Tyrese, Rickey Smiley, Claudia Jordan And More, Receive Honorary Degrees
by Ida Harris

August 27, 2024

Tyrese, Rickey Smiley, Claudia Jordan And More, Receive Honorary Degrees

The tribute was presented by the Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University

Tyrese Gibson is now Dr. Tyrese Gibson. He does not take the title lightly. Along with several other celebrities, including Rickey Smiley, D-Nice, Raheem Devaugn, Claudia Jordan, Natasha Leath, and Andrea Kelly, Tyrese received an honorary doctorate Aug. 25. He also, achieved a lifetime achievement award from President Joe Biden for his excellence in music. The singer-actor was supported by his partner Zelie Timothy and reflected on receiving the prestigious honor. 

“Moments like this, I feel like, I never could ever imagine this happening without my mother being in the audience to see it,” Gibson told BLACK ENTERPRISE. 

“So, it’s hard to celebrate when you see or you have a moment that feels like this, that’s so beautiful and life changing and that’s the one hug I wish I could walk out there and get.”

The tribute was presented by the Leaders Esteem Christian Bible University which was established in 2020, by Dr. Verna Caddie, “in the midst of the pandemic,” after receiving her PhD In Christian education. The founder believes paying homage to individuals who perform exceptionally in their work and serve their communities is just due. 

As of late, the conferment of honorary degrees has been under scrutiny, with critics voicing such opinions about celebrities and honorees skipping to the head of the class,

“These honorable diplomas are a slap in the face to people spending all of their life savings going to college,” Essence reported. 

According to Brandeis University, honorary degrees date back to the 15th century, with Oxford University being the first recorded institution to bestow the honor. Honorary degrees do not carry the weight of matriculated degrees, as academic institutions and universities waive degree requirements. They are what they say they are — honorary degrees, given for the sake of honor and not scholarship. 

“We are an accredited Bible university.” Caddie told BE. “I know a lot of people ask that but we are accredited, we have numerous accreditations and we also have good standing memberships as well.”

Despite what detractors say, Caddie’s initiative is in keeping with the traditional practice of acknowledging distinguished people for their specific contributions. The award ceremony was a proud moment for honorees, like music producer Sean Garrett, entertainer Claudia Jordan and Natasha Leath, a life coach and spiritual advisor. Leath is inspired by the honor and hopes to do more in her business and practice.

Towanda Braxton, singer and recipient of an honorary degree as well, spoke to BE about the positives of honorary degrees. 

“I think it’s amazing, Braxton said. 

“You don’t always have to be physically in school to be honored.” 

Braxton continued: “You know, I just think that there are two different ways to get an honorary doctor. I think that some people earn it from ed, from the educational side, but I also believe that people deserve it on the professional side, especially since they’ve been in the business for a long period of time.”

The work of doctors who are scholars and practitioners is not lost on Gibson. The “Lately” singer acknowledged medical professionals amid celebrating the receipt of his honorary degree.”

“I was just honored but for all of the medical professionals, surgeons, doctors, nurses, and real selfless men and women, angels who put it all on the line every single day to keep us healthy and keep our family safe, giving birth to kids every single day,” Gibson said. 

“What a life? What a choice to wake up every day and be selfless. If I wanna be like anything, it’s like them.”

“I get to fake it for today,” Gibson joked. 

“I can prescribe some Pedialyte.”

RELATED CONTENT: Comin’ From Where I’m From: Anthony Hamilton Receives Honorary Degree From Hometown HBCU

living wage, basic needs, struggle, families
by Daniel Johnson

August 27, 2024

New Report Indicates 44% Of American Families Struggle To Meet Basic Needs

According to Jason Rahlan, the VP of corporate responsibility and sustainability for Dayforce, employers have an easy fix for the problem: raising wages.

According to a new joint report from Dayforce and the Living Wage Corporation, 44% of American full-time employees do not make enough money to cover their family’s basic needs.

