by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 5, 2025

Michael Bloomberg Invests $20M To Create Charter School-To-HBCU Pipeline For Black Students

Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is investing in charter schools designed to create pathways to HBCUs for Black students.

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is deepening his support for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with a $20 million investment to launch two K–12 charter schools on HBCU campuses.

One year after donating $600 million to support medical schools at four HBCUs, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the education nonprofit City Fund, have launched a $20 million initiative to open two public schools in Alabama, one at Stillman College and another at Tuskegee University, Forbes reports. As part of the initiative, D.C. Wolfe Charter School in Shorter, Alabama—converted from D.C. Wolfe Elementary—will open near Tuskegee University in fall 2026.

The I Dream Big Academy on Stillman’s campus recently launched as Alabama’s first HBCU–charter school partnership. Both schools will serve as direct pipelines to HBCUs and strengthen students’ future career opportunities.

“We are truly grateful,” the I Dream Big Academy wrote on Facebook.

Students at the schools—both located in the Black Belt, a region still facing major educational and economic challenges—will have access to dual-enrollment courses at the partner universities and opportunities to participate in community internships. Launched in collaboration with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), the effort builds on Bloomberg’s 2022 donation of $10 million to support K–12 charter programs serving Black students. The long-term goal is to expand beyond the two schools into the rest of Alabama, the South, and eventually nationwide.

“There are two schools that have been announced, and there are a few more in the pipeline that we’re really excited about,” said Jasmine Jenkins, senior program officer for education and advocacy at Bloomberg Philanthropies. “This is a continuation of the work that Mike Bloomberg and Bloomberg Philanthropies has been doing for over a decade—supporting high-quality public charter schools and supporting the work that historically Black colleges and universities have been doing for decades.”

Bloomberg’s latest investment in HBCUs comes after his $100 million pledge to reduce medical school debt at four institutions in 2020, followed by a $600 million commitment in 2024 to Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science, Howard University College of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Morehouse School of Medicine. His support adds to a wave of major billionaire donations to HBCUs in recent months, including the $700 million MacKenzie Scott has given to HBCUs in the last three months, and Home Depot cofounder and Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank also pledged $50 million to Atlanta-area HBCUs in October.

Big Sean, Usher, Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 5, 2025

Big Sean, Usher Invest $1M Into Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator

The program will take place at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan which in debuts in February 2026.

A new entertainment incubator is being built in Detroit, in part due to hip-hop recording artist Big Sean and R&B entertainer Usher.

The news was revealed by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan with a slated February 2026 opening date. The artists, both alumni of the organization, announced that their nonprofits, Usher’s New Look (UNL) and Big Sean’s Sean Anderson Foundation (SAF), have invested $1 million into the Detroit Entertainment Innovation Incubator. The initiative will take place inside the new Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan.

Usher and Big Sean are partnering up for a $1 million investment that will guide today’s kids of Detroit into the future leaders of tomorrow!

Usher and Big Sean are partnering up for a $1 million investment that will guide today's kids of Detroit into the future leaders of tomorrow!

Read more: https://t.co/VoSPdMo0yK pic.twitter.com/C46bTGTPTP
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 5, 2025

“I’ve always been a true believer in igniting a spark in the next generation to be better and have access to things we didn’t,” Usher said in a written statement. “This new Spark Lab in Detroit, with my friend and fellow Boys & Girls Club alum Big Sean, will not only minimize the access gap for the youth but also prepare them for greatness. It takes just one person to believe in your success, and I’m honored to be one of many in this partnership to help make that happen.”

Several key education and industry partners are included in the project, including Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. The facility will consist of a virtual production studio, a special effects lab, a creators’ lounge, and more.

“Detroit is where my creativity was born. From freestyling in my mom’s basement to performing on the biggest stages in the world. My mission has always been to make sure the next generation of dreamers and innovators from my city have the access, tools, and mentorship to do the same,” said Big Sean. “The Innovation Incubator is about showing young people that they don’t have to leave Detroit to chase opportunity; they can build it right here.”

