by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 5, 2026

Shanice Talks ‘Dream Come True’ Of Playing Michelle Obama In ’44’ The Musical

Shanice has played Mrs. Obama since the show's debut in 2022.

Shanice is entering her own renaissance era with new stages and singles on her horizon.

The 90s singer known for her hit track “I Love Your Smile” has delighted fans with her starring role in 44 the musical. She’s put her five-octave vocal range to good use in the play, allowing her long-time singing prowess to shine in this new arena. The opportunity to star as Michelle Obama in the satirical musical by Eli Bauman has Shanice back in the spotlight.

The musical, which had runs in Chicago, Los Angeles, and off-Broadway, has garnered positive reviews within the theater scene. The show reflects on the former President’s two-terms in office from a light-hearted perspective, allowing audiences to reminisce on the historic milestone. The musical’s song selection also allows Shanice to show off her R&B background and future.

The singer spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Director of Multiplatform Content, Selena Hill, on what it means take on this role in today’s political climate, while also charting her new course in music.

Since its debut in November 2022, Shanice has taken on the role of First Lady Michelle Obama, staying on throughout its entire production history. She touched on how it shocked audiences with its dynamic storytelling, bringing light amid a dark time.

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A post shared by shanice (@shaniceonline)

“It’s hilarious. When I tell you, I think people don’t realize how funny it is. When you hear of a story about Barack Obama, you think it’s going to be all serious. But when I tell you, if you want to get out and laugh and have a good time. 44 is the place to be,” she told BE.

The Grammy nominee continued,” And I know I have a lot of people tell me after the show, you know, I just felt so heavy coming into this beforehand, because what I’m seeing on social media and the news, it’s a lot of heaviness going on in the world. And when you come to our show, you’re gonna feel like just joy.”

She called the opportunity to play Mrs. Obama a “dream come true,” allowing herself to recognize the similarities as women in the spotlight. Married to actor Flex Washington for 25 years, Shanice feels deeply connected to Obama as a fellow public figure and Black woman, albeit in different realms.

However, Shanice is still hip on what’s going on in the evolving music industry. Although she got her rise in a different era, the 52-year-old misses the old ways, but appreciates how social media can deepen the fan-artist relationship.

“I think there’s a lot of great talent out right now. I love social media because we get to connect like, directly. The thing that I miss is people having to go to the record store to buy the CDs, read the credits and look at the artwork . . . Now people are just downloading things, you know, online. But I do love media, and we have Instagram and Facebook and YouTube and all that, because I can connect with my fans, like on a personal level. And back in the 90s, we couldn’t do that.”

Being a 90s R&B star has its perks, and Shanice notes that AI could disrupt many emerging music careers today.

She continued, “I’m so thankful that I got to experience the industry in the 90s, and I got to release my music in the 90s . . . I feel like the AI is gonna stop a lot of people from working, like the producers and the writers. It’s kind of unfair, but I know that’s where everything is going.”

While cautious about the state of the industry from politics to entertainment, Shanice still aims to do what she has done best for decades, performing for her fans. With a Christmas movie already streaming on BET Plus, as well as a holiday single titled “Love At Christmas Time,” Shanice continues to make her mark in this new era of the arts.

Sean Combs, ‘Reckoning’ Doc, Abuse Claims, Slap Story, Janice Combs,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 5, 2026

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Takes $61.5 Million LA Mansion Off The Market

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has taken his $61.5 million Beverly Hills mansion off the market while he remains in prison.

As Sean “Diddy” Combs serves a 50-month federal sentence on prostitution-related charges, the embattled music mogul has reportedly taken his $61.5 million Los Angeles mansion off the market.

Property records show the sprawling Beverly Hills estate was taken off the market on Dec. 24, just two months after Combs received a four-year sentence for transporting individuals for prostitution, Realtor.com reports. The mansion is the same property tied to allegations of Combs’ alleged “freak off” parties, which made it a focus of a 2024 Homeland Security raid as part of a sex-trafficking investigation.

