Trump’s Luxury Trips and Ego-Driven Parade Leaves Taxpayers with Unwanted Bills
Henry Louis Gates Jr.
‘Target Fast’ Boycott Nears End as Black Shoppers Speak Out:
‘I’m Done for Good’
By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent
As the 40-day “Target Fast” draws to a close on Easter Sunday, thousands of Black Americans say the protest has sparked a permanent change in their spending habits— and in their view of corporate accountability. “I’ve been off of Target the last few weeks,” said Wayne Shepherd of Fort Greene, New York. “Planning on making it a forever thing until I see real change. Same with Walmart, Amazon, etc.” The boycott, organized by faith leaders including Atlanta-based Pastor Jamal Bryant, began March 5 and is meant to protest Target’s decision to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. While framed as a spiritual fast during Lent, many participants say the economic stand has evolved into something much more significant. “Haven’t stepped in a Target since their rollback and don’t intend to,” said Hayden Towns of St. Louis, Missouri. “Also avoiding Walmart, canceled all of my Amazon subscriptions, and weaning myself off of all Zuckerberg apps.”Organizers launched the movement through TargetFast.org, encouraging Black consumers to redirect their dollars to Black-owned businesses and hold corporations accountable for walking back racial equity commitments. The site has tracked more than 150,000 participants. Since the boycott began, Target’s stock has dropped over $13 billion in market value, and for the week of March 24, store foot traffic declined 3.8% year-
over-year. Bryant noted that Black America stands as the world’s 12th wealthiest nation in spending power. “We are strong consumers with astounding brand loyalty. To see companies that we’ve supported heavily—like McDonald’s, Ford Motors, Amazon, Meta, and Walmart—betray our long-standing relationship is beyond disheartening,” Bryant declared. “The greatest insult comes from Target, which pledged to spend over $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by the end of 2025, only to find out that Target stopped the program at the start of the year,” he stated. Bryant said Black people spend over $12 million a day at Target stores.“Let’s just keep spreading awareness in case some folks haven’t got the message,” said Bernard Spain of Temple Hills, Maryland. “I live right near Walmart
and still see too many Black folks in and out of there.”
Rachel Strong in Los Angeles has cut ties completely.
“A boycott should function like a strike; making it last a certain amount of time will hinder its effectiveness,” she said. “I’ve permanently cut off Target—switching to local grocery stores and buying fewer things in general. I think we as a people would benefit from consuming a little less.”
However, not everyone agrees on the long-term strategy.
“My question is, if Target is really the second-largest employer of Black people in the country, isn’t hurting them going to potentially hurt us?” asked Theresa Banks of Macon, Georgia. “Doubly so, since the current admin is cutting fed jobs as much as possible.” Still, the pressure continues to mount. In addition to grassroots action, civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the National Newspaper Publishers Association, have launched their own public education and selective buying campaigns. The NNPA represents the 198-year-old Black Press of America, which consists of more than 250 African-Americanowned newspapers and media companies. The Target Fast also includes demands such as restoring DEI initiatives, honoring a $2 billion pledge to Black businesses, investing in HBCUs, and depositing $250 million into Black-owned banks. As Easter approaches, many say the movement is just getting started. “I’m not fasting,” Wayne Shepherd said. “I’m finished.”
Pink Tariff? Black Women Hit Hardest by Trump’s Trade Moves
By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent
As the Trump administration’s sweeping tariffs take effect, Mica Whitfield, Co-President and CEO of 9to5, National Association of Working Women, warns that the policies are another economic blow to already vulnerable communities—especially Black women. “These tariffs are just a tax on working people, especially working women,” Whitfield said on BlackPressUSA.com’s Let It Be Known News show. “They’re making decisions at the gas pump about groceries while rent is already sky-high. One in three single mothers is already living in poverty—tariffs push them closer to the edge.” Whitfield, who leads 9to5’s mission for economic justice for working women and nonbinary people of color, says these new economic burdens should be viewed through a gendered lens. She compares them to the long-standing “pink tax”—the added cost women pay for everyday items like razors and personal care products—only much worse.“We can think of it as the pink tariff,” she said. “Women already pay more with smaller financial margins. These tariffs just stack on top of that.” In practical terms, the price hikes caused by tariffs reach deep into women’s lives, especially for those working in care industries or running small businesses. From higher prices on diapers and cleaning supplies for childcare providers to increased costs for raw materials for Blackowned haircare brands, Whitfield said the domino effect is widespread. “Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs, but they’re already struggling with access to capital,” she said. “Now they’re forced to find new sources for packaging or ingredients just to stay afloat. This could
close doors for so many of them.” She said the same goes for caregivers. “We work with Black and Brown women who provide childcare in their homes or run small centers. Tariffs raise prices for the essentials they need—wipes, toys, and cleaning supplies—which are already expensive. This is the kind of pressure that can bring the whole house down,” Whitfield asserted.As Americans suffer from the fallout, states like California, under Governor Gavin Newsom, have floated the idea of independent trade negotiations. However, Whitfield, who is based in Georgia, noted that such state-level innovation isn’t possible everywhere. “Red states have been slow to respond to the administration,” she said. “Our folks in Georgia and Wisconsin are doing the resistance work on the ground, but it’s tough. We’re watching states like California try to hold the line while others leave working people to carry the burden.” Whitfield says part of her organization’s work is to make economic issues like tariffs more accessible. “Tariffs sound abstract, but they’re not. They’re a working people’s issue,” she said. “We’ve estimated they’ll cost the average family about $3,800 a year—around $300 a month. That’s a real hit.” She also worries about the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to programs like Head Start, which she said would devastate communities of color. “These programs are already deeply underfunded. Millions of children who qualify don’t get access,” she said. “Gutting Head Start means more kids without early education and more parents, mostly mothers—unable to work. It’s a domino effect that sets back another generation of Black and Brown children.”Founded in Boston over 50 years ago, 9to5 inspired the classic film Nine to Five, starring
By JACK BROOK
from toxic pollutants according to an EPA screening tool based on emissions reported by nearby facilities, the lawsuit notes.
“We have been sounding the alarm for far too long that a moratorium is needed to halt the expansion of any more polluting industries in our neighborhoods, and too many lives have been lost to cancer,” said Gail LeBoeuf, a lifelong parish resident and co-founder of Inclusive Louisiana. She is a plaintiff in the case.
The case will now go back to the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana, which had previously ruled the lawsuit was filed too late by Inclusive Louisiana and other community groups because the allegations centered on a 2014 parish land-use plan.
But the federal court said the complaint was filed on time and noted that the lawsuit was “replete with allegations of discriminatory land use decisions” in the parish, of which the 2014 plan was just one example. The court also recognized that the groups had a right to sue the parish for authorizing industrial development which “desecrates, destroys, and restricts access” to the cemeteries of their enslaved ancestors in the parish. Many of the petrochemical facilities in Louisiana are built on former plantations, and few of the burial sites of the enslaved have been preserved.
