By Jennifer Porter GoreWord in Black It was a case most gynecologists wouldn’t touch — literally. Brionna Johnson of Chicago, who was 17 weeks pregnant, had a fibroid tumor on her uterus that weighed 27 pounds. One gynecologist after another told her the growth had to come out, but the only way of doing that […]
Category: Word In Black
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Black school counselors are a necessity–we don’t have enough
By Alvin BuyinzaWord in Black Gabrielle Brundidge knew she wanted to be a school guidance counselor since she was a teenager. The idea first came to her while discussing college plans with her guidance counselor, Ms. Garcia, during her senior year at Northview High School in Johns Creek, Ga. “She was Hispanic, and it was […]
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Gen X’s grind vs. Gen Z’s boundaries: Who’s right?
By Sharif El-MekkiWord in Black During a recent Freedom Friday podcast, our host, Chris Stewart, pointed out that we are living in a time when four, sometimes five, generations are working side by side, exposing fault lines around toughness, trauma, and what “safety” should mean at work. As a proud member of Generation X, I […]
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500 voices, one mission: Reviving Baltimore’s gospel sound
Combining past, present and future, Eric Waddell’s vision is about more than harmony. It’s about reconnecting young people to a legacy built in Baltimore’s choir lofts. Hundreds of singers are pushing back, one rehearsal at a time.
Posted inHBCU
HBCU attendance may be linked to Black alumni brain health
Studies show that students who graduate from historically Black colleges and universities outperform peers in cognitive tests, with benefits persisting across generations educated before and after desegregation.
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EVENT: The action plan to get Black women back to work
By Shernay WilliamsWord In Black It’s been a year since economic reports started to reveal that as many as 600,000 Black women – many of them highly educated professionals – are out of work. So what now? Join a virtual planning session produced by Word In Black featuring entrepreneurs, community organizers and economic strategists who […]
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Behind the pulpit, Black women battle violence and silence
The killing of Rev. Tammy McCollum on Easter Sunday, allegedly at the hands of her husband, is a shocking example of intimate partner violence in the church. But a growing number of Black women clergy struggle to break through misogyny and violence inside the church — harm often unspoken, protected by patriarchy, shame and fear of not being believed.
Posted inReligion
Next lifetime or this one? Erykah Badu ignites a tithing debate
A debate sparked by Erykah Badu’s purported critique of tithing has reignited questions about faith, financial literacy and systemic inequality. At stake: whether a cornerstone of Black church tradition supports community survival — or complicates efforts to close the racial wealth gap.
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This pastor is flipping Black Church tradition with poetry
With “Sacred Slam,” Rev. Dr. Wanda Bynum Duckett uses poetry and hip-hop to revive Black church traditions and connect with Gen Z and millennials. By Rev. Dorothy S. BoulwareWord In Black Overview: As younger generations seek meaning beyond traditional pews, the Black church is experimenting with new forms of worship. One pastor’s spoken word approach […]
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South Carolinians continue colleague’s push for maternal health
By Jennifer Porter GoreWord in Black The state of South Carolina ranks among the highest in the nation for maternal mortality. And just like nationwide, the burden falls most heavily on Black women. But a recent gathering of healthcare leaders, birth workers and families in the state vowed not to take the situation lying down. […]
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March Madness runs on Black athletes, but at what cost?
By Ashley Stewart, Ph.D.Word in Black Scan the NCAA’s Sweet 16 rosters and you’ll see what college basketball has always known: Black athletes built this tournament. Now imagine if their institutions invested in their minds the way they profit from their bodies. Each March, college basketball becomes a unifying cultural event unlike almost anything else […]
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What is Holy Week and why does it matter?
Holy Week marks the final seven days of Jesus’ life leading up to Easter, inviting Christians to reflect on his suffering, death, and resurrection. Beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Resurrection Sunday, the week highlights themes of sacrifice, justice, love, and spiritual renewal, while many observe it through worship, prayer, fasting, and acts of service.