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

Family Shocked After Discovery Of Loved One’s Grave Desecrated 27 Years After Burial

Delshon Dupriest was killed in 1998.


A Kansas City family is in shock after discovering that the grave of a loved one who died 27 years ago was desecrated.

According to Fox 4 Kansas City, family members are disturbed to learn that the resting place of Delshon Dupriest, located at Forest Hills Cavalry Cemetery, was dug up and destroyed. Kansas City police officers arrived at the cemetery after 9:30 a.m. on July 8 to discover that the concrete crypt that the body was in had been destroyed, and the casket had been opened.

The family is distraught, especially since Dupriest was killed in 1998. The victim was only 25 when he was murdered, leaving behind nine children. The family is perplexed as to why someone would do this almost 30 years after his death.

“What did I feel? My heart [sank] because I couldn’t believe it,” said Shonterra Dupriest, Delshon’s daughter. “They were at the casket. We could see the sheets and everything that would have been inside his casket.”

WIFR reported that the Kansas City Police Department stated they are investigating why the grave was destroyed and the reason behind the destruction. Detectives were on the scene collecting evidence and taking eyewitness accounts. Police officers stated that the owners of Forest Hills Cavalry were present during the incident. Still, they claimed they had “nothing to do with this” and would cooperate with the police investigation.

The gate was broken, and officials said they believe the suspect may have rammed through it with a vehicle.

Dupriest’s mother, Jamesetta Blandhood, commented about how the scene looked when she arrived at the cemetery.

“It was like somebody had just dug it up,” she said. “It looked like they had put dynamite and just blew it open.”

She wonders who harbors such resentment toward her deceased son that they would do this.

“I don’t know if they were looking for something or think he had something, but after 27 years, who would do this? Who hates him so badly that they would just tear up his grave like that?” Blandhood said.

RELATED CONTENT: Marc Lamont Hill Recounts 2024 Stage Attack While Upholding Restorative Justice Principles

t-Mobile, Dei, Trump

T-Mobile Folds Under Pressure From Trump Administration To End DEI Programs

FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated, "Any businesses that are looking for FCC approval, I would encourage them to get busy ending any sort of their invidious forms of DEI discrimination.”


T-Mobile has announced it is dismantling its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as it seeks approval from federal regulators for two major acquisitions. The wireless carrier confirmed the DEI decision in a July 8 letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), citing shifts in the federal legal and policy landscape under President Donald Trump’s administration.

“We recognize that the legal and policy landscape surrounding DEI under federal law has changed,” the company stated in the letter, pledging to eliminate DEI efforts “not just in name, but in substance.”

As part of the changes, T-Mobile will no longer maintain dedicated DEI roles or teams, and references to DEI have been scrubbed from company websites and training materials.

T-Mobile also announced that all training and career development programs would now be accessible to all employees, without prioritizing diversity-focused criteria.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr, a Republican and vocal critic of DEI policies, praised the decision.

“Another good step forward for equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and the public interest,” Carr said. He has previously warned companies that DEI initiatives could jeopardize regulatory approval for mergers and acquisitions.

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Carr added: “Any businesses that are looking for FCC approval, I would encourage them to get busy ending any sort of their invidious forms of DEI discrimination.”

The move comes as T-Mobile seeks FCC approval to acquire US Cellular’s wireless operations and internet service provider Metronet, through a joint venture with investment firm KKR.

The decision mirrors a similar case earlier this year when Verizon secured approval for its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications after agreeing to dismantle its own DEI programs.

Opposition to DEI efforts has intensified since Trump returned to office, with the administration threatening to withdraw federal contracts from companies that continue to support such policies. As a result, many corporations, especially those in highly regulated sectors like telecommunications, have distanced themselves from previously celebrated DEI commitments.

Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized T-Mobile’s move in a passionate post on X.

“In yet another cynical bid to win FCC regulatory approval, T-Mobile is making a mockery of its professed commitment to eliminating discrimination, promoting fairness and amplifying underrepresented voices,” she wrote.

“History will not be kind to this cowardly corporate capitulation.”

https://twitter.com/AGomezFCC/status/1943002714465861710?s=19

RELATED CONTENT: Son Of U.S. Soldier Left Without Citizenship, Deported To Jamaica

Haiti, Toussaint Louverture Airport in Port-au-Prince, International, Global, Horsford

Ohio Haitians Hopeful For New Start Amid TPS Cancellation While Others Live Fearfully

TPS was instated following a devastating earthquake in 2010 and extended numerous times, most recently by the Biden-Harris administration amid the growing gang violence and political turmoil.


