by Stacy Jackson

December 4, 2024

Car Pros CFO Shirley Jones Honored With 2024 ‘Women in Retail’ Award

Shirley Jones' strategies as CFO have contributed to the success of Car Pros growth from a small used car lot to a leading automotive group.

Congratulations are in order for Car Pros Automotive Group CFO Shirley Jones following her recognition as a 2024 “Women in Retail” award recipient from Cherokee Media Group.

“We are so proud of Shirley, not only for this well-deserved award, but for her commitment and dedication to Car Pros and, by extension, the automotive industry,” said Car Pros CEO Matthew Phillips in a press release. “Her career journey is a shining example of how the power of hard work and opportunity can come together to create success. Congratulations Shirley. You make us all proud.” Jones received her recognition on Nov. 20 during a Leadership Luncheon at Used Car Week 2024. The Car Pros CFO and other honorees gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona, to receive the award designated to leaders across auto industry retail.

Jones started at Car Pros Automotive Group in 2005 as an Office Manager. In 2018, she was promoted to Chief Financial Officer to oversee all financial operations for the leading automotive sales company, including IT, HR, and Compliance and Risk Management operations. Her collaborative strategies across dealership departments contributed to Car Pros’ success as the 48th top dealership group and the No. 1 Kia retailer in the U.S., retailing over 175,000 new Kia models. Car Pros dealerships also represent Hyundai, Honda, BMW, and MINI, accumulating over $1B in annual sales. Phillips said Jones “has worked to cultivate confidence and motivation in our employees to help to change lives while also having a positive impact on customers.”

As a 2024 “Women in Retail” panelist, Jones shared her leadership advice with other women who aspire to maneuver into the C-suite of the automotive industry. “It was an honor to join this session at Used Car Week, where I shared my experiences in this great industry and had the opportunity to encourage women to find their voice, take risks, be their advocates, and have confidence in their value and worth,” she said. The CFO stated on LinkedIn that she is always willing to discuss the industry and share her best practices with peers.

Jones specializes in auto finance, auto franchise retail, car dealer perspective, and women in the automotive industry. She spearheaded the dealership group’s charity “Car Pros Cares.” Through the initiative, Car Pros has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to local food banks, shelters, and other organizations. In February, Car Pros Kia, in Huntington Beach, California, recognized Jones for dedication and contributions to the team for over two decades.

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Car Gurus sponsored the sixth annual “Women in Retail” award.

James Baldwin, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 4, 2024

The Fire This Time Festival Highlights Emerging Black Playwrights, Honors James Baldwin

The Fire This Time Festival returns to ALL ARTS, providing a bigger forum for emerging Black playwrights.

The Fire This Time Festival continues to shine a spotlight on emerging Black playwrights while honoring the legacy of the late writer and civil rights icon James Baldwin.

For the third year in a row, the arts-dedicated streaming platform ALL ARTS highlighted last month’s festival, premiering six 10-minute plays from rising playwrights, all directed by Cezar Williams.

The plays were written by Joël René Scoville, Kamilah Bush, LeeLee Jackson, Monique Pappas-Williams, Nia Akilah Robinson, and Taylor A. Blackman.

The plays’ streamed after they were filmed at The Wild Project in New York City on Jan. 20, 2024. In addition to streaming on the ALL ARTS site and app, two web-only musical performances by Nailah Carrie and Julian Apter were featured.

“We are thrilled to be home to the broadcast and streaming premieres of these plays by emerging voices in Black theater and are proud of our partnership with The Fire This Time Festival,” said James King, senior artistic director of ALL ARTS.

Founded in 2009 by playwright Kelley Nicole Girod, The Fire This Time Festival aims to provide a platform for early career playwrights of African and African-American descent.

This year’s festival showcased a range of diverse narratives and introduced rising theater talent, including Scoville’s Ethel and Ethel, starring Danielle Covington and Marinda Anderson as Ethel Williams and Ethel Waters, a couple celebrating their two-year anniversary—only to face interruptions that challenge their relationship.

