by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 3, 2026

Viola Davis, Courtney B. Vance, And Common Join New W.E.B. Du Bois Documentary

The actors will lend their voices to help narrate the film on the acclaimed Black scholar-activist.

Some of the greatest talents within Black Hollywood have lent their voices to a new documentary on W.E.B. Du Bois.

Legendary actors such as Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Courtney B. Vance, and Common took part in the new trailer for PBS’s “W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause.” The latest installment in the educational network’s American Masters documentary series focuses on the life of the trailblazing scholar and historian.

According to Blex Media, the film will center its narrative on the personal and professional journey of Du Bois, who dedicated his life and scholarship to Black progress and socio-political equity across the world. Davis narrates the film as her fellow actors dramatize some of Du Bois’ speeches and writings featured in the documentary.

“I very early got the idea that I was going to prove to the world Negroes were just like other people,” recited Common, Wright, and Vance to begin the trailer.

A pioneer of what would become a global movement for racial equality and justice, Du Bois vocalized the plight of Black people in the late 19th century. Challenging the restrictive norms of what society regarded as Blackness, the NAACP founder championed the humanity and character of the Black community.

Historian Chad Williams also proclaimed, “W.E.B. Du Bois is arguably the greatest Black intellectual scholar-activist in American History.”

A formidable scholar, Du Bois became the first Black man to receive a Ph.D from Harvard University. He later used his platform to advocate for equality efforts for Black people in general society and politics. He also used his writings, including his 1903 volume of essays titled “Souls of Black Folk,” to further explain the dual-lived reality of Black people in America, a concept popularized as “double consciousness.”

A writer, scholar, and voice for Black advancement, Du Bois’s speeches and work will gain a modern spotlight with “Rebel With A Cause.” Directed by acclaimed documentarian Rita Coburn, the film will span Du Bois’s 95 years of life, including archival footage and dramatized readings from its star-studded cast.

Du Bois later expanded his advocacy to the Black diaspora, becoming a voice for the Pan-African movement across Ghana and several African nations. Du Bois continued his fight for progress throughout the early 20th century, dying in Accra just one day before the 1963 March on Washington.

Alongside its recognizable voices, the feature will also include modern-day historians and sociologists, lending their expertise to how Du Bois’ groundbreaking work still shapes commentary and scholarly advancements regarding race today. As an American revolutionary in his own right for his work for the global recognition of Blackness, Du Bois’s work now has an American media revival in this new documentary.

“Rebel With A Cause” will premiere Tuesday, May 19th at 9 p.m. ET on PBS.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 2, 2026

Trump Floats The Idea Of A ‘Friendly’ Cuba Takeover

Trump's vague comment follows reports a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cuban nationals was intercepted by Cuban border guards.

President Donald Trump claims the U.S. is in talks with Havana about a possible “friendly takeover” but failed to give context, leaving questions on what that means, NBC News reports.

The president told reporters that he and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, have had “very high level” discussions with Cuban leaders after claiming the country “is, to put it mildly, a failed nation” and wants help from the U.S. “The Cuban government is talking with us. They have no money. They have nothing right now. But they’re talking to us, and maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba,” Trump said before leaving for Texas for a rally.

“We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba.”

The vague comment comes just two days after the country’s government reported a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cuban nationals opened fire on Cuban soldiers. Four of the Cuban nationals were killed, leaving six and one other official injured. It also comes weeks after Trump blocked fuel from coming into the island, causing massive flight cancellations and a public health crisis for the city of Havana.

The United Nations’ top official for Cuba confirmed the crisis, warning that everyday life in Cuba is “becoming fragile,” according to The Hill, with heightened strains on health care, water services and food distribution. Cuban government officials have instituted emergency measures in an effort to move past the fuel shortage, revealing they have roughly between six and seven weeks of fuel left before a major blackout occurs.

Tensions with Cuba have seemingly come to a head since U.S. forces captured one of the country’s closest allies, Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolás Maduro, in early January 2026. His new comments are a switch up from him once claiming military action in Cuba might not be necessary due to the island’s weak economy. “We’ve had a lot of years of dealing with Cuba. I’ve been hearing about Cuba since I’m a little boy. But they’re in big trouble,” Trump said.

