Tabitha Brown, Target, Darius Cook
by Stacy Jackson

July 24, 2024

Tabitha Brown Teases Another Target Drop That Flew Off The Shelves

Auntie Tab's new cookware collection dropped in Target stores on Sunday and reportedly the items are almost out of stock.

Target’s latest cookware collection, designed by Tabitha Brown, hit the shelves July 21, and the products are already flying off the shelves.

The vibrant new collection of cookware and kitchen essentials includes everything from air fryers and blenders to serving trays and wine accessories. Billboard reported the products are nearly out of stock. Brown took to social media ahead of last weekend’s launch to build excitement. “Family, look what the Lord has done…” she posted on X, inviting fans to check out the collection.

In another post, she shared her enthusiasm while holding a popcorn bowl from the new collection, exclaiming, “Baby, pop some popcorn, cause’ it’s a celebration…”

This cookware collection is just one of many successful collaborations between Brown and Target. The retail giant previously partnered with her on home essentials, recipes, stationery, swimwear, and even a wine collection, which dropped on July 21.

Brown has expressed deep appreciation for her partnership with Target. She values the freedom the company gives her to be authentic. “They didn’t care if I talked about God,” the social media mogul said at the time. “They didn’t care as long as I was being me.” This relationship led to a groundbreaking deal, allowing Brown to create several exclusive collections across various product categories.

The vegan foodie sees her collaboration with Target as a dream come true. Her first clothing collection with the brand launched in 2022.

“Target made me feel seen and created a safe space…I was free to be myself during this entire design process,” she said. Throughout her partnership with Target, Brown has aimed to infuse joy and positivity into each new collection of cookware and other products. Her latest Target cookware line continues this tradition. Shop the collection here.

RELATED CONTENT: Tabitha Brown Wins Her First Children’s & Family Emmy For Outstanding Host

Utah Black Chamber Of Commerce, Conference, entrepreneur
by Daniel Johnson

July 24, 2024

Utah Black Chamber Of Commerce To Host Wealth Esteem Conference

The inaugural Utah Black Chamber Wealth Esteem Conference will take place August 14.

The Utah Black Chamber of Commerce will host the inaugural Utah Black Chamber Wealth Esteem Conference on August 14.

The event, held at Millcreek Commons, is aimed at empowering both people and businesses to achieve success. The conference is also designed for its attendees to learn from industry experts and potentially connect with investors and business partners. 

“The Wealth Esteem Conference represents a significant step towards economic empowerment for our community,” Dr. Sidni Shorter, president and CEO of the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce, said in a press release. “We are bringing together some of the brightest minds and industry leaders to equip our members with the knowledge and resources needed to build sustainable wealth. This is more than just a conference; it’s a catalyst for change and growth.”

The Wealth Esteem Conference also fits well in the timeframe of the group’s Financial Capacity Program, which gives 10-15 Black businesses in Utah’s Black Chamber of Commerce an opportunity to participate in a six-month program built to identify, structure, and build an accounting system to help companies make better, more informed financial decisions. That program will run from July-December 2024.

One keynote speaker for the event ais Ashley D. Bell, president of Redemption Holding, a Black-owned holding company that was built to expand access to capital for businesses run by people of color.

Others include J. Alexander Martin, founder and executive vice president of FUBU as well as the CEO of For Us By Us Network; Dr. Calvin Mackie, founder of STEM NOLA, a Louisiana-based nonprofit which designs and teaches project-based activities and hands-on learning to students in grades K-12; and Kim Roxie, CEO and founder of LAMIK Cosmetics, a vegan makeup line that seeks to build an inclusive community for women of color.

The event will run from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., but 3:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. is an invite-only session featuring exclusive networking with keynote speakers and session leaders. 

According to a flyer promoting the event, “This conference aims to provide attendees with actionable insights, valuable connections, and a sense of community as they work to overcome the systemic barriers Black entrepreneurs and investors face. The significance of a Black wealth conference that emphasizes the creation, growth, sharing, and sustainability of wealth cannot be overstated.”

