Herman Cain Says Trump Doesn't Have 'A Racist Bone In His Body'

Herman Cain recently scoffed at the allegations accusing President Donald Trump of being racist.

“I don’t think Donald Trump has a racist bone in his body. And you can quote me on that,” Cain said in an interview with Yahoo News. “I have known him for many years. I have talked to people who work directly for him. The man is a businessman. How could he be a racist? His daughter married a person whose religious belief is Jewish. Good! He doesn’t go around making statements that are racist in nature. No, he says things where some people out there — especially people who don’t like him — try to spin it as being racist.”

On several occasions, Trump has referred to himself as "the least racist person." However, his statements on Charlottesville, Virginia, his history of running racially-charged attack ads and his recent "sh*thole countries" controversy have his critics unsure whether Trump is as tolerant as Cain claims.

According to Cain, critics need to put aside Trump’s language and personality. He instead urges them to focus on the results of Trump's policies in order to truly measure the success of his first-year in office.

Cain said he would give year one an "A" because Trump rolled back regulations and signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which he called “one of the biggest legislative achievements in 30 years.”

When it comes to Trump's campaign rhetoric (including when Trump said the following about Mexican immigrants: "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."), Cain said that he never observed anything at Trump’s campaign events that would indicate he harbors any animus toward minorities.

Herman Cain recently scoffed at the allegations accusing President Donald Trump of being racist.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t think Donald Trump has a racist bone in his body. And you can quote me on that,” Cain said in an interview with \u003Ca href=\"https://www.yahoo.com/news/herman-cain-says-trump-doesnt-racist-bone-body-180726069.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Yahoo News\u003C/a>. “I have known him for many years. I have talked to people who work directly for him. The man is a businessman. How could he be a racist? His daughter married a person whose religious belief is Jewish. Good! He doesn’t go around making statements that are racist in nature. No, he says things where some people out there — especially people who don’t like him — try to spin it as being racist.”\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>On several occasions, Trump has referred to himself as "the least racist person." However, his statements on \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/donald-trump-charlottesville-winery-both-sides-blame-violence\">Charlottesville\u003C/a>, Virginia, his history of running \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/ava-duvernay-calls-out-trump-for-his-hypocrisy-role-in-the-central-park-five-conviction\">racially-charged attack ads\u003C/a> and his recent \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/trump-reportedly-fussed-about-shthole-countries-like-haiti-and-other-african-nations-for-flocking-to-the-us\">"sh*thole countries" controversy\u003C/a> have his critics unsure whether Trump is as tolerant as Cain claims.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>According to Cain, critics need to put aside Trump’s language and personality. He instead urges them to focus on the results of Trump's policies in order to truly measure the success of his first-year in office.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>Cain said he would give year one an "A" because Trump rolled back regulations and signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which he called “one of the biggest legislative achievements in 30 years.”\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp>When it comes to Trump's campaign rhetoric (including when Trump said the following about \u003Ca href=\"http://time.com/4473972/donald-trump-mexico-meeting-insult/\">Mexican immigrants\u003C/a>: "They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."), Cain said that he never observed anything at Trump’s campaign events that would indicate he harbors any animus toward minorities.\u003C/p>\n\u003Cp content='“When he was campaigning, I spoke at three of his rallies. There were plenty of black people and Hispanic people there trying to help him get elected. I never saw him try to put anybody down. The people who don’t like him are trying to stick him with a racist label, which is not true,” Cain said. At a campaign rally in Atlanta, he vouched for Trump as a \u003Ca href=\"http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/us/politics/behind-herman-cains-humor-a-question-of-seriousness.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">“shucky ducky” kind of candidate.\u003C/a> Trump received \u003Ca href=\"http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/11/09/behind-trumps-victory-divisions-by-race-gender-education/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">8 percent\u003C/a> of votes by black people in 2016.’ data-reactid=”26″ type=”text”>“When he was campaigning, I spoke at three of his rallies. There were plenty of black people and Hispanic people there trying to help him get elected," Cain said. "I never saw him try to put anybody down. The people who don’t like him are trying to stick him with a racist label, which is not true."\u003C/p>\n",[23,27],{"name":24,"slug":25,"id":26},"News","news",83,{"name":28,"slug":29,"id":30},"Politics","politics",120,[32,36],{"id":33,"name":34,"slug":35,"description":10,"image":10},37278,"Donald trump","donald-trump",{"id":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"description":10,"image":10},31431,"Herman Cain","herman-cain",{"url":41,"thumbnail":41,"credit":42,"title":10,"alt":10,"type":43},"https://res.cloudinary.com/blavity/image/upload/v1518555094/hlftrwf7fqctilz89h1b","Photo: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons","image","2018-02-13T16:18:42-05:00","default",[],false,{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":49,"headScript":50},true,null,"https://storage.googleapis.com/blavitynews/images/fallback.jpg","article","2025-12-05T19:35:57.952Z",{"list":55,"total":181},[56,91,139],{"id":57,"author":58,"authors":65,"title":67,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":68,"body":69,"categories":70,"tags":72,"featuredMedia":81,"publishedAt":87,"updatedAt":88,"type":45,"listicle":89,"disableContentGate":47,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":47,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":90},72884520,{"id":59,"avatar":60,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":61,"email":62,"username":61,"normalizedUsername":63,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":64},96045,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC09602-2-compress.jpg","Tomas Kassahun","tomas.kassahun@blavity.com","tomas-kassahun","2019-09-06T00:00:00+00:00",[66],{"id":59,"avatar":60,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":61,"email":62,"username":61,"normalizedUsername":63,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":64},"Social Security Payments In December Expected To Follow Alternative Schedule: Find Out Dates Here","social-security-payments-december-2025-schedule","\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/some-social-security-recipients-wont-get-checks-in-november-2025\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Social security\u003C/a> payments will follow an alternative schedule in \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/saweetie-detty-december\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">December\u003C/a>. Although all recipients will still get their checks, the U.S. Social Security Administration announced that the schedule will be a bit different for the month of December due to the holidays.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-will-social-security-beneficiaries-get-their-payments-in-december\">When will social security beneficiaries get their payments in December?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, given to families with limited income or people with disabilities, will start going out on the first of the month as expected, according to \u003Ca href=\"https://thehill.com/business/personal-finance/5622687-social-security-payments-wont-happen-as-usual-this-december-heres-why/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Hill\u003C/a>. However, there’s another check that will be distributed on Dec. 31. That payment, which is actually for January, is paid early because of New Year’s Day. Beneficiaries will then get February’s payment on Jan. 30 because Feb. 1 falls on a Sunday.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-normal-schedule-for-social-security-payments\">What is the normal schedule for social security payments?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Social Security Administration normally schedules payments according to birthdates. People born between the 1st and 10th get their payment on the second Wednesday of the month. Recipients born between the 11th and the 20th get their benefits on the third Wednesday. Those born between the 21st and the 31st get their benefits on the final Wednesday of the month. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Hill reported that about 71 million recipients will see an increase of 2.8% in January due to the cost-of-living adjustment. That equals to an increase of about $56 per month. The Social Security Administration announced that the COLA will take effect in January. Per the announcement, the COLA, which was 2.5 percent in 2025, has averaged about 3.1 percent in the last decade.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Social Security is a promise kept, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment is one way we are working to make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities and continue to provide a foundation of security,” Social Security Administration Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said in a \u003Ca href=\"https://blog.ssa.gov/social-security-announces-benefit-increase-for-2026/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement\u003C/a>. “The cost-of-living adjustment is a vital part of how Social Security delivers on its mission.” \u003C/p>\n",[71],{"name":24,"slug":25,"id":26},[73,77],{"id":74,"name":75,"slug":76,"description":10,"image":10},25257,"social security","social-security",{"id":78,"name":79,"slug":80,"description":10,"image":10},44529,"top stories","top-stories",{"url":82,"thumbnail":83,"credit":84,"title":85,"alt":86,"type":43},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-184358375.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/GettyImages-184358375-150x100.jpg","Photo: Getty Images","Social security application","Close up of social security application with calculator and pen","2025-12-04T20:51:29-05:00","2025-12-04T22:17:20-05:00",[],{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":47,"headScript":10},{"id":92,"author":93,"authors":104,"title":106,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":107,"body":108,"categories":109,"tags":111,"featuredMedia":129,"publishedAt":135,"updatedAt":136,"type":45,"listicle":137,"disableContentGate":47,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":47,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":130,"additional":138},72884965,{"id":94,"avatar":95,"firstName":96,"lastName":97,"displayName":98,"email":99,"username":100,"normalizedUsername":101,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":102,"registeredAt":103},99834,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/KyraAlessandrini-compress.jpeg","Kyra","Alessandrini","Kyra Alessandrini","Kyra.Alessandrini@blavity.com","KyraAlessandrini","kyraalessandrini","https://www.instagram.com/kyraless/","2023-04-03T03:46:17+00:00",[105],{"id":94,"avatar":95,"firstName":96,"lastName":97,"displayName":98,"email":99,"username":100,"normalizedUsername":101,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":102,"registeredAt":103},"Costco Is Suing The Trump Administration: Here's Why","costco-sues-trump-tariff-refunds","\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/costco-recalls-prosecco-kirkland-brand\">Costco\u003C/a> has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government in order to get refunds if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that President Donald Trump illegally imposed \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/2000-checks-promised-from-tariffs-truth\">tariffs\u003C/a>. The retailer filed a complaint on Friday with the U.S. Court of International Trade. The news comes after two lower courts ruled that Trump exceeded his authority by using emergency powers to impose tariffs.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-is-costco-suing-the-trump-administration\">Why is Costco suing the Trump administration?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The corporation is seeking a refund of sums it deems it should not have had to pay and that were caused by Trump’s tariffs on imports. Costco said U.S. Customs and Border Protection denied its request for additional time in order to make final calculations of tariffs owed, according to \u003Ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/costco-sues-us-preserve-tariff-refunds-if-trump-loses-appeal-2025-12-01/\">Reuters\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/02/business/costco-sues-us-tariff-refunds-intl\">CNN\u003C/a> reported that Costco is the third-largest retailer in the world and obtained a revenue of $275.2 billion in its fiscal year ending August 31. Although it did not share how much it is seeking in refunds, the corporation is estimated to have paid about $90 billion as of late September 2025, according to the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3r78peyzzlo\">BBC\u003C/a>. Costco reportedly took actions to address tariffs such as reducing the number of suppliers and relying on additional local sourcing, as well as its in-house Kirkland brand.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In its lawsuit, Costco said it was concerned it wouldn’t get refunded if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds rulings that Trump’s tariffs are illegal. Other companies have sued for the same reason, including Bumble Bee Foods, Ray-Ban eyeglass maker EssilorLuxottica, Kawasaki Motors, Revlon and Yokohama Tire, according to CNN.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-did-the-case-on-trump-s-tariffs-reach-the-u-s-supreme-court\">Why did the case on Trump’s tariffs reach the U.S. Supreme Court?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In May, the US Court of International Trade ruled that Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in order to impose tariffs was illegal. The decision was then affirmed by the US Court of Appeals.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The case was then brought up to the U.S. Supreme Court for a final ruling on the matter. On Nov. 5, justices questioned whether Trump legally used his emergency powers and imposed tariffs without the approval of Congress. The Supreme Court justices took the case on an accelerated basis but did not disclose when they would rule.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Trump administration has argued that a ruling against tariffs would affect international trade negotiations. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The economic consequences of the failure to uphold President Trump’s lawful tariffs are enormous and this suit highlights that fact,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement to the press, per the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3r78peyzzlo\">BBC\u003C/a>. “The White House looks forward to the Supreme Court’s speedy and proper resolution of this matter.”\u003C/p>\n",[110],{"name":28,"slug":29,"id":30},[112,116,120,124,125],{"id":113,"name":114,"slug":115,"description":10,"image":10},5844,"Costco","costco",{"id":117,"name":118,"slug":119,"description":10,"image":10},32623,"Lawsuit","lawsuit",{"id":121,"name":122,"slug":123,"description":10,"image":10},11005,"Tariffs","tariffs",{"id":78,"name":79,"slug":80,"description":10,"image":10},{"id":126,"name":127,"slug":128,"description":10,"image":10},31974,"Trump adminstration","trump-adminstration",{"url":130,"thumbnail":131,"credit":132,"title":133,"alt":134,"type":43},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GettyImages-1580864811.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GettyImages-1580864811-150x100.jpg","Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images","COSTCO","COSTCO buiding","2025-12-03T15:02:14-05:00","2025-12-04T22:20:40-05:00",[],{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":47,"headScript":10},{"id":140,"author":141,"authors":149,"title":151,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":152,"body":153,"categories":154,"tags":163,"featuredMedia":173,"publishedAt":177,"updatedAt":178,"type":45,"listicle":179,"disableContentGate":47,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":47,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":174,"additional":180},72884356,{"id":142,"avatar":143,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":144,"email":145,"username":146,"normalizedUsername":147,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":148},94449,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/33shoot-1-compress.jpg","Kahlil Haywood","kahlil.haywood@blavity.com","Kahlil-haywood","kahlil-haywood","2021-10-11T00:00:00+00:00",[150],{"id":142,"avatar":143,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":144,"email":145,"username":146,"normalizedUsername":147,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":148},"Here's Why Klay Thompson Has Earned Our Respect","klay-thompson-has-earned-our-respect","\n\u003Cp>It has been a different type of season for \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/kendrick-perkins-ja-morant-criticism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">NBA\u003C/a> Champion guard \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/blavity-original/klay-thompson-nba-season\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Klay Thompson\u003C/a>. Off the court, he made waves this past summer when we found out about him and \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/megan-thee-stallion-in-her-words-process\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Megan Thee Stallion\u003C/a> dating. There’s already some silly animus that men have about that. On top of that, Thompson has had a challenging start to the season on the court. He is playing in his third season since returning from a two-year stint where he was recovering from two catastrophic lower leg injuries. These included a ruptured Achilles tendon and a torn ACL from the 2019 NBA Finals. Thompson’s return to the NBA and a subsequent fourth NBA championship win have already punctuated his Hall of Fame status.