The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office’s attempt to revoke Jeffrey “Young Thug” Williams’s probation has been denied, according to the Associated Press.
Judge Paige Reese Whitaker of the Georgia Superior Court ruled that Young Thug does not pose a threat after prosecutors raised concerns over a social media post.
The post, which alleged that an investigator in the YSL RICO trial fabricated information, led to the doxxing of the employee online. Prosecutors argued the post amounted to a threat against county staff and immediately filed for revocation of Williams’ probation.
Young Thug is currently serving 15 years probation after entering a plea deal in the YSL RICO case. Prosecutors said the post, which drew significant attention, triggered a need for increased security.
In a one-page order, Whitaker rejected the motion and issued a warning.
“While the Court does not find that the cited social media post rises to the level of a violation of Defendant’s probation, it may be prudent for Defendant to exercise restraint regarding certain topics,” she wrote in a footnote.
Young Thug has been out of jail since October 2024. The Lifestyle rapper’s release came with strict conditions, including disassociating from all gang-affiliated individuals and activities. Prosecutors claimed his repost of the investigator’s image violated those terms and constituted a threat.
In their previous motion, prosecutors also alleged that Young Thug’s “continued association with individuals actively involved in witness intimidation, threats of violence, and obstruction of justice” breached the terms of his probation.
Young Thug denies all allegations of violence and intimidation, stating on X that he is a “peaceful” man.
The rapper has kept a relatively low profile since his release and is on track to revamp his stalled career. He will headline the Les Ardentes in Belgium, which is taking place from July 3 to July 6.
Man Who Bilked Dwight Howard Out Of $7M Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison
After a jury found Calvin Darden, Jr. guilty of bilking former NBA player Dwight Howard out of several million dollars, a Manhattan judge sentenced him to spend more than 12 years in prison.
According to The Associated Press, Darden, to whom Howard gave $7 million in a fake scheme to purchase a stake in the Atlanta Dream, has to forfeit $8 million. Along with the money, he has to return various luxury items he was able to obtain because of the illegal scheme, including a $3.7 million Atlanta mansion, $600,000 in artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Lamborghini, and a Rolls-Royce.
Former NBA player Chandler Parsons was also scammed by Darden, who bilked him for $1 million in a scheme involving then-NBA prospect James Wiseman.
A New York jury found him guilty on Oct. 4, 2024.
Prosecutors said the conman spent most of the money he received from Howard, at least $6.1 million. He purchased two luxury vehicles for $500,000, bought himself a piano for $110,000, and used $765,000 as a down payment on a $3.7 million home. He also purchased luxury watches for $90,000 and used $500,000 to upgrade his home. He also bought art for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The alleged investment offer from Darden to the recent Orlando Magic Hall of Famer took place when the former owner of the WNBA team, former Atlanta Republican U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, was selling the team due to her views on racial injustice with a team that featured mostly minority players. In 2021, the team was sold to a three-member investor group, which included former player Renee Montgomery.
After the sale of the team, Howard discovered that Darden had scammed him.
Darden was previously convicted after another scheme he was involved in landed him in trouble. Prosecutors revealed that Darden partnered with a sports agent to swindle Parsons. Darden influenced Parsons to send $1 million to aid in the development of Wiseman, who the Toronto Raptors recently waived after being traded by the Indiana Pacers.
As such, Ware plans to host a fashion show at Miami Swim Week for the first time this summer. The event in Florida is supposedly the world’s largest swimwear and resort wear festival. It will allow Ware to showcase her business to tens of thousands of expected attendees.
The show could help leverage Ware’s mission of helping women of all shapes and sizes feel empowered, confident, and strong in their bodies. “Miami Swim Week wouldn’t be complete without that diversity.”
Ware made a bodacious transition after leaving an unfulfilling security job at the U.S. Department of Defense to start her business in May 2019. In just two years, she saved $30,000 of her own money, allowing her to pursue a passion for teaching fitness classes.
