Black Girls Rock! And Black Lives Matter Honored At Black Excellence Brunch
The Black Excellence Brunch continues to pay homage to deserving individuals
Beverly Bond and Cicley Gay were both recognized for being unapologetically Black and excellent and for their unwavering commitment to tackling Black issues that impact Black communities.
“It is a profound honor to stand here,” Bond said after sharing how she met Trell Thomas, founder of The Black Excellence Brunch, and thanking him for “pouring into our community.”
Gay has been an activist and public advocate for over 20 years before stepping into her latest role as board chairwoman for Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation in July. After receiving her flowers, Gay returned to the stage alongside Bond to reintroduce BLM and share a gift from the foundation which also empowered the event.
“Take a moment to get to know our work but most importantly, get to know our heart,” Gay told the room full of attendees.
“Black Lives Matters now and always and in all ways. We have a check. We are building the largest philanthropic abolitionist organization to ever exist.”
Gay continued: “We are getting this money back in the hands of the people and we are donating from Black Lives Matter $50,000 to Black Girls Rock!”
As people wined and dined and enjoyed one another, Thomas concluded the event on an unexpected note. The host wowed attendees with an intimate conversation with surprise honoree, R&B singer Monica.
The “So Gone” singer spoke of her purpose and having never been in her pursuits due to faith:
“My mom used to always talk about faith being the size of a mustard seed, but at the same time, you can’t see it. So, sometimes when it’s not tangible, you don’t understand this power. I learned to understand the power of it.”
Thomas continues his mission of paying homage to well-deserving individuals and making folks feel like family through food and fellowship in the same vein as he remembers enjoying his mother’s Sunday dinners.
“I wanted to extend that joy to my friends,” Thomas said.
“It’s something that I really like to do in this space is celebrate people. So we’re celebrating all of you, every single person is celebrating.”
“Often we just select a few people that I think that everybody should know and those doing incredible work where they are in their respective spaces.”
29 Child Protestors Could Be Sentenced To Death In Nigeria
The minors are all teenagers, ranging from 14-17 years old, frustrations over the country's increase in the costs associated with living in the country have resulted in multiple mass protests during the last few months
A group of children protesting the economic crisis and brutality in Nigeria could potentially face the death penalty after being arraigned on Nov. 1. According to The Associated Press, four of the group of 29 child protestors collapsed in court from exhaustion before they could enter their pleas in court.
In total, 76 protestors were charged with ten felony counts, including treason, destruction of property, public disturbance, and mutiny, per the charge sheet obtained by the AP.
The minors are all teenagers, ranging from 14 to 17 years old; frustrations over the increase in the costs associated with living in the country have resulted in multiple mass protests during the last few months.
According to Akintayo Balogun, a private lawyer from Abuja, the children cannot be sentenced to death due to the Child Rights Act.
“So taking minors before a federal high court is wrong, ab initio, except if the government is able to prove that the boys are all above 19 years,” Balogun told the AP.
Marshal Abubakar, a lawyer for some of the boys, alluded to the children’s ludicrous circumstances in a country that often has problems ensuring their proper education.
“A country that has a duty to educate its children will decide to punish those children. These children have been in detention for 90 days without food,” Abubakar said.
According to Al Jazeera, protests in August railed against the country’s anti-poor measures, and some, like Juwon Sanyaolu, the leader of the Take It Back movement, said the country’s leaders are out of touch with its populace.
“The ordinary people are suffering, but this government doesn’t care because they cannot feel the pulse of the ordinary people,” Sanyaolu told Al Jazeera.
Sanyaolu continued, “Why will they keep listening and dancing to the tune of these foreign interests while undermining Nigerians? We don’t consider government officials as Gods, and we don’t exist to serve their greediness. They should serve us, and that’s why we’re going to keep marching.”
In Ilorin, a city north of the Nigerian capital of Lagos, Ahmad, a mobile point-of-sale operator, said that the people are fed up with the loss of their ability to buy food.
“People are just too scared here. But everything about Nigeria is painful. Every day I go home from work, I have to start thinking because it costs me about 1,000 naira ($0.60) when it used to cost me way less. This morning, I could not even buy bean cakes to eat with my bread because they were ridiculously expensive and tiny,” Ahmad said.
