u.s. dollar, decline — (Photo: Pepi Stojanovski/Unsplash)

by Janee Bolden

April 7, 2026

Milagro Gramz Pushes Back on ‘Broke’ Narrative After Megan Thee Stallion Verdict Fallout

“You got people on this internet calling me broke,” she said in the clip. “When the average American makes $50,000… Who you calling broke?”

Milagro “Gramz” Cooper is pushing back on how the internet is framing her finances following her recent legal fallout with Megan Thee Stallion, making it clear she’s not accepting the narrative quietly.

In a new video currently circulating on social media, the blogger and YouTube commentator addressed critics who have labeled her “broke” after losing a deal with Stationhead, a development that comes as she continues to deal with the aftermath of a high-profile defamation case.

“You got people on this internet calling me broke,” she said in the clip. “When the average American makes $50,000… Who you calling broke?”

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Cooper went on to reference her past earnings, noting that she had secured a contract with the platform and was making six figures before losing the deal.

“Y’all found out that I had a contract with Stationhead. So, how much I make a year at least? You tell me,” she said.

Her comments arrive months after a jury found her liable in a lawsuit filed by Megan Thee Stallion, who accused the blogger of spreading false information and participating in a broader online campaign tied to the aftermath of her 2020 shooting involving rapper Tory Lanez.

Jurors initially awarded $75,000 in damages to the Grammy-winning rapper. However, the final judgment reduced the total to $59,000, with U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonagadis dismissing the defamation claim on a technicality related to media defendant protections.

The case also included findings tied to emotional distress and the promotion of a deep fake explicit video.

Against that backdrop, Gramz framed her current situation as shaped not just by lost income but also by perception.

“I had to play the part of a broke [woman]… because I’m up here against a multimillion-dollar company,” she said, alluding to Roc Nation, which manages the Texas rapper.

For Cooper, the issue now is less about the verdict itself and more about what comes after it.

“Since when is a [woman]… who is able to take care of her family… broke?” she asked.

As Black Enterprise previously reported, Cooper launched a GiveSendGo campaign to fund her “independent new media” business following the December verdict.

“In an era where legacy media gatekeepers decide what you see, hear, and think, a new generation of independent creators is breaking through, but independence comes at a cost,” Cooper wrote in the campaign description. “No billionaire backers. No corporate ad dollars with strings attached. Just raw determination… and the support of people who believe information should be free, fearless, and in the hands of those who earn your trust every single day.”

Whether her message resonates or not, it’s clear that even after the courtroom, from Cooper’s perspective, the conversation is far from over.

bookstore, National Black Bookstore Day — (Photo: Amy Osborne for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

by Ahsan Washington

April 7, 2026

Shout Outs To Black-Owned Businesses On National Black Bookstore Day

National Black Bookstore Day recognizes independent bookstores

It’s official. April 7 is now National Black Bookstore Day. The initiative was powered by the former mayor of Sacramento and former NBA star Kevin Johnson. Johnson is also the founder of the National Association of Black Bookstores and the owner of Underground Books.

National Black Bookstore Day recognizes independent bookstores for their essential work in community building and the preservation of historical legacies. Black-owned bookstores have operated as central hubs for activism, civil rights, educational activities, and cultural preservation. The number of Black-owned bookstores in the United States increased from 54 in 2010 to more than 300 to date, proving Black communities do support Black bookstores. Check out these nine nationally recognized Black-owned bookstores.

Marcus Books

Julian and Raye Richardson established this San Francisco bookstore that has remained a fundamental part of Black literary culture in the Bay Area for more than 60 years. The bookstore operates under its second-generation leadership, educating people while serving as a center for activist work and community involvement. Marcus Books focuses on African American literature and history. The store began operations in 1960 and has become the oldest independent bookstore owned by Black Americans in the United States.

The Lit. Bar

Noëlle Santos established the bookstore-and-wine-bar hybrid, The Lit. Bar, which stands as The Bronx’s sole independent bookstore. The store began operations in 2019 with the mission of eliminating “book deserts” and bringing literary resources back to underserved communities.

Hakim’s Bookstore

Hakim’s Bookstore, established by Dawud Hakim in 1959, is Philadelphia’s oldest Black-owned bookstore. The bookstore, which is located in West Philadelphia, is a specialized collection center for Black historical and educational materials.

Baldwin & Co.

DJ Johnson established this contemporary bookstore and coffee space in New Orleans during the early 2020s. The establishment rapidly developed into a community institution that prioritizes literacy and cultural connection.

