survey: One in Three Americans Trust AI as Much as a Pastor appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/survey-one-in-three-americans-trust-ai-as-much-as-a-pastor/","site":"Joseph Williams","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-03T20:36:52.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2249242789.jpg?fit=836%2C418&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-03T20:41:22.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImages-2249242789.jpg?fit=836%2C418&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"JHHankOrk5JCOy0i","title":"The Water’s Fine: Black Seniors Challenge Swimming Fears","description":"Raised by her grandparents from the time she was eight months old, Velmar Byrd grew up on a farm in North Carolina under the shadow of Jim Crow. She and her family grew their own vegetables, raised chickens and pigs, and lived largely off the land. It was a full life — but swimming wasn’t part of it. RELATED: Inez Augins-Watson proves there’s no age limit to staying active “Nobody in my family talked about swimming,” Byrd recalls, even though there were ponds, creeks, and beaches nearby. “I wasn’t going to jump into any of those creeks. No, no, no.” Inez Watson is a child of Jim Crow, too, and grew up in segregated Baltimore. But she began swimming as a youngster at Druid Hill Park, one of the few city pools open to Black people. She swam every day during the summertime and, as a teenager, took diving lessons and taught people to swim. Her community, however, wasn’t so interested. Persistent Problem “The fear may be instilled in young children,” Watson says. “People hear reports of a child drowning or an adult drowning, and then it becomes, ‘You’re not going near the water.’ And that fear gets passed down.” Now, Byrd and Watson, both senior citizens, are swimming ambassadors of a sort. They are not only swimming every day for their own health but also extolling the virtues of swimming to other Black people. They have spent their lives proving that fear doesn’t have to be inherited. Last month, two U.S. Soldiers who went missing during a training exercise conducted in Morocco were later found to have drowned. That both of the soldiers were Black—and one of them was known to be a non-swimmer—fits a painful but predictable pattern. Almost 40 million U.S. adults report being unable to swim. And roughly 1 in 3 Black adults say they can’t swim–compared to 15% of the overall adult population who are non-swimmers. Most Black adults have never taken a swimming lesson. The causes are layered: a legacy of segregated pools and beaches during the Jim Crow era, generational gaps in swimming culture, and a fear of water — a view that has been quietly handed down through families for decades. No Fear Here Both Watson and Byrd are living proof that fear can be conquered. Watson, 89, who calls her athleticism “a gift from God,” and she continues to spread the good news about remaining active. She regularly teaches fitness classes with her daughter and is engaged in her community – when she’s not enjoying the company of her four children, 13 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. I had to unlearn some of those fears in order for me to move forward.velmar byrd Byrd swims and does water aerobics at least twice a week, and “I come out feeling good,” she says simply. But she had a more challenging journey to the water: she learned to swim at age 69 after moving to Connecticut as a young woman. When Byrd first moved from North Carolina to Connecticut as a young woman, a friend offered to teach her to swim at a nearby park pool. Byrd bought a bathing suit. She showed up. But her friend, it turned out, didn’t quite know how to teach swimming — she just loved the water. “I think at that age, we were just showing our bodies off,” Byrd says, laughing. “I wanted to learn.” Never Too Late Decades would pass, and she was approaching 70 years old before she took her first real lesson. Taking the plunge was about more than just fitness. Learning to swim was about overcoming a fear passed down through generations. “I had to unlearn some of those fears in order for me to move forward,” she says. After graduating from college, Byrd joined the Peace Corps and served two years in Ethiopia. Decades later, Byrd is now a semi-retired educator who spent 56 years teaching in public schools. After retiring a few years ago, she “re-fired”–her word for coming out of retirement – and returned to the classroom. She’s now a substitute teacher for a middle school and a high school. Later, around age 69, she signed up for a group swim class at a local YMCA. One of the group members was so terrified of the water that the group dynamic suffered. Byrd eventually learned about a special care hospital that offered swimming lessons. That’s where she met the instructor who would change everything. She started lessons at 70. Her instructor, she says, would not let her give up. ‘Fear is Blockage’ “Everything I’ve done has been about quality of life. I saw that it was fun and when I got older, I realized it [swimming] can save your life,” says Watson. That’s what she wants people to see. “Any kind of fear is a blockage,” Byrd says. “That comes with swimming, too.” LEARN MORE: As Drownings Rise, Groups Teach Black People to Swim, Not Sink She believes the most powerful intervention begins with parents — encouraging them to start their children in the water as infants, before fear has a chance to take root. Babies, she notes, are natural swimmers. She also thinks about language: how we talk about drowning, how we talk about water, which can build walls or open doors. The same fear that keeps children away from pools can be redirected. Her message to anyone on the fence is straightforward. “There are hundreds of thousands of swimmers. They’re still living. I can learn to swim and live.” The post The Water’s Fine: Black Seniors Challenge Swimming Fears appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Raised
\n

Raised by her grandparents from the time she was eight months old, Velmar Byrd grew up on a farm in North Carolina under the shadow of Jim Crow. She and her family grew their own vegetables, raised chickens and pigs, and lived largely off the land. 

\n\n\n\n

It was a full life — but swimming wasn’t part of it.

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

“Nobody in my family talked about swimming,” Byrd recalls, even though there were ponds, creeks, and beaches nearby. “I wasn’t going to jump into any of those creeks. No, no, no.”

\n\n\n\n

Inez Watson is a child of Jim Crow, too, and grew up in segregated Baltimore. But she began swimming as a youngster at Druid Hill Park, one of the few city pools open to Black people. She swam every day during the summertime and, as a teenager, took diving lessons and taught people to swim. 

\n\n\n\n

Her community, however, wasn’t so interested. 

\n\n\n\n

Persistent Problem

\n\n\n\n

“The fear may be instilled in young children,” Watson says. “People hear reports of a child drowning or an adult drowning, and then it becomes, ‘You’re not going near the water.’ And that fear gets passed down.”

\n\n\n\n

Now, Byrd and Watson, both senior citizens, are swimming ambassadors of a sort. They are not only swimming every day for their own health but also extolling the virtues of swimming to other Black people. They have spent their lives proving that fear doesn’t have to be inherited.

\n\n\n\n

Last month, two U.S. Soldiers who went missing during a training exercise conducted in Morocco were later found to have drowned. That both of the soldiers were Black—and one of them was known to be a non-swimmer—fits a painful but predictable pattern. 

\n\n\n\n

Almost 40 million U.S. adults report being unable to swim. And roughly 1 in 3 Black adults say they can’t swim–compared to 15% of the overall adult population who are non-swimmers. Most Black adults have never taken a swimming lesson. 

\n\n\n\n

The causes are layered: a legacy of segregated pools and beaches during the Jim Crow era, generational gaps in swimming culture, and a fear of water — a view that has been quietly handed down through families for decades. 

\n\n\n\n

No Fear Here

\n\n\n\n

Both Watson and Byrd are living proof that fear can be conquered. 

\n\n\n\n

Watson, 89, who calls her athleticism “a gift from God,” and she continues to spread the good news about remaining active. She regularly teaches fitness classes with her daughter and is engaged in her community – when she’s not enjoying the company of her four children, 13 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. 

\n\n\n\n

I had to unlearn some of those fears in order for me to move forward.

velmar byrd
\n\n\n\n

Byrd swims and does water aerobics at least twice a week, and “I come out feeling good,” she says simply. But she had a more challenging journey to the water: she learned to swim at age 69 after moving to Connecticut as a young woman.

\n\n\n\n

When Byrd first moved from North Carolina to Connecticut as a young woman, a friend offered to teach her to swim at a nearby park pool. Byrd bought a bathing suit. She showed up.

\n\n\n\n

But her friend, it turned out, didn’t quite know how to teach swimming — she just loved the water.

\n\n\n\n

“I think at that age, we were just showing our bodies off,” Byrd says, laughing. “I wanted to learn.”

\n\n\n\n

Never Too Late

\n\n\n\n

Decades would pass, and she was approaching 70 years old before she took her first real lesson. Taking the plunge was about more than just fitness. Learning to swim was about overcoming a fear passed down through generations.

\n\n\n\n

“I had to unlearn some of those fears in order for me to move forward,” she says.

\n\n\n\n

After graduating from college, Byrd joined the Peace Corps and served two years in Ethiopia. Decades later, Byrd is now a semi-retired educator who spent 56 years teaching in public schools. After retiring a few years ago, she “re-fired”–her word for coming out of retirement – and returned to the classroom. 

\n\n\n\n

She’s now a substitute teacher for a middle school and a high school. 

\n\n\n\n

Later, around age 69, she signed up for a group swim class at a local YMCA. One of the group members was so terrified of the water that the group dynamic suffered. Byrd eventually learned about a special care hospital that offered swimming lessons.

\n\n\n\n

That’s where she met the instructor who would change everything. She started lessons at 70. Her instructor, she says, would not let her give up.

\n\n\n\n

‘Fear is Blockage’

\n\n\n\n

“Everything I’ve done has been about quality of life. I saw that it was fun and when I got older, I realized it [swimming] can save your life,” says Watson. 

\n\n\n\n

That’s what she wants people to see.

\n\n\n\n

“Any kind of fear is a blockage,” Byrd says. “That comes with swimming, too.”

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: As Drownings Rise, Groups Teach Black People to Swim, Not Sink

\n\n\n\n

She believes the most powerful intervention begins with parents — encouraging them to start their children in the water as infants, before fear has a chance to take root. Babies, she notes, are natural swimmers.

\n\n\n\n

She also thinks about language: how we talk about drowning, how we talk about water, which can build walls or open doors. The same fear that keeps children away from pools can be redirected. 

\n\n\n\n

Her message to anyone on the fence is straightforward.

\n\n\n\n

“There are hundreds of thousands of swimmers. They’re still living. I can learn to swim and live.”

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post The Water’s Fine: Black Seniors Challenge Swimming Fears appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/the-water-can-be-just-fine/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-03T20:24:44.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Watson-001.webp?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1","type":"image/webp"},"createdAt":"2026-06-03T20:26:12.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Watson-001.webp?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"bc5Y0BotWfN2VFqE","title":"Neonatal Testing: A Game-Changer for Black Moms and Babies","description":"For Black families, the dangers facing newborns often begin long before delivery. Black infants are still twice as likely as white infants to be born prematurely, and they face significantly higher risk of dying before their first birthday. Yet many Black parents decline prenatal tests that could help doctors identify serious health problems months before a baby is born. That reluctance is rooted in a complicated mix of medical mistrust, uneven access to care, and a widespread misconception about the reasons prenatal screening exists. Yet doctors say the tests can help families and hospitals prepare for high-risk births and for managing potentially life-threatening conditions. As racial disparities in maternal and infant health continue to widen, some physicians and researchers argue that newer forms of non-invasive prenatal testing could become another tool in the effort to improve outcomes for Black mothers and babies. Myths About Prenatal Testing Dr. Naima Bridges, an obstetrician-gynecologist in the Dallas area and a medical advisor for BillionToOne, says one of the biggest barriers is knowing the purpose behind the benefits of non-invasive prenatal tests, or NIPTs. “I think the most common misconception is that prenatal testing is used so that people can determine whether or not they want to continue with their current pregnancy,” Bridges says. “And so in cases where we offer prenatal testing at about nine to 12 weeks of gestation for pregnant patients, oftentimes we’ll get the response, ‘Nope, I don’t want to test. I don’t want to know what’s going on.’” But the flip side is that “there are so many things we can do in utero and to prepare for delivery if we were better prepared to know what kind of baby we’re delivering,” she says. Done between nine and twelve weeks of pregnancy, NIPTs can help determine whether a mother should deliver her baby at a hospital with specialists or whether certain treatments could begin even before birth. “I strongly believe prenatal testing should be for every pregnant patient, no matter what their belief system is regarding continuing with a pregnancy,” she said. “It is to help guide you in your pregnancy and guide you to the best experts.” The data is clear. As recently as 2019, a Black baby was more than twice as likely to die before reaching his or her first birthday. At the same time, preterm births among babies born to Black moms climbed to 14.7% in 2025 — almost 1.5 times higher than the rate for babies overall. Rates of prenatal care improved between 2016 and 2021 but then reversed course — and Black women experienced the steepest decline. By 2021, almost 80% of pregnant women in the general population were receiving prenatal care in the first trimester. But in 2024, the percentage dropped to around 75%, and for Black women, the rate fell from almost 7 in 10 to just over 65% over the same period. “While the exact reasons for the recent declines in early prenatal care use are not known, disparities in maternal and infant health reflect underlying inequities in insurance coverage, access to care, and social and economic factors,” analysis from KFF found. This means attempts to increase prenatal screening for sickle cell disease and other disorders remain low. It doesn’t help that non-invasive prenatal testing technology has been developed with predominantly white patients being involved in the research and clinical trials. And the disparities that begin before birth also persist into childhood. Black premature babies in the newborn intensive care unit face higher rates of serious problems. These include a dangerous gut illness called necrotizing enterocolitis, along with early infections, eye damage from prematurity, and bleeding in the brain. Streamlined Testing BillionToOne is a molecular diagnostics company based in California. The company’s Unity Complete product line features non-invasive prenatal tests that require just one blood draw from pregnant mothers and do not rely on genetic information from fathers. The company also produces non-invasive oncology blood tests. The UNITY carrier screening looks for inherited conditions such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and several others. Many people carry these traits without knowing it. A child can be affected only if both parents are carriers. In the past, if a mother tested positive for one of these diseases, doctors had to test the father as well. That was not always possible. What makes UNITY different, Bridges said, is that it can study fetal cells found in the mother’s blood, with no sample needed from the father. The test can then tell a family whether their baby is at high risk for conditions like cystic fibrosis, which can be treated in the womb. Bridges said the company reports a 99% positive predictive value for its screening for chromosomal conditions, and above 95% for conditions carried genetically, though she encouraged families to check the company’s published fact sheets. Reaching more families The test is also showing up in places where care is hardest to find. In January 2025, the magazine Femtech Insider reported on UNITY’s Fetal Antigen test being used in rural “maternity deserts,” calling it a health equity story for mothers far from specialists. Last month, Contemporary OB/GYN reported on the launch of an expanded 14-gene fetal risk panel, describing it as a “category-defining test.” NIPTs from other companies have studied larger patient populations and have stronger track records for detecting chromosomal problems like Down syndrome, which may give some doctors more confidence in those results. Unity also has a narrower scope when it comes to twin pregnancies, while rivals offer broader screening options for prenatal testing of twins. But it’s likely that for a family whose biggest concern is chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome, they may want to use tests that have been researched most often. But if sickle cell disease, thalassemia or other inherited blood disorders are a concern, Unity may be the best option. While NIPT won’t erase the disparities Black families face, Bridges argues that having more information gives mothers more awareness, more tools to ask questions, and more power over their own care. “The more we can empower them with data that can help them through their pregnancy, the better their outcomes will be,” she said. RELATED: Mississippi’s Infant Mortality Crisis Raises Alarms The post Neonatal Testing: A Game-Changer for Black Moms and Babies appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Baby
\n

For Black families, the dangers facing newborns often begin long before delivery.

\n\n\n\n

Black infants are still twice as likely as white infants to be born prematurely, and they face significantly higher risk of dying before their first birthday. Yet many Black parents decline prenatal tests that could help doctors identify serious health problems months before a baby is born.

\n\n\n\n

That reluctance is rooted in a complicated mix of medical mistrust, uneven access to care, and a widespread misconception about the reasons prenatal screening exists. 

\n\n\n\n

Yet doctors say the tests can help families and hospitals prepare for high-risk births and for managing potentially life-threatening conditions.

\n\n\n\n

As racial disparities in maternal and infant health continue to widen, some physicians and researchers argue that newer forms of non-invasive prenatal testing could become another tool in the effort to improve outcomes for Black mothers and babies.

\n\n\n\n

Myths About Prenatal Testing

\n\n\n\n

Dr. Naima Bridges, an obstetrician-gynecologist in the Dallas area and a medical advisor for BillionToOne, says one of the biggest barriers is knowing the purpose behind the benefits of non-invasive prenatal tests, or NIPTs. 

\n\n\n\n

“I think the most common misconception is that prenatal testing is used so that people can determine whether or not they want to continue with their current pregnancy,” Bridges says. “And so in cases where we offer prenatal testing at about nine to 12 weeks of gestation for pregnant patients, oftentimes we’ll get the response, ‘Nope, I don’t want to test. I don’t want to know what’s going on.’”

\n\n\n\n

 But the flip side is that “there are so many things we can do in utero and to prepare for delivery if we were better prepared to know what kind of baby we’re delivering,” she says.

\n\n\n\n

Done between nine and twelve weeks of pregnancy, NIPTs can help determine whether a mother should deliver her baby at a hospital with specialists or whether certain treatments could begin even before birth.

\n\n\n\n

“I strongly believe prenatal testing should be for every pregnant patient, no matter what their belief system is regarding continuing with a pregnancy,” she said. “It is to help guide you in your pregnancy and guide you to the best experts.”

\n\n\n\n

The data is clear. As recently as 2019, a Black baby was more than twice as likely to die before reaching his or her first birthday. At the same time, preterm births among babies born to Black moms climbed to 14.7% in 2025 — almost 1.5 times higher than the rate for babies overall. 

\n\n\n\n

Rates of prenatal care improved between 2016 and 2021 but then reversed course — and Black women experienced the steepest decline. 

\n\n\n\n

By 2021, almost 80% of pregnant women in the general population were receiving prenatal care in the first trimester. But in 2024, the percentage dropped to around 75%, and for Black women, the rate fell from almost 7 in 10 to just over 65% over the same period.

\n\n\n\n

“While the exact reasons for the recent declines in early prenatal care use are not known, disparities in maternal and infant health reflect underlying inequities in insurance coverage, access to care, and social and economic factors,” analysis from KFF found. 

\n\n\n\n

This means attempts to increase prenatal screening for sickle cell disease and other disorders remain low. It doesn’t help that non-invasive prenatal testing technology has been developed with predominantly white patients being involved in the research and clinical trials. 

\n\n\n\n

And the disparities that begin before birth also persist into childhood. Black premature babies in the newborn intensive care unit face higher rates of serious problems. These include a dangerous gut illness called necrotizing enterocolitis, along with early infections, eye damage from prematurity, and bleeding in the brain.

\n\n\n\n

Streamlined Testing

\n\n\n\n

BillionToOne is a molecular diagnostics company based in California. The company’s Unity Complete product line features non-invasive prenatal tests that require just one blood draw from pregnant mothers and do not rely on genetic information from fathers. The company also produces non-invasive oncology blood tests. 

\n\n\n\n

The UNITY carrier screening looks for inherited conditions such as sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and several others. Many people carry these traits without knowing it. A child can be affected only if both parents are carriers.

\n\n\n\n

In the past, if a mother tested positive for one of these diseases, doctors had to test the father as well. That was not always possible. 

\n\n\n\n

What makes UNITY different, Bridges said, is that it can study fetal cells found in the mother’s blood, with no sample needed from the father. The test can then tell a family whether their baby is at high risk for conditions like cystic fibrosis, which can be treated in the womb. 

\n\n\n\n

Bridges said the company reports a 99% positive predictive value for its screening for chromosomal conditions, and above 95% for conditions carried genetically, though she encouraged families to check the company’s published fact sheets.

\n\n\n\n

Reaching more families

\n\n\n\n

The test is also showing up in places where care is hardest to find. 

\n\n\n\n

In January 2025, the magazine Femtech Insider reported on UNITY’s Fetal Antigen test being used in rural “maternity deserts,” calling it a health equity story for mothers far from specialists. Last month, Contemporary OB/GYN reported on the launch of an expanded 14-gene fetal risk panel, describing it as a “category-defining test.”

\n\n\n\n

NIPTs from other companies have studied larger patient populations and have stronger track records for detecting chromosomal problems like Down syndrome, which may give some doctors more confidence in those results. 

\n\n\n\n

Unity also has a narrower scope when it comes to twin pregnancies, while rivals offer broader screening options for prenatal testing of twins. But it’s likely that for a family whose biggest concern is chromosomal conditions like Down syndrome, they may want to use tests that have been researched most often.

\n\n\n\n

But if sickle cell disease, thalassemia or other inherited blood disorders are a concern, Unity may be the best option.

\n\n\n\n

While NIPT won’t erase the disparities Black families face, Bridges argues that having more information gives mothers more awareness, more tools to ask questions, and more power over their own care.

