• News

by Lauren Nutall

November 8, 2023

A New Film Follows A Vietnam Veteran Who Was Denied The Purple Heart Medal For His Race

Jerry Smith Sr., cousin of the late Emmett Till, was denied the Purple Heart Medal on account of his race, but a new short film aims to change this.

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Jerry Smith Sr., a cousin of the late Emmett Till, was denied the Purple Heart Medal on account of his race, but a new short film aims to change this, according to a recent press release. 

The Purple Heart Medal is awarded to United States Armed Forces members who have been injured or killed in combat. Smith and his family have long maintained that he deserves the honor but have been repeatedly denied, an injustice that has been controversial for years. This has triggered a Change.org petition and now a movie. 

The 9-minute short film, titled In Honor of a Purple Heart, follows Smith’s journey from foster care to becoming a Vietnam War veteran.

“I want to have an effect on the people I come in contact with. I want to be a motivation for them and make them aware you can survive anything as long as you believe. Be thankful for what you have and what you don’t have, don’t worry about it. You’re still alive,” Smith says in the video. 

Smith’s experiences with racism date back to when he was just a boy, living in the rural South during the Jim Crow era. As a young Black foster child, he was rarely told of his value in the world. Rather, he was taught to feel inferior to his white counterparts, a sentiment that was only further supported by the 1955 murder of his 14-year-old cousin Emmett Till, who was falsely accused of whistling at a white woman and found murdered in a river shortly after.  

Smith, too, was subject to false allegations as a teenager, which resulted in him losing a scholarship to Kansas State University. He was forced to flee and wound up enlisting in the military during the Vietnam War. While serving, Smith sustained an injury from a Punji stick, a spiked device often used in war. However, he was denied the Purple Heart Medal and was told that Black people don’t receive the honor.  

Eric Scott Johnson, a producer of the film, spoke about its significance. “The film has won awards at festivals, but this is about something more important,” he said. “This is about Jerry Smith Sr. getting what was wrongfully withheld from him solely due to his race.”

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 8, 2023

Assisted Living Facility Employee Arrested After Allegedly Beating Elderly Resident Who Has Dementia

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An employee from an assisted living facility in Florida has been arrested after she was accused of beating an elderly woman who has dementia.

According to Click Orlando, Kassandra Aihe, a 24-year-old employee at The Gardens of Eastbrooke, an assisted living facility in Casselberry, is looking at a charge of battery on a person at least 65 years of age. The incident occurred on Oct. 27. She was arrested on Nov. 2, taken to the Seminole County Jail, and bonded out the following day.

The alleged abuse was captured on surveillance video showing Aihe physically attacking the elderly resident. The employee is seen taking the victim back to her room. As she was doing so, the resident became combative, and Aihe was seen grabbing the victim’s hair and forcefully dragging her into the room. The victim was reportedly badly battered and bruised.

The resident could be heard screaming in the room for about five minutes until another employee came to the room.

In a written report by Aihe, she admitted that she hit the resident’s face with an object and then slammed her face against the wall. That action led to the resident’s face bleeding and displaying facial injuries. Another employee who came to intervene also wrote that Aihe hit the victim in her report.

Investigators said that two days later, on Oct. 29, the resident was brought to the hospital after showing severe bruising. The medical staff said that there were fractures to her nose and face. Police officers appeared at the facility to arrest Aihe later that week.

Fox News reported that according to the police report, Aihe went “beyond her scope of duty by pulling [the patient’s] hair to control her and pushing her to move her to her room physically.”

Police officials said that the patient’s husband would be pursuing charges against Aihe on his wife’s behalf.

RELATED CONTENT: Nursing Home Owners Stole $83M From Medicaid and Medicare, AG Letitia James Alleges in Lawsuit

• Celebrity News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 8, 2023

Atlanta Judge To Determine If Prosecutors Can Use Young Thug’s Lyrics As Evidence In YSL Trial

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville will determine if lyrics by Young Thug can be used at YSL trial.

