Freeway Golf Course — Photo by LPETTET/Getty Images

by Sidnee Michelle

June 28, 2026

Nation’s First Black-Owned 18-Hole Golf Course Could Become A $292M Housing Community

Hamilton-based US Home LLC has proposed redeveloping the former Freeway Golf Course in Gloucester Township, New Jersey.

A historic New Jersey golf course that once served as a haven for Black golfers could soon be transformed into a 743-unit residential community, Jersey Digs reports.

Hamilton-based US Home LLC, doing business as Lennar, has proposed redeveloping the former Freeway Golf Course in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, into a mixed-use residential development called Freeway Pointe. The project would bring single-family homes, townhouses, affordable rental housing, and age-restricted residences to the 154-acre property at 1858 Sicklerville Road in Camden County.

The Gloucester Township Zoning Board was scheduled to hear testimony on the proposal on June 24, 2026, but the meeting was canceled. If approved, the development would represent one of the largest housing projects proposed in the township in recent years.

According to the outlet, Freeway Pointe would include 177 single-family homes, 222 townhouses, 168 stacked townhouses, 63 age-restricted homes, and 113 affordable multifamily rental units. The project is estimated to be worth $292 million and is expected to house approximately 2,086 residents, including 315 school-age children.

Developers are seeking zoning variances to allow townhouses and multifamily buildings on the site and to increase residential density beyond the current limits.

The proposal would add significantly to Gloucester Township’s housing inventory. U.S. Census Bureau data show the township had 26,312 housing units in 2020. Application documents state the project’s 743 units would more than double the number of residential units authorized through building permits in the township between 2010 and 2019.

The redevelopment would mark a major change for a property that occupies an important place in Black sports history.

Four Black businessmen purchased Freeway Golf Course in 1967 for $250,000, making it the first African American-owned 18-hole golf course in the United States. The course later hosted the inaugural Sammy Davis Jr. Open and became a destination for Black golfers during a period when many clubs maintained discriminatory barriers.

As The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in 2016, the investment by the four owners “made them the first African Americans in the country to own an 18-hole course.” The newspaper noted that Freeway later became “a model for other Black-owned golf courses across the nation and a site for some of the sport’s most important competitions.”

The course closed after its final round of golf was played in November 2015. Reflecting on its legacy, the outlet described Freeway as “a safe haven for Black golfers who often weren’t accepted into other clubs in the area.”

The property is now owned by Black Horse Properties LLC of Blackwood, New Jersey, according to application documents.

by Ida Harris

June 28, 2026

ON THIS DAY: 250 Years Of Black America

Claiming the greatest of all time started with heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali

Claiming the greatest of all time started with heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali. Ali was a GOAT in the boxing ring and in everyday life. He stood on business in his refusal to be drafted into the U.S. military to fight America’s war against Vietnam, doing so resulted in a five-year prison sentence in 1967. However, on June 28, 1971, Ali’s conviction was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court

cinnamon roll — photo credit: NICOLE TRILIVAS, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

by Sidnee Michelle

June 28, 2026

BlessUp Rolls Founder Turns Weekly Sellouts Into Charlotte Cinnamon Roll Pop-Up Success

Maya Waiters, founder of BlessUp Rolls, announced June 15 that customers will now purchase the bakery's products at local events and markets.

A Charlotte cinnamon roll business that regularly sells out its inventory is ending pre-orders and shifting to a pop-up model to expand access across the city, Q City Metro reports.

Maya Waiters, founder of BlessUp Rolls, announced June 15 that customers will now purchase the bakery’s products at local events and markets rather than reserving orders in advance.

“My goal is to make BlessUp Rolls more accessible by bringing fresh cinnamon rolls directly to the community,” Waiters told the outlet.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BlessUp Rolls | Charlotte Cinnamon Rolls (@blessuprolls)

Customers can continue purchasing rolls in person at Crown & Honey Boutique from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday while supplies last. Additional locations and event schedules will be posted on the business’s Instagram page.

Waiters launched BlessUp Rolls in April 2026 after relocating to Charlotte with her husband in 2023 following more than a decade in Atlanta. After leaving her warehouse job at Honeywell, she said she took time to consider her next steps.

“Like, God, what do you want me to do? And he’s like, just start back baking. Do what you love. Do what comes easy.”

Waiters said she initially considered selling cupcakes before identifying a gap in Charlotte’s bakery market.

“I didn’t see a lot of, like, a specific bakery that just sells cinnamon rolls,” she said.

According to Waiters, BlessUp Rolls sells more than 300 cinnamon rolls each week during four days of operation. Top-selling flavors include Original, Biscoff, Peach Cobbler, and Sweet Potato.

This cinnamon roll business began operating from Waiters’ apartment complex in April, but demand increased after Charlotte food blogger Herbert Experience featured the bakery on Instagram, she said.