But her quest early on was not easy. Ware told BLACK ENTERPRISE by email that one of the biggest challenges in launching CURVD was developing a solid business model and figuring out the most effective way to allocate the funds she invested.
As a first-time entrepreneur, Ware says there were many things to consider. These included which areas of the business would give the highest return on investment and how to balance spending on marketing, operations, and product development.
“It wasn’t easy, and there were times when I felt overwhelmed by the financial strain, but the key to overcoming that was sticking to the mission,” she said. “I relied on my intuition, and slowly but surely, we started seeing the results of that investment.”
Ware’s exertion, tenacity, and perseverance have helped her capture a niche. This Florida-based business now generates roughly $2 million annually, leveraging her fitness app and helping women feel strong, confident, and valued.
Ware also attributes much of her firm’s growth to strategic partnerships and global social media. She said they helped her attract over 800K followers. She added that working with elite brands, including Soho House, The Webster, and ESPN, has expanded her reach and credibility.
BLACK ENTERPRISE connected with Ware to discuss her business and entrepreneurship.
Whatinspired you to launch a fitness brand that caters specifically to women?
Fitness has always been a huge part of my life. As a little girl, I remember sitting on my dad’s back while he did push-ups and watching him win Gold’s Gym competitions. Staying active was second nature to me, and as social media grew, people started noticing my workouts and physique. However, I saw a major gap in the fitness industry — so many women wanted to work out but feared they had to sacrifice their curves to do it. Today, I’m proud that over 100,000 “Fit Queens” have benefited from the program, which can be found here.
Please share feedback from Black women on how your brand has helped them.
I hear from new mothers battling postpartum depression; from women rebuilding after leaving abusive relationships, each one sharing how CURVD has empowered them, not just physically but mentally and spiritually. It’s about transformation and healing.
Given the ongoing DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) backlash impacting many businesses of color, what steps are you taking to ensure your company remains resilient?
Diversity isn’t just a trend for CURVD. It’s at the core of who we are. My entire team is made up of women of color, and I’m committed to continuing to expand that representation. From our models to our leadership, we ensure that inclusivity isn’t just a talking point; it’s our reality. Despite the challenges, I see opportunity. The demand for authentic, diverse representation is only growing, and I’m dedicated to ensuring that CURVD remains a leader in this space, breaking barriers and advocating for visibility.
How has your firm performed revenue-wise over recent years?
Our highest revenue came during the early pandemic years when the health and wellness industry surged. However, as people returned to work and inflation impacted spending, we saw a dip. To counter this, we shifted our messaging, emphasizing that investing in health isn’t an optional expense — it’s a necessity. With our upcoming swimwear relaunch and new product expansions, our goal for 2025 is to reach $3 million in revenue.
Looking forward, where would you like to see your company’s revenue?
In the next five years, I envision CURVD reaching $10 million in annual revenue. To achieve this, we’re focusing on launching new yoga mats, activewear, and an extended swimwear line. We plan to expand beyond the U.S. into international markets—and brand collaborations by partnering with major fitness and fashion brands to increase visibility and impact.
What advice would you give Black entrepreneurs looking to start or grow a business?
First, believe in yourself. That’s the foundation. Among the steps to consider are identifying your niche, finding the gap in the market, and being the solution. And while funding/capital is important, don’t wait for a big investor to get started. Bootstrapping and reinvesting in your business can take you far. Know that entrepreneurship isn’t easy and comes with setbacks. But your ability to push through challenges will define your success. Most importantly, remember why you started. When your purpose is clear, your passion will fuel you through any obstacles.
Trump Says The $5M Immigrant Gold Card Is For Sale
Non-citizens are now able to buy their way into citizenship for a new $5 million price tag.
President Donald Trump is back in the spotlight for promoting what he calls the “EP Five,” a $5 million card bearing his image.
As previously reported by the current administration, Trump flaunted a shiny card embossed with his face during an exchange with reporters on April 4. He claimed that immigrants could buy their way into the country for $5 million. The pitch echoed the tone of a used car salesman.