The Innovation Incubator will offer young people ages 14–24 a full suite of advanced programming to help them learn their craft. It will provide the youth with the equipment and tools needed to pursue careers in film, television, and music production, as well as in AI, 3D, immersive technologies, and special effects.

Students of the facility will gain access to industry-recognized credentials through Emory’s Goizueta Business School and Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. They will also receive mentorship from executives and creators in the field, as well as seed funding to help them launch content ventures and creative startups.

“At Michigan Central, we’re committed to creating a future where every young person has the chance to innovate and define the next generation of industries right here in Detroit,” said Carolina Pluszczynski, Chief Operating Officer, Michigan Central. “By our work with BGCSM, now with the added support from Usher and Big Sean, we’re continuing to build new pathways and opportunities, nurturing the next generation of innovators––from creators to manufacturers to technologists who will drive our city forward for decades to come.”

by Jameelah Mullen

December 5, 2025

New Lawsuit Claims Trump Administration Discriminated Against Black Transportation Board Leaders

Democracy Forward is a nonpartisan legal organization that handles cases involving government and civil rights violations.

Democracy Forward has filed two lawsuits on behalf of two Black men whom President Donald Trump fired from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB).

Robert Primus on the STB and Alvin Brown on the NTSB were the only Black board members overseeing the agencies when they were terminated in August and in May. Both had already filed lawsuits challenging the firings. Both lawsuits said the White House didn’t have good cause, as the law requires.

The new lawsuits filed on Dec 4 accuse the administration of discriminating against them as part of a pattern of dismissing Black leadership in the government.

“Mr. Brown’s firing fits within a pattern of the Trump Administration disproportionately removing Black government officials, and particularly presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed Board members of independent multimember agencies,” the lawsuit filed on behalf of Alvin Brown states.

The lawsuit also highlights that 75% of Black federal officials leading multimember agencies have been removed from office under the Trump administration, compared to approximately 27% of white federal officials.

When Brown was fired, insiders say they couldn’t recall anyone ever being dismissed from the NTSB. The agency investigates major accidents across all modes of transportation to determine their causes and makes recommendations to prevent similar tragedies. The NTSB is currently reviewing nearly 1,250 cases, including the collision of a passenger plane and an Army helicopter near Reagan Airport that killed 67 people in January 2025.

Primus lost his position on the STB shortly after Union Pacific proposed its $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern Railway, a deal the board will consider approving within the next two years. He was the only member of the STB to oppose Canadian Pacific’s acquisition of Kansas City Southern Railway, citing concerns about its impact on competition. In contrast, Trump supports the acquisition.

The White House said Trump was within his legal rights to fire the two men and claimed that their terminations were based on their performance and not racial bias. The administration has not filed a formal response to Primus’ lawsuit, but it has asked a judge to dismiss Brown’s lawsuit.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters , National Council Of Negro Women , s 90 Years, Gala

by Mitti Hicks

December 5, 2025

Congresswoman Maxine Waters To Receive Top Honor As National Council Of Negro Women Marks 90 Years With Historic Gala

The organization is celebrating in a big way during its 19th Biennial Uncommon Height Honors Gala by celebrating Black excellence.

The year 2025 marks a milestone year for the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the historic nonprofit coalition founded in 1935 by Mary McLeod Bethune. The organization is celebrating 90 years of service. NCNW is celebrating in a big way during its 19th Biennial Uncommon Height Honors Gala on Dec. 6 by celebrating Black excellence with multiple awards for the first time in the gala’s history, Shavon Arline-Bradley, NCNW president and CEO, told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

NCNW will honor a total of seven people, with Congresswoman Maxine Waters receiving the highest honor. Waters, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1991, will receive the Crystal Chair Award.

