by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2025

Target Employees Getting Pink Slips While Companies Brace For ‘Holiday Boycott’

The layoff notice came from incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke after current leader Brian Cornell issued notice that he will be stepping down on Feb. 1 - the first day of Black History Month.

More than 1,000 Target employees at its Minneapolis headquarters are being handed pink slips to “streamline operations and bring forth process and growth,” Fox 9 reports.

Target’s announcement says 1,000 employees will be out of a job in addition to 800 open positions being cut as part of a restructuring plan. Corporate employees were asked to work remotely until they learned their fate, which was scheduled for Oct. 28. In-store employees won’t have to worry about the downsizing plan. Still, a spokesperson highlighted the cuts, which represent close to 8% of the company’s global workforce, while the majority of affected employees are based in the U.S.

Employees on the cut list will receive pay and benefits through Jan. 3, 2026, in addition to severance packages and support services.

But could the layoffs be related to slow sales stemming from the massive DEI backlash? Since the bullseye-logoed company dialed back its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in early 2025, reports have emerged of struggling sales due to a national boycott, including the 40-day Target fast led by Pastor Jamal Bryant and other civil rights leaders.

The layoff notice came from incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke after current leader Brian Cornell announced he will step down on Feb. 1—the first day of Black History Month.

According to CBS News, Fiddelke addressed the impact but pressed the need for change. “I know the real impact this has on our team, and it will be difficult,” Fiddelke said.

“And, it’s a necessary step in building the future of Target and enabling the progress and growth we all want to see.”

The timing couldn’t be better, as consumers are potentially planning to celebrate the upcoming holiday season by boycotting several companies in response to the government shutdown—including Target. Across social media, consumers are calling for gift-giving to be cancelled for the holidays, just weeks before Black Friday sales, as millions of Americans are struggling.

Popular influencer Cindy Noir called for America to “close the wallets,” stating it’s the only logical way to get the government’s attention. “To me, the only logical response to the government cancelling SNAP benefits is for Americans to cancel the holiday season,” she said on Instagram.

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A post shared by Cindy Noir (@thecindynoir)

Other social media users have mimicked similar thoughts. “Cancel Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. No shopping, no celebrating, no Black Friday consumption. Just a little sacrifice. We need to stand together and make a difference,” @artless_space wrote on X.

Robert Geathers, CTE, concussions, NCAA, lawsuit,

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 29, 2025

NCAA Owes Former Student Athlete $10M After Jury Finds Negligence

It was determined that the NCAA knew about the long-term effects of concussions and it did not warn the former football player

Former student-athlete Robert Geathers and his wife have been awarded a total of $18 million after a jury found the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) negligent in not warning him of the long-term effects of concussions.

According to The Associated Press, the jury hearing the case of the former South Carolina State University football player has awarded Geathers $10 million, while also awarding his wife, Debra, $8 million. The 68-year-old retired athlete played for the school from 1977 to 1980.

Bakari Sellers, who represented the former athlete, said that the governing body knew the risks that concussions caused since the 1930s, but failed to inform coaches and players about the long-term effects until later.

“All of the information they knew, they withheld,” Sellers told jurors, “their job was to keep the boys safe.”

The jury determined that the NCAA “unreasonably increased the risk of harm of head impacts to Robert Geathers over and above the risks inherent to playing football.” The organization “voluntarily assumed duties to protect the health and safety of Robert Geathers,” and the NCAA “negligently breached their duties” to him.

Geathers was diagnosed with dementia several years ago and has trouble with everyday tasks such as dressing himself and helping make meals. At the trial, several physicians testified that he displays symptoms of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy- repeated blows to the head while playing a sport like football) that can only be discovered after a person dies.

In recent studies, CTE has been prevalent in NFL players. In a 2023 report, the Boston University CTE Center discovered that out of 376 former NFL players, 345 were diagnosed with CTE, a rate of 91.7%.

The NCAA disagreed with the decision and issued a statement indicating it may file an appeal.

It stated that they are “prepared to pursue our rights on post-trial motions and on appeal, if necessary.”

“The NCAA has prevailed in every other jury trial around the country on these issues,” and the South Carolina State team standards “followed the knowledge that existed at the time, and college football did not cause Mr. Geathers’ lifelong health problems,” the statement read.

