Truth Seekers Journal

Atlanta Falcons Fans Tailgating May Be an Official Religion

Atlanta Falcons fans turn tailgating into a weekly ritual at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, blending food, music, and fellowship into one of the NFL’s most vibrant traditions.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | September 8, 2025

Long before the coin toss and the first kick-off inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium (MBS), Falcons fans have already claimed their sanctuary. For many in the city, tailgating isn’t just a pastime — it’s a ritual.

When the stadium opened its Home Depot Backyard in 2019, Harry Hynekamp, vice president of fan experience for AMB Sports and Entertainment, put it plainly: “We want to be known throughout the NFL as the toughest place for an opponent to come and play.” That toughness starts outside, where thousands gather in red and black.

The Roots of Tailgating

It’s a tradition that transcends time and space, uniting Falcons fans in a unique bond of camaraderie and shared passion. The American Tailgate Association traces the first gathering back to 1861 at the Battle of Bull Run, where civilians hauled food and booze to the sidelines. A gentler origin credits Yale football in the early 1900s, when fans traveling by bus and train arrived early with baskets and grills. Either way, the tradition has grown into something much bigger — a cultural force, especially in the South.

A Religion in the A

In Atlanta, tailgating is not just a pre-game ritual, it’s a celebration of the Falcons spirit. By 6:00 a.m., the lots are alive with the sizzle of ribs and the aroma of chicken wings. Fans eagerly line up outside the Home Depot Backyard, ready for a day of music, drumlines, cheerleaders, Freddie Falcon, and giveaways. The atmosphere is charged with excitement, as fans of all ages come together for a day of fun and football.

Stories from the Lots

On Sunday, September 7, before the Falcons’ 23-20 season-opening loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, fans from all walks of life made their way to the Backyard and the designated lots surrounding the MBS. Corrie M. and her mother, Ivey L., came up from Eastman to cheer cousin Michael Pinnix as he suited up for the first time in a Falcons jersey.

AD, with the Lights Out Tailgators, have been posted up 15 years strong. “It’s about family, food, and fun,” he said.

Reggie Watson, a season ticket holder for 34 years, helps lead the Tailgators 4 Lyfe crew, a group of 50 regulars who run their tailgate like a small business, collecting dues and organizing off-season events. “We are here for each other and the fun of it all.”

For others, it’s about innovation. Bryant Barnes rolled in with EventBox ATL, a tricked-out 20-foot shipping container transformed into a luxury lounge with TVs, a rooftop bar, karaoke station, and Wi-Fi, cell phone charging stations — big enough for 50 people. “We’re taking tailgating to the next level,” he said.

Small businesses thrive, too. Kisha, owner of Bartender To You, sets up her mobile bar at every home game. Randy, a barber from Mableton, has been tailgating for three years. Byron proudly introduced his toddler son to the family tradition this season.

Food, Faith, and Falcons

What makes tailgating in Atlanta unique is the mix: charcoal-grilled chicken, ribs, cold beer, whiskey, tequila shots, lounge chairs, DJ jamming, and even axe-throwing contests. It’s folding chairs sinking into the dirt, kids learning the Dirty Bird dance. It’s family. It’s a fellowship, a melting pot of Southern food, community pride, and Dirty Birds loyalty.

For Falcons fans, the tailgate is as essential as kickoff. And whether the Falcons win or fall short, the gospel keeps getting preached outside MBS every Sunday: the church of tailgate is alive and well.

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Decatur’s Brian Norman Jr Inks Multi-Year Deal with Top Rank, Eyes Haney Showdown

Decatur’s Brian Norman Jr. extends Top Rank deal, defending his WBO welterweight title against Devin Haney in Riyadh after knockouts in San Diego and Tokyo cemented his rise.

By Milton Kirby | Las Vegas, NV | September 6, 2025

Brian “The Assassin II” Norman Jr. has just signed a new multi-year deal with Top Rank. At only 24, the undefeated welterweight champ is betting on loyalty, staying with the promoter who believed in him from day one.

And now, the stage is set. On Nov. 22, halfway across the world in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Norman will defend his WBO crown against none other than Devin “The Dream” Haney.

“This is just the start,” Norman said. “Top Rank believed in me, and I’m building with the home team.”

From Decatur to the desert lights

Folks around Decatur remember Norman as a teenager already packing dynamite in both fists. He turned pro at 17, often fighting in small Mexican rings to stay busy. By 22-0, he caught Top Rank’s eye and inked a deal in 2022.

The rise hasn’t been smooth. In 2024, he walked straight into San Diego and silenced Giovani Santillan’s crowd with a 10th-round stoppage. That win earned him the WBO interim title, which was later upgraded to full champion when Terence Crawford stepped aside.

A hand injury benched him for the rest of that year, but Norman came roaring back. First, a March 2025 knockout of Derrieck Cuevas. Then, a June masterpiece in Tokyo — a left hook that left Jin Sasaki flat on the canvas and fans gasping. Knockout of the Year? No doubt.

A team effort

Behind Norman is a circle that has remained steady from the beginning: his father, Brian Sr.; adviser Adrian Clark; Jolene Mizzone; and veteran matchmakers Brad Goodman and Bruce Trampler.

Clark put it plain: “It’s been a total team effort. We’re proud to keep pushing forward with Top Rank.”

The fight ahead

With 28 wins, 22 by knockout, Norman now faces his biggest test in Devin Haney — a technician known for his slick defense and ring IQ. Riyadh will host the clash, but back home in Decatur, fans will be watching every punch. From the quiet gyms off Candler Road to the bright lights overseas, Brian Norman Jr. carries Atlanta pride with him. This next fight is more than a title defense. It’s a chance to prove he belongs among the legends.

