by Mary Spiller

November 18, 2023

Diddy And Cassie Settle Abuse And Rape Lawsuit One Day After It Was Filed

Details of the settlement were kept private.

Sean “Diddy” Combs and R&B singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura reached a settlement a day after Ventura filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of raping and physical abusing her for well over a decade.

Ventura filed the suit November 16. Details of the settlement were not disclosed.

According to Ventura’s attorney, Combs and Ventura “resolved the claims … to their mutual satisfaction.”

Ventura wrote in a statement, “I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control. I want to thank my family, fans, and lawyers for their unwavering support.”

“We have decided to resolve this matter amicably,” Combs said in a statement. “I wish Cassie and her family all the best.”

The New York Post reported that Ventura accused Combs of forcing her to take opioids and alcohol, beating her, forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes, and repeatedly beating her between 2005 and 2018, which caused her to have drug abuse issues and memory loss later in life. She also accused the mogul of rape.

The 37-year-old former Bad Boy Records artist claimed that her relationship with Combs was violent and physically taxing.

“After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships,” Ventura said in the lawsuit filing.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, stated that Ventura was signed to Comb’s label when she was 19 years old. It also said he allegedly pursued her despite her rejections. Ventura claimed Combs was prone to “uncontrollable rage” and “frequently” and “savagely” beat her so badly that she had to hold up in a hotel to recover for weeks on end.

She alleged that when she tried to pull away from the founder of Bad Boy Records, he threatened her with violence and said that her records would be blacklisted if she wasn’t compliant.

The lawsuit claimed that Combs pressured her into having sex with male prostitutes while drugged out on opiates. He allegedly filmed and masturbated to the incidents, and called them “Freak Off.”

The lawsuit claimed that Combs controlled every part of Ventura’s life, such as her money flow, healthcare access, living arrangements, and even her career.

The two separated in 2018.

Combs denied all of the allegations and said Ventura blackmailed him for $30 million “under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail.”

by Daniel Johnson

November 18, 2023

Eric Adams Opens Legal Defense Fund As Second Aide Has Home Raided

The Eric Adams Legal Defense Trust allows the NYC maor to raise money for his legal fees without being in violation of the city’s laws against politicians getting gifts

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has assembled a legal defense fund in the wake of the FBI probe against him. The Hill reported the Eric Adams Legal Defense Trust allows the mayor to raise money for his legal fees without being in violation of the city’s laws against politicians getting gifts. According to The New York Times, a second Adams aide and an ex-Turkish Airlines official had their homes raided, as the FBI ratchets up their investigation into campaign donations.

Adams has not yet been directly accused of any criminal activity and he told The Hill, “I want to be clear, I have no knowledge, direct or otherwise, of any improper fundraising activity – and certainly not of any foreign money,” the mayor said. “We will of course work with officials to respond to inquiries, as appropriate – as we always have.”

As BLACK ENTERPRISE reported, the FBI confiscated Adams’ phone and electronic devices as a signal that they were escalating their investigation into whether or not Adams violated federal fundraising law in 2021. The mayor’s new fund will be monitored by the Conflicts of Interest Board and Adams issued a signed affidavit that said the fund “is necessitated by, and intended to defray, legal expenses in connection with the inquiries by the office of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York related to the operations of the Eric Adams 2021 mayoral campaign committee,” Politico reported.

As part of their oversight, the board requires donations from individuals of over $100 to have their names and addresses attached to their donations to ensure there are no conflicts of interest. In addition to this, the city law limits donations to $5,000, as well as who can contribute. Adams subordinates, for example, cannot donate and neither can anyone doing business in the city.

Pitta LLP, the firm that did the campaign finance compliance for Adams’ campaign, is listed on the documents that established the defense fund. Vito Pitta, the co-managing partner of Pitta LLP, gave Politico a statement, saying, “After consultation with the Campaign Finance Board and the Conflicts of Interest Board, it was determined that a trust should be created for any legal expenses.”

by Mary Spiller

November 18, 2023

George ‘Funky’ Brown Of Kool & The Gang Has Died At 74

Brown passed away surrounded by his family in his Los Angeles home on the night of Nov. 16.

The lead drummer and one of the founding members of the band Kool & The Gang, George “Funky” Brown, died on Nov. 16 in his Los Angeles home. He was 74 years old.

Brown, according to TMZ, passed away after succumbing to stage-4 cancer. He was diagnosed with lung cancer a few years ago and recovered enough to tour with his band mates. Unfortunately, he suffered a related health complication and was set back earlier this year when his lung cancer returned.

