Beyoncé, Texas Hold ‘Em, tickets, resellers

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 30, 2024

Fox News Guest Called Out For Shading Beyoncé’s Appearance At Harris Houston Rally Despite Past Praise

A Fox News guest who shaded Beyoncé’s appearance at Vice President Kamala Harris’s rally in Houston is being called out for his past tweets publicly praising the music superstar.

Xaviaer DuRousseau came under fire on social media on Tuesday after he took to Fox News to bash Beyoncé’s appearance at Harris’ Houston rally last week, where she publicly endorsed the Vice President. According to DuRousseau, Harris is “absolutely desperate” as we move closer to Election Day and is “bringing every celebrity she can to try to get any kind of endorsement because she knows that she doesn’t have any substance herself.”

“She brought Beyoncé out tonight, and it’s like Beyoncé doesn’t need to be doing that. Beyoncé needs to be focused on trying to keep her album on the charts because it’s already gone,” DuRousseau quipped in a clip captured by The Shade Room.

He then took to Twitter to double down on his Beyoncé shade, citing the remarks as “the bravest thing I’ve ever done in my career” and calling the Beyoncé’s BeyHive fan club “domestic terrorists.”

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It didn’t take long for social media to unearth DuRousseau’s past tweets praising Beyoncé and her recent album, Cowboy Carter — the same album he mocked on Fox News. Seeing evidence of the analyst’s previous support for Beyoncé before criticizing her for supporting Harris, many voiced their opinions on DuRousseau’s change in stance.

“The biggest hater is a man who used to love you,” one person wrote.

“Proof that anyone can be bought….even if they were singing a different tunes 2.5 business days ago,” added someone else.

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Elsewhere, Fox News analysts criticized Beyoncé for attending Harris’ Houston rally without performing. Maira Bartiromo claimed Beyoncé “outraged” attendees by not singing and accused Harris of using a potential Beyoncé performance to boost support for the event.

“More than 30,000 people attended the rally and then what did they get? They didn’t get Beyoncé singing. She didn’t sing,” Bartiromo said.

She further alleged that this was the second time Harris had falsely promoted a Beyoncé performance, referencing rumors that the “Cuff It” singer would perform on the final night of the Democratic National Convention — which never happened. It seems some conservatives believe Beyoncé should express her endorsement of VP Harris through song rather than through spoken support, as she did.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 30, 2024

Pharrell Williams LEGO Biopic Headed For Streaming After Just Two Weeks In Box Office

Pharrell Williams' LEGO biopic is getting an early digital release after a seemingly dismal box office start.

After just two weeks in theaters, Pharrell Williams’ innovative LEGO biopic Piece By Piece is headed to digital platforms.

On Oct. 29, the cartoon-styled LEGO documentary about Pharrell’s life and career will debut on digital streaming via premium video-on-demand, Forbes reported. Since opening in North American theaters on Oct. 11, the film has grossed $8 million domestically on a $16 million budget.

The swift shift to digital is likely a response to the film’s ongoing box office decline. The film aims to boost revenue after earning $3.8 million in its opening weekend and around $752,000 this past weekend.

Piece by Piece will be available for digital purchase at $24.99. Digital rentals are typically $5 less than the purchase price, so viewers can expect a 48-hour film rental for $19.99.

Directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, Piece by Piece offers a first-of-its-kind exploration of Williams’s life, creatively told through LEGO animation. Highlights showcase the mega-producers humble beginnings in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where his natural passion and talent for music-making led him to build early friendships with fellow Virginia natives Pusha T, Missy Elliot, Timbaland, and his longtime friend and N.E.R.D. and Neptunes collaborator Chad Hugo.

The biopic, which is still in theaters, features a star-studded lineup of LEGO versions of music icons like Gwen Stefani, Kendrick Lamar, Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Daft Punk, Snoop Dogg, and more.

Pharrell shared his inspiration to create Piece by Piece as an animated LEGO documentary after falling in love with the classic plastic building blocks during childhood.

