by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 9, 2024

Dick Allen, Dave Parker Will Be Inducted Into Baseball Hall Of Fame

The Induction ceremony will take place on Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Cooperstown, New York.

Former Major League Baseball players Dick Allen and Dave Parker will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025.

The Classic Baseball Era Committee announced the decision on Dec. 8. The other inductees will be announced on Jan. 21 and inducted on July 27, 2025. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America will select the other baseball players.

Dick Allen and Dave Parker will be enshrined in Cooperstown on July 27. https://t.co/xRFTrq6wj7 pic.twitter.com/DFSbGzRzHU

— National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ⚾ (@baseballhall) December 9, 2024

The late Allen was a seven-time All-Star who played 15 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Chicago White Sox, and the Oakland Athletic (A’s). Parker, 73, also a seven-time All-Star, played 19 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cincinnati Reds, the Oakland Athletics, the Milwaukee Brewers, the California Angels, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

A 16-member committee selected Allen and Parker from an eight-person ballot listing candidates whose primary contributions to the sport occurred before 1980. Fourteen members picked Parker, while Allen appeared on 13 of the ballots. Only candidates who received 75% of the votes could make it in.

During his career, Allen hit 351 home runs and 1,119 RBI. He won the 1964 National League Rookie of the Year Award with the Phillies and took home the 1972 American League Most Valuable Player while playing with the White Sox. He hit at least 20 home runs in nine straight seasons and 10 overall while leading his league in slugging percentage three times, extra-base hits three times, and on-base percentage twice.

Parker won two straight NL batting titles in 1977-78 while earning league MVP honors in 1978. He helped the Pirates win the World Series in 1979 and the Athletics in 1989. He led his league in total bases three times and slugging percentage twice. Parker won three Gold Glove Awards and the 1979 All-Star Game MVP Award.

The Induction Ceremony will take place during Hall of Fame Weekend 2025, held from July 25-28 in Cooperstown, N.Y., with the honor on Sunday, July 27, 2025.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 9, 2024

Maryland High School Opens Up Student-Led Barber Shop And Beauty Salon

The student-led barbershop provides free services for students.

A Maryland high school has launched a barber shop and beauty salon to promote entrepreneurship and confidence for its students.

Arundel High School in Gambrills, Maryland, launched the student-led program this year, with classmates working as the service providers and clientele. Jaiden Martin, a senior at the school, began cutting hair at another barbershop through an internship project.

The program, supported by Rob’s Barbershop Community Foundation, trains young barbers as they pursue careers in the haircare industry. The foundation’s CEO, Robert Cradle, also funded and fully equipped Arundel’s shop. Now, Martin is putting his skills to the test in between classes.

“It really is like a dream come true,” explained Martin to WBAL. “It is surreal for me personally because I’ve never seen this.”

He continued, “A lot of students come in here. We have a need for grooming services, and I don’t want to just be giving out average haircuts just because it is a need. I want to be giving out professional cuts and just cuts that are going to boost everybody’s confidence up, make everybody feel good.”

His fellow students are excited about the new barber shop, which provides free services to students. One of the first clients, Jaylen McDaniel, expressed his gratitude for the transformative measure.

“I never thought we would have a barbershop at school or any of the schools that I’ve gone to, but they made it happen, and I’m thankful for that,” shared McDaniel, a junior.

Furthermore, the shop and salon do more than just provide hair styling. Having the resources on campus helps students maintain themselves without jumping through hoops to do so, also taking the burden off parents.

“Students have to come to school, so just making life easier for students who may not be able to get to another place, or for parents who are working after school hours, transportation, just having it here just cuts out a lot of those barriers,” Kimberly Winterbottom, Arundel’s principal, said.

