By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

As the nation approaches the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, a new Pew Research Center study reveals a sobering assessment from Americans: the heightened focus on race and racial inequality following the 2020 protests has largely failed to improve the lives of Black people. In the immediate aftermath of Floyd’s death at the hands of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of murder and manslaughter and sentenced to over 20 years in prison, public attention surged. Millions joined protests across the country. Support for the Black Lives Matter movement peaked, with 67% of Americans backing the cause, and 52% believed at the time that the national reckoning would result in meaningful change for Black Americans. Today, only 27% say those changes materialized. Pew’s new survey, conducted February 10–17, 2025, among 5,097 adults, finds that 72% now say the increased focus on racial inequality has not improved life for Black people. Even among Democrats, optimism has waned significantly — just 34% believe the racial reckoning made a difference, down from 70% in 2020.

Support for Black Lives Matter, which surged in 2020, has dropped to 52%. Favorability has remained highest among Black adults (76%), Democrats (84%), and adults under 30 (61%), while only 45% of White adults and 22% of Republicans express support. “The justice system is not fair when it comes to Black people,” said a Black Republican in their mid-40s, one of many respondents offering open-ended reflections. “When convicted of crimes, Black people always get heavier sentences than their White counterparts, even when they have no prior convictions.” The study also finds that Americans have become more pessimistic about the future of racial equality. Among those who believe the country hasn’t gone far enough on equal rights, only 51% now say it’s likely that Black people will eventually achieve equality with White people, down from 60% in 2020. Just 32% of Black adults say they believe racial equality is attainable — a stark contrast with 61% of White adults who say the same. As companies once eager to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) now pull back — a trend accelerated by Donald Trump’s executive order banning DEI efforts across the federal government and pressuring private employers to follow suit — public sentiment toward such initiatives has soured. Lawsuits and backlash have contributed to the rollback, even before Trump’s intervention.

Americans are split on whether companies should weigh in on political or social issues: 50% say it’s important, while 50% say it’s not. However, among those who remember corporate responses to the 2020 protests, 69% believe those statements were made under pressure rather than out of genuine concern. Pew’s findings also show how partisan divides color perceptions of race in America. While 82% of Black Americans say the country has not gone far enough on racial equality, only 14% of Republicans agree. A majority of Republicans (66%) say too much attention is paid to racial issues, while 56% of Democrats say there’s too little. Video footage of police violence continues to shape opinion. Nearly nine in ten Americans have seen such videos, with 63% saying they help hold officers accountable. Yet 54% say the videos make it harder for police to do their jobs. Black adults (65%) and Democrats (68%) are most likely to view widespread sharing of the videos as a good thing.

As the 2020 movement fades in visibility, feelings of exhaustion have risen. Half of Americans, including 54% of Democrats and 48% of Republicans, say they feel extremely or very often exhausted when thinking about race in the U.S. Democrats are also more likely to feel angry and fearful, while Republicans are more likely to feel uninterested or satisfied. In measuring change, the verdict is grim. Most Americans (54%) say the relationship between Black people and police is no better than it was before Floyd’s killing. A third say it’s worse. Just 11% say it’s better. Looking ahead to Trump’s second term, 48% of Americans believe he will make racial matters worse, compared to 28% who believe he will improve things. Party affiliation predicts opinion: 82% of Democrats expect conditions to deteriorate, while 53% of Republicans think they’ll improve. The Pew Research Center’s comprehensive study reveals that what was once hailed as a racial awakening now feels, to many, like a missed opportunity. “[Black people] still are paid less than Whites when both are performing the same job,” said a Black Democrat in their early 70s. “Black people are still looked at as criminals when they haven’t committed any crimes.”

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Target CEO Brian Cornell acknowledged in an email to employees this week that a months-long lapse in communication has created uncertainty. The retailer is grappling with falling foot traffic, public boycotts, and criticism over its retreat from diversity goals. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Cornell’s message to staff admitted it has been “a tough few months.” It said media coverage, social media chatter, and internal conversations “may have left you wondering.” He insisted, however, that Target’s values have not shifted. “I recognize that silence from us has created uncertainty, so I want to be very clear: We are still the Target you know and believe in,” Cornell wrote. Since the beginning of the year, the retail giant has faced a storm of challenges. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on global imports have squeezed the company’s margins. Target’s decision to scale back its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives prompted widespread backlash from Black leaders and organizations. “Black consumers helped build Target into a retail giant, and now they are making their voices heard,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA). The NNPA is a trade association representing the 198-year-old Black Press of America. Earlier this year, the Black Press began a public education and selective buying campaign in response to Target abandoning its commitment to Black America. “If corporations believe they can roll back diversity commitments without consequence, they are mistaken,” Chavis stated.

