Insight ::: 05.26.2025

Jamal Roberts American Idol

Jamal Roberts won the American Idol Season 23 last week. The Meridian Mississippi phy-ed teacher was crowned the next American Idol in the May 18 season finale.

Roberts became the series 2nd Black winner, the first being Reuben Stoddard who won Season 2 in 2003.

According to a report in Good Housekeeping Magazine by Adriana Freedman, ‘’Roberts has been a strong and consistent contestant throughout the season. He is a showstopper. He is rooted in R&B, but has mainstream crossover ability as displayed throughout the season. He showcased his ability to sing country during his Showstopper performance of “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton and his Aulani performance of “Liar” by Jelly Roll. By exploring those songs, he gave those country music fans of the show an understanding that he could be their Shaboozey. Roberts understood the assignment. He saw the writing on the wall. Rather than shunning country, he took the challenge head-on. It was a successful, groundbreaking, and strategic move.”

Roberts’ victory revealed the emergence of R&B over the anticipate reign of Country music. Critic say his selection reflects the fan’s desire to elevate the best artist, rather that follow genre loyalty that might have pushed forward either Faith and Country artists Breanna Nix and John Foster, finalist for the title.

“For his winner’s song, Roberts crooned Anthony Hamilton’s ‘Her Heart’. But Roberts’ crowning is just the latest celebration for the singer this month, as he just welcomed a baby girl to the world, his third. Minutes after he was named Season 23’s winner, getting some sleep and spending time with the little one was top of mind for Roberts,” wrote KiMi Robinson in a USA TODAY feature story.

Roberts said, “I’m going to see my daughter, Gianna,” who was nine days old, as the finale taping wrapped.

“I’ve got a lot of making up to do,” Robinson reported.

Roberts revealed his new bundle of joy on Instagram May 16. With his daughter pictured in a ladybug costume, the singer wrote, “Hey world, meet my little ladybug, Gianna Grace Roberts. I’m so proud to be her father #girldadforlife #idol,” Robinson wrote.

Who is Jamal Roberts? 7 facts about the historic ‘American Idol’ Season 23 winner

Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Haadiza Ogwude, wrote, “Nix received the fewest viewer votes, taking the third spot, leaving Foster and Roberts to battle it out for the firstplace title. The two finalists sang duets with judge Luke Bryan and country singer Jelly Roll, as well as original songs released and recorded through “Idol” for the last chance to win over viewers.

Foster performed his original single “Tell That Angel That I Love Her.” For Roberts’ original single, he sang his version of “Heal” by Tom Odell, which ultimately won him the coveted $250,000 prize and a recording contract with Hollywood Records/19 Recordings.”

During the live finale, the remaining three contestants − John Foster, Jamal Roberts and Brianna Nix − took the stage for their final performances of the season. Then, host Ryan Seacrest revealed which contestants made the top two, surprising fans nationwide, she wrote.

Ogwude penned “facts about the 2025 “American Idol” winner:” Where is Jamal Roberts from? Roberts, is a 27-year-old PE teacher from Meridian, Mississippi. Jamal Roberts made ‘American Idol’ history

According to USA TODAY, Roberts became the first Black man to earn the title since Carrie Underwood’s predecessor, Season 2’s Ruben Studdard, in 2003. People Magazine added that Seacrest said Roberts won after the “biggest finale vote in show history.”

Jamal Roberts started singing in church

Roberts told Billboard in April that he began singing at age 2 and grew up singing hymns and other musical covers in the church as a child. He also played the drums, he added.

“My grandparents found out

I could sing, and I started singing in church and [covering] the Temptations and Michael Jackson,” Roberts explained. “I had a granddaddy on my dad’s side who was a bishop, and a grandad on my mom’s side was a deacon, so I was in church every time the door opened.”

Roberts won every talent show he was in.

Jamal Roberts auditioned for ‘American Idol’ twice

According to Billboard, Roberts auditioned for “American Idol” twice before making it onto the show. The first time, he was told he “needed more vocal training and was too young.” During his second audition, Roberts was asked to sing a second song but had only prepared one.

“I didn’t get defeated,” Roberts told the news site. “I never gave up. I took the ‘no.’ I’ve always been able to take constructive criticism and use it for my gain, and try again. This has always been me.”

Roberts is the father of three daughters, Harmoni, 6, Lyrik, 4, and Gianna, who was born just two weeks before the finale, per the Clarion Ledger, a daily newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi. Harmoni and Lyrik have reportedly joined the audience for several of Roberts’ performances, and once again cheered for their dad Sunday night.

Justice Department moves to cancel police reform settlements reached with Minneapolis and Louisville

and police brutality.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department moved Wednesday to cancel settlements with Minneapolis and Louisville that called for an overhaul of their police departments following the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor that became the catalyst for nationwide racial injustice protests in the summer of 2020.

The Trump administration also announced it was retracting the findings of Justice Department investigations into six other police departments that the Biden administration had accused of civil rights violations.

The moves represent a dramatic about-face for a department that under Democratic President Joe Biden had aggressively pushed for federal oversight of local police forces it accused of widespread abuses.

The Trump administration accused previous Justice Department leadership of using flawed legal theories to judge police departments and pursuing costly and burdensome court-enforced settlements known as consent decrees to address alleged problems it argues are better dealt with at the local level.

“It’s our view at the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division under the Trump administration that federal micromanagement of local police should be a rare exception, and not the norm,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, the new leader of the division, told reporters.

The Justice Department announced its decision just before the five-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd. Then-officer Derek Chauvin used his knee on May 25, 2020, to pin the Black man to the pavement for 9 1/2 minutes in a case that sparked protests around the world and a national reckoning with racism

The Biden administration launched pattern-or-practice investigations into police departments across the country, uncovering issues such as racial discrimination and excessive force. The Justice Department in the final weeks of the previous administration reached consent decree agreements with Minneapolis and Louisville but the settlements had yet to be approved by a judge.

Police reform advocates denounced the move to walk away from the agreements, saying a lack of federal oversight will put communities at risk.

“This move isn’t just a policy reversal. It’s a moral retreat that sends a chilling message that accountability is optional when it comes to Black and Brown victims,” said the Rev Al. Sharpton, who worked with the Floyd and Taylor families to push for police accountability. “Trump’s decision

to dismiss these lawsuits with prejudice solidifies a dangerous political precedent that police departments are above scrutiny, even when they’ve clearly demonstrated a failure to protect the communities they’re sworn to serve.”

Kristen Clarke, who led the Civil Rights Division under the Biden administration, defended the findings of the police investigations of her office, noting that they were “led by career attorneys, based on data, body camera footage and information provided by officers themselves.”

“To wholesale ignore and disregard these systemic violations, laid bare in well-documented and detailed public reports, shows patent disregard for our federal civil rights and the Constitution,” Clarke said in a statement to The Associated Press.

The Trump administration said it was also review-

Congressional Republicans’

“One Big Beautiful Bill” would result in Minnesota losing $500 million annually from Medicaid, over $100 million in enhanced tax credits for MNsure enrollees, and $244 million annually in food support. Tens of thousands of Minnesotans’ access to health care and nutrition would be compromised because of this bill.

“Republicans in Congress are taking away Americans’ ability to go to the doctor and put food on the table in order to give a tax cuts to billionaires,” said Governor Walz. “Make no mistake: The state will not be able to compensate for the hundreds of millions in federal funding we are going to lose if these cuts are enacted. The victims of this legislation will be families, children, veterans, rural Americans, and pregnant moms. I expect Minnesota’s congressional republicans to reject this bill.”

Earlier this spring Governor Walz and state officials conducted a series of statewide roundtables highlighting proposed federal health care cuts. From late March through late April, the state convened seven roundtable discussions connecting with people across

Minnesota to discuss significant damage to Medicaid and health care funding if Congress moves forward with proposed cuts.

“The bill is inefficient, ineffective and fundamentally unfair,” said John Connolly, state Medicaid director. “In addition to funding cuts, it presents an obstacle course of red tape, hurdles and traps, which drive up administrative costs and force states, counties and Tribes to push qualified Minnesotans off health care coverage. Tens of thousands of Minnesotans will lose their medical insurance entirely, leading to skipped preventive care, worse health outcomes

By Paolo Santalucia Associated Press

ROME (AP) — The Omega gym in Rome has long been frequented by residents of the up-market Prati district, as well as priests, nuns and monsignors from the nearby Vatican City. And also, to the delight of gym staff, the man who would become pope.

Robert Prevost came to the Vatican from Peru in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world. Cardinal Prevost broke a sweat at Omega for two years until, earlier this month, he was elected Pope Leo XIV.

”When the name of the pope was announced, my phone rings and my son tells me, ‘Dad, it’s Robert! Robert, our member!’” Francesco Tamburlani, the owner of the gym, said in an inter-

view. “I heard the gym staff behind him cheering. ... This moved us, filled us with joy.”

A typical workout for someone of Prevost’s age, 69, was a mere warm-up for the little-known American cardinal, according to Valerio Masella, his personal trainer. Although it is hard to define an age group for personalized programs, Prevost’s plan was more befitting of men aged 5055. Masella would train him two or three times a week in sessions lasting up to an hour.

So, how much does the pope bench? Masella can’t speak to his papal power, since Prevost was focused on posture and cardiovascular capacity. He ran on his favorite treadmill that faces a mural featuring famous local landmarks, among them St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

”We would start off slow and then go pretty strong, I

By Claudia Lauer Associated Press

The Justice Department announced Wednesday it was canceling proposed consent decrees reached with Minneapolis and Louisville to implement policing reforms in the wake of the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.

