by Mitti Hicks

August 25, 2025

Modupé Rouse Is Finally Free: Post Amazon, The Former DEI Exec Launches Athleisure Brand

Finally Free celebrates the journey to freedom

Finally Free is the newest Black-owned athleisure brand on the market. It was born out of President Donald Trump’s target on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Modupé Rouse was working a high-profile position at Amazon within DEI before it was eliminated. It was the first time in her more than 20 years working as a corporate executive that she found herself in this predicament.

“It felt like failure, especially when you’re doing impactful work,” she told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “I spent about two months reconnecting with myself, going to therapy, and fighting my way through depression and grief.”

It was during this time of healing and regrouping that Rouse began to think about ownership differently. For more than two decades, her work has been both regarded as impactful and legacy-building for corporations. Yet, despite her accomplishments, Amazon still let her go. Reflecting on how a company parted ways with her after meaningful work created a fiery passion never to give a corporation that kind of power over her life’s purpose. Rouse decided to continue that purpose-driven work by launching her own luxury athleisure collection called Finally Free Clothing Brand.

Finally Free Brand Celebrates Liberation Journey

Rouse said Finally Free celebrates the journey to freedom. It honors the hard work of overcoming obstacles.

“When someone asks, ‘What’s the name of your clothing line?’ and I respond, ‘Finally Free,’ I usually hear someone say, ‘OMG. I just got chills,’” said Rouse. “I think it’s because these words are such a universal concept that no matter what race, gender, or where you are in the world, there is something that has bound you.”

While the Black-owned brand primarily targets women, there are items, including t-shirts, hoodies, and hats for men and products deemed as unisex.

Within the first two months of launching, the brand had over 400,000 impressions and over 300,000 views on TikTok as she and her team worked to showcase the brand. Her brand is resonating worldwide, with site visits from people in Brazil, South Africa, and more.

Black Women Overwhelmingly Impacted By DEI Crackdown

A recent report found that Black women are taking the hardest hits as the Trump Administration cracks down on eliminating and banning DEI initiatives. A recent report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed the jobless rate for Black women rose to 6.1% in April, a full percentage point surge from 5.1% in March, as BE previously reported.

However, despite a departure from Amazon, Rouse still chose to market herself on her former employer’s platform.

“What’s powerful about healing is I’ve had to honor the totality of the journey,” she said. “I cannot deny that Amazon has mastered the art of customer experience, convenience, and accessibility. They also have multiple avenues and lanes to continue to generate wealth for small businesses like mine.”

Still, Rouse says the best way for consumers to support small businesses like hers is to shop directly on their websites. She added that as more people pull back from spending money with large corporations and retail giants, they are turning to small businesses, especially Black-owned ones.

“That’s the only way we will keep leveling the playing field. Our businesses have to exist […] because our stories have to be told,” she said.

In addition to the Finally Free clothing brand, Congleton recently published the guided journal, “Finally Free Presents: A Guided Path for Your Journey to Freedom.” The journal is designed to help readers claim their full voice, release shame, and connect with their truth.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 25, 2025

Historic Atlanta Church Honors 62nd Anniversary of March On Washington And MLK Speech

Big Bethel A.M.E. church in Atlanta hosted its Social Justice Sunday to celebrate the March on Washington's 62nd anniversary.

A historic church in Atlanta spent Sunday Service honoring the 62nd anniversary of the March on Washington.

Big Bethel A.M.E. Church celebrated the historic event for racial justice and social equality, as well as the speech made by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that holds its own place in American history.

On Aug. 28, 1963, hundreds of thousands traveled to Washington, D.C. for the peaceful protest. They witnessed King make his historic “I Have A Dream” speech, cementing the event as a global catalyst for change.

At Big Bethel A.M.E.’s Social Justice Sunday event, they remembered the efforts made by King and countless civil rights activists.

The event encouraged church members and community members to take action in the ongoing fight for equality and justice. They remember the voices of King and fellow activists as they forge a new battle for the betterment of all.

