Rihanna, Tyler Perry , Forbes billionaire

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 4, 2025

Rihanna And Tyler Perry Among 23 Black Billionaires Featured In Forbes’ World Billionaires List

Twenty-three Black moguls made 'Forbes'' annual World Billionaires list

Tyler Perry and Rihanna are tied for 14th place on the list of 23 Black moguls who earned a spot on Forbes‘ World Billionaires list.

The magazine released its annual World’s Billionaires list on April 1, featuring 3,028 billionaires with a combined net worth of a record $16.1 trillion. While only 23 of them are Black—making up just 0.8% of the list—the Black billionaires represent a wealthy and impressive group.

Michael Jordan came in at No. 7 with a net worth of $3.5 billion. Jordan made the list after selling his majority stake in the Charlotte Hornets in a deal that valued the NBA franchise at $3 billion. Oprah Winfrey was tied with African Rainbow Minerals founder Patrice Motsepe in eighth place with a $3 billion net worth.

Jay-Z closed out the Top 10 with a $2.5 billion net worth, ahead of Magic Johnson, who was tied for 12th place with $1.5 billion. Perry and Rihanna’s $1.4 billion net worth have them sharing the 14th spot with two others (software mogul Tope Awotona and golf legend Tiger Woods). LeBron James tied for 18th place with a $1.3 billion net worth, and BET Founder Sheila Johnson closed out the list with a $1 billion net worth.

Aliko Dangote, founder and CEO of Dangote Group, is the wealthiest Black man in the world, with an estimated net worth of $23.9 billion. His work on building Africa’s largest oil and gas refinery, which began in 2013 and was completed in early 2024, has boosted his fortune by $10.5 billion since last year’s list.

David Steward finished at No. 2 with an estimated net worth of $11.4 billion. The richest Black American, Steward co-founded World Wide Technology in 1990, a company that provides IT solutions to clients such as Citi and Verizon.

Robert F. Smith, founder of Vista Equity Partners, finished at No. 3 with a net worth of $10.8 billion. Alexander Karp followed at No. 4 with a net worth of $8.4 billion. Karp is the co-founder and CEO of Palantir Technologies, a data mining company whose clients include the FBI, the Department of Defense, and other government agencies.

Mike Adenuga rounded out the Top 5 with a net worth of $6.8 billion. One of Africa’s wealthiest individuals, Adenuga built his fortune through his mobile network, Globacom, and his oil exploration company, Conoil.

by Stacy Jackson

April 4, 2025

Coach Excludes Young Biracial Dancer From Team Hug During Hartford Dance Competition

After replaying the moment between her daughter and the dance coach, Shaniah's mother says her and her daughter's feelings are 'valid'

A dance mom has removed her daughters from Dance Xpressions studio in Plainville, Connecticut, after her 6-year-old was humiliated on stage by a coach who visibly excluded her from the team’s group hug during a dance competition in Hartford.

In a now-viral TikTok video, the young biracial dancer, Shaniah, stood alone as she watched her coach, Nadia Boucher, run on stage and embrace her other three dance peers. The coach appeared to ignore Shaniah, who attempted to lean in for a hug. In the video, the audience can be heard reacting to the gesture.

“Shaniah came off stage devastated!” wrote Melissa Breglia.

@melbreg4
It absolutely breaks my heart to watch this… Shaniah came off stage devastated! Why would a “teacher” treat a child so poorly! My daughter deserves an apology and I will continue to share this until THEY FEEL AS BADLY AS SHANIAH DID!! And the studio feels justified and released a statement to the team parents as if it was MY FAULT!! I STAND WITH MY DAUGHTER! #StandwithShaniah #Hugs4Niah #nobullying #dotherightthing #apologize #racism #waterburyCT #PLAINVILLECT #fyp #stoprunning #dancemoms #dancers
♬ original sound – MelBreg

Breglia is Shaniah’s mother, according to NBC Connecticut, and the situation has left her heartbroken. At first, Breglia thought she overreacted about the incident between the coach and her daughter until she rewatched the moment on video.

The coach “gave everybody else a hug except for Shaniah,” the mother said. “Shaniah came up to me and said, ‘Mommy, how come [the coach] didn’t give me a hug? She hugged everybody else.’ She said, ‘Mommy, I did all my moves, I smiled the whole time…and I didn’t get a hug, but they did.’”

Moments later, in the dancers’ dressing room, Bregalia addressed the incident with the coach.

