by Jameelah Mullen

November 15, 2024

The Spark Fund Donates $200,000 To Support Mental Health For Black Men In Atlanta

'By supporting mental health, we can help break the stigma around seeking help and promote emotional well-being within our community.'

The Spark Fund, a collaboration between the Global Fund for Children and The Imperative, launched a youth-led initiative to donate $200,000 in grants to support Atlanta-based organizations focusing on Black male mental health.

The initiative comprises a panel of Black men ages 18-30 who received educational tools to guide them through grant writing and equity training. The men then researched and selected five organizations to each receive a $40,000 grant.

The recipients: Black Male Initiative Georgia, Close Ties Leadership Program, Silence the Shame, and The Counseling Brothers of Atlanta.

“As a 21-year-old Black man, I feel it is important to support the mental health of young Black men and boys because they face unique challenges related to systemic racism and societal expectations,” said Kenneth Jones, a Spark Fund participant. “By supporting mental health, we can help break the stigma around seeking help and promote emotional well-being within our community.”

Dr. Avery Rosser, president and CEO of The Counseling Brothers of Atlanta, expressed gratitude for receiving the grant.

“These funds will allow us to provide reduced and free counseling services to Black boys and men in Atlanta, ensuring they have access to the support they deserve,” Rosser said in a press release. “Additionally, we will be able to offer specialized training for mental health professionals, helping them to better understand and address the unique experiences of Black men in counseling.”

According to a study conducted by Forbes, Georgia ranks 49 out of 50 when it comes to access to care. Other barriers to mental health care for Black men include inadequate insurance and a lack of mental health care providers. According to a study conducted by the American Psychiatric Association, Black men represent only 4 percent of mental health professionals, which may contribute to a lack of culturally competent mental health professionals for Black men.

by Jameelah Mullen

November 15, 2024

Palm Springs’ Displaced Black And Latino Families Tentatively Settle For $5.9M

In 2021, the city formally apologized to former section 14 residents.

In the 1960s, The city of Palm Springs forced several Black and Latino families out of a neighborhood known as Section 14. The town and former residents agreed to a tentative settlement agreement of $5.9 million to compensate former residents and their descendants for the financial and emotional trauma they endured.

The neighborhood sat on a square-mile Native American reservation where more than 2,000 Black and Mexican American families once lived. 86-year-old Margarita Genera once lived in the neighborhood with her parents and two siblings before they were displaced.

“We have been fighting for a long time to tell our story,” Genera said to The New York Times.

Palm Springs Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein issued a statement acknowledging the city’s role in displacing former residences of section 14.

“The City Council is deeply gratified that the former residents of Section 14 have agreed to accept what we believe is a fair and just settlement offer,” Bernstein said.

The council will vote to allocate $10 million toward a first-time homebuyer assistance program. The committee will also propose an additional $10 million for a community land trust and a monument to commemorate the neighborhood’s history. If approved, $1 million will go towards supporting small businesses in the community.

Pearl Devers, president of the Palm Springs Section 14 Survivors, lived in the neighborhood with her family until she was 12; her father helped to establish the city’s first NAACP chapter. The community activist recalls her family leaving their home abruptly. In a statement reported by The Associated Press, Devers said that the settlement will not erase the hardships they endured, but it does help to bring closure to the families. “While no amount of money can fully restore what we lost, this agreement helps pave the way for us all to finally move forward,” she said.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2024

Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation Launches HBCU Champions For Financial Legacy Program

Jay-Z is launching a financial literacy program designed to support HBCU students and their surrounding communities.

Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation has introduced a financial literacy program designed to empower students at HBCUs along with members of their surrounding communities.

On Wednesday, The Shawn Carter Foundation announced the launch of its Champions for Financial Legacy program in partnership with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. The financial education initiative aims to boost students’ financial literacy and equip them with the skills to build wealth within their communities, HuffPost reported.

It will launch in the spring at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, Norfolk State University and Virginia State University, before expanding to additional HBCUs in the future. The rapper, real name Shawn Carter, launched his foundation with his mother in 2003, who expressed her pride in launching the financial literacy program.

“Every day at the Shawn Carter Foundation, we dedicate ourselves to uplifting students and communities that are underserved,” Gloria Carter said in a statement.

“To launch a financial education program that will reach more students and communities, along with dedicated partners like Toyota and the Wharton School of Business, is a vision we are finally seeing come to fruition.”

She added, “We are so excited to see the incredible impact of CFFL unfold and look forward to its growth.”

