Popular Comedian’s Death Makes A Strong Case For Why Black Americans Should Not Use GoFundMe For Life Insurance
by Jeffrey McKinney

September 27, 2021

Popular Comedian’s Death Makes A Strong Case For Why Black Americans Should Not Use GoFundMe For Life Insurance

A growing number of Americans are turning to GoFundMe to help pay for everything from super high medical bills to costly funerals.

The latter expense made headlines with Anthony’ A.J.’ Johnson’s GoFundMe campaign eclipsing expectations. The fundraiser gained over $54,000 in donations. As of Saturday afternoon, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported over 1,800 donors contributed to the GoFundMe to help pay the actor’s funeral expenses.

After news of the actor’s death, Lexis Jones Mason, Johnson’s widow, started a GoFundMe campaign last week. Yet, she stated disappointment with TMZ after the donations didn’t come in as briskly as expected, only reaching around raised $700 as of Wednesday. Several celebrity friends swooped in to save the day after Jones Mason said people showed “fake love.” That number rose to upward of $55,000.

Screenshot GoFundMe

While GoFundMe is a popular crowdfunding option, the sobering truth is experts warn people should not depend on it to cover a loved one’s funeral expenses. One problem with GoFundMe is it is unknown how much a campaign can raise. Plus, it can boost stress for people who are already grieving.

As an alternative, experts suggest considering life insurance to help pay for funeral and burial costs.
Black Iowa News reported that many fans on social media pondered why the popular comedian, who is best known for playing Ezal in the movie Friday, didn’t have life insurance.

Black funeral directors are big advocates for using insurance and financial planning to pay for such costs. They contend that struggling families relying on crowdfunding to pay for funerals is a problem they often see. A typical funeral can run from $8,000-$12,000. And too many families don’t have a strategy to cover those costs. Legendary stars like Prince, Aretha Franklin, and Michael Jackson died without wills.

“There’s a whole generation or two that hasn’t gotten the message that you need to plan for this,” said Donna Henderson, owner of Henderson’s Highland Park Funeral Home in Des Moines, told Black Iowa News. “You have to save money for this, or purchase insurance for this, in order to take care of it.”

She denounced the belief that strangers should pay for the funerals of others. “I buried my momma,” she said. “Why wouldn’t you bury yours? I think it’s very presumptuous to ask everybody else to help you take care of a responsibility that you have.”

R. Kelly Found Guilty Of All Charges in Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Trial
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 27, 2021

R. Kelly Found Guilty Of All Charges in Sex Trafficking and Racketeering Trial

On Monday, R. Kelly was found guilty on all nine counts in his sex trafficking and racketeering trial, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York announced.

Kelly now faces more than 30 years in prison for allegations that he raped, abused, and physically assaulted women and minors.

Among Kelly’s many charges include knowingly infecting some of his accusers with a sexually transmitted disease. He was also accused of bribery, kidnapping, forced labor, and producing child pornography.

Kelly, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering and eight counts of illegally transporting people across state lines for prostitution.

“Prosecutors have tried to portray him as an intemperate predator who exploited his fame to attract fans into his circle, where he would demand strict obedience or else punish them,” Reuters observed.

Kelly has repeatedly denied sexual abuse accusations, which have defined him as much as his abilities as a hitmaker.

On the heels of R. Kelly’s sex trafficking trial coming to an end, the disgraced singer has seen a drastic drop in his reported net worth and assets.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Kelly’s fall from grace has resulted in his listed earnings and assets taking a dip to -$2 million. While Kelly’s peak net worth was at one time cited as being as high as $100 million, it was his April 2020 appearance before a judge where the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer claimed he owed $1.9 million to the IRS.

That’s not to mention all the legal fees Kelly has accrued over the years fighting cases. Among his financial losses include the tens of millions Kelly allegedly paid to settle dozens of sexual assault lawsuits made by women who claimed to have been abused by the singer.

Kelly also lost a chunk of his net worth after divorcing his ex-wife Andrea Kelly, whom he was married to from 1996 to 2009. In 2012, it was reported that Kelly owed $5 million in unpaid taxes dating back to 2005. In 2013, Kelly lost his Chicago home to foreclosure for failing to pay the mortgage since 2010.

