Don’t Get Distracted: 5 Trump Policies Black Americans Need to Watch Now – BlackPressUSA

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — While the headlines focus on personal attacks, the Congressional Budget Office reports that the GOP bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt and leave nearly 11 million people without health insurance.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
The public feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk over the GOP’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” has Republicans scrambling—but civil rights and other advocates warn that the drama may serve as a smokescreen, drawing attention away from harmful policies disproportionately targeting Black Americans. After Musk blasted the bill as a “disgusting abomination” that adds to the national debt, Trump fired back, accusing Musk of selfishness over lost electric vehicle subsidies and threatening to terminate his government contracts. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Musk’s posts as “surprising and disappointing,” and the White House dismissed Musk’s allegations linking Trump to Jeffrey Epstein.
While the headlines focus on personal attacks, the Congressional Budget Office reports that the GOP bill would add $2.4 trillion to the national debt and leave nearly 11 million people without health insurance. At the same time, the Trump administration has renewed travel bans targeting majority-Black nations, slashed federal agency budgets, gutted DEI efforts, and advanced fossil fuel projects in Black communities. The Congressional Black Caucus and others warn that these policies amount to a deliberate attack on marginalized groups under the guise of fiscal reform—while the public remains fixated on billionaire infighting.
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A Little About Me: I’m the co-author of Blind Faith: The Miraculous Journey of Lula Hardaway and her son, Stevie Wonder (Simon & Schuster) and Michael Jackson: The Man Behind The Mask, An Insider’s Account of the King of Pop (Select Books Publishing, Inc.) My work can often be found in the Washington Informer, Baltimore Times, Philadelphia Tribune, Pocono Record, the New York Post, and Black Press USA.
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OP-ED: From D.E.I. to Merit, Advancement and Opportunity (M.A.O.)
King Family Wants MLK Files to Remain Sealed
A New Era of Policing Begins in Austell, Ga., with Black Woman Chief
BLACKPRESSUSA.COM NEWSWIRE — Advancement is key to M.A.O. to ensure that progress is based on performance and work-related contributions to success and mission fulfillment. Opportunity in M.A.O. is an outcome that provides equal access to resources, training, and to increased chances for success, regardless of background.
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By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association
Words matter. With all of the diversionary and distractive attacks on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.), it is time not to retreat from freedom’s demand for equal justice. In America today it is time to move forward. “Forward ever. Backward never,” was the historic refrain from the Honorable Marcus Garvey.
Recently members of my family gathered together in our hometown of Oxford, North Carolina for an intergenerational family discussion on the periodic dispute over appropriate phraseology that should more accurately focus on increasing opportunity and how to improve the quality of life of all.
The Chavis family has been in Granville County, N.C. for over 200 years. We have witnessed the evolution of the Freedom Movement in America and the price that has been paid to advance the interests of Black Americans and all others who have cried out and struggled for equality.
We recall the national debate over “affirmative action.” We remember the recent disputes over “critical race theory” by people who could not even define what the phrase means.
In 2025, the issues of merit vs. the matters of societal entitlements resonate with renewed vigor and social division across the nation. In the halls of the U.S. Congress and in state capitals voices and policies are being raised in opposition to Medicaid and Medicare that will affect millions of people.
Many leading corporate executives have also put forth historical justifications to retreat from D.E.I., yet none have offered alternative language or wording that will make good business sense. To demand merit and at the same time to deny equal opportunity to education, employment and healthcare is a regressive formula for social failure.
The fact is we have always worked hard to attain excellence and respect. Being meritorious is in our D.N.A. Against all possible repressive odds, we continue to strive to overcome the legacies and ignorance of racism and hatred.
Our family discussion did not relent until we all mutually agreed on what we are recommending as today’s alternative language and wording for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We believe that Merit, Advancement, and Opportunity (M.A.O.) should be universally stated as an achievable goal for corporate America and for all who are decision-makers in the U.S. Congress, state governments, and in local municipalities.
Merit is about recognizing and rewarding based on abilities, skills, and accomplishments. By centering on merit, M.A.O. aims to reward hard work and talent, fostering a culture of excellence.
Advancement is key to M.A.O. to ensure that progress is based on performance and work-related contributions to success and mission fulfillment. Opportunity in M.A.O. is an outcome that provides equal access to resources, training, and to increased chances for success, regardless of background.