“My earliest memories were the LEGO sets that my parents would get me when I was really, really, really young,” Pharrell told NPR. “Whether you actually really build what the set is all about or you’re just putting pieces together … it’s just magical.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 30, 2024

Europeans Ditching Traditional Working Hours To Work Evenings In Higher Paying US-Based Roles

UK-based remote workers are opting for late-night US-based roles to receive higher pay.

With Americans earning, on average, 20% to 40% more than their European counterparts, an increasing number of UK residents are choosing to work night shifts to take on U.S.-based roles.

A new report highlights the rise in European remote workers taking on full- to part-time jobs in America to gain greater work flexibility and higher pay. Market research indicates that software engineers in the U.S. typically earn around $115,000, while the average in Europe varies by region and is about $75,000. A similar disparity exists for marketing managers, with U.S. salaries averaging $107,000 compared to Europe’s average of $70,000.

While it isn’t rare for Europeans to work American jobs, the shift to remote work following the pandemic has opened the floodgates, allowing Europeans to secure positions traditionally reserved for American workers.

“I’ve been working remotely for over a decade, but during the pandemic, many companies finally seemed to acknowledge time zone differences and adjusted accordingly,” Irish marketing executive Laura Mundow tells Fortune.

European workers have found what works for them when it comes to scheduling their day. Some break up the day to complete their initial tasks during the European morning when coworkers are less likely to interrupt with calls, emails, or instant messages and reserve the afternoon for video conference calls.

“I don’t need to be at my desk for eight hours straight,” says Romanian video and audio editor Otinel Mezin. “I can stay nearby and return to my computer if any urgent editing requests come in.”

Cultural differences also play a significant role in UK staffers’ working with US companies. American companies tend to operate at a faster pace, with a more assertive approach to sales and more open conversations about salaries than European companies. However, despite these contrasts, many Europeans say they have come to appreciate innovation and optimism.

“I really love working with Americans,” Mundow says. “There’s an openness there that you might not get in Europe. The stereotype of work being a massive focus for Americans is true. That might not suit everybody. It suits me, but I can see how it could be jarring if work weren’t a central part of your life.”

“I find clients to be more polite in the way they request work and not haggling over prices,” Mezin adds.

European workers encourage other UK-based remote workers to know their worth and avoid undervaluing their work due to location. Once a competitive salary is secured, Mudow recommends living in a country where your earnings stretch further than the U.S. or UK would.

“If you’re earning American money, you can live very well somewhere that is not America,” she says.

by Stacy Jackson

October 30, 2024

Radiologist Dr. Nicole Saphier Warns Women Of Overlooked Signs Of Breast Cancer

Dr. Nicole Saphier said hidden signs of breast cancer include abnormal nipple discharge, itchy or inflamed skin and swollen lymph nodes.

Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and medical contributor for Fox News, says women should be aware that there are less obvious signs of breast cancer they should look out for to avoid later complications.

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black women, according to a report by Verywell Health, and has become the most fatal cancer in Black women over the past several years. “One of the biggest goals when it comes to breast cancer detection is to try and discover those cancers before they cause any problems,” Saphier told Fox News Digital. “Until you do that biopsy … you won’t necessarily know that it’s an inflammatory cancer that’s causing these issues…And unfortunately, this can lead to a later diagnosis.”

According to the American Cancer Society, the most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass, but Dr. Saphier noted, “It’s not just about feeling a lump,” and women should pay attention to their bodies and look out for the following hidden symptoms that may prompt examination from a medical professional.

Nipple discharge, or fluid leakage from one breast or both, is normal, but studies found the symptom accounts for 3% to 9% of breast cancer patients. Discharge that leaks milky, yellow, or green following breastfeeding may not be problematic, according to Health.com. However, bloody discharge is abnormal and should be examined by a healthcare professional as it can be a warning sign of breast cancer.

