Nissan Accelerates Equity, Innovation, And Community Investment To Drive The Future Of Multicultural Mobility
At the center of Nissan’s growth strategy is a belief that representation drives innovation.
Nissan is deepening its commitment to inclusion and innovation, not just through the cars it builds, but through the communities it serves. With a continued focus on equitable mobility and economic empowerment, the company is redefining what it means to be a purpose-driven automaker in today’s multicultural America.
Building a Future Powered by Representation At the center of Nissan’s growth strategy is a belief that representation drives innovation. Multicultural consumers have long been at the heart of Nissan’s success, representing more than 40% of the brand’s customer base and driving its continued growth and cultural relevance. This loyalty, however, isn’t just about product; it’s rooted in trust, accessibility, and authentic engagement.
From highlighting diverse voices in its marketing to investing in dealer representation, Nissan is intentional about ensuring its brand reflects the people it serves. Whether through supporting HBCUs or collaborating with grassroots organizations, the company continues to invest in programs that empower and enrich multicultural communities nationwide.
Driving Economic Impact Where It Matters Most Nissan’s U.S. footprint represents more than $15 billion in investments that support over 70,000 jobs nationwide. From manufacturing facilities in Tennessee and Mississippi to local dealerships that serve as pillars in multicultural neighborhoods, these investments go beyond the automotive sector, fueling entrepreneurship, workforce training, and local economic growth in underrepresented communities.
The brand has also expanded its partnerships with minority-owned suppliers and dealer networks, ensuring equitable participation across its value chain. By empowering its dealer body to lead localized community programs, from STEM mentorships to financial literacy workshops, Nissan is creating pathways for sustainable impact at the neighborhood level.
Innovation That Includes Everyone As the auto industry transitions toward electrification, Nissan is making sure no community is left behind. The company’s electrified portfolio, including the LEAF, ARIYA, and upcoming models, reflects its mission to make sustainable driving accessible to all. However, for Nissan, innovation isn’t only about EVs—it’s about equity. The company’s approach to “inclusive innovation” focuses on designing vehicles and technologies that meet the needs of multicultural households and multigenerational drivers. Whether it’s affordability, safety, or reliability, Nissan’s lineup continues to evolve with diverse consumers at the forefront.
Investing in People and Possibility Inside the organization, Nissan’s commitment to inclusion extends to its workforce. Through mentorship programs, employee resource groups, and leadership development initiatives, the company continues to build pathways for advancement across all levels, with a particular focus on empowering Black and multicultural talent in STEM and leadership roles.
A Legacy of Trust, Built for What’s Next Nissan’s sustained success among multicultural audiences demonstrates the power of long-term community investment. For Black consumers who continue to shape culture, commerce, and innovation, the brand’s message is clear: mobility is more than movement; it’s opportunity. By uniting innovation with inclusion, Nissan isn’t just building cars, it’s building connection, community, and a more equitable future for all.
Father And Son Bankers Aim To Fulfill The Economic Dream Of Dr. King
This Father-son team leads the Largest Black-owned bank in America
Written By Hazel Trice Edney
In the fall of 1968, 57 years ago, cities across the nation were still smoldering from the fiery riots that followed the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Some cities never fully recovered.
Despite his life’s work for peace, civil rights, racial equity, and justice for all, it was in Dr. King’s final speech — the night before the April 4, 1968 assassination — that he spoke passionately and pointedly on the economic importance of supporting Black-owned businesses. This included Black-owned banks.
“We want a bank-in movement in Memphis,” Dr. King told the cheering crowd in what is called the “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech at the Mason Temple Church of God in Christ. “We’ve got to strengthen Black institutions,” he said as he encouraged people to redirect their money to support Black banks and other Black-owned businesses.
Decades later, leaders of Black-owned banks say this wise economic movement that never fully came to fruition is still necessary. To support Black banks means to support Black home-ownership, Black business-development, Black neighborhoods, Black families, and the future of Black America, says Alden J. McDonald Jr., chief executive officer of the New Orleans-based Liberty Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in America with holdings surpassing a billion dollars. His son, Todd McDonald, Liberty’s president and chairman of the National Bankers Association, agrees.
