by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 20, 2026

This Ramadan, Here Are Ways Employers and Co-Workers Can Support Their Muslim Colleagues

These methods can help support Muslim workers as they abstain from food and drink during the day.

As Ramadan has begun for Muslims around the world, employers should understand how this holy month may affect colleagues observing it and how to support them.

Ramadan is a pillar of Islam that requires Muslims of mature age, usually at the start of puberty, to fast from sunrise to sunset for an entire new moon cycle. The fast involves abstaining from food and water, with this restraint practiced for 12 to 16 hours a day, depending on one’s location and time of year.

With this in mind, employers and coworkers can support Muslim employees through a variety of ways as they make their commitment to fast for the next month, as detailed by Ing.org. This support could not only help their observing coworkers feel acknowledged and uplifted with their religious beliefs, but also provide new avenues for them to stay productive during the fast.

When possible, employers often allow for flexible work hours that accommodate the fasting times. As Muslims wake up before sunrise to eat suhoor, their pre-fasting meal, they ask to begin work around this time.

This shift adjustment also helps them end their workday before breaking their fast. For those working evening hours, granting an extended dinner break can allow Muslims to eat and recharge ahead of returning to their shifts.

During Ramadan, Muslims are especially encouraged and attentive to prayer times, which occur five times a day. Employers can also adjust break times to align with these prayers so that Muslim colleagues can perform their salats (prayers in Arabic) at the correct times.

The entire ritual usually takes between 10 to 15 minutes, so about the time of a standard work break. If possible, employers can also provide a clean, small room so that Muslims can do the prayer in a private space.

While Muslims are abstaining from food, a polite way to showcase one’s solidarity is to limit food-centered meetings for the next few weeks. Employers can also implement hybrid work options to help Muslims, as many often battle fatigue as they adjust to Ramadan.

The last 10 days of Ramadan are considered the most important, with a special night of prayer held during this time. Following these days, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic festival marking the end of Ramadan. Offering certain days off will ensure Muslim colleagues can celebrate the end of an important month with family and fellow observers.

Most importantly, fostering a tolerant, inclusive work environment comes with understanding and recognizing these different celebrations. A kind gesture of “Ramadan Mubarak” or “Eid Kareem” can not only be a display of community but also ensure that Muslim employees feel seen and considered, especially at this special time of year.

Housing market, southern metros, Atlanta, Florida, equity

by Jameelah Mullen

February 20, 2026

Mortgage Rates Drop To Lowest In A Month As Refinancing Demand Climbs

This recent economic trend could help homeowners save money.

Are you considering refinancing your home? Now could be the perfect time since mortgage rates last week fell to their lowest level in about a month.

The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan amounts of $832,750 or less dropped to 6.17% from 6.21%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The decline led more borrowers to refinance their homes to save money. Refinance applications rose by 7% this week and are 132% higher than the same week last year.

“Mortgage applications rose last week as the lowest rates in four weeks helped to revive some refinance activity. Treasury yields ended the week lower as weaker data on retail sales and home sales outweighed better-than-expected readings on the job market for January,” Joel Kan, MBA’s vice president and deputy chief economist, said in a press release.

The average contract interest rate for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) 30‑year fixed‑rate mortgages dropped to 5.99% from 6.01%, while points fell to 0.65 from 0.68 for 80% of loan-to-value (LTV) loans.

However, the rate decrease didn’t impact those looking to buy a home. Overall, mortgage applications dropped 3% this week, except for VA purchases, which increased by 4%. Although lower rates didn’t motivate many potential buyers, the rise in refinances boosted mortgage demand by 2.8% compared to the previous week.

The National Homeowners Association (NAR) reports that sales of previously owned homes in January experienced a larger-than-expected 8.4% decline from December. The drop marks the largest decline since February 2022. Experts cite consumer trust in the economy and housing supply as reasons for the decline. Mortgage rates didn’t change during this short holiday week, but data set for release later in the week may alter the current trajectory, CNBC reports. In general, however, mortgage rates have been hovering in a narrow range, between 6 and 6.25%, since the beginning of 2025.

Actress ,Harvard’s American Repertory Theater, lawsuit

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 20, 2026

Law Student Wins Landmark Ruling Recognizing Endometriosis As A Disability In Discrimination Case

A law student secured a historic win in North Carolina, marking the first case to recognize endometriosis as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

A 27-year-old law student has made history after winning the first case in North Carolina to recognize endometriosis as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Christian “Cece” Worley recently secured a near six-figure settlement in her disability discrimination case against the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, alleging the agency failed to provide accommodations after she disclosed symptoms of endometriosis in May 2022, USA Today reports.