Things were bad in Nigeria due to the 2020 pandemic, mismanagement, and insecurity, resulting in a deep depression.
However, the country’s situation worsened when President Bolu Tinubu imposed fiscal measures recommended by the World Bank.
Tinubu removed a decades-old fuel subsidy and unified foreign exchange markets in 2023. Since then, the naira has lost over 50% of its value, making it incredibly difficult to import products.
The World Bank has signed more than $6.52 billion in relief funds to Tinubu’s administration, including $1.57 billion released in September 2024.
However, Nigerians have seen their leaders, like Vice President Kashim Shettima, spend $12.5 million on renovations for an official villa, and Tinubu purchase a new plane, while they can’t buy the same food they used to, stirring resentment.
Deji Adeyanju, a human rights lawyer and activist, told the outlet that the crackdown on protests is designed to elicit fear.
“The government does not tolerate dissent or criticism,” Adeyanju told Al Jazeera. “By arresting people and charging them like this, they believe that people will be scared and will not want to protest –- that’s their goal.”
However, Sanyaolu and his group are determined to keep protesting Tinubu’s government.
“We are not scared by them, and we want our demands met unconditionally,” Sanyaolu said. “There are two options – either President Tinubu abandons these policies, or he resigns.”
A poll released Sunday revealed an incredibly close race in the 2024 presidential campaign between Democratic nominee Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican nominee former President Donald Trump, each tied at 49%. However, there are substantial differences in support across various voter demographics.
The poll shows Harris holding her strongest leads over Trump among Black voters (87%-9%), young voters under 30 (57%-41%), and white voters with college degrees (55%-43%). Trump’s 9% support among Black voters marks a decrease from the 12% he received in the 2020 election against Joe Biden.
Other key divides show Harris leading among women by 16 points (57%-41%) and Trump leading among men by 18 points (58%-40%). Harris also holds a substantial 20-point lead over Trump on which candidate is viewed as better at handling the issue of abortion and an advantage on which candidate better looks out for the middle class.
Overall, the poll indicates a dead heat between Harris and Trump, with each receiving 49% support from registered voters in a head-to-head matchup, while only 2% of voters remain undecided. Trump holds a slight edge over Harris among white voters and those without college degrees, leading by 2 points at 50%-48%.
Harris and Trump have nearly equal levels of popularity, with 43% of voters holding a positive view of Harris and 50% viewing her negatively. In comparison, Trump has a 42% positive rating and a 51% negative rating. Regarding congressional control, 47% of voters express a preference for Democrats to lead Congress, while 46% favor Republican control.
Due to the nation’s Electoral College system, the outcome of the presidential election will ultimately hinge on results from crucial battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Like the NBC final poll, recent polls from swing states indicate tight races and a lack of certainty.
Regardless of the presidential election outcome, 60% of registered voters in the poll believe the U.S. will continue to be divided, while only 28% think it will become more united following the 2024 election.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr sounded off on X, formerly known as Twitter, amid the announcement of VP Harris’s SNL appearance. According to Carr, a senior Republican on the commission appointed by former president Donald Trump, Harris’ appearance on the show was “a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC’s Equal Time rule.”
“The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct — a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election,” he explained. “Unless the broadcaster offered Equal Time to other qualifying campaigns.”
This is a clear and blatant effort to evade the FCC's Equal Time rule.
The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct – a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election.… https://t.co/LliZF0po9t
“Just weeks ago, SNL’s Lorne Michaels said that they would not be bringing any of the candidates on due to election and equal time laws,” Carr wrote in a follow-up tweet.
NBC has now filed a notice acknowledging that they provided free airtime last night to the Democratic Party’s nominee within the meaning of the FCC’s Equal Time rule. pic.twitter.com/KUpyR6k5DT
“NBC has now filed a notice acknowledging that they provided free airtime last night to the Democratic Party’s nominee within the meaning of the FCC’s Equal Time rule,” he added.
