• Sports

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 28, 2025

Bethune-Cookman University Named Recipient Of NBA Foundation’s 14th Grant Round

The multi-million dollar grant is a part of a broader initiative from the NBA Foundation, which set aside money for numerous nonprofit organizations in league markets.

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Bethune-Cookman University’s (B-CU) Black Male College Explorers Program was named as a recipient of the NBA Foundation’s 14th grant round to help prepare young Black men for college and the world beyond, BLACK ENTERPRISE has learned.

The program is one of several to receive part of the $16.3 million fund that goes to dozens of nonprofit organizations across the country. Participants in the 30-plus-year program are provided with services and resources, including individualized tutoring plans, one-on-one mentoring, and extensive opportunities for college and career exploration. 

B-CU’s Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dr. Sherry Paramore said the funding is vastly important.

“This generous investment of $300,000 from the NBA Foundation enables us to expand our influence and support young Black men as they begin to carve out their futures,” Paramore said. “Together, we are not merely altering individual life trajectories but also fostering the development of stronger, more resilient communities through education, empowerment, and access to meaningful opportunities.”

Started in 1993, the Black Male College Explorers Program was established to give mentorship and guidance to local youths in grades 6 through 12. With a focus on empowering minority male youth throughout the Sunshine State, the program cultivates academic excellence, ensures high school graduation, facilitates access to post-secondary education, and promotes long-term success, both personally and professionally. 

The program’s mission aligns with the NBA Foundation. In 2020, the league’s Board of Governors pledged $300 million over 10 years to support Black communities, according to Lauren Sills, the foundation’s head of operations.

Sills, who has worked on other HBCU-focused initiatives, including the NBA HBCU Fellowship, told Ebony that the work being done comes “at a time when resources are becoming more scarce, especially for those who need it most,” the Spelman College alumna said. 

“Our organization is living up to the commitment, and we’re going forward in this direction.”

Working with Bethune-Cookman highlights the group’s commitment to social responsibility and its vision to create impactful change in underserved communities.

RELATED CONTENT: Rest In Power: Alexis Herman, First Black Labor Secretary, Dies At 76

Anthony Anderson and Cedric The Entertainer are taking their “Kings of BBQ” brand to Arby’s with the launch of two new barbecue sandwiches for premium meat lovers.

On April 24, the fast food giant announced its collaboration with Anderson and Cedric’s food-focused lifestyle brand AC Barbeque, QSR Magazine reports. As part of the partnership, Arby’s will introduce two new sandwiches, the Quarter Pound Pulled Pork and Brisket BBQ Sandwiches, featuring Cedric’s Sweet Bussin’ Brown Sugar Sauce and Anthony’s Spicy Chipotle Smoke Sauce.

The sandwiches give Anderson and Cedric a chance to introduce consumers to the bold flavors behind their growing AC Barbeque brand, which prides itself on elevating any grilling experience. As part of the Arby’s partnership, AC Barbeque’s signature sauces will the top meats, including a 13-hour hickory-smoked brisket and a 6-hour hickory-smoked pulled pork.

“AC BBQ is a labor of love,” Anthony Anderson and Cedric The Entertainer said in a statement. “We put so much time and energy into this product; we wanted to partner with Arby’s so that people across the country could feel like they are meeting us as they take a bite of their sandwich. We want these sandwiches to convey the joy, fun, and feel-good experience that barbeque brings, all while enjoying a great-tasting, quality sandwich.”

The partnership is the latest of Anderson and Cedric’s barbecue ventures after the two famed comedians teamed up for the hit food and travel series Kings of BBQ. Cedric’s Sweet Bussin’ Brown Sugar Sauce boasts a rich, sweet, and tangy BBQ sauce flavor. The Original Kings of Comedy star crafted the sauce with slow-cooked brown sugar to deliver a deep malt and caramel flavor to pair with Arby’s new sandwiches.

Anderson’s Spicy Chipotle Smoke Sauce features chipotle peppers to deliver a smoky, spicy kick that perfectly complements Arby’s slow-smoked meats.

“At Arby’s, we’re always looking to elevate our guests’ experience with quality ingredients,” said Jeff Baker, chief marketing officer at Arby’s. “We combined our mastery in meats with Anthony and Cedric’s expertise in sauce to create barbecue sandwiches that are dripping with the kind of quality you’d expect from a BBQ pitmaster. These are the real deal – no shortcuts, just pure, smoked meat perfection.”

Arby’s new Quarter Pound Pulled Pork and Brisket BBQ Sandwiches, featuring Cedric’s Sweet Bussin’ Brown Sugar Sauce and Anthony’s Spicy Chipotle Smoke Sauce, will be available at participating locations nationwide starting April 28. Price start at $5.99.

