Hakeem Jeffries, Obamacare, Affordable Care Act, GOP
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 2, 2024

Hakeem Jeffries Challenges GOP’s Claim Of Protecting Affordable Care Act, Cites Repeal History

Jeffries pointed out the years of consistent Republican attempts to dismantle the 2010 law, commonly known as Obamacare.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pushed back against GOP claims of commitment to preserving the Affordable Care Act, pointing to the party’s history of pledging to repeal it.

Jeffries’ remarks came in response to House Speaker Mike Johnson, who recently stated that Republicans have no plans to repeal the ACA, even though he acknowledged that GOP lawmakers are still aiming for a major healthcare overhaul. This comes after years of consistent Republican attempts to dismantle the 2010 law, commonly known as Obamacare.

“House Republicans have been obsessed with repealing the Affordable Care Act since 2010, the moment it was first enacted. It’s clear as day to the American people, and that has now been affirmed by multiple members of House Republican leadership,” Jeffries told USA Today. “They are determined to end the Affordable Care Act as we know it.”

Johnson initially mentioned at a campaign event in Pennsylvania on Monday night that healthcare reform would be on the Republican agenda within the first 100 days of the new Congress if they secure both chambers and the White House.

“No Obamacare,” he replied. “The ACA is so deeply ingrained, we need massive reform to make this work, and we’ve got a lot of ideas of how to do that.”

The ACA was deemed controversial when it was first enacted during President Obama’s administration. The landmark healthcare law expanded Medicaid, made it a requirement for insurers to cover patients with preexisting conditions, and required preventative care coverage. It also allowed young adults to remain on their parent’s health insurance until age 26 and introduced various consumer protections for individuals purchasing their own insurance.

Although the healthcare policy initially faced opposition, polling now shows that over 60% of Americans support it. Democrats see Johnson’s recent comments as a signal that Republicans may attempt to repeal the law again, despite Johnson’s statement that he has made “no such promise.”

“What we were talking about is we are on a continual quest to lower the cost of health care for people, to protect those with preexisting conditions… to expand access to care and the quality of care,” Johnson told Fox News while accusing Democrats of “lying” about his position.

However, Jeffries denounces Johnson’s claims. He and other Democrats have also proposed changes to current healthcare law, including Vice President Kamala Harris’ plan to expand benefits for at-home senior care.

“We’re committed as House Democrats to protecting the Affordable Care Act,” Jeffries said.

RELATED CONTENT: Trump and Republicans Move Forward to Dismantle Obamacare

Janelle Bynum, Oregon, Black Congress Member
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 2, 2024

Investigation Launched Into Fight Between Black Poll Worker And White Voter In South Carolina

A physical altercation ensued after the voter was asked to remove an anti-Biden hat.

State authorities are investigating a fight that occurred at an early voting location in Orangeburg, South Carolina, between a white male and a Black woman.

A now-viral video captured the moments leading up to a physical altercation between Black poll workers and a man identified by authorities as Mark Morris. The incident unfolded when the poll workers asked Morris to remove his hat, which featured the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon,” a slogan that is reportedly a conservative euphemism for “F— Joe Biden,” WSTV reports.

South Carolina law limits what people can wear when voting, prohibiting attire that displays a political party, candidate’s name, or ballot issue.

After being asked to take off his hat, Morris was heard yelling explicit insults, referring to a poll worker as a “f*** b,” before ripping off the hat, flipping it around, and telling another poll worker that it was his “mother f**** right” to wear it. He then yelled at the poll workers, demanding they “shut the hell up and let me vote.”

The video then shows, another poll worker, identified by authorities as Angela Buchannon-Glover, step in attempting to diffuse the situation and could be heard saying, “We ain’t got nothing else to say and we’re going to move on.”

While exchanging words with Buchannon-Glover, Morris removes his hat and tosses it into the hallway before turning back toward Buchannon-Glover and pointing his finger in her face. Buchannon-Glover became irate and made physical contact with Morris. That’s when poll workers rushed to stop Morris from attempting to hit Buchannon-Glover.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is investigating the fight as early voting continues until Nov 2. The video garnered strong responses on social media from viewers who called out Morris’s behavior.

“This guy should be charged with election tampering and voter intimidation,” one person tweeted.

“Sickening. I hope that he was arrested. You cannot wear political clothing into a polling place. Just like you cannot have any political signs or party operatives within 150ft of the entrance to a polling place,” added someone else.

