Toni Gilliard, founder and CEO of Resort Beverage Co., a Black woman-founded and NMSDC-certified company, recently announced the launch of its debut line of all-natural, agave-sweetened margarita mixers. Engineered for modern inclusivity, Resort Mixers provide a premium, dual-purpose base for crafting bar-quality cocktails and sophisticated mocktails in seconds—perfectly aligning with the values of connection, celebration, and conscious consumption central to culture and family gatherings.
In a beverage market where options have often felt limiting, Resort Mixers arrive as a versatile solution. They empower hosts to effortlessly cater to every guest’s preference, whether they’re enjoying a spirited margarita or a zero-proof sip, ensuring no one settles for a subpar drink. The launch directly serves the growing “sober curious” movement and the desire for elevated, convenient home entertainment—trends strongly embraced within the Black community.
“Our mission is to make every gathering feel inclusive and elevated,” says Gilliard. “Growing up, the heart of our home was the kitchen and the dining table, where everyone was welcome. We’re crafting Resort to be that same symbol of hospitality—a premium, accessible tool that puts a delicious, craft-culture drink in everyone’s hand, without compromise. It’s about flavor, freedom, and bringing people together.”
Product Highlights & Key Features
• Dual-Purpose Excellence: Each bottle is a complete base for a perfect cocktail (just add your spirit) or a ready-to-drink, non-alcoholic mocktail. One solution for all your guests.
• All-Natural, Real Ingredients: Made with real fruit and natural agave nectar. Contains no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners.
• Founder-Led & Certified: The company is proudly woman-founded, NMSDC-certified, and a Certified South Carolina product.
• Three Signature Flavors: The line features three top-selling varieties: Strawberry, Pineapple, and Classic Lime.
Availability & Launch Promotion:
Resort Mixers are available for direct purchase nationwide through the brand’s online Shopify store. For a limited time, new customers can use code WELCOME10 for 10% off their first order.
About Resort Beverage Co. is on a mission to democratize the bar-quality drink. Founded by Toni Gilliard, a former attorney and CPG entrepreneur, the company creates premium, versatile beverage mixers that bridge the gap between the cocktail and mocktail experience. Focused on clean ingredients, inclusive design, and strategic partnerships, RESORT is building a modern brand for the mindful social era.
Women Of Power Summit 2026: Be There Or Be Square, My Dear
The summit will honor heavy hitters like Angela Basset and Bozoma Saint John.
For 20 years, the Women of Power summit has nurtured rising professionals, business owners, C-suite executives, and all Black women in between. This year is no different. As always, the summit seeks to foster growth and build connections for Black women worldwide. The 2026 Women of Power Summit will honor heavy hitters like Angela Bassett and Bozoma Saint John, train the next generation in AI technology with internationally certified AI consultant Bethanie Nonami, and provide experts to help women tap into physical wellness. Missing out is not advised. For those who are on the fence and wondering what’s in store for this year’s summit, see only a few of the planned sessions for the three-day event below.
March 11
Legacy Awards Gala
Women of Power is starting on a high note, honoring women who have paved the way for others to follow. Each honoree has a decades-long track record of excellence in their respective field. Angela Bassett, Emmy winner and Honorary Oscar recipient; Carla Harris, senior client advisor Morgan Stanley; Rosalind “Roz” Brewer, interim president of Spelman College; Bennie Wiley, director on the Boards of the BNY Mellon Mutual Funds and CBIZ; and Shellye Archambeau, Fortune 500 board member will all receive their flowers.
March 12
Passport to Power: Women Who Took Their Careers Abroad
America, for many, is becoming intolerable, and the employment landscape is thinning, especially for Black women. Over 300,000 Black women have been eliminated from the workforce, according to Fortune. Still, there is a silver lining. If you’re interested in moving on to greener pastures, the “Passport to Power” session will lean into the stories of women who went abroad to find work and success. Join the session to explore how executives navigate work across continents and cultures as part of their leadership trajectory.
Speakers include Adrienne Hughes, managing director at Bank of America; Kenya Bulluck, vice president of human resources at TE Connectivity; and Julia Rock, founder and CEO of Rock Career Development. Jessica Smith, chief people officer at Hays, moderates the panel.
Iyanla Vanzant is a successful businesswoman, motivational speaker, and television personality. For over 20 years Vanzant has built the playbook for remaining centered while standing on business. As a featured speaker at the 2026 Summit, she will reveal how she has survived as a public figure in a highly demanding career and stayed in alignment.
