Fort Valley State University, Band , Hazing Allegations — Photo by Curioso Photography: https://www.pexels.com/photo/musical-band-playing-trombone-343683/

by Daniel Johnson

September 28, 2025

Fort Valley State University Suspends Band Over Hazing Allegations

Hazing, particularly at HBCUs, has received more attention in recent years due in part to incidents like the one that happened to Southern University student Caleb Wilson.

Fort Valley State University has suspended its Blue Marching Band amid hazing allegations. FVSU’s Executive Director of Marketing and Communications, Britney Smith, told WGXA that the university directed the band to “suspend all activity due to allegations of hazing” on Sept. 25, just before the school’s Homecoming Week.

According to their report, the announcement came just before Fort Valley State’s contest against Tuskegee University, which the team won 27-20. The victory marked the first under new head coach Marlon Watson, who previously served on Prairie View A&M’s coaching staff and was named Fort Valley State’s head coach in February 2025.

Smith continued, “FVSU takes acts of hazing and allegations of hazing seriously and the matter is being investigated. The safety and well-being of our students and Wildcat community are always our top priority. At this time, no further details are available.”

Fort Valley State was recently ranked as the No. 1 public HBCU in Georgia by U.S. News and World Report.

The news comes only a few months after the BBC reported that Caleb McCray, a 23-year-old member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and bandmate of slain Southern University A&M student Caleb Wilson, was charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of Wilson in February 2025.

Hazing, particularly at HBCUs, has received increased attention in recent years, partly due to incidents like the one involving Wilson.

Although Southern University appeared not to take action against its band, it did, however, expel the Beta Sigma chapter of its Omega Psi Phi fraternity from participating in Greek life on campus after it investigated the hazing incident.

The investigation ultimately determined that the fraternity, not the band, was at fault for the off-campus hazing that occurred during the attempt to pledge Wilson into the fraternity that tragically concluded with his death.

In the 2017 Netflix film “Burning Sands,” an account of hazing at the fictional Frederick Douglass University is depicted by Gerald McMurray, the film’s co-writer and director, who is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

According to Andscape, McMurray was inspired to create the film by the 2011 death of Robert Champion, a Florida A&M University drum major who was killed in a hazing ritual and whose family was later paid $1.1 million by the university in a settlement.

Unlike Wilson’s death, however, Champion died during a band initiation, not a fraternity pledging incident, gone tragically wrong.

McMurray, a Howard University alum, told Rotten Tomatoes that he wanted to create dialogue through his film.

“I wanted to tell a story to create a dialogue,” McMurray noted. “I wanted to show young Black men at a Black college and the challenges they go through on the path to manhood. If you haven’t seen the whole movie, don’t pass judgment. There is more to this movie than hazing. The brotherhood and the family I acquired made me who I am but that’s what separates pledging from hazing.”

Tuskegee Airmen, George Hardy — 1943: African-American airmen training at Tuskegee Airfield in Alabama. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images)

by Daniel Johnson

September 28, 2025

Lt. Col. George Hardy, Last Surviving Tuskegee Combat Pilot, Dies At 100

In 2024, Hardy and the Tuskegee Airmen were honored by The National WWII Museum in recognition of their accomplishments and patriotism in the face of discrimination.

Lt. Col. George Hardy, an original Tuskegee Airman and the last surviving member of the group’s combat pilots, died on Sept. 23 at the age of 100, according to a press release from Tuskegee Inc.

According to Leon Butler, the national president of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., “His legacy is one of courage, resilience, tremendous skill, and dogged perseverance against racism, prejudice, and other evils. We are forever grateful for his sacrifice and will hold dear to his memory.”

Lt. Col. George Hardy, one of the original Tuskegee Airmen who flew in World War II, has died at 100. Here’s a look at his legacy, which includes his first combat mission over Europe at just 19 years old. https://t.co/hWyvmM18Pc pic.twitter.com/U4evq8GjC9
— CBS News (@CBSNews) September 27, 2025

https://twitter.com/AlabamaNG/status/1971682773539918163?s=19

As NBC News reports, Hardy was the youngest member of the Tuskegee Airmen, completing the Army Air Corps pilot training program in 1942 at the age of 19, which earned him a commission as a second lieutenant. Hardy, one of the few Black military pilots at the time, flew 21 missions during World War II and also served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

At the time of Hardy’s original enlistment, the United States military was segregated. The United States government created the Tuskegee Experiment, not to be confused with the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, sometimes informally referred to as the Tuskegee Experiment, to ascertain whether Black Americans were capable of commanding and maintaining their own units in battle.

