Black unemployment rate improves amid historic Jobs Report

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent America – and most notably Black America – is back to work, declared President Joe Biden as he announced one of the most robust job reports in modern times. “History has been made here,” the president declared. The economy created 467,000 jobs in January, and the […]
Black Businesses Continue to Face Down the Pandemic

By: Gregory Smith, Howard University News Service During the pandemic, Black businesses have faced challenges. Some were forced to close or nearly shut down, while others were fortunate to have an uptick in business. Black businesses were hit the hardest and had to adapt quickly to the mandatory shutdowns across the country while everyone was […]
Black women protecting families in more ways than one

By: N. L. Preston During a time when many feel that Texas is well on its way to become the new “Wild, Wild West,” many Black families are making sure their households are protected. A new wave of protectors, reminiscent of the original Black Panther Party are focusing on health, wealth, safety and PROTECTION of […]
White House says $44 billion still available to avoid evictions

House and Senate Democrats are looking to the White House to immediately act to stop evictions after the federal moratorium expired on July 31. But President Joe Biden said a recent Supreme Court ruling means the administration cannot unilaterally extend the moratorium.
Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal: Advancing economic and public health opportunities for communities of color

A little over a month ago, the President announced the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework – a bipartisan agreement to make largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century.
OP-ED: Black-Owned Businesses Look to the FDA to Protect Them

A year ago, in a quick fix reaction to the pandemic, the FDA released emergency guidance that lowered the standards for germ-fighting products like hand sanitizer in order to get more on the market. This led to an ongoing wave of hand sanitizers that both smell horrible and seem to do virtually nothing. Now, a year later, city streets are refilling, businesses are starting to operate at full capacity, and we have a more reliable supply of hand sanitizer. Yet, businesses are still providing questionable products, and we are even seeing reports of products with toxic carcinogens steadily pop up.
The American Rescue Plan Provides Relief for Small Businesses

The American Rescue Plan will “devote $1 trillion toward building a bridge to economic recovery for working families, including those who work for small businesses; and provide critical support to communities that are struggling in the wake of the pandemic.”
Biden to Direct States, Tribes and Territories to Open Vaccinations to All Adults by May 1

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “If we do our part, if we do this together, by July 4, there’s a good chance you, your families, and friends will be able to get together in your backyard or in your neighborhood and have a cookout and a barbecue and celebrate Independence Day,” he noted as he stared firmly into the television camera.
COMMENTARY: Blacks are sitting ducks after Gov. Abbott lifts mask mandate

By: Roy Douglas Malonson Greg Abbott has lost his damn mind! The Texas governor announced this week that Texas will be reopening at 100 % and he is lifting the mask mandate. With all of the statistics and everything going on, why would he choose to do that when we know that, not only
Teachers protest to save their lives in the face of the pandemic

Teachers say they are literally “fighting for their lives” as they protest around the country to stay out of the classrooms during this COVID-19 pandemic. As students are already contracting the disease, many teachers feel they are sitting ducks, fearing exposure from the students they are designated to educate.