by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 22, 2025

UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball Raises Millions For HBCU Scholarships In 42nd Year

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined corporate partners and instrumental figures for HBCU upliftment at the soiree.

The United Negro College Fund’s Atlanta chapter celebrated the 42nd year of its famed Mayor’s Masked Ball, raising millions to promote HBCU scholarships.

The high-profile event took place Dec. 20, with local and civic leaders showing off their best black-tie outfits for its admirable mission. For decades, the UNCF has championed HBCUs and Black students, while ensuring these esteemed institutions remain filled with the best and brightest scholars.

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“Wow, thank you, Atlanta community, for showing up and showing OUT for the 42nd UNCF Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball! Because of your support, students are gaining access to life-changing scholarships, opening doors to education, leadership, and opportunity,” captioned UNCF Atlanta.

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined corporate partners and instrumental figures for HBCU upliftment at the soiree. The night alone also secured $250,000 in additional HBCU scholarship funding, bringing the fundraising effort to $4 million.

The caption added, “To the honorable Mayor @andreforatlanta, the @cityofatlantaga, our member-institutions, and all of our sponsors and partners, we offer our sincerest gratitude for your generosity, partnership, and unwavering commitment to advancing educational access and student success.”

With title sponsor Norfolk Southern, the event furthered the opportunities and legacies of member institutions while strengthening academic pipelines for future diverse leaders. In line with the UNCF’s motto, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” supporters graciously opened their wallets for the momentous occasion.

Alongside its donors, the event highlighted the 2025 UNCF Atlanta Social Media Immersion Program scholars. Students hailing from HBCUs across the Southeast also attended the festivities, with their own black-tie attire sponsored by Amazon.

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With the event signifying another year of ensuring students matriculate through HBCUs, the Mayor’s Masked Ball promises to keep its tradition going.

“The Atlanta Mayor’s Masked Ball stands as one of UNCF’s premier national fundraising events, reflecting this city’s unwavering commitment to educational equity, opportunity and achievement,” said Dr. Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO, UNCF. “The generosity of Norfolk Southern and all of our presenting sponsors ensures we can continue opening doors for thousands of students and advancing our mission to invest in better futures.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 22, 2025

Knicks Stars Spreading The Wealth: NBA Cup Prize Money Shared With Team Staff

Each player took home $500,000 for their victory.

The New York Knicks are champions once again, and with the earnings the players received for winning the NBA Cup, they will graciously given some of the prize money to employees who work with the team on and off the court.

According to The New York Post, after the team rallied from behind in the fourth quarter to beat the Spurs 124-113, each player took home $500,000 for their impressive victory. One of the players, Josh Hart, confirmed to the media outlet that the gesture was directed at non-playing Knicks employees.

He explained that his generosity and that of other players wasn’t a “hard decision” to make.

“I don’t think it was a hard decision,” Hart said to The Post. “Some of those people don’t get a bonus, and they’re working to make sure we’re at the top of the game, no matter who they are. We want to make sure those people are also compensated for their extra time and their efforts.”

Hart did not discuss what employees would receive or how it would be divided, but the staff included massage therapists and PR staff as among those who would benefit from their winnings. “We’re compiling that list together now.”

He admitted that some players had discussed compensating support staff before they went out and captured the NBA Cup.

“It’s something we talked about before (giving NBA Cup prize money to support staffers). Me and [Brunson] talked about it at one point,” Hart said. “And we were like, ‘Yeah, we’ll figure it out.’ Like I said, we want to make sure we take care of everyone.”

THE CUP IS OURS❗️ pic.twitter.com/yf5zvpm3f7
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 17, 2025

The franchise’s expectations have risen following their last two playoff showings; last season, they were one win away from competing for the NBA Championship.

