Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Black Farmers, Reparations

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 24, 2024

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Promises To Pay Black Farmers $5B In Reparations, Despite Unconstitutional Ruling

Black farmers - -who make up 1.4% of the country's farmers -- have continued to fight against discriminatory practices both currently and historically.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy promises to pay Black farmers $5 billion in reparations.

During a podcast interview with the founder of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), John Boyd Jr., the candidate discussed his proposal and how Black farmers got the short end of the stick with financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under President Joe Biden’s America Rescue Plan in 2021. “I can tell you that when I’m in the White House, you’re going to be out there the first week; I’m going to get rid of those people in USDA and get that money,” Kennedy said.

However, that may be difficult as a federal judge paused Biden’s effort to provide $4 billion relief to farmers of color. In 2021, according to the New York Post, Judge William Griesbach ruled that the program doesn’t consider the financial status of applicants — only race.

Griesbach claimed there was no evidence of “intentional discrimination” by USDA in recent agriculture subsidies or pandemic relief efforts.

Biden’s plan targeted helping “socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers” get back on track following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to the USDA’s agricultural website, “socially disadvantaged farmers” were “defined as a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities.”

Black farmers—who make up 1.4% of the country’s farmers—have continued to fight against discriminatory practices both currently and historically. However, white farmers in Texas, Florida, and the Midwest took offense to the provision and challenged it with a lawsuit from the Wisconsin Institute For Law & Liberty (WILL) and America First Legal (AFL).

Jacksonville federal Judge Marcia Morales Howard issued a preliminary injunction, describing the bill as appearing “to create an inflexible, race-based discriminatory program.”

Boyd said he has pulled his support of Biden’s reelection bid because of his minimal attention to “struggling Black farmers who are losing their land.” He alleges the USDA was allowed to foreclose on farmers who wanted assistance from the debt relief program that would’ve been available under the law.

Kennedy said the $5 billion isn’t just money but “entitlement.” “It’s money that was a loan that Black farmers were entitled to way back then and was stolen from them through discrimination,” he said.

“You can testify it was personally stolen from you, and that’s what the court found.”

There are some parties involved that are against Kennedy’s ideology. Executive Director and General Counsel for AFL Gene Hamilton, who was one part of the lawsuit at the time, feels it’s not the government’s responsibility to pick sides — especially when it comes to race. “Any public official who thinks it is the government’s role to pick winners and losers based on the color of their skin does not belong in public office,” Hamilton said.

“This is the 21st century, and we need to stop living like we are in the 19th century before the Civil War.”

Clarence Thomas Celebrates 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education By Saying Supreme Court ‘Overreached Its Authority’

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 24, 2024

Clarence Thomas Celebrates 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education By Saying Supreme Court ‘Overreached Its Authority’

A report from American University's School of Education found segregated schools hurt Black and Latino students at disproportionate levels.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas suggests the high court “overreached its authority” in the landmark case that banned segregation in public schools 70 years ago.

While discussing the Supreme Court’s decision to allow South Carolina to continue using a congressional map that critics allege discriminates against Black voters, Thomas attacked the historic Brown v. Board of Education ruling argued by Thurgood Marshall, who would later become the first Black Supreme Court Justice. “The court took a boundless view of equitable remedies in the Brown ruling,” Thomas wrote.

“Those remedies came through extravagant uses of judicial power to end racial segregation in the 1950s and 60s.”

The 1954 ruling declared the “separate but equal” measure unconstitutional in a 9-0 vote, often considered the starting mark of the Civil Rights Movement. The decision sparked national outrage, prompting protests in Little Rock, Arkansas, when nine Black students enrolled in Little Rock Central High School in 1957. Ruby Bridges became the first African American child to attend formerly whites-only William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana three years later.

Due to her young age, Bridges had to be escorted by federal marshals on her first day.

However, the amount of racial segregation in schools has jumped dramatically over the last 30 years with the rise of charter schools and school choice options. A report from American University’s School of Education found segregated schools hurt Black and Latino students at disproportionate levels as schools often have fewer resources, struggle with teachers, and have fewer AP class options.

Thomas has had his share of controversial statements against Black people. Regarding his defense of wanting to keep a predominantly white congressional district in South Carolina, he said federal courts have limited power to grant equitable relief, “not the flexible power to invent whatever new remedies may seem useful at the time.”

