,FDOT dynamic pricing, Florida, Orlando, I-4,traffic

by Keka Araújo

February 24, 2025

Dynamic Pricing Starts Monday On Florida’s I-4 Express Lanes, Impacting Peak-Hour Commuters

Commuters are advised to pay close attention to overhead signs displaying toll prices and plan their trips accordingly.

Commuters on the I-4 Express Lanes will experience higher toll rates during peak hours starting Monday, Feb. 24, as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) implements a new dynamic pricing system. Designed to manage traffic congestion, the updated tolling model will adjust prices based on real-time traffic levels, marking a shift from the fixed-rate system in place since the express lanes opened in 2022.

How It Works

Under the dynamic pricing system, tolls will increase during high-traffic periods to encourage drivers to stagger their travel times and reduce congestion. Overhead signs will display current toll prices at entry points, allowing drivers to decide whether to use the express lanes or opt for the regular lanes.

The busiest areas near Downtown Orlando are expected to see the most significant impacts, with tolls fluctuating based on demand. FDOT officials emphasize that the change aims to maintain reliable travel times for express lane users.

What Remains Unclear

FDOT has not disclosed the specific price ranges for the dynamic tolling system, leaving drivers uncertain about how much more they may need to pay during peak hours. Officials have described the increases as “small,” but details remain vague.

It’s also unclear whether the new system will successfully alleviate congestion or if drivers will seek alternative routes to avoid higher tolls.

The Bigger Picture

The I-4 Express Lanes, also known as “I-4 Ultimate,” debuted in 2022 as part of a $2.3 billion infrastructure project to address the chronic traffic issues in Central Florida. The addition of dynamic pricing aligns with a growing trend in urban traffic management. Cities like Miami and Washington, D.C., have adopted similar models, which have shown some success in managing congestion and ensuring smoother commutes for paying drivers.

Orlando’s rapid population growth has exacerbated its traffic challenges, particularly along I-4, a critical artery for the region. Dynamic pricing represents FDOT’s effort to balance commuter demand with the need for efficient traffic flow.

What Drivers Are Saying

Local commuter Angelia Colon acknowledges the challenges of adapting to the new system but sees it as an opportunity to rethink her travel habits.

“Getting an early start on road trips is more important than ever,” Colon said, noting that avoiding peak-hour toll increases might save both time and money.

FDOT’s Perspective

FDOT officials maintain that the new system is designed with drivers in mind, ensuring fair access to the express lanes while managing congestion. Though specific toll rates have not been shared, they stress that the price adjustments are intended to be modest and based on real-time conditions.

“This system is about giving drivers choices,” an FDOT spokesperson said. “Those who value reliable travel times can continue to use the express lanes, while others may choose alternate routes or adjust their schedules.”

What’s Next?

As the system rolls out, FDOT will monitor traffic patterns and driver behavior to assess its effectiveness. Based on the data collected in the coming months, adjustments may be made.

For now, commuters are advised to pay close attention to overhead signs displaying toll prices and plan their trips accordingly.

Key Takeaways

Dynamic pricing on I-4 Express Lanes begins Monday.
Tolls will fluctuate based on traffic levels, with higher rates during peak hours.
FDOT aims to reduce congestion and maintain reliable travel times.
Drivers should monitor overhead signs for real-time toll prices.

The success of this program will likely influence the future of tolling systems in other parts of Florida as state officials continue exploring innovative ways to manage increasing traffic demands in one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions.

by Daniel Johnson

February 24, 2025

NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Trial Delayed Indefinitely, Judge Leaves Corruption Charges Intact Until March

Meanwhile, NYC has sued the Trump Administration after discovering it was missing $80.5M sent by the Biden Administration to offset migrant shelter costs.

Federal judge Dale E. Ho canceled New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption trial on Friday and appointed counsel to advise the court on the Justice Department’s contentious request — at Trump’s behest — to drop charges against the Democratic mayor.