RELATED CONTENT: Ballot Boxes Set On Fire Deemed A ‘Direct Attack On American Democracy’

The Kamala Harris Effect, Black Fraternities,Sororities, Down-Ballot Candidates, Election Push
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 2, 2024

‘The Kamala Harris Effect’: Black Fraternities And Sororities Mobilize To Support Down-Ballot Candidates In Historic Election Push

Divine Nine members are hitting the pavement to support Black down-ballot candidates.

As more members of the Divine Nine (D9) step up to support down-ballot candidates in state and local elections, many are referring to this trend as “the Kamala Harris effect.”

Down-ballot candidates — especially Black women — have received an influx of support from volunteers in Black Greek organizations this election season, driven in part by Harris’ historic role as vice president, The Associated Press reported. With Harris being a longtime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., since joining the organization during her senior year at Howard University in 1986, many D9 members have been “extremely active” in federal and state races across the country this year, according to Jaime R. Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

“I think that’s a part of the Kamala Harris effect,” Harrison said.

Among the recent efforts include D9 sorority members joining forces on a get-out-the-vote bus tour across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland to rally support for Black women running for office. The women, alongside other volunteers, knocked on hundreds of doors, made thousands of calls, and sent out hundreds of postcards encouraging people to vote.

“In local elections, in statewide elections, where the Black vote is more powerful and concentrated, as opposed to in national elections, D9 organizations have this tremendous untapped ability to reach and to mobilize disaffected voters,” said Darren Davis, a professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame.

Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. took to the streets in Maryland to rally support for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks, a fellow Delta who is in a high-profile race against former Republican Governor Larry Hogan. D9 sororities also campaigned for an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Democratic U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, in her U.S. Senate race. If Alsobrooks and Blunt Rochester win their races, it would mark the first time in history that two Black women serve in the Senate at the same time.

U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes attributed the heightened support she has received from Divine Nine members to her re-election campaign. As the first Black woman elected to Congress from Connecticut, she has witnessed Black fraternity and sorority members actively engaging in her campaign by calling voters, organizing fundraisers, canvassing neighborhoods, rallying at campaign events, and even providing pro bono legal assistance.

“I had people from Massachusetts come in to volunteer,” said Hayes, a Democrat who is seeking a fourth term. “I’ve had people who had previously been considering going to a battleground state like Pennsylvania and are saying, ‘No, we’re going to stay right here and help out in this race in Connecticut.’”

Latosha Johnson, a social worker from Hartford, recently took part in a get-out-the-vote phone banking session for Hayes alongside other Black women from Alpha Kappa Alpha. She emphasized that if Harris wins, she will need strong allies in Congress.

“If we don’t get her a Congress that’s going to be able to move things,” Johnson said, “that becomes hard.”

RELATED CONTENT: Here’s How Divine 9 Sororities And Fraternities Are Turning Up The Heat For The 2024 Election 

Stanford, Black Alumni, HBCU Homecoming Experience, Reunion Weekend
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 2, 2024

Stanford’s Black Alumni Create HBCU-Style Homecoming Experience At Reunion Weekend

Stanford University alumni are turning their reunion weekend into an HBCU-inspired event.

Stanford University’s Black alumni gathered during reunion weekend to create their own HBCU-inspired experience at the esteemed institution.

The school organized events throughout the weekend that celebrated and connected Black alumni and current students. Among the reunion weekend events included the “Black Plaza” mixer, The Multicultural Alumni Hall of Fame event, and events held by the BCSC and Stanford National Black Alumni Association (SNBAA), which all took place on Oct. 25, according to The Standford Daily.

The next day, a house party hosted by SNBAA and the BCSC took place at the Black House (BCSC). Alumni also took part in a more intimate reunion at Ujamaa, Stanford’s Black theme dorm, where former Uj residents had the chance to visit their old rooms, reminisce, and connect with current students living in the dorm.

Kim Mitchell, from the class of ’89, returned for her 35th-year class reunion and praised the reunion weekend as being “really powerful” for how it allows alumni and current students to create an experience similar to the homecomings at Historically Black College or University (HBCU) reunions.

“I often hear people talk about homecoming at HBCUs and how great they are and when I look at some of the things they love about HBCU Homecomings, it’s the same things that I love about having our Black community Stanford reunion,” Mitchell told The Standford Daily.

