Gilbert Arenas, Washington. Wizards,, NBA, salary

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 31, 2025

Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas Arrested For Allegedly Running Illegal Gambling Business

The 'Gil's Arena' host was arrested along with five other people suspected of participating in an illegal gambling business at his Encino mansion

Former NBA player-turned-podcast host Gilbert Arenas has been arrested after being accused of running an illegal gambling ring at his home.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, announced the arrest of Arenas and five other people suspected of participating in an illegal gambling business at his Encino mansion. Along with Arenas, known during his playing days in the NBA as “Agent Orange,” Yevgeni Gershman, AKA “Giora,” of Woodland Hills, Evgenni Tourevski, AKA “Eugene,” of Tarzana, Allan Austria, AKA “Elica,” of West Hills, Yarin Cohen, AKA “YC,” of Tarzana, and Ievgen Krachun, of Tarzana, were also taken in and charged.

The group of men was detained on a federal indictment alleging that they operated an illegal gambling business featuring high-stakes poker games.

The 43-year-old former baller is charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, one count of operating an illegal gambling business, and one count of making false statements to federal investigators. The other defendants were charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business and one count of operating an illegal gambling business. Gershman is also suspected of being an organized crime figure from Israel.

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Court documents state that from September 2021 to July 2022, Gershman, Arenas, and the other defendants were involved in the alleged illegal gambling business. The former Washington Wizards player rented out a mansion he owned to stage the poker games. Arthur Kats, of West Hollywood, was directed by Arenas to organize the games, find people to host them, and collect rent from them on behalf of Arenas.

There were also young women hired to work the games, and in exchange for tips, they served the players drinks, gave them massages, and offered companionship to the people at the poker games. The women were charged a “tax,” which amounted to a percentage of their earnings. Other people hired to work the games included chefs, valets, and armed security guards.

Gershman, an Israeli citizen, along with Valentina Cojocari, of Woodland Hills, were charged with three additional counts – conspiracy to commit marriage fraud, marriage fraud, and making a false statement on an immigration document. In 2022, Gershman and Cojocari married to obtain permanent legal status in the United States, and Gershman lied to immigration authorities to secure their legal status. The Israeli citizen paid Cojocari in exchange for her participation in the sham marriage.

If convicted, each defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in federal prison for each count.

Marcus Boereau, real estate development, Haitian, Dominican Republic

by Mitti Hicks

July 31, 2025

Real Estate Developers Now Optimistic On Building Affordable Housing

According to the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility, more than 9 million housing units will be needed by 2035 to address the housing shortage.

It’s no secret that the United States is facing an affordable housing crisis, as the costs of living and inflation continue to rise. At the same time, wages barely move the needle to keep pace with increasing costs.

The average cost of a home in the United States is currently around $410,800. Using Bankrate’s mortgage calculator, Americans need to make between approximately $100,000 and $135,000 per year to own a home. Average salaries in the U.S., however, are roughly $39,982.

According to the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility, more than 9 million housing units will be needed by 2035 to address the housing shortage.

While the housing crisis is a national issue, it disproportionately burdens Black Americans. According to the institute, nearly 60% of Black renters and 30% of Black homeowners are moderately or severely cost-burdened, well above national averages. The reasons for this are the legacies of housing discrimination that are compounded by continued supply, demand, and geographic imbalances.

Why Real Estate Developers Are Now Optimistic About Building Affordable Housing

For the last several years, real estate developers have said it is too expensive to build quality, low-income housing, particularly in the form of apartments.

However, as CNBC reports, the tide may be shifting for developers following the passage of the tax and spending bill by Congress. The legislation expands the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) by permanently increasing the 9% credit allocation to states to 12%. Developers sell these credits to help finance their projects with investors.

“It’s a big boost for the creation of more affordable housing,” Jonathan Rose, founder and CEO of the Jonathan Rose Companies, told the outlet. Jonathan Rose Companies is a real estate planning, development, and investment firm.

He adds, “This won’t solve the whole 10 million unit problem, but it’ll be a big help,” said Rose, adding that he sees a growing opportunity for investors in the space.”

