White coats, doctors, physicians,

15 White Coats Seeks To Increase Diversity In Medical Schools

Per the group's website, 15 White Coats’ Funding The Future Initiative is dedicated to bringing more diversity to the field of medicine


A non-profit group that was birthed out of a field trip to a Louisiana plantation, 15 White Coats, has used its viral photo-op on the Whitney Plantation in Edgard, Louisiana in 2019 to fund medical school students’ incidental fees for the MCAT and STEP 1 study prep programs and residency application fees as well as individual support for physicians.

According to CBS News, the group has also birthed a nascent movement that has concerned itself with the falling rates of Black students in medical schools and how to get more Black people into the medical field.

According to 2023 data from The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, Black Americans have been making steady progress in admissions rates to medical school despite a drop in overall applications in 2022 and 2023.

Per their data, in 2023, Black students made up 10.2% of all students who entered medical school and made up 10.4% of the total enrollment of the medical school, setting a record high of 10,133 Black students enrolled in medical schools across the country.

However, as BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, the steady gains of Black Americans in the medical field have also been threatened by anti-DEI policies championed by conservatives who have largely taken their cues from re-inaugurated Donald Trump.

Per the group’s website, 15 White Coats’ “Funding The Future” Initiative is dedicated to bringing more diversity to the field of medicine.

Their six-month virtual cohort program is designed for minority students who are historically and currently underrepresented in the medical field and offers comprehensive support, financial aid, and a robust curriculum that prepares students for the rigors of medical school.

15 White Coats was founded by Russell J. Ledet, Sydney C. Labat, Rachel M. Turner, and Brian E. Washington Jr.

The first pair of names serve as the organization’s President and Vice-President, respectively.

Turner and Washington Jr., meanwhile, serve as the Community Engagement Director and Operations Manager for 15 White Coats.

According to a message from the co-founders, they offer an open invitation for students to figure out how they fit into their organization.

“We have led The 15 White Coats since its inception and plan to diversify medicine in a way it’s never been done before. This initiative is a culmination of years of hard work to find enough funding to truly prepare the next generation of diverse healthcare professionals. Come and learn how to ensure your student applies and is selected!” the co-founders wrote on the website.

Currently, registration for the initiative is closed, but phase one of the group’s registration will open on March 15, 2025, and close on April 12, 2025. Phase two will open on April 14, 2025, and will close on April 24, 2025.

Selected applicants from phase one will be moved to phase two, where a final selection will be made, and an opening program announcing the winners will take place on April 28, 2025.

RELATED CONTENT: Anti-DEI Efforts Are Putting A Damper On Black Student Recruitment At Medical Schools

Octaviaa's ookkshelf. California, Los Angeles, wildfires. bookstore

Pasadena Bookstore Named After Octavia Butler Becomes Safe Haven For LA Fire Victims

The store became a donation hub for the historically Black area impacted by the ongoing Los Angeles fires.


Octavia’s Bookshelf, the Black-owned bookstore in Pasadena, California, named after Octavia Butler, has transformed into a resource center for victims of the Los Angeles fires.

According to NBC News, the store has emerged as a safe haven for those displaced by the still-ongoing fires. Neighboring the heavily impacted and historically Black area of Altadena, the bookshop’s location provides access and comfort to the Black Angelenos who need it most.

The store’s namesake came from the Parable Of The Sower author. The novel warned of these fires due to environmental and racial injustice. Given this, the store’s management felt it was their duty to give back in honor of Butler and her advocacy.

“The focus has always been serving the community, and that means different things at different times. Right now, it means something other than books,” Kiki Williams, manager of the bookstore, said.

The bookstore’s owner, Nikki High, also had to flee her home in the Los Angeles suburb. However, she discovered that her business still had power and immediately used the source to help other victims.

The 621-square-foot space transformed into a mutual aid hub. Through this, community members have come by, free of charge. There, they charged their devices and secured essential items, from blankets to baby food. Moreover, a volunteer initiative has helped deliver these necessities to the elderly figures in the area.

