‘The Lawnmower Man’ Gifts Pre-Teens With New Lawn Equipment For Completing 50 Yard Challenge
Two 11-year-olds from Gadsden, Alabama, received a special surprise for doing a good deed from the “Lawnmower Man.”
Ja’Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice, founders of TJ & JT Mowing Service, decided to complete the 50 Yard Challenge, created by “The Lawnmower Man” by mowing lawns of the elderly, veterans, and others who couldn’t properly take care of their lawns for free, Upworthy reported.
Because they stepped up to the plate, The Lawnmower Man, also known as Rodney Smith Jr., surprised the boys with new equipment to keep their business going. Smith made his way to Gadsden with a new mower, a blower, and a trimmer so their hard work can shine after he was told Taylor and Rice were sharing an old lawnmower that a neighbor gave to them.
“Giving these boys lawn equipment is teaching them discipline,” Smith said. “If they tell someone they are going to mow a lawn, they need to mow the lawn.”
Taylor and Rice joined the challenge after seeing an older woman holding a mower in one hand and a walker in the other, KMBC reports. The young entrepreneurs finished the job and their business was born. “These are good, hard-working kids that deserve some gratitude,” Smith said. “Remember, this is not the end; it’s just the beginning.”
Smith created the challenge back in 2017 and started Smith’s Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service. As of May 2023, close to 5,000 teens have participated in the challenge nationwide.
To prove the challenge was complete, participants send in a picture of them holding up a sign saying, “I accept the 50 Yard Challenge.” Afterwards, the teens receive a white Raising Men/Women shirt along with shades and ear protection to get started. For every 10 yards cut, a new color t-shirt is provided.
Black Chicagoans Get A Hand Up To Homeownership With $20K Grants Through Cook County Land Bank Authority
Building wealth is an uphill battle for Black Americans.
Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA) in Chicago is helping Black people build generational wealth through initiatives that make homeownership possible. CCLBA’s new Purchase Assistance Program will offer homebuyers $20,000 to make buying a home accessible.
Unfair procedures have barricaded Blacks from homeownership.Jessica Caffrey, executive director at CCLBA, said, “Since the 20th century, there have been practices such as redlining, contract purchasing, and all of those things that have held us back nearly 100 years,” WTTW news reported. The CCLBA is providing homes by acquiring vacant residential and commercial property. Closing the racial wealth gap calls for systemic changes. Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervinsaid, “We know that it must start from the top, WTTW News reported. Conyears-Ervin added, “We need to work with the leadership of these large bank institutions, make certain they’re buying into the mission.”
Earlier this year, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a more than $31 million settlement with the City National Bank of Los Angeles for declining to “underwrite mortgages in predominantly Black and Latino communities.” In a statement, the DOJ said it is the largest redlining settlement by the DOJ in history. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said, “This settlement embodies Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to fighting economic injustice and ensuring that Black Americans and all communities of color are able to access the American dream and freely access the credit needed to purchase a home.”
In 2017, the CCLBA announced its Homebuyer Direct Program. It was noted that the program provided “fixer-upper homes at below-market prices in neighborhoods across Cook County.”
For decades, community leaders and activists have explained the benefits of homeownership as a promising way to build generational wealth.
Known as the “Godfather of Basketball,” Dr. Edwin Bancroft Henderson attended UDC and pioneered physical education programs in Washington’s segregated public schools throughout the 1900s, according to WTOP News. His focus became bringing the game of basketball to Black populations in the surrounding areas.
The school’s Van Ness campus houses the newly minted Dr. E.B. Henderson Sports Complex; the statue rests directly outside the building.
At the June 24, 2023 unveiling, EB Henderson II spoke about his grandfather’s legacy and the role he played in cementing basketball as a community staple. According to WTOP News, Henderson’s love for the game began at Harvard University and his desire to introduce it to Black people came through a realization that “it was uniquely adapted to people of the African American race.”
Added the younger Henderson, “He didn’t learn it just for himself. He learned it to spread to the generation after him and the generation after that. And he wanted to lay a foundation for spreading the game of basketball to African American youth.”
Basketball Africa League President Amadou Gallo Fall was also on hand and shared his gratitude for Henderson’s teachings. “
The idea of using sport as a tool—as a conduit to empower, to inspire youth—is what I have, over the years, come to realize was a calling,” Fall said. “Something we could definitely use in Africa to make sure we change the narrative.”
