New York’s Working Families Party Rejects Mamdani’s Choice For Congress, Backs Antonio Reynoso
Working Families Party Director Jasmine Gripper says Reynoso “has the record of delivering for our communities.”
New York’s Working Families Party stepped over Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s handpicked Congressional candidate to show their support of Brooklyn’s own Antonio Reynoso for the Democratic House primary, The New York Times reports.
Working Families Party Director Jasmine Gripper said Reynoso, Brooklyn’s chapter president, “has the record of delivering for our communities. That put him head and shoulders above others, and got him the overwhelming majority of the vote.”
Looking to represent New York’s 7th District, covering Brooklyn and Queens, Reynoso is running against Queens City Council Member Julie Won and Assemblymember Claire Valdez, who has garnered Mamdani’s support.
They’re trying to replace Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, who announced her retirement in November 2025.
Gripper called Reynoso “deeply trusted,” according to BK Reader, and “the best candidate to fight for working families in Washington D.C., and build a movement strong enough to defeat the forces of authoritarianism.
“We know that as a member of Congress, he will lead the fights to protect immigrants, stand up for tenants, stand arm-in-arm with labor, and make New York a place where working families can afford to live and thrive.”
Morris Katz, a top Mamdani adviser and a worker on Valdez’s campaign, downplayed the endorsement, highlighting how the new mayor faced similar challenges and the outcome worked in his favor.
“Personal relationships and institutional connections play a significant role in these kinds of decisions,” Katz said. “But voters understand the urgent need to fundamentally change who has power in this country, and because of that, Claire Valdez will be a member of Congress come next year.”
Reynoso doesn’t take the endorsement lightly.
“Since my time as an organizer and from the beginning of my time in public office, we have worked together on critical issues for working families in this city like affordable housing, universal childcare, and supporting our immigrant communities,” said Reynoso, who grew up in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. “Together, we will take our fight to Washington, stand up for Brooklyn and Queens, hold the line against Donald Trump, and deliver real wins for the working class.”
Lighting The Path For 20 Years Of The Women Of Power Summit, As Shared By One of The Women Behind It
Black Enterprise's Deputy Chief Content Officer, Alisa Gumbs, talks the 20th anniversary of its famed Women of Power Summit.
As BLACK ENTERPRISE celebrates the 20th anniversary of its Women of Power 2026 Summit, no one is more excited than the women behind the barrier-breaking event.
Alisa Gumbs has been working on the annual occasion since 2015, now leading its programming for a fifth year. As the Women of Power Summit reaches this milestone, Gumbs reflects on all it has become over the years.
“The summit is women who are all incredibly amazing in their own right and incredibly accomplished, and they’ve come together to work on themselves and to pour into each other in a way that is just so generous with their experience, wisdom, and their lessons,” she tells BE.
Gumbs was a copy editor for Black Enterprise magazine when the Women of Power Summit held its first gathering. As she soared in her career with the publication, now serving as Vice President and Deputy Chief Content Officer at BE, so did the annual event. Graduating from attendee to organizer, Gumbs feels honored to carry the tradition into a new era.
She added, ”We’re creating a safe space in order to help other women navigate the challenges and the obstacles that we all face, and really make it to wherever they’re trying to make it to, mostly in corporate America.”
Every year in March, the same excitement that she felt her first time walking the Summit’s mainstage hits her. With more than 2,000 trailblazing women at all levels of their careers expected this year, Gumbs wants to raise the stakes and the impact felt amongst its esteemed cohort.
This begins with its guests of honor, including the 2026 Legacy Award nominees. This includes honorary Oscar Award winner Angela Bassett, Spelman College Interim President Rosalind Roz Brewer, and wealth management magnate Carla Harris. These selections, alongside Luminary Award honorees such as Angela Rye and Bozoma Saint-John, are not taken lightly, especially on this 20th anniversary. Every year, they reflect the expanding mission of the Women of Power Summit, with the Luminary nominees “lighting the path” for other women to find their way.
“We are hoping that, you know, a new generation and a wider audience of people can see and appreciate them as honorees. They have, in many cases, grown up with Black Enterprise or been involved in the Black Enterprise universe in some way, shape, or form. And it’s meaningful for them to be recognized, you know, by their own right.”