The shop hopes to inspire all students, no matter their career aspirations. With a fresh hairdo bringing a new perspective, students will feel confident once they leave the chair to take on new opportunities.

by Daniel Johnson

December 9, 2024

Judge Rules Naval Academy Has The Right To Use Race In Admissions Process

US Senior District Judge Richard Bennett ruled that the Naval Academy 'established a compelling national security interest' in its use of race as a factor in its admissions process

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, a civil suit brought by a conservative legal group threatened to upend the use of race as part of the admissions process of the United States Naval Academy. In a ruling on Dec. 6, the practice was upheld by a federal judge.

According to CNN, US Senior District Judge Richard Bennett, an appointee of George W. Bush, ruled that the Naval Academy “established a compelling national security interest” in its use of race as a factor in its admissions process.

Breaking news: U.S. Senior District Judge Richard Bennett has ruled in favor of the U.S. Naval Academy's race-conscious admission policies, affirming their alignment with the Supreme Court’s exemption for military academies. https://t.co/DVabDQscFq @highereddive #collegeadmission
— Natl Association for College Admission Counseling (@NACAC) December 6, 2024

However, the ruling also established that the executive branch dictates decisions about how the school uses race in its admissions process, that is, the President of the United States.

As the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump draws near, speculation abounds that this ruling will be tested, as he has been hostile to diversity and inclusion.

In addition to Trump, Pete Hegseth, his pick to run the Pentagon, has also expressed his disdain for diversity in the military.

“Woke sh*t has got to go. Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it, that’s the only litmus test we care about,” Hegseth said on a podcast discussing diversity in the military. “You’ve got to get DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and CRT (critical race theory) out of military academies, so you’re not training young officers to be baptized in this type of thinking.”

According to Judge Bennett’s ruling, the history of the military was a factor in his decision.

“At bottom, the Court, considering all evidence before it, finds that the military’s interest in growing and maintaining a highly qualified and diverse officer corps is informed by history and learned experience and that a highly qualified and diverse officer corps remains critical for military effectiveness and thus for national security. Plaintiff’s suggestion to the contrary contradicts decades of broad historical and military consensus,” Bennett wrote.

Leah Watson, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program, applauded the decision in a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union.

“We are encouraged by today’s ruling, which recognizes the importance of diversity in shaping leaders who can effectively respond to the complex global challenges our nation faces,” Watson said. “Today’s decision also unequivocally rejects the attempt by Ed Blum’s SFFA to apply the Harvard University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill decision beyond their fact-specific context. Under justified circumstances, the law has –- and still does -– allow for the consideration of race to protect equal opportunity.”

The door for the Students for Fair Admissions to bring the case was opened by the 2023 Supreme Court ruling that established that using affirmative action as part of the admissions process of universities was unconstitutional, except in the case of military academies.

The group challenged this exception, based in part on a footnote provided by Chief Justice John Roberts, which said that the cases the court heard did “not address the issue” and said there were “potentially distinct interests that military academies may present” in a future case.

In his decision, Bennett also referred to this footnote, writing that the “record in this case demonstrates the wisdom of that caution.”

Bennett continued, “Defendants have proven that the Naval Academy’s limited use of race in admissions has increased the racial diversity of the Navy and Marine Corps, which has enhanced national security by improving the Navy and Marine Corps’ unit cohesion and lethality, recruitment and retention, and domestic and international legitimacy.”

Meanwhile, the Students for Fair Admissions have indicated that they plan to appeal the ruling and will take the case before the Supreme Court if necessary.

Per a statement from Edward Blum, the conservative legal activist who is the president of Students for Fair Admissions, “It is our hope that the U.S. military academies ultimately will be compelled to follow the Supreme Court’s prohibition of race in college admissions.”

David Shands and Donni Wiggins’ ‘My First Million’ Conference Is ‘Social Proof’ Of Black Entrepreneurs Standing On Business

by Mitti Hicks

December 9, 2024

David Shands and Donni Wiggins’ ‘My First Million’ Conference Is ‘Social Proof’ Of Black Entrepreneurs Standing On Business

My First Million Conference, an event for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs.