At the helm of the 53-year-old institution, with eyes on the future, they both recently sat down to discuss the legacy of Liberty Bank, where Black America must economically go from here, and how Liberty is working to double its deposits from one billion to more than two billion dollars.
Given the economic struggles of Black people and the ebbs and flows of America’s overall economy, how has Liberty Bank amassed more than a billion dollars in deposits?
Alden McDonald: The history of Liberty started in 1972, more than a half century ago. And it started with a concept of having a multi-racial bank to attract business from all parts of the community. As time went on, it became an African-American-owned bank because our mission was to serve the underserved community and we wanted to find different ways of helping people to close the wealth gap and to create equity. So, through the years, we sort of got into a niche and a passion for mortgage loans because we felt homeownership was very important. Homeownership and small business lending was a key to growing the community economically; thereby growing the holdings of our bank.
What is your strategy for serving Black consumers when many other banks have red-lined Black neighborhoods and even discriminate against us and avoid dealing with us?
Alden McDonald: Black consumers represent a market niche. I came up with a poor family. So, we understood the challenges that the community had from day to day. So, when we built a company, the company was built on what we knew. And knowing the challenges of the community helped us in a lot of different ways of finding a way to serve the community, and a way to serve the community to make a profit because you have to make a profit in order to be sustaining. So, we understood the challenges of how to lend to the community.
As a former board chair of the National Bankers Association, the FDIC and other national banking and financial institutions reach out to you for wisdom. Why do they come to you and how do you advise these prestigious institutions on how to deal with Black communities?
Alden McDonald: They’re looking for board members who can add value to their business and help them grow. FDIC, for example, is in the business of managing banks. So, obviously they look for bank talent where they can get feedback and help to design policy. So, all of the boards I sit on, or used to sit on, I like to feel that they were interested in what I could add as far as value is concerned to their entity. And so, you have to know the people you’re lending to in order to be good at it. So, while we live in the community that we serve and we also live in other communities, we have an edge on how to lend and how to do business in the community at large.
How does the Black bank deal with the faith community and houses of worship when something like this happens?
Alden McDonald: We have the largest portfolio of Black church loans than any bank in the country. Churches are not exempt from paying their debts. And so, we deal with it from a business perspective. They owe the debt. We deal with them like we deal with everybody else. They’ve got to pay it. It’s real simple. And that’s the way we handle all of our creditors. We’re not a social organization. We’re a business.
What can the community do to strengthen Black banks?
Alden McDonald: Part of our marketing is that when you deposit money in Liberty, you help the community grow because we need deposits in our banks in order to lend out to borrowers.
Our borrowers, many of them — if not a huge majority — are from the urban communities or Black people. So, when you help us grow by making deposits with us, we then can lend…And so more of your deposits with us are used to build the community in which you live and help create jobs.
Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in the summer of 2005, the year that Liberty found itself in the midst of crisis. How did you get through that and back on your feet?
Alden McDonald: We always say wherever there’s an obstacle, there’s an opportunity. So, Hurricane Katrina was an obstacle for us. We’d lost all of our records. We’d lost all of our employees; 70% of our customer base had to relocate. We had to rebuild a company, rebuild a business in a very short period of time in order to survive. It took us a couple of years to sort of get everything back and rolling again. But we did it through hard work, our staff, and friends.
Did other major banks help?
Alden McDonald: No. The banks in our community helped us. The community itself helped us a lot because it had a good understanding that we were helping the community grow again. They needed loans. And so, we were still able to make loans. We just had to get our infrastructure back in place. We still had a lot of deposits from different people. And so, it was just building a bank again.
Your son, Todd McDonald, is now president of Liberty Bank and chairman of the National Bankers Association. How did you pass that passion, that knowledge, and that mantle along to your son?