\n\n\n\n

“The more we can empower them with data that can help them through their pregnancy, the better their outcomes will be,” she said.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Mississippi’s Infant Mortality Crisis Raises Alarms

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Neonatal Testing: A Game-Changer for Black Moms and Babies appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/neonatal-testing-a-game-changer-for-black-moms-and-babies/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-02T19:46:49.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImagesNICU.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-06-02T19:51:34.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GettyImagesNICU.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"JlBO7MFCGrrslrZN","title":"Turning Grief and Self-Doubt Into Empowerment for Black Women","description":"Raised on ghost stories, grief and the unspoken rules about silence Black girls like her learned early in life, author Leslie Lee Sanders says she spent much of her life trying not to take up too much space. “Sit down, be quiet, raise your hand before you speak,” Sanders recalls being told during her childhood. “It kind of put in me that I’m supposed to stay silent.” RELATED: Her Calling: Healing Through Music and Medicine That silence — shaped by family expectations, publishing industry pressures, grief and the political realities facing Black women — ultimately led Sanders to write, “Ready to Listen?” It’s a spiritual self-help memoir that urges women to speak up, speak out and trust their intuition. Cautionary Tales The independently published memoir traces Sanders’ evolution from a child who expressed herself through writing stories to a woman determined to speak honestly about identity, spirituality and self-worth. For Sanders, who lives and works in Arizona, storytelling started at home. This is the time where a lot of people need to be reminded that they have whatever they need inside of them. They just have to be ready. Leslie lee sanders, author She remembers her mother telling vivid cautionary tales that blurred the line between folklore and spiritual warning. One story about the devil so frightened young Leslie that she stayed engaged until the very end. “She would always end it with, ‘That’s why we didn’t belong there. We shouldn’t have been there,’” Sanders said. “As I look back on stories like that, I realize the message behind it. She was simply saying, ‘Don’t be in a place where you don’t belong.’” Expressing Herself Learning to see storytelling as both entertainment and instruction became foundational to Sanders’ writing life as a youngster. Discovering “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” writer Alvin Schwartz’s popular series of children’s horror short story collections, triggered something in Saunders’ imagination. “I didn’t realize my mom’s stories were in this book — not literally, but the feeling of them,” she said. “That’s when I started really wanting to see my name on a book cover.” Writing eventually became more than Saunders’ creative expression throughout her life. After the deaths of both her sister and brother within a three-year period, storytelling helped Sanders process overwhelming grief. “I just wanted to express,” she said. “At the time, I couldn’t express verbally.” That emotional journey inspired her novel “Tattered Page,” a thriller centered on a woman who realizes she is living in a spine-tingling story her late brother had written. Fighting Compromise Writing it “was cathartic,” Sanders said. “Getting it off my heart. Even though I’m still going through the grief that doesn’t end. It just transforms.” Although fiction gave Sanders an outlet, her experience with mainstream publishers was a disappointment. Even though she has written across multiple genres, from romance to dystopia, editors and agents in the predominantly white, insular book world wanted conformity. “‘I need you to write this way, this fast, make sure it says this, make sure it ends this way,’” Sanders recalls, describing her experience with publishing gatekeepers. The industry wanted white-centered narratives — “whitewashing your covers and your characters,” she says — and marketable Black stereotypes. Those experiences mirror the broader treatment of Black women, Sanders says, “keeping us silenced in a box, keeping us down, keeping us from our full potential.” That realization led her toward self-publishing and nonfiction. “I had to learn the hard way to just be independent and do my own thing,” she says. Conquering Fear Sanders says she wrote “Ready to Listen?” without compromise, hoping it inspires other marginalized women to live their lives the same way. Much of the memoir centers on self-reflection, with the author stripping away “all these masks that society told us to put on,” Sanders says. “Let’s strip them all away and figure out who we are. I wanted to help other women — marginalized women, Black women — find that they have a voice. That they have presence, they have worth.” Finding that voice for herself, Sanders says, required solitude, therapy, self-reflection, and ultimately honesty. RELATED: She Didn’t Want the Pulpit. Instead, She Built a Stage “I was always scared,” she says. “Scared to show my face, scared to raise my voice.” Ideally, Sanders believes “Ready to Listen?” can help readers move beyond fear and self-silencing to “feel inspired, empowered, and ready to take on your life the way you want to.” Arriving during the Trump era, Sanders also feels the memoir arrives at a moment when many marginalized communities feel increasingly unheard. “This is the time where a lot of people need to be reminded that they have whatever they need inside of them,” Sanders said. “They just have to be ready.” The post Turning Grief and Self-Doubt Into Empowerment for Black Women appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Author
\n

Raised on ghost stories, grief and the unspoken rules about silence Black girls like her learned early in life, author Leslie Lee Sanders says she spent much of her life trying not to take up too much space.

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“Sit down, be quiet, raise your hand before you speak,” Sanders recalls being told during her childhood. “It kind of put in me that I’m supposed to stay silent.”

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RELATED: Her Calling: Healing Through Music and Medicine

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That silence — shaped by family expectations, publishing industry pressures, grief and the political realities facing Black women — ultimately led Sanders to write, “Ready to Listen?” It’s a spiritual self-help memoir that urges women to speak up, speak out and trust their intuition.

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Cautionary Tales

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The independently published memoir traces Sanders’ evolution from a child who expressed herself through writing stories to a woman determined to speak honestly about identity, spirituality and self-worth.

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For Sanders, who lives and works in Arizona, storytelling started at home.

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This is the time where a lot of people need to be reminded that they have whatever they need inside of them. They just have to be ready. 

Leslie lee sanders, author
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She remembers her mother telling vivid cautionary tales that blurred the line between folklore and spiritual warning. One story about the devil so frightened young Leslie that she stayed engaged until the very end.

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“She would always end it with, ‘That’s why we didn’t belong there. We shouldn’t have been there,’” Sanders said. “As I look back on stories like that, I realize the message behind it. She was simply saying, ‘Don’t be in a place where you don’t belong.’”

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Expressing Herself

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Learning to see storytelling as both entertainment and instruction became foundational to Sanders’ writing life as a youngster. Discovering “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” writer Alvin Schwartz’s popular series of children’s horror short story collections, triggered something in Saunders’ imagination.

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“I didn’t realize my mom’s stories were in this book — not literally, but the feeling of them,” she said. “That’s when I started really wanting to see my name on a book cover.”

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Writing eventually became more than Saunders’ creative expression throughout her life. After the deaths of both her sister and brother within a three-year period, storytelling helped Sanders process overwhelming grief.

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“I just wanted to express,” she said. “At the time, I couldn’t express verbally.”

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That emotional journey inspired her novel “Tattered Page,” a thriller centered on a woman who realizes she is living in a spine-tingling story her late brother had written.

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Fighting Compromise

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Writing it “was cathartic,” Sanders said. “Getting it off my heart. Even though I’m still going through the grief that doesn’t end. It just transforms.”

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Although fiction gave Sanders an outlet, her experience with mainstream publishers was a disappointment. Even though she has written across multiple genres, from romance to dystopia, editors and agents in the predominantly white, insular book world wanted conformity. 

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“‘I need you to write this way, this fast, make sure it says this, make sure it ends this way,’” Sanders recalls, describing her experience with publishing gatekeepers. The industry wanted white-centered narratives — “whitewashing your covers and your characters,” she says — and marketable Black stereotypes.

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Those experiences mirror the broader treatment of Black women, Sanders says, “keeping us silenced in a box, keeping us down, keeping us from our full potential.” That realization led her toward self-publishing and nonfiction.

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“I had to learn the hard way to just be independent and do my own thing,” she says. 

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Conquering Fear

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Sanders says she wrote “Ready to Listen?” without compromise, hoping it inspires other marginalized women to live their lives the same way.

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Much of the memoir centers on self-reflection, with the author stripping away “all these masks that society told us to put on,” Sanders says. “Let’s strip them all away and figure out who we are. I wanted to help other women — marginalized women, Black women — find that they have a voice. That they have presence, they have worth.”

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Finding that voice for herself, Sanders says, required solitude, therapy, self-reflection, and ultimately honesty.

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RELATED: She Didn’t Want the Pulpit. Instead, She Built a Stage

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“I was always scared,” she says. “Scared to show my face, scared to raise my voice.”

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Ideally, Sanders believes “Ready to Listen?” can help readers move beyond fear and self-silencing to “feel inspired, empowered, and ready to take on your life the way you want to.” Arriving during the Trump era, Sanders also feels the memoir arrives at a moment when many marginalized communities feel increasingly unheard.

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“This is the time where a lot of people need to be reminded that they have whatever they need inside of them,” Sanders said. “They just have to be ready.” 

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The post Turning Grief and Self-Doubt Into Empowerment for Black Women appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/06/turning-grief-and-self-doubt-into-empowerment-for-black-women/","site":"Joseph Williams","originalAuthor":"Joseph Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-06-02T14:33:54.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-2-2026-09_20_29-AM.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-06-02T14:46:07.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ChatGPT-Image-Jun-2-2026-09_20_29-AM.png?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"1ZmJ90BXOrcxYjfW","title":"Another Mysterious Death Strikes a Nerve","description":"Once again, a Black young person has been found hanged to death in a public space in the Deep South, the second time in less than a year. Once again, local authorities say it was suicide and warrants no further investigation. And, once again, some Black Americans aren’t buying it. Judging by reactions on social media, the death of 16-year-old Juliana Nzita — found hanging from a tree on the grounds of a church near Charlotte, North Carolina — shouldn’t be a closed case. Indeed, Nzita’s death has ignited anger, spurred suspicion and triggered painful historical memories across social media and inside several Black communities. Echoes of Painful History Like the case of a 21-year-old college student whose body was discovered last September under similar circumstances in Mississippi, Nzita’s death raises the specter of an old and deeply American pattern. It echoes the terror lynchings of the Jim Crow South, an era in which Black families and civil rights advocates questioned official explanations surrounding mysterious hangings. While police classified her death as a suicide, critics point to unanswered questions, limited public information, and echoes of crimes that have never gotten justice. The teenager had been reported missing on April 28; a community member named Kenneth Tolbert made the discovery, told church officials, then dialed 911. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers then found Nzita’s body on May 8, 2026, on property belonging to The United House of Prayer for All People. Lingering Questions Police classified the death as a suicide, and investigators also said Nzita’s family didn’t respond when initially contacted. But no formal statement about the case appears on the department’s website, and there’s no indication that police have reopened the investigation into Nzita’s initial disappearance or launched a homicide inquiry into her death. Neither the United House of Prayer for All People nor any of its leadership has issued any public statement about Nzita’s death. The lack of information, as well as the police department’s conclusion that no foul play was involved, has provoked widespread suspicion about the case. Videos expressing concern, distrust, and outrage have appeared on all social media platforms. And some of the social media posts show community members calling out church leaders by name for failing to comment. Troubling Pattern Commenters on local news websites have questioned the physical circumstances of the discovery. Some want to know why there’s no closed-circuit or security-camera footage of Nzita; others have questioned the evidence found at the scene, including whether Nzita could have used the blue chair seen in the footage to commit suicide. A report the civil rights organization JULIAN, which publishes the Crimson Record, issued this year identified over 70 deaths classified as suicides despite questionable circumstances over the last 25 years. They have stretched across seven Deep South states, with Mississippi reporting 20 — the highest total. A review of known cases of Black Americans found dead by hanging between 2024 and 2026 shows that approximately 10 of them gained significant attention from civil rights advocates, family members, and legal experts. Many have raised serious questions about inadequate or hasty investigations and official rulings of suicide despite families and advocates disputing those conclusions. RELATED: Why Trey Reed’s Death Sparks Suspicions and Calls for Transparency These cases include Demartravion “Trey” Reed whose body was found last September hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts on the Delta State University campus. He was pronounced dead at the scene and an autopsy by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner determined the death was a suicide. Reed’s family vehemently disputed the ruling, insisting he had no history of depression, was excited about attending Delta State, and had shown no signs of suicidal ideation. The family sought an independent autopsy after receiving conflicting accounts and incomplete information about the circumstances of his death. The post Another Mysterious Death Strikes a Nerve appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
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Once again, a Black young person has been found hanged to death in a public space in the Deep South, the second time in less than a year. Once again, local authorities say it was suicide and warrants no further investigation.

\n\n\n\n

And, once again, some Black Americans aren’t buying it. 

\n\n\n\n

Judging by reactions on social media, the death of 16-year-old Juliana Nzita — found hanging from a tree on the grounds of a church near Charlotte, North Carolina — shouldn’t be a closed case. Indeed, Nzita’s death has ignited anger, spurred suspicion and triggered painful historical memories across social media and inside several Black communities.

\n\n\n\n

Echoes of Painful History

\n\n\n\n

Like the case of a 21-year-old college student whose body was discovered last September under similar circumstances in Mississippi, Nzita’s death raises the specter of an old and deeply American pattern. It echoes the terror lynchings of the Jim Crow South, an era in which Black families and civil rights advocates questioned official explanations surrounding mysterious hangings.

\n\n\n\n

While police classified her death as a suicide, critics point to unanswered questions, limited public information, and echoes of crimes that have never gotten justice.

\n\n\n\n

The teenager had been reported missing on April 28; a community member named Kenneth Tolbert made the discovery, told church officials, then dialed 911. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers then found Nzita’s body on May 8, 2026, on property belonging to The United House of Prayer for All People. 

\n\n\n\n

Lingering Questions

\n\n\n\n

Police classified the death as a suicide, and investigators also said Nzita’s family didn’t respond when initially contacted. But no formal statement about the case appears on the department’s website, and there’s no indication that police have reopened the investigation into Nzita’s initial disappearance or launched a homicide inquiry into her death. 

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Neither the United House of Prayer for All People nor any of its leadership has issued any public statement about Nzita’s death. The lack of information, as well as the police department’s conclusion that no foul play was involved, has provoked widespread suspicion about the case.  

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Videos expressing concern, distrust, and outrage have appeared on all social media platforms. And some of the social media posts show community members calling out church leaders by name for failing to comment. 

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Troubling Pattern

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Commenters on local news websites have questioned the physical circumstances of the discovery. Some want to know why there’s no closed-circuit or security-camera footage of Nzita; others have questioned the evidence found at the scene, including whether Nzita could have used the blue chair seen in the footage to commit suicide.

\n\n\n\n

A report the civil rights organization JULIAN, which publishes the Crimson Record, issued this year identified over 70 deaths classified as suicides despite questionable circumstances over the last 25 years. They have stretched across seven Deep South states, with Mississippi reporting 20 — the highest total. 

\n\n\n\n

A review of known cases of Black Americans found dead by hanging between 2024 and 2026 shows that approximately 10 of them gained significant attention from civil rights advocates, family members, and legal experts. Many have raised serious questions about inadequate or hasty investigations and official rulings of suicide despite families and advocates disputing those conclusions. 

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Why Trey Reed’s Death Sparks Suspicions and Calls for Transparency

\n\n\n\n

These cases include Demartravion “Trey” Reed whose body was found last September hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts on the Delta State University campus. He was pronounced dead at the scene and an autopsy by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner determined the death was a suicide. 

\n\n\n\n

Reed’s family vehemently disputed the ruling, insisting he had no history of depression, was excited about attending Delta State, and had shown no signs of suicidal ideation. The family sought an independent autopsy after receiving conflicting accounts and incomplete information about the circumstances of his death. 

\n

The post Another Mysterious Death Strikes a Nerve appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/another-mysterious-death-strikes-a-nerve/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","health","mental health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-29T13:56:14.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/juliana_nzita_500x263.jpeg?fit=500%2C263&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-29T14:02:10.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/juliana_nzita_500x263.jpeg?fit=500%2C263&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"aEyhhUyf5NVopUwT","title":"Voices of Truth Uses Gospel Music to Build Community and Faith","description":"What began as a student-led extension of a university gospel choir has become a traveling ministry of music, blending opera-trained voices, Black sacred tradition and grassroots community outreach under the name Voices of Truth. Formed at Florida State University in Tallahassee, the ensemble grew from a desire to take gospel music off campus and into churches, care facilities and communities outside of Florida. For its members — many of whom are not music majors and some of whom are new to Black church traditions — the experience has become both performance and formation. “We decided to form a new ensemble… a community-centered ensemble,” said DaSean Stokes, a second-year doctoral student in classical voice at Florida State. “It really came out of a vision for students traveling, finding different communities, experiencing different worship, meeting new people, going new places.” Originally from Missouri, Stokes describes himself as an opera tenor with deep ties to church music. His academic path has taken him from Central Methodist University to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and now to Florida State, where he also works in arts administration while pursuing his doctoral degree. Voices of Truth, he said, is not simply an extension of his academic training; it is a spiritual and cultural practice. “We’re trying to instill integrity and responsibility,” Stokes said. “We’re using music as a tool… especially gospel music.” The ensemble has performed in churches, including Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia and Mount Olive in Virginia, as well as at a veterans care facility. Their repertoire spans traditional gospel, spirituals and Black sacred compositions. Dr. Jeremy Moore, the ensemble’s director, said the group’s purpose is as much narrative as it is musical. As for the actual tour, he says, the idea came from the students. “In 2024, we were invited to be the symphony chorus for the Rogue Valley Symphony in Medford, Oregon,” says Moore, who holds an advanced degree in choral conducting from FSU. “And it was a really seminal moment for us. The gospel choir, I don’t think, had toured ever before at Florida State University. And so it was really kind of encouraging for us to be able to travel and be ambassadors for the university.” Once the students had the experience, they made it clear they wanted a repeat opportunity. “I like music that is able to not only be good, but to have meaning and to have a message,” Moore said. For their spring concert, themed “Rain,” Moore created a spiritual arc, acknowledging struggle, endurance and praise. Selections included gospel staples such as “The Storm Is Passing Over” and “I’ll Take Jesus,” along with contemporary works that reflect Black musical expression across generations. “The story for this tour was one of encouragement,” Moore said. “We’ve been here and we’ve been fighting, but God has got us.” The ensemble’s approach reflects a broader tradition in Black sacred music, linking spirituals, gospel, jazz and classical influences into a continuous cultural line. Moore said that continuity is intentional. “We want to spread really good gospel music around the country,” he said. Beyond repertoire, Voices of Truth is also navigating questions of access and cultural familiarity. Many of the students, Moore noted, are learning the rhythmic and expressive traditions that shape gospel performance. “Some students read music, some students don’t,” Moore said. “Some come from a gospel background, some don’t.” That difference becomes especially visible in movement and rhythm — elements often assumed rather than taught in Black church spaces. “It’s polyrhythms, it’s syncopation,” Stokes said. “If you don’t have that exposure, it’s a lot to put together.” Still, both leaders emphasize inclusion. At Alfred Street Baptist Church, Moore recalled a congregant saying she was “not expecting this,” referring to the racially mixed ensemble. For him, that moment reflected gospel music’s broader theological claim. “At the end of the day, we have to realize that God is God of all,” he said. “That’s what heaven is going to look like.” The ensemble’s mission also extends beyond performance into education and outreach. Stokes said future plans include expanding into high schools and community programs. “That’s something we’re trying to work on this year,” he said. Funding for the group is largely grassroots. The ensemble received partial support from Florida State’s Congress of Graduate Students but relied heavily on donations from churches, family members, friends and small-dollar community contributions. “We started with $251.50,” Stokes said. “But it was more than zero.” He described a patchwork of financial support that included $5 and $20 gifts, snack sales, and anonymous donations, all helping cover travel costs such as fuel for long-distance touring. “One dollar adds up just as much,” he said. “It’s the power of community.” Moore said that the model of support reflects the same values embedded in the music itself. “People want to help each other,” he said. “Sometimes that gets lost, but we saw it on this tour.” The post Voices of Truth Uses Gospel Music to Build Community and Faith appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"A
\n

What began as a student-led extension of a university gospel choir has become a traveling ministry of music, blending opera-trained voices, Black sacred tradition and grassroots community outreach under the name Voices of Truth.

\n\n\n\n

Formed at Florida State University in Tallahassee, the ensemble grew from a desire to take gospel music off campus and into churches, care facilities and communities outside of Florida. For its members — many of whom are not music majors and some of whom are new to Black church traditions — the experience has become both performance and formation.

\n\n\n\n

“We decided to form a new ensemble… a community-centered ensemble,” said DaSean Stokes, a second-year doctoral student in classical voice at Florida State. “It really came out of a vision for students traveling, finding different communities, experiencing different worship, meeting new people, going new places.”

\n\n\n\n

Originally from Missouri, Stokes describes himself as an opera tenor with deep ties to church music. His academic path has taken him from Central Methodist University to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and now to Florida State, where he also works in arts administration while pursuing his doctoral degree.

\n\n\n\n

Voices of Truth, he said, is not simply an extension of his academic training; it is a spiritual and cultural practice.

\n\n\n\n

“We’re trying to instill integrity and responsibility,” Stokes said. “We’re using music as a tool… especially gospel music.”

\n\n\n\n

The ensemble has performed in churches, including Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia, Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia and Mount Olive in Virginia, as well as at a veterans care facility. Their repertoire spans traditional gospel, spirituals and Black sacred compositions.

\n\n\n\n

Dr. Jeremy Moore,  the ensemble’s director, said the group’s purpose is as much narrative as it is musical. As for the actual tour, he says, the idea came from the students.

\n\n\n\n

 “In 2024, we were invited to be the symphony chorus for the Rogue Valley Symphony in Medford, Oregon,” says Moore, who holds an advanced degree in choral conducting from FSU. “And it was a really seminal moment for us. The gospel choir, I don’t think, had toured ever before at Florida State University. And so it was really kind of encouraging for us to be able to travel and be ambassadors for the university.” 

\n\n\n\n

Once the students had the experience, they made it clear they wanted a repeat opportunity. 

\n\n\n\n

“I like music that is able to not only be good, but to have meaning and to have a message,” Moore said.

\n\n\n\n

For their spring concert, themed “Rain,” Moore created a spiritual arc, acknowledging struggle, endurance and praise. Selections included gospel staples such as “The Storm Is Passing Over” and “I’ll Take Jesus,” along with contemporary works that reflect Black musical expression across generations.

\n\n\n\n

“The story for this tour was one of encouragement,” Moore said. “We’ve been here and we’ve been fighting, but God has got us.”

\n\n\n\n

The ensemble’s approach reflects a broader tradition in Black sacred music, linking spirituals, gospel, jazz and classical influences into a continuous cultural line. Moore said that continuity is intentional.

\n\n\n\n

“We want to spread really good gospel music around the country,” he said.

\n\n\n\n

Beyond repertoire, Voices of Truth is also navigating questions of access and cultural familiarity. Many of the students, Moore noted, are learning the rhythmic and expressive traditions that shape gospel performance.

\n\n\n\n

“Some students read music, some students don’t,” Moore said. “Some come from a gospel background, some don’t.”

\n\n\n\n

That difference becomes especially visible in movement and rhythm — elements often assumed rather than taught in Black church spaces.

\n\n\n\n

“It’s polyrhythms, it’s syncopation,” Stokes said. “If you don’t have that exposure, it’s a lot to put together.”

\n\n\n\n

Still, both leaders emphasize inclusion. 

\n\n\n\n

At Alfred Street Baptist Church, Moore recalled a congregant saying she was “not expecting this,” referring to the racially mixed ensemble. For him, that moment reflected gospel music’s broader theological claim.

\n\n\n\n

“At the end of the day, we have to realize that God is God of all,” he said. “That’s what heaven is going to look like.”

\n\n\n\n

The ensemble’s mission also extends beyond performance into education and outreach. Stokes said future plans include expanding into high schools and community programs.

\n\n\n\n

“That’s something we’re trying to work on this year,” he said.

\n\n\n\n

Funding for the group is largely grassroots. The ensemble received partial support from Florida State’s Congress of Graduate Students but relied heavily on donations from churches, family members, friends and small-dollar community contributions.

\n\n\n\n

“We started with $251.50,” Stokes said. “But it was more than zero.”

\n\n\n\n

He described a patchwork of financial support that included $5 and $20 gifts, snack sales, and anonymous donations, all helping cover travel costs such as fuel for long-distance touring.

\n\n\n\n

“One dollar adds up just as much,” he said. “It’s the power of community.”

\n\n\n\n

Moore said that the model of support reflects the same values embedded in the music itself.

\n\n\n\n

“People want to help each other,” he said. “Sometimes that gets lost, but we saw it on this tour.”