Other partners in the Champions for Financial Legacy program include the Coalition for Equity and Opportunity and Toyota Motor North America. It’s a continuation of the more than $20 million The Shawn Carter Foundation has donated to community and scholarship programs dedicated to servicing at-risk youth.

The initiative’s Pennsylvania roots align with another project announced by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation earlier this year — an educational campaign in Philadelphia aimed at helping underprivileged students access private schooling. The Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) is a proposed legislative initiative aimed at providing $300 million in scholarships for K-12 students from low-income families.

These scholarships would support students attending the state’s lowest-performing public schools. While the campaign faced some criticism, Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez emphasized the positive intentions behind the effort.

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

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 14, 2024

Ex-Cons For Trump Leader Criticizes Chicago Mayor On Protecting Immigrants Over ‘Struggling’ Black Communities

Lots of back and forth here....

Former Chicago gangster-turned-activist and CEO of “Ex-cons for Community and Social Change,” Tyrone Muhammad, thinks Mayor Brandon Johnson is using Black people as a pawn after expressing concerns about President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation plan, Fox News reported.

During a press conference on Nov. 12, Johnson alluded to Trump’s plan being geared toward more than just the Hispanic community but Black families. “His threat is not just towards new arrivals and undocumented families. His threats are also against Black families…we’re going to protect undocumented individuals,” Mayor Johnson said.

“We’re going to protect Black folks, Brown folks, Asian folks. The city of Chicago will be better, stronger, and safer despite who’s in the White House.”

Muhammad caught wind of the comments and said Johnson is “using Black people and Black families as a scapegoat or a tool for his dirty practices and immigration” and that the deportation is happening because that’s what the American people want. “The American people have spoken,” he said. “Black people have spoken, all across Chicago and all across America … and given President Donald Trump a mandate to remove illegals out of our communities because we didn’t ask for them. … Our community should be given the resources first.”

The nonprofit founder, who ran an independent Senate campaign to unseat Illinois Democratic legislator, Dick Durbin, continued to slam Johnson for allegedly providing resources to illegal immigrants and not the citizens and communities that have been “suffering for decades” in the Windy City. “If he really cared about Black families, the day the mayor thought about giving resources to non-citizens, illegals before he gave it to Black communities that have been suffering for decades, then he would be more true to his word about Black families, Muhammad said.

“That’s a scapegoat using black people and Black families as a tool for his dirty practices and immigration.”

Chicago Voices: Residents Demand Resources Over Migrants @LawrenceBJones3 https://t.co/zHPSJlREXZ #ImmigrationDebate #Chicago #PublicFunding #Activism pic.twitter.com/5xieWFRONt
— exconsfortrump (@exconfortrump) November 13, 2024

Muhammad has been vocal about his thoughts surrounding immigration in Chicago. As the former gang member who spent 20 years behind bars, he mentioned Venezuelan criminal gangs taking over buildings as being the “last straw” for the Black community. “When the black gangs here get fed up with the illegalities and criminal activities of these migrants or non-citizens, the city of Chicago is going to go up in flames, and there will be nothing the National Guard or the government can do about it when the bloodshed hits the streets,” he said, according to Voz.

“It’ll be blacks against migrants. It is impossible to release gang members and criminals into our country through the borders and broken walls and infiltrate them in our community that’s already impoverished and broken.”

He is in support of Trump’s recent cabinet appointee of border czar and former acting ICE director, Tom Homan. To heighten support, Muhammad says he is willing to be on the grounds with Homan to “remove these illegals and these migrants” and identify where they should go as “they have greatly diminished our way of life here in Chicago.”

Johnson, however, has announced his defiance of Trump’s plan, stating that the city will shield all immigrants from federal agents.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 14, 2024

Quincy Jones’ Cancer-Related Cause Of Death Revealed

Autopsy results reveal Quincy Jones' private battle with pancreatic cancer.

Autopsy reports reveal that Quincy Jones had been privately battling pancreatic cancer, which he ultimately succumbed to at the time of his passing.

The death certificate released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health lists pancreatic cancer as the official cause of death for the music icon, TMZ reports. The report confirms there were no other factors contributing to his passing. The news arrives one week after Jones passed away on Nov. 3 at age 91, peacefully surrounded by family at his home in Bel-Air, California.

At the time, no cause of death was shared, and it appears his battle with cancer was not publicly known. Jones was laid to rest in a private ceremony in Los Angeles this week, with attendance solely by his seven children, brother, two sisters, and other close family members. A bigger ceremony is being planned for a later date.