In another round of tweets, Carr accused NBC of scheduling Harris’ SNL appearance “(just hours before an election) in a way that denies all other candidates their one-week procedural right.” This allegedly goes against the FCC’s seven-day rule which “affords qualifying candidates one week to request their Equal Time from the broadcast station.”
NBC has also filed an Equal Time notice for providing a free SNL appearance to a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate. pic.twitter.com/818NIje6qY
On Saturday’s episode of SNL, Kamala Harris made her debut by joining comedian Maya Rudolph — known for her impersonations of the vice president — in a cold open sketch. In the scene, Harris appears on the opposite side of a mirror from Rudolph, who is playing her.
“I’m just here to remind you, you got this, because you can do something your opponent can’t do — you can open doors,” Harris told Rudolph, in what appeared to be a subtle jab at Trump, who was seen earlier in the week seemingly struggling to grab the handle of a garbage truck door.
Harris’ SNL appearance comes two weeks after the show’s executive producer, Lorne Michaels, said neither of the presidential candidates would appear on the popular sketch comedy show.
“You can’t bring the actual people who are running on because of election laws and the equal time provisions,” he toldThe Hollywood Reporter. “You can’t have the main candidates without having all the candidates, and there are lots of minor candidates that are only on the ballot in, like, three states, and that becomes really complicated.”
Amid Carr’s claims against Harris’ SNL appearance, an FCC spokesperson toldThe Hill that the commission “has not made any determination regarding [political] programming rules, nor have we received a complaint from any interested parties.”
Yandy Smith-Harris Empowers Melanin-Rich Skin With YELLE Skincare
Yandy Smith-Harris is no stranger to breaking barriers
Yandy Smith-Harris is no stranger to breaking barriers, transitioning seamlessly from entertainment mogul to beauty entrepreneur. Her latest venture, YELLE Skincare, is more than just a beauty brand; it’s a mission-driven company focused on addressing the unique needs of melanin-rich skin. In this exclusive interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Yandy shared her journey into skincare, the vision behind YELLE, and her empowering advice for women of color pursuing entrepreneurship.
Like many of the most successful entrepreneurs, Yandy’s leap into the beauty industry was inspired by her personal struggles. She revealed to BE, “During a challenging period in my life, I struggled with depression, which visibly affected my skin.”
In her quest for solutions, she visited Sephora, only to find few affordable options for dark skin using clean ingredients. This gap in the market and her need for effective, budget-friendly skincare solutions motivated her to create YELLE Skincare.
“I wanted to build a brand that not only addressed these unmet needs but also promoted holistic well-being,” she explained. “My previous experiences in branding and entrepreneurship have been invaluable in shaping YELLE, allowing me to create products that truly resonate with and serve our community.”
Yandy’s vision for YELLE was clear from the beginning: to create a brand that truly understands the distinct needs of melanin-rich skin.
“I aimed to formulate a skincare line that tackled issues like hyperpigmentation and sensitivity to harsh ingredients,” she said. “My goal was to use plant-based ingredients to create safe, effective, and nourishing products.”
Representation is also at the forefront of YELLE’s mission. “I wanted YELLE to be a brand that speaks to our community—those whose beauty is often overlooked by the mainstream. We offer tailored solutions for darker skin tones while promoting self-love and confidence.”
Entering the beauty industry wasn’t without its challenges. While Yandy’s entertainment career gave her a platform, she had to prove herself in a new field.
“Coming from entertainment, I had to educate myself on the science behind skincare, formulations, and the beauty industry as a whole,” she shared.“
“Another challenge was building credibility in a field where I was new. However, I overcame this by partnering with experts and collaborating closely with my team to ensure YELLE’s products were high quality.
Her persistence paid off.
“Leveraging my existing platform to build brand awareness was crucial,” Yandy notes. “Staying true to my vision and creating something that filled a gap in the market kept me focused.”
One of the standout aspects of YELLE Skincare is its holistic approach, combining topical products with ingestible supplements. Yandy explains that this decision was rooted in her belief that skincare should go beyond surface-level solutions.
“Skincare is not just about what you put on your skin, but also what you put into your body,” she says. “Healthy, glowing skin often starts from within, so incorporating supplements made sense.”
