• Women

by Stacy Jackson

May 23, 2024

Mattel Honors Venus Williams With Barbie Role Model Doll

Exclusive content featuring the Barbie Role Model tennis icon will be released across social and digital channels.

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As part of Barbie’s 65th anniversary, tennis legend Venus Williams has been honored with her very own one-of-a-kind “role model doll.”

Mattel unveiled the collection of sports icons on May 22, aiming to inspire young girls to purposefully pursue their passions. The doll, meticulously crafted in Williams’ likeness, depicts the Grand Slam champion donning a pristine white tennis dress, complemented by a matching visor and hoop earrings, while gripping a tennis racket.

“Throughout my career, I’ve always been driven by the idea of shattering glass ceilings and staying true to myself, and Barbie’s mission couldn’t resonate more deeply with that ethos,” Williams said in a press release from Mattel. “I’m honored to be recognized as a sports role model and join forces with Team Barbie to continue empowering the next generation of young girls to never stop believing in their dreams.”

Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, emphasized the profound impact of sports in fostering self-confidence, ambition, and empowerment among the next generation. “By shining a light on these inspirational athletes and their stories, we hope to champion the belief that every young girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her passions and turn her dreams into reality,” Berger said.

Mattel lauded Williams not only for her four Olympic gold medals but for being “the first woman in tennis to earn equal prize money at Wimbledon.” Williams, the company said, “has courageously persevered through countless obstacles to inspire social change within tennis and the sports industry at large.”

In conjunction with Walmart, exclusive content featuring the Barbie Role Model tennis icon will be released across social and digital channels. Barbie displays will be featured in stores nationwide under the theme “65 Years of Inspiration, Dreams Made Here,” accompanied by new products spanning toys, apparel, accessories, sporting goods, and food and beverage.

Joining Williams in this esteemed collection are eight other remarkable female athletes including Canadian soccer player Christine Sinclair, Australian football player Mary Fowler, French boxer Estelle Mossley, and Mexican gymnast Alexa Moreno.

Barbie Role Models will extend their impact through a partnership with the digital sports platform VOICEINSPORT. Virtual mentorship, educational content, and expert services will be offered free of charge for girls aged 12 and above, continuing into 2025.

• Food

by Stacy Jackson

May 23, 2024

Patti LaBelle’s Good Life Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix Now Available In Stores

Labelle shared the excitement with Kroger shoppers, who excitedly held up the boxed mix as they waited in line for pictures and autographs.

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Patti LaBelle, The “Godmother of Soul,” is delighting her fans with the exciting release of her Patti’s Good Life Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix, now available in stores.

The entertainment icon announced the tasty news on TikTok on May 21, a few days ahead of her 80th birthday, revealing that the mix was inspired by cherished moments in the kitchen, making breakfast with her grandchildren and family members. As fans would expect from the soulful legend, “This mix came straight from the soul,” LaBelle warmly shared. In a video accompanying her heartfelt words, LaBelle was captured arriving at a Kroger store to celebrate her new product on its shelves. She embraced heartwarming moments with shoppers who excitedly held up the boxed mix, signing boxes, posing for pictures with fans, and sharing laughs with employees.

In 2022, Patti’s Good Life Facebook page alerted followers of the extension to her Good Life collection, announcing that the mix would soon be coming to local stores. BLACK ENTERPRISE highlighted the 79-year-old’s burgeoning empire in 2023, noting that she ventured into the food business in her 60s. After selling over 50 million music records, the Grammy Award-winning singer focused on building her comfort food brand with her son, showcasing her passion for cooking through homemade hot sauces and barbecue sauces over 15 years ago.

LaBelle has since expanded her food endeavors with offerings like microwave pancakes, sugar-free syrup, pies, cobbler, collard greens, and more. Her passion for food complements her advocacy for improved access to diabetes care, a testimony she shared during National Diabetes Awareness Month in 2021. BE covered the influential moment where she opened up to Congress about her own experience with diabetes, a health struggle that caused her to pass out onstage 26 years ago before learning she had Type 2 diabetes.

As LaBelle debuts her Patti’s Good Life Buttermilk Pancake & Waffle Mix at local Kroger and Ralphs Grocery stores, she hopes her fans will love the soul-infused product as much as she does.

