In The Spirit of Jesse Jackson, Obama And Sharpton Urge New Generation To Keep The Fight Alive
Without directly naming the current Trump administration, Obama warned that democratic institutions are under attack.
President Barack Obama and the Rev. Al Sharpton honored the late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson at his memorial service by continuing Jackson’s longstanding mission to uplift.
Obama first reflected on what he described as a troubling political climate. Without directly naming the current Trump administration, Obama warned that democratic institutions are under attack, yet as Jackson asserted time and time again, Black people still belong.
“We are living in a time when it can be hard to hope,” Obama said. “Each day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions.”
Obama also credited Jackson’s decades of activism with reshaping American politics and opening doors for future generations of Black leaders. He said Jackson’s presidential campaigns in the 1980s helped inspire and blaze a path forward for his own political career.
“The message he sent … was that maybe there wasn’t any place or any room where we didn’t belong,” Obama said.
Reverend Jesse Jackson called on each of us to be heralds of change, to be messengers of hope; to step forward and say “Send me” wherever we have a chance to make an impact.
How fortunate we were that Jesse Jackson answered that call. What a great debt we owe to him. pic.twitter.com/2XUfu43MAA
Civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton also delivered emotional remarks during the service. Rev. Sharpton recalled Jackson’s role as a mentor and strategist within the modern civil rights movement. He stressed the need to carry forward the work Jackson spent decades building. Unlike Obama, Sharpton named the perceived adversary to democracy. He sharply criticized Trump and made clear that Jackson’s legacy of resistance should inspire all to continue the fight. He urged attendees and observers to “Leave here with some Jackson fire in you, not just a program book.”
“To leave here and not find an assignment would not be what Jesse Jackson taught us,” he said. “We’ve beaten people bigger than Trump.”
Speakers throughout the ceremony described Jackson as a bridge between the civil rights movement of the 1960s and contemporary struggles for voting rights and economic justice.
Tony! Toni! Toné! Co-Founder D’Wayne Wiggins’ Children Fight For His $700K Estate
Tensions have surfaced among Wiggins' family regarding who should oversee Wiggins’ assets
Family members of the late Tony! Toni! Toné! Co-founder D’Wayne Wiggins are reportedly in disagreement over control of the musician’s estate following his death.
According to TMZ, tensions have surfaced within Wiggins’ family regarding who should oversee Wiggins’ assets and how his estate should be managed. The outlet claims to have reviewed estate-planning documents that detail the dispute. Ilahn Wiggins, D’Wayne’s daughter, claims she and her siblings, Dylan and Jaden, have been disinherited in favor of their cousin Veleta Savannah. Reporting suggests Savannah holds the power of attorney over the estate.
However, Ilahn Wiggins believes documents giving Savannah control over the estate were signed at the end of D’Wayne’s life. She suggests heavy medication, given during his cancer treatment and end-of-life care, may have influenced his decision to change his estate plans.
While Ilahn begins digging into the details of her father’s estate, there has been no mention of his wife. Only a few months before his passing, D’Wayne married Dori Wiggins, who would presumably have a legitimate claim to some of the Oakland legend’s estate. D’Wayne died in March 2025 from bladder cancer. A year later, his family has yet to settle his affairs. His assets are reportedly worth $700,000 and could also include music royalties, as the R&B legend is responsible for classic songs still in rotation.
As the Wiggins family sorts through the details of their father’s legacy, other celebrity children are doing the same. Nearly 20 years after his passing, Michael Jackson’s children have continued to fight for transparency into his now billion-dollar estate. Members of Jackson’s family have raised concerns about how the estate’s administrators have handled financial decisions involving the late singer’s assets and long-term investments.
Jackson’s daughter, Paris, has been particularly vocal in her inquiries. Disagreements involve questions over the management of Jackson’s expansive music catalog and other holdings, which continue to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue years after the King of Pop’s death. Executors appointed to manage the estate have defended their decisions in court filings, arguing that strategic business deals and licensing agreements have significantly increased the estate’s value since Jackson died in 2009.
The Jackson estate has grown into one of the most profitable celebrity estates in entertainment history, due to music royalties, licensing agreements, and media projects tied to Jackson’s legacy.
