Although Black people accounted for a large portion of the New York population, according to the United Census Bureau, for far too long, they have been left out of the ins and outs of a place rooted in our culture. It’s no secret that the Big Apple is known for its skyscrapers. Yet, not a single one that makes up the renowned New York City skyline has been constructed with a majority Black team — that is, until now. EBONY reports that for the first time ever, real estate developers have plans in motion to build the city’s first skyscraper with a majority Black-led team. “This is an opportunity to really create a paradigm shift and to start to build a Black economy that Black companies actually participate in and flourish,” said Craig Livingston, managing partner at Exact Capital. “On our side, as owners of a project, we can decide to spend a billion dollars with Black and Brown companies and for the economics to be shared and to be dissipated throughout specific communities.”

Brooklyn Nets owners Joe Tsai and Clara Wu Tsai are trying something ground-breaking that’ll change the game for Black business-owners looking for financial assistance. According to CNBC, as part of their $50 million commitment to help minority communities, the sports owners have launched “EXCELerate,” a $2.5 million Black business loan program to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds for the program will come from the Tsai foundation’s Social Justice Fund — which was started last year to help resolve economic inequities in Black communities. “We know that there is no social justice without economic opportunity,” Tsai said in a statement, “which is why we are so excited to launch the Brooklyn EXCELerate Loan Program aimed at elevating Brooklyn’s BIPOC [Black, indigenous, and other people of color] business owners post-pandemic and doing our small part to overcome barriers this community faces in accessing capital.” What’s unique about the program is that instead of...

Nine Lincoln University students are graduating without debt thanks to one NBA superstar. Kyrie Irving, point guard for the Brooklyn Nets took the giving spirit to the next level last month when he paid the tuition of nine graduating HBCU students through his organization, KAI Family Foundation, according to Black Enterprise. The gift was a part of the foundation’s 11 Days of Giving in December with the No. 11 representing Irving’s jersey number for the Brooklyn Nets. For Lincoln University, the gift came just on the heels of another generous gift from philanthropist and author, MacKenzie Scott, who gave $20 million to the university along with several donations to other HBCUs across the country. Located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, Lincoln University was founded in 1854 and is credited as the first HBCU to ever grant degrees, Black Enterprise reports. This isn’t the first time that Irving has been generous with his blessings. During the summer, Irving committed $1.5 million to...