\n

The post Voices of Truth Uses Gospel Music to Build Community and Faith appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/voices-of-truth-uses-gospel-music-to-build-community-and-faith/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-28T09:30:00.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1000050610.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-28T09:33:19.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/1000050610.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"Dp1ro6S2dkSPqvNX","title":"Black Athletes Should Pass on the South ","description":"America — particularly Black America — is at a difficult crossroads that literally threatens the complexion of our nation. Last month’s Supreme Court ruling that blew up Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, allowing states to redistrict and gerrymander to dilute the vote of Black Americans, threatens to set our voting rights back significantly, especially in the South, if we don’t do something. Sure, we protest, we can scream, and just be pissed off. But our real fighting power is in showing up at the voting polls like never before and withholding our buying power where our vote isn’t respected. We also have another power that is sure to get the attention of white folks who don’t think we should have a say in this country’s political landscape. It’s through our gifted young Black athletes, whom they love to cheer for in the uniforms of their favorite college athletic teams. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in the Louisiana vs Callais case, Black people are calling for the top Black athletes to avoid playing for any primarily white college or university in the South. The calls have come from athletes, journalists, and even celebrities like actor and New Orleans native Wendell Pierce to boycott the Southeastern Conference in particular. We’re talking kids boycotting programs in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky — places where the Black vote is being diluted. And yes, that includes Texas, where your beloved University of Texas and Texas A&M will be affected. We Black Texans have had a front-row seat to how gerrymandering can cripple the Black vote, and specifically in Houston, where Donald Trump commanded Gov. Greg Abbott, his good soldier, to find him five congressional seats ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. And right now, we have lost a Black seat in Houston and forced two candidates – Christian Menefee and Al Green – with similar liberal leanings into a fierce, nasty battle that will weaken Black political influence in this state and the country. I say, go for it and make these offending states suffer where it hurts. But don’t stop at the SEC. Extend it to schools in the Big 12 and ACC conferences, in states where people want to cheer for Black athletes on the football field but don’t want them to have true representation in Congress, the Senate, or even their more influential local elections. Let’s not pretend this isn’t an enormous ask, especially in today’s major college landscape, where football and basketball athletes are able to legally make life-changing sums of money through name, image and likeness deals. But know that similar NIL and revenue-sharing riches will be awaiting you in states where your vote still matters and carries real weight. It’s time Black athletes understand their influence and power. It’s time they free themselves from being viewed as glorified gladiators who perform for people who don’t respect them as equals or as real human beings, for that matter. As one of the last football conferences to integrate, the SEC messed around and found out back in the 1960s that it couldn’t stay relevant without Black athletes, so the good ole boys had to start accepting Black athletes. If the SEC felt the pressure then, imagine what it would feel today if the best Black athletes in the South suddenly started heading North or going out West. Saturday afternoons just wouldn’t feel the same, and the SEC’s TV partners wouldn’t feel the same, either. It was funny to hear recently hired Lane Kiffin throwing a barb at his former employer, Ole Miss, saying that it was hard to get Black athletes to want to come there because of the lack of diversity. We used to have a saying where I’m from up North: If that ain’t the pot calling the kettle black. Somebody tell Kiffin it ain’t any different for Black people in Louisiana. Imagine if young Black student-athletes and their families did start to align their recruitment with the consciousness of what kind of power play that would be. The natural destinations would be in the North and West, but what about HBCUs? Back in the day, schools like Grambling State and Florida A&M boasted powerhouse football programs because the all-white SEC wasn’t an option for the best Black student-athletes. Imagine what Prairie View head football coach Tremaine Jackson or Texas Southern coach Cris Dishman could do if the recruits who would have ordinarily gone to UT or Texas A&M suddenly landed in their laps. No, the amount of money they could make at the bigger schools might not be there, but the NIL and revenue-sharing pots would be significantly larger than they are today. It’s time that Black athletes and their families understand their power and influence and then use it. The post Black Athletes Should Pass on the South — and the S.E.C. appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"In
\n

America — particularly Black America — is at a difficult crossroads that literally threatens the complexion of our nation.

\n\n\n\n

Last month’s Supreme Court ruling that blew up Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, allowing states to redistrict and gerrymander to dilute the vote of Black Americans, threatens to set our voting rights back significantly, especially in the South, if we don’t do something.

\n\n\n\n

Sure, we protest, we can scream, and just be pissed off.

\n\n\n\n

But our real fighting power is in showing up at the voting polls like never before and withholding our buying power where our vote isn’t respected.

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We also have another power that is sure to get the attention of white folks who don’t think we should have a say in this country’s political landscape. It’s through our gifted young Black athletes, whom they love to cheer for in the uniforms of their favorite college athletic teams.

\n\n\n\n

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in the Louisiana vs Callais case, Black people are calling for the top Black athletes to avoid playing for any primarily white college or university in the South. The calls have come from athletes, journalists, and even celebrities like actor and New Orleans native Wendell Pierce to boycott the Southeastern Conference in particular.

\n\n\n\n

We’re talking kids boycotting programs in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky — places where the Black vote is being diluted. And yes, that includes Texas, where your beloved University of Texas and Texas A&M will be affected.

\n\n\n\n

We Black Texans have had a front-row seat to how gerrymandering can cripple the Black vote, and specifically in Houston, where Donald Trump commanded Gov. Greg Abbott, his good soldier, to find him five congressional seats ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. And right now, we have lost a Black seat in Houston and forced two candidates – Christian Menefee and Al Green – with similar liberal leanings into a fierce, nasty battle that will weaken Black political influence in this state and the country.

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I say, go for it and make these offending states suffer where it hurts. But don’t stop at the SEC. Extend it to schools in the Big 12 and ACC conferences, in states where people want to cheer for Black athletes on the football field but don’t want them to have true representation in Congress, the Senate, or even their more influential local elections.

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Let’s not pretend this isn’t an enormous ask, especially in today’s major college landscape, where football and basketball athletes are able to legally make life-changing sums of money through name, image and likeness deals. But know that similar NIL and revenue-sharing riches will be awaiting you in states where your vote still matters and carries real weight.

\n\n\n\n

It’s time Black athletes understand their influence and power. It’s time they free themselves from being viewed as glorified gladiators who perform for people who don’t respect them as equals or as real human beings, for that matter.

\n\n\n\n

As one of the last football conferences to integrate, the SEC messed around and found out back in the 1960s that it couldn’t stay relevant without Black athletes, so the good ole boys had to start accepting Black athletes. If the SEC felt the pressure then, imagine what it would feel today if the best Black athletes in the South suddenly started heading North or going out West.

\n\n\n\n

Saturday afternoons just wouldn’t feel the same, and the SEC’s TV partners wouldn’t feel the same, either.

\n\n\n\n

It was funny to hear recently hired Lane Kiffin throwing a barb at his former employer, Ole Miss, saying that it was hard to get Black athletes to want to come there because of the lack of diversity.

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We used to have a saying where I’m from up North: If that ain’t the pot calling the kettle black. Somebody tell Kiffin it ain’t any different for Black people in Louisiana.

\n\n\n\n

Imagine if young Black student-athletes and their families did start to align their recruitment with the consciousness of what kind of power play that would be. The natural destinations would be in the North and West, but what about HBCUs?

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Back in the day, schools like Grambling State and Florida A&M boasted powerhouse football programs because the all-white SEC wasn’t an option for the best Black student-athletes.

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Imagine what Prairie View head football coach Tremaine Jackson or Texas Southern coach Cris Dishman could do if the recruits who would have ordinarily gone to UT or Texas A&M suddenly landed in their laps. No, the amount of money they could make at the bigger schools might not be there, but the NIL and revenue-sharing pots would be significantly larger than they are today.

\n\n\n\n

It’s time that Black athletes and their families understand their power and influence and then use it.

\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Black Athletes Should Pass on the South — and the S.E.C. appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/black-athletes-should-pass-on-the-south-and-the-s-e-c/","site":"Terrance Harris","originalAuthor":"Terrance Harris","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Uncategorized"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-27T17:52:50.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-98904906.jpg?fit=683%2C512&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-27T18:03:42.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-98904906.jpg?fit=683%2C512&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"fCRSQo3YcwqJhMpR","title":"EVENT: Safe Space: How to Support Black Men’s Mental Health, 6/3","description":"How can we break stigmas and cost barriers to better support Black men’s mental health? In honor of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, join Word In Black for a conversation with community leaders and support practitioners. They will share experiences, resources, and lead participants in a guided meditation. Register to watch it live. Moderator: Joseph Williams, Word In Black Head of Content Confirmed speakers: Dr. Jason Phillips, licensed therapist, life coach, and creator of the documentary, “Man Enough to Heal: Black Men and Therapy.” Brian Sims, a healthcare entrepreneur, curates Baltimore-based mental wellness events for Black men Senbi Akau Spruill, meditation leader, rites-of-passage facilitator, and author of “Superhero Syndrome: The Perfect Pressure” REGISTER HERE Register for other upcoming Word In Black’s Summer 2026 events. Rewatch Word In Black’s previous events Word In Black’s Religion Hot Topics 5/21/26: Event Replay What’s on Your Plate? Food Access in Black America 5/13/26: Event Recap The Action Plan to Get Black Women Back to Work 4/29/26 Event Recap ‘Breaking the Silence’: How Black Women Can Fight Breast Cancer 4/9/26 Event Recap The post EVENT: Safe Space: How to Support Black Men’s Mental Health, 6/3 appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"\"
\n
\"\"
\n\n\n\n

How can we break stigmas and cost barriers to better support Black men’s mental health? 

\n\n\n\n

In honor of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, join Word In Black for a conversation with community leaders and support practitioners. They will share experiences, resources, and lead participants in a guided meditation.

\n\n\n\n

Register to watch it live.

\n\n\n\n

Moderator:

\n\n\n\n

Joseph Williams, Word In Black Head of Content

\n\n\n\n

Confirmed speakers:

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

REGISTER HERE

\n\n\n\n

Register for other upcoming Word In Black’s Summer 2026 events.

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Rewatch Word In Black’s previous events

\n\n\n\n

Word In Black’s Religion Hot Topics 5/21/26: Event Replay

\n\n\n\n

What’s on Your Plate? Food Access in Black America 5/13/26: Event Recap

\n\n\n\n

The Action Plan to Get Black Women Back to Work 4/29/26 Event Recap

\n\n\n\n

‘Breaking the Silence’: How Black Women Can Fight Breast Cancer 4/9/26 Event Recap

\n

The post EVENT: Safe Space: How to Support Black Men’s Mental Health, 6/3 appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/black-men-mental-health-event/","site":"Shernay Williams","originalAuthor":"Shernay Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Events","Health","black men","mental health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-27T16:20:25.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Instagram-Black-Men-Mental-Health-5_26_26-1.png?fit=819%2C1024&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-05-27T16:33:03.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Instagram-Black-Men-Mental-Health-5_26_26-1.png?fit=819%2C1024&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"LjCmoTyumTPEuMhr","title":"When the Missing Stay Missing: The Crisis of Disappearing Black Americans","description":"In January 1973, a 27-year-old Black woman named Cheryl Lanier vanished from San Francisco. No one filed a missing persons report for 37 years. When her case was finally logged in 2010 and the city police department’s Missing Persons Unit investigated, but the case languished, unsolved for decades. This month, DNA analysis confirmed Lanier had died in Houston, Texas, in September 1976 — three years after she disappeared — after jumping from a moving tractor-trailer. She had spent half a century as a Jane Doe. Lanier’s tragic story, however, isn’t rare. In fact, it fits a disturbing pattern of what happens when Black Americans go missing. Harmful Stereotypes In 2023, more than half a million people were reported missing in the United States. According to 2023 data from the National Crime Information Center, 40% of missing persons are people of color, although Black Americans make up just 13% of the population. The disappearances are made worse by what doesn’t happen: urgent searches and media attention. Black and Missing Foundation co-founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson have described being “shunned” by the media, met with silence when seeking coverage for missing Black victims. The dynamic is rooted in stereotypes associating Black communities with criminality. For instance, many missing Black children are first classified as runaways, so their disappearance isn’t circulated through an Amber Alert. Waiting to be Seen For Black families, the pain of loss is compounded by the invisibility. It took 53 years for Cheryl Lanier to be identified. Thousands of other Black people who have vanished are still waiting to be seen. Word In Black spoke with Natalie Wilson about the Black and Missing Foundation’s 18-year fight to find America’s forgotten missing. The co-founders started the organization after watching a grieving family get ignored by the same media that made the disappearance of Natalee Holloway an international story. The following has been edited for clarity and length. Word In Black: Your organization has been around for nearly two decades. What prompted you to start it, and what is the Black and Missing Foundation’s core mission? Natalie Wilson: We have been sounding the alarm since May of 2008 that people of color are disappearing at an alarming rate from around the country. Our mission is to bring awareness to missing men, women, and children from around the country, to educate our community on personal safety, and to search for those who are missing. The inspiration behind the foundation is a young lady by the name of Tamika Houston, who went missing from Spartanburg, South Carolina — my sister-in-law’s hometown. We read about how her family, particularly her aunt Rebecca, who works in public relations, could not get media coverage for her missing niece. All it takes is one piece of information, one person who comes forward with a tip, to bring someone home. And if they’re no longer alive, at least the family has answers and can move forward.Natalie Wilson, the Black and Missing Foundation A year after Tamika disappeared, Natalee Holloway vanished — and just saying her name alone, everyone knew her story. Rebecca had reached out to the same reporters, the same networks, the same programs that covered Natalee Holloway, and she was met with silence. My co-founder Derrica and I decided to do some research to see if there were systemic issues around missing people of color, because we simply were not seeing their stories in the media. At the time, we found that 30% of all missing persons were people of color. My background is media relations and public relations; awareness is key in trying to find the missing. Derrica’s background is in law enforcement. Those are the two critical professions needed to bring our missing home. WIB: What keeps you going after 18 years? Wilson: The families. They are desperately searching for their missing loved ones, and many times they tell us we are their last resort. Law enforcement isn’t taking the police report — they’re turning families away. The media isn’t covering the stories. And the community isn’t involved, because either they don’t know someone is missing, or they’re turning a blind eye because they aren’t personally affected. WIB: You mentioned law enforcement turning families away. Can you give a specific example? Wilson: There was a young girl by the name of Kennedy who went missing from Baltimore. When her mother reported her missing, law enforcement told her Kennedy had run away. That is what we see repeatedly — law enforcement classifying [Black] young girls as runaways. The moment that happens, they receive no Amber Alert and no media coverage whatsoever, because the assumption is the child left home willingly. But even if a child leaves home voluntarily, you have to ask: what are they leaving from, and what are they leaving into? We know that girls and boys are being sex trafficked at an alarming rate. In Kennedy’s case, we were able to pressure law enforcement into taking a proper missing person’s report. We amplified her case. She had been trafficked and was being moved from Baltimore to another part of Prince George’s County by her traffickers. An Uber driver recognized her from a flyer on our website, contacted us, and we were able to reach our resources at the FBI. They rescued her. Kennedy was 14 or 16 years old — young — and she was a functioning autistic child. That case illustrates exactly why we require a police missing person’s report to be on file before we can assist a family. If law enforcement refuses to take the report, we work with the family to get it done. WIB: You mentioned the numbers have changed since you started the foundation. What do the statistics look like now? Wilson: When we first started in 2008, based on FBI statistics, 30% of all missing persons were people of color. Today that number has increased to 40%. But we believe the real number is much higher. The Hispanic community is underreporting for various reasons, and the FBI is categorizing Hispanic individuals as white in their data — which we find troubling. Research shows that 24% of Latinos and Latinas identify as Afro Latino. So, when you’re miscategorizing Hispanic missing persons as white and not accounting for Afro Latinos at all, the true scale of the crisis is being obscured. WIB: What does your media strategy look like, and why does media coverage matter so much to these cases? Wilson: Media coverage is important for two reasons. First, it alerts the community that someone is missing. Second, it puts pressure on law enforcement to dedicate resources to the case. No department wants to be embarrassed. When we work with media partners and a reporter calls a precinct asking for a case update, we see law enforcement spring into action. Because we can’t wait for the traditional news cycle, we’ve also built our own platforms — including a podcast — so families can tell their stories directly. All it takes is one piece of information, one person who comes forward with a tip, to bring someone home. And if they’re no longer alive, at least the family has answers and can move forward. WIB: Where does the foundation operate, and who are your partners? Wilson: We’re headquartered in Hyattsville, Maryland, but we are a national organization. Over nearly 18 years, we’ve built partnerships with law enforcement agencies around the country — departments in Washington, D.C., Oakland, and elsewhere actively use our missing persons database. We also have partnerships with local and national media, including programs like Dateline, and we could not do this work without the Black press, which has consistently created space for us to tell these stories. In June, we’re launching our very first street team in Atlanta — boots on the ground in one of the country’s hot spots, ready to mobilize immediately when someone goes missing. Other high-need cities we focus on include Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, and Miami. WIB: What do you want parents to know about how children are being targeted? Wilson: We ask families: how can someone get into your home without coming through the front door or a window? The answer is through apps and technology. Any device with a chat feature is a potential point of contact for predators. We had a case out of Georgia where a pedophile groomed a young girl, who was a gamer, over the course of two years. People assume this happens fast. It does not. These individuals are patient, and they know how to identify vulnerability. They know that children who lack food, housing, or basic stability are more susceptible. They know what to say. They earn trust slowly, and eventually they get children to share where they go to school, where they worship — details that put them in danger. We also urge young adults: stop posting [on social media] your location in real time. Post when you get home. You never know who is watching. WIB: What should someone do if they know something about a missing person but are afraid to come forward? Wilson: We have an anonymous tip line. We know there is a deep and historically earned distrust between law enforcement and our community. If you are not comfortable going directly to police, please reach out to us. We will not compromise your identity. We understand the sensitivity. And if you have a missing loved one and do not know what to do, please reach out to us so we can provide the support you need. WIB: What’s on the horizon for The Black and Missing Foundation? Wilson: On May 30th, we are hosting our 10th Anniversary 5K at the harbor in Fort Washington, Maryland. It is a family event — a day for the community to rally around families who have missing loved ones. Along the route, you will see mile markers featuring the images and information of missing persons. We hope the community will come out, walk with us, and help us keep these faces visible. Interested persons can register or support the Black and Missing Foundation’s Hope Without Boundaries 5k Walk/Run. The event will be held rain or shine. The post When the Missing Stay Missing: The Crisis of Disappearing Black Americans appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Passport
\n

In January 1973, a 27-year-old Black woman named Cheryl Lanier vanished from San Francisco. No one filed a missing persons report for 37 years. 

\n\n\n\n

When her case was finally logged in 2010 and the city police department’s Missing Persons Unit investigated, but the case languished, unsolved for decades. This month, DNA analysis confirmed Lanier had died in Houston, Texas, in September 1976 — three years after she disappeared — after jumping from a moving tractor-trailer. She had spent half a century as a Jane Doe.

\n\n\n\n

Lanier’s tragic story, however, isn’t rare. In fact, it fits a disturbing pattern of what happens when Black Americans go missing.

\n\n\n\n

Harmful Stereotypes

\n\n\n\n

In 2023, more than half a million people were reported missing in the United States. According to 2023 data from the National Crime Information Center, 40% of missing persons are people of color, although Black Americans make up just 13% of the population.  

\n\n\n\n

The disappearances are made worse by what doesn’t happen: urgent searches and media attention. 

\n\n\n\n

Black and Missing Foundation co-founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson have described being “shunned” by the media, met with silence when seeking coverage for missing Black victims. The dynamic is rooted in stereotypes associating Black communities with criminality. For instance, many missing Black children are first classified as runaways, so their disappearance isn’t circulated through an Amber Alert.

\n\n\n\n

Waiting to be Seen

\n\n\n\n

For Black families, the pain of loss is compounded by the invisibility. It took 53 years for Cheryl Lanier to be identified. Thousands of other Black people who have vanished are still waiting to be seen.

\n\n\n\n

Word In Black spoke with Natalie Wilson about the Black and Missing Foundation’s 18-year fight to find America’s forgotten missing. The co-founders started the organization after watching a grieving family get ignored by the same media that made the disappearance of Natalee Holloway an international story. 

\n\n\n\n

The following has been edited for clarity and length. 

\n\n\n\n

Word In Black: Your organization has been around for nearly two decades. What prompted you to start it, and what is the Black and Missing Foundation’s core mission?

\n\n\n\n

Natalie Wilson: We have been sounding the alarm since May of 2008 that people of color are disappearing at an alarming rate from around the country. Our mission is to bring awareness to missing men, women, and children from around the country, to educate our community on personal safety, and to search for those who are missing.

\n\n\n\n

The inspiration behind the foundation is a young lady by the name of Tamika Houston, who went missing from Spartanburg, South Carolina — my sister-in-law’s hometown. We read about how her family, particularly her aunt Rebecca, who works in public relations, could not get media coverage for her missing niece. 

\n\n\n\n

All it takes is one piece of information, one person who comes forward with a tip, to bring someone home. And if they’re no longer alive, at least the family has answers and can move forward.

Natalie Wilson, the Black and Missing Foundation
\n\n\n\n

A year after Tamika disappeared, Natalee Holloway vanished — and just saying her name alone, everyone knew her story. Rebecca had reached out to the same reporters, the same networks, the same programs that covered Natalee Holloway, and she was met with silence.

\n\n\n\n

My co-founder Derrica and I decided to do some research to see if there were systemic issues around missing people of color, because we simply were not seeing their stories in the media. At the time, we found that 30% of all missing persons were people of color. My background is media relations and public relations; awareness is key in trying to find the missing. Derrica’s background is in law enforcement. Those are the two critical professions needed to bring our missing home.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What keeps you going after 18 years?

\n\n\n\n

Wilson: The families. They are desperately searching for their missing loved ones, and many times they tell us we are their last resort. 

\n\n\n\n

Law enforcement isn’t taking the police report — they’re turning families away. The media isn’t covering the stories. And the community isn’t involved, because either they don’t know someone is missing, or they’re turning a blind eye because they aren’t personally affected.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: You mentioned law enforcement turning families away. Can you give a specific example?

\n\n\n\n

Wilson: There was a young girl by the name of Kennedy who went missing from Baltimore. When her mother reported her missing, law enforcement told her Kennedy had run away. That is what we see repeatedly — law enforcement classifying [Black] young girls as runaways. The moment that happens, they receive no Amber Alert and no media coverage whatsoever, because the assumption is the child left home willingly.

\n\n\n\n

But even if a child leaves home voluntarily, you have to ask: what are they leaving from, and what are they leaving into? We know that girls and boys are being sex trafficked at an alarming rate.

\n\n\n\n

In Kennedy’s case, we were able to pressure law enforcement into taking a proper missing person’s report. We amplified her case. She had been trafficked and was being moved from Baltimore to another part of Prince George’s County by her traffickers. An Uber driver recognized her from a flyer on our website, contacted us, and we were able to reach our resources at the FBI. They rescued her. Kennedy was 14 or 16 years old — young — and she was a functioning autistic child.

