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The Silence of Black Wealth: When the Billionaires Turned Their Backs on the Black Press

October 28, 2025

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump donated $50,000 to the Black Press two months ago and publicly challenged other wealthy Black figures and corporations to follow his example, but his call has been met with overwhelming silence. The article details how dozens of prominent Black entertainers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders—including Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, and Magic Johnson—have failed to respond to requests for advertising partnerships or support, despite many of them having risen to fame with early coverage from Black newspapers. This abandonment occurs during a particularly critical time when the Trump administration's anti-diversity policies have eliminated hundreds of thousands of jobs for Black workers, while the Black Press continues to employ and uplift Black families across over 200 media outlets nationwide.

Who is affected

  • Over 200 Black Press newspapers and media companies nationwide
  • Hundreds of Black men and women employed by Black Press organizations who support their families
  • More than 300,000 Black women terminated from federal jobs under Trump administration policies
  • Hundreds of thousands of other Black workers affected by anti-diversity policies
  • Historic Black newspapers including the Chicago Defender, New Pittsburgh Courier, EBONY, Amsterdam News, Philadelphia Tribune, Afro American, St. Louis American, Los Angeles Sentinel, Michigan Chronicle, and Washington Informer
  • Black communities that rely on the Black Press for news coverage and representation
  • Benjamin Crump (civil rights attorney who donated $50,000)
  • Mark Cuban (who donated $100,000 through Cost-Plus Drugs)

What action is being taken

  • Benjamin Crump has pledged and given $50,000 to the Black Press of America
  • Mark Cuban has donated $100,000 to the Black Press through his Cost-Plus Drugs company
  • The Black Press is actively requesting advertising partnerships with Black-owned companies and wealthy Black individuals
  • The Black Press continues operating over 200 newspapers and media outlets
  • The Trump administration is terminating federal jobs and implementing anti-diversity policies
  • The Democratic Party is funneling advertising dollars into white-owned mainstream media while excluding the Black Press

Why it matters

  • This situation represents a critical threat to the institutional survival of America's oldest Black-owned media network, which has served as the primary chronicler of African American history and struggle for two centuries. The Black Press has historically provided essential coverage during pivotal moments—from slavery through the civil rights movement to the present—when mainstream white media ignored or misrepresented Black communities. Beyond its journalistic mission, the Black Press currently provides employment and economic stability to hundreds of Black families at a time when Trump administration policies are eliminating thousands of jobs for Black workers. The irony is particularly stark because many of the wealthy Black figures now ignoring calls for support received their earliest media recognition from these same publications, suggesting a troubling disconnect between successful Black individuals and the institutions that helped build their platforms.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint