FBI, Hanging, Black Man, Sued, Alabama Police, Brutality
by Daniel Johnson

November 22, 2023

Noose Found At Cleveland Construction Site Sparks Protest

Cleveland's construction industry still suffers from a lack of diversity and inclusion. This environment in Cleveland’s construction industry likely contributes to incidents like the cardboard cutout

In October, a construction crew working at a site in Cleveland found a cardboard cutout with a noose around its neck, reading “my motivation to work.”

Cleveland Construction, the company that was performing construction at the site, said that it was likely created by a sub-contracted worker. The company investigated but said that it was not racially motivated. According to another group of sub-contracted workers from O’s Versatility Construction, they are the group that discovered the cutout. A police report described racist remarks they had been making at the work site. For them, the display was the last straw. They never came back to the construction site. 

Others in the construction industry in Cleveland, like Glen Shumate, the president of the Construction Employers Association, said that racism at construction sites in the city is commonplace. Shumate told News 5, “I have seen racial graffiti gender, directed graffiti negatively on construction sites.” 

Shumate also indicated that training and education needed to occur as well as accountability, telling News 5, “Hate has no place and we need to increase equitable opportunities, fair and inclusive treatment, but also it’s some degree of accountability before those actions happen that there’s some training and education.”

Cleveland does have a committee dedicated to diversity and inclusion within the city’s construction industry, the City of Cleveland Construction Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The committee was formed in response to persistent racial and ethnic homogenizing in the construction industry as well as discrimination issues. However, according to Athena Nicole Last, a PhD Candidate in Sociology at Syracuse University, Cleveland’s construction industry still suffers from a lack of diversity and inclusion. This environment in Cleveland’s construction industry likely contributes to incidents like the cardboard cutout. 

On November 20, 2023, members of Unity for the Betterment of Cleveland gathered on the steps of Cleveland City Hall to call for more equitable treatment of its Black construction workers. 

Ariane Kirkpatrick, the CEO of The AKA Team, a full-service commercial construction company, said, “You decide you want to allow these types of things to happen on your job, or you want to say it’s a misunderstanding. I don’t see a misunderstanding with a noose written ‘my motivation to work’ because your motivation is building our motivation to make sure you aren’t on the site anymore.”

Cleveland Construction issued a response via a spokesperson, saying, “Therefore, although it does not appear, based on our initial investigation, that the alleged incident was motivated by any racial animus, we nevertheless requested that the individual involved not return to our project site. Furthermore, we immediately held a site-wide stand-down with everyone on [the] project site to reiterate and reinforce our zero-tolerance policy against any forms of racial discrimination or harassment, regardless of intent.”

stress, anxiety, depressed, black woman
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 22, 2023

WHO Launches Initiative To Combat Loneliness, Co-Led By Black Women

The initiative is prioritizing loneliness as a growing health threat.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to combat loneliness as the holiday season is fully underway. In a new commission co-led by Black women, their mission is to remedy social isolation for all age groups.

According to WHO, a quarter of older adults are suffering from loneliness and lack of communal engagement, which is a concern given the increased risk of chronic illness. As a response, the launch of the Commission on Social Connection seeks to study how loneliness affects all facets of one’s health, from the physical to psychological, as shared in their press release.

“High rates of social isolation and loneliness worldwide have serious consequences for health and well-being. People without enough strong social connections are at higher risk of stroke, anxiety, dementia, depression, suicide and more,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This WHO Commission will help establish social connection as a global health priority and share the most promising interventions.”

By designating loneliness as a “pressing health threat,” this prioritization of solutions globally will potentially help lessen its severe health risks. The commission is co-chaired by the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy and African Union Youth Envoy, Chido Mpemba. Mpemba’s involvement is ensuring that the efforts are maintained across the generations.

“Young people are not immune to loneliness. Social isolation can affect anyone, of any age, anywhere,” said the global leader. “Across Africa and beyond, we must redefine the narrative around loneliness. Investments in social connection are critical to creating productive, resilient and stable economies that promote the well-being of current and future generations.”

Another commissioner, Haben Girma, shared the “tremendous honor” of being part of this mission.

“We know constraints become catalysts for innovation,” shared the first deaf-blind graduate of Harvard Law School. “Understanding how people with different bodies/minds resist isolation is critical. To increase social connection, listen to disabled people.”