December is the birthday month for David Shands and Donni Wiggins, friends and business partners. Most people celebrate with a party. Others make it a point to be catered to. A select few spend the day relaxing in peace and quiet.

Then there’s Shands and Wiggins.

The two decided the best birthday gift would be providing people with resources for generational wealth through a conference called “My First Million” in Atlanta.

It’s a compromise between how their families and loved ones want to celebrate them and their desire to continue serving others. Shands admits that most people won’t understand, and he unapologetically doesn’t expect them to.

“It’s not for us to convince someone why we’re doing what we’re doing,” Shands admits.

“I think everybody does what they do for different reasons, and I would just chalk it up to a feeling of fulfillment that I can’t explain to somebody else.”

He doesn’t have to explain it to Wiggins because she understands his feelings. Wiggins has been passionate about serving others for as long as she can remember.

“When I was in middle school, commercials about sponsoring a child came on television with kids from third-world countries. I was making money at that time and asked my mom to send money,” she tells BLACK ENTERPRISE.

She recalls feeling sad for children living in a world with so many possibilities yet starving. Her mother allowed her to send the money, and in return, she received letters about their progress.

“For me, it was very real,” says Wiggins, acknowledging now she’s unsure if the letters were authentic. “I would get a letter from that child I sponsored, a picture, and a couple of updates throughout the year. It was such a feeling of overwhelm, and it was something that I felt so good about. I didn’t even tell my friends I was doing it.”

She has carried that sentiment throughout her life, even when she lost everything, including her home, cars, and money. She still found a way to serve and give back, which is the foundation of her friendship with Shands.

The two love seeing people at the height of their potential, and that’s what My First Million is all about. There would be no better birthday gift for them than helping others create generational wealth.

What To Expect During My First Million Conference

The two have built successful seven-figure empires and have gone on to coach others, write books about it, and launch the acclaimed podcast Social Proof.

Now, they’re paying the knowledge forward through My First Million Conference, an event for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs. Shands and Wiggins want to establish that making money is possible and encourage people to bet on themselves.

“David and I, on paper, are not two people who should have earned millions of dollars. First, we want [people] to see that,” says Wiggins. “Then, we want them to actually walk out of that room with practical and actionable steps.”

The two are clear: this is not a motivational conference. It’s a conference where people, no matter where they are on their journey, will leave with clarity about their business and understanding about what they should be doing as CEOs. Shands and Wiggins also want people who don’t have a clear business plan or are considering becoming entrepreneurs to attend.

“The few areas that we’re going to cover are inspiration, information, a plan, and partnerships,” Shands adds. “We’re going to give the 1-2-3 steps because some people are depressed and have no inspiration. Even if they know what to do, they won’t leave and go home and do it. So, we have to really have to impart something in their head and their heart they’re going to leave with.”

Sign up and register for My First Million here. The conference will take place on Dec. 13, but Shands and Wiggins say it definitely won’t be the last if you miss it.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 9, 2024

Breaking: Daniel Penny Acquitted In Subway Death Of Jordan Neely

A jury found the former Marine not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the killing of subway passenger Jordan Neely

A New York City jury found former Marine Daniel Penny not guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the killing of subway passenger Jordan Neely.

According to CBS News, the jury decided that Penny wasn’t guilty of killing Jordan Neely after he placed him in a deadly chokehold that led to his death on a subway. The verdict came down after the judge dismissed the manslaughter charge on Dec. 6 when jurors informed Judge Maxwell Wiley that they could not come to a unanimous decision on that charge. He was charged with criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter. Now, he is a free man.

CNN reported that after the verdict was announced, Andre Zachary, Neely’s father, expressed his disappointment in the jury’s decision.

“I miss my son. My son didn’t have to go through this. I didn’t have to go through this either. It hurts; it really, really hurts. What are we going to do, people? What’s going to happen to us now? I’ve had enough of this. The system is rigged.”