Brown was open with various news outlets about his battle with the disease and its toll on him. His spokesperson, family, and friends asked that donations be made in Brown’s honor to the Lung Cancer Society of America.

Brown had a 59-year-long career as songwriter and drummer for the iconic funk band. A representative for Brown told the outlet, “George Brown died Nov. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer. Brown has co-written many of the band’s iconic songs, including ‘Ladies Night,’ ‘Too Hot,’ ‘Jungle Boogie,’ ‘Celebration,’ and ‘Cherish.’ When asked to describe his music, Brown always replied, ‘The sound of happiness.'”

Brown is survived by Hanh Brown, his wife, and his five children.

Kool & The Gang was formed in 1964 in Jersey City, New Jersey, it included members Robert Bell on bass and keyboards, Dennis Thomas on saxophone, Robert Mickens on the trumpet, Ricky West on keyboards, and Charles Smith on guitar. The band achieved widespread popularity in 1973 with the release of their fourth record, Wild And Peaceful, which included one of their most successful songs, “Hollywood Swinging.” They released a string of hits in the following years, including “Ladies Night,” “Celebrate!,” and “Emergency,” selling over 2 million albums in the United States.

Kool & The Gang won two Grammys, seven American Music Awards, a Music Business Association Chairman’s Award, a Soul Train Legend Award, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

by Daniel Johnson

November 18, 2023

LeVar Burton Calls Out Moms For Liberty At National Book Awards Over Book Bans. Group Fires Back

Burton’s lighthearted remarks simultaneously elicited celebrations from the crowd, laughter from Black Twitter, and outrage from Moms For Liberty.

While hosting the 74th National Book Awards on Nov. 16, LeVar Burton made what he probably thought was a slick joke directed at the Moms For Liberty, which was classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center due to its opposition to LGBTQ+ and racially inclusive school curricula. Burton addressed the crowd as he was about to begin his opening remarks at the event by saying, “Before we get going, are there any Moms for Liberty in the house? Moms for Liberty? No? Good. Then hands will not need to be thrown tonight.”

"Before we get going, are there any Moms for Liberty in the house? No? Good. then hands will not need to be thrown tonight."

Host LeVar Burton kicks off this year's National Book Awards ceremony. #NBAwards pic.twitter.com/tQtLj8azGS
— Publishers Weekly (@PublishersWkly) November 16, 2023

Burton’s lighthearted remarks simultaneously elicited celebrations from the crowd, laughter from Black Twitter, as well as outrage from Moms For Liberty. According to Fox News, the group responded via a post to their Twitter/X account, saying “American moms weep as a childhood favorite, Reading Rainbow, calls for physical attacks against us because we are protecting the innocence of our children. LeVar Burton, why have you sunk so low? Threatening physical violence against women?”

Levar Burton will always be one of my favs!! pic.twitter.com/36OFq6Gd6d
— Jen Mrazek (@mrazek_jen) November 16, 2023

Tiffany Justice, the co-founder of the group, told Fox News, “It is truly disheartening that somebody who has been so influential in the lives of children can stoop so low as to threaten their mothers. What are people like LeVar Burton trying to hide from us that it must come to physical violence to protect their agenda? We will not be deterred, we will continue to fight for our children at every step.”

American moms weep as a childhood favorite, Reading Rainbow, calls for physical attacks against us because we are protecting the innocence of our children. @levarburton, why have you sunk so low? Threatening physical violence against women? https://t.co/qui0iP3McW
— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) November 16, 2023

Moms For Liberty has been at the center of book bans all over the country, despite Justice’s claims to Newsweek that the group is not concerned with banning books. Moms For Liberty has been busy making sure school boards have their candidates on them. According to The Week, in 2022, roughly half of the 250 candidates the group endorsed won their elections. PEN America also claimed in 2022 that Moms For Liberty is one of several groups that have created an environment that has made book bans incredibly expansive. Though they seemingly couch their efforts as an attempt to protect children, members of the group in Tennessee also made headlines for pushing to ban books about Martin Luther King Jr. and Ruby Bridges, who was recently inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

The National Book Foundation, which presents the National Book Awards, issued a statement ahead of the ceremony, which seemed to recognize that not everyone would be pleased with what their award winners (or host) would say during the course of the evening’s events.

The third paragraph read: “Political statements, if made, are by no means unprecedented in the history of the National Book Awards, or indeed any awards ceremony. We are working with the venue to ensure a safe environment for all our guests. We of course hope that everyone attending the National Book Awards, in person or tuning in online, comes in a spirit of understanding, compassion, and humanity—the very things that the books we love inspire.”

by Mary Spiller

November 18, 2023

Birth Home Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. To Be Closed For Revamp

The historic home is expected to be closed down to the public for two years to allow for the maintenance scheduled

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic birth home will undergo essential renovations, leading to its closure for the next two years.

