• News

by Kandiss Edwards

November 8, 2024

Racist Text Messages Received By University Students After Trump Win, NAACP Responds

And so it begins.

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Updated Nov. 8, 12:56PM EST

On Nov. 5, Donald Trump became the 2024 President-elect of the United States.

On Nov. 6, it was reported that racist text messages were sent to students across the University of Alabama campus.

Arleta McCall shared a Facebook post that displayed the contents of a message she alleges were sent to her daughter, Alyse.

“you have been selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation,” the text read. “If Our Executive Slaves will come get you in a brown van, be prepared to be searched down once you’ve enter the plantation. You are in Plantation group C. good day.”

McCall was understandably outraged and concerned for her daughter.

“Let me be perfectly clear…. I AM NOT MY ANCESTORS!  I DO NOT PLAY ABOUT ME OR MINE!  Alyse called me in tears after receiving this message on her personal cell phone.  She said that numerous @univofalabama black students received similar messages.  I will not sit still until SOMETHING is done!!”

McCall’s daughter is not the only student facing similar harassing. Multiple posts circulated X with different versions of the same text. In some of text messages, the word “cotton” is misspelled as “cutton.”

The messages were sent from an unidentifiable 800-number. According to an X user, the texts have been sent to multiple students at Southern colleges and universities, including Clemson and Alabama State. 

Incidents of intolerance have cropped up after Election Day. Information about Project 2025, a massive, ultra-conservative agenda that was long been rumored to be Trump’s policy plan, is making the rounds on social media.

It is unclear if the full Project 2025 agenda will be adopted during the Trump administration, still the message of what to expect over the next four years is becoming clearer.

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP responded to the rash of text messages now being received at other’s institutions across the nation and being investigated by the FBI according to :

“The unfortunate reality of electing a President who, historically has embraced, and at times encouraged hate, is unfolding before our eyes. The threat — and the mention of slavery in 2024 — is not only deeply disturbing, but perpetuates a legacy of evil that dates back to before the Jim Crow era, and now seeks to prevent Black Americans from enjoying the same freedom to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. These actions are not normal. And we refuse to let them be normalized.”

BLACK ENTERPRISE will continue to update this news as the story develops.

RELATED CONTENT: Billionaire Elon Musk And Podcaster Joe Rogan Rejoice At Trump Victory 

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

November 8, 2024

Federal Judge Blocks Biden’s Plan To ‘Keep Families Together’

Biden is no longer able to "Keep Families Together."

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United States citizens will no longer be able to streamline citizenship for their immigrant spouses. On Nov. 6, U.S. District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled that President Joe Biden’s “Keep Families Together” program directly violates immigration law. 

In a post on X, the current commander-in-chief condemned the ruling and vowed to continue his work.

“A single district court in Texas ruled that my Administration’s work to keep families together has to stop. That ruling is wrong. Families should not be needlessly separated – they should be able to stay together. My Administration will not stop fighting for them,” the tweet read.

16 Republican-led states filed the federal suit against the Biden administration in August 2024. The current administration drafted the “Keep Families Together” plan to help expedite a pathway to citizenship for immigrants already in the U.S. The White House released a statement stating President Biden’s reasons for proceeding with the new policy, which stated:

“President Biden believes that securing the border is essential. He also believes in expanding lawful pathways and keeping families together. He also believes that immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, paying taxes and contributing to their communities, are part of the social fabric of our country. The Day One immigration reform plan that the President sent to Congress reflects both the need for a secure border and protections for the long-term undocumented.”

Under the plan, prospective citizens would need to have been living in the U.S. for ten years or more, with no major convictions and married to a U.S. citizen to qualify. Meeting these qualifications would lead to the illegal immigrant obtaining a green card and eventually citizenship.

Biden introduced the plan on June 18 as part of his immigration reform. The proposal came under swift scrutiny by hard-line immigration sectors, prompting the suit. 

During its term, the Biden administration worked to enforce multiple initiatives to improve rapid immigrant expansion in the U.S. The plan was produced in conjunction with direct action to freeze immigrant admission on the U.S.-Mexico border. 

