Black bank, Milwaukee, Redemption, West Coast — (Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

June 20, 2025

Redemption Bank Is The First Black-Owned Banking Institution In The West

Redemption Bank is the first Black-owned bank in the expansive "Black-banking desert" that stretches from Houston to Los Angeles.

Redemption Holding Co. has finalized its acquisition of Utah-based Holladay Bank & Trust, making the newly named Redemption Bank the first Black-owned bank in the Western United States.

It is the first Black-owned bank in the “Black-banking desert,” which stretches from Houston to Los Angeles. Redemption Bank’s geography also makes it the first Black bank not located in an economically vulnerable community and the first Black bank located in the Rocky Mountains.

The acquisition, announced in 2023, faced delays. Many were due to the economic instability caused by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. Despite these hurdles, Ashley Bell, CEO and chairman of Redemption Holding, expressed gratitude for the transaction’s completion, according to the Associated Press.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, a city with a Black population of less than 3%, Redemption Bank intends to focus on commercial lending. Additionally, it will specialize in facilitating small business loans. With approximately $65 million in assets, the bank is poised to launch a fully digital platform by late summer.

“We are committed to competing in Utah to earn the business of customers from all backgrounds,” Bell said.

The Redemption Bank leadership team includes Dr. Bernice A. King. King is the youngest daughter of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. She is expected to serve as Redemption Bank’s senior vice president for corporate strategy and sit on its advisory board. This aligns with the broader mission of Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), which is to provide financial services to Black Americans who are often denied access by mainstream banks.

Redemption Bank became the 24th Black-owned bank in the nation, following the establishment of the last MDI, Adelphi Bank, in 2023. MDIs have historically played a crucial role in fostering economic opportunities in underserved communities.

Dooky chase — Photo via Instagram, @dookychaserestaurant

by Kandiss Edwards

June 19, 2025

Dooky Chase Receives ‘America’s Classic’ James Beard Award

The Chase family attended the ceremony.

Dooky Chase, the New Orleans landmark restaurant, was honored Thursday, June 18, at the 2025 James Beard Awards in Chicago.

The restaurant received the James Beard Award for America’s Classic. The Chase family attended the ceremony to receive the award and honor the restaurant’s founders, Emily and Dooky Chase Sr. At the ceremony, Stella Chase, the Chases’ daughter, spoke about the legacy of the New Orleans staple.

“To have this award means a lot for my entire family because we have been in business 84 years, and it was about my grandparents, parents, and now we’re the third, fourth generation, so we had a strong foundation and we just feel so blessed,” she said.

Dooky Chase’s Cultural Contributions

Just ahead of Juneteenth, the James Beard Awards sought to recognize the contributions of Dooky Chase in Black, Creole, and American culture. The restaurant received the award for the American Southern region.

In a statement, the James Beard Foundation acknowledged Dooky Chase’s contributions, its role during the Civil Rights Movement, and the restaurant’s commitment to preserving the legacy of Black people and the city of New Orleans.

During the 1960s, Dooky Chase became a haven for civil rights leaders, politicians, and activists. Figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and Jesse Jackson were known to dine at Dooky Chase, where the restaurant provided a venue for crucial strategy sessions and discussions.

Black Women Winners In Literature

The Chase family was not the only representation of Black talent at the awards. Lyndsay C. Green received an award for excellence in journalism. The Detroit Free Press writer explored the history of urban agriculture in “As Detroit sees a future in urban agriculture, some pushback harkens to a dark past,” examining the vacant landscapes of Detroit’s East Side.

Another standout author and chef, honored for their literary contribution, was Ashleigh Shanti. As a Black American, queer woman, raised in Appalachia, Shanti explored the “distinct flora and fauna, dialects, and traditions” of niche American communities in her 2024 cookbook, Our South: Black Food Through My Lens—A Cookbook.

Magic Johnson enterprises, Alexia Grevious Henderson — (Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 19, 2025

Magic Johnson Says Putting Starbucks In Underserved Areas ‘Changed Everything’ For Him

According to Johnson, the deal proved that urban redevelopment was an investment worth making.

Magic Johnson has made billions since retiring from the NBA, but one deal with Starbucks “changed everything” for the business visionary.

Johnson appeared on Bloomberg’s The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly to talk about his rise in the business world.

