Uterine Fibroids, Non-Profit, Black women health
(Photo: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels)
by Black Enterprise

July 30, 2026

The White Dress Project Brings Fibroid Awareness And Healing To Atlanta

The event emphasized patient-centered conversations, wellness, and community support throughout Fibroid Awareness Month.

Women living with uterine fibroids, healthcare professionals, advocates, and supporters gathered in Atlanta from July 24-26 for The White Dress Project’s 2026 Empowerment Experience, a three-day conference dedicated to education, advocacy, and healing around one of the most common gynecological conditions affecting women.

The event’s theme, “The Softness We Deserve: The Healing Power of Our Stories,” emphasizes patient-centered conversations, wellness, and community support throughout Fibroid Awareness Month. 

Hosted by The White Dress Project, a nonprofit organization focused on increasing global awareness of uterine fibroids, the conference aims to educate attendees about treatment options, advance research, strengthen patient advocacy, and create a community for people navigating the condition. The organization says its work is led largely by women with firsthand experience of fibroids, alongside an advisory council of physicians and researchers working to improve women’s health outcomes. 

The initiative began Friday, July 24, with registration, educational programming, and wellness experiences designed to introduce attendees to the latest developments in fibroid care, research, and patient advocacy while incorporating restorative activities focused on whole-body wellness. 

On Saturday, July 25, attendees participated in expert-led discussions, including the organization’s “Dialogue with the Doctors” panel, where physicians and women’s health specialists discussed reproductive health, fibroid treatment options, and patient advocacy. The day also included the Empowered Patient Luncheon before concluding with the annual Night in White Gala and Blossom Awards, recognizing individuals advancing awareness, research, and women’s health.

This year’s honorees include Academy Award-winning actor Lupita Nyong’o, U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, journalist Zinhle Essamuah, entrepreneur Necole Kane, Georgia state Rep. Park Cannon, and several leading physicians and researchers. 

The weekend concluded Sunday, July 26, with the Legacy Brunch, bringing together women across generations to celebrate shared experiences and encourage continued advocacy for uterine health. 

The organization’s name reflects a reality many women with fibroids face. Because heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the condition’s most common symptoms, many avoid wearing white clothing. The White Dress Project says the white dress has become a symbol of hope and resilience, and of its mission to end the silent suffering associated with fibroids through research, education, advocacy, and community support. 

RELATED CONTENT: 2 Friends Create Nonprofit To Raise Funds For Black Women With Uterine Fibroids

Remembering Black Feminist Artist, Betye Saar, On Her 100th Birthday
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 30, 2026

Remembering Black Feminist Artist, Betye Saar, On Her 100th Birthday

The Black feminist artist liberated Aunt Jemima.

Betye Saar, the visionary Black feminist artist whose pioneering assemblage art dismantled racist stereotypes and redefined 20th-century American sculpture, died peacefully in her sleep July 26, 2026, at her home in Los Angeles. She was 99, passing away just four days before her 100th birthday. Her death was confirmed in an official statement by Roberts Projects, the Los Angeles gallery that represented her for nearly two decades. Celebrated internationally for transforming discarded domestic items and derogatory Jim Crow ephemera into potent symbols of Black liberation, Saar leaves behind a monumental artistic legacy anchored by her iconic 1972 masterwork, The Liberation of Aunt Jemima.

Betye Saar Revolutionized Assemblage Art

Born Betye Irene Brown in Los Angeles on July 30, 1926, the acclaimed Black feminist artist emerged as a central figure during the Black Arts Movement and second-wave feminism of the late 1960s. Drawing early creative motivation from the architectural majesty of Simon Rodia’s Watts Towers and Joseph Cornell’s boxed constructions, Saar pioneered a unique form of assemblage art that merged personal memory, mysticism, and radical socio-political critique.

