DJ Kool Herc Overcome With Emotion As LL Cool J Inducts Him Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 7, 2023

DJ Kool Herc Overcome With Emotion As LL Cool J Inducts Him Into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

The godfather of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc, inducted by LL Cool J received the Musical Influence Award at this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

In 2021, LL Cool J was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Two years later, he joined the induction ceremony for the father of hip-hop, DJ Kool Herc.

Along with Missy Elliot, The Spinners, Chaka Khan, and Don Cornelius, the man credited with starting hip-hop culture was inducted into this year’s Class of 2023. On the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Herc was honored for his contribution to this genre. He received the Musical Influence Award.

At the ceremony, the “Mama Said Knock You Out” rapper took to the podium to introduce, acknowledge, and honor Herc to give him his just due.

“Sometimes it takes a while for the true significance of an action to become apparent. The neighborhood party that took place on August 11, 1973, in the rec room of 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx is one of those things. Cindy Campbell, a high school student at the time, she wanted to raise some money for back-to-school clothes. So she invited all her friends and charged them 25¢ for the ladies; 50¢ for boys—and most importantly, she also asked her older brother Clive, who was 18, to DJ. Now we don’t know how much money Cindy managed to make that night or what clothes she was able to buy, but we do know that she changed the course of history—music history. That party has come to be recognized as the birthplace of hip-hop. Her brother Clive, better known to the world as DJ Kool Herc, has been justly called ‘the Father of Hip-Hop,” LL Cool J said.

Herc came to the stage and started to cry, overcome with emotion. LL held him up as he stood there with his sister, whom he has always acknowledged when speaking about the start of what we’ve come to know as hip-hop. After thanking his parents and other influences in his life, Herc told the world once again, “My sister, she needs some props, too.”

Congratulations go out to DJ Kool Herc and the newest inductees of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Claims He Doesn’t Know The Construction Company At Center Of Fundraising Investigation
by Sharelle Burt

November 7, 2023

NYC Mayor Eric Adams Claims He Doesn’t Know The Construction Company At Center Of Fundraising Investigation

Adams claims he doesn't know the firm who is being accused of funneling money with the Turkish government into his 2021 mayoral campaign.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams claims he’s unaware of KSK Construction, the firm embroiled in a federal campaign finance investigation. 

Adams claims he doesn’t know KSK Construction amid an investigation for its alleged involvement in a kickback scheme tied to the mayor, Daily Mail reports. The Brooklyn-based company is accused of funneling money from the Turkish government into Adams’ 2021 mayoral campaign, which led to the FBI raiding his chief fundraiser’s home.

During a televised interview, Adams was asked directly if he had any prior involvement with the company.

“Not to my knowledge,” he said. Adams put KSK in the category of one of many groups that contributed to his campaign. 

The home of Eric Adams’ primary fundraiser, Briana Suggs, 25, in the Crown Heights neighborhood was searched by the FBI shortly after Halloween as part of the potential corruption investigation. A welfare check was requested for Suggs’ home on Nov. 1, just hours before the raid. Law enforcement seized phones, laptops, and documents as part of its investigation, and Adams said during the interview that he has been in touch with Suggs and his legal team. 

KSK is allegedly attached to potential straw donors who donated in their names to cover up the real source. Campaign finance records reveal that 11 employees of the construction company made close to identical donations of about $1,250 to Adams’ campaign on the same day in 2021, totaling almost $14,000. Records show that the company’s co-owner, Erden Arkan, made a personal $1,500 donation to Adams and held a fundraiser in May 2021 that brought in almost $70,000 toward his mayoral campaign. 

While the investigation continues, Adams has denied any wrongdoing and feels confident in Suggs, who once managed to raise $18 million for his 2021 campaign.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s not always fire,” Adams said. “She has done an amazing job.” 

According to Gothamist, KSK specializes in condo and hotel development and other projects in the Big Apple. It has more than 50 buildings constructed in the city. Founder Ulgur Aydin said that’s low in terms of real estate standards.

In an article with Construction Today in 2021, Aydin said he had high hopes for the future. 

“My hopes and goals for 2022 are to obtain more projects to build, and in the meantime, continue developing,” he said. 

KSK has close to 35 active construction jobs in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. 

Black Author Tells Her Late Mother’s Story In First-Person Narrative Book
by Kandiss Edwards

November 7, 2023

Black Author Tells Her Late Mother’s Story In First-Person Narrative Book

Nationwide — Rosalind “Bee” Harris has announced the release of The Story of Ruth in honor of her mother’s passing 15 years ago in November 2008. In the book, which was published on Mother’s Day this year, she shares the inspiring story of her mother, Ruth Juanita Smith James Boyd, using her mother’s own words in this unique first-person narrative. The book taps into the heart of the African American experience, from Jim Crow to the election of the first Black president.