Source Booksellers

Janet Webster Jones founded this Detroit bookstore, which focuses on nonfiction, health, and social justice topics. The bookstore began operations in 2002, with a mission to foster social change and empower individuals through knowledge.

MahoganyBooks

Couple Derrick and Ramunda founded MahoganyBooks, which became a nationally recognized Black-owned bookstore brand. MahoganyBooks began selling books online in 2007 and added a physical store in 2017 while maintaining its headquarters in Washington, D.C. MahoganyBooks promotes “Black books matter” through its curated selections and author events.

Kindred Stories

Nikki High established Kindred Stories as a Black bookstore and community space in Houston in 2021. The store focuses its literary and programmatic work on Black women and social justice narratives.

For Keeps Books

Rosa Duffy founded For Keeps Books, a rare bookstore that focuses on Black print culture and ephemera. The bookstore started operations in 2018 on Auburn Ave. in Atlanta, Georgia’s Black historic district. Duffy’s goal is to protect rare Black publications and archival materials that are essential to Black history and culture.

Brain Lair Books

Kathy Burnette established Brain Lair Books as a children’s bookstore in South Bend, Indiana, to help children find literature that reflects their own identities. The bookstore started operations in 2019 and specializes in diverse stories that connect with children from every background.

UK, reparations, Caribbean leaders — (Photo: Kristina Gadeikyte/Unsplash)

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 7, 2026

UK ‘Bank Is Closed, Door Is Locked’ Deads Visas From Nations Seeking Slavery Reparations

During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Sir Keir Starmer said this generation should have a conversation about the history of slavery, adding that the UK should be “forward-looking” in its stance on reparations.

Reform UK announced they are stopping visas for people from any country that keeps demanding slavery reparations, calling the measure “insulting,” The Guardian reports.

Over the last 20 years, 3.8 million visas have been issued to people from countries seeking reparations. Although seven European countries, including the UK, enslaved and trafficked over 15 million Africans across the Atlantic, Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, called it “insulting.”

“A growing number of countries are demanding reparations from Britain. These countries ignore the fact that Britain made huge sacrifices to be the first major power to outlaw slavery and enforce this prohibition,” he said.

He continued, “The bank is closed and the door is locked for anyone who wants to “use history as a weapon to drain our treasury.” “The United Kingdom is not an ATM for ethnic grievances of the past, and we will no longer tolerate being ridiculed on the world stage,” he continued.

“While countries like Jamaica, Nigeria and Ghana ramp up their demands for reparations, the Westminster establishment has rewarded them. Enough is enough.”

Yusef’s remarks stem from a 2023 reparations report from former International Court of Justice Judge Patrick Robinson. The report recommended that the UK pay a total of £18.8 trillion — equal to USD $24 trillion — in reparations to 14 countries, according to The Independent. Those countries include Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Belize, Guyana, Suriname, and Montserrat.

But not every European leader feels the same way as Yusef about visas and reparations.

During the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Sir Keir Starmer feels this generation should have a conversation about the history of slavery, adding that the UK should be “forward-looking” in its stance on reparations. “I think our generation can say the slave trade and practice was abhorrent, and we should, you know, we talk about our history,” he said when asked if this generation should be held responsible for the actions of the past.

“We can’t change our history, but we should certainly talk about our history.”

Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves claims Britain can’t afford the hefty price tag of paying reparations for its part in the slave trade.

Reparations have been a topic of conversation both overseas and within the United States, with commissions in California and Illinois making moves.

In Detroit, a reparations initiative is helping Black residents get access to funding for homeownership and trace their ancestral roots. Reparation Generation, a group dedicated to building Black wealth and supporting data for a potential federal reparations program, selected six new recipients for its third round of homeownership grants, with each receiving $25,000 in down payment assistance, home-related expenses, and genealogy research support.

Byron Allen, Allen's, media group, board of directors, 6, named — Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Allen Media Group / Byron Allen

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 7, 2026

Byron Allen Strikes Deal With CBS To Lease Entire Late-Night Slot Following Stephen Colbert’s Exit

Byron Allen is set to take over CBS’s late-night timeslot following the end of Stephen Colbert’s decade-long run next month.

Byron Allen has secured the 11:35 p.m. ET post-local news timeslot on CBS and is set to take over once “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ends next month.

The billionaire media mogul is expected to fill the slot with back-to-back episodes of his “Comics Unleashed” series, shifting it an hour later, Variety reports. The move follows CBS’s decision to lease out the timeslot through the 2026–2027 season, with Allen also securing the 12:37 a.m. hour for his comedy game show “Funny You Should Ask.”

