Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings, Earn Your Leisure, Nipsey Hussle, Invest Fest, Pitch Competition
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 5, 2024

The ‘Marathon’ Continues With Nipsey Hussle And Earn Your Leisure Partnership  

Nipsey Hussle is posthumously paying it forward through a new $100,000 pitch competition in partnership with Earn Your Leisure.

Nipsey Hussle is posthumously paying it forward through a new $100,000 pitch competition in partnership with Earn Your Leisure.

Earn Your Leisure (EYL) is gearing up for its third annual Invest Fest event, where the inaugural Nipsey Hussle Business Grant: $100,000 Invest Fest Pitch Competition will be introduced. To celebrate and amplify the many entrepreneurs EYL has encountered over the years, the popular business platform has partnered with Microsoft and The Marathon to award $100,000 to one exceptional entrepreneur to expand their business models.

The top four finalists will get the chance to grace the Invest Fest 2024 main stage and pitch their business for a chance to win the $100,000 grand prize. The Marathon’s Blacc Sam, Jorge Peniche, and Adam Asghedom will judge the competition alongside EYL’s co-founders and co-CEOs Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings.

Each of the four finalists will have three minutes to present live on the main stage and must prepare a visual presentation in under three minutes for display on the stage screen. Following each presentation, the judges panel will offer feedback and score each finalist on stage. Scorecards will be tallied at the end of the pitches to determine a winner. The finalist with the highest score will be presented with a $100,000 check on stage.

Submissions for the pitch competition will be accepted between June 3 and Aug. 10, with finalists being notified via email by Aug. 16. Those interested in competing must be an Invest Fest ticket holder and must create an Instagram video explaining their business and how the $100,000 can help expand their ambitions. All videos must tag @investfestival, @themarathonclothing & @earnyourleisure.

Applications can be submitted HERE.

Invest Fest 2024 will take place in Atlanta on Aug. 24 and 25 and includes a powerhouse lineup of speakers, including Steve Harvey, Daymond John, Steve Stoute, T.I., Will.i.Am, Stephen A. Smith, and many more.

RELATED CONTENT: Lauren London Approves Financial Report That Grants Son $5.6M From Nipsey Hussle’s Estate

Wendell Pierce, Kamala. Harris, Actor, racists, bigots, New York, Harlem, death of a salesman, fearless fund
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 4, 2024

Wendell Pierce, Tired Of ‘Racism And Bigots,’ After Housing Rejection

Actor Wendell Pierce is revealing the racist encounter he had with a white landlord amid the recent court ruling against the Fearless Fund.

Actor Wendell Pierce is revealing the racist encounter he had with a white landlord amid the recent court ruling against the Fearless Fund.

“The Wire” star went on a Twitter tirade on Monday, June 3, in response to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ recent ruling against the Fearless Fund’s contest, which awards grants to Black women-owned businesses. There has been widespread backlash in response to the ruling, with many crediting it to conservative-led attacks against DEI programs.

Critics include Pierce, who sent out a series of tweets related to the ruling and its implications for Black Americans.

“A private investment firm, the Fearless Fund, has been blocked from investing in businesses owned by Black women. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-1 ruling, sided with a challenge to the grant program, arguing it violated a Reconstruction-era civil-rights law, known as Section 1981, that prohibits discrimination in contracts,” Pierce tweeted.

“The law was put in place to protect former slaves from discrimination. Edward Blum, an opponent of affirmative action, has argued its text means that race can’t be considered at all in contractual relationships. Private funding blocked by the courts. NOT TAX DOLLARS.”

He continued. “Private investment into Black businesses being blocked with laws in place to prevent discrimination against Black businesses. The racist irony. Racist, bigoted, fascist Americans who burned down Black Wall Street in Tulsa 100 years ago are still alive and well.”

While venting his frustrations against the recent court ruling, Pierce revealed the racism he experienced at the hands of a white landlord who denied his rental application despite his success and fame as a working actor. According to the “Selma” actor, regardless of his current appearance in two televised series and filming the upcoming “Superman” movie, Pierce’s application to rent an apartment in Harlem was denied.

“For those of you who don’t understand my righteous anger; I’m on 2 TV series, ELSBETH and RAISING KANAN. I’m filming SUPERMAN. Two years ago, I finished the fourth season of JACK RYAN. Last year I finished a run on Broadway in DEATH OF A SALESMAN,” he shared.

