• News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 5, 2024

Viral TikTok Video Captures Racist Slurs Hurled At Black Man During Virginia City Event

In light of the video making rounds on TikTok, Virginia City officials released a statement condemning the incident.

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A TikTok exposing racist comments made at an event in Virginia City, Nevada, has gone viral. City officials have condemned the video, which shows a white man threatening the Black TikToker with references to a “hanging tree.”

The clip has garnered over 650,000 views since it was posted on Aug. 2. The TikToker “Uncle Ricky” documented the insults hurled at him at the Hot August Nights event, later deeming it “racism at its best.”

@unclerickyd1 This is what i had to go threw today!! Ive never felt so humiliating and disrespected in my life. #racism at his best. @NAACP @ABC News @cnbc @CBS News @TizzyEnt @Attorney Ben Crump #fypシ゚viral @CNN @Fox News ♬ original sound – UncleRicky

The video began with one of the racist men flicking off the TikToker, who then prompted him to repeat his alleged words about a “hanging tree.”

“Keep talking. And where is the hanging tree at?” asked Uncle Ricky.

“In your backyard,” the man responded.

The content creator added, “He just said there’s a hanging tree out there to hang people like me.”

Another man, wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, began laughing with the alleged racist. Shortly after, a woman escorted the TikToker off the property, later revealed to be the Firehouse Saloon. However, Uncle Ricky continued to yell about the racism he encountered, but to no avail from those passing by.

“This is what I had to go threw today,” he exclaimed in the caption. “I’ve never felt so humiliating and disrespected in my life.”

According to U.S. Census data, Virginia City is 93.8% white, with no updated information on its number of Black residents. In light of the video making the rounds on TikTok, city officials released a statement condemning the incident.

“Earlier this weekend, an incident occurred in which individuals were harassed during an event, and comments were made that were hateful and racist,” wrote the officials, confirmed by ThisIsReno. “We want to make it clear on behalf of the Virginia City Tourism Commission that we find this behavior abhorrent and inexcusable. Virginia City is an incredible historic town with vibrant events and a welcoming atmosphere.

“We stand wholly against any acts of hatred, racism or violence. Virginia City is proud to be a town that invites all individuals, and we are working closely with our merchants and event partners to create a community that is inclusive and open to all.”

According to KTVN, the Storey County Sheriff’s Office has launched an investigation. Uncle Ricky has since posted a follow up video, thanking viewers for their support in identifying the perpetrators.

@unclerickyd1

Thanks to all my supporters!!! And everyone that show love. And understood the severity of this video.

♬ original sound – UncleRicky

“I just want to tell everyone thank y’all for all [the support],” he expressed in the TikTok. “Thank you for putting your comments and finding [these people] because this is unacceptable. I [want] everybody to see that racism doesn’t just go on from person to person, racism is in all these little cities and small towns.”

RELATED CONTENT: Indiana State University Condemns Student Who Made Viral Racist TikTok About Beyoncé

by Daniel Johnson

August 5, 2024

Wesley Snipes Has 2 Guinness World Records After ‘Wolverine & Deadpool’

Snipes took home the record of 'Longest Gap Between Character Appearances in Marvel Films.'

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Following the reprisal of his role as Eric Brooks, otherwise known as Blade, 62-year-old Wesley Snipes set two Guinness World Records. When Deadpool & Wolverine was released, it had been 26 years since Snipes first donned the costume which gave him the record for “Longest Career as a Live-Action Marvel Character.” 

According to Deadline, Snipes also took home the record of “Longest Gap Between Character Appearances in Marvel Films,” clocking in at more than 19 years after his last appearance in 2004’s Blade: Trinity. 

Reynolds, who also appeared alongside Snipes in the 2004 film, personally reached out to him about potentially making an appearance in the film. Snipes told Entertainment Weekly that he was unsure if it would happen.

“I didn’t think he would be able to pull it off,” Snipes said. “I didn’t think that Marvel was into it. Disney was into it. And also because they had Mahershala [Ali], you know, cast for the next upcoming version of it. So, it didn’t make sense to me.”

