Victoria St. Martin

Toxic Beauty: Black Women Most at Risk from Harmful Chemicals in Unregulated Hair Products - Inside Climate News Hair extensions used primarily by Black women contain a “shocking” range of dangerous chemicals, including breast carcinogens, new research shows.

Wearing braids is "just what you do," said Elissia Franklin, who led the most comprehensive analysis of braiding-hair extensions so far. The products, used primarily by Black women, contain a “shocking” range of harmful chemicals, including breast carcinogens.
insideclimatenews.org/news/1102202...

Trump Rollbacks Put Children’s Health at Risk as Pollution Increases New federal decisions remove health protections as Black communities face rising pollution and asthma rates.

New federal decisions remove health protections as Black communities face rising pollution and asthma rates. https://capitalbnews.org/epa-air-pollution-health-rule-rollback-trump/

This Texas County Is the Deadliest Place in the U.S. for Black Mothers to Give Birth Health care advocates struggle to figure out why this Texas county has some of the nation’s highest rates of maternal and infant mortality.

Harris County, Texas, is the deadliest place in the United States for Black mothers to give birth

Black Oral History Project Capital B is building an archive of Black oral history, told in your voices and words.

We learn about Black history through textbooks, novels, and social media, but word of mouth will always hold power. That's why Capital B is building an archive of Black memories called the Black Oral History Project, and it's all powered by you! https://capitalbnews.org/oralhistoryproject/

Fear, Flights, and Forced Returns: How a U.S.–Ghana Deportation Pact Is Reshaping Lives Ghanaians at home and abroad are navigating hope and an uneasy partnership between Washington and Accra.

Ghanaians at home and abroad are navigating hope and an uneasy partnership between Washington and Accra.

This story was supported by @pulitzercenter.org https://capitalbnews.org/ghana-us-deportations-trump-ice/

Ignored, misdiagnosed, left to die: Illinois' new prison health care provider has a history of poor care A Sun-Times review of more than 100 lawsuits against Centurion Health shows a recurring pattern: People in prison repeatedly complain about a health issue, are ignored by correctional and medical staf...

“Broken bones, abscesses, diabetes and a host of other injuries and maladies routinely go without examination, much less medically effective treatment,” according to one complaint.

That's from just one suit @kwashburn.bsky.social read for this investigation. chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog...

Join | Capital B Capital B is supported by people like you. Support Capital B today.

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Donate here: capitalbnews.fundjournalism.org/donate/?camp...

When you give to Capital B, you’re backing reporting that sparks action — and helps entire communities get the change they deserve. This Giving Tuesday, your gift will be matched — doubling your impact. Support journalism that informs, empowers, and changes lives: https://capitalbnews.org/donate

Join | Capital B Capital B is supported by people like you. Support Capital B today.

From the beginning, our readers and supporters have helped drive our work, our impact, and the vision you see here. We’ll need you to get to the next level, too. To ensure Capital B, and Black news, is here to stay, support this plan with a gift to Capital B. https://capitalbnews.org/donate

Q&A: How transportation insecurity erodes Detroiters’ physical and mental health A study finds 36% of Detroit residents face transportation insecurity, impacting their ability to afford transportation and suggesting solutions.

Owning a car doesn’t necessarily fix the problem either, researchers say. planetdetroit.org/2025/11/tran...

A Battle with My Blood When I was diagnosed with leukemia, my first thought was that this couldn’t be happening to me, to my family.

An extraordinary, beautiful, and heartbreaking piece by writer & environmentalist Tatiana Schlossberg (Caroline Kennedy’s daughter).

My prayers go out to her and her family.

www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

Venezuelans begin fleeing U.S. as protections end and threat of war looms TPS expired for hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans on Friday. Many are shuttering business, selling homes and boarding planes, or scrambling to find a way to stay.

“These are people who did everything by the book, paid taxes, had no criminal records, opened businesses and contributed to their communities...now they have become collateral damage in this cruel, unjust and inhumane political game.”

www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...

In the Shadow of Oil Rigs, Black Women Are Reclaiming Their Neighborhoods From the courts to city streets, Black women organizers are proving climate solutions start at the neighborhood level.

From the courts to city streets, Black women organizers are proving climate solutions start at the neighborhood level. capitalbnews.org/south-la-oil...

Jamaican Americans Mobilize After the Island's Worst Hurricane in a Century It is unknown how long it could take the island to recover from the storm, one of the strongest storms on record in the Atlantic.

For those of us with Caribbean roots, seeing the damage from Hurricane Melissa hits especially hard. Privileged to talk to organizers in Jamaica who are already looking ahead. @adamlmahoney.bsky.social @capitalb.bsky.social
capitalbnews.org/hurricane-me...

A pregnant Amazon employee asked for a chair to sit on—and wound up homeless "You're just a number to them."

“They basically told me you can keep doing your job the way we want you to do it, without the chair or without the breaks, or you can go on unpaid leave.”

Michael Days, pioneering journalist who led the Philadelphia Daily News during its 2010 Pulitzer Prize win for investigative reporting, has died at 72 Days was a mentor to countless young journalists and was president of the National Association of Black Journalists-Philadelphia.

