As WNBA star Brittney Griner made her way through a Dallas airport, a white man walked up on her spewing patriotic rhetoric. In a video clip shared on social media, YouTube personality Alex Stein is recorded allegedly ambushing the 6-foot-9 women’s basketball player with questions about her stance on the United States.

“Do you still wanna boycott America, Brittney?” Stein yelled. 

A man intervenes and attempts to block Stein from the harassment but fails miserably. He asks Stein “why are you doing this?” and tells him several times to “stop.” Stein refuses and at one point someone calls him “weird.”

The clip posted on The Shade Room Instagram profile shows Stein telling the man “Get off me,” and being physically and verbally aggressive, pushing himself into what appears to be Griner’s personal space. 

“I’m weird? She hates America,” the agitator said. 

“What about the merchant of death, Brit?”

Though Griner is not visible in the video, the encounter gives the impression that despite being a high profile athlete for the WNBA, she is an unprotected Black woman. The incident leaves open to question the concerns around safety and security for women players in the league. 

Griner’s Phoenix, Mercury teammate Breanna Turner tweeted her concerns and added context to the account:

“Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable. Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better.”

Player safety while traveling should be at the forefront. People following with cameras saying wild remarks is never acceptable. Excessive harassment. Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about. We demand better.

— Brianna Turner (@_Breezy_Briii) June 10, 2023

Stein, apparently, not one to go away quietly, found his way to Turner’s post to respond to hers and other social media users’ comments.

The WNBA issued a statement via Twitter, calling the occurrence and Stein’s actions both “inappropriate and unfortunate.”

pic.twitter.com/xC9vZjcp3S

— WNBA (@WNBA) June 10, 2023

The statement read that “The safety of Brittney and All WNBA players are top priority,” and that preseason arrangements around Griner’s safety had been addressed “to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times.”

RELATED CONTENT: Brittney Griner Makes Emotional Return To Phoenix Mercury In WNBA Opener

There’s a history-making concert coming to celebrate hip hop’s 50th birthday that will celebrate those who laid the foundation for the art form.

Hip hop legends DJ Jazzy Jeff and Doug E Fresh have teamed up with veteran promoter/manager Charlie Mack for their one-night-only “Mixtape Live” event that brings together 50 pioneer MCs from the 1970s, 1980s & 1990s on one stage for a historical celebration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary.

Curated by the Grammy Award-winning DJ Jazzy Jeff, The Greatest Entertainer and Human Beatbox Doug E. Fresh, and Charlie Mack, an insider in the entertainment industry and longtime promoter and manager who helped introduce acts like Fresh Prince (aka Will Smith).

The “Mixtape Live” concert takes place on June 17, 2023, at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic, New Jersey, and will feature 50 of the greatest hip-hop pioneers performing live on one stage with legendary DJ Kool Red Alert spinning on the ones and twos.

 

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A post shared by DJ Jazzy Jeff (@djjazzyjeff)

The “Mixtape Live” will showcase the likes of Sugar Hill Gang, Melly Mell & Scorpio of the Furious Five, Fearless Four, Roxanne Shante, Kurtis Blow, Cold Crush Brothers, Mc Shan, Peter Gunz, Positive K, Mr. Cheeks, Yo-Yo, EPMD, Chubb Rock, Monie Love, Lords of the Underground, Milk Dee, Onyx and many more.

The night will celebrate hip-hop’s influence in global mainstream culture and how the art form shaped numerous genres of music. Since its birth on August 11, 1973, in the rec room of an apartment building in the Bronx, hip-hop has evolved from a promising art to one of the biggest-selling formats in music and a leading force in worldwide culture.

With June being Black Music Month and to highlight Juneteenth and Father’s Day, this hip-hop concert will reach historic heights and break the Guinness Book of World Records by having 50 artists performing live on one stage and one night only. Joining in the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop “Mixtape Live” and hosts of the June 17th concert are legendary female radio hosts, Lady B of 107.9 WRNB, Patty Jackson & Mimi Brown of WDAS 105.3.

For tickets or more information on the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop Mixtape Live, visit www.ticketsmasters.com or www.ppshows.com.

Press play below to hear Doug E Fresh, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Charlie Mack speak about the significance of the concert and tease what special guest appearances fans can expect.

