Myles Rowe, Force Indy, INDY NXT, motorsports — (Photo via blacknews.com)

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

August 21, 2026

Myles Rowe Is The 1st Black Driver To Win An Indycar Championship

Myles Rowe drove the red rear-winged USFPro2000 car to victory in honor of the Red-Tailed 99th Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES hits the National Mall for the first time with The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., taking place Aug. 22–23, 2026. Set against iconic backdrops like the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument, this free two-day festival combines premier racing with the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. At the intersection of motorsports and history, the spotlight naturally turns to Myles Rowe’s ongoing legacy.

This news first appeared on blacknews.com

On Sept. 2, 2023, Myles Rowe, #99 Pabst Racing with Force Indy, became the first Black driver to win an INDYCAR-sanctioned championship. After starting the final race with a 64-point series lead, 23-year-old Rowe clinched the 2023 Cooper Tires USF PRO 2000 title at the Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. With this USF Pro 2000 championship, Rowe will advance to the INDY NXT by Firestone series in 2024.

In the 2023 USF Pro 2000 series, Rowe accumulated more wins (five), pole positions (four), fastest laps (three), and podium finishes (seven) than any of his rivals. During last year’s USF 2000 Series Championship, Rowe placed runner-up, finishing within six points of the winner. Since age four, Atlanta native Myles Rowe has been fascinated with all things racing. He’s a past 2018 Lucas Oil Formula Car Race Series winner.

“This year was a test to see what I’ve got,” said Myles Rowe. “And luckily, I was able to pull it off.”

On Dec. 3, 2020, Black Indianapolis business leader and team co-owner Rod Reid and Roger Penske, the owner of the most successful racing organization in history, announced the formation of the USF2000 race team at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, as part of the Race for Equality & Change diversity initiative. On Aug. 29, 2021, Rowe became the Black driver to win an INDYCAR-sanctioned race at New Jersey Motorsports Park in the Cooper Tires USF2000 Championship.

“When I first envisioned the Force Indy team, I saw it as a pipeline to create opportunities for black and brown talent. An opportunity to change the face of motorsports,” said Force Indy Team Principal and Co-owner Rod Reid. “I never imagined winning a championship nearly two years before we won our first race.”

Force Indy celebrates this historic moment by focusing on establishing a program that fuels opportunities for people of color – including drivers, crew members, and more – across the INDYCAR paddock. The goal for Force Indy is to open as many doors as possible for diverse representation and leadership in the motorsports world. Force Indy was founded as part of Penske Entertainment’s Race for Equality & Change initiative, launched in July 2020 to create fundamental change in the motorsports industry.

This championship win in the No. 99 continues Force Indy’s tribute to Dewey “Rajo Jack” Gatson, the Black racer denied entry in the Indy 500 in the 1930s and 40s. Rowe drove the red rear-winged USFPro2000 car to victory in honor of the Red-Tailed 99th Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Learn more at ForceIndy.com.

Nick Cannon, XCEL Summit for Men, taking risks — (Photo: Noam Galai/Getty Images)

by Kenneth Meeks

August 21, 2026

Nick Cannon’s Belief In Himself Led To A Billion-Dollar Pay Off

In Its 22nd Season, ‘Wild'n-Out’ still launches the careers of a countless number of young, talented African Americans.

Forty-five-year-old Nick Cannon is an actor, producer, artist, entrepreneur, and comedian who understands the concept of ownership, and he’s redefining success in show business. Known for hosting a series of successful prime-time television shows including America’s Got Talent, The Masked Singer, and Lip Sync Battle Shorties, he’s best known for creating, producing, and hosting the fun-filled, freestyle comedy sketch and rap-battling game show Wild’n-Out. First airing in 2005 on MTV, his version of an improv, variety talent show currently airs on VH1 and is in its 22^nd season.

But as fascinating as his show is with its celebrity guests, it doesn’t compare to his journey to create it. Cannon sat down with BLACK ENTERPRISE to explain how it all started, from his belief in himself to taking a huge financial risk to make his vision happen — even when others around him didn’t see it. Taking that risk paid off big time.

