BLK News - Breaking News and Culture

The 52nd edition of the Orange Blossom Classic will bring the Florida A&M Rattlers and the defending HBCU national champion South Carolina State Bulldogs to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday, September 6, with kickoff set for 3 PM ET. The matchup anchors a multi-day weekend of HBCU cultural programming, career development, and community events that have become central to the Orange Blossom Classic’s identity since the game’s return to South Florida in 2021 after a 43-year absence. Key Takeaways The 52nd Orange Blossom Classic pits Florida A&M against defending Celebration Bowl champion South Carolina State at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, September 6, at 3 PM ET South Carolina State enters the game under head coach Chennis Berry with back-to-back MEAC championships and an undefeated conference record over two seasons; the Bulldogs won the 2025 Celebration Bowl 40–38 in four overtimes against Prairie View A&M South Carolina State is making its first OBC appearance since 1973, when the Bulldogs lost 23–12 to FAMU under legendary head coach Willie Jeffries The pregame Fan Fest, free with a game ticket, features a live performance by Trick Daddy and Trina at Hard Rock Stadium’s South Side Fountain Plaza Weekend programming

KIPP Atlanta Schools, a tuition-free charter network serving more than 4,500 students across Atlanta and East Point, announced a $35,000 grant from Delta Air Lines to expand college advising and career readiness programming for scholars in kindergarten through 12th grade. The grant, announced August 24, funds two of the network’s signature initiatives: KIPP Forward, which provides individualized postsecondary planning and career support for students and alumni, and Best of KIPP, a series of academic competitions, arts showcases, and global enrichment experiences designed to celebrate scholar achievement. The investment extends a partnership between Atlanta’s hometown airline and the charter network that has lasted more than a decade and connected hundreds of students directly to aviation careers. Key Takeaways The $35,000 grant strengthens two programs: KIPP Forward, which supports more than 2,000 alumni through college advising, career planning, internships, and job-shadowing, and Best of KIPP, which includes academic competitions, performing arts events, and a global immersion experience in Nairobi, Kenya. KIPP Atlanta Schools operates nine tuition-free charter schools serving more than 4,500 students in kindergarten through 12th grade in the cities of Atlanta and East Point, in partnership with Atlanta Public Schools and Fulton County Schools. Delta Air Lines has partnered with

Urban One launched ONE Yard: The HBCU Experience at Bowie State University on August 27, 2026, opening a multi-city campus engagement tour that transforms a digital platform born during the pandemic into a walk-through village of career development, wellness programming, competitive gaming, and cultural celebration built specifically for HBCU students. The inaugural event, produced in partnership with Bowie State’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Center, marks the first live activation of a concept that Urban One’s digital arm created in 2020 as a virtual homecoming space when in-person gatherings were suspended — and represents a broader bet by the company that the next generation of Black media engagement happens on campus, not just on screens. Key Takeaways Urban One (NASDAQ: UONE), the largest distributor of Black and urban content in the United States, debuted ONE Yard: The HBCU Experience at Bowie State University on August 27, 2026, with Clark Atlanta University hosting the second stop on September 2. The tour features six signature activations: the PlayVS-hosted Aura Arcade gaming hub, the 3rd Space by Live Wire main stage, a Wellness Zone, Your University Row career resource hub, Cookout Corridor featuring regional cuisine, and The Promenade by Cassius Life, a life-size magazine cover photo

Showcase Atlanta, the citywide initiative created by Mayor Andre Dickens to ensure major global events benefit local businesses and neighborhoods, closed out the FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament month by delivering on the core commitment it was built around. Since January, the nonprofit onboarded more than 1,900 small businesses into its Vendor Directory, connected over 500 businesses to vending and contracting opportunities, and invested $1,222,500 in grants and business resources. The month culminated with the Celebration of Soccer & Sound on July 19 in Piedmont Park, a free public event headlined by Ludacris that drew thousands of attendees and featured 68 local small business vendors. Key Takeaways Showcase Atlanta onboarded more than 1,900 small businesses into its Vendor Directory and connected over 500 to vending, contracting, and partnership opportunities since January 2026 The initiative invested $1,222,500 in grants and business resources, including $500,000 for the Downtown Pop-Up Opportunity Fund, $100,000 in digital marketing grants, $102,500 in Google Ad Credits, and $30,000 in youth entrepreneurship programming The Celebration of Soccer & Sound on July 19 in Piedmont Park, headlined by Ludacris and produced with ONE Musicfest, featured 68 local small business vendors and championship match watch parties across three viewing areas

Atlanta Dream stars Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese were named to the 12-player USA Basketball Women’s National Team roster on August 6, becoming the first pair of Dream players in franchise history to simultaneously represent the United States at a 5-on-5 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup or Olympic Games, with the tournament set for September 4 through 13 in Berlin. Key Takeaways Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese are the first Atlanta Dream duo in franchise history to be selected together for the USA Basketball Women’s National Team at a 5-on-5 FIBA World Cup or Olympic Games. Howard, a four-time WNBA All-Star, is averaging 17.0 points per game this season while leading the WNBA in steals; Reese is averaging a league-leading double-double and pacing the league in rebounding. Both players helped Team USA qualify for the World Cup during the qualifying tournament in March, where the U.S. posted a 5-0 record in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The 12-player roster also includes Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum; Team USA is pursuing its fifth consecutive World Cup gold medal and 12th overall. The U.S. has been drawn into Group D alongside China, Czechia, and Italy, with the

Minneapolis kicked off its sixth annual Black Business Week on Monday, July 27, opening a seven-day stretch of networking summits, resource workshops, and community events designed to support Black-owned businesses across the city just ahead of National Black Business Month in August. The week launched with a keynote from Sheletta Brundidge, a marketing veteran and founder of ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, whose address — titled “Let Your WHY Build Your WEALTH” — centered on a message that has become a defining theme of Black entrepreneurship in 2026: storytelling is the competitive advantage that separates businesses that survive from businesses that scale. Key Takeaways Minneapolis opened its sixth annual Black Business Week on July 27, running through August 2, with programming that includes a kickoff summit, food business licensing workshops through the Northside Economic Opportunity Network, and networking events for emerging and established Black entrepreneurs. Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the United States, with women over 50 driving the trend, according to Wall Street Journal reporting cited during the week’s programming. The week arrives as Minneapolis Black businesses continue recovering from the economic impact of “Operation Metro Surge,” a federal immigration enforcement action earlier this year that reduced foot traffic