Category: NNPA

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

Disney Destiny: Representation Matters

The first Disney-related character you see upon boarding the Disney Destiny and entering the grand hall of the latest addition to the global entertainment company’s fleet of cruise ships, is Black, strong, magnificent in stature, and representative of the hopes and dreams of Black comic book and Marvel fans the world over.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

Ben Crump Pledges $50K to the Black Press, Challenges Others to Follow His Lead

The Conrad Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C., pulsed with history and urgency as the Black Press of America gathered for its Annual National Leadership Awards and Reception. The evening honored House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke, and Communications Workers of America President Claude Cummings Jr. Cummings, who now serves on the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee, put the night into sharp focus.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

Black Press to Target: Your Silence Is Loud—and Costly

Even before Target publicly rolled back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, the Black Press of America had requested a meeting with CEO Brian Cornell. Those requests—from National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. and NNPA Chairman Bobby Henry—have gone unanswered for nearly a year.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

Target Boycotts and its Effect on Both Sides of the Black Dollar

Signs in hand, on April 19th, a small crowd of about 10 people gathered in front of the Target at 14th and Columbia Road NW, Washington, DC. Voices raised, as part of a three-day economic blackout from April 18 to April 20, the crowd marched while urging Black and Hispanic shoppers to refrain from purchasing from Target, which has been criticized for its stance on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson: ‘Healing Must Happen Beyond the Struggle’

Rev. Dr. Melva L. Sampson didn’t inherit a pulpit—she created one. The ordained minister and professor of preaching and practical theology at Wake Forest University has emerged as a leading voice for Black spiritual innovation, communal healing, and radical reimagining of faith—outside of the systems that have long tried to silence people like her.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Let It Be Known: “They Voted to Deport Us”

The May 1 edition of Let It Be Known began with a pair of videos featuring journalist Charles Blow and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, who delivered searing critiques of a House Judiciary Committee vote that, as Crockett described it, gives former President Donald Trump the power to deport U.S. citizens. Crockett, visibly outraged, revealed the shocking development during a live markup session, warning that constitutional protections are being gutted in real time.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Target Reels from Boycotts, Employee Revolt, and Massive Losses as Activists Plot Next Moves

Target is spiraling as consumer boycotts intensify, workers push to unionize, and the company faces mounting financial losses following its rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. With foot traffic plummeting, stock prices at a five-year low, and employee discontent boiling over, national civil rights leaders and grassroots organizers are vowing to escalate pressure in the weeks ahead. Led by Georgia pastor Rev. Jamal Bryant, a 40-day “Targetfast” aligned with the Lenten season continues to gain traction.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Mobilizing for 2026: Chavis Urges Black Press to Act

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) marked the 198th anniversary of the Black Press, and the culmination of Black Press Week with a powerful State of the Black Press address by NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., who spoke on the vital role of Black-owned media amid the growing threats of far-right extremism and American fascism.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

Target Takes a Hit: $12.4 Billion Wiped Out

Target Corporation’s stock plummeted by approximately $27.27 per share by the end of February, erasing about $12.4 billion in market value. The drop came on February 28, the designated economic blackout day, and coincided with mounting backlash over the retailer’s decision to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments.
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) has taken action through its Public Education and Selective Buying Campaign. NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. said, “Black consumers helped build Target into a retail giant, and now they are making their voices heard. If corporations believe they can roll back diversity commitments without consequence, they are mistaken.”

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

NNPA Launches ‘Missing & Black 2025’ Campaign to Spotlight Disparities in Media Coverage of Missing Black Individuals

The NNPA World News app has unveiled the Missing & Black 2025 Campaign, a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing the glaring disparities in media coverage and law enforcement response to missing Black individuals. The campaign seeks to bring long-overdue visibility, resources, and justice to the thousands of missing Black children, women, and men whose cases are frequently overlooked. “With an alarming disparity in coverage and urgency between cases involving people of color and their white counterparts, this initiative calls for collective action to change the narrative and ensure that all missing persons in America receive the responsive attention that they deserve,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

African Americans
Stefi Mar

The Black Press: The Last Line of Defense as Trump Seizes Control of the National Archives

Donald Trump’s recent takeover of the National Archives marks yet another chilling step in his broader campaign to rewrite history, erasing the truths that challenge his authoritarian ambitions. With the forced resignation of Acting Archivist William Bosanko, Trump and his allies are moving swiftly to reshape how American history is recorded, preserved, and ultimately remembered. This power grab, executed under the banner of Project 2025 and backed by figures like Elon Musk, is more than just an attack on government records—it is an existential threat to the preservation of Black history and the truth itself.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

What Do Standardized Tests Say About College Achievement?

Every year, millions of high schoolers prepare for the arduous process of college admissions. Most will take either the SAT or the ACT, multi-hour examinations that can feel like the climax of an epic battle students have been waging ever since they entered the halls of formal education.

Bakersfield
Stefi Mar

“We can’t normalize the demonization of our Haitian brothers and sisters.”

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing more than 200 Black-owned print and online media outlets, is outraged by the demonization and blatant lies being spread about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance. This purposeful defamation and dehumanization of people legally seeking a better life, like so many immigrants before them, has no place in a country that built its success on the backs of enslaved people and immigrants.

African Americans
Stefi Mar

Historic Celebration of Black Excellence at the White House

On Friday, September 13, the White House South Lawn transformed into a historic celebration of Black excellence, bringing together actors, authors, television personalities, journalists, writers, activists, and artists. The event marked the first time such a celebration exclusively dedicated to honoring the achievements of Black Americans took place on the White House grounds, outside the context of Black History Month, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or Juneteenth.