This award is given to an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime devoted to the protection of freedom, the pursuit of excellence in career, and personal dedication to humanity, as exemplified by the long-standing president, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height.

Height led the organization for 40 years. She was famously known for her contributions and dedication to economic justice, civil rights, and education.

“We decided to honor every facet of our institution. We have the Change Maker Award for our young women under the age of 30, an Uncommon Journalist Award, where we’re featuring journalists who have been under attack,” Bradley says. “Our theme focuses on Black families and Black America being under attack. Our intention is to celebrate them.”

National Council of Negro Women Highlighting Black Excellence Amid Attack On DEI Programs

NCNW is an “organization of organizations,” comprised of nearly 400 campus and community-based sections and 37 national women’s organizations that enlighten, inspire, and connect more than 2,000,000 women and men.

Bradley says the gala and work of NCNW are more important than ever this year, as Black historic institutions, policies, and protections are under threat under the current administration.

In his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the public and private sectors. Subsequently, these orders have eliminated diverse and equitable initiatives and programming and created new barriers for Black Americans and other marginalized groups.

Black women are witnessing unprecedented unemployment levels. The unemployment rate for Black women is 7.5%, prompting Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley to call on the Federal Reserve to take action.

“In this moment, we have realized that the Black community, Black women particularly, are a threat to society. Our excellence has exposed the mediocrity of our system in this country,” says Bradley. “In this time, we’ve got to activate. Our history tells us not only that we are resilient, but we’re innovative and creative.”

Funding raised for the National Council of Negro Women’s Biennial Uncommon Height Honors Gala supports its programming and on-the-ground direct services, which include scholarships.

Emmy Award-winning anchor Linsey Davis and legendary entertainer DJ D-Nice will serve as host and emcee. This is the second gala, led by Bradley and NCNW Chair Dr. A. Lois Keith, with event co-chairs Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole and Carla Harris.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 5, 2025

Congressional Black Caucus Slams Trump’s Racist Rants Against Rep. Ilhan Omar, ‘Enough Is Enough’

While it's known that Trump has it out for the Black women of Congress and Senate, his temperament against the Minnesota lawmaker has turned up a notch in recent days.

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is taking a stand against President Donald Trump and his “disgusting, pathetic” racist attacks against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), a Somali immigrant, saying it’s time for the Republican Party to do the same.

In a press release, Chair Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) and CBC members released a statement calling the president out on wasting American voters’ time with the attacks, in addition to sleeping on the job. “Between falling asleep in his own Cabinet meeting, President Trump somehow finds the time to launch hateful attacks against Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and Somali immigrants in Minnesota,” the statement read.

“If only President Trump put half as much energy into governing as he does into catching a nap and spreading hate, our country would be much better off. Rather than focusing on lowering the cost of living for hardworking American families, ensuring that all Americans have access to quality and affordable healthcare, and bringing our country together, President Trump has once again turned to the same racist and ignorant strategy of targeting Black and immigrant communities to distract from his enormous failures and historically low poll numbers on health care and the economy.”

While it’s known that Trump has it out for the Black women of Congress and Senate, his temperament against the Minnesota lawmaker has turned up a notch in recent days. During a Dec. 2 cabinet meeting, Trump referred to Omar as “garbage” and admitted that he doesn’t want Somali immigrants in the U.S. He also claimed the community, prevalent in the Minnesota area, committed fraud related to federal funding for food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Somalians ripped off that state for billions of dollars, billions. Every year, billions of dollars. And they contribute nothing,” the president said, according to The Hill.

However, Omar doesn’t seem fazed by the 79-year-old’s rhetoric. In fact, she said the president only lashes out in “very bigoted” behavior in an attempt to distract Americans from his “actual failures.” “We know that the president often resorts to very bigoted, xenophobic, Islamophobic, racist rhetoric when he is trying to scapegoat and deflect from the actual failures that he has himself,” she said in an interview with CNN.