“Even with my proof of employment, bank statements, and real estate holdings, a white apartment owner DENIED my application to rent the apartment…..in Harlem, of all places.”

He credited the experience to the “racism” and bigotry that continue to run rampant in a country built off the institution of slavery.

“Racism and bigots are real. There are those who will do anything to destroy life’s journey for Black folks. When you deny our personal experiences, you are as vile and despicable,” Pierce wrote.

Pierce is among the many expressing their outrage toward Monday’s ruling against the Atlanta-based Fearless Fund. The motion marks another victory for conservative groups who have launched a nationwide legal campaign against corporate diversity programs that impact numerous companies and government institutions.

Many joined Pierce in calling out the injustices surrounding the court’s ruling against the Fearless Fund.

“In other words, we can’t use exclusive tools for Black people to address exclusive racism and discrimination against Black people unless those tools are also available to the segment of people who’s racially motivated discrimination is currently causing them to ban books, erase history, disenfranchise voters, and limit freedoms,” one person wrote in response.

“An absolute abomination and assault on the ability of Black people to pursue life, liberty and happiness,” another user added.

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RELATED CONTENT: DEI Setback: Court Blocks Fearless Fund Grants To Black Women

Fenty Beauty, Rihanna, foundation, time
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 4, 2024

Rihanna Expands Empire With New Fenty Hair Line

The line drops June 13.

Rihanna continues to grow as a business mogul. The entertainer-turned-entrepreneur has announced her new Fenty Hair line.

The singer shared the news on social media, posting to X about how “a new family is moving in.” Rihanna already launched Fenty Beauty and lingerie brand Savage X Fenty.

“#fentyhair is pullin up, and it’s time to finally have the hair experience you’ve been waiting for,” wrote Rihanna. “You know how much switching my hair up matters to me. I’ve had almost every texture, color, and length, from weaves to braids to natural. So, I am launching a flexible line of products for not only every hair want, but every single product is designed to strengthen and repair all types of hair, which is what we truly need! It’s time to play and get stronger by the style.”

The collection drops June 13, leaving fans to wonder what exactly it will entail. While its promotion video hints at hair care products, the superstar has remained mum on specifics.

While the business is new, the Bad Gal first patented the brand name years ago. Rihanna filed the Fenty Hair trademark in July 2022, with hair bands, wigs, bows, and brushes listed in the document. Her signature Fenty Beauty helped catapult the mother of two into billionaire status.

While Rihanna expands her business portfolio, she recently earned a new accolade in her music career. The singer became the top female artist with the most diamond certifications, seven, even thought she hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti.

Khyree Jackson, Car Accident
by Stacy Jackson

June 4, 2024

Woman Left Newborn Child In Kentucky IHOP Bathroom Toilet, Police Say

According to the arrest citation, witnesses said the 34-year-old attempted to flush the infant down the toilet.

In Bowling Green, Kentucky, police say a 34-year-old woman attempted to conceal the birth of an infant that was found dead in an IHOP bathroom.

Bowling Green Daily News reports that police received a call around 8 p.m. on May 29, alerting them of a bleeding woman inside the bathroom, possibly due to a miscarriage. The caller added that the newborn was in the toilet.

Witnesses said Shaniqua Caldwell, 35, tried to flush the infant down the toilet, which is where police found the baby.

According to the arrest citation, witnesses believed Caldwell to be the mother and left the premises after giving birth. Law enforcement located Caldwell standing in a nearby parking lot, where she denied her pregnancy and told police she hadn’t had sex in six years. Additionally, Caldwell claimed to be a relative of NBA legend Michael Jordan and actor Denzel Washington.

Considering Caldwell’s erratic behavior and potential risk to herself, authorities took her into custody for an emergency mental health evaluation before she was booked in Warren County Regional Jail and charged with a Class A misdemeanor for concealing the birth of an infant.

“Based off my interactions with Caldwell, I was concerned with her mental state,” BGPD Detective Kyle Scharlow stated in the arrest citation. “I also was concerned for her welfare when she refused any medical treatment after likely just giving birth to a child.”

Records revealed Caldwell had a lack of ties to the area, and the scarcity of information she provided to police concerned law enforcement that she would not appear in court if released on citation.

According to WLKY, it’s unclear when or how the baby died. Police are awaiting results from the autopsy, leaving the possibility that Caldwell could face additional charges. Caldwell remains in custody after a cash bail of $2,500 was set. A court date has yet to be determined.

