Laws Aimed at Fixing Policing Are Being Rolled Back After Police Complain It Hurts Their Ability To Catch Criminals
Two years after the death of George Floydled to a nationwide movement and a wave of police reforms, the effort has slowed considerably.
According to the Associated Press, some reforms implemented in 2020 have been adjusted or rolled back after police departments complained it made their jobs harder. Additionally, while governors across the country signed police reform bills, many gave more protections to police officers.
An analysis by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland states that across the U.S, governments collectively approved 300 police reform bills after the death of Floyd in May 2020 that affected police oversight, training, use of force, mental health diversions, and body cameras.
Examples include North Carolina, where a law passed giving officers the power to charge civilians who interfere with an officer’s duty but also created a public database of officers who are suspended or fired for misconduct. In Minnesota, where the reform movement began after Floyd’s death, neck restraints were banned, and officers are now required to intervene when they see a colleague using excessive force. The package also created a police misconduct database.
While many reform bills and laws have fallen short of the wishes of Black people and Democrats, they have served as a warning to police across the country that citizens are watching and recording them.
In Washington, Gov. Jay Insleesigned a comprehensive reform package banning no-knock warrants and chokeholds and enacting use-of-force requirements. Police officials in the state argued the reforms went too far.
“There’s just that atmosphere of emboldened criminals and brazen criminality, and people telling law enforcement, ‘I know that you can’t do anything,’ “Steve Strachan, executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, told the AP.
Police across the country have been arguing the reforms are hindering their ability to do their job and are urging people to pressure legislators into reversing the bills and laws. The effort is disheartening for relatives of victims of excessive force and police misconduct.
“Any good the reforms that were in place did, they are going to try to undo in 2023,” Nickeia Hunter, whose brother Carlos Hunter was fatally shot by police in 2019, told the AP. “They are trying to roll back every gain that was made.”
Seriously? Fans of Ye Tried to Raise Funds Via GoFundMe to Help Him Regain Billionaire Status
A few people were hoping to help Ye get back to a status he lost due to his recent downfall after making comments that affected his finances. Several GoFundMe pages were allegedly started to help Yebecome a billionaire again, but those plans have failed.
According to AllHipHop, there were several pages started on the GoFundMe platform to help the eccentric rapper formerly known as Kanye West reclaim his billionaire status. The fashion designer lost his billionaire status after Adidas cut all ties with him, lowering his financial status to $500 million.
The pages set up to help Ye were reportedly taken down by the fundraising site.
The latest fallout has cost Ye his billionaire status and made way for hip-hop stalwart Sean “Diddy” Combs to sit at the billionaire’s table. Ye now sits at the “almost there” table currently occupied by music producer Dr. Dre and cannabis business owner Gilbert “Berner” Milam, who both trail the Donda Academy founder with fortunes of more than $400 million each.
Rolling Stone has reported that this isn’t the first time fans tried to raise funds for the embattled Ye.
When Ye reportedly had $53 million in debt in February 2016, a man named Jeremy Piatt launched a GoFundMe account for the controversial artist. He raised $57,398 toward the goal of $53 million. Ye’s camp declined to accept the money raised, but instead of returning the funds to people who contributed, Piatt decided to donate the money to a nonprofit organization, Notes for Notes.
“As reported by TMZ, Mr. Kanye West’s camp has declined the funds raised by this GoFundMe campaign. Since the funds raised will NOT be going to Mr. West, we’re excited to announce that they will instead be directed toward an outstanding charitable organization, Notes for Notes®. In lieu of funding Mr. West’s artistic vision, 100% of the funds will be headed to young aspiring musicians hoping to fulfill their dreams.”
How Milan Rouge Turned Two Shirts into a Premium Clothing Brand Generating $60 Million in Sales
Milan Rouge is the founder and CEO of Milano Di Rouge, the popular fashion brand worn by countless celebrities, including Cardi B, Lala Anthony, Rick Ross, Monica, and many more.
Rouge first launched Milano Di Rouge, which stands for Making Dreams Reality, in 2012.
In the last six years, her company has generated $60 million in sales. Rouge’s success represents hope for anyone ready to chase their dreams with relentless grit and strategy.
I sat with Milan Rouge to discuss her rise to success as an entrepreneur. Here are a few takeaways from our conversation.
