NYC Landlord Arrested After Admitting He ‘Did Something Bad,’ Leading Police Officers To Three Dead Bodies
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 15, 2023

NYC Landlord Arrested After Admitting He ‘Did Something Bad,’ Leading Police Officers To Three Dead Bodies

David Daniel admitted to killing his girlfriend and two tenants

New York City police officers discovered three dead bodies after the landlord of the property went to the local precinct and told the police officers that he “did something bad.”

David Daniel appeared at the 113th Precinct station house on Nov. 14, and informed police officers that he was having issues with the tenants. When the officers arrived at the Queens residence in St. Albans, they discovered the three victims.

Daniel, 54, was arrested and charged with murder. He is currently in police custody while an investigation has been started.

“He just wanted to tell his story,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said, according to the Post.  Daniel “didn’t appear to be bloody” when he showed up at the stationhouse, Kenny said, calling his demeanor there “very matter of fact.”

The details where shared at press conference Tuesday with New York Police Department Assistant Chief Kevin Williams.

When police got to the home, all three victims, two women and a man, were unconscious and unresponsive. The police officers attempted to render aid to the victims, but when emergency responders arrived, they were pronounced dead at the scene. Two of the victims, a woman and a man, were discovered in a bedroom in the basement. The third victim was found upstairs in a bedroom. A knife was also recovered at the scene.

The New York Post reported that Daniel allegedly told police officers that one of the victims was his girlfriend while the other ones were his tenants. It is believed that the incident may be connected to a dispute over unpaid rent.

Kenny stated that the landlord Daniel told police officers “that he had problems with his girlfriend and that the two [people] in the basement had not been paying their rent.”

The police did not release any information on the identity of the victims.

SUNY Plattsburgh Reflects On Black Solidarity Day: Law, History, And The Fight For Justice
by Rafael Pena

November 15, 2023

SUNY Plattsburgh Reflects On Black Solidarity Day: Law, History, And The Fight For Justice

At SUNY Plattsburgh Black Solidarity Day Dr. Ricardo Nazario y Colón, unveiled insights into the systemic injustices confronting Black communities.

In a presentation at the SUNY Plattsburgh Black Solidarity Day on Nov. 6, Dr. Ricardo Nazario y Colón, senior vice chancellor for diversity, equity, and inclusion, discussed the historical and systemic injustices confronting Black communities.

Emphasizing the pivotal role of legal systems in perpetuating, sanctioning, or overlooking these challenges, his address, as reported by the Press-Republican, delved into the critical intersection of law and racial injustice that continues to shape the experiences of Black individuals.

Addressing students, faculty, and staff at the Angell College Center, Colón delved into the significance of days like Black Solidarity Day and the pivotal role of allyship in the ongoing fight for racial justice.

He remarked, “the historical and systemic injustices that Black people have faced are often perpetuated, sanctioned, or ignored by the very legal systems that are supposed to protect the rights of all citizens.”

Colón highlighted the historical struggle of Black individuals against laws enforcing enslavement, segregation, and discrimination, emphasizing that Black survival has been an act of defiance against laws that treated African Americans as property rather than people. He underlined the milestones achieved through relentless struggle, from the abolition of slavery to the Civil Rights Movement responding to the legal codification of racial discrimination.

“The importance of recognizing this context rests in acknowledging that laws have not always been just and that legal equality has yet to translate into actual equity. Education about these issues is vital, especially in contexts with a push against teaching this reality,” Colón said.

He stressed the importance of recognizing this historical context, emphasizing that legal equality has yet to translate into actual equity. Colón argued for the need for systemic change, highlighting that policy reforms and legal advocacy are crucial for bringing about transformation both within and outside the Black community.

In urging allies to understand this history, Colón emphasized the necessity of genuine empathy and practical solidarity. “It’s not enough to be non-racist; one must be actively anti-racist, which includes understanding and confronting the legacy and ongoing reality of legal injustice.”

Colón acknowledged the potential for law to be a tool for justice and equity. Lawyers, judges, and policymakers were cited as pivotal in transforming the law to serve as a means of protection and empowerment for marginalized communities. Active political engagement, legal literacy, and advocacy within Black communities were highlighted as essential elements for challenging and changing the system.

Colón concluded by placing Black Solidarity Day in context, describing it as a call to action for Black Americans to demonstrate their economic power and reflect upon their contributions to society. It serves as a day for unity, contemplation on political and social issues affecting the Black community, and a testament to the power of collective action.

