GBEF in the News
GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM ANNOUNCES DEMOCRACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAMMING FOR THE 2026 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE
National leaders, advocates, labor organizers, healthcare innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers will convene to explore solutions shaping the future of Black communities. ...more
News ,Future of Democracy Future of Work future of health &Essence Festival of Culure
June 26, 2026•9 min read
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
April 14, 2026•2 min read
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN LANDMARK LAWSUIT, ADD NEW DEFENDANT AND EXPANDED CLAIMS, ASKING COURT TO IMMEDIATELY BLOCK TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 23, 2026•6 min read
BUSINESS OWNERS AND TRADE ASSOCIATION FILE LANDMARK LAWSUIT CHALLENGING UNLAWFUL AND UNILATERAL ACTIONS BY TEXAS COMPTROLLER & STATE AGENCIES TO DISMANTLE THE HUB PROGRAM
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 02, 2026•7 min read
Trump wants to give you $2,000 dividends from tariff revenue. Here’s what complicates his plan
President Donald Trump unveiled a new proposal to pay Americans at least $2,000 in dividends from his global tariff policies, which experts say caused havoc on the U.S. economy and American businesses... ...more
News ,Future of Democracy
November 10, 2025•1 min read
SPLC and Global Black Economic Forum Unite to Defend Knoxville Nonprofit Against Federal Challenge Attacking Anti-Poverty Microloan Program
The Women Foundation was created to empower and support economically disadvantaged businesses in Knoxville, Tennessee, by providing access to capital. Through the foundation’s community fund, small bu... ...more
Future of Democracy ,Future of Work
October 08, 2025•1 min read
GBEF in the News
Globe Black Economic Forum announces democracy, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and health equity programming for the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture
The Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) today announced a dynamic slate of programming for the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture focused on advancing democracy, expanding economic opportunity, strengthening workforce development, supporting entrepreneurship, and improving health outcomes for Black communities...read more
June 26, 2026
Texas judge blocks termination of MWBE certification for state contracts
Texas Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s elimination of minority- and women-owned businesses from the state's Historically Underutilized Businesses Program was temporarily blocked by a judge...read more
April 14, 2026
Judge temporarily allows women, minority-owned businesses to qualify for Texas HUB program again
An Austin district judge on Monday ordered the state’s Historically Underutilized Business Program rules be temporarily reinstated, meaning women- and minority-owned business owners can qualify for the state’s HUB program again for now...read more
April 14, 2026
Six Texas Minority Companies Beat Bid to Pull Certification
A decades-old program designed to help businesses owned by women or minorities access state contracts was restored for six companies by a state judge Monday, after Texas abruptly ended the program last year...read more
April 13, 2026
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas
A Travis County District Court today granted a temporary injunction blocking Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s recent changes to the state’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program, ruling that the executive branch cannot unilaterally rewrite a law passed by the Legislature...read more
April 14, 2026
The ‘Black recession’ is here: Trump’s tariffs gutted Black workers and Black-owned businesses
According to data analyzed by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Black Americans have suffered the most under Trump’s tariffs program, which was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in February. And as Trump has promised to implement new tariffs under a different legal framing, relief for Black-owned businesses, workers and homeowners is nowhere in sight as Trump’s war in Iran also drives up gas and energy prices...read more
April 2, 2026
Over 15,000 Minority-Owned Businesses Lose HUB Certification Under Acting Texas Comptroller
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program would be restructured. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the program was established to promote equal opportunities for small, minority-, and women-owned businesses. The program was signed into law in 1999 by George W. Bush, who was the Texas governor at the time, according to the Legal Defense Fund...read more
April 1, 2026
More Than 15,000 Women and Minority-Owned Businesses Targeted in Texas HUB Program Shake-Up, Lawsuit Claims
A sweeping policy change in Texas is drawing national attention after more than 15,000 businesses—many owned by Black women and other entrepreneurs of color—were abruptly stripped of a key state certification that helped them compete for government contracts...read more
March 31, 2026
President Trump’s latest DEI executive order targets programs for ethnic and racial minorities
On Mar. 26, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at federal contractors with DEI initiatives. Unlike previous orders that were vague and failed to clearly define “DEI-related discrimination,” this new order provides slightly more clarity around potential violations and consequences...read more
March 31, 2026
Trump Expands Anti-DEI Push With New Executive Order Targeting Federal Contractors
President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order intensifying his administration’s efforts against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, this time focusing on companies that do business with the federal government. Signed March 26, the directive instructs federal agencies to more closely monitor contractors and subcontractors for what it describes as discriminatory DEI-related practices...read more
March 28, 2026