According to gallery representatives at Roberts Projects, Saar possessed an uncanny capacity to collect vintage antiques, discarded window frames, and racial collectibles at swap meets, elevating ordinary objects into spiritual altars. Her breakthrough 1969 piece, Black Girl’s Window, utilized a salvaged window frame to explore themes of identity, astrology, and grief following her father’s early passing.

However, it was her seminal 1972 assemblage art piece, The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, that catapulted her into national prominence. Created in direct response to the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the work weaponized a racist mammy caricature by equipping her with a rifle and hand grenade. Activist Angela Davis famously heralded The Liberation of Aunt Jemima as the artwork that effectively launched the Black women’s movement, establishing Saar as a premier Black feminist artist.

Why Betye Saar Remains a Monumental Black Feminist Artist

Throughout her seven-decade career, Saar interrogated historical trauma while asserting the agency, dignity, and spiritual resilience of Black women. Institutional recognition expanded significantly in her later years; in 2019, at age 93, she was honored with concurrent major exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Her commitment to narrative sculpture influenced generations of contemporary creators, including her daughters Alison Saar and Lezley Saar. As documented by Roberts Projects, Saar maintained an active studio practice well into her late 90s, completing the sweeping garden installation Betye Saar: Drifting Toward Twilight for the Huntington Library in 2023.

Today, Saar’s work resides in more than 90 museum collections worldwide. Current centennial exhibitions, including Betye Saar’s Black Dolls at the New-York Historical Society, continue to showcase how her revolutionary assemblage art transformed offensive cultural relics into enduring weapons of empowerment. As public interest in The Liberation of Aunt Jemima endures, art historians and curators affiliated with Roberts Projects affirm that Betye Saar will forever be remembered as an indispensable Black feminist artist whose courage reshaped American art history.

RELATED CONTENT: Fine Artist Phyllis Stephens And The Art of Dancing In Color

Chance the Rapper, Chicago, New Year's Eve
Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney
by Kenneth Meeks

July 30, 2026

Chance The Rapper Leveraged Partnerships To Do Business His Own Way

He’s known for making deals on his own terms.

In 2017, Chance the Rapper was the first independent artist to win three Grammy Awards for a streaming-only mixed tape, earning statues for Best New Artist, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Album. Shortly after, marketing agencies approached him for a string of endorsement deals. But as he’s lived his life growing up in Chicago, he would only make deals on his own terms.

BLACK ENTERPRISE revisits his exclusive XCEL Summit for Men’s conversation with BE CEO Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr. on location at his House of Kicks. Chance shares how he built a multifaceted career on his own terms and redefined what it means to be an independent artist. Considered a Generational Voice by GQ Magazine, to this day he has never signed a record deal, instead opting to make his music available for free to everyone. No wonder former President Barack Obama called him an “outstanding role model.” In celebration of the 10th anniversary XCEL Summit for Men, we see his passion for music and family fuels his commitment to giving back. 

RELATED CONTENT: Idris And Sabrina Elba, Chance The Rapper, Stress The Need For Social Change At TIME100 Philanthropy Impact Dinner

a man holding a movie camera
Photo by CineDirektor FILMS/Pexels
by Sidnee Michelle

July 29, 2026

The African Export-Import Bank Launches $1B Film Fund To Finance Africa’s Creative Industry

The fund will invest through equity, quasi-equity, and structured financing.

The African Export-Import Bank (also known as Afreximbank) is expanding its investment in the continent’s creative economy with the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), designed to mobilize up to $1 billion for Africa’s film and television industry, Deadline reports.

The bank announced July 8 that its development impact investment arm, FEDA, officially launched the Pan-African Film Fund. The initiative will provide financing for film and television productions, production facilities, postproduction infrastructure, digital distribution platforms, and exhibition networks while helping African content compete in global entertainment markets.

Publishing executive and producer Lavaille Lavette was named chief executive officer of the Pan-African Film Fund. FEDA also appointed One Street Studios as co-general partner to help manage the fund’s investment strategy and operations. Lavette serves as managing partner of One Street Studios and co-founded JVL Media alongside Academy Award-winning actor Viola Davis and producer Julius Tennon.