The subway killing took place on May 1, 2023. Court documents revealed that Neely, who was homeless, entered the subway station in Manhattan at the 2nd Avenue station. He got on the F train, and witnesses said that he allegedly threatened several people, but no one in particular. Several clips appeared online, caught by bystanders, showing that after he yelled at several people, Penny grabbed Neely and placed the homeless man in a chokehold for several minutes, even after the homeless man went limp.

People protested and complained that police officers allowed Penny, a white man, to leave the scene, while the man he killed, Neely, was a Black man, leading some to speculate racism played a role in not apprehending Penny. CBS News reported that three days later, a medical examiner ruled Neely’s death was a homicide, with the cause as compression of the neck. Toxicology reports showed Neely had synthetic marijuana in his system when he died.

Penny was arrested two weeks later.

Last week, Newsweek reported that Zachary filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court against Penny, accusing him of negligence, assault, and battery, resulting in the death of Neely. Zachary is seeking damages “in a sum which exceeds the jurisdictional limits of all lower Courts which would otherwise have jurisdiction.”

Atlanta Caterer Says Fired Employee Responded by Pulling A Gun and Robbing Him

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 9, 2024

Atlanta Caterer Says Fired Employee Responded by Pulling A Gun and Robbing Him

Thank goodness no one was hurt....

The owner of a beloved catering company in Atlanta said a former employee pulled a gun and robbed him the day after being terminated, Fox 5 Atlanta reports.

Chef Tim Morgan, owner of Tim Morgan Catering, said he fired Harrita Benton in early December 2024 after she failed to attend an event where she was scheduled to work. Morgan said she would need to turn in her uniform and keys the next day.

However, Benton had other ideas.

“She had a key to the building. She came into the building, and she was dressed for the part. She had on a hoodie, sweatpants and tennis shoes, and a pistol in her waist,” Morgan said. “Her intention was to kill me.”

Morgan recalled feeling like his life flashed before his eyes until another employee stepped in. Benton then stole his phone and left. She didn’t get far as she was arrested on the same night and booked into the Fulton County Jail on simple battery and theft by taking charges.

While no one was hurt, Morgan says the ordeal shook him and his employees. One employee even called out out of fear.

“I have not slept in the last 48 hours,” he said.

In the meantime, Morgan has hired extra security as a precaution. The entrepreneur’s ordeal occurred just days after the news of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson being killed on the streets of New York City. As law enforcement has yet to put the person seen on camera committing the crime behind bars, one of NYPD’s chief of detectives, Joe Kenny, believes the assassin could have been a disgruntled employee, similar to Benton. “Our thought on it is obviously it could possibly be a disgruntled employee or disgruntled client,” Kenny said, according to the New York Post.

Several crimes have occurred at the end of 2024 by alleged disgruntled employees. In November 2024, a former employee of the Navy Pier in Chicago killed two workers before fleeing the scene.

The unidentified worker was fired from his job at the tourist attraction, which features shops, restaurants, and its iconic Ferris wheel along Lake Michigan, on Oct. 14. Stephanie Knowles, who works at a souvenir shop, said she was told to pack up after her manager received a call telling employees they had to “start closing everything down.”

Knowles and other staff members turned off all the lights and decided to hide in a storage room in the back of the shop. The terrified worker said she immediately started to think about school shootings. “I was a little nervous, you know, when you think about the high school shootings,” Knowles said.

“I’ve never had to live through that, so this was the closest thing that I’ve had to that experience.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 9, 2024

TikTok’s ‘Dancing Doctor’ Caught Working At New Medical Facility Despite Suspended License

Going by Catherine Davis, the suspended doctor apparently owned a new medspa, until the latest reveal of her negligent past.

Dr. Windell Boutte, known as TikTok’s Dancing Doctor, was caught working at another medical facility despite having her license suspended for malpractice.