As we approach the 10^th anniversary of the XCEL Summit for Men, BE reminds young entrepreneurs and professionals about the importance of taking risks and chances on yourself, even when others don’t believe in you. Big payoffs come only when you’re willing to take big risks. Click on the video below and hear Cannon’s strategy for creating one of the highest-rated television shows in hip-hop history. He just might motivate you to do something huge, too.

RELATED CONTENT: Nick Cannon Takes on TeenNick

DEI, anti-equality, diversity, — (Photo: Amy Elting/Pexels)

by Selena Hill

August 20, 2026

Pro-DEI Companies Are Doing Just Fine According To New Study

In spite of President Trump's anti-DEI push, new research suggests the companies that held firm are still doing well financially.

Despite the conservative push to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in corporate America, new research shows that companies that did not heed the “go woke, go broke” warning are flourishing.

A study conducted by Jacob Grumbach, an associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy, found that S&P 500 companies that maintained their DEI commitments after President Donald Trump passed anti-DEI executive orders last year performed just as well financially as companies that scaled back their programs. In the days immediately following the orders, companies that retained their DEI policies actually outperformed those that did not, according to the analysis, The Guardian reports.

Companies, including Target, Google, Goldman Sachs, McDonald’s, and Walmart announced changes to their DEI policies, while companies such as Costco, Apple, and Delta Air Lines continued to defend or maintain key diversity initiatives. Grumbach examined what economists call “abnormal returns,” comparing a stock’s expected performance with its actual performance to isolate the market impact of corporate decisions around DEI. The results show that the corporations that remained firm on their stance on DEI did not take a hit to their bottom line.

Still, the corporate retreat from DEI has not always been as clear-cut as headlines suggest. David Glasgow, the executive director of New York University’s Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, said many companies are operating in what he called a “messy middle.”

“Often what’s going on is something more in the messy middle, where they’re sticking with some things, deleting others and then reframing or rebranding some,” Glasgow said.

“No matter how we measure DEI in companies, we find the same answer,” Grumbach said. “Holding on to DEI promises ultimately had no impact on financial performance.”

That conclusion could reshape how executives think about the business risk of maintaining diversity programs. DEI policies can influence who gets hired, promoted, funded and represented in leadership — areas where Black workers and business owners have historically faced barriers.

The findings arrive as corporate America continues to reassess its approach to diversity following political pressure, legal uncertainty, and consumer backlash. Nevertheless, political pressure and financial performance are not necessarily the same thing. Companies may have more room to stand on their stated values than the “go woke, go broke” crowd would have Wall Street believe.

Kroger, grocery, store, discrimination, Atlanta — (Photo: Ambrosia LaFluer/Flickr)

by Selena Hill

August 20, 2026

Kroger To Pay $75K To Settle Disability Lawsuit Brought By Breast Cancer Survivor

Kroger has settled an EEOC disability discrimination lawsuit involving an Atlanta employee.

Kroger will pay $75,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by a breast cancer survivor who worked at the grocery giant’s store in Edgewood, Georgia.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which alleged that Kroger discriminated against the employee based on her disability and retaliated against her after she sought an accommodation.

According to the EEOC, the cashier suffered permanent nerve damage in her lower extremities following breast cancer treatment. She requested permission to use a stool or chair while working and provided medical documentation supporting the accommodation. Rather than addressing her request, the suit states that Kroger stopped scheduling the employee for work. The EEOC also alleged that the company continued to leave her off the schedule after she filed an internal discrimination complaint.

“In this case, the employee requested a reasonable accommodation that would have imposed a minimal, if any, burden on the company,” Marcus G. Keegan, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Atlanta District Office, said in a statement when the lawsuit was announced. “Rather than appropriately responding to the employee’s request and subsequent complaint of discrimination, Kroger ignored her and stopped scheduling her to work, violating federal law.”

The $75,000 agreement brings the federal case to a close and puts a fresh spotlight on the financial consequences businesses can face when workplace accommodation requests are mishandled. Court records in EEOC v. The Kroger Co. show the case was pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia before the parties reached a resolution. Federal case records tracked the litigation.

