BE WITTY

Author: BE WITTY

  • Elite Colleges, Declining Diversity: Black Students Bear the Brunt

    Photo Credit: Suzanne Kreiter / getty images

    In the two years since the Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard ended race-conscious admissions, Black student enrollment at many elite U.S. colleges has fallen sharply. According to an Associated Press analysis, on some campuses Black freshmen now make up as little as 2% of the incoming class. At Harvard, Black freshmen dropped from around 18% in 2023 to roughly 11.5% in 2025, while Princeton saw declines from 9% to 5% levels not seen since the late 1960s. These numbers reflect more than a legal shift; they represent a rollback of decades of progress in Black access to higher education.

    For Black Americans, access to elite colleges is about far more than prestige. It’s a gateway to networks, social capital, high-paying careers, and generational mobility. When Black enrollment drops, it isn’t just statistics that fall, it’s opportunity, representation, and community. Fewer peers and mentors who share your background increase isolation, limit culturally relevant support systems, and send the message that these spaces are not fully meant for all. The erosion of representation threatens both the immediate college experience and the longer term pipeline into positions of influence.

    The decline in Black enrollment is exacerbated by legacy admissions and high international student enrollment. Legacy and donor-preference admissions overwhelmingly favor wealthy, predominantly white applicants. The practice effectively reduces available spots for underrepresented Black students. In some elite colleges, legacy applicants outnumber Black enrollees, and legacy status carries the equivalent of tens of thousands of dollars in extra admission “capital.” From a minority perspective, this is deeply inequitable it privileges inherited wealth and access over merit and the corrective intent of diversity initiatives.

    Meanwhile, the influx of international students including Black students from Africa and the Caribbean has unintentionally disenfranchised U.S.-born Black students. While expanding global representation is not without merit, limited seats and competition often malign domestic Black students from enrolling. For communities already navigating systemic educational inequities, this creates an additional barrier.

    In response to the Supreme Court ruling, many colleges are implementing “race-neutral” alternatives: increased consideration of socioeconomic disadvantage, first-generation college status, and outreach to under resourced schools. While these steps help, research and historical precedent suggest they cannot fully replicate the representation gains achieved through affirmative action. California’s experience after banning race conscious admissions at public universities shows that even strong class based policies do not prevent declines in Black and Hispanic enrollment. Without intentional and well resourced & federally protected policies, elite institutions risk deepening disparities rather than closing them.

    The decline in Black enrollment is not just a numbers issue it reflects a structural squeeze that undermines representation, belonging, and generational opportunity. For Black Americans, this is a critical crossroads. Without intentional interventions, elite institutions risk becoming increasingly homogeneous, and the promise of higher education as a ladder to power, wealth, and influence will remain unleavened for America’s indigenous population.

    But this moment also offers an opportunity. Colleges can actively confront legacy preferences, prioritize domestic underrepresented students, and invest deeply in equity-focused catalyst. Black students deserve not just access, but belonging, support, and the chance to thrive in spaces that shape the nation’s future they freely helped found.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • When the Government Stays Closed: What You Need to Know About Food Aid

    When the Government Stays Closed: What You Need to Know About Food Aid

    Image credit: Tyrone Turner/Wamu

    If the federal government fails to reopen in the very near future and critical programs are paused, millions of people will face major disruptions in food assistance. Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and what steps you can take right now.

    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently warned that benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) could be disrupted if the shutdown continues.  As of today October 29, 2025 congress has not come to an agreement. Over 41 million Americans rely on SNAP, and nearly 7 million on WIC. States are already issuing alerts that the November benefit cycle may not be funded.  In this scenario, local food banks, charities, and emergency services become even more critical.

    Image credit: Erin Holley/AP

    For many households, these benefits are essential for putting food on the table. If they stop, families may face skipped meals, increased food insecurity, and compiled stress. Local economies and community services are also strained when benefits are delayed more people turn to food banks, shelters, and social-service networks. While federal programs are in limbo, you still have viable options. Key nonprofits and local agencies can help you find supplemental food assistance.

    Image credit: Flickr

    It’s no secret that Black households are disproportionately maligned & thereby impacted by economic instability. Systemic inequities in wages, housing, and access to affordable food already keep many on the edge. A prolonged shutdown doesn’t just mean missed paychecks for federal workers, it means canceled grocery runs, mothers watering down formula, and seniors deciding between their prescriptions and basic nourishment.

