Cassandra Wilson, Jazz Voice Who Gave "Strange Fruit" New Power, Dies at 70

Sultry and Socially Conscious Jazz Legend Cassandra Wilson Dies At 70

Wilson at the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, NYC, 2007
Photo Credit Professor Bop

Cassandra Wilson, the Grammy Award-winning singer whose Mississippi blues roots shaped one of the most distinctive voices in modern jazz, died Tuesday, September 1st in Jackson, Mississippi, according to Hinds County Coroner Jeramiah Howard.  Jeramiah Howard, confirmed her death at age 70; officials released no cause.

Wilson built her legacy as a musician who moved fluidly across genres, opening for Miles Davis and touring with Wynton Marsalis during a run of major jazz success through the 1980s and '90s. She embraced the title of musician above any single label, a stance that let her carry blues, folk, and soul into jazz spaces and expand who the genre could reach.

Her low, smoky voice brought fresh romance to Great American Songbook standards while she pulled covers from Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Neil Young, and Mississippi bluesman Robert Johnson into her repertoire, proving remarkably popular in decades when jazz lost mass audience share to rock and rap.

Wilson's rendition of "Strange Fruit" stands as one of her most powerful contributions to American music and memory. Billie Holiday's original recording exposed the horror of lynching in the Jim Crow South, and Wilson's version, with its slow-burning alto and spacious arrangement, carried that history forward for new listeners decades later. She turned the song into a bridge between generations, connecting the anti-lynching movement of the 20th century to ongoing conversations about racial violence today.

Checkout the Strange Fruit Video Below...

Marketplace With All Black-Owned Products Celebrates One Year in Business

Founder of Virginia’s First and Only Marketplace That Sells All Black-Owned Products Celebrates One Year in Business

In February 2025, Black on Black Market officially opened its doors in Norfolk, Virginia, marking a historic milestone as the only Black-owned retail space in the state dedicated exclusively to housing Black-owned brands.

Founded by Tree Kelty, Black on Black Market was created as both a physical marketplace and a cultural statement — one rooted in economic empowerment, narrative reclamation, and collective progress. The space opened despite early resistance and neighborhood opposition that challenged its presence before it ever welcomed its first customer.

Rather than deterring the vision, that adversity clarified the mission.

“The name Black on Black Market is intentional,” said Kelty. “I’ve always rejected the phrase ‘Black on Black crime’ — because it doesn’t exist. Crime is crime. That phrase has been used to criminalize our communities and strip power from us. I wanted to take that language and flip it into something that represents unity, ownership, and purpose.”

THE THREE GEORGES: A New Lens on the Revolutionary War — And the Black Patriot Who Represents Thousands Coming Into the Light

THE THREE GEORGES: A New Lens on the Revolutionary War — And the Black Patriot Who Represents Thousands Coming Into the Light

United States — National Freedom Day Foundation (501(c)(3)) — The Revolutionary War’s 250th anniversary has already passed, yet one of its most powerful truths is only now being restored.  Author Venita Maria Benitez releases The Three Georges: “3GS” 1776–1783 Revolutionary War (Commemorative Edition) — a warm, hopeful, and deeply human retelling of America’s founding years that finally brings George Key, a free Black Patriot, into the light where he always belonged.

For generations, America taught us about two Georges: George Washington and King George III.

But the story was never meant to be told in twos.

In this commemorative edition, all three Georges stand together — Washington, King George III, and George Key, the Black Patriot whose courage and presence shaped the Revolutionary War era but was left out of the nation’s memory.

And George Key is not standing alone. He represents thousands of Black Patriots whose names, stories, and sacrifices are finally coming into the light.

Two-Thirds of Black Consumers Pay More Attention to Ads That Reflect Their Culture

Nielsen: Two-Thirds of Black Consumers Pay More Attention to Ads That Reflect Their Culture

The Majority of Those Surveyed Prefer to Buy Brands Who Advertise in Content That Reflect Their Culture

A new, exclusive study from Nielsen reveals that the majority of Black audiences (67%) surveyed pay more attention to ads in media that reflect their culture. In addition, Black audiences demonstrate loyalty and trust to the brands and influencers they believe in compared to other segments.