Alden McDonald: In any business, you have to have a succession plan. My son worked for 20-plus years for the bank. And so, in succession planning, you begin to build individuals to succeed everyone. And he learned the business from bottom up and did a pretty good job at it. And he thought he was capable of taking it to the next level. For example, he told me, “It took you 50 years to get to a billion. It’s not going to take me 50 years to get to the second billion. I’m going to get to the second billion within five years.” I said, “Okay. Go for it.” And so, he earned it to begin with. He went through the same process that we would go through for anybody being a part of the succession plan. It just so happens that he was my son.
How did you come to follow in your father’s footsteps?
Todd McDonald: I was around banking all my life. I’ve been with the bank for more than 22 years. I always knew what my Dad did. But initially, I didn’t really appreciate what he did. I knew he would go to work. He would stay late. He would travel a lot. But then when I graduated from Morehouse College and started spending more time at the bank, that was my first time being a full-time employee. And so, I started realizing, you know, the impact that the bank and that he and all of the bank’s leaders had on the communities that we serve. And so, that was cool.
You’ve told your father that you will bring in another billion dollars. How will you bring in the second billion when other Black banks are still struggling?
Todd McDonald: Typically, we’ve grown through acquisition. So we’ve actually purchased 12 banks over the history of Liberty. So that’s one way to do it. But the second way is to expand geographically. When you expand geographically, you have new states, you have new cities and municipalities, you have new school systems where you can attract the deposits. And so, typically, when you go after deposits, most of those entities want you to have a physical footprint. And so, when you start to expand geographically with physical locations, that should organically start to build up deposits. So, the lending arm will come next. We’re physically in 11 states right now. So that’s kind of the most traditional way to do it.
What can you teach other Black-owned banks about survival and growth?
Todd McDonald: Coming out of several downturns and several disasters over the history of Liberty Bank, we’ve learned how to adjust. Like the first downturn banking experienced was probably in the 80s with the Louisiana oil bust when 60% of banks in Louisiana failed, closed, or sold. And that was a trying time for Liberty as well. And they had to kind of double down on the areas of banking that were not being paid attention to. And they had to adjust and write off a lot of loans. But then they had to make more loans to offset the write-offs. That was kind of their first experience. And then we tried some new things in the 90s that made us kind of readjust our business model. So, again a deflection point, it almost seems like every 10 years.
After that, we lost everything in 2005 — essentially everything to Hurricane Katrina. So, we had to adopt new technology because at that point a lot of our clients had moved to Houston and Atlanta. And so, we took on a lot of new technology to do online banking. And so, again, that was another pivot. That was another disaster or change in the sector that forced us to evolve.
And then you look at the economic downturn of 2008 and 2010. You had a lot of banks that closed. And so, when the banks closed, we purchased them. So that was another pivot. And then we had COVID where everything kind of went out the window; where banks didn’t really know what to do because everyone had stopped receiving income as a business or were laid off. So, then we had to really expedite adoption of technology. So, we adopted the technology that was at our fingertips, but we also adopted new technology. We did a lot of that to expedite those changes. And so, banking is constantly evolving. I guess the secret sauce is to remain committed to banking, committed to our community; and committed to our team members at the bank.
How are the millennials and other younger generations doing? Are they doing business with Black-owned banks?
Todd McDonald: It’s difficult. You have a lot of people in my generation using different technology instead of traditional banks. They use fintech (financial technology) and apps instead of banking in the movement of money. The key to understanding the fintech space is that fintech mechanisms are not banks. They’re just kind of conduits of transaction flow. But they have to have banks behind them. They have to allow banks to transact with each other. And so, while they’re not opening checking accounts like their parents did, they’re opening profiles and the traditional banking network is behind the scenes.
So how do we deal with the check-cashing and the payday lending places that show up in our community? How can we make sure that people know and are educated to the fact that these are not actual banks?
