Black Basketball Players Are Dropping New Kicks That Are Hotter Than Fish Grease
The sneaker scene reaches new levels this summer
The sneaker scene reaches new levels this summer as Black athletes deliver some of the most daring sneaker releases, continuing to push the boundaries of basketball culture. Athletes from both the NBA and WNBA drop signature sneaker lines and collaborative projects that integrate athletic functionality with personal narratives and streetwear trends.
These shoes evolve from court-ready, low-top essentials to lifestyle designs for leisurely wear. They are bold declarations rather than mere athletic equipment. This season’s footwear commands your attention. So, peep these six exceptional sneaker releases from Black professional basketball players.
Anthony Edwards
Minnesota Timberwolves NBA standout Anthony Edwards collaborated with Adidas to create the Adidas AE 1 “Preloved Lime” sneaker. The AE 1 functions as a fashionable accessory for individuals who want to make bold statements on and off the basketball court. The limited-edition colorway, featuring a neon green blend with futuristic elements, was released on July 19.
A’ja Wilson emerged as the inaugural Black female athlete to secure a Nike Basketball signature shoe deal, marking her place in sports history. Having debuted July 18, the Nike A’One “Supernova” sneaker showcases cosmic colors that embody Wilson’s court energy and dominance. This sneaker is designed for explosive movements paired with all-day comfort, making it a favorite among athletes and trendsetters who seek stylish footwear.
Renowned basketball player Kyrie Irving joined forces with ANTA to develop the ANTA KAI 2 “Sun” sneaker.” Released July 11, this sneaker is Irving’s second signature collaboration with ANTA, featuring a design that embodies spiritual elements alongside bold aesthetics while maintaining performance readiness. The “Sun” represents Irving’s artistic evolution and personal growth, inspired by the energy of light and renewal. The KAI 2 “Sun” combines grip-enhancing outsoles with full-length cushioning and complex artistry to serve as both footwear and a statement piece.
NBA player Tyrese Haliburton, who represented the Indiana Pacers in the recent championship, unveiled his newest signature shoe, the PUMA Hali 1 “Hibiscus. The sneaker is priced within the $120 to $140 range and showcases bold floral tones. Its NITRO foam technology delivers outstanding cushioning and support combined with the lockdown support system, which guarantees a secure fit.
The Jayson Tatum sneaker, which bears the moniker Jordan Tatum 3, represents the Boston Celtics’ spirit in its design. This performance-ready build features psychedelic “Tie-Dye” colors, making it an unconventional yet stylish option. The Tatum 3 sneaker is also a nod to his son and was released July 11.
Memphis Grizzlies’ NBA player Ja Morant teamed up with Nike to design the exclusive Nike Ja 3 “Max Volume” sneaker. This sneaker markets at $140 and caters to players who transform each possession into a memorable performance. The “Max Volume” Ja 3 has infrared tones to depict Morant’s dynamic energy. Aug. 15 is the release date.
It’s Going Down: Claressa Shields To Defend Heavyweight Title Against Lani Daniels
The champion is 16-0
The self-proclaimed G.W.O.A.T. (greatest woman of all time) Claressa Shields brings her undefeated record back to the Little Caesar Arena in Detroit, where she will take on a challenge from Lani Daniels on July 26.
According to DAZN, fans in and outside of Detroit who want to view the fight at home can tune into the main bout, along with the undercard matches, via the company’s live stream. Anyone who already has a subscription to DAZN can watch the fight, which is included in their offering. Others can subscribe to gain access. The boxing match is available in over 200 countries. More information is available on the DAZN website.
Shields makes a return to the ring after being suspended for a month after testing positive for marijuana after her last bout against Danielle Perkins in February 2025. However, after an investigation, the Michigan Unarmed Combat Commission (MUCC) removed Shields’ name from the suspension list, clearing the boxer.
The undefeated fighter will go up against Daniels, a New Zealand native with an 11-2-2 record.
The first boxing contest of the evening will start at 6 p.m., with the broadcast of the other matches starting at 8 p.m. Below are the scheduled fights for July 26.