“For $5 million, this could be yours,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “You know what that card is? It’s the Gold Card, the Trump Card.”
He continued, “Five bucks, it could be yours. It’s the first card—the Trump card—the gold card.”
When asked whether purchases had begun, Trump said the card would be available for sale within two weeks. As of now, no government approval has been given for its release.
While the rollout of the so-called “Gold Card” may raise eyebrows, the underlying idea isn’t entirely new. The U.S. has allowed foreign nationals to invest their way into the country through the EB-5 investor visa program since 1990.
Originally intended to stimulate the economy and support job growth, the program allows eligible individuals to gain lawful permanent residency by investing in U.S. businesses. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), qualifications depend on how the investment contributes to job creation. According to Newsweek, under the existing EB-5 program, applicants must pay between $100,000 and $200,000 in fees to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), invest between $800,000 and $1 million, and create at least 10 jobs for American workers.
On March 15, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act as part of a broader spending bill. The legislation outlines specific criteria for job creation:
For businesses outside a designated regional center, the enterprise must directly create full-time positions and act as the employer.
Jobs can be created directly or indirectly within regional centers. Indirect employment can satisfy up to 90 percent of the job creation requirement.
In cases involving troubled businesses, investors may meet the requirement by maintaining the current workforce at pre-investment levels for at least two years.
While Trump’s “Gold Card” pitch appears to draw loosely from this legal framework, it remains unclear whether the concept has any official grounding or government support.
Report: Black Entrepreneurs Topped Other Peers In Business Openings, But Obstacles Like Securing Financing Linger
Autonomy over their schedule and finances spurred Black entrepreneurs to open more businesses amid challenges
Carmeanna Eberly left a corporate chief of staff role last summer after almost a decade of building startups and advising CEOs.
“I hadn’t planned on starting a business — but I also wasn’t ready to jump back into someone else’s vision.”
As such, she launched the Bonsai & Brew Studio last June. Her Chicago-based pop-up events company offers bonsai and native gardening education by partnering with independent coffee shops, breweries, and plant shops.
Eberly is an example of why Black entrepreneurship is growing robustly. According to the Gusto 2025 New Business Formation Report, the percentage of businesses started by entrepreneurs last year was up 67% from 2019.
BLACK ENTREPRENEURS OUTDID OTHER PEERS IN BUSINESS OPENINGS
That Black growth rate was much higher than for AAPI (17%) and Latinx founders (25%). Comparatively, the share of small businesses started by White founders fell 12% during the five-year period, mainly due to the surge of new businesses created by the other racial groups.
The findings are from a survey of 1,000-plus new business owners who launched businesses in 2024 by the Gusto Insights Group, a team of specialized economists and data scientists who track the current economic landscape and labor market.
Carmeanna Eberly
ON-GOING OBSTACLES LIKE SECURING FINANCING PERSIST
Yet even with Black-owned businesses climbing, they still face serious challenges like discrimination, insufficient resources, and accessing capital, arguably their greatest obstacle.
Gusto senior economist Nich Tremper emailed BLACK ENTERPRISE with some alarming findings. For example, almost 90% of new Black business owners stated they needed financing to start their business, versus 75% of new white business owners.
All told, Black entrepreneurs were the least likely to disclose that they received all the funding they sought last year, and almost all of them used personal financing. They were about 10% more inclined than white new business owners to use a personal credit card (33% vs 30%) to get businesses going.
“Entrepreneurs who are reliant on their own financing are less likely to invest significant money in their business, which may limit their growth.”
Financially, Tremper said new Black entrepreneurs were more likely to report being profitable last year (70%) versus new White entrepreneurs (63%) surveyed.
INTERESTING DISCOVERIES AMD TRENDS REVEALED
Overall, the report found some intriguing points tied to business creation, including:
Women entrepreneurs started 49% of new businesses last year, a 69% gain from 2019 and the largest rate in the five years the report was published.