This is not the first time the Justice has opposed anti-discrimination measures. According to Newsweek, before being nominated by Republican President George H. W. Bush to the high court in 1991, he fought to use class-action lawsuits to enforce workplace discrimination laws while working for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Years later, he voted with the majority in the Shelby County v. Holder case — voting to eliminate the 1964 Voting Rights Act in 2013. Thomas argued that racism in voting was no longer a thing, and he felt enough progress had been made to trash the law. Thomas has never backed down from his conservative ideology.

He once claimed that Black people are against him because they can’t handle his views that call for Black people to stop looking for free stuff from white people or government programs. He also said in a speech in 1998 that he refused to be an “intellectual slave.”

Juneteenth Holiday, Hair Discrimination Ban, Juneteenth, Juneteenth flags, Juneteenth colors, Juneteenth, meaning of Juneteenth, significance of Juneteenth,

by Shanique Yates

May 24, 2024

Kentucky Enhances Cultural Recognition With Juneteenth Holiday And Hair Discrimination Ban

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has officially signed executive orders to make Juneteenth an executive branch holiday as well as a law that would protect natural hairstyles from discrimination.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has officially signed executive orders to make Juneteenth an executive branch holiday and a law protecting natural hairstyles, including braids, locs, and twists, from discrimination.

According to a report by Kentucky Lantern, Democratic and Republican lawmakers have been unsuccessful at passing bills regarding both issues. The CROWN Act, an acronym for “Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair,” has been supported by legislators like Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill. However, his latest bill stalled in the current session after it was passed over in the Senate several times before being recommitted to the Judiciary Committee.

Based on a 2023 study, the national CROWN Act found that nearly half of Black women feel pressure to assimilate their hair to more European standards, like straightened tresses, when conducting job interviews, capturing professional headshots, and while on the job.

Per the report, 22 states enacted CROWN Acts by 2023. The executive order filed by Beshear only applies to state government workers and job applicants. Effective immediately, discrimination is prohibited in state government workplaces based on “traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, natural hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks, and twists.”

On the other hand, the other executive order will make Juneteenth an official holiday in Kentucky, aligning it with roughly 28 other states that have also taken action to make the historical Black celebration of freedom a mandated holiday. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, commemorating the 19th day in June 1865 when the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned that they were free.

“I’ve decided I can no longer wait for others to do what is right,” said Beshear ahead of signing the order on Thursday, May 23.

“We must look at it straight on and not hide from our own history, even the parts that are painful,” he continued. “Instead, we recognize it, we attempt to learn from it, and we work to repair the lasting damage and heal our nation’s wounds so we can make progress for a better tomorrow.”

What’s more, Beshear also encouraged fellow politicians to support legislation in the upcoming sessions that will better the lives of Black Americans.

“I urge my colleagues in the General Assembly to support legislation in the upcoming session, recognizing the pivotal role Black Americans have played in shaping our country,” Democratic Floor Leader Sen. Gerald Neal said. In doing so, “we honor our shared history and demonstrate a commitment to equality and justice for all.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 24, 2024

Social Media’s Favorite Librarian Combats Book Bans By Spreading ‘Library Joy’

Social media's favorite librarian has transitioned into a career of book advocacy.

Social media’s favorite librarian Mychal Threets has immersed himself in a career of book advocacy amid the decline of library funding and the banning of books that tell diverse stories.

The former Solano County, California, Library supervisor has visited at least 10 states in the last five months to serve as a panelist or keynote speaker on topics about the importance of books and their impact on young people.

“I’ve been able to just talk to library kids, talk to library grown-ups and remind them to be their best weird selves and it’s OK to not be OK,” Threets t old NBC News.

Threets made it his mission to advocate for books after he left his job in March to focus on his mental health. He was dealing with bouts of anxiety and depression after amassing over one million followers on Instagram and TikTok and dealing with comments from critics and trolls.

@mychal3ts We can get to “okay” together! 💚 Deep breaths with our friend @ArthurPBS are a great start in reaching that destination 💛 #LibraryTikTok #BookTok #Storytime ♬ original sound – mychal

Threets, whose content openly shares his mental health challenges and admiration for books, has always turned to reading to get him through his toughest moments.

