Is attending an HBCU better for your brain? New research suggests culturally affirming college environments may offer long-term cognitive benefits for Black graduates. wordinblack.com/2026/03/hbcu...

Black recipes are Black history. Students at a South Carolina high school made magazines based on Gullah Geechee recipes — preserving what a legendary community of formerly enslaved people and their descendants ate and how they cooked it. wordinblack.com/2026/03/pres...

In the run-up to March Madness, Black student athletes navigate pressure, scrutiny, and unmet mental health needs. Dr. Ashley Stewart says, "The shot that wins the game will be celebrated for years. What happens to the young person who takes it matters just as much." wordinblack.com/2026/03/marc...

Black women built the Black church. Why can’t they lead it? Nearly two centuries after the first Black woman preacher, more women are called to ministry — but tradition and bias still keep many from the pulpit. Read more: wordinblack.com/2026/03/blac...

Ashley McGirt-Adair has spent her career confronting what racism costs Black people’s health — and building the care system that should have always existed. “We deserve wellness. It is our birthright,” she says. wordinblack.com/2026/03/we-d...

If you spend any time on social media, you have likely heard someone say “clock it” while tapping their fingers together. But did you know that the slang term originated in Black ballroom culture and signifies survival, code-switching, and community? wordinblack.com/2026/03/the-...

Though guidance counselors are critical to shaping a student’s academic, emotional, and career development, fewer than 10% of guidance counselors are Black. And the number of Black educators entering the profession is continuing to fall. Read more: wordinblack.com/2026/03/blac...

New restrictions on SNAP benefits are drastically changing how 40 million Americans put food on the table. In a lawsuit, anti-hunger advocates and grocers are pushing back on one change in particular: limits on what kinds of foods SNAP recipients can buy. wordinblack.com/2026/03/laws...

From scripture to family stories, passing down history helps Black children understand who they are — and whose shoulders they stand on. wordinblack.com/2026/03/blac...

Georgia Fort, a Minnesota journalist arrested for covering a protest, reflects on standing up to power and how the Black press keeps the U.S. honest about its history: “I might be under attack, defunded, even afraid. But I will continue to do it." wordinblack.com/2026/03/geor...

With specialized classes that emphasize Black history and culture across disciplines, Sacramento State's Black Honors College is a first-of-its-kind "micro-university" that now has more than 520 students. wordinblack.com/2026/03/how-...

“Showtime at the Apollo” co-host KiKi Shepard wasn’t just glamorous — she modeled a quiet, commanding power that shaped a generation. She died Monday at 74. wordinblack.com/2026/03/lets...

Moments of public praise, like Michael B. Jordan’s Oscars speech to his mom, are great. But advocates at OpEd Project say Black women also deserve power: "Invest in Black women founders. Provide for Black women in higher education. And put Black women in positions.” wordinblack.com/2026/03/blac...

Two Black women ran in Illinois’ Senate primary — and Juliana Stratton’s victory shows the growing power of Black women in American politics. wordinblack.com/2026/03/juli...

While tools like ChatGPT are helping Black students and educators cope with overcrowded classrooms, underfunded schools, and chronic teacher shortages, two education advocates say the tech can't replace equity. wordinblack.com/2026/03/why-...

A legal construct drafted four centuries ago, linked to slavery — and systemic hatred of interracial marriage — helps control the present-day fates of families caught in Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. wordinblack.com/2026/03/befs...

Up to 600,000 Black women — many college-educated — were economically sidelined in 2025, according to data analysts. An Atlanta-based social media manager shares her experience being laid off while on medical leave for breast cancer treatment. Watch here: wordinblack.com/2026/03/blac...

Last month, a federal judge shut down the Trump administration’s initiative to force K-12 schools and colleges to end DEI. Now, the administration is trying again — this time, using bureaucratic red tape. wordinblack.com/2026/03/trum...

At its best, Black worship is defined by a lively call-and-response between preacher and congregation — a tradition rooted in African spiritual practices and carried forward in the secret worship gatherings known as hush harbors. wordinblack.com/2026/03/blac...

Rising oil prices, tariffs, and war spending could deepen the affordability crisis for American households. One estimation finds that a war with Iran could cost low-income families over $3,000 annually. wordinblack.com/2026/03/war-...

A step toward justice. In an undisclosed settlement, the multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis agreed to compensate Henrietta Lacks’ heirs for the billions in profits they reaped from her body. wordinblack.com/2026/03/anot...

Through creativity, mentorship, and STEM access, Yes Girls Create is building confidence and leadership in the next generation. wordinblack.com/2026/03/yes-...

Black students are more likely than white peers to worry about safety at school, according to a new survey. “Schools are a microcosm of our society. We know that racism and classism and other ‘isms’ impact Black youth," says GSU professor Chavez Phelps. wordinblack.com/2026/03/blac...

Black and Hispanic students use AI for schoolwork more than their peers, but their teachers are less likely to receive AI training. Read more: wordinblack.com/2026/03/blac...

From expensive shoes to safety issues, there are many reasons why Black runners are rare. That's what makes Nathan Martin’s Los Angeles Marathon victory that much sweeter. wordinblack.com/2026/03/nath...