“I created and launched ‘Comics Unleashed’ 20 years ago so my fellow comedians could have a platform to do what we all love –- make people laugh,” Allen said in a statement. “I truly appreciate CBS’ confidence in me by picking up our two-hour comedy block of ‘Comics Unleashed’ and ‘Funny You Should Ask,’ because the world can never have enough laughter.”

Allen, founder, chairman, and CEO of Allen Media Group, has previously paid CBS to air two episodes of “Comics Unleashed,” typically a new episode paired with a rerun, at 12:37 a.m. ET. He first occupied the slot during the 2023–2024 gap between “The Late Late Show With James Corden” and the launch of “After Midnight” in January 2024, and returned to it again in September 2025 after “After Midnight” concluded.

The programming shift comes as “The Late Show” airs its final episode on May 21, closing a franchise that began in 1993 when David Letterman moved to CBS from NBC. Stephen Colbert has hosted the show since Letterman’s 2015 retirement. Allen is set to take over the timeslot the following night, May 22.

CBS may see ratings dip with the loss of “The Late Show,” long the top-rated program in late night, but the network is expected to offset some of that through the leased timeslot. Under a traditional time-buy model, Allen pays for the slot and sells his own advertising, allowing CBS to generate revenue from the arrangement.

It’s a deal Allen had been eyeing from the moment news broke that “The Late Show” would end, telling attendees at New York’s Advertising Week last October, that for “50 years, I’ve been waiting for this moment.”

“Definitely, I’m going for it… I’m investing millions and millions of dollars to prove myself at 12:35,” Allen said.

Al Sharpton, protest — (Photo: Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation)

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 7, 2026

Al Sharpton Plans Redevelopment Of Harlem’s Historic Faison Firehouse Theater As National Action Network’s New Home

Rev. Al Sharpton has acquired a century-old building in Harlem to redevelop it as the new headquarters for the National Action Network.

Rev. Al Sharpton has acquired the Faison Firehouse Theater on Hancock Place in Harlem as part of a redevelopment effort to establish a new headquarters for his National Action Network.

The renowned civil rights leader, who recently spoke at the funeral of his longtime friend and mentor, Rev. Jesse Jackson, announced plans to relocate the National Action Network, the organization he founded in 1991, to the newly acquired Faison Firehouse Theater, which will be transformed into the House of Justice Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Workshop.

“I ain’t gonna be no more famous,” Sharpton told The New York Times. “The question is, what do I leave?”

Rev. Jesse Jackson’s connection to the project goes beyond its name. Sharpton’s civil rights organization, long based in a rented West 145th Street office that Jackson affectionately called the “House of Justice,” is now moving into a permanent home. Jackson’s son, Jesse Jackson Jr., said the shift to ownership reflects his father’s long friendship with Sharpton and his vision of securing lasting stability in the fight for justice.

“My father saw Reverend Sharpton as one of his best students,” Jackson Jr. said. “He called him disciple No. 1.”

The century-old building, originally designed by Howard Constable in 1909 as a firehouse, was later transformed into a community theater and residence by choreographer George Faison in 1999. In March 2025, Faison approached Sharpton about selling the property to a non-developer, leading to the deal. According to NAN Vice Chair Jennifer Jones Austin, the organization expects to invest between $5 million and $7 million in the purchase and renovations.

Sharpton said he envisions the space as a hub for arts and activism rooted in the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance. The project is also part of a broader effort to push back against gentrification in Harlem, where the Black population has steadily declined from about 77% in 2000 to roughly 50% in 2023, while Hispanic and white populations have grown.

“Harlem was the place of political power, and that’s been decimated,” Sharpton said. “I hope the House of Justice represents people that will print their roots and stay right there.”

Kevin McGruder, author of “Race and Real Estate: Conflict and Cooperation in Harlem, 1890–1920,” noted that while neighborhood change is natural, gentrification is different—especially when race plays a role, making it more than just a neutral market shift. Meanwhile, Stephen Wilder of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and principal at Think Wilder Architecture in Harlem emphasized that developers must understand and respect a neighborhood’s history before pursuing new development.

“When you’re in a community, the question is how do you add without taking away,” Wilder said.

flight — Photo by Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

by Mitti Hicks

April 7, 2026

New DHS Secretary Considers Removing International Flights From ‘Sanctuary Cities,’ Raising Concerns

His remarks come at a time when an estimated 5 to 7 million international visitors are expected to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The newly confirmed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin has sparked concern over remarks suggesting a reconsideration of international flights in sanctuary cities.