“Although this is an incredible loss for our family,” his family shared in a statement. “We celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

The statement continued. “He is truly one of a kind, and we will miss him dearly. We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”

Over his seven-decade career as a producer, composer, and arranger, Jones shattered racial barriers in the music industry. His influence stretched from the bubblegum pop era of the 1960s to iconic film scores for cult classics like The Wiz and The Color Purple. Jones earned numerous accolades for his collaborations with some of the world’s greatest artists, including Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and — most famously — Michael Jackson.

Jones is survived by his brother, two sisters, and seven children, including actresses Kidada Jones and Rashida Jones, who paid tribute to her dad following his death in a heartwarming Instagram post.

“He was a giant. An icon. A culture shifter. A genius,” Rashida wrote. “All accurate descriptions of my father but his music (and ALL of his work) was a channel for his love. He WAS love.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rashida Jones (@rashidajones)

She continued. “He made everyone he ever met feel loved and seen. That’s his legacy. I was fortunate enough to experience this love in close proximity. I’ll miss his hugs and kisses and unconditional devotion and advice. Daddy, it is an honor to be your daughter. Your love lives forever.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 14, 2024

Detroit Rapper Big Sean Connects With Chips Ahoy! For Capsule Collection

'My new merch collaboration with Chips Ahoy! at ComplexCon is about bringing big flavor and bold style together,' Big Sean says.

Hip-hop recording artist Big Sean has connected with America’s No. 1 chocolate chip cookie brand to collaborate on an exclusive capsule collection that will be featured at the upcoming ComplexCon.

Chips Ahoy! has announced that it hooked up with the Detroit rapper to introduce a cookie-inspired merch collection that will be revealed at ComplexCon. The cookie brand is also celebrating the Chips Ahoy! Big Chewy Cookie, which comes in three flavors.

“My new merch collaboration with Chips Ahoy! at ComplexCon is about bringing big flavor and bold style together. Debuting the collection for a brand I’ve loved for years at an event where culture and creativity collide, is particularly special. See ya’ll in Vegas!” Big Sean said in a written statement.

The collection will showcase pieces that were co-designed by Big Sean. Those items include a Don Life T-shirt emblazoned with the Big Chewy Cookie, which is the latest item the brand is promoting. A premium heavyweight sweatshirt in a chocolate brown color, which has a large cookie design that shows off what a Chips Ahoy! cookie should look like. There is also a new oversized tote bag that has a perfectly sized slit to place the Big Chewy Cookie in or its new nostalgic lunchbox tin.

The capsule collection will debut in Las Vegas during ComplexCon on Nov. 16.

“When thinking about bringing together BIG names for our Big Chewy Cookie launch, we knew Complex and Big Sean would be the best partners to help us make a splash in fashion and culture while underscoring our passion for mouth-watering innovation,” said Jen Levin, senior brand manager at Chips Ahoy! “At over three times the size of the Chips Ahoy! Regular Chewy Cookie, this shareable, on-the-go choice brings happiness with each big, delicious bite. Chips Ahoy! Big Chewy Cookie is made with Gen Z Chips Ahoy! fans in mind –- so, collaborating with Big Sean at ComplexCon is the perfect way to share the product and exclusive merch collection with them.”

Those who are unable to make it to Vegas for the event can get a chance to win some Big Chewy Cookie cookies, which come in three flavors: Chocolatey Chip, Chocolatey Brownie, and Chocolatey Caramel. From now until Nov. 27, people can go to stories.complex.com/chipsahoysweeps.

The Chips Ahoy! Big Chewy Cookie is also available in convenience stores across the country and will be found in grocery and bigger stores in 2025.

by Kandiss Edwards

November 14, 2024

New Study Reveals The Most Affordable Cities With Affordable Rent

These cities minimum wage is higher than average and still barely affordable.

Oct. 21, Clever, a real estate company, published a study on the most affordable cities to live in for minimum wage workers. The federal minimum wage is set at $7.25 but varies depending on the state. The study considers state minimum wage and basic rental costs when determining which cities are the best.

“Clever evaluated the 50 largest housing markets in the United States, looking at typical rent prices for units of various sizes and how they relate to the area’s minimum wage.”

Earning federal minimum wage means that a full-time employee will live below the poverty line. Pre-tax, the worker would make $1,190 monthly. Many of the locations listed are barely above the poverty line, the highest being Denver, Colorado at $18.29. Even as the top city for pay, Denver is no. 9 on the list. Buffalo, New York, holds the top spot with a $15.00 minimum wage and a lower average rent ratio.

