THAT’S CAP! Omarosa Outs Donald Trump’s Real Heritage Amid Him Questioning The VP’s Blackness
Think Trump will address these accusations?
Former President Donald Trump’s top aide Omarosa Manigault Newman exposed lies her ex-boss made about his ancestry amid false claims of Vice President Kamala Harris not being Black, The New Republic reports.
Manigault Newman sat in on a panel during CNN’s Laura Coates Live on July 31 and made the bombshell accusation about the former president identifying as Swedish “because he didn’t want to acknowledge that his father was German and his mother was Irish, and he thought that that would play better to those who were patronizing his businesses.”
“So can we call the question his past of self-identifying as first Swedish, then German, and then Irish whenever it’s convenient?” the former reality star asked.
“Donald doesn’t know the difference between ancestry and race. He doesn’t want to know the differences or understand the nuances of how people self-identify. And so, I believe that that’s disqualifying for him.”
Omarosa: Can we call the question his past of self identifying as first Swedish then German, and then Irish whenever it's convenient.. pic.twitter.com/JRFT6zfX8x
Omarosa continued to pinpoint the reasoning behind him blatantly mispronouncing Harris’ first name after fellow panelist Bruce LeVell, the former executive director of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, was asked by Coates about Trump questioning Harris’ ethnicity, according to Yahoo News.
Manigault Newman feels it’s a harmful tactic used “to make people see the otherness of Kamala Harris.” “And when he mispronounces her name, Laura, he does it as a slur. He does it intentionally to harm her,” she said. “And so I pose a question to Bruce when he says, ‘Oh, at some point she identified as this, and at some point, she identified as this,’ are you going to hold Donald Trump to the fire for identifying himself as Swedish, even though he has no Swedish roots, in his bestselling book, The Art of the Deal?”
The lie came from the 1987 published book where the GOP presidential candidate highlighted his ancestry, penning that his grandfather “came here from Sweden as a child.”
After a Swedish organization asked the Trump family to put up an exhibit about the family in a museum, he clarified what he meant 13 years later in another book, claiming his grandfather had come from Germany.
Omarosa’s remarks come just days after the four-time indicted businessman engaged in a tense panel discussion at the National Association of Black Journalists’s (NABJ) annual conference. ABC News’ Rachel Scott asked whether he believed Harris was only at the top of the Democratic ticket because she is a Black woman. He responded by saying he had recently found out that Harris was Black.
“I didn’t know she was Black until several years ago when she happened to turn Black, and now she wants to be known as Black,” he said.
Harris, born to a Jamaican father and Indian mother, went to Howard University, a historically Black college and university, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., the first Black female Greek-lettered organization established in the U.S.
Royce Reeves, Sr. was charged with conspiracy to Sell Marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
A Georgia commissioner and 23 other suspects allegedly involved with the G-Shyne Bloods were arrested after an investigation in Crisp County. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests after the GBI and other law enforcement agencies served 120 arrest warrants on 24 people on July 31. Included was Cordele City Commissioner Royce Reeves, Sr. The 52-year-old has been with the Cordele City Commission for over 10 years after being elected on Jan. 1, 2014.
Royce Reeves was charged with conspiracy to sell marijuana, Gang Act B, Gang Act B, Use of a Communication Facility, and RICO.
The investigation, labeled ‘Operation Shyne Down,’ was an effort to drive down alleged criminal activities associated with the G-Shyne Bloods street gang. Several agencies investigated The gang over nine months, including the GBI, Crisp County Sheriff’s Office, Cordele District Attorney’s Office, Department of Community Supervision, and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives).
24 were arrested on criminal gang and drug charges in Operation Shyne Down in Crisp County, Georgia. These arrests follow a nine-month joint investigation into the activities of a criminal street gang in the area.
