Social Justice & Advocacy Archives - The Narrative Matters

Amended autopsy: Black man died due to sedative, restraint

That scene was not captured on body camera footage, the report said, but much of what happened between police was not because the officers’ cameras came off soon after McClain was approached.

Justice Thomas: SCOTUS ‘should reconsider’ contraception, same-sex marriage rulings

The sweeping suggestion from the current court’s longest-serving justice came in the concurring opinion he authored in response to the court’s ruling revoking the constitutional right to abortion, also released on Friday.

Deshaun Watson reaches settlement in sexual misconduct case

In March of 2021, a civil lawsuit was filed by a Houston massage therapist claiming that Watson, then 25, inappropriately touched her with his genitals, while asking for sex during his treatment at her home in March 2020.

Gentrification in the Black communities and how it is affecting real estate

While gentrification produces such clashes between neighbors and more "order maintenance" enforcement, it is not the issue's root

Tips For Those Looking To Start A Career In Social Justice

With so many injustices in the world, there has never been a better time than now to embark on a career in social justice.

Timeline of Black Americans killed by police: 2014-2022

George Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer two years ago on May 25, 2020.

Prison life 2: An unwavering look into the world of an artist who had it all but now is facing his consequences

I had a chance to interview Jna, who is currently serving time in a Missouri prison as we speak. So, we will give him the opportunity to tell his story.

Prison Life Part 1: An unwavering look into the world of an artist who had it all but now is facing his consequences

However, in Jna's defense, he just wanted fame and success so fast that his mental capacity couldn't resonate with reality. And he is like most local talents looking for that big break into the hip hop/rap genre.

The Deadly Police Shooting That’s Roiling Michigan

This past weekend, a protest and candlelight vigil were held in Patrick’s memory; hundreds of Grand Rapids residents showed up, and Peter’s translator, a local pastor named Israel Siku, got a few of the marchers to re-create the incident as he’d viewed it in police footage. “It was an execution style,” he exclaimed, formulating a clear image of a cop holding Patrick on the ground, face down, and shooting him through the back of the head.

Senate confirms Ketanji Brown Jackson to become the first Black woman to serve on the highest court in the nation.

Today marks history, Kentanji Brown Jackson the first Black woman to serve in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Evictions Are Back and Black Renters Are Suffering the Most

Low-income tenants who are displaced are generally forced into low–quality housing in poorer and higher-crime neighborhoods. Evictions cause psychological trauma, increase the likelihood of suicide, increase emergency room usage, decrease credit access, and lead to homelessness. This problem is especially traumatizing for children, impacting their emotional, social, and physical well-being, and increasing the likelihood of lead poisoning, food insecurity, and issues with academic performance.

A $900,000 settlement agreement has been reached with the Kansas City Police Department in the case of Tyree Bell’s wrongful arrest.

Not long after, officers spotted Bell walking a mile away from where the perpetrators were. Despite being taller than and having completely different clothing from the initial suspect, Bell was still arrested. He was detained in jail for three weeks before police released him due to not having on the same attire as the suspect.

2020 Census Called ‘Worse Undercount’ in Decades as Bureau Misses Millions of Blacks and Hispanics

“This is the worse census undercount I’ve seen in my 30 years working on census issues,” Arturo Vargas, CEO of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Education Fund, said during a news conference.

The Origin of Women’s History Month

National Women’s History Month is a true sign of progress in terms of gender equality. You can trace the roots of this important declaration all the way back to 1857.

Nonprofit sets sights on helping 9,000 Black families own a home

In 2004, David McGee set out with a vision to help Black families own a home. The former banker and financial consultant launched Build Wealth MN, a nonprofit organization dedicated to doing just that. Eighteen years, and over 3,000 homes and families later, he is just getting started.

NFL pledges to donate $250 million over 10-year period

On the heels of the NFL affirming that black lives matter and condemning racism, the league plans to increase its social justice footprint by pledging to donate $250 million over a 10-year period.

Prison Beat: What is really going on in Bonne Terre Correctional Center?

Any former incarcerated person will agree, when drugs are allowed, gambling allowed, favoritism allowed and racism allowed. Along with instructional cover ups, employees having sex with the incarcerate persons, you will have these problems.

Charging Ahead: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, Nikole Hannah-Jones

Clapping back on Al Sharpton is not all we will see from Hannah-Jones in 2022.

Take-a-way: The St Louis City NAACP Chapter hosted a mini-conference on Civil Rights and Redlining

The conference featured guest speakers, and the man of the hour St Louis NAACP President Adolphus Pruitt.

Southeast Homeowners Displaced As Homes Crumble After New Developments

In Fairlawn, a new, illegally built school plans for expansion despite homes caving and decreasing property values. A few blocks away a home for returning citizens collapsed. The same day developers ask, “Do you want to sell it to us now?”

The Struggle for Fair Housing in the U.S.

Featured Photo: In dozens of cities across the country, lenders are more likely to deny loans to applicants of color than white ones – even when you take into account how much money they make and how much they want to borrow.

Abusive concerns are being wailed behind the dark walls at Menard Federal Correctional Center

In regards, the system protects abusive officers and ignores the prisoners wanting to be treated as human being. Despite the laws changing, the system is speaking another language to its members in the Department of Corrections.

Call to Action to Dismantle Structural Racism and Economic Disparities in Minneapolis-St. Paul

In response, these leaders reached out to seven African American nonprofit executive directors (I was one) and together, we established the Itasca North Minneapolis Partnership. The Partnership’s mission: develop and implement strategies to better leverage private-sector employment and economic development assets against the disparate and deepening racial and economic disparities experienced by African Americans in North Minneapolis.

Stand Up for Equity in Cannabis and Stop Corporate Monopolies: Sign the Petition

And the double standard continues because while I was creating wealth. My dark-skinned friend who also happens to live in Hyde Park now.

MLK’s Missing Legacy: Woke Warrior Part 6

Over the past two years, CGC clientele has grown from churches, school districts and library systems to national nonprofits, municipal government and police departments.