Corporations, Federal Taxes, Money — Karolina Grabowska/Pexels

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 3, 2025

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent And John Hope Bryant Collaborate For National Financial Literacy Month

The long-time colleagues met to discuss the nationwide initiative called Financial Literacy for All (FL4A), led by Bryant to harp on the importance of financial education.

John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to mark April as National Financial Literacy Month and highlight their commitment to financial gain for all Americans.

The longtime colleagues met to discuss the narrative of a nationwide initiative called “Financial Literacy for All” (FL4A), led by Bryant, to emphasize the importance of financial education being built into the fabric of American life. Bryant and Bessent talked about ways to deepen the collaboration between public and private sectors to expand access to financial tools and knowledge. “For too long, financial literacy has been treated as a luxury,” Secretary Bessent said.

“It’s a necessity—just like reading and writing. John and I have been aligned on this for nearly a decade, and I’m proud to stand with him this April and beyond.”

In a 2024 CNBC op-ed, the financial literacy advocate highlighted the concept as being often overlooked throughout American history, specifically for African Americans, and when the target is the upcoming generation, calling it a “civil rights issue.”

While celebrating how President Abraham Lincoln signed the Freedman’s Bank into law in 1865 “to teach freed slaves about money,” Bryant said economic growth is more than just opening a slew of businesses or having products, but more so about active participation in the country’s economic development.

“The more people are involved in economic activities, such as earning, spending, saving, and investing, the more robust the economy becomes,” Bryant wrote.

In the same year, a survey revealed that seven in ten adults in the U.S. were “very or somewhat stressed” about their personal finances, heightening the fact that having a steady paycheck isn’t enough to prosper. The data was supported by a 2023 Employee Financial Wellness Survey by PwC, which found that 60% of full-time workers are stressed about their finances.

As Bryant and the Treasury Secretary push Financial Literacy Month goals of guaranteeing that “every individual, family, and business has the foundation to make informed financial decisions and build lasting security,” Bryant has given insight on how America will fail without the proper financial literacy elements being in place for past and future generations. “Think about this for a moment. We live in the largest, strongest, most robust economy on the planet, yet most of our children don’t even get one class in financial literacy. No one is telling them (and us) how this economy works,” the advocate wrote.

“We need the working class and the laddered-up middle class in America, and around the world, to grow. Without financial literacy, we cannot fully participate in our free enterprise system, and we cannot make informed financial decisions. We are left at the mercy of an economic system we do not fully understand — and worse yet for some of us, one that was not designed to support us.”

Work, Office — Photo by FG Trade/Getty Images

by Stacy Jackson

April 3, 2025

Black Women’s Health Imperative President Linda Goler Blount Announces Resignation

Goler Blount prepares her farewell as president of the Black Women's Health Imperative after leading the organization for over a decade.

After 11 years of connecting with millions of Black women and girls across the United States, Black Women’s Health Imperative President Linda Goler Blount is stepping down from her position with the Atlanta-based organization.

As she prepares to resign this month, Goler Blount reflected on her rewarding experience leading the Black Women’s Health Imperative over the last 11 years. In the April 2 announcement, the health justice leader thanked the organization’s team for their contributions and support with initiatives that have kept Black women in focus. “Not only have we brought to the forefront the health challenges and injustices Black women in this country continue to face,” Goler Blount said, “but we secured landmark legislation that has allowed Black women in this country to have access to breast cancer screening and treatment, access to reproductive healthcare, and significantly reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes.”

The Black Women’s Health Imperative is committed to continuing Goler Blount’s progress since she helmed the position in 2014. Under her presidency, the organization expanded into an $18 million leading national institution for Black women’s health research, advocacy, policy, and program delivery. The organization was significantly involved in legislation such as the reauthorization of the Protecting Access to Lifesaving Screenings (PALS) Act. The policy permitted screening mammograms at 40 compared to the previous age of 50. In 2024, the organization released its “Black Women Vote: 2024 Health Policy Guide,” as previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE. “The challenges we face as a community—especially the recent attacks on reproductive freedoms—underscore the need for transformative leadership,” she said. Goler Blount’s leadership has secured several campaign collaborations with celebrities and brands like singers Mary J. Blige and Ciara, the NFL, and the WNBA.