“We stand on the shoulders of giants, and it is our duty to continue the fight for justice for all,” said Reverend Dr. Jonathan C. Augustine, senior pastor, in a release obtained by 11Alive. “This anniversary is not just about remembering the past; it’s about galvanizing our community to take meaningful action now.

On its 62nd anniversary, the church also shined a light on the history of the March on Washington and MLK’s historic speech. It was a chance moment that made King switch the narrative of his words after Mahalia Jackson sung “I’ve been Buked, and I’ve been Scorned” at his request. Following the rendition of the gospel song, Jackson uttered “Tell them about the dream, Martin,” to the civil rights leader.

It was not a dream he had initially planned to share, originally wanting to focus on jobs and freedom. However, his “I Have a Dream” speech later became the most famous oration spoken by King. It emerged as a battlecry to end segregation and dismantle racism in the United States.

Big Bethel A.M.E. continues this legacy, instilling it for the next generation. While the fight for equality wages on, the Atlanta church promotes communal and social advocacy in the footsteps of those who marched on Washington.

pastries,The Pastry Box Bakery, New York,East Village

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 25, 2025

The Pastry Box Bakery Is First Black-Owned Restaurant In NYC’s East Village In 25 Years

The Pastry Box reigns as the first Black-owned business in the East Village in decades.

A bakery has revived Black-owned restaurants in a New York City area, while giving back to its community.

Tiara Bennett’s love of baking and communal upliftment go hand-in-hand. When the culinary school-trained pastry chef decided to open her own bakery and re-establish a Black-owned eatery in Manhattan’s East Village, she knew she wanted to do more to leave a legacy.

However, becoming the first Black-owned restaurant in the historic neighborhood in 25 years was not a cakewalk. When she opened The Pastry Box in 2023, bringing back diversity in this space came with its own struggles. Despite the ebbs of entrepreneurship, Bennett’s supporters encouraged her to continue her mission, as told to Food52.

“People in my neighborhood who knew me from passing out fliers and selling cookies before I had a shop were excited for me, but I was the first Black person to open a business on this block in decades, so there were some challenges,” she explained, according to the Legal Defense Fund.

Bennett had always championed empowerment in her craft, a skill learned by baking with her grandmother. Two years after graduating from culinary school with honors in 2018, she opened her first pop-up on Juneteenth to showcase her pastries. Bennett spent years sharpening her skills in high-end restaurants and pastry programs, later taking the opportunity for her own store.

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A post shared by The Pastry Box (@thepastryboxbakery)

Unfortunately, the Brooklyn native still received pushback and disheartening comments from those around the East Village. Many did not expect her to last.

“A lot of people didn’t even expect us to be lasting in our second year. [I came] from a community in Bed-Stuy where everyone accepted us and rooted for us to come into a neighborhood where everyone was like ‘oh, who are they? Who is she?’ A lot of the neighbors didn’t even think it was my place. “

All it took was one cookie to transform The Pastry Box. Once Eater gave a rave review about one of her signature sweets, customers from across NYC came in droves to try it out.

“I’ll never forget that weekend,” she told Food52. “Our sales were like insane. We like made rent in a weekend and I never had seen it. And that was like the beginning of the change, where we actually started to be in the green.”

While she brought back Black-owned restaurants to the East Village with her bakery, Bennett considers it a part of her destiny. She also believes it is overdue for representation, offering an opportunity to support diverse youth in the area.

“I believe a neighbor told me that it had been like 20 years since a Black-owned business opened in this neighborhood. So, the representation is really important… I didn’t choose the East Village. The East Village chose me, and I’m glad it did. And then we’re here to stay now,” she added.

As she builds upon her success, Bennett has plans for a youth program to help other younger New Yorkers learn about entrepreneurship, kitchen etiquette, and baking techniques.

Racquel Oden, Wall Street, Forbes over 50

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 25, 2025

Banking Exec Racquel Oden Brings ‘Main Street To Wall Street’ With Forbes Over 50 Honor

HSBC U.S. Head Racquel Oden wants to prepare women and people of color for the transfer of wealth on the way.

