UK’s Black Lives In Music to Unveil Plans for Music Industry Anti-Racism Code of Conduct
The United Kingdom’s Black Lives in Music (BLIM) is sending a message to the music industry through an official code of conduct against racism.
On Wednesday, an official announcement was made to unveil the new code of conduct that will be adopted in 2023, The Guardianreports. Created by BLIM, the UK Music Industry Anti-Racism Code aims to tackle issues around pay, inclusion, and safety for Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse members of the sector.
The code results from a 2021 BLIM report that found 63% of Black music creators had experienced racism in the UK music industry. The percentage was higher for Black music professionals, at 73%.
Of the 1,718 performers, creatives, and staff surveyed, all reported experiences of harassment, bullying, microaggressions, and racist language in the workplace. Of those surveyed, 36% of the UK’s Black music professionals said the conditions took a toll on their mental health.
“The music industry has a hole in terms of what Black artists are chosen and what investments are made; the same type of music is being put out by Black people when in reality we do every kind of music,” said BLIM Chief Executive Charisse Beaumont.
“But that space is not being created for us. And why is that? Because the decision-makers at the top are not diverse.”
The 2021 survey also found that Black musicians in the UK say they are pigeonholed into urban music genres like R&B and hip-hop, while Black and ethnically diverse people only make up 19.9% of executive positions.
The Independent Standards Authority supports the code and will apply to anyone working in music in the UK, from freelance technical staff to artists working for large companies. Labels and organizations will be expected to commit to creating a safe working environment for all and strive for inclusion over diversity.
Companies will also be asked to conduct mandatory training, data collection, and accountability processes to combat potential racism or lack of diversity and inclusion.
Ye’s Donda Academy Re-Opens Several Hours After Announcement of Closing
Grand closing, grand opening.
Just hours after shutting down, Donda Academy, the school opened by the artist formerly known as Kanye West, is open once again “with a vengeance.”
According to TMZ, several hours after sending a letter to parents of students attending Donda Academy informing them that the institution was shut down, another notice was sent declaring that the school would be open again the following day.
“Join us tomorrow morning in worship for the return of Donda Academy. With the help of our parents and community, we are back and returning with a vengeance!
“The children of Donda are going to change the world!
“Apologies for the late email! See you bright and early!”
No reason was offered for the re-opening.
The original notification, which principal Jason Angell issued, had been sent mere hours before the turnaround stating, “at the discretion of our Founder, Donda Academy will close for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year effective immediately.”
The school intended to “begin afresh in September of 2023.” The principal had promised that the school’s leadership would be working “diligently” to help students and their families during “this transition” to make sure that every student will be equipped with whatever they need “to succeed in their next community.”
The school, located in Simi Valley, California, was founded by Ye last year and named after his late mother, Donda West, a principal in Chicago. Donda Academy is billed as a Christian private school (reportedly, tuition is $15,000 annually, and parents are required to sign non-disclosure agreements) with students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The school is home to approximately 100 students and has 13 full-time teachers, according to The Times.
Ye has been facing a flurry of cancelations from business partnerships and the general public after making various statements considered anti-semitic. The controversial artist has been making his rounds throughout multiple media outlets over the past several weeks spewing damaging comments and rhetoric that has upset various factions of people.
NBA Referee Derek Richardson Buys Elementary School And Names It After His Mother
An elementary school in Inglewood, California will have its name changed after being purchased by NBA referee Derek Richardson.
On Monday, Richardson’s impactful investment was announced after the 26-year veteran NBA referee purchased the former K. Anthony School in Inglewood, CA. The school will now be named Dolores T. Richardson, after Derek’s late mother, according to a press release.
Richardson, a North Charleston native, chose to name the school after his late mother due to how she served as the first and most important teacher throughout his life, ABC News 4reports.
The official reopening of the school under the Richardson name will take place on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at the school’s facility. The event will consist of a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, dedication, and an open house.
