by Lauren Nutall

November 10, 2023

Gerard Wilcher Let Go As Morehouse College’s Head Football Coach After 8 Months

Sports Illustrated reports that Morehouse College’s head football coach, Gerard Wilcher, has been let go after just eight months in the position.

Wilcher released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the abrupt dismissal, where he alleged that the team was unequipped with the necessary resources despite many requests.

“Please know that I tried every day to uplift my beloved Morehouse,” he wrote. “Statistically, we improved in almost every category. We played a challenging schedule with only 2 home games and even though we asked numerous times, we were not given the resources to have a strength and conditioning program.”

He continued, “I was hired after the recruiting season and had no recruiting budget. However, the College has made the decision to no longer retain me rather than give us the support and resources we need in order to be successful.”

Wilcher’s departure comes just days after the team defeated rival Clark Atlanta, 35-21. However, despite the achievement, the team had been on a losing streak for the previous nine matches, according to Morehouse Athletics.

Wilcher has been a football coach for over three decades and has worked for several college teams during his career, including Rice University, UMass, and Delaware State. A graduate of Morehouse College, he returned to the school in 2023 following former head coach Rich Freeman’s resignation after 16 years, according to Sports Illustrated.

Morehouse College initially announced its decision to hire the alumnus on its official site in spring 2023.

“Coach Wilcher brings a wealth of experience from both the collegiate and national level that we believe will positively influence our players both on and off the field,” Curtis Campbell, athletics director at Morehouse College, said. “He has a tremendous work ethic, determination, and a remarkable understanding of the game. I look forward to seeing the impact on our players and the football program under his leadership.”

Wilcher himself had also expressed anticipation for the upcoming season at the time.

“Returning to Morehouse College is a full circle moment,” he said. “As I embark on this journey, I am excited to lead the Maroon Tigers in orchestrating a winning program that will reflect our core values of Tradition, Integrity, Grit, Effort, Respect, and Sacrifice.”

Morehouse College has yet to respond to Wilcher’s recent remarks.

TORCH Warriorwear Uplifts Women Veterans Through Fashion

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 10, 2023

TORCH Warriorwear Uplifts Women Veterans Through Fashion

TORCH Warriorwear is dedicated to supporting women in the military so that they may serve their country in style. Ahead of this upcoming Veteran’s Day, the brand’s CEO, fellow vet Haley Marie McClain Hill, is a trailblazing entrepreneur that focuses her fashion on this underrepresented group.

TORCH Warriorwear was founded in Los Angeles under the mission of fashionable apparel that is built for performance with fearless women in mind. Dedicated to fitting the needs of women serving in the U.S. military, the Veteran Shark Tank-winning brand’s wide array of bodysuits, made with a “flexcomfort” fabric, seeks to innovate the military-style uniform. As a subscription-based company that has built a community of women in the force, they embrace their fearlessness and femininity through its assortment.

As for McClain Hill, the multifaceted entrepreneur not only has a background serving in the U.S. Air Force, but also experience as a NFL cheerleader. Her passion for business, in addition to athletic movement and the expansion of “women warriors” led her to create the company to address the clothing gap needed to support this facet of women.

“TORCH WarriorWear came from my heart,” shared the pioneering brand owner. “It came from my four years of being an Active Duty Air Force officer, and my five years being an AFROTC cadet at Penn State. I woke up one day wishing there were more comfortable, cute options I could wear under my uniform.”

To accompany her growing endeavor, McClain Hill has officially launched the TORCHTalks podcast to connect further with women warriors and showcase their stories. The businesswoman continues to expand her brands and elevate as a public speaker in her quest to highlight the strength of women across all fields. Her continued efforts through fashion and other enterprises is embodied in her mantra,

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.”

Those inspired by her mission can follow McClain Hill via her social media, and can subscribe to TORCH Warriorwear to get the apparel essentials one needs to take on any tasks.

‘Murder Is The Case’ Keefe D Faces In June For Allegedly Killing Tupac

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 9, 2023

‘Murder Is The Case’ Keefe D Faces In June For Allegedly Killing Tupac

Keefe D is the only living person who was in the vehicle where the shooter fired the bullets that struck and killed the “Death Row” rapper

A Nevada judge has set a trial date for Duane “Keefe D” Davis, who is suspected of being involved in the killing of hip-hop recording artist Tupac Shakur.

