It’s over. The longest government shutdown in history — and one that disproportionately impacted Black Americans — formally ended Wednesday after a handful of Democratic senators broke ranks with the party to advance a deal. The Senate passed the measure on Monday, and the House followed on Wednesday; President Donald Trump signed the funding bill late […]
Economy
Posted inEconomy, Employment, Politics & Policy
Employment and Health Care Take Center Stage in Virginia Governor’s Race
ARLINGTON, Va. — Sequoia Ross was stunned when she saw the price of groceries during a recent trip to the store. Items ought to be more affordable, said the single mother of four and eighth grade English teacher, who lives in Amelia County, located in Virginia’s Richmond metropolitan area. “And I don’t mean through stipends […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment, Economy
Hollywood South Is Hurting: Georgia’s Film Industry Weathers a Brutal Downturn
Atlanta has long been the scene where Black creatives could thrive both behind and in front of the camera. Since the 1970s, when then-Gov. Jimmy Carter launched the Georgia Film Office, the opening of Tyler Perry studios and other large-scale production facilities over the past twenty years, and a favorable film tax credit, the state […]
Posted inEconomy
U.S. District Judge Blocks Lisa Cook’s Removal From the Federal Reserve
A federal district court judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the removal of Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors. Last month, Cook came under fire from President Donald Trump in a social media post alleging that she committed mortgage fraud. While Cook has not officially been charged with any crimes, he called for […]
Posted inBlack Businesses, Black Farmers, Economy, Politics & Policy
Black-Owned Businesses Confront Rising Costs Amid Trump’s Tariffs
Sweeping tariffs took effect Thursday, and while President Donald Trump has said the tariffs would lead to factories and jobs moving back to the United States, for Black Americans and small-business owners, it is not that simple. Prices are expected to dramatically rise for clothing and shoes; electronics like cellphones and computers; cars and auto […]
Posted inBlack Businesses, Economy, Partner Content
For Black Women, Seeds of Wealth Start With Homeownership
After she moved into her first apartment in 2021, a one-bedroom unit in East Baltimore, Saj Dillard realized her rent wouldn’t have gotten her much once her lease ended. The recent college graduate wanted to grow her capital, build wealth and have the chance to own something. So, she set a goal for herself — […]
Posted inEconomy, Employment, Money, Partner Content
Black Women’s Unemployment Is Rising. Economists Say It’s a Warning Sign.
Originally published by The 19th Unemployment rates over the past year have remained largely steady for every group of workers but one: Black women, whose unemployment rates have been rising. For the past three months that increase has been even more pronounced, with Black women’s unemployment rate hovering at 6 percent — twice the rate […]
Posted inEconomy, Elections, Politics & Policy
PG County Has Long Been a Bastion of Black Wealth. Now It Faces an Uncertain Economic Future.
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. — As a special education teacher, Ivan Johnson can’t stop worrying about what might lie in store for his students. President Donald Trump has long vowed to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Though he says that his administration won’t slash funds for students with disabilities, teachers and advocates worry that […]
Posted inEconomy, Politics & Policy
Energy Costs Are Soaring. Trump’s Tariff War Could Make It Even Worse.
Raya Salter remembers the yells as a child when she asked her mother to turn up the heat in the winter: “Put on a sweater. Put on two sweaters. Here’s an extra blanket. That’s gonna make it work because the heat is not going up.” For decades, many Black households have had to make those […]
Posted inEconomy, Environmental Justice
The Costs of America’s EV Dreams
This week, Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to visit the West African nation of Angola, where he spoke of “our nation’s original sin.” About 25% of all enslaved Africans who arrived in the U.S. came from Angola, which is more than any other African region. But outside of the acknowledgement of America’s past […]