Brian Norman, Jr.: The Kid Next Door and World Champion

Norman vs. Haney: Unbeaten Stars Collide for Welterweight Supremacy

Brian Norman Jr. Falls Short as Haney Claims WBO Welterweight Crown in Riyadh

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BronzeLens Film Festival Marks 16 Years with Big Wins and Bittersweet Goodbye

BronzeLens Film Festival celebrated 16 years with award-winning films, heartfelt tributes, Deidre McDonald’s retirement, and standout screenings of The Rhythm & The Blues and Rap Dixon.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | September 2, 2025

The 16th Annual BronzeLens Film Festival wrapped with triumph and tenderness, spotlighting bold new works while also marking a transition in leadership. Nearly 100 films were submitted and screened at the historic Tara Theatre, with the festival’s grand awards ceremony staged at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on Morehouse College’s campus.

A bittersweet note came when Deidre McDonald, the founding Artistic Director, announced her retirement. For 16 years, McDonald has been the guiding force behind BronzeLens, helping the festival grow into an Academy Award®-qualifying event in the Short Film category and a key cultural institution celebrating stories by creators of color.

Winners and Honors

This year’s winners showcased the wide-ranging creativity of filmmakers across genres:

Dance Videos: Cut Me Summa Dat Noise
Best Music Video: FREEDOM
Best Documentary: Mount Mutombo
Best Short Documentary: Exodus
Best Feature: Color Book
Best Student Film: Jean & I
Best Web Series: Hogtown / Ainsi Va Manu
Short Films: ADO
Best of Festival: Color Book
Best Actor: Will Catlette (Color Book)
Best Actress: Jennifer Lewis (Color Book)
The Andrew Young Cinema and Social Justice Award: Following Harry

Dikembe Mutombo -Best Documentary: *Mount Mutombo*

The feature Color Book emerged as the night’s biggest winner, sweeping top honors including Best Feature, Best of Festival, and both acting awards.

Two Standout Screenings

Of the many films presented, two stood out to me personally: The Rhythm & The Blues and Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball.

The Rhythm & The Blues, directed by Darryl Pitts, tells the story of guitarist Eddie Taylor, a blues genius whose career was strained by exploitation, family tensions, and cultural appropriation. Leon Robinson’s portrayal of Taylor was both riveting and tender, anchoring a story that has been described as “powerful” and “necessary.” Pitts, who independently financed the project, praised Robinson’s ability to make difficult characters lovable, adding a layer of humanity to a tale about legacy and artistic ownership.

Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball shed light on one of the Negro Leagues’ greatest yet least remembered outfielders. Dixon’s career from 1922 to 1937 was marked by brilliance, but racism and segregation obscured his legacy. The film’s archival depth and expert commentary from historians like Leslie Heaphy and Lawrence D. Hogan gave Dixon’s story long-overdue recognition. SABR’s Ted Knorr called Dixon “a true five-tool player,” advocating for his Hall of Fame inclusion. Viewers described the documentary as moving and a correction to baseball’s historical record.

Looking Ahead

As the festival closed, anticipation already began for the next edition. Submissions for the 2026 BronzeLens Film Festival open October 15, 2025, promising another year of powerful storytelling, cinematic excellence, and cultural celebration.

From the Tara Theatre screenings to the Morehouse awards stage, this Sweet Sixteen edition re-confirmed BronzeLens’ place as one of the nation’s premier showcases for films by and about people of color—an event where artistry, history, and community converge.

Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should: The Trappings of Dark Royalty’s Financial Excess in Black America

By Lola Renegade

“Blacks who claim respectability and allow that mirage to keep them quiet and from being actors in the necessary drama needed to change an oppressive society are instruments of continued oppression.” Black Robes White Justice: Why Our Legal System Doesn’t Work for Blacks by Former New York Supreme Court Justice Bruce Wright.

America has always been a land of contradictions. Mansions rise beside tent cities. Private jets glide over food deserts. Wall Street celebrates record profits while Main Street collapses under debt.

And increasingly, that contradiction lives within Black America itself. While millions of African Americans still struggle to make ends meet—sometimes working two jobs, juggling rent and medicine, fighting to keep the lights on—others, especially our most visible athletes and entertainers, flaunt a level of excess that mimics the worst of a greedy and corrupt white America.

They strut their buffoonery before the cameras, dancing the modern jig for applause. They make it rain in strip clubs while their communities drown in poverty. They drape themselves in overpriced designer clothing spun by the descendants of colonizers, flaunt accessories stitched by exploited hands in foreign sweatshops, and fasten diamond chains around their necks that echo the very iron shackles our ancestors wore during more than four hundred years of bondage.

These are not signs of liberation. They are the trappings of dark royalty—crowns of vanity instead of crowns of vision, thrones built on ego instead of service, castles built for self instead of community.

This obsession with excess did not happen in a vacuum. As film historian Donald Bogle outlined in his classic book Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks, Hollywood long confined Black performers to degrading roles: the buffoonish “coon,” the hypersexual “buck,” the docile “tom.” These caricatures entertained white audiences while ensuring that Black visibility never translated into Black power.

Fast-forward a century, and the stage has changed—but the performance often looks familiar. Today, far too many rappers, ballplayers, and influencers don’t need burnt cork or minstrel makeup. They willingly step into roles of spectacle, celebrating reckless spending, self-destruction, and bringing shame to the sacrifices and spilled blood of our ancestors.