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But this season, it seems with Thompson’s slow start, it’s been made easier for some players to clown him for it. The most noted of these names is Ja Morant. Yes, that Ja, the only Ja, the one who rides the pine, even though his talent doesn’t warrant it. He made news recently from the bench, calling Thompson a bum. Rightfully, Thompson, a four-time champion, took exception and gave him a piece of his mind. Now, if you’ve been following my work, you know that I haven’t bit my lip in my criticism of Morant. As much as I didn’t think I would have to write about him again this season, he has conducted himself in a way that I do.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe title=\"Ja Morant Chirping at Klay After Grizzlies Win vs Mavs 😂\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/O80zLUX79WA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The two biggest knocks on Morant’s career have been his availability and his maturity. In this instance, both were on display for the world to see. He is in street clothe,s arrogantly accosting Thompson. The irony in all of this is that Thompson has \u003Ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/100087591671945/posts/-ja-morants-team-vs-klay-thompson-is-wild-/820711094191939/#:~:text=Tony%20T%20Hill%20showing%20up,know%20who%20the%20bum%20is.&text=Kcp%20on%20their%20roster%20don't%20disrespect%20that%20man.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">played\u003C/a> 218 games across the last three seasons compared to Morant’s 120. Even with Thompson’s injuries, he’s been more available for his teams than Morant. Hell, Thompson has already won a whole championship since his return to play. So, what would possess someone like Morant to poke the bear? Well, he was bigging up Cam Spencer, a second-year player on the Grizzlies. But he did so at the expense of belittling one of the most respected players in the league.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-rarified-air\">Rarified air\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As one half of the “Splash Brothers,” Thompson’s star rose not only because of his prolific prowess from the three-point line, but also because he played lock-down perimeter defense. Two-way players don’t just grow on trees. Thompson could put the ball on the floor when he had to, could pull up from three, or could stay in the space and hit an open look. He would guard the opposing team’s best offensive player night in and night out. He could do all of this while still maintaining the ability to score 37 points in a quarter. Yes, that really happened. So, seeing all of this in motion elicited respect from players and fans alike.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-line-in-the-sand\">The line in the sand\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Why are players like Morant or the Heat’s Myron Gardner talking smack from the sidelines? For reference, Gardner was seen calling Thompson trash during a game against the Mavericks. At the end of the game, Heat assistant coach Caron Butler made it a point to make sure Gardner apologized. The rookie forward is currently averaging two points per game on the season. Way to stuff the stat sheet, right?\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Back to the lecture at hand, I believe Thompson gets insulted on several levels. For one, unfortunately, because he doesn’t come off as physically imposing, people think that they can test him. It stems, in my opinion, from his disposition — he’s well-mannered, comes from a good home, treats his woman right, and is light-skinned. Yes, ignorant people will give you a demerit for honoring your woman. They’ll test you if you aren’t flashy either. You can be damned if you do and damned if you don’t in this world. Plus, it just hasn’t been the usual efficient season for Thompson, so all of these microaggressions are now at play.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The issue is this: Throughout Thompson’s career, the one thing we never had to question was his character and his love of the game. Has he had a moment or two of indiscretion? Sure. Did he suppose that LeBron James had his “feelings hurt” while in the battle that was the 2016 NBA Finals? Yes. Did James spank the Warriors in part in response to that? Yes again. But we never had to question the person Thompson has been in totality. He has been nothing short of dedicated to the game and his organizations. As for who he has been off the court, he certainly doesn’t try to be something that he isn’t. He likes to fish. We’ve seen how Morant enjoys filling his time. Between the two, we see why Thompson has been available for more games.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe title=\"Klay Thompson On Ja Morant ALTERCATION, DIRTY Plays, & More After Mavs LOSS vs Grizzlies\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/fZ3IK84k_3o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-showing-up-matters\">Showing up matters\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>What Thompson has built with the NBA fanbase, especially those in the Bay Area is equity. Even for myself, who was always team James during their Warriors battles, he has always had my respect. It’s sort of like heels in pro-wrestling. If you’re a great heel, the fans have no choice but to love and appreciate you after you’ve given so many years of service.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>You saw Kobe Bryant’s retirement tour right? Well, as fans, especially in this current climate, we love the players who play. We love players who don’t have us questioning their nightly efforts. Thompson is one of those who epitomize love for the game. It’s for that reason why, as great a player as Morant is, his star is fading, and Thompson’s shine remains effervescent.\u003C/p>\n",[155,159],{"name":156,"slug":157,"id":158},"Opinion","opinion",114,{"name":160,"slug":161,"id":162},"Sports","sports",93,[164,168,172],{"id":165,"name":166,"slug":167,"description":10,"image":10},41752,"Klay Thompson","klay-thompson",{"id":169,"name":170,"slug":171,"description":10,"image":10},38996,"NBA","nba",{"id":78,"name":79,"slug":80,"description":10,"image":10},{"url":174,"thumbnail":175,"credit":176,"title":166,"alt":166,"type":43},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2247990094-Cropped.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2247990094-Cropped-150x94.jpg","Photo: Gunnar Word/Getty Images","2025-12-03T11:18:42-05:00","2025-12-04T22:18:11-05:00",[],{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":47,"headScript":10},230,{"list":183,"total":351},[184,224,277,296,323],{"id":185,"author":186,"authors":195,"title":197,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":198,"body":199,"categories":200,"tags":209,"featuredMedia":214,"publishedAt":220,"updatedAt":221,"type":45,"listicle":222,"disableContentGate":47,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":47,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":223},72864934,{"id":187,"avatar":188,"firstName":189,"lastName":190,"displayName":191,"email":192,"username":193,"normalizedUsername":193,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":194},100109,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Diana-headshot-10.2022-scaled.jpg","Dr. Diana","Rangaves, PharmD","Dr. Diana Rangaves, PharmD","diana.rangaves@blavity.com","diana.rangaves","2023-08-09T20:04:58+00:00",[196],{"id":187,"avatar":188,"firstName":189,"lastName":190,"displayName":191,"email":192,"username":193,"normalizedUsername":193,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":194},"Dealing With Hair Loss As A Person Living With HIV","does-hiv-cause-hair-loss","\n\u003Cp>For many in the \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/health/diabetes-care-holistic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Black community\u003C/a>, hair is an essential part of identity, making any change – especially thinning or loss – a significant concern. If you’re \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/fighting-stigma-building-change-inside-viiv-healthcares-mission-to-end-hiv\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">living with HIV\u003C/a>, you may wonder: Is the virus itself attacking your hair, or is your treatment to blame? The truth is complex. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While HIV may not \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/women/natural-hairstyles-for-black-women\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">directly cause alopecia\u003C/a>, its impact on your overall immune health, coupled with specific Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) side effects, can undoubtedly lead to unwelcome changes in your tresses. Let’s break down the facts and discuss how to maintain your crown’s health while managing your condition.