Photo Credit: Meech Ward
From The Bottom To The Top
Rouge, a former hairstylist and home health aide, has built a business empire, but she didn’t start at the top. She started the Milan Di Rouge brand with two shirts 10 years ago. She grew up in West Philadelphia in a single-parent household and her father was incarcerated most of her life. Rouge spent her early years growing up in a neighborhood called “The Bottom.”
“I didn’t realize we were poor because everyone around us was in the same economic status,” Rouge shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
But, around age 14, Rouge started seeing things differently.
Rouge credits her mom for showing her what is possible when you work hard to go after your dreams. Her mother had her older sister at 15 and dropped out of high school in the 9th grade to care for her child. But she went back to school at 28 years old to become a registered nurse and graduated with a master’s degree in business.
“Seeing her desire to win and making the sacrifice to better herself allowed me to dream. If she could work during the day and go to school at night as s a single mom with two kids to improve our economic status, nothing was going to stop me but me,” said Rouge.
Her mother’s sacrifices allowed her family to move to a middle-class neighborhood: a game changer for Rouge. Rouge’s mind started to open up to the possibilities. “Once you start seeing more, you know you can become more,” she added.
Rouge would sell out of inventory in the early years, selling her clothes out of the trunk of her car, but her business barely made money. But after visiting her father in prison in 2015, she received a piece of advice that changed how she would operate her business in the future.
When her father realized it took her three weeks after selling out to replenish her inventory, he told her that her mission was to “never sell out of inventory.” That was also the year Rouge decided to add sweatsuits to her fashion line.
She asked her mom for a $1,200 loan promising to pay her back. “First, she said she didn’t have it. But, five minutes later, my mom put a $1,200 check on my lap,” Rouge said. Fast forward to today, her mother is the Chief Operating Officer of Milan Di Rouge.
She Focuses on Being the Best She Can Be
Rouge believes in focusing on building the best brand you can build and, as much as possible, integrating the things you care about into your company.
“Every single day since I started Milan Di Rouge, I have worked on Milan Di Rouge. I created something that I truly enjoy. It’s not just about the clothes; it’s also about the mission, inspiring and empowering people to make their dreams a reality, and giving back.”
While Rouge acknowledges the importance of knowing your competitors and always thinking ahead, she believes too much focus on your competition can hurt you.
“When you are too focused on your competition, you can’t really focus on your goal. I remember a racing game in the fifth grade. I was about to win until I started looking over at the person close to me. I lost because I was focused on her and not on my goal. And I remember that every time I’m almost distracted by a competitor. “
Rouge had a long list of stars wearing her clothes early on, which helped make her brand more visible. She created a template to reach out to celebrities, explaining what her brand stood for and offering to send a package their way. “Some people said yes, others said no. Others ignored it.” But whenever Rouge heard no, she kept going.
She shared that she embraces failure because there’s always a lesson to be learned and to make you better.
She Continues to Expand Her Mind
Rouge, whose company has been generating millions of dollars in revenue for six consecutive years, is always looking for ways to learn and elevate. As she educates herself, she implements new strategies. In recent years, she started using the high income she earns as an entrepreneur to invest and build lasting wealth. She started learning about the stock market and real estate.
“When I had my son, I realized I didn’t have ownership outside of my business. I had my showrooms in LA, my storefront and office in Philadelphia that I didn’t own.”
That year she purchased her storefront in Philadelphia, a building for her headquarters, her first home, and a property for her mother and sister. Since then, Rouge has purchased 10 additional properties, including a property for her son for his first birthday.”
Photo Credit: Meech Ward
She is a Lifelong Learner
Rouge discussed how crucial it is to continue to learn, which has helped her expand her mind and always think ahead. “I’m always willing to learn, and I accept constructive criticism. I also always think about what’s next to be ahead of the curve.”
“I started Milan Rouge in 2012 but didn’t have mentors until 2018. So I created the Womanaire Club for like-minded women to share resources, challenges, and knowledge so we can learn and improve together.”
This year, Milano Di Rouge is celebrating 10 years in business with a Fashion Show and Gala in Atlanta on Nov. 11th and 12th. Milan Rouge believes she is successful today because she never gave up on her dreams. She believes that others who may be starting from less-than-ideal situations can find success too, if they are willing to be consistent, sacrifice, and let go of what they know to elevate.
“What are you willing to sacrifice? You can’t remain the same person and do the same things. You must let something go for growth to happen. If you are willing to let go, sacrifice, and work hard, you can make your dreams reality.”