“This community is one with a lot of elders, it’s one with folks with disabilities,” continued Williams. “Also, people are in shock, they’re spread out. They’re far away, so we want people to have access to these items even if they’re not able to come get them themselves. So we have been able to take clothing and food and items to folks who are farther away, who don’t have cars at the moment but who need them.”

The bookshop will transition into a sanctuary for the community through writing workshops and more as it phases out of resource distribution. However, paying homage to Butler’s own Pasadena upbringing and legacy as a writer-activist made the mission worth it.

RELATED CONTENT: OPINION: Former President Barack Obama Booed At Trump’s Inauguration: A New Low For Republican Decorum

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Marcus Garvey, Kemba Smith Pradia, Among Final Pardons By President Biden

Garvey and Smith Pradia were among the final people granted pardons by President Biden.


Marcus Garvey and Kemba Smith Pradia were among the final names listed in President Biden’s last pardons before he left office.

Garvey’s family and supporters led the quest to get him a posthumous pardon for a mail fraud charge. The charge targeted the political activist to undermine his efforts in uplifting the Black diaspora.

Current congress members and educators had urged Biden to pardon him before his term ended. Howard University professors and students helped Garvey’s son Julius secure letters from Congressional leaders. With support primarily from the Black Caucus, Jamaican-American Congresswoman Yvette Clarke also led the initiative.

Garvey received the pardon for his already-commuted sentence. Now, this move remedies the stain on his legacy and grants his family peace on the issue.

“This pardon acknowledges the wrongful nature of his trial and conviction, affirms Garvey’s innocence, and uplifts Garvey’s unique contribution to the international cause of human rights, justice, and civil rights for all people worldwide,” Hansford said on the pardon to Howard’s online news publication, The Dig.

As for Smith Pradia, the prison reform activist received a full pardon from President Biden, therefore expunging her criminal record. The former Legal Defense Fund Client had served 7 of her 24.5 years sentenced to prison.

The domestic abuse victim had been forced to participate in her partner’s drug ring. However, she secured her release in 2000 after President Clinton commuted her sentence. Smith Pradia has since become a staunch advocate for criminal justice, following her widely known case.

“We are also elated by the tremendous step President Biden has taken to help correct the historic injustice of ‘girlfriend crimes’ by pardoning Kemba Smith Pradia and commuting Michelle Smith’s life sentence along with granting clemency to other individuals,” stated the LDF on the news. “‘Girlfriend crimes’, which ensnare women in the criminal legal system as a result of their romantic associations, have subjected Black women to some of the criminal legal system’s harshest penalties, often for little more than being in troubled relationships with coercive partners.”

Smith Pradia also deems her pardon as a win against the long-lasting effects of the War on Drugs. With her pardon, she can continue advocating for the full rights of released felons.

She is joined by fellow victim of “girlfriend crimes” Michelle West. Several others can now begin their lives again with these final pardons by President Biden.

RELATED CONTENT: OPINION: Former President Barack Obama Booed At Trump’s Inauguration: A New Low For Republican Decorum

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OPINION: Former President Barack Obama Booed At Trump’s Inauguration: A New Low For Republican Decorum

Republicans should be embarrassed.


What does a former president expect when attending a Republican-led event these days? For Barack Obama, it seems the answer is a chorus of boos and awkward optics, as displayed during Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Republicans and their supporters have once again demonstrated that the high ground of decorum isn’t exactly their forte.

The former POTUS attended the inauguration solo — his wife, Michelle Obama, citing scheduling conflicts as the reason for her absence. Obama’s arrival was greeted with audible boos from the crowd as he walked in to witness Trump sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Yes, you read that right — Trump, the 47th. In a nation where civility once defined transitions of power, the scene was yet another chapter in the ongoing decorum deficit disorder gripping certain factions of the country.

A Booing Spectacle

Obama wasn’t the only dignitary subjected to the crowd’s lack of grace at the inauguration. Hillary and Bill Clinton also received jeers, reminding us that bipartisan respect in public spaces has become a relic of the past. Ironically, George W. Bush and Laura Bush received warm applause from the same crowd, proving that civility is applied selectively.