According to an investigation by WSB-TV, Boutte got away with her illegal medical care by using a different name. Boutte originally garnered fame on TikTok for dancing alongside her Atlanta-based medical staff as she treated patients, often conducting surgeries. However, viewers often called out Boutte on her unusual knack for krumping while injecting a patient. Those who underwent botched procedures later sued Boutte for malpractice, resulting in her suspended license.

She faced over 12 lawsuits, including one complaint by a woman who suffered permanent brain damage from the alleged botched care. After the Texas Medical Board suspended her license, Boutte found a new way to finesse the system.

The lack of medical authority did not stop Boutte from continuing to practice. She worked at a new facility, the Eden Med Spa in Austin, Texas, using a combination of her middle and maiden names. Going by Catherine Davis, she apparently owned the med spa until the latest revelation of her negligent past.

When confronted by the news outlet’s undercover producer about her stripped license and controversies, Davis reportedly said she is “riding it out.” She also allegedly laughed about it, deeming the med spa her “happy place.”

“I’m just doing injections,” the former doctor explained. “So, this is my happy place. This is 58 years old. I’m just kind of like, riding it out.”

Upon discovering that she remains working in medicine, the med spa began disassociating itself from the infamous provider. She has been removed from the facility’s website, and its staff confirmed to patients that she is not “currently injecting” at the establishment.

The new outlet alerted the Texas Medical Board of its findings on Davis. However, due to confidentiality reasons, they declined comments confirming an investigation.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 9, 2024

Jordan Chiles Passes The Torch With Bath & Body Works Ahead Of Return To UCLA

In true fashion for the Olympian, Chiles joined fellow gold medalists for Bath & Body Works' Candle Torch Run on Dec. 5.

On the even of her return to UCLA for the new gymnastics season, Olympian Jordan Chiles has hit gold in her partnership with Bath & Body Works.

The gold medalist recently took part in Bath & Body Works’ seventh annual Candle Day celebration, joining fellow gold medalists and power couple Tara Davis-Woodhall and Hunter Woodhall for the inaugural Candle Torch Run on Dec. 5.

The 4-mile journey ran through Manhattan, and worked as a nod to the Olympics’ torch lighting. At the end, the athletes lit up the three wicks of a larger-than-life candle from Bath & Body works.

“This year, we’re excited to engage customers in new and exciting ways with our very first Candle Fest, a spectacular Candle Torch Run featuring superstar athletes and a giant candle countdown clock to make this year more memorable than ever,” said Bath & Body Works’ Chief Customer Officer Maurice Cooper in a press release. “Candle Day is one of our customers’ favorite events of the year, and we’re inviting fans nationwide to share their own Candle Day traditions and join in the countdown excitement on social media.”

As for Chiles, the two-time Olympian has become a fan favorite for her Beyoncé-inspired floor routine and solid gold team performance at this summer’s Paris games.

“Bath & Body Works has been with me ever since I was little,” Chiles told US Weekly. “It was something that, walking into the house, I always knew my mom had a candle on. Especially because her favorite scent was Limoncello.”

Chiles secured a spot on Team USA in 2020 to compete in Rio de Janiero. While she continues adjusting to fame, the 23-year-old has also become a vocal advocate for entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, and racial equity.

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A post shared by Black Enterprise (@blackenterprise)

As Chiles inks more brands deals while looking past her bronze medaling controversy, she remains committed to winning more competitions at UCLA. The 2025 season starts on January 11.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 9, 2024

Donald Trump Falsely Claims U.S. The ‘Only Country That Has’ The Birthright Citizenship He Wants To End

Trump has started to push false narratives around some of the country’s long-standing laws.

Just weeks before he is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump says he will fight to end birthright citizenship as he falsely claims America is “the only country that has it,” NBC News reports.

During an interview with Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker, Trump highlighted some incoming policies he and his team are working on, with one being abolishing the 14th Amendment right to birthright citizenship, stripping away rights from those born in the country to undocumented parents.

