Black students are the fastest-growing group of college applicants in the U.S., with applications rising 11 percent in fall 2025 compared to the previous year, according to the Common Application. This surge shows that, despite rising tuition and the Supreme Court ending affirmative action, Black students continue to pursue higher education at record rates, particularly in the Southwest and in states like Mississippi.
Author Archives: Word in Black
Posted inWord In Black
A year after the Eaton Fire, Black Altadena is fighting to stay
By Anissa DurhamWord in Black For decades, Altadena functioned as a rare constant in the Los Angeles area: a place where Black families owned homes and passed something on to their descendants. That all changed with the Eaton Fire. One year after the fire tore through Altadena and neighboring communities, destroying thousands of homes and […]
Posted inCommentary
In redistricting wars, Black and Brown voters stand to lose
By Shaylyn Cochran and Rob WeinerWord in Black The 2026 midterm will be a referendum on the direction of our country, but without the fair and complete participation of Black voters and communities of color, next fall’s election will not truly reflect the voice of the people. Unfortunately, in granting a stay in the Texas […]
Posted inFood
4 smart tips for budget-friendly holiday meals
Traditional Black holiday dishes carry memory, culture and meaning far beyond the dinner table. Rising grocery prices push families to find creative ways to honor tradition while stretching food budgets.
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
How many of these Black movies have you seen?
The article highlights the importance of Black representation in movies and how Black-led films have evolved over time. It features a decade-by-decade list of must-watch Black movies that celebrate Black stories, culture and history.
Posted inHealth
Six vaccines that can keep you safe this holiday season
By Jennifer Porter GoreWord in Black Christmas, Kwanzaa and other end-of-year holidays typically mean travel followed by close indoor contact with friends or loved ones — near-perfect conditions for nasty airborne viruses to spread. And when it comes to communicable illnesses, experts say, this holiday season is going to be a doozy. This December, public […]
Posted inWord In Black
Activists: ‘We Ain’t Buying it’ this Thanksgiving weekend
By Shernay WilliamsWord in Black “History has already shown us that pulling our dollars hits harder than any speech, any march, any protest ever could,” says content creator Ashley B, in an Instagram video. She’s part of a growing coalition of community organizers, pastors and political engagement groups calling for a mass boycott ahead of […]
Posted inWord In Black
When ‘life is life-ing,’ this newsletter helps Black women be free
By Aaron FoleyWord in Black Every Friday, Joanne Griffith tries to get the world a little more unstuck. Her newsletter, “The Get Free Guide,” implores its readers — who are increasingly becoming evangelists, but more on that shortly — to do just that. The methods, like the one she dropped in the September newsletter, can […]
Posted inWord In Black
Fewer Black students missing school as attendance slowly rebounds
Chronic absenteeism in U.S. K–12 schools is gradually declining, and a new EdTrust report suggests rates could be cut in half within five years if states continue expanding early interventions, tutoring, and wraparound supports. The improvements are especially significant for Black students, who remain disproportionately affected but are seeing progress as states adopt data-driven strategies and invest in student well-being.
Posted inOPINION
Sudan: In the face of dastardly acts, the world remains silent
Jennifer R. Farmer is the author of “First and Only: A Black Woman’s Guide to Thriving at Work and in Life,” and founder of the social good public relations firm, Spotlight PR LLC. Farmer urges the world to confront the ongoing atrocities in Sudan, arguing that true commitment to the value of Black lives must include protecting Sudanese civilians from genocide and mass suffering.
Posted inPolitics
We are the resistance: Black America and the fight for the future
One year into the 47th U.S. presidency, Black leaders across the nation are sounding the alarm and mobilizing communities to resist what they describe as an unprecedented assault on civil rights, democracy, and Black progress. From mayors to activists, their message is unified: survival and victory will depend on collective power, courage, and an unwavering commitment to protect and uplift Black America.
Posted inWord In Black
Inside Gucci Mane’s battle for mental health
Rapper Gucci Mane (Radric Davis) is using his memoir and public platform to speak openly about his diagnoses—bipolar disorder, paranoid schizophrenia—and his recovery journey, highlighting the role of family caregiving and destigmatizing mental health in Black communities. With his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir deeply involved in his care, the couple emphasizes early intervention, accountability, and reshaping masculine norms around seeking help.