Brooklyn Nets Fire Steve Nash; Suspended Celtics Coach Ime Udoka Considered Frontrunner For Job
by Derek Major

November 1, 2022

Brooklyn Nets Fire Steve Nash; Suspended Celtics Coach Ime Udoka Considered Frontrunner For Job

The Brooklyn Nets parted ways with Head Coach Steve Nash Tuesday and suspended Boston Celtics Head Coach Ime Udoka as the frontrunner to replace him.

According to Bleacher Report, Udoka, who was suspended for this NBA season by the Celtics after it was revealed that he was having an affair with a female team employee, is considered the top candidate for the job. Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix is also reporting that the Nets and Celtics are in “advanced discussions” about a contract for him to take over as the Nets head coach.

Nash, who had no coaching experience at any level, and the Nets agreed to part ways Tuesday after two plus rocky seasons in Brooklyn that saw point guard Kyrie Irving miss numerous games due to his refusal to get vaccinated for the COVID-19 pandemic among other issues.

Nets assistant Jacque Vaughn will coach the team beginning tonight against the Chicago Bulls on an interim basis until a new coach is found. Udoka is still part of the Celtics organization meaning the team would have to grant permission for Udoka to interview with the Nets. However, according to multiple sources, the Celtics are willing to let Udoka leave.

Udoka, 45, guided the Celtics to a 51-31 record last season and an appearance in the NBA Finals. It was Udoka’s first season coaching the team, making him one of the most notable figures on the team. The Nets are currently off to a 2-5 start including Monday night’s loss to the Indiana Pacers.

The Nets are also dealing with issues outside of their lackluster play. Irving is dealing with the social media backlash to anti-Semitic statements he posted on social media. Forward Ben Simmonds is still terrified of shooting the basketball and now even celebrities are questioning his commitment to the game.

Additionally, the team also was dead last in ticket sales last season. In comparison, the Knicks, who didn’t make the playoffs last season and haven’t been a legitimate NBA title contender since Patrick Ewing was still on the team, finished sixth in attendance last season according to ESPN. Another candidated for the Nets head coaching position is former Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder

Tracee Ellis Ross and Gabrielle Union Celebrate Their 50th Birthdays in Style
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2022

Tracee Ellis Ross and Gabrielle Union Celebrate Their 50th Birthdays in Style

Two of Black Hollywood’s most beloved actresses both celebrated milestone birthdays over the weekend. Tracee Ellis Ross and Gabrielle Union turned 50 on October 29 and avoided combining Halloween into their festivities.

Ross kicked off her birthday by posting a video in her birthday suit that showed off her toned 50-year-old body.

“50 // grateful SOUND ON 🗣️🔊,” she captioned the post.

 

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A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

Ross hosted an intimate birthday dinner Saturday night that wasn’t a costume party but turned into one when Kim Kardashian showed up dressed like Mystique from X-Men, Entertainment Tonight reported. Kardashian posted a selfie to her Instagram Story, posing alongside Ross who looked stunning in her cherry red gown paired with a matching off-the-shoulder jacket and jewels.

“That time I showed up to a birthday dinner in full costume when it wasn’t a costume party!” Kardashian captioned her post. “Happy Birthday to the most beautiful kind soul @traceeellisross.”

Ross also took to Instagram to show off her three birthday looks that celebrated the Black-Ish star on her milestone birthday.

“BIRTHDAY LOOK no. 1,” she captioned her first post.

 

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A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

The photos garnered praise from the likes of Chloe Bailey, Yvonne Orji, and Lori Harvey. In her next post, Ross showed off the red number she sported for her intimate birthday dinner.

“BIRTHDAY LOOK no. 2,” she captioned the post.

 

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A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

The final look paid homage to Tracee’s soul diva mom, Diana Ross, in a dress that came from the Supremes star’s closet.

“BIRTHDAY LOOK no. 3 from my mama’s archive 😁,” Tracee captioned the post.

 

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A post shared by Tracee Ellis Ross (@traceeellisross)

Meanwhile, her good friend Gabrielle Union was busy celebrating her 50th birthday in Tanzania. The Being Mary Jane star posted an Instagram Reel with a heartfelt caption recounting her birthday celebration.

“I’m still processing the level of effort and planning that went into pulling off such an unbelievable 50th birthday party in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and keep the details a surprise from my nosy self,” Union wrote.

“I’m beyond grateful for all of my loved ones who flew around the world to celebrate with me.”

