We caught up with TLC in Nashville as they kicked off their It’s Iconic Tour, bringing together some of the most legendary voices in music history. The groundbreaking girl group is touring alongside Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue, making this a moment that celebrates decades of cultural influence and artistry. TLC continues to show up authentically and vulnerably on stage, reminding us why they remain one of the most influential groups of all time.
What struck us most during this experience was the genuine love and respect radiating throughout the venue. These women have shaped culture, pushed boundaries, and created music that touched millions of lives in meaningful ways. The tour feels like more than just nostalgia—it’s a celebration of real artistry, resilience, and the lasting impact of Black women in entertainment. The group honored Left Eye Lisa Lopez with a beautiful tribute, recognizing her irreplaceable legacy and the void her absence left in music and pop culture.
This is the kind of moment we need to witness and support. It’s a reminder that the pioneers who came before us didn’t just make hits—they shifted culture and opened doors for generations to come. If you’re looking to experience live history and pay homage to icons who changed the game, the It’s Iconic Tour is essential. Tickets are available now, and this is one show that deserves to be on your list.
Megan Thee Stallion‘s legal battle with a former member of her touring team is officially moving closer to a courtroom showdown. A federal judge ruled that several claims brought by former cameraman Emilio Garcia against Megan and Roc Nation can proceed to a jury trial.
Garcia filed suit in 2024, alleging wage violations, discrimination and retaliation. He also claimed he was trapped inside a vehicle in Spain in 2022 during an incident he found deeply troubling. Garcia said he was “embarrassed, mortified and offended” by what happened and claimed it contributed to a hostile workplace. Megan Thee Stallion and Roc Nation have strongly denied his accusations.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 7: Megan Thee Stallion attends a game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on April 7, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Her legal team has called Garcia’s allegations “false and fabricated.” They’ve argued that the more sensational claims were added to a case they view as primarily involving compensation disputes—similar to other workplace disagreements that require careful examination through a civil rights lens.
Judge Gregory H. Woods didn’t rule on whether Garcia’s allegations were true. Instead, he found that his discrimination, wage and wage-related retaliation claims presented real issues that a jury could decide. However, Woods did dismiss his claim that Megan or Roc Nation retaliated against him for complaining about the alleged incident.
Garcia’s attorney, Ron Zambrano, said his client is “looking forward to having his day in court.” The case will now move forward with discovery and eventually head to trial, where a jury will weigh the evidence and determine the outcome.
REVERE, MA – JUNE 9: A demonstrator holds a sign for Botham Jean while marching during a demonstration on June 9, 2020 in Revere, MA for George Floyd and other Black Americans killed at the hands of law enforcement. The peaceful march was been planned by Black and Brown Youth, a group based in Revere, who have come together to form Black Lives Matter Revere. (Photo by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
When the names of Black victims fade from the headlines, the questions of accountability often linger. Some suspects are acquitted or never charged; others are convicted. And sometimes, families win millions of dollars in civil court. No settlement can undo a death or make a family whole. But these legal victories can still matter, especially when they force cities to acknowledge the harm caused.
Most recently, Fort Worth approved a $3.5 million settlement for Atatiana Jefferson‘s family after she was fatally shot by police in 2019. So now, we’re looking at other cases where the families of victims were awarded millions.
Atatiana Jefferson: $3.5 Million
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 24: A mourner pays respects before the start of the funeral service for Atatiana Jefferson on October 24, 2019, at Concord Church in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stewart F. House/Getty Images)
Atatiana Jefferson was inside her Fort Worth home when former Officer Aaron Dean fatally shot her through a bedroom window in 2019. Fort Worth approved a $3.5 million settlement for Jefferson’s nephew, Zion Carr, who was in the house when she was killed, WFAA reported. Dean was later convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to nearly 12 years.
George Floyd: $27 Million
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 25: Terrence Floyd (C) removes his jacket to show a shirt bearing the face of his brother, George Floyd, during a vigil on May 25, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It has been two years since George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis Police. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
George Floyd’s death became a defining moment of the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2021, the city of Minneapolis agreed to a $27 million civil rights settlement with his family—which attorneys noted at the time as the largest pretrial wrongful-death settlement in U.S. history, according to the BBC. As part of the agreement, $500,000 was allocated toward community improvements.
