The Black Masking Indians Celebrate Resilience At Super Sunday in New Orleans
Inside the Black Masking Indians and the rich history of Super Sunday in New Orleans.
Super Sunday in New Orleans upholds its longstanding tradition of uniting the local community and being recognized as the true Mardi Gras.
The annual tradition serves as both a homecoming celebration and a testament to resilience and pride, WWLTV reports. The Black Masking Indians take to the streets in the Uptown area, showcasing their hand-sewn suits adorned with intricate beadwork and towering feathers.
“This is the day where everybody gets to see all of the Indians together,” said Big Chief John of The Original Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians. “Usually, Mardi Gras, you don’t see us all together. It’s a big parade for the city and we’re putting on for the city.”
“Every neighborhood has a tribe. I think the last time I counted, they had 45 tribes from each neighborhood,” Big Chief John added. “And we all get together to see who makes the coolest (best)suit.”
The roots of Black Masking Indian culture lie in resistance. Excluded from traditional Mardi Gras celebrations, Black communities forged their own, blending African, Native American, and Creole influences into a unique tradition. What emerged was Super Sunday, the day when all the tribes gather—not for tourists or cameras but for one another.
Hailed as the real Mardi Gras of New Orleans, Super Sunday celebrates survival, culture, and a history that refuses to be erased.
“This game here ain’t nothing to play with,” said Big Chief Spoon of the Buffalo Hunters Mardi Gras Indians. He’s been a part of it since he was seven years old and learned the tradition from elders like his uncle. “I go by the code, by the real Indians. Me? I stay neutral. I’m an Original Indian.”
Super Sunday is New Orleans at its most authentic. It’s not a staged event for tourists or a mainstream spectacle. It serves as a reminder that, no matter how much the city evolves or time passes, the spirit of the Black Masking Indians will keep their culture from being forgotten.
A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS shows the Democratic Party receiving its lowest favorability rating, driven in part by growing dissatisfaction among its own supporters. Among the American public, the Democratic Party’s favorability rating is at 29%—the lowest recorded in CNN’s polling history, going back to 1992.
This marks a 20-point decline since January 2021, when Trump left office in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Meanwhile, the Republican Party holds a 36% favorability rating.
Many, including Democrats and Democrat-leaning Independents are frustrated that the party isn’t calling for stronger opposition to President Donald Trump by blocking the Republican agenda (57%) over bipartisan collaboration (42%).
The poll represents a significant shift toward opposing the GOP compared to the party’s stance since the start of Trump’s first term. In a September 2017 poll, 74% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents supported working with Republicans to advance their priorities, while only 23% favored a more confrontational approach.
The survey, released March 16, underscores growing frustration within the Democratic Party. Conducted March 6 to 9, days before 10 Democratic senators—including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer—sided with Republicans to advance a GOP-led spending bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown, a move that drew criticism from progressive lawmakers.
Now, as Trump’s second term moves into its first 100 days—marked by aggressive anti-DEI policies, sweeping federal job market changes influenced by Elon Musk’s DOGE initiatives, and intensified ICE raids—it’s clear that Democrats feel increasingly defeated by their party’s response.
Ex-Postal Worker Guilty As Charged, Stole More Than $1.6M In Checks
Hachikosela Muchimba is facing up to 45 years in prison
A former United States Postal Service (USPS) worker has been convicted of illegally acquiring more than $1.6 million from the service over two years.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia, announced that a federal jury found Hachikosela Muchimba, of Washington, D.C., guilty of conspiracy to commit theft of mail and bank fraud, theft of mail; bank fraud; engaging in a monetary transaction in property derived from specified unlawful activity, and unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization. He is expected to be sentenced on Aug. 8 by U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras and will remain in the government’s custody until then.
Court papers reveal that between December 2020 and March 2023, while employed by USPS, Muchimba started stealing U.S. Treasury and private party checks from the mail. After taking the checks, he would deposit them, after altering and/or falsely endorsing them, into bank accounts that he controlled. By removing the name of the payee on the checks and placing his name on them, Muchimba was able to deposit the altered checks into his account.
Muchimba was caught on surveillance footage making deposits and withdrawing funds from the account. Through the scheme, he stole more than $1.6 million, spending the ill-gotten gains on a lavish lifestyle, including international trips, stays at luxury hotels, and visits to gentlemen’s clubs.
