Don Lemon is Launching the Don Lemon Channel

Former CNN anchor and Emmy award winning journalist Don Lemon announced that he will launch a free 24/7 network, The Don Lemon Channel. This will be the first channel for Lemon’s media company, Lemon Media Network.

Lemon has been working as an independent journalist since leaving CNN. He launched The Don Lemon Show in 2024, and streams live every weekday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Substack, Facebook and Twitch. The show has has won Webby Awards for Best Video Podcast Host, including the People’s Voice Award, and four NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding News and Information. 

The Don Lemon Channel will launch with Swerve TV, a distributor of free, ad-supported channels.

“We built this network on the idea that people want the truth delivered straight without a corporate boss deciding what makes air,” Don Lemon said in a press release Friday. “Almost 11 million followers later, they are still asking for more. So, we are giving them more.  More hours, more voices, and now a channel on their televisions. That is what America is demanding. We go where the audience is.”

The channel will feature twice-daily live programs, daily news drops, archival shows, and partner programming from other independent voices including The Monique Pressley Show, Josh the Progressive, Michael Fanone, and Dr. Frita.

“After more than a decade anchoring prime time on CNN, Don has built his own independent network for his more than 10 million followers across multiple platforms,” said Steve Shannon, CEO of Swerve TV.  “The Don Lemon Channel brings even more reach to his award-winning reporting and commentary, as well as to a cadre of other high-frequency, independent news voices.”

Association of Black Cardiologists Names 2026 Spirit of the Heart Honorees

For 16 years, the Association of Black Cardiologists (ABC) has used its Spirit of the Heart celebration to answer a question that matters more than any statistic: who is actually changing outcomes for the patients who need it most? This year's five honorees answer it in five separate ways.

"The contributions of the honorees demonstrate that advancing heart health requires more than scientific discovery alone," said Icilma Fergus, MD, Awards Program Co-Chair and ABC Board Chair. "It requires leaders who teach and mentor, organizations that bring research closer to the communities it is meant to serve, and partners willing to invest in better health outcomes. These honorees reflect the many ways meaningful change happens in cardiovascular health. ABC is proud to recognize these remarkable individuals and organizations and the lasting impact of their work."

The 16th Annual Spirit of the Heart Awards Program & Fundraiser will take place Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Additional event details and ticket information are available at abcardioevents.org.

Celebrating the 2026 Spirit of the Heart Honorees

Distinguished Leadership Award
Anekwe E. Onwuanyi, MD, and Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, MD, MPH

ABC's Distinguished Leadership Award recognizes individuals whose careers reflect exceptional achievement in cardiology through teaching, mentorship, research, and administrative leadership.

Dr. Anekwe E. Onwuanyi, Chief of Cardiology at Morehouse School of Medicine, has distinguished himself through clinical leadership, program development, and mentorship, including establishing a comprehensive heart failure program within a public hospital setting and helping build the Morehouse School of Medicine Cardiology Fellowship Program. As ABC President from 2022 to 2024, he also helped expand the Association's reach through the creation of the Heart Failure and Global Health Committees.

Dr. Tiffany M. Powell-Wiley, an Earl Stadtman Investigator and Chief of the Social Determinants of Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, has built an influential body of work — more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and over 13,000 scholarly citations — examining the connections among social determinants of health, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Her mentorship of more than fifty research fellows has helped translate that discovery into public health impact in the communities most affected by it.

Dr. Walter M. Booker Sr. Health Promotion Award
Georgia Arrhythmia Consultants & Research Institute (GACRI)

Named in honor of Dr. Walter M. Booker Sr., one of ABC's 18 founding members and a pioneer in the field, the Dr. Walter M. Booker Sr. Health Promotion Award recognizes organizations whose leadership, innovation and commitment to health promotion have created meaningful, lasting change in the communities they serve.

Georgia Arrhythmia Consultants & Research Institute (GACRI) brings that same spirit directly to Middle Georgia. Through the Georgia Arrhythmia Foundation, founded by GACRI physicians Dr. Felix Sogade and Dr. Joseph Poku, the organization has built a sustained grassroots effort to reduce death and disability from sudden cardiac arrest, anchored by its annual SCARE (Sudden Cardiac Arrest Research and Education) 5K. For 16 years, GACRI has also supported public education, CPR and AED training, and AED placement in schools, youth sports organizations and public spaces — work that extends internationally through the Africa Heart Rhythm Association, which the founders also established to strengthen electrophysiology education and clinical capacity across Africa.

