by Shanique Yates

July 26, 2024

Jackson State University Makes History As First HBCU To Receive Prestigious Award For Promoting Innovation And Invention

JSU received the National Academy of Inventor's Founder's Award for promoting innovation and invention.

Jackson State University is the first HBCU to receive recognition from the National Academy of Inventors (NAI).

The NAI is a nonprofit that promotes academic inventors. Established at the University of South Florida in 2010, the NAI has inducted 757 Fellows since 2012. To qualify as a Fellow, one must be named an inventor on at least one U.S. patent.

Upon earning the Founder’s Award from NAI, JSU became the first Mississippi school to receive the honor. It is presented to institutions that contribute to the organization’s “success by enhancing its reach, promoting access, diversity and a commitment to innovation and invention.” After becoming an NAI charter member in February 2011, JSU has inducted several faculty members as fellows.

The first, Ernest Izevbigie, was inducted in 2012 after earning two patents and research that ultimately led to the formation of EdoBotanics, a company launched by JSU that sells dietary supplements to help boost immune systems and helps cancer patients manage chemotherapy and radiation side effects. Other inductees include 2017 fellow Kamal Ali, a computer engineering and electrical professor, and Danuta Leszczynska, who was inducted for a 2018 medical patent for technology that eliminates inflammation and infection in patients when their artificial implants begin to chip and become brittle.

“This recognition further underscores our dedication to academic excellence, economic development, and societal progress,” said JSU President Marcus Thompson. “It is a significant milestone not just for JSU, but for all Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the state of Mississippi.”

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With more than 4,600 members and 260 institutions, NAI continues to celebrate individuals and schools like JSU who are committed to using technology to improve the world. Almesha Campbell, JSU’s Division of Research and Economic Development assistant vice president, accepted the Founder’s Award on behalf of the school. She has been an honorary member since 2022, h. However, she has worked with NAI since 2011.

“JSU’s membership in the National Academy of Inventors has been pivotal in fostering innovation and research translation among JSU faculty, empowering them to transform ideas into solutions for societal impact,” she said.

Founded in October 1877, JSU is one of the largest HBCUs in the nation and the fourth-largest university in the state of Mississippi regarding student enrollment. In addition to being a Thurgood Marshall College Fund, member JSU is also classified among “R2: Doctoral Universities- High research activity.”

Kamala Harris, Mississippi, Black Women, Voters

by Sharelle Burt

July 26, 2024

Black Women In Mississippi Hope Kamala Harris Will Turn The State Blue

Think Harris can help Mississippi change colors?

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is giving hope to Black women in red states that it will turn blue.

Since Harris announced her campaign on Juy 22, Black women in Mississippi have rallied around her. They are pushing a narrative that she will represent their rights better than GOP candidate and former president Donald Trump.

Harris’ take on critical issues such as abortion may persuade women to cast their ballots blue in November. Still, Hattiesburg City Council Member Deborah Delgado will vote for her solely because she is qualified. “Harris has a record of supporting issues that are of concern to me as a Black woman and as an elected official,” Delgado said.

“A lot of times, the government makes decisions or puts policies in place that are not always in the best interest of the people that we’re supposed to represent. I see her as somebody different.”

Mississippi’s District 69 Democratic State Rep. Tamarra Bulter-Washington shares similar adoration for the current Vice President. Highlighting her impressive résumé as a California district attorney and former U.S. Senator, the congresswoman thinks another critical reason for people to vote is her being relatable. “I truly believe that she will be fighting for the people, and not just certain people, but all citizens of the United States,” she said.

President Joe Biden’s endorsement also means something to Bulter-Washington: that he believes Harris would do right by this country. “That spoke volumes because that means that the president himself, our current sitting president, believes in her and believes she can run this country and believes she can do it right,” she said.

Since Mississippi is a heavily red-leaning state, Delgado hopes this election leans in on the importance of voting. “Every election is important. It’s not just the people at the top of the ticket, but certainly, as a Black woman, I’m mostly motivated by her being at the top of the ticket,” she said.

“I know if we have someone with her capabilities at the top of the government of this country, we’re going to be better, and things are going to change in a big way.”

