Trump, Iran War, inflation, NAACP, Democrats
by Sharelle B. McNair

March 20, 2026

U.S Mint Greenlights Production Of Trump’s ‘Large As Ever’ Commemorative Coin After Design Approval

The coin design is another move where Trump is pushing his image.

America’s 250th anniversary celebration is underway after the final design of a 24-karat gold commemorative coin with President Donald Trump’s image was approved, the Associated Press reports. 

The design was unanimously approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a commission where all members were appointed by and are avid fans of the 47th president.

The approval gives the U.S. Mint permission to start production on the coin. 

The coin design is another move where Trump is pushing his image, which U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach referred to as “emblematic” and other unprecedented ways to get what he wants.

“As we approach our 250th birthday, we are thrilled to prepare coins that represent the enduring spirit of our country and democracy, and there is no profile more emblematic for the front of such coins than that of our serving President, Donald J. Trump,” Beach said in a statement. 

It’s the latest example of the indicted leader making his place in the historical archive, after renaming the U.S. Institute of Peace, the Kennedy Center performing arts venue and a new class of battleships after himself.   

Coin holders will see Trump standing with fists on his desk, which Trump aide Chamberlain Harris says is “a very strong and very tough image of him,” according to CNN, in addition to the word “LIBERTY” spelled out above the dates 1776 and 2026. 

With an eagle soaring in the back, it references another recent White House photo installed at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. The size and denomination are still being discussed, but the commission’s vice chair, James McCrery, said the coin should be “large as ever.”

“I think the president likes big things. Is two inches a good starting point and to work up from there?” said McCrery, the original architect of Trump’s massive 89,000-square-foot ballroom project before he was replaced.

“I think the larger the better, and the largest of that circulation, I think, would be his preference,” Harris said.  

Of course, social media users put in their two cents about what the coin should look like, include images of Trump and Jeffrey Epstein side-by-side.

Another X user questioned whether there are legal proceedings that prohibit images of living presidents from appearing on money.

“I thought there was a law about not putting living presidents on coins. Oh yeah, that was when we were a nation of laws instead of a criminal cult dictatorship,” @carolyn_from wrote. 

There are no laws banning sitting presidents from appearing on commemorative coins; Calvin Coolidge appeared on one in 1926. But the commission is also reviewing a proposed $1 Trump coin, which has raised legal questions because a law prohibits the display of a sitting president or a living former president on currency.

Report Finds DNA Collected From Detained Anti-ICE Protesters
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 20, 2026

Report Finds DNA Collected From Detained Anti-ICE Protesters

There is growing concern over the number of anti-ICE protesters being detained and having their DNA collected.

New findings show that DNA samples are being collected from detained anti-ICE protesters, even at times when no criminal charges have been filed.

In recent months, at least six people in Illinois, Oregon, and Minnesota have reported similar experiences of being detained after filming or protesting ICE activity and having their DNA collected, NPR reports. In sworn statements tied to lawsuits over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement practices, they say they were arrested without clear provocation and that officers took what appeared to be DNA samples.

“Are six cases enough to be concerned as a pattern? I think yes, because history tells us that what law enforcement is permitted to do, they tend to do more of,” said Erin Murphy, a law professor at New York University.

The federal government has broad authority to collect DNA from people who have been arrested or are facing charges. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said federal law requires law enforcement to gather DNA samples in such cases. However, legal experts argue that this authority may be overly expansive.

“What law enforcement would say is, ‘these were people that were facing charges,’” Murphy said. “What are the charges they’re facing if it’s civil immigration authorities doing what seems to be unlawful interference with First Amendment rights? Even if that’s the asserted basis, is that constitutional? I think the answer should be clearly no.”

While laws permit DNA collection—such as a 2013 Supreme Court ruling upholding it for certain arrests—those decisions included limits, like requiring a lawful arrest tied to a serious crime. Stanford law professor Orin Kerr says the key issue now is whether the arrests of ICE protesters were legally justified in the first place.

“What you worry about is an officer making a decision in the field that a person committed a crime when they might not have. Maybe they were doing something protected under the First Amendment,” Kerr said. “The officer says, ‘I think you crossed the line, I’m going to arrest you.’ It turns out the officer was wrong, but the DNA test has been conducted, and the information has been entered into the database. What then?”

The concern centers on how sensitive DNA is, as it can reveal ancestry, health risks, and even personal traits. Experts warn that such data could be misused, not just affecting individuals, but entire families. As Murphy put it, collecting someone’s DNA is like accessing their entire family tree, including future generations.