The Summit remains committed to offering professional development workshops as part of its multi-day festivities, including wellness activities and direct coaching sessions across finance and career. The jam-packed schedule has evolved with the times, helping its attendees navigate changes from pandemic-era work environments to layoff waves and AI technologies.
Gumbs continued, “Here we have women who are incredibly accomplished, who are well compensated, and we want to make sure that, you know, we’re speaking to the whole person, and that you know we’re tending to their financial health, their physical health, as well as their mental and emotional health.”
However, this 20th year will leave no avenue in women’s leadership unexplored. From a sponsor’s expo to headshot activations to tens of mainstage conversations and breakout sessions, attendees will have ample opportunities to leave fulfilled and prepared for their career journey.
“It is absolutely essential that, you know, we talk about what is going on with Black women in the workplace, and that we help prepare each other, because the experts on the stage, they’re all of us as well. We always say that the woman sitting next to you in this seat probably has as much to offer you as the woman on the stage. “
In recent years, the conference has become multigenerational, an element that its organizers have encouraged with its freshman class orientation. These “first timers” will have the special opportunity to meet and connect at the conference as familiar faces with more in common than they realize.
“That multigenerational thing is one of the things that we’re leaning into for the 20th anniversary. We’re doing something special for first-timers this year: kicking off the event with a freshman class orientation. Women who are coming for the first time can come together, can get a head start on making new connections, and expand their networks. That’s one of the amazing things about Women of Power: the networking.“
Beyond the knowledge, it is the community that has endured for decades that makes the Women of Power Summit so critical. Women at the event will not only learn from industry leaders but also join forces through AI development labs, power luncheons, and global discourse on careers abroad.
With a growing list of premier sponsors from Morgan Stanley, Nationwide, and UnitedHealth Group, the Summit has become an anticipated event for women in business, tech, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Now, it hopes to carry forward another 20 years of its dynamic engagement that not only sparks but also advances conversation.
“As the Summit matures, we are looking at all the ways that make sense to expand it. Whether that’s bringing younger women, different industries, or international women into the fold, we want to talk about our BE Global Initiative, which really focuses on the diaspora and the fact that Black people are everywhere, doing great things.”
At the forefront, however, is championing women at all levels of their leadership and careers. As a space to decompress and “breathe,” as Gumbs sees it, the Women of Power Summit offers more than inspiration; it offers an unwavering dedication to spotlighting and supporting women and their ambitions, no matter their background.
“We really want to be where the women are and where the women need us to be. Wherever there are women doing great things, but are not getting the credit or the shine that they deserve, we’ve gotta shine a light on their success. When Black women are in the spotlight, it gets hot. So to have the women who have walked in those paths be able to come back and share what they’ve learned so you don’t have to learn it the hard way, is what Women of Power is really all about.”
This year’s historic Women of Power Summit will take place March 11-15 in Las Vegas, with registration still available for all to witness.
Corhonda Dawson Surfaces with Scuba Diving World Record
Dawson, a native of Whitehaven, Tennessee, began her record-setting quest on April 1, 2025.
Corhonda “Hooda Brown” Dawson has set a new world record for the quickest worldwide scuba dive sequence, ending Black History Month on a high note by going deep.
She succeeded in only 11 days, 19 hours, and 23 minutes.
Dawson, a native of Whitehaven, Tennessee, began her record-setting quest on April 1, 2025, in Antarctica with a dive in Whalers Bay and finished April 13 with a dive near Catalina Island, California, completing the global circuit nearly six days faster than the previous record.
Guinness World Records confirmed that Dawson’s 11-day journey around the world met the criteria for the record, which requires dives on all seven continents within a single continuous attempt.
Dawson told Fox 13 Memphis that her goal was to inspire others by demonstrating that “what you dream is possible,” and that disciplined pursuit can lead to historic accomplishments.
Her dive sequence included locations in Antarctica, Rio, Portugal, Morocco, Dubai, Sydney, and Los Angeles. Each dive was certified by local dive officials and documented for Guinness adjudicators.