Racquel Oden’s recognition as a leader in global banking operations is long overdue.

With previous roles across major finance corporations, Oden joined HSBC last year as U.S. Head of the bank’s wealth management, global private banking, and retail businesses endeavors. As a trailblazer and leader in the finance sector, one could consider her to be the Beyoncé of the banking industry.

Of course, the profession is less glitzy than Hollywood, but Oden’s commitment to communal upliftment is impressive by itself. As a Black woman leader, a Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree wants to leave a legacy that promotes others like herself.

The daughter of Jamaican immigrants, Oden forged her own destiny, marking her place in the C-suites of JPMorgan Chase to Merrill Lynch, to name a few of her past employers. Oden spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about what this honor by Forbes means to her, and how her leadership delivers social equity.

“My job is to make sure that we finally represent, allowing Main Street to be part of Wall Street. And that was really the intent of when this was created. It has really kind of stepped away from that and helping individuals figure out how they can achieve their personal goals and dreams,” explained Oden.

While her work deals with high net worths, Oden still manages to support everyday people by leveling the playing field in finance. What Oden wants for her clients as much as her community is financial soundness. Especially as the look of leadership shifts to a more inclusive place, her work ensures everyone’s readiness for their moment.

“Part of my role is to ensure that I build the next generation to represent what the world and society looks like,” she said. “That is people of color, that is women, and that is where I would say the transfer of wealth is going to happen in the next couple of decades, statistically. And for that reason, I personally want to make sure this next generation is prepared and ready.”

Oden’s decades of transformative leadership led to her nomination in the Forbes 50 Over 50 Investment category. Her inclusion is especially significant as a Black woman in this cohort of seasoned female wealth-builders. She calls the honor a nod to her impact, as she shapes the banking industry for its broader reach.

“It’s the fact that over a 25-year career, you’re being recognized for having impact beyond your job. If you sit in the seats that we sit in, how do you make the community a better place? How do you make sure that you’re actually having an impact on society beyond your job? And so that award specifically for me was, truly, wow, I’m actually having impact on society.”

However, her advocacy extends beyond her profession. She makes sure her finance skills go where her heart is. Oden serves as Board Chair of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, while also serving on the Board of Directors for the Apollo Theater. Investing in education and cultural institutions remains a core part of her values. Now, it stands as part of a personal mission.

“It’s education as well as arts and culture in our community,” continued Oden. “When I think about our HBCUs I’m making sure that we’re able to support these young minds from a financial standpoint, of ensuring they can get through college affordably, and making sure we’re developing those future leaders. Then secondly, arts and culture, our cultural institutions need to be not only supported but protected.”

Her advice to women in any field is to stay boldly confident, while allowing space for grace and humility. She also believes that living in one’s purpose within and beyond one’s professional sphere is the key to career fulfillment.

As Oden sees it, the transfer of wealth to people of color and women is on the horizon. As for how to prepare, Oden encourages leaning into their leadership, whether professional or personal.

“I always say, take control of the purse. That’s for you individually, which is critically important, and not shying away from it. No matter how we look at it, you will control the purse at some point. And I want people to be prepared for that. I want people to lean into it, not waiting until it happens.”

by Daniel Johnson

August 25, 2025

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Activates Petty Mode, Invites Trump On Safety Walk In Baltimore

Wes Moore is doubling down on his criticism of Donald Trump's takeover of Washington, D.C., and plans to send the National Guard into cities like Baltimore.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is doubling down on his criticism of Donald Trump’s takeover of Washington, D.C., mere days after he extended an invitation to Trump to put his bone spurs where his mouth is and join Moore on a safety walk around Baltimore, slated for October.

According to Politico, Moore stated in his Aug. 21 letter to Trump that, regardless of the administration’s stance on funding gun violence prevention programs, Baltimore City and the State of Maryland are reporting record lows in violent crime.