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Literacy Crisis, Teacher
by Kandiss Edwards

March 20, 2026

Educators Attempt Guinness World Record For Longest History Lesson

The marathon lecturers' curriculum started with ancient African civilizations and progressed through the Civil Rights Movement.

Two veteran educators ended a grueling 33-hour teaching marathon on African and African American history in an attempt to earn recognition as the Guinness World Record holders for the Longest History Lesson.

Covering 5,000 years of history, Dr. Anita Lewis, a Texas-based educator, and Gwendolyn Ebron aimed to set a new Guinness World Record. Additionally, the women were protesting the marginalization of Black history in public schools. Dr. Lewis, and Ebron, a Philadelphia teacher, completed the “reclamation” lesson on Feb. 28 at the Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, Chestnut Hill Local reported.

The initiative was designed as a direct response to legislative efforts across the country that have restricted the teaching of “divisive concepts” and systemic racism. Lewis and Ebron argued that their 33-hour lesson serves as a form of educational protest, ensuring that vital history remains accessible even as it is being removed from some state-approved curricula.

“In light of the things that have been going on at the state, local and national levels regarding the erasure of African and African American history, my protest has always been through education,” Lewis told the outlet. “While they’re looking to remove our history from the walls, they can’t remove it from our minds.”

The marathon lecturers’ curriculum began with ancient African civilizations and progressed to cover the transatlantic slave trade, the Reconstruction era, and the modern Civil Rights Movement. To meet strict Guinness World Record criteria, the duo was required to teach nonstop with only one five-minute break allowed per hour. The attempt was live streamed globally via Urban Intellectuals, an organization dedicated to providing resources on Black history, according to Chestnut Hill Local.

The event drew significant community support, with audience members traveling to Philadelphia to witness the endurance feat. The educators utilized interactive engagement activities and affirmations in the lesson.

“This is more than a record attempt; it is a reclamation,” Ebron noted in a press statement. “We are teaching the history that shaped the world, honoring the resilience and global impact of African people across millennia.”

While the certification is currently under review by Guinness World Records. Until the final certification, Andrew Torget, another Texas educator, still holds the record at 26 hours and  34 minutes.

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Atlanta, Meals on Wheels
by Kandiss Edwards

March 20, 2026

Meals On Wheels Atlanta Needs Volunteers As Need Has Doubled

Meals On Wheels Atlanta (MOWA) currently prepares approximately 1,800 meals daily.

Atlanta’s elderly population continues to struggle with food insecurity. Meals on Wheels Atlanta is addressing the growing need by employing top- tier culinary talent and calling for donations and volunteers.

 Meals On Wheels Atlanta (MOWA) currently prepares approximately 1,800 meals daily. However, Atlanta’s need is increasing, nearly doubling this year, according to WSB-TV reporting.

Executive Chef Christopher Kelly, a veteran of the Four Seasons hotel chain, leads the organization’s culinary efforts. After an 11-year career in kitchens from London to Miami, Kelly joined MOWA to utilize his high-level cooking skills in the service of those in need. Kelly prepares nutritionally tailored menus for the city’s most vulnerable residents.

“The reason why I started was to nourish people and to help people,” Kelly said to WSB-TV. “To do that for people who can’t help themselves was a big gain for me.”

The impact of the program extends beyond nutrition. For many isolated seniors, the Meals on Wheels delivery person is the only human contact some elders receive all day. The direct interaction often aids in identifying seniors in medical distress who might otherwise have gone unnoticed.

“Each meal served represents more than nutrition; it represents social interaction and well-being checks for those who might otherwise be isolated,” said Charlene Crusoe-Ingram, CEO of Meals On Wheels Atlanta, to Rough Draft Atlanta.

The good works of the organization have not gone unnoticed. In February 2026, the Georgia State Senate formally adopted a resolution to acknowledge the institution’s six decades of service to the Atlanta area. Sen. RaShaun Kemp, the sponsor of the resolution, told Rough Draft Atlanta that the group’s work reflects a “shared responsibility” to protect the dignity of the elderly. 

There are multiple ways to support  MOWA in its mission to expand its care and offer services to more Atlanta elders. Donations are always welcome, and volunteers are needed. Check out the organization’s official website for details.

RELATED CONTENT: Atlanta Leaders Declare Food Emergency, Halts Water Shutoffs Amid Federal SNAP Threat

Tim Scott
by Sharelle B. McNair

March 20, 2026

The Switch-Up: Sen. Tim Scott Preps For A 2028 Re-election Bid After Claiming 2022 Would Be His Last

It's a massive switch-up after reaffirming in 2019 that he had no interest in running for political office after the 2022 election season.

