Harvard Reaches Historic Settlement Over Earliest Known Photographs of Enslaved Americans – BlackPressUSA

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — As part of the settlement, Harvard has agreed to fully relinquish the images to Lanier, who is advocating for their permanent display at the International African American Museum in Charleston
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Harvard University will relinquish ownership of the earliest known photographs of enslaved people as part of a historic legal settlement announced Wednesday by nationally renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump. The agreement resolves a 2019 lawsuit filed by Tamara Lanier, the great-great-great-granddaughter of an enslaved man known as “Papa Renty,” whose image, along with that of his daughter Delia and five others, was captured in 1850 to support racist scientific theories promoted by a Harvard professor. The 19th-century daguerreotypes, long held by Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, were commissioned by Swiss-born biologist Louis Agassiz, a Harvard professor who used the images in a campaign to promote polygenism—the debunked and deeply racist theory that different races have separate origins and that Africans and African Americans are inferior to whites. The photographs were taken in South Carolina, where Renty and Delia were stripped and posed under duress.
“This is a day of reckoning 175 years in the making,” said Josh Koskoff, co-counsel on the case. “This is not just an unlikely personal victory for the Lanier family; it is also a win for the importance of truth and the power of history at a time when both values are under unprecedented assault.” As part of the settlement, Harvard has agreed to fully relinquish the images to Lanier, who is advocating for their permanent display at the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina—the same state where the pictures were initially taken. A confidential financial agreement was also reached. “Since Black Americans were first brought to this country in chains, our pain and trauma have been exploited for capitalistic gain,” said Lanier. “Harvard played a role in the darkest chapter in American history. This is a small step in the right direction towards fully acknowledging that history and working to rectify it.”
The lawsuit accused Harvard of wrongfully seizing and profiting from the images, charging licensing fees for their use in books and promotional materials, and publicly dismissing Lanier’s well-documented genealogical claims. The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled in her favor in 2022, stating that “Harvard’s present obligations cannot be divorced from its past abuses.” “Papa Renty was taken from his descendants and used to promote a lie – but today, he has finally been returned to the love and care of his family,” said Crump. “This historic settlement is a step forward in the pursuit of justice and a recognition of the pain caused by the dark history of exploiting enslaved people.” “They will be returning to their home state where this all began, and they will be placed in an institution that can celebrate their humanity,” Lanier said.
True Unemployment Rate Soars Past 24% — Black Workers Hit Hardest
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.
True Unemployment Rate Soars Past 24% — Black Workers Hit Hardest
PRESS ROOM: Black Leaders Detroit Launches 1,600-mile Ride for Equity to Raise Awareness, Funding for Entrepreneurs of African Descent
ICE Raids in Martha’s Vineyard
Court Fight Begins Over Trump’s Destruction of AmeriCorps
Questions and Answers for Parents of Children with Disabilities
Trump’s Personal Fortune Surges as Critics Point to Historic Monetization of Presidency
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The numbers mark the third consecutive month that functional unemployment has surpassed 24%, according to LISEP, which defines functional unemployment as the combined total of those without jobs
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Despite federal reports suggesting a stable labor market, new data from the Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity (LISEP) reveals a far grimmer reality for American workers—particularly Black and Hispanic Americans. The institute’s April report on the True Rate of Unemployment (TRU) shows a functional unemployment rate of 24.3%, compared to the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figure of 4.2%. The numbers mark the third consecutive month that functional unemployment has surpassed 24%, according to LISEP, which defines functional unemployment as the combined total of those without jobs, those unable to secure full-time employment, and those earning poverty-level wages—less than $20,000 per year adjusted for inflation. “We are facing a job market where nearly one in four workers are functionally unemployed, and current trends show little sign of improvement,” said LISEP Chair Gene Ludwig. “The harsh reality is that far too many Americans are still struggling to make ends meet.”
