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OP-ED – Five Years Later: How Houston is Honoring the Legacy of George Floyd with The Movement Festival

Five years after George Floyd’s death, the headlines have quieted, but the fight for justice continues. As Houston hosts The Movement Festival in his honor, this piece reflects on what’s changed, what hasn’t, and the burden Black Americans still carry to prove their humanity in a country still reckoning with itself.

Published

1 year ago

May 22, 2025

Oakland Post

By TotallyRandie

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE – Five years ago, the world watched in collective horror as George Floyd, a Black man, pleaded for his life under the knees of a Minneapolis police officer for nine excruciating minutes and twenty-nine seconds. His final words, “I can’t breathe,” became a rallying cry, echoing from the streets of Minneapolis to marches in Houston, Paris, Lagos, and Tokyo. At that moment, America found itself on the brink of a moral reckoning that had been centuries in the making.

Today, in 2025, five years later, the murals have faded, the headlines are beginning to go quiet, and the protests are less frequent. And the question remains: Has anything truly changed for Black lives in America? As a journalist, I have chronicled this nation’s reaction in real-time—through rallies, policy promises, backlash, and fatigue. I have interviewed grieving mothers, hopeful students, cynical elders, and young activists fueled by a determination to never let the world forget. I’ve reported on statehouses rolling back DEI initiatives and a Supreme Court that is more conservative than it’s been in decades. Just yesterday, the Trump administration rolled back police reform. Progress that once felt within reach now feels precarious.

The Burden of Proving Our Humanity

What’s most exhausting—and most heartbreaking—is that five years after George Floyd’s death, Black people still bear the burden of having to prove their humanity. Black people are still burdened with the burden of documenting their humanity. Justify it. Narrate it. I remember speaking with a college undergrad at Texas A&M who told me, “Sometimes it feels like they only care about us when we’re dead or when we’re trending.” That student, now a junior at Howard University, says she’s studying law to “build the justice we never got.” That is the enduring paradox of Black America: hurt but hopeful. Black America is both frustrated and forward-looking.

The Black Lives Matter movement—born in pain but sustained by hope—once commanded center stage. Corporations pledged billions. You saw black squares on Instagram, city streets painted with “Black Lives Matter,” and lawmakers vowing sweeping reforms. But much of that momentum has since been absorbed by the bureaucracy or drowned in political gridlock. In some states, it’s now easier to purchase a firearm than it is to protest injustice. DEI offices—once considered a sign of progress—are being loudly defunded or dismantled across the country.

Signs of Hope, Seeds of Change

To say that nothing has changed would be dishonest. There have been reforms—though uneven. Body cameras are now standard in many police departments, and some cities have restructured emergency response programs to deploy social workers instead of armed officers. Representation across media, politics, and leadership has improved, even if the path forward remains steep. In 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris affirmed what many already knew: Black Americans are not asking for permission to lead—we are already leading. That leadership extends to local politics, education, business, and the arts.

Black Americans are writing curriculums, launching businesses, winning Pulitzer Prizes, and shaping culture in a landscape increasingly hostile to truth and allergic to the discomfort of history. That’s why the Movement Festival is so important—it’s not just a commemoration, it’s a declaration.

The Movement Festival*

In honor of cultural diversity, social justice, and economic advancement, Houston will welcome the inaugural TMF—The Movement Festival, a four-day premier event produced by KDITC (Kay Davis In The Community). The festival will kick off today, May 22–25, 2025, at Tom Bass Regional Park and locations across the city.

Inspired by the global movement following the tragic death of Houston native George Floyd, recognizing the fifth anniversary of George Floyd, the Movement Festival is designed to be a powerful convergence of dialogue, culture, art, and entertainment that fosters continued healing, unity, and empowerment across communities.

The festival kicks off Thursday, May 22, with a free community forum titled “The Report Card” hosted at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The forum will feature keynote speaker and nationally renowned political commentator Tezlyn Figaro. It will be followed by a ticketed VIP reception with light bites and refreshments during a performance of the acclaimed stage play BREATHE.

“This festival is about creating space to reflect, uplift, and unite,” said Dannette Davis, founder of KDITC.

“Through powerful storytelling, culture, and community, we’re bringing people together to continue the movement toward equality, creativity, and healing.”

Now what?

Five years on, it’s clear that America had a reckoning—but whether it chose to follow through is still up for debate. As we honor George Floyd today, we must ask ourselves not only what we’ve done in his name but also what we’ve ignored for our convenience. Are we building an America where Black children can thrive, not just survive? Are we confronting systems or simply rebranding them? And most importantly, are we listening or just waiting for the next tragedy to respond to?

The road ahead remains steep, but the path is lit by those who refused to stay silent—those who marched, documented, voted, resisted, and believed. Black lives still matter. Not because they’re trending. Not because they’re political. But because they are human. Full stop. And if America still needs to be reminded of that in 2025, then the work isn’t over—it’s only just begun.

