Honor 9/11, Sept. 11 — DHS photo by Tia Dufour, Public domain

by Ahsan Washington

September 11, 2026

11 Ways To Honor Victims Of 9/11 On Sept. 11

The lives of thousands of innocent people were lost

Approaching another solemn anniversary means remembering and honoring the 3,000 souls lost 24 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. The violent attack has forever changed the way citizens navigate daily life in the United States, particularly in travel. For example, only recently has the government waived the removal of shoes when going through airport security screening. More importantly, the lives of thousands of innocent people were lost during the attacks and in the aftermath. An act of remembrance is the smallest way to honor those lives. Here a several ways to participate.

Attend or Watch the Official Name-Reading Ceremony

Every year at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, there is a ceremony to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks by reading the names of those who perished that day. The event can also be viewed via stream starting at 8:25 a.m ET.

Observe a Moment of Silence

Giving a moment of reflection is an honorable gesture to share on Sept. 11. Paying respect in this way is promoted by the 9/11 Memorial site for remembrance purposes.

Join or Host a Stair Climb

Participate in a Stair Climb event, which pays tribute to the 343 firefighters and other first responders who lost their lives as a result of the Twin Towers attack by climbing 110 floors. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and similar organizations host these events in communities nationwide in remembrance of fallen service members.

Run in a 9/11 Heroes Run

Join a 9/11 Heroes Run each September to bring communities together in honor of those lives that were lost and to raise money for veterans and military families as support to first responders and survivors of the event.

Volunteer on the National Day of Service & Remembrance

Engage in community service on the National Day of Service and Remembrance, an occasion that also serves as a day of volunteerism. Groups such as Points of Light organize volunteering activities nationwide, from assisting with hunger relief to participating in community initiatives.

Perform Acts of Kindness: #PayItForward9/11

Participate in the “Pay It Forward 9/11” initiative, which encourages people to do three deeds for individuals and mention a 9/11 victim during each deed. This helps honor the memory of those lost in the tragedy while promoting acts of kindness during interactions.

Visit or Support the 9/11 Memorial & Museum

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum is a place where people can visit to see artifacts and hear stories of that fateful day. It’s open all year for anyone to come and learn about the events of 9/11. The museum relies on the kindness of donors to continue its work of honoring and educating people about this moment in history.

Experience the “Tribute in Light”

Witness firsthand “The Tribute, in Light” in New York City and at 9/11 locations where 88 vertical beams of light illuminate up into the evening sky at the location once occupied by Twin Towers of World Trade Center. This moving display that started back in 2002 is upheld each year as a radiant homage that can be seen from far distances.

Contribute to or Attend Memorial Events in Your Area

Visit gatherings in your local area where communities come together to honor and remember those who have passed away as a result of 9/11. Towns across the country hold their own ceremonies to pay tribute. Many set up flag memorials to commemorate each life lost in their community and ensure they are always remembered.

Visit Memorials Across the Globe

Exploring monuments globally is an experience worth embarking on. Tribute Park in Queens, New York, stands as a tribute to the 343 firefighters who lost their lives through inscribed bricks and a granite fireman’s helmet etched with their names. Similarly, in Jerusalem lies the 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza, which commemorates the victims of the tragic event — including five Israelis — through a sculpted flag transformed into flames and melted metal from the Twin Towers forming a cenotaph.

Honor Black First Responders and Families Personally

The Black Vulcan Society of the FDNY pays tribute to the 12 Black firefighters who lost their lives each year on September 11 with events like memorial services in Brooklyn and street-namings, along with reaching out to families personally to honor the bravery and sacrifice of their fallen loved ones in a visible and respected manner.

Malcolm-Jamal Warner, estate dispute, widow, settlement — (Photo: Walt Disney Television/Flickr)

by Selena Hill

September 11, 2026

Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s Estate Case Gets Messier As Widow Challenges Mother-In-Law Over $1.6 Million Home Sale

The legal saga continues between Malcolm-Jamal Warner's widow and mother more than a year after his tragic death.

More than a year after Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s death, the legal fight over his estate is expanding beyond a disputed trust and into real estate.

Warner’s widow, Tenisha Warner, alleges that her late husband’s mother, Pamela Warner, sold the Studio City, California, home where the actor lived with his wife and daughter and then moved the proceeds into the Warner Family Trust. Real estate records show the property sold for $1.6 million in May, according to Complex.

