i think jesse jackson was one of the most important american political figures of the post-war era and i think that his 1984 and 1988 campaigns for the democratic nomination still have a great deal to teach about forging a path to a more egalitarian world. RIP.

BREAKING: The Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader from the era of MLK to Black Lives Matter, has died at 84, his family said.

Hey Y’all. ✨I’m late posting this, but there are 5 days left to enter the Goodreads giveaway for The Price of Exclusion. Ten readers will receive a free copy of the book. I see 1100+ interested in reading the work that tells us much about America & the world. TY. 🙏🏾 www.goodreads.com/book/show/23...

Trump has been espousing racist foolishness for decades, even as a presidential candidate and president. Stop with the pearl clutching over monkey images, and ask why this vile behavior has been tolerated and left unchecked for so long.

A reminder that I wrote about the dangers associated with Bezos’s WaPo, while musing on the historic Black press, circa 2024: theemancipator.org/2024/11/09/t...

I have family affected by today’s assault on the free press. What you don’t understand is how these institutions are being devalued, and the renaissance that will rise from the ashes of this conundrum.

Democracy dies in broad daylight.

“I’d encourage anyone who thinks that being silent, and they think that neutrality on human rights issues is going to save them, to think again.”- Some of my thoughts earlier this week…Via the National Association of Black Journalists/ Black Star Network “Not on Our Watch” town hall.

I kicked off BHM by centering the assault against Black journalists.Thanks to CNN,Victor Blackwell for the opportunity to join Sunday’s CNN This Morning panel. You can read more, watch the entire segment and get info on tonight’s @nabj townhall in today’s Fortify: open.substack.com/pub/nicolefc...

Last year I began to raise alarms about to potential for the federal government to start arresting journalists for doing our jobs,knowing that the historic Black press had faced this.Today, Don Lemon is in fed custody after a bogus arrest for bearing witness.Resharing from March 2025: bit.ly/45F4LH2

(CNN) - The fast-growing measles outbreak in South Carolina is now the largest in the United States since the disease was declared eliminated in this country more than two decades ago. @cnn.com www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/h...

This is not a new post. I wrote this newsletter almost a year ago. It’s about why it’s often so difficult for media to cover white supremacy. It’s leads with a a story about a fired (now REHIRED) ICE agent. Worth resharing today…: open.substack.com/pub/nicolefc...

This is constantly on my mind (and has always been on my mind as a mother of Black children)- The way that we function-or do not-for the love and protection of our children.

This morning feels like a good time to reshare a piece I wrote last year about ICE Enforcement, children and the “othering” of humanity that distorts our narratives. “What about the children now?” open.substack.com/pub/nicolefc...

The bats$&it racist rhetoric is a feature, not a bug. I’m not reposting that filth.

Grateful for this unexpected mention in the National Book Club Conference email blast. The great Walter Mosley is the featured author. And I’m the new author who’s just giving thanks for all the good things happening while we are in the midst of extreme chaos. Soon: nationalbookclubconference.com

1985 Atlanta: The Klan was burning crosses on Stone Mountain and in front of the AKA sorority house at Georgia Tech, following the King holiday. This was the year my AKA chapter was chartered. My first doc incl. this history has been selected for the 2026 Black History Film Festival: bit.ly/4qtNwko

ICE is holding Native Americans hostage as a bargaining chip to raid reservations, saying they won't release them until the tribes give up sovereignty. www.startribune.com/ice-detainin...

Watch what’s unfolding w the gov’t raid on a WaPo reporter’s home + remember this piece that I wrote last year.It covers a few ways the feds attempted to criminalize the historic Black press. Reminder: The human guardrails to protect these journalists are seemingly no longer in place: bit.ly/3NkLh4g

...in which I end the interview by saluting a few people I think are journalism badasses: @nickimayonews.bsky.social, @nicolefcarr.bsky.social, Jason Strother, and my fellow Boston journalist Meghan Irons.

More than half of Venezuelans identify as having African ancestry, the highest rate of the world’s Spanish-speaking nations. https://capitalbnews.org/us-attack-venezuela-afro-venezuelans/

Black people have been telling you. That’s it. That’s all.

Cooking with my 5502 Peruvian Spice blend from the National Museum of African American History and Culture. ✨ An escape before I return to writing amid the insanity.

