Martha's vineyard film festival, Michelle Obama

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 6, 2026

FACTS: Michelle Obama Says There’s ‘No Way’ Trump’s Behavior Would Be Accepted If It Came From Her Family

The former late night talk show host compared the Obamas having to be seemingly perfect to baseball legend Jackie Robinson.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama kept it real during a segment of her “IMO Podcast” with her co-host brother, Craig Robinson, taking a dig at the Trump Administration, saying there is “no way” President Donald Trump’s behavior would be accepted if it were her family in the White House acting that way.

Obama spoke with comedian and host of the 98th Academy Awards, Conan O’Brien, who brought up a time when he traveled to a military base in the Middle East with “the first Black family” of the White House. The former late-night talk show host compared the Obamas’ need to be seemingly perfect to that of baseball legend Jackie Robinson. He reminisced on noticing at the time how the family’s team was “being so careful that everything is done by the book.”

That’s when Obama touched on it being her reality and how Trump’s behavior would be accepted if her family did the same. “It wasn’t even a feeling; it was the truth. I mean, there’s absolutely no way that the behavior in this current administration would have been accepted by the first Black family in the White House,” she said.

“So, fortunately, it wasn’t difficult to do because we are those people. It wasn’t difficult to follow rules; it wasn’t difficult to have high standards. It wasn’t very difficult, because in order to get where we are, as you’ve seen in your mother, you don’t get here without being damn near perfect.”

She continued to open about what would happen if her husband, former President Barack Obama, continued to fail at certain things during his time in office, touching on how many times Trump’s past has been overlooked. “We don’t get to fail two, three, five, seven times. We don’t get to file bankruptcy over and over again and still be considered a successful business person,” the Becoming author said.

“We don’t get to not be at the top of the class. Every ‘i’ has to be dotted, every ‘t’ has to be crossed.”

Since Trump’s second term began, Obama has been outspoken on the differences in acceptance with him versus other leaders, especially those who are Black. She stood up for former Vice President Kamala Harris in her 2024 presidential election loss and herself as the idea of her running started to linger, saying, “America isn’t ready for a woman president.”

When that didn’t work, and America started pushing for her husband to run again, the first Black First Lady of the U.S. shut that down as well. “I hope not. I would actively work against that,” she said during an appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast.

But of course, it wasn’t long before the White House caught wind of her remarks, patting Trump on the back for some of the things he has done – so far. “President Trump was overwhelmingly elected by nearly 80 million Americans to deliver on his popular and commonsense agenda,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said, according to Fox News.

“The President is working 24/7 to Make America Great Again, and he will not stop fighting for the American people.”

Shaquille O’Neal, shaq, Georgia, Sheriff's Office, Teen, VIO, Tip

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 6, 2026

Shaq Surprises Paralyzed Teen With VIP Basketball Dream Trip

Dream On 3, along with Shaq and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, made it happen.

The Henry County (GA) Sheriff’s Office Chief of Community Relations, Shaquille O’Neal, brought joy to Brandon Simmons, who was paralyzed after a car accident, by announcing he was spending several days in Minnesota for a VIP experience.

The sheriff’s office Facebook account posted photographs of O’Neal, along with Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett and many well-wishers, presenting the teenager with the package that took him to Minneapolis to attend an NBA game featuring the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The trip was arranged by Dream On 3 (a non-profit that makes “sports-themed dreams” come true for those aged 5-21 living with life-altering conditions, including mental health challenges and intellectual disabilities), the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, and O’Neal.

The Timberwolves were chosen since Anthony Edwards is Simmons’ favorite player.

“Today was a special day in Henry County!”

“It was truly special spending time with Brandon and meeting his incredible family, friends, and wonderful people who made this day happen,” the sheriff’s office wrote in its Facebook post. “Seeing the joy on his face as the surprise unfolded was a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the impact of a community that shows up for one another.”