    Call the National Hunger Hotline if in need of food assistance at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479)/ (1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273).  Hours: Monday–Friday, approx. 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Eastern Time.  You’ll speak with a representative who can help you locate food banks, meal sites, and other supportive services near you. Dialing 2-1-1 on your phone connects you with free local referral services in your area for food, housing, utilities, and other critical supports.  Staff can direct you to community gardens, pantries or meal programs.

    Use networks like Feeding America to locate your nearest food bank.  Check state level emergency food programs Many states have food-safety-net programs (e.g., emergency food assistance, expedited benefits) that may operate even when federal benefits are delayed.  Visit your state’s “food and nutrition” or human-services website to explore options.

    Call ahead & ask “is this food pantry open today?”

    Keep in mind that hours and availability may vary especially during emergencies. Try to arrive prepared by asking requirements prior. Some good questions to ask may be “if there is any registration or pre-screening required?” Some programs require appointments.

    “Do I need to show ID, proof of income, or other documentation?” Many sites will still ask, but some offer walk-in or emergency access.

    In addition to “are there special programs for children, seniors, or pregnant/breastfeeding women?” “Is transportation available, or can food be delivered?”

    If the shutdown continues and federal food benefits are at risk, you are not alone and there are resources ready to help. But most importantly in these times the best help sought & perhaps quickest to expedite may be from one another.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Feds: NBA Players, Coach Teamed Up With NYC Mafia in Sprawling Gambling Scam

    Feds: NBA Players, Coach Teamed Up With NYC Mafia in Sprawling Gambling Scam

    Federal authorities have unveiled one of the most explosive scandals in modern sports history, charging multiple NBA players and a head coach in a sprawling gambling operation allegedly linked to the New York City Mafia.

    According to indictments unsealed Thursday, the FBI arrested more than 30 individuals including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Charlotte Hornets guard Terry Rozier, accused of participating in illegal sports betting, insider wagering, and rigged poker games operated by members of the Gambino and Genovese crime families.

    Image credit: iStock photos

    The investigation, which federal prosecutors say spans several years, paints a disturbing picture of corruption, greed, and manipulation inside professional basketball.

    Court documents allege that players and coaches supplied confidential team information, including injury updates and playing-time plans to betting rings in exchange for cash payouts. Prosecutors say some players intentionally altered their performance or exited games early to help rig bets.

    Simultaneously, the indictment details an elaborate network of high-stakes underground poker games in New York, Miami, and Las Vegas, where organized crime members used advanced cheating technology, including marked cards and tampered shuffling machines to swindle wealthy participants.

    Coach Billups is accused of acting as a “recruiter,” drawing in celebrities and athletes to participate in the rigged poker sessions, giving the scheme credibility while the Mafia profited from fixed outcomes and illicit betting.

    Federal prosecutors say millions of dollars were laundered through cryptocurrency and shell companies.

    The scandal has sent shockwaves through the NBA, an organization that has long prided itself on integrity and transparency. In recent years, the league has actively embraced sports betting partnerships, with major gambling companies sponsoring teams, broadcasts, and even in-arena experiences.

    But this case exposes the dark side of sports wagering the vulnerability of athletes and the ease with which gambling can corrode trust in competition.

    “When money meets temptation, ethics often lose,” said one federal official involved in the investigation. “This case shows how quickly entertainment can turn into exploitation.”

    Experts say the scandal underscores a growing problem in both professional sports and everyday life: the normalization of gambling culture.

    Since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting nationwide in 2018, gambling apps and advertisements have flooded television and social media, promoting betting as harmless fun. Yet behind the bright lights and jackpots lies an escalating public-health issue.

    According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, over 2 million Americans meet the criteria for severe gambling addiction, and millions more are at risk. The rise of online platforms has made it easier than ever to place bets and harder to resist chasing losses.

    “Gambling doesn’t just cost money,” said Dr. Michael Torres, an addiction specialist based in New York. “It costs families, careers, and sometimes, lives. The pressure to win can turn anyone even a professional athlete into a gambler desperate for control.”