Other Black groups representing the state of Mississippi, like the Jackson County chapter of the NAACP, are seemingly excited about what Harris’ campaign can do for the state. President Curley Clark feels good about her policies and how she will lead the country. “We felt good about the president and his policies, and our national president Derrick Johnson made it clear that the NAACP was more concerned with policies than person,” Clark told WLOX 13.

“I think in the back of his mind, he wanted to make sure that if anything were to happen to him, he would be confident in Kamala to follow in his leadership.”

Clark is looking forward to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago between Aug. 19 and Aug. 22. He is hopeful for a sense of unity so the party can win in November. “We’re going to have to come together,” the leader said. “We’re going to have to come and bring all those elements I mentioned together and speak with one voice to the American people and let them know what’s at stake.”

Health Experts Warn ‘COVID-19 Never Goes Away’ Amid Rising Summer Cases

by Shanique Yates

July 26, 2024

Health Experts Warn ‘COVID-19 Never Goes Away’ Amid Rising Summer Cases

CDC and medical experts warn that COVID-19 is here to stay amid rising summer cases taking the U.S. by storm.

In 2020, COVID-19 took the world by storm, and experts are warning that the virus is still very prevalent four years later amid rising summer cases.

As summer is in full swing in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that 36 states across the nation have “high” or “very high” COVID rates. “This year’s summer COVID-19 wave is coming earlier than last year, which occurred in late August and early September,” said a spokesperson for the government-led organization.

Initially, the CDC tracked the total number of new COVID-19 cases. Today, it uses indicators like test positivity, emergency department visits, and wastewater surveillance to estimate transmission levels. Since its peak in January, positive COVID-19 rates have been at their highest at 12.6%; however, the death rates concerning the infection remain stable.

“Levels are lower than the peak from this past winter and are at similar levels to the early fall peak in 2023,” said the spokesperson.

Per wastewater data, the American states with the highest rising summer cases currently sit in the West. However, recent spikes have occurred in the Southeast, New England regions, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic.

The “very high” states include the District of Columbia, Alaska, California, Florida, etc. On the contrary, areas with “high” COVID-19 rates include Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia, and more.

“Unlike influenza, which essentially disappears during the summertime, COVID-19 never goes away,” said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

He also noted that the rise in summer cases of COVID-19 is occurring “all over the country.”

“(COVID) is up everywhere,” said Schaffner. “It’s not as though you could go to a state and avoid this increase. It’s just that the increase is more prominent in some parts of the country than others.”

In addition to previous strains like Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron, new COVID-19 variants that are contributing to the summer spikes include FLiRT and LB.1. The CDC reports that signs of COVID-19 are congestion or runny nose, cough, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, among other symptoms like fever or chills, new loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, sore throat, and headache or muscle aches.

by Black Enterprise

July 26, 2024

Black Enterprise’s CEO Earl ‘Butch’ Graves Talks Black Leadership In Media At NABJ Convention

Butch Graves headed to the NABJ convention in Chicago!

Black Enterprise’s CEO Butch Graves will sit alongside some of Black media’s elite on an impactful panel hosted by The Executive Leadership Council (ELC) during the 2024 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Conference.

This year, the ELC will take center stage to host an array of influential media executives who have paved the way in Black media for decades. “The Power of Black Leadership and Today’s Media Landscape” panel will be jam-packed with the best of the best in Black media spaces, including Essence CEO Caroline Wanga, CBS’ VP of News, Tanya Black, CEO of Reach TV, Lynnwood Bibbens and BET’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kimberly Paige, according to a press release shared with Black Enterprise.

While on the NABJ stage, the group will take a deep dive into Black leaders’ pivotal role in shaping the media’s narrative, break down the challenges faced, and explain how to continue being the driver of inclusivity. Those who attend will hear and see the powerful world of leadership, diversity, and the future of media.

Since 1986, the ELC has been a lifeline in mentoring Black leaders in higher education and corporate America. Formed by a group of 19 Black corporate executives –- eighteen men and one woman — the group started by helping to keep the doors of the former HBCU, Bishop College, open until 1988. After becoming a “catalyst for a corporate civil rights movement,” the group’s legacy has continued to be vital in “supporting, developing, and nurturing Black excellence” across numerous sectors.