M.A.O. avoids identity-based preferences and minimizes considerations of race, gender, or other identity factors in decision-making processes.
In other words, M.A.O. promotes a fair, objective, and efficient system where individuals succeed based on their merits. M.A.O. is aspirational without limitations to take advantage of opportunities to advance individual careers and greater societal good for all.
We look forward to continuing the national dialogue and refinement of the conceptual framework of Merit, Advancement and Opportunity (M.A.O.). It is an urgent time to move our democracy forward and to reclaim the oneness of humanity.
Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the Black Press of America, http://www.BlackPressUSA.com
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Lawyers for Trump’s Department of Justice are asking Judge Leon to end a “sealing order” on records related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so that they would be released two years earlier than the sealing order’s expiration date.
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By Lauren Burke
“This is delicate stuff,” Judge Richard Leon said during a hearing on June 4 on the question of whether classified documents related to Dr. Martin Luther King will be made public. “We’re going to go slowly. Little steps,” Judge Leon added. Judge Leon also said the process of potentially making the King records public would be a “long journey” that would likely involve consulting the King family. The Judge also said he would request that the National Archives compile an inventory of the King’s records that he would later review. Judge Leon is a George W. Bush appointee. Lawyers for Trump’s Department of Justice are asking Judge Leon to end a “sealing order” on records related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so that they would be released two years earlier than the sealing order’s expiration date. An attorney for DoJ asserted the Trump administration only wants records related to the King assassination. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights group founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and his family, is opposed to the early release of documents from 1963 to 1968.
On January 23, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14176, titled “Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” The Executive order was an attempt to direct the declassification of documents related to the assassinations of the three historic figures. Documents related to the assassination of John F. Kennedy were eventually made public. Many found the files underwhelming. The JFK assassination records were released to the public in two separate information drops on March 18, 2025. The files were made public by The National Archives and the release of 2,182 records and 63,400 pages of materials are now in the public domain. More records are expected to be released as they are digitized.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Jones-Harrell outlined her top priorities: increasing female representation on the force, enhancing community engagement, and securing state accreditation for the department.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Shameta Jones-Harrell has officially taken the helm as police chief of Austell, Georgia, becoming the first woman to lead any police department in Cobb County’s history. With over two decades of law enforcement experience, Jones-Harrell brings a strong track record of leadership, innovation, and a deep commitment to community policing. Sworn in Tuesday evening, Jones-Harrell outlined her top priorities: increasing female representation on the force, enhancing community engagement, and securing state accreditation for the department. “We are almost at the end of that goal,” she told WSB-TV, referencing the department’s progress toward certification.
Her rise through the ranks has been both historic and impactful. She began her law enforcement career in October 2000 with the College Park Police Department, where she served in various roles, including as a detective specializing in sex crimes, domestic violence, and crimes against children. She also served on the SWAT team, the only woman at the time to hold that position. Her leadership journey continued at the Brookhaven Police Department, where she joined as a sergeant and quickly rose to lieutenant, then major. There, she oversaw the Support Services Division, managed the Community Engagement Unit, and launched initiatives such as the “One Congregation One Precinct” program to build stronger ties between police and faith-based communities. She also acted as a liaison to the Social Justice, Race, and Equity Commission’s Police Accountability & Legitimacy Committee.
In 2021, she joined the Austell Police Department as deputy chief, where she led roughly 60 community outreach efforts and implemented daily patrol strategies that she credits with helping reduce violent crime in the city. “One of the reasons why I decided to join law enforcement is so I can make sure I could progress other women through the ranks,” she said. Her emphasis on accountability, training, and inclusion reflects a broader effort to build a department that represents and serves the entire community.