Health Equity Award
Flourish Research

The Health Equity Award recognizes individuals and organizations that develop meaningful solutions to improve health outcomes and expand access to healthcare resources for populations most affected by health disparities.

Flourish Research is honored for strengthening clinical research by expanding opportunities within the communities where patients already live and receive care — placing diverse investigators and research opportunities closer to trusted healthcare providers rather than recruiting patients into unfamiliar settings. Across more than two dozen sites nationwide, 52% of Flourish's patient database and 62% of its employees self-identify as belonging to underrepresented communities, and its Boca Raton site has achieved a 97% retention rate in complex, long-term cardiovascular outcomes trials. Flourish sites have also contributed to major research milestones, including enrolling the first patient globally in a landmark cardiovascular outcomes trial spanning 388 sites in forty-two countries.

Spirit of the Heart Award
Merck

One of ABC's highest honors, the Spirit of the Heart Award, recognizes organizations whose excellence in cardiovascular health, community engagement, leadership, advocacy, and innovation has made a lasting impact on patients and communities alike.

Merck's recognition reflects a partnership with ABC spanning more than four decades, built on a shared investment in scientific advancement, education, and community engagement. From its cardiovascular research legacy to its support for emerging investigators through the ACC/ABC/Merck Research Fellowship Award, Merck has backed both the science and the people advancing cardiovascular medicine. That partnership continues today through Merck for Mothers, which supports ABC's maternal cardiovascular health work in communities with significant unmet need.

More Than a Night of Recognition

The Spirit of the Heart Awards Program & Fundraiser is more than an evening of celebration — it directly funds ABC's ongoing work in cardiovascular education, research, advocacy, community outreach, and prevention. In the coming weeks, ABC will also announce this year's recipients of its medical student scholarships and EP Fellowship Support Awards, continuing its investment in the next generation of cardiovascular professionals. Together, this year's honorees and awardees embody the spirit of ABC's 2026 theme, "Honoring Our Legacy, Shaping the Future of Health."

"Spirit of the Heart reminds us that progress is built by people who are willing to lead, teach, innovate and serve," said Barbara A. Hutchinson, MD, PhD, Awards Program Co-Chair and Past ABC Board Chair. "We are honored to celebrate this year's recipients and grateful for the opportunity to bring our members, partners, supporters and friends together around the day-to-day work of making every heart count."

About the Association of Black Cardiologists

Founded on the belief that every heart counts, ABC is dedicated to promoting the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and achieving health equity for all through the elimination of disparities. Membership is open to all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or vocation. Through education, advocacy, research, patient and community outreach, and leadership development, ABC works to improve cardiovascular health and expand access to exemplary care for all communities. For more information, visit www.abcardio.org.

BEYONCÉ MAKES A $2 MILLION GIFT TO THE STUDIO MUSEUM IN HARLEM

To mark her birthday today, global entertainer, entrepreneur and art collector, Beyoncé, makes a $2 million gift to the renowned Studio Museum in Harlem. Founded in 1968, the New York City cultural institution is the nexus for artists of African descent locally, nationally, and internationally and for work that has been inspired and influenced by Black culture. Beyoncé has long been an art collector and a true fan of the Museum's mission of promoting multiple generations of artists of the African diaspora. 

"Art tells all our stories; the past and the present, but is not always accessible to everyone," says Beyoncé. "I have always been impressed with the Studio Museum in Harlem because of its intention to make the museum an integral part of the community. I have been introduced to several of my favorite young and upcoming Black artists through exhibits at the Museum. It is a place of inspiration where all audiences can discover new stories through the canvases of diverse storytellers that reflect our humanity."

Thelma Golden, Ford Foundation Director and Chief Curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, said, "I am deeply grateful to Beyoncé, both for the generosity of this gift, especially on her birthday, and for recognizing the vital role that the Studio Museum plays in people's lives. Our institution was founded to shift the arts landscape and reimagine who that landscape serves. This gift will allow us to continue strengthening our work for Harlemites, New Yorkers, and audiences across the globe." 