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The RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) trial of Atlanta hip-hop recording artist Young Thug starts following jury selection. Now, the judge assigned to the case has set a hearing scheduled for Nov. 8 to determine if the lyrics the rapper has used over the years can be used as evidence of the crimes he and his crew have been accused of.

According to Fox 5 Atlanta, prosecutors have told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville that Young Thug is the leader of the gang YSL, an acronym for Young Slime Life and that he and other members of YSL are participants of and responsible for violent crimes in Atlanta. Yet, the defense attorneys for Jeffery Lamar Williams, known as Young Thug, state that the letters of YSL stand for Young Stoner Life Records. The label is home to Young Thug and Gunna and was previously home to YoungBoy Never Broke Again (NBA YoungBoy) and Lil Baby.

The label was started in 2016, but the prosecutors allege that the street gang, which is associated with the Bloods, has been around since 2012.

Prosecutors want to submit lyrics for various songs over the years as evidence of some of the crimes Young Thug and YSL are accused of, according to the outlet. They state that the lyrics are “highly pertinent” to the state of mind of the defendants who have recorded those songs. Prosecutors admit that they have spent nine years going over the lyrics and social media posts of YSL associates, but they also say that other evidence of their alleged crimes has also been collected.

To try to further utilize the song lyrics in their presentation, they also made references to the manifestos written by Ted Kaczynski (the Unabomber) and Timothy McVeigh (responsible for the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing), according to a report by Billboard.

Yet, defense attorneys for YSL members intend on having experts testify that rap lyrics are frowned upon by most Americans due to racial bias.

“There’s a strong legal test of when a lyric can be used as evidence,” Georgia State College of Law professor Mo Ivory said.

There have been efforts to disallow prosecutors to use lyrics written by rappers to be used against them in a court of law.

Last year, Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Georgia, presented the “Restoring Artistic Protections Act,” or “RAP Act.” If passed, it would limit the use of lyrics as permissible evidence in federal court.

RELATED CONTENT: Young Thug YSL Trial Secures Jury Selection After 10 Months

• News

by Atiya Jordan

November 8, 2023

Fabian Nelson Claims Victory In Mississippi State House As First Openly Gay Legislator

On Nov. 7, Fabian Nelson took his place in the Mississippi House District 66 as the state's first openly gay lawmaker.

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In August, Fabian Nelson made history when he was elected as the first openly gay Democratic lawmaker in Mississippi. Now, he’s officially claiming victory in the State House.

On Nov. 7, the realtor from Byram, Mississippi, took his place in the House of Representatives District 66 after winning the general election, the Advocate reported. Nelson looks forward to offering a fresh voice in the state legislature.

After winning the Democratic primary election runoff on Aug. 29, a surprised Nelson told NBC News: “I still think I’m in a dream. I’m still trying to process it and take it in. It’s still shocking to me, I have to be honest.”

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A post shared by Fabian Nelson Representative Elect MS HD66 (@fabiannelson4housedistrict66)

The small business leader will now represent a district that includes part of Byram, Salem, and Terry. While in office, he plans to increase healthcare access for low-income people by pushing for Medicaid expansion, advocating for economic development, and improving the workforce by fully funding education, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported. 

“I am fortunate to have worked in the community for the past 11 years,” Nelson wrote in his 2020 endorsement. “In order to effect lasting change, first-time homebuyer education, access to affordable housing advocacy, and parity in housing ownership for low-income populations will remain a viable part of my service if elected.” 

A native of Yazoo, Mississippi, Nelson has been a proud foster parent and owner and managing broker of Mississippi United Realty for the last 15 years, according to his campaign website. He has dedicated his work to teaching homebuying, financial literacy seminars, and mentoring small businesses in South Jackson and Byram.

The Victory Fund and the Human Rights Campaign were among Nelson’s endorsers. They provided campaign, fundraising, and communications support.

LGBTQ+ Victory Fund President & CEO Annise Parker released in a statement: “At a time when bigotry in politics is on the rise, voters in Mississippi House District 66 have chosen a different path. Fabian’s victory is a testament to his dedication to his community and his tireless work earning the support of voters on the campaign trail.”

