‘Cookout At The Vineyard’ Brings Black Culture And Community To The Wineries Of Napa Valley
The third annual event will showcase the diverse culinary and wine scene of Napa Valley.
The third annual “Cookout at the Vineyard” will bring Black culture and community to Napa Valley through a three-day fundraiser.
The Veraison Project will host this cultural and culinary venture as it seeks to diversify the beverage industry. It intends to celebrate the growing impact of Black patrons and entrepreneurs through this expanding event, as detailed in a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Spearheaded by co-founders Courtney Guntz-Summers and Tahlia Suggs, Cookout at the Vineyard will uplift and promote diverse artisans in the culinary and wine sectors. The duo, also 2022-2023 apprenticeship recipients of The Veraison Project partnership with Silver Oak, aims to provide a space that highlights the efforts of this historically marginalized group.
In further celebration of Black history, the three-day fundraiser will commence on Juneteenth, continuing throughout the weekend. The event will kick off at Decant Napa for its first-day festivities. There, attendees will indulge in an “intimate evening of connection and reflection” with Unwine 101.
Participants will commemorate the history of Juneteenth while savoring a curated selection of South African wines from Culture Wine Co. Alongside food by local chef Cooked By Gio, the gathering will provide opportunities for networking and building connections within Napa’s evolving Black community.
The following day will shift locations to Feast it Forward in downtown Napa for a classic block party. With a host of interactive experiences and music, guests can enjoy barbecue from Stateline Road Smokehouse while celebrating. VIP guests can also receive special swag bags and a curated chef’s menu with additional exclusive seating.
Cookout at the Vineyard will end its celebration June 21 at the Louis M. Martini Winery. The signature “cookout” will include its vineyard twist, starting with a wine and food pairing activation. Staying true to its roots, the event will also feature card games and activities designed to foster fellowship among attendees. The family table will also boast multiple platters of local BBQ as the event closes with a sunset dance party.
While each day brings new offerings, Cookout at the Vineyard has become the latest celebration of Black culture and diversity in Napa’s scenic landscape. Its founders hope to capitalize on this expanded event to bridge a new future for Black-owned catering and wineries.
Tickets are still on sale for out-of-towners and local supporters to join in on the groundbreaking fundraiser. Individual, multi-day, and VIP passes are readily available on Eventbrite.
Critics Side Eye FEMA Director Who Claimed He Didn’t Know The US Had Hurricane Season
FEMA staff members were left confused when Richardson allegedly claimed he wasn't aware of the country’s devastating hurricane season.
As Republican senators who voted against Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) relief are now pushing for assistance, it doesn’t help that its leader, David Richardson, claimed not to know that the U.S. even suffered from hurricane season, HuffPost reported.
FEMA staff members were left confused when Richardson allegedly claimed he wasn’t aware of the country’s devastating hurricane season that had wiped out towns and left residents suffering for months on end. The head of the U.S. disaster agency made a remark during a briefing as the country entered the 2025 hurricane season.
A spokesperson alleges that under the leadership of Richardson and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, the agency is “shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens.” Seemingly placing blame on the outgoing administration, Richardson alleged there won’t be any changes to FEMA’s disaster response plans despite once telling staff that new plans are set to be revealed in May 2025.
Hurricane season for the United States officially started June 1, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasting as many as 10 hurricanes. Reports indicate a 60% chance of an above-normal 2025 season, with three to five of the projected 10 events labeled as “major.”
Despite some major side-eye action from critics, a DHS spokesperson promised Richardson — who took over for Cameron Hamilton, who was removed after telling lawmakers during a hearing that he did not believe FEMA should be eliminated — was simply joking about the severity of hurricane season. “Despite meanspirited attempts to falsely frame a joke as policy, there is no uncertainty about what FEMA will be doing this Hurricane Season,” the spokesperson said, according to NBC News, adding that Richardson is “activated in preparation for Hurricane Season.”
“FEMA is laser-focused on disaster response and protecting the American people.”
The agency, responsible for coordinating the government’s emergency response to natural disaster-affected areas, has been under attack by President Donald Trump and his loyal MAGA followers, including Sens. Thom Thills (R-NC) and Josh Hawley (R-MO), whose constituents have suffered recently from major hurricanes and tornadoes.
During a visit to the Tar Heel State to survey the damage left by Hurricane Helene, Trump floated the idea of eliminating FEMA completely, labeling it as “very bureaucratic” and “very slow.”
After an EF-3 tornado devastated the city of St. Louis and left five dead, Hawley begged for FEMA to “act very, very quickly” just months after voting against a bill that would provide more disaster relief funds for the agency.