Let’s be real here: It’s one thing to disagree with someone’s policies; it’s another to disregard the respect and gravitas that such ceremonies demand entirely. Public jeering at a former president reflects less on the target and more on the participants — a fact Republicans might want to consider the next time they clutch their pearls over “cancel culture.”

Where Decorum Takes a Back Seat

Michelle Obama’s absence at Trump’s inauguration and earlier this month at Jimmy Carter’s funeral due to a scheduling conflict was hardly a reason for controversy, but somehow it managed to stir chatter. The former First Lady marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a social media post encouraging community service, striking a poignant and inspirational tone.

Compare that to Donald Trump’s comments about his seemingly friendly interaction with Obama at Carter’s funeral, “We probably do [like each other]. I don’t know. We just got along.” The bar for grace keeps finding new lows, yet here we are.

A Tale of Two Realities

The stark contrast in how public figures like the Obamas carry themselves versus the jeering crowd and Republicans at large is palpable. Michelle Obama turned 61 on January 17 and celebrated with a touching social media post by her husband, Barack.

The post featured a photo of the couple holding hands and a caption brimming with warmth and admiration, “Happy birthday to the love of my life, @MichelleObama. You fill every room with warmth, wisdom, humor, and grace – and you look good doing it. I’m so lucky to be able to take on life’s adventures with you. Love you!”

Meanwhile, the public’s reaction to the Obamas’ presence at official events suggests a growing appetite for pettiness and theater over dignity. Are we so far gone that the nation’s inability to behave respectfully in public is now part of the political brand?

Decorum is Not Dead (It’s Just on Life Support)

The decline of decorum is a bipartisan issue, but let’s not kid ourselves about where the loudest offenders are currently stationed. A crowd booing the former president at an inauguration doesn’t signal disapproval — it screams insecurity. The Obamas have demonstrated grace under fire time and time again, often rising above the noise to focus on more significant issues like civic engagement, community service, and, yes, even celebration.

Their example starkly contrasts the jeering crowds that seem to think loud. Public disdain equates to power. If there’s a lesson here, it’s that respectability and maturity remain virtues worth aspiring to — even if some appear determined to make a spectacle of abandoning them.

Obama’s boos weren’t just a slight against him but a reflection of a growing cultural void where civility once stood. If Republicans and their supporters can’t muster a sense of decorum at a presidential inauguration, one wonders if they ever will.

RELATED CONTENT: Obama, Clinton, Bush Will Not Attend Trump’s Inaugural Luncheon

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Americans Nationwide Gather To Protest Trump Inauguration

On Jan 18, thousands of Americans took to the streets of Washington D.C. and other cities around the country in protest of Trump's extremist, anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and anti-progressive agenda


In Washington, D.C. and other cities across the country, protestors gathered and marched in protest of President-elect Donald Trump’s impending inauguration, while the numbers may not match the numbers of 2017, a spirit of urgency and uncertainty rippled through the various protests.

According to The New York Times, on Jan 18, thousands of Americans took to the streets around the country in protest of Trump’s extremist, anti-Black, anti-immigrant, and anti-progressive agenda.

In 2017, the march, then branded the Women’s March, was laser-focused on what women would lose, many of the mostly female attendees wore pink hats with cat ears, those were largely gone in this march, and in their place were a broader set of concerns and a new moniker, the People’s March.

Many of the attendees expressed concern that in Trump 2.0 there would be more at stake than there was in the first iteration of his presidency.

Outside of D.C., variations of the People’s March cropped up in New York City, Manhattan, Nashville, and Portland, Oregon.

In addition to Trump, protests focused on Elon Musk, the most visible sign of the encroaching oligarchy, which the outgoing Commander-in-Chief Joe Biden cautioned Americans to be on their guard against.

According to The New Yorker, Biden’s warning in the waning days of his presidency, given on Martin Luther King’s birthday, stands as an unusual occurrence; the speeches given by outgoing presidents rarely venture into the space of sounding an alarm, but Biden’s did.

