Rev. Raphael Warnock, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Ebenezer Baptist Church
by Sharelle B. McNair

April 6, 2026

Sen. Raphael Warnock Says Trump ‘Needs A Lot of Prayer’ After Televangelist Compares Him To Jesus

Warnock admitted to CNN’s Jake Tapper that he prays for the president all the time but he’s going to need more than that.

Before preaching the good gospel on Resurrection Sunday, Sen. Raphael Warnock touched on one man who “needs a lot of prayer,” and that’s President Donald Trump. 

The Georgia Democratic senator, who is also the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, admitted to CNN’s Jake Tapper that he prays for the president all the time, but he’s going to need more than that. “I pray as much as he has influence and power over people I care about. I affirm his humanity as I do anybody, but part of that prayer is about accountability,” he said during the interview. 

“I have to be honest about what he’s doing. His kind of unabashed, unvarnished bigotry, the cruelty that he is unleashing on American streets through his version of ICE, those things have to be condemned. “And so, for me, prayer and prophetic speech, which holds power accountable, those two things go hand in hand. I am not about to be the chaplain blessing that which is ungodly and unjust.” 

Warnock’s description of Trump and the acts of his administration is a stark contrast to how televangelist Paula White described him during an Easter lunch event held at the White House. She compared the indicted president to Jesus since they were both “betrayed and arrested and falsely accused.” 

https://twitter.com/ReallyAmerican1/status/2039469844492632131

Despite praying for him, Warnock and Trump aren’t known to see eye to eye about religion. After a 2024 interview, Trump claimed the senator used “religion to try and divide the entire country” in a Truth Social post, according to The Hill, while Warnock said “Jesus is a victim of identity theft” inside Trump’s White House.

It doesn’t seem like Trump is focused on one religion, as his expletive-laced Easter post threatened Iran while giving “praise be to Allah.” “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all wrapped in one In Iran. There will be nothing like it!! Open the f***** strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!,” the president of the United States wrote. 

However, Warnock still hopes that things will turn around, reflecting on the meaning of Resurrection Sunday and calling it the “story of hope.” “The story of the resurrection is the story of hope in the midst of despair. I talk a lot about hope; I don’t talk too much about optimism. Optimism to me is milk toast. It’s thin. Often, it denies the tragic character of human experience. The tragedy that sits at the heart of our politics,” he said.

“Hope recognizes that there is a tomb, that was a crucifixion, and that there are a lot of people that live right there in a Good Friday world. But resurrection Sunday reminds us that that tomb does not have the last word and that there is hope.”

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Has Money For War, But Won’t Insure The Poor

trump, black pastor
by Mitti Hicks

April 6, 2026

Trump’s Easter Post Backfires, Democratic Lawmakers Call Him ‘Unhinged’

The cost of Brent crude rose 1.4% to $110.60 while U.S crude rose to $113.60. This is the highest amount in over three years.

As millions of Christians were waking up to celebrate Easter Sunday, President Donald Trump posted an expletive-ridden rant that has concerned his important voting bloc.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Trump wrote. “Open the F****n Straitm you crazy b*****ds, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.”

His post did not calm the markets. Rather, it had the opposite effect. According to CNN, the cost of Brent crude rose 1.4% to $110.60 while U.S. crude rose to $113.60, the highest amount in over three years.

Consumers are feeling the impact at the gas pump, where gas prices are their highest since June 2022. Gas prices have risen by 38% since the war began, with a national average of $4.11 on Sunday. In addition, stocks fell on Sunday after markets were closed on Friday. Dow futures were down 0.69%, S&P 500 futures fell 0.76%, and Nasdaq futures declined 0.91%.

Iranian officials have responded to Trump’s Truth Social post, stating the Strait will remain closed until the country is fully compensated for the damage it has suffered during Trump’s war.

Trump’s threats to Iran come less than a week after the president said the U.S. did not need the Strait of Hormuz as he addressed the nation last Wednesday, The Daily Beast reported.

“The United States imports almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait and won’t be taking any in the future. We don’t need it,” said Trump.

Democrats Call Trump ‘Completly Unhinged’ After Easter Post

U.S. lawmakers are criticizing Trump’s Truth Social post. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut called Trump’s comments “completely, utterly, unhinged,” in a post on X.