The Turkey Leg Hut Story: Documentary Unveils Houston’s Fiery Food Phenomenon
The Houston eatery officially shut down in November.
Fans and foes of Houston’s Turkey Leg Hut can soon catch a new documentary detailing the restaurant’s downfall.
The controversial eatery has faced multiple blows despite its popularity in Houston’s food scene. Now, Hillionaire Productions will uncover what led to its current shutdown in “The Rise and Fall of The Turkey Leg Hut.”
Rumors and scandals have plagued the restaurant, which first gained traction for its strict dress code a few years ago. Since its first backlash from customers, Turkey Leg Hut has undergone leadership struggles, arson, and bankruptcy, among other issues.
Hillionaire’s creator, Jami McCoy-Lankford, stumbled upon the idea to produce the documentary. She initially reached out to the founders of Turkey Leg Hut, Nakia Holmes and Lynn Price, to discuss a property purchase. However, after speaking with them about the food spot’s tumultuous journey, she decided to take it upon herself to bring the truth to the forefront.
“If I don’t do it, somebody else will,” McCoy-Lankford said to the Houston Chronicle. “It is about doing it in good taste… we have the opportunity to set the record straight here. This is what happened, no matter who’s at fault.”
Despite receiving the founders’ blessing and participation in the documentary, McCoy-Lankford later faced pushback from Holmes about their reported agreement. Holmes told the Chronicle that she decided not to move forward with the project, an update unbeknownst to the producer.
“I want to clarify that I am not involved in the documentary associated with Turkey Leg Hut. I have not signed any agreements, nor have I given permission for my name or story to be used. While I was approached about the project during a difficult time in my life, I made the decision not to move forward,” Holmes said in a statement.
She added, “This has been an incredibly emotional and personal chapter for me, and seeing my name attached to something I do not want to be a part of has been deeply hurtful. My story is mine to tell. No one can share it the way I can. Unfortunately, some people see your pain as an opportunity for profit. That’s not integrity, that’s exploitation. I just want peace, healing, and to be left out of anything that I did not authorize.”
Turkey Leg Hut got its start at the Houston Rodeo parking lot in 2015. Its approach to turkey leg creations led to the 2017 opening of a brick-and-mortar location in the city’s Third Ward. With celebrity guests and a media frenzy surrounding its dress code, the restaurant took off.
However, the owners faced marital issues that impacted the restaurant’s operations. Holmes and Price announced their separation in 2023. The bitter split sparked a fire at the eatery the following year, for which Price still sits in jail on arson charges. After bankruptcy and a failed health inspection, in addition to claims that Price sold marijuana on the premises, Turkey Leg Hut officially closed in November 2024.
McCoy-Lankford has emphasized that her intentions with the documentary are not malicious. She wants to highlight Turkey Leg Hut’s significance and impact in Houston’s food scene and Black community, while still acknowledging how its troubles came to light.
“It’s more of a teachable moment for me than it is putting them on blast,” explained McCoy-Lankford. “(Turkey Leg Hut) did a lot for the culture, the food culture and the restaurant culture in the city of Houston, they really put Almeda, that whole street, on the map… we can’t take that away from them.”
The documentary will feature interviews with previous employees, famous patrons, and early investors. McCoy-Lankford also stated that she will speak with Price about the restaurant while in federal custody. Although Holmes currently remains uninvolved with the project, the producer will continue with its development.
From Court to Couch: Shaq’s Studying To Become A Sports Psychologist
The former NBA player he is currently working on his Master's of Liberal Arts degree at Louisiana State University
Former Louisiana State University student Shaquille O’Neal is pursuing a master’s degree at his alma mater to become a sports psychologist.
The NBA Hall of Famer appeared on NBC’s The Today Show in May and discussed his pursuit, stating that he is currently working on his master of liberal arts degree. Although the retired basketball player possseses several degrees, he has a purpose in obtaining this latest one.
“So I’m working on my master’s of liberal arts right now at LSU. I’m the type who, if I don’t believe you, finds it difficult. And this is no disrespect to sports psychologists, but if you haven’t been in certain situations, how can you help me out in certain situations?” the NBA on TNT commentator said.
He feels that, having played sports his whole life, he can relate and offer advice based on his experience, as well as his training in the field.
“So, in my mind, in my weird mind, I want to be a sports psychologist, and I want to be the first sports psychologist that’s available on the academia side and available on the sports side. I think people know in sports situations, they know that I’ve been there and done that.”
It’s puzzling to see how Shaq manages to get any sleep these days. Outside of his duties covering NBA games (as well as running many of the companies he owns or is involved with), he is the President of Reebok Basketball. Starting June 4, you can log in to your Netflix account to see him working with the brand to try to bring them back to prominence.