“One weekend, the line was so long at my apartment complex that it was like a Chick-fil-A,” Waiters said.

The owner of Crown & Honey Boutique later offered Waiters complimentary pickup space as she works toward opening a permanent storefront.

Waiters said the faith-based business is intended to foster connection and encourage customers through food.

“It’s about bringing people closer together,” she said.

Uber, Lyft, ridesharing, Massachusetts, EVs — (Photo: Erik Flyg/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

by Sidnee Michelle

June 27, 2026

Uber, Lyft Drivers Push Back On Proposed Electric Vehicle Mandate

These drivers are warning that the policy could reduce earnings and limit access to work.

Massachusetts rideshare drivers are raising concerns about a proposed state regulation that would require a growing share of electric vehicles in Uber and Lyft rental fleets. These drivers are warning that the policy could reduce earnings and limit access to work, GBH.org reports.

At a Department of Public Utilities hearing on June 22, drivers and labor advocates said the proposal would increase costs, create vehicle shortages, and reduce time on the road due to charging constraints. The rule would require that all vehicles offered through company-operated rental or leasing programs transition to electric within one year of the regulation taking effect. It would not apply to drivers using personal vehicles or to paratransit and wheelchair-accessible services.

Drivers argued that the shift to electric vehicles without expanded charging infrastructure could directly affect their incomes. Several said public charging stations are often full or slow to access, leading to extended downtime during work hours.

Uber driver Jim Klot said the lack of reliable charging access makes the proposal difficult to manage for workers who depend on daily driving income.

“We don’t make enough money to take long breaks from driving, especially when there are not enough charging stations,” Klot said during the hearing, according to the outlet.

He also said many drivers cannot install home charging systems due to apartment living arrangements or the cost of installation, adding that the transition should not come at the expense of driver earnings.

The Department of Public Utilities has framed the proposal as part of a broader effort to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts, which state officials say remain a significant contributor to climate pollution.

Alongside the electric vehicle requirement, regulators are also considering expanded safety inspections, annual driver training requirements, and additional oversight of vehicle recalls.

The proposal has surfaced amid ongoing labor organizing among rideshare drivers in the state. On May 26, Massachusetts drivers announced the formation of what organizers described as the nation’s first statewide app-based driver union, a move aimed at strengthening bargaining power over pay and working conditions.

Public comment on the proposed regulation remains open through July 2, as state officials review feedback from drivers, companies, and advocacy groups before moving forward with final rules.

Zimbabwean, Zimbabwe — photo credit: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (issuer)Minoa (rendering), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Sidnee Michelle

June 27, 2026

Zimbabwe Boosts Minimum Wage For Domestic Workers, Regional Pay Gap Remains

The wage increase, approved by Zimbabwe's Cabinet on June 16, 2026, raises the previous minimum of $85 to $90 per month

Zimbabwe has increased the monthly minimum wage for domestic workers to $90, or about 2,600 Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), as the government responds to mounting cost-of-living pressures and calls for improved labor protections, Business Insider Africa reports.

The wage increase, approved by Zimbabwe’s Cabinet on June 16, raises the previous minimum of $85 per month and took effect immediately, according to a briefing from the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services.

The revised wage structure follows recommendations from the Tripartite Negotiating Forum and a review conducted under Section 19 of Zimbabwe’s Labour Act, according to Business Insider Africa.

Under the new framework, gardeners and yard workers will earn a minimum of $90 per month. Housekeepers and cooks will receive at least $99 per month, while child minders and caregivers for older adults and people with disabilities will earn $108 per month. Certified caregivers with Red Cross qualifications will receive a minimum of $117 per month.

“Cabinet approved the review of minimum wages and related conditions of employment for domestic workers and workers in unclassified operations,” the government said in a statement.

The government also increased the minimum wage for workers in sectors not covered by Zimbabwe’s National Employment Councils to $270 per month, payable in local currency at the prevailing exchange rate. Labor groups said the increase falls short of what workers need to meet rising living costs.

“This amount is still inadequate and does not reflect the true value of domestic work,” Zimbabwe Domestic and Allied Workers Union Deputy General Secretary Toindepi Dhure told local media.