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-s-happening-in-your-body\">What’s happening in your body\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When you have HIV, the virus attacks and destroys the CD4 cells (T-lymphocytes), which are essential for the immune system’s ability to fight off infections and maintain normal functioning, as explained by the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-20373524\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mayo Clinic\u003C/a>. As the virus multiplies and spreads throughout your body, it weakens your immune system, making you more vulnerable to opportunistic infections. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Without proper treatment, HIV can progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which is the most advanced stage of the disease. So how does the virus affect your body?\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>HIV enters the body often through body fluids in blood, semen or vaginal discharge.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>The HIV then targets and infects the CD4 cells. Also known as CD4 cells, T lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in coordinating the body’s response to infections, per \u003Ca href=\"https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/cd4-lymphocyte-count/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MedLine Plus\u003C/a>.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>HIV then replicates and spreads throughout the body.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>As the virus progresses, it destroys CD4 cells, significantly weakening the immune system’s ability to function.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>With fewer CD4 cells, the body’s immune system cannot effectively guard against secondary infections.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>With weakened immune systems and left untreated, the virus progresses to AIDs, which can make you highly susceptible to serious illnesses, according to the \u003Ca href=\"https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4251-hiv-aids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cleveland Clinic\u003C/a>.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Generally, hair growth relies on a healthy immune system and proper nutrient absorption. When the body’s immune system is significantly weakened, secondary infections may cause hair follicles to shift into a resting phase, causing hair to shed more than usual. For instance, \u003Ca href=\"https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.127710\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">studies have shown\u003C/a> that secondary syphilis may cause alopecia areata or vitiligo. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that affects the body’s hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-common-causes\">Common causes\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Living with HIV can lead to hair loss, primarily through two common mechanisms. Firstly, the emotional burden of managing a chronic illness like HIV can cause significant stress. This stress can trigger a condition known as telogen effluvium, a temporary form of hair loss, as \u003Ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430848/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">studies reveal\u003C/a>. \u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">\u003Ca href=\"https://ke.linkedin.com/in/justus-rabach-md-041955156\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Justus Rabach\u003C/a>, MD, MBChB, supports this connection, noting that “A study published in \u003Ca href=\"https://www.hsci.harvard.edu/news/solving-biological-puzzle-how-stress-causes-gray-hair\" target=\"_blank\">The Harvard Gazette\u003C/a> suggests that elevated stress hormones indeed hurt hair follicle\u003C/span> stem cells.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Secondly, a weakened immune system (a hallmark of HIV) makes an individual susceptible to secondary infections, which can also contribute to hair loss.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-specific-causes\">Specific Causes\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>There are other specific causes of hair loss, including HIV treatment.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Antiretroviral Therapy (ART): \u003C/strong>ART is a combination of medications used to treat and manage HIV. The procedure works by blocking HIV from replicating itself. This helps to keep your immune system healthy, as explained by the \u003Ca href=\"https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/antiretroviral-therapy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cleveland Clinic\u003C/a>.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Some ART medications, like protease inhibitors, used to treat HIV, can cause hair loss, though this is a rare side effect, per \u003Ca href=\"https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofz278\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Open Forum Infectious Diseases\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Nutritional Deficiencies: \u003C/strong>HIV can impair the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients, such as biotin and folate, which are crucial for healthy hair growth, a review published in \u003Ca href=\"https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dermatology and Therapy\u003C/a> notes.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Aging and Genetics: \u003C/strong>Sometimes, hair loss may not be linked to HIV, but rather due to age or genetic factors.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-hiv-hair-loss-diagnosis-and-treatment\">HIV hair loss diagnosis and treatment\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>To better understand your condition before your consultation, your healthcare professional will conduct a specialized diagnostic evaluation. This provides them with the very details they require to make informed decisions and receive guidance regarding proper medication courses.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-specific-diagnosis-treatment\">Specific diagnosis/treatment\u003C/h3>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Your medical expert may first conduct a physical examination and inquire about your diet, \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/women/what-is-a-telaxer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">hair care routine\u003C/a> and medical and family history. The purpose of reviewing the latter is to determine if genetic factors contribute to your condition.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The following tests might be done:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Blood test:\u003C/strong> This medical procedure enables healthcare professionals to identify underlying conditions that contribute to hair loss.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Scalp biopsy:\u003C/strong> Your healthcare expert can scrape samples from your skin or pluck hair from your scalp to examine the hair roots under a microscope and determine whether an infection is causing hair loss.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Pull test:\u003C/strong> To determine the stage of the shedding process, your medical team might gently pull out several hairs to see how many come out.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When your medical team has successfully determined the root cause of your condition, they might suggest a suitable medication plan to help manage your situation. But for some conditions like alopecia areata, hair may regrow without medication within a year.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Available medication options include minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia). Minoxidil is an over-the-counter topical solution that can promote hair growth and help retain existing hair, the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372932\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mayo Clinic\u003C/a> explains. Finasteride, however, is a prescription primarily for men that can be taken daily as a pill. This option helps to slow hair loss by inhibiting a hormone that damages hair follicles, another report from the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/finasteride-oral-route/description/drg-20063819\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Mayo Clinic\u003C/a> notes.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Surgical options are also available to manage hair loss. Hair transplant surgery is a surgical procedure that involves relocating hair from denser areas of the scalp to areas of balding. This procedure helps to restore hair effectively, according to the \u003Ca href=\"https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21519-hair-transplant\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cleveland Clinic\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-happens-to-your-hair-if-you-have-hiv\">What happens to your hair if you have HIV?