by Stacy Jackson

April 10, 2024

‘Reparations Club’ Bookshop In LA Features ‘Cozy’ Space With Books By Black Authors

Reparations Club is a queer-Black-woman-owned bookshop that shelves a diverse collection of art books, fiction, nonfiction, and more.

In the heart of Los Angeles stands Reparations Club, a remarkable bookstore owned by Jazzi McGilbert, 35, that predominantly showcases the literary works of Black authors.

As described by Travel Noire, the bookshop exudes a “light-hearted,” “literary,” and family-friendly ambiance “curated by Blackness.” McGilbert’s inspiration for Reparations Club emerged unexpectedly in 2019, following her mother’s passing. “I just wanted a space for us to gather,” she explained. “Books were a really natural entry point for that.”

As a queer-Black-woman-owned business, the shelves intentionally make space for “many, many types of Blackness” and the stories that represent them. Fueled by her profound love for literature and the Black community, the bookshop offers a diverse collection spanning art books, fiction, nonfiction, and everything in between. “We’re a general interest bookstore because Black people have a whole lot of interests,” McGilbert stated. The name “Reparations Club” reflects McGilbert’s belief in the concept of reparations as she welcomes people into the space.

The interior design aims to evoke the welcoming atmosphere of “a very cool friend’s living room,” adorned with textures, artwork, cozy seating, and spaces that foster connection. Visitors have praised Reparations Club for its “cozy” and “pleasing” aesthetic, with the bookshop’s “cozy corner” being a particular favorite, according to Instagram users who commented under a series of photos of the area in 2023. LAist recognized McGilbert’s bookshop in April 2023 for “truly lifting up and holding down” LA’s literary scene.

Beyond its literary offerings, Reparations Club hosts a variety of on-site, off-site, and virtual events, including author talks, community conversations, and special occasions, fostering a vibrant literary culture and sense of community.

Reparations Club’s upcoming events include:

  • Myah Ariel Author Event: A discussion on her contemporary love story, “When I Think of You” – April 17
  • Kleaver Cruz Author Event: A celebration of the collection of images from the “Black Boy Joy Project” – April 19
  • Magnitude and Bond: Dreamweaving, hosted by Black Feminist Future – April 21
  • Celebration of visionary Raquel Willis: The Risk it Takes to Bloom, On Life and Liberation – April 23 (Los Angeles LGBT Center)
  • Pot and Paint with Pot LA – April 27 (Little Pot)
jeans, pleasure pocket, fashion show, women's empowerment
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 10, 2024

Fashion Line’s New Self-Pleasure Pocket Jeans For Women Are All The Rave

There's new denim on the market that gives women the opportunity to please themselves while fully clothed.

There’s new denim on the market that gives women the opportunity to please themselves while fully clothed.

Dubbed the “masturbation pocket,” Greek fashion company Di Pesta unveiled their new X-rated denim line during Paris Fashion Week last month. In a video shared to their Instagram page, models walked the runway in the jeans while keeping a few fingers tucked into the triangle-shaped front pocket.

Part of Di Pesta’s 2024 Fall/Winter collection, the pants come in denim and leather and retail for around $640. Those interested might want to take advantage of the 50% price drop on the denim that’s currently retailing for $320.

While it might be a first for many, the pocket design has been “utilized for years and is Dimitra’s [founder] ode to female empowerment and acceptance through her designs,” the brand stated. The sultry jeans are receiving mixed reviews from consumers with some applauding the innovative new design and others blasting what they see as a “hyper sexual agenda,” according to one critic.

“Finally a functional pocket in women’s wear,” one person wrote.

“This is very sexy,” added someone else.

On the opposing side, critics bashed Di Pesta for bringing the naughty to the fashion industry.

“Our Society is so SICK! I can’t even anymore!” one person wrote.

“It’s just giving me cringe vibes,” wrote another.

Despite the criticism, the self-pleasure pocket appears to be on-brand for Di Pesta’s design style. Other pieces in their collection include Undressing Jeans, an Undressing Mini Skirt, a Wetlook skirt, and a Birthing Venus skirt that leave little to the imagination.

