by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 16, 2026

MacKenzie Scott Donates $42M To Elizabeth City State University In Second Historic Gift To HBCU

The gift is among the largest per-student donations in HBCU history.

MacKenzie Scott has made a second historic donation to Elizabeth City State University, marking another milestone for the North Carolina Institution.

Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos, donated $42 million to ECSU, nearly tripling her initial $15 million donation in 2020. The school’s chancellor, S. Keith Hargrove Sr., remarked on the monumental gift during the university’s Founders Day Convocation.

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“I want to express our deepest gratitude to MacKenzie Scott for this remarkable act of generosity and for her recognition of the critical role that HBCUs play in expanding opportunity and strengthening communities,” Hargrove said in a statement obtained by The Grio.

Currently, Elizabeth City State University educates around 2,500 students. Founded in 1891, ESCU initially provided training to aspiring Black teachers in North Carolina. Established as Elizabeth City State Teachers College in 1937, the school adopted its current name in 1969 after introducing graduate programs.

With a focus on instructing students across disciplines such as education, business, the sciences, and the humanities, ECSU has received a new wave of financial support through Scott’s generous donation. However, Scott’s gift also marks a record per-student donation, aiding in the school’s longevity for the next generation of HBCU scholars.

“Gifts like this do more than provide resources; they accelerate momentum,” Hargrove added. “This gift allows institutions like Elizabeth City State University to move boldly toward the future while remaining grounded in the mission that has guided us for 135 years.”

The money will also amplify ESCU’s strategic plan, ASCEND 2030. This new wave of funding will scale ESCU’s resources and opportunities for students taking part in this initiative, particularly through endowed scholarships and renovations of its facilities.

Alongside this gift, Scott has been a dynamic game-changer for HBCU investment. Her passionate support of historically Black institutions has sparked a movement for other philanthropists to further invest in these diverse academic hubs.

The Amazon stakeholder had already given over $7 billion in 2025 alone, with over $1 billion given directly to HBCUs. With her promise to give her vast wealth to these underrepresented schools, she also champions their new eras of academic achievement.

RELATED CONTENT: Op-Ed: HBCUs Must Treat Land Like Power

by Mitti Hicks

March 16, 2026

UN Panel Says Hate Speech From Trump Has Led To Grave Human Rights Violations

The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on the United States to meet its obligations under international agreements to combat racism and discrimination.

A United Nations (UN) watchdog is accusing President Donald Trump and other U.S. political leaders of using “racist hate speech” against migrants and overseeing policies that have led to “grave human rights violations.”

In a decision issued on Wednesday, the Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) called on the United States to meet its obligations under international agreements to combat racism and discrimination.

CERD is a panel of 18 independent experts. In its ruling, CERD said it was deeply disturbed by the use of harmful stereotypes and dehumanizing language being used to target migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

“Portraying them as criminals or as a burden, by politicians and influential public figures at the highest level, particularly the President, may incite racial discrimination and hate crimes,” the panel said in a news release.

The statement marked a rare instance in which CERD directly criticized remarks made by a sitting U.S. president, The Associated Press reports.

UN Cites Concerns About Hate Speech, Migration Crackdown

According to the Associated Press, committee members attributed a reported rise in racial discrimination to “racist hate speech” targeting those groups but did not pinpoint a specific data set. In addition to speech, the panel said it’s also concerned about the impact of politicians and other public figures weaponizing stereotypes to incite hate crimes and discrimination.

The panel documented concerns about measures the Trump administration has introduced to crack down on migration, including systematic racial profiling by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and border patrol agencies, and “violent methods.” According to the report, at least eight people have died since January 2026 in incidents linked to immigration enforcement.

CERD also expressed concern about the number of migrants held in detention facilities. According to the report, the number of people detained increased from about 40,000 in late 2024 to about 73,000 at the beginning of 2026. The Trump administration has deported approximately 675,000 migrants since his return to office.

It doesn’t appear that the Trump administration will make any changes. The White House rejected the assessment, saying the UN panel is out of touch with conditions in the United States.