State Comptroller Targeted More than 15,000 Businesses Owned by Women & People of Color — And It Wasn’t an Accident
Texas businesses owned by women and people of color just filed a landmark lawsuit against the State...read more
March 27, 2026
Trump signs executive order targeting ‘DEI discrimination’ in federal contracting
Expanded lawsuit challenges both emergency and newly proposed rules proposed by Comptroller; plaintiffs warn of escalating harm to small businesses across Texas ... read more
March 27, 2026
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN LANDMARK LAWSUIT, ADD NEW DEFENDANT AND EXPANDED CLAIMS, ASKING COURT TO IMMEDIATELY BLOCK TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER
Expanded lawsuit challenges both emergency and newly proposed rules proposed by Comptroller; plaintiffs warn of escalating harm to small businesses across Texas ... read more
March 23, 2026
‘We Will Fight Until Hell Freezes Over’: Urban League, Allies Roll Out Democracy Guide Ahead of 250th Anniversary
A coalition of civil rights, business, faith, and civic leaders gathered at Georgetown University on Wednesday to launch a new national effort aimed at strengthening civic participation and holding elected officials accountable, as concerns mount over voting rights, civil liberties, and democratic institutions...read more
March 18, 2026
Contractors seek new small business certification after Fort Worth’s DEI goals dropped
Fort Worth-area companies are seeking certification as a “small business” after city leaders dropped goals to hire women- and minority-owned firms.
The city — which suspended its DEI initiatives last year to comply with federal orders — now has Small Business Enterprise goals for city projects. Companies, both large and small, certified as a small business enterprise are eligible for a 5% bid preference on contracts up to $100,000...read more
March 15, 2026
Black Wealth Watch: Byron Allen Buys Stake In Starz, Unrivaled's Second Season Brings In $45M, And A Lawsuit Fights For 15,000 Diverse-Owned Businesses
This week we’ve got Byron Allen going after one of our favorite networks, a women’s basketball league that is proving its doubters wrong in the best way possible, a lawsuit that may be the most consequential legal fight for minority business owners you haven’t heard nearly enough about, a 400-day boycott that’s been called off (though not everyone agrees it should be) and one of our own ESSENCE Power 55 honorees making a major career move...read more
March 13, 2026
Lawsuit filed over Comptroller’s anti-minority business program shenanigans
Four business owners and a trade association sued the state of Texas on Monday, seeking to reverse acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s emergency rules altering a state program intended to give additional exposure to economically disadvantaged groups in government contracting...read more
March 7, 2026
Lawsuit Filed Over HUB Program
A group of minority and women-owned companies are suing acting State Comptroller Kelly Hancock. They say he simply deleted them from a 30-year old program to help them compete for state contracts...read more
March 7, 2026
Texas Lawsuit Challenges State's Dismantling of Diversity Contracting Program
A lawsuit in Texas contests the state's actions to alter a diversity-related contracting program, specifically targeting changes made by the acting state Comptroller that favor veterans over women and minorities. The suit challenges the comptroller's authority to decertify businesses previously eligible for state contracts...read more
March 7, 2026
State of Texas: Trump endorsement could decide Senate runoff between Cornyn and Paxton
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The race for U.S. Senate in Texas is still evolving after primary night, with a looming endorsement from former President Donald Trump expected to shape the Republican runoff...read more
March 7, 2026
U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Stands with Texas Black Chambers in Support of Lawsuit to Reinstate the Historically Underutilized Business Program
USBC joins Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce in calling for the restoration of the state’s HUB program after acting Comptroller’s unilateral dismantling ...read more
March 7, 2026
Former HUB Business Owners Sue
After Comptroller Kelly Hancock eliminated minority- and women-owned businesses from the Historically Underutilized Business program in December, four business owners and a trade association have sued the state...read more
March 6, 2026
Texas lawsuit challenges end to MWBE certification for state contracts
Changes to Texas' Historically Underutilized Businesses program that eliminated the participation of minority- and women-owned business enterprises are being challenged in court...read more
March 3, 2026
March 3, 2026
Texas Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock is being sued in state court for allegedly unlawfully dismantling the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program, a 1990s initiative signed by former Governor George W. Bush to support minority- and women-owned contractors in state contracting. The lawsuit, filed by four minority businesses and a trade group, claims Hancock exceeded her authority by using emergency rulemaking to revoke certification for more than 15,000 Black, Hispanic, and women-owned businesses without legislative approval or public notice...read more
March 3, 2026
Minority Companies Sue Texas for Gutting Contracting Program
Texas Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock unlawfully decertified thousands of women- and minority-owned contractors from a decades-old program intended to support “economically disadvantaged groups” in state contracting, a new lawsuit alleges. contracting...read more
March 2, 2026
Business owners sue comptroller after their removal from state minority business program
Four business owners and a trade association sued the state of Texas on Monday, seeking to reverse acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s emergency rules altering a state program intended to give additional exposure to economically disadvantaged groups in government contracting...read more
March 2, 2026
The Joy Reid Show LIVE!