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The effect of HIV on your hair often depends on the stage and management of the disease. In many well-managed cases, individuals living with HIV, especially those on effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), may not experience any noticeable hair changes.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, if HIV progresses to advanced stages or during periods of severe immune suppression, changes are more likely. The hair may become significantly thinner, or you could experience hair loss in patches. This can be attributed to related factors such as nutritional deficiencies, stress or secondary infections. Early detection, maintaining proper nutrition and consistent, effective HIV treatment and management are crucial steps that can significantly reduce the risk and severity of HIV-related hair loss.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-can-t-you-do-if-you-have-hiv\">What can’t you do if you have HIV?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>With proper medication and adherence to strict health guidelines, HIV should not limit your lifestyle. Still, there are precautions that you should stick to:\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\u003Cli>It is highly recommended that you adhere to your medication. If you are on ART medication, do not skip doses, since it can weaken your immune system and worsen symptoms, including hair loss.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Do not engage in unprotected sex, especially with multiple partners or sharing needles due to drug abuse. This can help prevent the spread of the virus and protect others from infection.\u003C/li>\n\n\n\n\u003Cli>Do not take any other medication apart from the ones prescribed by your healthcare professional. Always consult with your medical team, as medication can interact with HIV medications, leading to severe complications.\u003C/li>\n\u003C/ul>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-when-to-see-a-doctor-about-hiv-hair-loss\">When to see a doctor about HIV hair loss\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It is essential to consult your healthcare provider if you notice significant changes in your hair health. Specifically, you should seek medical attention if you experience sudden or severe hair loss that is noticeably different from your normal shedding. Additionally, make an appointment if you observe signs of nutritional deficiency, as this can be a key contributor to hair thinning, or if your HIV symptoms are worsening.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Reviewing your current medications is also vital, as some treatments may have hair loss as a side effect. Early diagnosis and detection of the cause are crucial, as they can help prevent permanent hair damage and may reveal other underlying health issues that require attention.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bottom-line\">Bottom line\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>HIV does not directly cause hair loss. However, the virus, its treatment and other medical conditions all play a significant role. Therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/health/can-stress-contribute-to-stroke\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">managing stress\u003C/a> and working with your healthcare provider can help keep your hair and overall health in good shape.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions\">Frequently Asked Questions\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>What are the seven warning signs of HIV?\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Fever, headache, muscle aches and joint pain, swollen lymph glands, weight loss, sore throat and painful mouth sores. These symptoms are usually noticeable during the early stages of infection, acute HIV, and can resemble the flu. Do not confuse the symptoms with those of the flu. If you suspect exposure, get tested as soon as possible.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Does HIV affect your feet?\u003C/strong>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Yes, HIV can affect your feet. This commonly leads to peripheral neuropathy, which causes numbness of the feet, shooting pain and muscular weakness. These painful experiences are often caused by nerve damage resulting from the virus itself or as a side effect of certain medications. If you notice these symptoms, report them to your healthcare provider.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-citations\">Citations\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Mayo Clinic. HIV/AIDS – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Published February 9, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids/symptoms-causes/syc-20373524\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>MedLine Plus. CD4 Lymphocyte Count: MedlinePlus Lab Test Information. medlineplus.gov. Published November 30, 2020. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/cd4-lymphocyte-count/\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Cleveland Clinic. HIV & AIDS: Causes, symptoms, treatment & prevention. Cleveland Clinic. Published June 6, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4251-hiv-aids\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Baohua Y, Xuan L, Lan B. Alopecia areata and vitiligo as primary presentations in a young male with human immunodeficiency virus. \u003Cem>Indian Journal of Dermatology\u003C/em>. 2014;59(2):209-209. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5154.127710\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Hughes EC, Saleh D. Telogen Effluvium. Nih.gov. Published July 3, 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430848/\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Lau J. Researchers discover how chronic stress leads to hair loss. Harvard Gazette. Published March 31, 2021. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/03/researchers-discover-how-chronic-stress-leads-to-hair-loss/\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Cleveland Clinic. What Is Antiretroviral Therapy? Cleveland Clinic. Published September 18, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/antiretroviral-therapy\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>El Zein S, Tabaja H, Kanj A, Richmond D, Veltman J. Alopecia After Switch to Tenofovir Alafenamide in 6 African American Women. \u003Cem>Open Forum Infectious Diseases\u003C/em>. 2019;6(7). doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofz278\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A. The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss: A Review. \u003Cem>Dermatology and therapy\u003C/em>. 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Mayo Clinic. Hair loss – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic. Mayoclinic.org. Published 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hair-loss/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20372932\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Mayo Clinic. Finasteride (Oral Route) Description and Brand Names – Mayo Clinic. www.mayoclinic.org. Published 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/finasteride-oral-route/description/drg-20063819\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Cleveland Clinic. Hair Transplant: How Does It Work, Success Rates. Cleveland Clinic. Published 2021. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21519-hair-transplant\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003C/p>\n",[201,205],{"name":202,"slug":203,"id":204},"Conditions & Care","conditions-care",75878,{"name":206,"slug":207,"id":208},"Health","health",59,[210],{"id":211,"name":212,"slug":213,"description":10,"image":10},76032,"HIV - Cluster","hiv-cluster",{"url":215,"thumbnail":216,"credit":217,"title":218,"alt":219,"type":43},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pexels-klaus-nielsen-6303554-scaled.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/pexels-klaus-nielsen-6303554-150x100.jpg","(Klaus Nielsen/Pexels)","Does HIV Cause Hair Loss?","Upset black woman in blue medical uniform in clinic","2025-12-05T13:26:55-05:00","2025-12-05T14:00:34-05:00",[],{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":47,"headScript":10},{"id":225,"author":226,"authors":236,"title":238,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":239,"body":240,"categories":241,"tags":243,"featuredMedia":268,"publishedAt":273,"updatedAt":274,"type":45,"listicle":275,"disableContentGate":47,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":47,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":276},72885538,{"id":227,"avatar":228,"firstName":229,"lastName":230,"displayName":231,"email":232,"username":233,"normalizedUsername":234,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":235},99833,"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/IMG_3995-compress.jpeg","Jahaura","Michelle","Jahaura Michelle","jahaura.wilson@blavity.com","JahauraMichelle","jahauramichelle","2023-04-03T03:43:50+00:00",[237],{"id":227,"avatar":228,"firstName":229,"lastName":230,"displayName":231,"email":232,"username":233,"normalizedUsername":234,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":235},"Black Man Found Hanging At Wisconsin Golf Course, Family Seeks Answers As Police Say No Foul Play","black-man-found-hanging-wisconsin-golf-course-family-seeks-answers","\n\u003Cp>A \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/couple-electrocuted-to-death-attempting-tiktok-challenge\">Wisconsin family\u003C/a> is seeking answers after a man was found dead hanging from a tree at a local golf course last month.