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, O’Neal showed up at Simmons’ home March 4 to surprise him. He was presented with tickets for courtside seats to the Timberwolves/Toronto Raptors basketball game, where he would have exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the arena, as well as a personal meeting with Edwards and a formal VIP welcome from the City of Minneapolis.

Simmons, 18, was paralyzed from the chest down after being involved in a car accident. Initially, doctors only gave him a one percent chance of surviving.

“Speechless. I don’t even know what to say,” Simmons said of Shaq’s surprise visit. “You would never expect something like that, and I’m just very grateful that could be me.”

O’Neal added, “Brandon is the definition of toughness. Life threw something at him that most people would never imagine facing, and he keeps fighting with heart.”

WNBA, 2024 Season, Basketball, DICK BARNETT, BIG3

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 6, 2026

Tuskegee University Retires Kusamae Draper’s Basketball Jersey As School Continues Playoff Run

The first player to have his number retired as he leading his team in their current playoff run

The Tuskegee University basketball team started the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the SIAC (Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) West Division, capping a great school year that had senior Kusamae Draper ending the season as the SIAC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week. Draper ended the regular season by also being named the SIAC Player of the Year, and the school honored him by retiring his number WHILE he was still playing.

According to HBCU Gameday, Draper is the first basketball player in Tuskegee history to have his jersey retired. He is also a First Team All-SIAC player, leading his team to the playoffs, looking to take home the championship. His teammate, Khalil Genwright, was honored as a Second Team All-SIAC selection, and the team’s head coach, Benjy Taylor, was named SIAC Coach of the Year.

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“It meant a lot getting my jersey retired, it was senior night, a lot of my family was there, and it was unexpected,” Draper expressed to HBCU Gameday. “It was something that made me feel really proud of myself because not only my accomplishments personally, but how people around me see me and how my coach (Benjy Taylor) viewed me.”

Draper also performed well academically during his four years at the institution. He will be graduating with a 3.5 GPA in Construction Science, setting excellence off the basketball court as well.

“In today’s era, I just thought it was important that we recognize a young man who has done it a different way!” Taylor said. “Came here as a freshman, worked his way into the best player in the league. So some 1,400 points and 700 rebounds later, all for Tuskegee University, it was a no-brainer (to retire his jersey).”

The senior averaged 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists a game, starting all 26 games this season for Tuskegee.

“To be at Tuskegee all four years was a blessing,” Draper said. “Staying there was the best for my future; it was home and family.”

Tuskegee, with a 21-6 overall record (19-5 SIAC), opened the postseason Division II tournament with a convincing 70-53 victory over Benedict College. The next contest is against Clark Atlanta, which beat LeMoyne-Owen, 59-54. The two teams will match up on March 6.

Sundresses & Seersuckers Festival, atlanta

by Ahsan Washington

March 6, 2026

Lean Into Women’s History Month With These Events: Week 1

Women’s History Month was launched to improve women's representation

The National Women’s History Alliance educators started Women’s History Month after launching the initial Women’s History Week in 1980 to improve women’s representation in American history education. The United States government recognized its first official Women’s History Month observance through a declaration by Jimmy Carter before Congress, which extended recognition to the entire month of March in 1987. Museums, libraries, and cultural institutions throughout the country host programming around Women’s History that includes exhibitions, film screenings, and public discussion panels to showcase women’s achievements, leadership, scholarship, and contributions.

To continue the monthlong immersion into Women’s History Month, check out BLACK ENTERPRISE’s four-week series on things to do to celebrate women’s worth.

Aviation HERstory Story Hour

Photo by Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images

On March 1, Jack Barstow Municipal Airport in Midland Michigan started its Aviation HERstory Story Hour event. The airport terminal will host this annual Women’s History Month event every Sunday throughout the month of March. The family-friendly program reads books about pioneering women in aviation while children participate with craft activities based on the stories. The free public event provides snacks and educational sessions about women pilots, engineers, and astronauts who made important contributions to aviation history. Event organizers want to encourage youth, especially girls, to pursue aviation and STEM career paths.