Botham Jean: $98.65 Million
REVERE, MA – JUNE 9: A demonstrator holds a sign for Botham Jean while marching during a demonstration on June 9, 2020 in Revere, MA for George Floyd and other Black Americans killed at the hands of law enforcement. (Photo by Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Botham Jean’s case produced one of the largest civil-rights awards in recent U.S. history, but it was a jury verdict, not a settlement. In 2024, a federal jury awarded Jean’s family $98.65 million after finding former Dallas officer Amber Guyger liable for violating his civil rights. Guyger had entered Jean’s apartment and fatally shot him in 2018. Recently, Jean’s family sued the city to force the payout, according to CBS News.
William Green: $20 Million
LARGO, MD- SEPTEMBER: 28 Nicki Owens comforts her aunt Brenda Green during a press conference announcing the family will receive a $20 million settlement in the murder of William Green at the Wayne K Curry Administration Building in Largo, Maryland on September 28, 2020. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
William Green was handcuffed and sitting in the front of a Prince George’s County police cruiser when Officer Michael Owen Jr. fatally shot him six times in 2020. Later that year, the county agreed to a $20 million settlement with Green’s family, the New York Times reported. It was considered one of the largest one-time settlements involving someone killed by law enforcement.
Tamir Rice: $6 Million
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – 2021/04/23: Participant seen holding a portrait of Tamir Rice at the silent protest. Members of the activist group Rise And Resist gathered at 96th Street and Broadway in Manhattan to continue their weekly “Say Their Names” vigil. (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Tamir Rice was just 12 years old when Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann shot and killed him outside a recreation center in 2014. Cleveland agreed to a $6 million settlement with Rice’s family in 2016, according to the Guardian. The city did not admit wrongdoing.
Korryn Gaines: $3 Million
Attorney J. Wyndal Gordon, lower right, the family of Korryn Gaines and community leaders rally June 30, 2021, outside Baltimore County Circuit Court. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Korryn Gaines was killed by a Baltimore County police officer during a seven-hour standoff at her apartment in 2016. Her five-year-old son was also shot and survived. In 2021, Gaines’ estate and family reached a $3 million settlement with Baltimore County, CBS reported. A separate $32 million jury award involving her son was ultimately capped.
Breonna Taylor: $12 Million
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 30: A photo of Breonna Taylor is seen among other photos of women who have lost their lives as a result of violence during the 2nd Annual Defend Black Women March in Black Lives Matter Plaza on July 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Frontline Action Hub)
Breonna Taylor was fatally shot by Louisville police during a 2020 search of her apartment. Six months later, Louisville reached a $12 million settlement with her family, according to ABC News. Notable for extending beyond a cash payout, the settlement mandated structural police reforms—including stricter search warrant protocols, new drug-testing rules, and initiatives designed to bridge community-police trust.
Laquan McDonald: $5 Million
A memorial for 17-year-old Laquan McDonald is posted in the hallway of Sullivan House Alternative High School in Chicago on April 17, 2015. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Laquan McDonald was 17 when Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke shot and killed him in 2014. In a rare move before any lawsuit was formally filed, Chicago agreed to pay Laquan McDonald’s family $5 million—amounting to $1 million for every bullet that struck him, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The settlement came as officials fought over the release of police video showing the shooting. The footage later became central to national scrutiny of Chicago policing.
Eric Garner: $5.9 Million
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 17: People participate in a protest to mark the five year anniversary of the death of Eric Garner during a confrontation with a police officer in the borough of Staten Island on July 17, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Eric Garner’s final words—”I can’t breathe”—became a rallying cry during protests over police violence. Garner died in 2014 after an NYPD officer placed him in an apparent chokehold on Staten Island, according to ABC 7 News. In 2015, New York City agreed to pay his family $5.9 million. The city did not admit liability, but officials acknowledged the enormous impact of Garner’s death.
Freddie Gray: $6.4 Million
BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 23: Trash collects below a mural of Freddie Gray after Baltimore police officer Caesar Goodson Jr. was found not guilty on all charges on June 23, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images)
Freddie Gray died in 2015 after suffering a spinal injury while in Baltimore police custody. His death triggered protests, unrest and a national debate over policing and accountability. According to PBS, Baltimore officials approved a $6.4 million settlement with Gray’s family that year. City officials said the agreement would provide a measure of closure while protecting taxpayers from a lengthy civil trial.
