January 4, 2024

Katt Williams Doubles Down On Accusing Cedric The Entertainer Of Stealing His Joke

Katt Williams said Cedric the Entertainer stole one of his jokes for "The Original Kings Of Comedy" tour in 2000.

If you haven’t heard from comedian Katt Williams in a while, buckle up. He has a lot to say!

On a recent episode of Sharpe’s popular podcast, Club Shay Shay, Williams had specific words for Cedric the Entertainer, whom he has no love for. He resurrected the accusation he levied at Cedric about a joke the television actor allegedly stole from him and used on The Original Kings of Comedy Tour in 2000.

Katt brought up a conversation Sharpe had in 2022 with Cedric, who denied stealing the joke. So, the comedian recalled when Cedric was in the audience and heard the joke he allegedly stole.

“He thought that I was just a no-name comedian and that he could take this joke and nobody would know,” Williams told Sharpe. “The issue was that I had already done this particular joke on BET’s ComicView twice. It had done so well on BET’s ComicView that they made it part of the commercial.

“This is not just a random joke, this is my best joke and it’s my last joke and it’s my closing joke. 1998, I’m doing this joke; Cedric comes to The Comedy Store. He watches me in the audience; he comes backstage; he tells me what a great job I did and how much he loves the joke. Two years later, he’s doing that as his last joke on The [Original] Kings of Comedy, and he’s doing it verbatim; he just changed my car into a spaceship.”

Williams said he gave Cedric “a pass for a decade” when he claimed that The Neighborhood actor apologized. Then Cedric told Sharpe he didn’t do it, and the beef was back on!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Club Shay Shay (@clubshayshay)

After viewing the above post, Cedric responded by writing, “Revisionist History, regardless of whatever Katts opinion My career can’t be reduced to One Joke Katt Williams claims as his. I been over 40 movies, my specials and brand speaks volumes for I am. The ppl I have put on including “Katt in the Hat”. At the Gibson Amphitheater”

Scrolling down a little further in the Instagram post, Cedric, evidently frustrated at this point, added, “And all that tough talk! Is corny af I’m grown ass man. And none of that shit gonna go like you think. You do you and I got this over here..”

Check out the full interview below to hear all Williams had to say about other comedians as well.

Transgender woman, Missouri, Kansas City, shot

by Stacy Jackson

January 4, 2024

Black Transgender Woman In Missouri Shot And Killed On Christmas Eve

The 40-year-old Black transgender woman was shot the morning of Christmas Eve and pronounced dead at the scene.

Black transgender woman Amber Minor was killed on Christmas Eve.

Minor, a Kansas City resident, was shot on the morning of Dec. 24. According to The Kansas City Star, the 40-year-old’s body was discovered in a Raytown, Missouri, driveway on Christmas Eve around 8:35 a.m. Minor was pronounced dead at the scene by authorities after police arrived.

In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the LGBTQ Commission of Kansas City commented on who Minor was as a person. “Amber was a resilient Black Trans woman who lived a life full of laughter,” the commission wrote.

https://twitter.com/LGBTQCommission/status/1741115943546232864

Minor was also regarded as a “Black Trans woman full of love and life” by Justice Horn, the commission chair in Kansas City.

The LGBTQ Commission of Kansas City acknowledged its collaboration with Transformations KC and local trans support groups to offer support to the community. Following her death, media outlets reportedly misgendered Minor and did not acknowledge her female identity. However, Horn and local transgender rights activists confirmed Minor’s identity and gender.

At the direction of her loved ones, I’ve sent the following letter to 3 local news stations that deadnamed and misgendered Amber Minor. Amber was affirmed in life, and the least we can do is affirm her in death.

Folks in local media are some of the kindest people I know, I know… pic.twitter.com/c6WqmY73Ti
— Justice Horn (@JusticeHorn_) January 2, 2024

Minor is one of many individuals in a marginalized community that has suffered from violent, often deadly attacks, which are increasing nationwide. According to Advocate, in 2023, 30 people identifying as trans, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming lost their lives due to acts of violence. The high death toll for these communities continues to rise as cultural divides and lack of awareness on these issues persist. “Looking ahead, we have the proposed hate crimes ordinance going before the full Kansas City Council next Thursday for a vote,” Justice Horn announced on X. “It’s vital we get this policy on the books here in the City of Kansas City!”