Tenisha claims the home was intended for her and MacKenzie and that their daughter formed important memories there with her father. She also alleges that Pamela offered her and MacKenzie a home in Georgia carrying a $700,000 mortgage instead.

The dispute centers on what Warner intended to leave behind for his wife and their 9-year-old daughter, MacKenzie. Tenisha has argued that Malcolm’s estate documents were outdated since the Warner Family Trust was created in 1996, years before he met Tenisha and before their daughter was born. According to court filings reported by USA TODAY, the trust allocated 70% of the assets to Pamela, 15% to Malcolm’s father, and 15% to his half-sister. Tenisha and MacKenzie were not beneficiaries under those terms.

“This was not Malcolm’s intent,” Tenisha said in a legal filing.

She has also argued that Malcolm was working toward a new estate plan before his death in July 2025 but never completed it.

Pamela has presented a different account of the estate dispute. In previous filings, she said Tenisha rejected a proposed settlement that would have provided the majority of the trust and estate to MacKenzie. Pamela has since reached an agreement with the court-appointed guardian representing her granddaughter. Tenisha disputes that she simply refused to settle, saying she has “refused to capitulate to unfair pressure and tactics.” She also alleges that access to a $2.4 million retirement account has been withheld unless she accepts the proposed settlement.

The financial stakes are significant. Tenisha previously filed a lawsuit for more than $1.2 million for what she says she is owed under a premarital agreement, including a $1 million life insurance obligation, retirement-related payments, and compensation for her work as Malcolm’s assistant and chief of staff.

At the heart of the fight is a familiar estate-planning lesson: wealth can become complicated quickly when trusts, real estate, marital agreements, and beneficiary designations are not updated as families change. For the Warner family, those documents are now being tested in court — with Malcolm’s legacy at the center of the dispute.

The Design Institute, 'Casa Mouda' — photo credit: The Design Institute preview - photo Contagious Collective

by Sidnee Michelle

September 11, 2026

‘Casa Mouda’ Brings Contemporary African Designs To New Lagos Creative Studio

The studio plans to produce, promote, and exhibit contemporary design while connecting Lagos’ creative community with audiences beyond the region.

Casa Mouda, a new creative studio focused on contemporary African design, will launch in Lagos, Nigeria, in fall 2026, creating a platform aimed at strengthening the production, exhibition, and international visibility of design emerging from West Africa.

Founded by art and design entrepreneur Caline Chagoury Moudaber, Casa Mouda will debut with “The Design Institute,” an inaugural activation exploring the evolution and future of collectible design in West Africa. The studio plans to produce, promote, and exhibit contemporary design while connecting Lagos’ creative community with audiences beyond the region.

Casa Mouda grew out of Art Twenty One, the Lagos art space Chagoury Moudaber founded in 2013. Through exhibitions, commissions, retail, cultural programming, and experimental initiatives, the new venture seeks to address barriers to producing, exhibiting, and exporting West African design.

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Casa Moda (@studio_casamoda) • Instagram photos and videos

“For me, Casa Mouda is about bringing the warmth and intentionality of home into everything we do — creating experiences and spaces that feel alive with vision, taste, and purpose,” Chagoury Moudaber said in a recent press release.

“The Design Institute” will occupy two newly renovated spaces: aiMe Gallery at Eko Hotel, redesigned in consultation with architect Papa Omotayo of MOE+AA, and aiMe Concept in Eko Atlantic, designed with Gemma Sfeir and Nifemi Marcus-Bello.

The activation will feature a multigenerational group of designers, including Germane Barnes, Hajar Daide, Hall Haus, Marcus-Bello, Jean Servais Somian, and Marie-Paule Tano. Works from African craftspeople and designers will also be incorporated, including handwoven baskets and objects by Baba Tree and People of the Sun, along with paintings by Midgebeyanewesho Ojisua.

Casa Mouda is also incorporating food, music, and sound into its cultural programming. Kofi, its cafe concept, will serve specialty green coffee sourced internationally and roasted in Beirut. Musician and sound designer Mallory James created a custom soundscape for aiMe Gallery using speakers co-designed with Casa Mouda, while aiMe Concept will feature a dedicated listening station.

Chagoury Moudaber said her experiences across Lagos, Los Angeles, Lebanon, and Paris influenced Casa Mouda’s focus on cultural exchange and community.

“Casa Mouda carries that spirit forward, fostering a sense of belonging, creativity, and exchange wherever we go and in everything we do,” she said.

