• News

by Selena Hill

August 20, 2026

NAACP Launches Health Equity Map That Tracks How Race And Zip Codes Impact Quality Of Life

The interactive map reveals how much of an impact your zip code has on getting access to healthy food, quality healthcare, clean air, and fresh water

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Where you live can determine how quickly you reach a hospital, whether fresh food is within easy reach, and even the quality of the water coming from your tap. Now, the NAACP wants to make those disparities impossible to ignore.

The civil rights organization, in collaboration with global healthcare company Sanofi, has launched Black Communities’ Health: In Plain Sight, an interactive health equity map that translates data from nearly 23,000 residents about the conditions shaping their health across America. The data spans nearly 4,000 ZIP codes in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The map makes it possible for users to examine how race, gender, and geography intersect with access to healthy food, quality healthcare, culturally responsive providers, safe neighborhoods, clean air and water, and stable housing.

“Black communities have always known what they face,” Dr. Chris Pernell, director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity, said in a statement, according to AfroTech. “Now, nearly 23,000 voices have made their insights undeniable.”

The map is built from the ACE Your Health Community Wellness Survey, conducted between January and September 2025. Its findings illustrate the economic consequences of unequal infrastructure and access. While 63% of respondents reported living with at least one chronic condition, just 28% of respondents earning less than $20,000 lived within five to 10 minutes of a quality hospital. The survey also found that only 38% of lower-income respondents had a grocery store within five minutes, compared with 56% of households earning more than $100,000.

The data paints a picture Black communities have been living with for generations: proximity, affordability, and quality do not always travel together.

“ZIP codes too often determine our health outcomes,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said. “Those we elect to local and federal office have utterly failed to address this crisis, so we’re making it impossible to deny.”

The NAACP plans to pair the map with its ACE Your Health Literacy Toolkit and community-based advocacy efforts, helping residents conduct neighborhood health audits and push institutions to respond.

RELATED CONTENT: NAACP Launches $20M Midterm Campaign To Mobilize Black Voters Following Voting Rights Ruling

• Sports

by Adedamola Agboola

August 20, 2026

Meet Willy T. Ribbs, The Black Race Car Driver Who Broke The Indy 500 Color Barrier

Ribbs' biographical movie is titled, "Uppity."

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The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., brings the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the National Mall for the first time on Aug. 22–23, 2026. Set against landmarks like the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, the free, two-day motorsports festival blends world-class racing with a historic celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. As history and sports car racing intersect, it’s fitting to revisit the legacy of Willy T. Ribbs.  

For more than a century, only two African Americans have raced in any of the 102 runnings of the Indianapolis 500, deemed “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”: Ribbs in 1991 and George Mack in 2002.

On Breaking the Indy 500 Color Barrier: Ribbs Was Just Trying to ‘Win Races’ 

The event, held over the Memorial Day weekend, is contested as part of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the highest level of American racing. In 1985, when Ribbs, now 70 years old, made a first attempt at qualifying for the Indy 500 in what the Undefeated described as “a sub-par Miller Beer March 85C,” he ran 48 laps with a best speed of 172.2 mph. Although Ribbs withdrew from the race, he still made history by becoming the first African American driver to circle the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval.

“I have no feeling at all about [breaking Indy 500’s color barrier],” he told the Undefeated. “I was trying to do what the other drivers were trying to do—win races. I did not become a race driver to break any color barriers. The only color barrier I was interested in breaking was the checkered flag.”

Apparently, Ribbs’ withdrawal from the race may have saved his life. As explained to the Undefeated, “The flawed Miller Beer March 85C engine was a hand-me-down” from one of the rookie drivers in the race. The windscreen that makes air go over the cockpit was not large enough. Instead of the air flowing over the cockpit, it blew into Ribbs’ face, resulting in Ribbs “constantly shaking his head left to right” while driving around the tracks.

He made bigger news that same year when he became the first African American to drive a Formula One car. The next year, he drove for Dan Gurney in the International Motor Sport Association GT Championship series, where he won four races. He won 17 races in total for Gurney and Roush Fenway Racing in the Trans-Am Series. In 1991, he finally qualified for, and ran in the Indy 500, thanks in part to a car partially funded by Bill Cosby.

After Ribb’s run, he expected corporate sponsorships, which never materialized because his confident attitude was mistaken for arrogance, he said.