The landmark case sets a new precedent in North Carolina, paving the way for endometriosis to be recognized as a disability and potentially strengthening workplace accommodation protections for those living with the condition.

“I knew that I wasn’t alone in this fight, and I knew that there were hundreds of other women who also suffer from this,” Worley said of filing her amended complaint and representing herself. “If there was any time to be able to make a change, it could be now.”

Worley says she spent much of her life battling menstrual pain she described as “hell on Earth,” and it wasn’t until college that a concerned professor suggested she might have endometriosis, a condition affecting about 1 in 10 women that often goes undiagnosed for years.

For years, Worley went undiagnosed as she struggled with severe symptoms at work. After requesting remote days during her menstrual cycle and time off for fertility appointments, she says her employer denied accommodations and warned her about discipline.

Though she initially lost a workplace complaint and was told by several lawyers her case was unlikely to succeed, Worley chose to represent herself, ultimately securing a settlement that led to North Carolina’s first ruling recognizing endometriosis as a disability under the ADA.

“Not only does it validate hundreds of millions of women’s experiences that this pain is real, but it also gives them something to look to legally,” she said. “When they’re in HR offices, they can say, ‘Hey, this is something that can be accommodated under the ADA, so what can be done for me in my situation?'”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 20, 2026

Morehouse Alum Expands Local Nonprofit To Inspire Youth With STEAM Opportunities

Grant Bennett launched the Two-Six Project to inspire kids in his hometown to pursue any field.

A Morehouse alum is sowing his communal roots in STEAM opportunities, particularly for his city’s youth.

Inspired by hometown heroes of his own, Grant Bennett wanted to pave a way for the young students in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to build bright futures. Understanding the versatility of courses in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics, Bennett built his own organization to get kids excited about professional ambitions.

In 2019, Bennett launched The Two-Six Project. The organization provides leadership development and educational resources to underserved youth in Fayetteville. Headquartered at the historic Orange Street school, a renovated community space that once served as the first publicly funded schools for Black youth in the city, Two-Six hosts its own “Labs,” ranging from a music studio, garden, and auxiliary room for participants.

“My mission really is to promote true agendas of freedom. I believe that in my corporate work and the work I do now. I want to show people there’s no limits to anything that you can do,” the Google employee explained to Afrotech.

The organization’s offerings include its signature Emerging Leaders Development Program, in which high schoolers can gain college-readiness, mentorship, and financial literacy education. Another avenue lies in its STEAM scholars program, introducing participants to robotics, coding, and sustainable energy, showcasing the possibilities and creativity of unique fields.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Two-Six Project (@thetwosixproject)

“So I think part of our job is to showcase and give them the exposure to what can be, what these industries are, and giving them that foundational knowledge to at least know that it’s there,” added the Morehouse alum.

However, the Two-Six Project does not stop there. It also offers a Sports initiative to help kids stay as strong on the field as in the classroom, while helping elementary schoolers strengthen their reading skills with a children’s literacy program.

Bennett’s personal mission is tied to his upbringing. Growing up in the North Carolina town, he noticed the limited opportunities and resources surrounding him and his classmates. Although he could not see all that was possible, Bennett still fought for a future that better suited his passions.

“Fayetteville is not Charlotte, it’s not Raleigh, it’s not like a big city. There’s no big buildings, there aren’t huge corporations and companies in Fayetteville. So as a kid, you’re really limited in terms of your exposure in terms of what you can be. Most of the people we saw growing up were teachers, they were in the military, they worked in the healthcare field, like doctors and lawyers. Very traditional careers. So like there was no idea of me being anything other than what I was exposed to,” he added.

It was a high school program for information technology that piqued Bennett’s interest, as well as advice from a famed N.C. rapper, that kept Bennett believing in his own dreams. Through his matriculation at Morehouse, Bennett met his idol, whose words of encouragement stuck with him.

“Cole was real big talking to us back then about education … I got a chance to chop it up with him again as a junior in high school,” he recalled. “I told him I had an offer from A&T and Morehouse, and when I said Morehouse, he was like, ‘Bro, I just left Morehouse…I actually was talking in a psychology class. The professor was super dope. Like you should go see Morehouse and see the world, and if you don’t like Atlanta, you can always come back home. Go see the world, allow for that to help inform who you are and what you see, and then when you’re old enough, you’ll be able to come back and give back.’”

Now, he seeks to become the same inspiring force for the kids of Fayetteville through the Two-Six project.