Trump and Bibi Launch Operation Epstein, AKA WWIII
March 2, 2026
Minority businesses sue comptroller for suspending contracting diversity program
March 2, 2026
Minority-owned businesses file lawsuit against state of Texas over HUB program changes
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A group of minority- and female-owned businesses filed a lawsuit in state court Monday to challenge the recent overhaul of the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program. The business owners are seeking a court order to restore the program’s original eligibility standards...read more
March 2, 2026
Business Owners and Trade Association File Landmark Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful and Unilateral Actions by Texas Comptroller & State Agencies to Dismantle the HUB Program
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program... read more
March 2, 2026
‘Freedom Table With Rashad Robinson’ Discusses Trump’s Attacks On DEI
Rashad Robinson and guests examine the impact of Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI and making everyone "afraid to do anything Black.”...read more
February 23, 2026
Why Rev. Jesse Jackson Believed Civil Rights Without Economic Inclusion Was A Mirage
February 20, 2026
What does Supreme Court ruling against Trump tariffs mean for Black Americans?
The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision is expected to bring great relief to Black businesses and the consumers who patron them ...read more
February 20, 2026
The nation’s Black press has experienced an 80 percent decline in revenue since the backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) ramped up a year ago, and the percentage that Black journalists occupy in the nation’s newsrooms is roughly the same as it was 50 years ago ... read more
January 26, 2026
Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Co-Chair of the House Democratic Commission on AI, and Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced the Expanding AI Voices Act, bipartisan legislation to codify and expand the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s ExpandAI program. This legislation strengthens U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence by supporting education, training, research, and workforce development across a broader range of institutions and communities... read more
January 21, 2026
Civil rights attorney Alphonso David joins BIN News anchor Esther Dillard to discuss concerns around proposed changes to fair lending laws and how they could weaken protections against discrimination and limit future housing opportunities for Black Americans if enacted.
December 23, 2025
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, David told the Black Press of America’s Let It Be Known, is proposing a rule that would strip away key fair lending protections and make it far more difficult to prove discrimination in the credit market ...read more
December 16, 2025
The economy continues to show signs of a slowdown in hiring, disproportionately impacting Black workers in the United States. According to the latest job numbers, the Black unemployment rate reached 8.3%, the highest it has been since August 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic ...read more
December 16, 2025
Three national advocacy groups with heavyweight legal teams are squaring off over a Knoxville program that provides microloans to boost the prospects of success for small Black-owned businesses. ... read more
December 15, 2025
A comment deadline is approaching on a proposed CFPB rule that would dismantle longstanding rules meant to protect minorities from discrimination in the market for credit, writes Alphonso David
December 05, 2025
GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM ANNOUNCES DEMOCRACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAMMING FOR THE 2026 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE
National leaders, advocates, labor organizers, healthcare innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers will convene to explore solutions shaping the future of Black communities. ...more
News ,Future of Democracy Future of Work future of health &Essence Festival of Culure
June 26, 2026•9 min read
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
April 14, 2026•2 min read
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN LANDMARK LAWSUIT, ADD NEW DEFENDANT AND EXPANDED CLAIMS, ASKING COURT TO IMMEDIATELY BLOCK TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 23, 2026•6 min read
BUSINESS OWNERS AND TRADE ASSOCIATION FILE LANDMARK LAWSUIT CHALLENGING UNLAWFUL AND UNILATERAL ACTIONS BY TEXAS COMPTROLLER & STATE AGENCIES TO DISMANTLE THE HUB PROGRAM
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 02, 2026•7 min read
Trump wants to give you $2,000 dividends from tariff revenue. Here’s what complicates his plan
President Donald Trump unveiled a new proposal to pay Americans at least $2,000 in dividends from his global tariff policies, which experts say caused havoc on the U.S. economy and American businesses... ...more
News ,Future of Democracy
November 10, 2025•1 min read
SPLC and Global Black Economic Forum Unite to Defend Knoxville Nonprofit Against Federal Challenge Attacking Anti-Poverty Microloan Program