A resident of Memphis and frequent contributor to the local dive community, Dawson said she hopes her record will encourage wider participation in aquatic sports, particularly among groups historically underrepresented in diving.
Earlier in her career, Dawson became known for completing dives in each of the world’s oceans. In April 2024, she broke the Guinness Book of World records for being the first Black woman to dive in all five oceans in the world. Now, less than a year later, Dawson has entered history books for the second time.
Dawson was drawn to aquatics as a tool to help her push through a tumultuous divorce in 2010. She fell in love. Fifteen years later she is thriving.
She now shares her love and adventure with her daughters, who are beyond proud of their mother’s accomplishments. Both young women were present and took part in the Los Angeles dive that secured the world record.
“To have someone so close to me be a part of Black History and it be so recent in this month, it’s just so special to me,” Dawson’s youngest daughter, Nya Bolton, said.
‘The Ebony Canal’ Earns Historic NAACP Image Award Nomination
The documentary seeks to ignite deeper conversations about the healthcare disparities affecting Black mothers.
As the 57th NAACP Image Awards inch closer, The Ebony Canal is up for Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film), the first time a maternal health documentary has been recognized in the awards’ history.
The film’s narrator, Viola Davis, is also preparing to receive the NAACP Chairman’s Award at this year’s ceremony, themed “We See You.”
The message aligns closely with the documentary’s mission, which explores the intersection of infant mortality disparities and the maternal health crisis affecting Black women, while championing solution-driven approaches aimed at advancing care and saving Black mothers and babies.
The groundbreaking documentary, which is set to screen at the upcoming BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit, spotlights stories often overlooked by mainstream platforms and reframes Black maternal health and infant mortality as urgent national issues. Its nomination reflects a growing recognition that powerful storytelling is deeply connected to public health, policy, and equity.
“This nomination reflects the power of intentional cinematic storytelling,” said filmmaker Emmai Alaquiva. “As a Black man, father, husband and director, I feel that it is my responsibility to use everything in my God-given arsenal to ensure that Black maternal health is not a niche issue. It is a public health priority and a cultural truth. To have this story recognized on one of the most respected stages in our community is deeply meaningful.”
The film explores the humanity and inequities shaping Black motherhood through the stories of Mariah Peoples, Rachel Strader, Alana Yzola Daly, and Larissa Lane. It also features commentary from Vice President Kamala Harris, Lamman Rucker, and Elaine Welteroth, with creative contributions by Keke Palmer and an original score by Grammy-nominated producer Bud’da.
Backed by data and analysis from maternal health expert Dr. Margaret Larkins Pettigrew, the documentary underscores the systemic realities impacting Black families.
The documentary seeks to ignite deeper conversations about the healthcare disparities affecting Black mothers. The Ebony Canal has screened in communities and film festivals nationwide and abroad, bringing together health professionals, policymakers, advocates, and families to drive dialogue. The film continues to act as a catalyst for education, policy awareness, and collective action.
The Image Awards will take place on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Judge Mathis Credits His Mentor Rev. Jesse Jackson For His Career, ‘He Was A Father Figure’
Judge Greg Mathis reflects on the “father figure” influence Rev. Jesse Jackson had on his life after first meeting the civil rights leader as a troubled teenager.
Judge Greg Mathis is honoring the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, reflecting on the profound impact Jackson had as both a mentor and a “father figure” throughout his life and career.
Mathis has been in mourning since Jackson’s death on Feb. 17 at age 84, choosing to reflect on their decades-long bond that began in the late 1970s when the civil rights leader visited a Detroit county jail where a teenage Mathis was incarcerated after being tried as an adult on a gun possession charge.
“There would really be no Judge Mathis 27 years on television without a Rev. Jesse Jackson. That’s for sure,” Mathis told theGrio. “He was a father figure…the most influential person, male in my life, in that I didn’t have a father.”
“I had been a street youth in Detroit, in and out of juvenile,” the TV judge shared. “While there in the county jail awaiting sentencing, [Jackson] came and gave his ‘I am somebody’ roaring speeches.”