Raytown Police are conducting the investigation, and the department asks that anyone with information regarding the incident call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.

by Sharelle Burt

January 4, 2024

Daniel Cameron Becomes CEO Of ‘Anti-Woke’ Group

Just in case you were wondering what he was up to....

NBC News reports former Kentucky attorney general Daniel Cameron has a new job: CEO of an anti-woke group.

Cameron is joining 1792 Exchange, a group that pushes against “woke ideology” and ESG—environmental, sustainability, and governance—something he spoke candidly about during his tenure and his failed attempt to unseat Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in November 2023.

Called a “rising star” by former President Donald Trump and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Cameron hasn’t put his political dreams fully behind him but is excited for his new role.

“We will shine a bright light on those whose ideological agendas seek to dismantle American freedom and prosperity,” Cameron said in a news reelase. “We will stop investment management firms, elected officials, and corporate interests from using other people’s money to advance their radical political agendas.”

His term as attorney general officially ended Jan. 1 after his successor and fellow Republican, former federal prosecutor Russell Coleman, was sworn in.

Cameron was Kentucky’s first Black attorney general and nominee for state governor. However, those accomplishments were overshadowed by the Breonna Taylor case.

“We worked really hard and met a lot of people and had a lot of rewarding experiences, and certainly grateful to have served as the AG and then to have been the Republican nominee for governor in Kentucky,” Cameron said. “Never in my wildest dreams growing up did I think that would occur in terms of a sequence of events in my life.”

ESG has been under attack for years by conservative lawmakers and groups like 1972 Exchange. According to the Lexington Herald Leader, it was once named Constitutional Congress Inc., a tax-exempt organization for more than 10 years. The group’s president, Paul Fitzpatrick, once worked for former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and former U.S. Rep. and Trump’s Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows (R-NC).

The 1792 Exchange’s goal is to “partner with leaders and organizations countering ‘woke capitalism’ and with organizations vulnerable to corporations using their size and influence to stifle speech or deny services.”

In the news release, founder Nathan Estruth said he could not imagine “a more capable and qualified chief executive to help us safeguard free exercise, free speech, and free enterprise” than Cameron.

by Kandiss Edwards

January 4, 2024

Are You an Unemployed College Grad? Here’s How To Manage Your Money

Here are some helpful tips if you're short on cash after graduating from school.

Originally Published Mar. 23, 2014

If the glow of receiving that shiny, new college degree has worn off and you’re left with a mountain of student loan debt and no job (or you have a job that doesn’t pay well), there are a few things you can do to keep your finances intact. The unemployment rate for new college grads as of November 2023 is 4.4%, according to The Washington Post.

The odds might seem stacked against you, but you can overcome them.

Consider moving back home. Live with your parents until you get back on your feet. Once you are financially stable, consider getting a roommate to share expenses.

Freelance or seek temporary work to earn more. Temp or freelance work will help you pay the bills until you find full-time work. Your school’s career center can point you in the right direction. “It’s a matter of focusing on short-term survival while remaining poised to move ahead,” says Bonnie Kerrigan Snyder, a certified college planning specialist and author of The Unemployed College Graduate’s Survival Guide and The New College Reality.

Relocating can earn you money. Go where your skills are in demand, and the cost of living is low. “Go somewhere remote, build your résumé, come back with valuable job experience, and then go where you want to be at a higher level,” says Kerrigan Snyder. She also recommends seeking opportunities abroad. Websites such as Indeed display job listings for those looking to work overseas.

Don’t rely on credit. Resist the urge to use credit cards to pay for items when money is tight. Before you know it, you will have dug a hole that will be very hard to get out of.

reputation, online, workforce, customers, self-care, health, wellness

by Carolyn M. Brown

January 4, 2024

Here’s How To Write A Grant To Gain Funding

Grants are generally given to nonprofit organizations for programs and services that benefit the community or a specific group of the general public.

Originally Published Apr. 21, 2014

Grants are generally given to non-profit organizations for programs and services that benefit the community or specific group of the general public. Most funding institutions don’t provide grants to individuals who will use the proceeds to start or develop a for-profit business.

As with any rule, there are exceptions. But usually when an individual does secure a grant that assists his or her enterprise, it is typically for a very specific objective—such as developing products that improve the quality of healthcare—and not general operating purposes.