At the root of it is their illusion of inclusion in white America. Too many believe that sitting at the table with whiteness, wearing their brands, copying their excess, and basking in their temporary approval means we’ve “made it.” But this is not freedom. It is a dependency dressed up in designer labels. It is a desperate chase for white acceptance in a system that has never truly accepted us. It is Black America still allowing whites to define what is beautiful and acceptable.

Yes, athletes earn their contracts. Yes, entertainers reap their royalties. But let’s speak the truth: just because you can purchase in excess doesn’t mean you should.

Because while someone spends $50,000 spraying dollar bills on a nightclub floor, children in their hometowns go to bed hungry. While one star throws a multi-million-dollar birthday party or destination wedding to enrich the colonizers even more, elders in their former cities and towns choose between prescriptions and groceries. While another flaunts cars worth more than houses, entire blocks in our neighborhoods sit boarded up, waiting for investment that never comes until whites decide to move in.

These are not crowns of liberation; they are crowns of mimicry. They replicate the greed of those who once enslaved us and mock the dignity of those still struggling to survive. They leave us stuck in the illusion—confusing visibility with power, mistaking consumption for progress, believing that validation from white America is the same as freedom.

Our ancestors did not fight and die through slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, and gentrification so we could step back into caricatured roles in designer labels and gold-plated chains. They dreamed of freedom, justice, and self-determination. We are the beneficiaries of their suffering and are neck-deep in their sacrifices and the blood they spilled for us.

The real crown is investing in schools that educate, not prisons that incarcerate.
The real throne is leadership rooted in service, not ego.
The real castle is a community where no child goes hungry, no elder is forgotten, and no youth is left without opportunity.

We already have examples of what that kind of royalty looks like.

Madam C.J. Walker, the first Black woman millionaire in America, didn’t just build an empire for herself—she created jobs and training programs for thousands of Black women. Berry Gordy used Motown not just to make music but to build pride, dignity, and opportunity for generations of Black artists. Now, many in the rap world glorify violence, misogyny, and pure ignorance through their lyrics.

NBA star LeBron James opened the “I Promise” School in Akron, Ohio, proving that true legacy is measured in students, not sneakers.

And billionaire investor Robert F. Smith stunned the world at Morehouse College in 2019 when he pledged to pay off the entire student debt of the graduating class—some 400 young Black men. The price tag? Roughly $34 million. But the value? Priceless. With one act, Smith erased years of financial bondage, freeing those graduates to pursue careers and dreams without the crushing weight of debt. That gift was more than charity—it was liberation.

And here’s the challenge: if one man could liberate 400 young men with $34 million, imagine what 100 rappers, athletes, and entertainers—each earning millions a year—could do if they pooled just 10% of their earnings. They could wipe out debt for entire generations. They could rebuild neighborhoods, create hospitals, fund Black-owned schools, and guarantee scholarships for thousands. Instead of “making it rain” in strip clubs, they could make it reign—in justice, opportunity, and legacy.

History will not remember what you wore, who iced out their neck the most or who spent the most in a nightclub. History will remember who built legacies that lasted. Who turned their blessings into bridges. Who broke the chains of excess instead of buying them.

Dr. King once said, “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”

That is true royalty. That is the measure of a people who have overcome.

Because the truest royalty is not in what you wear, but in what you build.

And let us never forget – just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Drastic Pell Grant Changes Now Law—HBCUs and Low-Income Students Brace for the Next Phase

Trump’s education law cuts Pell Grants, tightening rules and shrinking awards. HBCUs and low-income students brace for higher hurdles as oversight battles shift to states.

By Milton Kirby | Washington, DC | September 2, 2025

On the Fourth of July, as fireworks lit the sky, President Trump signed a sweeping education bill that could dim the futures of millions of American students. Buried in its pages are changes to the Pell Grant program — a 50-year lifeline for students from low-income families.

Every year, more than seven million students rely on Pell Grants to help cover tuition, housing, books, and food. For many, Pell is the difference between walking onto a college campus or walking away from the dream of higher education. Now, with cuts enacted, that dream is under threat — and no group feels the pressure more than the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

What the Law Changes

The new law rewrites parts of Pell eligibility starting July 1, 2026. Some changes expand access; others tighten the belt.

Aid overlap: Students who receive other grants — state aid, institutional scholarships, or private awards — that fully cover the cost of attendance will lose Pell eligibility. That means “full-ride” athletes, many of them from low-income families, will miss out on support for everyday living costs.
Income and assets: Students with a Student Aid Index (SAI) double the maximum Pell award will also be cut off. Supporters call it a fairness tweak; critics see it as punishing students whose families look wealthier on paper than they really are.
Foreign income counts: Families with income abroad will see it added into Pell calculations.
Family protections return: Small businesses, family farms, and now family fisheries are again shielded from aid calculations, undoing an earlier change that penalized them.

At the same time, Pell eligibility expands to cover very-short-term training programs — eight to fifteen weeks long — giving students a path to credentials in high-demand trades. But without data reporting or accountability built into the law, some fear shady operators will swoop in to grab federal money without delivering real value.

The Cut That Hurts Most

The law sets the stage for a $9 billion reduction in Pell funding. Beginning with the 2026–27 academic year, the maximum grant will fall from $7,395 to $5,710. Students must complete 30 credit hours annually — 15 a semester — to receive the full award. Those who attend part-time, often working parents or adult learners, will receive smaller grants or none at all.

Community colleges could be hit hardest. Many of their students juggle jobs, childcare, and school. Twelve credits a semester has long been considered full-time. Now, under the new rule, it won’t be enough.

“Students who can’t carry a full load will be shut out entirely,” warned one higher-ed advocate.

