Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Black Enterprise. 

I cannot stand entitlement.

I have seen the videos of Jalen Rose‘s sister and I am appalled at her unrighteous audacity. I couldn’t even watch until the end as her rants against her brother prove what an entitled and ungrateful person she is.

For background, Jalen, is an accomplished ESPN sports commenter, and former pro basketball player who is in the midst of a battle with his sister Tamara Rose who has taken to social media to blast him for his plan to sell the home he bought for his mother who died less than two years ago. She currently lives there and states she had been taking care of their mother when she was alive.

And my answer to that is: SO WHAT!

Apparently, she doesn’t feel obligated to move from a home that is not hers. No one has to do ANYTHING for you. And if someone does something and then decides to stop or tells you they are no longer happy with the current arrangement and are making changes, that is their right.

Why grown folks seem to think family members must pay because they have money is beyond me. No one is entitled to anyone’s money. NO ONE.

Family can be the worst when it comes to money. So many people seem to think that those relatives who have it must share it. Where is that written?

When you prove that you are not worthy of financial gifts from relatives, they have the right to say, “I’m done.”

Gratitude is such a beautiful quality to display. Most times, the entitled person stopped being grateful and started expecting, and once those expectations are no longer met, they are enraged.

Be mad sis. Be mad as you pack your belongings and get out.

And those of you who have money, get your Trust done. Make things clear. Have contracts. Family can be trifling, especially when millions are at stake.

In case you missed it, here’s the video.

 

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Roni Faida is a polygot who for the past 30 years has traveled the world and documented her travels on www.ronithetravelguru.com. Because of the lack of representation in the travel & stationery industries, she started making her own products catering to Black women which can be found at www.blackgirlpaperie.etsy.com

• Celebrity News

by Stacy Jackson

October 15, 2022

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s Silk Sonic Decides to Remove Album From Grammy Consideration

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It looks like Silk Sonic won’t be spending their evening at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards this year.

The artistic duo comprised of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, announced the removal of An Evening With Silk Sonic from the 2023 Grammy Award consideration after an anonymous nomination, Mars told Rolling Stone:

“We truly put our all on this record, but Silk Sonic would like to gracefully, humbly and most importantly, sexually, bow out of submitting our album this year.”

The sensual album featuring titles like “Leave The Door Open,” “Smokin Out The Window,” and “Put A Smile On” was a hit when it was released in November 2021. Mars and .Paak crooned their way to debut at number two on the Billboard 200.

Cuba Gooding Jr. has avoided prison time in a plea agreement that puts an end to the criminal case that has hovered over him for several years.

According to NBC New York, the Jerry McGuire actor will not be going to prison after finalizing a conditional plea agreement he made in April.

The prosecutor in the case, Coleen Balbert, stated that Gooding has not been in any trouble and has also finished the six months of alcohol and behavior modification counseling he agreed to. Based on the prior arrangement, he was allowed to withdraw his misdemeanor plea and plead guilty to a harassment violation.

Balbert said she has received “positive reports for the last six months” from the therapist treating Gooding. The Boyz n the Hood actor has continued with the prescribed treatment beyond the time he agreed to with his plea agreement.

He will not have a criminal record.

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported in April that Gooding pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of forcibly touching a woman while attending a nightclub in New York City in 2018.

The actor was accused in a New York State Supreme Court indictment of violating three different women at various venues in 2018 and 2019. He pleaded guilty to the most serious count charging him with forcibly kissing a woman at a nightclub in September 2018.

CBS News reported that one of the accusers, Kelsey Harbert, was in the courtroom to give a statement. She was not pleased as she stated that Gooding “saw minimal repercussions” while she and other victims had to deal with the aftermath.

“The message he got today is that because of who he is the rules are different for him.”

Gloria Allred, who represented Harbert, also chimed in by saying, “It appears to be a prosecutorial gift to a celebrity who is undeserving of such an outcome.”

Gooding left the court without providing a comment.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

October 15, 2022

Get Creative With Mockplus RP

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In the business realm, prototyping is essential for creating sketches, diagrams, and the like while you craft the finished product. There is no shortage of programs out there that help achieve that goal. Mockplus has stood the test of time in the prototyping arena.

For a limited time, you can purchase a one-year subscription to the Mockplus RP Online Prototyping Tool for just $39. That’s a savings of 60% from its MSRP ($99).

Mockplus RP Online Prototyping Tool provides a free and online prototyping tool that makes it easy to share and craft your ideas. It comes with more than 3,000 preset user interface elements and templates – eliminating having to start your projects from scratch.