Muchimba was also found guilty of unlawful procurement of naturalization. While applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen, he gave authorities with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services false information, telling them that he had not committed any crimes for which he had not been arrested.
The convicted felon faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for bank fraud, five years for mail theft, and 10 years for unlawful procurement of naturalization and possible administrative denaturalization.
Ye, Rihanna, Pharrell Williams Own Most Talked About Celebrity Brands Of 2025
Ye might be controversial, but he owns the most talked-about celebrity brand of 2025—for now.
Despite the challenges Ye’s Yeezy brand faced after losing its partnership with Adidas, the apparel company remains the most talked-about celebrity brand of 2025, alongside brands from Rihanna and Pharrell Williams.
A recent study by Heepsy ranked the celebrity brands generating the most buzz in 2025 by analyzing Instagram followers, Google searches, and Instagram hashtags. According to the findings, Ye topped the list, earning high marks for public engagement and social media traction.
Data was gathered from social media analytics tools and search trend reports, using a composite score to measure overall brand visibility and discussion levels. Based on followers, internet searches, and hashtags, Ye’s Yeezy brand surpassed over 40 celebrity-run brands, including Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, as well as Beyoncé’s Ivy Park.
Yeezy ranks as the most talked-about celebrity brand in 2025, with 14.5 million Google searches and 13.4 million Instagram hashtags. The brand also leads in online engagement, boasting 3.1 million Instagram followers.
Rihanna claims the third and fourth spots with Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty. Fenty Beauty ranks third with 4.2 million Google searches, 13.1 million Instagram followers, and 205,000 Instagram hashtags, maintaining its strong influence in the beauty industry. Savage X Fenty follows in fourth place, boasting 5.1 million Instagram followers, 1.1 million Google searches, and 420,000 Instagram hashtags, solidifying its status as a leading fashion-focused celebrity brand.
Pharrell Williams’ Billionaire Boys Club ranks eighth, amassing 116,000 Instagram followers, 3.4 million Google searches, and 1.2 million Instagram hashtags. More than two decades after its 2003 launch, the streetwear brand remains a major force in 2025.
Ye’s ex-sister-in-law, Kylie Jenner, followed behind him in second place with Kylie Cosmetics. With 24.7 million Instagram followers—the highest among all ranked brands—the brand sees 1.6 million Google searches and 4.5 million Instagram hashtags. The rap/fashion mogul’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian came in fifth place with 6.6 million Instagram followers, 3.8 million Google searches, and 292K Instagram hashtags.
Others who made the list include Drake who came in 15th place with his Octobers Very Own (OVO) brand, Beyoncé’s Ivy Park at No. 19, and Jay-Z took two spots with Armand de Brignac (Ace of Spades) and D’Usse. Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino Tequila earned him a spot on the list, as well as LeBron James SpringHill Company, and 50 Cent’s Branson Cognac.
Soccer Star Sydney Leroux Decides To Step Away From Soccer For ‘My Mental Health’
Sydney Leroux is taking a break from professional soccer to focus on her mental health.
Sydney Leroux, forward for Angel City Football Club, announced she will step away from professional soccer to focus on her mental health.
Leroux, who has been with Angel City since its inaugural season in 2022, announced her departure in a heartfelt Instagram post on March 16, assuring fans she plans to return to the game she loves.
“This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to say or admit to myself. But after a lot of reflection, I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from soccer for my mental health,” Leroux said.
Leroux made the decision with her mental health and family in mind, prioritizing herself and her children.
“Anyone who knows me knows I’m a fighter — I always have been,” she wrote. “I take pride in showing up, in giving everything I have, but right now, I owe it to myself and my children to take a step back and take care of me.”
Leroux continued, “I’ve always prided myself on being honest, authentic, and true to who I am both on and off the field, and this moment is no different. To everyone who has supported me, loved me, and believed in me — thank you.
“This isn’t goodbye; I will be back, just like always, in true Syd fashion,” she added.
The announcement follows Leroux’s contract extension with Angel City through 2027 and comes after the NWSL expanded its mental health services last September as part of a new collective bargaining agreement.
The new CBA broadens the range of mental health professionals authorized to make that recommendation. Each team is required to have a licensed mental health provider on staff.