“I went up to [her] and said, ‘How dare you? How dare you make my child feel less than?’ She instantly stiffened up and said, ‘I didn’t do anything, why are you yelling at me?’ I said, ‘you had her standing on the stage alone. She leaned in to hug you, and you sidestepped her.'” The coach denied her actions toward the young dancer.

The March 24 video has garnered over four million views, and the dance studio, which has seemingly deleted all of its social media accounts, has reportedly accumulated loads of negative feedback from supporters worldwide who stand with Shaniah.

The child’s mother said the studio released a statement to team parents faulting her for the situation. Breglia followed with a March 26 TikTok to thank supporters for standing up for her daughter. However, the message also detailed the emotional weight the studio has placed upon her 6- and 9-year-old daughters. She is deeply saddened by studio parents and their children who put dance first and turned their backs on her daughters. As of that April 2, only one team member had reached out to check-in.

@melbreg4
Heart felt THANK YOU… I just wish you all knew how grateful I am for everyone who stands up to this behavior! I will always be my kids voice…. thank you for being her army… #fyp #dancers #dancemoms #PLAINVILLECT #auntiesoftiktok #racism #stopbullying #stophate
♬ Hello – Aqyila

The mother advised parents with children of color to teach them about their culture. She believes parents who raise their children in spaces like Dance Xpressions are doing them a disservice.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 4, 2025

Pastor’s Violence Prevention Nonprofit Could Receive $1M From Minnesota Senate—Even After Shootout And Threats

Will Rev. Jerry McAfee get his money? Stay tuned.

Rev. Jerry McAfee is in line to receive $1 million in funding from a bill for his violence prevention nonprofit despite a recent bout of controversy.

The president of the Minnesota Senate has introduced a bill proposing $1 million in funding for McAfee’s nonprofit, The Minnesota Star Tribune reports. A bill introduced by State Senate President Bobby Joe Champion, DFL-Minneapolis, would allocate a $1 million grant to McAfee’s 21 Days of Peace in 2026-2027 for “social equity building and community engagement activities.”

The funding comes despite the pastor having a $650,000 city contract revoked after his comments to Minneapolis City Council members during a committee meeting in February.

McAfee, pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, gained attention after interrupting a City Council committee meeting on the oversight of violence prevention contracts with a five-minute rant. Some council members perceived his remarks as threatening and homophobic.

A few weeks later, council members opposed the city’s Neighborhood Safety Department recommendation to award a nearly $650,000 one-year contract to Salem, Inc., another nonprofit run by McAfee, for violence interruption efforts. The contract was placed under “review” just hours after two of McAfee’s violence interrupter workers were charged in connection with a North Minneapolis shootout.

McAfee has led nonprofits engaged in violence prevention efforts in Minneapolis for decades. According to city records, his church and two nonprofits have secured approximately a dozen violence prevention contracts totaling $1.6 million in recent years. In 2023, 21 Days of Peace received $3 million in state funding for violence prevention initiatives.

While testifying for the bill on April 2, McAfee highlighted recent reports showing that shootings in North Minneapolis have reached a decade-low. Last year, the North Side saw a 21% decrease in gunshot victims compared to the previous year, along with a significant drop in ShotSpotter activations and reports of automatic gunfire.

Regarding the shootout involving his workers, McAfee defended his staff member, Kashmir Khaliffa McReynolds, after McReynolds and a colleague were shot in the neck, back, and shoulder. McAfee said McReynolds had just finished his shift when 30 shots were fired, prompting him to retrieve his gun from his car and return fire. The pastor says the incident highlights the dangers of the job—especially since violence interrupters are not permitted to carry weapons.

by Kandiss Edwards

April 4, 2025

Meet The Black English Woman Who Takes A 4-Hour Commute To Secure Her Bag

Mom in England is going to extremes to secure the bag.

Ruth Ajala, a Black woman in England, spends nine hours commuting round-trip twice a week to grow her career.

The content creator, known as @theruthaj on TikTok, documents her journey. She struggled to find jobs in Portsmouth, her hometown on the outskirts of London. After searching for information governance officer positions nearby without success, she expanded her search and landed a role in London, requiring a four-hour commute each way.

The 31-year-old mother of one shares her 4:30 a.m. wake-up routine on TikTok, capturing her long days of travel.

In one post, she explained her schedule, writing, “They said apply for jobs everywhere. Twice a week…What is your own commute like? 5:15 a.m.-8:55 a.m. in the morning, 4:20 p.m.-7:50 p.m. in the evening #londoncommute #commuterlife #commute.”