Danroy Henry Jr.: $6 Million
Screenshot from YouTube
Danroy “D.J.” Henry Jr., a Pace University football player, was fatally shot by a Pleasantville, New York, police officer in 2010 as he drove away from a disturbance outside a bar. In 2016, Henry’s family reached a $6 million settlement with the village and officer, CNN reported. The attorneys emphasized that no amount of money could replace their son.
Oscar Grant: $2.8 Million
Aidge Patterson of the LA Coalition for Justice for Oscar Grant leads a protest rally outside a pretrial hearing for Johannes Mehserle, the former Bay Area Rapid Transit officer charged with murder in the shooting death of Grant in Oakland, California last year, at the Criminal Courts Building in Los Angeles on March 26, 2010. (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Oscar Grant was fatally shot by a BART police officer on an Oakland train platform in 2009. According to CBS News, his mother later reached a $1.3 million settlement with BART, following a separate $1.5 million payment to Grant’s young daughter. Together, the payments totaled $2.8 million. Grant’s killing sparked protests and became an early flashpoint in the modern movement against police violence.
Lewis Butler: $779 Million
Screenshot from Facebook
Lewis Butler’s case stands apart: His death did not involve police. Butler, a Black security guard, was murdered during an armed robbery at a Havana, Florida, internet café in 2023, according to WCTV. In 2025, a jury awarded his widow $779 million in a wrongful-death case. It was a verdict, not a settlement, and questions remained about whether the award would be paid in full.
So here’s the tea: hip hop culture just served us a moment of pure comedy. Boosie Badazz apologized to ASAP Rocky after learning that viral photo he came for might’ve been straight-up Photoshopped. Turns out Rocky wasn’t actually wearing a thong onstage—but the internet had us all fooled for a minute.
“MY BAD ASAP IF THAT PHOTO WAS PHOTOSHOPPED BRO,” Boosie wrote on X Thursday, admitting that when he first saw the image, he “couldnt believe” his eyes. When you’re scrolling through hip hop culture moments online, sometimes things ain’t always what they seem.
The apology came after Rocky cleared the air during an interview with Jason Lee. Rocky explained that what people saw during his Don’t Be Dumb tour performance was actually a microphone pack. An edited image later made it look like something completely different—and the internet ran with it.
“They Photoshopped me, and that shit was crazy,” Rocky said, keeping it real about the whole situation.
Boosie had come in hot when the image first started circulating, writing, “THIS GOTTA BE AI. I KNOW THIS N—A AINT GOT A THONG ON,” before joking that rappers wearing thongs could become the next fashion trend. But here’s where it gets clever—Rocky actually turned the moment into a business move.
Rocky responded to the chaos by saying, “I created a thong line because they said I was wearing thongs.” Talk about making lemonade out of lemons. This is the kind of statement piece energy we love to see in statement piece culture.
The merchandise moved fast too. “We already sold out on the f–king thongs first night!” Rocky shared, laughing at how the whole thing played out.
He also brushed off Boosie’s original reaction with grace. “I be laughing. So I can’t get mad when the joke is on me,” Rocky said, adding with a smile, “Boosie bugged out for that.”
Real recognize real, and both these legends showed that sometimes the best response to internet drama is humor and turning it into something profitable. That’s the kind of Black excellence we need more of—taking a moment meant to embarrass and flipping it into Black excellence and entertainment.
Back-to-school planning means checking off supply lists, picking out first-day outfits and readjusting to school hours. For many Black families, it also means searching for guidance that’s typically shared through private conversations and networks. We spoke with back to school education experts to pull together practical advice for parents navigating everything from elementary through college prep.
Whether your student is learning the ABCs or preparing for the SATs, these 15 tips can help. Dr. LaToya Lofton, a Chicago Public Schools assistant principal, and Kimberly Johnson, an independent educational consultant and former college admissions counselor in New York, shared their insights on what back to school education success really looks like for Black families.
Success Starts at Home
Clear expectations for morning and bedtime routines, screen time and homework workspaces help children manage responsibilities before workloads increase. These foundational habits matter far more than cramming.
Recognize When ‘Studying Harder’ Isn’t Enough
(Photo: Getty Images)
Stigma around learning differences, ADHD and mental health leads some Black families to resist evaluations when a child is struggling. Lofton warns that waiting until a child is on the verge of failure can mean missed opportunities and significant academic setbacks. Early intervention changes everything.