About the Author
Anne-Lyse Wealth is a certified public accountant and communications strategist for business leaders. She is the founder of The ALW Communications Agency, which helps leaders amplify their brand through PR and storytelling, and the Plutus Awards-nominated Dreamoflegacy.com, a platform dedicated to inspiring millennials to build wealth with purpose.
Spike Lee, Issa Rae, and Cast of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Honored At Ebony Power 100 Gala
Black Excellence was the theme at the 2022 Ebony Power 100 Gala Presented by Coca-Cola Zero SugarTM.
Held at Milk Studios in Hollywood on Saturday, the star-studded gala hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian and actress Amber Ruffin brought out some of the most respected names and figures across various industries.
Honorees of the night included legendary film director Spike Lee who was presented with the Icon Award by his longtime friend and collaborator actor Roger Guenveur Smith.
The Academy Award-winning director shared his history with the HBCUs Morehouse and Spelman while accepting his award and making subtle nods to a few of his cult classic films like School Daze, Do The Right Thing, and Crooklyn.
Emmy-nominated actress and producer Issa Rae shared a sister empowerment moment with Nia Long when the Best Man star presented Issa with the People’s Choice Award. Long recalled her first time meeting Issa during her “Awkward Black Girl” days and needing a writer.
“But she was not awkward, she was a star,” Long said of Issa.”I knew in that moment, that I was watching a star be born.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: Issa Rae (R) accepts the People’s Choice Award from Nia Long (L) onstage during EBONY Power 100 at Milk Studios Los Angeles on October 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for EBONY MEDIA GROUP)
The Harder They Fall star Jonathan Majors graced the stage to present the cast of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever with the For The Culture Award. Letitia Wright, Dania Gurira, and Lupita Nyong’o were in attendance to accept the award and promote their new sequel ahead of its November 11 release.
Insecure actor Kendrick Sampson became a central figure during the social justice movement of 2020. His continued activism made him the perfect candidate to present Tamika Palmer and Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mothers of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, with the Social Justice Award.
Fellow Insecure star and Top Gun: Maverick actor Jay Ellis took the stage with actress and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais to present Target’s Senior Vice President of Marketing Maurice Cooper with the Corporate Citizen Award. Singer/actress and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss (2022 EBONY Power 100 honoree) presented McKissack & McKissack President and CEO Cheryl McKissack with the Black Business Award.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 29: (L-R) Wanda Cooper Jones and Tamika Palmer accept the Social Justice Award onstage during EBONY Power 100 at Milk Studios Los Angeles on October 29, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for EBONY MEDIA GROUP)
Other presenters of the night include Janelle Monáe who kicked off the night by introducing Tony Award-Winning Actor, Myles Frost, who performed a few of the King of Pop’s biggest hits “Heartbreak Hotel”, “P.Y.T.” (Pretty Young Thing), and “Rock with You” from his portrayal of Michael Jackson in Broadway’s MJ the Musical.
Queen Sugar star Bianca Lawson came out to introduce a performance by Nigerian rapper, Tobe Nwigwe. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever cast will also cover Ebony’s November digital cover.
Migos Trending: Reports Surface That Rapper Takeoff Shot Dead in Houston at 28
Reports have surfaced that the Grammy-award-winning rapper Takeoff from the group the Migos was shot dead in Houston, Texas.
UPDATE: 2 other victims taken in private vehicles to hospitals.
Media partners: We are not releasing an identity of the deceased victim until his family is notified & ID verified by Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
Multiple sources say Takeoff, real name Kirshnik Khari Ball, was shot over a dice game. He was one-third of rap trio Migos alongside his uncle, Quavo and cousin once removed, Offset.
According to HPD Lt. Salazar, 40 to 50 people were at 810 Billiards & Bowling, located at 1201 San Jacinto, around 2:40 a.m. when the shooting took place. Two additional victims were located at nearby hospitals, HPD said.
Photos posted to social media by TMZ showTakeoff wearing a white shirt with black pants and Quavo in orange trying to help him.
A video of the aftermath showed a man matching the description of the rapper lying motionless on the ground.
This is a developing story. Very sad.
Updating our story. Takeoff from Migos is dead. Quavo was not shot. This is wild. Sending condolences to the family.