The same Haitian immigrants from Ohio who were attacked by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance during the presidential campaign are standing hopeful of new beginnings after the administration terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for more than 500,000 Haitians living in the U.S., NBC News reports. 

The Department of Homeland Security made the announcement June 27, cancelling legal status for migrants effective Sept. 2. But after a federal judge in New York blocked the effort, residents of Springfield, Ohio–where Trump and Vance falsely accused Haitians of stealing and eating neighborhood pets–are optimistic of staying put. “I’m going to stay here. I’m not afraid,” Amazon warehouse worker Jean Marc said. 

“Jesus put me here.”

Another migrant, Michelet and his wife, are banking on their passports as proof of U.S. citizenship, as the family has no plans on relocating anywhere. “Moving to Canada or another country would mean starting over,” he said. “I’m already here. I have a job and experience here.”

Out of several interviews, eight migrants were crossing their fingers for asylum claims as a way to stay in the United States. All said a third country was not in the cards for them. However, with the Trump administration cracking down on ​​immigration across the country, several have been detained and await court hearings. 

TPS was initiated following a devastating earthquake in 2010 and extended numerous times, most recently by the Biden-Harris administration amid growing gang violence and political turmoil. In a statement, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said the earthquake is no longer deemed a safety hazard and the program elimination highlights Trump “keeping his promise to restore sanity to our immigration system.” 

But other Haitian immigrants are not as optimistic as others. Haitian American businessman and advocate Jean Manuel said Haiti isn’t safe to return to. Moves from the U.S. State Department support the narrative, placing a level four travel advisory for travel to the Caribbean nation. “Every neighborhood has a gang, every neighborhood is controlled by a gang member. They’re vicious: burning buildings, killing kids, cleaning out neighborhoods,” Manuel said, according to USA Today. 

“That’s the kind of life they’re going to (if they return to Haiti). They’re going to a death sentence.”

Ohio’s own Republican Gov. Mike DeWine echoed similar sentiments. “Haiti is not safe. … It’s one of the most dangerous places in the world,” DeWine said. “It’s a horribly, horribly violent place today, and things have not gotten better. They’ve actually gotten worse. Those are just the facts.”

It’s not as safe for them in Ohio. With close to 60,000 immigrants moving to the state in recent years thanks to TPS, repeated false claims by the President have resulted in schools, businesses, and public buildings facing bomb threats and evacuations.

RELATED CONTENT: Haitian-American Leaders Sound The Alarm On Dangers Ahead Of Deportation After DHS Ends Temporary Protection Status 

Paris fire

Barefooted Parisian Risks Life Rescuing 4 Children From Flaming Apartment

Fousseynou Cissé risked his life to save four children and two adults in Paris


A man in Paris, Fousseynou Cissé, went into a burning apartment building, risking his life to save six others, as caught on video.

According to People, Cissé saved six people, four of whom were children, when he went out on a ledge to rescue those in danger. The incident took place on July 4, and a video clip captured the 39-year-old rescuing the children as he guided them while standing on the ledge barefoot. The burning apartment was on the sixth floor of the building.

The footage shows Cissé grabbing the young children and passing them along to a waiting adult in the next apartment through the window.

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Two of the children were reportedly one month old and one year old. The two adults were the mothers of the four children he helped escape the flames.

ABC News reported that Cissé stated that when he learned of the fire in the building, he took his family to safety before a neighbor informed him that people were trapped upstairs. With that information, he decided to risk his own life to rescue the others.

“As I was leaving, (my neighbor) called me over and told me that there were people trapped upstairs,” he stated.

Knowing he was jeopardizing his own life, he said he was driven by instinct.

“It wasn’t calculated; it was instinct: ‘We’ve got to go’. So I jumped in to help,” he said.

The man is being recognized for his bravery as Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez stated that Cissé would be awarded a medal “in recognition of his courage and dedication.”

“This medal recognizes republican courage that commands admiration,” Nunez said.

6 ABC Action News reported that Cissé also received a phone call from French President Emmanuel Macron and is expected to be formally honored by the city.

RELATED CONTENT: Massive Fire Destroys Hundreds Of Stalls At Ghana’s Kantamanto Clothing Market

Black womens labor, workforce

Black Women Labor Leaders Sound The Alarm On The Workforce Of Tomorrow

Women spoke truth to power about systems that profit from Black labor


In a world being rapidly reshaped by artificial intelligence, political rollbacks, and widening wage gaps, a dynamic panel of Black women leaders gathered at the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture to issue a powerful call to action: the future of work is already here, and Black communities can’t afford to be left behind.