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Bush’s Mamas & Papas starred Shayvawn Webster, Benton Greene, and Larry Powell. The plays explores the journey of a daughter moving in with her father after her mother’s death. Meanwhile, Jackson’s What’s Love Got to Do With It? featured Covington and Greene in a gripping, intimate bedroom conversation that delves into the woman’s desires and standards.

Pappas-Williams’ The Mural featured Webster and Powell as Nia, an artist, and her ex-partner, Riz, who confronts her after his release from prison. Meanwhile, Robinson’s Why Jamira Gotta Do All Da Werk? explores the dynamic between party friends Jamira and Kiana, played by Anderson and Webster, as they confront uncomfortable truths that challenge the future of their friendship.

Finally, Blackman’s It’s Karen B**! starred Anderson, Greene, and Covington in a story about a seemingly perfect family that gets shaken after their daughter returns from school with a shocking secret.

Viewers can watch past seasons of The Fire This Time Festival on the ALL ARTS app, YouTube, and website at AllArts.org/FireThisTimeFestival.

NYC, Eric Adams, mayor, migrants, New York, buses

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 4, 2024

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Seemingly Defends Daniel Penny, The Marine Vet Who Choked Jordan Neely To Death On Subway

Adams expressed his understanding of Petty's actions that led to the death of the homeless man.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams seemingly defended the actions of Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran on trial for his fatal choking of Jordan Neely while on the subway.

Adams recently appeared on 710 WOR’s The Rob Astorino Show on Nov. 30, where he spoke on the failure of New York’s mental health system that prompted Neely’s outbursts. In the conversation, he stated that Penny did “what we should have done as a city” to stop Neely and the escalating situation.

“The young man, in this case, was going within our system, throughout the revolving door of our system. Now, we’re on the subway where we’re hearing someone talking about hurting people, killing people,” explained the elected official, as reported by The New York Post. “You have someone on that subway who was responding, doing what we should have done as a city in a state of having a mental health facility.”

Penny is currently on trial for Neely’s death, as jurors began their deliberations on whether to convict him on Dec. 3. During the incident, which took place in May 2023, Penny placed Neely in a chokehold for around 6 minutes. Prior to the altercation, Neely was yelling at fellow passengers on the train that he was thirsty and did not care if he died.

While protestors have condemned Penny’s deadly act of vigilantism, Adams elaborated on his stance in defense of him. He said that he understands the fear of those on the train and law enforcement.

“Those passengers were afraid,” he continued. “I’ve been on the subway system. I know what it is as a police officer to wrestle or fight with someone. It is imperative that we look at the totality of this problem.”

He added, “Based on all the facts that’s laid out, a jury of his peers will make the right decision. I don’t want to prejudge that… We have to recognize we have a mental health crisis, and we’re not doing enough to solve it.”

Penny awaits the jury’s decision on his charges of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Despite this, the mayor made clear that he understands his plight. Furthermore, Adams has his own legal troubles to deal with as this New York case wages on.

Chicago, Mayor, Brandon Johnson, national guard, Trump,

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 4, 2024

Brandon Johnson Called ‘Worst Mayor In America’ By Some Chicago Residents As They Protest Migrant Spending

Do the residents have a point?

During a city council meeting, Chicago residents ripped into Mayor Brandon Johnson, calling him the “worst mayor in America” due to his massive migrant spending, Fox News reports.

The city’s New Arrivals Mission — a program providing shelter to migrants — has cost the Windy City $574.5 million since it was adopted in August 2022. In the meantime, Johnson faces the task of trying to overcome a $1 billion budget shortfall by the end of 2024. Residents who attended the open meeting on Dec. 2 took the time to express their concerns about the way Johnson is operating, including their opposition to the idea of an approximate $60 million property tax increase as a way to close the gap.