According to the study, residents of Buffalo still struggle to afford their dwelling according to statistical data..

“Minimum-wage workers in Buffalo can expect to pay 39% of their income for a typical one-bedroom unit. That’s the lowest rent-to-income ratio of any major city in the country but still higher than the common affordability threshold of 30%.”

The reality of today is that the housing and rental market is volatile. Many people are struggling under the weight of low pay, rising rent, hidden fees, and rising inflation. Moving to a city with a better wage-to-rent ratio may work to relieve financial stress on individuals and families. With the spirit of optimism in mind, BLACK ENTERPRISE is going to run down a few of the most affordable places to live.

Buffalo, NY

Snuggled in the northeast corner of the U.S., Buffalo is a hop, skip, and jump away from Canada. The $15 minimum wage is double the federal wage. Residents can be sure to experience beautiful winters. The city is only 6 hours away from New York City.

https://twitter.com/i_love_ny/status/1856004175760703834?s=46

St. Louis, Missouri

Home of the Gateway Arch, St. Louis is a city of man-made marvels. The city boasts a $12.30 minimum wage, and the average rental costs $984 monthly. The city has its own distinct, midwestern culture and thoroughly embraces its professional baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

https://twitter.com/chickenjoestl/status/1854320162369110258?s=46

Cincinnati, Ohio

Ohio is home to one of the greatest basketball players alive, LeBron James. Cincinnati cannot claim the honor of being the legend’s hometown. But the city tied with Cleveland and Kansas City, placing 6th on the affordable cities list.

Cincinnati, Ohio
Hamilton County
Population: 1,662,691
Photos from Google Places API
Link: https://t.co/uSYrJfHsea pic.twitter.com/gyvcaWjwvI
— New town every hour (@TownsUsa) December 19, 2023

Denver, Colorado

Living near the mountains is not for everyone. Those with an affinity for extreme climates would fare well in a city that fluctuates from hot and dry summers to cold and snowy winters. With the highest minimum wage at $18.29, the mountains just might be bearable.

With its unique blend of city life and outdoor activities, diverse culture, and friendly atmosphere, Denver is a fantastic destination for travelers of all interests. Don’t miss the chance to explore one of Colorado’s most dynamic city! pic.twitter.com/UgYhOJoxHS
— Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) November 12, 2024

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, better known as the Motor City and home of Motown Records, is steeped in culture. The city is ranked no. 10 on the list as 61% of a resident’s minimum wage income is needed to cover an average rent of $1,060. Still, if the cost of living in other areas is controlled, the other 39% may grant a decent quality of life.

Will just add before we leave incredible & unpretentious Detroit –

Michigan is a workers state. People from all over the world came here to work & work hard.

The future is uncertain – the state was very split. Everyone now dusting off and gearing up for the next four years. pic.twitter.com/EEzrT7AJjs
— Yousra Elbagir (@YousraElbagir) November 7, 2024

Black Women’s Voices Are Needed For New Cancer Study

by Kandiss Edwards

November 14, 2024

Black Women’s Voices Are Needed For New Cancer Study

The American Cancer Society launched “Voices Of Black Women.” The program is designed to research the deadly disease, its causes, factors and its disproportionate effects on Black women.

According to the American Cancer Society, the study is online and will not require in-person visits with a clinician. The goal is to get data from one-hundred thousand Black women via survey. The survey will include questions about past history, medical and personal. It will also delve into personal health habits.

“The initial survey takes about one hour, with shorter follow-ups twice a year. These surveys contribute to our study of uncovering  day-to-day experiences affecting cancer risk.”

Black women have a “lower cancer incidence rate for Black women compared to White women.” Yet, Black women mortality rate is 12% higher than that of white women.

As such it is vital to gain all data points possible to help women, specifically, Black women avoid and overcome cancer. The study is hoping to enroll 100,000 women, which would make it the organization’s largest study, focused on Black women and cancer, to date.

Some Black women may be skeptical to volunteer for medical research. The medical field has an unethical and brutal history when it comes to Black women and bodily autonomy. The team of researchers for the “Voices of Black Women” acknowledges and addresses these concerns:

The VOICES team recognizes that there is a history of Black women’s bodies being exploited to advance medical knowledge, yet Black women have received the fewest benefits compared to their male and White counterparts. Given this legacy of injustice, you may hesitate to become involved in this study. It is important that we hear and address your concerns about research, treat you with respect, and demonstrate cultural humility. In fact, the goals of VOICES of Black Women reflect this. Through a commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (or DEI), the American Cancer Society aims to form fruitful partnerships with and amplify the voices of Black communities across the country.