Those of who said this years ago were labeled as alarmists or a tad bit insane, despite the evidence before us all…

We still haven’t gotten the investigative report that reveals these people’s identities. Let’s clearly label the illegitimate Army, white supremacists and trained LE, cause trust and believe, this ain’t it. This ain’t the normal F-ups we report on day in, day out.

I give plenty of historical references and context to this white lie in my forthcoming book, The Price of Exclusion. You can pre-order here, read, and wonder whether we’re examining text from 2026, 1926, or 1826: www.harpercollins.com/products/the...

110 new subscribers have joined the Fortify newsletter community in the past week. Thank you. Please enjoy the intersection of history, current events and Black storytellers as I prepare the first post of the new year. Read/Listen/Share/Subscribe: open.substack.com/pub/nicolefc...

You know what’s funny about Dokoupil? We’ve all worked with one. And we’ve all watch people elevate that one into some pseudo-intellectual class disguised as…objective, of good faith and smart.

GERMAN PRESIDENT STEINMEIER: “.. the United States has broken with the values that it helped to establish .. “.. we have now moved beyond the stage where we can lament the lack of respect for international law or the erosion of the international order; we are far beyond that, I believe.”

Our alma mater needs to stop legitimizing and honoring this man.

An afternoon offering: How should reporters cover law enforcement shooting civilians? @stacykess.bsky.social talks to two veteran journalists, @justinfenton.bsky.social and @nicolefcarr.bsky.social, for advice and perspective. the-word.news/2026/0108/la...

Given what we’ve witnessed over the past 6-9 months, it’s disingenuous to assume these folks are “legitimate” law enforcement, much less LE that’s being properly trained or ppl who concern themselves with protocol and the law.

Black people have been telling you. That’s it. That’s all.

I am going to kindly share, as a Black person used to dodging these types of things, if you have your settings set to autoplay video, today is a great day to turn them off. You can be very informed without having to witness murder.

1. Hundreds of corps that pledged to stop donating to members of Congress who voted to overturn the election on 1/6/21 have broken their promise over the last 5 years But we've identified 10 promise keepers: Farmers Airbnb Expedia Nike Clorox Eversource Energy Holland & Hart Qurate Whirlpool Lyft

Briefly logged onto FB only to find a news outlet that managed to illustrate a story about a majority White state’s youth literacy crisis with a photo of Black and Brown children. Make it make sense, Utah.

I'm putting together a piece about how much investigative journalism actually costs. If you are an investigative journalist and you're willing to share (not for attribution) what you make and how many hours (years!) you put in, my DMs are open. Estimates fine, just want to get a sense of it.

We will continue turning to our trusted, science-based healthcare providers for vaccine recommendations. Plugged into the @nationalmedassn.bsky.social …

Now is the time for you to turn away from some of these news outlets’ analyses/op-ed pages and READ/LISTEN TO INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HISTORY SCHOLARS.

Thanks to @americanstudier.bsky.social for including my Fortify newsletter & interview with UA’s Black student magazine founder in this week’s #SundayScholar threads.

I don’t ever want to hear a political party run on “law and order” again.

Hi! Are you doomscrolling? Do you have something fun planned today? Naps and trips to Costco count! If your job does not involve being on social media, I recommend logging off and doing something else. Lots of options, including reading a book, going to a museum and watching the gay hockey show. 🏒

Every single narrative about this foolishness needs to start with outlining the unchecked, illegal actions waged by this man in the White House. Every single narrative should include a basic civics lesson. Every single narrative ought warn against the imminent danger ahead if this continues.

What utter foolishness. America is going to show her @%* for her entire birthday year?

"The WFTU calls upon its members, the class-oriented and militant unions all over the globe to express the unwavering support to the people of Venezuela..." Statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions www.wftucentral.org/wftu-condemn...

In 2022, I turned down a CBS News correspondent job. In hindsight,that decision-one that made no sense to others at the time-was wrapped in discernment & a veil of protection. Heartbroken,angry for the good journalists who are still left in…whatever you want to call this. Get out as soon as you can.

My first book will be published in 2026.✨ I’d love for The Price of Exclusion to be a part of your personal library,book club or community convos.This project took me on quite a journey-from archives in Jamaica, Scotland,our HBCUs,to plantation owners’ wills,family papers ✨Pre-orders: bit.ly/4pj9i92

I’m so in love with my freedom. I’m so in love with freedom fighting. That’s all. Happy New Year. ✨