\n\n\n\n

That case illustrates exactly why we require a police missing person’s report to be on file before we can assist a family. If law enforcement refuses to take the report, we work with the family to get it done.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: You mentioned the numbers have changed since you started the foundation. What do the statistics look like now?

\n\n\n\n

Wilson: When we first started in 2008, based on FBI statistics, 30% of all missing persons were people of color. Today that number has increased to 40%. But we believe the real number is much higher. 

\n\n\n\n

The Hispanic community is underreporting for various reasons, and the FBI is categorizing Hispanic individuals as white in their data — which we find troubling. Research shows that 24% of Latinos and Latinas identify as Afro Latino. So, when you’re miscategorizing Hispanic missing persons as white and not accounting for Afro Latinos at all, the true scale of the crisis is being obscured.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What does your media strategy look like, and why does media coverage matter so much to these cases?

\n\n\n\n

Wilson: Media coverage is important for two reasons. First, it alerts the community that someone is missing. Second, it puts pressure on law enforcement to dedicate resources to the case. No department wants to be embarrassed. When we work with media partners and a reporter calls a precinct asking for a case update, we see law enforcement spring into action.

\n\n\n\n

Because we can’t wait for the traditional news cycle, we’ve also built our own platforms — including a podcast — so families can tell their stories directly. All it takes is one piece of information, one person who comes forward with a tip, to bring someone home. And if they’re no longer alive, at least the family has answers and can move forward.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Where does the foundation operate, and who are your partners?

\n\n\n\n

Wilson: We’re headquartered in Hyattsville, Maryland, but we are a national organization. Over nearly 18 years, we’ve built partnerships with law enforcement agencies around the country — departments in Washington, D.C., Oakland, and elsewhere actively use our missing persons database. 

\n\n\n\n

We also have partnerships with local and national media, including programs like Dateline, and we could not do this work without the Black press, which has consistently created space for us to tell these stories.

\n\n\n\n

In June, we’re launching our very first street team in Atlanta — boots on the ground in one of the country’s hot spots, ready to mobilize immediately when someone goes missing. Other high-need cities we focus on include Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, and Miami.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What do you want parents to know about how children are being targeted?

\n\n\n\n

Wilson: We ask families: how can someone get into your home without coming through the front door or a window? The answer is through apps and technology. Any device with a chat feature is a potential point of contact for predators.

\n\n\n\n

We had a case out of Georgia where a pedophile groomed a young girl, who was a gamer, over the course of two years. People assume this happens fast. It does not. These individuals are patient, and they know how to identify vulnerability. They know that children who lack food, housing, or basic stability are more susceptible. They know what to say. They earn trust slowly, and eventually they get children to share where they go to school, where they worship — details that put them in danger.

\n\n\n\n

We also urge young adults: stop posting [on social media] your location in real time. Post when you get home. You never know who is watching.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What should someone do if they know something about a missing person but are afraid to come forward?

\n\n\n\n

Wilson: We have an anonymous tip line. We know there is a deep and historically earned distrust between law enforcement and our community. If you are not comfortable going directly to police, please reach out to us. We will not compromise your identity. We understand the sensitivity. And if you have a missing loved one and do not know what to do, please reach out to us so we can provide the support you need.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What’s on the horizon for The Black and Missing Foundation?

\n\n\n\n

Wilson: On May 30th, we are hosting our 10th Anniversary 5K at the harbor in Fort Washington, Maryland. It is a family event — a day for the community to rally around families who have missing loved ones. Along the route, you will see mile markers featuring the images and information of missing persons. We hope the community will come out, walk with us, and help us keep these faces visible.

\n\n\n\n

Interested persons can register or support the Black and Missing Foundation’s Hope Without Boundaries 5k Walk/Run. The event will be held rain or shine.

\n

The post When the Missing Stay Missing: The Crisis of Disappearing Black Americans appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/when-the-missing-stay-missing-the-crisis-of-disappearing-black-americans/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","Black women","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-26T18:39:11.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-missing.jpg?fit=679%2C514&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-26T18:52:40.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-missing.jpg?fit=679%2C514&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"A1RIayar1E5kU9rJ","title":"Arrival of Summer Brings Attention to Drowning Prevention","description":"For most of the U.S., the Memorial Day holiday signals the opening of the swimming season. Oceanside beaches, lakes, rivers, and swimming pools are usually teeming with water enthusiasts of all ages and abilities. Yet as millions of Americans plan to head to pools and beaches during the summer, public health experts warn that Black children remain far more likely to drown than white kids. And the Trump administration has targeted federal programs designed to track and prevent those deaths for major budget cuts. The combination of funding cuts for water safety and the unofficial start of summer means increased risk for Black Americans. Drowning is the single leading overall cause of death for children ages one to four in the U.S. — ahead of car crashes and cancer. And young Black people are at particular risk: those under age 30 are 1.5 times more likely than whites to drown. Cuts to Prevention That data point became tragically visible last month in the ocean off the coast of Morocco. Two Black U.S. service members, ages 19 and 27, drowned when, on a recreational hike with others, one person — unable to swim — fell into the water, prompting the other to jump in to try and rescue her. Sharon Gilmartin, executive director of Safe States Alliance, a nonprofit injury prevention organization, said the budget cuts have eliminated a key source of information that could help keep people safe. “When you cut the federal investments into drowning prevention at the CDC Injury Center, you don’t just lose programs,” she says. “You lose the ability to know what’s working, where the problem is getting worse and which communities need help most.” Private funders “can [offer] piecemeal solutions, whether that’s for swim lessons or for specific communities,” she says. “But they can’t replicate a national surveillance system. They can’t replicate national expertise.” Black Youth At Risk Drowning disparities are highest among Black children, with those aged 5 to 9 drowning at rates 2.6 times higher than their white peers. The data are even worse for those aged 10 to 14, who are more than three times as likely to drown than white children. While swimming pools don’t have the undertow of ocean water or the bitter cold of lakes, Black children ages 10 to 14 swimming in a pool still drown at rates that are 7.6 times higher than white children. When you cut the federal investments into drowning prevention … you don’t just lose programs. You lose the ability to know what’s working, where the problem is getting worse and which communities need help most.”Sharon Gilmartin, executive director, Safe States Alliance Even more alarming: data shows that after years of decline, drowning deaths rose in this age group by 28% between 2019 and 2022—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Black people were overrepresented in that trend, as, compared to 2019, drowning rates increased by 22.2% in 2020 and 28.3% in 2021. A Problem Rooted in the Past The disparities did not emerge by accident. For generations, Black Americans were locked out of public pools and beaches by segregation, violence and discriminatory policies. That included lack of access to swim education, lifeguard programs and safe recreational spaces. The issue was compounded by the closure of pools in Black neighborhoods and private lessons that many working-class families can’t afford. Federal agencies, state governments, and nonprofits are increasingly moving toward free swim education access, community-level action plans, and equity-centered frameworks, focused on Black American communities. But the government recently cut more than 200 positions from the CDC Injury Center — the leading agency working to prevent overdose, suicide, and other injuries nationwide. i And Trump’s budget proposal for next year eliminates the program entirely as well as ending the annual drowning report, a valuable resource for prevention. But more than 50 national organizations, including philanthropies, universities, and health agencies, formed the Keep America Safe Coalition and managed to keep the center funded at the previous level. ‘Deadliest Year’ for Child Drowning On a press call about water safety last week, Rep Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a Florida Democrat, said the need for swimming safety is urgent: “We just had the deadliest year on record for child drownings.” The increase “is the first time that we’ve had a reversal” in drowning deaths, Wasserman-Shultz says. “One hundred nineteen children tragically lost their lives in 2025 and it’s an excruciating loss to think about. Every single person we lose to drowning is one too many.” Tony Gomez, a public health and injury prevention official for Seattle and King County, Washington, who also was on the call, says on-the-ground coordination is important. “At the local level, the importance of having a federal to state to local, with research entities and nonprofits all working together — like so many public health and public safety conditions — cannot be emphasized enough.” National Issue, Local Solutions Other call participants pointed to solutions at the local level. In Atlanta, for example, the city decided to allow city residents to enter all of its swimming pools for free, said Ryan Greenstein director of advocacy and public policy for YMCA of Metro Atlanta. RELATED: Shrinking Lifesaver: CDC Cuts Team Helping End Black Drownings As the federal government pulls back on drowning prevention, “there are other levels of government trying to do their part to either do swim scholarships, [offer] swim lessons,make pools more accessible and also create employment opportunities — lifeguards, aquatics directors and others at the local level.” The post Arrival of Summer Brings Attention to Drowning Prevention appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Wide
\n

For most of the U.S., the Memorial Day holiday signals the opening of the swimming season. Oceanside beaches, lakes, rivers, and swimming pools are usually teeming with water enthusiasts of all ages and abilities.  

\n\n\n\n

Yet as millions of Americans plan to head to pools and beaches during the summer, public health experts warn that Black children remain far more likely to drown than white kids. And the Trump administration has targeted federal programs designed to track and prevent those deaths for major budget cuts.

\n\n\n\n

The combination of funding cuts for water safety and the unofficial start of summer means increased risk for Black Americans. Drowning is the single leading overall cause of death for children ages one to four in the U.S. — ahead of car crashes and cancer. 

\n\n\n\n

And young Black people are at particular risk: those under age 30 are 1.5 times more likely than whites to drown. 

\n\n\n\n

Cuts to Prevention

\n\n\n\n

That data point became tragically visible last month in the ocean off the coast of Morocco. Two Black U.S. service members, ages 19 and 27, drowned when, on a recreational hike with others, one person — unable to swim — fell into the water, prompting the other to jump in to try and rescue her. 

\n\n\n\n

Sharon Gilmartin, executive director of Safe States Alliance, a nonprofit injury prevention organization, said the budget cuts have eliminated a key source of information that could help keep people safe. 

\n\n\n\n

“When you cut the federal investments into drowning prevention at the CDC Injury Center, you don’t just lose programs,” she says. “You lose the ability to know what’s working, where the problem is getting worse and which communities need help most.”

\n\n\n\n

Private funders “can [offer] piecemeal solutions, whether that’s for swim lessons or for specific communities,” she says. “But they can’t replicate a national surveillance system. They can’t replicate national expertise.”

\n\n\n\n

Black Youth At Risk

\n\n\n\n

Drowning disparities are highest among Black children, with those aged 5 to 9 drowning at rates 2.6 times higher than their white peers. The data are even worse for those aged 10 to 14, who are more than three times as likely to drown than white children. 

\n\n\n\n

While swimming pools don’t have the undertow of ocean water or the bitter cold of lakes, Black children ages 10 to 14 swimming in a pool still drown at rates that are 7.6 times higher than white children.

\n\n\n\n

When you cut the federal investments into drowning prevention … you don’t just lose programs. You lose the ability to know what’s working, where the problem is getting worse and which communities need help most.”

Sharon Gilmartin, executive director, Safe States Alliance
\n\n\n\n

Even more alarming: data shows that after years of decline, drowning deaths rose in this age group by 28% between 2019 and 2022—during the COVID-19 pandemic. Black people were overrepresented in that trend, as, compared to 2019, drowning rates increased by 22.2% in 2020 and 28.3% in 2021. 

\n\n\n\n

A Problem Rooted in the Past

\n\n\n\n

The disparities did not emerge by accident.

\n\n\n\n

For generations, Black Americans were locked out of public pools and beaches by segregation, violence and discriminatory policies. That included lack of access to swim education, lifeguard programs and safe recreational spaces. The issue was compounded by the closure of pools in Black neighborhoods and private lessons that many working-class families can’t afford.

\n\n\n\n

Federal agencies, state governments, and nonprofits are increasingly moving toward free swim education access, community-level action plans, and equity-centered frameworks, focused on Black American communities.

\n\n\n\n

But the government recently cut more than 200 positions from the CDC Injury Center — the leading agency working to prevent overdose, suicide, and other injuries nationwide. i And Trump’s budget proposal for next year eliminates the program entirely as well as ending the annual drowning report, a valuable resource for prevention.

\n\n\n\n

But more than 50 national organizations, including philanthropies, universities, and health agencies, formed the Keep America Safe Coalition and managed to keep the center funded at the previous level. 

\n\n\n\n

‘Deadliest Year’ for Child Drowning

\n\n\n\n

On a press call about water safety last week, Rep Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a Florida Democrat, said the need for swimming safety is urgent: “We just had the deadliest year on record for child drownings.”

\n\n\n\n

The increase “is the first time that we’ve had a reversal” in drowning deaths, Wasserman-Shultz says. “One hundred nineteen children tragically lost their lives in 2025 and it’s an excruciating loss to think about. Every single person we lose to drowning is one too many.” 

\n\n\n\n

Tony Gomez, a public health and injury prevention official for Seattle and King County, Washington, who also was on the call, says on-the-ground coordination is important. 

\n\n\n\n

“At the local level, the importance of having a federal to state to local, with research entities and nonprofits all working together — like so many public health and public safety conditions — cannot be emphasized enough.” 

\n\n\n\n

National Issue, Local Solutions

\n\n\n\n

Other call participants pointed to solutions at the local level. 

\n\n\n\n

In Atlanta, for example, the city decided to allow city residents to enter all of its swimming pools for free, said Ryan Greenstein director of advocacy and public policy for YMCA of Metro Atlanta.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: Shrinking Lifesaver: CDC Cuts Team Helping End Black Drownings

\n\n\n\n

As the federal government pulls back on drowning prevention, “there are other levels of government trying to do their part to either do swim scholarships, [offer] swim lessons,make pools more accessible and also create employment opportunities — lifeguards, aquatics directors and others at the local level.”

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Arrival of Summer Brings Attention to Drowning Prevention appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/arrival-of-summer-brings-attention-to-drowning-prevention/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health","finance","health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-26T15:01:00.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImagesSWIM052226.jpg?fit=728%2C480&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-26T15:05:07.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImagesSWIM052226.jpg?fit=728%2C480&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"3FpdiPR35ppNmnpq","title":"Six Years Later, Black Churches Refuse to Forget Floyd","description":"As Black churches across the country gather this weekend for prayer vigils, memorial sermons and racial justice commemorations marking six years since George Floyd’s murder, many clergy say the observances are rooted in a simple warning from Leslie Redmond, former Minneapolis NAACP president: What we don’t remember, we repeat. Yet it comes at a perilous moment. During the era of President Donald Trump — when civil rights laws are being dismantled, white grievances are given priority and Black history is under attack — pastors and activists see growing political pressure to soften, rewrite or move past the racial reckoning of 2020. LEARN MORE: George Floyd Square Remains a Sacred Site for Healing, Justice, and Joy But faith leaders say the racial reckoning that began May 25, 2020, when Floyd died beneath the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer, isn’t over. They believe the church has become one of the nation’s last institutions guarding Floyd’s legacy, keeping alive the spiritual, political, and moral questions raised by his death. Mourning and Activism Leading up to the anniversary of Floyd’s death, churches and faith communities nationwide are marking the date with worship services, prayer vigils, gospel concerts and racial justice gatherings that blend mourning with renewed activism. In Minneapolis, events centered around George Floyd Square include a Sunday worship service, gospel performances, a candlelight vigil and the Rise and Remember Festival. Organizers of the event say the focus this year is healing, community joy and resisting what activists describe as a national backlash against racial justice efforts. What we don’t remember, we repeat. eslie Redmond, former Minneapolis NAACP president In Houston — Floyd’s hometown — the Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to lead memorial observances at Floyd’s gravesite while also appearing at services at The Church Without Walls. Faith-based observances are also unfolding through denominational networks. Leaders connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have circulated anniversary messages framing Floyd’s death as both a spiritual and moral reckoning for the church, Meanwhile, clergy coalitions in Minneapolis are hosting conversations focused on racial healing, public memory and the future of anti-racism work. Social Divisions, Spiritual Exhaustion Additional information on Minneapolis remembrance events is available through Sahan Journal’s event guide, while coverage of the Houston memorial events can be found via Houston Chronicle reporting. The killing on May 25, 2020, sparked worldwide protests and renewed scrutiny of police brutality and systemic racism. But pastors say it also altered the emotional and theological landscape inside Black congregations already carrying the weight of racial trauma. Organizers connected to this year’s Rise & Remember Festival in Minneapolis say the anniversary is also about resisting what they see as growing political and cultural efforts to minimize the racial justice movement that followed Floyd’s death. For many pastors, Floyd’s death exposed not only social divisions but deep spiritual exhaustion among Black Americans. The Rev. Karen Brau of Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., recently framed the church’s responsibility in light of Floyd’s legacy as one of continued “truth-telling,” saying, “I think the ongoing truth-telling … remains relevant and necessary.” ‘Slow Drift Toward Forgetting’ Across the country, churches responded with prayer vigils, protest marches, Bible studies and racial justice ministries. Some clergy preached directly about police violence for the first time. Others partnered with congregations across racial lines to discuss systemic racism and reconciliation. For some faith leaders, the killing created what theologians often call a “Kairos moment” — a decisive time that demands moral action. Yet many clergy now say the church faces a complicated season marked by political backlash against diversity and inclusion efforts. Vicar Jenny Alexander-Allen, speaking at a Washington-area racial justice vigil earlier this year, warned against what she described as “the slow drift toward forgetting” surrounding both racial violence and the political forces shaping public memory. Faith, Justice, Survival For many Black Christians, Floyd’s death also reshaped worship itself. Sermons became more urgent. Prayer services became spaces for lament. Churches increasingly addressed racial trauma alongside spiritual healing. LEARN MORE: Chief Rondo Talks George Floyd, Race and Policing While Black Some congregations established anti-racism ministries, reparations initiatives and partnerships with community activists. Others encouraged members to vote, protest and advocate for criminal justice reform as expressions of faith rather than partisan politics. Six years later, pastors say the emotional wound remains fresh even as public attention shifts elsewhere. Many clergy argue the Black church cannot afford silence because the issues exposed by Floyd’s murder — policing disparities, racial inequality and the devaluation of Black life — remain unresolved. For churches shaped by both scripture and struggle, Floyd’s death became more than a national headline. It became a reminder that faith, justice and survival in Black America have long been inseparable. The post Six Years Later, Black Churches Refuse to Forget Floyd appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"As
\n

As Black churches across the country gather this weekend for prayer vigils, memorial sermons and racial justice commemorations marking six years since George Floyd’s murder, many clergy say the observances are rooted in a simple warning from Leslie Redmond, former Minneapolis NAACP president: What we don’t remember, we repeat.

\n\n\n\n

Yet it comes at a perilous moment. During the era of President Donald Trump — when civil rights laws are being dismantled, white grievances are given priority and Black history is under attack — pastors and activists see growing political pressure to soften, rewrite or move past the racial reckoning of 2020. 

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: George Floyd Square Remains a Sacred Site for Healing, Justice, and Joy

\n\n\n\n

But faith leaders say the racial reckoning that began May 25, 2020, when Floyd died beneath the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer, isn’t over. They believe the church has become one of the nation’s last institutions guarding Floyd’s legacy, keeping alive the spiritual, political, and moral questions raised by his death.

\n\n\n\n

Mourning and Activism

\n\n\n\n

Leading up to the anniversary of Floyd’s death, churches and faith communities nationwide are marking the date with worship services, prayer vigils, gospel concerts and racial justice gatherings that blend mourning with renewed activism. 

\n\n\n\n

In Minneapolis, events centered around George Floyd Square include a Sunday worship service, gospel performances, a candlelight vigil and the Rise and Remember Festival. Organizers of the event say the focus this year is healing, community joy and resisting what activists describe as a national backlash against racial justice efforts.

\n\n\n\n

What we don’t remember, we repeat.

eslie Redmond, former Minneapolis NAACP president
\n\n\n\n

In Houston — Floyd’s hometown — the Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to lead memorial observances at Floyd’s gravesite while also appearing at services at The Church Without Walls. Faith-based observances are also unfolding through denominational networks. 

\n\n\n\n

Leaders connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have circulated anniversary messages framing Floyd’s death as both a spiritual and moral reckoning for the church, Meanwhile, clergy coalitions in Minneapolis are hosting conversations focused on racial healing, public memory and the future of anti-racism work.

\n\n\n\n

Social Divisions, Spiritual Exhaustion

\n\n\n\n

Additional information on Minneapolis remembrance events is available through Sahan Journal’s event guide, while coverage of the Houston memorial events can be found via Houston Chronicle reporting.

\n\n\n\n

The killing on May 25, 2020, sparked worldwide protests and renewed scrutiny of police brutality and systemic racism. But pastors say it also altered the emotional and theological landscape inside Black congregations already carrying the weight of racial trauma.

\n\n\n\n

Organizers connected to this year’s Rise & Remember Festival in Minneapolis say the anniversary is also about resisting what they see as growing political and cultural efforts to minimize the racial justice movement that followed Floyd’s death. 

\n\n\n\n

For many pastors, Floyd’s death exposed not only social divisions but deep spiritual exhaustion among Black Americans.

\n\n\n\n

The Rev. Karen Brau of Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., recently framed the church’s responsibility in light of Floyd’s legacy as one of continued “truth-telling,” saying, “I think the ongoing truth-telling … remains relevant and necessary.”

\n\n\n\n

‘Slow Drift Toward Forgetting’

\n\n\n\n

Across the country, churches responded with prayer vigils, protest marches, Bible studies and racial justice ministries. Some clergy preached directly about police violence for the first time. Others partnered with congregations across racial lines to discuss systemic racism and reconciliation.

\n\n\n\n

For some faith leaders, the killing created what theologians often call a “Kairos moment” — a decisive time that demands moral action. Yet many clergy now say the church faces a complicated season marked by political backlash against diversity and inclusion efforts.

\n\n\n\n

Vicar Jenny Alexander-Allen, speaking at a Washington-area racial justice vigil earlier this year, warned against what she described as “the slow drift toward forgetting” surrounding both racial violence and the political forces shaping public memory.

\n\n\n\n

Faith, Justice, Survival

\n\n\n\n

For many Black Christians, Floyd’s death also reshaped worship itself. Sermons became more urgent. Prayer services became spaces for lament. Churches increasingly addressed racial trauma alongside spiritual healing. 

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: Chief Rondo Talks George Floyd, Race and Policing While Black

\n\n\n\n

Some congregations established anti-racism ministries, reparations initiatives and partnerships with community activists. Others encouraged members to vote, protest and advocate for criminal justice reform as expressions of faith rather than partisan politics.

\n\n\n\n

Six years later, pastors say the emotional wound remains fresh even as public attention shifts elsewhere. Many clergy argue the Black church cannot afford silence because the issues exposed by Floyd’s murder — policing disparities, racial inequality and the devaluation of Black life — remain unresolved.

