Amsterdam News

Honoring Aida Overton Walker, Harlem‘s “Cakewalk Queen”

Friday February 20, 2026 Honoring Aida Overton Walker, Harlem‘s “Cakewalk Queen” Art & Soul Editor, Kristin Fayne-Mulroy We continue our ‘Lesser-known Luminaries of Harlem’ series with a spotlight on

Advocates fear major unintended consequences in Hochul’s fight against ICE

February 20, 2026 Advocates fear major unintended consequences in Hochul’s fight against ICE Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to open the door for New Yorkers to sue federal officials, namely immigration enfor

Analysis: What Jesse Jackson’s presidential campaigns taught us

Tuesday, February 19, 2026 Hello AmNews family,The country is mourning the loss of Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Civil Rights icon whose leadership bridged the gap from the Rev. Martin Luther King years to

Hope stays alive: The life of Rev. Jesse Jackson and the legacy he leaves

February 19, 2026 Hope stays alive: The life of Rev. Jesse Jackson and the legacy he leaves In finding words about the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton said that “he trusted me with responsi

Al Sharpton: How Rev. Jesse Jackson helped me and so many of us to find our voices

February 18, 2026 Al Sharpton: How Rev. Jesse Jackson helped me and so many of us to find our voices A giant has returned home. Words cannot fully capture the life, legacy, and complete impact of the

Civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. passes away at 84

February 17, 2026 Civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. passes away at 84 Rev. Jesse Jackson Civil Rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., whose career took him from his early collaboration

CM Ossé, Advocates push the state for eviction moratorium on deed theft cases

February 16, 2026 CM Ossé, Advocates push the state for eviction moratorium on deed theft cases New York City is in the middle of a deed theft crisis, one that often impacts Black and Latino residents

Oscar nominee Wunmi Mosaku on trust, risk, and working with Michael B. Jordan & Ryan Coogler in ‘Sinners’

Friday February 13, 2026 Oscar nominee Wunmi Mosaku on trust, risk, and working with Michael B. Jordan & Ryan Coogler in ‘Sinners’ Art & Soul Editor, Kristin Fayne-Mulroy This week: The AmNews speaks

NYC’s deadly severe cold snap is giving City Hall its first real test

February 13, 2026 NYC’s deadly severe cold snap is giving City Hall its first real test Cold weather in NYC is leaving Mayor Zohran Mamdani scrambling to get the city’s most vulnerable New Yorkers off

Will Mamdani’s new Correction Department head turn around Rikers Island?

February 12, 2026 Will Mamdani’s new Correction Department head turn around Rikers Island? Newly-appointed NYC Department of Correction (DOC) commissioner Stanley Richards never actually applied for t

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado drops run for governor, ending all-Black ticket

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Hello AmNews family, The New York state gubernatorial race took an interesting turn with the exit of Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado from his campaign. The teaming up of Delgado

ICYMI: Uncovering the Roots: Black New Yorkers from enslavement to struggle for reparative justice

February 11, 2026 Uncovering the Roots: Black New Yorkers from enslavement to struggle for reparative justice Africans — enslaved and free — helped shape New York City in the 18th century. NYC Comptro

ICYMI: NYC protesters, politicians have had it with ICE after violence, deaths

February 10, 2026 NYC protesters, politicians have had it with ICE after violence, deaths New York’s opposition to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) only continued to grow last weeken

Former Sierra Club Foundation director sues over internal racism that he says hinders its mission

February 9, 2026 Former Sierra Club Foundation director sues over internal racism that he says hinders its mission It’s been a tumultuous period for the Sierra Club, among the country’s oldest grassro

Woodie King Jr: Black theater community shares remembrances and thoughts about a great man

Friday February 6, 2026 Woodie King Jr: Black theater community shares remembrances and thoughts about a great man Art & Soul Editor, Kristin Fayne-Mulroy This week: We mourn the passing of Woodie Kin

Why the NYPD is being sued over allegedly rampant ‘driving while Black’ searches

February 6, 2026 Why the NYPD is being sued over allegedly rampant ‘driving while Black’ searches The lawsuit focuses specifically on traffic searches, which face starker racial disparities than just

Uncovering the Roots: Black New Yorkers from enslavement to struggle for reparative justice

February 5, 2026 Uncovering the Roots: Black New Yorkers from enslavement to struggle for reparative justice Africans — enslaved and free — helped shape New York City in the 18th century. NYC Comptrol

ICYMI: Will Mamdani hit his target on gun violence prevention?