Meet Commissioner Alicia Reece, a passionate Cincinnati native and politician who made it her mission to develop the city’s first-ever Black Music Walk of Fame.

The Cincinnati Music Festival kicks off on July 20 and this year’s festival will be like no other as it includes the grand opening of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame! The new public exhibit serves as an unforgettable celebration of Black music, culture, and lifestyle and Cincinnati’s role in producing musical greats that made major impacts on the industry worldwide.

It’s engaging and immersive in ways that take visitors through an augmented reality experience where they can perform alongside Penny Ford and Bootsy Collins, and hear music while walking through eight-foot-tall media towers.

But the new Walk of Fame wouldn’t exist if not for Commissioner Reece who founded the interactive outdoor exhibit as a result of her family’s music legacy and knowing the significant role Black Ohio musicians played in the creation of today’s sound.

The Hamilton County Commission President is the daughter of the late Barbara Howard, a professional singer who once opened for Stevie Wonder, and Steven Reece, a former Motown intern who went on to start his own record label. Growing up surrounded by music, which included house visits from the likes of Bootsy Collins and Penny Ford, it only made sense for Commissioner Reece to honor her parent’s legacy by developing the city’s official Black Music Walk of Fame.

Located between the Andrew Brady Music Center and National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Reece made sure a new “music corridor” would be added that celebrated the city’s Black music icons in an area known for once serving as a safe space for escaped slaves.

“it’s perfect to create what I call this music corridor because the missing link was black music legends that are from our area,” Reece told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

It took $24 million to develop the wheelchair-accessible space that honors Black music and serves as the first-of-its-kind experience. It wasn’t easy to accomplish, but it’s a feat Commissioner Reece is encouraging other Black women to do in an effort to preserve Black history and celebrate the contributions of the Black community.

“As a Black woman, this is the first time an African American woman is doing a development of this kind in our state, and probably in our country,” she said.

“I think for me, it’s very, very important because I want to inspire other Black women to be able to develop these types of major projects in major real estate.”

Commissioner Reece takes great pride in her monumental accomplishment that she credits to the Black entrepreneurship she was engulfed in during her childhood. In fact, she can vividly remember seeing the pride her father expressed when he was featured in an issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE Magazine.

“I came through Black entrepreneurship, a family-owned business. And so I understand the struggles of how to make something out of nothing,” she said.

“I’m always intrigued and inspired to do that. And every time we do that, we’re opening a door and open it a little bit wider for other African Americans to be able to have these opportunities.”

Each year new inductees are added with Bootsy Collins, Charles Fold, The Isley Brothers, and Otis Williams among the 2021 inductees, and Penny Ford, techno-funk band Midnight Star, hip hop producer Hi-Tek and jazz musician Wilbert Longmire being inducted in 2022, via the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Big names are set to be inducted in 2023, including the band Deele, featuring LA Reid and Babyface, Louise Shropshire, Philippe Wynne and the Godfather of soul, James Brown, WLWT reports.

• News

by Melanie Yvette

June 11, 2023

Nevada Finally Embraces Juneteenth As A State Holiday

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In a significant stride toward acknowledging the importance of African American history and the ongoing struggle for racial equality, Nevada has taken a historic step by recognizing Juneteenth as an official state holiday, CNN reported.

This recognition by Nevada underscores the growing national recognition of Juneteenth and its significance as a milestone, as they join states New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington who also acknowledge the holiday.

With votes of “40 to 1 in the state Assembly and 19 to 2 in the state Senate,” Nevada’s decision to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday is a powerful affirmation of the state’s commitment to equality and social progress.

On June 6, 2023, Governor Steve Sisolak signed Senate Bill 1, designating Juneteenth as a state holiday in Nevada. This move could set the tone for the state’s opportunities for elevated education, reflection, and celebration of African American history and culture.

“As the first state to ratify the 15th Amendment, which gave African Americans the right to vote, Nevada has a long and proud history of supporting civil rights,” said Democratic Assemblywoman Claire Thomas as Fox News reported.

Nevada, maybe surprisingly, has a history of being a supportive state of the Civil Rights movement. Beyond Nevada’s borders, the recognition of Juneteenth as a state holiday in various parts of the United States signifies a broader societal shift. With states like Florida and Utah taking steps back, censoring books and the discourse around our nation’s history, Nevada is raising the bar higher. Nevada is demonstrating an increased willingness to confront the darker chapters of history and highlights the importance of inclusivity in the national discourse.

