by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

January 25, 2024

Shoppers Rally Around Neglected Baby In Mississippi Walmart

Shoppers at Jackson, Mississippi, Walmart joined forces to help clothe a neglected child while his mother grocery shopped.

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Shoppers at a Jackson, Mississippi, Walmart banded together to ensure an underdressed child was safe. According to footage shared on the internet on Jan. 23, the community members helped clothe a child who had just a diaper on in the winter weather, while questioning the mother who allowed it. 

Meanwhile, the child’s mother, whose identity was not disclosed, was wearing warmer clothing, including a sweater, jeans, and boots, in addition to a hair protective bonnet. While adding items to her cart, she was instantly called out for the lack of attention toward her child’s wellness. Police were called to investigate the issue.

The Neighborhood Talk posted a video of the ordeal, showing others getting involved. 

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A post shared by The Neighborhood Talk (@theneighborhoodtalk)

“That’s just sad,” stated a woman who documented the video in a voiceover. “That baby just had a Pamper on.” 

The video showed an older Black woman giving the child clothes as the mother typed on her phone. However, the neglectful mother got into a confrontation with a male shopper. She briefly twerked in the midst of the escalating issue. 

“Somebody call the police on her,” said the woman who continued recording. 

As members of the community called out the mom for letting her child be outside wearing only a diaper, she began explaining that Children’s Protective Services had already been alerted about her twice. She also said that “hot water and food” is all that’s needed to keep one’s children under their care. 

Despite the woman being defensive about her (lack of) parenting skills, the concerned bystanders made sure to do their due diligence on behalf of the child’s safety. Felicia Nicole, the Walmart employee, who originally posted the video on TikTok as @feenicole8, said the mother was arrested at the Walmart and that her children are staying with their grandmother.

RELATED CONTENT: Black-Owned Beignet Company Now In 200 Walmart Stores Thanks To Retailer’s Annual ‘Open Call’

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 25, 2024

‘For The Culture’ Author Calls Out ‘Material Impact’ Illegal Immigration Has On Black Community

Author Marcus Collins said a “scarcity mindset” is creating gradual tension between the Black community and incoming migrants.

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Author Marcus Collins said a “scarcity mindset” is creating gradual tension between the Black community and incoming immigrants. 

In the last year, the U.S. has seen a continued surge of migrants crossing the United States-Mexico border that has created an outcry throughout the country due to how it is overwhelming already-stretched resources.

In the past year, the southern U.S. border witnessed an unprecedented influx of people. Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection reveals that federal agents encountered approximately 2.5 million migrants at the southern border in 2023, NPR reports. 

All the while, major U.S. cities such as Chicago, Denver, and New York City face ongoing challenges in accommodating tens of thousands of migrants, a significant portion of whom are impoverished and lack connections in the U.S. Last month, the Democratic mayors of these cities issued a warning emphasizing that without additional federal assistance, they may soon be unable to accommodate more migrants, according to CBS News.

It’s when looking at the communities that are already impoverished and lacking resources in the U.S, an influx of migrants can be seen as a bigger hindrance, Collins told Fox News. 

“We know oppression in this country 1,000%. And when we see others who are experiencing that oppression there’s a level of empathy,” Collins said. “On the other hand, there’s a scarcity mindset. It’s like ‘I feel you but hey, man, you got to wait in line.”

The For The Culture author believes this “scarcity mindset” is at the root of a brewing divide between impoverished Black communities and incoming migrants. Collins cites the “material impact” immigration is having on Black culture. 

“I think we can start to think about illegal immigration. It creates a new frame by which we think about this influx and the question is, ‘Do they have a right to what people who are already here have?”

Collins said the migrant crisis is further complicating the lack of resources impacting impoverished communities, many of which contain high populations of Black Americans. In turn, it’s creating “tension” due to the scarcity mindset it fuels as the migrant crisis grows. 

“When we look at it as a mindset of scarcity, that’s when the tensions arise,” Collins explained.