There seems to be some confusion on Capitol Hill about the dealings with the country as more than 40 civil society organizations urged Congress to “press the Trump administration to reverse its aggressive policy towards Cuba” in a letter highlighting efforts to cut oil shipments to the Caribbean island could possibly cause a humanitarian collapse.

But one lawmaker is already preparing voters for more issues with Cuba. During a Fox News interview, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham claimed that Cuba will be next, referring to recent military activity in Iran. “President Trump finished the job that President Reagan failed to do! I am a big admirer of Ronald Reagan, but I’m here to tell you that Donald Trump is the gold standard for Republicans, maybe any president, when it comes to foreign policy,” he said.

“Maduro? Everybody talked about him; well, Donald Trump’s got him in jail! Cuba’s next. They’re gonna fall. This communist dictatorship in Cuba? Their days are numbered.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 2, 2026

Lawsuit Against Pittsburgh Call Center Whose Manager Allegedly Referred To Black Employees As ‘Good Blacks, Not N*****s’ Can Proceed

A supervisor is accused of referring to an employee's Black husband as "garbage" and saying that the husband was “going to bring her down.”

A federal judge ruled that a racial discrimination lawsuit against a call center whose supervisor allegedly told a Black employee to get “those monkeys in line” and made a reference to workers as “good blacks, not n*****s, can proceed, Atlanta Black Star reports.

U.S. District Judge Mark R. Hornak gave a discrimination lawsuit against Allegheny Health Network (AHN) the green light after plaintiffs, including a white director who alleges he was fired for speaking up, presented strong evidence of continuous racial slurs and discriminatory conduct by AHN management. Hornak felt a jury may believe “a stark picture of outright racial bigotry.”

The 2021 lawsuit, filed by Santos Albert, accuses director Diane Allen of making derogatory and unprofessional remarks about him and his direct supervisor, John Guthrie, shortly after being hired.

In one incident, while holding a photo of a white employee’s husband, who is Black, Allen allegedly said, “Look at this garbage, I thought she was a nice girl.” She continued to make claims that the husband was “going to bring her down.”

Another time, Allen allegedly mocked Albert for being a K-Mart and Walmart shopper, calling it “ghetto.”

Then there was a time when Allen allegedly told Albert to focus on “getting those monkeys in line” after inquiring about an operations manager role. One of the most eye-opening comments was made during a May 2019 meeting when Allen allegedly asked, “Who are they going to believe, us or a nasty, lying Black woman?” while describing a dispute with an employee at AHN’s parent company.

Also, in April 2018, Allen allegedly planned to fire all the Black employees from the company. Guthrie feels it was he reporting it that resulted in his termination, according to The Inquisitr.

Albert also accused his former supervisor described him and another employee as “good blacks, not n*****s. According to him, she referred to a senior operations manager, who is of Middle Eastern descent, as a “sand n*****.”

Outside of the racial discrimination and humiliation Santos endured, he claims Allen used to force him to do things outside of his work scope, even though he wasn’t trained on it, and attend 6 a.m. orthopedic meetings. During his testimony, Allen said the changes were designed to make him fail on purpose.

Allegheny Health Network has denied any discrimination and retaliation efforts within the organization, but it is up to a jury to decide with a conference on the ongoing case scheduled for September 2. While it was found that Allen was let go from her position in 2019, the Pittsburgh-based company has been under intensified scrutiny due to the litigation, pushing for sudden policy changes and racism training.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 2, 2026

Deon Cole Receives Death Threats After Jokes About Nicki Minaj, MAGA

Racial epithets were also used against the comedian in social media posts.

Comedian Deon Cole didn’t disappoint, and his jokes and commentary about recording artist Nicki Minaj have led to death threats and insults levied against the former black-ish star and Old Spice pitchman, AllHipHop reports.

While hosting the 2026 NAACP Image Awards on March 1, Cole took aim at the Queens rapper, who has been seen at recent MAGA-related affairs, even cozying up to President Donald Trump.

“Lord, we want you to bless our sister Nicki Minaj,” Cole said. “She’s been going through a lot lately and hasn’t been herself, Lord. I believe whatever’s in her body is affecting her brain, Lord.”

Although it drew applause from the crowd, online, it was a different story. It seems the “Barbz” and MAGA enthusiasts were none too pleased.