Claressa Shields vs Lani Daniels; Heavyweight, for the undisputed title
Tony Harrison vs Edward Diaz; Middleweight
Pryce Taylor vs Robert Simms; Heavyweight
Samantha Worthington vs Victoire Piteau; Super lightweight, for the WBA interim title
Caroline Veyre vs Licia Boudersa; Featherweight
Shields, who knows how to bring attention to herself, has recently challenged Laila Ali, with whom she has been locked in a back-and-forth verbal battle, to get into the ring with her. Ali, the daughter of boxing heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, the man who coined the term G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time), is considered the best female boxer to circle the boxing ring. She retired undefeated with a 24-0 record with 21 knockouts (she boxed from 1999-2007). Their beef stems from the braggadocios Shields claiming to be the best female boxer, although many critics have Ali holding that title.
Ali hasn’t been inside a ring since 2007, which amounts to 18 years, long before Shields, who is 30, stepped inside one. Ali is 47, and most observers feel Shields is being a bully, knowing Ali hasn’t fought in almost two decades.
After Ali stated that it would take at least $15 to $20 million to lure her back into the ring, Shields told TMZ Sports in a video that she has secured $15 million to give Ali if she agrees to step in the ring with her. Ali has yet to respond.
ELEVATING YOUR EXCELLENCE: Tarana Burke Led Activism Against Sexual Assault When It Wasn’t Socially Acceptable
The genesis of the “Me Too” Movement traces back to the 90s.
Tarana Burke, a formidable activist, community organizer, and executive, has indelibly shaped the discourse surrounding sexual violence and empowerment through her foundational work on the ‘Me Too’ Movement. Her resonant hashtag, #meToo, has transcended digital platforms, registering more than 19 million uses on Twitter alone since its viral resurgence in 2017.
The movement’s widespread impact earned Burke and other “Silence Breakers” the prestigious distinction of TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2017.
Born on Sept. 12, 1973, in The Bronx, New York, Burke’s commitment to activism and community organizing blossomed early. In the late 1980s, as a teenager, she immersed herself in the 21st Century Youth Leadership Movement, spearheading campaigns and initiatives addressing critical issues such as housing inequality, racial discrimination, and economic injustice across New York City. This early fervor propelled her to Alabama State University, a historically Black college or university (HBCU), where she honed her organizational acumen and continued her advocacy throughout her collegiate career.
After graduating, she returned to Selma, Alabama, to work with 21st Century, where she encountered numerous young Black women who were survivors of sexual violence and abuse. As a survivor herself, Burke deeply identified with their experiences, pivoting her efforts toward providing crucial resources, support, and safe spaces for these young women to share their narratives.
The genesis of the “Me Too” Movement traces back to the 90s, when Burke, then a youth camp director, had a pivotal encounter with a young woman disclosing sexual abuse. Though unable to offer an immediate, comprehensive response, this moment became the profound catalyst for the movement she would formally establish a decade later. Continuing her focus on young women of color, Burke co-founded Jendayi Aza, an African-centered Rites of Passage program for girls, which subsequently evolved into her nonprofit organization, JustBe, Inc., founded in 2007. This organization was designed to empower and encourage young Black girls through unique programming and workshops, achieving such significant community impact that every public school in Selma, Alabama, adopted its program.
Shortly thereafter, the “Me Too” Movement was formally born, conceived as a mechanism for young women of color to articulate their experiences, with Burke employing the phrase ‘me too’ to foster “empowerment through empathy.” Her campaign aimed not only to facilitate healing but also to train survivors to become leaders within their communities.
While developing “Me Too,” Burke maintained an active presence in the nonprofit sector. Her roles included managing director of Art Sanctuary, a Black arts organization in Philadelphia, and executive director of the Black Belt Cultural Arts Center, where she developed community programs for underserved youth.
