reparations, Atlanta
(Getty Images)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 7, 2025

Metro Atlanta City Approves Reparations Task Force With Apology To Black Residents

The task force will suggest policy recommendations and community healing efforts for its Black residents.

The city of Decatur in Metro Atlanta has unanimously approved the creation of a reparations task force.

According to Fox 5, the Decatur City Commission adopted the resolution on May 5. The 11-member task force will release a report in three years, including policy recommendations to benefit the city’s Black residents.

The news comes a year after city leaders signed off on a contract with the Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights to “uncover the legacy of racial harm” in Decatur. The alliance spearheaded the research work into reparations, holding community gatherings and listening sessions on how racial injustice has financially and systematically hurt these residents.

Their research detailed Decatur’s role in slavery and segregation, as well as redlining and property seizures against the Black community. Decatur also displayed multiple Confederate monuments, particularly one formerly at the DeKalb County Courthouse.

The city not only recognized its oppressive tactics toward its Black residents but also apologized for the actions that have stifled their progress.

“The City of Decatur formally acknowledges its past role in the systemic oppression of people of African descent through enslavement, human trafficking, convict-labor, discriminatory zoning and development, underinvestment in African American communities, school segregation, racially biased policing, the destruction of African American-owned property, businesses, and institutions and the displacement and erasure of the Beacon Hill community, people and culture,” the resolution reads.

The city aims to appoint the 11 members, with the help of the Beacon Hill Black Alliance, within the next 60 days. They will bring a variety of expertise to the task force, with members consisting of historians, legal experts, and youth advocates. For the next three years, the task force will compile records of Black land and property loss, noting economic displacement while also interviewing descendants of those impacted by these oppressive tactics.

City officials added, “The City extends a full and public apology to the Black residents of Decatur—past and present— and their descendants for its role in perpetuating discrimination, oppression, subjugation and the resulting harms, profiting from policies rooted in the system of white supremacy.”

The reparations task force will also propose city-sponsored memorialization projects, economic equity tools, and other investment strategies and communal initiatives to remedy its racist past. The move will follow other communities, even within Metro Atlanta, that have enacted reparation initiatives for Black residents. In Decatur’s neighboring Fulton County, its task force will resume holding meetings this year.

While the plan comes amid the national anti-DEI push sparked by the Trump administration, local leaders remain committed to the same justice efforts launched before Trump took office.

RELATED CONTENT: Metro Atlanta Schools Meet To Reinstate DEI Policies


work meeting, meetings, email, Southern Black Girls, Women's Consortium, dream fund
Photo by Christina Morillo/Pexels
by Nancy E Williams

May 7, 2025

Opinion: Can’t Find A Job You Like? Buying One Is Now An Option To Consider

I first wrote about this topic in BLACK ENTERPRISE almost ten years ago.  With the New York Times reporting that “as of early May 2025, approximately 260,000 federal workers had been fired, taken buyouts, or retired early,” it’s a great time to revisit this topic and provide readers with insights and options available in franchising that can not only replace that job but relieve you of the threat and fear of being laid off ever again. 

Being downsized or laid off puts thousands of people every year at a crossroads, trying to decide what their next steps will be. It feels abnormal not to get up and go to work every day, confident of a regular paycheck, especially if you’ve been in the same career or position for ten or more years.  While it may not feel like it, now is the perfect time to explore your options. That could include looking for another job, but perhaps it’s an opportunity to pursue something you’ve only dreamed about – becoming your own boss!

If buying a franchise seems daunting, try to view things through a different lens. Franchising provides numerous options that allow for the flexibility of working from home, solopreneurship, low start-up investment, and alignment with your skills and experience. Consider buying yourself a job that puts you in a place where you don’t have to report to anyone but are still able to do the work you love, with an entire support organization behind you. And who knows, while building the business, you may discover you have a passion for it, generating enough income to expand, eventually employing others, and becoming an inspiration to those who are at the same crossroads you once were at.

Perhaps you don’t want to continue doing the same thing, but in fact, learn something new, or there’s a different sector you’ve been interested in and afraid to pursue. One of the best parts of franchising is that in many cases, you don’t need additional education or certifications to be successful. The franchise trains and/or certifies you in all aspects of the business.

Here are just five franchise opportunities to consider when buying a job or a new career. To learn about more opportunities, visit NValuable Franchise Consulting, Inc. today and book a free consultation.