Darrell Graham, the director of the EEOC’s Atlanta District Office, said the agency remains focused on enforcing protections for workers with disabilities.

“The ADA’s protections are intended to remove the barriers to employment faced by workers with disabilities,” Graham said, according to 11 Alive news. “When an employer ignores these protections, the EEOC is committed to enforcing them.”

For employers, the takeaway is bigger than the $75,000 check. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, companies generally must engage with employees seeking reasonable accommodations unless doing so would create an undue hardship.

NASCAR, IndyCar, Indy500, motorsports, Willy T. Ribbs — (Photo: Sean P. Twomey/Pexels)

by Selena Hill

August 20, 2026

NASCAR Debuts Delta Sigma Theta-Branded Show Car Created By College Intern

NASCAR is tapping Black culture, talent, and community to reshape the future of motorsports.

NASCAR is putting crimson-and-cream horsepower behind its push for a more inclusive future.

Camilla Bowens-Wilkins, a Louisiana State University student and NASCAR NEXT intern, designed the first-ever Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.-branded NASCAR show car, creating a full-circle moment at the intersection of Black Greek culture and one of America’s biggest sports brands.

The car debuted during the 2026 Delta Sigma Theta South Atlantic Regional Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, offering Bowens-Wilkins an opportunity that went far beyond a typical internship assignment.

“When I came in, they showed me a version of the car, and they also asked me, knowing that I’m a Delta, what input I have,” Bowens-Wilkins told AfroTech. “It ended up turning into my design fully.”

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For Bowens-Wilkins, who is studying sports administration, the project allowed her to bring her personal experience as a member of the sorority into a professional setting. She incorporated Delta Sigma Theta’s public motto, “Intelligence is the Torch of Wisdom,” into the vehicle’s design.

“I went down to see it when it was unveiled, and immediately when I got there, it was a line of sorors just trying to take a picture,” Bowens-Wilkins said. “As I got closer, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s the line for the car I designed.’”

The assignment illustrates a larger business opportunity for NASCAR as sports organizations increasingly look beyond traditional sponsorships to build culturally relevant partnerships to introduce their brands to new audiences. Black Greek-letter organizations, with their deep alumni networks, consumer influence, and multigenerational communities, represent a powerful audience for brands seeking authentic engagement.

The moment also signals how access to internships and mentorship can become a pipeline for innovation. Bowens-Wilkins found NASCAR NEXT through LinkedIn and eventually landed in a program designed to provide hands-on experience and mentorship across the motorsports industry. Her story arrives as NASCAR continues working to broaden representation in a sport historically dominated by white men.

Abby Phillip, CNN, Paramount Skydance — photo credit: Wikkimedia

by Sidnee Michelle

August 20, 2026

Abby Phillip Signs Multiyear Deal To Stay On With CNN

Before joining CNN, Phillip covered politics and national news for The Washington Post, Politico, and ABC News.

CNN anchor Abby Phillip has signed a new multiyear contract to remain with the network, securing her place in its prime-time lineup as CNN’s parent company moves toward a change in ownership, TV Insider reports.

Phillip, 37, recently renewed her contract with CNN, Variety first reported. The financial terms and exact length of the agreement were not disclosed. CNN told Variety it does not comment on talent contracts, and Phillip has not publicly commented on the deal.

Phillip anchors the 10 p.m. political roundtable program “CNN NewsNight,” which brings together commentators with differing political perspectives to discuss the day’s top stories. She also hosts the Saturday morning program “Table for Five” and the digital series “Confessions and Obsessions.”

The journalist joined CNN in 2017 and has since held several prominent roles at the network. She covered the first Trump administration and co-moderated a Democratic presidential primary debate in 2020. In 2021, Phillip became anchor of the Sunday edition of “Inside Politics” before moving to CNN’s prime-time lineup in 2023.

Before joining CNN, Phillip covered politics and national news for The Washington Post, Politico, and ABC News.