“Some women … see a little bit of blood in their bra,” Dr. Saphier said. “This can be a sign of cancer cells in the duct.”

Dr. Saphier said women should also pay attention to the itchiness of the skin on their breasts or the nipple itself. “This could be an indicator of an inflammatory process inside the breast,” she said.

Looking out for any swelling or lumps in the lymph nodes is also important; women should also pay attention to the armpit area. “People come in with a lump,” the radiologist said. “Sometimes it can be something benign, like a cyst, but it can also be a cancer.” This hidden sign can signal that “not only is there a cancer in the breast, but it has now traveled to the lymph nodes.”

One of the most common signs of inflammatory breast cancer is redness or inflamed skin. “This is a different cancer in the sense that it doesn’t present as a mass,” she said. Verywell Health reported that with inflammatory breast cancer, lumps may not always show up on a mammogram. Although inflammatory breast cancer only accounts for 1% to 3% of all breast cancers, Black women are 70% more likely to be diagnosed with this cancer type compared to white women.

Dr. Saphier stated that taking action and seeking medical guidance is crucial once a woman notices any changes; however, as previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed more disparities and delays with breast cancer treatments for Black women. Out of the more than 258,000 women with early-stage breast cancer aged 65 years and older, 18% of Black women lacked guideline-recommended care. Aside from age, other demographic categories like cancer stage, insurance, and income levels contributed to the 26% higher death risk for Black women compared to white women.

by Daniel Johnson

October 30, 2024

Howard University’s Calvin Hadley Pleads For Black Men To Enroll At HBCUs

The raw number of Black men attending HBCUs has fallen to its lowest number in nearly 50 years, and administrators at HBCUs are starting to take notice

The raw number of Black men attending HBCUs has fallen to its lowest number in nearly 50 years, and administrators at HBCUs are starting to take notice of this concerning trend.

According to NPR, currently, Black men make up only 26% of enrolled students at HBCUs, a significant drop from the 38% they comprised in 1976.

Per analysis from the American Institute for Boys and Men, the decline in Black male attendance at HBCUs is affected by a myriad of factors.

As their study states, “This decline in Black male students is influenced by factors such as inadequate K-12 preparation, a lack of Black male teachers, and financial barriers both individually and institutionally.”

NPR’s Joanna Summers talked to Calvin Hadley, an assistant provost for Academic Partnerships and Student Engagement at Howard University, about the university’s problems.

Hadley, a graduate of the university where he now works, told Summers that he noticed the disparities in male and female enrollment during his undergraduate education at Howard.

“I’m a Howard alum, and so I remember, as a student, the numbers were also pretty stark at that time. I think we were around 33-34% when I was a student between 2004 and 2008. Now, as you announced in your introduction, Howard University is around 25% male total,” Hadley said.

He continued, “And I think recent statistics said (Howard is) around 19% Black male. And so that is felt on campus, that is felt, I think, in our social clubs, it’s felt on the yard. And I think many of our male students have commented that in some of their classes, they’re the only male in their class.”

Hadley continued, indicating his concern. “At every educational institution, we want a diversity of experience. And so when you don’t have as many males in the classroom, that diversity of experience is significantly impacted. It gets even more scary when we trace it forward, right? I think we’re dealing with some really unique statistics right now. Black males are graduating at a much lower rate than Black females.”

Hadley also indicated that this problem is not limited to HBCUs.

“And so this drop in the past decade has been seen more drastically. But the reality is, this is not a Howard problem. This is not an HBCU problem. This is not a PWI problem. This is an American education problem.”

Hadley also pointed out that compared to the Black male applicants to Howard, the number of Black women who applied to the university far outstripped even the significant increase in applications that Black men filed in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Hadley closed the interview with a direct appeal to Black men to come to Howard after pointing out that Black men are being left behind in American society and are potentially negatively impacting their future families because of a lack of a college education.