The annual NABJ conference will take place in Chicago between July 31 and Aug. 4. Black journalists and media professionals from all over the country come together for this annual event to embed a lasting impact on culture and to continue a “legacy of thriving Black-owned businesses and cultural institutions.”

Since the Windy City was voted as the best big city in the U.S. seven years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler, the event will surely see a slew of industry leaders, innovators, and influencers in media, technology, government, community service, health, arts, entertainment, academia, and more. In 2023, more than 3,000 people attended the multi-day conference in Birmingham, Alabama.

The topics corresponding with this year’s schedule are ones that attendees don’t want to miss. Some topics include writing data-driven stories, making connections in the newsroom, building small business success, and more. Attendees can also make lasting media connections or find their next employer by attending the all-day Career Fair & Exhibits.

Blair Underwood, Sex And The City, Black man, Kim Catrall, Samantha

by Shanique Yates

July 26, 2024

Blair Underwood Wasn’t Feeling His Initial ‘Sex And The City’ Character Due To Race-Based Role

Blair Underwood turned down a role during earlier season of "Sex and the City" due to his character's storyline being solely about race.

Blair Underwood has always refused to be boxed in in his career. Look at Sex and the City. Although Underwood would go on to play a brief romantic love interest for one of the show’s lead characters, Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), in HBO’s hit series, he did it on his terms.

“I actually did say ‘No’ the first time,” he told Will Harris at The A.V. Club in a career retrospective that ran July 22. “The first time they had offered the role, to be honest with you, it was about how Samantha was fascinated by dating a Black man and wanted to know if, uh, all of the rumors were true about our anatomy! And I said, ‘Listen, I’m honored, thank you, but I just don’t want to play a character based on race, on curiosity about a Black man.’”

During a 2021 interview with Vulture, Underwood did confirm that the role he was initially offered a spot for was one of Sex and the City‘s earlier seasons, where another lead character, Samantha, portrayed by actress Kim Cattrall, dated a Black man out of sheer curiosity. The episode, titled “No Ifs, Ands, or Butts,” is more along the lines of the fetish role that Underwood said he was not willing to make a compromise to play. Moreover, he had no desire to become boxed in at any point in his career.

Standing up for himself proved to work in his favor in the end. Underwood said the Sex and the City team not only accepted his decision to decline the role, they called back later with another offer, one where he explicitly asked if the role was going to be about race.

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“They said, ‘No, no, no, we’re not even gonna mention race!’” he told Harris. “And I think it really did only come up maybe once. I did five episodes, and I think Samantha mentioned it once, saying something about a ‘Black doctor’ that Miranda was dating. And that’s really been a consistent thing in my career: not wanting to be boxed as ‘the Black guy.’ I’ve had that conversation with many producers along the way, and they were so great. They said, ‘No, he’s just a doctor who Miranda meets in the elevator, and they have a nice little fling.’ And it was amazing.”

Today, Underwood is revered for his work as an actor, starring in the recent horror film Longlegs, where he plays Agent Carter, a stand-up American boss who goes from protector and hero to demonic adversary in the film that is centered around an unsolved serial killer case that shifts unexpectedly when evidence reveals the occult’s involvement.

Underwood has had quite an illustrious career, appearing in a wide array of films and TV shows, including Set it Off and L.A. Law.

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Kendrick Lamar, Demar DeRozan, Sacramento Kings

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 26, 2024

‘Drake’s Still My Man,’ Says NBA Star Demar DeRozan, Despite Appearing In Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ Video

Like Lamar, DeRozan is from Compton, California.

The city of Compton, California, gained widespread recognition when hip-hop artists N.W.A. burst onto the scene in the late 1980s. Many others have proudly represented their hometown ever since. With Kendrick Lamar’s latest song and video, “Not Like Us,” once again shining the spotlight on Compton, newly arrived Sacramento Kings power forward DeMar DeRozan made an appearance in the video.