Sellers was happy with the jury’s ruling.

“It felt good to hug Debra Geathers. She gets to go home and tell her husband some good news.”

Elon Musk, Tennessee, pollution, super computer

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2025

Watch Out Wikipedia! Elon Musk Launches Grokipedia, An AI-Generated Far-Right Encyclopedia

On X, which Musk owns, he bashed Wikipedia for allegedly being “hijacked by leftist activists” and “no longer representing neutral knowledge, but propaganda.”

After a silent departure from the White House, tech billionaire Elon Musk is back with a new product called Grokipedia, an AI-generated encyclopedia set to compete with “woke” rival, Wikipedia, NBC News reports.

Grokipedia launched Oct. 27 and was designed to be more far-right-leaning, hosting more conservative political views than Wikipedia. Musk announced the project in September 2025, inspired by fellow tech investor and AI and crypto czar of the Trump administration, David Sacks.

On X, which Musk owns, he bashed Wikipedia for allegedly being “hijacked by leftist activists” and “no longer representing neutral knowledge, but propaganda.” The Tesla founder called the site “super important for civilization.”

Super important for civilization https://t.co/uCiLhKLHn7
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2025

Despite claims against the popular online encyclopedia, some Grokipedia entries admit they are based on Wikipedia. The difference between the two sites is that Grokipedia doesn’t operate with human authors, unlike Wikipedia, where volunteers can write and edit pages.

Musk’s product says articles are “fact-checked” by Grok, the AI chatbot from Musk’s xAI startup. Grokipedia users can’t make edits, but can suggest edits via a pop-up form for reporting incorrect information—just like on X.

The vast differences between the two sites are pertinent, given the subject matter. For President Donald Trump, the Grokipedia page fails to mention the president accepting a luxury megajet from Qatar or promoting themed cryptocurrency. Both incidents are cited on Wikipedia. The same goes for Musk himself, with Grokipedia excluding the controversial hand gesture he made mimicking Hitler at a Trump rally.

Wikipedia is known as a nonprofit-operated site with ad-free content. Founded by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in 2001, Wikipedia has been under attack by right-leaning political leaders for months. According to the Associated Press, Republican members of Congress launched an investigation in August 2025 into alleged “manipulation efforts” in the site’s editing process. They accuse the site of injecting bias and undermining neutral viewpoints.

Grokipedia’s Wikipedia entry repeats the same accusations, claiming it hosts “systemic ideological biases, particularly a left-leaning slant in coverage of political figures and topics.”

However, in a statement, the Wikimedia Foundation defended its longstanding content and outlined its strengths.

“Unlike newer projects, Wikipedia’s strengths are clear: it has transparent policies, rigorous volunteer oversight, and a strong culture of continuous improvement. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, written to inform billions of readers without promoting a particular point of view.”

Atlanta, Gucci Mane Day, Gucci Mane, Gucci Mane. Day

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 29, 2025

Gucci Mane Reveals Bipolar And Schizophrenia Diagnoses, Recalls Periods Of ‘Psychosis’

Luckily, he's getting help from his wife, Keyshia Ka'oir.

Gucci Mane is getting candid about his mental health journey, revealing his struggles with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

In his new memoir, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, Gucci Mane, real name Rodrick Davis, opens up about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and how he’s learned to manage his mental health after years marked by erratic social media moments, legal troubles, and jail time.

During an Oct. 20 appearance on The Breakfast Club with his wife, Keyshia Ka’oir, he recalled a 2020 episode during the COVID-19 pandemic that motivated him to confront his struggles and seek professional help.

“After that, I was like, man, I got to really just hold myself accountable and take care of my health,” the Atlanta rapper said. “I don’t ever want to have an episode again. If I have to see a therapist, if I have to take medicine…I kinda threw the towel in, like, do what I need to do to get better.”

Ka’oir’s pregnancy with their son at the time motivated him to finally seek help. “I don’t want to raise a family, and then my mental health is gone. What if I have an episode I can’t come back from?” he said. “So I just started to do the work, started seeking the help.”

For Gucci Mane, an episode feels like entering a state of “psychosis,” a distorted reality where he hears voices and believes people are plotting against him. Ka’oir, who married the rapper in 2017, described the proactive steps she takes to support Gucci Mane’s mental health.

