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A Precarious Time: Black Labor Day 2025

by The Rev. Terrence L. Melvin, President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists Labor Day 2025 seems like a good time to ask a long neglected question: What is the State of Black Work Life in America? Precarious. Whiplashed by the daily grind and Donald Trump’s relentless War on Blackness, worklife for most Black […]

Published

11 months ago

August 28, 2025

Oakland Post

by The Rev. Terrence L. Melvin, President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

Labor Day 2025 seems like a good time to ask a long neglected question: What is the State of Black Work Life in America?

Precarious.

Whiplashed by the daily grind and Donald Trump’s relentless War on Blackness, worklife for most Black folks is about vigilance to cope with the unexpected and resilience to overcome barriers meant to constrain or exploit our presence.

We know we’re in a dangerous moment when the President of the United States would minimize “how bad slavery was.” To whom, sir? And this is the man who has seized control of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. What could possibly go wrong here?

Fact check: Donald Trump has made the federal government hostile to Black workers, and he has stoked that hostile posture beyond the government. Consequently, America is on edge, putting Black workers in a vulnerable position. Black workers are leaving jobs at twice the rate of white workers, hoping to escape toxic racial bias.

State of Black Worklife

Black worklife remains a test of resiliency and protecting our humanity from evil jesters seeking revenge. Hard work, we do, working two or three jobs to make ends meet on thin paychecks that don’t stretch far enough to even pay for a $10 dream. And recent economic reports bring bad news to Black workers: Black unemployment surged to its highest level (7.2%) since the dark days of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, white workers are keeping a significantly lower rate of 3.7%, creating an employment gap that’s nearly double.

Contributing to the employment crisis of Black workers is the drastic reduction of the federal workforce and the impact of Trump’s disastrous tariff policies.

It’s really hard to process the damage that has been done in just EIGHT months. Since Trump signed an executive order banning diversity, equity and inclusion in all federal agencies and programs, his War on Blackness has escalated:

He fired Carla Hayden, the first African American librarian at the Library of Congress, for no cause other than her complexion.
He tried but failed to fire Gwynne Wilcox, the Black former chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Today, he is trying remove Lisa Cook, a noted economist and Black member on the powerful Federal Reserve Board
But Trump’s hostility toward Black people goes far beyond his attacks and obsession with DEI. He and his authoritarian alter ego, Elon Musk, have severely gashed and slashed the federal workforce. The hemorrhaging of federal jobs has been felt disproportionately by African Americans:
Nearly 1 out of 5 federal workers is Black.
Many of the agencies targeted for harsh cuts have the highest percentage of Black workers, such as the Department of Education (28%).
More than 226,000 Black women lost their jobs during Trump’s DEI purge.

Trump intensified his brutal Black attack when he illegally stripped millions of federal employees of their union contracts that guaranteed their wages, job safety, and benefits. In spite of being denied access to tens of millions in dues money, their unions have been going toe-to-toe with the Trump regime to reverse his anti-union actions. This is blatant retaliation. And it magnifies the hardship felt by federal workers, who are going through the trauma of sudden firings or reassignments, missed bill payments and anxiety about their future.

Their fight is our fight. And the fight for labor rights is also our fight for racial justice. Union representation remains the most powerful means by which Black workers can earn fair wages, secure affordable healthcare and build wealth and retirement security – the foundation of stable families and thriving communities. The value of union membership will grow in Black worklife as living costs creep higher and higher.

Job Crisis for Black Women

But the spotlight this Black Labor Day must fall on a largely untold story about Black women being pushed out of the labor force at a record pace.

Nearly 300,000 Black women have been bounced from the workforce in the past three months.
This mass exodus has its roots in the massive DEI purge, the impact of higher tariffs on small businesses that hire Black women, growing automation, and exclusion from booming tech jobs.
For example, the share of Black women who worked in the federal government plunged nearly 33% over the past year.
And more than 518,000 Black women still have not returned to the workforce since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
Subsequently, the real unemployment rate for Black women is slightly above 10 percent.

As economist Katica Ray summarized the economic fallout from the employment crisis of Black women, “When these women are pushed out of the workforce, entire families lose their economic foothold, threatening housing stability, consumer spending and educational outcome for children. These are not isolated setbacks – they are systemic losses.” The shockwaves of Black women’s job turmoil is just starting to be felt. We must treat this as the canary in the coal mine: even bigger trouble looms ahead.

