Black America has always been the heartbeat of democracy, culture, and progress. Yet, too often, our contributions are overlooked, minimized, or outright stolen. From the Civil Rights Movement to the African Diaspora, Black Americans have paved the way for immigrant communities, global liberation movements, and cultural revolutions. It is time to reclaim that truth.
Civil Rights Legacy and Immigration
The Civil Rights Movement, led by Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and countless others, did more than secure rights for Black Americans. It opened doors for immigrant communities. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was born out of the Civil Rights struggle, allowing Cubans, Latinos, Caribbeans, Nigerians, Asians, Somalians, and others to enter the U.S. in greater numbers. Without Black America, those opportunities would not exist.
Identity and Assimilation
Yet, many of these groups distance themselves from Blackness, seeking acceptance by aligning with whiteness. Statements like “I’m not Black, I’m Jamaican” or “I’m Nigerian, not African American” fracture solidarity. Assimilation for survival may be understandable, but denial of identity undermines collective power.
The Diaspora and World Culture
The African Diaspora is not just about migration, it is about influence. Black America is the epicenter of global culture. Hip-hop, born in the Bronx, is now the most consumed music genre worldwide. Jazz, gospel, and R&B shaped entire industries. Fashion trends rooted in Black creativity dominate global markets. Even social justice movements abroad borrow language and tactics from the Civil Rights Movement.
Cultural Appropriation vs. Scrutiny
Black culture is celebrated globally but often stolen and repackaged by others. TikTok dances created by Black teens go viral, but influencers from other groups profit. Streetwear, rooted in Black creativity, is now a billion-dollar industry. Meanwhile, Black youth are stereotyped as “criminals” for the same creativity. The hypocrisy is undeniable: the world profits from Black culture while vilifying Black people.
Politics and Immigration
Many immigrant groups supported Donald Trump, believing his promises. Yet, his administration deported thousands from Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The irony is sharp: communities that distanced themselves from Black solidarity were targeted by the same system they empowered.
Global Impact of Black America
Black America is not just a cultural force, it is a political and social catalyst. Civil rights victories inspired global liberation movements, from South Africa to the Caribbean. Marcus Garvey’s Pan-African vision, Dr. King’s dream of justice, and Malcolm X’s call for dignity continue to resonate worldwide.
Conclusion
Black America is the foundation, the heartbeat, and the blueprint. We are not just culture, we are culture. We paved the way for the world politically, socially, and culturally. It is time for the world to recognize, respect, and honor that legacy.
Dr. Keyimani Alford is more than a leader; he is a storyteller, healer, and advocate whose life’s work bridges the worlds of education, authorship, and empowerment. Born in Oakland, California, and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Alford grew up navigating instability, poverty, and family absence. Those early challenges shaped his belief that education is not only a pathway to freedom but also a tool for rewriting one’s story.
As a first-generation college graduate who went on to earn his Ph.D. in Education, Dr. Alford understands the barriers faced by students from marginalized backgrounds. His research focuses on retention and persistence for first-generation and minority male students at predominantly White institutions, emphasizing that relationships and belonging are critical to success. Today, as Associate Vice President of Student Access & Success at Madison College, he leads initiatives that help students overcome financial, systemic, and personal obstacles so they can thrive. His leadership is rooted in empathy, accountability, and the conviction that systems should serve students, not the other way around.
Championing Underserved Communities
Dr. Alford’s commitment extends far beyond campus walls. Through his involvement in organizations such as WASFAA, College Goal Wisconsin, and MASFAA (where he serves as President-Elect), he advocates for policies that expand access and equity in higher education. His work ensures that underserved students, veterans, first-generation learners, and minority communities, have the support they need to persist and graduate.
He also founded Keywords Unlocked, LLC, a publishing and coaching company designed to amplify everyday voices, particularly Black and underrepresented authors. By equipping writers with tools and strategies to move from manuscript to marketplace, Dr. Alford is dismantling barriers in the publishing industry and ensuring that marginalized stories are not only told but celebrated.
Author and Storyteller
Dr. Alford’s own catalog of books reflects the power of storytelling as a tool for healing and leadership:
Oakland Hills, Milwaukee Rivers: A Memoir of Survival, Identity, and Purpose
In Oakland Hills, Milwaukee Rivers, I invite readers into the quiet rooms, crowded churches, and complicated family moments that shaped me as a Black boy learning to survive, belong, and believe in his own worth. This memoir walks through childhood trauma, father loss, religious shame, identity questions, and the hidden weight of silence, while tracing how grace kept showing up in unexpected people and places. It reads like sitting across from a friend who is finally telling the whole story, not the edited version.
