The rate of pregnant women contracting syphilis continued climbing through 2024 for most demographic groups. Black women are also facing disproportionate risks from the disease. Here's what you should know to stay well. wordinblack.com/2026/01/alar...

Banning cellphones in K-12 classrooms is a growing national trend. But a new survey finds that only 33% of Black teens support bans, and disproportionate discipline rates may have something to do with it. wordinblack.com/2026/01/why-...

For generations, the numbers haven’t told the whole truth about Black health in America. Word In Black’s new Research & Insights department is working to change that by taking a closer look at how Black communities view breast cancer and organ donation. wordinblack.com/2026/01/chan...

Faith leaders across the country are mobilizing, and with “Eyes Not Lies,” clergy are telling the public to trust what they see about ICE killings. wordinblack.com/2026/01/your...

A new hymn by Nolan Williams Jr. channels Selma’s spirit for a new generation: “We need to be reflecting the times, and that’s not something that should just be in the streets — that’s something that should also be in the pulpit, in the choir loft, in the pews.” wordinblack.com/2026/01/resi...

With federal protections rolling back, activist Dr. Margot Brown says environmental justice now depends on local action: "Our choices today will shape the world our children inherit tomorrow, and we must move now." wordinblack.com/2026/01/when...

Building on MLK Jr.’s idea of “the beloved community,” religious and lay leaders are bringing respite to migrants — and protesters — in a city under siege. wordinblack.com/2026/01/in-m...

Do you know what an HBCU is? About 60% of high schoolers don’t, and a report from the United Negro College Fund says schools need to do more to introduce students to them. wordinblack.com/2026/01/who-...

A year into Trump's second term, Black unemployment has reached recession levels, with the rate for young Black people more than four times the national average, according to a Joint Center report. wordinblack.com/2026/01/trum...

Could a new Medicaid approach help cure sickle cell? Under the agreement, pharmaceutical companies will get paid only if costly gene therapies actually work. wordinblack.com/2026/01/medi...

In the age of Trump, @aft.org's Fedrick Ingram says the blueprint for Black educational power still stands: "Black history is not just a collection of struggles and pain, but a chronicling of our strength and a timeline of victories." wordinblack.com/2026/01/game...

Mike Tomlin, the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach, stepped away from the Pittsburgh Steelers after 19 years. He leaves behind a glowing example of "accountability, hard work, and ownership — without excuses," columnist John Celestand says. wordinblack.com/2026/01/the-...

At a moment when higher education in the United States is under political and cultural siege, Black students are continuing to apply to college at a rate faster than anyone else. Here's why. wordinblack.com/2026/01/blac...

Dr. King’s ideas and impact span far beyond what you read about in most history books. Word In Black’s Shernay Williams shares 7 things you might not know about the civil rights icon.

This King Day, activist Tabitha Chikwendu says it's time to know the civil rights icon beyond “I Have a Dream” and “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Dr. King's 1964 Nobel Lecture speaks directly to our current crises of democracy, inequality, and war. wordinblack.com/2026/01/dr-k...

Have our megachurches lost the plot? With a viral skit, comedian Druski has sparked praise, backlash, and deeper questions about faith, money, and performance in the modern Black church. wordinblack.com/2026/01/drus...

Looking to reaffirm your faith this year? Drawn from the biblical story of Daniel, Black Christians are using the Daniel Fast to focus on prayer, restraint, and drawing closer to God. Read more: wordinblack.com/2026/01/frui...

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the King Day holiday. As the Trump administration pushes erasure, one of the oldest groups dedicated to MLK’s work, the King Commission of Mid-Michigan, is educating future generations. wordinblack.com/2026/01/mich...

Cosmetic surgery companies aren't required to post evidence that their marketing claims are accurate, and it's costing people their lives. “I just don’t understand how she came back to me in a body bag,” Ste’Aira Ballard says of her mother, Tamala Smith. wordinblack.com/2026/01/when...

In a win for education advocates, a temporary injunction has stopped the Trump administration from withholding funds from Head Start programs that are linked to DEI efforts. wordinblack.com/2026/01/judg...

April D. Ryan makes history as the longest-serving Black White House Correspondent! With a career that spans 29 years, Ryan has shown an unwavering commitment to progress and justice through reporting that speaks to the realities of Black life in America.

Why should Black Americans care about the crisis happening in Venezuela? Educator Rann Miller says Malcolm X and W.E.B. DuBois understood: imperialism threatens Black people everywhere. wordinblack.com/2026/01/why-...

For many students considering an HBCU, the choice is driven less by academic fit and more by financial survival. Howard University alumna Julienne Louis Anderson says it's time for philanthropy to fund students — not just institutions. wordinblack.com/2026/01/hbcu...

We are so proud to announce that WIB’s Anissa Durham is an NAACP Image Award nominee for outstanding journalism! Her series, “On Borrowed Time,” examines the people, policies, and systems that hurt or help Black patients in need of an organ transplant. Read it here: wordinblack.com/on-borrowed-...

RFK Jr.'s sweeping overhaul of federal nutrition guidelines urges Americans to "eat real food." But experts warn the advice oversimplifies obesity, clashes with rising food costs, and overlooks issues Black Americans face. wordinblack.com/2026/01/rfk-...

