March 16, 2026

Kevin Harris

Richard McDaniel

Gov. Wes Moore

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - When Amazon cuts 30,000 jobs and Black workers hold nearly 20% of the roles being eliminated while making up just 13% of the workforce, that is not a coincidence. That is a pattern. And it is accelerating. 

The layoffs are part of a broader AI driven economic shift that is already reshaping who works, who advances, and who is left behind. And by every measurable indicator, African American workers are among the most exposed.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data show Black workers account for nearly 20% of clerical and administrative support roles despite being just 13% of the workforce. This matters because African Americans remain overrepresented in the exact job categories AI is replacing. Amazon diversity reports show Black employees make up a large share of fulfillment and support roles but less than 8% of technical positions. 

Across many of Amazon’s core business units including warehousing, logistics, and transportation, Black workers are overrepresented by as much as 30–40% in certain metro areas, while remaining significantly underrepresented in software, data science, and AI engineering roles.

The economic consequences of such disparities are severe. The median Black household has $44,900 in wealth, compared to $285,000 for white households, according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Survey of Consumer Finances. And Black workers who experience layoffs take longer to find new jobs and face larger post-layoff wage penalties than white workers with similar credentials.

AI-driven displacement threatens to widen these gaps. A 2024 report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found workers displaced by automation experience earnings losses of 20–30% lasting more than a decade, with the steepest losses concentrated among Black workers without access to retraining or internal mobility.

Meanwhile, corporate investment in reskilling lags far behind automation spending. The World Economic Forum reports that while 60% of companies expect AI to eliminate roles, fewer than 25% have retraining pipelines tied to guaranteed job placement. Amazon’s own upskilling programs reach only a fraction of the workers most at risk.

Lawmakers should respond aggressively to reduce harm to Black workers. Maryland Governor Wes Moore, currently the nation’s only Black governor understands the threats AI can pose for African American workers. 

In his recent State of the State address, Governor Moore pointed directly to artificial intelligence as one of the defining forces reshaping the economy, arguing that AI will determine who has access to opportunity in the next generation and who is left behind. Moore framed AI not simply as a technological breakthrough, but as a workforce challenge that demands intentional public investment, emphasizing that states must prepare workers for AI-driven change rather than react after jobs disappear. He stressed that innovation without inclusion will deepen inequality, and that the government has a responsibility to ensure emerging technologies expand opportunity rather than concentrate it.

Moore’s remarks underscore the stakes for Black America. If AI policy focuses only on productivity gains while ignoring who occupies the jobs being automated, displacement will fall hardest on Black communities already facing structural barriers to wealth and mobility. His call to align education, workforce development, and economic growth around emerging technologies underscores the need for targeted investment in institutions that serve Black workers at scale, particularly HBCUs.

HBCUs produce nearly 25% of Black STEM graduates despite receiving a fraction of the funding of predominantly white institutions, and they already serve as trusted on-ramps for first-generation and working-class students into high-demand fields. With targeted investment, HBCUs can rapidly expand programs in data analytics, machine learning, cybersecurity, cloud engineering, and applied AI. 

HBCU partnerships can build paid apprenticeships, AI co-ops, and credential pathways that move Black workers from declining roles into growing ones, rather than leaving them to compete in an unequal labor market after displacement.

Every dollar invested in AI labs, faculty, research partnerships, and employer-linked training at HBCUs reduces the risk that Black workers will be permanently locked out of the next economy. 

And we must remember that Black representation matters in AI. Currently, less than 5% of American AI professionals are Black. This lack of representation shapes which jobs are automated and which are protected. If African Americans are excluded from AI design, they will be disproportionately left out of its benefits.

Amazon's layoffs are already history. The question now is whether our policy response moves as fast as the technology did or whether Black workers are still waiting for help when the next round of cuts comes. 

Kevin Harris and Richard McDaniel are veteran Democratic strategists with over 100 political campaigns between them, including the past five presidential elections and several congressional races. They co-host “Maroon Bison Presents: The Southern Comfort Podcast.”

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., whose two-time run for president and soaring speaking gift caused him to rise from civil rights leader to an inspirational icon with a household name, has died at 84.  From "I am somebody!" to "Keep Hope Alive!" his voice is forever emblazoned in the psyche of generations of hopeless and downtroddened people. 