Todd McDonald: That’s something that I’m very passionate about. When you look at people who are paying 500-600% interest rates on emergency loans; that pulls out a lot of cash flow from our communities immediately. A bank like Liberty could refinance that person out of that 500 to 600% interest loan to put them into a more competitive market rate loan. It would automatically save them hundreds of dollars per month. And it puts the money back into their pockets.
As chair of the National Bankers Association, what is the goal for Black banks?
Todd McDonald: The goal is definitely growth. There are a total of 23 Black banks now. But back in the 90s, there were more than a hundred. So, there’s been a ton of contractions in the marketplace. But, the National Bankers Association is not only made up of Black-owned banks; it’s also Asian-owned, Hispanic-owned, Native American-owned, and women-owned that make up membership.
There are 150 Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs) in the country. And there are 4,600 banks in the U. S. alone. So, look at 150 compared to 4600 (3.2%). That’s a very small number. So, how do we grow that base? Let’s say that if the Black-owned banks collectively had $10 billion and the Asian banks had $300 billion collectively, how do we get the Black-owned banks to start thinking at that level? We can. But we just historically have not supported one another.
What is the greatest obstacle to the growth of Black-owned banks?
Todd McDonald: I would say the biggest obstacle is our community not supporting ourselves. We’ve had the history. We’ve had the same products as a lot of our other institutions and for some reason we don’t support each other. I think that goes back to before I was born; before my parents were born. We do not have a sense of community when it comes to us for some reason. You look at the Jewish community; you look at the Hispanic community; you look at the Asian community. You look at all of these other banks, and they do business with themselves.
So, what is that attitude or mentality we will have to break in order to get people to take a second look at Black-owned banks and be intentional about it?
Todd McDonald: Just spreading the word and sharing why it’s important. A lot of people, for some reason a lot of our communities don’t understand that. It’s taken us this long to get to this point. And the playing field is not level.
What would be your dream if we would support one another as Dr. King said, what might we accomplish?
Todd McDonald: I think a very tangible dream is to get back the loans that are being done by the predatory lenders. When you look at the amount of money that has been sucked out of our communities, underserved communities, it’s billions of dollars. And so, I give this very simple example: One refinanced loan that saves a person $300 a month…Let’s just do that by a million people. That’s $300 million dollars per month – times 12. That’s billions of dollars annually.
Is it realistic to expect everyone in the community to switch over to a Black-owned bank?
Todd McDonald: I never tell anybody to just have one bank. Have multiple banks. But at least have an account with one of us because your deposit is going to help us make a loan to somebody that would have gone to a 600% interest rate facility rather than coming to us at a market rate. So, can we all just come into a room and pull out our debit cards with a Black-owned bank? That would be amazing. And it’s not unrealistic. And that would be the dream.
The Art Of Pay Negotiation May Be Changing As Job Market Shifts Power Back To Employers
Conversations surrounding pay increases have stopped at the door in this stricter job market.
Pay negotiation used to be a core element of the job application process, but now that conversation may be changing.
In previous job markets, one would take part in an exchange to come up with an offer they truly want from an employer. The dance of applying to new jobs would often come with the promise of higher pay. But in today’s economy of mass layoffs, pay negotiation has stopped at the door.
While job-hopping still comes with pay raises from one’s current position, getting even more than what is initially advertised on the role listing may get harder. However, many entry- and mid-level employees expect to test the waters of new employment opportunities soon. A study from SideHustles.com, detailed in The Hill, confirmed that 27% of Gen-Z employees expect to find new jobs in 2026.
However, reports suggest that shifting gigs in hopes of more money may become less realistic. Research from Korn Ferry has shown that employers are shutting down talks of pay increases at the beginning of the interview process.
More offers are coming with “non-negotiable” pay offers. Especially as federal and tech-industry layoffs continue to plague the American workforce, many are left with no choice but to comply as the the job market gets more desperate.
“There are people who feel like they’re in the Sahara desert when it comes to job opportunities,” explained Dave Brazel of the Korn Ferry consultancy firm to the news outlet. “They’re happy just to get a job.”
