government shutdown, senate, trump
Photo by Ramaz Bluashvili: https://www.pexels.com/photo/the-famous-united-states-capitol-in-washington-7016972/
by Mitti Hicks

October 29, 2025

Nation Enters Fourth Week Of Government Shutdown As Senate Fails To Advance Another Bill

The final vote on Tuesday was 54 to 45, just six votes shy of the 60 needed to move forward. No new Democrats voted in favor of advancing the legislation.

There appears to be no end in sight as the nation enters the fourth week of a government shutdown. For the now 13th time, the Senate failed to advance a Republican-backed funding bill to end the shutdown, on Tuesday.

The final vote was 54 to 45, just six votes shy of the 60 needed to move forward. No new Democrats voted in favor of advancing the legislation, CBS News reported.

The chaos and unwillingness to negotiate on Capitol Hill are having real-life consequences for everyday Americans, who are deciding between groceries, gas, and other necessities.

“Bills continue to pile up. I have car notes, I have children to feed, I have a family to take care of, I have a mortgage to pay, so it’s a lot of uncertainty,” Anthony Speight, a furloughed employee who works as a grants administrator, told NBC News in an interview. 

Government Shutdown Impacts On Everyday Americans

Food banks in the nation’s capital have been filled with lines that wrap around the corner as people miss their full paycheck. Travelers are experiencing more flight disruptions, including cancellations and delays, due to staffing shortages. On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing-related delays that averaged about 20 minutes in Dallas and 40 minutes at Newark Liberty International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, according to The Associated Press.

“Members of NATCA are facing uncertainty and stress because of the government shutdown,” a statement on the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) read.

NATCA is a labor union and aviation safety organization in the United States that represents over 20,000 air traffic controllers, engineers, and other aviation safety-related professionals.

As the shutdown drags on, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are just days from running out. At least 25 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., are now suing the Trump administration to prevent billions of dollars in cuts to the federal food assistance program for more than 42 million Americans. The cuts to SNAP, commonly referred to as food stamps, are expected to begin this weekend.

RELATED CONTENT: Search For Missing Ohio Woman Intensifies; Concerns Mount After Communication Lapse

Nigel Sylvester, Olajuwon Ajanaku, Earl Cooper, New Era
Image Courtesy of New Era
by Kandiss Edwards

October 29, 2025

BMX Icon Nigel Sylvester And Eastside Golf Usher In A ‘New Era’ At ComplexCon

Nigel Sylvester and the men of Eastside Golf's newest partnerships are bringing golf and BMX to the forefront at ComplexCon.

New Era Caps is the official headwear sponsor at ComplexCon 2025, representing the culture and collaborating with BMX icon Nigel Sylvester and Eastside Golf. While the brand has been established for nearly three decades, it always finds a way to delve deeper into the culture’s psyche. ComplexCon was set up to celebrate the convergence of culture, so for New Era, Sylvester, and Eastside Golf, the partnerships were no-brainers.

Mike Tresvant, executive vice president of brand partnerships at Complex, spoke about the impact of the company and its collaborators.

“New Era is a phenomenal partner who not only gets culture but gives it a platform to flourish. Their presence at ComplexCon exemplifies what this event is all about-–bringing together authentic creators and giving them the space and resources to showcase their vision,” Tresvant said.

As a BMX rider and creative, Sylvester took time out of his busy schedule to represent for the New Era team at ComplexCon. As a brand ambassador and creative adviser, Sylvester showed up to share his newest drop. The fitted New Era cap pays homage to New York culture, specifically baseball.

The newest editions of Sylvester’s creation come in two colorways — one a cream and blue with a silver NY emblem. Both include a seal honoring both the Mets and the Yankees, as well as the baseball team’s historic matchup in the 2000 World Series. The seal serves as a homage to that moment when Queens met the Bronx on baseball’s biggest stage, giving the piece layered meaning for fans of both teams and of street culture alike.

Nigel Sylvester, New Era Caps, BMX

For Sylvester, who grew up riding on the streets of Queens, New York, this partnership is more than a product deal. For over a decade, New Era and Sylvester have collaborated to keep imprinting their stamp on the culture.

“I’ve been working with New Era for 10 years. I remember wearing the NY [fitted cap], it is embedded in the culture,” he told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

On the back of the 59FIFTY sits a stitched BMX bike emblem — the piece is custom hand-drawn. When asked about his role in creating the pieces, the BMX veteran made it clear: Creation is his bag. 

