Leonard Allen Cure, Georgia, traffic, gun, shoot, prison, GBI

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 17, 2023

Georgia Deputy Allegedly Shoots And Kills Black Man Who Spent 16 Years In Prison On Wrongful Conviction

During a traffic stop, a sheriff’s deputy in Georgia allegedly fatally shot a Black man who had spent 16 years behind bars on a wrongful conviction.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), who is reviewing the shooting, the victim was identified as Leonard Allen Cure. On Oct. 16, Cure was reportedly pulled over by a Camden County deputy while driving on I-95 close to the Georgia-Florida line. He cooperated with the deputy’s request to get out of the vehicle but then allegedly became violent once told he was arrested. The agency claimed the deputy primarily used a stun gun on Cure when he failed to obey commands and began to assault the deputy.

GBI found the deputy used the stun gun one more time, as well as a baton, to subdue him, but then drew his gun and shot Cure as he continued to resist. It hasn’t been disclosed why the officer pulled the 53-year-old man over.

Cure served time in prison for armed robbery in Florida and was later acquitted. The Innocence Project of Florida, who represented him in his exoneration case, responded to the news of Cure’s death.

“I can only imagine what it’s like to know your son is innocent and watch him be sentenced to life in prison, to be exonerated and … then be told that once he’s been freed, he’s been shot dead,” Executive Director Seth Miller said.

In Georgia, it is standard for law enforcement to ask the GBI to investigate police-involved shootings. Findings will be submitted to the coastal Brunswick Judicial Circuit district attorney, including Camden County.

According to WSB-TV, Cure was convicted of a 2003 drug store armed robbery in Dania Beach. He was found guilty by a second jury after the first one deadlocked. His previous convictions for robbery and other crimes led to a life sentence. After the Broward State Attorney’s Office’s new Conviction Review Unit asked for Cure’s release, he was a free man in April 2020.

The review team said it found “troubling” evidence that Cure had a solid alibi that was disregarded, with no physical evidence or reliable witnesses to put him at the crime scene.

A judge vacated his conviction and sentence in December 2020.

Miller said Cure was living in an Atlanta suburb after receiving $817,000 in compensation for his conviction and imprisonment, including the opportunity to pursue his education, after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a claims bill in June 2023. During an interview with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Cure expressed his excitement about his future after his release. “I’m looking forward to putting this situation behind me and moving on with my life,” Cure said.

Meet the 60-Year-Old Black Barber With Only One Functioning Arm

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 17, 2023

Meet the 60-Year-Old Black Barber With Only One Functioning Arm

*Originally Reported By Blacknews

Harold Brown, a 60-year-old barber from New York City, proudly claims the title of “the best one-armed barber in the world.” With only his right arm skillfully working on the razor, he continues to prove himself as a teacher at the American Barber Institute.

Born with a nonfunctioning left arm due to a birth defect, Brown has faced several challenges growing up in Jamaica Queens. He was called hurtful names, leaving him with a constant need to prove himself. He then took a wrong turn into a life of crime, spending over 30 years in and out of prison.

While behind bars, a fellow inmate named Desperado taught him how to cut hair which ultimately changed his life. Brown honed his skills through determination and practice, learning to work with all hair types.

“I was tired of doing wrong. I needed to do something right in life. I was at rock bottom and in jail. I had nothing, nowhere to turn,” he told PIX11.

Returning to society, Brown found his calling in barbering. He started at a Harlem shop and later became a teacher at the American Barber Institute in Manhattan. Teaching others became a passion for him, and he proudly shared his expertise with his students.

Despite having just one arm, Brown never considered it a real obstacle in his career.

“I never had two hands to use in learning the craft of barbering, so I always had to use one hand,” he said. “I had to learn to use a razor and had to learn how to use the machines. Once I learned it, I got it. The hardest part about cutting hair with one arm is when a person sees you with one arm and doubts you.”

Barbers are known for their precision, and Brown is no exception. He believes that every barber must have a “razor hand.” Brown takes pride in his students, like Humberto Heras, who now also teaches the craft.

“Despite what anyone else might think of you, if you love yourself and believe in yourself, you can make it,” Brown said.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 17, 2023

James Lindsay Prepares To Make Moves In The Transportation Industry With Rap Snacks Trucking

“Expansion” is the word of the day for entrepreneur James Lindsay, CEO of Rap Snacks.