Goler Blount told BE in 2023 that being selected as president of the Black Women’s Health Imperative was an incredible privilege. “Ten years ago, the board picked me,” she said at the time. “They picked my vision. They picked my passion, and that’s not lost on me.”

She completes over a decade of service with great love and respect from the Black Women’s Health Imperative Board. “When I founded BWHI, it was about creating a movement where Black women’s health was front and center—unapologetically. This moment is a continuation of that vision. It’s not a pause—it’s a progression,” said organization founder Byllye Avery. “I am deeply grateful to Linda for the way she elevated this organization and expanded both its mission and impact.”

As the board undergoes an executive search process, Michelle Minus Swittenberg, EVP of Enterprise Operations, and Lisa Cunningham, EVP of Marketing and Communications, will serve as interim co-presidents.

Black Youth, Incarceration, Racial Disparities — (Photo: Instants/Getty Images)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 3, 2025

Formerly Incarcerated Black Men Facing Eviction In Boston Say They’re Being Targeted

A group of formerly incarcerated residents in a luxury Boston complex claims they are being subjected to legal harassment.

A loft complex in Boston’s Charlestown community is under scrutiny for legal threats directed at formerly incarcerated tenants with darker skin.

Michael Penn and Demetrius Calhoun are among several formerly incarcerated residents who claim they are being unfairly forced out of their homes at the Graphic Lofts — an upscale apartment complex featuring a fitness center, roof deck, and pet spa. Both men believe they are being targeted due to their past criminal records and race.

“They want me out,” Penn told GBH News. “It sucks when I move into a situation where I’m happy to be and for no reason other than the fact that I’m Black or I have a record or, you know, they just don’t like my appearance. … To them, I just scream Black thug or, you know, gangster or whatever.”

The property used to accept residents with criminal records, according to Leslie Credle, the head of Justice 4 Housing, a nonprofit supporting formerly incarcerated individuals in the Boston area. Justice 4 Housing has successfully placed about a dozen people there with the help of city and state-subsidized vouchers over the last two years.

However, she now says her clients are receiving warnings and eviction notices due to unjust claims of smoking in the building or speaking aggressively to staff. Credle notes that all the individuals facing eviction have been people of color.

“Everybody that Justice 4 Housing put in [Graphic Lofts] is getting these letters that are saying that they’re being terrible tenants. They’re just making things up,” Credle said. “It was the dog. It was the window. It was the smoke. It’s anything and everything they can put their hands on, and they bombard them with legal letters.”

The property is owned by GWL Direct 32 Cambridge LLC, a limited liability company, and managed by Willow Bridge Property Company. According to Turk and Milone, a law firm representing the management company, they are “committed to providing safe, decent, and affordable housing” for their residents. However, they stated that “if a resident fails to comply with their lease and disrupts the rights of others to peacefully enjoy their apartments, Graphic Lofts must take action to support the community as a whole.”

Credle noted that while the tenants would probably win in housing court if they contested their evictions, most people with criminal records already struggle to secure housing, and the situation worsens when their name appears in housing court records. Justice 4 Housing is working to relocate many of its Graphic Lofts clients to other buildings.

“They don’t want to stay there after being harassed and targeted,” Credle said.

self-checkout,,principal, Gregory. Lewis — Triplec85, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

by Kandiss Edwards

April 3, 2025

Florida Principal Helping Himself By ‘Skip Scanning’ At Walmart Self-Checkout Lands In Jail

The principal engaged in "skip scanning" to see what he "could get away with."

Gregory Lewis, a Florida principal, was arrested in Polk County for “skip scanning” at a Walmart.

On March 29, Fox 8 reported that Winter Haven Police responded to a Walmart on Cypress Garden Boulevard after store managers reported Lewis had stolen items by “skip scanning” or failing to scan certain products at self-checkout.

Police accused Lewis of concealing a large pack of light bulbs, bacon, and frozen butterfly shrimp between foam plates to avoid paying the full price. When confronted, Lewis admitted to the crime and called his actions “dumb.” He told officers the idea came from friends, saying they had discussed the scam, and he wanted to see what he could get away with.

“We sit around talking, ‘Hey, I did this.’ Let me try and see what I can get away with,” Lewis said in police body-camera footage. “I did something dumb today, and I understand it.”

Polk County principal accused of 'skip scanning' at Walmart self-checkout https://t.co/1dPPWamFPw pic.twitter.com/A5BT7gwyhH
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) March 31, 2025

Former educator James Barker said Lewis’s actions affected not only him but the entire education profession.