Shaq can be seen in the docuseries Power Moves with Shaquille O’Neal. The series focuses on the former Los Angeles Lakers center making executive decisions to help revitalize the brand that sponsored him, as well as the Vice President of Reebok Basketball, Allen Iverson, during their respective NBA careers.
Escaped New Orleans Inmate Professes Innocence In Viral Video
Massey is one of the last two escapees still on the run.
One of the last New Orleans jail escapees seemingly professed his innocence in a new video dropped on social media.
A video of a man who appeared to be escaped inmate Antoine Massey was posted on Instagram June 1. According to NOLA, officials began to investigate the authenticity of the clip. It featured a man with the same facial tattoos as the 32-year-old.
In the video, Massey made several claims regarding the New Orleans jail escape, including his own innocence regarding the crimes that put him there. However, the clip was swiftly deleted the following afternoon after news sources caught wind of it.
“They say that I broke out. I didn’t break out. I was let out,” stated the unverified man in the footage.
He then shared his motive behind fleeing the jail, citing his potential life sentence for his alleged multiple offenses.
“The reason why I left the jail is because these people were trying to give me a life sentence in both parishes for something that I did not do,” he continued.
Massey was one of the 10 incarcerated men who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in May. Since their run that made national headlines, eight inmates have been recaptured. Only Massey and Derrick Groves remain out in the streets.
The man in the video also discounted the story of a prison plumber, Sterling Williams, who was allegedly involved in helping the men escape. The 33-year-old civilian reportedly cut the water off in a jail cell to help the men sneak out through a hole behind a broken toilet.
Williams told New Orleans police that Massey threatened to shank him. Massey, however, denies the accusation.
“Sterling [Williams] flat-out lied on me,” asserted Massey.
Williams’ lawyer also denied police claims that his client made that allegation against Massey. However, the accusation would match Massey’s criminal history. He held charges of motor vehicle theft and domestic abuse battery involving strangulation. The escapee also faced charges in another parish for suspicion of kidnapping and rape.
Massey has a lengthy record that goes back over 15 years, many of which are considered violent offenses. He has even tried to break free from his incarceration before, including the tampering of two ankle monitors. Others involved have been arrested as accomplices for helping hide the inmates, according to WWLTV.
Police continue to search for him and his fellow escapee as this prison break wages on for another week. The jail has increased its reward to $50,000 for anyone with information that can lead to the capture of the suspect.
Phaedra Parks Reveals The High Price She Pays To Fly Her Family First Class
Phaedra Parks opens up about her love for first-class flying.
Phaedra Parks pulled out the receipts to show the high price she willingly pays to fly herself and her two sons first class on every trip.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star opens up about her love for flying first class in People‘s new YouTube series Keeping Receipts. According to the Delta receipts, Parks spends nearly $3,000 per ticket to ensure she and her two sons travel in luxury.
“I always fly first class or private,” Parks tells the camera. “Okay, so I have a ticket for Aiden, and that ticket was $2,767.97. One for my youngest son, Dylan, $2,767.97, and one for myself, $2,767.97. I would never put my children in coach.”
“If I’m in first class, my children will definitely be in first class,” she added. “I think that’s in poor taste to travel in first class and make your kids flying coach. What does that say about you as a parent? That’s horrible.”
Parks traces her love for luxury air travel back to her younger days, when a professional athlete she dated would fly her first class to watch his games. After that first taste of the experience, she was hooked.
“I didn’t really fly first class until my boyfriend, who played in the NFL, started sending me on first class trips to watch him play games,” she shared. “I was 18, 19, and I got a taste of luxury, honey. I never went back.”
The Bravo star, who recently returned to RHOA after being fired in season 9, added up the ticket prices and revealed the nearly $10,000 it costs her family to take a flight.
“So when you add all of the junk fees in, it comes out to $8,303.91 in US dollars,” Parks said. “The prices to fly is incredibly high. It almost makes more sense to fly private because jet fuel is almost going neck to neck with first-class tickets.”
Kirk Franklin Partners With Insignia Assets For New Black-Owned Media Merger
Kirk Franklin is teaming up with Insignia Assets on a Black-owned media merger that's looking to transform the media landscape.
Kirk Franklin is heavy on the “For Us By Us” with the launch of a new business venture powered by an all-Black ownership team that’s looking to reshape the media landscape.
Grammy-winning gospel icon Kirk Franklin has joined forces with Insignia Assets, a new entertainment venture founded by Norman Gyam and Jonathan Jay.