Ruth Smith, her husband, and their first of six children turned away from their racially segregated Mississippi home and ventured north to Michigan, in search of a dream too often deferred for so many. She sought what every family would want to experience – real freedom.

“I wrote this book to memorialize her life,” says Harris, who learned of her mother’s sudden death on the evening of the election of Barack Obama in 2008. “Losing my mother was devastating. My heart sank with pain. It was the beginning of my soul’s search, which brings me to this point of honoring and remembering her.”

“I think about my mother every day, and I feel her spirit around me,” Harris says. “Writing this book and expressing my love for her has been soothing to my soul.”

Harris is the publisher of the award-winning Denver Urban Spectrum, a community publication that has been spreading the news about people of color since 1987 and is recognized as the documenting source for accuracy in news and information.

“The telling of this story gives voice to the insightful historical saga of a Black family at a time when many now seek to silence such voices,” says former Denver Urban Spectrum editor, contributor, and friend, James Michael Brodie, who served as editor for this project.

“Roughly half of the states in this nation have entertained measures to erase the teaching of Black history,” says Brodie. “Ruth Smith bore witness to the humanity of those she loved. If ever there was a time to tell our stories, now is that time.”

The Story of Ruth is available where all books are sold including on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

RELATED CONTENT: Mother And Daughter Share Breast Cancer Diagnosis In ‘The Death Of A Jaybird’

breastfeeding
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 7, 2023

Black Woman Founder Of Nonprofit Launches Magazine To Support Minorities Affected By Breast Cancer

asmine Dionne Souers, President and CEO of The Missing Pink Breast Cancer Alliance and a breast cancer survivor herself, is proud to announce the launch of More Life Magazine.

Originally reported by Blacknews

Nationwide — Jasmine Dionne Souers, President and CEO of The Missing Pink Breast Cancer Alliance and a breast cancer survivor herself, is proud to announce the launch of More Life Magazine. The publication features a collection of stories, resources, and innovative ideas that relate to the experiences of people of color affected by breast cancer.

The website and magazine feature personal stories to address cultural access barriers, connect people to more than 300 existing resources and support services, and promote policies and practices demonstrating success in eliminating barriers and disparities.

With the support of Genentech and Built to Rock Events, The Missing Pink partnered with 12 dynamic breast cancer organizations to showcase the impact of their respective services in the lives of people of color, reflecting back the possibility of hope, help, and healing for patients and amplifying insights behind barrier-breaking efforts.

“The disparities facing minorities affected by breast cancer are so great, they’re not something one organization is going to solve alone,” said Jasmine. “More Life Magazine brings together hundreds of resources in one place, it exists in various formats, and makes it easier for patients and the people who care for them like caregivers, social workers, providers, etc. to find help that may or may not exist in their backyard.”

The inaugural issue of More Life Magazine predominantly features experiences that relate to Black and Latino people affected by breast cancer and unlike many minority breast cancer efforts, it includes the experiences of and resources for men and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

“I remember how isolating it was to navigate breast cancer as a 26-year-old Black woman in 2016,” said Jasmine. “In our first issue, I wanted to make sure we held space for as many

unique perspectives from our diverse communities as possible because where there is light, there is hope. Everyone deserves to see a reflection of themselves in the face of people who are surviving and thriving after breast cancer and know what help is available to them.”

More Life Magazine tackles various subjects, including experiences with clinical trials, parenting with cancer, fertility preservation, the impact of delayed diagnoses on families and more. As the cover story, Jasmine’s personal journey as a young survivor, advocate and co-survivor to her grandmother living with metastatic breast cancer lays the foundation for the vulnerable, authentic, and informational storytelling found throughout the publication.

“Speaking from experience, I know the challenges people are facing to overcome this disease are very real and I don’t think we should shy away from that, but the work happening to help people overcome many of these challenges is just as real,” said Jasmine. “I want to make help and hope more tangible for people who feel like it’s out of reach for them or the community they serve.”

More Life Magazine is available online, in print, and in PDF. Additional stories and resources will be added to the site. Promo items for offices and outreach events are also available online.

To learn more, visit TheMoreLifeMag.com

RELATED CONTENT: These Organizations Help Before, During, And After Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Hellen Obiri m Tamirat Tola, New York Marathon
by Jameelah Mullen

November 7, 2023

Tamirat Tola and Hellen Obiri Earn Historic Wins at The New York  Marathon

Kenya and Ethiopia breed winners!

