Aallyah Wright

I'm also hoping to talk to more Black farmers across the country about their experiences in agriculture. If you know someone who may be interested, send them this short form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Thank you!

The Little-Known Committee That Has Cost Black Farmers for Generations County committees may not be as powerful as they were at the height of Jim Crow, but the system still has serious consequences for Black producers.

93 years ago, the USDA created county committees where farmers elect their peers to give feedback on federal programs.

This committee is powerful and makes more than recommendations. It determines who gets help and who gets left behind.

MY LATEST: capitalbnews.org/usda-county-...

AIN’T Just a Word - Memphis Flyer A Film Festival of Resistance and Affirmation

We made it in The Memphis Flyer! My short film Delta Grown, which documents two Black women's journey to combat food deserts in the Mississippi Delta, will show at the inaugural AINT Film Festival in Memphis, TN this Friday.

www.memphisflyer.com/aint-just-a-...

S.C. Court Victory Grants Gullah Geechee Temporary Access to Blocked Cemetery Residents have fought for the right to bury their loved ones, but property owners had denied them access.

A judge ruled that Gullah Geechee residents on St. Helena Island, SC, must be granted access to their cemetery after being blocked from it.

However, they must give property owners — who put up the gates blocking the entrance — written notice first.

capitalbnews.org/gullah-geech...

The Mississippi Delta Is a Testing Ground for the Nation W. Ralph Eubanks' book “When It’s Darkness on the Delta” examines the economic inequality and racist history that shaped the region and why it is a mirror to America.

Ralph Eubanks argues the nation can no longer disregard the Mississippi Delta because we are all living with one foot in the South. Until we confront the challenges of the Delta, only then can we address similar issues in other "Deltas" across the country.

capitalbnews.org/mississippi-...

Thank you Kat ❤️

This #BlackHistoryMonth, we honor journalists like @aallyahpatrice.bsky.social of @capitalb.bsky.social, whose work exemplifies the power of reporting to inform a community: https://nationalpress.org/topic/sinners-came-to-clarksdale-thanks-to-years-of-community-journalism/

Georgia Is Letting a Railroad Seize Land a Black Family Has Owned For 100 Years Descendants of enslaved people are fighting an attempt to use eminent domain to carve a spur through one of Georgia’s largest Black‑owned farms.

NEW: A Georgia railroad owned by a descendant of an enslaver is using eminent domain to take land owned by descendants of the enslaved. If you want to understand how slavery still shapes power today, start here: capitalbnews.org/georgia-rail...

NEW DOCUMENTARY SCREENING "The Beat Goes On: The Story of Baltimore Beat" Join us for an in-person screening of "The Beat Goes On," diving into Baltimore Beat’s inspiring story!

We’ll be screening the doc at The Real News Network on Feb. 25! www.eventbrite.com/e/new-docume...

Emergency grants to assist journalists in crisis Lifelines for writers affected by layoffs, illness or war.

Emergency grants to assist journalists in crisis rjionline.org/news/emergen...

I just love everythang about a Black woman creating a film festival in Memphis. The Aint Film Fest interrupts your programming to "remind the South she AIN’T never been silent."

Shoutout to Zaire Love, award-winning filmmaker, writer, artist & educator.

aint.mov

100 Years After a Black Family Was Forced Out, a Descendant Sues a California City A sculpture park is being built in Piedmont, California, to honor the Dearing family, but one relative says it’s not enough.

The city eventually took the Dearings to court, claiming it needed to seize their property to build a road. Within a year they were forced to sell, and a road was never built.

capitalbnews.org/black-homeow...

They faced lynching threats and a mob of 500 people showing up on their property. The police chief, who was a high-ranking member of the KKK, failed to protect them.

100 Years After a Black Family Was Forced Out, a Descendant Sues a California City A sculpture park is being built in Piedmont, California, to honor the Dearing family, but one relative says it’s not enough.

The Dearing family became the 1st Black homeowners in Piedmont, CA. But were forced out by their white neighbors and city officials.

100 years later, the city plans to honor them. Their great-granddaughter is suing for compensation and a formal apology.

capitalbnews.org/black-homeow...

Newbern’s First Black Mayor and the Fight to Hold Office In 2020, Patrick Braxton became the first Black mayor of Newbern, Alabama, his hometown. What followed was a four-year legal fight.

You might remember Braxton as the Black mayor who didn’t get to serve because the majority-white town council blocked him from office. It resulted in him being reinstated and the town having its first election since the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Read more here: capitalbnews.org/newbern/

The Alabama Town That Blocked Its First Black Mayor Now Has Another Patrick Braxton was forced out, then reinstated. He resigned late last year after his opponent challenged his residency and contested the election.