— GA Bureau of Investigation (@GBI_GA) July 31, 2024
“Criminal street gangs and their senseless acts of violence wreak havoc in our communities and place the citizens of Georgia in danger,” said GBI Director Chris Hosey. “The GBI and our partners work relentlessly to stand between this threat and the innocent citizens we are sworn to protect. Operation Shyne Down is a testament to this commitment. We will not tolerate acts that put our communities and law enforcement in danger, and we will continue to aggressively pursue those who commit these violent acts to keep Georgia and its citizens safe.”
WALBreported that this isn’t Reeves’ first run-in with the law. The commissioner has been arrested on three separate occasions.
He was arrested in August 2021 and indicted on two counts of obstruction of an officer, violation of oath by a public officer, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. He was charged after allegedly pushing a Georgia State Trooper to get past a police line at the scene of an accident. Gov. Brian Kemp suspended him in January of 2022 through an executive order.
In October 2023, Reeves was arrested and charged with theft and, after posting a bond, was released after reportedly removing campaign signs from around Cordele.
Andrea Osei Bridges The Gap Between Diversity And Luxury Bridal Fashion
Andrea Osei speaks to Black Enterprise about how she is diversifying the luxury bridal fashion scene.
Entrepreneur Andrea Osei keeps reinventing herself while remaining true to the values that guide her new ambitions.
The pharmacist-turned-fashion designer has already established herself in the luxury bridal scene, creating silhouettes that stem from her Ghanaian-American upbringing. With diversity from leadership to marketing, Andrea Osei Bride keeps growing.
From showcasing at Bridal Fashion Week to being featured in Brides magazine, Osei is at the forefront of making luxury accessible to everyone. Alongside her professional milestones, Osei’s impact extends to philanthropy. She co-founded a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children within the African diaspora.
Osei has much on her to-do list but is more inspired than ever by her surroundings and storied history. She spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about her “multidimensional” journey and evolution as a Black woman entrepreneur.
BE: You went from pharmacy to fashion. Can you provide details on when this love for fashion design, specifically bridal, spoke to you?
It was such an unexpected discovery, to be honest. It was really rooted in seeing my grandmother sew at her sewing machine, garden, and do all types of things to beautify our home. So, I learned how to sew by hand from my grandmother as a child, but I also gravitated toward math and science and was pushed toward that. I never really saw myself as someone who was “fashionable,” mainly because my family didn’t always have the means to buy the latest and the greatest growing up. My grandmother had actually passed away six months before my wedding in 2013, and my aunt, who was also my godmother, got me a sewing machine in her honor.
I just had a natural knack for it, doing children’s clothes and a few custom orders. Then, I opened up my series of women’s ready-to-wear clothing. People had always asked me for wedding dresses, but I always felt like I wanted to do my due diligence and get more skin in the game, such as studying the business of fashion before I transitioned. So I did it all throughout COVID. After that, I decided that I was ready to jump into the world.
How are you tying your upbringing, culture, and identity into your work, especially when the silhouettes are built from the classic white dress?
I didn’t realize it at first, but now, like, when I look back, a lot of my fashion influence actually comes from African church culture. I think that was my first taste of seeing women throw it on, from beaded laces and puff sleeves, every single Sunday. In our country, we do a lot of what’s called the kaba and slit, which is basically a peplum top and a penciled bottom with a slit in the back. But I’m going more for texture and structure for this next collection. I want it to feel sublime and ethereal. Those are two words that pop into my mind when I describe this next collection. All of those factors play a huge role culturally and even when I’m doing my designs for bridal. I want to make women feel like how those women felt every Sunday.
For many Black female entrepreneurs, getting the funding to bring ideas to fruition is tough. Can you explain, financially speaking, your journey to getting your business off the ground? Did you get angel investors?
I believed in me, predominantly. And if I could lend some advice to anyone trying to get their business off the ground, I’ve always essentially led with ‘I have the talent,’ and just jumped in, bootstrapped, and self-funded it. Try to build that foundation of capital as much as you can. What I found in my journey is anytime that you don’t feel like your personal finances are really stable, it’s very hard for you to consistently remain focused on the goal. So, I’ve utilized grants, my own funding, and small loans. I haven’t taken out any major loans, and I’ve used crowdfunding. Those are the capital resources that I’ve used throughout my journey as an entrepreneur in fashion. But I’m really happy with how things are going now.