“If they’re a sanctuary city, should they really be processing customs into their city?” Mullin said during an interview with Fox News Host Bret Baier on Monday.

According to the Vera Institute, while there is no official definition of a sanctuary city, it’s described as a municipality, county, or state that limits the use of local resources for federal immigration enforcement.

Proponents argue that these policies enhance public safety by building trust with immigrant communities, ensuring that victims and witnesses report crimes. Opponents like Mullin say these policies violate federal law and hinder immigration enforcement.

“I believe sanctuary cities are not lawful. I don’t think they’re able to do that … so we’re going to take a hard look at this,” he said during his interview. “Seriously, if they’re a sanctuary city and they’re receiving international flights and we’re asking them to partner with us at the airport, but once they walk out of the airport, they’re not gonna enforce immigration policy. Maybe we need to have a really hard look at that because we need a focus on cities that want to work with us.”

Mullin’s comments align with those of his predecessor, former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and other former Trump administration cabinet members. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a warning letter to 32 “sanctuary jurisdictions” last year, urging them to comply with federal law or face the consequences.

Lawmakers Respond To DHS Secretary’s Remarks On International Flights

Mullin’s comments have sparked backlash online. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Press Office said on X, “If you thought the economy was bad with Trump’s war driving prices at the pump, just wait until international travel is halted at some of the busiest airports in the world.”

If you thought the economy was bad with Trump’s war driving prices at the pump up … just wait until international travel is halted at some of the busiest airports in the world.

Talk about a stupid idea (no wonder it’s being considered by the Trump Admin). https://t.co/nx216afapt
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) April 6, 2026

Since Trump returned to office, international travel in the U.S. has declined. Data from the World Travel & Tourism Council found that the U.S. was on track to lose over $12 billion in international spending in 2025. Mullin’s remarks come at a time when an estimated 5 to 7 million international visitors are expected to travel to the United States for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Juliette Kayyem, former assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs at DHS, also said on X: “Hello World Cup visitors! All but one of the host cities is governed by a Democrat. Mullin is going to learn soon that his ‘floating’ isn’t going to happen.”

Karen Bass, state of los angeles, — Photo: Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

by Mitti Hicks

April 7, 2026

Report: 40% of People Helped By Los Angeles Mayor’s Homelessness Project Have Returned To Streets

Los Angeles has one of the largest and most visible homeless populations in the U.S., with an estimated 43,699 people experiencing homelessness in the city and over 70,000 in the county.

New data shows that about 40% of the nearly 6,000 people helped in Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s project to combat homelessness are back on the street. The numbers were first published in an investigation by the Los Angeles Times.

In 2022, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive order to launch the Inside Safe Program to help people experiencing homelessness in the city. The $300 million project provided people with interim housing, typically in motel rooms.

“Mayor Bass launched Inside Safe – a bold city-wide, voluntary, proactive housing-led strategy to bring people inside from tents and encampments, and to prevent encampments from returning,” a statement from Mayor Bass’s office reads about the project.

Currently, Los Angeles has one of the largest and most visible homeless populations in the U.S., with an estimated 43,699 people experiencing homelessness in the city and over 70,000 in the county. Mayor Bass told the newspaper that she wants to look more into why people are returning to encampments.

“It’s critically important that we look at the people who left, why they left, and what we need to do to strengthen the interim housing that we have,” said Bass. “I have my opinions about it, but the opinions have to be based on science.”

Some people who participated in Mayor Bass’s program told the outlet that the restrictions on guests were “unfair.” Other critics of the program, such as UCLA Law School Professor Emeritus Gary Blasi, said there are not enough housing vouchers or low-cost apartments to provide permanent housing for program members. Instead, the program invests in expensive temporary housing such as motels, which are not long-term solutions.

Mayor Bass, however, is pushing back on the criticism.

“The bottom line is that before Mayor Bass took office, past City leaders didn’t even bother with a comprehensive encampment strategy. Now, after so many years of increases, her new program is driving an almost 18 percent reduction in street homelessness,” Kolby Lee, spokesperson for the mayor, wrote in a statement to BLACK ENTERPRISE. “She is the first mayor in LA history to reverse these numbers, and she’s done it two years in a row while also achieving the first decline in homeless deaths on record.”

