When Jasmine Sessoms observed the political landscape, she was disheartened to see that practically no Black women worked in public policy. After successfully training Black women to run for political office in her home state of Pennsylvania through her “She Can Run” program—resulting in graduates like Cherelle Parker, who went on to be elected Philadelphia’s first female mayor—Sessoms decided she needed to go a step further.

“Without training us, investing in us, and connecting us, we really are struggling,” said Sessoms, a longtime political fundraiser who has served in various roles in government relations and higher education. “I was like, ‘You know what? I want to do something bigger than just training women to run for office because there are so many other facets.”

That’s where Center 1968 comes in. The center, named after the year Shirley Chisholm became the first Black woman elected to Congress, builds on the work of “She Can Run,” expanding beyond getting Black women to run for office to include training in policy to become staffers in political offices. The center even honors iconic Black women in politics with a fellowship named after former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan and a staffer program named after Valerie Jarrett, the former senior advisor to President Barack Obama. To date, 13 women have graduated from the center, and a handful of them have been placed in jobs as policy experts.

Sessoms told theGrio that the center primarily seeks out women who are not necessarily politically connected. “We look for the community leader, the single mom that just is a block captain or a ward leader or a committee person…we put them into the system that was not designed for them.” She continued, “There’s a lot of nervousness and trepidation because everything they know about politics is just scary, bad…we make it more friendly.”

For those who are politically connected, Center 1968 provides a needed…

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Raising Black boys in America in 2025 sounds as complex as it’s ever been, especially if you take Anthony Mackie’s word on the matter.

The 46-year-old father of four boys and actor recently appeared on “The Pivot” podcast to discuss his career, parenting, and much more, including how he’s been instilling certain values in his sons.

“In the past 20 years, we’ve been living through the death of the American male…but I raised my boys to become young men,” the “Captin America: Brave New World” star said. He added, “They have literally killed masculinity in our homes, in our communities, for one reason or another. But I raise my boys to be young men. And however you feel about that, you feel about that.”

Elaborating further, he said he teaches his sons, who are ages 15 through 8, to be respectful and humble, say “yes, sir” and “yes, ma’am,” open doors for women, and become providers.

Mackie added that when he leaves town, his 15-year-old son becomes the “man of the house.”

“If I’m not there to protect, he gotta be there to protect,” the actor said.

In order to keep his sons humble, the “Twisted Metal” actor said in his house they “don’t do all the internet fly sh—.”

“I keep my boys humble,” he said, “My boys have never had a pair of Jordans.”

His comments regarding his values and thoughts on masculinity’s “death” have received mixed reactions online. While some have found his stance offputting, verging on homophobic, others have been praising him for his “traditional” sensibilities and taking his responsibility as a father seriously. There are others who have noted, in his defense, that Mackie mentions how playing a gay character expanded his viewpoint within the same conversation.

The actor explains that growing up in the 80s and the 90s, the culture was rampant with homophobia. However, at the same time being from New Orleans and seeing local cultural…

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Democratic Rep. Al Green is standing on business, and other democrats in the House of Representatives are standing along with him. 

Earlier this week, Green made a bold move by interrupting President Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress. The decision that ultimately led to his removal was in response to Trump’s seemingly false declaration of having a mandate to cut Medicare. 

“I was telling him that he does not have a mandate to cut Medicare,” Green told ABC News moments after his removal. “If there’s a punishment, I’ll accept the punishment. This is not about me, this is about the people who are going to suffer if Medicaid is cut, if social security is cut. We need to raise the cap on social security, we need to protect Medicare, and for God’s sake, don’t cut Medicaid, this is for poor people.” 

Today, the House of Representatives voted to censure Green for his actions on Tuesday night. For those unfamiliar with the political term, a censure is a formal mark of disapproval from the House, seen as a disciplinary action towards members for disorderly behavior. Censures are considered the second-most severe form of punishment for members of the House, with explusion being the worst. 

“Mr. Speaker, and still I rise,” Green said on the House floor, ahead of the censure vote. “and still I rise a proud, liberated Democrat, unbought, unbossed and unafraid.”

Following the vote, Democratic representatives like Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Rep. Rashida Tlaib stood at the center of the House floor, singing the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome,” according to ABC News. 

“We know that we’ve seen [far-right Rep.] Marjorie [Taylor Greene] yell at Joe Biden. There was no outrage. None. So there shouldn’t be any outrage today,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett told the outlet 

In an interview with HuffPost, Crockett shared, “I think people lose context of who Al Green is. Al Green is an older Black…

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In the words of Peaches & Herb, “Reunited and it feels so good!” This week, while guest-hosting “Jenna & Friends,” actress Regina Hall was caught off guard when Kevin Hart walked on set with a massive bouquet in hand for her. The “Jumanji” comedian made a scene as he handed over the flowers, joining the ladies for a segment of the show, and from there, the laughs were non-stop.