According to the Malmstrom Air Force Base, the term Tuskegee Airman actually refers to a wide range of people who were involved in the Army Air Corps program, pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and others who were responsible for helping to keep those planes piloted by Hardy and others in the air.

In 1940, the initial Civilian Pilot Training Program, which eventually spawned what became the center of Black aviation during World War II, was completed.

Somewhat ironically, because there were initially no Black pilot instructors, 11 white officers were assigned to teach the 429 men who enlisted alongside 47 officers, thus creating one of the first integrated units in the United States military.

According to the National Park Service, the Army Air Corps program was created to test out a racist assumption outlined in a 1925 War Department (now the Department of Defense) study, which set forth that “the Negro is fundamentally inferior” to whites. It also used the arguments of now-debunked race science that claimed that Black people lacked the requisite intelligence, courage, and physical ability to operate complicated military equipment.

Despite the intention to disprove these racist assumptions, the United States still tried to sabotage the pilots by sending them to North Africa, where they would not engage with the enemy.

Due to this arrangement, the United States military declared the unit ineffective and sent them back stateside, but thanks to testimony from Benjamin O. Davis before Congress, the pilots were allowed to escort white bomber crews to and from their targets. They were so effective at this task that white bomber pilots requested them to be their designated escorts.

And of course, aside from fighting the fascism of the Axis powers like Nazi Germany and Italy, they faced an American version of the same struggle at home, per the National Park Service.

Since the program was located in Tuskegee, Alabama, the participants faced the indignity of Jim Crow laws designed to “keep them in their place” as well as the white citizens of the city’s intense opposition to their presence, often threatening to have them arrested for merely walking down the street.

Despite this, Hardy and others never wavered from their mission.

“Colonel Hardy was an amazing man. He was a patriot. He loved his family. He loved his community. He loved our organization,” Butler told NPR. “He worked very hard. He worked tirelessly to preserve the legacy, not for himself, but for those that he served with, and he cared about the families of other original Tuskegee Airmen.”

According to NPR, while he was alive, Hardy received numerous honors for his military service. These include the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor, a Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, and an Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters. In addition, in 2007, he and the other Tuskegee Airmen were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award given by the United States Congress for distinguished service to the country.

In 2024, Hardy and the Tuskegee Airmen were honored by The National WWII Museum, which recognized them with the American Spirit Award, that institution’s highest honor, given in recognition of their accomplishments and patriotism in the face of discrimination.

At the time, Hardy remarked, “When I think about the fellas who flew before me and with me at Tuskegee, and the fact that we did prove that we could do anything that anyone else could do and it’s paid off today … it’s hard to believe that I’m here receiving this award—with them.”

Black Boys, Maryland, graves, investigation — (Photo: Mike Bird/Pexels)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 28, 2025

Forgotten Cemetery For Black Boys In Maryland Detention Center Finally Unearthed To Public

The cemetery housed boys who were detained at the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children.

Deep in Prince George’s County, Maryland, lies a wooded area that holds a forgotten history.

Rows of cinder blocks guard the area that hosts a cemetery for hundreds of detained Black boys. The boys were detained at the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children, a juvenile detention facility that had a reputation for neglect and abuse.

According to the Washington Post, the Black boys died during the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Until now, these grave sites have gone undetected by the general public.

Presently, Maryland lawmakers are working to reclaim the area and the remains buried there. The politicians, many of whom are part of the Legislative Black Caucus, noted the degradation of the cemetery in comparison to the veterans’ cemetery right next door. They now call for new efforts to revitalize the area and pay respects to its deceased.

“There is no reason to disrespect anyone,” said state Sen. Michael Jackson (D-Prince George’s, Charles, and Calvert), per WTOP. “We have a lot of work to do, folks.”

Caucus members also hope to lead new legislation that will provide funding for the rejuvenation efforts. The state’s Department of Juvenile Services has already applied for a $31,000 grant to the African American Heritage Preservation Program, which would oversee the cemetery’s restoration.