Mathis said that when he first met Jackson, he already had a strong sense of Black consciousness, shaped by brothers tied to the Black Panther movement, but acknowledged he knew little then about Jackson, a protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or his commitment to civil disobedience.
“We really didn’t embrace Martin Luther King…It was about Huey Newton and Malcolm X, and so when I heard him, I was captivated,” Mathis said. “I said, ‘I want to help you fight white people.’ I didn’t know how to ask. I meant I want to help you fight for social justice.”
The Judge Mathis star credits Jackson with changing the course of his life, recalling how the reverend urged him to “drop your gun and pick up your books,” and promising to hire him if he pursued college after his release. Mathis took Jackson’s word and went on to attend Eastern Michigan University, where he became a campus activist and grew interested in politics and public service.
After graduation, Mathis later volunteered on Jackson’s 1984 presidential campaign, eventually leading the Michigan effort, and credits Jackson with helping shape his political path, including his eventual election as a Wayne County district judge.
While Jackson made history with back-to-back presidential runs and his leadership of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Mathis also emphasized the Civil Rights icon’s commitment to strengthening Black economic empowerment.
“He assisted over 200 Black franchisors in Burger King and McDonald’s [and] bout 40 or so car dealerships. Black folks getting into ownership, thousands of Black products, suppliers, helping them get their products on the shelves,” the Court TV star said. “It’s that economic leverage that we need to return to that Reverend Jackson used so well to get Black contracting, Black hiring, and other economic opportunity.”
Mathis also credits Jackson with helping reshape the Democratic Party’s power structure, moving it toward a more democratic delegate system that later paved the way for leaders like Barack Obama. He also recalled Jackson’s lasting wisdom during the COVID-19 era, when the Civil Rights icon told him rising crime among Black youth reflected “lawlessness at the top,” arguing that political leadership influences how young people view accountability.
When discussing Donald Trump’s role in promoting false claims about the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Mathis said Jackson offered him a clear and defining perspective on the moment.
“How can you tell these impoverished Black street youth not to go in and steal a bag or a watch out of a store when they saw the president order 10,000 people to try and overthrow Congress? Y’all think they’re not looking. Those young folks are looking,” Mathis said.
“That’s the wisdom he gave me. I’ve been trying to figure it out for 6 months. He gave it to me in 60 seconds,” he added.
"Long Beach has been the easiest city to work with when it comes to opening one of our restaurants,” Blacc Sam, Nipsey Hussle's brother said. “I have to thank the Broadus family, who invested with us in this specific location.
Marathon Burger is opening another restaurant in Long Beach in March.
The restaurant, run by “Blacc Sam” Asghedom, the brother of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, is expanding the brand’s reach by partnering with the Broadus family. The Broadus family is led by hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg, whose real name is Calvin Broadus, in his hometown of Long Beach, California.
The eatery’s social media account posted that the new location will open on March 1.
Longbeachize reported that Blacc Sam attended this week’s State of the City with Snoop’s son, Cordell, to let people know when the restaurant was opening its doors.
“Long Beach has been the easiest city to work with when it comes to opening one of our restaurants,” Blacc Sam stated at the event. “I have to thank the Broadus family, who invested with us in this specific location. We are appreciative and honored to be opening March 1.”
According to AfroTech, the Marathon Burger opened as a pop-up in Los Angeles two years ago. Since its debut, it has opened locations on Melrose Avenue, in Venice Beach, and in Canoga Park.
The restaurant is an extension of The Marathon brand that was started by Nipsey before he was killed in front of his Marathon Clothing store, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was murdered on March 31, 2019, when Eric R. Holder Jr. confronted him on that fateful day. The two had known each other for years when they were members of the Rollin’ 60s in South Los Angeles.
Holder was sentenced to 60 years to life after being found guilty of first-degree murder, 25 years to life for the murder, 25 more for a firearm sentencing enhancement, and 10 years for assault with a firearm. The sentences will run concurrently.
Morehouse Alumnus Dr. Willie Underwood III Elected President Of American Medical Association
Dr. Underwood is known for his advocacy toward health equity initiatives.
Dr. Willie Underwood III, a urological surgeon and Morehouse alum, will lead the American Medical Association as its incoming president.