Lifelike interactions and gestures allow you to animate your web and app prototypes with lifelike interactions, animations, transitions and mobile gestures. The flexible vector drawing tools offer the power to personalize your prototype, down to the final detail.

The pre-made shapes, symbols and other elements quickly map out any UI/UX flowcharts with drag-and-drop, making diagraming a breeze. There’s a powerful export capability that allows you to export your app prototype to an HTML prototype demo package, MRP, or any major image format for better sharing and viewing. You can even use these features offline.

Product Hunt gives this product a 5-star rating. It’s also received a 4.5-star rating on G2, Software Advice and Crozdesk.

Your one-year subscription entitles you to unlimited prototypes, revision history, and pages per prototype. It also gives you the ability to export images to share asset libraries and export to interactive HTML, among other tools.

Mockplus RP Online Prototyping Tool simplifies the prototyping process through a comprehensive set of features presented through a smooth interface. Save yourself time and allow your ideas to flourish by purchasing it today at this limited-time price.

Prices subject to change. 

• News

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

October 14, 2022

91-Year-Old Civil Rights Leader Stabbed Multiple Times in Boston Park

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Jean McGuire, the first Black social worker to work in the Boston Public Schools and a respected civil rights leader was stabbed while walking through a Boston park.

On Wednesday, the 91-year-old was strolling through Playstead Park in Jamaica Plain at about 8:30 p.m. with her dog Bailey when an unidentified person attacked and stabbed McGuire at least five times, CBS Boston reports.

“The victim was transported to a local hospital where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries,” Boston Police stated in a press release. “Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect may have been injured during this attack.”

McGuire “fought for her life,” her friend Jeriline Brady-McGinnis told the Boston Globe.

“[Jean] attacked this guy. She was kicking him in the nuts while Bailey was working him over. And he tried to run, and the dog chased him. And [the attacker] disappeared out of sight,” Brady-Mcginnis told the outlet. “Bailey (her dog) stood up for her.”

Police believe the fight resulted in the suspect possibly sustaining injuries too.

McGuire is co-founder of METCO, Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, an organization that helped lead the charge to desegregate Boston schools in the 1960s. She was a pivotal community member and in 1981 became the first African American woman to be elected to the Boston School Committee.

“To just imagine this happened is unbelievable. But I know she is strong and will come out of this doing what she’s been doing in this community for decades,” METCO CEO Milly Arbaje-Thomas told CBS News.

“She is an amazing woman, a powerhouse, and every time you mention Jean McGuire’s name people know she’s a force to be reckoned with.”

The city’s mayor Mayor Michelle Wu said McGuire is on the mend and expected to survive.

“I’m disgusted and angry to know that an elder in our community had to fear for her safety going about her daily routine, walking her dog,” Wu said. “I’ve had the chance to connect with this patient who is an inspiration in every way.”

• Black Men Xcel

by Atiya Jordan

October 14, 2022

38-Year-Old Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Talks Leading His City and Being a Voice for the Forgotten

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The 52nd Mayor of Baltimore Brandon M. Scott graced a fireside chat at BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Black Men Xcel Summit to talk about the opportunities and challenges of walking in his calling, in addition to serving his city on the frontlines of a pandemic fallout, crime and law enforcement, and housing.

The session, moderated by PBS NewsHour chief Washington correspondent and weekend anchor Geoff Bennett, provided a platform for the 38-year-old city leader to further affirm his role as the voice of the under deserved and the forgotten, including Black men.

“I can be for them, what I didn’t have,” Mayor Scott proclaimed.

“There was only one elected official I had in my life that I could see, that I could touch, that would come to my school, that I would see walking down the street and that was Congressman Elijah Cummings and I tried to emulate that but take that to the next level. By being there and showing up for our young people in ways that they have never seen before. And that is what keeps me going.”

Later, Bennet asked how Mayor Scott’s relationship with Democratic nominee in the 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election, Wes Moore, will benefit the city.

“Wes understand what Baltimore needs,” Scott said. ‘We can hold people accountable when we’re dealing with this flow of illegal guns and things into our city and our state but we also can build and invest in better people and communities at the same time and we don’t have to turn back the clock to breathing while Black policies is going to be transformative for our city and out state.”

Inner city violence and concerns about policing are just many of the problems Baltimoreans face, but as the acting authority over the police department, Scott has had to find that balance to maintain a positive relationship between both residents and officers. He has had to implement a comprehensive approach to dealing with the issues by utilizing other resources like victim services.