RELATED CONTENT: Get Out and Support Your Local Black Chamber of Commerce

Naya Tapper, Rugby, Olympics, Paris olympics, 2024, sevens, co-captian
by Stacy Jackson

July 24, 2024

Naya Tapper Leads Women’s U.S. Rugby Team As 2024 Olympics Co-Captain

Headed towards retirement, the US women's rugby standout is aiming for gold in the 2024 Olympics, leading a second year as Sevens co-captain.

Women’s rugby star Naya Tapper, a former West Mecklenburg High School track standout, has been appointed co-captain of the U.S. Sevens team for the upcoming Olympics.

As she approaches her retirement after the 2024 Olympics, this leadership role in women’s rugby holds profound significance for the athlete. “For people that look like me, that play the sport I play, that grew up where I grew up, to be able to see me in a leadership role and on a national team getting ready to prepare for an Olympics,” Tapper said, according to WCNC Charlotte. “That’s, in my opinion, very inspiring.”

This will be Tapper’s second Olympics as co-captain, USA Rugby noted with the athlete’s retirement announcement. “These past couple of months have been a whirlwind of trying to make sure I enjoy these last moments with my team while also juggling the importance of performing to a gold medal standard at the Olympics and making sure I have a job after all this, to put it as simply as possible,” the Charlotte, North Carolina native stated.

Her journey in women’s rugby began at the University of North Carolina in 2012, following an All-American track and field career in high school, as stated in her USA Rugby players profile. Tapper’s ascent in Sevens was marked by her debut at the 2016 Sao Paulo Sevens tournament. That same year, she earned her first international XVs cap with the USA Women’s National Team. She further demanded attention on the field with her skills during the Rugby World Cup 2017, where she contributed to the team’s semifinal appearance.

Describing her playing style, Tapper told WCNC, “I’m really known for my stiff arm and my speed around the corner…I’ve developed to become a lethal weapon on defense as well, being able to get the ball back so that we can play attack off the field.” Her agility stems back to her childhood. “I was a very energetic, aggressive, contact-filled child growing up…I was playing football in the backyard with all the boys in the neighborhood.” Tapper’s mother, Juanita Nater-Tapper, proudly observes her daughter’s rise in women’s rugby, stating, “She was always a leader in school…I don’t like to see her get hit. But I love to see her hit. She’s a wonderful player. She shows her strength and how powerful she is.”

As the women’s rugby Sevens tournament approaches in the 2024 Olympics, Tapper is eager for redemption in Paris, having participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where the Sevens team finished sixth. “We want to get that gold medal,” she declared, emphasizing the team’s collective ambition for the upcoming Olympics.

RELATED CONTENT: TSL Sports Talk with Fastest Man in Rugby

Retirement Plan
by Daniel Johnson

July 24, 2024

Octogenarians Are Still In The Job Market With Little Hope To Retire

82-year-old Edward Eubanks holds out hope that one day, he can retire, but for now he will keep working at McDonald's, waiting on retirement.

Edward Eubanks, an 82-year-old Nevada McDonald’s worker, is an example of an elderly individual who is still working because he can’t afford to retire. 

According to WSET, despite Eubanks’ tenure at the Nevada National Security Site as a radiation monitor for 26 years, he cannot afford to retire, opting instead to become an assistant to a handyman before taking a job at his local McDonald’s in Henderson, Nevada in 2009. Eubanks holds out hope that one day, he can retire, but for now he will keep working and keep his positive attitude. 

Eubanks described his daily routine briefly to WSET, “I tell them I am Mr. Ed, aka, the hamburger man,” Eubanks said. “I restock the soda station, which is lids, napkins, and straws, and then I sweep and mop the floor, empty the garbage. If you laugh a lot and keep moving, you got it made,” Eubanks said.