The good news for the New York franchise is that since the midseason tournament began three years ago, every team that has played in the finals has made the playoffs that season (the Los Angeles Lakers, the Indiana Pacers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Oklahoma City Thunder). Last season’s Cup champions, the Thunder, went on to win the 2025 NBA Finals.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 22, 2025

Essence Launches Black Women-Led Marketplace ‘WeLoveUs.Shop’

Essence is supporting Black founders in a challenging economic climate with the launch of Weloveus.shop, a marketplace showcasing Black women-led brands.

Amid a challenging period for small businesses, Essence is supporting Black women entrepreneurs with the launch of Weloveus.shop, an online marketplace showcasing Black women-led brands.

Launched on Dec. 3, WeLoveUs.shop, powered by Essence, is a community commerce platform designed to support Black women-led and culturally rooted brands. The marketplace aims to support Black-owned small businesses with visibility and direct access to consumers during the holiday season and beyond.

Showcasing a curated selection of 100 brands and 1,000 products across beauty, wellness, home, lifestyle, and gifting, all vetted by Essence’s editorial team, shoppers can confidently support Black founders while buying Black the block.

“Black women are building businesses in the midst of economic uncertainty, and they often do it without access to the retail infrastructure their peers rely on,” said Chief Content Officer at ESSENCE Communications Inc., Michele Ghee, in a press release. “The WeLoveUs.shop platform was designed to offer stability and a real pathway to scale in a moment where that support is needed most.”

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The marketplace launches amid challenges for small businesses, including the impact of Trump’s tariff policies, widespread job losses across sectors, and the loss of visibility for Black founders after Target and other retailers rolled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

“There was a lot of pushback, especially on social media, and you couldn’t really talk about being in [Target],” LaToya Stirrup, founder of Kazmaleje, told Digiday. “That limits you from being able to advertise, because we were getting the response of, ‘We’re not shopping there.’”

Stirrup debuted on Target’s shelves in 2022 alongside 20 other Black-owned beauty brands as part of the retailer’s plan to spend over $2 billion with Black-led businesses by 2025. However, Target’s rollback of its DEI initiatives earlier this year sparked backlash and a boycott, leading many loyal shoppers to avoid the store.

Stirrup experienced “a complete sales slowdown” before Target removed her haircare products from shelves, selling them online only. This prompted her and other founders, like Brittny Horne of RVL Wellness Co., to join Weloveus.shop. For Horne, who was also affected by Trump’s tariffs, the marketplace launch has provided a “really big boost” in sales.

The platform offers bi-weekly payouts, real-time inventory syncing via Shopify Collective, centralized customer service, and a transparent 30%-35% commission structure. While higher than other marketplaces—Amazon, for example, takes 8%-15% per sale, depending on the product category, but also charges for services like advertising and fulfillment—WeLoveUs.shop’s commission provides access to Essence’s complete media ecosystem, including editorial coverage, social promotion, newsletters, and PR support. Brands have also expressed appreciation for the bi-weekly payouts, compared to the typical 90–120-day payment cycles in wholesale and consignment arrangements.

“For [Essence] to be able to put their media power behind more Black-owned brands at a time of great need, when small incomes are struggling, can really support them,” said Sky Canaves, a principal retail analyst at eMarketer.

9 Dead In South African Pub Shooting, Second Mass Shooting in Three Weeks

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 22, 2025

9 Dead In South African Pub Shooting, Second Mass Shooting in Three Weeks

Nine people were killed when gunmen opened fire at a South African pub, the country’s second mass shooting in three weeks.

Nine people were killed and ten others injured when gunmen opened fire at a pub in the South African township of Bekkersdal, the second mass shooting in South Africa in three weeks.

The shooting occurred on Dec. 22, just before 1 a.m., when about 12 unknown suspects in a white minibus and a silver sedan opened fire on patrons at KwaNoxolo Tavern in the Tambo area of Bekkersdal, located about 28 miles west of Johannesburg, NPR reported. The gunmen continued to shoot randomly as they fled, police said.

“Some victims were randomly shot in the streets by unknown gunmen,” police said.