A graduate of Jacksonville State University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a concentration in Forensic Science, Chief Jones-Harrell has completed advanced leadership training, including the Law Enforcement Executive Development program and Critical Incident Stress Management courses. She is also a member of both the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Jones-Harrell often reflects on the memory of her late mother, keeping a photo nearby bearing the words, “Inside me is a weak heart, but behind me is a strong God.” Her faith, she said, and her role as a devoted mother of two sons continue to keep her grounded as she leads with strength and purpose.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — USA Today noted that Canady’s impact on the field was immediate and unmatched. Despite suffering a minor injury, she helped lead Texas Tech to its first Big 12 regular-season and conference titles
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
NiJaree Canady, a 22-year-old African American softball phenom, has become the first college softball player to sign a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal worth more than $1 million, a historic moment in collegiate sports. The former Stanford ace transferred to Texas Tech, where she secured a groundbreaking $1,050,024 one-year contract through the Matador Club, an NIL collective affiliated with the university. The deal includes a $1 million direct payment, $50,000 for living expenses, and an additional $24 in honor of her jersey number. According to BlackNews.com, Canady, who was named the 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, entered the transfer portal shortly before Texas Tech hired Coach Gerry Glasco. He acted quickly to bring her to Lubbock—with backing from NFL quarterback and Red Raider alum Patrick Mahomes—and offered her not just a starting role but an expanded opportunity to develop her offensive skills. “The coaching staff and their vision were a major reason I made this decision,” Canady told ESPN. She described her transition from Stanford’s Palo Alto campus to West Texas as smooth, noting that the environment reminds her more of her hometown of Topeka, Kansas.
USA Today noted that Canady’s impact on the field was immediate and unmatched. Despite suffering a minor injury, she helped lead Texas Tech to its first Big 12 regular-season and conference titles, finishing the season with a 26-5 record and a nation-leading ERA of 0.86. She also threw a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to deliver the program’s first-ever win at the Women’s College World Series. Coach Glasco called Canady the best pitcher he’s ever coached and said he believes she can lead Texas Tech to a national championship. Her resume is as stacked as her fastball is deadly. In addition to her 2024 USA Softball Player of the Year honor, Canady received the Honda Sport Award, was a two-time Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team selection and dominated at Stanford with a 41-10 record and a 0.67 ERA over two seasons. She also represented Team USA in the 2024 Japan All-Star Series.
Before college, Canady was a standout at Topeka High School, where she was a two-time Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year and led her team to back-to-back state championships. She graduated in 2022 and was ranked as the No. 11 softball recruit in the nation by Extra Innings Softball. Off the field, she’s equally grounded—an academic All-American who enjoys reading and spending time with her dog. She is the daughter of Bruce and Katherine Canady, and her brother Bruce Jr. plays football at Cal. Canady’s NIL deal not only sets a new benchmark for college softball but also signals a shift in opportunities for Black female athletes in a space that other demographics have long dominated. “She’s changing the game—literally and financially,” Coach Glasco said.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Programs that create opportunity, equity, and stability are being dismantled to make way for budget cuts that disproportionately favor the wealthy.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
For over six decades, Job Corps has been one of the most effective federal programs aimed at helping disadvantaged youth overcome poverty. Created as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Economic Opportunity Act of 1964—a cornerstone of his War on Poverty—Job Corps has helped millions of low-income Americans gain education, housing, job skills, and a pathway to employment, particularly African Americans and other marginalized communities. Now, in what critics are calling a direct assault on America’s poor and working-class youth, the Trump administration is suspending operations at all Job Corps centers nationwide. The Department of Labor’s decision made public on May 30, has already resulted in thousands of students being abruptly sent home from residential campuses, leaving many with nowhere to go and no immediate support. From Detroit to Memphis to Clearfield, Utah, stories have emerged of stunned students and outraged parents. “Everybody right now don’t know what to do,” said Haley Hawkins, a student from the Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks Job Corps Center in Memphis. “They feel like this is a dead end.” In Detroit, 16-year-old Carleton Davis had just settled into the program when he and dozens of others were told to pack up and leave. His mother, recovering from breast cancer and recently unhoused, feared what would come next.
The closures affect 99 contractor-operated centers and align with Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer claimed the centers are no longer achieving the outcomes students deserve and cited financial strain as justification for the pause. But many lawmakers across party lines have condemned the move. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, blasted the decision, noting the value of centers in her home state. “They have become important pillars of support for some of our most disadvantaged young adults,” she said. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) accused the administration of prioritizing “tax cuts for billionaires” over proven programs for poor and working-class youth. The stakes are enormous. Job Corps serves youth between the ages of 16 and 24, most of whom are low-income, have dropped out of school, or face other barriers to employment. Many have aged out of foster care, experienced homelessness, or had contact with the criminal justice system. The program offers not only training in skilled trades such as healthcare, auto tech, and culinary arts but also provides room, board, and wraparound services, including counseling and healthcare.
Historically, the Job Corps has been especially vital to African Americans. According to data from the Cleveland Job Corps, the majority of its 12,000 graduates over two decades were Black women. Across the nation, the program has offered a rare safe harbor for Black and Brown youths seeking alternatives to crime and poverty.