According to Time Magazine, the order from Ho means that he will not decide whether or not to dismiss the case until the middle of March.

The judge appointed Paul Clement, a former U.S. Solicitor General in George W. Bush’s administration, to present arguments regarding the United States government’s request to drop the charges.

As Ho writes in his order, courts are typically “aided in their decision-making through our system of adversarial testing, which can be particularly helpful in cases presenting unusual fact patterns or in cases of great public importance.”

Since there was no presentation of an adversarial position to the Justice Department during a hearing on Feb. 19, the absence of such a position made it necessary to appoint Clement to help the judge reach an appropriate decision regarding the case, which is of great public interest.

According to Acting Deputy U.S. Attorney General Emil Bove, the request to drop the charges was put forth because a trial would come too close to the reelection campaign of Adams and would also keep him from helping Trump’s law-and-order priorities.

This argument has, however, led to speculation from legal experts that the only way for Adams to escape a trial is if he agrees to assist the Trump administration in rounding up illegal immigrants in New York City.

This is largely the reasoning that former interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon provided in her resignation letter, wherein she accused Bove of promising Adams a dismissal of his case if he helped with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts.

According to The Associated Press, Ho, who is a former civil rights attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, is not rushing to a decision, because he wants to have as much information as possible at his disposal before making a choice regarding whether or not to continue the trial of Adams.

As David D. Cole, the former national legal director for the ACLU, where Ho ran the Voting Rights Project for 10 years before joining the federal bench in 2023, told the AP, this course of action is standard for him.

“Dale Ho is one of the very best lawyers I’ve ever worked with. He is diligent, careful and unstinting in his pursuit of justice,” Cole said, Cole is now a law and public policy professor at Georgetown University. “And, as may be relevant here, he is someone who fully appreciates both the limits and the responsibilities of his role.”

According to The New York Times, also on Feb. 21, New York City sued the Trump Administration after the city discovered that it was missing $80.5 million, which the Biden Administration sent the city to offset the costs of sheltering the city’s migrant population.

In their lawsuit, the city described the recoup of funds by the Trump administration as “lawless” and a “money grab” of the funds which had been previously granted by Congress and allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Adams, who has been accused of being used as a pawn by the Trump administration, appeared to fight back against this likely overreach of the executive branch, as he issued a statement decrying the theft of taxpayer monies.

“The $80 million that FEMA approved, paid, and then rescinded — after the city spent more than $7 billion in the last three years — is the bare minimum our taxpayers deserve,” Adams said in a statement. “And that’s why we’re going to work to ensure our city’s residents get every dollar they are owed.”

Brad Lander, the New York City Comptroller, asserted in a letter to the city’s Finance Department that this was just another episode of federal overreach being facilitated by Elon Musk and his unofficial Department of Government Efficiency.

“This withdrawal is just one component of an escalating series of measures by which Musk and DOGE are weaponizing government payments to support unchecked federal executive power, in violation of the law,” Lander wrote.

13-Year-Old Son Died, Social Media Challenge, Suicide

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 24, 2025

Parents Claim 13-Year-Old Son Died From Social Media Challenge Instead Of Alleged Suicide

The young teen was found unresponsive by him parents before being pronounced dead.

The parents of a deceased 13-year-old boy believe their son died from a social media challenge and not suicide as investigators initially thought.

Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr.’s parents found him unresponsive at their Southern California home on Feb. 3. According to KTLA, the family of six had spent the prior evening watching the Grammy Awards together. However, the following day became a nightmare.

As Ohaeri Jr.’s mom performed CPR on her eldest son, his father called out for help from the police and neighbors. While all tried to save him, the teenage boy was pronounced dead.

Despite original assumptions that the teen committed suicide, his family began to doubt the cause of death. In their own investigation, they discovered his participation in a social media challenge that could have led to his passing.