Dolly Parton, Jane Fonda, and Lily Tomlin. Today, the organization operates chapters in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Georgia, organizing working women and non-binary people around issues like childcare, paid leave, workplace harassment, and economic justice.Whitfield and her CoPresident, Ashley Panelli, are the first Black women to lead the organization. “Our roots are in worker justice, but our focus now is specifically on those doing lowwage, care-based jobs—mostly Black and Brown women,” she said. Though federal wins have grown more elusive, 9to5 continues to build power locally, pushing for change through city commissions, public service boards, and school boards. “In Southwest Georgia, people were paying power bills as high as their rent,” Whitfield said. “So, we started organizing around public service commissioner races and utility boards—things people didn’t realize directly impact their lives.” When asked how she got into this work, Whitfield traced her activism back to the Million Woman March in Philadelphia, which she attended as a preteen. Her path continued through public health and maternal justice work before she joined 9to5. “I worked with newly diagnosed women living with HIV, many who found out their status while pregnant,” she said. “The intersection between economic stability and health became clear to me. From zip code to paycheck, it all impacts Black women’s well-being.” Now, she’s calling on the public to see tariffs for what they are: taxes that hit the most vulnerable the hardest. “This isn’t abstract,” Whitfield said. “It’s going to impact your pockets.”For more information, visit 9to5.org.
Civil Rights Panel Confronts Trump and Defends Diversity and Inclusion
doing in opposition. Many in the Democratic Party have been quiet on the issue of whether or not to defend “DEI.” “Some of the proponents of elimination of the Department of Education campaign on the slogan of states’ rights. We remember that campaign was used in the 1960s for those who wanted to maintain segregation,” Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) stated in his opening remarks. Attacks on diversity policy have become the cornerstone of Trump’s opening 100 days in office. Less than 48 hours into his second term in office on January 21, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order titled, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” in an official effort to stop diversity. “This is about distraction and it is about division. That is the point. They are trying to distract and divide us in order to attack the fundamental protections against discrimination for Black communities, Latino communities, Asian American communities, and women,” said Amelia Smirniotopoulos from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. “This is a decades-long organized campaign that began as soon as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. It was designed to take away the protections that were hard fought and won by the civil rights movement and to return us to a time when racial segregation and other forms of segregation were the norm in this country. I
think having that generational perspective is key in figuring out how to combat the attacks we are seeing today. At the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, we are made for this fight. We have been in existence for 85 years now. We helped litigate Brown versus Board of Education, and we are committed to defending the proper interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause in this country,” Smirniotopoulos added. As the panel presented their arguments, U.S. Senator Cory Booker spoke at length against Trump’s policies on the Senate floor on his way to breaking a filibuster record held by segregationist U.S. Strom Thurmond to block the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Thurmond’s record stood for 68 years. What Booker focused
of advocacy — that is our bread and butter. That is our population,” said Wisdom Cole of the national NAACP.
“I think it’s a real vindication of their struggle,” said Pamela Spees, a lawyer with the Center of Constitutional Rights representing the plaintiffs. “This is a case about long-running ongoing discrimination and now we get to deal with the claims on their merits.” St. James Parish did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shot an Unarmed Black Woman in Her Home Trial is Moved to Another City
By JOHN O’CONNOR Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The murder trial of a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy who fatally shot Sonya Massey, an unarmed black woman, in her Springfield home last summer will be moved out of the capital city to Peoria because of intense publicity, a judge ruled Tuesday.
Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin granted the request by defense attorneys for Sean Grayson, who personally appeared in court, shackled at the waist, for the first time in months. Prosecutors offered no objection to moving the trial.
Grayson, 30, faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct for the July 6, 2024, shooting of Massey, 36, who had called 911 to report a suspected prowler. It has garnered international attention as an example of police shootings involving people of color.
Massey’s family and supporters, as they have for every court hearing since Grayson’s indictment, filled half the public section of the courtroom.
“Location does not change the outcome,” local activist Teresa Haley said after the hearing. “He assassinated her, and I think anybody in America will agree that he should be sentenced to life, so that’s what we’re going for.” Springfield, population 112,500, is 218 miles (351 kilometers) southwest of Chicago. Peoria, population 110,500, is 73 miles (117 kilometers) north of the capital. In their motion to change the trial’s location, Grayson’s lawyers, Mark Wykoff and Daniel Fultz, argued that international news coverage, activists’ rallies, and a $10 million civil-court settlement between Sangamon County and Massey’s family all have contributed to “an overwhelming and emotional response” in a “close-knit community.”
“The high-profile nature of the case, combined with continuous media coverage, has shaped public perception, making it difficult to separate fact from speculation ... ,” the motion read. “Virtually everyone in the county is aware of the case, and many have already formed strong opinions regarding the defendant’s guilt or innocence.” Cadagin set a hearing April 23 to schedule a trial date. Grayson is being held without bond despite a state appellate court ruling that the Pre-Trial Fairness Act, which eliminated cash bond in Illinois, dictates that he should be released with certain conditions. The matter is before the state Supreme Court.
Trump’s Luxury Trips and Ego-Driven Parade Leaves Taxpayers with Unwanted Bills
By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent
Despite owning a residence in New York and a golf course in New Jersey, Donald Trump reportedly spends nearly $800,000 most weekends to travel to his private club in Florida, racking up an estimated $26.1 million in taxpayer costs since 2017. Based on a 2019 Government Accountability Office report updated by HuffPost, the figure reignites concerns about Trump’s use of public resources for personal luxury. “Who is really being asked to sacrifice? You or President Trump and Elon Musk?” asked Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.), who criticized the excessive travel costs in a recent op-ed. The spending revelations come as the Trump administration holds early talks about staging a grand military parade in the nation’s capital on June 14—Trump’s 79th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. While the White House has not officially confirmed a parade, officials are in discussions about
potentially tying the event to the Army’s long-planned birthday festival.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the administration reached out about hosting the event, which could stretch from Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River into downtown Washington. Several reports said the Army has planned a birthday celebration for nearly two years and may incorporate a parade. “It’s too early to say yet whether or not we’re having a parade but we’re working with the White House as well as several government agencies to make the celebration a national-level event,” said Col. David Butler, an Army spokesman. Trump previously pushed for a similar parade during his first term, inspired by France’s Bastille Day festivities. However, the proposed 2018 event was canceled due to projected costs reaching $92 million, with Trump blaming local politicians for “price gouging.” Mayor Bowser, speaking at a press conference, said she wasn’t sure if the current proposal is being officially “characterized as a
military parade,” but warned that if tanks were used on city streets, “they should be accompanied with many millions of dollars to repair the roads.”
