Black Enterprise

For more than three decades, Taye Diggs has built a career spanning Broadway, film, television, publishing, and entrepreneurship. The celebrated actor, producer, and stage performer is among BLACK ENTERPRISE’s 2026 XCEL IMPACT Award honorees, joining influential leaders recognized for their achievements across business, culture, and their respective industries. Diggs will be honored during the XCEL Summit for Men, taking place Oct. 21-23 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr. has already secured his place in history. In 1995, he became the first African American to perform a spacewalk, stepping outside the Space Shuttle Discovery during NASA’s STS-63 mission. Over the course of two space missions, he logged more than 438 hours in space and traveled more than 7.2 million miles, according to the Kennedy Space Center. However, Harris’ legacy extends well beyond the historic moment that made him a household name.

Americans without college degrees are experiencing one of their strongest job markets in decades, a striking shift as many young college graduates face increasingly difficult employment prospects, The Wall Street Journal reports. The unemployment rate for workers ages 22 to 34 who never graduated from college has rarely been lower over the past two decades, according to a new Burning Glass Institute analysis.

For decades, O’Neal has used his leadership and business skills to build a diverse portfolio outside basketball. Now, the Hall of Famer and four-time NBA champion is returning to campuses to help students achieve financial success. In partnership with Credit One Bank, O’Neal is launching the Credit Tip Off Tour this fall, visiting four campuses to teach students about credit management and financial decision-making.

Lonnie G. Bunch III, the first Black person to lead the Smithsonian Institution, is stepping down after months of attacks from the Trump administration over how the nation’s history is presented across its museums. The 73-year-old historian announced Tuesday that he will retire as Smithsonian secretary at the end of the year, concluding nearly four decades with the institution, NPR reports.

College athletics is a multibillion-dollar industry built on the talent of young Black men, offering economic opportunity and education in exchange for athletic performance. When former NFL players return to college rosters, the line between collegiate development and professional business disappears. Allowing professional athletes to compete at the college level undermines amateur sports and limits opportunities for new talent.

The NAACP Image Awards is expanding its global reach with 10 new categories dedicated to African artists and entertainers, beginning with the 58th NAACP Image Awards in 2027, Billboard reports. The new categories give African creatives recognition as entertainment from the continent continues to expand its cultural and commercial influence worldwide.

Beyoncé Knowles-Carter marked her 45th birthday with a multimillion-dollar investment in one of the country’s leading institutions dedicated to Black art. The superstar, entrepreneur, and art collector donated $2 million to the Studio Museum in Harlem on Sept. 4, according to The Art Newspaper.

Kenyan designer Anil Padia became the first Kenyan to win an award in the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers after his label, Yoshita 1967, received the 2026 Savoir-Faire Prize, Connect Everything Online. Padia, 35, was also the first Kenyan designer to become a finalist in the competition’s 13-year history. Yoshita 1967 received the award Sept. 4 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris for its artisan- and community-led approach to fashion and emphasis on handiwork.

The United States stood alone at the United Nations last week when 164 countries voted to support an African-led campaign challenging how the continent is represented on maps. The U.N. General Assembly adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution by a vote of 164-1 on Sept. 4, with six countries abstaining, reports NPR.