DID YOU KNOW….!? that despite making up 13% of the U.S. population, Black Americans account for over 24% of fatal police shootings? In this edition of our newsletter, we delve into the urgent need for police reform and accountability.

Mississippi Voting Boot Camp Empowers Black Women to Ignite Change at the Polls

The Black Women's Roundtable Organization in Mississippi hosted a "Power of the Sister Vote Boot Camp" to encourage black women to exercise their right to vote. 🗳️ Despite a high number of black Mississippians being registered to vote, only 42% actually participate in elections. 😮 The boot camp aimed to mobilize more people, particularly black women, to take action and participate in the upcoming election. 💪 The event sparked important conversations surrounding voting and registration, and sought to emphasize the power of black women as voices for change and empowerment. 👩🏾‍⚖️ With black voters expected to account for 14% of the vote this year, the voting boot camp was seen as a critical measure to encourage and inspire black women to vote. 🙌

Highlights:

• ⚡ Black Women's Roundtable Organization hosts "Power of the Sister Vote Boot Camp"
• 🗳️ Aims to encourage black women to exercise their right to vote
• 😮 Despite high voter registration, only 42% of black Mississippians participate in elections
• 💪 Boot camp seeks to mobilize more people, especially black women, to take action
• 👩🏾‍⚖️ Emphasizes the power of black women as voices for change and empowerment
• 🗳️ Black voters expected to account for 14% of the vote this year

Politics & Inclusion's Annual Dinner Celebrates Journalists and Sparks Community-Building Magic!

🎉 The Politics & Inclusion's 3rd Annual Dinner celebrated journalists of color and built a strong community in Washington, D.C. 🌟 

Highlights from the event:
• Esteemed journalists and rising stars came together for an exclusive dinner during the White House Correspondents' Association Weekend 🤝 
• The evening kicked off with a private reception featuring signature cocktails 🍸
• A three-course meal by chef Nick Stefanelli was enjoyed amidst the ambiance of smooth jazz tunes 🎵 
• Notable guests included Abby Phillip, Eugene Daniels, Elaine Welteroth, and April Ryan 🌟 
• Sponsors like Walmart, Fenton, Pinterest, and Moët Hennessey USA supported the event to promote diversity and excellence within the journalistic community 🙌 
• Attendees praised the dinner for providing a space to connect, uplift, and celebrate journalists of color 👏 

Overall, the Politics & Inclusion's Annual Dinner created an exciting and supportive atmosphere for journalists, truly making it a night to remember. 🎊

Breaking the Chains: Black US Citizens Gain Voting Rights in Historic 15th Amendment

The 15th amendment to the United States Constitution, passed in 1870, granted African Americans the right to vote ✅, marking an important milestone in the erosion of racist behavior in the US. However, this right did not apply in the southern states, and it was not until the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that discriminatory practices were finally eliminated. Prior to the 15th amendment, the First Reconstruction Act was passed, dividing the South into military districts and establishing universal suffrage. With the adoption of the 15th amendment, African Americans joined forces with white allies to elect the Republican Party to power. By the end of 1870, all former Confederate states had been accepted back into the Union and were largely controlled by the Republican Party with the support of black voters. However, in the late 1870s, Republican power in the South waned and discriminatory practices, such as poll taxes and literacy tests, intensified. The 1965 Voting Rights Act aimed to overcome these legal barriers and empower African Americans to exercise their right to vote. ✊🗳️

Highlights:
• The 15th amendment granted African Americans the right to vote in 1870 ✅
• The right to vote did not apply in the southern states ❌
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminated discriminatory practices ✅
• The passage of the First Reconstruction Act preceded the 15th amendment 📜
• The Republican Party gained power in the South thanks to the support of black voters 🐘👥
• Discriminatory practices intensified in the late 1870s ⚖️❌
• The Voting Rights Act aimed to remove barriers to voting for African Americans ✊🔓

Trump's Big Promises: Will He Actually Flip Black and Latino Voters?