The challenge encouraged participants to try to make themselves unconscious. The effort is similar to the “Blackout Challenge,” in which several participants died, prompting lawsuits against TikTok by their bereaved parents. However, the question of how Ohaeri Jr. discovered the challenge remains unclear, especially as his parents prohibited social media on his phone.

In light of this tragedy, the Ohaeris want other families to have discussions about the dangers of social media. They hope to inspire others to check in with their children about internet engagement and safety.

“I’m going through the Rolodex of guilt now like, ‘Did we check in more? Should I have not been as firm four years ago?’” shared Ohaeri Sr.

As the family deals with the loss, they have launched a GoFundMe to help with expenses during this time. The page also revealed more about their beloved son known as “Deuce.”

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure,” quoted the family in the description. “We want to honor the treasure that was the beloved Nnamdi Glenn Ohaeri Jr, ‘Deuce.’ A vibrant, kind, loving, beautiful young man, a son, a brother, a grandson, a nephew, a friend, a teammate, a bandmate, a leader, an athlete, who had a passion and incredible talent for football who meant so much to so many, and will be so very deeply missed.”

The family has raised over $75,000 of their $100,000 goal.

DEI, anti-DEI, lawsuit, Chicago Public Schools, Black Success Plan

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 24, 2025

Anti-DEI Group Files Complaint Against Chicago Public Schools’ Black Student Success Plan

The plan is meant to address disparities for Black students within Chicago Public schools.

A conservative advocacy group has filed a federal anti-discrimination complaint against Chicago Public Schools as the city’s school system unveils its Black Student Success Plan.

The group, Parents Defending Education, has advocated against the teaching of race and gender topics, submitting previous complaints against other cities’ school districts. The group waited until CPS released its five-year plan meant to boost the achievement of Black students within their district.

According to Chalkbeat Chicago, the group filed the complaint with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. In the document, it cited the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause banning affirmative action college admissions. Furthermore, they cited the “Dear Colleague” letter issued by the department this month urging school districts to pause race-based initiatives or face potential federal funding cuts.

While race-based, the success plan seeks to lessen the disparities prohibiting Black students from thriving in Chicago schools. It aims to reduce suspensions given to Black students, increase the number of Black teachers, and promote the teaching of Black history across more classrooms. Through its five-year implementation, they also hope to increase the graduation rates of Black students.

Parents Defending Education, however, believes that these measures are discriminatory against students of other races. In a statement, a spokesperson for the organization shared that the plan supports “political indoctrination” in public schools.

“Parents Defending Education hopes that this complaint will spur quick action to remedy unlawful practices and end discrimination on the basis of race, and political indoctrination in America’s schools,” a spokeswoman for the group said in a statement to Chalkbeat Friday.

They also claim the plan overshadows other students’ academic struggles within the district, including Latino students. However, Black students continue to hold the most disproportionate rates out of any identity group.

CPS has remained aware of the timing of this plan’s rollout, especially as the Trump administration cracks down on DEI initiatives across public schools and federal departments. Despite this, CPS officials emphasized that they will continue ensuring all students can achieve while acknowledging and uplifting their cultural identities.

“We will stay true to our values and our mission — to provide all students with a rigorous, joyful, and equitable daily learning experience that affirms and celebrates their identities,” explained district CEO Pedro Martinez.

In the meantime, district leaders have stated they will review and respond to the complaint.

William McNeil, viral video, Recording The Police

by Daniel Johnson

February 23, 2025

Trump’s Justice Department Deletes Database Tracking Federal Police Misconduct

The nationwide database has tracked police misconduct since 2023, when it was put into place by President Joe Biden.

The Trump administration’s Justice Department has deleted the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database, the nationwide database that has tracked police misconduct since 2023, when it was put into place by President Joe Biden.

According to The Washington Post, the Justice Department dismantled the database in accordance with a January executive order from Donald Trump, which undid all of Biden’s executive orders.

Ironically, Trump first proposed the national database himself in 2020, as the country was dealing with the reaction to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of the police.

The White House defended its actions via a lengthy statement to the outlet, casting the Biden Administration era database as “woke” and “anti-police.”