The bill also lowers the financing requirements for developers. Affordable housing advocates applaud Congress for passing the bill. Proponents say the LIHTC is an effective tool for building and preserving affordable housing.

“The housing provisions included in this bill are the most consequential and positive housing legislation in decades,” David Dworkin, president and CEO of the National Housing Conference, said in a release. “Key provisions include an expansion of LIHTC, permanent preservation of the existing mortgage interest deduction, reinstatement of the mortgage insurance premium deduction, an expanded and permanent Opportunity Zones incentive, and permanent extension of the New Markets Tax Credit.”

He adds, “his legislation delivers a significant expansion of the credit by incorporating key elements of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, aimed at boosting the supply of rental homes across urban, rural, and tribal communities.”

by Jeffrey McKinney

July 31, 2025

Report: Cannabis Legalization Boosts Home Values In Many States With Black Residents

States with the highest increase in home values tended to have smaller Black populations.

In a surprising new development, Black pot smokers may get an extra buzz from a rise in their home values courtesy of cannabis legalization.

Fresh data reveal that Nevada, Arizona, and California, in 2024, respectively, were the top three states where the gains occurred. Home appreciation rates in those areas (see chart below) where Black Americans live rose robustly, ranging from 158% to 188%.

The gains are intriguing as they contradict obsolete fears and ongoing stereotypes that legalized weed use by adults can decrease home values.

Clever Offers supplied BLACK ENTERPRISE with research that rejects those claims. Some observers have maintained that legalizing marijuana might spur unfavorable forces like higher crime and home depreciation.

Jaime Dunaway-Seale, a content writer for Clever Real Estate, shared her take tied to the Black community after authoring this report. That analysis revealed that from 2009 to 2024, home values surged $60,327 more in states where recreational marijuana is now legal versus states where it is not legal. (Clever Offers is a platform owned by Clever Real Estate.)

Pot legalization is not the lone reason for property values, but it is a contributing factor. According to the report, “States that have given it the green light reap millions in tax revenue that is reinvested into public programs that make neighborhoods more desirable—and more valuable—to home buyers.”

Demographically, Dunaway-Seale says states with the highest percentage change in home values tended to have smaller Black populations. Several variables, including a thriving economy and, to some extent, cannabis legalization, may be fueling the rising home values in those states.

“There’s a pretty common argument that cannabis legalization and dispensaries in neighborhoods would decrease property values, but our data shows that the opposite is true,” she says.

Conversely, she says states with large Black populations are typically less likely to have legalized marijuana and unlikely to have experienced high increases in home prices.

She pointed out that this is probably the case in those states because they are disproportionately located in the South. The reason: Those states tend to be more conservative and resist cannabis legalization due to religious reasons, historical stigma, and tough-on-crime policies.

Dunaway-Seale added that those states tend to have slower economic growth and less inbound migration, which keeps home values from rising.

“If cannabis were to be legalized for recreational use in these states, the tax revenue from sales could be reinvested into the community, again making homes in that area more desirable and worth more.”

Further, Dunaway-Seale provided commentary for the “bottom five” states with Black populations that had the lowest home value growth. They included Maryland, Delaware, and Illinois, all at 60%. Connecticut came in at 59% and Alaska was 49%.

She explained that although home values in these states get a boost from cannabis legalization, many other factors may keep home prices from soaring higher. Take Illinois, for instance. Dunaway-Seale says that the state has high taxes that may weaken demand for homes and keeps home prices from rising as high as in other states. As for Alaska, its cold temperatures and remote location, she says, means there is a lower demand to buy homes there.

Overall, 44 states have legalized cannabis in some form, such as recreational and medicinal use.

A glimpse at the top 10 states with Black residents where cannabis is fully legal, along with home value changes as of 2024.

State Black % of Population $ Change in Home Value % Home Value Change

Nevada 12.50% $296,493 188%

Arizona 6.70% $273,055 163%

California 7.20% $492,520 158%

Colorado 5.80% $336,774 146%

Montana 1.20% $271,611 145%

Michigan 15.30% $148,866 141%

Washington 6.20% $342,414 125%

Maine 2.60% $226,257 123%

Oregon 3.40% $275,826 118%

Massachusetts 10.30% $340,127 108%

Source: Clever Offers

AI, artificial intelligence, trends, A.I., journey, technology, DryMerge, AI, job interview

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

July 31, 2025

AI Is Disrupting Tech Jobs, Yet Boosting Pay for Skilled Workers In Other Sectors

Those that include AI-skills on their job applications can potentially get thousands more in their offer.