The partnership, announced on June 2, merges Franklin’s Fo Yo Soul Recordings and CLTRE Lab with Insignia’s broad portfolio, which spans recorded music, publishing, television, touring, film, and live events. As part of the deal, Franklin will take on an active leadership role as chief of creative services for Insignia Assets.
“It’s Black-owned. It’s Black business,” Franklin tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “It’s from the culture for the culture. It’s men of color that are unifying their vision, their assets, their resources, their gifts, their talents to move and push the agenda of inspiration and aspiration forward through the medium of entertainment.”
“We want to seize. We want to engage. We want to transform. We want to communicate so that we can have a clear conversation of the bigger things of life, the bigger purpose of life, to be able to point people vertically while creating and curating horizontally,” he adds.
To start the new venture, Franklin will drop a new single, “Do It Again,” on June 6, three days before accepting the BET Ultimate Icon Award at the 2025 BET Awards. On Sunday, June 15, Franklin’s media company, CLTRE Lab, will team up with Insignia Assets’ 3 Diamonds Entertainment to produce Den of Kings, a dinner conversation series hosted by Franklin.
The premiere episode, centering on the theme of “fatherhood” and featuring guests D.C. Young Fly, Kountry Wayne, Lou Young, and Devale Ellis, will debut on Franklin’s YouTube channel in honor of Father’s Day. Modeled around Franklin’s love for communing over fine dining and good conversation, the gospel star brings together a group of Black men in comedy for meaningful conversations about life.
“It’s funny, it’s engaging. And we’re not there to preach. It’s not a preaching conversation. We’re listening, we’re laughing, we’re crying, we’re struggling, we have the tension, we are debating,” Franklin said of the first episode. “It is a beautiful moment to see Black men in this space. The level of vulnerability that you’re going to see from this moment is going to be impressive.”
Teaming up with Insignia Assets is a big step within the space of Black-owned media. As a Black-owned and self-funded entertainment company, Insignia boasts a diverse music portfolio that includes Christian and gospel labels Tribl Records, Maverick City Music, and Franklin’s Fo Yo Soul Recordings, along with the R&B label Platform Sounds.
Pictured l-r: EJ Gaines, Phil Thornton, Norman Gyamfi, Kirk Franklin, Ron Hill, Trell Woodberry, Jonathan Jay Photo credit: Rob Ector
The company also operates several other divisions, including Undivided Entertainment for touring and live events; 3 Diamonds Entertainment for television and film production; and the Icho Group, which serves as the marketing powerhouse behind the multifaceted enterprise. As part of the agreement, 3 Diamonds Entertainment will serve as the production partner for select scripted and unscripted projects from Franklin’s CLTRE Lab, offering both production services and funding to bring original storytelling to life across multiple formats.
“We’ve worked with Kirk for some time now—from the 2022 release of the multi-GRAMMY®-winning collaborative album, Kingdom, to producing sold-out arena tours with him consecutively over the past few years,” said Norman Gyam, co-founder and CEO of Insignia Assets. “Today, we’re thrilled to fortify and deepen our partnership by welcoming Kirk to our executive team and by charting a course for the future with him from recorded music to touring, film/TV to digital media, and more. We are collectively very proud of this moment.”
Monyetta Shaw-Carter Reveals Breast Cancer Diagnosis: ‘Our Health Is Irreplaceable’
Monyetta Shaw-Carter is revealing her breast cancer journey and advocating for regular doctor's visits.
Monyetta Shaw-Carter is stressing the importance of regular check-ups as she opens up about her breast cancer journey, one she was able to overcome thanks to early detection and timely diagnosis.
The Real Housewives of Atlanta star recently completed her cancer treatment in May, which included a lumpectomy—the surgical removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue—in January, followed by 16 rounds of radiation. Her swift treatment came after being diagnosed with stage 1 invasive ductal carcinoma in September 2024.
“I had a biopsy about ten years ago, and it came back benign,” Shaw-Carter told People in an interview published May 31. “Then, last year in September, I was doing a self-check because I felt this random sensation that I can’t really describe in my left boob. It was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. It was literally like my body was alerting me that something was wrong.”
Because the tumor was slow-growing and low-grade, and Shaw-Carter’s oncologist received clear margins during surgery, the reality star and Atlanta socialite did not require chemotherapy. Her treatment concluded just ahead of her reveal, and she advocated for regular doctor’s visits.
“Because I caught the cancer early, I will be here for my kids,” she said. “There’s nothing more important than getting checked often and early to protect your future. Our health is irreplaceable. I can’t thank my exceptional doctors and nurses enough. They are our heroes.”