“This United Nations assessment is just as useless as their broken escalator, and their extreme bias continues to prove why no one takes them seriously,” White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said. “No one cares what the biased United Nations’ so-called ‘experts’ think, because Americans are living in a safer, stronger country than ever before.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 16, 2026

‘Sinners’ Didn’t Win Best Picture But It Did Shine At The Oscars

And it made history.

The success of Ryan Coogler’s Sinners carried into the 98th Academy Awards, where the film finished the night as a runner-up for the most wins with four Oscars out of a record-breaking 16 nominations.

Ryan Coogler joined an elite group of Black filmmakers, becoming only the second, after Jordan Peele, to win the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The Oakland native was met with a standing ovation as he took the stage to accept his first Oscar, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.

“Please, please, please sit down, ’cause I’m very nervous and they’re gonna play me off. I grew up in Oakland, California, and we can talk a lot,” he joked. “I wanna thank the Academy for thinking of our movie that came out almost a year ago. This is an incredible honor. I wanna thank my fellow nominees. I wanna thank y’all for the gifts that y’all movies were and for y’all’s friendship over the past years and months.”

Coogler went on to “thank everybody that was involved in this movie,” as well as Warner Bros. and the cast and crew of Sinners.

“You guys are amazing,” he added. “Oh my God, you are all winners in my book.”

Coogler, who attended the Oscars with his wife ,Zinzi Coogler, ended his speech by thanking her for her support and for producing the 1930s-set vampire film. He also thanked their three children and his mom.

“Zinzi, you’re the best wife and mom in the world. Every day I get to spend with you is better than the one that came before,” Coogler said. “And to my parents who are here, thank y’all for all the memories. Thank y’all for making me believe in myself. And to my babies that are at home watching, I apologize for all the time away. Dad loves you. Memories are all we have. I hope I’ve given you some great ones.”

Michael B. Jordan also earned his first Oscar, becoming the sixth Black man to win Best Actor and joining Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, and Will Smith. During his speech, he also paid tribute to Halle Berry, the only Black woman to win Best Actress.

“I stand here because of the people who came before me,” Jordan said. “To be amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys, thank you everybody in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it.”

More history was made when Sinners won the Oscar for Best Cinematography, making Autumn Durald Arkapaw the first woman to take home the award. Ludwig Göransson secured the film’s fourth Oscar with Best Original Score—his third win after composing the music for Black Panther and Oppenheimer.

The wins for Coogler and Jordan serve as a testament to their longtime creative partnership, which began with Coogler’s 2013 debut film “Fruitvale Station.”

Rep. Justin Pearson Flames Colleague’s Moral Compass, ‘You Need the Bible To Know Slavery Is Wrong?’

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 16, 2026

Rep. Justin Pearson Flames Colleague’s Moral Compass, ‘You Need the Bible To Know Slavery Is Wrong?’

When Reneau carried on about how the Bible provides instruction on how to treat slaves “kindly,” Pearson jumped in, calling her comments "unconscionable."

When a Republican Tennessee lawmaker tried to use the Bible to justify slavery, one of the darkest times in American history, Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson wasn’t having it.

In only the way Pearson could explain, the outspoken leader condemned the narrative of Rep. Michele Reneau, who cited scripture in a debate about slavery, saying “it is important not to dilute history” after being questioned about the Founding Fathers who once enslaved people.

Reneau said, “We need to know and understand what that is so that we don’t repeat those mistakes.” She then went a step further to say “the Bible also says that we will be judged in a time of our culture, and at that time, it was a common practice.”

When Reneau carried on about how the Bible provides instruction on how to treat enslaved people “kindly,” Pearson jumped in, calling her comments “unconscionable.” “It is nearly unconscionable to believe that you just articulated the theological vision of enslavers in this Capitol in the year 2026 as though it was OK,” he said.

He continued to school her on where she went wrong. “The Bible, which was written in many different iterations, but is articulating the time of thousands of years ago, was used as justification for enslavement that happened thousands of years later,” Pearson argued.

“But what is worse and what is deeply disturbing by what you just said is not how you are saying ‘and that was wrong or immoral,’ there is no question slavery was immoral, and you shouldn’t need a Bible to know that.”

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The comment section supported Pearson in educating Reneau on where she may have gone wrong, especially when she said, “Our Founding Fathers believed all men were created equal.”