Alongside restoration, the lawmakers aim to open an investigation into the young boys’ deaths. The department’s chief of staff, Marc Schindler, described the facility’s conditions as “scandalous.” Schindler worked with a genealogist to conduct research, uncovering the sites and the facility’s history.

“It’s hard to find the words to describe how sad and outrageous it is,” said Schindler. “But we just don’t know how many more are here.”

The Black children’s time at the House of Reformation also paled in comparison to their white counterparts. A matter of “community pride,” lawmakers across Maryland also hope to redeem this cemetery site and many other forgotten cemeteries in its domain.

“We have a tremendous amount of neglected cemeteries here in the state of Maryland,” added Del. Gary Simmons (D-Anne Arundel). “We have all kind of different methods that we generate funds for the state. This is about community pride. We’ll get it done.”

If approved, the grant money will pave the way for more funding toward the recovery of the cemetery on a state-wide level.

“Our history is our power and everyone shares responsibility in preserving and uplifting the countless stories of our state that have often gone unrecognized and unheralded,” said David Turner, the Maryland governor’s communications director. “We look forward to working with the General Assembly, our state agencies, local leaders, and community advocates on this project.”

Melvin Edwards, Sculptor, Black Resistance, Dies — Photo by Numan Gilgil: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lighted-candle-in-close-up-photography-9299394/

by Mary Spiller

September 28, 2025

Belva Davis, Trailblazing Bay Area Reporter, Dies at 92

The Bay Area news icon, first Black woman on West Coast TV, leaves behind a legacy of courage and trailblazing reporting.

Belva Davis, the first Black woman to work as a television reporter on the West Coast, has died at age 92. Her long career transformed local journalism, creating opportunities for countless reporters who followed in her footsteps.

As reported by The Guardian, Davis was born in Monroe, Louisiana, in 1932, the oldest of four children in a family living through the hardships of the Depression and segregation. Her family later moved to California’s East Bay as part of the Second Great Migration during World War II. Without the advantage of a college degree, Davis entered journalism through perseverance and determination, eventually becoming a leading presence on television screens across the Bay Area.

She worked at KPIX, KRON, and later KQED, where she anchored KQED Newsroom and This Week in Northern California. She remained on the air until her retirement in 2012.

“Belva’s passing is a great loss for the Bay Area and KQED,” said Michael Isip, the station’s president and CEO. “For half a century she covered the region’s most indelible stories with courage, integrity, grace and humanity. Along the way she fearlessly broke down barriers and opened doors for a generation of reporters.”

Notorious attorney Ben Crump took to X to give his condolences and pay his respects to her legacy.

Belva Davis, the FIRST Black woman TV reporter on the West Coast, has passed at 92. A true barrier breaker, she was often asked to leave press events — just for being a Black woman. Yet she rose, earning Emmys and national respect. Rest in Power to a legend. pic.twitter.com/xInAlJUQAi
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) September 27, 2025

Carla Marinucci, a longtime political journalist who frequently appeared on Davis’s program, remembered her as both a role model and supporter. “She took many of us under her wing. An entire generation of us, myself included, have Belva to thank for breaking down barriers and for giving us a hand,” Marinucci said.

Over the decades, Davis reported on landmark moments such as the assassination of Harvey Milk, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and major political campaigns. Her interviews included conversations with public figures like Muhammad Ali, Coretta Scott King, Fidel Castro, and, later, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Oakland Congresswoman Barbara Lee reflected on her legacy: “She opened doors that had long been closed, proving through her talent and perseverance that our voices belonged on the airwaves. She made it possible for a new generation of journalists to see themselves in all forms of media and to know they had a place in shaping public conversation.”

Her memoir, “Never in My Wildest Dreams: A Black Woman’s Life in Journalism,” described her resilience in the face of racism and sexism. Recalling the hostility she encountered at the 1964 Republican National Convention, she wrote, “I could feel the hair rising on the back of my neck as I looked into faces turned scarlet and sweaty by heat and hostility.”

Davis received eight regional Emmy Awards and lifetime achievement recognition from the National Association of Black Journalists and American Women in Radio and Television. She is survived by her husband, Bill Moore, a pioneering Black cameraman, as well as her two children, Darolyn and Steven, from a previous marriage.