We will not post gruesome videos or photos out of respect for the family. But here are photos of Takeoff that show him in his light as one of the members of The Migos.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 23: Takeoff and Quavo of The Migos perform onstage at the 2019 BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 23: (L-R) Offset, Take Off and Quavo of Migos attend the 2019 BET Awards on June 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Boost Your Professional Profile With This Resume Course Bundle
Even though inflation rates and other economic indicators haven’t been at their best recently, the job market has maintained its sizzle. And although it’s tapered off in recent weeks, there’s never been a better time for those looking for employment.
According to Inc. Magazine, the market will continue to surge as all indicators point to the trend. That’s good news for those looking to change jobs or enter the job market.
The key to nabbing that new job is making sure you have the most competitive resume and portfolio when the right opportunity arises. Too often, though, that’s easier said than done.
No matter your line of work, there’s something useful for you in this bundle. It includes 15 resume templates, 15 cover letter templates and 15 reference templates. Each template is customizable and downloadable – including titles, images, text, sections, fonts, colors, etc. The templates are easy to edit in Microsoft Word.
While the templates along are worth your purchase, the accompanying courses make this bundle a no-brainer. The resume-writing course teaches how to write resumes and cover letters, and how to optimize your LinkedIn profile along with job interview tips.
All that’s needed to use this bundle is Microsoft Word 2016 or a newer version.
The bundle, produced by Designtly, is essential for anyone looking to update their resume for future use or who is actively looking to capitalize on the job market. With 45 resume templates, there’s one for virtually every line of work. With the assistance of this bundle, you’ll upgrade your professional portfolio in no time and stand out from the competition. Purchase it today.
And Just Like That Diddy Takes Number 2 Spot for Hip Hop Billionaires After Kanye West’s Adidas Split
Kanye West‘s latest fallout has cost him billionaire status and made way for Hip-Hop stalwart Sean “Diddy” Combs to sit at the billionaire’s table.
According to Zogblog, Combs has finally broken through that elite ceiling where only he and Jay-Z sit as Hip-Hop luminaries. Zack O’Malley Greenburgreleased the current list of Hip-Hop’s Wealthiest Artists of 2022. Although Greenburg has not created a list since 2019 when he was an editor at Forbes, four of the five people on the list are returning along with one addition who is not a Black artist.
Shawn Carter, otherwise known as JiggaMan, tops the list with a reported value of $1.5 billion, the highest amount that he has accumulated since becoming a part of the billionaires club. He was the first rapper and/or Hip-Hop entrepreneur to become a billionaire and it does not look like he will relinquish the top spot anytime soon.
The third Hip-Hop artist/entrepreneur to break the billion-dollar ceiling is Sean “Diddy” Combs. The honcho who started Bad Boy Entertainment has been building since and was always expected to be one of the few to enter that financial arena. The man who owns and operates Combs Enterprises came in at a cool $1 billion, snagging the second place standing on the list.
Coming in third, is the man who has been making news headlines daily for the past six weeks. Kanye has lost the top spot and the keys to the billionaires club all because of his recent remarks. The artist, after losing his adidas deal, was dropped down to a purported worth of $500 million—still a nice amount but more than half of what he was worth a week ago.
A newcomer on the list of Hip-Hop’s Wealthiest Artists 2022 is not a mainstream name. Gilbert “Berner” Milam is worth $410 million. The rapper from the San Francisco Bay area owns the Cookies cannabis empire. He signed with Wiz Khalifa‘s Taylor Gang Records but has made the bulk of his fortune from his cannabis business.
Finally, the man who almost became Hip-Hop’s first billionaire until word of his Beats By Dre sale to Apple was leaked by Tyrese rounds out the top five. N.W.A.’s Dr. Dre is valued at $400 million.
‘Nailed it’: Lori Harvey Channels Beyoncé With ‘Me, Myself, and I’, ‘Check On It’ Halloween Costumes
Lori Harvey broke the internet over the weekend with her two Beyoncé-inspired Halloween costumes that paid homage to Queen Bey’s early music videos.
Lori took to Instagram on Sunday to share the first of her two Beyoncé-inspired Halloween costumes. The look captured Bey’s 2003 music video for the single Me, Myself, and I.
“All the ladies if you feel me help me sing it outttt 🎶 Me, Myself and I: Part 1,” she captioned the post.
Lori channeled Beyoncé by wearing the exact hairstyle and outfit the songstress sported in the 20-year-old music videos. Lori looked stunning in her blond hair wig that featured the same chopped hair bang that Beyoncé wore.
“Wow!” wrote Sza.
“Loriyonce,” wrote JT of the City Girls.
“Nailed it,” added Angela Simmons.
