POLICY & JUSTICE — Nearly 60 Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley, are demanding a federal investigation into at least 10 reported hanging deaths of Black people in 2026, with victims as young as 18 in Mississippi, Michigan, and New York. At least seven incidents involving Black individuals found hanging in public or under suspicious circumstances have been tracked in 2026, though local law enforcement and medical examiners have ruled many deaths suicides citing lack of evidence pointing to foul play, families and civil rights advocates including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund have called for greater transparency, independent oversight and thorough autopsies. They say the nation's history of racial violence and lynching makes a careful, transparent investigation especially important.
HBCU INVESTMENT — Historically Black colleges and universities will receive a one-time $174 million investment from the Trump administration in what the administration has called keeping its pledge to support institutions that have played a role advancing opportunities for generations. Between fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the Trump administration has allocated more than $612 million in new funding to HBCUs. Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the investment at the White House Initiative on HBCUs Summit, targeting research, innovation, campus modernization, and private-sector partnerships designed to equip students for careers in growing sectors.
WORKFORCE EQUITY — Atlanta City Council unanimously passed a 12-week paid parental leave policy for city employees, effective January 1, 2027, doubling its 2015 benefit. The policy applies to births, surrogate births, legal adoptions, and foster placements involving children under 18. The ordinance removes outdated language distinguishing primary and secondary caregivers, allowing both parents to receive equal bonding leave and take their 12 weeks in flexible, intermittent increments rather than all at once.
TRADE & INFLATION — President Trump rolled out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for a high-stakes trade meeting that will prove critical for American pocketbooks, with even higher stakes for Black Americans navigating rising costs from a more than year-long trade war between the two countries. John Boyd, founder of the National Association of Black Farmers, says farmers have been especially hurt, noting that despite China's commitment to purchase $17 billion worth of U.S. agricultural products, China has purchased only $3.9 billion. From baby products to beauty supplies and soybeans, Black communities have felt the effects of tariffs and changing trade policies.
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Big Chicken opened at Jackson State University's Student Center in September 2026, marking the brand's first location at a historically Black college or university. The restaurant offers premium chicken sandwiches, tenders, wings, salads, signature sides, and hand-crafted milkshakes, bringing chef-inspired dining to campus communities.
Visit Business →The National Black MBA Association offers scholarships through multiple partner institutions for Black students majoring or intending to major in business at partner schools. Multiyear awards available; visit the NBMAA website to identify partners and specific deadlines for your institution.
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