Lindsay just announced that he is entering the world of transportation with his latest venture: Rap Snacks Trucking, a full-fledged transportation management company. He recently unveiled the official incorporation of the company’s logistics and shipping department.

“We are excited to embark on this new journey into the trucking industry,” said Lindsay in a written statement. “We believe this new route reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation, empowerment, and community support. We intend to leverage our reputation, relationships, and experience to aid in contract procurement, benefiting small businesses.”

In a press release, the company detailed the highlights of what it anticipates doing with this new initiative.

Collaborate with Small Businesses: Rap Snacks is committed to fostering collaborations with small businesses in the trucking industry, enabling them to secure better-paying loads and achieve business success.

Structured for Scaling Opportunities: Their business plan is strategically designed to cater to the evolving needs of partners, ensuring a platform for growth.

Logistics Support: Rap Snacks Trucking will address shipping needs, manage equipment requirements, and assist in securing contracts with external shipping companies.

Education and Empowerment: As part of the company’s commitment to the community, the company will develop trucking classes to educate aspiring entrepreneurs on establishing and thriving in the trucking business.

Geographic Areas of Service: Initially, the company will focus its operations in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, and plans to expand its services to other regions.

Empowering Independent Truckers: Rap Snacks Trucking Company is dedicated to supporting independent truckers and carriers, providing opportunities for growth and success in the industry.

Rap Snacks, which calls itself “the official snack brand of Hip Hop,” has been keeping busy outside of creating snacks for hip-hop heavyweights like Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, Migos, Master P, and Snoop Dogg. The company showcased its digital content series, Rap Snacks Symphony, earlier this year at the National HBCU Auxiliary and Dance Directors Association Conference. This occurred back in March at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Georgia.

Rap Snacks Symphony is a digital content series featuring an HBCU marching band and dance team playing the music of artists who appear on Rap Snacks bags. Last year, the featured band was Central State University’s Invincible Marching Marauders, out of Wilberforce, Ohio. This year’s edition featured Clark Atlanta University’s Marching Panthers and Essence Dance Team.

AI, Jobs, Goldman Sachs, construction, manufacturing,n logistics, mike Rowe, David Autor

by Atiya Jordan

October 17, 2023

More Blue-Collar Jobs Will Be At Risk With AI Advancements

The rapid advance of generative artificial intelligence in the manufacturing industry could potentially affect blue-collar and physical labor jobs.

A Goldman Sachs analysis earlier this year found that a new wave of AI systems could “expose 300 million full-time jobs to automation.”

A major concern for the potential displacement of workers still looms as AI automates certain tasks, enhances safety measures, and increases overall productivity. Among the positions at risk from automation include factory workers, welders, nuclear technicians, elevator installers, and subway operators.

Businesses should consider the impact on the workforce and implement strategies to mitigate these risks. For example, Gen AI models can act as a “digital twin” for a production line or plant, according to Ed Watal, founder and principal of IT strategy firm Intellibus, and can cut down operation costs.

“As Gen AI gets applied to computer vision and becomes more multi-modal, allowing people to upload an image or video and ask questions about it, more blue-collar jobs will be at risk,” Watal said.

Here are some examples of how AI has integrations into blue-collar jobs.

Manufacturing: Human errors in manufacturing can be catastrophic and costly. AI-powered machines are designed to work 24/7 without fatigue, leading to higher production rates and improved product quality control. These machines perform repetitive tasks such as assembly line operations.
Logistics: While AI-powered robots can efficiently sort, pick, pack, and organize inventory, AI algorithms also optimize delivery routes, reduce transportation costs, and improve supply chain management. From traffic conditions to weather, and delivery schedules, AI-powered systems can analyze large amounts of data. With the rise of cutting-edge technologies, humans remain at the center of transportation.
Construction: Today’s construction sites are integrating more tech, and AI that analyzes data faster and with more insight is in high demand. It could deliver improvements to energy usage and carbon calculations. AI deploys building-enabled drones and robots to ensure on-site safety and security. From performing site inspections and hazardous tasks to monitoring progress, drones are also equipped with AI algorithms to capture high-resolution images and videos of construction sites.