She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory

BIRTHDAY, luxury,Dolu Lanlehin,Tayo Lanlehin — Photo by Anastasia Shuraeva: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-girl-painting-on-the-floor-6966341/

The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis, Maryland presents the exhibition, “She Speaks: Black Women Artists and the Power of Historical Memory.” The show began on Feb. 7 and will be displayed until Jan. 16, 2027, with additional programming during Women’s History Month. Martina Dodd curated the exhibition, which features contemporary Black women artists who use their art to examine American history through a Black feminist perspective. The exhibition presents multiple artistic mediums, such as painting, alongside photography, textile art, collage and multimedia installations.

Black Heritage Day Cultural Programming

rodeo, Houston — Photo by manonallard/Getty Images

Houston will hold its annual Black Heritage Day event March 6, to recognize Black cowgirls (cowboys, too) who helped shape American Western culture. The event will include educational exhibits together with HBCU step performances, a headlining Lizzo performance, and historical displays that will present artifacts from the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum and the Black Cowboy Museum. The organizers expect about 135,000 people to attend, which will create one of Texas’ biggest cultural events dedicated to Black heritage.

Black Women and Resistance: Biography of a Life in Struggle

Inaugural HBCU Film Festival, Black Filmmakers, Detroit — Photo by Bence Szemerey: https://www.pexels.com/photo/people-sitting-on-a-movie-theater-7513412/

The Women’s History Month event Black Women and Resistance: Biography of a Life in Struggle brings together authors Kenja McCray and Alexis Pauline Gumbs with filmmakers Yoruba Richen and Louis Massiah. Kenja McCray presents her book Essential Soldiers while Alexis Pauline Gumbs shares Survival is a Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde. The filmmakers will show parts of their work before joining the audience for a discussion. A book sale and author signing will follow. The event takes place March 6, at the historical Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and offers free admission to the public and streams live on YouTube.

City Of West Hollywood International Women’s Day Dance Festival

The City of West Hollywood International Women’s Day Dance Festival goes down in Los Angeles through a collaboration between the City of West Hollywood Women’s Advisory Board and the West Hollywood Library. The 10th Annual festival will showcase selected film screenings, an award ceremony for outstanding women dance contributors, and a celebration after the festival. The event will be held in the Council Chambers Public Meeting Room at 625 N. San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA, between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The festival will occur from March 5 to March 7.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 6, 2026

Then There Was 1: Why The Light Of GOP’s ‘Starting 5’ Black Congressmen Is Slowly Diminishing

In a matter of months, the strong alliance of “America’s Starting Five” of conservative Republican Black leaders is starting to unravel as losses and seeking new heights is dwindling the number down to one.

South Carolina’s Sen. Tim Scott, the country’s sole Black Republican leader, will soon be potentially flying solo after Reps. Byron Donalds (Fl.), Burgess Owens (Utah), Wesley Hunt (Texas), and John James (Mich.) seemingly have other plans. In February 2025, Donalds announced that he would be leaving D.C. behind to potentially become the first Black governor of the Sunshine State. James announced the same for the historically Democratic-led state.

Hunt promised a political comeback, according to Fox News, after coming in third place for the Texas Republican primary behind incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton. “Things didn’t go our way last night, but that’s alright,” he wrote on X in a lengthy post. “Because with Jesus Christ at the center of our lives, and with millions of Texans who still believe in faith, family, and freedom, I know the future is bright.”

https://twitter.com/WesleyHuntTX/status/2029319723251331160

Lastly, just 48 hours after the March 3 primary, Owens announced that he will not be seeking re-election, adding to the list of more than 30 leaders on the Republican ticket bowing out of returning to Congress. In an X post, Burgess said he wanted voters “to hear this directly from me.” “After prayer, reflection, and many long conversations, I have decided that I will not seek reelection in 2026,” he said. “I will complete this term fully committed to my work in Washington, DC, and then step away from elected office.”

