Tabitha Brown Gets Emotional After She Scores Two Emmy Nominations For Children’s Show ‘Tab Time’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2022

Tabitha Brown Gets Emotional After She Scores Two Emmy Nominations For Children’s Show ‘Tab Time’

Tabitha Brown has plenty of reason to celebrate after learning she’s been nominated not once but twice in the first-ever Children and Family Emmy Awards.

On Tuesday, nominations were announced for the inaugural Children’s & Family Emmys, which will include around 50 categories, Variety reports. Netflix leads the pack with approximately 85 nominations, while Disney+, Disney Channel, and Disney Junior follow up with around 78 nominations.

Tabitha’s YouTube Originals kid’s show Tab Time was nominated for Outstanding Preschool Series and the social media star was also nominated for Oustanding Host. Shortly after the nominees were announced, Tabitha took to Instagram to post an emotional video celebrating her Emmy nominations.

“Hello there. I just found that I have been nominated for an Emmy for Tab Time,” she shared through tears.

“Oh my God, Tab Time has been nominated for an Emmy,” she exclaimed.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Tabitha Brown (@iamtabithabrown)

She explained how just being nominated for an Emmy is “the win” for her.

“Not one but two Emmy nominations,” she clarified.

In a lengthy caption, Brown further shared the news and thanked all who were involved in making the nomination happen.

“Y’all look at what the Lord has done😭😭😭😭. Tab Time is nominated for not 1 but 2 Emmys!!!!!” she wrote in the caption.

“1 for Outstanding preschool series and 1 for me as Outstanding Host 🎉🎉🎊🎊 Thank you @televisionacad @daytimeemmys @thekidsatplay @creativeartistsagency and @scaleproductions 😭😭😭😭 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾OOHHH GOD I THANK YOU🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾. Y’all DREAMS really do come true!!!!!! Omg!!!! #tabithabrown #emmynominated #TabTime”

Brown’s Tab Time follows the actress and culinary queen as  “Ms. Tab,” who taps into her natural capabilities as a cook, storyteller, mom, and motivational leader to teach children how to live their best life. Her young audience can watch the show and learn with her Super Cool Experts of celebrity guests in Tab’s Lab and complete arts and crafts with DJ Khrafty.

Diddy Almost Gets Into Heated Halloween Fight With ‘Power’ Actor While Dressed as Joker
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2022

Diddy Almost Gets Into Heated Halloween Fight With ‘Power’ Actor While Dressed as Joker

Diddy combatted hate with love while dressed as The Joker and met with opposition from Power actor Michael J. Ferguson.

Diddy showed off his acting prowess for Halloween this week when the hip-hop mogul stepped out in full Joker garb. The Love Records CEO had his face painted, wore a disheveled suit, and carried a fake machine gun to perfect his costume.

The “Gotta Move On” creator even changed his voice to possess Joker’s signature sinister voice and cackling laugh. Video clips showed him having a great time entertaining onlookers with his Halloween costume.

Rapper Tyler The Creator was the first to encounter Joker Diddy who walked up to his car with a gun in tow ready to sell the role.

“Tyler The Creator,” Diddy said in his best Joker voice. “Tyler you are my favorite rapper in the world.”

https://twitter.com/rapalert6/status/1586714537411186690?s=20&t=Kb8xdUpeIF26spUkESizuw

Fans applauded Diddy’s commitment to his Halloween costume and stellar acting ability.

“Nailed it,” one viewer wrote.

“Wait diddy kinda ate that up…even down to the laugh and mannerisms,” added someone else.

But the vibes didn’t stay completely positive throughout the night. A clip that surfaced Monday morning showed Joker Diddy’s encounter with a Power actor who seemingly felt like the Halloween character was too close for comfort.

https://twitter.com/madeitnewztv/status/1586924047740375040

Video captured the moment Diddy dressed as the Joker approached Ferguson, who plays the role of “2 Bit” on 50 Cent’s Power. Ferguson apparently wasn’t aware that it was Diddy behind the costume and told The Joker that he was “pu**y,” a known fighting word within the Black community.