The 17,000-square-foot estate sits inside the ultra-exclusive, gated enclave of Holmby Hills, with A-list neighbors reportedly including Kylie Jenner and Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez. Built in 1933, the residence features 10 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, and luxury amenities, including a 35-seat theater, library, wine cellar, gym, and indoor sauna.

The original listing made no mention of its scandal-filled ties to Combs or reports that investigators previously searched the property and allegedly recovered weapons, sex toys, drugs, and dozens of bottles of baby oil. The home first hit the market in September 2024, just days before Combs was arrested in New York on sex-trafficking, racketeering, and prostitution-related charges.

He moved to sell the estate, purchased for $39 million in 2014, after Homeland Security agents raided the property in March 2024 as part of their investigation, along with his $48 million Miami residence. There were reports that the raids caused “significant property damage” to the home.

After a highly publicized 2025 trial, Combs was acquitted of the most serious charges but still received a 50-month prison sentence after being convicted on two prostitution-related counts. He was also ordered to pay a $500,000 fine.

Real estate insiders note that, if the mansion ultimately remains off the market, it could be rented as a high-end ‘trophy property,’ with similar estates fetching up to $20,000 per night on Airbnb. Still, experts say the $61.5 million listing may be tough to move given the home’s controversial ties to the case.

“[He] could be asking too much,” said Justin Paperny, a crisis manager for White Collar Advice. “People might not want the affiliation to him.”

gender, breasts, Buffalo Wild Wings,bathroom, Gerika Mudra

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 5, 2026

Wings With A Side Of Hate: Black Couple Describes Trauma After Racist Slur Found On Buffalo Wild Wings Receipt

While Inspire Brands, where BBW operates under, says the company believed in diversity, some actions from locations suggest otherwise.

Marc Loman, a disabled veteran, says he was instantly reminded of his deep south upbringing after a racial slur was printed on his receipt after dining at a Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) in Woodbridge, Virginia, in November 2024, The Independent reported.

Loman and his wife, Natasha, who are Black, have filed a $5 million lawsuit in Prince William County Circuit Court against the food chain after claiming the receipt referred to the couple as “nigs,” an abbreviation for the n-word instead of their name. Loman says the experience reopened “deep emotional wounds,” as the ordeal reminded him of the “pervasive, brutalizing, and degrading racism” he dealt with during his upbringing.

The couple is accusing the popular chain of inflicting intentional emotional distress after they claim they placed an order, ate, and packed up leftovers to go. When they asked for the check, the Lomans noticed the racial slur printed on both the bag and the order receipt.

Mrs. Loman spoke about the ordeal in a TikTok video, saying the server never asked for their name and showed the receipt with the word “nigs” printed on it. “It’s 2024. This lady has lost her mind,” Natasha, who goes by the handle @mrsbonafide on the app.

@mrsbonafide
#Foryoupage #Foryou #TikTok #Viral #fyp #blackgirl #locs #racialprofiling #racism #shaderoom @The Shade Room @Buffalo Wild Wings
♬ original sound – 2cents

As Loman mentions in the lawsuit, missing work and going to counseling after the incident, the complaint argues the employee who entered the slur into the system “knew, or should have known, that referring to the Lomans by a shortened version of a well-known racial slur was likely to result in emotional distress.”

Their argument is supported by claims that after reporting the issue of hate speech to corporate, a BBW vice president allegedly called the couple and admitted that the employee “intentionally placed the racial slur on their order,” resulting in the employee being fired.

While Inspire Brands, which owns BBW, said it believes in diversity, some actions from its locations suggest otherwise.

This isn’t the first time the company, founded in 1982 and known for “21 mouth-watering signature sauces and seasonings,” has been under fire for racist antics. In 2019, a Black family was told to move after a white man allegedly complained to an employee that he didn’t want Black people sitting near him, giving them “dirty” looks.

According to NBC News, a manager approached Justin and Mary Vahl and instructed them to switch tables at an Illinois location while they were celebrating one of their children’s birthdays. After the couple refused and instead took their business elsewhere, the manager and another employee were terminated, and the bigoted customer was banned after exhibiting “inappropriate behavior” at all Buffalo Wild Wings sports bars for life.”