How are you moving the needle forward in diversifying this niche space in fashion?
It’s hard to be an African-American designer in the bridal space because it is not diverse. When you hear people say that fashion needs more diversity and inclusion, when you zero in on bridal, it’s even more so, right? And I think a lot of the unspoken sentiment is that your business will not be successful if you don’t use all-white models or if you yourself are not white or racially ambiguous. We are moving the needle forward by being very bold in our approach when it comes to marketing and branding.
When we say we are about diversity, equity, and inclusion, it’s not just in our modeling campaigns. It’s on the back end, too. So we like to hire people of different races, sexual orientations, backgrounds, religions, etc, because I feel like they each bring their own flavor to the table and their own POV from their cultures as well. And it’s very, very valuable to my business as a creative. I love it.
You’re providing luxury from a Black lens to a Black and diverse demographic. What does that luxury mean?
We aren’t going to be confined to what someone else defines as luxury. I think, for me, what it means is showing up better than the expectation each and every single time. It’s making sure that the quality assurance is on “1000.” You make sure that you really cater to that bride. She should know you have her best interest at heart. You are and want to be ingrained in her special day. Go the extra mile. Make sure that they know this is not just luxury bridal; this is one of the top options.
What challenges do you feel you’ve learned from the most as you continue to grow and scale your business?
Don’t try to grow too fast. That’s a lesson I’ve learned and it has been reinforced to me. I think that in this world of “Instagram microwave” success, it is very easy to feel like you’re not reaching a milestone fast enough. You’ll see other businesses in the industry have reached a certain level. Yet, you don’t know the cost of their sacrifice to get to that point. So it’s really about staying in your own lane. Planning is paramount, and so is being consistent with the work.
Raising H.O.P.E. is your philanthropic endeavor; explain its creation and your ongoing role.
So Raising H.O.P.E. is a nonprofit I co-founded with my sister, Ellen. Our purpose is to provide resources to children within the African diaspora. We’ve been mainly focusing on children with special needs. The whole reason we started [the venture] is because of my mom’s work with a group of orphans in Dodowa, Ghana. We were like, ‘Wow, how can we make this more sustainable and cast a wider net?’ What we focus on is providing resources to the community and also tools. When we are working with autistic children, we have their parents come in and teach them the tools that they can use to go back and help their children.
What do you want your lasting impact to be?
I want to build a legacy of excellence that my [successors] can ultimately inherit and pick up the torch to run with. I also want to leave a legacy that shows Black women or girls that you don’t have to be one-dimensional. You can give yourself permission to evolve, and I think that’s really the story of my life. I thought I was going to be a pharmacist until I retired. I loved being a pharmacist. When I discovered a new love, I gave myself permission to reinvent myself. You should reinvent yourself as many times as you feel fit in your spirit.
University Of Illinois Navigates Lack Of Campus Housing
The university is facing an issue they did not anticipate for the 24-25 Fall semester: a shortage of student housing.
The University of Illinois is asking elder classmen to move out of student housing to accommodate incoming first-year students.
The university is facing an issue they did not anticipate for the 24-25 fall semester: a shortage of student housing. For this reason, the university is offering food vouchers and a cash stipend to incentivize juniors and seniors to voluntarily forfeit their on-campus housing, according to CBS News.
CBS reports, “The university is offering returning students who are not required to live on campus a $2,000 incentive and meal tickets to cancel their housing contract.”
Many universities require incoming freshmen to live on campus during their first year. The University of Illinois’ student code lists out the definition of a freshman that must acquire student housing:
apply for admission while attending high school, regardless of the amount of college credit earned, including advanced placement or similar programs;
are enrolled in the fall term and attended college for the first time in the prior summer term or
since graduating from high school, have not attended another postsecondary institution as a degree-seeking undergraduate student.