One resident said “cutting off illegals” is a great way to start. “I got a great way what we can do with this budget. First, let’s start with cutting off illegals getting free everything: free housing, free schooling, free food. Yeah, let’s start with that. That’ll save us a lot of money,” the unidentified woman said to Johnson.

“Let’s start there. Then, let’s start with you. Your salary. You are going down in history as the worst mayor in America. Let’s start with cutting yours. You’re making too much money.”

Chicago Resident to Mayor Brandon Johnson: "You are going down in history as the worst mayor in America" pic.twitter.com/ZtNH10dB4z
— DC Shorts (@theDCshorts) December 4, 2024

It didn’t stop there. An 80-year-old woman sporting an afro compared policies handed down by Johnson’s administration to those in the Jim Crow era. She started her speech by calling the mayor “a disgrace.” “All I can say to you is you are a disgrace. I’m an 80-year-old woman, and I’ve never seen anything like this. I grew up in the Jim Crow South, and the policies that you’re passing in this city remind me of the Jim Crow South. I had to drink out of a colored water foundation while the whites drank out of a white water foundation,” she said.

“But you know what I didn’t have to worry about? Going back to my community and it would be destroyed, and everybody else is in my community but Black people. And this is what you’ve done with this immigration.”

80 year old Black woman called mayor Brandon Johnson a DISGRACE for his policies that allow illegal immigrants to terrorize the Black communities in Chicago pic.twitter.com/lk9Y0BI5zw
— Afro Elite (@TheAfroElite) September 15, 2024

Another resident who admitted to once being an illegal immigrant spoke out on behalf of people who work, pay taxes, and contribute to the city. She claimed to be “very, very embarrassed” over what fellow Latin American citizens have done. “I like to make clear that not everyone is the same. These people came with a wide door open, and they feel entitled to many things that nobody has. There are U.S. citizens suffering from poverty,” she said.

“There are U.S. citizens on public aid, and these people are here just enjoying the benefits, becoming delinquents, and they have no consequences.”

In April 2024, Johnson’s office sent a reminder to residents about the influx of thousands of migrants that were sent to Chicago by Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. “The City of Chicago, in partnership with the State of Illinois and Cook County, has worked to support new arrivals on the path to self-sufficiency by providing basic necessities, including food, temporary emergency shelter, urgent medical care, education, vaccines, and case management and resettlement supports,” the office said at the time, according to the Washington Examiner.

Despite the New Arrivals Mission shelter system being phased out by the end of 2024 and cries from residents, Johnson has continued to push a commitment to help asylum seekers. “This is an ongoing dynamic that really requires progressive, bold leadership at this moment,” he said.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 4, 2024

South Carolina Family Sues School District After Daughter Attempts Suicide Due To Racist Bullying, Students Even Leaked Photos From Hospital

After Kelaia Turner was hospitalized for her suicide attempt, students brought in to visit her allegedly took photos to mock her.

A South Carolina family is suing their daughter’s school district after bullying continued at the hospital following the tween’s attempted suicide.

According to Law and Crime, photos of a hospitalized Kelaia Turner began to spread around Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School. After attempting suicide due to incessant bullying by her classmates, Turner decided to hang herself in March 2023 to escape the harassment.

While the 12-year-old survived the attempt, she endured permanent injuries. While lying in a near comatose state, students brought in to visit the young girl took photos of her condition to further mock her. The lawsuit, filed on Nov. 12, accuses the school and nine faculty and administrative employees of negligence, which led to Turner’s suicide attempt.

The legal filing also dictates that Turner reported the bullying happening as early as August 2021, when she was 11 years old. However, the racist harassment and taunting continued until her attempt, with no alleged actions to stop it by her teachers.

The lawsuit detailed that Turner was called a “man” and “roach” while in one of her teacher’s, Olivia Bennett, class. However, the filing deemed Bennett “complicit,” as students called the middle schooler discriminatory names, also claiming the woman did not urge any of the students to stop. Bennett also allegedly pointed to Turner when a student asked “Where’s the roach?” to incite more bullying.