RELATED CONTENT: Teeing Off with Anthony Anderson

• Sports

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 28, 2025

College Tennis Coaches Who Were HBCU Teammates Make History In Legendary Match

The HBCU alum took their talents to coaching positions at the Division 1 schools.

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As Minnesota and Indiana’s women’s tennis teams prepped for their 33rd match against one another, their Black coaches did so with history in the making.

The colleges’ respective coaches, Lois Arterberry and Gabrielle Moore, were once teammates at Southern University. The duo even worked to bring two championships to the Louisiana HBCU.

“I was a junior when she came in,” said Arterberry of Moore to MSR. “So we had the opportunity of playing two years together and winning two championships.”

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A post shared by Minnesota W Tennis (@gopherwtennis)

Their HBCU-grown talents led them to coaching positions at the Division 1 schools. On April 11, they faced one another as competitors for the first time. They have also made history by becoming the first Black women to lead each university’s teams.

“It’s a historical moment,” shared Moore on the platform. “Especially not just two teams but two Black coaches that also played together and competed together to be here.”

While the Indiana Hoosiers fell to the Minnesota Gophers in the match, the two coaches have long respected each other’s game and leadership. Arterberry previously brought Moore on as part of her staff while coaching at Jackson State.

The women also understand their role in bringing representation to Division 1 coaching. They are the Big Ten conference’s sole Black women in head coaching positions for women’s tennis. Moreover, they are the only Black coaches at each of their schools, a statistic they do not take lightly.

“It’s very important,” said Moore. “I think it gives other Black coaches a vision of [how]this is where they could be. We’ve worked our way from the ground up to be here.”

Their rise represents the ability of Black coaches at any level. However, their shared experience as teammates and HBCU alumna marks their ongoing support of one another. As Black women in sports leadership, they continue to promote diversity in tennis as they accomplish more historic feats in their careers.

“This match for us was not only important, obviously, within our conference, but I think it was an important match for us as coaches, always rooting for each other,” added Moore. “We knew it was going to be a battle, but I think that the togetherness of seeing Black women leading in this sport is a huge, huge thing for us.”

RELATED CONTENT: Former TSU Defensive Player Eriq George Joins Father Eddie At Bowling Green University

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 28, 2025

Hakeem Jeffries, Cory Booker Stand Up For Change With Capitol Hill Sit-In To Protest GOP Budget Cuts

Booker labeled the next few days, given the circumstances, as the “most consequential weeks for seniors, kids and families in generations.”

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House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) sat on the steps of Capitol Hill with hundreds of supporters to protest the Republican Party’s upcoming efforts to pass a budget reconciliation bill that may eliminate $1.5 trillion in federal spending, including Medicaid, NBC News reported.

For over nine hours, Both political leaders started the sit-in around 6 a.m. April 27 – also Booker’s 56th birthday – and slowly were joined by other Democratic lawmakers like Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and religious leaders such as Rev. Dr. William Barber. “I’m sure you didn’t expect last year, when thinking about this birthday, that I would be your birthday date in this location, but this of course is the moment that we find ourselves in,” Jeffries told Booker. 

“That bill, we believe, presents one of the greatest moral threats to our country that we’ve seen in terms of what it will do to providing food for the hungry, care for the elderly, services for the disabled, health care, health care for the sick and more.” 

The sit-in happened the day before congressional lawmakers are scheduled to return from a two-week recess. For several months, Democratic leaders, including Booker and Jeffries, have warned about the damage the budget could inflict, leading to more than $880 billion in cuts to the federal program that provides health insurance for America’s low-income families.

In a statement, the outspoken New Jersey leader labeled the next few days, given the circumstances, as the “most consequential weeks for seniors, kids and families in generations.” “Republican leaders have made clear their intention to use the coming weeks to advance a reckless budget scheme to President Trump’s desk that seeks to gut Medicaid, food assistance and basic needs programs that help people, all to give tax breaks to billionaires,” Booker said, according to North Jersey.com. 

Other high-profile progressive leaders like president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Maya Wiley, spoke out about the cuts, touching on specific ways they will affect American citizens. The [budget] cuts, when we’re talking about cuts, people bleed and we should put names behind them,” Wiley said to sit-in participants. 

“You know, Sarah in South Dakota had a son who has seizures one to five times a day, had to quit her job to try to save her son. It is Medicaid that helps pay for her health care to do that. Or Jasmine in Alabama, in Tuscaloosa, with two kids, who was taking care of other people’s children when she fell and became disabled, and it’s Medicaid that was taking care of her.”