“Today, we celebrate with all the Mississippians who long for a better future that’s free of discrimination and hate. We look forward to seeing Fabian take his place in the Mississippi House of Representatives and get to work making the Magnolia State a more welcoming place for all.”

Before Nelson’s feat, Mississippi and Louisiana were the only states that had never elected an LGBTQ+ state lawmaker.

RELATED CONTENT: NFL’s First Openly Trans Cheerleader, Justine Lindsay, Talks First Season As Carolina TopCat

• HBCU

by Daniel Johnson

November 8, 2023

Steinbridge Group Sets $100 Million Commitment To Create Attainable Housing For HBCUs

Davis believes that HBCUs and his company can develop a mutually beneficial relationship because he sees that HBCUs are sitting on resources which can be used to create wealth and income for themselves.

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The Steinbridge Group is making a $100 million commitment in an effort to address long-standing funding inequities at the nation’s HBCUs to produce attainable or affordable housing.

Earlier in 2023, President Joe Biden’s administration admitted in a joint letter with Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that HBCUs had “not been able to advance in ways that are on par” with white land grant institutions in those states due “in large part due to unbalanced funding.”

According to Forbes, The Steinbridge Group looks for assets that have been underutilized or undervalued in order to flip them and create wealth. Steinbridge partners with institutions focused on a mission aligned with theirs. HBCUs generally fit this bill, and to sweeten the deal for the institutions, Steinbridge wants to create programs that will help students of those institutions reach their goals of homeownership. 

“The company’s goal is to demonstrate that private capital can be used to do tremendous good and still make a good return. While the model opens the door for Steinbridge to partner alongside an array of local groups like community hospitals, churches, or local nonprofits, HBCUs stood out as clear investment pursuits,” Tawan Davis, Steinbridge’s founder and CEO, told Forbes.

Davis believes that Black colleges are rife with opportunity to be developed.

“Many of them have land, untapped assets, workforces, and degree programs that can be financially leveraged,” he said.

Davis believes that HBCUs and his company can develop a mutually beneficial relationship because he sees that HBCUs are sitting on resources which can be used to create wealth and income for themselves. He told Forbes, “The HBCU investments will prioritize partner ownership. HBCUs are expected to keep meaningful ownership of the project and retain the flexibility to be sensitive to student and local needs.” 

He continued, “To that end, some HBCUs might employ it as an incentive to attract the best workforce. Others may desire to build affordable housing opportunities. The end vision is for colleges to keep tangible ownership of projects, collect revenue, and generate long-term value for their stakeholders.”

Nekiya Young, who studies the connection between geography and HBCUs, says that HBCUs are important to the communities they exist in.

“Because HBCUs are in the heart of diverse communities, their level of responsibility is automatically heightened solely because residents look to these cultural institutions to analyze and provide solutions for their neighborhoods’ unprioritized or neglected problems,” Young told Forbes.

Davis wants to allow those in the neighborhoods where HBCUs exist to participate in his project should they so choose.

“I’d like to figure out a way to build a bridge to transition [in neighborhoods surrounding HBCUs]. I don’t know if Steinbridge has the resources to stop gentrification, but we can build a bridge to transition by allowing the people who are in the neighborhoods to participate and stay if they’d like, and then own a home in that very same neighborhood,” Davis said.

RELATED CONTENT: Tawan Davis Partners With PNC Bank To Help Boost Homeownership In Philadephia For Working Families

• Women

by Stacy Jackson

November 8, 2023

Meet The Early 20th Century Black Female Inventor Who Created The Central Heating System

You can thank Alice Walker, a Black woman and 20th century inventor, for creating the central heating system this winter.

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The next time the temperature drops to unbearably low levels and you decide to turn the heat up on your thermostat, you can thank a Black woman named Alice H. Parker for her ingenious plan to change how we heat our homes today.

Parker was born in 1895 in Morristown, New Jersey. She was a Black inventor in the early 20th century who created a central heating system that used natural gas. According to the Michigan Chronicle, her invention made heating homes safer and quicker.