At the Black Global Economic Forum’s session titled “Work, Wealth, and the Workforce of Tomorrow: Innovation, Unions, and Black Economic Mobility,” Ebony McMorris, AURN White House correspondent, guided a potent conversation featuring SEIU President April Verrett, ACLU President Deborah Archer, and National Women’s Law Center President and CEO Fatima Goss Graves. Together, they spoke truth to power about systems that profit from Black labor while denying Black workers fair access to opportunity, equity, and decision-making.

McMorris set the tone with hard facts: 43% of Black workers are concentrated in just three sectors: healthcare, retail, and public administration. All three are currently facing pressure from automation, underinvestment, and policy disruption. Meanwhile, Black workers make up less than 9% of STEM professionals and only 6% of apprenticeships. Still, the panel’s energy was not rooted in defeat; instead, it radiated strategy and resolve.

“AI is not going to replace our humanity,” said Verrett. “There will never be an instance where our humanity will be able to be replaced by automation. We have to remember to center our humanity and to let the powers that be remember we are talking about lives, which cannot ever be replaced.” 

Verrett, who leads one of the nation’s largest labor unions, was clear: collective power is essential to unlocking Black economic mobility.

“Jobs that are poverty-wage jobs today can become family-sustaining jobs tomorrow if those workers organize,” she said. “When home care workers—the fastest-growing workforce in our economy—come together, they create new pathways to the middle class for millions of Black families.”

Goss Graves also highlighted the importance of care work (often undervalued and underpaid) as a space where innovation rooted in equity can make a real difference.

“There are jobs AI won’t replace—like care work that requires touch, empathy, and human connection,” she said. “But technology can also improve those jobs. It can help enforce fair pay, eliminate wage theft, and ensure better job matching. That only happens if we center equity from the beginning.”

The conversation turned to the increasing threats Black workers face, including anti-DEI legislation, as well as restrictions on protest rights and civil liberties.

“These aren’t isolated threats—they are connected,” Archer said. “It’s about the re-ascendency of white supremacy. We cannot silo our fights—whether it’s over education, employment, voting, or housing. These issues are intertwined. And so is our resistance.”

She called for a renewed focus on community infrastructure, civil rights tools, and long-term grassroots organizing.

“We’re not going to litigate our way out of this crisis,” Archer said. “We have to build power in our communities, with coalitions ready to take on structural inequality in every form and use tools that are not the standard tools that we’ve used in the past.”

The panel didn’t hesitate to name private-sector responsibility either.

“We flocked to federal and city jobs because the private sector wouldn’t hire us,” Verrett said. “Those public sector jobs—many of which are being cut—gave us retirement, stability, and healthcare. Corporations need to be held accountable for not hiring us and not paying us what we are worth. It is time to say, ‘No more poverty-pushing.’”

Near the end, all three issued a resounding call to action.

“Justice and equality are not self-executing,” Archer reminded the audience. “They exist where we fight for them, and now is the time to fight.”

Verrett closed on a note of generational power.

“To the 92%, to the 80%, we have rested, we have rejuvenated. Now it is time for us to flex our power and muscle in ways that we choose with our joy and love at the center. This is our country, and it is worth us fighting for.”

What’s Next for Black Labor Power

Post panel, April Verrett spoke with BLACK ENTERPRISE about the surge in labor activism and what Black workers can learn from recent gains.

“The surge is real,” Verrett told BE. “We’ve seen growth in worker organizing that we haven’t witnessed in a generation. But now is not the time to take our foot off the gas —it’s time to put our foot on the gas.”

Drawing on union wins across Hollywood, tech, and service sectors, she offered it as proof that Black labor can deliver meaningful change.

“There is no healthy democracy on this globe without a healthy labor movement,” Verrett said. “In this moment, building worker organization, building off this momentum is the most important thing any of us can do around the hope of our democracy and economy.”

On resilience in the face of constant challenge, she offered this insight:

“I’m good at compartmentalizing—that works for me,” she said. “But we all have to heal while we do the work. We carry trauma. We carry weight. But we have to turn our pain into power.”

RELATED CONTENT: New Report Reveals Alarming Rise In Black Women’s Unemployment

Michael Jackson, Trail, alleged

Micheal Jackson’s Estate Sues Ally-Turned-Accuser For Extortion

The Michael Jackson estate says Frank Cascio, defender and accuser of the singer, is attempting to extort millions.