Millennial Black Women, Beauty Standards, Study

by Jeffrey McKinney

January 5, 2026

From Layoffs To Leverage: How Black Women Are Navigating The New Economic Frontier

Developing a short-term financial game plan and using AI are among tools unemployed Black women can apply to help bounce back from dire job cutbacks.

Black women — reportedly more so than any other U.S. working group — have been devastated by joblessness.

Financial instability, less income, and reduced living standards are some of the meltdowns for those women. Beyond the economic collapse, fear, self-doubt, and the abrupt effect of job loss are other traumas that Black women continue to carry.

DEI expert Mary-Frances Winters shared why Black women being dismissed is a systemic shock with broad ramifications, impacting households and communities.

“This adversity is significant because job loss for Black women — particularly single mothers and primary breadwinners — threatens far more than professional identity. It can immediately destabilize housing, healthcare, childcare, and family wellbeing, often without sufficient financial or social safety nets.”

However, the silver lining is that there are many moves Black women can apply to help overcome the dilemma. Those shifts are needed, given the dismal trend in the 2025 labor market. For instance, the number of Black workless women rose from 598K to 796K between January and November, according to an analysis of the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Creative Investment Research.

That means their joblessness surged by a robust 198,000 in under a year. Their unemployment rate peaked at 7.5% in September and only fell to 7.1% in November. Conversely, the overall U.S. unemployment rate, including all racial groups, remained relatively unchanged, rising from 4.4% to 4.6% during that time. The October jobs report was halted due to the federal government shutdown.

William Michael Cunningham, an economist and owner of Creative Investment Research, told BLACK ENTERPRISE, “These data make clear that rising unemployment among Black women is not the result of labor force withdrawal, but of job losses and weak hiring in sectors where Black women are heavily concentrated.”

Many of those job losses for Black women have purportedly come from cutbacks in the federal government, DEI downsizing, and discharges in professional services, education, and healthcare.

Contrarily, Alicia Lyttle, CEO of the consultancy firm AI InnoVision, says unemployed Black women can use AI to help them recover financially. She maintains that AI literacy is now the most in-demand skill in the job market.

Based on LinkedIn’s workforce data, she argues that understanding how to work with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot is now essential across industries. “Employers increasingly expect candidates to come in already AI-literate, and those who are not are often viewed as less competitive.”

For workless Black women, she says learning AI is one of the fastest ways to become employed and boost earning potential. “There are many free AI certifications available, including those offered by Google, and adding these credentials to a résumé immediately increases value. People with AI skills tend to earn higher salaries because they are more productive and efficient.”

Budget-wise, Lyttle says apps and other tools AI provides can help them manage money, monitor expenses, and help them pay bills and build savings. That includes an emergency fund to help them survive if they don’t already have one.

Further, AI can identify unnecessary expenses and wasted money. It can suggest cost-cutting strategies, recommend ways to redirect savings toward an emergency fund, and help prioritize bills. “Because AI evaluates finances without emotion or bias, it often highlights financial gaps and opportunities people may overlook.”

Winters and her daughter, Mareisha Winters Reese, co-authored the second edition of BLACK FATIGUE. It dives into the lingering impact of systemic racism on Black health and shows ways to counter its effects. It will be published in June 2026. Mary-Frances is the founder/CEO of The Winters Group, and Mareisha is the firm’s president and chief operating officer.

They reflected on how policies by the Trump administration, including the weaponization of DEI and mass government layoffs, have worsened matters for Black women.

Despite that, they offered some quick strategies to help Black women cope with the massive layoffs. One way is to develop a short-term financial game plan that includes reviewing what your employer owes you and immediately applying for unemployment benefits. They advise checking your state’s rules, as some states have a waiting period before unemployment benefits can begin. Also, get a clear picture of your immediate cash flow and prioritize essential bills.

Other tips Winters and Reese offered to Black women:

Pause before making any major decisions. Clarity comes after your mind and body settle, so you should take an intentional restorative pause, which could be a 72-hour reset with movement, hydration, and sleep.