Di Pesta has received praise for its inclusive model selection and amplifying women in all phases of life. In 2022, the Greek designer unveiled a pregnancy corset that caught the attention of many. This year, the brand’s London Fashion Week show highlighted the Pregnancy Wetlook worn by IVF Warrior, Riana Horner.

“7 months ago the dream of carrying my own child seemed so far from reality,” she wrote. “But yesterday I walked @londonfashionweek for inspiring female designer @dipetsa with my precious baby bump. What a surreal experience.”

RELATED CONTENT: Levi’s Jeans Now All The Rage With Stock Price Rising Due To Beyoncé’s New Song

Russell Simmons, Drew Dixon, Sexual Assault, defamatory, dismissed, lawsuit, podcast, claims
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 10, 2024

Russell Simmons Wants Drew Dixon’s Defamation Lawsuit Dismissed, Claims His Comments On Sexual Assault ‘Are Not Defamatory’

Russell Simmons wants Drew Dixon's defamation lawsuit dismissed since his past comments on sexual assault were allegedly "not defamatory."

Russell Simmons is attempting to get Drew Dixon’s defamation lawsuit against him dismissed since his past comments on sexual assault were allegedly “not defamatory as a matter of law.”

The hip-hop mogul is firing back at the defamation suit he was served with at his wellness resort in Bali, Indonesia last month asking that it be dismissed without prejudice, Radar Online reported. Simmons claims his remarks about sexual assault on the podcast In Depth With Graham Basinger in December 2023 were in no way defamatory toward Dixon and were just his opinion.

The Def Jam founder’s new filing argues that the “statements alleged in the Complaint are defamatory as a matter of law, because all the statements are opinion — not fact — and Plaintiff is not clearly identifiable in any of the statements.”

In Dixon’s lawsuit that Simmons was served with on March 5, she highlights his comments made on the podcast where he seemingly tried to discredit his alleged rape victims by insinuating the encounters were consensual and some women might’ve just walked away offended.

“Yeah, [rape is] a serious word, but I think they’ve changed the meaning,” he told Basinger. “If you had more foursomes than most guys at once, could someone leave and feel hurt? Could some reimagine a story out of thousands of people? Could someone want notoriety in the market where people thirst for fame, even infamous.”

Simmons claims to have “never been forceful” during his sexual encounters but admitted to being “insensitive.” However, Dixon has publicly accused Simmons of sexually assaulting her during her time working as a record executive at Def Jam in the 90s. She gave details of the alleged assault in the 2020 HBO Max documentary On the Record.

According to her lawsuit, Dixon believes Simmons has “gone on a concerted and malicious campaign to discredit Ms. Dixon and to so damage her reputation.”

“This defamation has exacerbated the paralyzation of Ms. Dixon professionally,” the suit claims, adding that Simmons “subjected Ms. Dixon to public ridicule, contempt, and disgrace by, among other things, calling Ms. Dixon a liar in published statements with the malicious intent of discrediting and further damaging Ms. Dixon worldwide.”

But Simmons says the suit should be dismissed since he was speaking generally on the podcast while addressing sexual assault claims against him and never mentioned Dixon by name. During the podcast, Simmons professed his innocence against the multiple women accusing him of rape by noting the “nine lie detector tests” he’s allegedly taken, which he claims prove that he’s “never done this to anyone.”

Dixon is also suing record executive L.A. Reid for sexual abuse in a lawsuit that Simmons has been named in.

RELATED CONTENT: Russell Simmons Sued For Alleged Rape Of Former Def Jam Exec

black male voters, swing states, billboard campaign
by Rafael Pena

April 10, 2024

Black Georgia Voters Voice Discontent Over Biden’s Stance On Gaza

Young Black voters in Georgia are expressing dissatisfaction with the administration's stance on the conflict in Gaza.