Eubanks’ story is emblematic of a growing crisis described by labor economist and professor of economics and policy analysis at The New School for Social Research in New York, Teresa Ghilarducci, in her book Work, Retire, Repeat: The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy.

As Ghilarducci writes in her book, “Yes, Granny deserves a good job if she wants one, but working until you drop is not a civilized plan for a civilized society.”

According to The New York Times, Ghilarducci’s work pinpoints that there are a few groups who spend the least amount of time in retirement, those groups being Black people, men, and those who are less educated. A bi-partisan bill, based in part on scholarship from Ghilarducci and Kevin Hassett, a former chair of ex-President Donald Trump’s Council of Economic Advisors, argues that, essentially, people need to be forced to save money so they can have something when they reach retirement age. 

According to a press release for the Retirement Savings for Americans Act, issued by Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO), “The bill would establish a new program that gives eligible workers access to portable, tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts. If passed, the RSAA would allow the federal government to match contributions for low- and middle-income workers, with the match beginning to phase out at median income.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, pointed out that nearly 40 million Americans currently lack access to an employer provided or sponsored retirement plan, something the bill is intended to address. 

“Roughly 40 million Americans lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, which represents a significant roadblock to achieving financial security for their retirement,” Tillis said. “The Retirement Savings for Americans Act tackles this real problem by establishing a pathway for savings for Americans lacking retirement options.”

The bill comes with recommendations from Uber, Doordash, and EIG, as well as Goldman Sachs, the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, AARP, and the Society for Human Resource Management. 

EIG President and CEO John Letteri issued a strong statement in support of the legislation, saying he was proud to work with the politicians on the legislation. “The Retirement Savings for Americans Act would address significant and longstanding gaps in the U.S. retirement system that have severely limited participation from low-and moderate-income workers. If enacted, this legislation would result in a healthier retirement system, a more financially secure workforce, and a stronger economy to the benefit of all Americans. EIG is proud to have worked closely with Senators Hickenlooper and Tillis and Representatives Smucker and Sewell on this important legislation, and we applaud them for their bipartisan leadership on behalf of workers nationwide.” 

RELATED CONTENT: WORLD RETIREMENT SYSTEMS GET ASSESSMENT, U.S. GETS ONLY AN C+

Gavel, Real Estate, home
by Stacy Jackson

July 23, 2024

NYC Court Allows Partition Sale For Black Family’s Bed Stuy Home

The family property was auctioned off June 6 for $1.7 million.

A historic Bed Stuy home is in flux as Ayisha Doyle and her mother continue to grapple with an unexpected challenge to their ownership.

An estranged uncle allegedly sold a 75% share of the family property to Theodore Zucker, a Long Island real estate investor, in 2017. This came as a shock to Doyle and her mother, who had recently paid off the mortgage and maintained the family property, which the Doyles had owned for over five decades.

According to Brownstoner, Doyle received an unexpected call from a man claiming to have purchased the stake in the Bed Stuy home from her uncle Walter Giles through a company called Arlo 67 LLC. This revelation prompted immediate action from the Doyles to protect their family property from partition sale. The situation is complicated by the fact that Doyle’s grandmother’s will was never probated after her death in 2007. City records show Zucker paid Giles $300,000 for an unspecified share, with a deed allegedly signed and notarized in Australia.

The Doyles and their attorney have raised questions about Zucker’s ability to locate Giles and requested proof of payment. Three attempts by Zucker to force a partition sale were initially rejected by judges, who ruled that Arlo 67 LLC had no legitimate claim to the family property, as Giles never legally acquired any share to transfer in the first place.

However, a fourth attempt succeeded on a technicality, allowing the partition sale to proceed. The Bed Stuy home was auctioned on June 6 for $1.7 million, with Zucker’s LLC emerging as the buyer. Reportedly, the sale has not yet closed.

“The court, in issuing their judgment of partition and sale and allowing the premises to proceed to auction, has confirmed that Arlo has a valid ownership interest therein,” Zucker’s attorney said in a statement.

