Check Out ‘Bumblebirds,’ Carla Hall’s Fried Chicken Restaurant During National Fried Chicken Day
Carla Hall will merge food, art, and culture for the ultimate casual dining experience.
BLACK ENTERPRISE is celebrating National Fried Chicken Day with a spotlight on celebrity chef Carla Hall’s recent opening of Bumblebirds, a fried chicken and cocktail bar in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The restaurant had its grand opening party early spring.
Hall ushered in the spring season with a Southern‑inspired menu featuring crispy fried chicken sandwiches on your choice of brioche bun or biscuit. At the bar, guests can enjoy craft cocktails, curated by mixologist AJ Johnson, such as an elderflower julep or a sorrel‑and‑strawberry margarita.
“I want them to walk in and feel like, ‘Wow, this feels like home, and it feels bright and warm. And I feel like this is a place where I want to hang out. I feel like it’s a place where I feel a sense of community and joy,” she says. “I think more than anything, I want people to feel the joy,” the longtime D.C. resident told People.
Located at 303 Pennsylvania Ave. SE, this quaint eatery showcases Hall’s design vision and features her own paper‑quilt art inspired by her grandmother. “I thought I had lost my grandmother’s quilt after 20 years,” she said.
Hall, after misplacing the heirloom, decided to recreate it using paper. After recreating the 9-by-3-foot art installation, Hall found the original quilt.
“It’s more than just showcasing a piece of art; it’s about showing other sides of my creativity,” she said. “And also quilts are about community and bringing people together.”
Quilting isn’t the only way that Hall is expanding her artistic wings. The former talk show host will star in Carla Hall — Please Underestimate Me, a one-woman show premiering in June, as she leans into her love of theater and her childhood dream of being the “Black Carol Burnett.”
Chasing Joy Over Dollars: LeBron James’ Free Agency Reshapes NBA Business Landscape
The league's all-time leading scorer prioritizes 'complete happiness' over a max contract
LeBron James Changes The Game
The veteran baller’s departure from the Los Angeles Lakers has changed the NBA business landscape and established a new benchmark for how veteran stars approach the end of their careers. Unlike past legends such as Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki, who chose to finish their careers with a single team, signing lucrative contracts and remaining firmly established, James is taking a different path. Rather than seeking the largest contract or market, the 41-year-old is targeting a more elusive goal for his 24th season: complete happiness.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 1, 2026
These Ain’t Money Moves
On The Ringer’s Game Over podcast, Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul, James’ longtime agent, stated that discussions with the Lakers never resulted in a formal contract offer. Paul noted that although James initially planned to return to Los Angeles, he ultimately chose happiness over a larger contract as the offseason progressed.
“If it’s about happiness, then it can’t be about money,” Paul told host Max Kellerman. “If it’s about happiness, because if it’s the most money, then it’s not necessarily the most happiness.”
From a business perspective, James retains unique leverage. With four NBA championships, four MVP awards, and a record 21 All-NBA selections, his financial and athletic legacy is secure. Beyond his on-court accomplishments, James’ presence has consistently boosted franchise valuation, elevated local sponsorship deals, and attracted new revenue streams through media rights and merchandise sales.
Throughout his career, James’ economic impact on the NBA has been substantial. For more than two decades, he influenced franchise valuations, television ratings, and international merchandise sales. James has been linked to multi-million-dollar increases in franchise valuations each time he joined a new team. For example, after returning to Cleveland in 2014, the Cavaliers’ value reportedly jumped by over $400 million in one year. Local economies in Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles saw boosts in game-day revenues, tourism, and merchandise sales during his tenure.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, James’ decision will not be based on finances. Instead, he is seeking an environment where he can play meaningful basketball and compete consistently.
At 41, James remains a valuable business asset and top performer. Last season, he averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per game, leading the Lakers to the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Since free agency began on June 30, he has engaged with 12 to 14 teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Minnesota Timberwolves, according to USA Today.
