Barack Obama, library, lawsuit
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 2, 2025

Lies Told: Newt Gingrich Claims Obama Created ‘A Much More Racist, Much More Dangerous America’

The "Trump's Triumph: America's Greatest Comeback" author thinks with the 47th President in the White House, things will change.

Former Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich is going viral for his random dig at former President Barack Obama, boldly claiming that his presidency created a “more racist” and “more dangerous America.” 

During an interview with America First Policy Institute’s Carla Sands, Gingrich spent some time giving his insight on how the country spent 90 years essentially rotting in what is known as the “Rooseveltian System” or The New Deal — a series of economic, social, and political reforms embedded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1933 and 1938 — as a response to the damage done by the Great Depression.

Then, he started talking about how things have shifted in the last 10 to 12 years, pointing the finger at the country’s first Black president for playing a role in America’s racist antics. “Obama was a major factor in creating a much more racist and much more dangerous America,” the former Georgia lawmaker said. 

Former President Joe Biden also got caught up in the wildfire, with his term being labeled as “essentially Obama’s third term.” 

However, now with President Donald Trump and his administration taking over the White House, the multi-best-selling book author, including his latest, Trump’s Triumph: America’s Greatest Comeback, Gingrich feels things will start to change. 

As the clip went viral, so did responses supporting Obama and seemingly highlighting which side Gingrich was on. “Obama divided the country between people who could accept a Black president and those who couldn’t. Pretty clear which side Gingrich was on,” @paulhandley2 wrote. 

Others gave their two cents on the former lawmaker, adding on to some of the racist rhetoric handed down by Trump. “Yeah, having a decent, qualified black man as President, trying to bring everyone together, was bad. A much better way to create unity is with an unqualified, corrupt, a**hole of a President — who sh*t-posts racist memes and has stormtroopers violently attacking citizens!,” @planterspunch7 said with a corresponding clown emoji.

https://twitter.com/planterspunch7/status/1973491540971700279

A 2016 poll from CNN found some American voters felt race relations between Blacks and whites worsened under Obama, but not in the way some would think. While 57% of whites and 40% of Blacks think it was due to the people voting for Obama for two consecutive terms, 52% pointed the finger at the justice system, favoring whites over Blacks.

RELATED CONTENT: Republicans Quietly Roll Back Obamacare – Here’s What Enrollees Should Know

SACRAMENTO, CITY MANAGER, Maraskeshia Smith
by Jameelah Mullen

October 2, 2025

HERSTORY! Sacramento Appoints Its First Black Woman City Manager

Maraskeshia Smith makes history in the 175-year-old city

The Sacramento City Council appointed Maraskeshia Smith as city manager, making her the first Black woman in the position. 

Following a nationwide search that began in January with more than 100 candidates, city leaders chose the Kentucky native, who brings over two decades of experience in public service.

“I accept the role of City Manager for the City of Sacramento with deep gratitude and humility,” Smith said. “Sacramento is a city characterized by its resilience, diversity, and ambition, a true mosaic of cultures, backgrounds, and ideas, all unified by a common goal for progress and prosperity,” Smith said in a statement obtained by Sacramento City Express. 

In her role as city manager, Smith will oversee nearly 6,000 full-time and part-time employees and manage an annual operating budget of $1.6 billion. 

Mayor Kevin McCarty welcomed Smith to her new role, praising her as an “accomplished and transformative leader” well-suited for the position.

At the September 30 news conference, Smith addressed the challenges involved in tackling homelessness in the city, noting that the cost of building new housing has become nearly unsustainable, even when developers receive multiple funding sources. She praised the City Council for considering the tiny homes project and emphasized that the city needs to implement additional measures and ideas.

“So we have to look at creative solutions and innovative solutions in order to deal with challenging solutions,” she said. “It’s going to take the region. It’s going to take partnership. It’s going to take creativity, coordination, and compassion for us to continue to move that needle forward,” Smith noted. 