The Women Foundation was created to empower and support economically disadvantaged businesses in Knoxville, Tennessee, by providing access to capital. Through the foundation’s community fund, small bu... ...more
Future of Democracy ,Future of Work
October 08, 2025•1 min read
Globe Black Economic Forum announces democracy, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and health equity programming for the 2026 Essence Festival of Culture
The Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) today announced a dynamic slate of programming for the 2026 ESSENCE Festival of Culture focused on advancing democracy, expanding economic opportunity, strengthening workforce development, supporting entrepreneurship, and improving health outcomes for Black communities...read more
June 26, 2026
The ‘Black recession’ is here: Trump’s tariffs gutted Black workers and Black-owned businesses
According to data analyzed by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Black Americans have suffered the most under Trump’s tariffs program, which was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in February. And as Trump has promised to implement new tariffs under a different legal framing, relief for Black-owned businesses, workers and homeowners is nowhere in sight as Trump’s war in Iran also drives up gas and energy prices...read more
April 2, 2026
Over 15,000 Minority-Owned Businesses Lose HUB Certification Under Acting Texas Comptroller
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program would be restructured. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the program was established to promote equal opportunities for small, minority-, and women-owned businesses. The program was signed into law in 1999 by George W. Bush, who was the Texas governor at the time, according to the Legal Defense Fund...read more
April 1, 2026
President Trump’s latest DEI executive order targets programs for ethnic and racial minorities
On Mar. 26, President Trump issued an executive order aimed at federal contractors with DEI initiatives. Unlike previous orders that were vague and failed to clearly define “DEI-related discrimination,” this new order provides slightly more clarity around potential violations and consequences...read more
March 31, 2026
More Than 15,000 Women and Minority-Owned Businesses Targeted in Texas HUB Program Shake-Up, Lawsuit Claims
A sweeping policy change in Texas is drawing national attention after more than 15,000 businesses—many owned by Black women and other entrepreneurs of color—were abruptly stripped of a key state certification that helped them compete for government contracts...read more
March 31, 2026
Trump Expands Anti-DEI Push With New Executive Order Targeting Federal Contractors
President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order intensifying his administration’s efforts against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, this time focusing on companies that do business with the federal government. Signed March 26, the directive instructs federal agencies to more closely monitor contractors and subcontractors for what it describes as discriminatory DEI-related practices...read more
March 28, 2026
State Comptroller Targeted More than 15,000 Businesses Owned by Women & People of Color — And It Wasn’t an Accident
Texas businesses owned by women and people of color just filed a landmark lawsuit against the State...read more
March 27, 2026
Trump signs executive order targeting ‘DEI discrimination’ in federal contracting
Expanded lawsuit challenges both emergency and newly proposed rules proposed by Comptroller; plaintiffs warn of escalating harm to small businesses across Texas ... read more
March 27, 2026
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN LANDMARK LAWSUIT, ADD NEW DEFENDANT AND EXPANDED CLAIMS, ASKING COURT TO IMMEDIATELY BLOCK TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER
Expanded lawsuit challenges both emergency and newly proposed rules proposed by Comptroller; plaintiffs warn of escalating harm to small businesses across Texas ... read more
March 23, 2026
Lawsuit filed over Comptroller’s anti-minority business program shenanigans
Four business owners and a trade association sued the state of Texas on Monday, seeking to reverse acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s emergency rules altering a state program intended to give additional exposure to economically disadvantaged groups in government contracting...read more
March 7, 2026
Lawsuit Filed Over HUB Program
A group of minority and women-owned companies are suing acting State Comptroller Kelly Hancock. They say he simply deleted them from a 30-year old program to help them compete for state contracts...read more
March 7, 2026
Texas Lawsuit Challenges State's Dismantling of Diversity Contracting Program
A lawsuit in Texas contests the state's actions to alter a diversity-related contracting program, specifically targeting changes made by the acting state Comptroller that favor veterans over women and minorities. The suit challenges the comptroller's authority to decertify businesses previously eligible for state contracts...read more
March 7, 2026
State of Texas: Trump endorsement could decide Senate runoff between Cornyn and Paxton
