When the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863 — the message they carried freed over 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas. That day, now celebrated as Juneteenth, stands not only as a powerful reminder of delayed justice but also as a call to continue the fight for equity, opportunity, and liberation.

The Ongoing Fight for Equity

While chattel slavery was legally abolished, African Americans continued to endure systemic oppression through laws like the Black Codes, which restricted basic rights such as earning fair wages and owning property. These post-emancipation barriers combined with generations of racial and economic discrimination contributed to today’s racial wealth gap where Black households rank the highest in facing wealth deficits or indebtedness.

Community Leaders in Houston

Today, just 50 miles from Galveston Island, two community leaders are helping to carry that torch of freedom forward through affordable housing, wealth creation, and economic development. In Houston, President & CEO Marlon Mitchell of Houston Business Development, Inc. (HBDi) and Owner Malcolm Sykes of Private Leverage are building the infrastructure for long-term freedom by creating pathways to homeownership and small business success in historically excluded Black neighborhoods.

Private Leverage’s Commitment to Economic Equity

Driven by its Houston roots, Private Leverage holds economic equity as its central commitment. As a Community Development Financial Institution, Private Leverage has committed over $25 million in capital to low-to-moderate income neighborhoods across Texas, supporting minority real estate developers who rehabilitate and produce housing in these communities. In addition, minority-owned small businesses can access loans to help finance and secure their operating spaces, further strengthening local economic growth.

Addressing Disparities in Homeownership and Business Ownership

In 2023, homeownership rates in the greater Houston area revealed significant disparities: approximately 72% of White and Asian American households owned their homes, compared to 55% of Hispanic households and just 42% of Black households. Similarly, in 2021, only 4.7% of small business owners in the region were Black, while 11.2% were Hispanic and 57.2% were White.

Private Leverage’s Impact

Through residential, commercial, and small business loans, Private Leverage is addressing these gaps and working towards equitable balance by circulating money within Black communities through support of Black-owned businesses, thereby increasing financial velocity. To date, Private Leverage has closed 112 small business loans with 99% to CDFI Eligible Markets. In total 75% of its dollars benefitted CDFI Investment Areas, and 55% High Poverty Areas. The organization recognizes that its work often leads to the creation of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH). Sykes emphasized the importance of building capacity to help borrowers track the creation of affordable homeownership and rental units and, where possible, to establish affordability agreements that ensure these homes remain affordable in the long term.

The Significance of Juneteenth

“Juneteenth, both personally and professionally, signifies the ongoing quest for freedom, justice, and equality,” said Sykes. “Daily, we commit to advancing towards our objectives, with ultimate freedom as the paramount goal. While legal bondage has ended, the pursuit of genuine freedom persists.”

HBDi’s Multi-Pronged Approach

At HBDi, Mitchell is tackling the same stark disparities through a multi-pronged approach. The organization revitalizes underutilized properties to expand affordable and mixed-income housing, provides loans and technical assistance to minority-owned small businesses as a certified CDFI, and supports entrepreneurs through business incubation programs. Additionally, HBDi offers commercial and co-working spaces to help local businesses thrive and leads adaptive reuse and redevelopment projects that drive neighborhood revitalization.

HBDi’s Impact

Since its founding in 1986, HBDi has facilitated over $350 million in small business loans and grants, resulting in the creation of approximately 5,000 jobs for citizens in the Houston Metro area, of which 75% have been to Black businesses. To support the development and preservation of affordable housing and community facilities, HBDi spearheaded the renovation of Houston’s Palm Center, a twenty-two-acre site that hosts more than 50 small businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations – catalyzing $26 million in economic development, affordable housing projects, and the creation of 400 jobs.

The Road to Parity

According to a Brookings research report, Black business ownership is currently growing at a rate of about 4.72% annually. At that pace, it would take 256 years for the number of Black-owned businesses to reflect the percentage of Black people in the U.S. population. Yet, despite the magnitude of the racial wealth gap and the long road to parity, HBDi is actively investing in the future by advancing $66 million in single-family, multi-family, and adaptive reuse projects aimed at accelerating Black wealth-building and economic opportunity.

The Legacy of Juneteenth

“The legacy of Juneteenth reminds us that justice and opportunity have never arrived on time for Black communities—and that we must be both vigilant and proactive in creating creative economic opportunities within our communities,” said Mitchell. “As Galveston’s neighbor and the most populous city in Texas, Houston has long been a place where African American communities have fought for—and created—economic opportunity against the odds. Our work at HBDi is an extension of that legacy.”

Conclusion

Looking back 160 years ago, the thought of African Americans leading financial institutions that drive affordable housing and wealth creation was nearly unimaginable. This Juneteenth serves as a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come against great odds and a call to action to continue investing in the lasting prosperity of Black communities. Yet the data shows that African Americans lag in wealth and housing ownership, last in both categories. I submit that current national policies will erode African Americans past economic gains. If not careful, the losses will be so great that it will take decades to recapture current economic progress.