The election of Donald Trump may drastically change the direction of immigration policy as his Republican party surrogates have vowed to start mass deportations on Day 1. 

RELATED CONTENT: Trump Promises Mass Deportation On Day 1

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 8, 2024

No One Is Interested In Buying Diddy’s Beverly Hills Mansion

The imprisoned mogul placed the property up for sale in September for $61 million

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The Beverly Hills mansion that Sean “Diddy” Combs put up for sale in September for $61 million has not attracted many buyers.

According to TMZ, the home that was raided by Homeland Security back in March as part of the government’s sex trafficking investigation into the entertainment mogul does not have any prospective buyers since the property was posted for sale. The media outlet states that real estate sources have verified that there have been “only a few” potential buyers. So far, no one has expressed interest in owning the mansion. Sources have even said that while a married couple looked at the house, the woman was “creeped out” and anxious to leave.

Other realtors have stated that the asking price of $61 million is too much for the home Diddy previously occupied. They added that with the beginning of the holiday season already here, there’s no chance of any interest as the real estate market slows down through the end of the year.

Page Six reported that Diddy bought the two-story mansion 10 years ago for under $40 million. It is located along “Billionaire’s Row,” which includes some of the most expensive neighborhoods in L.A., like Holmby Hills, Beverly Hills, and Bel Air.

During March’s raid, federal agents reportedly seized many items, including guns and electronics.

The former Bad Boy Entertainment executive is currently incarcerated after the Feds arrested him on federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty and is expected to go on trial in May 2025.

Agents arrested the “No Way Out” music producer in Manhattan on Sept. 16, following months of speculation, after several lawsuits were filed against him in the last year. The plethora of legal paperwork filed against the entertainment mogul started in November 2023 after his former girlfriend and artist, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a lawsuit that accused him of troublesome acts against her, including sexual abuse, physical beatings, and sex trafficking. Less than 24 hours after she filed papers, the lawsuit was settled.

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

November 8, 2024

Whoopi Goldberg Celebrates Female Athletes With Launch Of All-Women’s Sports Network

All Women's Sports Network will feature live and delayed sports matches

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Whoopi Goldberg has announced her next big business venture as she prepares to launch the first global women’s sports channel, All Women’s Sports Network (AWSN).

“It’ll be the home for live women’s sports from around the world,” the talk show host said during her Nov. 6 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

With a mission to increase representation and fill global gaps in broadcasting, Goldberg’s network will celebrate and recognize women across every sport including football, soccer, basketball, tennis, cricket, and curling.

“If a woman is playing it, we’re showing it,” she told Fallon and his audience.

According to the AWSN website, the network, co-founded by Jungo TV, will feature leagues such as the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), The International Basketball Federation (FIBA), Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL).

Goldberg’s sports network is 16 years in the making. The idea, which expands from the EGOT-winning actress’ childhood dream to play sports, allows her to get involved in an industry she was once overlooked in as a young girl.

“It always pissed me off,” she said. “So, for years, I’ve been talking to people and saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if we could go around the world, start getting young athletes in high school so that we can grow with them and grow up with them?'”

She also shared her idea to have baseball cards that spotlight young athletes. “I feel like that will help us show that athletics, when they’re done brilliantly — it doesn’t matter who’s doing it.”

In partnership with CommonSpirit, an organization Goldberg acknowledged for its advocacy in women’s health, AWSN has already launched in Asia, the Middle East, and on India’s JioTV. According to the Annie star, the network is growing fast and ready to launch in the U.S. next week. AWSN will broadcast all live and delayed women’s sporting events.

RELATED CONTENT: Whoopi Goldberg Defends Stacey Dash…Kinda

• News

by Sharelle Burt

November 8, 2024

NY AG Letitia James Reacts To Trump’s Presidential Victory: ‘We Are Prepared To Fight Back’

AG James is not one to play with....

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Just 48 hours after Donald J. Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States, New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a warning saying, “we are prepared to fight back,” News Nation reported. 