Diddy handled it well while remaining in character. He gave off a Joker-like cackle while telling Ferguson he’s a “clown.” Diddy then broke character to let Ferguson know he’s willing to match his violent energy.

“What’s up, baby? You don’t like me?” Diddy says in the clip. “Then motherfu*king get to it, n***a.”

“If you don’t like me, you motherfu*king fronting. Get to it, bit*h. Don’t fu*king play with me on Halloween. I’m out here with love, n***a.”

Once Ferguson realized he was about to fight a billionaire hip-hop mogul, he eased up and returned the love. Diddy ended up inviting the actor to his afterparty where he encouraged him to “change your vibration!”

Former Michigan Police Officer who Killed Unarmed Black Man Heading to Trial for Second-Degree Murder
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 1, 2022

Former Michigan Police Officer who Killed Unarmed Black Man Heading to Trial for Second-Degree Murder

A former police officer from Michigan who shot an unarmed Black man in the head in April has been ordered to stand trial for the incident.

According to ABC News, former Grand Rapids police officer Christopher Schurr, who killed Patrick Lyoya on April 4 after a traffic stop, will be on trial after being charged with second-degree murder. He has pled not guilty.

The seven-year veteran had a preliminary hearing last week to determine how the court case would proceed. After looking at the evidence presented by the defense and prosecutors, Judge Nicholas Ayoub ruled that the case should be presented to a jury.

“Factual questions remain as to whether the defendant reasonably believed that his life was in imminent danger, or that he was in an imminent danger of suffering great bodily harm, and that deadly force was reasonably necessary,” Ayoub said. “These are questions of fact that the jury must decide based on the totality of the circumstances, as presented by the evidence at a trial.”

Lyoya, a 26-year-old native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was pulled over by Schurr for allegedly having a faulty license plate.

Footage from a body camera worn by Schurr shows the police officer yelling at Lyoya and instructing him to “get in the car.” Schurr is heard asking him if he spoke English and demanding that Lyoya show him his driver’s license. After Lyoya turned to someone in the car, he closed the door and started walking away from the police officer. He then began to flee, and Schurr grabbed him, and a struggle ensued. As they were entangled, Schurr pinned him to the ground and yelled out, “Stop resisting,” “Let go,” and “Drop the Taser.” During the struggle, the camera was deactivated, according to the police.

Lyoya’s friend, Aime Tuiishme, filmed from his mobile phone, and it showed Schurr shooting Lyoya in the head while he was on the ground. Reports from an independent autopsy and the Kent County medical examiner state that he died due to a gunshot to the head.

A local resident, Wayne Butler, told the court last week that the altercation was more like “wrestling” and said that Lyoya was not “on the offensive.”

The Difference Is Clear: Appraisal of Same Home Quoted $350K for White Homeowner, $310K for Black Partner
by Stacy Jackson

November 1, 2022

The Difference Is Clear: Appraisal of Same Home Quoted $350K for White Homeowner, $310K for Black Partner

The value of property continues to be estimated unfairly for Black homeowners compared to their white counterparts.

MarketWatch reported that a new test conducted in Baltimore by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) shows the appraisal differences between Black and white homeowners through the use of mystery shoppers.

Part of the study examined an interracial couple who was assigned different appraisal values based on the skin color of each partner. When the white partner met the appraiser for a single row house, the quote was $350,000. However, the Black partner in the relationship was quoted $310,000 by a separate appraiser. According to the NCRC, both appraisers were randomly selected, and the inspections were set on different days that were close together.

“The discrimination we found in the appraisals system undermines Black wealth-building and almost certainly violates the law,” NCRC President and CEO Jesse Van Tol said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable for appraisers to undercut the value of homes and conduct themselves less professionally when dealing with Black homeowners.”

A recent lawsuit from a couple in Baltimore alleges that their home appraisal went from $472,000 to $750,000 after they allowed a white male colleague to stand in for them as a second appraisal was conducted.

