The City of Murfreesboro has banned "indecent behavior," which includes homosexuality.
Located about 30 miles outside of Nashville, the city of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, recently passed an ordinance that prohibits homosexuality in public.
Passed in June 2023, the ordinance bans “indecent behavior” which includes “indecent exposure, public indecency, lewd behavior, nudity or sexual conduct.” Erin in the Morningreported that the document mentions Section 21-72 of the city code, which specifically says that “sexual conduct” includes homosexuality.
The decree also states that the local community has the right to “establish and preserve contemporary community standards,” which means city officials can ban acts they deem “indecent.”
City officials met on Nov. 6 to discuss the removal of books from the Rutherford County Library that contain LBGTQ+ content, also considered “indecent” under the recent city ordinance.
According to Erin in the Morning, the library board has removed four books: Flamer by Mike Curato; Let’s Talk About It by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan; Queerfully and Wonderfully Made: A Guide for LGBTQ+ Christian Teens by Jennifer Knapp; and This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson.
A lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union forced Judge Waverly Crenshaw Jr. to ban the city from enforcing the ordinance.
“We are relieved that the court has taken action to ensure that Murfreesboro’s discriminatory ordinance will not be enforced during the BoroPride festival,” Tennessee Equality Project Executive Director Chris Sanders said in a statement.
This controversial ordinance makes things even more complicated for same-sex married couples in Murfreesboro. Since 2014, gay marriage has been legal in Tennessee; but in March, the state House of Representatives passed a bill that would allow officiants to refuse to perform a gay marriage if they disagreed with the union. The bill has been introduced to the Senate and deferred until 2024.
NYC Record-Breaking Bust: $1 Billion in Counterfeit Luxury Goods Seized
New York City authorities executed a record-breaking bust, seizing more than $1 billion worth of counterfeit luxury goods.
New York City authorities have executed a record-breaking bust, seizing over $1 billion of counterfeit luxury goods, including faux designer handbags and shoes. The fakes were found in a Manhattan storage facility, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on Nov. 15.
Approximately 219,000 counterfeit items, including bags, clothes, and shoes, were confiscated in what U.S. Attorney Damian Williams called “the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history.” The goods, with an estimated retail value of $1.03 billion, were found in a New York City storage facility allegedly used by defendants Adama Sow and Abdulai Jalloh as a distribution center for their large-scale trafficking operation.
Williams stated, “As alleged, the defendants used a Manhattan storage facility as a distribution center for massive amounts of knockoff designer goods. The seizures announced today consist of merchandise with over a billion dollars in estimated retail value, the largest-ever seizure of counterfeit goods in U.S. history. This is a testament to the commitment of this Office and its law enforcement partners to combat counterfeit trafficking in New York City.”
The charges against Sow and Jalloh include trafficking in counterfeit goods and carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Allegedly running their operations from January 2023 to Oct. 20, 2023, the defendants are accused of trafficking goods out of the Manhattan storage facility and an offsite location.
Photographs released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office depict storage units within the facility piled high with handbags and shoes, emphasizing the scale of the operation. Images of boxes containing seized counterfeit goods provide a visual testament to the extent of the illicit operation.
NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban emphasized the impact of counterfeit goods trafficking on legitimate businesses, governments, and consumers, stating, “The trafficking of counterfeit goods is anything but a victimless crime because it harms legitimate businesses, governments, and consumers. Today’s indictments show how seriously the NYPD and our federal partners take this offense. And we will continue to work hard to hold accountable anyone who seeks to benefit by selling such items on the black market.”
Black Twitter Got Jokes About André 3000’s All Flute Album
André 3000's "New Blue Sun" was released on Friday and Black Twitter wasted no time cracking jokes about the woodwind-filled EP.
André 3000’s fully instrumental album, New Blue Sun, was released on Friday, and Black Twitter wasted no time cracking jokes about the woodwind-filled EP.
The Outkast rapper has been open and honest about his lack of inspiration in releasing a rap album. Still, considering his standing as one of the greatest lyricists of all time, hip-hop fans were hopeful that 3000’s first album in nearly 20 years would include some layered bars and dope beats.