Before central heating, people relied on coal-burning stoves and open fireplaces to warm cold homes. Parker wanted to create a way for heat to disperse throughout a home while also improving the efficiency and safety of how homes were heated.

Her unique idea to use natural gas provided a more abundant and cleaner resource. The revolutionary invention helped reduce the use of coal and decreased the risks associated with older methods of generating heat in a residential space. Natural gas was a resource that was seldom used as a method to provide warmth in homes. 

Parker was one of the few Black women inventors of her time. In 1919 she received a patent for her central heating system. People no longer had to gather around stoves or fireplaces to get warm. 

Winter is almost here, which means the cold weather is quickly approaching. Parker’s invention and its impact on how people stay warm in their homes during the colder months were recognized, studied, and refined by engineers and manufacturers, which led to the central heating systems our houses use today.

• Leadership

by Stacy Jackson

November 8, 2023

Former Chicago Sun-Times CEO To Be Interim CEO For National Association Of Realtors

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The former Chicago Sun-Times CEO and a media industry leader, Nykia Wright, will serve as interim CEO for the National Association of Realtors (NAR) starting on Nov. 20.

The transition comes as the organization faces a federal class-action lawsuit for allegedly artificially inflating commissions paid to real estate agents, TheGrio reported. 

The outlet reported that on Oct. 31, a federal Kansas City, Missouri, jury ordered the NAR and some known real estate brokerages in the U.S. to pay damages of nearly $1.8 billion. A jury found that the NAR “conspired to require home sellers to pay the broker representing the buyer of their homes in violation of federal antitrust law.” Approximately 500,000 home sellers in Missouri and nearby towns are the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit that filed in 2019, TheGrio reported. 

Wright, a startup innovator, has experience with “operational turnarounds, change and transformation, and process design and improvement for private equity acquisitions” and “initiating organizational redesigns,” among other things, according to her LinkedIn profile page. 

Wright was instrumental in transforming digital operations at the Chicago Sun-Times. According to The Grio, the interim CEO said in a statement on Nov. 2, “I am honored to join the organization at this important moment when the opportunity to make a difference in the evolving real estate landscape has never been greater.” 

The Chicago-based organization’s present CEO, Bob Goldberg, will be an executive consultant to Wright while the association undergoes the change. Goldberg said, according to TheGrio, “After announcing my decision to retire earlier this year, and as I reflected on my 30 years at NAR, I determined last month that now is the right time for this extraordinary organization to look to the future.” Ahead of his planned retirement date of Dec. 31, Goldberg will hand over interim responsibility to Wright after working at the NAR for 30 years.

RELATED CONTENT: Black Female Real Estate Legal Expert Makes History, Becomes Progress Residential’s New General Council

• News

by Sharelle Burt

November 8, 2023

Daniel Cameron Concedes After Losing Race To Democrat Incumbent Kentucky Governor

Daniel Cameron's lost by a 5-point margin.

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Kentucky Republican attorney general Daniel Cameron conceded after losing his race for governor to incumbent Democratic governor Andy Beshear.

In an almost five-minute speech, with his tearful wife, Makenze, by his side, Cameron expressed how thankful he was to those who had supported him during his campaign, saying it was all about Kentucky’s future.

Thank you all so much for your willingness and commitment to this campaign and this effort,” Cameron said. “An effort that was ultimately about our kids and our grandkids.”

The controversial attorney general, who had all eyes on him during the Breonna Taylor case, asked the crowd to continue to pray for Governor Beshear as he enters his second term. “I want all of us to think about what these next few decades will look and I ask that you pray for Governor Beshear and his team,” Cameron said. “And for all of our commonwealth, because at the end of the day, win, lose or draw, what ultimately matters is that he knows that Christ is on the throne.”

According to the Courier Journal, Beshear’s win is a victory for the state for numerous reasons. During his first term, his focus on public education created initiatives and policies that increased funding for public schools, invested in early childhood education, and expanded career and technical education programs. He also focused on sustainable economic growth by securing nearly $30 billion in new private-sector investments, creating almost 50,000 full-time jobs.

