Pictures of Mystery Cocaine Found In The White House Revealed
by Sharelle Burt

November 15, 2023

Pictures of Mystery Cocaine Found In The White House Revealed

The White House has yet to determine who the cocaine belongs to...

New photos of the bag of cocaine found at the White House in July 2023 have finally been revealed. The illegal drug was found inside the White House area close to the West Wing entrance, commonly used for visitors on tours.

Photos show the bag was found inside cubby #50, which hosts visitor belongings. The tours are normally booked by invitation only and led by a White House staffer. The cocaine was found on Jul. 2, and the White House immediately shut down. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris weren’t on-site at the time of the finding. On Jul. 12, the Secret Service closed the investigation without identifying a suspect, saying hundreds of people had access to the area and that security camera footage didn’t show what happened.

“Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered,” the agency said in a statement.

“At this time, the Secret Service’s investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence.”

The FBI first identified the substance as “white powder,” but after sending it out for more testing, the packaging was “subjected to advanced fingerprint and DNA analysis.”

“This review included a [backward] examination that spanned several days prior to the discovery of the substance and developed an index of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the substance was found,” a statement read. “The focal point of these actions developed a pool of known persons for comparison of forensic evidence gleaned from the FBI’s analysis of the substance’s packaging.”

The close of the investigation took aback Republican lawmakers. According to Fox News, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy referred to the closure as special treatment toward the Biden family.

“They have cameras 24-7,” McCarthy said. “It just seems to me when it comes to the ‘Biden, Inc.’ family, they get treated different than anybody else.”

Temple University Med Student Seeks To Diversify X-Rays For Black Hairstyles
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 15, 2023

Temple University Med Student Seeks To Diversify X-Rays For Black Hairstyles

Their work is making the field of radiology more inclusive and helpful to Black patients.

Temple University is doing its part to make the medical field more inclusive. A medical student at the institution, Angela Udongwo, is conducting research so that X-rays can better identify Black hairstyles in their imaging.

As she approached her third year in medical school, Udongwo joined Hillel Maresky’s lab over the summer to resolve the issue through a hair research project. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, both realized the gap in research on natural hairstyles such as locs, braids, and twists and how they are identified in radiological imaging.

This lack of research disenfranchises Black patients, as doctors’ lack of awareness of these hair patterns in the X-rays can cause errors in their analysis. Through their research, Maresky and Udongwo hope to develop a baseline for doctors to differentiate between an artifact and Black hair textures, with virtually no other research previously conducted on this specific issue.

Introducing the language surrounding the various types of Black hairdos was the first step for Udongwo, as doctors of all backgrounds should be aware of the styles to serve diverse patients better. With the field of radiology primarily filled with white men, as reported by the American Medical Association in a 2021 survey, doctors must widen their knowledge so that Black patients are not forced to receive additional testing solely due to unawareness.

Challenging doctors’ ability to identify hair textures from signs of illness in body scans has been met by and beyond the Temple community with an openness to learn, as explained by Udongwo.

“I’m surrounded by people who really like to learn and want to become better physicians,” the student said. “I’m really excited to see where this goes.

As she continues to work toward broadening radiology’s patient base, she hopes to make strides with her new purpose despite receiving smaller endowments.

“We may not be the most well-endowed hospital in terms of donations and grants,” stated Maresky. “But we do have something that, I think, is even more powerful: A diverse patient population.”

Sephora
by Jeffrey McKinney

November 14, 2023

Sephora $100K Beauty Grant Will Benefit A Black Beauty Business Owner

Cosmetics giant Sephora and the Fifteen Percent Pledge are uniting to present $100,000 to a Black business owner in the beauty industry.

Cosmetics giant Sephora and the Fifteen Percent Pledge are uniting to present $100,000 to a Black business owner in the beauty industry.

Called the Sephora Beauty Grant, the award will come through a partnership between the retailer and the Pledge. It is aimed to help spur growth for a Black entrepreneur and their brand. The business must have annual revenue of at least $100,000 and have been in operation for a minimum of two years. Applications are open now and those interested in applying should review more details, including eligibility and other criteria, here.

With a vast global reach, Sephora sells beauty product at stores and online, including cosmetics and skincare goods. Launched in 2020, the Pledge is a nonprofit organization encouraging retailers to commit at least 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses.