According to the New York Daily News, Judge Carli Kierny has set June 3, 2024, on the court’s calendar as the start of Keefe D’s case. On Tuesday, Nov. 7, the suspect’s court-appointed attorneys, Charles Cano and Robert Arroyo, appeared with Keefe D to face the judge. He has pleaded not guilty after being charged with murder with a deadly weapon with the intent to promote, further, or assist a criminal gang.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo told the court that the amount of evidence in Davis’ case is “as voluminous as I’ve ever had in my career,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Cano and Arroyo told the judge they were still reviewing grand jury transcripts. The defense attorneys will have until late December to file a petition against the murder charge.

The 60-year-old is scheduled to appear before Judge Kierny on Jan. 9, 2024, for a status check. According to The Associated Press, his attorneys say they will file documents requesting that he be released on bail until his trial starts.

Keefe D is the only living person who was in the vehicle where the shooter fired the bullets that struck and killed the “Death Row” rapper on Sept. 7, 1996. He was arrested on Sept. 29 in Henderson after Las Vegas police officers raided his residence on July 17.

Tupac was shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas after a Mike Tyson fight on Sept. 7, 1996. He died six days later after being shot at the age of 25. Keefe D, who wrote the book Compton Street Legend, had previously stated that the killing of the “Me Against the World” lyricist was done by his nephew, Orlando Anderson, who was killed two years later. Anderson was seen on video having an altercation with the entertainer before the “All Eyez On Me” emcee died.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 9, 2023

L.A. Reid Sued For Alleged Sexual Assault By Former Arista Executive

Renowned music executive L.A. Reid is being sued by a former Arista executive who accuses him of sexual assault, an experience she recounted in the Max original documentary "On The Record."

Renowned music executive Antonio “L.A.” Reid is being sued by a former Arista executive who accuses him of sexual assault, an experience she recounted in the Max original documentary On The Record.

Reid is known for co-founding LaFace Records and serving as the former head of Arista, Epic, and Def Jam Records. In 2020, Max released the On The Record documentary where former Def Jam and Arista exec Drew Dixon recounted instances of sexual assault and harassment at the hands of her former bosses, Reid and Russell Simmons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ddHf5VXL3g&pp=ygUZb24gdGhlIHJlY29yZCBkb2N1bWVudGFyeQ%3D%3D

Now, three years after the documentary’s release, Dixon is calling Reid out with a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault and harassment during her time working for him at Arista Records, Variety reports. The suit, filed Wednesday, Nov. 8, in Manhattan’s Federal District Court, accuses Reid of assaulting her twice in the early 2000s.

Dixon says after declining his advances, Reid allegedly retaliated against her by forcing her to miss out on signing or developing artists such as John Legend. She left the company in 2002 and ultimately ended her career in music after back-to-back alleged sexual assault experiences with Reid and Simmons, whom she worked under at Def Jam.

Reid allegedly “retaliated against her by embarrassing her in front of others or otherwise being curt and unprofessional,” the suit states. “Promotional and recording budgets were suddenly reduced dramatically or frozen altogether. Song demos and artist auditions were flatly rejected.”

“It was very clear that I was being punished because I would not comply,” she told The New York Times.

Dixon claims Simmons assaulted her in 1995. She came forward with her assault allegations in 2017, claims he denies. She is still evaluating her legal options for suing Simmons, she tells The New York Times.

“I have an opportunity now to seek some degree of accountability,” Dixon says. “And that’s really what I’m trying to do.”

Reid, who now runs his company Mega, through Gamma, has not responded to the suit. Dixon’s case falls under New York’s recently passed Adult Survivors Act, which allows alleged victims who were over 18 when the abuse occurred a one-year window for civil lawsuits. The window closes on Nov. 24.

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 9, 2023

Largest All Black-Owned and Operated Law Firm in New Jersey Expands, Adds Offices In Two More States

SSW Law Group (SSW), a Black and woman-owned law firm based in Newark, New Jersey, has added two new offices in New York and Pennsylvania and has expanded to form a national firm

SSW Law Group (SSW), a Black and woman-owned law firm based in Newark, New Jersey, has added two new offices in New York and Pennsylvania and has expanded to form a national firm, merging to now include a team of nearly 40 employees. The law firm now offers extensive expertise in Real Estate/Economic Development, Education, Litigation, and Government Affairs.

“SSW believes the legal representation of urban communities across the nation should directly reflect their identity and values,” said Calvin Souder, co-founder and managing member of the law firm. With this expansion, we are building an institution that is uniquely positioned to serve the all-encompassing needs of our neighbors in cities nationwide.”

