Salem Baptist Church in Chicago is leading “Spend in the Black,” a faith-driven initiative encouraging residents to support Black-owned businesses and strengthen local economic power. Through large marketplace events and community partnerships, the effort channels consumer spending into Black communities, boosts small businesses, and promotes long-term wealth building. Organizers see it as a scalable movement that blends faith, activism, and entrepreneurship to rebuild the “Black dollar” and foster sustainable economic ecosystems.
Category: Word In Black
Posted inWord In Black
‘There is a cost to telling the truth.’ But Georgia Fort is undeterred
Independent journalist Georgia Fort reflects on her arrest while covering a protest and the growing threats to press freedom, particularly for Black reporters. Drawing strength from her faith, personal experiences and the legacy of the Black press, Fort remains committed to telling difficult truths despite risks, emphasizing the vital role Black media plays in holding America accountable.
Posted inWord In Black
‘Ghost’ Medicaid doctors leave patients in the waiting room
By Jennifer Porter GoreWord in Black Roughly 1 in 3 doctors who are enrolled to treat Medicaid patients didn’t treat a single one between 2019 and 2021, according to new research. At the opposite end of the spectrum, a third of enrolled health care providers saw more than 150 Medicaid patients each year, a workload […]
Posted inOPINION
Opinion: For Black women, the Oscars are about more than Best Picture
Dr. Regina Davis Moss is a narrative strategist, cultural leader and reproductive justice advocate whose research examines how stories shape public belief and influence policy as president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice. In this piece, she discusses the importance of Black women controlling how their stories are told.
Posted inWord In Black
Demystifying the end: Hospice care impact on the Black community
Hospice care offers comfort, dignity and emotional support at the end of life, but it remains underused in Black communities due to misconceptions, limited access and historical distrust of the healthcare system. Advocates say education, community outreach and culturally sensitive care are key to helping families better understand hospice and use its services earlier.
Posted inWord In Black
Another win for Lacks heirs in fight over her cells
The family of Henrietta Lacks has reached an undisclosed settlement with pharmaceutical company Novartis, marking another legal victory in their effort to hold companies accountable for profiting from her cells without consent. Lacks’ “immortal” HeLa cells, taken during cancer treatment in 1951, became foundational to major scientific breakthroughs while her family remained unaware for decades and received no compensation.
Posted inNational News
Jamal Bryant ends Target fast: ‘We got 3 of 4’
Black faith leaders have ended a yearlong boycott and “Target fast” after saying the retailer met three of four demands related to investment in Black businesses and diversity commitments. Led by Rev. Jamal Bryant, organizers said the campaign sparked a national conversation about corporate accountability while pledging to continue monitoring the company’s actions.
Posted inCommentary
Commentary: Michael B. Jordan loves being Black. We do too
After winning Outstanding Actor at the NAACP Image Awards and taking home a leading actor prize at the 32nd annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, Michael B. Jordan has become an Oscar frontrunner for his role in “Sinners.” The victories mark a cultural moment for Black audiences who have watched the film’s awards-season journey amid broader political and social pressures, turning Jordan’s success into a celebration of affirmation and resilience.
Posted inReligion
National Week of Prayer confronts HIV in Black communities
Churches nationwide are observing the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, March 1–8, a faith-based initiative founded by Pernessa C. Seele and organized through Balm In Gilead. The annual campaign combines worship with HIV testing, education and outreach, addressing the disproportionate impact of HIV on Black Americans and working to reduce stigma through faith and public health partnerships.
Posted inWord In Black
Education is repair: Black history and America at 250
By Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter This summer, the United States will celebrate 250 years of independence. However, this is not the only anniversary to commemorate. February marks the 50th anniversary of Black History Month as it exists now, and 100 years of this recognition in some form. As we reflect on these milestones, the struggle […]
Posted inWord In Black
Anissa Durham, author of ‘On Borrowed Time’ series for Word in Black, wins NAACP Image Award
By Word in Black On the same night Michelle Obama and Kendrick Lamar were celebrated at the 2026 NAACP Image Awards, a reporter for Word In Black quietly made history of her own. On Feb. 23, Anissa Durham won the inaugural Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism award for “On Borrowed Time,” her nine-part investigation into […]
Posted inWord In Black
5 books by Black authors to read during Lent
Lent offers a season of reflection, repentance and renewal, and for Black Christians it also carries deep connections to history, resistance and communal faith. Five books by Black authors explore how ancient Lenten practices intersect with liberation theology, embodied dignity and the lived experiences of Black communities.