During a press conference, James issued thoughts surrounding Trump’s victory, congratulating him on the win. The attorney general said her team is prepared to work with the new administration but warned it will only be under the right terms.

“If possible, we will work with the administration but will not compromise values, integrity, and principles,” James said. 

“We did not expect this result, but we are prepared to respond to this result,” James said, adding that “we are prepared to fight back once again.”

James made headlines in 2023 for launching a criminal investigation against Trump and members of his family for fraud. The four-time indicted businessman has openly attacked James for doing her job, even expressing his frustration of her “smirking” in court while his legal team defended him. “Racist A.G. Letitia James is smirking all day long from her seat in Court. You have a (Trump-Hating!) Attorney General who’s seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages when not a single penny was lost by these banks, and that’s part of this (Unconstitutional!) Law,” Trump wrote on social media back in November 2024. 

“You can see from the reaction of A.G. James, every morning from that seat, that she is enjoying this, enjoying it a bit too much.”

After Trump won the White House again, the Department of Justice moved diligently in attempts to dub down on two federal cases against him before the January 2025 inauguration. However, the soon-to-be-president will not have the power to dismiss himself from his New York conviction or the 2020-related crimes he faces in Georgia. In September 2024, Trump requested to move the case to federal court in hopes that he would be able to have his conviction overturned following the U.S. Supreme Court’s presidential immunity ruling. 

It was rejected by a federal judge. 

Trump’s lawyer and potential candidate for attorney general, Mike Davis, caught wind of James’ mild comments and decided to fire back at her during an interview on The Benny Show podcast. He seemingly threatened her, warning her to “think long and hard” about going after Trump. “I dare you to try to continue your lawfare against President Trump in his second term,” Davis said. 

“Listen here, sweetheart, we’re not messing around this time and we will put your fat ass in prison for conspiracy against rights. I promise you that.” 

James confirmed regardless of Trump’s new role, she won’t back down from him. “I am not fearful of Donald Trump. I have not been fearful of Donald Trump,” James told reporters, according to the New York Post.

RELATED CONTENT: 100 Hungry Raccoons Pull Up To White Woman’s Crib, She’s Been Feeding Them For Years

• Travel and Leisure

by Jameelah Mullen

November 8, 2024

ATL Restaurant ‘This Is It!’ Forced Out By Eminent Domain

Eminent domain laws allow for the government to take private property …

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A famous metro Atlanta soul food restaurant has announced it will soon close its Panola Road location but not by choice.

This is It! is located in DeKalb County on Panola Road near Interstate 20. The restaurant, which has 10 other locations in the metro Atlanta area, announced the closure on Instagram.

“Since 2010, our Panola Road location has been more than just a restaurant—it’s been a place for family, friends and cherished memories, “ the statement said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by This Is It! BBQ & Seafood (@thisisitbbqandseafood)

“Due to a new GDOT development, we will soon be saying goodbye to Panola,” the statement says.

According to the Instagram post, the restaurant plans to close its doors on Nov. 11, but they hope to stay open until December. 

Customers who frequent the restaurant were surprised to learn that the restaurant was facing closure.

This Is It! Patron toMark Sommerville praised restaurant employees for their customer service. 

“The food is excellent and the service is excellent. I’m kind of disappointed,” patron Sommerville said to WSBTV. 

Restaurant owner Shelly Butch Anthony told WSBTV that the state is using eminent domain laws to close the restaurant along with three other nearby businesses. Anthony says that it would be a challenge to replace the restaurant, which sits in a prime location. 

“We’re sitting right here on I-20 and Panola Road. Where can we find another Panola Road,” he said to the outlet. 

The Panola Road expansion is part of The I-285/I-20 East Interchange project. Georgia Department Of Transportation plans to expand the interchange at 1-20 and Panola Road. The GDOT says that the upgrades will “address inefficient flow of traffic and safety performance. 

Eminent domain laws make it lawful for the government to take private property if the owner refuses to sell. The Fifth Amendment states that property seized under eminent domain laws must be for “public use,” and owners must receive “just compensation.” 

Anthony did not discuss the financial details of the acquisition, but he did say that they have hired an attorney to help them navigate the process. 