“Homicides in Maryland are down statewide by 20% since my inauguration two and a half years ago. In the first six months of 2025, the Baltimore Police Department continued to see double-digit reductions in gun violence, including a 22% decrease in homicides and a 19% decrease in non-fatal shootings from the year before. We are currently on track to have the lowest number of homicides in Baltimore City since we began officially keeping crime statistics,” Moore wrote.

In response to Gov. Moore’s letter, Trump wrote on Truth Social that the letter was “nasty and provocative,” adding that he “did his job” as President by sending funds to Maryland to help repair the Francis Scott Key Bridge after its 2024 collapse, which killed six people, but suggested he could reconsider such decisions in the future.

Gov. Moore was undeterred by Trump’s bluster on his social media platform, joining CBS’s “Face The Nation” program on Aug. 24 and blasting him in 4K. According to Moore, “the last time the homicide rate was this low in Baltimore City, I was not born yet.”

He continued, “The reason that I asked the President to come and join us is because he seems to enjoy living in this blissful ignorance…these tropes and these 1980s scare tactics. As someone who actually deployed overseas and served my country in combat, to ask these men and women to do a job that they’re not trained for is just deeply disrespectful. The members of our National Guard are trained up to be able to address things like emergency situations, situations where you need, where you need a surge of supports for traumas and disasters that are happening within individual jurisdictions. That is not this, and this is a direct deflection that the President is authorizing.”

Whether the President chooses to accept @GovWesMoore’s invitation or not, here are the commitments our city needs to see from the President. pic.twitter.com/GOTpYbk9Ut
— Brandon M. Scott (@MayorBMScott) August 22, 2025

Baltimore’s Mayor Brandon Scott issued his own comments in response to Gov. Wes Moore’s letter to Trump; many of his statements echoed the points that the governor raised.

“President Trump’s takeover of Washington, DC’s police force makes two things very clear. First: that he will do anything, and sacrifice anyone, to boost his own ego. And second: that he has no real solutions to make our country any safer, healthier, or freer. Here in Baltimore, we have driven down violence to 50-year lows, with significant reductions across every major crime category. This has not happened by chance. It is the result of an intentional strategy, coordinated alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement, violence interrupters, and community leaders.”

Scott continued, “In contrast, the President has embraced unconstitutional stop-and-frisk tactics, diverted federal law enforcement from their actual jobs to instead conduct indiscriminate traffic stops, and slashed funding for public safety programs that are driving real progress. “Whether the President chooses to accept Governor Moore’s invitation or not,” Scott noted there are a number of financial commitments the federal government could make to further increase the drop in violent crime in Baltimore.

Scott closed his comments, noting that “Only these commitments, not actions that erode our residents’ rights, would help our work to reduce violent crime. Otherwise, if Trump wants to roll into Baltimore purely to stage a photo op and spew racist narratives about Black-led cities, I speak for the vast majority of our residents when I say: We are not interested.”

Kentucky, Louisville, Small Business, grant

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 25, 2025

Celebrate Black Business Month In Los Angeles With A Scavenger Hunt And Pop-Up Market

The scavenger hunt prompts Angelenos to find and support Black businesses.

This Black Business Month, Black people in Los Angeles can uplift local entrepreneurs through this new pop-up market.

The California African American Museum (CAAM) will host the market and scavenger hunt to help Angelenos learn and support local Black-owned businesses. Throughout the month, Prosperity Market Founders Kara Still and Carmen Dianne created an interactive map featuring over 120 Black-owned spots that patrons could explore.

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Supporters who venture to these businesses earn points and prizes for their participation. The hunt will conclude at the end of the month, with the winners announced at a special pop-up market.

Prosperity Market has evolved into a mobile farmers’ market, bringing local and nutritious goods directly to the people. In its fifth annual year, its scavenger hunt keeps Black businesses thriving in this interactive setup.

According to Secret Los Angeles, the map holds clues that participants must decipher to find the treasured spot. From local coffee shops to bookstores, these places rely on their diverse communities to continue for generations.

While Black Business Month winds down, it will end with a celebratory occasion for families. Los Angeles residents can come to the free market to lend their support even further. Over 50 vendors and farmers will participate in the market, allowing visitors to stock up on locally sourced produce and other goods.