Last month, White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández announced the Biden administration had 10,000 migrants in applying for work permits. They expedited the review of applications and approved millions of dollars in funds for communities that are receiving new arrivals.

On Jan. 1, California approved free healthcare for all undocumented immigrants, regardless of age. It falls under the Medi-Cal plan, California’s version of the federal Medicaid program for people with low incomes, via ABC News.

RELATED CONTENT: Texas Bus Company Sues Chicago Over Migrant Ordinance

by Daniel Johnson

January 25, 2024

Driving Diversity: The National Links Trust Aims To Tee Up Black Youth’s Interest in Golf

The nonprofit organization is inviting the Black youth of Washington, D.C. to hit the links.

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The National Links Trust is attempting to change two narratives with one initiative. Amid the much publicized youth crime wave in the nation’s capital, the nonprofit organization is inviting the Black youth of Washington, D.C., onto golf courses.

David Daniels, director of Community Engagement for the organization, told the Huffington Post, “Golf is a [$101.7 billion] industry. And there have always been barriers to entry for Black and brown people. We want to introduce minorities to the game, but also show them how they can have careers in this space.”

Daniels provided examples: “Golf architects, landscaping, club manufacturing.”

Daniels also recruits for the Jack Vardeman Workforce Development Program, a program whose aims dovetail with those of the National Links Trust. At Jack Vardeman, local youth are provided with an opportunity to learn practical skills, job training, income, and scholarships. During the summer months, at Langston Golf Course, students are instructed on the finer points of what it takes to make a course run, including merchandising and agronomy (the science of soil and crop management).

As part of The National Links Trust program, one golfer was chosen to attend a tournament hosted by Tiger Woods, who played a round with the young golfer.

Divine King, 18, who has participated in the program since he was 16, says that the program has helped him grow as a person.

“I learned the business of golf, how to conduct business outside of golf and how to operate the cash register as well,” King said. “[It showed me] the importance of getting to a job on time, and it also gave me the opportunity to also make money.”

His mother, Tanisha King, also credits the program with boosting his confidence. “It’s given him more drive and determination to go after his goals—the fact that he applied to Howard, I didn’t know he had applied to Howard,” she said.

“Being out on the golf course can assist a lot of these children, and allow them to focus on other things,” King added. “Golf is not a common sport amongst Black and brown kids. And the safe, peaceful environment is definitely a step outside of the norm from what many are experiencing. I think that’s what’s missing for a lot of kids in D.C.”

Langston is considered one of the birthplaces of the sport for Black people, particularly in the D.C area. Langston, which opened in 1939, was one of only 20 public courses that allowed Black people to play. As advocates pushed for equal access to all-white courses in Washington, Black celebrities, like world champion boxer Joe Louis, made a point to play at Langston, elevating the course’s profile.

Over the years, the course has faded and is in need of repairs. In 2020, along with two other courses, the National Links Trust took over operations at Langston in the hopes of rejuvenating the courses.

RELATED CONTENT: Black-Owned Golf Apparel Brand Eastside Golf Projected To Generate $4M In 2024

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 25, 2024

Sheryl Lee Ralph And Diana Ross Ended ‘Dreamgirls” Feud ‘Years’ Ago, Thanks To Ross’ Son

Sheryl Lee Ralph admits to having a past feud with Diana Ross over her “Dreamgirls” role.

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Sheryl Lee Ralph admitted to having a feud with Diana Ross over her Dreamgirls role but said the two made amends “years later.”

The Abbott Elementary star got candid with Oprah Winfrey for Oprah Daily’s “The Life You Want’ Class: A Conversation with Sheryl Lee Ralph,” about her one-sided feud with “The Boss” Miss Ross that stemmed over Ralph’s starring role in Dreamgirls in 1981.

Ralph was in the inaugural cast of the storied Broadway musical, which follows a girl group trio’s journey through the music industry in the 1960s. 

Twenty-five years before the 2006 musical film with Beyoncé in the lead role of Deena Jones, Ralph was in the starring role, playing a character many likened to the real-life story of Ross and The Supremes.