“He’s already killed thousands,” Murphy wrote. “He’s going to kill thousands more.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Trump was ranting like an “unhinged madman on social media.”

“He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies,” Schumer wrote.

“These are the ravings of a dangerous and mentally unbalanced individual. Congress has got to act NOW. End this war,” Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote.

Under the Geneva Conventions, striking power plants and bridges that are primarily used by civilians is off limits. As the New York Times reported, the administration is already coming up with a defense of why attacking Iran’s infrastructure would not be a war crime by stating it’s crucial to their missile and nuclear programs.

RELATED CONTENT: Charles Barkley Sounds Off On Trump’s ICE ‘Travesty’ During March Madness Coverage

Federal Literacy Grant Program, Reading Scores, D.C.
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 5, 2026

Federal Literacy Grant Program Improves Reading Scores Of Black And Underserved Students In D.C.

Education officials noticed a jump in the reading scores for Black and underserved students in the program.

A federally funded literacy grant program has reportedly boosted the reading levels of participating students across Washington, D.C., public charter schools. The program was enacted to address a systemic problem among this demographic, in which Black and poorer students in this school system read at a lower grade level than their counterparts.

According to the Washington Post, the program allotted $16 million for schools to provide reading improvement techniques in the classroom. Across a four-year period starting in 2021, over 17,000 children benefited from the program, which helped from preschool onward.

The improvement techniques included books, equipment, and tutoring, as well as coaches to give feedback on performance. The results from the years-long initiative suggested that focused learning positively impacted students.

“The students that participated in this grant closed a third of the achievement gap in D.C.,” said State Superintendent of Education Antoinette Mitchell. “That is huge. It is so significant.”

The Post confirmed that students in participating schools scored 2.8 points above schools that they were initially 2.9 points behind, on average. Although these findings are not research-backed, the initial reports show that increased funding and dedication to these learning discrepancies could resolve them in the long-term.

An evaluation of these findings was initially underway, providing more substantive proof that the grant program directly yielded these results. However, the Department of Government Efficiency-induced cuts led to the termination of the program evaluation.

Despite this, D.C. schools saw tremendous growth in reading comprehension, especially in younger grade levels. The implementation of curriculums that used the “science of reading” helped students as they matriculated to the next grade level. This holistic learning method incorporates phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension, ensuring children learned the full scope of the discipline.

“Teachers have to have a very clear understanding of the science of reading—that is, how kids learn to read,” Mitchell said. “They have to understand the connections that students are making as they move through [reading levels].”

This commitment to boosting children’s reading comprehension extended from administrators to teachers, as students received dedicated instruction that tackles these learning gaps at the root. Now, local education officials want to expand upon this success, with a bigger $25 million grant awarded in 2024.

With this continued rollout, they will expand the program to more schools, hoping to change the tide for all D.C. students to not only catch up, but also get ahead in reading.

RELATED CONTENT: 7 Online Literacy Programs To Tap Into On International Literacy Day

Trick Daddy, Miami,, AKAs,
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 5, 2026

Rapper Trick Daddy Gets Into It With AKAs After Raunchy Performance For Sorority’s Conference

Trick Daddy disagreed with the sorority's recollection of the event.

It’s Trick Daddy versus the AKAs after the rapper received flack for his performance at the sorority’s conference.

The rapper performed at Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.’s 73rd South Atlantic Regional Conference, leaving members uncomfortable with his lewd song lyrics, causing the sorority’s directors to shut down the April 3 concert.

Regional director Tiffany Moore Russell said the sorority approved certain songs for his set list. Journalist Philip Lewis shared a screenshot of Russell’s apology statement member to her sorority sisters.

“The language, the lyrics, and the comments made by the artist were not acceptable,” stated Russell. “I ended the performance because of the disrespect for our organization and our brand.”

Several members of the sorority felt that his explicit language detracted from the event and disrespected the esteemed women’s organization. According to attendees, Trick Daddy made suggestive comments to the crowd filled with distinguished and collegiate women. Complex reported that he even told the audience, “if you want your p-ssy ate, put your f-cking hands up.”

Though the rapper didn’t admit ignoring the sorority’s requests, he emphasized that no one can censor a Trick Daddy concert.

