DEI, tech companies, diversity, goals, achievement,

by Black Enterprise

December 23, 2024

How To Legally Prepare Your Business For Holidays

Here are some key legal tips to consider.

Written By Taalib Saber

As the holiday season approaches, the nation prepares for one of the busiest sales periods of the year. Promotions, special deals, and heightened online activity make this an ideal time to attract new customers during the holidays.

However, customer attraction also brings unique legal challenges. Whether launching seasonal marketing campaigns or handling increased sales, you must ensure local, state, and federal compliance to safeguard your brand. Here are some key legal tips to consider as you navigate this terrain.

Define Clear Terms and Conditions for Promotions

Promotional deals, discounts, and limited-time offers are powerful tools that boost engagement and attract new clients. However, without clear terms and conditions, they can also lead to misunderstandings and even legal disputes. To avoid any issues, be explicit about eligibility criteria, timeframes, redemption limitations, and any exclusions.

By clearly defining these terms upfront, you not only protect your business from potential disputes but also build credibility with your customers, who appreciate transparency. Any agreement you draft should have well-crafted and explicit terms and conditions to avoid ambiguity regarding your promotion.

Protect Your Brand with Trademark and Copyright Compliance

The holiday season inspires creativity. However, businesses must avoid infringing on copyrighted or trademarked materials belonging to other brands. Using copyrighted holiday graphics, music, or phrases without permission can lead to stalled sales and, eventually, to costly lawsuits.

Additionally, ensure that your original content is protected, too, by registering your trademark, if applicable. Originality not only prevents legal troubles but also strengthens your brand’s reputation in the market.

Prioritize Data Protection and Compliance

In today’s digital age, gathering customer data is as gold, but it is extremely sensitive information and comes with responsibility. Data breaches are costly and can damage your reputation beyond repair, especially if customer data is mishandled.

To comply with data protection laws, only collect essential information, securely store it, and have clear privacy policies outlining how data is used. Failing to protect customer data can lead to hefty fines and a loss of customer trust, so it’s crucial to take steps to enhance your data protection practices.

Manage Increased Demand with Secure Supplier Agreements

The holiday season can strain your supply chain, and managing inventory is key to keeping customers satisfied and protecting your business. Review and update your supplier contracts well before the holiday rush to clarify terms around inventory, delivery timelines, and contingencies for potential delays. If demand exceeds your expectations, having a well-refined agreement ensures you have the support needed to fulfill orders. Additionally, understanding the penalties or provisions in case of supplier defaults can save your business from unexpected costs and help you plan better.

Adhere to Advertising Laws

While using bold claims to stand out may be tempting, remember that advertising is subject to strict regulations. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that businesses avoid false or misleading advertising. This means any claims you make in your holiday campaigns, from product benefits to limited-time offers, must be truthful and verifiable.

Failure to comply can result in fines, legal action, and/or a damaged reputation. Transparent advertising not only keeps your business compliant but also helps to foster customer loyalty.

Legal Readiness Strengthens Customer Trust and Brand Integrity

Preparing your business legally for holiday promotions isn’t just about avoiding fines, penalties, or sanctions—it’s about building a foundation of trust with your customers. When your promotions are legally sound, customers can shop confidently, knowing that your brand prioritizes transparency, safety, and reliability. In the competitive holiday market, these qualities can set your business apart.

By setting clear terms and conditions, safeguarding intellectual property, protecting consumer data, securing supplier relationships, and adhering to advertising laws, you’re taking concrete steps to ensure your holiday promotions run smoothly. Legal compliance may not seem as festive as holiday decorations, but it’s the cornerstone of a successful, resilient, and trustworthy business strategy.

RELATED CONTENT: 10 Tech Gifts That Make Great Stocking Stuffers

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 23, 2024

Kwanzaa Cookbook Updated With Modern Recipes To Celebrate Unity, Community, And Healing

Jessica B. Harris wrote the original version of 'A Kwanzaa Keepsake' in 1995.

The author of “A Kwanzaa Keepsake and Cookbook,” which honors the African American holiday, has released a new edition for this generation.

Jessica B. Harris wrote the original version of “A Kwanzaa Keepsake” in 1995. However, as this current year brings new changes and anxieties, from the economy to politics, Harris decided to examine the holiday’s values to find her latest mission.

“People are feeling all sorts of pressures right now — racially, culturally, economically,” she told The New York Times. “Kwanzaa is a time to come together, a time for people to renew and regroup and revivify.”

