by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 18, 2023

Diddy Recorded A Song To Get Kim Porter To Visit Him In His Dreams: ‘Music Is Magical’

Diddy is opening up about how his new album helped bring him closer to his late ex, Kim Porter, who he says has been been visiting him in his dreams.

The Bad Boy founder recently released The Love Album: Off the Grid on his new R&B-focused label Love Records. There are 23 tracks on the new album and one is named after Porter.

It features EGOT recipient John Legend and was Diddy’s way of reaching out to Porter from the other side. Diddy, who raised four children with Porter, was looking for a way to connect with her and knew music was the perfect outlet to connect them in spirit.

“One of the things when dealing with grief is there has to be a moment that you understand it is what it is, but you still yearn for that person,” Diddy told Hola! Magazine.

“And I wanted her to come visit me in my dreams.”

“It was like me just trying to find another option that maybe God could bless me with to still feel her presence,” he continued before noting the “magic” that lies in music.

“So when I made the record, I believe that music is magical. It has magical powers,” Diddy said. “So I wanted to use my magic to get her to visit me in my dreams, and she has come and visited me in my dreams. It makes me want her to visit me more, but making the record, she got the message.”

Porter died in November 2018 from pneumonia. She was found unresponsive in her bed. Investigators later determined no foul play was involved, according to NBC News.

She shared a long romantic history with Diddy that included the births of their three children, Christian, and twins Jesse and D’Lila Combs. Diddy also raised Porter’s eldest son Quincy Brown as his own.

Choose Lake Charles For Creole Tradition And Fine Culinary Cuisine

by Atiya Jordan

October 18, 2023

Choose Lake Charles For Creole Tradition And Fine Culinary Cuisine

Lake Charles is brimming with cultural traditions that are native to southern Louisiana, which is also home to culinary visionaries who pack those traditions into every meal.

Black businesses and restaurants in the Creole community are built into the fabric of the Lake Charles region, where African, French, and Spanish influences are deeply rooted in history and culture. While some of Lake Charles’ Black entrepreneurs have established brick-and-mortars, others are as inspired to share authentic cuisines and celebrate.

The inaugural Louisiana Food & Wine Festival kicked off a full week of events to shine a light on culinary superstars. BLACK ENTERPRISE witnessed Louisiana’s unique Cajun and Creole heritage and culture through a star-studded celebrity chef’s dinner and a plethora of master classes. The lineup of courses included world-class Louisiana seafood and gumbo.

From TV personality and Chef Tiffany Derry and James Beard Award finalist Greg Gatlin to Chef Roy Angelle, culinary arts instructor for SOWELA Technical Community College, superstars were in the building.

What is the difference between Creole and Cajun cuisine?

“While Creole food is elaborate to prepare and usually involves tomatoes, Cajuns became trappers, anglers and hunters, living off the land, making their cooking as flavorful and steamy as Louisiana’s summers,” according to the Visit Lake Charles website.

“Proper Cajun food does not [use] tomatoes, although, some Cajun food such as sauce piquant does include tomatoes as a key ingredient. Cajuns generally prepare full-bodied or blackened cuisine and Creoles take culinary refuge in their sauces, herbs and intricate spices,”

Prepared by international chef and etiquette coach Carolyn Shelton. (Photo: Atiya Jordan)

Here are some examples of the cuisine and celebrity chefs that beam with Creole pride.

Tiffany Derry

Texas native Tiffany Derry is the founder of Tiffany Derry Concepts and co-founder of T2D Concepts, the Texas-based, purpose-driven hospitality group behind Roots Chicken Shak and Roots Southern Table. Derry has made many television appearances, including Bravo’s Top Chef Season 7, where she earned the title of “fan favorite” and finished in the top four.

With a warm Southern charm, Derry stepped into a master class during the festival to walk us through her famous Fried Shrimp & Grits rolled into little balls. Everything was in the center, including the sharp cheddar cheese, tender shrimp, and other spices. The meal was reminiscent of a crispy shrimp fritter but with a southwest Louisiana flair and a smoky, meaty tomato sauce.

Prepared by Tiffany Derry at the Louisiana Inspired Master Classes. (Photo: Atiya Jordan)

Edgar “Dook” Chase, IV

Le Cordon Bleu-trained Chef Dook served us culinary royalty on a plate at the Celebrity Chef’s Dinner with his Louisiana Blue Crab and Butternut Squash. Cook walked visitors through a delicious gumbo demonstration and paired the dish with a wine of choice or a Stella Artois. The notable chef shared some of his famous Creole family recipes inspired by his renowned grandmother Leah Chase, a James Beard Foundation award winner and the “Queen of Creole Cuisine.”