Readers will see their own questions on these pages. The book helps them name what hurt, grieve what was taken, and begin to reclaim their voice with honesty and dignity. They walk away with language for things they have carried for years, a deeper understanding of how identity and faith can coexist with pain, and a renewed belief that their story is not over. This memoir becomes a mirror and a map for anyone who has ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or afraid to be fully themselves.
Unshaken Leadership: A Practical Blueprint for Overcoming Challenges, Learning from Mistakes, and Growing in Confidence
Unshaken Leadership pulls back the curtain on what leadership really feels like when the title sounds good, but the pressure is heavy. Drawing from more than two decades in higher education, community, and faith-based spaces, I walk readers through the unspoken realities of leading people, managing politics, navigating conflict, and making hard decisions when you still feel like you are figuring it out yourself. Each chapter blends story, reflection, and practical strategy so readers see the lessons in real situations, not just theory on a page.
This book is written for new and growing leaders who are tired of pretending they have it all together and are ready to lead with honesty, courage, and emotional intelligence. Readers gain language for the challenges they are facing, tools for balancing vision and boundaries, and frameworks they can immediately apply with their teams. The goal is simple: to help leaders stand firm when things shake around them, learn from their missteps without shame, and grow into a version of leadership that feels both effective and authentic.
Self-Publishing from Scratch: A Practical Guide for Authors to Publish Successfully with Insights for Black Voices
Self-Publishing from Scratch is a step-by-step roadmap for everyday people who feel called to write a book and have no idea where to start. I walk readers through the full journey from idea to published book in plain language, breaking down what to write, how to edit, how to find a cover, how ISBNs work, what platforms to choose, and how to price and promote their work. Along the way, I share real stories, checklists, and behind-the-scenes lessons from my own publishing journey so readers avoid costly mistakes and gain the confidence to hit “publish” with clarity.
This book especially centers Black and underrepresented voices who have been told their stories are “too much,” “too specific,” or “too risky” for traditional publishing. Readers come away with practical tools, a realistic plan, and the encouragement that they do not have to wait for permission to become an author. By the end, they understand the business and the heart of self-publishing, and they know exactly what to do next to turn a manuscript, a journal, or even a set of notes on their phone into a book in readers’ hands.
Mile Markers of Life: A 100-Day Christian Devotional for Direction and Strength
Mile Markers of Life is a 100-day devotional born from years of driving Wisconsin highways and noticing how the mile markers along the road mirrored the seasons of my own life. Each entry starts with a real-life scene and then connects it to Scripture, reflection, and a short prayer, helping readers see that God has been present in both the ordinary and painful parts of their journey. The readings are honest and accessible, designed for people who are carrying a lot and need encouragement that fits into real schedules and real emotions.
Readers will experience a devotional that speaks to fatigue, grief, uncertainty, hope, and new beginnings with gentle clarity. Every day offers direction for the heart and a small step they can take to move forward, whether that is letting something go, forgiving themselves, or daring to dream again. By the time they reach Day 100, they have traced their own “mile markers,” recognized how far they have come, and rediscovered that even in detours and delays, God has been guiding them toward healing and purpose.
A Voice of Hope and Action
Whether speaking in lecture halls, boardrooms, sanctuaries, or behind a microphone, Dr. Alford blends truth-telling with practical tools. His keynote themes, leadership with integrity, healing from trauma, equity in higher education, and empowering everyday voices, resonate because they are lived experiences, not abstract theories. Audiences leave not only inspired but equipped with frameworks and next steps to move forward.
Across every platform, Dr. Alford reminds people that their story still has chapters left and that hope is always within reach. His work as an author and advocate continues to light the way for underserved communities, proving that beginnings do not define destinies.
Adapted from reporting by Rachel Schraer, The Independent (Rethinking Global Aid Project)
The closest thing we have to an HIV vaccine has finally arrived. Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable medication that can prevent nearly 100% of HIV infections when administered twice yearly, is being hailed as revolutionary. Yet despite its promise, only a fraction of the people who need it will gain access.
The Numbers Behind the Breakthrough
Current plans by Gilead and international funders will provide lenacapavir to 2 million people over three years, about 666,000 annually.
Research by Dr. Andrew Hill (University of Liverpool) shows this rollout could avert 165,000 infections, but scaling up to 10 million people annually could prevent half a million infections and put us on track to ending HIV transmission.
The challenge: funding cuts, particularly from the U.S. under President Donald Trump, have left prevention efforts severely under-resourced.
The Cost and Access Challenge
In the U.S., a course of lenacapavir costs $28,000.
