Latest news with #anti-Black
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Event aims to build better supports for Black and African Canadians in Brantford-Brant and Haldimand-Norfolk
Which social and community needs are going unmet for Black and African Canadians living in the Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk areas? It's a question Child and Family Services of Grand Erie (CFSGE) and an associated advisory group hope community members will help answer Thursday evening. 'We're trying to set the stage to make it as safe as possible for individuals to share what their joys are, but also what their fears and worries are' when it comes to interacting with services like child welfare, Jean Samuel told The Spectator. Samuel is the community chair of the local One Vision One Voice advisory committee. The group meets virtually bimonthly to keep the system honest 'about the colonial racist policies and practices that affect African Canadian and Black families' in child protection agencies, she previously told The Spectator. It's part of a wider initiative to research issues affecting the overrepresentation of African Canadian children and youth in Ontario's child-welfare system, according to a news release. It's particularly relevant with the 'huge growth' of racialized communities in southern Ontario communities like Brantford and Haldimand, she said. At the 2021 census, 4,200 individuals in the Brantford-Brant area identified as Black — nearly double that of the 2016 census — and 1,410 did in Haldimand-Norfolk, compared with 800 in 2016. And unlike places like Hamilton and Kitchener, there is no organization that specifically services the needs of local Black and African Canadians. The group is hearing there's a lack of professionals and social-service workers that 'really understand the Black community,' Samuel said. Few provide services from a cultural lens that understands 'what Black families experience, particularly around racism, anti-Black racism and some of the issues they find themselves trying to navigate just to live normal lives,' she added. The event will provide a 'platform for open dialogue' for community members to share 'their insights and experiences,' according to the news release. Beyond the event, they are looking to add Black residents of Haldimand-Norfolk to their ongoing advocacy group. 'It feels amiss' not to have their voices 'in the work that we're doing,' said Natalie Dixon-Judah, director of service, equity diversity and inclusion for CFSGE. Likewise, the advocacy group seeks Black LGBTQ2S+ community members. 'We need that intersectionality represented as well, so we can hear from them how they see their needs being represented or not,' she said. The Community Voices Matter event is May 29 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Brantford Public Library (173 Colborne St., Brantford). Register free through Eventbrite .
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Reflecting on five years since George Floyd's death
Young protesters hold their fists in the air during a Black Lives Matter march on Aug. 1, 2020, in Portland, Oregon. () I distinctly remember where I was when I first heard the news about the tragic killing of George Floyd. A wave of emotions hit me — shock, followed closely by anger, as tears streamed down my face. Fear quickly followed, and in that moment, I knew he could have easily been my cousin, my brother, or my sister. Anger surged as I realized it didn't matter how polite, accomplished, wealthy or educated you were — there was no form of 'Black excellence' that could protect me from the brutal truth: If you look like me and my family, you live in constant fear. At any moment, you could be reminded that your life is not valued in the eyes of our government. It wasn't just the footage itself, but what it represented — the raw, repeated reality of anti-Black violence, and a system that has allowed it to persist unchecked for generations. Five years later, we all still carry the burden of George Floyd's final words: 'I can't breathe.' This phrase has become a global rallying cry for justice and a future where Black lives are valued, protected and celebrated. The days and months that followed sparked protests, statements and commitments unlike anything we'd seen in decades. Millions took to the streets. Polls in the summer of 2020 estimated that between 15 million and 26 million people had participated at some point in the demonstrations in the United States, making the protests the largest in U.S. history. Institutions pledged change. Some cities, including Portland, promised to invest in racial equity and reimagine public safety. At Imagine Black, we saw a surge in people asking: 'What can I do? How do we make this moment matter?' Entering its sixteenth year, Imagine Black helps our Black community imagine the alternatives we deserve and build our political participation and leadership to achieve them. Naturally, 2020 was a year for Imagine Black to step up and show out. From leading and speaking at major protests organized by partners like Reimagine Oregon to engaging in ongoing dialogue with city leaders, Imagine Black sprang into action in 2020 — and hasn't let up since. In November 2020, 82 percent of the city's voters approved the ballot initiative Measure 26-217, which changed the city's charter to create a new community police oversight board that, once set up, will be the country's most potent. When this initiative was attacked in 2024, Imagine Black, ACLU of Oregon and several other partner organizations banded together to defend it in the courts and won. The years since 2020 have made one thing clear: while the movement shifted the conversation, the systems we face are still deeply rooted in racism, economic exploitation and political exclusion. Some reforms were quietly reversed. The City of Portland's police budget surged to its highest level