Cam'ron, Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves, NBA
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 4, 2024

Cam’ron Steps On ‘Ant-Man’ Anthony Edwards After He’s Called Out In Adidas Promo Ad

'It Is What It Is' host drops freestyle diss after Anthony Edwards drew first blood in Adidas promo.

Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player Anthony Edwards, coming off recently eliminated from the NBA Playoffs, just released a promo for the athletic brand Adidas. In the ad, the playmaker called out “It Is What It Is” host Cam’ron. The Harlem rapper, known to confront detractors in his prior career as a rapper, responded to the dis with a freestyle in a recent show.

In the sneaker promo released last month, a video shows a machine that issues receipts. In the promo, you hear Edwards respond to being questioned about the machine, “That’s for my receipts,” before adding, “I hear all the hate.” The first receipt that comes out references former NBA player Carmelo Anthony, who questioned if Edwards was ready to do the work to become “the face of the league.”

The second receipt states that Cam’ron said, “To me, he’s an All-Star, but not a superstar, yet.” To which Edwards says, “F**k buddy,” while laughing at the statement. The person reading off the receipts then says, “It is what it ain’t,” seemingly referencing Cam’s podcast title.

Edwards goes through other statements before saying, “This only the beginning.”

Cam’ron posted the video on his Instagram account and promised to address the slight that Edwards directed toward him.

“😂😂🔥🔥🔥 commercial!! Thx @adidas for the love. And I had antman back this whole time but I’ll address this Monday on the show.. love the attitude tho. Only thing I would say is get a better looking lesbian to read the receipts 🤷🏾‍♂️😂😂😂😂

@itiswhatitis_talk”

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A post shared by @mr_camron

As promised, Killa Cam struck back on June 3 when he dropped a freestyle at the beginning of the podcast. Using the background of the late Bad Boy rapper and fellow Harlemnite, Black Rob’s “Whoa!” he addressed Edwards, affectionately called Ant-Man, with a few bars. Before doing so, Cam mentioned his CNN appearance with Abby Phillip. He appeared on the news program with the news anchor, asking his opinion on the Diddy situation. He apologized to Phillip, though.

“Apologize, Abby, anything I may have said/ But the play was already read/Get a Black woman and a Black man to kill a Black man that’s already dead.”

He did save the venom for Ant-Man after stating that he was in the basketball player’s corner until he released that promo ad.

“But f**k wrong with Ant-Man?/Gave him his props, homie got love from me/New commercial, ya ain’t got love for me?/He shot a jump shot and said ‘F**k, buddy’”

“Kyrie Irving with this s**t, don’t get crossed up/Shooters, pardon that’s just my own thoughts/Luka, I’ll send you home on your home court,” referencing the Wolves being eliminated from the playoffs on their home court in Minnesota.

The Harlem-bred businessman was recently a featured speaker at the BLACK ENTERPRISE Disruptor Summit in Atlanta, where the rapper discussed how he started his successful sports show, “It Is What It Is.”

Tuskegee, HBCU, campus fashion
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

June 4, 2024

Charlotte Hosts First HBCU Festival To Celebrate Black Colleges

Charlotte hosted the inaugural event to connect its community to Black colleges.

Charlotte is celebrating Black colleges in a major way. The North Carolina city hosted its first-ever HBCU festival to commemorate the schools and educate families about their existence.

The event kicked off on June 1, as residents across the state’s capital came to learn more about HBCU history. Its mission was to strengthen the connection between Charlotte and the Black colleges within and beyond its community. The festival’s organizers hope to spread awareness of the diversity and knowledge found on HBCU campuses.

“We brought together all HBCU cultures in one place for the first-ever inaugural HBCU Festival,” organizer Nasir Jones, a North Carolina A&T alum, told WCNC. “Where people can know what’s going on, and gain that awareness about how important it is in today’s society to know these things, and what can we give back to the community to help aid these causes.”

Many fellow HBCU alumni stepped out on Saturday for the occasion while rocking their school’s merch to showcase their pride in attending a Black college. In addition, educational games that taught the history of the schools and Black culture were on full display.

“This is a community, this is family,” shared Shakira Hodges, co-owner of Trivia For Us. “Learn some things — we also have a Trivia for Us game, so that’s all about Black history, Black culture.” 