This reflection led her to create a new edition of her classic book, which features recipes and a guide to honor one’s familial and Black history. She wrote the book to connect her own intermediate family’s experience to the greater diaspora and encouraged others to expand their pride to their ancestors and extended community.

The book featured recipes ingrained in Black culinary history, from hoppin’ John to collard greens. It also described the menu for her mother’s eclectic Kwanzaa dinner party, which featured these classic dishes.

Her latest edition sparks this quest for a new generation. Now, it infuses Black queer figures in each chapter, such as Simon Nkoli and Gladys Alberta Bentley. It spotlights their history alongside updated recipes to fit a modern-day palate.

However, the book remains focused on African American cuisine merged with Kwanzaa principles. A meal befitting the values upheld during that time is featured each day. For example, the menu for the third night of Ujima symbolizes collective work and responsibility. It includes dishes to be shared by a circle of loved ones at a larger dinner.

The seven menus accompany the seven days of Kwanzaa. Harris wants modern-day observers to find unity and pride by connecting with one another. Furthermore, she hopes to encourage togetherness and tolerance during a time when both seem in jeopardy.

“I’m seeing a need for coming together and healing now that is as pressing, maybe even more pressing, than in 1995,” she said. “Finding ways to come together in community leads us to find ways of healing. And we need a healing.”

Haiti, france, reparation, Haitians, Haitian Heritage Month

by Jameelah Mullen

December 23, 2024

Haitian Cuisine Featured On TasteAtlas’ Top 100 List

Put some respect on Haiti’s name.

Haitian cuisine shines on TasteAtlas’ 2024 Top 100 Best Cuisines list. The Caribbean island secured the 67th spot on the digital dining guide’s annual list. The platform highlighted 23 must-try Haitian dishes.

Also known as black rice, diri dak djondjon consists of rice, peas, spices, and black mushrooms, which gives the dish its dark color. Other Haitian delicacies mentioned included pikliz, a spicy pickled relish; tasso, marinated goat or beef; accra, a fritter usually made with black-eyed peas, onions, and spices; and griot, which is made from pork shoulder pieces marinated and then fried until crispy.

The platform also recommends Barbancourt rum, the 110-proof spirit produced in one of the island’s oldest distilleries.

“Barbancourt Haitian proof is an outstanding floral rum with green notes of fresh sugar cane juice, hints of tart citrus fruits, and a light peppery tone,” TasteAtlas wrote.

The platform also suggested three restaurants: Lakou Lakay Restaurant and Guesthouse, located in the northern part of the island in Milot; Les Jardins du Mupanah in Port-au-Prince; and La Coquille, located in the Port-au-Prince suburb of Pétionville. La Coquille offers an all-you-can-eat buffet and indoor and outdoor seating.

Other Caribbean cuisines in the top 100 included Puerto Rican, Jamaican, Cuban, and Trinidadian. Greek, Italian, and Mexican secured the top three spots on the list.

In September, Haitians drew media attention when Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate, JD Vance, made disparaging comments about Haitians, sparking public outrage. Haitian-American Chef Medegine Guillaume hopes to debunk these false narratives through her work as a culinary professional. “That’s exactly why I became a chef; I don’t want that narrative out there,” she said. “That’s not what we’re about. Our food is delicious. Our cuisine is great if you’ve had it, if you had the pleasure of having it,” the 2023 James Beard Cohort told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

by Jameelah Mullen

December 23, 2024

Metro Atlanta Entrepreneurs Create Safe Haven For Street Racers With ‘Sunday Funday’ Events

Sunday Funday organizing street racing in Metro Atlanta.

Street racing is a consistent problem in metro Atlanta. Two metro Atlanta businessmen have created a solution that allows racing enthusiasts to enjoy the pastime and law enforcement to focus on other tasks.

On Dec. 15, drivers and spectators convened at a Clayton County warehouse for “Sunday Funday.” The event provides a designated space where participants can race at high speeds and perform off-road stunts without fear of legal consequences.

“We are trying to take the sliding cars off the streets and bring them to a safe haven,” “event organizer “Str Polo” told WAGA News. Polo says his passion for racing led to legal woes and aims to prevent others from suffering the same fate.

“I was younger, I was in the streets doing all this stuff, but as I get my car, impounded, getting incarcerated. It just takes too much money,” Polo told the outlet.

The event drew thousands, and police officers and medical personnel attended to help maintain safety and order.

Stunt Man, “Bear,” tells WAGA News that Sunday Funday helps to lighten the load for local law enforcement.