The WHO commission is set to have its first meeting on Dec. 6, with a flagship report to be released in the middle of its initial three-year establishment.

Amber Rose
by Sharelle Burt

November 22, 2023

Amber Rose Admits To Allowing Her Young Kids To Have A Cup of Joe With Her

Amber Rose is opening up about her parenting skills.

During an episode of the No Jumper podcast, Rose admitted to letting her children, Sebastian, 10, who she calls Bash, and Slash, 4, enjoy coffee. The conversation started with the hosts and Rose discussing adult habits that kids aren’t allowed to try. When coffee was brought up, Rose said she saw no problem with letting her kids partake in the hot beverage.

“I give my kids coffee,” she said.

“Me and my kids sit, and we drink coffee, and we talk. It’s not a big deal. It’s really not.”

The growing boys are even allowed to drink out of adult-size cups. Caffeine for the Rose boys doesn’t just stop with a cup of Joe. The mom of two says soda is also allowed. “Slash is 4, and he drinks coffee all the time,” she said while her kids can drink “Coke and root beer.”

“It’s only caffeine. It’s a little caffeine,” Rose said. “It’s not bad for you.”

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, there are no federal guidelines in place for caffeine intake for kids, but the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t encourage it. Due to children’s body size, caffeine has a lower impact on their functionality. Too much caffeine can have lasting effects and can cause increased anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure, acid reflux and sleep problems. For children, excessive caffeine can be dangerous and, in some instances, toxic.

Once the topic of coffee passed, the podcast hosts began to talk about when the OnlyFans creator opened up to her kids about certain things, including her career. In February 2023, according to Page Six, the ex-wife of rapper Wiz Khalifa revealed she had a conversation with her oldest son about her days as a stripper and her OnlyFans account.

“When it comes to women, you have to let women do what they need to do to support their families,” Rose told him.

Most appropriately, she told him that “Mommy has to make money” in order to afford his “nice school” and fun vacations. “He doesn’t care. I taught him from a very early age that you cannot tell women what to do with their bodies. That’s it,” Rose said. “So, if a girl is on OnlyFans and she’s making money off her feet pictures or if guys are stupid enough to buy pictures and videos of girls, let the girl make the money.”

remote, work, job, employees employer, work from home, worker, remote
by Atiya Jordan

November 22, 2023

Millennials Desire Annual Income Over Four Times Higher Than Others

Millennials had some pretty skewed views on what their salaries should be.

In a new poll, millennials desire to earn a salary over four times higher than other ages amid their declining standard of living.

Empower, a financial services firm revealed that millennials would be happy with a whopping $525,947-a-year. On the other hand, boomers, Gen X and Gen Z would be satisfied with incomes between $124,000 and $130,000. The survey included 2,034 Americans over a week-long period in August.

“The first word that comes to mind when people think about financial happiness is freedom, followed by security and relief,” according to the firm.

“Over half of people say they carry debt … and 36% could not handle an unforeseen expense over $500 without real worry.”

The median household income in the United States is about $74,000 annually. However, 67% of survey respondents said their income doesn’t keep up with inflation prices, and 42% have witnessed a recession in their standard of living. The reports concern rising costs, interest rates, and student debt. However, the generational divide about income brings attention to the stark reality that millennials need more to feel comfortable.

Millennial respondents said they’d want a net worth of $1,699,571, over three times more than Gen Z and nearly twice more than Boomers.

An earlier study about millennial debt discovered that the average Black millennial has a salary of $67,802 and $42,026 in savings. At the same time, they also have over $11,000 more in non-mortgage debt — an average of $101,809 vs. $90,590 – than millennials overall, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported. Student debt accounts for the most significant portion of the debt, with average balances of $61,724 for Black people compared to $56,538 for all other groups. Thirty-five percent of Black young people in debt reported the risk of bankruptcy.

“The combination of making less money, owing more in debt, and having to pay higher housing costs is a recipe for financial hardship over the next few years…,” said Matt Brannon, the author of the study published on Real Estate Twitch, BE reported.

The survey results also revealed gender differences in desires among millennials. Men aspired to have an annual income of $380,564 to be happy, while $182,708 was adequate for women. In addition, men desired a net worth of $1,488,327, and women reported just $880,950.