Underwood became the official President-elect last June during the 2025 AMA meeting in Chicago. There, his fellow medical professionals voted for him to lead the association into its next era.
Underwood brings over a quarter-century of experience in medicine, particularly in the surgical field. Underwood has been a pioneering figure in robotic urologic surgery, working innovative medical approaches for 15 years.
Prior to this, Dr. Underwood began his journey through higher education at Morehouse College. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s in biology from the all-men’s HBCU, he continued his medical studies at SUNY Upstate Medical College.
There, he obtained two graduate degrees, including his doctorate in medicine and a master’s in cell biology and anatomy. Following this, he obtained an additional master’s in health management and policy from the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
With his advanced degrees in tow, Underwood also co-founded KAPS Biotechnology LLC, holding patents for co-developing a biomarker for prostate cancer. His career has made him a notable voice in medical research, co-authoring over 120 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and published abstracts.
Upon his latest appointment, Underwood expressed his gratitude to lead the institution at this “critical moment” in healthcare and medical advancement.
“It is an incredible honor to be chosen by my peers to represent physicians and the patients we serve at this critical moment for health care and medicine,” Dr. Underwood said in a statement. “The AMA is leading the way in fighting for a rational Medicare payment system, to rein in prior authorization, and reduce physician burnout. I will stand up to advocate for our profession in a way that will inspire, motivate, and activate physicians to join the AMA in our efforts to improve the health of our nation.”
Already a vocal member of the AMA, he previously served on its Board of Trustees in 2019, while also chairing the board in 2023. As a leader in medical innovation, Underwood also held membership in the National Medical Association Commission to End Health Care Disparities, American Urological Association Public Policy Council, as well as board membership for Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western and Northeastern New York.
Alongside his medical profession, Underwood also launched a career as a speaker and presenter, with appearances across in-person conferences, radio, and television.
Under his tenure, which begins in June 2026, Underwood will continue advocating for health equity, particularly for both patients and doctors. In a 2024 interview with the National Press, he spoke on the financial strain of health inequities within the U.S., emphasizing the importance of eliminating these barriers to provide quality healthcare.
“Health inequities cost this nation depends on anywhere from $350 billion a year in direct healthcare costs, to $450 billion a year when you include loss of productivity,” Underwood said. “It’s going to be a trillion dollars in direct and indirect healthcare costs by 2040. We’re done if that happens. So we need to figure out how we put things together that change that for the betterment of all of us.
His work will go toward ensuring doctors can perform at their highest level while prioritizing the wellness and treatment of patients, no matter their background.
Cardi B Checks Trump Aide For Dragging Her Into Nicki Minaj Conservative Bot Conspiracy
Cardi B is not with this week's drama regarding Nicki Minaj and her rise in the MAGA ranks.
Be careful about Cardi B. The “WAP” rapper recently checked a Trump aide for attempting to drag her into the Nicki Minaj bot controversy.
Cyabra, an Israeli disinformation tracking company, released a report, “Inauthentic Amplification of Political Discourse on Nicki Minaj’s X Account.” On Feb. 23, Politico shared the report, which asserted that a “sophisticated army of bots” helped catapult Minaj as a conservative public figure.
On X, Trump advisor Alex Bruesewitz mentioned how Cardi B’s agent, Mike G, has invested in Cyabra, hinting that she may have something to do with its latest report. The conservative staffer even called Cardi a “former Kamala Harris surrogate” while mentioning her zero tolerance for ICE agents appearing at her shows.
Cardi swiftly shut it down.
Listen, you involved me in something that has nothing to do wit me so now we’re gonna talk about the facts.. Cyabra is a data company with a lot of investors like Mike G, customers like Elon Musk and Pepsi that use that company for data and even has Mike Pompeo on the board of… https://t.co/OloFQXnj2v
“Listen, you involved me in something that has nothing to do wit me so now we’re gonna talk about the facts…” explained Cardi. “Cyabra is a data company with a lot of investors like Mike G, customers like Elon Musk and Pepsi that use that company for data, and even has Mike Pompeo on the board of advisors…”
She then made it very clear that “the data is VERY real and leave me out of your bullsh*t. I do not have anything to do with that, and I don’t give AF!! Now lie and say that’s not true!!!”