Racial and gender disparities remain wide. Black workers saw a 1.4 percentage point increase in their TRU to 26.7%, while White workers experienced a slight decrease to 23%. The rate for Hispanic workers climbed to 28.2%, maintaining the highest among reported groups. A persistent gender gap also emerged in the data: functional unemployment for men rose to 20%, while women—though showing a slight improvement—still face a significantly higher rate at 28.6%. Beyond labor force disparities, BLS statistics further indicate a disproportionate impact on Black Americans. The unemployment rate for Black men remains at 6.3%, more than double that of White men. Meanwhile, since September, approximately 181,000 Black women have dropped out of the labor force entirely, even as participation rates among women of other racial groups have increased. The origins of this exodus stretch back to 2020 when millions of working mothers—particularly women of color—left the workforce amid the collapse of childcare infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have yet to return due to ongoing issues with affordability and accessibility.
LISEP’s white paper, “Measuring Better,” outlines significant flaws in headline economic indicators such as GDP and BLS unemployment rates, labeling them misleading and outdated. Instead, LISEP advocates for measures that reflect the lived economic realities of most Americans—particularly those in working- and middle-class communities that have long been left behind by policy and prosperity. According to the paper, the methodology behind TRU includes only those working full-time and earning above poverty wages as “employed.” It excludes part-time workers who would prefer full-time employment and those earning less than $20,000 per year. This approach, LISEP argues, provides policymakers with a more accurate understanding of economic well-being and informs better decision-making for resource allocation. “The public would be well served by a commitment from economic policymakers to adopt a stable course of action, based on real-world metrics, that better serves the interests of working Americans,” Ludwig said.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Black Leaders Detroit, the organizing body, is dedicated to promoting equity through community action. “The 2025 Ride for Equity is our most ambitious initiative yet,” said Dwan Dandridge, co-founder and CEO of Black Leaders Detroit.
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Cross-country stops aim to spark conversations; $1 a week can make a difference
Detroit, MI — On May 31, cyclists from across the United States will gather at Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Okla., and embark on a 35-day cross-country bike ride, concluding at Wall Street in New York City on July 4th, pedaling more than 1,600 miles to raise awareness and start conversations about the need for equitable funding for entrepreneurs of African descent. The Ride for Equity is actively seeking both riders and donations. The public is encouraged to visit http://www.Ride4Equity.org to learn more, sign up to ride for one or all segments in person or their community, and pledge $1 a week to the cause. Black Leaders Detroit, the organizing body, is dedicated to promoting equity through community action. “The 2025 Ride for Equity is our most ambitious initiative yet,” said Dwan Dandridge, co-founder and CEO of Black Leaders Detroit. “In our current economic landscape, it’s more important than ever to join together. Whether you’re riding a single day or the entire distance, your participation can drive change by empowering others to act.”
Since 2020, Black Leaders Detroit has organized an annual 377-mile bike ride from Detroit to the Mackinac Policy Conference, raising awareness about the barriers entrepreneurs of African descent face in accessing capital. Last year, more than 250 participants joined the six-mile kickoff event, with 15 dedicated riders tackling one or more full days of the journey. The cross-country Ride for Equity aims to raise national awareness and inspire action to close the racial wealth gap. Throughout the ride, Black Leaders Detroit will host “Speak for Yourself” forums in key cities along the route. These forums are designed to spark vital community discussions that allow participants to share insights, learn from one another, and envision a future of unity and economic empowerment. “Our previous forums have proven instrumental in building bridges and fostering understanding across diverse communities,” said Dandridge. “With stops in Tulsa, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Columbus, Pittsburg, and New York, plus various smaller cities along the way, we’re working to get the country talking about how prioritizing unity can remedy many of our long-standing challenges as a country.”
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Participation is open to cyclists worldwide.  Whether you ride the full route, join a portion of the journey, or cycle independently in your city, you can be part of this powerful movement.
Participation Details:
Additional details about the 2025 Ride for Equity and links to register, volunteer, and give, can be found at ride4equity.org.
