DID YOU KNOW….!?Despite advancements in healthcare, the maternal mortality rate for Black women is three times higher than that of white women. Join us as we shine a light on this disparity and advocate for improved maternal healthcare access and outcomes.

Anita Arnold: Opening Doors and Sharing the Rich History of Oklahoma's Black Community

Anita Arnold, the executive director of the Black Liberated Arts Center in Oklahoma City, is working to share the history and heritage of African Americans in the state. She wants people to know about notable figures like Charlie Christian, a legendary jazz guitarist from Oklahoma. Arnold herself had a successful career in the business world and opened doors for African Americans in employment. She worked for Western Electric and AT&T before moving into management roles. Arnold was also part of the team that ensured fair treatment for African Americans during the break-up of AT&T in the 1980s. Despite Oklahoma's history of racial violence, Arnold believes that the state's African American history is rich and something to be celebrated. She believes that more doors need to be opened for African Americans in all aspects of society, but acknowledges that there is still hesitancy and resistance in some quarters. Overall, Arnold encourages people to embrace and learn from African American culture as part of Oklahoma's history.

NAACP Demands Justice for Black Man's Death: 'I Can't Breathe' Tragedy Sparks Federal Investigation

The NAACP has called for a federal investigation into the death of a Black man who died after repeatedly telling police officers he couldn’t breathe as they arrested him. Frank Tyson was confronted by Ohio police officers at a bar on April 18 and died shortly after. The NAACP has written a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting an investigation, stating that without federal intervention, the officers may not be held accountable for their actions. Tyson’s death is reminiscent of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, who also told officers “I can’t breathe” during his arrest. A video of the encounter shows the officers placing their knee on Tyson’s upper body as he is handcuffed. Despite Tyson’s protests, the officers do not appear to react. Tyson was eventually pronounced dead at the hospital.

The Oldest President Faces Trouble: Youth Voters and the Gender Gap Threaten Biden

According to an opinion piece in The New York Times, young voters aged 18 to 29 will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the Biden-Trump rematch. While young voters heavily supported Biden in the previous election, recent polls suggest that his support among Gen Z voters has declined, with Trump even leading in some surveys. One key factor for this decline is the emergence of a substantial gender gap among young voters, with young men less likely to support Biden than young women. Reasons for this shift include a lack of support for Biden's stance on reproductive health and abortion, differences in style and respect, and frustration with the economy. The article suggests that Biden's support among young voters has also been affected by his stance on the Israeli attack on Hamas in Gaza. Overall, these trends highlight challenges for Biden in winning over young voters in future elections.

Justin Pearson Urges Black Voters to Save the Country from Becoming Unrecognizable

Tennessee Rep. Justin Pearson spoke at the Caucus of African American Leaders’ 2024 Energy Summit, urging Black citizens to engage in this year's elections. He emphasized the importance of being conscious of the world, the environment, and the democracy that will be left behind. The event provided a platform for U.S. House and Senate candidates to discuss the impact of climate crises on vulnerable communities. Pearson's address served as a rallying cry to save the country from becoming unrecognizable. The Maryland U.S. Senate race is highly contested, with the last-minute addition of former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan placing greater scrutiny on the Democratic candidates. Three candidates, U.S. Rep. David Trone, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, and Marcellus Crews, discussed environmental and economic injustice, with all three supporting accessible healthcare and building upon climate initiatives. Despite their similar views on many issues, the candidates differentiated themselves based on their backgrounds and experience.

Generation Gap Divides Black Voters: Younger Generation Shows Less Motivation to Vote

The generation gap between older and younger Black voters is dividing the Democratic Party's voter base ahead of the November election. Older Black voters, who lived through the Civil Rights Movement, are more motivated to vote and support Democrats, while younger Black voters are expressing disenchantment with the party and feel less motivated to cast a ballot. Some of the reasons for the divide include broken campaign promises, the high cost of living, and the perception that their lives have not improved under President Biden. There is also a rightward shift among nonwhite voters, particularly young men of color, which is concerning for the Biden campaign. To address this gap, Democrats are increasing direct contact with young Black voters, running targeted ads, and enlisting celebrities and local Black elected officials as surrogates. However, there is a need for a more nuanced and informative approach to reach young voters.

• Younger Black voters are expressing less motivation to vote or support Democrats
• Some reasons for this include broken campaign promises and a perception that their lives have not improved under Biden
• There is also a rightward shift among nonwhite voters, particularly young men of color
• Democrats are increasing direct contact with young Black voters, running targeted ads, and enlisting celebrities and local Black elected officials as surrogates
• However, a more nuanced and informative approach is needed to reach young voters.