Turn setback into strategy. Reframe the layoff as an opportunity to architect a new path that honors your well-being and aspirations. When you feel positioned to begin mapping out a strategy, consider short-term income-producing options such as consulting, freelancing, temporary contract roles, or other gig work. Consider your ideal profession or job and ask yourself what you would love to do even if you are not paid.

Create a healing ecosystem. Join affinity groups for Black women in similar situations, connect with faith communities, participate in healing circles, and engage with sisterhood cohorts. Lean on kinship networks, not just professional networks. Be mindful that “Isolation accelerates Black fatigue; community disrupts it.”

Additionally, Lyttle explained AI tools can help identify side hustles, flexible or remote work opportunities, and pathways into higher-paying roles. Entrepreneurially, she says AI can assist women with business ideas, pricing strategies, marketing plans, and scaling revenue.

Her firm plans to host a free summit this month that will teach Black women how to start or scale a business using AI.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 5, 2026

How Michael Jordan And Dennis Rodman Overcame A ‘Bad Boy’ Rivalry To Build A Bulls Dynasty

While playing with the Detroit Pistons, Rodman was one of the reasons Jordan couldn't get the Bulls past them

In a 1995 interview, NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan discussed his relationship with former nemesis-turned-teammate Dennis Rodman and why he never anticipated becoming friends with him, even though they played on the same Chicago Bulls team that won several championships.

The Basketball Network recalled a conversation Jordan had with the Los Angeles Times, in which he said he did not know what to expect from Rodman as a teammate rather than an adversary. When Rodman was winning NBA championships with the Detroit Pistons, the team known as “The Bad Boys” won two championships (1989 and 1990) with a style reminiscent of neighborhood players who used bullying tactics to overcome their opponents.

As Jordan and the Bulls were starting to become a force in the NBA, the Pistons always knocked them back, infuriating Jordan because they never could beat the league’s bullies. The Pistons, particularly Rodman, brought “The Jordan Rules,” a simple plan to harass and bully Jordan whenever he touched the ball. It worked. So, welcoming a man who was more aggressive than the average NBA player into the fold was extremely risky.

Rodman was known around the league and to NBA fans as an uncontrollable player, yet he was a rebounding machine and always found ways to get in his opponents’ heads during and even before games. So, when Rodman joined the Bulls, he was still unsure how they would mesh, especially since Jordan was usually the target of Rodman’s harassment.

“I didn’t really know his attitude, if his desire to win would be strong enough to accept the system that we have here,” he stated in the Los Angeles Times article. “He’s still got a lot to learn about the system, but his enthusiasm, his work ethic — it’s not surprising, but it’s welcome.”

By the time Rodman became a Chicago Bull, he had already won two NBA championships and two Defensive Player of the Year trophies. He also led the league in rebounds for four straight years and had amassed six NBA All-Defensive First Team selections. Jordan stated that they had talked when he joined the team, but not about their past interactions; he also knew that Rodman could help the team win the championship.

“I mean, we’ve talked, but in terms of just sit down and iron things out? Nah. I don’t know if that’s going to happen,” Jordan said. “I mean, I think we respect each other as professionals. So we may not know each other from a personal standpoint. . . . I don’t think either one of us wants to make that approach.”

The chemistry, along with the other components of the team, worked as they won the championship in Rodman’s first season with the Bulls, also breaking a record (since surpassed by the Golden State Warriors) by winning 72 games.

Jordan said they got along once they got to know each other, and he ended up genuinely liking Rodman.

“Frankly, they’re more about basketball than anything else because that’s the one area of common ground we share,” Jordan said. “But he has opened up a lot to me during the season, which I didn’t necessarily expect, and I do like him.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

January 5, 2026

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Signs ‘Rental Ripoff’ Order For All 5 Boroughs In Fight Against Shady Landlords

The rising costs of rent and the livelihood of renters has been a big concern for the former assemblyman and now youngest and first Muslim mayor to ever serve the Big Apple.