The report utilized data from 600,000 full-time employees, which was run through MIT’s Living Wage calculator. The recommended living wage in America is context-specific; it varies based on location and cost of living. For example, the living wage in Sacramento County, California, for a couple with two children, is $31.43, while the living wage in Marshall County, Kansas, with the same parameters, is $22.46.

Kavya Vaghul, the co-founder and chief product officer of the Living Wage Institute, told Fortune, “This report should be a wake-up call. It tracks really closely with what we hear the American public is experiencing when it comes to the inflationary environment. You have prices skyrocketing on basic goods and services, and as a result of that, many people are not able to meet basic needs.”

Vaghul continued, discussing the impact of the economic climate on women. “With women, there are several factors that drive the report’s findings, and they’re all connected to a pernicious history of societal biases as well as discriminatory and unequal labor market policies that are continuing to contribute to the disparities that we see by gender.”

Black and Latinx workers also face inequality. They are twice as likely as white workers not to make ends meet. The two ethnicities, respectively, earn $8.20 and $7.70 less per hour than white workers, signifying a significant gap in earning potential.

According to Jason Rahlan, the VP of corporate responsibility and sustainability for Dayforce, employers have an easy fix for the problem: raising wages. Unless, he says, they want to lose talented workers to other companies.

“People not making a living wage are more likely to report struggling to pay for housing, overdrawing their checking and savings accounts, skipping healthcare and purchasing medicine,” Rahlan told Fortune. “When workers are at higher risk of suffering these negative outcomes, they’re going to be more at risk for leaving a workplace and seeking another job opportunity because they need the opportunity for a life of health, fulfillment, and dignity.”

Rahlan continued, “Companies making the choice to invest in their people and address living wage gaps in their workforce is not only the right thing to do for their people, but the smart thing to do for their business.”

T-Boz, hospital, concert, TLC
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 27, 2024

TLC Forced To Cancel Weekend Concerts After T-Boz’s Hospitalization

TLC canceled their weekend concerts in New York and Connecticut after T-Boz fell ill and was hospitalized.

TLC was forced to pull the plug on their weekend concerts in New York and Connecticut after T-Boz fell ill and wound up in the hospital.

T-Boz, real name Tionne Watkins, thought she came down with food poisoning but found herself hospitalized for abdominal blockage, TMZ reported. The health scare caused the famed R&B group to cancel their Friday show at the NY State Fair in Syracuse and Saturday show at Foxwoods in Connecticut.

Fans were already in the audience on Friday, waiting for the show to start, when they received a message on a large screen informing them of the canceled performance due to T-Boz’s health. The announcement came just 30 minutes before TLC was scheduled to hit the stage.

“Unfortunately, tonight’s TLC performance has been canceled due to T-BOZ experiencing severe illness,” the statement read. “We wish her a quick recovery.”

Video journalist Katrina Tulloch posted an image of the statement on Twitter and noted how many fans were left “disappointed” by the announcement,

“Whole lotta TLC fans disappointed tonight. Their free @NYSfair concert was canceled suddenly,” Tulloch tweeted. “At 7:30 p.m., this message went up. T-Boz has food poisoning. (TLC drew a crowd of 30,000 at the 2022 fair.)”

After the concert on Friday was canceled, the group followed up with a statement letting fans know that it wasn’t food poisoning T-Boz had but something more severe that would cause another axed show.

“The doctor verified that this was not food poisoning but an abdominal blockage,” they revealed. “Tionne deeply regrets having to cancel these shows and extends her sincere apologies to all her fans and the event promoters.”

The “Waterfalls” singer was still hospitalized on Saturday when the Connecticut concert was canceled. T-Boz was expected to be released on Sunday. This isn’t the first time TLC has had to cancel shows on their current tour. In May, the duo canceled a couple of shows in Canada due to a flu outbreak among tour members.

T-Boz has been open about her health struggles throughout her career, caused by the sickle cell disorder she was diagnosed with at birth. She got candid about her journey with the disease in her 2017 memoir A Sick Life.