“My movie theaters was crushing it in the inner cities. It showed people you can make money doing business in the inner cities of America,” Johnson said in the interview.

Even with those qualifications, Johnson said he had a mighty task of getting then-Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz to invest in his idea of putting more of the coffee chain’s locations in underserved communities.

“The hardest thing I thought I was gonna do was play against Larry Bird and Michael Jordan. The hardest thing was to go before the [Starbucks] board and then go into a movie theater packed with good shareholders and try to convince them this is a great move for Starbucks,” explained Johnson.

Luckily for Johnson, his persuasion skills matched his basketball abilities. The entrepreneur secured the deal to own a stake in 125 Starbucks locations. However, the move not only elevated his net worth but also proved the viability of investing in urban areas.

“That deal changed everything,” said Johnson in 2018, according to CNBC. “We built 125 stores. We made that deal happen, and that’s what really put me on a path of success.…It showed everybody that I could drive ROI in urban America.”

He added, “…My company was able to provide jobs and access to these retailers who were not coming in before, but now they hit a home run when we partnered, and they came into the inner city.”

Although Johnson sold the theaters and his stake in Starbucks a few years later, its success helped establish the 65-year-old as a powerhouse in business. It also encouraged companies to consider diverse, underrepresented areas for growth opportunities.

“I became the first person to ever own Starbucks outside of Starbucks,” Johnson said. “We built 125 in 40 different markets across America. They all did extremely well. And that really gave me, first of all, the stamp of approval. It gave me the track record that I needed of success so I can move on to something else.”

Whoopi Goldberg, millennials — Whoopi Goldberg became widely known in 1985 when she won a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress for The Color Purple. By 1993, Goldberg had already been the highest-paid actress and had more than 150 television and film appearances to her credit. Goldberg is a historical first, a Black woman with an Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar. With decades of work, Goldberg's current estimated net worth is $60 million: (Photo: Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty Images)

by Jameelah Mullen

June 19, 2025

Whoopi Goldberg’s Unfiltered Truth: Black Americans Face Iran-Level Hardship

Whoopi said what she said.

Whoopi Goldberg ignited a firestorm online when she compared the Black American experience to life in Iran during a discussion on The View about the Israel-Iran conflict.

A heated debate erupted between Goldberg and co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin as the panel discussed the appropriate course of action the United States should take regarding the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.

“Let’s just remember, too, the Iranians literally throw gay people off of buildings,” Griffin said on the June 18 episode “They don’t adhere to basic human rights or international law.”

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Goldberg responded by noting that Black Americans are victims of similar injustices.

“We have been known in this country to tie gay folks to the car. Listen, I’m sorry. They used to just keep hanging Black people.”

Griffin argued that Iranian women face extreme punishment for showing their arms, legs, or hair. “It is not even the same. I couldn’t step foot wearing this outfit in Tehran right now,” the former White House press secretary said.

The Sister Act star stood her ground, stating that violence against marginalized groups should be viewed equally. “That’s why I’m saying—that it is the same,” she insisted. “Murdering someone for their difference is not good, whoever does it. It’s not good.”

When Griffin reiterated that life in the United States cannot be compared to Iran’s current laws, Goldberg clapped back. “Not if you’re Black,” referring to the systemic racism, microaggressions, and police brutality that Black Americans often experience. The actress believes America is the “greatest country in the world,” but she emphasized that being Black in America is not the same as being another race living in the United States.

Fans took to social media to condemn Goldberg for her comments.

Despite facing backlash on social media for her comments, several fans stepped in to defend the Ghost star, asserting that non-Black people lack the capacity to understand what it’s like to be Black in America.

Women in Iran face brutal violence… beatings, rape, and death for simply showing their hair.

Yet, Whoopi Goldberg, a multimillionaire celebrity in America, compares her life to theirs.

Life in the United States as a woman is not the same as it is in Iran.

Can we all agree? pic.twitter.com/dAzJjuv0MX

— Angela Belcamino (@AngelaBelcamino) June 18, 2025

“The fact that they can empathize with anything but a black person speaks volumes,” an Instagrammer commented under the Neighborhood Talk’s post showing a clip of the heated debate.

“They are committed to misunderstanding us, ” another commenter observed.