Just days after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn in, he is keeping his campaign promises of fighting back against “unconscionable” business practices by NYC landlords by ordering “rental ripoff” hearings, CBS News reports.

In one of his first executive orders, Mamdani has assigned the new Office of Mass Engagement and other city agencies to hold hearings within his first 100 days in office, during which residents will be able to testify about their biggest rifts with landlords and the challenges they face as renters. On X, Mamdani says the days of New Yorkers getting ripped off are over.“ Too many New Yorkers are getting ripped off—paying obscene rents for apartments that fail basic health and safety standards. When tenants speak up, landlords threaten eviction,” he said on the social media platform.

“That ends now. Today we launched a citywide crackdown on rental ripoffs, like landlord neglect and outrageous fees.”

Too many New Yorkers are getting ripped off—paying obscene rents for apartments that fail basic health and safety standards. When tenants speak up, landlords threaten eviction.

That ends now. Today we launched a citywide crackdown on rental ripoffs, like landlord neglect and…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 4, 2026

The rising costs of rent and the livelihood of renters have been a major concern for the former assemblyman and now the Big Apple’s youngest and first Muslim mayor. However, Mamdani has openly spoken out about working with both renters and landlords, as he knows they face significant pressures. During an October 2025 television appearance, he called out former mayors who used their powers to hike rent prices, which has caused friction between the parties — and pushed people out. “I believe that tenants across our city deserve relief and I also believe that city government can work to alleviate those pressures for landlords of those units without having to put that burden on those same tenants,” Mamdani said.

“It’s possible to keep New Yorkers in this city and to help landlords with rising insurance costs, water bills, Con Edison, and a broken property tax system,” said Mamdani.

City Hall can help landlords deal with the rising cost of insurance, utilities and a broken property tax system.

But we will not pad their profits by crushing tenants in rent-stabilized homes. We will freeze the rent. pic.twitter.com/MIDcV9FavW
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) October 22, 2025

Hearings will take place in all five city boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. The person leading the hearings will be Dina Levy, who Mamdani named as the head of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), according to La Voce di New York. He described Levy as a “true force” whose housing advocacy has resulted in organizing tenants facing eviction and giving them access to an HPD loan of $5.6 million to help buy out their landlord — and replace them with one more responsible.

Prior to signing the executive order, Mayor Mamdani spent a few hours after being sworn in inspecting rundown apartment buildings and talking with tenants. In one building, he was seen picking up broken floor tiles and reviewing rusty pipes and sketchy bathtubs.

Mamdani inspected a slumlord’s apartment:

pic.twitter.com/ESn15jT6SL
— Spencer Hakimian (@SpencerHakimian) January 3, 2026

When he asked the tenant if she had spoken to her landlord about the issues and what the response was, the woman said, “No one wants to do anything about this.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 5, 2026

Laila Edwards Will Be The 1st Black Woman To Play Ice Hockey For Team USA In Winter Olympics

'It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true.'

Laila Edwards will make history as the first Black woman to play for Team USA’s Women’s Ice Hockey Team at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy from Feb. 6-22.

According to Olympics.com, Edwards, who is currently a senior at the University of Wisconsin, has made the 23-player roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. Team USA announced the roster on NBC on Friday, Jan. 2.

https://twitter.com/ImFromCle/status/2007586741360963601

The 21-year-old was named along with Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, Britta Curl-Salemme, Joy Dunne, Aerin Frankel, Rory Guilday, Caroline Harvey, Taylor Heise, Tessa Janecke, Megan Keller, Ava McNaughton, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Gwyneth Philips, Hayley Scamurra, Kirsten Simms, Lee Stecklein, Haley Winn, and Grace Zumwinkle.

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“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true,” Edwards expressed to the Associated Press. “Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go to the Olympics for sure.”

When she was 20, she was the youngest American to win the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the women’s hockey world championships, helping the USA win its 11th title last April. She became the first Black woman to play for the US women’s hockey team at 19 and the first to win the IIHF Women’s World Championship (the International Ice Hockey Federation, the governing body of international ice hockey).

