by Daniel Johnson

September 2, 2025

Wells Fargo Quietly Removes Page Detailing Its Long History Of Diversity

Throughout the year, Wells Fargo has appeared to methodically cleanse its website of references to diversity.

Wells Fargo has become the latest company to remove or rebrand its public-facing language concerning diversity, equity, and inclusion, as an analysis conducted by HR Brew determined that the company has completely removed all diversity language from its website.

According to Fortune, the move from the bank follows an announcement in February that its hiring managers no longer needed to consider a diverse slate of candidates. Although that appeared at the time to be the only major change to its broader DEI policies, on Aug. 15, protestors demanded that the company reinstate that policy in addition to its environmental commitments.

Wells Fargo discretely deleted its DEI page detailing a long history of diversity and inclusion work dating back to the early 1800s The company’s website now refers to the program as “inclusion and accessibility” and features a host of other changes pic.twitter.com/kXh1VMOzBq
— Crystal Ball Markets (@crystalballmkt) August 31, 2025

Throughout the year, Wells Fargo has appeared to methodically cleanse its website of references to diversity, including its work with the nation’s first national organization for lesbians, its support of Japanese Americans who were held in American concentration camps, and Spanish-language support, which dates back to the 1800s.

Furthermore, the bank also removed its DEI landing page, sub-page, and related content, including its annual DEI report, racial equity assessment, and pay equity analysis.

Although Ebony Thomas, the company’s head of DEI, still occupies the position she was appointed to in May 2024, the company appears to have pivoted on DEI to avoid any potential legal ramifications.

The bank has, however, retained aspects of DEI that legal experts consider less open to risk of litigation, including its recruitment of military veterans and their spouses, supporting disabled workers, and its Neurodiversity Program, which it established in 2020.

The protest in Charlotte, led by Rev. Amy Brooks-Paradise, was centered on climate justice and wealth distribution as she communicated to WCNC Charlotte.

“We need to stop having a fossil fuel economy,” Rev. Brooks-Paradise said. “We really want them to reinstate those goals and to actively work hard with other banks and other financiers to make a just transition to a clean energy future. It’s wealth allocation. If everybody who has a lot of money and makes those big salaries looks like me, it means that wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few.”

According to multiple outlets, Wells Fargo has neither commented on the protest nor answered questions about the rollback of its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Despite the actions of Wells Fargo and other companies, Roger Trapp, a U.K.-based journalist who has covered management and leadership for 30 years, asserted in an op-ed for Forbes that these companies need to reset their diversity programs instead of abandoning them.

newborn. Adriana Smith, Georgia, coma, baby

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 2, 2025

Newborn Baby Born To Brain-Dead Mother In Georgia Remains In Critical Condition

The baby's grandmothers continue to advocate for his late mother's life.

The newborn baby born under controversial circumstances to a brain-dead mother remains in the NICU.

The child was born to Adriana Smith, a pregnant woman who, under the LIFE Act in Georgia, was kept alive at a hospital despite being brain dead. Smith was only eight weeks pregnant at the time, but was kept on life support until the doctors felt they could deliver the baby. The medical case garnered national headlines for its implications in medical ethics.

However, the newborn remains in critical condition, born in June at just under five pounds. Upon his birth, his mother was taken off life support and died shortly after.

Now, his grandmother, April Newkirk, and great-grandmother continue to advocate for both him and his late mother. The relatives remain in shock over the ordeal, as they try to juggle both healing from the strained loss while hoping their newest member can stay alive.

“It’s not getting any better day by day,” explained Newkirk, according to Black News. “Something’s been taken away from us, and I think about her every day, all the time.”

The family has also taken care of Smith’s older son, 7-year-old Chase. The young boy also had to get counseling to cope with the unexpected and confusing loss of his mother. The family has spoken out against Georgia’s abortion laws that prevented them from burying Smith for months, and putting her then-unborn child at risk as well.

“This didn’t have to happen,” added Newkirk. “The law needs to be changed. Women have rights; it’s their body.”

