by Sharelle B. McNair

September 4, 2025

Saint Augustine’s University Interim President Steps Down As Fall Semester Classes Begin

Burgess’ resignation cited “personal reasons.”

The drama at Saint Augustine’s University (SAU) continues as students start classes while the interim president, Marcus H. Burgess, resigned after only 18 months in the post, Inside HigherEd reported.

Burgess’ last day was Aug. 30 but school officials say he submitted his letter of resignation Jul. 16. citing “personal reasons.” The announcement came down as students started classes for the fall semester online. “We extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Burgess for his leadership and service during a pivotal period in the University’s history. His commitment and dedication to the mission of Saint Augustine’s University have been deeply valued,” the statement from SAU’s Board of Trustees read.

Provost Verjanis A. Peoples will step in as Saint Augustine’s interim president until a permanent leader is named.

The resignation comes as the Raleigh-based HBCU recently became re-accredicated following a lengthy legal battle with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, who stripped SAU of its accreditation amid financial and governance issues in late 2023. Peoples will now take over for Burgess, a veteran HBCU administrator, who is added to the list of leader turnover for the school.

The school was briefly led in 2020 by Irving Pressley McPhail, who passed away due to complications from COVID-19. His wife, Christine McPhail, ultimately stepped in as president but was later fired in 2023. McPhail and the Board are currently facing a legal battle in court after she sued the board over accusations of gender-based discrimination.

Burgess isn’t the only one resigning. According to ABC 11, Chairman of the Board, Brian Boulware, also stepped away from his role but will remain listed as a trustee. SaveSAU Coalition, a nonprofit organization consisting of concerned alumni, students, parents, and former administrators and faculty, released a statement as the change of leadership was handed down, saying this was what they were worried about. “While these developments mark a shift, the Coalition warned against what it calls ‘boardroom musical chairs — reshuffling titles without addressing the deep failures of governance that have pushed the University into crisis,” the group said.

“Lenders have already made it plain: until both Boulware and Vice Chair Perry are gone, there will be no financing for Saint Augustine’s…When the music stops, failed leaders must step aside. Anything less is more of the same dysfunction that has brought this University to the brink.” The nonprofit filed a lawsuit against Boulware and the Board of Trustees in 2024 citing how the university “now teeters on the edge of chaos, brought to its knees by the utter neglect of its board of trustees and especially its most recent chairmen, Defendants Brian Boulware and James Perry.”

The suit accuses Boulware of being “dictatorial and vindictive” and “more concerned with lining his own pockets than leading the university.”

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 4, 2025

Happy B-Day Wishes Are In Order For Beyoncé And SirDavis Whisky

Whisky lovers are toasting to the woman and the spirit

Happy first anniversary to SirDavis American Whisky! A year ago, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Moët Hennessy made waves in the spirits industry with its launch.

On Beyoncé’s 44th birthday, whisky lovers are not only toasting to the woman and SirDavis spirits, but also to a remarkable year of success per usual. Beyoncé has taken fans by storm, from Cowboy Carter Tour, to a Levii denim jeans partnership, to winning her first Emmy Award for Beyoncé Bowl and it’s been quite the ride. However, it’s kick-back time, relaxation time, and time to raise a glass to what’s ahead. Fans can celebrate with SirDavis in three great pours:

Honey Bee

For The End-Of-Summer Soiree:

Ingredients:
2 oz SirDavis American Whisky
.75 oz Lemon Juice
.5 oz Honey Syrup*
Garnish: Honeycomb
Instructions: Add liquid ingredients to a shaker tin with ice going in last. Shake for dilution and pour into a coupe glass. Garnish with honeycomb.

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.

Davis Old Fashioned

For the early fall nightcap

Ingredients:

2 oz SirDavis American Whisky

.25 oz Honey Syrup*

2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Garnish: Lemon Twist & Brandied Cherry

Instructions: In a mixing glass, add all ingredients. Stir for dilution and strain into a rocks glass over a large cube. Garnish with an orange twist & brandied cherry.

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.

Texas Buckiin’

For the Cowboy Carter Tour Reminiscent

Ingredients:
1.5 oz SirDavis American Whisky
.25 oz Lemon Juice
.25 oz Honey Syrup*
4-5 oz Ginger Beer
Garnish: Lemon wedge
Instructions: Pour SirDavis Whisky into glass with ice then squeeze fresh lemon juice into a glass with honey simple syrup and add ginger beer. Gently stir, garnish with horse medallion pick through lemon wedge, and serve.

*To make honey syrup, add 2 parts honey and 1 part water into a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Allow to cool and transfer to an airtight container.