In 2015, Calvin Souder, Esq., Khalifah Shabazz, Esq., and Kyana Woolridge, Esq. formed SSW, which increased their capacity to respond to competitive contracts. The formation of their law firm provided the required profound talent to address the challenging needs of urban New Jersey. With this expansion, SSW Law Group will now have offices in Newark, Manhattan, and Philadelphia to better address the needs of their clients across the nation.

“The establishment of SSW has always been about more than just practicing law; it’s been about creating a legacy of inclusion and excellence in the legal field. We are excited to embark on this new chapter and reinforce our commitment to making a difference through dedicated and culturally competent legal representation,” said Kyana Woolridge, Esq. SSW Co-founder.

“With our geographical growth, we are strengthening our ability to advocate for educational and economic empowerment on a broader scale,” said Khalifa Shabazz, Esq. SSW Co-founder.

As a national firm, SSW will deepen its focus across areas they have successfully represented:

• Real Estate: Founding Member Calvin Souder has successfully represented large-scale mixed-use, municipal, commercial, and industrial developments, including advising HBCU Presidents on expanding the use of public-private partnerships.

• Government Affairs: Member James Gee and Member Jay Redd represent the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association as well as numerous pharmaceutical and biotech companies throughout the country.

• Education/Nonprofit: Founding member Khalifah Shabazz provides counsel to the majority of urban school districts in New Jersey, including the Patterson Board of Education and the development of Hinchliffe Stadium.

• Litigation: Member Philip Hamilton and Member Lance Clarke have successfully negotiated a settlement on behalf of the Estate of Eric Garner.

• Health/Cannabis: Member Jorge Vasquez secured preferential rights for formerly incarcerated individuals to open cannabis dispensaries.

“SSW attorneys exemplify that there is no limit to the heights that can be reached when talent meets opportunities,” said Garden State Bar Association President James Lewis, Esq. “For so many of us, seeing is believing, and SSW opens its doors to Garden State Bar Association members, including future attorneys from diverse backgrounds, to see that there’s room for them at the highest levels of the profession.”

The American Bar Association has found that of the 40,800 attorneys in the state of New Jersey, only 4.5% or 1,836 are Black. Of that number, over 25% are solo practitioners, with an average of less than one Black attorney at each of the 10,482 law firms in the state.

According to the SBA, over 8 out of 10 small businesses have no employees. Out of the 33.2 million small businesses, 27.1 million are run by a single owner and have no employees. Just 16% of all small businesses in the U.S. have 1-19 employees.

This news was first reported by blackbusiness.com

SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikers, actors strike

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 9, 2023

Finally! SAG-AFTRA Strike Comes to An End After Reaching Tentative Deal With Studios

After more than 100 days, a tentative deal has been reached between SAG-AFTRA members and Hollywood studios.

The longest actors’ strike in Hollywood history ended on Nov. 9 after the union’s negotiating committee approved a deal on a unanimous vote, Variety reports. The tentative agreement goes to the SAG-AFTRA national board for approval on Friday.

The 118-day strike officially ended at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 9. Finishing touches were being made in recent days that see actors receive a minimum increase of 7% and protections against artificial intelligence, among other things.

The new contract, worth over $1 billion, will see actors receive a “streaming participation bonus” and increases in pension and health contributions.

“We have arrived at a contract that will enable SAG-AFTRA members from every category to build sustainable careers,” the union said in the email. “Many thousands of performers now and into the future will benefit from this work.”

The use of AI was a big concern for actors as the technology continues to advance and gain steam in the industry. But now “unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation will protect members from the threat of AI,” SAG-AFTRA says.

It’s great news for SAG-AFTRA members who have been sidelined for nearly four months, unable to work and receive pay for work. While the new deal has not been finalized and doesn’t meet all requests made by actors, union reps say they will be back to seek more in their next negotiation in 2026.

The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers says the new deal “represents a new paradigm” between the two parties.

“The AMPTP is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement and looks forward to the industry resuming the work of telling great stories,” the employer group said.

SAG-AFTRA now has “the biggest contract-on-contract gains in the history of the union, including the largest increase in minimum wages in the last 40 years; a brand new residual for streaming programs; extensive consent and compensation protections in the use of artificial intelligence; and sizable contract increases on items across the board,” AMPTP states.