About the Studio Museum in Harlem
Founded in 1968 by a diverse group of artists, community activists, and philanthropists, the Studio Museum in Harlem is internationally known for its catalytic role in promoting the work of artists of African descent. The Studio Museum's new home, situated at its longtime location on West 125th Street, opened to the public on November 15, 2025. Designed by Adjaye Associates with Cooper Robertson serving as executive architect, the building—the first created expressly for the institution's program—enables the Studio Museum to better serve a growing and diverse audience, provide additional educational opportunities for people of all ages, expand its program of world-renowned exhibitions, effectively display its singular collection, and strengthen its trailblazing Artist-in-Residence program.

For more information, visit studiomuseum.org.

Visitor Information 
The Studio Museum in Harlem is located at 144 West 125th Street, between Malcolm X Boulevard (Lenox Avenue) and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (Seventh Avenue). 

The Studio Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, with extended hours on Friday, from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm.

The Museum is open to Members on Saturday mornings, from 10:00 to 11:00 am, before the galleries open to the public.

Admission rates are offered as a suggestion, with Sundays free for everyone. Suggested rates are $16 for adults and $9 for seniors (sixty-five years and over), students, and visitors with disabilities (care partners are free). Admission is free for children sixteen and under. 

Tickets to the Studio Museum may be purchased online at studiomuseum.org/visit or at the Museum.

American Red Cross and NAACP announce new documentary honoring the father of blood banking, Dr. Charles R. Drew

The American Red Cross and the NAACP will premiere Iconic Excellence: The Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew, a new documentary honoring the father of blood banking, Sept. 18 on the American Red Cross YouTube channel. The short film highlights Drew's revolutionary breakthroughs in blood plasma preservation, which saved hundreds of thousands of lives during World War II and pioneered modern methods for collecting, preserving and distributing blood.

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE
Produced by the Red Cross in collaboration with Drew's family, the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., the documentary offers an intimate portrait of Drew's drive and leadership, tracing his path from his childhood in Washington, D.C., to global prominence as a Black surgeon, educator and champion for inclusivity in medicine. Beyond the science, the film reveals a family man guided by his principles: a scientific stance against the U.S. military's blood segregation policy and a mantra on excellence he instilled in generations of Black surgeons.

"Dr. Drew is an unsung hero of World War II," said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson. "His innovation made it possible for many American soldiers to come home to their families."

In 1944, while blood segregation was still official policy, the NAACP awarded Dr. Drew the Spingarn Medal for his work in blood plasma research and blood banking. "The Spingarn Medal still today is considered the highest honor that can be bestowed on an African American in this country," said Johnson.

Dr. Drew was 45 when he died in a car accident in 1950. His daughters and grandchildren have spent decades honoring and preserving his legacy ever since. In Iconic Excellence, together on camera for the first time, his family gives that account in full, including answers to questions that have surrounded his legacy: whether he received blood products himself in the hours after the accident, and why he left the Red Cross, long attributed to Drew protesting the blood segregation policy.

"My father's work in training other Black surgeons was uppermost in his mind at the time of his death because he trained a small legion of Black surgeons, who then trained another group of Black surgeons, who then trained another group...whose color wasn't the most important thing," said Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, Drew's middle daughter. "It was: are they trained? Do they know? Do they understand? Who are they going to serve?"

CARRYING THE LEGACY FORWARD
Drew's commitment to mobilizing communities to improve health care carries forward today through organizations that host blood drives in support of the Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative. Working with community partners, the Red Cross has nearly doubled the number of annual blood donors who are Black or African American, an increase of more than 89% since the Sickle Cell Initiative launched in 2021. To date, more than 445,770 donors who are Black or African American have given blood to support patients living with sickle cell disease, with more than 188,000 of them being first-time blood donors.

"Dr. Drew understood something we continue to see every day at the Red Cross: when you meet people where they are and invite them to be part of the mission, they respond," said Chris Hrouda, president of American Red Cross Biomedical Services. "Many first-time blood donors roll up a sleeve because someone helped them understand the impact a single donation can have on a patient in need. That was Dr. Drew's approach 85 years ago, and it remains a powerful way lives are saved today."

Iconic Excellence premieres during Sickle Cell Awareness Month in September. Organizations and community groups can register to host a screening, a blood drive, or both by visiting RedCrossBlood.org/IconicExcellence. To schedule a blood donation appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood, use the Blood Donor App or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

ABOUT THE FILM
Iconic Excellence tells Dr. Drew's story through his own family and the voices of the NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and the American Red Cross. On-camera voices include Bebe Drew Price, Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, Sylvia Drew Ivie, Dr. Kelly Price Noble, Ernie Drew Jarvis; Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP; Ricky Lewis, 42nd International President of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.; Chris Hrouda, president of American Red Cross Biomedical Services; and Dr. Yvette Miller, American Red Cross executive medical officer. Journalist DeMarco Morgan narrates. The film was written and executive produced by Tiffany Taylor and directed by Brad Zerivitz, with cover art by Melissa Koby.