On the other hand, economist David Autor found that 60% of today’s workers are employed in occupations that didn’t exist in 1940. “This implies that more than 85% of employment growth over the last 80 years is explained by the technology-driven creation of new positions,” according to Goldman Sachs economists.

Mike Rowe, the host of “Dirty Jobs” and “How America Works,” previously told Entrepreneur that “for people who master a skill that’s in demand and watch their trajectory, you’re going to find they land at something that looks an awful lot like prosperity.”

by Derek Major

October 17, 2023

Dr. Clayborne Carson To Receive National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award Along With Stacey Abrams, Kerry Kennedy

The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, is honoring three outstanding civil and human rights leaders — Dr. Clayborne Carson, activist Stacey Abrams, and human rights leader Kerry Kennedy — during its 32nd Freedom Award ceremony.

The Freedom Award is an annual event hosted by the museum honoring those who have made significant contributions to civil rights and have laid the foundation for the next generation of civil rights leaders. Past Freedom Award winners include Michelle Obama, President Joe Biden, The Poor People’s Campaign, and singer John Legend.

The Freedom Award ceremony will take place Thursday, Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre.

Carson is a Stanford University professor, and founder and director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute, which houses rare, digital educational resources by the civil rights leader.

The professor, who is one of the foremost experts on the life of activist and leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., told BLACK ENTERPRISE he was honored to be receiving the award.

“It’s a good way for me to recognize the people who are aware of my work, and even though I’m in retirement it gave me something to look forward to,” said Clayborne. “It’s also wonderful to share this award with Stacey Abrams and Kerry Kennedy.”

Since 1985, Carson has directed the Martin Luther King Papers Project, a long-term project to edit and publish the papers of the civil rights activist. Additionally, Carson has published numerous books on the Civil Rights Movement and is the senior adviser to the landmark Eyes on the Prize documentary series.

He has also written several award-winning books, including In Struggle: SNCC and the Black Awakening of the 1960s, which was published in 1981 and remains the definitive study of the courageous activists and organizers who challenged segregation.

When asked about the Civil Rights Movement and the fight for freedom that continues today, Carson said there are still significant strides to be made, adding that the scope of civil rights goes well beyond the United States.

“I think we do have a long way to go because I think the goal has to be, as Dr. King put it, to be global,” Carson told BE. “I think too many times we mistake civil rights for human rights. Giving us rights in one country doesn’t necessarily advance the cause of human rights because, as King pointed out, we’re in a world house now.”

To that end, Carson established The World House Project to collaborate with other human rights advocates to realize Dr. King’s vision of a global community in which all people can “learn somehow to live with each other in peace.” He also has contributed to more than two dozen subsequent documentaries on the Civil Rights Movement and related events.

The Stanford professor added that in his studies of Dr. King, one of the things that stood out to him was the life and accomplishments of King’s wife, Coretta Scott King.

“Coretta was very much involved in the broader human rights movement and was actually more politically experienced than he was,” said Carson. “She had been a member of a progressive party, and when she met Martin, one of the things that drew her to him was that she was two years older and more politically experienced in the effort to get human rights.”

Tickets for the Freedom Award ceremony can be purchased here. The preshow gala will begin at 5:30 p.m. at The Halloran Center.

Black Author’s Book “What’s Your Zip Code Story?” Tackles Racism And Class In the Workplace

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 17, 2023

Black Author’s Book “What’s Your Zip Code Story?” Tackles Racism And Class In the Workplace

*Originally Reported By Blacknews

Nationwide — Conversations centering on social class belong in any organization’s DEI initiatives, according to inclusion consultant Christopher “CJ” Gross.

“In terms of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, if we believe that our primary challenges only pertain to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, generation, and religion — we’re missing a big piece of the puzzle,” he wrote in his new book, What’s Your Zip Code Story? Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace.

Within the past five years, diversity and inclusion, as well as unconscious bias, have been the main drivers of organizational training, politics, and community engagement. But diversity is much more than a buzzword; it propels innovation and problem solving, and leads to higher-performing teams. In his book, Gross takes a deep dive into why social class matters and where it fits in a company’s DEI efforts.