Though the number of Black businesses has soared post-COVID-19, the funding has not, as gaining financing to open or expand remains among the largest obstacles for those establishments. Black startup founders supposedly gained just $264 million of $33.6 billion as of late 2022, which is less than 1%.

Black Americans spend big on beauty. This report shows this “diverse and growing group of 41 million people” dispersed $6.6 billion on those items in 2021. Still, the chance of equity in the beauty industry, like other sectors, has been evasive. For instance, it was revealed that Black brands account for just 2.5% of industrywide revenue, though Black consumers represent over 11% of the nation’s total beauty spending.

Priya Venkatesh, Global Chief Merchandising Officer at Sephora, stated in her comments “Partnering with the Pledge on this wonderful initiative is a natural evolution of the work we’ve done together, and we couldn’t ask for more passionate partners.  We’re excited to see the beauty industry experiencing massive growth in expanding opportunities and client exposure to Black-owned brands, and we hope that this grant will help to further propel the next generation of Black beauty owners.”

LaToya Williams-Belfort, the Pledge’s executive director, stated, “Through our daily work, we tactically understand the systemic and nuanced barriers that continue to prevent Black brands from growing and developing at scale.”

She added, “Not only will the Sephora Beauty Grant provide an innovative small business with critical capital, but it will also drive a direct integration within Sephora’s ecosystem, furthering our goal of creating equitable and sustainable business partnerships for Black entrepreneurs.”

Patrick Mahomes Reveals He Wears the Same Red Underwear During The NFL Season
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2023

Patrick Mahomes Reveals He Wears the Same Red Underwear During The NFL Season

The Super Bowl quarterback won't even wash it during winning streaks.

In recent, rather odd news, Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes admitted to wearing the same red underwear consistently during the NFL season.

Mahomes appeared on NFL champion brothers Peyton and Eli Manning’s ManningCast broadcast during the Nov. 13 showing of Monday Night Football. As the Buffalo Bills were playing against the Denver Broncos, Eli questioned Mahones about a superstition the quarterback has.

“We’ve heard over the years that some celebrities and athletes have habits they have to keep a winning streak going or a string of good luck.”

So, the former Giants quarterback said, “I love a good superstition, but can’t you just do the same pre-game meal? Does it have to be the red underwear?”

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He did respond to Eli by first stating that his wife purchased the red underwear for him, implying that he has to wear them because of that fact, and he has been wearing them ever since, and winning.

“First, my wife, Brittany, got them for me, so I’m not throwin’ y’all down, but I have to wear ’em, ya know. But, at the same time, I threw ’em on that first season, we had a pretty good season that season. I only wear ’em for game day though, so they’re not too worn down. They’re not like these nasty — I clean them.”

“I wash them every once in a while at least.”

He expressed that he won’t clean them if the team is winning games.

“I mean, if we’re on a hot streak, I can’t wash them, you know? I’ve just got to keep it rolling. As long as I’m winning football games, I’ll keep the superstition going.”

“As long as we’re winning football games, I’ll keep the superstition going.”

pic.twitter.com/R4hmQJc4jshttps://t.co/2gKUourxb7

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 14, 2023

With the talent and athleticism Mahomes has displayed since he entered the NFL, we are left wondering if this superstition is actually true.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Entrepreneur Wins Patent for Disposable Underwear Made From Bamboo

O.J. Simpson, Children
by Daniel Johnson

November 14, 2023

O.J. Simpson Was Seen Looking Down Bad In Las Vegas

O.J Simpson was seen looking a bit frail as he made his way around Las Vegas.

On Nov 6, the infamous O.J. Simpson was seen looking a bit frail as he made his way around Las Vegas. According to The New York Post, Simpson was seen hunched over and limping as he exited a black SUV. Simpson, who is now 76-years-old, was wearing a gray polo shirt, and a matching tracksuit, also carried an iPad under his arm. 

Simpson was a star athlete at USC before getting drafted first overall by the Buffalo Bills in 1969. Simpson played for the organization for eight years, then played the last two years with the San Francisco 49ers before being forced to retire in 1979 due to a knee injury.