In 2007, Ross spoke with David Letterman and admitted to never seeing Dreamgirls but had plans to see the film.

“I have not seen it … I’ve heard a lot about it. I’m going to see it with my lawyers,” she quipped. “It has been said to me that there’s a lot of my image and likeness in the movie. What I would like to do is be able to see it. I like to inspire the talent that is out there today,” she said. “If I’ve done that, it’s a good thing.”

While speaking with Winfrey, Ralph revealed she was told not to portray Ross in the 1981 musical or else the production would get “sued.” Many, including Ross, were convinced that the story was based on her music career. It ultimately led to an encounter between Ross and Ralph at the Russian Tea Room in New York City.

“At that moment, she walked into the Russian Tea Room and I was like, ‘There she was,'” Ralph shared. “I just got up and walked over to her. And she turned around in the way that you could smell her perfume. It was beautiful. And the smile left her face looking at me. And I was like, ‘Oh my gosh. She doesn’t like me because of the show.'”

“She said, ‘I know who you are.’ And I was just like, OK. And she turned around and she was gone,” Ralph said.

It was “years later” when Ralph bumped into Ross again. One of Ross’ two sons helped break the ice and get the music icon to speak to Ralph.

“Her son said, ‘She’s right there, mom. Right there.’ He was yelling at the time because we were all in the same place,” Ralph recalled.

“And she didn’t want to see me but then she saw me and she came over and we talked and it was wonderful. It was lipstick and lashes under the bridge. It was gone. She said, ‘Girl, that was such a long time ago. I understand now.’ I was like, ‘Aw, here’s the moment.’ It was great.”

RELATED CONTENT: Beverly Johnson Recalls Hotel Draining Pool After She Stepped Inside: ‘It Was Racist’

by Daniel Johnson

January 25, 2024

Preserving Legacy: 31 Historic Black Churches Receive $4M In Grants

The fund has supported over 70 historic churches through $8.7 million in grants.

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On Jan. 15, the National Trust for Historic Preservation awarded $4 million in grants to 31 Black churches through its African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which is supported by Lily Endowment, Inc.

As Anabaptist World reports, over its lifetime, the fund has awarded $8.7 million to over 70 historic churches.

Brent Leggs, executive director of AACHAF, told the outlet, “We created the Preserving Black Churches program to ensure the historic Black church’s legacy is told and secured, these cultural assets can continue to foster community resilience and drive meaningful change in our society.”

Another recipient, New Albany, Indiana’s Town Clock Church, was once a stop on the Underground Railroad, providing those escaping enslavement respite as they journeyed to freedom.

The other churches awarded were AME churches like Atlanta’s Big Bethel AME Church, out of which sprang Morris Brown College, the HBCU famously depicted alongside North Carolina A&T University in the film Drumline. Morris Brown is the first educational institution in the State of Georgia owned by Black people.

This year’s grants, which range from $50,000 to $200,000, will allow congregations to address issues such as mold contamination, demolition, water filtration and deferred maintenance, Anabaptist World reports.

Another selected AME church, St. James AME Church in New Orleans, was the headquarters of the Louisiana Native Guards, a group of Black Union soldiers that fought in the Civil War, and a meeting place during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

“The heart of our spiritual world is the Black church,” said Henry Louis Gates Jr., who advises the fund, in a statement. “These places of worship, these sacred cultural centers, must exist for future generations to understand who we were as a people.”

RELATED CONTENT: Biden Continues Campaign Tour At Emanuel AME Church With Hopes Of Keeping Black Voter Support Alive

by Black Enterprise

January 25, 2024

How Can I Can Bring Attention To My Brand Without Using Social Media?

Discover tips on how to bring attention to your brand without using social media.

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Originally Published Jun. 8, 2016

The following answers are provided by members of Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses and a brand.