    For professional athletes, the stakes are even higher. Access to insider information, large incomes, and public scrutiny create a dangerous mix of opportunity and temptation. What begins as a small wager can spiral into a criminal enterprise as this case illustrates.

    Image credit: NBA Gambling Podcast

    The NBA issued a brief statement saying it is cooperating fully with federal authorities and has launched its own internal investigation. “Integrity is the foundation of our game,” the league said. “We will take all necessary steps to uphold that standard.”

    Analysts expect lifetime bans and criminal convictions if the allegations are proven true. The scandal also reignites debate about whether professional sports leagues have gone too far in embracing gambling as a revenue stream.

    “When the same industry that promotes fair play profits from betting on outcomes, conflicts of interest become inevitable,” said sports attorney Rachel Leung. “This is a wake-up call.”

    For fans, the arrests are a betrayal — not only of the game but of the belief that what happens on the court is real. When the line between competition and corruption blurs, every shot, substitution, and injury report becomes suspect.

    For players, the case is a reminder that fame doesn’t protect against consequence.

    And for society, it’s a warning: as gambling continues to expand across screens, states, and sports, the risk of addiction, manipulation, and moral erosion grows right along with it.

    As the federal case unfolds, one truth has already surfaced the house always wins, and too often, it’s the people and the game that lose.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Shutdown Fallout: Black Federal Workers Bear the Brunt of Washington’s Stalemate

    Shutdown Fallout: Black Federal Workers Bear the Brunt of Washington’s Stalemate

    As the U.S. government shutdown stretches past three weeks, the ripple effects are being felt across the nation but for Black Americans, the economic and emotional toll is clear.

    Nearly one in five federal employees are Black, a workforce share far greater than their percentage of the overall U.S. population. Many of these employees serve in critical roles from administrative staff to defense contractors and postal workers positions long considered a reliable pathway to economic stability. But with thousands now furloughed or working without pay, those pathways have abruptly been thwarted.

    Image credit: iStock

    For decades, federal employment has been one of the most stable avenues to the middle class for Black Americans. These jobs provided steady income, pensions, and protections against discrimination that were harder to find in the private sector.

    Now, as the shutdown drags on, that legacy is under strain.

    “This is more than a paycheck delay it’s a breach of trust,” said Angela Morrison, a furloughed worker with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “We built our families and our futures on the promise that public service was secure. Now, we’re watching that foundation crack.”

    Economists warn that even a short disruption can deepen racial wealth disparities, since Black households are less likely to have financial safety nets or intergenerational wealth to fall back on due to historic, ongoing redlining, blockbusting, racial covenants, urban renewal & gentrification in short. Meanwhile housing, childcare, and transportation costs continue to rise, leaving families with limiting or at best financially predatory options.

    The effects reach far beyond individual workers. In cities like Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Baltimore where the federal government is a top employer local Black owned businesses are also feeling the strain. Restaurant owners and service providers who rely on federal workers’ patronage have reported sharp drops in sales since the shutdown began.

    Churches and nonprofits have stepped in to provide support, hosting food drives and financial workshops. Still, advocates warn that community charity cannot replace systemic solutions.

    “We are watching an old wound reopen,” said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League. “The shutdown doesn’t just halt government functions, it undermines progress in closing racial economic gaps that have taken generations to narrow.”

    Negotiations in Congress remain gridlocked as lawmakers continue to clash over spending priorities. Meanwhile, families are bracing for a fourth unpaid week with mortgages due again, and little clarity about when relief will come.

    If the shutdown continues, experts predict a cascading effect.

    For many Black workers, the message is clear: their service remains essential, but their compensation unclear.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Soul Legend D’Angelo, 51, Passes Away After Private Battle with Pancreatic Cancer

    Soul Legend D’Angelo, 51, Passes Away After Private Battle with Pancreatic Cancer

    Image credit: Getty

    R&B and soul icon D’Angelo, born Michael Eugene Archer, has passed away at the age of 51 following a private battle with pancreatic cancer. The news was confirmed on October 14, 2025, by multiple outlets, including TMZ and People. 

    Born in Richmond, Virginia, D’Angelo was a musical prodigy who began playing piano at age 3 and honed his craft in church. He rose to fame with his 1995 debut album Brown Sugar, which earned him four Grammy nominations and went platinum. His 2000 follow-up, Voodoo, reached No. 1 on multiple Billboard charts and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album. The standout single “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” earned him Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. 