Among the top suitors, the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat stand out from business and basketball perspectives. The Warriors boast a global brand, high television ratings, and a strong legacy of championship success, rendering them an ideal market for maximizing James’ brand impact and driving merchandise sales. Pairing with Steph Curry would generate immense media buzz and sponsorship opportunities. Similarly, the Miami Heat represent a familiar destination for James and an active business environment.
Miami’s varied fan base and recent Finals appearances create a platform for on-court competitiveness and lucrative off-court ventures, including endorsements and local partnerships. For teams like Miami and Golden State, signing James could lead to surges in ticket sales, national broadcast exposure, and increased franchise valuations almost overnight.
The Warriors have proven to be a strong possible fit. Golden State gained financial maneuverability after Draymond Green declined his $27.7 million player option, stimulating speculation about a possible partnership between James and longtime rival Steph Curry.
By removing maximum salary demands, James is altering the league’s competitive landscape. Contending teams constrained by the salary cap can now add him without revamping their rosters. Paul stressed the future Hall of Famer will not rush the process.
James’ willingness to prioritize team fit and individual satisfaction over salary might indicate a shift in how future veteran superstars approach their free agency. This move may encourage established players to seek situations that optimize legacy, happiness, and competitiveness, rather than focusing solely on the highest possible contract. As James sets this new precedent, other stars nearing the end of their careers may also consider more adjustable financial terms to join championship contenders.
“His legacy stands carved in stone,” Paul said. “But if you can find humility and peace and still be competitive and give yourself the chance at the possibility of winning, that is complete happiness.”
AI Fails To Rise To The Occasion As Ford Rehires 300 Veteran Engineers
The automaker says artificial intelligence alone couldn't replicate the expertise of seasoned engineers
Ford is acknowledging that artificial intelligence has limits. After relying on AI-powered systems to improve vehicle quality inspections, the automaker has rehired more than 300 veteran engineers and quality inspectors after the technology failed to match the judgment and expertise of experienced employees, reports BBC.
The move comes as companies across industries race to integrate AI into their operations to reduce labor costs and increase productivity. Ford had expanded the technology across parts of its manufacturing process, including deploying AI-powered quality inspections at its factories.
“Artificial intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it’s only as good as the information you use to train it,” said Charles Poon, Ford’s vice president of vehicle hardware engineering, according to BBC.
Poon acknowledged that Ford underestimated the value of its most experienced engineers as it accelerated its AI adoption.
“Over prior years, we didn’t pay as much attention as we should have to the experience of our most knowledgeable engineers that have been with us through many product cycles,” he said.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has previously championed AI’s potential to reshape the workforce. In an interview with author Walter Isaacson last year, Farley said, “AI will leave a lot of white collar people behind.”
The automaker has been integrating AI throughout its manufacturing operations. During an October earnings call, Chief Operating Officer Kumar Galhotra told investors the company was “deploying AI across the entire industrial system,” including installing 900 AI-powered cameras at its plants “to detect quality issues at the source and help us mitigate supply disruptions.”
However, Ford’s latest assessment suggests the technology alone wasn’t enough to deliver the results executives expected.
“Mistakenly, we thought that by just introducing artificial intelligence and ingesting the design requirements that we had, that would produce a high-quality product,” Poon said.
According to the executive, automated systems lacked the institutional knowledge and practical experience of veteran technicians, many of whom had already left the company before their expertise could be incorporated into the AI models.
“We recognised that for us to enhance some of our automation and machine learning and artificial intelligence tools we needed to ensure that they were trained by the most experienced individuals,” Poon said.
Those veteran employees have since returned not only to help train Ford’s AI systems but also to mentor younger engineers.
Ford’s acknowledgment comes after it recently reclaimed the top spot among mainstream brands in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study for the first time since 2010. In a statement, Ford said “reaching best-in-class quality required a significant talent refresh,” including replacing senior leaders across engineering, manufacturing and supply chain operations and hiring approximately 300 veteran engineers “who carry the hard-earned wisdom of decades of design.”
Flau’jae Johnson’s Multiyear Contract With ‘Unrivaled’ Is A Full-Circle Business Relationship
The LSU alum joins the 3-on-3 league as its newest member,
Seattle Storm guard Flau’jae Johnson signed a multiyear contract with Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 women’s basketball league, on June 22.