The department also announced it would retract its findings in six other recent sweeping investigations into police departments as part of a move to phase out the use of the federal oversight mechanism on local police departments at Republican President Donald Trump’s behest.

The decision to unwind the investigations is a major reversal from the Biden administration, which had aggressively used the investigations and decrees to push reforms at police departments it accused of civil rights violations.

Here’s more information on how consent decrees work and why they’ve been put in place.

What are consent decrees?

The federal government has used consent decrees after what are commonly referred to as pattern or practice investigations to address findings of civil rights violations or unconstitutional practices.

The 1994 crime bill gave the Justice Department the ability to conduct pattern or practice investigations specifically of police departments.

The investigations are not criminal. They are often triggered by high-profile excessive or fatal use-of-force incidents like the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville. But they can also be triggered by citizen complaints, or be started at the request of local or state officials. Consent decrees are settlements of the investigation findings that do not require admissions of guilt, but put in place a court-enforced improvement plan that requires agencies to meet specific goals before federal oversight of the agency is removed. A federal judge usually administers the consent decree and appoints a monitor to oversee and report on progress. Who decides what’s in a consent decree? After the Justice Department investigation is complete, and if systemic civil rights violations are found, the department’s attorneys work with local governments or police agencies to negotiate the list of reforms included in the decree. Those reforms can cover an array of issues including policies, training

They’ve been used for things like monitoring mandated desegregation in schools or addressing unconstitutional conditions in jails or prisons.

Masella said.

Tim Walz

George Floyd Breonna Taylor

Police Chief Brian O’Hara

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey

Pope Leo XIV

By Steve Karnowski and Alanna Durkin Richer Associated Press

Reflective column for George Floyd anniversary The pain we keep inheriting

By Haley Taylor Schlitz, Esq.

There are moments that don’t just mark time, they break it. May 25, 2020, was one of those moments. We heard a man cry out for his mother. We heard him plead, “I can’t breathe.” And many of us, especially Black Americans, felt that cry in our bones. Because it wasn’t just George Floyd’s last breath, it was the weight of so many stolen ones before.

I remember that day clearly. I was 17, just finishing my first year of law school. Still a teenager. Still forming my sense of who I was and what I believed justice could be. But that day pulled me into a deeper understanding of something I had always known: that in America, Black lives are not only endangered, they are disposable.

The murder of George Floyd reverberated far beyond Minneapolis. For many Black families like mine, it stirred memories we never got to lay to rest. It reopened wounds that had never fully healed and reminded us that the violence we witness today is part of a much longer story, one that too often runs through our own family trees.

Just weeks ago, April 29 marked the 33rd anniversary of the civil unrest following the Rodney King verdict in Los Angeles. It also marked 33 years since my grandfather, Dwight Taylor, was killed. He was one of the first to die in that unrest,

shot and left behind in a moment of chaos that never saw justice. No arrest. No explanation. No closure. Just a family shattered. My mother, Myiesha, was a high school senior when her father, my grandfather, was taken from her. She was 18, standing at the edge of adulthood, carrying a loss that would shape the rest of her life. When George Floyd was murdered, I was 17. I didn’t lose a family member that day, but I lost something I hadn’t yet fully understood: the idea that maybe, just maybe, my generation would be spared this kind of trauma. I was still a teenager, still holding onto the fragile hope that things were changing. But that day reminded me, like it reminds so many Black teens, that even when we work hard, even when we rise, we are still seen as less. Because in America, Black teens come of age not with rites of passage, but with reckonings.

That grief wasn’t personal, but it was deeply familiar. Because in America, Black teenagers come of age not through rites of passage, but through reckonings.

I never got to meet my grandfather. I will never know the sound of his laughter or the comfort of his embrace. I’ll never have stories passed down from his own mouth, or memories of birthdays, holidays, or lazy afternoons. Instead, I inherited a grave. A name. And the silence that follows injustice. The kind of loss too many Black families carry, not just the absence of a loved one, but the absence of what could have been.

And that’s what I keep thinking about as we reach this five-year mark of George Floyd’s murder. Not just the

tragedy of his murder, but the depth of what was stolen. His children and grandchildren will grow up with a hole where memories should have been. Just like my mother did. This is the generational inheritance we carry, not just grief, but disruption. The kind of loss that rewrites the shape of your family, the meaning of your milestones, the boundaries of your hope.

I didn’t get the peace of knowing my grandfather. Instead, I was born into the quiet of his absence, a silence where connection should have been. That’s what loss does in Black families like mine. It severs what should have been passed down - wisdom, stories, love - and replaces it with unanswered questions and generational distance. In this country, Black love and Black joy are constantly interrupted by violence, violence rooted not in misunderstanding, but in design. Because America has always shown us what it thinks we are worth. And far too often, the answer is less. Less than human. Less than worthy. Less than deserving of a full breath.

So when George Floyd said, “I can’t breathe,” I felt that. Not just as someone who heard his words, but as a Black woman raised in the aftermath of a silence that sounds the same.

That pressure never really goes away. It lives in our daily lives. It follows us into schools, hospitals, courtrooms, neighborhoods. It weighs on every conversation we have with our families about safety. It sits on our backs when we try to dream, when we dare to rest.

But I write this not only to grieve, but to break the cycle. Because if we do nothing else with our pain, let it be this: let it end with

Rep. LaMonica McIver: members of Congress rally around Black Congresswoman charged by Trump’s ICE officers

By Lauren Burke Black Press USA

At a large press conference on the House side of the U.S. Capitol, members of Congress rallied around Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (D-NJ). The members represented the diverse “tri-caucus” made up of many of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Women’s Caucus. The three groups represent over half of the Democratic Caucus in the U.S. House. Though McIver was not present at the press event, she was on Capitol Hill attending meetings and House votes. She is also expected to be on national television on the evening of May 20. Yesterday, the New Jersey Congresswoman was charged with “impeding” and “assaulting” law enforcement outside of Delaney Hall Immigration Detention Center in Newark, New Jersey on May 9. The confrontation occurred after the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka but last night the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Alina Habba announced that the charges against Mayor Baraka were dropped. Rep. McIver was charged on the same day that the Trump Administration, through the Department of Justice, announced an agreement to pay the family of Ashley Babbitt $5 million. Babbitt was shot dead by a member of the U.S. Capitol Police as she attempt-

ed to enter the floor of the U.S. House during the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. The charges against Rep. McIver also fell on the same day as what would have been the 100th birthday of Malcolm X.

After three months of witnessing the Trump Administration arrest and deport individuals to a prison in El Salvador with no hearing beforehand and pressure law firms to complete work pro bono, members of Congress at the event in support of Rep. McIver appeared to have recent history front of mind. “We know exactly why we’re here today. That’s because the President of the United States has weaponized his Department of Justice in an attempt to make a young congresswoman from New Jersey the focal point of his efforts to intimidate Congress into submission,” said Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), the Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus during the crowded press event near the steps of the U.S. Capitol. “Let me be overwhelmingly clear. Congresswoman McIver has the full and unwavering support of the Congressional Black Caucus. Period,” Clarke added. Rep. McIver, 38, entered Congress in September 2024 after winning a special election after the death of Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. “I’m standing here at a time that should make all of us as Americans truly afraid,” said New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker.

Senator Booker shook hands and greeted New Jersey colleagues U.S. Representatives

Robert Menendez, Jr. (D-NJ) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) who were also a part of the May 9 visit to Delaney Hall Immigration detention center that became a confrontation after ICE officials got into a dispute with the federal officials. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. When they come after judges we should be afraid. When they come after people who use their First Amendment rights we should be afraid. When they come after law firms to represent clients of their choice we should be afraid. When they attack universities and the vital role they play in a free society we should be afraid,” Senator Booker told the large crowd of members of Congress, reporters, and others. “This entire sit-

uation happened because of the unjust arrest of Mayor Baraka,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) said during her opening remarks at a House Judiciary Committee hearing called by the Republicans on the issue of the fracas on May 9. “Members of Congress have the right to conduct oversight, full stop — whether that’s holding Cabinet officials accountable or visiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Representative McIver was performing her proper oversight role, a role she was elected by the American people to do — and even participated in a one-hour tour after the incident occurred,” wrote Rep. Jamie Raskin who is the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. Members expressed concern about what happens next and are monitoring the situation around McIver closely.

Science & Technology

Aristotle would scoff at Mark Zuckerberg’s suggestion that AI can solve the loneliness epidemic

By Gregg D. Caruso

Mark Zuckerberg recently suggested that AI chatbots could combat social isolation by serving as “friends” for people experiencing loneliness.

He cited statistics that the average American has fewer than three friends but yearns for as many as 15. He was close: According to a 2021 report from the Survey Center on American Life, about half of Americans have fewer than four close friends.

Zuckerberg then posited that AI could help bridge this gap by providing constant, personalized interactions.

“I would guess that over time we will find the vocabulary as a society to be able to articulate why that is valuable,” he added.

Loneliness and social disconnection are serious problems. But can AI really be a solution? Might relying on AI for emotional support create a false sense of connection and possibly exacerbate feelings of isolation? And while AI can simulate certain aspects of companionship, doesn’t it lack the depth, empathy and mutual understanding inherent to human friendship?

Researchers have started exploring these questions. But as a moral philosopher, I think it’s worth turning to a different source: the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle.

Though it might seem odd to consult someone who lived over 2,000 years ago on questions of modern technology, Aristotle offers enduring insights about friendships – and which ones are particularly

valuable.