For Americans, financial freedom looks like treating themselves and loved ones, buying or owning a home, work-life balance, and early retirement. Gen Z plans to retire the soonest of all generations at age 54, and even a $7 cup of coffee would delight 62% of millennials.

racial profiling, Atlanta
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 22, 2023

Racial Profiling Concerns Mount at Atlanta International Airport Amidst Lawsuit

The growing concern was sparked by a lawsuit from comedians Clayton English and Eric André.

The law enforcement at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta is facing criticism for allegations of racial profiling and the harassment of Black travelers. This issue has gained increased attention, particularly in light of a 2022 lawsuit filed against the Clayton County police by comedians Clayton English and Eric André, shedding light on the racial composition of jet bridge stops.

Atlanta News First‘s investigative team has revealed that Black passengers along the jet bridge were the majority of those stopped by police officers, accounting for 67% of the 360 individuals logged from 2020 to 2021. The lawsuit by English and Andre also found similar statistics, citing a 2016 study that found only 8% of flyers were Black, yet also made up 56% of Clayton County police stops.

“When they stopped me on that jet bridge, I’m not saying that I saw everybody that went past me, but most of the other people that went past me seem to be, you know, white people,” English told the news outlet.

The lawsuit was dismissed on a federal level on the grounds the officers claimed the stops were consensual, but the comedic duo filed an appeal on the matter. English stated that although law enforcement states those stopped can refuse, his experience was the opposite, sharing that police surrounded him with no clear indication that he could forego the stop.

The research conducted by Atlanta News First also indicates that racial profiling remains a concern, as law enforcement confiscated over one million dollars in cash during the same period despite a relatively low number of arrests. Furthermore, the majority of individuals stopped did not possess any drugs. Operation Jetway, the training program started by the Drug Enforcement Administration for airport security, was exposed to have been undergone by Clayton County police as well, prompting their “random consensual encounters.”

People of color who are carrying luxury goods were also found to be a target by police stops, leading to the cash seizures that subsequently brought money into the police department and district attorney’s office. English also noted that an officer commented on his designer bag when initiating the stop.

“The only reason I can think is because [Black passengers] look like they’re not supposed to have something that nice, or you think that this person shouldn’t be able to afford this item based off their skin color,” shared English.

With the logs showing a disproportionate amount of minorities being stopped, the concern of racial profiling by the airport police and the financial incentives to do so is becoming more prevalent, say critics.

RELATED CONTENT: Clearwater Police Department Facing Twoeawsuits After Alleged Racial Profiling Arrest

Supreme Court, Majority Black District, Supreme Court, Louisiana
by Daniel Johnson

November 22, 2023

Derek Chauvin’s Appeal Refused By Supreme Court

Chauvin's lawyers attempted to argue that he didn't receive a fair trial because of the publicity the events received before the trial and a concern for potential violence in the wake of an acquittal.

On Nov. 20, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal brought by Derek Chauvin’s lawyers.

Chauvin’s lawyers sought to appeal their client’s conviction for the 2020 murder of George Floyd. According to the Associated Press, Chauvin was sentenced to serve a 22 1/2-year sentence following his 2021 trial.

The justices chose not to comment on the appeal. Instead, the magistrates rejected hearing the case, leaving the ruling from the State of Minnesota intact.

Chauvin’s lawyers attempted to argue that he didn’t receive a fair trial because of the publicity the events received before the trial and concern for potential violence in the wake of an acquittal. Chauvin is the Minneapolis Police officer who kneeled on George Floyd’s neck for nine and a half minutes for the crime of passing a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd’s last minutes were captured on video by a bystander where he called out for his mother and said, “I can’t breathe.” 

According to CNN, Chauvin was found guilty in April 2021 of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin’s 22 1/2-year sentence exceeded the state sentencing guidelines. Judges generally have the discretion to consider various factors, including whether or not the defendant shows remorse and the nature of the crime. Chauvin also later pleaded guilty to federal charges of depriving George Floyd of his civil rights. He was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison, which will run concurrently with his state charges. 

Floyd’s death touched off a firestorm of related protests, attempts to reckon with the racist past of various institutions in America, and created a cottage industry of diversity, inclusion and equity positions at employers in every industry.