New SAG-AFTRA Deal Demands Protections For Workers In AI Advancements, But There Are ‘Loopholes’
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 15, 2023

New SAG-AFTRA Deal Demands Protections For Workers In AI Advancements, But There Are ‘Loopholes’

Last week, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) ended their months-long strike

Details into SAG-AFTRA’s new deal with AMPTP reveal the protections actors will have against the use of artificial intelligence.

Last week, the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) ended their months-long strike after reaching a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Over the weekend, SAG released details of the agreed AI terms of the deal which require consent and compensation for all actors, regardless of their status, Wired reports.

While the Directors Guild of America and the Writers Guild of America reached new deals with AMPTP before SAG-AFTRA, the actors union made substantially further gains in its expansive protections against machine learning and other computer-generated technologies.

“There should be no AI. Only human beings should be used in what we create for public consumption,” SAG board member Anne-Marie Johnson told Variety. “Without staving off AI, everything we achieved is for naught. It’s a waste of time.”

Fellow SAG board member Shaan Sharma is still concerned about the “significant loopholes” in the AI language that left “existential threats to some of our categories of work.” While the deal requires consent and compensation for the use of AI to generate “digital doubles,” it does not prohibit AI or stop studios from training on actors’ performances to create “synthetic” performers.

Only if an AI-generated synthetic character has a recognizable facial feature of a real actor with the actor’s name being used in the prompt to generate that character, does the producer need to get the actor’s consent.

“We didn’t get any meaningful protection there,” Sharma said. “If the replica doesn’t give a clear impression that it’s you, none of the protections apply.”

Along with the limits on artificial intelligence, other takeaways from the new deal include minimum compensation increases of 7% effective immediately, CBS News reports. The pay increase will be followed by a 4% increase on July 1, 2024, and a 3.5% increase on July 1, 2025. Background actors, stand-ins, and photo doubles will receive an 11% increase along with 4% and 3.5% increases over the next two years.

There are new streaming bonuses put into place where actors receive “a success payment,” along with the usual residual payments, if involved in a streaming project that attracts a significant number of viewers. There also must be transparency in the streaming numbers with streaming producers now required to disclose the total number of hours content was streamed both in the U.S. and internationally for each quarter.

A minimum number for background actors has been placed as well as a relocation bonus for workers required to relocate for a series. Performers will receive $5,000 a month for six months — a 200% increase on the previous amount.

‘He Did Not Lean Into Being A Black Man’: Black Republicans Explore Tim Scott’s Failed Presidential Run
by Daniel Johnson

November 15, 2023

‘He Did Not Lean Into Being A Black Man’: Black Republicans Explore Tim Scott’s Failed Presidential Run

Black Republicans expected Scott’s campaign to highlight the growing diversity within the GOP. That never happened.

Black Republicans are disappointed with Sen. Tim Scott’s failed presidential run, according to a report from Politico.

Black conservatives expected Scott’s campaign to highlight the growing diversity within the GOP, but instead what they got was a candidate who used his status as the only Black Republican in the Senate to paint himself as a victim of unfair characterization from the left.

Republican strategists like Deanna Bass Williams, who worked on Ben Carson’s 2016 presidential campaign, wanted more discussion from the South Carolina senator about what it means to be a Black Republican.

“He did not lean into being a Black man,” Williams told Politico. “I always see the need to aggressively engage Black audiences, period.”

Despite the overall sentiment from Black Republicans regarding his use of race in his campaign, he had one shining moment while debating Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about state curricula that teaches that enslaved people were taught useful skills.

“There is not a redeeming quality in slavery,” Scott retorted. “America has suffered because of slavery, but we’ve overcome that.”

Black Republicans generally regarded that performance as one of Scott’s strongest, but also were left to wonder privately about what could have happened if he had leaned into that for the duration of his campaign. 

Scott never managed to capture more than 5% of the vote, which pales in comparison to recent runs from Black Republicans like Herman Cain and Carson. Carson was seen as a serious contender in 2016, at one point leading Donald Trump in some surveys of Republican voters. However, Scott’s campaign was more centered on policy, organization, and governing, which may have held him back.

Veteran Republican strategist Elroy Sailor told Politico, “Their campaigns were more celebrity driven. Tim Scott’s campaign is not celebrity driven.”

