Author: Dorcas Onasa

John Bol Ajak’s path to the United States was never an easy one. Born in Sudan, he fled to Kenya before eventually arriving in America in 2014 at just 14 years old. In those earliest days, he had no place to sleep and no guaranteed future only ambition and the hope that education and athletics might open doors that hardship had closed. A host family eventually took him in, and Ajak found his footing at the Church Farm School in Exton, Pennsylvania. From there, his basketball ability and academic drive carried him to Syracuse University, where he spent three seasons…

Howard University is stepping into a new chapter of academic innovation. The historically Black college and university, based in Washington, D.C., will introduce a three credit course dedicated entirely to Cardi B beginning in Fall 2026. Titled The Cardi B: Am I The Drama? The Art, Production, Marketing and Cultural Impact, the course will position the Grammy-winning rapper’s career as a living case study in music, media, and modern branding. The move signals a broader shift in how universities are recognizing the educational value embedded in contemporary pop culture and Howard is leaning into that conversation fully. What students will…

Brad Underwood had been to the Elite Eight. Multiple times. But getting past it was a different problem entirely  one that no amount of domestic recruiting had yet solved. So the Illinois head basketball coach decided to try something different, and it started with a phone call. On the other end of the line was Miško Ražnatović, one of the most well-connected basketball agents in Europe and the man who represents NBA superstar Nikola Jokić, among others. What followed was a conversation that would fundamentally reshape the Illinois roster and quietly change how college basketball programs think about international talent.…

Khloé Kardashian has never been one to shy away from talking about her health, and she is keeping that tradition going. Ahead of the launch of Khloud Protein Chips the newest product from her wellness brand Khloud the 41 year old opened up about what her fitness journey has really looked like over the years and why the number on a scale has never been part of the equation. It was never about the scale For Kardashian, the relationship with working out has always been rooted in feeling good rather than hitting a specific weight. She does not own a…

What sounds like a new language among Gen Z is, in many ways, a continuation of a much older one. From viral TikTok phrases to everyday conversations, popular expressions like rizz, cap and lit have become deeply embedded in how younger people communicate. But behind these trending words lies a cultural foundation that stretches back decades. As social media accelerates the spread of language, the influence of African American Language continues to shape how millions speak, post and connect. Understanding where these words come from adds an important layer to how they are used today. The roots run deeper than…

For decades, Black women in corporate America have had to navigate a landscape that was rarely designed with them in mind. Limited access to capital, exclusion from key financial networks and persistent underrepresentation in executive roles have long been part of the reality these leaders face. Yet today, a new generation and a few pioneering veterans are not just participating in the business world. They are actively rebuilding it in their own image, on their own terms. From leading billion-dollar organizations to building luxury empires from scratch, these five Black women are writing a new chapter in American business history.…

For the third consecutive year, not a single active player from a historically Black college or university received an official invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. That number zero has become a familiar and frustrating data point for anyone paying attention to how HBCU talent moves through the professional football pipeline. But with the 2026 NFL Draft set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, a group of 48 players refused to let that absence be the final word. A new showcase, same uphill climb The NFL replaced its standalone HBCU Combine with a newly formatted HBCU Showcase, holding it…

Students hoping to intern at the Trump White House this year will find the opportunity comes without a paycheck a notable shift from what the previous administration had put in place. President Joe Biden launched a paid White House internship program in 2022, offering participants a stipend equivalent to $750 per week for a minimum of 35 hours of work. The move was a departure from tradition. White House internships had historically been unpaid positions, a structure that effectively limited access to students who could afford to work without compensation and left lower-income applicants with far fewer options. Why Biden…

When mainstream news outlets move on to the next story, independent Black newspapers often stay. That staying power is exactly what has made the Amsterdam News one of the most enduring voices in American journalism and it is also what puts publications like it at constant financial risk. Founded in 1909, the Amsterdam News has spent more than a century covering stories that directly affect African American communities across the country. Long before diversity became a buzzword in newsrooms, this New York-based publication was already doing the work holding power accountable, centering marginalized voices and making sure entire communities did…

The New York State Black Legislative Task Force has secured $30 million in funding for more than 200 Black-led nonprofits and organizations working in underserved communities across the state, marking another major win for communities that have long faced systemic gaps in resources and investment. The funding is included in the One House Budget for fiscal year 2026–2027 and is earmarked for organizations working across a wide range of critical areas, including crisis intervention, housing, economic development, workforce training, healthcare, education, and civic engagement. A budget win amid ongoing delays Final approval for the budget bills had been expected around…