Chauvin filed an appeal for his conviction on federal civil rights charges on Nov. 13, claiming that new evidence showed that Floyd’s death occurred because of an underlying medical condition. 

Sexyy Red Responds To Teacher Condemning Kids Listening to ‘Poundtown’
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 22, 2023

Sexyy Red Responds To Teacher Condemning Kids Listening to ‘Poundtown’

The rapper offered a solution for the young teacher.

Sexyy Red is inserting herself into the conversation surrounding the impact her songs have on younger listeners. After a ballet teacher went viral for noting that kids are growing up too fast and should not be exposed to songs such as Red’s “Poundtown,” the rapper responded to the critique on her music being too inappropriate.

The Shade Room reposted the clip of a ballet teacher named Sai, who is in her mid-twenties, stating that her 5-year-old students “don’t respect” her as an adult figure or their classmates.

“I’m calling out all the parents,” shared the 22-year-old student at Morgan State University. “Having to teach and work with you guys’ children has been the most traumatic experience of my life. I teach 5-year-old girls ballet. I have a class of 1- students. They don’t respect any authority.”

She then relayed how unruly her students are, expressing that even if she confronts the parents, they condone the misbehavior and argue further.

“And another thing that is heart-wrenching and horrifying…Your 5-year-old daughters are asking to listen to ‘Poundtown’ and ‘Skeeyee,'” she tearfully explained, referring to two of Sexyy Red’s hit songs. “You guys’ daughters are twerking at [age] five. Where is the parenting? Y’all are not helping your kids. You’re hurting them.”

After Sexxy Red received word of the viral clip, the rapper took to X and expressed her solution to the “raunchy, sexual music” she was ascribed to.

“Ima make some Kidz Bop songs for yall [for real],” stated the soon-to-be mother of two. Sexyy Red has gained infamy for her explicit lyrics and sexual nature being considered negative for the community.

While she did not confirm if she agreed that her songs were a bad influence on younger fans, the St. Louis native did appear to want to make things right with the flustered teacher.

Black Barber, Akron
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 22, 2023

Ohio Barber College Owner Says Denial Of Funding Is Racial And Political

Akron At-Large Councilman-elect Eric Garrett has been denied funding for his barber school. He feels the decision is based on political reasons.

A barber school in Akron attempts for funding has been denied by the mayor, prompting speculation from the school’s owner, a soon-to-be councilman, that rejection is politically and racially motivated.

According to The Akron Beacon Journal, At-Large Councilman-elect Eric Garrett received a letter from Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan stating that funding for his Beyond Expectations Barber College has been denied to avoid the “perception of impropriety.” Horrigan also raised concerns about the sustainability of Garrett’s businesses, which include the barber college.

Council President Margo Sommerville requested an explanation after City Council heard from students asking why the funds were blocked to defray tuition costs attending the Black-owned barber college.

Garrett said the amount requested is less than 10% of the college’s operating cost.

“It’s just an attempt to smear and deflect from the real issue at hand,” Garrett said. “My businesses have nothing to do with this. It’s just totally about assisting the students.”

Garrett claimed Horrigan’s critique was just “another attack on an African-American business owner” and that no one questions the caucasian leadership of the University of Akron or Stark State when these institutions are given grant funding.

Garrett put in the application before deciding to run for political office.

“Despite the absurd allegations that the City Administration has some ill will toward Mr. Garrett and his businesses and has denied funding in a punitive way, a review of the City’s past actions is revealing,” Horrigan responded, according to the Beacon-Journal.

He mentioned that Beyond Expectations received money in previous years: $31,500 in 2022, $31,500 in 2021, $15,000 in 2020, and $15,000 in 2019, totaling $93,000. The mayor said Garrett’s businesses are too reliant on fund money, a problem because the goal of giving the grant is to create “self-sustaining small businesses.”

Horrigan said “within the last five years, the City has provided Mr. Garrett with $135,250 in grant monies and $50,000 in loan funds, for a total of $185,250 in total funding support.

After not receiving the funding, Garrett said, “The students walked around with their heads down. I told them to lift their heads up because they’ve already won. Whether or not they get this $30,000 grant from the city, they’ve won because they didn’t quietly submit.”