More important than spouses, kids or money

In his philosophical text Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle maintained that true friendship is essential for “eudaimonia,” a Greek word that is typically translated as “flourishing” or “well-being.”

For Aristotle, friends are not just nice to have –they’re a central component of ethical living and essential for human happiness and fulfillment.

“Without friends, no one would choose to live,” he writes, “though he had all other goods.”

A solitary existence, even one of contemplation and intellectual achievement, is less complete than a life with friends. Friendship contributes to happiness by providing emotional support and solidarity. It is through friendship that individuals can cultivate their virtues, feel a sense of security and share their accomplishments.

Empirical evidence seems to support the connection between friendship and eudaimonia. A 2023 Pew Center research report found that 61% of adults in the U.S. say having close friends is essential to living a fulfilling life – a higher proportion than those who cited marriage, children or money.

A British study of 6,500 adults found that those who had regular interactions with a wide circle of friends were more likely to have better mental health and be happier.

And a meta-analysis of nearly 150 studies found that a lack of close friends can increase the risk of death as much as smoking, drinking or obesity. Different friends for different needs

But the benefit of

friendship that Aristotle focuses on the most is the role that it plays in the development of virtue.

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle identifies three tiers of friendship.

The first tier is what he calls “friendships of utility,” or a friendship that is based on mutual benefit. Each party is primarily concerned with what they can gain from the other. These might be colleagues at work or neighbors who look after each other’s pets when one of them is on vacation. The problem with these friendships is that they are often fleeting and dissolve once one person stops benefiting from the relationship.

The second is “friendships of pleasure,” which are friendships based on shared interests. These friendships can also be transient, depending on how long the shared interests last. Passionate love affairs, people belonging to the same book club and fishing buddies all fall into this category. This type of friendship is important, since you tend to enjoy your passions more when you can share them with another person. But this is still not the highest form of friendship.

According to Aristotle, the third and strongest form of friendship is a “virtuous friendship.” This is based on mutual respect for each other’s virtues and character.

Two people with this form of friendship value each other for who they truly are and share a deep commitment to the well-being and moral development of one another. These friendships are stable and enduring. In a virtuous friendship, each individual helps the other become better versions of themselves through encouragement, moral guidance and support.

As Aristotle writes:

“Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good and alike in virtue. … Now those who wish well to their friends for their sake are most truly friends; for they do this by reason of their own nature and not incidentally; therefore their friendship lasts as long as they are good – and goodness is an enduring thing.”

In other words, friendships rooted in virtue not only bring happiness and fulfillment but also facilitate personal growth and moral development. And it happens naturally within the context of the relationship.

According to Aristotle, a virtuous friend provides a mirror in which one can reflect upon their own actions, thoughts and decisions. When one friend demonstrates honesty, generosity or compassion, the other can learn from these actions and be inspired to cultivate these vir-

tues in themselves. No nourishment for the soul So, what does this mean for AI friends?

By Aristotle’s standards, AI chatbots – however sophisticated – cannot be true friends.

They may be able to provide information that helps you at work, or engage in lighthearted conversation about your various interests. But they fundamentally lack qualities that define a virtuous friendship.

AI is incapable of mutual concern or genuine reciprocity. While it can be programmed to simulate empathy or encouragement, it does not truly care about the individual – nor does it ask anything of its human users.

Moreover, AI cannot engage in the shared pursuit of the good life. Aristotle’s notion of friendship involves a shared journey on the path to

eudaimonia, during which each person helps another live wisely and well. This requires the kind of moral development that only human beings, who face real ethical challenges and make real decisions, can undergo. I think it is best to think of AI as a tool. Just like having a good shovel or rake can improve your quality of life, having the rake and the shovel do not mean you no longer need any friends – nor do they replace the friends whose shovels and rakes you used to borrow. While AI may offer companionship in a limited and functional sense, it cannot meet the Aristotelian criteria for virtuous friendship. It may fill a temporary social void, but it cannot nourish the soul. If anything, the rise of AI companions should serve as a reminder of the urgent need to foster real friendships in an increasingly disconnected world.

How 3D printing is personalizing health care

By Anne Schmitz

Three-dimensional printing is transforming medical care, letting the health care field shift from mass-produced solutions to customized treatments tailored to each patient’s needs. For instance, researchers are developing 3D-printed prosthetic hands specifically designed for children, made with lightweight materials and adaptable control systems. These continuing advancements in 3D-printed prosthetics demonstrate their increasing affordability and accessibility. Success stories like this one in personalized prosthetics highlight the benefits of 3D printing, in which a model of an object produced with computer-aided design software is transferred to a 3D printer and constructed layer by layer.

We are a biomedical engineer and chemist who work with 3D printing. We study how this rapidly evolving technology provides new options not just for prosthetics but for implants, surgical planning, drug manufacturing and other health care needs. The ability of 3D printing to make precisely shaped objects in a wide range of materials has led to, for example, custom replacement joints and custom-dosage, multidrug pills. Better body parts

Three-dimensional printing in health care started in the 1980s with scientists using technologies such as stereolithography to create prototypes layer by layer. Stereolithography uses a computer-controlled laser beam to solidify a liquid

material into specific 3D shapes. The medical field quickly saw the potential of this technology to create implants and prosthetics designed specifically for each patient.

One of the first applications was creating tissue scaffolds, which are structures that support cell growth. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital combined these scaffolds with patients’ own cells to build replacement bladders. The patients remained healthy for years after receiving their implants, demonstrating that 3D-printed structures could become durable body parts.

As technology progressed, the focus shifted to bioprinting, which uses living cells to create working anatomical structures. In 2013, Organovo created the world’s first 3D-bioprinted liver tissue, opening up exciting possibilities for creating organs and tissues for transplantation. But while significant advances have been made in bioprinting, creating full, functional organs such as livers for transplantation remains experimental. Current research focuses on developing smaller, simpler tissues and refining bioprinting techniques to improve cell viability and functionality. These efforts aim to bridge the gap between laboratory success and clinical application, with the ultimate goal of providing viable organ replacements for patients in need.

Three-dimensional printing already has revolutionized the creation of prosthetics. It allows prosthetics makers to produce affordable custom-made devices that fit the patient perfectly. They can tailor prosthetic hands and limbs to each individual and easily replace them as a child grows.

Three-dimensionally printed implants, such as hip re-

placements and spine implants, offer a more precise fit, which can improve how well they integrate with the body. Traditional implants often come only in standard shapes and sizes. Some patients have received custom titanium facial implants after accidents. Others had portions of their skulls replaced with 3D-printed implants.

Additionally, 3D printing is making significant strides in dentistry. Companies such as Invisalign use 3D printing to create custom-fit aligners for teeth straightening, demonstrating the ability to personalize dental care.

Scientists are also exploring new materials for 3D printing, such as self-healing bioglass that might replace damaged cartilage. Moreover, researchers are developing 4D printing, which creates objects that can change shape over time, potentially leading to medical devices that can adapt to the body’s needs.

For example, researchers are working on 3D-printed stents that can respond to changes in blood flow. These stents are designed to expand or contract as needed, reducing the risk of blockage and improving long-term patient outcomes.

Simulating surgeries

Three-dimensionally printed anatomical models often help surgeons understand complex cases and improve surgical outcomes. These models, created from medical images such as X-rays and CT scans, allow surgeons to practice procedures before operating.

For instance, a 3D-printed model of a child’s heart enables surgeons to simulate complex surgeries. This approach can lead to shorter operating times, fewer compli-

cations and lower costs. Personalized pharmaceuticals In the pharmaceutical industry, drugmakers can three-dimensionally print personalized drug dosages and delivery systems. The ability to precisely layer each component of a drug means that they can make medicines with the exact dose needed for each patient. The 3D-printed anti-epileptic drug Spritam was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015 to deliver very high dosages of its active ingredient. Drug production systems that use 3D printing are finding homes outside pharmaceutical factories. The drugs potentially can be made and delivered by community pharmacies. Hospitals are starting to use 3D printing to make medicine onsite, allowing for personalized treatment plans based on factors such as the patient’s age and health.

However, it’s important to note that regulations for 3D-printed drugs are still being

developed. One concern is that postprinting processing may affect the stability of drug ingredients. It’s also important to establish clear guidelines and decide where 3D printing should take place – whether in pharmacies, hospitals or even at home. Additionally, pharmacists will need rigorous training in these new systems. Printing for the future

Despite the extraordinarily rapid progress overall in 3D printing for health care, major challenges and opportunities remain. Among them is the need to develop better ways to ensure the quality and safety of 3D-printed medical products. Affordability and accessibility also remain significant concerns. Long-term safety concerns regarding implant materials, such as potential biocompatibility issues and the release of nanoparticles, require rigorous testing and validation.

While 3D printing has the potential to reduce manufacturing costs, the initial invest-

ment in equipment and materials can be a barrier for many health care providers and patients, especially in underserved communities. Furthermore, the lack of standardized workflows and trained personnel can limit the widespread adoption of 3D printing in clinical settings, hindering access for those who could benefit most. On the bright side, artificial intelligence techniques that can effectively leverage vast amounts of highly detailed medical data are likely to prove critical in developing improved 3D-printed medical products. Specifically, AI algorithms can analyze patient-specific data to optimize the design and fabrication of 3D-printed implants and prosthetics. For instance, implant makers can use AI-driven image analysis to create highly accurate 3D models from CT scans and MRIs that they can use to design customized implants. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms can predict the long-term performance and potential failure points of 3D-printed prosthetics, allowing prosthetics designers to optimize for improved durability and patient safety. Three-dimensional printing continues to break boundaries, including the boundary of the body itself. Researchers at the California Institute of Technology have developed a technique that uses ultrasound to turn a liquid injected into the body into a gel in 3D shapes. The method could be used one day for delivering drugs or replacing tissue. Overall, the field is moving quickly toward personalized treatment plans that are closely adapted to each patient’s unique needs and preferences, made possible by the precision and flexibility of 3D printing.