In Selma, she served as a curatorial consultant and special projects director at the National Voting Rights Museum & Institute, where she notably contributed to the organization of the annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, commemorating the historic Selma Voting Rights Movement. Her extensive work earned her a consulting position on Ava DuVernay’s acclaimed film, Selma, in 2014.
Years later, Burke’s work gained unprecedented global prominence during the 2017 Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse scandal, when her hashtag #metoo rapidly went viral, inspiring individuals worldwide to share their stories and align with the movement.
Following this surge of global support, Burke emerged as a pivotal global leader, igniting a broader conversation about sexual violence. Her steadfast commitment to racial justice, arts and culture, anti-violence, and gender equity has been a hallmark of her nearly three-decade career. She consistently utilizes her platform to convey that healing is attainable, that survivors are inherent leaders, and that eradicating sexual violence must be a paramount social justice imperative.
In 2018, Burke founded “Me Too.” International, a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing the movement’s vision and framework, serving as a convener, innovator, and organizer across mainstream and grassroots spheres to dismantle systems that perpetuate sexual violence, particularly within Black, queer, trans, disabled, and all communities of color.
Burke’s unwavering dedication has garnered numerous accolades, including her recognition as one of USA Today’s Women of the Decade in 2020 and the prestigious Sydney Peace Prize in 2019.
She also received the Harvard Gleitsman Citizen Activist Award. In 2018, she attended the 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards as a guest of actress Michelle Williams, further amplifying the movement’s visibility. Burke is a frequent commentator on social issues, with her insights published in prominent outlets such as Teen Vogue, Glamour, Ebony, Essence, and The Root, among others.
Most recently, the author of “Unbound” has continued her impactful work on multiple fronts. She weighed in on the high-profile Diddy trial, offering her perspective on Instagram.
Furthermore, she recently convened the # MeToo. Global Network Pan-African gathering on the sun-kissed shores of Diani Beach, Kenya, bringing together over three dozen organizations from 16 countries.
“We’re still basking in the glow of what we created together last week. On the sun-kissed shores of Diani Beach, Kenya, more than three dozen organizations, representing 16 countries across the continent, came together for Me Too. Global Network Pan-African convening: ‘What can we do together, that we can’t do apart?’”
“We gathered as survivors, organizers, advocates, artists, and healers — each carrying stories, wisdom, and a shared dream of a world free from sexual and gender-based violence. Over several powerful days, we engaged in deep strategizing, honest dialogue, collective visioning, and intentional wellness practices that nourished both our spirits and our movement. Together, we built trust, connection, and a deep, rooted sense of solidarity. Thank you to every attendee, every member of our Global Network, and every single person who made this convening so special,” Burke shared, reflecting on the powerful convening focused on collective action and intentional wellness.
Maryland To Memorialize Nearly 100 Newly Discovered Unmarked Graves Of Black Children
The unmarked graves of Black boys have reignited scrutiny of Maryland’s troubled criminal justice past.
Maryland state senator William C. Smith (D) and former Department of Juvenile Services Secretary Vincent Schiraldi want funding to protect and memorialize a site where 100 unmarked graves of Black children, some from the 1800s, were discovered.
The burial site, located near Prince George’s County’s Cheltenham Youth Detention Center, was close to the former House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, the Washington Informer reports. The facility, founded in 1870 to confine Black boys as young as 5 years old, was notorious for forced labor and rampant neglect of the boys.
“We have to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past,” Schiraldi told The Washington Post. “They were segregating kids by race and treating the kids of color more poorly and burying them in a potter’s field. But at least they were taking them out of the adult prisons of the day.”
After being among the group to rediscover the burial site, Schiraldi hopes to see it transformed into a proper cemetery, giving the children buried there the recognition and remembrance they deserve.
“I want us to find out the names of those young people and do more historical investigation,” he told NPR’s All Things Considered. “I want at least—at least—a stone with all those young people’s names. I want to be able for people to get to those graves and mourn children because I’m sure they have extended family in Maryland. I want us to preserve the stones ’cause they’re deteriorating and falling apart like we would do for any other cemetery.”
