Hegseth Blocks Black Promotions. Iran War Impacts Farmers. Karmelo Anthony Trial. Love, Joy & Power

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas consistently demonstrates an anti-Black judicial philosophy, exemplified by his dissent in a death row case (Gary Whitten) where he argued against reconsidering new DNA evidence, deeming it 'inconsequential.' He explicitly stated the Court should focus on 'discrimination against whites in college admissions' instead of a man on death row. This aligns with his historical opposition to affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act.

Clarence Thomas said, 'I don't understand why the court is even intervening in this because he said it would not have changed the outcome because the evidence against the Florida death row inmate were so overwhelming.' He pointed to cases involving race and college admissions as more deserving of the court's attention. This was a 7-2 ruling, with Thomas and Samuel Alito dissenting.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, under the Trump administration, blocked the promotions of at least seven Navy officers, disproportionately targeting women and Black men. This action, reported by The New York Times, appears to violate apolitical, merit-based promotion rules and contributes to an anti-Black and anti-woman agenda within the military.

The New York Times reported that Hegseth blocked promotions of at least seven Navy officers, with at least two women and two Black men removed from the list. No female officers were included on the new one-star list, despite women making up 21% of the active-duty Navy, and only two non-white officers were included, despite minorities making up 38%.

The Republican Party, particularly under Donald Trump, has adopted a systemic anti-Black agenda, manifested through various policies and rhetoric. This includes executive orders against DEI programs, legislation cutting funding for Black interests (like sickle cell and maternal health), gerrymandering, and appointing few African Americans to high-ranking positions.

Scott Balden's piece in The Hill, 'Trump has turned Republicans into the anti-lack party,' outlines executive orders on DEI, legislation cutting funding, only one African American in a 24-person cabinet, and ordering federal museums to whitewash American history of racism.

Black Voters Matter (BVM) employs a comprehensive grassroots organizing model centered on direct community engagement, local investment, and cultural relevance. Their 'Blackest Bus in America' tours bring resources and voter education to underserved communities, providing mini-grants to local organizations and integrating 'black joy' and culture into their activism.

BVM supported 30 organizations across 18 counties in the 2017 Alabama race, giving mini-grants to groups working on 'no budget.' The bus tours travel the entire South, listening to communities, and integrating food, music, and local culture into events. They expanded to a 'fleet of baby buses' with QR codes for easy registration.

For Black organizations to achieve true independence and effectively advocate for Black liberation, they must prioritize self-funding from the Black community rather than relying on corporate or external philanthropy. External funding often comes with implicit or explicit limitations that can compromise the organization's ability to speak truth to power and pursue radical change.

Roland Martin states, 'You cannot be black and demand that the preacher and the black civil rights group and the legal group and this group and blackowned media, man, we need somebody speaking truth to power, but you ain't even sending a dollar.' He contrasts this with self-funded entities like the Divine Nine fraternities and sororities, which have greater freedom to speak.