    D’Angelo’s fusion of gospel, funk, jazz, and hip-hop influences helped redefine modern soul music. His legacy includes collaborations with artists like Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Questlove, and his influence continues to resonate in contemporary R&B.

    He is survived by his three children. His family has requested privacy during this difficult time.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • The Silent Risk: HPV, Prostate Cancer, and the Unseen Burden on Black Men

    Image credit: Simply Well

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted virus. Many people men and women alike will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. In many cases, the body clears the virus, and no health problems occur. But some high-risk strains of HPV are known to cause cancers (for example, cervical cancer in women, anal cancer, penile cancer, and cancers in the oropharynx).

    When it comes to men, however, the story is different and ambiguous. There is currently no FDA-approved, routine clinical test for HPV in men.  That fact alone introduces layers of disparity, anxiety, and unknowns, especially for Black men, who already face disproportionate burdens in certain cancers, access to health care, and loss of trust in medical systems.

    Cancer statistics chart revealing the 2025 leading cause of deaths for Black people. Image credit: American Cancer Society.com

    The tests developed and authorized for HPV detection are largely tailored for women specifically, for sampling the cervix (via Pap smears, HPV DNA tests) where HPV-related changes are well understood and validated. 

    In men, there is no single, validated anatomical site or method for reliably collecting cells that can detect HPV consistently. Sampling penile skin, urethra, scrotum, anal or perianal tissue, or even urine or semen has been explored in research settings, but none of these are approved for standard screening. 

    For example, one study looked at combining penile brush (PB) and urethral brush (UB) sampling in HPV-positive men and found a high detection rate when combined, but that sort of approach is not practical, standardized, or approved for clinical screening. 

    Also, the variability in viral load, the patchy nature of HPV infection in male genital skin, and transient infections (they often clear) make it harder to validate a “positive/negative” test that reliably predicts future risk according to the CDC.

    Because of those sampling and reliability challenges, tests for men have not passed through the rigorous validation steps required for FDA (or equivalent) approval. In short: there is insufficient evidence that any particular male HPV test would change health outcomes, prevent disease, or be cost-effective at scale. 

    The CDC does not recommend routine HPV testing (screening) for men, adolescents, or women under 30. 

    Many men never know they are infected. Some discover they had HPV only when visible symptoms appear (such as genital warts or lesions) or later, when a cancer is detected.  

    From the perspective of a Black man thinking: If there’s no test, am I just invisible to the medical system when it comes to HPV? The answer often feels like: yes, in many respects. There’s a silence, a gap. This lack of a standard test means:

    You can’t simply “get checked” to know your HPV status. Doctors can’t monitor HPV persistence or progression in men in the same way they can in women. It reinforces inequities: diseases may go undetected until late. It contributes to a kind of medical uncertainty and distrust.

    Black men already face higher rates of certain cancers (including prostate cancer) and often poorer access to care and later-stage diagnosis. When you pair that with a virus that can operate stealthily, the sense of “what if I have it and don’t know” can weigh heavily.

    There has been a powerful link between HPV strains found in prostate tissue however there has been no official alarm sound regarding such.

    Some studies have found HPV DNA (especially high-risk types like HPV-16 or HPV-18) in prostate cancer tissues, and at higher frequencies than in benign prostate tissues or in normal controls.  A recent systematic review found HPV in 25.8% of prostate cancer cases, vs. 9.2% in normal tissues and 17.4% in benign prostatic hyperplasia tissues.

    Researchers propose that HPV oncoproteins (especially E6 & E7) might interfere with tumor suppressors and cell-cycle regulation, promoting carcinogenesis in infected cells.  Chronic inflammation is a well-known contributor to cancer risk in many tissues. If HPV infection causes low-level prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate), that could help initiate changes over time that increase cancer risk.  Some longitudinal observations report that HPV was present in benign prostate tissue years before it developed into cancer of the same HPV type.

    Some observational and epidemiologic studies have suggested that men who had documented HPV infections may have higher odds of later prostate cancer (e.g. an odds ratio ≈ 2.3 in one logistic regression analysis)  However, these are associations not proof of cause. Many confounders exist (age, genetics, environmental exposures, race, sexual behavior, etc.).

