Congressional Black Caucus Statement on Firing of Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement on the firing of Dr Carla Hayden, The Librarian of Congress:

“On both sides of the aisle, Dr. Carla Hayden is widely respected and considered an exceptional leader and steward of one of our nation’s most historic and prized treasures. During her tenure at the Library of Congress, the People’s Library, Dr. Hayden was committed to safeguarding our nation's history and intellectual legacy.

“President Trump’s callous move to dismiss Dr. Hayden is not to be taken lightly. This decision is the latest move in the Trump Administration’s ongoing war against truth and our democratic values. To make matters worse, the administration will likely attempt to replace Dr. Hayden with an unqualified sycophant who is more committed to Donald Trump than the independence of the institution.

“We cannot allow the Trump Administration to whitewash our history and replace facts with fiction. This decision cannot stand without explanation. We are calling on every Republican to stand up and defend the integrity of the Library of Congress.”

Rep. Shomari Figures, Alma Adams Introduces Legislation to Protect Federal Funding for Land-Grant Institutions

Reps. Shomari C. Figures (AL-02) and Alma Adams, PhD (NC-12) introduced the Land-Grant Institution Parity Act, a bill to protect federal funding for land-grant colleges and universities, including the 19 historically Black 1890 land-grant institutions. 

“Earlier this year, the Trump Administration suspended funding for historically Black land-grant colleges, but did not pause the same funding for the predominately white land-grant institutions,” said Rep. Figures. “That is simply wrong, and that decision sent a clear message about the vulnerability of programs designed to uplift underserved communities. Under this bill, funding for land-grant institutions will be treated equally and funds cannot be paused, cut, or eliminated without congressional approval. I’m committed to protecting our HBCUs and the students that they serve.”

“The Land-Grant Institution Parity Act is an important step to protect funding for our land-grant HBCUs and build equity in higher education,” said Congresswoman Adams. “1890s schools have always punched above their weight and provided outsized benefits to their students, their research, and their communities. They know how to do more with less, but they shouldn’t have to. It’s time we ensure these institutions of excellence always receive the funding they deserve.”

Under this legislation, federal officials are prohibited from reducing, eliminating, or suspending funding for 1890 land-grant institutions without explicit authorization from Congress. The 1890 National Scholars Program, established in 1992, is a scholarship program for students attending historically Black colleges and universities studying agriculture, food, or natural resource sciences. This bill aims to ensure long-term stability and equity for HBCUs and other land-grant institutions that serve underserved communities.

The original cosponsors for this bill include Reps. Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Cleo Fields (LA-04), David Scott (GA-13), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37).

OneUnited Bank Announces 15th Annual "I Got Bank" Contest for Youth

OneUnited Bank, an award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and America's largest Black-owned bank, is proud to announce its 15th Annual "I Got Bank!" National Financial Literacy Contest, where ten children will win a $1,000 savings account. To make financial literacy a core value for children, the Bank is offering a free "I Got Bank" E-Book.

Children between the ages of 8 and 12 are encouraged to read a financial literacy book of their choosing, and either write a 250-word essay or create an art project to show how they would apply what they learned from the book to their daily lives. Submissions must be emailed or postmarked by June 30, 2025. The Bank will choose ten winners and award each winner a $1,000 savings account at OneUnited Bank by August 31, 2025. For more information, please visit: www.oneunited.com/book.

Teri Williams, OneUnited Bank President and author of "I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money", wrote the book when she discovered that there weren't enough books geared toward educating urban youth about finances. "We did a survey of previous I Got Bank participants and found that 100% of them found the experience valuable to extremely valuable and 100% stated the experience increased their financial awareness," states Williams. "We want to thank the parents and schools for encouraging their children and students to participate in the contest. We continue to advocate for financial literacy to be taught in K-12 schools across America!"

The 2024 winners are Alana Williams, 10, Charlotte, NC, Dylan Prakash, 11, Duarte, CA, Malia Spurlin, 12, Cerritos, CA, Zora Rae Darby, 11, Baldwin, NY, Serenity Earth, 12, Burlington, NJ, Carter M. Lang, 8, Los Angeles, CA, Laila Zellers, 10, Los Angeles, CA, Grant Booker, 11, Gardenia, CA, McKinley Sabrina Murphy, 10, Baldwin, NY, Kali Baker, 10, Hawthorne, CA.