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The Allen Lewis Agency
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ICE raids in Martha’s Vineyard spark fear and closures. “I am shook, saddened, and sickened,” says India Rose, as unmarked cars and federal agents disrupt the island’s seasonal economy and migrant workforce.
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By April Ryan
“I am shook, saddened, and sickened to my core,” responds India Rose, owner/founder of the Martha’s Vineyard Black-Owned Business Directory, in response to ICE raids in Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The round-up of illegal migrants has produced arrests, according to reports. Authorities were wearing vests that also read DEA, FBI, and police. The policing units used unmarked cars ferried to the island to locate migrants.
This is the prime time workers from other countries begin checking in for work at the vacation spots starting the 2025 vacation season, which is highly supported by those on foreign work visas. All employees are said to usually be in place entirely by June 15 of each vacation season that ends in October.
Many migrant workers are from Brazil, Jamaica, and Eastern European countries like Serbia, Romania, Georgia, and Yugoslavia.
Rose also told Black Press USA, “As a business owner and year-round island resident, seeing so many of my neighboring small businesses closed today out of the fear that this federal presence has instilled is frightening.” Regarding the impact on island sustainability amid these raids, Rose affirms, “This affects families, our local economy, and tourism here as a whole, which small businesses here fully depend on. These are scary times we are living in.”
In December of 2024, then-President-elect Donald Trump supported the H-1B visa program, stating, “I’ve always liked the visas. I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them.”
An H-1B Visa is a nonimmigrant visa that temporarily allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations.
However, other work visas are prevalent on the island. Jamaicans are also provided with H-2B work visas for temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work.  Martha’s Vineyard also offers J-1 Work Visas to Serbians, Georgians, Romanians, and Eastern Europeans. The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa for foreign nationals participating in exchange visitor programs in the United States, including those for work and study.
Martha’s Vineyard has been a Black destination spot, particularly in August. It has garnered much attention in shows and movies, like the most recent film, Forever’ on Netflix and Bravo’s Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard.
The irony of this raid is that on September 14, 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent 50 Venezuelan migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. It was part of a relocation program to ”sanctuary destinations.”
Shortly after the Vineyard drop-off, migrants were also left in front of then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ home at the Naval Observatory to bring attention to the illegal migrant issue and sanctuary cities.
 
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The decision ends funding for 1,031 organizations and displaces more than 32,000 AmeriCorps members and senior volunteers.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
The Trump administration is preparing to terminate AmeriCorps, eliminating $400 million in grants and cutting off critical services for tens of thousands, while continuing to advance policies that benefit Donald Trump, his family, and wealthy allies at the expense of low-income Americans. Final layoffs of AmeriCorps staff will take effect on June 24. Under orders from Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service, the administration is dismantling the country’s only federal agency for national service and volunteerism—without public input or congressional authorization. The decision ends funding for 1,031 organizations and displaces more than 32,000 AmeriCorps members and senior volunteers. The move is part of a broader campaign to punish the poor. Since returning to office, Trump has aggressively pushed cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance while pursuing massive tax breaks for the rich. Now, the administration is erasing programs that served veterans, students, the elderly, and communities devastated by natural disasters.
“These actions are heartless, cruel, and unlawful,” said Joel Berg of Hunger Free America, one of many groups impacted. “AmeriCorps isn’t wasteful spending—it’s a lifeline.” A coalition of nonprofits and service organizations from across the country has filed a federal lawsuit in Maryland, accusing the Trump administration of violating federal law by gutting AmeriCorps without legal authority or due process. Plaintiffs include Elev8 Baltimore, Red Cloud Indian School, the AmeriCorps Employees Union, and over a dozen others. The lawsuit states that the cuts violate the Administrative Procedure Act and federal budget law. On April 15, AmeriCorps participants were abruptly told to cease work and return home. Four regional National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) campuses were closed, and the entire corps disbanded. Most agency staff were placed on immediate administrative leave, and 85% were issued layoff notices effective June 24.