Know the Difference: IEP vs. 504 Plan
An individualized education program (IEP) and a Section 504 plan can both provide accommodations such as extended test time, but an IEP also includes specialized instruction. Since students’ needs shift, moving between an IEP and a 504 plan may be appropriate at different stages.
If you disagree with a school’s evaluation, parents can obtain an independent educational evaluation (IEE) at no cost.
Don’t Let Support Plans Limit Ambitions
(Photo: Getty Images)
An IEP or 504 plan is not a ceiling on what a student can achieve. Lofton stressed that accommodations in one subject don’t prevent a student from taking rigorous courses in another. A student receiving math support can still thrive in AP English or advanced sciences.
Be Present and Engaged
(Photo: Getty Images)
“I need us to show up,” Lofton said plainly. Parents should attend meetings, review school documents before sessions and ask questions when something is unclear. When children have accommodations, ensure teachers actually know what they are.
Advocate Effectively
Lofton urged parents to “exercise grace and mercy” with teachers. Criticizing educators on social media for a delayed Friday-night email response doesn’t serve your child, who must sit in that classroom all year. There’s a difference between holding teachers accountable and treating them as adversaries.
Teach Children Self-Advocacy
Students should understand how they learn best. As they get older, they need to build confidence in communicating their needs and asking for help. This skill matters in college, work and life.
Build Life Skills Beyond Classrooms
(Photo: Getty Images)
Gradually hand over responsibilities like laundry, cooking and scheduling appointments so students aren’t managing them for the first time when they leave home. Johnson noted that some college students unenroll because they’re overwhelmed by balancing school and daily life. Help them practice managing both now.
Plan for Every Future
Not every student heads to a four-year university, but everyone needs a plan. Families should consider paths such as community college, trade school, employment or independent living. For students with IEPs, transition planning should reflect realistic goals for life after high school.
Set Goals Beyond a 4.0
Many families still believe a perfect GPA is required for college admission. Johnson said plainly, “That’s simply not true.” Colleges also value sports, clubs and volunteer work. She warns that admissions readers can tell when students start piling on activities late in high school. Sustained involvement that reflects genuine interests tells a stronger story.
‘AP Everything’ Is Not a Strategy
Students should choose AP courses based on their strengths and long-term goals, not simply to stack transcripts. “You have to look at what a student wants to do long term, and that is how you decide what actual AP courses you’re going to take,” Johnson explained. AP courses can also earn college credit, reducing both time and cost of a degree.
Don’t Assume Guidance Is Out of Reach
Many families don’t realize how many free or low-cost college-planning resources are available. Johnson recommends Scholarship College Mama for tips, ScholarMatch for free virtual coaching for first-generation college students, and BigFuture for college and scholarship searches. Some independent educational consultants offer sliding-scale rates, making expert guidance more accessible.
Students With Weaker Grades Still Have College Options
For students with lower GPAs or limited financial means, Johnson suggested programs such as the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP). While common in New York, similar programs exist in other states. Ask the admissions or financial aid office about scholarships tied to criteria such as community service.
Test-Optional Doesn’t Always Mean Skip the Test
(Photo: Getty Images)
Even if a college doesn’t require SAT or ACT scores for admission, Johnson recommends students take the test at least once. Some scholarships require scores. Before deciding to skip the exams, families should ask admissions offices whether test scores are considered for scholarships or other opportunities. Khan Academy’s free SAT prep site works well for students who choose to test.
College Accommodations Aren’t Automatic
Students move from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) protections they receive in K-12 schools to protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in college. Students must self-disclose to college disability services and provide documentation to request accommodations, which can include separate testing rooms, note-taking support or lecture recording.
Because accommodations aren’t retroactive and take time to process, students should register with disability services before classes start rather than wait until they fall behind.
Dame Dash is frustrated with how his bankruptcy situation keeps dominating the headlines. A trustee reportedly asked the court for permission to sell rights to his life story rights—and he’s not happy about the coverage.
The Roc-A-Fella co-founder called out The Breakfast Club‘s Loren Lorosa after she shared details from recent court filings. According to reports, Dash’s voice, image, likeness, and life story rights could potentially be sold as part of his bankruptcy proceedings. It’s a heavy situation, and Dame’s clearly feeling the weight of how it’s being presented to the public.
