Tracie McMillan’s new book, The White Bonus: Five Families and the Cash Value of Racism in America, out now, traces how white people have been helped and harmed by policies that punished Black people.  “The ‘White bonus’ is an estimate of the money a White person gets or saves because of White supremacy, public policies, or private practice,” she told CNN in an extensive interview. “For me, this was a really humbling exercise.” McMillan continued, “I’ve been on food stamps and had a stranger live in the bedroom of my one-bedroom apartment to save rent through those periods. But at the en ..read more

According to a recent study by the University of Michigan Poverty Solutions, Black homeowners in Detroit saw the value of their homes increase by $2.8 billion from 2014-2022. These numbers drove the city’s overall increase in the overall value of owner-occupied homes from $4.2 billion in 2014 to $8.1 billion in 2022, a 94% increase.  While the report’s numbers are positive in the context of Detroit’s recovery from its 2014 bankruptcy, the conclusion does caution that the increase in home values could prove problematic for renters and the potential for some homeowners to get priced out of ..read more

April 20 is the unofficial holiday for marijuana, and although marijuana is enjoying a more mainstream profile, there are some stark pay disparities on display in the industry. Sales of cannabis are expected to hit $31 billion by the end of 2024, but the exponential growth comes with growing pains.  “As an industry, we are struggling—we are in dire need of a regulatory overhaul to prevent more cannabis small business owners from closing their doors and laying off their workers,” Truman Bradley, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group, told Business Insider in 2023.  A year ..read more

Nikkolas Smith is an engineer, artivist, and businessman. Serving as a witness to the active and immediate fight for democracy, Palestinian genocide, and police brutality—by way of video—can be exhausting and defeating. Luckily, art exists as a balance, infusing light in dark places. Whatever medium chosen—music, television, books, pottery, or any other form of expression—art provides a soothing balm to harsh mental wounds. Other times, art serves as the medium in which people express displeasure at societal woes.  Smith finds a way to combine personal expression, joy, and activism while ..read more

John Legend firmly believes that Donald Trump is racist “to his core” and cites examples of the former Commander-In-Chief treating Black people as “inferior.” The EGOT award-winning singer spoke with MSNBC’s Jen Psaki on Sunday, April 21, where he unloaded on Trump for being a “racist” and highlighted past instances where he showed his alleged bigotry. “When we protested the killing of George Floyd, he was advocating for the military to shoot us in the streets,” Legend said. “He has made it clear throughout his life that he believes Black people are inferior. Like, he believes that, to his co ..read more

A popular convenience store is being sued by federal officials after being accused of discriminating against minority job applicants. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed suit on April 17 — the same day President Joe Biden dropped into a western-Pennslyvania location — in Baltimore, against Sheetz Inc. and two subsidiary companies. The suit alleges the company’s hiring policy has a disproportionate impact on minority applicants and potentially violates federal civil rights law. Sheetz Inc. allegedly discriminated against Black, Native American, and ethnic job applicants by ..read more

A tragic incident left a 15-year-old girl with a fractured skull, among other injuries, after she was attacked by a 25-year-old man who assaulted her at a St. Louis McDonald’s where the teenager worked. According to The New York Post, the young girl, Aryiah Lynch, was recovering in the hospital after the suspect, Johnny Ricks, allegedly attacked her when he dragged her by her hair and repeatedly stomped on her head after pulling her across the McDonald’s parking lot. The incident took place on April 8. Ricks, who has a lengthy criminal history, has been charged with felony assault and property ..read more

United Talent Agency (UTA) now represents Jackie Aina, a longstanding beauty and lifestyle content creator. The luxury influencer started on social media in 2009. Variety confirmed the new deal for the internet personality on April 22. Known for her signature of “Lavishly Jackie,” the Nigerian-American woman boasts over 10 million followers through her social media accounts. Aina first became known for her makeup tutorials, and later using her voice to advocate for inclusivity in shade ranges for skin products. Aina’s unabashed approach to make-up, and critiques of makeup brands, made her a do ..read more

In 2023, former Marine Charlie Griffin and his daughter, Carly, started a community service-based scholarship for students in Northeast Florida who want to attend an HBCU and study in the STEM field. Initially, the pair started the fund off at $10,000 but increased the number of scholarships as well as expanded the applicant pool to include undergraduate students who are enrolled.  As First Coast News reported, the fund is now worth $50,000, and the community service aspect of the scholarship’s requirements is something that resonates deeply with Charlie, who pays for the meals of the Jac ..read more

Business in North Carolina is finally bouncing back after taking a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that’s in large part due to the growth of Black-owned businesses in Raleigh.   According to a report from the Office of the North Carolina Secretary of State, NC has added nearly 15,000 new businesses in 2024. The Flavor Hills Restaurant and Bar is one of almost 40 Black-owned businesses in the capital city’s downtown area and is slowly becoming a visitor favorite. Owner Chef Morgan Teianne and her three partners opened their second location in the heart of the home of Shaw Univer ..read more