RELATED CONTENT: The Gullah-Geechee Community Is Fighting To Protect Their Land From Gentrifiers In South Carolina

• News

by Sharelle Burt

November 8, 2024

NYC Mayor To End Migrant Voucher Program After Vowing To Work With The Trump Administration

That was fast....

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New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the end of the migrant voucher program after a phone call with President-elect Donald Trump 48 hours after his victory.

The city-funded program, which provided prepaid debit cards for migrant families staying in city-funded hotels to buy their own food, caused controversy among city and conservative leaders.

Adams, who is dealing with federal indictment charges, briefly discussed his thoughts on how Trump’s presidency may affect his case during a press conference on Nov. 7. Dodging the question, the mayor said his “job is to fight on behalf of New Yorkers” and to “defend this city.” “All of us want to be safe, and that is something that we push for,” Adams said, continuing to add his slogan regarding NYC being the “safest big city in America,” according to Politico. 

While discussing how Adams and the Trump administration can collaborate on issues surrounding city infrastructure and affordability, the mayor declined to say if he spoke with Trump about immigration and the president-elect’s announcements surrounding mass deportations. He also failed to mention if he congratulated the indicted businessman on winning the White House or who he is considering for the role of U.S. attorney in light of Adams’ upcoming federal bribery trial. 

The conversation started after Adams adamantly refused to criticize the Republican presidential nominee during the campaign trail, something that confused Democratic allies but put him in Trump’s good graces. In return, Trump labeled Adams’ criminal troubles as politically motivated. “I just want to be nice because I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders,” Trump said during a dinner weeks before Election Day.

“We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so were you.”

Before the press conference ended, Adams addressed some concerns from experts at the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene about removing fluoride from the water supply. The mayor vowed to make a final decision based on the team’s suggested advice. 

The discussion of removing fluoride has gone viral since failed presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he would advise “all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.” Trump has openly shared Kennedy’s consideration as a cabinet member in the new Trump-Vance administration.

RELATED CONTENT: The Mecca! Howard University Expects To Become Only HBCU With Research-1 Status

• Politics

by Mitti Hicks

November 8, 2024

Kamala Harris Won 78% Of Black Men’s Vote — Analysts Say It Should’ve Been More

Vice President Kamala Harris received 78% of Black men’s vote for the 2024 General Election.

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National exit polls show Vice President Kamala Harris received 78% of Black men’s vote for the 2024 general election. However, some pollsters say the number should’ve been more. While Black men overwhelmingly supported Harris, she lost a lot of ground with this critical voting bloc that has supported Democrats for decades.

In 2023, an NBC News poll revealed that at least 20% of Black men would support Donald Trump over President Joe Biden. Despite Democrats’ efforts to excite its base, mainly pushing Biden to the side and Harris at the top of the ticket, national exit polls reigned true: Democrats are losing the support of Black men. For some perspective, Black men supported Biden in 2020 by 80%.

But the data is no surprise for Alvin Tillery, a professor of political science at Northwestern University and the founder of the super PAC Alliance For Black Equality. He says Harris’ campaign failed to engage Black men meaningfully.

“She needed 83-84% of the Black male vote,” he told NBC News, adding, “They were warned repeatedly throughout the year that they were not doing enough with the Black male segment.”

In mid-October, Harris’s campaign released an “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men.” The plan outlined what her administration would do for that voting bloc, which included opportunities for Black entrepreneurs, health equity priorities, and creating access to jobs regardless of degree-holding status.

Polls suggest that the initiative boosted her support by 10%, but it wasn’t enough to get her to the 80% threshold.

“It was great to see her energy in the last two weeks, but it needed to come earlier and be more targeted with digital ad spending,” Tillery added.

Where Do Black Male Voters Go From Here?

Despite the criticism Black male voters have received for either not voting in the 2024 election or supporting a candidate that has made disparaging comments about Black people, even supporting controversial policies such as “Stop and Frisk” and giving police officers complete immunity, Black men did nothing wrong in the election. A majority of them overwhelmingly supported Harris. However, it is time for Democrats to take this decrease in support seriously.