“When you have sickle cell, your red blood cells get stuck on their way around your veins, causing blockages and stopping the oxygen from getting to your vital organs,” she explained.

“Where there’s a lack of oxygen, you can go into a crisis, an attack of severe pain, sometimes located only in a certain spot and sometimes all over your body. Often, it’s hard to breathe or, walk or even do something as basic as holding a pen. A crisis can happen without any warning. Just, bam! You’re in the hospital again.”

In 2020, T-Boz shared how her use of CBD helps to combat her sickle cell symptoms.

“Someone suggested CBD, and I tried it. At first, I didn’t feel any different, but then I started noticing that I was feeling stronger. I wasn’t getting as sick as often, and I don’t even have a good working spleen,” she told Ebony. “Your spleen is what helps you fight off colds and diseases. I lost my spleen, but I grew two accessory spleens, which is totally crazy. I didn’t know you can grow an organ back. God has been looking out for me! Anytime someone around me had a cold, I would always catch the cold to the 10th power, but now [I’m not] even catching cooties (laughs).”

T-Boz launched her CBD line, TLCBD, which includes a balm, CBD tincture, and beauty oils for wrinkles.

border patrol agent, arrested, exploited women
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 27, 2024

U.S. Border Patrol Agent Accused of Forcing Women To Expose Themselves In Virtual Interviews

The border patrol agent is accused of forcing women to expose their breasts during virtual interviews.

A U.S. border patrol agent was arrested on Aug. 22 after he was accused of forcing women to expose their breasts during virtual application reviews.

Shane Millan, 53, of Jefferson County, New York, was arrested on four counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, a press release reveals. Authorities say Millan violated the constitutional right to be free from unreasonable searches while virtually processing the admission of four women into the United States.

Millan is accused of commanding three women to expose their bare chests to him in August 2023 over webcam and having a fourth woman expose her breasts to him while her bra remained on. Millan allegedly told the women that the searches were necessary for their application review for entry into the country.

According to the charging documents, the border patrol agent is accused of committing the offenses in Jefferson County, near the Canadian border, and “elsewhere. ” He was arraigned in Syracuse, New York, before United States Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks and released pending a trial.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Professional Responsibility Investigative Operations Directorate is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael F. Perry and Michael D. Gadarian serve as prosecutors.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a statement saying the agency does not tolerate misconduct among its agents.

“When we discover any alleged or potential misconduct, we immediately refer it for investigation and cooperate fully with any criminal or administrative investigations,” CBP said.

Millan’s jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 21. Court documents do not indicate if he entered a plea during his initial appearance. Millan’s current status as a Border Patrol agent remains unknown.

RELATED CONTENT: U.S. Customs and Border Investigates ‘Challenge Coin’ Immortalizing Treatment of Haitian Immigrants

Ol' Dirty Bastard, Documentary, A&E
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 26, 2024

Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s Suspicion Of Cops Being After Him And Wu-Tang Clan Were ‘Correct’

Ol' Dirty Bastard's suspicions about the government being after him were "correct," his new documentary reveals.

The new documentary on the life of Ol’ Dirty Bastard reveals how “correct” the late rapper was about the cops being after him and the Wu-Tang Clan.

A&E’s “Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys” was released on Aug. 25 and goes deeper into ODB’s (real name Russell Tyrone Jones) wariness of the government and how accurate he ended up being, People reports. The documentary highlights the rapper’s mistrust of the police decades before a Freedom of Information Act request revealed the 95-page FBI file the New York Police Department was using to pin a RICO prosecution against the Wu-Tang Clan.

“He would literally come to my record company office twice a week with a record out, not a record out, so he could just relax,” music executive Steve Rifkind says of ODB in the documentary. “I don’t know if that was the drugs, drinking, the pressure of his life…. I thought it was the paranoia, but he was really having some real issues.”

“I called some people, and that’s when I realized the cops, they were definitely looking at him,” he adds.

