Michael B. Jordan may forgive, but he doesn’t forget. During the Atlanta screening for his new film, “Creed lll,”Jordan was interviewed by a reporter who thought it would be a good idea to bring up their past connection.

During his red carpet walk, the actor spoke with “The Morning Hustle” host Lore’l. The host congratulated the 36-year-old actor on the premiere of the new film and mentioned they attended the same high school in Newark, New Jersey.

Lore’l gave Jordan props for making his directorial debut with the film. She then mentioned their past association. “We go way back. All the way back to Chad Science [Academy] in Newark,” Lore’l said.

Jordan then called out the reporter, saying, “Oh yeah, I was the corny kid, right?”

According to Blavity, Jordan was referring to a comment the host made on an episode of the podcast,“The Undressing Room” back in 2021.

The hosts called Jordan “corny” because of the Valentine’s Day gift he gave then-girlfriend, Lori Harvey. Lore’l revealed this was nothing new for the actor.

“You know what’s so crazy?” Lore’l said, “I went to school with Michael B. Jordan at a point in life. And to be honest with you, we teased him all the damn time because his name was Michael Jordan. Let’s start there, and he was no Michael Jordan. And he also would come to school with a headshot. We lived in Newark, that’s the hood. We would make fun of him like, ‘What you gonna do with your stupid headshot!?’ And now look at him!”

Once confronted, Lore’l told Jordan that was a “misquote,” laughed her way through the awkwardness, and continued the interview.

While we can’t confirm if Jordan was “corny” in high school, we can confirm that Newark’s community of Black-owned businesses is flourishing. New Jersey’s relationship with Black people has roots. The state had 16 Underground Railroad stops and Lawnside was the first all-Black community in the North.

Supporting Black-owned businesses is more than just spending money. It’s contributing to a legacy of sustainability and growth within a community. Here is a guide to the best of the best in the city.

1. Marcus B&P: Led by world-renowned chef and Food Network star, Marcus Samuelsson, Marcus B&P prides itself on using locally-sourced ingredients and bringing a passion for food and culture to the neighborhood.

2. Corinne’s Place: This restaurant was established in 1989 by Camden-native, Corinne Bradley-Powers. Corinne’s Place serves a piece of the South in the North and shares the taste of Southern soul food with the Camden, New Jersey community. Corinne’s Place is devoted to providing comfort and healing to the soul.

3. Pure Love Pies: Famous for their navy bean pie, Pure Love Pies has sweet and savory slices to satisfy anyone.

4. Ida’s Bookshop: Ida’s Bookshop, named for historic heroine, Ida B. Wells, celebrates female authors, artists, and activists.

5. La Unique African American Books & Cultural Center: La Unique features a rotating selection of books by Black authors. The 30-year-old bookstore, owned by Lawrence Mills, also houses an impressive collection of African art.

6. Afro-American Society Museum: Located on the upper floor of the Greenville Branch of the Jersey City Public Library, the Afro-American Society Museum has a collection of books, newspaper, memorabilia and more that is dedicated to celebrating the heritage of Jersey City’s African-American community.

7. Ancient African Formula: Founder and owner of Ancient African Formula, Aminata Dukuray was born in Sierra Leone and immigrated to the United States over 20 years ago. When her daughter started to show signs of a skin condition, she used her traditional healing remedies to cure the condition. She was inspired to create a line of all natural skin and body products that are available to purchase in-store and online.

8. EQUALSPACE: A premium co-working space for intellectuals, techies and entrepreneurs. They provide resources for startups, coaching for tech companies and a wealth of intellectuals to share strategies and bounce ideas off of.

9. Source of Knowledge Bookstore: Since 1992, Source of Knowledge has been serving the Newark community. What began as a bookstore, has evolved into a community center that centers Black art, literature, culture, and community.

10. LivFit Fitness: LivFit Fitness is committed to providing you with the support needed to meet your health goals. LivFit helps you along your path towards a lifestyle transformation necessary to ensure a healthier, happier and more productive life journey.