“If I would’ve been step-n-fetch, a shuffling house boy, that would not have changed anything. Their weak cop-out for the real reason doesn’t carry any weight. They were scared. You have to consider that I broke the stereotype glass that Black men weren’t mentally capable of driving a race car, being a front-driving race car driver. Lewis Hamilton further destroyed that myth, being a four-time [Formula One] world champion and the second-winningest driver in history. Between myself and Lewis Hamilton, all of that has been tossed in the trash can. I’m not bitter. They were stupid.”

Data from an IndyCar survey found 69 million self-declared IndyCar fans worldwide, 79% of whom are white and 66% male.

Ribbs, who is unapologetic about his attitude, returned to Indianapolis on Saturday to promote Uppity, his biographical movie about his life and struggles to compete in the highest level of auto racing.

“The sport has got to want diversity first of all,” Ribbs told Reuters. “Whether it is IndyCar or NASCAR, if you want diversity in your sport, you will get it. And if you don’t want it, you won’t have it.”

RELATED CONTENT: Michael Jordan Motorsports on the Track to Success

• Money

by Sidnee Michelle

August 20, 2026

New Bill Could Unlock $35K For 1st-Time Homebuyers

Sens. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced the First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act on Aug. 4.

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A bipartisan bill in Congress could give first-time homebuyers another way to overcome one of the biggest obstacles to homeownership: saving enough money for a down payment, Fast Company reports.

Sens. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced the First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act on Aug. 4. The legislation would allow people to transfer up to $35,000 in unused savings from a 529 education savings account to help purchase their first home without paying a penalty.

529 plans are state-administered, tax-advantaged accounts designed to help families save for education expenses. Unused funds can generally be put toward other eligible education costs, student loan payments, or, under certain requirements, transferred to a retirement account.

The proposed legislation would add a first-home purchase as another eligible use, potentially giving families greater flexibility with money remaining after education expenses are covered.

“Across Colorado, too many young people and working families struggle to afford their first home,” Bennet said. “This bill would allow first-time homebuyers to use the savings they already have to cover a down payment and help put homeownership within reach.”

The proposal comes as high housing costs continue to make homeownership difficult for many Americans. As the outlet reported, existing federal rules already allow first-time homebuyers to withdraw up to $10,000 from an individual retirement account without the typical early-withdrawal penalty for a qualifying home purchase. The proposed 529 provision would raise the potential pool of available funds to $35,000 without requiring buyers to tap retirement savings.

“I’m focused on helping working families get ahead and making life more affordable,” Husted said. “By freeing up existing resources, I’m proud this bipartisan bill gives first-time homebuyers another tool to use in pursuing their version of the American Dream.”

The Senate legislation has a bipartisan companion bill in the House. Reps. Tom Barrett, R-Mich.; Tracey Mann, R-Kan.; Mark Alford, R-Mo.; and Lou Correa, D-Calif., introduced the House version.

The proposal would still need congressional approval before the new 529 provision could take effect.

RELATED CONTENT: Mortgage Rates Drop To Lowest In A Month As Refinancing Demand Climbs

• Education

by Sidnee Michelle

August 19, 2026

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Suspends Entire School Board Amid $20M Deficit

The district's financial crisis prompted the state to provide emergency payroll assistance.

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Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has suspended all seven members of the Dublin City Schools Board of Education as the district works to recover from a roughly $20 million deficit that prompted state financial assistance and put its accreditation at risk, WSB-TV reports.

Kemp signed an executive order Aug. 17, suspending the entire board after the Georgia Board of Education unanimously recommended the action, according to the outlet.

The state board voted 10-0 last week to recommend suspending all seven members with pay following a hearing over the district’s financial problems. The decision placed the final determination in Kemp’s hands.

The district’s financial crisis prompted the state to provide emergency payroll assistance. Dublin City Schools has since taken steps to reduce expenses, including eliminating dozens of staff positions and shortening its school calendar.

State officials had previously attempted to hold a hearing on the board’s future in June, but no decision was reached. The matter returned to the Georgia Board of Education on Aug.12, when state officials and representatives of Dublin City Schools presented their cases before the board voted on the suspensions.

Kemp’s executive order also establishes a committee that will appoint temporary replacements to the Dublin City Schools Board of Education.

Georgia Board of Education member Matt Donaldson will chair the committee. State Rep. Matt Hatchett, state Sen. Larry Walker, former Dublin Mayor Phil Best, and community member Edwin May will also serve on the panel, the outlet reports.

The temporary board members will assume leadership responsibilities as Dublin City Schools continues efforts to stabilize its finances following the deficit and address concerns surrounding its accreditation.