Snipes continued, “I thought it didn’t make sense to me, but [when] you get a call from Ryan Reynolds out of the blue after 20 years, you go, ‘OK, I got to take this call. Let’s see what this is about.’ He told me the idea…They said ‘yes’ and ‘it’s a go.’ ‘If you’re in, we’re in.’ Here we are.”

Snipes also discussed the growth of Reynolds with EW, saying that he enjoyed revisiting the character that is credited with birthing (or saving) the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

“Some of the things he did back in those days, that’s not really my humor,” Snipes said. “I’m not tuned in that way. So I thought, ‘Well, it’s a little over the top for me.’ But seeing him do it in this context made a lot of sense. And seeing him do it and do it well, Ryan does something that most people can’t do. He’s unique in that way, and he’s found a fantastic niche for himself doing what he does. Deadpool is Ryan Reynolds all day long. So it was enjoyable. It was enjoyable to work with him. It was enjoyable to revisit.”

Snipes also responded to the news on Twitter/X, writing a post captioned “Whuuuut?! Really? Do I get a certificate too? Lordy Lordy Lordy…Thank you @GWR,  I’m your fan!”

 Snipes also told EW that he was not in Blade-shape and had to work out for a month to feel like he was ready to reprise his role. 

“I wasn’t Blade ready, man. I don’t walk around as Blade every day, you know what I mean? With a trench coat and shades and fangs in my mouth. We had to work out,” Snipes said. “We definitely had to get the body, and my biggest concern was being in condition enough to deal with whatever the action was. They didn’t really tell me what the action was going to be, so I prepared for whatever that was going to come. Thankfully, I didn’t have to do as much as I thought I would because the action movies are tough.”

Snipes continued, “They’re not easy at all by any means. About a month into it, I got the body right… and then, with the help of a little customized foam well placed in certain areas, it was all good to go, baby. Let’s ride!”

RELATED CONTENT: Mahershala Ali is ‘Humbled and So Encouraged By’ Wesley Snipes Saying He ‘Will Do Great’ as Blade

• News

by Daniel Johnson

August 5, 2024

It’s About Time! After Years Of Discrimination, Black Farmers To Receive $2B From U.S. Government

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack told reporters the aid 'is not compensation for anyone’s loss or the pain endured, but it is an acknowledgment by the department.'

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After years of fighting against discrimination, Black and other minority farmers are set to receive $2 billion from the United States Department of Agriculture, according to an announcement from President Joe Biden.

These farmers have long struggled against systemic barriers, including discriminatory lending practices, denial of access to federal aid, and unequal treatment in the allocation of resources and support from the USDA. This settlement aims to address the historical injustices and provide much-needed financial relief to minority farmers who have been disproportionately affected by these discriminatory practices.

According to ABC News, most of the payments will go to farmers in Mississippi and Alabama. Over 23,000 farmers will receive payments between $10,000 and $500,000. In addition, another 20,000 who had planned to start a farm but never got a loan from the USDA will receive between $3,500 and $6,000.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack clarified in a statement that the payments are not a form of reparations, but are an acknowledgement from the USDA. 

Although James Boyd Jr, the founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association is appreciative of the aid, he also believes that it does not address the group’s needs. “It’s like putting a bandage on somebody that needs open-heart surgery,” Boyd told ABC News. “We want our land, and I want to be very, very clear about that.”

Boyd and his organization are still fighting for debt relief for Black farmers who received approval in 2021. Though they have been approved for payments under the government’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package, that money was never actually given to them due to white farmers filing suits and claiming that the relief for Black farmers was discriminatory.

Congress then amended and broadened the law in order to avoid a legal fight from conservatives. The new law set aside $3.1 billion for farmers who were struggling to repay USDA loans and another $2.2 billion for farmers who were discriminated against by the USDA.

Little has changed, Boyd says. “We face blatant, in-your-face, real discrimination,” Boyd told ABC News. “And I did personally. The county person who was making farm loans spat tobacco juice on me during a loan session.”

According to a press release from the USDA, Black political leaders are praising the Biden administration’s move. 

Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock said, “While long overdue, today’s announcement is good news. These payments, which I was proud to secure, will go a long way toward helping Georgia farmers stay on their farms and get out of the red. We cannot forget that farmers waited over two years for these payments following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, and many more have waited decades after the botched Pigford settlements. These payments are a meaningful step forward in USDA’s long journey towards rebuilding trust with farmers who’ve previously faced discrimination.”

Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS) described the program’s necessity. “This program is crucial for Black farmers in Mississippi and across the country, who have historically faced systemic discrimination,” he said, but added a caveat. “These awards are a significant step in the right direction, but our work towards equity must continue.”

RELATED CONTENT: Black Farmer Fund Raises $11 Million For Black Agricultural Businesses

• Celebrity News

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 5, 2024

Rapper Rhymefest Running in Chicago’s First School Board Election

For the Grammy winner, his mission is bigger than rap. It's an artist's 'duty,' he says, to support their communities.

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Rhymefest is now venturing into Chicago politics. The rapper, also known for his past collaborations with Kanye West (Ye), is entering the city’s first- ever school board election, which will take place Nov. 5.

“I rap and that’s my daytime thing, however I would always come back to Chicago,” he explained to People. “I never moved out of my Great Grandma’s house. As a rapper, I’m always telling artists it is not our obligation to ‘make it out of the hood’. It is our duty to rebuild the community.” 

While his former collaborator Ye ventured into education with the now-defunct Donda Academy, Rhymefest is drawing from different inspirations for his campaign. His inspirations include the works of James Baldwin, which he reads with the children at his community service program.

“I would teach James Baldwin’s book The Fire Next Time. Young people would say, ‘What is that? Who wrote that?’ And I’m like, ‘You never heard of James Baldwin?’,” Rhymefest said. “I realized our schools are not giving culturally relevant curriculum. Our schools are not preparing our children for a modern economy and a modern world. That’s what inspired me.” 

Baldwin’s writings did more than encourage him to pursue the school board seat. His latest album James and Nikki: A Conversation, released under the Golden State Warriors’ record label, tackles the conversation between Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni, a fellow writer and activist.

“I saw a homosexual man, a bisexual woman, two artists, a teacher and a student, a husband and a wife, I saw alchemy happening,” he shared of the album’s intentions. “They were playing every role. It was everything. I said this conversation has to be remade into a hip-hop album…I’m rapping to those who yearn to learn.” 

Despite juggling both an album release and election campaign, Rhymefest is dedicated to inspiring and uplifting the next generation in Chicago. The 47-year-old Oscar winner hopes to be part of this inaugural class that prioritizes the community.

“In Chicago the budget for our school board is $10 billion a year. Historically, the mayor would choose who could manage that budget,” said Rhymefest. “There’s been a community effort, including myself and many teachers, for there to be an elected school board. Chicago’s the only major metropolitan city that has not had an elected school board. This is the first time.” 

RELATED CONTENT: James Baldwin Focus Of Special Exhibition At National Portrait Gallery As The Late Author’s 100th Birthday Nears

• News

by Daniel Johnson

August 5, 2024

Kamala Harris Secures Democratic Nomination With Required Votes

Harris announced her intention to accept the nomination.

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Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said Aug. 2 that Vice President Kamala Harris has officially secured the votes from Democratic delegates to become the party’s nominee for president and the first Black woman and first Asian-American to head a major party ticket. 

According to CNN, the nomination process, which began on Aug. 1, is expected to continue through the evening of Aug. 5. The process, held virtually, was acknowledged by Harris, who joined the video call to announce her intention to accept the nomination. 

“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States. I will officially accept your nomination next week, once the virtual voting period is closed.”

Harris continued, “Later this month, we will gather in Chicago, united as one party, where we’re going to have an opportunity to celebrate this historic moment together.”

Although it has been fairly evident that following President Joe Biden’s exit of the race that Harris would likely be the nominee, and Harris has been largely unopposed by the Democratic Party, evidenced by her name being the only one on the ballot, it follows political convention that Harris was voted the nominee. 

According to the Associated Press, the party will still perform a state by state roll call at the convention in October, rendered a ceremonial roll call due to the virtual vote. In preparation for her contest against Republican nominee Donald Trump, Harris has brought on several Obama campaign veterans.

Harris has provided an energy and a rallying point that the Democrats largely lacked while Biden was the presumptive nominee, and while her running mate does not need to be in place for her to accept the nomination, Harris is reportedly in the process of vetting several candidates. 

