• Technology

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 26, 2025

This HBCU Tech Founder Is Leading The Charge For AI-Powered Energy

Eno Oduok also has another business, Naija Comm, to connect African creatives across the diaspora.

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As a tech founder, Eno Oduok has a vision for energy management that makes her a trailblazer in the field.

A master’s student at Prairie View A&M, the future HBCU graduate aims to optimize energy through her startup, el powr, a management platform that utilizes AI. Studying business administration, her idea resulted in a third-place win at the HBCU Founders Initiative’s (HBCUFI) 2025 Better Futures Competition, as she explained its purpose for sustainability.

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According to a news release obtained by AfroTech, el powr works as a “Fitbit for commercial buildings.” However, power will help commercial buildings and school systems reduce costs and lower carbon emissions through the use of AI.

Oduok says pitching her startup to HBCUFI feels “full circle.” She told the news outlet how the competition’s emphasis on amplifying the ideas within the HBCU community aligns with her brand’s values.

“HBCUFI is an organization that aligns with our values and our mission,” she stated. “It’s one of the few organizations worldwide that truly supports HBCU students, alumni, and founders. But most importantly, invests in them, funds, and fuels them. Being part of this competition felt very full circle for me.”

However, the trailblazer in tech also has her hands in media. Before el pwr, Oduok launched Naija Comm in 2020. The award-winning multimedia company connects and uplifts creatives across Nigeria and the African diaspora.

The venture spearheaded her business portfolio. However, it remains part of her mission to provide access for emerging change-makers and entrepreneurs in diverse industries. Her work even led to her recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree in 2022.

The tech founder added, “What began as an idea and a passion project in my sister’s room turned into this award-winning business venture and global community…I didn’t have a space like that growing up, so it’s cool to give that to other people — especially the next generation.”

For her business savviness and ambitions, she points to her Nigerian upbringing. Both her parents nurtured their professions as well as their own passion projects, inspiring Oduok to do the same.

“They were visual representations showing me that you can do both, you can be anything, and that your future is limitless,” she detailed.

She also thanks the opportunities and organizations that highlight her work, such as Alabama Techstars and Girls Into VC. Currently, el powr is gearing up for a massive tech takeover through Pharrell Williams’ “So Ambitious Pre-Accelerator Program.” While growing her concept, Oduok continues to spark change in tech, media, and, of course, the energy sector.

“I want people — especially young people, especially people that come from similar communities that I come from, whether they are a woman, they’re Black — to be like ‘If she could do that, imagine what I could do.’ That means everything to me.”

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• Entertainment

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 26, 2025

Natasha Rothwell Manifested Paying Off Student Loans By Writing Herself A $40K Check

Natasha Rothwell remembers writing herself a check as a way to manifest paying off her student loans.

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Natasha Rothwell was confident she would one day pay off her student loans, and to manifest that belief, the then-aspiring Hollywood star wrote herself a $40,000 check.

The Emmy-nominated White Lotus star spoke with CNN on August 19 about how she spent her first big paycheck as an actress and screenwriter. Paying off her student loans was her top priority, a goal she had manifested years earlier.

“I wrote a check to myself for like $40,000, because that would pay off my student loans, or a portion of it, and I just carried it around with me in my wallet while I was broke, picking up Metrocards in New York, and hoping one of them could get me home,” Rothwell shared.

“And it was just, I was like, ‘One day, I am gonna be able to cash this check and pay off (my loans),” she continued. “And I just remember, when I was on the phone with Sallie Mae and closing out my account, and I had that check in my hand.”

The Insecure star remembers how emotional the moment was, “because money is emotional,” she added.

“I think especially if you’ve been preoccupied with how you’re going to get it and how you’re going to live, and I had graduated with a theater degree during a recession, so it was scary times, and it just took a lot of faith to make sure that that could happen,” Rothwell explained.

While some might think it might be “pretty delulu to write a check like that to yourself and put it in your wallet,” Rothwell said, the Wonka star admitted to being a firm believer in the law of attraction.

“I think it… it helps a little bit. A little delulu never hurt nobody,” she said.

Rothwell is seeing her dedication to her craft pay off as she received her first Emmy nomination for her role as Belinda in The White Lotus. She is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, one of 23 nominations the hit HBO Max show received.

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• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 26, 2025

Black Juvenile Defendants In Allegheny County Face Nearly Double The Fines Of White Defendants, Data Shows

New research highlights the disparities Black juvenile defendants face in fines from Allegheny County judges.

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New light is being shed on the disparities in fines Black juvenile defendants face from Allegheny County magisterial district judges.