“You attend an HBCU for an education and not a degree, and as an assistant provost, that’s not a popular thing to say. The education that you receive in an HBCU transcends the classroom experience. It transcends the relationship that you have with your professor. The education exists in between the lines of the pages. HBCUs inundate you with the sense of belief. We talked about the importance of that belief on the front end, the belief gap that exists in K through 12,” Hadley stated.

He concluded his case, “HBCUs are created to instill you with the belief that you can be even larger than you can dream. Howard University and the HBCU community has provided me — and many other people, like our vice president — with the sense that I am enough. I can be successful academically. But my world is not simply academics. I can be enough, and I can contribute to this society, in this space, in a way that allows me to feel whole and allows me to contribute to something much larger than myself. The HBCU community needs you. And so when I’m talking to that young man in 2024: Come, because we need you. Come because you’re important. Come because without you, our community is hurt.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

October 30, 2024

Luxury Travel Group For Black Women Shutters, Customers Have Yet To Be Refunded

Ladies and Luggage has yet to give a definitive timeline for distributing refunds.

After a luxury travel group for Black women shut down days before an upcoming trip, customers wonder what happened to their money spent.

The now-defunct “Ladies and Luggage” group abruptly canceled a trip to Dubai that was meant to take place this week. One woman, Virginia Gasber, sent the travel agency nearly $11,000 for the experience.

“I’m disappointed that the trip was canceled, and I’m disappointed that she is jerking us around about the money,“ expressed Gasber to WSB-TV.

More women, including retiree Deborah Wells, have spent thousands with the agency for axed trips. It would have been Wells’ second trip with the group, which she once considered a “sisterhood.”

Wells explained, “It was a sisterhood. And so now you could imagine your sister saying, ‘We’re not doing it anymore.’ Wait, what?”

However, Ladies and Luggage’s owner, Davia Woods, posted a lengthy video to Facebook explaining their sudden closure. While expressing that she intends to repay all customers, the refunds will not come as soon as they hope.

In a follow-up email, Woods explained that predatory loans, an “unexpected” tax lien, and a business partner leaving, resulted in multiple financial challenges for the travel group. Moreover, she added that she would notify those who bought insurance to file claims.

Woods also asserted that the shady business practices leading to the financial decline were unbeknownst to her.

“Unfortunately, there were significant details about the business and its operations that were not disclosed to me, and these undisclosed issues ultimately contributed to the challenges we are now facing,” wrote Woods to the news outlet. “I am working closely with my attorney to connect with each customer individually, ensuring that every claim is addressed and each person is made whole.”

However, it remains unclear when and if their money will be returned.

“You’re not telling me how to get my money back, though,” continued Wells. “We’re on a fixed income and making these payments for these promised great locations. And here we are.”

Despite this, an agency attorney emphasized that the customers’ money did go toward the “appropriate expenses.” However, as of right now, there is no definitive timeline for refunds.

What’s The New Workforce Trend ‘Silent Firing’?

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2024

What’s The New Workforce Trend ‘Silent Firing’?

Are you worried about AI stealing your job?

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has reportedly prompted a new trend in the workforce called “silent firing,” Fast Company reports.

Silent firing is the inverse of quiet quitting, a trend that gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, where employees would do the bare minimum as a fast track to being fired with severance. The silent firing move is where employers are making jobs harder in hopes that people will quit so their positions will be automated.

Experts like George Kailas, CEO of Prospero.Ai, feel that certain employers are making the office experience unbearable on purpose, especially tech companies. “So when Amazon is pushing a five-day in-office workweek, despite the fact that 90% of their employees are “dissatisfied” and 73% are considering quitting, it doesn’t really fit with the “cool tech office” vibes of the past,” Kailas wrote.

“Maybe Amazon is silently firing workers by making the workplace inhospitable. Because the best way to decrease retention while saving on severance would be to remove remote work.”

Studies from Live Data Technologies show that employee growth of big tech companies has fluctuated over the past two years. In 2022, the count increased by 5% and then went down. The trend happened again in March 2024 as the hiring numbers went up again, only to decrease just two months later in May.