In an Instagram post, Cole collected a number of responses and threats from some of these people and posted them to his account. The comedian posted responses that called him the N-word.

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A post shared by Deon Cole (@deoncole)

All of Cole’s jabs weren’t directed at Minaj and MAGA. Deon Cole commented on the recent British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTAs) controversy with John Davidson, the Tourette’s Syndrome activist who shouted out the N-word while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage presenting an award. Making light of the situation that has been in the news lately, he warned that if anyone does have Tourette’s, they had “better read the room tonight.”

Megan Tthee Stallion, restraining order, Tory Lanez

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 2, 2026

Tory Lanez’s Last Chance At Appealing Conviction Rejected

The Canadian has exhausted all legal means

Daystar Peterson, known to the world as Tory Lanez, has lost his chance to have his sentence either reduced or thrown out when the California Supreme Court refused to hear arguments levied by Lanez’s attorneys from the recording artist’s trial regarding Megan Thee Stallion getting shot in the foot in 2020.

According to AllHipHop, in an attempt to get his conviction overturned, the state’s highest court rejected the appeal petition filed. This was the Canadian’s last chance to reverse the decision made by a California jury in December 2022, when they found him guilty after being charged with assault with a semiautomatic firearm, possession of a loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Lanez was sentenced in August 2023 and appealed the decision.

In November, a three-judge panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected the appeal in a 46-page decision that stated that Lanez’s assertions of prosecutorial misconduct were baseless. The court ruled that no reversible error was found in the trial judge’s decisions. The California Supreme Court upheld the court of appeals’ decision, meaning the prison sentence handed down to Lanez stands.

The “Luv” rapper was convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot on July 22, 2020, after a party at Kylie Jenner’s house in California. During the trial, Megan Thee Stallion testified that Lanez shot a gun at the back of her feet and told her to dance as she walked away from an SUV they were riding in. The two musicians, a friend, and a bodyguard had just left a party at Kylie Jenner’s Hollywood Hills home.

Before being sentenced, Lanez was facing up to 22 years in prison and possible deportation back to his native Canada.

He is currently serving his sentence at the California Men’s Colony. In an incident that took place last year, he was stabbed in prison and hospitalized with serious injuries. Lanez was reportedly stabbed 14 times, and both lungs had collapsed.

by Black Enterprise

March 2, 2026

Sundresses & Seersuckers® Festival Will Be Back To Party With Purpose In Atlanta

The event offers panels, wellness discussions, and networking opportunities for Black professionals in Atlanta.

For Black professionals looking to reconnect for a good cause around Atlanta, Sundresses & Seersuckers XV is back this April.

The fundraising event will connect over 15,000 Black professionals to bask in spring fashion and weather for a community give-back. Taking place April 9 through April 12, the weekend will feature programming dedicated to uplifting Black youth through scholarships and mentorship.

Sundresses & Seersuckers XV directly supports Commitment to Excellence, Inc., a local nonprofit established by Delta Mu Mu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., that provides resources and enrichment for tomorrow’s leaders. Specifically focused on Black male youth and families, its Black Rhinos Mentoring Program offers children guidance and inspiration to help achieve their academic goals.

https://www.tiktok.com/@originalsns404/video/7516962599846677790

Attendance throughout the weekend will directly serve this mentorship program and the CTE scholarship fund, which provides financial support to college-bound high school seniors. With a jam-packed lineup from meets and greets to vendor fairs, participants can expect networking fun and community engagement across the vibrant Atlanta community.

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A post shared by The Original Sundresses & Seersuckers®️ (@originalsns)

“Sundresses & Seersuckers has always been about more than just a good time,” said Wendell Span, co-chairman of Sundresses & Seersuckers, in a press release. “It’s a celebration of Black excellence, unity, and the power of giving back.”

The festivities begin with an elevated networking mixer at Opium ahead of the multi-day programming. Following an all-day marketplace filled with Black-owned brands, Sundresses & Seersuckers starts the evening of Friday, April 10, at Southern Exchange.

The next morning features a bootcamp, powered by E.F.F.E.C.T. Fitness. There’s also an “Ask The Divine 9” Doctors panel, with medical professionals sharing their insights on maintaining healthy lives inside and out. As for its marquee celebration, participants should arrive in their finest spring attire for the main event.