OneUnited Bank, Roxbury, Massachusetts, Kevin Cohee, Roxbury, black-owned

by Jameelah Mullen

September 4, 2025

OneUnited Bank Announces Winners Of ‘I Got Bank!’ Youth Financial Literacy And Art Contest

Organizers say they saw an increase in children’s financial literacy this year.

OneUnited Bank, the nation’s largest Black-owned bank, announced the winners of its 15th annual “I Got Bank!” Youth Financial Literacy Essay & Art Contest. The contest aims to promote financial literacy, especially among young people.

The 2025 winners, aged 8-12, include Jasmine Curd, Andrew Elus, Rusty Fisher, Jai Irby, Brandon Littlejohn, Jalonie Lue Shue, Zoë Madison Orndorff, Arfa Mohamed, Alanna Oguadimma, and Jacob Phillips.

Each winner received a $1,000 savings account.

In a 250-word essay, the winners shared their financial literacy journeys and explained how the knowledge would benefit them and their families. The panel of judges included Teri Williams, president and chief operating officer of OneUnited, and Sherri Brewer, the bank’s senior vice president and chief retail officer.

“In 2025, we saw growth in children’s understanding of money, including the cost of food and other necessities. They expressed a desire to help their families, which may be a reflection of the current economic climate. We are proud to ignite family conversations about money, which will improve their financial well-being.” Williams said in a press release.

Williams, the author of I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me about Money, said she was inspired to write the book because she noticed a lack of educational tools geared at teaching urban youth about financial literacy.

“I could not find a book about personal finance from the perspective of urban youth, Williams said on the bank’s website. “Yet, when children learn the lessons of financial literacy at a young age, they form strong habits that can be life-changing.”

Additionally, OneUnited Bank provides the Financial Education Center, an online resource designed to help people of all ages understand various financial processes. Its online modules include education about building emergency savings, homeownership, starting a small business, and preparing for retirement. Bank owners hope that these online tools will improve financial knowledge and skills for people nationwide.

OneUnited Bank is an 11-time recipient of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Bank Enterprise Award for community development.

Black female student in the classroom, Public School, Classroom

by Jameelah Mullen

September 4, 2025

Africatown-Based Organization Partners With DHL On Free Trade School

Graduates will receive a certificate issued by DHL Global Forwarding.

The Pollee and Rose Allen School of Logistics & Trade, a free trade school, has started the second semester of its online program for careers in logistics and trade industries. The school is a partnership between DHL and Embracing Your Past to Empower Your Future, a nonprofit organization that honors enslaved people who came to Mobile, Alabama, on the Clotilda slave ship.

The school launched its inaugural semester on Feb. 6, 2025, in Mobile. Six students graduated from that class. In its next semester, beginning Sept. 4, the courses will delve more deeply into shipping and the global supply chain industry to better prepare students for careers in the field.

The free online program, sponsored by DHL Global Forwarding, a division of DHL, provides weekly 90-minute courses designed to prepare students for a range of high-demand logistics careers. Most of these jobs do not require a college degree, but they do need specialized skills that students can learn at the Pollee and Rose Allen School of Logistics & Trade. People working in this industry have the potential to earn six-figure salaries.

With classes taught by industry professionals, students gain a realistic view of working in the field. Additionally, students will attend monthly sessions with industry leaders.

While the school primarily targets students aged 16 to 24, older students seeking a career change are encouraged to apply and may be admitted with special permission.

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A post shared by Lori Ann LaRocco (@loriannlarocco)

The school is named after Pollee and Rose Allen, who were kidnapped from Africa and brought illegally to the U.S. in 1860 on the Clotilda. This slave ship arrived in Mobile, 53 years after Congress passed the Act Prohibiting the Importation of Slaves. The couple, alongside 30 other Clotilda survivors, founded Africatown, an all-Black community north of Mobile.

“This initiative is more than just education—it’s about empowerment and creating opportunities that have historically been out of reach for many in our community. We are honored to keep their names alive through this program,” Veda Robbins, the the school administrator and descendant of Pollee and Rose Allen, told Eurweb.

Graduates of the semester-long program will receive a certificate issued by DHL Global Forwarding. Those interested in enrolling in future classes should visit the Embracing Your Past website.

Rikers Island, Correction Officer, Inmates, Prison

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 4, 2025

6 Wrongfully Convicted Men To Share Stories In Stage Play ‘The Lynched Among Us’

A new true-crime stage play shares the harrowing stories of wrongfully convicted men.