Smith holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Kentucky and an MBA from Eastern Kentucky University. She has served as Deputy Director and Director of Public Works in Cincinnati, Assistant City Administrator in Oakland, and Deputy City Manager in Stockton. She is currently the City Manager of Santa Rosa, California. Smith will begin her role in January 2026.

RELATED CONTENT: Elevating Your Excellence: Media Maverick Emil Wilbekin Forged A Movement From Vibe To Native Son

Kendell Morris, Texas, Illinois Sheriff, Sonya Massey, Murder
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 2, 2025

Sheff G, Who Appeared With Donald Trump At Bronx Rally Last Year, Sentenced To 5 Years For Attempted Murder

“This defendant had talent and opportunity, but chose to use them to fuel violence instead of building a better future,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.

In May 2024, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump invited two Brooklyn drill rappers, Sheff G and Sleepy Hallow, to join him at his rally in the Bronx. Fast forward less than two years, and Sheff G has been sentenced to five years in prison for attempted murder.

The Associated Press reported that the rapper, whose real name is Michael Williams, was given his prison sentence after copping to using money he earned from his music career to fuel gang violence in his home borough of Brooklyn. Once he completes his sentence, he must serve an additional five years of supervised release. Sheff was sentenced in Brooklyn on Oct. 1.

Before the rapper pleaded guilty to multiple top counts of second-degree attempted murder and second- and fourth-degree conspiracy earlier this year, prosecutors wanted a 20-year sentence for his guilty plea.

“This defendant had talent and opportunity, but chose to use them to fuel violence instead of building a better future,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.

Sheff was part of a crew of more than 30 alleged members of the 8 Trey Crips, and the gang’s affiliate, the 9 Ways gang. Twenty-three members have pleaded guilty to various charges. Seven cases are still pending. Sleepy Hallow, whose real name is Tegan Chambers, who appeared with Sheff when they both performed onstage with Trump on May 23, 2024, at a Bronx park, received a one-year sentence last week on conspiracy charges to which he pleaded guilty.

The rappers went viral after being spotted at the rally. While at the podium, Sheff G said to the crowd, “One thing I want to say, they’re always going to whisper your accomplishments and shout your failures. Trump’s gonna shout the wins for all of us.”

Sleepy Hallow came right behind him and said, “Make America Great Again.”

Sheff G’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, had previously stated that the plea deal arrangement made by his client was in the “best interest of everyone involved.”

RELATED CONTENT: Publix Allegedly Reneges On Black Book Bash Sponsorship, Denies Email Proof

African American Studies, Georgia
by Kandiss Edwards

October 2, 2025

Yale Embraces The Black Diaspora With New Black Studies Department

Yale’s African American Studies name change comes 55 years after the department’s founding

Yale University’s African American Studies department has formally changed its name to Black Studies.

The new moniker comes 55 years after the department’s founding and years of internal discussion. The decision stemmed from a process begun in the 2022-23 academic year under then-chair Phillip Atiba Solomon. Critics of the original name argued it was U.S.-centric and too narrow to cover the department’s research in Brazil, the Caribbean, and West Africa.

Erica Edwards, chair of the newly renamed department, told the Yale Daily News that the name better encompasses the entire African diaspora, not just the United States.

“We study the lives and histories and movements and creative expressions of Black people around the world wherever they are, not just in North America and not even just in the Americas,” Edwards said.

Elleza Kelley, director of undergraduate studies, said the name shift affirms “commitment to the study of Black life, history, and culture beyond the continental United States.”

Faculty hires in recent years have reinforced the focus on professors whose scholarship centers on Haiti, Brazil, and diasporic art practices.

Some students have expressed optimism, though also caution, about whether the name will signal deeper institutional change or remain symbolic.

Professor Kaiama Glover, who researches anti-Black state violence in Brazil, remarked that the former name “conjured … something fairly U.S.-centric” in people’s minds.

Other institutions have also embraced the broadening of the discipline. In 2024, Georgetown changed the name of its department from “African American Studies” to “Black Studies.” Although the name has changed, internal administrative elements remain. The department’s course code is still “AFAM,” and Yale plans to host a panel commemorating Yale’s 1968 Black Studies in the University symposium on Oct. 27.