Luminary Awards Luncheon
The luncheon recognizes Luminary honorees across industries. Honorees listed on the official agenda include Angela Rye of IMPACT Strategies; Jotaka Eaddy, founder of Win With Black Women and CEO of Full Circle Strategies; Shelly Cayette-Weston, president of business operations for the Charlotte Hornets/Hornets Sports & Entertainment; and Sandra Morgan, president of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Multicultural: Navigating Identity at Work
The session overview states that the discussion will explore how professionals bring different backgrounds and beliefs into the workplace environment. There is strength in collaboration and diversity. Dive deeper into the tips, tricks, and strategies used to maintain a personal identity while building within a corporate setting.
Conversations That Count: From One Queen to Another — The Power of Mentorship
Bozoma Saint John, a successful C-suite executive who’s used her talents in high-level positions at Netflix and Uber, talks about mentor and mentee relationships. The transfer of knowledge is a powerful tool for success. Saint John is giving insight into how personal and professional growth can be born through the gift of mentorship.
Sound Bath & Wellness Workshop: The Power of Rest
Amanda Littlejohn, executive coach and author of The Rest Revolution, is gearing up to teach the women of power about rest. Deep focus and commitment to climbing the career ladder are admirable. However, the mind and body can only put out so much before it has nothing left to give. Learn how to reset your temple to help keep your mental and physical faculties in prime shape.
The Women of Power Summit is definitely about its business. However, the goal of the event is to connect Black women across the diaspora. Event organizers will supply tools to help attendees return to their careers empowered and stronger than before. However, all work and no play makes for a dull gathering. The final night of the summit, attendees will gather for a night filled with joy, drinks, music, and, as always, networking.
The 2026 Women of Power Summit seeks to honor Black legacy, current luminaries, and build real-world skills as well as mental fortitude. Attendees will be rejuvenated and poured into, prepared to navigate the technological advancements of the future that will shape the corporate world for years to come, and more. The BLACK ENTERPRISE Women of Power Summit takes place March 11-15 at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Vegas. For those interested in attending, click here.
Cincinnati Weighs $5M Housing Reparations Plan To Address Decades Of Discriminatory Policies
Cincinnati lawmakers are exploring housing reparations to address decades of discriminatory policies that prevented many Black residents from owning property.
By Robert Hill
Cincinnati lawmakers are exploring housing reparations to address decades of discriminatory policies that prevented many Black residents from owning property.
Cincinnati officials are expected to examine a newly proposed program, the Cincinnati Real Property Reparations Program, in March. The proposal, introduced Feb. 19, aims to help Black residents within 15 of Cincinnati’s 52 neighborhoods become eligible for financial assistance when obtaining property.
Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney and Councilman Scotty Johnson are working together to introduce the legislation before Cincinnati’s all-Democratic City Council. If established, the program would require the city to invest an initial $5 million, using proceeds from the recreational marijuana tax and funds from the city’s capital budget.
The goal of the program is meant to repair years of damage caused by past racial- and income-based discriminatory policies that stop Black families from building generational wealth. Benefits from this program include assistance for down payments, delinquent property taxes, and emergency repairs.
Kearney and Johnson’s motion does not outline specific eligibility requirements but calls for city officials to provide evidence of how funds are distributed. The program is not race-based but focuses on those in low-income communities who have been impacted by discriminatory policies.
“Let’s repair some of the damage done to low-income communities that kept the residents from owning homes and other real estate and prevented building of generational wealth,” Kearney said toThe Enquirer.
Kearney and Johnson provided evidence of historic policies in Cincinnati that restricted where Black residents could live, including the 1920s Cincinnati Real Estate Board rule that prohibited people of color from selling and renting homes in white and suburban neighborhoods.
They also noted redlining practices that made it difficult for Black people to obtain home loans.
Those supporting Kearney and Johnson, including the Cincinnati chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), encourage others to focus on the goal rather than the word “reparations.”
“I think people get confused and caught up with the word ‘reparation,’” Whitehead said to the outlet. “It’s restoring people that have been unfairly treated.”
Although the motion does not list specific neighborhoods, it focuses on residents in the “Rising 15 neighborhoods,” which are based on median income and are predominantly Black or have large Black populations.
The motion is set to appear before the council on Mar. 4.