Six wrongfully convicted men are reclaiming their narratives by sharing their experiences in a new stage play they helped create.

Alfred Cleveland and Lamont Clark are two of six men sharing their stories in The Lynched Among Us, a new true-crime stage play premiering at Playhouse Square on Sept. 5.

“We called our play ‘The Lynched Among Us’ because it was like a modern-day lynching,” Clark told News 5 Cleveland. “People will make an allegation. They will mob up, go get the person and do what they have to do them.”

Clark served 23 years in prison and Cleveland, 26 years, both for wrongful convictions. In the true-crime stage play, they will share their harrowing journeys, revealing the blood, sweat, and tears it took to survive and challenge a broken system.

”This is the struggle. This is the dark times and the emergence from that,” Cleveland said.

Charles Jackson, owner of SweetRoz Ice Cream Parlor in Euclid and wrongfully imprisoned for 27 years, says sharing their story is worth the pain if it can educate and protect others. Acknowledging the difficulty of confronting such trauma, Jackson encourages parents to bring their children to see the play.

”Somebody needs to bring their kids to watch our play and all our stories; they’re going to resonate with somebody, and somebody is going to get something out of it,” Jackson said.

Jackson, Laurese Glover, RuEl Sailor, and Michael Sutton have all been exonerated after serving 15 to 27 years for wrongful convictions. Meanwhile, Cleveland and Clark continue to fight their wrongful convictions, even after spending over 20 years imprisoned for crimes they say they did not commit.

Jerome Chambers, who also endured a wrongful conviction, co-directed and stars in the play, hoping it will inspire and educate audiences.

“This is healing, this is brotherhood, this is the images of strong Black men that need to be seen in the media,” Chambers said.

Besides the Sept. 5 performance at Playhouse Square, The Lynched Among Us will also show on Sept. 26 in Cincinnati at the School of Creative and Performing Arts.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 4, 2025

Burkina Faso Joins Other African Nations With Anti-Homosexuality Laws, Pushing Prison Time For Offenders

Burkina Faso is known for being socially conservative and religious with under 10% of people not following any faith at all.

Burkina Faso is joining a list of African nations adopting anti-homosexuality legislation, banning LGBTQ+ acts, with offenders facing serious prison time and fines, Associated Press reports.

Parliament’s law was passed Sept. 1, with the amended family code approved following a unanimous vote, putting the law into effect more than a year after being approved by the military government under the leadership of Capt. Ibrahim Traore. During a television broadcast, Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala described homosexual acts as “bizarre behavior, with individuals in same-sex relationships facing two to five years in prison under the new law.

Pushing the narrative that Burkina Faso is recognizing “marriage and family values,” the judge laid out the risks of homosexual relationships. “The law provides for a prison sentence ranging from two to five years and a fine,” he said, according to NBC News.

“A person who (engages in) homosexual practices … will appear before a judge and, in the event of a repeat offense, be deported if you are not a Burkinabe national.”

Human rights advocates have criticized the African nation after a coup in 2022, resulting in the country being taken over by the military, claiming it was a way to stabilize the country that was allegedly approaching a security crisis and required better governance. Restrictions for members of the LGBTQ community add to the issue, in addition to pushing against legal recourse in nationality cases.

Burkina Faso is known for being socially conservative and religious, with under 10% of people not following any faith at all. More than half of Africa’s 54 countries have enacted laws banning homosexuality with harsh penalties ranging from years in prison to the death penalty. In 2023, Uganda approved a bill that includes death and life sentences in prison.

Documents list same-sex intercourse with persons under 18, an “offender” who is HIV+, or a person who even identifies as LGBTQ, as aggravated homosexuality.

Ghana passed similar legislation, the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values,” labeling being openly gay as a criminal act. Under provisions of the bill, people who engage in LGBTQ sexual acts risk six months to three years behind bars. People who participate in “wilful promotion, sponsorship, or support of LGBTQ+ activities” may receive a sentence of three to five years.

However, activist groups pushed back, adding pressure for Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, to reject the bill, also referred to as the Anti-Gay Bill. While he never openly supported the bill, he has mentioned that gay marriage will never be allowed under his reign.

In 2024, the neighboring country of Mali, an ally of Burkina Faso, faced mass criticism for adopting legislation criminalizing homosexuality. The law prompted the World Bank to impose a ban on Uganda’s borrowing money, resulting in the ban being lifted.

Black Owned Luxury Concierge Service in Martha's Vineyard

by Mitti Hicks

September 4, 2025

Meet The Black Women Who Just Launched Luxury Concierge Service In Martha’s Vineyard

The Inner Circle combines cultural heritage, exclusive access, and personalized service for its members. Access is application- and invitation-only.