(Manuel Orbegozo / Reuters)

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the company’s headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., in 2024.

(AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)

A girl, wearing her prosthetic hands, walks to school in Uruguay.

ing more than a dozen police consent decrees that remain in place across the U.S. The Justice Department would have to convince a judge to back away from those already-finalized settlements — a move that some communities may oppose.

Dhillon, the Civil Rights Division chief, noted that both Louisville and Minneapolis are already taking action at the local level to make changes and impose oversight without the federal government’s

help. She cited the hefty cost on communities to comply with federal oversight — sometimes for more than a decade — and what she described as problems and abuses in the consent decree monitoring system.

“There is a lack of accountability. There is a lack of local control. And there is an industry here that is, I think, ripping off the taxpayers and making citizens less safe,” Dhillon said.

The Minneapolis Police Department is operating under a similar consent decree with the Minnesota Human Rights Department.Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Police

Chief Brian O’Hara pledged at a news conference Wednesday that the city will abide by the terms of the federal agreement as it was signed.

“We will comply with every sentence of every paragraph of the 169-page consent decree that we signed this year,.” said Frey. “We will

make sure that we are moving forward with every sentence of every paragraph of both the settlement around the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, as well as the consent decree.”

In Kentucky, the city of Louisville had reached an agreement with the Justice Department to reform its police force after a federal probe that found Louisville police engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discrimination against the Black community.

Louisville Mayor Mayor Craig Greenberg said the city remains committed to reforming its police force and will

be soliciting applications from candidates who want to serve as an independent monitor.

Throughout their two-year training, Masella never knew Prevost was a cardinal, nor did he hear him utter a discouraging word.

3

”I don’t think I’ve ever heard him make a comment about anything that wasn’t positive. He was always positive about everything -- the weather, the city, the people, also for me, he said he liked the gym.”

A Vatican spokesperson didn’t reply when asked for comment.

A sporting pope isn’t new. Pope John Paul II, who was elected at the age of 58, was an avid skier and mountain trekker.

Chicago-born Prevost’s game is tennis. On May 15, he met top-ranked player Jannik Sinner, who gave him a racket and offered to play during an off day at the Ital-

ian Open. Leo had said earlier in the week that he would be up for a charity match when it was suggested by a journalist.

After Prevost took over the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops in 2023, he said in an interview with the Augustinian Order that his new job had left him little free time to practice

his game. While the Mediterranean climate makes tennis possible year-round, the papacy will likely leave him even fewer chances to step onto a court.

Tamburlani, the Omega owner, says the Holy Father is welcome back any time he wants to squeeze in a workout. After all, his membership’s still active. ”This would make us so happy,” he said. “We would organize our gym to guarantee his safety and his privacy. We would just need a sign.”

imperiling not just the state’s budget, but those of counties, communities, and individual households across Minnesota.

“Throughout all of that process, we never hesitated, we never delayed, we never took a step back in trying to learn how to do our jobs better and serve the community better,” said Louisville Police Chief Paul Humphrey. “It’s not about these words on this paper, it’s about the work that the men and women of LMPD, the men and women of metro government and the community will do together in order to make us a safer, better place.” and higher costs.”

“We know that food insecurity isn’t just about hunger. It’s directly tied to chronic illness, developmental delays in children, and rising health care costs,” said DCYF Commissioner Tikki Brown.

“When SNAP is cut, people get sick, kids fall behind in school

and our health and education systems pay the price. Layer Medicaid cuts on top of that, and it doesn’t just deepen the crisis — it pushes families to the brink of financial collapse.”

“Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress are taking away health care and food assistance from millions of Minnesota children and families to give massive tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. This is morally bankrupt,” said Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy.

“Their actions are

Our state’s Republican members of Congress are accountable to Minnesota families first and foremost; not to Donald Trump. I expect them to fight for our state and our people, rejecting these disastrous cuts while they still can.”

“The plan in motion from Donald Trump and his Republican allies in Congress to slash Medicaid and SNAP

would be devastating for Minnesota families, and it would also lead to a massive strain on our state budget,” said Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. “As Democrats, we are going to keep standing up to fight cuts that will lead to fewer people getting the care they need and more people going hungry.”

The bill will also have devastating consequences for tens of thousands of Minnesotans who buy health insurance on the individual

market and don’t have any other access to affordable coverage. The sprawling package includes multiple provisions that will restrict access to health insurance, increase costs, and impose new administrative burdens on families and individuals who use state-based marketplaces like MNsure.

“This legislation will make health coverage for Minnesota’s working families much more expensive and much harder to access and maintain,” said Libby Caulum, CEO of

enacted in November 2014.

MNsure. “If passed, it would turn back the clock on the progress we’ve made, leaving more Minnesotans uninsured and increasing the burden of uncompensated care on our health care system.”

More details on the impact federal cuts to Medicaid can be found at the Department of Human Services Medicaid Matters website.

requirements, data practices, oversight and other policing practices, said Alex del Carmen, a professor and associate dean of the School of Criminology at Tarleton State University in Fort Worth.

agree on the terms of the decree before it is sent to a judge for approval.

Del Carmen, who has served as a federal monitor and a special master in large consent decrees, said the DOJ attorneys and the local government or police agency most often will

In the rare instance that a police department does not agree to the consent decree terms, the Justice Department has in the past filed a lawsuit to force the reforms, as it did

in Colorado City, Arizona. A jury found the department had discriminated against people who weren’t members of the Fundamentalist LDS Church and put in place court-ordered reforms.

Most recently, Memphis declined in December to agree to the findings of a Justice Department investigation. The department had not filed a lawsuit in the case, and the announcement Wednesday retracted those findings. Consent decrees had not yet been proposed in the other five retracted investigations. The now canceled consent decrees in Louisville and Minneapolis were awaiting a judge’s approval. How long do consent decrees last?

Some decrees are designed to be completed in five years, which was the timeframe in which former President Joe Biden’s attorney general, Merrick Garland, proposed all decrees should have a hearing to decide if they should be ended. In reality, many of the decrees last a decade or longer. The Justice Department and local officials filed a joint motion earlier this month to conclude a decree at the Albuquerque Police Department that had been

Another ongoing consent decree with the New Orleans Police Department began in 2013.

After the consent decree conditions are met, departments often also have to complete a maintenance period to make sure the changes continue.

“Consent decrees remain in effect until a department demonstrates sustained compliance with all requirements,” del Carmen said.

“Progress is evaluated through regular monitor reports and agency audits. If the department fails to meet benchmarks or violates the decree, the court can hold it in contempt, impose fines, extend oversight, or mandate additional corrective measures.”

He said in cases of continued non-compliance, a court can consider the rare step of appointing a receiver — a neutral third party — to manage the department.

How is success of a consent decree measured?

Critics of police department consent decrees argue they can come with expensive tabs — sometimes in the millions — including paying the monitor. Police unions and local officials often

say that money could be better used making improvements to the department and paying officers.

In Albuquerque critics have said they believe the decree failed, citing increased crime numbers.

But advocates of the federal decrees and former monitors said those numbers — crimes or raw use-of-force numbers — are not indicative of success or failure.

They point to independent monitor audits that track policy compliance, to community-trust surveys and to declines in misconduct complaints.

They also say the money expended in improving training and accountability often means less payouts later in civil-liability claims against the police departments.

“Independent oversight ensures that agencies cannot ignore or backslide on required changes, even amid political shifts,” del Carmen said. “While resource-intensive, it is often argued that (consent decrees) have repeatedly produced lasting reductions in misconduct and strengthened public trust in reformed departments.”

Donald Trump Joe Biden

Insight 2 Health

Biden

is

getting prostate cancer treatment,

but that’s not the best choice for all men − a cancer researcher describes how she helped

By Luisel Ricks-Santi

“Me encontraron càncer en la pròstata,” my father told me. “They found cancer in my prostate.”

As a cancer researcher who knows very well about the high incidence and decreased survival rates of prostate cancer in the Caribbean, I anguished over these words. Even though I study cancer in my day job, I struggled to take in this news. At the time, all I could muster in response was, “What did the doctor say?”

“The urologist wants me to see the radiation oncologist to discuss ‘semillas’ (seeds),” he said. “They are recommending treatment.” Many men, including former President Joe Biden, whose case is advanced, do choose with their doctors to treat prostate cancer.

However, I understood from my work that not undergoing treatment was also an option. In some cases, that is the better choice.

So I took it upon myself to educate my father on his disease and assist him with the life-changing decisions he would need to make. Our journey can give you a preview of what a cancer diagnosis can be like.

Prostate cancer diagnosis

Prostate cancer was not a new topic for my father and me. His battle with his prostate health started over 10 years ago with an initial diagnosis of benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH.

The prostate gets bigger with age for a number of reasons, including changing hormone levels, infection or inflammation. Two of the most frequent symptoms of BPH are difficulty urinating and a sudden, urgent need to urinate, both of which my father experienced.

Cutting

Although research suggests that the factors that contribute to BPH similarly contribute to prostate cancer, there is no evidence that an enlarged prostate will necessarily develop into cancer.