Yale’s website now describes the department’s mission as exploring “the experiences of people of African descent in Black Atlantic societies, including the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.”

RELATED CONTENT: First Known Black Man To Attend Yale University Honored With Posthumous Degree After 200 Years

Baltimore Teacher, Hair-Braiding
by Sharelle B. McNair

October 2, 2025

Iowa Superintendent Detained By ICE Hired Despite Falsified Morgan State Doctorate, Report Reveals

Despite the Des Moines school board learning of the false claims on his 2023 application, Roberts was still hired for the position, leading a district with close to 30,000 students.

More drama has come to light regarding former Iowa Superintendent Ian Roberts, as documents show he was hired after the school board learned that he had lied about receiving his doctorate from Morgan State University, The Washington Post reports. 

Roberts made headlines late September 2025 after resigning from his post as Des Moines’ superintendent of schools following being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) agents. After authorities found he was living and working in the U.S. illegally, it was also revealed that he lied about receiving a doctorate in urban educational leadership from Morgan State University, an HBCU in Baltimore, in 2007. But school officials clarified that he never received the degree, but was just enrolled between 2002 and 2007. 

Despite the Des Moines school board learning of the false claims on his 2023 application, Roberts was still hired for the position, leading a district with close to 30,000 students. In a statement, the board labeled itself a victim of Roberts’ deceit, saying he provided a resume to a consulting firm claiming he had earned his doctorate, but later, the same firm flagged that it wasn’t true. “The Des Moines School Board is also a victim of deception by Dr. Roberts, one on a growing list that includes our students and teachers, our parents and community, our elected officials and Iowa’s Board of Educational Examiners, and others,” board Chair Jackie Norris said.

According to the Des Moines Register, the Guyana native has long ties to Baltimore, receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Coppin State University, another HBCU, in 1998. While studying criminology, Roberts was also a stellar track star, setting conference records in track and field and earning All-American honors. He later participated in the 2000 Olympic Games for his home country. 

Des Moines Public Schools highlighted his athletic achievements in a 2024 article on his induction into the Coppin State University Athletics Hall of Fame. “Roberts excelled academically and… completed education programs at Coppin, St. John’s, Morgan State, Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, and an MBA at MIT’s Sloan School of Management,” the article read.

Roberts pushed the narrative of his false doctorate in his 2009 self-published book, “Prisoners or Presidents: The Simple Things That Change Everything; When Principals Lead Like Lives Depend on It.”

Things unraveled after Roberts was detained after an immigration judge ordered his removal in May 2024, just one year after he was hired as the first Black person to oversee Iowa’s largest school district. More trouble came about for Roberts when Homeland Security agents found a loaded gun in his car following his recent arrest. 

The federal Gun Control Act labels it unlawful for “illegal aliens” to ship, transport, receive, or even possess firearms or ammunition.

RELATED CONTENT: ICE Detains Second Haitian Businessman In Two Months Over Alleged Ties To ‘Terrorist Gangs’

Burberry, DEI, diversity
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 2, 2025

Burberry’s Head Of Diversity Gets ‘Phased Out’ Amid Company Overhaul

Burberry removes its head of diversity ahead of wider job cuts.

Burberry has dismissed its head of diversity, sparking questions over whether the luxury fashion house is signaling a broader retreat from diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

On Oct. 1, the company announced that Geoffrey Williams, Burberry’s global vice president of colleague attraction and inclusion, was let go amid a broader restructuring plan that aims to cut 1,700 jobs worldwide by 2027, The Times reports. In a statement, Williams said he was being “phased out” as part of the company’s overhaul.

“As part of a wider restructure, Burberry has chosen to integrate responsibility for diversity, equity and inclusion across the organisation,” Williams said. “This reflects a belief that DEI should be embedded throughout the culture and owned by leaders across the business. The successful transition from a centralised function to a shared responsibility will help ensure long-term sustainability.”