Cause Of Death For Lil Jon’s Son, Nathan Smith, Confirmed As Accidental Drowning
According to the medical examiner, Smith died from 'drowning in the setting of psilocybin use,' with the manner of death ruled an accident.
The cause of death for Nathan Smith, the 27-year-old son of rapper Lil Jon, has been officially confirmed as accidental drowning in Georgia. According to the Fulton County Medical Examiner, Smith died from “drowning in the setting of psilocybin use,” with the manner of death ruled an accident.
Smith, who performed under the name DJ Young Slade, was found dead on Feb. 6 after being reported missing three days earlier. Authorities had initially issued a missing persons alert on Feb. 3, stating that he left his Milton, Georgia, home “under unusual circumstances.” Police noted at the time that he may have been disoriented and in need of assistance.
After an extensive search, crews expanded their efforts to include a nearby retention pond in Mayfield Park. Divers with the Cherokee County Fire Department recovered a body from the pond. The individual was later identified as Smith. Police said there was no indication of foul play, though the investigation remained ongoing pending autopsy results.
The medical examiner’s report revealed that Smith’s blood tested positive for psilocybin, a hallucinogenic compound found in certain mushrooms, People reports. The report also confirmed his body was recovered from a retention pond and noted signs consistent with water immersion.
According to police, he had left home on foot without his phone. Family and friends feared something was wrong, The Independent reports.
Following confirmation of his death, Lil Jon, born Jonathan Smith, released a heartfelt statement mourning the loss of his only son. “I am extremely heartbroken for the tragic loss of our son, Nathan Smith. His mother and I are devastated,” the rapper said. He described Nathan as “the kindest human being you would ever meet” and “an amazingly talented young man; a music producer, an artist and engineer, and graduate of NYU.”
MLB Legend Don Baylor Gets Hometown Tribute As Austin Renames Park
His son, Don Baylor Jr., will unveil a marker at the newly christened Don Baylor Park, formerly known as Westenfield Neighborhood Park.
By Robert Hill
MLB legend Don Baylor gets his due as Austin, Texas, renames a local park to celebrate his legacy and highlight the city’s Black history.
A ceremony will take place in Austin on Feb. 28 to honor Baylor, who died in 2017. The city and his son, Don Baylor Jr., will unveil a marker at the newly christened Don Baylor Park, formerly known as Westenfield Neighborhood Park. The ceremony honors Baylor and reflects Austin’s commitment to celebrating local Black history while recognizing a hometown hero.
Don Baylor was an Austin native who grew up in Clarksville, a neighborhood near the park. He is being honored at the same park where he was once barred from playing due to the color of his skin.
As reported by KVUE News, “Baylor, an Austin native who grew up in the nearby Clarksville neighborhood, was once barred from playing at the park during the Jim Crow era, despite living just blocks away.”
Despite early obstacles, Baylor was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles, becoming one of the first high school players from Texas to be drafted. He played for teams such as the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, and Minnesota Twins.
His career spanned 19 seasons, and during that time, he earned the American League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in 1979. Baylor was also a World Series champion and was later named Manager of the Year.
“I think it would be a full-circle moment for him. It would probably be one of his biggest achievements,” Baylor Jr. said of the park naming, as reported by KVUE News. “In addition to winning MVP, Manager of the Year, this would be right up there.”
Beyond his baseball career, Baylor was known for his advocacy for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and for his faith and generosity.
Southern University To Honor Caleb Wilson With Posthumous Degree One Year After Tragic Hazing Death
Wilson died due to a hazing incident.
By Robert Hill
Southern University announced that late student Caleb Wilson will be awarded his bachelor’s degree posthumously during the 2026 Spring Commencement.
After the one-year anniversary of 20-year-old engineering major Wilson’s death, Southern University remains dedicated to honoring the junior by presenting him with his bachelor’s degree. He passed away on Feb. 27, 2025, due to a tragic hazing incident that left loved ones mourning while continuing to honor his life.
“This spring, when Caleb would have walked across the stage in the F.G. Clark Activity Center with the Class of 2026, the University will bestow upon him a posthumous degree,” the university shared in a statement, reports TheGriot. “We hope that this tribute reflects our enduring respect for his commitment, his accomplishments, and the legacy he leaves within the Southern University family.”
Wilson died while pledging Southern University’s Beta Sigma chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Wilson’s death was ruled a homicide after autopsy results revealed that he went into shock and later died due to commotio cordis, which causes an abnormal heart rhythm or cardiac arrest.