 

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A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion)

Alabama Sees Highest Education Gains in U.S. for Black, Hispanic Students During COVID-19 Pandemic
by Derek Major

November 1, 2022

Alabama Sees Highest Education Gains in U.S. for Black, Hispanic Students During COVID-19 Pandemic

A national analysis of state test results from 29 states and Washington D.C. shows school districts in Alabama made some of the highest gains in math and reading between 2019 and 2022.

AL.com reports the analysis, known as the Education Recovery Scorecard, revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Black and Hispanic students in the Cotton State.

Alabama has the second-highest reading score gains at the state level for Hispanic students. Like the rest of the U.S., the state didn’t see an increase in math scores, but Alabama had the least amount of learning loss in math, equivalent to a few weeks.

Among Black students, Alabama had the second-lowest learning loss in reading, about a month’s worth, and the fourth-lowest learning loss in math, equal to four months.

However, the study also noted that Black students in some districts lost more than a year of learning due to the pandemic. Additionally, the state’s overall rankings in terms of education compared to other states are relatively low.

Seven of the top 10 school districts in the U.S. for reading are in Alabama, including Butler County, where students showed nearly a year’s worth of gains. In math, eight of the top 10 highest learning gains for Black students were in Alabama school districts, including Demopolis City, Pike Road, Ozark, Henry County, and Thomasville.

The COVID-19 pandemic upended school districts across the country as students were forced to shuffle between virtual learning and in-class instruction. Teachers in some states went on strike due to a lack of COVID-19 safety measures which led to a war of words between teachers unions and city governments.

“This has been a hard season. And it’s exciting to see that their efforts are paying off,” Hoover County resident Chris Robbins told AL.com.

“Our students have worked hard, our families have worked hard,” Robbins continued. “And they deserve a pat on the back.”

The gains by Alabama should be viewed as a success considering U.S. News & World Report ranked the state 41st in internet access. Reliable internet access was paramount for students during the pandemic. However, Black and Hispanic students across the country were hindered by the pandemic, which exposed a widening racial technology gap between minority and white students.

‘Enough is Enough’, Clip of Takeoff Demanding His Flowers In Hip Hop Trends After His Death
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2022

‘Enough is Enough’, Clip of Takeoff Demanding His Flowers In Hip Hop Trends After His Death

Amid tragic news surrounding the death of Migos’ rapper Takeoff, a clip from the rap group’s recent Drink Champs interview has started trending.

On Tuesday morning, the hip-hop community was shocked when word of Takeoff’s passing hit the press. The rapper, born Kirshnik Khari Ball, 28, was fatally shot during a private party at a bowling alley in downtown Houston, Click 2 Houston reports.

Celebrities and fans alike have expressed their mourning over the rapper’s death. Takeoff recently appeared on an episode of N.O.R.E’s “Drink Champs” alongside his groupmate and uncle Quavo. The now-rap duo was there to promote their new album, Only Built for Infinity Links, which was released earlier this month.

It was the first album Quavo and Takeoff released without Migos’ member Offset, who exited the group to pursue solo endeavors. During Takeoff and Quavo’s appearance on Drink Champs, N.O.R.E. asked the Georgia rapper about his performance on the new album and praised him for “shining” throughout the project.

“Enough is enough. I’m chill, I’m laid back, but it’s time to pop it, you know what I mean?” Takeoff told N.O.R.E.

“I mean it’s time to give me my flowers. I don’t want them later on when I ain’t here. I want ’em right now.”

https://twitter.com/That_Damn_Vuyo/status/1587395674655653888?s=20&t=Zlvl53RVI1PrhpbXiptWcg

Takeoff’s strong sentiments appeared to be in response to many hip-hop fans who felt he was one of the best lyricists in Migos but was often overlooked by his two group members Quavo and Offset. It’s something that is standing out to Migos fans who are mourning the rapper’s death.

“It’s crazy fr cause On the interview on Drink Champs you can tell Takeoff was starting to come out his shell and was ready to show ppl a different side of him he even said that’s why he went so hard on the album cause he wanted his flowers while he was here smh RIP,” one fan tweeted.

https://twitter.com/Anthonytoler03/status/1587406884797140993?s=20&t=Zlvl53RVI1PrhpbXiptWcg

Another fan noted another recent interview where he touched on the issue of violence in hip-hop.

“Takeoff was just on Drink Champs talking about wanting his flowers and answering if being a rapper was the most dangerous profession and then sh*t happens,” they tweeted.

Investigators are reportedly using nearby surveillance video to determine what led to the shooting.