“Anyone who knows me knows I need to be a part of the creative process. From concept to execution, it is just as important to me,” Sylvester said.

Alongside Sylvester, the founders of Eastside Golf, Olajuwon Ajanaku and PGA of America Golf Professional Earl Cooper, spoke to BE about their current collaboration with New Era. The sportswear brand also has a new line of signature pieces that merge its love for basketball and golf. The company has received licenses from 10 NBA teams to craft multiple team-focused colorways.

“This is about bringing the game of golf into a lot of different spaces,” Ajanaku said.

When speaking about the Nothing but Up design, which depicts a golf ball “going into a basketball hoop,” Ajanaku says it symbolizes bringing together sports fans and spectators from both sides. 

Olajuwon Ajanaku, Earl cooper, new era, Eastside Golf
Photo Credit: BE/K.Edwards

“Usually, you see all of the balls of sports next to each other. But a ball and a hoop combine naturally. We wanted that to be seen visually. Bringing these two together, I feel like we can get someone who loves the game of basketball to pick up a golf club,” he said.

While Golf and BMX have millions of fans, both lack the prominence of basketball and football in Black culture. Sylvester, Cooper, and Ajanaku are on a mission to make their respective sports more visible. Their presence at CultureCon is one step closer to that goal. With each new attendee entering the New Era installation, the men can display, sell, and promote their fly gear and passion for sports on the margin.

RELATED CONTENT: Eastside Golf Apparel Brand Hosts & Community Days To Get More Black People Teeing Up

Keith Ellison, Minnesota,
Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2025

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Leads Coalition Against Trump Administration In Effort To Suspend SNAP Benefit Pause

In Minnesota, 440,000 residents receive benefits each month, including 180,000 children and roughly 67,000 seniors.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with 22 other attorneys general and three governors, is filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for suspending SNAP benefits, highlighting the multi-billion-dollar contingency fund that can change everything.  

The announcement was made on X, calling out the federal agency for not using the lucrative funding that can keep SNAP running as funds are scheduled to run out by Nov. 1. Ellison said he won’t allow President Donald Trump “to use hungry children as bargaining chips.”

“BREAKING: I’m suing the Trump administration to prevent them from suspending SNAP benefits. I will not allow Trump to use hungry children as bargaining chips,” he wrote on the social media platform. 

“USDA has a multi-billion-dollar contingency fund intended to keep programs like SNAP running. They must use it.”

USDA sent a letter dated Oct. 10 to SNAP agencies alerting THEM that if the government shutdown continues, there will be limited funds to distribute in November 2025. However, Ellison and other state leaders argue that’s not true. “It is clear the federal government is making a deliberate, illegal, and inhumane choice not to fund the crucial SNAP program,” a spokesperson from his office said, according to KSTP 5. 

The suit is joined by lawmakers — both Republican and Democratic — from states including Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Washington, and others. The governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania also signed on. 

The lawsuit highlights the agency’s funding lapse plan released in September 2025, stating, “Core programs of the nutrition safety net, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)… shall continue operations during a lapse in appropriations, subject to the availability of funding.” 

With that statement, Ellison and the coalition seek a temporary restraining order that would block the USDA from suspending SNAP funding while this lawsuit proceeds. The attorney general said, while he isn’t taken aback by the “cruelty and illegality of the Trump administration anymore,” the SNAP situation is a different story.

“Congress put a rainy-day fund in place so nutrition support could continue during a government shutdown, yet despite that clear Congressional intent, Trump’s USDA is refusing to tap into that fund,” he wrote. 

“It is a disgrace to the presidency that Donald Trump is using hungry children throughout Minnesota as bargaining chips in the fight over his government shutdown. His actions aren’t just cruel, though; they are unlawful. It’s my job to help Minnesotans afford their lives, and today that means taking the Trump administration to court to help feed people in need.”

The SNAP lapse will affect more than 40 million Americans who depend on food stamps for nourishment. In Minnesota, 440,000 residents receive benefits each month, including 180,000 children and roughly 67,000 seniors. To help bear the load, Governor and former Vice Presidential hopeful, Tim Walz, announced food shelves in the state would receive $4 million in additional funds.