“My police department this year with 500 less officers that they’ve had in 2014 and 2015 seized more guns and made more guns arrests of people with violent guns… than they did when we had more cops because we’re not making them the end be all,” Mayor Scott explained.

In these efforts, Mayor Scott credits his team for helping him navigate through priorities as the official head of the city.

In addition to the late Congressman Cummings, Scott also praised former Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake as someone that he looked up to. He recalled his start into city government as a staffer thanks to her support.

“She allowed me as a young staffer to have so much autonomy and really authority at 23, 24, 25 years old. It allows me now to do my job in ways that I would never be able to,” Scott explained.

For those young brothers who are interested in running for office, Mayor Scott urged to stay active in the community and find experience in city government.

“You have to be in your community. You have to have a track record serving your community but I always tell young brothers and sisters that it will behoove them to know both sides. Knowing the community side is extremely important. Knowing the campaign side is extremely important. Volunteer campaigns. Knowing government is extremely important. Internships. Trying to get work in city government.”

• Black Men Xcel

by Atiya Jordan

October 14, 2022

Showing Up for the Brothers: Black Corporate DEI Execs Detail How to Advocate for Black Men

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A dynamic panel of top corporate DEI executives and experts gathered at BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s Black Men Xcel Summit to offer strategies and solutions for Black men looking to excel and advance at major corporations.

Moderated by Maurice Jones, president & CEO of OneTen, “The New DEI Agenda: Who’s Advocating on Behalf of Black Men?” session leaned on the expertise of Ken Lear, Vice President of Real Estate Operations at AT&T, and Jean C. Accius, Senior Vice President of Global Thought Leadership at AARP.

Lear, who serves as the only Black male to directly report to AT&T’s CFO, started the discussion by stating his report on the state of Black men in corporate America.

“We are underrepresented…,” Lear began. “We have an opportunity like we’ve never had before and we are not leveraging the opportunities available to us.”

In his statement, Accius added the importance of acknowledging the experiences and needs of Black men. The internationally recognized thought leader on aging, longevity, and equity addressed the data to be a problem as it impacts the business economy.

“For example, we know that Black men have the lowest life expectancy,” Accius explained. “There’s an economic cost to that: $1.6 trillion if we do absolutely nothing by 2030. That’s impacts not just our families, that impacts not just our communities, that impacts consumer spending—over $1 trillion worth of lost consumer spending.That also impacts the company’s bottom line.”

“So, I think, as we have these conversations around DEI, we gotta get out of the narrative, particularly in corporate America, that they are the solution, that we’re the problem that needs to be fixed and really start to focus on what is this about our collective interdependency and how not addressing this from an equity perspective impacts them as well,” he added.

Lear echoed Accius’ point about the data, noting that transparency in the numbers is clear and documented, but there’s hardly any progress.

“What troubles me the most is the lack of progress in the numbers.The numbers have not substantially changed and here we are on the eve of a potential recession,” Lear explained. “Minorities are disproportionately impacted by job losses. We don’t see the same in the Caucasian community.”

The men brought the issues to the forefront. From systemic racism and tokenism to a lack of a pipeline, the needs of Black men are getting lost in companies’ efforts to aggregate them with other sub populations.

As advisors, Lear reiterated the intentionality and conscious efforts for the advocacy of Black men.

“It starts with self-advocacy,” Lear said. “The benefit and gift of candid and honest communication about where a person might have blind spots, where they are excelling.Then, let’s share knowledge with one another. Unselfishly, let’s give guidance to one another.”

He continued: “Take chances with people. Give people opportunity and space to grow and fail…”

Accius, who has had mentorship and sponsorship throughout his journey, believes that Black men need accessibility and leaders in his position can open that door.

In defining a sponsor, it is “who has political currency within an organization and is willing to use it on your behalf and speak for you when you’re not in the room,” said Accius.

Women in Franchising Appreciation Day is part of a new initiative by United Franchise Group, an affiliated family of brands and consultants that unites more than 1,600 franchises worldwide.

The company is working to bring more women into the industry, which can benefit from the organizational talent and customer focus that many women offer. More and more women are choosing the freedom and fulfillment of owning their own small business, a trend celebrated on Women in Franchising Appreciation Day, Oct. 14.

Numbers tell an intriguing story about the popularity of franchising for women entrepreneurs. According to Guidant Financial and the Small Business Trends Alliance:

• Around 8% of all franchise owners are women.
• In the past decade, the number of women-owned franchise owners has increased by 38%.
• Nearly nine in 10 women franchise owners say they enjoy owning and running their own business.
• Three of four women would recommend franchise ownership to would-be entrepreneurs.