Now, as the power shifts back to employers, they are able to get more bang for their own buck as qualified applicants seek any chance at a job. This vastly differs from the pandemic-era job hunt, where tech companies and other diverse industries needed workers to keep up with demand.
However, this shift may bite companies in the long-term. Employer resentment could fester if they know they are getting underpaid, and thus feeling undervalued, for their work.
This may also disproportionately impact Black and Black women workers, as the racial wage gap still persists across industries. How Black women approach pay negotiations may vastly differ, especially as racial biases can play a role in the employer’s willingness to accept counter-offers, as detailed in a Harvard Law School blog for its Program on Negotiation. Job-seeking while Black, especially for Black women, must consider the systemic factors at play as well.
Despite the shift, job seekers can still navigate a transitioning job market by focusing less on the salary but more on the benefits. If one works on a hybrid work schedule, asking for days in the office that work best for your schedule can save time and money, while also preventing burnout from the commute. Additionally, asking for a sign-on bonus or a stipend for professional development can help strengthen one’s skillset in case another job hop is in the future.
First Black Woman Texas Ranger Inducted Into Women’s Hall Of Fame
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Dr. Nix’s selection along with four other honorees whose careers have shaped public life across the state.
On Nov. 9, trailblazer Dr. Christine A. Nix, the first Black woman promoted to the Texas Rangers Division, was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced Dr. Nix’s selection along with four other honorees whose careers have shaped public life across the state.
“The Texas Women’s Hall of Fame recognizes remarkable Texas women for their individual achievements and enduring impact on our great state,” Abbott said in an official statement. “Cecilia and I are honored to welcome these five trailblazers to be inducted this year for their exceptional contributions in business, public service, science, and more. Each honoree is an inspiration for the next generation of achievers who will follow in their footsteps.”
Dr. Nix credits her tenacity and “thick skin” as the reason she was able to endure in a largely white, male-dominated field.
“When I started, there was some resistance, and what I had to do was I had to be prepared every day I went to work. I had to be really thick-skinned. And my philosophy is I will win you over one way or the other, and so I worked hard, I stayed prepared, and little by little, agencies began calling on me,” she told KCEN.
Nix’s induction honors nearly five decades of service that span the U.S. Army Reserve, local policing, state law enforcement, and academic excellence. In 1994, she made history by earning promotion to the elite Texas Rangers Division of the Department of Public Safety. The milestone that places her among the agency’s most significant figures in modern history.
The 2025 induction ceremony, hosted by the Governor’s Office and first lady Cecilia Abbott, was held Nov. 9 at Texas Woman’s University, where the permanent Hall of Fame exhibit is located. The museum features portraits and biographies of every inductee dating back to the program’s founding in 1984.
Inductees are nominated by Texans and selected by an independent judging panel. Past honorees include former first ladies, astronauts, entrepreneurs, public servants, and Olympic athletes.
For Dr. Nix, the recognition is deserved. She shattered the glass ceiling in the Texas Rangers. Her varied pursuits throughout her decades-long career demonstrate her deep commitment to service. Her work continues at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, where she educates the next generation of Texas leaders.
The New Rory & Mal host vanished from X after failing to calm the backlash over resurfaced tweets containing offensive remarks about Black women. What started as criticism over his take on Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy nomination for Album of the Year turned into reposts of the old tweets that he seemingly attempted to delete before opting to delete his entire account.
“I’ve never saw a good looking black woman,” one retweet reads. “Every black woman has either wanted to, thought about, or actually f*cked a white guy #whitepeoplefacts,” another tweet read. There was even one tweet where he called “Beyoncé” a “hoodrat” name.
I caught some of Rory's tweets and retweets the spaces was referencing. He wasn't a kid he was 21 and in the fraternity @kapsi1911 Black men don't get the privilege of being a kid. pic.twitter.com/2rUp1AQekP
The backlash intensified when Farrell joined a Twitter Spaces discussion on Nov. 12 about his old tweets, apologizing for everything except the claims that he called Black women “ugly” and “roaches.” Many felt his tone came across as condescending and sarcastic rather than fully owning up to his remarks.