1.  STRATUS BUILDING SOLUTIONS

Stratus Building Solutions provides an affordable path into the fast-growing commercial cleaning industry — one that’s proven resilient even in economic downturns. Franchisees are equipped from the start with eco-friendly tools, branded marketing resources, and continuous support to help them scale. With unit growth of 73% over the past three years, the brand shows strong momentum, especially for entrepreneurs looking to start part-time and expand into a full-time venture. 10% discount on franchise fees for all veterans. Initial investment: $4,450 – $79,750.

2. ERA GROUP – EXPENSE REDUCTION ANALYSIS 

Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA) is one of the world’s leading networks for cost, purchase, and supply management. For more than 30 years and across 50+ countries, ERA has been offering individuals the opportunity to build their own businesses and achieve a rewarding work/life balance. Its franchisees save their clients’ money in more than 40 cost categories, including freight, telecommunications, office supplies, fleet management, insurance, and more. Veterans discount provided. Initial Investment: $69,000.

3.  OASIS SENIOR CARE ADVISORS

Using deliberate marketing, proprietary technology, and sincere and genuine compassion, Oasis Senior Care Advisors helps to guide seniors and families in locating the proper senior living communities within their budget, geographic area, and according to their physical and mental health needs. Veterans discount provided. Initial Investment: $40,000.

4.  CRESTCOM INTERNATIONAL

For more than 35 years, Crestcom International franchisees have trained business people across the globe in the areas of management and leadership. Today, Crestcom has grown to become one of the training industry’s most successful and widely used management and leadership programs, and it’s among Fortune magazine’s “Top 100 Companies.” Businesses turn to Crestcom to help transform managers into leaders and generate real business results. Crestcom’s training program accommodates companies of all sizes — from small to mid-sized businesses, to global multi-national organizations. Financial assistance and a Veterans discount are provided. Initial Investment: $75,000.

5.  DRYER VENT WIZARD INTERNATIONAL

Dryer Vent Wizard is a scalable home-based, home service franchise providing installation, repair, and cleaning products and services for dryer vents, bathroom vents, kitchen vents, appliances, exhaust vents, air movement systems, and washing machine filters and hoses to enhance the performance and safety of clothes dryers and other household appliances to residential and commercial customers. Ranked in the Top 10 Best Franchise Brands with an investment between $0 and $150,000 by Forbes magazine. Financial assistance is provided, as well as discounts for veterans, minorities, and women. Initial Investment: $30,000.

RELATED CONTENT: Report: America Sees an Uptick in People Quitting Their Jobs

South Carolina State University, Limestone University, football
Attitude2000, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 7, 2025

South Carolina State University Lands 2 Football Players From Shuttered School

Shon Brown and Jackson Chavis, who both played at Limestone University, will now be doing so for South Carolina State

With Limestone University recently closing due to financial struggles, the South Carolina State University football team was able to gain two players for the upcoming season.

According to HBCU Gameday, Shon Brown and Jackson Chavis, who both played on the defensive line at Limestone University, will now be doing so for South Carolina State. They will line up on the field for second-year football coach Chennis Berry.

Both defensive players took to their social media accounts to announce their move to the Southern school.

Brown will enter the next season with impressive stats from his time at Limestone. During the past season, he made 42 tackles, 6.5 for loss, 1.5 sacks, and seven quarterback hurries.

Chavis played two sports, football and wrestling, while attending Hartsville High School in Gaffney, South Carolina. As he enters his first year at South Carolina State, he comes in with an impressive resume. During his time at Hartsville, Gaffney was an all-conference offensive tackle and defensive end. He also received the Pee Dee Offensive Lineman of the Year award and won two state championships in wrestling.

The additions of both players will make the school more formidable than it is now. The Bulldogs had a winning record of 9-3 overall while going undefeated (5-0) in conference play in the MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). The team brought home the MEAC title and earned a Celebration Bowl berth in the 2024 season.

In February, the school had seven players and six coaches represent South Carolina State at the 2025 All-State HBCU Legacy Bowl at Tulane’s Yalman Stadium in New Orleans.

RELATED CONTENT: Beyond The Stage: 8 Influential Haitians And Haitian-Americans Shaping The World

work life balance
photo credit: pexels
by Kandiss Edwards

May 7, 2025

Skims Cofounder Says ‘Work-life Balance Is Your Problem’

Skims cofounder, Emma Grede, believes success often requires working hard beyond standard hours, including weekends.