    Black men already face higher prostate cancer rates, more aggressive disease, and later diagnoses often compounded by barriers to care and medical mistrust. Add in a virus like HPV, which can’t be routinely tested for in men, and the uncertainty grows.

    Image credit: Cancerresearch.org

    Staying on top of your prostate health is essential. Regular screenings—like PSA tests and digital rectal exams—can catch problems early, when they’re most treatable. Never ignore warning signs such as pain, changes in urination, or blood in your urine. If something feels off, speak up. Ask questions, get second opinions, and insist on clear answers from your healthcare provider.

    Beyond personal health, it’s equally important to push for broader change. Black men deserve to be included in research that examines HPV’s potential role in prostate cancer and to have equal access to screening, education, and treatment for disease that nearly 80-90% of all sexually active adult women contract in their lifetime which can quickly turn deadly for them via ovarian cancer or medically suggestively by way of prostate cancer for their male counterparts.

    Prostate cancer disproportionately affects Black men, who are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and with more aggressive disease. Early detection is crucial, and regular health assessments can save lives.

    Image credit: questhealth.com

    Key tests include the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test, you can request at your doctor or self pay for at a testing laboratory for with no prescription needed which measures protein levels linked to prostate activity, and the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), where a doctor checks the prostate for abnormalities. Black men are encouraged to begin screening discussions at age 40, especially with a family history. Risk assessment tools can help track symptoms and guide decisions, empowering men to take proactive control of their prostate health.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Full Circle: How Mychal Threets Is Bringing Reading Rainbow Back and Carrying LeVar Burton’s Legacy Forward

    After nearly twenty years away, Reading Rainbow is returning, and this time, it’s being led by someone who feels like he was born for the role namely Mychal Threets, the viral librarian whose gentle heart and contagious love for reading have inspired millions online. LeVar Burton, the original host was one of the first Black men on television to teach a generation of children that reading was power that imagination was a superpower we all had access to. Now, another Black man, Mychal Threets, steps into that legacy with a message that resonates just as deeply: “You belong.”


    Mychal Threets-Image credit: Rob Kim / Getty/ The Webby Awards archives

    For many who grew up in the ’80s, 90s, or even the early 2000s, Reading Rainbow wasn’t just a TV show. It was a staple a bright, thoughtful space where books felt alive and curiosity had no limits. LeVar Burton didn’t just read stories; he gave permission to dream, to ask questions, to see a bigger part of the world. The news that Reading Rainbow is returning, now streaming on YouTube through Kidzuko (a children’s media brand under Sony Pictures Television), feels like a bridge between generations. The format is modern short digital episodes, weekly releases, celebrity guests but the soul of the show remains the same: to make reading feel magical again.

    Mychal Threets embodies that mission in a way that feels both timeless and of the moment. Known affectionately online as “Mychal the Librarian,” he went viral for videos where he shared small but powerful glimpses of life at the library moments of kindness, acceptance, and pure joy. He reminded people that libraries aren’t just about books; they’re sanctuaries of belonging.

    Born and raised in Fairfield, California, Threets grew up surrounded by stories. His deep love for libraries wasn’t an act; it was a calling. He worked his way up at the Fairfield Civic Center Library, eventually becoming supervising librarian. Along the way, he built a community online, millions strong. When he says, “You belong,” it’s not a slogan; it’s a lifeline for anyone who’s ever felt unseen.

    Image credit: Bret Hartman-For The Times

    LeVar Burton once opened the door, showing what it looked like when a Black man stood before children of every background and said, “Reading is for you.” Now, Mychal Threets is walking through that same door — not to replace, but to continue. And he’s doing it in a time when literacy rates are struggling, school libraries are underfunded, and the internet can feel louder than learning itself. Threets is using the same digital world that often distracts us to remind us what still matters.

    The new Reading Rainbow won’t air on traditional TV. It’s streaming on YouTube being free, accessible, and designed for a generation raised with the internet. For children who may not have cable or access to PBS, this is a way in. The show will blend reading with interactive, creative projects from postcard-making to community storytelling inviting kids not just to watch but to participate.