Looking back on her work, Davis once wrote, “I wanted to broadcast the reality of my community to those who could not otherwise imagine it.” For generations of viewers and young reporters, she accomplished exactly that.

Former Child Star From ‘Space Jam’ Says Rare Autoimmune Disease Forced Him To Quit Acting — Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-photo-of-a-stethoscope-40568/

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

September 28, 2025

Former Child Star From ‘Space Jam’ Says Rare Autoimmune Disease Forced Him To Quit Acting

Hammond revealed his health struggles as he works on a reunion documentary for "Soul Food."

Brandon Hammond, the child star known for his roles in “Space Jam” and “Waiting to Exhale,” has a serious reason for why he left the spotlight after the ’90s.

Hammond revealed how his health issues got in the way of his burgeoning acting career. Hammond had begun to make a name for himself in Hollywood with roles in top films, also including “Menace II Society” and “Mars Attacks!”

However, his career came to an abrupt halt upon hearing about his rare diagnosis. The 41-year-old told People about how he learned he had Castleman disease, an autoimmune disorder. He’s shedding light on his struggles behind the camera as he prepares for his comeback.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brandon Hammond (@bl_hamm)

“I was diagnosed with this super, super rare, autoimmune condition called Castleman disease,” he said. “I had all these chest pains, and my eye was flushed out red, just all types of physiological things were happening to me that we could not explain.”

At the time of his health scare, Hammond was basking in the success of the 1997 classic film, “Soul Food.” Hammond played the film’s protagonist, 11-year-old Ahmad, in the family drama.

Now, he’s getting real about his internal struggles. Around the film’s initial release, Hammond kept experiencing intense, mysterious chest pains, leading him to discover the illness.

“And then I had a biopsy because they were seeing that my lymph nodes were swollen. And that’s when I got this diagnosis for this thing called Castleman’s disease. I had never heard of it before, but apparently, it’s super rare in children and it’s super rare in Black people. So when you talk about rare, I’m the rarest exception to that rule,” detailed the actor.

Just as Hammond began to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry, he had to take a step back to focus on his health. However, he shied away from explaining what happened to curious and concerned fans.

A lot of people don’t know that because people have asked, ‘Hey, what happened? Why’d you stop acting?’ And I used to give these really kind of vague answers and responses because I wasn’t ready to talk about it,” he shared.

He said his agent also told him to keep quiet about the disease, alluding that it could jeopardize his career.

“I was kind of told not to talk about it,” added Hammond. “Of course, in hindsight, I regret that, right? But I was just following what I was told to do. My agents told me to keep it under wraps.”

While originally told to keep his health concerns quiet, Hammond is now ready to reappear in the spotlight. His documentary, “Sunday Dinner: The Soul Food Reunion,” is already in the works. He not only hopes to share his story, but also reminisce on the classic film that co-starred Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, and Vanessa Williams.

“[I felt] ‘Soul Food’ deserves that type of recognition for what it means to the culture. It deserves to be given its flowers… This documentary, the feelings that you got while watching the film, and I’m talking about happy, joy, sad, angry, laughter, all of that, I want to encapsulate all that.”

First Black Chief Deputy, Georgia, Sheriff — Photo by Kindel Media: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-policeman-in-his-uniform-7714754/

by Jameelah Mullen

September 28, 2025

1st Black Chief Deputy Named In Georgia Sheriff’s Office In Nearly 300 Years

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in Savannah, GA, named McArthur Holmes as its first Black chief deputy in nearly 300 years.

The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) in Savannah, Georgia, named McArthur Holmes as its first Black chief deputy in nearly 300 years. Sheriff Richard Coleman, the county’s first Black sheriff, made the appointment.

“Some things in life happen just in time, right on time, or all in time,” Coleman said in a press release. “Chief Deputy Holmes’ promotion is a testament to his unwavering dedication, integrity, and commitment to serving the citizens of Chatham County. We are proud of this moment and look forward to his leadership in this new role,” Coleman noted.

Holmes expressed his gratitude for his new role at his Sept. 23 pinning ceremony.

“The lord has been good to me,” Holmes said.

The new chief deputy also noted that he and Coleman pledged to work side-by-side to make the sheriff’s department the best it can be.

The CCSO took to its Facebook page to welcome Holmes into his new role.