Sailor did point out one positive from Scott’s campaign. “I think he has proven that you can raise money. That is an early criticism that there used to be about African American Republicans that we didn’t have the ability to raise money,” Sailor said. “So I think he’s crossed that Rubicon.”

Scott himself seems to believe that his moment may have passed, as he explained in an Nov. 12 interview on Fox News with his longtime friend Trey Gowdy. Scott’s announcement even took his staff by surprise, according to Politico.

He said he would not endorse a candidate, and brushed off any suggestions at becoming vice president.

“When I go back to Iowa it will not be as a presidential candidate,” Scott said to Gowdy, who raised his eyebrows. “The voters, who are the most remarkable people on the planet … They’re telling me, ‘not now, Tim.’ I don’t think they’re saying, Trey, ‘no,’ but I do (think) they’re saying, ‘not now.’”

RELATED CONTENT: Republican Tim Scott Drops Out 2024 Presidential Race On Live Television

Pharrell’s Black Ambition Demo Day Gifts Millions To Entrepreneurs
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 15, 2023

Pharrell’s Black Ambition Demo Day Gifts Millions To Entrepreneurs

The top prize winner went home with a $1 million equity investment in their company.

Pharrell Williams is giving back to uplift entrepreneurs through Black Ambition. As part of its 2023 Demo Day, the founder presented $3.2 million to 36 game-changers in their industries.

The $1 million pitch competition, conducted on Nov. 9 at Spring Studios in New York City, sought to uplift Black business owners and lessen the racial wealth gap through “Igniting Innovation.”

Pharrell spoke to AfroTech about what the future held for Black Ambition concerning mentorship opportunities for the recipients.

“Capital seems like it’s the hardest thing to raise, but the truth of the matter is if you’re lucky and you get the capital, you’re more than likely to blow it if you don’t know what you’re doing,” he said. “So mentorship can actually help you with foreseeable issues and to help you raise capital as well. It’s like that’s really the ultimate goal… is to have the right strategic scaffolding to help you move forward.”

Out of the 2,000 applicants to receive the grants, recipients were given equity investments between $20,000 and $250,000 to take their businesses to new heights. Antoinette Banks won the $1 million grand prize. She founded the AI-based educational app Expert IEP, which is inclusive in its design for parents with children who have disabilities.

“Black Ambition is a feeling. It’s an overwhelming drive to show up consistently in excellence to create lasting, unapologetic impact,” said Banks. “For so long, Black and Brown kids with learning differences have been underestimated and forgotten. Earning this $1 million prize puts our kids back in the forefront. It gets people thinking deeply about solving the problems in special education.”

Additional finalists include the HBCU Grand Prize winner for Monocle, a social e-reader to promote communal engagement in literature, and Gently Soap for sustainable skincare. With 101 investments made so far, Pharrell’s endeavor continues to provide opportunities for Black and Brown start-ups.

New York City, NYPD, 46 Convictions
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 15, 2023

2 Men Arrested After Attacking Police Officer Who Asked Them To Stop Smoking In Subway Station

The assault took place on a Bronx subway platform

Two men were arrested after allegedly attacking a police officer in New York City after the officer asked them to stop smoking on a subway platform.

According to The New York Post, the attack took place at the Freeman Street station in the Bronx around 2:30 p.m. when the officer and his partner approached 23-year-old Kaream McClary, 20-year-old Izayiah Jessamy, and a third individual.

After asking them to put out their cigarettes and trying to escort them out of the station, the men allegedly began to assault the police officer, which was caught on video. McClary and Jessamy were charged with assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, and trespassing. Police are looking for the third man in the attack, who walked away after the incident.

The video clip, which was posted on social media, shows the point where the two men were hitting the police officer across his face, head, and body. As they are fighting, they can be seen continuing to swing at the officer near the staircase of the elevated subway station. Another man comes up the stairs to assist the two attackers. As two police officers grab the men to place them in handcuffs, the third man comes back up. As McClary and Jessamy appear to continue to tussle with the police officers, he grabs a bag and then heads down the staircase.

The Daily News reported that the police officers suffered minor injuries while fighting the men and were treated at the scene.

The NYPD’s X account posted a video clip of the third man who got away carrying the bag he retrieved from one of the suspects.

The New York Police Department is asking if anyone has any information about the assault to contact @NYPDTips or call the tipline at 800-577-TIPS.