South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott (SC), the sole Black elected senator, is seeking re-election for a third term in 2028 after initially claiming he was done in 2022, the Post & Courier reports. 

The announcement comes after making a promise on the U.S. Senate floor in 2014, saying he is a firm believer in term limits. He promised to finish out the final two-year term of former Sen. Jim DeMint and then hoped to be re-elected to two full six-year terms. But now that has changed as Scott hopes to take on a higher-profile role to support Senate Republicans’ campaign efforts.

“And I’ll say without any question that as I think about my own reelection in 2028, I think about all the lessons I’ve learned on the campaign trail for all these other candidates, and frankly, even in South Carolina,” Scott told the Post & Courier. 

“The more I travel the state, the more I travel the country, the more I realize the important role that we play in the majority.”

It’s a massive switch-up after reaffirming in 2019 that he had no interest in running for political office after the 2022 election season. “I plan to run for re-election, but that will be my last one, if I run,” he said at an event, heard by more than 250 people.

But when asked again during a phone interview if he misspoke, there was another switch-up, saying, “Oh no, no. I meant 2028.”

Ahead of the hotly contested midterm election season, Democrats have an opportunity to take control of the House, putting a major dent in the Trump administration’s agenda. But Scott could have an opportunity for re-election due to past support. 

According to WIS10, Scott won re-election bids in 2016 and 2022, receiving close to 60% of the vote both times. 

Despite claiming he had no plans to run again, South Carolina Democratic leaders don’t seem to be surprised.

Democratic Party Chair Christale Spain criticized Scott’s announcement, saying, “Shocker! A Republican makes a term limit pledge and then walks it back. Guess that’s what happens when Donald Trump doesn’t want you in his cabinet,” she said.

Leaders feel his switch-up is proof that the 60-year-old senator was long thinking about breaking his promise as a way to keep his position of power in Washington. 

Social media users and potential voters seem to agree. “Saw that one coming he needs to keep himself relevant to run for president,” @HenryCabot1960 wrote on X.

Another user touched on his work as the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), calling it a “disaster.” 

Republicans seemingly agree, accusing Scott of not taking his role seriously, not making candidate-recruitment visits or fundraising calls, and leaving the responsibility to other committee members. 

A veteran Republican strategist even labeled interactions with the committee as “the most unprofessional I have ever seen.”

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Cuba, fuel sanctions
by Mitti Hicks

March 20, 2026

Cuba Moves To End Medical Diplomacy Across Caribbean, South America Amid U.S. Pressure

For the last few decades, Cuban doctors have had a significant presence across the Caribbean and South America, staffing hospitals and serving rural communities where there is a gap.

In what has been considered medical diplomacy, Cuban doctors have had a significant presence across the Caribbean and South America, staffing hospitals and serving rural communities where care is scarce.

According to the Associated Press, Cuban doctors have worked in various countries for decades under an agreement that has earned the Cuban government money for sending their doctors to places in dire need. However, the tide is shifting, as the Trump administration has described it as forced labor.

In recent days, Guyana and Jamaica have ended their long-standing medical cooperation agreements with Havana amid intensifying pressure from Washington, D.C. Guyana Health Minister Frank Anthony told reporters that Cuban authorities decided to end the program after nearly 50 years. The two governments could not reach an agreement after Guyanese officials moved to negotiate providing full salaries to doctors and nurses, in contrast to the Cuban government.

But it’s not just in Guyana.

According to Forbes, Jamaica announced it would also terminate its decades-old medical mission, since the two governments couldn’t agree on new terms. Cuban doctors have recently left Honduras after Cuba suspended a contract. There could be more, as several other Caribbean countries, including The Bahamas, Antigua, Dominica, and St. Lucia, consider changing how they pay Cuban doctors as well.

U.S. Pressure Intensifies In Cuba

Cuba’s decision to remove its medical diplomacy in at least three countries so far comes as the Trump administration takes measures to isolate the Cuban government, which includes a blockade of oil shipments to the island. Cuba is currently struggling with a severe economic crisis and an energy crisis that has worsened with the U.S. blockade. One contributing factor to the current energy crisis is the fuel shortages following the reduction in Venezuelan oil shipments that have helped power the island.

So far, residents are feeling the pressure. Cuba is experiencing islandwide blackouts as its power grid crumbles. On X, the Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed a “complete disconnection” of the country’s electrical system and said it would investigate the outages.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, this blackout marks the third major one in Cuba in just four months. Some of its power challenges stem from eroding infrastructure, but Cuban officials blame the U.S. energy blockade.