“The discrimination NCRC’s testers experienced can have devastating effects to a family’s long-term wealth-building efforts–and not just by depressing a home’s monetary value,” the NCRC website explains.

“The delays and discourteous non-communication some appraisers in NCRC’s testing displayed toward Black testers can also cause sellers to miss out on cheap interest rates, or even derail a sale entirely.”

An 84-page report provided by the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA) revealed that the value of Black neighborhoods was reduced as a result of discriminatory associations between race and risk.

“Because home value has been the cornerstone of intergenerational wealth in the United States, the historical appraisal practices have had long-term effects in creating some of the current wealth inequalities where white wealth has soared while Black wealth has remained stagnant,” according to the report.

Other cases in the NCRC’s examination included a situation where the appraiser reportedly ghosted the Black homeowner, never sending a report, and another instance where a Black partner in an interracial relationship was asked to pay upfront.

White Tennessee State U Professor Robert Pickard Filmed Screaming in Black Student’s Face, ‘YOU HAVE FAILED!’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2022

White Tennessee State U Professor Robert Pickard Filmed Screaming in Black Student’s Face, ‘YOU HAVE FAILED!’

A white professor at Tennessee State University, an HBCU, has gone viral for all the wrong reasons after he was filmed screaming at the top of his lungs at a Black student.

A video clip posted to TikTok on Monday garnered strong responses from viewers confused as to why the teacher belligerently shouted at the student who was doing nothing.

“Welcome to the HBCU experience,” a caption over the video read.

It showed the white professor screaming and shouting at the Black student while demanding to know their name.

“I SAID WHAT IS YOUR NAME?!” the professor shouts.

“I DON’T CARE, GET OUT! YOU HAVE FAILED THIS COURSE WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS!”

@myathagangsta #gobigblue 💙 #fyp #viral #foryoupage ♬ Just Wanna Rock – Lil Uzi Vert

Black Information Network reports that a student posted the video online, noting how it wasn’t the professor’s first time treating a student this way.

“I was so shocked like why would you yell at him like that?” TSU student Sheraya Rains said of the incident. “I think he should be fired.”

The optics of the now-viral moment have been called out by onlookers confused as to why a white educator at a historically Black college or university was berating a Black student in front of the entire class.

“At A HBCU????” one viewer wrote.

“All he needed was the word “BOYYY” at the end. Sounded ready af,” another user scolded.

“I’ve never seen a single professor raise their voice not even the slightest throughout my 4 years of college,” said someone else.

When the clip made its rounds on Twitter, one user identified the professor as TSU’s Robert Pickard and shared a screenshot of Pickard’s low score on Rate My Professor.

The low ratings started to skyrocket following the viral video clip. Onlookers sounded off and called for the professors’ removal from the Tennessee-based HBCU.

“How is he employed there still w/ these ratings?!” one user noted, referencing the professor’s low ratings from fellow TSU students.

“Gonna be unemployed soon,” one user wrote.

“He wanted to say it so bad,” added someone else.

In the wake of the video being heavily shared across social media, TSU condemned Pickard’s behavior in a statement, WSMV reports.

“The University is aware of the incident identified in the video clip being distributed in the media, including on social media. TSU does not tolerate unprofessional behavior in its classrooms or otherwise directed at students,” the statement reads.

“The University is committed to providing a healthy and positive academic environment for all students. This incident runs afoul of the standard of behavior we expect from those charged with teaching and serving as role models for our students. The University has taken swift action, including personnel action, to address this incident.”

Black Woman Tech Startup Founder Sevetri Wilson Rakes in $35 Million in Capital
by Atiya Jordan

November 1, 2022

Black Woman Tech Startup Founder Sevetri Wilson Rakes in $35 Million in Capital

Sevetri Wilson, a BLACK ENTERPRISE 2022 40 Under 40 Honoree and one of the top-funded Black women founders in tech, continues to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits through her company, Resilia.

The New Orleans native recently brought her capital-raising prowess to a Series B financing round. She raised $35 million from investors that will propel her company‘s expansion plans forward, NOLA.com reported.