On July 8, Michael Jackson’s estate filed a lawsuit accusing Frank Cascio of extortion.

Cascio was a former friend and business associate of Jackson’s. The suit claims Cascio threatened to reveal false abuse allegations about the late singer if he was not paid up to $213 million, People reported.

The suit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court details Cascio’s alleged extortion attempt. Representatives for the estate claim Cascio met with them at the Sunset Marquis Hotel swimming pool to deliberately avoid recording devices as he levied his threats. They also claim he acted in a threatening manner designed to intimidate.

“The negotiation with Respondents morphed into a shakedown in which Frank and his cohorts each demanded substantial amounts of money, otherwise they threatened to concoct false allegations against Michael, which were the opposite of their prior glowing statements about Michael they had made in his defense over the prior decades,” the petition claims. “And they were free to do this because there is no protection against defamation for a deceased person.”

Cascio, once a defender of Jackson, recanted his support after the release of the 2011 HBO documentary Leaving Neverland. After the release of the documentary, Cascio was paid a $3.3 million settlement. The settlement terms included confidentiality in order to protect Jackson’s children and estate from slanderous allegations. Furthermore, future disputes by Cascio were required to go through the arbitration process. By threatening to speak out on the alleged allegations lawyers contend Cascio is breaking the agreement. 

Jackson estate attorney Martin D. Singer spoke out against the extortion and vowed to defend Jackson’s name. 

“This is a clear case of civil extortion,” Singer told The Blast. “We will not stand by as Michael Jackson’s legacy is threatened by falsehoods and financial schemes.”

Cascio’s legal representation includes attorney Mark Geragos, who the estate claims renegotiated the demand. Yet, Geragos still demands tens of millions on behalf of his client and threatened further allegations unless paid.

Estate executors John Branca and John McClain argue the extortion attempt breaches the arbitration clause and request that Cascio be compelled to move forward privately, rather than through public court documents 

“Mr. Cascio was part of Michael’s life for over 30 years, publicly defending him and calling himself family,” a spokesperson for the estate said in a statement. “Now, years after Michael’s death, he is seeking to profit from claims he once rejected as false.”

Instead of honoring the settlement, the estate claims Cascio and his legal team escalated their demands to $213 million, later lowering the amount to $44 million. They allegedly warned they would fabricate damaging allegations publicly or leak claims to publishers unless the estate complied. Estate executors stress that Jackson’s estate is now valued at over $3 billion. 

RELATED CONTENT: Michael Jackson Reportedly Was $500M In Debt When He Died

Ebony canal, Essence panel

‘The Ebony Canal’ Wins Best Documentary For Social Impact At 2025 ESSENCE Film Festival

'The Ebony Canal' has ignited conversations surrounding Black maternal health and mortality rates.


The Ebony Canal, a groundbreaking documentary spotlighting the lived experiences of Black mothers navigating a deeply flawed healthcare system, has been awarded Best Documentary for Social Impact at the 2025 ESSENCE Film Festival. Directed by four-time Emmy Award-winner Emmai Alaquiva and narrated by EGOT-winning actress Viola Davis, the film is being recognized not just for its artistic excellence but for its powerful contribution to the national dialogue around maternal health disparities.

Featuring appearances by Vice President Kamala Harris and actor-advocate Lamman Rucker, and with creative input from Keke Palmer, the film is produced by Brenda Gilbert and Lekha Singh and directed by Alaquiva. The Ebony Canal tells stories of birth, loss, survival, and resilience within a system that, too often, fails Black families.

“This wasn’t just a film, it was a mirror,” said Grammy-winning artist and actress LeToya Luckett, who moderated a post-screening panel. “The Ebony Canal forced us to see the beauty, the grief, and the strength that Black mothers carry. As a Black woman and a mother, this story hit home.”

The film’s ESSENCE debut was introduced by Pennsylvania State Rep. Gina H. Curry, co-chair of the PA Black Maternal Health Caucus, who praised the documentary for aligning with the ongoing policy efforts in the state and acknowledged its Pennsylvania roots.

Other panelists discussing Alaquiva’s Ebony Canel included Alana Yzola-Daly, a mother featured in the film and one of its associate producers; Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, OB/GYN and executive medical advisor to the project; and Kimberly Seals Allers, award-winning journalist and founder of the Irth App, which helps Black and brown families rate their birth and pediatric experiences.

“This film is a roadmap,” Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew expressed. “It shows what happens when we listen to Black women, invest in community care, and demand systems change. It’s not just storytelling. It’s strategy.”