“Books are that constant friend in the battle with your own mind,” he said.

Once he saw a sweep of book bans get implemented in 2023 that largely took aim at literary works by or about LGBTQ+ and people of color, Threets knew it was time to take his love for books on the road.

“When we challenge books or ban them, we eliminate opportunities for people to find out about themselves and others because that’s all books are,” Threets said.

Now, the 10-year library professional is working with Congress to combat book bans and secure funding for libraries in California and nationwide. Threets and other library leaders recently flew to Washington, D.C., to meet with Rep. Barbara Lee and Sen. Laphonza Butler, both Democrats of California, to talk about the importance of supporting libraries.

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A post shared by Mychal (@mychal3ts)

“It’s a problem for all of us because it could happen anywhere,” he said of the book bans.

It’s not just reading that’s at risk when libraries lose funding but the online services, like homework assistance, as well as community building for those need.

“Libraries are one of the last free institutions, and there are no expectations when you come through those library doors,” Threets said. “In order to keep that momentum, we need help with funding.”

Threets continues to push out his online content to share his “library joy” while positively combatting ideologies that the world needs fewer books. His aim is to inspire others to rethink the value that libraries and books have in a community.

“There’s something for everybody at the local library and that’s only possible when we get more and more funding,” he said. “And ultimately when we get more support for our local libraries, for our community libraries, the results are even greater for literacy.”

by Shanique Yates

May 24, 2024

A Night To Remember: Miami Northwestern Prom Becomes Viral Hit With Glamorous Flair

From Lamborghinis to Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs, Rolls Royces, and beyond, Northwestern students arrived at their prom, held at Hilton Downtown on May 11 with one thing in mind –- dressing to impress, the Miami-Herald reports.

As prom season comes to a close, one Miami high school has become quite the viral sensation. A compilation video shared by Miami Northwestern alum and teacher Tyeshia Bryant has garnered more than four million views. The video shows the seniors donning glamorous looks and arriving at the momentous occasion in style.

“This is the norm,” said Bryant. “But this class set the bar slightly higher because everyone understood the assignment.

From Lamborghinis to Mercedes-Benzes, BMWs, Rolls Royces, and beyond, Northwestern students arrived at their prom, held at Hilton Downtown on May 11, with one thing in mind –- dress to impress, the Miami-Herald reports.

At one point during the night, two students arrived in a Tesla Cybertruck, complete with a police escort.

“It’s our school’s legacy,” said senior class vice-president Algieria Thomas. “Our school is known to step, so you have to step.”

For 2024, Northwestern’s prom theme was “Majestic Beauty: A Night of Elegance and Class,” which Thomas helped to spearhead, noting that she particularly enjoyed that the concept was vague and could be interpreted in several ways.

“It lets people represent their definition of class and elegance,” said Thomas, who plans to attend Alabama State University, majoring in business upon graduation. She arrived at the event in a BMW 5 Series alongside her prom date, both dressed in white with silver accents.

In 2020, the 370 seniors at Northwestern began their high school career just as a global pandemic was on the horizon. This is why class sponsor Krista Gibbs, responsible for planning all of the class field trips and other events, wanted to ensure that this was a year for the books.

“I’ve been trying to do it big for them all year,” said Gibbs. “Prom was just the grand finale. I wanted everything to go right.”

In the end, after seeing all the students arrive in style with looks and accessories that were over the top to match, all of the stress leading up to the event was worth it.

“I was just so happy,” Gibbs expressed.

While she didn’t attend Northwestern, as an alumnus of Carol City High and Florida A&M University, Gibbs understood the pageantry of it all, explaining that Black excellence is not only the norm but the standard at the high school.

“That culture stuck with me, and it was something that was important for me to recreate for the kids because this only happens once, and you’ll remember it for the rest of your life,” Gibbs said. “We need to instill culture and tradition and pride into our students because they need that.”

When it opened its doors in 1955, Miami Northwestern became one of the first high schools for Black students, thus launching its rich history as a school with a reputation for producing notable Black professionals known for positively impacting the community. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Miami-Dade District 1 School Board Member Steve Gallon III, and former NFL quarterback and current Northwestern football coach Teddy Bridgewater are just a few notable names that are products of the esteemed secondary education institution.