Cherelle Parker, Phialdelphia, Black, mayor

by Stacy Jackson

November 9, 2023

Cherelle Parker Took Control of Her Narrative To Become Philadelphia’s First Female Mayor

Parker's victory continues a 76-year streak of Democrats winning the city. She will replace Mayor Jim Kenney.

Philadelphia elected its first female mayor, Cherelle Parker – and she’s Black.

The Democratic incumbent, who went up against Republican candidate David Oh, received 224,142 votes to her opponent’s 74,258. Parker will replace Mayor Jim Kenney, who has already served two terms. Her four-year term begins in January 2024.

Political races can be battlefields where candidates risk having their past experiences held against them like ammo. But for Parker, authenticity was essential to taking control of her narrative as a mayoral candidate. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Democrat said at the Sheet Metal Workers Union Hall on Nov. 7, “I wouldn’t allow anybody else to attempt to weaponize my humble beginnings against me.”

Parker, the city’s 100th mayor, added, “My real-life lived experience was closest to the people who are feeling the most pain right now in our city. … People were yearning for authenticity.”

Her political platform, which aims to crack down on crime and keep schools open year-round, became a reality because of women in city politics, who Parker said paved the way. “I’m only here today because those women decided I was worthy enough to sit at their feet and learn,” the news outlet reported the new mayor said before voting at the Masjidullah mosque on the morning of the Nov. 7 election.

“So anyone who’s watching today, you need to know I don’t arrive here by myself. I didn’t pull myself up by my bootstraps. There was a community and a village of people who lifted me up.”

Parker’s political opponent, Republican David Oh, conceded on the night of Nov. 7, “The voters have spoken, and Cherelle Parker is the 100th mayor of Philadelphia.”

“So I congratulate her. I wish her well. It is her responsibility now, and we will all support her to make her the most successful mayor that this city has seen because that’s what’s in the public interest.”

The news outlet also reported that a Republican has not won for the past 76 years.

Young Black Men With ADHD Are Being Underdiagnosed And Left Behind

by Derek Major

November 9, 2023

Young Black Men With ADHD Are Being Underdiagnosed And Left Behind

A new study conducted by Penn State shows young Black men are underdiagnosed for ADHD and it has troubling consequences.

Black children are significantly underdiagnosed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when compared to their white peers, as their actions are routinely considered discipline issues instead of neurological conditions, according to a new report.

A Penn State University study, published in Psychiatry Research in September, studied 10,000 elementary students between kindergarten and fifth grade across the nation, and researchers estimate that Black students were diagnosed with ADHD at a 40% lower rate when all things are equal, including economic status, student achievement, and behavior.

Additionally, the study determined the odds of Black young males being diagnosed with ADHD were 60% lower than young white males under similar circumstances.

The racial divide in ADHD diagnoses is having dire consequences, especially when it comes to young Black boys. According to the study’s lead author, Paul Morgan, the former director of the Center for Educational Disparities Research at Penn State, the divide is deepening inequality for Black children, especially Black boys.

Symptoms of ADHD include being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings; constantly fidgeting; an inability to concentrate on tasks; excessive physical movement; excessive talking; and more.

ADHD has been diagnosed in nearly six million children between the ages of 3-17 between 2016 and 2019 in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The condition can be treated with therapy and medication, but if left untreated, it can lead to a litany of health issues, including drug addiction, self-harm, and suicidal behavior.

According to CBS News, medical researchers believe teachers who are racially biased or have lower expectations of Black students are among the reasons young Black males fall under the radar when it comes to ADHD. Additionally, Black parents who are distrustful of teachers and doctors often don’t get their kids tested for the condition.

Wesley Jackson Wade knows what it’s like to deal with untreated ADHD growing up, according to the outlet. The son of a novelist and a special education teacher, Wade was an exceptional writer and communicator. However, he was one of the only Black kids in predominantly white schools in upper-middle-class communities. He often played the class clown when he wasn’t feeling challenged and got detention often for talking back to teachers.

Wade told CBS he spent years dealing with self-doubt and self-medication with what he called “Snoop Dogg volumes of weed” between his teens and mid-20s. It wasn’t until age 37 that he was diagnosed with ADHD and Dyslexia.

Before he was diagnosed, Wade spent years trying to help others as a counselor at North Carolina State University, and today, Wade is a licensed mental health and addiction counselor and doctoral student. He admitted to CBS that although he’s accomplished so much in his life, it’s difficult for him to see and acknowledge his success because of his experience.