Programs supporting Native American education in South Dakota, school tutoring in Baltimore, housing counseling in North Carolina, and civic engagement in Maine have all been defunded. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), an AmeriCorps alum, called the shutdown a betrayal. “AmeriCorps costs pennies to the dollar and delivers enormous value. This decision will hurt communities that can least afford it.” The lawsuit demands a halt to the shutdown and calls on the courts to block what plaintiffs describe as an “unprecedented and unlawful dismantling” of a vital public institution. “Congress created AmeriCorps to serve the vulnerable,” the suit reads. “This administration has chosen to destroy it instead.”
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — It’s more important for us to focus on what children can do, and their abilities, rather than their disability. We can use children’s abilities to assist the areas that they have most challenges with right now.
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By Maureen Samms-Vaughan
As a parent, what can I do to support my child with a disability? Why is it important to focus on a child’s abilities?
Every child with a disability has strengths. These may be in doing artwork, in their personality, or in their motor skills. Every child has strength. It’s more important for us to focus on what children can do, and their abilities, rather than their disability. We can use children’s abilities to assist the areas that they have most challenges with right now.
How can I communicate with my child with a disability and how do I know when he/she wants to communicate with me?
Some children with disabilities will be able to speak with you. Others will not be able to speak. But they do communicate, even though they don’t speak. For example, when a newborn baby comes into a family that baby communicates without speaking. You learn the baby’s likes and dislikes by whether they smile, laugh, or whether they cry. The same occurs with children with disabilities who can’t speak. They tell you what they like by smiling or laughing, and they tell you what they don’t like by crying or making an upset face.
What can I do in my day-to-day to make sure I’m stimulating my child and his/her brain development?
Children are stimulated by everything in their environment: by the sounds, by the interactions, by your smile. So, if your child with a disability is around you, you should make sure that you spend time talking with them, explaining in simple language what it is you’re doing, smiling with them, telling them all about their environment, making noises around them so they can respond to noises. Everything that you do, as you are moving about the house, as you are doing your housework, involve and include your child in it. Move your child into the room in which you are working. Tell them what you are doing: you are washing the dishes, you’re dipping the dishes in the water. Tell them exactly what you are doing. All of that will stimulate them. You can also stimulate them by directly playing with them, by making little toys in the home, putting stones in a bottle and shaking it, by waving ribbons in front of their eyes, different colored ribbons. There are many things that you can do with just things around your house.
Can I breastfeed my child if he/she has a disability?
Breastfeeding is important for all children but is especially important for children with disabilities. Breastfeeding is important for children’s growth, nutrition, and brain development. Many children with disabilities can breastfeed, but only a few are not able to breastfeed. And those who can’t and can be fed expressed breastmilk, because breastmilk is the best.
Why are the early years of every child’s life so critical?
The early years of every child, whether they have a disability or not, are critical because when we stimulate the brain during these early years we are ensuring that the brain develops to its full potential. We are making sure that children have the best development that they can have and this happens for children with disabilities and children without disabilities.
How do I play with my child with a disability?
Children with disabilities enjoy being played with just like any other child. They enjoy you reading to them, showing them pictures, tickling them, hugging them, cuddling them. They respond to you with laughter and smiles. If they don’t like a particular play that you are doing, they will tell you. They will stop laughing, they’ll stop smiling. Try something else. You will find something because you know them best.
If I don’t have time to play or money to afford toys, what can I do? 
If you don’t have a lot of time to play with your child, there may be other family members in your home who will be able to play with your child with a disability. Brothers and sisters are great around children with disabilities. They stimulate them because they talk to them a lot and they play with them. They don’t seem to be concerned about whether a sibling has a disability. They play with them just like anyone else.
What is your advice to parents who suspect that their child has a disability?