\n\n\n\n

For churches shaped by both scripture and struggle, Floyd’s death became more than a national headline. It became a reminder that faith, justice and survival in Black America have long been inseparable.

\n

The post Six Years Later, Black Churches Refuse to Forget Floyd appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/six-years-later-black-churches-refuse-to-forget-floyd/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-25T09:00:00.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2216418778.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-25T09:13:57.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2216418778.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"ZcBBNGztiAMfsEBC","title":"‘Reparations Sunday’ Brings a Hot Debate Into Black Churches","description":"More than a half-century ago, activist James Forman walked into New York’s hallowed Riverside Church during Sunday worship and made a demand that white religious America had spent generations avoiding: Pay reparations. In what became known as the “Black Manifesto,” Forman called on white faith communities to contribute $500 million to Black America. It would be long-overdue recompense for centuries of stolen labor, systemic oppression, and plunder — brazen crimes that helped America build the world’s most powerful economy. Many white clergy recoiled. Others denounced him as divisive, militant, or dangerous. The sanctuary, they believed, was no place for demands about debt. This weekend, the debate Forman forced into the pews is returning to the pulpit with fresh urgency, especially as the nation heads towards its 250th anniversary — and as the Trump administration continues its sweeping rollback of civil rights protections. Across the country, Black churches are observing “Reparations Sunday,” using sermons, prayer vigils, film screenings and educational forums to argue that reparations are not merely a political talking point or academic theory, but a moral obligation rooted in Scripture itself. The movement, supported by the National African American Reparations Commission and other faith-based advocates, reflects how the reparations conversation has evolved in recent years. James Forman (Getty Images) Once largely confined to college lecture halls, think-tank symposiums, and activist circles, the push for reparations is increasingly being woven into worship services and congregational life. Churches are collecting offerings for reparative causes, supporting historically Black colleges and universities, teaching members about legislation like HR-40 and framing economic justice as inseparable from Christian discipleship. For many pastors, the argument is as theological as it is political. Theologians point to Deuteronomy 15, for example, which commands that formerly enslaved people not be sent away “empty-handed.” It’s evidence, they say, that repair, restitution and restoration are biblical principles, not modern inventions. In churches embracing Reparations Sunday, supporters argue the observance is ultimately about more than money. It is about forcing America to confront a truth it has repeatedly tried to bury: that the nation’s wealth and power were built on Black suffering — and that repentance without repair is merely performance. “America, you owe us. What you done to us has been immoral. It’s been evil. It’s been unjust,” Dr. Frederick Haynes III, senior pastor of Friendship West in Dallas, Texas, told a 2022 gathering in San Francisco. ”What you done to us has been immoral. It’s been evil. It’s been unjust. The only way to bring salvation to America— you gotta pay us what you owe us.” The Rev. Robert Turner, a Baltimore pastor known for monthly walks to Washington advocating for reparations, recently described the issue in deeply spiritual terms while standing outside the National Museum of African American History and Culture — just blocks from the White House and the Treasury Department. Turner carried a sign reading “Reparations Now” during his 43-mile walk from Baltimore to Washington earlier this spring. Meanwhile, a growing number of reparations discussions are taking shape at the state and local level. In Maryland, a state commission studying the legacy of racial terror recently recommended financial compensation for descendants of lynching victims and communities harmed by racial violence. Some supporters say Reparations Sunday gives churches an opportunity to move the discussion from abstract politics to personal responsibility. Others argue that the observance reminds congregations that reparations are not solely about money, but include historical acknowledgment, public truth telling, educational opportunity, land access, housing equity and healing generational trauma. Related:https://wordinblack.com/2024/08/faith-based-reparations-fund-helps-kids-pay-college/ At its core, Reparations Sunday asks churches to wrestle with an old biblical question in a modern American context: What does repentance look like when the wounds of injustice still remain visible? For many congregations this year, the answer begins with remembrance, prayer and the conviction that faith without justice remains incomplete. The post ‘Reparations Sunday’ Brings a Hot Debate Into Black Churches appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"More
\n

More than a half-century ago, activist James Forman walked into New York’s hallowed Riverside Church during Sunday worship and made a demand that white religious America had spent generations avoiding: Pay reparations. 

\n\n\n\n

In what became known as the “Black Manifesto,” Forman called on white faith communities to contribute $500 million to Black America. It would be long-overdue recompense for centuries of stolen labor, systemic oppression, and plunder — brazen crimes that helped America build the world’s most powerful economy. 

\n\n\n\n

Many white clergy recoiled. Others denounced him as divisive, militant, or dangerous. The sanctuary, they believed, was no place for demands about debt.

\n\n\n\n

This weekend, the debate Forman forced into the pews is returning to the pulpit with fresh urgency, especially as the nation heads towards its 250th anniversary — and as the Trump administration continues its sweeping rollback of civil rights protections.

\n\n\n\n

Across the country, Black churches are observing “Reparations Sunday,” using sermons, prayer vigils, film screenings and educational forums to argue that reparations are not merely a political talking point or academic theory, but a moral obligation rooted in Scripture itself. 

\n\n\n\n

The movement, supported by the National African American Reparations Commission and other faith-based advocates, reflects how the reparations conversation has evolved in recent years. 

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
James Forman (Getty Images)
\n
\n\n\n

Once largely confined to college lecture halls, think-tank symposiums, and activist circles, the push for reparations is increasingly being woven into worship services and congregational life. Churches are collecting offerings for reparative causes, supporting historically Black colleges and universities, teaching members about legislation like HR-40 and framing economic justice as inseparable from Christian discipleship.

\n\n\n\n

For many pastors, the argument is as theological as it is political.

\n\n\n\n

Theologians point to Deuteronomy 15, for example, which commands that formerly enslaved people not be sent away “empty-handed.” It’s evidence, they say, that repair, restitution and restoration are biblical principles, not modern inventions. 

\n\n\n\n

In churches embracing Reparations Sunday, supporters argue the observance is ultimately about more than money. It is about forcing America to confront a truth it has repeatedly tried to bury: that the nation’s wealth and power were built on Black suffering — and that repentance without repair is merely performance.

\n\n\n\n

“America, you owe us. What you done to us has been immoral. It’s been evil. It’s been unjust,” Dr. Frederick Haynes III, senior pastor of Friendship West in Dallas, Texas, told a 2022 gathering in San Francisco. ”What you done to us has been immoral. It’s been evil. It’s been unjust. The only way to bring salvation to America— you gotta pay us what you owe us.”

\n\n\n\n

The Rev. Robert Turner, a Baltimore pastor known for monthly walks to Washington advocating for reparations, recently described the issue in deeply spiritual terms while standing outside the National Museum of African American History and Culture — just blocks from the White House and the Treasury Department.

\n\n\n\n

Turner carried a sign reading “Reparations Now” during his 43-mile walk from Baltimore to Washington earlier this spring.  

\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, a growing number of reparations discussions are taking shape at the state and local level. In Maryland, a state commission studying the legacy of racial terror recently recommended financial compensation for descendants of lynching victims and communities harmed by racial violence.  

\n\n\n\n

Some supporters say Reparations Sunday gives churches an opportunity to move the discussion from abstract politics to personal responsibility.

\n\n\n\n

Others argue that the observance reminds congregations that reparations are not solely about money, but include historical acknowledgment, public truth telling, educational opportunity, land access, housing equity and healing generational trauma.

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Related:https://wordinblack.com/2024/08/faith-based-reparations-fund-helps-kids-pay-college/

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At its core, Reparations Sunday asks churches to wrestle with an old biblical question in a modern American context: What does repentance look like when the wounds of injustice still remain visible?

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For many congregations this year, the answer begins with remembrance, prayer and the conviction that faith without justice remains incomplete.

\n

The post ‘Reparations Sunday’ Brings a Hot Debate Into Black Churches appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/reparations-sunday-brings-a-hot-debate-into-black-churches/","site":"Joseph Williams","originalAuthor":"Joseph Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion","religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-22T17:45:58.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-517213200.jpg?fit=594%2C524&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-22T17:50:12.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-517213200.jpg?fit=594%2C524&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"qFSEOzhIWumXyb7e","title":"Word In Black’s Summer Event Schedule","description":"We’re hosting virtual conversations every two weeks this summer. Register for them below, and we’ll email you a calendar reminder to watch your selected event(s) live. JUNE Safe Space: How to Support Black Men’s Mental Health 6/3/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET How can we break stigmas and cost barriers to better support Black men’s mental health? In honor of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, join Word In Black for a conversation and practice session with community leaders and support practitioners. They will share resources, opportunities and lead a meditation exercise. Register Is AI Poisoning Black America? A Live Debate 6/17/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET A live debate between leaders arguing whether AI is empowering or hurting Black Americans. Before and after the moderated debate, live viewers will share their thoughts via polls and rate which debaters were the most successful at proving their arguments. Register JULY Building Black Safe Havens in the U.S. 7/1/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET Join Word In Black for an exploration into all-Black communities in the U.S. We’ll discuss the viability, obstacles and opportunities related to starting these “safe havens”, as well as tips for people interested in launching their own. Register Delivering Solutions for the Maternal Health Crisis 7/15/2026, 12-1:15 p.m. ET Black women are more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth complications than their white peers, according to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. During this virtual event, Word In Black’s health reporter Jennifer Porter Gore will lead a discussion with medical leaders, advocates, and organizers about how the U.S. can improve these outcomes. The discussion will explore Black-led community models and policies that can make a difference. Speakers TBA. Register AUGUST The Dark Side of Our Addiction to Fast Fashion 8/5/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET It’s easy to get cute, cheap clothes from places like Shein and H&M, but at what cost? In this virtual conversation, we’ll examine the downside of fast fashion’s convenience, including its potential impact on your physical health, the environment, and the labor market. We’ll also discuss Black-led movements to reverse these outcomes. Speakers TBA Register Is College Still Worth It? 8/19/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET While enrollment is declining at many four-year colleges, HBCUs are breaking enrollment records. But what does the future look like for college graduates as the U.S. grapples with AI in the workplace and an unstable job market? Join this virtual event as we explore these questions with panelists. We will also invite live viewers to call in and share their thoughts and experiences as we consider whether college is still worth it in 2026 and beyond. Register Reach Out Would you like to serve as a guest speaker at one of our planned events? Or do you have an idea for a future event? Email Shernay Williams at Shernay.williams @ wordinblack.com. Rewatch Word In Black’s Previous Events Word In Black’s Religion Hot Topics 5/21/26: Event Replay What’s on Your Plate? Food Access in Black America 5/13/26: Event Replay The Action Plan to Get Black Women Back to Work 4/29/26 Event Recap ‘Breaking the Silence’: How Black Women Can Fight Breast Cancer 4/9/26 Event Recap The post Word In Black’s Summer Event Schedule appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"\"
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We’re hosting virtual conversations every two weeks this summer.

\n\n\n\n

Register for them below, and we’ll email you a calendar reminder to watch your selected event(s) live. 

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

JUNE

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Safe Space: How to Support Black Men’s Mental Health

\n\n\n\n

6/3/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET

\n\n\n\n

How can we break stigmas and cost barriers to better support Black men’s mental health? 

\n\n\n\n

In honor of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, join Word In Black for a conversation and practice session with community leaders and support practitioners. They will share resources, opportunities and lead a meditation exercise. 

\n\n\n\n

Register

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Is AI Poisoning Black America? A Live Debate

\n\n\n\n

6/17/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET

\n\n\n\n

A live debate between leaders arguing whether AI is empowering or hurting Black Americans. Before and after the moderated debate, live viewers will share their thoughts via polls and rate which debaters were the most successful at proving their arguments.

\n\n\n\n

Register

\n\n\n\n

JULY

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Building Black Safe Havens in the U.S.

\n\n\n\n

7/1/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET

\n\n\n\n

Join Word In Black for an exploration into all-Black communities in the U.S. We’ll discuss the viability, obstacles and opportunities related to starting these “safe havens”, as well as tips for people interested in launching their own.

\n\n\n\n

Register

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Delivering Solutions for the Maternal Health Crisis

\n\n\n\n

7/15/2026, 12-1:15 p.m. ET

\n\n\n\n

Black women are more than three times more likely to die from pregnancy and childbirth complications than their white peers, according to the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. 

\n\n\n\n

During this virtual event, Word In Black’s health reporter Jennifer Porter Gore will lead a discussion with medical leaders, advocates, and organizers about how the U.S. can improve these outcomes. The discussion will explore Black-led community models and policies that can make a difference. Speakers TBA.

\n\n\n\n

Register

\n\n\n\n

AUGUST

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The Dark Side of Our Addiction to Fast Fashion

\n\n\n\n

8/5/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET

\n\n\n\n

It’s easy to get cute, cheap clothes from places like Shein and H&M, but at what cost? 

\n\n\n\n

In this virtual conversation, we’ll examine the downside of fast fashion’s convenience, including its potential impact on your physical health, the environment, and the labor market. We’ll also discuss Black-led movements to reverse these outcomes. Speakers TBA

\n\n\n\n

Register

\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Is College Still Worth It?

\n\n\n\n

8/19/2026, 6-7:15 p.m. ET

\n\n\n\n

While enrollment is declining at many four-year colleges, HBCUs are breaking enrollment records. 

\n\n\n\n

But what does the future look like for college graduates as the U.S. grapples with AI in the workplace and an unstable job market? Join this virtual event as we explore these questions with panelists. We will also invite live viewers to call in and share their thoughts and experiences as we consider whether college is still worth it in 2026 and beyond.

\n\n\n\n

Register

\n\n\n\n

Reach Out

\n\n\n\n

Would you like to serve as a guest speaker at one of our planned events? Or do you have an idea for a future event? Email Shernay Williams at Shernay.williams @ wordinblack.com.

\n\n\n\n

Rewatch Word In Black’s Previous Events

\n\n\n\n

Word In Black’s Religion Hot Topics  5/21/26: Event Replay

\n\n\n\n

What’s on Your Plate? Food Access in Black America 5/13/26: Event Replay

\n\n\n\n

The Action Plan to Get Black Women Back to Work 4/29/26 Event Recap

\n\n\n\n

‘Breaking the Silence’: How Black Women Can Fight Breast Cancer 4/9/26 Event Recap

\n

The post Word In Black’s Summer Event Schedule appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/word-in-blacks-summer-event-schedule/","site":"Shernay Williams","originalAuthor":"Shernay Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Events","AI","Black safe havens","college","education","fast fashion","hbcus","health","maternal health","mental health","Shein"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-21T21:21:56.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/YouTube-Events-Image.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-05-21T21:33:41.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/YouTube-Events-Image.png?fit=1024%2C576&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"rv81kXiMgtAypsIV","title":"Team Unerased Launches Power Read 25 for America 250","description":"You got to make your own worlds…You got to write yourself in. — Octavia Butler When the National Endowment for the Arts unveiled the list of 24 titles for its “Big Read” program tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, the message was unmistakable. Although five white women, three Black men, and one Native American woman and one Latina woman made the cut, the list is dominated by 14 white men. Black women — whose labor, activism, intellect, and creativity have helped shape every chapter of this country’s democracy story — were nowhere to be found RELATED: ‘Family Spirit’: A Page-Turner With a Beating Heart The omission was glaring — and familiar. Rather than protest, Team Unerased has created its own best-books campaign centered on the pivotal role Black women have played in building this nation, before and beyond America’s Independence story. Adversity and Justice Storytelling by and about Black women is more than cultural preservation. It is civic education, political organizing, and historical correction. Black women’s voices are critical to understanding America and the long quest for freedom. As we witness the dismantling of more than 60 years of racial progress, we launch Power Read 25, an initiative celebrating change agents through the ages. Stories of Black women, both revered and under-acknowledged, remind us that the quest for justice has always been punctuated by adversity. Again and again, Black women transformed resistance into resilience and turmoil into triumph. The initiative begins with 25 biographies that bring the past, present, and future of Black women into America’s unfolding story of democracy. The titles, geared toward both adult and young readers, enable them to engage with often overlooked narratives that reveal Black women’s resistance, organization, and the change they sparked in the face of abominable repression. Black women’s voices are critical to understanding America and the long quest for freedom. Selected by a panel of civic, literary, and cultural leaders, Power Reads will illuminate achievement, resilience, social change, and intellectual rigor during the dark days of our nation’s halting march to racial equality. The featured protagonists will include widely revered and lesser-known historical figures, as well as contemporary voices who have shaped our past and the moments leading up to our current circumstances. Look Deeper, Read Widely The 2026 titles will be released in July, followed by a public convening in September and reading circles throughout the fall. We will focus on metropolitan Washington, D.C., for this initial campaign, although a nationwide Power Read will launch in early 2027. As the country looks toward the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Power Read 25 invites our audience to look deeper, read more widely, and examine history through the lives, labor, creativity and courage of Black women. History, after all, is not only etched in dates, monuments, or national milestones. It is found in lives. In choices. In stories. What we read and whose lives we study shape awareness and inspire social change. Visit Unerased for more details. Gwen McKinney is creator and campaign director of Unerased | Black Women Speak The post Team Unerased Launches Power Read 25 for America 250 appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Organizers
\n
\n

You got to make your own worlds…You got to write yourself in. — Octavia Butler

\n
\n\n\n\n

When the National Endowment for the Arts unveiled the list of 24 titles for its “Big Read” program tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration, the message was unmistakable. Although five white women, three Black men, and one Native American woman and one Latina woman made the cut, the list is dominated by 14 white men.

\n\n\n\n

Black women — whose labor, activism, intellect, and creativity have helped shape every chapter of this country’s democracy story — were nowhere to be found

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: ‘Family Spirit’: A Page-Turner With a Beating Heart

\n\n\n\n

The omission was glaring — and familiar. Rather than protest, Team Unerased has created its own best-books campaign centered on the pivotal role Black women have played in building this nation, before and beyond America’s Independence story.

\n\n\n\n

Adversity and Justice

\n\n\n\n

Storytelling by and about Black women is more than cultural preservation. It is civic education, political organizing, and historical correction. Black women’s voices are critical to understanding America and the long quest for freedom. 

\n\n\n\n

As we witness the dismantling of more than 60 years of racial progress, we launch Power Read 25, an initiative celebrating change agents through the ages. Stories of Black women, both revered and under-acknowledged, remind us that the quest for justice has always been punctuated by adversity. Again and again, Black women transformed resistance into resilience and turmoil into triumph.  

\n\n\n\n

The initiative begins with 25 biographies that bring the past, present, and future of Black women into America’s unfolding story of democracy. The titles, geared toward both adult and young readers, enable them to engage with often overlooked narratives that reveal Black women’s resistance, organization, and the change they sparked in the face of abominable repression. 

\n\n\n\n

Black women’s voices are critical to understanding America and the long quest for freedom. 

\n\n\n\n

Selected by a panel of civic, literary, and cultural leaders, Power Reads will illuminate achievement, resilience, social change, and intellectual rigor during the dark days of our nation’s halting march to racial equality. The featured protagonists will include widely revered and lesser-known historical figures, as well as contemporary voices who have shaped our past and the moments leading up to our current circumstances. 

\n\n\n\n

Look Deeper, Read Widely

\n\n\n\n

The 2026 titles will be released in July, followed by a public convening in September and reading circles throughout the fall. We will focus on metropolitan Washington, D.C., for this initial campaign, although a nationwide Power Read will launch in early 2027.

\n\n\n\n

As the country looks toward the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Power Read 25 invites our audience to look deeper, read more widely, and examine history through the lives, labor, creativity and courage of Black women.

\n\n\n\n

History, after all, is not only etched in dates, monuments, or national milestones. It is found in lives. In choices. In stories. 

\n\n\n\n

What we read and whose lives we study shape awareness and inspire social change. Visit Unerased for more details.

\n\n\n\n

Gwen McKinney is creator and campaign director of Unerased | Black Women Speak

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Team Unerased Launches Power Read 25 for America 250 appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/team-unerased-launches-power-read-25-for-america-250/","site":"Joseph Williams","originalAuthor":"Joseph Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Black women","Opinion","opinion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-21T20:49:38.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-200279348-001.jpg?fit=727%2C480&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-21T21:03:20.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-200279348-001.jpg?fit=727%2C480&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"GKTcklO3WEYd5NRO","title":"Elon Musk Expands AI Plant Accused of Polluting Black Areas","description":"For months, the NAACP and a coalition of environmental justice groups have accused Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company of poisoning Black communities in North Mississippi and Memphis with an improvised power plant fueled by unpermitted gas turbines. Now, even after the groups sued him, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act, Musk appears to be escalating the fight. The billionaire recently added six more gas-powered turbines to the sprawling xAI data center operation, and civil rights and environmental advocates are racing to prevent the pollution from becoming permanent. LEARN MORE: Elon Musk’s AI Empire Accused of Polluting Black Communities The NAACP, represented by Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center, the NAACP asked a federal court earlier this month to immediately shut them down. Increasing Pollution Ben Grillot, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said in a statement that the court must act “in order to protect communities in North Mississippi and Memphis from the tech company’s harmful pollution.” Sitting just across the state line from Memphis, the ad hoc power plant supplies power to t Colossus 1 and Colossus 2, a massive pair of supercomputers that Musk’s xAI company has built in the area. The facilities both run and train Grok, Musk’s entry in the crowded AI chatbot field. We will not stand by and idly watch as the Clean Air Act is ignored. Abre’ Conner, NAACP director of environmental and climate justice The new turbines bring the total number operating there from 27 to 33, and the additions are some of the largest in use at the facility, capable of generating even more air pollution. ‘Blatant Disregard’ for Law In a statement, Abre’ Conner, the NAACP’s director of environmental and climate justice, said that “the urgency of ensuring that our communities’ health and environment are protected is clear.” Musk’s deliberate expansion of an “unpermitted” power plant, she says, is an end run around environmental safeguards, and shows xAI’s “blatant disregard for the law.” Adding six more turbines “further exacerbates the health risks facing families in North Mississippi and the Greater Memphis region,” Conner said. “We will not stand by and idly watch as the Clean Air Act is ignored. We will continue to fight to ensure all polluters, including billionaires’ companies, understand that the law is not to be treated as a suggestion while local communities bear the consequences.” The turbines are running near Southaven, Mississippi, a residential community with homes, schools, churches, and workplaces. The city, which is part of the greater Memphis metro area, is about one-third Black. Bad Air is Even Worse Across the state line in Memphis, xAI’s Colossus 1 facility is located near Boxtown, a community founded by freedmen that remains a predominantly Black neighborhood. Musk pioneered the use of gas-powered turbines, which are mobile and, under some circumstances, can be used without regulatory permits or an environmental review because they are considered temporary. But according to the NAACP, the turbines are now likely the leading source of nitrogen oxide emissions in the greater Memphis area. Nitrogen oxides generate smog, which is already a significant issue around Memphis and in Northern Mississippi. Both DeSoto County, Mississippi, where Southaven is located, and Shelby County, Tennessee, home to Memphis, recently received F grades for smog pollution from the American Lung Association. The post Elon Musk Expands AI Plant Accused of Polluting Black Areas appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Elon
\n

For months, the NAACP and a coalition of environmental justice groups have accused Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company of poisoning Black communities in North Mississippi and Memphis with an improvised power plant fueled by unpermitted gas turbines. Now, even after the groups sued him, alleging violations of the Clean Air Act, Musk appears to be escalating the fight.