Two victims were shot outside the tavern while trying to escape, and a third, a taxi driver, was killed after dropping off a passenger nearby. Gauteng Serious and Violent Crime Investigations, working with the Crime Detection Tracing Unit, has launched a manhunt for the suspects involved in the shooting, which authorities say was unprovoked.

“The poor patrons were just enjoying themselves when people came and shot,” said deputy provincial police commissioner, Maj-Gen Fred Kekana.

This incident is the latest in a series of recent mass shootings at South African bars, including an earlier attack at an unlicensed bar near the capital that killed at least 12 people and injured 13.

With nearly 26,000 homicides in 2024 — averaging over 70 per day — South Africa ranks among the countries with the highest murder rates in the world. Between April and September, an average of 63 people were killed daily.

Firearms are the leading cause of homicide, and despite strict gun control laws, many killings involve illegal guns. Murders often stem from arguments, robberies, or gang violence, though the motive for the latest attack remains unclear.

Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, a resident said that gunfire has become a common occurrence at night in Bekkersdal.

“Criminals, they do as they please here,” the unnamed man said. “These guns, they sound each and every evening… as soon as it’s dusk, we know that gunshots are about to sound and they will sound severely. It is terrorising our communities.”

Jam Master Jay, trial, murder, 2, defendants, guilty, murder, Jordan, Washington

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 22, 2025

Judge Tosses Jam Master Jay Murder Conviction

One of the men convicted in Jam Master Jay’s 2002 murder has had his conviction overturned.

A federal judge has overturned one of the two convictions in the murder case of Run-DMC member Jam Master Jay.

On Dec. 19, Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall overturned Karl Jordan Jr.’s murder conviction, ruling there was insufficient evidence to prove he had a motive to kill Jason Mizell, known as Jam Master Jay, NBC News reports. The judge granted Jordan’s motion for acquittal and conditionally denied his request for a new trial.

Jordan—Mizell’s godson—was convicted alongside Ronald Washington in February 2024 for the 2002 killing of Jam Master Jay at a New York City recording studio. Prosecutors alleged the murder was retaliation for being cut out of a drug deal. Jordan, Washington, and Jay Bryant were charged with murder while engaged in narcotics trafficking and firearm-related offenses; Bryant has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial next year.

In her ruling, Judge Hall said prosecutors failed to prove Jordan was motivated by the alleged drug deal. An eyewitness testified that Jordan shot Jam Master Jay in his Queens recording studio on Oct. 30, 2002. However, Jordan’s attorneys contended that the evidence did not support the prosecutors’ claim that he committed the murder in retaliation for a failed drug deal.

“We are really happy for Mr. Jordan and his family that justice was served,” one of his attorneys, John Diaz, said in an email.

Jordan has not been sentenced on the murder charges but remains in custody pending trial on unrelated drug offenses from years after the killing. Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is reviewing the judge’s decision in his overturned murder conviction.

Separately, the court found that prosecutors did establish a motive in the case against Washington, resulting in the denial of his motion for acquittal. The judge cited evidence that showed that “a jury could reasonably infer that Washington was excluded from a potentially lucrative Baltimore deal and sought to retaliate against Mizell for his exclusion.”

Jam Master Jay served as the DJ for the legendary hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., helping the group bring hip-hop into the pop mainstream in the 1980s with hits like “It’s Tricky” and their Aerosmith-assisted “Walk This Way.” As Run-DMC’s fame faded in the 1990s, Jam Master Jay reportedly resorted to dealing cocaine, with evidence showing that by 2001 or 2002, there was a planned deal in Baltimore with Jordan and Washington.

Jam Master Jay coordinated the operation and worked with an associate named Yakim, who refused to partner with Washington. Jam Master Jay was fatally shot in his Queens recording studio on Oct. 30, 2002, a killing that shook the hip-hop community and remained unsolved for nearly two decades. In 2024, trial evidence included eyewitness testimony, with Uriel “Tony” Rincon testifying that he saw Jordan fire the fatal shot.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 22, 2025

Racist Messages In Navy SEALs Group chat Went On For Years As Black Member Suffered

The Black Navy SEAL in the chat was initially removed from his position before the perpetrators faced repercussions.