The suspension marks the latest state action involving the district after its financial problems led to emergency assistance, staffing reductions, and changes to the school calendar.

RELATED CONTENT: Local Leaders Call Georgia’s New Nonpartisan Election Law Racist

• Career

by Sidnee Michelle

August 19, 2026

Unemployment Benefits Could Help You Boss Up

Self-Employment Assistance programs allow eligible unemployment recipients to focus full-time on starting businesses.

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Workers who lose their jobs in several states may be able to collect unemployment benefits while launching their own businesses instead of immediately searching for another job, Founder Brew reports.

Self-Employment Assistance programs allow eligible unemployment recipients to focus full-time on starting businesses while continuing to receive weekly payments equivalent to regular unemployment benefits.

Participants can also receive entrepreneurial training, business counseling, and technical assistance.

Agencies in Oregon, Washington, Mississippi, New York, and New Hampshire confirmed they currently operate active versions of the program.

The federal Self-Employment Assistance program was authorized under the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act of 1993.

Congress later permanently authorized the program in 1998. States may opt in, but must establish their own programs under federal requirements.

Unlike traditional unemployment insurance, which generally requires recipients to search for work, Self-Employment Assistance participants can devote their time to establishing a business. Participants may also be able to continue receiving benefits while earning income from their new businesses, depending on their state’s program.

Eligibility requirements vary.

New York, for example, requires participants to complete at least 20 hours of entrepreneurial training and meet with a business counselor at least twice. Applicants must first qualify for regular unemployment benefits before they can be considered for a self-employment program.

Washington considers factors including an applicant’s occupation, education, and location when determining eligibility.

“The range of ages and experience and personal characteristics is all over the board,” Gary Long, a supervisor for Washington’s program, told the outlet.

Long said a major consideration is whether an applicant is likely to “find a replacement job before exhausting their benefits.”

Workers in occupations with strong employment prospects may therefore be less likely to qualify. Washington’s approved occupations this year have included project management specialists, computer and information systems managers, business operations specialists, and urban and regional planners.

The criteria can change as regional economists and workforce development officials evaluate labor market conditions, Long said.

For eligible unemployed workers, the programs offer another route back into the workforce — not by finding a new employer, but by potentially becoming one.

RELATED CONTENT: Nearly 2 Million Americans Face Long-Term Unemployment Despite Lower Jobless Rate

• Women

by Edwian Stokes

August 19, 2026

Claiming The Ring And The Purse: Claressa Shields Redefined The Business Of Boxing

Flint’s self-proclaimed 'GWOAT' turned championship success into seven-figure earnings and financial independence.

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In the long, fraught history of American prizefighting, Black athletes have routinely supplied the blood and sweat while institutional gatekeepers extracted the equity. Claressa Shields is dismantling that legacy. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and multidivision undisputed champion is not simply winning fights. She is forcing combat sports to re-evaluate the price of Black women’s excellence.

The Price of Dominance

In her relentless pursuit of wage parity, Shields became the highest-paid female boxer after signing a multifight promotional contract worth at least $8 million with Salita Promotions and Wynn Records, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported. The two-year agreement guarantees multimillion-dollar compensation and includes an upfront signing bonus. It sets a new standard for women’s boxing purses.

In her most recent fight on Aug. 15 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Shields earned a guaranteed $500,000 purse, according to state athletic commission records. She moved down 38 pounds from heavyweight and defeated Kaye Scott by sixth-round technical knockout, reclaiming the WBA and WBC middleweight titles.

As she noted in an interview with The Guardian, “I knew that once I made $1 million, I knew that women’s sports was changing. All of us are packing arenas, all of us have great brands, and we have great fans who want to support us.”

Her financial drive mirrors her credentials, which include two Olympic gold medals and undisputed titles across three weight divisions. Speaking with DAZN News, Shields reinforced her economic posture: “I believe I should be getting paid $5, $10, $15 million a fight.”

Shields’ career prize fight earnings exceed $5 million, according to Sports Illustrated. This denotes a significant correction in a sport that has historically underfunded women. She has persistently advocated for pay that reflects her achievements, saying, “I’ve fought my entire career to prove that women’s boxing deserves equal respect, equal pay, and equal opportunity.”

Craft, Culture, and Capital

Shields’ focus has been visible from the start. Her longtime trainer, Jason Crutchfield, who has coached her since age 11 at Berston Fieldhouse in Flint, Michigan, emphasizes that her financial leverage comes from tactical skill and discipline. Crutchfield recalls encouraging Shields to let her performance speak for itself, certain that her talent would command promoters’ attention.