Guest Blog

Over the years, I’ve gained a lot of credibility by guest blogging for other people’s sites. This can be anything from submitting an article to a trade publication to blogging regularly for Inc. Magazine. It’s one of the best ways I’ve been able to get my brand’s name out there while not being all over social media.
— John Rampton, Due

Pitch Journalists

PR still works. In fact, it’s how many of our favorite brands have been built. Bloggers and journalists prefer being pitched by a founder more than an agency representative. If you can come up with a truly compelling story of why your company matters to the writer’s audience, that’s your best shot of getting covered—and by extension, getting attention for your brand.
— Fan Bi, Blank Label

Hold Events

Partner with like-minded brands to involve their communities in special events. This is how you garner the attention of your desired audience. Don’t want to plan an event when there’s not something else going on? Integrate into a festival or trade show that’s industry specific. The event can be unofficial, and may end up being awesome.

— Alexis Levine, Savvy Media

 Leverage Your Circle of Influence

Think about your professional network as if it’s a Web and have some real conversations. Instead of liking tweets from reporters you want to engage with, first figure out if your network can directly connect you with any media contacts. They may not cover the beat you’re after. But you’d be surprised by how quickly you can get to the right voice once you’ve developed some real relationships.

— Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer, AirPR

Send Direct Mail

I know it may sound old school, but direct mailers can put your brand name and logo in front of thousands of people. These can be targeted pieces, too. Lob.com is an excellent way to keep the cost of these mailers low. Plus, Google likes when people search for you by brand name, which mailers can help your target audience do.

— Brad Cummins, Insurance Geek

Get Out There

You have to take every single opportunity that is given to you in order to grow your business. That sometimes means creating opportunities where others may not see them. Join local committees, host a show on your local broadcasting network, or create swag that you can hand out at events. You have to put yourself out there and use every instance as an opportunity for brand awareness.

— Phil Laboon, Lead Stacker

Pursue Channel Partnership

Channel partnerships are one of the fastest ways to grow if you don’t want to utilize social media. Find folks who have a similar audience and negotiate a mutually beneficial arrangement where you can access their users. This can be done as referral fees, upsells, cross-sells, etc.

— Syed Balkhi, OptinMonster

Pursue Nontraditional PR Opportunities

One of our favorite ways to get our brand out there is to use our corporate headquarters as an event space for our local community. We frequently offer it to Philly nonprofits to host events and fundraisers, which helps us live one of our core values: to be a community serving its community. [It also] introduces people to our company and gives visitors a strong sense of our mission.

— Nick Bayer, Saxbys Coffee

Send Monthly or Quarterly E-mails

Whether you’re building a personal or company brand, sending out a regular email update to the people close to you will help build your brand. You’ll be able to measure how many people received and opened your communication. You’ll get immediate feedback on how your content engaged your audience. And, you’ll have a direct line of communication to showcase what’s important to you.

— Brett Farmiloe, Featured

Do Random Acts of Kindness

Many entrepreneurs are uncomfortable seeking the spotlight, yet a larger brand presence is important for driving growth. If you focus on delivering exceptional service to your clients (expediting orders, making a product donation to their favorite causes) they’ll tell your story for you. The best part? You’ll be building your brand by doing activities that make you feel good.

— Aaron Schwartz, Modify Watches

 Become a Subject Matter Expert

Social media is only one aspect of building a successful brand. There are many more opportunities for driving traffic and garnering customers through content-driven sites. Become an expert in your field, develop a unique voice, and start reaching out to content providers to publish your articles and generate some real, quality leads and brand awareness.

— Blair Thomas, First American Merchant

RELATED CONTENT: Founder of Award-Winning Black, Woman-Owned Branding Agency Makes History with Buy with Prime Partnership

by Black Enterprise

January 25, 2024

How To Exit Your Business Safely

Discover the different methods that may be available to you when making decisions about exiting your business and attracting potential buyers.

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Originally Published Feb. 16, 2017

While it may seem that there are many, many challenges in starting a business, there can be even more during the exit process. When the time comes for you to leave, you may discover a harsh reality: There may not be buyers lined up at the door, and the buyers that are available may not see the value in your business that you feel is obvious.

So how can you avoid this? The simple answer is to think ahead.