In classic Hall and Hart fashion, the duo instantly launched into their signature sibling-like banter. Even amid the jokes, their genuine excitement about seeing each other was undeniable.

“Kevin, I didn’t know you were going to be here,” Hall said, beaming as they embraced and exchanged playful “I love you’s,” while she stumbled around trying to figure out where to place the flowers. Of course, the sweet moment didn’t last long before Hart hit her with his signature comedic timing: “You look good. I was shocked!”

Hart’s compliment (if we can even call it that) reminded Hall of a past interaction in which the comedian used some interesting words to describe her.

“Kevin and I were doing a scene, and I was scantily clad, and he said, ‘Somebody get a robe so Regina can cover up her sandbags!’” Hall recalled. “Now, I don’t know what woman wants to hear ‘sandbags’ [about her chest].”

Through fits of laughter, Hart attempted to defend himself, insisting, “It was a different shoot. It was a different time. We weren’t in today’s time!”

Though they didn’t specify which film the moment stemmed from, Hart and Hall have an extensive history of working together. With nearly 20 years of friendship and nine films under their belts, their effortless chemistry shines both on and off the screen.

“We’ve spent a lot of time together,” Hart admitted. “I don’t think there is a face that lights me up more—on camera or off.”

He doubled down on his admiration, saying, “I say it time and time again—she…

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Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

Even though Black people aren’t the primary beneficiaries of so-called DEI policies, we are the target of campaigns to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion. Let that sink in. We live in a country that is so steeped in anti-Blackness that the masses are upset at the thought of “equity” for Black people. Enough so that they will hurt other groups to keep us in our place. When they say “DEI,” I hear the “n—-r” loud and clear.

These DEI lawsuits, executive orders, and outcries flooding our headlines? They’re not about “discrimination against white people” or “merit-based decisions.” They’re about maintaining the chokehold on Black economic progress. As someone who’s moved through elite spaces as a lawyer, founded and sold a successful tech company, and now leads a venture fund, I know tech is the new frontier for wealth creation. They know it too, which is why the anti-DEI movement is so focused on tech.

And it’s not just Elon Musk. Tech bros have cultivated a false myth of meritocracy in the tech, venture, and startup spaces because it makes them feel good to explain their success in these terms instead of being steeped in the same white privilege that slave-holding ancestors leveraged to build extractive wealth (which they also claimed was accumulated by “pulling themselves up by the bootstraps”).

For example, Peter Thiel, the founder of PayPal, said at an event last year, “If you think of the woke DEI whole coalition as a combination of true laborers and useful idiots, and, you know, from the capitalists or people who are in some corrupt racket, that’s probably a far more powerful coalition.” Would you be surprised to learn that Peter Thiel was born in West Germany, lived in apartheid South Africa as a child, and then went on to Stanford University and law…

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Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.

Mrs. Ida Smith Grayson was a prominent Black activist in York, Pennsylvania’s African American community around the turn of the 20th century. Though small in stature — barely five feet tall — she carried a fiery spirit and unwavering resolve. One of her most significant accomplishments was establishing and organizing the “Colored Branch of the American Red Cross” during World War I. However, her leadership and activism were met with systemic racism. 

According to a Dec. 02, 1918 Philadelphia Inquirer article, Mrs. Grayson and other Black women arrived in their Red Cross uniforms at a Pennsylvania Red Cross meeting, expecting to be seated on the first floor as promised. Instead, they were relegated to the balcony. “Humiliated and indignant,” they walked out before the meeting even began, refusing to be disrespected. Their actions sent a clear message: dignity would not be compromised, even in the face of racial exclusion. 

Her family has long-shared stories of Mrs. Grayson’s courage. One particularly powerful memory comes from her son, who recounted a visit to Virginia as a boy in the 1920s when Senator Harry Byrd, a staunch segregationist, was speaking. Byrd, much like some politicians today, attempted to whitewash history, declaring how much Black people loved him. In the middle of his speech, Mrs. Grayson stormed down the aisle, pointing her finger and shouting, “You lie!” The next thing he knew, his father quickly picked up his mother and hurried the family back to Pennsylvania for her safety. 

Mrs. Grayson’s influence extended far beyond these singular acts of defiance. She owned a boarding home called the Charlotte Hotel, which was listed in the Green Book as a safe spot in York, Pa., for Black travelers during Jim Crow. She is a founder of the Emergency Girls Club — a…

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President Donald Trump welcomed hundreds at the White House on Thursday for a Black History Month reception, where he was joined by longtime friend Tiger Woods and a cadre of Black Republican leaders.