“Join me in celebrating a historic moment as we congratulate Chief Deputy McArthur Holmes on becoming the first African-American Chief Deputy…..Congratulations, Chief Holmes, we are proud of your achievement and look forward to your leadership and continued dedication.”

The veteran law enforcement officer brings over 40 years of experience to his new role. Holmes spent 25 years of his career in jail management, including a decade as jail administrator before retiring in 2013. In that role, he oversaw a multimillion-dollar renovation project. A Savannah State University graduate, he also championed mental health advocacy for incarcerated people, working to ensure they received proper medical care rather than being placed in jail.

Last month, the sheriff’s department promoted Major Nicole Scott-Bond, a Black woman, to Lieutenant Colonel, making her the highest-ranking female deputy in the agency’s history.

Founded in 1732, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office is the oldest sheriff’s department in the state and one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

marine, retire — Photo by Sharefaith: https://www.pexels.com/photo/flag-of-america-1202723/

by Mary Spiller

September 28, 2025

Longest-Serving Active-Duty Marine Ends 42-Year Career

Lt. Col. Rhonda C. Martin joined the Marines when she was just 19.

When Lt. Col. Rhonda C. Martin was just 19, she accidentally stepped into a Marine Corps recruiting office while on her way to apply for the Peace Corps. According to a service press release last week, that chance decision turned into a distinguished 42-year military career—making her the longest-serving active-duty Marine. Martin is set to retire at the end of this month.

She began her journey as an administrative specialist before rising to the role of drill instructor, at a time when women were still not allowed to wear the Marine Corps’ iconic campaign cover. In 1996, she earned her commission as an officer and was later deployed several times, including in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Reflecting on her career, Martin highlighted the progress she witnessed — and contributed to — in opening doors for women Marines. “To say that I came in and saw so much progress for Marines, and especially female Marines, over my time … it hits me really hard,” she said.

Her service spanned from the mid-1980s, when women were first allowed to qualify with the M16A2 rifle, to the Pentagon’s landmark decision more than two decades later to lift the ban on women serving in direct combat roles. “It’ll be tough, but I’ve had 42 years of doing what I love, and I’m leaving at a time when the Marine Corps is stronger than ever,” Martin said.

Colleagues praised her leadership and steady presence in difficult times. She was credited with boosting morale and keeping calm after a Marine helicopter crash in Nepal in 2015 claimed the lives of the pilots, crew, and two combat cameramen. “When she came to us, we had a source of positive energy,” recalled Lt. Col. Cassandra Stanton, who served alongside her.

Martin now serves as assistant chief of staff for Manpower at Quantico, Virginia, and will be honored at a retirement ceremony next week. Her official retirement date is Jan. 1, 2026. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a doctorate degree. Instead of traditional gifts or flowers, Martin has asked that donations be made to Marine Corps education foundations “so service members and their families have additional opportunities to pursue educational goals, advancing their careers and elevating their lives,” according to the release.

FBI,ICE,Bears, Charles Tillman — (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

by Daniel Johnson

September 28, 2025

Trump’s FBI Reportedly Fires Agents Who Knelt During George Floyd Protests

The Trump administration's FBI has reportedly fired approximately 20 agents who kneeled during a 2020 protest of the murder of George Floyd.

According to The Associated Press, the FBI has fired agents who were photographed kneeling during a racial justice protest after the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin. Per two of the three sources the AP spoke to with knowledge of the situation, the number of agents fired is approximately 20.

As the AP reported, last spring, the officers had been reassigned, but the anonymous sources indicated that the individuals who were captured angered some within the Bureau. Some agents also interpreted it as a potential de-escalation technique.

New: More than 15 agents who took a knee during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest were fired today, current and former FBI officials tell @MSNBC.

Some had previously been demoted. The sources say the agents took a knee not necessarily because they were trying to sympathize…
— Ken Dilanian (@DilanianMSNBC) September 27, 2025

It’s not about kneeling for Black people, the terminations are to get FBI agents to bow & abandon their oath to the Constitution. Trump’s Machiavellian genius is having a Brown man weaponize Brown & Black people to achieve a racist autocracy. https://t.co/OvOpnartP6 via @NYTimes
— Rev. & Prof. Cornell William Brooks (@CornellWBrooks) September 27, 2025

According to a statement released by the FBI Agents Association, a nonprofit advocacy group representing FBI employees, the number of agents fired included individuals who had served in the military and were thus entitled to additional protections. The association also called for Congress to investigate the firings and indicated that Trump’s embattled FBI Director, Kash Patel, is blatantly disregarding the rights of the employees of the FBI.

https://twitter.com/JudiciaryDems/status/1967971630111658107?s=19

Just like with the Epstein cover-up, Patel is disrespecting Americans by treating them like they're stupid.