In 2018, the self-proclaimed Pied Piper was evicted from two homes in Atlanta after failing to pay over $30,000 in back rent and fees. Before his incarceration, the last known place Kelly was living was a townhouse located in Chicago’s Trump Tower.

As a result of the negative net worth, Kelly has become the butt of a joke by rapper 42 Dugg, who posted a video of him and his friends making a mockery of Kelly.

https://twitter.com/Splashystackss/status/1441422382724304901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1441422382724304901%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmz.com%2F2021%2F09%2F26%2Fr-kelly-net-worth-negative-2-million%2F

Kelly did claim to be broke on his 20-minute 2018 release “I Admit It.” We’re sure the disgraced singer/songwriter wasn’t lying.

White Woman Fired After Video Alleges Verbal Racist Attack on Black Couple in Brooklyn Dog Park
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 27, 2021

White Woman Fired After Video Alleges Verbal Racist Attack on Black Couple in Brooklyn Dog Park

Another white woman in New York City has been exposed and fired for her racist verbiage after telling a Black couple to “stay in your hood” in a Brooklyn dog park.

A Black best-selling New York Times author posted an encounter he had over the weekend when a white woman allegedly told him and his fiancée to “stay” in their hood as she threatened to call the police on them.

In the video, it appears that the white woman points her middle finger up to the camera phone as she tries to grab the phone as the incident is being filmed. Another white person seen in the clip verifies that the white woman did tell the Black couple to stay in their hood.

Frederick Joseph posted the incident to his Twitter account.

With the power of social media, someone identified the white woman, whose name is reportedly Emma Sarley.

After finding out her name, Joseph was also able to find out where she worked and sent a notice of Sarley’s actions to her employer, Derek J. Andersen, the co-founder/CEO of @BevyHQ and @StartupGrind.

Andersen stated that he spoke to Joseph and his fiancée and announced it on his Twitter feed.

Anderson returned to Twitter several hours later to inform his followers that Sarley had been terminated for her action.

Joseph also gave an update after Andersen decided to terminate Sarley.

 

Social Media Asks Mo’Nique to Wear A Bonnet Instead of Her Newest Look
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 27, 2021

Social Media Asks Mo’Nique to Wear A Bonnet Instead of Her Newest Look

Mo’Nique‘s followers are begging her to put on a bonnet after she debuted a new hairstyle on Instagram.

The Oscar Award-winning actress and comedian took to Instagram over the weekend to show off the bumped-up ponytail she sported while hosting the Fall Back Comedy Jam at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

“ABOUT LAST NIGHT!!!!New York YALL have been good to me. BARCLAY CENTER we had an amazing time,” she captioned the post before shouting out her glam squad.

“@the_takehomestylist sis you are THE BEST for me. You always SHOW UP & SHOW OUT! @lastlooks_davidday baby who can beat a face in 10 minutes. YOU CAN!!! To all my OLDER TENDERS: ARE U AGING LIKE A FINE WINE❤️? I LOVE US 4REAL.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Mo’nique (@therealmoworldwide)

The photo slide included four photos showing off Mo’Nique’s black and gray layered updo. While many praised the Original Queen of Comedy in her comments section, many others said she should’ve worn one of those bonnets that she hates so much.

“She shoulda left her bonnet on,” one critic said. “I would rather you wear a bonnet than step out in this love,” added someone else.

The shady remarks were about the bonnet debate Mo’Nique raised earlier this year after she publicly spoke out against Black women wearing hair bonnets and pajamas in public.

In July, Mo’Nique was even snapped in a photo seemingly confronting one young sister who was wearing a bonnet. So, considering how strongly she feels against the look, critics expect her hair to be top-notch anytime she steps out.

She followed up her hair reveal post with another from the night showing love to rapper Rick Ross.

“This brother is truly a GOOD ONE,” she said of the MMG owner.

Clearly, Mo’Nique likes the look. Haters gonna hate.

Family Identifies 9-Month-Old Pregnant Woman Found Murdered Inside Florida Park
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 27, 2021

Family Identifies 9-Month-Old Pregnant Woman Found Murdered Inside Florida Park

The family of 21-year-old Felicia Jones has identified her body after the expecting mother was found dead at Riverview Park in Jacksonville, Fla on Saturday morning.