While the acknowledgement gives hope that Black women will not be exploited the fact remains, that has not always been the case. In June 2024, BLACK ENTERPRISE reported on the family of Henrietta Lacks’ family fight for justice. The decendants of Lacks are suing pharmaceutical company Ultragenyx for the use of Lacks’s “HeLa” cells to research and develop modern medicine. Lacks was subject to harsh and inhumane probing on her body. The theft of her biological property proved both useful and profitable for the medical community over the course of decades.

The Lacks family scored a victory, earlier this year, when a federal judge denied Ultragenyx’s motion to dismiss their lawsuit.

The “Voice of Black Women” Study is designed to be minimally invasive and hopefully the information gathered will help future generations. If you are interested in joining the study you can visit the Voices of Black Women’s official site.

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by Jameelah Mullen

November 14, 2024

Grocery Prices Continue To Rise, With Some States Affected More Than Others

Despite dips in inflation costs, grocery prices continue to rise.

Since 2020, grocery prices in the United States have increased by 20%, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. American households spent approximately $270.21 a week on groceries in 2023, according to the most recent data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Hawaii and Alaska ranked amongst the highest, with average weekly costs of $334 and $329, respectively. Both states receive significant food from the mainland, so shipping costs increase prices.

Californians pay an average of $298 per week for groceries — the third highest in the nation. The overall cost of living in the Sunshine State is 38.5% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive states to live in, according to Debtwave.

On average, residents of Mississippi pay $291 weekly for food, the fifth highest in the United States, Visual Capitalist reports. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mississippi has a poverty rate of 18%, making it the second most impoverished state in the nation. Similarly, New Mexico ranks as one of the poorest states in the country, while food costs rank amongst the highest.

Midwestern states such as Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin have some of the lowest food costs in the nation, where the average weekly grocery bill ranks from $231 to $235. These states are amongst the top producers of agriculture in the country, which contributes to lower food prices.

In August of 2024, the Federal Trade Commission Chair, Lina Khan, announced that the agency plans to investigate grocery prices, which have consistently increased since the COVID-19 Pandemic.

“We want to make sure that major businesses are not exploiting their power to inflate prices for American families at the grocery store,” Khan said in a press release. Additionally, this upsurge in grocery prices may have an even more significant impact on Black Americans. While the United States has an overall poverty rate of 11%, the poverty for African Americans is nearly 18%, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. In a study conducted by the National Institute of Health, researchers found that African Americans are more likely to face food insecurity, compared to the national average.

by Sharelle B. McNair

November 14, 2024

Plans To Build School In Haiti Stalled Following Flight Ban

'We cannot explain the feeling, what's going on right now.'

Plans for a school built in Haiti by nonprofit Angels for Humanity have been paused due to a travel ban there after a Spirit Airlines was shot on Nov. 11, NBC News reports.

Angels for Humanity donates supplies and basic needs to children in the country, which is riddled with political turmoil and gang violence.

Founder and CEO Judith Joseph says the organization’s hands “are tied” as the travel ban denies her and team entry into the country for the school’s groundbreaking, scheduled for December 2025 in Cap-Haitien, or delivery of pallets of medical supplies.

“We cannot explain the feeling, what’s going on right now,” Joseph said. “For me, it’s very emotional.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned flights for at least 30 days to and from Haiti after the aircraft was the target of violence while flying into Port-au-Prince. The shooting prompted the flight to return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

JetBlue and American Airlines aircraft were also shot at that day. No passengers or crew were injured. Haiti’s new prime minister was also sworn in on Nov. 11, adding to the country’s political tumult.

Joseph called the growing violence “devastating” and “heartbreaking” as she calls the Caribbean nation home and experienced the issues firsthand. Haiti, she added, is “run by gangs now.”

Other nonprofits are experiencing similar setbacks. Agape Flights, based in Venice, California, was scheduled to send life-saving medical supplies, clothes, food, and other resources to over 300 missionary groups across Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas.

“I have no idea how they’re going to get some of those things,” Director of Flight Operations Greg Haman said, according to FOX 13 News. “I don’t know that they know how they’re going to get some of those things. We have applied for an exemption, and hopefully that’ll come down before too long.”

Flights for the group were halted in early 2024 when Haitian authorities shut down all airports because of the growing unrest. Haiti’s main international airport, Toussaint-Louverture, reopened in May 2024.

The White House called the flight shootings “concerning,” while Haiti’s U.S. Embassy recommended that those with affected flights to contact their airlines.