“I have a system,” she said. “I take his apps off his phone. First thing I do, I delete Instagram. I delete everything. Even if I gotta change his password, I’m changing it because I don’t need the public to know he’s having an episode.”

“I control that. You’re not going on Instagram, you’re not going on Twitter, it’s deleted. I control everything at home,” she continued. “Now, before the episodes come, I catch it. That’s why he hasn’t had another one. How you catch it is he doesn’t speak to you, he wants to be left alone, he don’t eat, he does not sleep. Text messages, there’s a period after each word.”

By sharing his experiences with schizophrenia, which affects 2.4 million U.S. adults, and bipolar disorder, which affects roughly 5.7 million annually, Gucci Mane aims to inspire others to seek help and live healthier, fulfilling lives.

“You got to do the work yourself if you want to really get better,” he said. “People can want it for you, but you still got to want it more than they do.”

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Trump, ballroom, DC Hillbillies

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2025

Responding to Trump’s ‘Low-IQ Person’ Remark, Jasmine Crockett Wonders ‘What Black Woman Hurt Him In His Past’

'I wish people would look at the fact that you have a President of the United States who is consistently obsessing over two women of color who are members of the House.'

In responding to President Donald Trump’s “low-IQ” comment about her, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) wondered which Black woman may have stepped on his heart.

Trump dodged questions about his MRI appointment aboard Air Force One, oddly switching the focus to Crockett—again—and New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. While answering questions about an unconstitutional) third term, the president said his team has a good chance at making that happen, alluding to the Democratic Party’s lack of suitors and calling Crockett “a low-IQ person.”

The University of Houston Law Center graduate didn’t hold back in her response, wondering why it’s also the Black women and other women of color that he goes after.

“I’m waiting on a reporter to finally ask him what is his IQ. He doesn’t even know what a low IQ is. He don’t even know which scores are low,” Crockett told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins. “…Listen, he’s never been known to be an Einstein. This is not a guy who got in on merit when it came to going to college. This is someone who, but for him being born with a silver spoon, probably wouldn’t have gotten into anybody’s institution, unlike me,” she said.

“I am not worried about that,” she added. “And I wish people would look at the fact that you have a President of the United States who is consistently obsessing over two women of color who are members of the House. You are the president. You have a lot more power than we do. But, obviously, you consistently feel threatened.”

Not only did she mention the president continuously targeting Black women, Crockett pointed the finger at the entire Trump administration as several members have it out for women such as New York attorney general Letitia James.

“And that is why we have seen the attacks on Black women in general from this administration,” Crockett added. “I don’t know what Black woman hurt him in his past, honey, but it is really taking him through it.”

https://twitter.com/LucasSa56947288/status/1982980587414761521

Outside of her work on Capitol Hill, Crockett is known for calling Trump out and his MAGA loyalists for pushing racist rhetoric. She even defended referring to him as a “wannabe Hitler,” according to Fox News.

Both Crockett and AOC made headlines in 2024 for getting into it with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a well-known Trump supporter, after Greene attacked Crockett for her use of false eyelashes during an Oversight Committee hearing. AOC jumped in to defend her colleague.

“How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person?” she added.

In the meantime, AOC is using Trump’s IQ jabs to fundraise. “Hello, Mr. President! Out of curiosity, did those doctors ask you to draw a clock by any chance? Was that part hard for you, too?” she wrote in a fundraising email. “Asking for 340 million people.”

by Mitti Hicks

October 29, 2025

Hurricane Melissa Makes Landfall In Cuba Following Devastation in Jamaica

With 185 mph winds, Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on Tuesday afternoon. It’s the first Category 5 to hit the island in Jamaica’s recorded history.

Hurricane Melissa continues its path of destruction in the Caribbean, making landfall in Cuba as a Category 3 with winds of 120 mph just hours after devastating Jamaica.

With 185 mph winds, Melissa made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on Tuesday afternoon. It’s the first Category 5 to hit the island in Jamaica’s recorded history and is reportedly stronger than Hurricane Katrina, as BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported.

For Cubans, the National Hurricane Center said Hurricane Melissa will cause life-threatening storm surge, flash flooding, and landslides despite the storm’s weakening as it approaches Cuba.

The Bahamas is the next destination on the storm’s warpath and is expected to make landfall on Wednesday afternoon as a Category 2.