“Let’s be real, police officers have way more heavy-duty stuff like murders and things of that nature to chase behind instead of making full task force to chase kids in race cars,” he told the outlet.

In October 2024, Atlanta law enforcement agencies joined forces to crack down on street racing. Atlanta police and officers from Fulton County, South Fulton, Decatur, College Park, and Clayton County collaborated on Operation Burnout. The multi-county investigation led to nearly 50 arrests. Police impounded 19 cars and confiscated seven weapons.

In August, a car hit 32-year-old Shantea Reeves, killing her. The investigation showed that the vehicle, allegedly involved in street racing, was going at least 100 miles per hour.

The next Sunday Funday is scheduled for February 2025.

by Daniel Johnson

December 22, 2024

NYC Agrees To Nearly $30M Settlement In Fire Department Race Discrimination Lawsuit

The litigation revolved around a pay discrepancy for the inspectors, whose workforce is 70% Black or people of color.

On Dec. 16, Manhattan U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres issued preliminary approval of a $29.2 million judgment in a class action racial discrimination suit brought by the Fire Department of New York fire protection inspectors and their union against the City of New York in 2020.

According to a press release issued by the union, Local 2507, the litigation revolved around a pay discrepancy for the inspectors, whose workforce is 70% Black or people of color.

According to the union, inspectors in this demographic make approximately $9,000 less than the majority-white Department of Buildings inspectors.

According to Oren Barzilay, the president of Local 2507, the judgment is the culmination of a decades-long fight for fair pay.

“Our members have been fighting the inequality and mistreatment they receive in the FDNY for decades,” Barzilay, the president of Local 2507, responsible for representing fire protection inspectors and EMS workers, said in a statement. “This settlement for Fire Inspectors is a step in the right direction of correcting that inequity. We are happy to see some of our members recover damages for what they have lost, but we won’t stop with our efforts to correct pay inequity until the city fixes the underlying discriminatory pay practices that caused this issue for all our members.”

Per the agreement, each affected inspector will, on average, receive $35,000, but those who are part of a smaller pay adjustment class will only be paid an average of $5,000.

Inspectors have until Valentine’s Day to object to the settlement or to opt out of the class action suit.

A final approval hearing is set for March 17. If the hearing is successful, both groups will receive their payments in Fall 2025.

According to a spokesperson for the City of New York’s Law Department, “The City is pleased with the court’s preliminary approval of this settlement. Fire Protection Inspectors play a critical role in keeping residents and businesses safe, and while no admission of wrongdoing is made through this settlement, the City stands firmly against all forms of discrimination, including unintentional bias, as alleged here.”

According to Barzilay, the city’s EMS workers also experience a similar pay discrepancy but do not receive the same pay scales as firefighters, police officers, and sanitation workers.

“This same pay practice is currently ongoing in our EMS ranks,” Barzilay said. “Our members, who risk their lives every day to care for New Yorkers, deserve better than this and should be compensated and treated with the same value as the City’s other first responders.”

Memphis police, federal judge, civil rights investigation

by Daniel Johnson

December 22, 2024

Memphis Hires Former Federal Judge To Oversee Police Reforms Amid Civil Rights Investigation

In response to a federal investigation alleging civil rights violations, Memphis hires ex-Judge Bernice Donald to monitor the police.

After a federal investigation into the Memphis Police Department prompted by the death of Tyre Nichols, the city recently announced that it would hire former federal judge Bernice Donald to be an independent monitor as the MPD implements reforms outside of a consent decree.

According to WREG, the city made it clear early in the process that they wanted nothing to do with a consent decree from the Department of Justice.

However, activists like Earle Fisher do not trust that Memphis can be trusted to implement reforms independently.

“We want a level of oversight and regulatory force that we don’t trust the city to implement, in and of itself,” Fisher told the outlet.

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, however, indicated in a statement that he trusts Donald as the city’s partner in its efforts to implement reforms.

“We are committed to fostering a transparent and effective community response and believe this task force will ensure that every voice is heard. Together, we will develop a comprehensive action plan that meets the needs of our residents,” Young said.

Donald’s hiring follows a letter the City of Memphis released earlier in December rejecting a consent decree, partly because of the cost to the same taxpayers the city’s police department was found guilty of violating their constitutional rights.

“After evaluating the effects of these consent decrees in other cities, we believe there are better ways to reimagine policing that does not slow the process or cost the taxpayers millions of dollars,” the letter stated.

The city will establish a nine-person force to coordinate community engagement and develop a response plan under Judge Donald’s oversight.