Zimbabwe’s new wage floor remains well below earnings for domestic workers in neighboring South Africa, where the national minimum wage rose to 30.23 rand, or about $1.68, per hour as of March 2026. A full-time worker earning South Africa’s minimum wage would make roughly 5,200 rand, or about $289 per month.

by Ida Harris

June 27, 2026

ON THIS DAY: 250 Years Of Black America

Arthur Fletcher is the "father of Affirmative Action"

The beginning of Affirmative Action comes into play thanks to Arthur Fletcher’s decision to revise the Philadelphia Plan, requiring contractors to lay bare their goals and timetable for minority hiring.

leadership, XCEL Summit for Men, Chris Matthews, — Moderated by Maurice Jones, President & CEO of OneTen, "The New DEI Agenda: Who’s Advocating on Behalf of Black Men?" session leaned on the expertise of Ken Lear, VP of Real Estate Operations at AT&T, and Jean C. Accius, Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership at AARP.

by Kenneth Meeks

June 27, 2026

Master Emotional Intelligence In Your Leadership Style

Chris Matthews offers time-tested advice to become an effective team leader.

The art of leadership is a skill that takes time to master. But Chris A. Matthews, a marriage counselor and human resources professional, has given numerous public speaking engagements on qualities that make people successful as leaders. Matthews sat down with BLACK ENTERPRISE during the 2023 XCEL Summit for Men Spotlight Series and shared advice he shared with the young Black professionals on his panel. Without giving away all of his insight, he pointed out an old saying he leads by: “If you help enough people get what they want, you never have to worry about what you want.”

As we approach the 10^th anniversary of the XCEL Summit for Men, BE reminds all young professionals that leadership starts with empathy. The rationale is that when you take the time to understand your clients’ or team’s needs, you get better results from them. Click on the video clip below and hear this advice from Matthews himself.

Prairie View A&M, Howard University, NCAA Tournament Games — (Photo: Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

by Edwian Stokes

June 26, 2026

Former College Athlete Secures Payday Near 7-Figures Brokering Delayed NCAA Claims

As the $2.78 billion House v. NCAA settlement remains delayed in appellate courts, a secondary market has emerged.

While the landmark House v. NCAA settlement remains stuck in appellate proceedings, tens of thousands of college athlete class members have yet to receive any payment. This delay affects top former college football and men’s basketball players who could earn over $1.2 million during the settlement’s 10-year span.

However, for at least one claimant, this delay has proven highly profitable.

Since last year, Roman Rashada, a former defensive back at Arizona State University and the University of Mississippi, has earned nearly $1 million as an intermediary. He connects class members seeking immediate cash with companies that purchase future settlement rights.

https://twitter.com/DanielLibit/status/2067259555487093232

Rashada is the top-earning referrer for Athlete Creditor, a subsidiary of Wyoming-based Grand Teton Systems, which has become a major player in purchasing these claims. As detailed in a lengthy Sportico report, these firms, alongside competitor Sycamore Grove Claims, offer athletes discounted lump-sum payments in exchange for the right to collect future settlement payments. To sell a claim, an athlete completes a straightforward application, submits proof of eligibility and ownership, and then receives a buyout offer specifying the upfront amount. Once accepted, funds are usually transferred within days, and the purchasing company assumes the right to future payments.

The industry is expanding rapidly. Other firms, including Student Athlete Claims Group and Centennial Settlement Partners, are also active, each targeting specific segments and offering different rates. Major sports hubs such as Texas, Florida, and California have become key markets due to their large populations of eligible former athletes. Collectively, these firms report acquiring over 9,000 claims with a total face value of approximately $700 million, representing about one-third of the net funds owed to class members.

Through Athlete Creditor’s program, Rashada has facilitated 518 transactions, earning $961,369.27 in referral commissions.

“This was never my plan,” Rashada said. “I never even thought this was possible.”

Rashada’s earnings underscore the growth of a secondary market created by the post-settlement uncertainty in college sports litigation. This is particularly notable because Roman is the older brother of Jaden Rashada, whose high-profile fraud lawsuit over a $13.85 million recruitment package became a prominent legal dispute in the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era.

Why This Market Matters for African American Athletes

This emerging financial sector has a significant impact on African American athletes, who have historically comprised the majority of roster spots in revenue-generating sports such as Division I football and men’s basketball. For decades, the NCAA’s amateur model prevented these athletes from sharing in the billions generated by their efforts.

Although the NCAA antitrust case sought to address these financial inequalities, the extended appellate process continues to delay justice. Many former Black athletes, some facing immediate financial challenges and lacking generational wealth, cannot afford to wait until 2029 for payouts.

As a result, predatory or heavily discounted cash-out options become appealing. Firms typically offer athletes with smaller claims about 35 cents on the dollar. For example, Rashada sold his $40,000 claim for $19,517 to access immediate funds.

Additionally, this secondary market presents significant financial risks. In late 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken required claims purchasers to clearly disclose potential tax liabilities. Legal experts have warned that athletes may remain responsible for taxes based on the full original value of their settlement awards, even after selling them at a substantial discount.

Despite these structural challenges, Rashada’s success represents a rare dynamic in sports business: a former Black athlete acting as an entrepreneur rather than solely as labor. In the same NIL legal environment that affected his brother’s collegiate career, Rashada has leveraged his network to build independent capital.