Simpson would become infamous due to a low speed car chase that interrupted the 1994 NBA Finals matchup between the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks. According to then-Knicks assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy, Simpson’s college teammate and driver of Simpson’s white Bronco, A.C. Cowlings, said that the game was partially why the chase happened.

Van Gundy told the Houston Chronicle, “Cowlings waved him over and proceeded to tell him the story of why they were driving so slowly: O.J. wanted to hear the end of the game on the radio before he pulled in,” Van Gundy said.

“And when Coach Riley told us that story, I was like, mesmerized by what really goes on. Like I could just see him having a gun to his head, saying: ‘Turn up the radio, A.C., so I can hear the last few minutes.’”

The Simpson’s trial, which saw the athlete accused of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman, was referred to as the “Trial of the Century.” It was further cemented in the public imagination when Simpson’s lawyer Johnnie Cochran told Simpson to try on the gloves, spawning the phrase that will likely outlive both men associated with it, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

Cochran also instructed Simpson to show the scars on his legs from the knee surgeries he had in the late 1970s, which Cochran used to plant doubt that Simpson was able to move well enough to kill his ex-wife and Goldman. Simpson, as we know, was eventually acquitted of the charges. 

In 2017, Simpson was released from prison after serving nine years for armed robbery and kidnapping, stemming from an attempt to reclaim sports memorabilia he said was stolen from him. Since his release, Simpson has maintained a relatively low profile but is very active on Twitter/X, mostly commenting on sports, politics, and occasionally court cases, through short videos. 

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Homer Simpson
by Daniel Johnson

November 14, 2023

‘The Simpsons’ Producer Confirms Homer Will Continue To Choke The Crap Out Of Bart

The Simpsons will not be retiring its use of Homer Simpson strangling Bart.

Contrary to a previous talks, The Simpsons will not be retiring the act of Homer Simpson strangling Bart. According to Complex, James L. Brooks, the founder of Gracie Films, the company that produces the animated sitcom, says the gag isn’t going anywhere. 

Brooks talked to People about the episode, which has generated a lot of online conversation, “McMansion and Wife.” Brooks told the outlet, “Don’t think for a second we’re changing anything.”

Brooks then produced an animated panel showing Homer strangling Bart, who was holding a smartphone with a headline that read “Simpsons: No More Strangling.” A word bubble above Homer’s head read “Why you little clickbaiting-!!” which can be taken as a response to the online conversation about the Oct 22 episode. 

Brooks also indicated that Homer was not going to stop throttling his son’s neck, saying “He’ll (Bart) continue to be strangled—[if] you want to use that awful term for it. He’ll continue to be loved by his father in a specific way.” Despite what Brooks told People, the last time Bart was actually strangled was in 2019-2020 during season 31.

The Simpsons has been very slow to react to cultural shifts, despite being a pop culture fixture for the last 34 years. The show allowed Dr. Hibbert, a Black character, to be voiced by Henry Shearer, a white man, up until 2021 when he was replaced by Kevin Michael Richardson. The Indian-American character, Apu, similarly took far too long to be adapted to changing cultural sensitivities. Up until 2022, Hank Azaria, a white man, voiced the character, which had been under fire for portraying negative stereotypes about Indian-Americans. Azaria said on an episode of The Armchair Podcast in 2021 that his white privilege blinded him from seeing the harm, saying “I really didn’t know any better.”

“I didn’t think about it. I was unaware how much relative advantage I had received in this country as a white kid from Queens. Just because there were good intentions it doesn’t mean there weren’t real negative consequences to the thing that I am accountable for.”

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Charles Moore and Miesha Carter, Affordable Real Estate Investment Course Series.
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 14, 2023

Black Couple From California Launch Series of Real Estate Investment Courses

Charles Moore and Miesha Carter, an innovative Black couple from Los Angeles, are revolutionizing real estate investment by launching their Affordable Real Estate Investment Course Series.

Charles Moore and Miesha Carter, an innovative African-American couple from Los Angeles, California, are revolutionizing real estate investment accessibility with the launch of their Affordable Real Estate Investment Course Series.

As seasoned real estate professionals with years of experience, they have a passion for fostering financial growth and are excited to announce that enrollment is open for their transformative online course series.