RELATED CONTENT: Controversial Celebration Costs Cali Teen Her Track Championship

BLEXIT, Candace Owens, Segregation, Donald Trump,
(Photo by Jason Davis/Getty Images)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 29, 2025

Hampton University Gives Candace Owens’ Blexit The Boot For Not Meeting Event Requirements

The university responded to claims that they kicked BLEXIT off campus over "politics."

Hampton University booted BLEXIT off its campus as the HBCU says the Black conservative organization did not meet the requirements to host an event.

Initially, the Black conservative movement founded by Candace Owens planned to hold an unauthorized event at the Virginia HBCU during its homecoming festivities. Also supported by the late Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, Blexit planned to speak with students across multiple HBCU homecomings this school year.

According to The Grio, Hampton campus police escorted members of BLEXIT off campus, saying that it never received permission to set up shop. While BLEXIT attempted to label the removal an act against diversity of thought, the school issued a statement denying that accusation. Instead, they called the matter a move for public safety.

“Hampton University is aware of an incident involving representatives of an organization known as BLEXIT who attempted to access campus during Homecoming weekend without proper authorization. While the organization has suggested that their filming activity “shut down,” that narrative is inaccurate. This was not a matter of suppression; it was a matter of safety, procedure, and fairness,” the University said. 

They explained that, as a private institution, Hampton has a process of vendor applications and approvals for media activity before any outside group can film on campus. The HBCU asserted that BLEXIT neither met all these requirements nor submitted proper fees to come to campus, yet decided to show up anyway.

The HBCU further claimed that the BLEXIT team knew of their “procedural failure” with the risk of being escorted off the property if they tried to set up filming anyway.

“This procedural failure meant they were not approved to participate, consistent with University policy and communicated in advance to all applicants. Of the 36 applications submitted, 18 were approved; BLEXIT was among those that did not meet the stated requirements.”

However, BLEXIT member Craig Long suggested another narrative as to what happened. Hampton was initially on the docket for the “Educate to Liberate” tour, which had other homecoming slots cancelled, like FAMU’s. At other HBCUs where the organization did appear, they typically conducted filmed interviews with students. They prompted controversial questions such as the morality of teaching young children about sexuality, typically exaggerating situations to receive answers that best fit their narrative.

While Hampton claims the organization did not follow proper protocol, Long considered it a means to stop their appearance.

“But instead of celebrating that spirit of open discussion, the university shut it down — claiming we “didn’t go through the proper channels.” Let’s be honest: this wasn’t about paperwork. It was about politics,” claimed Long.

Long then asserted that their ” Christian values, conservative principles, and independent thought” led to their silencing.

However, Hampton also challenged that assessment. The University assured that it welcomes differing perspectives to campus, so long as they do their part to ensure the safety of guests and students at homecoming.

“Hampton University welcomes organizations and speakers representing a variety of perspectives, provided they follow the established protocols. BLEXIT failed to meet those standards.”

RELATED CONTENT: The 2025 BE Smart HBCU Hackathon: More Students, More Impact

food stamps, white, Conservative,
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 29, 2025

Internet Enraged Over Racist AI Videos Depicting Black Women Yelling About EBT Cards

The videos have sparked outrage and concern amid the impending loss of SNAP funding.

The internet is disgusted by new racist AI videos stereotyping Black women by having them yell about EBT cards.

While AI has leaned into stereotypical depictions before, this latest and timely infraction has the internet rightfully enraged. In light of the pending loss of SNAP funding, which supplies food stamps to around 42 million Americans, old AI-generated videos have gone viral again for showing Black women complaining about the EBT cards.

Initially released in July, one of the AI-generated videos shows fake people at a government office set up for the video. In the clip, an AI Black woman, depicted wearing a hair bonnet, yelled about her inability to use the EBT card to buy her multiple children McDonald’s Happy Meals.

@ai.viral_clips Lakisha reloads her EBT card — Want to make an AI video just like this? Visit the link in my bio to make one today! — #yapper #fyp #ai #veo3 #lakisha #keisha #ebt #altima ♬ original sound – ai.viral_clips

“What the hell you mean you can’t reload my EBT card?” the fake Black woman said to the employee. “I got six kids. How am I finna pay for their happy meal? Dead ass.” 

The video then showed the fake woman calling a friend to say she got a new EBT card. Adding to the racism, she told the person on the other end of the line how she would leave her kids at home to eat watermelon while she dined out at the fast food chain.