“I never called Black women ugly. I never called them roaches,” Farrell declared. “There was a fake retweet that said, ‘I think Black women are ugly,’ and another that got spliced together to make it look like I said it. That’s not me.”
He faced more criticism after appearing sarcastic when his co-host Mal jokingly asked if he was being canceled.
“Yeah, no, I hate Black women. I think all Black women are ugly,” Farrell said.
“I been trying to tell them that you felt that way,” Mal said in response.
During the discussion, a woman criticized Rory for the potential “violence” fueled by the rhetoric in his old tweets, a point Rory, a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., acknowledged.
“I couldn’t agree more with everything that you said,” he said. “My point the entire time has been saying I’m not apologizing for anyone that has said that I’ve called Black women ugly or roaches. That’s all I’ve said—I apologize for everything else. Don’t ever say I have called Black woman ugly or roaches or anything that y’all have been trying to put on me because I never said that.”
Farrell addressed the controversy on his podcast, admitting he mishandled the Twitter Spaces discussion and acknowledging Mal’s advice to stay off the platform, a move made easier after he deleted his account.
Rory, Mal and Demaris address what happened in @RaqiThunda Twitter Spaces and Rory’s resurfaced tweets
Rory admits he handled the situation poorly, while Mal says he shouldn’t have been in those Spaces to begin with. They also emphasize that “the internet isn’t real,” urging… https://t.co/HEkidF1Q1tpic.twitter.com/JrvG7HTC4Q
Go Dawgs! Quavo Creates New UGA Apparel Line In Partnership With LIDS
The collaboration is only available at the following physical locations: Mall of Georgia, Cumberland Mall, Perimeter Mall, Lenox Square Mall, and Southlake Mall.
Rapper Quavo, real name Quavious Marshall, is launching a new University of Georgia-themed clothing line in partnership with LIDS. Officially announced Nov. 14, the Quavo UGA x ’47 Collection is available in select LIDS stores: Mall of Georgia, Cumberland Mall, Perimeter Mall, Lenox Square Mall, and Southlake Mall. Additionally, the apparel will be available online.
The collection includes fitted caps, hoodies, t-shirts, and varsity jackets. LIDS said the move is part of a broader strategy to diversify its athleisure and tap into the lifestyle market.
“Quavo is one of today’s most dynamic cultural voices,” said Adam Herstig, senior vice president of marketing and partnerships at Lids. “His influence in music, fashion, and sport makes him the perfect partner to help Lids continue pushing boundaries and setting trends in headwear and lifestyle.”
Quavo, a member of the hip-hop group Migos and founder of the record label Huncho TV, said that the line draws on personal nostalgia. Speaking with Sports Illustrated, the rapper expressed excitement at the opportunity to reimagine the apparel.
“It’s the second year, you know what I’m saying? Now we get some consistency going, and I just feel great. I’m excited. And doing something with Lids is a dream come true. I grew up wearing fitteds and getting fitteds on Christmas, so it’s only right that I put my swag and put my touch on it now, that I got the ball in my hands.”
Since launching Huncho TV and his clothing label Huncho Club, he has created capsule collections with multiple streetwear brands and expanded into tech investments.
According to the Streetwear Impact Report conducted by HypeBeast, hip-hop/rap music has a major impact on consumer trends. Furthermore, 65% of respondents say musicians are the most credible figures in apparel promotion.
For Quavo’s team and LIDS, early indicators show pre-orders were strong. Within hours of the announcement, several core items marked as “limited release” sold out in online exclusive drops.
Chicago Protestors Urge AT&T To End Contracts With ICE-Supporting Agencies
Protesters across Chicago gathered outside AT&T stores to oppose the company’s contracts with agencies that support ICE.