Along with serving nearly three decades in the NBA, Richardson is also the former Group Supervisor for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.
His passion for education runs deep. The California State University Dominguez Hills alum worked for Los Angeles, County Department of Children and Family Services as a Group Supervisor before making his transition into the National Basketball Association.
After Hurricane Katrina, Richardson co-founded and became the Executive Director of Why Can’t We Make A Difference Foundation (WCWMAD) which assisted families with unforeseen challenges in their lives. In 2012, WCWMAD’s mission changed after Richardson visited an underserved elementary school in South Central Los Angeles.
The foundation’s mission elevated to provide academic and social enrichment programs to students in underserved and disenfranchised schools. WCWMAD has serviced thousands of children and families with enrichments in Art, Chess, Choir, Coding, Dance before school, Morning Mentoring, and Performing Arts.
Alongside a team of collaborative partners, the organization is able to assist families with Thanksgiving and Christmas Gift Cards, and outings that take families outside the immediate confines of the neighborhood to provide a broader life experience.
In 2021 WCWMAD collaborated with the Children’s Defense Funds Summer Freedom School where the students who participated in reading and comprehension levels increased by 66.7% from the six-week program.
Orijin Bees Is Buzzing With Success in Toy Industry
With strong family ties to West Africa — specifically, Cabo Verde and Ghana — Melissa Orijin and her husband taught their eldest daughter to be proud of her roots.
Their efforts worked until their daughter became the only Black girl in her class at school and her confidence began to drop. This experience led to her disliking her hair texture and skin color and, in turn, favoring Caucasian dolls. Orijin’s efforts to find a doll that looked like her daughter in the toy aisle of local department stores proved fruitless. Then a trailblazing business idea emerged when Melissa’s husband, Archyn, suggested, “Why don’t you just create the dolls you want to see?”
How an epiphany grew into a thriving business
That epiphany evolved into a passion project for Melissa. She says her then-four-year-old daughter, Esi, inspired her to launch Orijin Bees. The business is a collection of dolls authentically representing Black and Brown children. “From their facial features, variety of skin tones, and range in curl patterns, our Baby Bee Dolls are on a mission to encourage self-love and inclusion during play,” Orijin asserts.
Launched more than three years ago, Orijin Bees has caught on fire with retailers and celebrities. The toys landed on Oprah’s Favorite Things 2021 list and were included in Amazon’s ‘Toys We Love’ for 2021 and 2022. “Celebrities also showed love for the dolls,” Melissa Orijin says. Earlier this year, Orijin says Kandi Burrus suggested making Orijin Bees the “Next Big Brand for Kids” during a livestream. And Keke Palmer highlighted Orijin Bees during a Women’s History Month feature with Amazon. “Everyone loves Keke and having her include Orijin Bees on her list means everything to us,” Orijin says.
Expanding offerings to reach new customers
Orijin Bees now offers over 20 different Baby Bee Dolls for ages three and older. The company recently launched Nu’Bee Plush Baby Dolls, a line representing newborns, and a new ginger-hair doll has been a hit. It plans to unveil a male version of Baby Bee Dolls this year.
While the company is enjoying success, starting Orijin Bees was no easy feat. Orijin says she stumbled into becoming an entrepreneur in the toy industry, adding her firm is truly an extension of her focus as a mother. She continues to learn and gain experience as her business grows. In fact, one of her biggest challenges, she says, was leaving a stable career in financial services to operate Orijin Bees full-time.
“I was so nervous but kept walking in this direction, one day at a time,” Orijin says. “Those nerves still haven’t disappeared, but I look to my faith to keep me going.”
Challenges after launching
Another challenge was managing the overwhelming flood of orders after making Oprah’s Favorite Things List last year. She says it required additional logistical planning and forecasting to prepare for a successful holiday season. “We sold out a few times, but we had systems in place to restock quickly in order to not disappoint customers,” Orijin says.