@theruthaj They said apply for jobs everywhere 😩 Twice a week…What is your own commute like? 5:15am-8:55am in the morning, 4:20pm-7:50pm in the evening #londoncommute #commuterlife #commute #portsmouthtolondon #nationalexpress ♬ original sound – Franklin Saint

Ajala’s story highlights the challenges many Black professionals in the UK face when securing career opportunities. The Office for National Statistics reports that Black workers experience an unemployment rate nearly double that of white workers.

In 2023, the unemployment rate for individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds was 8%, compared to 3.3% for those from a white ethnic background, the House of Commons Library reported. Black employees are also more likely to hold lower-paid roles and face barriers to senior positions.

Many commenters expressed disbelief over her commute. One urged her to move closer, writing, “The Lord knows I would break down after a week; please just move to London.”

Ajala responded, “My husband has been doing this for more than a year . . . the level of respect I have for that man right now… I’ve just been asking him How? How?”

Despite the challenges, including missing out on daily routines with her child, Ajala remains committed. She and her husband are determined to build a healthy, stable life for their 22-month-old.

by Jameelah Mullen

April 4, 2025

Naval Academy Removes 400 Books In Anti-DEI Purge

Here we go.....

The U.S. Naval Academy removed nearly 400 books from its library after being instructed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office to review and discard books that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, U.S. officials said, as reported by the Associated Press.

Hegseth’s office instructed academy officials to review its library last week. The initial search identified approximately 900 books for elimination; however, 400 books were ultimately removed just before Hegseth visited the academy on April 1.

Removing the books is part of the Trump administration’s effort to eliminate perceived DEI content from federal agencies. This effort encompasses policies and programs to ensure the fair treatment of marginalized groups that have historically faced discrimination in educational and workplace settings.

Since Hegseth took over as Defense Secretary, the former television host has aggressively advocated for removing DEI programs from the military.

In February, without explanation, Hegseth fired Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s first female chief. This came days after the president abruptly removed General CQ Brown Jr., a Black man who served as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In November 2024, Hegseth told CNN that he would advise the Trump administration to remove any military official who “was involved in any of the DEI woke sh*t.”

Hegseth faced backlash after actively urging the department to eliminate DEI programs and online media content. Lawmakers and leaders have expressed particular concern about the potential removal of historical figures and war heroes, such as the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military pilots who served in World War II.

Naval Academy employees removed items commemorating female Jewish graduates from a historic display ahead of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to the school. However, they did not remove the photos of male Jewish graduates. After receiving a complaint from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), the academy restored the images and issued a letter of apology.

“Thank you for MRFF’s support in responding to the removal of the Distinguished Jewish Women graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy’s Levy Center Stein Fellowship Hall and Jewish Chapel. Following MRFF’s report, the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, along with her leadership team, returned the artifacts to the cases last night. The scores of midshipmen, staff, and faculty clients are grateful for MRFF’s quick and decisive action to address this injustice.”

This misstep highlights the ongoing confusion surrounding the definition and purpose of DEI.

by Kandiss Edwards

April 4, 2025

Historic Chicago South Side Bowling Alley Will Remain Open After Successful GoFundMe Campaign

Skyway Bowl, the last Black-owned bowling alley on Chicago’s South Side, will remain open after a successful GoFundMe campaign, Block Club Chicago reported.

Owner Brunetta Hill-Corley appealed to the community for support due to low patronage, high expenses, and a hefty loan payment due to the pandemic shutdown. Hill-Corley received overwhelming support from locals and Divine Nine organizations, raising more than $17,000 to date. She credited media coverage for sparking the enthusiastic response.

“The article created a viral effect,” Hill-Corley said. “I feel relieved; I’m beyond energized. … The community, local organizations, nonprofits, schools—people are reaching out for events and social gatherings that will continue to create that next generation of love flowing through this center.”

Before the pandemic, Skyway Bowl thrived with a 35-week bowling league of 32 teams. But lockdowns brought business to a halt, forcing Hill-Corley to take out a disaster relief loan, which she is now repaying. The financial strain grew when the business’s tax assessment doubled, adding to an already tight budget.

After two years of closure, the bowling alley has struggled to rebuild its customer base, and league participation has dropped to just 10 teams.

“People feared, people died, leagues broke up, people didn’t come back,” Hill-Corley said. “People don’t want to commit to coming out for a 35-week league like they used to.”

