health, prostate, Duke, cancer, prostate cancer patients
by Shanique Yates

September 5, 2024

Civil Rights Icon Launches Challenge For Black Men’s Prostate Cancer Awareness

Civil rights Icon Dr. Charles D. Neblett has launched an initiative through his family's nonprofit to promote prostate cancer awareness among Black men.

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and civil rights icon Dr. Charles D. Neblett, MD, is launching a new project to promote equity in healthcare for the Black community.

After being diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic prostate cancer, Neblett launched the #BlackProstateCheckChallenge, calling on Black prostate cancer survivors and patients to share their respective journeys using the hashtag.

Through the #BlackProstateCheckChallenge initiative, Neblett’s family nonprofit organization, Community Projects, Inc., aims to create “open dialogue, overcome stigmas and fears, capture snapshots of experiences, and share information and resources to reveal the complex issues of health equity concerns among Black men.”

“To give a platform to the often-ignored opinions of African American men, we launched this challenge to give them space to be heard,” said Kwesi Neblett, president of Community Projects, Inc., creator of the #BlackProstateCancerChallenge, and son of Dr. Neblett, in a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“Right now, we need to pay attention to what Black men as patients care about. We’ve asked doctors and policymakers to pay attention and listen to the relevant social media updates regarding urgent issues right now.”

According to the American Cancer Society, Black men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, with 1 out of every 6 receiving a diagnosis in comparison to 1 out of every 8 white men. Moreover, statistics show that Black men also experience a greater mortality rate from the disease, being twice as high as that of white men.

“Health disparities are everyone’s problem,” said Dr. Lisa Cooper, MD. “Many factors contributing to inequality in America stem from a history of unequal opportunities and unjust treatment for people in vulnerable communities. Everyone is affected by the factors that harm the health of the most disadvantaged individuals, not just those individuals themselves.”

Through the #BlackProstateCancerChallenge initiative, taking place across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, and Facebook, Community Projects has tapped several physicians specializing in treating and providing the masses resources to promote prostate cancer awareness resources, including Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Clayton Yates, Dr. Otis Brawley, Dr. Lisa Cooper, along with concierge medicine operator Dr. Naysha Isom, and community activist and the initiative’s co-creator Doug Davis.

RELATED CONTENT: 5th Annual Black Men’s Wellness Day Seeks To Save Black Men’s Health

affirmative action
by Sharelle Burt

September 5, 2024

African American Enrollment At PWIs Tanks After Affirmative Action Ruling

The decision worried a number of Black students

A number of predominantly white institutions (PWI) are seeing massive drops in Black enrollment following the Supreme Court’s historic affirmative action ruling, NBC News reported. 

After the ruling, which said that considering race in admission in public colleges and universities was unconstitutional, schools like Amherst College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Washington University in St. Louis are on the growing list of schools that have seen a dip in Black student enrollment for the 2024 academic year. 

President of Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, Danielle Holley, highlighted her experience since the high court’s ruling. She said leadership was forced to rely on outreach programs, personal statements, and other application materials in efforts to reach their diversity goals. Holley called the process “catastrophic.” “The feeling was pretty catastrophic. It fundamentally changed,” Holley said. 

“That demographic information that used to be readily available for a student’s file is now masked.”

In 2023, the Supreme Court ended race-conscious admissions systems at Harvard College and the University of North Carolina (UNC), marking the end of affirmative action admission policies at colleges and universities. Chief Justice John Roberts sent the majority opinion with the help of options of all five of fellow conservative justices, including Black Justice, Clarence Thomas. 

Months later, Roberts wrote that the school’s selective admissions process “unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping, and lack meaningful endpoints.” The decision indicated that these policies “cannot be reconciled by the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause” in the 14th Amendment.

Data released in August 2024 showed that close to 5% of MIT’s incoming class of 2028 was Black, in comparison to its average of 13%. The neighboring school of Amherst College saw a significant drop from Black students making up 11 % of the class of 2027 to only 3% for the class of 2028. Smith College, also in Massachusetts, only saw 4% of Black enrollment for the incoming freshman class, compared to 4.6% in 2023.

The decision worried a number of Black students, including Flematu Fofana, a freshman at Yale University. She said she cried when the Supreme Court made the ruling, concerned with how it will affect extracurricular activities and awards received by other applicants to top colleges. “Without affirmative action I felt so uncertain about how my college decision was going to go. It made me decide to change my strategy a little bit when I was applying to colleges too,” Fofana said. 