Leading Without Burnout: Explore Ways Black Women Executives And Business Owners Can Protect Their Wellness
The 2026 BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit will include a workshop on wellness and self-care.
Burnout and wellness remain pressing concerns for Black women executives and entrepreneurs, potentially creating health risks if not properly dealt with.
A significant issue is burnout, says Patricia Saint Cyr-Hager, chief operations officer at Black Health Matters, a health education and advocacy organization.
She noted this study shows that roughly 40% of Black women leaders report feeling burned out, much higher than about 28% of white women. Black women are often disproportionally hit because of workplace bias, steady performance pressure, and the expectation to “do it all.”
“That gap matters, and it demands intentional solutions.”
Though the public cites Black women with words like resilient, tenacious, and steadfast, what is often not seen is the fatigue, pain, and adversity they endure. Many Black women reportedly face chronic stressors without stable support to overcome them.
Saint Cyr-Hager furnished BLACK ENTERPRISE with email savvy on wellness topics. She explained how Black women can confront burnout and protect their mental health. She spoke on The Power of the Pivot, a mentality that includes adapting and making a deliberate change to rebound from setbacks, such as job loss or other challenges.
A seasoned executive in her field, Saint Cyr-Hager has a doctorate in public health. She landed her current role at The Daniels Network last November. It oversees Black Health Matters and the Black Health Matters Foundation. CEO Roslyn Young-Daniels founded Black Health Matters in 2012.
Saint Cyr-Hager stressed that preventing burnout starts with a mindset shift. She says self-care must be seen as essential. “That may look different for everyone, but intentionally protecting time for rest, movement, reflection, or creativity is critical to sustaining leadership over the long term.”
For Black women navigating demanding environments, Saint Cyr-Hager says the “Power of the Pivot” is especially relevant. That notion might be helpful to scores of Black women who have lost jobs recently and are rebounding from displacement due to federal government cutbacks and DEI downsizing.
Black women lost 87,000 jobs between January and February 2026, according to a review of the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Creative Investment Research.
William Michael Cunningham, an economist and owner of Creative Investment Research, says the rise in unemployment among Black women in 2025-2026 is due to more of them seeking work, as well as job cuts in areas like healthcare, social assistance, and education, where employment is high.
As such, many Black women must now consider new options.
Learning to let go of the need to carry everything alone is another important strategy. She mentioned that delegation, collaboration, and asking for support are signs of effective leadership. “Many Black women have been conditioned to overextend themselves, but shared responsibility is one of the strongest protections against burnout.”
She added that mental health protection and setting boundaries are non-negotiable, calling them sustainable leadership qualities. “When women executives don’t protect their mental well-being, stress can quietly impact decision making, focus, and overall health.”
Saint Cyr-Hager cited regular self-check-ins, mindfulness or grounding routines, and working with therapists, coaches, or trusted mentors as some of the most effective practices.
And drawing limits is equally important. Saint Cyr-Hager explained that simple practices—like designating focus time, communicating clear availability, or unplugging when possible—can dramatically reduce stress and increase clarity.
For Black women navigating demanding environments, Saint Cyr-Hager says the “Power of the Pivot” is especially relevant. That notion might be helpful to scores of Black women who have lost jobs recently and are rebounding from displacement due to federal government cutbacks and DEI downsizing. Many now must consider new options.
Saint Cyr-Hager affirmed that pivoting is about having the courage to shift if something no longer aligns with your values, health, or purpose. She stressed it’s not about failure but wisdom.
“The pivot for Black women executives might mean redefining success, changing direction in business, restructuring roles, or simply creating space to breathe. Growth doesn’t always come from pushing harder—sometimes it comes from choosing differently.”
Spelman Innovators Developing ‘PlantGPT,’ AI Tool Designed To Give Anyone A Green Thumb
The PlantGPT prototype is currently being tested on houseplants while the team continues refining the system’s capabilities.
Joy Rutledge and Temple Dees are working at Spelman College’s Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab to develop an AI program that assesses environmental data from plants into real time care guidance.
The project, PlantGPT, connects plant sensors to artificial intelligence software and analyzes environmental conditions to provide feedback about plant health. An elite team of Spelman innovators, including Rutledge, Dees, Grace Burch, Jessica Obi, and Devyn Washington, have worked on the project at different stages.