\n\n\n\n

The billionaire recently added six more gas-powered turbines to the sprawling xAI data center operation, and civil rights and environmental advocates are racing to prevent the pollution from becoming permanent.

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: Elon Musk’s AI Empire Accused of Polluting Black Communities

\n\n\n\n

The NAACP, represented by Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Center, the NAACP asked a federal court earlier this month to immediately shut them down.

\n\n\n\n

Increasing Pollution

\n\n\n\n

Ben Grillot, a senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center, said in a statement that the court must act “in order to protect communities in North Mississippi and Memphis from the tech company’s harmful pollution.” 

\n\n\n\n

Sitting just across the state line from Memphis, the ad hoc power plant supplies power to t Colossus 1 and Colossus 2, a massive pair of supercomputers that Musk’s xAI company has built in the area. The facilities both run and train Grok, Musk’s entry in the crowded AI chatbot field. 

\n\n\n\n

We will not stand by and idly watch as the Clean Air Act is ignored.

Abre’ Conner, NAACP director of environmental and climate justice
\n\n\n\n

The new turbines bring the total number operating there from 27 to 33, and the additions are some of the largest in use at the facility, capable of generating even more air pollution. 

\n\n\n\n

‘Blatant Disregard’ for Law

\n\n\n\n

In a statement, Abre’ Conner, the NAACP’s director of environmental and climate justice, said that “the urgency of ensuring that our communities’ health and environment are protected is clear.” Musk’s deliberate expansion of an “unpermitted” power plant, she says, is an end run around environmental safeguards, and shows xAI’s “blatant disregard for the law.” 

\n\n\n\n

Adding six more turbines “further exacerbates the health risks facing families in North Mississippi and the Greater Memphis region,” Conner said. “We will not stand by and idly watch as the Clean Air Act is ignored. We will continue to fight to ensure all polluters, including billionaires’ companies, understand that the law is not to be treated as a suggestion while local communities bear the consequences.” 

\n\n\n\n

The turbines are running near Southaven, Mississippi, a residential community with homes, schools, churches, and workplaces. The city, which is part of the greater Memphis metro area, is about one-third Black. 

\n\n\n\n

Bad Air is Even Worse

\n\n\n\n

Across the state line in Memphis, xAI’s Colossus 1 facility is located near Boxtown, a community founded by freedmen that remains a predominantly Black neighborhood. 

\n\n\n\n

Musk pioneered the use of gas-powered turbines, which are mobile and, under some circumstances, can be used without regulatory permits or an environmental review because they are considered temporary. 

\n\n\n\n

But according to the NAACP, the turbines are now likely the leading source of nitrogen oxide emissions in the greater Memphis area. 

\n\n\n\n

Nitrogen oxides generate smog, which is already a significant issue around Memphis and in Northern Mississippi. Both DeSoto County, Mississippi, where Southaven is located, and Shelby County, Tennessee, home to Memphis, recently received F grades for smog pollution from the American Lung Association. 

\n

The post Elon Musk Expands AI Plant Accused of Polluting Black Areas appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/elon-musk-expands-ai-plant-accused-of-polluting-black-areas/","site":"Willy Blackmore","originalAuthor":"Willy Blackmore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Environmental Justice","environmental justice"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-21T20:15:13.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2217198328-2.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-21T20:18:01.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2217198328-2.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"lOMQA2ZwA2RTRvlF","title":"Black Pastor Mark Burns Defends Trump Monument Amid Criticism","description":"Before the prayers began and the cameras started rolling, Pastor Mark Burns stood beside a towering, golden statue of President Donald Trump at the president’s private club and insisted critics — including evangelical Christians with the Book of Exodus in mind — were looking at it the wrong way. “This is not a golden calf,” Burns, who is Black and a staunch Trump supporter, declared as he blessed the 22-foot monument at Trump National Doral golf club in Miami this week. LEARN MORE: Amid Backsliding, a Michigan Group Keeps MLK’s Fire Burning Critics across social media, including many Black Christians, disagreed. They compared the erection of a golden statue of a man many believe was elected by divine providence to one of the Bible’s most infamous warnings about idol worship. ‘A Little Closer to Hell’ Threads user maryhallrayford’s reaction was typical: Burns “has been there from the beginning, kissing the orange behind. What has he gotten for it? A little closer to hell!” That history is part of why Burns’ role in the statue dedication landed so hard inside Black church and political circles. The image of a Black pastor praying over a massive golden Trump monument — while Trump allies describe the president in increasingly messianic language — collided head-on with a Black church tradition shaped by resistance to authoritarian power, racial oppression, and the dangerous fusion of politics and religion. To critics, the statue itself is secondary to a bigger question: what happens when faith stops challenging power and starts sanctifying it. And for Burns, the moment was the latest chapter in a decade-long transformation from a relatively unknown South Carolina preacher to one of the MAGA world’s most visible Black pastors. Divine Intervention, or Luck? The 22-foot monument, known as “Don Colossus,” depicts Trump, then a presidential candidate, raising his fist in the air, mirroring the defiant gesture he made after surviving a 2024 assassination attempt during a campaign stop in Butler, Pennsylvania. Many Trump supporters believe that divine intervention spared Trump and saw it as proof he was destined to become president. To critics, the statue itself is secondary to a bigger question: what happens when faith stops challenging power and starts sanctifying it. Given the golden image of Trump and the statue’s unorthodox funding — cryptocurrency investors associated with the $PATRIOT memecoin bankrolled the project — a person of faith and conversant with the Hebrew Scriptures could not help but compare it to the well-known scene in Exodus. While waiting for Moses to descend the mountain after his conversation with God, the Israelites melted gold they’d collected from their Egyptian bondsmen and crafted a golden calf that they not only worshiped but believed was responsible for their new freedom. Although Burns quickly addressed comparisons to the biblical golden calf in his remarks at the unveiling, the backlash prompted him to issue a follow-up statement after the ceremony. “We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone.” Losing Ground with Evangelicals Although he wasn’t there in person, Trump phoned into the unveiling and singled out Burns for praise. “I want to thank Mark Burns, a pastor,” the president said. “He’s a good pastor, he’s a good man.” Many evangelicals confess support for the president as someone divinely appointed, anointed and protected by God; such as Robert Jeffress. He told Fox News that Trump “has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has.” A survey from Pew Research Center in late January found that his approval rating with the group stood at 69 percent. A more recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll put it at 64 percent, down 5 points from January. Still, the imagery surrounding the dedication sparked criticism from many Christians and commentators, who argued that the statue reflected a troubling merger of political loyalty and religious devotion. ‘Recreational Idolatry’ On “The View,” conservative commentator Ana Navarro mocked the display as carrying “small dictator energy” during a discussion about the monument and the worship controversy surrounding it. Late-night TV host Stephen Colbert also ridiculed the spectacle, describing the unveiling as “recreational idolatry” during an episode of “The Late Show.” In one widely shared Reddit discussion reacting to the ceremony, commenters repeatedly compared the statue to the golden calf story found in Exodus. One commenter wrote, “The statue of trump is the EXACT same as the golden calf.” Another posted, “This is a core repeated message in the bible about how this is bad.” Supporters of the unveiling insist critics are mischaracterizing the event. Burns argued that honoring political figures through monuments is not inherently religious. RELATED: As War and Fear Rise, Americans Pause for National Day of Prayer “This statue was not created for worship,” Burns said in comments published by Premier Christian News. “It was created as a symbol of resilience, patriotism, courage, and gratitude.” According to Alan Cottrill, the artist who created the monument, the statue cost approximately $450,000 after organizers requested a gold-leaf finish that Trump reportedly favored. The post Black Pastor Mark Burns Defends Trump Monument Amid Criticism appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"The
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Before the prayers began and the cameras started rolling, Pastor Mark Burns stood beside a towering, golden statue of President Donald Trump at the president’s private club and insisted critics — including evangelical Christians with the Book of Exodus in mind — were looking at it the wrong way.

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“This is not a golden calf,” Burns, who is Black and a staunch Trump supporter, declared as he blessed the 22-foot monument at Trump National Doral golf club in Miami this week. 

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LEARN MORE: Amid Backsliding, a Michigan Group Keeps MLK’s Fire Burning

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Critics across social media, including many Black Christians, disagreed. They compared the erection of a golden statue of a man many believe was elected by divine providence to one of the Bible’s most infamous warnings about idol worship.

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‘A Little Closer to Hell’

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Threads user maryhallrayford’s reaction was typical: Burns “has been there from the beginning, kissing the orange behind. What has he gotten for it? A little closer to hell!” 

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That history is part of why Burns’ role in the statue dedication landed so hard inside Black church and political circles. 

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The image of a Black pastor praying over a massive golden Trump monument — while Trump allies describe the president in increasingly messianic language — collided head-on with a Black church tradition shaped by resistance to authoritarian power, racial oppression, and the dangerous fusion of politics and religion. 

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To critics, the statue itself is secondary to a bigger question: what happens when faith stops challenging power and starts sanctifying it. 

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And for Burns, the moment was the latest chapter in a decade-long transformation from a relatively unknown South Carolina preacher to one of the MAGA world’s most visible Black pastors. 

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Divine Intervention, or Luck?

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The 22-foot monument, known as “Don Colossus,” depicts Trump, then a presidential candidate, raising his fist in the air, mirroring the defiant gesture he made after surviving a 2024 assassination attempt during a campaign stop in Butler, Pennsylvania. Many Trump supporters believe that divine intervention spared Trump and saw it as proof he was destined to become president. 

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To critics, the statue itself is secondary to a bigger question: what happens when faith stops challenging power and starts sanctifying it. 

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Given the golden image of Trump and the statue’s unorthodox funding — cryptocurrency investors associated with the $PATRIOT memecoin bankrolled the project — a person of faith and conversant with the Hebrew Scriptures could not help but compare it to the well-known scene in Exodus. While waiting for Moses to descend the mountain after his conversation with God, the Israelites melted gold they’d collected from their Egyptian bondsmen and crafted a golden calf that they not only worshiped but believed was responsible for their new freedom.

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Although Burns quickly addressed comparisons to the biblical golden calf in his remarks at the unveiling, the backlash prompted him to issue a follow-up statement after the ceremony.  “We worship the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone.”  

\n\n\n\n

Losing Ground with Evangelicals

\n\n\n\n

Although he wasn’t there in person, Trump phoned into the unveiling and singled out Burns for praise. “I want to thank Mark Burns, a pastor,” the president said. “He’s a good pastor, he’s a good man.” 

\n\n\n\n

Many evangelicals confess support for the president as someone divinely appointed, anointed and protected by God; such as Robert Jeffress. He told Fox News that Trump “has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has.”

\n\n\n\n

A survey from Pew Research Center in late January found that his approval rating with the group stood at 69 percent. A more recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll put it at 64 percent, down 5 points from January.

\n\n\n\n

Still, the imagery surrounding the dedication sparked criticism from many Christians and commentators, who argued that the statue reflected a troubling merger of political loyalty and religious devotion.

\n\n\n\n

‘Recreational Idolatry’

\n\n\n\n

On “The View,” conservative commentator Ana Navarro mocked the display as carrying “small dictator energy” during a discussion about the monument and the worship controversy surrounding it.  

\n\n\n\n

Late-night TV host Stephen Colbert also ridiculed the spectacle, describing the unveiling as “recreational idolatry” during an episode of “The Late Show.”  

\n\n\n\n

In one widely shared Reddit discussion reacting to the ceremony, commenters repeatedly compared the statue to the golden calf story found in Exodus. 

\n\n\n\n

One commenter wrote, “The statue of trump is the EXACT same as the golden calf.” Another posted, “This is a core repeated message in the bible about how this is bad.” 

\n\n\n\n

Supporters of the unveiling insist critics are mischaracterizing the event. Burns argued that honoring political figures through monuments is not inherently religious.

\n\n\n\n

RELATED: As War and Fear Rise, Americans Pause for National Day of Prayer

\n\n\n\n

“This statue was not created for worship,” Burns said in comments published by Premier Christian News. “It was created as a symbol of resilience, patriotism, courage, and gratitude.”  

\n\n\n\n

According to Alan Cottrill, the artist who created the monument, the statue cost approximately $450,000 after organizers requested a gold-leaf finish that Trump reportedly favored.   

\n

The post Black Pastor Mark Burns Defends Trump Monument Amid Criticism appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/black-pastor-mark-burns-defends-trump-monument-amid-criticism/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Uncategorized"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-18T16:40:51.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2273271309.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-18T16:56:00.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2273271309.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"6nv2Fss58cBHaYOd","title":"Hunger By Policy: SNAP Cuts Hit Hardest in Black America","description":"For the more than 10 million Black Americans who rely on federal food assistance to feed their families, the projected damage from food-aid cuts was not just a warning. They were all but a done deal. The “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law in 2025, slashed $187 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, over the next decade — triggering new work requirements, restricting what recipients can buy, and stripping benefits from legal immigrants. The result: more than 4 million people — a cohort the size of Los Angeles’ population — have already lost SNAP since the law took effect. Hunger prevention advocates say Black Americans have been disproportionately affected, and that the worst is still ahead. The average SNAP benefit amounts to just $187 a month — or barely $6 a day — to supplement a household’s food budget. For many recipients, that modest sum is the difference between consistent meals and food insecurity. And despite time-worn narratives about SNAP recipients being unemployed, Census Bureau data show that more than 75 percent of households receiving SNAP benefits include at least one working person. The reality is SNAP is not a program for people who won’t work — it’s a program for people whose work doesn’t pay enough. Who Is Affected Dating back to the 1960s and President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society agenda, SNAP currently serves approximately 42 million Americans each month at an annual cost of roughly $113 billion, nearly all of which goes directly to food benefits. Roughly 26 percent of SNAP participants — approximately 10.2 million people — are Black. Experts say the participation rate reflects both the program’s reach into low-income communities and the persistent racial wealth and wage gaps that leave Black families with fewer financial cushions when income falls short. But new work requirements in the OBBBA budget have made it even harder for people to qualify for help putting food on the table. More People At Risk Federal work requirements for SNAP are not new. For years, recipients aged of 16 to 59 who are physically able to work have been required to register for employment and participate in job training programs. SNAP recipients who already have a job are barred from quitting or working less than 30 hours per week. The OBBBA, however, significantly expanded to whom those requirements apply — and sharply limited the circumstances under which states can shield their residents from those restrictions. Under the new law, adults between ages 55 and 64 — who had been exempt — must now work, volunteer, or participate in job training for at least 80 hours per month to keep their benefits beyond three months. Parents whose youngest child is 14 or older are newly subject to requirements, as are veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth, who lose exemptions they previously held. States can now waive the requirements only in areas where unemployment exceeds 10 percent — a much higher bar than before. Analysts say that will make it substantially harder for states to provide relief, even in communities where jobs are scarce. The impact on Black recipients is expected to be particularly severe. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that more than 1 million adults aged 55 and older will lose food assistance under the expanded rules. The law also strips SNAP eligibility from legal immigrants — a provision that advocates say falls heavily on Black and Latino communities with residents from Caribbean and Central American countries. What Can’t Go In the Shopping Cart The cuts and work requirements are only part of the story. For the first time, the federal government is allowing states to decide what SNAP recipients can and cannot purchase — a fundamental shift away from a uniform national standard toward a fragmented, state-by-state system that civil rights and nutrition advocates say disproportionately harms Black communities the most. Last May, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed the first-of-its-kind waiver for Nebraska, prohibiting SNAP recipients from buying sodas and energy drinks; Indiana and Iowa followed suit within days. Those restrictions took effect January 1; to date, 22 states ban consumers from spending SNAP funds on certain items, ranging from candy and sweetened beverages to prepared desserts. Several of the states moving fastest to implement purchasing restrictions have some of the largest Black populations in the country. Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina are among those phasing in changes this year. Texas’s restrictions took effect last month and were expected to affect more than 3.5 million recipients. Opponents point out the irony: the same states restricting what low-income Black residents can buy with their food benefits have made next to no investments in grocery access in Black neighborhoods. As a result, many residents depend on corner stores and convenience markets, where junk food is abundant but fresh fruits and vegetables are harder to find. Recipients in five states — Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia — have sued to roll back the restrictions. They argue that the Trump administration’s sweeping changes violated the law and were made outside of established procedures. The outcome of that litigation could determine whether the restrictions survive or if they are sent back to the drawing board. Food Banks Can’t Make Up the Shortfall As millions of Americans lose SNAP benefits, hunger prevention advocates are sounding the alarm about what comes next — and what cannot fill the void. SNAP provides nine meals for every one meal supplied by emergency food charities, food banks, and pantries. The nation’s charitable food system, already stretched beyond capacity following the economic disruptions of recent years, is not equipped to absorb the losses now being engineered by federal policy. Advocates estimated that the OBBBA’s changes will result in more than 6 billion fewer meals being available to low-income Americans. For Black communities, the impact is compounded by geography. Food banks and pantries are unevenly distributed nationwide, and with many recipients living in food-desert neighborhoods, emergency food resources are already thin. During a Congressional hearing last month, anti-hunger advocates were direct: no combination of local food drives, food pantries, or private charity can replace a government program that feeds millions of people each day. The post Hunger By Policy: SNAP Cuts Hit Hardest in Black America appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Gas
\n

For the more than 10 million Black Americans who rely on federal food assistance to feed their families, the projected damage from food-aid cuts was not just a warning. They were all but a done deal.

\n\n\n\n

The “One Big, Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law in 2025, slashed $187 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, over the next decade — triggering new work requirements, restricting what recipients can buy, and stripping benefits from legal immigrants. 

\n\n\n\n

The result: more than 4 million people — a cohort the size of Los Angeles’ population — have already lost SNAP since the law took effect. Hunger prevention advocates say Black Americans have been disproportionately affected, and that the worst is still ahead.

\n\n\n\n

The average SNAP benefit amounts to just $187 a month — or barely $6 a day — to supplement a household’s food budget. For many recipients, that modest sum is the difference between consistent meals and food insecurity. 

\n\n\n\n

And despite time-worn narratives about SNAP recipients being unemployed, Census Bureau data show that more than 75 percent of households receiving SNAP benefits include at least one working person. The reality is SNAP is not a program for people who won’t work — it’s a program for people whose work doesn’t pay enough.

\n\n\n\n

Who Is Affected

\n\n\n\n

Dating back to the 1960s and President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society agenda, SNAP currently serves approximately 42 million Americans each month at an annual cost of roughly $113 billion, nearly all of which goes directly to food benefits. 

\n\n\n\n

Roughly 26 percent of SNAP participants — approximately 10.2 million people — are Black. Experts say the participation rate reflects both the program’s reach into low-income communities and the persistent racial wealth and wage gaps that leave Black families with fewer financial cushions when income falls short.

\n\n\n\n

But new work requirements in the OBBBA budget have made it even harder for people to qualify for help putting food on the table. 

\n\n\n\n

More People At Risk

\n\n\n\n

Federal work requirements for SNAP are not new. For years, recipients aged of 16 to 59 who are physically able to work have been required to register for employment and participate in job training programs. SNAP recipients who already have a job are barred from quitting or working less than 30 hours per week.

\n\n\n\n

The OBBBA, however, significantly expanded to whom those requirements apply — and sharply limited the circumstances under which states can shield their residents from those restrictions.

\n\n\n\n

Under the new law, adults between ages 55 and 64 — who had been exempt — must now work, volunteer, or participate in job training for at least 80 hours per month to keep their benefits beyond three months. Parents whose youngest child is 14 or older are newly subject to requirements, as are veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth, who lose exemptions they previously held. 

\n\n\n\n

States can now waive the requirements only in areas where unemployment exceeds 10 percent — a much higher bar than before. Analysts say that will make it substantially harder for states to provide relief, even in communities where jobs are scarce.

\n\n\n\n

The impact on Black recipients is expected to be particularly severe. 

\n\n\n\n

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates that more than 1 million adults aged 55 and older will lose food assistance under the expanded rules. The law also strips SNAP eligibility from legal immigrants — a provision that advocates say falls heavily on Black and Latino communities with residents from Caribbean and Central American countries.

\n\n\n\n

What Can’t Go In the Shopping Cart

\n\n\n\n

The cuts and work requirements are only part of the story. For the first time, the federal government is allowing states to decide what SNAP recipients can and cannot purchase — a fundamental shift away from a uniform national standard toward a fragmented, state-by-state system that civil rights and nutrition advocates say disproportionately harms  Black communities the most.

\n\n\n\n

Last May, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins signed the first-of-its-kind waiver for Nebraska, prohibiting SNAP recipients from buying sodas and energy drinks; Indiana and Iowa followed suit within days. Those restrictions took effect January 1; to date, 22 states ban consumers from spending SNAP funds on certain items, ranging from candy and sweetened beverages to prepared desserts.

\n\n\n\n

Several of the states moving fastest to implement purchasing restrictions have some of the largest Black populations in the country. Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and South Carolina are among those phasing in changes this year. Texas’s restrictions took effect last month and were expected to affect more than 3.5 million recipients.

\n\n\n\n

Opponents point out the irony: the same states restricting what low-income Black residents can buy with their food benefits have made next to no investments in grocery access in Black neighborhoods. As a result, many residents depend on corner stores and convenience markets, where junk food is abundant but fresh fruits and vegetables are harder to find.

\n\n\n\n

Recipients in five states — Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, and West Virginia — have sued to roll back the restrictions. They argue that the Trump administration’s sweeping changes violated the law and were made outside of established procedures. The outcome of that litigation could determine whether the restrictions survive or if they are sent back to the drawing board.

\n\n\n\n

Food Banks Can’t Make Up the Shortfall

\n\n\n\n


As millions of Americans lose SNAP benefits, hunger prevention advocates are sounding the alarm about what comes next — and what cannot fill the void.