Artificial intelligence is blamed for the alarming numbers, but other experts aren’t buying it. According to the New York Post, MIT professor and economist Daron Acemoglu claims that only 5% of jobs can be replaced or work with AI over the next 10 years and states the technology is simply not reliable enough. “A lot of money is going to get wasted. “You’re not going to get an economic revolution out of that 5%,” Acemoglu said.

“You need highly reliable information or the ability of these models to faithfully implement certain steps that previously workers were doing. They can do that in a few places with some human supervisory oversight … but in most places they cannot.”

Kailas insists that nearly 18% of people who once worked for big tech companies between 2023 and 2024 are still unemployed since “AI is booming and the rest of the labor market is stagnant and/or declining if you look at the unemployment numbers.”

Lack of engagement may also contribute to those claims. Gallup survey results showed a 5% decrease in engagement among Gen Z and young millennials. Richard Wahlquist, CEO of the American Staffing Association, says that close to three in 10 employees overall aren’t actively engaged at work.

by Stacy Jackson

October 29, 2024

Mother-Daughter Duo Organize Nationwide ‘Pajama Party’ To Support VP Kamala Harris On Election Night

The Big Pajama Party founders are uniting democrats nationwide

Political activists Sharon Latson-Flemister and Dr. Tamarra Allen, leaders of The Big Pajama Party (BPP), are elevating their passion for sleepwear into a nationwide call to action to inspire 1,000,000 households to host pajama party gatherings beginning on Election Night in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’ historic presidential bid.

The mother-daughter duo has expanded their pajama line into a nationwide movement in hopes of unifying Democrats as they plan their own pajama parties starting on Nov. 5 throughout the Jan. 20 Inauguration. “We’re not just watching history unfold; we’re making it,” Latson-Flemister said in a press release.

To prepare for the celebration, The Big Pajama Party co-founders encourage Democrats to snag a pair of pajamas from their limited edition “House of Kam” collection to lounge around in and connect with other Democrats across the nation as they flaunt their PJs on social media. Latson-Flemister and Allen said their collection has cozy essentials for everyone to enjoy throughout the election and holiday season, including glamorous loungewear, a line of historic HBCUs, and Black fraternities and sororities. Families in their matching era can purchase sets that even include pajamas for their pets.

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Latson-Flemister and Allen are longtime political activists inspired by former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama during the 2024 Democratic National Convention. During this election season, the businesswomen have encouraged voter turnout through Zoom meetings, social media, postcards, phone calls, and face-to-face communication. During the Obama campaign, their service included rallying voters, mobilizing communities, and serving as vendors for the 2008 and 2012 inaugurations.

The Big Pajama Party founders want everyone to look and feel good during this nationwide celebration of democracy, and their innovative campaign expands beyond the pajama parties. “We’re committed to not only giving back, we’re here to disrupt and empower small business entrepreneurs,” said Allen. Everyone who purchases from The Big Pajama Party during the campaign will receive an exclusive personal ambassador link for free. The link will allow ambassadors to share the collection with family and friends to earn 10% off on every purchase made through the link. Additionally, ambassadors will receive other incentives for hosting BPP events.

Along with the campaign, Latson-Flemister and Allen opened applications for small businesses to win one of the five small business grants the founders launched to help and support business growth and expansion. Applications close on Dec. 15, and winners will be announced on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. Funds will be awarded during Black History Month 2025.

RELATED CONTENT: The 2024 Election and The Black Vote

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2024

Here’s What Happened When Iceland Tried A 4-Day Work Week

America....are you listening?

Iceland welcomed the idea of a four-day work week, and as a result, the country’s economy is booming, CNN reported.