In October, the young girl’s mother, Ty Turner, took to social media to spread awareness on her daughter’s experience. She hashtagged all the names her daughter reportedly had said to her, including “FatBlackUgly,” “NappyHead,” “Ugmo,” and “Trans.”

She emphasized that the school district in Greenville County also has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. However, in cases where the school administrators stepped in, they only told Turner to report the next altercation.

The bullying became physical as well, with students hanging Turner’s clothes to pour water on the items and throwing them in the trash. The ongoing issue, with no sense of relief from the adults at the school, prompted the tween to try and take her own life.

“She was cool to the touch, blood was coming out of her nose, and she had already urinated on herself,” recalled her mother of the attempt. “She had fully committed to what it was that she was attempting to do, and she was gone for eight whole minutes. They couldn’t find her pulse, and they couldn’t find her heartbeat. There were grown men in the room crying.”

Now, Turner remains on a feeding tube as she suffers from severe brain damage. Her parents have taken on new roles as medical caretakers.

Her mother added, “Kelaia has no control currently over her body. She’s total care, nonverbal, on a trach, on a feeding tube. She requires around-the-clock care that, for the most part, is administered by her father and I. We’ve recently gotten the help of a nurse three days a week.”

The family seeks actual and punitive damages for the school’s lack of action to protect their daughter’s well-being. They have also started a GoFundMe to help with her medical care expenses. They have earned over $60k thus far, already surpassing their $15k goal, but they are still accepting donations as she continues healing.

A$AP Rocky, CDFA, Fashion Icon, Ray Bans

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 4, 2024

A$AP Rocky Honored With Cultural Innovator Award At The Fashion Awards 2024

Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council said, 'Rocky has had a resounding impact on the creative industries and popular culture this year.'

Harlem recording artist A$AP Rocky was given the Culture Innovator Award at The Fashion Awards 2024.

The honor occurred on Dec. 2 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. According to The Fashion Awards, this award is given to an innovator, leader, and image maker in the entertainment industry who has created viral fashion moments that influenced the fashion industry and culture within the past year.

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“We are thrilled to honour A$AP Rocky with the Cultural Innovator Award tonight,” said Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, in a written statement. “Rocky has had a resounding impact on the creative industries and popular culture this year — from his Paris Fashion Week debut to designing the retro-futuristic neighborhood in the Moncler’s The City of Genius in Shanghai. Through these collections and the promotion of his upcoming album ‘Don’t Be Dumb,’ he has firmly positioned himself at the intersection of culture and innovation. We are also incredibly grateful for his continued support of UK designers and retail.”

Fashion and performing hip-hop songs are not the only things A$AP Rocky does while helping his girlfriend, Rihanna, raise their two children, RZA and Riot.

It was recently reported that the entrepreneur is set to buy an English professional soccer team, EFL Club Tranmere Rovers. Rocky is involved in the investment group led by his attorney, Joe Tacopina, which will pay 15 million euros (USD 16 million) to obtain an 80% ownership stake in the English Football League sports club. The rapper’s strong relationship with the attorney has convinced Tacopina that Rocky’s involvement will benefit the team.

“Rocky is tight with Joe and has committed to the Tranmere bid,” an unidentified source stated, according to The Sun. They also said that Tacopina “thinks Tranmere—a famous club near Liverpool—is undervalued and that, by clever marketing and celebrity endorsement,” Rocky can help “transform it.”

The purchase has to first be approved by the English Football League.

'Am I the Drama?', Cardi B, Guinness Record, Drone Album Deliveries

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 4, 2024

Cardi B Fires Back As Fans Hate On Partnership With Controversial Fast Fashion Brand Shein

Fans wondered if Cardi B was desperate for a check from the fast fashion brand, considering she usually rocks couture.

Cardi B is about her money, no matter where it comes from. The rapper clapped back at fans questioning her latest partnership with a prominent, yet controversial fast fashion brand.