“Our Founding Fathers believed all MEN were created equal, but did not consider Black Americans as men, but less than. So saying they moved us forward to where we are today is a lie and a misrepresentation of history. Start over,” @ivyleague3 said.

@itsgugugumede compared the congresswoman’s thoughts to the United States’ growing wars. “These are the same people who justify the wars today by saying the Lord favors Israel,” she wrote.

Pearson has never been afraid to speak out in defense of Black people and the civil rights of Tennesseans and American citizens. After being criticized on day one of his state congressional election, the lawmaker was attacked for wearing a dashki on the floor. He has faced arrest in protest and more.

He hopes to bring that same energy to the U.S. Congress, eyeing the seat of longtime Rep. Steve Cohen.

Tennessee is known to push religion as a way to support Republican-led initiatives. According to the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, House Bill 47, sponsored by Republican Rep. Michael Hale, seeks to include the display of the Ten Commandments and other items, such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, posted in public schools.

Democratic leaders like Pearson oppose the measure, arguing that it risks violating the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 16, 2026

Mike Epps Shows Fan Appreciation By Buying Her Clothes, Giving Tickets To Comedy Show

The comdian bought her an outfit, gave her $500 and a ticket to his comedy show in Celeveland

The generosity of comedian Mike Epps was on display on social media, as he posted a photo of himself hugging a fan after she chased him down when she saw him out in public recently.

The comedian, who had a show in Cleveland, posted the pic after he said she saw him out and about, and while she was chasing him down, screaming “Day-Day” (his character from the Friday movies), he stopped to speak to her. After discovering that she was “so sweet” and beautiful on the inside, he bought her an outfit, gave her money, and a ticket to his Cleveland show.

She is seen in the photo smiling and hugging the comedian in a store.

“This lady made my day she chased me down hollin day day she was funny af and so sweet beautiful inside and out I brought her a outfit and gave her 500 dollars and invited to the show in Cleveland tonight I had to force her to take the money 💵 make sure you love our sisters out thier y’all if you don’t have nothing good to say don’t say it at all 🌺🌹”

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Epps, who, according to Deadline, has released his fifth special for Netflix, Delusional on Jan. 27, is currently on the road for his We Them Ones Tour. This tour takes him to 35 major cities; it kicked off Feb. 6 in Louisville, Kentucky, and will wind down in Las Vegas on May 23.

“This one feels different,” Epps told the media outlet. “Delusional is the most honest I’ve ever been, and now I get to take that same energy back to the people. When we hit your city on the We Them Ones Tour, just know — I’m not holding nothing back.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 16, 2026

Morehouse School Of Medicine Gets Nearly $1M In Federal Funds For New Research Building

The money will go toward the school's new Academic & Research building.

Morehouse School of Medicine has received a lofty check from the federal government, all thanks to one Georgia congresswoman.

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams secured nearly $1 million, $950,000 to be exact, to help the medical school construct a new Academic & Research building. According to WSB-TV, the money stems from 2023 Community Project funding.

Williams, who represents Georgia’s 5th congressional district, also noted that the federal funding will aid the medical school’s expansion of biomedical research and workforce development. The congresswoman helped celebrate the occasion by presenting a check to the MSM President and CEO, Dr. Valerie Rice.

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Morehouse School of Medicine currently stands as the only historically Black medical school in Atlanta. Although no longer affiliated with Morehouse College, the school continues to educate a diverse population of medical students. According to the Princeton Review, roughly 80% of its student body identifies as Black.

MSM continues to serve as a pipeline for Black medical professionals, who remain underrepresented in the healthcare industry. With the Association of American Medical Colleges confirming that Black people accounted for only 5.3% of all medical professionals in 2023, this new funding seeks to level the playing field for greater medical diversity.

Now, this funding will go toward Morehouse’s efforts to advance its academic opportunities through research while also addressing healthcare inequities in the U.S. medical system. Rice also released a statement expressing the school’s gratitude for this gift.

“This investment helps Morehouse School of Medicine expand our campus and train more physicians and healthcare professionals who will serve communities here in Atlanta and across Georgia. We’re grateful to Congresswoman Nikema Williams for her leadership and her continued commitment to strengthening healthcare and education in our community,” Rice said.