But that wasn’t where the wind was blowing for the “Hey Ya!” musician. 3000 returned to the music scene with an album that will take you on a tranquil walk through the park to watch the birds and butterflies rather than a funkdafied Cadillac ride through the hood.
“I’ve worked with some of the newest, freshest, youngest and old-school producers. I get beats all the time. I try to write all the time.” But rap is not what comes, he told GQ.
“Even now people think, ‘Oh, man, he’s just sitting on raps, or he’s just holding these raps hostage.’ I ain’t got no raps like that. It actually feels … sometimes it feels inauthentic for me to rap because I don’t have anything to talk about in that way.”
André 3000’s speaks on him rapping at the age of 48.
Now, with the release of 3000’s flute-focused album, Black Twitter is showing their support but in a way only Black Twitter can. Comical memes and video clips highlight the good reception true André 3000 fans are having to New Blue Sun.
There’s that infamous “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” scene when Uncle Phil forces Will, Carlton, and Jeff to sit through a classical song. Many have credited the scene to how they’re reacting to 3000’s new album.
It seems that with any content that’s flute- or woodwind-related, Black Twitter has found a funny way to liken it to 3000’s new album. There are even video clips fans added flute sounds to just to make their point. Check out some of the most out-of-pocket tweets below.
Yall: IM NOT LISTENING TO ANDRE 3000 PLAY NO DAMN FLUTE!
Byron Allen Looking Into Purchasing Scripps TV Stations
Successful entrepreneur Byron Allen is looking to expand his extensive empire by purchasing television stations from E.W. Scripps.
Comedian and successful entrepreneur Byron Allen is looking to expand his extensive empire by pursuing a purchase of several television stations from E.W. Scripps.
According to Seeking Alpha, the Allen Media Group is in search of possibly $200 million financing from private lenders to buy some of the television properties from the broadcasting entity, based on a report by Bloomberg TV. Allen is purportedly looking for stations that are not located in major markets.
The news comes after Allen attempted to bring the BET Network back under Black ownership several months ago when he, Tyler Perry, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and others tried to purchase the network from Paramount. After toying with the idea for several months, the company decided not to sell BET to anyone.
More recently, in September, Allen placed a $10 billion bid to acquire Disney’s ABC Network, according to Bloomberg. Allen made the offer after reports of Disney looking to get rid of what it considers “non-core assets” and looking to focus their efforts on streaming services.
A source familiar with the offer said it centers specifically on ABC’s broadcast network, FX and National Geographic.
According to the outlet, the Allen Media Group recently brought back two recently canceled courtroom favorites and premiered a new one in September.
Judge Mathis is starring in Mathis Court With Judge Mathis; Judge Milian, formerly of The People’s Court, continues to bang the gavel for Justice for the People with Judge Milan,” and the newest addition to the slate of court shows on television is Eboni K. Williams (The Real Housewives of New York City) debuted Equal Justice with Judge Eboni K. Williams.
“Byron and I are both from Detroit, and it’s exciting to see him build the Motown of court programming by bringing together all of my fellow judges from his eight court shows – who are the best of the best,” Mathis said before his show went on air.
The court shows debuted on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023.
Deion Sanders Claims Schools Are Misleading Recruits By Saying He Won’t Be At Colorado For Long
Says schools are using rumors about him going to Texas A & M to tell students he won't be at Colorado
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders is claiming there are schools trying to use an unfounded rumor that he is leaving the University of Colorado Boulder to gain an advantage with prospective student-athletes in their recruiting efforts.
According to CBS News, during Sanders’ weekly radio show, he said that some schools were trying to detract recruits from going to the Buffaloes by saying that Sanders wouldn’t be in Colorado for long, even though he hasn’t completed his first year at the university. It was brought up because Texas A&M University recently fired its football coach, Jimbo Fisher, and Sanders has been linked to that job.
Sanders says he has no interest in the position.