“I want to warn the country of some things that give me great concern. And this is a dangerous concern. And that’s the dangerous concentration of power in the hands of a very few ultra-wealthy people,” Biden said. “Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.”

It is this current, particularly the back half of Biden’s final sentence, that most animates the protests that occurred ahead of the second inauguration of Trump, his second, more informed opportunity to test the limits of his office, as opposed to respecting its limitations.

Protestors like Jillian Wheat, who traveled to Washington D.C from Ohio, expressed concern that Trump poses a unique threat to American democracy.

“I am angry and frustrated, I’m worried that he is going to dismantle our democracy, “ Wheat told the New York Times.

In San Francisco, the resistance took on a decidedly leftist flavor, perhaps appropriate in the state that was once home to the Black Panther Party, as protestors focused on Palestine, the military-industrial complex, and of course, Trump.

Ramsey Robinson, a member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, told Mission Local that it was the people’s duty to fight for their collective freedoms.

“We come together, like we always do, when there’s a heightened threat of more war, poverty, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia and environmental destruction. We fight back,” Robinson said.

Some who protested, like Jason Capili, noted that the turnout makes him believe that some have checked out, something that raises concern.

“I wish there were more [people]” Capili told the outlet. “I feel like more people are resigned. It’s worrisome because this time we need to get up twice as hard.”

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Protests Not What They Were In 2017

TikTok ban, Trump

TikTok Hosted Party For MAGA Influencers Before Trump’s Inauguration

'There would be no celebration tonight if it weren’t for the commitment of our keyboard warriors,' Alex Bruesewitz, a Trump advisor said.


In case TikTok’s preemptive praise of President-elect Donald Trump on January 18 and 19 didn’t make it clear that the social media platform intended to kiss the ring, the party it hosted on Jan. 19 made its intentions crystal clear.

According to Rolling Stone, TikTok hosted a party at the Sax Restaurant and Lounge in Washington, D.C., hosted by conservative darlings C.J. Pearson and Raquel Debono. The pair played key roles in helping to elect President-elect Donald Trump back into office.

Pearson, a young Black conservative, was responsible for heading the RNC’s youth advisory council and used his massive social media platform to get young influencers to rally support for Trump.

Debono, meanwhile, used her position as the chief marketing officer of Date Right, a conservative dating platform, to host parties in hopes of uniting the “power couple” in conservative circles.

“There would be no celebration tonight if it weren’t for the commitment of our keyboard warriors,” said Trump advisor Alex Bruesewitz. “Each and every one of you played a role in the historic landslide victory, and the president is incredibly grateful…and we’re all going to celebrate soon at the White House.”

TikTok made the alt-right feel right at home, both at the party and on the platform. According to The New York Times, TikTok is willing to capitulate to Trump as long as it’s allowed to function in the United States.

As Anupam Chander, a professor of law and technology at Georgetown University, told the outlet that “TikTok is seeking the president’s favor in these ways because their very existence in this country depends on him.”

According to Fortune, Trump changed his tune on TikTok, which faced a U.S. ban, after his relationship with billionaire and supporter Jeff Yass, who owns a substantial portion of the platform, began to deepen.

Yass’s investment company, Susquehanna International Group, owns a 15% stake in ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company. Yass owns 7 percent, bringing his total company control to 22 percent. He has not indicated that he will increase his ownership share of TikTok to 50%, which Trump has floated as a potential solution to his self-created TikTok problem.

Although there were rumors that TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew would be at the party, he opted not to attend. But he will be at the Jan. 20 inauguration.

According to The Daily Beast, Chew has been trying to win Trump’s favor by appealing to his ego. For example, he posted a video statement to his personal TikTok account after the Supreme Court upheld the TikTok ban earlier in January.

“I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States. This is a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship,” Zi Chew said in part.

RELATED CONTENT: TikTok Back Online In U.S.; App Thanks Trump While Users Express Suspicions

Nelle Diala, Alaska Airlines, flight attendant, twerking,

Flight Attendant Axed From Alaska Airlines After Twerking On Plane

Nelle Diala says her contract with Alaska Airlines was terminated after the twerking video gained traction.