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The race for U.S. Senate in Texas is still evolving after primary night, with a looming endorsement from former President Donald Trump expected to shape the Republican runoff...read more
March 7, 2026
U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. Stands with Texas Black Chambers in Support of Lawsuit to Reinstate the Historically Underutilized Business Program
USBC joins Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce in calling for the restoration of the state’s HUB program after acting Comptroller’s unilateral dismantling ...read more
March 7, 2026
Former HUB Business Owners Sue
After Comptroller Kelly Hancock eliminated minority- and women-owned businesses from the Historically Underutilized Business program in December, four business owners and a trade association have sued the state...read more
March 6, 2026
Texas lawsuit challenges end to MWBE certification for state contracts
Changes to Texas' Historically Underutilized Businesses program that eliminated the participation of minority- and women-owned business enterprises are being challenged in court...read more
March 3, 2026
March 3, 2026
Texas Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock is being sued in state court for allegedly unlawfully dismantling the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program, a 1990s initiative signed by former Governor George W. Bush to support minority- and women-owned contractors in state contracting. The lawsuit, filed by four minority businesses and a trade group, claims Hancock exceeded her authority by using emergency rulemaking to revoke certification for more than 15,000 Black, Hispanic, and women-owned businesses without legislative approval or public notice...read more
March 3, 2026
Minority Companies Sue Texas for Gutting Contracting Program
Texas Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock unlawfully decertified thousands of women- and minority-owned contractors from a decades-old program intended to support “economically disadvantaged groups” in state contracting, a new lawsuit alleges. contracting...read more
March 2, 2026
Business owners sue comptroller after their removal from state minority business program
Four business owners and a trade association sued the state of Texas on Monday, seeking to reverse acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s emergency rules altering a state program intended to give additional exposure to economically disadvantaged groups in government contracting...read more
March 2, 2026
The Joy Reid Show LIVE!
Trump and Bibi Launch Operation Epstein, AKA WWIII
March 2, 2026
Minority businesses sue comptroller for suspending contracting diversity program
March 2, 2026
Minority-owned businesses file lawsuit against state of Texas over HUB program changes
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — A group of minority- and female-owned businesses filed a lawsuit in state court Monday to challenge the recent overhaul of the Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) program. The business owners are seeking a court order to restore the program’s original eligibility standards...read more
March 2, 2026
Business Owners and Trade Association File Landmark Lawsuit Challenging Unlawful and Unilateral Actions by Texas Comptroller & State Agencies to Dismantle the HUB Program
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program... read more
March 2, 2026
‘Freedom Table With Rashad Robinson’ Discusses Trump’s Attacks On DEI
Rashad Robinson and guests examine the impact of Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI and making everyone "afraid to do anything Black.”...read more
February 23, 2026
Why Rev. Jesse Jackson Believed Civil Rights Without Economic Inclusion Was A Mirage
February 20, 2026
The nation’s Black press has experienced an 80 percent decline in revenue since the backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) ramped up a year ago, and the percentage that Black journalists occupy in the nation’s newsrooms is roughly the same as it was 50 years ago ... read more
January 26, 2026
Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Co-Chair of the House Democratic Commission on AI, and Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced the Expanding AI Voices Act, bipartisan legislation to codify and expand the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s ExpandAI program. This legislation strengthens U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence by supporting education, training, research, and workforce development across a broader range of institutions and communities... read more
January 21, 2026
The economy continues to show signs of a slowdown in hiring, disproportionately impacting Black workers in the United States. According to the latest job numbers, the Black unemployment rate reached 8.3%, the highest it has been since August 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic ...read more
December 16, 2025
Civil rights attorney Alphonso David joins BIN News anchor Esther Dillard to discuss concerns around proposed changes to fair lending laws and how they could weaken protections against discrimination and limit future housing opportunities for Black Americans if enacted.
