Nashville, TN — July 25, 2025: In a historic announcement, a coalition of leading Black faith organizations and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) unveiled a strategic partnership and plan to confront systemic disparities impacting African American communities nationwide.

Dr. Boise Kimber, President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; Bishop J. Drew Sheard, Pre- siding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC); Dr. Samuel Tolbert, President of the National Baptist Convention of America; and Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., veteran civil rights leader and President of the NNPA, are leading this collaboration between the Black church and Black Media.

“There is strength in unity. There is power in our collective voice. There is hope in our actions,” said Dr. Boise Kimber.

For generations, African American communities have endured deep-rooted inequities in healthcare, education, criminal justice, economic opportunity, and access to capital. These challenges are not new. The coalition intends to put an end to fragmented responses and speak with one clear, concise and consolidated voice.

The Black Church and Black Media, two institutions that have long anchored and uplifted Black America, are now coming together with renewed focus and purpose.

This partnership is grounded in shared values, spiritual conviction, cultural empowerment, and an unwavering commitment to truth, justice, and progress.

The coalition will focus on five core initiatives:

• Shaping a unified national narrative that challenges harmful stereotypes and amplifies stories of Black resilience, excellence, and innovation
• Mobilizing faith-based and media networks to address community disparities through solutions-focused advocacy and outreach
• Holding corporate America accountable by demanding responsible reinvestment in Black communities through sustainable partnerships, economic equity, and community-led development
• Empowering the next generation by reclaiming our narratives and creating new pathways for education, leadership, and entrepreneurship
• Holding elected officials accountable by spotlighting those whose policies do not align with the interests of the Black community. To earn our votes, they must heed our voices.

“This is more than a symbolic gesture; it is a strategic and spiritual alignment.” When the Black Church and Black Media speak as one, we can ignite a movement. When we organize as one, we can shift the narrative. When we act as one, we cannot be ignored or denied,” the coalition stated.

The coalition invites all stakeholders, faith leaders, media professionals, community organizers, educators, business leaders, and concerned citizens to join this movement for unity, justice, and progress.

Coalition Leaders,

Dr. Boise Kimber, President
National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.

J. Drew Sheard, Presiding Bishop
Church of God in Christ

Dr. Samuel C. Tolbert, President
National Baptist Convention of America

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President and CEO
National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)
Civil Rights Leader and Publisher

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) concluded its annual media day, which featured all twelve member schools. It was announced that the Jackson State Tigers and the Southern Jaguars would finish first in their respective divisions. The Southern Jaguars had the most first-place votes with seventeen.

2025 SWAC Football Predicted Order of Finish

SWAC East

1. Jackson State – 126 points (16)
2. Florida A&M – 99 points (3)
3. Alabama State – 91 points (2)
4. Alabama A&M – 62 points
5. Bethune-Cookman – 45 points (1)
6. Mississippi Valley State – 24 points

SWAC West

1. Southern – 120 points (17)
2. Alcorn State – 90 points (2)
3. Prairie View A&M – 72 points (1)
4. Texas Southern – 60 points
5. Grambling State – 55 points
6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff – 28 points (1)

*First place votes listed in parenthesis ( )

Preseason Football Selections

Jackson State quarterback JaCobian Morgan was named to the Preseason All-SWAC Team and is the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Morgan finished off the 2024 campaign by winning the HBCU National Championship and securing MVP honors in the Celebration Bowl. Conversely, Ckelby Givens, a defensive end from Southern, was named the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Givens finished the 2024 season by leading the nation in tackles for loss with 27½ and was third with 12 sacks. Given’s efforts helped Southern to an 8-5 record and secured the SWAC West Division title. Givens also had 12 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and a pass breakup.

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All-SWAC First Team Offense

Quarterback: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State

Running Back: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State

Running Back: Thad Franklin Jr., Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: D’Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State

Offensive Lineman: Charles Davis, Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M

Offensive Lineman: Ronald Brown, Alcorn State

Offensive Lineman: Desmond Daniels, Alabama State

Wide Receiver: Nate Rembert, Jackson State

Wide Receiver: Joanes Fortilien, Jackson State

Tight End: Marvin Landy, Jackson State

All-SWAC First Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Ckelby Givens, Southern

Defensive Lineman: Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State

Defensive Lineman: Bryce Cage, Grambling State

Defensive Lineman: Davion Westmoreland, Florida A&M

Linebacker: Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State

Linebacker: Vincent Paige Jr., Southern

Linebacker: Nay’Ron Jenkins, Florida A&M

Defensive Back: Keane Lewis, Alabama State

Defensive Back: Antwone Watts, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Back: TJ Huggins, Florida A&M

Defensive Back: Horacio Johnson, Southern

All-SWAC First Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Gerardo Baeza, Jackson State

Punter: Johnny Schifano, Grambling State

Return Specialist: Travis Terrell Jr., Jackson State

All-SWAC Second Team Offense

Quarterback: Cam Ransom, Bethune-Cookman

Running Back: Lamagea McDowell, Prairie View A&M

Running Back: BJ Curry, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Offensive Lineman: Quaveon Davis, Jackson State

