POLICY & JUSTICE — The USDA confirmed that the minority farmers committee "did not meet or make recommendations" in 2025. Of 128 advisory committees at USDA, this is the only one addressing Black farmers—with representation crucial when officials aren't meeting with Black farmers directly, advocates said. The committee has been disbanded twice since its inception, both times under Trump administrations. In July 2025, the Trump USDA announced it would eliminate all programs for farmers defined as "socially disadvantaged."
HBCUs & EDUCATION — Benedict College saw an increase in Black male student enrollment for the second year in a row, making up 53 percent of new students. The Fall 2026 class included 731 new traditional undergraduate students, the college's largest incoming class since 2019. Black men accounted for just 26 percent of HBCU students in 2022, down from 38 percent in 1976. The gains come as HBCUs nationwide push to reverse decades-long enrollment declines among Black males.
VOTING RIGHTS — Five states enacted or expanded a State Voting Rights Act in 2026: Washington in March, Maryland in April, New Jersey in July, Delaware in August, and California in September. The moves come months after the U.S. Supreme Court's April ruling in Louisiana v. Callais gutted racial protections in the Voting Rights Act, saying states' use of race-based redistricting amounts to an "unconstitutional racial gerrymander." GOP-led redistricting could eliminate at least six members of the Congressional Black Caucus in Missouri, Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina and South Carolina.
| S&P 500 | 7,743.41 +0.5% | |
| Dow Jones | 51,828.62 +0.9% | |
| 30-Yr Mortgage | 7.03% | FRED / Freddie Mac |
| CPI (YoY) | 3.4% | BLS via FRED |
| Bitcoin | $84,109 -0.7% | CoinGecko |
| Ethereum | $2,687 -0.8% | CoinGecko |
| UONE | $4.23 | -1.2% |
| RLJ | $11.20 | +0.7% |
| CARV | $1.72 | -1.0% |
THE BLKPRNT is a Raleigh-based organization designed to help Black businesses gain visibility, build relationships, reach customers, and access resources. Through Black Entrepreneur Week and year-round programs, it strengthens pathways for sustainable growth in North Carolina's growing Black business sector.
Visit Business →