By Rev. Dr. Heber BrownWord in Black When one of my best friends (who is also a pastor) encouraged me to look into utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) tools for ministry purposes, I was exhilarated. It seemed like a game-changer at my fingertips. I used it to make presentations and outline Bible studies, saving time on […]
Author Archives: Word in Black
Posted inCommentary
Abusive cops won’t be punished– but #BLM isn’t over yet
By Joseph WilliamsWord in Black In 2020, when Louisville police gunned down Breonna Taylor during a botched raid, the incident helped galvanize the ascendant Black Lives Matter movement. Along with the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, Taylor’s killing spurred outrage and pushed nationwide police reform tantalizingly close to reality. How times have changed. […]
Posted inPOLITICS
The Republican spending bill is bad for climate justice too
The Republican-led budget bill signed on July 4 eliminates key climate justice programs, including the EPA’s Environmental and Climate Justice Program, reversing billions in planned investments for underserved communities. While some grant funding is being defended in court, advocates warn that the rollback signals a major setback for environmental justice efforts, disproportionately impacting Black, Brown, Indigenous, and low-income Americans.
Posted inWord In Black
Toxic legacy: How lead in schools is silently harming kids
Aging school infrastructure continues to expose Black children to toxic lead, with cities like Cleveland and Milwaukee reporting some of the highest contamination rates. Experts warn the damage from lead exposure is irreversible, yet many schools in Black and low-income communities remain dangerously unaddressed.
Posted inWord In Black
Why gunshot injuries disrupt manhood for Black men
A new Rutgers study reveals that Black men disabled by gun violence often struggle with a loss of independence, identity, and their perceived ability to fulfill traditional roles of manhood. Many survivors feel like burdens to their families and experience emotional and psychological distress as they navigate life-altering physical and mental health challenges.
Posted inWord In Black
Sen. Blunt Rochester pushes for action on Black women’s pay gap
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester has introduced a Senate resolution recognizing Black Women’s Equal Pay Day to call attention to the stark wage gap that leaves Black women earning just 66 cents for every dollar a White man makes. Citing systemic racism and sexism, the resolution aims to drive intersectional policy reforms that address long-standing economic inequities.
Posted inBaltimore News
“We Can’t Wait”: Lessons from the New Abortion Landscape
Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosely is a practicing OBGYN and abortion provider. This week, she discusses the new abortion landscape.
Posted inU.S. Government
GOP Bill Is a Win for Some—But a Crisis for Black People
Senate Republicans passed a spending bill that would provide tax breaks to the wealthy while cutting Medicaid, food assistance, and other social programs, endangering the health and well-being of Black Americans and other vulnerable communities.
Posted inWord In Black
Finally, a program to support Black student mental health
Mental illness, overdose and suicide rates are increasing in Black and Brown communities. Now, experts like Monica Ingkavet, director of program and partnerships for The Steve Fund, are working hard to change the statistics with initiatives that meet college students where they are.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: It’s time to rediscover Malcolm X
As the 100th anniversary of Malcolm X’s birth is celebrated, his legacy continues to resonate through generations as both a symbol of Black pride and a global voice for justice. Honoring his life means not only remembering his bold stance against racism, capitalism and imperialism, but also continuing his mission to unify and uplift Black communities worldwide.
Posted inWord In Black
Black students are being watched under AI — and they know it
I surveillance technologies in U.S. schools, often funded by COVID relief and disproportionately deployed in Black and low-income areas, are raising civil rights concerns for criminalizing students and replacing support systems with punitive monitoring.
Posted inHBCU
Racial Healing: How a murder united an HBCU and a mostly-White university
Eight years after the racially motivated killing of Army-bound ROTC student Richard Collins III, his legacy lives on through scholarships, symposia, and a joint BSU-UMD alliance dedicated to combating systemic racism and promoting social justice on college campuses.