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-happened-to-tory-medley\">What happened to Tory Medley?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Tory Medley, a 39-year-old Black man, was found hanging from a tree at Brookfield Hills Golf Course on Nov. 13, according to Fox 6 Milwaukee. The police investigated the incident and determined that Medley had reportedly died by suicide, with no additional evidence to support other claims.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe title=\"Family of man found dead on Brookfield golf course wants answers\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/rCMiR9XYU6o?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C/iframe>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“At this stage of the investigation, there is no indication of foul play in Mr. Medley’s death. Other than injuries caused by asphyxiation, there were no other obvious signs of trauma to his body, and there is no evidence at the scene suggesting that any other individuals were present at the time of his death. We are also aware that Mr. Medley was experiencing mental health challenges in the days prior to his death,” the City of Brookfield Police Department said in a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=847420924939348&set=a.12360201398791\">Nov. 23 news release\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Despite police claims about what happened, Tory’s family believes a different story.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-medley-s-sister-speaks-out-about-his-death-and-the-police-s-investigation\">Medley’s sister speaks out about his death and the police’s investigation\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“On November 13th, life as my family knew it changed forever. My baby brother, Torrance “Tory” Medley, was found dead in Brookfield, Wisconsin — hanging from a tree on a golf course in this exclusive enclave,” Medley’s sister, Shena Medley, said in a Nov. 30 \u003Ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10232932489829094&set=a.2144601689205\">Facebook post.\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>She continued, “His death was immediately labeled a “possible suicide” by the Brookfield Police Department, before critical questions about how he got there and what truly happened were fully examined. Our family has been pushing for a thorough, transparent investigation from the start.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Shena also shared with\u003Ca href=\"https://www.fox6now.com/news/brookfield-golf-course-death-investigation?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=692ad23fc0934a0001a98037&fbclid=IwY2xjawOYDyNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFRU2Vweng5dGEwbGMzc0d3c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHqqFNJDV1PPzf7PAtE5kEJFdPaHlaVvEVdzu6VAgI3xOXfkAiIYNoIqJeXD5_aem_hF_US11dav3zX8maFwSlMw\"> Fox 6 Milwaukee\u003C/a> the close relationship she had with her brother, and that his death is one of the hardest things she has had to face.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Tory was my little brother, and from the day he came home I looked out for him,” said explained. “This is going to be the hardest trip I will ever have to make, to go home to lay him to rest.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-the-family-s-attorney-and-local-naacp-chapters-saying\">What is the family’s attorney and local NAACP chapters saying?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Medley family has since hired an attorney and is working alongside the Milwaukee and Waukesha NAACP chapters to assist in their call for justice in Tory’s death.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We all know the negative relationship that Black men have with lynching in our country, and this is a big deal,” William Sulton, the family’s attorney, told the outlet.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Montre Moore with the Waukesha chapter echoed similar sentiments, stating that the organization is dedicated to helping during this time.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“These types of circumstances, it’s extraordinarily unusual. And again, with that being the case, we want to make sure the communication is there, the respect is there,” Moore said.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sulton-call-s-out-the-chief-of-police-during-probe\">Sulton call’s out the chief of police during probe\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>On the day Tory was found, the City of Brookfield Police Department doubled down on their belief that Tory \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/louis-johnson-parents-sue-allege-bullied-by-teacher\">died by suicide\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The preliminary investigation is indicating that the individual died by suicide. We have no information at this point to indicate a crime was involved,” the department said in a statement obtained by Fox 6 Milwaukee.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Sulton believes the police were quick to call Tory’s death a suicide while the investigation is ongoing.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“The chief of police arrived at a conclusion on a death where they haven’t actually completed their investigation and won’t talk to the family about it,” he said.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The latest update in the probe is that the police are communicating with a family member and reviewing any surveillance footage that could be helpful to the case.\u003C/p>\n",[242],{"name":24,"slug":25,"id":26},[244,248,252,256,260,264],{"id":245,"name":246,"slug":247,"description":10,"image":10},22465,"Black Man","black-man",{"id":249,"name":250,"slug":251,"description":10,"image":10},76911,"Brookfield Hills Golf Course","brookfield-hills-golf-course",{"id":253,"name":254,"slug":255,"description":10,"image":10},76910,"hanging from tree","hanging-from-tree",{"id":257,"name":258,"slug":259,"description":10,"image":10},6305,"Police-Investigation","police-investigation",{"id":261,"name":262,"slug":263,"description":10,"image":10},76909,"Tory Medley","tory-medley",{"id":265,"name":266,"slug":267,"description":10,"image":10},76912,"Wisconin","wisconin",{"url":269,"thumbnail":270,"credit":271,"title":272,"alt":272,"type":43},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1400355481-compress.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/GettyImages-1400355481-150x100.jpg","Photo: Douglas Sacha via Getty Images","police lights","2025-12-05T10:32:55-05:00","2025-12-05T10:33:48-05:00",[],{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":47,"headScript":10},{"id":278,"author":279,"authors":280,"title":282,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":283,"body":284,"categories":285,"tags":287,"featuredMedia":288,"publishedAt":292,"updatedAt":293,"type":45,"listicle":294,"disableContentGate":47,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":47,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":295},72885685,{"id":94,"avatar":95,"firstName":96,"lastName":97,"displayName":98,"email":99,"username":100,"normalizedUsername":101,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":102,"registeredAt":103},[281],{"id":94,"avatar":95,"firstName":96,"lastName":97,"displayName":98,"email":99,"username":100,"normalizedUsername":101,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":102,"registeredAt":103},"Family Of Baby Born To Woman Kept On Life Support Under Georgia Abortion Law Seeks Help With Medical Costs","adriana-smith-family-seeks-medical-cost-help-baby-born-abortion-law","\n\u003Cp>The family of \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/women/adriana-smith-case\">Adriana Smith\u003C/a>, the Georgia woman who was kept on \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/adriana-smith-baby-delivered-brain-dead-mother\">life support\u003C/a> until giving birth, is asking for assistance to cover medical fees as her child remains in the intensive care unit. In May, Smith’s mother April Newkirk launched a GoFundMe page, where she has been sharing health updates about her grandson.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-adriana-smith-s-son-remains-in-intensive-care-six-months-later\">Adriana Smith’s son remains in intensive care six months later\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Chance, Smith’s son, has been in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Atlanta’s Northside Hospital since being born on June 13 as his lungs are underdeveloped. He first weighed one pound and 13 ounces. Newkirk shared late last month that the baby boy has now reached a weight of 11 pounds. She also shared that Chance has to be moved to a different hospital in order to receive additional medical care.