HBCUs on the Front Lines

For HBCUs, where Pell recipients make up the majority of students, the stakes could not be higher.

Tuskegee University President Mark A. Brown told senators that Pell cuts would force students to borrow more — or not enroll at all. “Today, Pell Grants cover only 31 percent of average public college costs, compared to 79 percent in 1975,” he said. “Cutting further puts college out of reach for millions.”

The warning comes as HBCUs face another blow: more than $140 million in federal grants have been canceled since March, including awards for research and scholarships at Hampton, Howard, Tennessee State, Florida A&M, and Morehouse. For campuses already under-resourced, this one-two punch — canceled research dollars and shrinking Pell support — threatens both institutional stability and student opportunity.

“Pell cuts would be devastating,” said Lodriguez V. Murray of the United Negro College Fund. “Instead of cutting, we should be doubling Pell. Lawmakers who wrote this bill are out of touch with reality.”

The Bigger Picture

Pell is not just a number in the federal budget. It is woven into the stories of first-generation students who show up at campuses with more hope than savings. Roughly 61 percent of recipients come from families earning less than $30,000. About 20 percent are parents themselves.

At community colleges, Pell helps single mothers cover daycare while finishing nursing degrees. At HBCUs, Pell has opened doors for generations of Black students locked out of wealth-building opportunities by systemic racism. Since its creation, Pell has supported more than 80 million low-income families.

Cutting the program now, analysts say, is a step backward. Katherine Meyer at Brookings called it a “retreat from the federal role in higher education” that will leave states and families scrambling. “Without robust federal funding, the end result will be fewer opportunities for the lowest-income students.”

Stopgaps and Shortfalls

To keep the program afloat, lawmakers added $10.5 billion in mandatory funding for FY2026. But this is a temporary patch. Because Pell is funded through a mix of annual appropriations and mandatory money, shortfalls happen regularly. Analysts argue the only real fix is to move Pell entirely to the mandatory side of the budget, with automatic adjustments based on enrollment. Until then, the program will lurch from one funding crisis to the next.

Signed Into Law — What Comes Next

On July 1, the Senate narrowly passed the reconciliation package — with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. The House approved the Senate’s version two days later, and President Trump signed it into law on July 4.

That means the Pell changes are now part of law. The next battles will focus on implementation and oversight. The Department of Education faces a tight deadline to enforce the new eligibility rules by 2026. With staffing cuts underway, states may have to step in with stronger consumer protections to ensure quality outcomes, especially for fast-track training programs.

Meanwhile, advocates are preparing the next front: pushing future Congresses to restore or expand Pell. Already, Democrats and higher-ed groups are drafting proposals to revisit the maximum award and eligibility definitions in the next budget cycle. Civil rights groups are also weighing legal challenges, arguing that the changes disproportionately harm Black, Latino, and low-income students.

In other words, the law may have passed — but the debate over Pell’s future is far from over.

Why It Matters

For half a century, Pell Grants have embodied America’s promise: that college should be within reach for anyone willing to work for it. Cuts now would betray that promise, slamming shut doors of opportunity just when the country needs more trained workers, more teachers, more nurses, more innovators.

And for HBCUs — institutions born in struggle and sustained by faith in education’s power to transform lives — the stakes are even higher. Pell is not just financial aid. It is survival.

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Americans Say Racism Exists, but Shrug at Solutions

Sixty-four percent of Americans say racism is widespread—yet most oppose new civil rights laws, revealing a gap between recognition and real commitment to racial equity.

Data from a new Gallup poll that asks respondents’ views on racism finds some common ground between Black and white Americans — except when it comes to addressing the problem.

By Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier | Word In Black | September 1, 2025

It’s the kind of polling data that gets a “water is wet” side-eye from Black folks. But the results of a recent Gallup poll reveal that when asked whether racism against Black people is “widespread,” nearly two-thirds of Americans now say yes.

Sixty-four percent, to be precise — the same record-high number Gallup recorded in 2021, in the summer of the so-called racial reckoning after George Floyd’s murder. But if Americans think racism is so pervasive, what do they want to do about it?

It turns out, not much.

The Vanishing Appetite for Civil Rights Laws

In our current whitelash reality of Project 2025 and anti-DEI crusades, when even acknowledging racial inequities has become a liability for grade schools and colleges, less than half of America believes the country needs new civil rights laws to reduce discrimination. That’s down 15 points from 2020 after Floyd’s murder.

Stark differences between white and Black Americans show up in the poll results. Nearly 75% of Black adults want new civil rights protections, while just 40% of white adults say new ones are needed.

Gallup has been asking the question “Do you think racism against Black people is or is not widespread in the U.S.?” since 2008. Back then, almost 60% of U.S. adults agreed racism was widespread. By the following year, when hope and change put Barack Obama in the White House as the nation’s first Black president, only 51% said racism was widespread.

But the post-racial illusion of the Obama years didn’t last.

Admitting Racism Exists

By 2015, when a white cop in Ferguson, Missouri, gunned down Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager — igniting a wave of protests and turbocharging the Black Lives Matter movement — 60% of Americans said racism was widespread. Since then, the survey results have barely dipped.

Black Americans continue to experience the country differently from other racial groups. Eight in 10 Black adults told Gallup they believe racism is widespread, compared with 61% of white adults and 64% of Hispanic adults.

And when asked about everyday situations — at work, in stores, at the doctor’s office, on the street — whether or not Black folks experience racism is a matter of debate for white America.

Black People and Reality

Seventy-seven percent of Black adults say they are treated less fairly than white people in encounters with police; 59% say the same about how they’re treated in healthcare and around the office. By contrast, just three in 10 white adults say they see Black people treated unfairly on the job.