YELLE’s supplements work in tandem with its topical products to address skin concerns more comprehensively.
“It’s about full-body wellness, which is central to YELLE’s philosophy,” Yandy adds.
As a successful entrepreneur, Yandy offers valuable advice for other women, especially women of color, looking to transition into industries they may not have prior experience in.
“First, believe in yourself and your vision, even when others may not,” she emphasizes. “It’s so important to have confidence in your ideas and the value you bring to the table.”
Yandy also stresses the importance of education and networking. “Take the time to learn the ins and outs of your industry, network with people who can help guide you, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Lastly, be patient and persistent. Success doesn’t happen overnight but stay focused on your goals and be ready to pivot when necessary.”
Looking to the future, Yandy is excited about what’s next for YELLE. “We’re continuously making YELLE better to meet the evolving needs of our customers,” she reveals. “Right now, I’m particularly excited about the new rebrand of the products, keeping the same formula with a revamped look -– and a fun 5th-anniversary event, which you’ll have to stay tuned to hear more about.”
YELLE is also focused on accessibility. “We’re working on increasing access to YELLE by entering more retail spaces and expanding our digital presence,” she says. “The goal is for more women to experience the benefits of our products.”
Juggling her roles as a mother, entrepreneur, and TV personality, Yandy acknowledges that maintaining balance is always a challenge. “I try to focus on what matters most—my family and my health,” she shares. “I prioritize self-care and make time for myself to recharge.”
Her advice for other women balancing multiple roles is to seek support. “Do not be afraid to ask for help, delegate when you can, and make time for yourself without feeling guilty. You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Yandy’s approach to building YELLE has been rooted in staying authentic and understanding her audience. “One of the most important strategies was building a strong brand that resonates with our target audience,” she explains. “Understanding the needs of my community and creating products that serve them has been crucial to YELLE’s success.”
She also highlights the importance of influencer marketing and partnerships in growing her brand. “These strategies have been game changers for us in getting the word out and building trust with our customers,” she says.
As Yandy continues to build YELLE Skincare and empower women of color through her brand, her story serves as a powerful reminder that with persistence, passion, and a clear vision, success is within reach—even in new and competitive industries.
With industry layoffs, some experts want applicants to be aware of the growing job market, which could result in numerous positions being open at the same company and how this could affect their chances of being hired. Executive coach, speaker, and founder of Embrace Change Cynthia Pong said there is no harm in applying but only “if there’s genuine alignment between the position and your skills, background, and interests.”
However, it is important to consider how an applicant may look when applying for numerous positions. Some employers may perceive it as desperate, particularly if the role doesn’t match skill sets. Recruiters may also wonder why other companies haven’t hired yet. Denise McKelvey, human resources executive with JPMorgan Chase’s Delaware operations, points out the concern that grows for an employer when a candidate applies for a job outside of their career track. “I would wonder why someone with IT skills would be applying to be a customer service representative,” McKelvy said, according to Delaware Online.
Career coach and strategist Farah Sharghi shared similar thoughts, adding, “Applying to too many roles can make you seem unsure about what you’re seeking, and most recruiters work on roles that are similar to one another.” The former tech recruiter recommends limiting the number of applications that are submitted to a single employer to only two or three qualifying positions.
Career trends expert at Indeed, Gabby Davis, suggests customizing each application based on the role if the target has multiple internal roles. “When applying for any job, but particularly multiple roles within a company, it’s crucial to have updated and tailored résumé and cover letters specific to each role,” Davis said.
Sharghi mentioned that applicants shouldn’t be surprised if a recruiter already knows of other applications during an interview. If that happens, she suggests pushing the narrative to demonstrate a strong interest in the company’s mission and values, even providing a script. “Yes, I’ve applied to a few positions here because I’m genuinely excited about the company’s mission and culture,” Sharghi suggests.
“Each role I’ve applied for aligns with my skills and career goals in different ways. For this specific position, I’m particularly interested because …” Pong says that with any job application, applicants should always “emphasize your genuine fit and enthusiasm” for the position. Rachel Coppola of the University of Delaware’s Career Services Center also suggests researching what the company is looking for, aligning with skill sets, and whether they would be a good match.