“Girl I just got my second EBT card this week you already know we [about to] hit up Mickey D’s,” exclaimed the racist depiction. “My kids got some watermelon at home, they’ll live. Deadass.”

The video follows another new video, made through Sora under OpenAI, which showed a fake Black woman yelling about the government shutting off her card. In the background, you can see a messy living room with children also yelling.

@noticingcrusader THIS IS INJUSTICE #deadass #ebt #altima #ai #foodstamps ♬ original sound – Crusader

“They [trying to] mess up my bag. This is not what my ancestors fought for.”

However, the internet refuses to let these videos roam freely without cracking down on their misuse, as well as their general usage by those racially harassed by it.

“They’re using AI to make videos of Black women yelling about their EBT cards on TikTok,” one X user wrote. “They were always going to come after us first with AI, that’s why it’s f-ck AI and I need you all to stop using it for real.”

With multiple fake videos depicting Black women as manipulators of government benefits with numerous kids in dysfunctional homes, people are calling out those who use AI generators to depict their racist perceptions.

“That AI shit is ridiculous. Most of it is digital blackface. Racists are using it to play out their sick fetishes,” shared an X user.

Others also noted the false narrative that Black people are the primary recipients of food stamps. According to the Food and Research Action Center, white people account for 37% of SNAP recipients — 11% more than Black folks.

However, the issue of AI’s misuse to promote racist stereotypes remains a concern, especially as they add fuel to current government problems.

RELATED CONTENT: Search For Missing Ohio Woman Intensifies; Concerns Mount After Communication Lapse

Rosa parks, bus boycott, Alabama, Rosa Parks Day
MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man, defying segregation laws. Her arrest sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a peaceful protest led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., aimed at ending racial segregation on public transportation. The boycott lasted for over a year and eventually led to a Supreme Court ruling that declared bus segregation unconstitutional. Rosa Parks became known as the "First Lady of Civil Rights" for her pivotal role in igniting the modern civil rights movement.
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 29, 2025

Rosa Parks Statue Becomes First Monument Of Black Woman At Alabama State Capitol

The statue will also become the first monument of a woman on the Alabama State Capitol lawn.

The legacy of Rosa Parks will be forever remembered with a statue in the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery.

NBC News reported that the monument holds another historic feat beyond its remembrance of the civil rights icon. It will also become the first monument of a black woman on the State Capitol lawn.

The statue’s unveiling pays homage to the Black woman known for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in 1955. Her bravery sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycotts that spearheaded desegregation efforts across the U.S.

State Rep. Laura Hall initially sponsored the 2019 legislation that paved the way for the monument’s creation. State lawmakers approved the project, with the Alabama Women’s Tribute Statue Commission overseeing the monument’s development.

Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, Parks moved to Montgomery and joined its city chapter of the NAACP in 1943. Prior to her arrest, she advocated for voting rights and protested sexual and racial violence, in her position.

Parks’ historic refusal led to her appointment as the symbol for the boycott protesting segregation. Her subsequent guilty conviction for violating state law led to the boycott’s official continuation past its initial one-day warning.

However, she was not the first Black person to do so in protest of Jim Crow laws, including 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, who did so nine months before. Despite this, Parks remains a revered figure in Black history for her lifetime work for civil rights.

The sustained effort to resist racist transportation laws lasted 381 days, officially ending following the 1956 Browder v. Gayle case. Its plaintiffs included Colvin and Aurelia Browder, Mary Louise Smith, and Susie McDonald, all whom were arrested prior to Parks for the same action. The landmark federal case ruled segregation on public transportation as unconstitutional.

Now, Parks’ influence in changing the course of history will become part of the State Capitol Oct. 31. It will face the same street where she first boarded the bus that solidified her legacy.

Parks will join fellow Alabamian icon, Helen Keller, who will receive her own statue on the Capitol grounds. Of the monument’s figures, Rep. Hall emphasized how both women represent the best of Alabama as they remain symbols of equality.