Patrick Braxton, the 1st Black mayor of Newbern, Al, has resigned following a civil complaint filed by his opponent contesting the election and alleging Braxton did not live within city limits.

Town leaders have now appointed their first female mayor.

NEW: capitalbnews.org/newbern-alab...

Thank you CapitalB @capitalb.bsky.social for this great article and most especially to one of my favorite journalists @aallyahpatrice.bsky.social My plug: DONATE! CapB is Black-led, nonprofit local and national news org.

The Mallerys said they are still experiencing harassment and being surveilled.

Black Colorado Ranchers Prevail After Attempts to Run Them Off the Land After years of facing discrimination and harassment, the Mallerys are pushing forward and fighting for change.

What was meant to silence these ranchers brought them national attention, from rallies at the Colorado Capitol to a feature in Jordan Peele’s High Horse.

Now they’re working with lawmakers to push for legislation and are thinking of running for office.

capitalbnews.org/black-colora...

Trump Administration Targets Black Church Protesters Over ICE Demonstration Nekima Levy-Armstrong and Chauntyll Louisa Allen say they protested to point out the contradiction of a pastor who works for ICE.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said today that she ordered the arrests of journalist Don Lemon and 3 others in connection with the demonstration at a church: Georgia Fort, an independent journalist; and Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy, both activists.

More: capitalbnews.org/nekima-levy-...

How ‘Sinners’ Keeps Supporting Clarksdale, the Community That Inspired The Film Luxury brands and celebrities are giving back to benefit arts and culture efforts in the Mississippi city.

Fear of God dropped limited-edition Sinners-inspired merch and 100% of net sales will be donated to Clarksdale, the community that inspired the film.

Additionally, Oscar-winning actress Octavia Spencer provided an undisclosed amount to support Clarksdale.

capitalbnews.org/fear-of-god-...

Thank you 🙏🏽

A Black Film Just Made Oscars History With a Record 16 Nominations Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” received the most nominations in the Academy Award’s history.

Despite the online debates about whether the film was snubbed or whether it was worth the “hype,” one thing is clear: Its historical impact is undeniable.

Sinners. 16 nominations. Most in Oscars history.

capitalbnews.org/sinners-osca...

Sapelo Island’s Gullah Geechee Community Fights Back and Wins A vote ends a yearslong legal fight over development of the land on Georgia’s coast.

Sapelo Island’s Gullah Geechee Community Fights Back and Wins | @aallyahpatrice.bsky.social

A vote ends a yearslong legal fight over development of the land on Georgia’s coast.
capitalbnews.org/sapelo-islan... @capitalbnews.org.web.brid.gy

‘Sinners’ Shows Clarksdale’s Past. What’s Next for the Birthplace of the Blues? Although Clarksdale finds itself in the national spotlight, the city has been leading its own charge for years.

A superb time to revisit @aallyahpatrice.bsky.social's coverage of not just Sinners — but her hometown of Clarksdale! capitalbnews.org/sinners-scre...

Clarksdale After 'Sinners' When Ryan Coogler’s Sinners hit the media waves during its opening weekend, Capital B reporter Aallyah Wright took to social media immediately. She questioned why her hometown of Clarksdale — the film...

If you're interested in reading more about Sinners, particularly about my hometown Clarksdale, and how Black residents are reclaiming power and ownership in a town where Blues tourism and development have long excluded them, check out my project here:

capitalbnews.org/clarksdale-s...

Sinners becomes first film in history to earn 16 Oscar nominations Ryan Coogler’s ghost story breaks records as One Battle After Another trails in second with 13 nods and Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value and Frankenstein trail with nine apiece

I couldn’t help but smile seeing Sinners break records this week. There’s something powerful about a film rooted in Mississippi Delta culture and history becoming the most nominated in Oscar history. #ClarksdaleBornAndRaised

www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...

The Battle for Land, Identity, and Survival of Gullah Geechee Communities Four months after a dock tragedy, residents on Sapelo Island continue their legal fights to protect their homeland.

Sapelo Island resident Nikki Williams told me: “This outcome reflects our unity, resilience, and commitment to preserving our land, culture, and future. This vote proves that growth should never come at the cost of heritage.”

Read my previous story here: capitalbnews.org/sapelo-islan...

Sapelo Island’s Gullah Geechee Community Fights Back and Wins A vote ends a yearslong legal fight over development of the land on Georgia’s coast.

A major victory for Gullah Geechee residents on Georgia’s Sapelo Island. More than 1,500 residents overwhelmingly voted to repeal an ordinance that Black residents say would lead to higher property taxes, gentrification, and their displacement.

capitalbnews.org/sapelo-islan...