“I just feel like y’all make it too obvious,” Dash said in a social media video. “Why don’t you ever talk about any of the good stuff?”
Court documents indicate that a trustee believes Dash’s celebrity status could make his life rights valuable to potential buyers. There are also reportedly more than 100 hours of archival footage from 1990 through 2025 and a documentary in development about Roc-A-Fella—similar to how you’d find stories in a curated reading list about cultural moments that shaped us.
The real issue for Dame? The narrative. He feels the platform is zeroing in too hard on the negative and not enough on what he’s built and accomplished.
“Are you guys trying to line me up?” he questioned. “Are you guys trying to amplify a narrative?”
Dash acknowledged that adversity is part of the game he’s been playing for decades. “I’ll deal with what I gotta deal with as part of the game,” he said, his resilience shining through despite the frustration.
“Either way, I’m hustling,” he concluded—a reminder that Dame Dash has always found a way forward, no matter what headlines try to define him as.
Oprah Winfrey is finally addressing the backlash over her decision to platform Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz, two figures who’ve since become vocal MAGA supporters. Her response? It may not sit well with everyone.
Both men built their careers on her show before venturing into politics. Dr. Phil, a clinical psychologist, first appeared in 1998 after helping Winfrey through a Texas cattlemen lawsuit. Dr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and former Columbia University professor, joined in 2004 as her health expert. Their rise was meteoric—personal empires, household recognition, the full package. Then came the pivot. Dr. Oz now leads the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under Trump, while Oprah Winfrey critics have questioned her role in launching them into prominence.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, Oprah Winfrey and Patrick Robinson at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Spring 2010 Costume Institute Benefit Gala, May 3, 2010 in New York City.
In a recent conversation with the Television Academy, Winfrey broke her silence on the criticism. She framed her early support for both men through the lens of practical value—not politics. With Dr. Phil, she credits his steady presence during her 1998 trial. He rode with her to court each morning for six weeks, offering grounded advice that felt instrumental at the time.
“People criticize me for Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz because of their politics or their views,” she said. “But Dr. Phil was so practical, so down to earth, so real. I thought, ‘Oh, you could help a lot of people. You should come on my show.'”
Dr. Oz’s introduction came through her best friend Gayle King. The appeal was his ability to translate complex medical concepts into accessible language—the kind of clarity that felt missing from mainstream health discourse at the time.
“He explained practical things like colon cancer and bowel movements in a way that was helpful,” Winfrey explained. “I thought it would be helpful to many other people. And that is how they ended up on the show.”
On their current political trajectories, Winfrey kept her response measured. “Everybody has their own path in life, and it has not one thing to do with me, and I don’t have one thing to do with them,” she said. “At the time, the reason and intention behind me giving them their breaks was that I thought they had valuable information to share.”
The distinction she’s drawing is clear enough: she’s separating her editorial judgment from their subsequent choices. Whether that distinction holds weight depends largely on where you stand. For supporters, it’s a reminder that people evolve in unexpected directions. For critics, the question lingers: what responsibility do platforms carry for who they help launch?
Hip hop biography just got a whole lot more expensive for one music icon. Diddy reportedly spent as much as $8 million fighting federal charges that once put him at risk of spending the rest of his life in prison.
Sources told TMZ that the mogul paid between $7 million and $8 million in legal fees following his September 2024 arrest, with the bill covering his lengthy federal trial and continued court challenges. His legal team was serious business—attorneys Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, Brian Steel and Nicole Westmoreland assembled what amounted to a full-court press. You can learn more about the hip hop biography of this case through ongoing coverage.
Prosecutors accused him of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. During the eight-week trial, the government presented evidence involving Diddy, former girlfriends and male escorts, describing some sexual encounters as “Freak Offs.” The case also included allegations from Cassie Ventura and other women. Diddy maintained his innocence on the most serious charges.
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 27: Cassie (L) and recording artist Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
A Manhattan jury delivered a split verdict in July 2025, acquitting Diddy of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking while finding him guilty on two Mann Act counts involving transportation to engage in prostitution. The outcome spared him the potential life sentence attached to the more serious accusations.
In October 2025, Diddy was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison. He’s currently incarcerated at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, but his courtroom fight isn’t finished. His attorneys continue pursuing challenges to both his convictions and sentence, meaning the legal bills may keep climbing.