“Helen Keller and Rosa Parks just seemed to be the image that — whether you were Black or white, Democrat or Republican — you could identify with and realize the impact that they had on history,” Hall said.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Too Classy For This World’: Alabama Honey Beez Dance Team Responds To FAMU Announcer

packaged food, south africa
Photo by Ninthgrid : https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-shopping-in-lagos-supermarket-30688912/
by Mitti Hicks

October 29, 2025

A List of Resources For Federal Furloughed Workers, SNAP Recipients Amid Shutdown

“One out of every eight people utilizes SNAP benefits, and one out of every five children receives SNAP," MomsRising COO and Senior Vice President Monifa Bandele tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

As furloughed workers go a month without pay amid the government shutdown, another crisis is brewing: the 42 million Americans who rely on assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could struggle to put food on the table.

“One out of every eight people utilizes SNAP benefits, and one out of every five children receives SNAP,” Monifa Bandele, COO and senior vice president of MomsRising, tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

She adds that this represents “16 million children, 8 million adults that are 65 and older, and 4 million people [living] with disabilities.”

The halt in food assistance comes as Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill continue to point the finger at each other over the government shutdown, which is now the second-longest in U.S. history. Making matters worse, President Donald Trump says his administration has no plans to tap a $6 billion contingency fund to keep benefits flowing. Benefits are set to expire on Nov. 1.

“Right now, we have an action that’s circulating across the country, which is to tell our members, their families, and neighbors to call Congress and tell them to use the contingency carryover funds to keep SNAP running through November. The USDA has the authority to use the contingency funds, but right now, they’re refusing to.”  

As organizations like MomsRising continue to organize and pressure Congress to reopen the government, here’s a list of resources for SNAP recipients and federal furloughed workers.

Food Resources For SNAP Recipients

The impact on SNAP recipients may vary by state, with some jurisdictions offering assistance. The best thing to do at this time is to contact your state’s Department of Human Services to see if there are any state-specific assistance plans.

In California, the state with the largest number of SNAP recipients, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state is fast-tracking $80 million in funding for food banks. The National Guard could be used to distribute food to those in need.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced similar plans.

For New Yorkers, Gov. Kathy Hochul said $30 million in state funds will support over 16 million meals. In Louisiana, Gov. Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency and said the state will continue paying SNAP benefits with state funds through Nov. 4.

SNAP recipients should also reach out to local food banks, pantries, and religious institutions to see how they can help.

Financial Resources For Furloughed Workers

Chase Bank

Chase announced that people concerned about making their Chase mortgage, credit card, auto, or business loan payment, or who have questions about their Chase checking or savings account, should call the special care line at 1-800-254-7713 to discuss their accounts and available options.

Congressional Federal Credit Union

The Congressional Federal Credit Union is offering members a “Relief Line of Credit” with an initial APR of 0.00% during the 60-day draw period, then 4.00% thereafter. The credit union says it would also consider increasing credit lines, deferring payments on existing loans, waiving certain penalties, and more.

For more information on its Relief Line of Credit or any of its assistance programs, contact Member Service Representatives at 800-491-2328 or stop by one of our branch locations.

Interior Federal Credit Union

The Interior Federal Credit Union is offering a $10,000 loan at 5.50% APR to people affected by the shutdown. 

Effective Oct. 15, the credit union is also offering penalty-free withdrawals and a “no-fee, skip a pay” program for personal lines of credit, signature loans, and auto loans.

Navy Federal Credit Union

Eligible Navy Federal members impacted by paycheck disruptions can enroll in the credit union’s Paycheck Assistance Program. There’s also a 0% APR loan during the government shutdown that members can apply for.  

U.S. Bank

Customers with U.S. Bank have a few options, including mortgage assistance programs, such as forbearance and deferred payment plans. For other types of financial assistance, such as flexible payment plans or fee waivers, call 888.287.7817

USAA

USAA has a no-interest loan to eligible members. This loan provides members with repayment options of 60 to 90 days to allow them more time to ease back into their day-to-day finances. You can learn more here.

Resources For Utilities

According to the organization, For Public Service, some utility companies are offering assistance.

RELATED CONTENT: For ‘Lavish The Band’ Founder Ebony Telesford, Grenada’s Spicemas Is More Than Profit – It’s Culture

Notorious BIG, Touré, Notorious B.I.G., Netflix, Sean Combs: The Reckoning
(Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 29, 2025

Teenager Steps Out As Notorious B.I.G. For Halloween And Goes Viral

A video clip was posted to social media showing the very similarly dressed teenager resembling the Brooklyn emcee

As Halloween approaches, a viral clip of a young teenager dressed like the iconic Brooklyn emcee, The Notorious B.I.G., has amassed nearly 17 million views.

