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In this pivotal election, Black women everywhere could, for the first time, see a reflection of our grandmother’s dreams as Commander in Chief. This moment isn’t just about casting a ballot; it’s about claiming our space, our rights, and our future. That isn’t lost on Vice President Kamala Harris. She knows where she stands, firmly at the intersection of freedom and power. We’re not just voting; we’re shaping a legacy of freedom for generations to come. The stakes are high, but so is her spirit. In a very special Chief -to- Chief interview filmed at the 30th ESSENCE Festival of Culture, ESSENCE Ventures CEO and President Caroline Wanga sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss what inspired her to enter politics, her plans as President, and the potential impact of the upcoming election on everyone. This is our special, Collector’s Edition September / October subscriber cover. Read her cover story here: https://lnkd.in/eB-8TDCd

Written by: Dr. Candacè King We are currently living in an era where police terror is being televised. For every precious Black life we tragically witness being unjustly taken by police violence, there is a Black family that mourns and a larger community of Black people whose mental health hangs in balance. According to data from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious psychological distress than white Americans. These studies also show that Black women are about half as likely to seek mental health care. While it’s common to dismiss these concerns as “cultural,” the fact is the root of these issues are largely systemic. Black people’s fear of misdiagnosis or being labeled as “crazy” by a clinician who does not fully understand their life experiences are valid. There is a devastating trend in which Black women are either overdiagnosed or underdiagnosed based on preconceived racial and gender biases. Furthermore, as we saw in the tragic case of Sonya Massey, these misreadings can have deadly consequences. As many as half of all police shootings involved untreated severe mental illnesses. The persistent failure to keep Black women safe forces them to take matters into their own hands, often at the expense of their emotional labor. Read more at ESSENCE.com

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court put on hold the Biden administration's latest multibillion-dollar plan to lower payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits made their way through lower courts. The justices rejected an administration request to reinstate most of it, and the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked it. In an unsigned order, the court expects the appeals court to issue a fuller decision on the plan “with appropriate dispatch.” The Education Department aims to streamline the process for loan cancellation and lower monthly income-based repayments from 10% to 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income. Under the plan, borrowers earning less than 225% of the federal poverty line — which is $32,800 a year for a single person — would not be required to make payments. Last year, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court rejected a previous plan to eliminate over $400 billion in student loan debt.

A federal judge has dismissed major felony charges against two former Louisville police officers, Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, who were accused of falsifying the warrant that led to the fatal police raid at Breonna Taylor’s apartment in 2020. U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that the actions of Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who fired at the police during the raid, were the legal cause of her death rather than the allegedly faulty warrant. The court’s ruling has reduced the civil rights violation charges against Jaynes and Meany from carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison to misdemeanors. However, the judge has decided not to dismiss the conspiracy charge against Jaynes and a separate charge against Meany for making false statements to investigators. The U.S. Justice Department said that it “is reviewing the judge’s decision and assessing next steps.” Read more updates about Breonna Taylor’s case at ESSENCE.com

The highest criminal court in Texas will review the case of Crystal Mason, a Texas woman who received a five-year prison sentence for attempting to cast a provisional ballot in the 2016 presidential election when she was ineligible to vote. In 2016, she tried to vote. However, when the poll workers couldn’t locate her name on the registered voters’ list, they provided Mason with a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are used when there is uncertainty about an individual’s eligibility, and they are counted only if the individual is later confirmed to be eligible to vote, as required by federal law. Mason was on supervised release for a federal tax felony. Texas, like several other US states, prohibits individuals convicted of a felony from voting until they have completed their sentence. Although Mason’s supervised release officer testified that they did not advise her that she could not vote, prosecutors argue that she was aware of her ineligibility but attempted to vote regardless. Her ballot was never counted. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said it would decide the case without oral argument. It did not immediately set a schedule for the parties to submit briefs, so a timeline for a resolution was not immediately clear. Read more about Crystal’s case at ESSENCE.com

ESSENCE sends its heartfelt condolences to Mariah Carey and her family.  The singer announced today that her mother and her sister have passed away. She told to PEOPLE, “My heart is broken that I’ve lost my mother this past weekend. Sadly, in a tragic turn of events, my sister lost her life on the same day.” She continued, “I feel blessed that I was able to spend the last week with my mom before she passed. I appreciate everyone’s love, support, and respect for my privacy during this impossible time.” We are sending our prayers of comfort to Mariah and family.

She’s not coming, she’s here! There’s a method to JT’s mode and she refuses to let anyone define her based on assumption. Our Of The ESSENCE cover star is taking the reins of her new era and enjoying the fruits of her labor in real time as she re-introduces herself to the world. Read the full cover story over on ESSENCE.com and in our September / October Fashion Issue on newsstands today. CREDITS: Talent: @thegirljt Writer & ESSENCE, VP Content: @itsnandibby  Photographer: @zee_nunes Stylist: @ronnie_hart Hair: @hairassasin Makeup: @becomingeden Nails: @pressedbytiny Set Design: @jennykcorrea  Location: @splashlightstudios Production: @themorrisongroup  ESSENCE, SVP, Creative: @coreytstokes  ESSENCE, Visual Director: @_mq______

"There shouldn’t be any boundary on successful Black women." Coming off the heels of her debut solo mixtape, shutting down ESSENCE Festival, and embarking on her City Cinderella tour, JT is riding a high that only continues to gain momentum. In an industry that is so quick to dismiss Black women going against the grain, JT is not letting any negative post, comment, or projection stop her creativity from flowing. Despite any slippers she may have lost along the way, she is embracing the highs and lows that contribute to her growth. Read the full cover story here: https://lnkd.in/gNaeW4kF Our September / October Fashion Issue on newsstands today. CREDITS: Talent: @thegirljt Writer & ESSENCE, VP Content: @itsnandibby  Photographer: @zee_nunes Stylist: @ronnie_hart Hair: @hairassasin Makeup: @becomingeden Nails: @pressedbytiny Set Design: @jennykcorrea  Location: @splashlightstudios Production: @themorrisongroup  ESSENCE, SVP, Creative: @coreytstokes  ESSENCE, Visual Director: @_mq______

This City Cinderella is the author of her own fairytale. As our Of The ESSENCE cover star, JT is building a legacy that transcends quick hits and one-off moments. The intentionality behind her development as an artist is seemingly underscored by a single, and often criticized method — taking a step back. While the femcee continues to forge her artistry on her own terms, her confidence, unwavering ambition, and unapologetic aura have made her a force to be reckoned with. With that authenticity, she has secured a devout fanbase that is just as eager and hungry to see her blossom into a global superstar. Read the full cover story here: https://lnkd.in/gNaeW4kF Our September / October Fashion Issue on newsstands today. CREDITS: Talent: @thegirljt Writer & ESSENCE, VP Content: @itsnandibby Photographer: @zee_nunes Stylist: @ronnie_hart Hair: @hairassasin Makeup: @becomingeden Nails: @pressedbytiny Set Design: @jennykcorrea Location: @splashlightstudios Production: @themorrisongroup ESSENCE, SVP, Creative: @coreytstokes ESSENCE, Visual Director: @_mq______

We know her music, but do we know the genius behind it? We ask our September/October cover star, Tems, about the woman behind the songs to uncover who she really is. This is “90 Seconds with Tems”!