According to the National Park Service, the Auburn Avenue home, located in the Martin Luther King National Historical Park and Preservation District, will be closed to the public from Nov. 27 to November 2025.

The National Park Service press release confirmed that no tours would be conducted during the shutdown dates. The temporary closure of King’s home will allow for long-awaited renovations to finally get under way.

The Queen Anne style home was built in 1895 and the work is a part of a routine schedule to continue the upkeep of the historic civil right leader’s home.

The National Park Service acquired King’s home in 2018 and plans for renovation and upgrades were laid out for the future that are now continuing to come to fruition. Skilled work crews will rehabilitate the major central systems in the home during the two year closure. The systems to be targeted include the home’s electrical and mechanical systems, as well as a new HVAC and fire suppression system for safety. The crew also intends to build a new crawl space in the home for easier workmen access.

NPS additionally outlined plans for repairs of the windows and doors in King’s home, and a partial replacement of the non-historic interior wall coverings, in order to maintain the integrity of the original home’s structure.

The list for work to be done also includes cosmetic repairs to the exterior, like painting and reinforcing the porch, outside fence, and the driveway leading up the Auburn Avenue home.

NPS reported that the museum collection and other historic items that are typically housed in the home will be removed and stored in a safe off-site location come Nov. 27. Despite the home itself being closed, the Park Service will continue to work with the King Center to allow interpretations and other visiting services to continue through the renovation process. The King Center will be offering walking tours of the off-site historical objects, virtual tours of the home, and even special commemorations and events on related holidays.

by Daniel Johnson

November 18, 2023

Don Omar Sues Cesar Pina Over Alleged Fraud Seeking $2 Million

Omar’s lawsuit, which lists Prime Platinum Investments as the plaintiff, alleges that Omar invested in real estate properties in New Jersey and Florida due to DJ Envy’s "stamp of approval.'

On the heels of Cesar Pina filing a $10 million defamation lawsuit against social media influencer Anthony Robinson, otherwise known as Tony The Closer, Pina has been hit with his own lawsuit from Latin music superstar Don Omar. Omar’s lawsuit, which lists Prime Platinum Investments as the plaintiff, alleges that Omar invested in real estate properties in New Jersey and Florida due to DJ Envy’s “stamp of approval.”

Latin superstar Don Omar just filed a $2 million dollar lawsuit against DJ Envy’s business partner, Cesar Pina. The singer says he invested in NJ and Florida properties because of Envy’s “ stamp of approval” pic.twitter.com/LJLOiI6I6i
— Sarah Wallace (@SarahWallace4NY) November 17, 2023

According to Sarah Wallace, a reporter for NBC 4 New York, the lawsuit is seeking $2 million in damages from Pina. The suit has been filed with the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which is located in Florida. As the Daily Beast reported, Omar alleges in the suit that Pina never produced “a single document relevant to the acquisition, renovation, and rental of the properties.”

Prime Platinum Investments, the company Omar owns, is suing Pina alleging breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, and unjust enrichment. Omar represents just the latest party to allege that Pina stole money from him in a Ponzi scheme, as several others have alleged that Pina used the endorsement of The Breakfast Club’s DJ Envy to facilitate access to investment money. Pina, according to the Daily Beast, was released from custody after posting a $1 million bond and has repeatedly denied allegations against him.

DJ Envy, who remains out of any legal trouble for now, is a constant figure in the lawsuits being filed against Pina as someone whom the individuals Pina allegedly swindled out of money trusted, so they, in turn, trusted Pina. According to the lawsuit, this pattern of accusations continues to hold.

“DJ Envy’s stamp of approval provided a legitimacy and platform that the Defendant Pina did not otherwise have,” the lawsuit said. “As a result of the constant public validation, especially through DJ Envy’s purported personal experiences and purported bulletproof blue-chip investments with the Defendant Pina, Landron’s interest peaked in seeking ‘generational wealth’ by building a real estate portfolio.”

According to the lawsuit, Omar and Pina engaged in a series of real estate deals that saw Omar’s company purchase real estate property through Pina’s company in Paterson, Chicago, and Miami. The lawsuit also alleges that in August 2022, Omar purchased part of Pina’s company for $2 million, and as part of the deal, Pina was supposed to buy and flip three real estate properties in Chicago in three months while also finding tenants to rent out the units. According to the lawsuit, this agreement was never honored.