According to CNN, Harris will meet with the finalists Aug. 4. The frontrunner, according to its reporting, is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but Harris is also considering whether Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly could help Harris win in their respective states via a nomination.  Harris is expected to announce her running mate at a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Aug. 6.

RELATED CONTENT: Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris Will Head To Philly With Her VP-Select

• Sports

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 5, 2024

Sha’Carri Richardson Takes Silver In Comeback Performance At Paris Olympics

While her redemption fell short of expectations, she did put Team USA back on the podium for the sprints.

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Sha’Carri Richardson is finally an Olympic medalist. The track and field star took home silver at the 100-meter finals at the Paris Olympics.

Richardson made her debut on the track Aug 3. The Associated Press reported that the 24-year-old earned silver with 10.87 seconds. She followed St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred, who won with a time of 10.72 seconds. Another American runner, Melissa Jefferson, finished third.

SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON IS AN OLYMPIC MEDALIST 🥈#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/uWlSzEZXWa

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 3, 2024

However, a slow start potentially stripped Richardson of the gold. She took .221 seconds to get off the block, the slowest time out of all eight runners in the final.

The race marked her official Olympic comeback, showcasing a years-long effort for Richardson to make it to this level. She was initially left out of the Tokyo games in 2021 following positive drug test for THC, the active ingredient found in cannabis.

“This time around, I feel as if it was more—definitely still confident, still my exciting, normal self, but more so the overwhelming feeling of joy,” Richardson said during the U.S. Olympic trials in June, as reported by USA Today.

After three additional years of training and waiting, Richardson was determined to make it to the Olympic stage. Now, she has soothed a decades-long drought for U.S. Track and Field, which has not received a medal for the 100-meter sprint since 1996.

While her redemption fell short of expectations, she did put Team USA back on the podium for the sprints. As for earning Olympic gold, Richardson will most likely have another chance to do so in the 4×100 meter relay. The competition, which the USA last won at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, begins Aug. 8.

RELATED CONTENT: Shannon Sharpe, Chad ‘OchoCinco’ Johnson Offer $50K To Select Olympians If They Win Gold

• News

by Daniel Johnson

August 5, 2024

Parents Say Son Not Protected from Racist Bullying in MA School, File Civil Rights Lawsuit

Parents of a student in Brookline, Massachusetts, allege their son experienced racism and the school did nothing about it.

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A civil rights lawsuit has been filed against Brookline schools in Massachusetts over allegations that the Public Schools of Brookline failed to properly protect a Black student who was bullied because of his race. The parents of the student claim that the school’s negligence and lack of adequate measures to address the bullying led to a hostile and unsafe environment for their child.

According to WBZ News, a Boston affiliate of CBS News, the 14-year-old student was allegedly called a “cotton picker” by another student in December 2023. On another occasion in April 2024, the student tripped and fell and another student put their knee on his neck and started yelling “George Floyd! George Floyd!”

The student’s parents, who requested that WBZ News only use their first names, said that the school’s officials didn’t do a lot to help their son. 

Ricardo, his father, said that the pair just wanted to give their son better opportunities. 

“I really just wanted and truly believe that humanity exists,” Wedee, the boy’s mother, said. “Like, caring about people, checking in on them, and that’s what I wanted them to do for my son. By not checking in on him, you are saying a lot.”

“If my son had done something even remotely close to what had happened, he would have been expelled. God knows, he probably would have been in juvenile detention right now, depending on the circumstances,” Ricardo told WBZ News. “What I was more surprised about is the fact that they were very nonchalant about the whole thing.”

Ricardo continued, “As much as it is about him, I find it’s an opportunity to get something done about it, not just for him but for other kids who might be experiencing this or who might be about to experience this.”

Lawyers for Civil Rights, the group representing the parents and their son in the court case, have filed four other civil rights lawsuits over the last two months related to racial bullying in Massachusetts.

“The Public Schools of Brookline condemns hatred and racism in all of its forms,” Linus Guillory, superintendent of Brookline Schools, said in a statement. “Racism and discrimination run contrary to the values of our school district. We are currently working with counsel to review the complaint, and we will put forward an appropriate response within the timeframe allowed by the legal process.”