Her promotional team recognized Shields’ unique crossover appeal. Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions, praised her contract for creating a new standard in combining sports, entertainment, and corporate sponsorship to build a fighter’s career.

“Every one of Claressa’s fights is historic,” Salita declared ahead of her Atlanta showcase, calling her draw power a milestone for combat sports.

Ownership as the Ultimate Title

Black Enterprise has closely chronicled her financial ascent and athletic exploits, spotlighting her tactical brilliance and weight transition as she captured two middleweight titles. Outside the ring, her move into executive ownership demonstrates a broader movement among Black athletes taking control of their commercial narratives. As detailed by Essence, Shields established Claressa Shields Promotions to manage her own portfolio and support the next generation of pugilists in brand monetization and financial empowerment.

As BE reported during her induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, Shields commands authority across disciplines, seamlessly pairing boxing championships with multiyear MMA contracts in the Professional Fighters League.

Shields’ approach offers clear lessons: advocate for your worth in contract discussions, seek out opportunities for ownership or leadership in your field, and invest in the skills and relationships that create long-term value. By asserting her value in negotiations and expanding into promotional management, Shields sets a modern example for sports enterprise. She demonstrates that genuine championship power is measured by ownership, leverage, and lasting equity, not just titles.

RELATED CONTENT: Claressa Shields Chops It Up With Fans Ahead Of Historic ATL Fight

• Business

by Sidnee Michelle

August 19, 2026

Master P Wants To Take Rap Snacks Public And Create Investment Opportunities

The entrepreneur connected Rap Snacks' potential expansion to a larger push for Black business ownership.

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Master P wants to take Rap Snacks public, a move the rapper and entrepreneur says could create investment opportunities for Black consumers and help address the racial wealth gap, according to AfroTech.

Master P, whose legal name is Percy Miller, is a limited partner in Rap Snacks and maintains a stake in the company, AfroTech reported. He also recently discussed the brand’s future with Forbes, saying an initial public offering could be the company’s next step, although no final decision has been made.

“Our next goal is to go public,” Master P told Forbes. “The next level is taking the company public. We ain’t decide yet, but that’s something.”

Master P said the potential move could allow consumers who have supported Rap Snacks to become investors and participate financially in the company’s growth.

“We have to show our people how to bridge the wealth gap,” he said. “If we take this company public, then now we get the local people in the community, the culture to be able to invest into this brand, and then they make money with us, we make it together.”

Rap Snacks was founded in 1994. The company has built its brand around hip-hop culture through products and partnerships featuring rappers and other entertainers. Rap Snacks products are available in 40 cities and national retail chains, including Walmart, Kroger, Sam’s Club, and Target, according to the outlet.

Master P also pointed to the challenges Black-owned businesses face in securing retail shelf space and achieving long-term sustainability.

“For James to have the Rap Snacks and for us to be partners and the adversity that we went through, when you look at an African American-owned business, it’s all about shelving space, and it’s all about sustainability,” he said of its founder.

“And look, after 30 years, still here.”

The entrepreneur connected Rap Snacks’ potential expansion to a larger push for Black business ownership and representation among the nation’s biggest companies.

“How do you build these Fortune 500 companies?” Master P said. “So, we want to change that narrative.”

RELATED CONTENT: Master P Is Eyeing Head Coaching Position At Arizona State

• Technology

by Sidnee Michelle

August 19, 2026

Scammers Are Using AI, Making It Harder For Elders To Peep Fraud

Experts told the outlet that elder fraud is underreported, suggesting the actual financial toll could be higher.

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Artificial intelligence is giving scammers new tools to target older Americans, adding another financial and emotional burden for adults already caring for aging parents and their own children, USA Today reports. Americans 60 and older filed more than 200,000 cybercrime elder fraud complaints with the FBI in 2025, reporting nearly $8 billion in losses.

Experts told the outlet that elder fraud is underreported, suggesting the actual financial toll could be higher.

The growing threat is particularly concerning for members of the “sandwich generation,” adults simultaneously caring for children and aging parents. Some caregivers are now monitoring their parents’ bank accounts, phone calls, text messages, and mail to help prevent fraud.

Clayton LiaBraaten, senior executive spokesperson for caller ID and spam-blocking app Truecaller, told the outlet that scammers are using AI to identify potential victims and exploit personal information.