RELATED CONTENT: Juneteenth is A Blast From A Past That Somehow Escaped Us

Nevada’s decision to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday is a momentous step forward in the pursuit of equality and justice. By commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and acknowledging the historical significance of Juneteenth, Nevada joins a growing movement to promote a more inclusive understanding of American history. The real hope is that we see a rapid fire of other states joining Nevada to honor the holiday, and actually mean it.

Celebrate Juneteenth 2023 with BLACK ENTERPRISE with month-long content that explores the history of prosperity and banking, and the future of investing and financial literacy for Black communities.

Essence Festival is celebrating 50 years of hip hop this year and Juvenile was confused about why his name wasn’t on the original lineup.

After blasting the initial lineup for Essence Fest, Juvenile was proud to announce his inclusion in this year’s roster of live performances. The Cash Money rapper sent out a tweet on Wednesday, June 7, confirming his set.

“Hip-Hop 50 without Juvie? Not a chance. June 30th, NOLA we live!” Juvenile tweeted.

Hip-Hop 50 without Juvie? Not a chance. June 30th, NOLA we live! #ESSENCEFEST #ESSENCEFEST2023 #EFOC2023

Tickets available at https://t.co/8tlIbi9StE pic.twitter.com/d2GaeGgX2X

— JUVENILE (@juviethegreat) June 7, 2023

The announcement comes one week after Juvie spoke out about the initial Essence Festival of Culture lineup which included a number of A-list performers but only one New Orleans native.

“How is essence doing 50 years of hip hop in New Orleans without me???” Juvenile wrote in a since-deleted tweet. “F that Donna Fest July 2nd me w my live band +Mannie Fresh +Rebirth & more.”

Mia X was the only New Orleans native included on the initial bill. Headliners include Ms. Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott, and Megan Thee Stallion, with a celebration of hip hop’s 50th anniversary from pioneers like Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, EPMD, Gucci Mane, Big Boi, Jermaine Dupri, KRS-One and more. There’s a West Coast set featuring Ice Cube, E-40, Ice T, and more.

 

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A post shared by ESSENCE Festival (@essencefest)

There is also a “South Got Something to Say” set where prominent Atlanta natives will perform including Lil Jon, Jermaine Dupri, and Gucci Mane, among many more. When a fan brought this up to Juvie last week, he shamed the festival for acknowledging the south but not natives from the city where the festival is hosted each year.

“They have a segment called ‘the south has something to say’ with all Atl rappers,” the fan wrote.

“They did not understand the assignment,” Juve replied.

Essence took to Instagram to address the matter and announce Juvenile’s inclusion in the coveted show, Okay Player reports.

“As we prepared to celebrate the cultural commemoration of 50 years of Hip-Hop at this year’s festival, we planned with intention around the integration of New Orleans & Louisiana artists and the musical heritage across several experiences,” they wrote.

“Whether it be the celebration of Hip-Hop femcees like New Orleans native, Mia X, who has previously been announced, or special surprise performances from local Hip-Hop artists that should not be missed, along with our all Crescent City musical line-up during our Family Day celebration, the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana will be well represented including Hip-Hop artist, Juvenile.”

It looks like Essence Festival of Culture has a jam-packed lineup for 2023 that will have the culture talking.

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

June 10, 2023

DC Young Fly Slammed For Making Fun Of Stretch Marks And Tummy Tucks Amid The Death Of His Children’s Mother, Jacky Oh

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DC Young Fly is under fire after a video was released of him making disparaging comments about women’s bodies, tummy tucks, and Brazilian butt lifts. This comes just one week after BLACK ENTERPRISE covered reports that his longtime partner and mother of his three young children died from complications stemming from a mommy makeover. The popular cosmetic surgery involves both aforementioned procedures.

The Wild ’N Out comedian was engrossed in a conversation with the co-stars from the podcast 85 South Show, according to OnSite. One show host said, “N—– love stretch marks.” DC Young Fly responded: “Not the deep ones.”

He continued, “No, no, my boy, you got to lay on that one … It’s a lotta s— going on … it’s like laying on dirty clothes.”

Someone in the video referenced the stretch marks on a woman’s stomach, calling them a “pack of noodles.”

