By Amaka WatsonHouston Defender August 14, 2023 Prominent actress, producer, and Houston native Phylicia Rashad announced her decision to step down from her role as dean of the Chadwick Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University after the 2023-2024 academic year. Reports indicate that Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick conveyed this news […]
Category: Word In Black
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: Stop saying ‘I am not my ancestors’
By Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier, Word in Black The memes, the reenactments, the folding chair earrings! In the aftermath of the ‘Alabama Brawl,’ Black America has had a lighthearted few days. Folks have been playing the Crime Mob classic “Knuck If You Buck,” making fun of Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town,” finding out that […]
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The U.S. suicide crisis: A deep dive into disparities within the Black community
By Ebony JJ Cury / Michigan Chronicle, Word in Black The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Aug. 10 that 49,449 Americans died by suicide in 2022. The figure represents a 2.6% increase from the 48,183 suicides recorded in 2021, marking the highest tally ever documented, based on the CDC’s preliminary data. […]
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Henrietta Lacks: Family announces 2nd lawsuit
By Alexa Spencer, Word in Black Just one week after the family of Henrietta Lacks reached an historic settlement with a biotech company over its use of Lacks’ cells in their products, the estate is suing a second company for unjustly profiting from her genes. The lawsuit, filed on Aug. 10 in the United States […]
Posted inHealth
The power of safe reporting on mental health
By Anissa Durham, Word in Black Whether you’ve ever experienced suicidal ideations or talked about it — Black folks are suffering in silence. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Feelings of sadness and hopelessness are common in the Black community. Some people may experience suicidal ideation, which means wanting to take your own […]
Posted inWord In Black
What teacher turnover means for the upcoming school year
By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black For many educators, the 2022-2023 school year was harder than the pandemic years. Sharif El-Mekki, founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development, recalled a recent conversation with a principal describing the challenges. “Every time there’s a shortage in your school, it has a ripple effect,” El-Mekki […]
Posted inNational News
Sixty years later, we ‘March on Washington’ again
By Rev. Al Sharpton, Word In Black Sixty years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a historic march in Washington, D.C., at a time when the nation was at an inflection point. Hundreds of thousands gathered at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963, as Dr. King called for better wages, jobs, […]
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HBCUs Revamping Admissions Policies Amid Affirmative Action Decision
HBCUs reportedly are gearing up to become more selective, aiming to maintain the quality of education they provide. AFRO-American Newspapers July 27, 2023 By Stacy M. Brown In the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent decision to end affirmative action in college admissions, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have taken steps to adapt their admissions […]
Posted inWord In Black
Les twins are on a mission to improve student mental health
By Aziah Siid, Word in Black If you’ve been lucky enough to score tickets to Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour, you know Queen B is on stage dancing with Larry and Laurent Bourgeois — better known as Les Twins. The 35-year-old identical twin brothers are known for their distinctive hairstyles (afros, braids, or twists) as well […]
Posted inWord In Black
Centering education in the reparations conversation
By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black We are in an era where the discourse on reparations travels along a number of crucial pathways. It meanders through the history of housing discrimination and inequities in home loan approvals. It acknowledges the haunting reality of police brutality and violence towards Black bodies. “Those are clearly grounds and […]
Posted inWord In Black
Five Black mental health accounts to follow
By Alexa Spencer, Word in Black Social media has made it easier than ever to access mental health education. In a matter of seconds, a quick search for “ways to manage anxiety” or “how to set boundaries” on Instagram or TikTok lands users face-to-face with licensed therapists. With a new platform on the scene — […]
Posted inWord In Black
Florida Decides to Teach That Our Ancestors Benefitted From Being Enslaved
by Aziah Siid, Word In Black Florida has taken yet another stride against teaching the full scope of Black history in statewide public schools — and it’s sparking criticism from advocates and families both state and nationwide. The new standards, posted on July 19 to the Florida Department of Education website, approved require public schools to teach that enslaved […]