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I want everyone to know that im very grateful for you prays and help continue to pray because God has the final say,” she wrote on the \u003Ca href=\"https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-adrianas-family-during-this-heartbreaking-journey\">GoFundMe\u003C/a> page.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Newkirk has received over $560,000 out of her ultimate goal of $600,000. Over 15,000 people have donated to the fundraising so far, with many posting messages in support of the family.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“My heart goes out to you during such a tremendously difficult time. It is encouraging to see the support you are receiving. Please know that we are sending much love with our donations. You are not alone,” one donor wrote.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“It’s wonderful to hear that Chance has so far survived this ordeal and that he is doing a little better. Chance, your family, and (of course) Adriana remain in the world’s prayers. Hopefully the money helps, too,” another person commented.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“I cannot even begin to imagine how Adriana’s family must feel during this horrific time. The inhumanity and injustice of this situation is completely unfathomable. I hope this amazing woman’s family feels the love and warmth surrounding them from all of us strangers. We will never, ever forget her,” another donor added.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-adriana-smith-was-kept-on-life-support-until-birth-because-of-georgia-s-heartbeat-law\">Adriana Smith was kept on life support until birth because of Georgia’s “heartbeat law”\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>In February, 31-year-old nurse Adriana Smith consulted a doctor as she was experiencing a severe headache. Her pain was found to have been caused by blood clots in her brain. Smith was later placed on life support and she was eventually declared to be brain-dead. Yet, Smith was made to carry her child until birth. Chance was born after an emergency C-section was performed on Smith. She was taken off life support days after giving birth.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We had no say so regarding her lifeless body and unborn child,” Newkirk wrote on the GoFundMe page.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The hospital told Smith’s family they were required to put her on life support due to Georgia’s anti-abortion law, according to \u003Ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/baby-born-brain-dead-adrianna-smith-georgia-mother-health-update/\">CBS News\u003C/a>. The state’s 2019 “heartbeat law” is one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the country. Georgia bans abortions as soon as a heartbeat is detected, which can be at six weeks before many women know they are pregnant. The law includes exceptions in case of rape and incest if a police report was filed first. It also includes cases in which the mother’s life is in danger or if a fetus is considered to be not viable because of serious medical issues.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“There is nothing in the LIFE Act that requires medical professionals to keep a woman on life support after brain death,” a spokesperson for Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr told CBS News. “Removing life support is not an action ‘with the purpose to terminate a pregnancy.’”\u003C/p>\n",[286],{"name":24,"slug":25,"id":26},[],{"url":289,"thumbnail":290,"credit":84,"title":291,"alt":291,"type":43},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GettyImages-2211793949.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GettyImages-2211793949-150x100.jpg","Baby delivered and raising arm and fist during C Section procedure in Hospital Operating Room","2025-12-05T10:32:52-05:00","2025-12-05T10:32:57-05:00",[],{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":47,"headScript":10},{"id":297,"author":298,"authors":305,"title":307,"subTitle":308,"excerpt":10,"slug":309,"body":310,"categories":311,"tags":313,"featuredMedia":314,"publishedAt":319,"updatedAt":320,"type":45,"listicle":321,"disableContentGate":47,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":47,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":10,"additional":322},72885413,{"id":299,"avatar":300,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":301,"email":302,"username":301,"normalizedUsername":303,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":304},95243,"https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/16fdff8cddc7bd4702273ce7e1677d1d0021c4b55e83ca690c8b22edc3cbfdf4?s=1024&r=g","Christopher Rhodes","christopheredward.rhodes@gmail.com","christopher-rhodes","2020-09-14T00:00:00+00:00",[306],{"id":299,"avatar":300,"firstName":10,"lastName":10,"displayName":301,"email":302,"username":301,"normalizedUsername":303,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":304},"Trump Administration Wants To Stop SNAP Funding In Blue States Over Data Dispute","The latest standoff over food aid could yet again cut off benefits for millions of people across the country.","trump-administration-wants-to-stop-snap-funding-in-blue-states-over-data-dispute","\n\u003Cp>After weeks of disruption during the \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/is-the-government-shutdown-over-november-2025\">government shutdown\u003C/a> and policy changes to eligibility requirements, millions of recipients of food aid might again see their benefits disrupted. This time, a dispute with the \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/att-commits-to-end-dei-trump-appeal\">Trump administration\u003C/a> over beneficiaries’ data has the Department of Agriculture threatening to cut off funding to Democratic-led states.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-trump-administration-plans-to-stop-funding-snap-for-21-democratic-states\">The Trump administration plans to stop funding SNAP for 21 Democratic states\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The Trump administration may soon cut off federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to over 20 blue states, according to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. During President Donald Trump’s Tuesday cabinet meeting, Rollins complained that a number of blue states had refused to comply with her request to provide the department with personal data on SNAP recipients. Rollins now appears ready to follow through on a threat to cut off SNAP funding for those states that have not handed over the requested data.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Twenty-one states, including California, New York, and Minnesota, blue states, continue to say no,” Rollins told Trump and the other cabinet secretaries gathered at the meeting. “So as of next week, we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply,” she pledged.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\u003Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Brooke Rollins on SNAP: “21 states, including California, New York, and Minnesota, blue states, continue to say no. So as of next week, we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply.” \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/Ht12wRKr5x\">pic.twitter.com/Ht12wRKr5x\u003C/a>\u003C/p>— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/BulwarkOnline/status/1995915789249986639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 2, 2025\u003C/a>\u003C/blockquote>\u003Cscript async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003C/script>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-administration-and-democrats-locked-in-dispute-over-data\">Administration and Democrats locked in dispute over data\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The pledge to cut SNAP funding to these states is the latest escalation in a months-long \u003Ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/10/16/nx-s1-5533045/snap-privacy-usda-lawsuit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">standoff\u003C/a> over beneficiary data. Earlier this year, Rollins made a nationwide request for personal information for all SNAP recipients, claiming that the Department of Agriculture would audit the program. At least 27 Republican-led states have handed over the data, which Rollins claims reveals widespread waste, abuse and fraud in the program. Democratic-led states, including California, have questioned the validity of these conclusions while also refusing to hand over data from their states’ SNAP recipients, claiming in court that the widespread request for such personal data violates federal law.