The budding entrepreneur invested $50,000 to start her enterprise. Orijin says her startup costs included manufacturing, logistics, product sampling, and marketing payments. At every stage of development, Orijin stresses that she grew her company by keeping children at the forefront of strategic decisions.
The value of being a mompreneur
Her research and project management skills proved to be immensely helpful in her entrepreneurial pursuits and helped her overcome challenges. Being a mompreneur has been critical to the brand’s success by helping fill in industry gaps that she shares with other mothers. “Not only do mothers fail to get enough credit for overcoming the child-rearing challenges,” but Orijin also believes they simultaneously play the roles of CEO, COO, and CFOs in their households.
She expects company revenue to grow to the seven-figure range in 2023. To further sustain growth, Orijin plans to increase product distribution to additional domestic retailers and online stores, expand into international markets, and sell more accessories and clothing for both dolls and children.
Growing with Amazon
Orijin Bees’ expansion has largely been driven by product sales in Amazon’s stores since 2020, Orijin says. She notes that showcasing her goods in front of millions of potential customers worldwide has
proven invaluable. “Customers who may have not ever heard of our brand can learn about our products while shopping with Amazon’s store. We would have missed these new and potential customers otherwise.”
Last year, Orijin Bees began participating in Amazon’s Black Business Accelerator (BBA), a $150 million program commitment over four years geared to help build sustainable diversity and provide growth opportunities for Black-owned businesses.
“Programs like BBA give Black-owned businesses so many resources to support us and help accelerate our growth. From resources to specialists, advertising credits, media exposure, and other opportunities, we are so thankful to have been selected to be a part of this program,” Orijin says.
So, what are Orijin’s aspirations for growth over the next five years?
By 2027, she wants Orijin Bees to be a household name and reach a nine-plus figure revenue. “Five years ago, I wouldn’t have even thought this would be a possibility, but I’ve learned that if you follow your purpose, work hard, have the right team, and have faith, anything is possible.”
This Smartwatch Can Be Yours For Under $40 Thanks To Overstock Deals
Wearable technology has been one of the most useful tech inventions in recent memory.
Smartwatches have been one of the biggest winners in the category. According to Telecoms.com, more than 127.5 million of them were sold around the globe in 2021. They remained popular for myriad reasons, but their ability to double as a phone, music player and other functions make them go-to devices for users.
Owning one doesn’t have to cost you a fortune thanks to this exclusive Overstock Deals promotion.
Dubbed “the ultimate smartwatch,” Chronowatch has packed 14 fitness, health and social features into a sleek chassis. Answer and make calls, check up on your text messages, monitor the weather and your sleep, and control music, among other key features.
Pair it with the accompanying Da Fit phone app for an even more enjoyable experience.
This watch has received rave reviews from those who have bought it.
“I love my watch! It works great and has all the features I was looking for in a smartwatch without having to pay hundreds of dollars,” writes verified 5-star reviewer Katrina Jones.
While this watch excels when paired with a cell phone, it’s also beneficial for those who like to monitor and keep up with their fitness goals. It offers multi-sport fitness tracking, and it’s dust, sweat and splash-proof, so you can take it with you to the gym or outside.
Smartwatches continue to grow in popularity, and with benefits like health monitoring and the ability to receive and make calls, that popularity doesn’t appear to be tailing off any time soon. Chronowatch’s C-Max Call Time Smartwatch is your chance to enjoy the benefits of wearable technology without having to break the bank to do so. Purchase it today.
This Year’s World Series Will Have No U.S.-Born Black Players For the First Time Since 1950
History will be made at this year’s World Series—but not for what you would expect.
For the first time in over 70 years, there will not be any U.S.-born Black players playing for either team.
According to The Associated Press, the championship series being played between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies will have zero Black representation on the field, in the dugout, or in the bullpens. This hasn’t taken place since the 1950s.