ever. Funding was clawed back. The backlash was swift and, in many cases, effective. Donors no longer wanted to fund Black-led organizations. Dominant-culture nonprofits scaled back their commitments to supporting Black-led initiatives. Black leaders were burned out. Movements were surveilled. Communities were once again asked to do more with less. With the return of the Trump administration, the stakes are even higher. This new era of national leadership threatens to accelerate rollbacks on racial justice, deepen economic inequality, and embolden state violence. Despite this, Imagine Black never stopped organizing. We've shifted from a reactive approach to a long-term strategy. We have focused on building deeper relationships with voters through events centered on joy, such as our annual Imagine Black Gala, and have worked to turn community grief into political power. Our work centers on leadership development, organizing, and democracy, moving from despair into action during and outside election cycles. And most importantly, we've centered joy and healing along the way with activations on our Black Possibilities app that have created a safer social space for Black Oregonians, offering free weekly virtual yoga and meditation classes — because Black liberation isn't solely about surviving injustice or even dismantling systems of oppression; it's about building something beautiful in its place. Today, Imagine Black is doubling down on a vision that goes beyond slogans and cycles of outrage. We're fighting for reparative justice — not only to repair the harms of the past, but to dream up new systems centered on community care.. Most recently, I was invited to present at a meeting with the Portland City Council's Arts and Economy Committee and demanded an overhaul of tax increment financing or TIF, a state-authorized redevelopment and finance program designed to invest in infrastructure over people. This is the same program James Baldwin referred to as 'Negro removal.' We need community development that is community-led and codified into law, not economic development that is merely a good-faith effort. We need budgets that reflect community priorities and work in action, not just for political clout and display. Political systems need to be accountable to the people they serve, and Imagine Black is one of Oregon's leaders in ensuring this dream becomes a reality. As we mark five years since Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade and George Floyd's deaths, I offer this challenge to Portland and beyond: Do not treat this anniversary as a closed chapter. Do not remember the movement only in hashtags. Instead, ask what it would take to fulfill our promises to each other in 2020 — to build a city, a state and a country where Black people are free to live, dream, and lead. Five years ago, we were in the streets together. Today, we stand at the threshold of dismantling the systems that have been built on oppression. Tomorrow, we must rise to create the world our ancestors dreamed of — a world where democracy isn't just a promise but a living, breathing reality. A world that centers care over punishment. A world where the bonds of community are unbreakable, stronger than the forces that seek to tear us apart. I remain wholeheartedly committed to this vision. At Imagine Black, we are not interested in symbolic wins. We are building lasting power. And we invite you to join us.
Black America Web
22-05-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
Google Settles Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Black Bias For $50 Million
Source: picture alliance / Getty Look, I'm not saying all tech bros are racist, but I'm not, not saying it. I mean, the fact that Google recently agreed to settle a class action lawsuit alleging anti-Black bias at the company for $50 million doesn't help their case. It's not an admission of guilt, but it's certainly not a good look. According to Reuters, the civil suit was filed by April Curley, a former Google employee who was hired specifically to recruit new employees from historically Black colleges. Curley worked at Google for six years, and during her tenure there, she alleged that she and fellow Black employees were underpaid, denied opportunities for advancement, and stagnated doing lower-level work. Curley alleged she was given unfair performance ratings that stereotyped her as an 'angry Black woman' and was fired as she was in the process of reporting Google's alleged anti-Black bias. Curley and the other plaintiffs alleged that Black employees were frequently told they weren't 'Googley' enough and lacked 'Googleyness,' which they perceived as a racist dog whistle. It begs the question: how does one have an abundance of 'Googleyness?' What makes one 'Googley?' Why would one want to be 'Googley?' Personally, I'd rather have the swagger of Ask Jeeves than have some middle-aged white man call me 'Googley' as he sips a $20 smoothie from Erewhon From Reuters: Google, a unit of Mountain View, California-based Alphabet (GOOGL.O), denied wrongdoing in agreeing to settle, and said it fully complied with all applicable laws. 