When it comes to concrete opportunities, the divide between Black folks and everyone else continues. Fifty-five percent of all Americans say Black people have as good a chance to get a job they’re qualified for as white people, and 56% say the same about housing. Those numbers are basically unchanged since 2021, but far below where they stood in the 1990s and early 2000s, when roughly 70% of Americans were far more likely to believe equality had been achieved.

Meanwhile, white adults remain about twice as likely as Black adults to believe job and housing opportunities are equal

Civil Rights, But Make it Relative

Even as most Americans say racism is everywhere, most also say civil rights for Black people have improved in their lifetimes. Sixty-eight percent believe things are “somewhat” or “greatly” better. But optimism is waning

In 2011, at the height of the Obama years, nearly 9 in 10 respondents said Black civil rights had advanced. That sank to 59% in 2020, after George Floyd’s death. Now, 73% of whites say civil rights for Black people have improved, while only 53% of Black people agree.

So what does the data point — that 64% of people who believe racism exists — really tell us? That polls don’t magically solve racism. That Americans can acknowledge anti-Blackness exists without actually having to confront it. That progress hasn’t erased bias in workplaces, hospitals, or during interactions with police.

And that Black folks live in reality, while white communities toggle between recognition and denial.

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Too Pricey to Protect

Tips for dealing with rising home insurance premiums

By Kerri Anne Renzulli | August 31, 2025

Living in an oceanfront condo on Florida’s Space Coast was Jim McGuigan’s retirement dream, so 12 years ago, he and his wife, Debbie, sold their family home in Orlando and moved to Cocoa Beach. But earlier this year, the couple packed up and moved back inland.

Behind that was insurance. Premiums for the high-rise where they owned a unit had tripled in recent years; that increase, along with repairs necessary to maintain coverage, drove their condo association fees up 141 percent over the same period. The prospect of even higher insurance-related costs prompted the McGuigans’ return to Central Florida, where they’ll spend $4,760 a year less in insurance and fees. “When we bought the condo, I didn’t think I was ever going to move again,” says Jim 66. “But insurance and other things have made the cost of living there too much.”

The McGuigans joined millions of Americans who, in recent years, have been forced to deal with home insurance premium increases and fewer choices as more carriers exit high-risk areas and decline to renew policies.

From 2021 to 2024, premiums rose an average of 24 percent in the U.S. and were higher in 95 percent of ZIP codes, reports the Consumer Federation of America (CFA). While Floridians pay the highest average annual premiums, at $9,462, non-coastal states like Arizona, Illinois, and Pennsylvania saw premiums grow by 44 percent or more. Thanks largely to these increases, nearly 1 in 7 owner-occupied U.S. homes are uninsured, estimates LendingTree. And other homeowners are likely struggling: A Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas study found that mortgage delinquencies increase 8 percent in the year following a typical price hike.

Because mortgage and home equity lenders require insurance, paying these premiums is nonnegotiable for most homeowners. But the following strategies can help reduce how much of your money insurance consumes.

REVIEW COVERAGE

Along with raising your deductible — a standard way to lower premiums — check that your various coverage amounts don’t leave you overinsured. You may be able to tailor your policy’s default limits to reflect just what you have, says Alyssa Bourgeoris, an indedpendent broker with the Marsh McLennan Agency in Metairie, Louisiana. You can try this with other structures coverage, which protects things like fences and detached garages, or with your contents coverage. Before making the change, however, weigh the consequences. “Dropping personal property coverage from 75 percent of your dwelling limit to 25 percent might only save $100 a year,” says Peter O’Keefe, an independent broker with Connor, Alexander and Sullivan in San Francisco. “Do you really want to give up that much coverage to save less than $10 a month?

CHECK THE MARKET

“If you feel like you’re getting a bad deal, shop around,” says Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate with CFA. Annual rates from different insurers can vary by $1,000 or more for identical coverage, NerdWallet found. Many insurers make it easy to get a quick quote: Visit their website and plug in some basic information. You can use sites like Insure.com, Policygenius or The Zebra to see offers from multiple carriers simultaneously. Also, your state insurance department may provide rate comparison tools.

If you get a nonrenewal notice from your carrier, start shopping around at once since many states require only 30 days’ notice. “Ask the insurer the reason for the nonrenewal and see if you can make any improvements or changes to keep your insurance,” says Amy Bach, executive director of United Policyholders, a consumer advocacy organization.

GET PROFESSIONAL HELP

Independent insurance agents and brokers can do the legwork of finding better coverage for you; they have access to policies and pricing information from multiple insurance companies, unlike captive agents who represent a single firm. “They can vouch for an insurance company that you may have never heard of,” Bach says. Ask how the broker or agent is compensated so you understand up front any potential biases. Visit trustedchoice.com to find more than 250,000 U.S. independent agents.

WIDEN YOUR SEARCH

If you can’t find good options through regular channels, consider state-created insurers of last resort, like California’s FAIR Plan (for fire insurance) or Louisiana Citizens.

Should one of those not be available, you might even consider non-admitted carriers, which don’t have state insurance licensing and lack guarantees that claims will be paid if they go belly-up. Non-admitted carriers may be riskier, but they must meet state requirements, and many are affiliated with traditional insurers. Mortgage lenders will OK them if they meet their financial standards, typically based on ratings—which are publicly available—from companies such as A.M. Best, De-motech or Standard & Poor’s. Don’t go with a non-admitted carrier unless you research its finances and work with a reputable broker, advises United Policyholders.