Given the strict abortion law, doctors kept Smith’s physical body alive despite declaring her brain dead from severe blood clots. The LIFE Act bans abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected, typically at six weeks. However, unclear rules regarding the mother being brain dead resulted in medical professionals keeping Smith on life support.

The family has vocalized their opposition to the legislation and wants to prevent other women from enduring such matters. Reproductive rights advocates also continue to amplify Smith’s story and life, which was taken out of her control.

In the meantime, Smith’s loved ones hope for the baby’s wellness while still urging lawmakers for change.

vegan, Atlanta, burglaries, theft, lLife Bistro

by Mary Spiller

September 2, 2025

Atlanta Vegan Restaurant Battles Crime Wave as Owner Faces Closure Threat

'Over the last two years, we’ve had about five attempted break-ins. One of those times they actually got into the restaurant.'

A vegan restaurant in Southwest Atlanta is fighting to keep the doors open due to mounting financial strain due to crime.

Life Bistro, located in the Sylvan Hills neighborhood and owned by Issa Prescott, has endured five attempted break-ins over the past two years, Prescott said. The crimes have resulted in stolen equipment, cash, and damage costing more than $5,000 in repairs.

“Every single time they break the glass, that’s $1,000,” he said. “Not only do you have to replace the glass, but then you have to replace the locks on the doors.”

Security footage from July shows thieves throwing rocks through glass doors and forcing their way into the building. Items stolen over time include cash, iPads, point-of-sale systems, and even an employee’s shoes. Prescott said that despite making the restaurant cashless to deter theft, criminals have not stopped.

Prescott told Channel 2 Action News that these expenses have pushed the business to the brink of closing. Yet, he remains steadfast about staying put.

“We’ve had comments on Instagram, ‘Why don’t you move to a different neighborhood?’ and we’re not going anywhere,” Prescott said. “This is a food desert. We’re the only healthy eating option around here, and that was one of our visions when we opened—to provide healthier choices where there weren’t any.”

To help offset security expenses, Prescott has launched a fundraiser to pay for protective gates and other improvements. “We’re here to make a difference and offer a safe and healthy food option for people in this community,” he said.

He added, “We employ over 15 staff who support their families on the salaries they make from the restaurant. We operate on very thin margins and simply do not have the funds to cover this major expense. Whatever you can give to help is much appreciated.”

Atlanta police say local businesses can request extra patrols to combat crime in the area, but for Prescott, community support may be the key to keeping Life Bistro alive.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 2, 2025

Detroit Community Looking For Missing 17-Year-Old Black Girl

The Detroit community has been called upon to help bring Dajenea Moore home.

The Detroit Police have asked the surrounding community to help look for a missing 17-year-old Black girl who never came home.

Dajenea Moore was last seen Aug. 27. According to ClickonDetroit, she left her home in the Oakman Boulevard district without permission that evening, but failed to return. Now, police have released a public notice for anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward.

“Please help us find missing Dajenea Moore,” detailed the post. “If you have any information, please call the Detroit Police Department’s 10th Precinct at 313-596-1040.”

The report lists Moore as 5 feet 5 inches, weighing between 150 and 160 pounds. She was last seen wearing a grey and red hoodie with black pants.

As the social media post gained traction, other pages dedicated to amplifying missing persons cases shared their support. The National Center for Missing and Endangered, Inc. has also re-shared the missing juvenile alert.

As Moore remains missing, her case calls attention to the number of missing Black youth across the country. According to a 2024 article published under the U.S. Department of Justice “Safe Communities” page, Black women and girls face higher rates of violence and trafficking. However, media attention often steers away when they are reported missing.

“Black women and girls are disproportionately affected by violence, trafficking, and systemic neglect, leading to high rates of their disappearance, and placing them at greater risk for homicide,” detailed the page. “Although they make up a significant portion of missing person cases in the U.S., their stories often go underreported and unnoticed by national media and law enforcement.”