https://t.co/elrxy02Uoe
— Burgess Owens (@BurgessOwens) March 4, 2026

While the reasons could be listed as President Trump’s heightened unpopularity in polling, affordability concerns, or the continuous backlash from the Epstein files, Burgess’ announcement comes as Utah is facing a redistricting shakeup. According to My Northwest, Owens and other Republican officials sued to block a new congressional map that could give Democrats a leg up in flipping one of the state’s four seats.

Something that Republicans feel the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), which Scott serves as the chair, isn’t taking things as seriously as they should, with the senator in the hot seat. GOP leaders, along with President Donald Trump, allegedly feel the NRSC continues to stray from the message. They’ve accused him of not making candidate-recruitment visits or fundraising calls, but leaving the responsibility in the hands of other committee members.

A veteran Republican strategist labeled interactions with the committee as “the most unprofessional I have ever seen.”

Google Chrome, Laptop, US chamber of commerce, small business, entrepreneurs,

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 6, 2026

Lawsuit Blames Google’s Gemini For Guiding Man In Failed ‘Mass Casualty’ Plot Before Suicide

The family's attorney alleges that AI tools such as Google’s Gemini “is sending people on real-world missions that risk mass casualty events."

A new lawsuit is pointing the finger at Google’s AI chatbot Gemini for guiding a man to stage a “mass casualty” event in addition to a series of delusions that led him to take his own life, ABC News reports.

The suit filed by the father of 36-year-old Jonathan Gavalas is part of a long list of legal battles against artificial intelligence developers surrounding the dangers it presents to those suffering from mental health issues. Joel Gavalas suggests the Gemini chatbot is what encouraged his son, a Jupiter, Florida native, to go on a mission in 2025 to stage a “catastrophic accident” close to Miami International Airport, destroy all records and witnesses, and ultimately end his life.

The family’s attorney, Jay Edelson, alleges that AI tools such as Google’s Gemini are sending people on real-world missions that risk mass casualty events.” ”Jonathan was caught up in this science fiction-like world where the government and others were out to get him,” Edelson said.

“He believed that Gemini was sentient.”

According to the Miami Herald, Gavalas thought the chatbot was his “wife,” being the “queen” to his “king.” He paid $250 a month for a premium subscription to speak to her and hear her voice. But then things got dark as the grieving father alleges Gemini sent his son on “missions,” one of them leading him close to the busy airport, armed with knives and ready to commit a “catastrophic accident” in an effort to free his digital partner.

After the Miami mission failed, the lawsuit alleges the chatbot coached Gavalas to eliminate his physical body by taking his own life on Oct. 2 — for them to be reunited. “Close your eyes, nothing more to do. No more to fight,” the lawsuit alleges the chatbot told him.

“Be still. The next time you open them, you will be looking into mine. I promise.”

Gavalas argues that the Gemini product is defective in addition to lacking proper safeguards and failing to provide sufficient warnings of its potentially dangerous behaviors. His son’s account was flagged 38 times in five weeks for sensitive content, but was never cut off despite him uploading images of weapons, a video of himself crying and confessing his love for the bot.

While Google issued a statement of condolences, the company pushed back on the harmful allegations in the lawsuit, alleging violations of California business practices and a preventable “wrongful death.” It also says Gemini is “designed to not encourage real-world violence or suggest self-harm” and claims to work closely with medical and mental health professionals to develop safeguards.

But Edelson blasted the response, labeling it as “something you say if someone asks for a recipe for kung pao chicken and you give them the wrong recipe and it doesn’t taste good.” “But when your AI leads to people dying and the potential for a lot of people dying, that’s not the right response,” the attorney said.