“More and more people are doing just stupid things without any regard to the consequences, not only for themselves but for the reputation of our profession,” Barker said.

Barker said educators must set a clear example to prevent children from making the same thoughtless choices.

“He’s the principal of the school, and now he’s been caught doing this, so what example does he set for the kids?” he said.

Lewis was charged with petty theft and released. According to interim Superintendent Alricky Smith, Lake Wales Charter Schools placed him on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Though skip scanning may have worked in the past, it is no longer so simple. Retailers are using advanced technology to detect theft at self-checkout.

In 2024, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported on Walmart’s partnership with Digimarc, a tech company developing invisible watermarks embedded in retail products. The watermarks allow items to be scanned without directly presenting a barcode.

Whether Walmart has implemented the technology for all products or just a select portion is unclear, but the imperceptible watermarks are expected to help curb retail theft.

ICE, Syracuse Player, Deportation, South Sudan — (Photo: Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

by Mitti Hicks

April 3, 2025

ICE Uses Nike, Jordans, Chicago Bulls Jerseys To Arrest Suspected Gang Members

ACLU lawyers are accusing ICE agents of falsely linking Nike clothing, Air Jordans, Chicago Bulls jerseys, and tattoos to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Recent accusations about Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) may make you want to rethink wearing Nike, Air Jordans, or Chicago Bulls apparel. ACLU lawyers are accusing ICE agents of falsely linking Nike clothing, Air Jordans, Chicago Bulls jerseys, and tattoos to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

In a declaration filed last week, ACLU lawyers representing some of the people targeted provided a series of documents and 20 exhibits related to how law enforcement agents identified people they suspect are part of Tren de Aragua.

According to documents ACLU lawyers obtained, Homeland Security Investigations’ Chicago Field Office has a “detecting and identifying” gang members guide. Some identifiers are the “Jump Man” symbol, people dressed in high-end urban street wear, and people who favor the Chicago Bulls basketball jersey, specifically Michael Jordan. Identifiers don’t stop there. Investigators say people wearing jerseys with the number “23” and those who wear Jump Man footwear are also suspicious.

Tren de Aragua expert Ronna Risquez recently told NBC News that while Latin American gangs often use tattoos to signal membership, that’s not always the case with the Venezuelan gang.

“To be a member of one of these Venezuelan organizations, you don’t need a tattoo,” she said. “You can have no tattoos and still be part of Tren de Aragua. You can also have a tattoo that matches other members of the organization.”

ICE Facing Scurtiny Over Arrests

The Trump administration has been using the Alien Enemies Act to deport or forcefully relocate people it suspects of being part of the Tren de Aragua gang. However, the ACLU says many of the people targeted are active asylum seekers.

ACLU’s filing comes amid questions about due process. ICE deported Neri Alvarado to the notorious maximum security prison known as CECOT for a tattoo with an autism awareness ribbon with his brother’s name on it, according to Mother Jones. Alvarado said ICE agents told him he was detained for his tattoos.

“We’re finding and questioning everyone who has tattoos,” an agent told Alvarado.

In another incident, the U.S. government admitted to accidentally deporting legal resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia because of an “administration error.”

As NBC News reported, even with the mistake, the government has no plans to bring him back to the United States.

Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons — photo credit: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

by Kandiss Edwards

April 3, 2025

Director Of The National Museum Of African American History And Culture Is Placed On ‘Indefinite Leave’

National Museum of African American History and Culture is on "indefinite leave." Shanita Brackett current director of operations will step in as interim director.

Kevin Young, director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is on indefinite leave, according to The Washington Post.

The outlet obtained an internal email from Smithsonian Undersecretary for Museums and Culture Kevin Gover, stating that Young will be away for an “undetermined period.”

In his absence, Shanita Brackett, the museum’s director of operations, has been appointed interim director.

The reason for Young’s extended leave is unclear. He also serves as poetry editor for The New Yorker. The move coincides with the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on organizations that celebrate African American history.

Kevin Young, the director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is not currently leading the museum and has been on personal leave as of March 14, according to an internal email obtained by The Post. https://t.co/7ENyVPixzX
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 3, 2025

In March 2025, President Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” targeting the Smithsonian Institution, which oversees the museum. He accused it of promoting “divisive, race-centered ideology,” aiming to prevent funding for exhibits or programs considered to degrade shared American values. This move was part of a broader campaign against what he termed “woke” ideology in cultural organizations.