South Africa, Freedom Day, Nelson Mandela

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

February 19, 2026

South African Court Rejects Gabrielle Goliath Bid, Upholds Cancelation Of ‘Divisive’ Exhibit

The artist condemned the decision, while fellow naysayers call it an act of censorship.

A South African high court has rejected a bid from famed artist Gabrielle Goliath to overturn the cancelation of her proposed exhibition.

The art display, titled Elegy, sought to represent South Africa at the Venice Biennale, an international cultural exhibition that takes place in the Italian city. The court decided to uphold the decision to scrap Goliath’s pavilion just hours before the exhibition’s submission deadline. Now, South Africa may not feature in the storied art showcase at all due to the court ruling, as reported by Art News.

Goliath’s work, originally selected by nonprofit Art Periodico, would have showcased the ingenuity of South Africa and its native artists. However, a national official, Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie, considered the work “highly divisive,” resulting in its canceled submission.

The piece covered an ongoing series that honors the victims of international and local atrocities. Elements of the work paid homage to the killings of queer people and women in South Africa and beyond, as well as a new alleged insertion honoring Abu Nada, a Palestinian poet killed during an Israeli airstrike in October 2023.

Goliath initially argued that McKenzie’s cancelation of her selection violated her freedom of expression, while also claiming that the government official lacked the proper authority to make such a call. In light of the blocked submission, Goliath expressed her concerns over the upheld decision, which will further shun the stories of these slain voices.

“As an artist, I am concerned with revealing and refusing conditions that make violence possible, permissible, and terrifyingly ‘ordinary.’ Whose lives are available to be displaced, raped, killed, disavowed?” she questioned.

On the other hand, McKenzie’s representative defended his stance, claiming that the culture minister felt deceived about what “Elegy” really entailed. He even dismantled the relationship with the nonprofit over the selection issue. He tried several attempts to cancel the submission, emphasizing how the art “relates to an ongoing international conflict that is widely polarizing,” a move the pavilion committee deemed an act of censorship.

Goliath has remained publicly against the decision, reiterating that her work does not seek to encourage violence, but to uphold a radical philosophy that honors the deceased.

“I have said it many times: my work is not about violence, but rather foregrounds practices of mourning, survival, and repair, within and despite this normative disregard. At a moment in which sustaining hope is a political imperative, I think it is all the more crucial to emphasise my work as life-work rather than death-work, and as rooted in a decolonial Black feminist project of care and radical love.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 19, 2026

MLB Players Association Looking For Tony Clark Replacement After Resignation Over Sister-In-Law Scandal

The Major League Baseball Players Association is searching for a new executive director after Tony Clark resigned following revelations of an affair with his sister-in-law, an MLBPA employee.

The Major League Baseball Players Association has launched a search for a new executive director after Tony Clark resigned following an internal investigation into an “inappropriate” relationship with his sister-in-law, who joined the union in 2023.

It’s unclear who will replace Clark, though the MLBPA is expected to move quickly, with players ultimately voting on the next executive director, CBS Sports reports. Subcommittee member Brent Suter said an interim leader will step in to “keep everything as stable as we can this year.”

The MLBPA will have an interim leader, union subcommittee member Brent Suter said.

Suter has a sense of who it will be, but didn’t say who.

“We’re not going to get a search going. Bargaining here. We’re going to have an interim & keep everything as stable as we can this year.”
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) February 17, 2026

Clark announced his resignation Feb. 17 after an internal probe found he had an inappropriate relationship with his sister-in-law, a union employee of more than two years. The inquiry reportedly stemmed from a broader federal investigation into the finances of the Major League Baseball Players Association, launched last year.

Clark played in Major League Baseball from 1995 to 2009 before becoming the sixth executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, making him the first former player to hold the position. But his resignation comes as the current collective bargaining agreement nears its Dec. 1 expiration, setting the stage for another tense round of negotiations between players and the league. The last talks led to a 99-day lockout in 2022-23, and Commissioner Rob Manfred has signaled that another work stoppage could be on the horizon.

“The full executive board of Player representatives met this afternoon with MLBPA staff and outside counsel to discuss next steps; as always, the Players remain focused on their ongoing preparations for collective bargaining this year,” the organization said in a statement. “The strength of this union is–and will always be–the solidarity of our membership.”

“We have a long history of fighting for the rights of every Player, and we’re committed to making sure we can continue that fight successfully.”

Bruce Meyer, the union’s chief negotiator, has been unanimously named interim executive director of the MLBPA and said Clark’s departure “is not going to affect collective bargaining in any way,” emphasizing that contract talks will continue without disruption.

