October 12, 2025

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. This week we will celebrate Black excellence and leadership from Justin Pearson’s bold congressional bid to Howard University students honoring African storytelling through performance.

From Protest to Power: Justin Pearson’s Congressional Bid

Tennessee state Rep. Justin Pearson, who gained national attention in 2023 for protesting gun violence on the state House floor, announced Wednesday that he will challenge longtime U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the Democratic primary. Pearson was one of the “Tennessee Three,” a group of Democratic lawmakers who led gun reform protests after a deadly school shooting. He and fellow state Representative Justin Jones were expelled from the Legislature before being reinstated, while state Representative Gloria Johnson narrowly avoided expulsion. Now, Pearson, 30, is part of a new wave of young Democrats seeking to unseat veteran lawmakers, entering the race with support from progressive groups Justice Democrats and Leaders We Deserve, which plan to invest $1 million in his campaign.

In launching his bid, Pearson said Memphis and surrounding communities have struggled under decades of the same leadership, citing persistent poverty and low median incomes. “Our district has been told to ‘keep going’ with the same leadership and the same outcomes,” he said, calling for a new vision to meet the urgency of the challenges facing working families. Pearson’s campaign platform includes affordable housing, “common sense” gun legislation, expanded federal investment to reduce poverty and crime, “Medicare for all,” and stronger support for veterans. Progressive leaders praised his run, with Justice Democrats calling him a representative of “rising young leadership” and David Hogg of Leaders We Deserve describing him as a “tested fighter” ready to inspire a new generation.

Rep. Steve Cohen, 76, who has represented Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District since 2006, defended his record and experience ahead of Pearson’s announcement. In a Facebook post, Cohen pledged to “turn back this challenge” and continue working to counter what he called “a runaway administration.” He emphasized his long history of bringing federal funds to the district and said his decades of legislative experience remain vital during uncertain times. Cohen, who has rarely faced a competitive primary since his first election, won re-election in 2024 by 46 percentage points and remains a strong favorite in the deep-blue district.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

Howard University theatre majors made literary history during the International Black Writers Festival with a rare stage reading of Ghanaian playwright Ama Ata Aidoo’s 1964 work The Dilemma of a Ghost—only the second time the play has been performed in the United States. The performance, held in Founders Library, explored themes of identity, cultural conflict, and understanding through the story of a Ghanaian man who returns home with an unannounced African-American wife. Sophomore Alexandria Woods, who portrayed Eulalie Rush, described the experience as a deep exploration of empathy and strength, aligning perfectly with the festival’s theme, “The Story of Us,” which celebrated how Black storytelling connects generations, cultures, and the global African experience.

Florida A&M University will unveil a bronze statue on October 17th honoring its eighth president, Dr. Frederick S. Humphries, in front of Lee Hall near the Eternal Flame. The statue commemorates Humphries’ visionary leadership from 1985 to 2001, a period when FAMU was named College of the Year by TIME/Princeton Review, tripled its research funding, and became a national leader in enrolling high-achieving students. His son, Laurence Humphries, said the monument represents his father’s enduring belief in the potential of HBCUs and calls future generations of FAMU students to uphold his legacy of excellence and pride.

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff received a $5 million donation from the Windgate Foundation to expand its Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center with new classrooms, studios, and gallery space. Chancellor Anthony Graham called the gift “transformational,” noting it will create a modern, technologically advanced environment for student artists.

black history in quotes 

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culture

Earth, Wind & Fire are heading to HBO.

Questlove has revealed that he is making a documentary about the band Maurice White founded.  Scheduled to air in 2026, the film will examine the band’s legacy and cultural impact. The documentary will show exclusive access to the band’s archives of visual, audio and written material. 

Questlove’s last two documentaries – Summer of Soul and Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius– have aired on Hulu in the United States.  

Our editor, Lisa D. Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

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