Takis Karantonis, chair of the Arlington County Board, confirmed that the Secret Service contacted the county about the possibility of a military parade, though details remain sparse. He urged federal leaders to be “sensitive to the pain and concerns” of military families, many of whom face job losses due to recent federal decisions. Rep. Carter, who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, called the timing and optics of the proposed parade deeply concerning. “While honoring our armed forces is important, such an extravagant display— especially during a time of proposed benefit cuts—sends a troubling message about national priorities,” Carter said. “That money could be used to strengthen veterans’ services, invest in public education or expand health care access— yet instead, it’s earmarked for spectacle.” Carter added,
“This
War and Treaty Brings Innovative Sound, Cultural Roots to Howard TheaterCountry
By Jada Ingleton Washington Informer Special to BlackPressUSA.com
Soulful harmonies, bold cross genres, and a masterclass in African American virtuosity arrives in the nation’s capital on April 11, as Tanya and Michael Trotter of The War and Treaty anticipate an electric tour performance of their fourth studio album “Plus One” at Howard Theater. Amid a six-month international tour, the husband-and-wife duo joined WIN-TV’s “Let’s Talk” live from Amagansett, New York on April 4, fueled by elated spirits and candid reflections to discuss the significance of the upcoming show and namesake record. “We bring who we are, we don’t change who we are,” Tanya Trotter, formerly Blount, told The Informer on “Let’s Talk.” “This is an invitation to our fans, as well as to Nashville, to join in on what we’re doing with our gospel-country stuff…to allow people to come into who we are.”
As The War and Treaty marks its triumphant return to Washington, D.C., where each vocalist has roots — the evening promises a captivating experience of undeniable chemistry, musical exploration, and recognition for the roots of Black culture in history. “I want people to come to our concert to learn something, to learn the return, to learn what we started,” Michael Trotter explained. “To learn that all the styles that you hear, every genre that is birthed, was birthed out of the gut, and the heart, and the soul and the mind of our people.” For the spiritually infectious Trotter duo, performing at Howard Theater on April 11 is what the wife boosted as a “full-circle moment.” Tanya Trotter revealed she used to perform on Georgia Avenue during
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former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry’s Street Theater event, which promoted youth in the arts. The husband then reminisced on winning his first singing competition at the annual Future Fest in 1996, which he considers a “lifechanging experience.”
Moreover, Tanya Trotter was among a lineup of reputable musicians chosen to perform at Howard Theater’s Grand Opening Gala Fundraiser on April 12, 2012, after the historic landmark site underwent a 32year hiatus and $29 million renovation. “It’s just fitting that right off of Georgia Avenue is the incredible Howard Theater, and we’ll be coming back to that,” she said. Besides the initial exposure to live crowds, the wife and actress said Washington, D.C., is instrumental to the style and musicality of The War and Treaty, which debuted in 2014. She spoke of her faith upbringing in a “little church” on 50th and B Street in Southeast, where she also delved into the musical interests that later fruitified the passion and sound of the Grammy-nominated duo, who now resides in Nashville, Tennessee. “Whenever we approach music–whether it’s gospel, country, folk, Americana, rock and roll–the foundation is gospel music. That’s where we’re rooted, and that’s where we come from,” she told The Informer. “Everything I learned, it’s inspired and comes from D.C.” Michael Trotter emphasized his appreciation for his “strong roots” in the nation’s capital, noting the significance of returning home as not only a celebration of upbringing, but of growth and transformation, specifically where it all started. “I’m so very excited to be able to come home with D.C. songbird Miss Tanya, and be able to offer something different that we have,” he said, “and we do have something different.” Officially released on Feb. 14, War and Treaty’s “Plus One” album encompasses a love letter to country music that unapologetically works to redefine stereotypes and limitations often imposed on the genre. The 18-track project – revered as “a testament to the power of love, hope, and human connection” in Americana Highways –leverages raw vocals with the creative elements of country, gospel, rock and blues to “bring something different” to mainstream music, according to Michael. “In country music radio, specifically, we want a different perspective,” the husband said, noting the deep roots of western swing in the history of African American agriculture and enslavement. “We’re going to bring some…of those things that’ve been whitewashed out of country music.” Credited
co-writers on the album include country icons like Miranda Lambert and Jesse Frasure. Further, producers like Frasure, Jonathan Singleton, John Shanks and Trotter himself laid the tracks to bring an elevated sound to the mix. Meanwhile, synergized melodies, live instrumentation, and inclusive lyricism invokes a deeper look into the strength of diverse influences and how it can transform the boundaries of music seen today.
“What if D’Angelo did a song with George Jones, or Dolly Parton did a song with Aretha Franklin? What would that sound like…How would that feel?” Tanya Trotter told The Informer. “We’re giving people thoughts. They’ve never seen it before, it’s never been done before.”
With this in mind, the She Loves Vintage CEO said “Plus One” is a testament to the foundation of The War and Treaty itself. “When people say, ‘What are you bringing to country music,’ we’re [bridge-builders]. We don’t just blend genres–we bring people together, we blend hearts, people’s choices,” said the singer and entrepreneur, “and we have been able to do that with the last 10 years
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Washington, DC, USA – January 10, 2016: The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Opened in 1910, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Photo taken 01/10/2016
Henry Louis Gates Jr. Goes from Host to Guest ‘Finding Your Roots’
By MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — For 11 seasons, Henry Louis Gates Jr. has sat across from his guests on the popular PBS series “Finding Your Roots” and led them through secrets in their family tree. On Tuesday, it's his turn.
The Harvard scholar learns a long-buried puzzle about his great-great grandmother, Jane Gates, information which scrambles his ancestry and opens up a new branch that goes back to Ireland.
“I was moved to tears,” Gates tells The Associated Press ahead of the airing. “I used to pass her grave at the Gates' plot in Rose Hill Cemetery and I would say, ‘Grandma, I’m going to out you. I’m going to tell the world your secret.’”
“Finding Your Roots” is PBS’s most-watched program on linear TV and the most-streamed non-drama program. Season 10 reached nearly 18 million people across linear and digital platforms and also received its first Emmy nomination.
“The two subliminal messages of ’Finding Your Roots,' which are needed more urgently today than ever, is that what has made America great is that we’re a nation of immigrants," says Gates. “And secondly, at the level of the genome, despite our apparent physical differences, we’re 99.99% the same.”
Season 11 secrets
Season 11 has featured Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell, Melanie Lynskey, chef Jose Andres, Sharon Stone and Amanda Seyfried, who learned why her paternal third-great-grandfather was murdered.
Gates shares the last episode with Laurence Fishburne, who learns the identity of his biological father. It turns out both men adored jazz, which delighted Dyllan McGee, who helped create and produce “Finding Your Roots.”
“It underscored how family connections can shape us, even unknowingly, and made me wonder if reconnecting with our past somehow affirms the significance of our own stories by showing us how much each individual on our tree shapes us even when we don’t know it,” she says. How it started
The series started in 2006 under the title “African American Lives,” conceived by Gates in the middle of the night in his bathroom. He invited prominent Black celebrities and traced their family trees into slavery. When the paper trail ran out, they would use DNA to see which ethnic group they were from in Africa.