The growth and inclusion of AI in the workforce are having various impacts, depending on the job field in which one is employed.

While the tech industry has seen the worst of AI, primarily in layoffs, others have benefited from its rise. Employees with skills in innovative software can command higher salaries due to their lucrative skill set. According to a labor market analytics report, detailed in Fortune, more jobs are now requiring AI skills, with corresponding pay to match.

The “Beyond The Buzz” report, released by firm Lightcast, revealed that jobs in marketing, education, and even human resources are encouraging applicants with these skills to apply. Now, as AI takes over jobs at tech companies, those outside this industry are instead asking for employees to navigate the new technology.

“Companies that continue treating artificial intelligence as a niche technical skill will find themselves competing for talent with organizations that have embedded AI literacy across their entire workforce,” said Cole Napper, VP of Research and Insights at Lightcast. “Educators who wait and see what impact AI will have will find that they’ve lost students and funding to other providers who include AI skills across programs—not in place of other skills, but alongside them.”

The report also found that AI skills can increase salaries by an average of $18,000. However, if one has even more skills to boast, such as programming, machine learning, and deep learning, they can earn up to 43% more in a role than those without these skills. Some of the most popular fields for asking for these services include sales, marketing, and customer support.

Having experience with AI is becoming a growing trend in the job market, as its preferred usage has increased in job postings. While those in non-tech fields can take advantage of this profitable change, those in tech are being forced to pivot as the technology makes some of these roles obsolete.

The once-lucrative IT field has faced tremendous cutbacks as more companies invest in artificial intelligence. Top tech firms like Microsoft have continued to undergo layoffs, showing that AI’s inclusion is not beneficial for workers everywhere. Those in IT and computer science also have fewer opportunities to apply for, as Lightcast confirmed that these jobs have reduced to 49% in 2024, a drop from 61% just five years ago.

Despite the rocky job market, employers still value certain skills that humans excel at, such as problem-solving and critical thinking. As AI continues to grow in influence within the workforce, employers believe that implementing it alongside these distinctly human traits can enhance productivity and efficiency.

“While generative AI excels at tasks like writing and coding, uniquely human abilities—such as communication, management, innovation, and complex problem-solving—are becoming even more valuable in the AI era,” detailed the report.

true stories, podcast, Kiese Laymon, Deesha Philyaw, Podcast, Reparations, NYC, Reparations

by Sharelle B. McNair

July 30, 2025

Ex-Cop And Podcast Host Claims Viral Cincinnati Brawl Shows Black ‘Hatred’ For Whites

The riot started after video showed a White man slapping a Black man, identified as Montianez Merriweather, in the face.

After a vicious July 26 riot in Cincinnati between a group of Black people and white people went viral, sparking conversation about racial tension, podcast host Brandon Tatum gave a different opinion, stating the fight showcased the Black community’s alleged “hatred” for white people.

During a segment of Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show,” the former Tucson, Arizona, police officer, who is Black, shared his thoughts after it was revealed Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge claims the posted videos are being taken out of context and don’t paint the entire picture. Tatum feels Theetge is “trying to save face with the Black community” and goes on to say her remarks wouldn’t exist if the roles in the fight were reversed.

Once Cain agreed with that opinion, as the victims of the brawl were white, Tatum says it’s time for people to look at it for what it really is — “racism visibly from the Black community.” “I’ve been Black my whole life, and I grew up in a Black community, and the hatred that Black people have for white people is just…it doesn’t get spoken about enough,” the former cop said. “That’s why, when you see situations like this, where, clearly, not everybody’s family members and they’re just beating the brakes off these white people, it’s just built-up, pent-up anger and hatred towards white people.”

