Dana James

Before you put your 2 cents in, put your 2 cents in.

open.substack.com/pub/blackiow...

So many people are checked out. They’re on auto mode.

Your name is being talked about in rooms you aren’t in because your notetaker is in there and people are trying to turn it off.

If the Bills coming out of the Iowa Legislature are any indication, I’m pretty sure Iowa is a shoo-in for the next list of the Worst States for Black Americans. #insideblackiowa

Bearing Witness: The Call for Justice at 3rd & Court Avenue blackiowanews.com/bearing-witn...

Help: Is anyone going to Sioux City, Iowa, this weekend? If so, would you be willing to drop off some newspapers there? I really want the Sioux City NAACP to have the papers before their Coretta Scott King “Her Story and Songs” concert on Tuesday. Please let me know. Thanks! #iowa #siouxcityia

History was made this morning as Renee Hardman officially became the first Black woman sworn in to the Iowa Senate. Please help us welcome Senator Hardman!

OK, how do we get back to the right timeline cause this ain’t it.

I guess we’ll have to look forward to 2027. Sigh.

Not interested in a “year in review” of anything 2025. Not now. Not ever.

Iowa is “on the frontlines of a drinking water emergency," and environmental groups say the proposed PERMIT Act "puts polluters ahead of our communities and clean water.”

New‼️The June Black Iowa Newspaper is here! It’s making its way across the state! Pick up a copy!#insideblackiowa #Juneteenth #iowa #blackiowanews 📰👏🏾

Watching coverage of No Kings rallies being held across the country and locally. The protesters have shared eloquent condemnations of the Trump administration.

I’m up in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, for my sister’s birthday. Woke up to sirens. A state rep. and her husband were killed there. A senator and his wife were shot in nearby. The shooter, a white male, reportedly wore a police uniform, shot at police, had a manifesto. We’re under a shelter in place.

The dealership almost robbed me of $3,300. Even tho it was a hassle, I followed my gut and towed the car elsewhere, and that mechanic couldn’t duplicate the problem, which is great. But I’m furious at the scummy dealership whose employees lied to me with impunity. What’s my recourse? 🤔

@shade118.bsky.social blackiowanews.com/homegrown-cr...

Traveled a thousand miles around the state delivering the March edition of the Black Iowa Newspaper, and there are some stretches that are spooky and inexplicably unnerve me. Like something terrible must have happened there. Ever have that kind of feeling about a place you’re driving through? #iowa

Sigh.

When I’m am super tired like now, random rap lyrics emerge: “But I am still thirsty. The Lord allowed me to drink some more, he said what I am searching for are the answers to all, which are in front of me . . . “ — Arrested Development’s “Tennessee.”

I find myself often thinking back to when Arya Stark eliminated the Night King and all the Wights fell along with him. It reminds me of something.

Have good news to share? New job? Scholarship? Start a business or nonprofit? Engagement? Wedding? Or something else you’re happy about? We want to include it in the next edition of the Black Iowa Newspaper❗️We could all use some ⭐️Good News! Email your ⭐️Good News to dana@blackiowanews.com! #Iowa

Liars lie. Thieves steal. You know, like they’re stealing the whole government? #sideeye

Sick of these dudes.

When the government is out to get you . . . 👀

If January doesn’t hurry up and get the #$@&%*! out of here.

“I blame the Iowa Democratic Party. We knew what Republicans were: good people, fiscal conservatives, having laissez-faire ideology. The problem is their extremists took over the state and we didn’t stop them,” guest columnist Dave Nagle writes. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/01/23/o...

This is straight up the January of our discontent.

Started watching the Vikings game with the hubby & after an early fumble I said, “Oh, wow.” Out loud. I guess that was a cardinal sin after his death glare and attitudinal response. So I began silently and vehemently rooting against them. Y’all Vikings fans better hope he apologizes. 😆🤣

blackiowanews.com/need-clothin...

‼️ #climatechange

This is going to be a year of many things but right now it’s the year of the eye roll. 🙄.

New post: Rachel Bruns recaps what changed in Iowa's maternal health policies last year, and what should happen to improve access to care in 2025. www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/01/08/i...

Has anyone else said 2025 seems to be setting itself up to be pure garbage because if not . . .

I simultaneously don’t feel excited about NYE or 2025 anything, but lowkey plan to read more books and maybe go back to school.

How you know you’re an adult: It’s XMAS Day. Almost 2 p.m. We’re still sitting around… talking about the incoming regime, DEI, immigration and the price of eggs. Haven’t opened any gifts yet because it took all of our strength to wrap them last night 🤣 so we gotta make it last a little longer. LOL.

I’m contemplating telling my family members to close their eyes before I hand them unwrapped gifts. Don’t feel like wrapping anything. I can slap a bow on there. That’s about it. 😭

What #DEI is really about. blackiowanews.com/diversity-eq...

Unpopular opinion: it’s $ followed by the dollar amount, not 1$. Idc.

OPINION: Democrats: We lost — Where is our leadership? #trump #democrats #insideblackiowa

Black Iowa News had a great first virtual statewide call today. If you missed it, scan the QR code to join next week’s call at noon Dec. 18. #insideblackiowa

Matthew Bruce writes: “Many of us will be shocked to learn in the coming months just how many Black people, primarily poor and disenfranchised Black people, are supportive of Trump’s immigration rhetoric.” #Trump #blackvoters #iowa #immigration blackiowanews.com/the-allure-o...

64° in December in Des Moines, Iowa. Lovely.

“You go in those spaces, and no one looks like you. There’s an assumption that you have to have certain attire and equipment to practice.” ✋🏾Not true, say Black Iowa yoga and Pilates instructors. blackiowanews.com/closing-the-... blackiowanews.com/closing-the-... #addtoblacksky #blacksky