A live DJ will produce the vibes, alongside a photo booth and wine garden by 1010 Wine. The market will also include community resources and a kids’ area by Teach to Reach, allowing younger people to also take part in the communal effort.

Vendors include businesses previously featured on BLACK ENTERPRISE, such as Octavia’s Bookshelf, Sherman’s Produce, All Chill Ice Cream, and the LA Philharmonic. Fans of Prosperity Market will also get to see its mobile trailer, showing local and national Black-owned goods. The free event will take place Aug. 31 from 11 AM to 4 PM in the heart of Los Angeles.

Burr Oak Cemetery, Emmett Till, National Register Of Historic Places

by Daniel Johnson

August 25, 2025

Community Outrage Grows Over Greenville County’s Mishandling Of Historic South Carolina Black Cemetery Cleanup

Greenville County, however, defended its choice to use a vendor to perform the work at the cemetery.

The results of a recent cleanup effort of Brutontown Cemetery, a historic Black cemetery in Greenville County, South Carolina, have left Black residents and scholars with more questions and concerns about the state of the site than they had before the county began its cleanup effort.

As Brandon Inabinet, a professor at Furman University, told Fox Carolina during a recent walk-through of the cemetery, some of the graves appear to have been destroyed.

“What’s really atrocious about this spot—this is where I think a plantation cemetery was,” Inabinet told the outlet as he stood in a large area of mud. “It was very evident that there were 20 graves here—[they] were completely destroyed.”

Inabinet, who began researching the cemetery’s history a decade ago, discovered that the first president of the university that currently employs him was an enslaver; one of them, Abraham Simms, is believed to have been laid to rest at the cemetery.

The apparent use of heavy equipment at the site disturbed Inabinet, as he told the outlet that, in the interest of preserving the graves, the use of that kind of equipment is unacceptable.

“We now don’t have an area to look for [him] because it’s purely mud now,” he said. “There’s no way to now know where that Simms family plot is anymore because it’s gone. With an historical cemetery you never use heavy equipment. Somebody had to have animus, had to have a real feeling that this is not a site of importance, is not a site of dignity, because the kind of damage you see here, is not the kind of damage you can do unintentionally.”

Greenville County, however, defended its choice to use a vendor to perform the work at the cemetery in a statement issued after Fox Carolina asked for clarification on what happened.

“Because this site deserves reverence and proper attention, the County chose to enlist a vendor to clear the property that had been neglected for decades. We did this because nobody else in the community had stepped up to do this level of work…The County’s vendor did not do anything wrong. What the clearing work did was expose the damage that had already occurred from decades and decades of neglect,” Greenville County Governmental Affairs Director Bob Mihalic, told the outlet.

This response did not sit well with the professor, “To blame the people who are buried here because they didn’t have the funds to make it look like Spring Field Cemetery…I think that’s heinous, and the county shouldn’t be saying that,” Inabinet said.

Furthermore, he indicated that the dignity of the remains of the enslaved people at the cemetery should have taken precedence when the work was performed.

“If I was to answer from an academic standpoint, I would say, ‘To know the genealogy, find the history of this area,’ but it matters so much more that their dignity is restored.”

According to WYFF News 4, in 2024, Greenville County initially claimed ownership of the land on which the cemetery sits, and thereby took the lead on cleanup. However, officials have since changed their tune, and apparently neither they nor the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority owns the land that contains the cemetery.

According to WYFF’s reporting, the land is still listed as the property of the 1800s church group, Society Ground. In the same property report, it also denotes the land as “county ownership,” which county leaders claim is the result of a clerical error.

As a result, nobody really knows who should be in control of the land and thus responsible for the cleanup effort.

Despite this convoluted mess, both Walter Patton of the Upstate Cemetery Preservation Alliance and Robin Coon, a cemeterian who studied both Brutontown Society Ground Cemetery and Walcott Cemetery in 2024, say that the way the cleanup was approached was improper, joining the criticism of Professor Inabinet.