February 4, 2026 Will Mamdani hit his target on gun violence prevention? Almost a month into his term, how Mamdani will implement his public safety promises remains to be seen. Harlem Malcolm Shabazz

African American leaders urge new N.J. Gov. Sherrill to advance Black agenda

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 Hello AmNews family, Now that Mikie Sherill has been sworn in as the 57th governor of New Jersey, numerous people will be watching her, not the least of which is the Black co

Families of Trinidadian men killed by U.S. military boat attack sue Trump admin

February 3, 2026 Families of Trinidadian men killed by U.S. military boat attack sue Trump admin The families of two Trinidadian men who were killed by a U.S. missile strike are suing the Trump admini

Black History Month 2026: A Century of Black History Commemorations

February 2, 2026 Black History Month 2026: A Century of Black History Commemorations This year marks 2026 marks a century of national commemorations of Black history. Brooklyn youth show off tech skil

‘Sinners’ rewrites Oscar history with 16 noms; Oscar race enters most unpredictable phase

Friday January 30, 2026 ‘Sinners’ rewrites Oscar history with 16 noms; Oscar race enters most unpredictable phase Art & Soul Editor, Kristin Fayne-Mulroy This week: In an unprecedented Oscars upset, R

Black History Month Events to Attend in NYC Feb. 1-7

January 30, 2026 Black History Month Events to Attend in NYC Feb. 1-7 February 2026 marks 100 years since the first commemoration of Black history began by Dr. Carter G. Woodson. OP-ED: When Trump’s n

Will Mamdani hit his target on gun violence prevention?

January 29, 2026 Will Mamdani hit his target on gun violence prevention? Almost a month into his term, how Mamdani will implement his public safety promises remains to be seen. Harlem Malcolm Shabazz

Rep. Adriano Espaillat endorsed by Congressional Black Caucus PAC in reelection bid

Wednesday, January 28, 2026 Hello AmNews family, New York’s 13th Congressional District race just got even more interesting with a major endorsement for incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat by the Congres

ICYMI: How Black and Brown New Yorkers could benefit from new victims comp reforms

January 27, 2026 How Black and Brown New Yorkers could benefit from new victims comp reforms NYC-based advocacy organization Common Justice suggests Black, Brown and Indigenous victims were less likel

NYS Raise the Age law remains in full after new executive budget as advocates call for protections

January 26, 2026 NYS Raise the Age law remains in full after new executive budget as advocates call for protections Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget unveiled on Jan. 20, excluded rollbacks against

Dr. Gerald Deas, pioneering health advocate, AmNews contributor, dies at 94

January 23, 2026 Dr. Gerald Deas, pioneering health advocate, AmNews contributor, dies at 94 Dr. Gerald Deas was known as a champion for health in the Black community. His advocacy for patient care re

The changing landscape of college sports: Athletes exercise their agency for financial empowerment

January 22, 2026 The changing landscape of college sports: Athletes exercise their agency for financial empowerment The landscape for name, image and likeness (NIL) in college sports has evolved from

Jami Floyd builds congressional bid in crowded race to replace Nadler

Wednesday, January 21, 2026 Hello AmNews family, It may be only January, but the crowded race to replace Rep. Jerrold Nadler in New York’s 12th is only getting more heated as the June primary approach

ICYMI: Martin Luther King’s vision in this moment: A dream deferred or a test of our strength?

January 21, 2026 Martin Luther King’s vision in this moment: A dream deferred or a test of our strength? This year’s MLK Day arrived in a political climate that poses the greatest threat to King’s le

ICYMI: Why some Black Americans are making a ‘Blaxit’ out of the U.S.

January 20, 2026 Why some Black Americans are making a ‘Blaxit’ out of the U.S. A migration trend of Black people leaving America to live abroad that is being termed the “Blaxit” (“Black Exit”) leap.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026

January 19, 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Day events to attend in New York To celebrate and ensure that Martin Luther King's legacy lives on, here is a list of various events that are taking place acros

Lt. Gov. Delgado supports stock transfer tax to reinvest in Black and Brown communities

January 16, 2026 Lt. Gov. Delgado supports stock transfer tax to reinvest in Black and Brown communities Last month, Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado publicly threw his weight behind repealing the stock trans

Martin Luther King’s vision in this moment: A dream deferred or a test of our strength?

January 15, 2026 Martin Luther King’s vision in this moment: A dream deferred or a test of our strength? This year’s MLK Day arrives in a political climate that poses the greatest threat to King’s le

EXCLUSIVE: Hochul’s State of the State boosts Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park revitalization

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 Hello AmNews family, Among the many things announced in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s State of the State address this week was something Harlem has been waiting on for years. Revital