Hannah Santos 2025 was a long year. For many of us, looking back over the past months repeatedly prompts the question, “that happened this year too?” The pace has been relentless and when the world keeps moving without pause, numbness becomes tempting. We scroll through headlines of injustice, go through the motions, and learn how…

by Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer Amid the holiday cheer, many Americans are juggling financial stress or navigating grief, whether from the loss of loved ones, strained relationships or broader social and communal challenges. And, the uncertainty and divisiveness of the current sociopolitical environmental climate have likely only exacerbated those feelings.  An online survey of…

By Ben Jealous America has a big birthday this year. Here’s a hint: The celebration will not feel much like the last big one in 1976. I still believe our nation’s best days are ahead. But our history—and our headlines—suggest we are facing a familiar test. Another fraught fight for freedom and democracy is already…

by Frances Toni Draper AFRO Publisher As we close the pages on 2025, we do so clear-eyed about the moment we are living in and grounded in the responsibility we carry. Journalism, especially Black journalism, is not simply about recounting events. It is about memory, witness and insisting that what happens in our communities is…

By Constance Carter/Wealth Advocate Einstein called compound interest the eighth wonder of the world. Those who understand it earn it. Those who do not pay it. That is why the Trump administration is floating a 50-year mortgage. They are betting that we will not see the true cost. He, him, and they are framing this…

By Stacy M. Brown There are moments in history when a single act of generosity reveals the moral decay of an entire nation. MacKenzie Scott’s $38 million gift to Alabama State University, the largest in its 158-year history, is such a moment. It is not merely a financial transaction, nor the casual benevolence of the…

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Everton Blair Jr. says the first place he learned how power works was not in Washington, but inside the classrooms where he grew up. Those same schools, Blair says, once labeled him a problem child. Later, he was labeled gifted. “Same kid, same brain, different labels,”…

By Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media On Jan. 1, Assembly Bill (AB) 422 — legislation authored by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D–Moreno Valley) – takes effect. Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in October, the bill updates the criteria for the State Seal of Civic Engagement (SSCE), an official recognition awarded to high school students…

By Dawn Montgomery Earlier this year, in March, the current President signed an executive order to begin dismantling the Department of Education. If carried out, this will completely change the landscape of public education at all levels. Ninety percent of students attend public K-12 schools. Despite funding tied to a student’s zip code, Black communities…

by Kristen Hwang Despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars to fill vacant medical and mental health positions at prisons and state hospitals, California has little to show for it, according to a new report from the state auditor. Job vacancy rates have increased since 2019 at the three facilities examined in the audit, as…

Amid funding headwinds, national media arts nonprofit intensifies support for diverse Black stories with world premiere of climate and social justice film NEW YORK (December 18, 2025) — Black Public Media (BPM), the Harlem-based national media arts nonprofit, is doubling down on its mission to fund and support stories about the Black experience despite recent…

Sarah Lund In the beautiful diversity of humankind, we are invited to celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. This is especially true when it comes to the holy work of disability and mental health justice. Alice Wong, disability activist and author who died on November 14, at age 51, felt like a friend to me,…

Figure 1: Nearly 1.2 Million Uninsured Californians Are Eligible for Financial Help   SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Covered California is encouraging all uninsured Californians to sign up for health insurance by Dec. 31. The open-enrollment period for 2026 ends on Jan. 31, but to have insurance in place for January, consumers need to enroll by the end…

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media  Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom represents the 13th Assembly District, which includes Stockton, Tracy and Mountain House.  With over 20 years of experience in public service, Ransom is a former Tracy city councilmember and an outspoken advocate for social justice, equitable education and economic empowerment.  Ransom currently serves as chair…

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media  Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) is entering his final year of service in the state Legislature due to term limits.  A native of the Watts community in Los Angeles, Gipson says he inherited a spirit of service from his parents. He was elected to the Carson City Council in…

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media  Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2024 to represent the 79th District, which includes southeastern San Diego, El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies, a master’s in education with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling, and…

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media  Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) represents the 60th Assembly District. He was first elected in November 2022.  In the Legislature, Jackson has emerged as a key voice on issues related to equity, social services, and community well-being — first as chair of the Human Services Committee in…

By Andrea Stevens AFRO Staff Writer/astevens@afro.com The Department of Education will no longer classify several long-recognized graduate programs as professional degrees, a shift that will affect financial aid limits and reshape how universities describe advanced training in fields that rely on licensing.  The updated definition removes nursing from the government’s professional degree category. The change…

by BVN Enhanced premium tax subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will expire on Dec. 31 as Congress prepares to break for the holidays without voting on a health care package. Though House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to call for a vote regarding extending ACA tax credits for three years as proposed by Democrats,…