This initiative is only open and available twice a year and aims to impart unconventional yet successful real estate investment strategies that have been honed and perfected over five years. With a commitment to making quality education accessible, this couple brings forth an opportunity that not only equips but also caters to the budget-conscious investor and levels the playing field. Miesha shares her enthusiasm: “We’re here to help our clients start up, invest up, and scale up.” This is why it is good to tap into a community of like-minded people to pursue real estate investment.

Venturing into the world of real estate investment often requires navigating uncharted waters. Considering this, the couple’s real estate investment courses are designed to offer guidance for people eager to explore innovative investment avenues.

A pivotal focus of this online course lies in aiding individuals in mastering the intricacies of land and real estate government auctions, as well as property liens. These aspects, often overlooked, hold immense potential for those who understand how to navigate them effectively. The course delves deep into the nuances, enabling participants to emerge with a comprehensive understanding.

The highly anticipated Real Estate Investment Class Series titled “Getting Ready for the Auction” stands as a testament to the couple’s commitment to education. This course is a total of 10 modules, 8 Primary modules, and 2 Bonus ones, and this series will give the participants the tools and knowledge to understand the auction process.

The modules include:

November 6, January 8th 2024, March 4th 2024: Free Webinar

January 13, 2024: Series 1 – Understanding Tax Liens and Tax Deeds Property Auctions

January 27, 2024: Series 2 – How To Bid At The Property Auction

February 10th, 2024: Series 3 – Researching Tax Property

February 24th, 2024: Series 4 – Getting The Auction Rules

March 9th, 2024: Series 5 – Searching For Liens

March 23, 2024: Series 6 – Zoning

April 13th, 2024: Series 7 – Board of Health and Properties

April 27, 2024: Series 8 – Wiinning The Bid

May 11th, 2024: Bonus Session 2: What To Do With Properties

May 25th, 2024: Bonus Session 3: Creating Your Team

“We believe that everyone should have access to effective investment education,” says Miesha.

Her husband, Charles, comments, “Our courses are designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and strategies necessary to explore unconventional avenues in real estate.”

Enrollment for these courses is now open, offering a unique opportunity to learn directly from experts who have successfully implemented the very same strategies they teach. Participants gain access to a treasure trove of practical insights, industry secrets, and actionable tips that can pave the way to realizing their real estate aspirations.

For further information and enrollment details, interested individuals can reach out to fammo@theseoqueen.net

Their courses promise a transformative journey, unlocking doors to lucrative investment opportunities. Graduates of the course series emerge not just equipped but confidently prepared to navigate the intricate financial and legal complexities of real estate auctions across the United States.

This news was first reported by blacknews.com

Atlanta Apartment Fire Prompts 2 Arrests, Fireworks May Be Cause
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 14, 2023

Atlanta Apartment Fire Prompts 2 Arrests, Fireworks May Be Cause

The building is expected to be torn down due to the extensive damage.

Two arrests have been made in connection to the massive apartment fire in Atlanta that forced hundreds to evacuate. Officials have stated that fireworks fired from the roof of the building may have been the cause of the Nov. 10 blaze.

The incident occurred a little after 10:30 p.m. Friday at the Reserve at LaVista Walk apartments in northeast Atlanta. As first responders arrived at the scene, the top of the complex was nearly engulfed in smoke, as over 80 firefighters worked to stop the spread of the flames while evacuating individuals from the property. The quest to completely put out the fire lasted well into the morning, as reported by WSB-TV.

While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, Robert Stokes, 43, and Charnelle Gunn, 35, were arrested on the charges of first-degree criminal damage to property and reckless conduct for allegedly starting the incident by lighting fireworks on top of the property. The rooftop location also made the building’s sprinkler system ineffective, with a delayed response. The two are currently being held in Fulton County Jail.

Twenty-eight people have been unable to return to their homes, with 20 families being assisted through the aid of the Red Cross. Seventeen people have also suffered from minor injuries and received treatment for smoke inhalation.

On Nov. 14, the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department let residents return to obtain essential belongings, such as their cars.

“Our focus has shifted to the occupancy of the 2000 building,” stated Battalion Fire Chief Matt Driver in a quote shared by Atlanta News First. “We’re allowing them to get their cars out and we’re now shifting that operation to letting them get the essential items out of their buildings and mainly just taking care of them.”