“President Trump believes in an appropriate balance of accountability without compromising law enforcement’s ability to do its job of fighting crime and keeping communities safe,” the White House said via email.

The White House continued, “But the Biden executive order creating this database was full of woke, anti-police concepts that make communities less safe like a call for ‘equitable’ policing and addressing ‘systemic racism in our criminal justice system.’ President Trump rescinded the order creating this database on Day 1 because he is committed to giving our brave men and women of law enforcement the tools they need to stop crime.”

The justification from the White House was met with criticism from several police reform experts, even if they weren’t necessarily surprised by the administration’s move to end the program.

Lauren Bonds, the executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, told The Washington Post that the move from the Trump Administration is the latest example that neither Trump nor his administration is concerned about the civil rights of vulnerable citizens. “Trump has made clear through actions such as this that he doesn’t think law enforcement accountability advances public safety.”

Although the database contains only federal officers, Bonds noted that it covers “a potentially impactful group who can impact a lot of vulnerable people’s civil rights” in areas like immigration and Border Patrol. “Even though databases are the bare minimum of tracking, it’s a low bar, but it’s still a bar we should have in place,” Bonds said.

According to Trevor Hugh Davis, a research scientist at the University of Notre Dame, who discovered that the database had been down since Jan. 24, the deletion of the database represents a tremendous loss.

“We have lost countless records of disciplinary actions, terminations, complaints and settlements related to police misconduct,” Davis said. “Officers with serious misconduct histories often move between departments. Despite its limitations, it addressed a real problem — rehiring officers who had been fired or resigned for misconduct … its removal sends a clear message about the new administration’s priorities.”

The database had been criticized by police unions, which, more correctly, should be understood as lobbyists for the interests of police officers, even those who have engaged in misconduct.

One of the more prominent organizations, the National Association of Police Organizations, wrote several letters to the Biden Administration, dating back to 2022.

In January, executive director William J. Johnson wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland, arguing that administrative infractions shouldn’t be included in the database and officers should get due process in order to challenge their inclusion in the database.

“Our comments and recommendations on the establishment of a National Law Enforcement Accountability Database have been largely disregarded,” Johnson wrote in the letter. “As representatives of rank-and-file officers, it is incredibly concerning that their voices are being ignored.”

In contrast to the alleged recommendations by Johnson, Chuck Wexler, the executive director of the Police Executive Forum, told The Washington Post that the database contains vital information, which police departments can use to avoid hiring unsuitable candidates.

“This database helps law enforcement agencies ensure they are not hiring officers who have been criminally charged, fired for misconduct, or are otherwise unsuitable candidates,” Wexler said. “Problem officers tend to move from agency to agency, and police chiefs and sheriffs want access to any information that can help them avoid hiring a problem officer.”

by Daniel Johnson

February 23, 2025

Black Fraternities And Sororities Face Uncertain Future As Trump Ramps Up Anti-DEI Push

Other race- and gender-based student organizations could also end.

College student groups based on ethnicity or race could be in peril if the Trump administration’s Department of Education is successful at expanding the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling regarding race-based affirmative action, the administration’s argument would thus center on applying the Court’s decision to every aspect of campus life.

According to The Hill, groups such as the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, are concerned about what could happen to those groups, including Black fraternities and sororities, which were originally developed in response to segregation and discrimination.

As the group’s CEO and president, Paulette Grandberry Russell said in a statement to the outlet, “There is legitimate concern that the new administration may seek to restrict student organizations, including registered student organizations, and perhaps even fraternities and sororities with a nondiscriminatory focus on race, ethnicity, gender, religion and other cultural identities that the DOE determines are prohibited.”

Likewise, Marybeth Gasman, the executive director at the Center for Minority Serving Institutions at Rutgers University, is similarly concerned about how the Trump administration is choosing to apply the concept of race neutrality, which Gasman says doesn’t square with how the concept is supposed to work.