Federal Court Ruling Knocks Democrats' Plans for New Black-Majority Louisiana Seat off Course

A federal court ruling has thrown a new black-majority Louisiana seat into limbo, disrupting Democrats' plans for picking up new black majority seats in the state. The ruling struck down the new congressional map that Louisiana's legislature had passed earlier this year to comply with the Voting Rights Act. This is the second time in two years that a Louisiana map has been struck down on racial grounds. The Supreme Court had previously ruled that additional black opportunity seats needed to be drawn, but the current panel of judges ruled in favor of a group of white voters, creating considerable uncertainty for Louisiana's upcoming elections in six months.

Highlights from the article include:

• Federal court ruling throws new black-majority Louisiana seat into uncertainty.
• Louisiana's congressional map was struck down for failing to comply with the Voting Rights Act.
• This is the second time in two years a Louisiana map has been struck down on racial grounds.
• Supreme Court ruling on additional black opportunity seats is in contrast to the current panel of judges' ruling in favor of white voters.

Biden's Political Calculations: Votes Take Priority Over Saving Lives

In a move that prioritizes votes over the health of black Americans, the Biden administration is delaying the ban on menthol cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a plan to ban menthol cigarettes, which are smoked by around 80% of black smokers, as it masks the harshness of smoking and makes it easier to start and harder to quit. Despite the potential to prevent hundreds of thousands of smoking-related deaths, the Biden administration is postponing the ban in order to not upset black voters ahead of the November election. This decision shows that Biden cares more about getting votes than saving lives. Black voters have historically been loyal to the Democratic Party, but recent polls suggest that Biden is losing support among black men in swing states. This delay in the ban on menthol cigarettes is seen as a political move to maintain Democratic votes, including from African Americans who smoke menthol cigarettes.

Maryland Democrat David Trone Faces Backlash for Controversial Ad Targeting Black Rival

Maryland Democrat David Trone has pulled a campaign ad after receiving backlash from black voters. The ad, which targeted Trone's Senate primary rival Angela Alsobrooks, featured a black supporter saying, "The U.S. Senate is not a place for training wheels." This phrase sparked outrage among black women, who argued that it was racist and misogynistic. In response to the criticism, Trone's campaign pulled the ad and replaced it with one that did not include the controversial statement. Trone had previously faced accusations of racism in March when he used an offensive racial slur during a hearing. He issued an apology for his choice of words.

Biden Urged to Take Bold Action on Reparations to Secure Black Voter Support

Recent polls show that Joe Biden is losing support among black voters in swing states. In an effort to boost black voter turnout, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee is urging Biden to issue executive orders on reparations. The pro-reparations group, The Earn the Black Vote Collaborative, conducted a poll that showed many black voters in swing states are supportive of Biden signing an executive order to create a Reparations Commission and address the impact of slavery. With executive orders already issued to forgive college debt and the push for executive orders on reparations, it wouldn't be surprising if Biden also tried to increase government debt to further solidify his support. However, it's worth noting that Jackson Lee has a controversial history and has been accused of mistreating her staff. This latest move to support reparations may not be the best choice for the face of the movement.

Black Voters Matter Wins 2024 Progressive Champion Award for Protecting Voting Rights

Black Voters Matter, a nonprofit focused on protecting voting rights for Black communities, has been awarded the 2024 Progressive Champion Award by the American Constitution Society (ACS). The organization, founded by LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright in 2016, aims to empower marginalized communities and ensure equal representation in the political process. Black Voters Matter not only focuses on voter registration and get out the vote efforts, but also engages in issue-based campaigns, voter education, and policy advocacy. The organization has been recognized for its work in expanding early voting, resisting voter ID laws, and strengthening voting rights. The Progressive Champion Award recognizes Black Voters Matter's efforts to empower communities that are often denied their right to vote and shut out of the political process. ACS President Russ Feingold highlighted the organization's work in hostile voting rights environments and its commitment to engage with overlooked communities. LaTosha Brown will accept the award on behalf of Black Voters Matter at the ACS 2024 National Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.

Solidarity with Palestinians: Black Americans Speak Out Amid Israel-Hamas War

A recent survey conducted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace shows that an increasing number of Black Americans feel a sense of solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas war. The survey revealed that 45% of Black Americans feel "connected" to Palestinians, up from 32% in a previous survey. Many Black Americans draw parallels between the racial discrimination and oppression experienced by Black people in the United States and the experiences of Palestinians. Advocates have called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and have criticized both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden for their roles in the conflict. The survey also found that 68% of Black Americans want to see a ceasefire, and 59% believe that U.S. military aid should be conditional on Israel meeting human rights standards. While Black Americans' support for Palestine could pose challenges for Biden's reelection campaign, the survey also revealed that opinions of Biden among Black Americans remain largely unchanged.

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