Wilson was reportedly punched four times in the chest by fraternity member Caleb McCray before collapsing and arriving at Baton Rouge General Hospital. Since the incident, the university expelled the fraternity, and the family has filed lawsuits against the chapter, the national organization, and the five individuals involved.
In December 2025, an East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted five people in the alleged hazing death of Wilson, WAFB reports. District Attorney Hillar Moore said the investigation remains ongoing, citing phone data and other evidence still being reviewed. McCray was indicted for manslaughter and felony hazing. Kyle Thurman and Isaiah Smith face charges including felony hazing, manslaughter, and obstruction. Winston Sanders and Jaydn Landrum were also indicted.
Teyana Taylor Is Taking It As A ‘TIME Woman Of The Year’
Teyana Taylor is one of the16 honorees recognized for influence across culture, entertainment and other fields.
Teyana Taylor, the multi-talented performer and creative force in music, film, and choreography, has been named one of Time magazine’s Women of the Year for 2026, and she also received her first Academy Award nomination.
Taylor appears on the cover of Time’s Women of the Year issue, one of 16 honorees recognized for their influence across culture, entertainment, and other fields. In an interview with Time, Taylor said the recognition was meaningful because it affirmed her creative evolution. When Taylor made the decision to retire from her music career, she did not feel affirmed by those around her. However, she had a greater vision for her life and went full speed ahead.
“Everybody told me it was dumb,” she says. “And I was like, ‘No, I am going to be a great actress. One day, I am going to be a great director.’”
In addition to the Time honor, Taylor earned her first Academy Award nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category for her portrayal of Perfidia Beverly Hills in the drama-thriller One Battle After Another.
Taylor spoke about her Academy Award nod on Good Morning America, describing her emotions. In her straightforward and humorous fashion, she expressed joy.
“Oh, my God, my stomach is in my booty. It’s that feeling you can’t even describe,” she said. “No matter the outcome, I am blessed. I’m just filled with so much gratitude to be a part of this moment.”
Taylor, born and raised in Harlem, has built a diverse career spanning music, dance, film, and directing. She won a Golden Globe Award earlier this awards season for her work in One Battle After Another. Additionally, after her 2025 return to music, she earned a Grammy nomination for her R&B album Escape Room.
Taylor is winning and walking in purpose and does not regret any roadblocks on her path forward. She is a resolute woman, sure about her space in the world. An attitude more than befitting for a Time Woman Of The Year.
“I love when it’s hard—that means it’s of purpose,” Taylor says. “I want everything that is supposed to be mine. And I’m going to work my ass off to make sure that I see that.”
The Tale Of Prince Will Be Passed Down In ‘Prince: A Little Golden Book’
In creating the biography, Shannon Smith said she made choices in describing Prince’s life that balanced accuracy with age-appropriate language for young readers.
A children’s biography of music icon Prince was just released to carry the Purple One’s legacy to the next generation.
Written by author Nikki Shannon Smith and illustrated by Don Tate, Prince: A Little Golden Book was produced for young readers. The 24-page children’s biography was published in January 2026 as part of the Little Golden Book Biographies series. It tells the life story of Prince Rogers Nelson from his childhood in Minneapolis to his rise as a generational artist.
Shannon Smith, a longtime Prince fan and retired elementary school teacher, said she worked for about two years to condense the musician’s life and career into a format suitable for children ages 4-8. Released by Penguin House, the story of Prince’s life was gleaned from listening to his albums and viewing video and television appearances, the Star Tribune reported. In its official description Prince: A Little Golden Book is described as a celebration of “fearless self-expression.”
“Prince was born with an extraordinary gift. It was the gift of music, and he would soon share it with the world. Read the inspiring story of a true musical genius—from his childhood in Minneapolis to creating timeless hits like “Purple Rain” and “1999.” This biography celebrates Prince’s boundary-breaking artistry, his fearless self-expression, and his enduring influence on music, fashion, and culture.”
Illustrator Don Tate recreated and reimagined the life and iconic moments of the Icon in the style of classic fairytales.
Shannon Smith and Tate will appear in the Twin Cities on Friday, Feb. 27, at the Ramsey County Library in Roseville and at Black Garnet Books in St. Paul. Events include story time, a drawing demonstration, and discussion aimed at encouraging children to pursue their interests.
