Essence Magazine:
By Rayna Reid Rayford ·Updated March 20, 2024
On Tuesday, a federal judge sentenced two former Mississippi police officers, who were members of the self-titled “Goon Squad,” for torturing two Black men last year.
Ex-sheriff’s deputies Hunter Elward and Jeffrey Middleton, who are both white, pled guilty along with four other “Goon Squad” members, “former Rankin County deputies Brett McAlpin, Christian Dedmon and Daniel Opdyke, as well as former Richland police officer Joshua
Essence Magazine:
By Melissa Noel ·Updated March 20, 2024
The Hampden County District Attorney’s Office in western Massachusetts has brought charges against six middle school students following allegations of race-based bullying.
According to prosecutors, led by District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, the students were eighth graders at Southwick Regional School and allegedly involved in conducting mock slave auctions on Snapchat, where white students could bid in two Black classmates, CBS News reports.
The students are accused of
Essence Magazine:
Kentucky State Capitol Timothy D. Easley / AP file By Melissa Noel ·Updated March 19, 2024
The Kentucky House has voted to defund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices at public universities. The decision followed a contentious debate about the role of such initiatives in supporting underrepresented students and fostering inclusive environments on campuses, according to NBC News.
The bill, which passed by a significant margin of 68-18, reflects a broader Republican campaign
Essence Magazine:
Win McNamee / Staff / Getty Images By Rayna Reid Rayford ·Updated March 19, 2024
The Virginia state legislature has given the stamp of approval to create a statewide commission that will investigate how the state’s public higher education institutions displaced Black communities.
In addition, the city of Newport News, Va. and Christopher Newport University (CNU) “are creating a joint task force to reexamine the destruction of a Black neighborhood to make way
Essence Magazine:
By Melissa Noel ·Updated March 19, 2024
A Georgia doctor who was sued by a couple for allegedly posting videos of their decapitated newborn baby on social media has been found liable for his actions by the court.
Dr. Jackson Gates and his medical practice, Medical Diagnostic Choices, were found liable for intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, and fraud in a civil suit filed by Jessica Ross and Treveon Isaiah Taylor
Essence Magazine:
By Rayna Reid Rayford ·Updated March 18, 2024
In her new book, “Imagine Freedom: Transforming Pain into Political and Spiritual Power,” award-winning journalist Rahiel Tesfamariam tackles how Black Americans can fight for social justice while avoiding burnout, anxiety, and depression.
Tesfamariam told ESSENCE she knew she was going to write a book for the past 18 years, but became inspired after arel=”tag”>black books
Essence Magazine:
By Rayna Reid Rayford ·Updated March 18, 2024
In 1971, when she was only 17-years-old, Cheryl White made history as “the first licensed Black female jockey” in America.
Just before she died of a heart attack in 2019, White told a reporter “I just wanted those gates to open.” Even though White was referring to the starting gates, throughout the course of her career, she opened many gates for the Black jockeys who
Essence Magazine:
(Photo by Steve Parsons/PA Images via Getty Images) By Melissa Noel ·Updated March 18, 2024
A major donor to Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, The Tory Party, is facing backlash because of shocking comments he made stating that a Black member of Parliament made him “want to hate all Black women” and that she “should be shot.”
Frank Hester, chief executive of healthcare software firm The Phoenix Partnership, made the remarks about Diane Abbott,