Located at 9915 S. Torrence Ave., Skyway Bowl has deep roots in Chicago’s South Side. The property once belonged to Jacoby Dickens, a successful Black businessman and founder of Seaway Bank, one of Illinois’ largest Black-owned banks. In 2009, the site changed hands and was last owned by the late Johnnie Hill, Hill-Corley’s father. Since his passing in 2016, his family has continued running the business, with Hill-Corley at the helm, supported by her husband and children.

Determined to honor her father’s legacy, Hill-Corley remains committed to keeping Skyway Bowl alive.

“I told him, ‘You’re going home free of mind because I got it,’” she said. “He had a vision for his family to have something other than a 9-to-5. This is our last hurrah.”

The Hill-Corley family wants to fulfill their patriarch’s wishes and serve their community. If Skyway Bowl were to close, South Side residents would have to travel across the city to the North Side to find a bowling alley.

Keith Hamilton, executive director of the Illinois State Bowling Proprietors Association, stressed the importance of keeping the establishment open.

“Skyway is not only a bowling center but a driving force for the community,” he said. “It would be a serious loss for the South Side.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 4, 2025

NYC Mayor Eric Adams’ Federal Corruption Case Dropped

Adams spoke out following the dismissal, saying the case 'should have never been brought and I did nothing wrong.'

New York City Mayor Eric Adams will avoid prison time after a federal judge permanently dismissed his criminal case following pressure from the Trump administration that prosecutors drop his corruption charges, BBC reports.

Manhattan Federal Judge Dale Ho tossed the case “with prejudice,” meaning the Department of Justice (DOJ) won’t have the opportunity to refile the charges against Adams based on the same evidence. Ho said that while some people will find his 78-page decision “undoubtedly” unsatisfying, his decision ensured that the administration could not use the indictment as “leverage” over Adams or the city of New York.

“Dismissing the case without prejudice would create the unavoidable perception that the mayor’s freedom depends on his ability to carry out the immigration enforcement priorities of the administration and that he might be more beholden to the demands of the federal government than to the wishes of his own constituents,” the judge wrote.

The corruption charges resulted in Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor resigning after accusing the mayor of issuing a deal with the Trump administration in exchange for immigration enforcement.

According to the New York Daily News, Ho appointed independent lawyer Paul Clement to advise him on the situation, recommending the judge dismiss the case for good. The former solicitor general under President George W. Bush labeled the narrative of the mayor having an alliance with Trump over New Yorkers as “deeply troubling.”

However, acting deputy U.S. attorney general Emil Bove, appointed by Trump, ordered New York prosecutors to drop the case against Adams, arguing the case “restricted” the mayor’s ability to address key goals of the new administration like “illegal immigration and violent crime.”

Adams’ aligning with Trump has led to harsh criticism from New Yorkers and immigration advocates. Things took a hard turn when Adams appeared on Fox & Friends alongside Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, who mentioned being “up [the mayor’s] butt” if he failed to comply with the Trump administration while seeking to carry out deportations.

Adams was charged with conspiracy, fraud, soliciting illegal campaign contributions, and bribery in September 2024 after being accused of accepting gifts totaling more than $100,000 from Turkish citizens in exchange for favors. Following the dismissal, Adams said the case “should have never been brought and I did nothing wrong.”

With the ruling coming less than three months before the June 2025 NYC mayoral primary race, Adams he will run for re-election not as a Democrat, but as an independent. He mentioned wanting to rally a campaign on “a solid base of people” outside of city limits of Manhattan, with a focus on ethnic minorities who helped him win his first election in 2021.

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 4, 2025

NC State Senior Accused Of Embezzling $15K From African American Textile Society

Dargan received a $14,000 scholarship from the North Carolina Textile Foundation in 2021 after being inspired to pursue a fashion career at a young age.

Khiara Dargan, a North Carolina State University senior, is under fire for alleged embezzlement after being accused of embezzling thousands of dollars from the African American Textile Society, a student organization on campus, while serving as president, WRAL News reports.

Dargan allegedly embezzled a little under $15,000 of group funds. The group provides support for minority students studying textiles. The accusations claim the senior from Greensboro, North Carolina, misappropriated $14,695 of the group’s funds for personal use. Dargan faces felony charges of embezzlement by public officers or trustees, obtaining property by false pretense, and identity theft.

Dargan admits that she received access to the organization’s finances at the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic school year but lost access in November 2024. She said she felt lots of pressure to have things in order. “With me being the president, there was a lot of pressure and things needing to be purchased and set in order,” Dargan said.

“Since none of us had access to the account to check the balance or anything, we weren’t able to see the charges or revert them.”

