Tag: Civil Rights

Bernice King on Nolan Wells Drowning Case

For Bernice King, the unanswered questions surrounding Nolan Wells' death have a painful familiarity. They take her back 57 years to the death of her uncle and Martin Luther King Jr.'s only brother, the Rev. A.D. King, who was found dead in his swimming pool in July 1969. Both were strong swimmers with bruised foreheads and no water in their lungs.

Black Lesbian Trailblazers Who Refused Margins

Black women have always been at the center of movements, even when history did not give them credit. For many Black LGBTQ+ changemakers, the intersectionality of race and sexuality creates even greater barriers. Women like Barbara Smith and Stormé DeLarverie turned identity into power, while others like Lori Lightfoot, Laphonza Butler and Karine Jean-Pierre wielded visibility into political action. These disrupters, activists, artists and politicians expanded what leadership can look like.

Fannie Lou Hamer Confronts President LBJ

President Lyndon B. Johnson called an emergency press conference to silence civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer's testimony about violence against Black voters in Mississippi. His attempt backfired when networks replayed her powerful speech to larger audiences. Hamer's determination inspired the historic passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, transforming her struggle into an unstoppable national movement for civil rights.

Black Leaders Who Shaped the Labor Movement

A. Philip Randolph was one of the most influential Black labor leaders and trade unionists in American history. He founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first major Black-led labor union, and used organized labor as a vehicle to fight both workplace discrimination and racial inequality.

Birmingham Church Bombing: Four Girls Killed 1963

Martin Luther King Jr. described Birmingham as probably the most thoroughly segregated city in the United States. The city earned the nickname Bombingham after at least 21 bombings targeted Black homes and churches in the eight years leading up to 1963. Yet none resulted in fatalities until September 15, 1963, when a bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four young girls during Youth Day.

Emmett Till 71 Years Later: Fighting On

Seventy-one years ago, 14-year-old Emmett Till was kidnapped, brutally tortured, shot and thrown into the Tallahatchie River by two white men who walked free. As the 71st Emmett Till Anniversary Commemoration Weekend kicks off in Mississippi, his legacy continues to confront the undeniable reality that systemic injustice is still alive and well today. Generations have passed since 1955, but the horror hasn't stopped. It has only evolved. Black families are still burying sons found hanging from trees, while police labeled their deaths suicides.

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Black American Colonies in Texas After Slavery

After emancipation, formerly enslaved Black Americans built communities of their own, acquired land, raised families and created places where they could live with greater independence from racism. Known as freedom colonies, these historically significant settlements were established during Reconstruction and to escape Jim Crow. Residents created support systems that allowed families to live more independently, establishing churches, schools and homes. Today, descendants are working to preserve these communities by maintaining family land, organizing reunions and passing histories to younger generations, ensuring these important places and stories are not forgotten.

Rick Ross Cleared of Battery Charge, 2 Misdemeanors

Rick Ross caught a major break in his Miami domestic violence case after prosecutors dropped the felony battery charge against him due to insufficient evidence. According to court documents, prosecutors filed two misdemeanor charges instead: one for battery and another for battery/domestic violence. Ross had previously pleaded not guilty to felony battery by strangulation and misdemeanor battery charges stemming from an incident where an ex-girlfriend alleged he slapped, struck, and choked her.

Trump-Backed African Blogger Samuel Faces Deportation

Popular conservative blogger Samuel Sey, who ran the blog @slowtowrite and spent years defending aggressive immigration enforcement, was taken into custody in Ohio and booked into Butler County jail under a "Hold for ICE" warrant, facing potential deportation to Ghana.

Black Women Breast Cancer Support Circles

Black people thrive in community, building bonds and creating safe spaces both within and beyond bloodlines. For Black women living with breast cancer, turning that community into a circle they can count on can make all the difference, especially as research suggests social connections impact cancer outcomes. A recently published study found that participants who maintained frequent contact with family and friends had a lower risk of death.

Black Texans’ Priorities Before the Midterms

From classrooms to voting booths to hospital delivery rooms, Black Texans are urging politicians to address issues shaping their communities, including educator pay, school funding, voting access, affordability and maternal health. Their message is clear: political participation means more than casting a ballot. Candidates must listen, demonstrate accountability and deliver on their promises.