Social media seemed to be on Beshear’s side and basking in Cameron’s defeat. Social justice commentator Roland Martin celebrated on social media.

“Down goes @DanielCameronAG. DOWN GOES CAMERON! The Black Republican who didn’t do a damn thing for Breonna Taylor loses to Democrat @andybeshearky @govandybeshear!”

Another user, @HannahDrake628, said Cameron’s loss was due to his handling of Breonna Taylor’s killing.

“Daniel Cameron, you decided that the back of a murdered Black woman would be your stepping stone,” she wrote. “You chose to step on the grave of #BreonnaTaylor to advance your career. You made a deal with the devil, and you lost. May the spirit of Breonna haunt you all of your days.”

Social media users aren’t the only ones who believe Cameron sold out. Presidential candidate and former governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, said that the failed candidate made a “huge mistake” associating himself with Donald Trump and accepting his endorsement, which he proudly expressed in a campaign.

“Daniel Cameron made a huge mistake by embracing Donald Trump and selling his soul to him. And that’s what he did,” Christie said on CNN, according to The Hill. “And the voters of Kentucky, a very red state, as you noted, gave their verdict on politicians who sell their soul to Donald Trump.”

RELATED CONTENT: GOP Candidate Daniel Cameron Called ‘Uncle Tom’ by Far-Left Group Black Voters Matter

• Uncategorized

by Daniel Johnson

November 8, 2023

Float Reveals Bigger Issues Across Sacramento Area Schools

A float featuring Black students dressed as prisoners sparked larger discussions.

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California teachers will now be required to complete a mandatory training program after parents and community members complained about a photo of a float depicting Black students in orange jumpsuits and black and white prison attire circulated online. Sacramento’s Bella Vista High School students told Capital Public Radio their feelings about the photo.

Dominique Edwards, a member of the school’s Black Student Union, said, “I felt a little bit stunned because you’re seeing a Black male in an orange suit, also handcuffed,” Edwards, who stood behind the float in question, continued, “Whose idea was this?” before saying, “all the cops were white students and all the robbers were students of color.” 

It took the school district about a month to investigate the incident. Once their investigation had been completed, they sent an email, which reads in part, “Appropriate actions are being taken as a result of the investigation,” the district wrote. “We are working with our Black Student Union and several community partners, engaging in additional professional learning, and we’ve asked that all of our schools districtwide ask themselves critical questions before deciding themes for future events and spirit days.”

Student leaders like Jayha Buhs-Jackson, who leads the Black Student Union at the school, say they have not been informed about the district’s investigation. Buhs-Jackson told Capital Public Radio, “I have not heard anything,”  Buhs-Jackson said. “That’s why I’m concerned that the resolutions are empty words, empty promises.” 

Buhs-Jackson also shed light on the school’s diversity problem, revealing that the school is only 2% Black, which means there aren’t many students in leadership positions that reflect herself or Edwards, who are both Black students. Furthermore, Buhs-Jackson has been taking the lead on campus, helping to draft a list of potential resolutions the group sent to the school’s principal.

Edwards, a cheerleader at the school, has noticed how she is treated at the school, telling Capital Public Radio that she feels the daggers of microaggressions. “They cannot see how [their actions] affect people of color and Black people. They tend to keep us on the side and put the white people or people that are just lighter in the center,” Edwards said. “Some people will say stuff [around me], and it’s like, ‘You realize I’m standing right here, right?’”

Other Sacramento area students say the problem is not confined to Bella Vista High School. Arianne McCullough, who attends another Sacramento area high school, C.K. McClatchy High School, said, “There have been other racist incidents in and around Sacramento,” she said. “I was more stunned that it could be so blatantly racist and also saddened for the Black boy who was inside the jail cell.” McCullough continued, giving details about a meeting members of the Zero Tolerance Youth Leadership team had. “One of the things that was brought up was this idea of race laundering,” McCullough explained. “Race laundering is the use of Black faces to peddle white supremacist ideas and causes, but because a black person is doing it, all of a sudden it’s not racist.”