DeRozan, 34 and a Compton native like Lamar, was a longtime Toronto Raptor. Drake is a die-hard fan and a regular courtside presence at games. This isn’t a problem, according to the basketball star. Though he was excited to appear in Lamar’s video, he assured everyone that “Drake’s still my man.”

In an interview with The Sacramento Bee, DeRozan discussed the significance of Kendrick Lamar’s song, video, and popup show in California. He noted how these events brought unity to Compton with gang members coming together in peace.

“It was fun to be a part of (‘Not Like Us’),” said DeRozan. “For that moment, it was so much bigger than what people look at it as a beef between (Lamar) and Drake. It brought our whole city together in a different type of light where there wasn’t no issues, no violence. Everybody was coming together in a peaceful manner and that was the beauty out of those moments.”

It wasn’t lost on any basketball or California fan that Lamar mentioned DeRozan in the Drake diss song: “I’m glad DeRoz’ came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither.”

But DeRozan clarified that all his good between him and Canada’s favorite rapper.

“Drake’s still my man, still my man, none of it changed,” he said. “It’s so easy to get overlooked and look at it for what it looks like, but at the end of the day it’s music, entertainment. Two of the biggest rappers in the world went at it from a competitive standpoint and they battled it out. That’s what you want to see as a fan: Kobe (Bryant) playing (Michael) Jordan 1-on-1 and see who wins, see the trash talking, and whoever wins out of that, you’re still going to have the debate, so that’s all that is.”

by Shanique Yates

July 26, 2024

New Jersey’s Oldest All-Black School Building to Become a Museum Celebrating Black History

The State Street School in Newark, New Jersey is the city's oldest building and may soon become a museum to celebrate its Black history thanks to new development plan.

The oldest school building in New Jersey may soon become a museum to celebrate its Black history.

Located in Newark, the 179-year-old State Street Public School is the only remaining location of the city’s former school for Black students, as well as the home of the first Black principal in the city’s school system. Although the school has been vacant for decades, officials still aim to turn the building into a place where people can gather to learn more about its Black history.

“At some point in time you have to preserve what you can,” said Marian Bolden, who has led the efforts to turn the school into a museum since before she retired in 2008. “It’s certainly the oldest school building still standing, but it was also a building that served as a school of the ‘colored’ children. There’s a historic significance to the building.”

Newark-based developer, the Hanini Group, purchased the property in 2019 for $650,000 as a part of an initiative to liquidate vacant buildings while the district was controlled by the New Jersey Department of Education as a part of a state takeover from 1996 to 2018.

Thanks to the district’s first top administrator since the takeover ended, Roger León, there is a goal to reclaim buildings sold under the state plan and turn it into a place where people can gather to learn Black history. A 2020 lawsuit allowed the State School to be reclaimed by the district, ultimately leading to a settlement agreement with the Hanini Group in 2023.

Per the details of the contract, the district is to pay the Hanini Group to redevelop the school as the Newark Public Schools Museum. The project, set to take place in three increments, will kick off with a $2.5 million payment to begin the redevelopment, a $1 million payment once it is halfway finished, and then a final $1 million once the project is complete.

According to a Park Service document, since the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, the State Street School’s first Black principal, James Miller Baxter Jr., was first hired by Newark as a teacher in 1864 at the age of 19 when the school was housed in a different location. Just two months later, he was appointed to principal and led the all-Black school until its closing and his retirement in 1909

“This was the official end to segregated schools in Newark, 45 years before the Supreme Court’s historic decision ordering an end to all separate but equal provisions nationally,” read the official documents.

While many are excited about the school’s museum revitalization, and the role it will play in teaching the city’s Black history, others have voiced concerns about the heavy lifting and costs of the project.

“At a time when children are not proficient in math, children are not proficient in reading, what is that doing to help them?” said Oscar James, a former Newark City Council Member who has two children in local charter schools and expressed his frustration about his tax dollars going into the school redevelopment project. “We have a Newark Public Library. We have a Newark Museum (of Art). Why would Newark public schools want to be taking on such an endeavor?”

A museum consultant with knowledge of the State Street School revered the upcoming redevelopment program, but warns that they should assess the building’s condition to see if the project is even worth it in the end.