Maryland now ranks fourth nationwide for incarcerating people for crimes committed as children and charges more youth as adults per capita than nearly any other state, trailing Alabama. Black children are seven times more likely than white children to face adult charges.
The recently uncovered unmarked graves stand as a haunting reminder of the state’s deep, centuries-old scarred criminal justice system.
“Maryland’s shameful legacy of racism, neglect, and abuse in its treatment of young lives continues to this day,” said Olivia Naugle, Youth Justice Campaign strategist at The Sentencing Project. “More than 150 years later, though desegregated by the courts and operating under a new name, it still overwhelmingly detains youth of color, who are often charged as if they were adults.”
Advocates cite Maryland’s sweeping list of 33 offenses that automatically funnel youth into adult court as one of the harshest policies in the country. While more than half of U.S. states have scaled back or eliminated similar practices, Maryland won’t budge.
Smith, chair of the state Senate’s Judicial Proceedings Committee, said he is dedicated to reintroducing legislation that would lower the number of offenses that could send children to adult prison.
“We have the opportunity to reckon with the injustices of the past through action in the present,” Smith wrote on Facebook.
8 Caribbean-Inspired Carnivals To Visit In The U.S.
Caribbean Carnivals have a strong grip on the culture, especially when it comes to production, presentation, and global partying. However, not everyone can make it to the host of islands to enjoy the festivities. Don’t fret. Several accessible carnival experiences take place throughout the United States. These dynamic events with all their culture, music, and heritage flood the streets and bring a touch of Caribbean vibes stateside. These fetes and parades embody Black joy and diasporic pride from Brooklyn, New York, to New Orleans, Louisiana.
Check out these eight Caribbean celebrations.
Chicago Caribbean Carnival
The Chicago Caribbean Carnival, known as Windy City Carnival, takes place on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Midway Plaisance in Illinois. Windy City Carnival collaborates with local Caribbean organizations as hosts. There will be a Masquerade parade, Soca and Calypso stages, Caribbean cuisine, and plenty of family activities. Windy City Carnival is Chicago’s most expansive festival that celebrates the Caribbean diaspora.
The Delaware Caribbean Carnival is an extraordinary experience that is also set for Aug. 16 in Wilmington, Delaware. Attendees will enjoy a street parade with live DJ performances and Caribbean cuisine while exploring cultural showcases. This expanding Mid-Atlantic festival has an inviting ambiance infused with Caribbean energy. The one and only Virgin Islands’ Queen-Temisha is set to perform.
Running Aug. 9 and 10, this event offers an electrifying adventure in Downtown Hartford, Connecticut. Attendees can indulge in Caribbean music and authentic island food as this esteemed, long-running cultural event that showcases Caribbean culture and pride.
The Boston Caribbean Carnival event goes down Aug. 23 in Boston. Costumed masqueraders will perform alongside steel pan bands and there will be loads of Caribbean food vendors. Visitors have the opportunity to engage with Caribbean cultural experiences while enjoying an evening filled with entertainment and festivity.
Set for July 26, the carnival will run from Lincoln Park to Exchange Place in Jersey City, NJ. This vibrant event promises a Caribbean street parade, food trucks, live soca and reggae performances and family zones that run along the picturesque waterfront location.
This July 26 event at West River Road in Minneapolis delivers captivating soca and reggae performances alongside delectable Caribbean food trucks. Visitors can enjoy enriching cultural showcases and participate in engaging children’s activities.
West Indian Day Parade, also known as the Labor Day Carnival, happens on Sept. 1, along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. An immense masquerade procession showcases steel pan musicians alongside calypso performers while food vendors and sound trucks contribute to an electrifying environment. The parade manages to draw an audience exceeding one million participants, which makes it the foremost Caribbean carnival event in the U.S.
Bayou Bacchanal, taking place Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, is a Caribbean carnival that delivers an exceptional experience from Downtown New Orleans into Crescent Park, Louisiana. A Caribbean street parade unfolds with live steel pan music performances with costumed masqueraders dancing, and access to Creole-Caribbean cuisine. The event promises a mix of traditional Carnival elements intersecting with bold music culture and Mardi Gras flair to deliver a New Orleans-Caribbean inspired experience.
Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Adds $250 ‘Visa Integrity Fee’ Tariff To International Visitors
A DHS spokesperson says the provision was added “to restore integrity in our nation’s immigration system.”
Thanks to the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” international visitors to the United States will be forced to pay a $250 “visa integrity fee” just to touch U.S. soil, NBC News reports.
A provision of the recently approved legislation is a non-waiveable fee that will be applied to all visitors during the U.S. fiscal year 2025— running from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025—in need of a nonimmigrant visa to enter the United States. The fee is subjected to change at the hands of the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) in addition to inflation.
There are pros and cons to the additional travel hassle, including some visitors being eligible to have the fee reimbursed. According to CNN, travelers from countries aligned with the Visa Waiver Program, such as Australia and several European countries, aren’t required to obtain visas for stays of 90 days or under. The bill also claims the move could assist with growing the economy as fees that aren’t reimbursed are set to be “deposited into the general fund of the Treasury.”
But, as a spokesperson from the U.S. Travel Association observed, with all the policy’s uncertainty, it opens a window of “significant challenges and unanswered questions regarding implementation.” In addition, it is unclear how people will pay the fee.
“The bill directs the DHS Secretary to charge the fee, but DHS does not own the visa application, issuance, or renewal process—so where and when would DHS collect the fee?” the travel association spokesperson told NBC News.
A DHS spokesperson said the provision was added “to restore integrity in our nation’s immigration system.” According to data from the U.S. Congressional Research Service, between 1%-2% of nonimmigrant visitors overstayed their visas between 2016 and 2022. An estimated 42% of the roughly 11 million unauthorized population living in the United States came to the country legally.
Steven A. Brown, a partner at Reddy Neumann Brown PC, an immigration firm, has advised clients to look at the fee as nonrefundable and thinks B Visa holder visitors will be impacted the most.
The fee, on top of the Form I-94 fee, set to increase from $6 to $24 thanks to the bill, comes as the U.S. prepares to host major events in 2026, including the country’s 250th anniversary and parts of the FIFA World Cup. Immigration advocates are already concerned about how new policies could affect the popular sporting event.
Getty Foundation Steps Up With ‘Critical Funding’ To Preserve Buildings Created By Black Architects
The funds will assist in promoting community engagement and heighten public awareness of the Black designers and geniuses behind them.
The Getty Foundation, in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, is stepping in with “critical funding” to help save historic modern buildings created by Black architects and designers, according to a press release.
Through a yearly grant program called the “Conserving Black Modernism” initiative, the grants are utilized to uplift the legacies of Black architects—both past and present—by preserving their unrecognized work and highlighting the stories behind each creation. With Getty’s support, sites like a former hat factory transformed into Chicago’s First Church of Deliverance, designed by the first licensed Black architect in Illinois, Walter T. Bailey, will have their preservation plans supported.
In addition, the grants will help promote community engagement and increase public awareness of the Black designers and geniuses behind them.
“Each year, Conserving Black Modernism has expanded the number of architects recognized through the initiative, and we’re excited to include five new designers whose innovative buildings enriched communities from coast to coast,” Getty Foundation director Joan Weinstein said.
In addition to Bailey, the 2025 Conserving Black Modernism Grantees include the ITC Administration Building in Atlanta, designed by Georgia’s first licensed Black architect, Edward C. Miller, in 1961. The theology graduate school, which features a modern brick facade, is situated near five predominantly Black denominational Christian seminaries and is the oldest building on campus.
The Founders Church of Religious Science, designed by the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects, Paul R. Williams, is a roughly 20,000-square-foot concrete building in Los Angeles with a steel-framed dome and concrete screen. Funding for the site, listed in the National Register in 2020, will consist of an accessibility plan to encourage more efficient use of the landmark and promote community engagement.