Black Americans face higher cancer mortality rates. A whole-person model could help rebuild trust and improve outcomes, health advocates Sheri Biller and Cynthia Perrilliat say. wordinblack.com/2026/02/canc...

When America claims a collective “we” in war, many Black Americans hear a familiar question — belonging when sacrifice is required, exclusion when justice is demanded. wordinblack.com/2026/03/we-b...

How do we heal from racism when our society is sick? Word In Black joined Dr. Joy DeGruy & Dr. Bahia Overton for a conversation about how racial healing can restore individuals and communities — and transform our world. Watch the full replay here: youtu.be/lCEh9kb5XwM?...

During the National Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, churches combine worship with testing, education, and outreach. wordinblack.com/2026/03/nati...

Tariff uncertainty, rising Black unemployment, and small-business losses point to a growing Black recession, experts say. wordinblack.com/2026/02/tari...

U.S. immigration agents involved in three shootings since June have been recorded or accused of using derogatory language about women or people of color. wordinblack.com/2026/03/raci...

Black people showed up and showed out in February! Here are some of Word In Black’s favorite moments from the month. Check out our full list of the Best Things to Happen to Black People in 2026 (So Far): wordinblack.com/2026/01/best...

Renee Good and Alex Pretti weren't the first people to be shot and killed by ICE over the past year. But professor Aniko Bodroghkozy says the deaths of white activists often draw and sustain far more attention than the deaths of Black or Latino people. wordinblack.com/2026/03/when...

What does healing actually look like for Black folks — and what's standing in the way? Join us March 4 as we talk with Dr. Joy DeGruy & Dr. Bahia Overton about why the emotional, spiritual, and communal work of healing matters — especially when so many feel overwhelmed, unheard, and exhausted.

When Fear Becomes a Health Risk | Jennifer Porter Gore A @wordinblacknews.bsky.social survey finds many Black women delay breast cancer screening and mammograms due to fear, cost, and gaps in provider communication. wordinblack.com/2026/02/when...

"This was a cultural exhale, an affirmation in a moment when Black folks are under pressure that, at times, feels unbearable." wordinblack.com/2026/03/mich...

A new survey finds Black teenagers are more likely than their peers to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT for school. “It speaks less to the tool and more to why students are feeling the way they are about the educational prospects,” Dr. José Luis Vilson says. wordinblack.com/2026/02/blac...

Want to fight ICE? Center for Black Educator Development founder Sharif El-Mekki says march if you can — but don’t underestimate the resistance built through reading, writing, math, and belief in a child’s future. wordinblack.com/2026/02/wann...

When Black people are only honored for excelling in elite white spaces, author and educator Rann Miller says it effectively discounts Black genius that was already there: "Black history is what we do for each other within our own communities." wordinblack.com/2026/02/blac...

On Tuesday, Google apologized for sending a push alert that included the N-word. Completely spelled out. Hard “er” and all. The tech giant says its BAFTA notification was just a system error. For Black people, that distinction doesn’t erase the harm. wordinblack.com/2026/02/goog...

From nominees to WINNERS! Our “On Borrowed Time” series won the inaugural NAACP Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism award. “This series wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the dozens of Black men and women who shared their stories with me,” author Anissa Durham says. wordinblack.com/2026/02/anis...

A Word In Black survey finds many Black women delay breast cancer screening and mammograms due to fear, cost, and gaps in provider communication. Read more key findings in our full report: wordinblack.com/2026/02/when...

Black-owned businesses receive a sliver of federal contract dollars. Now the 8(a) Business Development Program, the program designed to narrow that gap, is being scaled back. wordinblack.com/2026/02/the-...

By centering Black women’s voices and pairing data with lived experience, our groundbreaking breast cancer report offers evidence that can guide more culturally responsive education, outreach, policy, and care. Read more: wordinblack.com/2026/02/when...

In Philadelphia, EMIR Healing Center offers families shattered by violence a place to gather, grieve, and rebuild. “If I can change the environment, I can stop violence. This is a piece of that," co-founder Chantay Love said. Read more: wordinblack.com/2026/02/emir...

Becky Pringle, president of @neatoday.bsky.social, warns that the attacks on DEI programs are making life harder for the nation's Black teachers, who are struggling to figure out what they can or can't teach. wordinblack.com/2026/02/as-s...

From Coretta Scott King to Claudette Colvin, the Civil Rights Movement was sustained by women whose labor, strategy, and courage history often minimized. Unerased Black Women Speak says it's time to remember them. wordinblack.com/2026/02/we-r...

“I’m not always looking for an ally to be on the streets in protests. It’s about how they show up every day, not just when the news is covering something. Protests aren’t always a daily occurrence, so you need to have support in other ways. An ally shows up when the cameras are up or down.”

Is your doctor a “ghost?” Roughly 1 in 3 doctors who are enrolled to treat Medicaid patients didn’t serve one between 2019-2021, according to research. "If patients aren’t able to access the care they need, they may delay or forego care altogether," Dr. Jane Zhu says. wordinblack.com/2026/02/ghos...