“The renewed focus on class, race, and equality in the workplace and beyond is making an indelible mark on society,” Gross said. “This clarion call for change is sweeping inequality from every corner of the nation, including law enforcement, schools, and businesses.”

What’s Your Zip Code Story? offers research-based solutions for employees seeking professional growth and for business leaders seeking new ways to engage their teams. Gross provides strategies to help class migrants — whether college students, recent graduates, or overlooked employees — climb the career lattice and transform themselves from undervalued employees into respected leaders. He also offers insights to help organizations understand the impact of diversity on a business’s productivity, turnover, and revenue.

What’s Your Zip Code Story is a powerful book that expands the conversation surrounding class bias, race, and equity in the workplace, and offers effective solutions.

“Each of us has our biases and cultural preferences, which makes it very hard for us to understand the perspectives of others,” Gross added. “It’s time we talked about it.”

He also serves as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Master Faculty for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Center for Innovation and Business Management, Adjunct Faculty for the Community College of Baltimore County.

Gross holds a B. A. degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University through the Forbes Entrepreneurship Scholarship and an M.A. degree in Strategic Leadership from St. Bonaventure University. He has been featured in the Washington Post, the Washington Informer Newspaper, and other print, radio, and television outlets.

For more information, please visit CJGrossTalks.com and AscensionWorldwide.com

About Your Book
What’s Your Zip Code Story? Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication Date: May 20, 2022
ISBN-10: ‎ 1538160587
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1538160589
Available on Amazon, BN.com, and other online booksellers

Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews, and Q&As are available upon request.

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 17, 2023

Rap Duo Mobb Deep Named In Copyright Infringement Lawsuit For Allegedly Stealing Band Logo

A new lawsuit reveals that Mobb Deep may be in deep trouble.

The rap duo have been named in a lawsuit from hardcore punk band Sick of It All for using their logo without their consent, Hypebeast reports. The copyright infringement lawsuit, which also names the clothing line Supreme and the estate of the late Mobb Deep member Prodigy, was filed by Bush Baby Zamagate, Inc., the owner of all of Sick of It All’s intellectual property rights, on Oct. 11.

Court documents claim that the band’s “Alleyway Crew” logo, featuring a curvy, fire-breathing dragon, was used by the Queens, New York legendary rap group several times around 1997.

According to an interview with MTV, the band allegedly asked Mobb Deep to stop using the image that’s nearly identical to the image Sick of It All used in recording goods, live performances, and other services since as early as 1987. Supreme was also pinged in the lawsuit, accused of using the logo in its June 2023 apparel collaboration with Mobb Deep.

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A post shared by Sneaker & Streetwear Legal Services (@sneakerlegal)

On Instagram, fans seemed to be leaning in different directions on the differences between images. “Interesting,” one user wrote.

“The logo is changed drastically not sure how this will go. It’s similar for sure but different.”

For its trouble, Bush Baby Zamagate, Inc. is seeking compensatory damages and requesting that the defendants be banned from “using the Infringing Mark or any other mark or marks confusingly similar thereto, alone or in combination with other words, names, styles, titles, designs or marks in connection with the provision of any goods and services.”

While the rap group hasn’t responded to the lawsuit yet, according to Hip-Hop DX, surviving member Havoc has confirmed that fans can expect new music featuring vocals from Prodigy as well as a project with Method Man.

“I’m actively working on a Mobb Deep album now, as we speak,” Havoc said during an interview with People’s Party.

“The family blessed me with a bunch of vocals by Prodigy, and soon as I leave here I’m goin’ back to work.”

by Stacy Jackson

October 17, 2023

Walking Dead: Missouri Woman Still Proving She’s Alive Decades After Government Declared Her Deceased

One St. Louis woman has been trying to reclaim her life ever since she was given the social security number of a deceased person 16 years ago.

In 2007, Madeline-Michelle Carthen, now 52, discovered she had been placed on the Death Master File while trying to apply for financial aid as a student at Webster University. She has been haunted by the error despite having been issued a new number from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and changing her name.

According to The Independent, the old number she was given has kept her from graduating college and qualifying for a mortgage.

Carthen called the mistake “a haunting” and said things didn’t get better when she first found out that she was on the list that tracks those who are deceased with social security numbers.

