Hakeem Jeffries, Congressional Black Caucus, CBC, Nancy Mace — Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) conducts a news conference after the House Democrats caucus meeting in the Capitol on Wednesday. (Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

by Selena Hill

July 28, 2026

Republican Lawmaker’s Push To Eliminate the Congressional Black Caucus, Democrats Call It ‘Racist’

Rep. Nancy Mace called the CBC and other race-based caucuses “federally sanctioned segregation."

Rep. Nancy Mace has introduced a House resolution to eliminate congressional caucuses organized by race or ethnicity, placing the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) squarely in the middle of the latest political battle over diversity and representation in Washington.

Republican Lawmakers Turn Their Attention To Congressional Caucuses

The South Carolina Republican’s proposal would prohibit House caucuses formed around race, ethnicity, or national origin, effectively dismantling organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. The measure could also affect several Republican-affiliated staff organizations organized around similar identities. In a statement to Fox News Digital, Mace argued that “Race-based caucuses are not diversity. They are federally-sanctioned segregation.” She added, “You do not get to lecture America about inclusion while running an organization which checks your skin color at the door.”

Democratic Leaders Call Out Racism

The proposal was met with swift resistance from Democratic leadership and members of the CBC, who argue that the organizations serve as policy-driven coalitions advocating for historically underrepresented communities. In a joint statement, Democratic leaders said the caucuses “existed long before Nancy Mace arrived in Congress, and will remain long after she fades into irrelevancy,” reports Yahoo News.

“Nancy Mace rose to infamy for her cheap political stunts, and this is just the latest distraction from her failed primary and complete inability to deliver for her constituents,” wrote the coalition of Democrats, referring to Mace’s unsuccessful run for South Carolina governor.

“Members of Congress have every right to organize around shared policy priorities and the constituencies they serve. There are dozens of bipartisan congressional caucuses dedicated to ethnic communities, geographic regions, industries, veterans, faith traditions, and countless other interests,” the caucuses continued. “Singling out the Congressional Tri-Caucus—which represents nearly half of all Americans—is racist and a shameless attempt to silence the voices of minorities.”

The Congressional Black Caucus Has Put In Work For 55 Years

Founded in 1971, the CBC has historically championed legislation addressing voting rights, economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, healthcare disparities, education, and minority business development. The CBC has been one of Congress’s most influential voices on issues affecting Black entrepreneurs, from access to capital for minority-owned businesses to investments in underserved communities. Critics say any effort to weaken or eliminate the caucus raises broader questions about who advocates for policies designed to close racial wealth gaps and expand economic opportunity.

ON THIS DAY: The 14th Amendment Is Adopted Into The U.S. Constitution

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 28, 2026

ON THIS DAY: The 14th Amendment Is Adopted Into The U.S. Constitution

The landmark addition extended vital legal safeguards to newly freed individuals.

On July 28, 1868, the United States officially adopted the 14th Amendment. This landmark addition guaranteed citizenship, equal protection, and due process rights to anyone born or naturalized in the country, extending vital legal safeguards to newly freed individuals.

Beyond granting birthright citizenship, due process, and equal protection to formerly enslaved individuals:

It overturned Dred Scott, which had previously denied Black Americans citizenship.
It repealed the 3/5ths Clause of Article I, altering how congressional representation was calculated.
It disqualified former Confederate leaders who had broken oaths to the Union from holding public office.

Mental Health, corporate America — (Photo: Monstera Production/Pexels)

by Kenneth Meeks

July 28, 2026

Dr. Philippe Douyon Wants Men To Take Charge Of Their Mental Health And Career

Neurologist Dr. Philippe Douyon helps you protect your mental health at work so you perform under pressure.

African American men are under constant pressure to perform, especially in high-profile corporate environments. Dr. Philippe Douyon, neurologist and founder of the Inle BrainFit Institute, spoke on a panel at last year’s XCEL Summit for Men to help protect young African American professionals’ mental health. And BLACK ENTERPRISE believes Douyon’s message is of importance because protecting mental health is a critical necessity for achieving success in corporate America. As we approach the 10^thanniversary of the XCEL Summit for Men, BE wants to revisit proactive strategies and lifestyle choices you can use to build emotional resilience and protect your mental health. In the process, you’ll take charge of your career and unleash the genius inside you. Take a look.

Working From Home Boosts Productivity In Gen Z Employees

A new survey shows that most young employees are more productive when working from home.