Black Pilot, U.S. Air Force, United Airlines Pilot, Theresa Claiborne

by Stacy Jackson

May 24, 2024

1st Black Woman To Fly In U.S. Air Force Retires As A United Airlines Pilot

Theresa Claiborne's final flight has landed.

Captain Theresa Claiborne, the trailblazing pilot who became the first African American woman to fly in the U.S. Air Force, celebrated her retirement from United Airlines with a final flight on May 23.

Claiborne’s nearly 43-year aviation career came full circle as she landed a United 787 Dreamliner in Newark, New Jersey, after a journey from Lisbon, Portugal. CNN reported that upon arrival, the pilot received the symbolic water cannon salute as she celebrated with loved ones. Reflecting on this transition, Claiborne remarked, “After this, walking through the airport, I won’t have a uniform on…People will just look at me like I’m just a passenger like everyone else; that’ll be a little different.”

The Virginia native’s passion for flying took root at age seven after her first flight. She joined the Air Force Reserve Office Training Force in college, solidifying her path after experiencing the thrill of piloting a T-37 jet trainer. “Once I got that first taste of being in the air and being in command of the airplane, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is what I’m going to do,” she said. Following the completion of her pilot’s license just months after graduating from California State University in Sacramento, Claiborne was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

The pioneering aviator shattered barriers in 1981 as the first Black woman to fly in the U.S. Air Force. “I still get chills when I think about the fact that I was the first,” Claiborne said. Her milestones continued as the first Black woman command pilot and instructor for the KC-135 refueling jet.

Claiborne joined United Airlines in 1990 as a flight officer before being promoted to captain.

https://www.tiktok.com/@africanheritagecity/video/7351758696780778795

Of her longtime employer, she said she feels blessed to have been able to work as a pilot for the airline. She acknowledged her significant responsibility as one of the fewer than 150 Black women pilots in the US. The accomplished aviator is the current President of Sisters of the Skies, a nationally recognized non-profit organization, which BLACK ENTERPRISE previously highlighted for empowering Black women to become pilots. According to the organization, the team of experienced aviators works to improve the number of Black female pilots in both military and commercial aviation. CNN noted that Claiborne will be stepping down from her position with Sisters of the Skies but vowed to continue mentorship. “To still impart that knowledge on young people, and particularly young black women, that they can do this,” Claiborne said as she looks to the future.

Her future plans include becoming an author and the dream of one day piloting a historic WWII aircraft or Tuskegee Airmen’s legendary Red Tail fighter.

Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Gordon Parks foundation, honors, art,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 24, 2024

Alicia Keys And Swizz Beatz Honored At The Gordon Parks Foundation Awards

Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz received their flowers.

Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz, received their flowers on Tuesday, May 21, at the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards.

The celebrity couple was in their hometown New York City for the awards dinner and auction that honored their art and activism alongside Colin Kaepernick, Mickalene Thomas, and Civil Rights luminary Myrlie Evers-Williams.

Others who were celebrated included the 2024 Gordon Parks Foundation Art Fellows image maker Larry W. Cook, artist Tonika Lewis Johnson, and author D. Watkins, Vogue reports.

“It’s just natural since the minute we met,” Keys told The Associated Press of Swizz Beatz. “There’s a way that each of us has our own way of creating and just by being inspire each other. I love this man. I love all of his brilliance. And it’s beautiful to have that kind of reciprocity.”

The annual star-studded event is aimed at honoring Parks, the late photographer, composer, author, poet, and film director, who gained prominence as a documentary photojournalist who highlighted civil rights, poverty, and the Black experience from the 1940s through 1970s.

Others in attendance included Usher, Spike Lee, Gayle King, Chelsea Clinton, Lena Waithe, and Maxwell Osborne. “It’s [the gala] a memory; it’s about my father who I deeply miss,” Parks Bailey, Parks’ daughter, said. “It’s a celebration of Black art and moving forward.”

The night included a soulful performance from the Anthony Morgan Inspirational Choir of Harlem, a special tribute to the late actor Richard Roundtree (who played John Shaft in Parks’ classic 1971 film, Shaft) a live auction, a surprise performance by Patti Smith, and closing remarks from D-Nice who turned the gala into a disco party.