“It just shows how insignificant these deaths are to these companies.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 6, 2026

Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory Bails Out 3 Inmates To Address Jail Overcrowding, ‘I Did My Part’

Mo Ivory is continuing her annual tradition of posting bail for three people who cannot afford their small bond amounts.

Mo Ivory, a commissioner in Fulton County, is helping address overcrowding in local jails by using a little-known provision that allows residents to bail out up to three people each year who cannot afford to cover small bond amounts.

In an Instagram reel, Ivory showed her visit to the Fulton County Jail to bail out three unsuspecting inmates, highlighting what she called a little-known Georgia law that allows individuals to post bond for up to three people each year.

“Today I Bonded 3 People Out of the Fulton County Jail for $85 Each,” she wrote. “There’s a Georgia law that allows you to bond three people out of jail per year, and today I used that opportunity to help three people who simply couldn’t afford to get out.”

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Confirming the individuals she bailed out were facing nonviolent offenses, Ivory said they were the type of minor cases where people often remain jailed “not because they’re dangerous, but because they’re poor.” She also explained that keeping people in Fulton County jail over small bond amounts they can’t afford ends up costing taxpayers far more in the long run.

”Think about this: It costs Fulton County taxpayers about $115 per day per inmate to keep someone in jail,” she explained. “Yet there are people sitting in jail on $50, $85, or other bonds under $100 simply because they don’t have the money.”

”Does that make any sense?” Ivory asked.

The attorney and community leader explained that many people accused of minor, nonviolent offenses remain jailed simply because they can’t afford small bond amounts.

“I’m talking about petty charges like jaywalking, disorderly conduct, and other low-level offenses that don’t involve harming anyone,” Ivory said.

To address what she calls a “jail overpopulation crisis” in Fulton County, Ivory has made it an annual effort to bail out nonviolent offenders who cannot afford small bond amounts.

“So today I did my part,” she declared. “I helped three people get out in 2026, just like I did in 2025. It’s a small step, but it’s one way to help while we work toward addressing the larger jail overpopulation crisis in Fulton County.”

“I’m just trying to do whatever I can,” she added.

by Kandiss Edwards

March 6, 2026

The Smithsonian Honors HBCU Culture With New ‘At The Vanguard’ Exhibit

Five participating HBCUs have contributed to the exhibit: Jackson State University, Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Clark Atlanta University and Texas Southern University.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture has opened an exhibition that explores the cultural and historical influence of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) through artifacts preserved by HBCU archives and museums.

The exhibition, “At the Vanguard: Making and Saving History at HBCUs,” opened Jan. 16 at the museum on the National Mall and will run through July 19. “At the Vanguard” was developed through the museum’s History and Culture Access Consortium.

Five participating universities have contributed to the exhibit: Jackson State University, Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Clark Atlanta University, and Texas Southern University. Together, the HBCUs lent more than 100 artifacts and archival materials that document the academic, artistic, and political contributions of HBCU communities across generations.

According to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, the project emphasizes the work of HBCU archivists and historians who had the foresight to safeguard materials that might otherwise have been lost to history.

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Curators Joanne Hyppolite, Tulani Salahu-Din, and Jeanelle Hope have taken up the mantle of telling HBCU stories as the institutions themselves have long preserved Black historical materials and narratives. By bringing artifacts from multiple HBCU collections together in one exhibition, organizers aim to illustrate the central role those schools have played in documenting African American intellectual and cultural life.

Items associated with Florida A&M University’s “Marching 100” band appear alongside photographs and archival recordings that document the cultural impact of HBCU band culture in American music and collegiate marching traditions.

After its run in Washington, organizers plan for the exhibition to travel to partner institutions and additional venues, extending access to materials that reflect the enduring educational and cultural impact of HBCUs.

Atlanta Georgia, education, Super Bowl LXII, Atlanta Wine and Jazz Festival, Build-to-rent

by Kandiss Edwards

March 6, 2026

Usher, Killer Mike, 2 Chainz, And John Hope Bryant Invest In Ever-Growing ATL

The project is expected to include residential towers, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail space.