The city will also allocate a budget “that will enable Judge Donald to secure the resources and subject matter experts needed to support the development of the response.”

According to the City of Memphis Chief Legal Officer Tannera Gibson, “Judge Donald’s extensive experience and impartiality make her the ideal leader for this work. We believe that under her guidance, the task force will effectively engage the community and develop a responsive action plan that truly reflects our city’s needs.”

According to the Tennessee Lookout, despite acknowledging that the Department of Justice’s report was difficult to stomach, Young did not heed pleas from the Black Clergy Collaborative, which pushed for the city to enter into the consent decree.

“The report details the cruel and shocking treatment of Black Memphians, people with disabilities and children,” the group said in a statement.

They continued, “We have no trust or confidence in leaving corrections to the people involved in the unlawful conduct, the persons who failed to supervise them, or those who stood by and said nothing while the unlawful conduct occurred.”

In an op-ed for the outlet, Fisher criticized Mayor Young’s decision to withdraw from a consent decree due to the cost.

“Young has chosen to obstruct accountability by refusing to endorse a consent decree, which would serve as an essential mechanism to ensure that our police force operates within the bounds of justice and respect for civil rights,” Fisher wrote.

Fisher continued, “The bottom line is glaringly clear: it is ultimately cheaper to invest in reforms than to bear the costs of litigation arising from police violence. The tens of millions of dollars associated with various consent decrees (over an extended period of time) may appear excessive at first glance. However, consider the $550 million that the family of Tyre Nichols is suing for — a stark reminder of the devastating financial and moral consequences of failing to address systemic issues. Investing in reform is an act of prudence; it directly counters the higher, avoidable costs associated with legal settlements stemming from police misconduct.”

Fisher concluded his argument, “Ultimately, the moral and monetary imperatives for accountability in Memphis policing are intertwined and undeniable. Young and the city administration cannot afford to ignore the overwhelming evidence of systemic failure.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 22, 2024

New Orleans Archdiocese To Sell Historic Black Catholic School To Fund Abuse Settlements

The Couvent School complex was once deemed the center of African American education in Louisiana.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans plans to sell a historic Black Catholic School as it intends to file bankruptcy to pay for its clergy sex abuse settlements.

However, a will created by its Black Catholic owner, Marie Couvent, may prevent the sale. Despite this, the 178-year-old property was listed in a court history for the archdiocese’s ongoing bankruptcy petition.

According to the Black Catholic Messenger, the Couvent School complex was once deemed the center of African American education in Louisiana, given its generational mission to educate and serve Black orphans. Now, its selling would go toward paying off settlements for the clergy’s sex abuse cases.

Despite the archdiocese’s intentions for the property, the stipulations in its will have been upheld throughout the centuries. Couvent’s will, enacted in 1832, strictly prohibits the sale. Moreover, its words explicitly state its intentions, which are even inscribed on her tombstone.

“I declare that said lands and buildings shall never be sold under any pretext whatsoever,” it says at St. Louis Cemetery #2 near the area.

Known by its original name, Institute Catholique, it was supported by notable free people of color in the New Orleans Area, including Black Civil War hero André Cailloux and famed poet Armand Lanusse. Its alums also included Rodolphe Lucien Desdunes, a civil rights activist of the Reconstruction era.

Couvent’s own proclivity to owning enslaved people undermines its storied legacy to an extent. Despite this, the property has continued championing Black scholars throughout history. Black-owned organizations operated the building, but the archdiocese took over unofficially in 1920.

The property has been inactive since 2017. However, those who attended the institutions that found a home there continue to fight its potential sale. Many hope to take over the property and restore its legacy as a pillar for New Orleans’ Black community.

Kim M. Braud hopes to transform the property into the Couvent Collective to serve the community. However, when she submitted a proposal to do so, she found a sale already in progress.

“Unfortunately, I did not hear directly from the archdiocese after submitting a 100-page proposal and a $1.9 million offer to purchase the school,” she shared publicly in October.

“Instead, I was contacted by the broker, who was very gracious,” she said. “He informed me that the building is tied up in bankruptcy court and that a buyer has already been lined up.”

The following month, she wrote, “My connection to Marie Couvent feels personal. Like her, I’ve worked to support vulnerable communities. Through the Couvent Collective, I’m channeling that energy to preserve history, create opportunities, and help women and underserved groups rewrite their stories…I tried to buy this property to continue her legacy and was ignored.”