A tough job market is making entrepreneurship more attractive. With hiring slow in many parts of the economy, the percentage of entrepreneurs who started a business because they or their partner lost a job rose 66% last year.
Black entrepreneurs reported starting new businesses for additional income. They were 2.1 times more likely than white entrepreneurs to report starting their business to supplement their existing income. That perhaps links with estimates that Black entrepreneurs can earn over 10 times more than non-Black business owners.
So, what other factors are helping fuel Black business growth? Tremper explained that owning a business increases your autonomy — both over your schedule and over your finances. He noted that Black entrepreneurs cited these as motivating reasons they started businesses.
Tremper shared that 60% of Black entrepreneurs who started their businesses last year did so to build an asset, making them forward-looking and seeking to create wealth for the future.
And Black women keep leading the way. Since 2017, the share of black-owned businesses started by them rose 71%. Tremper said that’s consistent with women overall — the share of women who started businesses in 2024 was 69% greater than in 2019.
INDEPENDENCE AND BUILDING WEALTH AMONG PERKS OF BUSINESS OWNERSHIP
Entrepreneur Carmeanna Eberly of Bonsai & Brew Studio was among them. She said her firm did its first public workshop last July. By late 2024, she said the firm will have beaten its targets by serving over 1,000 customers and generating $15,000 in revenue for its venue partners at sold-out events.
Eberly forecasts her firm’s monthly recurring revenue (MRR) this year to be roughly 150% to 170% higher than when it was tracked for five months last year after the business was launched.
Now, she is pursuing larger exploits. Last month, the business opened a digitally curated affiliate store to sell supplies to customers along their plant journey. Eberly added other plans, including adding the firm’s own plant markets, offering up to four new workshops, and helping individuals across Chicago convert high-maintenance lawns into cost-saving pollinator havens.
“Our plans include expanding into Indiana and Milwaukee in 2026.”
Further, Black entrepreneurs start enterprises to fulfill a passion, gain independence where they work, and possibly collect more money than from a traditional job, among other reasons.
Rosa Thomas, owner of The Savoring Mind, launched her online psychoeducational products business in March 2024. She did so to build income for “retirement” and create security for the golden years. She also wants to provide needed assistance for people at an affordable price, fulfill her dreams of travel, and create a legacy for her child and his family.
She aims to change her business plan from a part-time therapy practice to a full-time digital publishing business this year. New to entrepreneurship, she desires to master the skills to effectively function as a business owner. She wishes to build a solid foundation and presence, then scale if she is able.
“I feel reasonably optimistic that I can replace current contract income within a three-year time horizon.”
Dreena Whitfield-Brown: One Of Few Black Women Recognized As Top Female Founder For 2025
Dreena Whitfield-Brown is one of only eight Black women recognized in the PR category for the 2025 Inc. Female Founders 500 list.
Dreena Whitfield-Brown is one of only eight Black women recognized in the PR category for the 2025 Inc. Female Founders 500 list.
The recognition hasn’t set in yet.
“I’m still processing it,” she told BLACK ENTERPRISE as she reflected on her journey. “I started my company in my living room. I didn’t have any clients and didn’t even know how to do a contract. Google was my best friend. For me to be featured as an Inc. female founder is nothing but God.”
Whitfield-Brown’s journey began with a frustration that Black women know all too well: being passed over for opportunities. Research from Harvard Kennedy School details the unique challenges Black women face in the workplace. The study found that when Black women start their careers working with a higher percentage than their white colleagues, they are more likely to leave their jobs sooner and are less likely to be promoted.
She had had enough of firms offering internships despite her work experience. So, she started her own public relations agency and gave birth to her first baby, WhitPR, in 2010. It’s now one of the leading minority-owned firms in the country — a long way from her humble beginnings when she launched the agency in the living room of her one-bedroom apartment with no clients or media contacts.
Your Circle Matters: How Friends Got Her Started
Whitfield-Brown will be the first to tell aspiring new business owners to be patient and utilize the resources. Her first clients were the people in her inner circle.