According to FEDA, the fund will invest through equity, quasi-equity, and structured financing to support commercially viable film, television, and immersive media projects with international distribution potential. Officials said the investment platform is intended to strengthen Africa’s creative economy by increasing access to long-term capital for creators and production companies.

“Africa’s creative industries are entering a defining moment,” Lavette said in a statement. “Through the Pan-African Film Fund, we will mobilize long-term capital that supports creators, strengthens production capacity, and builds sustainable global distribution pathways for African storytelling.”

The Pan-African Film Fund expands Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) initiative, which aims to grow the continent’s cultural and creative industries into drivers of economic development, job creation, and exports.

The fund, first introduced under the CANEX program in May 2025, is expected to become one of the largest investment vehicles dedicated to financing Africa’s film and television industry, according to FEDA.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Earn Your Leisure’ Expands Global Footprint With The Launch Of EYL Africa

Howard University, Autodesk, College of Engineering and Architecture Makerspace, HBCU
(Photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
by Selena Hill

July 29, 2026

New York Gov. Extends SUNY And CUNY Admission To Students Disenrolled From Howard University

Gov. Kathy Hochul is directing New York's public university systems to fast-track admissions.


New York is moving quickly to support students impacted by Howard University’s decision to disenroll more than 500 incoming first-year students just weeks before the start of the fall semester.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced July 27 that she has directed the State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) systems to expedite admissions for students affected by Howard’s enrollment decision, ensuring eligible New York residents have another path to begin college this fall.

The move comes after Howard University removed 502 admitted first-year students who failed to meet payment, payment plan, or financial aid reporting deadlines weeks before the Fall 2026 semester begins Aug. 17. Howard has said the action was necessary to plan for housing, financial aid, academic programs, and student support services before classes begin, reports Inside Higher Ed.

“Hundreds of students, including New Yorkers, are scrambling and scared since they’ve been disenrolled from their intended college just a few weeks before classes are set to begin,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “New York is home to the nation’s finest systems of public higher education, and we are ready to welcome these talented students with the opportunity they deserve. To every student who is worried that their educational future has been disrupted: New York is ready to support and empower you.”

Under her directive, participating SUNY and CUNY campuses with available capacity will provide expedited admissions reviews. New York residents affected by Howard’s decision will also be eligible for an $800 credit to offset the nonrefundable enrollment deposit they paid to Howard University. State officials said the effort will use existing enrollment capacity so it does not reduce opportunities for other students seeking admission.

“CUNY’s mission is to expand access to higher education for all students, not restrict it based on financial means,” CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said in a statement, according to The New York Amsterdam News. “To these students currently facing uncertainty and left in academic limbo: our doors are open, our admissions are expedited, and your dream of a college degree remains well within reach. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for her vision and swift action to help these displaced students find a home in our public university system.”

RELATED CONTENT: Tuskegee University Mandates Campus Business Dress Code For Students

Tennessee State University
(Photo: Wikimedia)
by Sidnee Michelle

July 29, 2026

Tennessee State University Names Jennifer Bell Interim Athletic Director Amid Investigation

Bell will oversee the athletics department while the investigation is underway.

Tennessee State University named longtime athletics administrator Jennifer Bell interim athletic director July 24, after placing Athletic Director Mikki Allen on administrative leave pending an internal investigation into the athletics department’s leadership, HBCU Sports reports.

The Mid-Southern University Promotes A Seasoned Professional

Bell will oversee the athletics department while the investigation is underway. The university said the review was initiated after concerns raised by six head coaches prompted an examination of the department’s leadership, communication, and operations.

A Tennessee State veteran with more than 30 years of experience, Bell currently serves as the executive senior associate athletic director for student-athlete services and as a senior woman administrator. During her tenure, she has led initiatives in compliance, academic support, and student-athlete services while holding several senior leadership positions within the athletics department.