Currently, Chef Dook continues his family legacy by running a Creole restaurant named after Chapter IV as a fourth-generation member of his family, and the restaurant being the fourth restaurant under his operation. Though he trained for a lifetime under his grandmother, Chef Dook told BE that he is constantly learning from others in order to stay abreast of new cooking trends and recipes.

Louisiana blue crab and butternut squash, prepared by Chef Edgar “Dook” Chase, IV at the Celebrity Chef’s Dinner. (Photo: Atiya Jordan)

Gumbo prepared with boudin sausages, prepared by Chef Cook at Louisiana Inspired Master Classes. (Photo: Atiya Jordan)

Another one!

Seared Louisiana Gulf shrimp with charred corn, pepperjack grits, and poblano cream sauce, prepared by Chef Amanda Cusey at the Celebrity Chef’s Dinner. (Photo: Atiya Jordan)

Oakland, Barbara Lee, California, race, mayor, hate crime

by Iman Milner

October 18, 2023

Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee Struggling To Raise Funds To Secure 2024 California Senate Race

United States Congresswoman Barbara Lee of Oakland has received some major co-signs from political leaders. However, the longtime California representative is struggling to raise the funds necessary to move past her opponents in the race for Senate, Yahoo News reports.

With endorsements from the Congressional Black Caucus, former Georgia General Assembly House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, and a verbal promise from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the late Dianne Feinstein’s vacant senator seat with a Black woman, Lee seemed poised to claim a historic victory.

However, in recent months, her campaign has faced an uphill battle against Democratic candidates Rep. Katie Porter and Rep. Adam Schiff. From July to October, Lee’s campaign reported $1.1 million in expenses, which is $77,000 less than what she’s been able to raise, the outlet reports.

The campaign currently has $1.3 million in funds.

“If she can’t raise enough money to reach all the other crossover voters to differentiate herself, it’s going to be very difficult for her to make it,” said Democratic strategist Bill Wong. Both Schiff and Porter come into the race as some of the Democratic party’s most lucrative fundraisers, a fact that Wong believes may be influencing Lee’s willingness to spend early to help raise her public profile. The campaigning expert says Lee may feel she “has to spend early to build a fundraising base and to reach new donors.”

Keeping with his intention to use Feinstein’s vacancy to appoint a Black candidate, Gov. Newsom has thrown his support behind Laphonza Butler, who hasn’t yet confirmed her decision to run.

“I genuinely don’t know,” Butler said in October, per Yahoo News. “I want to be focused on honoring the legacy of Sen. Feinstein. I want to devote my time and energy to serving the people of California.”

In California, nearly half of the registered voters identify as Democrats; therefore, experts predict the state will elect another of the party’s candidates in the March 2024 primary. But it remains to be seen if Lee will be the appointee.

Issa Rae, Prosecco, jewelry, fine, Somerville

by Stacy Jackson

October 18, 2023

Issa Rae Taps Into Wine Industry With New Viarae Prosecco

“Insecure” actress Issa Rae has tapped into the wine industry.

On Oct. 16, Rae announced the launch of her new wine, Viarae Prosecco, a partnership with global wine and spirits leader E. & J. Gallo Winery. Through a press release, the writer and producer introduced her refined take on her favorite Italian sparkling wine. “I am thrilled to share my love of Prosecco with everyone through Viarae,” Rae said.

As founder of Viarae Prosecco, Rae has created an aromatic and subtly dry blend for sippers to enjoy. “It’s carefully crafted, deliciously crisp, and the perfect beverage to celebrate La Dolce Vita,” said the “Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” writer.

Several years of crafting went into the creation of Rae’s Prosecco, which is grown and made from 100% Glera. Its gold-and-brown packaging radiates the mission of her new drink venture, which is to amplify the representation of the Black community in the industry.

Beth Orozco, vice president of marketing for E. & J. Gallo Winery, stated: “We are excited to partner with Issa Rae, who entrusted us with executing her vision of the perfect Prosecco – one that shares our desire to serve joy in everyday moments. Crisp, lively, and expressive, this is a perfect choice for those candid, unfiltered times with friends, whether that’s a sunny day by the pool or in the bright city lights at night.” She continued, “Issa also shares our mission to demystify wine and make it more inclusive. Viarae will help us reach that goal.”

The Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated creator told her Instagram followers that her Viarae Prosecco is “a sparkling wine for good times.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae)

Viarae Prosecco conveys a strong message of freedom and authenticity. Inspired by the spirit of Italy 1978, Rae’s wines are available nationally at select retailers for a suggested price of $19.

Magic Johnson Revives Black-Owned Insurance Company In Atlanta

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 18, 2023

Magic Johnson Revives Black-Owned Insurance Company In Atlanta

Magic Johnson is helping to revive a Black-owned business with historic ties to communal upliftment. The Atlanta Life Insurance Company, founded in the Georgia Capital in 1905, is now getting the support it needs to continue being a resource to the Black community, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Established by Alonzo Herndon, a formerly enslaved man, the Atlanta Life Insurance Company was a trailblazing business that catapulted the city’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood into a hub for Black entrepreneurs. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Herndon’s company was so successful that his accomplishment made him the first Black millionaire in Atlanta.

Herndon’s journey from slave to millionaire inspired Johnson to invest in rebuilding the company after first being made aware of its history through Killer Mike. Its decline over the past decades led the insurance company to sell its headquarters in the very area in which it was once a household name.

Johnson aims to bring the storied business back to the residents of Atlanta by acquiring it into the portfolio of his own life insurance company, called EquiTrust. Its continued success is a testimony to the efforts of its original owner.

At an event celebrating its reinstatement to the city’s business sector, the philanthropist spoke to Atlanta guests, such as Mayor Andre Dickens and entertainer-turned-entrepreneur Kandi Burruss, about why this latest development for the brand matters.

“Anytime a Black man can go from slavery to becoming a Black millionaire here in Atlanta, to become an entrepreneur, it’s a story that should be told, and I’m glad that we’re able to take this historical brand and company and revitalize it, and really bring it back to the people of Georgia,” expressed the NBA legend.

Prior to the 64-year-old’s involvement, the Black-owned Atlanta Life Holdings took over the declining company in January 2023. Under the new arrangement, Johnson will become the beneficial owner as well as minority equity owner of the Herndon Foundation.

With Johnson’s help, the Atlanta Life Insurance Company seeks to re-establish itself in the retail sphere and increase its clientele in the employer benefits market.

“Our rich heritage is a story of power, perseverance, family and community,” the company stated on its website. “As the lone remaining Black-founded and owned insurance company in the United States, we persevered through our past to become stewards of your future.”

by Stacy Jackson

October 18, 2023

Tyler Perry Will Build New Home For 93-Year-Old Woman Being Displaced By Developers

Renowned actor and filmmaker Tyler Perry was touched by 93-year-old Josephine Wright’s fight against an investment group trying to seize control of her property.

Perry stepped in and offered to help buy Wright a new home after learning she was being pushed out of her family home in July. Wright has been in a legal battle with Bailey Point Investment Group, who went after purchasing her property in Hilton Head upon launching a 29-acre project on the land behind her home, according to TMZ. The property has been in Wright’s family since the Civil War era.

The 93-year-old said that when she turned down the offer to let the investment group purchase her property, she was met with hostility, having her tires slashed, trash thrown on her property, and a snake hung from one of her windows, according to WSAV.

“I guess they figured I would become so unnerved with the harassment that I would say ‘take it.’ But they don’t know me. I am here to fight for what I have,” Wright told WSAV.

Bailey Point has continued trying to cause problems for Wright. The group went as far as filing a lawsuit that would grant them control of her property. However, Wright, who has no plans of backing down, said, “I’ve pretty much been a fighter all my life,” and is willing to fight to save her family’s home.

According to TMZ, a GoFundMe page was created to help her pay for her legal battle against the investment company. In September, GoFundMe updated donors that a tree had fallen on Wright’s property, causing two holes in the roof.

As a result, Wright, who lives with her grandkids, is having a brand-new five-bedroom home built courtesy of Perry. The filmmaker’s construction crew will reportedly begin building the home once permits are approved.

Why Is Joe Biden Visiting Israel And What Can We Expect?

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 18, 2023

Why Is Joe Biden Visiting Israel And What Can We Expect?

Originally reported by Reuters

WASHINGTON, Oct 17 (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden left Washington Tuesday evening on a whirlwind trip that was originally expected to touch down in Israel for an update on Israel’s war aims in its battle with Hamas militants, and then Jordan, to stress the need to get humanitarian assistance to Gaza civilians.