“You should have known that when y’all booked me,” he shared in a video to social media. “But don’t put out no statement talking about you gave me a playlist. This ain’t your wedding.”

He said the sorority’s handling of the situation was out of line.

“You turned my mic off. I felt disrespected…I left. I ain’t planning on ever going to no motherf*ck*ng social media,” he continued. “But now you done dirtied up my name… I gotta clear my name up.”

Others also noted that Trick Daddy’s brand of raunchy rapping may inherently conflict the sorority’s more professional stamp. Trick Daddy apparently agreed with the naysayers. “Anybody in there that was saddity and sanctified should not have been in there once I grabbed that MF’in mic,” he said in a 10 minute long video. “…Ain’t no clean versions. For any future MF that wants to book me, ain’t no clean version. I don’t know about a clean version.”

RELATED CONTENT: Trick Daddy Releases Self-Titled, ‘Trick Daddy Pots’ Cookware

Jonathan Majors, abuse, ABC, DIsney, Marvel, domestic violence, assault
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 5, 2026

Jonathan Majors Falls Through Window On Movie Set As Crew Strikes Over Filming Conditions

The film is currently wrapped up in a production strike as the crew protests unsafe working conditions.

Jonathan Majors reportedly had an on-set incident while filming a movie for The Daily Wire.

According to Deadline, Majors and his co-star, JC Kilcoyne, were caught on tape falling through a window while filming a scene for the action film Knuckle. In the footage, revealed to the public April 3, the actors stumbled back, crashing through a window as they went out of the camera’s frame.

Sources told the news outlet that the accident occurred after the window was replaced with a “unsecured sheet of tempered glass” to prompt a shattering. Sources also explained how no actors were meant to interact with the window. However, Majors and his co-star fell victim to the fragile glass, falling six feet with minor injuries.

Although overheard telling crew members that they were “good,” the issue prompted serious concerns from the film’s crew. The movie, produced by Ben Shapiro’s The Daily Wire and Dallas Sonnier‘s Bonfire Legend, has also accrued additional backlash as crew strikes erupted over the unsafe working conditions.

Variety reported that IATSE began the strike March 26 as crew members walked off set over the labor concerns. However, the production carried on, with IATSE warning union members not to engage with the film.

“The producers are actively looking for replacement crew,” IATSE shared in a social media post. “All IATSE members are advised not to cross the picket line.”

In response to the incident and production strike, Sonnier, who leads the entertainment division for the conservative media company, dismissed the issue and the crews’ concerns.

“The actors’ fall was shorter than the failed movie careers of the now-union reps,” Sonnier told the outlet.

Majors refused to comment on the ongoing strike and the set incident. The controversial actor also serves as a co-executive producer for the project through his company, Tall Street Productions banner.

RELATED CONTENT: Jonathan Majors Replaced By Corey Hawkins In ‘The Man In My Basement’

Dawn Staley, women's basketball, UConn
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 5, 2026

Dawn Staley Keeps It Classy After Toppling Undefeated UConn

The rival coaches got into a heated exchange as the Gamecocks clinched the crucial win.

Dawn Staley, the head coach of the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team, exuded sportsmanship in her recap of a heated exchange with UConn coach Geno Auriemma after her team’s Final Four win.

Before the clock ran out on the Gamecocks’ 62-48 win to advance to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship, Auriemma began to confront Staley about the game.

Following the altercation, which made rounds on social media, Staley remained coy as she recalled the incident.

“I have no idea, but I’m going to let you know this: I’m of integrity. I’m of integrity,” Staley told ESPN. “So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game…I didn’t know…I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff’s hand. I don’t know what we came with after the game, but hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.”

Staley added, “I don’t want what happened there to dampen what we were able to accomplish today.” 

Auriemma, on the other hand, had a different take on what went down. While he refused to tell reporters what he told his fellow coach, he said that “the truth” bothered Staley, leading to the heated conversation.

“I said what I had to say and… nothing… nothing,” he said, according to Fox News. “Why would I say it? I said what I said, and obviously she didn’t like it. I just told the truth.”

Auriemma noted his frustration with referees’ calls in favor of the Gamecocks. The UConn coach reportedly did not shake Staley’s hand after the Gamecocks ended the Huskies’ 53-game winning streak. He said Staley never returned the gesture during standard pre-game interactions, although ESPN said the two coaches shook hands.