As an investigation into a racist group chat created by Navy Seals re-enters headlines, more insight has been revealed into what was said to a Black member in the texts.

According to CBS News, 18 SEAL members in the chat were quietly disciplined for racial comments in the group chat. Several were demoted or had their pay reduced in light of the ordeal. The messages, exposed by the news outlet, made highly offensive remarks toward Black people between 2021 and 2024.

The messages included several racist memes meant to directly harass and target a Black SEAL member in the chat. While one meme had a caption of “Slave in Chains,” another meme had the Black SEAL look like a monkey. The report also confirmed the usage of the n-word several times throughout the chat.

Following the bouts of racist treatment, the Black SEAL member filed a complaint in March with the Navy. He told the news outlet about how the messages did not reflect the standards set by the elite military group. He called the entire group chat’s messages “persistent, targeted and deeply dehumanizing.”

“It wasn’t just an attack on me personally — it reflected a breakdown in the very discipline and integrity the Teams are supposed to uphold,” he wrote in the complaint.

Previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the SEAL had initially been revoked over what he claims was racist treatment. His name and qualifications were removed from SEAL Team Four plaques. His SEAL Trident was also taken away despite his service. Following the investigation, he was reinstated to his position as the perpetrators finally received their punishments.

“These were men who were supposed to be my brothers, but instead, they either participated in or enabled a culture of bigotry and silence,” the SEAL added.

Although the Navy quietly handled the scandal, its subsequent exposure brought the matter back into the spotlight. The names of the officers remain undisclosed, while a Navy SEALs spokesperson confirmed that they addressed the matter.

“Individuals accepted responsibility for their actions, reinforcing NSW’s commitment to accountability, transparency, and upholding the standard of the quiet professional,” the spokesperson said.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 22, 2025

Stefon Diggs Hits Milestone Catch, Unlocks $500K Bonus

Diggs signed with the team as a free agent earlier this year.

When Stefon Diggs signed with the New England Patriots, he was recovering from a knee injury and had incentives to meet to earn more based on his performance. In his most recent game, he unlocked a bonus that made him $500,000 richer.

According to Sports Illustrated, Diggs hit his incentive of catching 70 receptions this season to earn an additional $500,000 during the Patriots’ match-up against the Baltimore Ravens. His nine receptions for 138 yards helped the team reach the playoffs this season.

https://twitter.com/NFL/status/2002962534941544710

Diggs entered the game, only needing three receptions to collect his bonus, and did so with no problems.

After suffering a torn ACL, his season with the Houston Texans ended early. Despite not being fully recovered, he inked a three-year, $63.5 million deal with the Patriots in March, with $22.6 million guaranteed.

Although Diggs is having a productive year, he had limited looks last week.

“For real, like, just trying to get used to it,” Diggs said. “I mean, it kind of was the same kind of in the beginning of the year, too. I just try to take advantage of the opportunities I do get. And when I am out there, be a vessel. Be a positive force, rather than being any other way.

Before the game, Diggs was leading the team in targets (83), receptions (67), receiving yards (731), while being tied for third on the team with three touchdowns.

Off the field, he has been giving back to the community, specifically single mothers, at an event in November.

His organization, Diggs Deeper Foundation, recently held an event with the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats initiative, “Game Day of Giving: Gear Up & Give Back” at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots’ home stadium, on Monday, Nov. 17. Massachusetts and Rhode Island residents attended the event and received “Diggs Deep Warm-Up Kits.” The kits were packed with coats, hats, gloves, socks, and other cold-weather essentials.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 22, 2025

Pennsylvania School Bus Driver Fired For ‘English-Only’ Sign, U.S. AG Calls It ‘Deeply Concerning’

'Out of respect to English-only students, there will be no speaking Spanish on this bus,' the note read.

Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon is siding with Diane Crawford, the Pennsylvania school bus driver who was fired due to an “English-Only” sign, calling her termination “deeply concerning.”

Crawford admitted that she didn’t realize writing a note would cost her her job, but posted it out of concern and care. “I do care, I care about a lot,” the 66-year-old said to Local 21 News. The note posted on the bus window that drives students attending Juniata County schools read, “Out of respect to English-only students, there will be no speaking Spanish on this bus.”

BREAKING – A fundraiser has been started for Diane Crawford, the Pennsylvania bus driver who attempted to stop the bullying of a Spanish speaking child by placing a sign on her bus stating “English only.”

“I don’t know what else to do. I’m on Medicare and Medicaid now and SNAP.… pic.twitter.com/Zxy7ZXc0e8
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) December 22, 2025

The self-employed owner/operator has been serving the district for 12 years after being subcontracted by Rohrer Bus. After posting the sign, Crawford received a call from her supervisor revealing that her contract with Rohrer Bus had ended. She admitted that she perhaps should have worded it differently, but being offensive was never her intention. “I didn’t mean to be racially insensitive or anything like that,” Crawford said.

“Maybe I should have worded it (differently). Maybe it should have said, ‘No bullying in any language,’ but I didn’t mean it to be anything but to correct him.”

The former bus driver claims the sign was meant to encourage safe and respectful behavior after a bilingual student was accused of allegedly badgering other students in Spanish. Crawford said she didn’t know if he was bullying other kids or not so felt this was a way to prevent it. “I didn’t know if he was bullying somebody, telling them to do something that they shouldn’t do. “I thought I heard him saying, Gordo and — I understand some of (the words) — I don’t know who he was talking to, but I assume he is directing at me,” she said.

Since this is the first time she received any type of discipline, Crawford said she just “instantly went into shock” and doesn’t know how she will move forward. “I don’t know what else to do. I’m on Medicare and Medicaid now and SNAP. I had to go on antidepressants because of this,” she said.

Dhillon caught wind of the issue and is prompting the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division to open an investigation, as Crawford claims she was never allowed to tell her side of the story and there was never an investigation. “This is deeply concerning. I have directed ⁦@CivilRights to open an investigation into this situation implicating DEI wokeness,” Dhillon wrote on X.

This is deeply concerning. I have directed ⁦@CivilRights to open an investigation into this situation implicating DEI wokeness. ⁩ EXCLUSIVE | Juanita County bus driver fired for 'English-only' sign fires back https://t.co/bRHrp9kfDK
— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) December 22, 2025

However, in a joint statement, Juniata County School District and Rohrer Bus said the investigation wrapped up quickly after the bus driver admitted to posting the note. “Following the incident in question, the District and Rohrer jointly reviewed the situation in accordance with established procedures. The investigation concluded after the subcontractor provided a written admission confirming that the signage had been installed on her bus,” the statement read.

“At that point, the relevant facts of the situation were fully known and discussed among District and Rohrer leadership.”

Crawford is seeking $30,000 to help pay for the bus and for the district to admit fault so she won’t “be in debt because what they did was wrong.” Under Dhillon’s leadership, the Civil Rights Division has been on the hunt to take down alleged “woke” ideology.

On social media, Dhillon claimed the department is suing Minneapolis Public Schools for alleged anti-white discrimination, claiming employment decisions prioritize “Black Men Teach Fellows” and “under represented populations.” “Yes we are @CivilRights — working tirelessly for ALL Americans, not just the woke few,” she wrote.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 22, 2025

Reporter Unveils Secret Partnership Between TSA, ICE To Align With Trump’s Anti-Immigration Policies

While there is no scale on how effective the partnership has been, DHS says this shouldn't be a shock to anyone.