BRAZIL, glass bottles, house, sustainability

by Jameelah Mullen

February 19, 2026

Tourist Accused Of Racist Acts While Visiting Brazil Released After Brief Detention

FAFO—the tourist edition

Prosecutors in Rio de Janeiro requested the preventive detention of Agostina Páez, the Argentine lawyer accused of making racial slurs while vacationing in Brazil. A judge approved the request, and the authorities took Páez into custody. They released her a few hours later.

Police arrested the 29‑year‑old in mid‑January after an incident at a bar in Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema neighborhood. Páez allegedly hurled racist insults at staff during a dispute over the bill. Witnesses say she also made monkey sounds and gestures, an act that is an arrestable offense in Brazil. Restaurant employees called the police, and officers took the woman into custody.

Officials charged Páez with “injúria racial,” which roughly translates to “racial slur.” Brazilian law treats racial insults as serious crimes that can result in sentences of up to five years in prison. The prosecutors’ Office confiscated Páez’s passport, required her to wear an ankle monitor, and argued that the measures weren’t enough.

“Although precautionary measures other than imprisonment have been imposed, including electronic monitoring, these measures have not proven sufficient to neutralize the existing procedural danger,” said the Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor’s Office in a statement obtained by Brazilian News outlet UOL.

The Apolo Foundation filed a petition on Páez’s behalf seeking to lift the travel ban, which would allow the defendant to return to Argentina to await trial. The legal team claims that Páez poses no flight risk and that prosecutors imposed disproportionately harsh measures on her.

“Her rights are being violated, and Brazil is in breach of several international treaties ratified by both Argentina and Brazil,” said Fundación Apolo attorney Nicolás Silvera, accusing the police of using her to “make an example.”

The Brazilian Public Prosecutor’s Office argues that a person accompanying Páez allegedly tried to stop her from making the profane gestures, which, according to the prosecution, showed that she understood the seriousness of the crime.

The incident sparked a social media debate, with some supporting the country’s strict laws and others downplaying the crime.

– Be Agostina Páez 🇦🇷

– Spend years studying international law

– Become a lawyer in Argentina

– Travel to Brazil on vacation

– Ignore local laws & get arrested for racism

– Passport seized & given ankle monitor

– Cry on the internet because you face 5 years in a Brazilian jail pic.twitter.com/HFZNbz0UFh

— BowTiedPassport (@BowTiedPassport) February 17, 2026

“Love it when people learn the hard way, it won’t stop her from being racist, but it would definitely stop her from keeping her depravity to herself,” one X user wrote.

“Arrested for racism? Don’t they have more serious issues in Brazil, like extreme poverty?” a commentator wrote.

Following her release, Páez resumed her previous arrangement, which requires her to remain in Brazil and wear an ankle monitor. Brazilian officials have not yet set a trial date.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 19, 2026

Florida Woman Posing As DCF Agent Arrested For Attempted Kidnapping

A Florida woman is being held without bond after allegedly trying to abduct a child from a babysitter’s home while posing as a DCF agent.

A Florida woman who posed as a Department of Children and Families (DCF) employee was arrested after trying to “remove” a 9-year-old boy from a babysitter’s home.

Nicole Terry Thomas, 56, was arrested Friday, Feb. 13, in connection with an alleged attempted abduction at a Lakeland, Florida, home, Click Orlando reports. Police said they responded after Thomas herself called 911 requesting a deputy’s assistance in removing the children from the residence.

“The caller identified herself as Thomas, and she claimed to be an employee of DCF,” the sheriff’s office said. “According to witness statements, Thomas arrived with the victim’s biological mother and approached the home, where a woman was babysitting four children.”

Officers said they responded to a dispute involving Thomas, who arrived at the home with the boy’s biological mother — a woman with documented mental health challenges who does not have custody — and the babysitter caring for the children. Police said the child alerted the babysitter that “DCF was outside with his mom and was trying to take him from the residence.”

Police say Thomas allegedly threatened to take all of the children from the home if the babysitter refused to hand over the 9-year-old. Authorities also claim she made a phone call stating she would be working late because she planned to find new homes for the children she intended to remove from the residence.

“At no point did Ms. Thomas present a DCF business card or proof of employment when requested,” the affidavit states.

During questioning, the boy’s biological mother told detectives she knew Thomas through their church and claimed Thomas said she worked for DCF and could help get her life “back on track.”

Thomas was later arrested and charged with unarmed burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, trespassing, misuse of 911, two counts of criminal action under the color of law, and four counts of attempted kidnapping. She is being held without bond. Police also noted a prior criminal history that includes kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, child abuse, and multiple fraud- and theft-related offenses.

living wage, basic needs, struggle, families

by Kandiss Edwards

February 19, 2026

Once Again, B. Simone Talks About Her Dwindling Funds

In an interview with Earn Your Leisure, Simone said her income fell from about $1 million to $10,000.