“Initially I had based my school list around how much I aligned with the academics, the extracurriculars there. But after the decision, and when I started visiting schools, I started realizing how much I value diversity.”  

While schools like Washington University in St. Louis and Tufts University saw both a 4% and 2.6% drop in first-year Black students, HBCUs have seen an increase in enrollment. According to Newsweek, Jackson State University in Mississippi welcomed close to 1,250 incoming freshmen and transfer students for the Fall 2024 semester. 

Leaders at Hampton University in Virginia accredited the end of affirmative action in college admissions for the uprise in enrollment. “I think that many students recognize that this ruling impacted them personally,” Hampton University assistant vice president of enrollment and dean of admission, Angela Nixon Boyd, said. 

“And so they, again, want to be in an environment where they feel welcomed, feel safe and that they feel that they will have an opportunity for success.”

RELATED CONTENT: Communities In Schools Launches Nationwide PSA To Combat Chronic Absenteeism

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Justice Jackson
by Jameelah Mullen

September 5, 2024

Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson Visits The Apollo Theater To Discuss Her New Book ‘Lovely One’

The 420 page memoir was released on September 3.

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson sat down with Gayle King at the historic Apollo Theater to discuss her new memoir, Lovely One. The book’s title is the meaning of Jackson’s West African name, Ketanji Onyika.

King focused on Jackson’s personal story, which included her childhood in Miami, college years at Harvard University, and interracial marriage to Dr. Patrick Jackson. The judge discussed her career path, which led her to become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court in 2022. 

Jackson said that she first became interested in practicing law as a child, when she would watch her father, Johnny Brown, studying law books. Her interest grew after she learned about Constance Baker Motley, the first Black woman to serve on the federal judiciary.

The illustrious magistrate recounted her confirmation hearings, during which she faced combative questions from some Republican senators. She said she worked with the White House for several months to prepare. Jackson also said she received some helpful advice from a White House aide.

The aide told her, “You can get angry, or you can be a Supreme Court justice,” the Associated Press reported 

When King asked her to name one justice she had conflict with, Jackson refused to answer. 

Jackson also discussed her love for musical theater. She wowed the audience when she sang a few lines from Stephanie Mills’ “Home.” The crowd cheered when the Supreme Court justice belted out a rendition of “I’m Just A Bill” from season three of Schoolhouse Rock.

King shared some behind-the-scenes footage from the interview in an Instagram reel. 

“It was my honor to interview her honor, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, last night at the @apollotheater about her memoir “Lovely One.” It’s available NOW, and once you read it—and you should—you will not be surprised as to why she is the FIRST Black female Supreme Court Justice. Bravo bravo, Justice Jackson,” the post read. 

Taraji P. Henson, AARP
by Stacy Jackson

September 5, 2024

AARP To Recognize Taraji P. Henson As Honorary Purpose Prize Recipient

AARP will honor the actress during an Oct. 1 ceremony for her dedication to providing mental health resources through BLHF.

Emmy Award-winning actress and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson will be presented with an honorary Purpose Prize award from AARP for her dedication to promoting mental wellness and providing mental health resources within marginalized communities through the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF).

On Oct. 1, Henson and her organization will be recognized during an in-person celebration hosted by AARP, the largest nonprofit organization in the nation dedicated to empowering Americans 50 years and older. “We are proud to salute our AARP Purpose Prize winners, who are using the experience they have gained over a lifetime not only to fulfill their own purpose in life but also to create new solutions for how people live and age and solve pressing social problems,” AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins said in a press release. Henson’s work through BLHF reflects the AARP mission to support American families as they advocate for “what matters most…health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment.”

The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation was founded in 2018 to honor the legacy of Henson’s father, who battled mental health issues following his service in the Vietnam War. Alongside her friend, Tracie Jade Jenkins, the “Hidden Figures” actress established the organization to cater to the unique needs of communities of color.

“As a pioneering force in Black mental health advocacy, BLHF is dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace their history and heritage,” the BLHF website states. “Together, we’re working towards a future where mental health thrives in Black communities, empowering individuals to prioritize their well-being and access the care they deserve.”

BLHF offers “culturally competent” therapy referrals, wellness resources, impactful programs, awareness campaigns, and educational initiatives to destigmatize mental health within marginalized communities. As previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE, in 2023, BLHF partnered with Kate Spade to launch ‘She Care Wellness Pods,’ a first-of-its-kind wellness program created to provide frontline mental health resources for women and girls on HBCU campuses.

