Returning to the South — And the Stories They’re Afraid We’ll Tell
Welcome to 13th & South — a reimagined platform that began as The Blackboard.
As you may know, this platform started as The Blackboard Report, centering Black education stories. But as my writing has grown, so has my voice, and so has the mission. I’ve also realized that I am nothing without how and where I started—a Southern Florida girl writing unapologetically about Black social justice in America.
13th & South is my reimagined space—still rooted in our stories but now widening the lens to cover the South’s history, politics, culture, and justice. It kind of feels like a welcome home hug forreal. I am excited about this journey and hope you all who initially subscribed to TBBR will stay with me on this new wave of Southern Black journalism.
Because everything runs deeper in the South. Sometimes that’s a blessing. Sometimes it's not. But one thing that remains true is that the South has not only remained but has also shaped things. I hope that, in some small way, this publication can do the same.
Returning to the South…and Segregation, Too?
This week felt like the perfect time to return. Coming off a week where Jackie Robinson and Medger Evans’ names were quietly removed from a federal site and then reinstated — a stark reminder of how Black history is still being erased. Trump fulfilling a campaign promise: signing an executive order to eliminate the Department of Education, just days after news surfaced that he signed an order back in January reversing desegregation protections—signaling precisely what’s at stake—especially in the South.
It affirmed for me why this space matters. The South isn’t just history—it's happening right now. And if they don’t tell these stories, they will indeed bury us.
There’s a lot to unpack, so let’s get to it.
Until next time, — stay rooted.
What’s Going On In the South
Alabama: Gov. Ivey signed legislation Wednesday outlawing Glock switches and other gun conversion devices, an approval that comes after a deadly year in which the devices were used in multiple mass shootings. Also, police announced three arrests in connection to the Birmingham Five Points South mass shooting and the murder of Birmingham Firefighter Jordan Melton last Thursday.
Arkansas: Last week’s wildfires damaged businesses and homes in Little Rock. Crews are now assessing the damages and standing by. Also, students are building their home libraries and developing a love for reading through the new Reading in the Rock initiative.
Florida: Gov. DeSantis warns he has ‘tools’ including suspending local officials if they don’t cooperate with ICE. Police are still investigating after shots fired prompted a precautionary lockdown at an elementary school in Miami Gardens almost two weeks ago. No injuries were reported.
Georgia: A volunteer firefighter has been arrested after the GBI says he took and shared photos of the high-profile suspected twins’ murder scene. Also, the Columbus branch of the NAACP is calling for an investigation into whether members violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act after John Anker’s swift appointment to the city’s council.
Kentucky: Gov. Beshear vetoed a GOP bill last Thursday to dismantle DEI efforts at Kentucky’s public universities. Meanwhile, several Louisville families displaced after fire ripped through an apartment building in Poplar Hills.
Louisiana: According to reports, 31-year-old Melissa “Melly Mel” Atwell Holder, a Black activist from Guyana, was detained and is being held in an ICE Facility in Louisiana. And Lafayette postal workers join nationwide protest against possible privatization of USPS.
Mississippi: The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to rehear its previous ruling, maintaining its decision that Mississippi cannot count ballots that arrive after Election Day. Also, At the state’s Poor People's Campaign forum last Wednesday, poverty was the first of several topics discussed, and mayoral candidates agreed that governmental resource distribution was a problem.
North Carolina: A trio of wildfires were burning in western North Carolina last week, covering hundreds of acres in Polk County. Meanwhile, a woman in High Point was arrested after a 1-year-old burned while taking a bath at babysitter’s house. And the tallest man in America has died in Durham—he was a Globetrotter and a Wake deputy.
South Carolina: A statewide burn ban has been issued after Forestry Commission officials say weather conditions over the next several days present a greatly elevated risk of wildfire.
Tennessee: Gov. Lee is all-in on dismantling the U.S. Department of Education and is leaving the door open to use federal funds to support his new school voucher program. Meanwhile, Memphis-Shelby County Schools interim Superintendent said he’s spent the last two months talking with state and county legislators regarding the possible controversial school district takeover.
Texas: The measles outbreak may continue for a year, state officials say. Meanwhile, the Lancaster girls’ 4X100 relay breaks the national record, becoming the first girls' high school team ever to run under 44 seconds.
Virginia: Attorney General Jason Miyares today announced that his Office of Civil Rights won a historic $750,000 jury verdict against a Penhook, Virginia landlord who engaged in racial discrimination, evicting two families from her lakefront rental property after learning one of the family members was black.
West Virginia: White couple who adopted Black children and forced them to work as slaves were sentenced to 160 years in prison.
Southern Losses: Honoring Our Legends
This month, the South mourns the loss of four powerhouses — legends and trailblazers in their own right — whose Southern roots shaped their journeys and contributions to America.
Angie Stone (Columbia, SC), neo-soul pioneer and hip-hop trailblazer, died on March 1 at 63 — leaving behind a rich musical legacy. Robert G. Clark Jr. (Ebenezer, MS), the first Black lawmaker elected in Mississippi since Reconstruction, passed away on March 4th at 107. Virginia Newell (Advance, NC), a trailblazing educator and one of the first Black aldermen in Winston-Salem, died on March 14th at 107. And George Foreman (Houston, TX), Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight boxing legend, passed last Friday, March 21st, at 76.
Every week, I hope 13th & South serves as a resource for advocacy, awareness, and change. I value your stories, insights, and feedback and invite your perspectives to contribute to future issues. Please feel free to contact me here or follow me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, BlueSky, and Threads.
Another southern Florida gurl. Most of my fiction writing centers around Dania Beach and Miami. It was yummy to find this Substack. #Flgirl