A GoFundMe has been started to help bring Edwards’ family to Italy to witness history in the making.

“Laila Edwards is going to the Olympics! On New Year’s Eve, Laila received the call that was the culmination of a dream. Our daughter/sister is headed to Milan Cortina to compete with the US Women’s Hockey Team in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games this February!”

Alicia Johnson Sworn In As 1st Black Woman To Serve In Georgia’s Public Service Commission

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 5, 2026

Alicia Johnson Sworn In As 1st Black Woman To Serve In Georgia’s Public Service Commission

Johnson is also paving the way for Black women politicians to win big in Georgia.

Alicia Johnson has officially made history as the first Black woman to serve in Georgia’s Public Service Commission.

Johnson participated in a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony Dec. 29 at the commission chambers in Atlanta. However, she officially assumed the role at the start of the new year.

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A post shared by Alicia Johnson (@alicia4georgia)

She not only makes history for the Public Service Commission, but for Black women leaders in Georgia politics. With her appointment, she has become the first Black woman elected to a statewide post that isn’t a judgeship.

Johnson is well aware of her heightened responsibility in this position. She hopes not only to serve Georgians but also represent the power and impact of Black women in leadership.

“I think that anybody who does something for the first time has a — you know it could be an overwhelming sense of responsibility,” Johnson told reporters, according to ABC News. “It’s a shame that a commission that has over a 100-year history, that I’m the first anything on it. But the reality is, that’s who we are.”

As the Public Service Commissioner for District 2, Johnson will regulate the rates charged by Georgia Power Co. However, the races themselves for the Georgia PSC proved successful for the state’s Democrats in general.

Winning alongside fellow nominee Peter Hubbard, the two PSC hopefuls flipped two seats in the statewide office, beating out two incumbent Republicans. As Georgians became fed up with rising electricity bills, the insertion of two Democrats into the once all-Republican office has paved the way for left-leaning policies to take shape.

However, Johnson and Hubbard remain in the minority of the five-person commission. The rest of its elected officials identify as Republican leaders. Despite this, Johnson aims to uphold her district’s interests within the PSC. As a commissioner, she will help authorize and oversee essential services in Georgia.

Johnson added, “I accept this responsibility fully aware that the decisions made in this room and in this role affects families’ monthly bills, their community health, their economic opportunity and our shared future.”

Johnson’s new appointment involves setting fair utility rates while maintaining quality. However, she also sets a new standard for Georgia. Her successful run and new appointment prove that Black women can win statewide roles in Georgia, a growing pattern that may continue into the midterms.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 5, 2026

Jordan Brand Readies Release Of Air Jordan 12 Retro ‘Bucks’

These sneakers are patterned after the ones former Milwaukee Bucks/Boston Celtics legend, Ray Allen, wore when they debuted 30 years ago

The throwback sneaker game remains popular, as one of the sneakers Ray Allen wore during his basketball career, the Air Jordan 12 Retro “Bucks,” is returning 30 years after its debut.

According to Anthlon Sports, the expected release date for the “Bucks” is Sept. 19, 2026, at a price of $205. Allen, who was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks when he was drafted into the NBA in 1996, signed with Jordan Brand the following year and was hand-picked by Michael Jordan, along with Derek Anderson, Vin Baker, Michael Finley, and Eddie Jones, as the first wave of players endorsed by the brand.

The sneaker is expected to be released in the Bucks’ green-and-white color scheme.

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A post shared by Raba Kali (@rabakali773)

When the shoe is released, it can be purchased from Nike SNKRS and select Jordan Brand retailers like Foot Locker, Finish Line, Hibbett, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

This news comes on the heels of Nike announcing that another popular sneaker, the Nike Air Force 1, will release a special edition celebrating Atlanta hip-hop group OutKast. The sneaker also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the release of their second album, ATLiens. According to Sneaker Files, the shoe is aptly named The Nike Air Force 1 ATLiens, and although no official date has been announced, it is expected to be released in Fall 2026. ATLiens was released Aug. 27, 1996. The two-times platinum album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 chart while scoring No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in 1996.