Casa Mouda plans to announce additional programming ahead of its fall 2026 opening.

housing market, affordability, scams, deed fraud — (Photo: Kindel Media/Pexels)

by Sidnee Michelle

September 11, 2026

FBI Warns Homeowners Of Deed Fraud Targeting Mortgage-Free Properties

The scheme begins when scammers search public records for vacant properties or real estate

The FBI is warning property owners about a fraud scheme in which criminals impersonate homeowners and use forged documents to sell real estate they do not own, putting mortgage-free properties and vacant land at particular risk, Moneywise.com reports.

The scheme, commonly known as deed fraud or quitclaim deed fraud, can begin when scammers search public records for vacant properties or mortgage-free real estate. Criminals then pose as the legitimate owners and attempt to sell the properties without their knowledge.

The FBI’s Boston field office warned that scammers may use information obtained through public records to impersonate property owners. Fraudsters can create fake identification documents and use email accounts and phone numbers that make them appear legitimate to real estate professionals and prospective buyers.

Properties without mortgages or liens can be attractive targets because a lender is not involved in the transaction and therefore cannot flag potential inconsistencies. For homeowners, the schemes threaten an asset that can represent years of accumulated equity and generational wealth.

Federal prosecutors have brought charges in cases involving the alleged scheme.

On July 23, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced charges against three men accused of participating in schemes involving vacant, unencumbered properties in Massachusetts, Georgia, Indiana, and Tennessee. Prosecutors alleged the defendants impersonated out-of-state property owners and deceived real estate professionals into selling properties to unsuspecting buyers.

The FBI has previously warned that quitclaim deed fraud is on the rise. From 2019 through 2023, 58,141 victims reported approximately $1.3 billion in losses from real estate fraud nationwide, according to the agency. The figures include multiple types of real estate fraud, not solely deed fraud.

Homeowners can protect their property by regularly checking online property records and signing up for property or title alerts through local government offices when available. Owners should also investigate unexpected changes involving property tax or utility bills and periodically check vacant properties.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Property owners can also review their title insurance policies to see whether they provide coverage for forgery or expenses associated with restoring legitimate ownership.

Justice Department, medical school investigation, civil rights act — Photo by DNY59/Getty Images

by Sidnee Michelle

September 11, 2026

Trump Administration Targets Medical Schools Over Diversity-Focused Admissions

The Justice and Education departments have launched investigations into medical schools across the country over allegations of racial discrimination in admissions.

Medical schools seeking to diversify the nation’s physician workforce are facing mounting federal scrutiny as the Trump administration challenges admissions practices designed to help produce doctors who will serve Black, Hispanic, and other underserved communities, The Washington Post reports.

The Justice and Education departments have launched investigations into medical schools across the country over allegations of racial discrimination in admissions, according to the outlet. The scrutiny comes three years after the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions in higher education in 2023.

Medical schools have since used race-neutral strategies, including considering applicants’ socioeconomic backgrounds, personal hardships, and interest in practicing in medically underserved areas. Michelle Ko, a University of California, Davis, professor who studies diversity in medical education, told the Post that students from underserved communities are more likely to want to serve those communities after graduation.

“What we are looking for is future physicians who are going to bring the services to the communities who need them,” Ko said.

The Trump administration has taken a broad view of the 2023 ruling, arguing that some ostensibly race-neutral admissions practices could violate federal law if they are used as proxies for race. The legality of certain strategies remains unsettled.

The Justice Department has accused medical schools at UCLA, Yale University, UC Davis, UC San Diego and George Washington University of race-based discrimination. On June 4, the department announced investigations into 15 additional medical schools. The Education Department followed on July 22 by opening investigations into five more institutions.

The financial stakes extend beyond federal funding. On Sept. 3, the Treasury Department and IRS proposed regulations that would deny federal tax-exempt status to private educational institutions that engage in racial discrimination. The proposal, which could affect as many as 18,000 institutions, would still permit schools to consider race-neutral factors such as family income, geographic location, first-generation status, and individual hardship.

“This administration, unlike prior administrations, has put federal funding for an entire institution at risk for an issue in one area, and that’s new,” Frank Trinity, chief legal officer at the Association of American Medical Colleges, told the outlet.

As the legal boundaries continue to be tested, medical schools face heightened pressure over how they pursue missions aimed at addressing physician shortages and improving healthcare access in underserved communities.

by Black Enterprise

September 11, 2026

5 Things You May Not Know About Jalen Rose, A 2026 BLACK ENTERPRISE XCEL IMPACT Honoree

Jalen Rose transitioned from NBA star to educator, media entrepreneur, and Detroit investor, building a second career beyond basketball.