Former Police Officer Who Killed Unarmed Andre Hill Found Guilty Of Murder
Adam Coy was convicted by a jury after he killed Andre Hill who only had a mobile phone and keys in his possession when he was shot in December 2020
A police officer who shot and killed an unarmed Black man in Columbus, Ohio was recently found guilty of killing him back in 2020. According to WOSU, former Columbus, Ohio police officer Adam Coy was convicted by a jury after he killed Andre Hill, who only had a mobile phone and keys in his possession when Coy shot him in December 2020.
The former cop shot the unarmed man four times in a garage. He told the jury that he fired his weapon because he thought that Hill was holding a silver revolver when he did so.
The Franklin County jury found Adam Coy guilty on charges of murder, reckless homicide, and felonious assault.
Jurors were told by his attorneys and several experts that although Hill had no weapon, the shooting was justified. Jurors did not buy the theory that was presented to them. Coy’s attorneys stated he mistakenly shot him, but it was in good faith and in line with how he was trained as a police officer to protect his own life. Mark Collins, who represented Coy, told the jury in his closing argument that prosecutors didn’t show why Coy would have shot him if he didn’t fear for his life. A split-second decision led to the tragic mistake.
Yet, Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor Anthony Pierson Pierson expressed to jurors that they didn’t have to prove a motive for Coy shooting Hill; their job was to prove that the former police officer killed the unarmed Black man and wasn’t justified in doing so. They stated that Coy’s actions were objectively unreasonable and outside the scope of duties as a police officer.
WHIO TV reported that jurors deliberated for more than two days to reach their verdict. The judge set aside Nov. 25 to schedule the sentencing.
The incident took place on Dec. 22, 2020, after Coy responded to a call of a disturbance. The complaint was for an SUV that was going on and off repeatedly for several hours. Hill was seen via Coy’s body cam footage coming from a friend’s garage holding up his mobile phone in one hand, but his other hand wasn’t visible. Coy then shot the man. He didn’t receive any aid until about 10 minutes later when other police officers came to Hill, who was on the ground bleeding. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Credit Bros Aim To Help Black People Repair Their Credit For Homeownership
According to their website, they are focused on helping their customers improve their credit scores so they can have access to homeownership, a path to building wealth which has historically been denied to Black Americans
Although there is no consensus on whether credit repair companies are worth the money they charge (Experian, one of the foremost credit monitoring services, says they are not), they remain one option for people who are trying to repair their credit. To that end, as Black News reported, The Credit Bros, run by Christopher Watson and Aaron Steede, is emerging as a popular and trusted choice for Black people who are looking to utilize professional help.
Watson and Steele prefer to focus on factual disputing, which, according to the Federal Trade Commission, involves contacting both the business that reported information on your credit report and the credit bureau to inform them that you want to dispute information contained on your report.
In addition to this approach, the pair looks to educate their customers on tenets of personal finance, like budgeting strategies or financial planning.
According to their website, they are focused on helping their customers improve their credit scores so they can have access to homeownership, a path to building wealth that has historically been denied to Black Americans.
They also differentiate themselves from their competitors by offering a flat $100 monthly fee, which also comes with a 90-day guarantee.
Effectively, if a customer spends $300 and doesn’t get the results they are looking for, they can get their money back.
According to CNBC, credit scores, which are necessary to provide access to homeownership, are not necessarily race-neutral but can be affected by structural racism.
Black people, on average, are more likely to report having a low or no credit score.
A representative survey conducted in 2023 indicated that 50% of Black Americans reported having low or no credit scores at all, compared to 37% of white Americans.
According to Frederick Wherry, the Director of the Dignity and Debt Network, a credit score is “your passport to everything that you need to do as an adult.”
However, Aaron Klein, a senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institute, said that they are not without tinges of racial bias.
“Credit scores are based on past performance,” Klein told CNBC. “The further we go back in history, the deeper the structural racism in the United States was.”
Sally Taylor, the Vice President and General Manager at FICO, acknowledged that although credit scores didn’t create economic disparities, they do, however, offer a measure of them.