According to 2022 data by the National Crime Information Center, Black women and girls accounted for 36% of all reported female cases. With their cases overshadowed due to systemic bias, these reports often don’t receive the support and attention needed to recover these women and girls.

However, the page has emphasized the importance of unbiased media coverage and communal outreach in cases of missing Black people. Now, law enforcement has also called upon the Detroit community in their quest to bring Moore home. Others can share tips anonymously with Detroit Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.

Jon Gruden, Trump Donald, president, racist

by Daniel Johnson

September 2, 2025

Trump Says Disgraced, Bigoted NFL Coach Jon Gruden Is A ‘Really Nice Guy’

In his post, Trump included a photo depicting himself and the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach bumping fists as Gruden wore a red Trump hat

Donald Trump celebrated the character of Jon Gruden on Aug. 31, referring to the now-disgraced head coach who was forced to resign after an NFL investigation found that he sent racist emails to members of the Washington Commanders organization, as a “really nice guy” in a post to his Truth Social account.

According to The Daily Beast, in his post, Trump included a photo depicting himself and the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach, Jon Gruden, bumping fists as Gruden wore a red “Trump” hat. The photo likely will cast doubt on an internet rumor that has been spreading over the last several days, a rumor that resulted in a search query with the keywords “Trump” and “dead” in proximity, trending on Twitter. (X)

“Great playing Golf with Jon Gruden — A really nice guy, and true character!” Trump wrote in the post. Although it initially was unclear when the photo was taken, internet sleuths noticed that Gruden’s outfit was the same one he had posted to his Instagram account on Aug. 23, the same day Trump spent on the golf course.

The rumor regarding Trump’s demise originated in part because he has been out of the public eye for a few days–unusual behavior for him– in addition to images of bruised hands, swollen ankles, difficulty walking, and what some believe are mental gaffes.

Gruden, meanwhile, has been more visible recently, having scored a legal victory in his fight with the NFL over its handling of his dismissal from the league. A panel of Nevada judges ruled 5-2 to deny the NFL’s argument that an arbitration judge should hear Gruden’s complaint, and also confirmed a previous ruling by a district court in favor of Gruden.

According to The Athletic, the NFL is expected to appeal this decision, but Gruden’s lawyer, Adam Hosmer-Henner, framed this development as a win for his client.

“We’re very pleased with the Nevada Supreme Court’s decision, not just for Coach Gruden but for all employees facing an employer’s unfair arbitration process. This victory further vindicates Coach Gruden’s reputation, and it clears the way to swiftly bringing him full justice and holding the NFL accountable,” Hosmer-Henner said.

In a 2021 lawsuit against the league, Gruden claimed that the NFL leaked emails containing racist, sexist, and homophobic language “through a malicious and orchestrated campaign,” because “the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell sought to destroy the career and reputation of Jon Gruden, the former head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.”

According to the Nevada Supreme Court’s ruling, neither the NFL’s compulsory arbitration clause nor its employment clause applied to Gruden.

“We conclude the arbitration clause in the NFL Constitution is unconscionable and does not apply to Gruden as a former employee. Nor, in the circumstances presented here, can the NFL Parties claim equitable estoppel to enforce the arbitration clause in Gruden’s coaching contract with the Raiders. Because the NFL Parties cannot compel Gruden to arbitrate, we ORDER the judgment of the district court AFFIRMED,” the judges wrote.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 2, 2025

Nigerians Face Uptick In Denied Entry To U.S. After Unexplained Visa Cancellations

These unexplained visa cancellations is the latest update in the brewing immigration issues between Nigeria and the United States.

Many Nigerians with valid U.S. visas are suddenly facing denied entry into America.

However, the news of these visa cancellations has remained relatively under the radar. According to Business Insider Africa, Nigerian citizens have faced refusals at the border without any prior warning that their visas are at risk.

Many Nigerians, whose work ranges from business to entertainment, as well as those with family in the States, have had their visas pulled with no explanation. According to reports, the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria was able to annul these documents based on unspecified new information, a move authorized under Title 22 CFR Section 41.122.