Led by Panoramic Ventures and Framework Venture Partners, the successful round included investors, Mucker Capital, SoftBank Group’s SB Opportunity Fund, and Goldman Sachs Asset Management Fund.

“This latest investment gets us closer to realizing our vision of democratizing philanthropy by reallocating power over its decision-making and resources as well as providing more seats at the table,” Wilson said in a statement, per NOLA.com.

Launched in November 2016, Resilia is a software as a service (SaaS) platform that aims to “strengthen the capacity of nonprofits and help grantors scale impact through data-driven technology solutions,” per the company’s website. It provides nonprofits with resources for coaching, management, employee training, and funding, while serving granter makers—like governments and corporate or private foundations.

After spending nearly a decade advising nonprofits and grantmakers, the serial entrepreneur transitioned from building her first seven-figure company, Solid Ground Innovations, with zero capital to transforming the nonprofit sector through technology with her second business.

In 2020, Wilson raised $8 million in Resilia’s Series A round of funding, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported. It was the highest venture capital raised by a woman-founded tech company in the state of Louisiana.

The company has accumulated nearly $50 million since its inception, according to Forbes.

“I do subscribe to the fact that every business shouldn’t be backed by venture capital because I actually built a company that did not raise capital,” Wilson told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“For us to really be able to compete, if we want to be able to capture percent of the market share, if we want to be thought leaders in this space, and really be the go-to for what we’re doing, we’re going to have to raise capital, she continued.”

Resilia, which currently has offices in New Orleans and New York City, boasts more than 15,000 nonprofit clients, including Oxfam America, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the United States Tennis Association Foundation (USTA).

BLACK ENTERPRISE will celebrate Wilson and the honorees at the 40 Under 40 Dinner, a private, invite-only ceremony on Wednesday, November 16, at City Winery New York. The celebration will continue with the 40 Under 40 Summit, taking place virtually on Thursday, December 8.

Fitness Instructor ‘Mr Motivator’ Shares Perspective on Racism in Television
by Stacy Jackson

November 1, 2022

Fitness Instructor ‘Mr Motivator’ Shares Perspective on Racism in Television

TV personality Mr Motivator is not fond of the TV world. He believes so many people in positions of power lack respect for those who aren’t.

Derrick Evans, the Jamaican-born British fitness instructor better known as Mr Motivator, discussed his views on racism, etiquette, and TV stars in a recent interview with The Guardian.

According to the outlet, Mr Motivator, known for his infectious smile and psychedelic leotards, has stepped into his role as a life coach, helping people make the most of their later years and motivating those who have difficulty moving around.

“I think it’s the way I make people feel,” Evans said comparing his character to that of Maya Angelou.

He recalled the early years of his career and being faced with multiple rejections that he described as racially motivated.

“The first job I went for, I’d spoken to the guy on the phone beforehand,” Mr Motivator said.

“When I went in he looked at me and said: ‘Why didn’t you tell me you were Black?’ I said: ‘Because you didn’t tell me you were white.'”

“I said: ‘If that’s how we’re beginning, I don’t think I can work for you’–and I walked out,” he shared during the interview.

Mr Motivator grew bored of work and discovered his passion for fitness at Harrow Leisure Centre in 1983 when he observed two women leading a pop mobility fitness class.

“I was transfixed. That was my lightbulb moment.”

He realized his potential when he started his own classes that people were traveling for miles to attend because the demand for his motivation was so high. He informed the outlet that the fitness venture was very rewarding financially, noting that he is one of the most expensive personal trainers in the country.

“I learned the more expensive you are, the more demand there is for you,” he continued.

Evans shared the story that landed him on the UK breakfast television show, GMTV.

“One day I was sitting in reception at GMTV. This guy comes walking in with a large stomach, and I got up and prodded him in the belly. I said: ‘Excuse me mate. You need to look after that.'”

The man turned out to be GMTV boss Peter McHugh. Mr Motivator brought him an exercise bike the next day and visited his office the day after, hounding him to use the bike.