Comedian and content creator B. Simone says her monthly earnings dropped drastically after she faced backlash from online spectators.

In an interview with Earn Your Leisure, Simone said her income fell from about $1 million to roughly $10,000 per month when she was “canceled on social media.”

Simone says she has been the target of intense online commentary, which she believes negatively affected some business opportunities and partnerships. The comedian says the drop to 5-figures has put her “in the red.”

Simone insists that she is not letting the financial change define her; she is more than willing to take the rewards as well as burdens of running a business.

“It’s simply the risk you take as an entrepreneur,” she said.

https://twitter.com/raindropsmedia1/status/2023958864404615347?s=46

This conversation is not Simone’s first when discussing her money mindset. In a 2025 episode of her podcast Let’s Try This Again, she spoke about financially giving her all to build her lifestyle app LTTA.

“I feel like it’s a breakthrough with what I’m creating with the app,” she said to her friend, Shekinah, on the podcast. “Just my finances. Like, the budgeting. You see how I am. Nitpicking every little thing. I’ve never been like that. We were in Bloomingdale’s yesterday. I’m like, ‘We have to go to H&M.’ And I notice in me now, just nitpicking. I just don’t have it to spend, the liquid.”

https://twitter.com/mymixtapez/status/1936899770788016583?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1936899770788016583%7Ctwgr%5Ea60ff89de8528ba279cd57a905ef8f3278042f47%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blackenterprise.com%2Fb-simone-crying-shopping-bloomingdales-hm%2F

B. Simone’s rise to fame began online before she truly took off, becoming a cast member of MTV’s Wild N’ Out. However, many of her moves over the past few years have been met with ire.

Her views on working traditional 9-to-5 jobs sparked backlash, and she was accused of plagiarizing her self-help book Baby Girl: Manifest the Life You Want. Even with an abundance of public scrutiny, Simone continues to take up space in entertainment and remains determined to succeed.

by Sharelle B. McNair

February 19, 2026

The Human Cost Of Trump’s Relentless Tariff Crusade Against Cuba

The lack of fuel and oil due to President Donald Trump’s tariff threats has resulted in a domino effect of turmoil in Cuba, including a decline in economic prosperity.

Life for close to 10 million residents has come to a halt as tourism has plummeted amid a lack of incoming flights and warnings from the UK and Canada against non-essential travel to Cuba. Schools are empty, classes are suspended, and workers are furloughed to save energy.

Hotels are reporting vacancies after the annual Habanos Cigar Festival, which brings in millions in revenue, was canceled.

Tour guide Mandy Pruna, who is famous for cruising in his bright red 1957 Chevrolet with visitors such as Will Smith and Rihanna on classic-car tours, reminisced about the period of economic prosperity the country saw after former President Barack Obama restored diplomatic relations with the Caribbean nation in 2015.

“All sectors of society benefited from that,” Pruna said.

“You saw people painting their houses, opening new businesses. For me, it was fantastic. It was the best era for tourism in Cuba.”

Now the streets are paved with mountains of garbage as the lack of fuel has stopped working dump trucks from doing their pick-up jobs in neighborhoods. According to DW, only 44 of Havana’s 106 garbage trucks were fully operational as of February 2026. ”It’s all over the city,” resident Jose Ramon Cruz said.

“It’s ‌been more than 10 days since a garbage truck came.”

The issue of a public health crisis has increased as it seems Cuba cannot lean on its remaining allies to supply the hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of fuel needed to keep the economy going.

However, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has called on residents to “resist creatively” and adopt what he calls “a wartime mentality.”

“We will eat what we can produce in each place. Now if there is less fuel, then food will not be able to leave from some municipalities to other ones,” President Diaz-Canel said during a January 2026 televised appearance.

But the business owner residents aren’t feeling it.

“We are paying two, three times as much to restock and keep people happy,” one food vendor said. “There’s no food. The impact will be terrible. We won’t have anything.”

It doesn’t look like the country will receive much help from the U.S. as Trump has referred to the country as “a failed nation,” pushing for it to make a deal with Secretary of State and Cuban-American, Marco Rubio, because it’s really a humanitarian threat.”

While Florida Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar gives the option of resolving short-term suffering or “free Cuba forever,” those who call Cuba home, like Pruna, are thinking about leaving for good, as he no longer sees a future. “Everything is uncertain at the moment. There’s no fuel. We don’t know if  there will be any and how we will pay for it,” he said.