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: American Cancer Society Reports New Cases Are Up 3% but Earlier Diagnosis Improves Patient Outcomes

This September, the American Cancer Society encourages men to talk with their doctor about their personal risk for prostate cancer and whether screening is right for them. The number of new cases continued to increase by 3% per year from 2014 to 2022, according to the American Cancer Society's Cancer Statistics 2026 report, with the steepest rise occurring in advanced-stage diagnoses.

The report estimates that in 2026, 333,830 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. and 36,320 men will die from the disease.

The increase in prostate cancer diagnoses is largely due to more men being screened. This creates opportunities for early intervention and improved patient outcomes, although too many men are still not being screened early enough.

"We're seeing two things happen at once: more men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer, and a growing share of those cases are happening at a more advanced stage," said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society. "That tells us screening conversations are happening too late for too many men, particularly those at high risk for the disease."

There are well-established risk factors for prostate cancer that can be assessed for free using the online tool ACS CancerRisk360™. The chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50, and the disease occurs more often in Black and Caribbean men. When it does develop in Black men, they tend to be younger. In fact, compared with White men, Black men are nearly 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and two times more likely to die from the disease.

When it comes to prostate cancer screening, one size does not fit all. The American Cancer Society recommends men at average risk for prostate cancer speak with their doctor at age 50 about whether screening is right for them. Men at high risk should have this discussion at age 45, including African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer. Men at even higher risk should have the discussion at age 40, including those with multiple close relatives diagnosed at an early age. 

"Knowing your personal risk is the start of a conversation that can change your outcome," said Dr. Dahut. "That first conversation with a doctor should happen before symptoms appear, not after. The important message here is that regular screening can save lives and detect cancer early when treatment can often be successful."

About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, but most men diagnosed do not die from the disease. In fact, more than 3.5 million men in the U.S. who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive today.

To find low-cost or free screening locations and support during treatment, call the American Cancer Society's 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

Additional ACS Resources:

• Prostate Cancer Hub
• Prostate Cancer Screening Recommendations
• 2026 Cancer Facts & Figures
• Patient Lodging Programs
• Road to Recovery® Free Rides Program
• Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Media Resource Page

The 2026 State of Black America report is now available

The 50th anniversary of the State of Black America report carries a question that this country has never fully answered:

Is the American Dream dead? They are not asking it to be provocative.

They are asking it because 250 years into this experiment, the question demands an honest answer.

Dive into the data, the analysis, and the voices of people who help answer this question here: State of Black America 

Grambling State Hits the Road: 125 Years, One Historic Multiversary, One National Tour

Grambling State University announced today that it will take its 125th anniversary on the road, opening a national tour this fall that brings the Grambling story directly to alumni, friends, partners, and communities across the country. The University calls 2026 its Multiversary, a rare convergence of three milestones in one year: 125 years of academic excellence, 100 years of Tiger Athletics, and 100 years of the World Famed Band.

Each tour stop brings alumni and supporters together for a screening of MARCH ON, a Storyboard Studios Production, that explores Grambling State's multigenerational legacy, followed by a moderated conversation with prominent members of the GramFam and a reception centered on fellowship and connection.

"This tour allows us to share Grambling's story with alumni, friends, and communities nationwide," said Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr., President of Grambling State University. "As we honor the University's illustrious legacy, we are also reaffirming the enduring power of HBCUs to shape generations of future leaders and drive meaningful change."

MARCH ON follows three featured Gramblinites across generations: Denise Young '77, alumna and former C suite executive at Apple; Dalvin Adams '15, alumnus and Los Angeles based commercial photographer and entrepreneur; and Rylee Beaudion '28, a third generation Gramblinite majoring in Elementary Education and Visual and Performing Arts. Set against the backdrop of Grambling State's historic campus, the 35 minute film follows their stories from performing arts spaces and academic labs to the Square and the University's Digital Library and Learning Commons, revealing how Grambling State has changed, evolved, and continued to shape the lives of those who call it home.