The archdiocese plans to sell the property for $1.1 million to Cambronne Real Estate. However, it still requires clearance to do so by a bankruptcy judge.

Oakland, Barbara Lee, California, race, mayor, hate crime

by Daniel Johnson

December 22, 2024

Rep. Barbara Lee Mulls Campaign For Oakland Mayor

Lee posted on X that she is considering a run for Oakland's mayor.

California Rep. Barbara Lee, who is retiring from Congress early in 2025, indicated that she will be announcing whether or not she intends to join the race set to determine Oakland’s next mayor in January 2025.

According to Politico, Lee posted on X that she is considering running for office. This is the first time she has publicly commented on speculation that she could run for Oakland’s mayor.

The decision to run for Mayor of Oakland, a city that I have long called home, is not one I take lightly.

As my time in Congress wraps up, my current priority is navigating the crisis before us in DC. I am working around the clock to reach a deal that will keep our government…
— Barbara Lee (@BarbaraLee_CA) December 20, 2024

“The decision to run for mayor of Oakland, a city that I have long called home, is not one I take lightly,” Lee said. “As my time in Congress wraps up, my current priority is navigating the crisis before us in DC,” a reference to the efforts to avert a government shutdown.

Lee has been a progressive stalwart in Congress and carries the kind of political caché that would immediately make her the frontrunner in a race still taking shape.

Given her political positioning as a staunch progressive, Lee would upset the apple carts of more centrist Democrats and groups with ties to Silicon Valley, who have been pushing to move Oakland farther to the right.

Those efforts resulted in the recall of Mayor Sheng Thao in November as Oakland also deals with pervasive gun violence and a massive budget deficit, as well as voters’ general frustration with a dysfunctional City Hall.

A special election to fill Thao’s seat has been scheduled for April 15 and will use Oakland’s ranked-choice voting system.

For now, Lee’s most apparent competition is Loren Taylor, a former city council member and a moderate Democrat.

However, there are rumors that former NFL running back and unofficial ambassador of the City of Oakland Marshawn Lynch could enter the race, although he has not announced his intention to join the race.

According to The Oaklandside, Nikki Fortunato Bas is Oakland’s interim mayor. The appointment was finalized on Dec. 17.

Bas will serve in the position for three weeks before she takes her position on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.

On Dec. 19, a group of Lee’s supporters called for her to run for mayor, citing Oakland’s need for “someone who can restore integrity to the office of the Mayor, unite us in a time of division, and help us address critical issues around the budget, public safety, housing, and inequity in our Town.”

According to the letter, they believe Lee fits the bill.

“We know that to solve Oakland’s problems and unlock its powerful potential, it is going to take a unique combination of courage and proven experience. Barbara Lee embodies that.”

The letter also alludes to the incoDonald Trump’sg administration of Donald Trump.

“Whether we supported the recall or opposed it, we recognize that the challenges facing Oakland date back decades and impact us all — especially in the face of the new administration in Washington, DC.” The supporters wrote. “We also know it will take all of us to unite our city and ensure Oakland can once again thrive. That is why we are all coming together — business and labor, recall supporters and opponents, all of Oakland’s diverse communities — to rally behind Barbara, a seasoned, tested and proven leader who has a track record of delivering for our city.”

According to The Oaklandside, Bas, Oakland’s interim mayor, is among the undersigned.

“There is an incredibly broad group of Oaklanders that see this moment as a turning point, and see Lee as the unique individual who could really bring together,” the city, Bas told the outlet.

According to Robert Harris, an Oakland NAACP leader and Lee’s former campaign finance chair, she is a figure who can galvanize the city if she runs.

“You rarely see such a broad spectrum of people coming together, I’m praying every day that she will run,” Harris said, adding that he has no insight into Lee’s plans.

According to the New York Times, Lee supported Thao, whose recall was criticized by progressives as an effort by ultra-wealthy outsiders to undermine the will of the people. However, the people ultimately decided to oust Thao despite the city’s crime rate dropping by 33%.

by Daniel Johnson

December 22, 2024

New York City’s Top Uniformed Officer Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

Jeffrey Maddrey is being accused of demanding sexual favors from a subordinate.

Jeffery Maddrey, the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the New York Police Department, submitted his resignation to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Dec. 20 following accusations of demanding sexual favors from a subordinate in exchange for opportunities to earn more money.

According to The Associated Press, Commissioner Tisch accepted Maddrey’s resignation, effective immediately, per an email from the NYPD on Dec. 21.