Thanks to advocacy and licensing agreements, the drug will be sold at no profit in low-income countries, with costs reduced to around $40 per person per year.
Gilead’s plan to reach 2 million people by 2028 is described as an “initial step,” with hopes that generic manufacturers will expand access further.
Why This Matters Globally
Anne Aslett, CEO of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, called the rollout “unprecedented,” noting that doses are arriving in Eswatini at the same time as in the U.S., a sharp contrast to the early AIDS crisis, when African nations waited more than a decade for antiretroviral drugs.
Still, she warns that funding gaps threaten progress. Vulnerable populations, young women, LGBTQ communities, sex workers, and people who use drugs, are often excluded from prevention services. Without reaching these groups, the epidemic cannot be contained.
Innovation in Delivery
Foundations are experimenting with drone deliveries of drugs and testing kits.
Digital pilots in London are making PrEP accessible directly to consumers, by passing traditional clinics.
Sub-Saharan Africa is now pioneering models of care that are more advanced than those in parts of the Global North.
🇬🇧 The UK’s Role
Mike Podmore, CEO of STOPAIDS, emphasizes that UK contributions are not just charity, they fuel domestic research and innovation. Agencies like Unitaid have invested £250m into UK universities over the past decade, strengthening both global and local HIV responses.
The UK has set a goal to end new HIV transmissions by 2030, and expanding access to lenacapavir will be critical to achieving it.
The Call to Action
Ending HIV is within reach, but only if global leaders step up. Dr. Hill and advocates worldwide are urging wealthy nations to contribute to a proposed $400m fund to expand access without undermining existing HIV programs.
This is a pivotal moment: decades of research and advocacy have brought us closer than ever to a cure. But without adequate funding, only 7% of those who need lenacapavir will receive it.
What you can do:
Sign petitions demanding governments protect and expand HIV funding.
Share this story widely to raise awareness.
Pressure policymakers to prioritize vulnerable populations in prevention programs.
Together, we can ensure that this breakthrough doesn’t stall at the starting line. Let’s end HIV and make life better for all.
Original reporting by Rachel Schraer, The Independent, as part of the “Rethinking Global Aid” project.
A German man known as “Berlin 2 (B2)” has remained in remission from HIV for six years after a stem cell transplant to treat leukemia. This marks the seventh known case of long-term HIV remission worldwide. Unlike earlier cases, B2’s donor carried only one copy of the CCR5 Δ32 mutation, previously thought insufficient for durable resistance. His remission challenges assumptions and opens new pathways for understanding how HIV reservoirs can be eliminated.
Globally, 40.8 million people were living with HIV in 2024, with 1.3 million new infections and 630,000 AIDS-related deaths. In the U.S., 39,201 new diagnoses were reported in 2023, disproportionately impacting Black and Latino communities, especially in the South.
These breakthroughs abroad raise urgent questions:
Why are Germany and Switzerland leading in remission cases, while the U.S. lags behind?
Why does America, supposedly the global leader in R&D, appear to be playing second fiddle in HIV cure research?
Is the lack of universal healthcare in the U.S. a factor in limiting access to experimental treatments?
Why does Big Pharma continue to prioritize lifelong drug regimens over potential cures?
For those living with HIV/AIDS, these questions are not abstract, they are about survival. If you are reading this and living with HIV, ask your doctor about the current status of cure research. Demand transparency.
Stem cell transplants are not scalable cures, but they prove that reservoir reduction, graft-versus-reservoir responses, and partial CCR5 protection can lead to remission. The challenge now is whether America will invest in replicating these mechanisms through gene editing and pharmaceutical innovation or continue to let others lead while its citizens wait.
World AIDS Day was first established in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS, making it the first-ever global health dayWikipediaBritannica. Its purpose is to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, show solidarity with people living with HIV, and honor the millions who have died from AIDS-related illnesses. The red ribbon, adopted in 1991, remains the universal symbol of support and remembrance Britannica.
Each year, the day carries a theme. In 2025, the theme is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response”, a reminder that funding cuts, stigma, and inequality threaten decades of progress Moneycontrol.
Historical Context and Data
In the 1980s and 1990s, HIV/AIDS was a rapidly escalating crisis. By 1997, new infections peaked at 3.3 million annually, and AIDS-related deaths peaked in 2004 at 2.1 million per yearBritannica.
Since then, antiretroviral therapy (ART) transformed HIV from a fatal disease into a manageable chronic condition, reducing deaths by more than 64% since 2004 Wikipedia.
As of 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people worldwide were living with HIV, with 1.3 million new infections and 630,000 AIDS-related deaths that year Business StandardMoneycontrol.