Its roots stretch back to the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s, which gave work to young men during the Great Depression. Modeled in part on the CCC, Job Corps was designed to serve both urban and rural youth, with a large portion of participants historically coming from the South and other poverty-stricken regions. Despite occasional criticisms over operational issues, Job Corps has demonstrated strong outcomes. Over 80% of graduates either enter the workforce, join the military, or pursue further education. Students typically improve at least two grade levels in literacy and math while enrolled.
At its heart, the Job Corps mission remains simple yet powerful: provide vulnerable youth with a chance. “For so many people in this program, their lives have been very challenging,” former Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said recently. “Job Corps has been the game-changer.” With this administration’s decision, many said the message to low-income Americans—particularly African Americans and others in underserved communities—is loud and clear: support systems that have worked for decades are expendable. Programs that create opportunity, equity, and stability are being dismantled to make way for budget cuts that disproportionately favor the wealthy. “These aren’t kids in a youth home that got caught in a crime,” Pastor Mo, a Detroit minister and advocate, said. “These are kids who are trying to avoid getting caught in a crime.”
BLACKPRESSUSA.COM NEWSWIRE — In late May, Trump announced he is “giving very serious consideration” to taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public again. These government-backed mortgage giants were central players in the last financial collapse. Under pressure to expand homeownership without oversight, they helped inflate the subprime mortgage bubble. Ten million Americans lost their homes. The institutions got bailed out. Families didn’t.
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By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association
President Donald Trump’s housing policy is shaping up to be both an economic and humanitarian disaster, and if leaders across the political spectrum don’t act soon, the damage may be irreversible.
To be clear, housing policy was already broken long before Trump returned to office. But instead of tackling the root causes — like the chronic shortage of Section 8 vouchers and affordable units — some policymakers chose to blame tools like rent-pricing software, which simply reflect the market’s conditions.
Rather than confront the real barriers to affordability, politicians have chosen to target the messenger. That never made sense, and it still doesn’t — a point that Democratic Governor Jared Polis made clear last week by vetoing a bill to ban such technology. If we want lower rents, we don’t need to ban software that reports current prices. We need to build enough housing so the data reflects abundance, not scarcity.

Unfortunately, President Trump has not gotten this memo, and he is making our broken housing system worse. He has already driven up lumber prices with protectionist trade wars and targeted immigrant communities who make up a vital part of the construction workforce. Now, the president is laying the groundwork for another housing crisis that could rival 2008.
In late May, Trump announced he is “giving very serious consideration” to taking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac public again. These government-backed mortgage giants were central players in the last financial collapse. Under pressure to expand homeownership without oversight, they helped inflate the subprime mortgage bubble. Ten million Americans lost their homes. The institutions got bailed out. Families didn’t.
To prevent that kind of disaster from recurring, the government placed both firms under conservatorship. Releasing them now would create the same reckless incentives that crashed the global economy, and it would benefit deep-pocketed investors just in time for the 2026 elections. When the next economic crash comes, everyday Americans, and especially Americans in underserved communities, will be the ones paying the price.
And it doesn’t stop there. Trump’s proposed budget would cut federal rental assistance by about 40% at a time when nearly half of renters are spending more than a third of their income on housing. “We would see, I think, homelessness escalate in a way that has been really unprecedented,” warned Kim Johnson of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Remaining funds would be handed to states as “block grants,” echoing past efforts to gut safety net programs through decentralization and attrition. This is not a serious answer to the housing crisis. It’s an ideological move that risks deepening inequality and instability that will result in a type of “housing apartheid.”
Policymakers from both parties should reject this approach and unite around a new vision: one that builds. Writers Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson call this the “abundance agenda.” In their book Abundance, they challenge local, state, and federal leaders to confront the self-imposed zoning restrictions and regulatory delays that have made it almost impossible to build enough housing.
“You cannot be the party of working families when the places you govern are places working families can no longer afford to live,” Klein wrote. That means reforming exclusionary zoning, streamlining permitting, and shifting the political culture that demonizes developers while ignoring demand. It means prioritizing supply, not just subsidies.
Because if we don’t solve the housing crisis ourselves, voters will turn to anyone who claims they will, even if the solutions are fake or destructive. The values are already there. What we need now is strategy and action. Increasing housing affordability and availability isn’t just good policy. It’s the only way to keep working Americans housed, the economy stable, and America’s future secure and inclusive.

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