Melissa Hellmann

Across Mexican, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran and other Latin American households in the US, hot caldo remains popular in summer because its salty broth provides hydration and nutrients while being economical and practical to prepare. For people including Patty Rodriguez, Ramon Guzman, Natalia Vallejo and Aelen Trujillo, the dish also preserves family memories, cultural identity and immigrant heritage. What some experienced as childhood discomfort has become, in adulthood, a way to connect children with their roots and sustain traditions across generations.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York residents disenrolled from Howard University can seek expedited admission to the City University of New York and State University of New York systems for fall 2026. Howard said 502 first-year students missed its 10 July tuition-payment deadline, although some students disputed receiving the required notifications. The episode follows a similar registration crisis in 2025 linked to overdue balances and confusion during a university system changeover, prompting renewed demands for stronger financial-aid support.

Black and brown women death doulas are creating death salons that provide culturally specific spaces for marginalized communities to discuss mortality and grief. Nefertiti Moor and Kyra Overmier lead sessions that address mistrust in healthcare, financial barriers and fears around misgendering, while also educating participants about alternative burial practices and cultural rituals. Inspired by personal experiences, doulas such as Taylor Bell and Overmier offer end-of-life companionship and organize queer and trans death cafes where individuals can explore identity-related concerns. The movement draws from historical death cafe traditions and is supported by organizations that promote open, inclusive conversations about death.

Indigenous athletes in Alaska are revitalizing traditional Arctic sports through the World Eskimo Indian Olympics, an event rooted in cultural practices once suppressed under US assimilation policies. Participants highlight the games’ historical roles in survival and communication, while leaders such as Kyle Worl and Nicole Johnson work to pass traditions to younger generations. The resurgence of these events reflects broader cultural reclamation since the mid‑20th century, supported by community programs and growing international interest. Competitors train rigorously for events such as the two-foot high kick, kneel jump and knuckle hop, viewing the games as a means to strengthen identity and promote global awareness of Arctic Indigenous communities amid climate challenges.

The Guardian’s live coverage closes ahead of Donald Trump’s primetime address, which is expected to revisit his unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Democratic senators Angela Alsobrooks and Jon Ossoff preemptively rejected those claims, with Ossoff warning that Trump could undermine Georgia’s voters and election institutions. The White House said Trump’s anticipated findings would be supported by evidence, while Trump administration officials defended his continued focus on 2020. The coverage also reports Trump’s false claim that the CHIPS Act required companies receiving funds to be led by transgender executives, television networks’ decisions not to air his speech live, his 37% approval rating, continued ICE vehicle stops after fatal shootings, renewed US strikes on Iran, and divisions among Democrats over military aid to Israel.

Federal authorities replaced slavery‑focused panels at George Washington’s Philadelphia home with exhibits critics argue sanitize U.S. history, citing a broader Trump administration push to reshape narratives at federally funded sites. The city’s legal challenges delayed the removal, but a federal appeals ruling cleared the way for new panels installed overnight. Local officials, activists, and historians condemned the move as authoritarian and historically misleading, while volunteer groups and advocacy organizations pledged continued efforts to share the original content and oppose what they call revisionist history.

A theatrical production retells the American Revolution from the perspective of the Gullah Geechee people, highlighting the role of enslaved Africans and exposing the contradictions of the founding era. Created by Anita Singleton‑Prather and supported by South Carolina’s Sestercentennial Commission, the play blends history and fiction to examine the lived experiences of enslaved people and the legacy of their contributions. Cast members describe how the performance deepens their connection to heritage, while historical figures such as Ona Judge and Paris O’Ree illuminate the struggle for freedom amid systemic oppression. The production also prompts personal reflection among descendants of enslavers and aims to encourage a fuller, more honest national memory as the United States approaches its 250th anniversary.

Activists, residents and local organizations in Philadelphia are resisting the Trump administration’s removal of historical panels describing enslaved people at the President’s House site. Following an executive order aimed at reshaping interpretations of American history, the National Park Service removed 34 panels, prompting lawsuits, rallies and daily public readings of the original text. A federal appeals court allowed the administration to replace the exhibit, intensifying protests and drawing increased attention to the site. Community groups and museums have mobilized to preserve the narrative of enslavement, emphasizing that the history at stake is central to the nation’s founding story.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture marks its centennial while highlighting founder Arturo Schomburg’s mission to document the global Black experience. Now part of the New York Public Library, the center houses more than 11 million items ranging from Harlem Renaissance artwork to Maya Angelou’s manuscripts and historical documents featured in broader exhibitions on American history. Exhibits celebrating the centennial emphasize Black cultural contributions and challenge traditional historical narratives. Women of color curators discuss the significance of preserving underrepresented voices, expanding collections—particularly of Black women artists—and maintaining the center as a vital space affirming Black history and identity.

Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 in Dallas to finish the World Cup group stage with a comfortable victory. Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez put Argentina two goals ahead before Mousa al-Taamari pulled one back for Jordan. Lionel Messi came off the bench and scored from a free-kick in the 80th minute, taking his tournament tally to six and his World Cup total to 19. Argentina advance to the last 32, where they will face Cape Verde.

Bangladeshi fans and diaspora communities maintain a deep, decades‑long attachment to Argentina and Brazil in the World Cup, rooted in shared histories of poverty, post‑colonial identity, and the rise of global football icons such as Pelé, Maradona and Messi. Color television access in the 1980s, BTV’s World Cup broadcasts, and Argentina’s 1986 victory over England solidified the emotional connection. Generations of Bangladeshi Americans continue the tradition through fan gatherings, cultural rituals and community leagues, viewing the teams as extensions of their own heritage and national pride.