“After several months of requesting documents, in an attempt to verify ownership and in exercise of due diligence, the Plaintiff Prime Platinum was stone-walled at every request and simply delayed,” the lawsuit claims. “Specifically, the Plaintiff Prime Platinum’s requests for any closing documents, deeds, renovation updates, marketing materials, and the like, were never complied with.”

Pina is also involved in a federal criminal case, in which he is alleged to have used similar methods to defraud clients. Like an episode of American Greed, the popular television program turned podcast, Pina allegedly offered clients a deal that seemed impossible to turn down. Federal prosecutors allege that Pina promised those investors a 20-45% return on investment within five months, but instead of them getting their returns, what he really did was engage in a Ponzi scheme where he paid those who invested before this group did and covered his own personal expenses. Omar’s lawyer, Carlos Friger told the Daily Beast, “Where there is smoke, there is fire.”

According to NPR, Alexander Schachtel, who represents nine people claiming that Pina defrauded them, says that DJ Envy should not be let off the hook. He also noted that most of the alleged victims of Pina’s scheme are Black and Latine men, the largest demographic of The Breakfast Club’s listeners.

Schachtel told the outlet, “He (DJ Envy) needs to realize that when you hold yourself out and you tell members of the public who look up to you, who listen to your radio show, who go to seminars that you co-host with Cesar Pina, that hear you on social media, on the radio, in person, describe yourself as Cesar’s business partner and tout Cesar Pina’s real estate expertise and otherwise endorse and boost and hold yourself out to people as Cesar’s partner, that you are attaching yourself to Cesar as as a matter of law.”

Shaq|Big Chicken, Shaquille O’Neal, Jor'el Bolden, 23 shoe, athlete

by Mary Spiller

November 18, 2023

Shaq Opens Up New Comebaq Basketball Court For Kids In Los Angeles

The basketball court was opened under his initiative to give kids access to quality sports facilities across America.

Shaquille O’Neal is giving back to the city of Los Angeles. On Nov. 16, Shaq took to refurbishing a Boys & Girl’s Club basketball court and spent the day hanging out with the kids.

According to TMZ Sports, Shaq was at the BGC in Metro LA for three grand openings of the Comebaq Court, part of an initiative by his foundation to fix courts and fields for youth all across the country.

“I came here one time and I saw the court need to be refurbished. I asked about the refurbish. They told me ‘yes’ and this is the result. If we can help one, if we can help 100, we can help ’em all. If you need computers, you need laptops, fresh paint — then you call Uncle Shaq,” said Shaq.

So far, Shaq has opened up five Comebaq Courts since he started the program; he’s renovated new basketball facilities in Newark, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Miami. He’s looking to continue expanding the program to include more courts in other cities, too. Comebaq Courts have all new facilities, hoops, courts, and places for the kids to hang out and spend their time.

While speaking to TMZ Sports, Shaq acknowledged that this was only possible with his less-recognized counterparts. He credited Icy Hot and other counselors who volunteered their time in the spaces with the kids.

He said, “Those counselors, the ones who volunteer everyday, they actually should get most of the credit.”

Ahead of the holidays, Shaq opened up about his Thanksgiving day plans. The 51-year-old former NBA star admitted, “I don’t do anything in my house. I try to feed homeless families.”

Shaq had a 19-year-long NBA career and consistently uses his money and endorsements to better his community and those around them.

by Stacy Jackson

November 18, 2023

Number of Americans Filing Bankruptcy To Get Rid Of Student Debt Increases

A majority of Americans looking for discharge have received full or partial discharges, according to the Department of Justice.

Three years after a nationwide pause on student loan payments amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are taking advantage of legal changes made by the Biden administration to make discharging student loans in bankruptcy easier.

The changes came just one year ago in November and are supposed to help eligible borrowers reduce or eliminate their student debt. According to a Department of Justice (DOJ) news release from Nov. 16, 2023, about 632 borrowers filed bankruptcy to get rid of student loans between November 2022 and September 2023.

The 10-month period had a higher number of filers than the average rate recorded before the pandemic, which was 480. The release from the DOJ also noted that, to date, 99% of the cases “where courts have entered orders or judgments to date, the government recommended, and the court agreed to, a full discharge or partial discharge.”

Americans filing for bankruptcy to discharge student loan debt should meet three criteria, according to Fox Business. They include: proving that a good-faith effort to repay debt was made, demonstrating an inability to repay loans in the present, and not being able to foresee repaying loan amounts in the future, the news outlet reported.