“I am concerned that the Trump administration could target student organizations that are racial affinity groups. They will claim they are enforcing ‘race neutrality’ — which makes no sense,” Gasman told The Hill, adding that “legal precedent strongly protects the right of free association per the First Amendment, which means that any attempts to end these organizations would end up in the courts.”

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, following the confirmation hearing of Trump’s pick to head the DOE, Linda McMahon, the department sent out a “Dear Colleague” letter.

Despite the letter’s lack of the force of law, it nonetheless presents institutions with an ultimatum to comply with the Trump administration’s position on diversity, equity and inclusion or lose funding, and gave them 14 days to accomplish this task.

According to Craig Trainor, the acting secretary for civil rights at the Education Department, “The Department of Education will no longer allow education entities to discriminate on the basis of race. This isn’t complicated. When in doubt, every school should consult the SFFA legal test contained in the DCL: ‘If an educational institution treats a person of one race differently than it treats another person because of that person’s race, the educational institution violates the law.’ Additional guidance on implementation is forthcoming.”

The positions of the Trump administration’s Department of Education and those of American universities are in direct opposition and are going to set up a legal fight, one that universities need to be prepared for.

According to Sara Partridge, the associate director of higher education at the Center for American Progress, any action of the Trump Administration that would curtail federal funding for violations regarding what it sets forth about DEI would be unprecedented in the history of the United States of America.

“Typically, following a civil rights complaint, the Office of Civil Rights does an investigation. If they conclude that a violation has occurred, institutions are given the opportunity to voluntarily amend their policies. So, the dramatic step of actually taking federal financial aid away from institutions would be very harmful to students, but historically, there has been a process for institutions to remedy any issues before it gets to that point,” Partridge said.

She concluded, “So, it’s yet to be seen how this administration will use the Office of Civil Rights in the Department of Education, but to take away federal funding as a result of civil rights violations as this letter frames them would be completely unprecedented.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 23, 2025

LaVar Ball Breaks Silence On TikTok After Surprising Foot Amputation

Ball made light of his recent procedure in a new TikTok video.

LaVar Ball, the father of basketball stars Lonzo, LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball, has finally spoken out after receiving a foot amputation unexpectedly.

The Ball patriarch had to undergo the procedure in the wake of a serious health issue. However, the details of the medical conditions remain under wraps. Despite this, Ball returned to social media in good spirits while still promoting his sons in true fashion.

@primbyontwitch it’s mine 😭 #lavar #liangeloball #primby #fyp ♬ Tweaker – GELO

“Everyone heard what happened and y’all can take my foot, but you know what you can’t take? That Primby account,” he said cheekily to his fans on TikTok.

He then went on to start singing the chorus for his son’s LiAngelo hit song “Tweaker.” Ball spoke to his fans through Primby’s TikTok account, where he has posted numerous video before.

Ball also became known as the vocal backer for his sons’ emerging careers in basketball. As the sports-loving family won state championships for Chino Hills High School in California, it was Ball’s boastful approach to promoting his sons’ talent that gained national attention.

He created the Big Baller Brand to help further the “Ball Brothers” branding through shoes as well. However, his outspoken personality made him a spectacle outside his children.

While two of his sons, Lonzo and LaMelo, have gone on to become NBA stars, his other son LiAngelo has paved a new career in music. The aspiring rapper reportedly signed a multi-million dollar deal with Def Jam.

The senior Ball has taken a backseat in recent years from his sons’ vibrant careers. However, they still show love to their eccentric father, especially as he deals with his new reality. After the surgery, LaMelo, shared a picture with his father stating his love for his pops.

The breakout point guard went to see his father after his team, the Charlotte Hornets, beat the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 19.

by Daniel Johnson

February 23, 2025

Citigroup Becomes Latest Company To Backtrack On DEI Commitments

In an internal memo, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser indicated the bank would rename its DEI team and make other changes due to Trump's anti-DEI policies.