Leroux has enjoyed a successful career, scoring 10 goals in 42 NWSL matches for Angel City and netting 35 goals in 77 appearances for the U.S. women’s national team, playing a key role in the USWNT’s 2015 World Cup victory.
“Your Angel City family is here for you and supports you always 🖤,” the team wrote.
Fans have also praised her courage and commitment to prioritizing mental health in professional sports.
”Thank you for your honesty. That’s what I’ve always admired and loved about you,” one fan added. “I hope that you’re able to heal and return to soccer soon.”
9 Black-Owned Spas And Resorts Where Black Women Can Get Their Rest On
the perfect retreats where Black women can reset and rejuvenate
On the heels of the National Day of Rest for Black Women, BLACK ENTERPRISE has identified nine Black-owned establishments that are suitable getaways for the rest, relaxation, and energy recovery that Black women deserve. This list highlights the perfect retreats where Black women can reset, rejuvenate, and support Black-owned businesses that display excellence in the hospitality industry.
Spa At Salamander Resort
The Salamander Hotels & Resorts collection, which is owned by Sheila Johnson, a co-founder of BET, is committed to providing superior hospitality. In 2024, the Salamander Spa at Salamander Resort in Washington, D.C., was launched as a world-class wellness brand with 373 rooms. Now, guests can try out the spa’s special Cherry Blossom body ritual and other high-end skin and beauty treatments and kick back in a state-of-the-art wellness area with steam rooms, saunas, and relaxation lounges. The spa is open seven days a week, from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM, to provide an unparalleled luxury escape in the heart of the capital city.
Iwi Fresh was founded by Yolanda Owens in 2003. In 2010, Owens opened an IWI Fresh day spa in Atlanta, Georgia, and committed to the farm-to-skin philosophy. The spa offers a range of revitalizing treatments, such as veggie facials, herbal massages, and product customization, all created with fresh, locally harvested ingredients. Iwi Fresh is definitely a must-visit stop for Black women. They are open Thursday through Saturday from 11 AM – 6 PM and Sunday from 1 PM – 5 PM.
1800 Jonesboro Rd SE
FL 2, Ste E
Atlanta, GA 30315
The Bettye O Day Spa was launched in 1978 by Bettye Odom and is one of the leading beauty and wellness centers today. The spa is especially famous for its luxurious treatments, including personalized facials, relaxing massages, detoxifying body wraps, manicure and pedicure services, waxing and threading, hydrotherapy, and body polish. The spa is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and on Saturday, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM. A private and personalized experience, Bettye O Day Spa is committed to offering clients a truly outstanding experience to help them feel relaxed and renewed.
Marsha Ann Boyea founded Cynergy Spa in 2003 as a known wellness destination focused on rejuvenation and serenity. The Brooklyn-based facility provides a variety of treatments, such as custom facials and body therapies for healing purposes, along with nail care services. Cynergy Spa offers a retreat for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation with operating hours from Monday through Friday, 11 AM – 6 PM; Saturday, 11 AM – 7 PM; and Sunday, 12 PM- 6 PM.
In August 2019, Poppi’s Spa & Lounge was established by TJ Woodberry as a haven focused on self-care and nurturing wellness. The spa offers an array of services, such as color therapy pods, infrared saunas, salt room halotherapy, tailored facials, and massage therapies. Poppi’s is open from 10 AM to 8 PM on weekdays (Monday to Thursday). On Fridays and Saturdays services start 9 AM until 9 PM. On Sundays, services begin at noon and run until 6 PM.
The Mansion at Noble Lane was established in 2012 by Monique Greenwood as a charming boutique inn that provides a getaway in the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania. This grand estate boasts 14 styled guest rooms featuring spa bathrooms for added luxury and comfort. Guests can enjoy amenities such as a spa to unwind. Rest and relax after a day of activities in the area, or take a dip in the heated indoor pool. The mansion also offers tennis courts for sports enthusiasts and spacious event venues suitable for hosting weddings or business functions. It has operated around the clock since its inception over two decades ago in 2012; the mansion effortlessly combines timeless elegance with comfort food to offer visitors an opulent retreat.
Letrice Mason and Kortni Jordan founded Essential Body Bar. It is a day spa specializing in custom facials, massage therapy, waxing, gender-affirming care, and weight management programs focusing on natural healing. The company offers well-woman services through its Her Down There initiative. Open Tuesday-Thursday, 10 AM – 8 PM; Friday-Saturday from 10 AM – 5 PM; and Sunday from 11 AM – 3 PM, the Essential Body Bar experience is tranquil and restorative.