'We strongly disagree with the allegations that we treated anyone improperly and we remain committed to paying, hiring and leveling all employees consistently,' Google spokeswoman Courtenay Mencini said in an emailed statement on Friday. The lawsuit began in March 2022 after a regulator now known as the California Civil Rights Department started investigating Google's treatment of Black female employees. This isn't entirely surprising from the company that removed Black History Month from the Google Calendar earlier this year and donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. So clearly Google isn't racist, y'all. They just bankroll racists, it's different. Source: Maksym Panchuk / EyeEm / Getty Racism in the tech industry is sadly nothing new. It's been over five years since the #SilliconValleySoWhite trend ignited the conversation around the lack of opportunity and racist attitudes Black tech workers have consistently faced in the industry. One of the anecdotes that emerged during those tweets was several Google employees alleging they faced a bias in badging, where white employees would demand to see their badge even if it was completely visible. Sounds like you have to be good at both coding and Karen-ing to work at Google. The racism in tech has also manifested through the waves of layoffs that have sadly become commonplace throughout the industry over the last three years. Despite making up only 6.05 percent of the tech workforce, Black tech workers represented 7.42 % of the people laid off in the industry. Even before the Trump administration's crackdown on DEI initiatives, departments at tech companies centered on diversifying the workforce were often the first to face cuts. The racism in tech isn't simply limited to alleged workplace interactions, as the algorithms perpetuated by Google generally favor alt-right, anti-woke content. Studies have shown that Google's YouTube platform is one of the leading causes for radicalization, and I totally understand how. I watch YouTube more than any other platform, and it's alarming how often the algorithm recommends alt-right gaming grifters offended at the concept of Black people existing. Especially since I watch a lot of Black and leftist content creators and consistently check the 'don't recommend' box whenever the usual suspects pop up. Yet still they persist. Which begs the question: Are those the folks Google believes are 'Googley?' Judging by how they're moving, it sure feels like it. SEE ALSO: Racial Bias: Audit Finds 36 In-Custody Deaths Should Be Labeled Homicides Trump's DOJ Thinks Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Hired Too Many Black People, So It Launched An Investigation SEE ALSO Google Settles Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Black Bias For $50 Million was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘Ape,' ‘monkey' and worse: Former Chick-fil-A employee accuses coworkers of monstrous racist abuse
A Black employee at a Chick-fil-A franchise in Idaho says he endured more than a half-year of racist abuse from coworkers who, among other things, called him the 'n-word,' referred to him as an 'ape,' a 'monkey' and threatened to cage him like an animal, according to a harrowing discrimination lawsuit obtained by The Independent. 'Of course he works at Chick-fil-A; he's Black, so he loves chicken,' one of Thomas Wade's colleagues allegedly said as he stood by in shock. After Wade went to higher-ups about the vile abuse, which his complaint contends also included at least one simulated 'slave whipping,' he was promptly fired. Meanwhile, management let multiple instances of sexual harassment slide because the accused happened to be the boss's son, according to Wade's complaint, which was filed March 13 in Pocatello federal court. On Tuesday, a Chick-fil-A spokesperson told The Independent, 'This matter involves a franchisee, not Chick-fil-A, Inc. Franchisees are independent operators responsible for all employment decisions in their restaurants. Chick-fil-A, Inc. is not involved in or aware of their employment matters.' The franchisee, Lauren Mosteller, Inc. of Woodstock, Georgia, responded in court to the allegations on May 7, denying 'each and every' one of Wade's claims. Apart from calling for dismissal on a slew of technicalities, the response deemed the offending conduct 'groundless,' and 'isolated and sporadic,' and thus, 'insufficient to establish a hostile work environment.' The lawyers representing Mosteller, Inc., listed in court papers as 'doing business as Chick-fil-A,' did not respond to requests for comment. In an email, attorney Ryan Dustin, who is representing Wade, told The Independent, '[D]ue to the ongoing litigation, we have no comment at this time.' A conservative fast-food chain founded in 1967 by a devout Southern Baptist who decreed all stores would be closed in Sundays, Chick-fil-A's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage proudly states that its 'corporate purpose' is 'To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A.' In 2020, the founder's son, Chick-fil-A chairman Dan Cathy – who has been extremely vocal about his opposition to marriage equality – spoke out in support of the Black community following the death of George Floyd while in police custody. 'Let's be moved to action,' Cathy wrote on his personal LinkedIn profile. 'Let's join together to build a world that reflects God's love for all of us. At the same time, Chick-fil-A franchises in various parts of the U.S. have faced accusations of anti-Black bigotry. Last year, a Maryland man went public after a Chick-fil-A drive-thru order was labeled with the word 'monkeys,' rather than his name, Marquise. In Pennsylvania, a Chick-fil-A manager reportedly forced a Black employee to stand outside in a violent thunderstorm while calling others back into the store. Still, the mere existence of its DEI program has drawn the ire of the American right for being too 'woke.' Wade began working as a cook on the 'back of house crew' at an Idaho Falls Chick-fil-A in December 2022, according to his complaint. Shortly after getting hired, Wade applied to take part in Chick-fil-A's 'Leadership Development Program,' but was passed over in favor of a white male employee, the complaint states. The next couple of months went by largely uneventfully, according to the complaint. Then, in March 2023, Wade stepped in after seeing two coworkers, one of them his supervisor's son, 'antagonizing a third employee,' the complaint goes on. 