The growing number of unexplained cancellations has already caught the attention of numerous visa holders. One traveler, Olufemi Soneye, former chief corporate communications officer of Nigeria’s national oil company, the NNPC Ltd., detailed the unexpected ordeal many encountered on their way to America.

Soneye emphasized the “humiliation” felt when visa holders saw a typically ordinary process become a frightening realization. He also noted immigration authorities detained some before returning to Nigeria.

“Each had to abruptly cancel engagements, refund tickets, and explain to partners abroad why they could no longer show up. In some cases, the humiliation has been unbearable: travelers discovering at the airport, sometimes even at boarding gates, that their visas had been quietly invalidated,” he shared to The Cable, as reported by BI Africa.

However, options to resolve the invalid visas remain limited. With no formal appeal process available, Nigerian travelers can only reapply, a time-consuming and costly endeavor that may deter many from trying. This uptick in visa revocations severely impacts African students studying in the United States, many of whom have been encouraged to limit travel as this uncertainty wages on.

The news comes as the U.S. has already placed visa limits on African travelers, citing security and immigration concerns. Under Trump’s new foreign travel policies, Nigerians seeking to enter the U.S. face restrictions to three-month, single-entry visas, an update previously covered on BLACK ENTERPRISE.

These visa cancellations could also jeopardize Nigerian businessmen’s prospects and ventures in the global markets, as well as those who have already put down professional and personal roots in America, especially since these entry refusals remain unrecognized by U.S. officials. Disgruntled Nigerian travelers feel subjected to targeted policing, furthering tensions between the two countries.

“For many, this is not just about stamps on a passport,” continued Soneye. “These visas are lifelines for education, family reunions, medical treatment, and critical business. To have them snatched away without explanation is to leave lives suspended in confusion and despair.”

In the meantime, Nigerian travelers and international students remain cautious about their international travel as they navigate these regulations under Trump.

by Daniel Johnson

September 1, 2025

U.S. Olympic Fencer Curtis McDowald Suspended For 5 Years

This is just the latest scandal involving USA Fencing in recent years.

Curtis McDowald, one of the only Black fencers on USA Fencing’s 2021 Olympic squad that competed at the Tokyo Olympics, was declared ineligible to compete for a period of five years on Aug. 29 after the organization determined that he violated its codes of conduct multiple times.

According to USA Today, this action follows his temporary suspension in 2023 after allegations of his misconduct were made known to the governing body of the United States Olympic fencing team.

His behavior, at that time, including at least one report that he kicked a freestanding banner, put the team’s chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics in jeopardy during the Pan-American Senior Games.

Ex-U.S. Olympic fencer Curtis McDowald suspended for five years https://t.co/5HhsuJSmVr
— Juan José Sayago (@jjsayago) August 30, 2025

The suspension of McDowell, who will become eligible for retirement once his suspension ends, is just the latest scandal that has involved USA Fencing.

As The New York Times reported, a few months ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, international saber fencing was plagued by questions regarding refereeing, accusations of preferential treatment, and concerns from the sport’s top players and coaches that the web of connections in the sport plays an outsized role in determining who competes.

USA Fencing, in particular, suspended two of its officials for communicating with each other during an Olympic qualifying tournament in California.

This was preceded by sexual assault allegations against épéeist Alen Hadžić in 2021 and an open investigation of him by the US Center for SafeSport, the sport’s independent watchdog organization.

Despite those issues, USA Fencing allowed him to compete in 2021’s Tokyo Olympics as an alternate, a move that drew considerable outrage and comparisons to the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal that had engulfed the Women’s USA Gymnastics team.

More recently, USA Fencing found itself at the center of a controversy, when 31-year-old Stephanie Turner refused to compete against Red Sullivan, a 19-year-old trans woman, allegedly telling her, “I respect you a lot, but this is a women’s event. I am a woman and you’re a man. I will not fence you.”