In the U.S., about 1.2 million people live with HIV, with ongoing disparities in testing and treatment Las Vegas Sun.
Strides in Treatment and Prevention
The fight against HIV/AIDS has seen remarkable progress:
ART advancements: From early AZT in 1987 to today’s single-pill regimens and long-acting injectables, treatment now allows near-normal lifespans Las Vegas Sun.
Prevention tools: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) have proven highly effective in preventing infection Business Standard.
U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable): People on effective ART who maintain undetectable viral loads cannot sexually transmit HIV Business Standard.
Mother-to-child transmission: Once a major concern, it has been drastically reduced through targeted interventions Las Vegas Sun.
The Future Outlook
While progress is undeniable, challenges remain:
Funding cuts and inequality threaten to reverse gains, especially in vulnerable communities Moneycontrol.
Late diagnoses continue to hinder progress, with over half of new cases in Europe detected too late for optimal treatment News-Medical.Net.
Research breakthroughs offer hope: trials with engineered antibodies, CRISPR gene editing, and long-acting injectables like lenacapavir suggest that a functional cure may be within reach Smithsonian MagazineAIDS.ORG.
The global goal remains clear: end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, a target set by UNAIDS and the UN Sustainable Development Goals BritannicaUNAIDS.
Closing Reflection
World AIDS Day is not just about remembrance, it is about renewed commitment. We have turned HIV from a death sentence into a chronic condition, but stigma, inequity, and funding gaps still stand in the way of ending the epidemic. The future depends on global solidarity, scientific innovation, and community-led action.
Ending AIDS is possible but only if we choose compassion, equity, and sustained investment.
Garry George “Jellybean” Johnson, legendary drummer, guitarist, producer, and founding member of The Time, has passed away at the age of 69, just two days after celebrating his birthday. His sudden death marks the loss of one of the architects of the Minneapolis Sound, a genre-defining fusion of funk, rock, R&B, and new wave that continues to influence music today Rolling StoneFOX 9 Minneapolis-St. PaulWikipediaBring Me The News.
Honoring His Legacy
Jellybean Johnson was born in Chicago in 1956 and moved to Minneapolis at age 13. It was there that he befriended future icons like Prince, Morris Day, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis, forming the creative nucleus that would shape an entire era of music Rolling StoneFOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul.
The Time (1981–1984): Johnson was the original and only drummer for Prince’s band The Time, appearing in Purple Rain and helping deliver hits like 777-9311, Jungle Love, and The Bird. His drumming style became a cornerstone of the Minneapolis Sound Rolling StoneYahooWikipedia.
The Family (1985): After The Time split, Johnson joined Prince’s short-lived project The Family, which released the original version of Nothing Compares 2 UAOLWikipedia.
Graffiti Bridge & Pandemonium (1990): Johnson reunited with The Time for Prince’s film Graffiti Bridge and their album Pandemonium, which included the chart-topping single Jerk OutAOLWikipedia.
Collaborations & Production: Beyond Prince, Johnson worked with Janet Jackson (Black Cat), New Edition (Crucial), Alexander O’Neal (Criticize), Mint Condition (Breakin’ My Heart), and Nona Hendryx (Why Should I Cry) WikipediaDiscogs. His versatility as both drummer and guitarist made him an in-demand session musician and producer.
Solo Work: In 2021, he released his long-awaited solo album Get Experienced: The Jellybean Johnson Experience, showcasing his guitar artistry WikipediaBring Me The News.
Later Performances: Johnson performed with The Time and Rihanna at the 2008 Grammys, and returned for Prince tributes in 2017 and 2020 BillboardWikipedia.
Visual Timeline of His Career
Here’s a timeline chart capturing his milestones from 1976 to 2025:
Preserving the Minneapolis Sound
Johnson’s vision extended beyond performance. In 2021, he co-founded the Minneapolis Sound Museum, dedicated to preserving the history and cultural impact of the genre he helped pioneer Bring Me The News. His final reflections on legacy emphasized community, mentorship, and ensuring future generations had access to creative spaces like those that shaped him North NewsBring Me The News.
Tributes
Musicians and fans alike have poured out tributes. Morris Day called him “more like a brother than a bandmate,” while Sheila E. remembered him as “a kind human being, extremely talented and funny.” Susannah Melvoin described him as “the master of loving you like no brother could” Rolling StoneYahooInternational Business Times UK.
Closing Thoughts
Jellybean Johnson’s artistry was not confined to the stage—it was embedded in the DNA of modern pop and R&B. His drumming, guitar work, and production shaped hits across decades, while his mentorship and museum project ensured the Minneapolis Sound will live on.
Changing Trends and Times 