The NYPD offered no comment on the allegations against Maddrey except to say that it “takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and will thoroughly investigate this matter.”

However, a lawyer for Maddrey’s accuser, Lt. Quathisha Epps, indicated to the AP that Maddrey’s resignation should have happened well before now.

“This should have been done a long time ago,” attorney Eric Sanders told the AP via a phone conversation on Dec. 21. “This has been years in the making, this kind of behavior. This is not (a) shock for anyone who understands how things work in this department.”

On the same day, Epps filed a complaint against Maddrey with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accusing him of committing “quid pro quo sexual harassment” by coercing her to “perform unwanted sexual favors in exchange for overtime opportunities in the workplace.”

In her complaint, Epps alleges that when she did fight back against Maddrey’s demands, he indicated that she was abusing overtime, which prompted the NYPD to launch a review.

According to New York media reports, Epps earned more than $200,000 in overtime pay—nearly half her income—in fiscal year 2024. Sanders characterized this arrangement as exploitation in a statement to the AP.

“Ms. Epps has endured profound harm at the hands of individuals who exploited their positions of power for personal gain,” Sanders said. “The retaliation she faced for standing up to this abuse underscores the need for immediate reforms to address systemic failures within the NYPD.”

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is investigating the matter.

“These are extremely serious and disturbing claims that allegedly occurred at N.Y.P.D. headquarters in Manhattan,” Bragg’s office said.

Maddrey’s attorney, Lambros Lambrou, did not provide a comment to the AP, but gave a statement to the New York Post.

“What a convenient time to accuse somebody of misconduct after she’s caught stealing time,” Lambrou told the Post. “She’s obviously drowning and in the deep end of the pool without a lifesaver. She wants to take down as many people as she can.”

Maddrey is also facing similar accusations from Gabrielle Walls, a police captain who intimated that she turned down Maddrey’s unwanted advances on her for years.

John Scola, Walls’ attorney, said that the resignation of Maddrey is a vindication of the accusations from his client, who says in her filing that she dreaded interacting with Maddrey because he would often try to kiss her.

“We hope this high-profile resignation marks the beginning of a cultural shift to eliminate the pervasive environment of harassment and retaliation within the NYPD,” Scola said in a statement.

Maddrey’s resignation leaves the department without an official chief of department, who, according to Tisch’s statement, is responsible for implementing “crime-fighting strategies, quality of life initiatives, and operational plans.”

There is, however, an interim Chief of Department and Patrol, per Tisch’s statement.

“The NYPD works tirelessly to protect New Yorkers, and these roles are critical to keeping our communities safe. The interim Chiefs of Department and Patrol will continue to lead the efforts to reduce crime and disorder and build public trust,” Tisch said.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 22, 2024

‘Queen Of The Yard’ Podcast Launches To Celebrate Legacy Of HBCU Pageant Queens

While the show itself in still in pre-production, the podcast officially launched on Dec. 20.

“Queen of the Yard,” a dramedy in development to highlight the tradition of HBCU pageant queens, has launched a podcast to further its storytelling.

While the show is still in pre-production, the podcast officially launched on Dec. 20. The audio-based show will connect HBCU pageant queens throughout the generations as they share their stories. The show detailed its dedication to ” the HBCU Baddies who’ve been HBCU Campus Queens, fought for the crown, and those who are HBCU Campus Queen historians,” according to KGET.

Co-created by award-winning filmmaker Stacey L. Holman and writer/producer Tracee Loran, the show will showcase these queens as they discuss themes of sisterhood and the timeless HBCU experience.

“Each Campus Queen has a story worth celebrating,” says Holman. “The podcast gives voice to these journeys while underscoring the cultural significance of this legacy.”

As the duo caps off the show, they aim to show the dynamism of those who held the crown. An HBCU queen is a woman of distinction and grace who represents her institution during her reign. This legacy of women who embodied their school’s values and mission will now be highlighted through this lens.

Its discussions will shed light on the steps one must take to wear the crown. Moreover, its accompanying television show aims to spotlight this on the small screen.

The creators have launched a Crowdfundr campaign to raise $35,000 for the production of a five-minute short film. The concept film focuses on a young HBCU freshman and her entry into the pageant scene. Its completion will help with the show’s pitching progress.

“This is more than a TV series; it’s a love letter to HBCUs and the extraordinary women who uphold their legacy,” explained Loran.

Moreover, those who donate will also see a portion of their gift go to the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. This ongoing effort hopes to detail the triumphs of HBCU queens and uplift Black women in all forms of leadership.