RELATED CONTENT: Study: People Consuming More Ultra-processed Foods May Face Increased Risk Of Early Death

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

May 23, 2024

Judge Allows Henrietta Lacks’ Family To Continue Legal Action Against Ultragenyx

Attorneys Ben Crump and Christopher Seeger invite Big Pharma to step "to the table" as they resolve the matter regarding the HeLa cells.

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In what has been labeled a historic decision, a federal judge has granted the family of Henrietta Lacks permission to proceed with their lawsuit against pharmaceutical company Ultragenyx. They seek compensation for the revolutionary HeLa cells derived from Lacks’ body.

Confirmed on Monday, the decision denied Ultragenyx’s attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed, according to The Baltimore Banner. Chris Ayers, an attorney representing the Lacks family, underscored the significance of this milestone, stating, “To be able to represent the family and be able to move forward and in litigation against companies that continue to profit off of Henrietta Lacks is incredibly important, and a milestone.”

As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, the Lacks family initiated legal action against the pharmaceutical industry, alleging that Lacks’ cells were taken without her consent during her cervical cancer treatment at Johns Hopkins in 1951. These cells, successfully cloned, went on to catalyze groundbreaking advancements in the medical and pharmaceutical realms, contributing to the development of vaccines and treatments for formidable illnesses such as AIDS and even COVID-19.

The Baltimore Banner noted that Ultragenyx is the second company the family has pursued legal action against for profiting from the cells. In 2023, the family celebrated a historic triumph after reaching a settlement on July 31 with biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific, which had been employing Lacks’ immortal “HeLa cells,” which BE mentioned are still being used for medical research today.

“This is really the first step of holding the scientific community accountable for its continued misuse of Mrs. Lacks’ cells and perpetuating business conduct that occurred over 70 years ago,” Ayers said.

The family enlisted the formidable legal prowess of renowned civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who forged a partnership with lawyer Christopher Seeger, investigating a potential 100 defendants implicated in the unauthorized utilization of Lacks’ cells.

“The family of Henrietta Lacks is grateful for the judge’s important decision to deny Ultragenyx’s baseless motion to dismiss the case and allow the lawsuit to proceed. This historic ruling is not only a victory for Henrietta Lacks’ family; it presents an opportunity to correct a monumental wrong,” attorneys Crump and Seeger said in a statement, according to CBS News.

The lawyers welcome Big Pharma to step “to the table” to resolve the matter on behalf of the Lacks family.

• Sports

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 23, 2024

Tennis Star Coco Gauff Urges Fellow Florida Residents To Vote

Gauff did not endorse any candidate, but did encourage Floridians to vote for who they believed in.

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Coco Gauff is urging those in her home state to get out the vote. The tennis star encouraged Florida residents to use their voices at a press conference.

NBC News reported on the 20-year-old voicing her opinion at the Italian Open this month. The first-time voter hopes others will also participate in this year’s presidential election and the local races in her own state. For Gauff, living in Florida while being Black comes with its own challenges.

“A crazy time to be a Floridian, especially a Black one at that,” shared the U.S. Open champion when asked about her home state’s politics.

Florida’s leaders, including Governor Ron DeSantis, have faced backlash for their controversial policies. From book bannings to a crackdown on DEI programs, Gauff believes the state is moving in the wrong direction.

“We aren’t happy with the current state of our government in Florida, especially everything with the books and just the way our office operates,” shared the young athlete. “At the end of the day, it comes down to the youth and the community being outspoken. So I encourage everyone to vote, and use your voice regardless of who you vote for. There’s no point in complaining (about) the political climate of the world if you don’t exercise your right to vote.”

However, one should not expect this Floridian to make any endorsement. Gauff stayed silent on her personal choice but still wants all voices heard this November.

She continued, “I feel like sometimes, in my generation, people think their vote doesn’t count. We should just all just use our voices and use the power that we have.”

Gauff has used her voice to speak on social issues before, including at a Black Lives Matter rally in 2020. She has broken records in her sport and remains an inspiring figure on and off the tennis court. She hopes to win another Grand Slam at the French Open in Paris, which starts June 2.

• News

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 23, 2024

Experts Claim President Biden Keeps Repeating ‘Factually False Statement’ About Georgia’s Election Law

Who's telling the truth here?

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President Joe Biden received massive criticism from conservative leaders and analysts on social media, who claimed he was repeating lies about Georgia’s election law. 

During his speech to Morehouse College graduates in Atlanta on May 18, Biden claimed voters aren’t allowed to have water while waiting in line to vote. “Today in Georgia, they won’t allow water to be available to you while you wait in line to vote in an election,” Biden said.