Williams, described as “highly respected in the world of leadership,” joined Burberry in April 2022 as global vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and was promoted in July last year to lead the company’s talent strategy as global vice president of colleague attraction and inclusion. Prior to Burberry, he directed DEI initiatives at British footwear brand Dr. Martens and multinational media and technology company Thomson Reuters. Williams also serves as chairman of the £15 million Bernie Grant Arts Centre in London and is co-founder of the social enterprise Rocking Ur Teens.

Burberry has stated that the job cuts are expected to save the company at least £60 million. The layoffs follow the fashion house suffering a £66 million loss for the 12 months ending March 29, with sales dropping 12% to £2.5 billion amid a slowdown in China. In May, Burberry CEO Joshua Schulman attributed the drop in sales to the U.K.’s punitive tourist tax and tariffs imposed by the U.S. under President Donald Trump.

Burberry’s decision to eliminate the diversity role has raised concerns about companies scaling back DEI initiatives, particularly after Trump signed three executive orders earlier this year aimed at ending DEI programs in both the public and private sectors. Several major U.S. corporations, including Boeing, Walmart, Meta, Target, and Amazon, have already reduced their DEI commitments.

The wave appears to be spreading across the pond with U.K. firms following suit. GSK, the British multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, paused diversity initiatives for its U.K. workforce, citing the need to align with U.S. executive orders due to its significant presence in the American market.

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Russell Westbrook, Kemba Walker
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 2, 2025

Russell Westbrook’s Eazewell Reveals AI-Powered Platform To Assist With Senior Living, End-Of-Life Situations

'Grief doesn't follow business hours.'

Eazewell, the company founded by Denver Nuggets player Russell Westbrook, former UConn basketball player Donnell Beverly Jr., and former NBA All-Star Kemba Walker, has introduced an AI-powered Care Transitions Platform that can be used by hospices, senior living communities, and life insurers.

The company was created to help families deal with issues related to handling everything from senior living move-ins to end-of-life transitions in a more simplified, automated system using artificial intelligence.

Meet the trio behind Eazewell @russwest44 , Donnell Beverly Jr., and Kemba Walker. 💜

They turned shared loss into a mission to modernize funeral planning, bringing empathy and innovation to every family.

Read more at https://t.co/jn4kjv93CR#eazewell #memorialplanning pic.twitter.com/xFnzYAgJ1w

— eazewell (@eazewell) September 17, 2025

“Grief doesn’t follow business hours. Our platform ensures families get support when they need it, whether it’s 2 a.m., weekends, or holidays, while letting care teams focus on comfort rather than paperwork,” Westbrook said in a written statement.

Eazewell looks to help families, institutions, and caregivers stay on top of online accounts of patients/family members. It will deal with things like online subscriptions, social media accounts, bill payments, and services that can be overlooked when life situations take place.

“Digital death management isn’t optional anymore, it’s essential,” said Beverly. “The average estate now includes more digital accounts than physical assets. Families discover dozens of accounts they never knew existed, including services still charging monthly fees, social media profiles vulnerable to hacking, loyalty points expiring, and email accounts filling with sensitive information.”

The key AI features from Eazewell’s new platform include:

  • Comprehensive Account Management: Closes or memorializes social media accounts, cancels subscriptions, terminates licenses, and manages dozens of overlooked tasks.
  • 24/7 Family Engagement: Delivers immediate answers via text and voice.
  • Intelligent Document Processing: Collects, organizes, and pre-fills forms with family authorization, maintaining audit trails for compliance and reporting.
  • Automated Notifications: Contacts Social Security, Medicare, banks, utilities, and digital services, tasks that otherwise require hours of phone calls.
  • Seamless Integration: Deploys within an organization’s systems, appearing to families as the hospice, senior living community, or insurer’s own branded service.

“We’re trying to take the weight off people’s shoulders as much as we can, and make this process so much easier for people,” Walker told CNBC in a phone interview in May.

RELATED CONTENT: Russell Westbrook Collaborating with Barneys

crime, police lights, Kara Walsh, Chad. T. Hall
by Mary Spiller

October 2, 2025

Rising Student Athlete, Aiyanna Williams, Remembered After Fatal Shooting

Aiyanna Williams, a 21-year-old nursing student and volleyball player at Stephens College, was fatally shot in downtown Columbia over the weekend.