Emma Grede, cofounder of Skims and Good American, sparked controversy with her recent remarks on work-life balance. 

Grede suggests it’s a personal responsibility rather than an employer’s obligation. The businesswoman oversees the billion-dollar Skims clothing wear company with her husband, Jens Grede, and socialite, Kim Kardashian. She stressed that individual employees hold the responsibility of managing their own lives.

“Work-life balance is your problem, not the employer’s responsibility,” Grede stated. 

She also indicated that bringing up the topic during a job interview is a red flag. The mother of four emphasized that achieving an “extraordinary life” often requires working hard beyond standard hours, including weekends. 

“When somebody talks to me about their work-life balance in an interview process, I’m like, ‘something is wrong with you,’” Grede said.

She acknowledged that her companies offer daily flexibility for personal appointments. Yet, she expects consistent dedication from her team.

Workplace psychologist Katina Sawyer contends that framing work-life balance as solely an individual’s concern allows employers to sidestep their role in preventing burnout. 

“It allows employers to ignore the role their expectations play in employee burnout and to shift the blame onto individuals when performance suffers,” Sawyer told Business Insider.

Critics argue that Grede’s stance overlooks systemic challenges, particularly for women. Historically, women disproportionately shoulder caregiving responsibilities. A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that women spend more time on housework and childcare than men, even in households where both partners work full-time.

According to the report, wives spend an average of 9.4 hours per week on caregiving activities, compared to 4.4 hours for husbands. In terms of housework, wives dedicate approximately 7.3 hours weekly, while husbands contribute about 1.4 hours. These disparities remain evident even in marriages where both spouses earn similar incomes.

These findings underscore the ongoing challenges in achieving equality in home labor and career development.

RELATED CONTENT: Stress Of Caregiving Linked To Hypertension In Younger Black Women, New Study Finds

Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Met Gala, fashion
(Photo: James Devaney/GC Images)
by Kandiss Edwards

May 7, 2025

Black Style Sells: The Met Gala Rakes In Record-Breaking Donations

The Met Gala centered Black style and raised the largest amount of money ever.

The 2025 Met Gala achieved a historic milestone. The event raised an unprecedented $31 million for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. This milestone marks the highest fundraising total in the event’s 77-year history, surpassing the previous record of $26 million set in 2024.

Vanity Fair reported that the Met’s director and chief executive officer, Max Hollein, made the announcement during a preview event.

Titled Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, the gala cost $75,000 for individual tickets, and tables for the event started at $350,000. All funds will support the Costume Institute’s exhibitions, acquisitions, and operations. 

Co-chaired by LeBron James, A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton, Pharrell Williams, and Colman Domingo, the event drew a diverse group of celebrities and cultural figures. 

https://twitter.com/the_metgala/status/1919500813950455889

Honorary chair of the gala, LeBron James, was absent from the event due to an injury sustained during the Lakers’ playoff run. In his place, his wife, Savannah James, represented him. The businesswoman stepped onto the scene wearing a dress designed by Hanifa founder and CEO Anifa Mvuemba.

A notable attendee showed up in support of the Met’s Costume Institute. Former Vice President Kamala Harris made her first Met Gala debut. Harris wore a black and white silk gown created by Off-White designer and Creative Director IB Kamara. 

The gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrated Black fashion’s rich history and influence, focusing on Black dandyism and menswear. This year’s exhibition was co-curated by Andrew Bolton and Monica Miller. It is the first in over two decades to center on menswear, specifically Black menswear. It features three centuries-old garments, highlighting figures such as Toussaint Louverture, Frederick Douglass, and Virgil Abloh. 

Crafted by artist Torkwase Dyson, the exhibition’s design employs sculptural platforms to present fashion in a dynamic vertical layout and offer a fresh take on the displayed pieces. The success of the 2025 Met Gala underscores the event’s significance as a cultural and philanthropic cornerstone.

RELATED CONTENT: André 3000 Drops Latest Instrumental Album Moments After Met Gala Appearance

Georgia High Schooler, College Scholarships, Graduation, honorary doctorate speaker
(Photo: Zinkevych/Getty Images)
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 7, 2025

Headed To School? These College Degrees Offer The Best Starting Pay

It's not just what you study, it's the sector you choose to work in

As going to college keeps rising in cost, getting a degree with the most bang for your buck is essential.