Challenged by a viewer to open the show to nonBlack celebrities, Gates agreed and the series was renamed “Faces of America,” which had to be changed again after the name was taken. Along the way, Gates had a crash course in DNA.
“For a guy with a PhD in English literature, I think I can do pretty well on the AP genetics exam,” he says, before proving it with a thorough explanation of autosomal DNA.
Over the years, the show has delivered fascinating results, like when Natalie Morales discovered she’s related to one of the legendary pirates of the Caribbean and when former “Saturday Night Live” star Andy Samberg found
his biological grandmother and grandfather. It revealed that RuPaul and U.S. Sen. Cory Booker are cousins, as are Meryl Streep and Eva Longoria. Guests have included former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, designer Diane von Furstenberg and “Game of Thrones” author George R. R. Martin.
“I always tell my guests that you’re not responsible for the crazy things your ancestors did. I don’t care what they did. Guilt is not inheritable,” Gates says. “You have to understand how the people functioned in the past without judging them.”
A kernel of truth
He and his team — particularly genetic genealogist CeCe Moore — have found that traditional family stories passed down through the generations are often filled with
a few lies, often to cover up bad behavior.
“I call it where there’s smoke, there’s fire. The stories are never accurate, but they’re often close,” says Gates.
“There is a kernel of truth there.”
It took researchers four years to resolve the mystery of who was Gates' great-great grandfather, the man who impregnated Jane Gates. The story she told about her children's father turned out to be not correct.
The researchers show him an 1888 obituary for her and a 1839 ad for her sale. Gates comments that he’s seen a thousand bill of sales like it, but this hit differently. At the end, he looks again at a photo of Jane Gates. “I see a lot of pain in those eyes and now I know why.”
“Something changed for him that day," says McGee. "I remember him calling me after the reveal saying, 'That was the best day of my life!' It was such a treat for the
entire team to be able to give him the gift of a missing link in his family history that he has given hundreds of our guests.”
Gates is a huge advocate that everyone should have their family tree traced and pushes back against the idea that digging up the past is divisive.
“I believe that knowing about our ancestors is fundamental to knowing about ourselves,” he says. “The only way to deal with the past is to know about the past.”
“In terms of people who would pretend that the past is irrelevant and we need to look forward, William Faulkner wrote, ‘The past is never dead. It’s not even past,’” Gates adds. “It’s still with us, shaping both who we are and the society and our norms under which we function.”
Was The Residence Renewed for Season 2? on PBS’
It’s a good time to be a murder mystery lover. Only
Murders in the Building is now five seasons in, another Knives Out movie is in the works, and if you’re counting The White Lotus as part of the genre, there are new episodes to enjoy every Sunday, too. Netflix just added another series into the mix with The Residence, a comedic caper produced by Shondaland that revolves around a murder in the White House.
Starring Emmy winner Uzo Aduba as lead detective
Cordelia Cupp, who is renowned for solving unsolvable mysteries, the sharp and quick-witted series is already a crowd-pleaser. But with only eight episodes in the first season, which began streaming on March 20, another mystery arises: Will the show continue for a second season? Let’s gather the clues.
Was The Residence renewed for season 2?
Netflix hasn’t announced the news yet, but show creator Paul William Davies (who was a writer and producer on Scandal, by the way) already has ideas. Maybe the show could continue with a different mystery, perhaps even outside the White House, that Cordelia Cupp and her partner FBI agent Edwin Park have to solve.
“I really love Cordelia Cupp; I really enjoyed coming up with her and writing her. Uzo is amazing,” Davies told Deadline. “I love the relationship between Cordelia and Edwin. There are lots more stories to tell about her adventures and him with her. We’ll see how people feel about the show but I certainly would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought a lot about it, and didn’t have a lot of ideas about where it could go.”
The Residence’s Emmy Awards plan is also a hint. It will be submitted for consideration in the comedy category rather than for drama, or limited or anthology series, according to Deadline. That means more seasons are a possibility. the residence. (l to r) uzo aduba as cordelia cupp, randall park as edwin park in episode 101 of the residence.
cr. erin simkin/netflix 2024
Who would be in the season 2 cast?
It’s unclear if the full season 1 cast would return if The Residence is renewed, but we’re at least hoping that Aduba would reprise her role as the eccentric bird lover Cordelia Cupp to handle another case, much like other famous onscreen detectives Hercule Poirot or Benoit Blanc. Same goes for Randall Park as Agent Edwin Park. It helps that both actors are open to doing more and working together again.
“We talk about that all the time, we would love it, in part because we had such a great time in the actual making of this show,” Park told Deadline. “But also, the characters’ dynamic is just so fun to play, and Paul is so singular in his writing style and in the way he approaches these mysteries that the opportunity to maybe travel to another country and solve another case would be pretty amazing.” Aduba added that she’s “absolutely” interested in doing another season. “I love playing Cordelia. What I know for sure is that the adventures and the cases will never stop. There’s always going to be something in the world to solve. She has found an amazing partner and friend in Edwin Park, and I wish nothing more for them to continue solving, exploring and journeying around the world,” she said. The actress also spoke about Cordelia and Edwin’s growing relationship to TV Insider. “They’re in the budding phase of their friendship and have developed a shorthand between each other....They have one great case under their belt, and I’m happy to imagine what else they might do [or] get into.” Park added: “The people behind the show, working with Uzo [and] everyone was just so lovely and we had so much fun, [so] the thought of making more is just thrilling.”
Asm. Isaac Bryan’s “Wakiesha’s Law” Wants
Key Protections for Incarcerated People
By Antonio Ray Harvey
California Black Media Assembly Bill (AB) 1269, also known as Wakiesha’s Law, a California bill authored by Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), passed out of the Public Safety Committee on April 8 with a 7-0 vote.
The bill requires county and city jails to notify specific individuals when an incarcerated person is hospitalized for a serious or critical condition – of if he or she dies in custody. AB 1269 was re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
“If your loved one died in custody, you have the right to know, and you deserve to know,” Bryan told members of the committee before they voted. “This bill offers families basic decency and respect. That responsibility we should have taken up long ago.”
In March 2016, Wakeisha Wilson, 36, was found unresponsive in her cell while in the custody of the Los Angeles Police Department Metropolitan Detention Center. She was later pronounced dead at the Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center, according to the LAPD.
Wilson’s family said they were not contacted about her death until a few days later when Wilson’s body had been taken to the morgue at the Los Angeles County
Department of Medical Examiner.
On June 15, 2017, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said in a 24-page document that neither Wilson’s cellmate, the LAPD, nor the nurses and physicians who rendered medical help “are criminally liable for Ms. Wilson’s death.”
“It is the conclusion of this office that the manner of Wakiesha Wilson’s death was a suicide,” the memorandum continued.