Interested attendees also can find more information on ticket purchases through the Sundresses & Seersuckers’ official website.

Alabama, Supreme Court Ruling,Police, ID

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 2, 2026

Pennsylvania Mom Says She Was Racially Profiled After Bringing Son Coffee: ‘I’m Pissed!’

Biancha Tatum went viral after posting a video capturing her interaction with a white police officer who suspected she was conducting an illegal transaction with her son.

A Pennsylvania mother is speaking out after alleging she was racially profiled by Fairview Township police officers who assumed she had engaged in a drug transaction with her son when she handed him a cup of coffee.

Biancha Tatum went viral after posting a Jan. 15 video capturing her interaction with a white police officer who suspected she was conducting an illegal transaction with her son. The encounter occurred after she dropped him off at home and returned to hand him a coffee cup he had left in her car.

“I just dropped my son off at his house and two police officers from Fairview Township or should I say One was a Attorney General Agent drug task force his name was Agent Edwards 599 and the police officer from Fairview Township was Officer L Alexander badge number.5218,” Tatum wrote. “So I proceed to go on about my business and this is the outcome of why he stopped me. You look at this video. This is crazy because it look like we was doing a drug transaction when I say I am pissed. I’m pissed.”

Two days after posting the footage, Tatum shared a follow-up message thanking supporters and vowing to pursue justice, describing the recording as a “horrible example of racial profiling at its fullest.”

“I also wanna let you know I will be taking this all the way to the highest possible level that I can. I refuse to sit down and let this happen to me and there be no repercussions,” Tatum explained.

She also responded to viewers asking what happened once the camera stopped rolling.

“I did not allow him to search my car. I did not give him my son‘s last name when the video ended. I continue to fuss and cuss both of them out as well as my son,” Tatum wrote. “I did reach out to Fairview County Township however the person I needed to speak to was out until Monday now Monday is a holiday so we gonna see how this goes. I have to follow the proper steps but just know that I’m not letting up.”

Tatum also shared an article outlining the incident, which began after her son left a coffee cup in her car. When she pulled over to pass it to him through the window, an officer stopped her, claiming it looked like they were involved in an “illegal transaction.” During a tense exchange, the officer insisted he was simply “doing his job.”

“Yup!!!!! I promise you this is just the beginning,” she wrote on Facebook.

Missouri Bill, Drunk Drivers, Child Support

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 2, 2026

Missouri Bill May Require Drunk Drivers Who Kill Parents To Pay Child Support

Proposed legislation in Missouri would mandate child support payments from convicted drunk drivers who cause the death of a parent.

Missouri lawmakers appear to be advancing legislation that would require convicted drunk drivers who cause a parent’s death to pay child support after their release from prison.

State Sen. Mike Henderson recently addressed lawmakers at the Missouri State Capitol, joined by the two boys who inspired his proposed legislation, known as Bentley and Mason’s Law, KCTV5 reports. Named in honor of the brothers who lost their parents in an April 2021 crash, the bill would require individuals convicted of killing a parent while driving under the influence to provide child support to the surviving children.

“I just think that this is the right thing to do,” Henderson said.

Cecelia Williams stood at the forefront of the effort at the Capitol, advocating on behalf of her grandsons, Mason and Bentley, after their parents were killed by a drunk driver in 2021. Since losing her son, daughter-in-law, and 4-month-old grandchild in the April 2021 crash, Williams has repeatedly traveled to the Missouri Capitol seeking accountability.

Now raising the boys left behind, Williams says she is determined to see justice served.

“I wanted to bring something to help families that need it when they find themselves in the situation of raising kids again,” Williams said.

Under the proposal, if the offender is sentenced to prison, child support payments would begin one year after their release and continue until the child turns 18 or 21, depending on the child’s age at the time of the parent’s death. Henderson has championed the legislation since the 2021 crash.

Although the bill has been introduced in Missouri multiple times without passage, it currently faces no opposition. The family says they are hopeful this will be the year it finally becomes law.