Between 2023 and 2024, Allegheny County magisterial district judges ordered children ages 5 to 17 to pay over $190,000 in citation fines, WESA reported. During that time, Black juvenile defendants were fined nearly twice as much as their white peers, data from the Pennsylvania Office of Administrative Courts showed.

Reporters investigating the issue observed court proceedings in nearly a dozen Allegheny County jurisdictions, where waiting rooms were often overcrowded and disproportionately filled with students and families of color, even in majority-white districts. Judge Bruce Boni, who serves McKees Rocks and Stowe Township, acknowledged what he called the “baked-in” racial disparities of the criminal justice system, but said the solution starts with examining how schools and police choose to issue citations.

“There’s only so much a court can do because, again, we are responsive [in nature],” Boni said.

Pennsylvania judges can fine students up to $300. Still, Magisterial District Judge Leah Williams Duncan, one of 46 elected in Allegheny County and the only Black woman among them, said she rarely imposes the maximum penalty.

“We’re already addressing students who have behavioral issues or mental health issues,” she said. “And the resources that are at my disposal to assess a monetary fine — just to me, it makes absolutely no sense.”

A deeper analysis of records from 20 Allegheny County school districts found they issued 934 student citations over three years, excluding truancy cases. Among the citations, nearly one in five went to Black girls, despite Black girls making up only one in 20 students in those districts each year.

Highlands High School graduate Olivia was fined $482.60 just before finishing her senior year after receiving a citation for fighting at school. During the 2022–2023 school year, Highlands police issued 105 student citations; 28 of these, or about 27%, were issued to Black girls.

“It feels like being Black at a white school district, you feel targeted about a lot of things,” Olivia said. “They point you out for everything. And every little thing, every little mess up you do, it’s like you’re targeted.”

The disproportionate use of school citations extends beyond Allegheny County. A 2023 U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that Black girls were referred to law enforcement at school at three times the rate of white girls. That same year, Pennsylvania’s Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Plan showed that while just one in seven youth in the state are Black, they made up nearly a third of all youth arrests.

Olivia’s mother, Pauline McKnight, arranged a monthly payment plan with the court to cover the $482.60 her daughter owed. The cost forced Olivia to skip prom, a sacrifice McKnight, a fellow Highlands High School graduate, hopes will inspire her daughter and other young Black women to stand together and steer clear of becoming victims of a flawed justice system.

“I really would love togetherness, especially with these girls of color, to try to unite and be one,” McKnight said. “It’s not going to be with the school. It’s going to have to come from little old me, and helping these girls grow and mature and know that we carry ourselves well,” she said.

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• Technology

by Black Enterprise

August 26, 2025

UMYO Network Is A Community-Based Digital Ecosystem Launched By Black Dad And His 3 Sons

Their mission is simple but powerful

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UMYO Network is a groundbreaking digital ecosystem created and owned by African American father Gregory Barnard Cherry and his three sons—Gregory Jr., Isaac, and Isaiah. Together, this father-and-sons team built UMYO as a community-owned platform designed to prepare people for the future of artificial intelligence, automation, and economic disruption. Their mission is simple but powerful: give everyday people—not politicians, corporations, or celebrities—the tools and opportunities to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Gregory’s journey to building UMYO began with hardship and redemption. The son of a reverend and military veteran, he suffered a brain injury at age 10 that left him struggling in school. After losing his brother to violence at 19, he spiraled into destructive behavior that landed him in prison. He now views that prison sentence as a turning point that allowed him to rediscover faith, value life, and redirect his path. His experience forged the foundation for a lifelong mission: to create opportunities for youth and underserved communities that are often overlooked by traditional systems.

Determined to live with purpose, Cherry became a father, ministry leader, and community organizer. In 2010, he co-launched STI740 with former NFL player Telance Sawyer, the first Black-led youth media project that trained young people as creators, producers, and interviewers of national sports content. At the same time, Cherry taught his own sons technology and critical thinking from the time they were five years old. Together, Gregory and his sons began solving community economic issues as a family tech team, which eventually became the bedrock for UMYO Network.

Since 2005, Cherry has warned that automation would wipe out millions of jobs, disproportionately harming Black and underserved communities. UMYO is his solution: a “Wall Street of Technology” owned by the people themselves. Already, the network has launched more than 50 digital hubs to equip communities for the AI-driven economy. By taking the same technology that threatens jobs and reengineering it to create opportunity, the platform empowers people to build their own digital economies instead of relying on failing systems.

