The Black unemployment rate in August 2025 surged to 7.5%, double the rate for white workers, and asset-building programs like the Family Self-Sufficiency program are essential to help families weather unemployment, avoid eviction, and create security that income alone cannot guarantee.
Author Archives: Word In Black
Posted inWord In Black
Turning Influence Into Equity: How Black Stars Can Build Generational Wealth
Black athletes and musicians are building billion-dollar brands, but too often, someone else owns the scoreboard, and two insiders, Brandon Comer and Jennifer Horton, are advocating for a shift in ownership and equity for these stars.
Posted inWord In Black
Word In Black Expands Leadership and Operations With Four Strategic Hires
Word In Black has added three new employees and appointed Patrick Washington as Interim General Manager, with funding from Knight Foundation and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, to support the organization’s mission of informing, uplifting, and empowering Black communities through trusted journalism and authentic storytelling.
Posted inHealth
How Will the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impact Black Children?
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has been passed, resulting in cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs, which will disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities and the 16 million Americans who rely on these programs for health care and food.
Posted inWord In Black
Church, Community, and Chemistry: Students Explore STEM at Saint Paul’s Summer Institute
By OBSERVER Staff Report This summer, the Family Life Center at Saint Paul Church introduced something entirely new: the vibrant and inspiring energy of the STEM Summer Institute. Gone were […]
Posted inEnvironmental Justice
This Black Podcaster Keeps it Green — and Real
Each week, Colah B. Tawkin takes to the digital airwaves to celebrate Black people’s relationship with nature, dropping knowledge about plant life. Tawkin — that’s a stage name, if […]
Posted inWord In Black
Are Traditional College Majors Still Relevant in Today’s Economy?
Colleges and universities are struggling to survive due to declining enrollment, rising tuition, and skepticism about the value of a college degree, and are responding by adding new high-demand majors and allowing students to bundle smaller modules into a customizable, modular major.
Posted inMental Health
Do You Have High Functioning Depression?
Dr. Judith Joseph, a leading psychiatrist and social media health influencer, is raising awareness about high-functioning depression, a mental health disorder that disproportionately affects Black women, and is working to provide resources to prevent these negative outcomes.
Posted inEducation
Can Black Teacher Pipelines Survive Trump’s Attacks?
Nonprofits like the Center for Black Educator Development are facing challenges in their mission to recruit, train and support Black educators due to the Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Posted inWord In Black
Imagine George Floyd Speaking Now:Â America, Are You Listening Yet?
Five years after the death of George Floyd, his legacy lives on through his daughter, his family, the Black community, and America, as we continue to call for justice, accountability, and an end to the systemic racism that led to his death.