“We are not pleased with the way that it has been cleaned. There are track marks all over the cemetery. You can see where the vehicle or whatever it was. The machine drove over the same place repeatedly,” Patton told the outlet.

Greenville County Councilman Alan Mitchell, who has spent a considerable amount of time trying to untangle the question of who owns the cemetery, also noted in his comments that the equipment the vendor selected by Greenville County appears to be improper, considering the task.

“I was a little disturbed because the equipment that was being used was heavier than I expected,” Mitchell noted.

According to the Center for Constitutional Rights, the ordeal in Greenville County, as well as at other enslaved burial sites in the South, the treatment of Black cemeteries constitutes a violation of the Thirteenth Amendment.

Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Tackle ,Kevin Johnson, Killed, Los Angeles

by Daniel Johnson

August 24, 2025

Southern Versus Bethune-Cookman Rivalry Levels Up: Now Playing At NFL Stadium

The rivalry will be held at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The rivalry between the Southern University Jaguars and the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats will receive a venue upgrade and a new name, befitting the occasion, according to a press release from Bethune-Cookman University.

According to Andre “Lucky” White, a Tampa native and executive director of the Tampa Bay Football Classic, the rivalry will now have the premium venue that fans of both programs have long sought since it will be held at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which it also shares with the University of South Florida.

“The Tampa Bay Football Classic will be one of the Tampa Bay Area’s most highly anticipated events, providing opportunities for everyone to enjoy the traditions and excitement surrounding the football game. This event brings our communities together to celebrate and share in the culture, sportsmanship, and richness of the Tampa Bay Area and its rich HBCU culture,” White stated.

According to Michael E. David, founder of the Tampa Bay Football Classic, the Original Battle of the Bands, and an alum of Florida A&M University’s Marching 100, in addition to the game, there will be a marching band competition aspect of the weekend’s festivities.

“The enthusiasm and energy that the Tampa Bay Football Classic will create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere, celebrated throughout the Tampa Bay Area. We are equally thrilled to introduce our new marching band sport special event property in Band VERZUZ Band. Band VERZUZ Band is the sweet musical science in the precision of the sport of marching band,” David added.

According to the press release, the game is expected to generate between $10 million and $30 million for the Tampa area economy.

In 2023, the teams also played a neutral-site game at an NFL stadium in Florida; this time, it was at TIAA Bank Field, the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Prior to that, and last year, the teams alternated home sites at each university and have competed against each other intermittently since 1981, unfortunately, for Bethune-Cookman, they have yet to beat the Jaguars, holding an 0-7 record in the matchup despite taking Southern down to the wire in the latest game between the two sides in 2024.

Unfortunately, for Southern, they were soundly defeated in the season-opening MEAC/SWAC Challenge at Georgia State’s Center Parc Stadium by the North Carolina Central University Eagles, who rode the game’s MVP, running back Chris Mosley, and his 174 yards on the ground en route to a 31-14 drubbing of the Jaguars.

The game, in football terms, was close until it wasn’t. Despite Southern staying in striking distance for two quarters, a 49-yard touchdown from Mosley just before the halftime break that gave NCCU a 17-14 lead was the last time the game would be close, as the second half was dominated by the Eagles in all phases of the game.

North Carolina Central, which played in the Celebration Bowl last season, showed its championship pedigree by willing itself to a win, picking up big plays and stops when they needed them. Conversely, Southern, despite a strong start, never found a rhythm after halftime. Southern will look to rebound next week on Aug. 30 against NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s alma mater, Mississippi Valley State.

by Daniel Johnson

August 24, 2025

Justice Jackson Rips Supreme Court For Letting Trump Block $783M Research Funding

The National Institutes of Health research funding block is part of Trump's anti-DEI push.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to block nearly $783 million in National Institutes of Health research funding, citing the administration’s opposition to projects supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

According to NPR, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, instructed the NIH in February to reevaluate all grants that either funded or supported anything that could be considered “DEI and gender identity research activities and programs,” this also extended to projects regarding “vaccine hesitancy,” and the impact of the pandemic, which the NIH said had outlived their “limited purpose.”