As Morehouse School of Medicine produces the next generation of Black doctors, this monumental funding will ensure they have the training and research needed to treat diverse communities.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 16, 2026

Glen Davis Released From Prison After Serving 17 Months For Healthcare Scam

'I’m back, man. I’m back, baby!'

NBA Champion Glen Davis, who was known to basketball fans as Big Baby during his playing days, has been released after serving 17 months in prison for his role in defrauding the league’s health insurance plan.

A video was posted to social media showing Big Baby celebrating his release, saying, “I’m back, man. I’m back, baby.”

You & Diamond… Been playing gaaammmmeezzzz!! BIG BABY FREE!! WELCOME HOME KING KILO!! pic.twitter.com/R1CWkLLZsK
— Kris D. Lofton (@RealKrisDLofton) March 13, 2026

The former Celtics player was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison on May 9, 2024, after being found guilty of attempting to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan.

He was found guilty on Nov. 15, 2024, along with former NBA player Will Bynum of healthcare fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to make false statements, and conspiracy to commit healthcare and wire fraud. The two were among 16 other former players convicted for their role in the insurance scheme. He will also have to serve three years of supervised release and has been ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution.

“He used his time productively while serving his sentence and took many programs during that time,” Davis’ attorney, Brendan White, told The Athletic. “He’s ready to become a productive member of society again.”

Davis is released from prison, but still has to serve at a halfway house. He will enter the Long Beach Residential Reentry Management Office. As part of his stay, he will be enrolled in financial management classes and drug treatment that was mandated in his original sentence. He is slated to be there until his release on July 9. He will then face three years of supervised release.

The other former NBA players arrested and charged in the scheme are Milt Palacio, Antoine Wright, Charles Watson, Darius Miles, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Gregory Smith, Jamario Moon, Terrence Williams, Alan Anderson, Tony Allen, Shannon Brown, Melvin Ely, Christopher Douglas-Roberts, Sebastian Telfair, and Tony Wroten.

Davis, who won an NBA championship in 2008 with the Boston Celtics, also played for the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers.

by Ahsan Washington

March 16, 2026

Black Women’s Artwork That Everyone Should Have Eyes On

Black women artists have transformed modern art

Black women artists have persistently transformed modern art through their presence in museums and galleries as well as public art spaces. Their artistic production gives widespread recognition to both restore forgotten histories and celebrate Black existence while transforming institutional approaches to Black representation.

These artists create their most culturally significant modern artworks through portraiture, sculpture, photography, collage, and large-scale installations. The following selection features Black American women artists whose work has received both critical acclaim and institutional acknowledgment, and you should keep your eyes on them.

Amy Sherald: Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama (2018)

In 2018, artist Amy Sherald created a powerful portrait of former First Lady Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama. The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery commissioned the oil painting which became the official Obama portrait for their presidential collection. Sherald’s distinctive artistic approach breaks conventional portrait rules through her depiction of Obama, who sits before a light blue backdrop in a Milly-designed geometric dress. The painting’s effect is enhanced through Obama’s distinctive grayscale skin tones. The portrait’s debut attracted unprecedented crowds which established it as the museum’s most popular exhibition piece.

Simone Leigh: Brick House (2019)

The bronze sculpture “Brick House” by Chicago-born artist Simone Leigh debuted in 2019, as the first public art installation for the High Line Plinth program in New York City. The sculpture reaches about 16 feet above 10th Avenue Manhattan while merging a Black woman’s bust with architectural elements that reference African and African American building heritage. This artwork represents a continuing investigation by Leigh into Black womanhood alongside labor and public art representation of Black women.

Phyllis Stephens: The Movement of Material (2023)

In 2023, Atlanta-based quilt artist Phyllis Stephens showcased “The Movement of Material” textile series, which features large-scale quilted artworks that honor dance rhythms and storytelling abilities. Stephens displayed her hand-painted fabric-quilted artworks at Almine Rech Gallery in a solo exhibition which showed Black figures dancing through joyful, intimate, everyday moments. The ten-piece series unites African American quilting heritage with dance movement to study how rhythm and memory and community influence Black cultural identity. Stephens found her inspiration in the shared characteristics of quilting and dance because both disciplines need rhythm, structure, and emotional expression to create visual motion through color and fabric in each composition. The exhibition solidified Stephens’ status as a fifth-generation quilt maker who creates vibrant textile narratives that unite fine art with Black storytelling traditions.