Bryan, whose work in the Legislature has been centered on addressing disparities in the criminal justice system, said he authored AB 1269 to hold law enforcement authorities more accountable and to increase transparency in cases like Wilson’s.
During last week’s Assembly Public Safety Committee hearing for AB 1269 at the State Capitol, Wilson’s mother, Lisa Hines, testified. She told committee members that when she went to one of her daughter’s final court appearances, the case was not called. However, she was told that her daughter’s case was on the docket that day.
For the next four days, Hines said she made every attempt to find the whereabouts of her daughter by calling different jails. On the fourth day, she was given a number to call the coroner’s office.
“It was the longest four days of my life,” Hines said.
“At least they can do is the bare minimum, call the next of kin within 24 hours,” said a teary-eyed Hines. “I ask you guys to pass this bill because no parent should have
to find out their child is deceased when she is in custody of the police.”
Assemblymembers Juan Alanis (R-Merced), Mark González (D-Los Angeles), Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), John Harabedian (D-Sierra Madre), James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), and California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) member Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego) all voted in favor of the bill.
Assemblymember Nick Schultz (D-Burbank), cosponsor of AB 1269 and the chair of the Public Safety Committee, also voted to approve the legislation.
Assemblymembers Tom Lackey (R-Antelope) and Stephanie Nguyen (D-Elk Grove) abstained from voting.
“I wish there was something I could do to make it better,” Schultz told Hines. “You will have my recommendation of an ‘aye’ vote. I thank you for your bravery and courage to testify.”
The California State Sheriffs’ Association (CSSA) opposes AB 1269, citing that it understands “the desire to facilitate contact with loved ones when an incarcerated person becomes seriously ill.” Still, the bill “leaves many open questions,” the CSSA stated in the Assembly Bill Policy Committee Analysis.
“The definition of a serious or critical medical condition may include a situation when an incarcerated person needs to receive ‘life-sustaining medical treatment.’ Does a patient receiving oxygen for chronic emphysema constitute life-sustaining medical treatment? Does an
insulin-dependent diabetic patient hospitalized for edema qualify?” the CSSA asked.
CSSA is a nonprofit professional organization comprising 58 county sheriffs across the state. It functions as a legislative watchdog for county sheriffs and sheriff’s personnel, as well as for citizens on law enforcement issues.
“In addition to these questions and others, we are concerned that even technical noncompliance, like a phone call that comes ten minutes after the 24-hour period has run, would subject a jail and the county to liability. For this reason, and those stated above, CSSA must oppose AB 1269,” CSSA stated.
Bryan responded that he’d had no problem with researching “current statutes for medical conditions, particularly in the health code, if there are definitions that can be used” to clear up the bill’s intent. He did remind the committee that some jurisdictions already have policies to immediately contact the next of kin in case of a medical emergency.
“If jails and lockups are having a problem with so many people dying or so many experiencing serious medical injuries or illness that they have to be transported out of facilities to receive care, I think we have another whole issue we need to address. This (AB 1269) is simply about notification,” Bryan said. Hines said she hopes her advocacy can help others and contribute to adopting a policy solution that lasts.
“I am not just asking for my baby. I am asking for the next person,” Hines said. “This law is so important that it might put a bridge between the community and police.”
Bipartisan Push to Restore $12 Billion
$12 billion in supplemental funding that states and communities were actively putting to use to address urgent needs and protect Americans’ health,” the senators wrote. They warned that eliminating these resources jeopardizes the nation’s ability to manage ongoing disease outbreaks, including bird flu and measles, and exacerbates the fentanyl crisis. The letter also declared that the cancellation of the grants risks significant job losses in the public health sector and undermines efforts to modernize health
systems, build laboratory capacity, and enhance
Health Funds
capabilities for various diseases. During Trump’s first administration, the senators said the COVID-19 pandemic killed over 500,000 Americans in 2020 alone. They said the pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in the country’s public health infrastructure and preparedness capabilities while also exacerbating mental health and substance use crises.“Over the course of several bills, Congress appropriated supplemental funding to respond to the pandemic, support behavioral health and recovery efforts, and better prepare for future threats,” they wrote. “States and local jurisdictions across the country have been dutifully spending down funds that were obligated to them, consistent with purposes of the appropriations, the length of time they were made available in law, and the conditions of their grants.” The senators noted that the department’s stated rationale for terminating the grants is that the pandemic is over. “However, these funds were not appropriated to only be available or used during the pandemic or the COVID-19 public health emergency,” they argued. “Understanding various needs would go well beyond the specific period of the pandemic, Congress appropriated many of these funds without fiscal year limitation to be available until expended. Congress chose not to condition the availability of the
Asm. Isaac Bryan: Asm. Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights). File photo. Wakiesha Wilson. Photo courtesy of Lisa Hines.
Left to right, Melina Abdullah, community activist and co-founder of Black Lives Matter-Los Angeles; Lisa Hines, mother of Wakiesha Wilson; and BLM Los Angeles organizer Sheila Bates, listen to public comments at the Assembly Public Safety Committee hearing for AB 1269, Wakiesha’s Law, at the State Capitol on April 8. CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.
Harris, Obama, and Booker Step Up as Resistance Against Trump Takes Shape
By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent
Is the resistance finally taking form?
As Kendrick Lamar asked during his powerful Super Bowl performance, “Are we really about to do it?” That question now echoes in the political arena as former President Barack Obama and former Vice President Kamala Harris have entered the public fray, joining voices like New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett in confronting President Donald Trump and his administration’s sweeping changes head-on. After months of relative silence following her defeat to Trump last November, Harris returned to the spotlight Thursday during a rare appearance at the Leading Women Defined conference at a seaside resort in Dana Point, California. According to The Los Angeles Times, she didn’t mention Trump by name but spoke forcefully about the anxiety many Americans are experiencing under his new administration.
“There is a sense of fear that is taking hold in our country, and I understand it,” Harris said. “These are the things that we are witnessing each day in these last few months in our country, and it understandably creates a
great sense of fear. Because, you know, there were many things that we knew would happen, many things.” “I’m not here to say, ‘I told you so,’” she continued. “I swore I wasn’t going to say that.” The appearance marked a shift in tone for Harris, who has been weighing a potential run for governor of California in 2026 or waiting until 2028 for another shot at the presidency. Still, she clarified that her political silence hasn’t equated to surrender. “We can’t go out there and do battle if we don’t take care of ourselves and each other,” Harris told the crowd. “I’ll see you out there. I’m not going anywhere.”
Obama, meanwhile, broke his silence during an appearance at Hamilton College in New York, offering one of his sharpest public critiques yet of Trump’s second administration. He condemned Trump’s attempts to reshape the federal government, stifle dissent, and punish those who oppose his policies. “So, this is the first time I’ve been speaking publicly for a while,” Obama said. “I’ve been watching for a little bit.” “Imagine if I had done any of this,” Obama added. “It’s unimaginable that the same parties that are silent now would have tolerated behavior like that from me or a whole bunch of my predecessors.”