Alongside the fun and fellowship, the festival also inspired all to pursue a Black college experience with a scholarship giveaway. Four lucky students earned $1K scholarships for signing up for the Black college fair. Charlotte hosts one HBCU as well, Johnson C. Smith University.

“We gave four for the HBCU college fair,” explained Jones. “So we started right there, four students randomly — you sign up for the college fair, they will receive $1,000, just working towards books, tuition, anything of that nature.” 

Admissions to HBCUs have surged in recent years. For example, schools like Howard University have broken records in tterms of he number of applicants for the upcoming school year. While a greater spotlight has shined on HBCUs, communal upliftment in Charlotte seeks to bring more students to Black colleges.

Arrest, Wisconsin, Crime
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 4, 2024

Wisconsin Man Arrested After Allegedly Killing Wife On 60th Birthday

Timothy Darnell Lewis said he 'lost it' after his wife and her daughter yelled at him and he 'got tired and took out his gun' and shot her in the face

A man in Wisconsin was arrested after he allegedly shot his wife in the head, killing her because she stated that he “got tired” of her yelling at him.

According to Law & Crime, 59-year-old Timothy Darnell Lewis was detained and charged with first-degree reckless homicide and use of a dangerous weapon for the killing of his wife, Jacqueline Beason. The tragic incident took place on June 1, Beason’s 60th birthday, as she sat in a car outside a beauty salon in downtown Milwaukee.

WISN 12 News reported that according to a criminal complaint, Lewis and Beason were arguing, according to her daughter, who was on the phone with Beason when the incident occurred. Beason was hit in the cheek—someone who witnessed the shooting called 911.

After police caught up to Lewis, the report states that he told police officers he had a gun and a concealed carry permit. He also told them that he knew he “…was going to jail for a long time, and he knew police were looking for him.”

The next day, during an interview with investigators, Lewis told them that he had arranged a massage and pedicure for his wife and then drove to where she was having it done. He said that she was on the phone with her daughter.

“Lewis said that his wife and her daughter were yelling at him, and he got tired and took out his gun,” the complaint states. “He said that he ‘Just lost it right there.’ Lewis said he shot her one time and that he thinks he shot her in her jaw. He said that he is the one who did it; no one else did it.”

The daughter posted to her Facebook account after the shooting.

“I’m so hurt, lost, angry, confused …. I just don’t understand. My life will NEVER ever be the same. I went from celebrating my mom’s 60th birthday to planning her funeral all within 24 hours. This has to be a nightmare.”

Sean Kingston
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

June 4, 2024

Sean Kingston Sits In Florida Jail After Being Charged With $1M Fraud

The "Beautiful Girls" singer was booked into the Broward County Jail on June 2.

Recording artist Sean Kingston is currently in a Florida jail after being arrested in California on May 23 on fraud charges after his South Florida residence was raided earlier in the day by a SWAT team. He was booked into the Broward County Jail on June 2.

According to The Associated Press, Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, have been charged with conducting an organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, identity theft, and related crimes, based on arrest warrants released by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office. The pair allegedly stole money, jewelry, a Cadillac Escalade, and furniture, amounting to more than a million dollars’ worth of fraud.

Waverly Woodson Jr., Posthumously, Distinguished Service Cross
by Daniel Johnson

June 4, 2024

Waverly Woodson Jr. To Be Posthumously Awarded Distinguished Service Cross

Woodson's story will also be told as part of a National Geographic docuseries, 'Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color.'

Waverly Woodson Jr, a Black medic who served in the only all-Black regiment to take part in the Invasion of Normandy during World War II, is being posthumously honored with the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of his dedication and bravery in treating troops during D-Day.

As the Associated Press reports, the Distinguished Service Cross is awarded to U.S. Army soldiers who display extraordinary heroism in combat against an enemy force but do not quite reach the level that a Medal of Honor demands. 

Woodson’s honor comes just ahead of the 80th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, which occurred on June 6, 1944. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has been working with Woodson’s family for years to make sure the veteran received recognition.

“This has been a long time coming,” Van Hollen told the Associated Press. “Woodson’s bravery on D-Day was heroic. We have numerous accounts of what he did to save his fellow soldiers even as he was wounded. And so we’ve been pursuing this recognition for a long time along with the family.”