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta thinks the new policy has been a success thus far. Gupta said, according to Fox Business, that after a year-long review of the results, the new benchmarks have “made a real difference in borrowers’ lives by ensuring student-loan discharges are more accessible to eligible borrowers.”

Chief Operating Officer Rich Cordray of the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid agreed. He said, according to the DOJ’s news release, “It is clear that this improved process is helping struggling borrowers.”

Fox Business noted that federal data showed that borrowers have average bill amounts that fall somewhere between $200 and $299 per month.

HBCUs Expand Reach As International Scholarships Transform Student-Athlete Rosters

by Mary Spiller

November 18, 2023

HBCUs Expand Reach As International Scholarships Transform Student-Athlete Rosters

North Carolina Central University international student Alejandra Vega says there's a surplus of opportunities that have come from studying at an HBCU

HBCUs are embracing diversity in their student athlete rosters by awarding scholarships to international students. NPR reports that North Carolina Central University, known for its tennis program, has granted a full scholarship to Alejandra Hidalgo Vega, a sophomore from Madrid, Spain, who has earned recognition as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rookie of the year.

In an NPR interview, Vega shared how this opportunity has transformed her life.

“I always wanted to play in the U.S. because I want to, like, get a scholarship and be able to, you know, be in a university here. I really enjoy being in HBCU — I have a lot of fun,” she said.

She admitted that she didn’t know much about African-American university culture at first, but nonetheless it has offered her a once of a kind opportunity to advance her sports and academic career. In Europe, collegiate sports aren’t regarded as highly as they are in the U.S., and Vega was shocked by the way that athletes are able to gain widespread attention from college sports.

Vega’s story isn’t as uncommon as one would think. According to WABE, NCAA reports over 24,000 international student-athletes are across all three divisions in the United States, an exponential jump from the last decade.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have begun using third party recruiters in order to diversify their student body with athletic powerhouses. Alabama State University Head Tennis Coach Anuk Christiansz explained, “Tennis is an international sport, I would love to see more African Americans playing tennis and get to a level where they can play college tennis at the highest level…But they need to go to the next three, four levels so that they can be on par with everyone else.”

The head tennis coach at Tuskegee University agreed.

Gregory Green told the radio station, “We feel that there’s a lot of Black students that need the opportunity to go to college and play tennis. Those are the ones we recruit. And we want to keep it home. This is an HBCU, and we’re going to stick to that all the way through.”

Green added that it’s important the international students recruited are still helping the Black community in some way though. He added, “There’s no need for me to bring a kid in from Ireland or Switzerland or [Norway] because they’re not helping our community. And that’s one of the main missions of HBCUs was to provide our kids the opportunity to be great.”

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by Stacy Jackson

November 18, 2023

Get Your Money Up, Sis! Black Women Invest Wants To Help 1M Black Women Achieve Wealth

Local chapters of Black Women Invest meet to discuss financial topics like crypto, stocks, real estate, entrepreneurship, and retirement.

A community of over 13,000 Black women investors is on a mission to help Black women achieve wealth.

Black Women Invest (BWI) provides the support and resources needed to step into the world of investing. According to BWI’s website, the sisterhood, founded by Schelo Doirin, is committed to helping one million Black women become strong investors with access to various educational tools. The community meets monthly through local chapters to discuss financial topics like crypto, stocks, real estate, business, entrepreneurship, retirement planning, and more.

According to KGTV, BWI has made its mark in Southern California.

“A lot of Black families were never exposed to financial education and instruments for building their wealth,” says Samonae Carter, the Southern California Chapter president for Black Women Invest. Carter’s chapter consists of a few dozen women who meet biweekly to learn about financial literacy.

On Oct. 2, BWI launched its new accelerator program. The six-week investment course teaches the foundations of investing, mastering the stock market, and building a portfolio. Members can take advantage of exclusive small-group coaching as they venture through the course.

BWI’s Accelerator Program includes:

Stock and index fund training
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) training
Investment Worksheet to track and manage your investments
Downloadable Stock Market Investment Planner
Black Women Invest Online Course curriculum
Accountability Partner for support
Weekly Live Group Coaching Calls

Participants of the BWI community have branched off to start their own groups.

The community of women announced the launch of its Washington, D.C., chapter on Sept. 18.

“We are extremely excited to continue connecting with the beautiful Black women in Washington, D.C., who want to learn, grow, and build generational wealth together!,” the wealth-building community wrote on Instagram. The D.C. chapter celebrated its launch with a brunch.

Join a local chapter and become part of the BWI sisterhood. An online chapter is available for those who may not have a chapter nearby.