The Chicago-based university isn’t the only one going through a housing crisis. In Lafayette, Louisiana, residents of Woodsprings Suites, an extended-stay motel, are being evicted to accommodate students as an adequate number of campus housing units is unavailable.
Lafayette extended-stay residents face sudden eviction to make space for student housing https://t.co/mQqNRNEmgw
HBCU Howard University made national news in 2021 for its housing issues. Students staged a sit-in at the school’s Blackburn University Center beginning Oct. 12. Partnering with the education reform group Live Moment, students protested the presence of mold and crumbling infrastructure in the 100-year-old institution’s housing units. After more than a month, students and the administration reached an agreement, ending the protest.
“We are tired of not being heard. So we’re not leaving until they come to us. We’re shutting Blackburn down”
Howard University Shuts Down Tailgate In Favor Of ‘Family-Friendly’ Homecoming
The centennial celebration for past and current Bison will look a little different this year.
Howard University announced the cancellation of its Homecoming Tailgate Party, to the disappointment of many.
The university, located in Washington, D.C., is celebrating its 100th homecoming since the school’s founding. The weekend will not lack activities. According to Howard’s official website, “Student Fashion Show, Greek Step Show, Yardfest, Homecoming Parade, Young Alumni Day Party Brunch and Alumni Jazz Brunch” are just a few of the scheduled events. The centennial celebration for past and current Bison will look a little different this year. The Tailgate, a Bison family reunion of sorts, will be notably absent.
On November 27, 1924, Howard University’s first Homecoming was simply a football game against Lincoln University of Pennsylvania. This year, from 10/13 – 10/20, we’ll celebrate the Centennial in true Bison fashion. Learn More: https://t.co/scA1Q177KOpic.twitter.com/AJnmvVaPYG
Howard claims the removal of the official Tail Gate Party comes from the desire “to create a more unique and family-friendly experience on Saturday.”
David Bennett, senior vice president of Development and Alumni Relations, wrote, “Each year, Howard Homecoming appeals to students, alumni and members of the local community and, this year, we are confident that an even greater level of enthusiasm will be had by people as we celebrate 100 years of Homecoming,” Bennet continues, “It’s our intention to create a week of events that appeal to everyone – past, current and even future Bison.”
Howard, affectionately called “the Mecca” by its Alumni, is one of the nation’s leading HBCUs. Not only is the institution renowned for its education, it is also known for its impressive list of celebrity alumni. The Howard Halls have been graced by current Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Oscar winner Samuel Jackson Jr., and late actor Chadwick Boseman.
The campus is considered a bastion of Black culture and is attended by Black people from all across the diaspora. The Tailgate Party is a much-anticipated event that allows past and present Bison to network and fellowship,
Damon Dash’s Roc-A-Fella Stake To Be Auctioned To Satisfy Judgments
The auction is scheduled for August 29 in New York City
Roc-A-Fella label owners JAY-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke may have a new partner as a judge has ordered Damon Dash’s 33.3% stake in the label to be auctioned off to satisfy a debt owed by the Harlem businessman.
According to Billboard, an auction is scheduled for Aug. 29 in New York City for the one-third stake Dash has in the label, which includes the master recording of JAY-Z’s debut album, “Reasonable Doubt.” The judge ordered the sale of Dash’s stake due to non-payment of a $823,000 judgment due to movie producer Josh Webber.
Webber previously won a defamation and copyright infringement lawsuit against Dash after a dispute over the 2016 filmDear Frank. JAY-Z and Biggs objected to the ruling, citing the bylaws that mandate approval from the board of directors to sell off shares. U.S. Magistrate Robert W. Lehrburger ignored their plea and ruled that Dash’s one-third ownership of Roc-A-Fella is personal property that can be seized to satisfy the judgment against him.
Based on federal court filings, the United States Marshals Service will oversee the auction at a Midtown Manhattan hotel. Any potential buyers must bid, at minimum, $1.2 million. They would also be required to post a $240,000 deposit for the right to participate in the sale.