Michael Days, a pillar of Philadelphia journalism who championed young Black journalists and was beloved among reporters who worked for him at the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer, died suddenly on Saturday at the age of 72 in Trenton.

Incarcerated Texans Rebuild Their Lives Through This Rooftop Solar Program Houston’s Fifth Ward harnesses the sun to power homes and new beginnings for returning citizens as federal support for climate justice programs wavers.

Last month, I sat w/ Leon on the year anniversary of his release from prison. On his table, he had a certificate from his congressperson—which he laminated himself—as he explained to me the process of photovoltaic power & what it meant to him to finally be supported.
capitalbnews.org/solar-jobs-h...

Federal Layoffs Put Head Start, FAFSA, and Civil Rights Investigations at Risk As the government shutdown continues into its third week, more Department of Education workers were terminated.

This started as a story about education programs impacted by the shutdown. It turned into a stark warning from experts: if this continues, the consequences could be far worse.

capitalbnews.org/government-s...

How a $5 Billion Federal Project Could Sink the Lower Ninth Ward For Good Decades after Betsy and Katrina, the community faces another threat — a canal proposal promising “progress” that could threaten its survival.

I spent six months walking the Lower Ninth Ward, speaking w/ dozens of neighbors, + combing through 6,000 pages of FOIA docs. My latest reveals what recent documentaries left out. If Katrina’s legacy moved you, don’t miss what’s happening to the community now capitalbnews.org/katrina-anni...

Man stands with folded arms and said he is fighting for the return of his ancestral land in Harris Neck, Georgia

I work at @capitalb.bsky.social because Black communities deserve reporting that doesn’t just document problems — but also highlights the people and strategies building a better future.

Please help us raise money for our work: capitalbnews.org/donate

An Unconstitutional “Jim Crow Jury” Sent Him to Prison for Life. A New Law Aims to Keep Him There. Five years ago, the Supreme Court decided that nonunanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional. But for this Louisiana prisoner — and hundreds of others — “tough on crime” state leaders have ensured t...

NEW: Five years ago, the Supreme Court decided that non-unanimous jury verdicts are unconstitutional.

But for this Louisiana prisoner — and hundreds of others — “tough on crime” state leaders have ensured that doesn’t change anything.

By @richardawebster.bsky.social‬ @veritenews.org‬

Cities led by Black women are the first targets of Trump's political power grab “This is in many ways a political warning, a political message, to say to these Black women and other Black mayors and other women of color mayors, ‘Your leadership can be challenged, too.’”

Violent crime in DC is at a 30-year low:
“Mayor Bowser better get her act straight or she won’t be mayor very long because we’ll take it over with the federal government,” Trump said from the Oval Office on Friday, calling the city a “crime-infested rat hole.” 19thnews.org/2025/08/blac...

How Photography Saved a Lost Chapter of Pre-Katrina Black New Orleans With a Polaroid and handmade backdrops, Polo Silk documented thousands of moments of Black New Orleans life before Katrina reshaped the city.

With a Polaroid and handmade backdrops, Polo Silk documented thousands of moments of Black New Orleans life before Katrina reshaped the city.

‘They’ve given her a lot of hope’: A NYC school fights to educate an undocumented teen under Trump For Bridget and Marta, ELLIS Prep often felt like the only public institution with its arms open in a city and country that seemed not to want them.

For 6 months, I’ve followed ELLIS, a Bronx HS for newcomers, to understand what it means to educate immigrant students in Trump’s second term.

Proud to share the 1st of 2 stories about ELLIS, Bridget, an undocumented teen, & the fight to keep her education alive.

www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2025...

America Is Living in a Climate-Denial Fantasy On climate, the U.S. and the rest of the planet are now in “completely separate worlds.”

The world's highest court declared greenhouse gas emissions a human rights violation. A week later, the EPA said it plans to rescind the government's legal assertion that GHGs endanger the public. America's most catastrophic form of exceptionalism. A gift link: www.theatlantic.com/science/arch...

Medicaid Cuts Endanger Life-Saving Care for Black Families in Rural America Advocates and experts warn that the rollbacks could have a drastic impact on public health in Black communities.

Advocates and experts warn that the rollbacks could have a drastic impact on public health in Black communities. capitalbnews.org/medicaid-cut...

Black Neighborhoods At Risk As US Pushes to Cancel Important Climate Protection Black communities brace for fallout after Trump revokes core safeguard that outlined pollution’s impact on nature and humans.

NEW: As nearly two-thirds of the U.S. sweltered under extreme heat advisories on Tuesday, the U.S. government announced plans to erase the scientific and legal backbone that empowers the EPA to take action against planet-warming pollution. capitalbnews.org/trump-epa-en...

Beyonce Inspires Cowboy Carter Fans to Remix Patriotic Symbols Photo gallery shows how concertgoers in Atlanta reimagined traditional American symbols to make them their own.

Stylish attendees in Atlanta elevated the call for red, white and blue all over, complete with pageant sashes and structured cowgirl hats reminiscent of those Beyonce has worn on stage and while promoting “Cowboy Carter.”

We are pleased to announce the selection of 21 talented and diverse journalists to participate in the 2025 National Fellowship, exploring issues related to children, youth and family well-being and community health across the country!