“What in the hell is that all about?”

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger spotted his comments and chimed in on Twitter, stating that they were not true.

“It’s 2024. I can’t believe we’re still dealing with lies about Georgia’s election from the left & right,” Raffensperger wrote. ”Once again, Georgia doesn’t have lines. Biden owes our election officials an apology & focus on the real issues – this damn inflation that is hitting hard-working Georgians.” 

Senior legal fellow of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation, Zack Smith, called the claim “a factually false statement.” “It’s obviously a factually false statement,” Smith said. “Every state bans electioneering near polling places. Prohibiting giving money and gifts to potential voters – as Georgia election law does – to prevent unduly influencing them as they wait to vote is a good and reasonable policy.”

He continued to state, “Of course, nothing in the law prohibits poll workers from providing water to voters, and nothing prohibits voters themselves from bringing snacks and water to eat and drink as they wait to vote.”

But is there some truth to the President’s statement? According to CNN, in 2023, a federal judge partially struck down a section of Georgia’s election law that banned people from handing out food and water to voters waiting in line, once signed into law in 2021 by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. 

U.S. District Judge J.P. Boulee ruled that the ban should still be enforced in what he described as a “buffer zone” around a polling place — within 150 feet of the building where ballots are being cast. However, he paused enforcement of the ban in the “supplemental zone,” areas within 25 feet of a voter standing in line.

In 2020, volunteers provided food and water at polling locations across the U.S. during the presidential election while Georgia residents stood in line for hours waiting to vote. The law did allow poll workers to set up self-service water receptacles.

Yet, the executive director of Honest Elections Project, Jason Snead, accused the President of running a continuous smear campaign against the state of Georgia.

“Fact-checkers have debunked Biden’s claims about Georgia’s election law for years. Thanks to the law Joe Biden is smearing, Georgia held a historically successful, high-turnout, high-confidence election in 2022 and is poised to do the same this year,” Snead said. 

“There is no excuse for continuing to spread these lies ahead of a high-stakes election.” 

After Kemp implemented the law, Sen. Jon Ossoff countered by proposing a bill in the same year prohibiting states from banning volunteers from distributing food and water to voters in line to vote.

• Entrepreneurship

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 23, 2024

The Notorious B.I.G.’s Daughter Speaks About Opening The Biggie Experience Museum

'I understand my dad's legacy and how big he is in the culture and community,' T'yanna Wallace said.

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T’yanna Wallace, the daughter of the Brooklyn lyricist most hip-hop fans celebrated as one of the greats, The Notorious B.I.G., took her entrepreneurial spirits to another level when she opened The Biggie Experience Museum in March, seven years after launching Notoriouss Clothing.

The little girl that The Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) rapped about “feeding” on his debut single, “Juicy,” off his first album, “Ready To Die,” is all grown up and surely making her father proud. She spoke to Forbes about why she started The Biggie Experience Museum and why it was important for her to do so.

After opening her clothing store in Brooklyn on Atlantic Ave, “literally up the block from Barclay Center,” she recalls that her father’s jersey was hanging in the stadium. Wallace also stated that fans of her father would always come to the store and admire the various recognizable items from his videos and certain awards she had on display. Seeing that fans were interested in those items, she realized they liked his clothes and other artifacts.

“This is what prompted me to start the museum, realizing that his fans really want to see his things and be in touch with the background of everything,” Wallace told the media outlet. “I started to see this clearly during those five years of having my store.”

She also talked about the legacy of The Notorious B.I.G. and making sure it lives on through her efforts.

“I understand my dad’s legacy and how big he is in the culture and community. I’ve always been the person who wants to continue that. I never wanted his legacy to fade because I know how things can happen,” she said.

Wallace added, “There have been super big celebrities whose shine has faded just because they’re not here anymore. I never wanted that to happen to my dad, even though I know he can hold his own. I’ve seen that already. But I always wanted to be the person who says, ‘OK, my dad’s not here anymore, but I know how special he is.'”

She plans to hold a special event in July at the museum to celebrate the anniversary of one of his albums. If you are in New York City, you can visit The Biggie Experience at 503 Atlantic Ave. in the borough of Brooklyn.

RELATED CONTENT: The Notorious B.I.G.’s ‘Ready To Die’ And Doug E. Fresh And Slick Rick’s ‘La-Di-Da-Di’ Inducted Into The National Recording Registry

• Women

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 23, 2024

Jasmine Crockett Hopes To Cash In On Viral Insult By Filing Trademark For ‘Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Body’

There are already bootleg clothing already being sold.