UMYO is built on accessibility, with membership starting at just $5.99 per month. Members receive a private digital hub that combines social media, e-commerce, education, and networking into a single platform. They can access financial support, spiritual growth resources, storefront giveaways, and even income opportunities as account executives. Beyond individual benefits, UMYO reinvests profits back into communities, making traditional fundraising unnecessary for HBCUs, nonprofits, churches, and unions.

Ultimately, UMYO is more than just a platform—it is a movement born from the vision of an African American father and his three sons. Gregory Cherry, Gregory Jr., Isaac, and Isaiah have built a family-led legacy that challenges the dominance of corporate tech giants while providing a sustainable path forward for everyday people. Owned by the people and powered by the people, it stands as a model of innovation, resilience, and generational leadership in the fight for economic survival in the age of AI.

Weekly Meetings Now Open:

Every Tuesday at noon CST and Thursday at 7 pm CST, Gregory and his sons host free weekly virtual meetings for partners, leaders, and members. Learn how UMYO works, see the plan of action, and hear how communities are already being transformed. Register here.

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• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 26, 2025

John Bey Elected To Lead Largest Organization For Plaintiff Lawyers

Attorney John Bey brings nearly 20 years of experience to his new presidential role.

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A Black attorney from Atlanta will now lead the American Association for Justice, the largest organization for plaintiff lawyers.

John Bey is officially the President-Elect of the association, bringing almost 20 years of experience in representing individual civil lawsuits. He shared that the organization has over 20,000 members nationally, making his appointment a significant honor.

“I’m excited to represent trial lawyers and their clients across the country,” Bey told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I really do kind of embrace this David-versus-Goliath role and the ability to go out there and get justice for folks who don’t always have the opportunity to have the best representation.”

As plaintiff lawyers, these attorneys represent individuals initiating a lawsuit to seek compensation from a defendant. Their clients typically include injured people, lobbies and advocates for plaintiffs’ right to a jury trial, often against large companies. Bey has also been a member of the AAJ for 15 years, and hopes that his tenure will incur more justice for the individuals they serve.

Since beginning his law career, the attorney has grown his own law firm, Bey & Associates, to 15 offices and associates across cities like Atlanta, New Orleans, Cincinnati and Birmingham. Before his new role, Bey held teaching and leadership jobs within the AAJ, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He seized the opportunity to grow with the organization, providing better service to his clients.

The news comes while Georgia cracks down on the amount of compensation one can gain from personal injury lawsuits. A law passed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp will limit these lawsuits, stating that they will protect small business owners from lofty damages in jury trials.

However, the AAJ has spoken out against this legislation, emphasizing how it favors insurers and larger companies instead of victims. The Black attorney also wants his leadership to advocate for plaintiffs’ rights within and beyond the state.

“It’s always going to be about access to justice, and is this bill or new rule going to be something that stops folks from being able to bring cases and get justice?” Bey said. “A successful time in that role as president is being able to help maintain the clients’ access to the courtroom through advocacy at the Capitol in D.C. and being able to really give life to our clients’ stories and the things that they are going through.”

Bey intends to keep getting his clients justice as he splits time in his home base of Atlanta and the AAJ’s headquarters of Washington, D.C.

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• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 26, 2025

Heaviest NFL Player, Desmond Watson, Waived By Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Watson, who was 464 pounds before being signed as a free agent, did not lose enough weight to make the team

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Desmond Watson, who was the heaviest player in NFL history, may have just participated in his last bit of league action after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived the defensive player.

According to ESPN, Watson, who was recently placed on the non-football injury list due to his weight, has been cut as NFL teams reduce their rosters ahead of the upcoming season openers. Watson weighed 464 pounds earlier this year and was an undrafted player. Although he managed to lose weight and get down to 449 pounds, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot on the roster, as the team had required him to lose weight to be in game shape.

He never got a chance to showcase his skills during the preseason, as the Buccaneers placed him on the non-football injury list to help him lose weight and perform conditioning exercises to reach an acceptable level of play. There was no emphasis placed on what weight he needed to get down to.

His head coach, Todd Bowles, had some high hopes that he would make the team. But it boiled down to getting his weight to a manageable level. He could make the practice squad if another team does not pick him up on waivers.

Last week, Bowles stated, “I’d like to have some long-term plans for him going forward because he’s making some progress and I feel like down the line he can help us, but we’ll have those conversations toward the end of the week.”

Watson never got the chance to suit up, as he did not take a practice snap or preseason snap with the team. However, he did participate in the rookie minicamp early this year in May.

Although he was unable to suit up and take the field for the Buccaneers, if another team decides to give him a chance at playing, at his present weight, he will become the heaviest athlete to take the field in an NFL game if he can sign with another team.