Sneaker Files reported that the sneaker will have a black, vivid purple, deep night white, barely volt, and desert bronze color scheme. The colorway would match the vibrant colors shown on the ATLiens album cover. The media outlet also noted that it’s not an “official collaboration” with OutKast members Big Boi and André 3000, but rather a tribute release.

by Black Enterprise

January 5, 2026

What To Do When Your Job Is Restructuring In 2026

Here’s how to move smartly — not fearfully — through this season

Dear Fairygodmentor®,

My company recently announced that 2026 is a “rebuild year.” They’re reorganizing teams, cutting budgets, freezing promotions — and everyone’s walking on eggshells. I’m worried about job security and not sure how to stand out without overworking. How do I protect my career during a transition like this?
— Rebuild Season Nervous

Dear Nervous,

When a company says they’re entering a “rebuild year,” it often feels like code for:
“We’re changing things…and your role may or may not make it. May the odds be ever in your favor!”

And for Black professionals — especially those who’ve already had to navigate glass cliffs, limited advancement, and constant proving of ourselves — uncertainty hits differently.

But here’s the good news:
A rebuild year doesn’t have to be a threat. It can actually be a strategic window for you to reinforce, reintroduce, and re-energize your professional value.

Here’s how to move smartly — not fearfully — through this season:

1. Get Crystal Clear on the New Priorities

Don’t guess what leadership wants — Show Your Ask!
Try questions like:

• “What does success look like this quarter?”

• “What are the biggest challenges we’re rebuilding to address?”

• “Would you like to hear a few ideas I have for our team’s success?

Alignment is your first layer of protection. And I say this often, but leaders don’t just seek problems, they create solutions. That last bullet item is a way for you to shine a light on your ability to strategize and stay visible. Show your value. I’ll get into more of this in a bit.

When you know the mission, you can position yourself as essential to it.

2. Make Your Value Visible — Not Just Valuable

Don’t fall for that old adage “If you work hard – your hard work will speak for itself.” It doesn’t. As I say in my book, Show Your Ask, “It’s one thing to know your value, it’s another thing to show it.”

During rebuild years, visibility is currency.

Share your wins. Document your results. Send periodic updates on progress.

I’m going to keep saying this over and over again, it’s not bragging — it’s branding.

When leaders know your impact, they’re more likely to preserve your seat when the org chart shifts.

3. Strengthen Key Relationships

Rebuild seasons rely on collaboration, trust, and reputation. Communication breaks down and self-preservation builds up. This is the time to:

• reconnect with partners

• build alliances

• volunteer for visibility-building projects (not burnout builders)

• nurture relationships with decision-makers

You want people mentioning your name in rooms you’ll never enter, saying, “We need them.”

4. Be Ready and Stay Ready

Update your resume and LinkedIn profile regularly. Not because you’re leaving immediately — but because you should always have options.

An updated resume is emotional insurance.

It reminds you:
You are employable.
You are talented.
You are not trapped.

Options build confidence. Confidence shapes performance.

5. Pay Attention to Whether This Rebuild Includes You

Sometimes companies rebuild around you.
Other times…they’re making decisions that shrink your role, erase responsibilities, or redirect influence.

Be aware of the following:

• decreasing authority

• vague feedback (this is a big one, push for specifics!)

• removed responsibilities

• unclear future plans for your team

If you’re seeing this happen to you, it may be time to prepare for your own rebuild — one that centers your growth, not the company’s survival.

Nervous, the economy may be unpredictable, but your career strategy doesn’t have to be. A rebuild year is not just the company’s moment to reorganize.
It’s your opportunity to reinforce your value, expand your visibility, and ensure that whatever happens — you remain in control of your professional story.

You’re not powerless. You’re preparing.

With strategy and confidence,
Your Fairygodmentor®

About Joyel Crawford:

Joyel Crawford, fairygodmentor, contributor — (Photo: Kirten White Photography/BE)

Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that empowers results-driven leaders through coaching, training, and facilitation. She’s the best-selling author of Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career.

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