“Plant GPT is a way to be able to talk to your plants,” Rutledge said in an Instagram video created by Spelman. “So, when your plant is dying, you need to know what type of information the plant needs or resources that the plant needs, such as water, sunlight, nutrients.”
The system gathers environmental readings using sensors placed near the plant. Those sensors monitor conditions, including soil moisture, humidity, temperature and light exposure. The data is then transmitted to an artificial intelligence model that interprets the readings and produces recommendations for plant care.
“So we’ve basically created sensors and connected it to an AI,” Dees said. “You’re able to get this real time data from your plant that way when it does notify you, you’ll be able to adjust the conditions of your plant.”
The project originated with Grace Burch, a Spelman College biology graduate who began building the prototype as part of research inside the Innovation Lab.
According to the Innovators, the early version of PlantGPT used Arduino hardware later iterations of the project introduced additional technical changes.
“My part of the project was switching the AI model to Tiny Llama, which is local and doesn’t need the internet, and adding more features like written response and we’re working on the vocal response feature,” Dees explained.
The prototype is currently being tested on houseplants while the team continues refining the system’s capabilities.
The project has also gained recognition through entrepreneurship programs connected to the college. PlantGPT received a $1,000 award at the Center for Black Entrepreneurship’s New Venture Competition in 2025, funding that helped support continued development of the technology. Additionally, PlantGPT won top honors at the AAAS Making & Innovation Competition in Washington, D.C.
Former NBA Player Patrick Beverley Breaks Silence On Arrest Involving Confrontation With 15-Year-Old Sister
The charges have been dropped.
On Nov. 14, 2025, former NBA player Patrick Beverley was arrested in Texas on a felony assault charge after he found his younger 15-year-old sister alone with an 18-year-old man at his mother’s house.
Now that the charges against him have been dropped, Beverley took to YouTube to speak about his version of events—the “most uncomfortable experience” he’s ever been in.
“My Response To The Arrest” begins with newspaper clippings about the incident shown across the screen, as he says that he would never hurt his sister. He then narrates his story from his vehicle, before transitioning to a shot of Beverly in a living room.
“I’m so motherf**king salty right now,” Beverley said in the video clip, which was filmed on Nov. 18, after he was bailed out of jail. “The things that they saying on the internet is unbelievable. Punched my sister. Choked my sister. I just can’t wait until the truth comes out.”
Beverley was taken into custody by the Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office after his sister, according to the Daily Mail, told police officers that her brother choked her.
Beverley said his sister’s boyfriend had placed the call. Since he knew he had not done anything that warranted his arrest, Beverley was not concerned about being detained, though he did admit to pulling her by the arm and grabbing her hoodie to stop her from running out to her boyfriend.
Authorities said said the former basketball player started to scream at his sister and grabbed her by the neck and picked her off the ground.
“I’m heated. I leave the house following the young man outside. I guess he called law enforcement. Police come, and I’m telling everyone nothing happened. But then I see them talking to my sister. My mom is saying, ‘That didn’t happen. What are you saying?’
“Next thing I know, I’m detained and put in the back of a police car.”
He said his sister tried to retract her words, but police were convinced that what she told them was true. A grand jury declined to proceed with the charges, stating there was insufficient evidence against Beverley.
The video, which is a little over 14 minutes long, is below.
TGI Fridays Waitress Who Comforted Fussy Toddler Inspires Launch Of Nonprofit Supporting Moms
The TGI Friday waitress who comforted a fussy toddler has teamed up with the child's mom on a new venture aimed at supporting moms in need.
The TGI Fridays waitress who went viral for soothing a fussy toddler while juggling her tables has now partnered with the child’s mother to support a new nonprofit dedicated to helping moms in need.
Chalaine Kilduff received an overwhelming response after sharing a video of waitress Brittany Bell picking up her son to calm him before a toddler meltdown during a stop at an airport TGI Fridays. The touching moment inspired Kilduff to launch a GoFundMe for Bell, whom her children now affectionately call “Princess Bell,” which raised $12,000, 11 Alive reports.
Kilduff has now turned the viral moment into something bigger by launching the No Fear Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at supporting mothers across the country facing difficult or critical medical diagnoses during pregnancy. Kilduff says her own family faced that reality when one of her sons received a difficult diagnosis before he was born. She recalls how isolating and overwhelming that time felt and wanted to ensure other mothers wouldn’t have to navigate it alone.