While calling Trump’s proposed tariffs bad for America, Obama said his larger concern lies with what he described as the White House’s alarming overreach. “I’m more deeply concerned with a federal government that threatens universities if they don’t give up students who are exercising their right to free speech,” he said. “The idea that a White House can say to law firms, if you represent parties that we don’t like, we’re going to pull all our business or bar you from representing people effectively. That kind of behavior is contrary to the basic compact we have as Americans.” Obama, who campaigned for Harris during the final stretch of the 2024 election, had warned that a second Trump term would endanger the nation’s democratic norms. “Just because [Trump] acts goofy,” Obama said at the time, “doesn’t mean his presidency wouldn’t be dangerous.” With Trump’s second term underway, the voices of resistance are growing louder. Sen. Cory Booker added fuel to the movement by making history on the Senate floor. He delivered a 25-hour, 5-minute filibuster that broke the record previously held by segregationist Sen. Strom Thurmond. Thurmond’s 1957 filibuster—lasting 24 hours and 18 minutes—was aimed
at blocking the Civil Rights Act. Booker used his recordbreaking speech to denounce what he called a deliberate dismantling of government at the hands of Trump, Elon Musk, and Congressional Republicans. “It always seemed wrong,” Booker said, referring to the Senate room still named after Thurmond. “It seemed wrong to me when I got here in 2013. It still seems wrong today.”
The New Jersey senator, a descendant of both enslaved people and slave owners, framed his marathon speech as a moral plea, reading letters from Americans affected by deep cuts and policy threats to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and SNAP. “This is a moral moment,” Booker declared. “It’s not left or right; it’s right or wrong.” With Booker’s record-setting stand, Harris’s reemergence, and Obama’s warning shots, what once felt like fragmented frustration among Democrats may now be coalescing into something more deliberate: a resistance that is finally, visibly, on the move. “I’ll see you out there,” Harris said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Michelle Obama: ‘I’m Not Divorcing Barack — I’m Choosing Me’
By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is setting the record straight about her marriage, brushing off rumors of a split from former President Barack Obama and calling out the sexist assumptions that fueled them. In part two of her appearance on the “Work in Progress” podcast hosted by Sophia Bush, Michelle Obama addressed the online speculation that ramped up earlier this year when Barack Obama appeared alone at several high-profile events, including the funeral for former President Jimmy Carter and the inauguration of Donald Trump. Critics quickly jumped to conclusions — but Michelle Obama made it clear that her choices had nothing to do with marital discord. “This year people couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself,” Obama said. “They had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing. This couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?”She added, “That’s what society does to us. We start actually finally going, What am I doing? Who am I doing this for?’ And if it doesn’t fit into the stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible.” The bestselling author and former First Lady, who spent eight years in the White House without scandal — unless one counts Barack Obama’s infamous tan suit — said her efforts to make room for her voice and decisions have often been misinterpreted. “I feel like it’s time for me to make some big girl decisions about my life and own it fully,” she said.
“Because if not now, when? What am I waiting for? Look, the summers are—we’re in the summer countdown at 61, right? It’s not so tragic if something happens to you and you’re 80. So now is the time for me to start asking myself these hard questions of who do I truly want to be every day?” Michelle also spoke about the discomfort women often feel when asserting themselves. “When I say ‘no,’ for the most part, people are like, ‘I get it,’ and I’m OK,” she said. “That’s the thing that we, as women, I think we struggle with — disappointing people.”Despite the rumor mill, the Obamas have continued to share affectionate public messages. On Valentine’s Day, Barack posted a photo with Michelle, writing, “Thirty-two years together, and you still take my breath away.” Michelle echoed the sentiment in her post: “If there’s one person I can always count on, it’s you, @BarackObama. You’re my rock. Always have been. Always will be.” The couple met in 1988 at a Chicago law firm. Michelle, a 25-year-old Harvard Law graduate, was assigned to mentor Barack, then a summer associate finishing law school. They married in 1992 and have two daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23. Many on social media, especially in Black communities, were quick to ridicule the divorce rumors, pointing out that the Obamas — whose biggest scandal was wearing a tan suit — are still treated with more suspicion than Donald Trump, a twice-impeached and 34-time convicted felon who routinely is ensconced in scandals. “This couldn’t be a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself, right?” Michelle Obama said.
By April Ryan
“We are in the midst of a storm,” according to Allan Boomer, Chief Investment Advisor for Momentum Advisors, who discusses Black Americans wallets amid this downward economic spiral created by President Donald Trump. The president’s economics include the proposed 10-year budget, massive tariffs, and the firing of federal workers. The stock market and global markets are shaking because the U.S. has implemented tariffs on imports to this country. The expectation is that the costs will be transferred to consumers. There’s been no rhyme or reason for each country’s percentage of tariffs
Michelle Obama in 2023 (Wikimedia Commons / Photo by Armando Tinoco)
California Capitol News You Might Have Missed Political Playback
By Bo Tefu California Black Media
California Lawmakers Approve $2.8 Billion to Strengthen Medi-Cal, Expanding
Access to Health Care
California lawmakers have approved a $2.8 billion funding boost to Medi-Cal, the state’s low-income health insurance program, to cover higher-than-expected costs before the fiscal year ends. Passed April 10 as part of a budget trailer bill, Assembly Bill (AB) 100, the allocation unlocks $8.3 billion in federal funds and follows a $3.4 billion emergency loan to the program earlier this year. Medi-Cal, which serves around 15 million residents, has faced surging costs due to expensive pharmaceutical drugs, lingering COVID-era policies, and a larger-thananticipated caseload. The total Medi-Cal budget for 2024 was $161 billion.
While Democrats supported the funding as essential, many Republicans opposed the measure, criticizing its support for undocumented immigrants. Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) called the move “reckless,” claiming it lacked accountability. However, Democrats argue that providing coverage is more cost-effective than relying on emergency room visits.
“This is a modest investment compared to the full Medi-Cal budget,” said Senate Budget Committee Chair Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), emphasizing the costsaving potential of proactive wellness and preventive care.
In addition to Medi-Cal funding, the bill included emergency support for areas impacted by the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County and $181 million in environmental bond funding for forest resilience projects.
Republicans proposed several amendments, including expanding firefighting positions, funding the voterapproved Proposition 36, and protecting scholarships for middle-class college students. However, all of the proposals were dismissed without a vote. Those lawmakers indicated that they are committed to revisiting these issues during budget discussions later this year.
Some Democrats also expressed concern over MediCal’s sustainability. Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego) called for a reimagining of the system to ensure affordability while maintaining access for all residents statewide.
California Judge Delivers Landmark Verdict in NCAA Name and Likeness Case
A federal judge on April 7 signaled that she would not grant final approval to a proposed $2.8 billion settlement between the NCAA, Power Five conferences, and college athletes unless key issues are addressed.