Bell joined Tennessee State Athletics in 1991 as an assistant women’s basketball coach under former head coach and athletics director Teresa Phillips. After spending 11 years on the coaching staff, she transitioned to athletics administration, where she has remained in leadership roles for more than two decades.

Tennessee State said Bell’s decades of institutional experience and familiarity with the athletics program position her to lead the department during the transition while the review continues.

Allen, who has served as Tennessee State’s athletic director since 2020, was placed on administrative leave July 23. The university has not publicly disclosed the specific concerns that prompted the investigation beyond stating that the review stems from issues raised by six head coaches regarding the department’s leadership, communication, and day-to-day operations.

The university has not announced a timeline for completing the investigation or whether Allen will return to the role once the review concludes.

RELATED CONTENT: Aced It! Tennis Phenom Sydney Brantley Signs With Tennessee State University

Angelica Whaley, founder of luxury brand Belle Être
Angelica Whaley, founder of Belle Être
by Alisa Gumbs

July 29, 2026

Angelica Whaley Is Building a Luxury Brand In An Uncertain Economy—Here’s How

The founder of lingerie line Belle Être opens up about what luxury consumers want.

Angelica Whaley might have been destined to start a luxury brand. She has a lifelong appreciation for luxurious fabrics like lace and silk, which started with her mother’s long satin robes, which she would steal to serve as her wardrobe during playtime.

In 2020, she launched Belle Être, which translates to “Beautiful Being,” a lingerie and intimate apparel brand that offers bodysuits, robes, sleepwear, and more. Having survived its first five years, the company is now focused on expanding its product collections, collaborating with fashion creators and influencers, and becoming a recognizable name within the luxury intimate apparel industry.

“Belle Être was created to remind women that confidence begins from within,” Whaley said in a statement. “Luxury isn’t reserved for special occasions—it should be part of how women feel every single day. I wanted to create pieces that make women feel beautiful, empowered, and unapologetically feminine.”

Whaley shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE exclusively what she’s learned as an entrepreneur in the luxury market:

What was it like launching a luxury brand during the pandemic and now growing it in a time of economic uncertainty?

Launching Belle Être during the pandemic was both one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my career. At a time when the world felt uncertain, people were spending more time at home and redefining what self-care meant to them. I realized that luxury wasn’t just about going out or making a statement—it was about how you felt when you looked in the mirror.

Today, we’re navigating a different kind of uncertainty with the economy, but I’ve found that the core of our brand remains the same. Women are becoming more intentional with their purchases. They aren’t necessarily buying more; they’re buying better. That has reinforced our commitment to creating timeless pieces that women will reach for again and again instead of chasing fast fashion or fleeting trends.

What has that experience taught you about business?

It’s taught me that adaptability is one of the greatest assets an entrepreneur can have. Markets change, consumer habits evolve, and unexpected challenges are inevitable. Rather than resisting change, I’ve learned to listen closely to our customers and let their needs guide our decisions.

It’s also reminded me that strong brands are built on trust, not trends. If you consistently deliver quality, authenticity, and an exceptional customer experience, people remember that. Relationships ultimately outlast marketing campaigns.

How have you been able to communicate to customers that luxury is worth spending on?

For me, luxury has never been about a logo or a price tag. It’s about craftsmanship, confidence, and longevity.

I want our customers to feel that every detail—from the fit and fabrics to the packaging and overall experience—reflects genuine care. When a woman invests in something beautifully made that fits well and makes her feel confident, she’s investing in herself.

We also encourage thoughtful purchasing. Instead of buying multiple pieces that won’t last, invest in a few timeless essentials you’ll love wearing for years. That’s a more meaningful—and often more economical—approach to luxury.

Aside from the quality of the product itself, what would you say consumers expect from a luxury brand?

Today’s luxury consumer expects authenticity above all else. They want to know the story behind the brand, understand its values, and feel a genuine connection with the people creating the products.

They also expect consistency. Every interaction—from browsing a website to opening a package to receiving customer service—should feel intentional and elevated.