Jalen Rose is synonymous with Michigan’s Fab Five, the Indiana Pacers, and his longtime career as a television analyst. His story also includes entrepreneurship, education, media ownership, and personal resilience. For Black entrepreneurs and executives, the most significant aspect of Rose’s story may be how he leveraged visibility, relationships, and cultural credibility into ownership, while continuing to invest in Detroit. Here are five lesser-known facts about the Detroit native.

Rose’s Father Was an NBA All-Star — But They Never Met

Rose’s biological father was Jimmy Walker, a two-time NBA All-Star and the No. 1 overall pick in the 1967 NBA Draft. ESPN reported Walker and Rose never met while Walker was alive. Rose contacted his father in 2000 after holding a letter from him for years. They began communicating, but Walker died from lung cancer in 2007 before they could meet in person.

Rose Turned His NBA Platform Into a Production Business

Rose, 53, anticipated the rise of athlete-driven media companies. In 2007, he founded Three Tier Entertainment, a production and management company that executive produced ESPN Films’ The Fab Five, the documentary about Michigan’s influential 1991 freshman class.

Rose’s entrepreneurial journey continues as co-founder and CEO of Same Page Entertainment, a Detroit-based multimedia company launched in 2026 with Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores. According to a press release, the company develops scripted and unscripted film, television, and podcast projects.

Rose’s Breakout NBA Season Came After He Was Nearly Written Off

Rose’s NBA stardom was not immediate. Drafted by Denver in 1994, he spent two seasons with the Nuggets before being traded to Indiana. There, he initially struggled for playing time. His breakthrough came in the 1999-2000 season when he became Indiana’s leading scorer and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, CBS News reported. That season, the Indiana Pacers represented the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals, and he averaged 18.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.

Rose Built a Tuition-Free High School in His Hometown

In 2011, four years after retiring from the NBA, Rose founded the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in Detroit. This open-enrollment, tuition-free public charter school offers Detroit students opportunities to pursue college, careers, and life beyond high school. The Associated Press reported that Rose remains actively involved in the school’s daily life.

Rose’s Business Portfolio Is Now Bigger Than Basketball

Rose’s post-NBA career highlights broader opportunities for athletes who see their playing careers as a foundation. He has worked in television, authored a New York Times best-selling book, produced film and television projects, acted, and built businesses in media and entertainment.

Rose will be receiving an XCEL Impact Award from BLACK ENTERPRISE this October at the XCEL Summit For Men, Oct. 21-23 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.

Courtesy of Brooke LauRen Children’s Brand, American Girl

by Sidnee Michelle

September 11, 2026

11-Year-Old Designer Brooke Sumpter Makes NYFW Debut With American Girl

The collection officially launched Sept. 9 and features four fashions for 18-inch American Girl dolls and a coordinating dress for girls.

At just 11 years old, fashion designer and entrepreneur Brooke Sumpter is bringing her creative vision from the New York Fashion Week runway to American Girl stores nationwide.

Sumpter, founder of Brooke LauRen Children’s Brand, unveiled the American Girl x Harlem’s Fashion Row Cherry Blossom Couture Collection during Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 19th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards in New York. The collaboration marks American Girl’s New York Fashion Week debut and gives the young Black designer a national platform to introduce her work to girls and their dolls.

The collection officially launched Sept. 9 and features four fashions for 18-inch American Girl dolls and a coordinating dress for girls.

Sumpter incorporated elements of her signature design aesthetic throughout the collection, including statement bows, cherry blossom embroidery, denim, layered mesh, and coordinating accessories.

The Cherry Blossom Couture 2-in-1 Ruffle Dress & Jacket features a blue knit dress with gradient blue-and-pink mesh, a detachable skirt, and an embroidered denim varsity-style jacket. Another look pairs a white puff-sleeved shirt and oversized pink bow with a cherry blossom denim skirt and tennis shoes.

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The collaboration adds another milestone to Sumpter’s growing fashion career. According to the announcement, she is among the youngest designers to present work during New York Fashion Week — an accomplishment that also puts a young Black girl entrepreneur on one of fashion’s most prominent stages.

The partnership also aligns Sumpter with Harlem’s Fashion Row, founded by Brandice Daniel to help create opportunities for designers of color and strengthen their connections with major brands across the fashion industry.

