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We’ve wrapped up the first week of March, ForbesBLK. Jabari here.

There's a lot in the news, including another war in the Middle East. Step back, and you see clashes everywhere. After the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, one must ask: Are we in World War III?

Underneath the war headlines, though, sits a small culture clash brewing in Atlanta.

In case you missed it, last month the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks announced a one-night collaboration with Magic City, a strip club, to honor the club’s 40-year history and legacy. On March 16, against the Orlando Magic, the Hawks will honor Magic City by theming an NBA game around the strip club, selling Magic City’s iconic lemon pepper wings, and even a Hawks-Magic City collaborative hoodie. Music star and Atlanta native T.I. will also perform at halftime.

Of course, the decision to honor a strip club caused some backlash. An opinion piece from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution called for the cancellation of the Hawks’ “Magic City Monday.” I didn’t see a problem with the promotion—an NBA team embracing a local institution. At first, I paid little attention. Then I received a text from a respected college professor, who was surprised this was real.

“Tone deaf,” the professor texted, later explaining the NBA is family entertainment that shouldn’t promote explicit sexual activity.

“Magic City and the city’s other strip clubs are part of Atlanta’s cultural vibe, like go-go music is in D.C., or rapping and breaking are in Brooklyn, or jazz is in New Orleans.” David Aldridge, The Athletic

“Magic City and the city’s other strip clubs are part of Atlanta’s cultural vibe, like go-go music is in D.C., or rapping and breaking are in Brooklyn, or jazz is in New Orleans.”

A bit perplexed, I advised the professor to consider reading David Aldridge, a columnist for The Athletic. And before you determine a conclusion about the Hawks’ Magic City Monday, I offer that same advice. Aldridge brilliantly explains the history of Magic City—it’s not all pretty—the confusion around this culture clash, and why it really shouldn’t bother you as much as it did the professor.

“From afar, it may seem absurd,” Aldridge writes. “But Magic City and the city’s other strip clubs are part of Atlanta’s cultural vibe, like go-go music is in D.C., or rapping and breaking are in Brooklyn, or jazz is in New Orleans. You can turn your nose up at it or look down upon the people who work there. But it’s more likely than not that your favorite hooper or football player — or, politician — has probably been up in Magic City over the decades.”

I’ve never been, but I ordered the lemon pepper wings while in Atlanta last year. They were magic—the best I’ve ever tasted.

For that, Magic City deserves recognition, right?

What are your thoughts about the Hawks celebrating Magic City? Email me at Jyoung@Forbes.com.

Switching gears from culture to technology, one headline on the AI front worth reading: My Forbes colleague Richard Nieva takes you inside the Anthropic clash, and how the creators of Claude are standing up to President Trump. And since this clash became public, Claude has surpassed ChatGPT in popularity.

The funny thing is, most Americans still don’t trust AI technology, according to a poll by YouGov, a market research firm. In fact, 63% of Americans are fearful that AI will lead to massive job displacement, the poll suggests. And younger people are also more likely to trust AI. It’s an interesting poll worth exploring.

Finally, Louis Carr, the President of BET cable network, will join me at the Nasdaq MarketSite on The Enterprise Zone. In December 2025, Carr, who has spent more than 20 years at the network, was named to the top role.

One question I plan to ask: Will the network ever resurrect “Rap City”? That was one of my favorite shows during BET’s peak years.

What would you ask Carr? Share your questions on our ForbesBLK community forum on Hivebrite.

My One Interesting Read: Inside a fake A.I. love affair with Google’s Gemini that turned deadly, via The Wall Street Journal. Thanks for reading. Be sure to subscribe to The Enterprise Zone on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

© Forbes