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Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Tx.) has filed for trademark ownership of the “Bleach Blonde Bad Built Butch Body” insult thrown at Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). 

The application was filed by Crockett’s campaign on May 19 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the intent to appear on various clothing items including hats, hoodies, and socks. Labeled the “Crockett Clapback Collection,” she promoted a T-shirt with the same line used in her entertaining exchange with Greene. “So we are going to drop a ‘Crockett Clapback Collection.’ This collection will feature various swag that includes random things I’ve said,” she said on Twitter. 

“The money will go to ensuring that we have a Democratic House! Give me a little time to really get the swag online etc., but B6 will drop first.”

The 43-year-old went viral on May 16 after Greene told the fellow congresswoman that, “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.” After minutes of back-and-forth banter, including New York’s Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Crockett asked a “hypothetical question” about what violates congressional protocol. “I’m just curious, just to better understand your ruling,” Crockett said, referring to a decision made by Chair James Comer (R-Ky.). 

“If someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde bad built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?” 

The freshman legislator told CNN on May 19 all she wanted was clarification on violations of congressional protocol and has no regrets on what she said. She also labeled Greene’s remarks as “absolutely racist.” “Women wear makeup, we wear lashes, we wear all types of things to beautify ourselves,” Crockett said.

“But MAGA has historically been on social media doing the things where they’re saying, ‘Oh she’s Black with lashes and nails and hair, and so she’s ghetto.’ And so, to me, this was her (Greene) buying into that rhetoric and trying to amplify this for the MAGA crowd.”

Seemingly bothered by her colleague’s comments, Greene defended her physique in a video saying “Yes, my body is built and strong NOT with nips, tucks, plastic, or silicone, but through a healthy lifestyle.”

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. wasn’t a fan of the exchange or the incident, comparing it to The Jerry Springer show, according to USA Today. “In the past, I’ve described the U.S. House as The Jerry Springer Show,” he wrote. “Today, I’m apologizing to The Jerry Springer Show.” 

His comments caught the eye of Ocasio-Cortez. She responded saying, “I understand you likely would not have stood up for your colleague and seem to be confused about racism and misogyny being a ‘both sides’ issue.” 

“But I stand up to bullies, instead of becoming one.”

RELATED CONTENT: Jasmine Crockett Flames Marjorie Taylor Greene On Fire After Body-Shaming Remarks On The House Floor

• Celebrity News

by Stacy Jackson

May 23, 2024

Kevin Hart Appears With Daughter In New Chase Freedom Campaign

The comedian and his daughter star in the campaign to promote the Chase Freedom Rise credit card and discuss financial literacy.

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In a fresh and relatable approach, Chase Freedom has unveiled its “Family Huddle” video series, starring comedian Kevin Hart and his daughter, Heaven, to promote the Chase Freedom Rise credit card and foster financial literacy among young audiences.

The father-daughter duo candidly navigates pivotal money matters, such as Heaven’s inaugural credit card experience and adeptly managing bill payments as she maneuvers in her college journey. The videos aired on Chase’s official Freedom Rise credit card page and addresses everyday financial questions and challenges. The inaugural episode, shared on Hart’s Instagram, offers a candid glimpse into their conversation after Heaven flaunts some dorm room purchases made with her debit card, a signal that leads Hart to inform her about good credit habits. A second video addresses Heaven’s “sneaky spending,” which sparks a discussion about responsibility, followed by a third installment that covers how to handle payments.

“Despite Kevin’s wealth, he always stresses the importance of his kids making their own way,” Chase stated online. According to the company, the Freedom Rise card offers a pathway to financial empowerment for credit novices, enabling them to cultivate their credit profile while earning a 1.5% cash-back reward on all purchases, devoid of an annual fee. The card is accompanied by the powerful Credit Journey tool, facilitating credit score tracking and providing insights into contributing factors.

The campaign, produced by Hart’s entertainment enterprise, Hartbeat, underscores the paramount importance of early financial education and responsible credit card utilization. By forging a partnership with Hart, who The Source noted has been a Chase Freedom partner since 2019, and Heaven, the company has expanded its reach as it shares the power of cashbacking with Americans.

Last year, Hart joined forces with NBA luminary Stephen Curry to seamlessly blend their passions for basketball and cash-back rewards, culminating in an October 2023 campaign for the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.