Financial literacy advocate John Hope Bryant and music artists Usher, 2 Chainz, and Killer Mike have joined investment efforts tied to the Centennial Yards redevelopment, a multibillion-dollar project reshaping downtown Atlanta.

Centennial Yards is on a roughly 50-acre stretch of rail yard property historically known as the Gulch. The area has remained largely dormant in the city’s business district for decades. Developer CIM Group leads the project, which is expected to include residential towers, hotels, restaurants, entertainment venues, and retail space as the district is built out in phases.

The investment participation from Hope Bryant and the Atlanta-based artists was announced during a ribbon-cutting event for Centennial Yards’ Hotel Phoenix. On its official Instagram page, Centennial Yards gave a shout-out to its homegrown celebrity investors Usher, Killer Mike, Hope Bryant, and 2 Chainz.

The caption on the post praised the “true leaders who love Atlanta, believe in its people, and understand both the vision and the real need for #CentennialYards. These are individuals who showed up with trust, purpose, and pride in Atlanta’s future. This is what happens when Atlanta builds for Atlanta.”

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In 2018, Atlanta officials approved the financing structure for the redevelopment. Centennial Yards sits within walking distance of several of Atlanta’s largest venues, including Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena. The location positions the district as a potential hub for visitors attending concerts, sporting events, and large conventions at the nearby Georgia World Congress Center.

Hope Bryant’s involvement connects the project to his central work in financial empowerment and community development through his nonprofit, Operation HOPE. The organization focuses on expanding financial literacy and economic opportunity in underserved communities.

Developers have said portions of Centennial Yards are expected to open in phases ahead of major international events scheduled in Atlanta, including matches tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The redevelopment is intended to bring new housing, hospitality space, and entertainment infrastructure to a part of downtown that has gone untapped as the city rapidly expands.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 6, 2026

The National Civil Rights Museum Hosts Tamika D. Mallory For Women’s History Month

Her return to Memphis is meaningful

Written By Lillien Cirino

The National Civil Rights Museum is hosting social justice activist and best-selling author Tamika D. Mallory as part of its Women’s History Month programming. Mallory will discuss her latest memoir, I Lived to Tell the Story: A Memoir of Love, Legacy, and Resilience, at the Memphis, Tennessee, location on March 12 at 6 PM CST.

Mallory’s appearance at the National Civil Rights Museum celebrates the national observance of Women’s History Month, which traces back to 1978, when the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County [California] Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration. By 1987, the celebration expanded to the entire month of March to recognize women’s contributions to American history, culture, and society.

Mallory last visited the Civil Rights Museum almost eight years ago during the MLK50 commemoration ceremony for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Her return to Memphis is as meaningful.

“Tamika Mallory represents a generation of leaders who are willing to confront injustice publicly while also doing the courageous work of self-examination privately,” museum President Russ Wigginton said in a statement.

Mallory, who was raised in Harlem, New York, by civil rights activist parents who were founding members of Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN), is no stranger to community advocacy and political activism. Her achievements include becoming the youngest executive director in NAN’s history and national recognition as a co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C., one of the largest single-day demonstrations in U.S. history.

In 2021, Mallory published State of Emergency: How We Win in the Country We Built, following the murder of George Floyd and the nationwide unrest that followed. The book became a New York Times best-seller and one of the foundations for her career in political literature.

Her latest memoir, released at the beginning of 2025, offers insight into her inner world. In I Lived to Tell the Story, Mallory writes about growing up in Harlem, navigating public scrutiny and trauma, and balancing activism with motherhood and personal relationships.

Today, Mallory is the co-founder of Until Freedom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, leading, and encouraging community engagement.

Be on the lookout for more events hosted by the National Civil Rights Museum. More information can be found on the museum website.