Videos on social media show a white man starting the fight by slapping a Black man, identified as Montianez Merriweather, in the face. Things became out of hand when another assailant retaliated by punching the man. Shortly after, another Black man, who was some feet away, jumped in to continue the assault. It didn’t take long for the white man to be beaten down in the middle of the street.

https://twitter.com/SeeRacists/status/1949507372021645656

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, Merriweather and two others, Dekyra Vernon and Jermaine Matthews, were arrested and face charges, including felonious assault and aggravated riot. Outside of the racial divide conversation, the riot touched on safety concerns in the downtown Cincinnati area, as data highlights almost double the amount of burglaries and breaking-and-entering incidents in 2025 in comparison to 2024, and thefts from cars so far this year. There has also been an uptick in homicides, with the number being at 34, increasing by four from last year.

Comments underneath the video push similar narratives that Tatum showcased on Fox News, but there is no context or proof behind his opinion that Black people have hatred toward white people.

The podcast host is known for his seemingly controversial rhetoric. After former Vice President Kamala Harris made her way as Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential campaign, Tatum said he “peed himself” when a Fox News host was heard referring to Harris as the “original ‘Hawk Tuah’ girl.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 30, 2025

A Rare Black-Owned Camera Store In NYC Makes Over $1M A Year Through Community-Driven Mission

Dominick Lewis is the owner of one of New York City’s few Black-owned camera stores, which he’s successfully grown into a million-dollar business.

One of the few Black-owned camera shops in New York City has scaled its business from bringing in about $700,000 a year to over $1 million, transforming it into what’s quickly becoming a photography staple in the city.

Dominick Lewis grew his million-dollar camera business, Photodom, from the ground up, starting as an e-commerce shop in 2017 before expanding into a brick-and-mortar location in 2020, all with a strong community-focused mission.

“I felt that starting something at that time, especially a physical camera store, could have been very impactful for the community,” Lewis told CNBC Make It.

Just over a year after opening, Photodom pulled in $726,910 in total sales in 2021. At the time, Lewis was paying himself around $50,000 a year and had a team of five. By 2023, sales had climbed to $1,096,319, and in 2024, they rose even higher to $1,146,737. Lewis now leads a staff of 10 and earns a yearly salary of $97,000. His biggest joy is being an asset to the local community he aims to serve.

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“The neighborhood loves us being here. People can feel comfortable going to and asking any type of questions that they want about cameras and photography,” Lewis said.

“Being one of the only Black owned camera stores is a big responsibility. I feel like it’s a very important thing to have this belonging because in the past, it could mean violence if you went to a space that was not meant for you.”

This wasn’t Lewis’s first attempt at launching a store. He initially opened a photography studio in his home state of Florida in 2015, but lost the lease just nine months in and realized he needed to rethink his approach.

Recognizing that Florida’s photography market moved more slowly, he decided to return to New York City, where he spent part of his childhood, and moved in with his grandmother while working to build what would become Photodom.

Lewis started by selling custom merchandise and organizing “photo walks” and meetups with fellow photographers. But as his bedroom overflowed with camera gear, he knew it was time to return to studio life. He went on to lease a studio in Brooklyn, where he found a larger, more supportive photography community.

Launching in 2020 came with its own benefits. With many other businesses shut down, Photodom quickly became the go-to spot for film development in the Big Apple. As online orders rolled in and demand for services grew, Lewis realized it was time to open a physical storefront.

He secured a second space in the same building as his studio and launched a GoFundMe campaign to help bring the storefront to life. Although his goal was $25,000, Lewis raised more than $40,000 in just a few days.

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“A lot of people were supportive of the efforts to make something that was Black-owned and very personal to the community that we served,” he says. “I knew the GoFundMe would be something that could help make the space feel more personal. I was shocked because I didn’t think that many people knew about what I was doing.”

In the five years since its launch, Photodom has relocated to a larger space and broadened its services to include photography classes and workshops. Lewis envisions transforming the business into an institution dedicated to the craft of photography.

“My vision for the store was definitely to make it a one-stop shop for photographers, especially analog photographers,” Lewis shared. “I wanted a space that carried a lot of different things. I always envision Photodom as an institution. A place that is very necessary for all purposes around it.”