FAQs

Q: What is Juneteenth?
A: Juneteenth is a celebration commemorating the day when the Union Army arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, freeing over 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas.
Q: What is the significance of Juneteenth?
A: Juneteenth signifies the ongoing quest for freedom, justice, and equality, and serves as a reminder of the delayed justice and ongoing fight for equity and opportunity.
Q: What is Private Leverage’s commitment to economic equity?
A: Private Leverage is committed to economic equity, and has invested over $25 million in capital to low-to-moderate income neighborhoods across Texas, supporting minority real estate developers and small businesses.
Q: What is HBDi’s approach to addressing disparities in homeownership and business ownership?
A: HBDi takes a multi-pronged approach, including revitalizing underutilized properties, providing loans and technical assistance to minority-owned small businesses, and supporting entrepreneurs through business incubation programs.

Introduction to the Controversy

Conservative influencer and friend of President Donald Trump’s son Barron, Bo Loudon, claimed credit for TikTok star Khaby Lame’s detainment by immigration officers, stating he reported the Senegalese-Italian creator to authorities before Lame was forced to leave the country.

Key Facts

Loudon, 18, claimed in a post on X he “worked with Trump’s ICE to have [Lame] removed” from the United States, stating he “discovered he was an illegal who overstayed an invalid VISA.” In other posts, Loudon slammed Lame as a “far-left TikTok star,” though Lame does not post political content and his political views are unclear. Lame, 25, was detained by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Friday, a Department of Homeland Security official told Forbes, for “overstaying the terms of his visa.” Lame was granted voluntary departure, which allows immigrants to avoid a deportation order, and has since left the United States, the DHS official said, though they did not specify where Lame went. Lame was born in Senegal and moved to Turin, Italy, with his family as an infant, and he is an Italian citizen, according to DHS.

Where Is Khaby Lame Now?

Lame’s exact whereabouts are unclear, but since the weekend, he has posted multiple Instagram stories with the location tagged as São Paulo, Brazil. Early Wednesday, Lame posted a video to his Instagram from a soccer game in São Paulo. He has not addressed being detained by ICE on his social media profiles.

Who Is Khaby Lame?

Lame is the most-followed person on TikTok, with more than 162 million followers. He boasts large followings elsewhere, including 80 million Instagram followers and 12.5 million YouTube subscribers. Lame rose to fame as a TikTok creator after he lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time he began posting content mocking absurd “life hack” videos and other comedic bits. He has held the title of most-followed TikTok user since June 2022, when he surpassed creator and dancer Charli D’Amelio. Weeks before being detained, Lame attended the Met Gala in New York.

Who Is Bo Loudon?

Loudon is a conservative influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers on his TikTok, Instagram and X profiles. Loudon has said Barron Trump, 18, is his “best friend,” and he is a regular visitor of the Trump family’s Mar-a-Lago property, according to pictures shared on his Instagram. Loudon has claimed on X that he and Barron helped connect Trump with influencers as part of an effort to reach Gen Z voters, including Adin Ross and Bryce Hall. Loudon is the son of Gina Loudon, a conservative commentator who co-chaired the Women for Trump organization in 2020, and John William Loudon, a former Missouri state senator.

Tangent

Lame’s detainment comes amid growing protests targeting ICE across the United States, particularly in Los Angeles, where protests broke out over the weekend after authorities detained dozens of immigrants. Trump has clashed with Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass over his decision to send National Guard troops to quell protests against officials’ wishes. National Guard troops have already arrived in the city, and Trump has ordered hundreds of Marines to the city, which could reportedly arrive as soon as Tuesday. Officials and some legal scholars have challenged Trump’s authority to mobilize the National Guard, though Trump reportedly said in a memo he had invoked Title 10, which permits the president to call on the National Guard if the U.S. is “invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation” or if “there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.” Since protests broke out in Los Angeles, more demonstrations have taken place in cities including New York, Dallas and Atlanta.

How Much Does Khaby Lame Earn?

Lame is one of the highest-paid social media creators, according to Forbes estimates. In 2024, Lame ranked tenth on Forbes’ top creators list with estimated earnings of $20 million, achieved through his large social media following and brand deals with Fortnite, Sony Pictures and Walmart. He was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Arts and Culture list in 2022.

