THE DAILY DRUMBEAT
TODAY'S EDITION — VOL 1 NO 18 — FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2026
Good morning, Drummers — it's Friday, and we're starting your week with news that cuts to the heart of Black America: from HBCUs fighting through enrollment chaos to federal agencies quietly dismantling protections we've fought hard to build. Let's dive in.
[ P9 · HEALTH EQUITY · BRIEFING ]

Missouri Man's Death in Police Custody Renews Accountability Demands

JUSTICE & ACCOUNTABILITY — Lloyd Gilmore, a 44-year-old Sikeston resident, died in police custody after an altercation with Sikeston police officers on June 10. His daughter Lania Gilmore said her father was looking for a safe space on the day he died, so he told her to call the police department for help. During a quick, physical altercation involving seven Sikeston police officers, he was shocked with a Taser and put into hobble restraints. Two autopsies were performed, but they — and Gilmore's cause of death — had not been released as of mid-July.

The takeaway
A man seeking mental health support died in custody, and answers remain months later—residents are demanding justice and systemic change.
The quick 12
[ P9 · HEALTH EQUITY ]

Despite Trump's promise to slash electricity prices by 50% by July 2026, residential rates increased 18%, with more than 1 in 10 Black households carrying overdue balances—three times the rate for white households.

[ P2 · POLICY & JUSTICE ]

On July 24, Kendrick's parents filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court; the 17-year-old was found rolled up in a gym mat at his high school in 2013, but officials ruled the death an accident.

[ P11 · BLACK EXCELLENCE ]

Michelle Duster says there is no historical or genealogical evidence confirming familial ties between Nolan Wells and Ida B. Wells, and warns that sharing the false claim distracts from ensuring accountability for his death.

[ P1 · BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE ]

Byrd's Eye View Studio celebrated its grand opening on July 29 with a fully-equipped production studio, podcast space, and editing suite, marking the final storefront launch of the BOOST program.

[ P11 · BLACK EXCELLENCE ]

The League of Popular Black Organizations of the Americas (LONPAC) was launched on July 21 in Bogotá as a networking hub for left and progressive Black activist groups from Alaska to South America.

[ P1 · BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE ]

With more than 3 million Black-owned businesses in the country generating an estimated $200 billion in combined annual revenue, August marks National Black Business Month.

[ P3 · ECONOMY & WORK ]

DC Department of Aging and Community Living expands senior wellness programming with new intergenerational hubs connecting youth and seniors across Wards 5 and 7.

[ P8 · TECH & INNOVATION ]

In 2023, the number of Black-owned employer businesses surpassed 200,000 for the first time, with 62% growth between 2017 and 2023—yet venture capital to Black entrepreneurs dropped 71%.

[ P5 · HBCUS & EDUCATION ]

Many private organizations ended their HBCU scholarship programs following Trump administration guidance that challenged diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at publicly funded institutions.

[ P11 · BLACK EXCELLENCE ]

Prison Fellowship launches mentorship initiative in Houston connecting incarcerated individuals with troubled youth, offering pathways away from criminal justice involvement.

[ P10 · LAND & LEGACY ]

D.C. is included in a nationwide legal campaign challenging federal immigration enforcement practices and misconduct allegations against federal agents.

[ P1 · BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE ]

Maryland Farmers Market Week launches August 2, celebrating local food systems and Black farmers across the state.

[ P4 · MONEY MOVES ]
S&P 5007,316.15 -1.5%
Bitcoin$63,875 -1.0%CoinGecko
Ethereum$1,887 -1.5%CoinGecko
Black Wall Street Watch
UONE$5.05-1.4%
RLJ$12.31-0.6%
CARV$1.77+10.7%
[ P6 · SPORTS ]
HBCU Watch
R&B legend Johnny Gill to perform ahead of HBCU football classic [HBCU Gameday]
UFL shudders team, former HBCU star needs new home [HBCU Gameday]
Last Night
WNBA: Tempo vs Lynx 72-104 (final)
WNBA: Sky vs Sun 94-88 (final)
WNBA: Aces vs Liberty 104-99 (final)
MLB: full slate, 10 games
On Deck Tonight
WNBA: Dream vs Storm (11:30 PM ET)
WNBA: Mystics vs Wings (11:30 PM ET)
WNBA: Fire vs Fever (2:00 AM ET)
MLB: full slate, 15 games
MLS: NYCFC vs Toronto (11:30 PM ET)
[ P10 · THIS DAY IN LEGACY ]
1874 — Patrick Francis Healy became the first African American president of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., on July 31, 1874—breaking institutional barriers decades before the Civil Rights Act.
[ GB · THE GREEN BOOK ]
Opportunity

HBCU Connect Student Scholarship — $1,000 per award — Deadline December 1, 2026

Renewable scholarship available to students attending or planning to attend a Historically Black College or University. Funds can be applied to tuition or books. Applicants should demonstrate academic achievement and be enrolled or accepted full-time at an accredited HBCU.

Apply →
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D

The Drum Roll

The Number
6.66%
30-year fixed mortgage, this week · FRED
[ THE CLOSER · P7 · CULTURE & COMMUNITY ]

Alicia Keys, Swizz Beatz Anniversary Celebrates 14 Years of Black Love in Music

On July 31, 2010, music power couple Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz tied the knot in an intimate Mediterranean ceremony, beginning a partnership that continues to inspire. Fourteen years later, the couple remains a beacon of Black excellence in the industry.