The Great Restoration: The Knowledge House Launches Its 2022–23 Fellowship Campaign To Increase Tech Workforce Nationwide
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 1, 2022

The Great Restoration: The Knowledge House Launches Its 2022–23 Fellowship Campaign To Increase Tech Workforce Nationwide

The Knowledge House (TKH) will continue its eight-year journey with its 2022-23 Fellowship Campaign.

This year’s theme is the “Great Restoration” to answer the call to corporations in need of Black and Brown technologists through its successful nationwide programming at its satellite locations in New York City, Newark, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.

The Fellowship Campaign allows TKH to mobilize resources, volunteers, mentors, and funders to provide support to the incoming class of 2022-23 fellows. Last year TKH raised $1.2 million, with over half raised with support from our corporate partners at JP Morgan Chase, Citi, and Goldman Sachs. Notable headliners included Asahi Pompey, Global Head of Corporate Engagement and President of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, and Maurice Jones, Chief Executive Officer at OneTen.

Accenture is hosting a reception to help TKH reach its fundraising goal of $2.5 million to support up to 250 future technologists — TKH is currently just half a million away from reaching its goal this year.

Despite the growth of America’s tech sector, less than 10% of tech positions are held by people of color — a distribution that does not reflect our nation. While the vast majority of DEI-conscious corporate sector leaders have exhausted all traditional avenues to hire more individuals from historically underestimated communities — it has proven extremely difficult.

The Knowledge House provides direct access for corporations to find suitable candidates — a diverse pool of historically underrepresented talent with experience ranging from college stop-out, trade schools, career pivoters, CUNY grads, and more, to entry-level talent who have received holistic training and support, including cash stipends, career development, technical upskilling, and on-the-job training.

“Candidates are attracted to our program because we provide (1) an inclusive, high-quality, and part-time program that allows Fellows to still work during the day while pursuing their new path, and (2) a stipend to help students make ends meet, instead of charging $20,000 for a traditional coding boot camp. We partner with community-based organizations in our site cities to identify underestimated talent looking to transition into the tech industry,” says Daniel Adeyanju, Director of Programs at The Knowledge House.

“Throughout the Fellowship, we provide industry-relevant career navigation instruction to prepare Fellows to position themselves for strong first tech jobs.”

The Fellowship Campaign will kick off with The Knowledge House’s Corporate Partners Reception presented by Accenture in New York City on Nov. 15.”

Join The Knowledge House and corporate partners for an innovative reception at Accenture as leaders convene for a solutions-focused panel on finding, retaining, and advancing diverse talent and a fireside chat on the future of technology in NYC! Opening Remarks by Priscila de Pinho (Accenture) and Jerelyn Rodriguez (The Knowledge House). Main Panel moderated by Selena Hill (On-Air Talent/Black Enterprise); with Marcus Felder (Blackstone), Gary Johnson (Cashapp), and Neela Pal (Goldman Sachs), plus Fireside Chat moderated by Rah Thomas (Accenture) and Abby Jo Sigal (Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development).

For tickets and more information please visit here.

Bronny James
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 1, 2022

Bronny James Rushed Off Basketball Court After Gun Scare Over the Weekend

A weapon scare forced the son of LeBron James and others in a basketball gym to flee a venue in Washington, D.C.

According to TMZ, over the weekend, during a high school basketball tournament, Bronny James had to be rushed off the court when there was a purported weapon in the stands. The incident took place on Saturday in D.C. at a high school gym.

James was playing for Sierra Canyon against DeMatha Catholic in a preseason event, the “DMV Showcase,” held at Wise High School. DeMatha was up by a score of 52-51 with less than two minutes remaining in the contest. A fight allegedly broke out in the stands, and someone yelled out that someone had a gun, which caused panic among people in the gym. Video footage showing the two teams rushing out of the gym to avoid whatever chaos was going to take place went viral.

Police officials told TMZ Sports that although there was a rush from the stands and a little chaos, they did a “thorough search” and “did not locate a firearm.”
A police spokesperson also said, “There were no injuries.”
Although no weapons were found and no one was injured, the team did not come out to complete the rest of the game “out of an abundance of caution,” said DeMatha Head Coach Mike G. Jones III.
Bronny posted something on his social media page after the game, saying, “high schoolers can’t even hoop in peace now a days.”
BLACK ENTERPRISE Announces the Return of the SistersInc. Summit
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 1, 2022

BLACK ENTERPRISE Announces the Return of the SistersInc. Summit

Today, BLACK ENTERPRISE, the No. 1 Black digital media brand with 12 million unique monthly visitors,  announced its SistersInc. Summit, the virtual experience for women entrepreneurs, will return on Wednesday, Nov. 2.