In a significant shift from their pivotal role in securing President Biden’s victory in 2020, young Black voters in Georgia are expressing dissatisfaction with the administration’s stance on the conflict in Gaza, according to FOX News.

On April 8 CNN aired their Rene Marsh interview with four registered Democratic voters in Georgia who had previously supported Biden but indicated they would not do so again in the upcoming election due to disagreements over U.S. policy regarding the war in Gaza.

Expressing frustration, one young man stated, “If there is no substantive policy change when it comes to the genocide in Gaza, then there’s not really a discussion for me.” Another woman echoed this sentiment, saying, “What Biden has done in aiding and abetting genocide is just something I cannot stand for.”

When asked about the potential impact of their decision on the election outcome, the voters emphasized that they were sending a message to the Democratic Party. “We’re holding their election in the palm of our hands, and they’re not listening,” remarked one voter.

Biden’s narrow victory in Georgia in 2020 marked a historic win for Democrats, but the loss of support from even a fraction of Black voters could jeopardize the state’s status as a Democratic stronghold.

“We’re tired of hearing him say these things, these empty promises,” expressed a female voter. Two others highlighted economic concerns and called for action on issues such as raising the minimum wage and halting aid to Israel.

Democrats have been highlighting their achievements within the Black community. In December 2023, the Biden-Harris administration positioned itself at the forefront of combating Republican opposition to initiatives that benefit working- and middle-class individuals, particularly Black Americans.

In a report by theGrio, it was noted that since assuming office, President Biden and Vice President Harris have overseen a surge in new business applicants, with a record 15 million individuals seeking to start businesses. Notably, the number of Black households engaged in business ownership has doubled between 2019 and 2022.

Addressing the administration’s efforts, President Biden emphasized that bolstering economic support for Black-owned businesses has been a cornerstone of their policies and initiatives. He highlighted significant achievements, including awarding $70 billion in federal contracts to disadvantaged small businesses and a $12 billion investment into Black communities aimed at providing more equitable resources for local businesses.

Mister Cee, Brooklyn, death, DJ, hip hop, Notorious B.I.G.
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 10, 2024

Legendary Hip-Hop DJ Mister Cee Dead At 57

DJ Mister Cee, known as "The Finisher," was the DJ for Big Daddy Kane and helped discover the Notorious B.I.G.

DJ Mister Cee, known as “The Finisher,” who was linked to two of Brooklyn’s most legendary emcees, Big Daddy Kane and the Notorious B.I.G., died April 10 at the age of 57.

SiriusXM, where the DJ hosted his show, “The Set It Off Show w/ DJ Mister Cee,” was one of the many outlets reporting that the New York City DJ passed away. No cause of death has been reported.

The hip-hop audience was first introduced to DJ Mister Cee nee Calvin LeBrun when he debuted as the DJ for Brooklyn emcee Big Daddy Kane after meeting the lyricist in high school in the 1980s. While Kane was slaying the microphones in the studio and on stage, Mister Cee was doing his thing on the turntables as Kane released his debut album, “Long Live the Kane,” in 1988.

Before making his mark on the radio airwaves, he was behind another Brooklyn icon when he was an up-and-coming emcee. Christopher Wallace, who became the artist known as Biggie Smalls and then The Notorious B.I.G., had Mister Cee in his corner from the inception of his burgeoning career and was partly, if not wholly, responsible for Biggie’s signing to Bad Boy Records.

In an interview with Rock The Bells last November, he talked about knowing that the “Ready To Die” rapper was going to be a problem (in a good way) in the music industry.

“I knew he was dope. I didn’t think he would become what he would before passing away. All I did at the time was try to get anybody and everybody to listen to him. Big Daddy Kane and Masta Ace, I would try to force Biggie down their [throats] like you gotta hear this guy. Had we had the wherewithal we do now as grown men, Masta Ace and I could have put Biggie out or Kane and me?”