On Feb. 20, Citigroup walked back some of the diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments made in 2020. Citigroup was one of several United States businesses and banks that attempted to grapple with the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor by adopting diversity, equity, and inclusion goals, but the political climate no longer supports those initiatives.

According to Business Insider, in an internal memo to staff members, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser indicated that the bank would rename its diversity, equity, and inclusion team and make several other changes in light of the Trump administration’s growing hostility toward DEI.

Per Fraser’s memo, the “diversity, equity, and inclusion and talent management” team will now be referred to as “talent management and engagement. ” The memo also notes that the bank will axe “aspirational representation goals except as required by local law” and will no longer require job candidates or panels of interviewers to be diverse.

By contrast, in September 2020, the bank announced its Action for Racial Equity, which contained specific pledges to increase support for Black Americans and other communities of color, including a pledge to “Advance anti-racist practices in its company and the financial services industry.”

When its three-year action plan was unveiled, Fraser said in a press release, “We are meeting the challenge of helping close the racial wealth gap with urgency. In just one year since launching Action for Racial Equity, we have already invested $1 billion into initiatives expanding economic opportunity for communities of color. There is still more work to be done to advance anti-racist practices both within our firm and across the industry, and we look forward to continuing to evolve our approach to driving diversity, equity and inclusion for our colleagues, clients and communities.”

According to Forbes, Citigroup joins Pepsi, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Goldman Sachs, Disney, Deloitte, PBS, Google, Intel, PayPal, Chipotle, Comcast, General Motors, Amazon, Amtrak, The Smithsonian Institution, Target, Meta, and McDonald’s among other companies and government contracted entities to either walk back aspects of or end their prior commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion due to pressure from the Trump administration, many of whom committed multibillion-dollar pledges to assist in fostering diversity.

According to Simon Blanchette, a lecturer at McGill University in Canada and an expert in organizational theory, the corporate whiplash on DEI, while inspired by the Trump administration’s clear animus regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion, is also an example of what Blanchette called “diversitywashing” in an op-ed for The Conversation.

He argued that this occurs when companies like Citigroup and others declare support for social causes but retreat under public or political pressure.

Blanchette writes, “When corporations roll back these initiatives in response to political pressures, it signals to the world their commitment to EDI was merely a strategic move to improve their brand image during a period when social justice was a trending topic.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 23, 2025

Soul-Funk Singer Gwen McCrae, ‘Queen Of Rare Groove,’ Dies At 81

The singer was known for producing dance hits with substantive lyrics.

Gwen McCrae, heralded by many as “The Queen of Rare Groove,” has died at 81. Fans remember the soul-funk singer for her contributions to this sector of disco.

Born Gwen Mosley, the Florida native started her career with her husband, George McCrae, in 1963. The married couple later signed to Altson and TK Records, but moderate success led Gwen to try a southern soul sound. However, the singer caught traction when she began focusing on dance-focused records that promoted a “Miami sound” to intrigued audiences.

This sound proved viable for both McCraes, scoring George a UK No. 1 hit with “Rock Your Baby,” but the musical relationship began to impact their marital one. Reeling from the breakup in 1976, McCrae delved further into her own voice to create dance music with heavier lyricism.

According to The Guardian, her biggest hit became “Rockin’ Chair,” which reached No. 9 on the Billboard pop charts. With her throaty voice blending with the sounds of disco, she continued to roll out additional hits such as “90% Of Me Is You” and “All This Love That I’m Givin.'”

However, her recording career dwindled after TK Studios and the label went under in the early 1980s. Despite this, her career found another path through live performances across the United Kingdom. This newfound arena of fame aided McCrae throughout her fluctuating career.

“The only time I’m really happy is when I’m on that stage, in front of my audience,” McCrae said in 1997. “Then I’m the happiest woman in the world.”

The singer continued to tour until 2012 when she suffered a stroke while performing in England. The incident left her paralyzed on the left side and unable to walk. Following years of treatment, McCrae died from a long-time illness.