The company has yet to respond to repeated requests for meetings and comment from The Black Press. Target has lost more than $15 billion in revenue this year, seen its stock price fall by as much as $27.27 per share, and is facing multiple lawsuits tied to its DEI policy changes. Cornell’s email still struck a tone of reassurance, calling the company’s values of “inclusivity, connection, drive” non-negotiable. “We’re committed to sharing more of that impact with you and our guests because it reinforces our values and shows the real heart of our team,” he wrote. Still, retail analysts were sharply critical. Neil Saunders, managing director at GlobalData Retail, said the email fails to address the root causes of public concern. “They say, ‘Our products and experience are second to none.’ Well, actually, no, they’re not. That’s not true anymore,” he said. According to data from Placer.ai, foot traffic to Target stores has dropped for 11 straight weeks, with only a slight uptick during the week of April 14 and April 21. Overall, foot traffic declined 3.3% in April.

In recent weeks, Cornell met with Rev. Al Sharpton and leaders of the boycott movement to discuss Target’s DEI pullback. He also met with Trump to outline the damaging impact of tariffs on retailers. Neither meeting was believed to have been mentioned in his message to employees. Rev. Jamal Bryant, who launched a national Target Fast to protest the company’s direction, has called for continued mobilization and accountability. Retail consultant Carol Spieckerman said the CEO’s email failed to take responsibility. “His email acknowledges but doesn’t take responsibility for any of the concerns and controversies surrounding the company,” she said. “The tone implies that things are happening around and to Target that are out of its control.” Both Spieckerman and Saunders described the message as unfocused. “It’s a really jumbled email,” Saunders said. “And you know if it’s come from Brian Cornell, it’s probably been through about 30 different people and various PR teams, and it still comes out as this big, jumbled mess.”

Hudson transformed 15 custom looks into a brilliant showcase of Black creativity and cultural mastery.

By: Dawn Montgomery

This year’s MET Gala was for us—for the culture—and a powerful moment for Black fashion designers to shine. Every year, the first Monday in May brings chaos, glamor, and a flurry of looks that flood our timelines. We all turn into judges, weighing in from our couches, revering the creativity that takes center stage on the red—or, in this case, blue—carpet.

The 2025 theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrated Black Dandyism and was inspired by the work of Monica Miller, professor and chair of Africana Studies at Barnard College, and her book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. This theme invited attendees to reimagine how they see themselves and to honor our legacy in fashion history.

And no one met the moment like Sergio Hudson.

The Ridgeway, South Carolina-born designer and a lean team that understands every stitch is a statement dressed over 15 attendees for this year’s gala. Each look was a masterpiece of intention and identity. The design sketches provided us with early glimpses, but witnessing them come to life on the carpet was unforgettable.

Fashion stylist Trenez Scott, originally from Farmhaven, Mississippi, put it best: “I call this Sergio Hudson’s MET Gala 2025. With over 15 looks curated for this historic moment, it’s an experience I’ll treasure for years to come. Though we’re a small team, our impact is undeniable—proving that anything is possible with belief in your gift and relentless persistence.”

As Black creatives, we’ve long believed in our gifts, even while navigating limited resources and industry gatekeeping. Hudson’s rise has always illuminated the inequalities embedded in the world of fashion. And yet, it took one monumental event—the MET Gala—for fashion’s elite to give him a pound or his proper due.

Hudson and his team made sure every person they dressed received the same level of care and attention to detail. If I had to grade the execution, it would be an easy A+.

The effort, strategy, time, and Blackness—the precision of staying on theme while dressing over a dozen people—says everything about the Sergio Hudson Collection and how they stepped up and showed out.

“My mother, she always wore a suit. Hudson once told the Free Times that she consistently wore “a man’s shirt and a pencil skirt.”  “That’s how I define who the Sergio Hudson woman was. So when you see my shows, and you see the women in these really tailored suits … I know my clients feel very empowered.”

And it wasn’t just Black women he dressed. Several white women also trusted his vision. That speaks volumes—about his reach, his artistry, and how he designs with every woman in mind. His New York Fashion Week shows have always reflected that ethos: the Sergio Hudson woman is every woman.

To see that level of inclusivity on the MET Gala carpet—during a night themed around Black expression—was profound. There’s a way to showcase Black creativity without diluting it or appropriating it.

The Looks:

What we saw on that blue carpet was storytelling—through stitch and silhouette. Nothing about these looks was random. Hudson made sure each one said something. Every look had weight.