Bruno Mars is having a moment that refuses to quit. His lead single “I Just Might” from the album The Romantic has now spent 22 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, tying it with Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” for the second-longest-running No. 1 in the chart’s history. The only song sitting ahead of them is Kendrick and SZA’s “Luther,” which holds the all-time record at 31 weeks.
Nearly a decade after his last solo album, Bruno Mars made his return and essentially refused to leave the top of the charts. This isn’t just about numbers—it’s about cultural staying power. In an era of playlist shuffling and shortened attention spans, “I Just Might” has proven that thoughtfully crafted R&B with genuine soul can still command the room. For Black artists and listeners, this represents validation that our music doesn’t need to chase trends to dominate the conversation. Mars has rewritten the record books and reminded the industry why legacy matters.
“It’s not about not spending anything, but it’s about focusing on things that bring you joy and that bring value for you and your family.” That’s the philosophy driving Katia Chesnok, a mother of four who’s built a following of over 40,000 people on TikTok by breaking down the “moneymaxxing” trend—a viral movement focused on smarter financial habits like cutting unnecessary expenses and maximizing savings account interest. Now she’s sharing the exact strategies that transformed her family’s finances.
With summer winding down, there’s no better time to reset your wallet. Here are some of Katia Chesnok‘s most useful insights to start leveling up your money right now.
Disciplined Spending
TikToker Katia Chesnok (@economikat) laid out a reality check about the one daily habit standing between most people and actual savings.
“Your life will change when you stop buying more junk,” she said. “You do not need more stuff. Look at your garage, look at your closets, look at your whole house—it’s full of junk. Once I realized that all the clutter I was buying used to be money… and once you realize that, your life will change.”
Related: How to Budget Like a Boss: Finance Expert Shares Money Tips for Black Americans
5 Things That Are Not Worth Your Money
In a July TikTok video, Chesnok called out five specific purchases she considers wasteful. An iPad tops the list. “At this point, you’re only using the iPad to play games,” she said. Daily Starbucks runs came next: “How are you paying eight dollars a day when you can make your own coffee at home for cents every single day?”
She also flagged Kylie Cosmetics, the iRobot vacuum, and high-end athleisure brands. “Anything Alo or Lululemon, especially if you’re paying $200, $300 for a hoodie. It’s not worth the money.”
Shop Your Home First
When the urge to shop hits, Chesnok suggests a different approach: look around your home first.
“This is a reminder that you do not need anything from Walmart today,” she said in an unpopular opinion post last month. “You do not need anything from Aldi today. You do not need anything from Trader Joe’s today. You are just bored, and you don’t need more stuff. Go shop your pantry.”
If boredom is the real issue, her fix is simple: take a walk.
The “Worth Every Penny” List
While she’s quick to call out overhyped products and impulse buys, Chesnok isn’t against spending where it counts. She named specific items in a follow-up video worth the investment.
“Toyota vehicles, a Breville coffee machine, going to the dentist, Costco executive membership, ETFs [exchange-traded funds], Olay moisturizers and serum, Brita water filter, a walking pad, and a library card,” she specified.
Low Buying Challenge
Screenshot: economikat/TikTok
In July, she launched a low-buying challenge encouraging followers to avoid “useless stuff” but spend intentionally on things that genuinely make them happy. For Chesnok, it’s all about balance. During the month-long challenge, she shared her own routine: cooking simple meals at home at least five days a week, waiting a full day before buying anything (aside from necessities), committing to three no-spend days every week, and getting a dopamine hit from walks or time outdoors instead.
How to Start Saving More Money
One of the easiest ways to save, according to Chesnok, is to make your money work harder by opening a high-yield savings account (HYSA).
“If you don’t have a HYSA in 2026, what are you even doing? You need to have a HYSA because they pay you higher interest rates than a regular savings account,” she said. She also suggests waiting before any online purchase. “The longer you wait, the more you will be sure that it’s not an impulse purchase. And actually, 50% of the time when you wait at least 24 hours, you end up not buying the item.”
Chesnok also advised limiting doomscrolling—the compulsive habit of endlessly watching negative news on your phone. “I noticed the longer I doom scroll, the more temptations I have. So limit your doomscrolling and get busy,” she said.
Her final piece of advice: take care of your health and clean your living space. “When you do, you will bring more abundance to your life. If you take care of things you already have, you will wait longer to buy new things.”