The Bronx rapper posted a video on Dec. 3 wearing pieces from SHEIN, known for its questionable business ethics, as reported by The Independent. She encouraged her 165 million followers to use her promo code and buy new winter coats.

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A post shared by Cardi B (@iamcardib)

“Ladies, this year we’re investing in a good coat,” she said in the background of the video, wearing multiple outerwear pieces from the brand. “Don’t be walking around with that jean jacket you wore in the spring. Or don’t go into the club like, ‘I ain’t cold.’”

Given Cardi B’s rise in fashion, fans began to wonder why she would partner with the brand. Commenters also questioned the authenticity of the collaboration and whether the mother of three is desperate for a check.

One commenter stated, “Girl, you wear Hermes and Chanel, not Shein.”

“Shein?!?! Are you kidding me? That’s embarrassing,” said another.

The criticism even spread to another social media platform, with X users sharing their opinions on the matter.

“This is so embarrassing,” said one Cardi B fan account. “Shein promo…. she needs to regroup and figure something else because…”

However, Cardi B fired back at the naysayers hating on her partnership. She exposed some potential details on her contract with Shein, saying the lofty price is worth the endorsement.

“If someone is offering me $700,000 dollars to do a [expletive] video that I don’t got to put on my Instagram feed, I’m going to do it,” she said in audio re-shared on The Breakfast Club. “And it’s not because [expletive] going broke… it’s that I’m not going to pass on easy money.”

The Grammy winner doubled down that her pockets were full, but that did not stop her from still chasing the bag.

She added, “I’m not trying to survive; I just like making easy money.”

Even if fans disagree, Cardi B is sticking behind making the easy cash.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 4, 2024

Morgan Tuck Promoted To General Manager of WNBA’s Connecticut Sun

'This is an exciting time for the Sun, and I’m eager to work alongside our coaching staff, players, and front office to continue the pursuit of our first championship.'

Former Connecticut Sun player Morgan Tuck is now the WNBA franchise’s general manager.

Tuck, previously the Sun’s assistant general manager, replaces Darius Taylor, who is now the team’s chief basketball strategist and director of scouting. The team made the announcement on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

“I am honored and excited to take on this new role with the Sun,” Tuck said in a written statement. “Being able to be a part of this organization in various roles has prepared me for this moment, and I’m extremely appreciative for the guidance and support that I have received from our staff and ownership group. This is an exciting time for the Sun, and I’m eager to work alongside our coaching staff, players, and front office to continue the pursuit of our first championship. I look forward to this new chapter and the challenges ahead as we aim to maintain a winning culture and create lasting memories for our fans.”

Tuck was the Connecticut Sun’s number three draft pick in 2016. She spent four seasons there before playing her last season with the Seattle Storm, where she won the WNBA championship in 2020. She returned to the Sun in an executive role in May 2021 as the Director of Franchise Development before becoming Assistant General Manager in November 2022.

Before her pro career, Tuck played at the University of Connecticut (UConn), where she was part of four straight NCCA championship teams (2012–2016).

“Morgan is a rising star in this industry,” Taylor said. “Watching her grow into the front office executive she has become has been nothing short of amazing. Her career has come full circle with the Connecticut Sun organization. I know she will be instrumental in propelling this organization to its fullest potential.”

Fani Willis Forced To Turn Over All Trump Probe Communications With Special Counsel Jack Smith

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 4, 2024

Fani Willis Forced To Turn Over All Trump Probe Communications With Special Counsel Jack Smith

This can't be good.

A Georgia court has ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to turn over all communications with special counsel Jack Smith, Newsweek reports.

The order was handed down by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney on Dec. 3. The documents may reveal how much the two offices communicated while they were supposed to be prosecuting President-elect Donald Trump separately. Trump was charged with federal election fraud for attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. His comments resulting in the January 6, 2021, coup at Capitol Hill were also included in the charge.