As many companies continue pushing employees back into the office, a new study suggests Gen Z workers may have been right all along: home is where they do their best work.

What The Survey Says About The Numbers

According to a new survey commissioned by workplace design firm Diamond Interiors, 53% of Gen Z employees say they are more productive when working remotely than they are in a traditional office. The findings add fresh momentum to the debate over return-to-office mandates as employers across industries continue weighing flexibility against in-person collaboration, reports TechRadar.

Researchers found that younger workers credit their increased productivity to fewer distractions, better control over their environment, and greater comfort while working from home. Many young professionals also entered the workforce after spending their college years learning remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, making them less accustomed to noisy, open-office environments.

“The traditional office isn’t necessarily broken, but it hasn’t evolved at the pace people have,” Rebecca Waller, head of Design at Diamond Interiors, said in a statement. “Open-plan spaces can be fantastic for collaboration, but they often fall short when it comes to supporting focused, individual work. Today’s workforce, especially younger generations, expect environments that flex with the task at hand.”

Workspaces Haven’t Evolved With The Times

The report argues that employers face a choice: redesign office spaces to better accommodate focused work or recognize remote work as a legitimate long-term productivity strategy rather than a temporary solution birthed during the pandemic.

The findings arrive as workplace leaders remain divided over the future of hybrid work. While many executives argue that in-person work strengthens company culture, mentorship, and collaboration, employees—particularly younger professionals—continue to prioritize flexibility and work-life balance.

Still, remote work is not without its challenges. Researchers have noted that fully remote arrangements can reduce spontaneous collaboration and make it harder for younger employees to build workplace relationships and learn through informal interactions with colleagues.

Invest Atlanta, housing, elderly — https://nappy.co/photo/oXC1l00om7w9vuyQKsoK7

by Sidnee Michelle

July 27, 2026

Lyn Siawe Launches ‘Your Work Buddy,’ A Monetizing Platform For Freelancers

Siawe said the idea for Your Work Buddy emerged while she worked as a technology consultant at Accenture.

After nearly two decades in finance and technology, entrepreneur Lyn Siawe is helping tech professionals transform their expertise into income through her latest startup, Your Work Buddy, a talent marketplace that connects freelancers with businesses seeking specialized skills, Afrotech reports.

A Nigerian native, Siawe moved to the United States at age 16 after completing high school. She studied economics and finance at the University of Houston before earning her degree from Southern New Hampshire University, launching a career that ultimately inspired her move into entrepreneurship.

Before founding Your Work Buddy, Siawe launched Ziva’s World, an educational children’s platform focused on social issues. Over the past 11 years, the brand expanded into children’s books and fragrance products and secured a partnership with Walmart, according to the outlet.

Siawe said the idea for Your Work Buddy emerged while she worked as a technology consultant at Accenture, where she struggled to find resources after volunteering to create a custom report.

“I remember I had a situation where I had to create a custom report,” Siawe said. “No one asked me, so I volunteered to do it because what I realized is that in the tech world, you have to reinvent yourself to be an asset, to be valuable.”

That experience exposed what she saw as a gap in professional support, leading her to build a platform that matches businesses with freelancers and professionals in software engineering, coding, design, marketing, sales, and writing.

“The primary goal is to turn tech expertise into ownership,” Siawe told the publication. “Your knowledge will become your portfolio … and your knowledge will become your assets.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Your Work Buddy (@yourworkbud)

Freelancers create verified profiles by submitting identification and employment history, while clients pay for services at the time of booking. The platform maintains payment records and identity verification to help resolve disputes, trace transactions, and process refunds when necessary.

Your Work Buddy offers free and paid membership options. The free plan includes five client conversations and biweekly payouts. A $19.99 monthly subscription provides unlimited client outreach, on-demand withdrawals, and the ability to sell digital products such as templates, guides, toolkits, and courses.

“You know your worth. You know how many years you’ve put into building all of these special skills and expertise,” Siawe said. “As long as you understand that your knowledge becomes your asset, you own your space.”

The company is bootstrapped and is pursuing investment and grant funding. Your Work Buddy is available through a mobile web app and on iOS and Android devices.

economic, Retirement, Savings, retirees, COLA, social security, contribute, IRA, IRS, payments, cost-of-living adjustments, contributions, boomers — SDI Productions/Getty Images

by Sidnee Michelle

July 27, 2026

These States May Help Retirees Keep Most Of Their Retirement Income

The analysis found that state tax policies can significantly affect how much money is kept in retirement.

