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Brian Roberts, owner of Good Karma Coffee // Photo by Sarah Sipple Good Karma Coffee’s grand opening was a momentous occasion, a celebration of culture, community, and creativity. Kicking off on the first day of Black History Month, the café’s debut felt like more than just an opening—it was a statement. The air buzzed with excitement as guests sampled rich, flavorful drinks and browsed the Black-owned goods in the connected retail space, The Black Pantry. The design of Good Karma is intentional—inviting and communal. It’s a place that encourages conversation, and that was evident from the way people engaged with…

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Looters load up a car at the Viva shopping center near a billowing fire during the rioting that erupted in Los Angeles on April 29, 1992, after a jury found four Los Angeles Police Department officers not guilty in the beating of Rodney King. Ron Eisenbeg/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Ron Eisenbeg/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Looters load up a car at the Viva shopping center near a billowing fire during the rioting that erupted in Los Angeles on April 29, 1992, after a jury found four Los Angeles Police Department officers not guilty in the beating of…

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A Civil Conversation is a new, ongoing series exploring the experiences of African-Americans in the West, in an effort to create more informed public dialog on issues of race and racism. A few years ago, after the violence in Ferguson, Missouri, a brilliant friend of mine, a surgeon, told me that if Black people wanted to live better lives, they should move to a better place. I’d heard this sentiment before, always uttered with the unspoken privilege of ignorance that comes with being white. “Why don’t those people make better decisions … like we do?” But it’s not that simple.…

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Nonprofits are grappling with new questions about how to harness the scale of giving in support of the Black community by donors of color and funders dedicated to race-conscious giving to create changes in Black philanthropy’s visibility and proliferation. What do foundations need to do to advance the needs of the Black community? What do Black-led nonprofits recommend regarding those needs? How does racial equity play a part in the current giving landscape? And what is the long-term outlook for Black philanthropy?In recent years, Black philanthropy has drawn significant attention, especially in the wake of the George Floyd and Breonna…

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Juan Flores, 46, has lived in the Galena Park neighbourhood for 45 years. His daughter Dominique, 7, was born with a malignant tumour on a kidney that required surgeries and chemotherapy. Juan’s father died from a heart attack at the age of 51 after decades working in the petrochemical industry. Last year Juan was diagnosed with a condition that increases the risk of developing blood cancer, which his oncologist suspects was caused by exposure to benzene. Local people face considerable barriers to accessing healthcare, which has to be paid for. At 18 percent, Texas has the highest percentage of people…

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The leader of California’s first-in-the-nation reparations taskforce on Wednesday said it would not take a stance on how much the state should compensate Black residents whom economists estimate may be owed more than $800bn for decades of over-policing, disproportionate incarceration and housing discrimination.The $800bn is more than 2.5 times California’s $300bn annual budget and does not include a recommended $1m per older Black resident for health disparities that have shortened their average lifespan. Nor does the figure count compensating people for property unjustly taken by the government or devaluing Black businesses, two other harms the taskforce says the state perpetuated.“All…

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President-elect Donald Trump is filling key posts in his second administration, and it’s shaping up much differently than his first. He’s prioritizing loyalists for top jobs. READ MORE: Trump picks Project 2025 architect Russell Vought to return as top budget official Trump was bruised and hampered by internal squabbles during his initial term in office. Now he appears focused on remaking the federal government in his own image. Some of his choices could face difficult confirmation battles even with Republicans in control of the U.S. Senate. One candidate, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, Trump’s choice for attorney general, has withdrawn.…

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Editor’s note: If you have watched this or any other Wisconsin in Black & White report, please share your feed back in a survey at pbswisconsin.org/wibw-survey. Thank you. Nathan Denzin:Owning a home has always been key to the American dream. According to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “Homeownership is a pillar of wealth building for most families, a source of wealth that can be passed down to future generations.” Anne BondsHaving the ability to purchase a home and live where one chooses is, you know, should be a fundamental right. Nathan Denzin:As African Americans moved to…

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by Jaimee Ratliff September 12, 2023 When Mychael and Stephanie Wright founded Golden Thyme Coffee & Cafe in 2000, they were simply following the business advice of Mychael’s brother. Twenty-three years later, Wright’s Cafe is a community landmark in St. Paul, Minnesota, and it seems it’s here to stay. According to Twin Cities Pioneer Press, the cherished coffee shop has been sold to the Rondo Community Land Trust and will be expanded into a Black-owned restaurant and food vendor incubator space. Under its new moniker, “Golden Thyme Presents,” businesses will be offered short-and long-term leases. Faced with a desire to…

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