“It was a bit of trial and error,” she said. “One of my first clients was one of my close friends. We were building our businesses at the same time, and she was the perfect case study for me.”
Success did not happen overnight, and neither did the money. She worked a retail job for three years to make ends meet. However, as she continued balancing a career and building her brand, others took note, and new clients started coming in. Her first big opportunity was for former Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s nonprofit.
“I got that contract through word of mouth. They ultimately became my first [big] paying client, which then opened more doors.”
WhitPR is an integrated strategic communications agency that shapes and amplifies culture-driven narratives. The agency champions cultural creators, moments, and movements. Its clients represent the social impact space, personal care, lifestyle, and athletic industries.
Her portfolio of clients includes Black Ambition, Black Love, Inc., Hallmark Mahogany, Morrow Hospitality, Prudential Financial, Thread Beauty, the Warner Music Group Social Justice Fund, and so much more.
Black Women Can Have It All, But It Takes Balance
Let Whitfield-Brown be proof that Black women can have it all despite the ongoing conversations and unsolicited studies about how Black women are three times as likely as white women never to marry.
Her then-boyfriend turned now-husband has been supporting her from the beginning. When she’s not working, the duo are likely at AAU basketball games on the weekends or at birthday parties for their most demanding clients (their children), all while she continues to scale her brand.
When you ask how she does it, she says therapy has helped her manage her many hats.
“My therapist has talked me out of bringing my laptop into my bedroom because that’s my sacred space,” she admits. “I still struggle with that because I’m the type that if I can’t get it done during the day, I will get it done after we have dinner and put the kids down, but that doesn’t allow me time to pour into myself.”
What’s Next For Dreena Whitfield-Brown?
As someone who prides herself on staying behind the scenes to ensure her clients have the spotlight, it will likely take some time for her to celebrate and take in all of her accomplishments, which she rightfully deserves.
Whitfield-Brown says she will continue to scale her business, but her next big task is elevating the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs.
“It’s a major accomplishment that I’ve made the Inc. list, but I am one of only eight Black women [in the PR category] and the only one from New Jersey,” she told BE. “I feel that it speaks volumes to the work that is still needed to elevate diverse entrepreneurs.”
She added, “It makes me even more passionate about continuing to do the work and to provide opportunities for not just myself, but just for the next generation of Black women in PR and entrepreneurship.”
2 Suspects Arrested Near Atlanta Jail For Possessing Drone That Carried Contraband
Jeffery Jenkins and Richard Redding were arrested after being caught with a drone carrying contraband
Atlanta police officers intercepted a drone that was carrying contraband and purportedly heading to the Fulton County Jail, and arrested two men accused of having the items and the drone in their vehicle.
According to WSB-TV, suspects Jeffery Jenkins and Richard Redding were arrested and charged with a variety of crimes after the duo was stopped approximately a mile from the jail. Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat stated that investigators found a drone in the vehicle April 1 as they were supposedly en route to the county jail.
The contraband they were accused of transporting ranged from drugs to nine mobile phones to cigarettes. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, Natalie Ammons, said a tip was received. A FAST (Fugitive Apprehension Support Team) Unit investigator, Jermaine Moore, who was in the vicinity when the tip was received, performed a traffic stop where he discovered a drone, a drone controller, and other items in the car.
“Marijuana, cell phone chargers, nine cell phones, oxycodone, various pills, cord, like 550 cord which is used to make the drops using the drone, and the packaging materials,” Moore said.
Moore also stated that 48 packages of cigarettes and over 100 loose cigarettes and suspected oxycodone were also found in the vehicle.
The sheriff told the media outlet that he believes more than half the contraband that finds its way into the jail arrives there via drone. He also mentioned that cell phones and tobacco are illegal within the Fulton County Jail.
Ammons also said that investigators suspected that the same drone operation may have taken place last weekend when a drop of McDonald’s Chicken Sandwiches, suspected oxycodone, and more was discovered stuck in jail fencing.