The “Around the Way Girl” author will join the seven 2025 Purpose Prize awardees in Washington D.C., like STEM NOLA Founder and CEO Calvin Mackie, Ph.D., as AARP celebrates the recipients for their contributions and advocacy in their communities. Recipients will receive $50,000 each for their organizations.

RELATED CONTENT: Queen Latifah Cosigns Taraji P. Henson’s Equal Pay Fight At NAACP Image Awards

Jim Jones, Thanksgiving, Harlem, NYC, turkey
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2024

Jim Jones Enters Tech Space With Social Media App SneakyLinks

'Now that the world knows what SneakyLinks is all about, we're excited to see how people everywhere will start using it to connect in ways that feel authentic and meaningful.'

Harlem-bred hip-hop recording artist Jim Jones has entered the world of technology by releasing a social media app named “SneakyLinks.”

After the app’s exclusive unveiling in Atlanta last month at Invest Fest 2024, the “On My Way to Church” rapper, along with investor Daniel Gamble, has officially announced the public launch of SneakyLinks.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Earn Your Leisure (@earnyourleisure)

“We’ve kept SneakyLinks under wraps until we were ready to deliver something truly special,” Jones said in a written statement. “Now that the world knows what SneakyLinks is all about, we’re excited to see how people everywhere will start using it to connect in ways that feel authentic and meaningful.”

The app promises to give users a different experience than what they are used to with other social media apps. It states that it can be used for business networking, friendship, or romance. SneakyLinks will allow users to change the mood of their experience on the app based on what they feel while perusing it.

Gamble said, “The response from our initial launch at Invest Fest was incredible. Now, we’re thrilled to extend SneakyLinks to the public, allowing everyone to experience a new standard in social media.”

People discovered the new app on August 24, when it was introduced to the audience at Invest Fest. The unveiling was shown to many tech enthusiasts, investors, and influencers who were in attendance. The guests were given a first look at the features that the app provides to the users.

“This wasn’t just about launching an app; it was about celebrating our culture and the incredible contributions of our community,” said Jones. “Now, as we open SneakyLinks to the world, we’re proud to continue that celebration by inviting everyone to join the movement by sharing the news and downloading at sneakylinks.com.”

RELATED CONTENT: Hip-Hop Entrepreneur Jim Jones to Launch Vamp Berry Soda

Skip Bayless Charles Barkley
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2024

Charles Barkley Paid $100K Toward Donation To New Orleans Prep School

St. Mary's Academy received $100,000 from the former basketball player who pledged to give the school $100,000 annually for the next nine years.

In May, NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, after seeing 60 Minutes feature two former students of a New Orleans school who used trigonometry to prove the 2,000-year-old Pythagorean Theorem, pledged to donate $1 million to the institution. The TNT analyst reportedly sent an installment of $100,000 recently to the school.

According to a press release from St. Mary’s Academy, the school has received its first $100,000 from Barkley. The former basketball player has pledged to give St.Mary’s Academy $100,000 annually for the next nine years.

“Mr. Barkley is thrilled to support St. Mary’s Academy and is very focused on transforming future generations through education and opportunities. He has a love and passion for what the academy stands for and how it is shaping the lives and futures of young girls in New Orleans,” a representative from the Charles Barkley Foundation wrote in a written statement.

Barkley was impressed when he saw the 60 Minutes segment that featured former students Calcea Johnson and Ne’Kiya Jackson using trigonometry to prove the 2,000-year-old Pythagorean Theorem. Scholars previously believed that it could not be done. 

“We are forever grateful for Mr. Barkley’s gift and his support of our students. This transformative gift will assist students as they excel and achieve whatever dream they create within the walls of St. Mary’s Academy,” said Pamela Rogers, President of St. Mary’s Academy. “His generosity supports the mission of St. Mary’s Academy and reinforces our commitment to educating young people.”

St. Mary’s Academy stated that it plans to use the $1 million pledged over ten years to enhance the program of the school’s legendary educational experience. The funds will provide students with opportunities to grow and develop in the classroom and the New Orleans community.

RELATED CONTENT: Charles Barkley Was Willing To Turn Down $100M To Keep TNT Team Safe, ‘That’s All I Was Concerned With’

Pizza, Black-Owned, Bird Pizzeria, food, TNT Pizza, Dough Boy Pizza, Clark Atlanta Grads
by Shanique Yates

September 5, 2024

Clark Atlanta University Collective Opens Another Dough Boy Pizza Shop In ATL

Clark Atlanta University graduates set to own and operate second Dough Pizza Shop location in Atlanta.