Johnson, the No. 8 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, will debut in Unrivaled’s third season starting January 2027. Since Unrivaled’s season overlaps with the WNBA offseason, many players join after their rookie year. Her club assignment will be announced later.
Flau'jae Johnson has signed a multi-year deal with Unrivaled, the league announced.
This agreement establishes a full-circle business relationship. In 2024, Johnson was one of the first two collegiate athletes to sign a name, image, and likeness (NIL) marketing deal with Unrivaled, alongside Paige Bueckers. She expanded this partnership in 2025 through the “Future is Unrivaled” cohort, an initiative that integrates top collegiate prospects into the league’s ecosystem with equity stakes and merchandising opportunities.
“From signing one of the first NIL deals with Unrivaled to now joining the league as a player, it’s been incredible to see this journey come full circle,” Johnson said in a statement. “The level of competition, the attention the league generated, and the way it helped shine a spotlight on the game’s biggest stars showed what’s possible when athletes are given a platform built for them.”
Johnson’s signing highlights how Black women use cultural and athletic influence to pursue long-term financial equity. Historically, professional women’s basketball players had limited domestic earning potential and often played overseas in the offseason. Unrivaled addresses this by providing regular-season salaries on a winter schedule and league equity for its players. Unlike the WNBA, which operates in summer with a salary structure set by collective bargaining, Unrivaled’s season runs from January to March to fill the offseason gap. The league offers guaranteed salaries that are competitive with overseas pay and equity stakes, enabling athletes to share in long-term revenue growth and to participate in executive decision-making. This model creates meaningful economic opportunities and ownership potential for the athletes.
As a prominent African American figure in sports and entertainment, Johnson fits the modern athlete-entrepreneur profile. In addition to winning a 2023 national championship with LSU and averaging 11.4 points as a rookie starter for Seattle, she is a signed recording artist with Roc Nation. Her “Flaumix” freestyle series has over 20 million views, and she has twice appeared on Billboard’s Sports & Music Power Players list.
By maintaining a year-round domestic presence through the WNBA and Unrivaled, Johnson offers corporate sponsors consistent brand exposure. This approach may help Black women in sports maximize their market value in the U.S. while keeping ownership of their intellectual property.
Roster construction for the upcoming season remains in progress. The league recently added two new franchises, the Breeze and the Hive, and uses an internal draft and position-based player pods to distribute talent. In the internal draft, teams select players from a pool to fill available roster spots, allowing new and existing franchises to build balanced squads. Player pods group athletes by position, such as guards, forwards, and centers, and help ensure that each team has a well-rounded lineup and competitive depth.
Yes, We’re Highlighting Black-Owned Restaurants With The Best Finger-Lickin’ Chicken On ‘National Fried Chicken Day’
They are not plucking’ around
Who knew July 6 was National Fried Chicken Day? Not only is today the perfect day to pull up to your favorite spot and order a proper two-piece, but it also represents far more than food—it embodies a culinary art that many Black folks have mastered. Across the nation, Black‑owned establishments combine their expertise to a soulful dish that is deeply rooted in flavor. Check out these eight restaurants that don’t pluck around when it comes to frying up delicious crispy chicken.
Willie Mae’s Scotch House
Since 1957, Willie Mae’s Scotch House in New Orleans has remained a family-owned establishment delivering traditional New Orleans soul food. Willie Mae Seaton established the restaurant, which her granddaughter Kerry Seaton Stewart continues to operate. Willie Mae’s is a must-visit destination for culinary enthusiasts due to its simple ambiance combined with memorable flavors; however, it is renowned for its tender, crispy chicken and earned a James Beard Award in 2005.
Since 1947, Busy Bee Café has been a culinary treasure in Atlanta, serving exceptional Southern dishes. Tracy Gates owns this Atlanta establishment, which serves as a cornerstone in the city’s Black culinary community and is admired by both local residents and civil rights leaders. Busy Bee Café’s menu showcases its deep-rooted history through a delicious two-piece combo that offers yams, collards, and hot cornbread. Busy Bee has won the James Beard Award in 2022 and received a Michelin Bib in 2024. However, it’s the golden brown fried chicken that steals the show.