Jamaicans Waking Up To No Electricity, Devastation

As the sun rose in Jamaica on Wednesday, the morning light painted a picture of the widespread devastation Hurricane Melissa caused. While it’s still too early to know the full scope of the storm’s impact, more than 500,000 Jamaica Public Service customers — 77% of the total customer base —are without electricity, NBC News reported.

On social media, people who have been in contact with loved ones on the island are also sharing updates on the destruction.

“A little update from my family in Jamaica: they survive, but the whole country is suffering and dangerously damaged,” Breanna Rywelski writes. “Our family house is going to be needing lot of repair, the whole rooftop is gone, and water damage [is] inside the house. All main/major roads in Jamaica are impassable.”

“My family is ok. However, the damages done in certain areas are beyond my comprehension,” another person wrote. “One rural area lost a major hospital. Entire structures are gone. Bridges are gone. Landslide, flooding, etc […] Whatever you do to engage with the universe, please do it for us.”

Hurricane Melissa Aftermath: What’s Next?

Government officials have set up a resource page as communities look to rebuild. The site is three-fold: it provides a preliminary national needs list, allows people to report incidents such as missing people, roadblocks, and more, and includes a donation link for people to contribute to medical aid, food, and shelter.

Stay up to date with the latest humanitarian efforts and contribute here.

by Mitti Hicks

October 29, 2025

Nation Enters Fourth Week Of Government Shutdown As Senate Fails To Advance Another Bill

The final vote on Tuesday was 54 to 45, just six votes shy of the 60 needed to move forward. No new Democrats voted in favor of advancing the legislation.

There appears to be no end in sight as the nation enters the fourth week of a government shutdown. For the now 13^th time, the Senate failed to advance a Republican-backed funding bill to end the shutdown, on Tuesday.

The final vote was 54 to 45, just six votes shy of the 60 needed to move forward. No new Democrats voted in favor of advancing the legislation, CBS News reported.

The chaos and unwillingness to negotiate on Capitol Hill are having real-life consequences for everyday Americans, who are deciding between groceries, gas, and other necessities.

“Bills continue to pile up. I have car notes, I have children to feed, I have a family to take care of, I have a mortgage to pay, so it’s a lot of uncertainty,” Anthony Speight, a furloughed employee who works as a grants administrator, told NBC News in an interview.

Government Shutdown Impacts On Everyday Americans

Food banks in the nation’s capital have been filled with lines that wrap around the corner as people miss their full paycheck. Travelers are experiencing more flight disruptions, including cancellations and delays, due to staffing shortages. On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing-related delays that averaged about 20 minutes in Dallas and 40 minutes at Newark Liberty International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, according to The Associated Press.

“Members of NATCA are facing uncertainty and stress because of the government shutdown,” a statement on the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) read.

NATCA is a labor union and aviation safety organization in the United States that represents over 20,000 air traffic controllers, engineers, and other aviation safety-related professionals.

As the shutdown drags on, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are just days from running out. At least 25 Democratic-led states and Washington, D.C., are now suing the Trump administration to prevent billions of dollars in cuts to the federal food assistance program for more than 42 million Americans. The cuts to SNAP, commonly referred to as food stamps, are expected to begin this weekend.

Nigel Sylvester, Olajuwon Ajanaku, Earl Cooper, New Era

by Kandiss Edwards

October 29, 2025

BMX Icon Nigel Sylvester And Eastside Golf Usher In A ‘New Era’ At ComplexCon

Nigel Sylvester and the men of Eastside Golf's newest partnerships are bringing golf and BMX to the forefront at ComplexCon.

New Era Caps is the official headwear sponsor at ComplexCon 2025, representing the culture and collaborating with BMX icon Nigel Sylvester and Eastside Golf. While the brand has been established for nearly three decades, it always finds a way to delve deeper into the culture’s psyche. ComplexCon was set up to celebrate the convergence of culture, so for New Era, Sylvester, and Eastside Golf, the partnerships were no-brainers.

Mike Tresvant, executive vice president of brand partnerships at Complex, spoke about the impact of the company and its collaborators.

“New Era is a phenomenal partner who not only gets culture but gives it a platform to flourish. Their presence at ComplexCon exemplifies what this event is all about-–bringing together authentic creators and giving them the space and resources to showcase their vision,” Tresvant said.