Donald Trump – who is not a "career FBI agent" – publicly demanded this days ago.

And Patel fired career FBI agents because they investigated felons who assaulted cops. https://t.co/S1YI7DBKB5 pic.twitter.com/x1G1cjqg8Y
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewBatesNC) September 26, 2025

“As Director Patel has repeatedly stated, nobody is above the law,” the agents’ association stated. “But rather than providing these agents with fair treatment and due process, Patel chose to again violate the law by ignoring these agents’ constitutional and legal rights instead of following the requisite process.”

The FBIAA continued, “Leaders uphold the law — they don’t repeatedly break it. They respect due process, rather than hide from it. Patel’s dangerous new pattern of actions are weakening the Bureau because they eliminate valuable expertise and damage trust between leadership and the workforce, and make it harder to recruit and retain skilled agents — ultimately putting our nation at greater risk.”

Patel has brushed off accusations from recently ousted agents and top executives, including Steve Jensen, Brian Driscoll, and Spencer Evans, who allege in a lawsuit against Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi that Patel had the understanding that it was “likely illegal” to fire agents because of cases they worked but insisted he was powerless because he was working on orders from both the White House and the Justice Department.

To that end, as CNN reports, the Justice Department stated that it will review the conduct of 1,500 agents, including those who worked on cases that displeased the current administration — cases involving Donald Trump and his political allies.

Does anyone know how many FBI agents got fired for catching Tom Homan accepting a bribe?
— Dean Baker (@DeanBaker13) September 23, 2025

Notably, the response on social media has been one of alarm, with some juxtaposing the firing of these agents with a complete lack of consequences for the Trump administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, who allegedly accepted a $50,000 bribe from FBI agents in an undercover sting in 2024.

According to NBC News, Homan allegedly promised he could help win government contracts for a fee, but the White House has denied that this occurred.

According to a letter sent by Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the stench of corruption is emanating from the Trump administration and, in particular, the White House.

“The fact that the incoming Trump Administration reportedly closed this investigation prematurely raises further concerns that the Administration is weaponizing our system of justice to protect the president’s friends and to persecute his political foes. It is critical that the American people be able to trust that the influence of White House and other government officials has not been bought, and that contracts will be awarded to companies based on merit, not to those willing to pay bribes,” the letter stated.

corporate boards, Trump, white men — Photo by Karl Solano: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-in-the-office-11045731/

by Daniel Johnson

September 28, 2025

White Men Bosses Are So Back, Thanks To The Trump Administration

According to a new report, corporate boards are again dominated by white men.

The Trump administration has been a boon for white men who direct S&P 500 companies, according to newly available data from research firm ISS-Corporate, as reported by Axios. According to the data, the percentages of women and ethnic minority groups leading those companies have decreased by nine percentage points and 24 percentage points, respectively.

Trump’s aggressive stance on eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion at the federal level has led to a domino effect in the business and tech worlds, leading companies like Meta, Disney, and Target to either recast or end their DEI positions and departments to avoid the scrutiny of an overzealous and increasingly authoritarian federal government.

According to Bloomberg, recruiters have told them that efforts in prior years to broaden the net of qualified individuals to fill those positions have fallen by the wayside in favor of the “male, stale and pale” leader that had fallen out of favor during the post-George Floyd DEI emergence of 2020.

Per Robert Travis, a managing partner at executive recruiter Boyden who works on director searches, “What was grossly underappreciated five years ago — a candidate that was male, stale and pale — is now very much at the table to be considered against any and all other candidates.”

How companies explain this move is that they are looking for candidates with previous experience running companies or big business units, which basically means they are prioritizing white men, and among that group, they especially value current or former CEOs, which, again, tend to be white men.

Although the directors and recruiters whom they interviewed pointed out that the Trump administration isn’t technically guiding what they do, the atmosphere surrounding DEI has absolutely been transformed.