“We pay tribute to the generations of Black legends, champions, warriors and patriots who helped drive our country forward to greatness,” said Trump to a crowd of enthusiastic Black supporters inside the East Room. At one point during the event, the room chanted, “Four more years!” in reference to Trump serving a third term — something he repeatedly hints at despite being constitutionally limited to two terms.

As the United States looks to mark the 250th anniversary of its founding next year, Trump said, “We’re going to look forward to honoring the contributions of countless Black Americans who fought to win and protect and expand American freedom from the very, very beginning.”

Throughout his more than 20-minutes-long remarks, in which he stopped to allow other Black leaders to speak, Trump touted his share of the Black vote in the 2024 election, vowed to include Black historical figures in a yet-to-be established statue park and announced that he would name Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as his “pardon czar.”

Trump was joined on stage by golf legend Tiger Woods, who wore his Presidential Medal of Freedom — which he received from Trump during his first term in 2019 — around his neck. Other prominent attendees included Senator Tim Scott, R-S.C., Rep. John James, D-Mich., and the newly confirmed secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Scott Turner. Alice Johnson, the Black grandmother who received a pardon from Trump in 2018 after serving 21 years in prison, was also in attendance.

Referencing the nation’s founding in 1776, President Trump swiped at the Biden administration, accusing them of trying to “reduce all of American history to a single year, 1619.” The year 1619 became a…

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Donald Trump is the president, but billionaire Elon Musk is the focus for thousands of Democratic activists launching a protest campaign this week to fight the Trump administration’s push to gut federal health, education and human services agencies.

Hundreds of protests are scheduled outside congressional offices and Tesla dealerships, with organizers hoping to send a pointed message to members of Congress who are on recess this week.

The backlash still hasn’t approached the intensity of protests during and after Trump’s first inauguration eight years ago. But a loose coalition of Democrats and progressives is coalescing around Musk’s rise as Trump’s top lieutenant and his purge of the federal bureaucracy.

“He’s a major weak link in the MAGA coalition,” Ezra Levin, co-founder of the progressive group Indivisible, said of Musk. “I can’t think of something that polls worse than the richest man in the world is coming after your Social Security check or your Meals on Wheels or your Head Start.”

Indivisible, which claims more than 1,300 local chapters nationwide, is encouraging members to protest at the offices of their members of Congress, regardless of political party. The group also offered a step-by-step guide for protesting at dealerships for Tesla, Musk’s electric vehicle company.

The memo encourages protesters to stay on sidewalks and public spaces and to avoid any actions that might directly interfere with business operations, such as blocking entrances or trespassing on private property. It also calls for Tesla protesters to stay on message: “This is about Musk’s political takeover, not Tesla, SpaceX, or X as companies.”

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is launching what he’s calling “a national tour to fight oligarchy” with stops in working-class districts of Iowa and Nebraska this week.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin will hit the road for the first time as party…

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When Christine Paul’s physician asked her to check in on Kendell Paul, a fellow patient at the North Shore University Hospital’s ICU, three years ago on Valentine’s Day, it wasn’t an unusual request.

Christine, now 44, who had received a heart transplant the year prior, had been admitted following complications from pneumonia. Meanwhile, after unexpectedly experiencing congestive heart failure, Kendell, now 41, had just received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), an implant to assist the heart with pumping blood. Before Christine’s transplant, her heart health journey also included an LVAD. So, she told theGrio it wasn’t a rare occurrence for physicians to have her speak with new LVAD patients and offer advice and support.

However, unlike all of the other times she’d met new LVAD recipients, when she met Kendell, though she didn’t know it at the time, she had just met her husband.

As she was discharged, she recalled stopping in on him one more time to say, “Give me a call when you can. Maybe when you’re outside, we could meet up.”

Christine and Kendell were married on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, during an intimate celebration at a restaurant in Flushing after embarking on a unique, heartful love story.

“Don’t give up on love,” Christine says on the other side of her happy ending.

She explained before she met Kendell, she was ready to throw in the towel. Bad luck in love combined with a brand new heart and a new lease on life, the mother of two said, “I don’t think I’m gonna give this heart to anyone.”

“I came to a point where I said, ‘Christine, you’re the only one that’s going to love your heart and protect your heart. Don’t let anyone in.’”

She added, “Then we met each other, and it was like, we couldn’t wait to give each other love.”

Even though the newlyweds clearly hit it off, Christine admits it wasn’t exactly “love at first sight.” She was in a hospital…

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