The video clip, posted on X by My Mixtapez, shows the teenager surrounded on the street by other children dressed in costumes. The teen is dressed up in a denim jacket over a black T-shirt, jeans, and what looks like the hip-hop staple, Timberland boots, popularized by rappers over the years. But what stands out in the clip is the crown on his head, which resembles one of the infamous looks the rapper was known for before his untimely death in 1997.

Teen’s Halloween costume goes viral after he dresses up as Biggie Smalls. 🔥
pic.twitter.com/cfanFccBGD

— My Mixtapez (@mymixtapez) October 26, 2025

Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace, who died nearly 30 years ago, is still honored, revered, and mentioned today.

Biggie is still so popular in his hometown, the Brooklyn Nets set aside a series of ‘Biggie Nights’ at Barclays Center, with the first one taking place Nov. 11.

The team originally introduced a city edition uniform in 2018 that honored him, and recently announced it is bringing the special Brooklyn Camo City Edition uniform back for the 2025-26 NBA season. Basketball and hip-hop fans got the chance to see the 2025-26 City Edition uniforms when the team held a practice at Potomac Playground in Biggie’s old stomping ground in Bed-Stuy, Sept. 27.

When the Brooklyn Camo uniform debuted in 2018, it sold out after hip-hop and sports fans saw it go on sale. The Nets stated that it remains one of the most popular in the Nets’ Brooklyn era.

Those in the New York City vicinity or who will be there can see the Nets play in the special edition uniforms on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, Nov. 11 vs. Toronto Raptors
  • Monday, Nov. 24 vs. New York Knicks
  • Saturday, Nov. 29 at Milwaukee Bucks
  • Sunday, Dec. 21 vs. Toronto Raptors
  • Friday, Jan. 9 vs. Los Angeles Clippers
  • Friday, Jan. 16 vs. Chicago Bulls
  • Friday, Jan. 23 vs. Boston Celtics
  • Thursday, Feb. 5 at Orlando Magic
  • Friday, Feb. 27 at Boston Celtics
  • Friday, March 20 vs. New York Knicks
  • Friday, April 3 vs. Atlanta Hawks

Sadly, the then-24-year-old emcee was shot and killed in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997. His murder is still unsolved.

RELATED CONTENT: Biggie’s Mom, Voletta Wallace, Wants To ‘Slap the Daylights Out of Sean Combs’

Rep. James E. Clyburn
(Photo: Rep. James E. Clyburn/Flickr)
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2025

Jim Clyburn Highlights Similarities Between Project 2025 And ‘Jim Crow Era’ 

'Project 2025 is Jim Crow 2.0.'

Legendary South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn, the state’s only Democratic lawmaker, is speaking out on the state of politics under the Trump administration, comparing Project 2025 to the Jim Crow era. 

“Project 2025 is Jim Crow 2.0. Now the interesting thing about this is that it will help people understand that even the violence that you see today, is reflective of what was going on after the Reconstruction or the Emancipation Proclamation, which was 1863,” Clyburn told Jaime Harrison, the former Democratic National Committee chair, on the At Our Table podcast.  

“And the reaction to all of that is those people who did not want to see the formerly enslaved assimilated into our society fought it,” Clyburn said. “And they fought to redeem the pre-Civil War antebellum period. 

Project 2025, a 1,000-page blueprint for 2025, first made headlines in 2023. It is chock full with extreme conservative ideologies such as policies against immigration, anti-DEI and LGBTQIA+ efforts, and the fight against women’s reproductive rights.

So far, several of those ideas have come to fruition with plans of redistricting state districts, women not having the freedom to choose in some states and DEI being a thing of the past following President Donald Trump’s executive order. 

Most Project 2025 moves have resulted in both peaceful and violent protests, correlating to Clyburn’s Jim Crow reference. Black people and some allies simply fighting for equality were the victims of violence at the hands of police and white supremacy groups like the Ku Klux Klan. One of the most famous acts of violence was Bloody Sunday, where hundreds of people marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, in 1965 seeking the right to vote. 

The group, including Civil Rights leaders like the late Dr. Martin Luther King and Sen. John Lewis, suffered horrific beatings at the hands of racist police officers and community members. 

The tragedy sparked a fire in President Lyndon B. Johnson, who signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which allowed majority-minority districts to be created and gave voters the right to sue if they feel government officials are trying to limit their voting rights based on race.