Americans looking to reduce their tax bills in retirement may find relief in a growing number of states that exempt retirement income or do not levy a broad-based state income tax, according to Investopedia.

The analysis found that state tax policies can significantly affect how much retirees keep from pensions, Social Security benefits, and retirement account withdrawals. While federal taxes still apply in many cases, state rules vary widely, making location an important financial consideration for retirees.

According to the outlet, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina provide broad tax exemptions on retirement income. Depending on the state’s tax code, those exemptions may apply to Social Security benefits, pensions, military retirement pay, or distributions from retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts. Eligibility and exemption amounts differ by state.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Realtor.com (@realtordotcom)

The report also identified nine states that do not impose a broad-based state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Because those states do not tax wage income, most retirement income is also exempt from state income tax. Washington is an exception in that it levies a tax on certain high-value capital gains but does not tax wages or most retirement income.

Beyond those state-specific policies, Investopedia reported that 41 states do not tax Social Security benefits, 37 states exempt most military retirement pay, and 16 states offer at least partial tax exemptions for pension income. Those policies can produce meaningful differences in annual tax liability depending on how retirees receive their income.

The analysis noted that retirement taxes represent only one component of the overall cost of retirement. Property taxes, sales taxes, housing costs, healthcare expenses, and estate or inheritance tax laws differ by state and may influence where retirees choose to live. As states continue to take different approaches to taxing retirement income, those policies remain a key factor for Americans evaluating where to spend their retirement years.

Idris Elba, Sierra Leone, Abu Dhabi, eco city, friendly, uk Secretary of State, Africa — (Photo: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

by Sidnee Michelle

July 27, 2026

Idris Elba Invests $1M To Equip 100K African Creators With AI

Elba said the partnership is designed to close the gap between talent and opportunity across Africa's creative industries.

Actor Idris Elba is investing nearly $1 million to expand access to artificial intelligence tools for nearly 100,000 creators across five African countries, along with Google; a move aimed at helping artists, filmmakers, and entrepreneurs overcome financial barriers to content production, Bloomberg reports.

The initiative will provide Google’s Gemini AI assistant and other AI-powered tools to creators in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and Sierra Leone. The program is intended to help emerging creatives produce digital content and scale their work without the large budgets typically required for film, media, and other creative projects.

“We think about all those creatives who don’t have access to these enormous studio budgets,” James Manyika, Google’s senior vice president for research and technology, told the outlet. “AI is potentially a tool that can enable them to do work that they couldn’t otherwise do because they don’t have huge budgets.”

Elba said the partnership is designed to close the gap between talent and opportunity across Africa’s creative industries.

“The barrier is not a lack of vision — it’s a lack of access. Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Afrika World (@afrika.world)

The technology initiative complements several creative infrastructure projects Elba is leading across the continent. In 2024, he announced plans to develop a film studio in Zanzibar, Tanzania, which Zanzibar Investment Minister Shariff Ali Sharif said could rival Hollywood, Nollywood, and Bollywood.

At the time of the announcement, a spokesperson for Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan told the BBC the project could create economic opportunities not only for Tanzania but also for countries across Eastern and Central Africa if completed successfully.

According to Bloomberg, Elba is also developing a creative village in Ghana to support local filmmakers, artists, and storytellers while increasing the production of culturally authentic content for global streaming platforms.

“Being from the creative sector and working across Africa, I see the real bottlenecks that can be alleviated with technical and financial solutions. The creative economy is often overlooked, but it can be a major economic driver,” Elba told OkayAfrica.

Elba described his long-term strategy as “multilayered,” saying it extends beyond building studios and educational programs.

“I’ve been working on this jigsaw for years. It isn’t just building studios or creating education programs. It’s about creating an environment that allows creativity to happen. So I’m interested in how we can change that.”

Marsai Martin — Photo credit: (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

by Sidnee Michelle

July 27, 2026

Marsai Martin’s Foundation Reaches 10K Students, Launches Financial Fellowship

Marsai Martin is expanding her efforts to help young people build long-term financial security.

Actor, producer, and entrepreneur Marsai Martin is expanding her efforts to help young people build long-term financial security, as her nonprofit reaches a major milestone and launches a new scholarship initiative for college students, Afrotech reports.