LaToya Ruby Frazier: Flint Is Family (2016)

In 2016, documentary photographer LaToya Ruby Frazier started the photographic project “Flint Is Family” while she covered the water crisis in Flint. Frazier received a commission from Elle magazine to document the crisis, yet she spent several months living among the community members while she focused her lens on poet and activist Shea Cobb and her family. Frazier portrays the human side of the environmental disaster that impacted Flint residents.The photographic collection depicts family in everyday routines alongside activist activities. The images demonstrate the impact of water contamination on ordinary life in the predominantly Black urban area. The initial photo essay developed into a multi-year project called “Flint Is Family in Three Acts.”

Mickalene Thomas: Resist (2016)

The 2016 mixed-media painting “Resist” by Mickalene Thomas depicts a Black woman who reclines amid colorful patterned fabrics and rhinestone decorations. These elements are hallmarks of Thomas’ artistic style. This artwork demonstrates Thomas’ continuous effort to redefine traditional art history while promoting Black feminine representation in modern visual arts.

https://avantarte.com/products/mickalene-thomas-resist

Deborah Roberts: Let Them Be Children (2018)

The 2018, “Let Them Be Children” was created by Austin-based mixed-media artist Deborah Roberts. The collage shows groups of Black children through its combination of photographic fragments and painted elements. The artwork joined institutional collections after its creation and established Roberts as a leading contemporary artist who examines race identity and childhood in America.

Jordan Casteel: The Baayfalls (2017)

In 2017, painter Jordan Casteel created “The Baayfalls,” a large-scale portrait which shows two Senegalese street vendors working in Harlem, New York. The painting became a mural installation which was displayed along NYC’s High Line during 2019-2020. Casteel wanted to bring attention to the ordinary people who form the backbone of Harlem’s community with her artwork. Through bold color and intimate composition, she presents her subjects with dignity and individuality. Through her work, Casteel has helped to broaden contemporary portraiture by capturing Black urban life in America.

Bisa Butler: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (2019)

In 2019, textile artist Bisa Butler made a quilted portrait called “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Butler used layered African wax fabrics and patterned textiles to create the portrait, which was inspired by Maya Angelou’s autobiography of the same name. Through this work, Butler demonstrates her commitment to advancing quilting as a contemporary fine art form while honoring its Black American cultural heritage. The Art Institute of Chicago and the Smithsonian American Art Museum have displayed Butler’s quilts to recognize their artistic significance.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 16, 2026

Gun Rights Advocates Seen Handing Out AR-15 Magazine Rounds Outside Virginia Capitol Amid Assault Weapon Ban

Protestors like Todd Askins and Jason Redman of TurboVets feel “our rights are being assaulted” with the proposed legislation.

Gun rights advocates felt the best way to protest the new ban on the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in Virginia was to hand out AR-15 magazines outside of the Virginia Capitol building.

Hundreds gathered outside the building on March 14 for a rally to protest the new legislation that was sent to the desk of new Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger to sign, WTVR reports. If she signs, after July 1, the sale, manufacture, and importation of guns classified as assault weapons and magazines holding more than 15 rounds will be prohibited. But those who are already owners are allowed to keep them. Advocate Todd Askins was one of the protestors seen handing out close to $30,000 worth of 30-round capacity magazines.

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He said he feels “our rights are being assaulted,” while Jason Redman of TurboVets labeled the legislation as being a broader threat to constitutional rights. “Here in Virginia, right now, we are seeing drastic attempts to erode one of our most important freedoms: Our Second Amendment,” Redman said.

If signed, Virginia would become the 10th state to enact such bans, according to the Washington Examiner.

But it seems Redman and Askins aren’t the only ones who feel the bill is unconstitutional. Recently, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled that banning magazines with over 10 rounds is a violation of the Second Amendment, with President Donald Trump’s DOJ pushing a lawsuit against the District of Columbia over its assault weapons ban.