Sean Combs, lawsuit, balcony — (Photo: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for REVOLT)

by Kandiss Edwards

June 19, 2025

Sean Combs Will Assert His Right To Remain Silent In Sex Trafficking Trial

The U.S. Attorney will rest the government's case June 20. After which, defense attorneys for Sean Combs will begin presenting.

Sean “Diddy” Combs will, most likely, not speak in his own defense during his ongoing racketeering trial.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey will rest the government’s case June 20. After which, defense attorneys for Combs will begin presenting. Comb’s defense team informed Judge Arun Subramanian they will need less than a week to present their case, the Associated Press reported.

The short presentation by the defense indicates to many that Combs will not take the stand. The main witness in the trial, Cassie Ventura, took a full week to testify. In order for Combs to speak directly to most accusations levied against him, he would need just as much time, if not more.

Diddy’s Silent Jury Gestures

Perhaps it is in Combs’ best interest to utilize his right to remain silent and passive. June 5, the music mogul was admonished by Judge Subramanian. June 6, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on courtroom conduct accusations against the former Bad Boy CEO. Combs was accused of attempting to intimidate jurors. The federal judge did not appreciate the defendant’s facial expressions. Consequently, Subramanian threatened to remove Combs from the proceedings.

“I was very clear there should be no facial expressions to the jury, and I could not have been clearer,” Subramanian said. “There was a line of questioning where your client was nodding vigorously and looking at the jury. There should be no efforts to have any interactions with this jury,” the judge continued.

Diddy Juror’s Questionable Integrity

There have been no other reports of Combs interacting with jurors. Yet, there have been complications concerning the jury pool. June 16, questions were raised about Juror 6’s ability to serve. Prosecutors believed that there were integrity issues with Juror 6. The Juror’s truthfulness about his current residence was questioned. On different occasions, the juror has indicated he lives in two different areas, New Jersey and the Bronx. If the juror resided in New Jersey, he would have been excluded from the court proceedings.

“The record raises serious concerns about the juror’s candor and whether he shaded answers to get on and stay on,” the judge said.

The trial is projected to wrap up before the fourth of July weekend. Combs is facing conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges. If convicted, he is facing 20 years to life in prison.

Lowe's — Wikimedia Commons/ Rolf obermaier (talk | contribs)

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 19, 2025

Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison Makes History Being Named Top Black CEO Of Fortune 500 Company

Ellison got his humble beginnings working at Target part-time, making just under $5.00 per hour but in 2024, he was cashing in, earning $20.16 million in total compensation.

Marvin Ellison, chief executive officer of home improvement retailer Lowe’s, has made history by being named the top Black CEO to lead a Fortune 500 company in 2025, AfroTech reports.

The history maker is the first Black executive to serve as CEO of two Fortune 500 companies, once at JCPenney and now at Lowe’s, headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina. At 52, Ellison employs roughly 300,000 workers and has increased the company’s reported revenue to $83.67 billion, with close to $7 billion in profits.

The University of Memphis alum got his humble beginnings working at Target part-time, making just under $5.00 per hour. In 2024, he was cashing in, earning a total compensation of $20.16 million. After receiving his MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, Ellison began his leadership journey in 1987 as a Target director, a role he held for 15 years. He later became executive vice president of stores at The Home Depot.

https://twitter.com/CultureCentral1/status/1896384124740616554

It is his career beginnings that make him an advocate for Gen Z, keeping an eye on skilled trades and bringing in steady cash over corporate gigs. While speaking at the Business Roundtable’s CEO Workforce Forum in Washington, D.C., the CEO touched on the dangers of AI encroaching on corporate roles that the new working generation is eyeing.

“AI isn’t going to fix a hole in your roof, it’s not going to respond to an electrical issue in your home. It’s not going to stop your water heater from leaking,” Ellison said, shortly after Amazon’s CEO announced the company would most likely “reduce” its workforce, trading it in for AI, according to Business Insider. “When young people come to me and they desire to work in the corporate office, my advice to them is: Stay as close to the cash register as you can. Stay close to the customers, because you will always have employment opportunities to grow.”

Having a mindset made Lowe’s decision to hire him back in 2018 an easy one. Marshall O. Larsen, Lowe’s lead director of the board, said in a press release: “Attracting Marvin is a great win for the entire Lowe’s team. Marvin is an experienced retail CEO with extensive expertise in a complex omni-channel consumer-facing company.”