December 23, 2025
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, David told the Black Press of America’s Let It Be Known, is proposing a rule that would strip away key fair lending protections and make it far more difficult to prove discrimination in the credit market ...read more
December 16, 2025
Despite decades of documented disparities in federal contracting, the administration has eliminated core civil rights protections in programs to help minority and disadvantaged businesses....read more
November 19, 2025
A comment deadline is approaching on a proposed CFPB rule that would dismantle longstanding rules meant to protect minorities from discrimination in the market for credit, writes Alphonso David
December 05, 2025
Three national advocacy groups with heavyweight legal teams are squaring off over a Knoxville program that provides microloans to boost the prospects of success for small Black-owned businesses. ... read more
December 15, 2025
President Donald Trump unveiled a new proposal to pay Americans at least $2,000 in dividends from his global tariff policies, which experts say caused havoc on the U.S. economy and American businesses...read more
November 10, 2025
GBEF in the News
GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM ANNOUNCES DEMOCRACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAMMING FOR THE 2026 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE
National leaders, advocates, labor organizers, healthcare innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers will convene to explore solutions shaping the future of Black communities. ...more
News ,Future of Democracy Future of Work future of health &Essence Festival of Culure
June 26, 2026•9 min read
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
April 14, 2026•2 min read
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN LANDMARK LAWSUIT, ADD NEW DEFENDANT AND EXPANDED CLAIMS, ASKING COURT TO IMMEDIATELY BLOCK TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 23, 2026•6 min read
BUSINESS OWNERS AND TRADE ASSOCIATION FILE LANDMARK LAWSUIT CHALLENGING UNLAWFUL AND UNILATERAL ACTIONS BY TEXAS COMPTROLLER & STATE AGENCIES TO DISMANTLE THE HUB PROGRAM
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 02, 2026•7 min read
Trump wants to give you $2,000 dividends from tariff revenue. Here’s what complicates his plan
President Donald Trump unveiled a new proposal to pay Americans at least $2,000 in dividends from his global tariff policies, which experts say caused havoc on the U.S. economy and American businesses... ...more
News ,Future of Democracy
November 10, 2025•1 min read
SPLC and Global Black Economic Forum Unite to Defend Knoxville Nonprofit Against Federal Challenge Attacking Anti-Poverty Microloan Program
The Women Foundation was created to empower and support economically disadvantaged businesses in Knoxville, Tennessee, by providing access to capital. Through the foundation’s community fund, small bu... ...more
Future of Democracy ,Future of Work
October 08, 2025•1 min read
President Donald Trump unveiled a new proposal to pay Americans at least $2,000 in dividends from his global tariff policies, which experts say caused havoc on the U.S. economy and American businesses...read more
November 10, 2025
SPLC and Global Black Economic Forum Unite to Defend Knoxville Nonprofit Against Federal Challenge Attacking Anti-Poverty Microloan Program
The Women Foundation was created to empower and support economically disadvantaged businesses in Knoxville, Tennessee, by providing access to capital. Through the foundation’s community fund, small businesses are invited once a year in the fall to apply for zero-interest microloans...read more
October 07, 2025
ThE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
Arian Simone made a promise the day she settled the landmark racial discrimination lawsuit that made her and her Atlanta-based venture capital firm Fearless Fund the first targets in the fight against corporate diversity, equity and inclusion. ...read more
September 23, 2025
Queer Space, a signature event of the Global Black Economic Forum, returns for its third year during the 31st ESSENCE Festival of Culture on July 5. The event is a celebration and gathering of Black LGBTQ+ leaders, artists and advocates...read more
July 01, 2025
Fearless Fund’s Arian Simone debuts FGI at UNGA, spotlighting its work investing in women-of-color founders with early-stage, growth potential and proven impact...read more
September 22, 2025
Essence Fest returns to New Orleans July 3-6, with events throughout downtown and inside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and Caesars Superdome...read more
June 30, 2025
President Donald Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” passed Thursday afternoon after late-night sessions in the House and Senate. The President signed the bill into law Friday, the Fourth of July...read more
November 13, 2024
Essence Fest leads a summer of events for Black entrepreneurs galvanized by economic uncertainty...read more
JULY 03, 2025
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
As we uplift the indispensable leadership of Black women, who have long been the backbone of our movements, we must also take a hard look at the role of Black men. Too often, narratives of resistance either sideline Black men as threats or place them on pedestals without accountability...read more
September 21, 2025
The 2025 Essence Festival of Culture®, presented by Coca-Cola from July 3 to July 6, promises to be a can’t-miss blockbuster. Essence is celebrating 31 years of bringing the Essence Festival’s party with a purpose to New Orleans, as well as Essence Magazine’s 55th Anniversary...read more
June 30, 2025
Cutting DEI programs isn’t just a setback for underrepresented workers—it’s a costly mistake that weakens morale, stifles innovation, and exposes companies to legal and financial risk...read more
September 09, 2025
While campaigning for his return to the White House during the 2024 election, Donald Trump warned Black voters that undocumented immigrants were taking their so-called “Black jobs.”..read more
August 04, 2025
