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 […]
Category: Word In Black
Posted inWord In Black
What’s next for affirmative action?
By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black As the Supreme Court term draws to a close, the nation stands on the precipice of radical change. Any day now, the court will release its decision on race-conscious admissions — better known as affirmative action in college admissions. The historic decision has the potential to alter the landscape […]
Posted inWord In Black
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 […]
Posted inWord In Black
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 […]
Posted inWord In Black
Inside look: how racism can make reaching your fitness goals harder
By Alexa Spencer, Word in Black We all know working up a sweat is a must for keeping our bodies and minds in top form. From fending off illnesses to supercharging our brain power, exercise does it all. But here’s the tricky part: when it comes to hitting those health goals, Black folks are facing […]
Posted inWord In Black
My 9-year-old loves Ja Morant (I kinda wish he didn’t)
By John Celestand, Word in Black My 9-year-old son’s favorite player is Ja Morant. I need to explain this further, so you really get it. The person writing this article— the one who contributed to giving my son life—grew up a Los Angeles Lakers fan, played for the Los Angeles Lakers and won an NBA […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Stillmeadow Peace Park: innovative environmental education at work
By Marnita Coleman, Special to the AFRO In a culture where childhood is defined for so many by electronic devices and video games played indoors, exposure to nature is limited to short walks from a building to a vehicle. Too many of our children know too little about the natural world. The generation at hand, […]
Posted inWord In Black
Black teachers want (and need) mentors
By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black Schools don’t exist in a vacuum. They mirror the broader society and structures of power and privilege, of racism and inequality, are replicated within their walls. And so, the journey of a Black teacher is inherently different. It is marked by a unique set of challenges that white teachers, […]
Posted inWord In Black
Want to stop learning loss? Send your kid to summer camp
By Maya Pottiger, Word in Black “I need you to be OK with failing.” This is the message Aquarius Cain gives to students on the first day of camp every summer. Cain is the co-owner and CEO of Achieve Success Tutoring, which hosts a variety of STEAM camps all summer long. “I love having that […]
Posted inWord In Black
It’s time to ‘go beyond grades’
By Tracie Potts, Word in Black New York’s Times Square is famous for its neon ads promoting anything from Broadway shows to consumer electronics and fancy cars. But this past month, there was a different kind of message among the sea of lights — an important appeal to parents: 90 percent of NYC parents think […]
Posted inWord In Black
Want more black creatives? Stop cutting arts funding
By Marissa Gutierrez-Vicario, Word in Black On Inauguration Day in January 2021, many were left spellbound by Amanda Gorman’s “The Hill We Climb.” As the youngest inaugural poet and first national youth poet laureate, Gorman’s words were both poignant and powerful. However, as the social media buzz surrounding her delivery began to subside, a critical […]
Posted inSponsored Content
What is a Life Plan Community?
There’s a lot to consider in retirement. Where will you live? How will you spend your time? What will you do if your health needs change? Questions like these are common, and some may be surprised to know that many can be answered the same way: A Life Plan Community. Also known as Continuing Care […]