The decision is helping Iceland outperform other countries, as the shorter work week issued no loss in pay for employees. Over 50% of the country’s workforce accepted the offer of shorter working hours between 2020 and 2022. However, two think tanks — the Autonomy Institute in the United Kingdom and Iceland’s Association for Sustainability and Democracy (Alda) — found that number is higher as of 2024. “This study shows a real success story: shorter working hours have become widespread in Iceland… and the economy is strong across a number of indicators,” Alda researcher Gudmundur D. Haraldsson said in a statement.

In 2023, Iceland proved to have faster economic growth over a majority of European countries — expanding at 5% — a vast increase from 2% between 2006 and 2015. The unemployment rate was also one of the lowest in Europe, showing a “strong indicator of the economy’s vitality.” IMF’s World Economic Outlook found the rate stood stagnant at 3.4%, a little over half the average of advanced European economies. Rates are expected to go up to 3.8% in 2024 and 2025.

Years prior, between 2015 and 2019, two large trials were performed where public sector employees worked 35-36 hours per week without a reduction in pay. With 2,500 participants, which is more than 1% of the country’s working population at the time, a majority previously worked 40 hours a week. The goal was to maintain or increase productivity while work-life balance improved.

Data revealed that productivity stayed the same or heightened in most employee environments, while employee’s well-being increased “dramatically” on certain measures, ranging from stress and burnout to health and work-life balance.

According to Live Now Fox, researchers examined the results of an employment market survey conducted by the University of Iceland’s Social Science Research Institute in hopes of gaining an understanding of job patterns, work environment, and the reasons behind individuals leaving paid employment. Sixty-two percent of people with reduced work hours between 2022 and 2024 were found to be more satisfied with their work time, while only 4% of workers were found to be more dissatisfied.

Seventy-eight percent reported overall satisfaction with the presented work time.

The trial resulted in Icelandic trade unions negotiating reductions in working hours for tens of thousands of their members across the country.

Pledge of allegiance, people for the American way, ad, trump

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 29, 2024

People For The American Way Release Shocking Ad About What The Pledge Of Allegiance May Look Like Under Trump

This is scary...to say the least.

People For The American Way (PFAW) released an ad on YouTube that reveals what the Pledge of Allegiance could look like if Donald Trump is elected again.

The ad, called “The Pledge,” shows three depictions of Armed Forces members saying the Pledge of Allegiance but with different words as the United States is under the reign of former President Donald J. Trump. “We Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under Donald J. Trump,” the members start out saying.

“With Liberty and fear for all.”

As the African American member slightly looks away, the commander and woman member dictate what the American Armed Forces must do following the pledge. “We shall arrest, detain, jail, deport, and, if necessary, kill enemies of our movement at home and abroad,” they said.

The group then lists all those that may be affected by such a rule, including “traitorous judges and journalists, election workers and teachers who are deemed to be pornographers.” “Doctors who perform abortions, civil protestors, and millions of illegal aliens,” the group said, one with tears running down his face.

The pledge ends with, “We do this in the name of our supreme leader, Donald J. Trump. Amen.” The American flag, seen hanging on the wall, is turned upside down.

Since Trump became the Republican Party’s nominee for president, Project 2025 and Agenda 47 have been the core of his campaign. They lay out policies that would demolish the work of the U.S. Constitution and push narratives that align more with him.

Following the dangerous and offensive commentary heard at the NYC rally on Oct. 27, attacking the Hispanic and Black community, advocates for racial justice have been pushing harder for voters to shy away from casting a vote for Trump. “This past weekend’s Trump rally at Madison Square Garden was telling. More dangerous and divisive rhetoric at an event compared to the 1939 Nazi rally in the same place, where speakers blamed targeted groups to stoke up resentments,” PFAW said in a statement, according to a press release shared with Black Enterprise.

While the Trump camp released a statement saying the joke, referring to Puerto Rico as a “floating pile of garbage,” “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign,” Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha, who mobilizes Latino voters, is doing work behind the scenes to make sure the words stick when they head to the polls, according to the New York Times. He asked a PAC for $30,000 in small donations so the video of the comments could be sent to Puerto Rican voters in Pennsylvania, a critical battleground state.