Tag: Social justice

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.

A growing number of influential Black celebrities have publicly voiced their support for Palestine as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues. Actors, musicians, filmmakers, comedians and athletes have used their platforms to spotlight the global crisis and show solidarity with the Palestinian people. From signing high-profile open letters demanding a ceasefire to leveraging content on personal social media channels, these artists are drawing parallels between international human rights movements and global fights for racial justice. By doing so, these Black celebrities build upon a historical tradition of Black-Palestinian solidarity linking domestic racial equality struggles to global movements for justice.

John Boyd Jr., founder of the National Black Farmers Association, says Black farmers are suffering under the Trump administration after three decades of advocacy in Washington. He claims canceled agricultural grants and policies to increase foreign beef imports are pushing struggling farmers closer to losing their land. Boyd is frustrated that previous administrations provided billion-dollar funding and access to policymakers, while Trump has excluded him from White House events. He's also calling out Black leaders, athletes, and wealthy Americans for remaining silent as hundreds of farmers face foreclosure.

With the news cycle continuing to look more and more abysmal for Black folks, it's more important than ever that people speak up and advocate for the issues that impact our community. That's especially true for Black celebrities who have a responsibility to use their large platforms to send a message to those who need to hear it.

This Friday marks a historic milestone for one of the country's most controversial Black liberation protests: Black August. It's been nearly 55 years since the first observance took shape inside California's San Quentin State Prison. Black August grew from a turbulent chapter in history marked by prison uprisings, political radicalism, racial injustice and the deaths of men including Black Panther member George Jackson who became symbols of resistance.

Despite public attention on Immigration and Customs Enforcement dying down in recent months, the agency is quietly reshaping daily life far beyond the border. From Haitian immigrants in Ohio to university campuses, tax databases, and fake federal agent scams, ICE's reach now extends into neighborhoods and airports across the country. What remains uncertain is just how much power the agency will ultimately hold.