If ever something in the US doesn't make sense, chances are it's because of racism, capitalism, or both. This week's big topic is reproductive rights. We also have the centenarian Tulsa survivors still fighting for justice 101 years later.
The Skinny on COVID
The latest in numbers: 82M total cases & 996K total deaths (+493K & +3K from last week) in the US.
The headlines:
We’ve seen end of year surges play out twice now, so the government is raising an early flag about what fall and winter 2022 could look like.
New estimates say 15M people have died worldwide as a result of the coronavirus since 2020.
China is cracking down even more as its zero-COVID policy proves its no match for the latest surge in cases.
It All Ties Back to Race
By now, everyone is aware of the draft opinion that leaked of the SCOTUS’ intention to overturn Roe v. Wade. The ruling, if released as final, would remove federal protection for abortions and give states the power to determine the procedure’s legality. Trigger laws that would automatically restrict access once Roe is officially overturned are already set across 13 states. Some states aim to take it even further by moving to ban Plan B and IUDs. The draft opinion is just that for now, but it’s unlikely any anti-choice Justices will change their votes.
Important to note: the religious right didn’t come together in opposing abortion until they realized they could no longer oppose school integration. Considering low-income Black and Brown women are more likely to get abortions, their core issue is still deeply rooted in race, class and capitalism.
Also, to the Black women organizers who’ve been anticipating the end of Roe and still plan to find solutions to ensure this need is met in the face of America’s bullshit…our gratitude for you is endless.
Keeping Up with Biden & Harris
Tomorrow, the POTUS will speak on inflation and will attempt to make a contrast between his plans to address the issue and those of the GOP.
Black history was made at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. last week. Karine Jean-Pierre was named the new Press Secretary, making her the first Black woman to address the nation on behalf of a president in 30 years and also the first Black woman to have the title of Press Secretary ever.
Another politician too scared (and unconcerned) to visit Black communities in times of unrest just visited Ukraine: First Lady Jill Biden.
Here are 3 proposals Biden can take if he’s really about that canceling-student-loans life. BTW, Black students have more student loan debt than white ones. Don’t let nobody (aka right-wing talking points) convince you that canceling student loan debt is akin to bailing out the wealthy & affluent.
Congress, What’s Good?
In the face of the SCOTUS’ ruling, Democrats are trying to codify access to safe abortions. The House passed a bill last year, but it failed in the Senate (Hey, Joe Manchin). Can they get something done this time? Prolly not if Mitch McConnell has anything to say about it.
Speaking of Manchin, people close to the West Virginia Senator say he’s open to passing parts of his party’s agenda, but only if his colleagues write bills based on his demands. LOL. Personally, we don’t believe him. He needs more people.
Oh…a highlight from one of Congress’ hearings last week…Chris Smalls, the man instrumental in forming the first labor union for Amazon employees, went in front of the Senate as his full self: rocking a Yankees fitted, a grill & telling it like it is.
Coming up in committee meetings:
Stopping wage theft and recovering stolen wages for workers
Expanding economic opportunity for “left-behind” communities
Election Watch: 2022 Midterms
States with primary elections tomorrow: Nebraska and West Virginia. Got cousins that live in either one of these states? Make sure they’re aware of what they need before hitting the polls.
New voter laws taking aim at absentee ballot drop boxes and third party voter registration are allowed to proceed in Florida.
Do Dems have an advantage now that Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned?
Keep ya guard up and ya sense common this election season: Misinformation targeting Black voters might be even worse this year.
Social Justice Round Up
Brittney Griner, the WNBA star that was arrested by Russian officials 3 months ago, has just been classified as “wrongfully detained” by the US government. This means that they will now put effort into getting her home.
The 3 remaining survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre can proceed with their lawsuit that seeks reparations for themselves and descendants of those who were killed or otherwise injured by the 1921 event.
Derek Chauvin, the officer who murdered George Floyd, has been sentenced to 20-25 years in prison by a federal judge. He will serve this time concurrently with the 22.5 year sentence he received at the state level last year.
Around the Diaspora
Ethiopians living in the war-torn Tigray region were surveyed about their living conditions since their civil war started in November 2020. A 106% increase in food insecurity, supply chain disruptions, and reduced purchasing power for households were among the findings.
To combat the impact of increasingly more severe weather, Dominica is building climate-resilient communities for low- and middle-income families.
Apparently British citizenship still doesn’t protect you from the threat of deportation if you’re Black. Ain’t that some shit.
Getting to the Money
Passionate about increasing the net worth of Black families, The Fifteen Percent Pledge works with companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices. Check out their job board today to find roles across marketing, HR, merchandising, and sales
Buying Black
Because we never know when we may have to spring into action and save a loved one’s life, CPRWrap offers a tool that makes it easier for non-medical professionals to perform CPR. They come in different sizes for adults, children & infants, so there’s no excuse to be caught in these streets without one.
Culture that Pops
Meet the 19 year old who will soon be the youngest Black person to graduate from law school.
Chicago rapper Lil Durk is making sure young people in his hometown have access to HBCU tours & career readiness resources.
An anonymous donor paid off the student loan debts for graduating class of 2022 at Wiley College, an HBCU in East Texas. We love to see it.