New reports have come out with claims that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is secretly working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to arrest alleged illegal immigrants at America’s airports.

A bombshell report from New York Times reporter Hamed Aleaziz unveiled evidence that TSA is quietly helping ICE by reporting the names of every passenger who comes through security. Amid curiosity following the arrest of 19-year-old Any Lucia López Belloza at Boston Logan International Airport before Thanksgiving 2025, and subsequent deportation to Honduras, Aleaziz uncovered the partnership.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said ICE sends a list of individuals — people who they have been looking for to arrest — with deportation orders to TSA. Aleaziz says that then TSA gets to work on travel days.

“TSA is then using that list to see if any of those people are flying on a given day,” he said. “If they are, that information is forwarded to ICE and from there, they can find them, arrest them and then quickly deport them.”

@nytimes
How is TSA working with ICE to make arrests at U.S. airports? Our reporter, Hamed Aleaziz, explains what to know about the data sharing effort to identify and deport travelers. Video by Hamed Aleaziz, Melanie Bencosme, June Kim, Pierre Kattar, Whitney Shefte and Anna Casper #ICE #TSA #airports #immigration #travel
♬ original sound – The New York Times

While there is no scale on how effective the partnership has been, DHS says this shouldn’t be a shock to anyone. “Back in February, Secretary Noem reversed the horrendous Biden-era policy that allowed aliens in our country illegally to jet around our country and do so without identification. Under President Trump, TSA and DHS will no longer tolerate this,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement, according to People.

“This administration is working diligently to ensure that aliens in our country illegally can no longer fly unless it is out of our country to self-deport.”

However, after speaking to a former ICE agent, the reporter said in one section of the U.S., the agency received roughly 100 to 200 leads over the summer of 2025 regarding alleged illegal immigration. As a result, agents arrested 75% of those individuals, a figure Aleaziz suggests could have a widespread impact on travelers.

President Donald Trump’s deportation effort — which he called “the largest mass deportation operation of illegal immigrants that Kamala Harris has allowed into this country” after getting elected — has received criticism from Democratic leaders and immigration advocacy groups around the world.

He has launched attacks on some of America’s major cities, including Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago; and Minneapolis, which have resulted in lawsuits, as many people arrested were U.S. citizens.

But it doesn’t look like the partnerships stopped at TSA. Before being blocked by a federal court in November, DHS released information that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agreed to provide tax data for undocumented immigrants.

by Kandiss Edwards

December 22, 2025

Atlanta’s Spirit And Truth Church Wipes Out $1.5M In Medical Debt For Local Families

Families receiving relief do not need to apply and are notified directly that their qualifying debt has been erased.

An Atlanta church announced it has paid off $1.5 million in medical debt for local families and hosted a holiday toy giveaway.

Spirit and Truth Church said the debt relief will benefit approximately 1,100 families across Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Henry counties, WSB-TV reported. Church officials made the announcement during a church service as part of the congregation’s year-end outreach efforts.

The medical debt was eliminated through a partnership with a nonprofit organization that purchases unpaid medical bills for a fraction of their value and then forgives them. Families receiving relief do not need to apply and are notified directly that their qualifying debt has been erased.

“Medical debt should never determine a family’s future or rob individuals of dignity and peace,” Pastor Mark Moore Jr., senior pastor of Spirit and Truth Church, told WSB-TV. “This Christmas, Spirit and Truth Church chose to respond with faith in action — lifting a burden that no one should have to carry alone.”

In addition to erasing medical bills for local families, Spirit and Truth Church hosted a toy giveaway for children in the community.

Church officials said the initiative reflects a commitment to addressing immediate needs. Additionally, the act raises awareness about the impact of medical debt on working families and seniors. Medical debt remains a leading cause of financial hardship in the United States, often affecting credit, housing stability, and access to basic necessities.

Spirit and Truth Church said it plans to continue similar community-based efforts beyond the holiday season, though additional details were not immediately released.

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