Henderson’s work as an educator included developing youth like Duke Ellington and Dr. Charles R. Drew while working in the capital’s school system. The moment was marked by a $200,000 donation to the memorial fund in Henderson’s name.
Squire, The Black Barbershop Booking App Clears $1B In Processed Payments
Squire, the barbershop scheduling app, has surpassed $1 billion in payments processed, according to a tweet from Squire Co-Founder Songe LaRon.
The celebratory news came via a series of tweets from the company’s co-founder, who shared a bit of the journey to arrive at the milestone. “It took two years to reach our first $1 million, 5.5 years to $100 million, and now we surpassed $1B,” he said.
1/4 @GetSquire has just surpassed $1B in payments processed! A huge thanks to our barbering community for making this possible. It’s your trust that’s brought us here. 🚀
2/4 It took 2 years to reach our first $1M, 5.5 years to $100M, and now we surpassed $1B! Every dollar reflects the hard work of our team and the dedication of barbers we serve.
He continued, “Every dollar reflects the hard work of our team and the dedication of the barbers we serve, and I’m deeply grateful to every shop owner, barber, and team member who’s been part of this journey.” Squire, which currently has a $750 million valuation, was launched in 2016 to help barbers and clients find each other seamlessly. The platform is described as an all-in-one barbershop business management system that helps professionals retain customers, manage operations, and increase revenue. Some of the app’s standout features include Instagram booking, contactless payments, and virtual waiting rooms.
A large part of Squire’s success can be attributed to the commitment of its founders. LaRon and his business partner, Dave Salvant,took an all-or-nothing approach to launch the app, according to AfroTech. “My co-founder was working at a law firm and quit his job,” Salvant said. “We had to figure out if we believed strongly enough in this to leave our jobs and institutions – people think about that all the time.” Betting on themselves has earned the pair huge dividends through successful funding rounds for Squire from ICONIQ Capital, Trinity Ventures, and others.
6 Black-Owned LGBTQ+ Brands To Elevate Your Summer Style
It’s summertime, and the guys and gworls are ready to head outside! With a bit of help from these Black-owned LGBTQ+ brands, everyone will surely be stepping into the sun in style.
Brandon Blackwood
Brandon Blackwood is helping the summer babes check the perfect swimsuit off their summer shopping list with his BB Swim collection. Blackwood’s swimsuits feature one- and two-piece designs in colors including black, red, pink, orange, and brown. The New York fashion brand is a one-stop shop to complete your summer look.
Head to the beach in one of K.ngsley Gbadegesin’s K.ngsley swim briefs, a collection made in Italy and designed with ribbed ECONYL, an Italian-sourced regenerated nylon. The collection features a selection of summer colors: black, green, light blue, orange, and more. Choose your favorite or grab them all. These partially lined briefs were made for the summer.
The first-generation Nigerian-American designer says his brand aims “to reclaim and redefine the Black, Queer, Femme body and to create the tangible, direct support communities need today.”
Coco and Breezy
Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays with a pair of sunnies from Coco and Breezy, a Black and queer-owned eyewear company founded by twin sisters Corianna and Brianna Dotson. Choose from frame shapes such as aviator, cat-eye, rectangle, round, and square. Shop their new STUDS collection for an iconic look.
Make like our friends @cocoandbreezy and adventure out in the new Hurricane XLT2 Ampsole Brite, an all-gender style celebrating out in all its expressions. 🌈✨ pic.twitter.com/ZbC1st1849
Queens-born designer Telfar Clemens has a bag fit for your lineup of colorful summer outfits. Telfar continues to take fashion by storm with his collection of vegan leather bags in different shapes, colors, and sizes. The Telfar bag collection includes the popular Shopping Bags, Circle Bags, Duffle Bags, Patent Shoppers, and Puff Shoppers.
Clemens told the Gay Times that his brand is an ode to black culture, New York City, and queerness. “Growing up, I wasn’t allowed by my parents to wear or buy womenswear, so I started to make my own clothes,” Clemens told the outlet. “I wanted to make a line that was genderless and spoke to people like me.”
If you haven’t found the perfect wardrobe yet to go with one of the famous bags, the Telfar brand also has you covered, with clothing and accessories that challenge the norms of the “male” and “female” closet.
