By Peter Whoriskey, The Washington Post — Americans have long looked to the decennial census for truths about themselves, and the 1840 version presented them with an improbable and incendiary notion. Slavery was good for Black people, the figures indicated, and freedom led to insanity. Specifically, free Black people were far more likely than the enslaved to succumb to insanity. “Insanity and idiocy” was ten times more common among free…
Leading nonprofit executives, former senior federal officials and top public policy experts release the most comprehensive analysis of small business ever undertaken in the US and lay out a five-step plan that over 10 years would generate a net new 1.5 million small businesses and grow small businesses’ share of U.S. employment by 25%. WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Congress at an impasse on a new stimulus package and permanent business…
By Peniel E. Joseph (CNN) — Ice Cube, the legendary Generation X rapper and hip hop icon, last week said he’s open to working with the Trump administration on implementing his “Contract with Black America.” That is a huge mistake which hurts the entire African American community. Cube sparked controversy after tweeting that the Trump campaign made adjustments to “their plan” for Black America after talking to him. Cube was…
This episode in the Democracy Unchained conversation series faces the topic of America’s original sin of slavery—and a discussion about reparations for Black Americans as an important part of rebuilding…
By Calvin Schermerhorn — What is at stake when we talk about the economics of North American slavery? Over the last 75+ years it has been whether capitalism superseded slavery or whether…
The protest organized by the Uhuru Solidarity Movement hosted similar demonstrations throughout the nation By Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union Tribune — A group of roughly 100 protestors marched through…
Leaders of five prominent organizations agreed that Amy Coney Barrett was alarmingly evasive on questions about racism. By Mike Ludwig, TruthOut — After four days of confirmation hearings, Black leaders of five major civil rights organizations are lining up in opposition to the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme court and the “deeply flawed” process Senate Republicans are using to secure her confirmation…
By Julianne Malveaux — For the sixth year in a row, Essence Magazine and the Black Women’s Roundtable have surveyed Black women about the issues that concern them most. Melanie…
By Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald — Rep. Frederica Wilson is calling on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to clarify recent comments by a top State Department official on elections…
Community leaders will spearhead community-centered process that may include participatory budgeting The City of Seattle announced today the initial membership of the Equitable Communities Initiative Task Force, which will spearhead a community-led process to develop recommendations for a historic $100 million new investment in Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities to address the deep disparities caused by systemic racism and institutionalized oppression. The $100 million investment builds on…
By Ella Lee, USA Today — The claim: Kamala Harris said she’ll place a federal tax on homes to pay for reparations Since she was chosen, misinformation about Democratic vice…
By George Alleyne — The CARICOM Reparations Committee wants $50 billion as money for an Investment Development Fund donated as a starting point by entities that profited from slavery, and apologised for their role, to begin the…