U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken, who presided over a hearing in Oakland, raised legal and practical concerns with the historic agreement that would reshape college sports. The proposed deal includes billions in damages and a new framework allowing Division I schools to pay athletes for their name, image, and likeness (NIL), starting July 1, subject to revenue-based caps.
However, Judge Wilken cited several issues, including:
• Roster limits: She suggested “grandfathering” current athletes to prevent sudden loss of team spots due to the new restrictions.
• Due process for future athletes: Wilken questioned whether binding future students to a 10-year deal is legally sound without separate representation or clearer
mechanisms for objections.
• Third-party NIL oversight: The judge sought justification for proposed rules requiring review of NIL deals over $600, raising concerns over competition and fairness.
Prominent athletes, including LSU gymnast and influencer Olivia Dunne, spoke out against the settlement, claiming it undervalued their contributions. Other objectors, including high school athletes and former college stars, criticized the damages distribution and roster restrictions.
Dunne said that the amount awarded “doesn’t come close to recognizing the value I lost.”
This settlement is “not just a personal detail, but a warning sign,” she added.
Attorneys for the NCAA and plaintiffs defended the deal, citing broad athlete support and the risk of Congressional intervention favoring the NCAA if no agreement is reached. More than 88,000 claims have already been submitted, and the plaintiffs say over 118,000 athletes have expressed interest in the settlement.
Wilken instructed both sides to revise the proposal and respond within a week.
Final approval remains pending as the court considers modifications.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass Convenes California Leaders for Discussion on Olympic and World Cup Priorities, Opportunities
In preparation for Los Angeles hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Mayor Karen Bass brought together local and state leaders to align on priorities and opportunities that will deliver lasting benefits to California.
Mayor Bass and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger met with mayors from across L.A. County on April 5. The next day, she joined
Tina
and members of the
for more related discussions.
“We must all work together to ensure that Los Angeles benefits from the coming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said Mayor Bass. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I look forward to continued collaboration to deliver safe and successful events for all.”
The meetings included input from LA28 CEO Reynold Hoover, Metro executives, and members of the Los Angeles Sports & Entertainment Commission, who outlined logistics, infrastructure, and economic planning. Executive Director Paul Krekorian, appointed by Mayor Bass to lead coordination of significant events, also provided key updates.
McKinnor praised the effort, saying, “The 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will showcase not just exceptional athleticism but Southern California’s diverse, flavorful, and dynamic cultures.”
Dozens of mayors and state legislators participated, emphasizing regional unity and a shared commitment to ensuring the global events bring lasting economic, cultural, and social benefits to Los Angeles communities.
This series of meetings marks a pivotal step in creating a collaborative framework to host world-class events that celebrate and benefit all residents of Los Angeles.
Applications Open for 2025 African American Leaders of Tomorrow Program
The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) has officially opened applications for its prestigious African American Leaders of Tomorrow (AALT) Program for 2025. This annual event invites high-achieving high school sophomores and juniors from across California to participate in a four-day leadership and legislative convening, taking place from July 23 to July 26, 2025, at the California State University, Dominguez Hills campus in Los Angeles County.
The AALT Program offers students a unique opportunity to explore the legislative process, engage in dynamic workshops, and take part in civic engagement
sessions. Participants will also experience dorm living and community dining, giving them a taste of college life -- at no cost to their families.
The CLBC created AALT to invest in the next generation of Black leaders, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to address critical issues affecting their communities. The program is designed to foster leadership development and give students the tools to become changemakers in their respective fields.
Program Eligibility:
• Current California high school student
• High school sophomore or junior in good academic standing (2.5 GPA or higher)
• Commitment to leadership and group participation
Application Requirements:
• Current high school transcript • Two signed letters of recommendation (one from a school official and one from a community member not related to the student)
• Two essay responses (300 words max each)
• Recent photo of the student Important Dates: • April 14, 2025: Application deadline (no late submissions)
• May 9, 2025: Students notified of selection • July 23-26, 2025: Conference held at CSUDH This is a valuable opportunity for students interested in pursuing leadership and civic engagement, and applications must be submitted on time to be considered. For more information and to apply, visit the AALT program website. https://cablackcaucus.org/aalt/
Library Lawsuit: California Sues Trump Administration Over Funding Cuts
Two days before National Library Week began April 7, California announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration over the abrupt termination of millions in federal grants supporting critical state library programs. When Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the lawsuit on April 4, they made the case that the administration unlawfully moved to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) -- the federal agency responsible for administering these funds.
The lawsuit contends that Trump’s Executive Order No. 14238 is part of a broader illegal effort to dismantle several agencies established by Congress, including IMLS. The cuts threaten over $15 million in annual federal funding to California libraries, which supports vital services such as literacy and language tutoring, summer reading programs, the Career Online High School initiative, and accessible formats for visually impaired readers.
“Libraries are more than just buildings with books. They are community anchors,” said Newsom. “This is an attack on community learning and opportunity, and we’re fighting back.”
Bonta emphasized the role libraries play in civic engagement and digital access, especially for underserved populations. “These are hubs of learning and connection. We will not stand by while essential public services are stripped away.”
The suit is backed by attorneys general from 20 other states.
California’s State Library system -- comprising more than 1,100 libraries -- relies on IMLS funding for a range of services from broadband access to disaster preparedness and teen programs. Officials warn that without these funds, many positions and programs could be lost. This library lawsuit marks California’s 12th legal challenge against the Trump administration.
By Stacy M. Brown BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent
Maryland lawmakers have approved Senate Bill 587, authorizing the creation of the Maryland Reparations Commission. The body will study and make recommendations for reparations to descendants of enslaved people and others harmed by centuries of discriminatory policies. The legislation now awaits the governor’s signature and is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025. The commission will examine Maryland’s long history of slavery, the economic and social systems that benefited from it, and the lingering impacts of those institutions. Its work will include recommendations on financial compensation, housing and business support, tuition waivers, and other forms of restitution. “This commission is not only about acknowledging our past – it’s about using that understanding to pave the way for a more equitable and fair future,” said Del. Jheanelle Wilkins, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, which made reparations a top priority for the first time this legislative session.From its founding in 1634 until the abolition of slavery in 1864, Maryland was a society built on slave labor. Tobacco, the colony’s staple crop, fueled economic growth and political dominance for the state’s elite. By the mid-18th century, nearly one-third of Maryland’s population was enslaved. Skilled and unskilled laborers like Frederick Douglass, who caulked ships in Baltimore, contributed to the state’s prosperity under brutal conditions. The legacy of that bondage continued to echo across generations. Del. Aletheia McCaskill, the lead sponsor of the House version of the bill, said the measure lays the groundwork for redress. “I am overjoyed at the passage of this monumental legislation,” McCaskill said. “This commission will gather historical evidence, examine present-day disparities, and provide a data-driven framework to acknowledge past harms. By recommending policies and developing solutions to repair the damage done, we can take meaningful steps toward true equity in our state.”Sen. C. Anthony Muse, sponsor of the Senate version, called the passage historic. “We took a historic step towards justice and healing for our communities,” Muse remarked. “The passage of Maryland Senate Bill 587 marks a significant commitment to addressing the long-lasting effects of slavery and systemic inequities.” The commission’s membership will include lawmakers, historians, HBCU scholars, civil rights experts, representatives from the NAACP and the Maryland Black Chamber of Commerce, and members of the public. It will examine reparations programs in other states and recommend
Assemblymember
McKinnor (D-Inglewood)
L.A. County State Legislative Delegation
“California is Calling” for Volunteers to Join the State’s Largest Service Corps
By Edward Henderson California Black Media
On April 9, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement (GOServe) Director Josh Fryday announced that California is seeking 10,000 people to join the California Service Corps. Members gain meaningful work experience while helping their communities and earning money. Over the coming year, the goal for the California Service Corps programs is to recruit over 10,000 volunteers who will serve nearly five million hours. Service members help communities by taking environmental actions; tutoring and mentoring students to help them succeed; supporting communities impacted by disasters; working to end hunger; and connecting vulnerable people to vital resources and services.