Former President Donald Trump has promised to make big plans to attract Black and Latino voters, but 🚫👀 five months before the general election, his campaign has made little progress. The campaign has removed its point person for coalitions and has yet to announce a replacement. The Republican Party's minority outreach offices have been closed and replaced by unrelated businesses. Campaign officials admit that they are weeks away from unveiling any targeted programs. Many Republicans on the ground are frustrated, believing that Trump could 👥 make headway with voters of color. However, there are signs that the party does not have a cohesive engagement plan for Black communities. Trump's team insists that the campaign will improve its standing with voters of color, pointing to the president's record and his ability to win over voters who have traditionally not supported Republicans. 📈✨

Kamala Harris Shifts Strategy, Appeals to Black Votes with New Economic Focus in Georgia

Vice President Kamala Harris is shaking up her approach to the Black community and making the economy the focal point of a visit to Georgia on Monday that kicks off a multi-state tour. 👩🏽‍💼💼

Harris heads to the battleground state to make an urgent case to voters who delivered a surprise victory in Georgia for Biden that he'll ease their everyday costs if he wins reelection. It’s part of a concerted effort by the White House to win back disappointed Americans by putting kitchen table issues at the front of the president's agenda. 🗳️🏛️

Biden's support from Black voters is experiencing significant attrition. Much of it coming from Black men. He trails presumptive GOP nominee and former President Donald Trump in a handful of battleground states, including Georgia. An April survey showed him eight points down in the swing state that he beat Trump in nearly four years ago. Georgia voters say the economy is their top concern in the 2024 presidential election, and just 29% say the economy is on the right track. 💔💼

Harris' job approval rating is also upside down with voters. She had a 52% disapproval rating nationally in a USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll in March. A bare majority of Black voters, 51%, approved in the same poll. Her overall support from voters was similar in Georgia, when 38% of the state's voters said they had a favorable view of her and 53% said they did not. 📊🤷🏽‍♀️

Her visit to Atlanta includes moderated conversation that Harris will use to draw attention to actions the Biden administration has taken to increase Black entrepreneur's access to capital, lower housing costs, and lessen college debt and medical bills. While in Atlanta, the vice president will sit down with hosts of the business and finance podcast Earn Your Leisure. She'll get a boost from Georgia's Senators, Congressional Black Caucus Chairman, and state party chair. 💬🔥💼

Biden Faces Opposition from Black Americans Over Funding Israel's Offensive in Gaza

🔥 Many Black Americans oppose the Biden administration's funding of Israel's offensive in Gaza, and their perspective is shaped by the bias and racism they have experienced throughout history. 👥 College-aged Black youth, in particular, see themselves and their ancestors in the plight of the Palestinians. They have grown up witnessing the racial bias of the criminal justice system and the injustices that the Black community has faced. 😔 Additionally, a survey conducted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace found that 95% of Black people reject the idea of offering "unwavering support" to Israel. 🚫 This may be influenced by the history of government-sanctioned land grabs and discrimination that Black Americans have experienced. As a result, many Black Americans are skeptical of the narratives surrounding the conflict in Gaza and find it difficult to accept what they are told about the war. 💔 This war may become a significant factor in the political landscape, as young people and African Americans have differing views on foreign policy, and their opposition to the war may impact their support for the Democratic Party in November. 🗳️💥

Breaking Barriers and Leading the Way: Women Rise to Prominence in America's Black Church

More women are seeking leadership roles in America's Black Church, but they are facing challenges and obstacles within the patriarchal structure of the church. 💪🏾 Despite progress being made in some denominations, male pastors still predominate in the Black Church, and less than one in 10 Black Protestant congregations are led by a woman. Social media has provided a platform for women to speak up and share their experiences of discrimination. The recent case of Rev. Gina Stewart, who preached the keynote sermon at the Joint National Baptist Convention but had her sermon removed from the convention's Facebook page and accusations made that her closing remarks were edited, highlights the continued struggle for women's equality in ministry. 🚫🙅🏾‍♀️ Women pastors are calling for greater support and opportunities from the Black Church, and hope to break down barriers for future generations. 🙌🏾✊🏾

Trump Amps Up Campaign with Hip-Hop and Athlete Endorsements at Huge Madison Square Garden Event!