Further Reading

From TikToker Khaby Lame To Fashion’s Future: Meet The Forbes Under 30 Europe Members Transforming Art & Culture (Forbes)
Top Creators 2024 (Forbes)
Los Angeles Protests Live Updates: Trump Claims City ‘Would Be Burning’ Unless Troops Deployed (Forbes)

Conclusion

The detainment of Khaby Lame has sparked controversy and raised questions about the role of immigration authorities in the United States. While Lame’s exact whereabouts are unclear, his large social media following and brand deals have made him one of the highest-paid social media creators. The incident has also highlighted the growing protests targeting ICE across the United States and the ongoing debate over immigration policy.

FAQs

Q: Who is Khaby Lame?
A: Khaby Lame is a Senegalese-Italian social media creator who is the most-followed person on TikTok, with over 162 million followers.
Q: Why was Khaby Lame detained?
A: Lame was detained by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas for “overstaying the terms of his visa.”
Q: Who claimed credit for Khaby Lame’s detainment?
A: Conservative influencer Bo Loudon claimed credit for Lame’s detainment, stating he reported Lame to authorities before he was forced to leave the country.
Q: How much does Khaby Lame earn?
A: According to Forbes estimates, Lame earned $20 million in 2024, making him one of the highest-paid social media creators.

Introduction to Ananda Lewis

I, like millions of others who grew up in the 1990s, wanted my MTV. Sure, we were there for the videos. But the video jockeys, known as VJs, elevated the experience with the style and spice you could see, and not just hear, like radio DJs. Ananda Lewis was my favorite MTV VJ. She was more than a trailblazing television host. In many ways, she was an advocate for issues of the day as well as a “TV friend” during my most formative years. Tragically, at the age of 52, she lost her battle with breast cancer on June 11, 2025. While breast cancer deaths are on the decline, the CDC estimates 42,000+ women and 500+ men are expected to succumb to the disease this year alone.

A Star On MTV And Beyond

Ananda Lewis joined the MTV Network in 1997. Known simply by her first name, which means “bliss” in Sanskrit, America got a taste of her style, voice and vibes, and she quickly became a standout host on the uber-popular Total Request Live (TRL), MTV Live, Hot Zone and MTV Jams. In the prime of the network’s cultural heyday, Ananda was able to connect with audiences while introducing the latest music videos, and conducting interviews with a seemingly never-ending list of celebrities. Her storytelling brought authenticity and depth to MTV’s programming. Way before diversity was a department or a buzzword, she brought a unique multicultural look, original name and flawless style to an American youth seeking visual inspiration. In 2000, she was featured in People magazine’s list of the world’s “50 Most Beautiful People.”

Early Life and Career

Ananda was born in Los Angeles, California, and attended the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts before heading to the nation’s capital to matriculate at Howard University. As an activist with the Youth Leadership and Development Institute, she worked with teenagers across customized learning programs designed to support at-risk youth. It was that passion which led her to audition for BET’s Teen Summit, a groundbreaking series focused on social issues affecting young Black Americans. As the host of Teen Summit, Lewis got the opportunity to interview a wide range of special guests, from NBA legend Kobe Bryant to First Lady Hillary Clinton, hitting new angles of journalism that directly addressed and resonated with young viewers.

Her Personal Breast Cancer Battle & A Legacy Of Impact

In 2020, Lewis first revealed she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer, sharing the news in an Instagram video with the hope to encourage women to get a mammograms. Eventually, her cancer, progressed to stage 4, yet she reflected resilience and grace as she faced her illness, and her optimism shined through as she found moments of joy in the midst of adversity. As a Black female voice in media, Ananda Lewis’s impact broke many invisible barriers. She challenged stereotypes and in many subtle ways paved the way for the generation that followed. With the outpouring of fans’ reactions to the news of her passing, her life serves as a reminder of the importance early detection and self-care, but also the fragility of life. She is survived by her son, Langston, born in 2011.

Conclusion

As we remember Ananda Lewis, let’s honor her by continuing the work she championed—advocating for equity, amplifying underrepresented voices, and prioritizing pushing the envelope. With Ananda’s passing, her legacy of charisma, intelligence and commitment to social issues should be remembered and reflected on. At a time before social media was commonplace—when only a few voices earned a platform to speak for a generation—she connected with music fans around the world, to both amplify artists’ voices and spotlight critical social topics, through specials like True Life: I Am Driving While Black—all with an understanding of the power of media to drive change across the U.S. There are many reasons that her life deserves to be celebrated.

FAQs

Q: When did Ananda Lewis join the MTV Network?
A: Ananda Lewis joined the MTV Network in 1997.
Q: What was the name of the show Ananda Lewis launched in 2001?
A: The Ananda Lewis Show.
Q: What was Ananda Lewis diagnosed with in 2020?
A: Stage 3 breast cancer.
Q: When did Ananda Lewis pass away?
A: June 11, 2025, at the age of 52.
Q: What is the estimated number of breast cancer deaths in the US this year?
A: 42,000+ women and 500+ men.