For Black Americans, the summer’s most prominent news headlines seem to revisit an era defined by violence and chronicled in history books. 

Yet, in May, a 16 year-old teenager in Charlotte, North Carolina, was found hanging from a tree near a churchyard. Juliana Nzita’s family disagrees with the medical examiner’s ruling that the teen died by suicide.

Mississippi college student, Nolan Wells, went missing after he spent July 4 boating on Horn Island with a group of white friends–only to be found two days later face down in the water. His family hired famed civil rights attorney Ben Crump, and a grand jury has been convened.

On August 3, police found the body of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune hanging from a tree near an abandoned house; she was found hanging so high up in the tree rescuers used a fire department ladder to reach her body.

News outlets, social media, and many Americans continue to follow the developments, and many Black Americans are crying foul, seeing a familiar and disturbing historical pattern.

“I believe these are murders, and they are a form of messaging,” said Ray Winbush, who is a research professor and leads the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University. 

New book traces history of lynchings

Winbush works with Stacy Patton, the author of the book, “Strung Up: How White America Learned to Lynch Black Children,” which will be released in October 2026.

Publishers Weekly gave Patton’s book a starred review, which she explained on her Substack “is one of the biggest prepublication endorsements a book can get.”

In its review, Publishers Weekly described the book as, “gripping,” and quoted Patton, writing the “Black child has always been central to America’s racial order… as a target.” 

Winbush expanded on Patton’s study.

“The killing of Black people, in general, and Black children, specifically, is a ritual for White people that dates back centuries,” he added.

Thousands of Black-owned businesses know August holds a special place on the calendar for building brand awareness and increasing traffic. Since 2004, August has stood tall as Black-owned business month.

In Charleston, the owners of the boutique, Tiny Tassel, posted a discount on social media for customers, writing, “We’re celebrating in the best way possible by helping you save while supporting incredible Black-owned businesses across the Lowcountry!”

The African American Entrepreneurs Association used social media to remind members of its selection as the U.S. Small Business Association’s 2025 Community Partner of the Year. AAEA also repeated its commitment “to empowering entrepreneurs with the resources, education, connections, and advocacy they need to grow and thrive.”

Black-owned employer businesses, which have at least one employee, have moved the needle substantially the past six years to a milestone achievement.  

According to the Brookings Institute, the number of Black-owned employer businesses increased 62% in 2023–a dramatic uptick compared to the overall rise of employer-businesses in the U.S., which was reported at 3.3%.

The COVID-19 pandemic dealt Black-owned businesses a crippling blow initially. But in the years since, new Black business creation has sparked a surge that topped pre-pandemic levels. Today, Black-owned businesses claim a little more than 3% of U.S. total businesses–up roughly from 2%.

Charlotte Winstead sat outside the Obama Presidential Center with a smile on her face. She and a group of her closest friends had flown hundreds of miles to make her birthday wish come true.

“Ever since the Center opened on Juneteenth, and I watched the President on TV talking about it, I have wanted to visit,” Winstead said. “And I can’t wait to tour the museum and the grounds.”

Like the dozens of others gathered on the John Lewis Plaza that Saturday morning, Winstead waited patiently. Some lined up to take a photo in front of the statue of President Obama and the former First Lady. Others walked into the Obama Presidential Center Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Winstead wore a crown and maintained a queen’s posture, smiling and waving to others as the Plaza filled up. Staff ushered museum goers with tickets into the main building while visitors without one of the highly-sought after tickets toured the floors available to the public, the manicured grounds, and the playground.

Keily Martin and her family talked animatedly about the grounds and their plans to return for a picnic.

Martin admitted, “We saw two couples with picnic baskets lounging on the grass and said, ‘That’s us the next time.’”

The Obama Presidential Center opened on Juneteenth to rave reviews after 11 years of development and construction. 

On opening day, Obama stated, “I hope this center will serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious our democracy truly is and remind us what we can achieve when we embrace our shared responsibilities as citizens.”

Tickets to tour the museum have sold out faster than front rock seats at a rock concert. Reportedly the museum tours are booked

Teenage members of the NAACP’s program, ACT-SO, moved excitedly into the museum. They were in Chicago for the civil rights organization’s annual convention.

Adelyn Jones and her friends had snapped pictures as they waited and shared them with family friends.

Jones said, “I can’t wait for my grandmother to see me here. She is a big fan of President and Mrs. Obama.”

Outside the gift shop, Amy Cash clutched two bags filled with books, a few t-shirts, and a coffee mug.

“The coffee mug is mine,” Cash explained. “My mornings just got better. Regardless of what the news is, I’ll have my mug to remind me we are still Americans–and a democracy.”

Near the Fannie Lou Hamer Walkway, Winstead and her friends posed for one more picture. She still wore the plastic crown her loved ones had given her. She recalled Obama’s remarks from the museum’s opening–”no kings” in America, but she had to confess: She’d felt like royalty at a presidential center dedicated to preserving and encouraging democracy.