The other grant awardees are McKenzie Hall in Eugene, Oregon, and Vassar College’s 2500 New Hackensack building in Poughkeepsie, New York, in addition to 24 others being funded by The Action Fund.
“The Conserving Black Modernism program is ensuring the historic contributions Black designers have made to this field are celebrated and can inspire current and future generations,” said Executive Director Brent Leggs said.
“This year’s cohort includes sites by architectural giants, and names the world may be learning about for the first time. I’m thrilled that through our partnering with the Getty, the African-American Cultural Heritage Action Fund is helping to ensure their legacy and support the communities that are stewarding these sites today.”
Community Will ‘Celebrate Our Magic’ At 51st Annual Harlem Week
This year's theme is 'Celebrate Our Magic.'
From August 1 – 17, the 51st annual Harlem Week will celebrate the culture and rich history of the New York neighborhood with events and activations surrounding this year’s theme: “CelebrateOur Magic.”
“Ourrichhistoryandcultureisjustthat,magic,”saidLloydWilliams, cofounder and chairman of Harlem Week, in a written statement.“FromtheculturalrevivalthatwastheHarlemRenaissancetoinstitutionslike theApolloTheaterandtheNationalJazzMuseumInHarlem,thisyear’sthemeembodiesthat despitechallengeswemayface,ourcreativityandourjoyismagic.”
Started in 1974 by Percy Sutton and Ossie Davis, Harlem Week has expanded to more than two weeks.
The year’s “week” features celebrations for some legendary individuals, including Harry Belafonte, Hazel Dukes, Roberta Flack, Quincy Jones, and Malcolm X. There will also be a renaming of a street for Belafonte.
Live performances will take place Friday, August 15, to Sunday, August 17, featuring previews of the Harlem Music Festival. People will be able to see local musicians celebrating the themes “Joints Are Jumpin’,” “Uptown Saturday Nite,” and “Groovin’ on a Sunday Afternoon.”
The NYC Jobs & Careers Fair will also return on Wednesday, August 13, at The City College of New York, featuring workshops and more than 40 employers throughout various industries.
“CCNY is proud to support and participate in Harlem Week,” said Vincent Boudreau, president of City College of New York. “The job fair that we host represents a key opportunity for Harlem residents and visitors to make professional connections and for employers who come to the fair to appreciate the tremendous talent living in our community. Harlem Week celebrates that talent in all its various aspects, and it’s a joy for us to be part of the celebration.”
People visiting during the festivities can expect to see activities for children, a senior citizens’ day (August 1), a health fair, a summit, and a film festival.
For a complete list of events and information, visit the Harlem Week website.
TikTok-Fueled Boycott Exposes Deep Divide Between Black Americans and Africans; It’s Time To Knock It Off
Critics argue that boycotting businesses owned by fellow Black people, regardless of origin, diverts energy and resources from the larger struggle against systemic racism and discrimination.
An alarming social media call to action, spearheaded by the hashtag #ShayaShelf, has sparked a contentious debate within the Black community, calling for a boycott of African-owned braiding shops, restaurants, and retail stores beginning August 1.
While proponents articulate grievances of disrespect, mistreatment, and undervaluation, particularly within the lucrative Black hair industry, this internal strife risks fracturing a community facing pervasive external anti-Blackness from colonizers and their minions.
The movement, gaining traction across various social platforms, stems from deeply felt experiences shared by some Black American women who describe encountering poor customer service, perceived exploitation, and a lack of reciprocal respect from certain African immigrant-owned businesses.
For many, the hair braiding salon, a cultural cornerstone, has become a flashpoint for these frustrations, leading to calls for economic withdrawal, with some advocating for the boycott to extend through the end of the year.
The initial spark for this movement came from TikTok user Shea, who posted a video on July 19, garnering nearly 50,000 views, urging Black Americans to recognize their economic power.
In her video, Shea declared, “Black Americans, come here, come here. This is a message for y’all, especially my Black American women. Come here, listen. I think it’s time for us to show how strong and how powerful the Black American dollar is, since they don’t believe us. I think it’s time to boycott the braiding shops.