“After a lot of persuasion he said: ‘Yeah, OK, I will do it.’ We started training, and he said: ‘You need to be on television,'” Evans shared about the turning point in his career.

Still, he faced rejection again that was racially motivated.

“He said: ‘We’ve checked with the advertisers and they don’t really want a Black man doing fitness. It had to be a white woman with two kids.’ They felt that was the right image,” Evans said McHugh told him.

Daily Mail reported that Mr Motivator is set to embrace his inner drag queen alongside other celebrity cast members including Chris Hughes and Simon Gregson. The cast will master the disciplines of drag through singing, dancing, lip syncing, comedy, impressions, and drag magic—AKA Dragic.

https://twitter.com/OfficialQFTN/status/1585952163045715968

Queens for the Night will air Saturday, November 5 at 8.30 p.m. on ITV and ITV Hub.

Meet the Two Black Men, Social Justice Advocates, Who Own the Trademark for White Lives Matter
by Derek Major

November 1, 2022

Meet the Two Black Men, Social Justice Advocates, Who Own the Trademark for White Lives Matter

The phrase “White Lives Matter” gained popularity after Grammy-winning artist Kanye West wore a  hoodie with the slogan at his Paris fashion show.

However, West will not be able to profit from the phrase, because the trademark is owned by two Black men.

Rolling Stone reports “White Lives Matter” is trademarked by Ramses Ja and Quinton Ward, the hosts of Civic Cypher, an Arizona-based radio show that focuses on racial justice. However, Black Enterprise checked and the trademark application was filed in October but it could be years before it’s finalized.

Also it’s important to note that you can claim a trademark and it doesn’t have to necessary be applied for under federal protection.

According to Cornell Law: “Although registration is not a prerequisite to federal trademark protection, registered marks enjoy significant advantages over unregistered marks including: registration serves as nationwide constructive notice of ownership and use of the mark under 15 U.S.C. § 1072; and a registered mark may achieve incontestable status after five years of continuous use under 15 U.S.C. § 1065, which enhances the owner’s rights by eliminating a number of defenses to claims of infringement.”

The radio hosts recently told Capital B that the person who originally acquired the trademark in 2020 did so so it wouldn’t fall into the wrong hands. Earlier this month, he handed the trademark over to the two men.

Civic Cypher LLC is a company owned by Ramses King aka Ramses Ja. 

“The way the law works is either you’re owning phrases, or it’s up for grabs for people to make money off them,” Ja, who co-hosts Civic Cipher with Ward, told Capital B.

“This person who first procured it didn’t really love owning it, because the purpose was not necessarily to get rich off of it; the purpose was to make sure that other people didn’t get rich off of that pain.”

Ja added that if he and Ward sold the trademark, the fund would go towards helping Black civil rights organizations, instead of their pockets.

“If we were to sell that trademark, for whatever amount of money, we could donate that money to causes that we feel would benefit Black people, like the NAACP or Black Lives Matter organizations,” Ja told Capital B.

“Because, realistically, we cannot stop the shirts from being made right now. We can write cease to people selling these shirts right now, but that is a big monster that requires teams of lawyers and thousands of dollars that we do not have.”

The 2020 Black Lives Matter movement, a worldwide protest against police brutality and the unequal treatment of Black people, popularized the phrase. White supremacist organizations, including the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), have begun using the slogan “White Lives Matter” in response, and, today, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) considers the phrase a hate slogan.

According to Ja, West has not reached out to him or Ward concerning the slogan. Many have blasted the rapper and producer for wearing the hoodie, including the family of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed by two white men while jogging in Georgia.

In addition to the hoodie, West has made other controversial moves in recent weeks, including saying George Floyd wasn’t killed by former police officer Derek Chauvin, and making numerous anti-Semitic comments, which resulted in businesses and corporations cutting ties with the College Dropout rapper.