"I Got Bank! What My Granddad Taught Me About Money" is published by The Beckham Publications Group, Inc. (Beckham House). For more information about the official contest rules, please visit: www.oneunited.com/book.

Carnegie Mellon University Professor Edda L. Fields-Black wins 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History

Carnegie Mellon University Professor Edda L. Fields-Black on has won a 2025 Pulitzer Prize in History for her book “Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom During the Civil War.”

Fields-Black is a professor of history and director of The Humanities Center at CMU’s Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Pulitzer judges named two books as winners in the History category this year. The other winner is “Native Nations: A Millennium in North America” by Kathleen DuVal, a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“Combee” was published in 2024 by Oxford University Press. The publisher describes the book as “the story of the Combahee River Raid, one of Harriet Tubman’s most extraordinary accomplishments, based on original documents and written by a descendant of one of the participants.”

The Combahee River Raid was an operation in the Civil War. “On June 2, 1863, Tubman and her crew piloted two regiments of Black U.S. Army soldiers, the Second South Carolina Volunteers, and their white commanders up coastal South Carolina’s Combahee River in three gunboats. In a matter of hours, they torched eight rice plantations and liberated 730 people,” the text from the publisher reads, noting that Fields-Black’s book focuses on an aspect of Tubman’s life that doesn’t get much attention: “During the Civil War, hired by the Union Army, she ventured into the heart of slave territory — Beaufort, South Carolina — to live, work, and gather intelligence.”

The Combahee River Raid was meant “to attack the major plantations of Rice Country, the breadbasket of the Confederacy.”

Fields-Black has made her academic career at CMU, joining the university in 2001 after completing her Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. She became a full professor in the Department of History in 2024, assuming the leadership of the Dietrich College Humanities Center at the same time.

Check out COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War here: https://amzn.to/4iMX30Y

Invesco QQQ Named Title Partner of the Orange Blossom Classic

The Orange Blossom Classic Committee proudly announces that Invesco QQQ has signed on as the Title Partner in a new multi-year agreement, ushering in a dynamic new era under the name Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic.

This partnership marks more than just a naming rights milestone—it represents a shared commitment to innovation, empowerment, and financial education. As part of the agreement, Invesco QQQ will also serve as the exclusive partner in the asset, wealth, and investment management products and services category, strengthening its position as a national leader in financial empowerment and collegiate engagement.

"The Orange Blossom Classic is more than a football game—it's a celebration of education, culture, and community impact," said Kendra Bulluck, Executive Director of the Orange Blossom Classic. "We're proud to partner with Invesco QQQ to bring these values to life through meaningful programming that equips students and student-athletes for success on and off the field. Together, we're building a legacy that's rooted in empowerment, access, and long-term growth."

A leading investment management firm, Invesco is dedicated to delivering value and long-term positive outcomes for clients through a broad range of investment strategies and a culture of innovation. As the official ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) of the NCAA, Invesco's presence within college athletics continues to grow. Through this expanded relationship with the Orange Blossom Classic, Invesco deepens its commitment to students and student-athletes of all backgrounds by promoting investment education and championing financial independence.

Beyond the football field, Invesco QQQ will also serve as the title partner of two cornerstone OBC professional development programs that empower the next generation of leaders. Through the Professional Business Combine, participants will engage in immersive sessions with top business executives and industry leaders focused on financial planning, innovation, and market insights.

In addition, Invesco QQQ will be the title partner of the Careers in Sports & Entertainment Symposium, a marquee experience designed to expose students and early-career professionals to the business side of the sports and entertainment industries—including marketing, management, media, and operations—through networking, mentorship, and career exploration.

Now entering its fifth year since re-establishment, the Invesco QQQ Orange Blossom Classic continues to serve as a premier HBCU football and cultural celebration. The 2025 edition will feature Howard University and Florida A&M University, two of the most storied institutions in HBCU history, as they face off at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, August 30, 2025, during Labor Day Weekend. Official ancillary events begin on Tuesday, August 26.

For details on tickets, hotels, and official events, visit The Orange Blossom Classic | Orange Blossom Classic Returns | Purchase Tickets Today. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter at @OrangeBlossomFC.