“We know that this administration has not fulfilled the majority of the promises that they’ve made, whether it is bringing costs down, whether it is the tariffs that are decimating businesses in the United States, whether it is the possible war crimes that his Defense secretary is committing.”

The CBC stressed its support for Omar, who has been serving American voters since 2019. According to the group, Omar — or any member of Congress — shouldn’t be attacked in any measure by the president, and pointed the finger at the Republican party for not putting an end to it. “To be clear, since coming to Congress in 2019, Congresswoman Omar has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of her constituents. She—nor any member of Congress, or any community—deserves to be targeted by the president this way,” the statement continues.

“President Trump’s comments are disgusting and pathetic, and unfortunately, it seems that few, if any, Republicans have the spine to say enough is enough.”

In a video of a MAGA supporter asking Omar if she packed her bags for Somalia, in an attempt to get her to say something trolling against Trump, the congresswomen replied that she isn’t going anywhere. “I’ll be here probably longer than Trump!,” she said.

“He’s an old man losing his mind. Hope he gets help.”

by Jeffrey McKinney

December 5, 2025

Ways To Cut Tax Costs For 2025 And Boost Savings For 2026

A tax expert might help you pinpoint eligible deductions and credits you might have missed, potentially lowering your tax bill.

Fewer things are more satisfying than cutting taxes owed for 2025 and building savings by diminishing some of those charges in 2026.

Both of those endeavors are achievable if you consider making numerous strategic moves.

You can potentially cut costs by thousands of dollars by shrinking your taxable income and using tax credits. However, you should act fast, as many exemptions are just good for this tax year and expire on Dec. 31. Plus, new tax legislation that recently passed includes a batch of sizeable tax breaks, including some retroactive to Jan. 1, 2026.

Those elements make tax planning this year even more important. The IRS tax deadline for filing 2025 individual returns for most people is April 15, 2026. Filing early can be advantageous, as you might get a quicker refund if you’re due one or gain extra time to pay owed taxes.

Though it might be an extra expense to have a tax expert review your taxes, it might be worth it to help identify all the qualifying deductions and credits you might have missed. It can provide guidance to meet your specific case. Based on research, here are ways to help cut your tax bill.

Exhaust your retirement contributions

This can help you now by saving you money on your tax bill. Given that most retirement accounts are tax-advantaged, they can offer tax benefits for contributing. For the 2025 tax year, you can give up to $23,500 in total combined traditional and Roth contributions. If you’re 50 or over, you can make extra catch-up contributions of $7,500. If you’re ages 60 and 63 and your employer permits it, you can contribute up to $11,250 in catch-up contributions instead of the standard $7,500 catch-up. If you make standard contributions, they will cut your taxable income dollar for dollar.

Tap into new tax loopholes for multiple breaks

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed earlier this year, several deductions are available to eligible individuals. For instance, there is a $6,000 bonus deduction for those 65 or older. Another break: If you acquired a qualifying vehicle, up to $10,000 of auto loan interest is deductible. It does not apply if income reaches $100,000 for single filers or $200,000 for joint filers. And workers can claim tax exemption on a certain amount of qualified tips and overtime pay. Get more details here .

Use an HSA To Help Decrease Taxes

Called a Health Savings Account (HSA), this plan can reduce your federal tax income. For instance, you can contribute up to $4,300 for yourself and $8,550 for your family to an HSA-eligible high-deductible health plan. Money can be used for medical bills tax-free, and contributions are made on a pre-tax basis.

Consider deferring income

This strategy could be beneficial, particularly if you’re a freelancer or gig worker. If able, consider not billing those you are working for by deferring income from this year until next year. This can cut the current year’s taxable income and let you hold off paying taxes on the deferred income.

Initiate A Retirement Plan For Self-Employment Income

This is a retirement plan to examine, particularly if you are a business owner or gig worker, as it can lessen your taxable income. If you don’t have a retirement plan, you can perhaps still establish one, but you should do so quickly. Cutoff dates for setting up a plan and financing could depend on how your business is organized, so you should contact a tax expert promptly.