LOOK FOR DISCOUNTS

Ask your insurer about any price breaks it offers. Retirees can get up to 10 percent off with some insurers, since they spend more time at home, making them likelier to spot issues quickly. Other insurers offer lower rates to people in specific occupations, like the military or members of certain credit unions or professional associations. Opting for paperless statements and setting up automatic payments may also shave a bit off your premium, as can living in a gated community.

STRENGTHEN YOUR HOME

Improvements that make your home more resistant to risk, like storm shutters, a fire-resistant roof or a reinforced roof, could reduce your premium and give you more insurance carrier options, DeLong says. In some states, insurers are even required to offer discounts to homeowners who show proof they’ve added such features. Homeowners with security systems save between 2 and 15 percent—$100 less on average, according to Policygenius. Before making any upgrades, check that your insurer will reward the change and that it meets the carrier’s requirements.

Your state insurance department may provide grants or other assistance to help offset certain improvement costs, DeLong says. Alabama, for instance, offers homeowners grants of up to $10,000 for roof fortification in select counties.

IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCORE

In most states, insurers can set your rates and decline to renew your policy based on your credit history and scores, DeLong says. Rightly or wrongly, homeowners with poor credit scores are viewed as less reliable and so pay higher premiums than those with good scores—as much as 102 percent more, based on data from Policygenius. To help boost your score, make on-time payments, chip away at credit card balances and review your credit report for errors.

SELF-INSURE

Dropping supplemental coverage—like flood or earthquake insurance—or ditching home insurance altogether could save you thousands in the short run but puts your biggest asset at risk. “Without insurance, it’s entirely on you if something goes wrong,” says Dale Porfilio, chief insurance officer for the Insurance Information Institute. Anyone considering this option should have a financial plan for replacing possessions and obtaining housing in the event of a total loss. This may mean setting up a large emergency fund, deciding which assets to sell in a worst-case scenario or sacrificing retirement money. For most, even 20 years of investing saved premiums won’t equal the six-figure fund needed to rebuild entirely. If you have a mortgage on your property and drop coverage, your lender will make you pay for force-placed insurance, which is usually more expensive and protects only the lender’s financial interest, not yours.

CHANGE YOUR SITUATION

If home insurance squeezes your budget so tightly that you’re cutting or charging necessary purchases and constantly dipping into savings, you may no longer be able to afford to live where you do, says Sheryl Hanshaw, who heads the county-run Greenville Financial Empowerment Center in South Carolina. Contact your lender, advises Bruce McClary of the nonprofit National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC). The lender may be able to lower your monthly payments—at least temporarily—though you’ll typically pay more interest and fees over time.

If that isn’t possible, consider selling your home and moving to a place with lower insurance costs, Hanshaw says. But also assess whether, after the change, you’d be better off financially and whether you’d lose what’s important to you, like proximity to your support network. For free advice about your mortgage, find a nonprofit financial counselor via NFCC’s website at nfcc.org, or go to answers.hud.gov/housingcounseling to connect with a local HUD housing counseling agency.

Kerri Anne Renzullihas worked at CNBC and News-week, Money and Financial Planning magazines.

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Skin Cancer Is Trickier Than You Think

Skin cancer can appear in unexpected ways, beyond the classic mole warning signs. Learn how to spot “ugly ducklings,” reduce risks, and protect yourself with timely checks

The disease can show up in unexpected ways on your body. Here’s what to look for

By Abby Alten Schwartz | August 31, 2025

CAN I SHOW you one more thing?”

I was at the dermatologist’s office for my semiannual skin check, and he’d just finished the exam. But something was still gnawing at me.

“I have this tiny rough spot on the bridge of my nose. If I scrub it off, it bleeds,” I said.

He looked at it under the magnifying light.

“It could be precancerous. Let’s freeze it and see if it comes back,” he said, spraying it with liquid nitrogen. It did come back, twice, so I made an appointment for a biopsy. I felt only a pinch of the needle numbing the area before the doctor shaved off a thin layer of skin for testing.

A week later he called with the results: squamous cell carcinoma in situ. In situ meant it had not spread past the top layer, but because this early-stage cancer could become invasive, my doctor recommended Mohs surgery to ensure all of it was removed. The following week I had the procedure.

What Is Mohs Surgery? ALSO KNOWN as Mohs micrographic surgery, this procedure—performed under local anesthesia with the patient awake—is successful up to 99 percent of the time for untreated skin cancer (94 percent for reoccurring cancers) and produces minimal scarring. The surgeon removes a thin layer of tissue and, while you wait, examines it under a microscope. The process is repeated until the tissue shows clean margins (no cancer cells remain).

SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING

My father died of stage 4 melanoma when he was 76, so I take skin cancer seriously. Yet even though I was religious about getting annual exams, it turns out that wasn’t enough. On top of dermatology exams every year (or more frequently, based on your history), monthly self-checks at home are important, says Karen Stolman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist with Park City Dermatology in Utah and a spokesperson for the Skin Cancer Foundation.

“You’re just looking for something that’s new or unexpected or a change that you don’t think is right for your skin,” Stolman explains. “You don’t have to know what you’re looking at or diagnose it.”

When I began seeing a dermatologist in my early 40s, I was skeptical I’d notice any new moles or marks. But by paying attention, I’ve become familiar with the landscape of my skin. I’m learning that skin cancer (and precancer) can take on a different texture or appearance than the classic signs people are usually told to watch out for.