As a BMX rider and creative, Sylvester took time out of his busy schedule to represent for the New Era team at ComplexCon. As a brand ambassador and creative adviser, Sylvester showed up to share his newest drop. The fitted New Era cap pays homage to New York culture, specifically baseball.

The newest editions of Sylvester’s creation come in two colorways — one a cream and blue with a silver NY emblem. Both include a seal honoring both the Mets and the Yankees, as well as the baseball team’s historic matchup in the 2000 World Series. The seal serves as a homage to that moment when Queens met the Bronx on baseball’s biggest stage, giving the piece layered meaning for fans of both teams and of street culture alike.

Nigel Sylvester, New Era Caps, BMX

For Sylvester, who grew up riding on the streets of Queens, New York, this partnership is more than a product deal. For over a decade, New Era and Sylvester have collaborated to keep imprinting their stamp on the culture.

“I’ve been working with New Era for 10 years. I remember wearing the NY [fitted cap], it is embedded in the culture,” he told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

On the back of the 59FIFTY sits a stitched BMX bike emblem — the piece is custom hand-drawn. When asked about his role in creating the pieces, the BMX veteran made it clear: Creation is his bag.

“Anyone who knows me knows I need to be a part of the creative process. From concept to execution, it is just as important to me,” Sylvester said.

Alongside Sylvester, the founders of Eastside Golf, Olajuwon Ajanaku and PGA of America Golf Professional Earl Cooper, spoke to BE about their current collaboration with New Era. The sportswear brand also has a new line of signature pieces that merge its love for basketball and golf. The company has received licenses from 10 NBA teams to craft multiple team-focused colorways.

“This is about bringing the game of golf into a lot of different spaces,” Ajanaku said.

When speaking about the Nothing but Up design, which depicts a golf ball “going into a basketball hoop,” Ajanaku says it symbolizes bringing together sports fans and spectators from both sides.

Olajuwon Ajanaku, Earl cooper, new era, Eastside Golf — Photo Credit: BE/K.Edwards

“Usually, you see all of the balls of sports next to each other. But a ball and a hoop combine naturally. We wanted that to be seen visually. Bringing these two together, I feel like we can get someone who loves the game of basketball to pick up a golf club,” he said.

While Golf and BMX have millions of fans, both lack the prominence of basketball and football in Black culture. Sylvester, Cooper, and Ajanaku are on a mission to make their respective sports more visible. Their presence at CultureCon is one step closer to that goal. With each new attendee entering the New Era installation, the men can display, sell, and promote their fly gear and passion for sports on the margin.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2025

Minnesota AG Keith Ellison Leads Coalition Against Trump Administration In Effort To Suspend SNAP Benefit Pause

In Minnesota, 440,000 residents receive benefits each month, including 180,000 children and roughly 67,000 seniors.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, along with 22 other attorneys general and three governors, is filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for suspending SNAP benefits, highlighting the multi-billion-dollar contingency fund that can change everything.

The announcement was made on X, calling out the federal agency for not using the lucrative funding that can keep SNAP running as funds are scheduled to run out by Nov. 1. Ellison said he won’t allow President Donald Trump “to use hungry children as bargaining chips.”

“BREAKING: I’m suing the Trump administration to prevent them from suspending SNAP benefits. I will not allow Trump to use hungry children as bargaining chips,” he wrote on the social media platform.

“USDA has a multi-billion-dollar contingency fund intended to keep programs like SNAP running. They must use it.”

BREAKING: I'm suing the Trump administration to prevent them from suspending SNAP benefits. I will not allow Trump to use hungry children as bargaining chips.

USDA has a multi-billion dollar contingency fund intended to keep programs like SNAP running. They must use it. pic.twitter.com/OR7ydSDZdn
— Attorney General Keith Ellison (@AGEllison) October 28, 2025

USDA sent a letter dated Oct. 10 to SNAP agencies alerting THEM that if the government shutdown continues, there will be limited funds to distribute in November 2025. However, Ellison and other state leaders argue that’s not true. “It is clear the federal government is making a deliberate, illegal, and inhumane choice not to fund the crucial SNAP program,” a spokesperson from his office said, according to KSTP 5.

The suit is joined by lawmakers — both Republican and Democratic — from states including Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Washington, and others. The governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania also signed on.