The culinary treasure Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles emerged in Phoenix in 2002 through the efforts of its founder, Larry “Lo-Lo” White. Every bite of the Hood Classics two-piece delivers crispy perfection alongside a soul food legacy that stands out unmistakably. Lo-Lo’s transports the Deep South’s rich flavors into the Southwest, creating an essential destination for food enthusiasts.
The renowned Honey’s Kettle Fried Chicken in Culver City, California, emerged in 2000 under the leadership of Vincent Williams. Through its distinctive kettle-frying method, Honey’s Kettle delivers a lighter yet crispier fried chicken experience that maintains full flavor integrity. A delightful two-piece kettle-fried chicken paired with honey-drizzled biscuits graces the menu. The atmosphere echoes traditional Sunday dinners while incorporating a distinctive West Coast flair that makes it unique.
Charles Pan-Fried Chicken emerged as a Harlem essential through its delivery of mouthwatering cuisine in the early 1990s. Charles Gabriel employs traditional methods to craft his renowned dishes. Experiencing the two-piece skillet-fried combo becomes a necessity where crispy chicken pieces meet collard greens over a bed of rice.
Since 1957, The Chicken Hut has been serving its signature crispy fried chicken to patrons in Durham, North Carolina. The Thorpe family ownership has maintained the restaurant as a cornerstone of Durham’s Black community for many years. Chicken Hut stands out as a destination where visitors can experience local cuisine through its budget-friendly offerings and strong family-oriented environment. Among the diverse menu options, the two-piece dark meat combination with baked mac and potato salad stands out as a customer favorite.
Established in 1984 by Ezell Stephens and Lewis Rudd, Seattle’s Ezell’s Chicken delivers crispy chicken pieces alongside traditional side dishes. Ezell’s Chicken, which built a strong customer following for its tasty food, now operates beyond Seattle while supporting other Black businesses through grant programs.
Chef Kristen Ashley established Cleo’s Southern Cuisine as a Chicago landmark in 2019. Through her perfectly seasoned crispy chicken, Chef Ashley became “Chicago’s Fried Chicken Queen,” and you need to experience their Fried Two-Piece with Spicy Remoulade. A delightful combination of flavor and texture emerges when the fried chicken is pay with honey cornbread muffins and sweet potatoes.
A new Fast Company report finds that many workers say today’s return-to-office (RTO) policies have replaced the quiet focus of remote work with noisy offices, constant interruptions, and back-to-back virtual meetings held in shared spaces.
A healthcare communications professional identified as Alex told Fast Company that the office environment has made confidential work calls and conversations especially challenging.
“Being in the office made it easy to overshare but not do more work,” she said. “It just feels like almost anything but work is happening.”
Alex added that while discussing sensitive topics over Zoom, surrounding conversations create unnecessary distractions.
“I’ve just been kind of confused about what the goal is,” she said. “It feels like me coming into the office is almost more about demonstrating that we’re using the space rather than that we’re using it well.”
Her experience isn’t unique. Workplace experience platform HqO, using data from workplace survey firm Leesman, found employees increasingly want offices that support focused work—not just collaboration.
“This narrative that a lot of people push for when you come back to the office, which is all about social collaboration—that very much is a top-down narrative that is not backed up by the data,” HqO CEO and cofounder Chase Garbarino told the publication. “When people come into the office, they want to be able to concentrate too.”
Garbarino said many workers have become accustomed to quieter environments while working remotely.
“The quiet thing is very real,” he said. “Pre-COVID, everybody was numb to just throwing on headphones and dealing with it. Then, everybody got used to peace and quiet.”
Amanda Jones, a reader in Organizational Behavior and The Future of Work Education at King’s Business School in London, said employers have not fully adapted workplaces to how work has changed.
“You can’t apply the same policy after the pandemic when people have experienced this new way of working,” Jones said.