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly planning a massive campaign event at Madison Square Garden in New York City, featuring black hip-hop artists and athletes, in an effort to secure black and Latino votes. 🎤🎭 Trump's team is in talks with black leaders, small-business owners, famous athletes, and hip-hop artists who have expressed openness to supporting the former president publicly and privately. 🗣️💪 Many hip-hop artists, including Kanye West and Lil Pump, have previously voiced support for Trump 👍. Trump's strategy to appeal to minority voters through hip-hop and athlete endorsements has been met with criticism, with Biden's campaign director of Black media calling it a "fraud" ❌. However, Trump's team hopes that this outreach effort will help him gain the support needed to win the 2024 presidential election. 🏆📅

The Shadow War: How Voting Rights Lawsuits Could Impact Biden's Re-election

The 2024 election could be determined by voting rights lawsuits between Republicans and Democrats that seek to restrict or expand ballot access in key swing states. Media outlets have been preoccupied with the narrative that disaffected liberal voters, particularly Black voters, are the biggest roadblock to President Joe Biden's re-election. However, voter disenfranchisement through voter suppression tactics is likely a greater obstacle. The Republican National Committee has filed election-related lawsuits in nearly half of the states, targeting various aspects of voting and election administration. These lawsuits are useful for campaign messaging, fundraising, and raising doubts about the validity of the election. Republicans have focused on voter ID rules, mail ballots, and voter roll maintenance as part of their suppression tactics, which disproportionately impact nonwhite voters. Media outlets should pay more attention to these efforts and the evidence of voter suppression instead of downplaying its significance. By prioritizing the narrative of disaffected voters, the media is legitimizing voter suppression and implying that it's the fault of the Democrats if they can't overcome it.

🗳️💼🚫 The 2024 election could hinge on voting rights lawsuits between Republicans and Democrats.
🗳️📰 Media outlets are focused on disaffected voters, but voter disenfranchisement is a greater obstacle.
🗳️🔒 Republican lawsuits target voter ID rules, mail ballots, and voter roll maintenance.
🗳️📊 Media should give more attention to voter suppression efforts.
🗳️👥 Prioritizing disaffected voters downplays the impact of voter suppression.
🗳️💔 Let's shed light on the shadow war of voter disenfranchisement.

AP African American Studies: An Engaging and Transformative Course or Leftist Propaganda?

A new Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course has garnered attention and sparked debate across the U.S. 📚 The course, currently in pilot mode, covers four units on the history of African Americans from ancient civilizations to modern-day movements. Although it has drawn praise for its transformative impact on students, it has also been met with restrictions in Florida and Arkansas due to concerns about its alleged leftist propaganda and impact on white children. Nonetheless, the course has gained popularity, especially among Black students who have traditionally participated in AP classes at lower rates. Around 13,000 students in 42 states and Washington, D.C., will be eligible to take the AP African American Studies test in mid-May. Overall, students and teachers describe the course as accessible, resonant, and valuable, broadening their knowledge of African American history and instilling hope for the future. ✨🌍💪

Systemic Racism and Politics Leave Black Expectant Mothers Without Access to Vital Health Care

Black expectant mothers in the United States are facing significant barriers to accessing the healthcare they need, due to systemic racism and politics. Black women often experience sub-standard healthcare or have difficulty accessing treatment at all. They may be denied preventive or basic primary care, which can lead to undetected health conditions and potentially dangerous complications during pregnancy. 👩‍⚕️🛡️

Black pregnant women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes compared to white women. The issue is exacerbated by the fact that the United States is the only industrialized country where the maternal mortality rate is increasing. 😢📈

The Biden administration has designated Black Maternal Health Week to raise awareness of these issues, but more sustained efforts are needed. Lawmakers in several Midwestern states are working to pass legislation to improve maternal health outcomes for Black women. However, the work to address systemic racism and prioritize maternal healthcare cannot be left solely to organizations and funding institutions. 💪💔

It requires a collective effort, including from anti-abortion and pro-life supporters who claim to prioritize the well-being of both mothers and babies. The disconnect between advocating for the unborn while neglecting maternal health care may be rooted in systemic racism and partisan politics. 🌍🤝

To address this issue, long-term solutions that address racial disparities and prioritize the health of Black mothers and their babies are necessary. 👩‍⚖️🤰👶✨