For Yzola-Daly, sharing her story was deeply personal.

“I didn’t want to just tell the story. I wanted to live it, breathe it, and help change what’s next,” she said. “That’s what The Ebony Canal gave me. A way to turn pain into purpose.”

Director Alaquiva emphasized that the film’s mission extends far beyond awards and into activism.

“We didn’t set out to win awards. We set out to wake people up,” Alaquiva said. “The Ebony Canal is a vessel. It exists to move people and systems into action.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/DL2YO2nM6Zp/?igsh=OHAxMHd3Y2prczNv


Following its win at ESSENCE, The Ebony Canal will continue its national tour with a screening at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival this August.

Additional impact screenings are planned and will be announced via The Ebony Canel website.

RELATED CONTENT: Judge Glenda Hatchett Champions Fight Against Black Maternal Mortality

Black Homeowners, Remodeling, homeownership,

Black Homebuyers Still Struggle To Secure Mortgage Loans

Black applicants are 1.7 times more likely to be denied a mortgage


Black homebuyers face significant challenges in securing a mortgage loan for homeownership, and a new study has found that these obstacles are unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Black applicants are 1.7 times more likely to be denied a mortgage than applicants from other racial backgrounds, according to the latest report from LendingTree. In 2024, 19% of Black applicants were denied mortgages. For perspective, that’s about 7.73 percentage points higher than the denial rate for all other applicants, which is 11.27%.

“For generations, homeownership has been one of the most powerful tools for building wealth that Americans have. Homeownership isn’t cheap, and there are ongoing costs; however, the equity that you can build over the years can be incredibly helpful,” said Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree, in the report. “Not only can it provide you funding when you’re in a financial pinch, but it can also be used in working toward other financial goals.”

Across the board, there are significant disparities that persist for Black homebuyers. In 2023, roughly 65% of Americans owned their home. That number was approximately 44.7% for Black Americans, according to National Mortgage News.

Why Black Homebuyers Struggle To Obtain Mortgage Loans

High mortgage denial rates— along with limited generational wealth, income disparities, and discriminatory practices — are just one of the persistent challenges that keep the Black homeownership rate lower than that of other racial groups, LendingTree points out in its report.

One of the primary reasons for these disparities is the variation in credit scores. Black Americans had a median VantageScore of 639 compared to 730 for white applicants. Black Americans are more likely to have little or no credit history at all. This means that Black homebuyers are more likely to be turned down when applying for a mortgage, and if approved, their mortgage loans may have higher interest rates.

“There’s very little in life that is more expensive than crummy credit,” says Schulz. “It can cost you tens of thousands of dollars or more over the course of your life in the form of higher interest rates and more fees. It can even keep you from getting a loan altogether.”

While there are disparities nationwide, Michigan and North Carolina are among the states with the worst disparities. LendingTree’s study reveals that Detroit, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Raleigh, North Carolina, have the widest denial rate gaps among the 50 largest metropolitan areas.

In Grand Rapids, the denial rate for Black borrowers is 23.90%, compared with 14.15% among applicants of all races — a 9.75 percentage point difference. In Detroit, there is an 8.54-point gap, where 21.25% of Black applicants are denied, compared with 12.71% of all applicants. Raleigh has the third-highest gap, with an 8.44 percentage point difference. The denial rate is 16.41% among Black borrowers, compared with 7.97% among all homebuyers.

Salt Lake City, Utah, San Antonio, Texas, and Fresno, California, have the lowest discrepancies for Black applicants.

What Black Homebuyers Should Know

LendingTree analysts recommend that Black homeowners take proactive steps to improve their credit. Pay debt and loan payments on time, make bigger payments to bring down balances, and avoid taking on new debt when applying for a mortgage.

Black homebuyers should research resources such as education courses, down payment assistance programs, and community and state initiatives.

“One of the most important things you can do is shop around,” Schulz adds. “Different lenders can make very different offers, including loan amounts, rates, fees, and more, but you won’t know unless you take the time to comparison shop.”

The best thing Black homebuyers can do is get quotes from at least three lenders, which should include a mix of lender types. This can result in a lower interest rate and better mortgage terms.

RELATED CONTENT: Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Will Now Consider Rent History When Assessing Credit

WAREHOUSE WORKER, SALARY,

‘Click-To-Cancel’ Subscription Policy Shut Down By Federal Appeal

The Federal Trade Commission's plan to protect consumers from harmful subscription practices with "click-to-cancel" policy has failed.


