New York, NY - August 28, 2025 - From the courts of Manhattan to the bustling Beverly Center and the shores of Maui, Black excellence was on full display this week, spotlighting achievements in sports, business, and music. A new generation of tennis stars mingled with established icons, while entrepreneur Issa Rae championed Black-owned businesses, and music legend Ernie Isley lent his talent to a vital fundraising effort.
Tennis phenom Victoria mboko, the 2025 Canadian Open champion, joined Belinda Bencic, Jordan Thompson, and Gabriel Diallo at Branch, a private members’ club within New York City’s Park terrace Hotel. The 18-year-old Mboko shared her admiration for trailblazing Black female tennis players. “There’s Serena Williams,and then everyone who was on the tour representing the Black community is so inspiring,” she told EBONY. “I look up to everyone: Coco Gauff, Sloane stephens, madison Keys-so many. It’s amazing to have that kind of a connection.”
Elsewhere, EBONY cover star Issa Rae hosted a pop-up experience at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, celebrating National Black Business Month. Rae showcased her brands - Sienna Naturals, Viarae, and Hilltop Coffee + Kitchen – offering guests an afternoon of community, culture, and shopping.
On the island of Maui, Ernie Isley of the Isley Brothers performed at the 2nd annual Maui and Music Experience, a two-day fundraiser for the Hua Momona Foundation. The event supported the organization’s mission to combat food insecurity and provide agricultural education to Maui’s youth.