On Nov. 5, Ethiopian Tamirat Tola won the men’s race, and Kenyan Hellen Obiri was the top contender in the women’s race at the New York Marathon.

Tola finished the men’s race in 2:04:58, beating the 2:05.06 record set by Geoffrey Mutai in 2011. 

The 32-year-old athlete also won the marathon in the  2022 World Championships. Due to illness, Tola was forced to drop out of the 2023 race on August 27. The Olympic Bronze medalist ran alongside his countrymate, Jemel Yimer, for most of the race. The duo ran together until about mile 20 when Tola broke away from Yimer. He got a sizable lead on other opponents, allowing him to run the final mile of the race alone.

Tola expressed his appreciation for fans who cheered him on along the way.

“The people of New York [are] amazing to give me moral support every kilometer,” the runner told ABC New York.

Coming in second place was Albert Korior of Kenya. The 29-year-old athlete finished at 2:06:57. Less than a second later was Ethiopian Shura Kitata, coming in the third.

32-year-old Hellen Obiri of Kenya won the women’s race, finishing at 2:27:33, making her the first woman to win the Boston and New York City Marathons in the same year since 1989.

Coming in second place was Letesenbet Gidney of Ethiopia, followed by Kenyan runners Sharon Lokedi and Brigid Kosgel. The four women ran close together, each taking the lead at different points in the race. Obiri charged to the front in the final seconds of the race, beating Gidney by a mere six seconds. 

“My first debut here was terrible for me,” said Obiri, who finished sixth last year. “Sometimes you learn from your mistakes. … Finally, I made it,” she told ESPN Sports.

Kenya has yet to announce its three-woman team for the 2024 Olympics. Still, they must omit at least one of their top contenders, Obiri, Lokedi, Kosgei and Tokyo Olympic marathon winner, Peres Jepchirchir. 

Jepchirchir won the New York Marathon in 2021 and the Boston Marathon in 2022, but the 30-year-old withdrew from New York City this year due to an injury.

Chef Lacey Williams
by Kandiss Edwards

November 7, 2023

Chef Lacey Williams Brings Elevated Jamaican Cuisine To Martha’s Vineyard

NyamnzMV's founder is bringing culinary delights to Martha's Vineyard.

Lacey Williams, founder of NyamnzMV, is an up-and-coming chef in Martha’s Vineyard. 

Chef Lacey provides a rich dining experience for one community and builds and shares resources with the other.

A self-proclaimed food connoisseur, the talented culinary creator stated that the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown allowed her to indulge in that love. Sitting at home binge-watching her favorite cooking shows, the vicenarian thought about becoming a food critic but pondered if she had the chops because she was relatively unknown. “How do I let people know that my opinion about food is valuable if they haven’t tasted my food?”

That question and the pandemic were the seeds the Jamaican-born chef needed to jump-start her dream. She spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about how she began as a one-woman operation and has steadily scaled up with the help of her community over the years. 

During the shutdown in 2020, the culinary artist shared that the need for delivery options sparked the idea of a personal chef experience. The hospital, staffed with over 200 people, no longer had access to a cafeteria during the pandemic.

“I wanted to be able to offer hope, a little bit of delicious joy that looks beautiful. I want you to feel like you are in a restaurant when you open that takeout box.” 

                       Courtesy Of Nyamnz MV/ Chef Lacey Williams

Starting with individual deliveries, Chef Lacey noticed the excitement for her dishes and soon expanded to catering private events. Her intimate dining experiences – complete with serving staff – kept her booked during the Martha’s Vineyard busy season. When asked how she initially made the leap with little capital and big dreams, she boasted that there is another side of the island that many don’t see.

Though wealth, luxury and affluence are abundant, the insular nature of the island breeds community among those who do not live in the lap of luxury. It is within this community that Chef Lacey finds helping hands and support for her venture. The median cost of an owner-occupied home on the island is $857,900, according to Census Reporter. The median income in Martha’s Vineyard is $77,451. This large gap in income and ownership highlights the tale of two vineyards. 

“We are a really tight-knit community. There are Facebook pages for everything.” 

It was a Facebook post that the chef attributed to the elevation of her business. 

“There was a Facebook post on a private page that said, ‘I just had the greatest meal from the most amazing chef. She had the most amazing story about her culture and boom. It got 200 comments. People were on my website waiting to schedule.” 

Courtesy Of Nyamnz MV/ Chef Lacey Williams

The proud Jamaican also imparts her patria’s rich history of cooking techniques and ingredients to give her customers an experience that will leave them enriched and satisfied on all levels. The name Nyamnz is rooted in Jamaican culture. She radiated joy speaking about the roots of Jerked meat in its original iteration.