No matter if you are seeking government or private funding, a well-written grant proposal clearly states your objectives, sets forth a plan, and provides a realistic budget.

The following tips will help you write a winning grant proposal.

Make sure your mission and purpose fits closely with the funding entity’s mission and purpose. Don’t tailor what your business does to get the funding. Only apply for grants that look like they’re specifically written for you, your business.

Identifying state agencies, private foundations, and other organizations that give grants to individuals or small businesses requires considerable time, effort, and research. For starters, look in your own backyard to find grant-makers that have previously funded projects or services for businesses like yours. Many state economic development agencies provide small business grants and other types of financial assistance.

Once you identify potential funders, determine how you intend to approach them. Make a personal contact and cultivate relationships by e-mail, telephone call, office visit and/or letter of inquiry. Your grant proposal has to be prescriptive to what that funder is seeking. So, get to know potential grant-makers better by obtaining copies of their annual reports. Scrutinize their websites. What buzz words do they use. You can even incorporate that funder’s colors into the fonts and graphics that you use in your grant proposal.

Most importantly, request a copy of the grant guidelines. Follow the requirements of the funding notice or application to the letter. Your guide for what to include or not to include in your document is the request for proposal (RFP) or grant application. Give the funder exactly what they ask for, no more and no less. If the funder wants two to four pages that is what you will provide–not one page or over.

In general, your proposal will start with an introduction, which includes the amount requested, followed by a description and brief history of your company and its products, services, or programs. Your proposal should describe anticipated and immediate short-term and long-term results, proposed implementation, staff or key personnel, budget, methodology, benchmarks, and timetable.

A common mistake in writing a proposal is failing to distinguish between a goal and an objective. To provide energy-efficient appliances to homeowners helping to cut costs is a goal, not an objective. A measurable objective will have a subject, an action, a location, a timeframe, and a percentage.

Provide a budget that breaks down line-by-line how you would spend the grant money. Some reviewers look at the budget first to gauge applicants. If you need help on this part of the grant, or all of it, the American Association of Grant Professionals has a list of grant consultants on its site.

Grant writers charge anywhere from $40 to $150 an hour.Expect to pay from $1,000 to $3,000 for a grant proposal for private or foundation funding and $4,000 to $15,000 for a grant proposal for government funding, since such grant applications tend to be more intricate. Even if you don’t hire someone to write it, consider hiring someone to review it.

by Michelle Awuku-Tatum

January 4, 2024

Corporate Life: How To Leave On Your Own Terms

Executive coach Michelle Awuku-Tatum shares tips on how corporate professionals can successful transition to their next phase.

Originally Published May 23, 2014

Career coach Michelle Awuku-Tatum offers insights and strategies for executives of color to find fulfillment and advancement.

I went to an event recently, where an attendee asked the panel, “How do you know when it is time to leave your job to do your own thing?

As a career coach, I have worked with many clients who have an fleshed out idea, one that is unfolding, or no idea at all. Regardless of the stage, these clients all fantasize about leaving the corporate world until their dream either comes to a grinding halt or loops back and plays over again. Fear of the unknown arrests one’s departure from the comfort of “corporate captivity.” As the late Nelson Mandela said, “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Here are three tried-and-tested steps you can use to create an exit plan to leave on your own terms:

Assess Yourself

It’s important to determine what you believe you are leaving behind and how your next move will enhance your outlook. If you were doing something that you enjoy or had the flexibility to engage in other projects outside of work, you might actually discover that you would be quite happy in the corporate world.

I also encourage you to answer the following questions: Do you have what it takes to bring your idea to life? What additional skills do you need? Doing your own thing can be a rocky road lined with setbacks that you may not be able to always anticipate. Absolute clarity on the skills you will need going forward is critical. By all means supplement your skills with additional classes, and projects at work (i.e., free training).

Solidify Your Next Move

Moving forward requires some definition. This is where research comes in. One client in particular had what seemed like a great idea which we worked to get out of their head and onto paper. Once it was on paper, the client had to become comfortable sharing their idea to get feedback.

No one can really steal your complete idea along with your drive to implement it the way you have envisioned. Share what you plan to do, be it in focus groups or at pitch events, with a small board of advisers or group of pragmatic friends. Then, be sure to refine your idea based on the input you receive.