Upon my father’s initial BPH diagnosis, I asked about his PSA levels, the amount of prostate-specific antigens in his blood. PSA is a protein that both normal and cancerous prostate cells produce, and elevated amounts are considered red flags for prostate cancer. When combined with a digital rectal exam, a PSA test can allow doctors to more accurately predict a person’s risk of having prostate cancer.

My father said his PSA levels were elevated but that the doctors would begin active surveillance, what he called “watchful waiting,” and monitor his PSA every six months to see if it rose.

After several years of monitoring his PSA, doctors found my father’s PSA level had doubled. He then got a biopsy that indicated he had intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Cancer risk categorization

After his diagnosis, my father was faced with the decision of how to proceed with treatment. I explained that categorizing how aggressive the cancer is and how far it has spread can help determine the best course of treatment.

Prostate cancer can be grouped into four stages. Stages 1 and 2, when the tumor is still confined to the prostate, are considered early-stage or intermediate risk. Stages 3 and 4, when the tumor has spread beyond the borders of the prostate, are considered more advanced and high risk.

Some patients with early-stage or intermediate-risk prostate cancer undergo additional treatment, including surgery, radiation or radioactive seed implants called brachytherapy. Patients with late-stage prostate cancer typically under-

go hormone therapy along with surgery or radiation, or chemotherapy with or without radiation.

Although I was not surprised by my father’s diagnosis, given his advanced age and his battle with prostate disease over the past decade, I still struggled emotionally. I struggled with our conversations about what “curing” his cancer meant and how to explain his treatment options to him. I wanted to ensure he would have the best outcome and could still live his best life.

Our initial inclination was to undergo active surveillance. That meant we would monitor his PSA every six months instead of immediately starting treatment. That is appropriate for patients with early-stage and less aggressive tumors.

Prostate cancer screening problems

My father was leaning on me to help him decide how to proceed. I felt overwhelming anxiety because I did not want to fail him or my family. Even with all my expertise studying cancer genetics and working with cancer patients, I couldn’t help second-guessing our decisions, and I sometimes questioned our decision not to immediately treat his cancer.

Some people diagnosed with prostate cancer don’t immediately start treatment, because many of the tumors found through PSA testing grow so slowly that they are unlikely to be life-threatening. Detecting these slow-growing tumors is considered overdiagnosis, because the cancer ultimately will not harm the patient during their lifetime. Nearly half of all patients with prostate cancer are overdiagnosed, often leading to overtreatment.

Research suggests that many prostate cancer patients undergo unnecessarily aggressive treatments, which are often associated with significant harms, like urinary and bowel

incontinence, sexual impotence and, in some cases, death. Several studies in the U.S. have shown that patients with early-stage prostate cancer generally have a good prognosis, and the cancer rarely progresses further. With careful observation, most will never need treatment and can be spared the burdens of unnecessary therapy until there are clear signs of progression. Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of prostate cancer led the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to recommend against PSA-based screening in 2012, with caveats for high-risk groups including African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer. The recommendation was updated in 2018 to make screening a personal choice after discussion with a clinician. Those recommendations have resulted in reduced screening and increased prostate cancer diagnoses. Given that Black men are more likely to see the cancer progress to aggressive forms of the disease after initial diagnosis, this may worsen existing health disparities.

Developing tests that better identify patients at risk of dying from prostate cancer can decrease overtreatment. In the meantime, educating patients can help them decide if screening is appropriate for them. For underserved and marginalized communities, community outreach can help improve health literacy and enhance awareness and screening.

When I looked through my father’s stack of medical records, I found a beacon of light that eased my apprehension. His doctor had ordered a genetic test that estimates how aggressive a tumor may be by measuring the activity of specific genes in cancer cells. An increase in gene activity linked to cancer would indicate that it is likely to grow fast and spread.

The test predicted that my father’s risk of dying from the disease in the next five years was less than 5%. Based on these results, we both understood that he had adequate time to make a decision and seek additional guidance.

My father ultimately

decided to continue active surveillance and forgo immediate treatment.

Surviving prostate cancer I still worry about my father’s diagnosis, because his cancer is at risk for progression. So every six months, I inquire about his PSA levels. His doctors are monitoring his PSA levels as part of his survivorship plan, which is a record of information about his cancer diagnosis, treatment history and potential follow-up tests. My father’s decision to undergo active surveillance was controversial among our friends and family. Many were under the impression that prostate cancer required immediate treatment. Several shared successful treatment stories, sometimes followed by stories of adverse treatment-related side effects.

To date, my father believes that active surveillance was the best decision for him and understands that this may not be the same for someone else. Talk to your doctor to see what the best options are for you or your loved ones.

HIV aid means undercutting US foreign and economic interests - Nigeria shows the human costs

By Kathryn Rhine

A little over two decades ago, addressing Nigeria’s HIV crisis topped U.S. President George W. Bush’s priorities. Africa’s most populous nation had 3.5 million HIV cases, and the disease threatened to destabilize the region and ultimately compromise U.S. interests. These interests included securing access to Nigeria’s substantial oil reserves, maintaining regional military stability and protecting trade partnerships worth billions.

Following years of agitation from AIDS activists, Bush launched the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, in 2003. This U.S.-led HIV treatment program has since saved tens of millions of lives around the globe.

While living in Nigeria for my work as a medical anthropologist, I witnessed PEPFAR’s rollout and saw firsthand how the powerful therapies it provided transformed Nigerian lives. The women I worked with told me they could finally put aside the fears of death or abandonment that had consumed their days. Instead, they could focus on a newly expanded horizon of possibilities: building careers, finding love, having healthy children.

Now, however, a serious threat to preventing and treating HIV worldwide looms.

The Trump administration’s de-

cision to substantially restrict access to a vital HIV prevention tool – PEPFAR-funded preexposure prophylaxis, or PrEP –would cut off ongoing treatment for millions of people and block future access for countless others who need this protection.

The timing is devastating: Scientists recently made a major advance in HIV prevention. Named the 2024 Breakthrough of the Year by the journal Science, the drug lenacapavir offers six months of HIV protection with one injection. Unlike previous PrEP options that required daily pills, which created significant barriers to consistent access and adherence, this twice-yearly injection dramatically simplifies prevention.

By undermining access to a treatment that has been essential to reducing HIV rates, the Trump administration’s new restrictions threaten to derail two decades of bipartisan investment in eliminating HIV globally. The consequences extend well beyond individual lives.

Afterlife of aid

“Some people that have it, they choose to be wicked and just spread it all around,” confided Elizabeth, a woman I interviewed during my time in Nigeria. I am using a pseudonym to protect her privacy. “They say, ‘Somebody gave it to me, so I am going to spread it too.’ But if they know that they can live positively with the virus, it would reduce their evil thoughts.”

Elizabeth’s words reveal a concerning dynamic: When hope for treatment disappears, a dangerous desperation can take its place. Patients who feel abandoned by health care systems might lose motivation to protect others from HIV. They may also stop seeking medical care, abandon prevention measures and turn away from future aid.

Cultural anthropologists use the phrase “the afterlife of aid” to describe what happens after global aid programs are withdrawn or drastically reduced. Communities are left not just without resources but with

a lasting sense of betrayal that undermines their willingness to seek help, creating cycles of skepticism that can persist for generations. Treatment as hope In my fieldwork, I’ve witnessed how managing life with the virus involves far more than taking medications. It requires carefully navigating personal relationships, family obligations, cultural expectations and hopes for the future. Many of the women I worked with had contracted HIV from their husbands or boyfriends. Some even suspected their partners’ positive sta-

tus but were unable to protect themselves. Before these medications, women – both HIV positive and HIV negative – had to choose between risking rejection or risking transmission. Elizabeth and David’s story illustrates these challenges. They had been together for more than a year when David proposed. “When I sensed he was serious about marriage, I knew I had to tell him my status,” Elizabeth told me during one of our many conversations. Though initially shocked, he remained committed to their relationship. Elizabeth had main-

tained a decade of careful adherence to her HIV treatment, but the couple still struggled with consistent condom use.

David described using condoms as akin to “eating candy with the wrapper still on it.” He also was eager to have a baby. While PrEP had greatly reduced transmission risk, it placed the full burden of protecting her husband on Elizabeth. The path Elizabeth navigated highlights how Nigerian cultural expectations complicated their situation. When proving one’s fertility is often considered essential to establishing gender identity, the pressure to have sex without protection created additional tension. Moreover, Elizabeth’s need to balance her own health needs with her husband’s desires reflected the delicate negotiation many Nigerian women face between personal well-being and marriage.

As Elizabeth prepared for the birth of their child, she expressed both joy and anxiety:

“I have to stay healthy for both of them now.”

Politicizing global health

Previous interruptions in aid foreshadow what’s at stake when shifts in U.S. political priorities compromise global health funding. Consider the global spike in maternal and child mortality when President Ronald Reagan instituted the Mexico

(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Joe Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative had funded hundreds of cancer research projects across the country.

(Saurabh Das/AP Photo)

From 7

City Policy, often referred to as the “global gag rule.” It blocked U.S. funding to all international nongovernmental organizations that provided or even referred abortion services.

This policy has been repeatedly implemented by Republican administrations – including those of George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Donald Trump during his first term – and subsequently rescinded by Democratic presidents, creating a disruptive cycle of funding uncertainty. Among these affected organizations are recipients of PEPFAR funds.

The human cost of this policy pendulum is measurable and significant. Researchers have found that when this law is enacted, nations across the globe suffer increased death rates for newborns and mothers as well as jumps in HIV cases. In countries heavily dependent on U.S. aid, the Mexico City Policy has resulted in approximately 80 additional child deaths and nine additional maternal deaths per 100,000 live births annually and about one additional HIV infection per 10,000 uninfected people.