\n\n\n\n

SNAP provides nine meals for every one meal supplied by emergency food charities, food banks, and pantries. The nation’s charitable food system, already stretched beyond capacity following the economic disruptions of recent years, is not equipped to absorb the losses now being engineered by federal policy.

\n\n\n\n

Advocates estimated that the OBBBA’s changes will result in more than 6 billion fewer meals being available to low-income Americans. For Black communities, the impact is compounded by geography. Food banks and pantries are unevenly distributed nationwide, and with many recipients living in food-desert neighborhoods, emergency food resources are already thin. During a Congressional hearing last month, anti-hunger advocates were direct: no combination of local food drives, food pantries, or private charity can replace a government program that feeds millions of people each day.

\n\n\n\n

\n

The post Hunger By Policy: SNAP Cuts Hit Hardest in Black America appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/hunger-by-policy-the-big-beautiful-bill-is-already-stripping-food-aid-from-millions-of-black-americans/","site":"Jennifer Porter Gore","originalAuthor":"Jennifer Porter Gore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Health"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-13T22:00:36.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-SNAP032326.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-13T22:12:14.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-SNAP032326.jpg?fit=724%2C483&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"mi3QfeobS0lp5qju","title":"EVENT: Let’s Talk Religion Hot Topics, May 21, 2026","description":"Let’s talk about religion in Black America. Word In Black’s religion and social justice reporter, Rev. Dorothy Boulware, will speak with a group of church leaders on topics ranging from Druski’s viral megachurch video, the explosive growth of the 2819 Church in Atlanta, and new preaching styles like incorporating spoken word. REGISTER TO WATCH IT LIVE Host: Rev. Dorothy Boulware, Word In Black Confirmed speakers: Rev. Lat-Doir Glasper, Kingdom Life Church in Olive Branch, Miss. Bishop Andrea Foster, Kingdom First Assembly Church in Rock Hill, S.C. Rev. Wanda Bynum Duckett, Eastern United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Md. REGISTER HERE Rewatch Word In Black’s Previous Events 5/13/26: What’s on Your Plate? Food Access in Black America 4/29/26 Event Recap: The Action Plan to Get Black Women Back to Work 4/9/26 Event Recap: ‘Breaking the Silence’: How Black Women Can Fight Breast Cancer The post EVENT: Let’s Talk Religion Hot Topics, May 21, 2026 appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"\"
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\"Word
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Let’s talk about religion in Black America. 

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Word In Black’s religion and social justice reporter, Rev. Dorothy Boulware, will speak with a group of church leaders on topics ranging from Druski’s viral megachurch video, the explosive growth of the 2819 Church in Atlanta, and new preaching styles like incorporating spoken word.

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REGISTER TO WATCH IT LIVE

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Host:

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Rev. Dorothy Boulware, Word In Black

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Confirmed speakers:

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Rev. Lat-Doir Glasper, Kingdom Life Church in Olive Branch, Miss.

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Bishop Andrea Foster, Kingdom First Assembly Church in Rock Hill, S.C.

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Rev. Wanda Bynum Duckett, Eastern United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Md.

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REGISTER HERE

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Rewatch Word In Black’s Previous Events

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5/13/26: What’s on Your Plate? Food Access in Black America

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4/29/26 Event Recap: The Action Plan to Get Black Women Back to Work 

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4/9/26 Event Recap: ‘Breaking the Silence’: How Black Women Can Fight Breast Cancer

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The post EVENT: Let’s Talk Religion Hot Topics, May 21, 2026 appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/event-lets-talk-religion-hot-topics-may-21-2026/","site":"Shernay Williams","originalAuthor":"Shernay Williams","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Culture","Events","Faith","Religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-13T16:07:14.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/600-x-500-px-Religion-Hot-Topics.png?fit=600%2C500&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-05-13T16:10:36.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/600-x-500-px-Religion-Hot-Topics.png?fit=600%2C500&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"3kDQZWm2YVfeVd55","title":"Black Churches Transform Food Aid Into Food Justice","description":"The Black church has long understood that hunger is political. Long before researchers coined phrases like “food insecurity” or “food apartheid,” Black congregations were feeding families abandoned by segregated systems, economic inequality and government neglect. But a new generation of faith leaders is asking a harder question: What if the church stopped merely responding to hunger and started confronting the system producing it? Across the country, Black churches are building gardens, supporting Black farmers, and reframing food as an issue of justice, health, and self-determination. At the center of that movement is the Black Church Food Security Network, which emerged from Baltimore’s 2015 uprising with a mission that goes far beyond emergency meals: helping Black communities reclaim power over what they eat, where it comes from, and who profits from it. LEARN MORE: Amid the Shutdown Void, Black Churches Filled Empty Stomachs That mission is unfolding against the backdrop of a worsening hunger crisis — driven by inflation, food deserts, and nutritional inequity — that disproportionately affects Black Americans. Worsening Crisis The Urban Institute reported in 2025 that more than one in three Black adults reported household food insecurity, nearly double the rate for white adults. Among Black working-age adults, the number climbed to 39%. As many as 23% of Black children live in poverty, up to three times higher than white children. The modern issues surrounding hunger and food access in Black neighborhoods have required new solutions, including a drive to not just put food in stomachs but also address what should be on the plates of hungry people. The Black church has always understood the power of feeding people. Meals open doors for ministry, healing, and relationships in ways few other things can.Rick Bernstein, Co-founder, First Fruits Farm In Baltimore, seeds of that movement were planted following the 2015 police killing of Freddie Gray. The protests, curfews and service shutdowns it triggered left many Black residents struggling to access basic necessities — and inspired Rev. Heber Brown III, founder of the Black Church Food Security Network, to create a solution. In a 2019 essay, Brown wrote that the moment of crisis, “when public services provided by city government and nonprofit organizations withdrew from the African American community,” that “a window of opportunity opened for the church to step forward.” ‘Alternative Food System’ Churches quickly transformed from worship spaces into emergency response hubs, coordinating food distribution after residents called saying neighborhood stores had shut down during the unrest. Drawing inspiration from figures like Fannie Lou Hamer, the effort connected Black churches with Black farmers to create what Brown described as “an alternative food system.” “Abandoned by government and nonprofits and forced to fend for ourselves, we in the African American community organized and created a system to meet our own basic needs,” Brown wrote. Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III That emergency response eventually evolved into the Black Church Food Security Network, which now partners with congregations, seminaries, and farmers across multiple states. The goal is to address what Brown calls “the systemic problem of food apartheid” in Black communities. “Our current food system — which is characterized by greed, abuses of power, expediency at any cost, legacies of enslavement, and conscience-less consumption — does not resemble the truest virtues of the Christian faith,” Brown wrote. “This corporatized food system is not only inhibiting human flourishing, but it is literally killing humans.” Elsewhere in Maryland, one ministry has become a striking example of what happens when faith and food justice meet in the soil. Obedience, not Charity First Fruits Farm was founded by Rick and Carol Bernstein with a mission rooted deeply in scripture and service; the name itself refers to the Biblical principle of offering one’s “first fruits” to God — the best and the first, not leftovers. The concept behind the farm is simple: all of the produce grown there is donated to feed hungry people. Church volunteers and civic groups plant, harvest and package fresh vegetables. The food is then distributed through food banks, shelters and community ministries. After COVID, the farm distributed more than 1.1 million pounds of potatoes, 406,000 pounds of corn, 95,000 pounds of cabbage, and other produce to food banks, homeless shelters, churches, and households. First Fruits has delivered as far away as Texas. “We believe God called us to grow food for people who need it most,” Bernstein said in previous interviews about the ministry’s mission. “This is not about charity—it’s about obedience and stewardship.” That spirit of stewardship resonates strongly within the Black church, where congregations understood hunger as a communal responsibility. If a member struggled, the church responded by providing meals or groceries. Theology of Care During the Civil Rights Movement, churches not only organized protests and voter drives; they also organized meals. Women’s auxiliaries prepared food for marchers. Congregations fed families displaced by economic retaliation. Today, that same spirit continues through community refrigerators, mobile pantries, meal delivery programs and Black churches are adapting to meet modern needs while practicing a theology of care. In cities where grocery stores have disappeared, some congregations host weekly food giveaways that serve hundreds of families. Others operate soup kitchens, school backpack programs, and senior meal deliveries. Increasingly, churches are also teaching nutrition, gardening and sustainability as part of holistic ministry. “It’s the church being the church outside the building,” Bernstein said. “The Black church has always understood the power of feeding people. Meals open doors for ministry, healing, and relationships in ways few other things can.” The post Black Churches Transform Food Aid Into Food Justice appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Black
\n

The Black church has long understood that hunger is political.

\n\n\n\n

Long before researchers coined phrases like “food insecurity” or “food apartheid,” Black congregations were feeding families abandoned by segregated systems, economic inequality and government neglect. But a new generation of faith leaders is asking a harder question: What if the church stopped merely responding to hunger and started confronting the system producing it?

\n\n\n\n

Across the country, Black churches are building gardens, supporting Black farmers, and reframing food as an issue of justice, health, and self-determination. At the center of that movement is the Black Church Food Security Network, which emerged from Baltimore’s 2015 uprising with a mission that goes far beyond emergency meals: helping Black communities reclaim power over what they eat, where it comes from, and who profits from it.

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: Amid the Shutdown Void, Black Churches Filled Empty Stomachs

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That mission is unfolding against the backdrop of a worsening hunger crisis — driven by inflation, food deserts, and nutritional inequity — that disproportionately affects Black Americans. 

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Worsening Crisis

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The Urban Institute reported in 2025 that more than one in three Black adults reported household food insecurity, nearly double the rate for white adults. Among Black working-age adults, the number climbed to 39%. As many as 23% of Black children live in poverty, up to three times higher than white children. 

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The modern issues surrounding hunger and food access in Black neighborhoods have required new solutions, including a drive to not just put food in stomachs but also address what should be on the plates of hungry people. 

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The Black church has always understood the power of feeding people. Meals open doors for ministry, healing, and relationships in ways few other things can.

Rick Bernstein, Co-founder, First Fruits Farm
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In Baltimore, seeds of that movement were planted following the 2015 police killing of Freddie Gray. The protests, curfews and service shutdowns it triggered left many Black residents struggling to access basic necessities — and inspired Rev. Heber Brown III, founder of the Black Church Food Security Network, to create a solution.

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In a 2019 essay, Brown wrote that the moment of crisis, “when public services provided by city government and nonprofit organizations withdrew from the African American community,” that “a window of opportunity opened for the church to step forward.”

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‘Alternative Food System’

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Churches quickly transformed from worship spaces into emergency response hubs, coordinating food distribution after residents called saying neighborhood stores had shut down during the unrest. Drawing inspiration from figures like Fannie Lou Hamer, the effort connected Black churches with Black farmers to create what Brown described as “an alternative food system.”

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“Abandoned by government and nonprofits and forced to fend for ourselves, we in the African American community organized and created a system to meet our own basic needs,” Brown wrote.

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Rev. Dr. Heber Brown III
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That emergency response eventually evolved into the Black Church Food Security Network, which now partners with congregations, seminaries, and farmers across multiple states. The goal is to address what Brown calls “the systemic problem of food apartheid” in Black communities.

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“Our current food system — which is characterized by greed, abuses of power, expediency at any cost, legacies of enslavement, and conscience-less consumption — does not resemble the truest virtues of the Christian faith,” Brown wrote. “This corporatized food system is not only inhibiting human flourishing, but it is literally killing humans.”

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Elsewhere in Maryland, one ministry has become a striking example of what happens when faith and food justice meet in the soil. 

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Obedience, not Charity

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First Fruits Farm was founded by Rick and Carol Bernstein with a mission rooted deeply in scripture and service; the name itself refers to the Biblical principle of offering one’s “first fruits” to God — the best and the first, not leftovers. The concept behind the farm is simple: all of the produce grown there is donated to feed hungry people.

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Church volunteers and civic groups plant, harvest and package fresh vegetables. The food is then distributed through food banks, shelters and community ministries.

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After COVID, the farm distributed more than 1.1 million pounds of potatoes, 406,000 pounds of corn, 95,000 pounds of cabbage, and other produce to food banks, homeless shelters, churches, and households. First Fruits has delivered as far away as Texas.  

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“We believe God called us to grow food for people who need it most,” Bernstein said in previous interviews about the ministry’s mission. “This is not about charity—it’s about obedience and stewardship.”

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That spirit of stewardship resonates strongly within the Black church, where congregations understood hunger as a communal responsibility. If a member struggled, the church responded by providing meals or groceries.

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Theology of Care

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During the Civil Rights Movement, churches not only organized protests and voter drives; they also organized meals. Women’s auxiliaries prepared food for marchers. Congregations fed families displaced by economic retaliation.

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Today, that same spirit continues through community refrigerators, mobile pantries, meal delivery programs and Black churches are adapting to meet modern needs while practicing a theology of care.

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In cities where grocery stores have disappeared, some congregations host weekly food giveaways that serve hundreds of families. Others operate soup kitchens, school backpack programs, and senior meal deliveries. Increasingly, churches are also teaching nutrition, gardening and sustainability as part of holistic ministry.

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“It’s the church being the church outside the building,” Bernstein said. “The Black church has always understood the power of feeding people. Meals open doors for ministry, healing, and relationships in ways few other things can.”

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The post Black Churches Transform Food Aid Into Food Justice appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/transforming-food-aid-into-food-justice/","site":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","originalAuthor":"Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Religion"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-13T15:14:18.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-13-at-10.50.24-AM.png?fit=1024%2C679&ssl=1","type":"image/png"},"createdAt":"2026-05-13T15:25:12.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-13-at-10.50.24-AM.png?fit=1024%2C679&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"zWaJW0zmc7HdVpyh","title":"Black Communities Could Pay for FEMA Chaos","description":"When President Donald Trump returned to power last year, he put the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the chopping block as part of his efforts to reduce the federal government. With his blessing, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem slashed FEMA’s budget and staffing, and Trump himself openly discussed shutting down the agency entirely. However, as the slash-and-burn approach delayed critical federal disaster declarations and the services they trigger, people within the agency began speaking up — despite risking their jobs. LEARN MORE: Cut FEMA in Half? Black Folks Know How This Goes “FEMA risks entering hurricane season without the clarity and discipline required for effective response,” Victoria Barton, the politically appointed communications chief at FEMA, wrote in one of a series of memos at the beginning of the year, according to Politico’s E&E News. And now, just ahead of hurricane season, FEMA’s new leadership appears to be listening. Katrina Declaration While hurricanes can hit up and down the eastern seaboard, they are most concentrated in the southeast, where Black people are nearly twice as likely to be affected as other residents living in the same part of the country. Lower-income people in particular disproportionately depend on FEMA, which often ends up playing a major role in the lives of Black residents after a natural disaster. FEMA risks entering hurricane season without the clarity and discipline required for effective response.Victoria barton, FEMA communications In addition to the internal memos, there was also the so-called Katrina Declaration, an open letter FEMA employees sent to Congress last year on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the deadly storm that devastated New Orleans. The document detailed to lawmakers how far the agency had drifted from the reforms made to ensure Black and low-income people weren’t stranded as they were after Hurricane Katrina. Rather than engaging with the critique, however, Noem — whose office has FEMA in its portfolio — suspended the 14 workers who wrote it. Stormy Weather Ahead With hurricane season rapidly approaching on June 1, FEMA is finally taking steps to rebuild the agency — at least somewhat. Trump replaced Noem with former Sen. Markwayne Mullins, an Oklahoma Republican. Last week, along with reinstating the suspended FEMA workers, Mullins rehired hundreds of disaster response workers whom Noem had fired. “As we approach the 2026 hurricane season and the FIFA World Cup, FEMA is taking targeted steps to stabilize our workforce and strengthen readiness,” Barton, FEMA’s communications director, said in a statement. “Under new leadership, FEMA is addressing outstanding personnel actions to ensure workforce stability and a strong, deployable surge force for upcoming national events and potential disasters.” The workers Mullin rehired are from FEMA’s Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery Employees program, or CORE. The unit is often the first federal response after a natural disaster, and sometimes continues to work with communities for years as communities rebuild. First Steps Still, the agency’s critics are clear that bringing back these workers alone is not enough to solve all of FEMA’s problems. RELATED: Who Helps When FEMA Doesn’t? MacKenzie Scott “FEMA is arguably in a worse state than it was back in August when I signed the Katrina Declaration,” Abby Mcllraith, an emergency management specialist who signed the Katrina Declaration, told the Washington Post after she returned to work. “A hiring freeze is still in effect,” she said. “FEMA still has no legally qualified administrator, money isn’t getting to states that need it, (and) we have wildfire and hurricane seasons coming up.” The post Black Communities Could Pay for FEMA Chaos appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"FEMA
\n

When President Donald Trump returned to power last year, he put the Federal Emergency Management Agency on the chopping block as part of his efforts to reduce the federal government. With his blessing, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem slashed FEMA’s budget and staffing, and Trump himself openly discussed shutting down the agency entirely. 

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However, as the slash-and-burn approach delayed critical federal disaster declarations and the services they trigger, people within the agency began speaking up — despite risking their jobs. 

\n\n\n\n

LEARN MORE: Cut FEMA in Half? Black Folks Know How This Goes

\n\n\n\n

“FEMA risks entering hurricane season without the clarity and discipline required for effective response,” Victoria Barton, the politically appointed communications chief at FEMA, wrote in one of a series of memos at the beginning of the year, according to Politico’s E&E News. 

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And now, just ahead of hurricane season, FEMA’s new leadership appears to be listening. 

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Katrina Declaration

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While hurricanes can hit up and down the eastern seaboard, they are most concentrated in the southeast, where Black people are nearly twice as likely to be affected as other residents living in the same part of the country. Lower-income people in particular disproportionately depend on FEMA, which often ends up playing a major role in the lives of Black residents after a natural disaster.

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FEMA risks entering hurricane season without the clarity and discipline required for effective response.

Victoria barton, FEMA communications
\n\n\n\n

In addition to the internal memos, there was also the so-called Katrina Declaration, an open letter FEMA employees sent to Congress last year on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the deadly storm that devastated New Orleans. The document detailed to lawmakers how far the agency had drifted from the reforms made to ensure  Black and low-income people weren’t stranded as they were after Hurricane Katrina. 

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Rather than engaging with the critique, however, Noem — whose office has FEMA in its portfolio — suspended the 14 workers who wrote it.

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Stormy Weather Ahead

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With hurricane season rapidly approaching on June 1, FEMA is finally taking steps to rebuild the agency — at least somewhat. 

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Trump replaced Noem with former Sen. Markwayne Mullins, an Oklahoma Republican.  Last week, along with reinstating the suspended FEMA workers, Mullins rehired hundreds of disaster response workers whom Noem had fired. 

\n\n\n\n

“As we approach the 2026 hurricane season and the FIFA World Cup, FEMA is taking targeted steps to stabilize our workforce and strengthen readiness,” Barton, FEMA’s communications director, said in a statement. “Under new leadership, FEMA is addressing outstanding personnel actions to ensure workforce stability and a strong, deployable surge force for upcoming national events and potential disasters.”

\n\n\n\n

The workers Mullin rehired are from FEMA’s Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery Employees program, or CORE. The unit is often the first federal response after a natural disaster, and sometimes continues to work with communities for years as communities rebuild.

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First Steps

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Still, the agency’s critics are clear that bringing back these workers alone is not enough to solve all of FEMA’s problems.

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RELATED: Who Helps When FEMA Doesn’t? MacKenzie Scott

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“FEMA is arguably in a worse state than it was back in August when I signed the Katrina Declaration,” Abby Mcllraith, an emergency management specialist who signed the Katrina Declaration, told the Washington Post after she returned to work.

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“A hiring freeze is still in effect,” she said. “FEMA still has no legally qualified administrator, money isn’t getting to states that need it, (and) we have wildfire and hurricane seasons coming up.”

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The post Black Communities Could Pay for FEMA Chaos appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/black-communities-could-pay-for-fema-chaos/","site":"Willy Blackmore","originalAuthor":"Willy Blackmore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Climate","Climate Justice","climate justice"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-12T09:00:00.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-55366938.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-12T09:05:36.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-55366938.jpg?fit=594%2C396&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"XQ8jj02O0xbpCb8z","title":"FBI Search of Black Virginia Senator’s Office Sparks Fury","description":"Black Virginians and Democrats across the state are reacting angrily to an FBI raid on the Portsmouth office of state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, viewing the move not simply as a criminal investigation, but as part of a broader political fight over power, voting rights and redistricting. For many observers, the optics alone were explosive: federal agents searching the office of an 82-year-old Black lawmaker who recently became one of the most visible Democratic figures in Virginia’s bruising congressional redistricting battle on Wednesday. LEARN MORE: How Iran Turned Trap and Hip-Hop Into Viral War Propaganda “Senator Louise Lucas is 82! How low has this country fallen when federal power is used to intimidate an 82-year-old woman whose position was: ‘Let the people vote,’” one Threads user wrote. Power Politics Virginia State Sen. L. Louise Lucas confirmed Wednesday that federal agents executed a search warrant connected to an ongoing corruption investigation. According to the Associated Press, the investigation dates back to the Biden administration. “Today’s actions by federal agents are about far more than one state senator; they are about power and who is allowed to use it on behalf of the people,” Lucas said in a statement posted to X. This is the FBI blatantly using its power for political retribution. This cannot stand. Threads user defending Virginia Sen. L. Louise Lucas “What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: When challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices that stand up to them,” she added. The searches took place in Portsmouth, where FBI agents searched Lucas’ legislative office and a nearby cannabis dispensary she co-owns. A spokesperson for the FBI’s Norfolk field office told The Hill that agents were executing a court-authorized federal search warrant. The raid quickly ignited backlash online, especially among Democrats and Black voters already wary of growing political tensions around voting access and electoral maps nationwide. Investigation or Retribution? “The FBI raided State Sen. Louise Lucas’ office. This is the FBI blatantly using its power for political retribution,” another Threads user wrote. “This cannot stand.” Lucas has become one of the central political figures in Virginia’s redistricting debate. Supporters say she helped lead efforts to redraw congressional maps in ways Democrats believed more accurately reflected Virginia’s shifting population and voting patterns ahead of the midterm elections. Redistricting determines how political boundaries are drawn and which communities are grouped together in congressional representation. The issue has become increasingly contentious nationwide because even small map changes can dramatically reshape political power in Washington. NPR reported Friday that the Virginia Supreme Court ultimately struck down the proposed maps. The fight became one of the country’s most closely watched redistricting battles, according to Axios. Influential Figure “Watching what’s happening in Virginia: a 4-3 court decision just tossed out maps the citizens voted for,” another Threads user wrote. “If a few judges can just overrule the people’s voice, what’s the point of the vote?” Lucas has been one of the most influential figures in Virginia politics for decades. First elected in the 1980s, she currently chairs the Senate Finance Committee and recently gained national attention after helping block Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposal to build a sports arena in Alexandria for the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals. Lucas indicated Wednesday that she plans to speak further about both the FBI raid and the state Supreme Court ruling in the coming days. “I am not backing down,” Lucas said, “and I will keep fighting for the people of Portsmouth and the commonwealth of Virginia.” The post FBI Search of Black Virginia Senator’s Office Sparks Fury appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"The
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Black Virginians and Democrats across the state are reacting angrily to an FBI raid on the Portsmouth office of state Sen. L. Louise Lucas, viewing the move not simply as a criminal investigation, but as part of a broader political fight over power, voting rights and redistricting.