A college senior and volleyball player is being remembered for her generosity and kindness after she was fatally shot in Columbia, Missouri.

Authorities say 21-year-old Aiyanna Williams, a nursing student at Stephens College, was struck by gunfire early Saturday, Sept. 27, when a man opened fire following a dispute with others nearby. She later died at University Hospital. Two other bystanders were also injured.

Police identified the suspect as 23-year-old Misael Covarrubias, who was taken into custody shortly after the shooting. He now faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon. Covarrubias is being held without bond at Boone County Jail, according to court records.

Officers responded to the scene at about 1:40 a.m. Saturday, and found three people with gunshot wounds, including Williams. Investigators determined that Covarrubias had been arguing with others near Ninth Street and Broadway before firing into the group. The victims, police emphasized, were not part of the altercation.

Williams’ death has left her school community in mourning. Stephens College officials said she had been declared brain dead at the hospital but remained on life support so she could fulfill her wishes to be an organ donor.

“Even in death, Aiyanna’s generosity and care for others endures,” the school said in a statement, according to PEOPLE. “Her decision to be an organ donor reflects her commitment to the welfare of others and her calling to be a nurse.”

The college hosted a vigil at Firestone Baars Chapel on Saturday, drawing classmates, teammates, and community members to honor her life. The women’s volleyball team, which postponed its scheduled game, described her as an irreplaceable presence on campus.

“Aiyanna embodied compassion, joy, and determination; qualities that defined her journey as a nursing student and endeared her to everyone who knew her,” Stephens College said in a statement. “Her choice to be an organ donor is a powerful reflection of her selflessness and unwavering commitment to helping others, even beyond her time with us.”

AI, Sexual Abuse, Deepfake Nudes
by Ahsan Washington

October 2, 2025

7 Black-Owned Companies Taking AI By The Horns

These companies are using AI to tackle real-world issues.

In the fast-paced world of technology, artificial intelligence is making waves across industries at a blinding speed. Despite all the hype around innovation, the trailblazing work of Black tech entrepreneurs often gets lost in the conversation.

BLACK ENTERPRISE is highlighting a few Black-owned companies that have made a mark in AI and are well ahead of the curve.

From preserving languages to gathering consumer insights in media engagement, beauty, and wearable innovations, these companies are harnessing the power of AI to tackle real-world issues. In doing so, they’re not just solving problems. They’re rewriting the narrative about who gets to shape the future of tech. Their performance shows an understanding at the intersection culture and the latest technology.

1)World Wide Technology

World Wide Technology (WWT) started in 1990 by David Steward in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The company grew from a small business servicing government contracts to become a global force, delivering services across multiple industries and offering AI, machine learning, cloud computing, data analytics and technology consulting. It’s clear that WWT is a player in the tech world.


2) Centre for Digitization of Indigenous African Languages AI

CDIAL AI, established in 2021, has made it its mission to preserve the languages of Africa. Yinka Iyinolakan and Shona Olalere, a duo who have a drive to make a difference. With its office in Los Angeles and another in Lagos, the organization is well placed to tackle this project. The team believes that artificial intelligence can be a tool in their quest to save these languages. They've come up with innovations like Indigenius, a conversational AI that can communicate in multiple languages, and smart keyboards that support a whopping 180 African languages. They've also produced modernized dictionaries that showcase terms. 

3) Rwazi, Inc.

Rwazi Inc., a Los Angeles-based company launched in 2021, is making waves in the decision intelligence space. Founders Joseph Rutakangwa and Eric Sewankambo saw an opportunity to shake things up. What sets Rwazi apart is its use of zero party data—that is— the information that comes directly from people. This approach allows the company to offer recommendations that are surprisingly accurate. The driving force behind all this is Sena Rwazi's AI engine, which provides a wealth of insight into consumer behavior. 