Her contract renewal comes as Paramount Skydance moves to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company. The proposed acquisition remains pending as it faces an antitrust lawsuit brought by California and 11 other states. A federal trial is scheduled for March 2027.

Phillip joins fellow CNN prime-time anchors Anderson Cooper and Kaitlan Collins in having long-term agreements with the network. Cooper renewed his contract last year, while Collins has several years remaining on her current deal, according to Variety.

The pending acquisition has fueled questions about CNN’s direction under potential new ownership. Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison has said CNN would maintain its editorial independence, while reports have pointed to concerns among some CNN employees about possible changes to the network.

Phillips’ new agreement keeps one of CNN’s most prominent Black anchors in its prime-time lineup as the network prepares for a potentially significant corporate transition.

Racial Conspiracy Theories, Family structure — Photo from MoMo Productions/Getty Images

by Selena Hill

August 20, 2026

NAACP Launches Health Equity Map That Tracks How Race And Zip Codes Impact Quality Of Life

The interactive map reveals how much of an impact your zip code has on getting access to healthy food, quality healthcare, clean air, and fresh water

Where you live can determine how quickly you reach a hospital, whether fresh food is within easy reach, and even the quality of the water coming from your tap. Now, the NAACP wants to make those disparities impossible to ignore.

The civil rights organization, in collaboration with global healthcare company Sanofi, has launched Black Communities’ Health: In Plain Sight, an interactive health equity map that translates data from nearly 23,000 residents about the conditions shaping their health across America. The data spans nearly 4,000 ZIP codes in 47 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The map makes it possible for users to examine how race, gender, and geography intersect with access to healthy food, quality healthcare, culturally responsive providers, safe neighborhoods, clean air and water, and stable housing.

“Black communities have always known what they face,” Dr. Chris Pernell, director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity, said in a statement, according to AfroTech. “Now, nearly 23,000 voices have made their insights undeniable.”

The map is built from the ACE Your Health Community Wellness Survey, conducted between January and September 2025. Its findings illustrate the economic consequences of unequal infrastructure and access. While 63% of respondents reported living with at least one chronic condition, just 28% of respondents earning less than $20,000 lived within five to 10 minutes of a quality hospital. The survey also found that only 38% of lower-income respondents had a grocery store within five minutes, compared with 56% of households earning more than $100,000.

The data paints a picture Black communities have been living with for generations: proximity, affordability, and quality do not always travel together.

“ZIP codes too often determine our health outcomes,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson said. “Those we elect to local and federal office have utterly failed to address this crisis, so we’re making it impossible to deny.”

The NAACP plans to pair the map with its ACE Your Health Literacy Toolkit and community-based advocacy efforts, helping residents conduct neighborhood health audits and push institutions to respond.

by Adedamola Agboola

August 20, 2026

Meet Willy T. Ribbs, The Black Race Car Driver Who Broke The Indy 500 Color Barrier

Ribbs' biographical movie is titled, "Uppity."

The Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., brings the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to the National Mall for the first time on Aug. 22–23, 2026. Set against landmarks like the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol, the free, two-day motorsports festival blends world-class racing with a historic celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. As history and sports car racing intersect, it’s fitting to revisit the legacy of Willy T. Ribbs.

For more than a century, only two African Americans have raced in any of the 102 runnings of the Indianapolis 500, deemed “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”: Ribbs in 1991 and George Mack in 2002.

On Breaking the Indy 500 Color Barrier: Ribbs Was Just Trying to ‘Win Races’

The event, held over the Memorial Day weekend, is contested as part of the Verizon IndyCar Series, the highest level of American racing. In 1985, when Ribbs, now 70 years old, made a first attempt at qualifying for the Indy 500 in what the Undefeated described as “a sub-par Miller Beer March 85C,” he ran 48 laps with a best speed of 172.2 mph. Although Ribbs withdrew from the race, he still made history by becoming the first African American driver to circle the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval.

“I have no feeling at all about [breaking Indy 500’s color barrier],” he told the Undefeated. “I was trying to do what the other drivers were trying to do—win races. I did not become a race driver to break any color barriers. The only color barrier I was interested in breaking was the checkered flag.”