“We are combating technology with technology and good old-fashioned detective work. And so, as we continue to investigate, we continue be really cognizant of the fact that this is a new trend,” Labat said.
Ice Cube Closes Deal To Write And Star In ‘Last Friday’ For Warner Bros. And New Line
A major studio exec has confirmed that Ice Cube's "Last Friday" is on the way.
Ice Cube has officially received the green light from film studios to create the final installment in the Friday franchise.
New Line President and CCO Richard Brener made the announcement during an in-depth Q&A with The Hollywood Reporter. According to Brener, Ice Cube has the support to write and star in the new film, just as he did in the previous three installments.
“We are making another Friday,” Brener revealed. “We just closed a deal with Ice Cube to write and star. It’s going to be called Last Friday.”
Last Friday will be the fourth entry in the comedy series and the first in over 20 years, following Friday After Next in 2002. The film’s announcement comes less than a year after Ice Cube (real name O’Shea Jackson) said the highly anticipated film was in the works.
“We’re working on it. We finally got some traction with Warner Bros.,” Ice Cube said on Flavor Flav’s SiriusXM show Flavor of the Week.
“They have new leadership, my man Mike De Luca, who used to be at New Line when I first started, when I first did the first ‘Friday’ and ‘Players Club’ and ‘All About the Benjamins.’ Mike De Luca was there…So, now he’s running Warner Bros. And him and my man Michael Gruber was like, ‘Yo, what the fu*k is going on with “Friday”? Man, let’s get this sh*t back online.’”
In 2022, Ice Cube appeared on Mike Tyson’s Hotboxin‘ podcast, where he explained the delay was being caused by Warner Bros. not giving him the rights to his film back.
“Warner Bros. is weird right now,” Cube said at the time. “I don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t know what they’re doing. We’d love to have it back. I think it’s going be close to a time when we get it back. So, we’ll either wait for that time, or we’ll keep trying to convince them that they need to let us control the movie. It’s my movie, but they have distribution control.”
Ice Cube has starred in all three Friday films—Friday (1995), Next Friday (2000), and Friday After Next (2002). He co-wrote the first film with DJ Pooh and had all three Friday movies developed by New Line under De Luca’s leadership. Warner Bros. later acquired New Line, gaining control of the Friday franchise rights, leading to the dispute over the film rights.
With the deal now closed, fans are eager to see how Ice Cube plans to wrap up his cult classic franchise. The films have featured stars like Chris Tucker, who played Pookie in Friday; Mike Epps, who portrayed Day Day, Craig’s (Ice Cube) cousin, in Next Friday and Friday After Next; and Katt Williams, whose breakout role as Money Mike became iconic. Tommy Lister Jr. famously played the notorious Deebo in Friday and Next Friday, though he passed away in 2020 at 62.
7 Powerful Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes That Resonate On The 57th Anniversary Of His Death
His message is needed now more than ever
On the 57th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, we remember not only his iconic speeches but the depth and radicalism of his work. Often sanitized in mainstream memory, King was a bold truth-teller who critiqued capitalism, militarism, and systemic racism with unapologetic clarity. From the pulpit to the picket line, King’s vision for justice was expansive, costing him his life.
Here are seven of Martin Luther King Jr.’s most powerful quotes, revealing both the heart and struggle of his journey.
1. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Letter from Birmingham Jail, 1963 Written in response to white clergy urging him to be patient, this quote defines King’s belief in collective responsibility. It challenges us to see injustice not as isolated incidents but as interconnected systems of oppression.
2. “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” King borrowed this line from abolitionist Theodore Parker, but it became a central theme in his speeches. It reflects a profoundly spiritual and political commitment to a long-term struggle—even when victories are delayed.
3. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” King repeatedly warned against the “appalling silence of the good people.” This quote is a demand that we speak out—even when it’s uncomfortable—against racism, war, and poverty.
4. “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” — Speech in Atlanta, 1967 This declaration was not sentimental—it was strategic. King advocated for love as a force strong enough to dismantle systems of hate and oppression.