4)Digital Green Book (Onyx Impact)

The Digital Green Book, also known as Onyx Impact, is an AI platform that launched in March. Its founder Esosa Osa set up shop in Atlanta, Georgia. The platform has been working to fight the spread of information that targets Black communities. What sets Digital Green Book apart is its commitment to using fact-based sources like the NAACP and the Legal Defense Fund to help users figure out what's true and what's not in the media. The project isn't solely about combatting misinformation—it preserves history in a world where so much of our shared past is going digital. By drawing on these trusted sources the Digital Green Book is doing its part to keep history alive and accurate for generations.

5) Myavana

Myavana was born in 2011 out of Candace Mitchell's time at Georgia Tech. The company is based in Atlanta, made a name for itself as a pioneer in using intelligence to help people with textured hair find the right beauty products. For a time, this group has been overlooked. Myavana is changing that. With a value of $50 million, the company uses data to create products and services that cater to that group. Its approach is straightforward: Gather information, analyze it, and use those insights to develop care solutions that really work.

6)Robin AI

Robin AI has been around for a while, but the company has started to make waves with groundbreaking innovation. At the helm is CEO and founder Richard Robinson and co-founder James Clough, an expert in machine-learning research. That Robin AI tackles contract review is particularly clever. Its AI program, which was trained on 4.5 million documents, automates the process, saving users time and money. Robin AI has pulled in $10.5 million in funding, which is helping the company expand and make a mark in the tech world. 

7) Noctal

Noctal, a startup that uses intelligence to shake up the sound design scene, set up shop in Los Angeles in 2023. The company makes it easier for media outlets to produce high-quality sound effects and get through the grunt work of post-production by leveraging the power of machine learning. In a vote of confidence, Noctal reeled in a $1.8 million in seed funding, with some pretty big names throwing their weight behind the venture, like the musician Grimes, Tony Kemp, and the investment firm Caruso Ventures. 

RELATED CONTENT: Black Storytellers Discuss Using AI as a Creative Partner at the Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival

Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team
by Kandiss Edwards

October 2, 2025

All-Black Polo Team Makes Historic Debut In Atlanta

The team was established two years ago for students with little to no riding experience

The Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team made history as the first all-Black high school polo team to compete in the United States at the Soul Symphony Weekend on Sept. 19-21.

At the 8th Annual Atlanta Polo Party, the BEST Academy team, co-founded by celebrity fashion designer Miguel Wilson, edged out the Star Creek Polo Club, 4-3. The three-day event included a black-tie gala, live fashion show, and multiple polo matches. Notable attendees included Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens.

The milestone is years in the making through the Ride to the Olympics Foundation, founded by philanthropist and fashion designer Miguel Wilson. Wilson co-founded the team in partnership with BEST Academy and 100 Black Men of Atlanta.

“We are making history, and these young men are blazing a trail that we hope others will follow,” Wilson said in a statement.

“For too long, a socioeconomic barrier has kept most Black people from participating in polo and other equestrian sports. My foundation was created to dismantle that barrier, providing these students with access to the skills and opportunities that come with it. It’s about leveling the playing field.”

Atlanta BEST Academy Polo Team
Photo credit: jackson

The team was established two years ago for students with little to no riding experience. The foundation covers horse rentals, uniforms, equipment, and lessons for underserved Black youth. BEST Academy Principal Robert Williams said the program is instilling more than technical skills in the academy’s students.

“The students have grown as leaders on campus and have really strived for excellence both on the field and off,” Williams said.

Quinn Ramsey a ninth-grade member of the team spoke to CBS Atlanta about the benefits of polo.

“When you’re on the horse, it gives you like kind of confidence. And it’s like builds up bravery. It gives me courage,” Ramsey said.

Wilson, who co-founded the Morehouse Polo Club in 2019, has focused on increasing opportunities for Black youth in equestrian sports. Through Ride to the Olympics, he has expanded access to polo and other disciplines while using the sport to encourage leadership development.

All proceeds from the Soul Symphony Weekend benefit Ride to the Olympics, which will continue to support the BEST Academy team and build more youth polo programs nationwide.

RELATED CONTENT: United Golfers Association Embraces 100 Years Of Black Excellence With Invitational Uplifting Rising Stars

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