As for the building’s future, plans have been made to contact its owner to begin the process of tearing it down, as it is uninhabitable to live in, given the damage.

Washington Wizards To Support Black-Owned Businesses In The DMV For 4th Consecutive Year
by Iman Milner

November 14, 2023

Washington Wizards To Support Black-Owned Businesses In The DMV For 4th Consecutive Year

The Washington Wizards continue their commitment to showcasing black-owned businesses in the DMV area for the fourth year.

For the fourth straight year, The Washington Wizards will support local Black-owned businesses through its “Black-Owned DMV” program. Six impressive businesses will be highlighted through April 2024, and each will receive publicity via all of the team’s social media platforms, Sports Illustrated reports.

The businesses are all located within a 75-mile radius of Capital One Arena, where the Washington Wizards host their home games. Each has a special story, the team’s site states.

“As our nation struggles with the impact of this global pandemic and racial injustice, it’s especially important to recognize the immense legacy that Black-owned businesses in our own backyard have had and will continue to have,” the team says.

The outstanding companies selected for this year’s honor are: Bithenergy, an award-winning energy engineering and technical services consulting firm; T|W Tote, a luxury brand with products ranging from insulated totes to multiple compartment toiletry bags, weekender bags and backpacks, and Milk & Honey Café, a New-Orleans inspired Southern brunch restaurant with award-winning dishes.

Also honored will be Miche Beauty, a haircare brand specializing in clean, simple, and effective products for all textures of naturally curly hair; GMG Management Consulting Inc, a minority woman-owned management consulting and professional support company that provides professional accounting, auditing, training, consulting, and financial management solutions; and Morel’s Exquisite Designs, a veteran-owned business that specializes in decorations, balloon artistry, and party rental furnishings.

The Wizards also revealed jerseys that pay tribute to the history of “The District.” The logo features one of 40 boundary stones used by Black mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker to mark the original boundary of Washington, D.C.

The words “DMV” are also featured on the special edition home jerseys as a homage to the Wizards, the first local team to become trailblazers by incorporating the popular abbreviation on sports merchandise.

R. Kelly, Tasha K, appeal
by Iman Milner

November 14, 2023

R. Kelly Sues Blogger Tasha K, Prison Bureau for Allegedly Leaking Private Records

R. Kelly is suing gossip blogger Tasha K and Federal Bureau of Prisons officers for unlawfully accessing and leaking his private documents.

Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly is asking a Chicago court to hold blogger Tasha K and the Federal Bureau of Prisons responsible for unlawfully accessing and disseminating his private records.

The 56-year-old convicted sex offender alleges that one officer in question accessed his personal information more than 150 times—including emails, phone calls, and guest visits—before sharing them with the controversial blogger, the Huffington Post reports.

Kelly claims that Tasha K, whose real name is Latasha Kebe, used the information for an episode of her celebrity gossip YouTube show, UnWineWithTashaK, titled “R. Kelly Can’t CONTROL His Girlfriends While BEHIND BARS!” in which the blogger shared details of the singer’s personal calls, emails, and visitor logs.

“Yeah, there’s a phone tap somewhere, and I’m not gonna tell you where it’s at,” she said in the video. “I have the plug. I’m not gonna tell you where I got the information from, but just listen to the damn information, OK?”

In a lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court in Chicago, the singer claims both Kebe and the officers involved violated the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. According to HuffPo, Jennifer Bonjean, Kelly’s attorney, said that the breach of trust had affected the singer, fans, and legal advisors.

“He had every right to be able to be confident, to think the BOP would protect his information and not exploit, but unfortunately, certain BOP officers did just that,” she said. “He does not feel comfortable to this day talking to anyone, even his own lawyers, because of the impact of this event.” Kelly is also claiming negligence, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, ABC 7 Chicago reports.

Tasha K has been in legal trouble before for material and comments she shared via her YouTube channel. In 2022, rapper Cardi B successfully sued the blogger for defamation and was awarded $4 million in damages, for which she is still on the hook.

Kelly is appealing both a 20- and 30-year sentence for child pornography, sex trafficking, racketeering, and enticing a minor in sexual activity. The convictions were handed down in Chicago and New York, respectively.

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