    In a media landscape where attention spans are short and educational content struggles to compete, bringing Reading Rainbow back feels bold. It’s not just nostalgia it’s a statement. It says that storytelling still matters. That libraries are still sacred. That kindness can go viral for all the right reasons. And at the center of it all stands Mychal Threets, smiling wide, with that same warmth LeVar Burton carried decades ago. Two generations of Black men, decades apart, connected by one simple, world-changing truth: take a look it’s in a book.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Stronger Together: The Power of Collaboration in Black Media

    Image credit: Shawn Fields/Unsplash

    Representation is not just about visibility it’s about truth, trust, and the stories we tell about ourselves and each other. In media and publishing, Black representation has always been critical to shaping narratives that are authentic, accurate, and inclusive. From the Black press of the 19th and 20th centuries to today’s journalists, editors, authors, and content creators, the presence of Black voices ensures that the news table reflects the full diversity of American life.

    When Black professionals are included in decision-making spaces—whether in newsrooms, publishing houses, or media companies stories shift. Issues that might otherwise be overlooked gain attention. Perspectives that may challenge the status quo are given space. Cultural nuances are better understood and respected. Representation is not just a matter of fairness; it directly impacts the integrity and quality of the information that reaches the public.


    In February 1944, Harry McAlpin made history as the first Black journalist admitted to a White House press briefing.

    But representation cannot exist in a silo. The future of media requires collaboration across communities. Every culture, every background brings its own history, values, and insights to the table. Together, these perspectives create a more complete picture of the world authentically.

    This is why unity in media and publishing matters. The Black community cannot shoulder the responsibility of representation alone, just as no one community can. Building platforms where all voices are welcomed and respected strengthens democracy, deepens understanding, and breaks down stereotypes.

    At its best, media is a mirror of society reflecting not just those with the loudest megaphones, but the full spectrum of human experience. Ensuring that Black stories are told, that Black professionals have opportunities to lead, and that diverse communities work together is not just important for representation it’s essential for truth.

    Because the news table is bigger than any one voice, and when we all sit at it, the story of America is told more honestly, more fully, and more powerfully.

    For Black media outlets, supporting one another is not simply about survival in a competitive industry it’s about preserving and amplifying the voices that have historically told the stories others ignored. Collaboration strengthens, expands reach, and ensures that the narratives shaping Black communities are owned and guided by those who live them. In a rapidly shifting media landscape, unity among Black media organizations isn’t just beneficial; it’s essential.

    BY: BEWITY Staff

  • Living Paycheck to Paycheck: What Goldman Sachs’ New Study Means for Black America

    Image credit: Pinterest

    A recent Goldman Sachs study has put hard numbers on a reality many Black Americans have long felt in their day-to-day lives: working just to survive. The report found that about 42% of Gen X, millennial, and Gen Z workers are living paycheck to paycheck with little to no savings, a sharp rise from the 31% reported in 1997. The financial institution warns this trend could reach over half of U.S. workers by 2033, given rising costs of living and stagnant wages.

    While the findings apply to all Americans, they carry particular weight in the Black community, where wealth and financial security have historically been harder to build and maintain. According to previous data from the Federal Reserve, the median wealth of white families is nearly eight times that of Black families. That means when inflation rises, housing costs spike, or unexpected emergencies hit, Black workers have less of a cushion to fall back on.

    For many Black Gen X workers, who are now in their 40s and 50s, the paycheck-to-paycheck reality surreal. Today, they find themselves caring not only for children but also aging parents, often without significant savings.

    Image credit: Shutterstock

    Millennials and Gen Z workers, meanwhile, are facing their own uphill battles. Student loan debt, skyrocketing rents, and limited access to affordable healthcare hit particularly hard in Black communities where income inequality is more pronounced. For young Black workers, the idea of “getting ahead” feels like a moving goalpost: working harder and achieving more education, but still struggling to build wealth.

    The paycheck-to-paycheck cycle is more than just a financial statistic; it’s about mental health, stability, and opportunity. Living without savings means every flat tire, every medical bill, and every missed paycheck can turn into a crisis. It limits the ability to buy homes, invest, or pass wealth down to the next generation continuing a cycle that has burdened Black families for centuries.

    Yet, despite these challenges, Black communities have consistently shown resilience. Informal savings groups, mutual aid networks, side hustles, and entrepreneurship remain central strategies for survival and progress. The rise of financial literacy efforts on social media, as well as growing conversations around reparations and systemic change, suggest a hunger not just for survival but for transformation.