“As Californians, the spirit of service and giving back is in our DNA -- it’s why we have the largest service corps in the nation, bigger than the Peace Corps and a model for other states,” said Newsom. “In the coming year, our service members will provide critical support -- whether responding to disasters like the L.A. fires or tackling critical issues like loneliness -- as we work to build a California for all.” Combined, the California Service Corps is a force larger than the United States Peace Corps and will be mobilized at a time when California is addressing postpandemic academic recovery, the L.A. fire recovery and the future of the state’s workforce.
“These are California’s future leaders, and we need their passion, energy and enthusiasm to address our greatest challenges,” said Fryday. “There is no better example of what they’re capable of than how they immediately mobilized to support the L.A. fire recovery efforts.” California Service Corps members gain skills and experience while connecting with others and making a difference. Additionally, service experiences aim to foster a positive sense of connection and belonging, an answer to the loneliness crisis -- as defined by the U.S. Surgeon
General’s Advisory.
Current partners and volunteers with the corps joined the digital press conference to share what they’ve experienced so far during their service.
Luckie Diwa, Program Director of Improve Your Tomorrow, was one of the speakers at the press conference. Her organization, which partners with the corps, aims to increase the number of young men of color who attend and graduate from colleges and universities.
“Our service members are absolutely pivotal to our mission we wouldn’t be able to achieve our mission really without our mentors,” said Diwa. “I have personally witnessed so much growth in brothers from just having this one-on-one guidance. A lot of school counselors are just outnumbered at a lot of our schools and can’t have that unique one-to-one connection that a lot of them would desire. So, our service members really come and help carry a huge torch.”
Service members at her organization meet with students once a week providing academic and socioemotional support. Diwa shared stories of students starting with 1.0 GPAs and improving to 3.0 GPAs while working with the program. She also commented on the benefits she’s seen for the service members themselves.
Marybeth Carranza, an AmeriCorps California member working with Improve Your Tomorrow, spoke about how joining the corps has impacted her life.
“Serving with Improve Your Tomorrow as an AmeriCorps California member has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said Carranza. “I’ve grown tremendously in a space dedicated to supporting young men of color on their path to higher education and leadership. Through this work, I’ve gained valuable skills, expanded my professional network and developed a lifelong commitment to contributing to this important cause.”
If you or someone you know are interested in joining the corps, you can learn more and register at CAServiceCorps.com.
TJ SimpsonBuilding Community and Growing in College Corps
By Charlene Muhammad California Black Media Contributor
TJ Simpson is a third-year Parks and Recreation Management major at California State University, Chico (CSU Chico). A first-generation college student from Southern California, his love for the outdoors stems from his great-grandmother, whose deep appreciation for nature shaped his own. Now based in Long Beach, T.J. is working toward his dream of becoming a park ranger—a goal made more attainable through his participation in #CaliforniansForAll College Corps. The #CaliforniansForAll College Corps program was created to help college students gain real-world experience, make a meaningful impact in their communities, and reduce student debt. It connects undergraduates with service opportunities that address critical issues across California. College Corps fellows contribute in key areas such as education, climate action, and food insecurity. They assist K-12 students through tutoring and mentorship, support sustainability and conservation projects, and work with local organizations to combat hunger and improve access to nutritious food. TJ first learned about College Corps during his freshman year at CSU Chico. Encouraged by his aunt to join as a way to make friends in a new city, he initially enrolled but later withdrew, feeling he wasn’t ready to “put himself out there.” However, in 2024, his perspective changed. A series of field school trips to San Francisco exposed him to how College Corps could bridge his academics with hands-on experience in parks and recreation management.
“I realized that rejoining College Corps would supplement my studies and give me real-world experience in my field,” said TJ “It wasn’t just about making friends anymore—it was about building a foundation for my career.”
TJ credits his great-grandmother’s influence for fostering his deep connection to nature. Growing up in San Fernando Valley, she was a former Pathfinder Scout who instilled in him and his brother a love for the outdoors.
While he once considered botany or forestry, TJ found that CSU Chico’s Parks, Recreation, and Hospitality Management program was the perfect fit. “Three years in, and I haven’t doubted this major at all!” he said. One of the most rewarding aspects of College Corps for TJ has been the opportunity to network with professionals in state parks, Bureau of Land Management sites, and conservation initiatives. Through these connections, he has explored potential career paths while developing crucial leadership skills. The program has also helped him strengthen essential skills like adaptability and problem-solving. As someone who is neurodivergent, TJ appreciates predictability and
structure, but his service work has required him to embrace flexibility.
“For example, transportation has been a challenge since I rely on public transit and carpools to reach host sites,” he said. “But I’ve learned to be patient and develop creative solutions to overcome obstacles.”
His dedication and work ethic have earned the trust of College Corps directors, leading to leadership opportunities—including serving as a program ambassador.
“My directors have recognized my passion and ability to connect with others,” TJ said.
“They’ve given me opportunities to help prepare for trips, coordinate with other Fellows, and take on responsibilities that have helped me grow as a leader.”
T.J. has grown from a once-shy student into a confident leader within College Corps. But beyond his personal growth, he recognizes the importance of representation in the outdoor and environmental fields.
As a Black student in a predominantly White field, TJ rarely saw people who looked like him in naturebased organizations like the Boy Scouts or outdoor youth programs. This lack of representation often made him feel like he didn’t belong.
“Being a Black Corps fellow gives me the strength to share my passion with those around me, one job at a time,” TJ said. He hopes to be a role model for other Black students and individuals interested in climate-related careers.
Facebook: Josh Fryday, Chief Service Officer, and Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson stand with College Corps supporters on April 11, 2025.