Marsai’s Way Foundation empowers the youth

Martin’s Marsai’s Way Foundation has served more than 10,000 students through programs focused on education, mentorship, scholarships, and leadership development, according to the organization’s website. The nonprofit also announced the launch of the FICO Financial Empowerment Fellowship, a new program that will award ten college students $1,500 scholarships while equipping them with financial literacy and leadership skills.

The fellowship builds on a three-year partnership between Martin and Seeds of Fortune Inc., announced earlier in 2026, to provide financial education, wealth-building strategies, and career development resources to 10,000 young women.

Founded in honor of Martin’s late cousin, Marsai Chari Murray, the Marsai’s Way Foundation seeks to expand educational opportunities for underserved youth while encouraging the next generation of leaders. Martin, who was named after her cousin, said the organization reflects a legacy of creating opportunities for others.

“If a way was made for me, then I have a responsibility to make one for someone else,” Martin wrote in an Instagram post announcing the foundation’s milestone.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marsai (@marsaimartin)

The foundation’s work centers on four key pillars: scholarships, health and wellness, leadership development, and financial literacy. Its programs are supported by 36 partners worldwide.

The foundation has expanded programming

The foundation’s newest initiative, the FICO Financial Empowerment Fellowship, is designed to help students better understand personal finance, credit, and wealth-building. Financial literacy has become an increasing priority for organizations seeking to equip young adults with the tools needed to make informed financial decisions and build long-term economic stability.

Ten fellows will receive $1,500 scholarships, financial education from FICO, and leadership training through Seeds of Fortune Inc. Participants also will help classmates and community members access financial education resources that promote healthier financial habits.

“We spend so much time preparing for our careers, but understanding your finances is just as important,” Martin wrote in a separate Instagram post.

“Learning how credit works, making smart financial decisions, and building wealth for your future — those are life skills that create opportunities.”

Selected fellows will also attend the Marsai Martin Resolution Brunch, where they will connect with Martin, fellow participants, and other community leaders.

Applications are open to students enrolled in two- or four-year colleges and universities, as well as accredited trade and vocational programs in the United States. The deadline to apply is Sept. 21.

It’s Time The Address The Strategic Starvation Of Modern Leadership In The Workplace

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 27, 2026

It’s Time The Address The Strategic Starvation Of Modern Leadership In The Workplace

Today's executives are drowning in tactical work while starving for strategic space in leadership.

Today’s executives are drowning in tactical work while starving for strategic space in leadership.

We are halfway through the year, and many executive teams are quietly confronting the same uncomfortable reality: the organization is moving fast, but not necessarily forward. Revenue may still be holding. Deadlines may still be getting met. But beneath the surface, organizations are systematically eroding the reflective capacity leadership requires.

Reflective capacity, documented in research from Harvard Business School and Finnish researchers, is the protected mental and organizational space leaders need to step back from constant action, examine assumptions, interpret patterns, and make better decisions before simply moving faster. That capacity is not eroding because leaders lack capability or vision. It is eroding because many organizations have built cultures where interruption, responsiveness, and constant availability are treated as evidence of commitment.

The erosion is measurable

275 interruptions per employee each workday, one every two minutes (Microsoft 2025 Work Trend Index)
58% of work time spent on “work about work” (Asana Anatomy of Work Index)
3 hours per month that senior executives spend discussing strategy (Harvard Business Review)
25% of a CEO’s tasks could be automated with today’s technology (McKinsey & Company)

This is not merely an individual discipline problem. It is a cultural and structural one. Organizations say they want strategic leaders while designing work environments that reward immediate response, visible busyness, and operational endurance over reflection, discernment, and strategic clarity.

Tactical work keeps the organization running. Strategic leadership determines whether it is running in the right direction.

The modern executive has become a professional reactor

A senior executive at a large, mission-driven institution once proudly showed me her color-coded calendar. Every hour was optimized. Meetings filled her days from morning until evening. But when I asked when she had last spent uninterrupted time thinking deeply about the future of the organization, she went silent. Finally, she said, “I honestly can’t remember.”

She was not describing a personal failing. She was describing a leadership system consumed by execution. Her calendar reflected exactly the behaviors her organization rewarded: responsiveness, accessibility, and constant availability. The result is strategic starvation: the chronic deprivation of uninterrupted time, cognitive space, and reflective capacity required for effective leadership. Unlike burnout, strategic starvation often masquerades as productivity.