According to Ellen Zane, who is on the nomination and governance committee at Boston Scientific Corp. and is the former chief of the Tufts Medical Center in Boston, the changed atmosphere is undeniable.

“There were large shareholders that would absolutely, positively ding a company if they disagreed with how you had fulfilled your diversity goals,” Zane told Bloomberg. “Then all of a sudden, it completely changed.”

As Joan Williams, a law professor and the founding director of the Equality Action Center at UC Law San Francisco, told The Guardian in March, “We all want a meritocracy, but too often we don’t have them. There is one group in professional workplaces where over 90% believe they are working in meritocracies-–and that’s white men. Every other group has significantly less confidence that they are working in meritocracies because they feel that they are being held to a different standard. We did 22 DEI experiments inside companies. One company was horrified to find that they were hiring white men who had lower ratings than women and people of color who weren’t hired,” Williams said.

Akilah Cadet, the author of “White Supremacy Is All Around,” noted that although the brief period between 2020 and 2023 was good for her professionally, once companies decided to move on, her prospects dried up as quickly as they had appeared.

“The amount of money I made starting May 2020 until about 2023-–I’ve never made so much money in my entire life. I’ve laid off my staff. I have a much smaller team. I’m being punished as a result of people no longer wanting to care about people they should have been caring about in the first place,” Cadet reflected.

She continued, “Imagine that you were working for a company where you had tools in place, access to an executive coach, a programme that got you into a leadership track. These individuals had support and were told they were valued. Heterosexual, non-disabled, cisgendered white men and women have always had that [validation] in the workplace. And it will still be there after the attack on DEI, but it won’t be for people who don’t identify as those groups. That’s the bigger unfortunate thing that’s happening here: ‘You mattered––and guess what? I’m going to remind you that you don’t matter again.’”

Kandi Burruss, Broadway, & Juliet — NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Kandi Burruss visits the Zacapa XO x Baccarat Speakeasy at the 76th Annual Tony Awards on June 11, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Zacapa Rum)

by Kandiss Edwards

September 28, 2025

Kandi Burruss Turned Parenting Into A Contract Lesson For Daughter

Kandi Burruss made daughter sign contract for an Xbox and toys.

For many kids, earning an Xbox or a new gadget comes with a simple ask: “Do your chores, get your grades.” But for Kandi Burruss, the formula was more formal.

In an interview with People, the singer, entrepreneur, and “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alum shared that she made her daughter, Riley Burruss, sign contracts before she could receive toys.

Burruss said the contracts helped teach responsibility and accountability from a young age. For example, she told Riley she could get an Xbox 360 only if she committed to doing swim team for a full year. The contract was not just symbolic; it included high stakes for a child, according to Riley.

“I don’t think a lot of people know this, but my mom used to make me sign contracts!” Riley said. “I wanted an Xbox 360, and my mom said I could get one if I did swim team for the full year, and she made me sign a contract that said if I quit, she could throw it away.”

Riley, who graduated from NYU in 2024 and now stars on the Bravo series “Next Gen NYC,” laughed when recounting the experience.

Mama Joyce, Kandi’s mother, confirmed that structure has long been a family value. She called young Kandi “very, very smart.” Additionally, she recalled that the hardest discipline was sending her to her room — she’d just read. The multigenerational thread of intellect, accountability, and dedication is clearly strong in the Burruss family.

Still, Kandi’s sharp business instincts don’t stop at parenting. In her multidecade career as a writer, songwriter, and producer, she has demonstrated foresight in the music world. Starting her career as one-fourth of the popular singing group Escape, Burruss could have stayed stagnant. Instead, she chose to expand her talent, making her a wildly successful songwriter. A talent that keeps her paid today. In July, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on Kandi’s continued royalty collection.

During an Instagram Live session, a fan asked the multihyphenate if she is paid when Beyoncé performs “Bills, Bills, Bills” on the Cowboy Carter Tour. Responding in the affirmative, “Yeah, I do actually,” she went on to explain how her publishing works.

Kandi’s accolades are long. As the owner of sex toy and lifestyle company Bedroom Kandi, producer of “Othello,” starring Denzel Washington, and owner of the Old Lady Gang restaurant, Burruss knows contracts. Burruss has fashioned contracts, expectations, and systems that reward performance. She is clearly passing those lessons along to Riley.