But they are up for a fight. The bill’s sponsor, state Democratic Sen. Saddam Salim, described the law as being intended to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, citing the 2007 mass shooting at Virginia Tech, known as one of the deadliest in U.S. history. “The overall goal of this bill is to ensure that we have less weapons of war on the street,” Salim said.

Salim claimed the lack of legislative action against gun violence has gone on too long. But advocates have pushed back on his argument, citing that the V-Tech assailant used a .22-caliber Walther and a 9 mm Glock — both being handguns — and not AR-15s.

However, there are several times when assault rifles were deemed as a threat to those who were not. . Like in St. Louis, when Mark McCloskey and his wife Patricia made headlines for pointing assault weapons at a group of peaceful Black Lives Matter protestors passing by their home.

As the video of the protestors handing out magazines, the same ones to be banned under the proposed legislation and donated by manufacturer Magpul, comments started to flood in with criticism — especially when a magazine was handed to a child. “This is so weird .. and they give it to a kid but they think drag queens are bad for kids?,” @el-danny_c wrote.

Other users feel these participants should be signed up to go to war “since they want to play war games.” “Sign them up and ship them out to Iran They want to play war games,” @damonwilliamscomedy said.

There seems to be some positive parameters under the legislation, if signed into law, like owners who no longer want their assault weapons being allowed to transfer them to a licensed firearms dealer or to someone outside of state lines who has licenses to legally own one.

The weapons can also be inherited by an immediate family member, but some groups, such as law enforcement and federal facility security personnel, are exempt from these restrictions.

Misty Copeland Returns To Dance For ‘Sinners’ Performance At Oscars Amid Ballet Diss

Copeland returned from ballet retirement to take part in the historic Oscars performance.

Misty Copeland has returned to the ballet scene for one night after an Oscar nominee dissed the art form.

Copeland laced up her shoes to dance on the Oscars stage during ‘Sinners’ star Miles Canton and Raphael Saddiq’s performance of “I Lied To You.” The song was a hit off the film’s soundtrack and nominated for best song at the March 15 awards ceremony.

The first Black principal dancer for the American Ballet took part in the special showcase, which celebrated the song’s ties to blues music. Despite retiring last October, Copeland graced the stage yet again as a highlight of the Oscar night.

As for Copeland’s participation, her return to ballet highlighted the art form’s storied history and enduring appeal, despite recent comments dismissing the discipline. However, her inclusion in the performance was already in the works, with “Sinners” Director Ryan Coogler having special plans for her look.

“Ryan Coogler was really interested in having me wear a costume that represented one of the iconic roles that I’ve danced in my career,” Copeland shared, according to Vogue. “Swan Lake came up and then Firebird. And I think Firebird really connected to the film and the song in particular, in which there are all of these different spirits of history and culture and music and dance coming up.”

Her outfit also made history for the evening, with her Firebird costume used in the original 1982 production by the Dance Theater of Harlem. The costume even features a Sankofa emblem, a symbol used by the Akan people of Ghana. The symbol’s meaning of “‘going back to get it’ further ties to the film’s theme of connection across generations.

While a vibrant display of Black artistic culture, the performance held another bout of significance. “Marty Supreme” actor Timothee Chalamet, who lost in the “Best Actor” category to “Sinners” lead Michael B. Jordan, made divisive comments regarding older art forms such as ballet and opera.

Many fans and artists in these fields lost respect for the actor after he undermined the art forms during a recent CNN town hall. Naysayers described the comments as offensive and tone-deaf, especially for a fellow artist.

Before making her grand statement on stage, Copeland joined in the critique of Chalamet’s words as the comments gained traction. Previously covered on BLACK ENTERPRISE, she noted how Chalamet invited her to help with his “Marty Supreme” promotion despite his views toward ballet.

While she understood how interest in these arts has declined, that does not mean their overall impact has withered away. Copeland also proclaimed that Chalamet would not even have his esteemed acting career if these disciplines had not paved the way for cinema.

The ballet prodigy added, “[Chalamet] wouldn’t be an actor and have the opportunities he has as a movie star if it weren’t for opera and ballet and their relevance in that medium. So all of these mediums have a space and we shouldn’t be comparing them.”

While her words garnered praise, her Oscars dance in front of Chalamet also proved that ballet and opera remain relevant in society and the arts.