Black Legislative & Community Knowledge

Xavier Becerra, former Biden health secretary and California attorney general, has emerged as the leading candidate in California's gubernatorial primary election to replace term-limited Governor Gavin Newsom. The race to determine his November opponent remains undecided between Republican Steve Hilton, a British-American former Fox News host and David Cameron adviser, and Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer, with both candidates separated by approximately 300,000 votes. The contest, which featured over 60 candidates mostly from the Democratic party, became California's most expensive gubernatorial race after frontrunner Eric Swalwell withdrew following sexual misconduct allegations. Vote counting continues as California processes millions of mail-in ballots, a process that could extend for weeks under the state's system where each county has 30 days to finalize results and certification won't occur until July 10th.

France's National Assembly voted unanimously to repeal the Code Noir, a 1685 royal decree that governed slavery in French colonies and classified enslaved people as property, which had remarkably remained on the books for nearly two centuries after slavery's abolition. The vote, while symbolically significant, has sparked emotional debate about whether it represents genuine reckoning with France's colonial past or merely empty symbolism that avoids addressing ongoing systemic racism and inequality. Descendants of enslaved people in France's overseas departments—former slave colonies like Martinique and Guadeloupe that are now full parts of France—continue to face poverty rates and unemployment double that of mainland France, with leadership positions predominantly held by white officials. While President Macron has suggested exploring reparations, he has offered no concrete commitments, leading critics to argue that repealing an already-defunct law does little to address the persistent colonial legacy affecting nearly two million French citizens in overseas territories.

Detroit parents face a particularly challenging school selection process this year due to the closure of four Detroit Public Schools Community District schools and the potential shutdown of Barack Obama Leadership Academy. The city's complex educational landscape includes over 100 DPSCD schools and approximately 80 charter school districts, with no centralized information system covering all options. To assist families navigating this fragmented system, education reporters have compiled guidance from various experts and organizations, emphasizing the importance of identifying family priorities before beginning the search. The compiled resources include school locator tools, data dashboards, visit checklists, and enrollment requirement information to help parents make informed decisions throughout the year. # Key Takeaways