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-trump-administration-continues-campaign-to-cut-snap\">Trump administration continues campaign to cut SNAP\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If Rollins follows through on her threat to cut SNAP funding for 21 states, this will be the latest significant disruption to the program in recent months. During the longest-ever U.S. federal government shutdown, the Trump administration refused to use contingency funds to fulfill SNAP benefits, setting off an extended \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/judge-orders-trump-admin-to-pay-full-snap-benefits-for-november\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">legal battle\u003C/a> that lasted until the shutdown ended. Even with SNAP funding restored through the deal that ended the shutdown, new \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/snap-food-stamps-benefits-may-disappear-amid-shutdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">restrictions\u003C/a> passed by Republicans earlier this year are poised to reduce benefits or eliminate eligibility for many recipients. Rollins pledged last month that she would require all 42 million SNAP recipients to reapply to the program, forcing them to prove their \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/snap-recipients-will-have-to-reapply-for-benefits-after-shutdown\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">eligibility\u003C/a> again to continue receiving benefits. Together, these moves point toward an agenda meant to roll back food aid significantly. Rollins indicated as much during the cabinet meeting that the Biden administration expanded food stamp funding, which she claimed was done for political reasons, and she pledged that the Trump administration “will continue to roll that back.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\u003Cp lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Rollins: Joe Biden increased food stamp program funding by 40%. Now… we continue to roll that back… Just gratitude and joy for this work. So, so grateful to you. \u003Ca href=\"https://t.co/FSXcYYczCl\">pic.twitter.com/FSXcYYczCl\u003C/a>\u003C/p>— Acyn (@Acyn) \u003Ca href=\"https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1995914819476881679?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 2, 2025\u003C/a>\u003C/blockquote>\u003Cscript async src=\"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\">\u003C/script>\n\u003C/div>\u003C/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Cutting off SNAP funding to Democratic states will again disrupt crucial assistance for millions of people across the United States and is the latest move by the Trump administration as it works to roll back food assistance and other programs across the country.\u003C/p>\n",[312],{"name":28,"slug":29,"id":30},[],{"url":315,"thumbnail":316,"credit":84,"title":317,"alt":318,"type":43},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-958835100.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/GettyImages-958835100-150x100.jpg","A Sign at a Retailer – We Accept SNAP IV","Peru - Circa May 2018: A Sign at a Retailer - We Accept SNAP IV","2025-12-05T10:32:18-05:00","2025-12-05T10:32:23-05:00",[],{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":47,"headScript":10},{"id":324,"author":325,"authors":326,"title":328,"subTitle":10,"excerpt":10,"slug":329,"body":330,"categories":331,"tags":333,"featuredMedia":342,"publishedAt":347,"updatedAt":348,"type":45,"listicle":349,"disableContentGate":47,"isDisabledListicleNumbers":47,"canonicalUrl":10,"socialThumbnail":343,"additional":350},72885440,{"id":227,"avatar":228,"firstName":229,"lastName":230,"displayName":231,"email":232,"username":233,"normalizedUsername":234,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":235},[327],{"id":227,"avatar":228,"firstName":229,"lastName":230,"displayName":231,"email":232,"username":233,"normalizedUsername":234,"description":10,"twitter":10,"facebook":10,"instagram":10,"registeredAt":235},"Quinta Brunson's New Fund To Provide Free School Trips To Thousands Of Philly Students","quinta-brunson-free-school-field-trips-philadelphia-students","\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>\u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/entertainment/is-abbott-elementary-cancelled\">Abbott Elementary\u003C/a>\u003C/em> star and creator \u003Ca href=\"https://blavity.com/quinta-brunson-super-bowl-turbotax-ad\">Quinta Brunson\u003C/a> has launched a new initiative that allows thousands of Philly students to expand their learning and creativity beyond the classroom.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-did-quinta-brunson-launch-the-quinta-brunson-field-trip-fund\">Why did Quinta Brunson launch the Quinta Brunson Field Trip Fund?\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Throughout its five seasons, Brunson’s character, Janine Teagues, on the hit ABC series \u003Cem>Abbott Elementary\u003C/em>, has shown her love for teaching and students. Now, the Philadelphia native is taking her appreciation for teachers to another level with the Quinta Brunson Field Trip Fund, which she launched on Giving Tuesday, according to a \u003Ca href=\"https://www.thefundsdp.org/news/2025/12/announcing-quinta-brunson-field-trip-fund/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">news release\u003C/a>.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Brunson, who’s a former Philadelphia school district student, recalled how much she enjoyed school trips and how they enriched her academic experiences.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“Field trips were some of the most memorable parts of my own education growing up in Philadelphia,” Quinta Brunson said in a news release statement. “They opened my world, sparked my creativity, and helped me imagine a future beyond what I saw every day. Going somewhere new shows you that the world is bigger and more exciting than you believe, and it can shape what you come to see as achievable. I’m proud to support Philadelphia students with experiences that remind them their dreams are valid and their futures are bright.”\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-quinta-brunson-s-fund-will-provide-free-school-trips-to-over-117-000-philly-students\">Quinta Brunson’s fund will provide free school trips to over 117,000 Philly students\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This opportunity allows “students from underserved communities increased access to out-of-classroom experiences.” They will have the chance to explore nearly 200 museums and national landmarks, as well as over 100 parks, discovery centers, and venues, according to the news release.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The school trips are fully funded by donations made through the \u003Ca href=\"https://form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/fundsdp/fieldtripfund\">website\u003C/a>. Donors can share a bit about themselves and contribute one-time gifts of $25, $50, $100 or $250, as well as monthly donations of $15 to $75, or any amount they choose.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>District teachers and administrators can apply for field trip funding through a brief application, which is reviewed by an independent team of educators. Grants are awarded twice a year, according to the\u003Ca href=\"https://www.inquirer.com/education/quinta-brunson-field-trip-fund-giving-tuesday-philadelphia-20251202.html\"> Philadelphia Inquirer.\u003C/a>\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-impact-of-school-field-trips-on-students\">The impact of school field trips on students\u003C/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Kathryn Epps, president and CEO of the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, emphasized the importance of students having these experiences outside the classroom.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We are honored to partner with Quinta to expand these experiences for children in Philadelphia’s public schools, helping them to envision and realize any future they desire,” Epps told the Philadelphia Inquirer.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Tony B. Watlington Sr., the superintendent of the Philadelphia School District, said partnering with Brunson will support both the students and the district.\u003C/p>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>“We want our students to venture out and bridge what they’re learning in the classroom to engaging, real-world learning experiences,” Watlington said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “This commitment to equitably expanding opportunities for students to have experiences outside of their classroom will help accelerate student achievement and we are becoming the fastest improving, large urban school district in the nation.”\u003C/p>\n",[332],{"name":24,"slug":25,"id":26},[334,338],{"id":335,"name":336,"slug":337,"description":10,"image":10},75810,"Non-Newsletter","non-newsletter",{"id":339,"name":340,"slug":341,"description":10,"image":10},40003,"quinta brunson","quinta-brunson",{"url":343,"thumbnail":344,"credit":345,"title":346,"alt":346,"type":43},"https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-1176056773-compress-compress.jpg","https://cms.blavity.com/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,slow-connection-quality=30,onerror=redirect/https://cms.blavity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GettyImages-1176056773-compress-150x100.jpg","Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Entertainment Weekly","Quinta Brunson","2025-12-05T10:08:22-05:00","2025-12-05T10:08:27-05:00",[],{"disableAd":47,"disableConnatixPlayer":47,"enabledComments":47,"headScript":10},75094,["Reactive",353],{},["Set"],["ShallowReactive",356],{"page-herman-cain-says-trump-doesnt-have-a-racist-bone-in-his-body":50,"L5mKWLzO22":50,"7VUhfdt1ev":50},"/herman-cain-says-trump-doesnt-have-a-racist-bone-in-his-body",["Reactive",359],{}]