As more companies push employees back into the office, the report suggests that workers aren’t necessarily resisting in-person work—they’re looking for workplaces that allow them to concentrate as much as they collaborate. Beyond the distractions, employees say the commute into an office and the loss of flexibility have also made them favor working remotely.
Black-Owned Ohio Businesses Increased Payroll By 82%, New Census Analysis Finds
Cincinnati experienced the state's strongest growth in Black-owned employer businesses.
Black-owned businesses across Ohio are creating more jobs, paying higher wages, and expanding their share of the state’s economy, according to a new analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
The report, published by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio, found that Ohio’s more than 5,600 Black-owned businesses employed more than 64,000 workers in 2023. During that same period, annual payroll grew from $1.3 billion in 2017 to $2 billion in 2023—an 82% increase.
“The data on the economic impact of Black-owned businesses in Ohio demonstrates that the state’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and that the success of the Black community leads to success for the state overall,” the Health Policy Institute of Ohio stated, according to Cincinnati CityBeat.
The findings also underscore the strong momentum in several of Ohio’s metropolitan areas. Drawing on data from the Brookings Institution, researchers found that the Cincinnati metro area recorded a 125% increase in Black-owned employer businesses between 2017 and 2023, with Black entrepreneurs now owning 3.5% of all employer businesses in the region. The Toledo metro area posted 85% growth, while Akron experienced a 27% increase over the same period.
Not every community experienced sustained gains, however. The report found that the Dayton and Youngstown metro areas saw declines in Black-owned businesses between 2017 and 2023. Researchers also noted that when narrowing the data to 2022 through 2023, Cincinnati was the only major Ohio metro area to post year-over-year growth, rising 18%, while Toledo, Akron, Dayton, and Youngstown all recorded declines.
The Ohio findings mirror broader national trends. According to the Brookings Institution’s latest Black Business Parity Dashboard, the number of Black-owned employer businesses nationwide surpassed 200,000 in 2023, up 62% since 2017. Together, those businesses generated $249 billion in revenue, supported more than 1.8 million jobs, and paid nearly $70 billion in salaries. Nevertheless, Black Americans—who make up 14.4% of the U.S. population—own just 3.4% of employer businesses.
Brookings researchers cautioned that continued progress is far from guaranteed, particularly as federal diversity-focused programs face increasing scrutiny.
“Recent attacks on government programs that center on diversity, equity, and inclusion threaten continuing progress,” the report states, pointing to the elimination of the Minority Business Development Agency and changes to U.S. Small Business Administration contracting programs.
The Brookings report also warned that systemic challenges remain.
“With numerous structural barriers to growth – such as credit access, intergenerational wealth gaps, and outsized levels of debt – Black-owned businesses will not magically grow without inclusive and intentional policy and investments,” researchers Andre Perry and Hannah Stephens wrote. “As underrepresented race and ethnic groups own more employer businesses, their share of ownership moves closer to their share of the population. This growth is a tool to combat centuries of racial disparities in ownership and wealth.”
Praise From Fellow Guitarists Did More For Buddy Guy Than Any Record Label
The 89-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee reflected on the lasting impact of Clapton's public admiration
Blues icon Buddy Guy says decades of praise from fellow guitar legend Eric Clapton have done more to expand his audience than any record label campaign, introducing generations of younger listeners to one of the genre’s most influential performers,Guitar Player reports.
The 89-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee reflected on the lasting impact of Clapton’s public admiration, saying the guitarist’s endorsements continue to bring new fans to his music more than 70 years after Guy began performing professionally.
“It makes me feel great, because some of the things that people like Eric Clapton and Keith Richards and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan said about me have helped me more than any record company,” Guy told the magazine. “So many kids come up to me and say, ‘I didn’t know anything about you until I read what Eric Clapton said.’ That gives me a big lift.”
Guy’s remarks underscore the role fellow musicians have played in preserving the legacy of the blues. Although he became a foundational influence on rock guitar, inspiring artists including Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Keith Richards, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, widespread commercial recognition came years after many of those musicians had already cited him as an inspiration.
During the interview, Guy also reflected on the artists who shaped his own playing, including Muddy Waters, B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker, and Lightnin’ Hopkins. Rather than striving for originality, he said those pioneers taught him the importance of remaining authentic and honoring the musicians who came before him.