“That’s what I think it’s time to do. Time to boycott the braiding shops. Stop going. We know how to braid. Let’s braid our own hair, support our own small businesses. Stop going to the braid shops. Teach them how to have some f**king respect because they have none. Black American power, Black American dollar. They need us. We don’t need them. Remember that. Do I wish there could be unity in a community? Abso-f**king-lutely. But that ain’t going to happen until they give us our f**king respect, and they’ve never done it. So f**k all that, boycott time.”
Shea continued, “No more African braid shops. It’s time to boycott the African braid shops. Stop going. Let’s show them how powerful our Black American dollar is since they think we can’t control this f**king narrative. Since they think we got everything. Let’s show them how much we really f**king got. Black American power. Again, I’m going to keep saying it. Like, follow, share, comment below. What you think?
“The ones that pay your bills. Because we black them out, I want to see how many white people are going to support y’all, right? I want to see how many of y’all businesses really want to be able to stay afloat month after month of Black people not supporting you, right? Like, let’s really be about it. So in support of Shaya’s shelf, I am even pushing past August, but it starts August 1st, OK? Complete, total blackout on Africans, period, okay? Let them know what time it is.”
However, the calls to action have met significant pushback, raising profound questions about solidarity and strategic focus. Critics argue that boycotting businesses owned by fellow Black people, regardless of origin, diverts energy and resources from the larger struggle against systemic racism and discrimination. This internal economic conflict, they contend, plays directly into narratives that undermine Black unity, potentially harming entrepreneurs who are themselves navigating complex challenges as immigrants.
Fortunately, there were Black Americans who quickly called out the foolish sentiment of these calls to action.
😐I've never seen or heard of some of us dedicating a month to 💰boycotting [Jews/Europeans, Hispanics, Asian, East Indians, etc…] 🧐Of all groups you choose to boycott Africans??? 🤔Not the others? 🫤Some of you are LITERALLY playing someone else's game… 🧠THINK!!! Smmfh. pic.twitter.com/UzYHQubML5
The Chinese and the Asians they abuse, black women all day long in their beauty salon. You never see these black Americans for boycott against their business.. but they’re calling for a boycott against African business. FBA ADOS they are agent of white supremacist and right wing… https://t.co/EOYRjMUJG6
Honestly, I wished they (FBA) would put more effort into actual political endeavors, than whatever xenophobic nonsense this boycott meant to be.
Out of all the ethnicities (White, Asian, Arab, Hispanic, Indian, etc.) in America that have disrespected Black Americans over the… pic.twitter.com/biMkPD0FSS
— Scion (PanAfroCore) (@ScionofCulture) July 22, 2025
Boycotting Africans over Asian stores that PROFIT from using our hair and beauty is INSANE💀 https://t.co/RNu0kbZpij
BLACK ENTERPRISE highlighted a seemingly growing chasm between African immigrants and Black Americans, rooted in the caution many Nigerian parents reportedly give their children before traveling to the U.S. Media personality Morayo Afolabi-Brown revealed that some parents advise their kids to steer clear of African Americans—warning them of drugs, unplanned pregnancy, and other cultural stereotypes—but to “stay with the white people.”
The advice, though often meant to protect, inadvertently strains unity across the Black diaspora and overlooks the foundational role Black Americans played in establishing opportunities through struggle and sacrifice as immigrants come to this country. While acknowledging migrant anxieties, Afolabi-Brown urges against allowing these inherited fears to derail a broader, shared mission: confronting systemic racism and social injustice together. As she explains, the real challenge isn’t internal division, but bigger and realer enemies like structural inequality and racial violence—forces far more harmful than misdirected caution within the community. Further, as articulated in an IBW21 commentary from January 2020, titled “Understanding the Division Between African Americans and Africans,” the notion of cultural purity is often a misunderstanding when applied to Black Americans.