Jones was located around 6:30 a.m. on Saturday after someone walking in the park found her lying unresponsive inside the park, First Coast News reports. Officers arrived and Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are investigating Jones passing as a “suspicious death with foul play suspected,” police said. After identifying her body, Jones’ family revealed she was nine months pregnant and due to give birth on October 8.

“I want Jacksonville to come together on this. We can’t let this go. We can’t let this slide. We need everybody to come together,” said Jones’ aunt Angelica Williams. “This is a whole unborn baby ready to be born in two weeks. A beautiful young lady who just turned 21 this month.”

Jones was set to be a first-time mother, as noted by WFLA. Her family has since launched a GoFundMe to get help with funeral costs for Jones and her unborn son.

“We want to let the world know that she was loved,” Williams said. “Her baby was expected. We wanted this baby. I was super excited about my nephew. All of that has been taken away from us. We’re distraught right now.”

Police are asking anyone with information related to Jones’ death to call the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or Crimestoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS. You may also e-mail jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org.

The family has been left heartbroken over the loss and looking for answers as to who would take the life of someone who was set to give birth.

“We’re not taking it well right now. We want answers. We want to know why. We don’t understand who would do such a disgusting crime. It’s sickening,” Williams said.

These 3 Black Women Doctors Created a Podcast Dedicated to Getting to Know Your Pharmacist
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

September 27, 2021

These 3 Black Women Doctors Created a Podcast Dedicated to Getting to Know Your Pharmacist

Dr. Leah Jeanelle Miller, Dr. Courtney V. Jones, and Dr. Sylvia Perry met in college and all lived on the same floor of the freshman dorm at Xavier University of Louisiana.

There they formed a bond and decided to start broadcasting a podcast called 3 Friends TALK in 2019.

Created by three southern women forever bonded through their HBCU education,  3 Friends TALK is grounded in sisterhood, a bond made stronger through each doctors’ individual commitment to her respective sorority; Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta, Inc. 

As three Black pharmacists, they understand the history and mistrust of the medical system due to healthcare disparities that directly affect our communities. The podcast breaks down  tough medical conversations in a fun way and equips you to hold your own at your next doctor’s visit!

For the month of October, the doctors are implementing the “Know Your Pharmacist Movement” to mobilize Black people to build a rapport with their local pharmacist.  With nearly 9 in 10 Americans living within 5 miles of a community pharmacy, the pharmacist may be the health professional you see most and can speak with about your health regularly.

“Pharmacists have special training to help you manage and improve your health and are an integral part of your healthcare team,” says  Dr. Sylvia. “Take advantage of their accessibility.”

Getting to know your pharmacist is as simple as asking questions about avoiding certain lifestyle activities and inquiring about the expected side effects of medicine, among other things.

Here’s what Dr. Courtney, Dr. Leah, and Dr. Sylvia have to say about living your healthiest life in 2021and beyond!

Since the pandemic telehealth has become popular. Some women feel these interactions may not be very thorough. What are your thoughts on televisits?

Dr. Courtney: Because of the pandemic, telehealth has been a good way to keep patients connected to their provider. However, every disease or condition cannot be managed through telehealth indefinitely.

Dr. Leah:  This connection has been especially helpful for keeping patients on track with their medications, and shifted how we handle mental health in the United States.

Dr. Sylvia: On the other hand, just like doing our own nails at home instead of going to the shop, it’s a different experience. Important aspects of patient care, such as lab work and physical exams, cannot be completed via telehealth, yet are essential to keep us healthy.

What are the most important things everyone should know about the Delta variant?

Dr. Courtney:  The Delta variant is nearly twice as more transmissible and contagious than the original Sars COV2 virus, meaning it can spread to more people faster.

Dr. Leah: Vaccinated people can still spread this variant. Those that are unvaccinated are more at risk of having severe symptoms, requiring hospitalization, and are also more susceptible to dying from complications of the virus.

Dr. Sylvia: Being vaccinated is the best defense against severe disease. Wearing masks properly and practicing proper hygiene and social distancing are still important as well.

There’s a lot of controversy on whether or not to get vaccinated. What factors should one use to make an informed decision about this?