For American Girl, the collaboration extends beyond doll clothing, showcasing a young designer whose work lets other girls see creativity and entrepreneurship represented at an early age.

The American Girl x Harlem’s Fashion Row Cherry Blossom Couture Collection is available at American Girl stores nationwide and online.

by Alisa Gumbs

September 11, 2026

Young, Single, Broke? What To Do If Your Love Life Gives Less ‘Spend Dat’ And More Dating On A Budget

BLK dating app shares cost-saving tips so you don’t have to choose between keeping your money and finding a honey.

If you don’t have $20s, $50s, or $100s to spend on first date after first date, don’t worry, you’re not alone. New research shows that spending all that cash is making singles reconsider their love lives and instead, they’re trying out dating on a budget.

BLK, the largest dating app for Black singles, recently polled its users and found that financial anxiety is changing the way people connect. Among the surprising findings:

77.6% feel serious financial anxiety about dating
87.9% would date more often if money were not an issue

“The numbers put hard data behind something our community already talks about all the time,” Amber Cooper, BLK’s Head of Brand, told BLACK ENTERPRISE exclusively. “The desire to connect is absolutely there. It’s not that people are giving up on dating; it’s that the cost of showing up has gotten in the way.”

That cost isn’t small change, especially in the context of all the other expenses that are driving us toward debt. Dating on a budget has become a necessity, with BLK users reporting that a standard night out costs $100 to $150 once you factor in prep, transit, and the date itself.

“For a lot of Black singles, the cost of a date starts way before the restaurant; it’s the hair, the outfit, the gas, the parking. You’re a hundred dollars in before you order a drink,” Cooper explains.

“Folks want dating to feel doable again,” she says. “And the solution they’re reaching for is lower-pressure, in-person ways to connect—things that don’t cost much and actually let you get to know somebody.”

Cooper recommends that singles not only get comfortable dating on a budget, but that they learn how to have uncomfortable conversations about money.

“Being upfront about money isn’t a turn-off; it’s a green flag. It tells the other person you’re planning for something real, not just performing for one night,” she says.

“Yes, some people still equate spending with effort. But effort isn’t about how much money you spend, it’s the thought behind the date. If someone judges you for a thoughtful, low-cost date, that’s the real red flag!”

Here, Cooper shares BLK’s Rules for Dating on a Budget:

Keep the first date short and cheap. A walk or a quick coffee is a smart move, not a compromise. The stakes are lower, it’s easier to say yes, and if you both feel a spark, you can plan the big dinner later when you know it’s worth it.
Rethink where a first date happens. The most memorable early dates aren’t the expensive ones. They’re the ones where you can actually talk: a free museum day, a community event, or a farmers market. Low pressure, low cost, and you learn more about someone in a shared activity than across a $200 dinner.
Choose an experience over a dinner. Have a picnic, try a thrift-store challenge, you could even do an “appetizer crawl” instead of a full meal. People remember the fun and novelty, not the total on the receipt.
Let the city do the work. Most cities are full of free programming, like outdoor concerts, gallery nights, cultural festivals, run clubs, and book fairs. Following a few local event pages turns “I have no money” into a running list of built-in date ideas.
Go where the community is. More Black singles are meeting at run clubs, brunches, and creative meetups. If you show up somewhere you already enjoy, it takes the pressure off the “date” and off your wallet.
Set a monthly dating number and stick to it. Deciding what you can spend ahead of time takes the anxiety out of each individual date and keeps dating from competing with rent. It also makes it easier to keep going instead of quitting the pool altogether.
Be upfront and normalize it. Talking about money early shouldn’t be a turn-off. It’s mature. Suggesting something budget-friendly signals you’re thoughtful and grounded, and most people are relieved someone said it first.

Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz, Gordon Parks Bonhams — (Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Brooklyn Museum)

by Selena Hill

September 11, 2026

Swizz Beatz And Alicia Keys Partner With Bonhams To Help Artists Get Paid When Their Work Gets Resold

The musical power couple is teaming with Bonhams on a voluntary resale royalty model that could put more money back in artists’ pockets

Traditionally, artists have not always benefited when the value of their work goes up on the secondary market. However, Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and Alicia Keys are looking to change that.

The superstar musicians and art collectors have partnered with Bonhams to launch a voluntary resale royalty initiative designed to give artists a financial stake when their work is resold. The program, known as the Deans’ Choice, is set to roll out ahead of Bonhams’ November sales in New York, according to The Art Newspaper. Under the initiative, participating consignors can contribute a minimum of 1% of an artwork’s hammer price or $500, whichever is greater, to the artist. Bonhams will match the contribution.