When Welker asked the indicted businessman about his plans to get around the amendment, he said that he is willing to go back to “the people.”

“We’re the only country that has it, you know?” he said. “You know, if somebody sets a foot, one foot, you don’t need two on our land, ‘congratulations, you are now a citizen of the United States of America. Yes, we’re going to end that cause it’s ridiculous.”

Trump says he plans to end birthright citizenship pic.twitter.com/iXSEFtbBeu
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 8, 2024

In his first on-camera interview since winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump has started to push false narratives around some of the country’s long-standing laws. While claiming the U.S. is the only country with birthright citizenship, according to Politico, more than 30 countries, including Brazil and Canada, offer the same rights.

Trump plans to start with deporting all undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes; however, no details have been laid out on which crimes will be included.

“I think you have to do it. It’s a very tough thing to do, but you have to have, you know, you have rules, regulations, laws,” Trump said. “They came in illegally. You know, the people that have been treated very unfairly are the people that have been online for 10 years to come into the country.”

Not all undocumented immigrants will be facing deportation. Trump said he is willing to “work something out” with Democratic lawmakers to make sure Dreamers, undocumented immigrants who entered the U.S. as children, wouldn’t be affected by the projected change “because these are people that have been brought here at a very young age,” Trump said.

“And many of these are middle-aged people now. They don’t even speak the language of their country. And yes, we’re going to do something about the Dreamers.”

A number of Republican lawmakers are prepared—and excited—about their leader’s deportation plans. Senator-elect Bernie Moreno, born in Colombia and Ohio’s first Latino legislator, praised Trump’s promise to tackle immigration on day one of his second-term.

“We’ve got to fix immigration. This election was ultimately about two issues at the end of the day: open borders and high prices,” Moreno said. “That was the entire election, and we got to fix the immigration system. It’s the easiest thing to fix intellectually. It’s the hardest thing to fix emotionally, and I hope to play a role in making that happen.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 9, 2024

Floyd Mayweather Announces Initiative To Gift Israeli Orphans

'Over the next year, every orphan in Israel will be visited by the Floyd Mobile and receive special birthday gifts.'

Retired boxer Floyd Mayweather is gifting Israeli orphans when they celebrate their birthdays over the next year.

The fighter and entrepreneur announced the program, named the Mayweather Israel Initiative, on his social media account. A mobile van will distribute birthday gifts throughout the region.

“Over the next year, every orphan in Israel will be visited by the Floyd Mobile and receive special birthday gifts. To all the widows and orphans: keep your heads held high as we honor the cherished memories of those who have passed. A heartfelt thank you to Shai Graucher for your incredible work in making this possible.”

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A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather)

The Jerusalem Post reported that Mayweather launched the initiative on Dec. 8 while attending a Standing Together event in Israel. In his post, the philanthropist acknowledged the founder of Standing Together, Chessed V’Rachamim. The organization supports initiatives and has been instrumental in purchasing washing machines for IDF (Israel Defense Forces) at their bases and also sending widows and orphans on dream vacations.

The media outlet stated that Mayweather has been vocal in his support for Israel, crediting him with being one of the first celebrities to visit the Jewish state after the Oct. 7 massacre. He donated to Israeli organizations such as United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom.

The pugilist recently expanded his real estate portfolio. In October, Mayweather invested $402 million into a 1,000-unit affordable housing portfolio with more than 60 buildings in Manhattan before his latest investment in 601W Companies. He is now aligned with an extensive portfolio with a $10 billion collection comprising 18 buildings and 10 million square feet of space.

With the recent investment in 601W, Mayweather becomes an owner-partner in properties such as the Amazon-anchored 410 10th Avenue in NYC’s Hudson Yards, Chicago’s Aon Center and Old Post Office Building, and the Harborside office complex in Jersey City, New Jersey.