RELATED CONTENT: Connecticut School Denies Racist Bullying Despite Victim’s Family Fleeing State

• Events

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

August 5, 2024

Harlem Week Celebrates 50 Years Of Honoring The Community’s History

The celebration started in 1974 with Harlem Day.

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Harlem Week recently began its 50th anniversary of celebrating the famed New York City community’s history and culture.

It started Aug. 1 with a breakfast at Sylvia’s Restaurant, a famed soul food staple in Harlem. The party will continue through Aug. 18, with a line-up featuring hip-hop artists like Fabolous, Broadway show performances, and delights for foodies. With free admission for all events, this year will also offer health screenings at the Harlem Health Village and a children’s festival providing school supplies.

The celebration started in 1974, with Harlem Day paying tribute to those who considered the area their home despite urban flight. The inaugural ceremony’s attendees included James Baldwin, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, and Maya Angelou.

“It was supposed to be a onetime event. It was never supposed to happen again,” Lloyd Williams, president of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, told Forbes. “Nineteen seventy-four was the height of what was called ‘urban flight,’ and the urban areas of America, the Detroits and Washingtons and Chicagos, the persons with significant incomes, be they whites, Blacks, etc., were fleeing urban areas, and that which was left were in the main people of color who had nowhere else they could go.”

He added, “A ribbon was cut at 138^th street and 7^th Avenue by (actor and producer) Ossie Davis. He declared this to be the beginning of the second Harlem Renaissance.”

The day became a weekend and the weekend became weeks, all paying tribute to the vibrant community Harlem has fostered. The neighborhood remains a pillar of Black excellence first witnessed during the Harlem Renaissance. Williams touched on the “Harlem State of Mind” that continues to make it a focal point of Black culture.

“Harlem is strategically located like no other community,” he expressed. “Why? Because it’s located in Manhattan and that is the international capital of the world with the United Nations. That is the financial capital of the world with Wall Street [and] the cultural capital of the world with Broadway. That is the historical capital of the world with all of the museums. The media capital of the world. As a result, Harlem has the unique ability that what happens in Harlem resonates and is broadcast around the region, around the nation, and around the world.”

Today, the community remains home for the famed Apollo Theater and the Schomburg Center, known for holding extensive research materials on the African Diaspora and Black experience. Moreover, the celebration of Harlem’s place in the Black community expands year after year.

More information on its extensive programming, discussions, and entertainment can be found on Harlem Week’s website.

RELATED CONTENT: Trader Joe’s Brings Its Goodies To New Harlem Store

by Jeffrey McKinney

August 5, 2024

Black Healthcare Firms Should Prosper Most From Growing Economy, According To New Report

The second quarter surge in the GDP could create more business activity for Black healthcare and affiliated businesses.

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Black firms in healthcare and related industries are among the enterprises that should benefit the most from a growing U.S. economy.

Based on a report by William Michael Cunningham, an economist and owner of Creative Investment Research, those firms account for 28% of all Black-owned firms nationally in any industry, meaning that the Black business community typically does better when that sector expands.

His analysis comes after the gross domestic product (GDP) doubled by surprisingly rising 2.8% in this year’s second quarter from 1.4% in the first quarter. Spending in healthcare and affiliated businesses grew by about $27 billion from the first to the second quarter.

An influential economic indicator, the GDP basically measures the value of the output of all goods and services produced in America during a specific time frame.

Cunningham said that a large component of the GDP gain occurring in healthcare should translate into Black firms doing relatively better. “That’s assuming those firms have costs under control and GDP growth trends continue, which we believe they will.”

Cunningham told BLACK ENTERPRISE that for minority-owned businesses, higher economic growth should lead to greater availability of credit and investment opportunities. He added those opportunities are vital for the sustainability of minority enterprises.

The healthcare sector is critical to minority employment and ownership. “Growth in health care should be especially significant for Black firms, given their overrepresentation in that space.”

Breaking down the potential impact in other industries where Black businesses operate, Cunningham said data for Q2 2024 reveals sector-specific performance that is crucial for understanding the landscape for minority-owned companies. For instance, he said, the data indicated consumer spending increases in services and goods, which should bode well for minority firms.