Educators across South Carolina are increasingly using food to teach students about Gullah Geechee history and culture through hands‑on projects, archival research and community collaboration. High school and college programs integrate foodways into lessons on heritage, environmental change and identity, supported by grants and partnerships with cultural institutions. Students engage with traditional dishes, literature and local makers while learning how recipes and agricultural knowledge reflect resilience, family histories and the broader African diaspora.

South Carolina enacted the Heirs’ Property Tax Relief Act to prevent increased property taxes when families clear or transfer titles to inherited land, offering significant protection for Gullah Geechee families vulnerable to forced sales and disputes. The legislation emerged from collaboration among advocacy organizations including the Lowcountry Gullah Foundation, the Center for Heirs’ Property, and Habitat for Humanity. Community leaders described the measure as a crucial step in preserving ancestral land amid rising taxes, development pressures, and internal conflicts. The working group behind the bill plans further efforts to address heirs’ property challenges.

Black mycologists and foragers across the US, including Maria Pinto, Elan Hagens and William Padilla-Brown, are expanding scientific and cultural understanding of fungi while reconnecting with African diasporic traditions. Their work ranges from documenting species and researching historical ties between Black communities and mushrooms to cultivating fungi, leading workshops, building businesses and organizing public festivals. Their efforts highlight fungi’s ecological importance, cultural history and potential for empowerment as more Black participants engage with a field long dominated by white enthusiasts.

Texas Children’s Hospital agreed to a settlement with state and federal authorities requiring it to end gender‑affirming care for minors, pay $10 million, and establish what state officials call the first detransition clinic. The agreement follows broader efforts by the Trump administration and Texas leaders to restrict gender‑affirming medical treatment, including investigations into providers and new federal directives. Texas officials cast the move as part of a campaign against gender‑affirming care, while hospital representatives said they had complied with all laws and faced years of politically driven scrutiny. A Justice Department statement signaled continued pursuit of providers and pharmaceutical firms involved in youth gender care, while families affected by the bans highlighted the life‑saving importance of such treatments.

A Texas federal prosecutor subpoenaed NYU Langone Health for information about minors who received gender‑affirming care between 2020 and 2026, part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to restrict such care. The hospital must notify affected patients under New York’s shield law and is reviewing its response. Following a 2025 executive order limiting youth access to gender‑based medical treatment, NYU Langone ended its transgender youth program amid regulatory pressure and staffing changes. Advocacy groups continue to challenge the federal order, and experts highlight the documented mental‑health benefits of gender‑affirming care.

Gullah Geechee families in coastal South Carolina face escalating land loss driven by unclear heirs’ property titles, delinquent property taxes, predatory development, climate-related flooding, and gentrification. Community advocates and nonprofits assist residents by paying overdue taxes, supporting estate planning, and pressuring state and local governments for legal reforms to protect generational land. Proposed legislation seeks to prevent tax reassessments after title clearing and establish a commission to address heirs’ property issues. Despite these efforts, longstanding Black communities continue to shrink as rising costs, complex inheritance structures and environmental threats make maintaining ancestral land increasingly difficult.

Youth activists in Juventud Unida por la Independencia are driving renewed interest in Puerto Rican sovereignty, linking environmental concerns, displacement, and the island’s unreliable power grid to broader critiques of US governance. The aftermath of Hurricane Maria, growing gentrification, and political shifts have bolstered support for independence, while cultural figures like Bad Bunny have amplified the movement’s visibility. Organizers throughout Puerto Rico and the US mainland focus on housing issues, historical education, and community engagement as they push for alternatives to statehood, envisioning a self-sufficient future with greater control over economic and environmental policy.

Black and Indigenous groups across the US are establishing intentional communities to reclaim land, preserve cultural practices, and create safe, sustainable spaces rooted in mutual support. In California, the Black to the Land ecovillage fosters off‑grid living, cultural healing, and shared stewardship. Indigenous residents at Alabama’s Ekvn-Yefolecv have rebuilt a matriarchal, language‑centered community on reclaimed ancestral land, while members of a Massachusetts collective of women of color share housing, resources, and cultural work. These initiatives build on earlier models such as Georgia’s New Communities, a pioneering Black land trust founded in the civil rights era. Across regions, participants emphasize cultural preservation, ecological sustainability, and collective healing as they confront ongoing racial and economic inequities.

Black women’s supper clubs across cities such as Washington DC, Austin and central Florida create intentional spaces for connection, rest and joy. Founded by women including Crystle Johnson and Tabrisha Ruby, these gatherings offer meditation, conversation and shared meals that foster deep friendships and new opportunities. The tradition draws on a long history of Black cultural salons and dinner meetings that helped shape the Harlem Renaissance. Modern gatherings echo principles of collective work, celebrating resilience and community amid challenging social conditions, while encouraging participants to slow down and find support among one another.

A Gullah Geechee community on St Helena Island regained conditional access to the centuries-old Big House Cemetery after a court ordered landowners to unlock gates that had blocked entry since 2024. The temporary injunction requires written requests for access and a bond for potential road repairs. The dispute, tied to broader concerns about development pressures and cultural erasure, prompted state representative Michael F Rivers Sr to propose legislation penalizing obstruction of burial grounds. Community members and advocates continue seeking long-term protections for culturally significant cemeteries.