“The protocol is, before the game, you meet at half court, anybody ever see that before? The two coaches meet at half court, and they shake hands… they announce it on the loudspeaker. I waited there for like three minutes,” explained Auriemma.

As Auriemma continued to voice his frustration, sports commentators blasted the UConn coach for his bad sportsmanship and refusal to accept the loss with grace. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was among them.

“That was some straight B.S. from the GREAT Geno Auriemma. Never — ever — thought I’d see the day when the greatest woman’s college coach in history would go down so CLASSLESSLY!!! Horrible look, and should be called out for it. He got OUTCOACHED,” Smith wrote.

He also noted the double standard regarding how Auriemma, a white male coach, gets to react as opposed to Staley, a Black woman. Smith emphasized how Staley would have received immense backlash had she taken the loss as hardly as Auriemma did.

“Plain and simple. And gets in her face like she did something wrong to him instead of being gracious,” he continued. ” Had Dawn Staley acted like that we would be all over her.”

A legendary coach in her own right, Staley now plans to earn her fourth championship with the Gamecocks.

RELATED CONTENT: Gamecock Coach Dawn Staley Surprises Opponent Southern University With Gifts Ahead Of NCAA Faceoff

financial literacy, oneunited, bank, kids, bank, money, stock, brokerage, savings, bills, pay
by Jeffrey McKinney

April 5, 2026

Poll: Black Parents Push For Kids’ Financial Literacy As Costs Surge

Teaching kids fundamentals on key matters like saving, investing, and avoiding debt can help them make better future financial decisions.

Among the many who are facing risings costs for food, gasoline, health care, and other essentials, Black parents are feeling an extra burden: teaching their children financial literacy.

Some 78% of Black parents report that their financial stress now is making them realize how important it is to teach their children about handling money, according to new data from Intuit.

But nearly 32% question their ability to do that, and 31% wrestle to find an effective way to explain concepts of money to kids, acknowledging they need help.  Almost 90% want their children to receive financial education beyond what they teach at home and 88% believe financial literacy should be treated as a core subject in school, like math or science.

Fifty-seven percent of parents are more fearful about their child’s ability to ultimately handle the financial “real world” than they do about their academic or career performance. A similar percentage surveyed overall said they received very little or no financial education from their own parents. 

Observers say an important reason for teaching kids about financial literacy is that it can help them develop skills to manage money early on and give them a stronger footing to be successful in their personal and  work lives as adults.

Reports show teaching kids financial discipline can help them with making better future money decisions and gain a fundamental understanding of important matters like earning, saving, spending, investing, and erasing or limiting debt.

Black financial literacy experts have long declared that instructing kids about money is vital. It helps build financial stability, affluence, and fosters generational wealth among other benefits.

There are many actions parents can take to help kids build healthy money habits, according to research by BLACK ENTERPRISE. Consider using a clear container to show kids how their money is growing. Regularly discuss the savings as the container fills up with coins and dollars.

Inform kids about the advantages of paying with cash instead of plastic to make purchases and practice that. Youngsters mimic what parents do. Avoid using plastic every time you eat or buy groceries, so kids don’t develop that habit.

As children become teenagers, talk about the value of money and financial responsibility. Consider setting up a bank account and pushing them to save for college once they start working. Those actions can show kids why their role in prudently handling money is crucial.

Further, encourage them to get a job. Data shows youngsters who do this tend to be better savers. Be sure they are saving part of their paycheck, advise against impulsive spending, and stress expense control. For instance, don’t be afraid to explain that they must pay for their own gasoline once they start driving.

Via email, Dave Zasada, vice president of education and corporate responsibility at Intuit, said one of the most important things for parents to do for financial education in the home is to help kids understand the basics early. That includes distinguishing between wants and needs, how to budget, and how everyday financial decisions add up over time.

“These are the building blocks that make more complex concepts, like managing debt or understanding interest, easier to grasp later,” Zasada said in the report.

He added parents should be aware they don’t have to carry the responsibility alone. “There’s a clear demand for more financial literacy support beyond the home, which is where schools and structured programs are stepping in.”

Through Intuit for Education, he said, students can engage with interactive, real-world simulations that mirror financial decision-making experiences they’ll face in adulthood, from budgeting to taxes and credit.