The documentary outlines some of the NYPD’s investigative work at the time, including its Enterprise Operations Unit (referred to in the film as the “hip-hop police”), which kept a close watch on local influential rappers. ODB would be leaving his home to attend concerts when he would get pulled over by police.

“Dirt was one of those guys like, ‘Yo, the government is on us.’ They gon’ try to kill me like this, they gon’ try to kill me like that,'” Wu-Tang’s Ghostface Killah recalls in the film.

Journalist S. H. Fernando Jr. appears in the documentary and confirms how “correct” ODB was about the government watching him and his group members.

“People think that Dirty was crazy or drugs were making him paranoid or whatever,” Fernando says. “But he actually did have a legitimate concern that the feds were after him. He knew that he was on the radar of law enforcement.”

“They had been following Wu-Tang for years,” he adds.

ODB died of a drug overdose in November 2004 at 35. Eight years later, the FBI’s five-year file on Wu-Tang Clan from 1999 to 2004 was revealed. In 2016, VICE discovered that the file included “inflammatory allegations” that accused the legendary hip-hop group of racketeering. However, no charges were ever filed against any Wu-Tang members.

RELATED CONTENT: RZA Partners With LL Cool J, Irving Azoff To Elevate The Wu-Tang Clan Brand

wu-tang clan
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 26, 2024

Martin Shkreli Has To Give Up His Copies Of Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Once Upon A Time in Shaolin’

A federal judge ruled that he is forbidden from streaming or disseminating copies.

The Wu-Tang Clan’s album, “Once Upon A Time in Shaolin,” currently owned by PleasrDAO, was once owned by convicted pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli. PleasrDAO has successfully sued Shkreli after accusing him of keeping unauthorized copies of the album and distributing it without the company’s permission.

According to ArtNet, in a case before Judge Pamela Chen in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, she ruled that Shkreli must turn over all copies of the rare album in his possession. He is also forbidden from streaming or disseminating copies of “Once Upon A Time in Shaolin.”

“Today’s ruling by the court is an important victory for our client PleasrDAO, who owns the exclusive rights to the one-of-a-kind-Wu-Tang Clan album,” Steven Cooper, an attorney for PleasrDAO, said in a written statement.

Judge Chen has ordered Shrekli to hand over all copies of the album to his attorney within one week. He must also provide an affidavit confirming that he has handed it over to his lawyer. Within 30 days, Shkreli should also provide a list of all copies of the album, to whom he gave copies, and how much money he made from the album.

In 2015, Shkreli bought the Wu-Tang Clan album at an auction for $2 million. In 2017, he was arrested and convicted of securities fraud. The government seized the album and other property he owned. In 2021, PleasrDAO allegedly bought the album from the government for $4 million.

The company sued Shkreli in June, alleging that he had streamed the music during a “Wu-Tang Official Listening Party” after his release from prison in May 2022. He told his followers that he made copies of the album, which were “hidden in safes all around the world.”

Forbes reported in June that hip-hop fans can purchase an NFT of the Wu-Tang Clan album for $1. Fans can access the album for $1 and hear a five-minute sampler. PleasrDAO stated that cryptocurrency is not required to purchase the NFT.

RELATED CONTENT: Ol’ Dirty Bastard Documentary To Debut In August On A&E

Drowning, Jessica Weaver
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

August 26, 2024

2 Preteens Sentenced In Drowning Death Of 8-Year-Old Noah Bush

A 10 and 11-year-old have been sentenced in the drowning death of 8-year-old Noah Bush in Wayne County, Georgia.

A 10 and 11-year-old boy have been separately sentenced in the May drowning death of 8-year-old Noah Bush on the northern side of Wayne County, Georgia.

WSAV reports that the 11-year-old was sentenced to two years’ confinement, the maximum penalty under the law, and the 10-year-old was sentenced to two years in a detention center.