“It’s the night where Gordon Parks is no longer just an icon of the 20th century, he’s a 21st-century legend,” Peter W. Kunhardt Jr., executive director of the foundation, said.

Danielle Brooks, Tracee Ellis Ross, Fantasia

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 24, 2024

Danielle Brooks To Host The Return Of Black Girls Rock!, Tracee Ellis Ross, Fantasia, And More To Be Honored

Danielle Brooks is serving as the host of the first televised Black Girls Rock! Awards in five years where Fantasia Barrino and more will be honored.

Danielle Brooks is serving as the host of the first televised Black Girls Rock! Awards in five years.

The Academy Award-nominated actress will lead the night aimed at celebrating a star-studded lineup of famous faces and powerhouse Black women spearheading positive change as trailblazers, community activists, pioneers, business moguls, thought leaders, and rising stars.

Among the celebrities to be honored include actress and former BGR! Host and Founder/co-CEO of Pattern Beauty, Tracee Ellis Ross, who will receive the Star Power Award. Acclaimed filmmaker of “The Woman King” and “Love & Basketball,” Gina Prince-Bythewood will receive the Shot Caller Award. Brooks will see her Grammy Award-winning “The Color Purple” co-star Fantasia Barrino receive the Black Girl Magic Award and watch singer and Broadway icon Stephanie Mills receive her flowers with the Living Legend Award.

Other honorees include artist, animator, and sustainability advocate Maya Penn, who’s set to receive the Young, Gifted, and Black Award, and Mama Glow founder, maternal health advocate, doula, and wellness practitioner Latham Thomas, who will take home the Community Change Agent Award. Black Girls Rock! Founder and CEO Beverly Bond is excited to welcome her annual award show back to television through an exciting new broadcast partnership with Lifetime A&E Networks.

“As the BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Awards make their much-anticipated return to television on Lifetime, we are thrilled to reignite this empowering platform on a new network in the vibrant city of Atlanta, our new cultural epicenter for celebration,” Bond said.

“In a world where the voices of women of color are often marginalized, our resurgence is a bold declaration of presence—more audacious, more resilient, and more dedicated than ever to elevating Black women and girls worldwide.”

After years of airing on BET, this will be the first time Black Girls Rock! gets to shine on Lifetime, a network known for its focus on women and women in lead roles.

“Lifetime is thrilled to partner with Beverly Bond and BLACK GIRLS ROCK! for this historic celebration of Black women’s excellence,” Elaine Frontain Bryant, EVP and Head of Programming, A&E, Lifetime, said. “As the premier women’s network, this partnership is a strategic alignment of our visions, underscoring our commitment to amplifying the voices and impact of women of color.”

In addition to the Black Girls Rock! Award show BGR will expand to include an experience across Atlanta featuring the inaugural BGR! Film Festival screening over 75 films, the BLACK CLOUD® Rainmaker Summit, and the VIP Pre-Awards Shot Caller Dinner and fundraising gala. The award show will be taped at the Fox Theatre on June 27 and air on Aug. 1, 2024, on Lifetime.

by Shanique Yates

May 24, 2024

DOJ Seeks To Dismantle Live Nation’s ‘Monopolistic Control’ Over Live Events Industry

The government agency has filed a lawsuit to break up the parent company of Ticketmaster, citing alleged antitrust violations.

The U.S. Department of Justice is going after Live Nation. The government agency has filed a lawsuit to break up the parent company of Ticketmaster, citing alleged antitrust violations.

After fan complaints surrounding a botched rollout of tickets to Taylor Switf’s Eras Tour sparked a DOJ probe in 2022, the latest news includes a lawsuit that the DOJ filed with the support of 30 states on Thursday (May 23), CNBC reports.

“We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”

Live Nation responded, calling the DOJ’s allegations of a monopoly “absurd.”

“The DOJ’s complaint attempts to portray Live Nation and Ticketmaster as the cause of fan frustration with the live entertainment industry. It blames concert promoters and ticketing companies—neither of which control ticket prices—for high ticket prices. It ignores everything that is actually responsible for higher ticket prices, from increasing production costs to artist popularity to 24/7 online ticket scalping that reveals the public’s willingness to pay far more than primary tickets cost,” said Dan Wall, Live Nation executive vice president for corporate and regulatory affairs.