After this move, 16 states, advocacy organizations, and researchers sued Kennedy and the NIH, arguing that the termination of the grants was unconstitutional. A federal district judge agreed with their argument, ruling that the termination of the grants was based on “no reasoned decision-making.”

Furthermore, Judge William Young upbraided the NIH for breaking its “historical norm of a largely apolitical scientific research agency.” Young, a Ronald Reagan appointee, also noted in his comments at the hearing, “I’ve never seen government racial discrimination like this. Have we no shame?”

However, the Supreme Court rendered his judgment invalid at the request of the Trump administration, which prompted a sharp dissent from Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

“In a broader sense, however, today’s ruling is of a piece with this Court’s recent tendencies. [R]ight when the Judiciary should be hunkering down to do all it can to preserve the law’s constraints, the Court opts instead to make vindicating the rule of law and preventing manifestly injurious Government action as difficult as possible…This is Calvinball jurisprudence with a twist. Calvinball has only one rule: there are no fixed rules. We seem to have two: that one, and this administration always wins,” she wrote.

As The Guardian noted, Calvinball is a reference to a fictional game depicted in the comic book strip “Calvin and Hobbes.” In keeping with Jackson’s previous use of judicial dissent as an alarm to the nation, indicating that this is an abnormally functioning Supreme Court, this dissent is not concerned with decorum or congeniality; it is, however, concerned with the practical application of justice.

Although the Supreme Court only officially ruled that the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts likely didn’t have the authority to review the termination of research grants by the NIH, it is nonetheless a setback, as Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell noted in a statement released after the Supreme Court ruling came down.

“Even though the Court did not dispute that the Trump Administration’s decision to cut critical medical and public health research is illegal, they ordered the recipients of that funding — hospitals, researchers, and the state — to jump through more hoops to get it back. All the while, our research institutions, economy, and residents who depend on this lifesaving medical research will suffer,” Campbell stated.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 24, 2025

TikToker Malik Taylor’s Cause Of Death Revealed As Internet Community Reels From Tragedy

Malik Taylor became a popular content creator on the app for his comedic and engaging videos.

The cause of death for Malik Taylor, a popular Black TikToker, has been made public.

Taylor had become a popular content creator on the app for his comedic and engaging videos. The former Memphis resident died Aug. 20, right after posting his final video about his move to Charlotte, North Carolina.

@maliktayylor The Queen City needed a King 🤷🏾‍♂️ #fyp #charlottenc #charlotte ♬ original sound – YT: The Unpopular Party

TMZ reports that the 28-year-old died from blunt force trauma after his car plunged 20 feet off a roadway in North Carolina. The Concord Police Department (CPD) confirmed a Black Nissan Rogue SUV was destroyed in the crash. Paramedics confirmed Taylor was dead at the scene.

Police also detailed that alcohol may have played a role in Taylor’s passing. The TikToker was a vibrant member of his community, both online and offline, with his business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi also confirming his death. Taylor joined the fraternity in spring 2017 with the Zeta Phi chapter.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share our beloved Brother, Malik Taylor, has gone to “Audit Eternal.” To know him was to know he was a light to everyone—always bringing laughter, joy, and a warm smile that brightened every room he entered,” wrote the brotherhood.

They added, “Brother Taylor embodied the values of brotherhood, unity, and compassion. His ability to uplift others, share kindness, and spread joy will forever remain in our memories. Though your time with us was far too short, you were a good and faithful Brother, and the “Great Auditor” will reward you for your everlasting work.”

Since beginning his internet career, Taylor amassed over 200K followers on TikTok. His social and cultural commentary made him a beloved member of Black TikTok. However, his family remembers the young man for his creativity and spirit, which they say they will honor forever.

“To us, Malik was so much more than a content creator — he was a beloved son, brother, nephew, and friend. His creativity, humor, and spirit touched countless lives, and his legacy of inspiring, entertaining, and uplifting others will continue to live on,” shared the family.