RELATED CONTENT: Digital Darkroom

by Kandiss Edwards

July 30, 2025

Federal Employees Now Free To Pray And Preach In The Office

Federal employees are now allowed to engage in religious-based practices at work, according to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

Federal employees can now engage in religious-based practices at work, according to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

That includes displaying religious paraphernalia, preaching faith-based beliefs, and sharing personal religious views. Religious observers will have the right to engage so long as it’s not disruptive or coercive.

“Federal employees should never have to choose between their faith and their career,” OPM Director Scott Kupor wrote in a July 28 statement.

The memo stresses support for religious expression. The stated goal is to create a more inclusive workplace for people of all faiths. The new policy adds to previous guidance, which supports other religious accommodations. This includes scheduling or working remotely for religious purposes such as prayer, fasting, or Sabbath observance. 

Under the new rules, employees can encourage colleagues, including managers, to join their religious gatherings or faith discussions. The recruitment of participants in religious practice is allowed as long as personal autonomy is respected. If any employee expresses resistance toward invitations, all recruitment efforts must cease.

Agencies are barred from disciplining workers who decline. Public-facing personnel, like park rangers or VA doctors, may also verbally share their faith. For example, a ranger may pray with tour groups, or a doctor may do so with a consenting patient.

Religious rights advocates are celebrating the memo as a restoration of First Amendment protections. Critics caution it could exert pressure on employees to conform, potentially affecting career advancement.

“If your supervisor decides to make it clear you should accept a weaponized version of the gospel,” said Mikey Weinstein of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation told Politico, “What do you think your chances are for advancement?” 

Advocates expect the memo to be quickly adopted by agencies, though how it balances operational efficiency and personal protections remains to be seen.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

July 30, 2025

After Bladder Cancer Diagnosis, Deion Sanders Urges All Men To ‘Get Yourself Checked Out’

'Please get yourself checked out...because it could have been a whole other gathering if I hadn't.'

Deion Sanders is calling for all men to make regular visits to their doctors after he revealed his battle with bladder cancer earlier this week.

The NFL legend and University of Colorado at Boulder football coach made the plea during a July 28 press conference where he announced his diagnosis that doctors caught early enough to treat and declare him cancer-free.

“Please get yourself checked out…because it could have been a whole other gathering if I hadn’t,” Sanders said in a clip captured by Fox College Football.

“Please get yourself checked out… because it could have been a whole other gathering if I hadn’t.”@DeionSanders shares a message to everyone during his health update press conference ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/QBi2v8Ri2L
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) July 28, 2025

Sanders opened up about his journey to treat the disease.

“It was dynamic. It was tough. It wasn’t a cakewalk. It wasn’t easy,” said Sanders, who lost 30 pounds. “That was a fight, but we made it.”

Bladder cancer is the sixth-most commonly diagnosed cancer, according to research from the American Cancer Society. It occurs more often in men than women and is typically found in people over the age of 55. The average age of diagnosis is 73.

For 2025, an estimated 84,870 new cases are expected, along with roughly 17,420 related deaths.

Sanders sees his recovery as a blessing, and thanked God for his cancer-free status during the press conference.

"You have no idea how good God has been to me."

Deion Sanders got emotional after revealing he is cured from cancer. pic.twitter.com/3VDTX0HMFH
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 28, 2025

The two-time Super Bowl champ has assembled a strong coaching staff at Colorado that can hold things down in his absence. But, Sanders said, “I don’t have to rely on them. I’m back, baby.”

by Mitti Hicks

July 30, 2025

Minnesota Dems Endorse Black State Senator For Minneapolis Mayor

Fateh, 35, was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 2020, becoming the first Somali American and the first Muslim to serve.

The Minneapolis DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor) Party has endorsed State Senator Omar Fateh to be the next mayor of Minneapolis.

On X, Fateh said he is “incredibly honored to be the DFL-endorsed candidate for Minneapolis Mayor. This endorsement is a message that Minneapolis residents are done with broken promises, vetoes, and politics as usual. It’s a mandate to build a city that works for all of us.”