The first Black player, Jackie Robinson, broke Major League Baseball’s racial barrier in 1947 when he was brought in by the Brooklyn Dodgers and participated in the World Series that year. The only time before this current postseason that the baseball championship was played without a Black player was when the New York Yankees played against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1950.
“That is eye-opening,” said Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. “It is somewhat startling that two cities that have high African American populations, there’s not a single Black player.”
“It lets us know there’s obviously a lot of work to be done to create opportunities for Black kids to pursue their dream at the highest level.”
The shift of Black athletes has spread to other sports like football and basketball where the numbers have risen over the years.
When the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series, the only Black player in uniform was the Dodgers star Mookie Betts. At this summer’s All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium, Betts was seen wearing a T-shirt that stated “We need more Black people at the stadium.”
Richard Lapchick, the director of The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at Central Florida, said, “It’s the exclamation point. It’s been a story that’s been ongoing since the late 1980s, the decline of Black baseball players.”
La La Anthony Says Carmelo’s Trade to New York Ignited the ‘Demise’ In Their Marriage
Actress La La Anthony is opening up about why her 11-year marriage to NBA star Carmelo Anthony fell apart.
The Power star has been a bit mum since filing for divorce from Carmelo in June 2021. But La La opened up while appearing on the Call Her Daddy podcast on Wednesday about her feelings on how Carmelo’s 2011 trade to the New York Knicks ultimately led to the end of their marriage.
The two wed in 2010 and share a 15-year-old son, Kiyan Anthony. While La La and Carmelo are both NY natives from Brooklyn, the Think Like A Man star believes moving back to their hometown put a wedge in their marriage.
“When we lived here [in New York] under all of that [attention], that’s when things became complicated,” La La said.” I think that was kind of the start.”
“Now that I look back, that was kind of the start of the demise of the marriage.”
The return of the hometown hero to NYC put the famous couple under a microscope she feels they couldn’t come back from.
“It is the hardest with the scrutiny and the media and the press, just everything. It is really hard,” La La explained.
“That’s not the only reason things didn’t work out, but things got tough with New York, just constantly being under the spotlight and people watching every little thing.”
Carmelo’s busy NBA schedule put a lot of stress on La La and caused many “sleepless nights,” she said. Especially when her then-husband played in cities she believed had a notorious reputation for athletes’ infidelities, E! News reports.
“I used to think certain cities, like, ‘Oh, those are the problem cities.’ Miami, I’d be like, ‘Oh, I’m definitely not sleeping tonight, or I’m going to figure out a way to get there,’” La La recalled.
“But here’s what I found out. Be careful with these other cities that you think don’t have as much going on, because those are the ones guys where the s–-t is going down.”
La La cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce filing but said she and Carmelo remain friends while co-parenting their son.
“It wasn’t all bad,” she said. “Like, we had great, great times.”
Mother of Woman Whose Body Was Left to Rot By NY Funeral Home, Speaks Out
A wake had loved ones in dismay while viewing Regina Christophe’s body.
After pursuing a lawsuit against the John J. McManus and Sons Funeral Home alleging the 37-year-old’s body was left unrecognizable, Chantel Jean, mother of Christophe, spoke to a source in an exclusive interview about the incident that happened earlier this year.
(Screesnhot Facebook)
“Her skin was coming off; she had a maggot coming out of that one eye,” said Jean. “Everybody who came before me, left, all her family and friends who came left, they couldn’t take looking at her, and they couldn’t take the stench,” she described.
“When they’re looking at that person in that casket, they should be looking close to when they were alive, not looking like a monster, not looking like their skin was coming out of their face,” Jean said.
As previously reported by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Christophe’s family hired attorney Kurt Robertson as the legal representative for the case.
The source also heard from Robertson during the virtual interview.
“This isn’t the first offense with this funeral home; it was just sloppy work on their part,” said Robertson.
“The core of our claim against the funeral home stems from what took place then and there,” Robertson said.