40 Under 40
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 15, 2023

BLACK ENTERPRISE Announces The 2023 40 Under 40 List

In its third consecutive year, the 2023 list highlights the outstanding achievements of young Black leaders within various industries and disciplines, from politics to creative arts to STEM

BLACK ENTERPRISE released its highly anticipated 40 Under 40 List for the class of 2023. This latest cohort of Black trailblazers, visionaries, and game-changers in a variety of industries are being celebrated for their considerable achievement.

The honorees are being recognized for their leadership and groundbreaking innovation in the realms of technology, business, sports, entertainment, fashion and beauty, and political and social impact. The recipients are not only public figures renowned across the world, but also everyday heroes enacting change to better all livelihoods.

BLACK ENTERPRISE CEO and President Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr. released a statement on the honoring of these remarkable individuals for their “boundless potential.”

“BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s 40 Under 40 list is not just a celebration of individual success but a testament to the boundless potential within our community,” shared Graves, Jr.

“This announcement serves as a powerful reminder that Black excellence knows no bounds and that, collectively, we are charting an extraordinary course toward a brighter, more inclusive future.”

The Class of 2023 was also able to nominate themselves or others to be recognized for their positive efforts. Among those being bestowed this honor are Quinta Brunson, actress and creator of the TV series Abbott Elementary, Laquan Smith, designer and founder of his eponymously-named fashion brand, and Rashad Bilal, co-founder and CEO of Earn Your Leisure.

Past recipients have included sports journalist Taylor Rooks and Slutty Vegan founder Aisha “Pinky” Cole. Their resilience and determination to become forces in their industries is as important as ever to celebrate, especially as Black people pave the way for future generations.

“These outstanding individuals are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the leaders of today, actively shaping industries and driving change,” expressed Selena Hill, Deputy Digital Editor of the platform.

“After curating this list with my colleagues, I’m delighted to celebrate the limitless opportunities that lie ahead for each of the honorees. Their stories are a source of inspiration, illustrating the immense potential that exists when passion meets purpose.”

The honorees will be recognized in a private, Nationwide-sponsored reception, taking place on Sunday, Dec. 10.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL 40 UNDER 40 LIST.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Liberal Colleagues Dissent From Court’s Solidarity Confinement Decision
by Sharelle Burt

November 15, 2023

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Liberal Colleagues Dissent From Court’s Solidarity Confinement Decision

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson felt Johnson's civil rights were clearly violated.

The Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of an Illinois inmate whose lawyers claim his rights were violated after he was kept in solitary confinement for three years.

Michael Johnson allegedly spent years in a windowless cell with poor ventilation. Lawyers say the cell was no bigger than a parking space that was often covered in human waste. On Nov. 13, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said an appeals court failed to consider the health risks Johnson faced and focused on minor factors that restricted his ability to leave his cell. 

Jackson and Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan described the ruling as “an indisputable legal error” that she and her colleagues would have revised.

“This court has long held that the test for evaluating an Eighth Amendment challenge to a prisoner’s conditions of confinement involves determining whether prison officials acted with ‘deliberate indifference’ to a substantial risk to an inmate’s health or safety,” Jackson wrote. 

In a lawsuit filed against Pontiac Correctional Center officials, Johnson claims he was unconstitutionally deprived of exercise when prisoners in solitary confinement are entitled to one hour of exercise out of the cell five days a week. The inmate, diagnosed as seriously mentally ill by the Illinois Department of Corrections, claims he was deprived of exercise time as punishment.

Johnson was only allowed out of his cell once a week for 10 minutes to shower and couldn’t clean his cell unless he purchased items from the commissary. He suffered from hallucinations, urinated and defecated on himself, picked at his skin, and smeared feces on his body. The prison claimed Johnson damaged prison property and that he assaulted staff members.

Jackson argued that mental illness was the cause of his behavior, and without the ability to exercise, Johnson’s “mental state deteriorated rapidly.” “For three years,” she wrote. “Johnson had no opportunity at all to stretch his limbs or breathe fresh air.”

However, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said because of “persistent misconduct,” Johnson was “on yard restrictions” from January 2014 to August 2016 but regularly met with prison doctors and mental health professionals. In August 2016, Johnson was transferred to a mental health unit. While Raoul told the justices that officials couldn’t act with indifference based on treatment decisions, Johnson’s lawyers argued the opposite.

“The deprivation was not imposed to ensure the safety and security of the exercise yard,” the legal team argued, “but rather to punish Mr. Johnson for engaging in misconduct that was born of mental illness and unrelated to exercise.”