*More about The Movement Festival

Friday, May 23
• Fun & Festivities at 4501 Almeda Food Truck Park — food, music, vendors, and community vibes from 5pm to 7pm

Saturday, May 24 –En Blanc ‘N The Park & Concert On The Hill
• Live music by Kyle Turner, Kollett, Robert Allen Berry, & Friends from
• Go for the Gusto Line Dance Challenge: An exciting attempt to break the world record for the largest line dance!
• Fashion, food vendors, art, and cultural exhibitions throughout the day
• Ticketed event

Sunday, May 25 – Gospel & Reflections
• Grand Finale Balloon Release at the “Conversation With George” statue
• Special screening of the award-winning stage play turned film Camp Logan

Hosted by Marcus D. Wiley, with a special performance by gospel icon Tramaine Hawkins

About KDITC

Kay Davis In The Community Kay Davis In The Community (KDITC) is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Dannette Davis. KDITC promotes community well-being by supporting arts, culture, education, and economic opportunity. Through a mission rooted in equity and empowerment, KDITC offers scholarships, wellness programs, and dynamic community events that foster personal growth and collective progress for underserved communities.

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Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled

BLACKPRESS USA NEWSWIRE — “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”
The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

5 days ago

June 8, 2026

Oakland Post

By National Women’s Law Center

The National Women’s Law Center released its annual State Child Care Assistance Policies report, finding that the number of children placed on waiting lists for federally funded child care assistance nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025 — and that number has only continued to grow.

The report serves as a key resource for state lawmakers, advocates, and policymakers by tracking state child care assistance policies and identifying where states are strengthening support for families and early educators — or falling behind.

“This deeply troubling increase in the number of children on child care waiting lists is the result of a failure to invest in this crucial sector,” said Karen Schulman, senior director of state child care policy and author of the report. “Since the expiration of tens of billions of dollars in federal child care funding in 2023 and 2024, an already fragile child care system has been pushed even closer to the brink.”

Key findings in the report related to waiting lists for child care assistance include:

• 17 states had waiting lists or a freeze on intake for child care assistance in February 2025, up from 13 states in February 2024.

• Approximately 106,700 children nationwide were added to waiting lists between February 2024 and February 2025, bringing the total to 225,500 children in February 2025 — a 90 percent increase compared to February 2024.

• The numbers climbed even further between February 2025 and summer/fall 2025, with more than 175,000 additional children added to state waiting lists in just a few months — a 78 percent increase.

• At least seven states newly began placing families on waiting lists or freezing intake, while at least 10 additional states saw their waiting lists grow, after February 2025.

The report also includes state-by-state data on key child care assistance policies, including income eligibility limits, parent copayments, provider payment rates, and eligibility policies for parents searching for work.

Click the link to learn more: Warning Signs: State Child Care Assistance Policies 2025.

The post Study: Waiting Lists for Child Care Assistance Nearly Doubled appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy

ROLLING OUT — Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport.
The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

6 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

The seven-time major champion read frustration, not a real goodbye, in the world No. 1’s words

By David Kesiena | Rolling Out

When the world’s top-ranked player said she wanted to walk away from the sport, Venus Williams chose empathy over alarm.

Aryna Sabalenka’s blunt remark after her French Open quarterfinal collapse rattled plenty of fans, but Williams heard something different in it. The seven-time Grand Slam champion treated the comment as the raw reaction of a hurting athlete rather than a serious signal about her future.

The collapse that triggered the comment

Sabalenka looked headed for a routine win over Diana Shnaider. She took the opening set 6-3 and built a commanding lead in the second, climbing to 4-1 and later serving for the match at 5-4 while sitting just two points from victory.

Then everything unraveled. Shnaider stormed back to steal the second set 7-5 and bageled the world No. 1 in the third, with Sabalenka dropping 12 of the final 13 games in gusty conditions that reached around 26 mph. The 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 result sent Shnaider into her first Grand Slam semifinal and extended Sabalenka’s long wait for a maiden Roland Garros title.

In the aftermath, Sabalenka did not soften her feelings. She told reporters she had no thoughts and no emotions left and felt like quitting on the spot. She described being stuck in a deep, dark mental hole during the match, unable to find her way back.

What Venus Williams said about Sabalenka

Williams reacted with understanding. She admitted the moment made her sad and said she had been swept up in Sabalenka’s emotions, feeling a surge of empathy for her. She praised the Belarusian for laying everything bare on court, where every feeling shows.

Crucially, Williams did not read the comment as a real farewell. She said she did not believe Sabalenka truly wanted to leave, calling such an outcome a loss for both the player and the sport. Rather than scold her, Williams offered a gentle observation about the rhythm of professional tennis. She suggested players might benefit from a little more time to gather themselves before stepping in front of the cameras, a quiet acknowledgment that athletes are routinely asked to dissect painful defeats before the sting has faded.