Protesters across Chicago and Illinois recently gathered outside AT&T stores, urging the telecom giant to end contracts with agencies backing the Department of Homeland Security’s controversial ICE raids.
Protesters staged nonviolent demonstrations at 17 AT&T locations across Chicago and Illinois, urging customers to hold off on upgrading products or plans until the company ends contracts with agencies supporting ICE raids, according to a press release. The actions respond to AT&T’s multimillion-dollar agreements with DHS, Customs and Border Patrol, and ICE, including a $146 million contract signed in September 2024.
“No one can reach their full potential while corporations like AT&T profit from contracting with these agencies, gobble up tax breaks, and push for policies that also cut public programs that serve all of us,” People’s Action’s Sulma Arias said outside AT&T’s 15 S. Halsted location in Chicago. “No corporation should have this much power. If AT&T and their peers want our money, they have to act in the interest of our communities.”
With English and Spanish ads promoting how AT&T is “building what matters,” protesters criticized the company for what they see as hypocrisy, marketing to everyday consumers while backing ICE raids that disproportionately impact communities of color.
“AT&T has the nerve to air ads in Spanish while ICE and DHS are terrorizing our communities,” Lina Avalos, a member of The People’s Lobby, said. “We are here today, using our constitutional rights, to talk about how AT&T is selling out our communities to ICE and DHS–– or more cash in their pockets.” Avalos also spoke at the Halsted location.
The protests follow a recent ProPublica investigation into a Sept. 30 ICE raid in one of Chicago’s lowest-income neighborhoods, where agents arrived in Black Hawk helicopters, broke down doors, destroyed property, used flash-bang grenades, and dragged sleeping residents—some unclothed—into the cold. Dozens, including children and U.S. citizens, were held in zip ties for hours. Venezuelan migrants were targeted, accused of ties to the Tren de Aragua gang. While the Trump administration hailed the raid as a counterterrorism success, no charges have been filed against those detained.
Protesters opposing AT&T’s contracts with ICE-supporting agencies aim to highlight how ICE has terrorized not only immigrants but also Black communities, violating constitutional and civil rights. They also point out that AT&T benefited from tax cuts under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill and publicly supported it, despite deep reductions to funding for health, housing, and nutrition programs.
“By targeting people based on appearance and seeking to get rid of them, this administration is violating the American promise of liberty and justice for all,” Rev. Scott Aaseng, executive co-director of Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of Illinois, said. “And AT&T is helping them do it. As a communications company, AT&T should be helping bring people together, not helping ICE separate families and communities. I call on AT&T to do the right thing and end its contracts with ICE, CPB, and DHS now.”
Young Black Men Are Trading In The ‘YN’ Look For Matcha And Quarter Zip Sweaters
The trend speaks to the rise of professional but casual attire on an everyday basis.
Young Black men are giving up on the “YN” lifestyle for a more professional look.
Gone are the days of the Jordan sneakers with the Nike tech sweatsuits. The signature YN look is no longer the trend, as Black young men and teens would rather trade for a quarter zip sweater. Black Instagram users have joined the joking trend about how life feels more elevated when rocking the classic workplace attire.
In fact, some are taking things a step further with a matcha in hand, fulfilling an entirely new aesthetic in this new era.
One content creator named Rich created a skit about the new Quarter Zip craze.
“It’s such a glorious day, the sun is shining so vibrant, so radiant. We don’t do that NIKE tech and coffee anymore, it’s straight up matcha and cashmere quarter zips around here,” he stated sarcastically.
He went on to say that he doesn’t rock the new “kicks” to pop out at an event. Instead, he’s opting for the quiet luxury look, but with designer loafers. He also no longer goes by his street name of “Rich” anymore, preferring for his homeboys to call him Joel in public.
He continued, “…My name is Joel and it’s straight cashmere quarter zips and Gucci loafer season.”
The content creator then went on to say he no longer partakes in “outside” activities, seemingly referencing the club or parties, calling them “low vibrational endeavors.”