The tour opens with four stops this fall:

• 09.03.26 — Grambling, LA — 11:00 AM
• 09.14.26 — Washington, DC — 6:30 PM
• 09.17.26 — New York, NY — 6:30 PM
• 09.24.26 — Dallas, TX — 6:30 PM

Beginning in September and continuing through the conclusion of the Multiversary celebration, the tour will travel to additional cities across the country, reconnecting generations of the GramFam and extending the celebration of Grambling State University's legacy and impact well beyond campus.

Tickets and full details for each tour stop, including how to participate in the Multiversary celebration, are available at gram.edu/marchon.

California Legislature Passes Law to Make California the First State to Require Corporations to Disclose Slavery Profits

California is on the brink of becoming the first state in the nation to require corporations to declare under oath whether they or their predecessors profited from slavery.

With its passage in the full Senate, the California State Legislature adopted AB 2599, The Truth in Disclosure Act, authored by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan and a top priority for the California Legislative Black Caucus. The bill will now be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature.

The bill requires corporations doing business in California with annual revenue of $100 million in gross receipts or more to submit sworn affidavits — subject to perjury penalties — disclosing whether they or predecessor entities engaged in or profited from slavery-era transactions, with all filings posted to a publicly searchable state database.

The measure builds on California's existing disclosure framework. California has led the country on climate, supply chain, and pay transparency, and expands existing corporate disclosure laws requiring corporations doing business in California to engage in ethical business practices. No other state has yet required corporations to account for their historical role in the slave economy. The bill's public database would give journalists, researchers, and reparations advocates a tool to trace historical profits to present-day corporate wealth.

The Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT) strongly urges Gov. Newsom to sign the bill.

California State Assemblymember Isaac Bryan:
"For too long, corporations have been allowed to benefit from the economic engine of slavery while avoiding any public accounting of that history," said. "AB 2599 is a moral imperative and changes that. Californians deserve to know which companies built their wealth on the backs of enslaved people — and they deserve that truth under oath."

Kaci Y. Patterson, Founder and Chief Architect of Social Good Solutions/Black Equity Collective: "Reparative justice is a key tenet of the Black Equity Collective's Policy & Advocacy work, and AB 2599 is essential to that commitment. Truth must precede repair. By confronting the historical record and strengthening transparency and accountability, California can understand the past, take responsibility in the present, and build a more equitable future. We thank Assemblymember Isaac Bryan for his leadership in authoring this important legislation. BEC proudly supports AB 2599 and urges Governor Gavin Newsom to sign the Truth in Disclosure Act into law. Truth is where repair begins, and accountability is how we move forward."

James Woodson, Chief Executive Officer of the California Black Power Network:
"Corporations have long profited from slavery while Black Californians have borne the public cost. AB 2599 ensures this history is officially recorded under oath and made accessible to all. The harm has been documented since 2023 in a report that's over 1,000 pages long. What corporations have profited from that harm has never been documented, and AB 2599 would change that. We urge Governor Newsom to sign this bill and reveal the truth openly."

Lisa Holder, President of the Equal Justice Society:
"The United Nation's formal acknowledgement this past March of the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity set a moral and reparative baseline for the world. AB 2599 grounds that international imperative into concrete state policy by compelling companies operating in California, the world's fourth-largest economy, to account for historical ties under oath. Moreover it supplies the necessary paper trail, documenting predecessor entities, collateralized human property, and institutional wealth accumulation, that scholars and policymakers need to translate broad reparative goals into actionable policy."

Pastor Michael McBride, Executive Director of Live Free USA:
"Since ARRT's inception, faith and congregational leaders across California have organized, prayed, and pushed for this day, because reparations work is moral work, and there is no neutral ground when it comes to truth. The prophet Amos declared, 'let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.' AB 2599 is part of that flow: it forces a reckoning with history that can no longer be dammed up by silence. Live Free USA has stood with ARRT from the beginning, and we will keep standing until repair is real and materialized to its fullest extent."

Teresa L. Gonzalez, State Director of Live Free California:
"As a detribalized Indigenous woman, I stand in solidarity with Black communities fighting for healing, justice, and liberation, because our histories, presents and futures are bound together. Live Free California centers systems-impacted Black leadership in this work, and we know that true repair cannot stop at disclosure. It must mean ending incarceration and every system of oppression built on the same profits AB 2599 exposes. This bill shines a light not only on who profited from slavery historically, but on who continues to profit from harm today, and that light is long overdue."