“My baby was eight years old with a full life ahead of him,” Noah’s mother, Demetrice Bush, said. “And two years is what the state of Georgia calls justice for an entire life that’s lost.”

The 11-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter and simple battery after admitting to pushing Noah into a water-filled clay pit and holding his head under until he drowned. The children were wading in the clay pit before two of them pushed Noah into the deep end.

An overnight search was organized on May 15 after Noah’s mother realized he had gone missing. Noah and the two other boys went into a restricted zone filled with borrow pits. The two boys and their parents were involved in the overnight search for Noah.

When Noah was initially found dead inside of the borrow pits, Wayne County Sheriff Chuck Moseley said his death involved “no foul play.” However, in July, the Bush family hired the Davis Bozeman Johnson Law Group to privately investigate Noah’s death, which led to the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney finding probable cause and suggesting the involvement of the 10-year-old and 11-year-old boys in Noah’s death.

Later that month, a Wayne County judge sentenced the 10-year-old child to two years of confinement on charges of concealing the death of another and criminal trespassing. But there remained no clear reason for how Noah drowned until the 11-year-old revealed the truth on Thursday.

A hearing is set in 30 days to discuss restitution for Noah’s family. The attorneys state that their work is not complete until adults, particularly the 11-year-old child’s mother, Natalie Hardison, are prosecuted in the case.

Hardison was arrested in July on charges including probation violation and making false statements. However, her attorneys say the county is “making up other reasons” for her current incarceration. County officials have confirmed that Hardison’s charges are not directly connected to Noah’s death or the case against her son.

RELATED CONTENT: Montreal Honors Drowned Children Of The Little Burgundy Negro Community

Mayweather, Boxing, referee, John Gotti III
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 26, 2024

Floyd Mayweather Fires Referee During Rematch With John Gotti III

The undefeated boxer was so upset with a call made by the ref that he had him replaced while they were in the boxing ring.

When Floyd Mayweather first faced off against John Gotti III, grandson of the infamous mob boss, the match erupted into chaos after the referee’s decision to stop the fight. This led to a brawl as both fighters’ teams stormed the ring in response to Gotti’s anger. In their rematch, tensions flared again when Mayweather, dissatisfied with the referee’s decision, abruptly fired him and brought in a replacement during the match.

The New York Post reports that the exhibition match occurred at Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Aug. 24. Mayweather landed what appeared to be a legal right hook to Gotti’s head in the second round. However, referee Hector Afu intervened, stopping the fight and citing Mayweather for an illegal punch. This decision infuriated Mayweather, who was seen pushing Afu’s arm and gesturing for him to step aside. As Mayweather continued to dispute the call, he angrily yelled at the referee to move out of the way.

As Mayweather circled the boxing ring, shouting at his corner and the scorer’s table, Afu eventually moved to a corner of the ring and exited. After a few minutes, a new referee stepped in, and the fighters reconvened in the center as the match resumed under the new official’s direction.

The boxing match continued, and although there were no judges, Mayweather had the best match between the two, and the fight actually went the distance.

The last time the two combatants met, the referee, Kenny Bayless, stopped the match in the sixth round after warning Gotti about his trash-talking. When the fight ended, Gotti got angrier, and although the match was over, he continued to attack Mayweather after the bell rang, causing both teams’ corners to jump in, and a brawl ensued.

Magic Johnson, Celtics, Lakers
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

August 26, 2024

Magic Johnson Shuts Down Anthony Edwards’ Claim That Only Michael Jordan Possessed Skills During Their Era

Anthony Edwards stated that Michael Jordan was the only NBA player who "really had skill," but Magic Johnson doesn't pull any punches in his response.

Twenty-three-year-old NBA player Anthony Edwards recently said that NBA Hall of Fame legend Michael Jordan was the only NBA player who “really had skill.” Another NBA Hall of Famer, Magic Johnson, responded with a statement that should keep comments like that from coming out of Edwards’ mouth.