With the new year approaching, be open-minded to strategies that can help you put more money in your pocket in 2026. For example, you might be able to secure credit for a home mortgage and a share of home property taxes. Check with a tax advisor for more details.

Filing your taxes by the deadline to avoid late fees, increasing retirement account contributions, and adding to 529 college savings plans are among other ways to boost savings. Check out this and other sites that offer ways to help cut tax costs, create savings, and possibly elevate your finances.

by Jameelah Mullen

December 5, 2025

Rolling Out Launches New Record Label, Amplifying Black Voices

The new label will emphasize royalties and creator control, issues that have affected Black musicians for decades.

Media company Rolling Out is expanding its offerings. The company announced the launch of Rolling Out Music, a new label aimed at increasing artist visibility and creative control. The venture is led by Rolling Out Founder Munson Steed, MusicXchange creator Dennis McKinley, and entertainment executive Richard Dunn, who will serve as CEO overseeing daily label operations.

“Rolling out has always been more than media – it’s been a movement rooted in ownership, creativity, and community,” Munson Steed, founder of Rolling Out and Rolling Out Music, said in a statement. “As we mark 25 years of cultural leadership, the launch of Rolling Out Music under Richard Dunn’s leadership is our pledge to the next generation of storytellers and sound creators.”

The announcement follows Rolling Out’s acquisition of McKinley’s distribution platform, MusicXchange. The new music label aims to build a platform that supports independent artists and promotes storytelling grounded in cultural identity. McKinley’s role will help expand distribution options for artists.

The label’s roster includes Flo Dure, London “Deelishis” Charles, Parker Posey, Just Brittany, Nikki Natural, and I-Octane. One of the label’s most notable artists is Drew Sidora, known for her role as T-Boz in the TLC biopic CrazySexyCool, and she is currently on Real Housewives of Atlanta.

The label’s first official release is “This Winter,” a collaboration with Grammy-nominated R&B artist Kevin Ross, who is also the founder of Art Society Music Group. The Washington, D.C., native is known for his skillful songwriting and genre-blending sound. Ross has worked with musical legends such as Babyface and Toni Braxton. Steed reflected on the partnership with Ross.

“Rolling Out Music is where culture meets control. Launching with Kevin Ross is no coincidence. ‘This Winter’ sets the tone for our next 25 years of Black excellence and creative freedom.”

Rolling Out Music plans to broaden its influence through a talent Discovery initiative, which will include a 10-city national search slated for next year.

RELATED CONTENT: Reggae Music Icon Jimmy Cliff Dead At 81

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 5, 2025

Yvette D. Clarke, Lawmakers Press Dept. Of Labor On Rising Crisis Among Unemployed Black Women

Signed by 19 co-sponsors, the letter included data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), highlighting the striking decline of Black women being employed over “any demographic group,” rising from 5.1 to 6.1% in April 2025 alone.

Black women on Capitol Hill, like Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), are seeking answers from the U.S. Department of Labor on ways to address the growing unemployment crisis facing Black women.

In a press release, Clarke, along with fellow Democratic lawmakers Reps. Robin Kelly (IL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ), and Ayanna Pressley (MA), who are members of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls (CCBWG), sent a letter to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Acting Director Loretta Greene putting pressure for immediate action on addressing the unemployment epidemic effecting the group at the hands of the Trump administration.

Signed by 19 co-sponsors, the letter included data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) that highlighted the striking decline in Black women’s employment over “any demographic group,” rising from 5.1 to 6.1% in April 2025 alone. “These numbers represent more than statistics — they reflect a crisis of economic displacement for thousands of mothers, caregivers, and heads of households. Yet even as these losses mount, the federal government’s capacity to fully understand and address them is shrinking,” the letter reads.