July 30, 2025
In mid-May,Verizon followed the course of over a dozen major U.S. companies in rolling back their diversity, equity and inclusion practices—eliminating DEI from key tenets of their operations, including erasing DEI references from training material, ending bonuses and goals related to increasing the percentage of women and minority workers, and downsizing their human resources department....read more
July 29, 2025
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has been the most clear-eyed, candid critic (on or off the Supreme Court) of the damage the majority of MAGA justices have inflicted on the court’s institutional credibility, the rule of law, and the lives of hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of Americans....read more
July 11, 2025
On Friday, July 4, inside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, attendees gathered for the "Artificial Intelligence: What You Need To Know To Prepare For The Future And Now" conversation on the Global Black Economic Forum stage...read more
July 05, 2025
The 2025 Essence Festival in New Orleans, a cultural and economic landmark, underscored a pivotal truth: Black entrepreneurship is not merely a social cause but a high-growth economic frontier....read more
July 05, 2025
XULA President Dr. C. Reynold Verret and Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine dean Dr. Leonardo Seoane spoke on the state of Black healthcare....read more
July 05, 2025
Essence Fest will host a number of “experiences” dedicated to beauty, health, fashion, business and other topics important to Black women and Black culture. There will be interviews and panels, workshops and demos, a marketplace and more in each experience hub...read more
June 29, 2025
“Insecure” actor Kendrick Sampson wants to liberate marginalized communities. The Houston native said that in his foray into Hollywood, he wanted to prioritize securing guidance from Black men in the entertainment industry...read more
June 26, 2025
All revolutions start with a conversation. The activist organization SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, in collaboration with the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF), hosted the Road to ESSENCE L.A. tour event on Sunday, May 25, at The Gathering Spot...read more
May 29, 2025
Alphonso David is the president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum and was involved in some of the tour’s initial conversations. “This tour is a grassroots movement that is seeking to amplify Black voices and create an environment to demand systemic change,” he said in an interview with NPQ...read more
May 19, 2025
On May 2, SisterSong and the Global Black Economic Forum (GBEF) kicked off their Road to ESSENCE national tour with a joyful, justice-centered evening in Miami. Designed to spark dialogue around bodily autonomy, economic freedom and Black liberation, the four-city tour will unite changemakers, creatives and community advocates ahead of the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture...read more
May 03, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office have featured an unapologetic assault on diversity and inclusion efforts, unraveling decades-old policies to remedy historical injustices for marginalized groups in a matter of weeks...read more
April 30, 2025
GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM ANNOUNCES DEMOCRACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAMMING FOR THE 2026 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE
National leaders, advocates, labor organizers, healthcare innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers will convene to explore solutions shaping the future of Black communities. ...more
News ,Future of Democracy Future of Work future of health &Essence Festival of Culure
June 26, 2026•9 min read
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
April 14, 2026•2 min read
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN LANDMARK LAWSUIT, ADD NEW DEFENDANT AND EXPANDED CLAIMS, ASKING COURT TO IMMEDIATELY BLOCK TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 23, 2026•6 min read
BUSINESS OWNERS AND TRADE ASSOCIATION FILE LANDMARK LAWSUIT CHALLENGING UNLAWFUL AND UNILATERAL ACTIONS BY TEXAS COMPTROLLER & STATE AGENCIES TO DISMANTLE THE HUB PROGRAM
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 02, 2026•7 min read
Trump wants to give you $2,000 dividends from tariff revenue. Here’s what complicates his plan
President Donald Trump unveiled a new proposal to pay Americans at least $2,000 in dividends from his global tariff policies, which experts say caused havoc on the U.S. economy and American businesses... ...more
News ,Future of Democracy
November 10, 2025•1 min read
SPLC and Global Black Economic Forum Unite to Defend Knoxville Nonprofit Against Federal Challenge Attacking Anti-Poverty Microloan Program
The Women Foundation was created to empower and support economically disadvantaged businesses in Knoxville, Tennessee, by providing access to capital. Through the foundation’s community fund, small bu... ...more
Future of Democracy ,Future of Work
October 08, 2025•1 min read
GBEF in the News
Global Black Economic Forum
DEI has undergone major fluctuations—from the field being immensely valued, to facing existential threats due to political opposition. The current disruption raises several critical questions about DEI...read more
April 03, 2025
Matter of Fact with soledad o'brien
Global Black Economic forum President & CEO Alphonso David and Soledad O'Brien discuss DEI and business strategy
February 13, 2025
As corporate giants roll back their DEI programs, many companies are holding firm to their commitments, seeing political pressure as the lesser risk...read more
February 06, 2025
The People’s Davos: How the Global Black Economic Forum is Shaping a New Vision for the Future of Democracy ...read more
February 04, 2025
Abadesi sits down with Alphonso David to dive into breaking down barriers for marginalized communities, why diversity, equity, and inclusion actually matters, and the need for real investment in Black and Brown businesses.