RELATED CONTENT: How To Open A Retirement Savings Account For Your Kids And Help Them Accumulate $1M Before They Reach 50

Easter Sunday, Black Church Traditions
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 5, 2026

Celebrate Easter Sunday With Black Church Traditions Old And New

Easter Sunday carries its own cultural traditions with the Black church community.

In the Black community, Easter Sunday is more than a religious holiday.

While a time to honor the resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to Biblical accounts, Easter Sunday is also a gathering of culture, community, and faith within the Black church circles. The holiday serves as a time for Black Christians to put on their “Easter best” and celebrate with their families.

As Easter symbolizes hope, resilience, and a triumph over immense struggle, it has remained a revered holiday in Christianity and Black church tradition. Traditionally, before one heads to the Easter egg hunt, families gather at their churches to hear a sermon all about the victory of Jesus rising from the dead.

Churches often put on a special service to remark on Jesus’ biblically recorded resurrection, often performing reenactments of the story known across the world. With choirs singing classic gospel songs honoring Jesus’ life, the time is one of reflection and empowerment that all is possible through the religious figure’s sacrifice.

As for their attire, wearing one’s best church clothes to Easter service remains unchanged. Anticipated every year, Black churchgoers know the importance of dressing sharply for the occasion. Churchgoers often put on their finest suits, from pastels to bright colors, all to present their best selves during the esteemed holiday.

The tradition of wearing nice attire to Easter service goes back to the enslavement period. At a time when enslaved people and, later, sharecroppers often endured these livelihoods through immense faith, they took pride in wearing their best clothes before God. Many continued the act as a sign that they trusted their Lord to carry them to a better reality.

“As sharecroppers, we didn’t have a lot of means, but what we did have, we made sure that the clothes that we were going to wear were pressed and clean, and shoes well-shined and ready. It’s a matter of presenting yourself before God, as we saw it, and letting the Lord know that we are looking for something better in the year to come, and that tradition—it was carried over from slavery,” explained retired minister Hollis Booker during a 2025 interview with NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday.

As Black people gained freedom and evolved into their own church communities, so did their Easter traditions. After an enriching service, children now fill their homemade Easter baskets, finding colorful plastic eggs often filled with candy, toys, or even money. Many families conclude the day with an Easter dinner, filling the table with soul food staples such as a baked ham and cornbread.

The multi-generational celebration has grown with new traditions across the Black Christian community. While remaining true to the core message of Easter, some churches are taking a new approach to the holiday, amplifying Jesus’ service to humanity by fulfilling their own charitable missions.

“For us, it’s simple how we look at ministry: The message never changes because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore, but our methods must change,” said Rev. James Jr. of New Macedonia Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., to Afro.

Rev. James and his congregation will participate in a Serving Saturday, a change from the traditional “Silent Saturday.” The church gathered across seven different sites to create a volunteer pool to help the community.

Another church has switched up its worship activities leading up to the big service, as Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas hosted a “Kingdom Everywhere” day on Palm Sunday. As a method to build fellowship and connection at the church, Kingdom Everywhere encourages attendees to open their home for fellow members to break bread and discuss the word.

Other churches will expand their take on an Easter Service as well. Another will have more than a traditional sermon, including presentations, dances, and opportunities for families to take photos and remember the occasion for years to come.

As commemoration of Easter lives on, churches are remaining true to the religious and communal values surrounding the holiday while evolving the celebration for the next generation of believers.

RELATED CONTENT: Things To Do On Easter Day That Are Nontraditional

Rori Harmon,Texas , UCLA, Coach
by Mary Spiller

April 5, 2026

Senior Hoops Star Rori Harmon Makes Emotional Exit After Texas Falls in Final Four

'Rori Harmon has scored 1,616 points, 977 assists, 659 rebounds, and 388 steals. Not one agency has ever voted her All-American," Coach Vic Schaefer said.

Basketball star Rori Harmon’s college career came to a difficult close the night of April 3, as the University of Texas fell 51-44 to UCLA in the Women’s Final Four.

The senior guard embraced head coach Vic Schaefer after checking out for the last time. Frustration was evident as she struck her leg before breaking down in tears alongside her coach.

As reported by USA Today, Schaefer used his postgame remarks to spotlight Harmon’s career—and to question why her achievements have largely gone unrecognized nationally.