In response to such issues, the State Attorney General’s office has organized community sessions on preventing foreclosure and deed theft. It has allocated $150 million to fund legal services assisting homeowners, recognizing the need to protect vulnerable property owners from partition sales and similar threats to their family homes.

RELATED CONTENT: Jay-Z, Jack Dorsey Invest In Bitcoin Education Program For Brooklyn’s Marcy Houses

Alleged Tupac Murder Suspect Keffe D To Request House Arrest Again After Failing To Convince Judge
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 23, 2024

Alleged Tupac Murder Suspect Keffe D To Request House Arrest Again After Failing To Convince Judge

Defense attorney Carl Arnold claims he has proof that the funds secured for Keffe's $750,000 bail were legal

The man scheduled to go on trial for the murder of Tupac Shakur will once again ask a judge for house arrest.

According to The Associated Press, attorney Carl Arnold, who represents Duane “Keffe D” Davis, has stated in recent court filings that he has proof that the funds secured for Keffe’s $750,000 bail were legal. In the latest filing, he also says that since the former gang member has not been convicted of a crime, it shouldn’t matter if manager Cash “Wack 100” Jones put up the money for the rights to his life story.

Last month, after a “source hearing” to determine how the funds for the bail were obtained, Judge Carli Kierny was unconvinced that Keffe D did not make arrangements to sell the rights to his story to Wack. In Nevada, convicted killers are not allowed to profit from the crimes they commit.

Prosecutors accuse Keffe D of “scheming ..to obfuscate the source” of the $112,500 “gift” that Jones posted as a 15% guarantee to secure Davis’ bail bond.

But Arnold said Keffe D hasn’t been convicted, so the rule about convicted killers not being allowed to profit doesn’t apply. Plus, because his client and Wack have no written deal for a “movie, series or any other form of media production,” the concerns about the source of the money are “not legally relevant.”

RELATED CONTENT: Keffe D Boasts About Being Arrested For ‘Las Vegas’ Biggest Case’ On Police Bodycam Video

Google Chrome, Laptop
by Daniel Johnson

July 23, 2024

Google Backtracks On Plan To Eliminate Third-Party Cookies

Index Exchange, a participant in Google's grant program it established to test Privacy Sandbox, released its own blog post on July 2, detailing the issues it saw with Google's innovation.

In 2020, Google planned to make third-party cookies obsolete, by essentially making first-party cookies through the use of what it termed Privacy Sandbox. The feature was touted by the tech company as a game-changer for privacy for users while letting publishers and ad-buyers target consumers and do certain measuring tasks in the background. Google has now slightly backtracked on those initial plans via a blog post on July 22, saying that it will keep supporting third-party cookies because its solution is not ready for release yet. 

According to Google’s blog post, “Early testing from ad tech companies, including Google, has indicated that the Privacy Sandbox APIs have the potential to achieve these outcomes. We expect that overall performance using Privacy Sandbox APIs will improve over time as industry adoption increases. At the same time, we recognize this transition requires significant work by many participants and will have an impact on publishers, advertisers, and everyone involved in online advertising.”

The company continued, “In light of this, we are proposing an updated approach that elevates user choice. Instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and they’d be able to adjust that choice at any time. We’re discussing this new path with regulators and will engage with the industry as we roll this out.”

According to Business Insider, the partners Google alludes to in the blog post from Anthony Chavez, the VP of Privacy Sandbox, who expressed concern that Google’s feature was not yet ready to be released. Index Exchange, a participant in Google’s grant program, established to test Privacy Sandbox, released its own blog post on July 2, detailing the issues it saw with Google’s innovation. “With its current limitations, Privacy Sandbox may not be an effective solution yet for general use, or it may be too costly for tech companies to ready their implementations for general availability. There are major risks to publishers and the overall programmatic ecosystem that we must address to make it easier and more efficient to scale.”

