National News - Page 143

Black Borrowers and Student Loan Forgiveness: Challenges Ahead

By Claretta Bellamy Sherita Brown’s parents both earned college and technical school degrees. Still, they could not afford to pay for her college education when the time came. So taking out student loans was inevitable for Brown, 40, who dreamt of becoming an optometrist. “I figured with the income I would make once I graduated that it would make up for the loans that I took out,” she said. Brown worked her way through college and paid some of her expenses out of pocket, alongside her loans. After graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2010, she has paid her

Black Journalists Urged to Defend Democracy Through Truth

By Anoa Change Trevor Noah got a lot right in his remarks at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner. In his closing comments, Noah reminded journalists of their role in upholding and protecting Democracy.  And while he may have ruffled a few feathers with his statement about journalistic integrity and our commitment to upholding Democracy, Noah is right. The press and those who publish our media need to do some soul searching about what side they are on. Tuesday, May 3, marked World Press Freedom Day. And as the Supreme Court is poised to possibly overturn Roe v. Wade, journalists need to step up and stand in the

Lisa Cook Confirmed as First Black Woman on Fed Board

By Zoë Richards and Frank Thorp V The Senate confirmed economist Lisa Cook on Tuesday night to serve on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, making her the first Black woman to sit on the panel in its 108-year history. Cook was confirmed in a 51-50 party-line vote, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking the tie. She will join the Fed at a challenging time as the central bank tries to rein in inflation. Last week, the Fed raised its core interest rate as it battles inflation levels that are now at 40-year highs. “As President Biden said today, addressing inflation remains a top priority of the Biden-Harris Administration, as we work

Michelle Obama Honors Mom with White House-Inspired Exhibit

By Brandee Sanders Former first lady Michelle Obama has credited her mother Marian Robinson as a source of empowerment and strength, and she’s honoring the matriarch of her family in a special way in celebration of Mother’s Day. Obama has unveiled plans to create a museum exhibit as an ode to Robinson. The exhibit—named Opening the White House—will be housed inside the forthcoming Chicago-based Obama Presidential Center Museum. It’s inspired by the values of family and community, two important deeply-rooted principles that Obama says her mother instilled within her. The exhibit will give future visitors a glimpse into the events hosted at The White House during Obama’s

Black Communities Struggle Amid Soaring Inflation Rates

By Claretta Bellamy Tanisha Boston has been feeling the effects of inflation, from the gas pump to the grocery store, for months. So in April, the 31-year-old Los Angeles resident shared her frustrations on social media, writing, “Please check on your LA friends, we are NOT okay!” under a photo of herself in front of a gas station charging $7 per gallon. Boston said that soaring prices — coupled with recently losing a job — has meant she now relies on food stamps to get by. Even though she earns some income as a freelance wardrobe stylist and Instagram influencer, she said she’s

Black Organizers Lead Abortion Access Fight in the South

By Char Adams and Bracey Harris Black organizers in the South are already working to make sure Black people’s needs are not ignored as the Supreme Court appears set to strike down Roe v. Wade. Tight restrictions on abortion have already placed the procedure out of reach for many Black women in America — obstacles that will grow even more daunting if the landmark Roe v. Wade is overturned. Across the Black Belt — the Southern states where the echoes of slavery reverberate in legislation that perpetuates political and social inequities — women have long confronted overwhelming costs and logistical obstacles in

Prairie View A&M Honors Nurses for Pandemic Care & Beyond

By Prairie View A&M University On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak a global pandemic, and our world view of health forever changed. Suddenly, a large spotlight was shown on health care and the hard work of individuals working in the health care system, including nurses. Night after night, the media highlighted sick patients, health care workers and the care they were providing. We saw wonderful stories of nurses giving care: A nurse in New York City who performed rap songs to cheer up patients. We saw nurses holding cell phones so that

Columbia Adds Markers Honoring Legacy of Slavery, Racism

By Reuters The markers include signs at residence halls named for slaveowners John Jay and Samuel Bard, noting that they had connections to the university. Columbia University will add historical markers to four residence halls to acknowledge legacies of slavery and racism and to commemorate African American students, a university professor said on Tuesday. The markers, part of a university-wide project initiated by President Lee Bollinger after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, include signs at residence halls John Jay Hall and 50 Haven Avenue, formerly Bard Hall, noting that slave owners John Jay and Samuel Bard had

Brown Chapel AME Tops 2024 Endangered Historic Sites List

Like religious congregants all over, the people of historic Brown Chapel AME Church turned off the lights and locked the doors at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic because it wasn’t safe to gather for worship with a deadly virus circulating. For a time, the landmark church that launched a national voting rights movement in Selma, Alabama, was off limits. What members found when they returned was heartbreaking: Termites had eaten so much wood that parts of the structure weren’t stable anymore, said member Juanda Maxwell, and water leaks damaged walls. Mold was growing in parts of the building, where hundreds met

Experts Warn Congress of Rising Voter Misinformation Threat

By Donna M. Owens Expert witnesses have warned members of Congress that misinformation targeting Black voters and other voters of color is likely to intensify as the midterm elections unfold. Joi Chaney, the executive director of the National Urban League’s Washington bureau, testified Thursday in a virtual hearing of the House Administration subcommittee on elections that the civil rights organization had noted an “increasing number of disinformation campaigns that directly target Black communities and the civil rights that have long been fought for.” “Further, these disinformation attacks on Black communities are also a broader attack on our democracy and a threat to the

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