In creating the biography, Shannon Smith said she made choices in describing Prince’s life that balanced accuracy with age-appropriate language for young readers. Her intent was to make sure young readers understood the message of Prince’s life: following your passion can lead to greatness.
“Hopefully, they’ll come away thinking: ‘I can do one of my favorite things when I grow up. I can be great at something,” she told Star Tribune.
Other notable stars have been a part of the Golden Book series, including Lady Gaga, Elton John, The Beatles, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé. Only the second Black person to grace the list, Prince is a fitting addition. His contribution to rock, R&B, and pop music is immeasurable and will hopefully endure for decades to come.
Minding Our Own Business: How W.E.B. Du Bois Reframed Black American Identity Through The Diaspora
When Dr. W.E.B. William Edward Burghardt) Du Bois boarded a plane for Ghana in 1961 at the age of 93, he wasn’t just changing his address; he was completing a psychological revolution for the Black American mind.
By renouncing his U.S. citizenship and claiming his place as a Ghanaian citizen, the titan of sociology fundamentally reframed the “race problem” from a domestic grievance into a global struggle for sovereign identity.
Invited by President Kwame Nkrumah to lead the Encyclopedia Africana, Du Bois’s move was the ultimate manifestation of his lifelong mission: to teach Black Americans that their horizon did not end at the Atlantic coast. After decades of FBI harassment and state-sanctioned persecution, his “return” to Africa was a defiant signal that Black dignity was not something to be begged for in Washington, but something to be reclaimed in Accra.
For much of his career, Du Bois famously wrote of the “double consciousness”—the sense of always looking at oneself through the eyes of a world that looks on in amused contempt. His final years in Ghana were an effort to heal this split. He influenced Black American thought by suggesting that the cure for this dual identity was a reconnection with the African continent.
“I believe in Liberty for all men; the space to stretch their arms and their souls; the right to breathe and the right to vote…”
By positioning himself as a “returning ancestor” rather than an American expatriate, he gave the Diaspora a new vocabulary. He shifted the focus from being “minorities” in a hostile land to being part of a global majority. This shift in perspective paved the way for the “Year of Return” and the modern repatriation movements, teaching Black Americans that their heritage was a source of power, not a history of shame.
Du Bois’s influence on the Diaspora was built on three uncompromising pillars that reshaped how Black intellectuals viewed their place in the world:
Radical Democracy Beyond Borders: Du Bois argued that true democracy was impossible as long as it was shackled by the “color line.” According to research from UMass Amherst, he taught that Black Americans must look toward African liberation movements to see what true self-determination looked like.
Education for Liberation: He moved the needle on Black education, insisting it should focus on freeing the mind rather than training for labor. He believed an educated Diaspora was the only force capable of dismantling global white supremacy.
The Right to Agitate: Du Bois never allowed the Diaspora to settle for “gradual” progress. He famously noted: “Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.”
The Encyclopedia Africana: Reclaiming the Narrative
His work on the Encyclopedia Africana was perhaps his most potent gift to Black American thought. By documenting the scientific and cultural contributions of Africa, he provided the Diaspora with an intellectual shield against the “Dark Continent” myths. He understood that for Black Americans to value themselves truly, they had to see their history through an undiluted African gaze.
He envisioned a realm of intellectual sovereignty that transcended the limits of Western academia:
“A realm of true freedom: in thought and dream, fantasy and imagination… freedom of soul to do and be, and freedom of thought to give to a world and build into it, all wealth of inborn individuality.”
Du Bois’s presence in Accra exerted a gravitational pull on the Black radical tradition, shifting the center of gravity away from the American South and toward the Gulf of Guinea. He forced a generation of thinkers—from Maya Angelou to Malcolm X—to reckon with the fact that the Black American struggle was merely one theater in a much larger, global war against colonialism. This wasn’t just about civil rights; it was about human rights on a planetary scale.
His later writings from Ghana challenged the burgeoning Civil Rights Movement to avoid the trap of “patriotic provincialism.” He feared that if Black Americans only fought for the right to integrate into a burning house, they would lose their connection to the rising tide of African independence. By choosing Ghana, he taught the Diaspora that their greatest leverage lay in international solidarity. He argued that as long as Africa was shackled, Black people everywhere would remain fundamentally insecure.
Beyond the politics, Du Bois provided a spiritual blueprint for the modern “Blaxit” movement. He demonstrated that a change in geography could cure the fatigue of living under the American gaze. For the Black American professional today, Du Bois is the patron saint of the “soft life” paired with a hard purpose. He showed that one could find peace in the ancestral home while still doing the most rigorous work of one’s life.