    The Goldman Sachs study should be a wake-up call for policymakers, employers, and the financial industry. But for Black Americans, it’s less of a wake-up call and more of a confirmation of what we already know: the system was not built on leveled ground. What’s needed now is not just recognition, but action policies that close the racial wealth gap, expand access to affordable housing, strengthen wages, and make saving possible for all workers.

    Many saying, living paycheck to paycheck should not be the default, particularly for communities that have historically contributed significantly to the nation’s growth yet continue to face systemic barriers to financial security.

    BY: BEWITTY Staff

  • Assata Shakur, Black Liberation Army Figure and Exiled Activist, Dies at 78


    JoAnne Chesimard — later known as Assata Shakur — is escorted from Rikers Island in New York City to Middlesex County Jail in New Jersey, where she awaited trial in the killing of State Trooper Werner Foerster. (Frank Hurley/NY Daily News via Getty Images)

    Havana, Cuba — Assata Shakur, the revolutionary whose name became a global symbol of Black resistance and U.S. state repression, has died at 78 in Havana, where she lived in exile for more than four decades. Her daughter confirmed the news, saying her mother “took her last earthly breath” surrounded by family.

    Shakur’s life defied neat categorization. To U.S. officials, she was a convicted killer, fugitive, and “terrorist.” To many Black activists, she was a political prisoner, a survivor of state violence, and a living witness to the costs of liberation struggle.

    Shakur, with the manuscript of her autobiography, in Havana, in 1987.Ozier Muhammad / Newsday RM via Getty Images file

    Born JoAnne Deborah Byron in Queens in 1947, Shakur spent part of her youth in the Jim Crow South before returning to New York. She came of age during the 1960s uprisings and entered activism through student organizing.

    In 1970, she joined the Black Panther Party, though later criticized its internal contradictions. Drawn to a more militant vision, she aligned with the Black Liberation Army (BLA), a clandestine group that carried forward armed resistance against what they saw as an American war on Black life. She renamed herself Assata Olugbala Shakur, Swahili and Yoruba names meaning “she who struggles” and “savior.”

    On May 2, 1973, Shakur was stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike with two BLA comrades. A confrontation with state troopers turned deadly: Trooper Werner Foerster and BLA member Zayd Malik Shakur were killed; Assata herself was badly wounded.

    Image credit: Facebook

    In 1977, she was convicted of Foerster’s murder and sentenced to life in prison, despite her insistence that she had not fired a weapon. Supporters pointed to medical evidence her gun arm was paralyzed by a bullet as proof she couldn’t have fired. To them, her trial reflected not only bias, but the wider criminalization of Black radical dissent.

    Two years later, in 1979, Shakur escaped from prison with the aid of allies. After years underground, she surfaced in Cuba, where Fidel Castro granted her asylum in 1984.

    The U.S. government never stopped pursuing her. In 2013, she became the first woman placed on the FBI’s “Most Wanted Terrorist” list, with a $2 million bounty. Yet Cuba refused to extradite her, framing her as a political exile rather than a criminal.

    In Havana, Shakur lived relatively quietly, raising her daughter and writing. Her memoir, Assata: An Autobiography (1987), became a cornerstone of radical literature, recounting her youth, trial, prison years, and flight to freedom.

    Her words influenced generations of organizers, from the hip-hop era to Black Lives Matter. Rappers like Public Enemy and Common referenced her in their music. Activists cited her not as a fugitive, but as a guide for understanding state violence, racial injustice, and the resilience required to fight them.

    Assata Shakur’s life and death remain polarizing. For many others, especially in the Black liberation tradition she is remembered as a freedom fighter, targeted because she dared to confront America’s racial order.

    Her death will reignite old debates: What does justice mean in a nation that has historically denied it to Black people? Who gets labeled “terrorist,” and who is remembered as revolutionary?

    Assata Shakur died far from the country of her birth, still branded a fugitive by the U.S. government. Yet for many, her name will live on as a synonym for resistance, survival, and the unfinished struggle for Black liberation.

    “Revolution is about change,” she once wrote. “And the first place the change begins is within ourselves.”

    BY: BEWITTY Staff