Nyamnz is Jamaican Patois “meaning to eat,” Nyamnz is that gathering bringing everybody together to eat.”

Martha’s Vineyard busiest time, according to Chef Lacey, is during July to October. While she stays booked and busy during that time, the 20-something chef’s goal is to level up her brand and business even more. Chef Lacey revealed she would like to craft a private traveling dining experience.

Offering private dining, cooking classes, or paint-n-sips, she’ll be bringing her delicious food and culture to a city near you.

RELATED CONTENT: Here’s 5 Things You Should Know About ‘Top Chef’ Alum Kwame Onwuachi

Pinky Cole, Pepsi
by Lauren Nutall

November 6, 2023

Restaurant Mogul Pinky Cole Joins Baltimore Peninsula For $5 Billion Development Project

Pinky Cole, the restaurant mogul behind Slutty Vegan, is joining the Baltimore Peninsula development team as part of the city’s ongoing mission to revitalize the area.

Per a news release shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE, the entrepreneur detailed her upcoming plans. 

Cole signed on as a development partner in Rye Street Market for Q4 2024. She has tapped Principal and CEO of Sagamore Ventures Kevin Plank to help her breathe life back into Charm City’s dining scene. Though Slutty Vegan was established in Atlanta and now has multiple locations across the country, Cole was born and raised in Baltimore.

“My story began here in Baltimore, the streets of East Baltimore to be exact. This is my homecoming, and I could not be more excited to collaborate with Kevin Plank,” Cole said. “Kevin is a local entrepreneur whom I admire personally and professionally, and by partnering with him on Baltimore Peninsula, I get to show the world how coming from humble beginnings can lead to million-dollar dreams turned into reality. This collaboration, brought to life by the incredible KD McNair from my management team, marks a new chapter in my journey as an entrepreneur. I am looking forward to finally establishing my brands of Slutty Vegan and Bar Vegan in the city that raised me!”

Baltimore
From left: Kevin Plank, Aisha “Pinky” Cole, Nick J. Mosby, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, and Clarence “KD” McNair. (Photo: Matt Ryb)

Plank expressed his own excitement for the upcoming venture.

“Baltimore is my home, and Pinky shares my love for this city. For decades, I have invested in this City’s future, first by locating Under Armour’s global headquarters here, then with Baltimore Peninsula and now we’re bringing globally recognized influencers and entrepreneurs to help us share our story.”

He continued, “Pinky is an incredibly successful restaurateur and philanthropist, and it’s an honor to welcome her back to her hometown. Her innovative concepts have taken over the nation, and I can’t wait to see them thrive right here at the Baltimore Peninsula.”

This task, which will bring Cole’s Slutty Vegan restaurant and its sister business, Bar Vegan, to the waterfront destination, is expected to generate over 100 new jobs in the Baltimore region in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, and produce an economic boom for the real estate developer.

Pinky Cole
Source: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Aisha “Pinky” Cole (photo credit: Matt Ryb)

MAG Partners and MacFarlane Partners lead Baltimore’s 235-acre redevelopment project. The space currently holds an outdoor sports venue in partnership with Volo Sports and a ROOST Apartment Hotel. Still, there are further plans to build office, retail, and residential space. For more information on the Baltimore Peninsula and what visitors can expect in 2024, visit baltimorepeninsula.com.

vegan friendly cosmetic line, POJE Cosmetics, POJE
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

November 6, 2023

Black Mom of 3, Makeup Artist For 30 Years, Launches Vegan-Friendly Cosmetics Brand

She says the idea was born from the experiences of women of color, evolving forward to usher in a new generation of beauty.

This news was first reported by blackbusiness.com.

Lady Joi, a radio personality, television host, and mother of three children from North Charleston, South Carolina, is also the founder and CEO of POJE Cosmetics, a Black-owned, vegan-friendly cosmetics line. She says the idea, born from the experiences of women of color, is evolving forward to usher in a new generation of beauty.

Lady Joi has never shied away from her love of cosmetics, as she is a former makeup artist. Being on stage and under bright lights for over 30 years, she has seen her fair share of not-so-great makeup and makeup tools. So she started POJE (pronounced Po-Jay) Cosmetics to push the prestige cosmetic industry far beyond its current reach.

Understanding the discomfort of not being able to find cosmetics that would give a flawless look for women of color on- and offstage, Lady Joi decided to reimagine cosmetics for women of color. Nodding to the history-making brands of the past, her goal is to help women of color of all ages renew their excitement in high-end makeup again.