Offensive Lineman: Cameron Smith, Alabama State

Offensive Lineman: Tahj Martin, Grambling State

Offensive Lineman: Dezmond Penn, Alabama State

Offensive Lineman: Tyrell Lawrence, Alabama A&M

Wide Receiver: Maleek Huggins, Bethune-Cookman

Wide Receiver: Trenton Leary, Texas Southern

Tight End: Dupree Fuller, Southern

All-SWAC Second Team Defense

Defensive Lineman: Damarcus Thompson, Texas Southern

Defensive Lineman: Adrian Hall, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Lineman: James Gardner Jr., Florida A&M

Defensive Lineman: Nick Glenn, Alabama A&M

Linebacker: Reid Pulliam, Jackson State

Linebacker: Ashton Taylor, Jackson State

Linebacker: Malik Stinnett, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Back: Shamar Hawkins, Jackson State

Defensive Back: Blake Davis, Grambling State

Defensive Back: Herman Brister III, Southern

Defensive Back: Jameel Sanders, Florida A&M

All-SWAC Second Team Specialist

Place Kicker: Trey Glymph, Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Punter: Jeremy Ramirez, Texas Southern

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

As the Trump administration moves to eliminate key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) protections at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Democratic Congressman David Scott of Georgia has introduced legislation aimed at safeguarding the future of Black farmers and reversing decades of systemic discrimination.

On July 17, Scott, a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced the Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act of 2025. Illinois Democratic Congressman Jonathan Jackson, also a member of the committee, co-sponsored the bill, which aims to expand market access and enforce civil rights protections for farmers who have historically been denied equitable treatment by the federal government. “Generations of Black farmers have lost their land and livelihoods because of systemic discrimination and the federal government’s failures to meaningfully intervene,” Scott said. “Whereas they comprised over 14% of all U.S. farmers less than a century ago, they now represent less than 2%.”

In 1920, there were nearly one million Black farmers in the United States. But today, fewer than 50,000 remain, Jackson said. “That’s a staggering 95% decline. This did not happen by accident — it is the result of broken policies, discriminatory lending practices, and a lack of market access,” he stated. The bill establishes a competitive grant program to support new and expanding food hubs that enable Black and minority farmers to access wholesale, retail, and institutional markets. It offers a 25% tax credit for agricultural products purchased from those food hubs. It also requires the USDA to prioritize procurement from socially disadvantaged farmers and establishes an independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson to assist farmers through civil rights claims. Additionally, the measure reforms USDA policies to provide monetary relief to farmers denied access to loan and payment programs due to discrimination.

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The bill’s release follows a sweeping policy reversal by the USDA, which recently announced it will no longer use the term “socially disadvantaged” to define farmers affected by racial, ethnic, or gender-based discrimination. That designation, first adopted in the 1990 Farm Bill, had been a critical foundation for programs that served Black, Hispanic, Native American, and Asian producers. According to Capital B News, the agency’s decision came in response to executive orders issued earlier this year by President Donald Trump that eliminated any mandates or programs supporting DEI. The USDA stated that it has “sufficiently” addressed its history of discrimination and that moving forward, it will adhere to a race- and gender-neutral framework.

Lloyd Wright, a Virginia farmer and former USDA official, stated that the change will disproportionately affect Black farmers. “They’re eliminating socially disadvantaged and anything else dealing with DEI,” Wright told Capital B. “[The government] is going to take back the money — the little bit we were getting—and some of the outreach money will be clawed back.” Rep. Shontel Brown of Ohio, a vice-ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee, added that the USDA’s decision was part of “Trump’s resegregation agenda.” She called the rule “a deliberate and disgraceful step backward,” and said the “socially disadvantaged” label was long overdue recognition of the systemic denial of land, credit, and opportunity. Rep. Shomari Figures of Alabama said the administration should be working to ensure Black farmers are never subjected to such discrimination again, not reversing policies that acknowledged that history.

Tiffany Bellfield El-Amin, founder of the Kentucky Black Farmers Association, noted that while the label itself may have had flaws, its removal leaves Black farmers more vulnerable. She said Black producers are often left to navigate USDA programs without the same outreach given to white farmers, and that many with large operations were never disadvantaged to begin with. The USDA’s move comes in response to pressure from white farmers and conservative legal groups. A Wisconsin farmer, Adam Faust, has sued the administration, claiming he faced reverse discrimination in multiple USDA programs. Faust previously led a successful lawsuit against the Biden administration in 2021, halting a $4 billion loan forgiveness program aimed at aiding farmers of color.

Black farmers continue to challenge federal agencies in court. The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association recently sued the USDA for allegedly excluding them from the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, which provided help to over 43,000 farmers who suffered discrimination before 2021. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia said the administration’s actions amount to political theater. “Instead of working to create more certainty for our nation’s farmers and adopting a stable trade agenda, this administration is focused on divisive publicity stunts that will hurt our agriculture industry long-term,” he said.

Scott’s bill builds on years of advocacy, including his efforts to expose that just 0.1% of a $26 billion USDA pandemic relief package went to Black farmers. As Farm Bill reauthorization talks continue in Congress, Scott said this moment must be used to embed equity into agricultural policy. “Congress has a responsibility to reverse the decades of inaction by restoring trust, creating new market opportunities, and ensuring USDA supports our Black and socially disadvantaged farmers,” Scott said.

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