Other initiatives under attack, if the budget is approved, are programs that support health research, education, housing, and child care. Programs like Head Start, a program providing childcare and preschool education to low-income families and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, helping struggling households pay for heating and cooling, are on the chopping block. Booker called the proposed budget cuts a reflection of “what we value, who we protect, and what we stand for” and is calling for American voters not to remain silent. 

With just four Republican voters, Booker said things can change. “It’s wrong. To stop it, we all must say so — clearly, courageously, and together,” Booker, who recently stood on the Senate floor for over 25 hours speaking against the Trump administration, said. 

“Speaking out and speaking up is how we will convince four Republicans in the House and Senate to do the right thing and vote no.”

RELATED CONTENT: Cory Booker Made History With A 25-Hour Speech But His Background In Politics And Public Advocacy Is 26 Years Long

• Diversity, Equality, Inclusion

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 28, 2025

High School Basketball Coaches In Metro Atlanta Rehired After Community Launches Petition

The two coaches were rehired after their community launched a petition to get their jobs back.

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Two popular high school basketball coaches will return to their Metro Atlanta high school after their community fought for their reinstatement.

The boys’ and girls’ basketball coaches, James Gwyn and Randy McClure, at Campbell High school in Cobb County were shocked to hear their teaching contracts would not be renewed for the upcoming school year. According to Fox 5, their disbelief on the matter grew when the school could not give a definitive reason why.

Their players, students, and overarching community also became concerned upon hearing the unfortunate news. Not willing to stand for it, their supporters launched a petition to get the two men back at Campbell High.

Their decades-long service and presence at the school resulted in 1,200 career wins. This also includes 16 region titles between the two coaches. Their achievement even led to the school naming its gym after the acclaimed Black educators.

Over 4,000 people signed the petition for Gwyn and McClure to continue their duties at Campbell. Moreover, community members advocated on their behalf at a school board meeting held in March.

Upon hearing their concerns, Cobb County School Superintendent, Chris Ragsdale, agreed to look into the firing. He has now announced his recommendation to offer new contracts for the coaches.

“I recommended Coach McClure and Coach Gwyn be offered contracts for rehiring by the county school district for the school year 25-26,” said Superintendent Ragsdale.

The positive update shocked the coaches, who thought that their careers at Campbell could be over. The duo expressed their appreciation for the commity support that got them their jobs back.

“Obviously, signing this contract was pretty satisfying because we weren’t sure we’d be able to sign another one,” said Coach Gwyn.

The number of Black male educators in the country has also declined, making these teachers’ rehiring even more prevalent. According to Diverse Education, Black men accounted for only 1.3% of public school teachers  during the 2020-21 school year, a decline from 6.5% during the 2017-2018 academic year.

Now back in action, the coaches are preparing for next season to add another title to their resume.

“Ready to go back tomorrow, I’ll be doing workouts, trying to catch up with the six weeks that we lost, so we can get back to being competitive,” Coach McClure said.

RELATED CONTENT: Charlie Ward Hired As Florida A&M University Head Basketball Coach

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 28, 2025

Derrick Harmon Loses Mom Less Than 24 Hours After Being Pittsburgh Steelers’ 1st-Round Draft Pick

Tiffany Saine was on life support when Harmon learned the news about being drafted.

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A football player lost his mother less than 24 hours after being drafted by an NFL team.

According to ESPN, Derrick Harmon, who was selected as the No. 21 pick of the NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, lost his mother shortly after the NFL Commissioner called his name on draft night. Harmon was on his way to see his mother, Tiffanny Saine, after leaving a draft party acknowledging his selection. She was on life support.

“It was a little bittersweet, man,” Harmon said moments after being drafted by the Steelers. “My mom wasn’t with me, she’s at the hospital right now on life support, so that was a little bittersweet, because she worked just as hard as me to get to this moment.”

Saine suffered a stroke in 2022 that left her paralyzed on her left side. Harmon chose to play for Michigan State so he could be close to his mother, who had also had several brain surgeries before suffering her stroke. He played his senior season at Oregon.

RELATED CONTENT: Shedeur Sanders Picked In 5th Round By Browns After Draft Slide

• Education

by Mitti Hicks

April 28, 2025

Saint Augustine’s University Board Addresses ‘Misinformation’ On Financial Woes

Saint Augustine’s University began in 2012

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Two weeks after a heated town hall among Saint Augustine’s University alumni and concerned community members, Board Chairman Brian Boulware is responding to what he calls “misinformation” circulating on social media and public forums. During the April 11 town hall hosted by Roland Martin, attendees accused the board of withholding information.