Stuzo Clothing
Tees and tanks are staples of every summer wardrobe, and Stuzo Clothing is helping you celebrate Pride all summer long with their collection of tops. Founded by African-Panamanian designer Stoney Michelli Love, the trendy, gender-free tops are stamped various words and phrases that represent the LGBTQ+ community. Parade around in tees that read “Yup, Still Gay,” “Gender Free,” “FemBoi,” and a “Gays of the Week” design.
Per its website, Stuzo is “inspired by love, people, and life. Whatever shape or form you choose to exist in, we celebrate that!”
Bowtie Behavior
More formal plans call for one of Robin Williams’ handmade bow ties. The Black queer-owned brand has a very cool collection of colorfully designed neck accessories made with high-quality fabrics. “Bowtie Behavior was founded to create bold and flavorful pieces that outfits are built around,” the brand’s website says.
June kicked off the brand’s donation of 10 percent of all sales to help members of the LGBTQ+ community pay for gender-affirming surgeries.
FCC Uses Criminal Background Against A Black-Owned Radio Station’s Access To Licensing
The only Black-owned radio station in Knoxville, Tennessee, is in jeopardy of losing its license, says the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), due to the owner’s prior felony conviction, WFAE 90.7 reports.
The FCC is threatening to revoke the broadcast license of WJBE 99.7 FM/1040 AM because of a tax crime conviction against owner Joe Armstrong, which he says happened years before he took ownership of the station in 2012. “It’s not like this is something that happened, let’s say, this year or last year — we’re talking about something that happened in 2008,” Armstrong said.
The issue started after Armstrong and a partner legally bought cigarette tax stamps that were then sold for a profit after the Tennessee legislature voted to increase the state’s cigarette tax. His accountant reportedly did not properly pay the taxes on this sale which put Armstrong in a world of trouble with the IRS. However, he was acquitted in 2016 of most of the charges but was convicted of two counts of federal tax fraud.
He never hid his legal troubles, telling the FCC about it in 2017, and says he’s had no issues until now. “I’ve had the opportunity after my conviction to show that I have the character to operate the station … the only minority station in this market,” Armstrong said. In 2022, the FCC sent a notice to Armstrong saying they would continue proceedings to determine whether or not to revoke the broadcast license claiming they are concerned if the former Tennessee state legislator, as the licensee, “is likely to be forthright.”
According to CBS News, the commission claims that due to his criminal past and some filing deadlines he missed, having a license violated their character qualification policy started in 1990, which states that a licensee must have “the requisite propensity to obey the law.” Armstrong is being represented by lawyers at the Institute for Justice, who argue their client’s criminal history is irrelevant to his ability to own and operate WJBE responsibly. “Joe’s single conviction is about conduct that occurred 14 years ago and had nothing to do with WJBE,” attorney Andrew Ward said. “His actual record at the station has shown him to be a responsible licensee and boon to an underserved community for more than a decade.”
US Supreme Court Tosses Race-Based Dispute Over Louisiana Electoral Map
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a bid by a senior Republican state official to defend a map of Louisiana congressional districts that had been challenged by Blackvoters as discriminatory, sending the closely watched legal battle back to a lower court.
The justices had taken up the case last year but put it on hold pending their ruling in a similar case from Alabama, which they issued on June 8. The justices dismissed the appeal by Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin of a federal judge’s decision that the map delineating Louisiana’s six U.S. House of Representatives districts drawn by the Republican-led state legislature likely discriminated unlawfully based on race.
U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick last year directed Louisiana’s legislature create two, rather than just one, House districts where Black voters represent the majority of voters, a decision that could boost Democratic chances of regaining control next year of the House.
In their brief order dismissing the case “as improvidently granted,” they justices said that their action will allow the matter to proceed before the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals “for review in the ordinary course and in advance of the 2024 congressional elections in Louisiana.”
Electoral districts in the United States are redrawn each decade to reflect population changes as measured by a national census, last taken in 2020. In most states, such redistricting is done by the party in power, which can lead to map manipulation for partisan gain.
Democrats have accused Republicans of exploiting state legislature majorities to draw electoral maps that dilute the clout of Black and other minority voters. Republicans have said the consideration of race in drawing electoral maps must be limited.
The Louisiana legislature passed the map in February 2022. Democratic Governor Jon Bel Edwards then vetoed it, criticizing the plan for failing to include a second Black-majority district considering that Black voters comprise almost a third of the state’s population. The legislature voted to override the veto.