Dough Boy Pizza is expanding its imprint in Atlanta thanks to a new Harlem Hops Craft Beer partnership.

The fast-casual pizza restaurant has partnered with the James-Beard Award-nominated craft beer bar to open its second Atlanta location at Lee + White Food Hall. Owned and operated by HBCU graduates Kim Harris, Danielle Scarborough, Stacey Lee Spratt, and Dalen Spratt, this Dough Boy Pizza franchise’s new location will also be the Atlanta home of Harlem Hops, the first Black-owned craft beer bar in Manhattan, according to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.

As graduates of Clark Atlanta University, the foursome have dubbed themselves The CAU Collective and are on a mission to extend Harlem Hops’ community service mission by launching a scholarship program for aspiring HBCU students. The Harlem Hopes program is designed to encourage the next generation of HBCU graduates within the Atlanta community while also showcasing the opportunities available to Black people within the craft beer industry. 

“Not only will customers enjoy freshly-made, authentic, Neapolitan-style pizza, but they’ll also have the opportunity to pair it with some of our in-house signature brews,” said The CAU Collective in a statement. “Many of the beers at Dough Boy Pizza x Harlem Hops will be made by local, small-batch, family-owned businesses, and, in some cases, by people of color.”

Known for its Neapolitan-style pizza, which includes a thin crust, mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce, Dough Boy Pizza is a technology-driven pizza restaurant that allows customers to order directly from electronic cashiers, eliminating the traditional use of cashiers, with everything managed through digital screens.

Crowned the Smart Pizza Shop Movement, Chef Erica Barrett first launched Dough Boy Pizza in Birmingham, Alabama, naming it the first smart pizza shop due to her “calculated formula for success and heavy use of technology.” Now a national brand, Barrett and team have positioned the restaurant to be owned and operated by community members.

“With Dough Boy Pizza’s concept, we’re helping franchisees control labor and food costs through our technology-focused approach,” said Dough Boy Pizza creator Erica Barrett. “This concept is perfect for millennials who want to grab their pizza and go – we wanted to build a restaurant of the future.”

The first franchise installment of the fast-casual pizza restaurant opened its doors in Atlanta’s South DeKalb neighborhood. It is owned and operated by Radio One’s Uncensored show host, Ryan Cameron.

From traditional toppings like pepperoni and sausage to unique options that include crawfish and short ribs with caramelized onions, Dough Boy Pizza is a franchise-driven concept that allows owners to maintain full control thanks to the technological advancements at each venue. 

RELATED CONTENT: Ohio Pizzeria Goes Viral for Sign, ‘Now Hiring: Non-Stupid People’

school shooting, Colt Gray, Apalachee High School shooter Colt Gray, School Shooter
by Sharelle Burt

September 5, 2024

14-Year-Old Autistic Student Identified As 1 Of 4 Victims In Horrific Georgia School Shooting

Rest In Peace to these innocent victims....

One of four victims in the Georgia high school shooting has been identified as a 14-year-old autistic student, Mason Schermerhorn, The New York Post reported. 

Schermerhorn’s family made desperate pleas on social media, hoping to be reunited with their loved one, after they couldn’t reach him following the shooting in Winder. “If he is escalated, PLEASE use a calm voice with him,” family members said online. “Let him know his mom is looking for him for reassurance.”

It was later that the family found out the student was one of the victims of the shooting that occurred at Apalachee High School on Sep. 4. Schermerhorn, another 14-year-old student identified as Christian Angulo and two math teachers, Richard Aspinwall, and Christina Irimie, were allegedly gunned down by 14-year-old suspect, Colt Gray.

A friend of Schermerhorn’s mother, Doug Kilburn, said the teen loved spending time with his family, playing video games, telling jokes, and taking trips to Disney World. “He really enjoyed life,” Kilburn said. “He always had an upbeat attitude about everything.”

Nine other people, including special education teacher David Phenix and eight students, were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said all are expected to survive. During a press conference, law officials said Gray allegedly opened fire with an AR-15-style gun inside the school around 10:30 a.m.

According to FOX 5, officers responded within minutes of a call and almost immediately encountered Gray, who dropped his weapon and surrendered. “Obviously, the shooter was armed, and our school resource officer engaged him, and the shooter quickly realized that if he did not give up, that it would end with an OIS — an officer-involved shooting,” Smith said.

After the suspect was interviewed immediately, the sheriff said connections between the student and the victims have not been identified, but they are looking into all aspects surrounding the incident. 