Now, Bell has partnered with her to help expand that mission. Together, they created a fundraising T-shirt for moms in crisis. The front features “I love you” written in sign language, while the back reads: “Kindness is the cure.”
For Bell, the partnership feels like a full-circle moment, as she reflects on how overwhelmed she was by the outpouring of love that followed the viral video.
“It actually touched my heart because we live in a chaotic and negative world, and you just don’t see that much getting traction online unless it’s negative,” she said. “So the fact that strangers wanted to get together and support me to do something positive is really amazing.”
“She was going above and beyond, and I think a lot of parents want to support her and rally around her because they also know how hectic and chaotic it is to travel with kids,” Kilduff said. “And so everyone wanted to show her a generous moment and give her a blessing.”
Travel Noire Launches App Offering City Guides And Safety Tips For Black Travelers
Travel Noire owner Morgan DeBaun stresses the app offers information "curated by human Black editors."
After years of serving as a go-to destination for Black travelers seeking inspiration, travel guides, and global cultural experiences, Travel Noire has launched its official app.
On March 5, Morgan DeBaun, the owner of Travel Noire, took to Instagram to introduce the Travel Noire App, a dedicated space where Black travelers can find curated guides, advice, and tips for exploring new destinations. Amid the rise of AI-generated content, DeBaun assured users that the app’s recommendations are created by Travel Noire’s editorial team.
“Travel Noire is launching something new and I am so, so excited for you all to see it,” she said. “It is an app that is designed to help you when you are on the go. So if you’re traveling to a new city or you’re traveling to a new country, it’s going to have all the recommendations of places to eat, places to stay, excursions and activities and things to do curated by human Black editors to make sure that the things are real and spot on and designed with taste and culture in mind.”
Research shows that Black travelers often face unique challenges tied to systemic racism, safety concerns, and limited representation, frequently spending an estimated 14 extra hours researching destinations, vetting experiences, and confirming safety. Reports of racial profiling, uncomfortable encounters, and a lack of inclusivity in the tourism industry have also pushed many travelers to seek out brands that actively support diversity.
That’s why platforms like Travel Noire have become a trusted resource for discovering destinations that welcome diverse travelers. With its new app, the company aims to stay connected with users throughout every stage of their travel journey.
“This is the beginning of a new version of Travel Noire,” DeBaun said. “As the world in AI takes over the web, we’re moving into the world of apps and I’m so excited to see you there.”
Amazon Warehouse Worker Fired While Recovering From On-The-Job Injuries, Lawsuit Says
According to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Amazon warehouse workers suffer musculoskeletal injuries injuries at about four times the industry rate.
An Amazon warehouse worker is suing his now former employer after he says he was fired while recovering from surgery to fix hernias he received on the job.
According to The Independent, Las Vegas resident Lashone Brown was fired for “non-attendance” while recovering at home following his surgery to fix two work-related hernias. The civil lawsuit, obtained by the publication, states that while Brown was granted official medical leave for two weeks, Amazon’s automated attendance system misclassified his absences as unexcused. He was “automatically terminated” five days into his two-week recovery.
While Amazon HR allegedly acknowledged the mistake as a department error, the department did not correct it, the lawsuit claims. Brown’s legal team said Amazon used the opportunity to punish him for filing a worker’s compensation claim for the injuries.
In a 2024 report by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Amazon had “relentless efforts to push workers to move faster and its failure to provide a safe environment results in workers getting injured at extremely high rates.
“Many of these workers live with severe injuries and permanent disabilities because of the company’s insistence on enforcing grueling productivity quotas and its refusal to adequately care for injured workers,” according to the report.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made and our commitment to continuously improving, and we were eager to share that progress with the Committee,” Amazon said in a statement regarding the report. “Unfortunately, it’s now clear that this investigation wasn’t a fact-finding mission, but rather an attempt to collect information and twist it to support a false narrative.”
In an email to The Independent about Brown’s lasuit, Amazon Spokesperson Sam Stephenson said the company hadn’t received the lawsuit and couldn’t comment on it.
“The health and safety of our employees and partners is our highest priority, and we take this matter seriously,” Stephenson added.