A source told Billboard that, although a potential buyer will own an equal share of the company, due to a majority vote, they will most likely be unable to make business decisions without the approval of their new partners.
“Whomever buys Dame’s stake in Roc-A-Fella will be a minority owner without authority over any decision-making. They won’t have the ability to sell the copyright or borrow against the master as all decisions require majority vote,” The Source, reported.
Webber’s attorney, Chris Brown, will coordinate the upcoming auction.
In July, Dash made a last-ditch effort to sell his stake to satisfy the judgment against him.
The auction will help satisfy another debt for Dash. The New York City Department of Social Services (NYCDSS) will collect money owed to them before Webber can get the money for his judgment. The entertainment executive owes $145,096 in unpaid child support to Rachel Roy for his two daughters and to Cindy Morales for his son.
The National Women’s Defense League Director, Emma Davidson Tribbs, released a statement saying that Shapiro’s office should have looked into a case involving his former cabinet secretary, Mike Vereb.
“Governor Shapiro’s office should have done a better job preventing sexual harassment happening in his own office by former cabinet secretary Mike Vereb, including protecting the survivor who bravely came forward, ensuring that any other potential survivors felt safe in speaking up, and ensuring the harasser didn’t have the opportunity to do further harm after the complaint,” Davidson Tribbs wrote.
Shapiro’s office allegedly spent $295,000 of public money to settle a female employee’s complaint against Vereb, claiming the former top aide made lewd and inappropriate sexual remarks toward the victim, forcing her out of her job. Vereb then abruptly resigned from his post in Sept. 2023 after the victim filed a formal complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) in May 2023.
Under a settlement, the PHRC complaint was resolved, requiring the woman to discontinue a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Under the agreement terms, the governor’s office did not admit liability, and the woman agreed to waive future employment with the governor’s office. However, she was allowed to work as a lobbyist for the office.
Both sides are barred from discussing the terms due to a non-disclosure agreement.
These allegations prompted Davidson Tribbs to urge the Harris campaign to move around Shapiro as a vice presidential candidate. “We urge them to consider the handling of past complaints of sexual harassment inside the Pennsylvania Governor’s office,” Davidson Tribbs said.
“The American people deserve to know that, if called to a higher office, Governor Shapiro will do more to ensure the safety and dignity of employees, volunteers, and constituents in his office.”
The unnamed woman involved in the case said she is focused on some of the bills coming to Shapiro’s desk regarding women’s rights that need his attention. “There is a large package of bills waiting to be discussed and ironed out that have been introduced by both chambers. But this package is quite substantive and hits multiple angles,” the woman said.
She hopes the bills will unify legislators and looks forward to seeing Shapiro “lean in and protect the women of Pa.”
According to the New York Post, Pennsylvania state Treasurer nominee Erin McClelland took to X on July 23 to call out the potential VP contender on the same case and accused him of additional sexism. She also said he won’t be comfortable being in second place.
“I want a VP pick that’s secure enough to be second under a woman, is content to be VP & won’t undermine the President to maneuver his own election & doesn’t sweep sexual harassment under the rug,” she wrote.
I want a VP pick that’s secure enough to be second under a woman, is content to be VP & won’t undermine the President to maneuver his own election & doesn’t sweep sexual harassment under the rug. I want someone that can speak to rural voters. That is @RoyCooperNC
While she didn’t mention her state leader by name, McClelland expressed her concerns about the extent of Shapiro’s presidential ambitions if given a chance in the White House. “If I were in Harris’ situation, I would think very strongly about the difficulties that some women experience being in a top-level position, and having men around them that have to be satisfied with being second, third or answering to a woman,” she said.
Don Lemon Calls Out Elon Musk For Fraud And Breach Of Contract In $1.5M Lawsuit
Make sure you pay up, Musk!
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon accused X CEO Elon Musk of fraud and breach of a $1.5 million contract after the billionaire abruptly canceled a content deal due to a tense interview, CBS News reports.