RELATED CONTENT: Kevin Hart’s Gran Coramino Tequila Blesses Over 100 Small Black And Latinx Businesses With More Than $1M

• Entertainment

by Shanique Yates

May 23, 2024

Lauryn Hill’s ‘Miseducation’ Crowned ‘Greatest Album Of All Time’

Hill has said a new studio album is coming soon.

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Apple Music has named Lauryn Hill’s neo-soul and R&B masterpiece, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the greatest album of all time.

Hill’s only solo studio album topped Apple Music’s inaugural 100 Best Albums of All Time list. The 10-day countdown began last week. Five artists—Beyoncé, The Beatles, Prince, Radiohead, and Stevie Wonder—had two albums on the list.

Members of Apple Music’s internal team submitted their personal list of projects by way of the company’s voting microsite. Votes were then weighted according to the album’s placement on the list. Thus, the higher a body of work was ranked, the more votes were assigned.

The same voting method was used for a select group of artists, songwriters, producers, and a handful of media members who served as external participants.

“This list isn’t a popularity contest,” Ebro Darden, global editorial head of hip-hop and R&B for Apple Music, told The Associated Press. “We challenged everyone to not vote based on your favorites. You’re invited into the panel because you have music knowledge beyond what you listen to when you’re on the elliptical machine.”

Released on August 25, 1998, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill debuted just one year after Hill’s group, The Fugees, disbanded following the success of their 1996 multi-platinum sophomore album, The Score. 

Inspired by Carter G. Woodson’s 1933 book, The Mis-Education of the Negro and the 1974 film, The Education of Sonny Carson, HIll’s album is a reflection of personal progression, featuring lyrics inspired by the singer’s relationship with Rohan Marley, her pregnancy with their son, Zion, as well as tension within The Fugees at the time.

The album features fan favorites like “Nothing Even Matters,” featuring D’Angelo, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Ex-Factor,” and a host of other songs where Hill bears her heart and soul to the world.

In a 2021 Rolling Stone interview, Hill said the motivation behind the album was to exceed the success of The Score as well as separating herself from fellow Fugees bandmate Wyclef Jean, citing lack of support for her solo endeavor.

“This is my award, but it’s a rich, deep narrative that involves so many people, and so much sacrifice, and so much time, and so much collective love,” said Hill after hearing the news of topping the top 100 list.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is also featured in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2024. HIll received 10 nominations and five wins from that album, making her the first woman to receive that many nominations and awards in one night. 

As for her highly-anticipated sophomore studio album, Hill told TMZ it will be released “soon.” She has released a live album and a compilation album.

RELATED CONTENT: Lauryn Hill Says Third Album Coming ‘Soon’

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 23, 2024

NYC Council Proposes New Bill To Remove Squatters And Help Them Find Housing

A New York City councilwoman introduced a new bill aimed at combatting the city's squatting issues.

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A New York City councilwoman has introduced a new bill aimed at combatting the city’s squatting issues.

Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks (D-North Shore) introduced new legislation on Thursday, May 16, which aims to launch a task force that would remove squatters and help them find legal housing, SI Live reported. If passed, the FDNY, NYPD, and Department of Sanitation (DSNY) would remove squatters and work with abandoned property owners to make sure the locations don’t attract more squatters.

“This bill would create an interagency taskforce to address issues regarding squatting in the city, including the removal of persons squatting on properties, helping them find legitimate housing,” Hanks said.

The legislation also takes on growing concern over NYC’s lenient laws on squatting. In New York, there is a policy where someone who has been able to successfully illegally occupy a property for 30 days or more is now entitled to “Squatter’s Rights.”

In April, New York lawmakers voted to change a property law stating that “a tenant should not include a squatter.” The vote came after a homeowner was detained for changing the locks to prevent a squatter from subletting her home.

In NYC, the process to evict an accused squatter can take time and make for a burdensome legal process. It currently takes an average of 20 months for an eviction case to be resolved in New York City, according to the Rent Stabilization Association.

If Hanks’ bill is passed it will also help owners clarify ownership of properties that aren’t currently occupied.

The legislation will “Identify properties where people are or might be squatting, communicating with the owners of abandoned properties to ensure that such properties do not remain abandoned, and notifying the owners of abandoned properties of their obligation to maintain such properties, and enforcing that obligation.”

RELATED CONTENT: Analysis: Are Squatters Rights Just Tenant Rights By Another Name?