My research in Nigeria also reveals the fragile progress that now hangs in the balance. Before treatments ar-

rived, HIV ravaged Nigerian communities. In 2001, nearly 6% of the population had HIV, totaling around 3.5 million people. The Hausa language reflected this trauma: Terms for AIDS also meant “lifeless body” and “nearby grave.”

Following the rollout of HIV treatments, Nigeria’s cases dropped dramatically –by 2010, prevalence had fallen to 4.1%. Declines continued steadily as treatment access expanded from 360,000 people in 2010 to over 1 million by 2018. This progress was heavily dependent on international support, with PEPFAR and other global donors providing over 80% of the US$6.2 billion spent fighting HIV in Nigeria between

2005 to 2018. In 2019, around 1.3% of the population had HIV, or 1.9 million people. From personal choice to global security What’s at stake isn’t just increasing HIV rates. The Trump administration’s reductions in foreign aid threaten to unravel over two decades of U.S. investment in global security and economic growth. Public health crises rarely stay contained within national boundaries. When health systems fail in West Africa, diseases can quickly spread overseas and require costly emergency responses. The 2014 Ebola outbreak demonstrated this reality, when cases reached

America and prompted a $5.4 billion emergency response. Similarly, the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, which infected around 60 million Americans, showed how quickly infectious diseases circle the globe when surveillance and containment systems are inadequate. Inconsistent aid, in turn, undermines American global leadership and creates openings for competing powers to establish their influence. China has actively exploited these gaps, establishing bilateral trade with Africa reaching $295 billion in 2024. While the U.S. reduced its global health engagement during previous administrations, China expanded its global health diplomacy, part-

nering on issues ranging from infectious disease prevention and control to health emergency response and health technology innovation. Meanwhile, restrictions in PrEP access risk recreating the same impossible choices women faced at the advent of the epidemic: choosing between disclosing their status and risking abandonment; accepting unprotected sex and risking transmission, or refusing unprotected sex and risking violence or loss of economic support. I believe the result is a far less safe world where preventable suffering continues, hard-won progress unravels and the promise of an AIDS-free generation remains unfulfilled.

Making eye contact and small talk with strangers is more than just being polite − the social benefits of psychological generosity

By Linda R. Tropp Professor of Social Psychology, UMass Amherst

How much do you engage with others when you’re out in public? Lots of people don’t actually engage with others much at all. Think of commuters on public transportation staring down at their phones with earbuds firmly in place.

As a professor of social psychology, I see similar trends on my university campus, where students often put on their headphones and start checking their phones before leaving the lecture hall on the way to their next class.

Curating daily experiences in these ways may appeal to your personal interests, but it also limits opportunities for social connection. Humans are social beings: We desire to feel connected to others, and even connecting with strangers can potentially boost our mood.

Though recent technological advances afford greater means for connection than at any other moment in human his

tory, many people still feel iso

lated and disconnected. Indeed, loneliness in the American population has reached epidemic levels, and Americans’ trust in each other has reached a historic low.

At the same time, our attention is increasingly being pulled in varied directions within a highly saturated information environment, now commonly known as the “attention economy.”

It is perhaps not surprising, then, that so many Americans are experiencing a crisis of social connection. Research in social psychology helps to explain how the small behaviors and choices we make as individuals affect our experiences with others in public settings.

Where you focus your attention

One factor shaping people’s experiences in public settings concerns where they focus their attention. Since there is more information out in the world than anyone could ever realistically take in, people are driven to conserve their limited mental resources for those things that seem most crucial to navigating the world successfully. What this means is that every person’s attention is finite and selective: By attending to certain bits of information, you necessarily tune out others, whether you’re aware of doing so or not.

More often than not, the information you deem worthy of attention also tends to be self-relevant. That is, people are more likely to engage with information that piques their interest or relates to them in some way, whereas they tend to ignore information that seems unrelated or irrelevant to their existence.

These ingrained tendencies might make logical sense from an evolutionary perspective, but when applied to everyday social interaction, they suggest that people will limit their attention to and regard for other people unless they see others as somehow connected to them or relevant to their lives.

One unfortunate consequence is that a person may end up treating interactions with other people as transactions, with a primary focus on getting one’s own needs met, or one’s own questions answered. A very different approach would involve seeing interactions with others as opportunities for social connection; being willing to expend some additional mental energy to listen to others’ experiences and exchange views on topics of shared interest can serve as a foundation for building social relationships.

How others interpret your actions

Also, by focusing so much attention on their own individual interests, people may inadvertently signal disinterest to others in their social environments.

As an example, imagine how it would feel to be on the receiving end of those daily commuting rituals. You find yourself surrounded by people whose ears are closed off, whose eyes are down and whose attention is elsewhere – and you might start to feel like no one really cares whether you exist or not.

As social creatures, it’s natural for human beings to want to be seen and acknowledged by other people. Small gestures such as eye contact or a smile, even from a stranger, can foster feelings of connection by signaling that our existence matters. Instead, when these signals are absent, a person may come to feel like they don’t matter, or that they’re not worthy of others’ attention.

How to foster connection in public spaces

For all these reasons, it may prove valuable to reflect on how you use your limited mental resources, as a way to be more mindful and purposeful about what and who garner your attention. As I encourage my students to do, people can choose to engage in what I refer to as psychological generosity: You can intentionally redirect some of your attention toward the other people around you and expend mental resources beyond what is absolutely necessary to navigate the social world.

Engaging in psychological generosity doesn’t need to be a heavy lift, nor does it call for any grand gestures. But it will probably take a little more effort beyond the bare minimum it typically takes to get by. In other words, it will likely involve moving from being merely transactional with other people to becoming more relational while navigating interactions with them.

A few simple examples of psychological generosity might include actions such as:

Tuning in by turning off devices. Rather than default to focusing attention on your phone, try turning off its volume or setting it to airplane mode. See if you notice any changes in how you engage with other people in your immediate environment.

Making eye contact and small talk. As historian Timothy Snyder writes, eye contact and small talk are “not just polite” but constitute “part of being a responsible member of society.”

Smiling and greeting someone you don’t know. Take the principle of “innocent until proven guilty” to the realm of social relations, by showing your willingness to welcome other people rather than displaying disinterest and avoidance. Such simple acts may help to foster feelings of belonging and build a sense of community with others.

of your attention toward action, like any new habit you may wish to cultivate.

Among the most cynical, examples like these may initially be written off as reflecting pleas to practice the random acts of kindness often trumpeted on bumper stickers. Yet acts like these are far from random – they require intention and redirection

Others might wonder whether potential benefits to society are worth the individual cost, given that attention and effort are limited resources. But, ultimately, our well-being as individuals and the health of our communities grow from social connection.

Practicing acts of psychological generosity, then, can provide you with opportunities to benefit from social connection, at the same time as these acts can pay dividends to other people and to the social fabric of your community.

Spotify continues to change music. What’s next –will AI musicians replace music made by humans?

By John Hawkins Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra

Spotify was started, according to its official claims, because its founders “love music and piracy was killing it”. In Mood Machine, music journalist Liz Pelly argues this is rewriting history.

In fact, she points out, Spotify founder Daniel Ek initially patented a platform around 2006, for circulating “any kind of digital content”.

Only months later did he and his co-founder decide music might be the most profitable form of content.

Review: Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist

– Liz Pelly (Hodder & Stoughton)

Ek grew up in a working-class suburb of Stockholm.

A neighbour recalled that, while still at school, Ek had set up a website-making business –and was earning more than his teachers. Rejected for a job at Google, he founded an ad-targeting business, Advertigo.

After he sold it to tech entrepreneur Martin Lorentzon, the two men registered a new company: Spotify.

‘The Google of music’

Spotify would allow users to find their desired piece of music quickly. Ek described it in 2009 as “essentially the Google of music”, Pelly writes. He had a “maniacal focus” on ensuring a user would get a virtually instantaneous response when they pressed play; no annoying buffering.

Spotify claims that in 2024 it paid out more than US$10 billion to the music industry. It claims nearly 1,500 artists are earning over US$1 million annually.

Spotify pays the recording and publishing rights holders, not the singers and songwriters. How much the latter gets depends on their contracts with the record companies. The system is complicated, indirect and not that transparent.

‘Mixtapes still work’ – so do playlists Spotify gradually shifted towards playlists, to simplify the process of users selecting music. Some playlists, like “today’s top hits”, just consisted of the currently most popular songs. These are like the “top 40” format of many commercial radio stations.

Spotify also hired music experts to compile their choice of the best new releases. The compilers of the most popular of these playlists, such as the playlist “rap caviar”, became very influential. A Spotify advertisement in 2013 made the analogy between playlists and mixtapes (as featured in Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity), claiming “mixtapes still work”.

Spotify also increasingly tried to increase passive listening. It introduced playlists geared to match the existing tastes of listeners and allow for how these might vary across the day. It termed this “music for every moment”: music to exercise to, background music for studying, music to help you sleep and so on. I have a playlist of songs about economics.

Ek said in 2016: “we really want to soundtrack every moment of your life”.

One of the parts of the book I found most intriguing was Pelly’s discussion of how this echoes a strategy developed by Thomas Edison around a

A “looming cloud” is the prospect AI-generated music will displace human musicians and singers in Spotify’s playlists, Pelly writes. She mentions that Spotify blocked a start-up called Boomy, which released over 14.5 million AI-generated songs – and has since struck up a partnership with Warner.