“It’s important to note that credit scores didn’t create some of the social and economic disparities. They simply reflect the social economic disparities that are out there. The conversation should focus on addressing the root cause of these differences.”
Kevin Durant Accomplishes Third Milestone 6 Games Into NBA Season
Durant became just the 16th player in league history to make 10,000 field goals.
Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns added another milestone to his basketball legacy during Sunday’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers. In the second quarter, Durant became just the 16th player in league history to make 10,000 field goals.
According to Sports Illustrated, the 17-year NBA veteran and LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leader in points scored, are the only active players to hit that number.
Certified Bucket Getter.
KD becomes just the 16th player in @NBA history to notch 10K field goals — joining LeBron James as the only active players to reach this milestone 👏 pic.twitter.com/SLQIqeOlJ4
“I done hit a couple milestones since I got here… I gotta give credit to the people who helped me since I was a kid, taught me the game, teammates… I tend to think about them a lot… grateful that I have such great people in my life to help push me and lift me up when I needed it,” Durant told reporters after the Suns’ 103-97 win.
The season is only six games old but Durant has already reached three different milestones already. Outside of this latest one, he became the eighth player in NBA history to reach 29,000 career points. On top of that, Durant is now the oldest player in NBA history to start a season with four straight 25-point games.
The former Golden State Warriors player went into Sunday’s game averaging 26.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.2 rebounds a game in addition to one assist and 1.8 blocks. He was shooting 53.4% from the field and 46.2% from 3-point range.
The Suns are 5-1 and riding a four-game winning streak. Their next game is Nov. 4 at home against the struggling Philadelphia 76ers.
Kecia Lewis Seeks Apology From Patti LuPone For Calling ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Musical ‘Too Loud’
Lewis considered the comment to be "racially microaggressive."
“Hell’s Kitchen” star Kecia Lewis wants an apology from Patti LuPone after she allegedly called the Broadway show “too loud.” Lewis deemed the comment as a racial microaggression, prompting the request for LuPone to take back her statement.
Lewis, who stars in the Broadway show created by Alicia Keys, posted a five-minute video on social media about why the comment offended her. In the clip, she explained how LuPone’s words stung and impacted production.
She began the message by noting how LuPone asked the stage manager to lower the sound. Moreover, she refused to sign the musical’s playbill given its “too loud” nature. Given these instances, Lewis found the fellow Broadway actor’s behavior “bullying” and “racially microaggressive.” While calling her actions “rooted in privilege,” Lewis explained how microaggressions take form and promote racial stereotypes.
“I want to explain what a microaggression is,” Lewis said. “These are subtle, unintentional comments or actions that convey stereotypes, biases, or negative assumptions about someone based on their race. Microaggressions can seem harmless or minor but can accumulate and cause significant stress or discomfort for the recipient. Examples include calling a Black show loud in a way that dismisses it.”
Lewis continued, emphasizing how LuPone’s words were an example of this form of subtle racism, even if unintended.
“In our industry, language holds power and shapes perception, often in ways that we may not immediately realize. Referring to a predominantly Black Broadway show as loud can unintentionally reinforce harmful stereotypes, and it also feels dismissive of the artistry and the voices that are being celebrated on stage,” expressed the Tony Award-winning actor.
She also considered LuPone’s gesture of goodwill, sending flowers to thank the production for the sound adjustment, performative and further bullying.
She added, “Comments like these can be seen as racial microaggressions, which have a real impact on both artists and audiences. While gestures like sending thank you flowers may appear courteous, it was dismissive and out of touch, especially following a formal complaint that you made that resulted in the changes that impacted our entire production, primarily the people who have to go out on stage and perform.”
To conclude her statement, she encouraged LuPone and other members of the Broadway community to think critically about how they engage with diverse performances.
“…On Broadway, we are not just neighbors, Ms. Capone; we’re a community that shares in each other’s artistry and challenges. Respect and collaboration are what keep us thriving and inspire the next generation,” explained Lewis.
LuPone, who stars in another play directly next to the Hell’s Kitchen, has yet to respond to the open letter.