5. “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” In this bold statement, King reminds us that justice isn’t handed out—it’s fought for. It is a call to grassroots activism and nonviolent direct action.
6. “The time is always right to do what is right.” — Speech at Oberlin College, 1964 This line speaks to the urgency of justice. Waiting for a “better time” only prolongs oppression. King urged moral clarity and immediate action.
7. “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” — Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence, 1967 This lesser-quoted line from King’s most controversial speech shows his anti-war stance and critique of U.S. imperialism. Delivered one year before his death, it earned him condemnation from mainstream media and political allies.
The Radical Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King wasn’t just a dreamer—he was a disruptor. He connected racism, economic inequality, and militarism, building what he called “the Beloved Community” rooted in justice and dignity for all people. His final years were dedicated to the Poor People’s Campaign, a multiracial coalition demanding housing, jobs, and healthcare. He died organizing a labor strike with Black sanitation workers in Memphis.
As we honor him today, remember his hopeful lines and the hard truths he expressed. King’s message is needed now more than ever.
FAMU’s Pharmacy School Struggles After Trump’s Anti-DEI Raid Results In $16.3M Grant Loss
It was a grant from NIH that helped launch FAMU's pharmacy school in 1985, making it a congressionally mandated program to support minority institutions.
Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University’s (FAMU) College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health Pharmacy is seeking more financial support than usual during the HBCU’s annual FAMU Day of Giving after losing a $16.3 million grant due to President Donald Trump’s anti-DEI federal funding cuts, Tallahassee Democrat reported.
The annual fundraising event began Thursday, Apr. 3, running through the afternoon of Friday, Apr. 4. The department’s interim dean Seth Ablordeppey wrote a letter heightening the need for funding after learning the grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was cancelled March 21. “Your continuous support has become even more crucial than ever,” Ablordeppey wrote.
“Your contributions will directly impact our learners by providing scholarships that support many first-generation college students and provide basic support for everyday necessities previously supported by grants.”
The multi-million dollar grant was one of several lanes of funding that was cut after Trump signed executive orders, including “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” to crack down on federal funding that targeted a number of initiatives.
The grant, which was once renewed in 2024 for an estimated five-year period, supported the pharmacy school and FAMU’s Research Centers in Minority Institutions (RCMI) program. However, the HBCU isn’t giving up that easily. In a statement, FAMU’s interim President, Timothy Beard, said the university is “in the process of appealing the decision” in efforts to keep the program funded. “The funding was awarded to support new faculty hires and enhanced research in key areas such as artificial intelligence, bioinformatics and cancer biology,” Beard said.
“For nearly 40 years, faculty and graduate students have relied on this center to conduct biomedical and health research.”
It was a grant from NIH that helped launch the pharmacy school in 1985, making it a congressionally mandated program to support minority institutions. “The program is a critical contributor to the university’s ability to produce 60% of the nation’s Ph.D. graduates in pharmaceutical sciences from various backgrounds,” Beard said.
“The RCMI program plays a vital role in ensuring the state’s success by contributing to the pipeline of highly trained professionals in the healthcare industry.”
Health insurance giants seemingly agree with the leader’s thoughts. An article from UnitedHealth Group highlighted the importance of the company’s Optum Rx’s scholarship program. In partnership with the historically Black university, vice president of health equity business enablement, Corey Coleman, said the program has assisted the company in prioritizing their work inside the classroom in efforts to prepare students for a career in pharmacy. “The pharmacy and local pharmacists play a crucial role in supporting people’s health,” Coleman said.
“This is why Optum Rx remains committed to supporting the needs of retail and independent pharmacies through initiatives that foster a robust pipeline of health care workers.
With the future’s uncertainty of grants for HBCUs nationwide, the Day of Giving event is an opportunity for FAMU alumni, fans, and friends to support the pharmacy school, in addition to the school’s other departments and initiatives, through financial contributions. Givers are encouraged to go to 1887strikes.com to donate.