Dr. Cheryl Grills, former member of the California Reparations Task Force, and Professor Emerita (Psychology) at Loyola Marymount University and Founder of their Psychology Applied Research Center: "The harms from enslavement and their cross-generational legacies were multifaceted. No doubt, the repair must be equally multifaceted, layered, and capable of promoting systemic and institutional remedies. This is necessary if we are to strike a blow to structural racism, the offspring of African enslavement. The Truth in Disclosure Act, AB 2599, represents a significant step in that direction by compelling the transparency needed to address those foundational harms."

Donald K. Tamaki, former member of the California Reparations Task Force: "Two chapters of the California Reparations Task Force report document in painstaking detail how corporations built enormous fortunes extracted from the free labor of enslaved people and how that wealth compounded for generations while Black families were locked out. The Truth in Disclosure Act follows the recommendations of the task force report by compelling corporations to publicly declare under oath how their fortunes were extracted from the stolen labor of enslaved people. This public transparency is a critical first step toward full accountability and implementing the Task Force's broader recommendations."

Should Governor Newsom sign AB 2599, it would represent the 15th reparations bill passed since the 2023 issuance of the California Reparations Task Force report and yet another step forward in the continued momentum of implementing those recommendations.

In 2025, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law SB 437 (Weber-Pierson), requiring the California State University to explore options to determine how to confirm an individual's status as a descendant, and SB 518 (Weber‑Pierson), creating the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery, housed within the Civil Rights Department.

In 2024, Gov. Newsom signed several reparations bills, including AB 3089, a formal apology by the State of California for its role in perpetuating slavery and its ongoing legacy of systemic racism.

This historic journey started with Gov. Newsom's signing of AB 3121 into law on Sept. 30, 2020, to create the first-in-the-nation California Reparations Task Force. After two years of research and 30 public hearings, the task force in 2023 delivered a 1,100-page book of truth that documents past and continuing harm of anti-Black discrimination in every facet of American life and across every sector of California civil society, outlining 115 comprehensive policies for repairing the harm.

About the Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT): The Alliance for Reparations, Reconciliation, and Truth (ARRT) is a multiracial, multisector coalition advancing truth-telling, accountability, and public education related to the enduring impacts of slavery and systemic harm in California. Learn more at alliancefor.org.

PEOPLE’S ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS WILL GO TO THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON

The People’s Organization For Progress (POP) is sponsoring a bus trip to the protest that will take place in Washington, D.C., the nation’s capital, on Friday, August 28, 2026. 

The theme of the protest is “March On Washington: Defend The Vote.” It is being called by the Rev Al Sharpton and his National Action Network, Martin Luther King III, and other civil rights organizations. 

“We endorse the march and we are sending a bus to the protest in Washington because we believe the right to vote is under attack and in grave peril today,” stated Lawrence Hamm, Chairman, People’s Organization For Progress. 

“Democracy in the United States is in great danger because it is being undermined by the racist and fascist Trump administration, backed up by the right-wing dominated Congress, and supported by the ultra-conservative super majority on the Supreme Court,” Hamm said. 

The POP sponsored bus is one of hundreds of busses from New Jersey, New York, and around the nation that will be journeying to Washington for the March. It will be leaving from Newark at 4:3Oam Friday morning. 

The march is being held on the 63rd anniversary of the 1963 Great March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where the Dr Martin Luther King Jr gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. 

That march was held on August 28th, the date in 1955 on which 14 year-old Emmett Till was murdered by white racists in Money, Mississippi. 

This was just three months before the arrest of Rosa Parks and the start of the Montgomery Bus boycott which gave rise to the Civil Rights Movement. 

More than 250,000 people attended the March On Washington that year. The following year the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed, and the next year the 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed. 

“We must march because those rights, including the right to vote, which were fought for and paid for with lives, and blood, and sacrifices of many kinds in our lifetime are being taken away before our very eyes,” he said. 

“Because of the Supreme Court decision in the Louisiana v Callais case we may end up losing as many as nineteen African American representatives due to racist gerrymandering. 

“And now the Trump administration is attempting to restrict and stop mail-in voting in an attempt to steal the midterm congressional elections. The People’s Organization For Progress is absolutely opposed to any attempt by President Trump to interfere with, impede or stop mail-in voting,” he said. 