Create a Strategic Survival Plan

Living without a consistent paycheck at the start requires a strategic survival plan to keep the lights on as well as your landlord or bank at bay. This is one of the reasons I advocate testing your idea while you are still working—ideally for at least a year—to determine the ebbs and flows and to learn how to best execute your idea. Additionally, consider how to create alternative sources of income such as working part-time, freelancing or an interim consulting engagement, until your idea is fully operational and generating a somewhat predictable revenue stream.

Leaving corporate life can look glamorous and even inspiring from the outside, but the truth is, you will work harder for yourself than you ever did for anyone else. However, the exhilaration you feel building something, seeing your idea working in the world, and putting your strengths into play each and every day is energizing and can create that sense of meaning you have been looking for.

Kieth Lee, Dynamite, sushi, father, passed away, tongue cancer,

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 4, 2024

Keith Lee Honors Late Restaurant Owner With Wildly Popular Taste-Testing Event in Las Vegas

Keith Lee helped a family-owned restaurant in Las Vegas honor the eatery's owner.

Keith Lee is the gift that keeps on giving to the world of small restaurants.

The popular food critic recently helped score an economic boon to a family-owned restaurant in Las Vegas in honor of the eatery’s owner, who recently died from cancer.

The renowned TikToker doesn’t usually ask his 15.6 million followers to visit the businesses he reviews. But he made an exception on Friday, December 29, when he asked his followers in Las Vegas to visit the Dynamite Korean St Food & Sushi for a tasting event.

Lee shared how he visited the sushi spot in January 2023 and was touched by the owner’s story of having secured his dream restaurant at the same time he was diagnosed with stage three tongue cancer. Despite the health battle, Jong Park cooked in the kitchen every day.

Lee’s video showed highlights of Park cooking and eating the food he prepared. Lee also recalled how “delicious” the food was and the $40,000 his followers helped raise for Park’s chemotherapy.

However, Lee was struck when he received a text from Park’s son the day prior to inform him that his father had died.

@keith_lee125 Dynamite Korean St Food & Sushi taste test Event 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #foodcritic ♬ original sound – Keith Lee

Afterward, Lee celebrated the eatery once more by promoting its tasting event and paying for the first 300 people who showed up. The turn out led to a 5-hour wait and a line that wrapped around the building.

The TikTok food critic followed up with a video Sunday showing how many people came out to support the small family-owned restaurant.

“A 5-hour wait time. Line around the corner,” Lee shared in his video. “So I went, I said hi to everybody. I thanked every single person for being there. We took pictures, we had fun, we smiled, we laughed. Everybody was patient, everybody was understanding. I couldn’t say thank you enough.”

@keith_lee125 Dynamite Korean St Food & Sushi taste test Event 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #foodcritic ♬ original sound – Keith Lee

The video is more proof of Keith Lee’s power in the restaurant industry.

by Rafael Pena

January 4, 2024

Fatal Shooting Of Imam Outside Newark Mosque Raises Concerns

Imam Hassan Sharif was fatally shot Jan. 3 outside the Masjid Muhammad-Newark mosque in New Jersey.

Imam Hassan Sharif was fatally shot Jan. 3 outside the Masjid Muhammad-Newark (New Jersey) mosque, where he led prayers. The assailant is still at large.

The shooting occurred around 6 a.m. Sharif, who was shot twice, was pronounced dead later in the afternoon at University Hospital. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, USA Today reports. Essex County Crime Stoppers is offering a $25,000 reward for information on the shooting

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said there is currently no information suggesting the crime was motivated by bias. The investigation is being handled by Attorney General’s Office, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Newark Police Department.

Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef said Sharif was previously attacked several months ago. In that incident, Sharif successfully disarmed the assailant, who escaped and was not apprehended.

Sharif, a former boxer and Transportation Security Administration officer, was recently elected as the resident imam. “We are making prayers for him, and at the same time, we are following up with the police,” said Shareef, who knew Sharif.

Dina Sayedahmed, communications director for the Council on American Islamic Relations in New Jersey, called Sharif “a beacon of leadership in his community.” U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said he was “heartbroken” over the news. Newark Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé remembered Sharif for his interfaith efforts and advocacy against gun violence.