A strike on a Gaza hospital late on Tuesday that killed hundreds of Palestinians saw Arab leaders call offtheir planned summit with Biden in Jordan however, and that leg of the trip cancelled.

MEETING WITH ISRAEL’S NETANYAHU BUT NOT ARAB LEADERS

Biden is spending part of Wednesday in Tel Aviv for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials as Israel prepares a ground offensive aimed at eliminating Hamas militants in Gaza who killed 1,300 people during a rampage through southern Israeli towns on Oct. 7.

Biden will no longer fly to Amman for talks about humanitarian assistance after Jordan’s King Abdullah cancelled a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas, who has long been opposed to Hamas and whose organization exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said after the Gaza hospital strike he would not meet the U.S. President.

Palestinian authorities say Israel is responsible for the strike, Israel said the blast was caused by a failed rocket launch by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group, which denied blame. Biden backed Israel’s account.

HUMANITARIAN CONCERNS IN GAZA

Biden’s second trip to a war zone this year – he visited Ukraine in February – carries some risk. His goal was originally to show American solidarity with Netanyahu while trying to avoid a broader regional war involving Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah and Syria.

How he accomplishes that balance while meeting only Netanyahu and Israeli officials is unclear.

The United States has stationed a carrier strike group in the eastern Mediterranean in a show of force for Israel and a second is on the way.

Biden also wants to avert a humanitarian calamity in Gaza where authorities say thousands have already been killed in Israeli bombardment over the last week.

Hundreds of tons of aid from several countries have been waiting in Egypt’s Sinai peninsula for days pending a deal for its safe delivery to Gaza and the evacuation of some foreign passport holders through the Rafah crossing.

“He’ll make it clear that we want to continue working with all our partners in the region, including Israel, to get humanitarian assistance in and provide some kind of safe passage for civilians to get out,” said White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.

ISRAEL RED LINES

Biden and Netanyahu, thrown into a wartime partnership despite deep political differences on the way forward in the Middle East, have joined forces.

Biden has given Israel full-throated support while stressing the need to head off a massive humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Their face-to-face meeting, after several phone calls since the attacks, will allow Biden to privately discuss concerns and possible red lines in the coming Gaza invasion.

Biden will also get an update on the scores of hostages taken by Hamas. The State Department has said 29 citizens of the United States were killed in the Hamas attacks, with 15 citizens and one lawful permanent resident unaccounted for.

Israel has vowed to annihilate the Hamas movement.

Biden will make clear that “Israel has the right and indeed the duty to defend its people from Hamas and other terrorists and to prevent future attacks,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Tel Aviv.

He said Israel would brief Biden on its war aims and strategy and how it will conduct operations “in a way that minimizes civilian casualties and enables humanitarian assistance to flow to civilians in Gaza in a way that does not benefit Hamas.”

The U.S. and Israel agreed to develop a plan that will enable humanitarian aid from donor nations and multilateral organizations to reach civilians in Gaza, Blinken said.

Reporting By Steve Holland; additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Tel Aviv; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan, Heather Timmons, Alexandra Hudson

Drake Ties Michael Jackson For Most No. 1 Songs On Billboard Hot 100

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 18, 2023

Drake Ties Michael Jackson For Most No. 1 Songs On Billboard Hot 100

Canadian recording artist Drake does it again! With his recent release “For All the Dogs” topping the Billboard 200 chart, he also ties The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, as having the most No. 1 songs by a solo male act, according to Billboard.

Drake jumped from the No. 8 slot to the top of the Billboard Artist 100 chart. The star also launched at No. 1 with his latest project, For All the Dogs, on the Billboard 200 with 402,000 equivalent album units earned from the period of Oct. 6-12 for its opening week, according to Luminate. With that number, Drake’s latest album is one of the top five (No. 4) of this year thus far.

This album marks the fourth-biggest release week of the year. Taylor Swift’s Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) had 716,000 units to win the top spot, while Morgan Wallen’s One Thing at a Time, with 501,000 units, slides in at number two, and Travis Scott’s Utopia hitting third with 496,000 units.

Drake’s “First Person Shooter,” which features fellow rapper J. Cole, debuted at No. 1. The song became J. Cole’s very first No.1 record, but it is Drake’s 13th, and matches the same number of singles Jackson had for the most No. 1s among solo male recording artists.

