| | | Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. | Happy Sunday and welcome back. It’s Black August, a month to honor the radical Black resistance that challenges the state-sanctioned violence we experience. If there was a month to be bolder, more adamant, more affirmed in your advocacy work, it’s August. | Maybe you’re more moved by the planets than our history. But there’s inspiration there, too. On August 12, the solar eclipse in Leo is said to cause a reckoning in who we are and what we stand for. As the temperatures soar and we soak in the last few days before back-to-school and fall busyness, take a moment to see what causes and campaigns matter to you most, and how you choose to show up. | There’s lots of good inspiration on where to start in today’s newsletter. Highly recommend watching one of the Black August videos, or using the toolkits featured by the ACLU or Marshall Project. Just remember, your energy is needed and necessary for the future we’re fighting for. | This newsletter is made possible by readers like you. Consider making a one-time or monthly donation on our website, PayPal, or Venmo (@reimaginednews) to help sustain this work. If you’re already a donor, I appreciate you more than you know. You can always manage your subscription here. | Nicole | ps – looking for the audio version of this newsletter? Click to read the web version, and you’ll find the audio recording at the top of the page. This is a service provided by Beehiiv, our email publishing platform, and is AI-generated. |
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| | I post quick recaps like these every morning on Threads and Substack – follow me if you find them helpful! | Jason Arday, a Black Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism, was found dead on Friday. The professor of sociology of education was under relentless scrutiny after accusations led by Nathan Cofnas, a former Cambridge philosophy researcher who left the university following his critique of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that sparked widespread protests. His death is sparking more discussion about the racism and discrimination that Black people in positions of power – especially in academia – experience. | Tyler Austin Harper outlines the systemic, ritualized dishonesty that undid the Cambridge professor. The Atlantic > Karen Attiah unpacks what Jason Arday's death by media mob says about the old machinery of anti-Black terror in the algorithmic age. The Golden Hour by Karen Attiah >
| Flock announces changes amid backlash over its license plate reader network. After public outrage over the use of Flock Safety’s 120,000 cameras for digital surveillance, the company updated its policies, reducing the default data retention period to 7 days and making misuse detection mandatory for every customer. Despite this, advocates warn that the use of this technology still threatens our civil liberties. | | The kids want Democratic socialism. A new poll focusing on young people’s political views finds that, by a two-to-one margin, they tend to support rather than oppose the idea of democratic socialism. Nearly 4 out of 5 respondents described the U.S. economy using negative terms. These views reflect the growing support for progressive Democrats who had big wins in recent state and local elections. | Donavan McKinney, a democratic socialist who defeated two-term Congressmember Shri Thanedar in the House primary for Michigan’s 13th District, chats with Democracy Now about the upset. Democracy Now The Democrats’ 2028 presidential calendar places more weight on Black and Latino voters and unions, a strategy that may pay off. Los Angeles Times >
| | | | | | | Rupture and Repair | Wednesday, September 30 | 3-5pm EST | Learn how to navigate moments of tension and conflict as they arise in professional settings. Participants will learn practical, real-time strategies for de-escalating situations, intervening effectively, and rebuilding trust after moments of rupture. We’ll develop a personalized toolkit for addressing workplace tensions while maintaining cultural awareness and psychological safety. | | |
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| | Conflict Evolution 101 | Thursday, October 1 | 3-5pm EST | Learn how to navigate moments of tension and conflict as they arise in professional settings. Participants will learn practical, real-time strategies for de-escalating situations, intervening effectively, and rebuilding trust after moments of rupture. Through hands-on practice and scenario work, we’ll develop a personalized toolkit for addressing workplace tensions while maintaining cultural awareness and psychological safety. | |
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| | |  | A protester waves the national flags of Mexico during a demonstration for immigrants' rights outside of Los Angeles City Hall on Feb. 5, 2025. Photo Source: Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images |
| The U.S. has deported hundreds of children to cities in southern Mexico. Human rights organizations said the minors lack the resources to go home safely and that some may have died trying. Capital & Main > | A secret ICE agent tried to push Minneapolis activists toward confrontational tactics. An undercover agent attempted to steer Sunrise Movement activists in Minneapolis toward confrontation. The Intercept > | Fear of ICE forces immigrant New Yorkers into the shadows. An enforcement surge is driving immigrants to change daily routines and avoid work, school, and public spaces. Documented > | Five things you didn’t know about extreme heat in prison, jail and ICE detention. Experts share their best tips for investigating rising temperatures behind bars in a webinar from The Marshall Project’s Investigate This! Marshall Project > | A progressive Vermont prosecutor wins her primary. Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George defeated a challenger who ran on reversing her agenda, and plans to expand restorative justice, no-cash-bail, and limits on traffic-stop charges. |
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