While some POP members and supporters will be going to the march in Washington DC others will be rallying here at home for voting rights that same day. 

A “Community Rally,” observing the 63rd anniversary of March On Washington will be held on Friday, August 28th, 5:30pm at the Somerset Municipal Complex, 475 Demott Lane, Somerset, New Jersey.

A key organizer of this event is author, activist, and educator Bill Davis, a member of the People’s Organization For Progress, and a leader of the group’s Central Jersey branch. 

“We are having this rally to demand the abolition of ICE, economic justice, improved Black employment, an end to police brutality,  end racist gerrymandering and redistricting, an end to the war with Iran, and reparations for African Americans whose ancestors were enslaved,” Davis stated. 

The event is endorsed by Peoples Organization for Progress, March Forward, NAACP New Brunswick & Edison Branches, NJ Black Women, and MT Zion AME Church.

Finally, POP will continue the fight for voting rights after the events of August 28th. 

The group will hold a forum entitled “The Attack On Voting Rights And The War On Black People,” Thursday, September 11, 2026, 7:00pm at New Hope Baptist Church of East Orange, 144 Norman Street in East Orange, New Jersey. 

For more information on the POP bus trip to the March On Washington or the voting rights forum in East Orange call (973)801-0001. For additional information on the rally in Somerset contact Bill Davis at 732-647-8212.

NABJ Stands With Karen Attiah and Renews Call for Accountability at The Washington Post

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) welcomes the arbitrator's ruling in favor of Karen Attiah, finding that The Washington Post did not have "good and sufficient cause" to terminate her employment and ordering her reinstatement with back pay.

Attiah was dismissed last year after raising concerns about the treatment of Black journalists and the broader direction of the newsroom. NABJ raised serious concerns about her firing when it happened, including what her termination signaled about the treatment, retention and protection of Black journalists inside one of the nation's most influential news organizations. The arbitrator's ruling reinforces why those concerns warranted serious scrutiny.

It also comes one week after NABJ presented The Washington Post with a 2026 Thumbs Down Award, recognizing the organization for decisions and practices that have undermined Black journalists, diversity in the newsroom and public trust in journalism.

"When NABJ raises concerns about the treatment of Black journalists, we do so because the decisions news organizations make have real consequences for our members, our profession and the communities we serve," said NABJ President Errin Haines. "Karen Attiah deserved a fair process, and she showed tremendous courage in pushing back, standing up for herself and fighting for what she believed was right. This ruling affirms that the serious questions surrounding her termination were warranted. The Washington Post now has an opportunity to listen, learn and demonstrate through its actions what meaningful accountability looks like."

"The Washington Association of Black Journalists was proud to support Karen Attiah throughout this process. We hope this landmark decision sends a message to newsrooms everywhere: Black journalists deserve to work in environments where we are free from attempts to silence our voices," said WABJ President Phil Lewis. "Organizations like WABJ and NABJ will continue to advocate for our members."

The Thumbs Down Award is not about punishment. It is a call for institutions with tremendous influence over our profession to examine their decisions, listen to the journalists affected by them and make meaningful changes when they fall short.

NABJ will continue to advocate for Black journalists across the country. Today, we renew our call for The Washington Post to engage seriously with the concerns we have raised about Black representation, retention, newsroom culture and the treatment of Black journalists.

This moment presents an opportunity for The Post to demonstrate that accountability can lead to change. NABJ stands ready to have that conversation.

U.S. Postal Service Continues Its Tradition of Celebrating Kwanzaa

The USPS will issue its 11th stamp celebrating Kwanzaa, the pan-African holiday observed by millions of Americans each year from Dec 26 to Jan 1.

The pan-african holiday Kwanzaa, observed annually from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, brings together family, community and culture. Created in the United States in 1966 and drawing on a variety of African traditions, it was intended to help unify African Americans from a wide array of religious and cultural backgrounds. The name "Kwanzaa" is derived from the Swahili phrase meaning "first fruits."

The 2026 Kwanzaa stamp — the 11th since 1997 in an ongoing series — brings a fresh approach. While many of the stamps have portrayed family, this is the first one to feature a father and daughter. In addition, the color scheme — lime green, pink and yellow — is an updated take on the customary black, red and green.

n the traditional side, the stamp artwork incorporates two of the seven Kwanzaa symbols: the gift (zawadi), held by the daughter, and the unity cup (kikombe cha umoja), held by the father.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with original artwork by Cannaday Chapman.