“We have refrained from engaging in public disputes to protect the university’s ability to negotiate with partners, respond to accrediting bodies, and operate with integrity in accordance with its legal obligations,” said Boulware. “However, as the university approaches a critical milestone in the accreditation process, and the nature and volume of false narratives circulated, it is time to clarify the facts. We must speak the truth plainly and directly.”

It’s been an uphill battle for one of North Carolina’s oldest HBCU. The university was placed on probation in 2022 after failing to meet accreditation standards. The institution has faced financial issues totaling more than $30 million. The university also has nearly $10 million in tax liens.

Earlier this year, Saint Augustine’s University lost its appeal to maintain accreditation with the Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on College (SACSCOC).

In his address to the community, Boulware stated the current challenges facing Saint Augustine’s University “did not arise overnight.” He saidproblems began in 2012 when former university leaders took a $6 million loan against the university’s $13 million endowment.

“No payments were made on that loan for seven years, causing the total to balloon with interest and fees,” says Boulware. “In November 2024, the loan was called by its creditor, resulting in the loss of $11 million from the endowment.”

Saint Augustine’s University Board Chairman Claims Previous Leaders Misused Funds

The loan against the the university’s endowment was the tip of the ice burg. According to Boulware, 90% of federal grants the university received in in 2016 were “missed or drawn down with fraudulent documentation,” which severely jeopardized the university’s credibility with government partners.

Boulware also claims previous leaders let the following happen:

• In 2018, administrative staff coordinated with a vendor to manipulate financial records to falsify financial statements presented to the accrediting body, SACSCOC. 
• During  the COVID-19 pandemic, the university received millions of dollars in federal relief funds. However, university staff wired a significant portion to unknown sources.
• No audits were completed from 2020 to 2024. The administration relied on pandemic-related waivers as an excuse, which masked the continued submission of inaccurate financial data. 
• Between 2021 and 2023, the administration permitted students to enroll and graduate without Board approval, despite 76% of student accounts carrying balances exceeding $30,000. This undermined the university’s financial stability and compliance with federal aid regulations. 
• From  2020 to 2023, the administration did not pay any payroll taxes to the IRS. Despite meeting in person with the IRS during this time, the administration failed to notify the Board of this critical liability information.
• From 2021 to December 2023, the administration  willingly mislead the board by intentionally withholding information and submitting false financial reports. This caused noncompliance with federal agencies and crippled the university’s ability to operate efficiently.

“These issues are not allegations. They are documented realities,” Boulware said.

Boulware, who joined the Board of Trustees in 2019 and was elected Chairman in 2024, said “There is plenty of blame, and many individuals who now attempt to shift blame to the current Board were either silent or complicit in the past. At the same time, they held positions of power as their administration made those decisions.”

How Saint Augustine’s University Board Says The School Is Moving Forward

Over the last 18 months, Boulware said the school has taken “unprecedented steps” to reverse years in decline. The board has completed four years of overdue audits and restored payroll and employees benefits.

Speaking on behalf the board, Boulware said university leaders are fighting for its future and not just its “reputation,” and welcomes everyone to “contribute constructively to that mission.”

“We understand the anger, fear, and frustration many in our alumni community feel. We also know that social media commentary is not a substitute for verified evidence or legal due process,” he added. “Saint Augustine’s University now needs unity, not division; hope, not hysteria; solutions, not slander […] We will not allow disinformation to define us. The work before us is far too important.”

RELATED CONTENT: Saint Augustine’s University

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 28, 2025

Notorious Walking Tour: Go Where Biggie Went Before ‘Bad Boy’ Fame 

Now you can take steps in the same neighborhood as the Brooklyn emcee

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If you ever wanted to walk in the footsteps of The Notorious B.I.G., now’s your chance, as you can embark on the Notorious Walking Tour in the famed borough where the lyricist lived.

According to The Abroad Guide, anyone who can make it over to the borough of Brooklyn can see, in person, some of the places the recording artist frequented before the world was blessed with his flow and lyricism.

The tour starts at the Jay Street-MetroTech subway station, where your tour guide will will lead you through some of the places he was known to be while growing up in the borough that sparked the talents of people like Spike Lee, Mike Tyson, Big Daddy Kane, Stephon Marbury, Omar Epps, and BLACK ENTERPRISE Founder, Earl Graves Sr.

Do N.Y.C. lists some of the spots that the man born as Christopher Wallace chilled at or frequented often enough that people knew where to find him.