Concern over attacks against Muslim Americans have risen, with 2,171 complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate reported in the last two months, according to CAIR.

Joining in the celebration of the inaugural Muslim Heritage Month in New Jersey, as formally established by @GovMurphy. Proud of the rich diversity of our state and grateful for the invaluable contributions of Muslim Americans, including the 320,000 who call New Jersey home. pic.twitter.com/AgdKtYXOoR
— Attorney General Matt Platkin (@NewJerseyOAG) January 3, 2024

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy expressed solidarity with the Muslim community and pledged to ensure safety, especially around places of worship. Law enforcement had previously increased patrols at religious institutions due to concerns over potential threats.

Jackson 5, Top 10, 40 years, Christmas album

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 4, 2024

‘The Jackson 5 Christmas Album’ Hits Top 10 For First Time In 40 Years

The Jackson 5 made spirits bright in 2023.

Now that the holiday season has wrapped, Billboard has gotten a full account of Christmas playlist results, and the legendary Jackson 5 returns to the top 10 of the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for the first time since 1984 with The Jackson 5 Christmas Album.

The classic Christmas album, released October 15, 1970, jumped from 11 to 9 on the list dated Jan. 6, which covers activity for the tracking week of Dec. 22 -28. The album saw a 27% increase from the previous week and earned 27,000 equivalent album units.

The Jackson 5’s Christmas album features original classic hits like “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” The album followed the success of Jackson 5’s four Hot 100 No. 1 hits that year: “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.”

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” has reached the Hot 100 every holiday season since 2020. But 2023 was the first year it was joined by Jackson 5’s “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” which debuted at No. 43, with 14.1 million official U.S. streams in the tracking week, and a No. 39 placement on Streaming Songs.

The recent success of Jackson 5 Christmas Album further solidifies the group’s iconic status in music. It’s the group’s 15th top 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It’s also their first visit to the Top 10 chart since the Victory album reached its final frame on the chart on Sept. 22, 1984.

Of course, the late Michael Jackson’s history as a hitmaker is worthy of its own post, thanks to Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.

by Rafael Pena

January 4, 2024

Nas And Questlove Criticized For Excluding Female Rap Pioneers In Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Events

Nas, Questlove, and LL Cool J are faced criticism for overlooking female rap pioneers in hip-hop 50th anniversary celebrations.

Hip-hop‘s 50th anniversary in 2023 was marked by various celebrations of a genre music that became a cultural movement, but Nas, Questlove, and LL Cool J are now facing criticism for overlooking female rap pioneers in events where they called the shots, according to VIBE.

MC Debbie D, the self-proclaimed first solo female rapper, took to X (Twitter) on Jan. 2 to express her concern over this trend, sharing an open letter.

“We gotta get to the place where we are not afraid to say it out loud!” – Monique (Comedian/Actress) #MCDebbieD #ImAPioneer @llcoolj @Nas @questlove pic.twitter.com/89al7HmP5Y
— MC Debbie D, PhD. (@MCDebbieD) January 2, 2024

MC Debbie D began by acknowledging the beauty of the Grammy Awards and Yankee Stadium events celebrating 50 years of hip-hop. However, she pointed out that female pioneers were notably absent from both performances and acknowledgments. She raised questions about whether these omissions were due to a “lack of knowledge” or an act of “revisionist history.”

“While it was admirable to see my sisters, MC Sha Rock and Roxanne Shante, on the mic performing at the Grammys, they represent only a fraction of the early female rappers,” MC Debbie D wrote.

Others who deserved recognition, MC Debbie D wrote, include herself, Lisa Lee, Us Girls, and MC Pebblee Poo.

MC Debbie D recognized the progress made in acknowledging women in hip-hop today but urged that “to be on the right side of history is to remember the names of the women who paved their way!”

Obviously you don’t know your history … with all due respect to her legacy, there is a long line of female Emcees before 1984!
— MC Debbie D, PhD. (@MCDebbieD) January 3, 2024

Responding to criticism on Twitter, MC Debbie D clarified her stance. “Obviously you don’t know your history… with all due respect to her [Roxanne Shante’s] legacy, there is a long line of female Emcees before 1984!”

Several major events in 2023, including a Grammy performance in February, Yankee Stadium in August, and the Grammy Salute event in December, aimed to honor the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.