LOOK FOR THE UGLY DUCKLINGS

Dermatologists have done a pretty good job educating the public about malignant melanoma, says Mix J. Charles, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and chairman of the department of dermatology at Duly Health and Care in Hinsdale, Illinois. One of the deadliest forms of skin cancer, melanoma often begins as a brown or black mole that becomes larger or irregular. When you google “warning signs of skin cancer,” what you’ll typically get are the ABCDE’s of melanoma:

Asymmetry: Two halves that don’t match
Border: Irregular, scalloped or poorly defined edges
Color: Multiple colors or shades
Diameter: The size of a pencil eraser (can start smaller)
Evolving: Changes in size, shape, color or presentation (itching, bleeding, crusty, raised)

While these signs are important, the two most common types of skin cancer—basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma—typically present in other ways, including:

A reddish irritated area or open sore that persists (may crust, bleed or ooze)
A pearly bump or nodule (clear or pink; may be pigmented in people of color)
A small pink or elevated growth (crusted indentation in center, raised edges, may bleed)
A scar-like area (often with poorly defined borders)
A wart-like growth (may crust or bleed)

The precancers that dermatologists find daily, called actinic kera-toses, start out pink or red and scaly, “and they’re typically where we’ve had the most sun,” Stolman says.

A good takeaway is to look for the “ugly duckling,” says Kelly Nelson, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and professor of dermatology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “If you have one thing on your skin that is looking or behaving in a way that’s different, that one thing should probably be evaluated by a doctor,” she explains.

Though skin cancer occurs most often in people with fair complexions, Nelson says it can strike anyone, even in patients with very dark skin. Because of misperception that people of color don’t develop skin cancer, they – and their physicians – may not be on the lookout. As a result, skin cancer is often diagnosed at later stage in patients of color. (Several brands of sunscreen – such as Black Girl Sunscreen, Bold Brightening Moisturizer and EltaMD UV Clear – that are now available can protect people with darker skin without leaving a dull white coating.)

PREPARE FOR YOUR NEXT CHECKUP NOW

Skin cancer is of increasing concern as we age. Stolman says today’s precancer may be from sun damage 10 to 20 years ago, but it can also build over time with each exposure. In addition, “with age, our immune system becomes less capable of protecting us from all forms of cancer, including skin cancer.”

Staying on top of your risk positions you to take advantage of breakthrough skin cancer treatments. In February 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved Amtagvi (lifileucel), the first cellular therapy for advanced melanoma. It follows a number of recent breakthroughs on this form of skin cancer, which accounts for the majority of fatalities from the disease.

I keep a list on my phone of suspicious spots to ask about at my next checkup. If something new appears that I’m especially worried about, I’ll make an appointment right away. It doesn’t hurt to take a photo of anything that looks odd so you can track how it changes over time.

If you don’t already have a dermatologist, it can be a long wait for an opening. Try elsewhere if a practice can’t see you within three months. You can also ask your primary care provider to take an initial look and help with a referral or next steps.

A Dose of Prevention

If you’ve had multiple precancerous or cancerous spots in one area (especially on sun-exposed parts), several therapies can help prevent future cancers. These “field treatments” are intended only for actinic keratoses or superficial skin cancers (early basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas affecting the top layer of skin).

Fluorouracil (5-FU), a topical chemotherapy cream, is applied once or twice a day for several weeks to target cancer cells near the skin’s surface. The treated skin can become red and sensitive until it heals.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses a topical light-sensitive drug that is absorbed into precancerous cells. A special light activates the drug and destroys them. The therapy usually needs to be repeated every Ito 5 years.

Additional therapies for sun damage include fractional laser therapy as well as carbon dioxide laser and chemical peels, which may be less effective.

Abby Alten Schwartz has reported on health and relationships for Wired, Salon and other publications.

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Negro League Conference Unveils More History and Takes on Future Challenges

The 2025 Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference in Louisville celebrated Black baseball history with films, panels, and a grave marker dedication, while addressing future challenges of diversity and memory.

By Milton Kirby | Louisville, KY | August 31, 2025

The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) brought its annual Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference (JMNLC) to Louisville, Kentucky, August 7–9, filling the Galt House Hotel with scholars, historians, fans, and community leaders devoted to preserving the legacy of Black baseball.

This year’s gathering highlighted the cultural and historical depth of the Negro Leagues. Attendees viewed the premiere of I Forgot to Tell You About: The Story of the Cleveland Buckeyes, followed by a panel with former All-Star Kenny Lofton, filmmaker Evelyn Pollard-Gregory, and authors Wayne Pearsall and Vince Guerrieri. The weekend also featured poet Dorian Hairston, a Louisville Baseball History Panel with Harry Rothgerber and Anne Jewell, and a film screening on Black baseball in Nashville.

Participants enjoyed a tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, a reception at the Roots 101 African American Museum, and a Louisville Bats game at Slugger Field. Presenters included longtime researchers such as James Brunson III, Larry McGill, Gary Gillette, Keith Wood, and others who continue to shed light on overlooked chapters of African American baseball.

Honoring Sammy Hughes

The conference closed with a powerful moment on Sunday, August 10, when SABR’s Pee Wee Reese Chapter, working with the Louisville Bats and Louisville Slugger Museum, placed a long-awaited grave marker for Negro Leagues great Sammy Hughes at Louisville Cemetery. Known as “Sammy T,” Hughes was a six-time All-Star second baseman who played with 17 Hall of Fame players (Roy Campanella, Biz Mackey, Mule Suttles, Willie Wells, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, Ray Brown, Ray Dandridge, Turkey Stearnes, Leon Day, Martin Dihigo, Willie Foster, Judy Johnson, Satchel Paige, Hilton Smith, and Jud Wilson), and captured a 1939 Negro National League title with the Baltimore Elite Giants. After his death in 1981, Hughes had lain in an unmarked grave for 44 years.