The announcement from his family on the morning of Feb. 17 drew tears, fond memories from millions across the nation and flags flown at half staff in his home state of South Carolina.

“With profound sadness, the family of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr., an iconic figure in the fight for civil rights, international justice, and human dignity, announces his passing,” said the statement from Chicago, the location of his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters. “Reverend Jackson, the esteemed founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, transitioned peacefully on early Tuesday morning, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy that has forever redefined the moral and political fabric of our nation and the world.”

The announcement drew reflections, salutes and loving memories from among the highest dignitaries to common people across the nation.

“Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of a true giant, the Reverend Jesse Jackson,” wrote former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle. “For more than 60 years, Reverend Jackson helped lead some of the most significant movements for change in human history. From organizing boycotts and sit-ins, to registering millions of voters, to advocating for freedom and democracy around the world, he was relentless in his belief that we are all children of God, deserving of dignity and respect.”

They continued, “Reverend Jackson also created opportunities for generations of African Americans and inspired countless more, including us. Michelle got her first glimpse of political organizing at the Jacksons’ kitchen table when she was a teenager. And in his two historic runs for president, he laid the foundation for my own campaign to the highest office of the land.”

Even President Trump – who last week refused to apologize after the Obamas were wickedly portrayed as apes in his social media post – gave reflections on his relationship with Jackson.

 “I knew him well, long before becoming President. He was a good man, with lots of personality, grit, and ‘street smarts.’ He was very gregarious – someone who truly loved people!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.  “Jesse was a force of nature like few others before him.”  

Trump then listed initiatives that he had supported at the request of Rev. Jackson; including “long term funding for Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), which Jesse loved.”

Former President Joe Biden spoke of his long time friendship with Jackson as did President Bill Clinton. “Throughout our decades of friendship and partnership, I’ve known Reverend Jackson as history will remember him: a man of God and of the people. Determined and tenacious. Unafraid of the work to redeem the soul of our Nation,” wrote Biden.

Former President Bill Clinton, who awarded Rev. Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, said he “championed human dignity.”

The list of others who praised the civil rights leader were like a whose who in Black America:

"He told us we were somebody and made us believe," stated Rev. Al Sharpton, who was mentored by Jackson. "I will always cherish him taking me under his wing, and I will forever try to do my part to keep hope alive." 

Rev. Jackson, who was with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he was assassinated, knew he was called to preach, but had actually left divinity school in order to join the civil rights movement alongside King.

“We were in it together,” said former Atlanta Mayor Rev. Andrew Young. “Jesse just happened to be maybe a few years younger than Martin and about10 years younger than me. But we were just like brothers. We didn’t have an authoritarian hierarchy. We were just all people called by God to serve his children.”

The Rev. Bernice King, this week, described him as “a gifted negotiator and a courageous bridge‑builder” in a social media post. She said, “My family shares a long and meaningful history with him, rooted in a shared commitment to justice and love.”

Bishop T. D. Jakes recalls his first time meeting Rev. Jackson. "He stopped by my church, stepped into my office, and said with that unmistakable blend of warmth and audacity, 'I thought it would be a shame for us to live and die in the same era and never meet each other.' He was uniquely gifted. Steadfast in conviction. A bridge builder when others were creating barricades. He expanded access and opportunity for countless Americans long told to 'wait their turn'. He never feared taking a position or
confronting opposition. His message and methodology were controversial to some, but always courageous."

Jakes concluded, "Keep Hope Alive" is now a "torch in our hands."

Jackson was not only known for his love for the Black church, but his love for the Black Press.

“Certainly, today in 2026 our nation and world are still challenged by racism, antisemitism, hatred, and inhumanity. The spirit of Jesse Jackson lives on at the center of the ever evolving and unfolding ‘freedom movement’ throughout the world,” stated Dr. Benjamin Chavis, president/CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, the Black Press of America, which once named Jackson as Newsmaker of the Year.  “I grew up in the Civil Rights Movement. Jesse Jackson was a mentor and a colleague who I admired. I have hundreds of vivid memories of when we worked and struggled together for the liberation of all humanity. I mourn the passing of Jesse Jackson, Sr. by rededicating my life and ministry to keep fighting for freedom and equal justice.”