It was pure joy to witness this celebration of Black excellence and fashion on such a major stage. We need more moments like this, especially in a climate where DEI initiatives are being brazenly dismantled and support for Black creatives is shrinking.

But let this serve as a reminder: when we are platformed, we deliver. We show up. We shine. You can’t deny us. And when you try? We find another way to break through.

Some of the MET Gala attendees, who were dressed in custom looks from Sergio Hudson

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

Outrage has turned to action in Rochester after a white woman launched a racist verbal assault on a 5-year-old Black child at a public park—an incident that has sparked national condemnation, a surge of community support, and a flood of donations aimed at helping the young victim heal. The Rochester Branch of the NAACP said the incident, which occurred on April 30, was a deliberate and threatening act of racial hate—not a misunderstanding or isolated outburst. According to the organization, the child, who is also reportedly on the autism spectrum, was targeted with repeated racial slurs, including the n-word. The woman did not express remorse and doubled down when confronted by a bystander. “This was not simply offensive behavior—it was an intentional racist, threatening, hateful, and verbal attack against a child, and it must be treated as such,” the Rochester Branch of the NAACP said in a statement. “Public parks should be safe, inclusive spaces for children and families—not sites of hate and trauma.”

A widely circulated video of the incident drew sharp backlash, as did the woman’s subsequent move to launch a fundraising campaign for herself. She identified herself as Shiloh Hendrix and claimed she needed financial help to relocate in the aftermath. In less than 24 hours, her campaign raised nearly $150,000. As of this week, it has surpassed $600,000, with many of her supporters openly defending her use of racial slurs and demonizing the child. In response, the Rochester Branch of the NAACP acted quickly, launching a GoFundMe campaign to support the young victim and his family. That campaign has since raised $341,484 in just two days, thanks to an outpouring of support from across the country and around the world. The NAACP has since closed the fundraiser at the family’s request. “From the beginning, this campaign was rooted in a powerful truth: no child should ever be dehumanized, and love must always be louder than hate,” the NAACP said. According to the organization, 100% of the funds raised—minus standard platform fees—will be placed in a trust account solely managed by the child’s parents. “No member of the Rochester Branch of the NAACP has received—or will receive—funds from these donations,” the organization clarified.

The incident has drawn attention to a rising tide of hate and bigotry not only in Rochester but across the nation. Over the past year alone, the Rochester NAACP has documented a troubling number of racially motivated acts in the area, including racist slurs painted on a bridge near Century High School, a noose and effigy used to intimidate a Black family, and swastikas and racial epithets spray-painted on the home of a local representative. Islamophobic and antisemitic acts have also increased. “This is not an isolated incident,” the NAACP said. “It is part of a troubling and painful trend that continues to escalate across the country.” Community members seeking to do more are encouraged to support the NAACP’s ongoing work through the Rochester Branch’s Fighting Fund for Freedom at https://rochesterbranchnaacp.betterworld.org/donate.

“This is about more than one incident. It’s about who we are as a community and what we choose to stand for,” the Rochester Branch of the NAACP said. “Help us match the funds raised in defense of hate with an equal force of love, justice, and action.”

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

An explosive new investigative report has revealed how the Trump administration’s cuts are jeopardizing veterans’ health care. The Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit news outlet ProPublica said it obtained internal emails that expose how Trump’s cost-cutting measures have disrupted life-saving clinical trials, derailed cancer research, and left VA hospitals across the country short-staffed and scrambling to care for those who served. Despite Trump’s repeated promises to put veterans first—“We love our veterans,” he said in February—internal messages from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials tell a different story. The report details how VA doctors in Pennsylvania, Detroit, Colorado, and beyond have been sending urgent warnings to headquarters about the impact of layoffs, hiring freezes, and the abrupt cancellation of critical contracts. “Enrollment in clinical trials is stopping,” one email warned earlier this year. “Meaning veterans lose access to therapies.” That message, sent from VA doctors in Pennsylvania, stated more than 1,000 veterans would lose access to treatment for conditions ranging from metastatic head and neck cancers to traumatic brain injuries and kidney disease.

Though the administration later walked back some of the decisions, allowing certain trials to resume, other programs remain suspended. For example, two cancer trials in Pittsburgh for veterans with advanced head and neck cancer remain delayed. “It’s insane,” said Alanna Caffas, head of the Veterans Health Foundation in Pittsburgh. “These veterans should be able to get access to research treatments, but they can’t.” The disruptions come even as the VA is legally required to expand services under the PACT Act, which Congress passed to provide greater support for veterans suffering from exposure to Agent Orange, burn pits, and other toxic environments. Instead, ProPublica reports that the Trump administration is planning to eliminate at least 70,000 VA positions, aiming to shrink the agency back to its pre-PACT Act size. “The Biden Administration understood what it meant to pay for the cost of war; it seems the Trump Administration does not,” said Rep. Mark Takano, a California Democrat who authored the PACT Act. One of the most alarming findings involves the VA’s cancer registries—databases used to track treatment and recurrence. In the Pacific Northwest, officials said funding was “updated for immediate termination” by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-created office. In an email, VA staff in Detroit warned of the “inability to track oncology treatment and recurrences.” Without the data, providers say, cancer patients are at even greater risk.