With hundreds of his referrals still pending, Rashada’s pipeline remains active. His brother, Jaden, now competing at Mississippi State University after resolving his own high-profile NIL lawsuit, is among those who have transferred their claims.

As the legal battle over college sports revenue continues in federal courts, the secondary market is reshaping the financial landscape for the athletes who built the industry.

Haiti, france, reparation, Haitians, Haitian Heritage Month — (Photo: Manuel Augusto Moreno/Getty Images)

by Sidnee Michelle

June 26, 2026

Supreme Court Allows Trump To End TPS Protections For Haitians

Approximately 350,000 Haitians could ultimately lose TPS protections if the administration prevails.

On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Haiti and Syria while legal challenges over the policy continue. This allows the federal government to move forward with terminating deportation protections and work authorization for many affected individuals, NBC News reports.

The court granted the administration’s emergency request to lift lower court orders that had temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security from ending the humanitarian program. The unsigned order does not resolve the underlying lawsuit, which will continue in lower courts.

According to Reuters, approximately 350,000 Haitians and more than 6,000 Syrians could ultimately lose TPS protections if the administration prevails.

Congress established TPS in 1990 to allow people from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States temporarily. Haiti has remained under TPS designations for years because of political instability, gang violence, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises, while Syria’s designation stems from the country’s prolonged civil war.

The Trump administration argued that federal immigration law gives the executive branch broad authority to designate and terminate TPS protections and maintained that the program was never intended to provide permanent legal status. Administration attorneys also contended that courts have limited authority to review those decisions.

Attorneys representing TPS recipients argued that ending the protections would expose hundreds of thousands of longtime U.S. residents to deportation and strip many of their legal authorization to work before the courts determine whether the administration acted lawfully. The plaintiffs also argued that conditions in Haiti and Syria remain too dangerous for many beneficiaries to return safely.

Geoff Pipoly and Andy Tauber, lead counsel in the case before the Supreme Court, said in a joint statement that the Supreme Court’s ruling will “directly result in thousands of innocent people dying violent, needless deaths.”

“This decision will endanger Haitian TPS holders who fled their homeland in pursuit of what generations of immigrants yearned for when they made the painful decision to leave all they have known: to live in safety,” they said.

The decision carries significant economic implications because many TPS holders have lived and worked in the United States for years, contributing to industries such as healthcare, hospitality, construction, and transportation, which are facing labor shortages. Employers and immigrant advocacy organizations warned that ending the protections could disrupt businesses and local economies while creating uncertainty for families with deep ties to communities across the country.

Although the Supreme Court’s order allows the administration to proceed with ending the protections, the broader legal challenge remains pending, meaning additional court rulings could determine whether the policy ultimately takes effect permanently.

Trump, South Africa, Welcome packages, Afrikaners — (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

by Sidnee Michelle

June 26, 2026

What’s Inside Trump’s Proposed Welcome Packages For White South African Refugees

This move has intensified scrutiny over the administration’s immigration priorities as refugee admissions from many other countries remain restricted.

The Trump administration is preparing welcome packages for white South African refugees that include patriotic materials, educational resources, and an Android tablet. This move has intensified scrutiny over the administration’s immigration priorities as refugee admissions from many other countries remain restricted, The New York Times reports.

According to the outlet, government planning documents show the packages are intended for Afrikaners admitted through a refugee initiative created after President Donald Trump alleged white South Africans face racial persecution and violence. South African officials and independent experts have disputed those claims, saying there is no evidence of a genocide targeting the country’s white minority.

The proposed welcome kits include an American flag, copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, an Android tablet, a report produced by Trump’s 1776 Commission, and educational materials from PragerU. The package also contains a children’s book criticizing South Africa’s post-apartheid government by alleging it favors the country’s Black majority, according to documents.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Vocal Politics VPol (@vocalpolitics)

A letter included in the package states: “The Trump administration understands America’s immigration system must put the U.S. citizen first, and only welcome in those who will assimilate into the American way of life and preserve our borders, language, culture, traditions, and ideals.”

The letter continues: “To welcome you to America and help you accustomate [sic] to our heritage, we have provided various educational resources to support your day-to-day life and expand your knowledge of American history and values.”

The administration has largely suspended refugee admissions from several conflict-affected regions while expediting applications from white South Africans, prompting criticism from immigration advocates who argue the policy reflects unequal treatment among refugee populations.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly rejected Trump’s allegations, calling them “untrue statements” about the country. Critics have also questioned the use of taxpayer funds for the proposed welcome packages, noting that refugees entering the United States have not historically received comparable government-issued gifts.

The Trump administration has not publicly announced when the welcome packages would be distributed, and officials told The New York Times the proposal remains under review.