Many view this action as an attempt to downplay the impact of racism and the contributions of Black Americans throughout U.S. history. They argued that the executive order sought to suppress recognition of Black history and could have a chilling effect on institutions studying it.

Leadership for the American Historical Association and 25 other organizations released a joint statement about the administration’s actions. The statement asserts that the museum allows America to reckon with and learn lessons from the past while simultaneously celebrating African Americans’ lengthy contributions to society.

“The stories that have shaped our past include not only elements that make us proud but also aspects that make us acutely aware of tragedies in our nation’s history. No person, no nation, is perfect, and we should all—as individuals and as nations—learn from our imperfections,” it read.

The statement also stressed the Trump administration’s attempts to “misrepresent the work of museums and the public’s engagement with their collections and exhibits. It also completely misconstrues the nature of historical work.”

The Smithsonian’s Secretary, Lonnie Bunch, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to presenting diverse narratives and maintaining scholarly integrity free from partisanship, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging all aspects of American history.

Shene', Black, nurses, nursing, program — (Photo: Getty Images)

by Stacy Jackson

April 3, 2025

Black Patient Blasts Medical Assistant For Writing ‘King Kong’ On Test Kit

"That’s unacceptable. Even if it is a typo," King said before she asserted that she would report the "racist" gesture.

Kierra King, a Black woman in Southern California, was offended when she found her name was changed to King Kong on the label of a vial during a visit to the doctor.

“This is beyond unacceptable,” King captioned a video she posted to TikTok, where she showed followers the label that read “King, Kong” instead of King, Kierra.” She continued to film as she questioned a health care employee who claimed she was unsure who had printed the label. “Can you understand why I, as a Black woman, would have a problem with that?” King asks the employee in the video. “That’s unacceptable. Even if it is a typo, which if they want to pull that and say what it is, how?! Seriously?!”

King requested for the unidentified employee to see who made the label and said that she would not leave the office without raising the concern. The woman assured King it was not her and did not know how the mistake happened. The woman returned with the medical assistant who admitted to creating the label. However, she claimed it was a mistake and said, “It wasn’t really my intention to put your name like that.” She continued to say that they gave the vial to King to double-check the information and claimed King “didn’t mention anything” about any information being incorrect. However, according to King, nothing was “double-checked” as far as the name.

After seemingly accusing King of not saying anything about the name earlier when she did her sample, the medical assistant told her, “If you feel some type of way about how I wrote it, and you want to report me, that is totally fine.”

@kierraking616
@Perlmanclinic this is beyond unacceptable. my story is just one instance of blatant racism. things like this are happening every single day. i am making the decision to use my personal social media as a platform to continue to bring awareness to the gravity of how out of control things have gotten in the united states and in the world. this action is incomprehensibly bad. it’s the kind of action that leaves one without words. do better humans. do better. #california #unitedstateshealthcare #unacceptable #racism #disappointedbutnotsurprised
♬ original sound – kierraking616

According to King’s TikTok post, the incident occurred at Perlman Clinic, which serves San Diego and Orange County.

Following the outburst from TikTok users, the clinic issued the following statement:

“At Perlman Clinic, every patient is important to us. We are dedicated to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where all individuals feel respected, valued, and cared for. Diversity is at the heart of who we are, and we strive to ensure that each person who walks through our doors receives compassionate care tailored to their unique needs. Your health and well-being are our top priority.”

King said her incident is just one instance of “blatant racism” and chose to use her social media platform to raise awareness. A 2024 analysis published by KFF revealed that Black women are more likely than other groups to report unfair treatment from healthcare providers due to race and ethnicity. For Black women who used health care in the past three years, 34% reported worse health, being less likely to seek care, or switching health care providers.

Haiti, Springfield, CBC, CARICOM, coup — (Photo: Free domain/picryl)

by Jameelah Mullen

April 3, 2025

Miami’s Haitian Community Holds Onto Faith Amid Ongoing Violence And Uncertainty On The Island

More than a million Haitian residents were forced to flee their homes due to the ongoing gang violence

Thousands of Haitian American parishioners gathered for Lenten worship services at Notre Dame d’Haiti, a Catholic church in the heart of Miami’s Haitian neighborhood. Meanwhile, their homeland endures increasing violence, food insecurity, and diminishing humanitarian aid.