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• Arts and Culture

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 26, 2025

Racial Discrimination Denied This Georgia Woman An Art Degree, 50 Years Later Her Story Is Told In New Film

The woman did not officially receive her art degree until decades later.

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A Black woman from Georgia, who was denied her art degree decades ago, will finally get her story told on screen.

In the 1970s, Gwendolyn Payton had plans to graduate from Mercer University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. However, her dream did not come to fruition for decades, with Payton believing the initial denial stemmed from racial discrimination.

Despite the disheartening journey, Payton never gave up on her academic ambitions. Through the documentary “The Faith of the Dreamer,” Payton’s story of resilience and determination will hit the big screen in her actor son’s directorial debut.

The director, Payton’s son, and “The Walking Dead” actor Khary Payton will showcase the protagonist’s story of receiving her overdue achievement. According to The Telegraph, Payton began her first year of classes at the Macon-based institution in 1968.

The Black woman had an affinity for art, wanting to take her passion to the next academic level. However, her visit to the arts department chair left her feeling discouraged and experiencing blatant discrimination.

“He made it clear that he didn’t think I could finish the program,” Payton told the Macon news outlet. “I don’t think that he wanted the school to go into an era of desegregation, and he told me that he did not think that I could graduate from Mercer in his department with a degree.”

She says the faculty member also called her a slur while doubting she had the intellectual chops to make it through the program. However, his words did not deter her, while Payton continued her mission to complete all the required coursework.

Payton met another roadblock as her department chair refused to let her participate in a mandatory senior art exhibit. He deemed her conceptual artwork, which featured works such as “Rebirth of Colored Folks,” “too controversial.” The art pieces showed an unabashed portrait of the plight of Black America.

“There were so many things against them, and I felt like they were just a target,” said the 74-year-old. “There were several conceptual art paintings—meaning that they were about how I thought about things that were going on in society.”

While Payton thought she had moved on, she felt her degree denial severely stunted her artistic career.

‘What was, what had brought that big impact on my art career — having been denied my degree at Mercer, having been denied that my conceptual artwork was real and reality for me, even if it may not have been reality for him,” she said.

She left the university with just her biology degree, unable to get past the racist persistence of the chair. Despite a dream deferred, the desire never left her. A chance meeting in 2019 with a current Mercer professor led to progress.

With the support of another faculty member, Payton finally put up a fight to receive her degree. Now, the documentary will detail her journey of perseverance and healing to finally obtain what has always been hers.

“Opposition to the truth may derail the dream, but the faith of the dreamer prevails,” she added.

The film premiered Aug. 24 at Theatre Macon as part of the Macon Film Festival. Additional screenings will follow.

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• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 26, 2025

Basketball Cards Featuring Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant Auctions For Whopping $12 Milly

The $12.932 million surpassed the $12.6 million that a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card brought in August 2022

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The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Basketball Cards, with the signatures of Jordan and Bryant, which was expected to fetch over $6 million at an auction, more than doubled that price with a record $12.932 million bid.

According to Heritage Auctions, the sale produced by Heritage Auctions ended with a bid for $12.932 million, surpassing the $12.6 million that a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card brought in August 2022. The auction house also sold the Mantle card. Mike Provenzale, production manager at Heritage Sports, stated that the basketball card was the only Jordan/Bryant dual Logoman ever made.

“I think that this incredible world record price reflects two things,” said Heritage’s Director of Sports Auctions, Chris Ivy. “First, this is the finest modern basketball card in the world, and second, Heritage Auctions provides our clients with the best platform to generate world record results for your rare collectibles.”

There were 82 bids for the rare basketball card.

The Jordan/Bryant card was purchased by Shark Tank co-host and Canadian investor Kevin O’Leary, hobby mega-collector Matt Allen, and entrepreneur Paul Warshaw.

CNBC reported that the “Shark Tank” regular spoke to the media outlet to inform them that he was one of the card’s purchasers.

“We bought it together, yes we did,” O’Leary said on “Squawk Box,” telling them that the three of them connected on a 3 a.m. Zoom call to buy the card. “I’m very proud to own it.”

ESPN reported that the collectible is the second-most expensive sports item behind Babe Ruth’s 1932 World Series “called shot” baseball jersey, which sold for $24.12 million last year.

Before this weekend’s auction took place, the record price for a basketball card was the nearly $6 million price ($5.9 million) paid for a 2009-10 National Treasures Steph Curry Logoman Autograph card that was purchased in a private sale to an investment fund almost five years ago, in July 2021.

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