Turner’s refusal to compete against Sullivan put the issue in front of Congress.

by Mary Spiller

September 1, 2025

Delta Airlines To Pay $79 Million Settlement Over 2020 Jet Fuel Dump Over L.A. Schools

The Boeing 777-200 aircraft dumped around 15,000 gallons of jet fuel on Cudahy, a neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Delta Air Lines has agreed to a $79 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit stemming from a 2020 incident in which one of its aircraft released thousands of gallons of jet fuel over neighborhoods and schoolyards in southeast Los Angeles County, the Associated Press reports.

The lawsuit dates back to Jan. 14, 2020, when a Boeing 777-200 bound for Shanghai was forced to return to Los Angeles International Airport shortly after takeoff due to engine trouble. As the plane circled back, it dumped roughly 15,000 gallons of fuel to meet landing weight requirements. The aircraft landed safely.

L.A. County firefighters responded to schools in Cudahy, where nearly 60 children and teachers were treated on-site for minor skin and lung irritation. No one was hospitalized, but teachers from Park Avenue Elementary School filed suit.

The lawsuit described Delta jet fuel “drizzling down like raindrops” and “overwhelming” fumes that clung to their clothes, skin, and in their eyes. Homeowners from the same area later joined in a class-action complaint reporting similar symptoms.

In court filings, Delta explained that one of the plane’s two engines lost thrust soon after takeoff, leaving the aircraft approximately 160,000 pounds over its maximum landing weight. Landing with a full fuel load, the company noted, would have risked structural damage to the plane and triggered costly mandatory inspections.

“The pilots decided to dump fuel to reduce the serious risks of flying and landing an overweight airplane on just one engine,” Delta said in court documents.

The settlement, finalized Monday, August 25, resolves claims of physical and emotional harm brought by affected residents and teachers. Delta said the agreement does not constitute an admission of liability, but that the payout was meant “to avoid the legal expenses of a trial and to eliminate the distraction and other burdens this litigation has caused to Delta’s business.”

Lisaraye McCoy, crush, K Camp, Cam Newton

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 1, 2025

Hey, Auntie! K Camp Reveals His Celebrity Crush As Cam Newton Hypes Him Up

K Camp described his long-time crush on 'The Player's Club' actress.

K Camp is shooting his shot at his celebrity crush, LisaRaye McCoy. The rapper and singer explained why LisaRaye is still the ’90s fine woman of his dreams.

The 35-year-old artist visited Cam Newton’s Funky Friday podcast and discussed his ongoing desire for the “gorgeous” LisaRaye. During the chat, he explained how she is “one of them ones” to the podcaster.

The Neighborhood Talk reposted a clip of their candid talk.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

While Newton asserted that her presence could feel “intimidating,” K Camp made clear that he wasn’t afraid to go for it. The two continued their conversation about the 57-year-old actress’s pristine aura, but noted how she may try to treat K Camp like a young man trying to hit on her.

“And when she get to walking up to you and that all white,” joked Newton. “Looking like an angel and got her halo, and she hit you with the ‘Hey, young man.’ That ain’t gonna scare you?”

K Camp’s response: “Hell nah.”

When asked how and if he would introduce himself to The Wood actress, K Camp said “it depends on how many drinks I got. If I’m on some sober sh-t, I’m going to be respectful, you know what I’m saying. But if I’m in that bag, ‘I’m like what’s happening?'”

LisaRaye has been a multi-generational celebrity crush. The stunning actress first turned heads as Diana “Diamond” Armstrong in the 1998 film The Players Club. Since then, she has held multiple roles in film and television, including VH1’s Single Ladies and BET’s The Family Business.

She has not shied away from discussing her dating preferences, emphasizing how she wants a man who can match and elevate her lifestyle, choosing to only date affluent people.

“I don’t know why people are so afraid to say what they always want to really know. Miss me with the small stuff. I’ve lived, and I’m gonna continue to live the way I’m used to because I can and I do!” she said.