Following the high court’s decision, Daniel Greenfield, an attorney representing Johnson, said he appreciated the justice’s fight but was still disappointed. “At the same time, we are saddened to live in an era where such immense suffering is acceptable to any federal judge, let alone the majority of a circuit panel.”

Model Honors Late Fashion Designer By Hitting The Runway At Funeral In Viral Video
by Sharelle Burt

November 15, 2023

Model Honors Late Fashion Designer By Hitting The Runway At Funeral In Viral Video

The model of a deceased fashion designer went viral by walking the red carpet at his funeral.

A model from New Jersey has gone viral for walking the catwalk at a local designer’s funeral.

In early November 2023, loved ones gathered in Newark for a “Red Carpet Viewing” honoring designer Vernest Moore, who died in October 2023. Guests walked a red carpet leading to the end to view Moore’s open casket.

Friend and model Erica L. Carrington attended the service sporting one of his gorgeous designs. In a viral video, Carrington can be seen posing for pics while walking the red carpet and stopping in front of the casket. Attendees enjoyed her performance, cheering and clapping for her as she descended the carpet. After posting the video on Instagram, the model said it was hard to believe that would be the last time she strutted for the deceased designer.

“I can’t believe this would be my final walk for you, so I WON’T,” she wrote. “From now on…even if I’m not walking FOR YOU, I’ll be walking WITH YOU because I know you’ll ALWAYS be with me.”

Before it was revealed who the deceased was to the model, social media users were laughing—and shocked—at her performance.

“[Uncle] Ruckus would have had a field day with this one,” @CJTHEDAY wrote. Another said, “Wow. LMFAO! Mama said EVERYWHERE is a runway.”

Others applauded her for how she honored her friend, including influencer Kalen Allen, who said he understood why she did it.

“Don’t hate me…since they are honoring him as a fashion designer…I kind of get it,” Allen wrote on Twitter.
The comments under the model’s Instagram post were a lot more endearing.

“Listen! I need new friends because I’m here for all of it!”

Another follower gave Carrington some much-needed flowers.

“NOW, THIS IS HOW YOU HONOR & CELEBRATE SOMEONES LIFE !!!! I love everything about this,” @thegodrashi wrote. “Funerals are intended to be celebrations, and this was so creative and over the top. I don’t know him, but I’m sure he’d have it no other way. Sending you love and condolences. You ate this!!!”
Young Dolph's life partner, Mia Jaye, Young Dolph
by Stacy Jackson

November 15, 2023

Slain Memphis Rapper Young Dolph’s Life Partner Breaks Silence About Murder Case On Social Media

Young Adolph’s partner spoke out on social media, saying that the rapper’s family had not been informed about a judge's recusal.

Young Dolph’s life partner, Mia Jaye, spoke out on social media to offer a clarification: Her silence — in an effort to let the justice system do its job — has been taken for granted.

The life partner of the deceased rapper, songwriter, and entrepreneur legally named Adolph Thornton, Jr. alleged that authorities had not shared information about the changes that took place in relation to the case — specifically, the recuseal of Judge Lee Coffee, Fox 13 reported.

On Oct. 27, Coffee was ordered to recuse himself from trials involving several people facing charges in the rapper’s murder: Hernandez Govan, Justin Johnson, Cornelius Smith, and Jarmarcus Johnson.

The order for Coffee to recuse himself came after Justin Johnson, also known as Straight Drop, released a song while in custody. Coffee went on to restrict Johnson’s phone and visitation privileges, to which a court of appeals said, “The fact, coupled with the lack of notice and an opportunity to be heard, creates an appearance of impartiality against (Johnson) such that calls into question the integrity of the judicial process and, thus, requires recusal.” 

Two weeks later, Jaye posted on Instagram, alleging that she and Thornton’s family found out about the changes around the same time as the general public, according to Fox 13.

The post read, “Recently, the news have stated that the judge has been removed and when you heard it I did too. As movement in the case is being made, our family is not being properly informed and our patience is running thin.”

Jaye said her silence regarding the case had been taken for granted: “Over the last 2 years I have deliberately not spoken on the case to give the justice department full range to properly do their job especially since there was so much noise and misinformation being spread all over the Internet. But I feel like my silence has been taken for granted.”

Young Dolph was fatally shot while at Makeda’s Homemade Cookies in Memphis on Nov. 17, 2021.

RELATED CONTENT: Judge from Young Dolph Murder Case Ordered to Recuse Himself

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