A video from a student’s point of view inside the school has gone viral on social media, showing the moment when law enforcement arrived to get surviving students to safety. The school was cleared by 11:30 a.m., and students were released to their families. Neighboring school, Winder-Barrow High, was also briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution. 

The gunman has allegedly been on the FBI’s radar since 2023 after he was investigated for making online threats to shoot up a school. Gray and his father were interviewed after the federal agency received a number of tips about threats, including photos of guns, in May 2023. At the time, law enforcement said they did not have probable cause to arrest the teenager or take further action.

RELATED CONTENT: A Texas Father Stands Guard At Wife’s and Child’s Elementary School To Provide Relief To Parents

Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, glen Davis
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 5, 2024

Ex-NBA Player Glen Davis Given Time Before His Prison Bid To Film A Documentary

A judge granted the former Boston Celtic until Oct. 22 to report to prison so he can complete a documentary about his life

Former NBA player Glen “Big Baby” Davis was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison on May 9 after being found guilty of trying to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan. A judge has allowed his sentence to be delayed until Oct. 22 so he can complete a documentary about his life.

According to The Associated Press, on Aug. 28, Judge Valerie E. Caproni granted the former basketball player additional time after his attorney informed her that he was working on a film project that chronicles his life. He was supposed to report to prison on Sept. 1.

When appearing before Judge Caproni, Davis’s attorney, Brendan White, requested the extra time because a Hollywood production company had not completed the project before Davis was required to report to prison. The company cited difficulties in arranging timely interviews with Davis’s former teammates and colleagues.

The lawyer also stated that the money Davis would earn from the project “could go a long way” toward the former Boston Celtics player’s payment of the $80,000 he has to pay in restitution.

The judge agreed to the delay, stating that Davis “owes significant restitution” to a victim and hopes that “optimism about the financial rewards of the film is warranted.”

On Nov. 15, 2023, Davis and former NBA player Will Bynum were found guilty of healthcare fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to make false statements, and conspiracy to commit healthcare and wire fraud. The two men joined 18 other former NBA players accused of trying to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan.

Davis was sentenced for his role in a scheme that tried to defraud an insurance plan for NBA players and their families of more than $5 million.

The other former NBA players arrested and charged in the scheme are Milt Palacio, Antoine Wright, Charles Watson, Darius Miles, Ruben Patterson, Eddie Robinson, Gregory Smith, Jamario Moon, Terrence Williams, Alan Anderson, Tony Allen, Shannon Brown, Melvin Ely, Christopher Douglas-Roberts, Sebastian Telfair, and Tony Wroten.

RELATED CONTENT: Flashy Brooklyn Pastor Lamor Whitehead Found Guilty Of Fraud And Attempted Extortion 

Salt n Pepa, Push It
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 5, 2024

DJ Spinderella Recalls Salt-N-Pepa Almost Getting Arrested For Performing ‘Push It’

'It was not a sexual song. We were literally talking about dancing on the dance floor.'

DJ Spinderella said Salt-N-Pepa were frequently faced with the prospect of arrest when the band performed its hip-hop classic, “Push It.”

The former Salt-N-Pepa member appeared on Drink Champs, where she looked back on the controversy that followed the group’s 1986 hit. The song was way ahead of its time for women in hip-hop and faced extreme criticism from listeners who misunderstood the song’s intent.

“It was not a sexual song,” DJ Spinderella said. “We were literally talking about dancing on the dance floor. And people took that and took it the other way, and it actually worked for us.”

While the backlash ended up working in their favor, threats of arrest still took a toll on the group.

“Being on stage and being told that, ‘If you play that song here, you can get arrested.’ So, there were times where that was almost the case,” the hip-hop DJ shared. “And somehow, we got to a point where we just had to convince everybody that this is not about what you think it’s about. And that is the truth.”

In 2021, Sandra “Pepa” Denton recalled police warning the group not to perform the song because they thought the rappers were using an explicit term.

“They said if you say a curse word, we’re going to take you off the stage,” Pepa told Page Six. “We were saying ‘Push It;’ they thought we were saying, ‘P—y, real good.’ So the police were waiting for us. We had to show them the lyrics: We’re saying ‘PUSH It,’ not ‘p—y.'”

Spinderella left Salt-N-Pepa despite its success due to issues with the two femcees.

“Generally speaking, you just grow up. You just get to a point where things will not be tolerated,” she explained. “And respect should be mutual. And when respect is mutual, we can move and do whatever. But when respect is not mutual, then what are you here for? The bag. That don’t last because I can get a bag without it.”

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