Bringing BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s award-winning business podcast to life, the event provides an opportunity for the growing number of Black women entrepreneurs to join and discuss ways to start and scale their companies.

Attendees will have the opportunity to network with peers, corporations, and investors who support Black women entrepreneurs, learn from the lineup of expert speakers, and receive valuable resources to develop their professional goals. Successful women entrepreneurs will share how they became their own bosses, how they continue to overcome the challenges of being a Black woman in business, and strategies for building and leveraging profitable partnerships.

“Black women are the fastest growing demographic of entrepreneurs in the U.S., yet it can be difficult to overcome financial obstacles impeding scalability and business longevity,” said Alisa Gumbs, Vice President and Deputy Chief Content Officer for BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“It is a privilege to lead the work that BLACK ENTERPRISE’s SistersInc. is doing to help Black women entrepreneurs educate and equip themselves with the tools to navigate business successfully.”

The SistersInc. Summit provides a unique space for like-minded women to share their experiences and build a sisterhood of professional Black leaders across industries. Confirmed speakers for the event include Cassandra Cummings, Investment & Wealth Strategist; Lia Easler, Marketing AVP of Nationwide; Grace Eleyae, Founder of Grace Eleyae Inc.; Lenore Horton, Legal Strategist and Angel Investor of Outside General Counsel; Nikki Porcher, Founder of Buy From a Black Woman; Kyra Renel, MBA, Managing Consultant of The Kyra Co.; Desiree Rogers, Co-Owner and CEO of Black Opal and Fashion Fair Cosmetics; and Ginger Siegel, North America Small Business SVP of Mastercard.

Panels will highlight:

  • Networking opportunities with peers and fellow entrepreneurs
  • Fireside chat with the hosts of Jill Scott Presents: J.ILL The Podcast: Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actor Jill Scott; podcast host/producer and on-air personality Laiya St. Clair; and singer-songwriter Aja Graydon Dantzler
  • Learning how to build profitable partnerships to grow and scale
  • Addressing financial needs and solutions for entrepreneurs
  • How to remain resilient through each obstacle
  • Group coaching sessions

The BLACK ENTERPRISE SistersInc. Summit is brought to you by Presenting sponsor Mastercard and will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022. Platinum sponsors include Nationwide and Walmart. For complimentary registration and information about sessions and speakers, visit www.sistersinc.blackenterprise.com.

Tabitha Brown Gets Emotional After She Scores Two Emmy Nominations For Children’s Show ‘Tab Time’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2022

Tabitha Brown Gets Emotional After She Scores Two Emmy Nominations For Children’s Show ‘Tab Time’

Tabitha Brown has plenty of reason to celebrate after learning she’s been nominated not once but twice in the first-ever Children and Family Emmy Awards.

On Tuesday, nominations were announced for the inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys, which will include around 50 categories, Variety reports. Netflix leads the pack with approximately 85 nominations, while Disney+, Disney Channel, and Disney Junior follow up with around 78 nominations.

Tabitha’s YouTube Originals kid’s show Tab Time was nominated for Outstanding Preschool Series and the social media star was also nominated for Oustanding Host. Shortly after the nominees were announced, Tabitha took to Instagram to post an emotional video celebrating her Emmy nominations.

“Hello there. I just found that I have been nominated for an Emmy for Tab Time,” she shared through tears.

“Oh my God, Tab Time has been nominated for an Emmy,” she exclaimed.

 

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A post shared by Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown)

She explained how just being nominated for an Emmy is “the win” for her.

“Not one but two Emmy nominations,” she clarified.

In a lengthy caption, Brown further shared the news and thanked all who were involved in making the nomination happen.

“Y’all look at what the Lord has done😭😭😭😭. Tab Time is nominated for not 1 but 2 Emmys!!!!!” she wrote in the caption.

“1 for Outstanding preschool series and 1 for me as Outstanding Host 🎉🎉🎊🎊 Thank you @televisionacad @daytimeemmys @thekidsatplay @creativeartistsagency and @scaleproductions 😭😭😭😭 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾OOHHH GOD I THANK YOU🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾. Y’all DREAMS really do come true!!!!!! Omg!!!! #tabithabrown #emmynominated #TabTime”

Brown’s Tab Time follows the actress and culinary queen as  “Ms. Tab,” who taps into her natural capabilities as a cook, storyteller, mom, and motivational leader to teach children how to live their best life. Her young audience can watch the show and learn with her Super Cool Experts of celebrity guests in Tab’s Lab and complete arts and crafts with DJ Khrafty.