“I’m always in favor of bringing these untold stories to light,” said Claudia Ocello, CEO of Museum Partners Consulting in Maplewood. “Anybody owning an old house or is in charge of an old building knows that there is a lot of maintenance involved.”

At this time, memorabilia and artifacts that would be housed in the museum are current stored in the city’s Malcolm X Shabazz High School and include class photos, school uniforms, wooden desks, ink wells, pins and rings, and 120-year-old report cards, amongst other historical items that could soon be on display for people to experience.

No set start date or completion date has been set for the State Street School museum project yet.

by Stacy Jackson

July 26, 2024

The Obamas Officially Endorse Vice President Harris

It's a great Friday for Kamala Harris!

Vice President Harris has officially been endorsed by former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama in her bid for the presidency.

The Obamas broke the news to their longtime friend via a phone call, according to a video released by Harris on July 26. “We called to say Michelle and I couldn’t be prouder to endorse you and do everything we can to get you through this election and into the Oval Office,” Obama said, bringing a smile to Harris’ face.

The former prosecutor is looking forward to support from the Obamas as she fights for the top spot in the White House. “The words you have spoken and the friendship you have given over all these years mean more than I can express,” she responded.

“We’re gonna have some fun with this too, aren’t we?” she added.

The phone call found Vice President Harris full of gratitude as Michelle reiterated to her friend that she was on the road to a historic moment. “I am proud of you,” Michelle said, calling the VP her girl.

CNN reports that the Obamas recognized Vice President Harris’ accomplishments in a joint statement. “Kamala has more than a resume,” the couple stated. “She has the vision, the character, and the strength that this critical moment demands. There is no doubt in our mind that Kamala Harris has exactly what it takes to win this election and deliver for the American people.”

The endorsement announcement follows Barack’s initial decision to hold back from endorsing the VP, as BLACK ENTERPRISE previously noted. Barack released his statement earlier this month with confidence the Democratic Party would “be able to create a process from which an outstanding nominee emerges.”

The support from the Obamas came just ahead of the Aug. 19 Democratic National Committee, which BE reported is a crucial moment for Vice President Harris as she fights to be named the official Democratic running mate. The endorsement from the couple, who made history in the White House in 2008, follows President Joe Biden’s decision to end his bid for the presidency and appoint Vice President Harris as his successor.

by Anne-Lyse Wealth

July 26, 2024

How Cedric Nash Went From Employee To Millionaire Boss

Millionaire Mentor Cedric Nash Went From Earning $36K to Becoming a Millionaire at 32. In this article he shares how he did.

Originally Published Feb. 7, 2023.

Cedric Nash, also known as “Your Millionaire Mentor,” is an award-winning entrepreneur, wealth coach, and the founder of The Black Wealth Summit, an annual event he created to provide wealth literacy to the Black Community.

Nash is also the author of the recently released book Why Should White Guys Have All The Wealth? He started his career as a consultant earning less than $40,000 a year, became a millionaire at 32 years old and scaled his business ventures to $90 million in annual revenue.

Nash shared that a common thread he noticed while reading other personal finance books was that the books did not address the challenges Black people face in a white man’s world when trying to become wealthy.

“We face unique challenges when it comes to increasing our income and opportunities. I went from $36,000 a year out of college to making millions scaling my business with no outside investments, no rich parent, and no rich uncle. I want to give people the roadmap to do it,” Nash told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

During the interview, Nash shared that, today, he has built a net worth well over $50 million by following principles anyone with the right mindset and discipline can apply to build wealth. He shared some of those principles during our interview.

Expanding His Network

Nash credits four millionaire mentors he met as a young man with helping shape what he thought was possible for him.

“I had these four millionaire mentors. They shaped my mindset and gave me a vision of what to do with money. They were in my neighborhood. They were building houses and owned buildings. One of my mentors was a consultant when I was in 11th grade, and he inspired me to become a consultant. He was a janitor at a prison but had to stop working when he hurt his back. He was always reading, was an avid investor in the stock market and started buying real estate. He had a basement apartment and I asked if I could live there. I paid him to live there just because I wanted to be around him.”