After producing records, performing worldwide, and DJing many events and parties over the years, he has been a mainstay as a radio DJ. He’s worked for Hot 97, RADIO 103.9, Rock the Bells Radio, and 94.7 The Block. “The Set It Off Show” gave Mister Cee the chance to showcase classic hip-hop songs from the ’80s, ’90s, and ’2000s every Monday through Thursday, while he did the same for The Throwback @ Noon Monday through Friday.

Once the news was made official, many of his contemporaries paid tribute to him on social media.

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Dawn Myers, Shark Tank
by Stacy Jackson

April 10, 2024

Dawn Myers Scores 6-Figure ‘Shark Tank’ Deal For ‘The Mint’ Hair Infuser

Mark Cuban and Emma Grede made Myers a final offer for The Mint: $150,000 for 15% equity, plus an additional 5% in advisory shares.

Dawn Myers, the founder and CEO of The Most, a parent company for brands Richualist and The Most Curls based in Washington D.C., recently secured a six-figure investment offer on ABC’s Shark Tank for her thermal hair infuser, The Mint.

During her pitch, Myers presented the $400 product designed to detangle and evenly distribute heated conditioners and gels through the hair strands. According to CNBC Make It, the 38-year-old entrepreneur sought $150,000 in exchange for a 10% stake in the innovative device, which utilizes coffee pod-like cartridges, retailing at $6 each or a monthly subscription of $36 for a 6-pack.

Myers shared that The Mint took her five years to perfect.

While the Sharks initially expressed concerns about Myers’ pricing and vision for The Mint, she addressed these by explaining that the high cost was due to limited initial production runs of only 100 units at $120 per unit. However, she had identified a way to halve the manufacturing costs, enabling her to reduce The Mint’s price tag.

After Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, and Lori Greiner declined to invest, Mark Cuban and Emma Grede made an offer: $150,000 for a 20% equity in her invention. Hesitant to compromise her existing investors, Myers was able to prompt the duo to offer a more attractive deal of $150,000 for 15% equity plus an additional 5% in advisory shares.

The Sharks were inspired by Myers’ unwavering determination. “I ended up selling my home…I eventually would liquidate my 401(k) so that we could build this product,” she said. Myers also recounted her journey: “I put together this really rudimentary prototype [in 2017], and I started applying to accelerators and incubators and pitch competitions…Everybody who I went to said, ‘There’s no way you can make this.'”

Funding for The Mint became even more challenging in January 2022 after the inventor was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. Despite undergoing surgeries and chemotherapy treatments, she persevered and ultimately raised $1.1 million in venture capital for her innovative hair care product.

As previously mentioned by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Cuban has invested approximately $2 million in 13 Black-owned businesses over his 13 years on Shark Tank. The Dallas Mavericks minority owner said he proudly supports diversity, equity, and inclusion.

South Florida Schools, Eid Holiday
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 10, 2024

South Florida Schools Gives Students Day Off For Eid Al-Fitr

South Florida schools in three counties will give students the day off in observance of the Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Fitr.

Students in South Florida now get the day off for the Islamic Holiday of Eid Al-Fitr. Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward County schools have the closure in place to observe the end of Ramadan.

Students there took Wednesday, April 10, off as, according to the Palm Beach Post, the schools authorized an official day off for the 2023-2024 year. They also plan to not have classes on March 31 of next year, the assumed future date for the holiday.

When the three-day celebration of Eid begins, it is based on the sighting of a new moon. It also signifies the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, where Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This new accommodation is a relief for Islamic parents who do not want their children to miss class.

“Students will be able to celebrate the day in religious tradition with their family and friends without worrying about having to miss school,” Samir Kakli, president of the South Florida Muslim Federation.

Typically, the first day of Eid begins with a special prayer at the mosque, where Muslims wear their finest clothing. The rest of the holiday includes events such as concerts and festivals for families to come together.

Palm Beach County’s school board first approved the closures in 2022, according to the Palm Beach Post. However, members faced backlash from parents for recognizing the Muslim holiday. Naysayers spewed Islamophobic language, with one saying that it aligns with “the worst of violence and bigotry.”