The lawsuit highlights the agency’s funding lapse plan released in September 2025, stating, “Core programs of the nutrition safety net, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)… shall continue operations during a lapse in appropriations, subject to the availability of funding.”

With that statement, Ellison and the coalition seek a temporary restraining order that would block the USDA from suspending SNAP funding while this lawsuit proceeds. The attorney general said, while he isn’t taken aback by the “cruelty and illegality of the Trump administration anymore,” the SNAP situation is a different story.

“Congress put a rainy-day fund in place so nutrition support could continue during a government shutdown, yet despite that clear Congressional intent, Trump’s USDA is refusing to tap into that fund,” he wrote.

“It is a disgrace to the presidency that Donald Trump is using hungry children throughout Minnesota as bargaining chips in the fight over his government shutdown. His actions aren’t just cruel, though; they are unlawful. It’s my job to help Minnesotans afford their lives, and today that means taking the Trump administration to court to help feed people in need.”

The SNAP lapse will affect more than 40 million Americans who depend on food stamps for nourishment. In Minnesota, 440,000 residents receive benefits each month, including 180,000 children and roughly 67,000 seniors. To help bear the load, Governor and former Vice Presidential hopeful, Tim Walz, announced food shelves in the state would receive $4 million in additional funds.

BLEXIT, Candace Owens, Segregation, Donald Trump,

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 29, 2025

Hampton University Gives Candace Owens’ Blexit The Boot For Not Meeting Event Requirements

The university responded to claims that they kicked BLEXIT off campus over "politics."

Hampton University booted BLEXIT off its campus as the HBCU says the Black conservative organization did not meet the requirements to host an event.

Initially, the Black conservative movement founded by Candace Owens planned to hold an unauthorized event at the Virginia HBCU during its homecoming festivities. Also supported by the late Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, Blexit planned to speak with students across multiple HBCU homecomings this school year.

According to The Grio, Hampton campus police escorted members of BLEXIT off campus, saying that it never received permission to set up shop. While BLEXIT attempted to label the removal an act against diversity of thought, the school issued a statement denying that accusation. Instead, they called the matter a move for public safety.

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A post shared by Hampton University (@_hamptonu)

“Hampton University is aware of an incident involving representatives of an organization known as BLEXIT who attempted to access campus during Homecoming weekend without proper authorization. While the organization has suggested that their filming activity “shut down,” that narrative is inaccurate. This was not a matter of suppression; it was a matter of safety, procedure, and fairness,” the University said.

They explained that, as a private institution, Hampton has a process of vendor applications and approvals for media activity before any outside group can film on campus. The HBCU asserted that BLEXIT neither met all these requirements nor submitted proper fees to come to campus, yet decided to show up anyway.

The HBCU further claimed that the BLEXIT team knew of their “procedural failure” with the risk of being escorted off the property if they tried to set up filming anyway.

“This procedural failure meant they were not approved to participate, consistent with University policy and communicated in advance to all applicants. Of the 36 applications submitted, 18 were approved; BLEXIT was among those that did not meet the stated requirements.”

However, BLEXIT member Craig Long suggested another narrative as to what happened. Hampton was initially on the docket for the “Educate to Liberate” tour, which had other homecoming slots cancelled, like FAMU’s. At other HBCUs where the organization did appear, they typically conducted filmed interviews with students. They prompted controversial questions such as the morality of teaching young children about sexuality, typically exaggerating situations to receive answers that best fit their narrative.

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A post shared by BLEXIT (@blexitamerica)

While Hampton claims the organization did not follow proper protocol, Long considered it a means to stop their appearance.

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A post shared by Craig Long 🇺🇸 (@officialcraiglong45)

“But instead of celebrating that spirit of open discussion, the university shut it down — claiming we “didn’t go through the proper channels.” Let’s be honest: this wasn’t about paperwork. It was about politics,” claimed Long.

Long then asserted that their ” Christian values, conservative principles, and independent thought” led to their silencing.

However, Hampton also challenged that assessment. The University assured that it welcomes differing perspectives to campus, so long as they do their part to ensure the safety of guests and students at homecoming.

“Hampton University welcomes organizations and speakers representing a variety of perspectives, provided they follow the established protocols. BLEXIT failed to meet those standards.”