Cindy Tawiah’s Diva Day Spa and Healing Center, which was opened in 2020, is a health spa offering a wide range of services to help individuals achieve total well-being. Services include detox sauna treatments, foot detoxes, body wraps, healing and counseling, and wellness workshops. The spa offers an initiative known as The Diva Project, a nonprofit organization that gives a helping hand to women subjected to domestic violence. The establishment is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 AM – 6 PM, Saturday from 10 AM – 4 PM, and Sunday 12 PM – 4 PM.
Brownstone Spa began in 2018, thanks to Stacy Best-Nervis’s entrepreneurial dreams and prowess. Brownstone focuses on skin products specially made for brown people along with custom skincare services. The spa offers skin brightening therapies, body care, an adjustable skincare program, and sugar hair removal treatment. Brownstone Spa is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 AM – 6 PM. and Saturday from 9 AM – 4 PM, with Sunday and Monday closed.
International Olympic Committee Recommends Including Boxing In 2028 Olympics
World Boxing is in place to run the sport in the Los Angeles Olympics.
Boxing is expected to be part of the next Summer Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during its next session in Greece this week.
According to Reuters, after the IOC granted provisional recognition to World Boxing in February, the IOC approved including the sport when the Olympic games head to Los Angeles in 2028.
In the initial planning, the sport was not included.
“I am confident the session will approve it,” IOC President Thomas Bach said at a recent press conference.
Although it was included in the 2024 Paris Olympics, it was organized by the IOC after the organization refused the International Boxing Association (IBA) from running due to its failure to implement reforms on the governance and finance of the sport.
The IOC encouraged national boxing federations to create a new global body, which led to the creation of World Boxing. The new body, launched in 2023, has more than 80 national federations as members.
“This is a very significant and important decision for Olympic boxing and takes the sport one step closer to being restored to the Olympic program,” Boris van der Vorst, president of World Boxing, said in a written statement.
“I have no doubt it will be very positively received by everyone connected with boxing, at every level throughout the world, who understands the critical importance to the future of the sport of boxing continuing to remain a part of the Olympic Movement.”
The IOC, Reuters reported, said only athletes whose national federations were members of World Boxing by the time of the start of the qualification events for the 2028 Olympics could take part in Los Angeles.
“Somewhere between two years before the Games,” IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell said when asked by what time national federations needed to join World Boxing for their athletes to be for boxing’s return.
Previously the IBA ran the sport’s events at the Olympics before being stripped of overseeing matches for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. The IOC suspended the IBA, which Russian businessman Umar Kremlev runs, in 2019 over governance, finance, refereeing, and ethical issues.
SC State Rep. Jermaine Johnson Exposes Republican Hypocrisy During Vote To Block DEI
'Every single time we give you an opportunity to show us something different, you show us who you are.'
South Carolina State Rep. Jermaine Johnson dropped jaws on the State House Floor after stopping Republicans from pushing an anti-DEI measure.
Johnson called out his fellow members’ hypocrisy during a recent floor meeting. As conservative lawmakers tried to push a new provision in South Carolina’s state budget to remove DEI practices, Johnson did not mince words on how he felt about the measure.
The recorded impromptu speech has garnered national attention, as Johnson emphasized Republicans’ inconsistencies in their stances.
“You don’t like being called racist in here. You hate when we use the word racist…You hate being attacked. You hate when we bring up race and everything. But then, when we have an opportunity to show that we’re not racist, you let me down every time.”
He then noted how his fellow lawmakers break bread with one another, and they assure Democrats that funding will not fuel white supremacist initiatives. However, these measures are tabled when they meet again on the floor.
“And I sit here, and we talk about our families. We talk about our kids. We go on trips together. And then we talk about not using our state dollars to go to white supremacy programs, and then we table it,” he continued.
He then listed the numerous instances where inclusive practices have faced removal in South Carolina. Johnson detailed how AP African American studies no longer exist in the state’s public schools or how funding was stripped from the College of Charleston due to its programming benefitting Black students.