The lawsuit claims Musk and X promised Lemon that he would have “full authority and control over the work he produced even if disliked” by the Tesla founder and his leadership team. Lemon’s suit comes close to five months after the highly anticipated content deal fell apart before it officially started. X announced the arrangement cancellation just days before its premiere broadcast was scheduled to air March 2023.
Musk labeled the journalist’s approach, at the time, as “basically just ‘CNN, but on social media.'”
Lemon also alleges he never received any pay for his deal which according to the lawsuit, “guaranteed” $1.5 million in the first year.
The first episode of The Don Lemon Show featuring Musk came across X timelines shortly after the deal ended. Viewers saw a seemingly intense conversation between the two men after the billionaire defended the use of hate speech on the platform under his leadership and claimed hate speech has decreased after Lemon provided proof that it has gone up. Musk said analysts will count the number of posts and not the number of views.
Elon Musk is an utter moron and every person who has ever interviewed him should be embarrassed that it took Don Lemon to make him sweat. The man can never accept accountability for his actions; there always has to be someone else to take the blame. pic.twitter.com/SxHaGWOWez
Social media users found the exchange entertaining, in particular the way Lemon made Musk stutter.
“Don Lemon did a great job pressing him on the statements Elon made. And to see him stutter his way out of it was as painful to watch,” @ronniebstats wrote.
Don Lemon did a great job pressing him on the statements Elon made. And to see him stutter his way out of it was as painful to watch.
The billionaire also defended his prescription usage of ketamine, saying the drug helped to alleviate a “negative chemical mind state.” During the interview, Musk complained about the tone of Lemon’s questions, describing the questions as “not cogent.”
According to Forbes, Lemon, who claims Musk refused to pay him after the deal crumbled, added negligent misrepresentation, misappropriation of name and likeness and unjust enrichment to the lawsuit.
Musk and his representatives, including X CEO Linda Yaccarino, are also being blamed for “deliberately misrepresented what they intended to do,” after claiming hopes to capitalize on Lemon’s name and professional stature in efforts to rehabilitate X’s once failing reputation following the departure of major advertisers as a result of Musk’s antisemitic post endorsements.
The media host alleges “hundreds of thousands of dollars” was incurred to create his own media company in effort to produce X content.
Cultural Capital Is Key for Developer Derek Fleming
Cultural capital is more than a phrase in the heart of historic Black communities; it's a lifeline.
Source: Derek Fleming, Developer and operating partner of Red Rooster Restaurants. Photo Credit: Grove Bay Hospitality
Cultural capital is more than a phrase in the heart of historic Black communities; it’s a lifeline.
Derek Fleming, a senior executive at HR&A and an entrepreneurial powerhouse behind the acclaimed Red Rooster restaurants, has dedicated his career to uplifting underserved communities through strategic real estate development, preserving the physical landmarks of these experiences. His work, particularly in partnership with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, has transformed neighborhoods and created economic opportunities for residents.
The tradition of orally passing down stories within families and communities has always been vital for Black communities. Due to the impacts of slavery and racism, many Black families have struggled to keep physical records of their ancestors. Additionally, there has been a recent trend toward removing or altering the documented history of Black Americans in school curriculums across the nation.
BLACK ENTERPRISE caught up with Fleming to discuss his commitment to the community, the power of business partnerships, and dedication to cultural capital in economic revitalization.
Economic Reviatalization
“Finding my passion in real estate early on, while studying at Berkeley, was a blessing,” Fleming says. “For me, it has always been about using the power of development to uplift communities that have been inequitably resourced.”
This philosophy has guided Fleming’s work, mainly through his firm HR&A’s cultural capital practice. Here, he works on projects that revitalize communities, creating new opportunities for wealth creation for residents. His approach blends design, marketing, and public-private partnerships with an authentic representation of cultural heritage.