Wes Moore Gives Side-Eye To Trump Administration Over Iran Operation, Says They Haven’t Given Americans ‘Confidence’
"...I don’t think that this administration has really given us anything to make me feel more confident."
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to launch military strikes against Iran, saying his own experience in war makes him wary of the potential consequences.
“As someone who has fought in one of these regime change wars, and someone who knows how difficult these wars are–I lost friends because of wars like these–I’m skeptical, and I don’t think that this administration has really given us anything to make me feel more confident,” the Democratic leader told theGrio.
“I’m just seeing a whole series of contradictions where we’re told months ago that the nuclear program was obliterated, but now we had to act immediately…because now we’re supposed to believe that an attack was imminent,” he added. “A coalition of either international partners or even getting the American people to [buy in] on, or Congress, was not there.”
Last year, Moore accused Trump of not taking the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran seriously. His comments came shortly after Trump said he delivered an “ultimate ultimatum” to leaders in Tehran about disarming their nuclear program, according to Politico. He told reporters “I may do it, I may not do it” in regard to the U.S. striking Iran’s nuclear sites.
“As someone who has worn this uniform, and you know, along with my fellow service members risked my life in defense of this country, to see such a free-wheeling conversation about issues of life and death is disappointing,” Moore said.
Some of his constituents share similar thoughts. Demonstrations took place in Baltimore condemning the military strike on Iran.
“The U.S. should not be anywhere over there,” said Carrington Scott of Baltimore People’s Power Assembly Organizer. “The U.S. is over there entirely to strip the resources of the area to enact the government change because the Iranian revolution isn’t playing ball.”
Other protestors feel Trump and his team should be focused on the needs of the people that voted him into office in the first place. “We don’t support our taxpaying money going into this war,” said a protestor named Fathima, who is with the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Added Scott, “Our own people here are left in food deserts…where education and literacy is low.”
While Moore said his “heart just continues to break for these service members who we lost,” he issued a warning that chaos may continue under Trump’s leadership.
“We’re just continuing to watch a completely unchecked executive,” he continued. “I’m not sure if anyone, even in the administration, could explain their foreign policy or the legality.”
Grambling State University Finally Secures Trademark For Legendary ‘G’ Logo After 30-Year Legal Battle
Grambling’s logo pays tribute to alumnus and Green Bay Packers legend Willie Davis.
Grambling State University (GSU) has scored big, securing a federal trademark registration for its legendary “G” styled logo, a milestone that marks the end of a 30-year long legal battle, HBCU Gameday reports.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the registration under U.S. Trademark Registration No. 8148992, protecting one of the most recognizable logos in athletics, battling against the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the NFL’s Green Bay Packers.
Carrying deep symbolism, Grambling’s logo pays tribute to alumnus and Packers legend Willie Davis, known as one of the most dominant defensive ends in NFL history, and a star of the Packers’ legendary 1960s teams.
As the “G” donned on Packers gear became one of the most recognizable logos in American sports, Grambling was given permission to use a similar design years ago but had to establish clear distinctions, keeping its bold black-and-gold color scheme. The Grambling Tigers introduced its own version in the 1970s.
The newly secured trademark reinforces GSU’s exclusive rights to use and license the mark in addition to putting the HBCU in a position to expand partnerships, merchandise, and national visibility initiatives confidently, according to KNOE News.
“This registration represents more than a legal achievement, it is a declaration of ownership over our history, our excellence, and our brand,” said GSU president Dr. Martin Lemelle Jr.
He called out the collaborative efforts of Penya Moses, Grambling’s vice president for administration and business affairs and external counsel Kean Miller for making sure “our university’s interests were advanced with clarity and confidence,” he continued.
“Because of her stewardship and collaboration, Grambling State now stands on even stronger footing to protect and leverage one of our most powerful institutional assets.”
Dubbed “VP Moses” by Lemelle, she said securing federal registration only “strengthens our ability to protect the mark, expand licensing opportunities, and steward the University’s brand with integrity for years to come.”
She added, “…Working alongside Kean Miller and engaging constructively with peer institutions, we focused on demonstrating the distinctiveness and legacy of Grambling State University’s ‘G’ as a symbol that has represented Tiger pride for generations.”
Moses said that the process was helped by “the professionalism of our counterparts in helping establish clear boundaries that allow each institution’s mark to stand on its own.”