“Marvin joins Lowe’s at a critical inflection point as we work to enhance our competitive position and capitalize on solid project demand in an evolving consumer environment. We look forward to shepherding an exciting new chapter for Lowe’s under Marvin’s leadership.”

Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA), took second place with a revenue of $46 billion, and Christopher C. Womack, CEO of Southern Company, took third place with $26 billion.

FDA, dyes, food, color — Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

by Jameelah Mullen

June 19, 2025

FDA Approves New Injection For HIV Prevention

The breakthrough drug may help end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, experts say.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an HIV prevention medication that has been proven highly effective in clinical trials.

Lenacapavir is an injectable treatment given twice a year to prevent HIV infection in adults and adolescents. In their June 17 announcement regarding FDA approval, Gilead Sciences, the drug’s manufacturer, stated that it will be marketed under the brand name Yeztugo.

“This is a historic day in the decades-long fight against HIV. Yeztugo is one of the most important scientific breakthroughs of our time and offers a very real opportunity to help end the HIV epidemic,” said Daniel O’Day, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gilead Sciences, in a statement. “This is a medicine that only needs to be given twice a year and has shown remarkable outcomes in clinical studies, which means it could transform HIV prevention. Gilead scientists have made it their life’s work to end HIV, and now, with the FDA approval of Yeztugo and in collaboration with our many partners, we can help to make that goal a reality.”

Lenacapavir is a capsid inhibitor, an antiviral medication that targets the HIV “capsid,” a protein shell that protects the virus’s genetic material and enzymes. The drug proved nearly 100% effective at preventing HIV in large trials last year. This could potentially interrupt the transmission of the virus that infects approximately 1.3 million people worldwide each year.

The company states that it plans to launch the drug in the U.S. swiftly and is seeking approval in countries that rely on FDA regulations for authorization, including Argentina, Mexico, and Peru. The company has also filed for regulatory approval of Lenacapavir in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and South Africa.

Additionally, Gilead is working closely with U.S.-based insurers and healthcare providers to ensure coverage for the drug. Through its Advancing Access® Co-Pay Savings Program, the company will reduce out-of-pocket costs for uninsured patients. Visit Gilead’s website to learn more about Lenacapavir.

Wendy Williams, Kevin Hunter — Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

by Jameelah Mullen

June 19, 2025

Wendy Williams’ Ex-Husband Files $250 Million Lawsuit Against Her Guardian, Judge, And Caretakers

Kevin Hunter was married to Wendy Williams from 1999 to 2020.

According to court documents obtained by People, Wendy Williams’ ex-husband, Kevin Hunter, claims that Williams’ caretakers have violated her constitutional rights. The lawsuit names 48 defendants, including Williams’ legal guardian, Sabrina Morrissey; Wells Fargo Bank; the assisted living facility; and Lisa Sokoloff, the judge overseeing Williams’ guardianship.

The lawsuit states that Hunter does not seek to end the guardianship, but requests a new “impartial” guardian, as well as the release of Williams from her “involuntary confinement.” Hunter is also seeking $250 million in compensation for financial loss, defamation, emotional distress, and legal expenses.

“I plan on laying out sufficient evidence to support our claims and ensure that her [Williams’] rights are vindicated and she is made whole financially,” LaShawn Thomas, Hunter’s attorney, said in a statement to People.

Hunter estimates that his ex-wife has lost $20 million per year by not being able to work. He also claims that the former couple’s son, Kevin Hunter Jr., did not have access to his college funds while under the conservatorship.

Hunter, named as a co-plaintiff in the case, is seeking appointment as Williams’ “next friend,” where he can “legally act” on behalf of an individual unable to assert their rights when no guardian is acting in their best interests, according to the lawsuit as reported by People.

The lawsuit claims that Williams is a victim of financial abuse and also alleges that Williams did not receive an independent medical evaluation before being placed under guardianship.

In 2024, Williams’ caretakers announced that she had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia and aphasia. The former talk show host has denied having dementia. In March, Williams received a cognitive health exam, scoring a perfect 10. The former WBLS radio personality appeared on The View, where she addressed her health and her guardianship.

“Why am I here…where people don’t remember anything?” Williams asked about her hospitalization. Williams also addressed her relationship with Morrissey and Sokoloff.

“I can’t do it with these two people…and I am speaking of the guardian and the judge,” Williams said. “I need a new guardian.”