In Colorado, social worker layoffs left homeless veterans without support. One month later, after pressure mounted, the VA reinstated some staff. VA press secretary Pete Kasperowicz insisted the impact was minimal and said affected caseloads were temporarily reassigned. Kasperowicz also downplayed the internal warnings revealed by ProPublica. “The only thing these reports show is that VA has a robust and well-functioning system to flag potential issues and quickly fix them so we can provide the best possible care to Veterans,” he said. However, internal documents show that DOGE has drafted a transformation plan that includes consolidating operations, introducing artificial intelligence to manage benefits, and even proposing the closure of up to 29 VA hospitals. Kasperowicz denied that any closures are planned, stating, “Just because a VA employee wrote something down, doesn’t make it VA policy.” David Shulkin, who served as VA secretary during Trump’s first term, told ProPublica that the current approach prioritizes cuts over care. “I think it’s very, very hard to be successful with the approach that they’re taking,” he said. Rosie Torres, founder of the veterans advocacy group Burn Pits 360, called the revelations “gut-wrenching” and a “crisis in the making.” She told Pro Publica, “If they are killing contracts that may affect the delivery of care, then we have a right to know.” The outlet quoted an anonymous VA oncologist, who put it plainly: “Veterans’ lives are on the line,” the doctor told ProPublica. “Let us go back to work and take care of them.”

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

While President Donald Trump and his allies at the Heritage Foundation work to gut diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across America, a dangerous narrative continues to spread—that DEI is some handout to Black Americans. But the truth, backed by decades of data and recent studies, reveals a different picture entirely: the primary beneficiaries of DEI have not been Black people, but white women. Since returning to the White House, Trump has waged a relentless war on what his administration calls “woke” policies. His rhetoric has stoked resentment against DEI, falsely painting it as favoritism for Black Americans. Yet, according to experts and multiple studies, white women have long been the ones gaining the most from these very initiatives. “Actually, everyone but Black folks benefit [from DEI],” Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett said in an earlier published interview. “We were always the intended target to benefit, but the way that most policies are written, people learned how to game the system.”

Reecie Colbert, a political commentator, told the Root that this false narrative has been pushed strategically. “The notion that Black people are the primary beneficiaries of DEI, despite evidence to the contrary, has fueled irrational hostility—often from those who benefited most,” she said. According to data compiled by Zippia and cited in The Root and Philly Women’s Network, 76% of Chief Diversity Officers in corporate America are white, and 54% are white women. A Forbes analysis found that white women hold nearly 19% of all C-suite positions, while women of color account for just 4%. White women have also received the lion’s share of affirmative action benefits in both employment and education. A 2025 study cited by the League of Women Voters revealed that as early as 1997, at least 6 million white women held positions they would not otherwise have obtained without affirmative action.

Yet Trump continues to vilify DEI, recently expanding tariffs that hurt companies like Nike and Adidas while using “anti-white” rhetoric to justify his DEI rollbacks. These moves are not just cultural, they are economic. McKinsey & Company reports that companies with diverse teams are 35% more likely to outperform their industry peers financially. Meanwhile, Black professionals are still fighting to be seen and supported. The 2019 Coqual report, Being Black in Corporate America, found that Black professionals are more likely to face racial prejudice at work, less likely to receive sponsorship, and more likely to be passed over for promotions—even when equally or more qualified. Lanaya Irvin, CEO of Coqual, noted the disconnect. “The barriers Black employees face to advancement seem to be largely invisible to their white colleagues,” Irvin stated in the report. With DEI programs now being slashed from corporations and universities and Trump purging federal workers and programs that support equity, the cost is not being borne by those who’ve benefited most but by those who’ve fought hardest just to be included.

“Despite decades of DEI, white men still hold the vast majority of C-suite positions,” diversity consultant Susan X Jane stated. “No matter what the administration is saying, there is no evidence of anti-white discrimination”. Dr. Walter Greason put it plainly in a previously published interview. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives offered a compromise to narrowly tailor goals in response to white fears,” Greason stated. “And now, those same people who benefited are trying to burn it all down.”