Rev. Jackson was a dear friend of the Black Press and Black media in general. When journalist George Curry, then NNPA editor-in-chief, died of heart failure in 2016, Rev. Jackson flew to Curry’s home town of Tuscaloosa, Ala. to give his first eulogy the night before his funeral.

 This reporter recalls how he pulled her away from his security detail in 1988 as they tried to block her from interviewing him as a cub reporter with the Richmond Afro-American newspaper during his second presidential run. His kindness and grace to me, a stranger, began a long time respectful relationship. When I started my own news wire, he could not attend the launch. So, he sent a video from Durban, South Africa praising the new venture.

The Jackson family statement concluded with a brief biography that seeks to highlight his greatest service to people:

 “For more than six decades, Reverend Jackson dedicated his life to advancing equality, dismantling systems of oppression, and amplifying the voices of the underserved. Born on October 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jesse Jackson graduated from the public schools in Greenville and then enrolled in the University of Illinois on a football scholarship. He later transferred to North Carolina A&T State University and graduated in 1964. He began his theological studies at Chicago Theological Seminary. However, he deferred his studies when he began working full-time in the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was ordained on June 30, 1968, by Rev. Clay Evans and earned his Master of Divinity from Chicago Theological Seminary in 2000.

From marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a mentor and friend, Reverend Jackson continued his fight during the Civil Rights Movement to leading nationwide voter registration campaigns, notably during his presidential runs in 1984 and 1988—registering millions of new voters. Reverend Jackson remained steadfast in his mission to pave the way for the next generation of freedom fighters. He was a man of the people, welcomed in even the most rural areas, whether serving the impoverished or bringing his masterful guidance to hostage negotiations with world leaders.

His tireless advocacy extended beyond American soil, championing human rights struggles on a global scale. Reverend Jackson’s fearless leadership brought attention to issues of racial discrimination, economic and gender inequality, social injustice, healthcare, education, and peace-building—earning him recognition as a true humanitarian and world leader.

Beyond his public achievements, Reverend Jackson will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and spiritual guide. To his family, he was a source of unwavering love and faith. To countless others, he was a mentor, a voice for the voiceless, and a symbol of resilience. Reverend Jackson’s passing marks the end of an era, but his vision of justice, equality, and unity will live on through the countless lives he touched.

His legacy will continue to inspire future generations through the tireless, dedicated work of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, an organization rooted in the progressive fight for social change. Funeral arrangements and details for public celebration of life services will be shared in the coming days. For more updates, please visit: www.jessejacksonlegacy.com and www.rainbowpush.org”

Feb. 17, 2026

Richmond Free Press headquarters at 5th and Franklin Streets in Richmond, Va.  PHOTO: Julianne Tripp Hillian/Richmond Free Press

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - When the news began to spread that the Richmond Free Press was about to publish its last edition, the rumor blew like a cold wind through the Commonwealth of Virginia.

At a reception on Feb. 11, the eve of the official announcement, the buzz had already hit the streets, circulating among civil rights, business and political leaders.  Former Richmond Crusade for Voters President Sylvia Wood, former Metropolitan Business League President/CEO Lynda Sharp Anderson and former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder - all in attendance at a corporate reception Downtown - passionately expressed to this reporter their deep concern about rumors that, at 34 years old, the Black-owned newspaper was flailing.

The next morning, it officially hit: “The Richmond Free Press will cease publication this week, a bittersweet conclusion to a landmark publication that has served the Richmond community for 34 years,” said the Feb. 12 announcement on RichmondFreePress.com.

For some, the news stung. Gov. Abigail Spanberger led the painful way: “The closing of the Richmond Free Press is another major loss to those who value independent journalism and speaking truth to power. Thank you for your service to the Richmond community for more than three decades,” she wrote.

For me, well, it cut. It cut deeply like a death in the family. Actually, I’d gotten the call on the evening of Feb. 10 from Free Press Reporter George Copeland. He was asking for my reflections on the legacy of the Free Press. I was wondering…I thought it was an anniversary or something until he gave me the heart-rending news. The newspaper that I helped to birth in October 1991 by becoming its first reporter four months before its first issue hit the streets on January 16, 1992, was about to cease publishing.

