In spite of, Black folks will always bounce back (or push back). This week, we've got Morris Brown College, Black folks in LA 30 years after the LA riots and the community who, after feeling the devastating effects of COVID, still believe masks are necessary.
The Skinny on COVID
The latest in numbers: 81M total cases & 992K total deaths (+328K & +2K from last week) in the US.
The headlines:
According to Dr. Fauci, we are now out of the pandemic phase of COVID-19.
Medical experts say we should expect another surge to hit the South pretty hard this summer.
You know how they claim a recently infected person is completely immune for 3 or so months after COVID? These new Omicron subvariants are saying, “Yeah, f*** all that.”
76% of Black folks still think we should be requiring masks in public indoor spaces. Are you in that number?
Keeping Up with Biden & Harris
In a first for his presidency, Joe Biden pardoned 3 people and commuted the sentences of 75 others. The 75 people who had their sentences commuted were serving time for nonviolent drug offenses and one of those pardoned was a Black former Secret Service agent who claims he was framed.
We’re sick and tired of all the back and forth, but Biden is apparently reconsidering whether he can cancel up to $10K in student loan debt via executive action. He will allegedly make an announcement on it before the current moratorium ends on August 31, 2022.
VP Kamala Harris has tested positive for COVID-19.
After a 2-year hiatus, the White House Correspondents’ Dinner returned.
Congress, What’s Good?
COVID funding and that $33B for Ukraine are on hold as the two requests are tied together and Republicans refuse to budge unless Title 42 remains in place.
They did manage to still give some support to the war-torn country, however. In addition to passing legislation to lend them military equipment, Nancy Pelosi snuck her tail off to visit Ukraine unannounced and show “unflinching American support.” That’s nice and all, but we really can’t think of a time she visited Ferguson, Minneapolis, or any other US city where Black folks were actively protesting being murdered by the police. If we missed an instance in which she did, let us know. We’ll wait.
Last week, 3 Republican Senators also introduced the SMART Cocaine Sentencing Act that would reduce the sentencing disparity between crack and cocaine from "100:1 to 18:1." As we all know, crack is more likely to be used by Black people and other people of color. If they were really about making it fair, why not reduce the disparity to 1:1 & call it a day? Oh...
Moving away from Congress’ mixed up priorities, hypocrisy & inactivity, here are a couple of the committee meetings scheduled for this week:
Accountability & transparency in today’s judicial system
The effects of overdraft fees on working families
Determining whether our tax dollars should go to companies violating labor laws
Election Watch: 2022 Midterms
Primary season is picking up this month. Take a look at this calendar to know when yours is coming up.
Going into November, Independent voters are leaning right. So are most parents of children under 18 and Latinos.
36% of young adult voters (under age 30) say they will participate in this year’s midterms. That’s roughly the same turnout rate as the 2018 elections.
Social Justice Round Up
Recently telling folks what we already knew or could surmise, Harvard acknowledged its ties to slavery and committed $100M to righting its wrongs. While all them 0s and commas look good at face value, $100M is a mere 0.2% of the university’s endowment. Is Harvard really doing enough? NAH.
Los Angeles commemorated the 30th anniversary of the Rodney King Riots and conveniently focused on the businesses destroyed more than some of the conditions that sparked the uprisings in the first place.
Last week, the FDA proposed a ban on menthol cigarettes. This doctor says it could save a lot of Black lives, but considering the fact that 85% of Black cigarette smokers prefer menthols, could it also be another reason for over-policing?
Baltimore’s Black mayor is under fire for increasing the police budget in his city.
Around the Diaspora
Until Nigeria can eliminate female genital mutilation, this official says the country will be unable to achieve its goals for gender equality, education, health and economic growth.
Guyana’s president wants a better relationship between his country & the US.
Barbados is fighting 2 pandemics: COVID-19 and that of noncommunicable diseases like heart attacks or strokes.
Getting to the Money
Love branding, HR, & social media? Matstercard is looking for a Director of Employer Brand to help build & support its brand to internal employees.
If you’re still feeling like “Yes we can!” from 2008, consider applying for a job with the Obama Foundation. They have quite a few openings based in Chicago and elsewhere.
Buying Black
Kingston Goods wants to be your new go-to for quality & sustainable bedsheets and towels. Founded by a Black woman who’s a self-proclaimed environmentalist & homebody, Kingston Goods provides home essentials that are affordable, ethically made & comfortable. Give them a try and tell your momma’s sister’s cousin nem too. They offer a 30-night free trial, plus 15% off your first purchase and free shipping and returns.
Culture that Pops
Atlanta HBCU Morris Brown College regains full accreditation after losing it in 2002.
With Elon Musk’s recent purchase of Twitter, what does the future look like for the best corner of the internet aka Black Twitter?
Wakanda may be a fictional place, but Marvel has found a way to make a cookbook full of recipes from our would-be homeland, inspired by the flavors of the Black diaspora.
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