However, Muslim parents are grateful that students will no longer have to sacrifice their education to enjoy their religious customs.

“I’m old enough to remember what it was like to have to choose between taking an exam or celebrating your holiday with your family,” Imran Siddiqui, a father of four, told the board. “It’s reassuring and nice to know that my kids and other kids will not be forced to make that same decision.”

Jenifer Lewis, Actress, St. Louis Walk Of Fame
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 10, 2024

Jenifer Lewis Thinks Donald Trump Is ‘Hitler’ And Will Put Black People In ‘Camps’ If Elected

Jenifer Lewis compares Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler while unloading on the upcoming presidential election.

Jenifer Lewis is known for speaking her mind and she did just that while sharing her thoughts on the upcoming presidential election featuring Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

The seasoned actress and entertainer recently appeared on SiriusXM radio’s Mornings With Zerlina where she likened Trump to Adolf Hitler and warned how Black people would end up in “camps” for not voting and allowing him to re-enter the White House.

“He will punish everybody that didn’t vote for him. See, this m*th*rf*k*r is Hitler. He didn’t come to play,” Lewis said.

“[He] will have us in camps … because we sat our fat a**es on the couch. Because we were complacent and spoiled and rotten and mad.”

Noting how the majority of Black Americans just want to “feed our children and be equal,” Lewis shared her belief that “white people are scared” due to them “becoming a minority” group in the country.

“The world is brown. And they gonna do everything they can to stay in those gated communities and not pay taxes and put those ni**ers in their places and get those w*tb*cks out of this country,” she said.

Lewis went on to warn Black people against not voting as it will lead to Trump winning re-election where he’ll “tear up” the Constitution “in our faces” and declare himself “king of the f*ck*ng world.”

“We spend half our lives choosing, trying to make a choice on bullsh*t. What movie tonight? Let me sit here for a half hour. No bombs going off. And we do nothing. We sit on our couches. ‘Oh, I don’t believe in voting.’ You f*ck*ng idiot. If that man gets in, as soon as he takes the oath, he will have generals walk down the steps of the Capitol,” she said.

Lewis concluded her message by telling Trump supporters “We all God’s babies.” However, her words are garnering backlash from conservatives. Podcast host Stacy Washington took to Fox News to accuse Lewis of seemingly mimicking past comments Biden made to the Black community.

“Do you remember…when President Biden said, ‘They’re going to put y’all back in chains,’ in exactly that accent and vernacular?” Washington said.

“She’s repeating that. She’s repeating that, she believes it and if you want to see more unhinged rhetoric from her, she does this all the time on Instagram. She talks about politics. She talks about things that really aren’t true.”

RELATED CONTENT: President Joe Biden Whisked Away From Reporters By Press Team During Michigan Campaign Stop

Dee Bryant, Hollywood Stunt Driver
by Stacy Jackson

April 10, 2024

Hollywood Stunt Driver Dee Bryant Fights For Representation Of Women Drivers

Dee Bryant and Association of Women Drivers founder Olivia Summers want to train and recruit other women stunt drivers.

Dee Bryant, a seasoned stunt driver, is spearheading efforts to amplify the representation of women in the stunt-driving industry.

Partnering with founder Olivia Summers, she co-leads the Association of Women Drivers, Hollywood’s pioneering all-female stunt and performance driving team. According to the Los Angeles Times, the organization’s mission is to enhance visibility and career prospects for women in the male-dominated industry.

For Bryant, the organization wants to “create visibility for women and no longer give stunt coordinators, producers, ad agencies…the excuse to wig a male.” Avoiding the practices of “wigging” (casting men as body doubles for women) and “paint downs” (applying makeup to make white stunt performers appear non-white) is crucial.

Despite apologies from major studios like Warner Bros., who cast a white stunt woman to double for a Black actor in Gotham, but Bryant says acts like that still happen.

Fostering the next generation is key. “Yesterday, I drove two hours to help one of the girls that I’m mentoring buy a stunt car because I want these girls to look good on set,” Bryant said. “It’s a reflection on us if they don’t. Then the coordinator goes, ‘See, there’s no good women drivers.'”

