Be it Jordan Neely, Trayvon Martin, or countless other Black people...white people thinking that they can take "justice" in their own hands just because they felt like it (or because they were scared) will never sit well over there. We're praying for Jordan's family.
Trump, Take Two
Donnie says he plans to enact mass deportations and end birthright citizenship early on in his second term. While he may craft a pathway to the deportations, ending birthright citizenship, a policy which ensures anyone born in the United States is a citizen regardless of their parents’ citizenship status, will require support from Congress and ¾ of the states.
Didn’t vote for Trump in this past election? He says he loves you and he’s going to treat you as well as he treats MAGA supporters. Do you feel all warm inside now or nah?
According to Trump, Capitol rioters from January 6, 2021 can expect to be pardoned on or around January 20, 2025.
Y’all better appreciate that your president-elect is a hustler (and a scam artist). He’s using a photo of him and the current First Lady Jill Biden to show how irresistible his new fragrances are. “Enemies can’t resist,” he says. If you want your opps to feel drawn to you too, you can order his perfume or cologne for just $200.
Keeping Up with Biden & Harris
The SCOTUS is expected to settle a years-long dispute over whether victims of terrorism in the Middle East can sue Palestinian authorities in the United States. Previous rulings from lower courts and the SCOTUS both declared that victims cannot sue, but the victims (and the Biden administration) are hoping that the more conservative justices will overturn that ruling.
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad was pushed out from the country by opposition forces after years of authoritarian policies and human rights violations. Biden says he’s bombing ISIS in the aftermath to limit their influence and to ensure Syrians can choose their own new government. Let’s just hope they get to do that without any outside (American) influence.
Staffers on Kamala Harris’ campaign realized at the last minute (just 2 days before the election) that they neglected Black & brown communities in Philly in favor of suburban white voters. Some people really cannot walk and chew gum at the same time, huh?
Congress, What’s Good?
Another holiday season, another potential government shutdown. Our elected officials have just 10 days to secure a bipartisan deal that will keep the government funded. Some of the key issues Democrats and Republicans will need to work through include funding for disaster relief, the IRS, and Social Security. If they are unable to pass even a short term deal by December 20, some federal employees could be furloughed and the services expected from federal agencies or in airports and national parks could be strained.
On this week’s agenda in committee meetings:
Cuba’s disregard for human rights (the irony)
Giving people with disabilities the tools to live and thrive
Social Justice Round Up
In 2023, a white vigilante in a New York City subway car killed Jordan Neely, a fellow passenger, because he felt threatened by the mental health crisis Jordan was having. That same vigilante was cleared of any and all wrongdoing in court yesterday, despite the fact that he could have used less lethal methods to restrain Neely. Killing Black folks recklessly and getting away with it will never go out of style in this country.
Police officers in Broward County, Florida made their own cocaine and arrested the people who bought it. Because of this, over 2K people will now have their convictions overturned.
The Justice Department released a report to tell many Memphians what they already knew about their own police department: Memphis PD regularly violates the civil rights of the people they’re supposed to protect and serve. The DOJ hosted a virtual hearing with city residents (62% of whom are Black) yesterday to discuss ways to improve and move forward. Let’s see if they can implement any changes before Trump gets in and shuts everything down.
What the Health
The CEO of UnitedHealthcare was murdered in broad daylight last week and many people—based on how the US healthcare system treats patients—didn’t even have thoughts and prayers to offer. Police captured a suspect yesterday.
The FDA is considering banning an artificial red dye due to its harmful health impacts. Red No. 3 is derived from petroleum (yes) and used to color many of our favorite drinks, cereals, and snacks. It is known to cause neurobehavioral issues in children.
Black folks experience schizophrenia at twice the rate of white folks. Racism is strongly believed to be the cause. It is also the reason why those who experience psychosis in our community receive subpar care.
Did you know heart attacks occur more frequently during the holidays? Check out these tips for managing your heart health this season.
Around the Diaspora
An unknown flu-like disease is going around in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It has killed as many as 143 people in the last 14 days, primarily women and children. Unfortunately, dentifying the illness quickly will be a challenge due to the testing limitations in the country.
Tens of thousands of migrants from West Africa make the dangerous trek from the Canary Islands to Spain every year. A new program will roll out 900K visas to undocumented immigrants already in Spain over the next 3 years.
A survey found Jamaica and Belize to have the lowest salaries in the Caribbean. The Bahamas, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Barbados had the highest salaries with the countries coming in at #1, #2, and #3 respectively.
Our Black Jobs & Our Black Money
The latest jobs report is here and Black women are hardest hit with unemployment. If you know a Black woman (or any Black person) who’s looking to rely less on corporate life and build their own clientele as a freelancer, share this “Get Clients Guidebook” with them. It offers insights on how to present oneself as a freelancer; how to pitch and interact with potential clients; and how best to share your work via a portfolio and/or LinkedIn.
Culture that Pops
We lost a cultural and literary giant when Nikki Giovanni passed away yesterday. Her revolutionary spirit and soul-stirring words spoke to the power in Black people, even in the face of injustice and oppression.
“Dads to Doulas” is a program that offers a 6-week doula training to Black fathers to help them navigate the healthcare system and birthing process along with their partners. It also offers a safe space to Black fathers who’ve unfortunately had to deal with infant or maternal mortality. Learn more about their program here.
One woman turned her collection of 750 Black dolls into a free museum in Omaha, Nebraska. Her goal is to tell the African American story from the past 300 years through the history of the dolls.
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