A federal appeals court has shut down the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed “click-to-cancel” rule.

Judges on the Eighth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals denounced “deceptive practices” but asserted a procedural failing on the part of the FTC. According to reporting by NBC, the FTC failed to include a preliminary regulatory analysis in its pursuit of “click-to-cancel.” The analysis is required when the economic impact of the FTC policy on the economy exceeds $100 million. Courts deemed that the policy would indeed exceed the threshold.

“While we certainly do not endorse the use of unfair and deceptive practices in negative option marketing, the procedural deficiencies of the Commission’s rulemaking process are fatal here,” the court wrote.

The policy was first introduced during the Biden administration. Its goal was to protect consumers from predatory subscription policies. The agency cited a five-year increase in claims as its reason for seeking subscription solutions. According to the FTC, it receives over 70 complaints daily. Many companies automatically enroll subscribers in services they no longer want or need without the consumer’s consent. Furthermore, options to cancel services are often difficult to access. The FTC stated its intentions to curb this behavior. 

“Too often, businesses make people jump through endless hoops just to cancel a subscription,” said Commission Chair Lina M. Khan in a statement. “The FTC’s rule will end these tricks and traps, saving Americans time and money. Nobody should be stuck paying for a service they no longer want.”

The FTC outlined specific objectives to protect consumers from predatory subscription practices:

  • Misrepresenting any material fact made while marketing goods or services with a negative option feature.
  • Failing to clearly and conspicuously disclose material terms prior to obtaining a consumer’s billing information in connection with a negative option feature;
  • Failing to obtain a consumer’s express informed consent to the negative option feature before charging the consumer; and
  • Failing to provide a simple mechanism to cancel the negative option feature and immediately halt charges.

Though the policy will no longer move forward, the FTC continues to hold individual companies accountable for similar practices. It is unclear if the FTC will adjust its petition in an attempt to refile.

RELATED CONTENT: Lizzo Appeals Sexual Harassment Lawsuit, Claiming ‘Attack’ On Her Freedom Of Speech

Kai Cenat Demands Attention On TIME100 Creators Cover; Keith Lee, Mychal Threets, and Others Also Recognized

Kai Cenat Demands Attention On TIME100 Creators Cover; Keith Lee, Mychal Threets, and Others Also Recognized

Kai Cenat lands the top spot on TIME100 Creators List 2025.


Kai Cenat has proven himself to be the leader of the pack within the digital content world, as the 23-year-old streaming star landed on the cover of TIME100‘s Creators List.

Released on July 9, Cenat claimed the top spot on the Time100 Creators: Most Influential Digital Voices list for 2025, recognizing the most influential digital voices. Surpassing major names within the “Titans” category like Hot Ones host Sean Evans, MrBeast, and Khaby Lame, Cenat’s reign on Twitch, nonstop brand collaborations, and the momentum from his successful four-day content creator event, Streamer University, cement his place as a standout in the digital world.

“We’re showing people that if you be yourself, people are going to f— with you,” Cenat said during his cover shoot. “As a streamer, you’re not in a box. You’re not trapped. You can talk however you want.”

Since starting his content creation journey in 2018 and joining Twitch amid the global pandemic in 2020, Cenat has become known for streaming much of his life for hours at a time. Though the grind can be exhausting, his passion continues to drive him.

“I’ll be really tired and drained,” he shared. “It’s a mindset thing, though. I can be as physically tired as I want, but in my mind, if I say, ‘Just keep going,’ I’m gonna just keep going.”

Other Black content creators who secured spots on the list include popular food reviewer Keith Lee, Librarian and mental health advocate Mychal Threets, Ghanian food influencer Chef Abbys, and multi-hyphenate Quenlin Blackwell, among others. As digital content continues to shape how audiences, especially young people, consume media, TIME’s Creators list seeks to highlight the leading voices and trailblazers driving this rapidly evolving space.

“Led by changes in consumer behavior, accelerated during the pandemic, digital creators, the entrepreneurs who have built businesses through significant online followings, have emerged to shape our culture,” said Time Editor-In-Chief Sam Jacobs. “They are changing what we watch, how we spend our time, what we buy, and how we vote.”

“Today, we release the inaugural TIME100 Creators list, in recognition of how significantly these individuals are changing the way people inform themselves … As we often say, influence comes in many forms and it can mean for better or for worse.”

RELATED CONTENT: Kai Cenat Teases His Streamer University, But Some Influencers Warn Of The Downside Of Content Creation

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