The group of men went on to ridicule and trade animated but not-so-funny remarks about BBLs and the outcome of tummy tuck procedures and how they are performed.

“They pull it up, they pull it up, that n—- shit be stretched,” DC Young Fly said. “Whatever they do, they taking that shit and they pinning the skin back together.”

“They done went and put a booty hole in her stomach,” the Wild ’N Out star said in response to another speaker’s outlandish remarks.

One in 13,000 people die from complications of tummy tuck surgery, according to the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.

People are not pleased with the crude commentary DC Young Fly participated in considering the loss of Jacky Oh due to plastic surgery and the physical changes most women experience as a result of childbirth. Social media users’ disdain and disgust was shared via an OnSite Instagram post.

 

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A post shared by Onsite! (@its_onsite)

“Having this conversation while knowing your girlfriend, who carried and birthed your 3 children, was about to have a mommy makeover and to release said conversation after she passed away as a result of the surgery? Interesting choices ….”

“I literally talked about this in my last video. These men say stuff like this and wonder why women feel the need to do it.”

Tami Roman, the outspoken former Basketball Wives star, questioned the couth of the conversation, not to mention the repost.

“Who on this show thought this was a good idea to post AFTER her passing?” Roman asked.

The untimely death of Jacky Oh has been plagued with controversy. Days after the young mother’s passing, previous complaints against Jacky Oh’s alleged surgeon resurfaced and revealed claims of being “mutilated.” Then fellow Wild ‘N Out comedian B. Simone was accused of trying to “capitalize” on how she’s mourning the loss of Jacky Oh. And if that wasn’t enough to grapple with, Azealia Banks wilded out with a morbid message to DC Young Fly after Jacky Oh’s death.

• News

by Melanie Yvette

June 10, 2023

South African Firefighters Do An Emotional Praise Dance Before Fighting Canadian Wildfires

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One thing about Black folks, we’re going to bring good energy wherever we go — even to help eradicate the Canadian wildfires. Our people know how to heal, OK? 

Two hundred South African firefighters arrived in Edmonton, Canada, on June 4 and performed a traditional song and dance, eager to get rid of the fires that had been intensifying over the past six weeks, WFAA reported.

According to OkayAfrica, a video posted to Facebook of the firefighters waving their flag proudly and dancing with all their being went viral on Twitter and TikTok. Many Canadian users sent well wishes and gratitude to the men and women risking their lives to fight the wildfires.

Those who were fortunate to witness the performance in person noted how emotional the moment was and detailed their experience on Twitter. The video has since gone viral on social media, with concerned people all over the world witnessing the effects of climate change.

#2023WoFCanadianDeployment
Song and dance from #MZANZI1 as they arrive in Edmonton, Canada.#MZANZI1@environmentza@CIFFC@epwpza@kishugu pic.twitter.com/alj2IEnkuJ

— Working on Fire (@wo_fire) June 4, 2023

This may be one of Canada’s worst starts to the wildfire season ever, and it’s understandable that worldwide help is appreciated. 

In the United States, the East Coast experienced the fires’ smoky aftermath, with an eerie orange haze filtering New York, New Jersey, and Washington D.C.; residents were warned to stay inside. Some schools were closed in New York City and New Jersey on June 9  due to poor air quality. 

The Canada wildfires have been affecting millions on the East Coast and even the Midwest. Seeing the South African firefighters bring their morale and support through traditional song and dance is not only uplifting, it can also remind us just how much we need each other, as fires and climate change continue to affect our seasonal experiences. 

Reports that the Black Lives Matter organization is heading to bankruptcy seem to be false.

Recent tax documents filed show the nonprofit did in fact lose some money in 2022 but still has $30 million in assets, USA Today reports.

Documents show that BLM raised a little more than $9 million in its last fiscal year, running from July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022. The 60-page file alluded to the fact that the organization spent more than what it has made, coming away with about $12 million less than the $42 million in assets it reported the previous fiscal year.

Shalomyah Bowers, who replaced co-founder Patrisse Cullors after she quit the organization, says the organization is nowhere near going bankrupt and describes its finances as “strong and stable.”

“Record-breaking fundraising is just that: record-breaking,” Bowers said. “The organization obviously does not expect to continue fundraising at such exceptional levels – even as it continues to raise millions of dollars – and has therefore planned its budget and future spending accordingly to ensure a stable and strong financial future.”