Lee continued, “Anyone who has faced homelessness or addiction—or loved someone who has—knows this is a journey that far too often ends in tragedy. Despite this reality, Los Angeles is defying the national trend and making tangible progress that is saving lives, reuniting families, and making our neighborhoods safer.”

In a recent operation in North Hollywood, the Inside Safe program helped more than 40 unhoused Angelenos transition off the streets and into safe and stable housing.

“I’m here to build a better life for myself and my son,” Joshua Johnson said in a statement. Johnson, 22, is a single father to a three-year-old. He was moved into a nearby interim housing site.

“I’m working two jobs and am still falling short. Going inside means a different future for the two of us.

Mayor Bass said her administration is also focused on preventing individuals and families from becoming unhoused in the first place.

Ye, Kanye West, Kamala Harris, Trump — Photo by Gotham/GC Images

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 7, 2026

Ye Banned From U.K. Over Past Antisemitic Remarks

UK officials thwarted Ye's controversial headlining slot by refusing his entry.

Ye has been banned from entering the United Kingdom to perform as a festival headliner.

The Associated Press reported that Ye’s entrance into the European country was denied over his past antisemitic remarks. Before the legal issue, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, was scheduled to perform at the Wireless Festival this July. He also recently released a new project, “Bully,” which was pushed amid Ye’s reformed spotlight.

However, news that he had been barred from entry left the festival without its headliner. With just months before the festival’s scheduled programming, Wireless organizers confirmed that Ye’s visa had been denied, prompting them to cancel the festival.

The BBC detailed that UK officials refused Ye’s entry April 7 because it would not be “conducive to the public good.” The country’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, also confirmed Ye’s denied authorization in a post on X.

Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless.

This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.

We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and…
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 7, 2026

“Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless,” wrote the elected official. “This government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.”

However, news of his anticipated performance had already sparked backlash across the country.

Ye’s now-axed performance in front of 150,000 attendees at London’s Finsbury Park drew major criticism. The controversial rapper previously promoted antisemitic ideals through his commentary and songs, including one track titled “Heil Hitler” with accompanying t-shirts featuring a swastika.

Ye has since apologized for his antisemitic remarks. He released a public apology to the Jewish community in January as he hopes to turn over a new leaf. Amid the pushback to his return to music, Ye offered to speak with the UK Jewish community “to listen” to their concerns about his past behavior.

“I know words aren’t enough — I’ll have to show change through my actions,” he said. “If you’re open, I’m here.”

However, a prominent UK-based Jewish organization agreed to only meet with Ye if he pulled out of the festival.

“The Jewish community will want to see a genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless Festival,” expressed Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Despite their request, Ye planned to proceed with the headliner slot until the government’s intervention. The festival’s organizer also upheld their stance to include the infamous artist. The statement emphasized that his platform would focus only on his beloved music catalog, not on his past opinions.

“We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions,” shared Festival Republic’s managing director, Melvin Benn, in a statement.

Despite his international disgrace, Ye has reclaimed the stage in the United States, recently performing at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Jake Paul — photo credit: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 7, 2026

Jake Paul Considers Blackface In Response To Druski’s Conservative Women Skit, ‘We Should Make Fun Of Each Other’

Jake Paul admits to considering blackface in response to Druski's controversial conservative white women skit.

Jake Paul is facing backlash after suggesting he might appear in blackface in response to a recent Druski skit in which the comedian portrayed a white conservative woman.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer recently joined Theo Von on his “This Past Weekend” podcast, where he voiced support for Druski’s latest skit and criticized the backlash from Republicans who found the video offensive.

“Honestly, it’s fu–ing hilarious. I loved it,” Paul admitted. “I’m obviously Republican, and all the Republicans being mad about this sh-t is like a fu–ing L for Republicans because this is fu–ing hilarious. And even though it’s fu–ing dark and twisted, this is what comedy fu–ing is—that we are fu–ing humans. Let’s make fun of ourselves, and there’s truth in this. An extreme truth, and people weren’t ready for that.”

Paul said he enjoyed Druski’s skit so much that he has even been reaching out to makeup artists for a response video.

“I want to ask you something because I’ve been, over the last couple of days, calling makeup artists, and I was going to do a response to this [Druski’s video] and like go and do like the full on,” Paul said in a clip shared online.

“Darker?” Von asked, and Paul confirmed that was exactly what he had in mind.

“And do it and just do it back, because why not?” Paul said. “Like, are we on the same playing field?”