Two powerhouses in their own right have launched a Black-owned luxury concierge service in Martha’s Vineyard. India Rose is a longtime resident, real estate agent, and founder of the Martha’s Vineyard Black Owned Business Directory. Angella Henry, a leader in the hospitality industry, is the owner of The Dragonfly House, a sought-after historic property on the African American Heritage Trail.

The two have joined forces and are utilizing their insider access for the luxury management service, The Inner Circle.

“Angella and I are great friends, and over the last couple of years, we have had a lot of folks who were reaching out to both of us in similar capacities with the work I do with the directory and what she does at The Dragonfly House,” Rose tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It was time to formalize it.”

Henry and Rose are making it easier for people to communicate, plan, and execute curated celebrations, vacations, corporate events, and more in this premier destination. The Inner Circle combines cultural heritage, exclusive access, and personalized service for its members. Access is application- and invitation-only. Services will be available to members year-round. Packages range from seasonal to annual.

Once selected, members will also have access to private events, heritage tours, and one-of-a-kind experiences. For Henry and Rose, the benefits of a membership extend far beyond the island, offering members white-glove support wherever life or leisure takes them.

“We bring our members into spaces and moments that many simply can’t access on their own,” Henry said in a statement. “It’s about legacy, impact, leisure, and unforgettable memories.”

Prioritizing Black- and Women-owned Vendors

As a resident of Martha’s Vineyard and someone who grew up on the islands, Rose recognized from a young age that businesses survive and thrive for a short period of time in the summer.

The summer population and year-round population are vastly different. Both women recognize that the seasonal economy can provide extra hurdles for Black-owned businesses, which is why they are prioritizing Black-owned and women-owned companies in The Inner Circle’s directory.

“Driving and prioritizing Black spending dollars to Black-owned businesses helps to ensure that these businesses are still here when people come back the following year,” says Rose. “It’s a priority for me to keep the legacy of Black people, Black businesses, and Black travelers alive.”

The Inner Circle officially launched over Labor Day weekend at the Mariposa Museum in Oak Bluffs. For more information and to inquire about membership, visit the website.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 4, 2025

Tracee Ellis Ross’ Home Burglarized; Thieves Steal Over $100K In Handbags And Jewelry

Tracee Ellis Ross joins the growing list of celebrity home break-ins.

Actress Tracee Ellis Ross was the victim of a home break-in at her Los Angeles home on Aug. 31 while she was out of town.

Police obtained security footage showing three intruders shatter through a rear glass door and leave with more than $100,000 worth of jewelry and handbags, NBC Los Angeles reports. The break-in wasn’t reported until around 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 2, after staff arrived at the home and found it ransacked.

Ross’ burglary is the latest in a wave of celebrity home invasions across Los Angeles. In June, Brad Pitt’s Los Feliz home was broken into while he was away, and rapper Macklemore was targeted the same month when intruders assaulted his nanny with bear mace before fleeing with clothes, jewelry, and shoes.

Ross, 52, the daughter of Motown icon Diana Ross and music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein, is an award-winning actress with three NAACP Image Awards and a Golden Globe for her role on Black-ish. Her travel series, Solo Traveling With Tracee Ellis Ross, was renewed for a second season last month.

The renewal came just a month after its July premiere, when it became Roku’s most-watched unscripted series.

“The way the show is resonating feels truly special —all of the comments, the conversations, the connection…my cup runneth over,” Ross said in a statement. “So here’s to all the solo travelers out there, the aspiring solo travelers, those who share in the joy of solo travel by watching me do it and, of course, to my fellow over-packers! There’s so much more to see and do—the world is our oyster! I can’t wait to see where I’ll be going next and to bring all of you along.”

Season one followed Ross’s travels through Morocco, Mexico, and Spain, where she indulged in local culture and cuisine while offering honest reflections on the transformative power of self-discovery in solo travel.

by Kandiss Edwards

September 4, 2025

CDC Employees Are Hesitant To Return To Work After Fatal Shooting

CDC staff are returning to the office after last month's shooting. However, a local union says employee trauma is not being considered.

Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta continue to express deep unease about returning to offices after last month’s deadly shooting.

The new Chief Operating Officer, Lynda Chapman, sent a message to CDC employees. In the email, Chapman informed employees that all personnel must report back to their approved on-campus offices by Sept. 15, Fox 5 reported.

Chapman stated that “significant progress on repairs” is underway and that “alternative on-campus space will be provided” to those whose work areas remain damaged.