“I don’t talk about any other coaches or teams or staffs. I don’t believe in that,” Sanders said on Nov. 15, according to 247Sports. “I am not going to put you down so I can stand up. I’ve never been that type of player or person in my life. But all these other schools are telling these young men and their families I am not going to be [at Colorado].”
He continued, “They think that we’re going to be so successful that I am going to leave. So they understand what we possess and the potential we possess. But that’s not true.”
Although the Buffaloes have a losing record of 4-6 and are currently in last place in the Pac-12 Conference with a 1-6 win-loss total, Sanders has resurrected the program after his team went 1-11 last season.
His presence at the school has helped pack the stadium after the lackluster play of its football team in recent years. Being the football coach has brought the school a financial windfall through ad deals, promotions, celebrity endorsements, and sightings, not to mention increased media coverage. The NFL Hall of Famer has reportedly generated $90.6 million in revenue for the Division I school, according to Yahoo Finance.
Snoop Dogg Shocks Fans with Smoke-Free Declaration
Snoop Dogg announced his latest project was to 'give up smoke.' Now everybody is confused.
According to USA Today, iconic rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg caught fans off guard with a recent social media announcement on Nov. 16 that declared his decision to give up smoking marijuana. The revelation, conveyed in a black-and-white Instagram post, left fans wondering what has happened.
Snoop Dogg wrote, “After much consideration & conversation with my family, I’ve decided to give up smoke. Please respect my privacy at this time.”
In the accompanying caption he emphasized the decision, stating simply, “I’m giving up smoke.”
The “Gin and Juice” rapper didn’t explain his decision.
Snoop Dogg’s declaration to “give up smoke” puzzled fans, especially following his joint product launch with Martha Stewart called “Best Buds Bags.” A social media user, @nicholaszazula, highlighted what seemed to be a contradiction, commenting, “Didn’t he announce he stopped smoking 20 mins ago?”
Snoop clarified to hip-hop music magazine The Source that the limited-edition crossbody bag is tailored to his preferences, boasting secret stash pockets designed for his favorite herbs.
Despite the public proclamation, Snoop Dogg’s ties to the world of marijuana are evident in his involvement in the cannabis industry. From his renowned weed line, Leafs by Snoop, to his participation in the cannabis investment fund Casa Verde, the rapper is a prominent figure in the culture.
Even after his surprising announcement last month, Snoop employed the lit candles on his birthday cake to reignite a joint onstage at a Los Angeles benefit show co-hosted by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. The enthusiastic endorsement from Reilly and the audience underscored Snoop Dogg’s unapologetic and enduring connection with cannabis culture. “That’s what I’m talking about,” Reilly exclaimed, capturing the essence of Snoop’s presence in the marijuana industry.
T-Pain, who recently collaborated with Snoop Dogg on the music video for “That’s How We Ballin,” issued a disclaimer on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the video was filmed before Snoop quit smoking.
T-Pain offered words of encouragement to the California rapper, writing, “Stay strong, Unc #support.”
Study: Interpersonal Racism Tied To 38% Higher Stroke Risk in Black Women Over 22 Years
The Boston University study examined how “perceived interpersonal racism” can be linked to increasing numbers in strokes among Black women
New research found that there was a 38% increase in stroke incidence among Black women who experienced interpersonal racism over 22 years.
In a cohort study published in JAMA Network Open, a group of colleagues and doctors from Boston University suggested that “the high burden of racism experienced by Black U.S. individuals may contribute to racial disparities in stroke incidence.” The authors examined how “perceived interpersonal racism” in employment, housing, and interactions with police can be linked to increasing numbers of strokes among Black women.
In 1997, 48,375 middle-aged participants in the Black Women’s Health Study reported on perceived interpersonal racism and were “free of cardiovascular disease and cancer.” During a 22-year follow-up, there were 1,664 stroke incident cases, with 550 definite cases confirmed by a neurologist and/or National Death Index linkage.