In a separate post, Lori showed off her second Me, Myself, and I look that included Beyoncé’s blond up-do and cut-out dress with a white mink fur shawl.
“Me, Myself, and I Part 2,” Lori captioned the post.
Once again, Lori received praise from some of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, including Ryan Destiny, Kim Kardashian, and even Beyoncé’s own hairstylist Tyrone Hunter.
But Lori wasn’t done. On Monday, Lori celebrated the official holiday by revealing her third Beyoncé-inspired costume from Bey’s 2005 solo single Check On It.
Souls To The Polls Event Encourages Church Members in Georgia To Vote Ahead of 2022 Midterms
Black religious leaders in Georgia held their annual Souls to the Polls rallies Sunday afternoon to get their congregants to vote in the midterm elections.
State lawmakers almost eliminated the event under an elections restrictions bill signed into law last year by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. However, lawmakers backed off the elimination of Sunday voting.
The Souls to the Polls event included a caravan organized by local church leaders and civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, taking congregants from the Rainbow Park Baptist Church to an Atlanta-area mall where early voting is available.
W. Franklyn Richardson, the chairman of the board of trustees of the Conference of National Black Churches, told theGrio, “Souls to the Polls reflects the Black church’s central role in the fight for justice and freedom in the U.S.”
“It’s the cumulative accomplishment of our people that is being challenged and threatened that makes this such an urgent election,” Richardson added.
Sen. Raphael Warnock, a senior pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church running for re-election, also planned to hold a Souls to the Polls event to get church members to vote ahead of the last Sunday of early voting.
While the elections restrictions bill Kemp signed did not eliminate Sunday and early voting, the bill has cut the time to request a mail ballot, rolled back the use of drop boxes that were expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced early voting during runoff elections, and made it illegal to hand out food and water to voters waiting in line.
Republicans in the state, including Kemp, pushed hard for the bill after President Joe Biden won the state in the 2020 election, which carried him to the White House. Georgia Rep. Park Cannon (D) was arrested after knocking on Kemp’s office door to discuss the bill with him.
The event reflects the Black church’s role in getting Black men and women to vote and underscores the efforts Black Americans had to go through during the civil rights movement to vote safely. In 1955, Rev. George Lee was assassinated by white supremacists in Mississippi after assisting more than 100 Black residents in registering to vote.
College Volleyball Coach Calls Referee Out for Singling Out Black Player Wearing Head Wrap
Jared Te’o, the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for St. Edwards University’s (SEU) women’s volleyball team, called out a referee for telling a Black player that she couldn’t participate in a match unless her head wrap was folded smaller.
Last week, SEU celebrated a momentous victory against Dallas Baptist University, but it wasn’t without an unfortunate chain of events. Te’o unveiled the situation on Twitter after recognizing his team’s feat on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
the lockerroom before the match started and adjusted it(to how she’s had it ALL season) and came back out, the ref saw, and she continued warming up. Cut to first serve where this player is set to serve, and match STARTING…and the refs told her she could not continue because she
With passion, Te’o shared that one of his players, Esther Grussing,was singled out by a referee for donning a head wrap during the match. She was instructed to “fold [the head wrap] to make it look like a headband,” and so she “adjusted it.” But the modified head wrap wasn’t small enough, according to the referee, and she was allegedly told: “she could not continue.”
play. Seeing our athlete plead with me as I took her to the lockerroom about how it’s covering her hair for a reason and there has been no issue before…and seeing the way it impacted her made me angry and sad at the same time. I aggressively yelled(as an assistant) at the ref,
The team was forced to take a timeout until a substitute was tapped in for Grussing. Later, the graduate student, pursuing a Master’s of Business Administration, collected herself and joined the team in taking home the win, despite the discomfort.
“The way our team called behind her was wonderful to see,” Te’o shared in the chain of tweets.
The assistant coach expressed his distaste for the “rules” of head wrap use, noting how they “disproportionately impact Black and brown athletes.” Traditionally, the head wraps belong to Black, indigenous, and people of color. Despite its benefits as a hair accessory, Te’o also pointed out that women’s head wraps have symbolic value in culture.
“A headband, head sweatband or bandanna worn as a sweatband is permitted; however, hats and other bandannas are not permitted,” according to the NCAA uniform rules. Despite the rules, Te’o challenged the referee to handle the situation better.
“I love you Esther and I love your fight queen,” Te’o encouraged.
