By Bria Overs, Word in Black From coast to coast, Americans are closely watching and dreading the upcoming end to the federal student loan payment pause. Borrowers in some states, however, have more debt than others. For Black people, the lasting effects of their debt depend on where they live which is often in those […]
Author Archives: Word in Black
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There can’t be reparations without climate justice
By Maya Richard-Craven, Word in Black Imagine a world where Black folks experience liberation. We receive reparations for centuries of racial harms. Compensation goes beyond making amends for the atrocities committed during slavery. And the environmental problems affecting Black people get addressed head-on. If the promised 40 acres and a mule had been given, that […]
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Nope, long probation sentences don’t help students
By Aziah Siid, Word in Black It’s a split-second decision. While browsing the aisles, a kid slips something into her pocket. Or, after school, he throws a punch without thinking about what comes after. But what’s coming are life-altering consequences. Whether it’s a juvenile misdemeanor or offense, students have to face the reality that part […]
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Extreme Heat Is Killing Incarcerated Black Folks
By Maya Richard-Craven As we march into what climate scientists predict could be one of the hottest years on record, plenty of us will be cranking up the air conditioning, sitting in front of a fan, or sweating on our front porches. But imagine the torment of trying to find relief by lying on a […]
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Too Many Older Black Men Are Dying After Surgery
by Alexa Spencer, Word In Black A UCLA study found that Black men between ages 65 and 99 are more likely to die within 30 days of an operation. The purpose of surgery is to solve an otherwise daunting medical issue — but that only works if the patient survives. While most people live well past […]
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No matter the ruling, student loan repayment is coming
By Bria Overs, Word in Black Student loan borrowers have some clarity on the future of their debts. But it doesn’t look good for those hoping to receive relief. Black college grads find themselves bearing the heaviest weight of student loan debt, and they’re more likely to default on their loans. In 2019, the Institute […]
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Millions of Black Americans live in cardiology deserts
By Anissa Durham, Word in Black You have probably heard of food deserts. But have you heard of a cardiology desert? Both mean a lack of access to something. Cardiology deserts are counties with no cardiologist available. A recent report by GoodRx Health found that two million Black Americans live in a cardiology desert. And […]
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A chance to close the digital divide in Black communities
By Mark Brown, Word in Black In 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, which became one of the largest social investments ever made by the federal government. Thanks to what became known as the GI Bill, millions of WWII veterans were able to take advantage of education and housing benefits. Because of […]
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Can mobile crisis teams stop police violence?
By Alexa Spencer, Word in Black This story is part of “All Those ‘Racial Reckoning’ Promises,” Word In Black’s series exploring the pledges made to the Black community in the wake of the death of George Floyd, and what organizations and leaders can still do now to promote racial equity and justice. Dialing 9-1-1 has […]
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The fight against HIV: progress made, but racial equity still out of reach
By Alexa Spencer, Word in Black Americans ages 13 to 24 are the second highest age group impacted by HIV diagnoses, but new data reveals a significant drop in infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimated annual infections dropped from 9,300 in 2017 to 6,100 in 2021. The decrease occurred mostly […]
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Study reveals staggering toll of being Black in America: 1.6 million excess deaths over 22 years
By Liz Szabo, Word in Black Research has long shown that Black people live sicker lives and die younger than White people. Now a new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), casts the nation’s racial inequities in stark relief, finding that the higher mortality rate among Black Americans resulted in […]
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The wine industry is overwhelmingly White, this Black winemaker wants to change that
By Bria Overs, Word in Black Winemaking is one of the oldest crafts in human history, with evidence from historians and archeologists going back as far as 6,000 B.C. In the United States, Black folks didn’t enter the industry until the late 1800s. With 15 years in the business, Longevity Wines is one of less […]