Dr. Courtney: Speak with your healthcare professional. Consider allergies and prior reactions to other vaccines.

Dr. Leah:  Who all over there? Are you around people that are immunocompromised, elderly or children that are ineligible to get vaccinated? Are you a caregiver? If you get sick, who will step up in your absence?

Dr. Sylvia: Considering the timing of the vaccine, you may have after effects, like feeling tired, arm soreness, feeling like you are coming down with a cold, but these symptoms should only last about 1 – 4 days. These are not unexpected side effects of the vaccine.

Stress is a silent killer. How can families find safe ways to unwind in a pandemic?

Dr. Courtney: Be creative. Find the things you enjoy doing together. During this pandemic, I discovered that my family enjoyed riding bikes around the neighborhood, and this became our evening escape.

Dr. Leah: I agree, be creative even with the mundane things like making dinner. I became a master griller and air fryer extraordinaire during the pandemic, and my son’s homemade pizzas became a staple in our household on Friday nights.

Dr. Sylvia: Honestly, I had to remember to leave the house! I’m an introvert and enjoyed events coming to me via my computer or TV, but I realized that social distanced fun with family and friends was necessary as well!

 Follow at @3friendsTALK on all social media!

Bill Maher Fires Back At Whoopi Goldberg Over The Black National Anthem
by Derek Major

September 27, 2021

Bill Maher Fires Back At Whoopi Goldberg Over The Black National Anthem

Talk show Host Bill Maher went after comedian and The View host Whoopi Goldberg last weekend after she criticized his comments on the NFL playing “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” before games.

“The only time there should be two national anthems is when one of the teams is from Canada,” Maher said on his HBO show, Real Time with Bill Maher. The political pundit added that it’s OK to get rid of the traditional national anthem, “We just shouldn’t have two.”

According to The Hill, Maher called out the NFL after the song was played during the NFL’s opening game between the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Maher said playing the song, along with other trends of separating White and Black students on college campuses amounts to segregation, but by a different name.

Goldberg didn’t agree with that analysis.

“We’re having to re-educate people” on how to treat women and minorities because “we have gone backwards a good 10, 15 years,” Goldberg said. “Now, maybe other people don’t feel like that, but I feel like we have to reeducate and retell people. We don’t think rape humor’s funny. We don’t think talking about Native American people in a really despicable way is not funny.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mp5mEe6CGo

Maher said Goldberg’s comments are a lot more about a need to “school me on the Black national anthem itself” without discussing his main point.

“Purposefully fragmenting things by race reinforces a terrible message that we are two nations hopelessly drifting apart from each other. That’s not where we were 10 years ago, and it shouldn’t be where we are now.”

Maher also criticized universities and college campuses that offered segregated accommodations and ceremonies for students of different races and ethnicities. According to Maher, these accommodations are keeping us further apart.

“We need to stop regarding this new woke segregation as if it’s some sort of cultural advancement. It’s not.”

Dave Chappelle Opening A Comedy Club and Restaurant In His Hometown Yellow Springs, Ohio
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 27, 2021

Dave Chappelle Opening A Comedy Club and Restaurant In His Hometown Yellow Springs, Ohio

Comedian Dave Chappelle is staying true to his Ohio roots by opening a comedy club in his hometown of Yellow Springs, Ohio.

After three decades of success as a standup comic, the Chappelle’s Show creator will be adding to his legacy in the form of a brick-and-mortar establishment where people can come to laugh and eat.

On Sept. 14, a planning commission in Yellow Springs unanimously approved the plans to launch construction on Chappelle’s comedy club, WHIO reports.

The architect overseeing the project is Max Crome of Crome Architecture, who is mapping out how his team will transform the Miami Township firehouse into what will now be known as the “Firehouse Eatery,” along with the “Live From YS” comedy club attached on the side.

Development plans show that the eatery will be open every day until 10 p.m., with the comedy club hosting scheduled shows four days a week, between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m.

“I’m not just trying to make a club, I’m trying to make a way,” Chappelle said during the planning commission meeting. “I’m trying to make a venue for our talents to be showcased, as well as my friends’ talents, so we can shine and be all the great things we can be in the world.”