Apparently, Ribbs’ withdrawal from the race may have saved his life. As explained to the Undefeated, “The flawed Miller Beer March 85C engine was a hand-me-down” from one of the rookie drivers in the race. The windscreen that makes air go over the cockpit was not large enough. Instead of the air flowing over the cockpit, it blew into Ribbs’ face, resulting in Ribbs “constantly shaking his head left to right” while driving around the tracks.

He made bigger news that same year when he became the first African American to drive a Formula One car. The next year, he drove for Dan Gurney in the International Motor Sport Association GT Championship series, where he won four races. He won 17 races in total for Gurney and Roush Fenway Racing in the Trans-Am Series. In 1991, he finally qualified for, and ran in the Indy 500, thanks in part to a car partially funded by Bill Cosby.

After Ribb’s run, he expected corporate sponsorships, which never materialized because his confident attitude was mistaken for arrogance, he said.

“If I would’ve been step-n-fetch, a shuffling house boy, that would not have changed anything. Their weak cop-out for the real reason doesn’t carry any weight. They were scared. You have to consider that I broke the stereotype glass that Black men weren’t mentally capable of driving a race car, being a front-driving race car driver. Lewis Hamilton further destroyed that myth, being a four-time [Formula One] world champion and the second-winningest driver in history. Between myself and Lewis Hamilton, all of that has been tossed in the trash can. I’m not bitter. They were stupid.”

Data from an IndyCar survey found 69 million self-declared IndyCar fans worldwide, 79% of whom are white and 66% male.

Ribbs, who is unapologetic about his attitude, returned to Indianapolis on Saturday to promote Uppity, his biographical movie about his life and struggles to compete in the highest level of auto racing.

“The sport has got to want diversity first of all,” Ribbs told Reuters. “Whether it is IndyCar or NASCAR, if you want diversity in your sport, you will get it. And if you don’t want it, you won’t have it.”

homebuyers 529 plan, downpayment, First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act — Photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-silver-key-with-clear-gemstone-7578975/

by Sidnee Michelle

August 20, 2026

New Bill Could Unlock $35K For 1st-Time Homebuyers

Sens. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced the First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act on Aug. 4.

A bipartisan bill in Congress could give first-time homebuyers another way to overcome one of the biggest obstacles to homeownership: saving enough money for a down payment, Fast Company reports.

Sens. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, and Michael Bennet, D-Colo., introduced the First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act on Aug. 4. The legislation would allow people to transfer up to $35,000 in unused savings from a 529 education savings account to help purchase their first home without paying a penalty.

529 plans are state-administered, tax-advantaged accounts designed to help families save for education expenses. Unused funds can generally be put toward other eligible education costs, student loan payments, or, under certain requirements, transferred to a retirement account.

The proposed legislation would add a first-home purchase as another eligible use, potentially giving families greater flexibility with money remaining after education expenses are covered.

“Across Colorado, too many young people and working families struggle to afford their first home,” Bennet said. “This bill would allow first-time homebuyers to use the savings they already have to cover a down payment and help put homeownership within reach.”

The proposal comes as high housing costs continue to make homeownership difficult for many Americans. As the outlet reported, existing federal rules already allow first-time homebuyers to withdraw up to $10,000 from an individual retirement account without the typical early-withdrawal penalty for a qualifying home purchase. The proposed 529 provision would raise the potential pool of available funds to $35,000 without requiring buyers to tap retirement savings.

“I’m focused on helping working families get ahead and making life more affordable,” Husted said. “By freeing up existing resources, I’m proud this bipartisan bill gives first-time homebuyers another tool to use in pursuing their version of the American Dream.”

The Senate legislation has a bipartisan companion bill in the House. Reps. Tom Barrett, R-Mich.; Tracey Mann, R-Kan.; Mark Alford, R-Mo.; and Lou Correa, D-Calif., introduced the House version.

The proposal would still need congressional approval before the new 529 provision could take effect.