September 7, 2025

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. This week we will highlight Africa urging the world to accurately reflect the continent’s true size and in entertainment news, Denzel Washington and Spike Lee reunite in a gripping new thriller.

Africa Demands Fair Representation on the World Map

The African Union has thrown its support behind the #CorrectTheMap campaign, which calls on the United Nations and global community to adopt the Equal Earth map projection. Unlike the widely used Mercator projection — a 450 year-old design created for colonial trade routes — the Equal Earth projection more accurately reflects the true size of continents. The Mercator map distorts landmass, making regions near the poles appear larger while shrinking Africa and South America.

For Africa, this is about more than technical accuracy. For centuries, cartography has shaped perceptions of power and influence. By inflating Europe and North America while minimizing Africa, maps have reinforced colonial narratives that diminished the continent’s importance. The African Union’s push is a demand to reclaim dignity and visibility, ensuring Africa is represented on its true scale for future generations.

Changing the global standard won’t happen overnight. Map projections are deeply ingrained in education, media, and mental imagery worldwide. Advocates argue that adopting the Equal Earth projection is a first step in reshaping global understanding of geography and influence. For Africa, correcting the map means correcting the story the world tells about who matters.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

HBCU Live returned to the 2025 US Open for its fifth year, celebrating the culture, pride, and legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This year’s event carried added meaning, aligning with the tournament’s tribute to the 75th anniversary of Althea Gibson breaking tennis’ color barrier. Gibson, a Florida A&M University alumna, reshaped the sport and paved the way for generations of athletes. The HBCU Yard Experience at Fountain Plaza brought the celebration to life with food, music, and performances, including Florida A&M’s iconic “Marching 100” led by its first female Head Drum Major, Oluwamodupe “Dupe” Oloyede, alongside alumni DJs who kept the crowd energized.

The US Open also hosted its annual Equity Talk, Althea’s Legacy: Celebrating a New Era in Black Tennis, moderated by Monica McNutt and featuring panelists Leslie Allen, Boris Kodjoe, Kamau Murray, and Sloane Stephens. Adding to the celebration, the USTA announced the expansion of the Althea Gibson HBCU Scholarship Program, which will award $20,000 in new scholarships to two HBCU students in early 2026. As part of the USTA’s broader “Be Open” campaign, HBCU Live continues to use the global stage of the US Open to highlight progress, equality, and inclusion both within the sport and beyond.

Two University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff students, Tamya Hulum and Jae’Nyla Welch, were selected as research assistants for a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture project studying the medicinal properties of Arkansas rice bran. Guided by UAPB’s Dr. Sankar Devarajan and UAMS’s Dr. Shengyu Mu, their work explores food-based solutions to aging and heart health while strengthening undergraduate research capacity. Hulum is studying rice bran’s antioxidant effects on vascular cells, while Welch is investigating how immune cells affect heart scarring—both gaining valuable experience that will shape their careers in nutrition and biomedical sciences.

Morgan State University generates $1.5 billion annually for Maryland’s economy, supporting over 8,200 jobs and contributing nearly $71 million in state tax revenues, with $891 million of that impact centered in Baltimore. Its growth is fueled by more than $1.2 billion in capital investments over the past 15 years, including major projects like the new Health and Human Services Center and the $337 million Science Complex. Beyond infrastructure, Morgan’s students, alumni, and research innovation drive long-term economic growth, positioning the university as a leading HBCU and anchor institution for Maryland’s future.

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culture

After nearly two decades, Spike Lee and Denzel Washington reunite for their fifth collaboration in Highest 2 Lowest, a gripping, contemporary reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low. Washington stars as David King, a powerful music executive whose morality is thrown into question when his assistant’s child is mistakenly kidnapped—another’s ransom demand threatens more than just money. The film premiered out of competition at Cannes in May 2025 and hit U.S. theaters on August 15th, with streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 5th.    

Known for imbuing his stories with vivid cultural and moral textures, Lee brings Highest 2 Lowest to life with stylish New York City visuals, improvisational energy, and rich social commentary. Critics have praised Washington’s layered, powerful performance as one of his best, and the film is already generating awards buzz.     

Our editor, Lisa D. Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

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