The U.S. Department of Education is vowing to intensify its collection of unpaid student loans in 2026. Word In Black’s Shernay Williams breaks down how to know if you’re in default and how to avoid wage garnishment. Read more: wordinblack.com/2026/01/unpa...

Renee Nicole Good’s killing by ICE is part of a system Black Americans have long warned the country about. How should we respond? Author and expert Dr. Joy DeGruy says by continuing to take care of ourselves, building community, and loving each other. wordinblack.com/2026/01/this...

A Chicago nonprofit and an influential teachers’ union are suing the Trump administration for axing over $60 million in community school funds. The money would’ve gone to help kids and families in rural and low-income areas, according to the lawsuit. wordinblack.com/2026/01/laws...

One year ago, the Eaton Fire destroyed generational homes. Now, the recovery is testing whether a historic Black community can survive displacement and slow rebuilding. wordinblack.com/2026/01/a-ye...

How did you feel about this year’s Critics Choice Awards? Let us know in the comments. Read more here: wordinblack.com/2026/01/timo...

David G. Brown, political cartoonist for the Los Angeles Sentinel, the city’s oldest Black newspaper, reflects on the art of racial dissent. An exhibit at the Watts Towers showcases his work. wordinblack.com/2026/01/capt...

The $20 billion Green Bank program is headed back to court. Designed to help Black communities and others who need support in fighting climate change, it’s been a target of the Trump Administration. wordinblack.com/2026/01/gree...

In our short guide, we spoke to experts and physicians about the top five health care appointments you can make in the new year. wordinblack.com/2025/12/here...

Now that race can't be used as a factor in admissions, the number of white men enrolled in college has dropped significantly. Educator Rann Miller says this is no accident since undereducated white men keep MAGA in power. wordinblack.com/2025/12/dei-...

Health experts and advocates warn that the mental health system makes it “easier to criminalize somebody than to get them help.” wordinblack.com/2025/12/crim...

Our “Best Things to Happen to Black People in 2025” list isn’t just about Black America’s ability to achieve — it’s about our ability to believe. To believe that progress, goodness, and justice are possible no matter who tries to diminish or erase us. wordinblack.com/2025/01/best...

And the good news keeps coming, thank you @wordinblacknews.bsky.social for naming #TheDoubleTax as one of the STANDOUT TITLES OF 2025 for Black-authored books alongside Michelle Obama, Jacqueline Woodson, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. This means everything and more to me. #booksky #blacksky

Thousands of Altadena and Pasadena residents were displaced this year by devastating wildfires. Here’s how you can help make their holidays extra special. wordinblack.com/2025/12/how-...

Hannah V. Sawyerr’s newest work, “Truth Is,” follows a 17-year-old girl who is navigating choice and bodily autonomy. Here's why it's an important read for young Black folks nationwide. wordinblack.com/2025/12/hann...

YouTube is the most popular streaming platform in the world, but it’s not always easy for parents to find engaging, educational content that centers Blackness for their kids. We searched for you and found six Black creators producing edutainment and representation: wordinblack.com/2025/12/scre...

As the Senate’s only ordained minister, Raphael Warnock recently drew attention by invoking spirituality — a rarity for Democrats. America is in the midst of a “spiritual crisis” that threatens to unravel the nation, he said in a speech. wordinblack.com/2025/12/sen-...

Since the 1800s, Black folks have used Christmas to resist racial violence and oppression. Here are some social justice organizations to support this holiday season. wordinblack.com/2025/12/why-...

From Actively Black to Reparations Club, these are the Black-owned businesses Team Word In Black shops, loves, and wants you to know about. If you’re holiday shopping, make it Black-owned with these great finds. #blacksky wordinblack.com/2025/11/if-y...

As attacks on the Biden-era SAVE Plan continue, "the greatest threat to Black educational futures is not a lack of talent or ambition — it’s the United States Supreme Court," Debt Collective’s Braxton Brewington says. wordinblack.com/2025/12/stud...

Faith without screens? As more churches stop streaming worship services, some say the move could make it more difficult for folks to hear the word of God — including parishioners with chronic illnesses. wordinblack.com/2025/12/chur...

We faced racism on campus. This generation faces that — plus lockdown drills and the reality of mass shootings. wordinblack.com/2025/12/mass...

Rod Paige died Tuesday at 92, leaving behind a complicated legacy. As the nation’s first Black secretary of education, Paige set high standards while penalizing schools struggling with structural racism. wordinblack.com/2025/12/comp...

Everyone's talking about the Diddy documentary, but is it enough to end hip-hop's cycle of violence? "As powerful as the doc is, the holes are obvious and glaring," author and theologian Candice Marie Benbow said. wordinblack.com/2025/12/is-b...

After firing hundreds of employees in March, more than 25,000 unresolved civil rights complaints have forced the Education Department to abruptly recall staff. wordinblack.com/2025/12/educ...

As the world’s fourth-largest economy, activist Erin Aubry Kaplan says California can use its holiday spending power to challenge Trump-era racism. "The old adage that the customer is always right still has currency, and in many cases, moral weight." wordinblack.com/2025/12/holi...