“The BLS, a cornerstone for reliable data on employment trends, has faced sustained budget and political attacks that risk undermining its ability to provide accurate, disaggregated information on race and gender. Without dependable data, policymakers cannot see or respond to the full scale of the challenges facing Black women workers.”

While an MSNBC headline read “300,000 Black women have left the American workforce in three months,” Forbes alleges there is more to the story and highlights the hidden differences. Employment rates for the group plummeted by nearly 318,000 jobs between February and June 2025. But the amount officially leaving the workforce was much smaller and mirrored a different time frame.

As President Donald Trump labeled 2025 as the start of America’s “Golden Era,” it hasn’t looked great for the workforce, especially for Black women, since he took office for the second time. The unemployment numbers for the demographic went from close to 557,000 in March 2025 to nearly 700,000 by July. The numbers shocked career strategists like Andrew McCaskill since Black women are among the most educated in the country. “Black women have some of the highest educational attainment rates, yet they’re losing jobs at roughly twice the rate of white and Asian women. That’s a red flag,” he said.

“If the economy can’t absorb highly skilled Black women—many concentrated in the public sector—how will it absorb anyone else? Their losses reveal cracks in the very industries meant to anchor stability.”

McCaskill’s thoughts mimic the letter signed by Clarke and other lawmakers. The group’s demand includes a review of the “troubling” trends and to work together on “a comprehensive assessment of their impact on Black women in the workforce, and determine what remedial actions may be necessary.”

Clarke specifically wants to regain the importance of “accurate, disaggregated labor data on Black women and other underrepresented groups” in addition to pinpointing policy actions to regulate the disproportionate job losses for the demographic. “Black women’s labor has long been the backbone of our classrooms, hospitals, and communities,” the letter read, seeking a response by Dec. 15.

“To ignore the economic crisis facing them now would be to disregard the very foundation of our nation’s progress.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 5, 2025

TikTok Shop Racks Up $500M In Black Friday Sales As Black Creators Urge Shoppers to ‘Buy Black’

TikTok Shop recorded its biggest Black Friday–Cyber Monday weekend yet, with Black creators encouraging shoppers to support Black-owned brands.

TikTok Shop saw its strongest Black Friday–Cyber Monday weekend yet, with Black creators using the moment to urge shoppers to support Black-owned businesses.

“We buy Black on Black Friday over here. Here are the five businesses I am shopping today,” influencer Talia Cadet said in a video that garnered over 48,000 views and over 4,000 likes.

@taliacadet ✨5 Black Friday Deals from Black-Owned Brands✨ Save up to 40% on your @Elle Vie Bath and Body purchase today 11/28/25 only at myellevie[dot]com. #ad I’ve been a customer of Elle Vie for over a decade, and I use their Shea Butter every day. Elle Vie is my first stop for holiday gifts and stocking stuffers for friends and family, because everyone wants moisturized skin! It doesn’t stop at their original body butters. Elle Vie also has Shea Butter-based body care for her and him: ✨ Shower Gel ✨ Sugar Scrub ✨ Body Oil ✨ Hand Soap ✨ Hand Créme ✨ Fragrance Oil ✨ Sampler Sets ✨ Gift Sets My favorite scent? Date Night. 😉 Buy more, save more during Elle Vie’s Black Friday sale! 💲 Spend up to $50 – Get 20% off 💲 Spend $51 to $200 – Get 30% off 💲 Over $200? Get 40% off 4 more Black-owned brands to shop for gifts (or yourself 😂) this holiday 2025 season: @anima iris – every single bag is $200 for 24 hours only @DanessaMyricksBeauty – 30% off sitewide @Elisajohnson – up to 70% off sitewide @OMA THE LABEL – 30% off sitewide and up to 80% off on archive pieces #blackowned #blackfriday #blackfriday #holidaygiftguide ♬ original sound – Talia | DC, Books & Black Biz

She highlighted several Black-owned favorites, including Elle Vie’s body butter, shower gel, and body oils; Anima Iris hand-crafted Senegalese leather bags; Danessa Myricks’ beauty gift set featuring four blushes; Elisa Johnson eyewear; and jewelry from Oma the Label.