The mother of two, who shares children Madilyn and Mason with ex-husband Ne-Yo, received an outpouring of support from friends and followers after announcing her breast cancer diagnosis on Instagram.
“Here for you sis. We are now officially Breasties. We got this. In Jesus’ name, you healed,” one friend wrote.
“Praying for your optimum healing and less stress manifestation, sister,” added someone else.
Shaw-Carter’s announcement and push for regular doctor visits come amid recent studies showing that while breast cancer rates are similar between Black and white women, Black women face a nearly 40% higher mortality rate from the disease.
Established on May 30, the new chapter comprises 25 professional women with portfolios across various industries, including real estate, finance, medicine, and business, Watch The Yard reports. Over the past year, the interest group, known as the Royal Pearl Society, led community volunteer efforts highlighting Alpha Kappa Alpha’s global legacy of sisterhood and service.
The new chapter marks Alpha Kappa Alpha’s first return to London in nearly 20 years, following the dissolution of the Tau Sigma Omega Chapter in 2006.
“As the 19th chapter in the Ingenious International Region, Alpha Delta Alpha Omega Chapter emerges as a beacon of sisterhood, service, and global impact,” the organization’s international region wrote in an Instagram announcement.
“Under the visionary leadership of International Regional Director Mrs. Carrie J. Clark, this milestone marks the beginning of a powerful new chapter in our legacy of excellence.”
“s members of the Royal Pearl Society, the women partnered with over a dozen local organizations to lead impactful initiatives, delivering more than 350 Childhood Hunger Power Packs (AKA CHIPP™ weekend meals), assembling over 200 Blessing Bags, hosting an eight-week entrepreneurship program for women, contributing over 200 volunteer hours, and investing more than £3,000 in Black-owned businesses.
“These women are already making an enormous difference in and around London,” said Carrie J. Clark, International Regional Director for Alpha Kappa Alpha. “They are an amazing group of servant leaders who I am confident will expand Alpha Kappa Alpha’s legacy of service in the Greater London area for years to come.”
“mong their first official acts as a chapter, Alpha Delta Alpha Omega members will join volunteers and visiting sorors to host a chchildren’sook drive, collecting and distributing titles by Black authors. Upcoming initiatives include gathering professional attire for women re-entering the workforce.
Nike Hosts 12 Female Sports Figures For 4th Athlete Think Tank
JuJu Watkins, Sha’Carri Richardson, Carson Pickett, Dora Atim, Erin Matson, India Sardjoe, Jess Sims, Leah Williamson, Sanya Richards-Ross, Sophie Hahn, Sue Bird, and Tayla Harris participated in the gathering of sports figures
Nike has been doing its Athlete Think Tank for several years and recently recruited 12 sports influencers and athletes to participate in the company’s fourth one.
According to Complex, the sportswear entity announced the 12 women who would give their thoughts and insights to help the company advance, as their feedback will be used for future purposes. Those 12 come from different aspects of the athletic spectrum: Carson Pickett, Dora Atim, Erin Matson, India Sardjoe, Jess Sims, JuJu Watkins, Leah Williamson, Sanya Richards-Ross, Sha’Carri Richardson, Sophie Hahn, Sue Bird, and Tayla Harris.
The gathering of women for the purposes of elevating the Nike brand was initiated five years ago as the athletic brand sought the input of selected individuals who are active in their respective sports and could give insight based on their experiences as athletes. The opinions and suggestions have been used to help the brand introduce new technology like Nike’s Leak Protection while receiving the women’s input regarding decisions that led to implementing community-focused initiatives. This also included the company allocating over $4.4 million to organizations supporting women and girls participating in sports.
The meeting reportedly took place on May 29.
📬 | leah via ig
“Nike Athlete Think Tank.
So grateful to have had the opportunity to be in conversation with these incredible women.
They inspired, educated and empowered me. I’ll be forever grateful to Nike for creating space for all the magic to happen.” pic.twitter.com/nEs7UQNELn
— leah williamson source (@lw6source) May 31, 2025
Footwear News reported that some members of this group met previously during the Paris Olympics last summer and then again in Mexico in November. The media outlet spoke to Richards-Ross about the Athlete Think Tank, as she has been with the brand for 20 years.
She said, “We’re headed in the right direction when it comes to supporting women in sports and giving women an opportunity to be heard and seen. Nike now pays so much attention to athletes holistically. And that’s the part that I want to continue to see. I feel like there’s always that athlete inside of us, whether we’re competitive professionally or not. So, what does that journey look like for all women? And how do we support women as they continue on that journey of being their best selves? I see that change, and I know we’re going to continue to get better at that.”