Fleming’s dedication to economic revitalization is evident in his response to the hospitality industry’s post-pandemic challenges. “We’re not just facing inflation,” he explains. “We’re facing a whole new set of challenges. Supplies, labor, provisions—the costs have all skyrocketed. But we’re not just sitting back and letting it happen.” Fleming and his team have been proactive, focusing on sourcing and staffing structures to maintain quality while managing costs. “It’s a tough road, but we’re navigating it with resilience and determination,” he adds, highlighting the strategic adjustments that have allowed Red Rooster to thrive.
Community and Collaboration
The partnership between Fleming and Samuelsson is a testament to the power of collaboration and community impact.
“Marcus and I have been friends for nearly 20 years,” Fleming shares. “After I completed business school, we came together with Andrew Chapman to launch the Rooster brand to impact the Harlem community positively. The jobs we’ve been able to create, the highlighting of our community and its aesthetic, and the placemaking have proven the power of our culture when shared respectfully and with purpose.”
Designing the space for Red Rooster Overtown (Miami) was a deeply personal project for Fleming. “I allowed myself to be inspired by the icons who once visited and socialized there,” he says. The space, once a local hangout for Miami’s Black diaspora and frequented by luminaries like Aretha Franklin and Muhammad Ali, reflects the vibrant blend of southern, Caribbean, and Afro-Latinx cultures. “Overtown is remarkable in Miami and within our national cultural landscape,” Fleming explains. “We hope the space appropriately represents that distinction while preserving the cultural capital.”
The Pool Hall, a recent addition to Red Rooster Overtown (Miami), is a hybrid community space and entertainment venue. It hosts neighborhood meetings and gatherings to support local non-profits while providing a spaces “to host festive gatherings, celebrating the rich mix of music from our diaspora,” Fleming says.
With its rich cultural offerings, this space has become a catalyst for further redevelopment efforts in Overtown, demonstrating the inspiring power of culturally significant venues in economic revitalization.
Equity and Inclusion In Urban America
Fleming’s commitment to community development and maintaining cultural capital extends beyond his entrepreneurial ventures. As a board member of Harlem’s 125th Street Business Improvement District and the Neighborhood Charter School and a participant in the Mayor’s Institute on City Design, he works alongside other leaders to address equity, inclusion, and resilience issues in urban America.
His dedication and active participation in these initiatives reassure us about the future of urban America. “I look forward to doing more of this work and investing in real estate that holistically works alongside policy efforts to uplift BIPOC, particularly African American and Latinx communities nationwide,” he says.
Through his work, Fleming continues to build bridges between economic opportunity and cultural preservation, ensuring that these neighborhoods’ vibrant histories are remembered and celebrated. His work gives us hope for the future of these neighborhoods.
The Real MVPs: Flavor Flav And Alexis Ohanian Come Through In Big Way For Olympian In Paris
Serena Williams' husband and Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian, also sent Veronica Fraley money to cover her costs.
Flavor Flav and Serena Williams’ husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, came to the rescue of an Olympian who couldn’t afford her rent.
According to Page Six, Veronica Fraley, who is in Paris to compete in the women’s discus throw competition, said on X that her school had only sent her 75% of what she owes in rent, yet football players are paid enough to afford to purchase new cars and houses.
I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent 😒 my school only sent about 75% of my rent while they pay football players (who haven’t won anything 😂) enough to buy new cars and houses 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾
The “911 is a Joke” frontman, who is actually in Paris for the Olympics, responded with a screenshot of proof of payment and even assured her he would go see her compete in person.
Man of word,,, and Imma try and come by and support you in person tomorrow ,,, LMK what time pic.twitter.com/9seNCQSHCZ
Flav also lent his support to the USA Water Polo team after team captain Maggie Steffens asked for support on social media. The Associated Press reported that Flav worked out a deal to name him a sponsor for the USA Water Polo team and promised the team he’d be there for the support the team needs.
“As a girl dad and supporter of all women’s sports – imma personally sponsor you, my girl, whatever you need. And imma sponsor the whole team. That’s a FLAVOR FLAV promise.”