The map was challenged by Black voters and civil rights groups in two lawsuits. The plaintiffs said the Republican-drawn unlawfully packed large numbers of Black voters into a single district and dispersed the rest into the five others in numbers too small to enable them to elect their preferred candidates.
One of the lawsuits said the Republican-drawn map “continues the State of Louisiana’s long history of maximizing political power for white citizens by disenfranchising and discriminating against Black Louisianans.”
The plaintiffs in court papers said that “stark racially polarized voting almost universally leads to the electoral defeat of Black-preferred candidates” in Louisiana.
Dick ruled that the way the map was drawn by the Republicans likely violated the Voting Rights Act, which for decades has been used to counter racially biased actions in voting and drawing electoral districts.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 8 in the Alabama case, with two conservative justices joining the three liberals in the majority. They affirmed a lower court’s decision that the Republican-drawn map of that state’s seven House districts diminished the voting power of Black Alabamians in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
The Supreme Court in that ruling elected not to further roll back protections contained in the Voting Rights Act as it had done in two major decisions in the past decade.
DJ Maseo ‘Almost Buckled’ Before Regaining Control Of De La Soul’s Masters
The fight to obtain the rights to their music was a journey that played out publicly for Long Island’s legendary hip-hop group, De La Soul. The group was victorious when it was granted the rights to its music after Reservoir secured its rights from the former record label, Tommy Boy Records. In a recent “Drink Champs” interview, DJ Maseo described almost “buckling” when the group tried to get its music to the masses and the rights to make a little money from their craft.
Before Reservior got the rights to the De La Soul back catalog, the group’s music wasn’t available on any streaming service. After the acquisition was complete and the company negotiated with the trio, it was announced at the beginning of 2023 that De La Soul’s music would be available for their fans on all major streaming platforms. Sadly, along with the good news for the group, it was announced that Trugoy the Dove, nee David Jolicoeur, passed away around the same time.
The remaining members of the hip-hop group, Maseo (Vincent Mason) and Posdnous (Kelvin Mercer), appeared on N.O.R.E. and DJ Efn’s podcast to discuss the road to regaining the rights to their catalog after many decades. During the discussion, Maseo admitted they almost caved, but perseverance overcame any challenge, and now the catalog is streaming extremely well on various platforms.
“Yeah, we’re humble guys, but I know my value,” Mason told the two co-hosts. “I’ve been playing this game since high school, and it’s been on-the-job training. And behind it all, this was the moment in time I had to really take on my leadership in the crew. There were times where I almost buckled. I almost buckled a few times,” he said.
The catalog officially became available on all streaming platforms on March 3, 2023, on the 34th anniversary of the group’s debut album.
Taste The Love of Bermuda With These 7 Black-Owned Restaurants
An exclusive invite from the incomparable Carnival Cruise Line brought BLACK ENTERPRISE aboard its newest ship, the Carnival Venezia. Built in 2019, the Venice-inspired boat made its first trip home to the Big Apple and set sail to the intoxicating island of Bermuda on Thursday, June 15, 2023.
The sail was full of fun—Italian style. Featuring street food, Mexitalian fusion creations, a popular restaurant from partner Guy Fieri, Guys Burger Joint, and a special debut of restaurant II Viaggio, a culinary journey featuring delectables from several regions of Italy. Other Carnival mainstays include the steakhouse Fahrenheit 555, Bonsai Sushi & Teppanyaki, Chef’s Table, Piano Bar 88, and Heroes Tribute Lounge.
Carnival Venezia’s new restaurant, Il Viaggio / Courtesy of Carnival
For those who may not know, new food experiences are just one of the many ways to have fun aboard and off the ship.
Bermuda is a melting pot of cultures that proudly honors traditions, food, and hospitality. The island’s charm is deeply rooted in taking care of and sharing authentic Bermudian cuisine with others. Seafood abounds in this North Atlantic gem all year round, but other island food and cocktail options can never disappoint. Jamaican cuisine also proves prevalent, while rum stars in the island’s signature drinks: the Dark’ n Stormy® (featuring Bermuda’s own Gosling’s Black Seal Rum mixed with Ginger Beer) and the Bermuda Rum Swizzle.
For Bermudians, Black entrepreneurship is a no-brainer. Take a look at this list of restaurants personally recommended to BLACK ENTERPRISE by a local Bermudian, Paul Trew of Gold Star Transport during our five-hour tour. If you’re ever on the island, link up with Paul and look for some of the top foods of Bermuda, including the highly-sought after fish sandwich, cod fish cakes, bread pudding, shark hash, conch, and more.