Shonda Rhimes, Grey's Anatomy, Debbie Allen, Get Out The Vote, Trivia Livestream Event
by Derek Major

November 1, 2022

Screenwriter Shonda Rhimes, Other Celebrities Announce They’re Leaving Twitter As Tesla Founder Elon Musk Takes Over Platform

Celebrities are leaving Twitter in the wake of billionaire Elon Musk taking over the social media platform, citing concerns about his leadership.

Not long after the Tesla founder took control of Twitter, trolls littered the site with hate speech and Nazi memes, raising fears that the social media platform could become a home for online hate.

One tweet, a racial slur in capital letters, was retweeted more than 700 times and liked more than 5,000 times. Other accounts have included swastikas as profile pictures, glorifying Nazi Germany, and tweets denouncing the LGBTQ+ community.

Screenwriter and Producer Shonda Rhimes was among the first to announce that she would be leaving the site, tweeting on Saturday that she’s “Not hanging around for whatever Elon has planned. Bye.”

In addition to Rhimes, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles also tweeted that she was leaving the social media platform Sunday, saying:

“Welp. It’s been fun Twitter. I’m out. See you on other platforms, peeps. Sorry, this one’s just not for me.”

Billions showrunner Brian Koppelman also deactivated his account, telling his fans to follow him on TikTok and Instagram.

“Y’all’s, for real, come find me over on Instagram and the tok. Gonna really try to take a breather from here for a minute or a month come deal close time,” Koppelman said.

Since Musk has taken over the social media platform, changes have been minimal, outside of Musk firing the CEO and CFO. One change planned for the platform is that it will begin charging $20 a month for its blue check verification.

The blue checkmark is typically used to verify that statements are coming from specific individuals and organizations. However, Musk seemingly wants to turn it into a status symbol. Author Stephen King is not receptive to the idea, tweeting that if the plan gets instituted, he is gone.

2 Men Charged for Setting 20-Year-Old on Fire Who Told Man’s Wife They Were in Relationship
by Stacy Jackson

November 1, 2022

2 Men Charged for Setting 20-Year-Old on Fire Who Told Man’s Wife They Were in Relationship

A family is mourning a young woman who had dreams of becoming an orthodontist, but enrolled in beauty school after discovering she had a talent for  making people look good.

Criminal charges were filed for the case of a 20-year-old Milwaukee woman who was allegedly shot and burned after telling the wife of a married man she had been seeing about their relationship.

According to CBS 58, police said the victim, a young woman by the name of Kania Brunson, met up with the married man, identified as Sutan Shareef, on the day of the murder. A friend of Shareef said he called the police after he spotted the two in Shareef’s car on Sept. 24. Allegedly, Shareef was seen on top of Brunson as she was pleading for help, screaming, “He cut my throat.”

(Image: YouTube /CBS 58 / Screenshot)

Police reportedly located Brunson and Shareef after being called to an alley near Keefe Avenue and Palmer Street. When they arrived on the scene, the victim appeared to have been tied, shot, and set on fire.

Medical examiners reported Brunson’s death as a homicide.

WISN 12 News reported that Shareef has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and mutilating a corpse. Shareef’s brother-in-law, Johnny Hopgood, has been identified as an accomplice in the murder, as he allegedly joined Shareef to dispose of Brunson’s body by setting her remains on fire. Hopgood is charged with mutilating a corpse and harboring or aiding a felon.

“I wasn’t even there 30 minutes and they called and told me her car was found, and I knew then, at that point, like something happened to her,” Brunson’s mother Jennifer Meadows said to CBS 58. 

Reportedly, Shareef contacted Brunson’s mother a week prior to the incident saying, “I want to be done messing with your daughter but she’s reaching out to my wife.”

After police questioned Shareef’s wife, she claimed he had been with her on the night of the murder. However, video evidence proved her claims to be false.

“I won’t stop until I find out who did this to my daughter. I wouldn’t want no parent or anybody to go through this,” the victim’s father Shawnte Brunson said in an interview with WISN 12 News earlier in October..

Shareef’s bond is set at $500,000, while bond for Hopgood is $50,000. Both men are reportedly scheduled to appear in court again.

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