Sabalenka walks it back

The story did not end on that bleak note. Within days, Sabalenka signaled she was not actually quitting, framing the press-conference outburst as heat-of-the-moment honesty rather than a plan. At the time of the loss she had also left the door open, saying she would see how she felt in a few days and hoped to get back on track mentally. The walk-back lined up with how Williams had read the situation from the start.

It is not the first time a Paris quarterfinal has pushed Sabalenka to her limit. In 2024 she exited at the same stage and skipped her press conference entirely because of illness, with the tour later releasing her quotes on her behalf. The pattern underscores how heavily this particular tournament has weighed on her despite deep runs in recent years.

For now, attention shifts to the grass. Wimbledon offers Sabalenka a quick chance to reset, and a strong showing there would turn this French Open meltdown into a footnote rather than a turning point.

Originally published by Rolling Out — https://rollingout.com.

The post Venus Williams Calls a Sabalenka Exit a Tragedy appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue

THE CAROLINIAN — Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.
The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

6 days ago

June 7, 2026

Oakland Post

By Judaea Ingram | Special to The Carolinian

RALEIGH, N.C. – Music filled the air as families danced through the crowd, children gathered around activity stations, and community members explored wellness resources from local organizations. Black-owned businesses lined the streets while people stopped for chair massages, conversations, and moments of connection inside the wellness suite.

At the center of the event stood a simple but powerful reminder:

“You Matter.”

For Darkness RISING, those words represent far more than a slogan. They reflect the organization’s mission to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community while creating spaces centered on healing, honesty, and hope.

Operating at the intersection of the arts and mental health, Darkness RISING uses music, storytelling, wellness programming, and community engagement to inspire healing while addressing barriers that have historically prevented many Black Americans from accessing mental health support.

The organization hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including block parties, wellness workshops, mixers, kickoff events, community classes, and Darkness RISING: Live — a free annual arts and wellness festival now celebrating its ninth year.

The festival combines entertainment with healing-centered resources, featuring live music, dancing, singing, food trucks, Black vendors, children’s activities, mental health resources, wellness spaces, and opportunities for open conversations about mental health.

While the events may feel celebratory on the surface, organizers say the deeper purpose is creating safe spaces where people can feel comfortable discussing mental health without fear of judgment.

Darkness RISING also provides free nationwide resources, including a Black Mental Health Resource Packet, a Black Mental Health Provider Database, and its “Find Me a Therapist” initiative, which helps connect individuals with culturally competent care.

The organization’s work is rooted in addressing longstanding inequities that continue impacting mental health access within Black communities.

Historically, segregation, redlining, racial discrimination, incarceration, poverty, and unequal healthcare access have contributed to higher rates of behavioral health challenges while simultaneously limiting access to proper treatment and support. Darkness RISING approaches those issues through what organizers describe as a transformative justice lens, focusing on healing rather than punishment and creating equitable wellness opportunities for marginalized communities.

Its REBUILD program specifically supports justice-involved and formerly incarcerated people of color through free therapy and wellness support, while the REBUILD Youth program focuses on young people impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as ACEs.

For Rudolph, therapy became life-changing after decades of incarceration and years of rejection after returning home.

“Came home in 2015, started my own computer company, investing in real estate, did the normal thing and got some jobs here and there and was met with rejection after rejection and people telling me I am not a good person,” Rudolph shared. “Even had a rejection in church.”

He said one of the hardest battles became overcoming the mental barriers created during incarceration.

“I got in touch with a couple of friends, and they explained to me how I had to get over the mental hurdles and get rid of the way my prison mindset was in order to survive and become successful,” he said.

Rudolph later moved to North Carolina hoping for a fresh start, but the struggle continued.

“Things were looking bad,” he said. “Could not get a job. The struggle was real.”

Eventually, therapy and support through organizations like Darkness RISING helped begin his healing process. He said working alongside other justice-involved men through therapy gave him the ability to rebuild mentally while finding community with people who understood his experiences.

Stories like Rudolph’s reflect the foundation behind Darkness RISING’s mission: ensuring people feel seen, supported, and worthy of healing regardless of their background or circumstances.

Community members who attend the organization’s events often describe them as emotionally transformative.

Some participants say Darkness RISING encouraged them to seek therapy for the first time, while others say the organization gave them a safe space to openly discuss struggles they previously kept hidden.

“I have been encouraged by the beautiful, generous, brave and open individuals who come together and use their talents to create art, share personal experiences and provide hope to those who may be struggling with mental health,” one participant shared.

By combining art, wellness, education, and community outreach, Darkness RISING continues changing how mental health conversations happen within the Black community.

Not through silence.

But through healing, honesty, connection, and joy.

Originally published by The Carolinian — https://caro.news.

The post COMMENTARY: Using Art, Healing, And Community to Transform Mental Health Dialogue appeared first on BlackPressUSA.