The Kwanzaa stamp will be issued as a Forever stamp and will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Texas Southern University Names Corey Lowery Men's Basketball Head Coach

Texas Southern University announced the hiring of Corey Lowery as the next head coach of the men's basketball program.

Lowery brings 27 years of coaching experience to Houston, including 13 seasons as a collegiate head coach and an overall head coaching record of 266-73.

"Coach Lowery has won at every level and every stop of his career," said President J.W. Crawford III. "Beyond constructing winning rosters and producing on the court, he is a maker of men off the court. I am confident that he will continue Texas Southern basketball's championship tradition into the University's next century."

Lowery arrives at Texas Southern after four seasons as an assistant coach at Seton Hall University, where he was part of a staff that earned 42 wins — the most in Seton Hall history for a coaching staff in its first two seasons — and capped the 2024 season with an NIT National Championship.

Prior to Seton Hall, Lowery spent two seasons as head men's basketball coach at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. His inaugural season opened with a 3-0 start before being discontinued due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his first full season (2021-22), Lowery led Lincoln to a second-place finish in the CIAA Northern Division after the team had been picked to finish 10th in the preseason poll. The turnaround earned him CIAA Coach of the Year honors. That season, Zahrion Blue was named CIAA Player of the Year and freshman Bakir Cleveland was named to the CIAA All-Rookie Team. Lowery was also selected to coach in the inaugural HBCU All-Star Game.

"It is an absolute honor and privilege to be named the Head Men's Basketball coach at Texas Southern University," Lowery said. "Texas Southern is rooted in a proud tradition of winning championships and I consider this University not only the premier institution in the SWAC but one of the top in the country. I will work tirelessly to serve and uphold the standard of excellence that already exists at Texas Southern University."

Before Lincoln, Lowery served as Director of Player Development at Saint Peter's University from 2018-20. Prior to Saint Peter's, Lowery spent six seasons as head coach at Essex County College, leading the Wolverines to six consecutive regular-season conference championships, five consecutive region championships and five consecutive appearances in the NJCAA Division II Tournament. Essex County finished as national championship finalist in 2014 and advanced to the Final Four in both 2014 and 2016.

As head coach at Middlesex County College, Lowery guided his team to three consecutive conference championships, a region championship and an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NJCAA Division III Tournament in 2008.

Lowery began his head coaching career at Hillside High School, where he led his teams to a conference championship and two state championship appearances.

UNCF President Michael L. Lomax to Retire in 2027

Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, has announced his intent to retire in June 2027.

“Few leaders have shaped an institution as profoundly as Dr. Lomax has shaped UNCF,” said Milton H. Jones, Jr., UNCF board chair. “For more than two decades, he has elevated HBCUs on the national stage, expanded educational opportunity for hundreds of thousands of students, strengthened our member institutions, and positioned UNCF for enduring success. We celebrate his extraordinary legacy while looking forward to the organization’s next chapter with great confidence. Thanks to Dr. Lomax’s vision and leadership, UNCF is stronger than ever and exceptionally well positioned for the future.”

Dr. Lomax began his presidency at UNCF in 2004. Among other accomplishments throughout Dr. Lomax’s tenure, the organization has raised more than $4 billion in support of students and HBCUs, helped more than 300,000 students pursue and complete college degrees, and increased its endowment nearly tenfold, rising from $60 million to a projected $600 million in 2027.

“Serving as president and CEO of UNCF has been the privilege of a lifetime,” said Dr. Lomax. “Everything we have accomplished has been made possible through the extraordinary partnership of our board of directors, our member institutions, our dedicated team members, our donors, our philanthropic partners, and the countless champions who believe deeply in our mission. Together, we have expanded opportunities for hundreds of thousands of students and strengthened the institutions that have transformed generations of lives.”

Before his current position, Dr. Lomax served as president of historically Black Dillard University in New Orleans. In addition to faculty appointments at Morehouse College and Spelman College in Atlanta, he has held roles in public service, including director of research and special assistant to Maynard H. Jackson, the first Black mayor of Atlanta. He also had stints as the first African American chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and as president of the National Faculty, an Atlanta-based organization dedicated to connecting higher education scholars with K-12 teachers.

Dr. Lomax holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Morehouse College, a master’s degree in English literature from Columbia University in New York, and a Ph.D. in American and African American literature from Emory University in Atlanta.