But CDC union leaders say the mandate does not take into consideration the trauma that lingers amongst staff. Peter Farruggia, executive board member of AFGE Local 2883 union, spoke to the physical reminders in the building that may impact employees. Farruggia insisted that the visible damage serves as a constant reminder of the shooting, pointing out that, “there will absolutely still be bullet holes in the windows.”

A colleague of Farruggia, and union treasurer, Reese Williams, talked about their efforts thus far, stating, “I think it makes sense, we’re one of the largest unions, and we have been doing a lot of work.”

The fatal CDC attack on August 8 propelled preexisting employee fears into the spotlight. The union had previously demanded stronger security and a public denouncement of vaccine conspiracy theories, beliefs which authorities said motivated the shooter. Even before the order to return, internal sources described staff as “ridiculously traumatized” by the breach and its aftermath, with many questioning whether the environment was ever truly safe again.

According to a Government Executive report, employee anxiety persists despite some returning voluntarily, many requiring lab access or essential duties, while others face lingering questions about structural safety, including bulletproofing, exits, and security protocols.

With the CDC return-to-office deadline looming, local leadership is urging compliance to avoid further job losses, even as the union presses for more security enhancements. Farruggia declared, “Please comply. We understand it still might be uncomfortable, but do not give them any reason or leeway to fire you.” He continued, “We’re not going anywhere.”

The mix of physical damage, emotional distress, and federal pressure has turned the return to campus into a deeply fraught and symbolic moment, one that highlights ongoing challenges reclaiming a sense of safety and normalcy in the nation’s public health nerve center.

Amazon Prime Video, ads, commercial, revenue, subscription

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 4, 2025

Amazon Says Goodbye Prime Account Sharing

The e-commerce conglomerate started to send notices of plans to dump its Prime Invitee Program by Oct. 1.

In an effort to crack down on users sharing account services, Amazon is eliminating its Prime subscription program that allowed users to share free shipping benefits with people outside their homes, CNBC reports.

The e-commerce conglomerate started to send notices about plans to discontinue its Prime Invitee Program by Oct. 1, eliminating a benefit that permitted non-Prime members to experience free, two-day shipping with the use of a different address. “We are writing to inform you that the Prime Invitee Program, which allowed sharing Prime’s fast, free delivery with others, will end on October 1, 2025,” the notice read.

“Your invited guests will be notified directly about this change by September 5, 2025.”

As word got out, some shoppers inquired as to why they hadn’t received the notice yet. According to USA Today, an Amazon spokesperson said the notice was sent to customers who signed up for the program between its 2009 launch and 2015, when the program stopped accepting new members.

Following in the footsteps of other major corporations, such as Netflix and Hulu, Amazon is making the change after a report from Reuters highlighted U.S. Prime sign-ups, typically increasing in time for the company’s annual Prime Day held in July 2025, fell short of the total from 2024.

The company will now require invitees who don’t live with the account holder to sign up for their own Prime membership, as an Amazon spokesperson said membership has shown signs of “strong growth and customer engagement in the U.S. and internationally.” All Prime users must share the same residential address, or the “address you consider to be your home and where you spend the majority of your time.”

However, there is a small loophole for some Amazon members. On its website, the company stated that Prime members with Amazon Family can still share benefits with one other adult, up to four teens or children added before April 7, 2025. “Prime members can instead share a broad range of Prime benefits with Amazon Family, including: fast, free delivery; access to exclusive deals and shopping events like Prime Day; movies, series, and live sports with Prime Video; Amazon Music and additional digital entertainment; access to a free Grubhub+ membership; and fuel savings at more than 7,500 bp, Amoco, and participating ampm locations,” the company said.

While some users may feel that Amazon’s moves may be due to financial issues, Massachusetts-based Babson College professor Lauren Beitelspacher said the decision was probably made after learning the Prime Invitee Program isn’t as profitable as expected — or as it once was. “The program was likely initially introduced as almost a referral program in the hopes that sharing the shipping option would encourage people to sign up for all the Prime offerings,” Beitelspacher wrote.

“My guess is that it didn’t happen, so now Amazon will look to other avenues to recruit new customers.”

She also feels the move might increase sign-ups, but it is a risk. “Taking that away from customers might encourage them to join…Prime, but Amazon does run the risk of potentially losing that customer to other companies that have advanced their own shipping capacities,” the professor continued.

As some users were concerned about losing access to Prime altogether, Amazon recommends asking a Prime member in their household to add them to their Family account, or simply getting their own Prime membership, with a standard plan running for $14.99 per month.