RELATED CONTENT: NEW JERSEY BARBERSHOP CELEBRATES BEING ONE OF THE OLDEST BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

Michael Cooper
by Iman Milner

November 21, 2023

Brother Of Former Lakers Star Michael Cooper Murdered In Park Where They Spent Their Childhood

The brother of Lakers great Michael Cooper was gunned down in a Pasadena park where the two once played basketball.

The brother of NBA champion and Lakers great Michael Cooper was shot and killed on Saturday, Nov. 18, at a Pasadena park where the two honed their basketball skills as children, The Los Angeles Times reported. A 24-year-old suspect has been arrested in the death of the victim, 64-year-old Mickey Cooper.

Aaron Miguel Connell was detained for an unrelated crime by law enforcement, who felt he posed a threat to the public and suspected he was involved with Cooper’s death.

“Believing this person posed an immediate threat to the public, detectives coordinated an arrest operation with members of the U.S. Marshal’s Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Taskforce, PPD SWAT, and PPD K-9 Unit,” the Pasadena Police Department said. Connel was subsequently charged with murder on Monday, Nov. 20. Police have not established the motive for Cooper’s death, TMZ reported; however, they are asking for anyone with information to reach out to the department.

Law enforcement responded to shots fired at 4 a.m. in the 700 block of East Washington Boulevard, and upon arrival, found the 64-year-old unresponsive and riddled with gunshot wounds.

Cooper, who played with the Lakers during their storied “Showtime” era and won five championships, confirmed the death of his brother to KABC-TV Channel 7 Eyewitness News as well as the park’s significance to their shared history. Since leaving the NBA, the 67-year-old basketball icon has enjoyed both a successful coaching and sports analyst career.

Cooper led the Los Angeles Sparks to two WNBA championships and finished with a 72-57 record as the University of Southern California’s Women of Troy Basketball Team’s head coach. He also acted as an assistant coach for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets in 2004 before becoming the team’s talent scout. Cooper is regarded as one of the league’s most elite defenders and was selected to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team five times throughout his career. He was also named Defensive Player Of The Year in 1987.

RELATED CONTENT: MICHAEL COOPER CRITICIZES LEBRON JAMES FOR EATING DURING A PRESEASON NBA GAME

Business Magnate Trisha Bailey Discusses Journey To Success In Memoir
by Lauren Nutall

November 21, 2023

Business Magnate Trisha Bailey Discusses Journey To Success In Memoir

"Unbroken: The Triumphant Story of a Woman's Journey" details Trisha Bailey's rise in business.

“In every stage of entrepreneurship, there’s hardship, and at the start is the greatest hardship.” Those are the words of athlete-turned-business magnate Trisha Bailey as she discussed her new memoir Unbroken: The Triumphant Story of a Woman’s Journey with CBS News. The entrepreneur recounted her path to becoming CEO of more than a dozen companies in her book, which was released in early June 2023. 

Bailey’s story has not been without hardship. The Jamaican-born woman first arrived in the United States at 13 years old, where she lived with her mother and sexually abusive stepfather. Throughout high school, she found her niche as a track star and eventually brought her talents to the University of Connecticut. However, following graduation, she took a different route and became a stockbroker, a job that ultimately altered the course of her life for the better. 

“It built my foundation of financial literacy,” Bailey said about the career move.

“I already had the discipline from my childhood so, being a stockbroker, I was able to build my company within the organization of Salomon Smith Barney, which is Dean Witter now, so having that financial literacy embarked me into an amazing trajectory because I was able to invest the money that I have saved.” 

She has since built an empire, owning 15 companies and acquiring stakes in different investments. Now, she is considered the wealthiest Jamaican-born woman in history.

Bailey achieved her goals through dedication and hard work, even working 20 hours a day. “I  was giving everything I had because I knew that’s the only way that I would actually truly be successful in becoming a successful entrepreneur. So financial literacy in touch with the work discipline launched me to where I am today.”

Bailey also touched on her quest to heal from past trauma, revealing that she underwent talk therapy and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. The experiences were life-changing for Bailey and served as a catalyst for her to finally share her story. 
Bailey’s memoir offers an intimate look into the philanthropist’s life, revealing her ultimate challenges and darkest experiences. However, it also tells a story of growth and perseverance. To read more about the book, visit here.

×