The Exchange, an initiative spearheaded by Deloitte and a consortium of Black-owned local publishers, has unveiled a new branded article series spotlighting Black business leaders. Article content, penned by journalists from participating pilot program publishers, has been specially curated for diverse audiences, a press release stated. The Exchange aims to financially empower diverse-owned local publishers, deliver specialized business insights to their audiences, and forge a new collaborative model to ultimately enhance equity across the media landscape. They feature in-depth interviews with ..read more

After much debate on social media, Hulu has unveiled the official trailer for their three-part documentary on the Black Twitter community. The trailer, released on Thursday, April 24, teases what viewers can expect from “A People’s History of Black Twitter” coming to Hulu on May 9. Directed by “Insecure” showrunner Prentice Penny and based on Jason Parham’s Wired article of the same name, the docuseries unwraps the history, impact, and future of Black users on the platform, now known as X. The trailer kicks off with a few commentators reading tweets posted under the #UKnowUrBlackWhen hashtag b ..read more

Stephen A. Smith is backtracking comments he made on Fox News last week where he called Donald Trump “relatable” to the Black community due to his ongoing criminal trial. The famed sports commentator took to his YouTube channel on Monday, April 22, to issue a formal apology to the Black community for speaking on their behalf while on Sean Hannity’s show last week. Smith offered “one last” explanation of what he was trying to say and how his message got misconstrued in the media. “I’m fully aware that I have been in the news the last few days. Paraded all over social media as well after comment ..read more

On April 23, Tennessee’s House of Representatives passed a bill allowing trained teachers and staff to carry concealed handguns on school campuses. The bill, HB1202/SB1321, also does not allow parents or other teachers to know precisely who is armed. The bill is heading to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk, where it is expected to be signed into law.  As The Associated Press reported, the bill passed in Tennessee’s House with a 68-28 vote, largely along party lines. All of Tennessee’s Republican House members, except for four members, voted in favor of the bill, a fact that did not sit well with membe ..read more

The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has revived a lawsuit filed against Whole Foods about an allegedly illegal firing. The termination allegedly stemmed from an employee wearing a Black Lives Matter mask. Former employee Savannah Kinzer claims that the upscale grocery chain unjustly fired her from their Cambridge, Massachusetts, location. The court believes that the termination did occur in a manner that “arguably deviated” from their standard disciplinary action. On April 23, they revealed their unanimous 3-0 vote to uphold the lawsuit, as reported by U.S. News. The legal action against Who ..read more

The government is cracking down on airlines skimping on refunds and other shady practices. Airliners like Delta, American, and Southwest must now give full refunds to customers for canceled and significantly delayed flights. The U.S. Department of Transportation implemented new regulations to better protect consumers from misleading flight prices. According to NPR, the rules will ensure customers are fully aware of their rights while traveling in the skies. One provision will protect the money spent by flyers if they endure cancellations or delays on their flights. Customers will receive cash ..read more

Congressman Donald Payne Jr. of New Jersey has died. Payne represented New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District. Payne suffered a heart attack in early April, according to a report shared by his office on April 17.  His peers took to social media to express their condolences for the beloved congressman who held the seat for six terms. Linden, New Jersey, Mayor Derek Armstead posted a photo of the American flag flying at half-staff on X.  The American flag is being flown Half-Staff today, April 25, 2024 in front of City Hall, to honor the passing of Congressman Donald Payne Jr. We a ..read more

Members of the West Augustine community are displeased with Central Florida Representative Bruce Antone’s online remarks concerning St. Augustine and the city’s proposed site for Florida’s statewide Black History Museum. Part of the post read: “They’ve decided a former slave plantation, a constant reminder of slavery, misery, and suffering is an appropriate location for a museum that is supposed to celebrate the accomplishments and achievements of Black People and Caribbean Immigrants.” West Augustine Redevelopment Agency chairman Robert Nimmons voiced his disappointment with Antone’s Facebook ..read more

Harvey Weinstein is joining Bill Cosby in having his high-profile sex crimes case overturned by the appeals court. On Thursday, April 25, the New York Court of Appeals ruled to overturn Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction and order a new trial, CNN reports. In a 4-3 vote, the court ruled the judge showed prejudice by allowing the testimony of “prior bad acts” from women who shared accounts that had nothing to do with the case. “We conclude that the trial court erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crime ..read more

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of enslaved people living in southeastern coastal islands which span from southern North Carolina to north Florida. Isolation from the mainland allowed the Gullah Geechee people to preserve many West African traditions, including language, food, art, and spiritual practices. Marquetta “Queen Quet” Goodwine is a historian, environmental justice advocate, and Chieftess of The Gullah Geechee Nation.  In 2019, Queen Quet testified before Congress about how climate change jeopardizes the preservation of Gullah Geechee traditions, which include the lucr ..read more