52% of Black audiences agreed they’re more likely to purchase when a brand partners with creators connected to their fandoms and interests compared to 45% overall. The “The Black Influence: How Black Culture & Identity Drive the Market” leverages Nielsen insights to underscore the profound cultural and commercial power of Black audiences.

This marks the 15th year Nielsen has released its Diverse Intelligence Series reports, as Nielsen’s nationwide panel of more than 100,000 people representative of the US population gives it the unique ability to produce nuanced insights on a range of demographics and identities.

Alabama’s First Black Woman-Founded College Expands

Alabama’s First Black Woman-Founded College Expands With New High School Division for Neurodiverse and Non-Traditional Students

Shakea Miller, the first African American woman to found a privately owned, degree-granting college in the state of Alabama, 1 on 1 Technical & Theological College, has announced a major institutional expansion with the launch of a high school division specifically designed to serve students with learning differences and those underserved by traditional education models.

The new high school division will host its first day of classes on January 5, addressing a long-standing gap Miller identified while operating the college.

“Over the years, we had to turn away far too many people who wanted to enroll in our trade and degree programs but did not have a GED or high school diploma,” Miller explained. “I knew there had to be a better solution.”

That solution became the creation of a high school pathway housed within the college itself, one that serves students with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences, as well as students who struggle with the traditional seven-hour school day.

Black-Owned Payroll Company Celebrates 9 Years in Business

HBCU Grad Marks 9-Year Milestone as Owner of a Black-Owned Payroll Company

Bryon Jennings, Founder and CEO of Next Generation Payroll, is celebrating nine years of sustained growth while expanding his national footprint in the PEO services industry. His company provides comprehensive payroll, HR outsourcing, and business insurance solutions, and has expanded its capabilities to include full PEO services through its Employer of Record (EOR) model. Serving clients coast to coast, the expansion into PEO services places the company on a trajectory toward multi-million-dollar growth as demand for comprehensive workforce solutions continues to rise.

Jennings, a graduate of Prairie View A&M University, says his company reflects the discipline and leadership principles instilled through HBCU excellence. Over the past nine years, Next Generation Payroll has evolved from a traditional payroll provider into a comprehensive workforce infrastructure partner.

In addition to payroll processing, the company now delivers HR outsourcing, workers’ compensation administration, benefits management, and business insurance solutions through its partnership with E-Comp Insurance. Through its Employer of Record (EOR) platform, Next Generation Payroll competes directly in the PEO services space, helping businesses eliminate operational land mines, minimize multi-state tax exposure, and reduce turnover. The company also provides leadership training and organizational development strategies designed to strengthen workplace continuity and long-term scalability.

Get The Scoop On The 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month for the New York Metropolitan Area

ICYMI: LIAACC Nassau County Director Announces 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month for the New York Metropolitan Area

Month-Long Initiative Will Celebrate Minority-Owned Businesses, Economic Empowerment, Innovation, Leadership, and Regional Opportunity

GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK — In case you missed it, Ann Dumay, Nassau County Director of the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (LIAACC), has announced the chamber’s 2026 Minority Enterprise Development Month initiative for minority entrepreneurs, professionals, community leaders, corporations, government agencies, and business-support organizations throughout the New York metropolitan area.

The 2026 celebration will recognize the accomplishments, resilience, innovation, and economic contributions of minority-owned businesses across Nassau County, Suffolk County, New York City, and the surrounding region.

This year’s theme is: “Building Legacy, Expanding Opportunity, and Advancing Minority Enterprise”

Minority Enterprise Development Month will feature business education, networking, recognition programs, access-to-capital discussions, procurement information, leadership development, technical assistance, and opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with corporate, government, nonprofit, and community partners.