Kettelene Fevrier attended the service on March 29. The immigrant expressed her unwavering faith that things will improve in her homeland and that she will have a bright future living in the United States.

“We believe in him. We pray for possibilities,” Fevrier told the Associated Press.

Fevrier fled Haiti in 2023 under the Biden administration’s Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (CHNV) Program, a temporary humanitarian protection initiative established to safeguard foreign nationals during global crises. In March 2025, the Trump administration announced its intention to revoke the program that provided aid to 530,000 migrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end deportation protections, but the bill’s future remains uncertain.

Sandina Jean, who also left Haiti two years ago, tells the AP that returning to Haiti is out of the question.

“Haiti is getting worse. We don’t have a home to go back to,” Jean told the outlet.

Last week, Catholic Legal Services held an immigration session that lasted until 1 a.m. due to the high demand for advice amid uncertainty about their future in America. Jean Souffrant, who leads the church’s Leadership and Learning Center, states that parishioners are experiencing elevated levels of stress as they confront the possibility of being forced out of the country that once welcomed them.

Haiti has faced persistent gang violence since 2021. The gangs that now dominate the majority of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, have escalated their attacks, resulting in the deaths of over 5,600 people in 2024. The UN estimates that more than 1 million individuals have been displaced as a result of the violence.

The U.S. Census estimates that nearly half a million Haitians live in South Florida, making it the largest Haitian community in the United States.

Young Thug — Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images

by Kandiss Edwards

April 3, 2025

Young Thug’s Freedom At Risk After District Attorney Files Motion To Revoke Probation

Young Thug called out a "liar" which may land him back in jail.

Fulton County prosecutors have filed a motion to revoke probation for Jeffery Lamar Williams, the rapper known as Young Thug, citing a social media post they allege threatens the safety of a key witness in his criminal trial.

The motion, filed on April 2, claims Young Thug’s actions compromise ongoing legal proceedings and are deemed a violation of his probation. According to the filing, Young Thug reposted an image of Investigator Marissa Viverito, who testified in the YSL RICO case.

The accompanying caption read, “Marissa Viverito is the biggest liar in the DA’s office.”

The Just How It Is rapper’s post reportedly garnered over two million views before being deleted. Prosecutors contend that the repost led social media users to dox Viverito. Though Young Thug did not post any of the investigator’s information, Viverito’s home and parents’ addresses were released. This resulted in increased security measures for the county. They argue that criminal organizations often use these tactics to harass witnesses.

“These actions mirror the established tactics of criminal organizations, as defined under O.C.G.A. § 16-15-3, which are designed to instill fear, silence witnesses, and interfere with judicial proceedings. As a direct consequence of these actions, law enforcement resources have been required to provide security in response to the escalating threats and intimidation,” the motion read.

This is related to yesterday's post calling Viverito "the biggest liar in the DA's office".

They are blaming Thug for the actions of other random people in the reply "as a direct consequence of these social media posts" https://t.co/ffCnIT06Oe pic.twitter.com/4MGDPZTk7x
— THUGGERDAILY ひ (@ThuggerDaily) April 3, 2025

In response, Young Thug posted on X denying any intent to threaten or harm, stating, “I don’t make threats to people. I’m a good person. I would never condone anyone threatening anyone or definitely participate in threatening anyone. I’m all about peace and love.”

I don’t make treats to people I’m a good person, I would never condone anyone threatening anyone or definitely participate in threatening anyone. I’m all about peace and love
— Young Thug ひ (@youngthug) April 3, 2025

Williams’ attorney, Brian Steel, spoke to WSB-TV, calling the motion “baseless.” Steel emphasized that his client had done nothing wrong and expressed confidence in seeking a dismissal of the petition.

This development follows Williams’ October 2024 guilty plea to multiple charges, including violating Georgia’s RICO Act. He was sentenced to 40 years, with five years commuted to time served and the remaining 15 years on probation. The probation terms include restrictions on associating with known gang members and requirements for community service.

Prosecutors are requesting that Young Thug be taken into custody immediately and that he reimburse the costs associated with the enhanced security measures necessitated by the threats. They assert that his continued freedom under probation presents a clear and present danger to public safety and undermines the rule of law.