As discussed in the research, it is important to consider that Black individuals face stroke and stroke-related mortality more frequently than other racial groups. In 2018, African American women were twice as likely to have a stroke as compared to non-Hispanic white women, based on the data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Earlier this year, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported on a case of a North Carolina new mom who suffered several strokes and seizures. Following the delivery of her baby son, Leslie Jordan had slurred speech, loss of mobility, intense pain, and preeclampsia. Over four years later, Jordan is still recovering from brain damage with the help of her husband, going to doctors’ appointments, and continuing rehab. She said that her mothering “didn’t really start until my son was 3 years old because I didn’t have the capability.” So, she advises other mothers to take their health seriously.
Jordan’s circumstances are related to many other Black moms who may have experienced structural racism and self-reported experience of racial discrimination. However, exposure to perceived stress during pregnancy can lead to the risk of having a preterm or low-birthweight infant.
The cohort study further explained that racism and poverty are recognized as social determinants. In fact, “disproportionate numbers of Black US individuals face multiple adverse experiences over the life course.” Those who experience racism in their everyday lives have a higher stroke risk.
“A total of 27,155 women (59%) perceived racism in employment, 16,109 (35%) perceived racism in housing, and 11,046 (24%) perceived racism in interactions with police,” the study read.
Notably, women who reported racism in all three domains were more likely to reside in “high SES [socioeconomic status] neighborhoods, less likely to live in the South, and more likely to have a higher educational level than those who reported no such experience.”
In the analysis of perceived interpersonal racism about stroke incidents, authors recommended future studies among Black women with lower levels of education.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Addresses AI’s Impact On Black Americans
"I am going to do everything I can to reduce the amount of bias AI has in its system," he said.
On Nov. 15, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) held a Black Media Artificial Intelligence Pen and Pad session following his appearance at the AI Insight Forums in Washington, DC. Some of the country’s leading Black media companies, including BLACK ENTERPRISE, attended.
During the session, the Democrat shared his ongoing efforts to implement consumer protections against the new technology, including its embedded bias. Schumer also announced plans to expand protections for laborers across sectors with assistance from his peers in Congress. “I am going to do everything I can to reduce the amount of bias AI has in its system,” he said.
One of the most prevalent concerns amongst attendees at the Pen and Pad session was how artificial intelligence could impact the upcoming 2024 presidential election, even mentioning that major technology companies such as Meta have already platformed controversial and false political ads alleging that the prior presidential election was stolen.
Melanie Campbell, president and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, spoke about the political implications of AI if it is not adequately addressed in time for voter registration. “This election will determine what kind of democracy we’ll have. AI will impact that,” she stated. Schumer echoed this sentiment and offered reassurance that Congress is focused on how the electoral process will be affected by the sudden role of artificial intelligence.
“We are working on building guardrails to ensure transparency, to give workers a voice, and to ensure that the AI systems not only don’t increase the inequities in society but decrease them. It’s an opportunity as well as a challenge, and I want to take advantage of the opportunity,” he said. “We’ve seen lots of deep fakes, political ads, chat boxes. Black voters are among those who have been most targeted by this, so that’s something we’re particularly aware of.”
Schumer also touched on how expansive the measures will be. “We’re not just looking at this in broad areas,” he said. “We’re looking at specifics. So we’re looking at it in criminal justice and what the problems are with facial recognition. We’re looking at it in education. We’re looking at it in healthcare. And in every one of these, one of the focuses we have is stopping bias – putting guardrails against bias. The racism we’ve seen in our society for centuries is built into the information that these systems set up.”
Despite the issues accompanying AI, many view it as an opportunity to advance rather than regress if adequately managed. Jeff Nelson, COO of Blavity, spoke about its possibilities for entrepreneurship. “We talked a lot about the potential impact on the election and how we’re going to deal with that and how that’s important, but I remind us all as we think about this issue and write about this issue to also think about this as an opportunity for economic empowerment and wealth creation primarily for Black and brown individuals,” he said.
This conversation came shortly after Schumer held six AI Insight Forums, where several industry professionals convened to discuss the future implications of the technology. President and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Maya Wiley; National Urban League’s Yvette Badu-Nimako; and policy adviser Alondra Nelson were just some of the attendees.