If you have a concern that your child has a disability, go to your nearest health provider and let them know your concerns. Some concerns may turn out not to be a problem at all, but some may, and your child may be identified as having a disability. It’s just as important to provide children with disabilities with a loving environment. Children who are shown warmth and love grow up to be loving, warm people. A child with a disability who is shown warmth and love will grow up to be an adult who may have a disability, but who is a wonderful person to be around.
Maureen Samms-Vaughan is a Professor of Child Health, Child Development, and Behavior at the University of West Indies in Jamaica. She is an advocate for vulnerable children, particularly children with disabilities and those impacted by violence, and has published significant research in these areas.
Five years after George Floyd’s murder, Texas Rep. Ron Reynolds reflects on the progress made—and the promises left behind. From local action to stalled reform efforts, he calls for renewed commitment to justice beyond slogans. “We’re still moving, side by side, doing the hard work to get closer to justice.”
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By Rep. Ron Reynolds
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE – Five years ago, the world watched in horror as George Floyd pleaded for his life under the knees of a Minneapolis police officer. His final words—“I can’t breathe”—became a rallying cry for justice, igniting a global movement against systemic racism and police brutality. The streets of America, including right here in Texas, were filled with voices demanding change, accountability, and reform.
Following this national reckoning, I joined forces with my colleagues in the Texas Legislative Black Caucus to introduce the George Floyd Act, a bold and comprehensive attempt to reform policing in our state. We sought to ban chokeholds, end arrests for non-jailable offenses, require officers to intervene when excessive force is used, and finally confront the abuse of qualified immunity. These weren’t simply bullet points on a page. These were demands from the people—George Floyd’s voice echoing through us, and we answered.
And right here in Houston, the late, great Mayor Sylvester Turner led with integrity, vision, and heart. At George Floyd’s funeral, he didn’t just offer condolences—he delivered action. He signed an executive order banning chokeholds and implemented new reforms to make policing more transparent and humane. Mayor Turner believed in walking the walk. His leadership during that turbulent time brought a sense of hope to our communities—and for that, we’re grateful.
However, after five years, we must admit that some of that hope has faded. Resistance, rollbacks, and political gamesmanship have met the progress we fought for. In states across the country, including our own, DEI initiatives are under attack, and efforts to shield police misconduct are creeping back into policy discussions. While we’ve made strides, it’s frustrating—and heartbreaking—to see how quickly the urgency has faded. When the cameras turned off and the headlines moved on, too many leaders fell silent.
Every time I step into a committee room or cast a vote, I’m thinking about George Floyd
As the state representative for Fort Bend County’s District 27, I haven’t gone quiet. Every time I step into a committee room or cast a vote, I’m thinking about George Floyd—and what my community expects me to fight for. Fort Bend is one of the most diverse counties in the US, and we’re not sitting around waiting for Washington or Austin to fix things. We’re building coalitions, backing community-led safety efforts, and making sure our local policies reflect the values we say we stand for: justice, equity, and accountability.
I’ve visited classrooms where students ask whether they could experience what happened to George Floyd. That’s the reality we’re still living with. That’s why I continue to push for bills that protect civil rights, reform the criminal justice system, and demand transparency from law enforcement. That’s why I won’t stop speaking up for those who can’t.
We’ve got to bring back the urgency we felt in 2020—not just through social media or rallies, but by turning that energy into real policy and meaningful change. This campaign isn’t just about George Floyd. It’s about every Black and Brown person who fears a traffic stop might be their last. It’s about making sure our kids grow up in a country where justice isn’t something you have to earn—it’s something you can count on.
So, on this fifth anniversary, let’s not just remember. Let’s recommit. Let’s honor George Floyd not with silence but with action. We may be bruised, but we’re still here. We’re still moving, side by side, doing the hard work to get closer to justice.
Rep. Ron Reynolds
Texas House of Representatives, District 27
Proudly serving Fort Bend County and the fight for justice everywhere
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

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