News 12 Bronx reported that the funeral home manager responded to the allegations, blaming the decayed body on factors such as the number of days the body was in the heat before it was brought to the medical examiner.
“At the end of the day, the funeral home put the body in the casket, the funeral home put the body out for display, it was displayed in their premises,” Robertson said in a recent interview.
As Jean continued to discuss the situation in the interview, she reflected on the moment and the final image she recalls of her daughter.
“I had to stop my grandsons from coming in and seeing their mother like that,” Jean said.
“I relive that all the time; that’s the last image of my daughter that I’ve seen,” she added.
Ashanti Says She Never Dated ‘Narcissist’ Irv Gotti In New Tell-All Interview
Ashanti is clapping back at her former music partner Irv Gotti and denying his claims of carrying on a romantic affair while working together in the early 2000s.
On Wednesday, the “Happy” singer didn’t hold back while appearing on Angie Martinez’sIRL podcast and giving her side of what she had with Irv during her time on Murder Inc Records.
“Let’s clear this up,” Ashanti said. “We dealt with each other, but was Irv my boyfriend? Was I his girlfriend? Never.”
“Irv had several girlfriends, so I’m a little confused by the label and the description.”
Irv spoke openly about his private relationship with Ashanti that took place while she was an artist on his label. In an August appearance on Drink Champs, Irv dished about his intimate moments with Ashanti and even claimed she recorded the song “Happy” after they had sex.
He openly admitted to dating his artist while married and continued his reveals in the BET docuseries, The Murder Inc Story, that Ashanti opted out of participating in. The “Foolish” singer called Irv a “narcissist” who often spoke down on her and would tell her he made her “fu*k-able.”
“It’s a little sad to see a grown man conduct himself in that manner,” Ashanti told Martinez.
Ashanti called out the “lies” in Irv’s claims and expressed her lack of surprise at his actions.
“It wasn’t surprising to me,” Ashanti said of Irv bringing up the two-decade-old dirt. “Irv has flat-out lied about a lot of things.”
“I think Irv definitely has his side, his version,” she continued. “You know, like, you may think that it’s something and the other person knows that it’s not.”
“And you manifest this thing into something big and it’s really not that. And when that person finally realizes that it’s not that, it turns them into a completely different person.”
Ashanti is on the heels of celebrating her 42nd birthday and setting the internet on fire with her steamy bikini photos.
Tracee Ellis Ross Might Be Single But She Enjoys Eye-Candy, Like a Good Looking Black Man
Tracee Ellis Ross shared some of the enjoyable views that she witnessed during a recent travel venture.
Ross posted a short video to her Instagram story and gave her followers a quick glimpse of all the pleasant-looking Black men she saw on her flight to an undisclosed destination.
“Listen, I’m on the plane. I love a Black man. There are some hot Black men on this plane,” Tracee said.
According to Ross’ Instagram story, her fascination did not stop there.
“And then I looked out the window and there’s more hot men out there. Can you see them? I keep knocking on the window, seeing if they’ll say hi,” the actress said. “Look at these Black men, get outta here!”
“And then there’s one across the aisle and I asked one to help me put my bag up,” Ross said. “Hmm too early for this!”
The Girlfriends alum wrote, “body language of hot men, just saying…” in a photo of Black men on the tarmac following the video.
Pure Wow reported that the Black-ish star sat down with actor and comedian Kevin Hart in an August episode of his Peacock series, Hart to Heart, to discuss her views on dating. She revealed that she was unwilling to settle, especially at this particular time in her life.
“I would love a relationship that makes my life better than it is. I have no interest in just being in a relationship,” she said in the clip.
Ross shared that when it comes to lovers, she takes what she likes and it’s “goodbye–for now” for the rest.
The actress is living a successful, single life as of now. She recently appeared in TheHair Tales, a documentary she executive produced alongside Oprah Winfrey and Michaela Angela Davis that celebrates and explores Black hair.