Lock the Door

There are two main approaches to leaving your business. The first is known as locking the door behind you. This can be especially effective if the business isn’t going very well or if you have known that you are going to be leaving and you have slowly let your customers find other vendors (hopefully providing some reward for you). The downside to this is that other than the money you have earned from your business over the years, you have nothing to show for your work. No nest-egg, or in the vernacular of the regular employee, no pension. So unless you’re independently wealthy, you probably want to consider the second option.

Sell the Business

Here, you’ll want to plan ahead in order to create and show the value of the business to your potential buyers. The steps for this option will probably seem vaguely familiar, as they are similar to the steps you would take to find your target market for your business’ customers. For example, if you sell custom frames, when you started your business you most likely found out not only who buys custom frames, but who else is selling custom frames, and what will make your custom frames and your company unique and worthy of customers.

This is the same process you will use as you work out how to sell your business. Yes, your products will be a major factor, but your business as a whole will also be examined. Keep in mind, too, that you are selling your business and the theory is that your goal is for you to leave your business. Bragging to potential buyers about how the business was and is built around your skills and expertise may not give them the warms and fuzzies that they can succeed without you.

Here are some key questions that will indicate that you need to do some work before attracting potential buyers for your business:

Are You the Main Salesperson?

If so, it may be difficult for the new buyer to come in and keep sales up to your level. If it is your skills that the business is relying on, and you leave, then the new buyer will feel that they are going to be left with nothing. Instead, create sales processes and tools that can be replicated by others. Prove it by hiring a salesperson and allowing them to be successful.

Are You the Main Resource for Your Product or Service?

Again, having you as a key resource for delivery is not a good sign. Your business should be able to stand alone without you—that’s what you are selling! Create processes and tools that can be replicated by others. While your “secret sauce” may be the reason you’re successful, it can’t be so secret that only you can make or deliver it.

Are You Selling a Simple Product That Isn’t Trademarked or Patented?

This may or may not be a big issue, but if someone can replicate your product easily, there will have to be value elsewhere in your business. Otherwise, potential buyers can either start from scratch themselves or they may be concerned about competition. Understand your business’ value, not only in your products but in other areas of your business. Also, understand any barriers to entry for potential competitors, and if they’re not there, try to create them.

Do You Have Systems in Place for All of the Back Office Elements?

When a prospective buyer is looking at your business, they’re hoping for a business they can walk into and operate with minimal input. It’s kind of like buying a house; the houses that sell for a decent price have been upgraded and everything works. If it’s a fixer-upper, the buyer expects the price to be lower.

Is Your Business’ Industry Changing Dramatically?

This can be challenging, as changes in your industry are somewhat outside of your control. Your option is to decide when would be the best time to sell. Of course, years ago may have been the best time, but the future is your only option. Approach the sale of your business as a true businessperson. Create and display as much value in the business (not in yourself) as possible to show prospective buyers that they can make money even after paying the purchase price—that’s what they’re looking for!

RELATED CONTENT: How To Fund The Franchise Business You’ve Always Wanted

by Sharelle Burt

January 25, 2024

Puerto Rico Prepares For Fight Against New Bill Banning Hair Discrimination

Nothing wrong with some added protections......

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Associated Press reports that a bill that prohibits discrimination against culturally acceptable hairstyles in Puerto Rico is sparking debates. 

Lawmakers on the island argue that such legislation is unnecessary since federal and local laws ban hair discrimination. However, members of the Afro-Caribbean community continue to face backlash for wearing everyday styles like afros and cornrows. They feel protections with public services, housing, and education should be in place.

“I’m 23 years old, and I’m tired of this problem,” Julia Llanos Bultrón said during the hearing on Jan. 23. “I’m very disappointed with a system that pushes us to change the hair with which we’re born.”

Bultrón, a teacher, was offered a job in 2023, contingent on her cutting her cornrows. She ultimately declined, but she isn’t alone in her feelings. Lorraine León Ramírez, who has two sons sporting afros, said her youngest child was banned from two schools until he agreed to cut his hair.