In recent days, protests have erupted across parts of the island as citizens have become frustrated by food shortages and blackouts lasting more than a dozen hours a day.

According to NBC News, daily life in Havana has changed dramatically.

Few cars are visible on the streets, and buses don’t run for most of the day. Buses go out around 6 a.m. and return around 4 p.m. Most residents cannot afford taxis, and massive piles of trash are accumulating.

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Master P, Arizona State, coaching
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 20, 2026

Master P Is Eyeing Head Coaching Position At Arizona State

He's presently president of Basketball Operations for the University of New Orleans.

Master P is a serial entrepreneur and a known risk-taker, traits that have led to his success. Now, after having the role of President of Basketball Operations for the University of New Orleans (UNO) for a little over a year, he is setting his sights on being the head coach at Arizona State.

According to Sports Illustrated, the man born Percy Miller is considering becoming a basketball head coach after earlier attempts to play in the NBA. In his present position, he has helped turn around a program that went 4-27 before his hire, ending the current season with a 15-18 record. With that success in only a year, despite a minimal budget, he feels he would do better at a bigger school with a larger budget.

His interest in the Arizona State coaching position was recently revealed via social media by Sporting News‘ Kyle Odegard.

While expressing interest in coaching at Arizona State, he explained why he believes his approach to building a successful college basketball program goes beyond the players’ talent and smarts.

The path to landing such a position would not be the traditional one, as he is not the typical college coach. Yet he would put in “old-fashioned hard work” to ensure the players succeeded, as he would have a genuine investment in each of their futures. With the small budget UNO operated on this past season, he made progress and feels that with more funding, he would do better.

“If I had the level of funding the major programs have, we would run circles around these people.”

“They’re afraid that I might succeed. Man, they don’t want me there.”

Financial literacy would be one of the focal points for the New Orleans native, especially given the NIL deals floating around players these days. He advises student-athletes to start an LLC or corporation as their first off-court move to ensure their financial success.

“For a lot of these kids, this is the first time their families have seen money of that magnitude,” he said. “You need to know what to do with your money and how money works. That’s how you close the generational wealth gap.”

Given his values, he believes he would do well at an institution like Arizona State.

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Gunna, lawsuit
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 20, 2026

Gunna’s Touring Company Sues Promotions Company For $750K Accusing It Of Fraud

This was for an event Gunna performed at during the X Games in Aspen in January 2026.

Atlanta rapper Gunna and his touring company have sued a promotional team, alleging it failed to remit payment for a January show in Colorado.

According to Complex, Gunna Touring LLC has filed a lawsuit against Mickle & Mickle Productions and its CEO, Daphney Mickle Golden, alleging fraud for failing to pay the guaranteed $500,000, plus an additional $250,000 contingency fee. This was for an event Gunna performed at during the X Games in Aspen in January 2026.

Mickle Golden’s LinkedIn page lists the company as being based in Ossining, NY.

The suit, filed in California, states that the touring company believes the contracting entity is “a trade name, fictitious business name, or nonexistent” after searching several public registries across multiple states. Gunna Touring wants Mickle Golden and her entertainment attorney, Ezekiel Bottorff, to be personally liable for the $750,000 debt for acting on behalf of a nonexistent company. They have also included other defendants, Stars in Action, Inc., and its CEO, Raiza Rangl; who are accused of helping coordinate the event and allegedly assuring Gunna’s team that payment was secure.

The complaint details a purported “coordinated scheme” by the named litigants. 

After Gunna completed his performance, his team was not given the funds and were promised that the money was tied to international gold commodities and a “major alcohol brand.” The team was allegedly told that the funds could be “pulled and borrowed from the NYC Iconic St. Paddy’s Day Parade.” The defendants provided Gunna’s team with a credit card that was supposedly blocked after the performance, leaving Gunna’s team stranded with a $50,000 hotel bill. They also state in the lawsuit that Rangl attempted to illegally deduct $7,800 in hotel fees from Gunna’s guaranteed payment.

Gunna is seeking punitive damages for civil conspiracy and aiding and abetting fraud.

Official Charts reports that Gunna will host his Wunna Run 5K when he hits London next week. He has two shows there, starting on March 25.

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Walmart, discrimination lawsuit
by Kandiss Edwards

March 20, 2026

White Woman Laid Hands On A Walmart Customer And ‘FAFO’

Her hands wrote a check her caucasity couldn't cash.