On this walking tour, you can see George Westinghouse High School, where the emcee attended. Other hip-hop luminaries seen in the halls were Busta Rhymes, JAY-Z, and DMX, though maybe not at the same time, but the school has that history. If you happen to want some food, at any time, you could be sitting in a spot that Biggie may have sat in at the County House Diner. Or maybe go to the place where Bad Boy Founder Sean “Diddy” Combs had some artists walk to get him a slice of cheesecake at Junior’s Restaurant.

Maybe you can sit in the barber’s chair where The Notorious B.I.G. got his hair clipped, at Respect for Life Barber Shop. Or maybe stop by the Key Food, where a young Biggie went to earn some change while bagging groceries for the customers.

And although the emcee lived with his mother at 226 St. James Place in the Clinton Hill neighborhood, he was typically seen hanging out on the corner of Fulton and St. James Place. While visiting those locations, you will also see where he regularly performed before he became a “Bad Boy,” at the shuttered Orient Temple.

But, before you leave the famed borough, you will be taken to view two murals dedicated to The Notorious One. The “King of NY” mural is located at Bedford Ave. and Quincy Street, while the other, “Comandante Biggie!” Fort Greene mural will be seen at the corner of Fulton and South Portland.

RELATED CONTENT: Notorious B.I.G.’s Music Catalog Reportedly Being Sold To Primary Wave

• Sports

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 28, 2025

Son Of Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator Admits And Apologizes For Prank-Calling Shadeur Sanders During NFL Draft

The son, Jax Ulbrich, publicly admitted to prank calling Sanders while he waited to be selected in the NFL draft.

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The son of the Atlanta Falcons Defense Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich has admitted to and apologized for a prank calling made to Shedeur Sanders during the NFL draft.

Jax Ulbrich admitted to gaining access to Sanders’ number, a line exclusively made to contact NFL teams, by way of his father’s iPad. He then used the information to prank call Sanders as he awaited to be picked during the draft. Ulbrich, identified as a 21-year-old student-athlete at Berry College by the Times of India, shared his public apology to Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jax Ulbrich (@jax_ulbrich)

“On Friday night I made a tremendous mistake. Sheduer (sic), what I did was completely inexcusable, embarrassing, and shameful,” Ulbrich wrote. “I’m so sorry I took away from your moment, it was selfish and childish. I could never imagine getting ready to celebrate one of the greatest moments of your life and I made a terrible mistake and messed with that moment.”

He then confirmed that he called Sanders again, this time in a non-pranking way, to apologize for his actions.

He added, “Thank you for accepting my call earlier today, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

In a clip of the prank call released by Well Off Media, owned by Sanders’ brother, Deion Jr., Ulbrich posed as the New Orleans Saints’ general manager. CNN reported the conversation that went viral.

Ulbrich, then anonymous, told Sanders, “We’re going to take you with our next pick right here.”

Sanders proceeded to celebrate with friends and family until Ulbrich revealed the false nature of the call.

“But you’re going to have to wait a little longer, man. Sorry about that,” Ulbrich said and hung up.

The news made headlines as it added to the media frenzy surrounding Sanders’ prolonged selection in the draft. Once originally considered to be a first-round pick, the quarterback went unselected until the later rounds. The Cleveland Browns eventually selected him in the fifth round as the 144th overall pick.

However, the 23-year-old revealed that the prank call didn’t “have an impact” on his feelings. Instead, he called the matter “childish” while choosing to remain positive during the multi-day draft.

His father, NFL Hall of Famer and current University of Colorado Football head coach Deion Sanders, has yet to make a statement. Sanders played under his father at Jackson State for two years before completing another two seasons at Colorado.

The outgoing father-and-son duo have sparked an intense debate in the sports community for how their unabashed personalities may have played a role in Sanders’ emerging NFL career. The issue, given their status as successful Black men, also forged some conspiracies on the NFL’s alleged methods of humbling Black players.

The Falcons, however, apologized to the Sanders over the prank call, while also stating that the elder Ulbrich did not know of the “data exposure.”

“Jeff Ulbrich was unaware of the data exposure or any facets of the prank and was made aware of the above only after the fact,” wrote the franchise in a statement. “The Atlanta Falcons do not condone this behavior and send our sincere apologies to Shedeur Sanders and his family, who we have been in contact with to apologize to, as well as facilitate an apology directly from Jax to the Sanders family.”

The Falcons also stated that they will work with the NFL as they continue to investigate the situation. The league also told CNN that they will investigate other prank calls made to draftees.

RELATED CONTENT: Shedeur Sanders Stays Positive After Being Snubbed In NFL Draft’s First Round