“It was one of the worst experiences we’ve had as a family,” Ramírez said. The angry mother continued saying it was time for the stigmas to end.

“The big question is, is it fair that our children have to grow up with regulations that undermine their identity? The answer is no.”

The hearing at San Juan’s seaside Capitol building held precedent as a highly anticipated discussion on what is acceptable. The diverse U.S. territory is home to over three million people who identify as two or more races — close to 230,000 identify as Black only. 

Currently, the island’s laws, constitution, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protect residents from discrimination. However, in 2016, a new precedent was set after the U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed a discrimination lawsuit regarding an employer’s anti-dreadlock policy in Alabama, according to NBC News. The ruling found the company did not violate Title VII.

The bill’s co-author, Puerto Rico Sen. Ana Irma Rivera Lassén, said she doesn’t understand why legislators can’t add protections. “What is the problem with adding explicit protection?” she said. Other bill supporters, like Alanis Ruiz Guevara and author Mayra Santos-Febres, took similar stances. Guevara advocates for specific styles like braids, locs, and Bantu knots since they aren’t covered under certain laws. “We need tools to defend ourselves from systemic racism,” Febres mentioned. 

In 2022, the U.S. House passed the Crown Act, banning race-based hair discrimination in the workplace and protecting Americans against bias based on hair texture and protective styles. However, the issue continues to linger in some states. Darryl George and his family are suing a Texas school district after he was removed from class for a dress code violation, claiming his locs were below his eyebrows and earlobes. The suit alleges his punishment violates the CROWN Act, which became a state law in September 2023.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 25, 2024

Diddy Faces Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Over ‘Act Bad’ Single

Diddy faces a lawsuit over his 2023 single “Act Bad.”

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Diddy isn’t catching any breaks on the legal side. Now, he faces a new lawsuit over his 2023 single “Act Bad.”

It was all good a year ago when the Bad Boy founder released the single that featured the City Girls and Fabolous. Diddy danced in the nude and drove around the city with his rapper girlfriend Yung Miami.

Now, less than a year later, an inmate in New York’s Collins Correctional Facility is accusing Diddy of trademark infringement and breach of contract, Hot New Hip Hop reports. Charles Kenyatta Jr. alleges that Combs infringed on his trademark of “Act Bad” and ignored emails from his lawyer about the trademark.

“Sean Combs made a song called ‘ACT BAD’ and wanted to [sell] Act Bad merchandise, a percentage of the net profits for recorded song and music video, also a percentage of merchandise T-shirts, hats, etc.” Kenyatta says in the filing. 

Considering Kenyatta Jr.’s current incarceration, he couldn’taf sign the contract, which he says Diddy should’ve forwarded it to his Power of Attorney. 

“Secondly, it was another person’s name on the contract that had to be removed,” the filing adds. “The percentage was not of Plaintiff’s liking, there was no upfront or advance monetary and it was a bunch of miscellaneous things plaintiff wanted to remove off contract.”

Kenyatta Jr. believes Diddy orchestrated a scheme to remove him from the contract and move forward with use of the term “Act Bad” without proper acknowledgement of the trademark.

“The defendant Sean Combs and John Doe had a scheme to illegally squeeze out Plaintiff Charles Kenyatta Jr. from the contract. Plaintiff’s lawyer told Defendant Sean Comb’s lawyer John Doe has no ownership of Act Bad and should not be on the contract,” the filing states. 

It was only a few weeks after Diddy allegedly went ghost on Kenyatta Jr. that Diddy and “John Doe” moved forward with performing and promoting their new single.

“After defendant Sean Combs and John Doe signed contract without Charles Kenyatta Jr.’s consent, the defendant Sean Combs use of trademark caused confusion as to the affiliation, connection,” according to the filing. 

It’s the latest in a string of lawsuits Diddy is facing, including sexual assault lawsuits filed by three different women accusing the hip-hop mogul of sexual abuse.

RELATED CONTENT: Diddy Settles Legal Dispute With Diageo, No Longer Has Ties To Cîroc Or DeLeón