Today’s college graduates are looking into the “wage premium” for their degrees before their student loans officially hit. Instead of solely focusing on their passions, students are looking into the potential salaries. A survey by Indeed found many degreed employees already look at their diplomas as a “waste.”

According to a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, median early career wages vastly differ depending on if one studies the humanities or STEM subjects. Inc. also confirmed foreign languages, social sciences, and arts degree-holders can expect to make around $40,000 annually. Those who studied engineering and computer science can make about double.

Those pursuing less profitable careers should not expect a large pay raise in due time. Education and social services majors should anticipate an average salary increase of $8,000 to $12,000 as they reach the mid-level.

On the other hand, many engineers will make it into the six-figure range after some years of work. As they enter their middle-career range, employees who had starting salaries of $70,000 to $80,000 can expect to make nearly $50,000 more by the mid-level point.

“Majors providing technical training—that is, quantitative and analytical skills—earn the highest return, including engineering, math and computers, and business and economics,” said the authors of a New York Fed report.

Not all who studied anything other than STEM subjects are doomed to low wages. Picking where one chooses to work can make all the difference, no matter the degree. Overall, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York maintains that a college education is typically a sound move for young adults.

“After rising significantly in the 1980s and early 1990s, the return (on) college (tuition) has held between 12 and 13 percent for the past three decades and was 12.5 percent in 2024—easily exceeding the threshold for a sound investment,” the report said.

It should be noted that the report did not take identity into account and how it plays a role in one’s earnings. Given the pay discrepancies between race and gender, it is important for employees of color, especially Black ones, to consider these systemic issues when choosing their career paths.

RELATED CONTENT: Talladega College, Alabama’s Oldest HBCU, Names New President

Jay-Z
Jay-Z at Game 2 of the 2022 NBA Finals (Photo: Mercedes Oliver/NBAE via Getty Images)
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 7, 2025

Jay-Z Amends Lawsuit Against Tony Buzbee, Claims He Lost $200M Due To Sexual Assault Accusation

Jay-Z claims he was denied a $55 million personal credit line while Roc Nation was passed over for a $115 million loan

Jay-Z has amended his lawsuit against Jane Doe and her attorney Tony Buzbee, adding that he has lost nearly $200 million after he was accused of being an accomplice with Sean “Diddy” Combs in an alleged 2000 sexual assault.

According to Complex, famed court reporter Meghann Cuniff posted the latest legal paperwork. Buzbee voluntarily dismissed Doe’s suit in February; in March, Jay-Z’s attorneys filed the original defamation suit.

The rapper claims he has “lost other contracts in the sports and entertainment space that would have generated revenues of, at least, $20 million,” which would have cost “many millions of dollars” more if the lawsuit didn’t exist. Jay-Z claims he was denied a $55 million personal credit line while his Roc Nation company was passed over for a $115 million loan due to the lawsuit.

“We have agreements to produce entertainment programs for certain sporting events,” stated the lawsuit. “After Mr. Buzbee filed the lawsuit, the media reported that other businesses could end their deals with Roc Nation, and forced one to speak out and address whether these false allegations would end our business relationship.”

Billboard reported that in the amended complaint, Jay-Z’s attorneys claim that Buzbee “directed his employees” to make changes to Jay-Z’s Wikipedia page to make the attorney look good while trying to damage the rapper’s name and his company’s reputation.

“Users with an IP address directly linked to the Buzbee Firm made over 100 positive edits to Buzbee’s Wikipedia page,” according to the updated complaint.

RELATED CONTENT: Jay-Z’s Team Roc Sues Kansas City For Public Records On Police Misconduct

SPARTAN AERONAUTICAL AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE, DR. CAMEISHA CLARK, CALIFORNIA, ATLANTA, CAU Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/building-in-city-against-sky-256490/
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 7, 2025

Beloved HBCU Alumna And College Dean Gunned Down On California Campus, Community Mourns Loss

Dr. Clark was also a vocal advocate against gun violence.

The HBCU and academic community mourn the loss of Dr. Cameisha Clark, the newly established dean of Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology.

Clark was fatally shot on May 2 while working at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Inglewood, California. According to Fox 5, the educator recently accepted a promotion to Dean of Student Affairs.