“Rori Harmon has scored 1,616 points, 977 assists, 659 rebounds, and 388 steals. Not one agency has ever voted her All-American,” Schaefer said. “There’s not another player in the history of our game—you hear me?—not another player in the history of Texas game that has had those stats.

“She’s won 137 games. You might as well get rid of whatever awards you got if she ain’t good enough to get one of ’em.”

Schaefer has previously advocated for Harmon, including pushing for her consideration for the Nancy Lieberman Award earlier this season. But his remarks carried added weight, coming immediately after her final collegiate appearance.

He emphasized her defensive presence and leadership, saying she could “guard your ass at the city limit and show you the door when she’s done with you,” and added, “You want to talk about somebody that’s hard to replace. We may never replace her.”

Harmon’s impact extended beyond statistics, according to her teammates. Center Kyla Oldacre described her as “one of the greatest teammates” she has played with, crediting Harmon for bringing energy and unity to the team.

Forward Madison Booker, who struggled offensively in the loss, became emotional while discussing Harmon’s influence. Harmon had publicly supported Booker despite her shooting difficulties, urging others to remember she is “human.”

“That’s my sister. …I’ve learned so much from her,” Booker said. “I still think she’s one of the best defenders in the country. …I don’t think people give her her flowers enough.” She added, “She led this team to back-to-back Final Fourd. …I wouldn’t be me without Rori Harmon. That’s a fact.”

Harmon is expected to enter the WNBA Draft later this month. Said Schaefer: “If I had a job in the WNBA, (she’d) be the first one I’d go get. She can run your team. She has no ego.”

He added that any franchise seeking consistency and competitiveness should take notice: “If you want somebody that’s going to set the tone…you go get her because she’s good.”

@brwsports

Vic Schaefer goes on a rant strongly expressing how Rori Harmon doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. #womensbasketball #basketball #marchmadness

♬ original sound – B/R W Sports

RELATED CONTENT: UCLA’s Freshman Basketball Player Kiki Rice Joins Jordan Brand as First NIL Athlete

Melvin Edwards, Sculptor, Black Resistance, Dies
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 5, 2026

Melvin Edwards, Groundbreaking Sculptor Of Black Resistance, Dies At 88 

In 1970, Edwards became the first African-American sculptor to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art.

By Robert Hill  

Sculptor Melvin Edwards, known for transforming welded steel into powerful reflections on African-American history and resistance, died March 30 at 88 in his Baltimore home. 

Edwards built a decades-long career focused on his “Lynch Fragments” series, which began in 1963, and became a collection of over 300 works that combined found metal into abstract forms inspired by African-American history. His work redefined contemporary sculpture and positioned him as a leading voice in the use of art to document and reflect on Black history and resilience. 

The materials he used were welded into forms of chains, sharp tools, barbed wire, and railroad spikes. Each piece of material reflected layered meaning. Barbed wire served as a symbol of violence and oppression, but also of cultivation and survival. 

“I tend to work in an area that’s about the size of this [dining] table,” he told the Nasher Sculpture Center’s Catherine Craft in a 2013 interview, as reported by Artforum. “My notion was, you work smaller, you can do more work, go through more of your ideas. I mean, you’re working eight hours a day with a job, you’ve got a family, you gotta work at a scale that is going to allow you to really do something significant, but at the same time, that you can get your ideas out of yourself.” 

In 1970, Edwards became the first African-American sculptor to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art, which helped establish his presence in the art world. 

Born in Houston on May 4, 1937, Edwards grew up during a time of racial segregation, which later influenced his work. At a young age, he showed interest and was active in sports. He attended the University of Southern California on a football scholarship, where mentored by painter Francis de Erdely, he he began creating his artistic style.

Throughout his career, Edwards remained committed to public art, creating sculptures for universities, museums, and communities worldwide. His work extended beyond galleries, reaching a wider audience. 

“Melvin was somebody who looked at multiple dimensions of any situation or person,” Alexander Gray, a gallery owner and close personal friend of Edwards, told The Los Angeles Times. “He really looked at the world, not through any kind of binary lens, but through a personal lens that was respectful of other people’s perspectives.” 

RELATED POST: Renowned Sculptor Thaddeus Mosley Dies At 99

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