As the story broke last week, the national award-winning publication – a renowned and acclaimed institution within the Virginia Black Press – quickly became known across the country as Free Press President and Publisher Jean Patterson Boone was invited to appear on Al Sharpton’s Politics Nation to discuss the newspaper’s saga and the plight of the Black Press. She recalled the decision to start the newspaper:

“We received many messages from Richmonders who cared and said we need your voice. We need you to come back to Richmond and help amplify the needs of Black people and people of good conscience. And so, after thinking about it and taking a deep breath, we decided to come back to Richmond,” Mrs. Boone told the story of how the legendary Free Press founder Ray Boone rose from the position of a highly respected editor of the Richmond Afro-American Newspaper, to a for the Baltimore Afro Chain to a distinguished professor at the Howard University School of Communications; then back to Richmond to start the Free Press in 1991.

“We stepped out on faith. And we worked very hard, very hard to make this paper the success that it has been until the Trump Administration had its way. And it has infiltrated the thinking and the decision-making by advertising agencies, by advertisers, by corporate leadership. It’s been a very difficult task to keep it going when you have the winds against you.”

Sharpton responded,  “This is part of the fall out of ending DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and a lot of corporations cutting back on anything that looks like diversity. So, the result is advertising dollars freeze up.”

Sharpton pointed out that Mr. Boone founded the Free Press in Richmond, Va., which is the former capital of the Confederacy and one of the largest slave-trading hubs before the Civil War. Drawing from that legacy, Sharpton described Richmond as a city “still associated if not synonymous with racial tensions.”

I recall that hardened, entrenched mentality and our stories drawn from the fights against racism and White supremacy. Mr. Boone, who I had come to know as “my chief mentor and father in the Black Press”, was unwaveringly focused on justice. The Richmond Free Press was indeed what I have described as a Marine Boot Camp for journalists, focused on excellence in service by telling our stories and fighting our battles.

• Under his editorship, we broke the July 23, 1992 story that told how the Virginia Air National Guard had a Confederate Flag emblem emblazoned on its planes and uniforms since 1947, a tip given to us by a Black member of the air guard. The day that story was published, Gov. Wilder issued an executive order to have that emblem removed and replaced with the flag of the United States of America.
• We also broke the story that told how the Richmond Public Schools, with more than 90 percent Black students, had a staff of psychologists that were all White. Within weeks, the school system hired its first Black psychologist.
• And then there was the story of how Gilpin Court, Richmond’s largest and oldest public housing development, had for decades been plagued by a towering trash dump with rats, rodents and the smell of rotting refuse. The City Council had ignored the complaints of the residents until the Free Press published a series of stories, pushing them to clean it up. Our tenth story on the topic was that the council had finally seen the light. The dump was finally cleaned up and the people were contemplating making it a playground.

Story after story, the Richmond Free Press, from 1992 to its final addition on Feb. 12, 2026, fought for Black Richmonders, Black Virginians, Black Americans. Accolade after accolade, award after award, the applause for this publication – even beyond Mr. Boone’s death in 2014, still resonate in my mind as among the greatest contributions to humanity in the former Confederate capital.

That fight for justice, for freedom, for equality is not over. Mr. Boone made that clear to me before his death when he advised me to never think twice about what I should say or write when addressing issues in public. He said, “Tell the story of Black people because the story has not been told.”

Of the hundreds of Black-owned newspapers and Black-owned media agencies across the country, many are still struggling against the rabid racist regime of the Trump administration. We will continue to tell our story. As for the Richmond Free Press, Publisher Jean Patterson Boone, who took up the torch from her deceased husband and ran with it for nearly 12 years, leading talented editors, writers and dedicated staffers, including their first administrative employee Tracey Oliver and their children, award-winning photographer Regina, and circulation executive Raymond Jr., perhaps the proudest accomplishment was that despite the struggle, the quality of the newspaper never suffered - never.

“I was going to end on our terms; not on someone else’s terms,” Mrs. Boone told Rev. Sharpton. “I never missed a payroll. That was my thought and my intention and my promise. Though Ray never talked to me about continuing, he knew how difficult this is.” She concluded in a social media post, “Perhaps dear readers, we’ll meet again.”