Another controversy is around Spotify’s Discovery Mode, which offers artists more promotion of their songs in

Spotify launched in Europe in 2008 and in the United States in 2011. It listed on the stock market in 2018. Spotify has just recorded its first annual profit. It is valued at over US$100 billion: more than the three leading recording companies combined.

It had 678 million users at March 2025: of them, 268 million were paying subscribers. The rest contribute to Spotify’s earnings by listening to advertisements: the so-called “freemium” model.

Boon or bane of musicians?

Music streaming now accounts for 84% of recorded music revenue, according to Pelly – and Spotify is the largest music streamer.

Initially, Spotify looked like a boon to musicians, she writes. It could save music from the threat of “pirate” downloading, which gave no payments to creators. But many musicians are critical of the low payments artists get: fractions of a cent per stream.

century ago. He produced shellac 78 rpm records with titles such as “in moods of wistfulness” and “for more energy!”. In 2014, Spotify made large investments in “algorithmic personalisation”. This suggested music similar in key, tempo, time signature, acousticness, danceability, loudness, mode and energy to whatever the user was already choosing.

This kept users “within their comfort zone (or as Spotify thought of it, their customer retention zone)”. But it meant users were much less likely to encounter new styles and artists, or broaden their musical horizons.

Generic music and AI

While Spotify denies it, Pelly claims Spotify commissions session musicians, playing under assumed names, to record very generic-sounding music, for playlists such as “chill instrumental beats”. Pelly gives an example of 20 songwriters using 500 names to produce thousands of tracks, streamed millions of times.

exchange for accepting lower payments. But if most artists do this, the promotions cancel each other out, leaving all the artists worse off.

How Spotify is changing music

Pelly quotes an independent record label founder who says Spotify has changed the nature of the music being made.

It’s not sustainable to put out challenging records […] you have to put out records that are going to get repeat listens in coffee shops […] that are going to be playlist friendly.

This is despite some music fans saying the music they experience as “life-changing, really profound” is different from the songs they play most often.

Songs streamed are only monetised after 30 seconds. This has created “a particular emphasis placed on perfecting song intros […] songwriters would just dive directly into the chorus”. So, no more songs with long waits for the vocals, like U2, the Temptations, Dire

Straits or Pink Floyd. Artists who want their songs to appear on playlists need them to match a particular mood or context. This means songs increasingly “remain in a single emotional register throughout”.

It may mean artists are less likely to release songs with marked tempo changes, such as Dexys’ Midnight Runners’ Come on Eileen (1982), Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven (1971), Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) or Franz Ferdinand’s Take Me Out (2004). There may still be much smaller tempo changes, such as Taylor Swift’s Evermore from 2020.

The “Spotify for artists” service provides artists with data about the streaming of their songs. A band planning a tour can see in which cities or countries they are most popular. They can even alter their set lists

John Salangsang/Invision/AAP

to include the songs particularly popular in particular areas.

But Spotify monitors use of this facility, Pelly writes – and it is not clear how they use the data. Over time, it may encourage artists to repeat aspects of their most popular songs, rather than innovate and evolve.

A serious look

The book is interesting and informative, but somewhat dryer than some other recent exposes of the tech sector. Partly this is because Ek is a less colourful character than X’s Elon Musk, or Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg.

Pelly does not provide the witty lines of tech journalist Kara Swisher’s Burn Book. She is not a gossipy former insider, like director of global public policy at Meta, Sarah Wynn-Williams.

As an economist, I

felt the book complemented sociologist Michael Walsh’s Streaming Sounds: Musical Listening in the Digital Age. Walsh describes the demand for music streaming. Pelly analyses the supply side. Pelly rightly describes her book as a “serious look” at Spotify. It brings together a lot of useful information about the company and raises good questions about whether it is changing the music industry – and music itself – for the better. The debate will continue, as AI increases its influence and artists become more concerned about their songs being “TikTok friendly”, as well as “Spotify friendly”. Perhaps there will be more songs like Steve’s Lava Chicken from A Minecraft Movie. Just 34 seconds long, it recently became the shortest song to make the UK top 40.

(Janerik Henriksson/AAP)

Spotify founder Daniel Ek’s background is in targeting ads.

OP-ED – Record Viewership, Record Racism: The WNBA can’t have it both ways. Black players deserve better.

By Dawn Montgomery, Culture Critic

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWS-

WIRE “You a monkey!” That’s what an Indiana fan yelled at Angel Reese as she stepped to the free-throw line at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN, on Saturday—allegedly. And the league still hasn’t done a damn thing.

When Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark entered the league last season, everything changed.

More people started watching women’s basketball. Viewership went up. But so did the hate—racist fans, nasty comments online, and an atmosphere that’s gotten hostile, especially toward Black players.

There should be zero tolerance for racism in this league. Period. Instead, the WNBA is willing to look the other way as long as ticket sales keep climbing. No one in charge seems worried about what these players are going through mentally or physically. That has to change, and it starts at the top.

During that Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever game, fans made monkey noises while Reese was at the free-throw line. One fan shouted, “You a monkey!” at her. After Clark’s technical foul on Reese, Fever fans kept at it. I’ve watched the footage. This behavior is flatout unacceptable, and the league needs to step up—in a real way.

Let me be straight about WNBA Commissioner, Cathy Engelbert. Yes, she’s helped the league grow, but she’s failing these players now. The league has outgrown her. She needs to go. That might be the first real step toward fixing this mess.

These players deserve protection. I’ve been watching the WNBA since day one, and

Angel Reese targeted after flagrant foul; WNBA launches probe Sports

By Stacy M. Brown

Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The WNBA has launched an investigation into what it called “hateful fan comments” directed at Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese during Saturday’s game against the Indiana Fever—an episode that reignited long-simmering racial tensions surrounding Reese and Fever second-year player Caitlin Clark. The two players, who entered the league together last year after a fiery college rivalry, have become emblematic of a racial divide that continues to shape how fans, media, and the public perceive Black and white women athletes. Reese, who is Black, has often been vilified for her outspoken confidence and physical play. Clark, who is white, has largely been celebrated, even while displaying similar traits on the court. “They both are excellent competitors,” ESPN broadcaster Monica McNutt said. “But if it had been the other way around [Reese shoving Clark], you could imagine how this conversation would go.”

In the third quarter of Indiana’s 93-58 win, tensions boiled over when Clark slapped

I’ve never seen this level of hatred, especially when Reese and Clark play against each other. The Sky and Fever will meet five more times this season. If nothing changes, this gets worse. Someone could get hurt.

The solution isn’t complicated. Fine or suspend teams when these incidents happen. Make organizations tighten up their security and crowd control. If the fan base cannot behave, then the team should consider playing without any fans present. Drastic? Maybe. But player safety comes first.

I’ve loved this league from the beginning. I held season tickets for the Atlanta Dream from their first game. Back then, the arenas were packed with respectful fans, and players felt safe. That feeling is gone now.

This isn’t the league I fell in love with. It’s become a place that doesn’t protect its Black players. It ignores the concerns raised by fans, players, and reporters when they speak up.

THE WNBA MUST BELIEVE THEIR PLAYERS, FANS, AND MEDIA MEMBERS!

Players and reporters have been talking about how toxic it gets in Indiana. Last September, the WNBA said,

“The WNBA is a competitive league with some of the most elite athletes in the world,” read the statement. “While we welcome a growing fan base, the WNBA will not tolerate racist, derogatory, or threatening comments made about players, teams and anyone affiliated with the league. League security is actively monitoring threat-related activity and will work directly with teams and arenas to take appropriate measures, to include involving law enforcement as necessary.”

The WNBA recently

released a statement saying this:

propriate action to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for

ate, try to record it and tell security right away

aware of reports of hateful comments at yesterday’s game in Indianapolis and supports the WNBA’s current investigation into this matter,” the Women’s National Basketball Players Association shared in a statement. “Such behavior is unacceptable in our sport. Under the WNBA’s ‘No Space for Hate’ policy, we trust the league to thoroughly investigate and take swift, ap-

all.”

I don’t trust them to “thoroughly investigate” anything. They should have been ready for such an event a long time ago. So I’m talking directly to you, the fans. We have to be the change ourselves.

If you’re at a game this season, do this:

If someone says something racist or inappropri-

If you see a player or fan being mistreated, find security

After the game, email the home team about what happened

Then, email the WNBA with the same details.

Copy a reporter if you can

We need real documentation, not just tweets. Accountability starts with proof.

Your voice matters.

What you see and hear at games matters.

The league knows this. Its “No Space for Hate” campaign is just empty words if they don’t back it up.

So speak up. Report what you see. Record it if you can. Tell the team, tell the league, and tell the media.

Change won’t happen on its own, but we can push for it.

This league has always been about fighting through adversity. But when players have to be resilient without protection, that’s not inspiration—that’s exploitation.

If the WNBA won’t protect its players, it doesn’t deserve its fans.

Protect the players. Believe them. Have their backs.

at the ball after Reese secured an offensive rebound and had a clear path to the basket. Reese fell to the floor and quickly got up to confront Clark before Fever star Aliyah Boston intervened. Officials reviewed the play, upgraded Clark’s foul to a flagrant 1, and issued technical fouls to both Reese and Boston. As boos rang out from the largely non-African-American crowd at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Reese was targeted more aggressively—particularly during her free throws. The WNBA said it is investigating “allegations of hateful fan comments” directed at her during the game. “The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society,” the league said in a statement. “We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.” Reese declined to speak to the media after the game and had no comment Sunday through a representative.