In one recent case, a widow lost more than $7,000 after scammers claimed they had worked with her late husband to conceal tax evasion. They told her she needed to pay them to protect what remained of her inheritance.

Using AI, scammers are “scouring obituaries and looking for vulnerabilities,” LiaBraaten said. “It’s so disgusting, I can barely keep my cool about it.”

AI can allow criminals to research potential victims, develop personalized scripts, and generate deepfake images, voices, and videos, according to LiaBraaten. The technology can also enable scammers to make thousands of calls simultaneously.

Ian Bednowitz, general manager at identity theft protection service LifeLock, experienced the effects of elder fraud after his mother’s paid caregiver stole her identity in 2016 and opened fraudulent loans and credit cards.

“I was already under financial stress, taking care of my mom,” Bednowitz said. “I can’t tell you the despair and weight that I felt.”

Cybersecurity expert and author Patrick Coughlin said the consequences can extend beyond financial losses. Shame can cause victims to delay disclosing fraud, potentially allowing scammers to steal more money.

Bednowitz urged families to prioritize financial and data security alongside physical and mental health.

“Don’t wait until something happens, because then it’s a lot harder to resolve,” he said. “Make sure that you’re protecting all of their data, not just their physical and mental health.”

RELATED CONTENT: FTC Warns Senior Fraud Losses Soared In 2024

• Contributor Network

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 19, 2026

Doing The Most Without The Title? Turn Extra Work Into Your Next Promotion

Don’t let a temporary opportunity quietly become your permanent job description.

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Dear Fairygodmentor®,

I’ve Been Doing My Boss’s Job All Summer While They’re Out. How Do I Ask To Be Paid—or Promoted—for It?

–Doing The Most

Dear Doing The Most,

Congratulations!!!

No seriously.

Someone trusted you with a ton of responsibilities above your pay grade. That’s usually good news.

The question isn’t whether you can do the work.

It’s whether this opportunity is actually leading somewhere.

The Opportunity Test

Not every stretch assignment deserves your stretch. Ask yourself four questions:

1. Is this temporary…or permanent? There’s a huge difference between “Can you cover while she’s on maternity leave?” and “Can you just keep doing this?” Temporary opportunities build resumes. Permanent “temporary” just builds resentment.

2. Are you learning…or just carrying? This one’s huge. 

If you’re: 

• leading meetings

• making decisions

• presenting to executives

• managing relationships

• learning budgeting

that’s leadership experience.

If you’re simply doing twice the work…that’s workload. Those aren’t the same thing.

3. Does leadership actually see it? If nobody knows you’re doing it…it doesn’t exist. Visibility matters. You’re not bragging. I’m talking about visibility. As Muhummad Ali said “It ain’t braggin’ if it’s the truth.” I share this sentiment in my book Show Your Ask. It shouldn’t sound like “Look what I did.” Instead, it should sound like, “I’d love to share what I’ve learned while leading this project.”

4. Is there an exit strategy? This is where most people get stuck. 

Ask:

“What does success look like?”

“When will responsibilities transition back?”

“How will this experience factor into future opportunities?”

If nobody can answer…that’s information.

Don’t let a temporary opportunity quietly become your permanent job description.

The Career Investment Test

Every extra assignment is one of the two things.

A Career Investment

It gives you:

• new skills

• visibility

• relationships

• measurable wins

• promotion stories

OR

Career Debt

You invest time.

Your company collects interest. 

You get tired.

Nothing changes.

So when should you ask?

It shouldn’t sound like “I’ve been working really hard.”  Instead, it should sound like “I’ve successfully led X over the past three months, improved Y, reduced Z, and I’d love to discuss how this experience positions me for future leadership opportunities.”

That’s a completely different conversation. You’re not asking for gratitude. You’re simply presenting evidence. Facts, not feelings.

Never confuse being indispensable with being irreplaceable. Indispensable employees often get more work. Irreplaceable leaders get more opportunities. 

Be like the Beyoncé song; be Irreplaceable.

You got this!

Sincerely,

Your Fairygodmentor®

About Joyel Crawford

Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and the founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that develops empowered, results-driven leaders through engaging leadership development coaching, training, and facilitation. 

Have a question about handling a micromanager? Are you having difficulty navigating spaces because of your hair? Is work stressing you out? Do you need support coaching poor performance, or are you wondering how to negotiate and get the job offer you desire effectively? Do you have any questions about career and leadership development? 

Ask Your FairyGodMentor® here.