Separate charges of racketeering, election fraud and more during the same 2020 presidential election in Georgia were filed by Willis, including the now infamous call to the Georgia secretary of state from Trump asking him for help to find votes.

According to Fox News, the request was filed under the Open Records Act (ORA). Nonprofit group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit against Willis in March 2024 following claims from her office that there weren’t any documents and communications on file between Willis and Smith or Willis and the January 6th Committee. McBurney ordered Willis to produce documents within five business days after it was revealed that communication did take place.

In his ruling, the judge found Willis violated Georgia’s open records act by failing to respond to Judicial Watch’s lawsuit. “Plaintiff is thus entitled to judgment by default as if every item and paragraph of the complaint were supported by proper and sufficient evidence,” McBurney wrote. “Here, this means Plaintiff has established that Defendant violated the ORA by failing to either turn over responsive records or else notify Plaintiff of her decision to withhold some or all such records.”

McBurney also ordered Willis to pay the attorney fees for the group, which is labeled as “a conservative foundation.” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton celebrated the ruling.

“Fani Willis is something else. We’ve been doing this work for 30 years, and this is the first time in our experience a government official has been found in default for not showing up in court to answer an open records lawsuit,” Fitton said. “Judicial Watch looks forward to getting any documents from the Fani Willis operation about collusion with the Biden administration and Nancy Pelosi’s Congress on her unprecedented and compromised ‘get-Trump’ prosecution.”

Willis’ case against Trump is being appealed by the president-elect and several of his co-defendants. Smith ended his probe against Trump after he won the 2024 election following the Supreme Court’s ruling that sitting presidents can’t be on trial.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 4, 2024

Black, Latino Business Owners Join Community LAB Program To Advance Equity In Sports

The cohort will shape the future of sports through diversity and equity in their businesses.

More Black and Latino business owners are driving change in sports as part of the latest cohort for the Community LAB program.

Powered by adidas, the social accelerator program takes place over eight months. According to a press release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Participants will receive $75k in grant funding and other resources. The holistic support also aims to propel their missions forward and make sports an equitable playing field.

This year, the program has expanded into new cities such as Toronto and Houston. They will add to the vibrant communities found in its original cities of Los Angeles, Atlanta, and New York. Now, the 2024-2025 cohort will shape the future of sports by encouraging diversity and equity already amplified through their businesses.

The program also finds new support with partners such as Pharrell William’s nonprofit, Black Ambition. These entrepreneurs will undergo a customized curriculum with mentorship opportunities and workshops to improve their businesses’ reach and success.

Participants from the newly-included cities include Samad Hinton, founder of BLK Beetles. The Houston-based company’s focuses on long-lasting wellness through strong support systems, developing community-centered outdoor events, and a streaming platform to connect through multiple channels. Andrea Brown of the Gifted Collective is a communications consultant in the city, whose firm helps athletes from underrepresented backgrounds acquire knowledge to successfully manage NIL deals.

In Toronto, Heather Alonzo is pioneering gender equality in basketball with Ball Her Way. The initiative empowers women and girls who love the game, curating programs that break the boundaries associated with the sport. Another participant is Kickback, helping underserved youth with sports, arts, and education activities to brighten their futures.

Other cohort members include Moyo Akinade’s Atlanta Adaptive Soccer Foundation, which helps those with physical disabilities develop skills in soccer. As for the La Familia Project, it brings New Yorkers of all ages together while its wellness program incorporates sports and arts-based activities. In Los Angeles, DRAFTED ensures Latinas voices and stories in sports are amplified.

As the program embarks on its 2024-2025 session, it hopes to leave a lasting impact on the world of sports. The endeavor also emphasizes that one wins when championing diversity.

“Building strong partnerships with community leaders is key to transforming our collective vision into real-world progress,” said Ayesha Martin, Senior Director of adidas Purpose. “Through these and our existing partners, we will sustain our shared commitment towards building a more equitable future.”