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For many observers, the optics alone were explosive: federal agents searching the office of an 82-year-old Black lawmaker who recently became one of the most visible Democratic figures in Virginia’s bruising congressional redistricting battle on Wednesday.

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LEARN MORE: How Iran Turned Trap and Hip-Hop Into Viral War Propaganda

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“Senator Louise Lucas is 82! How low has this country fallen when federal power is used to intimidate an 82-year-old woman whose position was: ‘Let the people vote,’” one Threads user wrote.

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Power Politics

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Virginia State Sen. L. Louise Lucas confirmed Wednesday that federal agents executed a search warrant connected to an ongoing corruption investigation. According to the Associated Press, the investigation dates back to the Biden administration.

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“Today’s actions by federal agents are about far more than one state senator; they are about power and who is allowed to use it on behalf of the people,” Lucas said in a statement posted to X.

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This is the FBI blatantly using its power for political retribution. This cannot stand.

Threads user defending Virginia Sen. L. Louise Lucas
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“What we saw fits a clear pattern from this administration: When challenged, they try to intimidate and silence the voices that stand up to them,” she added.

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The searches took place in Portsmouth, where FBI agents searched Lucas’ legislative office and a nearby cannabis dispensary she co-owns. A spokesperson for the FBI’s Norfolk field office told The Hill that agents were executing a court-authorized federal search warrant.

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The raid quickly ignited backlash online, especially among Democrats and Black voters already wary of growing political tensions around voting access and electoral maps nationwide.

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Investigation or Retribution?

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“The FBI raided State Sen. Louise Lucas’ office. This is the FBI blatantly using its power for political retribution,” another Threads user wrote. “This cannot stand.”

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Lucas has become one of the central political figures in Virginia’s redistricting debate. Supporters say she helped lead efforts to redraw congressional maps in ways Democrats believed more accurately reflected Virginia’s shifting population and voting patterns ahead of the midterm elections.

\n\n\n\n

Redistricting determines how political boundaries are drawn and which communities are grouped together in congressional representation. The issue has become increasingly contentious nationwide because even small map changes can dramatically reshape political power in Washington.

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NPR reported Friday that the Virginia Supreme Court ultimately struck down the proposed maps. The fight became one of the country’s most closely watched redistricting battles, according to Axios.

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Influential Figure

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“Watching what’s happening in Virginia: a 4-3 court decision just tossed out maps the citizens voted for,” another Threads user wrote. “If a few judges can just overrule the people’s voice, what’s the point of the vote?”

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Lucas has been one of the most influential figures in Virginia politics for decades. First elected in the 1980s, she currently chairs the Senate Finance Committee and recently gained national attention after helping block Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposal to build a sports arena in Alexandria for the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals.

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Lucas indicated Wednesday that she plans to speak further about both the FBI raid and the state Supreme Court ruling in the coming days.

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“I am not backing down,” Lucas said, “and I will keep fighting for the people of Portsmouth and the commonwealth of Virginia.”

\n

The post FBI Search of Black Virginia Senator’s Office Sparks Fury appeared first on Word In Black.

","url":"https://wordinblack.com/2026/05/fbi-search-of-black-virginia-senator-sparks-fury/","site":"Clayton Gutzmore","originalAuthor":"Clayton Gutzmore","audio":null,"audioDuration":null,"categories":["Politics"],"author":"wordinblack.com","activeDisplayAuthor":false,"hostname":"wordinblack.com","date":"2026-05-09T02:16:27.000Z","enclosure":{"url":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2259906427.jpg?fit=594%2C399&ssl=1","type":"image/jpeg"},"createdAt":"2026-05-09T02:24:32.000Z","feedId":"ONltUgoaps3M8l8P","feedIcon":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-facebook-cover.png?fit=180%2C180&ssl=1","feedType":"general","imagePlaceholder":null,"originalImage":"https://i0.wp.com/wordinblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/GettyImages-2259906427.jpg?fit=594%2C399&ssl=1","isPinned":false},{"id":"eJA6kJYkEzMkBvMt","title":"In the Black Church, Women’s Hats Still Testify","description":"The Apostle Paul’s mandates toward women in church have often caused more fury than faith, but not the one about women needing to cover their heads. In the Black Church, hats have, for generations, held a prominent place in Sunday worship — one that continues to block the view of even the tallest worshipers. Before the first hymn is lifted or the opening prayer is spoken, a quiet procession tells its own story. Women enter the sanctuary with heads held high, adorned in hats that are as varied as they are meaningful — with or without brims, sculpted felt, delicate netting, bold colors. They are not simply accessories. They are testimony. Rooted in History In Black church tradition, women’s hat-wearing has long stood at the intersection of faith, culture, and dignity. What may appear to outsiders as fashion is, for many, an act of reverence — a visible expression of inward devotion shaped by scripture, history, and lived experience. Betty Clark The most often cited biblical passage comes from 1 Corinthians 11, which addresses the covering of women’s heads in worship. While interpretations vary across denominations, many Black churches have embraced the practice as a sign of honor and respect in the presence of God. Over time, that theological framework merged with cultural expression, giving rise to what is now widely known in the Black community as the “church hat” tradition. Black women’s church millinery also traces back to the post-Emancipation era, when formerly enslaved Black men and women sought to redefine themselves in public and sacred spaces. Clothing became a language of freedom. For Black women in particular, dressing for church was a way to assert dignity in a society that routinely denied it. Back then, Sunday worship offered one of the few spaces where Black women could freely express themselves. Hats signaled care, creativity, and self-worth. In communities where resources were limited, a well-kept hat could transform an outfit and, more importantly, affirm identity. Defiant Self-Expression The larger ones were often greeted with the inquiry, “Trying to catch God’s eye?” according to artist Clara Nartey, who gave her well-known 2020 creation that same title. “I learned that wearing a hat is a form of creative expression. Enslaved Africans were not allowed to dress the way they wanted,” Nartey said. “The only times they got to express themselves in clothes was when they got the rare occasion to congregate at church.” In a world that has frequently sought to diminish Black women’s presence, the act of dressing with care and distinction for worship asserts worth. Regina Moody Sunday worship “was just as much a form of social gathering,” Nartey said. “To Black women, making and wearing elegant hats was a fusion of fashion and faith. Their tall hats have a striking resemblance to African headdresses.” Fashion stylist Michael Andre Settles, owner of Michael Andre Clothier in the metro Baltimore area, is well aware of the importance of hats to a woman’s overall look. He says he can judge which woman is suited for a particular hat when he first sees it. ”When a woman is well dressed, she stands apart; the hat is a crown, heads turn, and she is remembered,” Settles says. “When a woman feels extraordinary, everyone feels it.” The right choice of hat is “the crown of glory, brings it all together,” says Settles, who recently styled a few women for the annual AFRO tea in Baltimore. “It needs to match their personality, their persona, and their silhouette. It’s the final touch.” Declaration of Self-Worth There is also an element of quiet resistance embedded in the tradition of Black women and Sunday hats. In a world that has frequently sought to diminish Black women’s presence, the act of dressing with care and distinction for worship asserts worth. It declares that entering the house of God is not casual, and neither is the person entering. Mildred Harper As churches continue to navigate changing times, the future of the hat tradition will likely reflect the same adaptability that has sustained the Black church itself. It may look different from one generation to the next, but its meaning — rooted in reverence, dignity, and community — endures. And on Sunday mornings, before a word is preached, that meaning is already on display. It sits in the pews, tilts in greeting, nods in agreement with the sermon. It is lifted in praise and bowed in prayer. We have seen it and, more importantly, understand it. Easter Sunday and Mother’s Day in particular, but in many churches, hats rule every Lord’s day with great prominence. Because in the Black church, even what is worn can testify. The post In the Black Church, Women’s Hats Still Testify appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Church
\n

The Apostle Paul’s mandates toward women in church have often caused more fury than faith, but not the one about women needing to cover their heads. In the Black Church, hats have, for generations, held a prominent place in Sunday worship — one that continues to block the view of even the tallest worshipers.

\n\n\n\n

Before the first hymn is lifted or the opening prayer is spoken, a quiet procession tells its own story. Women enter the sanctuary with heads held high, adorned in hats that are as varied as they are meaningful — with or without brims, sculpted felt, delicate netting, bold colors. 

\n\n\n\n

They are not simply accessories. They are testimony.

\n\n\n\n

Rooted in History

\n\n\n\n

In Black church tradition, women’s hat-wearing has long stood at the intersection of faith, culture, and dignity. What may appear to outsiders as fashion is, for many, an act of reverence — a visible expression of inward devotion shaped by scripture, history, and lived experience.

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Betty Clark
\n
\n\n\n

The most often cited biblical passage comes from 1 Corinthians 11, which addresses the covering of women’s heads in worship. While interpretations vary across denominations, many Black churches have embraced the practice as a sign of honor and respect in the presence of God. Over time, that theological framework merged with cultural expression, giving rise to what is now widely known in the Black community as the “church hat” tradition.

\n\n\n\n

Black women’s church millinery also traces back to the post-Emancipation era, when formerly enslaved Black men and women sought to redefine themselves in public and sacred spaces. Clothing became a language of freedom. For Black women in particular, dressing for church was a way to assert dignity in a society that routinely denied it.

\n\n\n\n

Back then, Sunday worship offered one of the few spaces where Black women could freely express themselves. Hats signaled care, creativity, and self-worth. In communities where resources were limited, a well-kept hat could transform an outfit and, more importantly, affirm identity.

\n\n\n\n

Defiant Self-Expression

\n\n\n\n

The larger ones were often greeted with the inquiry, “Trying to catch God’s eye?” according to artist Clara Nartey, who gave her well-known 2020 creation that same title. 

\n\n\n\n

“I learned that wearing a hat is a form of creative expression. Enslaved Africans were not allowed to dress the way they wanted,” Nartey said. “The only times they got to express themselves in clothes was when they got the rare occasion to congregate at church.” 

\n\n\n\n

In a world that has frequently sought to diminish Black women’s presence, the act of dressing with care and distinction for worship asserts worth.

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Regina Moody
\n
\n\n\n

Sunday worship “was just as much a form of social gathering,” Nartey said. “To Black women, making and wearing elegant hats was a fusion of fashion and faith. Their tall hats have a striking resemblance to African headdresses.”

\n\n\n\n

Fashion stylist Michael Andre Settles, owner of Michael Andre Clothier in the metro Baltimore area, is well aware of the importance of hats to a woman’s overall look. He says he can judge which woman is suited for a particular hat when he first sees it.

\n\n\n\n

”When a woman is well dressed, she stands apart; the hat is a crown, heads turn, and she is remembered,” Settles says. “When a woman feels extraordinary, everyone feels it.”

\n\n\n\n

The right choice of hat is “the crown of glory, brings it all together,” says Settles, who recently styled a few women for the annual AFRO tea in Baltimore. “It needs to match their personality, their persona, and their silhouette. It’s the final touch.”

\n\n\n\n

Declaration of Self-Worth

\n\n\n\n

There is also an element of quiet resistance embedded in the tradition of Black women and Sunday hats. In a world that has frequently sought to diminish Black women’s presence, the act of dressing with care and distinction for worship asserts worth. It declares that entering the house of God is not casual, and neither is the person entering.

\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Mildred Harper
\n
\n\n\n

As churches continue to navigate changing times, the future of the hat tradition will likely reflect the same adaptability that has sustained the Black church itself. It may look different from one generation to the next, but its meaning — rooted in reverence, dignity, and community — endures.

\n\n\n\n

And on Sunday mornings, before a word is preached, that meaning is already on display.

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It sits in the pews, tilts in greeting, nods in agreement with the sermon. It is lifted in praise and bowed in prayer. We have seen it and, more importantly, understand it.

\n\n\n\n

Easter Sunday and Mother’s Day in particular, but in many churches, hats rule every Lord’s day with great prominence. 

\n\n\n\n

Because in the Black church, even what is worn can testify.

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The post In the Black Church, Women’s Hats Still Testify appeared first on Word In Black.

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The harm doesn’t stop at the altar, and neither should the church’s responsibility. Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant, a clinical psychologist and ordained minister, says progress is real but uneven. “Churches have shown growth in attention, training, and sensitivity,” she says, “but some congregations still exhibit sexism and victim blaming.” For survivors, she says, awareness without action can feel like abandonment. “It’s not enough to share brochures or teaching scripts — survivors must be convinced, beyond all doubt, that the abuse is not their fault.” Safety vs. Faith That gap matters most for Black women, who are often expected to carry faith, family, and community on their backs at once. In church spaces that prize endurance and unity, support can blur into pressure to stay, forgive, and keep silent — even when safety is at risk. Bryant says closing that gap starts with culture. “Remove the stigma around divorce,” she says, noting that shame keeps many women from seeking safety. It also requires a more honest use of scripture. Biblical narratives can model accountability and define repentance as change, not apology, but those same texts have been used to justify submission and silence. If boys and men are just taught, ‘You’re the head, you’re the boss, you decide, you get to choose, and they have to obey you no matter what’ — that’s not a way to be in a relationship.Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant Church leaders, she says, must confront those distortions directly. Safety is not a lack of faith, and protecting life must take precedence over preserving appearances. What follows is a conversation with Bryant about what the Black church gets right — and where it still falls short — in responding to intimate partner violence. Word in Black: How should churches engage men and boys in prevention? Thema Bryant: It is so important for churches to teach men and boys what loving looks like, that gentleness and care can be and must be very masculine traits. So the idea where what is often just promoted is the way you love is by being in charge. And if we look at the model of Jesus — how he was with people — it is centered in compassion. It is centered in tenderness. It is centered in being able to listen and not just speak. We often teach relational skills to girls and women. And men are taught to just be the silent type, or if they’re not silent, to kind of rule and reign and dominate. But those aren’t relationship skills. If boys and men are just taught, ‘You’re the head, you’re the boss, you decide, you get to choose, and they have to obey you no matter what,’ that’s not a way to be in a relationship. WIB: You say that on the prevention side. What about the intervention side? Bryant: Pastors should be careful not to promote the idea that the woman should be better at submitting, as if to say the violence is her fault. And not to pray one time and send [the couple] home. If the violence leads to a court trial, the pastor shouldn’t be a character reference for the abusing spouse. He or she has to remember to pastor both parties and to be more concerned for them than for the possible damage to the institution. Couples often celebrate longevity without regard for the abusive, miserable nature of those years. WIB: The survivor often tells the pastor first. What’s the appropriate reaction? Bryant: The first thing we say is to respond with belief and to communicate clearly that no one deserves abuse, violence, or mistreatment, and to appreciate them for trusting you enough to share their story with you. So the do’s are do believe, do validate, do ask them questions about how they are feeling and how they’re managing. And get a sense of their supports, if any, besides the partner or outside of the marriage. And get a sense from them, if they’ve made any decisions about what they’re wanting to do because some people are coming to you and they’re trying to escape and are looking for support. Some people are coming to you because they’re hoping that you’ll talk to the person and get the abuse to stop. Some people are coming to you because they don’t know what to do. All of those are understandable positions to be in, but you don’t want to run off with an agenda before you’re clear where the person’s head is. WIB: What are the inappropriate things we do? Bryant: The “don’t”s are responses like, “He wouldn’t do that. That automatically blames the victim. Or the big one is asking the victim, “Well, what did you do?” — as if there’s any answer a person could give that would justify abuse. Even if the survivor cheated on them. So now, they beat this person to a pulp and want to justify it because of the infidelity. So even then, it’s not okay, right? WIB: Is it okay to suggest leaving? Bryant: Not really. If the leaving is not coming from the survivor, it’s not in her heart to do it, and she’s more likely to return in those circumstances. Secondly, it’s so important to know that at the moment they decide to leave, they’re at the greatest risk of homicide. So sometimes people aren’t leaving because of fear and it can be a well-grounded fear that the violence is going to escalate if the offender knows there’s a plan to get away — and even after they get away. WIB: What else should we know about people’s choice to leave? Bryant: Besides fear, there’s love. And we say it’s unconditional. And combined with the love is the hope: “I don’t want to leave them. I just want the violence to stop.” And then little things will give them hope. Sometimes you have an offender who does apologize, and they’re sorry, it’ll never happen again. And then there’s that honeymoon period where they treat you nice again. So love, hope, fear, and then some people are like, “I promised God, so I’m never leaving, right? No matter what, I made a vow to God, and I’m not going to break my vow to God.” So, you know, that’s why we have to hear where people are, but also to have them to even imagine what life would look like. The post ‘Pray and Stay’ Is Still Hurting Black Women in Church appeared first on Word In Black.","formattedDescription":"
\"Rev.
\n

In too many Black churches, the response to intimate partner violence still begins with prayer — and ends with a woman being sent back home. The harm doesn’t stop at the altar, and neither should the church’s responsibility.

\n\n\n\n

Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant, a clinical psychologist and ordained minister, says progress is real but uneven. “Churches have shown growth in attention, training, and sensitivity,” she says, “but some congregations still exhibit sexism and victim blaming.”

\n\n\n\n

For survivors, she says, awareness without action can feel like abandonment. “It’s not enough to share brochures or teaching scripts — survivors must be convinced, beyond all doubt, that the abuse is not their fault.”

\n\n\n\n

Safety vs. Faith

\n\n\n\n

That gap matters most for Black women, who are often expected to carry faith, family, and community on their backs at once. In church spaces that prize endurance and unity, support can blur into pressure to stay, forgive, and keep silent — even when safety is at risk.

\n\n\n\n

Bryant says closing that gap starts with culture. “Remove the stigma around divorce,” she says, noting that shame keeps many women from seeking safety.

\n\n\n\n

It also requires a more honest use of scripture. Biblical narratives can model accountability and define repentance as change, not apology, but those same texts have been used to justify submission and silence.

\n\n\n\n

If boys and men are just taught, ‘You’re the head, you’re the boss, you decide, you get to choose, and they have to obey you no matter what’ — that’s not a way to be in a relationship.

Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant
\n\n\n\n

Church leaders, she says, must confront those distortions directly. Safety is not a lack of faith, and protecting life must take precedence over preserving appearances.

\n\n\n\n

What follows is a conversation with Bryant about what the Black church gets right — and where it still falls short — in responding to intimate partner violence.

\n\n\n\n

Word in Black: How should churches engage men and boys in prevention?

\n\n\n\n

Thema Bryant: It is so important for churches to teach men and boys what loving looks like, that gentleness and care can be and must be very masculine traits. So the idea where what is often just promoted is the way you love is by being in charge. 

\n\n\n\n

And if we look at the model of Jesus — how he was with people — it is centered in compassion. It is centered in tenderness. It is centered in being able to listen and not just speak. We often teach relational skills to girls and women. And men are taught to just be the silent type, or if they’re not silent, to kind of rule and reign and dominate. 

\n\n\n\n

But those aren’t relationship skills. If boys and men are just taught, ‘You’re the head, you’re the boss, you decide, you get to choose, and they have to obey you no matter what,’ that’s not a way to be in a relationship.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: You say that on the prevention side. What about the intervention side?

\n\n\n\n

Bryant: Pastors should be careful not to promote the idea that the woman should be better at submitting, as if to say the violence is her fault. And not to pray one time and send [the couple] home. 

\n\n\n\n

If the violence leads to a court trial, the pastor shouldn’t be a character reference for the abusing spouse. He or she has to remember to pastor both parties and to be more concerned for them than for the possible damage to the institution. Couples often celebrate longevity without regard for the abusive, miserable nature of those years.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: The survivor often tells the pastor first. What’s the appropriate reaction?

\n\n\n\n

Bryant: The first thing we say is to respond with belief and to communicate clearly that no one deserves abuse, violence, or mistreatment, and to appreciate them for trusting you enough to share their story with you. So the do’s are do believe, do validate, do ask them questions about how they are feeling and how they’re managing. And get a sense of their supports, if any, besides the partner or outside of the marriage.

\n\n\n\n

And get a sense from them, if they’ve made any decisions about what they’re wanting to do because some people are coming to you and they’re trying to escape and are looking for support. Some people are coming to you because they’re hoping that you’ll talk to the person and get the abuse to stop. Some people are coming to you because they don’t know what to do. All of those are understandable positions to be in, but you don’t want to run off with an agenda before you’re clear where the person’s head is.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What are the inappropriate things we do?

\n\n\n\n

Bryant: The “don’t”s are responses like, “He wouldn’t do that. That automatically blames the victim. Or the big one is asking the victim, “Well, what did you do?” — as if there’s any answer a person could give that would justify abuse. Even if the survivor cheated on them. So now, they beat this person to a pulp and want to justify it because of the infidelity. So even then, it’s not okay, right?

\n\n\n\n

WIB: Is it okay to suggest leaving?

\n\n\n\n

Bryant: Not really. If the leaving is not coming from the survivor, it’s not in her heart to do it, and she’s more likely to return in those circumstances. 

\n\n\n\n

Secondly, it’s so important to know that at the moment they decide to leave, they’re at the greatest risk of homicide. So sometimes people aren’t leaving because of fear and it can be a well-grounded fear that the violence is going to escalate if the offender knows there’s a plan to get away — and even after they get away.

\n\n\n\n

WIB: What else should we know about people’s choice to leave?

\n\n\n\n

Bryant: Besides fear, there’s love. And we say it’s unconditional. And combined with the love is the hope: “I don’t want to leave them. I just want the violence to stop.” And then little things will give them hope. 

\n\n\n\n

Sometimes you have an offender who does apologize, and they’re sorry, it’ll never happen again. And then there’s that honeymoon period where they treat you nice again.

\n\n\n\n

So love, hope, fear, and then some people are like, “I promised God, so I’m never leaving, right? No matter what, I made a vow to God, and I’m not going to break my vow to God.” So, you know, that’s why we have to hear where people are, but also to have them to even imagine what life would look like.

\n

The post ‘Pray and Stay’ Is Still Hurting Black Women in Church appeared first on Word In Black.

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