Alaska Airlines has reportedly fired a flight attendant after she posted a video on her twerking while working on the plane.

According to Where Is The Buzz, Nellie Diala posted a TikTok upon her transition into an official employee. In the clip, Diala began to twerk on the empty aircraft during a layover.

“Ghetto bih till I D-I-E, don’t let the uniform fool you,” she captioned the initially celebratory post.

However, commentators did not find her video amusing.

“You don’t respect the uniform, you don’t respect your job then,” wrote one social media user.

As the video made its rounds on TikTok, Alaska Airlines caught wind of what many deemed as inappropriate behavior while on the clock and promptly terminated her newly-established contract.

The former flight attendant posted another video about her firing.

“I never thought a single moment would cost me everything,” Diala said. “Can’t even be yourself anymore, without the world being so sensitive. What’s wrong with a little twerk before work, people act like they never did that before.”

Since her firing, Diala shared a GoFundMe to help alleviate some bills. She has raised over $2800 of her out of her $12,000 goal.

“One day, during a layover, I posted a lighthearted video on my personal social media account,” she wrote. “It was a harmless clip that was recorded at 6 am while waiting 2 hours for pilots. I was also celebrating the end of probation and making it out of a hard upbringing in San Francisco, LIFE-something many people in the industry could relate to. The video went viral overnight, but instead of love and support, it brought unexpected scrutiny. Although it was a poor decision on my behalf I didn’t think it would cost me my dream job.”

In the meantime, Diala still has her side hustles, including a lingerie and dessert business. However, Alaska Airlines has not commented on the matter. Despite this, a debate remains about her behavior and how Black women having fun at work are perceived versus their white counterparts.

RELATED CONTENT: Gen Z’s Mental Health Struggles Create Catch-22 In Employment, UK Study Reveals

neighbor,

Woman Accuses Black Man Of Trespassing At His Own Home, Cries White Tears When Doxxed

The woman then posted multiple videos explaining why she did not believe the Black man lived there.


An Ohio woman was caught on film unjustly questioning a Black man on if he actually lived in their affluent neighborhood.

Mike Jenkins caught the ordeal on his home security camera and posted the now-viral clip, which many deem an act of racial profiling. The video showed the woman, identified as Michelle Bishop, approaching his home after jogging with her children but questioning whether he actually resided there.

Rain Drops Media re-shared the clip.

According to Where is the Buzz, Bishop stopped at the Ohio home after a vehicle slowly moved toward her and her two kids. To find safety, the woman approached Jenkins’ home with her children. When he arrived and told them he owned the home, Bishop did not believe him.

She immediately fled the property, but that was just the start.

She began running and yelling “help” around the neighborhood, as caught on additional security footage. Bishop’s husband then came back to the house to explain her actions, stating that she feared for her life and felt someone was chasing her.

“You scared the crap out of me,” said Bishop, who then apologized for the ordeal.

However, Jenkins and his wife tried to gain a better sense of why the woman reacted that way. She then touched on how she felt scared with her kids as the car seemed to slow down near her.

Bishop continued, “Well, you just have to understand my point-of-view…”

When confronted about why she did not believe that he lived here, she did not directly answer. Instead, Bishop just reiterated her apologies as her husband prompted her to get into the car.

However, the recorded footage now has Bishop backtracking her own steps. In a true “White woman tears” video, she said she did not have any racially motivated reasons for not believing Jenkins.

“I will not apologized for making any sort of racist remark, I am the furthest thing from a racist,” explained Bishop. I will, however, apologize that my expression could ever come across in such a way…”

Bishop said she was prioritizing her children’s safety. She also said multiple aspects of the incident led to her not believing him. She then revealed some childhood trauma in an effort to further explain why she “overreacted.” Moreover, she claims that she could not the color of Jenkins’ skin regardless because it was nighttime. Despite this, she said the tone of his voice seemed not “welcoming or comforting” either.

The woman said she has faced harassment since the videos went viral, leading her to make her social media pages private. Still, she continued to cry out on social media about her experience. However, she emphasized that she was not trying to play the victim.