Fateh, 35, was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in 2020, becoming the first Somali American and the first Muslim to serve there. He is a first-generation American and husband who is running for mayor to “achieve the vibrant, loving city we know Minneapolis can be.”

“For working people, it’s getting harder to build our lives in Minneapolis,” he said on his campaign website. “With Donald Trump stepping back into the Oval Office, everything we’ve worked so hard to create is in jeopardy. It’s not enough to just stand up to Donald Trump. It’s time to push back with forward-thinking leadership.”

Fateh Criticizes the Current Minneapolis Mayor

Fateh said current mayor Jacob Frey has failed to deliver on his promises to end homelessness by 2022. He added that Frey has failed in delivering a vision for public safety since the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin.

“He vetoes every solution that comes to his desk,” Fateh said on his site. “It’s time for a Mayor who has real solutions that put Minneapolis residents first.”

Fateh won the Minnesota DFL’s endorsement at the party’s convention, beating four other candidates, including Frey. The convention was supposed to take place at North High School, but was moved to Target Center, where the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves play, to accommodate the 800 delegates and 800 alternates.

Frey’s campaign intends to appeal the results with the state-level DFL Party, a spokesperson told Axios.

“This election should be decided by the entire city rather than the small group of people who became delegates, particularly in light of the extremely flawed and irregular conduct of this convention,” Frey said in a statement. “Voters will now have a clear choice between the records and leadership of Sen. Fateh and Mayor Frey. We look forward to taking our vision to the voters in November.”

Fateh is the second Democratic socialist to make a splash. Zohran Mamdani, the Ugandan-born state assemblyman from New York City, in won the Democratic Party mayoral nomination this summer.

Tyler Perry Says He Advised Ryan Coogler On Rare ‘Sinners’ Ownership Deal

by Kandiss Edwards

July 30, 2025

Tyler Perry Says He Advised Ryan Coogler On Rare ‘Sinners’ Ownership Deal

Tyler Perry talked about passing down information to help Black creatives succeed, including 'Sinners' director Ryan Coogler.

Tyler Perry says he was an integral part of director Ryan Coogler’s rare deal for ownership of his blockbuster film, Sinners.

Perry appeared on a July 20 taping of Den of Kings. The YouTube podcast featured Kirk Franklin, Derrick Hayes, Jay “Jeezy” Jenkins & Tyler Perry. While discussing the complications of success, the importance of adequate mentorship was introduced into the conversation. The New Orleans-native discussed his inability to reach out for advice from family members or mentors during his ascent to stardom. He emphasized that now that he has the information, it is crucial to pass it along.

Tyler Perry stated he advised Coogler before the Sinners negotiations. The owner of Tyler Perry Studios said that his personal experience negotiating rights for his Madea franchise gave him firsthand knowledge. According to Perry, he walked Coogler through the structure of such deals. He claims he offered insights into language, negotiation strategy, and long-term ownership terms.

“When this deal with Ryan Coogler—everybody’s talking about the Sinners deal—I called that brother up. I called him after Black Panther and I said, ‘Here is how you do that,’” Perry said. “To see they were able to pull it off, I applaud it. I’m excited for him, because that’s what it’s about holding on to the ownership.” 

For Coogler, the terms weren’t just financial—they were personal. He described Sinners as a story deeply rooted in Black legacy. The story, inspired by his family’s history in Mississippi, was deeply personal. As the roots of the film began with his ancestry, ownership of this particular project was vital to him.

Coogler’s deal with Warner Bros. secures him several privileges rarely afforded to even veteran filmmakers. He secured first-dollar gross participation and final cut approval. Additionally, Sinners will revert to Coogler’s full ownership 25 years after release. These terms place him in elite company alongside cinematic icons who dared to challenge the studio system, including his mentor, Christopher Nolan. 

Released in April 2025, Sinners, a Southern Gothic film set in 1930s Mississippi, became an early critical and commercial standout. Starring Michael B. Jordan in dual roles and featuring music by Ludwig Göransson, the horror thriller grossed more than $365 million worldwide. It became one of the highest-grossing original Black horror films in history. 

The film’s success and Coogler’s deal send a powerful message. The next generation of storytellers might finally claim power over their narratives.