Claressa Shields — (Photo: Collision Conf, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons)

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 19, 2025

Claressa Shields’ Next Opponent Is Set

She will face IBF light heavyweight champion Lani Daniels on July 26 in Detroit.

Claressa Shields, the heavyweight championship boxer, will defend her title July 26 in her hometown of Detroit.

According to BoxingScene, the undefeated boxer who deems herself “the G.W.O.A.T. (Greatest Woman Boxer of All Time)” will battle IBF light heavyweight titleholder Lani Daniels at Little Caesars Arena.

“The girls at the higher weight classes are fighting each other,” Shields told BoxingScene. “It was so hard for me to get fights at 154 pounds, 160 pounds, and 168 pounds.

“I don’t think any of my fights at heavyweight have been hard to make, to be honest with you,” she added. “I am just fighting who will fight me. It just has to have some history on the line. I want to fight for some belts.”

With an undefeated record (16-0, 3 knockouts) and the mouth to match, Shields has already accomplished a lot but wants more. She is the undisputed heavyweight champion and is considered the best pound-for-pound female boxer. And let’s not forget that she is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a three-division champion.

“I think a lot of these girl fighters are good, but I think I will be the one in the history books because of my longevity, the Olympic gold medals, and how I continue to fight the best,” Shields said. “I think I have one of the biggest spots in women’s sports ever.”

Daniels sports an 11-2-2 (1 KO) record. She is coming in with a seven-fight winning streak and hasn’t lost a fight since 2022.

“She is a two-time world champion, and she is coming to fight,” Shields said. “I am looking forward to being inside the ring with her and being challenged and seeing if someone could take me off my GWOAT status.”

William McNeil, viral video, Recording The Police — (Photo: Getty Images)

by Sharelle B. McNair

June 19, 2025

‘Legally Justified:’ Cincinnati Police Officer Dodges Charges In Fatal Ryan Hinton Shooting

'How can you be threatened by someone running from you?'

Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said the officer who shot and killed Ryan Hinton was “legally justified” in his actions, thus dodging charges from a grand jury, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

During a June 17 press conference, Pillich said the unnamed Cincinnati police officer had the right to shoot Hinton, 18, who was armed with a Glock .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine. The prosecutor said the officer believed Hinton pointed the weapon at him, resulting in the fatal May 1 shooting.

Hinton was a suspect in a report of a stolen vehicle, causing him and three others to flee the scene after being approached by “Officer A.” Pillich said the officer had no choice but to make a quick choice.

“When Ryan Hinton was confronted by officers about a stolen car, he not only had a gun, with a fully loaded magazine and a bullet in the chamber, but he pointed it at Officer A,” Pillich said in a statement. “Officer A made a split-second decision that likely saved his life and the lives of other officers.”

According to NBC News, body camera footage showed an officer exiting his squad car and approaching Hinton, with his gun pointed at him. The responding officer fired his weapon at least four times, with the victim being hit with at least two bullets. A second officer was heard in the video saying: “He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun on your right! On your right!”

https://twitter.com/tariqnasheed/status/1919536660414660705

The officer said he heard another officer warn about a gun and fired his weapon, claiming he saw the victim point his weapon at him. However, reviewed body camera footage revealed it was unclear whether Hinton pointed a gun at officers.

“He said, ‘I thought I better get my gun out and shoot him before he shoots me, and I fired before he could fire on me,'” the prosecutor said. “It was reasonable in his fear of harm. This shooting was justified. Police officers are often forced to make split-second decisions in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving.”

While Officer A escaped charges, the case took an even more tragic turn the next day. Hinton’s father, Rodney Hinton Jr., was arrested and charged after allegedly fatally striking Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy Larry Henderson with his vehicle as he worked a traffic detail near the University of Cincinnati.

Police claim the two deaths are connected, as the day prior to Henderson’s death, Rodney Hinton Jr. met with Cincinnati police to watch the body camera video of his son’s shooting and left the meeting distraught.

Rodney Hinton Jr. pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder charges.

Following Pillich’s press conference, the Hinton family spoke out against the prosecutor’s decision not to charge the officer. “How can you be threatened by someone running from you?” Ryan Hinton’s cousin, Marlyn Howard, said. “We miss you. We love you down here.”

Lawyer Fanon Rucker says the family plans to file a civil lawsuit.