In 2010, Live Nation and Ticketmaster merged, creating a dominant entity within the live event industry. The company manages more than 400 artists and controls roughly 60% of concert promotions at major venues. Moreover, as a result of the merger, the company also owns and operates more than 265 entertainment venues in North America, including more than 60 of the top 100 amphitheaters, while operating and managing ticket sales for live entertainment across the globe.

“Taken individually and considered together, Live Nation’s and Ticketmaster’s conduct allows them to exploit their conflicts of interest — as a promoter, ticketer, venue owner and artist manager — across the live music industry and further entrench their dominant position,” the complaint reads.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the DOJ lawsuit claims that Live Nation threatened financial retaliation against potential competitors and venues working with rivals. The company is also accused of strategically acquiring smaller and regional competitive threats to grow its already competitive channel, exploiting a relationship with Oak View Group, a venue partner, and flipping its contracts to Ticketmaster while discouraging concert promotion competition.

“In its own words, Live Nation uses its exclusionary conduct as a ‘hedge against significant improvements by the competition or even a new competitor.’ But the cost of that hedge is one that we all pay, for example, a broken ticketing website with substandard customer service that still captures your valuable data,” Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter said during a press conference.

Kanter added, “It is through these exclusive ticketing arrangements that Americans face the dreaded Ticketmaster tax, the seemingly endless set of fees ironically named service fee or convenience fee when they are anything but.”

Earlier this month, Live Nation reported having its “biggest Q1 ever,” announcing that quarter revenue was up 21% from the previous year. Over the past year, the company has received public scrutiny for its hidden fees in ticket pricing and other transparency concerns.

NBA Champion Dwyane Wade, Trans Youth, LGBTQ+ Advocacy

by Shanique Yates

May 24, 2024

Dwyane Wade Honored For LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Launches ‘Translatable’ For Trans Youth

As he accepted his award, Wade also credited Zaya for being the inspiration behind Translatable, “a new online community designed to support transgender children and their families.”

Dwyane Wade continues to put his support behind the LGBTQ+ community. During a recent visit to South Florida, the NBA legend detailed his latest business venture while simultaneously receiving the Elevate Prize Catalyst Award during The Elevate Prize Foundation’s Make Good Famous Summit.

After his daughter came out as transgender in 2020, the state of Florida was in the middle of also passing anti-trans legislation that caused many trans adults to leave the state. After spending more than 14 seasons on the Miami Heat, Wade made the southern Florida city their permanent home, but it wasn’t long after the new laws were proposed that he moved his family to California in 2023, AP News reported.

“We’ve done so many great things here, so it wasn’t easy to leave,” Wade told the outlet ahead of the event. “But the community wasn’t here for Zaya, so the community wasn’t here for us.”

As he accepted his award, Wade also credited Zaya for being the inspiration behind Translatable, “a new online community designed to support transgender children and their families.”

“The question was presented to her as, ‘If you have one thing that you want to see change in this community, what would it be?’” Wade recounted. “And, for her, it goes right to parents. It goes right to the adults. It goes right to us. It’s not the kids. It’s us; and so she wanted to create a space that felt safe for parents and their kids. That’s what Translatable is, and it’s her baby.”

Funded by the Wade Family Foundation, the Chicago native has one hope for the new online platform, and that is to provide a community that will “support growth, mental health, and well-being, and that this space ignites more conversations leading to greater understanding and acceptance.”

What’s more, Wade revealed his plans to use the unrestricted funding of $250,000 from The Elevate Prize Catalyst Award towards Translatable. The CEO of the program also revealed that a separate additional donation will be made to support Wade’s latest endeavor.

“Dwyane Wade and what he represents speaks to the ethos of the whole foundation,” said Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram. “He is such a hero in the sports universe and even beyond basketball. He’s been in the social justice space almost since the very beginning of his NBA career, and most people don’t know that.”

For Wade, supporting trans rights is just an extension of his work as a father; and FOLX Health clinician Dr. Michelle Forcier said that an online community for trans youth is a program that can be very helpful.

“Youth are all about electronic and online communication, socialization, and communities,” she said. “So if you are trying to support youth, it only makes sense to be a part of how youth feel most comfortable communicating.”

Along with the aforementioned donation, Translatable is also made possible thanks to the support of the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project.