“Well, it got worse because it wasn’t creditors. Being in the Death Master File, it went to the IRS, it went to the Department of Homeland Security, it went to E-verify, all of these things. It just started affecting my life. It’s just a matter before my Social Security number catches up with me, and then they have to let me go … HR can’t process payroll,” she said of the challenges she has faced in keeping a job due to the error.

In 2021, Carthen filed a lawsuit against the SSA that was dismissed after she’d previously tried reaching out to four total U.S. presidents for help. After being assigned a new number that same year and legally changing her name, the woman said she’s still suffering. “Here I am still stuck, and nobody can help,” Carthen shared to The Independent.

An SSA spokesperson told KSDK in an email that its records are “highly accurate.” The administration’s website provides a guide on what to do for people who find themselves in the same situation as Carthen.

by Stacy Jackson

October 17, 2023

D.C. Intersection To Be Renamed After Negro League’s First Female Pitcher

Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, the first woman to pitch in the Negro Leagues and a two-way player, will be memorialized by having a D.C. intersection named after her.

On Oct. 11, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser revealed that the “Dave Thomas Circle” intersection will be renamed “Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson Plaza,” after the female baseball pitcher who played for the Indianapolis Clowns for three years, according to Fox 5. The $41 million construction project for the intersection near Florida Avenue and New York Avenue NE will end in 2024. The D.C. City Council still needs to approve the renaming.

Mayor Bowser said about the project, “Our community is ready to start a new chapter at this intersection, and we are off to a strong start by naming it after such an iconic woman.”

She continued: “Mamie ‘Peanut’ Johnson was a pioneer. Now, it is fitting that her name will represent these new spaces where residents and visitors can rest and play. I thank the Noma BID for engaging the public and going through a thoughtful process of renaming this intersection.”

Between April 17 and June 25 of this year, D.C. residents voted for name recommendations for the intersection, and more than 4,300 chose to rename the intersection in honor of Johnson.

The area was notorious for being a problem spot for traffic. Maura Brophy, president and CEO of the NoMa BID, said about construction, “The redesign of the Florida Avenue/New York Avenue NE intersection will transform the current space to make it safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers while also creating more than one acre of green space for the benefit of the community.”

Who was Mamie Johnson?

The trailblazing athlete pitcher played for the Indianapolis Clowns from 1953-1955. She entered the Negro Leagues as Black players began to integrate into the MLB. Ironically, Johnson had been rejected by the all-white female league because she was Black. Although she was the only woman to pitch in the Negro Leagues, there were two other women who also played baseball with the men.

Johnson proudly stated that she learned how to throw her famous curveball from the baseball legend Satchel Paige.

“Tell you the truth, I didn’t know of his greatness that much. He was just another ballplayer to me at that particular time. Later on, I found out exactly who he was,” she explained.

After 1955, Johnson hung up her mitt and became a nurse. She died from an undisclosed illness in 2017.

by Stacy Jackson

October 17, 2023

Antonio Brown Arrested For Allegedly Not Paying Nearly $31K In Child Support

On Oct. 15, former National Football League (NFL) player Antonio Brown was arrested in Dania Beach, Florida, for allegedly failing to pay child support.

According to CBS News, the 35-year-old father of six by three different women was booked in Broward County. Brown was booked on an out-of-county arrest warrant. He was released on a $15,000 bond.

Wiltrice Jackson, the former athlete’s ex-girlfriend, Jackson claims she has consistently tried to get Brown to support Antanyiah, and that Brown’s debt totals nearly $31,000 in child support owed for their daughter, Antanyiah. The mother of the 15-year-old track star, who already has interest from more than 80 colleges, said she wanted Brown arrested.

“Right now, he’s making a mockery out of the judge, out of everything, because he feels like he’s untouchable,” she said.

This latest incident was not the first time the exasperated mom turned to the courts. BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported that an arrest warrant was issued for Brown in August 2023. At the time, a Miami-Dade County judge ruled that the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver missed a child support payment of $15,000. CBS News also reported the same issue came about earlier this year, in April.

Brown is not currently signed to an NFL team. Last month, BE reported that Brown was accused of pulling a gun on members of his Albany Empire (formerly of the National Arena League) team. Former players in the now-defunct team also claimed the athlete didn’t pay them.