Dorian Hairston (L) – Chris Jensen (R)
JMNLC Speakers

History and Mission

Since its founding in 1998, the Jerry Malloy Negro League Conference has been the only national symposium devoted exclusively to Black baseball history. Named for journalist and historian Jerry Malloy (1946–2000), the event reflects the mission of SABR’s Negro Leagues Committee, founded in 1971, to encourage research into the Negro Leagues, pre-Negro League baseball, and the broader African American impact on the game.

Founders such as Ted Knorr, Dick Clark, Larry Lester, Leslie Heaphy, and Malloy himself envisioned a forum where scholarship, storytelling, and community could meet. Their vision still guides today’s gatherings, with annual presentations, trivia contests, youth scholarships, library grants, and the ongoing Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project, which has provided headstones for more than 30 forgotten players.

The Future: Carrying the Flame

This year’s conference not only honored history but also raised questions about the future. Organizers acknowledged the challenge of drawing more diverse participants and sustaining momentum at a time when diversity initiatives are under political attack.

“The Malloy is the place where connections are made, and ideas are born,” said committee co-chair Todd Peterson. “Good trouble always has, and always will be, made here.”

Fellow co-chair James Brunson added, “The conference bridges past and present. Nothing is foreign, forbidden, or impossible with this group.”

Looking ahead, leaders emphasized Larry Lester’s “Three R’s” — Recognition, Respect, Redemption— as guiding principles for expanding the conference’s reach while ensuring that the painful history of baseball’s color line remains central to public memory.

In the words of one participant, the Malloy is not simply about baseball statistics or forgotten box scores, but about resisting historical amnesia, confronting injustice, and keeping alive the stories of the players who laid the groundwork for integration and equity in sport.

As Peterson concluded: “We are the keepers of the flame. We must be the bulwark against attempts to whitewash the past.”

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MARTA’s Transit Ambassadors Gear Up for Labor Day Travelers

MARTA’s Transit Ambassadors return this Labor Day, guiding riders through busy stations and events. Born during Super Bowl 2019, the program now prepares Atlanta for the 2026 World Cup.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | August 27, 2025

As Labor Day weekend approaches, MARTA is once again deploying its Transit Ambassadors across the rail and bus system to help guide travelers through one of Atlanta’s busiest holiday weekends. The program, which began in the lead-up to Super Bowl LIII in 2019, has grown into a cornerstone of MARTA’s customer service strategy.

The Transit Ambassador Program was born out of necessity during Atlanta’s hosting duties for the Super Bowl. With more than half a million fans navigating the city, MARTA saw an opportunity to reimagine how it welcomed riders. Staff members from across the Authority stepped into stations to offer directions, assist with Breeze cards, and provide a human connection that technology alone could not deliver. This personal touch, often missing in large transit systems, has been a key to the program’s success.

Since its inception, Transit Ambassadors have been a fixture at major events. They have guided fans during international soccer tournaments, eased congestion at concerts in State Farm Arena and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and offered reassurance to new riders during peak travel times.

“This is one of the few programs where you’ll see someone from the executive office standing next to a customer at a faregate, walking them through how to tap in,” said Jon Gordon, MARTA’s Director of Customer Engagement. “It’s a shared effort that reflects our commitment to the rider experience.”

The program stands out because it is powered by MARTA employees themselves. From finance and administration to operations and communications, staffers volunteer for shifts to serve as Ambassadors. They are equipped to troubleshoot faregate issues, guide customers through transfers, and provide quick fixes when ticket vending machines malfunction. In some cases, Ambassadors even carry complimentary tickets to keep riders moving during bottlenecks.

During the recent safety briefing at Chamblee Station, I experienced my own confusion as well as that among riders when no attendants or Ambassadors were on hand to assist. In such situations, attendants and Ambassadors play a crucial role in solving problems, guiding riders through safety procedures, providing reassurance, and ensuring a smooth flow of operations.

Although MARTA showcased its Real-Time Crime Center and Emergency Operations Center — complete with motorcycles, an armored vehicle, and drones — the lack of direct rider support left some passengers struggling at faregates and ticket vending machines.

As I wrote in The Truth Seekers Journal’s coverage of that event, MARTA is generally a safe and reliable system. Still, moments like this remind us that a missing attendant or Ambassador can leave first-time or casual riders with the impression of poor operating standards.

MARTA officials have said the long-term goal is to expand Ambassador coverage beyond major events, precisely to avoid gaps like these.

Rider feedback has helped refine the program. A recently introduced internal app allows Ambassadors to check in at stations, log issues in real time, and coordinate responses more effectively. The combination of technology and human interaction has not only made Atlanta’s transit system more accessible, but also reassured riders that their concerns are being addressed in real time.

Looking ahead, MARTA is considering expanding the program beyond special events. Plans are underway to provide Ambassador coverage during daily peak hours, ensuring regular commuters benefit from the same level of personal assistance as travelers heading to major sporting events or concerts. This expansion aims to fill the gaps in rider support and enhance the overall transit experience.

The timing is crucial. In less than a year, Atlanta will host matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an event expected to draw hundreds of thousands of international visitors. MARTA leadership sees the Ambassador program as central to its readiness plan.

“This is about more than just moving people,” Gordon said. “It’s about making them feel welcome, confident, and connected to the city.”

This Labor Day, MARTA Ambassadors will be on the ground once again — in stations, at faregates, and on platforms — helping riders reach their destinations smoothly. It is a reminder that Atlanta’s transit system is not just about trains and buses, but about the people who power them.

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