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, the Minnesota Timberwolves player said he didn’t get a chance to watch NBA games from earlier years, yet said that although people say it was tougher to play in earlier years, he disagreed with players having skills back then.

“I didn’t watch it back in the day, so I can’t speak on it,” he told the media outlet. “They say it was tougher back then than it is now, but I don’t think anybody had skill back then. [Michael Jordan] was the only one that really had skill, you know what I mean? So that’s why when they saw Kobe [Bryant], they were like, ‘Oh, my God.’ But now everybody has skill.”

Although he claimed to have not seen people play to determine their skill, his arrogance in saying that NBA players weren’t skillful had people reacting to what he said. One of those people, Los Angeles Lakers legend, NBA champion, and successful businessman Magic Johnson, spoke to Stephen A. Smith about the Team USA player’s statement.

“Well, you know, I don’t never respond to a guy that’s never won a championship,” Johnson said. “It’s not nothing to really say. He didn’t win a college championship; I don’t know if he even won a high school championship.”

The New York Post reported that Johnson and Smith spoke while they were at the Yaamava Resort & Casino.

According to Sports Illustrated, Edwards also commented earlier this summer that had basketball fans shaking their heads. Before Team USA started its gold medal journey at the Paris Olympics, he stated that on a team that featured future Hall of Famers like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, and Joell Embiid, he told reporters that he, not them, should be the number one option for the Games.

RELATED CONTENT: Magic Johnson Cosigns Comparisons That Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark Are Rivals Like He And Larry Bird In The ’80s

Nigerian teen, inventor, glasses, visually impaired, Khalifa Aminu
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 26, 2024

Nigerian Teen Invents Glasses To Help Visually-Impaired People Walk Safely

The teen hopes to secure investors or government funding to produce more of his glasses.

Khalifa Aminu, an 18-year-old from Nigeria, has created a pair of revolutionary glasses that can help visually impaired people.

The sensory glasses can help those with sight issues walk safely by themselves. According to Afrotech, Aminu told DailyNews24 TV that he had created several things, from bomb detectors to automatic water sprays. However, his latest product grew from a concern for the people in his community.

“The glasses, it is used to help the blind. It was tested by a blind man, and it impressed him,” he said, as reported by the news outlet. “The blind man suggested four things, and I know a lack of material will hinder me. He suggested a wireless switch, smaller parts, and black lenses. This is what he said he needs, and he will use it if they are implemented.”

In an interview posted on TikTok, he shared that many in his hometown struggle with sight, leading him to invent a product that could ease their daily lives.

@dw_the77percent Khalifa Aminu from Kano State has invented a remarkable device called a blind eye sensor. This device helps people who are visually impaired move around without needing a stick. We spoke with him to learn more about his invention! #technology #technologynews #invention #inventions #nigeria #nigerian #nigeriatiktok #nigeriatiktok🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬 #nigerians ♬ vlog, chill out, calm daily life(1370843) – SUNNY HOOD STUDIO

“I grew up in an area where there’s visually impaired people, and I understand what they’re going through,” shared the teenager to the 77 Percent. “This is why I began the process for a technology-based solution for them.” 

According to the video, the glasses would allow visually impaired people to forego a walking stick. The product reportedly uses ultrasonic and infrared sensors to detect when objects are near or coming toward the wearer. It activates an alarm to inform users of incoming objects or persons.

Moreover, Aminu seeks support from investors and the government to improve his invention. In the meantime, he remains dedicated to bringing the product to life and encourages other inventors to keep going as well.

“My advice to young innovators is to use their knowledge to create something, even without waiting for government support,” he said. “This can eventually lead to establishing a company that benefits the community. My dream is to get support of a large factory so that I can have a staff working under me, collaborating to advance our knowledge and create technological devices for local use and export.”

According to AIT, the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities shared in June that they have reached out to Aminu. They plan to learn more about his invention and test its functionality soon.

RELATED CONTENT: Nigerian Teen Invents Humanoid That Operates Through Exoskeleton Remote Control

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