TikTok creator Fisayo OG also spotlighted several beauty and shapewear brands she supported over the weekend, including Meji Meji, Marviano Cosmetics, Fumi the Label, and Tarssee.

“Happy shopping, and make sure you’re shopping at a Black-owned business today,” she said.

Support for Black-owned businesses helped drive TikTok Shop’s success, with U.S. shoppers up nearly 50% from last year and more than $500 million in sales over the four-day Black Friday–Cyber Monday period. Live Shopping delivered record-breaking results for the weekend, as brands and creators found new ways to entertain shoppers and build loyalty.

The platform boasted how the feature continues to grow, attracting a strong mix of returning customers and first-time buyers.

“Live Shopping is where brand love starts—it’s a dynamic, interactive experience that deepens how our users connect with brands on TikTok,” said Patrick Nommensen, head of strategic initiatives for TikTok Shop in the Americas. “That immediate, real-time engagement—introducing audiences to new products, demonstrating their value, and facilitating direct interaction—is what builds trust, strengthens community, and turns interest into long-term loyalty.”

Compared to last year’s BFCM period, brands and sellers who hosted livestreams saw an 84% increase in sales. Shoppers also tuned in to more than 760,000 livestream sessions from sellers and their favorite creators.

TikTok has become a go-to destination for gift ideas—with one survey showing that 1 in 3 users look to the platform for holiday gift inspiration, and GlobalData reporting that 83% of TikTok Shop shoppers discover new products there. With the holiday season in full swing, Black TikTok Shop may help put more Black-owned gifts under the Christmas tree.

by Jameelah Mullen

December 5, 2025

As They Should Be! The Isley Brothers Inducted Into New Jersey Hall of Fame

The Garden State honors the soul and staying power of legends.

The Isley Brothers are now members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF). The legendary band was inducted during the Nov. 21 ceremony at The Rink at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. The band’s remaining members, Ronald Isley, 84, and Ernie Isley, 73, accepted the honor at the New Jersey Hall of Fame, which opened last year.

“New Jersey is honored to be home to so many Hall of Famers who continue to inspire us all,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in a statement. “Their talent, grit, and heart reflect the classic Jersey spirit that has always set us apart. Each one of this year’s inductees reminds us that no matter where life takes us, our New Jersey roots always keep us grounded.”

This isn’t the first time the legendary group has been recognized in New Jersey. The cities of Teaneck and Englewood held joint ceremonies to honor the Isley Brothers by renaming a street in their honor. This new induction makes the band two-time Hall of Fame inductees. In 1992, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The group began as a teenage gospel quartet in the 1950s, made up of the four oldest Isley Brothers—O’Kelly, Rudolph, Ronald, and Vernon. They briefly disbanded after Vernon died in a biking accident at age 13. Following their parents’ encouragement to perform again, the Ohio-born family moved to New Jersey in 1959 to form a rock ’n’ roll band, where they settled and lived for several decades. That same year, they released the single ”Shout,” which became their first major chart hit, reaching No. 47 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1973, two younger brothers joined: Ernie Isley (drums and lead guitar) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar). Their brother-in-law, Chris Jasper, also joined the band on keyboards. The vocal trio had now become a full band, expanding their musical scope by adding funk, rock, and soul. This transformation led the group to a series of chart-topping albums over the next decade, including “3 + 3,” “The Heat Is On,” and “Between The Sheets.”

The band’s founding member, Rudolph, died in 2023.

In 2014, the band received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Isley Brothers, now consisting of brothers Ronald and Ernie, continue to perform at venues around the world. In February 2026, The Isley Brothers will join Maxwell on his Urban Hang Suite Cruise concert series; other performers will include Kem, Lucky Daye, Kelly Price, and Tweet.