If K Camp’s bank accounts meet her standards, he may have a shot at bagging his ultimate celebrity crush.

by Daniel Johnson

September 1, 2025

‘We Are Not Resilient, We Are Indomitable’: New Orleans Residents Speak Out 20 Years After Hurricane Katrina

A recent gathering in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward featured former Vice President Al Gore and New Orleans rapper Mia X.

As the nation’s news outlets cover the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the residents who felt and still feel its impact are not holding back regarding what they felt amounted to an ethnic cleansing of New Orleans’ wards.

As Nola.com reported, a gathering in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, which featured former Vice President Al Gore and New Orleans rapper, educator, and cookbook author Mia X, represented the community’s rage concerning what happened after Katrina. In traditional New Orleans fashion, the rage and sorrow gave way to a second-line procession and street festival.

Gore, a climate change advocate, railed at the connections between the systemic failures of Hurricane Katrina and what he described as the current climate crisis.

“Let’s don’t lose the connection between Hurricane Katrina and the climate crisis, which is still getting worse. And they’re (the federal government) not doing anything meaningful about it. They are tearing apart FEMA after they improved it and fixed some of the terrible mistakes made 20 years ago,” Gore told the crowd. “And the causes of the climate crisis are still continuing to get worse. It is a fossil fuel crisis—and I know it’s tricky and delicate to talk about the fossil fuel industry here in Louisiana.”

Gore revealed that nearly 20 years ago to the day, he was scheduled to talk to insurance commissioners from all 50 states in Louisiana, but it was canceled, something he still hasn’t gotten over.

“Of course it had to be canceled. It’s never been rescheduled. We’ve got to wake up!” he noted.

City Council member J.P. Morell told the crowd that he is “tired of this term ‘resilience.’ Resilience is passive — you endure stuff that happens to you. We are not resilient. We are indomitable. We are a city that, no matter what obstacle is placed before us, we run through it.”

According to Andy Horowitz, the author of Katrina: A History 1915-2015,” the local government’s response to the hurricane was disastrous even though it had ample warning about how bad the storm was going to be.

May the 20th anniversary of #HurricaneKatrina remind us of the need to transform or discard inhumane systems and the need to transform inhumane hearts that disregard and discriminate against people. So many people should be alive. So many Black human beings were dehumanized.… pic.twitter.com/HCDQcUdwEF
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) August 29, 2025

“Government at every level was manifestly, murderously ill-prepared for this widely predicted possibility,” Horowitz told NPR’s Michel Martin. “People were left to drown in their own houses. Even people who had made it to emergency shelters designated by the city found them empty, without any help, any food or water. Katrina represented, I think, such a failure so shocking that it made many people question the promise of American citizenship itself.”

According to The Guardian, in addition to these local policies, what compounded the abject failure during Katrina was FEMA policy, which was directed by former President George W. Bush. In a manner not dissimilar to President Donald Trump, Bush cut funding for the program, leaving it woefully unprepared for a hurricane of Katrina’s strength.

The Lower Ninth Ward, where Gore and Mia X gathered, is one of the areas where the damage unleashed by Katrina still marks New Orleans, which a resident of the area, Burnell Cotlon, described to NPR.

“This is not a third-world country,” Cotlon said. “This is New Orleans. Now, we’re only 10 minutes from the French Quarter. And the people that’s here in the Lower Ninth Ward, they’re still suffering. I lost everything. I had to start life all over. I had, like, 30-plus some neighbors. Today I have four. There’s nothing back here, you know? People forgot about the Lower Ninth Ward. I got to stay strong, positive. But sometimes it hurts. It hurts because when I drive from my house to come here, I remember, they had a store here, they had a school here, we had a hospital here. We had everything back here.”

According to Robert Green, a Katrina survivor, who has been featured in the two most recent documentaries on the hurricane, said it is the way of the residents of the Lower Ninth Ward to honor those they lost as they look forward to the future.

“I’m a New Orleanian. Our thing is commemorative. Our thing is celebrating their lives. Our thing is giving reverence to the people who lost their lives, the community that was lost, and the idea that this community will come back one day,” Green said.