February 04, 2025
Global Black Economic Forum President & CEO Alphonso David joins Rev. Al Sharpton on MSNBC Politics Nation
February 25, 2025
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) proponents are scrambling to find ways to counter President Trump as he moves to dismantle some of the programs and policies intended to bolster their movement...read more
February 04, 2025
Alphonso David discusses how a truly fair system cannot ignore race and what steps must be taken to protect and advance equity in the face of these growing threats...read more
February 04, 2025
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE
Global Black Economic Forum CEO and President, Alphonso David, discusses corporate DEI and legality at the National Urban League roundtable "Demand Diversity: Emergency Session on DEI"
January 22, 2025
NEWSWEEK
In the New Trump Era, DEI Will Still Be Part of Profitable Strategies
For an HR or diversity leader, or any manager who values inclusive workplaces, the headlines over the last few months may be disheartening, even gaining momentum since Inauguration Day...read more
January 27, 2025
In 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, corporations and foundations made commitments to narrow the racial wealth gap and boost diversity, equity and inclusion in academia, business and other corners of civic life...read more
January 25, 2025
WUSA9
Trump administration under fire for executive orders on federal workforce
For an HR or diversity leader, or any manager who values inclusive workplaces, the headlines over the last few months may be disheartening, even gaining momentum since Inauguration Day...read more
January 27, 2025
The Philadelphia Tribune
In the New Trump Era, DEI Will Still Be Part of Profitable Strategies
For an HR or diversity leader, or any manager who values inclusive workplaces, the headlines over the last few months may be disheartening, even gaining momentum since Inauguration Day...read more
January 27, 2025
GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM
Global Black Economic Forum Kicks Off Series of Events for Black Entrepreneurs
Sponsored by our partners at Amazon, the luncheon convened leaders focused on how Black entrepreneurs can seize opportunities in the current business landscape
January 27, 2025
essence
Op-Ed: The Fear of Large Groups Of Black Men Voting For Trump Was Wrong And Misplaced
November 13, 2024
cnbc
Scripps news
the business & democracy initiative
AMSTERDAM NEWS
ESSENCE
NEWSWEEK
NEWSWEEK
NEWSWEEK
GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM
The Fearless Fund Remains Open for Business
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October 03, 2024
ESSENCE
FOX 5 SAN DIEGO
ESSENCE
GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM ANNOUNCES DEMOCRACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAMMING FOR THE 2026 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE
National leaders, advocates, labor organizers, healthcare innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, and policymakers will convene to explore solutions shaping the future of Black communities. ...more
News ,Future of Democracy Future of Work future of health &Essence Festival of Culure
June 26, 2026•9 min read
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas
GBEF wins temporary injunction in landmark litigation for business owners in Texas ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
April 14, 2026•2 min read
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OWNERS JOIN LANDMARK LAWSUIT, ADD NEW DEFENDANT AND EXPANDED CLAIMS, ASKING COURT TO IMMEDIATELY BLOCK TEXAS STATE COMPTROLLER
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 23, 2026•6 min read
BUSINESS OWNERS AND TRADE ASSOCIATION FILE LANDMARK LAWSUIT CHALLENGING UNLAWFUL AND UNILATERAL ACTIONS BY TEXAS COMPTROLLER & STATE AGENCIES TO DISMANTLE THE HUB PROGRAM
Lawsuit seeks immediate court order to block emergency rules and restore legislatively enacted contracting program ...more
Legal ,Justice Defense DEI &News
March 02, 2026•7 min read
Trump wants to give you $2,000 dividends from tariff revenue. Here’s what complicates his plan
President Donald Trump unveiled a new proposal to pay Americans at least $2,000 in dividends from his global tariff policies, which experts say caused havoc on the U.S. economy and American businesses... ...more
News ,Future of Democracy
November 10, 2025•1 min read
SPLC and Global Black Economic Forum Unite to Defend Knoxville Nonprofit Against Federal Challenge Attacking Anti-Poverty Microloan Program
The Women Foundation was created to empower and support economically disadvantaged businesses in Knoxville, Tennessee, by providing access to capital. Through the foundation’s community fund, small bu... ...more
Future of Democracy ,Future of Work
October 08, 2025•1 min read
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© 2025 Global Black Economic Forum. All Rights Reserved.
Join Us In Action
Become part of our global community working to make economic justice a reality for all.
© 2025 Global Black Economic Forum.
All Rights Reserved.