Kristian Schnepp, the assistant superintendent of the San Juan Unified School District, told Capital Public Radio, “I am going to be honest with you, this was the worst-case scenario,” Schnepp said. “For us to perpetuate bias and stereotypes is the thing that I was afraid of. It is an opportunity for us to lean in and start having the conversations that needed to happen at all of our high schools.”

RELATED CONTENT: Racist Video At California High School Prompts Student Walkout, Demands

• Health and Wellness

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 8, 2023

The Caretaker’s Playbook: The Ultimate Guide To Health, Wealth, And Success While Caring For Others

You cannot do a good job caring for others unless you first take great care of you.

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1.      Purpose: Every living creature has a reason for being; it’s the “WHY” that creature exists. A person without purpose can often be led astray, living an unfulfilling life. Not only do we all have moments when we feel lost or frustrated and don’t know our purpose, but our “WHY” can also change at different times in our lives. When searching for your purpose, start with your passions, what you’re good at, and your values. Having a purpose will have a significant impact on your quality of life and your brain. Not only will your brain function better, but purpose minimizes the risks of developing issues with memory, language, and thinking associated with dementia. Having a purpose will inspire and excite you and has the added benefit of improving your brain health.

2.      Picture: Picture is all about creating a vision for your life. Stevie Wonder once said, “Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean that he lacks vision.” Your vision for your future tells you exactly “WHERE” you are going; it’s your north star. Creating a mental picture of what your future looks like rewires your brain for success. When you visualize your future, a group of cells in your brain, called the Reticular Activating System, helps you become aware of all things related to your mental picture, therefore increasing the likelihood that your vision will come to life.

3.      Play: A child’s brain is capable of a tremendous amount of learning. An adult brain is not so different from that of a child. The reason that children far outlearn adults is because children are always playing. They use their imagination, they explore, and they are constantly moving. Moving your body (aka exercise) is the biggest promoter of neuroplasticity, your brain’s ability to make new neurons and networks. Studies have shown that exercising increases your ability to learn and remember to such an extent that you are better off going for a run before a major test than trying to cram at the last minute. Studies have also shown that when someone starts to develop early signs and symptoms of dementia, exercise as simple as a 45-minute walk every day can help reverse some of those symptoms. Exercise is also the best antidepressant and antianxiety treatment there is. It will help to stabilize your mood and release some of the feel-good hormones that will bring you joy and happiness. Moving your body allows your brain to heal after injury, learn new skills more efficiently, and evolve in positive ways. Exercise at least 3-4 times per week, and your physical, mental, and neurological health will all be better for it.

4.      People: Did you know that there is a group of neurons in the brain that cause you to mimic the actions of the people you surround yourself with? They are called MIRROR NEURONS. Mirror neurons also start operating at the same frequencies as the people you spend the most time with. That means that you start thinking and acting like them. That’s why they say that if you surround yourself with five multimillionaires, you will be the sixth. The opposite is also true. If you spend time with people who are not doing much with their lives, you’re likely to become part of their tribe. Spend time with people who have created a life that you admire.

5.      Personalized Learning: In today’s information age, there are no limits to what you can learn as long as you have access to a computer or phone and the internet. You can learn how to trade the markets, create an e-commerce store, do drop shipping, and so much more. You can then leverage what you’ve learned to make money on that same device. Because of the skills they have learned, people can make a lot of money and never even leave the comfort of their homes. Learning is a lifelong process. When you stop learning, the cells in your brain start to die, and your brain shrinks. Learning keeps your brain young and healthy. It also helps you create new business opportunities and allows you to impact the lives of others positively.

You cannot do a good job caring for others unless you first take great care of yourself. If you incorporate the 5Ps into your life, not only will your life start to evolve in fantastic ways, but your clients will be better off for it.

RELATED CONTENT: 5 Educational Initiatives Parents and Caretakers Should Know About