The model reflects an issue that has long concerned the Deans, who have built a prominent collection of contemporary art while advocating for artists to benefit financially as the value of their work increases.

“Artists have told us directly that this is the direction they’ve been asking the market to take for a long time,” Seth Johnson, Bonhams’ chief executive, told The Art Newspaper.

The push also brings the economics of visual art closer to a system familiar to musicians: royalties. Artists in the music business can earn compensation when copyrighted work is streamed, performed, or otherwise used beyond its original transaction. Visual artists, however, have faced a more fragmented landscape.

Resale royalties, also known as droit de suite, are established in more than 90 countries, while efforts to create comparable federal protections in the U.S. have largely stalled. For the Deans, the voluntary model offers a way to test what a more artist-centered secondary market could look like without waiting for legislation.

“We’re not approaching this initiative in that way,” Johnson said. “Bonhams built this around a shared mission with the Deans, and the reality is that we want this to cost us because that is a visible measure of success for this initiative, which is the whole point of doing it.”

Johnson said collectors have responded positively, adding, “If others decide to follow suit, that’s a win for artists and for the market.”

The initiative comes as the Deans continue to expand their influence in the art world. A traveling exhibition of their art collection, Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys, is about to begin its fifth leg at Newfields in Indianapolis starting Sept. 19. The exhibition, which will run until Feb. 28, 2027, includes works by Nina Chanel Abney, Arthur Jafa, Gordon Parks, Amy Sherald, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Mickalene Thomas, Barkley Hendricks, Ernie Barnes, and Kehinde Wiley.

Black Business Month, Entrepreneurs, insurance, legacy — (Photo: RDNE Stock project/via Pexels)

by Selena Hill

September 11, 2026

Black Entrepreneurs Are Building Wealth—Here’s How To Protect It

As Black-owned employer businesses surpass 200,000, entrepreneurs scaling up may need to rethink whether their insurance coverage can keep pace.

Black entrepreneurship is booming, but as more founders move from side hustles and home-based operations into larger companies, protecting that growth is becoming just as important as achieving it.

New Census Bureau data shows that Black-owned employer businesses — companies with at least one paid employee — reached about 201,000 in 2023. Those businesses generated $249 billion in receipts, employed nearly 1.9 million people, and paid $69.8 billion in annual payroll. Meanwhile, Brookings found that the number of Black-owned employer businesses increased 62% from 2017 to 2023. Business equity has also contributed significantly to gains in Black wealth, making business preservation an important part of the broader wealth-building equation.

However, insurance coverage that made sense when a business was smaller may not be enough once the operation expands. In light of Black Business Month in August, U.S. News shared three insurance gaps fast-growing small businesses may face, and how to avoid them.

1. General liability isn’t the whole package

General liability coverage can help protect against claims involving bodily injury, property damage, and certain lawsuits. But it generally doesn’t cover every risk associated with a growing company’s physical and digital assets.

An entrepreneur with a storefront who adds inventory or purchases expensive equipment may need commercial property coverage. Businesses holding customer or employee information may also want to consider cyber liability coverage for expenses associated with data breaches and cyberattacks.

The U.S. Small Business Administration recommends that owners assess the risks they couldn’t reasonably afford to cover out of pocket and select insurance accordingly.

2. Workers’ comp won’t cover every workplace dispute

Workers’ compensation covers work-related injuries and illnesses, but it isn’t intended to cover employment-related lawsuits alleging issues such as discrimination, harassment, or wrongful termination. As teams grow, entrepreneurs may consider employment practices liability insurance, or EPLI, to help address certain employee claims and associated legal costs.

3. Professional mistakes can become expensive

Consultants, agencies, financial professionals, technology companies, and other service providers can face another risk: a client alleging that their advice or work caused financial harm.

That’s where professional liability, often called errors and omissions insurance, can become relevant. The SBA lists professional liability as coverage for businesses providing services to customers against financial losses tied to malpractice, errors, or negligence.

For Black entrepreneurs building companies that can support families for generations, an annual insurance review should be part of the growth plan — not an afterthought. A practical audit starts with documenting newly acquired assets, updating employee and payroll information, and reviewing coverage with an insurance professional who understands the company’s industry.

The goal isn’t simply to insure a business. It’s to make sure the equity being built today has a better chance of becoming the legacy that lasts tomorrow.