His home in Accra became a laboratory for a new type of Black existence—one where the burden of “proving” one’s humanity was replaced by the simple act of being. This legacy is felt every time a Black American touches down at Kotoka International Airport. They aren’t just tourists; they are following a trail blazed by a 93-year-old man who decided that his soul was too large to be contained by a country that refused to see him.
Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, on February 23, 1868, Du Bois evolved from a brilliant New England scholar into the preeminent architect of the American civil rights movement.
As a co-founder of the NAACP and the first African American to earn a Harvard doctorate, Du Bois spent his career dismantling the “color line”—the systemic “veil” he first sensed during a largely happy childhood. From his early sociological landmark, The Philadelphia Negro (1899), to his definitive Black Reconstruction (1935), he relentlessly mapped the Black experience through a rigorous academic lens.
Du Bois’s death on August 27, 1963—just hours before the March on Washington—was the final bridge. While 250,000 people gathered in D.C. to demand civil rights, the man who had laid the intellectual groundwork for that moment was being honored as a state hero in Ghana.
This timing solidified his legacy: he reminded Black Americans that while they fought for the right to sit at a lunch counter in Alabama, they were also heirs to a vast, continental legacy.
Today, the W.E.B. Du Bois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture in Accra is indeed a tomb, but also a spiritual compass. It stands as proof that the ultimate form of resistance is the courage to find a home where you are celebrated, ensuring that the journey of the Diaspora is forever a cycle of return rather than a history of displacement.
Michael Jackson Biopic Taps ‘Human Jukebox’ ‘Sonic Boom’ And ‘Marching 100’ To Honor His Legacy
The HBCU bands' recruitment is tied to the promotional campaign for the new biographical film 'MICHAEL.'
Florida A&M University’s Marching “100”, Southern University’s “Human Jukebox”, and Jackson State’s “Sonic Boom” paid homage to music icon Michael Jackson with on-field performances.
The recruitment of HBCU bands is tied to the promotional campaign for the new biographical film “MICHAEL.” Celebrations of Jackson’s influence have always echoed loudly across HBCU communities, including past tributes by Southern University bands. The Marching “100” performed a rendition of Jackson’s hit “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” as part of the “MICHAEL” X HBCU Marching Bands Initiative.
Florida A&M President Marva B. Johnson said the tribute reflects a “shared tradition of excellence” and Jackson’s transformative impact on music, Black culture, and popular culture alike. The Marching 100 is not new to celebrating the King of Pop. Over the years, the band has created routines for its solo hits, including “Heal the World,” “The Jackson 5’s Never Can Say Goodbye,” and “I’ll Be There.”
Celebrating legacy, artistry, and culture: Florida A&M University’s The Marching “100."
Jackson State, no stranger to HBCU excellence, has also been a longtime supporter of Jackson’s life and legacy. After the King of Pop’s passing, the band put on a full-scale tribute to honor his legacy. In addition to its tribute, the Sonic Boom of the South has performed compositions of “Dirty Diana,” “I Can’t Help It,” and “P.Y.T.” Jackson has been gone for slightly under two decades, but the dedication of bands like The Sonic Boom continues to make sure his soulful, funky, and enduring legacy lives on.
Celebrating legacy, artistry, and culture: Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South.
Southern University’s famed band, the Human Jukebox, has a long history of celebrating Michael Jackson’s repertoire in its shows. Past performances by the band have included staged tributes to Jackson classics. The band has performed arrangements of “Liberian Girl,” “Thriller,” and “Blood on the Dance Floor” that honor the late artist’s catalogue and prominence in collegiate marching band format. Videos of past and present reflect the deep connection between Jackson’s legacy and HBCU band culture.
Celebrating legacy, artistry, and culture: Southern University’s Human Jukebox.
The Human Jukebox, the official marching band of Southern University and A&M College, has drawn acclaim for its showmanship and dynamic performances, and its Jackson tributes have been part of home game celebrations and the famed Battle of the Bands at the Bayou Classic. These nods to Jackson’s catalogue have helped keep Jackson’s legacy and artistry alive for generations to come.
Lionsgate’s digital marketing team said the tribute’s connection to Jackson’s legacy “continues to resonate with HBCU communities,” where music, movement, and rhythm are central to cultural expression. Tapping the baddest bands in the land was a no-brainer.