“I really feel like we re-created the HBCU experience for ourselves at a predominantly white institution, which is kind of cool to think about.”

Ahead of reunion weekend, the Department of African and African American Studies (DAAAS) hosted a homecoming panel where Black alumni returned to share their experiences pursuing an AAAS degree at Stanford in light of the recent opening of the African and African American Studies department in January.

“I kinda got pulled into some of the [AAAS] classes… then next thing you know I’m standing across that stage with a degree in my hand,” Shamika Klassen, class of 2011, said about her experience as a freshman trying to pursue a STEM degree. “I think that through this program, I was able to find parts of myself that I didn’t realize were lost, or that needed nurturing and cultivation.”

RELATED CONTENT: She Said ‘Yes’! Blac Chyna Accepts Marriage Proposal From Derrick Milano At Howard Homecoming

high school students, associate, bachelor's degrees, degree, ivy league
by Kandiss Edwards

November 1, 2024

Study: Job Opportunities For Non-Degree Workers Dwindling

It may be time to get your degree.

According to the American Opportunity Index, there’s a decrease in workers without a college degree.

The study, using data from the top 395 companies in America. excludes career paths that require degrees for entry. The goal, according to Rajiv Chandrasekaran, managing director at the Schultz Family Foundation, is to investigate spaces that do not have a barrier to entry and the trajectory of its workers.

Using five data points—hiring, pay, promotion, parity, and culture—the American Opportunity Index found that the amount of opportunity for employees with less education is not showing growth.

“One-hundred-and-seventy-four companies decreased hiring employees without college degrees or who lacked meaningful work experience compared to last year. Only two firms in the top 100 saw increased scores for hiring compared to last year.”

The report projects that the graduation rates of Black Americans will increase only slightly over the next 30 years.

“The Black or African American population remained a relatively constant share of the total between 2002 and 2022 and increased slightly from 12.3 percent to 12.5 percent.”

This presents a significant problem for Black employees, specifically. The American Council on Education (ACE) found that Black people’s enrollment in higher education has decreased steadily since 2002. The Black population has “the largest decline out of all races: 66.1 percent to 55.4 percent.”

If promotions in companies are contingent upon higher education, Black people will unfortunately be left behind. Like any other report, the ACE organization’s projections are not concrete, and there is room for change.

Joe Fuller, a professor at Harvard Business School said companies play a huge role in whether or not American workers have access to higher positions within their companies.

“Opportunity doesn’t rest in specific industries or locations,” Fuller said in a statement. “It’s a function of companies making choices that advance the interest of their workers and implementing them.”

The American Opportunity Index has been evaluating the economic growth of the country for the last three years. The think tank is comprised of the Burning Glass Institute, the Schultz Family Foundation, and Harvard Business School’s Managing the Future of Work Project.

RELATED CONTENT: As Dockworkers Go On An Historic Strike, Should Americans Brace For Higher Costs?

Salt n Pepa, Push It
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 1, 2024

Sandra ‘Pepa’ Denton Surprises Spinderella On Stage Amid Group Split

Pepa and Spinderella have reunited amid the DJ's split from Salt-N-Pepa.

Spinderella was reunited with one of her former Salt-N-Pepa group members at a Halloween party on Sunday.

Sandra “Pepa” Denton surprised Spinderella on Sunday when she walked out on stage during her former DJ’s set and let her know it’s all love despite their ongoing split. TMZ captured footage of Pepa and Spinderella making amends and performing three of their classic songs: “Push It,” “Shoop,” and “Whatta Man.”

Spinderella informed the crowd that she and Pepa had been talking behind the scenes, and the rapper’s surprise appearance during her DJ set confirmed that all was well and the former group members were headed in the right direction.

“I ain’t giving up,” Pepa said in the mic as the crowd cheered.

Will Smith’s longtime friend and collaborator, DJ Jazzy Jeff, was on hand to show his support for Pepa and Spinderella mending fences. The performance between Pepa and Spinderella follows the iconic trio’s transition to a duo after Spinderella sued the group over a royalties dispute in 2020, ultimately leading to her exclusion from the 2021 film biopic.

“Sorry but I gotta speak on this Lifetime special..,” Spinderella tweeted at the time. “Too often, Black women who have made meaningful contributions in their industry are left out of historical narratives. Back when Salt n’ Pepa was building our legacy, which is rooted in empowering women, I could not have dreamed that this same group would one day disempower me.”