The confrontation— and the crowd’s reaction— quickly spilled into online discourse, with some defending Reese while others amplified attacks. Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who is married to a white woman, drew fire for a post accusing Reese of creating a hostile environment.

“Angel Reese said she is the villain, refused to answer questions about Caitlin Clark, and has celebrated flagrant fouls on Caitlin Clark,” the ill-informed Griffin said. “I’m not helping create anything. Angel Reese has fed into this with her ac-

tions. She needs to do better.” Former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant fired back at Griffin. “Both

Photo credit: Black Press USA

Angel Reese Case Highlights Pattern of Neglect

(Official White House Photo by Erin Scott)

Cropped image of Angele Reese at an event celebrating the Louisiana State University Tigers women’s basketball team’s 2022-23 NCAA championship

May 26, 2023, in the East Room of the White House.

Books, Art & Culture

Meet Jumping Jalani

By W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor

By Dr. Sharva Hampton-

Campbell

I recently attended the Black Child Book Fair when it came to Minneapolis. Founded by children’s author Darryl Harvey, the fair showcases Black children’s authors, each having their own unique story to tell. As I have stated previously, there can never be enough Black children’s books, and in today’s climate, it’s imperative. That being said, I bring to you Dr. Sharva Hampton-Campbell’s book Meet Jumping Jalani.

Jalani is a cheerful

4-year-old girl who loves to

jump. From the time she jumps out of bed in the morning, she looks for new ways and opportunities to jump. She jumps in puddles. She jumps on the couch. She jumps up and down stairs. At the playground, she and her friends encourage each other to jump higher. At the end of the day, Jalani and her friends are doing something that makes them happy, imagining they can reach the sky.

To engage young readers, Hampton-Campbell includes coloring pages at the end of the story as an interactive exercise to identify with the character. This book takes me back to the days when simple pleasures and games from our imagination were the most fun. Jalani’s joy and enthusiasm are indeed heartwarming.

Dr. Hampton-Campbell obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from the University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana). She ob-

tained her doctorate in higher education, concentrating on interdisciplinary leadership. She is the founder of Azinza (women’s empowerment), Women on the Move Network Global (to help the lives of those in need), the Carol Lizzy Empowerment Zone, and the YES Mentoring Program (providing resources and services to disenfranchised youth and their families).

Meet Jumping Jalani is available through Amazon, For the Greater Good Multi-Media Publishing Company LLC, and her website www.jalanisbookadventures.com. And let me give a hat tip to Maria Malyutina for the energy in her illustrations that helped bring Jalani to life.

Thank you, Sharva, for bringing empowerment, positive energy, and fun to reading. Our children deserve it.

Dr. Amos C. Brown calls out Smithsonian over returned artifacts, warns of Trump-era attacks on Black History

On Let It Be Known, the Black Press of America’s daily morning show, Dr. Amos C. Brown exposed what he described as an attempt to erase Black history through the Smithsonian’s decision to return artifacts he loaned to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Host Stacy M. Brown and co-host Niele Anderson led a discussion that covered the museum’s actions, the political climate under Donald Trump, and the role of the Black church in defending historical truth. Dr. Brown, president emeritus of the San Francisco NAACP and longtime civil rights leader, said the museum recently notified him that two of his artifacts—a Bible he carried during the movement and a copy of Rev. George Washington Williams’s earliest written history of Black people in America—would be returned. He said the staff cited the items’ fragility after years on display. “They claimed the light had been on the books too long,” Dr. Brown said. “It’s a museum—they know how to preserve artifacts. This was disrespectful to our history.”

Dr. Brown said the museum had previously asked to keep the items permanently. “Now, all of a sudden, you

can have it back,” he said. “There was no conversation. Just an email.” He tied the museum’s actions to the Trump administration and its public plan to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. “This is a direct result of Project 2025,” he said. “We didn’t read it. We didn’t take it seriously. Now they’re doing exactly what they said they would do.” When asked if others have received similar notices from the museum, Dr. Brown said he couldn’t confirm specific cases but said sources told him the staff is acting as if they

are “tiptoeing on eggshells.”

He said the environment inside the museum has shifted dramatically since previous leadership. Dr. Brown identified the staffer who contacted him by first name only and said the museum officials’ response was vague. “They’re talking about some panel that will review whether to keep the items, but I don’t know who’s on this panel,” he said. “Anytime people are in closed-door sessions, and you don’t know who’s making decisions, something’s wrong.” He confirmed he has had no recent contact with Smithsonian

Secretary Lonnie Bunch. “Not once,” Dr. Brown said. The segment turned to the national implications. Dr. Brown pointed out Donald Trump’s threats to defund the museum and a broader campaign to ban books and whitewash history. “There is a move in this country to induce cultural and historical Alzheimer’s,” he said. “This nation has been fed conspiracy theories, lies, and a hatred of truth.”

He warned against division and urged churches to teach Black history regularly. “As the Jews do

with Passover, we need rituals of remembrance,” he said. “We should be teaching our youth what we’ve survived.” Dr. Brown also spoke about reparations in California, where he served as co-chair of the state task force. When asked if California would be the first to deliver reparations, he answered flatly: “No.” He cited a lack of political will. “We’ve had studies, apologies, and talk. But no action.” Anderson and Brown discussed the national response to the museum’s

decision. “People are visiting because they’re afraid the museum won’t be the same the next time,” Anderson said. She also raised questions about the silence from museum leadership and noted that previous offers to keep Dr. Brown’s items had been replaced with attempts to remove them quietly. “Tell your own story. Speak for yourself. And never let anyone mess with your cultural identity,” Dr. Brown said.

What do a Black scientist, nonprofit executive and filmmaker have in common? They all face racism in the ‘gray areas’ of workplace culture

the problems they face come down to organizational culture. Too often, companies elevate diversity as a concept but overlook the internal processes that disadvantage Black workers.

American workplaces talk a lot about diversity these days. In fact, you’d have a hard time finding a company that says it doesn’t value the principle. But despite this – and despite the multibillion-dollar diversity industry – Black workers continue to face significant hiring discrimination, stall out at middle management levels and remain underrepresented in leadership roles. As a sociologist, I wanted to understand why this is. So I spent more than 10 years interviewing over 200 Black workers in a variety of roles –from the gig economy to the C-suite. I found that many of

I tell several of these individuals’ stories in my new book, “Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism and What We Can Do to Fix It.” While racial disparities were once the result of law and explicit policy – think of “Whites Only Need Apply” signs – today, subtle cultural processes lead to unequal racial outcomes. It’s in these “gray areas” that racism lurks. Three professionals, one frustrating reality Take “Constance,” for example – not her real name – who is a Black female chemical engineering professor at a major research university.

Her university proclaims its commitment to diversity and inclusion, with several offices and initiatives dedicated to this goal.

Yet she told me that most leaders at her school are uncomfortable trying to achieve racial diversity. They’d rather be “colorblind” – that is, they’d rather not acknowledge or address racial disparities or the institutional rules and norms that perpetuate them. So their attempts to pursue diversity translate into attempts to hire more women faculty but not more Black faculty.

This isn’t surprising, as women generally are underrepresented in STEM fields. But the emphasis on gender means that the racial issues Constance encounters as a Black woman – openly racist teaching evaluations, colleagues’ casual stereotyping, additional barriers to mentorship

– go ignored.

“Kevin” offers another instructive example. He’s a Black man who works at an education nonprofit that aims to help kids – a laudable goal. His workplace touts its culture of collaboration and says that it demonstrates its commitment to diversity by supporting children from all backgrounds.

But in practice, Kevin found that the organization often shunned and patronized Black parents, treating them disrespectfully. And despite his employer’s stated support for diversity, Kevin says his efforts to highlight these problems usually went ignored. And then there’s “Brian.” A film producer with extensive Hollywood experience, Brian was excited about taking a job with a major studio. He thought it would give him an opportunity to bring more films about the variety of

Black experience to audiences. And since studio leaders talked a big game about innovation, creativity and original thinking, this seemed like a reasonable assumption. But once he started in this role, Brian learned that the studio was dominated by a market-driven culture, which leaders used to justify not investing in films by and about Black people. Importantly, the same logic around Black filmmakers rarely seemed to apply to white ones, Brian said – those who directed flops were still given multiple chances to keep working. Pointing out this hypocrisy failed to change minds or practices, Brian found.

When a DEI statement isn’t enough

What do these three people, working in very different industries, have in common? They all work for employers that have a stated

commitment to diversity – and an organizational culture that belies and even undermines it. When these companies commit to diversity but fail to tackle racial diversity specifically, it becomes easy for workers like Constance, Kevin and Brian to find that the issues they experience get overlooked and that there’s no effective way to bring them forward. They get stuck in the gray areas. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are practical steps companies can take to address racial diversity: creating mentoring programs for everyone, setting goals and collecting data to measure progress, and investing in diversity task forces, for example. My research suggests smart organizations will do just that – moving toward a culture where “diversity” is a driver of solutions, not just a buzzword.

By Black Press of America

By Adia Harvey Wingfield Professor of Sociology, Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis

Meet Jumping Jalani Book Cover Artwork

Civil Rights Activist Rev Amos Brown

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the sponsors, partners, participants, and community members who made the Amplified Voices Campaign a powerful tribute to the life and legacy of George Floyd and many others.

Your support helped create a space for truth, healing, accountability, and collective vision. From the conversations at George Floyd Square to the voices shared around the world, this week reminded us that justice is a journey we walk together.

Thank you for standing with us.

— Al McFarlane & Team