Organizations are culturally engineering reactive leadership

Culture is built through reinforcement: what gets rewarded gets repeated. In many organizations, leaders are rewarded for constant responsiveness and operational endurance rather than strategic clarity or cultural stewardship. I have observed executive teams where messages sent late at night were answered within minutes, and leaders joined calls from airports and hospital waiting rooms. Over time, the behavior stopped feeling excessive and was celebrated as commitment. Deloitte’s 2024 Global Human Capital Trends report names the related trap: workers caught in “productivity theater,” measured by visible activity more than meaningful contribution.

AI is exposing the culture problem, not creating it

McKinsey estimates that technologies available today could automate up to a quarter of a CEO’s tasks. In theory, that should create more space for strategic leadership. In practice, many leaders feel busier than ever because most organizations have adopted AI tools without redesigning their leadership culture. Efficiency gains became opportunities to increase meeting volume, compress response times, and expand operational expectations. The paradox: leaders now have more technological support than ever while feeling less capable of leading strategically. AI can summarize information and optimize workflows. It cannot create meaning, build trust, or cast vision.

How leaders interrupt strategic starvation: three shifts

Protect uninterrupted strategic thinking time as aggressively as operational priorities.
Redesign leadership around decision quality, not decision volume.
Use AI to reclaim time for human leadership: coaching, vision-setting, culture-building, and long-range thinking.

Strategic starvation will not resolve itself. It starts with rejecting one of the most dangerous assumptions in modern work culture: that accessibility is the same as effectiveness. The organizations that thrive in the second half of this year will be the ones that intentionally build cultures where reflection, strategic thinking, and alignment are protected rather than sacrificed to urgency.

By Dr. Nicole Yeldell Butts, Contributor

Tuskegee University, nursing — (Photo: savoryexposure/flickr)

by Selena Hill

July 27, 2026

Tuskegee University Mandates Campus Business Dress Code For Students

The Alabama-based HBCU is rolling out stricter expectations for student attire and classroom conduct.

Tuskegee University is raising the bar on student expectations with a sweeping set of new policies governing dress, classroom behavior, and attendance as the historic HBCU prepares to welcome its largest incoming freshman class in 32 years.

In a message to parents of incoming students, Tuskegee President Dr. Mark A. Brown said the university is entering a “period of transformation and renewal,” introducing new standards designed to better prepare students for life beyond college, reports HBCU Gameday.

Among the most talked-about changes is a campus dress code requiring students to arrive prepared for professional settings. According to Brown, students should have business suits and appropriate footwear for business meetings and other professional occasions. The policy also prohibits revealing clothing in classrooms, dining facilities, and official university events, including Convocation. Bonnets, do-rags, and bedroom slippers will no longer be permitted in classrooms or the cafeteria, and faculty members will be empowered to address students who violate the guidelines.

Brown emphasized that the new expectations are intended to build career readiness, not diminish the student experience.

“The goal here is not meant to restrict students from enjoying the Tuskegee Experience, but to prepare them with a solid foundation for the workforce they will enter once they leave Tuskegee,” Brown wrote.

The university is also cracking down on classroom distractions. Under the new policy, students must turn off their cell phones during class unless instructed to do otherwise by a professor. Attendance requirements will also become more stringent as part of the broader initiative to reinforce academic accountability.

Because Tuskegee is a private university, it has broad authority to establish standards of conduct as part of its educational mission. Students agree to abide by those expectations as outlined in the institution’s student handbook.

The announcement has already sparked debate across social media, with some applauding the university’s renewed emphasis on professionalism.

“I love this. Bonnets, Durags, Slippers and Pajamas have no place in the classrooms or cafeteria. I can see people saying they are discriminated against Black people, but this is an HBCU why not teach the basics early on in life,” wrote Graceful Melody Harrison on Facebook.

Others questioned whether policies regulating attire, including bans on bonnets and bedroom slippers, are overly restrictive or enforceable for today’s college students.

“A dress code for the university….. this is going to be very interesting ,” wrote Rheadell LaShaydria Porter.

Still, the move aligns with Tuskegee’s longstanding reputation for cultivating leadership, discipline, and workforce preparedness. As colleges nationwide continue to grapple with classroom engagement and student conduct, Tuskegee’s new standards could reignite a broader conversation about professionalism and personal responsibility on HBCU campuses.