They continued, detailing how Google’s requirements lead to issues with latency, “This latency is primarily due to the requirement for Google to be the top seller in PA auctions, which in turn requires all non-Google bids to be processed by Google Ad Manager (GAM) before an auction proceeds. All auction participants must also wait for Google to finalize the winning bid. Latency could be reduced by allowing other publishers and ad exchanges to compete directly in a client-side auction via Prebid. This would create a more level playing field and speed up web transactions significantly.”

According to The Verge, Google’s feature was blocked due to a CMA complaint filed by The Movement for an Open Web, an advertisement industry group. According to the group’s co-founder, James Rosewell, “We’ve long called for Privacy Sandbox to be allowed to compete on its merits. If advertisers prefer its approach and consumers value the alleged privacy benefits, then it will be universally adopted. What wasn’t acceptable was for a solution like this to be forced on the market whilst removing any alternative choices.”

In 2021, Wired criticized Google’s program as an example of “privacy theater.” Google’s Federated Learning of Cohorts, or FLoC, is supposed to hide users within groups of similar interests. However, Ashkan Soltani, a privacy researcher and former chief technologist at the Federal Trade Commission, told Wired that Google’s project and its FLoC proposal will not solve the problem of surveillance capitalism. Instead, it leaves that entire ecosystem and its associated problems intact. “This doesn’t deal with the underlying problem of surveillance capitalism,” Soltani said. “It still incentivizes the exchange of personal information. It still incentivizes the harvesting of personal information. All of that is unchanged. The externalities around things like clickbait or around things like controversial content to generate more clicks and views, misinformation—all of those questions are still present and not affected.”

RELATED CONTENT: Google Announces It Will Use All Internet Content To Improve Its AI Tech

Jay-Z, Cardi B, Meek Mill, NBA, Copyright, Music
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 23, 2024

14 NBA Teams Sued For Allegedly Using Copyrighted Music Without Permission

Several music companies stated that the teams were 'willfully infringing on the intellectual property rights of the plaintiffs.'

Almost half of the teams in the NBA (National Basketball Association) are being sued for allegedly using copyrighted music in promotional videos on their social media accounts without expressed permission from the music companies that own the works being played.

According to Billboard, music companies Kobalt, Artist Publishing Group, Notting Hill Music, and Prescription Songs have filed a lawsuit in federal court on July 19 against 14 NBA teams alleging the use of copyrighted music in videos that the teams used on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) to “increase viewership” and “engage its fanbase.”

Each team was hit with similar accusations of using music they knew it should have paid to use in the posted videos.

“Defendants are acutely aware of the protections that the copyright laws of the United States afford,” it states in each lawsuit. “[The team] utilizes the full extent of legal protections available for its own intellectual property while simultaneously knowingly and willfully infringing on the intellectual property rights of the plaintiffs.”

The teams that are being hit with the allegations are the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the New Orleans Pelicans, the Orlando Magic, the Phoenix Suns, the Portland Trail Blazers, the Sacramento Kings and the San Antonio Spurs.

In the filings, the music companies used specific examples regarding the local artists’ songs that the teams are being accused of using. In the case against the New York Knicks, the companies allege that they used songs by “New York legends” JAY-Z and Cardi B. Songs recorded by Philadelphia native Meek Mill were used in the case against the 76ers, while the Atlanta Hawks were accused of stealing music from  “Atlanta’s own” Migos and OutKast.

kamala, harris, president, presidential nominee, running for office
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

July 23, 2024

Before VP Kamala Harris Was A Presidential Candidate, She Took The Stage As A BE Woman Of Power

Harris has not yet been chosen as the DNC's nominee but has secured enough state delegates, making her a strong candidate.