Young Black Workers: Stressed and Stranded

So, how are young Black workers faring in these turbulent times? The worklife of young Black workers is a ball of anxiety, because the labor market is failing them. They face barriers like chaotic work schedules, rent pressures, transportation expenses, child care issues, gender bias, transphobia, DEI backlash, and student loan headaches. These challenges can trigger feelings of being isolated with dreams crushed by a crooked system that stigmatizes their many shades of Black pride. Not surprisingly, the national Black-White unemployment gap among young adults is 2 to 1. We ignore this tinderbox of ambition and frustration at our own risk.

Wellness Matters More

To close, we look at a new trend in Black worklife that is starting to take hold. From first grade to the first real job, Black folks have been lectured by parents, teachers and elders that we must “work twice as hard” as our white counterparts to achieve our goals in the classroom, on the job, in life. That instilled what is now called a “hustling mentality.” Always prepping, always stressing over deadlines or the next job or the next assignment. Life centered on work led to burnout without a real identity or personal motivation.

But more Black workers are prioritizing wellness and purpose in their worklife. The value of family and friends means more. The value of good health means more. The value of inner peace over hustling for a paycheck means more. Chasing dreams and not being chased by deadlines leads to a more balanced, sustainable worklife.

One thing is certain: Black worklife will keep evolving to keep pace in a volatile world where Black labor still carries the torch for equality and freedom.

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Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park

ATLANTA VOICE — A mural depicting late journalist Jovita Moore, painted on the exterior wall of a building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee in Grant Park, was painted over in April. Moore passed away in 2021 after decades of working in Atlanta television news. Bellwood Coffee owners stated in May they were unaware of Moore’s identity or significance to the community before painting over the mural.
The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

At the corner of Boulevard, SE. and Rosalia St., SE., directly across the street from an abandoned home and a Methodist Church, is Bellwood Coffee. One of hundreds of coffee shops in Atlanta, this place of business would not be worth a solitary discussion if not for the way its exterior walls are currently painted. There was once a mural depicting the late Jovita Moore, a beloved journalist who worked in Atlanta for decades. Moore, who passed away in 2021, mentored many of the people you see on television newscasts today. Though her legacy will never be forgotten, it was the mural of her image that was erased.

In April, members of the Grant Park community voiced their disgust at the mural, which graced a side wall of the building now occupied by Bellwood Coffee’s Grant Park location, before it was painted over. In its place are the words “Bellwood Coffee; Cocktails, Biscuits, Dry Goods, Air Conditioning. *Heat Too”. In May, the business owners responded to the community pushback on social media by acknowledging they did not know who Moore was before painting over her image. And later admitted that they did not attempt to find out what she meant to the community.

On May 21, the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account had a post about being “in close contact with Jovita’s family and are actively working on next steps in this process.” Two months later, the mural has not been replaced, repainted, or repositioned on the property. Nothing has been done. Black history is often erased, most recently by the current Presidential administration, but oftentimes on a smaller, quieter scale. The mural was originally painted by muralist Tommy Bronx, who had been in contact with the business owners about repainting it. As of July 6, Tommy Bronx had responded to a direct message via his Instagram account from The Atlanta Voice about any updates on his plans to repaint the mural.

“We’re currently working on it. You should see some movement in the weeks to come,” he wrote in a response.

On Monday, July 6, the business had several patrons inside and was running smoothly with three employees manning the counter. The Atlanta Voice dropped by Bellwood Coffee to get a look at the exterior wall where the mural once stood as a memorial to a journalist and mother who lost her life to brain cancer at the young age of 54. Moore’s image added some color to the block. The grey wall in its place does not.

A direct message was sent to the Bellwood Coffee Instagram account, and there hasn’t been a response as of 7 p.m. on Monday.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Voice.

The post Jovita Moore Mural Still Has Not Been Repainted in Grant Park appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator

ATLANTA DAILY WORLD — A New York man faces felony hate crime charges for allegedly posting a threat against New York State Senator Lea Webb. James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a social media news post about a Juneteenth celebration.
The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

A New York man is facing felony hate crime charges after allegedly posting that he’d be “proud to hang” New York State Senator Lea Webb from a tree in response to a news story about a Juneteenth celebration.