Diddy Almost Gets Into Heated Halloween Fight With ‘Power’ Actor While Dressed as Joker
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2022

Diddy Almost Gets Into Heated Halloween Fight With ‘Power’ Actor While Dressed as Joker

Diddy combatted hate with love while dressed as The Joker and met with opposition from Power actor Michael J. Ferguson.

Diddy showed off his acting prowess for Halloween this week when the hip-hop mogul stepped out in full Joker garb. The Love Records CEO had his face painted, wore a disheveled suit, and carried a fake machine gun to perfect his costume.

The “Gotta Move On” creator even changed his voice to possess Joker’s signature sinister voice and cackling laugh. Video clips showed him having a great time entertaining onlookers with his Halloween costume.

Rapper Tyler The Creator was the first to encounter Joker Diddy who walked up to his car with a gun in tow ready to sell the role.

“Tyler The Creator,” Diddy said in his best Joker voice. “Tyler you are my favorite rapper in the world.”

Fans applauded Diddy’s commitment to his Halloween costume and stellar acting ability.

“Nailed it,” one viewer wrote.

“Wait diddy kinda ate that up…even down to the laugh and mannerisms,” added someone else.

But the vibes didn’t stay completely positive throughout the night. A clip that surfaced Monday morning showed Joker Diddy’s encounter with a Power actor who seemingly felt like the Halloween character was too close for comfort.

https://twitter.com/madeitnewztv/status/1586924047740375040

Video captured the moment Diddy dressed as the Joker approached Ferguson, who plays the role of “2 Bit” on 50 Cent’s Power. Ferguson apparently wasn’t aware that it was Diddy behind the costume and told The Joker that he was “pu**y,” a known fighting word within the Black community.

Diddy handled it well while remaining in character. He gave off a Joker-like cackle while telling Ferguson he’s a “clown.” Diddy then broke character to let Ferguson know he’s willing to match his violent energy.

“What’s up, baby? You don’t like me?” Diddy says in the clip. “Then motherfu*king get to it, n***a.”

“If you don’t like me, you motherfu*king fronting. Get to it, bit*h. Don’t fu*king play with me on Halloween. I’m out here with love, n***a.”

Once Ferguson realized he was about to fight a billionaire hip-hop mogul, he eased up and returned the love. Diddy ended up inviting the actor to his afterparty where he encouraged him to “change your vibration!”

Former Michigan Police Officer who Killed Unarmed Black Man Heading to Trial for Second-Degree Murder
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 1, 2022

Former Michigan Police Officer who Killed Unarmed Black Man Heading to Trial for Second-Degree Murder

A former police officer from Michigan who shot an unarmed Black man in the head in April has been ordered to stand trial for the incident.

According to ABC News, former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who killed Patrick Lyoya on April 4 after a traffic stop, will be on trial after being charged with second-degree murder. He has pled not guilty.

The seven-year veteran had a preliminary hearing last week to determine how the court case would proceed. After looking at the evidence presented by the defense and prosecutors, Judge Nicholas Ayoub ruled that the case should be presented to a jury.

“Factual questions remain as to whether the defendant reasonably believed that his life was in imminent danger, or that he was in an imminent danger of suffering great bodily harm, and that deadly force was reasonably necessary,” Ayoub said. “These are questions of fact that the jury must decide based on the totality of the circumstances, as presented by the evidence at a trial.”

Lyoya, a 26-year-old native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was pulled over by Schurr for allegedly having a faulty license plate.

Footage from a body camera worn by Schurr shows the police officer yelling at Lyoya and instructing him to “get in the car.” Schurr is heard asking him if he spoke English and demanding that Lyoya show him his driver’s license. After Lyoya turned to someone in the car, he closed the door and started walking away from the police officer. He then began to flee, and Schurr grabbed him, and a struggle ensued. As they were entangled, Schurr pinned him to the ground and yelled out, “Stop resisting,” “Let go,” and “Drop the Taser.” During the struggle, the camera was deactivated, according to the police.

Lyoya’s friend, Aime Tuiishme, filmed from his mobile phone, and it showed Schurr shooting Lyoya in the head while he was on the ground. Reports from an independent autopsy and the Kent County medical examiner state that he died due to a gunshot to the head.

A local resident, Wayne Butler, told the court last week that the altercation was more like “wrestling” and said that Lyoya was not “on the offensive.”

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