The star continued, “Words cannot fully express my disappointment when I learned a decision was made to move forward with a Lifetime biopic that wrongfully excluded me from every aspect of development and production..all the while using my image throughout, given that I played an integral role in the group’s story and success.”

Spinderella’s exclusion from the biopic came after she announced her official termination from the group two years earlier when she first filed her royalties dispute. The DJ had been part of the pioneering all-female hip-hop group from 1987 until her departure in 2019.

“I’m deeply saddened to share with all the #SaltnPepa and #Spinderella fans that I will not be performing on the #NKOTB Mixtape Tour,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “Despite my participation in promoting the tour and being highly publicized as one of the acts, in January 2019, I received a ‘termination’ email from #SaltnPepa excluding me from performances with the group. It was my expectation, after making that decision, that they would also take responsibility for sharing the news with the public and other affected parties. It has been months now with no mention.”

Pepa and Spinderella’s reunion suggests a possible full group comeback if Saljoinsin.

RELATED CONTENT: Salt-N-Pepa Talk Megan Thee Stallion’s ‘Push It’ Sample And Tease Their New Music and Tour

Ebony Shappel, CLark Atlanta University, high school, graduation, HBCU
by Kandiss Edwards

November 1, 2024

Clark Atlanta University Launches Institute For The Advancement Of Black Strategists

Clark Atlanta is opening the Institute for the Advancement of Black Strategists to fight wage disparity in the Black community.

On Oct. 30, Clark Atlanta, a historically Black college and university, announced the launch of its Institute for the Advancement of Black Strategists. 

The institute is geared toward researching collective bargaining, unionization, and organization in the South. It is partnering with Jobs For Justice, an organization already active in progressing Black Southern workers. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states, “Unionized workers only make up about 10% of the labor force nationally.”

This figure decreases in Southern states. Right-to-work laws make it easy for companies to terminate employment for any reason. These laws also make it difficult for employees to organize and negotiate, which may jeopardize their careers. 

Erica Smiley, executive director of Jobs With Justice, spoke to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the lack of equity for Black workers. 

“Black workers are less likely to have fair wages compared to counterparts in other parts of the country, are less likely to have good health insurance, are less likely to have a level of economic sustainability (and) more likely to have multiple jobs to make ends meet.”

Waffle House employees are the latest employees to engage in the fight for better working conditions and pay. BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on actions by Georgia Waffle House employees to prevent alleged “wage theft.”

Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW) filed a claim with the Department of Labor on behalf of workers. 

“The complaint accused the Georgia-based corporation of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act’s tip credit requirements by failing to pay servers the federal minimum wage, which has been paused at $7.25 since 2009.”

An employee at the Conyers, Georgia, Waffle House detailed how extra, unpaid duties are assigned to workers, yet no compensation is offered. 

The lack of a formal worker’s union forces employees to turn to organizations like USSW to advocate on their behalf. 

RELATED CONTENT: More Black and Latina Women Are Starting To Lead The Biggest Unions In The U.S.

Bronny James, Lakers, G League
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 1, 2024

Bronny James Scores First Regular Season Points In Hometown Of Cleveland, Ohio

'It’s all love. It was a nice moment. The chants really got me. I was straight-faced, but I felt it and it felt pretty good, especially coming from here.'

In front of his hometown crowd, Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James finally scored the first points of his NBA career.

According to NBA.com, with the Lakers‘ first loss of the current season, Bronny obtained a footnote in his young career by scoring for the first time in a regular season NBA game in Cleveland, Ohio, where he grew up.

The most famous No. 55th pick of an NBA Draft got the chance to enter the game before the end of a blowout defeat to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter. With a little more than two minutes left in the game, after dribbling toward the basket and coming back to just in front of the three-point line, Lebron Jr. hit the basket with an “all-net” shot over his defender.

The Lakers lost the game 134-110.

Although he was playing for the Lakers, Cavaliers fans started calling for the young James with the chant, “We want Bronny,” before Lakers coach J.J. Redick put him in the game with more than five minutes remaining. The crowd cheered whenever Bronny touched the ball. He also recorded two assists while on the court.