Other online creators caught on to the “Quarter Zips and Matcha” trend.
“We don’t do Nike tech. We don’t do coffee. Its straight quarter zips and matcha around here,” began a man in another viral clip.
His friend added, “Yesterday I was in the hood, today I’m wearing this sweater, and I’m in Blank Street [Coffee].”
“Techs down, quarter zips up, ya heard,” said the other man.
While still mostly a satirical trend, the viral clips do note a shift away from typical casual wear and sneakers for a more “tech bro” or young professional look. As the popularity of Nike tech suits declines, this move shows the culture is moving in a new direction.
Stephen Curry Shocks Fans By Wearing Nike Mambacita Kobe 6s Post Under Amour Split
'It’s just something that I wanted to take advantage of that moment and pay tribute.'
Under Armour and Stephen Curry just announced their separation after a decade of partnership. Shortly after making the split public, Curry was seen wearing a pair of Nike “Mambacita” Kobe 6s, sparking shock and speculation during pregame warmups.
According to The Athletic, the Golden State Warriors’ shooting guard made heads turn by lacing up the Nikes while shooting around. Since he is a free agent in the sneaker game right now, he may be showing Nike that he may be interested in a partnership with the sneaker giant. However, he expressed his respect for Kobe Bryant as the catalyst for putting them on for the game against San Antonio on Nov. 14.
“I know it’s weird seeing me in anything else other than my own shoes,” Curry said after the basketball game. “But just the idea of what he meant, I’ve talked about Kobe a lot. And that specific pair, I think it speaks for itself, what it means. Other than that, it’s just something that I wanted to take advantage of that moment and pay tribute, and I think it gave me some good energy tonight.”
Curry signed with Under Armour after serving as a Nike spokesperson for four years. After a 12-year relationship, the parties agreed to part ways, with the scheduled release of The Curry 13 set for February 2026. That will be the last product released under the UA brand. He did express that he is a free agent as he is looking for a new partnership.
“I’m a free agent,” Curry said. “I’m out here, new beginnings. I was blessed to have an unbelievable experience and take a chance on something that meant a lot to me over the last 13 years, and extremely proud of myself, my team, everybody who’s able to touch that business for that long.”
The Warriors won the game against the Spurs, 109-108, as Curry scored 49 points.
NBA Requests Information From Several Teams As Illegal Gambling Investigation Ramps Up
In a statement, the NBA says "everyone has been fully cooperative."
The NBA has reportedly requested mobile phone records and related documents from several teams as it ramps up investigations into illegal gambling accusations.
This is taking place nearly a month after Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones were arrested for their alleged role in a gambling scheme that allegedly involved the mafia.
According to The Athletic, following the arrests, committees from the House and Senate asked the league how it had not uncovered credible evidence that players and coaches had participated in the alleged scheme to reveal private information to bettors.
NBA officials informed the committees that it has has hired an outside law firm, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, to lead the investigation. It has begun contacting teams to request access to cellphones, among other items.
One of the teams contacted was the Los Angeles Lakers. Jones was LeBron James’ former shooting coach and had special access to the Lakers.
Investigators have requested documents, including cellphones and phone records, from at least 10 Lakers employees, according to league sources. Lakers assistant trainer Mike Mancias and executive administrator Randy Mims, who were targeted specifically because of their relationship with Jones, have handed over their phones.
“The NBA engaged an independent law firm to investigate the allegations in the indictment once it was made public,” an NBA spokesman said in a written statement to The Athletic. “As is standard in these kinds of investigations, a number of different individuals and organizations were asked to preserve documents and records. Everyone has been fully cooperative.”
The league had prior investigations into alleged gambling schemes, including one that led to Toronto Raptors’ Jontay Porter being kicked out of the league in April 2024. NBA player Malik Beasley is also a target of a gambling investigation by federal officials.
In the NBA’s investigation of Rozier, the league cleared him of any wrongdoing before he was arrested in October.