Ese Aihie is an industry expert in commercial real estate and flexible workspaces. She’s the owner and president of Admiral Legacy, a commercial real estate company that owns the co-working franchise Venture X Lewisville – The Realm at Castle Hills. Aihie is also the founder/CEO of Work Innovators, a certified women-owned enterprise based out of her Venture X office focused on delivering innovative solutions and amplifying voices through media and technology.

Aihie graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Master’s in Public Affairs. For 18 years, she worked in multiple leadership roles at Fortune 100 companies. As with so many executives in the corporate world, Aihie felt that she was downsized. In 2018 she decided to make her side hustle in real estate her main hustle.

“My experience with real estate, people, workforce, and personnel management led me to the commercial real estate space I wanted to play in, and then ultimately purchasing a Venture X co-working/flexible office space,” Aihie told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

Today, Venture X Castle Hills operates as both a home and family for businesses in North Texas. A place where collaboration and innovative ideas happen, where businesses grow, and employees thrive.

“I encourage business leaders to reimagine the future of work by looking to flexible workspace as an option for their employees.”

Venture X, an affiliated brand of the United Franchise Group, is inspired by boutique hospitality brands where relationships, consistent quality, and value-added offerings are the cornerstone of the membership experience. Its “best-in-class” working environment is very appealing to corporate clients and professionals from every level.

Why franchising?

When asked why she chose to purchase a franchise as opposed to starting her own brand, Aihie shared:

“Running a business on your own comes with its challenges. I chose to invest in a franchise because it allowed me to create that balance between running my business and running my household.”

“This franchise gave me a head start by providing a business model, and all I had to do was pray and apply GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Intentionality, Tenacity) in order to be successful.” Owning a franchise can provide women with the flexibility needed to achieve work-life balance. Aihie believes that more women should take advantage of franchise ownership, but that can’t happen unless barriers to entry are eliminated.

“Access to capital is a factor that prevents women, particularly BIPOC women, from going into business. If we can address this there will be more women business owners. When such programs become available, there should be awareness campaigns to ensure qualified women are encouraged to take advantage of these programs.” Aihie also asserts that franchisors need to provide education and awareness on the benefits of franchising, for example, business assistance, lower failure rate, brand recognition, training, etc. She advises women aspiring to become business owners to “see every difficulty as a promotion and setbacks as set-ups.”

“Don’t be discouraged when one hundred doors are shut to your face, keep knocking because all it takes is one door.”

Aihie serves on several boards and leadership councils, including The Colony Chamber of Commerce Board, the Urban Land Institute Education Council, National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council, The Scott Murray Scholarship Fund, and Single Parents Advocate Leadership Committee.

When she’s not working, she’s traveling to places worldwide to experience different architectural designs, cultures, and food.

• Legal

by Stacy Jackson

October 14, 2022

Black Middle Tennessee State University Student Sues Fraternity For Racist Hazing During Pledging

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A Black pledge for Kappa Sigma has taken legal action after facing emotional distress that forced him to leave the state.

A former student at Middle Tennessee State University filed a lawsuit on October 12, claiming that he encountered racist hazing during his “rush” process.

According to News19, the lawsuit was filed in a Nashville court and addresses incidents that date back to October 14, 2021 within the Kappa Iota chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at MTSU. The lawsuit claims that the plaintiff, along with another Black pledge, was targeted with racial hazing by 10 white members from the Kappa Iota chapter.

According to the lawsuit, the acts of racial discrimination the Black pledges were subjected to include being called the N-word by white fraternity brothers and threats of kidnapping, hanging, bounding, and having things thrown at them. In addition, the plaintiff said that old slave chants and antebellum field hand music was played during their “rush'” process along with discussions of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

Alcohol abuse was also stated in the claims amongst other acts of hazing.

News19 reported that, according to the documents, one of the defendants in the lawsuit approached the Black pledges with demands to “respect our culture,” saying “you know what type of frat you joined,” during moments the Black pledges objected the treatment.

The lawsuit was filed seven months following the chapter’s expulsion from the MTSU campus. The university’s website states that the chapter violated the Kappa Sigma Fraternity Code of Conduct resulting in punishment by the National Kappa Sigma Office. The chapter’s misconduct reflected violations of “hazing, underage drinking and conduct unbecoming.”

“The Kappa Sigma Fraternity as a matter of policy does not comment on current or active litigation,” a representative of the fraternity stated after being contacted for a response to the lawsuit.

The plaintiff is requesting a $15 million compensation from the defendants.