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William “Bam” Sparks: Bridging the Digital Divide with Culture Wireless

THE ATLANTA VOICE — In recent years, internet connectivity has become necessary and essential to education, professional advancement, and daily life. However, certain communities, particularly those near Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), are often excluded from reliable, high-speed internet access. Sparks, Culture Wireless’s CMO, has been actively working to address this issue. Based in Atlanta, Culture Wireless was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic to close the digital divide in underserved communities, particularly around Atlanta University Center and its surrounding areas.

Published

11 months ago

December 1, 2024

Oakland Post

By Noah Washington | The Atlanta Voice

“Why can’t we impact the infrastructure? Why can’t we own everything? Because at the end of the day, the moment we say something about it, that’s when it takes off,” said William “Bam” Sparks, 40, co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Culture Wireless, reflecting on Black culture’s innovation and potential.

In recent years, internet connectivity has become necessary and essential to education, professional advancement, and daily life. However, certain communities, particularly those near Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), are often excluded from reliable, high-speed internet access. Sparks, Culture Wireless’s CMO, has been actively working to address this issue. Based in Atlanta, Culture Wireless was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic to close the digital divide in underserved communities, particularly around Atlanta University Center and its surrounding areas.

Sparks attended Albany State University to study chemical engineering before transferring to Georgia Tech to complete his degree. Upon graduation, a different path unfolded. During his time at Georgia Tech, he was introduced to the entertainment world by his cousin, Douglas Peterson, a friend of Atlanta rapper T.I.

When T.I. sought to establish a sports agency called Grand Hustle Sports, Sparks became one of the first people contacted. He pivoted to sports management, putting his chemical engineering background on hold to pursue this new career. His networking skills and business acumen quickly earned him a reputation, leading to success in the entertainment and sports management sectors.

Sparks (above) attended Albany State University to study chemical engineering before transferring to Georgia Tech to complete his degree. Photo by Noah Washington/The Atlanta Voice.

Sparks, a “Grady baby” from Collier Heights, first encountered the internet access issue at the AUC in 2020. There, he noticed a significant gap in connectivity between different Atlanta communities. “We went to the AUC to discuss E-Sports,” Sparks recalls. To his surprise, he found that while the area had high bandwidth capabilities, affordable internet options were lacking due to high costs from providers like AT&T and other ISPs. This inspired Sparks to create Culture Wireless, recognizing that existing networks often overlooked underserved communities. He observed that fiber internet costs were unaffordable for many residents. Thus, the idea for Culture Wireless emerged, aimed at providing affordable internet access for all.

In collaboration with various providers and local organizations, Sparks implemented a small data center and established a “mesh network” that connected nodes to provide internet access to the AUC area. This network proved essential after COVID-19, particularly as students struggled to complete assignments due to limited connectivity. The initial project served as a pilot for Culture Wireless’s broader mission to bridge the digital divide.

As a Black-owned Internet Service Provider (ISP), Culture Wireless faces the challenge of bringing affordable connectivity to underserved areas. Sparks highlights the Biden Administration’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which initially subsidized internet costs but was exhausted by early 2024. According to Sparks, his vision extends beyond Atlanta. “80% of HBCUs are in internet deserts,” he explained, referring to the limited infrastructure at many of these institutions. Culture Wireless aims to provide broadband access to HBCUs across the country, creating a foundation of connectivity that fosters educational and economic opportunities.

Despite their progress, Culture Wireless has faced obstacles. As venture capital (VC) funding for Black businesses reportedly declined by 60% in 2024, Culture Wireless felt the impact. “It’s a struggle. I feel like our issue has been finding people who invest in what we do,” Sparks said, referring to investors’ focus on trendy industries over internet equity. Nevertheless, Sparks believes that his team at Culture Wireless has the expertise and dedication to effect real change.