Their mentorship efforts are bearing fruit, like with Georgia-based stunt driver Jwaundace Candece, who credits Bryant with giving her guidance on how to “ride for the cameras” and helping her network with other professionals.

Currently, Bryant and Summers are the association’s onnly members, but they want to recruit drivers skilled in cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes, and watercraft. Their vision has piqued Hollywood’s interest, with producers pitching a reality show about searching for top female stunt talent—requesting they pause recruitment while they develop the idea.

The need for Bryant’s and Summers’ advocacy is clear as only 22% of stunt union members identify as female. Stunt performers overall seek greater industry respect, recently disheartened by the new Oscars casting category, perceived as overlooking their demands for award recognition. Bryant calls the Oscars’ subsequent stunt tribute “a joke.”

With prolific resumes spanning hundreds of combined credits in TV and film, Bryant and Summers demonstrate their expertise to double for A-list actors. Bryant has taken on high-octane sequences for Angela Bassett, Regina King, Kerry Washington, and Gabrielle Union in the pilot episode of L.A.’s Finest.

The Association of Women Drivers highlighted Bryant’s climb in the industry, including her role as a stunt coordinator on a $30-million Nike commercial starring athletes Serena Williams, LeBron James, and Megan Rapinoe.

Nicki Minaj, hit and run driver
by Rafael Pena

April 10, 2024

Hit-and-Run Driver In Nicki Minaj’s Father’s Death Seeks Rapper’s Deposition In $150M Legal Battle

Charles Polevich, the driver responsible for the death of Nicki Minaj's father, has requested that she be deposed about her childhood.

In a dramatic turn of events, Charles Polevich, the hit-and-run driver responsible for the tragic death of Nicki Minaj’s father, Robert Maraj, has demanded the rapper be deposed about her childhood amid a $150 million legal battle, according to RadarOnline. Polevich’s request aims to delve into allegations surrounding Minaj’s upbringing and her father’s alleged abusive behavior toward her mother.

The incident unfolded in February 2021, when 64-year-old Robert Maraj was fatally struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in Long Island. Polevich, identified as the driver, fled the scene. Despite brief interaction, Polevich failed to call for help and instead retreated home, parking his car in the garage and concealing it with a tarp.

Following his arrest, Polevich expressed remorse, acknowledging the gravity of the tragedy. However, in August 2022, he was sentenced to one year in jail for his actions. In response, Carol Maraj, Nicki Minaj’s mother, filed a $150 million civil lawsuit against Polevich, alleging reckless conduct leading to her husband’s death.

In a scathing statement, Carol’s attorney, Ben Crump, condemned Polevich’s behavior as “criminal, cowardly, and immoral,” vowing to hold him accountable. Polevich’s legal representative countered, suggesting the requested amount was excessive and emphasizing the need for a fair assessment of negligence.

In his formal response to the lawsuit, Polevich denied all allegations, instead shifting blame onto Robert Maraj for purportedly crossing the street recklessly. The legal battle has escalated further with Polevich’s recent motion to depose Minaj, aiming to explore aspects of her childhood and familial dynamics.

Recently, Minaj and her husband were the subject of another case involving a security guard. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ordered Minaj and her husband, Kenneth Petty, to pay $503,318.02 following a dispute that allegedly escalated into a physical altercation with a security guard at one of Minaj’s concerts in Germany. The judgment was issued after neither Minaj nor Petty appeared in court on Friday, March 22.

The incident, which occurred during Minaj’s concert in Frankfurt in 2019, involved a confrontation between Minaj and a security guard named Thomas Weidenmuller. Weidenmuller claimed that Minaj was arguing with one of his colleagues, and when he intervened to defuse the situation, Minaj allegedly threw a shoe at him. However, Weidenmuller alleges that it was Petty who struck him in the face, resulting in a broken jaw that required eight surgeries to repair.

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