“To the rest of the world, this is a Black man with two master’s degrees, and he’s a Ph.D. candidate, and he has two licenses and certifications,” Wade said. “But to me, I’m a brother who’s had a lot of bad luck with people and jobs I’ve gotten fired from. I’ve never been promoted, ever, in my professional life.”

AFRO News Hosts ‘A Salute to Our Veterans’ Acknowledging Those Who Served This Country

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 9, 2023

AFRO News Hosts ‘A Salute to Our Veterans’ Acknowledging Those Who Served This Country

Happy Veteran's Day!

With Veteran’s Day being celebrated on Nov. 11, AFRO News hosted a luncheon entitled “A Salute to Our Veterans” to recognize the many Black veterans who went to fight for the country, from World War II to the most recent battles that have taken place.

According to CBS News, the Tuesday, Nov. 7 event was held at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore.

“Honoring the sacrifice and service of our veterans is a year-round obligation, but today is a special day to celebrate their stories,” said Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, CEO and publisher of the AFRO, in a written statement. “Through ‘A Salute to Our Veterans,’ we aim to bridge the generations of military heroism on display in the Black community.”

“We’d like to thank BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, Morgan State University, and Greater Baltimore Medical Center for their generous sponsorship of this event.”

The luncheon saluted the brave men and women who risked their lives to serve our country. Some that were honored included Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead (the adjutant general of Maryland and the only Black woman leading a state military), retired Maj. Edgar Brookings (a former AFRO general and circulation manager) and retired Col. Edna Cummings (Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal champion and documentary producer).

“I didn’t get here alone,” Cummings stated. “Thousands of veterans and organizations stepped up and supported.”

The first annual “Salute to Our Veterans” was hosted by Frances Murphy Draper, the CEO and publisher of AFRO News. The publication was founded in 1892 by her grandfather, John H. Murphy Sr., a formerly enslaved Civil War sergeant who served in the military.

“We’ve got a lot of veterans here today, and we want to stop and say thank you for your service,” said Draper. “We have been honoring veterans almost the entire life of our 131-year existence.”

The event also acknowledged Morgan State University’s ROTC program and the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute’s Junior ROTC Color Guard treated attendees to a performance.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 9, 2023

Cardi B And Patti LaBelle Unite For Holiday Dessert Mashup

Cardi B has teamed up with Patti LaBelle for a holiday dessert mashup between Patti's Pies and Whipshots.

Cardi B has teamed up with the legendary songstress Patti LaBelle for a holiday dessert mashup between Patti’s Good LifePies and Whipshots.

Patti’s Good Life Pies has partnered with Cardi B’s Whipshots Whip Cream for the perfect combination of whipped cream-covered holiday pies. The two superstars only just met for the collaboration but quickly hit it off as LaBelle, 79, always saw Cardi, 31, as one of her distant children.

“I’ve been her mother in my mind for a long time because she’s just all that and a bag of chips. And I’m all that and a bag of chips,” LaBelle told People.

Cardi was completely starstruck getting to meet the singer she also respects as a music icon and elder.

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“I feel like I’m not worthy, I just feel so shook!” the Grammy Award-winning rapper said. “I’m super starstruck. I’m on my best behavior.”

“Oh, don’t be on your best behavior with me because I’m really bad,” LaBelle jokingly added.

In addition to loving Patti’s music, like everyone else, Cardi loves the singer’s food line, which has only continued to grow in popularity year after year. Patti’s Good Life includes her signature pies, macaroni and cheese, banana pudding, and other fresh and frozen foods.

“I got to take [inspiration] from you,” Cardi tells Patti of her two-year-old alcohol whipped cream brand Whipped Shots. With flavors like pumpkin spice, peppermint, vanilla, mocha, and caramel, Cardi’s whipped cream makes for the perfect holiday pairing with Pattie Pies.

The ad was shot in a sitcom style, with Cardi coming over to Patti’s house to “feed” her.

“We’re going to try your Whipshots with my Patti pie,” LaBelle tells Cardi.

“Let’s do pumpkin,” Cardi says, reaching for her flavored whipped cream. A veteran in the food game, LaBelle expresses her skepticism by asking, Pumpkin for sweet potato?”

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Cardi insists the two products will “make love together.”

“You gotta trust me on this one,” the rapper says, with LaBelle agreeing. “I trust you, boo!”

Holiday dessert lovers can get their hands on Patti’s Good Life pies and Cardi’s Whipshots at Walmart.