Educating Himself

Nash, inspired by his mentor, focused on educating himself outside of school. He credits books like How to Be Your Own Stockbroker, The Magic of Thinking Big, Think and Grow Rich, and What Makes the Great Great for preparing him to become wealthy. Reading expanded Nash’s mind to what was possible and provided tools he could use to build wealth. He prepared himself by processing information that he would be ready to use once he had accumulated funds to start investing. Nash inherited $10,000 after his grandmother’s passing. At the time, she was earning $200 a month working at a laundromat. Nash invested his inheritance in the stock market and continued to invest on a regular basis.

Creating a Plan

Inspired by his mentors and new knowledge, Nash wrote a plan of what he wanted to accomplish over the next five to ten years. “I remember graduating from college, looking at the buildings named mostly after white guys. I wanted to do that too. So I wrote a plan of what I wanted. I lived very frugally and bought my first condo right out of college. I wrote a plan for the next five to 10 years and then went to work. I put that piece of paper away and found it years later, and I had hit 99% of those goals.”

Nash emphasized the importance of having a plan and documenting your starting point, end game, budgeting, and clarity on how much wealth you aspire to have.

“What’s your current net worth? How much cash do you have? How much income do you have to work for? How much income do your assets automatically produce for you? Your endgame is that point where you choose not to work anymore or decide to use your gifts and talents in the ways that you choose to.”

“Which assets do you want? How much income do you want to generate from those assets? Do you want to be just financially comfortable or financially independent? Do you want to be rich or ultra-rich? So you need to have a very specific target that you’re aiming towards.”

Figuring Out How to Earn More and Invest the Difference

Nash believes that an essential part of building wealth requires earning more money. You have to figure out how to increase your earnings so you have more to save and invest.

“Creating a plan for your investments is key. You have to earn from your main hustle, side hustle, and, eventually, investment hustle. But, if you fix your mindset and add a willingness to do the right things with your money, you will be on your way to wealth.”

Nash believes that building wealth is possible for anyone who is wealth-literate and has the right mindset. But, once we acquire the wealth, to make a long-term positive generational impact, we have to teach the next generation how to grow money and pass it down to the next generation so that the next generation can live off the income that those assets generate and continue to grow the assets.

Written by Anne-Lyse Wealth

by Jameelah Mullen

July 26, 2024

Wisconsin’s Only Black-Owned, Full-Scale Grocery Store Meets Community’s Needs

The husband-and-wife team of Maurice 'Moe' and Yashica Spears Wince hope to bring healthy food options to one of Milwaukee’s food deserts with their Sherman Park Grocery.

Located in West Milwaukee, Sherman Park Grocery is the only full-scale, Black-owned grocery store in Wisconsin. Co-owners Maurice “Moe” and Yashica Spears Wince founded the grocery store to meet the community’s needs, home to nearly 80% of Black residents.

“Sherman Park Grocery grew out of resident listening sessions, led by Bishop Walter Harvey, on the heels of civil unrest six or seven years ago. We listened and responded to their concerns. The neighbors have embraced us, and the kids call me ‘Uncle Moe,’ It’s been great. Last July 29, we celebrated one year in this location,” Maurice said to The Milwaukee Community Journal.

The Milwaukee natives both experienced food and home insecurity while growing up. They founded the Sherman Park Grocery Store to address the food insecurity and health issues disproportionately affecting Black Americans.

“Diabetes and hypertension are just some of the health concerns in our community. Providing fresh vegetables and fruits helps address those issues. We were taught that you only have one temple, and you have to take care of it. Eating healthy and exercising helps you do that,” Yashica told The Milwaukee Community Journal.

Last spring, the store collaborated with Americans For Prosperity to provide $60 gift cards for 100 customers. Maurice says that the collaboration helped to address food insecurity in the community.

“Food is justice, and today we’re providing that justice through fresh fruits and vegetables,” he said in an interview with Fox 6 Milwaukee.

The Winces say they believe in circulating dollars within the community. They support other entrepreneurs with their partnership with UpStart Kitchen, a shared-space kitchen that supports small culinary businesses. Nine of these businesses sell products at Sherman Park Grocery. Upstart members purchase goods from the store and wash their clothes at Wince’s laundromat, also located in Sherman Park.