In 1944, the armed forces were still segregated. Approximately 2,000 Black troops are believed to have participated in storming Normandy. Woodson and his unit, the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only Black combat unit in action that day, set up balloons to keep enemy planes from attacking their location. 

Woodson, who died in 2005, spoke to the AP in 1994 about the attack.

“The tide brought us in, and that’s when the 88s (German 88mm guns) hit us,” Woodson recalled. “They were murdered. Of our 26 Navy personnel, there was only one left. They raked the whole top of the ship and killed all the crew. Then they started with the mortar shells.”

Woodson was nearly awarded the Medal of Honor in 1997 after the Army commissioned a study to determine if Black troops had been bypassed for their due in an era of widespread racism and prejudice in the military and in America in general.

The study determined that Woodson’s decoration case could not be found because of a fire at a facility in 1973 that destroyed his personnel records. The study eventually resulted in seven Black US Army troops being awarded the Medal of Honor.

https://twitter.com/adeyemimichael/status/1782357919004082526?t=T5yCW3cX9tB5meiunUrxKw&s=19

Woodson’s story will also be told as part of a National Geographic docu-series, Erased: WW2’s Heroes of Color, which will highlight accounts of heroism and bravery that were overlooked during a period of institutional racism in the armed forces. 

Woodson’s widow, 95-year-old Joann Woodson, hinted in the announcement from Sen. Van Hollen’s office that she still believes her late husband deserves the Medal of Honor. “Waverly would have felt honored to be recognized for what he knew was his duty. But we all know it was far more than duty; it was his desire to always help people in need.”

Per the release, if Woodson is eventually awarded the Medal of Honor, his widow plans to donate it to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

“I am so thankful he is being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross as acknowledgment from his peers, the U.S. Army,” Woodson’s son, Steve, said in a statement. “Hopefully this will pave the way for further recognition of his heroism on D-Day for saving lives in the pursuit of freedom for the oppressed; that recognition being the Medal of Honor.”

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Monica McNutt, Stephen A. Smith, WNBA, ESPN First Take
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

June 4, 2024

Monica McNutt ‘Respectfully’ Calls Out Stephen A. Smith On His WNBA Coverage

Stephen A. Smith was left speechless after getting called out about his WNBA coverage by Monica McNutt.

It’s not often that someone can leave Stephen A. Smith speechless. However, basketball analyst Monica McNutt did just that when she recently called out Smith’s WNBA coverage.

Smith was joined by McNutt and Shannon Sharpe during an opening segment on ESPN’s First Take on Monday, June 3rd. They spent 40 minutes discussing backlash over the controversial flagrant foul Chicago Sky’s Chennedy Carter committed against Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark on Saturday, June 1.

Toward the end of the segment, Smith wanted more credit for his coverage of the WNBA than other sports shows after McNutt accused him of making a big deal out of the hard fouls on Clark.

“Who talks about the WNBA and women’s sports more than First Take,'” Smith asked after McNutt in a clip shared online.

“Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted,” she shot back.

Smith was visibly taken aback and replied with back-to-back “wow”s.

The exchange quickly went viral across social media, with many offering mixed reactions to which analyst was on the right side of the debate.

“I been watching first take for years. Stephen A… def showed the WNBA more love than any other platform, I seen but at the same time– u can’t force topics on ppl the audience weren’t interested in the WNBA to be talking bout it regularly,” one viewer wrote.

“She’s 100, sadly. They could have been doing it ten years ago if they wanted,” added someone else. “Storylines make the league, and it’s been a big miss in the marketing dept of the WNBA to not have narratives debated on these shows.”

By the end of the day, Smith took to his Stephen A. Smith Show to double down on his argument of being the reason why many sports fans have been informed about the WNBA in recent years by female analysts like McNutt.

“You ever heard of Monica McNutt?…you have now, because she’s on first take a lot,” Smith said in a clip shared online.

Fans called the response a “terrible look” for Smith as it appeared he was attempting to take credit for helping to launch the sports analyst careers of women rather than being more understanding of the point McNutt was trying to make.

McNutt’s initial point about the Caitlin Clark debate was that the star player is having a typical “welcome to the league” moment, which has always been a thing in the WNBA—and other professional sports. However, heated discussions around Carter’s flagrant foul on Saturday have been blown out of proportion in a way that villainizes the league for its treatment of Clark.

Sharpe invited McNutt to his Nightcap podcast with Chad Johnson to allow her to finish the point she was trying to make on “First Take.”

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