McCrae remains a household name in the disco scene for Brits during the era. However, her impact on the genre in the United States remains less known. Despite this, the singer’s influence may receive new recognition as the “Miami Sound” gains new acclaim from music historians.

Kamala Harris, day of unreasonable conversations, 107 Days, book tour, Trump adminsitration

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 23, 2025

Kamala Harris Inspires At NAACP Image Awards: ‘No Illusions What We Are Up Against’ As Keke Palmer And Others Win Big

Harris received the Chairman's Award.

Kamala Harris joined in on Black excellence, which was celebrated at the 56th NAACP Image Awards on Feb. 22. The former vice president spoke to the audience in an inspiring speech, and Keke Palmer and others took home major awards.

Upon receiving the Chairman’s Award, Harris encouraged viewers not to despair about the current state of the world. In her first televised appearance since the election, she urged the audience to look back at the NAACP’s history while championing hope and determination.

“This organization came into being at a moment when our country struggled with greed, bitterness and hatred,” she said. “Those who forged the NAACP, those who carried its legacy forward had no illusions about the forces they were up against. No illusions about how stony the road would be,” Harris said at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

“But some look at this moment and rightly feel the weight of history,” she said. “Some see the flames on our horizons, the rising waters in our cities, the shadows gathering over our democracy, and ask, ‘What do we do now?’ But we know exactly what to do, because we have done it before, and we will do it again.”

She added, “We organize, mobilize, educate and advocate. Our power has never come from having an easy path. Our strength flows from our faith — faith in God, faith in each other, and our refusal to surrender to cynicism and destruction. Not because it is easy but because it is necessary. Not because victory is guaranteed, but because the fight is worth it.”

She continued, “While we have no illusions about what we are up against in this chapter in our American story, this chapter will be written not simply by whoever occupies the Oval Office nor by the wealthiest among us. The American story will be written by you, written by us, by we the people.”

The Chairman’s Award honors those who “excel in public service and leverage their unique platforms to ignite and drive meaningful change.”

While Harris was a highlight of the evening, the NAACP also congratulated fellow Black public figures for their work across multiple media industries. Keke Palmer took home the Entertainer of the Year award, nodding to her fellow nominees and their monumental year.

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“I didn’t think I was going to win because [starts singing],” said Palmer before she referenced the famous riff sung by Cynthia Erivo’s character in “Wicked.” “…It’s such an amazing category to be in with all these people.”

She added, “It is so important that we come here together and celebrate one another with one another. I’ve been in this industry for 20 years, nobody has uplifted me more than you all, the people in this room… While we continue to ask for more money, ’cause we need that… It is important that we remember that what we would and what we deem as important is enough.”

As for other winners, the legendary Wayans family became the newest members of the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. Netflix’s “The Six Triple Eight,” the Tyler Perry-directed war drama film about an all-Black women’s battalion, won the Outstanding Motion Picture Prize.

As for Outstanding Actress and Actor, Kerry Washington and Denzel Washington received awards for their roles in “The Six Triple Eight” and “Gladiator II,” respectively. Dave Chappelle also took home the President’s Award for his achievement and influence in entertainment.

DELEÓN Tequila, a proud returning sponsor of the awards, spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about what being a part of this monumental event means to the brand.

“The 56th NAACP Image Awards was a true celebration of Black excellence, and DELEÓN Tequila was honored to be part of the moment. From unveiling our Bold Spirits, Rise footprint on the red carpet to raising a glass with winners in the trophy room, every detail was designed to uplift the bold spirits shaping culture and community. As part of our Bold Spirits, Rise campaign, we highlighted the journeys of those who inspire the next generation—an ode to the power of community and creativity. This night was more than a ceremony—it was a testament to resilience, achievement, and the voices that continue to pave the way forward,” said Ari Anderman, Brand Director of DELEÓN Tequila.

Head to the NAACP Image Award’s website for the full list of winners.