Jake Paul says he’s planning to do a blackface skit in response to Druski’s viral skit. pic.twitter.com/mfLnCmoyc5
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) April 5, 2026

When Von suggested the bit would need “some Black support”—like involving Druski or Charles Barkley—to land properly, Paul pushed back, arguing that relying on that would be a cop-out.

“That’s pu–ying out,” Paul insisted. “Doesn’t that make us more prejudiced? … That makes us [prejudiced] if we have to partner with someone. Duski just dropped this.”

He continued, “We should fu–ing make fun of each other. And I don’t see in color, I see in truth and comedy. So like, what are we talking about? What era are we living in?”

Paul’s comments quickly ignited debate online, with some supporting his idea as a response to Druski’s skits, while others pushed back, arguing that any use of blackface is inherently racist and reflects a need for greater understanding of its history.

“And yes, that will be racist. The fact people don’t understand why blackface is bad, and different from what Druski did, is proof of our poor education system and racism,” one X user wrote.

“Fake a– victims yo. They should try slavery on for size too,” another user quipped.

beer, craft beef, Black Woman-owned Brewery, Minnesota, brewer — Photo by Rachel Claire: https://www.pexels.com/photo/bartender-pouring-beer-5531043/

by Ahsan Washington

April 7, 2026

Have A Cold Brew At A Black-Owned Brewery For National Beer Day

National Beer Day pays homage to the most-drunk alcohol beverage worldwide.

National Beer Day is upon us and what better way than to celebrate with Black brewers.

BLACK ENTERPRISE is focusing on modern industry access and ownership. Namely, a handful of brewers and beer brands that operate between Atlanta and Los Angeles, creating beer while simultaneously establishing diversity in taste, transforming industry, and broadening craft beer participation.

The beer industry’s growth continues through these brands that demonstrate that Black ownership in brewing remains vital to both the cultural development and the industry’s future prospects.

Atlantucky Brewing (Atlanta)

Atlantucky Brewing emerged from the combination of musical talent and business acumen between Nappy Roots members Skinny DeVille and Fish Scales, and brewer Brandon Garnett. Atlantucky Brewing functions as a contract brewing brand while developing its own brewing facilities. Atlantucky creates its market position through a cultural approach that uses music industry connections to access a brewing space with scarce Black ownership. The brewery, which joined the national “Black Is Beautiful” initiative to connect its product with social impact efforts, regularly hosts cultural events.

Beale Street Brewing Co. (Memphis)

Beale Street Brewing Co. was founded by Kelvin Kolheim to integrate Memphis musical traditions into its brewing processes and to promote diversity within the brewing industry. The brewery concept pairs specific beer styles with musical selections to create a sensory experience that pays tribute to Beale Street’s musical roots in Memphis. Each product showcases Memphis through its blues-themed packaging and narrative-driven taste profiles.

Black Beauty Brewery (Bowie, MD)

The Black Beauty Brewery was founded in 2020 by Sheldon and Brittany Goins, a married couple, who faced financial challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. After losing his job, Sheldon turned his homebrewing hobby into a commercial business, which became the first Black-owned brewery in Bowie, Maryland. The brand began with limited production runs but now sells its products throughout Maryland.

Black Horizon Brewing Company (Willowbrook, IL)

Charles St. Clair established Black Horizon Brewing Company, a small-batch community-focused brewing operation in the Chicago suburbs. The company combines taproom operations with intentional partnerships that generally involve working with Black brewers to increase their exposure and focusing on local community connections and partnerships to create sustainable growth.

Brown Girls Brew (New York City)

In 2021, Christina Thomas created Brown Girls Brew to create a space where Black women would lead and engage with craft beer culture. The NYC-based brand uses pop-ups, partnerships, and community events to operate instead of running a traditional brewery. Thomas saw the small number of Black women in craft beer and wanted to build community events that put inclusion front and center.

Grown Folks (Los Angeles)

In 2024, Danica Dias launched Grown Folks, a Black- and woman-owned beverage brand, after developing it throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Dias, a hospitality professional, founded the company to showcase the cultural and culinary heritage of her Louisiana Creole background. The brand combines craft beer with ready-to-drink innovation through its Front Porch American light lager, and soul food-inspired hard seltzers, including Peach Cobbler and Ambrosia flavors.

Kitsune Brewing Co. (Phoenix)

Tyler Smith established Kitsune Brewing Co. as a craft beer brand which distinguishes itself through its worldwide branding approach and story-based marketing strategy that integrates Japanese elements. Smith’s approach shows how Black-owned beer brands have begun to investigate conceptual global influences and markets beyond standard traditional markets.