After the game, Bronny said, “It was insane. Much more than I anticipated, for sure. It’s all love. It was a nice moment. The chants really got me. I was straight-faced, but I felt it, and it felt pretty good, especially coming from here.”

His father, leading all-time career scorer LeBron, who started his career with the Cavaliers, stated, “To see him get his first NBA basket in this arena, where he grew up not too far away from here, that’s an unbelievable moment. Unbelievable moment for him and for our family; it’s just pretty cool to be a part of it.”

RELATED CONTENT: Bronny James Wins Championship For ‘Call Of Duty’ Tournament

TED Talks, Brooklyn, comedy show, Black-Owned Comedy Venue, black music
by Kandiss Edwards

November 1, 2024

Black Music Action Coalition Uses Lyrics To Mobilize Georgia Voters

The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) is activating in Georgia to help get out the vote. The BMAC’s mission is to utilize the power of music “to create systemic change.” The coalition’s goal is to power music to reach the masses by mobilizing—literally.

The BMAC’s “It’s Your Fight…VOTE!”  bus transports Georgia residents to polling locations and political rallies. The latest destination was the “Harris For President” rally, where the buses drove members of the “Georgia Student Voter” organization. Each bus is adorned with music lyrics that speak to the culture and current political moment. 

“BMAC is steadfast in our commitment to use the power of our voice to make positive, long-lasting change. We chose the words of artists who have moved the needle through music to adorn our bus and the image of the great truth teller, Muhammad Ali, to be the face of our bus as it moves through Georgia, fueled by the power of voters…It’s Our Fight…VOTE,” said Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, BMAC CEO and President. 

Historically, music and civic engagement have always been intertwined. The efforts of musical artists like Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder to speak to Black people with lyrics are cataloged in the annals of history. 

The BMAC bus engages in this rich history by emblazoning these messages across its buses with lyrics from legends:

James Brown’s: “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud’; Queen Latitfah’s: “U.N.I.T.Y., love a Black woman from Infinity to Infinity”; Kendrick Lamar’s: “I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA”; Public Enemy’s: “Fight the power, We’ve got to fight the powers that be”; Beyonce’s: “And when they carve my name inside the concrete, I pray it forever reads– freedom.”

BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on Stevie Wonder’s continued efforts to get Americans involved in the election process. 

Wonder set out on the “Sing Your Song! As We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart” tour. His goal is “joy over anger, kindness over recrimination, peace over war.”

The icon was joined on stage at his Oct. 17 show in Baltimore by former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. President Obama reinforced Wonder’s message: “Get out there and vote.”

The last day to vote in the presidential election is Nov. 5. To find a polling location in your area, go to vote.org.

RELATED CONTENT: The Obamas Join Stevie Wonder On Stage To Help “Heal Our Nation’s Broken Heart”

Jalen Hurts, football, NFL, air conditioners
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 1, 2024

Jalen Hurts Discusses Joining President Barack Obama On Pennsylvania Golf Course

'I told him he didn’t want these problems just yet. I told him I can’t golf right now. By contract, I can’t golf. But his day will come,” Hurts reveals

The former President of the United States had some company with him while playing golf earlier this week. Joining former President Barack Obama on the golf course this week in Pennsylvania was Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Saquon Barkley, and team owner Jeffrey Lurie. Hurts revealed during a press conference that, although he didn’t get to play with the president, he warned that “his day will come.”

According to AL.com, President Obama was at the Merion Golf Club on Oct. 29 with the Eagles players and the owner. Hurts was on the golf course but could not play due to a contract clause preventing him from doing so. He admitted that he and the former president engaged in some trash talk; he told Obama that his day would eventually come for them to compete on the green.

He said that Obama was “kind of like an uncle figure out there. President Obama, all-time leader. A great presence. I guess the word is down-to-earth. I can only imagine that lifestyle and the different things that come with that, but nonetheless, to see him out there enjoying himself and talking a little trash; that was cool. I told him he didn’t want these problems just yet. I told him I can’t golf right now. By contract, I can’t golf. But his day will come.”

According to U.S. News & World Report, Hurts teammate Barkley did play. He commented on the experience.

“It was probably one of the coolest experiences I’ve had in my life,” Barkley said. “Very personable. He’s awesome, to be honest. I got to spend about four or five hours with him and was able to do something I love to do, play golf.”

RELATED CONTENT: Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts Proposes To Girlfriend Bryonna Burrows, She Accepts

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