(WASHINGTON, DC – July 25, 2025) – Once again, the spotlight turns to South Africa — not for its triumphs or tragedies, but because the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has advanced a bill aimed at penalizing our ally. The language, timing, and underlying motivations behind this legislation are telling. The question isn’t just why now — it’s why at all, and who really suffers?

Let’s be clear: this bill, like many others introduced in the name of democracy or national security, walks a thin line between accountability and imperial overreach. The stated aim is to target corruption within the ANC, not the country. But history tells us that when global superpowers impose sanctions — even those aimed at individuals — the economic and reputational collateral damage is often borne by everyday people.

Ask any South African struggling with load-shedding, unemployment, or inflation if they feel insulated from the ripple effects of diplomatic decisions. They don’t. Sanctions, no matter how “targeted,” rarely stay in their lane.

There’s an uncomfortable arrogance in the notion that the U.S., particularly under figures like Donald Trump, can strong-arm sovereign nations into submission. South Africa has made decisions that reflect its values — whether it’s supporting Palestine at the International Court of Justice or choosing not to blindly follow Western foreign policy scripts. For that, it now risks punishment cloaked as policy.

But what’s most striking is the conversation on the ground. South Africans aren’t monolithic in their reactions. Yes, there’s anger at ANC corruption — and rightfully so. But there’s also sharp resistance to the idea that the U.S. gets to play global sheriff. Many see this as yet another example of Global South nations being disciplined for daring to think independently.

And in that pushback, there is power. We’re seeing the rise of leaders across Africa — from Burkina Faso to Uganda — rejecting old power structures and demanding a new, multipolar world. One not dictated by Washington or Brussels, but shaped by local priorities, African agency, and global respect.

As a media outlet rooted in Black empowerment, BlackUSA.News has always stood for truth and sovereignty. The U.S. cannot lecture the world on corruption without looking inward. And it certainly cannot claim moral authority while threatening allies who don’t toe the political line.

This bill may not pass. It may just be symbolic noise. But it sends a message. And the message received, from Cape Town to Baltimore, is clear: Black nations must be obedient, or be punished.

We’ve seen this before. But history also shows us something else: we rise.

(BALTIMORE – July 25, 2025) – The Sahel is the ecoclimatic and biogeographic zone of transition between the Sahara Desert to the north and the Sudan savanna to the south. It stretches across Africa — from Senegal and Mauritania in the west to Sudan and Eritrea in the east. It’s a massive band of land that touches multiple nations and countless lives.

The name Sahel comes from the Arabic word for “shore” — a poetic image, really. The Sahel is the shoreline of the desert, where sands meet soil, where barrenness kisses life. It is dry, hot, and plagued by drought and insecurity. It is also rich — not just in natural resources, but in culture, history, and resistance.

Some people may read this and scroll on by.
That’s fine. I’m not writing for approval.

I’m writing for those of us who know we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
Those of us who know that Black liberation is global.

Let me be clear: There is a Pan-African revolution quietly happening, and most of us in the West don’t even see it. Maybe we’re too distracted. Or maybe we’re too misinformed. But we’re missing one of the biggest geopolitical shifts in our time.

Across the Sahel — in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — African people are saying NO MORE to foreign control.

They’re kicking France out.
They’re closing military bases.
They’re rejecting the CFA franc.
They’re uniting under the banner of true African sovereignty.

Meanwhile, here in the U.S., many of us are busy chasing the next viral trend or worrying about the latest political scandal. And while we must handle our business locally, we can’t afford to be blind to the movement globally.

Because it’s all connected.

One man I want you to know is Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the 36-year-old interim president of Burkina Faso.
This brother has done what few African leaders have dared to do:

• Expel foreign troops.

• Call out French neocolonialism.

• Demand African unity without Western strings.

He speaks with the clarity of someone who’s had enough. And he acts with the courage of someone who knows that change will cost him something — maybe even everything.

They’ve tried to kill him — multiple times.
He’s surrounded by threats — internal and external.
And yet, he continues to move with faith and focus.

I don’t just admire him.
I join countless others who pray for him.
We pray for his protection, for his clarity, and for his legacy.

You see, what Traoré is doing isn’t just political.
It’s spiritual.

He is challenging centuries of domination.
He is leading a people to believe again in themselves.
He is building a new future — not just for Burkina Faso, but for Africa, and yes, for the entire Diaspora.

Let me say this plainly:
We cannot afford to be culturally or politically illiterate about the Sahel.
The same colonial forces that broke up our families during the Transatlantic Slave Trade…
The same economic systems that redline our neighborhoods in Baltimore, Chicago, and Detroit…
Are the same ones exploiting gold mines and uranium fields in West Africa right now.

It’s all one struggle.
And we need one consciousness to face it.

You might ask, “What can I do from over here?”
Start with this:

• Learn what’s happening.

• Speak on it when others are silent.

• Pray for leaders like Traoré who are on the front lines.

• Support Black institutions here and abroad.

• Reject the propaganda that tells you Africans are helpless and hopeless.

Because they’re not.
They’re rising.

The people of the Sahel are writing a new story.
And we need to pay attention — not as outsiders, but as family.

This is bigger than news. It’s bigger than politics.
It’s about reclaiming our collective future.

As I prepare to release my upcoming book, “Black Blueprint: From Baltimore to Burkina Faso”, I realize more than ever that the Black fight for freedom cannot be confined to borders.
What we do here affects what happens there — and vice versa.

So I ask you to pause. Reflect.
Selah, as the scriptures say.

Selah, Sahel.
Let us not miss this moment.
Let us wake up — and walk in unity, with wisdom and purpose.

Because if we don’t…
We’ll keep mistaking oppression for order.
And we’ll keep confusing silence for peace.

Photo: Veteran journalist and publisher Cheryl Smith has been a powerful voice in Black media for over four decades. A Florida A&M alum, Smith is founder of I Messenger Enterprises, publisher of Texas Metro News, Garland Journal, and I Messenger. From The Dallas Weekly to KKDA-AM, she’s shaped news, mentored youth, and championed community causes. A trailblazer, educator, and award-winning leader, Smith continues to uplift voices and inspire change in North Texas and beyond.

(WASHINGTON, DC – July 24, 2025) – Across boardrooms, storefronts, and startup spaces nationwide, Black women are rewriting the story of American entrepreneurship. They are not just participating—they are leading. With nearly 2.7 million Black women-owned businesses across the United States, generating over $60 billion in annual revenue, these trailblazers are pushing past obstacles and creating new paths of possibility.

At BlackUSA.News, we celebrate these women not only for their bold business ventures, but for the powerful statement they make every single day: We will not be denied.

The Fastest Growing Force in Business

From 2014 to 2019, the number of businesses owned by Black women grew by 50%—the highest growth rate of any female demographic. Black women now make up 42% of all new women-owned businesses and represent 36% of all Black employers. This is no small feat; it is a revolution.

This surge is more than a trend—it’s a testament to vision, resilience, and grit. Whether launching a beauty brand, building a tech company, founding a nonprofit, or running a food truck, Black women are stepping into their power and redefining success on their own terms.

Courage in the Face of Challenges

The road to entrepreneurship is rarely smooth—and for Black women, the path is often filled with barriers that others never encounter. Discriminatory lending practices, lack of access to venture capital, and systemic economic inequalities persist. Nearly two-thirds of Black women entrepreneurs self-fund their businesses, despite having less generational wealth or household income compared to their white counterparts.

And yet—they rise.

Even as fewer than 3% of Black women-owned businesses reach the five-year mark, this community of innovators continues to build, to dream, and to rise above the statistics. They juggle caregiving, full-time jobs, and community commitments—often working double-time just to stay in the game.

Their businesses may be born out of necessity, but they are driven by purpose. And that purpose is reshaping industries and communities.

The Legacy Continues

From the legacy of Madam C.J. Walker, the first self-made Black woman millionaire, to modern moguls like Oprah Winfrey, Janice Bryant Howroyd, Cathy Hughes, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Black women have long shown what’s possible when brilliance meets opportunity.

And today, new names are being etched into that legacy. Names like Rosalind Brewer, CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance. Sheena Allen, fintech founder. Melissa Butler, creator of The Lip Bar. Pinky Cole, founder of Slutty Vegan. The list grows by the day—and every name represents a story of perseverance and power.

A Call to Action

It’s not enough to applaud Black women from the sidelines—we must invest in them, mentor them, partner with them, and amplify their work. The financial community, government agencies, and private institutions all have a role to play in eliminating structural inequities and providing real access to capital, networks, and growth opportunities.

As JPMorgan Chase’s Tosh Ernest puts it: “Black women are positioned to play an increasingly visible and important role in the United States’ future like never before.”

We at BlackUSA.News believe that future is already here. It’s being built every day by women who defy the odds, uplift their communities, and turn vision into value. They are not just surviving—they are thriving. And we’re proud to tell their stories.

In Their Honor

To every Black woman entrepreneur grinding before dawn, balancing motherhood with market research, transforming a side hustle into a legacy—we see you. We salute you. We celebrate you.

Because when Black women rise, we all rise.

🖤 For more stories like this, visit www.BlackUSA.News —where Black voices lead the narrative.