Prior to her appointment, the educator graduated from Clark Atlanta University. She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the Georgia HBCU, where she became an invaluable member of its community.

Clark was known as a fighter for education, who tragically fought for her life following the shooting. According to Inglewood Police, a former Spartan security guard, identified as Jesse Figueroa, returned to campus in security clothes. He allegedly shot Dr. Clark and her assistant in a “targeted, execution style” shooting.

The suspect swiftly took off after gunning down both women. Police found Figueroa later and took him into custody. Inglewood’s mayor thanked investigators and law enforcement from multiple departments for their help in detaining the suspect.

“We give great kudos to the Inglewood Police Department, our investigators, and the LAPD officers who were vigilant, took the vehicle description, and took him into custody,” Mayor James Butts said.

Butts also considers the shooting as premeditated, with the suspect targeting the two women.

“This was not a random act of violence,” the mayor added.

Following the shooting, Dr. Clark and the second victim, also a woman, were transported to a nearby hospital. However, after three days of fighting, the college dean died from the injuries sustained from the gunshot wounds. Her assistant remains in treatment.

Clark was also a vocal advocate against gun violence, establishing a nonprofit in Atlanta called C Squared to help reduce the use of firearms. Clark, a former CAU cheerleader and employee, was also a Alpha Pi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc member.

The school’s College of Education even spotlighted Clark’s achievements as an alumnus on its Instagram. The post emphasized her dedication to improving education for all, especially at HBCUs.

RELATED CONTENT: Honey Beez Heartbreak: Boyfriend Charged With Capital Murder In Slaying Of Alabama State University Dancer

jon jones, MAGA, Trump, UFC, champ
(Photo: Gage Skidmore/flickr)
by Sharelle B. McNair

May 7, 2025

Trump Uses Time With Canadian Prime Minister To Take Shots At Barack Obama’s Presidential Center

Trump claims the 19-acre project is "millions of dollars, like many, many — I mean, really, millions of dollars over budget."

CBS News reports that during an Oval Office meeting with Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Donald Trump mocked former President Barack Obama’s new Presidential Center in Chicago, blaming “woke” construction workers.

The discussion targeted the growing tariff war and mending the relationship between the neighboring countries, with Carney telling Trump to his face that Canada is “not for sale” and “won’t be for sale, ever.” Then, during the meeting, Trump pivoted to attack the presidential center being built in the Windy City’s Jackson Park, claiming construction delays due to DEI and “woke” construction workers. “I mean, look, President Obama — and if he wanted help, I’d give him help because I build on time and on budget — he’s building his presidential library in Chicago. It’s a disaster,” the 47th President said. 

“And he said something to the effect, ‘I only want DEI, I only want woke.’ He wants woke people to build it. Well, he got woke people, and they have massive cost overruns; the job is stopped. I don’t know, it’s a disaster.”

The accusations come from the project’s emphasis on hiring local and minority-owned companies. According to USA Today, the Obama Foundation announced that approximately 35% of subcontractors would be minority-owned businesses, 15% women-owned, and 9% local to the Chicago area before breaking ground.

Trump claims the 19-acre project is “millions of dollars, like many, many — I mean, really, millions of dollars over budget,” and described the project ran into problems because the former president “wanted to be very politically correct and he didn’t use good, hard, tough, mean construction workers that I love.”

“He wanted people that, like, never did it before, and he’s got a disaster on his hands,” the indicted President said.

However, the claims are false according to images on social media and a spokesperson from the Foundation, who said Trump may be referring to “a relatively common dispute between two subcontractors over work that has already been completed.”

The organization says all is well with the project and looks forward to everyone experiencing it. “Everyone who sees the Obama Presidential Center is blown away by its beauty, scale, and the way it will be an economic engine for Chicago and a beacon of hope for the world,” the statement read. 

“We look forward to welcoming all visitors to the 19.3-acre campus next spring, to experience a presidential center that not only honors the Obamas’ legacy but also lifts up the next generation of leaders.”

https://twitter.com/ObamaFoundation/status/1919848916167610707

Plans for the Presidential Center include a forum for local and international gatherings, a community athletic center, a walking trail, a great lawn, a sledding hill, and a playground. While the project was initially scheduled to open in 2021, officials announced plans to open it in 2026. 

Supporters of the privately funded project push it as a boost to economic development. The project aims to revitalize the historic public park on Chicago’s South Side and generate $3 billion in economic activity.

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