Internet & Culture Archives – The Kansas City Defender

Collage of Keke Palmer, Halle Bailey, Cassie Ventura, and Megan Thee Stallion.

Behind the Glitz and Glamour: Black Women and Abuse

By Kayla Sydnor ● Editorial ● July 3, 2025

On July 2, Sean “Diddy” Combs was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges. Despite overwhelming evidence against Diddy, the outcome is yet another example of how our justice system, and our culture at large, continue to fail Black women.

Latest in Internet & Culture

Unhinged Lee’s Summit School Board Member Unleashes Conspiracy-Laden Facebook Post Attacking Black Parents & Journalist

By Ryan S. ● Education ● February 19, 2025

Lee’s Summit School Board Vice President Heather Eslick unleashed a race-fueled, conspiracy-laden attack against Black parents and The Kansas City Defender’s Editor. But this isn’t new—it’s part of a long history of white supremacist fear-mongering and coded dog-whistles. Here’s why we won’t be silent.

Baseless & Debunked Right-Wing Conspiracy Claims Janeen DiGuiseppi of FBI Orchestrated Trump Assassination Attempt

By Ryan S. ● Disinformation Watch ● July 19, 2024

A debunked conspiracy theory falsely claims the Trump assassination attempt was an inside job by the FBI’s Janeen DiGuiseppi. Discover the truth behind this baseless right-wing narrative and its rapid spread on Elon Musk’s platform.

Tyler Perry Halts $800 Million Studio Expansion Due to “Mind-Blowing AI Video Generation Tool,” Expects Massive Job Loss

By Ryan S. ● Internet & Culture ● February 24, 2024

Tyler Perry halts a massive studio expansion, spotlighting the harmful, labor-displacing potential of AI technology like OpenAI’s Sora. In a an unexpected move, Perry, a mega-capitalist, urges the entertainment industry to brace for a future where AI’s allure clashes with human livelihood.

Unbelievably Real-Looking AI Video Model Sparks Intense AI Ethics Debate

By Ryan S. ● Technology ● February 20, 2024

OpenAI’s latest model, Sora, transforms text into hyperrealistic videos, igniting a firestorm of debate over AI ethics, the protection of creative labor, and the potential for misuse in an already volatile digital landscape.

Exposing the Propagandists: How Disinformation Fuels White Supremacy and Targets Black Communities

By Victoria Rollins ● Internet & Culture ● February 14, 2024

Facing the architects of disinformation head-on, this piece explores the mechanisms through which white supremacy in media is maintained. From the pillars that fortify the foundations of racism to the sanitizers who erase Black liberation struggles from history, discover the forces at play.

Behind the Glitz and Glamour: Black Women and Abuse

Latest in Internet & Culture

Unhinged Lee’s Summit School Board Member Unleashes Conspiracy-Laden Facebook Post Attacking Black Parents & Journalist

Baseless & Debunked Right-Wing Conspiracy Claims Janeen DiGuiseppi of FBI Orchestrated Trump Assassination Attempt

Tyler Perry Halts $800 Million Studio Expansion Due to “Mind-Blowing AI Video Generation Tool,” Expects Massive Job Loss

Unbelievably Real-Looking AI Video Model Sparks Intense AI Ethics Debate

Exposing the Propagandists: How Disinformation Fuels White Supremacy and Targets Black Communities

A Black queer archive is being established in Kansas City; attend the {B/qKC} Launch Party

Not A Social Media Phenomenon: The Roots of Disinformation As An Anti-Black Weapon

Kansas City’s Conductor Williams Produces Lead Single for Drake’s New Album

Tory Lanez Sentencing–What the Community Can Learn from This