Perhaps most importantly, consumers want to feel seen. Luxury is becoming more inclusive, and customers expect brands to create products and experiences that celebrate women of different backgrounds, body types, and stages of life.

What insights can you share about the luxury market for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to be in this space?

My biggest advice is to never confuse luxury with high prices. Luxury is about creating value that people can genuinely feel.

Pay attention to every detail because your customers certainly will. Invest in quality, create a memorable customer experience, and stay consistent with your brand identity. In the luxury space, reputation is one of your greatest assets, and it’s built over time through consistency.

Most importantly, build a brand with purpose. Consumers today are incredibly thoughtful. They want to support founders who have a clear vision, authentic values, and a meaningful reason for creating what they do. If your mission is genuine and your products reflect that mission, you’ll create something that resonates far beyond a single purchase.

RELATED CONTENT: Kroger Announces New Black-Owned Brands Section In Ohio Store

ON THIS DAY: July 29, 2008 Congress Issued Apology For Slavery
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 29, 2026

ON THIS DAY: July 29, 2008 Congress Issued Apology For Slavery

The apology did not establish monetary compensation or financial reparations to the descendants of enslaved individuals.

The United States House of Representatives fundamentally reshaped the nation’s political landscape on July 29, 2008, by formally approving a historic non-binding resolution that acknowledged the profound horrors of chattel slavery and systemic Jim Crow segregation. Introduced by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN)—a white lawmaker serving a majority-Black constituency in Memphis—House Resolution 194 marked the very first instance in American history where a branch of the federal government issued an official apology for the institutional enslavement of African Americans.

What Is House Resolution 194 and How Did It Pass?

House Resolution 194 was officially introduced to address centuries of unacknowledged systemic harm perpetrated against millions of African Americans. Passed via a simple voice vote in the House of Representatives, the historic document explicitly outlined the brutal realities of chattel slavery and the subsequent legal frameworks of segregation that systematically denied Black Americans basic civil liberties, economic independence, and voting rights between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries.

Rep. Steve Cohen crafted the legislation to ensure that the federal government acknowledged its role in permitting state-sanctioned oppression. While individual states like Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina had previously passed similar measures at the local level, House Resolution 194 elevated the historic effort to the federal stage, securing bipartisan approval without requiring a formal roll-call vote.

Why Did House Resolution 194 Omit Financial Reparations?

Despite its unprecedented nature, House Resolution 194 remains a subject of intense political analysis due to its deliberate legal boundaries. As a nonbinding resolution, the measure served exclusively as a symbolic federal acknowledgment rather than a binding statute. It carried no enforceable legal liability for the U.S. government, nor did it establish any framework for monetary compensation or financial reparations to the descendants of enslaved individuals. The language of House Resolution 194 specifically focused on moral accountability, stating that the long-term economic, psychological, and social vestiges of Jim Crow persist today. While community advocates and civil rights leaders emphasized that symbolic gestures must eventually translate into material policy solutions, lawmakers designed the nonbinding resolution to focus on historical reconciliation, preserving a distinction between institutional repentance and legal financial obligations.

How Does House Resolution 194 Impact Contemporary Restorative Justice?

The passage of House Resolution 194 catalyzed subsequent legislative actions across Capitol Hill, including the Senate’s companion measure, Senate Concurrent Resolution 26, passed in June 2009. By embedding an official acknowledgment of historic atrocities into the Congressional Record, House Resolution 194 established an foundational baseline for ongoing debates surrounding H.R. 40—the federal proposal to establish a commission studying reparations and national truth and reconciliation efforts.

Ultimately, House Resolution 194 remains a pivotal milestone in American political history, demonstrating how legislative actions shape national memory, public education, and the ongoing quest for racial justice.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘March On Washington 2026: Defend the Vote’ Planned For Aug. 28

Just for Teens
photo credit: pexels
by Sidnee Michelle

July 29, 2026

‘Just For Teens’ Skincare Brand Expands To Nearly 10,000 Dollar General Stores

The expansion marks another step in the company's retail growth strategy after its products demand increased.