Offering a vibrant collection of upscale cosmetics, accessories, and brushes, POJE gives women the tools and shades they need to achieve subtle and bold looks alike. Initially starting the North Charleston-based company with an innovative line of makeup brushes, Lady Joi has expanded POJE’s offerings according to the vision she established nearly 13 years ago.

What makes her brand especially unique is its commitment to unparalleled quality, in addition to earning certifications and memberships including Woman Minority Owned Certification, Amazon Black Business Accelerator Certified, Sunoco Cohort Certified, MBE Certified, and the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Having such certifications will further enhance the brand’s support of major global concerns (e.g., sustainability) as well as being a vegan-friendly, paraben-free, and BUNNY APPROVED brand. POJE Cosmetics is dedicated to using top-tier ingredients and materials. Serving as an elite cosmetics brand for women of color, the company is the first to launch in decades. Lady Joi’s vision is: “Let us help you show the world your color!”

For more details and/or to support the brand, visit its official website at POJECosmetics.com

Also, be sure to follow her brand on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

mental health
by Jameelah Mullen

November 6, 2023

Milwaukee Man Creates Safe Space For Brothers To Discuss Mental Health

Talk Trauma was developed to help Black men better cope with mental health issues.

Founded by Artemus Johnson, Talk Trauma is a monthly group that invites Black men to come and discuss anything that’s on their minds. 

Johnson came up with the idea for Talk Trauma three years ago, when he started hosting discussions on Facebook Live.

The Milwaukee man said that he noticed he and his contemporaries were grappling with the same issues.  

“A lot of us were struggling with the same thing, and nobody said anything about it,” Johnson said. 

“I call it the safe spot for Black men, because helping them out is definitely helping the community I live in,” Johnson told Spectrum News. 

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reports that suicide is the third leading cause of death among Black men aged 15 to 24.  

“People don’t talk about how often Black men take their own lives,” Johnson said. “We don’t talk about those numbers.”

The Talk Trauma founder admits to having his own bout with depression. 

“One of the most real thoughts I ever had in my life was standing at that cliff, saying to myself, regardless of what was going on, that everybody would be OK if I’m not here,” he recalled.

NAMI also reported that Black men are less likely to seek mental health treatment, and when they do seek help, they are less likely to receive suitable care.

Lack of representation in the mental health community affects Black people tremendously. In 2020, the American Psychological Association reported that only 4% of mental health professionals were Black.  

The lack of diversity may make it more difficult for people of color, especially men, to find therapists who can understand the specific cultural nuances needed to provide adequate care.   

“Men don’t deal with their emotions. Men don’t actually talk about how they feel,” Johnson said.

“There’s an entire generation of men who raised men just like that.”

Talk Trauma is Johnson’s way of bridging the gap by providing a safe space for Black men to support one another. 

If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance, click here for a list of resources. You can find additional resources here.

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Leroy Stover, Birmingham Police, Alabama,
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

November 6, 2023

Birmingham’s First Black Police Officer, Leroy Stover, Dies At 90

Leroy Stover was a staple in the Birmingham Police Department for over 30 years.

The police department in Birmingham, Alabama, is honoring a fallen member of its force. Leroy Stover, the city’s first Black police officer, died on Nov. 2 at the age of 90. His passing was announced via X post by the Birmingham police.

Stover was a pioneer in law enforcement, joining the force in 1966 as a 33-year-old man during the Civil Rights Movement.

“Today, our hearts are heavy as we [mourn] the loss of former Deputy Chief [Leroy] Stover,” shared the department in multiple posts. “As the first black officer to integrate the Birmingham force, his legacy and work at the Birmingham Police Department paved a way for others to follow in his footsteps. We offer our full condolences to the family and know that he would forever be in our hearts and[ minds].”

Stover was a native of Selma, Alabama, who graduated at the top of his high school class in 1952 and joined the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. Upon becoming a member of the Birmingham Police Department, Stover initially faced discrimination and isolation from his new co-workers but continued on his career journey and rose in rank. During his 32 years of service, the pioneer’s hard work led to his promotion to deputy chief in 1992 before his retirement six years later.

The second Black police officer in Birmingham, Johnnie Johnson, joined a day after him. Johnson eventually became the first Black police chief in the department’s history, appointing Stover to his highest role in the force. Stover’s long-lasting legacy of service and dedication to his community led his niece to publish a book on his life titled, Leroy Stover, Birmingham, Alabama’s First Black Policeman: An Inspirational Story.

Stover leaves an impact that commemorates his work in law enforcement, including the naming of the renovated West Precinct in his honor in March 2015. The Birmingham Police department further celebrated his legacy in 2021 by restating his message that embodied his spirit: “You live right, treat people right, right will follow you.”

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