“I can’t really say how my style has changed,” Guy said, recalling conversations with his mentors. “They said, ‘Buddy, we got it from someone else, too.'”
Guy also addressed the historical challenges Black blues musicians have faced in reaching mainstream audiences, saying the genre often received broader recognition only after white rock artists introduced it to larger audiences.
“Blues has been like that ever since I’ve been alive,” he said. “It has been ignored until some rock group gets it, plays it to big audiences, and tells them whose music it is.”
Guy recently graced the big screen, playing the pivotal role of Old Sammie in Ryan Coogler’s hit horror film Sinners. Guy will celebrate his 90th birthday July 30, as he continues his BG90 Tour, extending a career that has helped shape modern blues and rock music while inspiring generations of guitarists around the world.
Jamail Johnson Uses A Biblical Lesson To Lead Careers To Thee Promised Land
Mentorship has the power to part the Red Seas.
How Jamail Johnson Shows Up
Jamail Johnson learned an important lesson from his father that has helped him throughout his career: to show up as himself. It’s basic, but authentic. And his authentic self is heavily religious. It was apparent when Johnson, a marriage counselor and professional speaker for Relationship Counseling Tools, L.L.C., sat down with BLACK ENTERPRISE at the XCEL Summit for MenSpotlight Series several years ago.
Leaning Into The Word
From Johnson’s biblical interpretation, every great man in the Bible followed the steps of another great man, he said. Joshua led his people to the Promised Land, just as Moses led them across the Red Sea. It’s mentorship at its best. And while BE isn’t venturing into the religious genre, we admit that just as the Bible remains relevant today, so does Johnson’s perspective on mentorship. We’re re-sharing Johnson’s sentiment with today’s young African Americans embarking on careers in corporate America because positive insights come from everywhere.
Nigerian-Australian Model Says AI Lightened His Skin And Eyes In New Menswear Campaign
The complaint alleges the retailer created an AI-generated version of his likeness
Nigerian-Australian model Elii Emeghebo has filed a racial discrimination complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission, alleging menswear retailer Peter Jackson used artificial intelligence (AI) to digitally alter his appearance by lightening his skin and changing his facial features without his consent, raising new legal questions about AI’s growing role in advertising, Afrotech reports.
The complaint, first reported June 30 by ABC News Australia, alleges the retailer exceeded the terms of Emeghebo’s modeling agreement by creating and displaying an AI-generated version of his likeness in a Sydney storefront. According to the filing, his contract authorized the use of his original photographs only across the company’s digital platforms and did not permit AI-generated modifications or additional commercial uses.
Emeghebo said he discovered the altered image while walking past one of the retailer’s stores.
“My nose was reshaped, my skin tone and my eye colour was significantly lightened, and there’s some reshaping around my eyebrows and my eye shape to be more Eurocentric and a lot less black,” he told the Australian outlet.
“It’s not a good thing when you go from a shoot, something you’re really proud of … and you walk past the shop and see basically you, but without your identity there. It was really confronting and really unfair.”
Paloma Buhagiar Cole, principal legal officer at Victoria’s Young Workers Centre, which is representing Emeghebo, argued that responsibility lies with those who chose to publish the altered image.
“Human beings chose to use those particular images and decided the image that is devoid of Elii’s identity was the one they wanted to use,” Cole said.
“He had a very specific contract that allowed for specific use … so they haven’t actually paid for the use of that image here,” she added.
Peter Jackson acknowledged using “AI-assisted tools” that produced what it described as a “substantially transformed image” of Emeghebo but denied race played any role in the editing process.
The company said the model was fully compensated for the original photo shoot and maintained that his unaltered photographs were used in accordance with the parties’ agreement.
“Any suggestion that we intentionally engaged in racial discrimination is false, and we reject it unequivocally,” the company said.
The complaint adds to a growing number of disputes over AI-generated advertising, highlighting unresolved questions surrounding consent, compensation, and the legal protections afforded to models whose likenesses are digitally altered for commercial use.