“I’ll leave this here for you all to decide what you believe.”

Jenkins also shared his experience on Instagram, emphasizing that he was proud of how he handled the matter despite wanting to “lose control” about being profiled.

RELATED CONTENT: Gen Z’s Mental Health Struggles Create Catch-22 In Employment, UK Study Reveals

Bible, Trump, Oklahoma, IVF, education

Trump Reportedly Will Sign At Least 100 Executive Orders On Day 1

Trump’s plans appear to be aimed at testing the limits of the presidency's power.


President-elect Donald Trump told the crowd at his “Victory Rally” at Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena that he planned to signed a raft of executive orders on his first day in office, in keeping with what four sources, including his deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, told news outlets.

According to The Hill, the number of day-one executive orders expected to be signed is at least a few dozen, more than President Joe Biden’s 22, which set a modern record during his first week in office in 2020.

“Somebody said yesterday, ‘Sir, don’t sign so many in one day. Let’s do it over a period of weeks,’” Trump told supporters at a rally on Jan 19 in Washington D.C. “I said, ‘Like hell, we’re going to do it over a period of weeks.’ We’re going to sign them at the beginning.”

According to Jason Miller, a senior advisor in the Trump administration, Trump could potentially sign some executive orders shortly after his swearing-in at the Capitol Rotunda and then sign more at the Capital One Arena later.

According to CNN, it is inevitable that some of the executive orders Trump promised to sign on day one while on the campaign trail will not happen. However, Trump’s plans appear to be aimed at testing the limits of the presidency’s power, which the conservative-packed Supreme Court gave him a free pass to do by ruling that he would have presidential immunity in 2024.

According to one anonymous Trump advisor, “We want to come in and show just how serious we are. Trump is back; it’s go time. Like a shock to the system.”

According to other anonymous sources, the planned executive orders will range from increased ICE personnel on the ground targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal histories, rolling back several Biden-era policies, tightening security at the Southern border, and doubling down on interior enforcement in addition to ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the federal government.

Trump also reportedly told his advisors that he wants to implement tariffs against China, Canada, and Mexico on his first day, which he confirmed via a post on his Truth Social platform. However, according to CNN, his advisors have been plotting how to approach the matter best, and no clear plan has been in place for implementing the policy.

The New York Times reports that Trump is expected to sign close to 100 executive orders within a few hours of assuming the presidency.

According to its report, Trump also plans to release records relating to the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr as part of an effort to restore confidence in government.

RELATED CONTENT: President-Elect Donald Trump’s Possible Day 1 Agenda

Angel Reese, Women’s Sports, Togethxr

Angel Reese Returns To The Court In Unrivaled 3-On-3 Basketball Game

Reese earned a double-double in her return to the hardwood.


WNBA star Angel Reese returned to the court in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league

The 6-foot-3 Chicago Sky forward suited up for the Rose Basketball Club, delighting fans in a 79-73 loss to the Vinyl Basketball Club on Jan. 17.

Despite this, Reese still proved her formidable skills. According to Bleacher Report, she secured a double-double in the game, tallying 10 points and 12 rebounds with 4 assists.

Given the three-on-three format, Reese took the unusual position of point guard. However, the WNBA all-star delivered in the new role. Before injuring her wrist during a rookie season, Reese broke numerous WNBA records, including most consecutive double-doubles.

“Angel Reese is gonna be a menace next W season. This Unrivaled is gonna be so good for her game, you can already see it,” wrote one supporter on X.

Unrivaled just began its inaugural season to provide game time and more pay for women basketball players, who usually have to play overseas to get both. The WNBA season only lasts during the spring and summer when the NBA is either dormant or winding down its season.

The innovative league has secured celebrity investors from NBA great Carmelo Anthony to actors Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis. Tennis champion Coco Gauff also recently invested in the upstart league.

Reese also joined fellow newcomers like Flau’jae Johnson to the Unrivaled Courts.

RELATED CONTENT: Gen Z’s Mental Health Struggles Create Catch-22 In Employment, UK Study Reveals

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