.@Drake officially ties Michael Jackson as the male soloist with the most #1 hits in Hot 100 history (13 each). pic.twitter.com/kg99kKIS2T

— chart data (@chartdata) October 16, 2023

For All the Dogs had 514 million on-demand streams in its first week. That was good enough to be the fourth highest single-week total for an album. Drake holds three of the top four single-week totals. His first-week total of Scorpion totaled 745.9 million in 2018, while Certified Lover Boy had a number of 743.7 million streams in 2021. The only non-Drake entry in the top four is Swift’s Midnights, which saw 549.3 million streams in 2022.

Black Entrepreneur Introduces First Ever Skin Tone Nail Polish For All Shades Of Melanin

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 18, 2023

Black Entrepreneur Introduces First Ever Skin Tone Nail Polish For All Shades Of Melanin

*Originally Reported by Blacknews

Nationwide — Jeneba Barrie, the founder and CEO of Jeneba Barrie Nude Footwear, a Black woman-owned luxury nude shoe line, has now launched a nude nail polish brandJeneba originally launched in 2019 after running a successful Kickstarter campaign. The company is a diverse and inclusive luxury skin-tone (nude) shoe line dedicated to redefining the meaning of “nude” shoes from one or two shades of beige to colors that actually matches the wearers skin-tone.

The traditional definition of nude has been restrictive. By redefining the meaning of nude, the company is including segments of the population that have been overwhelmingly excluded—women of color.

After its initial classic nude pump collection, the brand has since launched its Ama Loafer Collection, the Black Collection, Serena Sandals Collection, and their latest Luxurious & Rich Nude (Gel) Polish in five shades: champagne, mink, diamond, caviar, and cacao.

Customers enjoy free shipping & exchanges, plus $25 towards their first purchase with email sign-up. Payment plans are available with Shop Pay at checkout. Gift cards are also available and customers who add their name to the waiting list can take advantage of a 10% discount.

Jeneba Barrie is the most diverse and inclusive luxury skin-tone shoe line dedicated to redefining and revolutionizing the meaning of nude shoes from beige to skin-tone colors that match the wearer’s shade. The company was founded in 2018 by its namesake, Jeneba Barrie, who is an attorney, wife, and mother of 3 boys. Currently, the brand offers 13 skin-tone shades ranging from the peachy tone of rosè all the way to the melanin-enriched shade of cacao truffle in 4 heel lengths (50mm, 95mm, 105mm, and 120mm).

The brand has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, Harper’s Bazaar, Buzzfeed, and other media outlets.

For more details, visit JenebaBarrie.com and join the waitlist under the “Shop Now Tab” for out-of-stock items

Be sure to connect with the brand on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

NAACP Condemns Chicago Hate Crime Of Killed Palestinian Child

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 18, 2023

NAACP Condemns Chicago Hate Crime Of Killed Palestinian Child

The NAACP has released a formal statement condemning the hate crime that resulted in the murder of a Palestinian-American child Oct. 14 in Chicago.

Wadea Al-Fayoume was 6 years old when his life was taken just over a week after his birthday, according to CNN. The elementary schooler was targeted due to his Palestinian Muslim identity in a moment of Islamophobia in light of the recent attacks between Israel and Palestine. His family hails from the West Bank, a territory of the nation-state.

The landlord of his family’s apartment, Joseph Czuba, attacked the Al-Fayoumes in a fit of hatred, stabbing the young boy 26 times and his mother more than a dozen times. While the mother of the young child is expected to recover from her critical condition, her son died at a local hospital, causing an immense outcry for peace and justice nationwide.

In response to the egregious murder, the NAACP CEO and president Derrick Johnson expressed the organization’s grief over the kindergartner’s untimely death.

“Once again, the proliferation of misinformation and hateful conspiracy theories has resulted in a
life lost far too soon. Today, the NAACP grieves the loss of six-year old Wadea Al-Fayoume. No one
should face the threat of violence in their own home, and we must do everything in our power to
stop hate wherever it rears its ugly head,” said Johnson. “The NAACP is committed to combating hate and
speaking out against any act that threatens the safety of our most vulnerable communities. There is no place for hate in a democracy.”

The nonprofit also took to social media to share their sentiments, stating that “hateful conspiracies theories” sparked the violent act.

The tragic murder of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume has sparked outrage across the nation as the spread of misinformation and hateful conspiracy theories continues to result in lives lost far too soon.

Read our statement: https://t.co/9iWvU4tFNg pic.twitter.com/dDuOEtM91z

— NAACP (@NAACP) October 16, 2023

For his crimes, Czuba has been detained and charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, two counts of a hate crime, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. A federal hate crimes investigation into the killing is also underway.