“We’ve had these forums, and in every one of them, and we’ve had the leaders of the industry,” said Schumer. “On every forum, we’ve had people from the civil rights community, the labor community, and people who are critics of the Big Tech industry. They have to be there because they are setting up these systems, but we needed everybody there.”
“I made sure that every one of our forums had a good number of people who cared about the issue of bias, and we’re not just having them up there to talk. They’re involved in crafting legislation and helping us put it all together,” he continued.
Since its introduction, Black Americans have been unfairly targeted by AI, particularly as it relates to law enforcement. President of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Damon Hewitt, who also attended the forums, expressed his worries about AI and its repercussions.
“The facial recognition technology is typically not normed or tested against people with darker skin tones,” he said. “It puts us in danger of being falsely accused.”
Hewitt’s remarks and Schumer’s sessions came shortly after President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Oct. 30 establishing new standards of safety for the technology, according to White. Still, while Biden’s latest regulation is a stepping stone for additional protections, there is a long way to go.
Boston Settles Discrimination Lawsuit for $2.6 Million with Black Police Officers
The city of Boston has reached a $2.6 million settlement to resolve a long-standing federal discrimination case against Black police officers.
The city of Boston has reached a $2.6 million settlement to resolve a long-standing federal discrimination lawsuit involving a controversial hair test employed to identify drug use, announced attorneys representing Black police officers on Nov. 16.
The officers initiated the lawsuit in 2005, asserting that the city’s hair test was inherently discriminatory, as it disproportionately affected Black individuals due to their hair’s heightened susceptibility to false positives. Both the city and the testing company employed by the Boston Police Department vehemently denied any racial bias in the testing procedures.
The First Circuit Court of Appeals considered the case on two occasions. In 2014, the court concurred that the hair test disproportionately impacted Black officers. Two years later, it found sufficient evidence to indicate that the city persisted in using the test despite being informed of a less discriminatory alternative.
The case proceeded to trial in 2018, leading to subsequent mediation and, ultimately, the recently announced settlement.
Oren Sellstrom, a representative from Lawyers for Civil Rights, a nonprofit that advocated for the officers, remarked, “This settlement puts an end to a long, ugly chapter in Boston’s history. As a result of this flawed test, our clients’ lives and careers were completely derailed. The city has finally compensated them for this grave injustice.”
The Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, also a plaintiff in the case, echoed concerns over the lasting impact of the hair test on the diversity of the police force. In a release, Jeffrey Lopes, association president, stated, “The city is still trying to make up for the loss of diversity on the police force that resulted from use of the hair test.”
The city’s decision to abandon the contentious test in 2021 preceded the resolution of damages paid to three Black officers and a cadet, all of whom either lost their jobs or faced disciplinary actions as a consequence of the test. Although the case file acknowledged the settlement, specific details were not formally filed.
Attempts to obtain comments from the Boston Police Department and the agency’s lead attorney were unsuccessful.
Derek Chauvin Makes Another Attempt To Overturn George Floyd Murder Conviction
Chauvin claims new evidence will show that he didn't cause Floyd's death
Derek Chauvin just won’t quit.
The former Minneapolis police officer is trying to overturn his federal civil rights conviction in the 2020 murder of George Floyd…again, NBC News reported.
In a new motion filed in federal court on Nov. 13, Chauvin claims new evidence will show that he didn’t cause Floyd’s death. The convicted officer says he would have never pleaded guilty if he had known about the theories presented by a Kansas-based pathologist named Dr. William Schaetzel, who he started talking to in February. Schaetzel believes Floyd died from complications of a rare tumor called a paraganglioma, causing a fatal surge of adrenaline, not asphyxia from Chauvin’s actions.
“I can’t go to my grave with what I know,” Schaetzel said when explaining why he started communicating with Chauvin. “I just want the truth.”
While the pathologist didn’t examine Floyd’s body, he did review the autopsy report. Now, Chauvin is asking the judge who presided over his trial to throw out his conviction, and demanding a new trial or an evidentiary hearing.
One the same video, Floyd can be heard crying out, “I can’t breathe,” igniting protests around the country and amplifying the conversation of the correlation between police brutality and racism.