“Why do we continuously do this to our kids? Why? What is it that you’re doing? What are you showing your kids that public funds can go to white supremacy programs,” Johnson said. “We just had an issue at USC where all those kids felt scared. As a matter of fact, we just had the Patriot Front on our steps last week. What are we doing here? Please tell me what we’re doing. Don’t try to explain to me. ‘Well, I thought it was this or not. It’s that. No, Jermaine, we want to see equality.’”
Fed up with the political games, Johnson made clear that his Republican colleagues continue to grant false promises.
He added, “We give you an opportunity every single time, and here we go again. I was in the bag. I was ready to go just like y’all are, but here we go.”
However, the conversation may have struck a nerve with his fellow lawmakers, as the measure to stunt DEI in the state’s budget failed. While his impassioned speech did yield results, his words remain felt across other political circles on a local and national scale.
“Every single time we give you an opportunity to show us something different, you show us who you are.”
Black Ownership In Sports Symposium Returns To ATL, Giving Insight On Buying In
Attendees will leave with a clear, actionable playbook to sports ownership.
The Black Ownership in Sports Symposium, which celebrates Black ownership in the sports industry, will return to Atlanta on March 22, 2025, at The Buckhead Club.
Organized by Diverse Representation, the symposium aims to equip Black professionals with the education, access, and tools to pursue ownership stakes in professional sports teams.
Jaia Thomas, founder and CEO of Diverse Representation, launched the symposium to close a critical knowledge gap in the industry.
“There’s a lack of understanding when it comes to navigating ownership in sports,” Thomas said. “This event is designed to break down the process step-by-step.”
Focus of 2025 Symposium
This year’s program focuses on long-term investment strategies, private funding models, and legal frameworks. Thomas wants attendees to leave with a clear, actionable playbook.
“We’re seeing more Black faces in ownership conversations than ever before, but there’s still work to be done,” she said. “This event was created to provide the playbook—from financing to deal structuring to relationship-building—for those serious about taking a seat at the ownership table.”
Minority owners from across professional sports will speak at the symposium. Chief among the speakers is film director Will Packer, a minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons. Known for film projects like Girls Trip, he will discuss how Black ownership can expand beyond entertainment into high-level business leadership.
“It has never been more important for African Americans to participate at all levels of power within the biggest global industries,” Packer said. “I can’t wait to share insights at the Black Ownership in Sports Symposium.”
The push for greater Black ownership comes as the numbers remain stark. Despite major American sports leagues featuring a majority of Black athletes, ownership and executive leadership remain overwhelmingly white and male.
Minority Black Ownership
Tennis icon Serena Williams has joined the ranks of Black minority owners in professional sports. The Wimbledon champion is now part of the ownership group behind the Toronto Tempo, a new WNBA franchise.
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan, once the only Black majority owner in U.S. major professional sports, sold his controlling stake in the Charlotte Hornets in 2023. The sale, valued at $3 billion, netted Jordan a hefty return on his initial $275 million investment.
The Black Ownership In Sports Symposium offers prospective owners a unique opportunity to learn directly from current owners. Through fireside chats and panels, attendees will gain practical insights to help close the ownership gap.
Trump’s Latest Executive Order Reflects His Desire To End DEI
The executive order's intent is to cut down on the size of the federal government, but the intent can be see in who is affected.
President Donald Trump’s latest executive order, “Continuing The Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy,” which he signed March 14, seeks to eliminate funding for museums and libraries, global media organizations, the Minority Businesses Development Agency, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars located in the Smithsonian Institution.
While Trump believes the order aligns with his overall goal of reducing the size of the government, critics are alarmed.
The American Library Association (ALA) was critical of the order, which called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the only federal agency for libraries in America.
In a statement, the organization said the executive order “is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer. To dismiss some 75 committed workers and the mission of an agency that advances opportunity and learning is to dismiss the aspirations and everyday needs of millions of Americans. And those who will feel that loss most keenly live in rural communities.”
The American Alliance of Museums, issued its own statement March 15 on Trump’s cutting of the agency the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
“Eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to supporting museums directly undermines the will of the people (96% of whom want to see federal funding maintained or increased for museums) and the critical roles museums and museum workers play in American society,” the organization wrote.
According to Mother Jones, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency focused on addressing the increasing crisis of homelessness, an issue that also disproportionately affects Black Americans.
Like with the other organizations, the reduction of funds is expected to effectively end this agency’s work