Cardi then called out Bruesewitz out: “See what happen when you involve me in shit that don’t have nothing to do with me? I get down to the GRISTLE of it!! And btw I am still gonna sue you, you wet dirty dog.”
Notice To Appeal: Salt-N-Pepa Not Backing Down From UMG Copyright Lawsuit
A federal judge found that those contracts did not show that Salt-N-Pepa themselves ever owned or transferred copyright ownership of their music.
Pioneering hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa have filed a notice of appeal after a federal judge dismissed their lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG)
The notice of appeal was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit after U.S. District Judge Denise Cote dismissed the case Jan. 8, iHeart reported. The dismissal stemmed from a dispute over whether Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton ever owned the copyrights to their early recordings. According to the ruling, the group “never owned the copyrights to their sound recordings and therefore cannot reclaim them.”
Salt-N-Pepa originally sued UMG in May 2025, arguing that the 1976 Copyright Act gave them the right to terminate older contracts and regain ownership of their master recordings. The lawsuit cited Section 203 of the Copyright Act, which allows artists to reclaim copyrights 35 years after transfer.
The legal fight focuses on agreements from 1986 involving the group’s first label, Noise in the Attic Productions, and a distribution agreement with Next Plateau Records. Judge Cote found that those contracts did not show that Salt-N-Pepa themselves ever owned or transferred copyright ownership.
Salt-N-Pepa calls out UMG during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech for obstructing the rights to their catalog: “The industry still doesn’t want to play fair” pic.twitter.com/dJUJFyKVYa
UMG argued in its motion to dismiss that the recordings were “works made for hire.” Additionally, the work belonged to the label or producer under the terms of the original contracts. After the initial ruling, representatives for Salt-N-Pepa immediately expressed their intent to pursue their rights on appeal. In response to the dismissal, they said they remain committed to “vindicating and reclaiming our rights as creators under the Copyright Act.”
UMG has defended the dismissal. In a statement, a spokesperson said the company was “gratified that the court dismissed this baseless lawsuit” but remains “open and willing to find a resolution to the matter and turn the page so we can focus our efforts on working together to amplify Salt-N-Pepa’s legacy for generations to come,” BLACK ENTERPRISEreported.
Florida Man Arrested After Allegedly Killing Locksmith Who Came To Help Him Get Back Into Apartment
Luis David Lemus was charged with second-degree murder after being accused of killing locksmith Adrian Venereo
Luis David Lemus was charged with second-degree murder after being accused of killing locksmith Adrian Venereo, while surveillance footage shows the victim walking to the suspect’s apartment shortly before he committed the crime.
According to NBC 6 South Florida, Venereo was summoned to the apartment after Lemus and his father were locked out. As the video shows, Venereo was walking with the suspect, carrying his rolling toolbox, to the locked apartment. While the locksmith was working to change the locks, Lemus allegedly took out his gun and shot him in the head. He reportedly fled the scene after the incident.
The video also shows Lemus’ father walking away from the scene, screaming, “Why would you do that?” as he is seen with blood on his arms and hands.
When police officers arrived on the scene, Venereo was nonresponsive in the hallway on the floor.
The Tampa Bay Times reported that a witness identified as P.L. was holding the weapon when police arrived on the scene. He informed the investigators that Lemus had left the scene, saying that he had hurt someone. When officers inspected the gun, they discovered five live rounds and one spent casing inside the cylinder. Officers said the witness told them that Lemus shot Venereo in the head, then went downstairs and ran away.
Investigators found Lemus and saw that he was wearing sneakers similar to those in the video footage and carrying a red backpack similar to the one seen in the footage.
Lemus appeared in court virtually from his cell, lying on a bed and pulling a blanket over himself. Although he did not respond to any questions, prosecutors said he confessed to the crime.
NBC 6 reported that Venereo’s wife, Nicole Galvis, said she went down to the location after not hearing from her husband.
“I just felt something was wrong, and when I showed up, I saw all the crime scene and the police,” she said. “They don’t know why he did it, he was just working.”