“For decades, Black men have been the backbone of progressive causes, yet there’s an increasing sense among many that their unique concerns are sidelined,” said Darius Jones, founder of the National Empowerment Black Action Fund. “This is a pivotal moment where political leadership should reflect on not just the support they have, but the support they risk losing.”

RELATED CONTENT: Deaf Black Man With Cerebral Palsy ‘Attacked’ By Phoenix Police Officers

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 8, 2024

Australian ‘Breakdancer’ Raygun Announces Retirement

'I’m not going to compete anymore, no,' she recently said after being critiqued for what some considered a poor representation of breakdancing at the Paris Olympics

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After years of talk of the hip-hop stylings of breakdancing making its way to the Olympics, it finally debuted in Paris in 2024, much to the delight of hip-hop fans. However, the main attraction, which made it a distraction, was the performance of Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, who seemingly mocked the dance form in front of the world. Due to the backlash, Raygun has announced that she is retiring from breakdancing.

According to CNN, the Australian breakdancing competitor who scored zero points has told a Sydney radio station, 2DayFM, that after being ridiculed by those who witnessed her performance, she decided to give up on competing again.

Raygun became fodder for observers who wondered aloud how she had made it to the world’s biggest stage when it was painfully obvious that she did not belong there, infuriating hip-hop and dancing fans around the world.

“I’m not going to compete anymore, no,” she told the media outlet. “I was going to keep competing, for sure, but that seems really difficult for me to do now to approach a battle.”

There was a rumor that stated that her husband, Samuel Free, also her coach, was involved in her being picked to represent Australia, which they both deny. An online petition also drew 50,000 signatures accusing Raygun of manipulating the qualification procedure to get on the Olympic team. The Australian Olympic Committee requested that the petition be taken offline, and they also disputed the claims that Raygun and her husband had a hand in selecting her.

Yet, she says she is still dancing, but not in public.

“Yeah, I mean, I still dance, and I still break. But, you know, that’s like in my living room with my partner. It’s been upsetting. I just had no control over how people saw me or who I was.”

RELATED CONTENT: 100 Hungry Raccoons Pull Up To White Woman’s Crib, She’s Been Feeding Them For Years

• News

by Kandiss Edwards

November 8, 2024

Young Entrepreneur Kobe Harris Refuses $300K ‘Shark Tank’ Offer

The college dropout decided to bet on himself.

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Kobe Harris dropped out of Loyola University in Chicago to focus on the success of his beauty company, Kobee’s. In just a few short years, Harris has appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank and is in line to earn $4 million in sales for 2024. 

Harris appeared on the long-running show seeking investment and mentorship. According to CNBC Making It, Harris was unable to make a deal with one of the sharks though he came close. 

“Kevin O’Leary, however, offered up the $300,000—and his myriad connections with retailers—for a 20% equity stake in Kobee. Harris countered with 10%, and O’Leary proposed 15%.”

The price was right as Harris was seeking that exact figure in monetary compensation. Still, Harris felt the terms were too high. 

Kobee’s is a health and beauty business based in Las Vegas. The main product is a beeswax lip gloss. Harris markets the product and its packaging as eco-friendly. 

@kobeesco Make sure the lip balm your using has high quality ingredients! Here is a representation of what you could be consuming over a two year span if you use lip balm daily. Kobee’s has only 4 simple all natural ingredients, effective and safe. Stay buzzin, Kobees #cleaningredients #lipbalm #kobees #information #smallbusiness ♬ original sound – kobeesco

The young entrepreneur is no stranger to betting on himself. He began his business with a tick or two above nothing: a $200 investment from his mom and a few ingredients from Amazon. 

After gaining momentum in sales, earning $15,000 in one month, Harris dropped out of college to pursue his business full-time. 

“Since classes were online, I just told my dad, ‘I’m still in school,’ but really I was just in the basement making lip balms,” he said.

RELATED CONTENT: How Millennial Black Women Navigate Beauty Standards At Work And Off The Clock: Study