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Volume 133 No. 48

THE BLACK MEDIA AUTHORITY • AFRO.COM

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JUNE 28, 2025 - JULY 4, 2025

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From World War I through Iraq and Afghanistan, Black servicemembers have routinely been on the frontline and in combat roles. Now, as conflict in the Middle East deepens, many wonder what it means for Black people who will be called to serve should war officially break out.

Black Americans face unequal burden as U.S. inches closer to war By Stacy M. Brown On June 21 the United States took military action against Iran, prompting a retaliatory attack from Iran on June 23. The bombings now

have Black Americans facing a stark reality: disproportionate risk, unequal support and a long legacy of being asked to sacrifice more while receiving less. From World War I through Iraq and

Afghanistan, Black servicemembers have routinely been overrepresented in combat roles and underrepresented in decision-making positions. Today, although Black Americans make up just over 13 percent of the U.S.

population, they account for nearly 19 percent of active-duty Army personnel. “When the U.S. goes to war, Black Continued on A2

Communities nationwide could face housing cuts under proposed federal bill By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com

afro.com

As discussions are underway in the U.S. Senate

pertaining to the 47th president’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” community leaders and advocates are sounding the alarm about what it could do to thousands of families that currently rely on housing vouchers and other resources aimed at homelessness. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” is the president’s proposed budget plan for fiscal year 2026, in which it extends 2017 tax cuts and makes other major reductions. Republican legislators are aiming to have the bill

finalized by July 4 or sooner, before their August recess. “This is going to disrupt and devastate communities that have historically depended upon housing and have depended upon the city, state, and federal side to provide assistance,” said Jamal Turner, vice chair of the Baltimore City Continuum of Care (CoC) and chair of the Police Accountability Board for Baltimore City. “If we take into account the rising cost of

Unsplash Photo/Jon Tyson

With proposed federal housing funding cuts on the horizon as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” vulnerable families and individuals across the country could be Continued on A2 significantly impacted if the legislation is passed.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs confirms he won’t testify and praises the trial judge for an ‘excellent job’ By Michael R. Sisak and Larry Neumeister Sean “Diddy” Combs told the judge at his sex trafficking trial that he’s doing an “excellent job” on June 25 as he confirmed that he won’t testify. Combs made the comment to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian after being asked about testifying. The question was posed by the

Manhattan jurist after the prosecution rested following a more than sixweek-long presentation of evidence against the hip-hop maven. Later in the afternoon, the defense rested without calling any witnesses. In a routine occurrence after prosecutors rest at criminal trials, Combs’ lawyers made arguments to toss out the charges, arguing the charges weren’t proven. The judge said he’ll

rule at a later date. Prosecutors have called 34 witnesses to try to prove sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges that resulted in Combs’ September arrest, including two ex-girlfriends of Combs who testified they felt coerced into marathon sex events with male sex workers that were called “freakoffs” or “hotel nights.” Defense lawyers, though, say they

were consensual sexual encounters consistent with the swingers lifestyle. Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty and has remained incarcerated without bail in a federal lockup in Brooklyn after multiple judges concluded last fall that he was a danger to the community. It is standard practice at federal Continued on A2