The accounting department at Marquette University defines bankruptcy as when “your assets aren’t enough to cover your liabilities.”

Rumors of bankruptcy started flying after a screenshot of a tweet from conservative commentator Benny Johnson began to circulate. “BLM Is Officially BANKRUPT,” the tweet read. “Bye Bye!” Attached with a video, it was viewed more than 700,000 times.

Tax documents also showed BLM’s Global Network Foundation ended the financial year with $8,559,748 and still owed millions to organizers and relatives of Cullors.

Bowers has been accused of mishandling money as a lawsuit from another organization, BLM Grassroots, alleges that he and his consulting firm disbanded an agreement to keep control of BLM’s digital presence, according to the Stamford Advocate. He denied the allegations, calling them “frivolous” and untrue.

“The auditor found that our financial outlook is healthy, there is no fraud or abuse within the organization,” Bowers said.

• News

by Iman Milner

June 10, 2023

New York City Sues 30 Counties Over ‘Xenophobic’ Bans Against Migrants

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New York City has filed suit against over two dozen counties for refusing to offer asylum to migrants who have poured into the city in recent months.

The lawsuit is the latest clash between state officials and local leaders in the Big Apple who hold opposing beliefs on how to handle the influx of asylum seekers. New York City is suing 30 counties for attempts to “wall off their borders” through “xenophobic” executive orders that violate a bevy of laws, according to ABC News.

Mayor Eric Adams offered a solution to the overwhelming number of migrants descending upon the city by offering houses of worship as alternative living options, however, the sheer volume of asylum seekers has triggered a series of emergency declarations across the state. Local officials have began threatening NYC and any willing hotels and businesses who aid in the relocation of migrants with criminal penalties.

“These counties have implemented misguided and unlawful executive orders premised on false claims that the prospect of a few hundred asylum seekers sheltered at the city’s expense across multiple counties constitute an emergency and imperil public safety,” said Sylvia Hinds-Radiz, who is a lawyer for the city.

Though morality is at the heart of NYC’s lawsuit, state officials have raised concerns about the actual infrastructure of a city that is already overcrowded and that expects to host over 61 million tourists in 2023 alone, according to Thrillist. Concerns about crime and other acts of lawlessness have also been voiced alongside fears that once hotels and other businesses end their aid, the state will become responsible for the care of thousands of migrants.

“We are not equipped to humanely assist these individuals, which eventually we’re going to have to do,” said Ed Day, the Republican executive of Rockland County, which was one of the first counties to receive asylum seekers from New York City, according to ABC News.

The teenager behind the viral Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Lego trailer had a hand in making the actual film.

Preston Mutanga, 14, received the opportunity of a lifetime from Spider-Man writer-producers Phil Lord and Chris Miller to help direct the Lego scene of the highly successful film, Gizmodo reports. After fans of the film asked of his involvement, Mutanga confirmed via Twitter with a simple “Yes.”

Working remotely, the talented Minnesota teen spent weeks animating the Lego sequence and having meetings with Miller who would check in on his progress and give feedback, according to The New York Times.

“One new thing I learned was definitely the feedback aspect of it, like how much stuff actually gets changed from the beginning to the final product,” Mutanga said.

I recreated the entire Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse trailer in LEGO! @philiplord @chrizmillr @terry12539 @LEGO_Group @SpiderVerse #LEGO #SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse #animation #Blender3d pic.twitter.com/kYY19go7Fc

— LegoMe_TheOG (@FG_Artist) January 3, 2023

While still in high school, Mutanga is well on his way to fulfilling his dream of being a full-time animator. The inspiration began when he was younger and his father introduced him to a 3-D software program called Blender.

“I watched a lot of YouTube videos to teach myself certain stuff.”

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse was released in theaters on June 2 and is already the second-highest opening for the year so far. With characters voiced by Shameik Moore, Daniel Kaluuya, Issa Rae, and Brian Tyree Henry, the sequel to the 2018 original tells the story of Miles Morales in his continuous journey across the multiverse.

A fan of the franchise, Mutanga said he was honored to be included on the popular film.

“I adored the first movie and was so hyped for the second one, so getting to work with the people who actually made this masterpiece was honestly like a dream,” he said.

RELATED CONTENT: The Black Little Mermaid Makes Huge Splash At The Box Office With $117.5M Debut