Together with his team—CEO Al Adjahoe, COO and co-founder Jerome Howard, Chief Brand Officer Marcus Stevens, and Chief Strategy Officer Pete Johnson—Sparks is confident in Culture Wireless’s potential to scale. Currently serving the AUC area and surrounding neighborhoods, including Vine City, The Bluff, and Clayton County, Sparks reflected, “After COVID, I saw that our kids didn’t have internet access. And I’m like, wow, this is crazy. Kids are literally going to the library to do their homework, but the fiber is right here. So why can’t I help provide it?”

Sparks is steadfast in his belief that internet access is a fundamental right. As he and his team press on, their mission centers on ensuring underserved populations are connected. “We, Black people—we are the culture, but we don’t own any of the infrastructure,” Sparks stated. Culture Wireless’s long-term goal is to equip the culture with the tools to keep innovating and pushing forward. “Why don’t we continue to change the narrative?”

To learn more about Culture Wireless, visit their website HERE.

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Michael: The King of Pop’s Story Returns to the Big Screen

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making.

Published

1 day ago

November 6, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The curtain has finally lifted on one of Hollywood’s most anticipated films. Lionsgate has unveiled the official trailer and release date for “Michael,” the sweeping biopic about Michael Jackson that has been years in the making. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, the film will arrive in theaters on April 24, 2026, with the singer’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, stepping into the spotlight to portray his legendary uncle.

The trailer wastes no time rekindling the aura of Jackson’s genius. Opening with a studio scene between Jackson and his longtime producer Quincy Jones, played by Kendrick Sampson, the clip builds from a quiet, familiar rhythm to the electrifying pulse of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’.” Viewers catch glimpses of the singer’s childhood, flashes of “Thriller,” and the silhouette that redefined pop culture. Each frame reminds fans of why Jackson remains unmatched in artistry and influence. The cast surrounding the late pop king’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, reads like a who’s who of Black entertainment and music history. Colman Domingo plays Joe Jackson, Nia Long portrays Katherine Jackson, and Larenz Tate takes on the role of Motown founder Berry Gordy. Laura Harrier portrays music executive Suzanne de Passe, while Kat Graham embodies Diana Ross. Miles Teller plays attorney John Branca, a towering entertainment lawyer and longtime Jackson confidant who later became co-executor of his estate. The film’s journey to release has been as complicated as the icon it portrays. Production wrapped in 2024, but legal hurdles over depictions of past controversies forced extensive reshoots and editing delays. Even so, Fuqua’s film now appears ready to reclaim the narrative, focusing on Jackson’s creative ambition and humanity beyond tabloid noise. IndieWire reported that the film had faced “a massive legal snafu” over a disputed storyline but was retooled to center the music and legacy that defined generations.

Maven. Photo Credit: Glen Wilson

“Michael” promises more than a chronological retelling. It aims to explore how a child star from Gary, Indiana, became the world’s most influential entertainer. The script, written by Oscar-nominated John Logan, traces Jackson’s early years with the Jackson 5 through the triumphs and isolation of global superstardom. With Fuqua’s cinematic eye and producer Graham King—who brought “Bohemian Rhapsody” to life—joining forces with estate executors Branca and John McClain, the film is positioned as both a tribute and a restoration of Jackson’s cultural truth. Branca’s work behind the scenes has long shaped Jackson’s posthumous success. After the singer died in 2009, Branca and McClain took control of the estate burdened by debt and turned it into a global powerhouse worth billions. Under their stewardship, Jackson’s projects have generated more than $3 billion in worldwide ticket sales and landmark deals, including a $600 million joint venture with Sony earlier this year. At its heart, though, “Michael” is a story about artistry that transcends scandal. It offers a reminder that, despite the noise surrounding his life, Jackson’s music still bridges continents and generations. The trailer’s closing moments capture that spirit. As the beat of “Billie Jean” swells and Jaafar Jackson moonwalks into a spotlight, audiences are left with a familiar feeling—the awe of witnessing something timeless return home.

“Michael” opens worldwide in theaters April 24, 2026. See the official trailer here.

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Donald Trump Is the Biggest Loser

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By April Ryan

The Trump Brand took a significant hit as it was swept up in the Democratic blue wave of the election last night.

Chris Jones, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives (AR-02), says, “Last night was electric, and it was unquestionably a wave.” Democrats won big in what is widely considered a repudiation of Trump’s 9 months at the White House in his second term.