Vice President Kamala Harris has secured enough delegates to gain the Democratic Presidential nomination for the 2024 election. If the Democratic National Convention (DNC) selects Harris, the VP will not have the benefit of a long campaign. Convincing the American people that she is qualified and ready to lead the nation will be a task. As such, BLACK ENTERPRISE is taking a look back at VP Harris’ tenure in the Biden administration to help Black Americans make an informed decision on Election Day. BE had the privilege of hosting VP Harris at the 2019 Women Of Power Summit in Las Vegas. The then-two-term Senator sat in conversation with talk show host Star Jones and addressed a room filled with Black women in positions of power. Jones made a comparison between Harris and political trailblazer Shirley Chisholm.

Chisholm is the first Black woman to run for President of the United States, Jones noted. The former talk show host made the comparison between Chisholm’s historic run and Harris’ current position, the first Black, Asian Woman vice president.

Looking towards a side-by-side image of both women Jones stated, “You stand on her shoulders.”

Harris welcomed the comparison and spoke highly of her admiration for Chisholm.

“Think about Shirley Chisholm. I mean unbossed, unbought, she took that microphone, she walked up to that microphone and was like I own that. I’m going to walk up to that microphone and I am going to speak. And she did it. The fact that she did it is extraordinary,” Harris said.

Harris is following in Chisholm’s extraordinary steps as she seeks the DNC nomination after being endorsed by President Biden. After a few public missteps, President Biden decided not to seek a second term as President. What some would call a sub-par performance at CNN’s presidential debate with the RNC nominee, Donald Trump. Biden’s showing at the debate prompted media to begin speculating about the sitting president’s ability to perform the duties of the presidency for four more years.

The president released a statement July 21.

Harris has not yet been chosen as the DNC’s nominee but has secured enough state delegates, making her a strong candidate. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to take place Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘Kick That F-ing Door Down’: Kamala Talks Breaking Barriers At Leadership Summit

Jay-Z, Jay Z
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

July 23, 2024

A Reimagined 40/40 Club Will Be Available To Guests Attending August’s Fanatics Fest NYC

Specially invited attendees will relive the essence of the club August 16-18 at the Javits Center

Last year, Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club shuttered its doors in anticipation of moving to a new location, but in the meantime, you can go to a reimagined version of the venue if you’re in New York City between August 16 and 18.

Fanatics Sportsbook has announced they are partnering with the famed club at Fanatics Fest NYC to give guests an exclusive lounge experience. This will take place at Javits Center as the 40/40 Club will be open to an invite-only list of select athletes, celebrities, and Fanatics Sportsbook VIP customers who will be there in attendance.

The venue was home to celebrities, rappers, professional athletes, and esteemed individuals who visited the club, which combined sports, luxury, and entertainment. Fanatics will recapture the look and feel of the 40/40 Club, which opened in 2003.

Fanatics Fest NYC is “the first-ever immersive sports festival, where sports, culture, and collecting collide.” Sports fans and collectors will gather to mingle with like-minded people and get the chance to meet some of their sports heroes and other notables while getting the opportunity to purchase memorabilia and limited edition items. There will also be interactive experiences like running the NFL 40-yard dash, participating in the MLB home-run derby, and even playing out the fantasy of walking into an arena as your favorite WWE superstar with their entrance music, and other activities.

Expected notables who are slated to be at Fanatics Fest NYC include NFL Super Bowl winner Tom Brady; MLB Hall of Fame shortstop Derek Jeter; two-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant; NFL Greats brothers Peyton and Eli Manning; former New York Knick Carmelo Anthony; former Heavyweight Boxing Champion Mike Tyson; MLB Hall of Famer David Ortiz; NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist; NBA legend Julius Erving; movie director Spike Lee; NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson; NFL Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders; NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice; New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson; WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes; NHL All-Star Auston Matthews; NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce; WNBA superstar Sabrina Ionescu, and more.

Tickets for Fanatics Fest NYC can be purchased at www.fanaticsfest.com with prices starting at $20 for children and $50 for adults.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘The Book of HOV’ Jay-Z Exhibit Sets Record For Attendance At The Brooklyn Public Library

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