'In response to his attempts to intervene and diffuse the situation, [the son] told [Wade], 'Shut up ape, before I put you in a cage,'' the complaint continues. When Wade replied that he would report their behavior to management, the supervisor's son called him 'monkey-looking-ass,' and warned him that 'my parents own this store,' according to the complaint. But, it maintains, when Wade told his supervisor about what had happened, the manager 'did nothing.' The supervisor, Eric Ibarra, and his family are not named as defendants in Wade's lawsuit. Ibarra was unable to be reached for comment. Distressed, the complaint says Wade took two days off 'to give himself some space.' When he went back to work, several other of Ibarra's relatives, who all worked at the same Chick-fil-A, 'resumed making racist comments, which occurred over the next seven months.' In addition to them calling Wade the n-word and likening him to an ape, and a monkey, they at one point told him he was a piece of 'antique farming equipment,' in reference to slavery, according to the complaint. On one occasion, the complaint says Wade walked in on another of Ibarra's sons whipping a colleague with a towel, after which they told Wade that 'he would know about getting whipped since he is Black.' In another instance, Wade heard one of Ibarra's three daughters say he 'look[ed] like a monkey, [and] act[ed] like a monkey,' the complaint alleges. Over the summer of 2023, Wade was subjected to a barrage of racist taunts and remarks, called a 'back of house monkey,' and was shocked to find a variation of the n-word written on the kitchen freezer, according to the complaint. It says Wade's formal grievances continued to go nowhere. However, Ibarra's family members went on acting out with apparent impunity, the complaint asserts. In July 2023, when another one of Ibarra's sons was suspended for sexually harassing a coworker, and continued to do so upon his return, he was fired, according to the complaint. Yet, a month later, he was hired back, the complaint states. In all, Wade made between 25 and 30 reports to Chick-fil-A management about the nonstop racism he was experiencing, according to the complaint. On October 16, 2023, Wade was terminated 'because [he] refused to tolerate and continued to report racist behavior and comments by his coworkers,' the complaint concludes. It alleges the company 'believed it would be easier to terminate [Wade's] employment than take any action to stop the other employees' discriminatory behavior.' This February, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued Wade a 'right to sue' letter, allowing him to initiate the legal process. The following month, he did. Wade's lawsuit seeks to hold Lauren Mosteller, Inc., 'doing business as Chick-fil-A,' for discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, in addition to two sections of Idaho's Human Rights Act. He is seeking compensatory, general, statutory, and punitive damages, plus court costs and attorneys' fees. An in-court status conference is scheduled for July 7.
Black America Web
19-05-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
Black Women Lost 106,000 Jobs In April—But The Impact Goes Beyond Headlines
Source: Igor Suka / Getty Big shifts are happening in the job market right now. And if you're a Black woman, the latest numbers may hit a little harder—and a lot closer to home. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black women lost 106,000 jobs in April 2025. That's more than any other group. Meanwhile, the national unemployment rate stayed steady at 4.2% and over 170,000 jobs were added across the country. So while the economy is technically 'growing,' many of us are being left out of the picture. The Numbers Don't Lie—But They Don't Tell the Full Story Either Our unemployment rate jumped from 5.1% to 6.1% in one month. That's the biggest increase across race and gender lines. And for a lot of us, it's not just a stat—it's a stressor. These aren't just random jobs. These are careers. Livelihoods. Stability. We're talking about Black women who've been showing up every day—working in schools, hospitals, government offices, behind the scenes and on the front lines. Women with degrees, certifications, and years of experience. Women who are raising kids, paying off loans, helping aging parents, and keeping whole families afloat. So what changed? A big part of the story is what's happening with federal jobs. These roles have long been a backbone for Black families—offering good pay, solid benefits, and room to grow. But between January and April, 26,000 federal jobs were cut. That includes 9,000 in April alone. And while those numbers might seem like just a shift in hiring, there's more behind it. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roles are being rolled back across agencies and corporations. Executive orders are chipping away at the kind of policies that once gave Black women a fair(er) shot. Further, many DEI roles once held by Black women are vanishing – and with little accountability. The playing field is shifting—again—and it's not in our favor. Economist William Michael Cunningham didn't hold back when speaking to Black Enterprise . 'The unusual nature of this increase in Black women's unemployment is a testament to and a direct result of the anti-DEI and anti-Black focus of the new administration's policies,' he said. RELATED: Opinion: Donald Trump's Reelection Proves That America Hates Black Women Source: VioletaStoimenova / Getty When Black women lose jobs, it doesn't happen in a vacuum. It means less income circulating in our communities. It means more stress on households that already carry so much. Black women are often the primary earners, the caretakers, the backbones. So when we're pushed out of the workforce, everything around us feels that ripple. So yeah, these numbers are more than statistics on a spreadsheet. Let them be a reality check for all of us to what may be ahead. And we'll be watching. SEE ALSO Black Women Lost 106,000 Jobs In April—But The Impact Goes Beyond Headlines was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