The piece argues, “African Americans are themselves a blend of different ethnic groups. Akan, Yoruba, Igbo, Mandé, Fulani, Kongo, Temne, Ewe, Edo, Efik, Fon, Mossi, and Ga are just some of the many ethnic groups that African Americans descend from.”
This perspective challenges any assertion of cultural insensitivity when Black Americans blend various African customs, as their heritage is inherently a mosaic of these diverse traditions.
The commentary also highlights the reciprocal influence between the diaspora and the continent, noting that “the Black Power movement among African Americans in the 1960s and 1970s helped to influence a cultural revival among Africans.”
Nigerian musician Fela Kuti famously observed Black Americans in the United States. “It’s crazy; in the State, people think the Black Power movement drew inspiration from Africa,” Kuti said. “All these Americans come over here looking for awareness; they don’t realize they’re the ones who’ve got it over there. We were even ashamed to go around in national dress until we saw pictures of Blacks wearing dashikis on 125th Street.
“I started thinking. I saw how everything works there; everything functions. I saw how great America is, and realized that to be a great man, you have to have a great country behind you. I had no country, just a bunch of Africans running around in suits trying to be Englishmen. I decided to come back and try to make my country African.”
This historical context suggests that the relationship is one of mutual influence and shared struggle, rather than a one-sided dynamic.
Even within Africa, the piece noted, there has always been an excellent diffusion of cultures, a point emphasized by Trinidadian historian Hollis Liverpool, who wrote extensively on the extensive cultural mixing throughout the continent’s history.
“Today, Nigerian folk tales may be heard in Senegal, and the trickster hare of Zaire performs the same mischief as the spider trickster in Ghana and Togo. Similarly, West African musical instruments are equally known in the East and the South. The interplay of cultures and traditions of African kingdoms, states and empires before they were intruded upon by explorers, tells us something of the political and economic dynamics of the African continent then: an interplay of peoples and organizations.”
The underlying tensions are complex, rooted in cultural misunderstandings, economic disparities, and historical narratives that sometimes strain the relationship between Black Americans and African immigrants. Yet, the current moment demands a re-evaluation of priorities. Instead of internal economic warfare, many believe the focus should shift toward fostering dialogue, building bridges of understanding, and establishing collaborative economic ventures that uplift the entire Black diaspora.
Ultimately, the #ShayaShelf campaign, while born from legitimate grievances, serves as a critical mirror reflecting the urgent need for intra-community reckoning and strategic alignment. The path forward, for many, lies not in division but in recognizing shared struggles and uniting against the external forces that genuinely seek to diminish Black progress and prosperity.
Angel Reese Turns ‘Mebounds’ Disrespect Into Trademark, Launches Sneakers
The Chicago Sky superstar turned a negative into a (profitable) positive.
During WNBA All-Star Weekend, Chicago Sky superstar Angel Reese and Reebok revealed her latest sneaker, “Angel Reese 1 Mebounds.”
The second-year player took to social media to introduce the new footwear, utilizing a term that is attributed to her because of her penchant for grabbing her own rebounds off the shots she misses during a game. The sports world has labeling them “Mebounds,” a term Reese and Reebok are using to their advantage.
For detractors who used the term as a form of disrespect toward Reese—nice try. According to Bleacher Report, she trademarked the term.
Reese posted a TikTok video crediting “fans” for the “Mebounds” reference attributed to her. “Whoever came up with the ‘mebounds’ thing, y’all ate because ‘mebounds,’ rebounds, crebounds… anything that comes off that board, it’s mine.”
She added that she enjoys the trolling, and when people have “altered” her face, it doesn’t affect her in a negative way.
“And a brand? That’s six figures right there. The trolling, I love when y’all do it because, like, the ideas be good. Like, when y’all have to alter my face and s–t because I’m cute, alright, whatever. That doesn’t get me.”
She ends the clip by, once again, giving whoever came up with the term their props.
“But when y’all came up with ‘mebounds’—because statistically, all the rebounds that I get aren’t always just mine. They’re, like, the defenses, too, or somebody else on my team—but, when y’all came up with ‘mebounds,’ y’all ate.”