Byrnes Mill Police Department Sgt. Cody Unfress was the first officer to arrive at the scene of the 2021 crash. Now serving as a specialist who investigates similar incidents, Unfress said the case struck a deeply personal chord. As a child, he was also orphaned by a drunk driver. The 2021 crash was among the first major incidents he encountered fresh out of police training, leaving a lasting impact on him both professionally and personally.

“It has affected me. And it has affected all those who were on scene that night,” Unfress said. “Because 34 years ago, I was that little boy sitting back there.”

Missouri ranks ninth nationwide for driving under the influence cases. Versions of Bentley and Mason’s Law have already been enacted in six other states. In Tennessee, a family became the first to receive child support payments under similar legislation.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 2, 2026

Cause of Death Revealed For Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Power’

The executive died on Feb. 23

Oliver “Power” Grant, who was an executive producer on the Wu-Tang Clan’s 1993 debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), died on Feb. 23, and the cause of death has recently been revealed for 52-year-old’s death.

On the official social media account of the group’s page, Wu-Tang Clan and Power’s family announced that he had been battling pancreatic cancer but ended up losing the fight on that fateful day, calling him a “true fighter until the end.” The news was posted on the collective’s Instagram page on March 1.

Power was a “proud product of the Park Hill neighborhood. From those streets, he rose to become a visionary force, a pillar of the Wu-Tang family, and a global architect of culture. It was the honor of his life to pour his love, wisdom, and brilliance into his family and his community. His impact was singular; there will never be another to take his place.”

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A post shared by Wu Tang Clan (@wutangclan)

The Staten Island native was instrumental in financing the group’s initial album and in bringing the collective in front of the people who helped shape the rappers’ careers. His entrepreneurial skills led him to also start the Wu Wear clothing line at a time when rappers influenced fashion trends, but weren’t directly behind the scenes running it as a business.

Power orchestrated almost everything that did not involve writing lyrics or producing music, as he focused on all other business matters and had a vision for Wu-Tang as a brand with its own merchandise, with a hand in all business decisions, including promotion, street marketing, fashion, film, and anything connected to the Wu.

“Power will always be loved, and his legacy will forever remain. Greatness is not what you have, but what you give,” the social media post stated.

He was surrounded by his mother, his children, his family, and his closest friends when he died.

Harriett's Bookshop, Philadelphia, Black Girl Picnic Marks 5th Annual Event With New Black Literacy Campaign To Gift 1000 Books

by Jameelah Mullen

March 2, 2026

The National Association Of Black Bookstores Launches State Of The Black Bookstore Report And Directory

The National Association of Black Bookstores is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the visibility of Black-owned bookstores in the United States.

The National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2) released its first State of the Black Bookstore Report along with the launch of the National Black-Owned Bookstore Directory. The report and directory offer the first comprehensive overview of Black-owned bookstores nationwide.

The newly launched directory identifies Black-owned bookstores across the United States, including brick-and-mortar stores, mobile bookstores, pop-up vendors, and online sellers. It serves as a valuable resource for readers, educators, authors, publishers, and industry leaders. Together, the report and directory highlight the economic and systemic challenges that Black-owned bookstores face nationwide.

The report finds that there are currently 306 Black-owned bookstores in the United States, making up about 8% of all independent bookstores nationwide. Currently, 14 states have no Black-owned bookstores, highlighting gaps in access to Black-centered literature. Additionally, 36% of Black-owned bookstores operate without a brick-and-mortar location. The report also reveals a significant increase in the number of Black-owned bookstores in recent years, despite ongoing challenges threatening their long-term survival. Despite this growth, 90% of Black-owned bookstores report annual revenue under $250,000.

“The growth of Black-owned bookstores across the country reflects the strength and relevance of these institutions today,” Kevin Johnson, founder and board chair of NAB2, said in a press release. “By bringing this information together, we are creating a foundation that supports their continued presence and informs how the industry engages with them,” Johnson said.

NAB2 board member Yvonne Black, owner of Hakim Bookstore in Philadelphia, one of America’s oldest Black-owned bookstores, highlights the cultural significance of the combined report and directory.

“Black bookstores have always done more with less,” Black said in a press release.”We have survived by serving our people, protecting our stories, and holding space when few others would. This report tells the truth plainly. It honors the work that came before us while making clear what must change if these bookstores are going to be here for the next generation.”

Visit the NAB2 website to view the report or browse the directory.