A Walmart customer identified as Rhonda is going viral after knocking out a white woman, who was accused of theft.

The confrontation began when Rhonda, a bystander and shopper observed store employees confronting a white woman under suspicion of shoplifting. Rhonda began filming the interaction with her phone as documenting experiences for social media has become the norm.

“There was an argument about her shoplifting. So, I thought, I better capture this on tape,” Rhonda told police.

The unnamed shopper did not appreciate being recorded as she was questioned about a potential crime and subsequently assaulted Rhonda. 

Rhonda’s response to the assault was not filmed as her phone was thrown to the floor. However, once she retrieved the device, she admits to knocking the white woman out and busting her nose. 

“Did you hit me. I knocked your a** out… Don’t you ever put your hands on me I tried to break your motherf**king nose B**ch,” Rhonda says facing the camera.

As the Walmart Karen walked into the parking lot both women began to tell their sides of the story to law enforcement. 

“She hit me and I knocked that b**tch out. I damn sure did. She is bleeding, call the medics,” she continued.

While Rhonda attempted to provide a public service by recording an alleged crime in progress many other Walmart altercations are not so altruistic. Social media is flooded with videos of behavior that can be construed as absurd, violent, justified, or hilarious. Usually, the combatants in the videos remain nameless but the documentation forever lives on social media.

@BrandonStraka posted an altercation that began with line-cutting: “Checkout chaos at Walmart after a line-cutter confrontation escalates. “

@CrazyClips shared an fight that began with a shopping cart collision: “Walmart Employee Serves Knock Out After Being Crushed With Trolley.”

@LASHYBILLS revealed an instance of self-defense: “Karen gets Soul Smacked then Rocked with a Clean Right Hook after kicking a woman at Check stand 1 in Walmart…”

@FighttimeHQ posted a clip of an employee who took his asset protection duties too far: “Walmart Employee Tries Choking Customer For Not Scanning Items — Gets Knocked Out Instead.”

The videos are seemingly endless. Its safe to say, Walmart is building a reputation as an establishment “where shopping is a pleasure” and conflict is near.

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Ultra, Black woman, lawsuit, Black hair
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 20, 2026

Ulta Beauty Salon Sued For Allegedly Telling Black Mother, Daughter It Doesn’t Do Their ‘Kind Of Hair’

Lauren Smith and her 7-year-old daughter allege they were denied service at a Manhattan location despite confirmed appointments.

An Ulta Beauty salon in New York City’s upscale Upper East Side is facing backlash after a lawsuit revealed employees allegedly refused service to a Black customer and her young daughter, telling them they don’t handle their “kind of hair.”

A racial discrimination lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan outlines what allegedly occurred when Lauren Smith and her 7-year-old daughter, identified as C.M., visited Ulta Beauty’s East 86th St. location on July 6, 2025, and were denied service, Gothamist reported. According to the complaint, employees cited their hair “type” and “texture,” claimed inexperience with “your kind of hair,” and criticized them for not disclosing in advance “what kind of hair” they had.

The lawsuit claims the mother and daughter had their hair fully covered in locs during the interaction, and that no employee actually examined it. The plaintiffs, both professional models, say they arrived for confirmed hair appointments at the East 86th Street location ahead of a photoshoot but were denied service.

According to the lawsuit, their stylist said she was “not comfortable” working with their hair type, and a store manager backed the refusal, criticizing them for not specifying their hair texture when booking. The complaint alleges the explanation was a pretext for race-based discrimination.

“This discriminatory treatment occurred in full view of other customers, causing severe humiliation to Ms. Smith and traumatic distress to her 7-year-old daughter, who left the store crying hysterically and asking, ‘What is wrong with my hair?’ and ‘Why can’t I go there if there are brown girls [in ads] on the walls?’” the complaint states.

The lawsuit argues the salon’s refusal violates New York State Human Rights Law, which bans discrimination based on traits linked to race, including hair texture, as well as state cosmetology rules requiring stylists to serve all hair types. It also alleges violations of federal civil rights law.

Citing broader inequities, the complaint notes many people with textured hair lack access to trained stylists and calls the incident part of a wider pattern of discrimination. The suit seeks damages, mandated training for staff, and other relief.

The complaint, filed by attorney Wendy Dolce, alleges the incident reflects a broader pattern of “systemic corporate indifference” at Ulta Beauty, citing past reports and claims of similar behavior. It references 2019 allegations from employees accusing the company of racial profiling — claims Ulta denied at the time, saying it was “disappointed” and reaffirming its commitment to “equality, inclusivity, and acceptance.”

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