Feeling “embarrassed and blindsided” by the accusations, Dargan says there is a lack of oversight on the charges against her since any N.C. State students can gain access to group funding. “I still [don’t] understand or feel the charges are fitting, and if this can happen to any student with access to bank accounts under N.C. State, there needs to be a process to explain to students how to go about using them in ways that aren’t inappropriate or landing them in situations like this,” she said.

“I feel very distraught about the charges, but unfortunately, there is nothing I can do. The point of student organizations is to teach them the mechanisms they’ll need to use in real companies –- not land them in situations like this.”

According to WXIII 12, court documents claim Dargan may have used other people’s credit cards to make unauthorized financial transactions after receiving a $14,000 scholarship from the North Carolina Textile Foundation in 2021. The scholarship announced the senior student as interested in a fashion career that started at a young age, “when she was inspired by the styles in ‘Bratz’ and ‘Barbie’ movies.”

Dargan’s disposition hearing is scheduled for April 16. Dargan, who is pursuing an English degree, says she wants to move past the issue and continue her education. “I wish there was more I could say, but I can’t,” the college student said.

“I just want to move on and be able to live my dreams, which is why I am in college in the first place.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 3, 2025

Jacksonville Beach Denies Permit For ‘HBCU Beach Day’ Event

'From the email, we thought that everything was a go.'

Organizers of the third annual “HBCU Beach Day” said the event was denied a permit by Jacksonville Beach officials.

The event, set for April 12, is expected to attract hundreds of college students to Jacksonville Beach, First Coast News reports. Organizers also received a cease-and-desist letter from city officials, warning of potential consequences if the event goes ahead without a permit.

“It’s historical for the Black community,” organizer Tyree Jackson said. “Just to bring everyone together and just to show everyone that we can come together and we can have a good time, and we can do everything the right way without having any issues.”

Jackson said the application was submitted in March. He and fellow organizer Jarrod Gunn believed they were in the clear to proceed.

“We weren’t told that we can’t even have the event,” Jackson said. “From the email, we thought that everything was a go.”

However, city officials said the permit application was denied because it was submitted fewer than 90 days in advance, a violation of city regulations.

“There’s rules, state statutes, there’s city ordinances, all of those are in place to protect everybody from the people that are visiting here,” Sgt. Tonya Tator with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department said.

Organizers noted that it’s too late to cancel, as many students have already booked accommodations and made travel arrangements. With college students from across Florida expected to attend, “we actually want to do it the right and the legit way,” Jackson said.

Jackson said officers declined payment offers to ensure safety at the event. He also emphasized his desire to distance the “HBCU Beach Day” event from any negative incidents that occurred during other gatherings they had no involvement in.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 3, 2025

Dr. Khalid Muhammad’s Estate Sues Over Unauthorized Use Of Speech In Tupac Shakur Song

The speech was used in 1996's 'White Man'z World'

The estate of Dr. Khalid Muhammad has filed a suit against Tupac Shakur’s estate, stating that the Brooklyn-born artist lifted a political speech from Muhammad when it was featured on Tupac’s “White Man’z World,” AllHipHop reports.

Muhammad’s estate claims no permission was sought for the speech to be used on the 1996 track that appeared on The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory as Tupac’s alter ego, Makaveli.

The suit also names Suge Knight, Interscope Records, Death Row Records, Universal’s publishing arm, and the producer of the song, Darryl “Big D” Harper, as co-defendants.

The lawsuit claims Shakur, who died in September 1996 at the age of 25, used a seven-line excerpt from a speech given Muhammad during 1993’s “Black Holocaust Nationhood Conference.”

“His presence on ‘White Manz World’ reinforces Tupac Shakur’s role as not just an artist, but as a voice for Black empowerment and resistance against oppression. At a time when hip-hop was a leading force in shaping political discourse among Black youth, Dr. Khalid’s inclusion gave ‘White Manz World’ an undeniable authenticity, elevating it beyond music into a revolutionary message against racial injustice,” the lawyer for Dr. Muhammad’s estate, Malik Z. Shabazz, said.

The estate claims that neither Tupac nor any of the aforementioned names above ever requested a license, gave credit, or compensated them for the copyrighted works. The estate stated that the parties should have known the speech was protected work as access to the public records showed it as such.

Muhammad’s estate is requesting at least $5 million and a permanent injunction to block further exploitation of Muhammad’s voice as well as attorneys’ fees and the impoundment of infringing materials.

Muhammad, the former Nation of Islam official, died in 2001. He was 53.