Black-owned skincare company Just for Teens will expand its national retail footprint to nearly 10,000 Dollar General stores by September 2026, giving the Atlanta-based brand broader access to consumers through one of the nation’s largest discount retailers, The Atlanta Voice reports.

Just for Teens partnered with Dollar General, which serves thousands of rural, suburban, and underserved communities — a decision that has helped keep prices low while expanding access during one of the year’s busiest shopping seasons. 

The expansion marks another step in the company’s retail growth strategy after its products increased from approximately 4,000 Dollar General locations in September 2025 to more than 8,000 stores today. Founder Brian Reynolds said the latest rollout will include the company’s scented pimple patches, which are scheduled to arrive in stores in September.

Reynolds said the opportunity stemmed from participating in Dollar General’s small-business supplier program, which helps emerging businesses secure shelf space with the retailer.

“Success is measured by how many customers and families you can serve and positively impact their lives,” Reynolds said. “We wanted a young person in a small town to have the same access to quality skincare as someone shopping at a specialty beauty retailer, and parents shouldn’t have to pay premium prices to help their kids feel confident.” 

Founded in 2020, Just for Teens develops skincare products designed for younger consumers, including facial cleansers, moisturizers, mineral creams, pimple patches, sun patches, and bite patches. Reynolds said the company’s retail presence has accelerated over the past 18 months as it expanded into major chain stores.

Dollar General operates more than 20,000 stores nationwide, including more than 1,130 locations in Georgia — its second-largest market by store count behind Texas, according to the retailer. The company has a market capitalization of about $26 billion, according to CompaniesMarketCap.

For Reynolds, securing shelf space with a national retailer has allowed the brand to reach customers in communities that extend far beyond its Atlanta roots.

“It’s fascinating to go into random stores in small towns and see your products on shelves,” Reynolds said.

He recalled learning that a friend found Just for Teens pimple patches at a Dollar General outside St. Louis, highlighting the brand’s expanding national reach.

“We’re growing really quickly,” Reynolds said.

The September rollout is expected to further increase the company’s visibility as Just for Teens continues to compete for market share in the growing skincare industry while demonstrating how national retail partnerships can help Black-owned consumer brands scale their businesses.

“It’s not just young people who love our products. Parents tell us they appreciate the value, and many use the clear patches too,” Reynolds said. “We designed something that makes skincare fun for kids while offering something practical enough for the whole family.” 

RELATED CONTENT: 8 Beauty Buys For A Polished Look And They’re All Black-Owned  

XCEL Summit for men, Dexter Brown
Courtesy of Dexter Brown
by Kenneth Meeks

July 29, 2026

The Secrets Behind Dell Technologies’ Use of Artificial Intelligence

Vice President Dexter Brown Shares Insight into the Strategy to Make A.I. the Fabric and Backbone of the Corporation

BLACK ENTERPRISE proved that Artificial Intelligence is no longer limited to research labs or specific industries. It’s being incorporated into products, services, and processes in areas ranging from healthcare and finance to transportation and entertainment, transforming how we live, work, and lead. Dell Technologies is also taking away the human touch when it comes to collecting and storing customer information. According to Dexter Brown, vice president of Global Customer Delivery at Dell Technologies, the impact AI has on Dell is impressive. It is a tool to help agents become more efficient and accurate in its data collection. And it isn’t for the agent’s benefit; it’s for the customer.

At the 2025 XCEL Summit for Men, Brown told a conference of young professional men of color that the use of AI technology is the future. And now more than ever, establishing a reputation for understanding the opportunities and risks associated with the rapid development and widespread integration of AI is critical to your career success. And while different AI models are applied to difference departments, Brown shares how AI is used in customer service. As we approach the 10thanniversary of the summit this fall, BE reminds these young professionals that if you are considering a career in AI, then stand out as a top performer and effective leader in the age of AI. Hear it from Dexter Brown himself in this short video clip.

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