In the state of Virginia, which produced the first big election night win and saw the election of the first woman governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, 56% of Virginia’s residents disapprove of President Trump. In New Jersey, 55% of state residents disapprove of the president; in New York, 69% disapprove; and in California, 63% disapprove of the president. The Trump brand or his support for any candidates did nothing to benefit those he endorsed in this election. They actually lost in each race he publicly put his name behind. Trump endorsed former New York Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the New York mayor’s race in his run as an independent. And New Jersey Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who ran for governor with the presidential endorsement, also lost his prospective race.

The next question is, will the democratic momentum be sustainable? Jones further explained, “This can become a 2026 tsunami, but turning a wave into a tsunami takes energy. A lot of energy. It doesn’t just happen. The conditions are there. Now we have to work!”

Some Democrats would argue that the work is already underway. The pushback against Trump’s national redistricting efforts received a thumb in the eye from California voters. Prop 50, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s counterbalance to President Trump’s redistricting efforts, passed in California last night. Although Trump’s name was not on the ballot last night, his Republican policies were. The United States has now entered the longest government shutdown in its history. Forty-two million Americans are not getting SNAP benefits. Economists are acknowledging that the government shutdown is contributing to the rise in delinquent debt in the student loan, automotive, and credit card industries. These items are among the negatives Americans are protesting against.

Compounding Trump’s political problems is a tariff battle that’s directly impacting pocketbooks. The day after the elections, the Trump administration was arguing before the US Supreme Court in favor of the president’s tariff powers. Meanwhile, President Trump‘s poll numbers are underwater, standing at a 37% national disapproval rate

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Historic Beatdown: Democrats Sweep Virginia as Speaker Don Scott and Jay Jones Make History

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia.

Published

2 days ago

November 5, 2025

Oakland Post

By Lauren Burke

In a clear rejection of the policies of President Donald Trump, history repeated itself in Virginia. Democrats once again swept all three statewide offices as they did in 2017 during Trump’s first term. Abigail Spanberger easily won the office of Governor, and State Senator Ghazala Hashmi won her race over John Reid to be the next Lieutenant Governor. The victories occurred against the backdrop of a historic win in Virginia by Spanberger that will give Virginia its first woman Governor.

Spanberger’s widely predicted win over Republican gubernatorial nominee Winsome Earle-Sears was called 17 minutes after the polls closed in Virginia at 7 pm. Former Delegate Jay Jones won his race against incumbent Attorney General Jason Miyares. His victory means Jones will be the first Black Attorney General in Virginia’s history. Jones’ win was particularly noteworthy since the last month of his campaign was consumed by the issue of private text messages from 2022 to Republican Delegate Carrie Coyner. Republicans ran a non-stop barrage of negative ads against Jones for a month.

Del. Coyner lost her bid for re-election to Delegate-elect Lindsey Dougherty. The Dougherty race was the number one target for House Speaker Don Scott and his campaign lieutenant, Delegate Dan Helmer. Coyner’s defeat was one of at least 13 victories for Democrats who have now added to their ranks in the Virginia House to historic margins. When the Virginia General Assembly returns to session in January, there will be at least 64 Democrats in the chamber. The widespread Republican defeat is a testament to a combination of historic fundraising, Democrats running in all 100 seats, dislike of President Trump’s policies, and an ineffective top of the ticket featuring Lt. Gov. Earle Sears.

+13: Speaker Scott and Del. Helmer Hit Historic Numbers in Fundraising and Power

As the evening ended, a glaring historic fact became clearer: The Virginia House of Delegates will expand to a historic number. The change means the largest Democratic House chamber in the modern era. There were several notable wins by Democrats running for the Virginia House. They include Virgil Thornton, Lilly Franklin, and Kim Pope Adams. Speaker Don Scott and his campaign chair, Dan Helmer, undertook a record fundraising effort never before seen in Virginia’s history. The moment of success for Virginia Democrats will be viewed as a positive signal for Democrats moving into the 2026 elections.