Happy New Year! Whether you're a new subscriber or an existing subscriber, welcome back. Here are a few articles you should check out from this week! This week’s newsletter will look at sports, politics, and some science. For this year we plan on adding more interviews and book club suggestions. We hope you enjoy! As usual, if there’s anything you’d like to see, feel free to comment or send us an email!
Simone Biles was named Sports Illustrated 2024 Sportsperson of the Year. After the Paris Olympics this year, she further cemented herself as the greatest gymnast of all time. Competing as the oldest woman to ever compete for the American gymnastics team, she dominated in every way. Simone competed in multiple events to become the most decorated gymnast of all time. Her resiliency after a disappointing showing at the Tokyo Olympics is a testament to her drive, work ethic, and talent. With brand deals with Uber Eats, Visa, United Airlines, and Masterclass, Simone doesn’t seem to be slowing down on the business end either.
Mayor Brandon Scott was 36 in 2020 when he was inaugurated as the youngest mayor in Baltimore’s history. Being the mayor of such a big and influential city in Maryland isn’t easy. He recently released his first term report detailing some of the work he’s done and the results of the efforts made to improve Baltimore. He accomplished a 34% decrease in nonfatal shootings between 2023 and 2024. Through the Safe Streets Program, six communities went 1 year with no homicides. He detailed plans to make Baltimore healthier, improve education, and create safe environments for young people to engage and socialize. Based on the report, Mayor Scott is sparing no expense in improving the city.
There are plenty of uses for Artificial Intelligence (AI) that would be deeply beneficial to society. Creating AI profiles on social media websites (to drive engagement) that are presented to be minorities isn't one of them. Meta added several profiles to Instagram that were AI and one of them was that of a “proud Black queer momma of two.” This week this profile along with several others was taken down after backlash. On top of the fact that it’s no secret that the teams working on such projects are not diverse and usually have no Black members, digital blackface has been an issue on social media for some time. Meta is walking this decision back and hopefully finds a better use for this technology that doesn’t involve using AI to mimic minorities.
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Take a look at the Black women who are leading the charge in science and technology.
If you’re in LA, check out Imagining Black Diasporas: 21st-Century Art and Poetics. It is an event that will take place at LACMA discussing artistry and cultural heritage.
A closer look at artist Stephen Towns’s exploration of Black leisure in the Jim Crow south.
Zendaya appears in the campaign for the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami.
Black Women’s Collective in New Jersey has begun accepting applications for its 2025 cohort for the Leadership Institute.
Conversations this week
Check out our Malindi Press Play playlist that’s updated weekly!
Song of the Week: “Denial is a River” by Doechii (USA)
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