Fast forward to 2025. American citizens fighting against police brutality in the name of victims like George Floyd, Sandra Bland and Ahmaud Arbrey, during Black Lives Matter protests. Masked vigilantes have marched the streets of major cities and majority Black communities like Lincoln Heights, Ohio, in an attempt to intimidate residents, as outlined in Project 2025 . 

Black Americans having the right to vote for leaders that will fight for them is at risk due to Trump’s redistricting plan being in action—all the way to the Supreme Court bench.

Clyburn’s home state is attempting to spearhead efforts which he is opposed to. According to ABC News 4, Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, one of Washington’s most conservative House members, called on the General Assembly of the Palmetto State to redraw its district lines. 

He called out Clyburn’s 6th Congressional District directly, calling it “lopsided.” However, the senior lawmaker, who has served since 1992, doesn’t seem to be worried about it as the track record speaks for itself. The district is listed in section two of the Voting Rights Act, after the state fought to give Black voters equitable representation in the 1990s. 

“I’m not concerned at all. I know the people of South Carolina very well. I know Ralph Norman very well,” Clyburn said. “I know the governor of this state very well, who is as partisan a Republican as he can be, but he’s as fair a Republican as he can be. Norm doesn’t believe in fairness.”

RELATED CONTENT: Rep. James Clyburn To Release Book On Black Congressional History

Mob The Block
Photo credit: Crystale for Eyeimagery
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 29, 2025

Mob The Block Supports Latest Black Business In DMV By Pulling Up Fifty Deep For Community

Mob The Block has a special way of getting customers into the establishments of Black entrepreneurs.

Another day, another Black business graciously “mobbed” by a crowd of customers ready to support them.

Mob The Block is an initiative based in the DMV area to support Black businesses, guerilla-style. The group and its supporters come together to visit local shops and engage the community.

With a mission toward uplifting diverse entrepreneurship, Mob The Block has successfully driven awareness and visibility for several establishments, from coffee shops to clothing stores. Founded by powerhouse sisters LaRhonda Stevenson and Melissa Lewis, the nonprofit has grown in its programming and purpose.

The mobs are typically done by surprise or planned in advance, but always leave with the same result: showing these businesses that their community will show up for them. In its latest “mob” for a cause, the Mob The Block squad headed to the Black women-owned New Digz, a curated consignment shop in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

The Mob pulled up to the owner’s emotional surprise, cheering her on as they explained their reason for the pop-up.

“What this mob is about is to spotlight you, but we did a twist, because we’re going to curate this thing so it’s a fashion show,” shared Stevenson in the video.

The owner immediately burst into tears as she saw the slew of customers pouring in. The group, however, had plans to do more than patronize the business, but spotlight it for others to follow suit.

She continued, “You see all these people? What? They’re going to share it, and that’s how you bring visibility to businesses in the DMV.”

Mob The Block has successfully completed around seven mobs thus far. Since its first guerrilla-style support, the crew has expanded its events into networking and business development, offering its expertise into making these businesses not only last, but thrive within their communities.

Their ultimate goal is to help Black entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground and to last for generations. This impact not only helps business owners but gets the community involved in this overarching goal to drive up entrepreneurship.

Black entrepreneurs remain underrepresented within the business landscape. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Black businesses increased in 2022 to almost 200,000, accompanied by a boost in revenue of over $200 billion. However, these figures only accounted for 3% of all U.S. businesses and 1% of all revenue.

“If we were struggling to be seen, how many other Black-owned businesses were fighting the same fight — quietly, alone, and unsupported,” expressed the co-founders to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “That frustration birthed a bold idea. That’s how Mob the Block was born — a radical act of love, strategy, and community. A pull-up where a mob of people show up at a Black-owned business to shop, support, and shake the table.”

While they make up only a small share of businesses, Black entrepreneurs now have a new avenue of support with Mob The Block. With a slate of upcoming events and a brighter spotlight on their unique marketing approach, the nonprofit hopes to promote the longevity and success of Black businesses while connecting the community.

They added, “This is about more than shopping. It’s about sustainability, ownership, and economic power. And letting the world know: we support us. It’s a movement, and it’s only getting louder.”

Atlanta’s City Run-Market’s ‘Fresh’ Approach To Affordable Groceries Is A Success

×