The construction begins nine months after Chappelle first unveiled his plans to turn the former firehouse into a comedy club, EW reports.

Crome says the new club will provide an “intimate” setting for comedians and have a maximum capacity of 140 people. Chappelle says the size will be much like the setting of comedy clubs Chappelle performed at in New York City at the start of his career.

Chappelle is confident that he will be able to bring out big-name comedians to the comedy club. His name and respect in the comedy world are more than enough to persuade his close friends and comedy legends to make their way to Yellow Springs, Ohio.

“If we build this thing, I will tell you, all the greats will come. They’re very excited about it,” Chappelle assured the group.

‘Just Be Kind’: Simone Biles Defends Herself After Fans Attack Her For Cancelled Tour Stops
by Tai Saint-Louis

September 27, 2021

‘Just Be Kind’: Simone Biles Defends Herself After Fans Attack Her For Cancelled Tour Stops

On Saturday, it was announced that two stops on Simone Biles’ Gold Old Over America Tour had been canceled due to a scheduling conflict. And gymnastics fans on Twitter unfairly directed their disappointment and frustration toward Biles.

The canceled dates are Oklahoma City on Oct. 5 and San Antonio on Oct. 6, Essentially Sports reports. The website for the AT&T Center in San Antonio attributes the cancelation to a scheduling conflict. Responding to a since-deleted tweet, the Olympian asked fans to show her some grace.

Presented by Athleta, the Gold Over America Tour—GOAT for short in honor of Biles—kicked off on Sept. 21 in Tuscon, Arizona, and is scheduled to run through Nov. 7.

While post-Olympics gymnastics tours have become a tradition for members of Team USA, this one is a departure as Biles reportedly only agreed to do the tour if the official USA Gymnastics organization was not involved, according to Yahoo.

“This is Simone taking control,” said Valerie Kondos Field, who presented Biles with the tour concept.

“She wanted nothing to do with USA Gymnastics. That was her No. 1 priority.”

This means that for the first time in decades, the national team will not profit from ticket sales or merch, despite the inclusion of every member of the team except Sunisa Lee.

The line in the sand over the tour is just the latest in a series of public stands Biles has taken against USA Gymnastics.

Earlier this month, she testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting, asking that an independent investigation be opened into the organization for failing to protect her and hundreds of gymnasts from sexual abuse suffered at the hand of former team doctor Larry Nassar.

Black Google Employee Says Security Stopped Him, Escorted Him to Verify His Badge
by Ashantai Hathaway

September 27, 2021

Black Google Employee Says Security Stopped Him, Escorted Him to Verify His Badge

A Black Google employee says company security stopped him after someone apparently believed he didn’t work there.

Angel Onuoha is an associate product manager at Google and a recent Harvard University graduate. He tweeted on September 20 that security staff stopped him and thought he did not work for the company, Forbes reported.

“Riding my bike around Google’s campus and somebody called security on me because they didn’t believe I was an employee,” Onuoha said in the viral tweet posted on September 20. 

Two days later, Onuoha said, “A lot of people keep DM’ing me asking for the full story…they ended up taking my ID badge away from me later that day and I was told to call security if I had a problem with it. And that was after holding me up for 30 minutes causing me to miss my bus ride home.”

News outlets attempted to reach out to Google but did not get a response. A Google spokesperson told Forbes in a statement that the company “take this employee’s concerns very seriously” and contacted Onuhoa concerning the incident.

“We learned that the employee was having issues with his badge due to an administrative error and contacted the reception team for help,” the spokesperson told Forbes.

“After they were unable to resolve the issue, the security team was called to look into and help resolve the issue.”

Google has already been under scrutiny after making headlines last year for firing two Black women— its diversity recruiter, April Christina Curley, and Timnit Gebru, a top artificial intelligence researcher.

Gebru says she was fired via email after refusing to retract a research paper that asked tough questions about a type of artificial intelligence, which included Google’s use of it.

In 2020, USA Today did an analysis on the Black employees at Google and found, as of 2018, 741 Black women worked at Google, 1% of its U.S. workforce

Five Black women—1.4%—held senior leadership positions out of 357, and 741 Black women–1.1%–held management positions out of 67,248.

In 2012, African Americans made up just 1.5% of Google’s U.S. employees.

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