James A. Crosby, 49, of Binghamton, was arrested June 23 by New York State Police after investigators determined he posted a threatening comment on a WBNG 12 News Facebook post. “I’d be proud to hang her from a tree,” Crosby wrote, according to WBNG.

Crosby was charged with making a terroristic threat as a hate crime, a class C felony, per the New York State Police. He is currently being held at Broome County Jail.

During the subsequent investigation, state police found Crosby was in illegal possession of firearms despite being prohibited from owning them due to a prior felony conviction. Investigators recovered a rifle, a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, and a firearm suppressor — all prohibited under New York state law, per the NYSP.

Crosby was charged with four additional counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, all class D felonies.

Webb, who represents New York’s 52nd Senate District, had been a featured speaker at a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony at Binghamton City Hall, where the celebration included prayers and the singing of the Black national anthem.

Police said Crosby’s comment was posted in response to a WBNG news story covering the event.

The day before his arrest, Crosby posted a Facebook apology claiming the comment “was not intended to be racial in any way” and was made in reference to what he described as a “criminal,” citing criticism of Webb over her use of nonprofit legal aid in a foreclosure case — a matter state watchdogs said created an appearance of a conflict of interest, per the Ithaca Voice. He was arrested the following day.

Webb issued a public statement June 25 condemning the threat.

“It was extremely disappointing and hurtful to see the now-deleted threat and attacks on my life in response to a story about Juneteenth, a national holiday that recognizes the ending of slavery in America,” she said. “Feedback and thoughts on policy are one thing, but to make a public call for lethal violence is absolutely unacceptable and dangerous. We must recognize our shared humanity and reject violence in all forms.”

She thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and law enforcement for their “swift response.”

Following Crosby’s comments, social media users called for a boycott of his contracting business, Crosby Home Improvements.

The Binghamton City Democratic Committee also called for an investigation into the incident before his arrest.

The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HEREto tune in live.

The post ‘Proud to hang her from a tree’: Man arrested for threatening Black Senator appeared first on Atlanta Daily World.

Based on reporting by Atlanta Daily World.

The post ‘Proud to Hang Her from a Tree’: Man Arrested for Threatening Black Senator appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations

NEW YORK CARIB NEWS — Outgoing CARICOM Chairman Terrance Drew called on regional leaders to build a stronger and more effective Caribbean Community that benefits future generations. Speaking at the 51st Regular Meeting, Drew urged modernization of governance structures and improved implementation of Community decisions to make CARICOM safer and more prosperous.
The post CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

3 weeks ago

July 8, 2026

Oakland Post

Speaking Sunday at the opening of the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Saint Lucia, Dr. Terrance Drew said the region must modernize its governance structures, improve the implementation of Community decisions, and ensure CARICOM becomes safer, more prosperous, and more relevant to the lives of its citizens.

The meeting, being held under the theme “CARICOM: From Resilience to Renewal in a Changing World,” coincides with the Community’s 53rd anniversary. During the ceremony, Dr. Drew formally handed over the rotating CARICOM chairmanship to Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Philip J. Pierre.

Reflecting on his six-month tenure as chairman, Drew praised fellow regional leaders for maintaining their commitment to democracy, good governance, unity, and the rule of law despite mounting global economic and geopolitical challenges.

“Throughout these challenges, CARICOM chose engagement over isolation. Together, we reaffirmed our commitment to a fair and rules-based international trading system and ensured that the interests of small developing states continued to be heard.”
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He highlighted progress made in strengthening the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, including deeper trade cooperation, expanded labour mobility, and efforts to lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. Drew also noted the Community’s growing partnerships beyond the Caribbean, particularly with the African Union, while stressing that every international partnership should advance the interests of all parties involved.

The outgoing chairman also expressed appreciation to Dr. Carla Barnett and the CARICOM Secretariat for their professionalism and unwavering support during his tenure.

“Whenever I called, you answered. Whenever support was required, you and your team responded with diligence, competence, and excellence.”

Dr. Drew urged the Secretariat to continue preserving its impartiality while faithfully implementing decisions made by Heads of Government, saying that balance has helped strengthen the regional integration movement.

The conference continues in Saint Lucia with regional leaders expected to deliberate on key issues including regional security, climate resilience, trade, economic integration, food security, Haiti, reparations, and strengthening the CSME.

Based on reporting by New York Carib News.

The post CARICOM: Strengthen Integration for Future Generations appeared first on BlackPressUSA.