Spinach scone from The Bridge Trading Post café during a tour with Paul Trew of Gold Star Transport / Photo Credit: Atiya Jordan
The New Woodys Sports Bar & Restaurant
Situated on Boaz Island, Woodys is a special place with views of the Great Sound. Bermudan locals and food-loving tourists can chat and mingle at the family-owned and operated village gem. While you’re there, take a bite of the local Bermudian-loved cuisine. From the famous house fish sandwich on raisin bread to the jerk chicken, go to Woody’s and taste the love of Bermuda.
Located in scenic Hamilton, Bermuda, Fish N Tings offers authentic Jamaican cuisine to the island. It has been more than 14 years of serving fresh and flavorful food, including oxtail, curried goat, jerk pork, cow’s feet, and much more. Grab one of the many featured energy drinks, juices, or whole filet fish that’ll make you want to keep returning.
Light up your taste buds with fresh Bermuda fish served with an array of signature Bermudian side dishes. Get Lost in the Triangle and try the menu’s offerings of avocado spring rolls, conch fritters, Bermuda spiny lobsters, and much more.
Photo: Video screenshot via Instagram (@tastethelovebermuda)
Soulfood Grill & Cafe
Boasting as Bermuda’s No. 1 Soul Food Restaurant, this buzzing grill and cafe has been revered as the best home-cooked meal on the island. They serve lobster on Thursdays and Fridays. Visitors have raved about the excellent food and service.
Location: 53 Court Street Hamilton HM, 12, Bermuda
A small Jamaican restaurant with a big difference, the Jamaican Grill family combines elements of natural herbs and spices to complement their traditional dishes. Your belly will thank you when you visit the bright blue establishment and try the Jamaican patties, curried goat and rice and peas, and many more delicious meals.
Photo: Video Screenshot via Instagram (@jamaican_girllcourtstreet)
TEASE Beach Cafe
TEASE Beach Cafe resides on the 12 acres that John Thomas Smith once owned. He was a Black man originally from Tuckers Town who later acquired property that spans from the beach over to Harrington Sounds Road, as per the business. His beach was later sold to the Bermuda government. For more than a decade, John Smith’s Bay Beach goers have enjoyed TEASE’s refreshments, snowballs, chips, and tasty burgers. They can also be enticed by the cafe’s newest offerings of crispy French fries, shrimp, chicken burgers, sundaes, and milkshakes.
Boasting the best fresh seafood restaurant in Bermuda, SeaSide Grill invites locals and tourists to its two locations in Devonshire and Southhampton. From Sunday codfish breakfast to the lobster and shrimp roll special, don’t miss out on fresh local and foreign-sourced seafood when you visit the Bermudan island,
Shaq Supporters Ball So Hard For His Big Chicken Grand Opening, City Officials Had To Shut It Down
TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal recently opened his Big Chicken restaurant in Houston. The turnout for the grand opening was so massive that the fire marshal was summoned, according to The Houston Press.
The restaurant, located at 9630 Westheimer Road, #1000, caused such a commotion with people clamoring to get inside that the parking lots on both sides of Westheimer between South Gessner and Tanglewilde were filled with vehicles and eager food enthusiasts.
Part of the reason for the large turnout was that Shaquille O’Neal was in attendance, greeting and taking photos with customers. The NBA All-Star said he was grateful for the love that Houston has shown him.
“I’ve been living here for 30 years. I just want to thank the people of Houston for coming out. I love the turnout, but if it was ten people or one hundred people, I’m going to be thankful.”
In 2022, the NBA Hall of Famer signed a deal to place 50 Big Chicken restaurants in Texas. Starting with the opening in Houston, he intends to put restaurants in four of the largest Texas markets— including Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin.
“This is my creation—Excuse me, this is my mama’s creation. Coming where we come from, me and this little guy had to eat chicken a lot,” Shaq said, referring to his brother. “Chicken sandwiches, chicken tacos, chicken, everything. When the opportunity came to create this franchise, we had a meeting and sold over 250. This is the first to open in Houston. I just wanted people to come out, so I’m paying for everything today. Try it. If you like it, cool. If you don’t, let me know why because we want to make this one of the best restaurants out here.”
After the fire marshal shut down the restaurant, the former Los Angeles Lakers player stayed outside with the crowd and signed autographs, took photographs, and interacted with the people who came out to lend their support.
